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 130

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 130
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 130

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John A. Gates was reared on the home farm in Delaware county, and was educated at the common schools therein. He began his business life by purchasing from Morgan Thornburg a farm of 140 acres, which farm he subsequently sold, and then purchased a tract of ninety-two acres in Perry township, which farm he conducted until 1886, when he sold out for the purpose of taking charge of the Delaware County asylum, which position he held for three years, giving entire satisfaction

to all concerned. He then bought of Samnel Amburn 110 acres in Stony Creek township, where he now resides, engaged in its cultiva- tion, and also in dealing in live stock, in con- junction with Mr. Joseph Meeks, of Parker, handling yearly $50,000 worth of stock maintaining a character for business probity and integrity unrivaled throughout the country.

The marriage of Mr. Gates took place July 30, 1879, to Miss Elizabeth Jump, daughter of Dr. Samuel and Letitia (Allen) Jump, natives respectively of Delaware and New Jersey. Dr. Jump was a graduate of the Cincinnati Med- ical college, was eminent in his profession, and after a life of undisputable usefulness, died at the age of sixty-eight years. Mrs. Gates, a highly educated lady, was for five years a teacher in the public schools of Perry township, and was highly esteemed for her ef- ficiency as a teacher, as she still is for her amiability as a lady. She became the mother of an interesting family of four children, named Frederick C., Homer, deceased, Letitia and Clarence.

J ONATHAN C. HARRIS, a well known farmer of Randolph county, Ind., was born in White River township, May 23, 1833, the eldest son of Benjamin and Abigail (Cloud) Harris. The father, Benjamin Harris, was born in Wayne county, N. C., in 1808, and was a son of Stephen and Hannah Harris; the mother of Abigail Harris was a daughter of Mordecai and Rebecca (Thornton) Cloud, and was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1812. Benjamin Harris, a farmer by voca- tion, was a man of more than average ability; he was of medium stature, but strong and robust. At his majority he came to Indiana and located in Wayne county, and was married there about the year of 1830. To this union

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were born seven children, viz; Jonathan C., named above; Addison and Mordecai, farmers of White River township, Randolph county, Ind .; Hannah A., deceased; Rebecca, wife of Jonathan Jones; Abigail, wife of James Fag- gans, and Benjamin, all three residing in An- drews county, Mo. Shortly after his marriage Benjamin Harris removed from Wayne county to Randolph county, Ind., and located near Winchester, where he entered forty acres of land, and later, another tract of forty acres. He and family resided here a number of years, and he then exchanged this land for another tract, on which they resided until claimed by death. She died November 18, 1884, and he October 14, 1888. Their remains were interred side by side at Macksville cemetery, both having been members of the Society of Friends at Poplar Run.

Jonathan C. Harris was fairly well edu- cated for the early days of the school districts of the country, and remained on the home farm until nineteen years of age, when he started out for himself, and, having purchased a forty acre farm, he was married September 29, 1860, to Miss Miriam Fodrea, daughter of William and Esther (Hubbard) Fodrea, natives of Guilford county, N. C., and now residents of this county. Miss Miriam, however, was born near Fountain city, Wayne county, Ind., September 29, 1841. To this congenial union of Mr. and Mrs. Harris have been born four children, viz .: Clarinda E., wife of Samuel Mendenhall; Isadore E .; Ulysses G. and Mil- ford. After marriage, Mr. Harris settled on his forty acre farm, before alluded to. August 11, 1862, Mr. Harris enlisted at Winchester, in the Eighty-fourth Indiana volunteer infantry, served nearly three years, took part in a num- ber of battles of minor importance, and June 29, 1865, was honorably discharged at Wash- ington city. After his return home he pur- chased the farm of sixty-five acres, in Stony

Creek township, on which he now resides.

B Mr. and Mrs. Harris are members of the Society of Friends at Poplar Run, and are regarded with great esteem by their friends and neigh- bors. He is a member of the G. A. R., and has always been a republican.

R RANCIS M. HEWITT was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1836, and is the eldest son of Joseph and Sarah (Putnam) Hewitt, natives of Penn- sylvania, born respectively in 1802, and 1804, and of Irish descent. Joseph and Sarah were the parents of ten children, viz: Catherine, deceased wife of Joseph Gilmore; Lucinda, widow of John T. Thornburg; Sophia, married to William Adkins, of Kansas; Sarah, widow. of John Oakerson, of Muncie: Francis M., named at the head of this sketch; Philip, of Missouri; William, deceased; Joseph, of Dela- ware county, Ind .; Peter, of Farmland, and Mary, deceased wife of Elza McIntire. Soon after marriage, Joseph and Sarah Hewitt set- tled in Ross county, Ohio, on 130 acres of land, but twelve years later, in 1840, sold the farm and came to Randolph county, Ind., where they bought 160 acres of land, then in its primitive condition. This farm they culti- vated until 1867, when they retired to Farm- land, where Mrs. Hewitt died in 1887, Mr. Hewitt following her to the grave in 1891, and both having long been faithful and active members of the Methodist church.

