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 122

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 122
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 122

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).

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broke out, when they returned to Indiana and he enlisted, December 28, 1861, in company C, Nineteenth Indiana volunteer infantry, was assigned to the army of the Potomac, took part in all the engagements of the campaign until his term of enlistment had expired, when he re-enlisted, on the 31st day of December, 1863, at Culpeper Court House, Va. He participated in the battle of Petersburg and the Wilderness, was wounded, and is a pen- sioner; he was detailed as a teamster in June, 1862, and drove a team nearly three years; he was badly hurt by a mule falling on him on the 7th day of May, 1863, and was confined twenty-one days in the hospital, and has never yet recovered from his injuries. He was honorably discharged on the 12th day of July, 1865, by reason of general order No. 26, of the army of Tennessee. After the war Mr. McGuire returned to Macksville, but later, in 1866-67, he passed about eighteen months in Minnesota, but eventually returned to his native place to remain. He is an Odd Fel- low and a member of the G. A. R. In poli- tics he is now a republican, but before the war he was a democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan. He now lives a retired life in Farmland.

0 AVID MACY, retired merchant, farm- er, etc., with his residence at Farm- land, Randolph county, Ind., is a native of Tennessee, and was born October 22, 1816; is the third son and fourth child born to Jonathan and Hannah (Pierce) Macy, natives of North Carolina and Virginia respectively, and is of the sixth generation of an English family who early settled on the island of Nantucket, Mass. David was but four years of age when his parents left Ten- nessee, on the account of their dislike to the

institution of slavery, and settled in Wayne county, Ind., where they purchased a farm of seventy acres. Their children, including those born in Indiana, were nine in number, and were named Eunice; Ezra; Henry; David; Mary; Isaac; Jethro; William, died in infancy, and Aaron. In 1833 Jonathan and his family moved from Wayne county to Henry county, later to Marion county, and then came to Randolph county, where, in Farmland, he was the first merchant and grain dealer, and carried on business for several years, and fin- ally returned to Henry county, where he passed his life on a small farm until his death, at the age seventy-eight years. His life-com- panion had preceded him to the grave some five years, and both were members of the Society of Friends.

David Macy early assisted his father on the farm and in the store. In 1836 he married Priscilla Luellen, and later learned the trade of wagon making, which trade he followed from 1841 to 1845, and then sold out and moved to a point sixteen miles north of Kokomo, in Howard county, Ind., and settled on an eighty acre track, which he had previously purchased. He later sold this property and bought an im- proved farm, on which the town of New Lib- erty was afterward planted, of which town he became the first merchant. In the fall of 1853 he sold out and went into business with his father at Farmland, under the style of J. Macy & Sons. Some years later the father retired and David became the successor; later, he took in two partners, and the firm name was Macy, Mann & Co .; but the firm existed six months only and was succeeded by David Macy. A short time afterward he sold and opened a wagon and blacksmith shop, which he operated until early in the sixties, and then moved to a farm a few miles from town, but a few years later sold out and located on Cabin creek, where he lived several years, and then

WM. P. MACY.

MRS. WM. P. MACY.

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MONROE TOWNSHIP.

became assignee for his brother, Aaron, in a mill property; then opened a hardware store in Farmland, was prosperous in war time, and then for four years ran a tin shop. He then retired to his home on south Main street, where he works his garden in peace, living, as it were, "under his own vine and fig tree, with none to molest him or make him afraid." Mr. Macy cast his first presidential vote for Will- iam H. Harrison, in 1836; was a republican until 1888, and then became a prohibitionist, but voted for Blaine under protest. Mr. Macy is a Friend while Mrs. Macy has been a Methodist since 1855, and both have led pure christian lives. They are the parents of ten children, viz: William P., Hannah, Benjamin (a member of the Nineteenth Indiana volun- teer infantry, who died in 1865), John W., Eliza Jane, Eunice, Laura A., Regina M., Isaac and Alice. Mr. Macy has been one of the most industrious and useful citizens it has been the good fortune of Randolph county to possess, and one of whom Farmland in par- ticular may well feel proud.

