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 117

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 117
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 117

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).

A precious one from us has gone; A voice we loved is stilled; A place is vacant in our home Which never can be filled. God, in his wisdom, has recalled The boon his love had given, And, though the body slumbers here, The soul is safe in Heaven.

J OHN W. TAYLOR, trustee of Greens- fork township, Randolph county, Ind., was born on a farm near Spartanburg, Randolph county, and is a son of John H. and Sarah (Horn) Taylor. The father, John H. Taylor, was born in North Carolina October 30, 1824, and is the son of William

and Telitha (Hedgepath) Taylor, who were natives of the above state. John H. Taylor became a resident of this county in 1835; his education was such as the pioneer youths gen- erally enjoy. His marriage took place Febru- ary 19, 1846, to Sarah Horn, who was born in this county November 9, 1827; she is the daughter of Jose and Penina (Fulghum) Horn, who were ngtives of Guilford county, N. C. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been blessed with nine children, four of whom are living, viz: Ira S., born February 20, 1855; Thomas L., born September 4, 1856; John W., February 6, 1859, and Frank R., born August 11, 1861. The deceased are Michael, who died in 1847; William A., in 1851; Mary B., in 1853, and Caroline M., in 1855. Mr. Taylor was en- gaged in farming until 1849, when he began the manufacture of boots and shoes at Spar- tanburg in 1854; he afterward extended his business and opened a salesroom, carry- ing a full line of boots, shoes and no- tions, and was thus engaged until 1857, when he sold out and purchased a farm near the village, on which he resided for two years; at the expiration of this time was elected trustee of Greensfork township, and, in order to ably attend to the duties devolving upon him, he sold his farm and returned to Spartanburg. At the expiration of his term of office, he again began to manufacture boots and shoes, and was thus engaged until 1880, when he pur- chased a full line of drugs and notions, in which business he successfully engaged for several years. He is a member of the Bethel lodge, F. and A. M., No. 250. In 1885 he lost his wife and now makes his home with his son, John W.

John W. Taylor was but four months old when his father moved to Spartanburg. Here he received a good education, and soon after arriving at the age of twenty-one, was married to Nancy A., daughter of Wesley and Polly A.

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(Brown) Locke. He at one time engaged in the drug business, which he followed ten years, during five years of which time he was also postmaster. In 1890 he was elected township trustee, and is still the incumbent of that office. To the marriage of John W. and Nancy A. Taylor have been born six children, viz .: Clate (deceased), Lester, Fred, Ava, Gertie and Edith. Mrs. Taylor is member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the family stands very high in the esteem of their friends and neighbors.

S AMUEL A. WINSHIP, a prosperous farmer of Greensfork township, Ran- dolph county, Ind., was born in New Jersey, May 16, 1844. His father, John Winship, was a native of Licolnshire, Eng., came to America when twenty-six years of age, went to work in a glass factory in Burlington county, N. J., and there married Eliza Sloan, a native of that state. He came to Franklin township, Randolph county, Ind., about 1855, and purchased 120 acres of land in its primitive condition, and here managed his farm for over twenty years, his death oc- curred September 8, 1876, having been pre- ceded by his wife May 19, of the same year, and a handsome monument marks their rest- ing-place in the New Dayton cemetery. They were parents of the following children: Mary, who died at the age of eighteen years; John F., also deceased; Jonathan and George, both farmers; Elizabeth, wife of William Dilks, a farmer in New Jersey; Hannah, wife of John Winner, a shoemaker of Ridgeville, Randolph county; Charles, who died in 1851; John R., killed in the battle near Kingston, N. C .; Alfred; Joseph, who died in Andersonville prison the summer of 1864: William H., a farmer of Franklin township, Randolph county,

Ind., and Samuel A. The grandfather of Samuel A. Winship was named John, was an Englishman, was a sailor and a school teacher, and had visited India, China, Greece, and numerous other countries, he married Mary Smith in England, and was the father of three children.

Samuel A. Winship came to Randolph county with his parents, and remained with them until 1862, when he enlisted in company F, Fifty-fifth I. V. I., and was on detached duty most of the time at Richmond, Ky., and at Georgetown, until September, 1863, when he returned home and enlisted in company B, One Hundred and Eighteenth I. V. I., for six months' service, and was on duty in east Ten- nessee. Returning, he enlisted in January, 1865, in company A, One Hundred and Forty- seventh, as a one year man, was sent to Vir- ginia and discharged at Harper's Ferry in 1865. On his return to the home farm, he shortly after married Miss Barbara, the daugh- ter of George and Rachael (Marker) Herron, who came from Ohio and located on a farm of forty acres in White River township. To this union were born two children; Edmund, a farmer, and Ella, who married William New- ton, but who died in 1888.