Francis M. Hewitt was but four years of age when brought by his parents to Randolph county. Here he was reared on the home farm, and between his coming and the present he has beheld some wonderful changes. He secured a fair education and assisted his father until his marriage, April 15, 1858, to Marga- ret, eldest daughter of John and Susannah

" Ft

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Bales) Thornburg, natives of North Carolina. Her birth, however, took place in Indiana, March 31, 1840. She has borne her husband seven children, named as follows: Joseph L., a farmer of Randolph county; Susannah, de- ceased; Jane, wife of S. V .. Fletcher, of Dela- ware county; Sarah, deceased; Orilla, wife of Edward Lindsey, a merchant; Norman O., merchant of Neff, and Prentice F., at home. For the first four years of their married life Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hewitt lived on a rented farm, and then purchased ninety-three acres near Windsor, on which they lived seven years, at which time they purchased the home farm of 160 acres, to which they later added 120 acres, thus making a compact and exten- sive farm of 280 acres, on which, in 1882, Mr. Hewitt erected a fine dwelling at a cost of $4,000. In religion Mrs. Hewitt is a Method- ist; in politics Mr. Hewitt is a stanch repub- lican.

Norman O. Hewitt, son of Francis M. and Margaret (Thornburg) Hewitt, was born in Randolph county, Ind., in 1872; he was reared on the home farm but received an excellent common school education, which he afterward turned to good account by assisting as clerk in his father's store, at Neff, which he entered at the age of seventeen, and which, in Decem- ber, 1891, he purchased in its entirety, and which he has successfully conducted ever since, carrying a stock valued at $2,000, and doing an annual business of $6,000. He understands his vocation thoroughly, and is active, wide- awake and intelligent. In politics he is, like his father, a republican.

B ETSY HOLLOWAY, widow of Will- iam Holloway, once a farmer of great prominence in Stony Creek township, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, June 18, 1808, and is the second daughter of

John and Rachael (James) Fisher, natives of Virginia. John Fisher, the eldest son of Joseph and Ann (Cary) Fisher, was born in 1776. Rachael James, the mother of Mrs. Betsy Holloway, was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Stanton) James, natives of Vir- ginia and of English descent. John Fisher was reared to farming, was quite well educated in the common schools of his early day, and was a successful man of business, as far as his vocation was concerned. His children were nine in number, viz: Robert, deceased farmer of Randolph county, Ind .; Elias, who died when quite young; Joseph, deceased farmer of Delaware county, Ind .; Sarah Ann, deceased; Betsy, the subject proper of this sketch; Thomas, deceased farmer of Randolph county; Mary Etta, deceased; Elias (No. 2), who died at an early age, and John, a deceased farmer of Grant county, Ind. After his marriage John Fisher followed his trade of shoemaker until his removal from Virginia to Columbiana county, Ohio, where he entered 160 acres of wild land, which, with the assistance of his faithful wife, he partially cleared away, and on which he erected a log cabin. Here Mrs. Holloway was born, and here lived for ten years, when the family moved to Cincinnati, making the trip on a flat-boat and occupying nine days on the journey. From Cincinnati Mr. Fisher moved to Richmond, Ind., when there were but three houses in the town, and for several years lived on rented land, and then came to Randolph county, where he entered a second tract of 160 acres, and but a short time after sold out, and entered his third tract of 160 acres, which he industriously tilled until his death, which occurred in 1859, followed by that of his wife in 1866. Both were members of the Society of Friends, and their remains repose in Hardshaw cemetery.

Mrs. Betsy Holloway was married April 3, 1828. Her husband, William Holloway, was

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the youngest son of William and Sarah (Stan- ley) Holloway, natives of Virginia, in which state William was born February 16, 1808. To the happy marriage of William and Betsy were born five children, as follows: Rachel, who died in infancy; Sarah Ann, wife of Wes- ley Moore, of Monroe township, Randolph county; George a deceased farmer of Wells county; Hannah, deceased wife of Jonathan Thornburg, of Stony Creek township, and John, a deceased farmer of Randolph county. The married life of William and Betsy Hollo- way began on a small farm, which was in- creased, through the industry and good man- agement of Mr. Holloway, to 136 acres, and on this property the widow still lives. Will- iam passed away September 6, 1858, after a life of usefulness and purity, a devoted hus- band, an affectionate father, and a consistent member of the Society of Friends. Mrs. Holloway bears her years well, but lives not so much for the world as for the hour to come when she shall rejoin the loved ones gone before.

