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 92

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 92
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 92

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).

824

WINCHESTER CITY

in June, 1870, prior to the expiration of the term for which he was last elected, and in company with E. J. Marsh, (now of the Port- land Commercial), purchased the Winchester Journal, with which he has ever since been identified. In December, 1871, he purchased the interest of Mr. Marsh in the paper, and in July, 1872, associated Mr. Hodson with him as a partner.

The Journal was then edited and published by Hodson & Beeson until July 1, 1881, when Mr. Beeson became sole proprietor by the purchase of Mr. Hodson's interest and con- tinued to publish it without an associate until January 1, 1890, when he associated with him his two sons. The Journal office is the oldest printing establishment in Randolph county, hav- ing been founded about November 1, 1843, by Col. H. H. Neff, who issued the first number of the Winchester Patriot from this office. In 1892, Mr. Beeson & Sons having erected a commodious building on North Meridian street, removed the Journal plant to that elegant edi- fice in the fall of the year named. In the hands of its present proprietors the Journal maintains the high reputation it has always borne for reliability and influence. It has an extended circulation and is strongly republi- can in politics. In February, 1881, Mr. Bee- son was elected by the legislature of Indiana as one of the directors of the State Prison north, and on the 11th of March, 1881, was chosen president of the board. Mr. Beeson was married, in 1867, to Miss Margaret E. Marsh, an accomplished young lady, the daughter of William Marsh, deceased. This union was blessed by two children, William E. and Charles H., both of whom are now able assistants in the Journal office. Mr. Beeson is a man of well known integrity, and in all respects a good citizen. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and one of the

charter members of Nelson Trussler post, No. 60, G. A. R. He is a thorough business man, prompt and reliable in all his dealings, and governed always by a high sense of honor and right. During his residence in this communi- ty he has gained numerous friends, and by his personal popularity has placed the Journal upon a high plane in literary and political cir- cles.

R ICHARD BOSWORTH, M. D .- Prominent among the successful med- ical men of Indiana is Dr. Richard Bosworth, of Winchester, who for a period of thirty-five years has been a leading physician and surgeon of the county of Ran- dolph. Paternally, Dr. Bosworth is descend- ed from an old English family and he traces his ancestry back to his great-great-grand- father, who with twelve sons emigrated to Massachusetts some time in the sixteenth century. It is a fact worthy of note that all these sons were ministers of the Presbyterian church, and one of them, Bellamy by name, was the doctor's great-grandfather. The grandfather, Richard Bosworth, after whom the doctor was named, served with distinction in the war of Independence, and took part in the battle of Bunker Hill, and after the close of the war purchased a farm adjoining the city of Plymouth, Mass., within sight of the place made historic by the landing of the Mayflower. On this farm the doctor's father, Jacob Bos- worth, was born September 29, 1791. He was connected with the army during the latter part of the war of 1812, but did not participate in any battle or engagement in that struggle. Jacob Bosworth became very proficient in vocal music and also studied medicine. In 1817 he sailed from Boston to New Orleans, . thence by steamboat up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Gallipolis, Ohio, where he made

RBoswoim M.A.

827

AND WHITE RIVER TOWNSHIP.

his home till April, 1836, at which time he moved to Indiana, locating near the town of Portland, Jay county. He was a devoted christian and a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church from 1820 to the time of his death. In his profession, Jacob Bosworth acquired much more than local prominence. He took an active interest in matters educational, and was chiefly instrumental in establishing the Jay County seminary in 1848; later he de- voted his energies in building up Liber college, and was one of the founders of Farmer's academy.

The first Sunday school organized in Jay county was held in his dwelling about the year 1839, and to him is due the credit of organiz- ing the first temperance society and making the first temperance address in the county of Jay. He died at the village of College Corner, January 8, 1866, aged seventy-four years. Nancy Westlake, wife of Dr. Jacob Bosworth, and mother of Dr. Richard Bosworth, was born February 18, 1799, in Greenbrier county, Va., and departed this life in Jay county, Ind., May 23, 1884, at the ripe old age of eighty- five years, three months and five days. She was the daughter of Thomas Westlake, of Virginia; married Dr. Bosworth on the 17th day of February, 1820, and became the mother of twelve children, six sons and six daughters.

