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 35
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On March 4, 1891, Mr. Darrow married Georgia A. Hicks, a daughter of Andrew and Belle Hicks, the former a native of England and the lat- ter of Canada, and the Hicks family was established in Jasper County, Indiana, about forty-five years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Darrow have three children : Raymond H., Harry N. and Ethel M. Mr. Darrow has shown commendable public spirit in helping forward any movement for the progress of his community. He is a republican, is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Wolcott and he and his family wor- ship in the Christian Church.
LEWIS H. WYNEKOOP. Nearly sixty years have passed since the Wynekoop family first established its home in White County and through these years the name has been associated with successful enter- prise in the handling of land and livestock, with progressive activity in community affairs, and with those substantial virtues which give character to any community.
When William Wynekoop, the pioneer, passed away December 31, 1913, the community of West Point Township lost one of its finest old settlers. He belonged to German stock that had been introduced to America many years before the great bulk of emigration came from
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that country. William Wynekoop was born in Clinton County, Indi- ana, May 21, 1835. a date which indicates how early the family was established in Western Indiana. His father was also named William. William Wynekoop, the younger, moved to White County about 1856, and his labors put a tract of land in cultivation and in time he erected several substantial buildings. During the rest of his life he farmed and raised stock, and was an active republican and a regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Wolcott.
William Wynekoop wedded for his first wife Sarah Ellen Mathews, and Lewis H. was the only child born to this marriage and he was a small child when his mother passed away. The father's second mar- riage was with Helen Haynes and to this marriage were born eleven children and those living are Frank Eldridge, Harvey E., Charles Ira, Gilbert E. and the three daughters, Lora, Clyde and Flo. Through his long continued exertions William Wynekoop accumulated 320 acres of land, and was always interested in local affairs of importance. For a couple of years he had an interest in a hardware store at Wolcott. His latter years were spent in retirement and he lived in Chicago until his death, and is buried at Crown Hill. He was reared and received his education in Clinton County.
Now a prosperous farmer in West Point Township, getting his mail from Wolcott over Rural Route No. 7, Lewis H. Wynekoop has made White County his home throughout his career. He was born in West Point Township, June 28, 1864, and from the age of four years was reared in the home of his maternal grandfather Mathews, who taught him industry, good habits, and he benefited more from this training than from his advantages in the country schools. Mr. Wynekoop is now the possessor of a fine farm of 280 acres, all of it under cultivation, well tiled, and productive of all the crops that can be grown in Indiana. As a stock raiser he has chief distinction among White County farmers. Some very fine stock can be found on his farm, consisting of thorough- bred shorthorn cattle, full blooded Poland-China hogs, and high grade Norman horses. Among other improvements he has remodeled his fine dwelling, has built barns, has put up a large silo, and in general has adapted his methods and facilities to the demands and standards of modern agriculture.
While a democrat, Mr. Wynekoop has never sought official honors, and fraternally is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, No. 409, at Wolcott. On March 13, 1887, he married Miss Chloe Isabel Spencer, daughter of John M. and Eliza A. (Wright) Spencer. The Spencer family came into White County when it was a new country, and Mrs. Wynekoop's parents are now living at Wolcott. Their home has been blessed with the birth of
,
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nine children, and those living have had not only the advantages of this home and the careful rearing from their parents, but also all the facilities supplied by the public schools. The names of the children are : Charles F .; Eben E .; Ina Nora, deceased; Lewis Spencer; Shafter M .; James Russell, deceased; Velma; Vera M .; and Ethel M. The children have all attended the common schools of West Point Township and the high school at Wolcott.
ROBERT F. DOBBINS. Occupying a foremost position among the re- spected and worthy citizens of White County, Robert F. Dobbins, post- master at Wolcott, is actively associated with the advancement of the industrial interests of town and county, and influential in promoting the public welfare. Of pioner ancestry, he was born, December 17, 1857, in Princeton Township, a son of Jackson Dobbins, an early settler of that part of the county.
