USA > Indiana > White County > A standard history of White County Indiana : an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and county, Vol. I > Part 52
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REUBEN IMLER
Reuben Imler was born in Marion County, Ohio, July 22, 1841, and died at his home in Liberty Township, White County, October 31, 1905. He located in White County in 1852 and enlisted in Company F, 128th Indiana Volunteers, in January, 1864, serving as corporal until April 10, 1866. He was married to Mary Baily, September 11, 1867. He left a widow and five children, Emma, Sylvester, Estella, Cassius and Ellen.
CAPT. ANDERSON IRION
Capt. Anderson Irion, one of the county's oldest citizens, was born in Fleming County, Kentucky, February 7, 1807. At an early age he removed to Ohio and thence in 1853 to West Point Township, where he lived until his death, which took place at the home of his son-in-law, James Lawrie, February 23, 1894. During the Mexican war he organ- Vol. I-30
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ized a company which, however, was not called into service. He was married in 1833 to Sophia Dragoo and to this union were born ten chil- dren, seven of whom survived him. He was at one time a county com- missioner and filled the office acceptably.
MRS. ELIZA JANE IRVINE
"Mrs. Eliza Jane Irvine, whose home at Reynolds is with her daugh- ter, Mrs. J. W. Gardner," says the Monon News of September 6, 1912, "has lived in White County eighty-three years and holds the record in point of continuous residence. She passed her 83d anniversary June 27th and was but three months old when she came to this county. Her birthplace was in Ohio, but her parents, Joseph and Mary Thompson, came from Virginia. Mr. Thompson was the first white man to locate on White county soil and entered about 400 acres of land in Big Creek township, the site of his home being where George Wolverton's residence now stands. All the trading at that time within the borders of the county was done with Indians, who were friendly but had no regard for property rights. A fine walnut grove was on the tract entered by Mr. Thompson and was an inducement in choosing his location. Here was born the first white male child in the county in the person of John Thompson, who died at Reynolds, Indiana, recently, never having mar- ried, and was buried in the Bunnell Cemetery. Lafayette was the trading point then and Indian trails were the highways. Other white settlers soon followed Mr. Thompson, who hailed with satisfaction the opening of the first store in Monticello by Peter B. Smith. The Reynolds, Spen- cers, Peter Price, Rowland Hughes and others who names are familiar as pioneers, came within two years after Mr. Thompson had blazed the way."
ELLIS H. JOHNSON
Ellis H. Johnson, commonly known as "Uncle Haines," was born in Frederick County, Virginia, April 28, 1814. He came to White County with his father, Jonathan Johnson, in 1835, locating near the range line west of Monticello, on the farm now owned by George T. Inskeep. Later he located on a farm near what is now Wheeler's Station, where he was married to Ellen Rease, January 6, 1843. She died in 1846, and their only son, Hampton Dodridge, later became a member of Company D, Twelfth Indiana, and died at Grand Junction, Tennessee, in 1863. In 1851 he married Chloe Ann Clark. He died at his home in Monticello, December 20, 1898, leaving a widow and two children, Harry C. and Fannie Alice, the former of whom still resides in Monticello.
EMILY J. JOHNSON
One of the human links connecting Monticello almost with the days of the Revolution was broken in the death of Mrs. Johnson, which occurred July 17, 1915, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. P. Simons,
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in Monticello. Her father, Drewry Wood, was born in North Carolina, September 27, 1785, and her mother, Rhoda (Shaw) Wood, was born March 1, 1792. They were married August 21, 1814, and came to White County, locating south of Wolcott in 1846. Here her father, Drewry Wood, died in 1856, but the mother lived till 1878. Emily J. Wood was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, June 13, 1832. She was married to Jeremiah B. Johnson, September 16, 1854. He was wounded at the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, July 10, 1863, and died July 19. She remained a "war widow" the remainder of her life. Her only son, Edgar A. Johnson, died in 1904. She left surviving two daughters, Mrs. Rhoda DeForest, of Chicago, and Mrs. Sallie E. Simons, of Monticello.
THOMAS D. JONES
Thomas D. Jones was born in Brooklyn, New York, December 10, 1830, and on August 4, 1854, was married to Sarah Parker, and to this marriage was born six daughters and two sons, all of whom were present at his death except a daughter, Mrs. Grace Newberry, who died in 1893. His wife died September 1, 1908. Mr. Jones came to Monon in 1859 and lived there until his death in May, 1912. He taught school for a time, was an old soldier in the Civil war, was a member of the G. A. R. and for fifty years was a member of the Baptist Church. His remains were buried in the Bedford Cemetery.
