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 65
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ORTER LENOX, the eldest son of Isaac and Ann Lenox, was born in Monroe township, Delaware county, Ind., January 12, 1856. He was educated at the country schools and remained on the home farm with his father until twenty- one years of age, when he began general farm- ing on his own account, and this pursuit he has successfully followed until the present
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time, living on the farm of his father, which comprises 160 acres, and is situated five miles south of Muncie. October 29, 1889, he married Miss Ann Evans, who was born in Henry county, Ind., August 18, 1856, and is the daughter of David and Elizabeth (Johnson) Evans. The father is a native of Ohio, and is now fifty-five years of age. Miss Evans had the misfortuue to lose her mother, June 25, 1871, when the former was very little more than an infant. She was thus thrown upon the world at a tender age, but was taken charge of by Mrs. Catherine Gibson, her aunt, and Mr. William Gibson, her uncle, who reared her with parental affection and care until her marriage. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lenox has been born one son, William Clifford, who consummated the happiness of his parents August 20, 1890. The parents enjoy the esteem of all their neighbors and are con- sidered to be among the most worthy of the county, Mrs. Lenox being an exemplary member of the Methodist church, of which he, also, is an attendant. In politics he is a republican, and is a faithful worker for his party at the polls.
J OHN LOSH (deceased) was born in Northumberland county, Pa., June 18, 1819, the son of John and Susannah Losh, parents both natives of the same state. John Losh was reared a farmer and came to Delaware county in 1855, and pur- chased the farm still in possession of the family, upon which he resided until his death. He was married November 5, 1840, to Mary Tompson, daughter of Robert and Matilda Tompson, and became the father of the follow- ing children: Matilda, wife of James Watson; Robert T., died June 21, 1849; Martha, wife of Oliver Carmichael; Wilson, died June 24,
1865; John F., died June 21, 1885; infant, de- ceased, and Charles M. Losh, a resident of the city of Muncie. Mr. Losh was always a hard working man, was upright and honorable in his dealings, won universal respect and confi- dence, and was valued as a substantial and public spirited citizen, and loved as a friend and neighbor. He departed this life at Eaton Rapids, Mich., on the 17th day of July, 1880.
Mrs. Losh was subsequently united in mar- riage to Aaron Lackey, son of Joseph and Ad- die Lackey. Mr. Lackey was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1821, and has always followed the farmer's occupation. He has been a resi- dent for some years of Monroe township, where he is universally respected, and as a citizen oc- cupies a conspicuous place in the estimation of his friends and neighbors. Mrs. Lackey is a highly esteemed lady in the community in which she resides, and her life has been fraught with kind words and good deeds. She has indeed been a helpmate, and in the later years of her life many are the friends that rise up and call her blessed. Mrs. Lackey has lived in Monroe township continuously since 1841. She and her former husband settled in the southwest part of this township, where they cleared a farm from the green. She came to her present place of residence in 1853.
A BRAHAM McCONNELL is an in- dustrious and highly respected farmer of Monroe township, and possesses in an eminent degree the esteem and confidence of a large circle of friends through- out the county. Mr. McConnell was born in Delaware county, Ind., June 17, 1843, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Covault) Mc- Connell. He was reared a farmer, has followed that useful occupation all his life, and at this time has a well improved place of seventy-
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nine acres, which is under a very successful state of cultivation. As a tiller of the soil Mr. McConnell has met with well deserved success, and by well directed effort has ac- cumulated a sufficiency of this world's goods to enable him to live in comparative independ- ence. He served his township as assessor for one term, acted as supervisor for a period of about seven years, and he has always taken an active interest in promoting the well being of his neighborhood and community.
Mr. McConnell was united in marriage October 30, 1864, to Elizabeth Fuson, who departed this life April 6, 1867, deeply lament- ed by all who knew her. She was a consistent member of the United Brethren church, and a lady of many excellent traits of character. On the 16th day of February, 1868, Mr. McCon- nell married his second wife, Frances E. Heath, who died May 14, 1886. Like the first Mrs. McConnell, she was a woman whose life was fraught with good deeds, a sincere christian, and a fond and loving mother. To the second marriage the following children were born: Minnie O., Bertha L., Mary V., Harvey H., Charles N., Curtis O., Jessie L., and three whose deaths occurred in infancy. Mr. Mc- Connell, on the 7th day of April, 1887, mar- ried his present wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Gossett, a union blessed with the birth of one child, Asa Mabel McConnell. Mrs. McConnnell was born in Henry county, Ind., November 9, 1856. John and Elizabeth Gossett, the parents of Mrs. McConnell, were prominent members of the United Brethren church, and most excellent citizens. Of their family of eight children, three are living at this time, Rebecca R., wife of B. B. Richards; Mrs. McConnell and Malinda, wife of William Miller.
