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 75

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 75
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 75

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).

YLON COLBY is a prosperous citi- zen of Niles township, and a native of New York, having been born Feb- ruary 18, 1824, near Buffalo. He is the son of Alvin and Sarah (Morton) Colby, of English and German descent. His parents came from New York to Illinois in 1834: lived there five years, and returned to their old home, where his father died March 21, 1841, the mother living until September 15, 1883.

After the death of his father, Hylon Colby and his mother kept the family together, he working at the carpenter trade, and his mother at the spinning wheel. Since his marriage, and the death of his mother, he has devoted his entire time to the farm. Alvin Colby had the following brothers and sisters: John, Arad, Jesse, farmers; Alvin, a carpenter; Asa, a turner, and Mary, wife of John Drake. Sarah Morton had two brothers and two sisters, namely: Hylon, a mason and farmer; Free- man, a farmer; Belinda, wife of Shadrach Har- ris, and Abigail, wife of John Bigford. Hylon Colby had two sisters, namely: Belinda, wife of Enos Hunt, and Ellinor, wife of Charles Gilger.

Hylon Colby was married November 16, 1849, to Amelia, daughter of Zachariah and Amelia (Chellis) Hunt, of German and Eng- lish descent. Her parents were born in New York, where they spent all their days in Erie county; her father dying in 1850 and her mother in 1848. By his marriage with Amelia Hunt, Hylon Colby is the father of four chil- dren, namely: Augustus, a teamster; Estella, wife of Hillus Irey; Lillian, wife of John Price; and Emma, deceased. Mr. Colby and his wife were first settled in New York, lived there one year, moved to Illinois, and then to Lake county, Ind. Here they lived for six years on a farm of eighty acres. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Colby's father were: James, a farmer; Daniel, deceased; Hugh

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and Thomas, merchants; Margaret, wife of Jerry Woods; Ellen, wife of John Wethering- ton; Jennie, wife of Peter Newlon; Elizabeth, wife of C. R. Bell. Her mother had one brother, John, a farmer, and a sister, Sarah, wife of Elijah Corban.

After separation he was married to Mrs. Sarah Bundrant, his present wife. She has been a resident of Indiana for seventy-four years. When her husband, Mr. Bundrant, first came here in 1840, he entered eighty acres and bought forty more. It was then a wilder- ness, and located one-half mile east of Mill Grove. Here he lived for three years, and then moved to Fayette county and lived four years, then returned to the Mill Grove farm, where he lived six years, then to the present farm, where Mrs. Colby now lives. This was in 1854, and he died November 6, 1864, and was buried in the Bethel cemetery. .

The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Colby are: John, aged seventy-five, a farmer; Robert, aged seventy-eight, a farmer; Amos, aged eighty-one, a farmer; Thomas, aged sixty-five, a farmer; Hannah, wife of William Evans, aged eighty-six; Mary, wife of Richard Nuz- man, aged eighty-four; Lucinda, wife of Orville McIlwain, aged seventy; Sarah, wife of Mr. Colby, aged seventy-three; Lizzie, wife of William Vanmeter, aged fifty-three. Her grandfather, Woster, was 102 years old when he died. Her grandfather Miliner was ninety-four, her father was sixty-six and her mother eighty- seven when they died. Mr. Colby has lived with his present wife for eighteen years, and by hard labor they have succeeded in making a fine home, with the well improved farm of eighty acres. They are very much respected by all who know them.

Mr. and Mrs. Colby hold their lives in peace and are now enjoying in comfort the fruits of their early industry, surrounded with every convenience that makes life enjoyable.

a ALVIN CROOKS is a worthy and honest citizen of Niles township, who was born in Delaware county, Ohio, August 17, 1829. He is the son of George and Susanna (Cowles) Crooks; the father being a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of Connecticut. They lived and died near Ashley, Ohio, the father passing away in 1835, and the mother in 1875, and they are buried in the cemetery near that place.

