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 63

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 63
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 63

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).

MONROE TOWNSHIP.

PILLIAM F. ANDERSON, a promi- nent farmer and stock raiser, and one of the large land holders of Monroe township, was born in Miami county, Ohio, January 21, 1854, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Smith) Anderson. His paternal ancestors were early residents of Vir- ginia, in which state his grandfather was a planter and large slave holder. Joseph and Mary Anderson had a family of eight children whose names are as follows: Maggie, wife of Charles Malcolm; David H .; John W .; James J .; Charles E. ; Joseph H. ; and Sallie, wife, of H. H. Youngs; and the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch.

William F. Anderson spent the years of his youth and early manhood in his native state where he was raised on the farm, and in April, 1875, became a resident of Delaware county, Ind., settling in the township of Monroe, where he now has a beautiful farm, consisting of 300 acres of good land, upon which are some of the best improvements in the township. Mr. Anderson has made a suc- cess of farming, and the comfortable com- petence which he now enjoys is largely the result of his own well directed efforts, and through real estate received by marriage. He received his education in the schools of his native state, was a teacher for some time, and having always been a reader and observer, is now one of the well informed men of the com- munity in which he resides. The father of Mr. Anderson died August 3, 1886, and his

widowed mother still resides in Miami county, Ohio. December 23, 1875, was solemnized the marriage of William F. Anderson and Martha Clark, the issue of which union is two children, namely: Charles E., and Anna B. Mrs. Anderson's parents were natives of Vir- ginia, and members of the Roman Catholic church. She had two sisters, namely: Mary J., wife of Thaddeus Tuthill; and Julia A., who died February, 1876.

J OHN D. BARTLING .- Few of the deceased residents of Monroe township are held in more grateful remembrance than the late John D. Bartling, who, for a number of years, was a well known and highly respected citizen of the county of Dela- ware. Mr. Bartling was a native of Ohio, born in Hamilton county, the son of William and Christina Bartling, who came to the United States from their native country, Ger- many, many years ago.

Mr. Bartling passed the years of his youth and early manhood in his native state, and in the spring of 1864, became a resident of Dela- ware county, purchasing a beautiful farm in the township of Monroe, upon which the re- maining days of his life were passed. He early chose agriculture for an occupation, and followed that useful calling all of his life, and such was his success, that, without any assist- ance in a financial sense, he succeeded in

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accumulating a fair share of this world's wealth, owning a farm in Marshall county, Ind. Mr. Bartling responded to the country's call for volunteers at the breaking out of the rebellion, enlisting July 8, 1861, in company E, Eighth Missouri volunteer infantry, with which he shared the vicissitudes and fortunes of war for a period of three years. During his term of service he was with his command in a number of campaigns and participated in eleven hard fought battles, in all of which his conduct was that of a brave and gallant soldier, and against his military record no breath of suspicion was ever known to have been uttered. He received an honorable discharge July, 1864, in the city of St. Louis, from which time until death his life was devoted to the peaceful pursuit of his chosen calling.

Mr. Bartling was married November 16, 1869, to Mrs. Rachel Armitage, the fruits of which union were three children, namely: Effie M., wife of J. R. Stipp; Laura L. and Addie F. Mr. Bartling's death, which oc- curred on the 4th day of June, 1878, was felt as a great loss to the community, and he was followed to his last resting place in the Tom- linson cemetery by a large concourse of sor- rowing friends and neighbors. He was a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., a most worthy and conscientious citizen, and every laudable en- terprise that had a tendency to elevate and improve the community found in him a zeal- ous friend and earnest patron. In his imme- diate family he is remembered as a fond and loving husband, a kind father, and the influ- ence of his example is the richest heritage to a grateful posterity. Mrs. Bartling's maiden name was McDonald, and she was born in Champaign county, Ohio, September 16, 1833. She now owns eighty acres of land in Monroe township, where she lives in quietude, enjoy- ing the esteem and respect of a large circle of acquaintances and neighbors.

