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 129

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 129
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 129

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).

Mr. Amburn is a fervently pious man, whose quiet deeds of charity have endeared him to all who knew him. He attributes his abundant success in life to the beneficence and guidance of a higher Power, and to him he gives all the praise. For many years he and his equally devout spouse have been faithful members of the Christian church, and now, when the evening of life is drawing to a close, they await the change, which will bring them into the presence of the great Savior, whom they have so long and faithfully served. In politics Mr. Amburn has always been a straight-out democrat.

J AMES M. BRANSON, one of the most extensive and prosperous farmers of Stony Creek township, Randolph coun- ty, was born in Chatham county, N. C., May 29, 1829, the son of Levi and Rachael (Mendenhall) Branson, also natives of the state named above. The family were members of the Society of Friends (commonly called Quakers), at whose meetings she was often "moved by spirit " and discoursed many words of wisdom and truth. In politics Mr. Branson was a whig.

James M. Branson adhered to his parents and venerated them, but at the age of seven- teen, after following them through their vari- ous meanderings, deemed it best to learn a trade, and chose that of a carpenter, which he mastered thoroughly and followed five years, and then, April 17, 1851, entered into a mat- rimonial alliance with Miss Mary A., daughter of Peter S. and Catherine (Myer) Miller, na- tives of Pennsylvania. This alliance was pro- lific-twelve children having been born to the marriage, as follows: Jane, deceased wife of Harvey Wright, a farmer of Stony Creek township; Alice, deceased wife of Dempsey Harbour, of Winchester; Ira M., banker, of Farmland; Leroy, Clark, Arthur and Miriam, all four now deceased; Russell P., a farmer, of Stony Creek township; Olive, wife of Edgar Studebaker, of Stony Creek; Zoe, still with her parents, and Ethel, married to Omer Thornburg, also a farmer of Stony Creek township. It was just after his marriage when Mr. Branson gave up his trade and located in Stony Creek township, where, a year later, he settled the farm on which he now resides, but which, through the industry and masterly management, he has increased from its origi- nal meager proportions until it now comprises the broad area of 356 acres. He had the mis- fortune, however, to lose by fire his dwelling house, which entailed a loss of $2,000, but

1205

STONY CREEK TOWNSHIP.

this, by his indomitable energy, he has re- placed by the splendid mansion in which he now lives. His surroundings are admirable and delightful, and ease and comfort are de- picted everywhere in the immediate vicinity of his dwelling and thrift and enterprise mark every acre of his estate. Beside the time oc- cupied in the management of his farm, Mr. Branson finds leisure to take part in the affairs of the Farmland bank, of which he is a director, and to whose prosperity is due to his wise counsel. He is a consistent member of the Christian church at White River, and in politics is a stalwart republican.

USSELL P. BRANSON, one of the best read and most progressive young farmers of his native county of Ran- dolph, Ind., was born January 27, 1864, the second son of James M. and Mary (Miller) Branson, whose sketch precedes this. Russell P. Branson received his elementary education at the excellent common-schools of his native county, and this was supplemented by attendance at the high school at Farmland, and of Winchester. At the age of twenty-two he entered the Ohio Wesleyan university, at · Delaware, Ohio, where he passed one year in study, and then, deciding on a change, entered the DePauw university at Greencastle, Ind., but while pursuing his studies at this institution of learning, he was taken seriously ill, and was obliged to relinquish his intention of passing through a full collegiate course. Returning in somewhat impaired health to the old home- stead, he remained with his parents until Oc- tober 15, 1892, when, having fully recuperated, he was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Cordelia, daughter of John F. and Mary (Wirt) Wood, natives of Indiana.

life, and assumed the responsibilities of mar- ried life, he at once moved to and commenced the cultivation of the 1482-acre farm he now occupies, and which he is converting into one of the model farms of the county. Mrs. Bran- son is a fervent member of the Reheboth Methodist church, and lives fully up to the teachings of that religious denomination. Mr. Branson is a member of Black Hawk tribe, No. 79, 1. O. R. M., and in politics affiliates with the people's party. In the prosecution of his vocation he is progressive and enthusi- astic, and with the encouragement of his young and discriminating wife, bids fair to soon be- come one of the most substantial agricultur- ists of the county. The young couple enjoy to the full the respect and admiration of the community, and the future, for them, is filled with bright promise.

