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 57

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 57
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 57

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).

561

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP.

ing until his death in November, 1884. In his political faith he was a republican, and dur- ing a long life accumulated some seven hun- dred acres of land in Van Wert county, Ohio. His reputation was that of a man of the strictest integrity, and both he and wife were members of the United Brethren denomina- tion. His widow now resides with her son, the subject of this sketch, at Albany.

Otholic Henderson Tindall was reared on the home farm and early became inured to hard labor, remaining with his parents until he had reached his majority. For one year he farmed the old homestead and then bought land in Adams county, Ind., where he re- mained nine months, selling this tract to pur- chase property in Willshire, Van Wert county, Ohio. He took charge of the old homestead for three years, paying a money rent of $300 per year, and later went to the town of Van Wert, where for one year he was engaged in the insurance business.

His next business venture was the pur- chase of forty acres of land, in the county of Van Wert, where he remained one year, fol- lowing which he bought eighty acres in Adams county, Ind., where he remained two years, selling it at the end of that time and locating in the town of Albany, where for a period of six months he was engaged in mercantile pur- suits. Having been made constable, he after- ward engaged in other occupations. His term of service as constable was two years, and he served as deputy sheriff under O. H. Swain for four years. Later he went into the timber business and afterward engaged as tie contractor for the L. E. & W. R. R., until July, 1891, at which time he became identified with the Creamery Package Manufacturing company of Portland, Ind., with which he has since remained.

Mr. Tindall was married in Willshire, Ohio, February 9, 1873, to Miss Sarah E.

Stove, born in Van Wert county, Ohio, De- cember 22, 1853, a daughter of William and Sarah (Widmer) Stove, of German and Eng- lish ancestry. Seven children have been born of this marriage-William, deceased; Henry Frazier; Amos; John H .; Birdie; Arlie and Bessie. The eldest son is the telegraph opera- tor on the C. & E. R. R., at Spencerville, Ohio.

Mr. Tindall is a man of considerable means and has had a very successful business career. He owns ten shares in the Albany Land com- pany and four shares in the gas wells.

J OHN N. WINGATE .- Among the prominent farmers of Delaware town- · ship the name of John N. Wingate is entitled to specific mention. Mr. Win- gate was born in Highland county, Ohio, April 4, 1830, and is a son of Philip and Mary Win- gate. The father was born in the state of Delaware, in 1791, and was married, in 1822, in Highland county, Ohio, to Mary Anderson, and for a number of years worked at the car- penter's trade. He came to Indiana a number of years ago, moving his family and household ef- fects in one small cart, and the sum total of his available wealth, on reaching his destination, was twenty-five cents in money. He worked at his trade until 1843, at which time he be- came a resident of Delaware township this county, where his death occurred in 1872. He was the father of thirteen children, five of whom are living at this time. He belonged to the Methodist church, was originally a whig in his political belief, and later became a repub- lican, the principles of which party he advo- cated until his death.

The immediate subject of this sketch, John W. Wingate, spent the first fifteen years of his life in Ohio, and then accompanied his

562

DELAWARE COUNTY :

parents to Delaware county, Ind., remaining with his father until attaining his legal major- ity. While still young, he developed con- siderable skill as a mechanic, and at the age of twenty, began working at the carpenter's trade, which calling he followed until 1865, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits on the farm where he has since made his home. Mr. Win- gate is a notable example of what a young man, without any assistance from friends or fortune, can accomplish, with the aid of well directed energy and wise business foresight. From a small beginning, he has increased his share of this world's wealth, until at this time he is the fortunate possessor of 270 acres of fine land, which has been developed into one of the best, and one of the most successful farms in the county of Delaware. His early education was limited to a few months each winter in the common schools, and he is in the true sense of the word a self educated man, his fund of practical knowledge having been attained by years of intelligent observation and business association with his fellow men.

His first marriage was solemnized Febru- ary 25, 1855, in Ohio, with Amanda M. Black, who died January 27, 1861, leaving two child- ren, Theodore W., a farmer residing in Mich- igan, and Robert N., a resident of the town of Albany, Delaware county. On the 23d day of October, 1863, Mr. Wingate took a second wife, Mrs. Charlotte R. Wilson, widow of the late Morgan Wilson, and daughter of James R. and Eve Black. By her previous marriage, Mrs. Wingate had two children: Anthony M. Wilson, of Nebraska, and James R. Wilson, deceased. The following are the names of the children born to her marriage with Mr. Win- gate: Clara E., wife of Richard A. Jones; Arthur M., Eldora, Clayton B., Lillie Dell, Maud P. and Laura. Mr. Wingate is a dem- ocrat in politics, and at one time served as trustee of his township. He is a member of

the I. O. O. F. lodge, No. 361, and is a share holder and prominent factor in the Albany Land company. Mrs. Wingate is a member of the Delaware Chapel Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Wingate's residence of fifty years in this community has acquired him many friends and is well respected as a substantial and honored citizen.

