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 72

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 72
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 72

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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company's organization. He served with his command for a period of only eight months, when he was compelled to resign on account of a severe attack of rheumatism, which rendered him unfit for military duty.

Mr. Parkison was married January 29, 1849, to Eliza J. Beath, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, November 29, 1829, a daughter of John and Martha (Kelly) Beath, natives respectively of Ohio and Kentucky. Ten children were born to this union, seven of whom are living: John B., Samuel E .. Martha E., William W., Thomas B., Harriet E., wife of L. S. Jones; and Orville E., the deceased members of the family are as follows: Charles I., George I., and Oliver P. Mrs. Parkison died May 24, 1868, and on the 10th of Sep- tember, 1870, Mr. Parkison was united in marriage to his present wife, Mary Perdeiu, who was born in Delaware county, April 30, 1839. The latter marriage has resulted in the birth of five children, namely: Clara J., Mabel, George W., Emma K., and Frank L. In politics Mr. Parkison is a democrat, and fraternally belongs to the I. O. O. F., being a member of Yorktown lodge, No. 345.

S AMUEL PARKISON, brother of George W. Parkison, whose sketch appears above, and sixth child of Samuel and Ellen Parkison, was born in Perry county, Ohio, August 29, 1831, and since 1839 has been a citizen of Delaware county, being among its oldest living settlers. Like the majority of country boys, his youth was passed amid the hard labors of the farm, and he distinctly recalls the rude log school house, with its slab benches, puncheon floor and greased paper windows, in which he re- ceived the rudiments of an English education. He assisted his father on the farm until at-

taining his majority, and then began life for himself as a farmer in the township of Mount Pleasant, which had been his home ever since coming to the county. His first purchase of real estate was made in 1857, and later he bought what is known as the Dragoo farm, which is considered by good judges to be among the very best land in the county. * He made additional purchases from time to time until he became the possessor of a large amount of real estate, all of which he has dis- posed of with the exception of thirty acres where now resides. He disposed of the most of his land to the Western Improvement com- pany for a valuable consideration, and is now interested in several gas wells, which return him a handsome revenue. December, 1892, Mr. Parkison purchased what was known as the Gilbert farm of 208 acres, on which are extensive stone quarries. This tract joins Mr. Parkison's residence farm on the east, and was formerly known as the Gilbert, and, later, as the Wilson place. In every respect Mr. Parkison has, during his long residence in Delaware county, proved himself to be a straightforward man, a good citizen, and he numbers his friends by the score through- out Mount Pleasant and other townships. He is a republican in politics, but has never aspired to official position, and be- longs to the I. O. O. F. fraternity, his mem- bership being with lodge No. 345, Yorktown, and Muncie encampment, No. 30. In religion he is a zealous member of the Methodist Epis- copal church.

Mr. Parkison was married February 24, 1885; in Mount Pleasant township, to Miss Eliza J. Neely, who was born in Delaware county, Ind., November 23, 1837, the daugh- ter of John and Sarah (Diltz) Neely. To this union were born five children, whose names are as follows: Emma C., deceased; Isaac N .; John A .; Oliver P. deceased, and Joseph A.

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Parkison. The mother, a most estimable woman, departed this life on the 2d day of March, 1880, and in October of the same year Mr. Parkison's second marriage was consum- mated with Mrs. Margaret Reed, daughter of Peter Keiger, of Madison county, Ind. One child, Lua, whose birth occurred July 20, 1883, is the fruit of this union.

ILLIAM PITTSER .- To the sturdy pioneers of the county too much praise cannot be given in a general sense, and in a special sense is this true concerning the late William Pittser and his most estimable widow, Elma Pittser. The Pittser family came to Delaware county in 1831 and settled in Salem township. They assisted in clearing the forest and causing to issue therefrom beautiful farms. William Pittser was a native of Ohio, born February 18, 1823, and died in Mount Pleasant town- ship, Delaware county, Ind., August 15, 1889, on the farm which he cut from the unbroken wood and upon which he had lived since April, 1849. His entire life was devoted to agricul- tural pursuits, and he was always considered one of the leading farmers of Mount Pleasant township. He was a student of the early schools of the community, which he attended during the mid-winter season. He grew up on his father's farm, where he remained until 1849, or two years after his marriage, which occurred January 17, 1847, to Miss Elma Van Matre. At the time of his death he owned 160 acres of fine land in the western part of Mount Pleasant township. The eighty acres upon which the substantial residence stands was entered by the father of Mrs. Pittser, David Van Matre. In politics Mr. Pittser cast his right of suffrage with the interests of the republican party. He was a member of

