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 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
703
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
had come to Indiana and the personal name of his wife having been Mary. In White County Mr. Ploss purchased and improved a tract of land and became one of the industrious, substantial and successful farmers of Cass Township, where he was the owner of an excellent farm of 160 acres at the time of his death, which there occurred on the 5th of March, 1907, his devoted wife, who had been a faithful companion and helpmeet and solicitous mother, having been summoned to the life eternal September 3, 1905, both having been zealous communicants of the German Lutheran Church and the remains of both being laid to rest in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, in Cass Township. John Ploss guided his course on a high plane of integrity and honor and commanded the con- fidence and good will of all who knew him. He was a staunch supporter of the cause of the democratic party and though never ambitious for political preferment he served about fifteen years as township super- visor, to which position he was repeatedly elected, the citizens of the township thus manifesting their desire to avail themselves of the benefit of his mature judgment and inviolable civic loyalty. Of the four children the eldest is Miss Amelia H., who still maintains her home in Cass Town- ship; Christopher A., who is a resident of Amboy, Lee County, Illinois, married Miss Kittie Small and they have one child, Vivian G .; William J., who is a prosperous farmer of Cass Township, has been twice wedded, the maiden name of his first wife having been Grace Logan and she being survived by two children, Mary H. and Bertha M., no children having been born of his second marriage, to Miss Ethel Simmons; and George A., the immediate subject of this review, owns and resides upon the old homestead which has been his place of abode from his infancy.
George A. Ploss was born in Cass County, Indiana, on the 31st of January, 1872, and, as previously stated, was two months old at the time of the family removal to White County, where he was reared to manhood on the farm which is now his home. He gained his early educa- tion in the public schools and during the intervening years he has never desired or found it expedient to sever his allegiance to the basic indus- tries of agriculture and stock-raising, through the medium of which he has pressed forward to the mark of definite success and stable prosperity. Though holding closely to the tenets set forth by the democratic party he has had no ambition for public office but has preferred to manifest his interest in local affairs by contributing his quota to the furtherance of objects and enterprises projected for the general good of the community, his attitude being that of a broad-gauged and progressive citizen. He and his wife hold membership in the German Lutheran Church, and their attractive home is known for its generous and unassuming hospitality. Mr. Ploss has a farm of 120 acres, and nearly all of the land is under
704
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
effective cultivation, this homestead being eligibly situated two and one- half miles east of the Village of Headlee.
August 14, 1906, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Ploss to Miss Frances V. Ward, adopted daughter of George and Martha Ward, well known residents of Cass Township. Mr. and Mrs. Ploss have two chil- dren-John Ward and Walter Conn.
WILLIAM MARION FISHER. Four and one-half miles north of Sitka is located the well-cultivated farm of 200 acres, which represents the agricultural holding of William Marion Fisher. This is not, however, the extent of his possessions, for he has been identified with various business ventures which his judgment and foresight have recommended as good investments, and is therefore well known in business circles. At the same time he is one of his community's progressive men, and realizes that the prosperity of the locality means the prosperity of the individual, and his contributions to the welfare of his part of White County include service in various public offices, in all of which he has acquitted himself admirably.
Mr. Fisher was born July 25, 1861, at Crooked Creek Mill, Jefferson Township, Cass County, Indiana, and is a son of Benjamin R. and Lydia (Barnard) Fisher, and a grandson of David and Susannah Fisher. The grandfather was a native of Virginia, and at an early day removed to Indiana, settling in Cass County, where he passed the remaining years of his life in agricultural pursuits. Benjamin R. Fisher was born Janu- ary 11, 1835, and on coming to White County settled in the vicinity of Norway, where he followed farming and also the milling business in Norway until his death, November 29, 1866. His burial was the first to take place at Pike Creek Cemetery, at the Church of the Brethren in Union Township, of which he and Mrs. Fisher were faithful members. She was a daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Myers) Barnard, early settlers of Carroll County, Indiana, and was the mother of five children, all still living: David F., who is a minister of the Church of the Brethren, residing at Mexico, Indiana; Mary; Emma; William Marion, of this review ; and Ida.