His grandparents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Miller) Dobbins, life-long residents of Virginia, reared a family of seven children as follows : William, Elizabeth Ann, John, Thomas, Martin, Johnson and Jackson. All of these children migrated to Indiana in pioner days, locating first in White County, where three continued their residence, four of them, however, becoming permanent settlers of other parts of the country.
Born in Virginia in 1826, Jackson Dobbins remained in his native state until 1849. In that year, desirous of taking advantage of the wild lands offered for sale in the then Far West, he came with his brothers and sisters to Indiana, locating in White County. Taking up a tract of Government land, he erected the customary log house, and there lived with his family for a time in true pioneer style, in common with his neighbors, which were few, and far apart, experiencing all the trials and privations incident to frontier life. Engaging in farming and stock-raising on a modest scale, he gradually enlarged his operations. from time to time investing in more land until, with his farm and several smaller tracts, he had title to 640 acres. Going to Logan, Indiana. in 1866, he spent eleven years there as a contractor. Returning then to White County, he continued life as a farmer, and likewise dealt largely in hay, grain and feed, building up an extensive mercantile business. He was actively interested in public matters, serving for many years as justice of the peace, and being a candidate on the old greenback ticket for sheriff. He was a member of the Christian Church, and, with Messrs. Johnson, Wright and Lawson, hauled the lumber and built the first building used for public worship in White County, it having been the Christian Church at Palestine. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Elizabeth Miller, six children were born, as follows: Matilda
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W .; Moses G .; Samuel, deceased; Mary Elizabeth, deceased; Robert F .; and Schuyler C. He passed to the life beyond on December 17, 1881, and his body was laid to rest in the Dobbins Cemetery, beside that of his wife, whose death preceded his.
Completing his studies at Logan, Indiana, Robert F. Dobbins re- turned to White County, and for fourteen years devoted his time and energies to agriculture. He resided in Monticello until 1887, but has since made his home in Wolcott, where he is now serving as postmaster. He is officially connected with one of the leading industries of the place, being secretary, and a director, of the Wolcott Dredging Company, of which James Burk is treasurer, and Wm. E. Fox is the president, and a member of the directorate. He has accumulated considerable prop- erty, owning farming lands in the county and several shares of bank stock.
Mr. Dobbins married first, in 1878, Alice Bunnell, a daughter of John B. Bunnell, and their only child, Mazie A., died in 1898. Mrs. Alice Dobbins died March 14, 1891. Mr. Dobbins subsequently married for his second wife, on November 29, 1904, Norine E. Hughes, a daugh- 'ter of George K. Hughes, and of their union one child has been born, a daughter, named Vivian.
Politically Mr. Dobbins is an earnest supporter of the principles of the democratic party, and has served as sheriff of the county, having been elected to the office in 1892. Fraternally Mr. Dobbins is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, of Wolcott, and is a Knight Templar, belonging to the Logansport Commandery; he also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to the Knights of the Maccabees, and to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
THOMAS A. LEAR. Around the little Village of Seafield in Princeton Township are to be found some of the choicest farm estates in White County. The owner of one of these is Thomas A. Lear, whose individual enterprise has been highly creditable and has brought him a substantial success, and who is further related to White County by the fact that his family was among the first to settle and break the virgin soil of Prince- ton Township.
Few families now represented in White County have touched the life and progress of the nation at more points than the Lears. Back in the early colonial period the family lived in old Virginia. One of the interesting early records states that the great-grandfather of Thomas A. Lear was one of three Virginia blues who carried General Braddock from the field of his disastrous defeat in Western Pennsylvania early
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in the French and the Indian war, a defeat which was invited by the obstinacy and conceit of the British general and which was only partly retrieved by the gallant conduct of the Continental troops, prominent among whom were the Virginians. A number of years later this ancestor also fought on the American side in the war for independence. The military honors of the family are made more illustrious by the fact that Mr. Lear's grandfather was a soldier in the second war with Great Britain, from 1812 to 1815.
