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 54
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DAVID RATHFON
At his death on August 26, 1895, David Rathfon was the oldest resident of White County, wanting but a few weeks of being ninety-
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eight years old. He was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, November 6, 1797, and moved to Wayne County, Indiana, in 1838. In 1855 he came to White County, where he spent the rest of his life. In 1822 he married Nancy Warfel and to them were born five sons and three daughters. He was a consistent member of the Dunkard Church and the record of his long life leaves no reproach upon his memory.
WILLIAM W. RAUB
William W. Raub, for many years a well known and prominent busi- ness man of Chalmers, a member of the firm of J. & W. W. Raub, grain buyers, and later extensively engaged in the real estate business for himself, was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, December 26, 1845; located at Chalmers in 1872. December 18, 1877, he was married to Mary Allen, daughter of a commission merchant at the Union Stock Yards, Chicago. He left one son, William Webster Raub.
DR. CYRUS A. G. RAYHOUSER
Dr. Cyrus A. G. Rayhouser, one of the best known citizens of White County, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, October 29, 1825, and after completing his education at the Vermilion Institute, then one of the most noted schools of Ohio, he was principal of the Fort Wayne, Indiana, schools, and for four years was school examiner of LaPorte County, Indiana. In 1856 he was married to Miss Caroline Ferguson of Lafayette, and then began the study of medicine, at the same time following the profession of teaching. In 1860 he began the practice of medicine at Rockfield, Carroll County, and in 1863 enlisted in the Twenty-second Indiana Battery. He was later appointed assistant sur- geon and was detailed to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he remained until the close of the war. In 1868 he located at Wolcott, where he opened a drug store, and two years later was appointed postmaster at that place. In 1893 he removed to Chalmers, but in 1898 retired to his farm on Pike Creek, and five years later removed to Monticello, where he died March 16, 1910. While at Wolcott his wife died and his nephew, Bert Thompson, became his companion and proved a loyal friend in his declin- ing years. Few men ever lived in White County who were more favor- ably known than Doctor Rayhouser.
JUDGE ALFRED F. REED
Judge Alfred F. Reed, who was the last judge of the old Common Pleas Court, was born in Clark County, Ohio, February 3, 1824, and died at his home just east of Monticello, October 23, 1873. His parents came to Indiana in his early childhood but a few years later returned to Ohio and on April 8, 1845, he was married to Louisa J. Downs and to them were born eight children, only two of whom survived the father. In November, 1852, he came to White County, where his wife and five
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children died and on December 31, 1857, he married Elizabeth Haver by whom he had five children and of these four survived him. 'Judge Reed was admitted to the bar in Ohio and on his coming to White County at once entered into the practice. On August 1, 1861, he en- tered the Civil war as captain of Company K, Twentieth Regiment Indiana Volunteers in which he served until the fall of 1862 when, upon being elected to the State Senate he resigned to take that office. He served during one session of the Senate and on March 1, 1864, was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry in which capacity he served until the close of the war when he returned to Monticello and engaged in the practice of his profession. On March 22, 1867, he was appointed judge of the Common Pleas Court for the district composed of the counties of Benton, Carroll and White. He was elected to succeed himself in 1869 and again in 1872, but the legislature abolished the office and he again entered the practice of the law which he followed until his death. Judge Reed left an enviable record as soldier, lawyer and official. His was a life of ceaseless activity but in every position he held he measured up to the full standard of a man.
BENJAMIN REYNOLDS
Benjamin Reynolds was one of the pioneers of White County, closely and prominently identified with its early settlement, a man of great energy and natural resources. He was born in Pennsylvania, May 3, 1799, and died at his home in Big Creek Township, June 6, 1869. When quite a young man he operated a stage line from Vincennes, Indiana, to Toledo, Ohio, but in 1828 a distemper broke out among his horses which left him almost a bankrupt. Two years later he came to what is now White County, began life anew and became the owner of large tracts of White County lands. Later, he was largely instrumental in the con- struction of both the Monon and Pennsylvania railroads and was financially interested in the old Junction Railroad in which he lost about $100,000. Mr. Reynolds was twice married. His first wife was Julia Ann Collier, who was born January 10, 1801, and died October 17, 1837. On April 2, 1840, he married Lydia J. Gardner at her home in Vincennes, Indiana. She was born in North Carolina, February 21, 1820, and died at her White County home, January 27, 1902, in her eighty-third year. Benjamin Reynolds platted and laid out the Town of Reynolds, which was named for him by Governor Willard. His descendants are still num- bered among our most respected citizens.
