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 99

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 99
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 99

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).

Mr. Hawkins was married, in the year 1833, to Agatha Teagle, who is still living at an advanced age, making her home, at this time, in the town of Farmland. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins, viz .: Mrs. Elizabeth Abshire; Mary, deceased; Mrs. Ra- chel Maggard, Mrs. Martha M. Mann, Phebe, deceased; James, Columbus, Mrs. Henrietta King, William and Mrs. Matilda Mull.

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a HRISTOPHER COLUMBUS HAW- KINS .- Prominent among the repre- sentative farmers and stock raisers of Randolph county, Ind., is Christopher C. Hawkins, a native of White River town- ship, and son of William and Agatha Hawkins, an appropriate mention of whom appears in the preceding sketch.

Christopher C. Hawkins was born on the 15th day of October, 1847, and grew to man- hood on his father's farm, his education em- bracing the studies taught in the common schools, which he attended at intervals until attaining his legal majority. His first. practi- cal experience in life was as a farm laborer, which he followed until 1882, when he came into possession of his present beautiful and highly cultivated farm of 120 acres in section 32, a part of the old homestead. Mr. Haw- kins has made the pursuit of agriculture a subject of careful study, and his success as a tiller of the soil has certainly been most grati- fying. His improvements rank with the best in the township, among them being a fine barn 36x42 feet in size, with an addition cov- ering an area of 14x36 feet, the entire building most admirably arranged and supplied with all the modern conveniences found in first class structures of the kind. Mr. Hawkins has achieved an enviable reputation as a breeder of short horn cattle, in addition to which he gives considerable attention to horses, and none but the best breeds are found on his place.

Mr. Hawkins was united in marriage May 30, 1882 to Sarah, daughter of John and Diadem Barns, the results of which union have been four children: Omer, Harry, Nellie and Clara. Mr. Hawkins cast his first ballot for Gen. U. S. Grant and since that time has been an unswerving supporter of the republi- can party. He is progressive in all the term implies, has intelligent and well defined views

upon all questions of the day, and all with whom he comes in contact bear testimony to his manly character and sterling worth as a high minded citizen and neighbor.

ILLIAM L. HAWKINS is a native of White River township, Randolph county, and descends from good old North Carolina and Virginia families whose ancestors came to America be- fore the war that gave the United States their independence-the war of the Revolution. He was born July 29, 1854, and is a son of Will- iam and Agatha (Teagle) Hawkins, the Haw- kinses being the North Carolinians and the Teagles the Virginians. The marriage of these parents took place in Wayne county, Ind .. and it was some time after that event that they came to Randolph county and settled on a farm.

On this farm William L. Hawkins lived until he was twenty-one years of rge, receiv- ing, in the meantime, a thorough training in agriculture and such an education as the com- mon schools of the day afforded. But he was quick of perception, had a retentive memory, and a disposition to improve every advantage that offered itself for the enhancement of the knowledge he already possessed, and conse- quently, by close observation of men and cur- rent events, he became one of the best posted men of his day. In 1891 he left his old home and came to Winchester, and in August, 1892, engaged in handling lumber, in which he was very successful until he relinquished the busi- ness a year later.

: May 2, 1882, Mr. Hawkins married Henri- ette Moore, who was born in Stony Creek township, Randolph county, September 29, 1864. She is the daughter of John L. and Lydia (Pegg) Moore, and has borne her hus-

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band four children, who were born in the fol- lowing order: Minnie E .; Estelle (deceased); Lionel and Charles, and the family, grouped together, from a most lovable one. Mr. Haw- kins is a member of the I. O. O. F., and Mrs. Hawkins is a Daughter of Rebecca, and both are members of the Society of Friends. The old home-place of Mr. Hawkins contains 129 acres, is in a high state of cultivation, and gives evidence of the careful oversight of a skillful agriculturist.

a LI HAWORTH, a farmer, was born in Winchester, Randolph county, Ind., June 3, 1836. His father, David Haworth, was born in 1796, in Green county, Tenn., and when a lad was taken by his father to Highland county, Ohio, and there reared on a farm. In 1817 he came to Randolph county, Ind., and worked at carpentering in Winchester until he was mar- ried. He built the first frame house in that city, and many others besides. In company Ellis Kizer, father of Thomas Kizer, he built a steam grist mill-the first in that section of the country-but this was a losing venture, as there was not enough grinding to be done in the vicinity to make it pay. He was quite active in helping to organize the county, being prominently associated with the old settlers and pioneers. In 1840, as stated, David Haworth moved to a farm near White River meeting-house, east of Winchester. He had married Miss Ann Cox, daughter of Benjamin Cox, and Eli, their first son, was but four years of age when settlement was made at the new home.