the Methodist Protestant church. Through his death Delaware county lost one of her best citizens. His father, Matthias Pittser, was born in Pennsylvania, February 15, 1781, and died in Mount Pleasant township, this county, November 18, 1869, and his wife, Sarah Jane Pittser, was born in Ohio May 4, 1789, and died in this county in 1867. They were industrious, hard working people, and respected wherever known.

Mrs. Elma Pittser was born in Salem township, this county, October 1, 1827, and all her life has resided in this county, and since 1849 on the farm where she now lives. She is one of the old settlers of this county, and is a woman known far and wide for her many good qualities. David Van Matre, from Ohio, father of Mrs. Pittser, was one of the early settlers of this county, and died in Salem township December 21, 1882. The mother of Mrs. Pittser was Maria Van Matre, who was born in Ohio and died in Salem township in December, 1882 To omit from the bio- graphical record of Delaware county a notice of these two old and highly respected families would be a wrong to the pioneers and an in- justice to the community.

3 OSEPH H. RICE, one of the intelli- gent young business men of the thriving town of Yorktown, Delaware county, Ind., was born in Higginsport, Brown county, Ohio, February 12, 1858, a son of Joseph and Martha (Goetz) Rice, natives of Baden, Germany. The father, on coming to the United States, located in Brown county, Ohio, where he remained until his death, which occurred in September, 1876. He was by trade a professional cook and baker, which calling he followed during the greater part of his life. Ten children were born to Joseph

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and Martha Rice, only five of whom reached the age of maturity. The mother found a home with her daughter in Higginsport after the death of the father of the family, who had been a man of honest life and industrious habits. In religion they were Catholics, and in politics he was a republican.

Joseph H. Rice was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, and early in life was taught the principles of economy, which he has applied in his later life, and has grown to be one of the most respected and esteemed business men of this locality. He received some educational advantages, and at the age of twenty-one enlisted in the regular army, entering company I, Seventeenth infantry, for a period of five years, and was sent out to the plains to do garrison duty. After his discharge, he farmed for one year, and then removed to Higginsport, where he engaged in the dry goods and grocery trade, which business he continued until January 4, 1892, when he closed out and moved to Yorktown and opened up his business here. At his present location Mr. Rice has a very nice store, well stocked with salable merchandise, including dry goods, groceries, gentlemen's and ladies' furnishing goods. He was married at Muncie, in this county, June 24, 1882, to Miss Linnie E. Williamson, born in Yorktown, March 25, 1861, daughter of William and Martha (Dragoo) Williamson, of Brown county, Ohio. Two bright boys have been born of this mar- riage, Edgar and Eugene. They are of the spiritualistic faith, and politically, Mr. Rice is a democrat.

0 R. DAVID M. SHIVELY, a success- ful physician of Yorktown, son of Michael and Keziah (Laboyteaux) Shively, was born on the 25th day of September, 1840, in Henry county, Ind. His

father was a native of Kentucky, and his mother of Ohio, in Hamilton county of which state they were married in the year 1830. In 1831 Michael and Keziah Shively removed to New Castle, Ind., where they resided until Mrs. Shively's death, which occurred November 12, 1860. Mr. Shively, in 1885, removed to Wells county, Ind., where he is now living a life of retirement. He has been a very successful man, and bore his full share in developing the county of Henry, which, upon the time of his arrival, over sixty years ago, was in a very primitive state. He walked from Hamilton county, Ohio, to Indianapolis for the purpose of entering his land, and his accumulation of property, in after years, was entirely the result of his own efforts. In an early day he achieved considerable note as a hunter, and it is stated, upon good authority, that he shot the only bear ever killed in Henry county. In early life he worked at the wheelwright trade, but after coming to Indiana devoted his entire at- tention to the pursuit of agriculture. He has always been a democrat in his political affilia- tions, and religiously subscribes to the creed of Universalism. Of the ten children born to Michael and Keziah Shively, five are living at this time, namely: Catherine, wife of Frank Roof; Peter, David M., Naomi and Mary Ann, wife of William May.