William Marion Fisher received a public school education, and at the outset of his career started to teach school, a vocation which he followed for eight years during the winter terms. However, he has always fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. His father's first property was the Ora Eldrige Farm, two and one-half miles east of Norway in White County. Mr. Wm. Fisher's present property is four and one-half miles northeast of Sitka, a tract of 200 acres which is finely cultivated and modern in every respect. He has good buildings, excellent equipment, and all up-to-
705
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
date appliances and appurtenances, and carries on general farming and stock-raising in a practical and progressive manner. He has invested his capital in enterprises which have their home and conduct their opera- tions in his native state, being a stockholder in the White County Loan, Trust and Savings Company, at Monticello, the Sterling Fire Insurance Company, of Indianapolis, and the Farmers Elevator, at Monticello. The success he has gained has come solely through his own efforts, for when he started upon his career he was possessed of naught save his ambition and determination, and since that time has not been aided by financial or other influences. Politically a republican, he has been an active party worker, and has always stood for those things which have contributed to White County's welfare. During three years he was county drainage commissioner of White County, and for four years was a member of the county council, it being during this latter period that the White County Farm Infirmary was erected. At one time he was candidate for sheriff of White County on the republican ticket. He belongs to the Church of the Brethren at Monticello.
Mr. Fisher was married in April, 1889, to Miss Nettie Timmons, a daughter of John M. and Martha (Van Meters) Timmons, early settlers of White County, and to this union there have been borne two children, both of whom are single and live at Monticello: J. Earl and Ray. The last named graduated from the Monticello High School and spent a part of one year at Purdue College. He is an electrician. On March 23, 1904, Mr. Fisher was again married when united with Miss Ethel Antrim, daughter of David and Martha (Kistler) Antrim, early settlers of Cass County. Two children have been born to them: Elizabeth G. and William D., both of whom live with their parents.
JAMES C. SMALL. With the death of James C. Small at his home in section 2 of Cass Township, June 18, 1908, there passed from the ranks of local citizenship one of the most highly respected men of White County. He had lived in Indiana practically all his life and for a great many years was a resident of White County, having come to this county from Cass County. He was of a genial and generous disposition, made friends wherever he was, and also possessed a keen business judgment and provided liberally for his family. He was an active religious worker and a minister of the Church of God for many years.
James C. Small was born in Henry County, Indiana, July 15, 1837, a son of Andrew and Eleanor (Wilburn) Small. The family is of Scotch- Irish descent. Mr. Small was educated in Indiana, attending the country schools of Cass County, to which locality the family had removed in 1847 when he was ten years of age. He also attended what was known
-
706
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
as the old Brimstone School. When nineteen years of age he started out for himself and moved to the State of Iowa, where he spent about two years in a new country. Coming back to Indiana, he took up the voca- tion of farming to which he gave the best part of his subsequent life. In the spring of 1883 Mr. Small removed to White County and bought 150 acres of land in Cass Township. He put up the home and other buildings, and was engaged in general farming and stock raising there until his death. Mrs. Small now has in that home a fine property, and in many ways it is the equal of any farm estate in Cass Township.
Many years ago Mr. Small was ordained a minister in the Church of God, and at different times preached at Headlee and Pepper churches and at Fair Oak and Pious. Fraternally he was affiliated with the Inde -. pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Royal Center. His body was laid to rest in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Mr. Small was three times married. His first wife was Caroline Kistler, who was the mother of three children, and the second was Rachel Yount, who likewise had three children. On March 28, 1875, in Cass County Mr. Small married Miss Sarah Rhodes, daughter of Richard and Jerusha (Smith) Rhodes. The six children by this marriage are : Harry ; Kittie, wife of Christ Ploss; Daisy, wife of Isaac Louderbach ; Andrew ; John; Goldie, who died in 1888. In 1900 Mr. and Mrs. Small removed to Winamac, but in March, 1907, returned to White County, and he lived quietly on his farm and was engaged in its duties and in his work as a churchman until his death. He was a republican in politics, and made himself a factor in local improvements, having served as township super- visor, and aiding in the construction of good roads in the locality of his home. For many years his principal interest was the church and he worked effectively to advance the cause of religion and. general morality in his community. He was also a soldier in the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, and was in service for two years, receiving then his honorable discharge.
