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 88
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this county, and Joseph of Wright county, Mo. For fifty-five years he was a consistent member of the Methodist church, in which body Mrs. Broyles also holds a membership. Mr. Broyles was a son of Ephraim and Eliza- beth (Harvey) Broyles, natives of Virginia. He did not rear as large a family as his father, but as his death left a widow and five children to mourn his decease, together with a large number of friends. His remains were laid to rest in the Zion cemetery. His family were as follows: James T., John W., Nancy, de- ceased, William H., Lewis H., Irena, died February 1, 1851, and Joseph A. Mrs. Broyles manages her fine estate with wisdom and intelligence and is one of the most re- spected residents of the township.
HOMAS BROYLES (deceased) was born May 6, 1817, in Virginia, and when a young man came to Rush county, Ind., and engaged in team- ing, hauling goods from Cincinnati to Rich- land. When he married he gave up teaming and went to work on his uncles's farm by the month for two years, and then came to this county. This was in 1830, and he located near his present farm in Washington township, entering forty acres, right in the wilderness. He was obliged to borrow $50 to begin with, and by hard work and good management he made a success of life, owning 400 acres at the time of his death. He was united in marriage February 22, 1838, with Sarah Ann (Lyon) Broyles, who was born February 10, 1817, in Bourbon county, Ky. She was the daughter of John L. and Margaret (Sharp) Lyon, both parents natives of Kentucky. They came to Rush county, Ind., in an early day, and en- tered eighty acres of land. He was a carpen- ter and worked at the trade in connection with
farming. He and his wife were members of the Methodist church. The father of Mrs. Broyles voted the democratic ticket up to the beginning of the war, when he joined the re- publican party and remained loyal to it until his death; which occurred a number of years ago. His wife likewise is dead. Mr. and Mrs. Broyles are the parents of two children: Margaret Elizabeth, wife of John Harris, and Joseph William, who married Miss Mary Broyles.
ANNAH MCCREERY BROWN. - The well known lady whose name introduces the present sketch is the widow of William Brown, who, during life, was one of the largest land owners and most prominent men of Washington township, Delaware county, Ind. She was born March 24, 1831, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, a daughter of Samuel McCreery, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. In 1851 she was united in marriage with James Mar- shall, who was born in Harrison township and who engaged in farming there until the date of his death. He left two children, but both of whom are deceased, namely: Rhoda Catherine, and Elizabeth. Some time later Mrs. Mar- shall married Mr. William Myers, a native of Clinton county, Ohio, who came to the county of Delaware when a young man. Again she was left a widow with three children, Mary Ellen, now the wife of Frank Johnson, Lavina Ann and Jacob Henry, the last two of whom are deceased.
Mrs. Myers is a women of agreeable nature and of sociable temperament, eminently fitted to make a pleasant home for a husband, and March 20, 1867, she was married to William Brown. He was born in Ohio, and had come to this county at an early day and located in Washington township, where his father had
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previously entered a piece of land. After the death of the latter, William bought the old home place. He was a man of prominence and was successful in a financial way, owning, at the time of his lamented demise, 520 acres of fine land, which is now managed by his widow. In politics, Mr. Brown was a demo- crat, and was an important factor in the deliberations of his party in local affairs. Both he and his wife were valued members of the Methodist church. Beside his widow, he left the following children: Sarah Catherine, the wife of Otis Broyles; Cora Eddie, the wife of Frank Hayden; and Rebecca Leona, the wife of William Shipley.
LFRED CAMPBELL is a native of Indiana, having been born in Jeffer- son county, May 12, 1819. He is very active for his years, and is held in very high esteem by his neighbors. Mr. Campbell is the son of James and Sarah (McClure) Campbell; his father a native of Culpeper county, Va., and his mother of Pennsylvania. The father immigrated with his parents to Kentucky when very young; re- mained there several years, and then came with the family to Jefferson county, Ind., and entered 160 acres of land, where he remained until within a few months of his death, when he sold and moved to Ripley county, Ind., and purchased eighty acres. He made farming his principal business, and died in 1829. At that time Alfred Campbell was but ten years old, and he remained with his mother until he was twenty-two years old, being her mainstay after he was old enough to understand and per- form the duties of the farm. Alfred Campbell was united in marriage, at the age of twenty- two, to Sarah Nicholson, of Ripley county. Ind., born September 18, 1841. She is the
daughter of George and Sarah (Basset) Nichol- son. Her parents were natives of Holmes coun- ty, W. Va. George Nicholson immigrated with his parents to Kentucky when a boy; remained there until after his marriage, and then brought his family to Ripley county, Ind., where he purchased land and settled and finally died. He was very successful as a farmer, and accu- mulated considerable land. He and wife were of Scotch descent, and were members of the Baptist church.