ISAAC REYNOLDS
Isaac Reynolds was one of the most honored and well known men who aided in the development of White County and many of his descend- ants are yet with us. This pioneer was born July 23, 1811, in Perry County, Ohio. In March, 1837, he married Miss Mary J. Hughes. About 1835 he came to Monticello and entered the mercantile business
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in which he was engaged most of his life until 1871, when he was stricken with paralysis, which soon deprived him of his reason. He became a member of the Presbyterian Church in 1843 during a revival service conducted by Rev. S. N. Steele and for many years was a trustee of the church. He was also a charter member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity of Monticello and a man highly esteemed in the community in which he lived. He died at Monticello, June 30, 1877.
JAMES CULBERTSON REYNOLDS
James Culbertson Reynolds was born in Perry County, Ohio, October 14, 1816, and in 1837 came to Monticello, where he lived for nearly forty years. On January 21, 1843, at the organization of the New School Presbyterian Church, he became an active member and for the rest of his life he never wavered in his devotion to the church in which he served as a ruling elder for twenty-three years and was also active in Sunday school work. On March 15, 1849, he married a daughter of William Sill, deceased, who survived him at his death, which occurred at Monti- cello, March 25, 1877.
JOHN G. REYNOLDS
Son of Isaac Reynolds, and born at the Reynolds homestead north of Chalmers, December, 1842. Died at the home of his sister, Mrs. Jacob Raub, in Chalmers, July 13, 1899. He was a member of Company K, Twentieth Indiana, and was wounded in the arm at Spottsylvania. He married Hattie E. Callow, at Battleground, June 6, 1867. He left two sons, Joseph and Earle, the latter later being the well known roller skater, who made several tours of the world with his wife, also a champion skater, under the name of Reynolds & Donnegan.
LEVI REYNOLDS
While engaged in threshing on his farm about five miles north of Monticello on August 17, 1897, Mr. Reynolds was standing in his barn talking to a neighbor when he suddenly sank to the floor and expired without a struggle. He was born in Perry County, Ohio, August 20, 1831, and came with his parents to White County in 1836. He was married to Margaret McCuaig in 1858. At his death he left two daugh- ters, Mrs. S. C. Orr and Miss Lottie Reynolds, both still residents of Monticello.
MAJ. LEVI REYNOLDS
Maj. Levi Reynolds was born May 13, 1795, and died at Monticello, February 1, 1871. He was of English parentage and served a term in the Northwestern Army in the War of 1812 while yet a mere boy. But little can be learned of his life except that he was a prominent figure in all the celebrations and social gatherings in Monticello and at his
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death was buried in the old cemetery in Monticello. His funeral was conducted from the residence of Isaac Reynolds, in Monticello, at 2 P. M. of February 2, 1871, with the following named pallbearers: Dr. Ran- dolph Brearley, Joseph Rothrock, William S. Hoagland, James H. Mc- Collum, Jeptha Crouch and Orlando Mcconahay. Of these gentlemen only Messrs. McCollum and Crouch are now living.
MRS. LYDIA J. REYNOLDS
Mrs. Lydia J. Reynolds, widow of Benjamin Reynolds, of Big Creek Township, and mother of John, Benjamin and Levi Reynolds, Nancy J., now Mrs. George Wolverton, and Sallie C., now Mrs. Jacob Raub. She was the daughter of Maj. John Gardner, former register and receiver of the land office at Winamac and later auditor of Jasper County. She was married to Benjamin Reynolds, April 2, 1840, at her home in Vin- cennes, Indiana, and immediately came to White County. She died at her home in Chalmers, January 27, 1902, in her eighty-third year, having been born in North Carolina, February 21, 1820. Her parents located in White County in 1830 and were said to be the second oldest family in the county.
MIRANDA J. REYNOLDS
Miranda J. Reynolds, daughter of William Sill, was born in Wash- ington County, Indiana, February 10, 1829, came with her parents to Monticello in 1832, and was married to James C, Reynolds in 1849. In 1848 she united with the Presbyterian Church at Monticello and in this church she retained her church relation for fifty years until her death in Monticello in January, 1898. She was a woman deeply interested in church work, knew the early history of Monticello and White County as few others knew it and was deeply interested in all that pertained to the welfare of the community in which she lived. Her father, William Sill, held the offices of clerk, auditor and recorder for the first twelve years of our county's history and Mrs. Reynolds was a perfect cyclopedia of its early annals. She was a real pioneer and delighted to dwell on the memories of her girlhood when the town was in embryo. About six years previous to her death she prepared and read at a meeting of the Old Settlers of White County, a paper on our early history that was a most interesting addition to our local history. She was a sister of the late Milton M. Sill, the well known lawyer of Monticello.