Calvin Crooks was married January 14, 1855, to Harriet, daughter of Peter and Eliza- beth Becker; her people being natives of New York, who settled in Huntington county, Ind., where the father bought 320 acres of land, and here spent the remainder of his days; passing away in September, 1853. When Calvin came to Indiana he settled first at Warren- town, Huntington county, and lived there four years; then came to Granville, Delaware county, and went into the general merchan- dise business, which he followed twenty-six years. Since that time he has lived a retired life, caring for his property interests. He owns a farm of 160 acres, and a half interest in ninety-six acres of well improved land. Calvin Crooks and his wife are members, he of the Missionary Baptist, and she of the Christian church. Mr. Crooks is a member of the Masonic order, and is much interested in that body.

Mr. Crooks has had born to him six chil- dren, namely: George, living in Muncie; Harriet, wife of George Sheller; Clara, wife of Carl Blakely; Orland, a butcher; Bessie and Walter. The mother of the two eldest chil- dren died January 16, 1863, and was buried in the Granville cemetery. Mr. Crooks re- mained single one year, and then married Priscilla Batreall, but she was privileged to life but a short time, and she passed away March 15, 1878, and was buried in Granville cemetery. He was next married December 14, 1881, to Priscilla, daughter of Vincent

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and Elizabeth (Yates) Martin. Her parents were born and reared in Ohio, and came to Indiana, Delaware township, this county, in 1833; lived there some time, and then moved to Union township, where they died-the father February 14, 1880, and the mother December 24, 1880, and were buried in Dunk- ard cemetery.

The brothers and sisters of the present Mrs. Crooks were: Jonathan, a teacher; Mary, wife of J. W. Lewis; Isaac, deceased, and Phebe, wife of Isaac Flynn. Vincent Martin had the following brothers and sisters: Susan, wife of John Lewis; Jirard, a farmer; William, a carpenter, Catherine, wife of James Black; Martha, wife of Liberty Ginn; Mary, wife of William Custer; Lydia, deceased, and Eliza- beth, wife of Sampson Williams. The broth- ers and sisters of Elizabeth (Yates) Martin were: Thomas, a farmer; Susanna, wife of Carmine Carvault; Elizabeth; Phebe, wife of Joshua Lockworth; Priscilla, wife of Shubal Starbrook; Rebecca, wife of John Bowen; Saphron, wife of Alfred Miller, and Mary, de- ceased. The people of the present Mrs. Crooks are all members of the Baptist church, and are very worthy and good people. Mr. Crook's first wife had one brother and three sisters. namely: James, who died in the army during the war; Helen, wife of J. Boyd; Almira, wife of Posy Martin, and Lavina, wife of John Pribble.

EWIS W. DAVIS is a leading farmer and stock raiser of Niles township, and one of the representative citizens of the county of Delaware. His family history is an interesting one and he traces his ancestry back through several gen- erations to Wales, from which country one Charles Davis, the progenitor of the American branch of the family, emigrated to America as early as the year 1724. Charles Davis mar-

ried a Miss Metcalf and reared sons and daughters, among whom was John, who mar- ried Molly Chamness. William Davis, son of John, married Anna Marshall and became the father of Joseph, who, by his marriage with Catherine Farmer, had several children, one of whom, Nathan, was the father of the imme- diate subject of this mention. From the most reliable information obtainable, the family ap- pears to have settled, originally, in North Carolina, from Surry county, of which state, Joseph and Catherine Davis emigrated, in the year 1808, to Ohio, settling in Montgomery county, thence, about 1823, moving to Wayne county, Ind. Joseph Davis purchased a farm of 160 acres in the county of Wayne, upon which the remaining years of his life were passed. He reared the following children: Nathan, father of the subject of this mention; Mary, wife of David Baldwin; William: Annie, wife of Newton Baldwin; Hannah, wife of Dan Thornburg; John and Edom.

