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 137

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 137
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 137

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).

HOMAS HENRY CLARK, the gentle- man for whom this sketch is prepared, is a representative farmer and stock dealer of Ward township, and has been an honored resident of Randolph county for a long period of years. Paternally he is descended from an old Pennsylvania family, the history of which is traceable to Ireland, where the remote ancestors, of whom but little is known, resided for many generations. Jacob Clark, grandfather of Thomas H., was a Pennsylvanian by birth and a son of Thomas Clark, whose immediate antecedents came to the United States from the old country. Jacob was a blacksmith by occupation. In early manhood he moved to Maryland, from which state he emigrated to Ohio, thence to Indiana about the year 1848, settling in Ward township, Randolph county. His wife, Patience Snyder, whom he married in Pennsylvania, died within a few years after the family's ar- rival in Randolph county, and a short time afterward Mr. Clark returned to his former home in Warren county, Ohio, where his death occurred in 1878, at the age of seventy- eight years. Mrs. Clark's parents were early settlers of Warren county, Ohio, where they moved about the year 1812.

Thomas Clark, son of the aforesaid Jacob, was a native of Ohio, Warren county, where, about 1837, he married Susan Cox. Shortly afterward he came to Indiana, locating near Winchester, Randolph county, where he re- mained for a limited period, and then returned to Ohio, which state continued to be his home until 1848. In that year he again came to Randolph county and settled on land in Ward township, which his father had previ- ously purchased. Here he cleared a farm and resided until 1880, at which date he abandoned agricultural pursuits and retired to Winchester, where his death occurred on the Ist day of February, 1888, at the age of about seventy

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years. His widow subsequently returned to the home farm, where she still resides. Nine children crowned the marriage of Thomas and Susan Clark, namely: Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Brouse, deceased; Mrs. Mary J. Balentine; Mrs. Emeline Sockett; Thomas Henry; Mrs. Sarah E. Segraves; Mrs. Arabell Hobbick; Mrs. Martha A. Mann; Mrs. Margaret E. Keys and Mrs. Henrietta McCracken, deceased.

Thomas Henry Clark, only son of the above named parents, was born on the 26th day of August, 1846, in Warren county, Ohio. His youthful years were passed on the home farm in Ward township, and on the 25th of December, 1863, he enrolled as a member of company G, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana infantry, with which he served until honorably discharged August 31, 1865. During his period of enlistment, Mr. Clark served, for the most part, in the army of the Ohio, and among the battles in which he participated were the various engagements, of the Atlanta campaign under Gen. Sherman, Franklin and Nashville under Gen. Thomas, and numerous minor engagements, through all of which he passed without receiving any serious injury. In the battle of Atlanta he was struck between the shoulders by a spent ball, and, at another time, was only saved by his cartridge box, which intercepted a deadly missile. On leaving the army, Mr. Clark purchased a farm in the township of White River, where he resided two years, and in 1868 bought a part of his present home place in section 30, Ward town- ship. He now owns 253 acres of very valuable land, 200 acres being under cultivation, and his buildings and other improvements are among the best in the community, where he resides.

Mr. Clark has met with the most encourag- ing success as an agriculturist, and, in addi- tion to general farming, he pays considerable attention to the raising of fine stock, beside

owning an interest in the establishment for the manufacture of drain tile. He owes his success in life entirely to his own efforts, and as a self-made man few citizens of Randolph county are entitled to greater credit. He votes the republican ticket, belongs to the G. A. R., F. M. B. A. and Odd Fellows fraternities, and the Christian church, of which he has been a consistent member for a number of years, represents his religious creed. Mr. Clark's first marriage was solemnized in 1866 with Barbara Hobbick of Pennsylvania, who died March 25, 1873, leaving two children: Ida, now Mrs. Nickey, and Elmer. The second marriage was consummated in 1875 with Mrs. Jane Reitenour, daughter of James Hale of Randolph county, a union blessed with the birth of two children-Clarissa S. and James T. Clark. By her previous marriage Mrs. Clark had one child- William Henry Ritenour.