The White County pioneer of the Lear family was the late Hiram F. Lear, concerning whom there are many interesting facts worthy of record. He was born January 21, 1821, in Culpeper County, Virginia, a son of Nathan and Maria (Spicer) Lear. When nine years of age his father took him from Virginia to Belmont County in Eastern Ohio, and he lived there until the spring of 1838, when he came out to White County and began settlement in Big Creek Township. As soon as he reached his majority he started out for himself, and for three years farmned and rented land owned by Joseph Thompson, another early settler in that community. From Big Creek Township he moved into Princeton Township, and bought eighty acres in section 4. With that as a nucleus he continued a career of growing prosperity until his pos- sessions included the ownership of more than 500 acres, largely in Princeton Township. Besides farming he was for seven years engaged in merchandising at Monon, and about six years before his death retired from active business and moved to Wolcott, where he died June 16, 1905. He was laid to rest in the Palestine cemetery. Hiram F. Lear was more than a successful business man. Throughout his long life he practiced the golden rule, and his fellow citizens had special reasons to esteem him because of his qualities as a peace maker, and many cases have been recalled in which he acted as a mediator in settling differences between his neighbors. A republican, he never sought official honor, and was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Though rather small in stature, he possessed an inexhaustible fund of energy and exemplified the trait of loving kindness to a remarkable degree. He was married April 9, 1857, to Margaret A. Burns, a daughter of John and Malinda Burns, who were numbered among the very early settlers of White County. To their marriage were born fourteen children: J. Franklin, who now lives in Lafayette; Charles N., a resident of Terre Haute; Thomas A .; James B., of Princeton Township; David M., now deceased; one that died in infancy ; Zorah M., now deceased; Hiram F., Jr., who lives in Princeton Township; William W., deceased; Samuel E., deceased; Bert L., living in Wolcott; Jennie, wife of Ed Hafflin,
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living in Spokane, Washington; Dessa E., wife of Paul Adams, living in Terre Haute; and Hugh L., of Monticello.
Thomas A. Lear was born on the old farm in section 4 of Princeton Township, September 21, 1861, and only for a few days at a time has he been absent from White County during all the years of his life. After procuring such education as the common schools could offer, he chose to be a farmer, and has had a very prosperous career. His fine place of 120 acres is located 33/4 miles northeast of Seafield.
On September 24, 1885, when twenty-four years of age, Mr. Lear married Emma B. Johns, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Johns. Mrs. Lear was born in Boone County, Indiana, but at the time of her marriage was living in White County. To the marriage was born one daughter, Winnie M., who is now the wife of Fred Dobbins, of Prince- ton Township, and their two children are named Helen L. and Harold J.
Mr. Lear is a citizen who has enjoyed the confidence of his com- munity and has been chosen at different times for official responsibility. He served as township supervisor eight years, and for seven years was a member of the township advisory board. In politics he is a republican, he and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and he is now serving as an elder and trustee of that denomination. His fraternal associations are with the Knights of Pythias lodge at Wolcott.
THOMAS W. DELLINGER. A farm that represents some of the best improvements and values in West Point Township is the Dellinger place of 160 acres on section 15, described in formal real estate language as in township 26 north, range 5 west. It is a stock and grain farm, Mr. Dellinger making somewhat of a specialty of Poland-China hogs, and its genial proprietor knows farming as a business and conducts it on the same principles that a manufacturer would run his factory or a merchant his store. His judgment in farming matters is regarded as almost infallible, and everything about his place attests the progressive and prosperous business man.
