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 81

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 81
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 81
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 81

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).

and armed. They were in many scouts and skirmishes about Gallatin, Tenn., and in the battle at Chattanooga, and in all that cam- paign; and then in the Atlanta campaign four months-in the battles of Dalton, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Rocky Face Ridge, Chat- tahoochee River, and the battles in front and rear of Atlanta. Here his time expired and he returned with his regiment to Indianapolis. The regiment was ordered to turn over the horses and saddles and to draw sixty rounds of ammunition, as trouble was expected in the southern counties of Indiana. The regiment was held at Indianapolis eight days, and was honorably discharged October 4, 1864, and Mr. Masters returned to Fairfield.

On January 3, 1865, Mr. Masters married Susannah, daughter of Joseph and Ann (Cran- dell) Haywood. Joseph Haywood was a sub- stantial farmer and old settler near Fairfield, and was from an old family of Maryland, of English and German descent. He settled in Franklin when a young man, married there, and became the father of twelve children: Joseph, Mary, Margaret, Michael, Susannah, Ann, Elihu, Thomas, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Ruth and Joshua, of whom, three sons served in the Civil war: Elihu, Thomas and Jonathan. Elihu and Thomas were in the Sixty-eighth In- diana infantry, in which Thomas served three years and was in many battles; Elihu died in Indianapolis from the measels; Jonathan en- listed in the last call for troops. Mr. Hay- wood died during the war at the age of seven- ty-eight years. He was a man of high char- acter, and reared a good family, and was a member of the Friends' church. The month following his marriage Mr. Masters came to Rossville, and bought 160 acres of land, on which he still lives, having built a substantial residence and otherwise improved it. He and wife are members of the Methodist church, in

798

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

trustee. ,Politically he is a stanch republican, served as township trustee for two years, and was re-elected November 6, 1894, by a major- ity of five. Mr. Masters owns a fine farm and has been engaged in stock raising and dealing. He is one of the directors of the Rossville bank, and stands high as an honorable busi- ness man. He was an active soldier and in all the battles, skirmishes, marches, raids and campaigns in which his regiment participated, many of which he cannot now recall, but was never sick, wounded nor taken prisoner, yet had several close calls-his boot-hcel having been shot off at the battle of Gallatin, Tenn., with John Morgan, and his horse wounded, and once was called to halt by the rebels at the battle of Chickamauga, but kept on. He al- ways did his duty, and served his country faithfully.

J OHN B. MEIFELD, -or Ben, as he is usually called-the oldest merchant tailor, and a well known citizen of Frankfort, Ind., was born in Cincin- nati, Ohio, March 10, 1851. He is a son of John G. and Josephine (Nortker) Meifeld. The former was born in Oldenberg, Germany; the latter in Hanover, Germany. The father caine to this country in . 1843, landing in New Orleans, and then went to Cincinnati, Ohio. The mother came by the same route to Cin- cinnati in 1844. They were married in the city named and had born to them the follow- ing children: Josephine, deceased; John B .; Anthony, deceased, and Emma. The mother died in Cincinnati in 1871, at the age of fifty- seven. The father and subject came together to Frankfort in 1873 and together established the business which the son, since 1891, has conducted alone. The business has been a very successful one, and while the father is now retired, he is still active at the age of

seventy-nine years. He is a pious member of the Catholic church and is highly respected by all classes of Frankfort citizens.

John B. Meifeld received an excellent education at the parochial schools, and at St. Francis Xavier college at Cincinnati; learned tailoring under his father, and learned it well, becoming an accomplished cutter as well as a successful salesman. The marriage of Mr. Meifeld took place, in 1874, to Alice Hill, of Frankfort, and the happy union has been blessed by the birth of three children, viz: Mabel, Frederick and Paul. Personally, Mr. Meifeld is a very affable gentleman, is quite popular, not only with his customers, but with the public in general, and is at the present time secretary of five local building and loan associations. He does an extensive tailoring business, unexcelled by any in the city, and guarantees all his work. He is a democrat.