Dr. Richard Bosworth was born February 2, 1832, in Gallia county, Ohio, and in 1836 accompanied his parents to Jay county, Ind. In 1838 he attended his first school, taught by Martha Tharp, and later he attended two terms taught by his own father in a primitive structure erected on the latter's farm, being the first building for school purposes in Jay county. After attending district scoool for some time, the doctor entered the Jay county seminary, which he attended three terms of five months each, and later he pursued the

higher branches of learning in Liber college, where he made commendable progress. During the winter of 1849-50 he taught a term of sixty-five days, receiving as compensation therefor the princely salary of $35, and from 1854 to 1857 pursued his medical studies, a part of the time in the medical department of the university of Michigan. Being poor, and all of his available means exhausted, he was compelled to leave college before com- pleting the prescribed course, and be- gin the practice at Pleasant Mills, Adams county, locating in that village on the 23d of September, 1857. From the beginning the doctor's professional career was very successful. Through the influence of a friend he was soon induced to leave Pleasant Mills and locate in Deerfield, seven miles north of Winchester, where he prac- ticed quite extensively until the breaking out of the great rebellion, his professionol busi- ness at that time being as large and remunera- tive as that of any physician in the county of Randolph. In the meantime he attended one other course of lectures in the university of Michigan, but again abandoned his studies before the close of the term in order to settle up his business and enter the service of his country. In August, 1862, Dr. Bosworth was appointed surgeon-at-large for the state of Indiana, and immediately thereafter departed for the front. At New Orleans and other places his principal duty consisted of inspect- ing hospitals, which duty he discharged until the following spring, when, by reason of a severe attack of chronic bronchitis, he ob- tained leave of absence and returned home. While the duties of his position were arduous and exhausting, it afforded very desirable and rare · facilities for observing the intricate diseases and modes of treatment by distin- guished surgeons, native and foreign, and assisting in the most delicate surgical opera-

828

WINCHESTER CITY

tions. After remainining at home six weeks, the doctor re-entered the service, and became assistant surgeon of the Thirty-sixth Indiana, which position he held until the expiration of the regiment's period of service. He then re- turned to Randolph county, and within a short time entered for the third time Michigan university, from which he graduated, with the degree of M. D., in the month of March, 1865.

He was again urged by Gov. Morton to take charge of the office of surgeon-at-large, which office he accepted, and for some time thereafter was busily engaged in the discharge of his official duties. His field of operation extended from Madison, Ind., and Louisville, Ky., to Knoxville and intervening points.

At the close of the war, in June, 1865, the doctor returned to Randolph county and located at Winchester, where he soon regained his former extensive practice. In 1867 he was appointed examining surgeon for pensions, the duties of which he discharged with com- mendable fidelity for a period of fifteen years, resigning in the summer of 1882. For many years Dr. Bosworth did the largest practice in Randolph county, and his professional services extended throughout the adjoining counties of Wayne, Jay and Darke, in which territory his surgical practice was second to that of no other medical man in central Indiana. Worn out by over-work, loss of sleep, etc., the doctor, in 1880, retired temporarily from the practice and sought a much needed rest on the Pacific slope, going as far north as the present state of Washington. Subsequently he spent one winter in Florida, from which state he returned greatly improved in health, and resumed the practice which he still carries on. On the 12th of October, 1886, he met with a serious accident by his buggy upsetting and being dragged under the vehicle over the hard turnpike for a distance of over twenty

feet, resulting in injuries which rendered him a cripple for life. During the thirty-six years which the doctor has practiced his profession, his punctuality in keeping appointments with patients has been religiously adhered to, never having disappointed any one except in case of the most urgent necessity. In private as well as public his life has been an exemplary one, never having sworn a finable oath, taken a glass of anything intoxicating, nor used to- bacco, in any form. Religiously he was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, of which he is a faithful and consistent mem- ber. He has been a liberal contributor to the churches of Winchester, and no proper help to worthy enterprise, charitable or otherwise, has he withheld.

While he has lost thousands of dollars during his long and varied practice, he still has a sufficiency of worldly goods to make his de- clining years comfortable, and he is now press- ing on toward the twilight of life, honored and respected by all-a true type of the intelligent, broad minded christian gentleman. For thirty- four years he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the royal arch chapter, red cross and Knights Templar degrees. He has been elected com- mander for the G. A. R. Post for 1894, a posi- tion entirely unsought for on his part.

