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. II > Part 10
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On August 21, 1866, Captain Henderson married Adeline, daughter of John M. and Elizabeth (Barnes) Carson. To their marriage were born four children : Minnie B., Mrs. W. P. Bushnell; Lizzie E., Mrs. Charles R. Zook; John M .; and Elsie L., deceased. At the time of his death Captain Henderson was a ruling elder in the United Presby- terian Church. He was a republican and was long affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic. His widow is still living. Captain Henderson was a man of high character, commanded universal respect because of his sterling qualities, and was a character for positive good in the community where he lived.
John M. Henderson, his only son and successor of his father in the lumber business at Idaville, was born March 5, 1875. He assisted his father as soon as his strength and years permitted, and received his education in the public schools. On October 17, 1906, occurred his mar- riage to Miss Mary Townsley, daughter of James Milton and Vine (Delzell) Townsley. To their marriage were born two daughters, Margaret E. and Esther V. Both Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church.
WALTER MCBETH, M. D. In no profession are the opportunities for social service greater than those which come to the physician almost daily while in the performance of his routine duty. The professional standards of White County's physicians are unusually high, and one of the younger men who have gained reputation and honor in their respective communities for capable and intelligent practice is Dr. Walter McBeth, of Burnettsville, where he has practiced nearly fif- teen years.
RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. HIRAM BESHOAR
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The McBeth family has been identified with White County upwards of seventy years, and the name is one that has always stood for good citizenship. Doctor McBeth is a son of James M. and Sarah C. (Turner) McBeth. James M. McBeth, who is now living at Monticello, was born in Clark County, Ohio, July 31, 1842, a son of William and Anna (Steele) McBeth, and in December, 1847, the family settled in Cass Township of White County.
Dr. Walter McBeth was born at Monticello, August 22, 1875. He grew up in the county seat, and was one of the boys who attended the high school there during the '90s. He afterwards, having determined upon medicine as his chosen vocation, entered the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, an institution affiliated with the State Uni- versity, and was graduated M. D. April 8, 1901. Almost immediately he located at Burnettsville, and has enjoyed an increasing prestige and a substantial practice. Doctor McBeth stands high in medical circles, and is a member of the White County Medical Society, the Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
HIRAM BESHOAR. The following paragraphs contain the important facts in the life and family records of a White County citizen whose name has always stood for all that is honest and of good report in this com- munity, for successful thrift and business integrity and for a position which all must respect. There is now a quite extensive relationship of the Beshoar family in White County and the name was first introduced into this part of Northwestern Indiana fully half a century ago. Hiram Beshoar is one of the several brothers whose names will at once be recog- nized as designating men of standing and influence. His home has been at Burnettsville for the past half century, and his career has been divided between farming, business affairs in the village, and important service in public capacity.
The name Beshoar is of French origin and some of the American descendants have spelled it Bashore. The grandfather of Hiram Beshoar was Michael Beshoar, who lived in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. Daniel Beshoar, father of Hiram, was born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1805. He was married March 20, 1828, to Susanna Rothrock, who died December 18, 1847, the mother of ten children, of whom only two are still living: Mrs. Sarah Musser of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Asenath Snyder, of Trinidad, Colorado. After the death of his first wife, Daniel Beshoar married January 12, 1849, in Mifflin County, Mary Smith, who came of a family of Irish lineage. Of this union there were nine children : Daniel, born January 29, 1850; Adaline, born Octo- ber 13, 1851, and died in 1866; Emma, who was born October 7, and died
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October 18, 1853; James, born October 16, 1854; Margaret, born May 3, 1857; Hiram; Alfred, born September 30, 1861, and died April 2, 1873; Alice, born December 15, 1864; and William, born February 11, 1866. The father of these children, while living in Pennsylvania, acquired a fluent knowledge of both the French and German languages, as well as the English, and frequently acted as an interpreter in the local courts. On March 16, 1865, he brought his family to White County, and bought what was known as the old Norway farm, in Union Township, a mile and a half north of Monticello. He lived here less than a year, and died October 27, 1865. He was a whig and later a republican in politics. At his death he left his widow with the care of eight children. She lived on the homestead north of Monticello until 1870 and in the spring of that year sold the farm and moved to Burnettsville, where she continued for many years, and passed away October 12, 1905. She was a member of the Brethren Church, as was also her husband, and he was a pillar of the church. They were laid to rest side by side in the cemetery at Burnetts- ville.
