USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 37
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 | Part 57
* The burning of the Yule-log is an ancient Christmas ceremony, transmitted to us from our Scandinavian ancestors, who at their feast of June, at the winter solstice, used to kindle huge bonfires in honor of their god Thor .- Century Die.
L
341
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
alone, he died about the year 1854, above one hundred years of age. "Thomp- son's log" was long a place of interest, pointed out to the wondering passer- by. lle is supposed to have been buried at Union Chapel, or the Godlove cemetery.
Asiel Thornburg, one of the earliest and oldest pioneers of Delaware county, was, so far as we can learn, enrolled for service in the war of 1812 from Greene county, Ohio; that he at once marched to Columbus, where Mings reached him that peace was declared and the war was ended. Be- yond the fact that he sat for three days at the treaty of Greenville, Ohio, we have no further incidents. The biographical material for a proper .ketch-and from the records-was furnished for another department of this work and will appear among the historical accounts of Liberty town- ship.
Cornelius Vanarsdoll, of German ancestry, was a soldier of the war of 1812 and of the Indian campaign ; was born in the year 1789, probably in Montgomery county, Ohio. He entered the army from that state. There is no doubt about his military record, as he drew a pension and received a warrant for land. He was a dispatch bearer or courier and most of this duty was performed on foot. He was in the battle of Tippecanoe and also many skirmishes with the Indians. The scene of one of his struggles with the red men was upon ground where, afterwards, he located and entered land for the home farm. He intended coming there at the close of the war, but the Indians were so bad he had to postpone it until 1820. He cut his initials in a rock near the camp as a mark to guide him upon his return. The early life of this rugged old pioneer and fighter was crowded with adventures and experience of a most exciting nature. At one period of his service the Indians used great cunning in their operations. Many sentinels were shot at a certain outpost. Vanarsdoll made the rounds at night and assisted in setting on foot a movement to stop the shooting of pickets. One of the men agreed to take the post of duty if allowed to follow his own plans. He was put upon guard at the fatal spot. In the night the sound of his gun aroused the camp and when approached it was discovered he had shot an Indian, wearing a hogskin and small bell on his neck. He once took dispatches is an near Dayton to some point on the Aurglaize river. When the forme: camp was reached the troops were gone and only some smoldering coals marked the site of the campfire. Being completely exhausted, he dropped beside them and soon fell into a deep slumber. He became unconscious from severe cold and weariness, and was nearly dead when discovered by some comrades sent to search, who found him at the abandoned camp. He married Jane Mcclellan, by whom he had three sons and six daughters. This brave woman had some thrilling experience in her early married life. At one time the blockhouse was surrounded and attacked by Indians. She
312
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
assisted in molding bullets. Her dress and apron caught fire and were nearly burned off her. When Mr. Vanarsdoll first settled on the land chosen by hin he did not have the means to pay for it, even at the paltry price of $1.25 per acre. Finally he discovered that plans were on foot to displace him. In one day he walked to Wayne county and returned with the money. A neighbor then took the money, rode a swift horse all night, reached the land office at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and made payment in time to meet the party intending to do the old hero the great wrong just as he reached the door. This land was in section thirty-one, Liberty township, and wa. legally entered and paid for on the 25th day of October, 1830. His was the first white family from 1820 to 1823, when other settlers located near them. For the rest of his life the old warrior was farmer, blacksmith and preacher. He established the first society of the Christian church in his own home, and spent much time from home holding services. No pay was received for this and none was expected. Wild game, honey, nuts and ginseng were abundant. Mr. Cornelius Vanarsdoll, a son of the soldier and subject of this sketch, was born in 1822. There were no whites here then. He was dressed the first time by Indian Sally, who said, "My pappoose." The ven- erable patriot and pioneer preacher followed his calling for about forty years. He died April 24, 1868, aged seventy-nine years and two days. His wife survived until February 12, 1885, when she passed away at the age of ninety-six years, one month and eighteen days. They were both buried in Mount Tabor cemetery.
