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 84
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from the Stanislans river. At this employ- ment he was engaged about a year and a half, when he returned home. It was while Mr. Stewart was there that four men were em- ployed four weeks in cutting down a huge tree that measured twenty-nine feet across the stump, the object being to send it to the Crys- tal Palace at New York, but it was found to be too bulky for shipment.
In the year 1856 he returned home and bought a farm of 144 acres of Delaware county's best land, which he has increased to 228 acres. In 1858 he married Margaret J. Shepp, daughter of Jonathan and Lydia (Fen- wick) Shepp, whose sketch will be seen on another page of this volume. By this mar- riage our subject became the father of eight children, namely: Alice F., born November 24, 1858; Oliver K., born October 22, 1860; Lydia L., born July 6, 1863, and died April 6, 1864; Milton H., born March 7, 1865; Mary I., born August 6, 1867; Matilda J., born February 6, 1869; Lilly I., born September 18, 1873; Edwin R., born De- cember 24, 1876. The father of these children is a prominent republican, and active in all matters in his township.
ERRY V. STEWART .- There are many fine farms in Delaware county, Ind., and upon one of these, located in Salem township, lives Perry V. Stewart. He was born in this county, Octo- ber 13, 1845, and is the son of Samuel and Anna (Summers) Stewart. the former a native of Wayne county, Ohio, of Irish descent, and the later of Highland county, in the same state. Samuel Stewart accompanied his par- ents to Indiana in 1835, and married in this state in 1844. He prospered, and at the time of his death, in April, 1859, was worth con-
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siderable property. His widow now lives with a daughter in the city of Muncie, this state.
Perry V. Stewart lived with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, and had attended the common schools, so closely ap- plying himself that he was able at that time to become an acceptable teacher, and continued in that profession until 1869, when he engaged as a clerk with Samuel Williams, and one year later went into the employ of W. A. Brundage & Co., in Muncie, in the same capacity. He remained with this latter firm from 1871 to 1873, when he was taken in as a partner. One year later he sold out and entered the house of George W. Stephenson as book- keeper, and continued with him for three years. Mr. Stewart was married March 2, 1879, to Miss Margaret Sunderland, daughter of Samuel and Lavina (Kepper) Sunderland, and one of a family of ten children. Samuel Sunderland, a native of Ohio, was born Feb- ruary 26, 1812, and immigrated to Delaware county, Ind., locating on the farm where he died. He began life in obscurity, being but one year old when his father died, and at the early age of ten years little Samuel had to start out for himself. His first engagement was to work for $50 per year, and he contin- ued at these wages for four years, contriving to save a greater part of the amount, and in 1836 he made his way to Delaware county, where he entered 160 acres of land. He kept adding to this until he had 12,000 acres, all of it won by hard and persistent labor and by no scheme of speculation. At death he was worth $75,000, which was divided among his children, and the subject of this mention now lives on the old farm which his father first entered. Fraternally, Mr. Stewart is a mem- ber of I. O. O. F. No. 345, of Yorktown. Politically he prefers to think for himself on the important questions of the day, but usual- ly votes with the republican party.
C. SUMMERS, M. D., is one of the most highly respected citizens of Daleville, and one of the leading physicians of Delaware county. He was born in Henry county, Ind., November 22, 1843. son of Simon and Cynthia (Van Matre) Summers. His father was born in Virginia, and his mother in Ohio, their mar- riage having occurred in 1835, in Delaware county, Ind. After his marriage, Simon Sum- mers located in Fall Creek township, Henry county, Ind., in 1835, and began the occupa- tion of farming, which he continued, with good success, until 1857, his death occurring in 1879. His wife survived him until January, 1885, and their remains were laid in Middle- town cemetery. They were the parents of five children, namely: J. V., who holds a government position in Indian Territory; W. H., deceased; H. C .; Faraba E., wife of Frank H. Smith; and Mary J., wife of Samuel H. Davis, of Stockton, Mo. Mr. Summers was a prominent man and is still remembered as an active politician, having represented the people of Henry county in the general assembly, from 1848 to 1856, but as his health, at that time, was seriously impaired, he was forced to with- draw from political life. His church connec- tion was with the Christian denomination. He was a whig in early life, but upon the birth of the republican party, soon knew where to place his allegiance. Fraternally, he was a charter member of the Fall Creek lodge of I. O. O. F., and in business circles his success was unusual.
