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 126

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 126
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 126

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).

politics is a republican, never neglects his duty to that party at the polls, but is not ar office seeker.

OHN T. BURROWS was born in Net- tle Creek township, December 9, 1852, and is a well known citizen of Ran- dolph county. He is the son of Franklin and Anna (Medsker) Burrows, whose biography will be found elsewhere in this volume. John T. was a typical farmer boy, and came up under the advantages and disadvantages of country farm life. His edu- cation he obtained in the district school and lived on the farm until twenty years of age, when for a year he ran a huckster wagon for Daniel S. Wiggins, from 1873 to '74. He then engaged as partner with Mr. Wiggins until 1876, when he sold out to Lemuel Wig- gins and farmed for one year, when he entered the employ of Lemuel Wiggins as clerk, re- maining with him until 1885, when he began to handle agricultural implements-reapers and mowers-and re-engaged in farming. In 1890 he was elected township trustee, since when he has devoted his time chiefly to the office. He was married March 17, 1877, to! Miss Emma J. Wiggins, who was born in; Nettle Creek township, November 26, 1861. She is the daughter of Lemuel Wiggins and Mary Wiggins, of this place, of whom a biog- raphy appears elsewhere. Four children have been born to them: Nellie E., Boyden O., Delia O. and Franklin Chase. The mother is. a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a lady of estimable worth and charac- ter. Mr. Burrows is politically affilliated with the republican party, and is a man well in- formed in matters of the day. He owns 100 acres of good land, in the possession of which he feels the pride of a veteran farmer. He is a good citizen and is a valuable man to the

J. T. BURROWS.

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town, and as an officer is in every respect / ette Cranor, a fariner of Delaware county. efficient.

... ....

J OHN C. CLEVENGER .- As a farmer and stock dealer, no man is better known in his township than John C. Clevenger, whose biography in brief follows: He was born in this county Febru- ary 12, 1835, and was the fourth child born to Samuel B. and Mary (Truitt) Clevenger. The father, Samuel Clevenger, was born in Fred- erick county, Md., February 15, 1802, and was the son of John and Nancy (Southard) Cleven- ger. Mary Truitt, the mother, was born in Hagerstown, Md., February 13, 1807, and was the daughter of William and Martha (Johnson) Truitt. Her uncle, John, Truitt, was surren- dered to the British with Hull's army, at De- troit, in 1811, and was never afterward heard of. The father of John C. Clevenger was born on the farm and came with his father to Ross county, Ohio, when three years old, where his father engaged in clearing land and building a home. At the age of seventeen he went to Flemingsburg, Ky., where he assisted in build- ing the first court house erected in the place. He returned north, to Clinton county, Ohio, and was there married in 1827. The following children blessed this union, namely: Martha J., deceased wife of Jesse Dudley, of this county, a farmer by profession; Nancy, widow of Wesley Warner, of Delaware county; Sabre, widow of Aaron Ball, a farmer, of Delaware county; John C., after whom this sketch is named; Sophia E., deceased wife of John Lind- sey, a farmer of Delaware county; Benjamin, died at the age of nineteen; Thomas; Eliza, deceased wife of Amos W. Amburn, a farmer of this county; Hester E., deceased wife of J. R. Whitehead, a farmer of Delaware county; Elizabeth, wife of Anderson Dudley, a farmer Grundy county, Mo. ; Mary E., wife of Lafay-

The parents lived in Clinton for the space of two years, when they came to Randolph coun- ty, and entered eighty acres of land, on which they lived until 1856, when Mr. Clevenger purchased 200 acres of Issac Thornburg, and moved on this. Here the mother died, May 24, 1864, and on November 30, 1865, the hus- band and father passed away from all earthly Sorrow. They were buried side by side at the Union cemetery. The mother, in early life, had been a communicant of the Baptist church, but later united with the Christian church, and died in that faith. At the time of the mother's death, the father was not identi- fied with any religious denomination. His political faith was that of a democrat, and he was ever a firm and consistent believer in the Jacksonian doctrine.