BSALOM BROWN is a native of Delaware county, Ind., and the eld- est son of Joel and Diana (Gibson) Brown. He was born in the town- ship of Monroe, December 18, 1841, and grew to manhood on the farm, and with the excep- tion of the time spent in the army has ever since followed the pursuit of agriculture in the county of his nativity. He entered the service of his country December, 1863, as a member of company G, Ninth regiment Indiana caval- ry, and took part in some of the bloodiest battles of the southwestern campaign, in- cluding the first engagement of Lawrence, Tenn., Franklin (where he received a severe wound in the left side), and Nashville. Owing to disability occasioned by the wound he was for three months compelled to remain in the hospital, and on the 4th of July, 1865, was honorably discharged from the service. From the effects of disability received while in the army Mr. Brown has never entirely recovered and he is now remembered by a grateful country with a pension amounting to $12 per month. After his discharge, Mr. Brown returned to Delaware county and resumed his chosen calling, and is now one of the well known and successful agriculturists of Monroe township. He is a highly respected citizen and belongs to that large and influential class who in a quiet way do much for the moral well being of the community.

Mr. Brown was married January 24, 1871, to Rebecca Grim, daughter of Nicholas and Susanna (Jones) Grim, who has borne him the following children: Caroline, wife of Arch Brown; Samuel, Benjamin, David, John and Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members respectively of the Methodist church and the Society of Friends. In March, 1893, Mr. Brown removed from Monroe township to a farm in Centre township, and now is living on the John McConnell place.

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DELAWARE COUNTY :

RS. NELLIE CHEESEMAN-A well known and popular lady of Monroe township, was born in Gray- son county, Va., May 16, 1820, and spent the years of her girlhood in the state of her nativity. She was married to Richard Cheeseman, a prosperous farmer who moved with his family to Indiana 1857, settling, in September of that year, in Delaware township, this county, on forty-five acres of land, which he cleared and brought under cultivation. The country at that time was comparatively new, and Mr. and Mrs. Cheeseman made their way to their new home by blazing their path through the woods, traveling under many difficulties. Game was plentiful and formed a large part of the diet of the family for some time after making their settlement. Subsequently, Mr. Cheeseman moved to a point twelve miles northwest of Muncie, and in 1861, purchased land in Monroe township, upon which he built a cabin, and from which he developed a good farm. He was a man of great industry, and his efforts were crowned with success, and et the time of his death, he was the possessor of 160 acres of valuable land, the greater part of which, under his successful manage- ment, was brought to a high state of cultiva- tion. He was a popular citizen of the com- munity, intelligent and enterprising, and well deserves mention as one of the representative men of Monroe township. His memory is revered in his neighborhood by all with whom he came in contact. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cheeseman, namely: Man- tilla, wife of Samuel Andrews; Alexander, de- ceased; Mary J., wife of George Mansfield; Thomas J .; E. Lydia, wife of David White; Sarah A., wife of John Roller; Isaac L., de- ceased; William J. ; Hannah E., wife of Amos Acer, and Sylvester. Mrs. Cheeseman has borne her full share of the vicissitudes of life on a farm in a new country, and has reared

her large family to honorable manhood and womanhood. She has, indeed, been a true woman, and in her declining years her children rise up to call her blessed. In 1887 she had the misfortune of becoming crippled in the ankle, from the effects of which she has not been able to walk since. This severe affliction, has been borne with most commendable pati- ence, and has been the means of bringing out all the finer and better qualities of her nature. She is beloved by all, and her example could safely be imitated by those who are just be- ginning the toilsome journey of life. See sketch of John Roller.

ILLIAM T. CLARK .- Upon the successful farmer depends, in a large measure, the material well being of the country, for it is to his efforts that all occupations and professions must de- pend for an existence. The subject of this mention belongs to that large class of success- ful tillers of the soil who have done so much toward the development of our noble state, and particularly that part embraced within the present limits of Delaware county. William T. Clark was born in Delaware county, Ind., March 4, 1847, the son of James and Hester (Goble) Clark, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania. He grew to manhood amid the active scenes of farm life, and his inclinations leading him to agricultural pur- suits, he early became a tiller of the soil and has devoted his entire time and attention to that useful and honorable occupation. He owns seventy-three acres of land in Monroe township, which is well improved, and he is surrounded by many of the modern conveni- ences of farming which bespeak the presence of a careful and painstaking manager. Mr. Clark has been twice married, the first time on

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the 24th of December, 1882, to Nancy E., daughter of John and Barbara Lambert, who died October 1, 1884. The second marriage was consummated May 17, 1887, with Nancy Moffet, daughter of Lambert and Maria Moffet. Mrs. Clark's parents were natives of Ohio, but moved from Tennessee when quite young to Fayette county, Ind., where they were mar- ried and where they resided until their deaths, the mother dying September 30, 1887, and father on the 7th day of February, 1892. They reared a family of eleven children, namely: Mary, wife of Abraham Pence; Samuel C., Susan M., wife of D. C. Campbell; James A., Sarah, deceased; William H., deceased; Nancy E., wife of William Clark; Jemima A., wife of Henry Stewart; John T., and Clarinda, wife of Thomas Barret. Mrs. Clark's parents were earnest christian people, the mother having belonged to the United Brethren church and the father to the Lutheran denomination. Mrs. Clark owns eighty acres of fine land in this township, which she inherited from her par- ents. She is the mother of one living child, Dayton Ray, and one deceased, Irven M.