H. C. Summers was reared upon the home farm until he was fourteen years of age, at which time his parents removed to Middle- town, Henry county, Ind., where he attended the graded schools until he was eighteen years of age. He had long been interested in medi- cine, and now took the opportunity offered of pursuing a medical course under Drs. Summers
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and Guisinger, remaining four years under their tuition, going from thence to Chicago, where he enjoyed the advantages of lectures during the term of 1864-5 at Rush Medical college. He began practice in Henry county, where he continued for two years, coming thence to Daleville, and here he has built up a practice and has obtained the respect and con- fidence of his fellow citizens. Dr. Summers married in Middletown, Ind., in 1864, Miss Sarah A. Laboyteaux, a native of Henry county, to which union four children have been born, as follows: Ollie, wife of W. H. Lind- sey of Anderson, Ind .; Frank L., of Anderson; Glenn S., of Stockton, Mo., and Ella, wife of W. S. Johnson, of Lima, O. Mrs. Summers died in March, 1873, and her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at the village of Daleville, where may be seen a handsome monument erected to her memory. Dr. Sum- mer's second marriage occurred August 4, 1881, to Miss Louise L. Stewart, born in Madison county, a daughter of J. V. and Sarah (Bishop) Stewart. In political life the doctor is a re- publican, and he is socially connected with the order of Red Men.
ILLIAM SUMMERS was born in Delaware county, Ind., September 2, 1854, a son of Terrell and Eliza- beth (McClintock) Summers. His father had come with his parents to Delaware county and was married January 13, 1842, to Miss Samantha Witt, but she died one year later and he then married Elizabeth McClin- tock, April 28, 1844. The first wife left one little daughter, who died at birth, but five children were born of the second marriage: Martha E., the wife of Michael Bowers; Sarah J., born in 1852, died October 9, 1890; John W., born in 1856, died in infancy, and
Emma B., born August 18, 1862. The father of this family died July 12, 1887, and was buried in the Tumbleson cemetery. The date of birth of William is given above.
William lived at home with his parents until he was twenty-four years old and at- tended the district schools. At the above age he married Josephine Thomas, the daughter of John, he being a tanner by trade and a native of the state of Virginia, dying in 1867. Mrs. Summers was one of eight children, three of whom are yet living, James L., Charles L. and Josephine. After marriage, Mr. Summers located on the old home farin, buying out the other heirs. He is the owner of 140 acres of well improved land and is one of the stock- holders in the Richmond gas well. Two chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sum- mers: Bertha F., born March 21, 1880, and Arthur T., born September 22, 1882. Mrs. Summers is a member of the Christian church, and Mr. Summers, like all of his name, is a stanch republican.
S AMUEL K. SUNDERLAND .- Dela- ware county, Ind., is noted all over the whole state for its fine farms and its excellent class of agricuiturists. The finely cultivated farm of Samuel K. Sun- derland answers for itself as to the efficiency of its owner. The broad fields and fertile soil from which abundant yields are realized must be very gratifying to the owner of them, and are almost calculated to excite envy in the minds of the poor passing traveler, whose only claim can be to six feet of mother earth when his time comes to no longer cumber the ground.
Samuel K. Sunderland was born in Dela- ware county, Ind., November 26, 1851, a son of one of the best known and wealthiest men
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of the county, Samuel Sunderland, and his wife, Elvina (Kepper) Sunderland. Samuel K. resided at home with his indulgent parents until he was of age. He received an excellent education at the public schools, and April 5, 1882, laid the foundation of his own home by his marriage with Miss Anna Bell, daughter of Hiram and Mary (Clark) Bell, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, of Irish descent. Mr. and .Mrs. Bell reared a family of eleven children, all of whom are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Sunderland have one child, Carl, born December 28, 1884. Mr. Sunderland has one of the finest tracts of land in the county, con- sisting of 185 acres, well improved, and is considered one of the most prosperous of the young farmers of his locality. Politically he is a democrat, as have been the members of the Sunderland family as far back as their po- litical opinions can be traced. He is a good citizen and takes deep interest in the progress of public affairs.