EORGE WESLEY HOLLOWAY, a rising young agriculturist of Stony Creek township, Randolph county, Ind., is a descendant from one of the oldest and most prominent families in the county. He was born in Stony Creek town- ship, December 26, 1866, and is the youngest son of John and Susannah (Odell) Holloway, members of which family have mention made of them in other portions of the volume.

George W. Holloway was educated at the schools of his township and was reared to farming. November 21, 1886, he married Miss Eva M. Wright, who was born in Ran- dolph county, October 15, 1866, and is the eldest child of John D. and Lydia (Jackson) Wright, and this union has been blessed by

the birth of two children: John Clayton, now aged three years, and Emma F., aged one. Mrs. Holloway is a highly educated lady, hav- ing attended Ridgeville college, and also the b Normal college at Richmond, Wayne county, Ind. After marriage the young couple located on the farm of Betsy Holloway, where they resided two years, then moved to the farin of J. D. Wright, where two more years were passed, and then a term of one year was spent on the present farm; a trip was then made to Iowa for a short time, and, on their return, Mr. Holloway purchased this last named farm, comprising 120 acres, and here they have re- sided ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Holloway are members of the Society of Friends, and in politics he is an ardent republican. He is en- terprising, thrifty, and sagacious, as well as upright and just in all his transactions, and has won for himself the sincere regard of the . community.

3 ESSE HOLLOWAY, a descendant of one of the oldest families of the Eng- lish nation and a relative of many of the same name in Stony Creek and Monroe townships, Randolph county, Ind., was born in Stony Creek, March 11, 1858, and, although still a young man has won his way through life by force of his native shrewd- ness and intelligence. He is the second son John and Susannah (Odell) Holloway, names mentioned elsewhere in these pages. John was a son of William and Betsy (Fisher) Holloway, of Virginia, and Susannah was a daughter of Jesse and Sarah (Seney) Odell, who came to Indiana from North Carolina, and were here married in 1855. They became the parents of six children, equally divided as to sex, and named as follows: William; Jesse; Sarah E., wife of Horace Fetters; Elizabeth J .; Emma, deceased, and George W. The

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newly married couple took up their residence on a farm of 166 acres, which John had pre- viously entered in Stony Creek township, and here he ended his days in 1868, a member of the Society of Friends, at Poplar Run.

Jesse Holloway lived on the home farm until his marriage, January 18, 1880, to Miss Melissa A., daughter of Isaac H. and Louisa (Baldwin) Thornburg, natives of Randolph county and descended from one of its earliest settlers. This union has been blessed with one child, Milfred A. For the first three years after his marriage Mr. Holloway lived on rented land, and then purchased his present farm of eighty acres, where he has made a financial success, being a thoroughly skillful farmer and understanding the merits of a wise economy. He is a member of the Society of Friends and I. O. O. F. lodge, No. 517, of Windsor, while Mrs. Holloway is an adherent of the New Light congregation. In politics Mr. Hollo- way is a republican, and his social standing is of the best in the country.

RANCIS HUBBARD, a prominent and prosperous farmer of Stony Creek township, Randolph county, was born near Fountain City, Wayne county, Ind., April 29, 1833, a son of Joseph and Charity (Fodrea) Hubbard, natives of North Carolina. Joseph Hubbard, son of Solomon Hubbard, of North Carolina, was reared on the home plantation, but early in life became a sailor, and followed a sea-faring life until about the year 1828, when he married Miss Charity, daughter of Elizabeth and William Fodrea, all natives of North Carolina. After the occurrence of this important event, Joseph at once re-engaged in farming, but, tiring of his native state, he left it in 1832 and came to Indiana, locating in Wayne county. Ten

