A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 107

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 107
USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 107

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).

William Robinson was but six years old when brought to Randolph county; he attend- ed the rude school house at the embryo city of Winchester, and helped to clear up and culti- vate the home farm until he was twenty-two, when, August 13, 1838, he married Miriam Hill, and moved to his own place in the south- east part of White River township. In his day, however, he has settled no less than six farms and erected six dwellings in the neighborhood of Winchester. In 1846 he went to visit his father, who had moved to Missouri some years previously, as stated, and who died there eventually, in 1858, at the age of seventy-five years. There were no railroads in those days, and William made the trip in wagons, requiring five months of time. When he had got beyond the Mississippi river, at St. Louis, he felt himself to be outside the pale of civilization. Three of the sons had gone with the father, and a fourth followed a year later. For a while they prospered, but were eventually ruined by the ravages of war. Mr. Robinson's travels, however, extended beyond this trip, as he had crossed the Missis- sippi river five times, and made one trip to the seaboard.

After the death of his first wife, William Robinson married, August 14, 1867, Ruth Test, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Test. This lady was born and reared in Union county, Ind. Mr. Robinson has acquired quite a large number of acres, which he has distributed among the children, of whom ten were born to him, and of whom eight still survive, as follows: Lydia; Mary; Lavina;

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Daniel; Elwood; John; Benona and Phalana. The two deceased were named Carolina and William. Mr. Robinson is a Friend, and one of his articles of faith is the requirement of this religion to attend to the limitation of truth in his temporal business, brought out by Paul's word: "A manifestation of the spirit was given to every man to profit withal," and this is one reason he could not consistently take up his abode on the rich western prairies at the time his father and brothers settled in Missouri, to which he attributes his escape from the fate of his brothers from the ravages of war in that state. The Robinson family have always been devoted members of the Society of Friends, and, besides being among the oldest families in the county of Randolph, they are among the most respectable.

ATTHEW HARLAN RUBEY, coun- ty treasurer of Randolph county, Ind., was born in Greensfork town- ship, this county, October 27, 1856, near Brownsville, and is a son of James B. and Christiana (Middleton) Rubey, the former born in Union county, Ind., December 25, 1829, and the latter born near Spartanburg, Ran- dolph county, Ind., September 15, 1835, and died May 27, 1893.

James B. Rubey is a son of Joseph W. and Ann (Harlan) Rubey, the former a native of Kentucky, born September 25, 1805, and the latter born in Union county, Ind., July 14, 1808. James B. Rubey settled with his par- ents in Greensfork township, March 7, 1850, and the event of his marriage took place De- cember 30, 1855, to Miss Christiana Middleton, daughter of Samuel H. and Christiana (Tharp) Middleton, the former born in Westmoreland county, Va., March 4, 1794, and the latter in North Carolina, May 28, 1790. To James B. Rubey and wife were born two children,

Matthew H. and Mary C., the latter born Au- gust 3, 1858. M. H. Rubey, like other boys born on the farm, was first prepared for a higher course of instruction at the district school of his day, and in 1876 attended the Normal school at Union City from spring till fall, preparing himself for teaching. He taught his first term at Pleasant Grove in 1878, and taught seven terms consecutively. In 1879 and and 1880, he attended the Valparaiso Normal school, and in 1882 and 1883 was a student at Adrian college, Mich., and on his return re- sumed teaching. He turned his attention to farming until 1887, when he was appointed deputy county treasurer under John M. Tur- ner, which position he held for the official term of two years. At the expiration of his official duties he engaged in the fire and life insurance business, in which he met with the most en- couraging patronage. In politics Mr. Rubey has always been an ardent republican, and in the fall of 1892 he was elected on the republi- can ticket to the office of county treasurer, a position for which he was admirably fitted, from his past experience as deputy. He re- ceived a handsome majority at the polls, which was an indication of the great popularity he enjoys in the community in which he lives.

The marriage of Mr. Rubey took place in Lenawee county, Mich., September 30, 1885, to Miss Elizabeth R. Houghtby, the accom- plished daughter of William and Malinda (Richey) Houghtby. She was born in Lenawee county, August 4, 1861, and is now the happy mother of three bright and intelligent children, viz: Hazel C .; James Raymond and Harlan Harold. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rubey are con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Rubey is also a member of lodge No. 287, I. O. O. F., at Spartanburg, and of Greensfork encampment, No. 101, as well as Winchester lodge, No. 91, K. of P., while Mrs. Rubey is a Daughter of Rebecca.