David M. Shively was reared to agriculural pursuits, and his early educational advan- tages were limited to the common schools, which he attended only during the winter sea- son. He made up for the early deficiency in his early education by attending the schools of New Castle for the greater part of five years, and while pursuing his studies, formed a de- termination of entering the medical profession. He began the study of the same under the instruction of Dr. Ray, of New Castle, in whose office he remained for one year, at the end of which time, owing to circumstances

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MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

over which he had no control, was compelled to discontinue his reading and engage in other pursuits. Naturally skillful, he turned his at- tention to blacksmithing, and for nearly three years worked at that trade in Blountsville, in Henry county, pursuing his professional read- ing in the mean time. Subsequently, he established a shop of his own, which he oper- ated for eight months and then went to New Castle and accepted a position with Michael Swigert, a well known mechanic of that place, with whom he worked for a limited period. His next move was to Middletown, where he effected a copartnership in the blacksmith business with Jacob A. Good, which continued for three years, when he disposed of his inter- est and removed to Mechanicsburg, where he followed the trade for two months, locating at the end of that time in Middletown. Later, he moved to the town of Epworth, Iowa, where he carried on his trade for a short time, and then, returning to Indiana, became a member of the firm of Shively & Fisher, at New Castle, where he remained for two years. During all the time that he worked at his trade, he never, for a moment, abandoned the idea of entering the medical profession, but continued his study of the same as circum- stances would admit. After disposing of his mechanical business at New Castle, he entered the Physio-Medical institute, at Cincinnati. in which he took a full course and then located, in 1874, at Yorktown, where he began the active practice of his profession, and, after a short residence here, moved to Carthage, Rush county, where he resided for a limited period, and then returned to Yorktown, where his skill as a physician has been attested by a large and lucrative practice in Mount Pleasant and ad- joining townships of Delaware and Madison counties.

Dr. Shively was married in Middletown, Henry county, January 10, 1864, to Jennie,

daughter of Joseph and Effie (McCune) Moore. Mrs. Shively was born in Pennsylvania and has borne her husband the following children: Minnie, deceased; Augustus, a student of the Medical college of Indiana; Bernie, deceased, and Emma, deceased. Dr. Shively began his practice under circumstances not at all au- spicious, and met with much opposition on the part of certain ill disposed persons who used all their influence for the purpose of embarrassing him. By attending strictly to his business, however, and devoting all his energies to his profession, he succeeded in overcoming the many obstacles by which his way was beset, and his practice is now large and lucrative, and he occupies a prominent place among his professional brethren in Dela- ware county. A democrat in politics, he has never sought official position; and, a firm be- liever in the truths of the Bible, belongs to the Universalist church.

R OBERT M. SNODGRASS is one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Mount Pleasant township, and is descended from Kentucky ancestry, in which state his parents, Samuel and Mary (Polly) Snodgrass, were born, the father on the 4th of October, 1802, and the mother on May 9th of the same year. Samuel Snodgrass left his native state in 1816, accompanying his parents to Preble county, Ohio, where he re- mained until 1835, at which date he removed to Indiana, Kosciusko county, which was his home for a short time, returning thence to Ohio, and settling in Darke county. After a residence there of a few years, he returned to Indiana, and from 1837 to 1843, resided in the county of Randolph. In the year 1847, he be- came a resident of Delaware county, locating near the present farm of Robert M. Snodgrass,

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where he purchased ninety-one acres of land, upon which he resided until his death, Septem- ber 25, 1879. Samuel Snodgrass was a man of excellent parts, a most highly esteemed citizen, and for many years an able minister of the Christian church. He was a farmer by occupation, and during a long and useful life did much, in a quiet way, for the moral and spiritual advancement of his fellow man. His wife, a most consistent christian lady, also a member of the said church, departed this life the 23d day of May, 1880.