B ENJAMIN F. CLEVENGER .- Prom- inent among the old and well known citizens of Ward township, is Benja- min Franklin Clevenger, who was born on the 29th day of February, 1816, near the borough of McConnelsburg, Pa. His father, William Clevenger, was born in Virginia, May 26, 1773, and his mother, whose maiden name was Charity McClarry, first saw the light of day on the 18th of January, 1777. The sub- jest's paternal grandfather, Abram Clevenger, was a patriot of the revolution, in which strug- gle he served seven years, during which time he participated in a number of bloody battles and suffered with his companions the horrors of Valley Forge. He was a native of New Jersey and died a number of years ago in Bed- ford county, Pa., where an appropriate mon- ument, erected by the subject of the sketch, marks his last resting place. William Clev-

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enger, the father, died in Bedford county, No- vember 12, 1832, and his wife, Charity, de- parted this life on the 28th day of October, 1854. Mrs. Clevenger was a native of New Jersey, the daughter of Henry McClarry, who served with distinction in the Continental army during the dark and turbulent period of the revolutionary struggle. The following are the names of the children born to William and Charity Clevenger; John; Aaron; Peter; Paul; Abraham; Benjamin F .; William; Mrs. Anna Whitefield; Mrs. Mary Wink and Mrs. Sarah Malott, of whom Benjamin F., William, Mary, and Sarah are still living.

The early life of Benjamin F. Clevenger was comparatively uneventful, and at the age of eighteen he was bound out to learn the trade of millwrighting, in which he soon ac- quired great proficiency and which he followed for a number of years. In 1841 he came to Randolph county, Ind., from Pennsylvania, making the long tiresome journey on foot and alone, and immediately upon his arrival began erecting a log house for his father-in-law, which is still standing. A few months later he went back to Pennsylvania and remained there until about the year 1849, when he returned to Randolph county and purchased a part of his present farm in Ward township, upon which at that time there were about three acres cleared and a small cabin erected. He at once went to work with a determination to succeed, and within a few years the acreage of developed land was greatly enlanged and a fine dwelling, in which the family still reside, erected. In addition to clearing and developing his farm, Mr. Clevenger worked at his trade from time to time and built several mills in Randolph and other counties, beside other buildings in vari- ous parts of the country. He now owns a valuable farm, consisting of 140 acres of well improved land, his buildings and other acces- sories ranking among the best in the neighbor-

hood where he resides. Mr. Clevenger's first marriage was solemnized May 9, 1844, with Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Barbara Sipe, who was born in Bedford county, Pa., No- vember 2, 1825, and whose death occurred March 9, 1856. Two children resulted from this union, Barbara F., deceased, and Samuel F., who resides in the city of Columbus, Ohio. On the 21st day of May, 1857, Mr. Clevenger and Sarah Smiley, a native of Ohio, were made man and wife, a union blessed with the birth of one child, Clara F., wife of J. C. Nickey.

Mr. Clevenger has always been a wide awake man of affairs, taking an active interest in every enterprise having for its object the general welfare of the community. He served four years as trustee of his township, and in the settlement of estates and transaction of other business requiring experience and sound judgment his services have been frequently sought by his fellow-citizens. While residing in Pennsylvania he served seven years in the militia of that state, and on the breaking out of the late war, although too old to enter the army, he took an active part in raising volun- teers in Randolph county, and contributed no little to the enthusiasm of the time by the patriotic music of his fife; which he played at many meetings. In politics, Mr. Clevenger, while generally supporting the principles of the democracy, rises above party when honesty in office is at stake, and votes for the man best qualified to discharge duties of public trusts. He cast his first presidential ballot for William Henry Harrison, and since that time has rarely let an opportunity go by without exercising the right of the election franchise. For many years he has been an active member of the Masonic fraternity, and he refers with pardonable pride to the fact that, during his long and busy life, he has never been under the influence of anything that intoxicates. His

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life has been fraught with much good to his fellow man, and he is entitled to a prominent place among the most popular and highly respected citizens of the township of Ward.

OBERT COLLINS, born in Warren county, Ohio, near Rossburg, Janu- ary 4, 1827, is the son of Amos and Abigail (Bennett) Collins, the former a native of New Hampshire, and in his boy- hood a school-mate of Horace Greeley. Amos Collins was a son of Benjamin Collins, his birth-place also being New Hampshire. His wife's name was Sarah. When Amos was about fourteen years old, the family moved to Ohio, where the father died. Benjamin was the father of a large family of children, one of whom, George, served in the war of 1812. In 1840 Amos Collins removed, with his family, to Indiana, and settled in Jay county, where he cleared up a farm of 120 acres. He also made and sold baskets, ax handles, etc. Here both he and his wife died-he at the age of eighty-two years, in February, 1886, and she about 1878, aged seventy-three.