ILLIAM S. COOLEY was born in Washington county, Vt., March 4, 1800, and came to Muncie, Ind., in the year 1837. By occupation Mr. Cooley was a manufacturer of woolen goods, but he abandoned his trade eighteen years after moving to Delaware county, and pur- chased a farm of 100 acres and engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. Subsequently, he pur- chased his present farm in Monroe township, consisting of 140 acres, upon which he resided the remainder of his life. Mr. Cooley's origi- nal purchase consisted almost entirely of wood land, and he shared, in full measure, the hard- ships encountered by the early pioneers of the

great west, and by industry and judicious management became, in time, the possessor of a very comfortable fortune. On the 5th day of January, 1824, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Rogers, daughter of Charles and Nancy Rogers, who moved from their native country, Ireland, to the United States in 1816, settling at Albany, N. Y. To the union of William S. and Jane Cooley was born the following children, namely: Blanchard, deceased, Jennie, deceased, John, deceased, Charles, by occupation a miller, Henry, a farmer, William, also a tiller of the soil; Nancy, wife of John Wilson, and Robert, an engineer and farmer. Mr. Cooley was a firm believer in the doctrine embodied in the Uni- versalist creed and died in the full hope of a happy future, on the 17th of September, 1874; his wife, who is a member of the Presbyterian church and a woman of many christian virtues, is still living at an advanced age with her son in Monroe township.

Robert Cooley, son of William S. and Jane Cooley, was born May 18, 1846, on the old homestead, in Monroe township, Delaware county, where he still resides, looking after the interests of his aged mother. He received a good education, and, with the exception of six years, has always followed agriculture, which useful calling he still carries on with success and financial profit, being one of the represent- ative farmers of Monroe. For six years he was an engineer, during which period he did not lose sight of his farming interest. He owns eighty acres of land in Jackson township, Blackford county. well improved. He married September 18, 1893, Christena (Stainbrook) Potter, a member of the Christian church.

Mr. Cooley's neat farm gives every out- ward indication that it is under the control of a master hand, and that intelligence, skill and thrift are the prime factors in its management, and that these are backed by industry.

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DELAWARE COUNTY :

NDREW JACKSON FLEMING is descended from Virginia ancestry and traces the family history back through a number of generations to the first settlement of the Old Dominion state. His father, Andrew Fleming, was born in what is now West Virginia, near the town of Fair- mont, where his family were among the first settlers, having emigrated to the head of the Monongahela river in company with a large number of settlers from the eastern part of the state. Settlements were made along the val- leys, farms were opened upon which cabins were erected and the people began to feel hap- py over the prospect of soon having homes. This feeling of content, however. was soon doomed to be dissipated, for alas, the savages from the Northwest Territory found out the settlement and at once planned a raid against the same. They killed several of the settlers, burned dwellings, stole horses and committed other depredations until it became necessary to take some decided means of protecting the settlers from their encroachments. According- ly a meeting was held and volunteers called for to act as scouts between the settlement and the Ohio river, a distance of fifty or sixty miles through an unbroken wilderness. A well known spy, by the name of Morgan, and Andrew Fleming tendered their services for this ardurous and dangerous duty, which right nobly they performed. The Indian warriors, after crossing the Ohio, would follow some creek or water course to its head, and then go down the other side of the ridge until they reached the settlement. The duty of the scouts was to traverse the country from spring until fall, not far from the Ohio river, and search for Indian trails, and when it was ascertained that the savages had crossed the river the scouts would start for the settlements, traveling day and night through the wilder- ness until they had reached their destination

and given the alarm. The settlers would then hasten to the fort and protect themselves against their wily foes, who, finding them- selves outwitted, would soon retreat into the wilderness. Upon starting on this dangerous duty Mr. Fleming took nothing with him but his gun, blanket and a sack of salt, being com- pelled to obtain his food from the wild game with which the country then abounded. How long he continued in this dangerous duty is not now known, but upon his return home he was worn out, broken in health, having given the very prime of his life to the protection of his countrymen, while they attended to the clearing of their farms and laid the founda- tions of their fortunes. For all this sacrifice of health and means, Mr. Fleming never re- ceived a single cent, in consequence of which he was little able to assist his children, finan- cially, when they grew to the years of man- hood and womanhood.