John C. Clevenger lived the usual life of a country reared boy. He attended the district school and became the rich possessor of a good education, and taught school in Stony Creek one term. August 23, 1855, he was married to Amy A., daughter of Thomas and Susannah (Pence) Aker. The father is a native of Preble, and the mother of Darke county, Ohio. Amy Aker was born at Huntsville, this county, August 18, 1839. To this union fourteen children were born, whose names fol- low: infant, deceased; James B., hay mer- chant of Red Key, Ind. ; Eliza, died in infancy; Stephen A., of Red Key, carpenter and con- tractor; Mary J., deceated wife of Elias P. Morical, a farmer of this county; Whitcomb, died while young; infant deceased; Thomas, assessor of Nettle Creek township; Willard C., at home; Alice, at home; infant, deceased; Myrtle, Benjamin and John E., at home. For six years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Clevenger lived on a rented farm, at the ex- piration of which time they moved upon the place where they now reside, which at the

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present time is a handsome, well improved farm of 240 acres. In 1871, they met with the misfortune of having their dwelling burned. Mr. Clevenger devotes considerable time and attention to the buying and selling of stock, doing an annual business of $60,000 or more. He has served a term of four years as justice of the peace, and in 1878, although a demo- crat in politics, was elected trustee in a town- ship which had sixty republican majority, a fact that attests louder than words to his great popularity among his neighbors and fellow townsmen. In this office he served two terms. Mr. Clevenger is a man who has made more than an average success of life. He has lived and let live; been honest, frugal, industrious, and well managing, which are the open secrets of his success.

ILLIAM CLEVENGER is one of the oldest and best known farmers of Nettle Creek township, Randolph county, Ind. He was born in Clin- ton county, Ohio, February 18, 1821, and was the youngest son of John and Nancy (Stout- hard) Clevenger, both natives of Virginia. The father was born January 12, 1780, and was the son of William Clevenger. His father was a native of Germany. They were mar- ried in Virginia, about the year 1799, and to this union fifteen children were born: Dosha, wife of John Dudley, a farmer of this county; Samuel, a farmer, deceased; John, Nancy and Wesley, deceased; Eliza, deceased wife of Isaac Thornburg; James, deceased; Nancy, deceased wife of Joab Raines; Seppy, a farmer of this county, deceased; Felan, of Farmland; Maria, wife of William A. Thornburg; William, the subject of this sketch; Mahala, deceased wife of Curtis Thornburg. The parents of these children moved to Ross county in 1802,

living there a few years and then moving to Highland county, Ohio, and later to Clinton county, where William Clevenger was born. When eight years of age, in 1829, they moved to Randolph county, Ind., and settled near where Mr. Clevenger now lives. Here the father entered 120 acres of land, on which he lived until the time of his death, which oc- curred August 22, 1872; the mother had died previously, August 4, 1846. These aged people, who had lived good and useful lives, and in the full confidence and the highest esteem of their neighbors, were both laid to rest the Union cemetery. The mother was a faithful member of the Christian church. The father in his political profession was a democrat.

William Clevenger was born and reared a farmer and has always followed this time honored occupation. He attended the sub- scription school and acquired a limited educa- tion, such as those early pioneer times afforded. He lived with his parents until the date of his marriage to Mary J., daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Thornburg) Smithson. Her father was born in Virginia in the year 1794, January Ist, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven years, six months. To this marriage six children were born: Elizabeth, wife of Peter Helm, a farmer of Delaware county; George, husband of Belle Ross, was a farmer of Randolph county; John W., a farmer of this county, deceased; Phelan O., a farmer of Nettle Creek township; Luella, wife of Perry Hawk, a farmer of Delaware county; and Martha O., the wife of Charles Galliher, a farmer of Randolph county. These parents settled on the fine farm on which they are now living, a handsome property which they have at different times added to until it now numbers 240 acres. Both have for many years been members of the Christian church, of which Mr. Clevenger was for a number of

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years trustee. He has also been supervisor of roads and proved an efficient servant of the public. Since the formation of the republican party he has cast his vote with it, and is an intelligent thinker in matters political. Mr. and Mrs. Clevenger are highly respected and most worthy people of the county, and their friendship and esteem are sought and prized by all. To be counted among their friends is indeed an honor.