EORGE W. WHITEMAN .- Few men in Delaware county have had a more interesting and varied experience in life than the gentleman whose brief biography is presented herewith. George W. Whiteman was born near Brighton, Sussex county, England, and is the son of Charles and Harriet (Clark) Whiteman, both parents natives of the same country. By occupation, Charles Whiteman was a railroad contractor. He laid out the Lewis and St. Albans canal in 1846, assisted in the construction of the same, and was made superintendent after its comple- tion. During the great excitement growing out of the discovery of gold in California, he, with thousands of his countrymen, was at- tracted to that far off country, and for two or three years he participated in the search for hidden treasures and took part in the exciting scenes of those times. After living an adven- turous life in California for some time, he re- turned to England and again entered actively into the business of railroad contracting, build- ing the branch road from Maidestone to Sher- ness, in Kent, and the London and Charring Cross railway, which latter work included the removal of the old suspension bridge across the river Thames, erected in the time of George III. Subsequently, he concluded a contract with the Brazilian government for the con- struction of a railroad from Rio Janeiro to a point in the interior, and after completing the

563

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP.

same, went to San Francisco, Cal., where he rejoined his family, which had just arrived from England, this being about the year 1854 or 1855. After remaining for a limited period in California, Mr. Whiteman returned to Eng- land, leaving George W., the subject of this sketch, then a boy of about fourteen, an ap- prentice in the Eureka foundry and machine shops of San Francisco. This appears to be the first introduction that George W. had to active life, and he remained in the above shops for three years, going, at the end of that time, to the city of Sacramento where, for eight years, he was employed in the repair shops.

In 1862 the subject engaged in the con- struction of machinery at Sacramento, re- maining there several years and afterwards worked as machinist and firemen at different places until 1868, in which year, he and some companions made an extensive tour of the southern states. Later he engaged with the Kansas Pacific R. R., and during the winter of 1869-70, was employed between Ft. Wal- lace and Denver in the capacity of locomotive engineer. In the spring, he crossed the mountains, and ran from Ogden to Terrace on the Central Pacific, and for some time, follow- ing the fall of 1871, was engaged by the Bos- ton Rolling Stock company on the Santa Fe road. This company was then building west of Emporia, Kan., and Mr. Whiteman had charge of the engines and car department on the line between that city and Wichita. Later he ran an engine on the Missouri Pacific out of St. Louis until the spring of 1872, at which date, by invitation of a former friend, whom he knew in the west, and who in the meantime had located at the town of Albany, Ind., he paid a visit to the latter place. Sub- sequently Mr. Whiteman again went west to Colorado, and was engineer on the Denver and Black Hawk railroad for one year, then en- gaged on the Salt Lake division of the Cen-

tral Pacific, remaining with the same a few months, when he returned to the little town of Albany, Ind., the attraction being a fair maiden whom he had met on his previous visit and who afterwards became his wife.

Remaining in Albany until the spring of 1874, Mr. Whiteman engaged with the I., B. & W. R. R. in their shops at Urbana, Ohio, and about three months later, went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and ran until 1882 on the Burlington & Cedar Rapids road. In the latter year he had a collision at Rockford and was sick for some time thereafter. Prior to this he was made engineer of the locomotive used to draw the pay car and officers, and ran the same for about two years. Owing to seri- ously impaired health he retired from the road in 1882, and for one year was engaged in the grocery business at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, suffering a loss by fire at the end of that, time. This disaster was followed by three months' sickness, and upon his recovery Mr. Whiteman returned to Albany, Ind., in the hope of recuperating his health and building up his shattered fortune. For two years he was not able to engage in business, but in 1885 he opened a drug house, which he has made successful. Mr. Whiteman cast his first vote for Gen. Grant, but now he is a democrat.