In Wayne county Nathan grew to man- hood, and then married Hannah Moore. The brothers and sisters of the latter were: Ander- son, Marshall, William, Zimri, Mrs. Rhoda Pickering, Mrs. Charity Marshall, Dempsey and Rufus Moore. The Moores were moral and religious people, having been reared in the pure, simple doctrines of the Quaker faith. At that time it was the custom to serve out whisky upon nearly every occasion, and the subject's grandfather was the first man in his section of the county who had the moral courage to break away from the time honored custom and refuse absolutely to have anything to do with any kind of intoxicants.

Lewis W. Davis was born May 22, 1841, being one of a family of seven children, whose names are as follows: Newton B., Martha A., wife of Jesse Reed; Rufus H., Mary E., de- ceased; Catharine, deceased, and Sarah A., wife of Eli W. Frazer.

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Mr. Davis grew to manhood on a farm, and began the pursuit of agriculture on his own responsibility in Henry county, where he lived two years, moving thence to the county of Randolph. In the latter, he was united in marriage, on the 10th day of August, 1867, to Miss Lucinda Jones, daughter of Jacob and Matilda (Chappell) Jones, natives of Surry county, N. C. For ten years after marriage Mr. Davis resided in Randolph county, dividing his time between farming and school teaching, in both of which his success was most encouraging. Later he returned to Henry county, where he lived for a period of two years, at the end of which time he became a resident of the county of Delaware, locating upon the present beautiful place of Niles township, where he has since resided. At this time Mr. Davis owns a fine farm of 170 acres, the greater part well im- proved. In addition to general farming, he gives considerable attention to stock raising, being considered one of the leading men in this line of business in Niles. Politically, Mr. Davis is a stanch supporter of the republican party, and as such takes an active interest in all the leading public questions of the day. He served four months in the late war as member of company B, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth regiment, Indiana volunteer in- fantry, but did not participate in any battle. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic,

Odd Fellows, Red Men and Grange orders, and in religion belongs to the Christian church, of which the different members of his family are also communicants. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of five children, namely: Elmer J., a well known teacher of Delaware county; Lenora, wife of Samuel Wilson: Orpha M., wife of Aaron C. Wilson; Charley N., and Bertha A.

Following is a brief record of the family of Mrs. Davis. As already stated, Mrs. Lucinda

Davis is the daughter of Jacob and Matilda (Chappell) Jones. The parents of Jacob were James and Lydia (Bramblet) Jones, and their other children were Lemuel, Solomon, Jesse, Ambrose, Jonathan, James, Free, Mary, Jane and Lydia. Mrs. Matilda (Chappell) Jones was the daughter of Amos and Mary (Johnson) Chappell. The following are the names of her brothers and sisters: David, Joshua, Reuben, Cynthia, Elizabeth and Malinda Chappell. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Lucinda Da- vis are as follows: James E., married Clara Atkins; Joshua C., married Mary Ann Collins- worth; Jonathan P., married Susan Covalt; Lydia, wife of James P. Dykes; Sarah Jane, wife of David N. Kimball; Nancy, wife of Lewis W. Main.

Jacob Jones and wife moved from their North Carolina home to Ohio many years ago, and from the latter state to Henry county, Ind., where he purchased land and resided un- til reaching the advanced age of eighty-nine years. He died January 18, 1889, and was laid to rest in Hillsborough cemetery beside his wife, whose death occurred on the 24th of June, 1824. He served in the war of 1812, and was a member of the Protestant Methodist church for many years. Mrs. Jones belonged to the Christian church, of which she was a very valuable member.

a HARLES DUDELSTON (deceased) was a highly respected citizen of Niles township, Delaware county, Ind., was born in Ohio, March 9, 1836, being the son of Ralph and Nancy Dudelston. He came to this county with his parents when nine years old and settled with them in Ham- ilton township, on a farm, where he grew up to manhood. Charles Dudelston was married March 6, 1858, to Susanna, daughter of Abra-

