USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 35
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
Dunkin, Sr., first entered land in Ohio, and later he removed to Union county. Indiana, and then, in 1827, he came to the county of Delaware. Here he bought 160 acres of land upon which there was a log cabin, and a small clearing. He cleared much of this land and at the time of his death more than half of it was in a good state of cultivation. The village of Smithfield was laid out upon these premises. Mr. Dunkin was a member of the old Baptist church. When he came to Indiana there was no organized society here, but he remained firm in his belief, and died in that With. At death he acu his wife were buried in the woods near Smitinfield, but os since they were removed to the Mount Tabor graveyard.
John L. Elliott, soldier of IS12, came from Lancaster county, Penn., to Clinton county, Ohio, and thence to Indiana, some sixty years ago. In Ohio he owned a farm. He was tall, raw-boned, muscular and stout-a splendid physique. He had one son who died young ; also seven daughters, none of whom are now living. He settled at Yorktown, where he was by turns farmer and teamster. His team was a yoke of heavy cattle. The date of his death we cannot give. He was buried at Yorktown and no slab marks his resting place.
Here is another case of military tradition. But there are some touches in the story that any old soldier would be able to recognize. To a grandson, Mr. Belty Dragoo, he related how, at one time, the command to which he belonged stealthily crept upon a camp of the enemy in the night time and fired without any warning, killing several British soldiers. The volley had entered a group who were playing at cards, by the smoldering embers of a camp fire. One of the dead soldiers was found with fingers tightly clinched. When relaxed they showed a hand which read, "High, low, Jack and the game." We wonder if any testament-reader in the civil war ever had his thoughts disturbed by the frequent and boisterous use of those words?
John Ethell, a soldier in the war of IS12, was born in Fairfax county, Virginia, in the year 1778. After the war he removed to Licking county, Ohio, where he lived until he moved to Muncietown, in the year IS39, and resided there until the day of his death, in 1862. For his services he re- ceived a land warrant the same as other soldiers in that war. His occupa- tion was chairmaking, which he followed here until his health became tou feeble for work. His wife's maiden name was Mary Cunard. She was born in Loudoun county. Virginia. They had eight children, but three of whom reached maturity, to-wit: William G., Sarah and Nathaniel F. Saralı was the wife of Armstead Klein. John Ethell was at one time postmaster in Muncietown, keeping the office in his residence at the southeast corner of Main and Franklin streets. He was 84 years old at the time of his death. He died at the home of Mr. William G. Ethell, in the building at the corner of Monroe and East Adams, now belonging to the Episcopal
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
church organization. He was buried in Beech Grove cemetery, and a sol- Ser's headstone, furnished by the Government, marks the place of his burial.
Thomas Fires, a soldier of the war of 1812, was an Irishman, a cooper Hy trade, which occupation he followed in connection with farming, upon the i: me place, about four miles north of Selma. He had four sons and two weghters. Two of his sons enlisted in the Nineteenth Regiment, Indiana Twenteers. One of them was a fifer in Company K, and died at Upton's Hi. in Virginia. He was intensely patriotic during the Civil war. Lin- cofin and Loyalty, were his constant watchwords. We regret lack of time to investigate, as he deserves, the history and service of this old soldier. Per- on- who knew him say that he possessed a rather striking facial appearance. He was lantern-jawed, and had a very long chin. From its point, bushy whiskers protruded somewhat after the manner of an elongated shaving- irish. Ile was short on teeth; he worked his jaws with great rapidity and mach regularity. The surplus power he constantly used to grind tobacco, which he chewed as a cow would chew her cud. When in full operation it was said to have resembled an automatic pump-handle. The only reserva- son he made was time to take his meals, his rest, and the conversation necessary to the common business affairs of life. All the rest he spent in grinding his favorite weed. He died about the year 1875, and was buried, probably, at the Spahr graveyard.
Silas Fleming was a soldier in the second war with England. 1Ic descended from a distinguished line of Scotch-Irish ancestors-some of akom emigrated to America in the seventeenth century and settled in Vir- ania and North Carolina. Sir Thomas Fleming, son of the Earl of Wigton, whigrated to Virginia in 1616. Many of the family followed him to the anne colony, one of whom was Colonel William Fleming, and another, the Either of James Fleming, who was born near Staatsville, Iredell county, North Carolina, in 1762. The records at Washington show that James Maing served two terms of enlistment in the Revolutionary army. He Harried Elizabeth Mitchell of Virginia and emigrated to New Paris, Preble county, Ohio, in 1807, where he died in 1832.