Hiram Beshoar, who was six years of age when the family came to Union Township, White County, in March, 1865, was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1859. When he was still a boy he moved into Burnettsville with his mother and completed his education in the local schools of that village. While at different times identified with various occupations, Mr. Beshoar was for many years, up to 1901, en- gaged in farming about a mile south of Burnettsville. From 1887 to 1905 he was also engaged in shipping live stock, and for nearly fifteen years has had the center of his business activities at Burnettsville. He was in the grain business, and later enlarged the scope of his operations to include hardware and implements, and at the present time is the only dealer in poultry, eggs and butter, and operates a cream station.
On October 27, 1886, Mr. Beshoar married Flora E. Godlove, a daugh- ter of Perry Godlove, of a prominent White County family mentioned on other pages. To their union were born six children: Franklin H., who lives at Burnettsville, and by his marriage to Pearl Justice, has a son. Robert E. : Mamie E., who is the wife of A. O. Townsley of Burnetts- ville, and their three children are Margaret, Herbert and Vernice : Clara. Pauline, Perry G. and Daniel L., all of whom are unmarried and live with their parents. Frank, Clara and Pauline are graduates of the Burnetts- ville schools. Mrs. Beshoar is a native of Delaware County, Indiana, born January 22, 1861, and was educated in the Burnettsville schools. She is one of the efficient teachers in the Sabbath school, is an affable, genial lady and has done her part in the raising of their family.
Though essentially a business man, Mr. Beshoar has also been promi-
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nent in republican politics. On April 12, 1905, he was appointed post- master at Burnettsville, and gave a capable administration of that office up to April 17, 1914. At different times he has also been honored with the position of precinct committeeman. He and his wife and family are active members of the Brethren Church, and he has been treasurer of the church since 1888 and one of its most liberal supporters. What Mr. Beshoar has accomplished in a business way is almost entirely due to his energy and industry, and these have been combined with a fine integrity of character.
THE HANNA FAMILY. The following sketch contains some of the important facts in the records of a White County family which has been identified with this community some eighty years, since the be- ginning of civilized things in this portion of the Indiana frontier. It would be impossible to trace all the varied influences and activities of such a family, which has been represented here through portions of five generations. It must suffice to say that the name has always stood for all that is honest and of good report in this community, for successful thrift and business integrity, and for a position which all must respect. As the first generation made homes out of the wilder- ness, so their descendants have likewise borne worthy parts as citi- zens, farmers and business men. Their lives for the greater part have been strong and useful without the conspicuous eventfulness of many less serviceable careers. They have been notable for the quiet perform- ance of the homely, simple duties that come within the scope of every life.
The first name to be noted in this article is that of a Robert Hanna, who was a sturdy patriot in the years which marked the struggle of the colonies with Great Britain and who served in a Virginia regiment during the war for independence. This Revolutionary soldier married Mary Boyd.
In the next generation is Robert Hanna., Jr., who was known in the early days of White County. He was born September 1, 1771, and married Elizabeth Moony, who was born December 26, 1785. As will be mentioned, two of his sons had preceded him to White County, but Robert Hanna, with wife and other children, came to this section in 1834, and located in section 35 of Jackson Township. This Robert Hanna was a tailor by trade, but after coming to White County fol- lowed farming and lived about seven years in the county before his death, which occurred July 19, 1841. The children who preceded or came with him and his wife to White County were: Lucinda, who was born November 18, 1808, and who married William Irelan; John, who
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was born December 10, 1810; Andrew, born May 6, 1816; Elizabeth; James, who was born June 18, 1823; Mary, or Polly: Sarah; and Robert, who was born October 26, 1826. All these are now deceased.