WILLIAM JORDAN
William Jordan was born in Cable' County, Virginia, December 17, 1803, and died at White County, Indiana, May 5, 1876. He was married to Miss Catharine Sexton on March 19, 1826, with whom he lived for more than fifty years. In 1827 he moved to Indiana and began farm- ing about six miles northwest of Lafayette, and on June 7, 1844, he moved to White County, which was his home until his death. By industry, frugality and honesty he amassed a competence and enjoyed the respect of all with whom he came in contact.
JOHN M. JOST
John M. Jost, one of the pioneers of the county, died at the home of his married daughter, Mrs. Richard Hinshaw, of Monticello, in Septem- ber, 1913, his age being eighty-nine years, four months and thirteen days. By trade he was a tailor, but at various times had been engaged in business at Francesville, Cooper's Mill and Monticello. The deceased had been married three times. He was an old Mason and an upright citizen.
JOHN WILLIAM JOST
John William Jost died April 3, 1903. For a number of years Mr. Jost had been a well known and successful grocer in White County, first
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at Cooper's Mill, later at Norway, and finally in Monticello, where for a number of years he was connected in business with Walter R. Spencer. During this partnership they built the splendid two-story brick business building at the northwest corner of Main and Washington streets. Later Mr. Jost joined with M. Goodman & Son in the corporation known as "The Big Store," which joined in the building of the Odd Fellows Block on the southeast corner of Main and Washington streets. He had charge of the grocery department of the company in this building at the time of his death. Mr. Jost was the son of John M. Jost and was born in New York City, February 8, 1855. He was never married. His father was born in Staffenburg, Birken Province, Germany, May 3, 1824, and came to America in 1851. His mother was a native of Sheffield, England, and died in White County, May 20, 1878, at the age of fifty-one years. His father has since died-about 1913. Three brothers, Charles, Henry and Albert, are still living; also two sisters, Mrs. Lizzie Booth of Rochester, New York, and Mrs. Rosina Hinshaw of Monticello.
AUGUST KARP
August Karp was born January 28, 1842, in Hesse, Germany, and came to Monticello from Danville, Illinois, in 1875, and two years later married Miss Maggie Manders, to whom were born five children, four of whom are still living, the widow and one son having died at the same time, about 1913. He was for many years a partner of the late Peter Fox in the retail liquor business in Monticello. No man was more attached to his family or more dearly beloved by wife and children. He was successful in business and identified with many of the improvements of the town during his life. He died at Monticello, May 3, 1895.
JOHN C. KARR 1
John C. Karr, an old and well known resident of Liberty Township, was born in Middletown, Ohio, September 25, 1824. Came with his par- ents to White County in 1839. In 1849 he was married to Rachel M. Moore and bought the farm on which he lived the remainder of his life. This farm included the present site of the village of Buffalo, which was laid out by him. His wife died in 1890, and in 1893 he married Mrs. Emily Yount, who died three years later. He was a man of strong char- acter and held in high esteem. He left nine children surviving him.
WILLIAM B. KEEFER
"Only a few residents of Monticello could claim a longer residence here than William B. Keefer, and few could show a cleaner record." Such was the eulogy of a friend on the death of Mr. Keefer. He was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1829, and moved to Ohio in early life, where he married Sarah A. Mowrer in 1850, and in 1853 came to White County and established himself in the tailoring
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business, in which he was quite successful. In 1879 his wife died and later he married Miss Sarah Briggs. By his first marriage he had seven children, of whom four survived him. He was an earnest mem- ber of the Christian Church, an honest man, and beloved by all who knew him. He died at Monticello, February 8, 1891.
ROBERT KEEVER
After being confined to his home for some two years Robert Keever died at his farm home, four miles northeast of Monticello, September 16, 1897. He was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, in 1818 and came to White County in 1850. Like so many of the county's early settlers who came from that part of Pennsylvania, he was a sturdy, successful farmer and was held in high esteem by all who knew him.
FRANCIS G. KENDALL
Francis G. Kendall was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, January 2, 1823, and came to White County in 1833 where he continued to reside until 1865 when he removed to Burlington, Iowa. He died at Tipton, Iowa, October 30, 1890, and was buried in Burlington, Iowa, on November 2d of the same year. During his residence in White County he was one of our most prominent business men and was one of the leading members of the Presbyterian Church. He was the first W. M. of Libanus Lodge No. 154, F. & A. M. at Monticello, at its organization in 1854.