JOSEPH MCBETH. This well known old resident of Cass Township is now nearing the eightieth milestone of his life's journey. He came to White County when a boy of ten years of age and has a keen recollection of the many hardships and difficult circumstances environing the family residence in those early days. He had little more than attained manhood when he was called away for service in the Civil war, and has a creditable' record as a soldier, for which his descendants will properly give him honor. For more than a half century Mr. McBeth has pursued farming and stock raising, and has one of the largest and best farms in Cass Town- ship, comprising 420 acres of land.
Born in Clark County, Ohio, May 3, 1837, Joseph McBeth is a son of
.
707
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
William and Anna (Steele) McBeth. His parents were natives of Penn- sylvania, were married in Ohio, and of their seven children only two are now living. In the fall of 1847 the parents and children trans- ferred their residence from Greene County, Ohio, to White County, Indiana, and settled in Cass Township. There were no railroads to Indiana at that time, and the journey was made in the typical manner of the times, over the rough roads, with a four-horse team, and the wagon carried not only members of the family but also the household goods. Both parents were well educated and taught school in White County after coming here. The father died in 1854, but was survived by his widow many years, and both are now at rest in the Layman Cemetery. William McBeth was a republican, a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and was one of the early farmers to introduce graded stock for his own use.
Joseph McBeth, the subject of this sketch, attended the public schools of Clark County, Ohio, during the first ten years of his life, and had some additional training in local schools and got the instruction of his parents after coming to White County. He was twenty-four years old when the war broke out, and on the 4th of July, 1861, enlisted in Company K of the Twentieth Indiana Infantry, under Col. William L. Brown. His command was mustered in at Lafayette, and he continued in the active service just two years. In the memorable engagement at Gettysburg in July, 1863, he was wounded and was soon after given an honorable release from military duty. Since then he has applied himself to farm- ing, and with what liberal success everyone acquainted with the rural district of Cass Township well knows. In 1864, soon after returning from the army, he was elected township trustee, and held that office two terms. Mr. McBeth is a member of the Grand Army Post at Monticello, is a republican in politics, and belongs to the United Presbyterian Church. His family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On May 3, 1866, Mr. McBeth married Miss Elmina M. Sheehan, daughter of David and Lydia (Hibbard) Sheehan. Into their home came ten children, and the five now living are: John S., Anna A., Blanche E., William W. and Joseph M.
DAVID A. SCROGGS. Few families have more interesting associations with the past or have made themselves more efficient factors in the cur- rent activities of their generation than the family represented by David A. Scroggs, who has one of the fine farms in the vicinity of Idaville and is now serving as township trustee.
There is an interesting tradition to account for the family name, and the facts here narrated are derived from a memorandum book in the Vol. II-13
708
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
possession of T. E. Scroggs of Leechburg, Pennsylvania. In Scotland the name Scroggs is given to a low scrubby vegetation. Two or three cen- turies ago, when Scotland was divided among hostile clans and their chiefs were principally occupied in maintaining the dignity of their own positions and doing all they could to humiliate their enemies, a factional feud separated Sir William Murray and his brother James, and in the final issues of the conflict Sir William came off victorious. It was supposed Sir James and all his family were slain. After the battle, while the followers of Sir William were plundering the dead, a baby wrapped in the Murray plaid was found among the scroggs. When it was brought to Sir William he at once recognized his brother's child, and not only spared its life but reared it among his own children. The child was nick-named Scroggs, and when he grew up that became his family designation, and the name has since been widely dispersed over the civilized world.