Eli Haworth attended the common schools for a limited period of time, but his father being in somewhat impaired health, hisgreater attention had to be devoted to farm work. In

August, 1862, he enlisted in company H, Eighty-fourth Indiana volunteer infantry, went to Nashville and Triune, Tenn., was on the Rosecrans campaign, was at Chickamau- gua, Chattanooga, Shell Mound, Missionary Ridge, with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign, at Franklin and Nashville, and in the pursuit of Hood, etc.

After receiving an honorable discharge he returned to the home farm, and has there re- sided ever since. Mr. Haworth was married in 1856 to Miss Lydia E. Hickman, by whom he had three children, two of whom, Newton and John M., are still living. Mrs. Haworth died March 24, 1866, and March 23, 1867, Mr. Haworth married Mrs. Nancy L. Sum- mers, whose maiden name was Gray, and to this union were born four children, of whom one, Luella J., is still living, and is married to Silas C. Benson, of White River township. Mr. Haworth is an active member of the Society of Friends, and in politics is a repub- lican. He has the respect of the entire neighborhood and is regarded as an upright citizen in every particular.

ENJAMIN HAWTHORNE, ex-sheriff of Randolph county, Ind., was born in Warren county, Ohio, September 17, 1844, and is a son of William and Rachel Hawthorne, natives of the same county, in which county they were married, and resided until 1856, when they removed to Highland county, where Mr. William Haw- thorne engaged in farming until 1859, when, in filling a lamp with kerosene, an explosion took place, both mother and son being burned to death-life lasting only twenty-four hours after the terrible disaster. Mr. Hawthorne then broke up housekeeping, aud engaged in common laboring until 1861, when he again

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married. By his first marriage there were born to him seven children, who were named Benjamin, whose name heads this sketch; Luther, of Ridgeville, Randolph county, Ind .; Marcus K., actor and musician of Ridgeville; Lewis, of Saratoga; Frank, deceased; Charles W., and Samuel, deceased.

Benjamin Hawthorne was reared in War- ren county, Ohio, until August 9, 1862, when he enlisted in company E, Seventy-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war, and was assigned to the army of the Cumberland, taking part, also, with Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and partici- pating in the battles of Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Averysboro, N. C., Benton- ville, and mauy lesser engagements and skir- mishes. On one occasion, March 26, 1865, he with his company, was out foraging, and was captured by Gen. Joe Wheeler's rebel cavalry, and for forty days was held prisoner, being paroled in April following, and being paroled in April following, and being honora- bly discharged at Camp Dennison June 23, of the same year.

He then returned to Warren county and engaged in whatever honest work his hands could find to do, until his marriage in January, 1866, when he worked by the month until some time in 1867. He then rented a farm in Miami county, Ohio, which he cultivated two years, and March 4, 1869, came to Randolph county, purchased a farm of seventy-two acres near Deerfield, in Ward township, and here made his home until 1886, when he was elected sheriff of the county by the republican party. So well did he perform the functions of his office, a second nomination was accord- ed him, and he was re-elected by a very large majority. He retired from office in 1890, and engaged in keeping a restaurant until Septem- ber, 1891, when ill health contracted while in the army, compelled him to retire from business.

The lady whom Mr. Hawthorne so happily secured for his bride bore the maiden name of Christiana Harker. She is the daughter of Enoch and Christiana (Swing) Harker, and was born in Clermont county, Ohio, August 4, 1844. She has borne her husband two children-Ira D., a broom maker and formerly deputy sheriff under his father, and Charles P., now attending school.

Mr. Hawthorne has held all the township offices of Ward, being a very popular man, and overcoming the usually large democratic majorities. He is past grand of the I. O. O. F., a member of the G. A. R., and receives a pen- sion of $8 per month for his disabilities incurred in the army.

