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 71

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 71
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 71

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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MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

battle for the national Union, he is now re- membered by a grateful country with a liberal pension of $30 per month.

On leaving the army, Mr. Losh returned to Indiana and engaged in blacksmithing at New Corner, the present sight of Gaston, Washington township, where he carried on the trade successfully until about 1880. During the succeeding four years he was employed in carrying the mail between different points, but for some time has been living a retired life in Camack Station, Mount Pleasant township, where he owns a pleasant home, in which his declining years are being spent in quiet and content. Mrs. Losh was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, in the year 1829, and is the mother of the following children: Andrew, Joseph and Noah Losh. Religiously, Mr. Losh is a member of the church known as the Christian Connection, while the United Breth- ren denomination represents the creed in which Mrs. Losh is a firm believer. In poli- tics, Mr. Losh supports the principles of the republican party, but has never been a partisan in the sense of seeking official position. He belongs to that large and eminently respecta- ble class of people who by their actions, rather than by loud professions, have been such im- portant factors in building up and maintaining the well being of the community.

OBERT MCKINLEY .- Mount Pleas- ant township, Delaware county, Ind., deserves its beautiful name, not only on account of the finely cultivated farms within its border, but also on account of the kind and excellent people who reside here. Among these we find Mr. Robert Mckinley, a retired farmer and stock raiser. He was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, October 5, 1834, a son of Samuel and Sarah (Williamson) Mc- Kinley, both of whom were natives of Virginia.

The grandfather of Robert Mckinley died when his son, Samuel, the father of Robert, was a small boy, and the latter was bound out to a man by the name of Conigan until he became of age. He then came to Pickaway county, Ohio, to engage in stock buying, but as this did not prove profitable, he came to Delaware county, Ind., where he entered 320 acres of land in Mount Pleasant township, this farm now being in the possession of Robert McKinley. Here Mr. Mckinley worked on the place during the summers, and employed the winters in teaming and hauling to and from Cincinnati. He succeeded well in his business ventures, and was a man of upright character, loved and respected by all. He was a stanch democrat in his political faith. His death occurred in this county, his wife living some ten years longer, and their remains were laid to rest on the old farm.

Robert Mckinley lived with his parents until the time of their death, and then engaged in any kind of work that would pay him an honest dollar. In 1857 he married Miss Lora Landry, daughter of Joseph and Louisa Lan- dry, the former a native of Troy, Ohio. The father of Mrs. McKinley was a cooper by trade and worked at his chosen calling until he was sixty years of age. He came to Delaware county when he was twenty years old and en- tered twenty acres of land. Keeping on adding to this, he soon accumulated 240 acres and had over $8,000 at interest. This he earned by his own labor. Politically he was a republican, and was considered a good citizen. Although he was connected with no branch of the church, he was a moral man and cheerfully gave of his means to all churches and to all charitable in- stitutions. His death occurred in 1889, at the age of eighty-seven years, his wife having died in 1869; the former was buried in Mount Pleas- ant cemetery, but the latter was interred on the old home farm. After his marriage, Mr.

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Mckinley worked a farm for a share of the crops for a few years, and then bought eighty acres of the old farm, and has kept on adding nntil he now owns 336 acres of fine land. He has been engaged in farming and stock raising all of his life, and has been very successful in a financial way.

Mr. and Mrs. McKinley have a family of four children: Josiah, who married Miss Letta Lewis, deceased, who is a farmer of Madison county; Franklin, married Miss Flora Buskirk and lives on the home farm; Sarah Louisa, married William Stevenson and lives on the home farm, and Theodore, who died in infancy. In his politics Mr. Mckinley is a republican, and believes firmly. in the principles of the grand old party. Although not connected with any religious body, he is known as a man who gives to every worthy object and is chari- table to the greatest limit. He is one of the most respected of all the farmer residents of his locality and a citizen who enjoys the re- spect and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact.

UCINDA MAHONEY .- The estima- ble lady who is the subject of this sketch was born January 17, 1833, in Clinton county, Ohio. Her mother dying when she was three months old, she was reared by her aunt, Mrs. Ellen Antrim, and lived with her up to the time of her marriage, which occurred when she was twenty-seven years of age. She came to this state when she was but nine months old, and settled with her relatives near Yorktown, and remained in Indiana ever since. Her mother was a native of Clinton county, Ohio, and she knows but little of her parents. Her father came to this county a number of years after her arrival, and from here he went to North Carolina, where he died.