Mr. McConnell has an army record of which he feels deservedly proud and which proves him to have been one of the brave de-
fenders of the national Union in the dark days of the Rebellion. On the 22nd day of Octo- ber, 1861, he enlisted in company E, Fifty- seventh regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, and was actively engaged in the service for a period of four years, during which time it was his lot to take part in a number of bloody battles. October 3, 1862, his regiment went to Louisvile, thence to Prairieville, and after leaving Nashville, was engaged in the battle of Stone River, January 1, 1863, where Mr. McConnell received a severe gun shot wound in the face, which necessitated his remaining in the hospital for a period of six weeks. Sub- sequently he rejoined his command and par- ticipated in the battle of Chattanooga in the summer of 1863, and afterward took part in the battle of Mission Ridge. He re-enlisted at Knoxville in the spring of 1864, from which time until June, of that year, he was almost continually under fire, having taken part in nearly all the battles around Atlanta. At Kenesaw Mountain he was shot in the left shoulder and right hand, from the effects of which wounds he remained in the hospital eight months. He was then sent to Rock Island, Ill., thence to Springfield, where he remained until honorably discharged Novem- ber 12, 1865, reaching home one month later than that date. Mr. McConnell is a promi- nent member of the United Brethren church, belongs to the Knight of Honor and is promi- nently identified with the F. M. B. A. Mr. McConnell is a stalwart and true republican.
J ESSE W. McKIMMEY, a native of In- diana, was born in Salem township, Delaware county, and was the son of James and Susanah (Adamson) McKim- mey, parents natives of North Carolina and Indiana respectively. Mr. McKimmey was
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reared a farmer, and spent the greater part of his life within the boundary of his native county, and always followed agriculture as his occupa- tion. He was married, in 1860, to Lucinda Clevenger, daughter of Samuel and Margaret Clevenger, who bore him four children, namely: Sanford L., Elnora A., wife of John Lowe; James O., died in infancy, and Charles B., also deceased. Mrs. McKimmey dying, Mr. McKimmey, two years later, was united in marriage to Rebecca (Sharpe) Bowers, daugh- ter of Edward and Anna Sharp, a union blessed with the birth of three children, namely: In- fant, deceased August, 1877, March M. and Erie E. Mrs. McKimmey, who had previously been married to Jacob Bowers, was one of the family of fourteen children, whose names are as follows: Nancy, wife of Benj. Sourewine; Thompson, William, Mary, wife of. Noah Bowers; Amanda, wife of Rev. Mr. Quick; Minerva, deceased; George, deceased; infant, deceased; John, Martha, wife of Ira Kidwell; Loretta J., wife of Solomon Skinner-she died March 7, 1888; Joseph P., died March, 1890, and Sophia C., wife of Rev. W. R. Lowe. Mrs. McKimmey is the ninth in order of birth.
The wedded life of Jacob Bowers and Re- becca Sharpe resulted in the birth of thirteen children, as follows: L. C., Edward M., Isabella A., Oliver P., Russell, Cora L., wife of William P. Gilmore; Amanda, died in 1859; John C., died in 1858; infant, died August, 1862; Martha, died 1863; infant, died Octo- ber, 1869, and Earl O., died 1870. After his marriage, Mr. Bowers moved to the present home farm, where he lived until his death, which was caused by an accident at the rais- ing of a neighbor's barn, on June 6, 1873. By a life of industry and prudent management, Mr. Bowers became the possessor of a reason- able amount of this world's wealth and at the time of his death was in very comfortable cir- cumstances. In the affairs of business and
every day life his actions were governed by a high sense of honor and right, and by a long life of usefulness he gained and retained the confidence of all with whom he came in con- tact. Mrs McKimmey's father and mother died in the years 1854 and 1877, respectively. They were prominent members of the Dis- ciples church, belonged to the Independent Order of Good Templers, and were people highly respected in the community where they resided.