Robert M. Snodgrass was born August 28, 1838, in Randolph county, Ind., was reared to agricultural pursuits, and remained under the parental roof until attaining his majority, hav- fng in the meantime received a fair English education in the common schools. By dili- gent application to his studies he was enabled, at the early age of nineteen, to engage in teaching, which profession he followed suc- cessfully for a period of nine or ten years. In 1862, when the war cloud spread its dark folds over the country, he responded to the call of volunteers, and enlisted August 13, of that year, in company D, Eighty-fourth Indi- ana infantry, for the three years' service or during the war. He remained with his com- mand until honorably discharged, April 24, 1865, and during his period of service partici- pated in a number of battles, including Chick- amauga and Kenesaw Mountain, where he was wounded, and was with Sherman in his celebrated march from Atlanta to the sea. From the effects of disability incurred while in the service, he is now remembered by his country with a pension amounting to $6 per month. At the close of the war Mr. Snod- grass returned home and engaged in farming, purchasing his present place in Mount Pleasant in 1867. For a limited period he was engaged in the mercantile business in the town of Bethel, this county, but since taking charge of

his farm, has given his entire attention to ag- ricultural pursuits, in which his success has been most encouraging, owning at this time a finely cultivated farm and a beautiful and commodious brick residence-one of the best appointed farm dwellings of the township. Having been very fortunate in all his transac- tions, Mr. Snodgrass is now able to live a life of retirement, and knows how to enjoy that quietude which only one, who has successfully battled with the world for so many years, can fully appreciate. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and for four years served the county in the responsible po- sition of county commissioner. Mr. Snod- grass was married September 24th, 1861, to Miss Malinda Isley, daughter of David and Isabella Isley, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Indiana, and of German origin. Mrs. Snodgrass died March 20, 1870, the mother of the following children: Mary I., deceased; Thursy Ann; Robert E., deceased; Orphia and Minnie M., deceased. On the 9th day of April, 1874, Mr. Snodgrass was again married, choosing for his wife Mary E. Jetmore, daughter of Jacob and Martha (Branson) Jet- more, to which union the following children have been born: Emma M., deceased; Marion M., Vena Pearl, Ina Florence, and Eda Ethel. The parents of Mrs. Snodgrass were born July 7, 1833, and May 22, 1833, respectively. Jacob Jetmore was a farmer and stock dealer, a member of the Baptist church, and died in the year 1875; Mrs. Jetmore died in 1870.

IMOTHY C. STEWART, one of the popular farmers of Mount Pleasant township, is a native of Delaware county, Ind., and dates his birth from the 18th day of January, 1830. His parents were Timothy and Catherine (Criswell) Stew-

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art, the former born in Kentucky August 15, 1793, and the latter October 19, 1799. Tim- othy Stewart, Sr., was a pioneer of Delaware county, moving to the same as early as 1827, and for some years thereafter was engaged in making pumps for the settlers, which trade he followed, at different places, for a number of years. Previously to locating in Delaware county he had lived four or five years in the county of Tippecanoe, and in 1837 he engaged in farming in Delaware, which he followed the remainder of his days, departing this life December 23, 1866. His wife followed him to the grave August 27, 1877. Mr. Stewart was a man prominent in local affairs, an earnest supporter of the democratic party, and for several years had been a consistent mem- ber of the church of the Christian Connection, to which denomination his wife also belonged.

Timothy C. Stewart assisted his father on the farm during the years of his minority, and at the age of twenty-one, began life for him- self as a tiller of the soil, farming in Tippeca- noe county, Ind., for a share of the proceeds until his twenty-sixth year. At that time, thinking that the west afforded better advan- tages than Indiana, he went to Gentry county, Mo., and bought land and farmed for three years, and then to Colorado, where, for three years, he was engaged in mining, which, not proving remunerative, he abandoned, and went to Illinois, locating in Champaign county, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres, upon which he resided for a period of three or four years. Disposing of his interest in the latter state, Mr. Stewart returned to Delaware county, Ind., and purchased eighty-two acres of land in Mount Pleasant township. which he subsequently sold, and invested the proceeds in a 180 acre tract, also in Mount Pleasant. He afterward exchanged this land for 160 acres, which he still owns, and has also purchased twenty-five acres additional, where he now