Mrs. Abigail Collins was a native of Vir- ginia. Her parents were Abraham and Rachel Bennett, the latter's maiden name being Collins- the family not related, how- ever, to Amos Collins. All her life she was very industrious, and skilled in the housewifely arts of her time. In one season she wove, by hand, 470 yards of cloth. Abraham Bennett came from England, being one of a company of twenty men who received from the English government a large grant of land in New Jersey. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Amos Collins. They were Maria (Mrs. I. Whiteneck); Joseph, deceased; Robert; Sarah (Mrs. J. Pierce, deceased); Polly, de- ceased; Cornelius; Betsy (Mrs. Loomis); Phebe, deceased; and George. Politically,

during the war, Mr. Collins was a republican, latterly a democrat. Both he and his wife had a religious home in the Methodist Episco- pal church.

At the age of fourteen Robert Collins came to Indiana, where he married five years later, soon afterward buying forty acres of land in Jay county, which he cleared. This he sold in 1867 and removed to Randolph county, where he bought his present farm of eighty- three acres in section 8, Ward township, the same now being supplied with good buildings and other modern improvements. To a son Mr. Collins has presented forty acres of land. He also owns a farm of 120 acres in Callaway county, Mo.

On March 13, 1846, his marriage to Sarah, daughter of Garrett and Nancy Clawson, was solemnized. Her birth occurred in this coun- ty, September 6, 1827. Eight children blessed their union, viz: Ocea Ann (Mrs. William Hudson), John, Abigail (Mrs. Hennizer, de- ceased), Nancy (Mrs. Waltz), Amos, Mary E., deceased; James M., and Robert J. In May, 1893, a cyclone caused Mr. Collins consid- erable loss by blowing away some of his build- ings and damaging others. It was of such force that heavy timbers were carried by it a mile away. Mr. Collins, who is a democrat, cast his first presidential vote in 1848. With the exception of a gift from his father of forty acres of land, the monetary value of which was about $56, Mr. Collins owes his success chiefly to his own efforts, industry, perseverance and economy, having built the ladder by which he has attained it.

J EREMIAH KOLP (deceased) was born on the 6th day of April, 1812, in the state of Pennsylvania, son of Peter and Henrietta (Eboch) Kolp. As the name indicate, both branches of the family

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are of German lineage, and the subject was descended from the sturdy yeamanry of that nationality, which settled in various parts of the Keystone state during the early period of its history. When Jeremiah was a small boy his parents moved to the town of Old Win- chester, Ohio, and, at the age of fourteen, owing to the death of his mother, he was bound to a neighboring farmer until his twenty-first year. About 1839 he came to Randolph county, Ind., and two years later purchased a farm in section 30, Ward town- ship, consisting of 183 acres, only a small part of which was at the time fitted for culti- vation. By dint of persevering toil he gradu- ally enlarged the area of his fields, until, in time, his farm became one of the best im- proved and most highly cultivated places in the community.

Jeremiah Kolp was married January 3, 1838, to Susan, daughter of Francis and Re- becca Young of Lancaster county, Pa., the offspring of which union consisted of nine children: Francis W., member of company A. Eighty-fourth Indiana infantry, in the late war, killed at Chickamauga; Rebecca, now Mrs. J. Baily; Peter, deceased; Joseph; Mrs. Sarah A. Banty; George W .; John W .; and Martha A. Myers. Mr. Kolp was a man of many excellent traits of character, a kind father, an affectionate husband, and an obliging friend and neighbor. He accumu- lated a comfortable competence for his family and died lamented by the entire community on the 29th of October, 1885. The home farm is now under the efficient management of his son, George W. Kolp, who was born where he now lives on the 19th day of March, 1857. He is a worthy successor of his father, whose sturdy virtues and admirable traits of character he inherits, and he began life as a tenant on the homestead on attaining his legal majority. He is a successful farmer and stock raiser and

a gentleman whom his friends and fellow citi- zens hold in the highest esteem.

