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 128

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 128
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 128

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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Union county, Ohio, June 23, 1826. He was the son of Jane (Crawford) Porter, who had two brothers burned at the stake by Indians, and was a sister of the famous Col. Crawford. Angeline Thomas was born July 5, 1835; was the daughter of Edmund and Sarah (Martin) Thomas, both natives of North Carolina. Edmund Thomas, the father, was born November 14, 1812, and came to this county at an early age and entered land later on, and with the exception of a few months lived there until his death. Mr. and Mrs. David W. Porter were reared on the farm and were people of education and refinement. In 1856 David left his home in Union county, Ohio, and located in Winchester and engaged in harness making. They were married at that place in 1857, and to this union were born three children: William C., of whom we write; Melissa, wife of Charles T. Scott, a druggist of South Whitley, Ind., and Sallie, wife of Frank Landes, of Fort Wayne. After mar- riage they settled in Winchester, but in 1862 he enlisted in the Sixty-ninth regiment, Indi- ana volunteer infantry, and served until the close of the war. He returned home in 1865, and removed to New Madison, Ohio, and re- mained there until 1873, at which time he re- moved to Ridgeville, Randolph county, where he engaged in the mercantile business; in 1877 he moved to Geneva, Adams county, and en- gaged in the harness business, but in 1879, returned to Ridgeville, and from here, in 1881, he moved to South Whitley, and there engaged in the mercantile trade, which he followed un- til his death, which occurred April 17, 1887. The widow is still living. Both husband and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. During his eventful life he held many positions of honor and trust, and was a man of sterling worth and unimpeachable integrity. He was an Odd Fellow, and a member of the G. A. R. He was a republican, true as steel.

William C. Porter received in his younger days the advantages of a good common school education, and at the age of ten entered his grandfather's store at Winchester and re- mained there until 1879, when he learned the harness making trade with Martin Meyer. at Connersville, and remained with him until his marriage, which occurred December 20, 1881, to Hattie, daughter of John H. and Harriet (Parker) Lillie, natives of Prussia and Eng- land. She was born at Batesville, Ripley county, Ind., March 6, 1860. This union has been blessed with one child, Rosa, aged eight years (1893). They moved to South Whitley and entered the mercantile business with his father, but six months later returned to Con- nersville and for three years was engaged in the purchase and sale of poultry and produce. Following this, he worked five years at har- ness making, and May 1, 1888, came to Losantville, where he has established a good business. In 1890 he was elected justice of the peace. In politics he is a republican and a man of strong political convictions. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 232, at Losantville, and both Mr. and Mrs. Porter are members of the Methodist church.

HARLES H. SMOTHERS, well and favorably known in his county, and especially in the township of Nettle Creek, was born in Franklin county, Va., February 25, 1837, and is the son of Charles and Evaline (Kitchens) Smothers, both natives of Virginia. His father was reared on a farm, and acquired the education and enjoyed the privileges usually accorded to the colored people of that state in that period. They were married about the year 1837 and five children were born to them, three sons and two daughters, namely: Charles H .;

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Frances, widow of Winchester Crane of Rich- mond, Ind .; James, deceased, eighteen years of age; George, of Cowley county, Kan., a farmer; and Celestia, deceased, at nine years. They located on their farm in Virginia, and lived there until he was stricken with the gold fever, and in 1849 went to California, where he sickened and died. The mother remained a widow until 1858, when she married Wyatt Jennings. In the year 1847 they came to Randolph county, Ind., in a wagon, consuming about four months on the trip. By this second union five children were born, four sons and one daughter, Louisa, wife of Joseph Wad- kins of Anderson, and, a barber; Thomas and Edward, teamsters of Anderson, Samuel L., deceased at fifteen years; an infant, deceased. The family lived in West River township until the death of the father, which occurred in 1886, after which the mother purchased property in Anderson, where she is at present living. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Charles H., of whom we are writing was raised on a farm and came to Indiana with his mother when he was ten years of age, and in the following ten years of his life acquired a good education. In September, 1861, he enlisted at Richmond, Ind., in company E, Thirty-sixth regiment, Indiana volunteer in- fantry, and served more than three years. He was in the battle of Shiloh and at Corinth. He was taken ill and sent to the hospital at Bowling Green, Ky., but upon his recovery he rejained his regiment at Blue Springs, Tenn., and went with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. He received his discharge Sep- tember 22, 1864, at Indianapolis. At the battle of Kenesaw Mountain the sole of the shoe of his right foot was shot away, which may be justly regarded as a close call. On December 22, 1866, he was married to Nancy (Franklin) Williams, daughter of Ambrose