Dr. Bosworth is an uncompromising re- publican. He says that he helped to tie the umbilical cord of the republican party in this county. He is a strict partisan, and always takes an active interest in the affairs of his party.

Dr. Bosworth was married, January 27th, 1864, while home on leave of absence from the army, to Miss Sarah A. Hale, a native of Ward township, Randolph county, where her birth occurred February 19, 1836. The follow- ing are the names of the children of Dr. and Mrs. Bosworth: Rosecrans Jacob, born Sep-

829

AND WHITE RIVER TOWNSHIP.

tember 6, 1865, married Edith Bailey, Octo- ber, 1893, and engaged in the mercantile business in Winchester; Leander Ulysses, born October 19, 1867, married Mary Lykens in October, 1893, and engaged in breeding regis- tered Jersey cattle, owning the largest and best herd in Randolph county, and Flora Miriam, born August, 12, 1872, a successful teacher, and still residing under the parental roof.

EORGE W. BOUSMAN, one of the old and substantial farmers of White River township. Randolph county, Ind , was born in Preble county, Ohio, February 24. 1817, and is a son of Adam and Susan (Crowell) Bousman, natives of Virginia, and of German descent. Adam Bousman moved to Ohio and located in Preble county, in 1812, with his wife and three children, and died there at the age of seventy-six, leaving a greatly increased family of children behind, viz: David, James, Julia, Polly, Sarah, George W., Hester and Noah-the last-named four being still in the land of the living

George W. Bousman came to Randolph county, Ind., February 24, 1839, settled in the wilderness on eighty of land, erected a six- teen-foot square cabin, with a clapboard door, and still owns this property as an attachment to his present farm. Shortly before the late war he purchased another tract of eighty acres, but even at this comparatively recent date, he had great trouble with the wolves, and was compelled to pen the sheep at three o'clock in the afternoon, and keep them penned until ten o'clock the next morning. Deer, and other game, however, were quite plentiful. Mr. Bous- man was married in Preble county, Ohio, August 13, 1837, to Sarah (Almonrod) Holmes, a native of Rockbridge county, Va., she being, at the time, the mother of two children

by her first husband, Simon Holmes. She has borne to Mr. Bousman eight children-Susan- nah, Mary, Martha, Lucian, Cyrus, Martin, John and Sarah Jane, of whom Martha, Lucian, and Martin, are now deceased, and the rest married. Mr. Bousman, by good management and industry, has acquired considerable prop- erty, now owning 240 acres at his homestead, eighty acres in section 12, fifteen acres in Jay county, and ten acres in Jackson township, Randolph county, and has erected a fine dwell- ing on his home place. Mrs. Bousman, now aged eighty-four years, is quite active, and does all her own work; Mr. Bousman at the age of seventy-six is also very active and takes great interest in managing his farm.

To refer again to the early days of Mr. Bousman, when he came to the spot on which he settled, it may be well to add that he was compelled to cut his way through the woods. When he did work for other persons his com- pensation was thirty-seven and one-half cents a day, and the price he paid for wheat was $2.00 a bushel. His wife spun and wove all the clothing worn by the family, and all the hardships of a frontier life was encountered, but cheerfully borne. Later on he hewed timber for the bridges of old Bee Line rail- road (now called the " Big 4"), a work of which no other man in this section was cap- able, and hewed the timber for the entire dis- tance from Farmland to Union City, $1.00 per day. One little episode occurred about this time, worth mentioning. The contractor on the road promised Mr. Bousman that, if the latter would haul a load of corn to Union City, he would be paid the wages due him, $70.00. Mr. Bousman completed the task, but the contractor endeavored to swindle him by flight. The would-be swindler, however, was overtaken at Pendleton. and was there made to settle through the aid of Mr. Bous- man's eldest brother, who was a justice of the

830

WINCHESTER CITY

peace of that place. In December, 1850, Mr. Bousman was taken ill with typhoid fever, and was confined to his house until the fol- lowing March, attended by Dr. Hiatt, and this was the only sickness, worth the naine, with which Mr. Bousman has ever been af- flicted.

...

