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 73

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 73
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 73

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).

677

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

J OHN WALKER .- Prominent among the agriculturists of Mount Pleasant township is John Walker, a native of Delaware county, Ind., where his birth occurred on the 23d of November, 1848, son of Hugh and Mary Walker. He lived with his parents until attaining his majority, at which time he began life for himself as a farmer, renting part of the home place, which he tilled very successfully for some years. He inherited sixty acres in 1878; later, in partnership with his brother, bought 120 acres additional. He then exchanged his interest in the former tract with his brother for sixty acres adjoining the ·first purchase, thus giving him 120 acres in a body, upon which he has made many valuable improvements, and which is considered one of the most fertile and productive farms in the township of Mount Pleasant. Mr. Walker is an intelligent and energetic farmer, fully abreast with the times, and is classed among the representative citizens of the township of which he has for so many years been a promi- nent resident. On the 10th of February, 1881, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Huldah Fosnaught, daughter of Peter and Emily Fos- naught, both parents natives of this country but of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the parents of three . children, namely: Marshall, deceased; Mary E. and Bessie. They are active members of the Christian church, and highly respected by all who know them.

Hugh Walker, father of John Walker, was the son of an Irish immigrant who came from the old country many years ago and settled in Ohio. Hugh Walker was married March 28, 1838, to Mary Richards, and afterward lived for a short time at Clinton, Ohio, moving thence to Indiana and locating in Mount Pleasant township, Delaware county, where he purchased eighty acres of land from the government at $1.30 an acre. The county

was at that time an almost unbroken wilder- ness, and Mr. Walker at once went to work clearing and improving his land, and within a reasonable period had a goodly number of acres under cultivation. He afterward pur- chased an adjoining eighty acre tract, and being a man of great industry and determina- tion, worked diligently until he had made a number of substantial improvements. On locating in the wilderness the family encoun- tered many hardships difficult to surmount, and for the first few years were forced to rely largely upon wild game for their principal food supply, while their nearest neighbors, except the red men, lived a number of miles distant. Mr. Walker paid for his first land with money earned by working by the day for Judge Kil- gore, and on going home at night would fre- quently toil in his own clearing until within a few hours of morning. He lived to see the greater part of his farm brought under a high state of cultivation, and witnessed the devel- opment of Mount Pleasant township from a wilderness condition to its present state of civilization. Hugh and Mary Walker were the parents of ten children, four of whom reached their majority and are still living, as follows: Matthew S., married Mary Pittser; Eliza, wife of Levi Watson; John R., whose name introduces this sketch, and Nancy, wife of John Burk, all of whom reside in Delaware county. Mr. Walker, Sr., was a man of good mind, excellent judgment, and at one time held the office of trustee of Mount Pleasant township. Politically, he acted with the dem- ocratic party until after the election of Buchanan to the presidency, after which he identified himself with the republican party and so remained until his death. He was a Presbyterian in his religious belief, and in all the relations of life earned the reputation of an honest and law abiding citizen.

Mrs. Walker, who is still living with her

678

DELAWARE COUNTY :

son Matthew, was born August 13, 1812, in county Antrim, Ireland, of which county her parents were also natives and in which they lived and died. She came to the United States in 1834 in company with her brother, and landed at Philadelphia after a long and tiresome ocean voyage of six weeks' duration. She has been a faithful mother, and has the satisfaction in her old age of seeing her chil- dren grown up to be honorable men and women.

ATTHEW WALKER .- Prominent among the representative farmers of Mount Pleasant township is Mat- thew Walker, who was born on the 10th day of November, 1844, in Delaware county, Ind. His parents, Hugh and Mary (Richards) Walker, are appropriately mention- ed in connection with the biographical sketch of John Walker, which appears above. Like the majority of men reared on the farm, the life of Matthew Walker has been uneventful, he having grown up amid quiet rural scenes, and having early become acquainted with the rugged duties of country life. He was reared on the farm which he now owns, attended the country schools at intervals until his majority, and then began farming upon his own respon- sibility, which he has since successfully con- tinued. His farm consists of 120 acres of finely improved land, which his father pur- chased from the government, and in addition to tilling the soil, he pays considerable atten- tion to the raising of stock, in which he has also met with most gratifying encouragement. Mr. Walker is one of the substantial citizens of Mount Pleasant township, is highly respect- ed in the community where he resides, and has always manifested an active interest in the growth and material prosperity of the town- ship. He is married and has a family of three

interesting children, whose names are as fol- lows: Mary, Chester and Ward. The maiden name of Mrs. Walker was Maggie Pittser, daughter of a well known citizen of Delaware county.