ILLIAM SUNDERLAND .- Promi- nent among the progressive farmers and stock raisers of the township of Salem is William Sunderland, a native of Delaware county, Ind., and son of Samuel and Elvina (Kepper) Sunderland. He was born on the 12th day of October, 1848, and like the majority of country boys grew to manhood amid the peaceful pursuits of the farm, where he early learned the true dignity
of labor and those lessons of industry and per- severance which have inured to his success in the later years of life. In the common schools, which he attended at intervals during the years of his minority, he acquired a practical knowledge of the brances usually taught there- in, and, chosing agriculture for his life work, he early embarked in the same, continuing the useful calling with most flattering success to the present time. Mr. Sunderland believes in the nobility of the farmer's vocation, and his well cultivated lands, consisting of 178 acres, fine residence, commodious barn and other buildings, bespeak the owner possessed of superior ability as a successful as well as tasty manager.
In the year 1873 Mr. Sunderland and Miss Orlena Marker, daughter of William and Mary (Bishop) Marker, the former of Pennsylvania and the latter of Indiana, were united in the bonds of wedlock. Mrs. Sunderland's father came to Indiana with his parents when but twelve years of age, and is living at this time at Yorktown, following the plasterer's trade, which he learned in early manhood. Mr. and Mrs. Sunderland are pårents of three children: Jessie P., born March 4, 1876; Arthur E., born January 4, 1879, and Marker S., born October 8, 1887. In addition to his fine farm Mr. Sunderland has financial interests in the Richwood gas well, and is one of the well-to- do citizens of the township of Salem; he and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and politically he supports the democratic party.
Berjet Lefter
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SALEM TOWNSHIP.
ENJAMIN F. LEFTER, one of the enterprising business men of Dela- county, Ind., and proprietor of an extensive tile factory in Daleville, Salem township, was born in Franklin county, Ind., December 12th, 1846, the son of Jacob and Eunice (Ryckman) Lefter. Jacob Lefter, the father, is a native of Kentucky, was born in 1812, and is a son of a Revolutionary soldier. Jacob was reared a farmer, and early in life left his Kentucky home and came to Indiana; he settled in Franklin county, and there continues to follow his vocation. He affiliates with the democratic party, and with his wife, is a member of the Methodist church. Jacob and Eunice Lefter had born their mar- riage, twelve children, of whom ten reached maturity.
Benjamin F. Lefter is the seventh in order of birth in this family of twelve. He received a fair oducation and was early inured to the hard work necessary to the proper care and cultivation of the home farm, where he also imbibed those lessons of frugality and industry which proved of so much utility and benefit to him in latter years in the prosecution of his business. He opened his career in active life as a. teacher, a profession he followed for over twenty years in the public schools of Franklin, Rush and Deleware counties, this state, and in which he achieved an enviable reputation for capability and thoroughness. In 1884 he located in Centre township, Delaware county, erected a tile factory, and for two years carried on a profitable trade; he then found it to be to his advantage to remove to Daleville, in Salem township. Here he erected his plant for the manufacture of tiles, the building being 64x152 feet with a capacity per annum of over 600,000 tile of all grades. This plant is in most excellent condition and speaks well for the thrift, enterprise and comprehensive knowl- edge of details of the owner. Although his
capital was quite limited at the start, Mr. Lefter, through his knowledge of the business and of financiering, has won for himself a handsome competence.
The enterprise and energy of Mr. Lefter have been the means of adding considerably to the growth and prosperity to the town of Daleville as well as the township of Salem in general, his plant being quite an extensive one, as will be seen by the figures given above, and furnishing employment to a large number of workmen of more or less skill, who would otherwise be, beyond doubt, out of steady em- ployment. His products find sale in all parts of the country, having become quite celebrated for the excellence of their qaulity, their dura- bility and for the low figure at which Mr. Lefter, through his great facilities, can afford to place them on the market.
June 21, 1871, Mr. Lefter was united in marriage in Franklin county, with Miss Ade- line Schofield, daughter of Caleb and Hannah (Lounsberry) Schofield, natives of New Jersey and of English extraction. To this felicitous union have been born three bright and intelli- gent children, named Adah, Mattie and Claud- ius, who have been reared to become useful members of society and ornaments to the com- munity. In politics Mr. Lefter is a democrat of somewhat aggressive characteristics, and fraternally, he is a master Mason, a Knight of Pythias and a Red Man. He and wife are consistent in their observation of the tenets of the United Brethren church, of which they are working members, and they enjoy to the full the respect and esteem of their neighbors and the community in general.
