USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware county, 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 51
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Ind., and erected a large blast furnace, of which Mr. Patterson was superintendent of construction in conjunction with J. R. Root. While in Brazil, Mr. Patterson also sank a coal shaft, built two miles of railroad, and had 400 men under him at one time, all in con- nection with the blast furnace. After one year and a half devoted to this work, Mr. Patterson returned to Muncie, and the partners bought back the stock of Mr. Seitz and carried on the business together until the death of Mr. Sam- ple, August 29, 1873. Mr. Patterson, about a year later, sold out to Mr. Shirk.
After the death of Mr. Sample, Mr. Patter- son went into the brokerage and private bank- ing business in partnership with Theo. J. Riley, which was so conducted until Mr. Riley's death, since when Mr. Patterson has employed his time in purchasing real estate, and in building, developing and renting his various properties. Mr. Patterson was a member of the Muncie school board for twelve years, and the grading of the public schools was effected during his terms of service.
The marriage of Mr. Patterson took place, in 1855, to Miss Samantha Collier, daughter of Samuel R. Collier, who was, a number of years ago, at different times, surveyor, auditor and clerk of Delaware county. This union has been blessed with two children, viz: Will M. and Cora P., wife of George F. McCul- loch. In Samantha Collier, Mr. Patterson indeed found a helpmeet, for to her encourage- ment and cheering aid is due much of his suc- cess, as her management of his domestic affairs acted in a large measure as a stimulus to renewed and more energetic enterprise on his part; and it will be readily conceded that it is due to such enterprise, as exemplified by such men as Mr. Patterson, that the prosperi- ty of any community is made an assured fact.
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP.
e RASMUS ALLEGRE-There are perhaps few among those who were at one time prominent and respected citizens of Delaware township, Dela- ware county, Ind., whose memory is more respected, and whose genuine worth more widely recognized than that of the late Erasmus Alle- gre, who was born near Lexington, Ky., Aug- ust 30, 1811, a son of James and Rhoda (Phelps) Allegre, both natives of that state. The family removed to Ohio in 1816, locating in Fayette county where the father engaged in farming until 1832, when he moved to Dela- ware county, Ind., locating near Albany, where he purchased a large tract of land, (some of it now in the town) and all now owned by his descendants. James and Rhoda Allegre were the parents of a family consisting of nine children, all of whom are deceased.
Erasmus Allegre was reared a farmer and his educational advantages were very limited. He managed to obtain sufficient knowledge of books to enable him to engage for a time in school teaching and devoted the rest of his time to working at his trade of brick mason, which he continued to carry on until within a few years previous to his death. This sad event occurred December 20, 1871, and his remains were laid to rest in the Bethel ceme- " tery near the town of Albany. His life was one of success, at the time of his demise be- ing the owner of five hundred acres of land and being counted one of the wealthiest men
in the township. He will long be remembered for his enterprising and progressive spirit. As a politician he was an earnest supporter of republican principles and in his religious views he was a Methodist.
In 1844 he was married to Miss Julia Pace, born in Ross county, Ohio, June 15, 1822, daughter of William and Mary (Thomas) Pace. These parents were both born near Richmond, Va., where they married, after which they moved to Ross county, Ohio, in 1814, and there engaged in farming. In 1828 they moved to Fayette county, Ohio, and re-
mained there until 1841, when they removed to Delaware county, Ind., and located on property near the town of Albany. The death of Mr. Pace occurred in 1845 and two years later Mrs. Pace passed away. Their remains rest in the the Strong cemetery, where a mon- ument marks their resting place. They reared a family of nine children, all of whom have passed out of life except the widow of Mr. Allegre. The family of Mrs. Allegre were Baptists, but late in life Mr. Pace became a Methodist. He was a kind and loving father and was esteemed by all. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Allegre located where they lived for a period of forty years, the pleasant life only being interrupted by the lamented death of the husband and father. The following are the names of their children: Rhoda, wife of George Current, who has charge of the farm, and Martha, wife of Lewis Davis, a physician at
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Farmland. Mrs. Allegre is a lady of many virtues. She is a faithful member of the Methodist church, and a good, conscientious christian woman. She still enjoys life and takes a pardonable pride in living so long on the old homestead.
