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 84

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 84
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 84

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).

When the subject of this sketch was a young man he engaged for several years in teaching vocal music, both to German and English pupils. and acquired great proficiency as an instructor of melody. He was reared on the home farm, received his education in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-four years he began life for himself as a farmer in Franklin county, Pa. One year prior to his father's location in this county he entered a tract of 160 acres of land, which is still owned by the Shoemaker family. They began the improvement of the property, and in 1844 bought 160 acres more. In 1864 our subject sold his land to his brother, and moved to Daleville, where he has since resided, and en- gaged in the handling of general merchandise, grain, etc., from which business he retired in 1886. That same year he went to California, and again in 1887, visiting his son, since which time he has lived a retired life. Mr. Shoemaker

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was married November 15, 1832, in Franklin county, Pa., to Miss Maria Myers, born in the same county, in December, 1813, a daughter of Henry Myers, a prominent minister of the Dunkard church. Thirteen children were born of this union, eleven reaching maturity, Michael, Elizabeth, deceased; Susannah, wife of J. N. Templer, an attorney of Muncie, Henry, a farmer of Centre township; Jane, wife of E. M. Rudly, of Delaware county; John P., of Middletown, Ind .; Joseph of Salem; Miles, of California; Daniel, deceased; Sylvester, a mer- chant, and Allie, deceased. The mother died July 24, 1874. Three of the sons of Mr. Shoemaker served in the late war, doing their duty bravely. Mr. Shoemaker has been a local preacher since 1850, and is a christian gentle- man, a conscientious member of the Christian church, and for three generations his family has belonged to this religious order.

a DWIN CLARK ANTHONY SNY- DER is a prominent business man of Daleville, Ind., where he has large interests and is the proprietor of the largest brick manufactory in the county. Mr. Snyder was born in Centre township, Dela- ware county, December 10, 1835, and was named for a son of good old Dr. Anthony, a pioneer of Muncie, this state. The father of our subject was John T. Snyder, of German descent, and his mother, Cynthia S. (Gustin) Snyder, born in Warren county, Ohio, a daughter of John and Jane Gustin, of the same state. John T. Snyder was born in Pennsyl- vania, but was reared to manhood in a small village called Red Lion, in Warren county, Ohio, in which county his father, Conrad Sny- der, was sheriff for eight years. For the greater part of his life he followed auctioneer- ing and was a very successful man of business.

John T. Snyder was the only son in a family of five children, all now deceased. He fol- lowed agricultural pursuits for the greater part of his life, and in 1832 removed to Delaware county, Ind., where he remained until 1837, when he changed his location to Madison county, Ind., but died in Illinois while on a business trip to that state in 1842. His widow was remarried in 1843, to Thomas Tripp, and spent her declining years in Madison county, Ind., but died.December 24, 1885, in Delaware county; her remains are laid to rest in Mount Pleasant cemetery. When John T. Snyder and wife located in Delaware county they had no floor in their cabin, and had to hang a quilt in the doorway in lieu of a door proper. On one occasion, when Mrs. Snyder was left alone, she was compelled to burn hickory bark throughout a whole night, in order to keep the wolves at bay. The cabin was later improved somewhat, by Mr. Snyder hewing out puncheons for flooring.

E. C. A. Snyder is the only surviving child of a family of seven children and en- joyed but very limited educational advantages, walking two and one-half miles to reach the school house. He lived with his step-father until he had reached his majority, and then went into business with him. The latter had a contract for building one and one-fourth miles of the C., C., C. & I. R. R., and this resulted in the accumulation of enough money to enable them to purchase eighty acres of land in Madison county and they began im- proving it. Upon the death of his step-father Mr. Snyder inherited the other portion of the farm, which had cost $550, and nine years later was able to sell it for $2, 500. He then purchased 160 acres of land in Delaware county for that amount, and after operating it for twenty-two years he sold it for $8,000. Moving at this time to the town of Daleville, he engaged in business with J. V. Stewart in

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the handling of agricultural implements, for a term of five years. In 1891, in company with Granville Ellison, this energetic and far-seeing man engaged in the manufacture of brick, which partnership continued until July, 1892, when Mr. Snyder became sole proprietor. This is the largest manufacturing establish- ment of the kind in the county, and has a ca- pacity of 25,000 brick per day.