Mrs. Barbara Winship died in 1869, and Mr. Winship remained single seven years, when he married Miss Sallie A., daughter of John S. and Mary (Hollingsworth) Moody. Mr. and Mrs. Moody were born respectively in 1814 and 1818, were married in Randolph county in 1830, and became the parents of eight children, viz: Isaac, Martha, Pierce H., Caroline, Milla, Martha (2d), Sallie and Mary A. John L. Moody died March 4, 1891, and his wife January 8, 1892, both members of the Society of Friends.

Samuel A. Winship lived on a farm of ninety acres in the township of Franklin six years, and then ten years ago moved to his

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present farm of eighty acres in Greensfork township; he also owns another farm of eighty acres near Carlos City, in Randolph county. In 1892 he erected for himself a fine residence, and his farm is in most excellent condition. Mr. Winship, by his second marriage, is the father of three daughters, Cylona M., Daisy M., and EthelC. He hasa fine education and was once a school teacher; he is also a musician

of considerable merit. He is a member of the G. A. R., was formerly an alliance man, and is now a member of the F. M. B. A. He is independent in politics and religion, but is a great reader and possesses a library of about 300 volumes. He is very industrious, and is looked upon as being one of the model farmers of the township, as well as being a most sub- stantial citizen.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

UGH T. ALEXANDER, farmer and stock raiser, and one of the progress- ive men of Jackson township, is a native of Preble county, Ohio, and son of James and Julia Alexander. James Alexander was born on the 8th day of Jan- uary, 1818, in Warren county, Ohio, the son of Daniel Alexander, whose ancestors came to the United States a number of years ago from Scotland. Julia Alexander, to whom Jame's was united in marriage on the 2d day of Sep- tember, 1840, was born in Greene county, Ohio, May 16, 1820. Her parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Alexander, were natives of North Carolina and early settlers of the Buck- eye state. The following are the names of the children born to James and Julia Alexan- der: Milton H., a farmer of Randolph county, who married Amanda Hinkle; Margaret J., wife of G. W. Poorman; Sarah E., wife of Isaac Hoffman, of Randolph county; Hugh T., whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Cynthia, who died at the age of nine- teen; Henry J., a farmer married to Eliza Rhodes; James B., a farmer, married Rilla Fouss, and Mary E., who died in infancy.

After his marriage James Alexander located in Preble county, Ohio, where he resided for a period of ten years, and in December, 1852, became a resident of Randolph county, where he still lives. He is an enterprising agricul- turist of Jackson township; a leading member of the Christian church, with which religious body he has been indentified for over thirty years, and few men of the community in which he resides stand as high in the estimation of the people as he.

Hugh T. Alexander was born February 17, 1849, and when three years of age was brought by his parents to Randolph county, Ind. His youthful years were passed on his father's farm, and in the country schools he acquired an edu- cation which, supplemented by much reading and close observation in subsequent life, has made him one of the well informed men of the community where he lives. He early decided to become a farmer, and, bending all his ener- gies in that direction, he is now one of the leading agriculturists of the township of Jack- son, owning a valuable farm of 144 acres, upon which, in 1890, was erected one of the finest country residences in Randolph county. Mr.

E. M. CLOUGH.

MRS. E. M. CLOUGH.

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Alexander is a model farmer and his success- ful life is the result of his own energy and well directed business foresight. In politics he supports the republican party, but, with the exception of supervisor, he has never held nor sought official recognition at the hands of his fellow citizens. Mr. Alexander's marriage was solemnized November 14, 1872, with Miss Sarah Huffman, daughter of William and Amanda (Hinkle) Huffman. This lady was born August 6, 1845, in Butler county, Ohio. To this union seven children have been born, five sons and two daughters, namely: James W., Laura R., infant (deceased), Cora A., John A. (deceased), Levi A., and Clarence A.

ZEKIEL C. CLOUGH, late promi- nent farmer of Jackson township, was born June 12, 1802, at Warren, in the state of New Hampshire. He accom- panied his parents to the west in 1818, and while passing through New York one of his sisters was suddenly taken ill, in consequence of which the family were compelled to await there her recovery. They remained there all of that winter, the other children meanwhile attending school. In the spring of 1819 they resumed their journey, and in April of that year reached Cincinnati, then but a struggling village of a few hundred inhabitants.