Since the above sketch was put in type, Miss Adah, the elder daughter of Mr. Lefter, has been united in marriage (December, 1893), with Mr. M. Painter, a prominent teacher of Henry county, Ind., and well known in Ran- dolph county.
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· his present successful undertaking in the vil- lage of Eaton. In 1890, in connection with B. F. Houseman, he established the business of manufacturing hoops and spokes in Albany and Eaton, and at the present time the out- put of the factory is the enormous number of 20,000 yearly. This plant has become widely known for the excellence of the work done and is well patronized. In March, 1893, Mr. Bartlett purchased the interest of his partner, and has since conducted the business on his sole account.
Mr. Bartlet was married February 15, 1887, in Eaton, to Miss Lola, daughter of David Brandt, of Eaton, and one child has been born, September 22, 1891, and has been named Lerlie. Mr. Bartlett believes that the democratic party advocates those measures which will best govern this great country, hence he always votes with that organization. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic order and is much esteemed in his place of resi- dence. He is one of the representative busi- ness men of the town in which he resides and enjoys the confidence and esteem of a large and influential circle of friends throughout Delaware and adjacent counties.
AVID BRANDT .- Although the town of Eaton, Ind., is but a small part of the county of Delaware, it has more than its portion of successful busi- ness men, and among these the gentleman for whom this sketch is written is well and favor- ably known. Mr. Brandt was born in Fair- field county, Ohio, July 3, 1815, a son of David and Martha (Hamilton) Brandt. The father was born in Mechanicsburg, Pa., October 22, 1876, the mother near Shippensburgh, the same state, July 27, 1875. David Brandt, Sr., lost his wife July 17, 1847, and he sur-
vived her about two years. They were the parents of thirteen children, as follows: Adam, Barbara, Eve, Francis, Mary, John, George, David, Ruth, Samuel, Jacob, Martin, and Isaac, all of whom passed away except David and Isaac, the last named being the present post master at Des Moines, Iowa. During early life, David Brandt, Sr., was a school teacher, also was engaged in the making of saddles, and carried on farming at the same time. He was a Dunkard in his religious faith, and a very conscientious and moral man. His declaration to his sons that he would leave them a legacy of an unblemished life, was carried out, and is now recalled with pride by the survivors. Early in life he was a whig, but at the formation of the republican party he attached himself to that faith, and so con- tinued until his death. Mrs. Martha Brandt was a member of the Presbyterian church, a good and pious woman. When seventy-eight years of age Mr. Brandt moved to De Kalb county, Ind., and took charge of the post office, and attended to his official duties until within two weeks of his death.
David Brandt, Jr., was reared to manhood in Fairfield county, Ohio, and there learned the shoemaker trade, in which he was engaged until 1840. He left Ohio February 17, of that year, and located in Cass county, Ind., where he was engaged in the manufacture of shoes until May 15, 1842, when he came to Delaware county, locating in Union township, where he followed the shoe business, moving in 1851 to the town of Eaton, with the com- mercial interests of which he has since been prominently identified. He has now a very prosperous business, owning a dry goods store, and also dealing in boots and shoes. Mr. Brandt has seen the country grow from a wilderness to its present advanced state of civilization. When he came, it was an almost unbroken forest and the location where his
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business house now stands was covered with brambles. He can relate, in the most inter- esting manner, tales of those early times when all settlers stood upon the same social plane, and good feeling and hospitality were uni- versal. During his long residence here he has seen the changes, many for the better, but a few not so much so. At one time Mr. Brandt owned 400 acres of land, but he has sold all but eighty, in this township. He married in this county, October 22, 1842, Miss Jane Long, born in Clinton county, Ohio, a daugh- ter of Robert and Jane (Woodruff) Long, na- tives of Kentucky, of Irish ancestry. Six children were born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Brandt, as follows: John, who gave up his life for his country. He entered the Sixty- fourth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry, September 20, 1863, and died January 12, 1864, in Chattanooga hospital, No. 4; Robert, a merchant of Eaton; Martha, wife of Daniel Endee, the secretary of the Glass works; Alice, the wife of Mitchell Neff; Wayman, deceased and Elmira, the wife of James Long, a farmer of Nebraska. Mrs. Brandt died April 15, 1861, and her remains lie in the cemetery at Eaton. She was a consistent member of the Disciples church. Mr. Brandt married April 17, 1862, Mrs. Susan Sabin, who was born near Germantown, Mongomery county, Ohio, August 27, 1827, a daughter of Beniah and Sarah (Shafer) Eshtenfelder, of German extraction. To this marriage six children were born, as follows: an infant, de- ceased: Louise, wife of R. C. Peterson; Willie, clerk for his father; Viola, wife of Oscar Bartlett, a hoop manufacturer, and Chloe and Gertrude, deceased. For more than forty years Mr. and Mrs. Brandt have been members of the Christian church, he being the only one now left of the original or- ganizers of the church in this locality. Polit- ically he is a republican, voted for William
Henry Harrison in 1836, and in 1892 voted for Benjamin Harrison. Socially he is a member of the Masonic order and is one of the best citizens of the county.