The marriage of Mr. Whiteman took place August 23, 1873, to Miss Juliana McCamish, who was born in Iowa, September, 1853, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Bergel) Mc- Camish, natives of Virginia. Six children have been born to this union-George R., a telegraph operator at Muncie; Blanche, Charles, Gertrude, Lenora and Harriet. The family are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Whiteman is fraternally connected with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and is . a member of Crescent lodge, No. 25, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, A. F. & A. M. In his business

564

DELAWARE COUNTY :

relations, in Albany, he is much esteemed, and is a member of the Albany Land company, secretary of the Building and Loan association and president of the Co-operative Gas com- pany.

ACHEL WOOLVERTON-As early as 1820, settlers were making homes along the White river, in the state of Indiana, and among those who came at that date were the parents of the subject of this mention. The grandparents came from Ireland in an early day, but the father and mother of Mrs. Woolverton had grown up in Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively, and came to Delaware county, Ind., in April of the above year, and settled near Muncie. Here her father entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, and here she lived until her marriage. After that event she and her husband settled on a farm of 200 acres, one mile east of Albany, where they remained until the death of Mr. Woolverton, April 13, 1889.

Abner Woolverton, the husband of Rachel Woolverton, was born October 20, 1815, near Middletown, Butler county, Ohio, a son of David and Eva Woolverton, of whom he was the eldest child. The others were: Theresa, the wife of Dudley Harris; Eva, the wife of John Sniter; Jane, the wife of John Neal; Kate, Isaac, John; and Ella, the wife of Frank B. Banker. In 1820, Abner accompanied his uncle to Preble county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, and in 1834, he was married to Mis Abigail Keever, who died August 10, 1863. Mr. Woolverton afterward married Miss Rachel Van Arsdoll, March 11, 1864, at Mrs. Woolverton's home, near Muncie, where she had lived from childhood.

Mr. Woolverton came to Delaware town- ship at an early day, when Muncie was known as an Indian village, and by whom it was

named. He settled in the woods and built one of the first log cabins that was built in that part of the country. The whole country was sparsely settled and Mrs. Woolverton's brother, Isaac, was the first white child born in Delaware county. Mr. Woolverton was a member of the Christian church, in which he was a minister for nearly forty years. Finan- cially, he was a successful man, and when he was called away from life he was mourned by many. He was a kind husband and a fond and loving father. He left three children by his first marriage and three by his second, they being as follows: Catherine, wife of N. B. Strong; Eva A., wife of G. A. Andrews; Sarah, wife of D. J. Manor, deceased; Dora A., David, a brick mason, and Hallet A., a farmer.

The father of Mrs. Wolverton was a preach- er in the Christian church, and the Indians used often to come to be a part of his audi- ence. They respected the family and never in any way molested them. Mrs. Wolverton's family can relate many interesting reminis- cences of pioneer life. When her father first settled on the land purchased from the govern- ment, he did not even have a cabin for shelter. The first night the family slept by a log fire in the open air with no protection but the hazel brush, and the next day he, with the help of another emigrant by the name of Makeprice, constructed a temporary shed of saplings, which, being too small to accomodate both families with their goods, a part of the latter were, for the time, protected from the rain by a covering of bark. Mrs. Wolverton remem- bers very well the many and uncermonious visits paid the family by their Indian neighbors, particularly of one old squaw that they called Sally, who thought much of Mr. Arsdoll and his family. When her brother Cornelius was two years old, Sally begged the favor of taking him home with her to her wigwam, indicating to his mother by pointing to the sun at what

565

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP.

hour she would bring him home. The child was promptly returned at the time promised but old Sally said she "much scared," thought she had "choked white pappoose almost to death." She had given him a toothsome mess of venison on which the child had choked.

The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Wolver- ton were: Thomas, a farmer of Hacket; Mary, wife of William Brown; John; Nellie, wife of Henry Mulkins; William, deceased; Martha, wife of Christopher Ribble; Isaac, Cornelius, Jane, the wife of Francis Wilkins; Lucretia, wife of Charles Hallock.

Mrs. Woolverton has at present a farm of 106 acres of good and well improved land, and also owns a nice home in Albany where she and her family now reside. The family is one of the oldest and best known in Delaware county.

I SAAC WORLEY, a substantial citizen of Delaware township, was born in Fayette county, Ind., February 27, 1827; being the son of Moses and Sarah (Harmon) Worley. The father was born in Scioto county, Ohio, the son of Anthony and Mary Worley, of the same county and state, and the grandfather was engaged in farming all his life, and reared a large family of chil- dren. The father was married in Scioto county, Ohio, and a short time after came to Fayette county, being one of its earliest pioneers. He engaged at once in clearing up a home; then in the fall of 1836 moved to this county and located on 120 acres in this township, which he bought from a relative, paying $350 for it.