The first of the name to come to this country were four brothers, grandsons of Sir William Scroggs. The exact time of their emigration is unknown, the tradition is that these brothers, to escape religious per- secution, went from Scotland to the North of Ireland, and thence to North America, settling in Pennsylvania. Their names were Alexander, Allen, John and James, and some time about the middle of the eighteenth century they all lived in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, at Big Springs, a locality now called Newville. From these four brothers all the known members of the family in this country are descended.
For the purpose of this record special attention is directed to John Scroggs, one of these four brothers. Some time between 1740 and 1750 he moved to North Carolina and bought land and settled on the South Yadkin River in Iredell County, ten miles north of where Statesville is now located. His farm contained land which is now divided among a number of owners. He went to North Carolina with his wife and two sons, and another son and four daughters were born to them in the latter state. He afterwards married a widow named Eleanor Carson, who, it is a matter of interest to relate, was the grandmother of the famous Ameri- can scout, Kit Carson. Settling in North Carolina John Seroggs built a double log cabin near a large spring, and subsequently constructed an- other house on the hill east of the spring, and that home is still standing. He was a man of considerable means, and operated extensively as a planter. Some years later, having bought a farm three miles south of Statesville, on Third Creek, he built a wheat, corn and lumber mill, which was the second mill built in the northern part of the county. He was a man of fine intellect and of more than average size, and was known as a very hard and stern man. He was a member of the Associated Re-
.
709
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
formed Presbyterian Church. The names of his children were John, Jeremiah, David, Margaret and James, and there is a record to show that John, the oldest, served in the Revolutionary war in General David- son's Brigade.
David Scroggs, one of the younger sons of John Scroggs, became the great-grandfather of David A. Scroggs of White County. He married a Miss Moore, and settled on a farm near where his father had lived. The sons of David Scroggs and Miss Moore were Enos, Ebenezer, David and Milas.
David, the third son of David Scroggs, was born in Iredell County, North Carolina, January 4, 1798. He moved with his parents to Blount County, Tennessee, and in 1819 married Margaret Delzell. He and his wife reared a family of five sons and one daughter: John D., Elam, James, David, Margaret and Gideon E. In 1832 David removed with his family to Putnam County, Indiana, but in the same year trans- ferred his residence to Carroll County, and in 1836 arrived in White County, among the pioneers. His wife died in White County and his own death occurred in 1875. For a number of years this David Scroggs had the only blacksmith shop between Burnettsville and Monticello.
The late John D. Scroggs, the oldest of the six children of David and Margaret (Delzell) Scroggs, was born in Blount County, Tennessee, October 20, 1820, and died on the old farm near Idaville now occupied by his son David A. on June 5, 1902. He was about sixteen years of age when he came to White County, grew up on a farm, and at the age of twenty began earning his own way by the arduous toil of cutting wood, splitting rails and getting out square timbers. This was his regular work until March, 1847, when he bought the farm on which he spent the remainder of his life.
On March 27, 1851, John D. Scroggs married Maria, a daughter of John Gibson. She lived less than a year, dying in February, 1852. On December 6, 1856, Mr. Scroggs married Eliza C. Carson, who died in April, 1858. There were no children by either of these marriages. On November 19, 1860, he married Mrs. Sarah M. (Duncan) Delzell, who was born November 16, 1831, and died April 26, 1876. She left a family of four children : David A., Susan A., Margaret E., now deceased, and Joseph A. The son Joseph Alfred died unmarried August 20, 1896. The daughter Susan A. lives with her brother David and since the death of his wife is housekeeper. John D. Scroggs was a democrat, and he and his wife were members of the United Presbyterian Church. He was an industrious and successful farmer, and for many years cultivated eighty acres of land.
David A. Scroggs was born on the old home place October 25, 1862.
710
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
On February 22, 1888, he married Mary A. McClure, daughter of James and Mary (Hall) McClure. The McClure family came to White County from Shelby County, Ohio. Mrs. Scroggs died March 7, 1908. There are two children : Eva M., who was married February 10, 1915, to Roy D. Girard, who was graduated from Purdue University with the class of 1914 and is now farm manager for Reverend Doctor Scoville at Butler, Indiana; and Nettie R., now attending high school at Idaville, a member of the class of 1917.