Is EWIS S. BOWSER, a well known and popular resident of White River township, is a native of Ohio, born June 18, 1842, at the town of Lithop- olis. His father, Michael Bowser, was a native of Berkeley county, Va., as was also his mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Altey. Shortly after their marriage, Michael and Margaret Bowser emigrated to Ohio, thence, about 1856, moved to Decatur, Ill., where they resided for a limited period, and then took up their residence in Wayne county, Ind., where they lived until their removal to Darke county, Ohio, four years later. In 1867 Mr. Bowser purchased a farm, consisting of 160 acres in Randolph county, Ind., upon which he passed the remainder of his days, departing this life December 13, 1890, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. His wid- ow survives at a green old age, living at this time on the home place in the township of White River. The following are the names of the children born to Michael and Margaret Bowser: John E., Lewis S., Mrs. Hannah Teagarden, Mrs. Margaret Lasley, George H., Rachel, Mary V. and Luvenia, the last two of whom died in early childhood. By occupa- tion Michael Bowser was a shoemaker, which trade he followed at various places until his removal to Darke county.

Lewis S. Bowser attended school during his youth at Lithopolis, Ohio, and while still young began working at the shoemaker's trade with his father, acquiring much more than

ordinary skill as a workman, which was utilized until the year 1891. He had shops at Ansonia and Palestine, Ohio, Winchester and other points in Indiana, ahd, during the last ten years of active work, operated a shop at Port- land, Jay county. Ind., where he did a very successful and thiving business. In 1891 Mr. Bowser abandoned the bench, since which time he has resided with his mother and sister on the old home farm, practically retired from active life, giving his attention to the manage- ment of a farm which he owns in partnership with a brother.

Mr. Bowser entered the army in 1862, en- listing on the 12th of August that year in company K. Ninety-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he shared the honors and vicissitudes of war until honorably dis- charged from the service in June, 1865. The regiment of which he was a member formed a part of the army of the Cumberland and the subject was detailed to the First company United States volunteer engineers at building pontoon bridges and fortifications, the only general battle in which the command partici- pated being the bloody engagement at Perry- ville, Ky. He now receives a pension of $24 per month.

Mr. Bowser cast his first presidential vote for Horatio Seymour and since that time has been an earnest supporter of the democratic party. He is an active member of the G. A. R., and as a citizen is highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

S TROTHER BROMFIELD, a prom- inent farmer and business man of Randolph county, was born near Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, September 4, 1824, son of Jesse and Sarah Bromfield. The Bromfield family, so far as

831

AND WHITE RIVER TOWNSHIP.

their history can be traced, settled in eastern Pennsylvania in an early day near the city of Reading, where David Bromfield, the subject's grandfather, was born and grew to manhood. He subsequently moved to Rockingham coun- ty, Va., there married Patience Tolman, and about the year 1820 emigrated to Ohio, locat- ing near the town of Lancaster, Fairfield county, where his death afterward occurred.

Jesse Bromfield was born in Rockingham county, Va., and after his marriage removed to Fairfield county, Ohio, where, in 1822, he married Sarah Davis, of Shenandoah county, Va., who bore him a family of nine children, the subject of this mention being the second in order of birth. Jesse Bromfield was a mill- wright by trade, which calling he followed in Ohio until 1836, at which date he came to In- diana and entered a tract of land in what is now Washington township, Randolph county, from which he subsequently developed a fine farm. He made his first trip to the western country on horseback, and, after having pur- chased his land, returned to Ohio for the purpose of bringing his little family to their new home in what, at that time, was a com- parative wilderness. He exchanged his one horse for a yoke of oxen, and, providing a wagon, was soon on his way with his wife and household effects, and in due time the little family was safely domiciled in the primitive cabin, which served as a residence until a more comfortable and pretentious structure could be erected. After residing a number of years in Randolph county, Jesse Bromfield emigrated to Iowa, but did not long remain in that state, but returned to his home in Wash- ington township, where his death occurred in 1855. Mrs. Bromfield survived her husband a number of years, departing this life in 1888.