0 R. J. V. BAIRD is one of the lead- ing physicians of Albany, Delaware county, Ind .. and is very popular in his profession, having a large prac- tice. Dr. Baird was born in Jay county, Ind., June 13, 1850, and is the son of John and Eliza (Staley) Baird and grandson of Beedent Baird, a native of Scotland. Beedent Baird came to America about the year 1790, and lo- cated in New York, where he lived for some time, and then settled in Warren county, Ohio, where he resided until his death. The father of Dr. Baird was born November 8, 1808, and was reared on a farm, receiving his education in the common schools. He married Eliza Staley January 27, 1831, and removed with her to Jay county, Ind., August, 1839, the country then being a wilderness. The father purchased property there, improved a farm, and resided upon the same until his death, which occurred October 25, 1859; his wife died July 10, 1870, and the remains of both rest in Claycome cemetery. They were the parents of nineteen children, six of whom are now living, namely: William, R. C., Dr. J. V., Sarah, Elizabeth and Mary. Beedent Baird was an abolitionist, having the old fashioned underground railroad at his house, and was a very ardent friend of the fugitive slave. He joined the republican party as soon as it was organized and remained loyal to it the remain- der of his life.
Dr. J. V. Baird was born and reared upon the home farm, and [early in life was taught
the principles of economy and industry. In his youth he attended school in the old log house, so common throughout the west, and at the age of seventeen began teaching, which he continued for some time, attending, mean- while, the summer and fall terms at Liber college, in Jay county. While pursuing his studies at this institution he began the study of law with J. W. Heddington, of Portland, Ind., with whom he continued for one year, when he exchanged his library for medi- cal books, and began preparing himself for the medical profession. He read under Dr. E. W. Moon, Portland, for over two years, and then entered the Eclectic Medical insti- tute at Cincinnati, Ohio, attending in the years 1879 and 1880, and graduating in 1881. He then began practice in the village where he has remained ever since, and in the year 1891 took a post graduate course in the same col- lege. Dr. Baird has a good practice, and has been quite successful. He was married Aug- ust 26, 1876, in Jay county, to Mrs. Aurelia J. Hayes, to which union two children have been born, namely: John W., and Morris B. The mother of these children died February 28, 1890, and on June 30, 1892, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., the doctor married his present wife, Mary McGarvey, who was born in Ken- tucky, August 14, 1857; daughter of Peter and Margaret (McGrail) McGarvey, natives of Ireland. Mrs. Baird is a graduate of the college of Physicians and Surgeons, of Indiana. She is a thorough student, and her papers on medical subjects have given her considerable distinction. She began the practice as a homeopathist, but now practices in the same school as her husband. Mrs. Baird is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, while her hus- band is a free thinker. He is a member of the republican party. and a strong supporter of its candidates. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Red Men. Dr.
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Baird is connected with the Gas company, and the Albany Land company, of which he is a director.
J OHN BANTZ .- Among the prominent citizens of Delaware township, Dela- ware county, Ind., who did much toward the improvement and opening up of this part of the county, was the subject of this biographical sketch. For nearly fifty years he spent his life among this people and was well known and highly esteemed for those qualities which characterize the good neighbor, kind friend and reliable citizen.
John Bantz was born in Preble county, Ohio, February 3, 1831, a son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Bremer) Bantz, natives of Ohio and Maryland, respectively. They were farm- ers by occupation and remained in the state of Ohio until 1838, when they removed to Dela- ware county, Ind., and purchased the property upon which the widow of the subject of this sketch now resides. The original purchase consisted of 160 acres, and Mrs. Bantz is now the owner of 134 acres. Joshua Bantz died July 11, 1875, his wife having passed away in 1864.
John Bantz was reared on the home farm and received the education of the common school, never having removed from the town- ship. He was married July 18, 1853, to Miss Rebecca M. Hobbs, daughter of William and Sarah (Chalk) Hobbs, natives of Greene county, Ohio, to which part of the country the ances- tors of the family came from Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Bantz had a family of eleven chil- dren, seven of these now living, as follows: Isabella, the wife of N. Brinson; James; Nancy G., wife of Stephen Gray; Catherine, wife of William Marks; Milroy; Emma, wife J. Bartlett, and Grant.
The life of Mr. Bantz ended July 27, 1891,
and he was much lamented by a large con- course of friends. He was a democrat in his political faith and had ably acted as supervisor of the township. Mrs. Bantz, with the assist- ance of her son, Grant, has carried on the farm, very successfully, since his decease. It consists of over 130 acres of some of the finest arable land in the county and has excellent improvements.