Silas Fleming, son of James, was born near Staatsville, Iredell county, North Carolina, in 1789. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, from the inte of North Carolina, though we do not know the period of his enlistment, or the names of the officers under whom he served. If he came to Ohio in irvy, at the time of his father's removal, he would then have been eighteen wears of age. He was married to Elizabeth Caughey, by whom he had 'waive children, five sons and seven daughters, all of whom were born at New Paris, Ohio. Of the above, five daughters became residents of Muncie, and four of them died in this city. The first wife of Silas Fleming died About the year 1837, after which he married Lavina Purviance, and about
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
1856, removed to Bloomington, Ill. In 1870, while upon a visit to his sis- ters in Muncie, Mr. Fleming was attacked with paralysis. Here he died, and here he was buried. He was by occupation a miller ; a man of sterling character and integrity ; fim and upright in his dealings with all men. In religious faith he was a Universalist. Of his daughters who were long- time residents of this city, there was Mrs. Sarah Richey, Mrs. Jane Ross, Mrs. Amy Ireland, Mrs. Nancy Greene and the Misses Cynthia and Lucinda Fleming. No wonder these good ladies were always ready with i iskets filled to aid in supplying hungry soldiers passing to or from the front during the civil war. Their hearts were in such work.
Enoch Garner, a soldier of the war of 1812, was born June 10, 1780. The place of his birth, his ancestry, the details of his service are all In- known to this writer. Our public records show that in the year 1837 he entered land in Harrison township. Part of section thirteen, township twen- ty-one, range eight. This land he cleared and improved, thus opening up a homestead in the dense forest, and here he continued to reside until Jan- uary 4, 1852, when he died, at the age of 71 years, 6 months and 13 days. He was buried at the Jones cemetery, on the Jackson street Turn- pike. About the record of this old soldier there is no question. His aged widow was still living in the year 1875, and drawing a pension. The Gov- ernment adopted some very harsh measures against these worthy old ladies, who chanced to be upon the pension rolls. It required them to appear before the Clerk of the Circuit Court, personally, and execute their vouchers. It could not be delegated to a deputy. Upon the tombstone of Mr. Garner is the following very interesting bit of history: "Being a member of the Christian Friends Church, for the last ten years of his life." \ fire, which destroyed the dwelling of the late Vincent Garner, son of Enoch Garner, is said to account for the loss of all family records, which would have furnished the details so much desired about this old soldier.
William Gilbert, a soldier and officer in the war of 1812, was born in Rutiedge. Vermont, in 178g. Ile was married to Anna De Lamater in Whitehall, New York, in IS15. He enlisted in the state of New York, and so far as known was enrolled as a private, afterwards being promoted unti! he reached the rank of Major. His command and the officers under whom he served are unknown to his family. He removed to Delaware County, Indiana, in the year 1837, settling at Muncietown. He died in April, 1857. and was buried in Beech Grove cemetery. His wife died in 1845. and lies by his side. When the war was declared between the United States and Mexico, Mr. Gilbert, then a resident of the place ( Muncietown), had his military uniform and officer's outfit, which consisted in part of a red silk sash, a fur hat the shape of a half-moon, and two swords. One of these swords was a steel blade, with handle of ivory and bronze, adorned with an
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
cagie's head. During the period of the Mexican war all men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years were required to enroll and muster for regular drill, subject to call for duty when their services should be required in the field.
Some companies were organized here, and this sash, hat and the two swords were loaned to the officers who were in command. What became of them it is now impossible to say. Certain it is they were never returned to the Gilbert family. Major Gilbert never drew a pension. His son, now an aged man living in Chicago, to whom we are indebted for these sketches of the life of his father, is of the opinion he neglected to make proper appli- cation. Major Gilbert was very nearly related to Suel Gilbert, the Revolu- tionary soldier, he being a nephew of that venerable man, and it was at the Major's home that the aged veteran passed away, in the year 1843.
