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 110

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 110
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 110

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).

OORMAN WAY was born Feb- ruary 9, 1808, at Marlboro, S. C., and in his very infancy was thrown, to some extent, upon his own re- sources, as his parents died when he was very young. At the age of eight years he was brought by relatives to Randolph county, Ind., where he continued to reside until his death, which took place on the 17th of August, 1881. Before reaching manhood, he learned the art of cabinet making, and was engaged in that occupation and that of a carpenter until 1838. In the spring of that year, he became a law

student in the office of Judge Perry, at Lib- erty, Union county, Ind., and in the following year was admitted to the bar at Winchester. His license bears the signatures of David Kil- gore and Samuel Bigger, judges of the Elev- enth and Sixth judicial circuits. That he ob- tained a place at the bar at theend of so short a term of study proves that he had improved well his opportunity, for at that period a thor- ough knowledge of the elementary principles of legal science was a condition precedent to admission. The action of his mind was both vigorous and analytic. He loved books and rtudy; he was a thoughtful reader; his discus- sions of abstruse philosophical questions were highly instructive. In his later years, he was deeply interested in the subjects discussed by our modern scientists, particularly the origin of human life, its mission and man's destiny. He was familiar with the writings of Spencer, Tyndall, Huxley and Darwin, but he repudi- ated utterly the whole doctrine of materialism, and never wavered for a moment in his belief in the immortality of the soul. He believed creation the result of an intelligent cause. He was a member of no church, although his sympathies were strongly with the Society of Friends. In his personal life, he was pure and singularly free from the vices that have debauched so many of our public men. In early life, Mr. Way was identified with the whig element in politics, and took an active part in the Harrison and Clay campaigns of 1840 and 1844. But he was always intensely anti-slavery in his convictions, and in 1848 gave in his adhesion to Mr. Van Buren and the Buffalo platform. He supported Fremont as his choice for president in 1856 and Lin- coln in 1860, but never took an active part in a political campaign after the war. He was fitted by nature and education to occupy leg- islative or judicial positions, but, although fre- quently importuned to do so, he never permit-

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ted his name to be used in connection with the candidacy for any elective office. He chose to devote his life to the practice of his profes- sion, and by faithful and industrious adherence to his calling, amassed a comfortable fortune; yet he was never avaricious nor disposed to acquire wealth by exactions. He has been known to permit a tenant to occupy a farm for years, without paying any rent, provided he would pay the annual taxes, and many an impecunious client has had reason to bless his generosity. He was married, in 1833, to Miss Eleanor Powell, an estimable young lady and a noble wife. One child came to bless their union, but death claimed it in infancy, and in 1865 the dread presence again invaded his home, claiming for his victim the devoted wife whose love had been his stay and whose death left a void in his heart that was never filled and a shadow that followed all his after life. On the 20th of August, 1881, the mem- bers of the bar met to give expression to their respect for their distinguished associate, who, three days previously, had passed beyond the confines of time to the boundless shores of eternity. From the memorial address pre- sented on that occasion we make the following abstract: "By the death of Moorman Way, the profession of this county has lost, not only its oldest, but its most notable character.

For more than forty years he was closely iden- tified with the history of our courts and judi- cial proceedings, and during all this time there was scarcely an important leading con- troversy in which he did not take a leading part. He won a commanding position at the bar soon after entering upon professional life, and maintained it to the end. In learn- ing, in ability, in fidelity to the interests of the client and all the elements that make the true lawyer, he was the acknowledged peer of his foremost associate. He was the contem- porary of Rariden, Kilgore, Elliott, the Smiths,

of Parker and of Morton; and now that he has followed them is worthy to have his memorial put beside theirs on the records of the court of which he was a member and an ornament."

a PILLIAM RANDOLPH WAY, post- master of Winchester, was born in that city (then town) March 4, 1843, and is a son of Jesse and Lucinda (Turner) Way. Jesse Way, the father of William R., was born in Marlboro district, S. C., in 1808; he came to Randolph county in 1817, and here married Fannie Diggs in 1829; after the death of this lady he married, in 1833, Miss Lucinda Turner. He was for three years a member of the board of directors of the State Bank of Indiana, and for twelve years, from 1833 to 1845, a merchant of Win- chester. He was a Friend, an abolitionist, and later a republican, and was all his life up- right, trustworthy and highly respected.