BOYD F. RITCHEY
Boyd F. Ritchey, a son of Rev. John Ritchey, a Methodist minister, was born in Dubois County, Indiana, October 10, 1827, and when four- teen years old came to White County, where he lived until his death, Sunday night, August 23, 1896. He was married January 24, 1847, to Elizabeth Korn and to them was born four children. His wife died in 1872 and on May 27, 1875, he married Mrs. Alvira Cullen, widowed
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daughter of Joseph Conkling, and she is still living in Monticello. At the age of sixteen he joined the Methodist Church and during the re- mainder of his life he was an active and enthusiastic worker in the local church of Monticello. Boyd F. Ritchey was a man in all that word implies and those who knew him will ever remember his generous, kindly manner and his hopeful words and advice. His only living child, George Ritchey, is married and lives in Los Angeles, California.
BERNARD K. ROACH
For many years Mr. Roach was one of the most highly esteemed men in White County. He was born in Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1810. In 1862 he removed to White County, locating near what is now known as Guernsey. For several years prior to his death he lived with his son, James B. Roach, the well known merchant in Monticello, at whose home he died August 13, 1896.
DAVID G. ROACH
David G. Roach was the youngest son of Bernard K. Roach, and brother of James B. and John T. Roach. He was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, September 4, 1848, and came with his parents to White County in 1862. June 13, 1877, he was married to Miss Jane McCuaig. He resided in Monticello and vicinity nearly all his life. He removed with his family to Chicago only a short time before his death, which occurred in that city June 15, 1908. He left a wife, one daughter, Mary, and two sons, James B. and Charles. His remains were brought to Monticello and buried in Riverview Cemetery, interment being under the auspices of Monticello Lodge, I. O. O. F.
JAMES B. ROACH
The oldest continuous business man in Monticello is James B. Roach, who conducts a dry goods store on the south side of the public square. He is a son of Bernard K. and Eliza J. (Thompson) Roach and was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, October 17, 1842, coming to White County in November, 1861, where he engaged a short time in school teaching. August 9, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Sixty-third Indiana Volunteers, and was made corporal. After serving on detached duty in the Provost Marshal's office at Indianapolis for almost a year he joined his regiment at Camp Nelson and with it saw active service until his discharge at David's Island Hospital, June 29, 1865.
For thirteen years after his return home he clerked in the dry goods store of Mr. James H. McCollum, later moving to his farm near Guern- sey. Some years later he formed a partnership with his brothers John and David G., and again engaged in business in the corner room north of the courthouse. Here he continued after the death of his brothers until the remodeling of the room for the Farmers State Bank necessitated
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his removal to his present location. December 18, 1872, he was mar- ried to Miss Mary S. Berkey, who died April 23, 1909, leaving him with two children, Miss Margaret B., for many years a teacher in the Monticello public schools; and Frank B., a civil engineer, now residing in New York. Mr. Roach is an active member of the Presbyterian Church and of Tippecanoe Post G. A. R., and is held in the highest esteem by all who know him.
JOHN T. ROACH
John T. Roach, son of Bernard K. Roach, was for many years a well known business man in Monticello. At the time of his death he was asso- ciated with his brothers, James B. and David G., in the dry goods store, north of the public square, under the firm name of Roach Bros. He was born in New Lisbon, Ohio, June 19, 1846. Came to White County with the Roach family in 1862. Some years later he took employment with Dr. William Spencer in his drug store and in the late seventies was cashier of the National Bank. July 3, 1877, he was married to Miss Anna M. Brearley, daughter of Doctor Brearley, one of the pioneers of Monticello. Their only child died in infancy. He died February 26, 1905. His widow is still living in Monticello.
MRS. MARTHA ROBERTS
One of White County's early settlers, widow of John Roberts and mother of William D. and Robert D. Roberts, Mrs. Maria L. Fraser and Mrs. Perry Spencer. She was born in Ohio, October, 1810; her maiden name being Martha Dyer. Married to John Roberts in 1827, located in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, in 1828 and in White County a short distance southwest of the site of Monticello in 1831. They removed to Monticello in 1866, where her husband died in 1872. For many years she lived alone in her large brick residence on South Main Street. Died at the home of her son, County Commissioner Robert D. Roberts, Janu- ary 14, 1896.
