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 83

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 83
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 83

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).

For a number of years Mr. Moreland rented farms in various parts of the country, but in 1870, purchased the place where he now resides in Salem township, owning a comfort- able home in which a true hearted hospitality is generously dispensed by both himself and wife. Mr. Moreland belongs to that large and highly respected class of people who do much, in a quiet way, toward the moral and the well being of the community, and he is content to pursue the peaceful vocation of a tiller of the soil rather than aspire to official preferment, political or otherwise. Originally, he was an old line whig, casting his first presidential ballot for Henry Clay, but since the dissolution of that party, he has been earnest in his allegi- ance to the principles of its successor, the republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Moreland united with the Lutheran church in 1873, and have been consistent members of that denomi- nation from that time until the present.

LFRED M. PENCE, an honored cit- izen and one of the most influential men of Salem township, Delaware county, Ind., was born in Henry county, Ind., January 13, 1837, son of Chris- tian and Frances (Fisher) Pence, who were both natives of Rockingham county, Va., of German extraction. Christian Pence came

750

DELAWARE COUNTY :

with his family from the old home, traveling in a wagon, to the new state of Indiana, in- tending to found a home in the wilderness. They entered 160 acres of land in Jefferson township, Henry county, and lived in the traveling wagon until they could erect a log cabin in the woods. These were lonely and trying times, as they were among the early pioneers of the section and were obliged to subsist mainly on wild game, which fortunately was very abundant.

Mr. and Mrs. Pence reared eight children in this pioneer home, of which family Alfred M. is a representative. Although hardships had to be endured, perhaps the privations of those times taught children lessons of self de- nial and economy which served to help them in after years over many rough places. Chris- tian Pence lived until 1875 and his wife until 1884.

Alfred M. lived with his parents and as- sisted in the clearing up of the large farm, at- tending, perhaps, one mnonfh out of twelve on the nearest school. In 1864, he enlisted in the ranks of the Union army, but one week be- fore this he married 'Miss Delilah J. Painter, daughter of Abraham and Rhoda (Sanders) Painter, natives of Henry county. Notwith- standing this occurrence, Mr. Pierce left his young bride, as his country needed his stal- wart services, and marched away in company H, One Hundred and Fortieth Indiana regi- ment, leaving Indianapolis November 15, 1864. The regiment reached Murfreesboro, Tenn., on the twenty-second of the same month and took an active part in all of the battles around Nashville during Hood's raid, joining the Third brigade at Columbus and arriving in Clinton, Tenn., January 8, when they embarked for Fortress Monroe, landing at Fort Fisher Feb- ruary 7, 1865, and participated in the fights around Wilmington, took part in the battle at Fort Anderson, was on the skirmish line for

two days on Town Creek, N. C., and entered Wilmington February 22, 1865. He also par- ticipated in the skirmishing around Kings- ton and Raleigh, and was also at the final surrender; the regiment was mustered out of the service at Greensboro, N. C., July 11, 1865. He was honorably discharged July 26, and returned home, after a year of hard fighting, without a wound. After the war he settled down to an agricultural life, in which he has reaped success. His has been a happy home and he and good wife have had born to them a family of twelve children, as follows: Otto B., born June 19, 1867; Leroy M., deceased, born April 21, 1869; John D., born March 13, 1871; Hattie M., born Octo- ber 4. 1873; Walter R., born April 21, 1875; Mary E., born July 1, 1877; Francis M., born May 8, 1879, deceased; Lenona, born June 12, 1881; Delia F., born August 21, 1882; William O., born January 26, 1885; Chester A., born September 26, 1888, and Jessie, born April 21, 1891. Althoughr. Pence has been very fortunate both in peace and war, he has sometimes felt the hand of afflic- tion, one case being the burning of his barn, in 1890, which caused the loss of 500 bushels of wheat and all of his farming implements, but he has fully recoved from that, has built a finer barn and is most comfortably situated, being a very fine farmer.

a ALAWAY PIERCE, a retired farmer of Daleville, Salem township, Dela- ware county, Ind., was born in Mont- gomery county, in what is now West Virginia., September 26, 1822, and is a son of Thomas and Susanna (Thompson) Pierce, na- tives of the same state. They were married in West Virginia (then a portion of Old Vir- ginia), in 1818, and resided there on their.