Mr. Snyder is pre-eminently a man of busi- ness, and, in addition to his manufacturing in- terests, is engaged in the handling of grain, being the owner of a large elevator, and is also the owner of several fine farms, which he finds time to oversee, and also looks after his valu- able town property with care and good judg- ment. His varied interests employ his time, but do not cause him to neglect any of the duties of the good citizen. He is a democrat in politics and votes with his party, taking great interest in all public questions. Mr. Snyder married in Madison county, Ind., April 12, 1857, Miss Amanda Groenendyke, a native of Madison county, and one child, Elias, was born, but is now deceased, and his wife died August 20, 1839. His second marriage was solemnized November 8, 1861, with Lydia J. Lloyd, who was born in Madison county, May 7, 1842, a daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Wheatly) Lloyd, of Welch and English ex- traction. By this marriage Mr. Snyder has became the father of nine children, as follows: Matilda, deceased; Mariah, the wife of J. C. Fish; Thomas E., Florence, wife of L. Nel- son; Norris A., Josephine, Jessie, deceased, Dora A. and Leroy. The family are members of the United Brethren church, in which they are much esteemed. Mr. Snyder is the present trustee of the church, fulfilling the duties of the office with the same care that he gives his private business. He is one of the worthy citizens who do much for any locality by their enterprise and progressive spirit.

a DWIN R. STEWART, of Salem township, Delaware county, Ind., comes of good stock, and was born in Clarke county, Ohio, the son of James and Matilda (McBeth) Stewart, both of Irish descent. The father was born in Ken- tucky, December 28, 1801, and at the age of eleven emigrated with his parents to Ohio, and there learned the trade of a brickmason. When twenty-six years old he was married, and be- came the father of three children by his first wife, who died in 1832, her place of burial being in Clarke county, Ohio. He was next married, November 5, 1833, to Druscilla Rey- nolds, who died December 4, 1888, and was buried in the Saunders cemetery. To this union were born nine children. Prior to this time, however, in 1881, he sold his farm and moved to Muncie, made his home with his daughter in the latter place, and is now living with her and the rest of the children.

Edwin R. Stewart lived at home until he was twenty years old, going to school in the winter, and working in the summer on the farm, and at the age named, went back to Ohio to learn the carpenter trade with a cousin, O. S. Kelly, remaining two years. He then went with this cousin to California, starting from Springfield, Ohio, proceeding down the Ohio river and the Mississippi river to New Orleans, to Georgetown on the Isthmus and from there in canoe to Lake Nicaragua, and crossed that in a sloop, and from there to the Pacific coast on mule back, twelve miles, and then took a bark to San Francisco. During his trip across the Isthmus he was stricken with the Panama fever, and was near death's door for a long while. He journeyed from San Francisco to Sacramento city by steamboat; thence to Marysville by steamboat, and from the latter place to Downeyville on the back of a mule. The trip was quite an expensive one as well as protracted; costing him $306. 50,

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and consuming the time from March 29, 1832, to July 18, 1852.

From Downeyville, Mr. Stewart traveled on mule back eighteen miles to Canon creek, where, with three companions, Oliver Kelley, Joshua Gore and David Bright, he bought a claim for $300, paying $100 down, and agree- ing to pay the balance when they had mined it, but they failed to find more than two ounces of gold, so they gave up the claim. Oliver Kelley and the others went their way, and Mr. Stewart went down the canyon and engaged in putting in a flume in a mine at a salary of $6 per day, this employment lasting two months, when Mr. Stewart bought an in- terest in the mine, which interest he held for three weeks, panning out occasionally as high as $64 per day, and averaging $12 per day. But while at work the water in the creek rose to such an extent as to drive them away- although the claim would yet be a profitable one. Mr. Stewart then went to Slate creek, across the mountains, and there re-engaged in mining until the snow became so deep ---- being ten feet on a level-as to drive Mr. Stewart and his companions, thirteen in all, to seek new quarters. They progressed at the rate of three miles a day for two or three days until they reached Hansomville, after which they made better time, as the trail had been broken from that point. Mr. Stewart and Wash George parted with their companions somewhere hereabout and continued on to Sacramento, and thence crossed over to Wil- low creek, where the companions separated, and Mr. Stewart engaged in mining during the winter of 1853; he next went to Murphy's camp, but did not meet with any success at this place. However, he continued mining at various points for another year, made some money, and then engaged in fluming and framing for the Union Water company, of Calaveras county, conducting water inland

from the Stanislans river. At this employ- ment he was engaged about a year and a half, when he returned home. It was while Mr. Stewart was there that four men were em- ployed four weeks in cutting down a huge tree that measured twenty-nine feet across the stump, the object being to send it to the Crys- tal Palace at New York, but it was found to be too bulky for shipment.