ELLINGTON M. BRANSON, a a most worthy citizen of Stony Creek township, Randolph county, and a wealthy farmer, was born April 3, 1862, in the township and county named, and is the son of Joseph and Catherine (Miller) Branson, a family of considerable note. He was well educated, and after going through the ordinary preliminary course of study, attended the State Normal school at Terre Haute in 1883, and later the Central Normal college at Danville, following which he most successfully taught a term of school in Randolph, his native county. March 6, 1884, he married Miss Sarah E., daughter of William C. and Mary (Stanton) Diggs, the result being the birth of two bright children, Hazel and Mildred. Immediately after his felicitous marriage, he located on his father's finely improved farm of 266 acres, on which

Having resumed the onerous duties of tarm | he and family passed many happy hours away.

1206

RANDOLPH COUNTY :

He now owns sixty-four acres of land joining his father's homestead, which he has bought since marriage. He also handles considerable fine stock.

Having in early life been reared on the farm, it may well be said that not a detail in the management of his present home is neg- lected, experience having added to and im- ptoved his early knowledge of agriculture. Being well educated himself, he recognizes the power of knowledge, and will spare no pains in securing for his interesting family a thor- ough course of scholarship. He is a member of the Society of Friends, is a republican in politics, and is by all recognized as a good and useful citizen.

ELSON T. CHENOWETH, M. D., of Windsor, Randolph county, Ind., is a native of Darke county, Ohio, and was born October 8, 1837. The doctor descends from a very old and highly respectable family, of Welsh descent on the paternal side, and on the maternal side of German extraction. His father was Thomas F. Chenoweth, a native of Franklin county, Ohio, who married Miss Christina Thomas, of Tennessee, which union was blessed by the birth of ten children, named as follows: Lewis A., who died at the age of three years; John T., M. D .; Louisa; Nelson T., M. D .; Ema- line, deceased; Levi E., attorney at Green- ville, Ohio; Catherine; Joel T., bricklayer and manufacturer near Cincinnati; Mary J., and Benjamin F., a merchant at Nashville, Ohio. The grandfather of Dr. N. T. Chenoweth was John C .; Thomas C. was his great-grandfather; Thomas was his great-great-grandfather; and Arthur was his great-great-great, and John was his great-great-great-great-grandfather. This ancient family, as already stated, came

from Wales, the progenitor of the American branch settling at Baltimore, Md., about the year of 1716.

Thomas F. Chenoweth was of the fourth generation of the family that settled at Balti- more, and passed his early life on land entered by his father, John C., in 1818, in Darke county, Ohio. He after inherited sixty acres of land, to which he added 100 acres. On this farm he passed fifty-eight years of an honorable and useful life, dying in 1886, at the age of seventy-eight years, having been pre- ceded thirteen days to the grave by his wife, at the age of seventy-six years, both having been life-long members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Thomas F. in his earlier man- hood was an old-line whig, but later became a republican, and for twenty-eight consecutive years, held the office of justice of the peace, an evidence that he held the full confidence of his party, and the respect of his neighbors. John C. Chenoweth, the father of Thomas F., married Betsy Foster. Both were natives of Maryland, and took up their residence in Darke county, Ohio, in 1818, where they passed their life on a farm.

Dr. N. T. Chenoweth acquired a very common-school education in Darke county, Ohio, and at the age of twenty went to Illinois, where he taught school one term and worked on a farm, but in 1858 returned to Ohio, where he taught school in the winter season and in the summer season engaged in laying brick, and attending school in order to improve his already fair education. About this period the civil war burst forth and early in 1861 he enlisted for three months in company K, Eleventh Ohio volunteer infantry, receiving his discharge August 17, 1861. The greater portion of this period was passed at Camp Dennison. October 21, 1861, he enlisted, this time in company E, Sixty-nineth Ohio volun- teer infantry, and now began his gallant career

1207

STONY CREEK TOWNSHIP.

as a military man. June 14, 1863, he was commissioned second lieutenant at Murfrees- boro, Tenn .; in September, 1863, promoted to first lieutenant, and January 18, 1865, was com- missioned captain, which rank he held until his honorable discharge, at the close of the war, July 17, 1865, having served, in all, four years and three days, and having participated in the first battle of Nashville, Tenn., whence his regiment was ordered to burn the bridge at Chickamauga, just before the fight at the latter place; he also took part at Stone River, Missionary Ridge, and Graysville, Ga. All through the trying period Capt. Chenoweth served without incurring a wound, and with a record of only four days in the hospital.

