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 76
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
Moses Peterson was the brother of the following: Samuel, Joel, Felix, Jacob, farmers; Catherine, wife of Joseph Boots; Mary, wife of Jonathan Ketman; Christina, wife of Solo- mon Bargdel; Hannah, wife of George Iman. The mother of our subject had one brother and two sisters, namely: Absalom, a farmer; Su- sanna, wife of William Shook; and Penina, wife of John Sparr.
Jacob F. Peterson was married at the age of twenty-two to Sarah, the daughter of William and Harriet (McDonald) Ford, of Scotch-Irish nativity. The parents of the
702
DELAWARE COUNTY :
wife of Mr. Peterson went from Virginia to Ohio, where they lived and died-her father June 6, 1845, and her mother, January 8, 1850, and both sleep their last sleep in Anti- och cemetery, Clinton county, Ohio. They were the parents of the following children: Mildred, deceased; Sarah, wife of subject; Emily, died September 11, 1836; Mary, wife of Silas Addsit; Martha, wife of D. A. Peter- son; Anna E., wife of James Ashley, of Illi- nois; James, a farmer; Mary, single; John, died September 11, 1839; Balis, died in 1842, and Charles, died in 1856. Her parents were members of the Baptist church. Jacob F. Peterson settled, after reaching twenty-one, on the old homestead, and lived there until August, 1866, when he moved to Delaware county, Ind., and settled on his pleasant farm in Niles township, consisting of 325 acres of land. It was then but partly cleared, but is now a beautiful home. A fine structure occu- pies the place of the old cabin, and it is sur- rounded by very substantial barns and outbuildings. Mr. Peterson has been very successful in his farming operations, and owns 325 acres of splendid land. He and his wife are very worthy members of the Methodist church, and are most useful in that body. They are the parents of a large and interest- ing family, namely: William, a carpenter; Newton, a farmer, married to Ella McDaniel; Lawson, a farmer, married to Rosa Devoe; Emily, was killed by a runaway horse, April 14, 1891; Florence, wife of Judson Bryan; Martha C., wife of John Murphy; Frank, married to Martha Brammer; Clair, wife of Ed Brammer. The entire family is held in highest respect, and are esteemed by the people of the township, and by all who know them. The Peterson family is highly moral and altogether upright in its walk through life, each member adhering in good faith to his religious convictions.
ILBUR PETERSON is a well-to-do citizen of Niles township, Delaware county, and was born in Greene county, Ohio, November 23, 1840. He is the son of Moses and Malinda (Juda) Peterson. (See sketch of Jacob Peterson ) Wilbur Peterson was married November 20, 1868, to Sarah J., daughter of Samuel and Angeline (Haines) Barley, natives of Virginia, who moved to Ohio at an early day; lived there for a number of years, and then moved to Niles township, where the father entered eighty acres of land. Here they lived until the death of the mother, when he came and made his home with his son, Wilbur, until his death, Octo- ber 24, 1886. The mother died February 23, 1883. The father of Mrs. Peterson had one brother and one sister, namely: John, a farmer, and Mary, wife of Isaac Carkuff. The parents of Mrs. Peterson were consistent members of the Methodist church. Her father, at one time, owned 259 acres of good land, which he gave to his children, they being named as follows: David, a farmer; Esterline, wife of Amos Fore- man; Kindrick S., deceased, and Charles E., a farmer.
After Wilbur Peterson married he settled in Ohio, near Xenia, where he remained one year, and then moved to his present home in Niles townsaip, where he owns a fine farm of 662 acres. His father gave him, when he started out for himself, $3, 500, and his wife was given fifty-eight acres of land by her father. By this marriage there are four chil- dren, namely: Samuel M., Emma J., Effie F., and Mary A. Mr. Peterson makes stock rais- ing his chief business, and is very successful at it. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church, in which body they are recognized as sincere christians. Mr. Peter- son is a member of the G. A. R. and of the the order of Red Men.