The land was covered with trees, which he began at once to chop away and clear and burn the brush; building a log cabin with an old fashioned stick chimney; the house being eighteen feet square, with an end cut out for a fire place; the door was of

clapboard, and the log cut out on the side and pasted over with greased paper, was its win- dow. The roof did not always keep out the rain, and the floor was made of puncheons. This worthy man and his wife were the par- ents of seven children, namely: Mary J., Emily, Louise, all deceased; Isaac; Anthony and Sarah E., deceased; Margaret, wife of M. Boland, retired, of Muncie. The father died October, 1864, and the mother, seven or eight years previous to that date. They were iden- tified with the Methodist church, and were good and pious people. He was an old line whig of the Clay school. He was a hard working man, and a good manager, and had the respect of all who knew him.

Isaac Worley was reared on the farm which he now owns, and his early life was required to do hard labor. He was but nine years old when he came to this county, and his work began thus early. The schools taught but short terms, and he was not always able to at- tend them. He remained with his father until he was twenty-one, and then engaged in farm- ing the old home place on his own account, and with the exception of three years, which he spent in Illinois, he has lived there ever since he first came to this county.

He was married January 30, 1851, in Jer- sey county, Ill., to Harriet Shafer, born October 9, 1827, in Pennsylvania, being the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Pittinger) Shafer, she being related to the families of that name in this county. To this union were born three children. namely: Andrew J., Mary E., and Laura F., all dead. The mother died January 29, 1857, and her re- mains lie in Union cemetery. Mr. Worley again married October 10, 1857, Nancy N. Pittinger being the maiden name of this wife. She was born in Indiana July 4, 1827; the daughter of John and Nancy (Humphrey) Pit- tinger. The results of this marriage are the

566

DELAWARE COUNTY :

following children: Sarah A., wife of T. Con- fer, of this township; Ida F., died August 20, 1862; Martha J., deceased; Elizabeth E., wife of George Goings. The mother of these children died October 9, 1872, and on the 1st of March, 1873, Mr. Worley was united in marriage to Verlinda Fadley, who was born in Adams county, Ohio, August 8, 1829; being the daughter of Jesse and Mary (Hamilton) Wilcoxon. Her parents were natives of Mary- land and Kentucky respectively, and came to this county in 1851; locating in Liberty township, where the father followed farming all his life. Her parents reared a family of seven children: Elizabeth, Verlinda, John, of Blackford county; William J., of Kansas; Thomas, of this town- ship; James, of Carroll county, Ind., and an infant, deceased. The father died February

8, 1863, and the mother July 15, 1884. They were very good people and active members of the Methodist church. In politics Mr. Wil- coxon was a republican, and always gave a hearty support to the candidates of that party. By her marriage with Adam Fadley, Decem- ber 15, 1852, Mrs. Verlinda Worley became the mother of five children, namely: Mary C., deceased; Elizabeth J., wife of J. Myers; Ver- linda J., wife of Marion Pittinger, and James W., of this township. Mr. Fadley died Mrrch 8, 1863. Mr. Worley and wife are members of the Methodist church, and very useful work- ers in that body. Mr. Worley is a republican, and has been elected to a number of offices in this township. He owns 320 acres of fine land, well improved, and a portion of it lies within the village of Desoto.

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.

J AMES FLINN is descended, paternally, from Irish ancestry, and traces his family history back through several gen- erations to the old country. Sevaral members of the family came to the United States in an early day, and John Flinn, the sub- ject's father, was reared amid the exciting scenes of pioneer life in Virginia, and his career was more like a romance than reality. When but six years of age the section of Virginia where his parents lived was raided by the In- dians, and in the massacre which followed, his father was killed, and he, himself, mother and two sisters were taken prisoners by the sav- ages, who took them west to Indiana. The mother remained with the Indians until her death, and the celebrated Daniel Boone was instrumental in securing the release of the two

sisters, but John continued to live with the savages until he grew to manhood. Shortly after his capture, he was adopted by an Indian chief by the name of Black Jacket, who not only treated him well but allowed him many privileges not enjoyed by other members of the tribe. Upon one occasion he was sent out on a hunt, and while absent from the encamp- ment decided to go back east and look up his relatives, if living. Accordingly, he started out on his long and perilous trip and eventually succeeded in reaching the old home and finding his relatives, but having been ab- sent so long he almost concluded that he was not a white man, and after a short stay went back to his Indian friends, with whom he remained a number of years longer. The longer he stayed with them, how-

