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 78

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 78
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 78

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).

James W. Wingate first settled in Ohio, in

713

NILES TOWNSHIP.

the town of Munroe, and worked at his trade, a carpenter, until 1852, when he moved to Niles township, this county, and settled upon the farm where he still resides. When he came, the woods covered the surface of the country, and the eighty acres that he bought were all in timber. With a brave heart he went to chopping down the trees and making his land ready for cultivation. He went into debt to pay for the land, but by hard work and close economy he has become independent. Then he began living in a hewed log cabin that had no doors nor window sash, and the flooring of which was composed of loose boards. Mr. Wingate never lost heart, but kept his eyes straight ahead, and continued to make money. Mr. Wingate has held the office of township trustee for four years; he is a member of the Masonic lodge, and also of the Good Templars. He and his wife are upright members of the Methodist church, and joined that body in 1837, and he and his wife brought their letters of member- ship with them to this county. Mr. Wingate is a trustee and a steward in the church to this day. He and his wife are the parents of the following children, namely: Isaac W., a carpenter; Elisha R., a farmer; Colby C., a peddler; James S., Philip R. and Bootle W., farmers; Sarah, wife of John Krohn; Thomas M., and David W., farmers; Jackson N., de- ceased. The mother of these children died February 21, 1875, and was buried in Bethel cemetery. A fine monument is erected upon the place of her sepulture.

Since the death of his wife Mr. Wingate has had his youngest son with him on the old homestead, where he continues to live. Mr. Wingate owns 665 acres of good and well im- proved land, which proves the industry and the good management of the man. He is highly respected by all his neighbors, and is a kind father and good friend. Few men are looked

up to for advice so much as he, and his words are words of wisdom.

EORGE W. YOUNTS is a well known name in Niles township, he being a very successful and popular citizen. He was born in Miami county, Ohio, January 8, 1850, being the son of Eli and Mary (Michael) Younts, of German and Scotch descent respectively. They went from North Carolina to Miami county, Ohio, lived there until 1856, and then came to Del- aware county, Ind., settling in Union town- ship, upon a farm of eighty acres. There they lived nine years, then moved to Niles township, lived there seven years, and then returned to Union township, where the father died in the spring of 1879. The mother then left her farm and went to Eaton, Union town- ship, where she still resides.

Eli Younts had the following brothers and sisters: John, a farmer; Abraham, a preacher; Joseph, George, Andrew and Isaac, farmers; Davis, a preacher; Mary, wife of Henry Hanel, and Catherine, wife of Jacob Helmick. Mrs. Eli Younts had the following brothers and sis- ters: Samuel, a farmer; Lucinda, wife of John Younts; Solomon, a farmer; Jane, wife of Jonathan Jones; Mahala, wife of George Younts, and Philip, a farmer. George W. Younts had four brothers, all deceased, and four sisters, but one of whom, Martha, the wife of William Schweitzer, is now living.

George W. Younts was married, at the age of twenty-two, to Martha A., daughter of William and Ruth (Stafford) Black. Mr. Younts first settled in Delaware township, lived there for three years, and then moved to his present farm, in Niles township, consisting of eighty acres, which was partly cleared. He moved into the old log house that yet stands

714

DELAWARE COUNTY :

in the lane, and there, by hard toil and good management, he has acquired a property of 155 acres of good and well improved land, with a fine brick residence. Mr. Younts is a man of more than average ability, and has always had an ambition to better his condition. The confidence of his neighbors resulted in his election as justice of the peace and his re-elec- tion, he serving in that capacity eight years in all. In 1890 he was elected township trustee by a large majority, which office he still holds. Mr. Younts is very much admired by all who know him. He is a member of the Masonic order, and also of the order of Red Men. Mr. and Mrs. Younts are the parents of one child, namely: Laura Forest. The parents received good educations, and are people of superior intelligence. They are members and active workers in the Methodist church. Mr. Younts is a republican, and always takes a prominent part in politics during election times.

Mr. and Mrs. Eli Younts were members of the German Baptist church, and were very good people. Eli was township trustee of Union township for one term. This worthy man once walked from St. Joseph, Mo., to Bear Valley, Cal., driving an ox team, and consumed six months and seventeen days in the journey. His return was by way of the ocean, from San Francisco to the Isthmus of Panama. He walked across the Isthmus, sailed to New York, and proceeded the rest of the way home by rail. He had to pay thirty dollars per hundred for flour in California, the same having been brought around by Cape Horn. The trip was a great benefit to him, as previous to that time he had been a man in poor health, but afterward continued well and hearty until his last illness.