William H. Green, a soldier of the war of 1812, was born April 12, 1779. Ile was of English descent and a native of the state of New York. In an early day he removed from that state to Athens county, Ohio, and from Ohio to Delaware county, where he purchased a tract of land in Niles township, and became one of the early pioneers of that section. The tradi- tion of the family is, that he was drafted for service and after enrollment and muster-in he was sent to assist in guarding the Canadian border. His first wife was Miss Amy Ingram, by whom he had seven sons and one daughter. She died and was buried in Athens county, Ohio. He after- wards married Anna Simonton. Upon her decease he married, for his third wife, Mrs. Nancy Duddleston, who bore him one daughter. Mr. Green received a land warrant for eighty acres of land. He was always quite reticent as to any experience he had in the army, and the traditions about him are very scant. A fire which destroyed the old home, and all its con- tents, many years since, burned up some records which might have given some facts about his history. He departed this life September 12, 1855, aged seventy-six years and six months. His wife survived until October 25, 1882. They were both buried in the cemetery near Granville. Mrs. Nancy Green drew a pension during the last years of her widowhood.
Jolin Hall, a soldier of the war of 1812, was born June 19, 1793, in the State of Pennsylvania. When quite young, and at that time living in Vir- ginia, his parents both died, and at the age of thirteen years he went to live with relatives in Ohio. He afterwards became a resident of Kentucky, from which he is supposed to have entered the army. The discharge papers, preserved by his descendants until within the two years last past, being now lost, we are unable to furnish details of his service. Family tradition shows him to have been sick at Norfolk. Virginia, and to have been discharged as the result of disability. He was a patriot and lover of his country. He was married to Elenora Butey September 19, IS38, in the State of Ohio,
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
and came to Indiana in the same year, where he resided until his death. He had two sons and three daughters, as follows: Daniel, John, Matilda, Eliza and Manorva, all of whom are dead except Mrs. Manorva Taylor, who yet resides on the old homestead. After their decease Mr. Hall and his wife were buried in the Mount Pleasant cemetery in Perry township. We are unable to give the date of their death.
George M. Harter, a soldier of the war of 1812, was born in the year 1786, in the state of Virginia, and emigrated from there to the state of Ken- tucky. In 1819 he removed to Ohio, locating at or near Troy. He married Mary Brush, and was the father of eleven children. The only fact known about his service by the members of his family is, that he was in the army for a period of nine months. He removed to Indiana about the year 1844, and died here May 15, 1865. His widow, Mary Harter, died May 20, 1875, aged eighty-nine years. They both rest in Beech Grove cemetery. Mr. Harter was a farmer and shoemaker.
Lawrence Heffner, a soldier supposed to have seen service in the war of ISI2, was born in 1787 in the state of Maryland. We have no record of his service. He drew no pension nor received a land warrant. It is sup- posed he was called out in some emergency for a brief time only, and may never have been mustered. His descendants say that whatever the nature of his service, he was left with feeble health-in fact, was always sick-to the end of his life. He died in Muncie, December 6, 1860, aged seventy-three years. His wife, Charlotte Heffner, died September 20, 1858, aged sixty- one years, four months and nineteen days. They were buried in Beech Grove cemetery.
John Holmes, a soldier of the war of 1812, was born in New Jersey, and from that state probably entered the service. Afterwards he came to Greene county, and later to Clinton county, Ohio. He married Patience Pugh, by whom he had seven children, five sons and two daughters. He was a farmer, of Quaker parentage, though himself and his family were members of the M. E. church. Mr. Holmes died in July, 1842, and was buried some two miles northeast of Eaton, Indiana. His widow survived until 1892, when she, too, died, and was buried at Eaton, for the reason that burials were no longer made upon the farm where the interment of Mr. Holmes was made. We have no details of the service nor the name of any officer under whom he served.
Clement Hurtt, a soldier of the war IS12, was born in 1795. He en- listed as a private in Captain Ullery's company, in a regiment commanded by Colonel MeCarty of the Second Division Ohio militia. The place of birth is not known. He had children, but their place of residence is unknown. Neither can we tell when he came to Muncie. He died here March 3. 1875, aged eighty years, and was buried in Beech Grove cemetery. He drew a
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
pension on certificate No. 4.938. The number indicates he drew this pen- sion for some time. He is supposed to have been in the battle of Lake Eric, as he offen recounted its details. Eliza Hurtt, widow of Clement Hurtt, deceased, applied for a pension. Iler claim was allowed and the certificate issued, but she died without receiving any money. We have no further details.
