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 70

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 70
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 70

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).

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assistant superintendent for the same company until his removal to Vandalia, Ill., in 1877. In the latter city he was made engineer in chief of the Kaskaskia Bottom Drainage district, his official duties consisting of making surveys and esti- mates for dredging, draining, and reclaiming a large tract of land, twenty-five by forty-five miles in area. He was thus engaged from 1877 to 1886, during which period he whs twice elected surveyor of Fayette county, Ill., enter- ing the contest both times as a candidate on the people's ticket.

In 1886 Mr. Hefel accepted a position with the American Water Works and Guarantee company, of Pittsburg, Pa., as superintendent of construction, and engineer in building water works and plants at New Philadelphia, Ohio; Huntington, W. Va .; Cheboygan, Wis. ; Meridian, Miss .; and Wichita, Kan., continu- ing in that capacity for two years, during which time his headquarters were at Muncie, Ind.

In 1888 he made surveys and drawings for two maps of the city of Muncie, the first of which, known as Hefel's natural gas map, showing gas wells, gas lines, additions, etc., was copyrighted and printed in colored litho- graph. Both maps were extensively sold and are still commended for their accuracy, as well as for the neatness and skill displayed in the workmanship.

In July, 1891, Mr. Hefel entered the employ of the Western Improvement com- pany, of Rochester, N. Y., to lay out and prepare drawings for the town of West Mun- cie, which, in due time, were made and placed on record. The plat of West Muncie dis- plays superior ability on the part of the engi- neer, the beautiful artificial lake and other improvements which have given the place much more than a local celebrity, being the original design of Mr. Hefel. Mr. Hefel is a skillful engineer, thoroughly familiar with every

detail of the profession to which he has de- voted his life, and the responsible positions which he has been called to fill, from time to time, testify of confidence in which his abili- ties are held by the large companies and cor- porations with which he has been identified. In 1868, in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Hefel and Miss Magdalena Good, a native of Germany, were united in marriage-a union severed by the death of Mrs. Hefel in 1881, after bearing two children, Carrie and Ermine. Mr. Hefel married his present wife, whose maiden name was Kate Boeckley, in 1881, a union blessed with the birth of one child, a daughter, Hattie.

RS. NANCY HANCOCK .- Recent biographers are not unmindful of the fact that as much credit is due the wives and mothers of the pres- ent generation for the moral and material ad- vancement of our great western country as to the fathers and sons. In the following sketch is a brief mention of the leading events in the career of one of > the pioneer mothers of Dela- ware county, whose whole life has been the grand simple poem of rugged, toilsome duty, faithfully and uncomplainingly done. Mrs. Nancy Hancock, whose maiden name was An- trim, is a native of Clinton county, Ohio, where her birth occurred on the 18th day of August, 1820. Her father, Robert Antrim, was born in Virginia, March 12, 1787, and came to Delaware county, Ind., as early as 1833. lo- cating in what is now Mount Pleasant town- ship, where he purchased and improved eighty acres of land. He married Justina Leeka, who was born in the same year as her husband, of German parentage. Mr. Antrim was a successful man, and during his residence in Delaware county succeeded in accumulating a

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handsome competence, including a farm of 120 acres, upon which his death occurred in the year 1869.

Mrs. Hancock resided with her parents until the time of her first marriage, which was solemnized in April, 1838, with Solomon Mc- Laughlin, a native of Kentucky, where he was born September 10, 1810. To this union were born the following children: John W., de- ceased; Lewis Clark, married to Nancy Stout, and residing in Muncie; Sarah Ellen, wife of Martin Shoemaker, and Justina, wife of Law- rence Doyle Mr. Mclaughlin died in 1854, and four years later his widow was united in marriage to Edward Curtis, also a native of Kentucky, who came to Delaware county when a young man. Mr. Curtis was by occu- pation a farmer, and followed his chosen calling until his death, which occurred in 1863. To the second marriage one child was born, namely: Levi Marion Curtis. In 1880, Mrs. Curtis was again married, choosing for a hus- band, John Hancock, a native of Ohio, and a respectable farmer of Mount Pleasant town- ship. On the 14th of March, 1885, she was left a widow the third time, her husband dying at that date. Mrs. Hancock "has been a resi- dent of Delaware county for a period of over sixty years, during which time she has wit- nessed a great many remarkable changes both in the country and the people. For over a half century she has been a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist church, and finds great comfort and consolation in her religious experience. Mrs. Hancock's maternal grand- father was an Englishman and served in the British army in the war of the Revolution. He was taken prisoner soon after landing on American soil, and held captive during the war, at the close of which he was released and given the privilege of returning to his native country or of remaining in the United States. He chose the latter, became a naturalized cit-

izen, and for many years was a resident of Virginia and later of Ohio, in which state his death occurred.