751

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

farm until 1828, at which time they removed to Clarke county, Ohio, and then to Miami in 1830, but were not over pleased with the coun- try, and consequently tarried there but three years, when, in 1833, they came to Indiana, and settled in Salem township, Delaware county, when the mother died in 1840, and the father in 1855. Beside their son Calaway they had born to them ten children, viz: Ma- linda, Rebecca, Amanda, Susanna, Eliza, Arminda, Jane, Vorintha and two infants that died unnamed. The parents were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church; the father who was a very successful man through life, was in politics a stanch democrat.

Calaway Pierce remained on the home farm, sharing its hard toil and its rude enjoy- ments, until he was eight years of age, and doubtless found more of toil than he did of enjoyment in the rugged life; yet he learned many lessons in thrift, industry and frugality that were afterward of benefit to him and laid for him the foundation of a future competence in the same vocation, which he eventually adopted as his life pursuit. On leaving the home place he employed himself at farm labor by the month for two years, and then engaged in carpenter work for nineteen years in Tipton county, Ind. He then moved back to Dela- ware connty, and in 1859 resumed his old oc- cupation of farming, purchasing a tract of 120 acres of land in Salem township, which he cultivated with great success for several years, but which he later sold, and then bought a tract in of eighty-eight acres in Richwood, same township, which he continued to work with profit until 1892, when he retired to Daleville, to enjoy in peace, ease and honor the reward of his early toil.

Mr. Pierce was first married in Delaware county, January 11, 1849, to Ruannah Good- pasture, of Warren county, born December 10, 1827, and this union was fruitful in the

birth of eight children, who were named as follows: Thomas, Walter, Flora, James E., Calvin, John, William, and Mattie. The mother of this family was called upon to part from her children November 28, 1870, and laid to rest in Palmer cemetery. After duly and sincerely mourning her loss, November 28, 1882, Mr. Pierce chose a second companion to share his joys and sorrows, and wedded Matilda McAllister, whose name has been ad- verted to elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and by their daily walk through life give evi- dence of the sincerity of their faith. Mr. Pierce is also a member of lodge No. 271, A. & F. M., and in politics is a republican, under which party he has filled several township offices. To such men as Mr. Pierce it is that the prosperity of every township is due.

ARON RINKER is an enterprising farmer residing in section 7, Salem township, and is a native of Henry county, Ind. He was born April 16, 1842, a son of John and Jane (Clevenger) Rinker and a brother of Daniel Rinker, whose sketch appears below, in alphabetical order. Aaron Rinker spent the days of his boyhood and youth on his father's farm, attending school in the neighborhood about one month in the year. His father had a large family to support and needed Aaron to assist on the farm, hence his education was somewhat neg- lected. In the spring of 1862, he enlisted in the Union army, entering the Thirty-sixth Indiana regiment under Col. Groose. From Indianapolis he was sent to Jeffersonville, to Louisville and Nashville with his regiment, then was sent to Pittsburg, and was placed on detached duty to drive cattle. The party started from Chattanooga, Tenn., with 3,000

752

DELAWARE COUNTY :

head of cattle for the army. About 125 miles from Atlanta they were attacked by the Con- federates, who captured 1, 500 of the cattle, and his partners were also captured, but he managed to reach Atlanta, where he joined his regiment. The regiment had a skirmish at Jonesborough, and from Atlanta they went to Frankfort, Tenn., thence to Nashville, and then on to Athens, Ala., where they went into winter quarters. In the fall of 1863 he went to Dalton, Ill., with Confederate prisoners. He faithfully served his country for two years and participated in many skirmishes and bat- tles, but never received a wound. He burst some of the veins in his legs by hard march- ing and had to be taken to the hospital on ac- count of it, but as soon as able, he went back again to his army life.

At the close of the war Mr. Rinker return- ed home and gave his attention to the tilling of the soil, soon after his return being married to Wilminna Schlegel, a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Bush) Schlegel, and by this union three children were born, as follows: Clarence, born October 22, 1867, died May 3, 1877: Henry, born December 10, 1870, and 1890 married to Miss Josie Hupp, and is now farming his father's farm; Maggie, now Mrs. Charles Painter, of this township. In 1866, Mr. Rinker moved on the place where he how lives, it then being owned by his father, but four years later he bought eighty acres of the place for $3,200, paying down $1,000, and he now owns 145 acres of fine land, He has identified himself with the best interests of the township and county, and is numbered among the representative citizens. Since his return from the army he has been a republican, and is a prominent member of the G. A. R. post, holding the office of surgeon, the head- quarters being in Daleville. Both he and family are members of the United Brethren church, in which they are highly regarded.