William Peterson enlisted August 22, 1862,
703
NILES TOWNSHIP.
in company D, One Hundred and Tenth regi- ment, Ohio volunteer infantry, at Xenia, and went to camp at Pickaway; then to Parkers- burg and remained there three weeks; thence to Clarksburg, Va .; and then to New Creek station. From the latter place he went to Cum- berland, Md., where he was taken sick and re- mained in the Kelly hospital for a short time, was then taken to the Olive hospital, where he re- mained a month, and was then discharged. He soon, however, joined his company just in time for the battle of Gettysburg. From this place his company went to Philadelphia, then to Balti- more, and afterward joined the army of the Potomac. They remained at Culpeper C. H. for three or four weeks; then marched to Bristol Heights, where they had a severe en- gagement and drove the enemy to the Rappa- hannock. From this point his regiment moved to Belton Station, where it had another en- gagement; then at Kellys' Ford the enemy was driven to Brandy Station, where another bat- tle was fought. November 26, 1863, his reg- iment crossed the Rapidan river and had an engagement with the enemy at Locust Grove. Here Mr. Peterson was wounded and laid up for several weeks. When he recovered he was sent with his regiment to re-enforce Gen. Ward, and marched twenty-four miles from IO A. M. until 3 o'clock of the following morn- ing. He has always been a republican, and he and wife are Methodists. He is also a member of the G. A. R. and the Red Men.
0 AVID C. RACER .- To possess the comforts of a home that is all one's own, and to live apart from the jost- ling crowd of the city in an air which is pure and sweet, this is real living; while the sojourner of the noisy and ill-smelling place filled with houses, and people does but stay
here upon earth. When to the health of the country are added, as in this case, the esteem of friends, and the respect of neighbors, this indeed is the sum of all living. David C. Racer was born in Washington county, Ohio, December 18, 1816; being the son of Dennis and Mary (Haldron) Racer, they being of French and Scotch descent, respectively. The parents of Mr. Racer went from Pennsylvania to Washington county, Ohio, in the year 1800, and lived there until 1847, when they removed to Indiana. While they were living in Wash- ington county, D. C. Racer was born near Marietta. When his parents settled in Indiana they occupied the farm upon which he now lives and which he owns. His brother entered the land, and he subsequently purchased it of him. Here it was that his father and mother lived and finally died, the mother February 23, 1871, and the father September 13, 1871. They now lie side by side in the John Black cemetery, after a married life of seventy years. The mother of our subject was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The children by the marriage of this estimable pair were: Joseph, lost off a steamer, in Arkansas, in the Red river; Mary, deceased; Susan, Elizabeth, and Melissa, also deceased; Dennis, died on on the way to California, and was buried at sea; David, a farmer; died in Iowa; Anna, wife of James Poser; and James, a farmer, died in Ohio. The father of David C. Racer has a brother and sister, Benjamin, a farmer; and Mary, wife of Henry Straight. The brothers and sisters of his mother are: John, who died at the age of one hundred; Joseph, died at the age of seventy; Colman, died at the age of seventy; Rebecca, wife of J. McVery; Ruthy, wife of Daniel Dowlton; and Nancy, wife of William Guilky.
David C. Racer was married at the age of twenty-four, to Malinda Farabee, daughter of William and Sarah (Hoadland) Farabee, the
704
DELAWARE COUNTY :
date of the wedding day being January 17, 1840. The parents of Mrs. Racer came from Pennsylvania to Athens county, Ohio, in i838, where they settled upon a farm of 120 acres. There the parents finally died, the father in 1877 and the mother in 1856; being laid away in the cemetery at Athens, after forty years of happy married life. They reared a family of nine children, as follows: Mary, wife of James McWhorter; Thomas, a physician; Melinda; Catherine, wife of George Canny; Anna, wife of Samuel Mckibben; Elias, a farmer; and Silas and Samuel, deceased. Beside these, Mrs. Racer has the following half brothers and sisters: Nancy, wife of John West, John and Benjamin V., farmers.