Andrew Jackson Fleming was born in Marion county, W. Va., January 9, 1819, was reared on the home farm in his native state and remained there until 1863, at which time he came to Henry county, Ind., and engaged in the mercantile business in that county. He took charge of his father's place when but seventeen years of age, and continued to oper- ate the same until 1850, when he moved to Palatine, opposite Fairmont, where, for some time, he was variously employed, giving con- siderable attention to painting. In the fall of 1861 he entered the Union army as private in company C, Sixth regiment, West Virginia vol- unteer infantry, and shortly thereafter was pro- moted first lieutenant, in which capacity he served for a period of two years. While in the service, he participated in a number of skir- mishes and irregular battles, in one of which he received a severe wound in the thigh, and for some time was detailed with his command to guard the B. & O. railroad. After his dis-

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MONROE TOWNSHIP.

charge he returned to his home in Virginia, and, subsequently, as already stated, moved to Indiana and carried on the goods business for some years in Henry county. Abandoning merchandizing, he engaged in the pursuit of agriculture in Henry county, purchasing a farm of sixty acres, which he afterward sold, and in 1870 came to the township of Monroe, where, for three succeeding years, he again followed the mercantile trade, meeting with a fair de- gree of success in the meantime. He then pur- chased his home place, consisting of sixty-six acres of well improved land, and is now pass- ing his declining years upon the same in the enjoyment of that quietude which a long and somewhat arduous life has so nobly earned. He has served his township as trustee, aside from which position he has never been an as- pirant for the honors of office. Mr. Fleming was married September 17, 1851, in Marion county, W. Va., to Mary E. Miller, who was born in Harrison county, that state, September 22, 1827. Mrs. Fleming was a daughter of Jesse and Eliza (Brown) Miller, natives of Maryland and West Virginia respectively, and of English descent. Mr. Fleming comes of a good family, which is widely and favorably known in West Virginia, of which state one of his relatives, A. B. Fleming, is now serving as governor. Mr. Fleming is personally very popular, and is a man of more than ordinary powers of mind, having for years been a close reader and intelligent observer of men and events. He stands deservedly high in the com- munity and may be taken as a true type of the Virginia gentleman of the old school.

a HARLES A. FLEMING, a well known business man of Oakville, Monroe township, was born in Marion county, W. Va., March 29, 1840. His parents, Andrew B. and Mary Fleming,

were both born in the town of Fairmont, W. Va., in 1803. The father died in 1885, in Fairmont, and the mother departed this life in February, 1892, at Oakville, Ind. They were both estimable people, and Mrs. Fleming was, for over fifty years, an active member of the Methodist church. Charles A. Fleming was reared to manhood in his native state, and in November, 1860, came to Indiana, locating in Middletown, Henry county, where he remained until the breaking out of the war, at which time, in August, 1861, he entered the army, enlisting in company E, Eighth Indiana volun- teer infantry. He accompanied his command to St. Louis, Mo., thence to Georgetown, and while at the latter place was poisoned, from the effects of which he was sent to the hospi- tal, where he remained for a period of four months, being discharged November 25, 1862. December 15, 1863, he re-enlisted in company E, Ninth Indiana cavalry, which was assigned to duty at Nashville, and later to Pulaski, Tenn., where Mr. Fleming for some time did garrison duty. On the 25th of September, 1864, he was with his regiment in a severe battle at Sulphur Branch, Ala., where his com- pany lost heavily, and on December 7, the same year, took part in the bloody battle of Franklin, Tenn. In February, 1865, the com- pany left Gravely Springs for New Orleans, but before reaching its destination, was order- ed back to Vicksburg, and the following May was sent to Mississippi. Mr. Fleming was dis- charged September 6, 1865, and was immedi- ately thereafter returned to Indiana, and has since that time been a resident of Delaware county, where he is widely known and uni- versally respected. He was married August 16, 1882, to Mary F., daughter of James and Matilda (Losh) Watson, to which nnion one child. Alta L. Fleming, has been born. The following are the names of the brothers and sisters of Mrs. Fleming: Martha, wife of

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DELAWARE COUNTY :

Frank Nottingham; Laura, wife of Thomas Peckenpaugh; George, Homer, John, deceased; and Charles Watson.