and Elizabeth (Jones) Franklin. She died June 18, 1864, and was laid to rest in the Baptist cemetery. She had long been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a good and pious woman. In 1878 Mr. Smothers purchased a farm of eighty acres, and has since purchased forty acres more. On September 18, 1885, he was married to Miss Cora B., daughter of Anderson and Margaret (Ellis) Scott. She was born in Randolph county, November 6, 1869. Four children have been born to them: Celestia L., at home, eight years of age; Clara R., deceased, three years; Charles A, deceased, fifteen months, Clarence B., deceased, four months.

Mr. and Mrs. Smothers are members of the Methodist church, and are active in all good and charitable works. He has served one year as justice of the peace; is a member of Masonic lodge, No. 22, at Muncie, and also a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public. In politics he is a stanch republican. The township has no better citizen than the man of whom we write. By frugality and industry he has made for himself a good home, and with a good home it is easy to be a good man.

A NSON R. THOMPSON .- No man is better known or more highly respected in Nettle Creek township than Anson R. Thompson, a sketch of whose life follows: He was born in Wayne county, Ind., October 29, 1869, and is the eldest son of Joseph and Hannah C. (Bird) Thompson, both natives of Indiana. The father of Anson R. was born in Henry county, December 18, 1845, and was the son of Col. A. R. A. and Sarah (Cary) Thompson. She was the daugh- ter of Elisha and Amelia (Hart) Bird. Joseph W. attended the common schools of Indiana and was a graduate of the Lebanon (Ohio)

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college, taking a course of civil engineering. After receiving his degree he followed school teaching for a number of years, and in 1868 was married; four children were born to him, two sons and two daughters: Anson R., whose name heads this biography; Viola, wife of Isaac L. Dennis, of Franklin, undertaker and embalmer; Ina and Frank, at home. After their marriage they settled near their present home on a rented farm, and at the death of his father he came into possession of a farm of 219 acres. The father's death occurred in Nettle Creek township August 19, 1886, and the remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Blountsville. He was a member of the Methodist church at Losantville. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliating at Blountsville, and was buried with the sol- emn rites of this mystic order. In politics he was a republican and a man whose influence was always felt for good. His widow married February 25, 1891, John Parker.

Aaron R. was reared on the farm and was every inch a farmer boy, growing up in the manly pride and independence of country life. He has never yet found any thing better, nor does he wish for anything. He received his education in the excellent common-schools of which all Hoosis are so justly proud, and re- mained with his parents until his marriage, which occurred December 18, 1890. His wife was Miss Bertha Maulsby, daughter of Martin V. and Sarah (Bookout) Maulsby. She is a native of this county, and was born October 25, 1873. One child has been born to them: Myron, born Jannary 8, 1892. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Franklin, where Mr. Thompson issuperintendent of the Sunday school. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 529, at Dalton. In politics he is, like his father before him, a republican, and a staunch one.

DWARD VANTRESS is one of the good farmers of Nettle Creek town- ship. He is a Buckeye boy by birth, and was born in Clinton county, March 15, 1835, and was the third son of Archibald and Mary (Rockhill) Vantress. Archibald Vantress was born in New York in 1789, and was the son of William Vantress. Mary Rockhill was born in New Jersey in the year 1808, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Rockhill, both natives of New Jersey. Archi- bald Vantress was reared a farmer and left New York when quite young, and moved to Ohio; here Mr. Vantress married, near Wil- mington, Clinton county, Ohio, about the year 1830, Miss Mary Rockhill, and to this union seven children were born, one daughter and six sons: Cyrus H., a news agent of Wil- mington; Henry, a carpenter of Clinton coun- ty; Edward, for whom this sketch is named; Porter, deceased, a physician and farmer of Clinton county, and a soldier of Fortieth regi- ment, Ohio volunteer infantry; Francis M., postmaster of Harveysburg, a soldier of the Seventy-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry; Alfred, a member of the Thirty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry; Louisa, died while young. They located on a farm of 117 acres in Clinton county, where he died in 1855. The mother died in 1890, and was buried by the side of her husband in the pretty cemetery of Sheridan. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Vantress was a whig of the most pronounced type, and a man of rare judgment and discernment.