ROBERT D. ROBERTS
Robert D. Roberts, for many years prominent in the agricultural progress of Union Township and the industrial life of Monticello, died April 28, 1912, as the result of an injury received at his farm south- west of Monticello. He had been engaged in blasting rock on his land and had loaded it upon a boat for transportation, when a large stone fell upon him and injured him internally. The deceased was born in White County, January 21, 1837, being one of the eight children of John and Martha Roberts. His parents had located on a tract of 160 acres of Government land in 1831, occupying an Indian shack as their first home. In that locality they lived until 1866, when they gave up farm life and moved to their new home on South Main Street, Monti- cello, where the father died in 1872. In 1861 Robert D. Roberts married
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Susan Scowden and for several years devoted himself to farming and stock raising; but in 1876, with William B. Keefer, under the firm name of Roberts and Keefer, he purchased the woolen factory which stood at the foot of the mill race on the east side of the river and converted it into a flour mill, giving it the name of the Crystal Mills. Some time later he purchased Mr. Keefer's interest and later took his nephew, Fred Roberts, as a partner; and they conducted the mill successfully until it was burned in 1889. Later he served a term as township trustee and as county commissioner. He continued to reside at his home on the hill east of the river dam, but devoted most of his time and atten- tion to his large tract of land south of town. Mrs. Roberts died in December, 1910, the mother of five children. Though seventy-five years of age at the time of his death, Mr. Roberts was active physically and clear mentally, so that, despite his years, his death seemed premature.
THE THOMAS ROBERTS FAMILY
Thomas Roberts, the son of John and Martha Roberts, was born December 19, 1829, about one and one-half miles southwest of Monticello, Indiana, on the farm now in the possession of Robert E. Roberts. During his early years he formed a friendship with Margery, the daughter of Armstrong and Mary Buchanan who lived on a farm about four and one-half miles southwest of Monticello. In 1851 they were united in marriage and for three years lived on what is now the Charles C. Spencer farm.
In 1854, with their son Frank, they moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where they were among the first settlers. Here Mr. Roberts entered 160 acres of land, at the same time engaging in the mercantile business. In July, 1861, while he and Mr. Cordaway were working on their land, a party of Sioux Indians slipped up behind them, shot and killed both men and took their horses.
In October, 1861, Mrs. Roberts returned to Monticello with her two children, Frank and Fred, Will and George having died in infancy. In 1864, she was united in marriage to Ira S. Kingsbury. Her eldest son, Frank, died in 1878, leaving Fred as the only remaining child. She continued to reside in Monticello till her death in 1904.
THOMAS A. ROBISON
Thomas A. Robison, who had resided in Indiana since 1844, was born in Piqua, Ohio, May 13, 1829, and came to Camden, Carroll County ; thence in 1858 to Burnettsville; thence to Idaville, and in 1881 to Mon- ticello, where he lived at the home of his brother, Dr. F. B. Robison, but while visiting relatives in Des Moines, Iowa, in November, 1909, he died and his remains were brought to Monticello for burial. In 1850 he was married to Nancy J. McClurg, who died July 3, 1897. In 1863 he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Burnettsville, but later transferred his membership to the church in Monticello. During the war
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he was a member of the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry and was given an hon- orable discharge in November, 1865. He was an honored member of Tippecanoe Post, G. A. R., of Monticello. Of his five children, three only are living, Edward S. of Oakland, California; Harry B. of Rose Lake, Idaho, and Mrs. Blanche Darrow of Des Moines, Iowa, at whose home he died.
MRS. MARY VIRGINIA ROSS
Mrs. Ross was the daughter of Henry P. Bennett, for many years a well known grocer and justice of the peace in Monticello, a man of sturdy character and held in high esteem. She was born in Harrison County, West Virginia, March 17, 1848. She came with her parents to Monticello about 1868. About twelve years of her life were spent as a teacher in the public schools. She was married to Benjamin F. Ross in 1872. She died April 27, 1901, leaving her husband and two sons, Charles V. and Frank B., the latter later becoming a well known attor- ney in Indianapolis and judge of the Probate Court of Marion County.
CHARLES ROTH
For many years a well known carpenter, contractor and builder in Monticello, many of the best buildings in that city being constructed by him and his brother Frank, Charles Roth was born in Koerperick, Prus- sia, and came to America in 1856. He located in Monticello a few years later. He left surviving five children: Amer, Eugene, Thomas and Felix Roth and Mrs. Daisy Ireland, wife of Melville Ireland. All, except Amer, still reside in Monticello.
