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 68

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 68
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 68

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).

J. L. Black's boyhood days were spent on the farm of his father, and after marriage he lived on a farm which he rented for six years.

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A't that time he bought his present place, upon which he now resides, and where he has a fine residence-one of the best in the township. Beside having his fine farm under a successful state of cultivation he engages quite extensive- ly in the breeding of Hambleton and American Boy breeds of horses, for which he receives the best prices. His animals are of fine grade, as he will have none but the best. He is con- sidered one of the most successful among the young farmers of the locality and also stands high in the estimation of his neighbors as an honorable and upright fellow citizen.

Mr. Black was married December 24, 1882, to Miss Henrietta Neely, daughter of Isaac and Sarah Margaret Landry, both of whom died when she was very young, and their remains rest in Mount Pleasant cemetery. At one time Mr. Landry was a man of considera- ble means, but lost all by misfortune. Both Mr. and Mrs. Landry were members of the Methodist church.

Mrs. Black is an excellent lady of many pleasant traits of character, and is the happy mother of two bright children, Sadie Pearl and Carl Washington. Mr. Black is a stanch democrat and boldly upholds the principles of that party. The religious connection of the family is with the Christian church.

BRINDEL .- There are many land owners who would be well enough pleased to reap the benefits of the yields from the surface of a fine Indiana farm, but the subject of this mention is doubly fortunate, as he not only does that, but also enjoys a liberal income from three gas wells underneath the surface. This prominent and well-to-do citizen of Mount Pleasant township, Delaware county, Ind., was born in Franklin county, Pa., February 6, 1838, a son of J.

Brindel, who was also born in the same county and state. The father was a tanner by occu- pation and carried on that trade in connection with his farming interests. He is still living, having been born in 1805, and owns 300 acres of land in his native township, where he has been trustee and is a respected citizen. He is a republican, politically.

The gentleman for whom this sketch is prepared was born and reared on a farm, re- mained on the old place until he was twenty- two years of age, at which time he moved to Indiana and settled near New Castle, where he remained about a year, working on a farm. He then went to Pennsylvania, working in that state until the following summer for $10 per month, but again came to New Castle and found employment on the farm. He married January 1, 1861, Miss Margaret Brenneman, who was born September 14, 1842, the daugh- ter of Henry and Fannie (Doane) Brenneman, the father a native of Pittsburg, Pa., born in 1805, and the mother of Bartholomew coun- ty, Pa., born in 1809. Mr. Brenneman learned the trade of shoemaker and worked at it until 1851, when he removed to Henry county, Ind., and engaged in farming, at his death, in 1878, owning 200 acres of land. His wife had passed away one year prior to this, and their remains rest in the Eliot cemetery, in Henry county.

After marriage, Mr. Brindel engaged in farming on rented land, and so continued until 1869, when he bought 120 acres of his present farm, to which he has since added until he now owns 1523 acres of well improved land in Delaware county. Mr. and Mrs. Brin- del have worked hard and often practiced self denial, but are now in a condition financially to enjoy the best that life affords. The three gas wells upon the place make it of great value.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brindel: Catherine Hettie, wife

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of William Moore; Rozilla, wife of Morton L. Cassell; Tamar Doane, wife of James Pierce; Ida, wife of Shuman Ross, a Methodist minis- ter; William Henry, Malachi, and Claydelia. Mr. Brindel is a stanch republican and is one of the solid, substantial citizens of whom any county may be proud. He and his good wife are active and useful members of the Metho- dist church, in which they are highly esteemed.

a HARLES BROWN was born May 6, 1829, in Wayne county, Ind., and is the son of Samuel and Susan (Stout) Brown, both parents natives of Vir- ginia. The family moved to Indiana in an early day, locating in the county of Wayne, thence, in 1828, moved to Delaware county, having been among the early pioneers of Mon- roe township, where Mr. Brown, Sr., purchas- ed a tract of land, consisting of 160 acres. Upon this farm Charles Brown passed the years of his youth and early manhood, and having decided to make the pursuit of agricul- ture his life work, began the same at the age of twenty-one, tilling his father's place for a share of the proceeds. After a year thus spent, he purchased forty acres of his own, to which he moved two years later, and on which he made some very substantial and valuable im- provements. He purchased his present beauti- ful farm in Mount Pleasant township about the year 1871, and has since that time given his attention almost exclusively to the cultiva- tion of the soil, in which he has met with most encouraging success, being now among the well-to-do citizens of the community in which he resides. For a limited period the subject's father was engaged in teaming between the cities of Cincinnati and Muncie, but did not long continue in that occupation. He was for many years a prominent minister of the Ger- man Baptist church.