After the marriage of Mr. Campbell he rented a farm for four years in Ripley county, and then bought forty acres, upon which he remained six years; then came to Delaware county and located upon his present farm in Washington township, consisting of eighty acres, all of which was in timber at the time of the purchase. He has remained upon this property ever since, and now owns II0 acres, all of which are under cultivation. Mr. Campbell has always been a farmer, but has devoted a great deal of his time in the past thirty years to the work of the ministry. He . has never received any pay to speak of for his services, his church, the Missionary Baptist, engaging his services in establishing new places of worship where the congregations were small and unable to give him any stated salary. He and his wife have been members of that church for upwards of fifty years. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are the parents of the fol- lowing children: Jeanetta, George, and Will- iam Oliver, deceased; Sarah Ann, wife of James Stace, a blacksmith of this township; Cynthia, deceased; Acha, wife of S. W. Hay- den, a farmer of Washington township, and Jane, wife of David Williams, also a farmer of the same township. In politics Mr. Camp- bell is a republican, and believes that the safety of the country demands the continued success of that party, consequently, he ardent- ly works for it.
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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
ILLIAM A. CLEMENS was born in Randolph county, Ind., January, II, 1834, and is the son of Dr. William D. and Sarah (Jones) Cle- mens. The parents came originally from Ohio, and were married at Fairview, Randolph county, Ind., in April, 1832. The married couple located at Fairview, and here Mr. Cle- mens engaged in the shoemaking business for a living, and at the same time studied medi- cine. He was of the old school, and began practicing medicine in Alexandria, Madison county, Ind., in 1862, and remained there for four years, when he came to this place, and remained until his death, which occurred July 18, 1889. He remains are in the Odd Fellows' cemetery at Cumberland, Grant county, Ind. The widow is now the favorite milliner of that place. They are the parents of two children: William A., and Lydia J., the wife of R. J. Bryan. Dr. Clemens was a republican in politics, and was moderately successful in life, and both he and wife were members of the Methodist church.
William A. Clemens was practically reared in the village of Fairview, and came from that place to Delaware county. He received a good common school education, and began life for himself at the age of seventeen by teaching school in the winter. He then served under Thomas Stubbs at the carpenter trade for three years, and has followed the same ever since. He was married February 28, 1875, to Martha Burgess, who was born in Delaware county, Ind., August 2, 1854, the daughter of David and Elizabeth (Bryan) Bur- gess-the family of German extraction. To
this union there have been born three children -Omer E., Joseph C. and Harry M. Mr. Clemens and wife are members of the Method- ist Protestant church. He was elected justice of the peace in 1888, entered upon the duties of office in April, 1889, and has served in that
capacity with fidelity, and to the satisfaction of the public to the present time, having been re-elected since that date In politics Mr. Clemens is a republican, and takes an active interest in all matters relating to the success of that party.
J OHN DUNN a prominent and popular citizen of Washington township, was born in Monroe county, Ohio, August 26, 1829. He is the son of John and Cathander (Knight) Dunn. The father was born in 1775, in Monongalia county, Va., and the mother in Monroe county, Ohio. John Dunn went to Monroe county, when a young man, and remained there until his marriage. Following this event he engaged in farming, and pursued that occupation in Ohio until 1832, at which date he came to Delaware county, Ind., locating in Washington town- ship, on 160 acres of land, in section 15. He afterward bought 240 acres, but remained on the first purchase until his death, which oc- curred in 1865. His wife died in 1863, both being members of the Baptist church. The father was a democrat until 1856, and then he became a republican.
John Dunn remained obedient to his par- ents until he was twenty-one, and then rented his father's farm until the death of the latter, when he inherited eighty acres, and bought an adjoining eighty acres, living upon this land for ten or twelve years, and then bought 100 acres of his present farm in section 10, Wash- ington township. At the present time he owns eighty acres in section 15, and 280 in section 10, upon which he has erected one of the handsomest residences in the township.