The parents of Mrs. Racer were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal and of the Presbyterian churches, respectively, her father being a class leader in his church. The grandfather of Mrs. Racer owned 800 acres of land in Washington county, Pa.
When David C. Racer first came to this country he was very much annoyed by the wolves and the panthers. He has killed four- teen of the former out of fifteen shots and has also brought down many a deer. His market was Muncie' and thither he had to drive his hogs. He and his wife kept house for twenty years before they had a cook stove, and still heve the kettle they first used, a ten gallon one, which the grandson retains as a momento. Mr. and Mrs. Racer have in their possession a pocketbook, which has been in the family since before the Revolutionary war.
Dennis Racer was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his grandfather was stolen when seven years of age and kept by the Indians until he was fourteen, when he was found and taken back to his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Racer have had by their marriage the follow- ing children: James C., a farmer; Thomas H., a farmer; Sarah, wife of Samuel Stafford;
William C., a farmer; John E., a farmer, and Susan, who died August 17, 1856, and was buried at Granville. David C. Racer was supervisor of the township for a period of three years. At one time he owned 320 acres of land; but he has helped his children and now he owns but 120 acres. He makes it a rule to give each of his children $1,200 when they start out in life for themselves. Mr. Racer is a strictly temperate man and can truthfully say that he never drank a drop of liquor in his life. In politics he is a strong republican and gives to that party a hearty support. Mr. and Mrs. Racer are members of the Methodist church, and they, as well as all the members of the family are highly re- spected by all who know them.
DAM SHIRK .- Among the prominent residents of Niles township, Adam Shirk is well known as a successful, honest and prosperous farmer and stock raiser. He was born April 20, 1824, in Greene county, Ohio, son of Jacob and Cathe- rine (Kimmell) Shirk, natives of Virginia, who came to Ohio at an early day and settled on a farm situated on Cæsar creek, near James- town. There they lived and died, the father in 1872 and the mother in 1875. In their early days they were connected with the Methodist church, and the elder Mr. Shirk frequently walked a distance of three miles through the woods to attend divine service, carrying young Adam in his arms. Jacob and Catherine Shirk reared a family, as follows: Alfred, a farmer; Adam, whose name introduces this sketch; John, Jacob, Henry, William, Jemima, wife of James Dougherty; Sarah, wife of Jesse Bow- len; Malinda, wife of James Bales; Susan, wife of John King, and Mary, the wife of Eli Bales. Adam Shirk has been a hard working man and
705
NILES TOWNSHIP.
now takes pardonable pride in his fine farm of 320 acres, which he has earned by his own close attention to business. He moved upon this place in September, 1853, and now has a fine estate, well improved and well stocked He first lived in a log cabin on the place for sixteen years, and then built the present beau- tiful residence, in which may be found every comfort.
Adam Shirk was drafted into the Uniied States service March 22, 1865, and went to Richmond, Ind., where he hired a substitute for $800. He married, February 16, 1846, Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Dorothy (Hickman) Bales, natives of Ireland and Ger- many, and to this union seven children have been born, as follows: John, who died Janu- ary 20, 1852; Amanda J., who died August 10, 1871; Marion, a factory hand; Jacob, a a farmer; William, a farmer; Adam B., who died August 7, 1871; and Mollie, wife of Charles Bullock. Mr. Shirk has taken an active part in public affairs in the township. He was for some time drainage commissioner, and socially is a member of the Masonic order and the Patrons of Husbandry. He was mas- ter of the grange for four years, and all of his offices have been efficiently filled. He is a member of the Methodist church and one of the leading citizens of the community in which he resides.