Edward Vantress, like his ancestors, was born and reared a farmer and obtained a good common school education. At the age of twenty-two he came to Randolph county, Ind., and December 6, 1857, was married to Rebecca, daughter of Hicks K. and Sarah (Stephens) Wright. Miss Rebecca was born in Maryland, December 6, 1835. Two chil-

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dren were born to them, a son and daughter: Sarah V., deceased at an early age, and Por- ter, a farmer of Nettle Creek township, the husband of Alice B. Vardeman. They made their home in Randolph county five years and then returned to their old home in Clinton connty, Ohio, where they remained six years, then went to Huntington county, Ind., where he owned and operated a saw mill for three years. After farming five years at Antioch, they bought and moved upon the splendid farm of 200 acres, where they now live, upon which, in 1883, a fine dwelling house was erected. The Vantress residence and farm are pointed out as among the places well deserving of no- tice. Their home is one of refinement and culture, and peace and abundance wait upon them. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vantress are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mo- doc, and Mr. Vantress is a trustee of the church society. He has always voted with the republican party, and is a well informed man, both on county and national affairs.

Is AUREN G. WIGGINS .- As a farmer and business man, Lauren G. Wig- gins stands in the front rank in his township and county. He is a native of Ohio, born in Hocking county, February 20, 1845, and is the eldest son of Lemuel and Anna (Sanford) Wiggins, of whom mention has been made elsewhere. When quite young Lauren G. came with his parents to Hagers- town, Ind., and from thence to Blountsville, and again to Losantville. He secured an average education and made his home with his father until his marriage. In the latter part of 1863 he enlisted in company C, Ninth Indiana cavalry, and served until the close of the war. During his army life he participated in the battles of Nashville, Franklin, Colum-

bia and a number of others of minor import- ance. He was a good soldier and served his country well and faithfully. He was dis- charged from service in 1865, and returned home and engaged in farming, and on Novem- ber 7, 1869, he was married to Orrilla Murry, daughter of Cornelius and Lucinda (Burroughs) Murry. Mrs. Lauren Wiggins was born in Henry county, June 8, 1849. A family of five children have blessed this union: Harland H., a farmer of this township; Eva D., who died at the age of eighteen months; Anna V., at at home; Charles O., at home, and Fannie B., also at home. After his marriage, Mr. Wiggins continued farming for six years, at the end of which time he engaged in the mercan- tile business at Losantville for a short time, when he moved to Blountsville, where he re- mained two years engaged in trade. In 1876 he resumed farming and followed this occupa- tion until March, 1893, when he again moved to Losantville and engaged in horse raising in partnership with Cornelius Hunt. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church, holding their membership at Losant- ville. Mr. Wiggins is a member of the Ma- sonic order at Blountsville, and a G. A. R. member. In politics he is a republican, and is a man whose intentions are to keep time and step with the age in which his lot is cast. He made a good and true soldier, and his life as a citizen is equally commendable.

ARY WIGGINS, the widow of Lemuel Wiggins, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, January 22, 1831, and was the eldest daughter of John and Jane (Moore) Stanley, natives of North Carolina. The father was born in 1801, and was the son of John and Elizabeth Stanley, also natives of North Carolina. Jane Moore

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was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Moore. Both husband and wife were reared on the farm, and were married about the year 1817. Three children came to bless them: James, a carpenter of Muncie, Ind. ; Mary of whom this sketch more particularly pertains, and Louis, a teamster of Montpelier, Ind. The mother died, and the father married for a second wife Mary Cox, and to this marriage seven children were born: Jehu, Elizabeth, Jane, Morris, Lavina, Anna and John. After his first mar- riage they located in Henry county, where he owned 160 acres of land, on which he con- tinued to lived until the time of his death in 1863. He was buried in Moore's cemetery, near Blountsville. From a whig to a republi- can embraces the history of his political faith.

Mary Stanley (Mrs. Wiggins) lived with her parents in Henry county until the date of her marriage, July 27, 1850, to Lemuel Wig- gins, son of John and Nancy (Shultz) Wiggins. Four sons and four daughters hlessed this household: Lillie O., wife of James Rollins, a contractor of Monspelier; Prentice and John C., carpenters of Muncie; Oliver H., a farmer of this township; Emma J., wife of John T. Burrows, a trustee of Nettle Creek township; Mary L., wife of James Johnson, a farmer of Wayne county; Della, wife of March Lindsey, a farmer of Nettle Creek township, and Otis L., a farmer. Lemuel Wiggins was first mar- ried, February 20, 1844, in Hocking county, Ohio, to Anna Sanford, daughter of Herschel Sanford, and by their marriage four children were born: Lauren G. of Losantville, two infants, deceased, and Daniel of Muncie.