J OHN H. MERRITT, a substantial young farmer, was born in Johnson township, Clinton county, Ind., June 4, 1854, and this has always been his place of residence. Aubry Merritt, his great- grandfather, a patriot of the Revolution and of English parentage, lived and died in Hardy county, Va., where he owned a plantation and a number of slaves. Adam Merritt, son of Aubry, was born in Hardy county, Va., and married Catherine Harris of the same state. They moved to Coshocton county, Ohio, reared a family, and then came to Indiana, and settled in Clinton county in 1845, entering a farm. He was an old-line whig, but lived to be a stanch supporter of the republican party. William Merritt, son of Adam and father of John H., our subject, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, April 2, 1824, and married Rachel Keever, daughter of John and Rachel (Drake) Keever, of Warren county, Ohio. The chil-

799

OF CLINTON COUNTY.

dren born to this marrage were named, in order of birth, as follows: Mary E., Erasmus M., Margaret C., John H. and Clinton. The father of this family, William Merritt, has lived in Clinton county Ind., ever since his marriage, and is one of the most prominent citizens. His farm comprises 285 acres, and is improved with a substantial residence, barn, and all necessary farm buildings, and is in a fine state of cultivation. He is a strong republican in his politics, and in her religion his wife is a consistent Methodist.

John H. Merritt was married February 3, 1881, to Miss Annie Lybrook, daughter of Philip and Lyda J. (Sutton) Lybrook, the former a resident and farmer of Howard county, Ind., and a member of the Society of Friends. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Merritt are named Fred L., Iberna D .. Clyde and Earl-the last named deceased at the age of two years. Mr. Merritt's farm contains eighty acres, is improved with a substantial modern farm house and a spacious barn, with the necessary outbuildings. He has earned this property through his own thrift and industry, assisted by his prudent and pains- taking wife, and he is still progressing. He is regarded by the citizens of the township as a man of worth and intelligence, and his family is equally respected.

A LPHEUS L. MENDENHALL. a sub- stantial farmer of Forest township, Clinton county, Ind., springs from sterling English lineage. David Men- denhall, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of North Carolina, but moved through the wilderness and settled in Hamilton county, Ind., in its early history. He here entered a farm in the primitive wilderness, amid the brush and frog ponds, built a rude cabin of poles, afterward clearing the land and making

a farm. He was an old-line whig in politics. Cary Mendenhall, son of the above and father of our subject, was born in Hamilton county, Ind., and was reared on his father's farm and attended the old-fashioned log school-house, a rude, uncouth structure, as compared with the school-house and furniture of to-day. After reaching manhood's years he married Abigail Dawson, the daughter of David and Eliza (Burroughs) Dawson. The following children in order of birth were born to this union : Wal- ter, Alpheus L., Mary E. and Augustus. The father was a stanch republican in politics and had a birth-right in the Friends' society. He died at the early age of twenty-seven years. He was a man that was highly respected by all who knew him intimately. His widow after- ward married James A. Stanley, and to this marriage Frank, Charlesand Flora were born. Mrs. Stanley is a devout member of the Chris- tian church and is now residing in Clinton county on the farm.

Alpheus L. Mendenhall was born in Ham- ilton county, Ind., August 29, 1852. He has always been on the farm, but received a good common education. He married Laura Car- rick, daughter of William and Ann (Dow) Carrick, the former of whom was a farmer by occupation, and a mechanic. He was also a prominent man of the church and Sunday- school. When married, Alpheus L. and wife settled on a farm in Clinton county, where they now reside; they own a place of eighty acres, a good house and modern barn. The farm is well improved. He is a populist and the first one in the township. He and wife are members of the Christian church. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' lodge, No. 593, at Scircleville, has passed all the chairs and attended the grand lodge. The children born to him were named : Bell, Edna (deceased), Maggie and Sarah F. Mr. and Mrs. Menden- hall, however, though sadly bereaved, have a

800

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

large number of friends and acquaintances, whose respect they enjoy to the full, and who in some measure fill the void occasioned by the loss of their daughter.

R. JAMES W. MERIDITH, the most successful dental surgeon in Frankfort, Ind., was born near Flem- ingsburg, Ky., September 16, 1831. His parents were William R. and Harriet (Davis) Meridith, the former of whom was a native of Maryland and the latter of Kentucky. William R. Meridith was but a young man when he migrated from Maryland to Kentucky, engaged in farming, and in 1830 was married to Miss Davis, a native of Fleming county. In 1836 Mr. Meridith and his young wife went to Calloway county, Mo., where he superintended a farm until 1837, then came to Madison, Ind., where he lived a short time, and then moved to Morristown, Shelby county, Ind., where he died in 1839-the father of five children, viz .: James Wayne, our subject; George D., de- ceased; Albert L. ; Fletcher, an editor of Hutch- inson, Kas .; and Tabitha, deceased. Mrs. Harriet Meridith subsequently married, in Morristown, William Adair, a farmer, by whom she became the mother of one child, John T., now deceased, the mother dying in 1853.