Matthew Whicker, a soldier of the war of 1812, was the eldest son of William Whicker, a soldier of the Revolution, whose sketch forms part of this chapter. We have nothing but tradition, outside of what we get in the records of William Whicker. But Matthew Whicker was probably born in Guilford county, North Carolina, entered the service during the second war with England from the same state, and later may have removed with his parents to the state of Ohio. At one time he resided near Albany, but after- wards returned to the state of Ohio, and there he died. We have no data of birth, particulars of service, nor the date and place of his death.
Samuel P. Wilson, a soldier of the war of IS12, was born in the state of Virginia in the year 1794. He came to the state of Ohio at an early period in its history ; married; came to Delaware county, Indiana, in 1857, and died in 1874, aged eighty years. He had five children, two sons and three daughters, none of whom survive except one daughter, Miss Kate Wilson. Mrs. Elizabeth Q. Wilson, widow of Samuel P., drew a pension from the Government at the rate of ninety-six dollars a year. She died in ISgo, at the age of eighty-nine years. She was afflicted with rheumatism during many years. But she possessed a vigorous mind, took much interest in the current events of the times in which she lived, and was well informed
343
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
respecting them. Captain Luther B. Wilson was an officer in the Nine- teenth Regiment. Indiana Volunteers. S. Ambrose Wilson was a member of the same regiment, and was afterwards cashier of the Muncie National Bank. Mrs. Burson, the daughter with whom the aged lady spent the closing years of her life, was very active in deeds of kindness, and in many ways assisted soldiers and their families during the Civil war.
Lloyd Wilcoxon, Sr., was a soldier in the war of IS12. He was of English ancestry, and was a native of the state of Maryland, where he was born October 4. 1792, and where he resided with his parents until he was sixteen years old, when his father moved to Kentucky. After living there a few years they moved to Scioto county, Ohio, where he was engaged at the carpenter trade, and where he was married June 28, 1813, to Elizabeth Truitt. In 1833 he moved to Delaware county, and settled near Muncie, where he passed the residue of a long and useful life, dying in this city in June, 1866, at the age of seventy-three years. He and his wife are buried at the Moore cemetery, two miles east of Muncie. There is no question about his service, so far as family tradition goes, but it is impossible now to state positively from what state, the period of his service or any of the officers under whose command he served.
Phillip Wingate, a soldier of the war of 1812, was born in the state of Delaware in the year 1793. He was married to Sarah Wright, who died in 1821, and was buried near where she was born and reared. Phillip Win- gate was married a second time in the state of Maryland, after which he moved to Highland county, Ohio, and settled near Leesburg, where he worked at his trade, a carriage maker, which he learned by serving an ap- prenticeship of five years in his native state. Then, in 1847, he came to Albany, Delaware county, Indiana, where he worked at wagonmaking. He died at the home of his son, James W., October 9, 1870, and was laid to rest in Bethel cemetery. Mary, the second wife. died July 20, 1851. She was buried also at Bethel. Phillip Wingate was the father of ten children, eight sons and two daughters. Like so many others whose records we do not have from the books, we cannot tell what was the experience of this soldier during the war, but there is a record upon the tombstone which marks his last resting place. It will tell its own story, and is in these words: "Licu- tenant in the war of IS12."
The names of William Finley, James Manson and Hugh Winget were furnished with the statement that each were soldiers of the war of IS12. We have no details.
MEXICAN WAR.
Until the Civil war of 1861, only one national contest had engaged the attention of our people-the war against Mexico, in 1846-48. Delaware
.
314
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
county took but small part in the conflict of arms, only about one dozen men participating, though at one time a company was recruited here and its services tendered to the state. On June 6, 1846, the Muncie Journal pub- lished the following call for the enrollment of volunteers :
"I, W'm. Van Matre, colonel of 69th Reg. of Indiana Militia, having received orders from Brig. Gen. of 22d Brig. to organize militia under my command, do hereby request that all citizens of Delaware county subject to military enrollment meet at Muncie on Saturday, 13th of June, to enroll themselves, form companies and elect officers.