ILLIAM P. MACY, one of the wealthy and retired farmers and business men of Monroe township, Randolph county, Ind., and one of its self made citizens, was born in Henry county, Ind., October 20, 1837, a son of David and Priscilla (Luellen) Macy. He was reared on a farm, attending the district schools in the winter and assisting his father during the balance of the year. When thirteen years of age he accompanied his parents to Howard county, Ind., where his father was engaged in mercantile pursuits at the town of West Lib- erty. The son occupied the position of clerk in his father's store, and in his sixteenth year removed with his parents to Randolph county.

His father opened a dry goods store at Farmi- land, in connection with which he operated a tin store. The latter establishment was afterward purchased by the son, and conducted successfully for two years, at the end of which time he purchased a farm southwest of Farm- land, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. Subsequently he purchased and removed to a farm on Bear Creek, in Franklin township, but about four years later returned to Farm- land, and again engaged in the tin business. About this time, however, he was appointed by the treasurer of Randolph county to collect delinquent taxes, and a greater portion of his time was employed in the duties of this posi - tion. Mr. Macy is one of that class of men whose energy and untiring industry have proved the key to success. He began life with- out capital, and by hard work and good man- agement has accumulated a comfortable for- tune, and now ranks among the wealthy and influential men of his township. He has always been guided by strict principles of honor in his dealings with the world, and was always above taking an unfair advantage.

Mr. Macy was married July 11, 1856, in Edgar county, Ills., to Miss Dimis K. Hoog- land, daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Hamilton) Hoogland. The father was born in New Jer- sey, and the mother was born near Cincinnati, Ohio. They became the parents of thirteen children, of whom seven grew to mature years, viz: William, Jacob, John, Cinderella, Al- pheus, Hannah, and Dimis (Mrs. Macy). The father of this family died in September, 1850, and the mother September 20, 1864. To the union of William P. Macy and wife have been born nine children, viz: Emma V., wife of Frank L. Shaw, on the old homestead, and the parents of four children: Charles C., husband of Elizabeth A. Stump, and residing in Jay county; Effie L., wife of E. S. West, and also a resident of Jay county; Rosa F.,

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RANDOLPH COUNTY :

wife of Samuel Miller, of Monroe township, Randolph county; Mary L., wife of Robert Hays, Monroe township; John C., who died at the age of six years; Eddie A., husband of Sarah Donahoe; Sallie I., wife of Norman Wood, of Monroe township, and Lula H., at home. Mr. Macy is a member of the Masonic lodge at Farmland, and has advanced to the master Mason's degree. In politics he is an enthusiastic republican, but has never aspired to office, and never occupied an elective position. He is a member of the Society of Friends and his family are members of the same. In 1889, Mr. Macy retired to Farm- land and for two years abstained from all business pursuits and cares, and in 1891 with- drew from the village, and lived on the farm two years, honored by all who know him, and then moved back to town.

J OSEPH MEEKS, as a farmer and a good and substantial citizen, is well known in his township of Monroe and also familiar to many throughout the counties of Randolph and Delaware. The following brief sketch will, in a measure, make our many readers acquainted with him. He is a native of Virginia (now West Virginia), and was born November 29, 1835. He is the eighth child born of sixteen, and a twin brother of Josiah, who is now a stock dealer in East Buffalo, N. Y. They are the children of Amos and Nancy (Meens) Meeks, both na- tives of Virginia. The father was of English and Irish extraction. Amos Meeks moved Virginia to Randolph county, Ind., in 1838, locating in Monroe township, where he pur- chased a tract of wild land and began the arduous life ol a pioneer. At this period there were no roads, and the only houses were the rude log cabins of the hardy immigrant.

By hard and incessant work, however, Mr. Meeks soon made for himself and family a good and comfortable home in the forest, and life had many pleasant plans for him, if it also claimed from him many "hard knocks." In physique he was a large, robust man, built on the plan to endure fatigue and hardships, and he was thus well equipped for pioneer life. He accumulated a nice property by dint of hard work, assisted by the advancement in the price of land, and he gave to his children eighty acres apiece to begin life on. Mrs. Meeks, the mother, died in the early fifties at the age of fifty-two years, having been a life- long member of the Methodist church. A few years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Meeks married Miss Lavina Thomas, who bore him one son and a daughter. The father died in April, 1877, aged seventy-eight years. Like the wife of his early manhood, he had always been a member of the Methodist church and his entire family followed in the footsteps of their parents. Up to the time of the rebel- lion he had been a democrat, but from the date of the war until his death was a stanch and ardent republican. In his younger days he followed school teaching as an occupation, and was among the early and foremost edu- cators of Randolph and Delaware counties. He was a man of sterling qualities and wor and retained the deep respect of all good peo- ple wherever he was known.