Shortly after his return from the war N. T. Chenoweth entered upon the study of medi- cine with his brother, John T., at Williams- burg, Ind., the two brothers being at that time interested in the drug business together at that place. In the fall of 1866, he entered the Eclectic Medical college at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated with honors May 27, 1867; soon afterward he began prac- tice at Union Port, Randolph county, Ind., in conjunction with Dr. J. W. Botkin, and a year later, August 10, 1868, located at Wind- sor, where he has met with phenomenal suc- cess, having now a very large visiting list and doing an extensive office business both in medicine and surgery.

In the fall and winter of 1882-1883 the doctor added to his already extended knowl- edge of his profession by attending additional courses of lectures at the Miami Medical col- lege, graduating, the second time, March 3, 1883. Although the doctor began life a com- paratively poor man, his natural aptitude for study, his sagacity and proficiency have placed him in affluent circumstances, and he may well feel proud of his success. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for twenty-

eight years, and an honored member of the F. & A. M. for twenty-five years, while in politics he is an ardent republican.

The marriage of Dr. N. T. Chenowith was solemnized March 25, 1869, with Miss Laura E. Haynes, who was born in Union Port, Ind., March 5, 1847. Her father, . Willard Haynes, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., February 11, 1823, and on the 21st day of May, 1846, married Miss Delilah Wright, who was born in Clinton county, Ohio, December 3, 1822, and, by her marriage to Mr. Haynes, became the mother of Mrs. Dr. Chenoweth; Mrs. Laura E. (Haynes) Chenoweth is a highly accomplished lady, and for a number of years before her marriage was a teacher in the pub- lic schools. To this happy union of Dr. Chenoweth and Miss Haynes have been born two children: Flora, the wife of Jacob W. Jones, now a farmer and school teacher; and Thomas W., also a school teacher.

J OHN W. DIGGS, one of the youngest, and yet one of the most intelligent and enterprising farmers of Stony Creek township, Randolph county, was born September 11, 1866, and reared on the farm on which he still resides. He is the eldest son of County Commissioner William C. and Mary (Stanton) Diggs, one of the oldest and most re- spectable families of the county, and whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume. He acquired a first-class common school edu- cation, which was completed when he had reached the age of nineteen years. At twenty years of age he married-September 28, 1886- Miss Julia, eldest daughter of Andrew H. and Rebecca (Medler) Moore, of whom a sketch in full is also given elsewhere in these pages. Miss Julia was born in Stony Creek township, October 19, 1865, and is a descendant of a

1208

RANDOLPH COUNTY :

highly esteemed family, as will be seen in the shetch of Mr. Moore already alluded to. Im- mediately after their felicitous marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Diggs settled on the Diggs homestead of 240 acres, which the young man has since managed with great skill and tact, producing abundant crops and adding to the intrinsic value of the estate annually.

Mr. and Mrs. Diggs are members of the Society of Friends at Poplar Run, and are among the best people of the county, being highly respected for their gentle natures and quiet, upright course of life. They are the happy parents of two handsome and intelligent children: Clarence, aged four years, and Glenn-and that they will receive the best edu- cational advantages within the command of their loving parents, there cannot be a shadow of doubt, the parents both being persons of a high order of intelligence. In politics Mr. Diggs is a republican, and is antagonistic to the liquor traffic as well as to all other practices that lead to the demoralization of society.

J ACOB DRIVER, one of the oldest and most experienced farmers of Stony Creek township, Randolph county, was born in Porter county, Ohio, Septem- ber 6, 1806. His parents were John and Catherine (Sample) Driver, natives of Penn- sylvania, who settled in Ohio at an early day. There were five children in their family, named Rebecca, deceased widow of Morgan Mills; James, a deceased farmer of Stony Creek township; Jacob, our subject; Anna, deceased wife of John McGuire, of Missouri; Margaret, deceased wife of Thomas Rhody, of this county. The parents were married in Porter county, Ohio, where they lived and rented land until 1823, when they came to Randolph county, and hewed out a home from the

wilderness just east of Macksville, enduring all the hardships incident to pioneer life, but by arduous toil and close econoiny earning a comfortable livelihood until death closed their career-the mother dying in 1827 and the father in 1828. They had long been members of the Lutheran church, and their remains lie interred side by side in Mackswell cemetery.