HOMAS J. KOLP, one of the pro- gressive farmers of Ward township, of which he is a native, was born on the 28th of May, 1846, the son of Jeremiah and Susan (Young) Kolp, an appro- priate mention of whom is found in the sketch immediately preceding this mention. Thomas J. Kolp was reared to agricultural pursuits on the home farm, which he helped to clear, at- tended the common schools during his youth- ful years, and at the age of twenty-one began life for himself by purchasing his present place place in section 21, where he now owns a tract of land, consisting of 102 acres, of which eighty-two are under cultivation, sixty-two acres having been prepared for the plow by the labor of his own hands. In keeping with the improved condition of the soil of this farm are the commodious buildings, including a barn fifty-four by fifty-four feet in size, erected in 1885, and other structures usually found on first-class places. The general appearance of Mr. Kolp's farm bespeaks the presence of a painstaking manager and progressive agricul- turist, and such he has been for a number of years, the reputation being accorded him by his neighbors of being one of the most success- ful and wide-awake farmers and stock raisers in the community. He pays close and intelli- gent attention to the proper rotation of crops, and his herds of Shropshire and South Down sheep, as well as other live stock, compare fa- vorably with the best of the county. Mr. Klop is a member of the Methodist church and is prominently identified with the order of Odd Fellows and F. M. B. A. He was united in marriage in the year 1875 with Miss Della Hall, daughter of Obadiah Hall. Mrs. Kolp

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was born in the county and died on the 8th day of January, 1886. The following are the names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kolp: Bessie M., died in infancy; Jeremiah and John O., the last named deceased.

HOMAS MULLEN, deceased, was born near Elizabethtown, N. C., and died near Lynn, Randolph county, Ind., in 1873, at the age of eighty- four years, respected by all who knew him. The Mullen family is of Scotch-Irish descent. Thomas was left an orphan at an early age and for a time lived with an uncle, but before attaining his majority he learned the carpen- ter's trade with John Roe, whose daughter, Nancy Roe, he afterward married. They be- came parents of the following children: Mrs. Harriet Barnes, Joseph and Amalek, both de- ceased; Sarah and Sophronia, who died in childhood; Thomas, Mrs. Sophronia Hinshaw, James, and Mrs. Susanna Brown, deceased. In 1829, Thomas Mullen removed to Randolph county, making the trip with a one-horse cart, containing his household goods. He and his children walked most of the distance. He settled near Fountain City, Wayne county, and later removed to Hamilton county, Ohio, where he lived six years. About 1842 he came to Randolph county, and for a number of years resided near Lynn. The last few months of his life were spent at the home of his son Thomas. He carried on a farm, but spent most of his time in carpentering and wagou making. His wife died near Lynn, in 1858, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a member of the Christian church, and she belonged to the Baptist church. By all who knew them they were held in the highest regard, for they lived upright lives.

Thomas Greenbury Mullen was born in

North Carolina, January 28, 1828, and was about a year old when the family came to Indiana. His boyhood was spent on the farm, and at the age of twenty he left home, work- ing in a saw mill at Liberty for about three years. In 1850, he started overland for Cali- fornia, and was six months in making the journey from Fountain City to the mines, where he remained for eleven months, meeting with fair success. He returned home by the way of Nicaraugua, Havana and New York, and reached his destination six weeks after sailing from San Francisco. He then began farming, purchasing 160 acres of wild land. The next year he bought an interest in the saw mill at Buena Vista, but sold after a year and turned his attention to the develop- ment of his land. He had 120 acres under cultivation, when he sold out in 1877. He then bought his present farm on section 29, Ward township, where he has 160 acres of rich and valuable land. He has remodeled the house, built a large barn, and made other excellent improvements. He practices rota- tion of crops and his farm is under a high state of cultivation.

In 1854, Mr. Mullen married Susanna, daughter of John and Phebe Johnson, and a native of Liberty, Ind. They had five chil- dren-James M., a farmer of this county; Lewis A., deceased; Mrs. Samantha |. Spera; Mrs. Phebe A. Taylor, and Susanna, who died in infancy. The mother died in April, 1863, and on the ist of January, 1865, Mr. Mullen married Elmina, daughter of Gideon Shaw. Her maternal grandfather, Richard Corbett, who came from North Carolina, was a pioneer settler of this county. The Shaws, who were from New Jersey, also located here in an early day. Eight children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Mullen-Mrs. Ida B. Davis; Frank; Florence, wife of I. Hawthorne; Clarence, twin brother of Florence; Charles; Bessie, de-

T. J. KOLP.

THOS. G. MULLEN.

MRS. THOS. G. MULLEN.

:11

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ceased wife of J. French; Harry, and Blanche, who died in infancy. With the exception of Mrs. Taylor, of Richmond, Ind., all live in this county.