A NDREW BLACK is a prominent cit- izen of Delaware township, where he has a fine home, and is surrounded by all that is calculated to make life pleasant. He was born in Clarke county, Ohio, March 9, 1837, and is the son of John and Margaret Black. His father was born in Montgomery, county, Va., November, 1805, and was the son of Andrew and Susan (Ross) Black, both natives of Virginia, their ancestry being Scotch-Irish. The family emigrated from Ireland to America, in an early day, and settled in Virginia, where descendants still reside. The mother of Mr. Black was born in Clarke county, Ohio, January 25, 1809; she was the daughter of George and Catherine (Fair) Stafford. John Black and Margaret Stafford were married in Clarke county, Febru- ary 28, 1828, and located near New Carlisle in the same county. The husband engaged in the tanning business, which trade he followed until 1837, when he came to Indiana and located upon the land in Delaware county which his son, Andrew, now owns. The house he built in 1840 is still standing. John Black engaged in the milling business and farming when he came here, purchasing a tract of forty acres, which he improved and added to until at the time of his death he owned seven tracts, each consisting of eighty acres. He also owned the fine mill, which he built in
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1847, and operated until his death; doing a lucrative business in the manufacture of both lumber and flour. He died June 30, 1868, and was buried in the Black cemetery. His widow lived until June 13, 1876. They were members of the Methodist church, and devoted to its teachings. In politics Mr. Black was a republican.
John Black and his worthy wife were the parents of four children, namely: Andrew; Susanna J., deceased; George F., deceased; and Catherine, wife of Robert Brammer.
Andrew Black was reared on a farm, and also learned the trade of milling, taking charge of his father's mill in 1848, and running it until 1851, at which time he took charge of the home farm, cultivating the same until 1865. In the latter year he again took charge of the mill, and has ever since operated it with success and financial profit. Mr. Black owns 365 acres of land of the old homestead as well as his mill property, his entire wealth being the result of hard work and good man- agement. The mill makes twenty-five barrels per day, and does corn and feed grinding, be- side turning out a large amount of lumber.
Mr. Black was married May 22, 1851, in this township, to Mary E. Fishburn, born in Greene county, Ohio, August 28, 1832. She was the daughter of David and Catherine (Graves) Fishburn. By this marriage he be- came the father of six children, namely: David A., of this township; Margaret E., wife of Henry Brammer; John F .; Martha, wife of Andrew Clark; Catherine A., and Clara, de- ceased. The mother of these children died October 6, 1866, and on the 25th of February, 1868, Mr. Black was married in Greene county, to Christine Peterson, whose birth occurred in the same county and state, November 24, 1837. The fruits of the latter union are three chil- dren, namely: Mary, wife of W. Bryant; Charles E., and Moses. Mr. and Mrs. Black
are members of the Methodist church; he being a trustee in that body. In politics he is a republican.
AVID A. BLACK is a native of Dela- ware township, is an excellent farm- er, is a prominent man in his commu- nity, enjoying the confidence of his neighbors and friends, and setting an example in the matter of good farming, worthy of imi- tation. He was born March 28, 1852, being the son of Andrew Black, whose sketch ap- pears above. His boyhood was passed on the home farm and in his father's mill, being em- ployed in the latter for seven years, after which he engaged in the pursuit of agriculture on his own responsibility. His first property he bought in 1883, being the farm upon which he now lives, consisting of eighty acres highly im- proved, beside which he has eighteen acres in the town of Albany. What knowledge of books he received came through the common country school, and work too often interfered with his educational training. Mr. Black was married in March, 1875, to Lucette Thomas, born in this township December 22, 1852. She is the daughter of George W. and Catherine (Price) Thomas, natives of Ohio, and pioneers in this county. The fruits of this marriage were Cyril A., deceased, Frederick O., John F., and an infant, deceased. The mother of these children died March 11, 1882. Mr. Black was next married in December, 1884, to Mar- garet C. Thomas, the sister of his first wife. She was born in Wheeling, this county, April 27, 1867, and has borne her husband three children, namely: Walter Ray, Leroy E., deceased, and Carl. Mr. and Mrs. Black are members of the Methodist church. In politics he is a republican. He has social impulses, and is a member of the Masonic order. Beside
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owning valuable land interests, Mr. Black owns fifty shares in the Albany Land company, and is a director in that corporation.