Mr. Dunn was married September 3, 1854, to Sarepta Littler, born February 24, 1843, in Grant caunty, Ind. She was the daughter of Thomas and Susan (Fry) Littler. Her father
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was born in Hardy county (now W. Va.), in 1802, and her mother in the same county in 1805. The father removed to Grant county, Ind., with his wife, in 1829, and entered 120 acres of land; afterward buying 1 38 acres more. Mrs. Littler died in 1869, and her husband in 1883. They were members of the Methodist church, and were worthy and greatly respected people.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dunn were born the fol- lowing children: Rosetta, wife of John Dorton, a farmer of this township; Sylvester, married Angeline Richards, living in Jefferson town- ship, Grant county, a farmer; Thomas L., at home; Alma Amanda, wife of Henry Dooling, of Grant county; Emma May, at home. Mrs. Dunn died August 27, 1893, and her remains rest in New Cumberland cemetery. Mr. Dunn is a firm believer in the teachings of the dem- ocratic party, and gives it a hearty support at every election.
J OHN C. DUNN, a highly respected citizen of Washington township, was born in Blackford county, Ind., August 28, 1840, and is the son of Thomas and Sarah (Reasoner) Dunn, the father having been born in Pennsylvania in 1812, and the mother in Ohio in 1815. Thomas Dunn emi- grated with his parents to Virginia when a boy, remained there a short time, and accompanied them to Henry county, Ind. He lived with his parents until he was of age, and then learned the carpenter's trade. About this time he entered eighty acres of land in Washington township, Delaware county, which he after- ward traded for another eighty acres in the same township, in section 10. This was about the year 1842. In 1865, he bought the Cum- berland mills in Grant county, and operated them until the time of his death, which occur- red in November, 1881. This enterprising
man also owned an interest in the Elizabeth mills in Washington township, now operated by his son, John C. He likewise owned eighty acres of land in Jefferson township, Grant county, and forty acres in Washington town- ship, Delaware county. This property was cleared by his own industry and good manage- ment. He filled the office of township trustee for sixteen years, and took a very active part in politics, always supporting the republican ticket. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church, in which faith she lived and died in 1890.
John C. Dunn's boyhood days were spent upon the farm, where he acquired a thorough knowledge of farming. He enlisted in 1862 in the Eighty-fourth Indiana infantry for three years, or during the war, all of which time he served except one month, taking part in the Atlanta campaign, and was in the following battles: Buzzard's Roost, Pulaski, Duck River, Franklin and Nashville. In the last named battle he was wounded in the knee by a minie ball, and was in the hospital for five days. He was mustered out in June, 1865, having served throughout the entire war. He has never made application for a pension. Upon his return home he worked for his father one year in the mills, and then traveled for a few months in Iowa and Illinois and the northern part of this state.
Mr. Dunn was married May 19, 1870, to Sarah Horner, born in Darke county, Ohio, in 1843, daughter of Andrew and Nancy (Walker) Horner, natives of Pennsylvania. Her father was a farmer of Grant county, Ind. Mrs. Dunn died February 22, 1891, and was buried in Elizabethtown cemetery. She was the mother of one child, Della, wife of William R. Janney, a farmer of this township. Mr. Dunn married again October 25, 1892, the maiden name of his wife being Clara E. Irwin, born in Clinton county,
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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Ohio, October 30, 1852. She is the daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Killian) Irvin, the father · having been born February 24, 1817, in Fayette county, Ohio, and the mother in Clinton county, Ohio, April 11, 1825. The father was a cabinet maker, and followed that trade all his life. In the year 1856 he settled at Atlanta, Logan county, Ill., where he re- mained until his death, which occurred De- cember 22, 1888. He was an active member of the Christian church, and was the deacon in that body for years. Mr. Irvin was a strong supporter of the republican party. His widow is living with her daughter, Mrs. Dunn.
J. C. Dunn is a deacon in the Presbyterian church, and his wife is a member of the Christian church. In politics he is a republi- can, and always takes a lively interest in elections. Mr. Dunn has been in the milling business since 1866; first in Cumberland, and then in the Elizabeth mills; being now owner of the latter, and doing an excellent business. He also own a store at that place, where he sells all kinds of merchandise. In addition to this property he owns fifteen acres of land adjoining the mills, and is in very prosperous circumstances.