Joseph Meeks was but three years of age when his parents came to Randolph county. and his earliest youth was spent in the woods assisting his father in clearing a farm anc making a home in the wilderness. He o' course had but meager advantages to educate himself. Time, teachers and books were scarce, and the education he was able to ac- quire, though scant, was genuine and practi- cal. He made his home with his father unti. the age of twenty-three, at which time-Apri

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MONROE TOWNSHIP.

16, 1860-he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Shroyer, of Delaware county, Ind. She was born in July, 1840, and was the daughter of Melchoir and Rebecca (Jones) Shroyer, both natives of Virginia and of Ger- man extraction and early settlers of Delaware county. Mr. Meeks began life almost empty handed, but by hard work and close economy and good judgment, he had soon means to lo- cate a piece of wild land, and rented land for three years following, when he purchased the present home on which he has lived ever since. He has redeemed from the unbroken forest 100 acres of land, beside assisting to clear many other farms. It is pleasant to deal with success, and Mr. Meeks has been one of the successful men of his day, and now rates as one of the wealthiest farmers of Randolph and Delaware counties. For the past thirty years he has been largely engaged in buying and selling stock, and is an extensive shipper of hogs, cattle and sheep, doing an annual busi- ness of $100,000. Mr. Meeks and his brother Josiah operated together in stock dealing for twenty years, but for the past ten years he has conducted business alone. Mr. and Mrs. Meeks are both members of the Methodist church, are active members of the society, and are ever open handed in their donations toward promoting the advancement of that religious organization. The present farm consists of 450 acres, which he in the main uses for grazing. He was one of the first to bore for gas in Monroe township, and at present is a stockholder in five good wells. The town of Parker may be regarded as the "apple of his eye," and he loses no opportunity to push and advance its interest. His first presidential vote was cast for James Buchanan, but since that time he has been a strong and unwaver- ing republican. There is no uncertain ring in his politics any more than there is in his other transactions. He is the father of two children

-Martin M:, a farmer, and Cora A., wife of L. A. Botkin, a farmer.

J OHN L. MILLS, a successful lumber dealer of Farmland, was born in Ran- dolph county, Ind., December 31, 1857. His parents, John S. and Bar- bara E. (Bricker) Mills, were natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively, and were married in Randolph county, and had born to their union seven children, of whom but three are at pres- ent living, viz .: Joseph; Dr. F., and John L. The mother of these was called to her last home in 1860, and the father was summond to his final abiding place September 15, 1866. Both died in the faith of the Christian church. The father was not deficient in worldly goods, and left, to be divided among his children, a fine farm of 160 acres, in Stony Creek town- ship. He had always been looked upon as a man of superior business qualifications, and his success in life seemed to fully justify the good opinion his neighbors had formed of him.

John L. Mills was but two years of age when he lost his mother, and until eight years old was reared by a step-mother, who, on the death of his father, cast the lad upon the charities of the cold cold world. He met a kind friend, however, in the person of George Rhody, who for a year gave the boy a shelter, and for the next five years he found a home with Jeremiah Painter; but, beyond doubt, he rendered an equivalent for the favors granted. At the age of fifteen years the lad found pith in his arms, and was hired out by the month at general labor until eighteen. Having by his constant self-application, and being naturally apt, acquired a very fair education, he now began teaching school, his first charge being district No. 7, in White River township, which he held two terms, and so went two terms in

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RANDOLPH COUNTY :

district No. 6, at Macksville; one term in No. 8, in Monroe township; one term in No. 16, White River, then back to Macksville, where he taught four terms; then to his first charge, No. 7, White River, then two terms in Stony Creek. During school vacation he employed his time in selling pianos, organs, etc. In 1891 he gave up the ferule and the spelling book, as well as his musical instruments, and embarked at Farmland in a more substantial trade-that of lumber, of which he keeps con- stantly on hand a well-assorted stock, valued at $3,000; and he owns a neat little home at Macksville.