M. H. RUBEY.

MRS. M. H. RUBEY.

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Mr. Rubey is one of the most congenial gentle- men that Randolph can boast of, and his popular- ity is equally great with men of all parties. Of keen observation, but few facts transpire that he is not cognizant of, and but few faces, once seen by him, are forgotten. His training in school, "his experience in teaching and his business experience combined, fully qualify him for the performance of the responsible and onerous duties of the office he assumed Sep- tember 8, 1893. He has always been a sure and true worker for the best interest of the party that has always commanded his suffrage and most emphatic support, and as a recogni- tion for party service he was chosen to his present position by a handsome majority.

a HARLES SCHWEIZER, merchant tailor, is a native of Germany, born in the province of Baden, May 26, 1852. His parents, Philip and Sophia (Fankfort) Schweizer, were also natives of the same country, dying there, the father in 1852, and the mother in 1862, respectively. They had a family of seven children, namely: Christian, a resident of Union City; Henry, deceased; Susan, deceased; Sophia resides in Louisville, Ky .; Caroline, deceased; Annie, lives in Germany, and Charles, whose name appears at the head of this sketch.

Charles Schweizer was but six months old when his father died, and, at the age of ten years, was called upon to mourn the loss of his mother, after which event he lived with an uncle, Charles Hepel, until the age of four- teen He then entered upon an apprentice- ship of three years to learn tailoring, and after becoming proficient in the same, and serving his time, he came to the United States in 1872, landing in New York, from which city he proceeded westward to Columbia City, Ind.,

where he worked at his chosen calling for less than one year. He then moved to Union City, Randolph county, where he remained for a limited period, and then located in Winchester, where he worked for a short time for John Richardson, subsequently entering the employ of Lee S. Snodinger, with whom he remained for six and a half years. For the two years succeeding, he followed agricultural pursuits, but, not being satisfied with life on the farm, he returned to Winchester and accepted a position with R. Thornburg, in whose employ he continued eleven and one-half years, or until 1890, when he engaged in business for himself, being at this time the proprietor of a large merchant tailoring establishment, carrying a stock representing a capital of over $3,000, and doing a very safe and satisfactory business.

Mr. Schweizer was married January I, 1873, in Winchester, to Minerva Lewis, who was born in Randolph county, February 4, 1857, daughter of Isaac and Rebecca (Emmet) Lewis. To this marriage the following chil- dren have been born: George, Henry, Lewis, Charles Albert and Cecil. Mr. Schweizer is a thorough master of the trade to which he has devoted so many years of his life and the workmanship of his establishment is first-class in every particular. He is one of the substan- tial business men of Winchester, and stands high in the estimation of the public. Politi- cally he supports the principles of the repub- lican party, and in religion belongs to the Society of Friends, as does also his wife.

J OHN SLACK, a highly esteemed farmer of White River township and a gallant soldier of the late civil war, is a native of Ohio, born February 2, 1843, in the town of Sligo, Clinton county, a son of George and Ann (Major) Slack. The Slack family is

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of English origin, John's grandfather, David Slack, having many years ago settled in Bucks county, Pa., where both the parents of John were born. George Slack and family became residents of Randolph county, Ind., about the year 1850, settling on a farm now owned by John himself. There the father's death oc- curred on the 18th of November, 1887. He was a man of local prominence, a consistent member of the Christian church for many years and died deeply lamented by all who knew him; his widow still survives, making her home in Jay county, this state. The fol- lowing named children composed the family of George and Anna Slack: Joseph W., member of company C, Nineteenth Indiana infantry in the late war, died in 1862; John; Jane C., died in early childhood; David, Mrs. Mary Brady and Mrs. Sylvania Mendenhal. George Slack assisted in organizing company E, Fifty- seventh Indiana infantry, November, 1861, was commissioned second lietuenant and served as such until honorably discharged in April of the following year.