Charles Brown and Miss Julia Ann Gibson were united in marriage. Mrs. Brown was the daughter of Valentine and Catherine Gibson, who came to this country in an early day, locating in Delaware county, of which they were pioneers. Mrs. Brown was born in 1830, and died in 1889; she was the mother of the following children: Caroline, wife of William Jones; Sarah Jane, wife of David Gibson, An- drew, Garret, Millie, wife of Peter Smeltzer; William, Louisa, wife of George Howe; Eme- line, wife of Walter Everett; and Susan, wife of R. Wilbern. Mr. Brown is a republican in politics, and belongs to the Christian church, of which his wife is also a devoted member.

J OHN BURK was born November 18, 1850, in Wayne county, Ind., and is the son of George and Elizabeth (Ma- honey) Burk. George Burk, the father, was a native of Germany, which country he left when a boy, coming to the United States; and about the time he attained his majority became a resident of Wayne county, Ind. From Wayne he subsequently moved to the county of Madison, where he lived for a num- ber of years, following the occupation of farm- ing, and subsequently exchanged his land in Madison for a farm in Delaware county, upon which he lived for a limited period, eventually returning to the county of Madison. John Burk lived with his parents until his twenty- first year and then began life for himself as a farmer, to which useful vocation he has since given his entire attention. He is a progressive man, stands well in the community, and politically wields an influence for the demo- cratic party. His wife, whom he married May 26, 1878, was Miss Nancy Walker, daughter of Hugh and Mary (Richard) Walker, an ap- propriate mention of whom will be found else-

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where in this volume. Mrs. Burk is a lady of excellent judgment and rare business tact, and occupies a deservedly popular place in the social circles of Mount Pleasant township. She is, in the true sense of the word, a help- meet, and the successful management of their beautiful farm is largely due to her intelligence and wise foresight. Mr. and Mrs. Burk own a fine farm of eighty acres in the township of Mount Pleasant, upon which are a number of valuable improvements, including a splendid barn, and they are now preparing to erect a large and spacious dwelling. He is a member of Yorktown lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 345.

0 AVID CAMPBELL was born in Miami county, Ohio, on the 4th day of September, 1827. He is de- scended from an old family which settled in Virginia many years ago, in which state his father, Adam Campbell, was born on the 6th day of May, 1802. Adam Campbell married in Miami county, Ohio, in the year 1826, Elizabeth Kepper, who was born in the same state in the year 1804. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell lived in Miami county, Ohio, about six years after their marriage, and then re- moved to Indiana, settling in Delaware county, having been among the pioneers of what is now Salem township. Adam Campbell pur- chased 220 acres of woodland and experienced all the vicissitudes and hardships of life in a new and undeveloped country His wife died in 1840, and he afterwards married Judith Luce, also a native of Miami county, Ohio, and resided on his original purchase until 1865, at which time he disposed of the prop- erty and emigrated to Douglas county, Ill., purchased land in the latter state and resided upon the saine, and in 1868 returned to Dela- ware county, Ind., and here his death occurred

on the 27th day of April, 1872. Mr. Camp- bell was a very energetic and successful man, a democrat in politics, and attended the Bap- tist church. His widow afterward married Daniel Howell, and at this time resides in Mount Pleasant township, Delaware county.