MRS. MARY ELIZA KENDALL
Mrs. Mary Eliza Kendall was the third daughter and last surviving member of the family of George Armstrong Spencer. She was born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1825 and came to White County with her parents in 1830. She was married to Charles W. Kendall in 1845. She died at her home on North Illinois Street May 22, 1901, at the age of seventy-six years, leaving four children : Howard C., Mrs. Sallie Loughry, wife of A. W. Loughry of Monticello, Mrs. May E. McDowell of New Jersey, and Charles W. Kendall of Duluth, Minnesota. Two other children, Walter R. Kendall and Mrs. Maria Hull, wife of Philip A. Hull, had died some years previous.
LLEWELLYN G. KENTON
Llewellyn G. Kenton, a son of William Miller Kenton and grandson of Simon Kenton, the famous Indian fighter, was born on his father's farm three miles west of Monticello, March 9, 1839, and died at the Soldiers' Home, Marion, Indiana, October 1, 1911. He enlisted Novem- ber 5, 1861, in the Forty-sixth Indiana Infantry and served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. On December 6, 1866, he was married to Miss Mary M. Hull, who, with four daughters
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and one son, survive him. He was buried with military honors in the old cemetery at Monticello.
WILLIAM MILLER KENTON
William Miller Kenton, a son of Simon Kenton of Indian fighting fame, died at his home about four miles southwest of Monticello, April 30, 1869, in his sixty-third year. His remains were buried in the old Kenton graveyard about five miles southwest of town, but about 1885 were removed to the old cemetery in Monticello. At the age of sixteen he received a commission in the navy, but after a brief service he resigned, was appointed a cadet in the military academy at West Point, where he excelled in athletic sports, but was averse to the strict discipline enforced by that institution and was at last honorably relieved from any further attendance. He then went home, was married, and having some means of his own, came to what was then Carroll County, but later White County, bought large tracts of land from the Government (about 3,000 acres) and was one of the first settlers of Grand Prairie. He was largely engaged in farming and cattle raising, dispensed a profuse hos- pitality to both white and Indian, and was popular with all classes. He had some claims for lands in Kentucky which he had inherited from his father's estate and frequently visited that state on this business. On one of these trips he went on board a steamer at Madison, Indiana, named Simon Kenton, and when the captain discovered he was a son of the man after whom his boat was named he refused to accept any fare, but treated him throughout the trip as a guest of honor. In politics he was an ardent whig, a personal friend and adherent of Henry Clay, who had also known and befriended his father in the olden days. He served for several terms in the legislature, was a close personal friend of Albert S. White and had the honor of placing that gentleman's name in nomination for United States senator when he was elected to that office. Near the close of his life he became involved in some financial difficulties which caused him much annoyance, but by this statement no charge is placed against his honesty. He saved much of his property out of the wreck and closed his life in peace. Many of his descendants are living in White County and are reckoned among our most respected people.
ARTEMUS P. KERR
Artemus P. Kerr was born in Rossville, Indiana, February 15, 1851. His father, a Baptist minister, had learned the saddlers' trade with Joseph E. McDonald, afterward United States senator. Located in Monticello in 1862, where he learned the printer's trade and was later connected with James W. McEwen in the publication of the Constitu- tionalist. In 1880 he moved to Indianapolis and for some years was connected with the Indiana Newspaper Union. He wrote some very creditable poems, among which was one entitled "The Old Tippecanoe," which was published with an account of his death, which occurred
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August 20, 1901. His remains were brought to Monticello and buried in the old cemetery at the north edge of town.
CLEMENT S. KINGSBURY
Clement S. Kingsbury was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, March 14, 1843, died at his home in Monticello April 15, 1906. He was a member of Company D, Twelfth Indiana Volunteers. In 1867 he was married to Harriet C. Ross, who died only a few months prior to his decease. He was elected trustee of Union Township, serving one term and for a number of years was engaged in the grocery business. He left four children.
IRA S. KINGSBURY
Ira S. Kingsbury, who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Day, at Olivet, Michigan, on December 21, 1913, aged eighty-seven years, had spent almost his entire life in Monticello, where he worked at his trade of bricklayer. Only a few months prior to his death he compiled a history of the Kingsbury family in America for the White County Historical Society. It is a finely-bound, typewritten book of thirty-seven pages and exhibits much care in its compilation. His family came from England in 1628 and is now scattered throughout the entire country. He came from good old Puritan stock, was for many years an elder in the Presbyterian Church and was always found on the right side of all moral and religious subjects. He was born August 21, 1826, and was twice married, both wives having preceded him to the unknown. His remains were brought to Monticello and interred in the old cemetery.