years later he decided on another change of location and came to Randolph county, where he had a short time previously purchased forty-five acres of wild land, on which he made a clearing and erected for himself and family a log cabin, using for that purpose the few rude tools in vogue at that early day. l'er- sistently energetic, he led the otherwise un- eventful life of a farmer until the close of his life, in 1878, having been preceded to the grave by his worthy wife about four years previously. Their mortal remains were in- terred in Cedar cemetery. He had been a member of the Society of Friends, and in pol- itics he was first a whig, then an abolitionist, and then, on the formation of the republican party, became a stanch member of that political organization. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard were eight in number, as follows: an infant that died unnamed; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Robert Fellow, a farmer of Howard county, Ind .; William P., a farmer of Atchinson county, Mo .; Francis, with whom this sketch has most to do; Chris- topher, who was a farmer of Stony Creek township, but who is now deceased; Eliza, de- ceased wife of John N. Moore, farmer of Stony Creek township; Michael, a machinist of Farmland, and Sarah C., the present wife of John N. Moore, already alluded to in this family record.

Francis Hubbard, whose name will be found at the opening of this sketch, and in the catalogue of eight children given above, was educated at the common schools of Wayne and Randolph counties, where, being an apt scholar, he absorbed all the information that could be imparted to him in his early youth or could be gleaned at the old log school house, albeit that information was somewhat meager. Nevertheless, it has carried him successfully through life career, and added to his com- mendable habit of reading current literature,

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newspapers, and standard works in poetry and prose, has strengthened an intellect by nature already formed by receptivity and retentive- ness. His learning the trade of a carpenter has also increased his primary acquisition of mathematical knowledge, trained his eye, and enhanced his faculties of form and dimension. Nevertheless, husbandry, God's first and great- est gift in knowledge to man, has been his chief pursuit, and that he has profited from his knowledge of this primitive but solid pursuit is found in the following fact: He did not marry until he had reached the years of full discretion, when, February 17, 1859, he select- ed for his bride the amiable and accomplished, as well as pretty, Ann E. Merryweather, a daughter of William and Hannah (Tharp) Merryweather, natives of Devonshire, Eng. Then, availing himself of his skill as an agri- culturist acquired on his father's farm, he set- tled on the farm on which he still resides, but which then comprised but forty acres, from which his aforesaid skill wrought out a mine of wealth, and which his industry has increased to a magnificent farm of 203 acres as-fine a farm as there is in the county. Mr. Hubbard, however, had the misfortune of losing his earlier helpmeet May 29, 1890. All through her life she had adhered to the teachings of the Society of Friends, and found her lasting repose in the cemetery at Poplar Run. She was the mother of five children, nearly all of whom have reached the years of maturity. They were born in the following order: Lavina E., still residing with her father; Albert, a merchant of Scott's Bluff, Neb .; Ira, a farmer of Nebraska; Elza, a farmer; Riley, still at home with his father.

The second marriage of Mr. Hubbard took place February 26, 1892, to Julia A., widow of Zimri Bond, of Randolph county, and he has found in this Quakeress a lady, to use the language of worldly people, and a companion

that is altogether congenial and who will fully do her duty to her husband as long as life to them shall endure. Poplar Run meeting-house is the place of their worship every seventh day, and their lives are led in accord with the pure teachings of their sect. Mr. Hubbard has been for years a republican in politics, and his per- sonal habits have been of the purest nature, he having never used tobacco in any form, and spirituous liquor to him an utter stranger.

ELIX W. MASON, of Stony Creek township, Randolph county, Ind., was born in Franklin county, Ohio, March 22, 1849, and is a son of Solomon and Christina (Ferrill) Mason. Felix has two brothers, Henry and William. Solo- mon was born in the state of Delaware, Jan- uary 22, 1823, and was the eldest son of Isaac and Sarah Mason. When very young he was taken by his parents to Ohio, where he re- ceived a good education. He was yet a young man when his parents died, and he lived with his grandmother until his marriage, about 1847. He then located in Franklin county and followed farming, and there his wife died in February, 1850. After two years of a wid- ower's life, Mr. Mason married Mary E. (Hiatt) Murphy, daughter of Benjamin Hiatt and widow of David Murphy. In 1866 Solo- mon and his wife came to Indiana and pur- chased forty acres of land in Randolph county, and here the second Mrs. Mason died January 27, 1878, and her remains were interred at Macksville cemetery. From that time on Mr. Mason resided until his death, September 30, 1892, with his son, Felix W. Solomon Mason had served his country in the late civil war in an Ohio regiment; and had taken part in many hard fought battles. In politics he was a re- i publican.

A. H. MOORE.

MRS. A. H. MOORE.