Jacob Driver descends from an old and pa- triotic ancestry, his maternal grandfather hav- ing served in the Revolutionary war. He came to Randolph county with his parents when he was but seventeen years of age, and with them he remained until his marriage, July 23, 1835, to Miss Amanda, daughter of Joab McNees, of Tennessee. To this prolific union have been born eleven children, as follows: Sarah A., deceased; John, a farmer of Ran- dolph county; Joab, Catherine, Martha L., George R , Amanda, Eliza E., and Andrew H., all deceased, and James H., and Elias N., both farmers of Stony Creek township.

After the marriage of Jacob and Amanda Driver they settled on the present homestead, eighty acres of which Mr. Driver had entered in 1831. Later he purchased eighty acres ad- ditional, and still later ten acres more, thus establishing a splendid farm of 170 acres. On this place Mrs. Driver, who was born October 19, 1819, passed away March 20, 1860, and was buried in the Macksville cemetery. Mr. Driver, as his wife, has been a life long mem- ber of the Christian church, and in pelitics has been a republican ever since that party has been formed. He has ever lived an hon- est and industrious life, and has consequently won the respect and esteem of his fellow citi- zens.

Elias N. Driver, the youngest child born to Jacob and Amanda (McNees) Driver, is a na- tive of Stony Creek township, Randolph county, born March 10, 1860. He has passed his life on the old homestead, attending school

1200

STONY CREEK TOWNSHIP.

until seventeen years of age, since which age he has devoted his entire attention to agricul- ture, taking great pride in tilling the soil and in producing fine crops. He is an enthusiast in his vocation, and is one of the most suc- cessful and enterprising young farmers of the county. He is a prominent member of the F. M. B. A., and in politics has always been a republican.

J AMES H. DRIVER, one of Randolph county's most prosperous farmers, was born in that county August 23, 1854, a son of Jacob and Margaret (McNees) Driver. He was reared on a farm and edu- cated in the excellent common schools of Ran- dolph, and at fifteen years of age had finished his attendance and adopted the trade of painting, which he followed for six years; after which he followed carpentering for three years. May 27, 1877, he was united in mar- riage with Phebe A., daughter of Peter and Eliza A. (Keener) Teaver, who was born in Randolph county, October 10, 1857, the second of a family of five children, viz: Mary A., deceased; Phebe A .; Barbara, married to John Herron; David, and Ruth, now Mrs. Harry Orville. To Mr. and Mrs. Driver have been born two children, viz: Earlie E., who died when but eight months old, and Russell L., at home. After marriage Mr. Driver located on the farm which he still occupies, and which he has placed under a state of high cultivation. He is industrious and conse- quently prosperous, and is highly respected by his neighbors for his excellent moral character. In politics he is a republican, and, with his wife, is a consistent member of the Christian church. Being natives of Randolph county, Mr. and Mrs. Driver are widely known within its limits, and, to a large extent, beyond its limits.

HOMAS R. FETTERS, a model farmer, was born October 11, 1846, on the farm on which he still resides, in Stony Creek township, Randolph county, Ind. His parents were David and Jane (Jones) Fetters, natives of Pennsylvania, David being a son of John and Mary (Andrews) Fetters. David was reared to manhood in Pennsylvania, and came to Indiana with his father in 1838, the latter entering a tract of I20 acres of land in Randolph county.

Mrs. Jane (Jones) Fetters also came to In- diana with her parents, and after her marriage to David the pair lived on rented land for a period of four years, but in 1845 David pur- chased forty acres, adding from time to time, until he possessed a fine property comprising 360 acres. Mrs. Jane Fetters passed from earth in 1848, the mother of two children, viz: Mary Elizabeth, widow of Matthew Lindsey, a capitalist at Farmland, and Thomas R., the subject proper of this sketch. David Fetters, in 1856, married Eliza Jones, a native of In- diana, who bore her husband one child, Rebec- ca A. The mother and daughter are now resi- dents of Kansas, the father having died July 4, 1867, a consistent member of the Christian church, as was also his wife.