J OSIAH FERGUSON is a native of Southampton county, Va., and the youngest of six children of William and Mary (Glovier) Ferguson, as follows: Nancy, Drew, Lydia, Tabitha, Jane and Josiah. But little is known of the history of his ancestors, the father dying when Josiah was but ten years of age, leaving him to the care of his aged mother and sisters. The family left their native state and emigrated westward to Ohio about the year 1834. The journey through a sparsely settled country was an undertaking of no little magnitude, and Josiah and his sisters were compelled to traverse the greater part of
the distance to their new home on foot. After consuming about five weeks on the road, the family reached Clinton county, Ohio, and settled in a comparative wilderness, where Mr. Ferguson began clearing a farm. He possessed a strong rugged nature, and it is stated that he become one of the strongest and most able bodied men in the community where he resided. He worked early and late, and was a true type of those hardy pioneers through whose efforts civilization was introduced into the great states of Ohio and Indiana. In 1848 Mr. Ferguson came to Delaware county, Ind., and purchased a small tract of land in Harrison township, and at once went to work with his characteristic energy to make it habitable for the family. In 1856 he embarked in business in what is now known as the village of Gaston, which ven- ture proved unsuccessful, and he returned to his farm, where, until the close of life, he de- voted his attention, exclusively, to the pursuits of agriculture. A few months previous to his death he suffered a stroke of paralysis, from the effects of which he never entirely recovered. The infirmities ot age, together with the ail- ment mentioned, brought on the disease which ended his life; he died on the 30th day of October, 1891, aged seventy-five years, nine months and sixteen days. Susan Ferguson, wife of Josiah Ferguson, was born in North- ampton county, N. C,, June 9, 1823, and was the daughter of Josiah and Tabitha Oliver. From the best information obtainable, her ancestors came from the British Isles and snttled in North Carolina, at a period ante- dating the revolutionary struggle. Her father, Josiah Oliver, was born in 1782, married in 1807, Sallie Nelson, who became the mother of two children; Zachariah and Charlotte. The former died in early life, but Charlotte became the wife of Drew Ferguson, who in later years located in Grant county, Ind. After the death of his first wife Josiah Oliver
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married Tabitha Thorpe, who bore him the following children: Joseph, John, Charity, William, James, Susan, Evart, Edmund, Mary, Thomas and Benjamin Oliver. In 1833 Mr. Oliver met with the loss of his second wife, and a short time after that event removed to Ohio with his large family. At that time Susan Oliver was eleven years of age, and of the party she was one of the gayest, and she stood the trip remarkably well con- sidering her youth, as the trip had to be made on foot, a distance of over 500 miles. It was while on this journey she first met Mr. Fergu- son, who a few years later became her hus- band. He was then with a number of friends seeking a new home in the western country. Josiah Ferguson and Susan Oliver were mar- ried in 1838. Being in very poor circum- stances, they were obliged to encounter the vicissitudes of life in the best way possible, and he soon found employment in the family of Mr. Edward Thorpe. As soon as sufficient money could be procured, Mr. Ferguson pro- cured the necessary household effects and farm implements, rented a place and began house- keeping. After leasing and clearing a consid- erable farm in Ohio, he concluded to better his condition by emigrating further westward; accordingly in 1848 the family removed to Delaware county, Ind. This country was at that time quite new, deer and wolves moved unmolested through the thick forests, and life in the woods had many hardships and obsta- cles for the pioneer family: It was in the fall of 1848 that the new house was reached, and Mrs. Ferguson, who still survives to tell the story of those stirring times, recalls with pleasure the many meals she cooked in the hollow stumps and the many days and nights of toil spent with her husband in battling with adverse circumstances. Mrs. Ferguson has reached the good old age of seventy years. Sixteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Ferguson, namely: Lucinda, Elizabeth, Jane, George, Ruth, Mary, Rhoda, Emma, Lydia, John, Silas, Daniel, infant son, Caroline, ·
Josiah and Joshua. Of the above, death has claimed Elizabeth, Jane, George, Rhoda, Emma, Lydia, John, and Caroline and the infant, which died without being named.