J AMES W. HENSLEY, one of the lead- ing farmers and stock raisers of Mount Pleasant township, is a native of Indi- ana, born in Rush county, on the 7th day of December, 1829, the son of William and Sarah (Peterson) Hensley. William W. Hensley was a native of Kentucky, but early emigrated to Indiana, settling in Rushville, near which place he was, for a few years, en- gaged in farming, and later moved to the county of Delaware, and engaged in the milling busi- ness near Muncie, but disposed of his interest within a short time, and, moving a few miles east of the county seat, bought land and en- gaged in the pursuit of agriculture. After till- ing the soil for a period of three years, he re- moved to Muncie, and for some time thereafter was employed in a grist mill, which occupation he followed until purchasing a tract of land northwest of Yorktown, where he again en- gaged in farming, and where he passed the residue of his days.

James W. Hensley remained with his pa- rents until attaining his majority, and since his seventh year has been a resident of Delaware county, being at this time one of the oldest and best known citizens of the same. He was reared to agricultural work and has followed it exclusively. His first purchase of real estate consisted of forty acres in the township of Sa- lem, then two years later bought forty acres more in Mount Pleasant township, and subse- quently he bought a tract of eighty acres on Eel river, which he retained a few years, disposing of it and purchasing the west part of his pres- ent farm in Mount Pleasant township. To the latter he has made additions from time to time

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until he is now one of the largest land holders of Mount Pleasant, owning at one time 380 acres, forty acres of which he recently gave to his daughter, leaving his present farm of 340 acres, upon which are some of the most valua- ble improvements in the community in which he resides. In addition to his lands he owns good property in Yorktown.

Mr. Hensley was married on the 4th day of November, 1857, to Miss Susan Humbert, daughter of Elias and Rosa Humbert, both of which parents were natives of Indiana, the father being one of the earliest pioneers of Delaware county. To this marriage twelve children were born, six of whom are living, namely: Samuel, who resides on the home place; William, married to Amanda Fullhart; Abel Sanford, married to Jennie Priest; Jacob, married to Maggie Snodgrass; Sarah, wife of Maynard Childs; and Lewis, who still remains with his father on the home place.

Mrs. Hensley was a kind and dutiful mother, a faithful wife, and departed this life on the 15th day of November, 1890. She was a member of the Methodist church, and her remains were laid to rest in the Hawk cemetery. Mr. Hensley married his present wife, Nancy McNairy, a native of Delaware county, on the 9th day of July, 1891. Polically, Mr. Hensley is a democrat, and his wife belongs to the Separate Baptist church, in which they are both active workers.

ILLIAM W. HENSLEY, JR., is one of the progressive farmers of the township of Mount Pleasant, and a son of William W. and Sarah (Peter- son) Hensley, a notice of whom appears in connection with the biography of James Hensley. William W. Hensley, Jr., was born in Rush county, Ind., February 11, 1835, and

from early boyhood has been a resident of the county of Delaware, which he has seen devel- oped from a comparatively wild state to its present advanced position among its sister counties of the state. He passed the years of his youth and early manhood upon the farm, where he learned those lessons of industry and economy which have brought their reward to him in after life, and has made agriculture and stock raising his principle business. He re- ceived his educational training in such schools as the country afforded, and by close observa- tion and a life of great business activity, has become, in many respects, an intelligent and well informed man. Until his twenty-first year, he remained with his parents on the home place, after which he found employment as a farm hand and followed this for a period of ten years, or until his marriage, in 1865. Carefully husbanding his means, he was en- abled to make a judicious investment in real estate about 1862, at which time he became the possessor of 100 acres of land in Mount Pleasant township, a part of his present home farm. To his original purchase he has since added, and at the present time owns 160 acres, the greater part of which is well improved and under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Hen- sley has exercised the best of judgment as a farmer, and his life has been characterized by great industry and economy, the reward of which has been success in all that term im- plies. Beginning life's battle with but a lim- ited supply of this world's goods, he has, with the aid of his industrious companion, been enabled to acquire a comfortable com- petence and is now classed with substantial and well-to-do farmers and stock raisers of the community which has been his home for so many years.