HOMAS S. ENGLE is a well known citizen of Losantville, Nettle Creek township. He was born in New Jer- sey April 22, 1841, and is the son of Samuel C. and Edith L. (Sharp) Engle. The parents were married in Jersey in 1839, where they settled and engaged in farming. The grand- father and grandmother of Thomas S. Engle were married in Haddenfield in 1794. His name was Obadiah, and the grandmother's Patience (Coles) Engle. Nine children blessed this union: Joab, Arthur, Aaron, Samuel, Nathan, Ann, Rachel, Elizabeth and Sarah A., all of whom are dead. The father of T. S. Engle remained in New Jersey until his death in 1857, but the mother survived until July, 1893. They were the parents of three children, Thomas S., Albert, deceased in 1865, and Arthur, of New Jersey. The parents were members of the Society of Friends, and were highly respected and estimable people. The father, in political faith, was a democrat. At his death he was in comfortable circumstances, owning a farm of seventy acres.

Thomas S. Engle was raised on the farm, had no opportunities for education, and re- mained with his parents until the death of his father. After this he engaged in working the homestead, where he continued until 1876, when he came to Losantville, Ind., and here

engaged in the general retail business until 1882, when he moved to Kentucky, Pulaski county, where he lived until nearly four years engaged in farming, and then moved to this county and engaged in general trade, and has since continued in this business. He was married in Lynn, this county, March 5, 1877, to Hannah Stetler, born in Richmond, Wayne county, Ind. August 16, 1839. She is the daughter of Jesse and Margaret (Adleman) Stetler, of Pennsylvania, all of German de- scent. He is a democrat in politics, and has been councilman for the South ward three years, and has held the office of school and township trustee. In his business he carries a stock of $2, 500.

APT. ENOS M. FORD, ex-soldier and farmer, is a native of Ohio, was born in Fairfield county, October 2, 1847, and is the second son of John and Martha (Minehart) Ford. The father was born in Ohio, May 3, 1814, and was the son of Adam C. Ford, a native American. . The mother, Martha Minehart, was born Novem- ber 18, 1815, and was the daughter of Abra- ham Minehart, a native of Pennsylvania. The father of Enos Ford was born and raised on the farm and acquired a good common practi- cal education. In early manhood he worked at the cooper trade during the summer, and in winter taught school, following this plan for a number of years. Their married life was blessed with six children, four daughters and two sons: Albert P., a farmer of Adams coun- ty; Emeline, wife of Philip Shierling, a farmer of this county; Serepta, wife of Joseph W. Lollar, a farmer of this county; Enos M., a farmer of Nettle Creek township; Lucinda, wife of James W. Wilson, a farmer of Edgar county, Ill .. Minerva, wife of Barney Victor,

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a barber of Chrisman, Edgar county, Ill. After the marriage of John and Martha Ford, they located in Fairfield county, Ohio, and remained there eleven years, at the end of which time they moved to Randolph county, four miles northeast of Winchester, where he had bought a farm of 420 acres. However, in 1864, he moved to Edgar county, Ill., and made a purchase of 240 acres of land there, on which he lived and farmed until the time of his death, November 26, 1879. The mother died at Winchester in 1863. The father was an active member of the United Brethren church, in which society his influence was always felt for good. Politically he was a democrat, and a man of broad learning and wide and generous views.