John Slack was about seven years of age when his parents moved to Randolph county, since which time, with the exception of the period spent in the army, the greater part of his life has been passed within the boundaries of White River township. His education em- braced studies usually included in the common school curriculum and he assisted his father on the farm until the breaking out of the war, at which time he responded to the country's call for volunteers, enlisting November 12, 1861, in company E, Fifty-seventh Indiana infantry, with which he served in the army of the Cum- berland until honorably discharged on the 16th day of December, 1865. During his period of service, Mr. Slack participated in some six- teen or seventeen engagements, including the bloody battles of Mission Ridge, siege of At- lanta, and others, Franklin, Tenn., and a

number of other minor battles, through all of which he escaped uninjured, although his clo- thing was frequently pierced by balls and other missiles. For a period of four months, Mr. Slack was confined to the hospital on account of disability, and on receiving his dis- charge he returned to Randolph county and began farming on the home place for a part of the proceeds, subsequently purchasing the place, consisting of 139 acres of fine land in sections 3 and 10, which he now owns. He has been a very successful agriculturist, his buildings and other improvements ranking with the best in the township, while as a stock raiser his efforts have resulted in very handsome profits.

Mr. Slack and Julietta, daughter of Marcus Starbuck of Randolph county, were made man and wife on the 22d day of February, 1866, and their wedded life has been crowned by the birth of nine children, the following of whom are living: Luella, Lizzie M. and Frank. Politically Mr. Slack is a republican, having cast his first ballot in 1864 for Abraham Lin- coln. He is one of the representative citizens of White River township, and it is with pleas- ure that the foregoing brief epitome of his life is accorded a place in the pages of this volume.

A LEXANDER SMITH, farmer and carpenter of White River township, is a well known and highly esteemed citizen. He was born in Surry county, N. C., June 10, 1829. His father was Durant Smith, whose biography ap- pears elsewhere; Alexander was the third child and eldest boy of the parents, and was two and a half years old when his parents moved to this section of the country. When old enough to work he helped his father and attended school in winter and some of the

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summer months. His father was a very active man and kept every one about him busy. He stayed on the farm until his marriage to Miss Delilah Cox, a daughter of John and Hepsab (Hiatt) Cox, the mother being a daughter of Zachariah Hiatt. His marriage occurred March 21, 1850, and in this union ten children were born: Allie Ann; Sylvania; Annie Jane; John Luther; Webster; Elisha B .; Elva; Eva; Lindley J. and Ella M., six of whom died when quite small. Webster was a school teacher, following in the steps of his illustrious prede- cessor, and taught eighteen terms of school, but died in his twenty-ninth year, and only Lindley J. and Ella are now living, when married Mr. Smith settled on land which his father helped him to purchase, a farm of sixty acres adjoin- ing the homestead on the east, where he lived for thirteen years when he purchased twenty acres in Stringtown, where he lived a year and then moved, in the spring of 1865, to the sixty acres on which he now lives, and re- mained here until 1880, when his wife became an invalid, and by medical advice he took her to Michigan, where they lived nearly a year, at the expiration of which time she died-July 18, 1881. Mr. Smith remained in Michigan nearly three years, engaged at carpentering at Traverse City and vicinity. He then returned and located on the farm he purchased in 1865, on which he now lives engaged in farming and working at his trade. "Like father, like son," he was industrious, hard working and temper- ate, never having been inside of a saloon but three times in his life, and then on business. He was made appraiser of land and assessed White River township in 1875-76. In the day of whigs, previous to 1856, his political affilliation was with this party, since which time he has been a supporter of the republi- can party, but is in principle and heart an ar- dent prohibitionist. In religious faith he is a Friend. In 1884 he again married, his wife

being Elizabeth (McConnell) Mote, and in this second union four children have been born, namely, Clina May, Don Carlos, deceased, Edna Gold and Mabel. Mr. Smith is a good citizen, a good neighbor, and a man of moral worth and inflexible integrity-a man such as makes our beloved state rich in its citizenship.

NDREW JACKSON SMITH, a farm- er, was born in White River town- ship, Randolph county, Ind., Sep- tember 14, 1842, and still resides near his birthplace. His father, Durant Smith, was born in North Carolina, February 6, 1802, and married October II, 1825, Elizabeth Keyes, who was born in the same state, 1806, and was a daughter of Joseph and Mary Keyes. Durant came, with his wife and three children, to Randolph county, Ind., 1829, and located three miles southeast of Winchester, on what is now known as the N. Kemp farm, lived there four years, and then moved to the farm now occupied by his son, A. J. Smith.