In the year 1856 he returned home and bought a farm of 144 acres of Delaware county's best land, which he has increased to 228 acres. In 1858 he married Margaret J. Shepp, daughter of Jonathan and Lydia (Fen- wick) Shepp, whose sketch will be seen on another page of this volume. By this mar- riage our subject became the father of eight children, namely: Alice F., born November 24, 1858; Oliver K., born October 22, 1860; Lydia L., born July 6, 1863, and died April 6, 1864; Milton H., born March 7, 1865; Mary I., born August 6, 1867; Matilda J., born February 6, 1869; Lilly I., born September 18, 1873; Edwin R., born De- cember 24, 1876. The father of these children is a prominent republican, and active in all matters in his township.

p ERRY V. STEWART. There are many fine farms in Delaware county, Ind., and upon one of these, located in Salem township, lives Perry V. Stewart. He was born in this county, Octo- ber 13, 1845, and is the son of Samuel and Anna (Summers) Stewart. the former a native of Wayne county, Ohio, of Irish descent, and the later of Highland county, in the same state. Samuel Stewart accompanied his par- ents to Indiana in 1835, and married in this state in 1844. He prospered, and at the time of his death, in April, 1859, was worth con-

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siderable property. His widow now lives with a daughter in the city of Muncie, this state.

Perry V. Stewart lived with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, and had attended the common schools, so closely ap- plying himself that he was able at that time to become an acceptable teacher, and continued in that profession until 1869, when he engaged as a clerk with Samuel Williams, and one year later went into the employ of W. A. Brundage & Co., in Muncie, in the same capacity. He remained with this latter firm from 1871 to 1873, when he was taken in as a partner. One year later he sold out and entered the house of George W. Stephenson as book- keeper, and continued with him for three years. Mr. Stewart was married March 2, 1879, to Miss Margaret Sunderland, daughter of Samuel and Lavina (Kepper) Sunderland, and one of a family of ten children. Samuel Sunderland, a native of Ohio, was born Feb- ruary 26, 1812, and immigrated to Delaware county, Ind., locating on the farm where he died. He began life in obscurity, being but one year old when his father died, and at the early age of ten years little Samuel had to start out for himself. His first engagement was to work for $50 per year, and he contin- ued at these wages for four years, contriving to save a greater part of the amount, and in 1836 he made his way to Delaware county, where he entered 160 acres of land. He kept adding to this until he had 12,000 acres, all of it won by hard and persistent labor and by no scheme of speculation. At death he was worth $75,000, which was divided among his children, and the subject of this mention now lives on the old farm which his father first entered. Fraternally, Mr. Stewart is a mem- ber of I. O. O. F. No. 345, of Yorktown. Politically he prefers to think for himself on the important questions of the day, but usual- ly votes with the republican party.

C. SUMMERS, M. D., is one of the most highly respected citizens of Daleville, and one of the leading physicians of Delaware county. He was born in Henry county, Ind., November 22, 1843. son of Simon and Cynthia (Van Matre) Summers. His father was born in Virginia, and his mother in Ohio, their mar- riage having occurred in 1835, in Delaware county, Ind. After his marriage, Simon Sum- mers located in Fall Creek township, Henry county, Ind., in 1835, and began the occupa- tion of farming, which he continued, with good success, until 1857, his death occurring in 1879. His wife survived him until January, 1885, and their remains were laid in Middle- town cemetery. They were the parents of five children, namely: J. V., who holds a government position in Indian Territory; W. H., deceased; H. C .; Faraba E., wife of Frank H. Smith; and Mary J., wife of Samuel H. Davis, of Stockton, Mo. Mr. Summers was a prominent man and is still remembered as an active politician, having represented the people of Henry county in the general assembly, from 1848 to 1856, but as his health, at that time, was seriously impaired, he was forced to with- draw from political life. His church connec- tion was with the Christian denomination. He was a whig in early life, but upon the birth of the republican party, soon knew where to place his allegiance. Fraternally, he was a charter member of the Fall Creek lodge of I. O. O. F., and in business circles his success was unusual.