Their son, Capt. Enos M., of whom this sketch largely deals, spent the usual life of a farmer's son and acquired a good and liberal education in the schools of the state. When but sixteen years old, December 25, 1863, he became a soldier as a Christmas gift to his country and his flag, enlisting in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, in which he served nearly two years. He participated in the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville and others of minor im- portance. After the battle of Kingston he was sent to the hospital at New Berne, N. C., and from thence to Newark, N. J., where, July 7, 1865, he received his discharge. He then returned home to Indiana and engaged in farming for a year, when he again became a soldier, enlisting in the United States standing army. With 476 of the regiment he started for St. Augustine, Fla., but on the way all but 123 perished of that dread disease, cholera. After being stationed at various places in the south for nearly two years, he was transferred to Fort Fred Steel, Wyo., and remained there until July 5, 1869, at which time his term of

enlistment expired. He turned his face again toward Indiana, and stopped at Huntington, where he remained a year, engaged in the mercantile business. On the 11th of January, 1871, he was united in marriage to Sarah, daughter of Jonathan and Susannah (Fink- bone) Houser, both natives of Fairfield coun- ty, Ohio. Miss Sarah was born in Williams county, Ohio, October 17, 1851, and was the fourth of a family of twelve children. After their marriage they moved to Edgar county, Ill., where he engaged in farming for a year and then engaged in the restaurant business at Effingham. From there he went to Wichita, Kan., from there to Henry county, Mo., where he remained two years, and from there came to Randolph county, Ind. In 1881 a state militia was organized at Winchester, and private Enos Ford was commissioned captain by Gov. Porter.

Capt. Ford owns a nice farm where he lives, containing eighty acres, on which, in 1888, he erected a handsome and commodious dwelling house, at the cost of $1,500. Both husband and wife are members of the Method- ist church. The captain is a member of the G. A. R. at Winchester, the I. O. O. F., No. 232, at Losantville, and the Daughters of Rebecca. In politics he is a republican and one of very pronounced views. As soldier and citizen there is no more popular man than Enos M. Ford in the county.

a LIAS FOUTS .- Among the many ex- cellent and successful farmers of Net- tle Creek township may be numbered Elias Fouts, whose history forms the subject matter of the following lines. He is the eldest son of Daniel and Martha (Allen) Fouts, and was born in Henry county, Ind., May 2, 1839. His father was born near Day-

H. P. FRANKS, M. D.

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ton, Ohio, in the year 1814, and was the son of Elias and Mary (Shafer) Fouts, both natives of North Carolina. Martha (Allen) Fouts, the mother of Elias, was born in But- ler county, Ohio, in 1819, and was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Johnson) Allen. In an early day Joseph Allen left home with a drove of horses for market and never returned. Daniel Fouts was born and brought up on a farm, and when he was five years old his parents came to Henry county, Ind., where he attained manhood, and in 1835 married. Eight children were the fruits of their marriage, three daughters and five sons, whose names are as follows: Sylvanna, wife of George Smith, a farmer of Henry county; Elias, from whom this sketch takes its name; Lewis, a farmer of Miami county, Ind .; Henry, a farmer; Solomon, a laborer of Losantville; Isaac, a farmer of Henry county; Elizabeth, un- married; Laura, wife of John Morris, a farmer of Henry county. Soon after their marriage they purchased eighty acres of land in Henry county, to which they later added twenty acres more. On this farm he lived the remaining days of his life and died here May 31, 1882, and was laid to rest near the spot where his life had been spent. The aged mother is still living there with her daughter. The mother is a member of the Society of Friends, and finds much enjoyment in the society of her children and friends. The father was a sranch demo- crat all of his life and died in that political faith.