Never very full, the family treasury was greatly depleted by this time, and it was found necessary to increase their means before the family could proceed further. In this emer- gency Ezekiel C. sought and obtained employ- ment in a brick-yard and there learned the brick makers trade. Being successful in this, he purchased his employer's establishment and manufactured brick on his own account until 1826, when the family moved to Jay county, Ind., where Ezekiel entered 640 acres of land.

In 1837, at Cincinnati, he was married to Mary A. Huddart, who was born in 1819, in western Pennsylvania. This union was blessed with the birth of seven children, four sons and three daughters, all deceased except two sons. Their names are as follows: William, of the Sixty-ninth regiment Indiana volunteer in- fantry, killed at the battle of Port Gibson, May I, 1863; Nancy, deceased wife of William B. Lewis; Ezekiel M., a notice of whom follows this sketch; Honnah, deceased wife of George E. Reynolds; Lottie, deceased wife of F. A. Reynolds; George W., farmer of Jackson town- ship, married Ollie Noffsinger, and John, who died at the age of seven. Immediately after locating in Jay county Mr. Clough began the task of clearing away the forest and cultivating the fields, in which he was very successful. By prudent and judicious management, aided by careful industry and watchful economy, he enlarged his original farm until he owned the largest tract of land in Jay county.

His faithful wife was called from the scene of her earthly labors August 17, 1874, and after her Mr. Clough lived the remaining years of his life in Jackson township, Randolph county, Ind. On October 4, 1890, he followed his faithful wife to the spirit land. It was fitting and well that they should be laid to rest in the Salem cemetery, the land for which his public generosity had given to the people. For more than half a century this devoted couple had been worthy and consistent members of the Free Will Baptist church. He had also assisted largely in building a church for that denomination at Salem. To the erection of Ridgeville college he contributed a comfortable sum of money and 220 acres of valuable farm- ing land, and he also held three lifetime scholarships, valued at $900. From the organi- zation of the board of trustees of that college he has served as one of the trustees. Mr. Clough was a strong anti-slavery man, and

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gave the life of his eldest born that those in bondage might be freed. After the formation of the republican party, he allied himself with that organization, and continued to vote that way until his death. He was of a chari- table, generous nature, and willingly assisted in all public enterprises. Of quiet, even tem- perament, he was not easily inflamed to anger. A calm, cool man, he studied deeply before his opinion was formed, but when once formed it was hard to be shaken. Although living to a ripe old age, and of necessity becoming much enfeebled, he was perfectly contented and allowed no murmur to escape his lips. He enjoyed the respect and confidence of all who knew him; never had he sought after political preferment, but was content to be known as a common man, and when the final call came, and he was summoned to quit this world and enter into the beauties of the next, all felt they had lost a friend true and kindhearted, and one of great value.

Ezekiel M. Clough, second son and third child of the preceding, was born February 25, 1844, in Jay county, Ind., and grew to man- hood a farmer, to which useful calling all of his life has been devoted. He attended the com- mon schools at intervals until his twenty-first year, obtained a practical English education, and on the 19th day of August, 1862, entered the army, enlisting in the Sixty-ninth regi- ment, Indiana volunteer infantry, with which he served until honorably discharged at Arkan- sas Post in February, 1863. During his period of enlistment Mr. Clough took part in several battles, including Richmond, Ky., Arkansas Post, siege of Vicksburg and a num- ber of minor engagements. On quitting the army he resumed farming in Jackson town- ship, locating on an eighty acre tract of land, which was his home untfl 1886. For about eighteen months he lived in Union City, but subsequently returned to the farm, on which,

in 1888, he erected the beautiful dwelling in which he now resides. In the accumulation of worldly wealth Mr. Clough has been more than ordinarily successful, owning at this time over 360 acres of fine farm land, and other property equally as valuable. In addition to general farming he gives considerable atten- tion to stock raising, making a specialty of fine Poland China hogs and short horn cattle. He has been an active member of the Baptist church for over twenty-five years, belonging to the North Salem congregation, in which he is a recognized leader, and in politics supports the republican party. He is an honorable and upright citizen in all these terms imply, and has inherited in a great degree the virtues and characteristics of his father. Mr. Clough ano Mary A., daughter of Henry and Sarah (Smith) Handschy, were united in marriage on the 28th day of February, 1868, and two childrer have been born to the union: Etta, and Lennie Leota, both deceased. Mrs. Clough is also connected with the Free Will Baptist church.