The first of the family in White County were John and his brother Andrew. They came in 1833, and John entered land in section 35 of Jackson Township. John Hanna was born in Greene County, Ohio, at the date above given, and came to White County from Cedarville. At that time he was unmarried and pre-empted 120 acres of Government land. His first shelter was a hewed log cabin, a somewhat pretentious dwelling for that time. Later, about 1848, he had the distinction of building the first frame house in Jackson Township. John Hanna married Margaret Gibson, and of their eleven children six are men- tioned as follows: Emeline, who married Samuel Townsley, and later a Mr. Clewell, and still later John A. Whiteman, and is now living at Burnettsville and is in all probability the oldest continuous resident of Jackson Township; Lucinda, widow of James Cochran and living in the State of Oregon; Isabelle, widow of Harrison S. Stine, and also a resident of Oregon; Margaret, now deceased, who was the wife of Adolphus Peter Kocher; John W .; and William, the two latter being both residents of Burnettsville. John Hanna, their father, died Jan- uary 4, 1899, and his wife passed away October 7, 1882. In the early records of White County the name of John Hanna is mentioned as a member of the first petit jury ever empanelled in the county.
John W. Hanna, of the third generation of the Hanna family repre- sented in White County, is now living retired from his activities as a farmer at Burnettsville. He was born in White County, November 17, 1854, and was married November 19, 1874, to Mary Chilcott. They are the parents of four children: Zula, now living at Monticello as the widow of R. J. Million; Thomas J., a lawyer of Monticello; Guy C., who is superintendent of the Boys Reform School at Plainfield, Indiana ; and Erma, wife of William Kocher, a resident of Casper, Wyoming.
John W. Hanna has spent his entire life in White County and has gathered his prosperity from the capable management of his farming interests. In early life he attended the old Burnettsville Academy, and later the high schools at Logansport and Crawfordsville. For three years he was a teacher. The original 120 acres pre-empted by his father in Jackson Township is now owned by William Hanna, and there has been only one private name connected with its ownership since it passed out of the control of the Government. This land is still being farmed and is occupied by a representative of the fifth generation of the Hanna family in White County. John W. Hanna and wife are both members of the Christian Church. He is a democrat and the family
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have always been identified with that political faith since grandfather Robert Hanna cast his first vote for Thomas Jefferson. John W. Hanna was for thirty-six years precinct committeeman at Burnettsville. In 1908 he built a three mile stone road north of Burnettsville known as the Reiff Road. Mr. Hanna is affiliated with Burnettsville Lodge No. 663, F. & A. M .; and with Burnett Creek Lodge No. 740, I. O. O. F., and has been twice through the chairs of this lodge.
Thomas J. Hanna, a son of J. W. and of the fourth generation in White County, was born at Burnettsville, August 3, 1876, grew up there, received his primary education in the local schools, and subsequently attended the State Normal School at Terre Haute, the University of Indiana at Bloomington, and the Northern Central Indiana Normal School at Danville. He was graduated from the Indiana Law School of Indianapolis in 1902, and came to Monticello to begin the practice of his profession, in which he has now been engaged for thirteen years. In June, 1898, Thomas J. Hanna enlisted in Company M of the One Hundred Sixtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Spanish- American war. His command was stationed at Matanzas, Cuba, and he was in service about nine months until his honorable discharge March 1, 1899. Thomas J. Hanna was married December 2, 1899, to Miss Amy Hartman. He is affiliated with the Lodge, the Chapter and Council of the Masonic fraternity and also with the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men.
LARKIN LOWE. Of the former citizens of White County, probably none had a more distinctive success as a farmer and stock man than the late Larkin Lowe, who lived for many years in Monticello, where he died November 1, 1907. By hard work and strict attention to business he had accumulated something like 1,000 acres of fine farm lands, and his busi- ness success was made on the basis of fair dealing and an incorruptible integrity, and he always enjoyed a reputation as an honorable and respected citizen.