MRS. MARY KINGSBURY
Mrs. Mary Kingsbury, daughter of Robert and Sarah Buchanan, was born in Big Creek Township November 19, 1832. She died at her home in Monticello, December 15, 1904, leaving a half-brother, James E. Barnes, of Galena, Kansas. February 24, 1853, she was married to Thomas Roberts, and in 1857 they moved to Northwestern Iowa, building their home on the present site of Sioux City. Here, in July, 1861, Mr. Roberts and a companion were killed by Indians while at work in a field some distance from the house. Soon after she returned with her three small boys to Monticello, where, December 11, 1864, she was married to Ira Kingsbury. Her only surviving son, Fred Roberts, is still a resident of Monticello, where he is secretary and manager of the Farmers Elevator.
REV. WILLIAM P. KOUTZ
Rev. William P. Koutz, remembered by our oldest citizens, died at Cutler, Indiana, July 18, 1900, in his seventy-eighth year. He was stricken with paralysis about a year before his death and on July 7 came
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a second stroke, from which he died. When a young man he taught school in Logansport and later was elected recorder of Cass County and served one term. He had also been admitted to the bar, but for more than fifty years he had labored as a minister in the Presbyterian Church. In 1864, after a pastorate of five years in Monticello, he resigned and entered the service as chaplain of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, and served until near the close of the war. His remains were brought to Monticello and buried in the old cemetery.
ABRAM C. LANE
Abram C. Lane, an honored citizen of White County, passed away at his home, four miles southwest. of Reynolds, August 8, 1908, in his ninety-first year, and was interred in the Lane Cemetery near his old home. He was born March 28, 1818, near Cincinnati, Ohio, and, after learning the trade of wagonmaker, he married in May, 1839, at Spring- dale, Ohio, Miss Eliza R. Wooley, who died at Stockwell, Indiana, Febru- ary 15, 1858. Three children were born to them, one of whom, Mrs. Bernard G. Smith, now lives in Monticello.
On January 27, 1859, he married Miss Barbara Darland, of Clinton County, Indiana, who died at the old home place in September, 1868, leaving two children, Eliza, wife of Thomas Baker, and a son, John. His third marriage, and to which no children were born, was to Mrs. Mary A. Baker, mother of Thomas Baker. This marriage occurred in November, 1869, and she died at their home June 1, 1877.
In the spring of 1852 Mr. Lane moved to what is now known as Stockwell, Indiana, where he lived until 1864 when he came to White County and purchased the farm on which he died.
When yet a young man he became a member of the Christian Church through the preaching of a noted divine, Rev. George Campbell, and remained a faithful attendant and liberal supporter of that organization during the remainder of his life. He was a man of strong character, with well-grounded convictions on all subjects. In politics he was identified with the old abolition party, but when the republican party was organ- ized he transferred his allegiance to it and remained true to its prin- ciples the rest of his life.
Mr. Lane lived through many great epochs of our national history. He saw and felt the effects of three great wars. Saw all our great west- ern territories admitted as states of the Union. Saw slavery abolished and the telegraph, telephone and railroad network constructed, and all the up-to-date improvements in all of which he took great interest and felt a just pride.
MRS. SARAH LARGE
Mrs. Sarah Large, widow of John Large, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, January 17, 1820. Her maiden name was Burnett, and she was married to John Large in 1837, and came with him to White County in
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1865, locating in Big Creek Township. She was the mother of Frank and Charles Large, formerly of Monticello, Mrs. U. M. Ballenger, who removed to Michigan City, and Mrs. Bonam Fox, of Athens, Tennessee. She died at her home in Monticello, March 24, 1896.
CHARLES AUGUSTUS LAWSON
Charles Augustus Lawson was born in Sweden, January 20, 1846, and died at his home near Reynolds, October 5, 1914. Since his fourth year he had been a resident of White County and was a veteran of the Civil war and a member of Tippecanoe Post No. 51, G. A. R., Monticello, Indiana. On November 24, 1870, he married Miss Virginia John, and to them were born two sons and two daughters, who, with the mother, sur- vived him. He was a member of the Christian Church.
HIRAM F. LEAR
A resident of White County for sixty-seven years, Hiram F. Lear was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, January 21, 1821, and died at his home in Wolcott, May 16, 1905. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and his father in the War of 1812. His father's family came to White County in 1838, locating in Big Creek Township. Here he was married to Miss Margaret Ann Burns, daughter of Uncle John Burns, and soon after located in Princeton Township. He left thirteen living children.