ENJAMIN F.GETTENGER, a success ful agriculturist and prominent citizen of Jackson township, is a native o Baltimore county, Md., where hi birth occurred on the 30th day of December 1828. Paternally he is descended from Swis ancestry, but for several generations the famil resided in Maryland, where a number of de scendants are still living. His father, Jacol Gettenger, son of Jacob Gettenger, Sr., mar ried Mary Deal, and reared a family of twelv children, nine sons and three daughters namely: John, married Dorothy Helm; Jesse married Malissa Miller; Harriet, wife of Joh? Dickson; Elizabeth, wife of Robert Byrum Jacob, married Margaret Adams; Paul, marrie Berilda Gist; Daniel, married Sarah Hamp

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ton; Henry, married Mary E. Buff; Ann M., wife of John Wilkerson; Benjamin F., subject of this mention; William P., married Cather- ine Berheimer, and Nimrod, all deceased ex- cept Jacob, Henry, Benjamin F. and William P. By occupation, Jacob Gettenger was a blacksmith; he emigrated to Darke county, Ohio, about the year 1834 or 1835, and three years later became a resident of Randolph county, Ind., locating in Jackson township, where he purchased 160 acres of government land, from which he cleared and developed a good farm. He was a very industrious man, economical in the management of his affairs and acquired a comfortable competence of this world's goods. He and wife were members of the Methodist church, and their remains were laid at rest in what is known as the Raper cemetery, Darke county, Ohio.

Benjamin F. Gettenger remained with his parents during his minority, received a good English education, and for some time after his twenty-first year found employment as a day laborer, attending school at intervals in the meantime. Having made sufficient advance- ment to obtain a teacher's license, he followed teaching for two years, and on the 12th day of April, 1855, was united in marriage to Mary A., daughter of Abraham and Hannah (Gar- ner) Harshman. After his marriage, Mr. Gettenger located near his present place of residence in Jackson township, but previous to that time he had emigrated to Decatur county, Iowa, where he purchased a large tract of land, which he disposed of in 1856. In 1857 he purchased ninety-eight acres of his present farm, to which he has made additions from time to time, until he now owns 198 acres of highly improved land, his place being one of the best in the township. In 1881 he erected the beautiful dwelling in which the family now live at a cost of over $1,800, and the other buildings and general improvements bespeak

the presence of an energetic and model farmer. In matters political Mr. Gettenger has ever manifested an active interest, and as a repub- lican he was elected, in 1882, to the responsi- ble position of county commissioner, the duties of which office he discharged to the sat- isfaction of all concerned for a period of three years. For two years he served as assessor of Jackson township, and in whatever capacity his talents have been exercised he has proved himself a most worthy and competent public servant. Mrs. Gettenger's birth occurred in Jackson township, March 12, 1834, and she has borne her husband four children, namely: Daniel, a well known farmer of Jackson town- ship, married Della Swallow; Nathaniel, mar- ried Laura Frederick; William F., merchant of Saratoga, married Abalene Sell, and Frances, who still lives under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Gettenger are members of the New Light or Christian church.

R UFUS G. HINDSLEY .- Prominent among the successful men of Jackson township, Randolph county, Ind., is the gentleman whose brief biograph- ical sketch is herewith presented. He is a native of Ohio, born in the county of Darke on the 21st day of February, 1847, son of Stephen and Ann (Mitten) Hindsley, of whom an appropriate mention follows. At the age of one year Rufus G. was brought to Randolph county, where he has since resided, and, like the majority of boys in our western country, his early life was passed amid the routine of farm labor. His early educational experience embraced the studies comprising the common school course, and later he obtained a knowl- edge of the more advanced branches of learn- ing at Ridgeville college, which he attended for a period of three years. Including the ex-

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perience referred to, Mr. Hindsley taught during twenty-one successive years, his success in that field being evidenced by his frequent employment in the same locality, having taught ten terms in one district. He made a flattering success of teaching, and during the period in which he exercised his talents as an instructor carried the highest grade of license issued in the county. In the year 1871, August 17, he married Malinda Noffsinger, daughter of Absalom and Elizabeth (Johnson) Noffsinger. and immediately thereafter located in Jackson township, where he owns a fine farm of 120 acres of well improved land. Mr. Hindsley served as trustee of Jackson town- ship from 1876 to 1880, and in the latter year was elected assessor, the duties of which office he discharged for a period of two years. Po- litically he is a democrat. Mrs. Hindsley was born in Randolph county, Ind., November 17, 1849, and is the mother of seven children, whose names are as follows: Alvah C., born December 24, 1872, teacher and student of Central Normal school, Danville, Ind; Orvah, born February 15, 1875; Minnie E., born March 13, 1877; Odessa D., born May 2, 1880; Alice A., born February 20, 1883; Esta A., born March 20, 1887, and Lottie, born July 28, 1890, died November 17, 1892. Mrs. Hindsley is an active member of the Disciples church.