Strother Bromfield was twelve years old when his parents moved to Indiana, and like the majority of country boys passed his early

life amid the active duties of the farm. He assisted in clearing the home place in Wash- ington township, and, at the age of nineteen, began working at the carpenter's trade, in which he soon acquired much more than ordinary skill, having inherited a natural taste for mechanical pursuits. In addition to car- pentry his ability as a skilled workman was frequently utilized as a millwright, and the machinery in quite a number of mills in Ran- dolph and other counties of southern Indiana was constructed and put in motion by his hands. Shortly after attaining his legal ma- jority, Mr. Bromfield purchased a tract of un- improved land in Washington township, from which he developed a farm, and to which he added , from time to time, until he is now the fortunate possessor of 217 acres, over 160 of which are in a successfulgstate of cultivation. He followed agriculture in connection with mechanical pursuits until 1875, at which time he removed to Winchester, where he has since resided, devoting his entire attention to con- tracting and building, in which his success has been of the most encouraging nature. His handiwork is seen in many of the principal residences and business blocks of the city, while dwellings, barns and other buildings throughout Randolph and adjoining counties attest his skill as a master workman in his trade. Mr. Bromfield has always taken a lively interest in the public affairs of his county, and at one time was elected real estate appraiser, the duties of which important posi- tion he discharged with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned for two terms. His excellent judgment and superior business qualifications have long been recognized by his fellow citizens and it is a fact worthy of note that he has been called to administer on more estates and act as guardian for more orphan children than any other man in the county of Randolph. He was one of origina-

832

WINCHESTER CITY

tors and incorporators of the Randolph County Fair association, has filled a number of posi- tions of trust requiring ability of a high order, and during a long and very active business life his integrity has never been impeached nor has the honesty of his intentions ever been ques- tioned. Politically he wields an influence for the republican party, and though always taking an active interest in public affairs he is not a partisan in the sense of seeking position at the hands of his fellow citizens. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and with his wife belongs to the Christian church.

Mr. Bromfield was married January 28, 1847, to Sarah L. Mills, of Preble county, Ohio, daughter of Jacob B. and Jane Mills, who settled in Washington township, Randolph county, Ind., as early as the year 1836. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bromfield have been born six children, four of whom are liv- ing, namely: Scipio C., Clinton D., who resides in Iowa, Mary L. and Indiana L.

EN. THOMAS M. BROWNE (de- ceased) .-- Gen. Browne was born at New Paris, Preble county, Ohio, April 19, 1829. His father, John A. Browne, was a native of Bucks county, Pa .; his mother, Hannah (Mauzy) Browne, of Bourbon oounty, Ky. His mother died in 1843, which calamity broke up the family circle. His father apprenticed young Thomas M. to Mr. Ralph M. Pomeroy, a merchant of Spartanburg, Randolph county, Ind., soon after which he removed to Grant county, Ky., where he died in 1865, Influenced by the ex- cellent character of his employer, Thomas M. rapidly gained a knowledge of business, and formed correct habits. His opportunities for gaining a liberal education were very meager, being confined to a few weeks each year in the

common schools of Spartanburg, and one term in the county seminary, at Winchester; but so diligent and exhaustive had been his private studies and readings, that we rarely meet one with such a valuable store of practical, literary, or scientific information. In 1848, he began the study of law with Hon. William A Peelle, of Winchester, and in 1849, passed an ex- amination in open court, and was admitted to practice in the inferior courts of the state; two years later he was admitted to the bar of the supreme court of Indiana On March 18, 1849 he married Miss Mary J. Austin, of New Paris, Ohio, who was his faithful companion in both prosperity and adversity, and who watched with the just pride of a wife the honorable advancement of her husband. No living chil- dren blessed their union. In 1850, when but twenty years of age, he was elected prosecuting attorney for Randolph county, and after the adoption of the present constitution, he was three times elected prosecuting attorney for the Thirteenth judicial district, discharging the duties of that office with marked ability and success until 1861. In August of that year he made one of the most powerful speeches of his life on the "Crisis of the Country," in which inany of his enthusiastic declarations seem now to have been prophetic. He was elected chief clerk of the state senate at its session in 1861, and in the spring of 1862 he entered the United States service as aid-de camp on the staff of Gen. Thomas J. Wood, and served with that officer until after the battle of Shiloh. During the siege of Corinth, he was stricken with disease, and returned home, and only recovered after several months of great suffering. In October, 1862, he was elected senator for Randolph county and took a leading part in the debates of the stormy session of 1863, ranking as an able republican leader. The correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette thus describes him at the time:

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 92

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