Our subject married J. W. Mahoney, a native of Virginia. He came to this state when a young man, and owned sixty acres of land at the time of the marriage, this being a farm now occupied by Mrs. Mahoney. Her husband died March 18, 1889, and his remains rest in the Jones cemetery. He was a life- long democrat, and devotedly attached to that party. Three children were the fruits of this marriage, namely: Clara, wife of John Jester, of Madison township, he being a farmer; Elijah, and Elmira, wife of William Lexing- ton, a farmer living in this township.

J AMES MARTIN .- Few farmers in Mount Pleasant township are more widely and favorably known than the gentleman whose biographical sketch is herewith presented. James Martin is a na- tive of Indiana, born in the county of Dela- ware on the 29th day of December, 1864, and is a son of Andrew W. and Mary Emily (Knott) Martin. Andrew W. Martin is a na- tive of Ohio, which state he left a number of years ago, immigrating to Indiana, and at this time is a well known resident of Delaware county. James Martin early learned those lessons of industry and frugality by which his life has been characterized, and amid the rug- ged duties of his father's farm passed the years of his youth and early manhood, attending, in the meantime, the public schools, in which he obtained a practical English education. Strictly speaking, he is not an educated man in the sense of an extensive acquaintance with litera- ture, but a practical knowledge of men and things, acquired by years of close observation, has enabled him to discharge very successfully the duties of an aetive life. He worked on the home farm until his marriage, at twenty-three years of age, which occurred on the 15th day

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MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

of August, 1888, Miss Sarah Florence Har- man, daughter of John W. and Lavina Har- man (see sketch), becoming his wife. For a short time after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Martin resided with the latter's parents, but in the spring of 1889 they became residents of Mount Pleasant township, moving to their present farm where they now have one of the pleasant homes of the community. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin was born one child, Roxie H., whose birth occurred on the 21st day of May, 1891, and whose little form was laid to rest in the Mount Pleasant cemetery September 10, 1892. Mr. Martin is a public spirited citizen, and all movements having for their object the welfare of the community find in him a patron and well wisher. A republican in politics, he does not aspire to official honors, preferring to give his entire attention to his farming inter- est.

LEXANDER MILLER, a farmer and stock raiser of Mount Pleasant town- ship, was born October 12, 1838, in Delaware county, Ind., and is a son of Peter and Mary Miller, both parents natives of Virginia. Peter Miller was born in the year 1805, and at the age of twenty-two mar- ried Mary Hayes, and immediately thereafter emigrated to Indiana, settling in Henry coun- ty, of which he was one of the pioneers, and engaged in farming. After residing in that county for a period of about twenty years, he removed to the county of Delaware, and pur- chased a farm of forty acres on which he resided five or six years, and then exchanged the place for an eighty-acre tract in the town- ship of Mount Pleasant. He died in the year 1868, and was the father of the following children: Eliza, Harriet, Henry, Harrison J., Mary, deceased, Alexander, Simon, deceased, Perry and Noah.

Alexander Miller remained under the parental roof until his eighteenth year, at which time he began working for himself at different kinds of employment, making an honest dollar whenever an opportunity pre- sented itself. October 23, 1861, he was united in marriage with Miss Malinda Reed, and immediately thereafter engaged in farming, subsequently purchasing real estate, which he afterward sold and bought his present farm in Mount Pleasant, consisting of eighty acres. This place is under a successful state of culti- vation, and its owner is justly considered one of the intelligent and progressive farmers of the township. Mr. Miller was, for some time, engaged in merchandising in Yorktown, where he carried on a successful business from about 1864 till 1869, and for a period of sixteen months was proprietor of a hotel at the same place, which he conducted with a fair degree of success. In addition to his career as a farmer and business man, Mr. Miller has, also, a military record, having entered the army at the beginning of the war for the three months' service, being the first man to enlist in Mount Pleasant township. Owing to dis- abilities contracted while in the service, Mr. Miller has been a sufferer and is now drawing a pension from the government amounting to $12 per month. Politically, Mr. Miller is a republican, fraternally, belongs to the Grand Army post, No. 529, at Daleville, and in relig- ion is a member of the Society of Friends, with which his wife is also identified. The following are the names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller: John H., married Mary Richmond; Allie, married to A. D. Kootz: Melvina E., deceased; Daisy and Maggie Bell, the last two of whom are still living with their parents. Mrs. Miller is a daughter of John and Nancy (Dragoo) Reed, the former born in 1809 and the latter in 1814. John Reed was by occupation a