FRANCIS WILLIAM ROTH
For many years Francis W. Roth was engaged with his brother, Charles, as contracting builder, under the firm name of Roth Bros., and what was said of the latter as to honesty and reliability can as truthfully be said of him. He was born in Prussia, January 6, 1832, and came to America in 1856, locating in White County in 1866. He was married July 4, 1861, to Mary Jane Ruble, who died only a short time ago. He left two sons, Charles M. Roth and William F. Roth, both still residents of Monticello.
ELIZA (BURNS) ROTHROCK
At the time of her death Mrs. Rothrock was Monticello's oldest con- tinuous resident. Her maiden name was Eliza Burns; born in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1815, died in Monticello, January 19, 1904, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Her father, Hugh Burns, came to White County in September, 1838, locating on what they called "Edge Hill" farm, two and one-half miles south of Monticello, and where her brother, James Burns, lived for many years after. She was married to Joseph Rothrock September 25, 1839. Four children, Mrs. James S.
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Wigmore, J. Bowman Rothrock, Samuel A. Rothrock, of Monticello, and Mrs. Belle Hannum, of Denver, Colorado, survived her, but all have since died, except her son Bowman, still a resident of Monticello. For a long series of years she lived in a commodious frame house on lot 35, just south of the present O'Connor Building.
ELIZABETH J. ROTHROCK
Elizabeth J. Rothrock, widow of William Rothrock, was one of the pioneer women of White County. She was a daughter of John and Mary Cochell and was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1830. Died at her home south of Monticello, July 5, 1906. With her parents she came to White County in 1846, locating in the little Village of Monticello. November 11, 1848, she was married to William Rothrock and they at once began life in a log house about a mile south of town, where later they erected the commodious brick residence in which they lived the remainder of their lives. She was the mother of eleven chil- dren, only four of whom are now living. These are: Anna, now Mrs. David Lilly; Martha, now Mrs. David M. Rothrock; Eliza, now Mrs. Frank Britton, and Belle, now Mrs. Rufus Ross.
JACOB ROTHROCK
Jacob Rothrock, a respected member of the Rothrock family of White County, was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, January 10, 1824, and died at his Monticello home January 29, 1913. In 1846, he married Henrietta Stroup. To this marriage was born three sons and three daughters, two daughters, Mary and Aramina, of Iowa, and two sons, Luther, of Nebraska and David Milton, of Monticello, are still living. The wife and mother died in 1893 and in 1895 he married Mrs. Mary Myers and then located in Monticello and engaged in the mercantile business. He was in early life a member of the Lutheran Church but later united with the Baptists and remained a consistent member of that organization until his death. He was simple in his tastes, kind in the family and a good citizen.
JOSEPH ROTHROCK
Joseph Rothrock was born in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, August 3, 1812 ; was married in 1839 and died at Monticello May 7, 1880. He was a pioneer of White County and was well known for his charity and benevo- lence. The people three times gave him the very important office of treas- urer of this county.
ROBERT ROTHROCK
The Rothrock family was one of the very earliest to locate in White County, the subject of this sketch having lived here from 1831 to the
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time of his death, February 17, 1882. He was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1807, and first came to Indiana in 1829, but it was not until two years later that he located at what was later to be Monticello. He was prominently identified with our local history and entered from the Government the lands on which our county seat is located. He was a prominent member of the Christian Church and his influence for good wrought results which we of today so fully enjoy.
WILLIAM ROTHROCK
William Rothrock came to White County with his father in 1831 when he was but ten years old. This was seven years before the Indians were taken West and three years prior to the organization of the county. He was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, August 23, 1821, and all of his life, after passing his tenth year, was spent in White County. He endured all the hardships incident to pioneer life, his first home in White County being in a tent which the family occupied until a log cabin could be built. On November 11, 1848, he married Elizabeth Cochell, who also came from Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, who, with five daugh- ters, survived him. He was the youngest of eight children. His daugh- ters, who survived at his death, were : Mrs. Samuel Hornbeck, Mrs. David Lilly, Mrs. Frank Britton, Mrs. Rufus H. Ross and Martha Rothrock, now the wife of Milton Rothrock, of Monticello. He was a life-long mem- ber of the Brethren Church, a man of strict honesty, who by his industry achieved success, and what is far better than riches, left a good name.
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