SARAH LINE
Sarah Line, daughter of Elihu and Nancy Line, was born in Butler County, Ohio, January 30, 1814, and died near Monon, August 21, 1897. In 1832 she married Smith Jessup, two years later he died, and in 1835 she came to White County, being one of the first settlers of the county. She was the last survivor of her family and her sole heir was her nephew, Dennis Line, who yet lives in Monon. She was a woman of deep religious convictions, always interested in the old settlers' annual meet- ings, which she was careful to attend, and a peculiarity was revealed by her when she bid all adieu before dying and asked to be buried in a shroud made by her thirteen years previous. She was buried at the Chapel Cemetery three miles east of Monon.
WILLIAM LISK
William Lisk, the pioneer merchant of Wolcott, was born near Mor- ristown, New Jersey, June 10, 1819, but in his youth his father moved to Franklin County, Ohio, and in 1844 to Ross County, Ohio, and here two years later the subject of this sketch was married to Sarah A. Edmonds, daughter of Robert and Margaret Edmonds, and to this mar- riage seven children were born. In 1847 Mr. Lisk moved to Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Seven years later he migrated to Wapello County,
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Iowa, returning in 1860 to Tippecanoe County, and eight years later to Princeton Township, White County, where he died February 9, 1899. He was a son of Peter and Abigail (Moore) Lisk and of Dutch and Scotch descent. William Lisk was for many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, interested in all that pertained to the wel- fare of the community and a member of the republican party.
NELSON B. LOUGHRY
Nelson B. Loughry, one of the most prominent citizens in White County, was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1815. Was married to Rachel Wright November 13, 1834, at Mifflintown, Penn- sylvania, with whom he lived for more than half a century. In 1855 he came to Indiana and after four years spent in Lafayette, he moved to White County where he lived until his death on August 24, 1890. Several years prior to his death he retired from active business, that of milling, and turned his affairs over to his sons, who are yet in business in Monticello. His was a life well spent. He let his influence for good be felt in the Presbyterian Church of which he was an earnest member and in the community in which he lived. His three sons, Joseph E., Albert W. and Cloyd, have for several years conducted one of the largest milling and grain trades in the state.
LARKIN LOWE
One of the wealthiest and best known men in White County, and for many years one of the well known Lowe brothers, "Lark and Stave," Larkin Lowe was born in Miami County, Indiana, June 26, 1836, and died in Monticello, November 1, 1907. His parents were Charles and Eliza- beth Lowe. In 1840 they came to White County, locating in Monon Township. Early in life he and his brother, Gustavus, formed the part- nership above mentioned and continued in the stock business until 1888, when he moved to Monticello. In 1890 he purchased the Monticello elevator, which he conducted for several years under the firm name of. Lowe & Son. In February, 1862, he was married to Celnira Phillips, who, with two sons, John and Bert (Larkin B.), is still living.
THE MAGEE FAMILY
With the old-time residents of White County must be numbered the Magee family. Empire A. Magee, the founder of the family in this county, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, January 30, 1797, where he spent his boyhood and learned the millwright trade. On August 22, 1822, he married Jane Noble, of Ohio, who died in the State of Missouri in 1837, leaving five children to be cared for by relatives in Ohio, one of which, Miss Anna Magee, now lives in Monticello. His second wife, Emily Gay, was born in East Randolph, Vermont, February 12, 1812, her mother dying when she was quite young. She was taken
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by her oldest brother, Doctor Gay, to Fort Dearborn, now Chicago, where she was married to Empire A. Magee in 1840. Some time after this the family moved to Logansport, where Mr. Magee followed his trade for a time, when he removed to Lockport, in Carroll County, where he con- tinued to reside until April 10, 1849, when he located in Monticello, built the dam and flouring mill for Reynolds & Brearley and a few years later built the woolen mill, just north of it, for Hoagland Brothers, of Lafay- ette. The old flour mill stood for over sixty years and was destroyed by fire Sunday evening, May 20, 1911, and the woolen mill was abandoned and taken away many years ago. The Magee home was for many years on the lots now occupied by the Loughry Brothers Milling and Grain Company. There the family lived for more than a quarter of a century until the death of both parents in 1875, when the family home was aban- doned. Both Mr. and Mrs. Magee were members of the Presbyterian Church at Monticello and one of the windows in the south side of this church is set aside as a memorial to these worthy people.
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