William R. Way attended the schools of Winchester until eighteen years of age, and then enlisted in company H, Eighty-fourth Indiana volunteer infantry, for three years, but served until the close of the war. He was in the Atlanta campaign, took part at Chicka- mauga and then fell back under General Thomas and participated in the battles of Franklin, Nashville, and all sieges, raids and skirmishes of his regiment, division and corps. On returning from the war, Mr. Way entered into the grocery trade in partnership with his father, and three years later engaged in the sewing machine agency business on his own account, handling the Grover & Baker, the Singer and the Howe for five years, and then for two years was employed by Henry Carter in teaming from town to town, gathering pro- duce, etc.

When C. E. Ferris was postmaster of Win-

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chester, Mr. Way was his deputy for over six years, and when Benjamin Harrison was elected president of the United States, Mr. Way was appointed postmaster through the recommendation of General Thomas Browne. There were eleven candidates for the position, but Mr. Way was selected over all. December 22, 1868, Mr. Way was married in Winchester to Miss Frances E. Ferris, a native of the town, who bore him two children, Guy, de- ceased, and Orlando E. Mr. and Mrs. Way are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are highly respected by their fel- low members. Mr. Way, as will have been seen, is a republican in politics. He is a mem- ber of the G. A. R. and of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and is a Knight of Honor. He has given general satisfaction to all parties in his capacity of postmaster, being affable and obliging, and socially he is regarded with great consideration.

ROF. SAMUEL WILLIAMS, the famous vocalist and teacher of Win- chester, is a native of Fontaine City, Wayne county, Ind., and was born March 6, 1855. His parents, Christopher and Nancy (Pitts) Williams, were respectively from Highland county, Ohio, and New Gar- den, N. C., and were married in Winchester in 1833. They located in Hamilton county, Ind., and were among the pioneer families of that county, where they resided until 1852, when they removed to Wayne county, where they still live on a fine farm of 160 acres. Their children were eleven in number, and of these nine still survive. The parents are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church, and in politics the father is a republican, who was much interested in the underground rail- road prior to and during the war.

Prof. Williams received a good common school and academic education at New Gar- den, Ind., and when a mere boy developed a decided taste for music. He was placed under the instruction of Prof. Otto Schmidt, and was thoroughly trained by him for three years. At the age of sixteen, he himself began teaching, and for ten years taught in the public schools of Wayne county, and was then township trustee for four years. In 1887 he became superintendent of the musical department of the Winchester schools, and here has since continued.

In 1876 the professor was married in Wayne county to Miss Ella Hough, who was born March 5, 1859, a daughter of Moses and Penina (Woodward) Hough, and this union has been blessed by the birth of five children, all musicians, viz: Ida, double bass and piano; Grace, flute; Mabel, violin; Earnest, cornet, and Jan, clarionet. The mother of this tal- ented family died March 22, 1890, and her mortal remains are laid to rest in New Garden cemetery. September 5, 1892, the professor chose for his second mate Emma Williamson, of Winchester, where she was born February 4, 1857, the daughter of John and Emily Williamson. The professor and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Knight of Pythias and in politics is a republican, and he is highly respected in Win- chester and wherever known.

A BRAHAM J. WINTER, retired busi- ness man of Winchester, was born in Blair connty, Pa., December 13, 1821, son of Jacob and Martha (Steele) Winter, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ireland. By occupation Jacob Winter was a merchant and farmer. By his first marriage he had three children namely: Benjamin, de-

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ceased; Abraham J. and Mrs. Rebecca Hilde- brandt, and by second marriage with Margaret Carroll he become the father of eight children. His flret wife, mother of the subject of this mention died in the year 1826, and his death occurred in 1863. He was a member of the German Baptist or Dunkard church, a demo- crat in his political belief, and a successful man in the business relations of life.

Abraham J. Winter was four and a half years old when his mother died, after which sad event he went to live with his grandfather, Abraham Winters, with whom he made his home until seventeen years of age. His early life was passed on a farm, and received his educational training in the common schools, which he attended at intervals until seventeen, and then began learning the trade of cabinet- making. which he followed for a period of about thirty years. Later he engaged in the mercantile business, handling general groceries in Winchester, to which city he moved in the fall of 1866, following the furniture business from that date until 1873. From the latter year until 1875 he carried on the grocery busi- ness in Winchester, and in 1879 again em- barked in the furniture trade, which he carried on for about three years, and then again en- gaged in the grocery business, which he con- tinued until 1892. .