3 ONAS WARFEL was born in Lancas- ter county, Pa., June 19, 1819, and is a son of Daniel and Fannie (Warfel) Warfel, both parents natives of the same state. Daniel and Fanny Warfel left Pennsylvania in 1840, emigrated to Indiana, and, settling in Delaware county, in Centre township, Mr. Warfel purchased a large tract of land and engaged in farming. These parents both resided in the county of their adoption until their respective deaths, which occurred in the years 1860 and 1870. Mr. Warfel was a master mechanic in iron work- ing, which he followed in his native state a number of years, and both he and wife were members of the religious order of Menonites. They reared a family of nine children, namely: Amelia, Jonas, Emanuel (deceased), Tobias (deceased), Adam (deceased), Andrew, Daniel (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased) and Jacob Jonas Warfel was reared to agricultural pur- suits, received a limited education in such schools as the country afforded, and at the age of twenty-one began teaching, having in the meantime succeeded, by diligent applica- tion to his studies, in acquiring a fair knowl- edge of the various branches of learning. He was engaged in teaching for several years, principally during the winter seasons, and taught, in all, about eleven terms. Mr. War- fel has been a farmer all his life, in which use- ful calling he has been very successful, owning at different times valuable lands in Delaware county, beside good town property, all of which represented his own unaided labors and skillful financiering. He is, at this time, the

679

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

possessor of a good home in Mount Pleasant township, and though practically retired from active life, still pays considerable attention to business affairs as well as to current events. He is essentially a self-made man, and from a very unfavorable beginning has made his way, in spite of the many obstacles by which his path was beset, and in his declining years is in the possession of a competency which places him beyond any fears so far as this world's goods are concerned.

Mr. Warfel was married in Delaware county, July 14, 1842, to Miss Samantha Baxla, a native of Greene county, Ohio, where her birth occurred April 28, 1822, the daughter of Julian and Catherine (Turner) Baxla. Julian Baxla was a native of Tennessee, and his wife, whom he married in Greene county, Ohio, was born in the city of Cincinnati. They reared the following family of children: Sa- mantha, Susanna, Mary, Elizabeth, Jane and Hiram. The family removed to Delaware county in 1840, where the parents died, the father on the 31st of May, 1862, and the mother October 21, 1887. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Warfel were born thirteen children, whose names are as follows: Alfred, a soldier of company E, Nineteenth Indiana regiment, now deceased; Catherine, wife of James A. Jester; Fannie, deceased; Isabella, wife of Perry M. Miller; David, deceased; Adam, Dottie, deceased; Jonas, Lizzie, de- ceased; William and Samantha, twins; Mark and Daniel. Mr. Warfel held the office of justice of the peace of his township for some time, and since 1837 has been a member of the Methodist church, in which he is now a class leader. He is interested in the York- town Corporate company, and in politics votes with the republican party.

The standing of Mr. Warfel and his family with the residents of Mount Pleasant town- ship is all that could be desired.

J AMES WATSON is a well known citizen of Mount Pleasant township, and a son of Strawder and Emeline (Driscoll) Watson, both parents natives of Indi- Strawder Watson is one of the most ana. successful farmers of Delaware county, and is, at this time, superintendent of the poor farm, in the management of which he displays great wisdom and forethought, and under his super- vision a number of very important reforms have been effected. He is in every respect a representative man of his class, stands high in the community where he resides, and but few people of the county are as widely and favora- bly known. Mrs. Watson, whom he married in 1857, is of Irish descent and a woman of most excellent judgment and intelligence.

James Watson has lived all of his life in Delaware county, Ind., where he was born on the 2d day of November, 1860. He was reared on the farm, received his educational training in the country schools, and on attaining his majority rented the home place, which he has since operated and where he resides at the present time. In many respects he is a model farmer, and in addition to the cultivation of the soil, gives considerable attention to stock rais- ing, making a specialty of fine hogs, in the raising of which he has achieved well merited success.