ENRY SHIRK, a well-to-do and pop- ular farmer of Niles township, Dela- ware county, was born in Greene county, Ohio, April 10, 1832, and is son of Jacob and Catherine (Kimmell) Shirk. The father was of German descent, and set- tled on a farm of 120 acres in Greene county, having come from West Virginia. There he lived until his death in 1872, and three years later his devoted wife followed him to the grave. Jacob and Catherine Shirk were the
parents of the following children: Jemima, Sa- rah, Susan, Alfred, a farmer; Melinda, Adam, a farmer: Jacob, died in thearmy during the war; Henry, and William, a farmer. Henry Shirk remained at home until he was twenty-one years old, at which time he was married to Dorothy Bales, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Hickman) Bales, both natives of Penn- sylvania. Jonathan and Sarah Bales went to Ohio at an early day, where the father bought land which cost him $10 per acre. The father of Mrs. Shirk was a soldier in the war of 1812, in which he served three years, and later filled the office of justice of the peace for a number of years. The parents of Mrs. Shirk were honest, good people, and members of the Bap- tist church. Their children were four in num- ber, namely: Elizabeth, wife of George Brickles; Jonathan, a farmer; Leah, wife of Calvin Mullen, and Mrs. Dorothy Shirk; the latter died March 8, 1890, and was laid to rest in the Strong cemetery, where an appropriate monument marks the spot.
Mr. Shirk remained single for one year, and was then married to Mrs. Hannah M. Jones, widow of Matthew Jones and daughter of David and Magdalen (Zimmerman) Baker, of German descent, and natives of Pennsyl- vania. They came to Muncie in the fall of 1861, and then moved to Dunkirk, where Mr. Baker purchased a farm of 160 acres, upon which his and his wife's deaths subsequently occurred. The wife of Mr. Shirk is a pious member of the Baptist church and is highly regarded in the community. Mr. Shirk has a farm of sixty acres of good and well improved land. He is an honest and hard working man and much respected in the township where he has resided for so many years. His educa- tion was received in the common schools, and he is a man of good practical common sense. In politics he is a democrat, and strongly at- tached to his party.
706
DELAWARE COUNTY :
The first husband of Mrs. Shirk was Matthew Jones, a native of Butler county, Pa., and the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Sanderson) Jones, natives of Pennsylvania. The following are the names of the brothers and sisters of Matthew Jones: Henry, a farm- er; Isaac, a farmer; William, a cooper; Betsy, wife of John Marks; Rebecca, wife of Levi Doty; Polly, wife of J. Reed, and Anna Will- iams, a half-sister. Matthew Jones is the second son, and a cooper and carpenter by trade. By his first marriage, which took place September 24, 1851, in Pennsylvania, he became the father of the following children, namely: Allen R .. Jefferson Z., Magdalen, Catherine, Anna, deceased, and David W. H. Mr. Jones was a member of the Methodist church, and an active worker in that body. He was a member of the Masonic order, being of a social mind, and making many friends. This good man was a kind father, and was highly respected by all knew him.
ILLIAM SHIRK is an honest, hard working and successful farmer of Niles township, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, in the year 1833. His parents lived and died in Ohio, the father passing away in 1859, and the mother in 1866. They are buried in the Shooks cemetery, in Greene county. The father was a farmer, and he and his wife were highly respected people. They lived and died in the faith of the Methodist church. William Shirk remained at home until he was twenty- three years old, and then married Margaret Golder, daughter of John and Emeline (Bul- lock) Golder. Her parents went from New York to Greene county, Ohio, where her father purchased a farm of 100 acres near New Jasper, upon which they lived and finally
died; the father in 1883, and the mother August 10, 1890. Mrs. Shirk has two brothers, John W. and Hiram A., both farmers. John and Emeline Golder were members of the Christian church, and are buried in the James- town cemetery, in Greene county, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Shirk are the parents of seven children, namely: John A., a farmer; Hiram G., a farmer ;. Dorothy E, wife of N. H. Bailey; Jacob M., a carpenter; William S., a farmer; Margaret E., wife of J. C. Fudge, and Laura D., at home. Mr. Shirk came to Niles township, Delaware county, Ind., Sep- tember 6, 1873, and settled at his present home, where he owns a farm of 160 acres of land, well improved. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church. Mrs. Shirk is a faithful and good wife, coming from honest and hard working parents, who set- tled in Ohio in an early day, endured all the hardships of pioneer life, a portion of which she herself experienced.