Mr. and Mrs. Durant Smith were the par- ents of twelve children, born as follows: Mary Ann, Nancy, J. Alexander, William, Willis H., Hannah, Lucinda, Asenath, Eleanor, Andrew J., Lavina and Emeline, all of whom lived to rear families of their own, excepting the eldest, who died in infancy; Willis and Hannah are now deceased. The mother of this family departed this life November 13, 1879, an elder in the Friends' Society. Durant Smith held the office of township trustee, also as a justice of the peace, and was considered to be an excellent juryman. He met with a most tragic fate on the evening of December 2, 1882, at Coble's Crossing, by having his foot caught in a cattle-guard on the railroad, and was not seen by the engineer until the train was within fifty feet of him. He was

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conscious of the approaching calamity, but nerved himself for the result, and was instantly killed, his body being shockingly mutilated. His remains were interred in the White River cemetery.

Andrew J. Smith was reared to the hard work of the farm, attended the common school, and one term at the high school at Fountain City. At the age of twenty-two he married Miss Elizabeth Hobbick, born in Ran- dolph county, January 30, 1845, and daughter of Christian and Christina Hobbick, of Ran- dolph county, and this union has been blessed by the birth of nine children, viz: Arthur D., born September 16, 1865; Milo V., March 3, 1867; Ida L., November 23, 1869; Della V., September 24, 1872; Willis J., March 31, 1875; Cora E., October 31, 1877; Bessie A., April 7, 1881; Lucy U., June 7, 1883, and Hannah Ethel, September 23, 1885. Lucy U., however, died in infancy. Arthur D., the eldest, is a dentist at Albuquerque, N. M., and Milo is attending a dental college.

Andrew J. Smith first purchased a new saw mill, five miles north of Winchester, in 1870, and operated it for three years, when he removed it to his present farm, where he con- tinued to run it until shortly after his father's death. In the spring of 1883, he moved it over to the Greenville pike, but shortly after sold it, not because he was not successful, but because of his father's death.

Mr. Smith has acquired other property in White River township, and also owns a 250 acre farm in Magoffin county, Ky. By birth- right he is a member of the Society of Friends, and he is a member of the Smith's association of the Durant Smith family, which held a re-union at Mr. Smith's farm in the fall of 1893.

The Smith family has always held a high position in the society of White River town- ship, and none more deserves it.

NDREW J. STAKEBAKE, the rep- resentative for Randolph county, and one of the most popular men in the same, has been prominent in public affairs ever since his coming here, on the 22d day of March, 1853, when his father at that time, located here. He was born in Jefferson township, Preble county, Ohio, March 16, 1843, and is the fourth son and seventh child of a family of eleven children, in which family there were seven sons and four daughters- the family of John Stakebake and his wife Anna (Clark) Stakebake. John Stake- bake and his wife, Anna Clark, were natives of Cumberland county, Pa., the former being of German descent and the latter of German and Scotch-Irish-her father, Daniel Clark, being of Scotch-Irish descent.

Andrew J. Stakebake was reared upon a farm and spent his youthful days in the pursuit of that industry. His father having died on the 29th day of December, 1853, his course of life was directed by his widowed mother, who died on the 16th day of April, 1866. On the breaking out of the late civil war Andrew J. left the farm, and while on a visit to Preble county, Ohio, among relatives, he enlisted on the Ist day of September, 1861, in company E, of the Thirty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, from which service he was discharged on the 15th day of September, 1864, with the rank of sergeant. He participated with his regi- ment in all of its engagements during his en- listment. At the battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863, this regiment is reported to have lost a larger per cent. than any other regiment in the engagement, and subsequently, on the 25th day of November, 1863, on Mis- sion Ridge, in the finale of that stupendous clash of arms, Andrew J. received four gun- shot wounds, one of which totally destroyed the use of his left arm.

His opportunities for an education in his

ANDREW J. STAKEBAKE.

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AND WHITE RIVER TOWNSHIP.

youth were such as the public schools afforded, but were somewhat limited. Consequently, in the spring of 1865, he entered the seminary at Winchester, and after a time became an assistant teacher therein. He was a teacher in the public schools from 1865 to 1871, and was school examiner of Randolph county from 1871 till said office was changed to a county superintendency. He has held the offices of deputy county treasurer and deputy prosecut- ing attorney of his county and president of the school board of the town of Winchester. He was admitted to the bar in 1873, and has ever since enjoyed a lucrative law practice. He is in every particular a self-made man and in close touch with the common people, in whose ranks he takes pride in being listed. He has been a life long republican, and was nomi- nated for representative of his party by a popular vote on the 21st day of March, 1892, without opposition. On the 8th of November, 1892, with a legislative vote in Randolph coun- ty of 6,648, with four candidates in the field, he received a popular plurality of 2, 359.