Mr. Hensley's marriage was solemnized in 1865 Elizabeth Dragoo, daughter of Abner and Martha (Perkins) Ratcliff, natives,

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respectively, of North Carolina and Ohio- the father of German and the mother of Eng- lish descent. Abner Ratcliff became a resi- dent of Indiana as early as 1835, and pre- empted 120 acres of land in Delaware county, upon which were made some of the first im- provements in Mount Pleasant township. He became a very prominent citizen and success- ful farmer, and died in August, 1864. His wife preceded him to the grave, departing this life in 1861. They were both highly respected members of the Society of Friends, and are held in grateful remembrance by their descend- ants, who are classed among the best citizens of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Hensley are the parents of the following children: George, married to Mary Gilbert; Jonas, married to Clara Paul; David, William, and Charles, the last three of whom are still at home with their parents. Mr. Hensley is a member of the Christian church, and in politics he supports the principles of the democratic party.

0 ANIEL P. HOWELL .- Prominent farmer and stock raiser of Mount Pleasant township, is a native of Miami county, Ohio, and dates his birth from June 5, 1820. His father, John Howell, was born in Virginia, December 10, 1783, and remained there until 1829, at which time he removed to Ohio, locating in Darke county, where he became widely and favorably known; having served as sheriff of that county for a period of six years. Subsequently he moved to Delaware county, Ind., settling near Muncie, and purchasing an eighty acre tract of land, upon which but few, if any, improve- ments had been made, the country at that time being an almost unbroken wilderness. After a residence here of ten years he dispos- ed of his land, and moved to the county of

Wabash, where he met with serious financial reverses by going security for a friend, whose failure caused the loss of nearly all of his early possessions. Following this reverse in his fortune, Mr. Howell went to Cincinnati, where he resided for two years with a son, and later returned to Wabash county, where he lived until the death of his wife. After this sad bereavement, he traveled for a couple of years through Illinois and Missouri, and, re- turning to Indiana, again settled down in the county of Wabash, where he resided with a son until his death, which occurred January 10, 1858.

Daniel P. Howell remained with his par- ents until his fifteenth year, attending such schools as the country afforded in the mean- time, and then learned the trade of brick masonry with his brother-in-law, J. Flinn, at Muncie, with whom he remained four years. He also became proficient as a plasterer, and carried on both trades in Clinton county, Ohio, to which he had removed and where he found constant employment until the year 1852. Having purchased property in Ohio, he ex- changed the same for the piece of wood land in Mount Pleasant township, Ind., to which he at once removed, from which he has, by great industry and energy born of a determination to succeed, developed his present valuable farm, which is now justly ranked among the most beautiful places in Delaware county. Among the valuable improvements of this farm is an elegant and substantial brick residence, erected, in 1873, representing a capital of sev- eral thousand dollars, being one of the best country residences in Mount Pleasant town- ship. Mr. Howell is an intelligent farmer, gives wise attention to the proper rotation of crops, and is one of the well informed class who has succeeded in elevating agriculture to its true dignity as a science. When twenty- one years of age, Mr. Howell was married to

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Miss Mary McKinley, of Ohio, daughter of William and Sarah Mckinley, to whom the following children were born: William, de- ceased; James, deceased; Mary Ellen, wife of John Shaffer; John, Louisa, wife of William Brewer; George, Joseph, Emma, wife of Will- iam Ogle, and Samuel. Mrs. Howell died in April, 1872, and, subsequently, Mr. Howell married his second wife, Mrs. Judith Camp- bell, widow of Adam Campbell. Hr. Howell has long been a supporter of the democratic party, the principles of which he believes to be for the best interest of the country. Religi- ously, the Baptist church represents his creed, to which denomination his wife also belongs. Mrs. Howell was stricken with paralysis Au- gust 3, 1890, and had a second stroke in November, 1892, and is greatly afflicted.