Mr. Shirk was a soldier in the late civil war, enlisting in 1864 in an Ohio regiment with which he served until July 17, 1865, when he was discharged on account of a wound received in the battle of Buzzard's Roost, Ga. He remained in the hospital for many months and now draws a pension from the government.
R. SMITH is a representative far- mer of Niles township, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, March 4, 1857. He is the son of Benjamin F. and Emily (Peterson) Smith, both parents of German extraction. The father went from West Virginia to Greene county, Ohio, where he met the lady who afterward became his wife. He lived in that county for thirty-six years, and then came to Niles township, Dela-
707
NILES TOWNSHIP.
ware county, Ind., where he purchased the farm of 240 acres, upon which M. R. Smith now lives. This land was partly cleared when it came into his hands, and he devoted himself to developing and putting in order the fine place, which, at this time, is one of the best farms in the township. At one period of his life Benjamin Smith owned 718 acres of good land. He died May 5, 1888, and his wife Feb- ruary 5, 1881, and both were buried in the Eaton cemetery.
Benjamin Smith had the following brothers and sisters: John, minister; Martha A., wife of Joseph Stowe; Betsy, wife of Levi Gustin; Har- riet, wife of William McDaniel; Sophia, wife of Eli Anderson; Louisa; Catherine, wife of Alfred McDaniel. The following are the names of the brothers and sisters of Mrs. Emily Smith: Jacob F., a farmer; Amanda, wife of Smith Babb; Tena, wife of Andrew Black; Eli, a farmer; Wilbur, a farmer; Harriet, wife of James Anderson; and Ellen, wife of Edward Paget. Benjamin Smith was a very success- ful stock dealer, as well as a farmer, who made the tilling of the soil a thing of profit. His fellow citizens made him commissioner for nine years, and assessor for two terms. He was an honored member of the Masonic order. He and wife were members of the Methodist church, and highly respected in that body.
M. R. Smith received, for his portion, the old homestead, consisting of 120 acres. He remained at home until he was of age, and then married Sarah, daughter of Henry and Martha (Laturner) Shannon, of French and German descent. Her parents came from Maryland and Ohio respectively, and both came to this state with their parents, and here they were married in 1860; settling in Union township, Delaware county, where the father owned a farm of forty acres. Upon this he lived for twenty-two years, and then moved to Granville, where he owns a farm of 120 acres,
and upon which he now resides. Mrs. Emily Smith died July 17, 1885.
Mrs. Sarah Smith had one sister, Mary, wife of Walter Berry. The brothers and sis- ters of her father were: Alexander and Will- iam, deceased; Elizabeth, wife of William Gregory; Simon, a farmer; Nancy, wife of David Simongton; Mary, wife of David Si- mongton; Maria, wife of Miller Sherry. The brothers and sisters of the mother of the wife of our subject were: Mary, wife of William Wright; Maggie, wife of William Sherman; Lizzie; and Adolphus, a minister.
M. R. Smith moved on the farm which his his father gave him, soon after his marriage, and has lived there every since. He is nicely located, and has the best of improvements upon the place. He is an enterprising, hard working man, and highly esteemed by all who know him. His life companion is a pious member of the Methodist church. Mr. Smith, in addition to farming, devotes much of his time to the raising of stock, in which he is very successful. He is a member of the order of Red Men, and takes much interest in that organization. In politics he is a republican, and never fails to assist that party when ever his services are needed. He has the following brothers and sisters: Mary, wife of John Bar- ley; Charles a farmer; Sophia, wife of George R. Lowe; Louis F., a farmer; Linnie, wife of J. E. McDaniels; Anna, wife of Charles Miller.