Dr. J. W. Meridith remained on the farm until eight years of age, then worked out at chores, helping to support the family until his mother's second marriage. The family then located in Union county, Ind., for a year, then moved back to Shelby county, where he re- mained until sixteen, and then apprenticed himself at cabinet-making for four years with A. C. Cooly, of Connersville, Ind. The last two years of his apprenticeship his mother passed with him. January 16, 1853, the doc- tor was married, near Versailles, Woodford county, Ky., to Missouri J. Boling, a native of

Woodford county, who bore one child, Jane (deceased), and she herself died June 16, 1855. The second marriage of Dr. Meridith took place at Frankfort, Ind., March 30, 1858, to Miss Eliza J. Armstrong, a native of Clinton county, and a daughter of Isaac Armstrong, of whom further mention will be found elsewhere in this volume. To this union have been born nine children, named as follows: Hettie, de- ceased; Jennie, wife of William T. Moore, merchant of Williamsport, Ind .; Georgie, a teacher in a city school of Frankfort; Lu A., jeweler; Carroll, Katie, Watt, Gus and Fletcher, at home. Dr. Meridith acquired the science of dentistry under Dr. Martin, of Franklin, Ind., and began its practice in the city of Frankfort, May 3, 1856, and, with the excep- tion of nine years, when engaged in the dry goods trade, has been in active practice until the present time, standing at the head of the profession. As a member of the I. O. O. F., he represented his lodge in the grand lodge of the state in 1861, and has been honored with many other evidences of the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens.

Is AWSON C. MERRITT, a prominent farmer and citizen of Johnson town- ship, Clinton county, Ind., was born here February 11, 1854. His grand- father, Adam Merritt, was born and reared in Virginia, and came to Clinton county, Ind., after having lived a few years in Coshoc- ton county, Ohio, and entered part of the farm on which Lawson C. now resides. John Mer- ritt, father of Lawson C., was also a native of Virginia. He married Helen M. Williams of Ohio, who bore two children, Julia, and an infant who was called away. The second mar- riage of John Merritt was to Harriet Ann Scott, daughter of James Scott, and to this union was born Lawson C. Merritt. On

801

OF CLINTON COUNTY.

coming to Johnson township with the earlier. settlers, John Merritt 'entered and purchased a quantity of land, which he improved and increased until he owned 200 acres. He and wife were both members of the Baptist church, and both had the confidence and esteem of all that knew them. The mother passed from earth December 11, 1875, and the father died June 7, 1893.

Lawson C. Merritt was reared on the home farm, and April 27, 1876, married Miss Dorcas Pruitt, daughter of John and Nancy J. (Stew- art) Pruitt, of whom further may be read on another page of this volume. The four chil- dren born to this union are named Elbert B., Walter S., John P., and Hubert. At their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Merritt settled on their present farm, which now comprises 335 acres. It is very fertile land, and the farm is in an ex- cellent state of improvement and is highly cul- tivated. The dwelling is modern in construc- tion and the farm buildings commodious and substantial, and all this property, or nearly all, has been earned through the industry and good management of Mr. Merritt, with his amiable wife's assistance. Mr. Merritt is very promi- nent as a republican and was elected township trustee in 1894, and fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows' lodge, No. 593, at Scircleville, in which he has passed all the chairs, and which he has represented in the grand lodge.

S QUIRE W. MERRILL is a railroad man of many years' experience. He was born in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw county, Mich., June 3, 1841. "His father, Squire C. Merrill, a native of Pittsfield, Mass., was born in the year 1800, and died at Wayne, Mich., in 1884. He was a son of Gad Merrill, also, a native of Pittsfield, Mass., and a descendant of an early English emigrant

to the Bay state. In the state of New York, the subject's father married Mary Ann Wheeler, who bore him four children. For a second wife he married Harriet Hawkins, the subject of this mention being the only child by this wife, who died when her son was quite young. The father married for the third wife Cynthia Lynds, who bore one child. In 1825, Squire Merrill, Sr., with his first wife, set out by wagon for the west. They settled in Wash- tenaw county, Mich , where they lived the remainder of their lives. Farming was the occupation of Mr. Merrill. When he came to Michigan that state was a territory and its governor was Gen. Lewis Cass, under whom he served as United States marshal. He and Gen. Cass were intimate friends. His father and mother left Massachusetts in their latter days and joined him in Michigan, and made their home with him till death called them away.