Mr. Watson was married on the 18th day of November, 1880, to Martha McGriff, daugh- ter of James and Delila McGriff, who moved in an early day from Ohio to Madison county, Ind. James McGriff is living at this time in the state of Minnesota, but his wife, the mother of Mrs. Watson, died when the latter was but six years of age. Mr. Watson, while an ear- nest supporter of the principles of the republi- can party, has never aspired to official honors. His live stock and his farm claim his chief and most serious attention, and the result is his present highly prosperous condition in life.

680

DELAWARE COUNTY :

EV. JOHN R. WELLINGTON, a farmer and stock raiser, was born in the state of Ohio, August 7, 1840, and is a son of William Wellington, a native of Pennsylvania. William Wellington moved to Ohio in an early day, and after a few years' residence in that state, immigrated to Indiana, settling in Grant county, in which, it is stated, he built the first frame house in Fairmount. He was, by occupation, a car- penter and followed that calling a few years after coming to Indiana, later engaging in the manufacture of lumber at the town of Summit- ville, where he operated a saw mill until the time of his death, which occurred in 1858, at the age of fifty-one. For some years he held the office of justice of the peace, took an active interest in public affairs as a republican, and in religion was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church. John R. Wellington was eighteen years old when his father died, after which event he resided with his mother for a period of two years, looking after her interests. He early selected carpentering as the occupa- tion to which he would devote his life, and has followed that useful calling for twenty- five years. He purchased his present farm in 1858, since which time he has had consider- able farming done.

Mr. Wellington was married, in the year 1859, to Miss Malinda Holt, of Rush county, Ind., daughter of Drury Holt, one of the pio- neers of that part of the state. Mr. Holt was a successful farmer, owning a large tract of land in the county of Rush, and for nearly half a century was an earnest minister of the gospel. He was born in the year 1807, and died on the 11th day of March, 1883. At the time of his marriage his sole earthly posses- sion was represented by a two year old colt, beside which his indebtedness amounted to over $40. With an energy which has since characterized the man, he at once went to

work, and, actuated by a determination to succeed, has overcome the many difficulties by which his early life was surrounded, and is now the possessor of a beautiful and well cul- tivated farm, consisting of 165 acres, the greater part of which is under an advanced state of cultivation. Mr. Wellington is a prominent member of the German Baptist church, of which he has been a faithful minister for over twenty years. His wife is also a member of the same denomination, and the family is one of the most highly respected in the township of Mount Pleasant. For years Mr. Wellington has been an earnest advocate of temperance reform, and, believing that the liquor traffic can be successfully suppressed only by law, votes with the prohibition party. The follow- ing are the names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wellington: Lewis, Calvin, Seigle, Leathy, Lucinda, wife of J. S. Aldridge; Drury, Ottoway and Edgar Wellington.

3 OHN WIGGERLY, one of the model farmers of Mount Pleasant township, and a gentleman of wide business and social standing, is a native of Indiana, born in Delaware county on the 27th day of September, 1848, son of David and Catherine (Knightenhelser) Wiggerly. As the names of the family indicate, Mr. Wiggerly's ancestors are of German descent, and his father came to Delaware county, in an early day, from the town of Connersville, where, for some years he worked at his trade, that of a baker. On moving to this county he engaged in the pur- suit of agriculture, in which vocation he was quite successful, having become the possessor of a farm of 120 acres of valuable land. He was born in the year 1813 and died in 1879. He and wife adhered to the religious faith of the Presbyterian church, and in politics he was a supporter of the democratic party.

681

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

John Wiggerly grew to manhood on a farm, early became accustomed to its rugged duties, and at the age of twenty-one began the life of an agriculturist, which he has since continued with success and financial profit. In partnership with his brother, he now owns the old homestead, one of the most beautiful and fertile farms in Mount Pleasant township, and since coming into his possession it has lost nothing by his careful and painstaking management. Mr. Wiggerly exercises good judgment in his chosen vocation, is an intelli- gent observer and keeps fully abreast of the times in all matters pertaining to agriculture, which he considers in the light of a science. Politically he wields an influence for the dem- ocratic party, and while not aspiring to official honor at the hands of his fellow citizens, has always taken an active interest in political affairs.