David Campbell was reared to manhood on the farm, received a limited education in the indifferent schools of the country, and re- mained with his parents until attaining his majority, when he went to Miami county, Ohio, and was employed there for a period of one year. He then returned to Delaware county, but shortly thereafter, thinking to bet- ter his condition financially, went to the dis- tant states of California and Oregon, where he remained for five years, prospecting and running a pack train in the meantime, in the latter of which he was fairly successful. He went west by the overland route, starting on the 20th of May and reaching Portland, Ore., his destination, on October 20, of the same year. During his sojourn in the west he accumulated considerable money and, upon his return to Delaware county, purchased a farm in Mount Pleasant township, which he disposed of in 1866. In that year he bought the farm where he now resides, which under his successful management has been greatly improved, until it now ranks with the best places, not only in Mount Pleasant township, but in the western part of Delaware county. His farm consists of 162 acres of fertile land, over 150 of which are under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Campbell was married No- vember 15, 1858, to Miss Susan Moffett, who was born in Salem township, on the 10th day of October, 1837. Mrs. Campbell died July 13, 1861; leaving two children, namely: Adam, and Minerva, deceased. Mr. Camp- bell's second marriage was solmnized October 4. 1865, with Miss Ellen Buckles, of Delaware county, who bore him two children: Cora B.,

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wife of D. R. Slack, and an infant that died unnamed. On the 13th day of October, 1870, Mr. Campbell wedded his present wife, whose maiden name was Catherine E. Shimer. Mrs. Campbell was born in Chesterfield, Madison county, Ind., the daughter of Jacob Shimer, and has borne her husband and child, Nellie C., deceased. Mr. Campbell is a democrat in politcs, and a member of the I. O. O. F., with which he is prominently identified. He started in life for himself a poor boy, with nothing to depend on but his own exertions, but his industry, perseverance and good man- agement have gained for him a comfortable competence of this world's goods. He is an estimable citizen and very popular in the town- ship where he resides.

3 ACOB WILLIAM CRAWFORD -The ancestors of the subject of this sketch were of German and Irish descent, and were among the early settlers of Penn- sylvania, in which state his grandparents, George and Rebecca (Rambo) Crawford, were born and married. In an early day George Crawford emigrated to Perry county, Ohio, thence to the county of Pickaway, that state, where his death occurred in January, 1888, at an advanced age. His wife died about fifteen years previous to that date. They were the parents of ten children, the following of whom are living at this time: Eliza, Allen, Alfred, Jane, Rachel, Augustus, Maria, Susan and Amanda. Alfred Crawford, the third of the above children, and father of the gentleman whose name introduces this biography, was born in Perry county, Ohio, on the 15th day of November, 1832. His early life was passed on his father's farm, and his educational advan- tages were limited to a few months' attendance each year at the common schools, which, at

that time, were very indifferent. He was early taught those lessons of industry, thrift and economy which contributed to his success in after life, and, at the age of nineteen, began working for himself at farming in the county of Pickaway, Ohio, to which he had previously removed. His first marriage was solemnized in 1 843 with Miss Frances Merrill, who died in 1861, leaving two children, Jacob William and James I. Crawford, both residents of Delaware county, Ind. Mr. Crawford enlisted June 15, 1862, in company A, Forty-fifth Ohio volun- teer infantry, with which he served three years, four months and twenty days, during which period he participated in a number of hard fought battles, including, among others, the engagements at Knoxville, Frankfort, Nash- ville, and numerous battles around Atlanta. He was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, in June, 1865, and immediately there- after returned to his home in Ohio, where he remained until his removal to Delaware county, Ind., in March, 1881. On moving to this county he purchased sixty acres of fertile land in Mount Pleasant township, upon which he has since resided, engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married in July, 1886, to Caroline Blaine, who bore him three chil- dren, namely: Frank, Lawson, and Pearl. Mrs. Crawford departed this life in 1883, and on the 12th day of December, 1887, Mr. Crawford wedded his present companion, Sarah E. Thumma, of Madison county, Ind. Mr. Crawford is a democrat in politics and a man of local prominence in the community. He is an intelligent and highly respected citi- zen, and is well deserving of mention in this connection with the representative men of Mount Pleasant township.