Mr. Rinker is deservedly considered one of the best citizens of the county, has a fine war record, and is universally esteemed.

0 ANIEL RINKER is a well-to-do and honest farmer of Salem township, and one of the early settlers of Delaware county. He was born in Union county in 1832, November 7, and is one of a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, all of them living except two of the last. John Rinker, his father, was born in Shenandoah, Va., in 1803, and followed farm- ing throughout his life, which was such as to command the respect of all who knew him. He died in 1872, and his wife survived him until 1888. They lie side by side in the Sand- ers cemetery.

Daniel Rinker lived with his parents until he was twenty-one, and went to school only when the weather was too bad for him to stay at home and work. At the age of twenty-two he was married to Theresa Minnick, daughter of Andrew Minnick, a farmer, by which union four children were born. Their married life continued for about twelve years, when she died, leaving one son and a husband to mourn her untimely loss. This son, Samuel C., at the age of twenty-two, married Mary Fenwick, by whom he had four children, namely: Alonzo E., Vivian A., Grover T., and Cary D. Four years after the death of his wife Mr. Rinker married Joanna M. Schle- gel, sister of Henry C. Schlegel, whose sketch will be seen on another page of this volume. She was born in Prussia, and came, with her parents, to this country, first to Pennsylvania and thence to Madison county, Ind. Mr. Rin- ker is a member of the United Brethren church, and has been honored with the offices of trustee and steward of that body, filling both

758

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

positions with credit and to the satisfaction of the members, as his re-election shows. He has always taken active part in church work, and has many warm friends throughout the community. He is a democrat in politics, and heartily supports the nominees of that party. He now owns 120 acres of fine land.

ENRY C. SCHLEGEL, an enterpris- ing farmer, residing on section 36, Salem township, Delaware county, Ind., is a native of Prussia, born in the city of Aszler, August 31, 1843, a son of Henry and Margaret (Bush) Schlegel, the former a native of the same country, and a farmer by occupation.

When nineteen years of age, Henry Schle- gel. Sr., entered the Prussian army, where he served three years, and on the expiration of his term accepted the position of farmer on a large estate, where he lived for eleven years. In the year 1838, he was married to a Miss Bush, and in 1852 he emigrated to the United States, locating in Pennsylvania, and two years later removed to Madison county, Ind., locating near the town of Chesterfield. In 1860, he came to Delaware county, where he resided until his death, which occurred Oc- tober 27, 1872, and his remains rest in the Mount Pleasant cemetery. His wife is still living with her eldest daughter, in Delaware county. Henry C. Schlegel started to school in his native country at the age of five years, and remained under tuition until his fath- er emigrated to the United States, when he was eight years old. After coming to Pennsylvania, he lived with a man by the name of Tobias Martin for a period of eight months, for his board and clothes, at the end of which time he returned to his parents and came with them to Madison county and en-

gaged in work among the neighbors at such labor as one of his age could accomplish, in the winter of 1861-2 working for Solomon Myers for a saddle and bridle, and in many ways earning an honest dollar.

At the age of twenty years he married Miss Laura Jane Myers, born in Madison county, Ind., May 31, 1849, and located on the farm of Solomon Myers, where he farmed during the summer and engaged in teaching school during the winter and gradually accumulated means of his own, which enabled him to pur- chase a farm of eighty acres, and afterward enlarged to 128 acres of land in sction 36, in Salem township, Delaware county, where he has since made his home. Mr. Schlegel has not been content with the slow mode of stock stock raising. He is a progressive and intel- ligent man. In 1892 he purchased some fine Jersey cattle and entered into the raising of the same. Understanding his business thorough- ly, and carefully looking after it, he has made it a flattering success. He is one of the self made men of this section and deserves, as he receives, the respect of the community. He has good financial standing, is a stanch repub- lican, and one of the best and most reliable citizens of the county. Such men are the ones of which a neighborhood may be permitted to to be proud, as the self made men are those on whom the state can depend in time of need.