EORGE W. HELMS, one of the most prominent and one of the oldest hardware merchants in Winchester, and who has successfully engaged in other business enterprises, was born in Marion county, Ind., December 18, 1823. He is a son of John and Mary (Cobb) Helms, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Kentucky. John and Mary Helms were married in Kentucky, from which state they came to Indiana in 1820, thence moved to Ohio, where the father died in 1829. His widow remained in Ohio until 1838, when she returned to Indiana and settled in White River township, Randolph county, on a farm, on which she passed the remained of her life, passing away in 1858, the mother of eight children, viz .: James S .; Samuel M. and Huldah deceased; George W., whose name heads the sketch; Mary A. deceased; Eliza- beth, wife of John W. Diggs, whose sketch appears on another page, and two infants de- ceased. As was her husband she also was a strict member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

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WINCHESTER CITY

George W. Helms was but fifteen years of age when he came to Randolph county with his mother.

He enjoyed a common-school education, and grew up with a taste for mechanics. Un- til 1851 he remained on the farm, six miles northwest of Winchester, but came to this town in that year, and became the partner of Lewis Walker in the cabinet business, and was subsequently associated with John W. Diggs in this same business.

In 1863 he began the practice of the photographer's art, which he continued until 1866. In that year, he embarked in mercan- tile pursuits in partnership with John Richard- son, and at a later date was associated with Dennis Kelly. In 1875, he formed a partner- ship with Joseph W. Bishop in the hardware business, at which he is still engaged. In 1879, the firm of Helms & Bishop added the grain business to their pursuits, and in this have been very ruccessful. June 4, 1854, Mr. Helm was united in marriage with Miss Almira Hiatt, daughter of George Hiatt, Esq., a highly respected citizen of this county. This lady was born March 6, 1832, but Mr. Helms had the misfortune to lose her October 26, 1891. She was a member of the Society of Friends, and died in the grace of that faith. July 30, 1892, Mr. Helms took for his second matrimonial companion, Sarah M. Menden- hall, daughter of Dr. R. B. and Prudence B. Alexander, and born in Preble county, Ohio, March 18, 1848. Mr. Helms is now the owner of a comfortable farm in White River township of 100 acres, and carries in his busi- ness a stock valued at $4, 000.

In his early political life Mr. Helms was identified with the whig party, and arrayed himself with the anti-slavery element, being a pronounced abolitionist. Upon the rise of the republican party, he embraced its principles, and has ever since been among its active sup-

porters. He has taken an active part in the temperance movement, and is recognized among the friends of that cause. He has lived an upright, moral life; by his fair and honorable dealings has established himself in the confi- dence of his fellow-citizens, among whom he is highly esteemed.

HOMAS A. HELMS, a nephew of George W. Helms, whose sketch is in detail above, was born December 9, 1858, on the farm settled by his par- ents, Samuel and Anna (Ruble) Helms, in White River township, Randolph county, Ind., in 1838. These parents died respect- ively, January 30, 1879, and February 8, 1875. They were the parents of nine children, who were named as follows: John W., Sarah E. (deceased), William H., Mary J., James (deceased), Francilla, Thomas A., George A. (deceased), and Emma J., also deceased.

Thomas A. Helms resided on the farm with his parents until twenty years of age, receiv- ing a good common school education. In October, 1879, he came to Winchester and entered the hardware store of his uncle, George W. Helms, with whom he has been employed as clerk down to the present time. He married, March 27, 1880, Miss Mary E. Dodd, a native of Randolph county, born November 1, 1858, and daughter of Henry and Matilda (Addington) Dodd, and by this union have been born four children, viz: Harry C., Alice L., George H., and Edward F. Mr. Helms is largely connected with the fraternal organizations of the city and county, being a member of the I. O. O. F., the Red Men and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, and in politics he is a republican. Mr. Helms has developed a natural talent for business,

AND WHITE RIVER TOWNSHIP.

and in his dealings has manifested the same sense of honor and integrity that characterized his worthy uncle.

A LLEN R. HIATT, retired merchant of Winchester, Ind., was born in North Carolina, February 20, 1829, and is the youngest of the nine children born to John and Rachel (Glandon) Hiatt, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of South Carolina. After marriage John Hiatt and wife made their residence in North Carolina, in which state he died in 1831, and in 1833 the widow with her family came to Indiana and settled on a farm in Ran- dolph county, where she also passed away at the home of her eldest son, in the year 1844. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and she an Episcopalian, while in politics he was a strong anti-slavery man. By trade he was a blacksmith, but by vocation a farmer. He was an affectionate husband. a kind father, an upright man and a useful and respected citizen. And Mrs. Hiatt was pious and gentle of disposition, and no children than hers ever had a more devoted mother. The nine children born to John and Rachael Hiatt were named as follows; Sarah, widow of William Montgomery, of Randolph county; Amos, Samuel, Elizabeth, Mary, Lavina, Irene, all seven deceased, and Allen R., whose name opens this sketch.