Mr. Winter was first married in Mansfield, Ohio, January 22, 1848, to Elizabeth Hays, who died May 19, 1855, the mother of two children: Clarence, deceased, and Clement, a resident of Winchester at this time. The second marriage was solmenized September 4, 1869, with Mary Harvey who departed this life on the 24th day of February, 1878. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and her remains were laid to rest in the White River cemetery. On May 26, 1880, Mr. Winter married his present companion, Rebecca A. Watson, of Watson county, Ohio,

daughter of John and Sarah (Ward) Watson. For many years Mr. Winter was a republican in his political belief but servered his allegi- ance with that party some time since, and is now an earnest supporter of the principles of prohibition. He was made a Mason Decem- ber 13, 1848, in Somerset, Ohio, and has ever since been an active worker in the order.

a W. WOOLVERTON, manufacturer and wholesale dealer in boots, shoes, findings, etc., Winchester. was born in Bucks county, Pa., March 21, 1836. His parents were Charles and Harriet (Moon) Woolverton, the former of whom was born in Philadelphia, December 12, 1806, and the latter in another portion of state, in 1802. They were married in Bucks county, where Mr. Woolverton was employed in shoemaking until 1855, when he moved to Wayne county, Ind., and followed his trade at Cox's Mill until 1860, when he removed to Whitewater, in the same county, where he continued his business until his death, June 30, 1889, his wife having preceded him to the grave May 21, 1868.

They were the parents of seven children, viz: Edward G., Charles W., the subject proper of this sketch; Martha, the wife of John W. Garrett, of Wayne county, Ind .; Sarah, deceased; Susan C., widow of William G. Jordan; Isaac M. and Hannah. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics Mr. Woolverton was a republican of the kind known as stalwart.

C. W. Woolverton was reared in Bucks county, Pa., until he was nineteen years of age, when he came to Indiana with his par- ents. He had learned the trade of shoemak- ing, and from 1860 to 1861 worked at the business at Whitewater. In the year last

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named, fired with a love for the Union and a desire to preserve it from disruption, he en- listed in company B, Nineteenth Indiana vol- unteer infantry, and served valiantly and faith- fully until prostrated by chronic laryngitis, when he was honorably discharged February 6, 1863. He participated in numerous skir- mishes and actions with the army of the Poto- mac, and is now receiving a pension on account of his disability.

After receiving his discharge he returned to Whitewater, but six months later removed to Anderson and there engaged in the retail shoe business for twenty-two months; he next went to Richmond, Ind., and for nine months was foreman for the J. M. Williams company; he then came to Randolph county, and for eight months engaged in shoemaking at Huntsville, and finally, in 1872, settled in Winchester. Here he acted as foreman for J. T. Elliott for five months, and then laid the foundation of his present extensive business, which he still continues. During this period, however, or some time in 1885 to 1890, he had as a part- ner Mr. John D. Guinn, but since 1890 he has been alone in the trade. Mr. Woolverton is practically conversant with all branches of the shoe and leather business, in which it will be seen he has been engaged almost from boy- hood, and since embarking in his present suc- cessful and extensive enterprise, has secured a reputation for integrity and honorable dealing that places him among the foremost business men of the state of Indiana.

July 10, 1888, Mr. Woolverton secured the hand and heart of the lady whose companion- ship he had sought as his life partner, in the person of Mrs. Lizzie E. Connor, who was born in Greenville, Ohio, November 26, 1855. She is the daughter of William and Effie Smith, a highly respected family of the state, and was the widow of Arthur Connor, and with her for a helpmeet the river of life flows gently

and smoothly on. Mr. Woolverton has at- tained the unusual distinction of being made a thirty-second degree Mason, having been a Knight Templar twenty-seven years and under the Scottish rite twelve years. He is also a member of the G. A. R. Beside doing a busi- ness of over $20,000 per annum in Winchester, Mr. Woolverton is the owner of 160 acres of fine land in Lane county, Kan.

a DWARD G. WOOLVERTON, of Win- chester, is a son of Charles and Harriet (Moon) Wolverton, further mention of whom will be found in the sketch of C. W. Woolverton, which immediate- ly precedes this. Edward G. was born in Bucks county, Pa., July 17, 1834. He was educated in his native state and learned shoe- making under his father, who was an expert, nevertheless he thought it best to pass two and a half years in Philadelphia in order to perfect himself in the art. February 18, 1856, he came west with his brothers and located at Richmond, Ind., and there, in company with E. H. Menke, engaged in the retail boot and shoe trade, manufacturing and dealing for two .years. Mr. Menke then withdrew and Mr. Woolverton continued the business six years longer.