EWIS JOHNSON .- The state of In- diana gave freely of her wealth and of her men to the defense of the Union when the call came from Pres. Lincoln for troops to suppress the war of the rebellion, and all over her confines you may find men living in quiet retirement who, in those stormy days, did battle and endured hardships which have often left lasting marks upon them. One of these we find in the sub- ject of this mention, Lewis Johnson. Mr. Johnson's birth occurred November 27, 1845, a son of John and Charlotta (Stevenson) John- son, the father a native of the state of Virginia and the mother of Muskingum county, Ohio. John Johnson was born in 1812 and died in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were married in Ohio, but later immigrated to Indiana and en- gaged in farming, buying 120 acres of land, where they lived until his death. He was a stanch republican all of his life and a consis- tent member of the Baptist church. Mrs.

Johnson still lives on the old farm in Henry county, is a member of the Methodist church, and is much respected for many kind and womanly qualities.

Lewis Johnson was reared on the old farm and grew up as farmer lads usually do, en- gaging early in labor and attending such schools as the county afforded, in the mean- time. He was one of a family of eight child- ren, his brothers and sisters being as follows: Rebecca, wife of M. D Driscoll, a farmer of Delaware county; Ada, wife of William Eliot, a farmer of this county; Frank, a resident of Muncie; and Lotta; Grace; and Lilly; Fan- nie, wife of J. Humphrey ..

At the outbreak of the civil war Mr. John- son left his school books, being then only a lad of eighteen years, and enlisted in company G, Ninth Indiana cavalry, for three years or dur- ing the war. He participated in the battle of Sulphur Branch, where he was captured and kept a prisoner for six months, during which period he was fed with corn meal made out of corn and ground cobs, from which coarse diet he contracted camp diarrhæa. After his re- lease he rejoined his regiment at Vicksburg and was sent, with some 2, 100 other soldiers, on a boat to go up the river. The boilers of this boat exploded and some 1,600 poor men were killed, but Mr. Johnson escaped with a wound in the side, from which he has never fully re- covered, and which entitles him to a pension of four dollars a month. He was sent to In- dianapolis, where he was honorably discharged, and came home, and soon after resumed his work on the farm.

In 1868 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Hoover, daughter of D. M. and Fannie Hoover, natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Henry county, this state, in 1848, and engaged in farming. At this time Mr. Hoover owns 157 acres of land, upon which he and his wife now reside. Mr. Johnson is a

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large land owner, possessing a fine farm of 129 acres, all of which he has under a high state of cultivation. His improvements are among the best in Mount Pleasant township, and he has won the reputation of being one of the best farmers in the county. He is social by nature, and has testified to it by becoming a member of the Red Men, in the deliberations of which order he takes an active interest.

A LFRED JONES is descended pater- nally from Virginia ancestry, his father, John Jones, having been born in the Old Dominion, on the 9th day of April, 1808. Tracing the family history back, it is learned that the remote ancestors came originally from Ireland, in which country the subject's grandfather is supposed to have been born. John Jones removed with his parents to Clinton county, Ohio, when he was three years of age, remaining in the latter state until his nineteenth year, at which time he came to Indiana, locating in Wayne county, thence five years later he removed to the county of Delaware, and purchased eighty acres of government land not far from the present site of Yorktown. In 1843 he married Lucinda Reed, who was born in Clinton county, Ohio, on the 7th day of April, 1820, daughter of James and Elizabeth Reed, both parents na- tives of Ireland. John Jones was by occupa- tion a farmer and weaver, and he and wife were for many years earnest members of the Christian church.

Alfred Jones was born March 17, 1843, and spent the days of his boyhood on the farm, working during the summer season and attend- ing school in winters. His life has been that of a farmer, and he now owns a well improved place of seventy acres in the township of Mount Pleasant, where he is widely and favor-