The Younts family are upright in their conduct in every respect, and enjoy the re- spect of the community in which they live.

PERRY TOWNSHIP.

ILLIAM BEALL is a well known and prosperous citizen of New Burl- ington, Perry township, Delaware county, and a native of Henry county, Ind., where he was born November 26, 1853. He is the son of Charles and Vashti (Rea) Beall; the father a native of Ohio, and the mother of Indiana, and both of Eng- lish descent. The father was a farmer all of his life, and at the time of his death owned 173 acres of land. He and his wife were the parents of fourteen children, namely: Martha; Andrew J., Sarah M., and James R., deceased; William; John, deceased; Eliza E., Melinda; Lawson, deceased; Charles B .; Lawrence;

Thomas; Marcus; and Lewis, deceased. The father was a hard working man and gave his children every advantage that he could. His wife died in 1872, and was buried in the Friends' cemetery in Henry county. He died January, 1892.

William Beall lived with his parents until he was of age, when he took his father's farm and managed it for four years. He was mar- ried, in 1877, to Lucy Wilkinson, daughter of Samuel and Angeline (Hubbard) Wilkinson, natives of Ohio, and of English descent. Mrs. Beall's father was born in 1833, and in 1860 moved to Henry county, where he was engaged in farming. Mrs. Beall was born

715

PERRY TOWNSHIP.

March 2, 1862, and is one of eleven children, nine of whom are living. Both her parents reside in Henry county. By his marriage, William Beall is the father of three children, namely: Clement, born October 9, 1878; Bertha, born April 15, 1884; Lavaria, born April 3, 1892. After his marriage Mr. Beall located on a farm of forty acres in Henry county; lived there five years, then bought the farm upon which he now lives, consisting of eighty-five acres of well improved land. Mr. Beall has built a fine new house and barn, and although a young man he has earned every dollar that he owns, being a hard work- ing farmer, and a good manager. He has never speculated, but has made his money as a farmer. He was a republican until 1892, when he voted the prohibition ticket.

J OHN N. BELL, M. D .-- In these latter days, the aspirant for success in any line must have not only have zeal in his heart but also wisdom in his head. Fortunately this has been the case with the distinguished gentleman whose name intro- duces the present sketch. Dr. John N. Bell was born in West Virginia, April 21, 1858, a son of Henry and Louisa (Swisher) Bell, the former of Irish descent, and the latter of Ger- man. Henry Bell was born February 1, 1824, and the mother of the doctor December 24, of the same year. The paternal grandparents of the doctor are yet living, at a good old age, in West Virginia. His parents were there married and became the progenitors of a family of ten children, eight of whom are yet living. The family record is as follows: Mary V. and Sarah A., deceased; Andrew J., Margaret L., George W., Samuel H., John N., Charles F., Carrie F., and a deceased infant.

in the county of his birth. He attended the common schools, and being unusually intelli- gent, was able, at the early age of sixteen years, to successfully teach school. This pro- fession he followed for ten years. In 1885, he began the study of medicine, and later took a two years' course at Columbus, Ohio, and then entered the Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati, from which he graduated in March, 1888. Im- . mediately coming to New Burlington, he found a field awaiting him, and has been signally successful in his practice.

Dr. Bell was married, November 28, 1888, to Miss Carrie L. Will, the daughter of John and Mary (Keesling) Will, both of them na- tives of Indiana and of German descent. Mrs. Bell was one of four children, and her family are among the most highly respected in Perry township. One little daughter has came into the happy household of Dr. Bell-Letha E., born June 18, 1891. Both Doctor and Mrs. Bell are earnest and working members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a republican, as is his father, who is also an ex-soldier. Since his location in New Bur- lington, Dr. Bell has built up a large and lucra- tive practice and now takes rank among the foremost physicians and surgeons of Delaware county. He is not only distinguished for emi- nent attainments as a healer of disease, but he is known as the friend of the rich or poor who need his skill. He is an indefatigable worker and is among that class of physicians who en- courage all the advancements of science, and he gladly takes advantage of them for the ben- efit of the medical profession.