ILLIAM COX is a highly respected citizen of Union township, Dela- ware connty, and was born in Preble county, Ohio, December 7, 1832, being the son of Isaac B. and Mary (Helm) Cox, both of English descent. His father went from Maryland to Tennessee when eighteen years old and was married while living in the latter state. He then went to Ohio and re- mained for five years, when he came to Dela- ware county, Ind., and settled upon the farm which he now owns. With haste he built his log cabin and removed into it when it had neither floor nor door. After a number of years he split his flooring out of blue ash and hewed it down. This humble house was his home for twenty-five years, when he built the com- fortable home his son, William, now lives in, the same being sided up with pebble-dash sid- ing. Here he spent the remainder of his days and passed away in the fall of 1870.
The names of the brothers and sisters of William Cox are : Sarah, wife of Robert Lan- sing; Caroline, wife of J. C. Long; Nancy, wife of William Adsit; Joanna, wife of Isaac Sleeth; Eliza, wife of Dr. Helm-William being the youngest of the family. When William Cox was twenty-two he went to Minnesota, where he remained one year, and then returned home, his mother dying soon after, in 1854. Again leaving home he went to the Rocky mountains, at Gold Run, Colo., and worked in the mines for four years, being very success- ful and making enough to buy the farm upon which he lives, then consisting of eighty acres. Subsequently he bought the farm of his father, consisting of 200 acres.
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UNION TOWNSHIP.
William Cox was married, December 10, 1865, to America Long, daughter of William and Anna (McLaughlin) Long, of English and Scotch descent, respectively. The parents of Mrs. Cox came from Clinton county, Ohio, at an early day and settled in Delaware county, Ind., on what is known as the William Props farm. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Cox are: Lucetta, wife of Joseph Hinton; John W., a farmer; Martha J., wife of John Morris; and Mary, wife of John Pilkey-Mrs. Cox being the second child. After his marriage, Mr. Cox settled upon the farm where he now lives, a splendid tract, consisting of 306 acres, finely improved. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are the parents of five children, namely: Charles V., a farmer; Anna, wife of Ezra Armstrong; John, a farm- er; Frank, and Jennie Fern.
When Isaac B. Cox settled here there were no roads between this point and Muncie, and game of all kinds abounded. During a period of thirty-five years of their married life Mr. and Mrs. Cox had no cook stove, and the father worked with a wooden plow, and cut his grain and grass with a sickle and other old- fashioned tools and implements. Once a year these parents made a trip to Ohio for flour, salt and coffee, and hauled it home in a wagon drawn by oxen. The first wheat grown in this section was called "sick," and could not be eaten. Mrs. Cox is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is highly esteemed in that body and also by all who know her. Mr. Cox is a member of the Masonic order and is much esteemed for his active interest in that society. He is a repub- lican, having cast his first vote for Fremont and his last for Harrison.
It will be seen that the Cox family are of pioneer stock, and that the township is some- what indebted to them for its splendid present development, and the present generation is not at all behind in continuing the good work.
EORGE W. DUKE is a successful farmer of Union township, who was born in North Carolina, May 22, 1820, being the son of James and Catherine (Reece) Duke, natives of Virginia. James Duke went from Virginia to North Carolina after he was married, and was over- seer for Capt. Williams on a slave plantation for four years. He then removed to Henry county, Ind., where he entered 120 acres of land, cleared the same, and after a life of toil died in 1873, and was buried in the Canada cemetery in Henry county, where his mother was buried in 1833. To James and Cathe e Duke were born the following chil George W .; John, living in California; Ed- ward, a farmer; William, an invalid; and James, a laborer.
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