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farmer, and a prominent resident of Mount Pleasant township, where he owned eighty acres of land, on which he resided until his death, in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Reed reared a family consisting of the following named chil- dren: George W., Elizabeth, Polly Almeta, deceased; Malinda J., Martha Ellen, deceased; John, deceased; Hannah M., Sarah, Josiah and James, deceased. The mother of Mrs. Miller died April 1, 1893, at the residence of her daughter.

R ICHARD N. MILLER is one of the well known residents of Mount Pleas- ant township, Delaware county, Ind., and was born September 9, 1845. He lived with his parents until he was nine years of age, and was then taken by his sister, Harriet Thompson, and later by his brother, Henry Miller. At the age of nineteen years he entered the army February 13, 1865, for one year, enlisting in company E, One Hun- dred and Forty-seventh regiment, Indiana volunteers, of which he was made a corporal. He was discharged at Harper's Ferry, W. Va., on the 4th day of August, 1865, and now re- ceives a pension.

Returning from the army, Mr. Miller worked for some time by the month, and at the end of one summer he married. He then rented land from a Mr. Hancock, on which farm he remained for two years; the next two years he acted as an engineer, but finally settled down again to agricultural pursuits. He has been very industrious and persevering, and is now the owner of twenty acres of fine Indiana land located in Mount Pleasant town- ship, and Mr. Miller has shown himself a very successful farmer.

The marriage of Mr. Miller took place in Mount Pleasant township, Delaware county, to Miss Mary Emma Summers, who was born

in 1850 in Pennsylvania, and who came to this county June 9, 1861, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Summers, and the following children have been born of this union: Rilla T. Miller, born December 24, 1867; Etta C. Miller, born October 14, 1869; William S. Miller, born August 27, 1873; Mary E. Ger- trude Miller, born April 1, 1887; and Bertha L. Glen Miller, born August 3, 1890. Mr. Miller is a republican and the family are con- nected with the Christian church. They are among the most respected citizens of Mount Pleasant township and enjoy in a marked de- gree the esteem of a large circle of friends in Delaware and other counties.

J OHN JACOB OERTHER .- Few men in Delaware county are more widely and favorable known than the gentle- man for whom this biographical sketch is prepared. Essentially a self made man, he stands as a representative citizen of Mount Pleasant township, and, in a financial sense, few people in the county of Delaware have been as successful in overcoming embarrassing obstacles, and in rising to a position of afflu- ence, as he. John Jacob Oerther was born in the province of Rhinepfaltz, Germany, April 17, 1834, the son of John and Margaret (Dahl) Oerther. These parents were both natives of the Fatherland, married there, and there rear- ed their family. John Oerther died in Ger- many on the 9th of January, 1852, and sub- sequently, in 1865, his widow came to the United States and made her home with her son, John Jacob Oerther, until her death, which occurred in 1876. John Oerther, by occupation, was a linen weaver and a farmer, and was a most exemplary man. He reared a family of six children, four of whom are living at this time, namely: Dorotha, Margaret,

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Elizabeth and John J. John J. Oerther was educated in the schools of his native country, and remained in the Fatherland until Novem- ber, 1852, at which time he came to the United States, landing at New Orleans, after a long and tiresome sea voyage in a sailing vessel. His passage cost him $40, and he found him- self all alone, without employment, among strangers in a strange land. Making his way to Ohio, where a sister lived, who had pre- ceded him to the new country, he found em- ployment as a farmer, and subsequently enter- ed upon an apprenticeship of two years at the town of New Boston, Ohio, to learn the black- smith trade. He soon acquired great skill and proficiency as a mechanic, and, after finishing his apprenticeship, removed in August, 1859, to Yorktown, Delaware county, Ind., where he began working at his trade, and where, with the exception of about two years spent in the immediate vicinity, he has since resided. He has followed his chosen calling very success- fully, and ranks among the most efficient and best known mechanics in Delaware county. He was, for two years, engaged in the tannery business, and for the same length of time, carrying on farming, but finally abandoned both those occupations and returned to his trade of wagon making and blacksmithing.