H. C. Summers was reared upon the home farm until he was fourteen years of age, at which time his parents removed to Middle- town, Henry county, Ind., where he attended the graded schools until he was eighteen years of age. He had long been interested in medi- cine, and now took the opportunity offered of pursuing a medical course under Drs. Summers

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and Guisinger, remaining four years under their tuition, going from thence to Chicago, where he enjoyed the advantages of lectures during the term of 1864-5 at Rush Medical college. He began practice in Henry county, where he continued for two years, coming thence to Daleville, and here he has built up a practice and has obtained the respect and con- fidence of his fellow citizens. Dr. Summers married in Middletown, Ind., in 1864, Miss Sarah A. Laboyteaux, a native of Henry county, to which union four children have been born, as follows : Ollie, wife of W. H. Lind- sey of Anderson, Ind .; Frank L., of Anderson; Glenn S., of Stockton, Mo., and Ella, wife of W. S. Johnson, of Lima, O. Mrs. Summers died in March, 1873, and her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at the village of Daleville, where may be seen a handsome monument erected to her memory. Dr. Sum- mer's second marriage occurred August 4, 1881, to Miss Louise L. Stewart, born in Madison county, a daughter of J. V. and Sarah (Bishop) Stewart. In political life the doctor is a re- publican, and he is socially connected with the order of Red Men.

ILLIAM SUMMERS was born in Delaware county, Ind., September 2, 1854, a son of Terrell and Eliza- beth (McClintock) Summers. His father had come with his parents to Delaware county and was married January 13, 1842, to Miss Samantha Witt, but she died one year later and he then married Elizabeth McClin- tock, April 28, 1844. The first wife left one little daughter, who died at birth, but five children were born of the second marriage: Martha E., the wife of Michael Bowers; Sarah J., born in 1852, died October 9, 1890; John W., born in 1856, died in infancy, and

Emma B., born August 18, 1862. The father of this family died July 12, 1887, and was buried in the Tumbleson cemetery. The date of birth of William is given above.

William lived at home with his parents until he was twenty-four years old and at- tended the district schools. At the above age he married Josephine Thomas, the daughter of John, he being a tanner by trade and a native of the state of Virginia, dying in 1867. Mrs. Summers was one of eight children, three of whom are yet living, James L., Charles L. and Josephine. After marriage, Mr. Summers located on the old home farm, buying out the other heirs. He is the owner of 140 acres of well improved land and is one of the stock- holders in the Richmond gas well. Two chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sum- mers: Bertha F., born March 21, 1880, and Arthur T., born September 22, 1882. Mrs. Summers is a member of the Christian church, and Mr. Summers, like all of his name, is a stanch republican.

S AMUEL K. SUNDERLAND .- Dela- ware county, Ind., is noted all over the whole state for its fine farms and its excellent class of agricuiturists. The finely cultivated farm of Samuel K. Sun- derland answers for itself as to the efficiency of its owner. The broad fields and fertile soil from which abundant yields are realized must be very gratifying to the owner of them, and are almost calculated to excite envy in the minds of the poor passing traveler, whose only claim can be to six feet of mother earth when his time comes to no longer cumber the ground.

Samuel K. Sunderland was born in Dela- ware county, Ind., November 26, 1851, a son of one of the best known and wealthiest men

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of the county, Samuel Sunderland, and his wife, Elvina (Kepper) Sunderland. Samuel K. resided at home with his indulgent parents until he was of age. He received an excellent education at the public schools, and April 5, 1882, laid the foundation of his own home by his marriage with Miss Anna Bell, daughter of Hiram and Mary (Clark) Bell, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, of Irish descent. Mr. and .Mrs. Bell reared a family of eleven children, all of whom are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Sunderland have one child, Carl, born December 28, 1884. Mr. Sunderland has one of the finest tracts of land in the county, con- sisting of 185 acres, well improved, and is considered one of the most prosperous of the young farmers of his locality. Politically he is a democrat, as have been the members of the Sunderland family as far back as their po- litical opinions can be traced. He is a good citizen and takes deep interest in the progress of public affairs.