Allen R. Hiatt was reared chiefly on a brother's farm until he was eighteen years of age, after which he taught country and village schools for eighteen quarters. In 1856 he en- tered a general store as clerk, filled the posi- tion six years, and then located in Winchester, where he opened a retail hardware store, and for thirty-two years sold his wares over one counter, and then retired, a merchant recog-

nized for his probity and affability, and honor- ed for his sterling qualities as a man. He was married in Randolph county, in September, 1851, to Mary A. Clark, a native of Warren county, Ohio, born in November, 1830, and a daughter of Jacob and Patience (Wright) Clark, respectively natives of Pennsylvania and Vir- ginia. This felicitous union has been blessed with the following named children: Elvira A., wife of T. F. Moorman; John J., deceased; George W., boot and shoe merchant; Oliver A., who died in October, 1890; Edwin J., liveryman; Katie, who died in October, 1892; Mary A., employed as a general assistant in the Farmers & Merchants' bank; Emma E., a teacher; and Wilbur C., salesman. Mr. and Mrs. Hiatt are members of the Presbyterian church, and in politics he is a republican; he has filled several township and school offices, and has been a Free Mason since 1858. He is now living in retirement, enjoying the respect of all his fellow-citizens.

DWIN J. HIATT, the popular livery- man and dealer in horses at Win- chester, was born at Ridgeville, Ran- dolph county, July 6, 1859, a son of Allen R. and Mary A. (Clark) Hiatt, a sketch of whom is printed upon another page of this volume. Edwin J. Hiatt received a good common-school education at the public schools of the county, came to Winchester in early boyhood, and has been here ever since. For some three years he was in the boot and shoe business with his father. In 1887 he began the livery business in Winchester and has since continued the same, meeting with much suc- cess. He is an expert in his judgment of stock, and ever since he began this business he has been buying and selling horses. He was most happily married March 18, 1885, to Miss

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Alberta Brown, born in Wayne county, Ind .. and a daughter of John S. Brown, of the firm of Kelly, Sands & Brown, pork packers of Richmond, this state. To this union three children have been born, and named Bessie, Lulu and Russell.

In politics Mr. Hiatt is a republican, and fraternally is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Hiatt is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and the family enjoy the respect of a large circle of friends in the city and in the county.

NOS R. HIATT, photographer of Winchester, was born at Farmland, Randolph county, Ind., May 17, 1861; son of Eli and Anna (Hiatt) Hiatt. His father was born southwest of Farmland in 1828, and died in Missouri in 1869. The mother also was born in this county in 1831, and now lives in Winchester. Mr. Hiatt is the younger of two living children. He passed his early boyhood on the farm until sixteen years of age, when he came to Winchester. At seventeen years of age he began the study of photography in the gallery of James Charles. In 1879 he began the business for himself, and seven years ago he took up his present loca- tion on east Franklin street. Mr. Hiatt was married, in 1883, to Miss Mary E. Stanley, who was born at Farmland in 1863. This union has been blessed with one child, Rea. In politics Mr. Hiatt is a republican and in religion he and wife are members of the Society of Friends. Mr. Hiatt is a fine artist and has been quite successful in his business career. His gallery is inviting in appearance, and everything about the establishment de- notes good taste and refinement on the part of the proprietor. His photographs are produced in the highest style of the art, and have never failed to give satisfaction to his patrons.