Mr. Oerther has met with success, financi- ally, such as few attain, and from an insig- nificant and discouraging start in life, has suc- ceeded in overcoming the many obstacles, by which, for so many years, he was surrounded, and is now in the enjoyment of a comfortable fortune, the result of wise management, econ- omy and well directed industry. He is a large land holder in Mount Pleasant township, his real estate in the county at this time repre- senting 364 acres, and he recently disposed of 1 39 acres of very valuable land to the Muncie Land company at a very handsome figure. Mr. Oerther is interested in the Yorktown Gas

company, and in the growth and development of West Muncie he has been a prominent and substantial factor. Mr. Oerther was married November 27, 1860, to Isabelle Daugherty, a native of Mount Pleasant township, where she was born June 6, 1842, the daughter of Will- iam Daugherty, Esq. Mr. and Mrs. Oerther have a family of nine children, whose names are as follows: John William, a merchant of Farmland, Randolph county; Charles F., Amy Alene, wife of Louis D. Overmier; Rosa M., deceased; Mellie, Myrtle D., Doanie Elizabeth, Clen and Frederick. Mr. Oerther feels a father's pardonable pride in his family, and he has every reason for so feeling, as his children are a credit to themselves and an honor to their parents.

ENRY OVERMIRE is a well-to-do and contented citizen of Mount Pleas- ant township. He was born in Ham- ilton county, Ohio, July 16, 1837, being the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Espells) Overmire, both natives of Germany. They were married and came to America in 1836, landing in New York, and going thence to Cin- cinnati, where Mr. Overmire engaged in a foundry for three years. After this he went to Franklin county, Ind., where he employed his time in farming and shoemaking until his death, 1877. His widow lives with her daugh- ter. The father and mother reared a family of six children, of whom three are living, namely: Henry, Elizabeth, living in Cincinnati, and Mary, wife of Joseph Groothouse, of Franklin county, Ind. The parents and other members of the family were members of the Catholic church, with the exception of Henry, who left that body, and now belongs to the Methodist de- nomination.

Henry Overmire, when but fourteen years of age, was apprenticed to Henry Haffer, of

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Brookville, Ind., to learn the trade of tanner. He lived with this man two and one-half years, and then, receiving a higher offer, went to another tannery in the same place, receiv- ing eight dollars per mouth, and remaining four months. He was then employed on a canal boat from Cincinnati to Larwell for a month, and after a short time spent in travel- ing, he engaged in the trade of tanning for over two years for a number of different em- ployers. Later, he went to Middleton, Ind., and engaged as a tanner for a year, after which he followed the same trade with different men for three years longer. Then, having made some money, he bought a small tannery in Jerome, Howard county, Ind., which he oper- ated one year; his venture being unsuccessful, he was compelled to make an assignment, and found himself in debt aftrr his property had been taken. Subsequently, he came to Dela- ware county, Ind., and worked for thirty dol- lars a month, one-half of which he applied on his debts, keeping the rest for himself, and living very cheaply. He came to Yorktown about that time, where he engaged with Thomas Allen & Co. as a journeyman for three years, when he and Jacob Oerther bought the tannery, and the partnership continued for three years, purchasing his partner's interest at the end of that time, and operating it alone for ten years. He owns the site upon which the tan yards stood, but no vistige of it now remains. While thus engaged Mr. Overmire also conducted a large boot and shoe and har- ness establishment, making up most of the leather he produced. In 1882 he enlarged his business, adding groceries, and his son, L. D. Overmier, before mentioned, was his partner. This partnership existed until 1892, when his son became sole proprietor, and the father, the subject, engaged in the harness business. He also carries gas supplies and fixtures.