567

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.

ever, the less satisfied was he with his condi- tion, and finally carried into effect a resolution to leave the tribe permanently, which he eventually did, going to Ft. Wayne and engag- ing as salesman with Messrs. Murray & John- son, who kept a public store at that place. At the time of engaging with this firm Mr. Flinn could speak fluently nine different Indian ·lan- guages, which fact made him a very valuable assistant, as nearly all the trading was done with the various tribes of northern Indiana. His employers paid him a salary of $50 per month, and he remained with them some years. Finally, however, he went to Ohio, and upon his return to Ft. Wayne for the pur- pose of getting some goods which he had left there, he was induced, by his former employ- ers to accompany Gen. Harrison, and act as interpreter in the treaty made with the In- dians in 1812. Shortly after this he was again captured by the savages, but within a short time succeeded in effecting his escape, after which he returned to Ohio, settled down in Miami county, where he subsequently married Miss Anus Priest, who bore him fourteen chil- dren, all'of whom grew to be heads of families.

James Flinn was raised on his father's farm in Miami county, Ohio, and shortly after his marriage, in 1836, to Miss Mercy Taylor, he moved to Indiana and settled in Delaware county, where he purchased 120 acres of land. He has always followed farming for an occu- pation and by a long life of industry has accumulated a competence in worldly goods, being the possessor, at this time, of a fine farm upon which his declining years are being passed. To his first marriage, already re- ferred to, there were seven children born. The living are, John, who resides in Iowa; Ellen, wife of John Shideler; Sarah, wife of Israel Kerschner; and Cynthia Ann, wife of Samuel Stafford. His wife dying and leaving him with a large family, Mr. Flinn subsequent-

ly, April 22, 1880, married his present wife. Mary A. Rish, daughter of Henry and Esther Kerchner, natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Flinn is the eldest in a family of fourteen children and is highly respected by all who know her. Mr. Flinn's political training has been with the democratic party, and it is a fact worthy of record that of the twelve brothers, of which he is one, six were republi- cans and six democrats. Mr. and Mrs. Flinn are members of the Christian church, in wnich they are highly respected.

0 ENNIS HEFFNER is decended pa- ternally from German ancestors, his father, Lawrence Heffner, having come to the United States when a boy of six years and located with his parents in the state of Maryland Subsequently, he ven- tured further west, going to Butler county, Ohio, thence to Clarke county, the same state, and later, 1849, became a resident of Delaware county, Ind., where he purchased 120 acres of land. Lawrence Heffner and his wife, Charlotte, had a family of six children, namely: Mary, wife of Philip Dick; Dennis; Catherine, wife of Henry Snyder; John; Perry, deceased, and Ezra, deceased. The mother of these children died in 1858 and the father on the 3d day of November, 1860.

Dennis Heffner was born in Frederick county, Md., March 27, 1820, was raised a farmer and received a limited education in the country schools, which he attended but few months during the winter seasons. He is a man, however, with much general information and intelligence, and by attentive observation and much mingling with his fellow men, has become quite well informed. For a number of years a farmer, he has been successful in that useful vocation to a goodly degree, and is

568

DELAWARE COUNTY :

now in the enjoyment of a comfortable com- petence, the result of many years of economy and labor. At the age of twenty-one he learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for some time, but since 1861, upon his re- moval to Delaware county, he has been en- gaged in the pursuit of agriculture. Novem- ber 9, 1847, he was married to Sarah Coffett, daughter of George and Sarah (Rogers) Cof- fett, the father a native of Virginia, of Ger- man descent, and the mother born in Ken- tucky of Irish parentage. Mrs. Heffner is one of a family of seven children, three of whom are now living beside herself: Henry, Joseph and Ellen, wife of John Shafer. George Coffett died in 1879 and his wife in 1862, and both are buried in Clarke county, Ohio. The following are the names of the children born to Dennis and Sarah Heffner: Elizabeth, wife of William Dick; Mary E., Sadie E. and Lawrence, living; those deceased, were Amanda, Matilda, Charlotte and Millie. Po- litically, Mr. Heffner is a democrat, and with his wife, he belongs to the Christian church.

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 57

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