J AMES CARMICHAEL is a resident of Perry township, Delaware county, Ind. He was born in Union county, in the same state, December 6, 1819, and is

Dr. Bell was reared to agricultural pursuits | a son of Andrew and Margaret (Mansfield)

716

DELAWARE COUNTY :

Carmichael, the former of whom was a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio, both being of Irish descent. James Carmichael was one of nine children, only three of whom still survive. He remained at home until he lost his father, whom he had assisted ably in the cultivation of the home farm, which farm also received his personal attention in the in- + terest of the family until his marriage. He was united in marriage with Tacy Watson, in 1841. She was the daughter of James and Frances (French) Watson, natives of Vir- ginia, the former being of English descent and the latter of Irish. By this union, children were born as follows: Rebecca, the deceased wife of Samuel Hindman; Margaret F., the wife of Wellington Rees; Elizabeth L., de- ceased; William W., Andrew, George L., John L., Charles M., deceased; Mary, the wife of Samuel Richison; Eliza, the wife of William Stanley, and Milton.

The republican party enunciates the prin- ciples with which Mr. Carmichael can agree, and it has his vote and influence. He is a man of prominence in the community where he resides, takes an active interest in all move- ments having for their object the public wel- fare, and occupies a conspicuous place among the representative citizens of. Perry township.

ACHARIAH W. CECIL .- The fine es- tate of Z. W. Cecil is located in Perry township, Delaware county, Ind., and is known to be one of the finest by nature as well as one of the best improved farms in the county. Its owner was born in Shelby county, Ohio, October 25, 1820, a son of Aaron and Anna (Springer) Cecil, the for- mer a native of Virginia and Scotch descent; the mother born in Kentucky of Swedish par- ents. These parents were married in Ken-

tucky in 1812, went to Ohio, and in 1831 moved to Delaware county, Ind. Aaron Cecil reared a family of eight children, all of whom lived to rear families of their own. Their names were: John, Sarah A., Zachariah W., Elihu, Samuel, Rebecca, Mary and Gordon. At one time Aaron Cecil owned 366 acres of land, which he had made by his own efforts, as he was a very hard working and prudent man.

Zachariah W. Cecil was reared on his father's farm in Ohio, and had but limited edu- cational advantages, not exceeding three months in the year. After he became of age he began farming for himself in Delaware county, where he now lives. At the age of twenty-four, in 1844, he married Miss Mary J. Legg, daughter of Walter and Barbara (Berges) Legg, and five children have been born to this union, namely: John B., born June 16, 1851, a farmer; Sarah A., born November 11, 1845, the wife of Thomas J. Jordan, a farmer of Daviess county, Ind .; Barbara A., born December 16, 1848, the wife of J. W. McDaniel, a Methodist min- ister, residing in Daviess county, Ind .; Charles W., born May 20, 1857, a farmer on the old home farm, and Ellen, who died in infancy.

Walter Legg, the father of Mrs. Cecil, was a native of Lapland, of Scotch descent, and her mother was a native of north Canada, of English descent, and they were parents of six children. They emigrated to Wayne county, Ind., in 1818, and in 1862 Mr. Legg came to Delaware county on a visit, and died while here; eight years later the mother died, both of them being buried in the cemetery at Mount Tabor.

After marriage Mr. Cecil located on the farm where he now lives and has followed ag- ricultural pursuits all of his life. At this time his fine farm of 236 acres of fertile Indiana soil is his own, and the possession of such a fine property must be some recompense for the hard labor employed in obtaining it. He and

717

PERRY TOWNSHIP.

wife, and also the children, are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which all take a deep interest. Socially, he is a member of one of the Masonic lodges located at Mun- cie. His political opinions are those advanced by the republican party. He is an honest man, a good citizen, and stands deservedly high in the estimation of the community, in the material and moral advancement of which he has been for many years a potent factor.

3 ACOB CLEVENGER, owner of one of the fine farms of Perry township, Dela- ware county, Ind., was born in Dela- ware county, Ind., March 20, 1832, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Conner) Clev- enger, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Indiana, and both of Irish descent. Thomas Clevenger came with his parents to Randolph county at an early day, and endured all of the hardships of pioneer life. He was married to Elizabeth Conner, and reared a family of ten children, with the exception of two, to years of maturity, but Jacob and a brother are the only living members. Thomas Clevenger died February 23, 1867, having been a farmer all of his life.

Jacob Clevenger lived at home with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, at- tending the poor schools of that time and neighborhood. He recalls one school which he attended, where the master regaled his pupils at Christmas with whisky. At the age of eighteen he married Mary Smith, a daughter of John Smith, and they reared four children: Charles C., born September 23, 1853, who married Louisa Johnson, and resides in Yates county, Kan .; Sarah J., was born July 18, 1855, and is the wife of John VanFleet, and resides in Henry county, Mo .; Thomas W., born June 11, 1859, married Ella Bell, and |

they reside in Tacoma, Wash .; and Jonathan L., born December 24, 1862.