ILLIAM BLACK (deceased)-was a man of extraordinarily excellent character, respected by all who knew him and his death caused gen- eral regret among his entire acquaintance, the universal sentiment being that a worthy and a good man had been called away. He was born in Clarke county, Ohio, August 13, 1811, being the son of Andrew and Susan (Ross) Black. The father, Andrew Black, was born in Giles county, Va., in 1785, and came west with his parents, John Black and wife, to Clarke county, Ohio, where he remained until the death of his parents. The parents of William Black were married in Virginia; they reared a family of ten children, namely: John, Samuel, Mary, James, William, Thomas, Jane, Andrew, Edward and Susan. Andrew Black served six months as a soldier in the war of 1812, and in politics he was a whig. He was very suc- cessful in his business affairs and left a hand- some competence at his death, which occurred in October, 1854, his wife having departed this life in September, 1845. This busy and worthy man was a tanner as well as farmer, and he succeeded in whatever he undertook.
The subject of this sketch was reared upon the home farm, remaining there until he was twenty-three years old, when he came to this county and entered a half section, and also forty acres, where his family now lives. He came here first in 1829, but did not enter the land until his second visit, in 1832. Imme- diately after his second visit he erected a log cabin, eighteen by sixteen feet, having but one room and a puncheon floor, with a clapboard door and roof. A handsome brick residence now
occupies the place of that primitive log cabin. There were no neighbors between Mr. Black's place and Fort Wayne and he did not often see visitors at his house in those early days. Mr. Black was a justice of the peace and his bailiwick embraced a very large territory. Game was abundant-deer and wolves, especi- ally. Bringing along from Ohio plenty of provisions, clothing, etc., they were not so limited as some others as to food and raiment, their stock lasting until the land yielded of its increase. The work was hard, but their cour- age was great, and Mr. Black's hands and those of his help at home cleared 240 out of 300 acres, changing a great forest into bloom- ing fields that yielded immense harvests of golden grain year by year.
Mr. Black was married in Clark county, Ind., November 14, 1833, to Miss Ruthie Stafford, and came to this county overland with a horse team of his own and with a hired ox-team, making the journey in eight days. This young couple left a home of comfort and luxury, and entered the great primeval forest to brave every peril and privation pertaining to a frontier life. For years there was no school house, no physician, no store, no neigh- bor, no anything. but the wolves that howled by night, the great trees through which the mournful winds sighed and groaned, and hard work every day and all the time. Such priva- tion was necessary in order to prepare the way for the present civilization. For a period of nearly sixty years Mr. Black lived here and saw the forests disappear and flowers smile in the sunlit places where once the dark shadows lay at noontime; saw settlers come one by one and cheerily take up their burden; saw log cabins spring up here and there to give way presently to fine residences; saw the country thickly settled and prosperous; saw himself surrounded by grown up children who loved him; saw himself surrounded by every comfort
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and luxury and honored and respected by his neighbors, and then finally he died, at a good old age, May 31, 1891. His remains lie in the Black cemetery and a handsome monu- ment marks the spot and tells the passerby of the brave old pioneer.
Mr. Black was a sincere christian and a member of the Methodist church. In politics he was a republican, and his faith in that party was so strong that he worked for it with all possible zeal. He filled the offices of justice of the peace, township trustee and other township offices, and always to his own credit and to the good of the community. His success was the result of honest and hard labor, self performed, as he received no assist- ance from any one. Since his death his estimable widow, whom everybody loves for her many good qualities, has remained upon the homestead, carrying on the farm intelli- gently and profitably.
This patriarch and pioneer was the father of ten children, namely: Margaret J., wife of Cyrus St. John, of Albany; Susan E., wife of William Pace, of Indianapolis; James E., a carpenter of Eaton, Ind .; Catherine F., wife of Aaron Brammer; Martha A., deceased; Marietta, wife of John Richey; Seline E., de- ceased; Sarah H., deceased; Ruth, wife of George Younts, and William H., at home. The mother of these children, all of whom are highly respected and useful members of socie- ty, is a sincere and devout christian woman and has proved herself to be a kind and devoted wife, a sensible and loving mother and a good neighbor and friend. All who name her speak in her praise and wish that every one of her declining days of life may be peaceful and happy.
This family, in all its branches, proximate and ultimate, has maintained its respectability wherever known, and this township of Dela- ware may well feel proud of them as its citizens.