ILLIAM SUNDERLAND .- Promi- nent among the progressive farmers and stock raisers of the township of Salem is William Sunderland, a native of Delaware county, Ind., and son of Samuel and Elvina (Kepper) Sunderland. He was born on the 12th day of October, 1848, and like the majority of country boys grew to manhood amid the peaceful pursuits of the farm, where he early learned the true dignity

of labor and those lessons of industry and per- severance which have inured to his success in the later years of life. In the common schools, which he attended at intervals during the years of his minority, he acquired a practical knowledge of the brances usually taught there- in, and, chosing agriculture for his life work, he early embarked in the same, continuing the useful calling with most flattering success to the present time. Mr. Sunderland believes in the nobility of the farmer's vocation, and his well cultivated lands, consisting of 178 acres, fine residence, commodious barn and other buildings, bespeak the owner possessed of superior ability as a successful as well as tasty manager.

In the year 1873 Mr. Sunderland and Miss Orlena Marker, daughter of William and Mary (Bishop) Marker, the former of Pennsylvania and the latter of Indiana, were united in the bonds of wedlock. Mrs. Sunderland's father came to Indiana with his parents when but twelve years of age, and is living at this time at Yorktown, following the plasterer's trade, which he learned in early manhood. Mr. and Mrs. Sunderland are parents of three children: Jessie P., born March 4, 1876; Arthur E., born January 4, 1879, and Marker S., born October 8, 1887. In addition to his fine farm Mr. Sunderland has financial interests in the Richwood gas well, and is one of the well-to- do citizens of the township of Salem; he and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and politically he supports the democratic party.

UNION TOWNSHIP.

EORGE F. AMES, M. D .- Among the successful professional men of Delaware county, Ind., Dr. George F. Ames takes a prominent position. Dr. Ames was born Adams county, Ind., No- vember 26, 1860, a son of Jesse W. and Mary (Hooper) Ames, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. They became the parents of nine children, of which family the doctor is the youngest. Mr. Ames pursued an agri- cultural life all his active days, and now lives retired from business in the city of Fort Wayne, Ind., a consistent member of the Methodist church. The mother of the doctor died March 20, 1891. George F. Ames had only reached his fifth year when his father removed to Fort Wayne, and he was reared to manhood in that city. He had excellent educational advantages in the city schools, and after completing the course there, began the study of medicine, under Dr. W. H. Myers, in 1876, with whom he remained six years. Following the excel- lent training received under this skillful prac- titioner, he spent four years in the Fort Wayne Medical college, and received his diploma in the winter of 1881. He at once entered en- thusiastically upon the practice of his profes- sion, and has continued in it ever since, each year adding to his knowledge of the same, and he becoming more widely and favorably known on account of his skill and success. He now has a large and lucrative practive in Delaware and other counties, the people having un- bounded faith in his professional skill. Dr.

Ames was married in Rush county, Ind., May 20, 1891, to Miss Emma Webb, who is a na- tive of that county, born in 1869, and a daughter of Curtis and Cohuram (Shaw) Webb, natives of Indiana and Pennsylvania, respect- ively. Socially the doctor is a member of the order of Red Men, and politically he votes with the republican party. He has served his fellow citizens for two years as town clerk, and has his residence in the pleasant little town of Eaton, where he enjoys the confidence of all.

LIAS S. BABB is a practical and successful farmer of Union township, Delaware county, where he was born December 11, 1850, being the son of David Babb, deceased, and Margaret (Morris) Babb. David Babb was born in Clinton county, Ohio, August 9, 1812, being the son of David and Mary (Hensel) Babb, of Irish and German descent respectively. The parents of Elias S. came from Ohio to Indiana in Janu- ary, 1840, and settled in Union township, the father buying eighty acres of land, upon which he built a log cabin and began to clear the forest. They lived in old Granville until they got things somewhat in shape, and then moved into the log house. The father had to cut the road from where Eaton now stands to the site of his home. He and his family. endured all the hardships of a pioneer life, and reared a large family, namely : William J., a grocer in Colorado; Elmira, wife of Jacob

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Blazer; David H., died in the army during the war; Jaretta, wife of T. S. Stratten; Susan and Jefferson, deceased; Elias S., Miriam M., Sarah FF. and Julia, deceased; Etta W., wife of William Yohey, and L. H., a farmer. David Babb departed this life March 4, 1884, and was buried in the Eaton cemetery. The mother is still living at the old homestead. The father had the following brothers and sisters : John, Susan, Sally, Peter, George, Eliza, Polly and Barbara. The brothers and sisters of the mother are : James, Mary, Jona- than, Christina, Martha, Charity, Henry and Samantha.

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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 84

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