The late Larkin Lowe was born near the Eel River in Indiana June 26, 1836, and was therefore past seventy-one years of age at the time of his death. His parents were Robert and Elizabeth (Dickey) Lowe, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Indiana. The parents removed to Monon Township in White County at an early day, were pioneers, and experienced all the trials and incidents of the early times. Both died in this county and are buried here. There were' seven sons and one daughter in the family.
Larkin Lowe had very little schooling as a boy, and his life was one of practical effort and experience. At about the age of twenty-five he
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left home and began doing for himself and soon established a home of his own. On February 9, 1862, he married Scelnira Phillips, daugh- ter of John and Catherine (Brough) Phillips. To their marriage were born four sons, as follows: John, who is a farmer and stock raiser, married Sarah E. Crawford, daughter of Samuel and Anne (Clapham) Crawford; James, who died in June, 1910, married Ella Garinger, daughter of John Garinger; Christopher, who died February 19, 1872; and Larkin B., who is engaged in farming on the old Lowe homestead, married Etta Seymour, daughter of James Seymour. John Phillips, the father of Mrs. Lowe, came to Monon township about 1855, was a respected farmer, a stanch republican, and he and his wife spent the rest of their lives on a farm in that township.
The late Larkin Lowe was a democrat in politics, but never sought nor held any office. He was one of the most extensive cattle buyers and shippers in White County, shipped stock to all parts of the country, and his shrewd judgment seldom ever failed him in these transactions. He moved into Monticello about 1882, and resided there the last twenty- five years of his life. His body was laid to rest in Bedford Cemetery, Monon, Indiana.
JAMES F. DUNCAN. It is as an educator of a quarter century's experience that James F. Duncan is best known to White County, and in no other calling could he have given a greater and better service to humanity. Mr. Duncan is now in charge of the eighth grade of the public schools of Monticello.
James F. Duncan was born in Carroll County, Indiana, November 30, 1865. He was one of nine children, two of whom are deceased. Their parents were William and Wealtha (Briggs) Duncan, substantial people of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and for many years identified with the farming interests of White County. The family came to White County in 1866. William Duncan had in the meantime gained an honorable record as a soldier in the Civil war. He enlisted in Company K of the Sixty-third Indiana Infantry, being mustered in at Indianapolis, and was with his regiment in its various campaigns and marches for about one year. By occupation he was a farmer and stock raiser, and was a valuable member of any community where he had his residence. In politics a republican, he never sought or held office except as justice of the peace. He was a member of the Christian Church. His death occurred February 10, 1904, while his wife died October 19, 1890, and both are now at rest in Princeton Township.
James F. Duncan was reared from infancy in White County, and acquired his early education by attending the local public schools. In
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the intervals of his work as teacher he subsequently spent two years in the Valparaiso University, and for one year was a student in the University of Colorado. During his long service as an educator he has taught both in the country and in town, and there are hundreds of his old pupils, now established independently in the world, who recall with affection and respect their instructor and the part he played in their young life. In 1908 Mr. Duncan became teacher of the eighth grade in Monticello, and has since lived in the county seat. He is a repub- lican in politics, but without official aspirations, is a Mason and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.
On December 16, 1891, Mr. Duncan married Miss Dora Sexton, daughter of Louis W. and Sarah (Briney) Sexton. The Sexton family were early settlers in Princeton Township, and Mrs. Duncan's parents now reside at Wolcott.
HENRY T. LITTLE. One of the real pioneers of White County, a com- panion of the wilderness and a sharer in the prosperity which was devel- oped by the industry and tireless labors of its sturdy workers, the late Henry T. Little was one of the county's best known and most highly esteemed citizens. His activities covered the fields of agriculture, car- pentry, merchandise and hotel keeping, and at his death, in 1896, the county lost a man who had at all times labored faithfully in advancing its best interests.