Stephen Hindsley, father of Rufus G. Hind- sley, was born in North Carolina August 20, 1818. Mr. Hindsley, after making several changes, finally selected Jackson township as a desirable place to locate, and made his final settlement February 10, 1848. He married Miss Ann M. McConnell March 7, 1841, a native of Piqua, Ohio, born June 10, 1820. Ten children blessed this union, of which num- ber eight are living. Sarah was born January 19, 1842, and became the wife of Westley Johnson; Joseph G. was born April 28, 1843,

and married Mary C. Musselman; Malinda, born August 23, 1844, and married Absolom Mangas; Rufus G., born February 21, 1847, married Malinda Noffsinger; John W., born July 26, 1849, married Martha J. Johnson; Mary E., born December 8, 1851, deceased September 16, 1853; George M., born March 23, 1854, married Caroline E. Warren; Melissa J., born September 10, 1856, married E. W. McFarland; Annetta, born October 23, 1858, deceased July 15, 1882, and James W., born August 14, 1860, married Rachel, F. Byron. Mr. Hindsley and his daughters are worthy members of the Disciples church. Mr. Hinds- ley is a social gentleman, and a democrat of the old school. His father, John Hindsley, was a native of Maryland, born January 17, 1767. He united in matrimony with Miss Hannah Stone, March 8, 1807. She was born March 8, 1788, in North Carolina, In the year 1823, Mr. John Hindsley and family set- tled in Granger county, Tenn., and later in Darke county, Ohio. He deceased August 16, 1847, and his estimable wife September 6, I 866.

SAAC HUFFMAN, of Jackson town- ship, Randolph county, Ind., was born in Butler county, Ohio, February 25, 1847, and is a son of William and Amanda Huffman. William Huffman, son of Levi and Elizabeth Huffman, was of German descent, a native of the above county and state, where his birth occurred on the 2d day of September, 1819. Amanda Hinkle, wife of William Huffman, and daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Bowles) Hinkle, was born in Butler county, Ohio, November 2, 1824, and became the mother of eleven children, namely: Sarah R., wife of H. T. Alexander; Isaac, whose name introduces this biography; John (de- ceased); Emma, deceased wife of Taylor

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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

Cromas; Eliza, deceased wife of Thomas War- ren; Elizabeth, deceased wife of William Temple; Lydia, wife of Jacob Reish; Ellen, wife of David Tittle; Mary, wife of Isaiah Mur- ray; Joseph (deceased), and Nancy, wife of Ulysses Lindley. William Huffman remained in his native county and state until 1852, at which time he came to Indiana, locating in the county of Randolph, where he purchased a good farm, upon which he resided until his deat2, November 6, 1886. Mrs. Huffman is still living on the home place in Jackson town- ship.

Isaac Huffman spent his early life on his father's farm, where he learned the lessons of industry which have made his life successful, and his education embraced the studies usually tanght in the common schools, which he attended during the winter seasons until attaining his majority. On the 23rd day of September, 1875, he was united in marriage to Sarah E., daughter of James and Julia Alexander of Preble county, Ohio, and shortly thereafter purchased a farm of eighty acres near his present place of residence, which was his home for a period of eleven years. He removed to his present farm in 1886 and now owns 120 acres of land, the greater part of which is well improved and supplied with first class buildings, his dwelling being one of the best structures of the kind in the neighbor- hood. Mr. Huffman is a man of energy and determination, a good farmer and a broad minded, intelligent citizen. He has met with well deserved success in all of his undertakings, stands high in the estimation of hls fellow citizens, and has always manifested great in- terest in the upbuilding of the community, materially and morally. Politically he is a democrat and in religion belongs to the Chris- tian or New Light church of New Middletown. Mrs. Huffman was born in Preble county, Ohio, February 20, 1846, and became the

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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 117

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