3 OHN R. STAFFORD, a prominent farmer of Niles township, of which he is a native, is a son of Joseph and Amrilla Stafford, and dates his birth from the 17th day of March, 1861. Paternally he is descended from Irish ancestry, and on the mother's side is of German lineage. Joseph Stafford and wife moved from Ohio to Dela-
708
DELAWARE COUNTY :
ware county, Ind., a number of years ago, settling in the township of Niles, where they reared a family, and where they resided uutil their respective deaths, the former departing this life April 3, 1877, and the latter August 30, 1882. The following are the names of the brothers and sisters of Joseph Stafford: Finley, George, Relph, Catherine (wife of Valentine Pence), Margaret (wife of John Black), Betsey, and Ruth (the latter married to William Black).
Amrilla Stafford, whose maiden name was Dinsmore, was the daughter of John Dinsmore, whose birth occurred near Winchester, Va., on the 28th of June, 1797. Mr. Dinsmore in an early day emigrated to Ohio, where he re- sided until 1837, in October of which year he became a citizen of the Hoosier state. He was married on the 25th of June, 1819, to Elizabeth Anderson, whose birth occurred May 9, 1798, in the state of Maryland. The follow- ing is a brief record of the family of John and Elizabeth Dinsmore, viz: Robert H. Dinsmore, the eldset son, was born December 1, 1855; Will- iam, born December 24, 1824-died December 28, 1862; Rachel A., born February 15, 1828; Amrilla J., born August 8, 1831-died August 30, 1883; Mary N., born August 18, 1833; Daniel M., born October 31, 1837-died Oc- tober 12, 1843; Eli W., born February 25, 1841-died October 12, 1843. The mother of these children died March 23, 1848, and the father was called to his final reward on the 29th of October, 1865. John R. Stafford grew to manhood in Delaware county, and has resided within its borders ever since his birth, making his home in Niles township, upon the site of his fathe's original purchase. At the age of twenty, he was united in mar- riage to Nancy A. Boyd, daughter of Cornelius and Martha (Jacobs) Boyd, to which union the following children have been born; William M., Bessie M., Susan Fair, Nellie E. and Charles
R., the last named deceased. Mr. Stafford began life for himself as a farmer, and still de- votes his attention to that useful calling, being, at this time, one of the successful agricultur- ists of the township of Niles. His first real estate consisted of forty acres, to which addi- tions have been made from time to time, until the area of his farm now contains ninety-five acres of fertile land, the greater part in a suc- cessful state of cultivation. Mr. Stafford is enterprising and progressive, a leading citizen of the community in which he resides, and his name is well worthy of mention among the representative men of Niles township. Po- litically, he is an ardent republican, and in religion, a Methodist. Mrs. Stafford is a member of the Christian or New Light church.
B ENONA THOMAS is a well-to-do and excellent citizen of Niles township, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, June 2, 1836, being the son of Price and Anna (Bobo) Thomas. The parents are of German and Welsh-Irish descent, and went from Kentucky to Ohio in 1816, settling upon a farm of 160 acres. They lived there until 1833, when they came to Niles township, Del- aware county, Ind., settling at Granville. The father carried a chain to lay out the towns of Granville and Albany. He had the following brothers and sisters: Milton, a doctor; Susan- na, wife of Benona Robbins; Price, an auction- eer; Dorinda, wife of Andrew Battrell; Jerry, a farmer; William, a plasterer, and Michael, a farmer. Mrs. Anna Thomas had the follow- ing brothers and sisters: Martin, a farmer; Jemima, wife of T. Clemings; Jared, a farmer; Alley, wife of John Thomas; Margaret, wife of Absalom Carner; Dorcas, wife of Thomas McKinney, and Garner, a blacksmith. Price and Anna Thomas had born to them, beside
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.