Mr. Little was born near Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, November 8, 1825, and was a son of William and Jane (Smith) Little. About the year 1846 the parents removed from Ohio with their family to Tippecanoe County, Indiana, and several years later came to White County, where they followed agricultural pursuits during the remainder of their lives. They were buried at Spring Creek Cemetery. One of a family of seven children, all of whom are now deceased, Henry T. Little received his education in the public schools of his native state, and for a short time in his youth followed farming. Subsequently he learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed both in Ohio and Indiana, but after the family came to White County he turned his attention to mercantile lines, and for a long period of years was the proprietor of a store at Brookston. He was well and prominently known there, wielded some influence in public affairs, and during the Civil war served his community as post- master. In his later years Mr. Little removed to Delphi, Indiana, and was there engaged in conducting a hotel at the time of his death, January 10,.1896. Mr. Little was a republican in his political views, and always took an interest in public affairs, although rather as a public-spirited citizen than as a seeker for official preferment. He was a member of
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the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his religious connection was with the Methodist Church, to which Mrs. Little also belongs.
On January 24, 1850, Mr. Little was married to Miss Jane Van Scoy, daughter of William and Mary (Channel) Van Scoy. Her parents, also pioneers of White County, came here from West Virginia as early as 1847 and settled in Big Creek Township, where they entered two 40-acre tracts of land from the Government. In later years they removed to the State of Iowa, where both passed away, they being buried near New Virginia. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom four survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Little there were born seven children. Mary E. survives and resides with her mother at Monticello.
THOMAS T. BRITTON. A resident of White County more than thirty- five years, Thomas T. Britton formerly lived in the Reynolds community, but since 1893 has had his home in Monticello. His has been a long and active career. The service for which his name deserves lasting honor and respect was as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, and he continued in the ranks until a wound compelled him to retire. He is one of the rapidly decreasing grand army still to be found in White' County.
Thomas T. Britton was born in Center County, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1839, and is the only survivor of six children born to James R. and Eliza (Courter) Britton. His father was of English and his mother of Scotch-Irish stock. In 1856 the family went West and located in Liv- ingston County, Illinois. Thomas T. Britton at that time was seventeen years of age. His education was the result of attendance at schools in the East, and when twenty-one he started life for himself. He was a farmer for a few years, but when the war came on he was one of the many thousands of northern youth who responded to the call to arms. In 1862 he enlisted in Company H of the Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry and was mustered in August 27, 1862. His regiment was a part of the Army of the Cumberland. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and many other skirmishes and marches which marked the contest for the possession of the central section of the Confederacy. He was in active service fifteen months, and after the battle of Stone River was placed on Rosecrans' roll of honor. He marched and countermarched over the country between the Mississippi and Northern Georgia for about 2,000 miles until wounded at Missionary Ridge. On that battlefield a ball struck him in the head, was deflected into the shoulder and thence into the arm, and was not extracted for forty days. That bullet is still in his possession, the most interesting memento of his army service.
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After the war Mr. Britton returned to Illinois, and lived there until 1879, in which year he moved to White County. For several years Mr. Britton followed the business of preparing patent medicines and selling . them over Northern Indiana. He has dealt extensively in real estate, but at the present time has given up most of the cares of business.
On December 4, 1859, in Illinois, he married Miss Fannie Krouse, daughter of David Krouse. On October 28, 1876, Mr. Britton married Amelia Newman, daughter of Christian and Christina (Greenwood) Newman. The four children by the first marriage were: Melvin K., Grant M., Wilmer A., deceased, and Edith May, deceased. Four chil- dren were also born of the second marriage, namely: Maud, deceased; Harry O .; Sherman R .; and Beatrice C.
Mr. Britton has always been a republican in politics since casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. About the only official honor which he has accepted has been as election commissioner. Though not a member of any church, he is a man of strong religious principles, and has no fraternal affiliations.
HIRAM A. MOORHOUS. For more than fifty years Hiram A. Moorhous was a resident of White County, and while most of his life was spent in the quiet vocation of farming, his influence and activities were by no means confined to his farm, since he frequently entered public affairs and held some of the most important offices in the gift of White County people. His life was one of sobriety, good judgment, keen intelligence and directed to useful purpose, and as such he deserves a memorial in any history of White County.
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