They lived in Ohio for a time and then came to Blountsville, Ind., where the wife died of cholera in 1849. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a noble chris- tian woman, whose rare and excellent quali- ties made her beloved wherever known. After the marriage of Miss Stanley to Lemuel Wig-

gins, they engaged in the hotel business at Blountsville, which they followed for two years, and then engaged in the mercantile business at Losantville for three years. They then purchased a farm and operated it for a few years, but returned after a time to the mercantile trade at Losantville. Here he died, September 16, 1885, and was laid to rest at Blountsville. Mr. Wiggins was a more than ordinarily successful man, and at the time of his death was the owner of 600 acres of land. Mrs. Wiggins now resides on a farm of 133 acres. Mr. Wiggins was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Losantville, and had served two full terms as township trustee. He was a strong republican and a pillar of his party in his town. At his death it was justly said that a good man has passed away.

Otis Leland Wiggins, a farmer of Nettle Creek township, is the youngest son of Lemuel and Mary Wiggins, whose biographies appear above. He was born in Nettle Creek township October 13, 1868, was raised a farmer's boy and acquired a farmer boy's education. He was married September 9, 1891, to Laura B., daughter of Simeon and Luzerne (Wine) McCollums, who was born in this county June 3, 1870, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Losantville. Otis is a re- publican, following in the footsteps of his father,

3 AMES A. WILLIAMS, who is so well known as to be classified as the "most genial," and whose position as a busi- ness man in Nettle Creek township, put him at the head of his profession, was born in Meigs county, Ohio, October 8, 1851. He is the son of F. and Belinda (Selby) Will- iams, who were married in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1838, and settled down to married life in Meigs county, where they engaged in

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farming, which they followed until the time of his death, which occurred in 1875. Prior to this, in 1867, they moved to Adams county, Ind., where Mrs. Williams died in 1874, and was buried in Blue Clreek cemetery, Adams county. They were the parents of eleven children, namely: Samuel, a poultry buyer of Monroeville, Ind .; Elizabeth; Nancy, wife of R. Vance; John W., of Muncie, state engineer; James A., of whom this biography is written; Sarah J., wife of John Dull, of Darke county, Ohio; Eliza; Lavennie, wife of Henry Weiner; Marion, deceased; Melvin, deceased. The parents were both members of the Methodist church, and Mr. Williams was a stanch and unwavering republican politically. He was a successful farmer, and at the time of his de- cease was the owner of a handsome farm of 192 acres. He was a man who stood high in the estimation of all who knew him as an up- right, strictly moral man. James A. Williams, his son, who forms the subject material of this sketch, was reared on the farm and educated in the country school, and remained at home until the age of seventeen, when he entered the wholesale establishment of Bowen & Mc- Keith, of Toledo, Ohio, filling a position with the well known firm for three years, at the ex- piration of which time he engaged with the firm of Berfes, Vaughn & Co., of Richmond, Ind. After a time he left this firm to engage in milling for himself and others. In 1882 he established a saw mill in Nettle Creek town- ship, where he continued in business five years, after which he moved to Losantville and en- gaged in the same work, owning both mills. Both plants are first class and are mills of large capacity. Mr. Williams is the owner of one and a fourth acres of land in Losantville, besides his pleasant home. He was married in Farmland, June 8, 1873, to Miss Emma Mercer, who was born in Butler county, Sep- tember 18, 1853, and was the daughter of

John and Mary Mercer. Four children have been born to them in this marriage: Stephen B., Clinton; Nellie and Selby, Politically Mr. Williams is of the faith of his family, a stanch republican, and socially is a member of the I. O. O. F., and Daughters of Re- becca.