resides, his land being well improved and un- der a successful state of cultivation. Mr. Stew- art is one of the progressive farmers of Dela- ware county, and takes front rank among the representative citizens of the township in which he resides. He is a pleasant and affable gen- tleman, well informed on the current events of the day, and is highly respected by all with whom he has business or other relations. In 1868 Mr. Stewart was united in marriage with Miss Malinda Jones, daughter of Henry and Nancy Jones. The father of Mrs. Stewart was born in Virginia and came to Delaware county as early as 1827, and was one of the pioneer school teachers for a number of years. He be- came a successful farmer and was a prominent man of Mount Pleasant township. Mrs. Stew- art was born in Delaware county, February 5, 1841, and is the mother of the following chil- dren: Lewis R., Lettie, Dora Augusta, Pres- ton DeSoto, Marcus Clinton, Emma Pearl, George Harvey, Lenora and Walter Scott, the last three deceased.

J ESSE SWIFT, of Mount Pleasant town- ship, has for many years been identified with the agricultural interests of Dela- ware county, and is regarded as one of her most respected and reliable citizens. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, March 25, 1816, a son of John and Louisa Swift, who were natives of the state of Delaware. They moved to Butler county, Ohio, and located upon a farm, where they continued to reside for forty-five years, and then removed to Franklin county, in the same state, which was their home for a short time before coming to this township, where they lived until their respective deaths occurred. Mr. Swift was born in 1792, and died in 1872, and Mrs. Swift was born in 1793, and also lived to a good old

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age, departing this life at the advanced age of eighty years. At one time Mr Swift had ac- cumulated considerable wealth, but he was the victim of misplaced confidence, and lost it all, at the time of his demise owning very little of this world's goods. Through all of his troubles he was a good man, and both he and wife were among the valued members of the Methodist church. He was an ardent democrat, and voted with that party from principle. The remains of this excellent old couple repose in the Hawk cemetery.

Jesse Swift, now one of the prominent men of Mount Pleasant township, started out for himself at the age of twenty-one, with but a very limited supply of this world's goods. He had a brave heart and strong hands and soon engaged in work of various kinds, chop- ping and making rails, and, in fact, doing any- thing honorable that came to his attention. When he was thirty years of age he married Miss Martha Gray, a most excellent lady, who departed this life June 5, 1890. Her remains lie in the cemetery at Hawk, beneath a beau- tiful and costly monument which her sorrow- ing husband erected to her memory. Her father was a native of Ireland and her mother a Kentuckian. Mr. Swift now owns 117 acres of fine land in Mount Pleasant township, all of which is well improved. He is a republi- can in his political belief, and both himself and wife were members of the New Light church, in which they had long been esteemed.

RS. ETHALINDA TUTTLE, a well known and highly respected lady, was born in Delaware county, Ind., March 27, 1831. Her parents, William and Tamer (Thornburg) Daugherty, were both natives of Clinton county, Ohio, but came to Indiana at an early day, locating in Delaware county, where Mr. Daugherty

entered 160 acres of government land, from which he developed a home, and upon which he resided until his death at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, having been born in 1783. Both himself and wife were members of the Christian church, and were among the well known pioneers of this county. The marriage of Ethalinda Daugherty with Daniel Tuttle was solemnized June 24, 1851, from which date until the present she has been a resident of Mount Pleasant township. Daniel Tuttle was born in Butler county, Ohio, but came to Delaware county in early manhood, where for a number of years he was alternately engaged in farming and working at his trade of carpentering. Late in life he abandoned agricultural pursuits, and purchased a number of lots in the village of Reed Station, to which place he removed and in which the residue of his years were passed. Mr. Tuttle's birth oc- curred December 14, 1831, and he was called away by death October 13, 1892, his remains being laid to rest in what is known as the Hawk cemetery. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Protestant church, with which he had been identified for a number of years, and was not only a christian in name, but his daily walk was a practical exemplifica- tion of the genuineness of his religious profes- sion. He earned the reputation of a devoted husband and kind father, and those who knew him best bear testimony to his true worth as a citizen and neighbor. The following are the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle: Re- becca, wife of A. Hayden; Mary E., deceased; Thomas, married Clara Conard; Lydia C., deceased; Marion, deceased; Silas Franklin; Monroe (deceased); Viola Florence, wife of Charles Mahoney; John William; and Sarah, wife of C. Ensley. Mrs. Tuttle, like her husband, is a member of the Protestant Metho- dist church, in which she is highly respected for her christian character.

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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 72

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