Mr. Scroggs has spent practically all his life on the old home place, and is still engaged in farming and stock raising, having sixty acres of well improved land. He grew up in the democratic faith, and has always been loyal to that party. For four years he served as a member of the township advisory board, and in the fall of 1914 was elected township trustee and began the duties of that responsible office January 1, 1915. He and his wife and family have always been active in the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Scroggs has some relics that are highly prized by the family on account of their interesting associations. The old blacksmith shop once owned by his grandfather was burned, but the anvil which David Scroggs brought with him from Tennessee was rescued and is still in good condition. Mr. Scroggs also has the first grain cradle which his father bought in 1844, and the hand sickel which was brought to Indiana by the family. Other implements that served an excellent purpose in the early days and are still in good condition are a frow, used to split clapboards, an adz and a broad ax.
HARRY C. JOHNSON. A prominent and prosperous business man of Monticello, actively engaged in the insurance and loan business, Harry C. Johnson is of pioneer descent.
In the year 1772, in Hampshire County, Virginia, a number of people took refuge in a fort built as a protection against the Indians. In this fort, on June 23d, was born H. C. Johnson's paternal grandfather, Jonathan Johnson. He grew to manhood in his native Virginia home, was married to Abagail Haines, and to this union was born nine children.
Following the steady march of civilization westward, he with his entire family came to Indiana in 1835. Being favorably impressed with White County as a desirable location, he pre-empted a tract of land 11/2 miles southwest of Monticello. He subsequently entered the land in Big Creek Township where Wheeler Station is now located and lived there the remainder of his life, where he died March 29, 1844. His wife remained on the homestead until her death in March, 1859. They are both buried in the Monticello Cemetery.
711
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
The second son of this family was Ellis Haines Johnson who was born near Romney, Hampshire County, Virginia, on the 28th of March, 1814. He came to White County with his parents in 1835 (as above stated), settled in Union Township for a while, but later entered land in Big Creek Township adjoining his father's farm. He became actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, and remained on this farm until 1880 when he retired, moving to Monticello, where he resided until his death, December 20, 1898. He was ever interested in local and national affairs, but never held office. Politically he was a whig until the formation of the republican party, when he became one of its most earnest adherents. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and served as an elder in the church at Reynolds in his earlier life, and later in the church of that denomination at Monticello.
Ellis Haines Johnson was twice married. He married first, January 4, 1843, Ellen Reece, and their only child, Hampton Johnson, was killed in battle. He married second, March 29, 1851, Chloe Ann Clark, who was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, June 6, 1829, and died in Monti- cello, March 18, 1903. Two children were born to their union, namely : Harry C. on October 6, 1860, and Fannie A., born November 14, 1864, who is now the wife of John D. Miller, of Michigan City, Indiana.
Completing his early studies in the Monticello schools, Harry C. Johnson began his active career as a teacher in the public schools, and taught successfully for two years. In 1883 he embarked in the grocery business, which he conducted for nine years. Making a change of occu- pation, in 1892 he bought an interest in a real estate and insurance busi- ness in Monticello, and has met with such satisfactory results in the busi- ness that he has continued it ever since. Mr. Johnson has also been closely associated with the White County Loan, Trust & Savings Co., having been one of its directors almost continuously since its organiza- tion. True to the political faith in which he was reared, he is a loyal supporter of the principles of the republican party, and equally true to the religious beliefs of his ancestors, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and one of its elders. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Johnson was married in Monticello, June 18, 1889, to Miss Maud Henderson, daughter of Matthew and Margaret (Ross) Henderson of Monticello. Their family consists of three children, namely : Leonard Haines, Howard Clark, and Jessie Margaret.
PERRY GODLOVE. The presence of a family in one community for half a century is of itself a distinction which deserves mention in any historical account, but when such a family through its various members
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.