Elias Fouts spent his early manhood on the farm and laid the foundation of a robust con- stitution. He acquired a good education, and thus fully equipped was ready for the battle of life. He was married October 17, 1860, to Louisa Ball, a daughter of George and Lydia (Wilson) Ball, he born in Virginia and she in Carolina. Louisa first saw the light of day December 14, 1838. Eight children were

born to Mr. and Mrs. Fouts: five sons and three daughters: Lydia, the eldest, wife of Elven Parker, a farmer of this county; George W., a druggist of Shirley, Henry county; Charles A., a farmer of Nettle Creek township; Martha E., wife of Austin McCormick, a farmer of this county; Melissa M., wife of Sherman Wright; Daniel, a farmer of Nettle Creek township; Clarence and Samuel at home. Their home is near where they originally lo- cated when married, when he purchased forty acres of land, on which he lived nine years, and then added to it eighty acres more, mak- ing the handsome farm of 120 acres on which they now reside, but still later increasing the number to 260 acres, and in the fall of 1884 he had a large and commodious house built upon it. The Elias Fouts place is pointed out as one of the most prosperous in the township. He is a public spirited man and made an ex- cellent officer as road supervisor one term. In politics he is a democrat, and a stanch disciple of the Jeffersonian doctrine.

.......

R. HAMILTON P. FRANKS is an eminent physician and surgeon, and as a "country practitioner," probably enjoys the most extensive practice that is possible to attain under like circum- stances. His professional acquaintance is co- extensive with the state. While his place of business (Losantville, Ind.,) is a small place, yet he enjoys as large a practice as some of his professional brothers of large places. He was born in Hardin county, Ohio, March 8, 1849, and is the sixth child born to Peter and Mary (Brown) Franks. The father was born December 13, 1813, and was the eldest son of Jonathan and Margaret (Walser) Franks, who were of German descent. Mary Brown was born in Perry county, Ohio, November 4, 1817,

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and was the daughter of John and Mary (Shunk) Brown.

The father of Dr. Franks moved with his parents to Perry county, Ohio, when he was but three months old, where he attained his manhood and acquired a common-school edu- cation. He was a man of rugged constitution, and well fitted for pioneer life, to which in great part he attributes his great success in life. The fruits of this marriage were seven children, four sons and three daughters, Sarah Coryell, of Licking county, Ohio; Elizabeth Merideth, of Licking county, Ohio; Margaret, deceased wife of Albert T. Courson, of Marion county, Ill .; James L., deceased at the age of nineteen in Adams county, Ohio; Jonathan A., who is an extensive dealer in livestock, in Licking county, Ohio; Dr. Hamilton P., the subject of this sketch, and George W., de- ceased in Licking county, Ohio, at the age of seventeen.

After the marriage of Peter and Mary Franks, they moved to Hardin county, Ohio, and began farming on eighty acres of land, which they purchased. Here they remained for about fourteen years, when they purchased 320 acres, where they lived until the death of the father, which occurred April 24, 1878. A few years later Mrs. Franks moved to Jackson- town, Ohio, where she died June 27, 1885, aged sixty-eight years.

Peter Franks was a very successful man in business and made life a success from every point of view. Both he and his estimable wife enjoyed an extensive acquaintance and were highly respected as people of honesty and great social worth. He was a member of the Lutheran church, in which his influence was ever felt for good. He was also a member of the I. O. O. F., of Gratiot, Ohio; also, with his wife, was an honored member of the Re- becca degree of the same place. In politics he was ever a true and stanch democrat.

Dr. Franks was reared on a farm and at- tended the common schools of his county. In his youth he studied dentistry at Newark, Ohio, and practiced his profession at Thornville, Ohio, for five years. Later he attended the Ohio Medical college of Cincinnati, then took a course at the Kentucky school of medicine, Louisville, and in March, 1882, graduated from the Indiana Medical college, of Indianapolis. In 1887 and 1888 he attended the medical de- partment of the university of New York city, where he received very high honors in his graduation.