William H. Schlegel is one of the pros- perous farmers of Salem township, Delaware county, Ind., and is a member of a well known and highly respected family of this lo- cality. He was born December 29, 1864, a son of Henry C. and Laura Jane Schlegel, natives of Prussia and of Indiana. His father, a very intelligent man, started William to school when only six years of age. The lat- ter continued in his attendance at school until he was twenty-one, at that time entering upon

75-

DELAWARE COUNTY :

1 1 1

the life of a teacher. Prior to this, however, he spent two terms at Hartsville, and several years later enjoyed two terms at Valparaiso, at the excellent normal school there. About this time he was united in marriage with Miss May Davenport, a daughter of William and Cassandra Davenport, natives of Henry county. Mrs. Schlegel is a lady of intelligence and education. She grew up on a farm, her father being a farmer and also a minister, and was afforded the advantages of the public schools. At present, Mr. and Mrs. Schlegel are living on a farm in Salem township. They are the parents of two little boys, Carl Leslie and Chester Dean.

Elmer S. Schlegel is among the promising young farmers of Delaware county, Ind., and one who understands his business very thor- oughly. He was born April 25, 1866, a son of Henry and Laura Jane Schlegel, whose sketch appears above. He was reared on his father's farm and assisted in the work during the summers, and was afforded the best school advantages of the vicinity during the winters. Until he was twenty-two years of age he re- mained under the parental roof, but on attain- ing his majority set up a domestic hearth of his own. Mr. Schlegel married March 20, 1889, to Miss Martha Stewart, a daughter of John and Mary Stewart, the former a dealer in real estate in the city of Muncie. Mrs. Schlegel was reared on the farm until her mar- riage. One child, Bertha Blanche Schlegel, is the daughter of the household, and the fam- ily have a pleasant residence on a farm in Salem township, where they are mnuch re- spected.

John Calvin Schlegel. - It is a pleasant re- flection in after life to know that some act or vocation in which we have been engaged has left the world better and wiser than we found it. Such must be the reflections of a teacher after a successful season among the young.

The early lessons received are often the most lasting, and the conscientious teacher often has the chance to mold aright many young lives. Delaware county, Ind., has many successful educators, and John C. Schlegel has for some time been among the number. He was born March 12, 1872, a son of Henry and Laura Jane Schlegel, whose sketch appears in this connection, and remained at home attending to the duties on the farm, and closely apply- ing himself to his books at school until he was nineteen years of age. He then engaged as a teacher in the country schools, and has been very successful, his services being in great de- mand. Good teachers are never too plentiful, and his friends predict a bright future for this promising young educator of Delaware county.

Mary Florence Schlegel. - This is the age of woman. Time was when it was not thought proper for a woman to venture beyond the confines of her home, but the day of emancipation has come and now the female sex takes place in educational matters by the side of the male, in many cases receiving the same salary and public recognition. Among the prominent and successful teachers of Del- aware county, Ind., for some time, was Mary Florence Schlegel. She was born March 4, 1870, a daughter of Henry and Laura Jane Schlegel, and grew up in her pleasant home, attending school, including one term in the normal school at Valparaiso, during the win- ter, and assisted her mother in the summer until her nineteenth year, when she engaged in teaching. Her success was very marked, and the people of Daleville were very loth to part with her services when her failing health warned her that her labors among the youth of that town would have to be given up for a time. She now is at home, assisting her mother in household duties, a good and faith- ful daughter, having been compelled to suc- cumb to the demands of exhausted nature.

755

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

ILLIAM SHARP, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Delaware county and a gentleman who has been identified for many years in the farming and horse raising interests of the county, was born in Henry county, Ind., April 6, 1829, a son of Edward and Anna (Thompson) Sharp. Edward Sharp was born in 1801 and Mrs. Sharp in 1804, being of German and English ancestry, re- spectively. They immigrated to Delaware county, Ind., in the spring of 1832, and Mr. Sharp died here in 1854. His wife survived until 1878, and both lie buried in the Sharp cemetery.

William Sharp was reared on the farm and during his minority had school advantages of about one month in the year. On December 1, 1849, he was married to Miss Desdamona Banks, the daughter of Thomas and Jane (Moffett) Banks, to which union five children were born, as follows: Perry E., who died at the age of eleven months, Sanford I., Mary A., Anna E. and Edward T. After marriage Mr. Sharp bought a small farm, of which he cleared sixty acres and then traded it for 400 acres in Iowa, and realized a good sum of money for the place. He then bought 240 acres of fine land in Delaware county, known as Tomlinson Farm, where he lived for twelve years, at the end of which time he bought the place where he now lives.