Jacob William Crawford, son of the prece- ding and present postmaster of Yorktown, was born December 28, 1858, in Pickaway county, Ohio. He passed the years of his youth and

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early manhood on the home farm, and, after attending, for a limited period, the common schools, took a course in the Northwestern nor- mal at Ada, Ohio, for the purpose of preparing himself for the teacher's profession. He taught, successfully, several terms of school, and on the 19th day of April, 1885, was united in mar- riage to Martha E. Koontz, who was born near Mount Shasta, Cal., September 23, 1861, daughter of L. D. and Matilda Koontz. After his marriage, Mr. Crawford engaged in the drug business at Yorktown, to which place he had previously moved, and, after continuing in that line of trade for seven years, established a meat market, which he sold out in February, 1893. Mr. Crawford has always taken considerable interest in the affairs of Yorktown and Mount Pleasant township, and served as trustee of the latter from 1886 to 1888. He was appointed postmaster of Yorktown in 1889, and is the present incumbent of that office, the dufies of which he has discharged in a very acceptable manner. He is a stockholder and secretary of the Yorktown Natural Gas company, belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is in every respect a praiseworthy and energetic citizen, in whom his fellow townsmen have implicit confidence. He is a republican in politics, and as such has done good service for his party in a number of local campaigns.

RS. RHODA CATHARINE CUR- TIS was born April 10, 1828, the daughter of Hieronymous Curtis, a Virginian, whose birth occurred in the year 1800. Mrs. Curtis's maternal ances- tors came from Maryland, in which state the family settled a great many years ago, moving thence to Virginia. Shortly after their mar- riage the parents of the subject emigrated to Ohio, where the family resided until the

father's death, which occurred in 1839; the mother subsequently moved to Minnesota, where she died a few years ago at an advanced age. She left to her descendants the wealth of a good name and was remembered as a woman of many excellent virtues and a sincere christian, having been a devout member of the Christian church. Mrs. Rhoda C. Curtis was born in Virginia, in which state she passed the greater part of her early life, marrying there, in 1847, Benj. Curtis, who was a native of Ohio. For six years following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Curtis resided in Clinton county, Ohio, and then came to Indiana, locating in the county of Delaware, where they remained one year, removing, at the end of that time, to Madison county, where they made their home for a period of three years. Disposing of their farm in the latter county, they again re- turned to Delaware and located in Mount Pleasant township, purchasing their present place, which has been the family residence ever since. Mr. Curtis followed agricultural pursuits all his life, was a practical farmer and succeeded in accumulating a valuable tract of real estate, his farm consisting of 140 acres of very valuable land. He was a most exemplary citizen, and his death, which occurred on the 18th day of February, 1890, was felt as a great personal loss to every person in the com- munity where he resided Politically he was a democrat, and in religion subscribed to the creed of the Christian church, of which relig- ious order his wife was also a member. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis were born the following children, namely: Richard; Mary E., wife of John C. Brown; Benjamin Franklin, John P., William Alvin, General Grant and Charles Marion.

Since her husband's death Mrs. Curtis has resided on a part of the home farm and has won for herself an affectionate place in the hearts of her friends and neighbors by her

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many kindly acts and deeds. Her life has been fraught with good works and she is now passing her declining years cheered by the consciousness of having discharged faithfully her duties as a neighbor and christian.

IRAM H. DARTER, retired farmer and business man and representative citizen of Mount Pleasant township, is a native of Indiana, born in Fay- ette county, on the 5th day of May, 1828. His father was Samuel Darter, a native of Virginia, and his mother, whose maiden name was Letitia Parker, was born in the state of North Carolina. These parents moved to In- diana in an early day, and settled in the county of Fayette, where they lived for a number of years, and where Samuel Darter became the possessor of valuable real estate, owning at one time a farm of 160 acres. This he dis- posed of, and, moving to Delaware county, purchased fifty-two acres in Mount Pleasant township, and a tract of one hundred acres in the adjoining township of Harrison, on the latter of which he made his home until his death. Mrs. Darter died in 1856, and subse- quently Mr. Darter was united in marriage with Sarah Black, a native of Indiana, who departed this life in the year 1887. Mr. Darter was a man of local prominence in the com- munity where he resided, took an active part in the promotion of the cause of religion as a member of the Methodist church, and was in- tensely radical in his political views, having been one of the original abolitionists of Indiana.

Hiram H. Darter remained with his parents until the age of fifteen, at which time he com- menced life for himself by learning the carpen- ter's trade, in which he soon became quite proficient, and at which he worked for the first three years for the insignificant sum of $199.

In connection with carpentering he also gave considerable attention to painting, both of which trades he followed from time to time until the breaking out of the rebellion. Ani- mated by a patriotic desire to serve his country he enlisted, and for some time thereafter served as a recruiting officer, being instru- mental, in 1862-3, in raising a company, which he entered as a private in 1864. Shortly after being mustered into the service, he was appointed first lieutenant, in which capacity . he continued for five months, when, on ac- count of gallant and meritorious conduct, he was promoted captain, and served as such until the close of the war. This company took an active part in a number of engage- ments, and Capt. Darter, with his command, participated in several raids.