For fully six decades Thomas W. Dellinger has watched the changes and improvements which have come over the landscape of White County. He was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, January 10, 1847, and is a son of David and Barbara Anne (Warner) Dellinger, who were among the very early settlers of White County. His father was born October 1, 1814, and his mother on April 20, 1814, both in Fairfield County, and they were married there January 1, 1840. The mother passed away in West Point Township June 29, 1872, while her husband survived many years until his death at Wolcott January 22, 1901. The record of their
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children with dates of births is as follows: Mary Elizabeth, born April 2, 1842, now Mrs. Dan Irions; Lewis, born February 16, 1845, and living at Monticello; Thomas W., the date of whose birth has been noted; William H., born June 21, 1850, and now deceased; Elvira, born Novem- ber 7, 1853, also deceased; Emily, born January 10, 1855, now Mrs. John Davison of Wolcott; and David L., born October 23, 1859, and living at Wolcott. The family removed from Ohio in 1855 and settled on the land where Thomas W. Dellinger has the farm above described. Here the father secured a tract of land from Captain Irions, later bought and traded other property and for several years lived in Carroll County, but later returned to Princeton Township and was a farmer there until he retired. He was planning to live quietly and enjoy the comforts of a new home at Wolcott, but died just before taking possession of his residence. He and his wife are buried in the West Point Cemetery. David Dellinger was a democrat and a very sturdy advocate of his party principles, but though time and again urged to do so, never yielded his consent to hold an office. He was a member of no church and no fraternal orders, but his wife was very much interested and an active member of the old-school Baptist. David Dellinger followed farming and the raising of good stock, and was well informed, a man who could discuss affairs with intelligence, and who had a positive opinion as to matters which concerned him and was always loyal to what he believed to be right.
When the family come to White County Thomas W. Dellinger was about eight years of age. He had already attended school to some extent in his native state, but gained most of his education in White County. Since reaching manhood he has confined his attention closely to farm- ing, and has lived in one community practically ever since childhood. A number of years ago he introduced to his farm some high grade Poland-China hogs, and his stock of that class is regarded as equal to any found in White County. He has all his land under cultivation, and his farm is seven miles southeast of Wolcott, his mail coming from Chalmers over Rural Route No. 12.
Mr. Dellinger married Miss Jennie Haynes. Their marriage has been blessed with the birth of four children: Bert, Edmond, Charles and Ora, the last being a farmer in West Point Township, and married Grace Moore. Though a life-long democrat, Mr. Dellinger has consid- ered his duty done when he casts his vote as intelligently as possible and has a large degree of community esteem on account of the fact that he is noted for attending strictly to his own business. He and his family are not members of any church and he has formed no fraternal connections.
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JAMES LAWRIE. One of the good old pioneers who should be remem- bered in a history of White County, as the memory of his character and attainments must be regarded and respected by his descendants, was the late James Lawrie, who lived in White County more than sixty years, and made his life effective in promoting the work of the world. His aged widow is still living on the old farm in section 10 of West Point Town- ship, and there are both children and grandchildren to cherish his mem- ory and to exemplify in their own lives many of the sterling character- istics which are salient points of his nature.
Born in New York City, February 20, 1830, James Lawrie was a son of Alexander and Sarah (Combs) Lawrie. His father was a native of Scotland and came to the United States when about thirty years of age, being in business in New York City for several years. In 1852 he brought his family out to White County, Indiana, and located on section 26 in West Point Township. It was an abrupt change from the condi- tions and surroundings of metropolitan life to the sparsely settled and unimproved environment which they found on coming to this county. The family had many of the trials and hardships incident to such an existence, but eventually secured a firm foothold in the county, and the name from that day to this has been one of honor and usefulness. Alex- ander Lawrie was born February 18, 1788, and died in advanced years June 7, 1871. He was married November 20, 1821, to Sarah Combs, who was born February 1, 1796, and died September 30, 1871. Their children were: Elizabeth, deceased; John, deceased; Alexander, who is living at Battleground; Arthur, James and Mary, all deceased.
The late James Lawrie was educated in New York City and was twenty-two years of age when he came to White County with other members of the family. He had received the advantages of schools back East, and while there had learned the trade of wagonmaker, but finding little opportunity for its exercise in the new country, he took up farming and stock raising and on the basis of that vocation gained a very substantial success.
On November 29, 1855, he married Susan A. Irion, a daughter of Captain Anderson and Sophia M. (Dragoo) Irion, a prominent White County family mentioned elsewhere. To Mr. and Mrs. Lawrie were born a family of ten children: Robert, born September 16, 1856; Ar- thur S., born August 26, 1858; Ralph, born February 27, 1861, and now deceased; Anna E., born March 9, 1863, deceased; Alexander, born August 21, 1865, deceased ; John, born April 7, 1868; Charles D., born May 23, 1871; Josephine Mary, born October 30, 1873; Lanier, born November 17, 1876; and Nora F., born March 18, 1881.