RS. CATHERINE K. WRIGHT, widow of the late William G. Wright and the daughter of John and Mary (Church) Grubbs, was born in Randolph county, April 29, 1837. Her father was born in Virginia in 1794 and was the son of Daniel and Elizabeth Grubb. Her mother was born in Augusta county, Va., June 6, 1804, and was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Church, people of English descent. Mrs. William G Wright's father was first married to Rosa Boyer, and to this union seven children were born: George, Daniel, Rebecca, Sarah and three infants, all deceased. The mother died in Washington, Ohio, in 1832. In 1833 the father was mar- ried a second time, his wife being Mary Grubb, and this union was blessed with five children; three boys and two girls: Rosanna, died when young; John W., died in infancy; Catherine K., whose name heads this biography; John F., of Modoc, and Benjamin H., a farmer of this county. Shortly after their marriage they moved and settled in Randolph county, West River township, where they lived for fifteen years, when they moved to Nettle Creek town- ship, where they lived until the husband's death in 1882. The mother died in Modoc, November 23, 1892, and after their long and busy years of life, they were laid to rest in the quiet cemetery at Salem. Both were life-long members of the Methodist Episcopal church and passed away lamented and respected by all who knew them. He was a soldier in the

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war of 1812, and throughout his life was a stalwart republican.

Mrs. Catherine Wright was reared on a farm and remained under the parental roof up to the date of her marriage, which occurred October 6, 1856, to Mr. William G. Wright. He was a native Indianian, and was born in Milton, Wayne county, January 16, 1838, and came to Randolph county with his parents when but a child. He was a man of average education but of fine natural business abilities united with frugality and industry. To this union were born four children: John Wesley a farmer of West River township; Hicks K., a farmer, deceased, of this county; Sarah, wife of George Stump, a farmer of this county; and Martha J., wife of Milo McGunigill. The young people rented land in West River town- ship and lived there for four years, when Mr.

Wright purchased a farm of forty acres and moved to it; in 1890 the couple changed their residence to Modoc, where Mr. Wright died December 27, 1892, and was laid to rest by loving hands in Little Creek cemetery. At different times during his life he had added to his original plat of forty acres, and at the time of his death was the owner of 600 acres. In business he was a man of extraordinary ability and talent, and in all of his undertakings made a gratifying success. All his life he had been a republican and his faith in his political be- lief never wavered. Mrs. Wright was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and spent her last days in the enjoyment of a competency and in doing good. She died September 22, 1893, and was buried in Little Creek cemetery, sincerely mourned by rela- tives and numerous friends.

STONY CREEK TOWNSHIP.

S AMUEL AMBURN, one of the oldest and most prosperous agriculturists of Stony Creek township, Randolph county, Ind., was born in Clinton county, Ohio, but has been a resident of Ran- dolph county, Ind., ever since he was twelve years of age. His birth took place November 18, 1818, and he is the son of Isaac and Re- becca (Hodson) Amburn, who were born in North Carolina, but removed to Virginia and later to Clinton county, Ohio. Isaac Amburn was a son of Samuel Amburn, after whom our subject is named; Rebecca Amburn was a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Hodson, both natives of North Carolina. Isaac Amburn had been a successful farmer while residing in

Virginia and in Clinton county, Ohio, but, allured by the fertile soil of Randolph county, he took up his residence here in 1830, and entered forty acres of rich land, and here ended his days. He had been a life-long democrat, and was the father of the following children: Mary, deceased; Elizabeth, de- ceased; Samuel, the subject proper of this sketch; Hester, deceased; Catherine, deceased; Hannah, wife of Thomas Halloway, a thrifty farmer of Delaware county, Ind .; Rachael, deceased, and Cynthia, deceased.

Samuel Amburn came to Randolph county in 1830, with his parents, as stated above, and grew to manhood on his father's farm, and at the age of twenty-one (1839) purchased

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a forty-acre tract and began farming on his own account, and that he was successful the sequel will show. In 1841, on August 26, he was happily united in wedlock with Miss Maria Smith, daughter of Amos and Peggy (Thornburg) Smith, natives of Highland county, Ohio, where Mrs. Amburn was born also, August 11, 1823. This union was fa- vored with ten children, born in the following order: Amos W., farmer; Elizabeth J., widow of J. N. Clevenger; Luther, a farmer; Lydia, deceased; John, deceased; Lafayette, a farmer ; Marion, a farmer of Delaware county; An- thony W., a stock raiser of Dallas, Tex. ; Rosetta, wife of John Gilmore, a farmer, and Martha A., wife of Fernando Leeky, also a farmer-all the living ones residents of Ran- dolph county except those mentioned as resld- ing elsewhere. In 1856 Mr. Amburn sold his farm of 120 acres in Randolph county and purchased 320 acres in Kosciuski county, Ind., but two years later traded this tract of land for 160 acres in Randolph county, on which he now resides, and here he has met with un- varying prosperity with the exception of an unfortunate conflagration which occurred the evening of January 8, 1884, and which leveled his fine residence to the ground, involving a loss of $5,000.

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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 128

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