R MARSHALL, M. D., a well known physician and surgeon of Cowan, is a native of Delaware county, Ind., born April 9, 1840, the son of Miles and Elizabeth (Bell) Marshall. The doctor's an- cestors paternally were among the early settlers of Tennessee, in which state his grand- parents, Thomas and Hannah Marshall, were born, and from which they emigrated many years ago to Indiana, locating in Wayne conn- ty, where Miles Marshall was born September 13, 1811. The family were among the pio- neers of Wayne county, where a number of descendants still reside. Miles Marshall was, by occupation, a farmer, and he was known as a successful, reliable man. He was married in Wayne county, Ind., 1834, to Elizabeth Bell, and reared a family consisting of the following children: Thomas, Margaret, Miles, Reuben, Hannah, wife of J. H. Templin, William H., Jacob W., deceased; Jane Eliza- beth, wife of J. B. Jackson, Rebecca E., who was the wife of Albert Ofterdinger; Horace, deceased, and John B. The father died March, 1886; the mother is still living.
Doctor Marshall was educated in the com- mon schools and grew to manhood on a farm. After reaching the years of his majority he taught school for some years in Delaware and Henry counties, in all eight terms, pursuing
R. MARSHALL, M. D.
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his literary studies in the mean time. Orig- inally, he had no intention of entering the medical profession, but while teaching con- cluded to prepare himself for the practice of the healing art, and, accordingly, began the study of the same about the year 1872. In 1874, in order the better to prepare himself for the medical profession, he entered the Miami college of Medicine, of Cincinnati, in which he took two courses of lectures. In 1877 he located in the permanent practice of his pro- fession at the village of Cowan, where he re- mained until 1879, at which time he moved to Gifford, Champaign county, Ill, thence one year later to Ogden, same county and state, where he practiced for about twenty months, returning to Cowan December, 1881, where he has since resided. Dr. Marshall is well read in the principles of the healing art, keeps fully abreast of the times and is now in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice, in which he has met with well deserved success. In politics a republican, he has never been am- bitious for official preferment, all of his atten- tion having been given to the practice of his chosen calling. September 1, 1888, the doctor was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Yelton, who was born in Henry county, Ind., Novem- ber 5, 1856, the daughter of Hayden and Nancy (Hopkins) Yelton. In 1889 Dr. Mar- shall was president of the Delaware county Medical society. He is also secretary of the Cowan Exploring company.
ILLIAM H. NEFF .- Prominent among the representative citizens and manufacturers of the gas belt of Indiana is William H. Neff, whose birth occurred on the 19th of Septem- ber, 1848, in Rockingham county, Virginia. His father, Elias Neff, was born in the same
county and state March 1, 1818, and there married Sarah Ritchey, also of Virginia birth, who became the mother of three children, namely: George, William H., and Catherine, wife of George Will, the first named being de- ceased. The mother of these children de- parted this life in the year 1854 and subse- quently Elias Neff was united in marriage with Margaret Lamb of Rockbridge county, Va., who bore him fourteen children, of whom the following are living: Michael, Sarah, Mathias, Ada, Lewis, Alice and John. Mrs. Neff dying, Mr. Neff afterward wedded Leana Miller by whom he had one child, Hannah. By occu- pation Elias Neff is a carpenter and cooper, both of which trades he has carried on, since early manhood, in his native county and state, where he still resides.