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ham Gray, and the newly married pair settled upon a farm just across the road from the land upon which his widow, Mary A., now lives. Susanna Dudelston died March 23, 1877, and was buried in the Granville ceme- tery, after having borne her husband five chil- dren, namely: Amanda, wife of Hamilton Bell; Savannah, wife of William Addington; George, a farmer; Anna, wife of Albert Needle, and Dorcas, deceased. Mr. Dudelston re- mained single for about six months, and then was married to Mary A., daughter of James and Sarah (Taylor) Goodrick, her parents being of German and English descent, res- pectively. They came from Ohio to Dela- ware county, Ind., in 1850, and settled on a farm, in Harrison township, consisting of forty acres, where they yet live. The brothers and sisters of Charles Dudelston were: Belle, de- ceased; Frances, wife of Frank Lee; Lucinda, wife of William Stanley; Florence, wife of Charles Winnop; Alice, wife of John George; Harriet, wife of Samuel Rogers; George, Alonzo and Goldston, deceased.

Charles Dudelston was married to his pres- ent wife September 1, 1877, and they moved to the present farm of 100 acres; here he died November 3, 1889, and was buried in the Granville cemetery. The children of this union are: Ralph, Josephine, Ella, Mary and Charles Dudelston. Since his death the worthy wife has kept the little flock together by man- aging the little farm, and has done it very well, indeed. He left her the little home of fifty-two acres, well improved, and she has kept it up in excellent shape. The deceased was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a kind father, a devoted husband, and a good neighbor, respected by all who knew him.

The deceased went out in the one hundred days' service during the war, and remained out six months; the widow receives a pension of

$54 per quarter, and this, with what she gets from the farm, enables her to keep the wolf away from her door. She is a brave and good woman, who bears her burden cheerfully as she may, and is greatly respected by her neigh- bors, who admire her for her courage in taking upon herself the grave duties of mother and farmer, and discharging them with such good, practical sense.

0 H. DEVOE, deceased, was one of the most worthy and enterprising farmers of Niles township, Delaware county, Ind., of which he was a na- tive, and was born February 7, 1867, son of Asa and Mary (Smith) Devoe, both being na- tives of England. The father came from Greene county, Ohio, in 1862, and settled on Green Street, Niles township, on a farm con- sisting of eighty acres. After living here for five years he sold out, and purchased 160 acres of well improved land, on which his son, O. H., lived, having had eighty acres in his own right. O. H. Devoe remained at his comfortable and parental home until November 19, 1891, when he was married to Miss Malissa, daugh- ter of L. B. and Margaret (Leaird) Wilson, natives of Indiana. Mr, Wilson followed the occupation of a farmer, and, with his wife, settled, in 1850, on a farm consisting of 120 acres, which was near Granville. In this pleasant location he lived until November 15, 1878, when he was called to the other world, and was laid to rest in the Bethel cemetery. After her husband's death, Mrs. Wilson moved to Dunkirk, where she now resides.

O. H. Devoe was socially a member of the I. O. O. F., being in the encampment. His wife is a Rebecca in the I. O. O. F., of which she is secretary. She was highly educated and taught two terms in a public school. Mrs.

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Devoe also possesses a fine talent for music, and displays her accomplishment for the enter- tainment of her friends. Mr. Devoe and his wife were blessed with one child, who is now deceased, having left the beautiful home of its parents for a more beautiful one above. Mr. Devoe was politically a republican, and took great interest in the helping along of his party. He was well known and highly respected throughout all of the country, and his death, which occurred in the spring of 1893, was not only mourned by the surrounding members of his immediate family, but deplored by his many friends, who felt that in him the county had lost one of its most useful citizens.