On the 26th day of December, 1871, An- drew J. Stakebake was married to Ann Eliza- beth Jaqua, eldest daughter of Dr. Charles Jaqua, and niece of Mrs. ex-Governor Gray, of Indiana. To this marriage Mary Stakebake was born on the 9th day of May, 1873, and Neal B. Stakebake, now a teacher in the schools of this county, on the 3Ist day of May, 1875. The two children are both graduates of the Winchester high school, in the class of 1892. The little family reside at their pleas- ant home in Winchester, where the children were born. Mrs. Stakebake is a member of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Stakebake contributes his church support to the same, but is not a member of the church. He is a prominent member of the G. A. R., and I. O. O. F., and has had conferred upon him all the honors of these fraternal associations.

A S. STANLEY, senior proprietor of the Albert Stanley Lounge works at Winchester, Ind., was born in Frank- lin township, Randolph county, Ind., November II, 1861, a son of Pleasant A. and Nancy (Hiatt) Stanley. Pleasant A. Stanley was also a native of Indiana and was born in Union, but died in Carter county, Mo., in 1874; his widow, Nancy (Hiatt) Stanley, who was born in Randolph county, Ind., February 2, 1837, has her present residence in Win- chester. A. S. Stanley is the fourth in order of birth in a family of eight children. His education was acquired primarily in the com- mon schools of his native township; after an absence of eight years he entered the school of Winchester, made his way through the cur- riculum by doing janitor work in the high school building, accomplished a six-year course in four years, and graduated, with class honors, in 1883. After graduation he engaged in the grocery trade for something more than a year, then traveled for three years in the employ of the Architectural Iron works, and several other different companies, and proved himself to be an accomplished salesman. In 1889 he established his present works in company with his brother, M. L. Stanley, and has been very successful in its prosecution, having, in 1893, manufactured over 1, 500 lineal feet of veranda work, in ad- dition to other house trimmings and lounges and other articles of house furniture. Mr. Stanley is naturally a mechanical genius, be- side being a natural born financier. He has made his way in his business as he did in school-through the exercise of untiring ener- gy-as is shown by the fact that when he started he had not a dollar that he could call his own.

September 1I, 1883, Mr. Stanley was most happily united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Hollingsworth, daughter of John G. and Al-

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zada (Grove) Hollingsworth, of Winchester. This lady was born in Philipsburg, Ohio, June 9, 1868, and came with her parents to Win- chester in 1884. She has blessed her husband with four children, who are named, Kiler, Blanche, Crete and Wayne. In politics, Mr. Stanley is a prohibitionist, and fraternally is a Mason and also a Knight of Pythias. In re- ligion he affiliates with the Christian church, of which religious organization Mrs. Stanley is also a member. In social circles Mr. and Mrs. Stanley occupy an enviable position, while with the business community Mr. Stanley's reputation stands without a blemish.

EN. ASAHEL STONE, son of Ezra Stone, was born June 29, 1817, near Marietta, Washington county, Ohio, removing with his parents to Aurora, Ind., in 1818, and to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1822. On the 23d of September, 1837, he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia B. Preston, at Finneytown, near Cincinnati, Ohio. In boyhood he learned the carpenter's trade, and in his sojourns at New Orleans as his father's assistant, formed an attachment for that city, and removed thither with his wife shortly after marriage. In 1839, how- ever, he came to Winchester and has ever since been one of its prominent and influential citizens. Until the outbreak of the late rebel- lion he was engaged at the carpenter's trade at Winchester and vicinity, but on the 29th of May, 1861, was appointed by Gov. Morton as commissary-general for the state of Indiana, and, on the 15th of October, 1862, was ap- pointed quartermaster-general. In his official capacity he proved himself a superior man. In the work of looking after the interests of the soldiers, securing and forwarding supplies, pro- viding sanitary stores, nurses and medical at-

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A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph 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 107

Author: Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1474

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474