Mr. Overmire was president of the first

gas company in Yorktown, and superintendent of the two first gas wells. He served as presi- dent four years, and is now director, treasurer and collector of the company. He was mar- ried in Howard county, Ind., in 1858, to Eliza- beth Sharp, born in Delaware county, July 22, 1840, and daughter of H. B. and Tabitha Sharp. Two children, Lewis D., mentioned elsewhere, and William M., a member of the Yorktown Novelty works, were born of this marriage. Mr. Overmire located in this county in 1862, and has since exerted himself to the advancements and interests of the county. He is a member of lodge No. 345, I. O. O. O., and in politics is an agressive democrat, working with might and main for the success of that party. He is one of the most enterprising and active citizens of York- town. He is also a member of the Muncie encampment, No. 74.

EWIS D. OVERMIRE .- One of the prominent business men of Yorktown is Lewis D. Overmire, whose name appears at the head of this sketch. He was born in Madison county, Ind., Novem- ber 21, 1861, a son of Henry and Elizabeth Overmire, of whom a sketch appears above. Lewis D. Overmire was only four years of age when his parents came to the village of Yorktown, and here he has spent the greater part of his life. He was educated in the com- mon schools and took a three months' course in the business college at Indianapolis, after which he engaged with a wholesale dry goods establishment for a time in that city, and later entered into partnership with his father in a general mercantile trade in this place. The firm thus constituted continued until June, 1892, when he became the sole owner of the establishment, the business of which is yearly

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growing more profitable, being at this time one of the leading mercantile houses of York- town.

Mr. Overmire married, August 26, 1875, at this place, Miss Emma E. Oerther, born here March 10, 1866, a daughter of Jacob Oerther, whose sketch appears in another part of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Overmire are the par- ents of two bright children, Gladys M. and Mildred Lucille. Mrs. Overmire is a member of the Methodist church. He is a prominent politician of this place, was postmaster under the last administration of President Cleveland, and votes and works with the democratic party. Fraternally, he is a member of I. O. O. F., No. 345, takes an active interest in the growth and development of his town and county, and in business circles enjoys a reputation much more than local.

EORGE W. PARKISON .-- Promi- nent among the representative self made men of Mount Pleasant town- ship is George W. Parkison, who was born in Perry county, Ohio, February 25, 1826, the son of Samuel and Ellen Parkison, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Samuel Parkison was by occupa- tion a carpenter and mill-wright, married in Perry county, Ohio, Ellen Mohler, and in 1839 immigrated to Indiana, locating in Dela- ware county, of which he was one of the pioneers. Previous to his settlement in Dela- ware county, he had entered, in 1837, forty acres of land, to which he added, from time to time, until, at the date of his death, he was the possessor of a tract of 220 acres, the greater part of which was under cultivation. He was a hard working man, a very careful farmer, and for a number of years was a lead- ing member of the German Lutheran church;

after coming to Indiana, was a Presbyterian. His wife was also a member of both of these churches, and is remembered as a woman of many excellent parts. Samuel and Ellen Parkison reared a family of eleven children, and departed this life in the years 1856 and 1874, respectively. The following are the names of their children: Eli; Catherine, wife of Emanuel Warfel, of Yorktown; George W., the subject of this mention; Elizabeth, died at the age of thirteen, William J., de- ceased; Samuel; Ellinor, deceased; Anna Maria, deceased; Sarah J., wife of James D. Reynolds, of Yorktown; Harriet, deceased, and Henry C. George W. Parkison was reared amid the active duties of the farm, and received but limited educational advantages, attending the indifferent schools of the coun- try at intervals during the winter season. He remained with his parents until his twenty- first year, at which time he left home and began working for himself for the insignificant sum of seven dollars per month, his principal occupation being that of chopping cord wood. In 1847, he enlisted in company A, Fourth Indiana infantry, for the Mexican war, with which he served until July of the following year, in the meantime accompanying his com- mand to that far off country, and participating in a number of battles. Severing his connec- tion with the army, he returned to Delaware county and engaged in farming, which useful calling he has since continued, and in which he has met with well deserved success, owning at this time nearly 200 acres of valuable land, which is well cultivated, and upon which are to be seen some of the best live stock in Mount Pleasant township. From 1856 to 1860 he held the office of justice of the peace in Mount Pleasant, and in 1861, responded to the country's call for volunteers, enlisting in com- pany A, Eighth Indiana infrantry, of which he was elected first lieutenant shortly after the

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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 71

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