I SAAC WRIGHT is a large land owner and an honored ex-soldier of Mount Pleasant township, Delaware county, Ind. He was born in the state of In- diana, July 4, 1841, a son of Jesse and Eliza- beth (Wrightsman) Wright. The father was a native of Ohio, born March 6, 1816, and died February 16, 1890; and the mother, a native of Wayne county, Ind., was born in December, 1824. The boyhood of Jesse Wright was spent on the Ohio farm until he was eight years of age, when he accompanied his parents to Indiana and located in the north- west part of the state, where for a few years he worked at the carpenter's trade. He then came to Delaware county for a short time, going thence to Henry county, but in 1862 he removed to Dallas county, Iowa, where he lived until his death, and where his widow still makes her home.

Isaac Wright remained at home until the

age of seventeen years, and then engaged in teaching school for a time, but, August 22, 1862, entered the army, he enlisting in com- pany K, Eighty-fourth Indiana volunteer in- fantry, and marched off under his country's banners. He participated in the battle of Chickamagua, where he was wounded by a musket ball and was obliged to spend six weary months in the hospitals at New Albany and Louisville. He also was engaged in a number of sharp skirmishes, and was finally honorably discharged and receives a pension of $6 per month for his injuries.

Mr. Wright was married April 3, 1866, to Miss Charity Jones, a daughter of John D. and Laodicia Jones-he of Ohio and she of Tennessee; the father born May 16, 1809, and the mother October 27, 1807. Mr. and Mrs. Jones married in Clinton county, Ohio, and came to this state in 1833, locating in Mount Pleasant township, on a part of Isaac Wright's present farm. Here he became a very successful farmer, owning, at his decease, January 13, 1870, 400 acres of land, the most of which is improved. Mrs. Jones is still liv- ing, making her home, at this time, with the family of her son, Isaac.

After marriage Mr. Wright engaged in farming on rented land, for a period of four years, at the end of which period he bought a farm in Harrison township and engaged in farming and stock raising, which he has con- tinued very successfully ever since. He now owns .180 acres of land in Mount Pleasant and Harrison townships, and is considered one of the strong financial men of the county. In political affairs he takes a lively interest, and is a prominent member of the democratic party; in religion both he and his excellent wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They find time to take part in the furtherance of all good projects. Two children have blessed their marriage, John A., now

682

DELAWARE COUNTY :

married to Miss Ocie Kirkpatrick and living in Harrison township; and Mary A., the wife of Jonas Jester.

RS. REBECCA YINGLING (de- ceased), the estimable lady for whom this biographical notice is prepared, was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, January 25, 1820, the daughter of Hamilton and Catherine Harpers, both parents natives of the state of Maryland. Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Har- pers moved to Virginia, and after a few years' residence in that state emigrated to Ohio, where Mr. Harpers' death occurred, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-nine years. Hamilton Harpers was by occupation a farmer, in which useful calling he was very successful, and all who came in contact with him were ready to bear witness to his true worth as man and citizen.

The marriage of Rebecca Harpers and Will- iam Yingling was consummated in the year 1837, in Lawrence county, Ohio, where Mr. Yingling was born, October 23, 1811. For the fifteen years following their marriage, this couple remained in Ohio, Mr. Yingling being engaged in farming and the manufacture of charcoal. About 1852 Mr. and Mrs. Yingling moved to Indiana and purchased a tract of eighty acres of land in Mount Pleasant town- ship, Delaware county, which is still the home of the family, and upon which Mrs. Yingling resided until her death. On moving to this county, the greater part of the township of Mount Pleasant was a comparative wilderness, and the land upon which Mr. Yingling located was an unbroken forest, made doubly forbid- ding on account of its being nearly covered with water. To redeem this woodland and make of it a home was a task of no small mag- nitude, but Mr. Yingling, aided and encouraged

by the wise counsel of his excellent wife, la- bored diligently for a number of years and eventually saw his efforts crowned with suc- cess and a home prepared for his family.