In 1870 he was married to Louisa A. Mc- Kinnon, of Clarke county, Ohio. Mrs. Franks was born April 29, 1849. She received a good practical education from the schools of the county, and was a teacher for two terms. Mrs. Franks is the daughter of Thomas and Eliza- beth (Arbogast) Mckinnon, natives of Clarke county, Ohio. Thomas Mckinnon was born February 22, 1811; Elizabeth Arbogast was born February 14, 1813; both are now deceas- ed, but lived to a green old age.

The union of Dr. and Mrs. Franks has been blessed with six children: Edwin Odell, Harley C., Allen Cornell, Lilly Bell, and Mary O., who all died in early infancy; Miss Jessie, only surviving daughter, was born in Randolph county, Ind., November 8, 1872. She graduated from the common schools of the county at the age of eleven years, after which she attended the Conservatory of Music at Fort Wayne, Ind., and then attended the high school of New Castle, Ind., where she took the full course, and, in 1890, graduated with honor to herself and friends. She has since attended the Conservatories of Music of Chicago and Cincinnati. After the doctor's marriage they moved to Randolph county, Ind., where he began the practice of his pro- fession. In 1874 they moved to Losantville, which place has since been his permanent

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residence. In 1883 they erected the handsome and commodious residence in which they now live.

Dr. Franks is an honored member of I. O. O. F., Losantville lodge, No. 232; Modoc lodge. No. 229, K. P .; also of the Randolph County Medical society, Delaware District Medical society, Indiana State Medical society, and the American Medical association. Dr. and Mrs. Franks are members of the Method- ist Episcopal church. In politics the doctor is a conservative republican, always ready to aid his party whenever and wherever he can do so. The doctor is a genial, companionable man, cultivated, generous to a fault, refined- in a word, a gentleman, professionally and otherwise.

ELCOME GARRETT, merchant of Losantville, Randolph county, Ind., was born October 10, 1862, the youngest son of Nathan and Malinda R. (Hunt) Garrett. He was reared on a farm in his native county and acquired his educa- tion in the common schools, completing his studies at the age of sixteen. After leaving the home farm he engaged in the manufacture and sale of tile, and for some time did a yearly business of $2,000 at Modoc; in May, 1892, he settled in Losantville, engaged in general merchandising and does a yearly busi- ness of $10,000, carrying a stock of well as- sorted goods valued at $5,000. Nathan Gar- rett, father of Welcome, was born in Guilford county, N. C., November 19, 1806, the son of Caleb and Befulah (Jackson) Garrett, and was the second of a family of ten children. His parents removed from North Carolina about the year 1817, and settled in Salem, Ind., where Nathan received the greater portion of his education. From Salem his parents went to Danville, Ind., where they both died.

Nathan was eighteen years of age when he came to Randolph county. Hle settled near Unionport, and for several years engaged as teacher in the public schools. He was ac- counted a remarkable scholar for his time, having a knowledge of the classics as well as the common branches. He was first married to Sarah Puckett, daughter of Joseph and Mary Puckett, of this county. After marriage he settled near Buena Vista, where he con- tinued to teach in the public schools. He was the father of five children as the fruits of his first marriage. He was elected to the office of county sheriff in the year 1835, and served for two terms. He was next elected to the office of county auditor in the year 1846, and served in this capacity for fourteen years. It is stated upon unquestionable authority that he could locate by section every resident of Randolph county at the time he was serving as county auditor. He was called to mourn the death of his wife June, 1849, and was united in a second marriage to Mrs. Malinda R. Strahan December 24, 1850, who still sur- vives and who has borne Mr. Garrett seven children. After a residence in Winchester for ten years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Garrett settled upon a farm of 200 acres in Nettle Creek township, where they continued to reside until Mr. Garrett's death, which oc- curred October 7, 1871, at the age of sixty- four years. He enlisted in the Seventh In- diana cavalry, under Col. J. P. C. Shanks and Lieut. Col. T. M. Browne, June, 1862, was soon promoted and held the position of quar- termaster with the rank of first lieutenant.

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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 126

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