Sewell Hutchins, a soldier of the war of 1812, was born December 21, 1-84, at Prince Frederick, C ": county, Maryland. His parents died when he was quite small. He . "ered the service from the state and plac : of his birth. He was married the fourth time. The maiden name of the fourth wife was Eleanor Simmons. Two children were born after they came :o Indiana, of whom J. L. Hutchins, a soldier of the Civil war, alone now remains. He was a farmer and a member of the M. E. church in Smith- Seid. Indiana. He died at his home near that village, February 25, 1865, and was buried at Mount Tabor cemetery. We have no record of his service, bat to his family, during his lifetime, he frequently related the account of hardships endured and battles fought during the war. His special reference to the broadsides delivered by some of the historic old war vessels under command of the brave Commodore Barney would lead one to suppose he might have been connected with that branch of the service.
Thomas Jackson, a soldier of the war of 1812, was born February 14, 1794. at Waterford, Loudoun county, Virginia. He was a son of Robert jackson, who performed service in Captain John Hay's company, Ninth Virginia Regiment of Foot, during the war of the Revolution. Thomas Jackson was married to Amelia Conrad in May, 1822. He was a cabinet- maker by occupation. They had four sons and two daughters. Many years ago the family removed from Virginia to Ohio, thence to Greenup county, Kentucky, and later, in 1844, came to make their home at Muncietown. Mr. Jackson was one of the pioneers of this locality, where he spent the residue of a long and useful life. He died October 19, 1863, and was buried in Beech Grove cemetery. An effort was made to get his military history from the archives in Washington. The following is an extract from a letter sent to Mrs. Mock, his granddaughter, who made the inquiry: "The rec- ords show that many persons named Thomas Jackson served as members vi organizations from the state of Virginia in the service of the United States during the war of 1812, but it cannot be determined whether or not any one of them was identical with the name of the man of that name re- ferred to within." This is a good showing in patriotism for the name of jackson but fails to furnish the details we ought to have about this very worthy old veteran. William N. Jackson, son of Thomas, was a member of Company "E," Nineteenth Regiment Indiana Infantry, and served dur- ing the entire period of its history in the field.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
Gilbert Jones, soldier of the war of 1812, was born in 1788; place of birth unknown. He was enrolled in Captain Ledyard's company, Twelith Regiment, Fourth Brigade, at Schenectady, New York, in June, 1812, and was honorably discharged at Sackett's Harbor, New York, in February, 1813. He served as a private, and was stationed at Sackett's Harbor during the period of his service. He died October 24, 1883, aged ninety-five years, four months and twenty days, at Rochester, Indiana. His remains were brought to Muncie and buried in Beech Grove cemetery.
Samuel Kyle, a soldier of the war of IS12, was born in 1780. The place of his birth is unknown. He had three sons and six daughters. He was a farmer and a member of the Methodist church. He owned a good farm in Niles township, where he died in the year 1852, and was buried at the Bethel cemetery.
Isaac Maitlen, Sr., a soldier of the war of 1812, whose place and date of birth we cannot give, came from the state of Virginia at an early day to Greene or Clark county, Ohio, and thence to Delaware county, Indiana, April 4, 1836. He entered land in section twenty-four in Niles township. He was the father of eighteen children. Eight sons and three daughters came to mature years, the other children dying in infancy. There is a touching story connected with his closing years. At one time he selected a beautiful knoll or piece of elevated land upon the home farm and remarked, "What a beautiful place for burial." Some time afterward he was caught by the limb of a falling tree which he and his father had felled in the forest and mortally injured. No doctor was nearer than Muncietown. Some kind neighbor killed a horse in the attempt to relieve him with surgical skill. But it was too late. He was unable to speak, but before he passed away he mo- tioned for some small twigs. These he arranged in the shape of a coffin, and pointed to the spot he had selected. There he was buried. He died about the year 1839. Ilis widow drew a pension from the Government until her death, about 1SOS, when she, too, passed away at the age of ninety-two years.