Mr. Yingling was a most exemplary citi- zen, took an active interest in the public affairs of his time, and was an earnest believer in the christian religion, the precepts of which he exemplified in his daily walk and conversa- tion. During the last few years of his life he was a great sufferer, becoming almost a help- less invalid, during which time the manage- ment of the farm devolved altogether upon his faithful wife, who right nobly performed the task. Mr. Yingling died in 1889, deeply lamented by all who knew him. Mrs. Ying- ling still resided on the home farm which, under her management, was brought to a high state of cultivation, and she was considered one of the kind neighbors and excellent christ- ian women of the community in which she she lived. She was a devoted member of the Christian church, to which denomination her husband also belonged. Mr. and Mrs. Ying- ling had a large family, consisting of fourteen children, whose names are as follows: Ham- linton, who died in the army; Catherine, de- ceased; Elizabeth, deceased; John, married Sarah Preston, and is now a blacksmith; Na- thaniel, a farmer and carpenter, married Lu- cinda Wilber; Mary, wife of Nicholas Finegan; Margaret, deceased; Lewis, deceased; Rebecca, deceased; Elias, deceased; Matthias, married Malinda Pugh; Thomas, married Mary Ep- hart, and George, who married Rose Bonner. Mrs. Rebecca Yingling passed from earth, February 15, 1893, most deeply mourned, not only by her own large family, but by an ex- tensive circle of friends who appreciated her many good qualities, and who now sadly miss her venerable presence from their midst, and more especially will she be missed by the suf- fering poor, whom she was wont to succor.

NILES TOWNSHIP.

a HARLES W. ANDREW is a native of Niles township, and is a young man of more than average ability as a farmer. He has taken hold of things and is making money by strict attention to his business. He was born September 8, 1866, being the son of James and Nancy (Allen) Andrew, of Irish and English descent, respectively. They went to Greene county, Ohio, at an early day, and settled near Tre- bine station, where the father owned a large farm. The father remained with his parents until he grew up, married early in life, and started out for himself. After his marriage to Nancy Allen he removed to Delaware county and settled on a farm of fifty acres that now forms the home of his son, Charles W. Some years later he went into the grocery business in the village of Parker, but this life did not suit him and he traded for the farm he had parted with. Here he settled down contented, and lived a farmer until his death, May 4, 1881. His remains rest in the Bethel ceme- tery. By two marriages he became the fatner of ten children, seven by the first, namely: Martha A., wife of Calvin McCoy; William L., died soon after the war; Rankin, a grocer; Molly G., wife of James Jellison; Sally J., wife of Samuel Dill; Talitha and Nancy, deceased; by the second marriage he had three children, namely: Lillie F., Effie E., deceased; and Charles W., whose name opens this sketch. He was a farmer and an active worker in the republican party. He owned a good farm of fty-three acres, which is well improved.

Charles W. Andrew was married Decem- ber 31, 1888, to Barbara E., daughter of Lewis end Martha (Williams) Collins, natives of Ohio. Her parents settled in Perry town- ship, Delaware county, Ind., at an early day on a farm of 160 acres near New Burlington, where he spent many of his days. His wife is buried in the Burlington cemetery, and he lives in Albany. Lewis Collins had one brother, namely: William, and Mrs. Collins had four brothers, namely: Morrison, Samp- son and Laban, farmers; and Elias, a retired farmer. The mother of Mr. Andrew was a member of the Christian church.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew re- sulted in two children. namely: William L. and Nellie F. Mrs. Andrew has two sisters, Minnie F., the adopted daughter of a farmer named Lunn, living in Iowa, and Laura, de- ceased, buried in the Granville cemetery. The mother of Mrs. Andrew was buried in the same place. Charles W. Andrew received a start in life from his mother, who now makes her home with him. He and and his wife have a good common school education, and are very much esteemed by all their neigh- bors.

J OHN S. ANDREW .- One of the most industrious, energetic, and hard work- ing men of this farming community is James S. Andrew, whose comfortable and well appointed farm is located in Niles township, Delaware county, Ind. He was

684

DELAWARE COUNTY :

born in this township, November 24, 1853, son of James and Nancy (Law) Andrew, natives of England, who had settled in Greene county, Ohio, coming from thence to Delaware county in 1845. After living here some time they moved to Randolph county, to a small hamlet named Parker, where he engaged in the dry goods business, five years later removing to another farm located in Perry township, where he remained two years, and then bought back the first farm that he had settled on. He was a good man, and both he and wife were mem- bers of the United Presbyterian denomination. She died in 1860, and he May 4, 1881, both being laid away in Bethel cemetery, where a fine monument marks their last resting place. John S. Andrew was one of the following family of children: George F., a farmer; Will- iam, who died in the army; John S., Rankin H., a grocer; Carl W., a farmer; Martha, the wife of Calvin McCoy; Mary G., wife of James Jellison; Sarah S., wife of Samuel Dill; Eliza- beth, deceased; and Nancy.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 73

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