Mr. Fleming has been engaged in business for a number of years at the town of Oakville and has inet with a reasonable degree of suc- cess. He suffered a serious loss by the cyclone of 1884. in which all the town, except three houses, was destroyed. Mr. Fleming was badly injured and his store and goods were completely destroyed, so that he was rendered well nigh penniless by the disaster. He recommenced business, however, in a box car, and has since succeeded very well, being at this time in the enjoyment of a lucrative trade, which is con- stantly increasing. Mr. Fleming is a republi- can in politics and enjoys the esteem and con- fidence of the people of the town in which he resides. Maria Fleming, sister of Charles A. Fleming, was born December 1, 1844, in Fair- mont, W. Va., and came to Delaware county, Ind., in the year 1885. She resided first at Cowan, then at Oakville, where she has since resided, making her home with her brother.

J. FLEMING, a well known farmer of Monroe township, was born March 2, 1841, in Henry county, Ind., and is a son of George and Clarissa Flem- ing, natives, respectively, of Indiana and Vir- ginia. George Fleming settled in Henry county as early as the year 1830, and experi- enced, in full measure, all the vicissitudes and hardships incident to a life in the wilderness during the pioneer period. Subsequently he moved to Delaware county, where he died; but he is still remembered as an industrious and energetic man, and a true type of the pioneer of a half century ago.

N. J. Fleming was raised in the country and his educational training embraced the English branches which constituted the course

usually taught in the common schools. He early chose agriculture for an occupation, and has followed that useful calling all of his life, with results that are very gratifying and which speak well for his competency as a farmer. Mr. Fleming has lived an upright and credit- able life and by his fair and honorable dealings has established himself in the confidence of his fellow citizens, among whom he is highly es- teemed. He has succeeded well in life, from a financial standpoint, and with but little assistance of a pecuniary nature, has worked his way from humble circumstances to a posi- tion of comfort, being at this time the possessor of a beautiful farm of 129 acres, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultiva- tion. Mr. Fleming was married October 24, 1871, to Cynthia Babb, daughter of Evan T. and Martha Babb, natives of Ohio and Vir- ginia, respectively. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fleming-Lillian L., a college student; Martha C. (deceased); and Andrew Claude, who is also attending school. Mr. Fleming wields an influence in the demo- cratic party but has never been a seeker after office. The following are the names of the brothers and sisters of Mr. Fleming: Mary, wife of Benjamin Thomas; Francis P., died in Illinois April 11, 1872; Sina, wife of Noah Swain; Eugene; Nathan R .; and Loverna, wife of Madison Peckinpaugh, and Louisa, wife of John Jones. Mrs. Fleming is one of a family of eight children born to Evan and Martha Babb; the following are their names: Samuel, Milton, Jennie, wife of Edward Healy; John M., Frank B., Charles and Henry Babb.

ILLIAM GIBSON, deceased, was born in Monroe township, Delaware county, Ind., April 1, 1838, on the farm entered from the United States government by his father, Robert Gib-

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MONROE TOWNSHIP.

son, in 1822. Robert Gibson was born in Virginia in 1804, and died on this farm in Delaware county, Ind., in 1858. The family from which he descended came originally from Ireland and settled in the Carolinas, whence they moved to Virginia; later several of its members located in Ohio, and eventually, in 1822, Robert with four brother found his way to Delaware county, Ind., when the county was a wilderness teeming with wild animals, while men were particularly scarce. Robert Gibson married for his second wife Miss Nancy Davis (the mother of William, her first born, whose name opens this sketch), but this lady survived only until about 1844, and the re- mains of these two pioneers now repose in Rees cemetery, this county. William Gibson was reared on the farm on which he was born, and for about forty-five years pursued an in- dustrious farmer's life, and at the time of his death, August 28, 1893, owned 120 acres of fine land five miles south of Muncie. His education had benn such as is usually given farmers' lads, and at the age of twenty-one years he began farming on his own account. But the Civil war came on, and he, being a staunch republican and a true patriot, became a member of the One hundred and Forty-ninth Indiana volunteer infantry, joining in 1864 and serving until the close of hostilities, and being mustered out as sergeant.

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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 63

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