LPHEUS F. HICKMAN, a thorough- going farmer of White River town- ship, was born in Randolph county, October 15, 1857. His father, Har- rison Hickman, was also a natlve of this county, and was born December 1, 1836. The grandfather, Jacob Hickman, was a na- tive of North Carolina, but came to Indiana and to this county when a boy, and experi- enced the usual vicissitudes of the early pioneer. A sketch of Jacob Hickman, with many interesting details, may be found in an earlier history of this county. The father of Alpheus F. was born in White River town- ship and led the usual life of a farmer's boy, working on the farm in summer and attending

the district school in winter. At the age of twenty he was married. but remained at home until the date of his majority. His wife was Mary Ralston. When twenty-one years of age he went to Iowa and bought a farm of forty acres, on which he lived for three years, when he sold his place and returned to this county, and soon after coming back-in 1862- enlisted in the Eighty-fourth Indiana volun- teers, and followed the fortunes and misfor- tunes of this company through the war, with the same record as Capt. G. U. Carter, of the same company, except on March 17, 1865, about two months before the regiment was mustered out, he contracted the small-pox, near Hunts- ville, Ala., and died at this place, and was here buried. Alpheus, of whom this sketch especially concerns, was the only child of his parents, and at the time of his father's death was a little over seven years of age. His father was not successful in his business relations while in Iowa, returning to Indiana almost penniless, and at his death his wife and child were left destitute. They went to live with the grandfather, Jacob Hickman, and resided there until the old gentleman's death, which occurred in March, 1873. His

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mother died in September, 1872, and his grandfather dying shortly afterwards, the lad was left, not yet sixteen years of age, doubly an orphan. Having no protector, he lived with his grandmother until 1879, when her death occurred. During this time, by his own industry, and through his mother's death, he had acquired thirty-five acres of land. July 14, 1880, he was married to Miss Ida Pierce, daughter of Joab and Elizabeth Pierce. One child has been born to them, Waldo, May 22, 1884. Mr. Hickman has now a handsome farm of ninety-eight acres, the re- sult of his industry and good management. He is emphatically a self-made man, and is a trustworthy and reliable citizen, respected by all whom he comes in contact with. He is a republican and stands very stanchly by the party of his choice.

ENJAMIN F. HILL, JR., a native of White River township, Randolph county, Ind., was born November 2, 1855, the son of Madison and Mar- garet (Irvin) Hill, who were married in this county, August 11, 1851-the result of this marriage being three children, viz: B. F., whose name opens this paragraph; Mary R., wife of B. N. Botkin, of Winchester, and Oscar, who died some yaars ago. Madison Hill' the son of Benjamin Hill, Sr., was born at Olden, Va., on the Kanawha river, near Charleston. His father cama to Randolph county, Ind., about 1830, when Madison was a mere infant and entered a quarter-section of land, but subsequently acquired an entire section. Madison was reared on this land and became one of the most skillful farmers in the county, and, knowing his business, became wealthy in prosecuting it. About 1885 he re- ' moved to Winchester, and, soon afterward,

he and his son, Benjamin F., organized the Winchester Handle manufacturing company, in which, for a time, Mr. W. A. Martin, held an interest, but in a few months sold his in- terest to the founders.

The father and son then continued the business together until the decease of the the senior partner. Madison Hill died at his home on West Washington street, Winchester, on Friday, March 1I, 1892, at the age of sixty-two years, ten months and twenty-nine days, deeply mourned by the surviving mem- bers of the family, by his employees, and by his innumerable friends throughout the city and county. In politics Mr. Hill was a repub- lican. His widow still resides in Winchester, and makes her home with her daughter, with whom she is passing her closing years in serenity and peace.

Benjamin F. Hill, Jr., was well educated in the schools of his native township, and at Winchester. In December, 1884, he married Miss Ella May McBeth, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah (Towel) Mc- Beth. The children born to this congenial union are Ralph and Hazel Irene, whose pres- ence makes delectable the home of the parents. In politics Mr. Hill has ever been a most ardent republican, preferring to render his aid to the party, rather than seek its aid or assist- ance. He is an honored member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Order of the Golden Eagle, and his standing in the community in which he has so long lived is most enviable.

ENRY W. HILL, farmer of White River township, Randolph county, was born in Greensfork township, October 18, 1828. His father, Will- iam Hill, was native of North Carolina, born in 1785: married Mary Hockett in 1807.

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(She was born in 1784, and came to Ohio in 1807.) They came to Wayne county, Ind., (near Richmond), in 1810; moved to High- land county, Ohio, in 1811, (probably on ac- count of the Indians); returned to Wayne county, Ind., in 1816; came to Randolph county in 1823; bought sixty acres of land at second hand; had nine children, all living to become grown and to be married, and four still survive: Philip, Rebecca, Miriam and Henry. William Hill died in 1840, aged fifty-five years; his wife died in 1865, aged eighty-one years.

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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 99

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