J AMES FLANNERY is a well known and popular citizen of Niles township, where he has lived and prospered for many years. He was born in Mont- gomery county, Ohio, at Dayton, December 26, 1850; being a son of John and Mary (O'Brien) Flannery, natives of Ireland. His parents went to Ohio at an early day, and settled in Dayton. where the father worked as a laborer some years, and then became a farm- er. The parents were members of the Catho- lic church.

James Flannery was thrown upon the tender mercies of the world at the early age of twelve, when he went to Darke county, Ohio, and worked for several years on a farm. Then he got a position on the Panhandle rail- road, becoming presently a section hand; then went with the fencing gang; then was on the road, and finally became a brakeman on a local freight. He then went to Union City, Randolph county, and staid there some time, working on a farm. From this place he went to Dunkirk, Jay county, Ind., and was a ditcher for four years. At this time he mar- ried Rosetta Vincent, daughter of William

H. and Cynthia (Hole) Vincent; her father being a native of Ohio, and her mother of Maryland. Her grandparents came to Dela- ware county, Ind., and settled on the farm where Mr. Flannery now resides; her grand- father having entered the land, eighty acres, which he cleared and improved. This worthy man lived to be eighty-three years old, and was buried in Bethel cemetery, where his wife also lies, she dying when seventy-three years old. Upon the death of her grandfather her father came into possession of the property, where he reared his family, and then died January 6, 1878, her mother living until April 30, 1890. Her parents are buried in the same cemetery as her grandparents, a fine monument indicat- ing the spot. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Flannery are-Margaret, wife of Frank Srack; Manaen, a farmer; David O., a farmer; Louisa J., deceased; and Elizabeth. The father of these children left, at his death, 360 acres of land, eighty of which includes the farm of Mr. Flannery, the remainder having been divided among the brothers and sisters of his wife. William Hole made his life a de- cided success, financially. He was socially inclined, and was a member of the Masonic order. In religion he was a Methodist, and an active member of that body.

· The marriage of Mr. Flannery resulted in the following children: Katie; John, died November 3, 1889, and buried in Bethel cem- etery. The farm of Mr. Flannery consists of the eighty acres referred to, it being land well improved. In politics he is a democrat, and a strong supporter of that party.

S AMUEL LEAIRD is a man of seventy, full of vigor, and one who has acquir- ed a good property by the labor of his own hands. He was born in Greene county, Pa., July 13, 1823, being the son of

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Ephraim and Rebecca (Gregon) Leaird. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and of German and Irish descent. His father came from Pennsylvania to Delaware county, Ind, in 1833, and settled in Union town- ship, remaining here for some years. When the gold fever was at its height, he went to California, remained there one year, and came back and married. Then he went to Missouri, but that country did not suit him, so he came back to Delaware county, and ended his days here, his last years being spent with his son, Samuel. The father died in February, 1865, and the mother in February, 1851, and were buried in the Leaird cemetery, on the old farm he once owned. They were members of the Methodist church, and con- sistent members of that body.

The brothers and sisters of Ephraim Leaird were: Robert, a stone mason; Samuel, a carpenter; George, a farmer; Mary, wife of Samuel Price, and Anna, wife of Russell Wil- liams. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Rebecca Leaird, were: Samuel, a farmer; Noble, a minister of the Methodist church; William, a farmer; James, a farmer; Mary, wife of Benjamin Clark; Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Gregg: Margaret, wife of Robert Carl, and Wesley, a farmer. The brothers and sis- ter of Samuel Leaird are: John Wesley and William, farmers, Elizabeth, wife of John Corner; Nancy, wife of Samuel Bryant; Mar- tha; Margaret, and Anna, wife of J. W. Keeman. Samuel Leaird was forty-five years old when he married, his wife being Mary J., daughter of Henley and Barbara (Stover) Hat- field, her parents being of German descent. They came from Ohio to Delaware county, where they spent the remainder of their days; the father dying in 1848, and the mother in 1880, and both are buried in the Granville cemetery. The father of Mrs Leaird had three brothers and three sisters, namely:

John, James and Washington, farmers; Nancy, wife of Edward Brammer; Sarah, wife of Washington Sanders, and Elizabeth, de- ceased. Mrs. Leaird's mother had two broth- ers, Joel and John, and two sisters, whose names are not remembered by her. Mrs. Leaird had the following brothers and sisters: Louis, George, Henley and Joel, all of whom fought for their country during the war; Reuben, died in infancy; Evaline, wife of Moses Clark; Re- becca, wife of Jacob Walters, and two half sis- ters, Lydia and Nancy Baissinger.

Samuel Leaird first settled upon a farm in Union township, just across the road from where his house now stands. It consisted of 1 52 acres, and by hard work he has made him- self a fine farm and comfortable home. Mr. Leaird is a member of the Christian church, and his wife of the Methodist church. They are highly respected and much esteemed by all who know them. They are the parents of four children, namely; Margaret A., George, Es- tella, and Burt H. George died in August, 1872.

AFAYETTE LUCAS, late well known farmer and prominent citizen of Niles township, was a native of Virginia, born on the 28th of February, 1825, in the historic old county of Greenbrier. He left the Old Dominion in 1839, going to Greene county, Ohio, where, on the 6th day of October, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Smith, daughter of John and Margaret (Burl) Smith, both parents natives of Virginia. The following are the names of the brothers and sisters of the wife of the sub- ject: Burl Eleanor, wife of J. Ford; Mary J., wife of Asa Deboe; Margaret, wife of J. Clark; Nancy, wife of William Mendenhall; Alfred; Emily, wife of J. Bosman, and Elizabeth, wife of William St. John. The father of Mrs.

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Lucas was a man of local prominence and for many years filled the office of justice of the peace; he and wife were active member of the Baptist church and are remembered as a most estimable christian couple.

Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Lucas, thinking to better his financial condition, came to Indiana and settled in Niles township, Del- aware county, purchasing a part of the home farm, which is still in possession of his family. He improved this place well and in time it became one of the most valuable and desira- ble farms in the township, and his home was known far and wide as the abode of generous and large-hearted hospitality. His marriage, in the year above noted, resulted in the birth of eight children, namely: Franklin, who was killed by lightning on the 16th of July, 1869; Martha J., born October, 1850; George W., born February 13, 1857; Louis, born July 17, 1858; Lafayette, born November 4, 1859; Margaret, wife of William Wilson; James A., born September 8, 1864, and John, born June 22, 1867.

Mr. Lucas belonged to that large and high- ly respectable class of citizens who pursue ' the even tenor of their way" and do much in a quiet and unostentatious manner toward promoting the moral and material well being of the community. He lived a long and use- ful life and died deeply lamented by all who knew him, on the 16th day of April, 1877.

3 AMES E. McDANIEL is a well known farmer and stock dealer of Niles town- ship, Delaware county, where he re- sides upon a fine farm of ninety acres. It is a good and well improved farm, which once was the property of his father in law. Mr. McDaniel was born in London, Madison county, Ohio, August 10, 1855, son of A. L.

and Mary E. (Moxey) McDaniel, of Scotch and Irish ancestry. They lived in Greene county, Ohio, for fifteen years, and then removed to Indiana, where they spent their declining years. Mr. McDaniel, Sr., was a stock dealer, buying and shipping. His family were: Will- iam, a farmer; James, a minister of the Metho- dist Episcopal church; Logan, a farmer; Amanda, the wife of W. L. Lloyd; and Judith, the wife of James Donalson. The maternal uncles and aunts of our subject were: Malinda, the wife of Addison Smith; Anna and Charles. Both Mr. and Mrs. McDaniel were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and they reared the following children: Harry, afarmer; Chauncy, a carpenter; Elma E., the wife of Russell Davis; and W. L., a painter.

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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 75

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