S AMUEL GROOVER is a worthy citi- zen and successful farmer of Wash- ington township, who was born in Pennsylvania, September 20, 1833. Samuel Groover is the son of William and Catherine (Roderick) Groover, both of Penn- sylvania. The father moved to this state when Samuel was thirteen years old, and located in Mount Pleasant township, near the present site of Yorktown, took a lease, and was en- gaged in farming until 1859, the period of his death. His wife was called hence in 1851; they were both natives of Germany, and very worthy and good people.
Samuel Groover lived with his parents throughout his minority, and then rented the farm on which his father had lived in Mount Pleasant township. After two years he bought his present farm, consisting of forty-five acres, which is in a fine state of cultivation. This was in 1867, and Mr. Groover has continued to reside on the same ever since; in fact, his entire life has been spent as a farmer.
Mr. Groover was married May 20, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Schults, who was born in Ohio in 1827, the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (McClurry) Schults. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, and her mother of Ohio. Jacob Schults went to Ohio with his parents when a young man, and later moved to Indiana when the wife of our the subject was ten years old, settling near York- town, and engaging in farming, which he fol-
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lowed to the time of his death. Mrs. Schults was a member of the Methodist church, and, like her husband, was of German descent. To the union with Miss Schults Mr. Groover is the father of the following children: Martha Ellen, Esther, Margaret, deceased, Charles L .; Mary C., Amanda, William and Rosetta, all four deceased.
0 AVID HEAL is an old and highly re- spected citizen of Washington town- ship, Delaware county, Ind., who was born November 5, 1823, in Muskingum county, Ohio, being the son of William and Olive (Carter) Heal; the father was born October 29, 1791, near Belfast, Me., and the mother October 18, 1799, in the same place; the father died April 16, 1847, and the mother September 19, 1844. William Heal went to Muskingum county when twenty-two years old, and worked in a foundry for seven years, after which he was employed in burning brick, cutting stone, building houses, he being a mechanical genius, who could turn his hand to almost anything. In 1829 he moved to Indiana, and entered 200 acres of land in Washington township, Delaware county, which at that time was virgin forest. He and his family lived by a log heap until he erected a rude cabin, which was very small, and only six feet in pitch to the ceiling. William lived to see 100 acres under cultivation, and had his family in a good substantial dwelling. In those days most of the marketing was done at Cincinnati and Michigan City. He was the father of nine children, seven of whom lived to rear families.
David Heal lived with his parents until he was twenty-one, his boyhood being spent in working upon the farm, splitting rails; and other work necessary for the improvement of
the place. His playmates when a boy were chiefly Indian lads, the red men being there in numbers, and living in great concord with the whites. The chances for an education were most limited, yet David so improved them, that he was able to teach school when twenty years old. He taught two terms, then at- tended school at Muncie for six months, and then resumed teaching for five terms, receiv- ing from $30 to $50 for seventy-two days' work. Mr. Heal purchased his first tract of land in 1848, it being a share of his father's estate, and consisting of twenty-one acres, worth at that time about $290. At the pres- ent time he owns thirty-one acres, having given his children 127 acres. He is one of the most useful men in the township, being public-spirited, and interesting himself in everything that will advance the welfare of the community. He held the office of justice of the peace for sixteen years, and has been a notary public for twenty years. An idea of the confidence that is placed in him may be seen in the fact that he has been administrator for twenty-five different estates, all of which were satisfactorily settled. He was married May 21, 1848, to Anna Caroline Rigdon, born May 24, 1831, in Guernsey county, Ohio. She is the daughter of Eli Rigdon, and her mother's maiden name was Nixon. Her father came to this state in 1838, and located in Blackford county, where he bought a grist mill and managed it for some time, after which he engaged in farming for a few years, and then came to Wheeling, Dela- ware county, where he was a merchant until his death. Mrs. Heal departed this life Janu- ary 7, 1878, and her remains rest in Olive Branch cemetery. She was a good mother, a faithful wife, and a consistent member of the Christian church. The children by this mar- riage are: George E. and Anna Lacy, who are also members of the Christian church. In poli-
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tics Mr. Heal is a stanch republican. He is living a retired life, after long years of arduous labor, and, despite his age, is strong as a young man of thirty.
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