The subject of this mention was born and reared upon a farm, and attended a few short winter terms of school in the old log-house in his neigborhood. At the age of fourteen years he became self-supporting, and for three years thereafter accepted whatsoever work he could get to do. In November, 1859, Mr. Merrill began his railroad career. At that date, he began breaking on the Dayton & Michigan R. R., with which company he remained till 1862, when he received a severe injury in the hip, for which, after considerable litigation, he obtained damages, the effect of which was a change of employers. He next entered the employ of the Detroit & Milwaukee R. R , in the latter part of 1862, with headquarters at Detroit. With this road Mr. Merrill remained for ten years, save one year in the meantime, when he was in the employ of the United States government. During that year, 1864- 5, he was yard-master at Nashville, Tenn. In 1872, Mr. Merrill engaged with the Canada

802

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Southern railroad and helped construct that- line, and later he became a conductor on the Chicago & West Michigan R. R. Afterward he held a similar position on the Flint & Pere Marquette R. R., then was in the same ca- pacity on the Louisville, Paducah & Southern, and subsequently ran on every branch of the Louisville & Nashville R. R. When S. R. Calloway, a personal friend of his, became re- ceiver of the Detroit & Bay City R. R., Mr. Merrill became a conductor on that line, and he continued with Mr. Calloway during his superintendency. When Mr. Calloway received the management of the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City R. R., Mr. Merrill still remained with him, and since that date has either been train-master or conductor on this road, holding the latter position at the present time. While train-master he was stationed at Charleston, III .; in Angust, 1892, he moved to Frankfort, where he has since resided ._

Mr. Merrill was married August 18, 1868, to Miss Emily M. Evans, daughter of John and Katherine (Myers) Evans, who was born at Mckeesport, Allegheny county, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Merrill have two children, namely: Cad E., who is chief clerk for the St. Louis division of the "Clover Leaf " R. R., and Madge Emily. Mr. Merrill is a thirty-second degree Mason, belongs to the mystic shrine, and commandery. He is an experienced rail- road man, and during the long term of years spent in that capacity has had the unbounded confidence of the large corporations by which he has been employed. Gentlemanly and obliging in his intercourse with all, he has much of the good will of the traveling public, and it is a compliment justly earned to ascribe to him a popularity such as few men in his arduous calling ever attain. The domestic re- lations of Mr. Merrill have been felicitous in all respects, and he may well be congratulated on this account, also.

a PILLIAM MICHAEL, a retired farmer of Colfax, Clinton county, Ind, and a prominent democrat, was born in .Montgomery county, this state, March 12, 1835, and is of Pennsyl- vanian-German descent. his grandfather, also named William, having come from the Father- land prior to the Revolutionary war, in which heroic struggle he took an active part, and finally settled in the Keystone state. His son William, father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, was reared a farmer, and on first coming west located in Ohio, whence he came to Indiana, and settled in Montgomery county, and was still a compara- tively young man when he moved to Clinton county and entered eighty acres of land, to which he later added until he owned 240 acres. He had married, in Ohio, Margaret Stucky, a daughter of Jacob Stucky, also a farmer.

William Michael, the subject proper of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm near Colfax and was of material assistance in hew- ing it out of the wilderness as the years rolled on. But he was hardly of age when he mar- ried and settled on a farm of his own in Clin- ton county. This happy event took place October 15, 1854, the bride being Miss Sarah J., daughter of Henry J. and Nancy (Bailey) Keedy. In March, 1876, Mr. Michael, with his wife, moved to Tennessee, and bought a farm in Davidson county, eight miles from Nashville. On this farm Mrs. Michael died December 30, 1890, a devout member of the Methodist church, and an earnest Sabbath- school worker. At her own request her remains were interred in Clinton county, where she had had a host of sincere, loving and admiring friends. The second marriage of Mr. Michael was to Mrs. Mary C. Baker, a widow, and a daughter of George Isenberger, farmer of Clin- ton county.

803

OF CLINTON COUNTY.