The early life of William H. Neff was passed amid the ordinary routine of home duties, and while still young he entered upon an apprenticeship to learn carpentering with one William Toppin, of Rockingham county, under whose guidance he continued for a period of eight months. Becoming proficient in his chosen calling, he worked about one and a half years with an uncle, Jacob Ritchey, at the end of which time, thinking that the west afforded better advantages to a young man, he came to Indiana, locating in Henry county, where, for a brief period, he found employment as a wood chopper, and later made rails, for a short time, in the same locality. For about one year he was employed as a farm laborer by O. E. Clevenger, Esq., of Delaware county, and later resumed car- pentry, which he carried on until 1882, having in the meantime devoted much atten- tion to the perfecting of an improved washing machine, for which he obtained letters patent in the year noted. Satisfied that the machine of which he was the patentee possessed supe- rior merits, he began its manufacture at Cowan,
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Delaware county, in 1882, on a small scale, employing three workmen. After continuing at the business for some time he disposed of his establishment to R. M. Ball, of Cowan, now of Muncie, and for one year thereafter was engaged in the general mercantile trade at the former place. Discontinuing the goods business, Mr. Neff again turned his attention to the manufacture of washing machines, which he has since continued, being at this time the proprietor of the largest and best equipped factory for the exclusive manufacture of these necessary articles of household comfort and convenience in the United States. The story of Mr. 'Neff's experience as a manufacturer would form an interesting chapter, and for the benefit of those whose lives are beset with discouragements, caused by repeated miscarry- ings of well laid plans, the following brief out- line, gleaned from a published account written by himself, is given: In 1882, as already stated, he commenced the business with a cash capital of $10 and an indebtedness of $200 hanging over him. He made his own ma- chinery, principally out of wood, which cost him $2, thus leaving him $8 with which to pur- chase material for the machines. After judi- ciously spending the $8, and having one man to furnish steam power, he proceeded to busi- ness, and the first week manufactured six washers, which were painted and sold the week following. He continued in this way until March, 1883, when he purchased a horse and horse power, which, attached to his machinery, greatly facilitated the means of manufacturing and enabled him to place the products of his factory on the market in greater numbers. Through the medium of the machines previ- ously sold, the merits of the washer went abroad, in consequence of which the demand increased to such an extent that an establish- ment of greatly enlarged capacity became nec- essary, accordingly he purchased a larger
building, which was supplied with improved machinery, operated by a ten-horse power en- gine. Under the new conditions he was en- abled to manufacture about 100 washers per week, yet in less than twelve months he was again obliged to enlarge his buildings and grounds and purchase new and better ma- chinery, including a twenty-five horse power engine, thus turning out a large number of machines to meet the demands of the con- stantly increasing trade. He continued in this manner with the demand gradually spreading and crowding until 1891, when, for the fourth time he was compelled not only to enlarge his old buildings, but to erect new and more com- modious structures and add to the space al- ready occupied until, as stated in a preceding paragraph, his factory is the largest and most thoroughly equipped establishment of the kind in the United States. The machine he makes is known as "The Perfection Washer," which, as the name implies, has no superior in the market. The almost phenomenal sales during the few years past is proof sufficient that the Perfection is duly appreciated by the public, and in view of the continued demand it is safe to predict that within a comparatively brief period the capacity of the factory will again have to go through a process of enlargement.
Mr. Neff is a wide awake, progressive man, fully alive to the interest of his business and the general prosperity of the community. Personally he is very popular with all, and those who know him best, unite in pronounc- ing him a true type of the broad minded, in- telligent and courteous gentleman. He is a supporter of the democratic party, and while not a partisan in the sense of aspiring to offi- cial honors, he has decided opinions on all public questions and expresses the same in a manner not to be misunderstood whenever occasion makes it necessary. With the I. O. O. F. local lodge, No. 561, he has been identi-
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fied for some years and is also a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, belonging to Cheyenne tribe, No. 133.
Mr. Neff and Miss Helen Fulton were made man and wife on the 6th day of Novem- ber, 1871. Mrs. Neff was born in Delaware county, Ind., in 1852 and she is the mother of the following children: Sanford, an employe in his father's factory; Alberta May, wife of Jacob Rinker; Edward, also works for his father; John, Lillie and Nellie.
EORGE NICHOLS (deceased)-Few residents of Monroe township were more highly esteemed and universally respected than the late George Nich- ols, whose death was felt as a personal loss to the community in which he formerly resided. He was born in Delaware county, Ind., on the 14th day of May, 1857, the son of John and Martha (Lyons) Nichols. He became a suc- cessful larmer, and displayed good ability as a financier, having accumulated during his life, a comfortable fortune, which he left to his widow, who still resides upon the home place. As a member of the German Baptist church, he exemplified the teachings of the Christian religion in his daily life, and as a citizen few men in the township enjoyed, in as great a degree, the confidence of the community. Educated in the common schools, which he attended at intervals in his youth, he was not, in the strict sense of the word, a scholar so far as books were concerned, but, possessing a fund of practical common sense, he was enabled to discharge very successfully the duties of a very active life. He was married September II, 1878, to Ida L. Hill, daughter of Charles and Eunice Hill, to which union the following children were born: Charles E. deceased; Lemuel N., Arletta J., Roscoe J.,
John L., and Lulu M., deceased. Mr. Nichols died on the 20th day of August, 1892, and amid a sorrowing concourse of friends and neighbors was laid to his last rest in what is known as the Fall Creek cemetery.