A large community paid tribute of affection and respect to James
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Lawrie when he died on November 16, 1913. He was then eighty-three years of age, and had always lived up to his opportunities, and not only provided liberally for his growing children but left a considerable estate at the time of his death. He was buried in the West Point ceme tery. Politically his vote was cast for republican candidates until William J. Bryan appeared on the political horizon, after which he was a loyal follower of the great commoner. Immediately after his mar- riage James Lawrie and wife located on section 26 in West Point Town- ship, but later left that farm in order to educate their children in the academy at Brookston. Some years later they returned to the country and Mr. Lawrie followed farming the rest of his career. A part of his record which should not be omitted and which will always be a matter of pride to his descendants was his service in the Civil war as a member of Company K in the One Hundred Fifty-fifth Indiana Infantry. Mrs. Lawrie, who was born September 20, 1836, and is now nearing her eightieth birthday, has all the comforts of life, and surrounded by her children, looks into the future with resignation and hope. Her home is 100 acres in section 10, and the land is operated by others.
GEORGE BISSONNETTE. For twenty years the fortunes of the Bisson- nette family have been identified with White County, where its mem- bers have shown most capable enterprise in the management of the re- sources of the soil and have been sturdy advocates of methods and move. ments which make for advancement, progress and prosperity.
The founder of the family in White County is Alfred Bissonnette, now a resident of Wolcott. He is an Illinoisian by birth and of French ancestry. He was born in Illinois November 16, 1856, a son of Peter and Donatilda (Granger) Bissonnette. In February, 1876, Alfred Bis- sonnette married Miss Eleanor Marcotte. Their six children were : Annie; Nelda ; Celia, who died in infancy ; Delphine, deceased; George ; and Fred. In 1895 Alfred Bissonnette brought his family to White County and located in West Point Township. He was one of the capable farmers there for a number of years, but about eleven years ago, in January, 1904, moved to Wolcott. He is a republican, and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Foresters.
One of the young men who are now carrying forward the agricul- tural industry of White County and who have shown unusual capacity for farm management as well as intelligent citizenship is George Bis- sonnette, son of Alfred and Eleanor Bissonnette. His home is in sec- tion 13 of West Point Township, on Rural Route No. 7 out of Wolcott. His fine farm of 160 acres has been steadily improved and has been
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producing its crops to the maximum of yield and quality ever since he took charge.
Born at St. George, Illinois, March 20, 1887, he received his early education in the schools of his native state, but was only eight years of age when he moved with his parents to White County. He had spent the last twenty years on one farm, and after finishing his education in the local schools started out for himself in 1912 by buying one tract of eighty acres, while his father gave him a similar quantity of land. He has made a success in general farming and stock raising and keeps stock of good grades and has most of his acreage under cultivation.
On September 19, 1911, he married Miss Lucile Bergeron, a daugh- ter of David and Maria (Fraser) Bergeron, of Illinois. Into their home has been born one daughter, Eleanor, on September 5, 1913. Mr. Bis- sonnette is a republican in politics, stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens, but has never sought any public office. He and his family are members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Remington.
It is upon such young men as George Bissonnette that the future of White County agriculture devolves, and from what he has already ac- complished it is evident that he will always be equal to his opportuni- ties and responsibilities.
LEWIS M. MILLER. The connection of the Miller family with the farming interests of White County has made the name widely known and highly respected among the citizens of West Point Township, where Lewis M. Miller now resides on the old homestead on Rural Route No. 7 out of Wolcott. He is following in the footsteps of his father as a farmer and public spirited citizen, and his father, the late Christian Miller, was one of the early settlers and by his industrious efforts and able management caused a fertile tract of land, originally an unculti- vated prairie, to become a fine farm. Mr. Lewis Miller has always been a busy man and yet has found.time to devote to the needs of his locality, and has often taken the lead in the matter of public improvement, par- ticularly the building of good roads.
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