When the late war broke out, Mr. Sharp offered himself as a soldier, but the medical examiner refused him and he was compelled to return home. In October, 1860, Mrs. Sharp died, and Mr. Sharp found himself with four motherless little children. In 1862 he married Margaret Carmichael, a daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Mansfield) Carmichael, natives of Ohio, of Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael emigrated from Ohio to Indi- ana, November 2, 1832, and here spent the

remainder of their days, dying July 6, 1841, and in 1864 respectively. Mrs. Sharp is one of a family of ten children, three of whom are now living, and so scattered have been the family that no two of the band have been laid to rest in the same cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp are consistent and valued members of the Christian church, in which he is a deacon, having held that office for thirteen years. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Honor, in which order he has held the office of dictator for a year. Politically, he belongs to the republican party, and is one of the wealthiest and most esteemed citizens of Salem township. He has made a great suc- cess of the raising of fine horses and takes great interest in all matters which promise good to the farming interests of the country. He spent eighteen years in handling fine stock, and brought more fine cattle into the state than any man in the county-chiefly short horn Durhams. Mrs. Sharp has had the care of thirteen orphan children and raised seven until they married.

J ONATHAN SHEPP is one of the honored and greatly respected pioneers of Delaware county, and resides on a valuable farm in section 5, Salem town- ship. Jonathan Shepp was born October 9, 1807, in Virginia; being the son of Jonathan S., a native of Germany, and an old Revolu- tionary soldier. He fought under Col. Wal- lace, and was in the battle when he was taken prisoner. For a period of twenty-one days the old patriot and his comrades were almost without food, and deprived of sleep. Jonathan Shepp came from Virginia to Henry county, Ind., when it was all a wilderness. He was a millwright by trade, and later learned the car- penter trade. After completing the latter he

756

DELAWARE COUNTY :

began work, as a cabinet maker, for himself, following it for three years. He put up the first saw mill in Henry county, in the year 1836, add ran it successfully for a few years, when he sold out and erected the first saw mill in Daleville. Then he returned to the carpen- ter trade and followed that for years.

Mr. Shepp was united in marriage, at the age of thirty, with Lydia Fenwick, and they located at Middletown, where he and his wife resided for eight years, during which time he pursued his trade as a carpenter. Eight years subsequent to his marriage Mr. Shepp moved on the farm, and built the house in which he now lives; following the occupation of a farmer, and doing carpenter work for his neighbors. This family shared in all the hardships of pioneer life, but nevertheless the members of it prospered. The forest trees were felled, and the ground plowed and made to yield crops year by year. Two years after purchasing the farm Mr. Shepp built a mill on Francis Pugsley's farm, and was overseer of that for one year, when he sold it to Henry P. Henry, and returned to his farm work. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Shepp has been blessed with four children, namely: Margaret, born March 8, 1839; Mary Ann, born July 22, 1840; Sally, born November 4, 1842, and Sophia, born May 22, 1844 In politics Mr. Shepp is a strong republican, and has voted that ticket ever since the party was founded. His re- ligious belief is that of the Universalist, and he holds firmly to the teachings of that de- nomination.

J OHN SHOEMAKER is one of the well known residents of the town of Dale- ville, Delaware county, Ind., where he has been engaged in business for almost thirty years, and is esteemed and respected by all. Mr. Shoemaker was born in Montgom-

ery county, Pa., April 18, 1808, a son of John and Elizabeth (Myers) Shoemaker, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, having been born in the same county, and both of whom died at the advanced age of eighty-eight years and six months. In 1810 John and Elizabeth Shoemaker removed to Adams county, Pa., and in 1824 to Franklin county, the same state, where they remained until 1837, at which time they came to Delaware county, Ind., being among the earliest pioneers of the county. They located in the Richwoods district, and there remained until their death, his occurring in about 1865 and hers in 1861. They were members of the Dunkard church in early life and later became identified with the Christian church, of which they remained faith- ful members until their death. They were very successful in life and accumulated consid- erable property. Mr. Shoemaker was a repub- lican in politics and earnestly supported the principles of that party.

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 83

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