October 16, 1862, Mr. Michael. was called . to the defense of his country, and enlisted in company I, Eighty-sixth Indiana volunteer in- fantry. He was transferred to Kentucky, and his first fight was at Perryville; he was next in a skirmish at Rural Hill; then in the battle of Stone River; was captured and sent to Mur- freesboro, Tenn., then to Montgomery, Ala .. and then to Richmond, Va., and for thirty days was confined in Libby prison, and then exchanged at City Point and sent to Annapolis, Md .; rejoined his regiment at Murfreesboro; was sent to McMinnville, and was in a skir- mish at Ringgold, Ga .; fell back to Chicka- mauga and took part through all that terrific struggle; was on the skirmish line at Chatta- nooga and also in the thickest of the fight: was at Fort Wood and Orchard Knob; was in the dreadful engagement at Missionary Ridge: was all through the Atlanta campaign, and in the hard-fought battle of Resaca; was at Jones- boro; was with Gen. Thomas in the pursuit of Hood; was at Columbia, Nashville, and then back into Georgia, and thence back again into northern Tennessee, eastern Tennessee. and once more to Jonesboro, when the war was ended and Mr. Michael honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn., in June, 1865. He then returned, after this long perio 1 of faithful serv- ice and devotion to his country's cause. and resumed the occupations of peace. Both Mr. and Mrs. Michael are devout members of the Methodist church, in which he has filled the office of steward, and both stand deservedly high in the esteem of their friends and neighbors. In politics Mr. Michael is a democrat and takes much interest in the success of his party, by which he has been honored by a nomina- tion for the office of township trustee. Mr. Michael owns thirty-five acres of improved land in Perry township, also seven lots in Colfax. and is quite comfortably situated, as far as this world's pelf is concerned.

3 OHN MILLER, who carries on general farming and stock raising in Madison township, is one of the worthy citizens that Pennsylvania has furnished to this county. He was born in Lehigh county of the Keystone state on the sixteenth of November, 1834, and is a son of Elias and Maria (Rex) Miller, both of whom were natives of Lehigh county, Pa., and were of German descent. The father was born in 1812, and belonged to the third generation of the family in America. During his youth he learned the carpenter's trade. He worked hard, and after a time had saved $200, and had purchased a team of horses. With his family in the wagon and with this small cash capital, he started across the country for the west, and in May, 1839, located in Clinton county, Ind. Here he pur- chased eighty acres of land, upon which was a small log cabin, and began the developement of a farm. He afterward added to this tract until 317 acres of rich land yielded to him a golden tribute in return for his care and culti- vation. His death occurred in 1876. His wife, who was born in 1811, died in 1874. The union of this worthy couple was blessed with fourteen children, of whom five died in infancy. The members of the family were John; Paul and Moses, both deceased; Edwin; Nathan; Abraham; Eliza, wife of Stephen S. Earhart: Sarah, wife of John Jacoby; Maria, wife of George Ikens.

In the usual manner of farmer lads John Miller spent the daysof his boyhood and youth. He was only five years of age when his par- ents came to Indiana. He received but limit- ed educational privileges, and when a young man learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for some time. As soon as possible he purchased fifty acres of land south of Mul- berry, and in 1882 purchased his present farm of 100 acres. This is now under a high state of cultivation and well improved with

804

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

fine buildings and all the accessories of a a model farm. On the twenty-sixth of Febru- ary, 1860, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Maria, daughter of Adam and Christina (Rothenberger) Karb, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and were of German lineage. They came to Clinton county about 1848, and were therefore numbered among its early settlers. In their family were five chil- dren-Maria, who was born in 1836; Eliza- beth, wife of Lewis Baer; Lydia, deceased; Daniel; Rebecca, wife of Clinton Baughman. The following children graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. Miller-Carrie, born November 30, 1860, began teaching school at the age of fifteen, and is now one of the successful teach- ers in the primary department of the public schools of Chicago; Flora E., born August 12, 1862, is the wife of Albert C. Martz; William P., born January 12, 1865, is a harness-maker of Mulberry; Elizabeth, born in 1867, died July 29, 1870; Calvin S., born April 11, 1873, is taking a course in mechanics in Peru, Ind .; Jennie, born June 3, 1877, completes the family. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the German Reform church and are well known and highly respected people. In poli- tics he is a stalwart democrat, but is not an office-seeker. Since the age of five years he has made his home in Clinton county, and those who have know him from boyhood are numbered among his warmest friends, a fact which indicates a well spent life.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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