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Felix W. Mason was reared to farmning and was fifteen years of age when he came to Randolph county with his father and step- mother. December 19, 1874, he married Eunice, daughter of Isaac and Millie (Johnson) Morris, and widow of Francis M. Murphy. She was born in Highland county, Ohio, November 2, 1849, but came to Randolph county when quite young. To Mr. and Mrs. Felix W. Mason have been born six children, viz: Earl, who died in infancy; Russell, who died when four years old; Earnest, now at home; Jessie and Bertie, also at home, and an infant deceased. After marriage, Mr. Mason located in Monroe township, and in 1881-82 engaged in the manufacture of tile at Farmland. In 1883 he came into the posses- sion of the farm of eighty-three acres he at present occupies in Stony Creek township. In 1891 Mr. and Mrs. Mason made a trip to Tennessee, but did not remain long. Mr. Mason is deeply interested in his farming and his diligence makes him respected by all his neighbors. He and his wife are members of the Society of Friends at Farmland, and in politics he is a republican.

NDREW H. MOORE, another of the native-born farmers of Stony Creek township, Randolph county, first saw the light of day August 3, 1840. He is the youngest living son of Henry W. and Mary (Wright) Moore, the former of whom was born in 1804, in the state of Delaware and of English descent, and the latter in the state of Indiana, a daughter of Elijah and Susannah (Hoover) Wright, natives of Penn- sylvania. Henry W. Moore lived on the home farm in Delaware until he was twelve years of age, when he was brought to Indiana by his parents, who located at Wayne county, where,

at his majority, Henry W. entered 160 acres of land, and where in 1827 he was married. His children born to this union were eight in number, as follows: Sarah E., deceased; John N., farmer of Stony Creek township; Jonas S., in the same business and in the same town- ship; Elijah W., formerly a member of the Eighty-fourth Volunteer Infantry, and now a farmer in Stony Creek townshfp; Andrew H., whose name opens this paragraph; Elizabeth, deceased; Susan J., wife of Isom Jackson, farmer of Stony Creek township, and David A., deceased. In 1839 Henry W. Moore brought his family, as it then was, to Indiana, and settled on the farm now owned and occu- pied by his son, Andrew H., and here the father ended his days in 1878, and the mother hers in 1886. Their remains now lie interred, side by side, in Poplar Run cemetery. Henry W. Moore was in life a gentleman of superior education and polish, and was for many years an educator of celebrity; his skill as an agri- culturist was acknowledged by all who ever had the good fortune to witness his methods, and his upright life, as member of the Society of Friends, of which society his estimable wife was also a member, was well attested by all who knew him. In politics he was a republi- can, having united with that party in its incipiency, and as a citizen he was without reproach.

Andrew H. Moore, the subject proper of this sketch, acquired his knowledge of agricul- ture on his father's homestead, and his literary knowledge at the common schools of his native county. He remained at home with his par- ents until his marriage, September 28, 1864, to Rebecca Medler, a daughter of Reuben and Elezabeth (Mayer) Medler, natives of Penn- sylvania. He still follows his vocation of farming, having purchased tracts at various times until he now owns 241 acres of rich land under a high state of cultivation. His dwell-

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ing, erected in 1884, is an ornament to the neighborhood, and his lands give evidence of being under the control of a master hand. In September, 1888, Mr. Moore had the great misfortune of losing his spouse, whose remains now rest in peace in the Poplar Run cemetery. She had borne her husband five children, who, with their father, remain to mourn their afflicting loss. viz: Julia A .; wife of John W. Diggs; Alva E., at home; Arthur, husband of Alice Mendenhall; William A., of Atchinson county, Mo., and Clyde N., at home. Mr. Moore is a member of Farmland lodge, No. 208, I. O. O. F., and in politics is a republi- can. He has had, however, no aspiration for public office, having always been content with the care of his farm and the performance of his duties as a good citizen.

ILLIAM D. PARKER, a native of Stony Creek township, Randolph county, was born May 18, 1855, and was here reared to farming, a pursuit he still follows. He is the eldest son of Josiah and Emily (Diggs) Parker, the former of whom was born in North Carolina, October, 1825, a son of Nathan and Sarah (Outland) Parker, natives, also of the Old North state. In 1831, Nathan Parker was brought to Indi- ana by his parents, who settled in Wayne county, where Nathan was reared, and where he married, about the year 1847, Emily, daughter of John and Catherine (Puckett) Diggs, and shortly after his marriage came to Stony Creek township, and purchased forty acres of land, on which he resided until 1883, when he sold out and bought another farm in the same township, on which he still resides. To Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Parker, have been born seven children, as follows: Susanna, wife of Eli Reece; William D .; Lavina, now Mrs.

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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 130

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