The nuptials of J. L. Mills were celebrated March 13, 1881, with Miss Ida May McIntire, who was born in Randolph county, May 11, 1860. Her parents, William and Lydia (Bower) McIntire, were born in Ohio, but were married in Madison county, Ind., but later settled in White River township, Randolph county. Here the father engaged in farming, but then was called from earth soon after the birth of Mrs. Mills, his death occurring December 28, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. McIntire were parents of seven children, four of whom still survive, viz: Mary, Rebecca, Robert and Ida May. Mr. and Mrs. Mills are member sof the Methodist Epis- copal church. In politics he is a republican, is a Mason and Odd Fellow, and is esteemed one of Farmland's most enterprising citizens.

LBERT M. MOON, a well-to-do farmer of Monroe township, Randolph county, Ind., is a native of Fayette county, Ohio, was born February 14, 1835, and is a son of Thomas and Frances (Irons) Moon, of Scotch-Irish and French descent respectively. The grandparents on the father's side came from Virginia, and the maternal grandparents were of North Carolina

nativity. Thomas and Frances Moon were married in Ohio, and, after a few years' resi- dence in the Old Dominion, moved to Ohio, where they had born to them a family of nine children, viz: Robert, Nancy, Eliza, Frances, Albert M., Margaret, Christina, Catherine and Elizabeth. The parents both died in Ohio --- the father in 1871, and the mother in 1883.

Albert M. Moon was reared on the old homestead in Ohio, and when a little over eighteen years of age, March 22, 1853, there married Miss Anna, daughter of Jane and Martha (Devoss) Adams, who were natives of Ohio and the parents of four children-Anna, John, William and Margaret. For eighteen years after his marriage Albert M. Moon lived on a farm in Ohio, and then came to Monroe township, Randolph county, Ind., and pur- chased a farm of 120 acres, of which forty acres were cleared. Since then the place has been all cleared off, has been well improved and placed under a high state of cultivation, being now equal to any farm of its extent in the county. Mr. Moon has proved himself to be a useful and valuable citizen of the county, and has reared his family in the way they should go, in order that they may also be of use to their fellow men. They are parents of the following children, viz: John, deceased; Margaret, wife of William Davids; Willard F., a farmer; Ida, wife of William Fowler; Eliza- beth, now Mrs. Rust; Nancy, married to George French; Alta, wife of William French; Alma, still single; Thomas; Clayton E .; George and Myrtle. Mr. Moon is most com- fortably situated, and, like all upright men, enjoys the respect of his neighbors. He is a democrat in politics and a strong advocate of temperance. As will be seen, the Moon family is descended from cosmopolitan stock, whose mixed blood has done so much toward the invigoration of the natives of the United States and to the development of the country.

JOHN A. MOORMAN.

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MONROE TOWNSHIP.

ENRY A. MOORMAN, funeral direct- or of Farmland, was born in White River township, Randolph county, Ind., November 10, 1852, and is a son of Stephen and Priscilla (Diggs) Moorman, who descended from the pioneers of Randolph county. Stephen Moorman is a native of the county, and was born April 26, 1822. He was brought up a farmer boy, and received a limited education in subscription schools taught about forty days in each winter. He was married March 2, 1848, to Miss Priscilla Diggs, also a native of this county, and a daughter of Armsby Diggs. They had two children-Alfred T., and Henry A. Mrs. Moorman died March 30, 1868, and he again married March 10, 1870, this time to Mrs. Malinda A. Nickson.

Henry A. Moorman was reared on the home farm, attended the common schools in White River township, and also the Win- chester normal 'school two years, where he finished his education in 1871. He then re- turned to the home farm and remained thereon for thirteen years; next came to the town of Farmland, and in 1884 engaged in the furni- ture trade and undertaking, but, two years later, disposed of the furniture branch of his business, retaining the undertaking depart- ment, at which he is realizing about $2,000 per year. He also owns 117 acres of arable land in White River township, which he farms hy hired help. Mr. Moorman was married in Winchester, September 18, 1874, to Miss Julia Bowman, born in Marion county, Ind., February II, 1852, a daughter of Archibald Bowman, but reared from infancy by Jehiel Hull of Winchester. Two children have blessed this union, named Clara and Carlos. Mr. and Mrs. Moorman are strict members of the Methodist church, of which Mr. Moorman is collecting steward and also trustee of the parsonage. He is an Odd Fellow of the grand

lodge and of the encampment of Winchester, and in politics is a republican. He is one of the substantial men of the town and township, and is regarded as straightforward and upright in all his dealings.