During his period of service Capt. Darter husbanded his pay with true economy and succeeded in sending sufficient money to his wife to enable her, at his suggestion, to pur- chase their present home at Reed station. While in the service Mr. Darter contracted a chronic ailment from which he suffered greatly for the period of two years after leaving the army, the effect of which was to impair seri- ously his subsequent health. In 1867 he engaged in merchandising in the town of Bethel, Harrison township, and after conduct- ing a fairly remunerative business there for five years, disposed of his interest, and, re- moving to Reed station, erected the first store building in the latter town in 1872. He carried on a successful business with a mis- cellaneous assortment of merchandise until 1882, at which time he engaged in the manu- facture and sale of lumber, operating a mill very successfully until its destruction by fire in 1884, entailing upon him a loss of over $2,000. From the latter year until 1887 he was engaged in farming, and subsequently entered the mercantile business in Mount

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Summit, Henry county, where he carried on the trade for a limited period, removing thence to the town of Gilman, Madison county, where he sold goods for about two years. Disposing of his interest he retired from active life and is now living on his farm in Mount Pleasant township, which he oversees and manages with the same success that has attended him in his various business enterprises. In addition to his land in Mount Pleasant, he owns a valu- able tract of about 100 acres near the city of Anderson, and in connection with farming pays considerable attention to the breeding of fast horses, in which he has earned consider- able of a reputation. Mr. Darter was married October 4, 1844, to Sarah Mckinley, daugh- ter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Waltz) McKin- ley, the father a soldier in the war of 1812 and for many years a well known resident of Fayette county, Ind. Mrs. Darter was born August, 1842, and is the mother of the following children: John, deceased; Riley and Frank K. Darter. Capt. Darter is an earnest sup- porter of the republican party and enjoys the respect and confidence of a large circle of friends both at his home and throughout the county.

J ONATHAN R. DOWNING, M. D., is one of the leading physicians of Yorktown, Delaware county, Ind. He was born in Logan county, Ohio, Octo- tober 18, 1844, son of Israel and Elizabeth (Rector) Downing, the former a native of Vir- ginia and the latter of Ohio. They located in Logan county, where they engaged in farming, which occupation Israel Downing followed all of his life, although he combined with it the trade of a skillful carpenter. In 1851, Mr. and Mrs. Downing came to Delaware county, and located on a farm, where he resided until his death, March 13, 1854. His remains were

interred in Mount Pleasant cemetery, where a modest stone marks his last resting place. In 1870, Mrs. Downing removed to Vermillion county, Ill., where her life ended in 1872, in the month of April; her place of interment is at Newtown cemetery, in that county. Three children were born to this worthy couple, Daniel G., a farmer of Eugene, Ind., Jonathan R. and Samnel G., a physician of considerable note, now a partner of Dr. J. R. Mr. and Mrs. Downing were people most highly re- garded wherever known, and were consistent and earnest members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Downing was identified with the whig party in early life, and was a successful man in his financial affairs. He was a man of great firmness and possessed a wonderful amount of vitality and great bodily strength.

Dr. Downing was reared on the home farm and was early taught the dignity of labor. The various duties of an agricultural life were learned by a practical experience, and he made a good farmer, as he has since become an ex- cellent physician. At the age of nineteen years he was but poorly educated, as his school ad- vantage had been limited. He then began to learn the trade of blacksmith in 1862, and in December, 1863, enlisted in company G, Ninth Indiana cavalry, for three years or during the war, and served until July 8, 1865. On Sep- tember 25, 1864, he was captured and kept a prisoner until March 6, 1865, at which time he rejoined his command and was twelve days on the way to join his regiment at Vicksburg. He participated in several hard fought battles and many lesser engagements, but returned to Dela- ware county without any serious injury. On severing his connection with the army he en- gaged for one year in farming and then went to Vermillion county, Ill., and followed his trade of blacksmith for five years. Finding that his army service had impaired his health and ren- dered it imperative that he should seek some

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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 68

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