Thomas R. Fetters received a very fair common-school education in his youthful days, and ably assisted his father on the old home- stead until the latter's death, acquiring in the meantime a thorough knowledge of all the details of farming. At the age of twenty-two, in 1868, he married Miss Mary E. Clevenger, daughter of Mahlon and Rachel (Thornburg) Clevenger, all natives of Indiana. To this congenial marriage have been born eight children, of whom the first two, Charles and an infant unnamed, are deceased. The sur- viving six, who are attending school and being highly educated, are Luella M .; Lelia B .; Clessie C .; Claytie E .; Goldie E., and Chelsie

1210

RANDOLPH COUNTY:

G. Mr. Fetters is a firm believer in educa- tional training, and spares no expense in giving his children the best facilities in this respect that the land affords. In addition to cultivat- ing his model farm of 212 acres, Mr. Fetters has for the past twenty-five years owned and operated a threshing machine, handling yearly about 15,000 bushels of grain. Unlike his father, who was a democrat, Mr. Fetters has always been a republican, and, in 1890, acted as deputy assessor under Mr. Isaac Chandler.

A LBERT FODREA, farmer, of Stony Creek township, Randolph county, Ind., is a native of this state and de- scended from an old North Carolina family, of whom mention will be frequently found in the pages within the covers of this volume. He was born near Fountain City, Wayne county, Ind., December 21, 1849, and is the son of William and Esther (Hubbard) Fodrea, who were born in Guilford county, N. C., and in that state were married. Thence, coming to Indiana, they lived for a number of years in Wayne county, and then came to Rar.dolph county in 1856, where William Fodrea followed farming until his death, in September, 1882, his wife having preceded him to the grave a few years previously. Both were laid in their narrow homes at Cedar cemetery for their final resting place, having, during their lives, been devoted members of the Society of Friends.

Albert Fodrea was but six years of age when he came with his parents to Randolph county. Here he attended the common schools and received a very fair education, for, being of the youngest but one in a family of six chil- dren, he naturally had better educational op- portunities than his four elders. The entire family of six were born in the following order:

Mariam, wife of Jonathan C. Harris, farmer, Stony Creek township; Martha N., wife of Phineas Lamb, farmer, of Wilson county, Kan .; William J., farmer, of Franklin town- ship, this county; Stanton, deceased; Albert, our subject, and Amy B., the wife of V. C. Renard, fruit grower of California.

Albert Fodrea was married December 3, 1871, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Philip K. and Peggy (Wallace) Dick, natives of Ohio. This happy union has been somewhat peculiar in its resultant progeny, as will be seen by the following record, the nine children having been born in the following order: Cora, who died at the age of five years; Russell and . Pearl still at the home of their parents; Philip and Will- iam, twins; Raymond and Mabel, twins; Omer and Opal, twins-an average of three to one in favor of the twins. Mr. Fodrea had been trained to farming on the old homestead, and, having become an expert in agriculture, naturally decided on farming as his life voca- tion after marriage, and consequently settled in a neat little residence on his present farm. He has a great taste for live stock breeding as well as farming, and gives much attention to thoroughbred Holstein cattle, of which he is an enthusiastic admirer. In politics Mr. Fodrea is a republican, and he ranks socially among the best families of the township.

J OHN A. GATES, a thriving farmer and enterprising live stock dealer of Stony Creek township, Randolph county, Ind., was born in Perry township, Delaware county, Ind., November 15, 1852, and is the eldest child born to Albro G. and Lucy (Rus- sel) Gates, the former of whom was a native of New York, and the latter of Indiana. Al- bro G. Gates was but seventeen years of age when he was brought to Indiana by his father,

1211

STONY CREEK TOWNSHIP.

who entered land in Delaware county, on which the son was reared. The latter lived on a farm in Perry township, Delaware county, where he settled in 1839, was a well- to-do agriculturist, and died August 18, 1893. His first wife was Rebecca Shaw, a lady of refinement, who bore him one child, Ann, now deceased; his second marriage was to Mary Daugherty, a native of Indiana, who bore him three children: Albert, a farmer of Perry town- ship; William, a carpenter of Muncie, and Sophronia, now deceased. The third marriage was contracted in 1849 with Lucy Russell, who became the mother of six children, viz: John A., whose name stands at the head of this sketch; Morton, a farmer in Delaware county; Emma, wife of Anderson Bell, a machinist of Anderson, Ind .; Loring, a farmer of Delaware county; Russell, a farmer of the same county, and Charles, deceased. Mrs. Lucy (Russell) Gates still resides in Perry township, in Delaware county, on a farm of 130 acres, and is very highly respected by her neighbors. She has been a consistent member of the Methodist church for many years, and is renowned for her earnest work. In politics Mr. Albro G. Gates was a stalwart republican, and served as township trustee one term, and as justice of the peace four terms, and was regarded by all of his fellow citizens as a man of strictest integrity and as a model farmer.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 129

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