J OHN A. MOORMAN, retired minister of the gospel, was born in North Caro- lina, August 19, 1820, and is a son of Tarlton and Rebecca (Webb) Moor- man, of whom frequent mention is made of in this volume. John A. was not quite two years of age when the parents came from the Old North state, and settled in the wilds of White River township, Randolph county, Ind., where they engaged in farming. At the death of his wife he retired to Wayne county, where he died at the home of his son Richmond, Decem- ber, in 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Moorman were the parents of thirteen children, viz: Harriet, Nancy and Henry, deceased; Thomas, of Win- chester; Richmond, retired farmer of Wayne county, Ind., John A., named above; Stephen, of Winchester; Jessie, Sarah, Susanna, Lacy and Charles, all deceased, and William, of Randolph county. The father was a man of consequence, was always in demand when an estate was to be settled; never gave a note in his life, and was very active in upbuilding the Society of Friends, of which he was a member. John A. Moorman, as will have been observed, was but two years of age when his parents came to Indiana .. He was reared as most farmers' boys are until he was sixteen years of age, when, not being over robust, he engaged as a clerk for Goodrich Bros., at Winchester, in which capacity he was employed for four years. And at the end of that time, in 1840, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy, daughter of John and Rachel Hiatt. Immedi- ately after his marriage he located on a farm

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RANDOLPH COUNTY :

in White River township, where he was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for the ensuing seven years. In 1847, death visited his home, and his faithful wife was called to an eternal rest, leaving three children-Luther L., Orange W., and Nancy E. The home circle broken, the father sold the property where the first seven years of his wedded life had been passed, investing in a piece of improved land. Shortly afterward he entered the seminary at Win- chester, where he spent one term in study. In 1849, he was united in the ties of matrimony to Miss Mercy Shaw, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Shaw of Wayne county, Ind. To this second union have been born seven children, viz: Malinda, widow of Jacob Men- denhall; Emeline, wife of Norris P. Burres, of Randolph county; Malvina, William, deceased; Rosa, deceased; Calvin S., a railroad man at Iudianapolis, and John A., Jr., also an em- ployee of a railroad at Indianapolis.

On his second marriage Mr. Moorman again engaged in the pursuit of farming, which he continued until after the close of war. In 1866, he sold his farm and moved to the town of Farmland, where for the next ten years, he associated with the firm of Robbins & Stanley. In 1877, he retired from active business life, except that he still conducts a profitable insurance business, and discharges the duties of the office of the notary public. In 1838, before he had attained his majority, he was a very pronounced abolitionist, and zealous for the success of the principles of that party. In 1842, he was nominated by that party treasurer of Randolph county, and although he received the entire vote of his party from this county, it was not sufficient to elect him, while the whigs and democrats both had tickets in the field, opposed to the plat- form on which he stood. In 1856, he joined hands with those who organized the republi- can party. In 1860, he was nominated by

this party as the representative from this dis- trict to the state legislature. He was elected by a flattering majority, and went into the halls of the state capitol without legislative experience, at a time when a dark war cloud hovered over the land, threatening daily to break and scatter its horrors broadcast. In the stormy scenes and heated discussions that took place subsequently, he took a bold, hon- orable and manly part, always acting with the republicans, and by every means possible, as- sisting to sustain and encourage Gov. Morton in the trials thus thrust upoh him. When, in 1862, the famous "Military Bill" was intro- duced, Mr, Moorman was one of the republi- can "bolters," or among those who, to break the quorum and prevent revolutionary legisla- tion, ran away until the session should expire by limitation. They saved Indiana the dis- grace of removing from her governor his power over the military forces of the state, and in investing it in three state officers known to be inimical to the government. Owing to the expiration of this session by limitation, no action was had on the appropriation bills, and Gov. Morton was compelled to borrow money upon his own credit, until the next general assembly convened, and sustained his action, making the necessary appropriations. At the close of his first term in 1861, Mr. Moorman returned home and was immediately elected his own successor for the session of 1862-63. He had a voice in the proceedings, which re- sulted in the election of Hon. Henry S. Lane to the United States senate, and other impor- tant legislation.

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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 122

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