After various meanderings through the county, working at his trade, he reached Win- chester, on January 4, 1876, entered the èm- ploy of his brother, C. W., with whom he has since remained. Mr. Woolverton was married in Wayne county, Ind., at Middleburough, November 7, 1857, to Eliza J. Moon, who was born in the county named, September 30, 1830, a daughter of John and Susan (Stidham) Moon, of German descent, and by her became the father of four children, viz: Charles, Mary and Bertha, all deceased, and Hattie, who is

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married to R. P. Miller, of Alexandria, Ind. Mr. Woolverton is a republican in politics, and fraternally is a Mason of the Knight Templar degree. He and family reside in a neat resi- dence he purchased on Richmond street, Win- chester, and enjoy the entire respect of their neighbors.

J OHN R. WRIGHT, lawyer and justice of the peace, and descended from one. of the oldest and most numerous fami- lies of Randolph county, was born in Winchester, August 28, 1868, a son of Chris- tian H. and Mary E. (Carter) Wright. He was graduated from the high school of his native city, and in 1888-89, attended the university at Irvington, near Indianapolis, and on leaving the latter institution, pursued the study of law under Watson & Watson until admitted to the bar at Winchester, in 1890. The same year, he was elected justice of the peace by the repub- lican party, of which he is a faithful and active member, and still retains his commission.

In 1892, he formed a co-partnership with U. B. Hunt for the practice of law, but the connection lasted nine months only, as in the fall of the same year he was elected city at- torney of Winchester for one term. Mr. Wright is a member of the Knight of Pythias chancellor commander-and is past captain of the Sons of Veterans. He is very popular with his fellow citizens, and is looked upon by his fellow practitioners with much favor and approbation, and it is evident that his career, both in law and in politics, will in the near future so develop that he will feel in it a just and commendable pride. The father of John R., was born about two and a half miles west of Winchester, in 1838, and is now connected with the Winchester woolen mills. The mother was born in Randolph county, Ind., 1842. Mr. Wright was united in marriage, May 24,

1893, with Edna Wright, of Indianapolis. Mrs. Wright is a daughter of the late Samuel Wright. She was born in Randolph county, Ind., in 1871, and is descended from one of the most highly respected families of the county.

J OSEPH WATTS was born in Richland county, Ohio, November 18, 1843, a son of Samuel Watts, and the younger brother of I. P. Watts, before men- tioned. Joseph Watts received but a common school education in Wells county, Ind., where he came with his parents when but four years of age, and was there reared upon a farm until September 16, 1861, when he joined company A, Forty-seventh Indiana volunteer infantry, but was discharged four months later on account of disability. On October 18, 1864, having somewhat recovered his health, he again enlisted in company E, Seventh Indiana cav- alry, for one year, and served until honorably discharged October 19, 1865. He then re- turned home and engaged in farming in Wells county until his marriage, October 10, 1869, in Jay county, Ind., to Matilda A. Irey. This lady was born in Wabash county, Ind., March 7, 1848, the daughter of Jonah and Ann (Will- kins) Irey, natives of Ohio, who came to Indi- ana in an early day and located in Wabash county, where they engaged in farming. After his marriage, Mr. Watts located in Winchester, Ind., and engaged at general labor until 1873, when they moved to Rice connty, Kansas. There he cultivated the soil until 1876, when they returned to Winchester. There Mr. Watts received an appointment in the United States mail service on the route from Chicago to Cincinnati covered by the "Big Four" road. This route he held four years, at the end of which time he was transferred to the Cleve- land & Indianapolis railway. When Mr. Cleve-

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land was elected president, Mr. Watts resigned in 1885 and engaged in farming until Mr. Har- rison became president, when he again resumed his position in the mail service and is still on the former route. He is now head clerk of his department and one of the most prominent men in his profession. Mr. and Mrs. Watts' married life has been blessed by the birth of five children, viz .: Clyde M., Herbert I., Frederick J., Floy D., Chester B. He and his estimable wife are members of the Chris- tian church. Mr. Watts affiliates with the republican party on all questions of a political nature, and is a member of that grand organ- ization composed of the defenders of our coun- try-the G. A. R. He is a good citizen and respected by all who know him.