When the first Mrs. Clevenger died, his eld- est daughter took charge of the household until his second marriage, which was with Miss Samantha Ray, daughter of William and Sa- rah (McClain) Ray, both natives of Ohio, the former of Scotch and the latter of Irish de- scent. Samantha was one of a family of ten children, of whom but only four are now living. By this marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Cleven- ger had two children: Leonia M., born Sep- tember 23, 1866, the wife of Parker Marshall, and Ada B., born November 11, 1875, wife of Luther Daughty, of Perry township. Soci- ally, Mrs. Clevenger is a member of the Whit- ney Masonic lodge, No. 229, located at New Burlington. He and his wife are members of the Christian church. Politically, he is a re- publican, although formerly he voted the democratic ticket, but his first republican vote was for Abraham Lincoln. He is one of the old and well known residents, and is highly esteemed.

HOMAS CLINE, deceased .- "The evil men do lives after them, the good is often interred with their bones." The fact that this quotation is fre- quently reversed is brought forcibly to the mind of the thoughtful reader as he cons the pages of this book, and learns that the pros- perity of this fertile region is due not only to the efforts of the present generation, but largely to those who have passed away, prom- inent among which enterprising and worthy men occurs the name of Thomas Cline. Mr. Cline was born in the state of Pennsylvania, March 18, 1810, the son of Peter and Nancy (Inghram) Cline, both natives of the same state, of German descent. The parents of Mr. Cline were very poor, and from earliest youth Thomas was taught the true dignity of

718

DELAWARE COUNTY :

labor. While still a boy he started toward the setting sun to seek his fortune, selecting Ohio as a field of operation. While in that state he met and married Miss Sarah Wilcox, and by this marriage had ten children, six girls and four boys, namely: Joseph, born December 4, 1840; Mary, born January 19, 1842; David L., born July 9, 1843; Henry C., born October 16, 1844; Martha J., July 6, 1847; Nancy H., born June 12, 1849; Eliza- beth A., born July 9, 1851; Harriet C., born May 25, 1853; Maria A., born December 23, 1855; and Inghram B., born September 25, 1859. December 26, 1860, Mr. Cline lost his wife, and the same year removed to Indiana with his chil- dren. Five years later he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret J. Wilcox, daughter of Joseph and Maria (Brant) Wilcox, a sister of his former wife. Joseph Wilcox was a native of New Jersey, while his wife was a native of Ohio, both being of English descent. Mr. Wilcox died in Miami county, Ohio, while his wife ended her days in Butler county, same state. By his second marriage Mr. Cline had two children, namely: William R., born Feb- ruary 24, 1871, and Burtice E., born Novem- ber 23, 1872.

When Mr. Cline commenced working for himself, he engaged by the day until he earned enough money to buy a farm, and so success- ful was he that at the time of his death he owned 370 acres of well improved land, all of which was purchased with money earned by his own efforts. In all matters which affected the public welfare, Mr. Cline's political views were in accordance with the principles enun- ciated by the republican party. He was a man who was proud of his township, his county, state and nation, and always did all in his power to advance the interest of the com- monwealth. During life he was a devout member of the Methodist church, with which body his wife and children are still connected.

LEXANDER B. CUNNINGHAM .- The annals of Delaware county abound in the names of many noble men of whom the present generation feel de- servedly proud, and a true record of their lives, placed upon the printed page, will not only be perused with pleasure by those who know and honor them for their many sterling qualities of manhood, but will also be a source of much gratification to those who come after them. Among the hardy yeomen, to whose efforts and self sacrifices is the flourishing county of Delaware largely indebted for its present proud position among the sister coun- ties, is Alexander B. Cunningham, a brief epitome of whose life is herewith presented to the reader. Mr. Cunningham was born in York county, Pa., November 17, 1825, and is a son of Samuel and Julia Cunningham, both natives of the "Keystone state," the former of Scotch and the latter of English extraction. Samuel Cunningham was born April 7, 1778; married, January 15, 1807, Julia Boyd, whose birth occurred December 10, 1788. He served in the war of 1812, and his father, one of the early settlers ol Pennsylvania, was a soldier in the Revolutionary struggle. Mrs. Cunningham died in the state of nativity in 1834, and in 1845 Samuel Cunningham emi- grated to Delaware county, Ind., where his death occurred September 17, 1849. The children born to these parents were ten in number, Alexander B., being the eighth in order of birth.