ably known for his many sterling qualities of manhood. In addition to farming he gives considerable attention to the raising of stock, in both of which callings his success has been gratifying. Mr. Jones was first married, at the age of twenty-one, to Miss Ann Snod- grass, who was born in Randolph county, Ind., May 3, 1844, and whose death occurred in Delaware county, January 20, 1874. Mrs. Jones was the daughter of Dr. Snodgrass, and is remembered as a devoted wife and kind mother. She was the mother of the following children: Clarissa, wife of John Ward; Laura, and Lucinda, deceased. Mr. Jones' second marriage took place July 27, 1874, to Sarah Antrim, who was born July 24, 1855, the daughter of Beardsley and Susan Antrim. On the 24th of February, 1875, Mr. Jones was again bereaved, his wife dying on that date; her body now rests by the side of his former companion in the Jones cemetery. In the year 1876, December 26, Mr. Jones and Sarah J. Hensley were united in marriage-a union blessed with the birth of one child, Sarah Jones. Mrs. Jones was the daughter of Will- iam and Elizabeth Hensley, and departed this life on the 16th day of March, 1882. Decem- ber 13, 1884, Mr. Jones married his present wife, Mrs. Cela (Childs) Reed, daughter of George and Sarah Childs, and widow of the late David C. Reed. The parents of Mrs. Jones were natives respectively of Virginia and North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are prominently identified with the Christian church, and fraternally he belongs to the Im- proved Order of Red Men.

RS. MATILDA KOONTZ is a well known and highly respected lady of Mount Pleasant township, widow of the late L. D. Koontz, who is re- membered as one of the leading citizens of

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DELAWARE COUNTY :

Yorktown. Mrs. Koontz was born November 24, 1835, in the state of Maryland, and is a daughter of William and Elizabeth Green, natives of the same state, who came to Dela- ware county, Ind., as early as 1837, locating at Yorktown. William Green was by occupa- tion a mechanic, and for a number of years carried on the blacksmithing business at York- town, where he became quite successful in the accumulation of property. He was a man highly respected by all who knew him, exceed- ingly popular, and departed this life in the year 1846; his wife died the previous year, and they lie side by side in the Yorktown cemetery, where a beautiful monument marks their last resting place. Mrs. Koontz has spent the greater part of her life in the county of her adoption, and is a woman noted for her many virtues and excellent traits of character. Her marriage with L. D. Koontz took place on the 4th day of May, 1851, and the fruit of their union was the following children: Jacob M .; William J .; Mary Jane, wife of Daniel Ying- ling; Deborah Ann, wife of Orvin Moore; Mar- tha Ellen, wife of William Crawford; Albert D .; Urilla Belle; Amanda V., wife of Louis R. Steward; Josephine: Montana; and Clara Maud, the last two of whom are not living.

Mr. Koontz was a prominent resident of Mount Pleasant township and at one time owned a large and highly improved farm ad- joining the village of Yorktown. He was one of Delaware county's most progressive citizens, and his death, which occurred November 1, 1892, was felt to be not only an irreparable loss to his family, but a calamity to the com- munity as well. A short time prior to his death he disposed of his farm to the Western Im- provement company of West Muncie, and the city is now being invaded by the improvements of that thriving town. He was a farmer by occupation, was a member of the Masonic fra- ternity and a republican in his political faith.

J OHN LOSH is a native of Licking county, Ohio, and dates his birth from the year 1832. His parents, Adam and Elizabeth (Minick) Losh, were born in Northumberland county, Pa., and in an early day emigrated to Ohio, settling in Licking county about 1830, where the father followed the trade of carpentering for a period of twelve years, moving, at the end of that time, to Delaware county, Ind., where, in addition to his chosen calling, he was for sometime engaged in agricultural pursuits After a residence of twenty-five years in this part of the state, he removed to the county of Wayne, Ills., where he engaged in farming and where his and his wife's deaths subse- quently occurred.

John Losh passed his youth on his father's farm, with the rugged usuages of which he early became familiar, and left the parental roof at the age of eighteen and found employ- ment on a farm in Licking county, Ohio, and lived in that part of the state until his removal to Clermont county, Ohio, where he remained for a period of three years. Going thence to Lima, Ohio, he found employment at various occupations, and subsequently removed to Delaware county, Ind., locating in Washing- ton township where he engaged in farming. In February, 1865, he entered the army, en- listing for one year, or during the war, in company D, Forty-seventh Indiana volunteer infantry, with which he served until honorably discharged August 4th of the same year. Al- though to the front but a short time, he ex- perienced, in all of its reality, many of the vicissitudes of war, having undergone some very hard service, at one time being compelled to go seven days without food, the effect of which was to render him greatly disabled. From ailments contracted while in the army, he has never entirely recovered, and like many other brave men who went forth to do

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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 70

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