AVID E. BRAMMER .- All over this great country are men living quiet and unostentatious lives, wearing the simple garb of the agriculturist, but who bear marks, never to be effaced, of the years of the late war, and who showed to the world, at that time, of what material the loyal man is made. Perhaps the day will never come when these heroes will obtain their just due, but a record like this cannot pass by without at least a brief sketch of some of the most worthy. David E. Brammer was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, October 22, 1842, a son of Roland and Catherine (McCorkel) Bram- mer. Both parents had descended from old and highly respected Virginia families. They married in Lawrence county, Ohio, where they remained all their lives, the father dying June 6, 1882, and the mother mother February 23, 1859. The father was aged seventy-three years, one month and twenty-eight days at the time of his death, but the mother had bare- ly passed her forty-sixth year when called to her final rest. They were the parents of the following children: Robert, deceased; Edmund; Mahala, deceased; Andrew; Elizabeth, deceas- ed; William, David; Amanda, deceased, George, Thomas, Jacob and Henry. Mr. Brammer was a well known and influential man in his local- ity, having served as deputy sheriff for several years, and also as constable at different times. He was a worthy citizen, and in early life was a strong whig, later becoming a republican. The family were reared in the faith of the United Brethren church, in which Mr. Bram- mer was much esteemed, and was a notable example of the moral and upright christian gentleman.
David E. Brammer was reared on the home farm, but after the death of his beloved mother he began to work away from home by the month, and, in 1860, went south to take the job of deadening timber and of chopping
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roads through the swamps. This, although very laborious, was profitable work, but the troublous times came on, and in May, 1851, he returned north. Here he engaged in gener- al work until September 15 of the same year, when he enlisted in company K, Second Ohio volunteer cavalry for three years or during the war, serving until May 25, 1865, and partici- pating in a number of battles. At the battle of Stony Creek he was taken prisoner; was sent on to Petersburg, where he was confined two weeks; thence to Richmond, where he was incarcerated in the infamous Libby prison for twenty-one days, only to be succeeded by an imprisonment still worse, at Andersonville, where a wretched existence was dragged out for nine months, before being paroled. At Black river they were kept seven days, and then were taken aboard of the ill-fated steam- er Sultana, he being one of the unfortunate soldiers who were on board when that steamer burned and blew up. His hair was burned from his head, one leg was broken, and he suffered untold agony from scalding. One thumb was so badly scalded that the nail dropped off. For seven weeks he was cared for in the hospital in Memphis, and was then able to be transported to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he remained two days and then went on home to stay. It is well for agitators to read such tales that they may know what war costs.
After his recovery, Mr. Brammer engaged in farming by the month, but later went south and engaged at steamboating from New Or- leans to Shreveport, La., making several trips as far as Jefferson, Tex., and one as far as Roland, Tex. This occupation he followed one winter, but came to Indiana in March, 1866, locating in Delaware county, where he engaged in working by the month, for five months, and purchased his first piece of prop- erty in 1870. This was a tract of sixty acres, which he bas since increased, until he now
owns 240 acres of valuable land, well im- proved, upon which he resides in great com- fort. Mr. Brammer was married August 5, 1867, in Delaware county, to Miss Sarah Brammer, born in this county, daughter of Edmund and Nancy (Hatfield) Brammer, and three children have been born of this union: Emma Z., deceased; Nancy C., wife of Robert Cultiez, and Martha B., wife of Franklin Pe- terson. Mrs. Brammer is an excellent woman, and a valued member of the Baptist church. Mr. Brammer is a republican.
ENLEY BRAMMER comes from an old and highly respected family and reflects credit on the same. He is a native of Delaware township, where he was born February 20, 1841; being the son of Edmund and Nancy (Hatfield) Brammer. The father was born in Patrick county, Va., January 7, 1801; the son of Edmund and Mary (Lee) Brammer, the mother an aunt of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the great Confederate chieftain. The father of Henley Brammer was but one year old when his parents crossed the mountains, and located in Cabell county, W. Va., where he remained until his eighteenth year, after which the family moved to Law- rence county, Ohio, where the parents died. He then married, went to Fayette county, Ohio, and engaged in farming; remained there until 1836, and then moved to this county, where his death occurred June 18, 1889. The mother of the subject departed this life Janu- ary 10, 1872. This worthy couple had ten children, namely: Roland, Mary, Rachel (deceased), Malinda (deceased), Rebecca (de- ceased), Elizabeth, Mahlon, Sarah A., Aaron and Henley. Edmund and Nancy Brammer were firm believers in the doctrines of the Bap- tist church, and followed its teachings; Mr.
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