Alexander B. Cunningham remained with his father until he was twenty-three years of age. He attended school in Pennsylvania in his youth, but when left to his own resources learned the trade of carpentering under an ex- cellent workman by the name of James Truitt, and soon became very skillful in all depart- ments of his chosen calling. He continued carpentering for some time, but, being at-

A. B. CUNNINGHAM.

719

PERRY TOWNSHIP.

tracted by the finer class of mechanical work, finally discontinued building and began work- ing at cabinet making in a shop with Mr. Lewellen, at the town of Smithfield. After working at this place for a period of two years he went east, where he once again engaged in carpentering, but, at a later date, accepted a position as agent and track supervisor with the B. & O. railroad company, in the employ of which he continued four years. After severing his connection with the road, Mr. Cunning- ham was for two and one-half years engaged in the mercantile business in Virginia, at the end of which time he returned to Indiana, and in partnership with his brother purchased a large tract of land in Delaware and other counties. For many years Mr. Cunningham has devoted his attention almost entirely to agricultural pursuits and stock raising, and his success in both these lines has been most en- couraging, his farm at this time being one of the largest and best improved in the county of Delaware. His home is known far and wide as the abode of free-hearted hospitality, and his elegant residence, erected at a cost of $20,000, is perhaps the finest farm dwelling in this part of the state. Mr. Cunningham was married December 12, 1865, to Mollie C. Hoopman, daughter of Rev. John and Liza (Redman) Hoopman, the result of which union has been three children: Elord E. was born October 12, 1867, and died February 12, 1888; Bertha L. was born July 6, 1870, and is now the wife of William Gilmore, to whom she was united in marriage August 5, 1889; Frank H., whose birth was September 1, 1873.

Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham and their two children are members of the Methodist church, in which they are highly esteemed. Frater- nally, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., be- longing to lodge No. 186, at Selma, and his political opinions are those enunciated by the republican party. Mr. Cunningham's busi-

ness and social standing in the community are of the very best, and universal is the esteem in which he is held. For nearly a half cen- tury he has been an honored resident of Dela- ware county, in growth and developement of which he has borne no insignificant part. Among his friends and neighbors, and wherever he is known, his word is considered as good as his bond, and it is a fact worthy of note, that he has never been sued at law on his individual paper, nor had much business of consequence in the courts. He is one of Del- aware county's representative farmers, and in all that goes to make up true citizenship, few occupy a more prominent position in the com- munity.

ARION A. CUNNINGHAM .- To be an efficient and honorable agri- culturist in this highly favored sec- tion of Indiana, where the soil responds so generously to the hand which cul- tivates it, is to be assured of a comfortable home and favorable surroundings. Among the successful men of Perry township, in Marion A. Cunningham, who was born in Delaware county, Ind., October 6, 1854, a son of Ben- jamin G., born August 28, 1811, and Sarah (Rees) Cunningham, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Indiana. The ancestors of the family for many generations were indus- trious tillers of the soil, and, following their custom, Benjamin G. Canningham early chose agriculture for his life work, and so continued until his death. . He came to Delaware county in 1836, a poor boy, but any one who then noted his energy and thrift might reasonably have predicted what followed, namely: His final standing as one of the wealthiest men, and most successful farmers of the section in which he resided. At the time of his death, which occurred May 14, 1865, he was the owner of

720

DELAWARE COUNTY :

786 acres of well improved land, all of which was acquired by his own energy and thrift. His wife survived him a number of years, dying in 1887. Six children were born to Ben- jamin G. and Sarah Cunningham, as follows: Greer B., Louis S., Marion A., Stephen B., Adeline and Joseph, all living except the first named.

Marion A. Cunningham was reared on the home farm, and had better advantages in the way of acquiring an education than many of the youth of his neighborhood, attending first the common schools, and later the Muncie high school, and one terin at the Norinal college at Valparaiso, completing his studies before at- taining his majority. In 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Jump, daughter of S. V. and Rebecca Jump, natives of Ohio and the state of Delaware respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham are the parents of five in- teresting children, whose name are as follows: Mary Rebecca, born July 18, 1883; Fannie L., born June 30, 1885; Ethel R., born June 4, 1888; Nelson F., and Neva T. (twins), whose birth occurred August 29, 1890.

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 78

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