Mr. Mullen enlisted for the late war, Octo- ber 21, 1862, was assigned to company G, Fifty-fourth Indiana infantry, and received his discharge at New Orleans, December 8, 1863. He served throughout the Vicksburg campaign and the battles of Chickasaw Bayou and Grand Gulf. He escaped without wounds, although a six inch shell burst within twelve feet of him, killing many of his companions. Mr. Mullen cast his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce, and is a democrat in politics. He belongs to the Farmers' Mutual Benefit as- sociation, and is treasurer of the local lodge and of the county assembly. He was formerly connected with the Patrons of Husbandry. He was one of the incorporators of the Ran- dolph County Agricultural society, has been its president for the past three years, and takes an active interest in its welfare. His wife is a member of the Christian church. In connec- tion with the home farm, Mr. Mullen owns 160 acres of land in Franklin township, supplied with good improvements. He may truly be called a self made man, for, through his own industrious and well directed efforts, he has acquired theicompetency which he now pos- sesses.

J OSEPH WARREN is a representative of one of the oldest and best known pioneer families of Ward township, in which part of Randolph county his birth occurred on the 14th day of June, 1847. His father, John R. Warren, was a native of North Carolina and came to Indiana as early as 1820. The father of John R. was James War- ren, who made his way to the Hoosier state in the above year, traveling nearly all the way on

foot and bringing with him his wife and sev- eral children, including a babe six weeks old, who, with their few belongings, were drawn in a hand wagon over long, and, in some places, almost impassable roads, by the devoted par- ents. About the year 1835 the family located in the county of Randolph, where Jas. Warren died some time later. John R. Warren was married in Wayne county, Ind., to Anna New- ton, whose parents, Henry and Mary Newton, were early settlers of the state, the father being a native of England. Soon after his marriage John R. Warren came to Randolph county and entered a tract of land in section 26, which he cleared and improved, and to which he made additions from time to time. He dealt quite extensively in lands throughout the county and at one time owned over 1, 000 acres, the result of his own unaided efforts. As fast as his children became of age he gave each $1,000 in cash, or its equivalent in land, and he became one of the largest and most successful farmers in the county. His death occurred January 31, 1886, at the age of seventy-two; his devoted wife preceded him to the grave, dying in the month of April, 1877. John R. and Anna Warren were members of the Methodist church, and everybody who knew them bore testimony to their worth and genuine christian character. The following are the names of their children: Elizabeth, de- ceased; Henry, Mrs. Mary L. Lollar, Mrs. Mahalah Sarff, deceased; William R., Joseph, Fletcher and Mrs. Martha Charlton.

Joseph Warren grew to manhood on the home farm, and at the age of twenty-one en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for himself on an eighty acre tract of unimproved land given him by his father. He cleared a part of this place and subsequently purchased other lands in Randolph and the adjoining county of Jay, and in February, 1891, became owner of his present fine farm of ninety acres in section 35,

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where he has since resided. In addition to this place he also owns the old homestead, his lands at this time aggregating over 305 acres, the greater part of which is highly im- proved and contains first class buildings. Mr. Warren is a model farmer, successful in all the term implies, and a list of Ward's pros- perous citizens would be incomplete without a mention of his name. Politically, he is a democrat, and as such has been an active worker in the party ever since casting his first vote for Horatio Seymour. Mr. Warren was married January 18, 1869, to Martha Sarff, daughter of John and Harriet Sarff, a union blessed with the birth of six children: Melvin C .; John L .; Rolla R .; Sarah E .; Russell E. and Hallie A. C. Mr. and Mrs. Warren are members of the Methodist church.

SAAC SIPE, prominent farmer and stock raiser of Ward township, Ran- dolph county, Ind., was born in Bed- ford county, Pa., September 25, 1827, son of Samuel and Barbara (Brubaker) Sipe, both natives of Pennsylvania, of Bedford and Dauphin counties respectively. The paternal grandfather of the subject was Henry Sipe, whose parents came to the United States from Germany many years ago and settled in Penn- sylvania, where numerous descendants of the family still reside. About the year 1847 Samuel Sipe removed with his family to Ran- dolph county, Ind., in a four-horse wagon, and settled about one and a half miles east of Deer- field, where he purchased 160 acres of land in section 15, Ward township. Here he cleared a good farm, and his house was a favorite stopping place for the traveling public for a number of years. Samuel Sipe died on this place in 1875, and his good wife followed him to the grave a few years later. The following

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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 137

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