Isaac Martin, a soldier of the war of 1812, was born in 1780. He mar- ried Elizabeth Wilson, and about ISES came from Miami county, Ohio, to Indiana, and entered or purchased land in Niles township, about one mile from Granville. Here he established his home, cleared his farm, and spent the last twenty years of his honorable life. He had eleven children, five sons and six daughters. He and his wife were members of the Mississinewa Baptist church, one of the earliest religious societies of the township. The meeting for organization was held April 1, 1836. at the house of Isaac Martin. There are no records accessible at present showing the facts of his military service. Ilis death occurred February 6, 1847, when sixty- seven years of age. His widow survived until February 11, 1858, when she
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
passed away at the age of seventy-one years. They were buried at the Granville cemetery, located upon the home farm now occupied by a grand- son, Mr. Henry Williams.
James Mansfield, a soldier of the war of 1812, came from Wayne county, Indiana, in the year 1826, and settled on the west side of Buck creek. January 22, 1829, he entered land in section twenty-three, and in February. 1836, he also entered land in section thirty-four. Like all carly owners of real estate, he pro- edi to clear and improve, keeping pace with the growth of the region about him until some time prior to the Civil war, when he sold his possessions in this state and removed to Missouri, where, some years later, he died. We have no account of his service nor any family data.
Elias Matthews, a soldier of 1812, was born in the year 1785, in the state of Maryland, and from that state he entered the service. After the close of the war he came from Baltimore to the state of Ohio, and settled on a farm near Dayton. He died October 4, 18444, at his home in Mont- gomery county, Ohio, aged fitty-nine years, one month and twenty-eight days. His death was caused by a fall. Afterwards his remains were brought to this city and buried in Beech Grove cemetery upon the family lot of his son, the late Thomas J. Matthews. We are unable to secure details of his service or the officers under whom he served.
Isaac McClanahan was a soldier of the war of 1812, or of the Indian wars under General Harrison. We can get scant information about him. Ile was an Irishman, of robust build and had a defect in his speech. He was a pensioner, and would make the journey to Cincinnati, Ohio, to draw his money. He had an Irishman's taste for a "wee drop to wet the whistle," and often requested merchants to lend him a picayune, so he could go and draw his "tension." The small sum would not bear his expenses very far, but it would pay for the drink, and he probably walked to the place of set- tement. As to date of his death and place of burial we know nothing. He was wounded at the battle of Tippecanoe.
William B. Pace, soldier of the war of IS12, was born in Fiavanna county, Virginia, in 1778. There he married Mary Thomas, after which, in 1814. they moved to Ross county, Ohio, and there engaged in farming. In 1828 they removed to Fayette county, Ohio, and remained there until 1841, when they came to Indiana and settled on a farm near the town of Albany. They reared a family of nine children, all of whom have passed away except Mrs. Julia Allegre, the youngest daughter, who survives, December 10, 1907, at the age of eighty-six years. Mr. Pace died in 1845 and two years later Mrs. Pace also passed away. Their remains rest in the Strong cemetery at Albany. Formerly the family were members of the Baptist church, but late in life Mr. Pace entered the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a kind
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
father, a good man, esteemed and respected by all. There are no records available to show the details of his service, but the very interesting story of his return home is still well remembered by Mrs. Allegre, as she often heard it from the lips of her mother. A long time elapsed without any word from the absent soldier, and there were no tidings of his return. But one morning his mother said, "We will put on the pot of sweet potatoes to-day and cook them just as William would like them, for he is coming home to- day." And he did.
Archibald Reasoner was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was born in Virginia, and probably entered the service fren that state. Here again there are no records, but a current tradition, that he enlisted and went to the army, where, while upon duty in the trenches, he was so severely ex- posed that he contracted rheumatism, from which he suffered to the end of his days. The same tradition relates that his father, whose ideas of soldierly honor were high; refused to take his hand upon his return home until he first presented an honorable discharge from the service. Some years later he came to Coshocton county, Ohio, and about the carly forties removed to Blackford county, Indiana, where his last years were passed, part of the time, however, with his brother, William P. Reasoner, who then resided in Wheeling. He never married. He was so crippled with the disease that for years he could only walk with the aid of crutches. A lost discharge pre- vented his drawing a pension. Such business is managed differently in these days. He was buried at Wheeling.
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