The parents of Mrs. Nichols were early settlers of Monroe township, to which they removed many years ago, and where they still reside. Mr. Hill is a successful farmer, owning 120 acres of valuable land, is a republican in politics, and a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity.
a LAYTON NICODEMUS, proprietor of a large and successful saw mill of Monroe township, was born in Preble county, Ohio, October 11, 1863, a son of Aaron and Maria (Sayler) Nicodemus, both parents natives of the same county and state, and of German descent. Aaron Nico- demus is by occupation a farmer and is still living in the county of his nativity; all his family of six children are living at this time. Clayton Nicodemus, like the majorty of country boys, early became acquainted with the rug- ged usages of farm life, was reared to agricultural pursuits in his native county and had the ad- vantages of a common school education. He remained with his parents until reaching the years of his majority, ahd then began farming for himself on rented land, and was thus em- ployed for a period of three years. In March, 1892, he purchased the mill of which he is now proprietor, and since that date has been actively engaged in the manufacture of lum- ber, which business is now among the most profitable of the kind in Delaware county. His mill is supplied with the latest improved machinery for the manufacture of lumber.
Mr. Nicodemus was united in marriage December 2, 1886, in Preble county, Ohio, with Miss Dora E. Goodwin, of the same
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county and state, where she was born, on the 30th day of October, 1861, the daughter of Timothy and Sarah (Parish) Goodwin. Mr. Nicodemus is a public spirited citizen, a repub- lican in political belief, and is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, belonging to lodge No. 133. He stands high in the com- munity where he resides and has a wide acquaintanceship throughout his township and Delaware county.
ILLIAM H. PEACOCK .- Promi- nent among the well known citizens of Monroe township is the gentle- man whose biographical sketch is herewith presented. William H. Peacock, son of Elijah and Mary (Wright) Peacock, was born in Tyler county, Va., March 28, 1845, and in his veins flows the blood of Scotch and Irish ancestry. His father, a blacksmith by occupation, moved with his family to Indiana a number of years ago, settling in Henry county, where, near the town of Luray, the early years of William H. were passed. He spent his youth on a farm and remained under the parental roof until the age of seventeen, at which time he responded to the country's call for volunteers, enlisting, December 15, 1863, in company G, Ninth Indiana cavalry, with which he served until honorably dis- charged June 25, 1865. His military career was an eventful one, and during his period of service he participated in a number of battles and experienced vicissitudes, through the like of which but few ever passed and lived to tell the story. He was made a prisoner of war at Sulphur Branch Trestle, September 25, 1864, and kept in confinement at Castle Morgan, Alabama, for nine months, during which period his sufferings and privations were of a most aggravated character, the effects of which
served to impair his health seriously for a number of years after leaving the army. When captured, he was in robust health, weigh- ing 197 pounds, but when released his weight had diminished to eighty-one pounds, and his constitution was greatly shattered by cruel treatment and exposure. His daily rations, during the greater part of his prison life, con- sisted of one quart of corn meal, ground cob and all, and at one timc he was compelled to undergo much inconvenience and suffering caused by an overflow of the Alabama river, which flooded the prison to a height of almost six feet. Among the battles in which he took part were Sulphur Branch, Duck River, and Franklin, beside which his command was engaged in skirmishing with the enemy nearly all the way from Nashville to Atlanta and back again to the former city. After his re- lease from prison he started from Vicksburg with several thousand others by boat, but seven miles above Memphis the boiler of the steamer exploded, resulting in the loss of nearly two thousand lives. This terrible dis- aster occurred in the night time, and the hor- rible sufferings of the poor scalded creatures who plunged or were thrown into the merciless waves of the Mississippi, baffle all efforts of description. Mr. Peacock was on board the ill fated vessel and he struggled between death by scalding and in the waves most bravely during the long hours of that sad night, and was picked up about seven and one-half miles below where the disaster oc- curred. He received a severe cut on the left shoulder, and after reaching the shore rambled around for three days before he suc- ceeded in finding any of his comrades. The agony experienced by Mr. Peacock in this ter- rible catastrophe, made a vivid impression upon his mind, and he recalls the scene only with feeling of the most acute emotion. For nearly three years after returning from the
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