The father of Joseph Watts, Samuel Watts, was at one time a prosperous merchant, but, owing to financial reverses and impaired health, he turned to the woods of Indiana with the

hope of improving his fortune. He removed with his family to Wells county, Ind., in 1847, locating on a farm between the towns of Cam- den and Bluffton, where the subject of this sketch passed the days of his boyhood and youth amid the privations and hardships inci- dent to pioneer life.

Joseph Watts has ever proved himself to . be an effective and faithful employe for every ( one with whom he has been engaged. As a railroad mail agent he has been more than usually successful, and has never been known to neglect the slightest detail in the execution of the duties pertaining to that very important service, as far as they fell to his lot to perform them. His long retention of his position, and the high rank he has reached in the service give ample evidence of this fact, and it is not necessary to attest the statement by adducing any further facts than those already presented above.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

J OSEPH MENDENHALL ADDING- TON, a representative farmer and popular citizen of Franklin township, Randolph county, Ind., is a native of this state, born October 6, 1829, in the county of Wayne. His father, William R. Adding- ton, was brought to Indiana when five years of ago. Here he married Miss Dorcas Men- denhall, whose father, Absalom Mendenhall, many years ago settled near Crawfordsville, Ind., where a number of his descendants still

reside. William R. Addington grew to man- ---- hood in Wayne county, and in 1834 moved to Randolph county, locating in section 23, Franklin township, where his death occurred October 5, 1875, at the age of seventy-three years; his wife died previous to this, June 8, 1868. These excellent people were devoted members of the Society of Friends, and they had a large family of fourteen children, whose names are as follows: Jesse; Joseph; Rachel, wife J. Green; Absalom; James; John; War-

REV. THOMAS ADDINGTON.

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FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

ren; Thomas; Sarah J., wife of J. Malott; Betsey A., wife of N. Bowerly; Elmira, de- ceased, and three that died in infancy without being named.

Joseph M. Addington, whose name heads this sketch, has been an honored resident of Randolph county sihce his fifth year, and is now one of the oldest citizens in point of con- tinuous residence in the township of Franklin. He readily recalls the family's removal to their new home in an almost unbroken wilderness, at which time the nearest neighbor lived more than two miles away, and there were no build- ing of any kind between his father's house and the county seat. His early life was an almost unceasing round of hard labor incident to re- moving the forest growth and fitting the land for cultivation, in consequence of which his opportunities for acquiring an education were very meager. On arriving at the year of his majority he became attracted by the glittering inducements of the Pacific slope, and, turning his face toward the setting sun, made his way westward to the far-off Oregon country and other territories, where, for a period of nine- teen years, he was alternately engaged in mining, assisting in the government survey, and in fighting the Indians. He participated in the war with the Rogue River Indians and and coast tribes in 1866, and in the same year took part in a number of battles and had many narrow escapes from the savages foes. Mr. Addington returned to Randolph county in 1870 and engaged in farming on the home place, where he has since resided and which he now owns. He is one of the popular citi- zens of Franklin, is a successful farmer, and numbers his friends by the score in his own and other townships of Randolph. He cast his first vote for J. C. Fremont and has been a supporter of the republican party ever since, having always been inimical to slavery, and a believer in American protection.

B EV. THOMAS ADDINGTON, of Ridgeville, Ind., was born at Chester, Wayne county, Ind., December 5, 1829. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Smith) Addington, who were natives of South Carolina, the former being a son of John Addington, who is supposed to have been a native of England, and who came to America with two of his brothers. One of the three settled in New England, and the others in the south. Every state of the Union and Canada hold representatives of the present generation of this family. Sir Henry Addington, prime minister of England at the time of the Louisi- ana purchase, was a member of the same family. Thomas Addington, Sr., was born December 1, 1778, to John and Elizabeth Addington, and about 1808 came to Wayne county, Ind., from South Carolina, where, on October IIth, of the year previous, he was married. His wife was born January 18, 1786. They were the parents of eleven children, namely: Hannah, Matilda, David S., Jesse, James, Joseph and George-all deceased; Mercy (Mrs. Hawkins, formerly Mrs. L. C. Diggs); Mary (Mrs. Roberts, of Oak Landing, Ind.); John, deceased, and Elizabeth (Mrs. Rev. M. W. Diggs, of Fort Recovery, Ohio). Thomas Addington, Sr., was one of the most honored pioneers of this and Wayne county, in both of which counties he cleared up farms. He and his wife were members of the Society of Friends, and both died near Macksville, Ind .- he March 8, 1839, and she April 25, 1845. John Addington and his wife died at Chester, Wayne county, Ind.

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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 110

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