"N. B. The object of the above call is that the Indiana Militia may be placed in a proper condition for any military requisition that the exigencies of our country may require."
On designated day was a large gathering and address by Gen. Kil- gore. "At the close of his remarks, the general himself setting the example, some sixty odd came forward and enrolled their names as volunteers."
The company then elected David Kilgore captain ; Thomas J. Sample, first lieutenant ; John S. Sarver, second lieutenant, and William J. Brady, orderly sergeant. Great efforts were made to have the company accepted by the state. The "Muncie Guards" sent their messenger, Mr. Kilgore, to Indianapolis on horseback, but after an all night ride his arrival was too late ; Indiana's quota was already filled. However, the organization was kept up for some time. A new requisition for a regiment of infantry was made by Governor Whitcomb in April, 1847, and the following May 22 the Muncie Journal mentioned the presence of two recruiting officers for the "Marion Guards." "Notwithstanding they were with us but a few hours, and no notice whatever of their coming was had, a number enrolled them- selves and were sworn into the company." On the 21st of April, 1847, three men started on foot from Yorktown for Anderson to enlist for Mexico. They found already there nine others from Delaware county. The follow- ing are the names of the twelve: William T. Collins, Firman V. Car- michael, Abel Gibson, James Halstead, Joseph E. Hurt, Samuel Macum. James Moore, George W. Parkinson, William S. Reeves, Joseph Secrist, William Sutton and Alexander Williamson. Two others from Delaware county, William Simmons and Jesse Sheary, joined a regiment which was organized later. The twelve first named became members of Company "A" in the Fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The following officers were chosen to command: Captain, John M. Wallace, of Marion ; first lieutenant. Decatur Carey, of Grant county ; second lieutenant, John W. Dodd, of Grant county ; third lieutenant, Nineveh Berry, of Madison county; Willis A. Gor- man was made colonel and Ebenezer Dumont, lieutenant colonel. To Mir. George W. Parkinson, a member of the regiment, a worthy citizen of York- town, and later an officer in the Eighth Indiana Infantry in the Civil war,
345
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
now deceased, we are indebted for a very interesting sketch of the experi- ences through which his company passed.
The company marched to Edinburg, south of Indianapolis. There it took passage on the cars of the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad, which had just been completed to Edinburg. For most of the company these cars were the first they had ever seen. They went by rail to Madison, and by steamer to Jeffersonville, at which place the regiment completed its organi- zation and was mustered into the service. After remaining at Jeffersonville about four weeks, the regiment went by steamer to New Orleans, stopped there two weeks, thence proceedhr, in two divisions, and in different steam- ers, on its way to the seat of war.
Soon after passing out upon the Gulf of Mexico the vessel upon which was embarked the right wing of the regiment, to which Company "A" be- longed, exploded one of her boilers, apparently disabling the boat. Several men were killed, among them Firman V. Carmichael, one of the soldiers from Delaware county. Sixty-five of the men went to the shore in three boat loads. The first load carried the remains of their dead comrade to the land for burial. While they were performing that mournful service, the two other boats came, and those who were in them said that the whole body were coming on shore; but, for some reason unknown to those who had been landed, the steamer found means to go on her way, and left that com- pany of sixty-five men to their fate! There they were, in the Louisiana swamps, without food and with no suitable water, and perhaps two days' journey from any settlement. But the boys would never say "die," and off they tramped for two days to Sabine City, at the mouth of Sabine river, fasting as they went. At that place they staid a week.
In some way a man went from Sabine City on horseback to Galveston to carry the news. An old schooner, the Lone Star, was sent to hunt them up, and at Galveston they rejoined their comrades. There they "boarded" the Robinson Crusoe for Brazos Santiago, near the mouth of the Rio Grande, and went on thence up the Rio Grande to Camp Mier, perhaps two hundred miles, and reported to General Taylor. He ordered them to Vera Cruz, and so back they marched to the mouth of the river, whence they were taken to Vera Cruz and sent forward into the heart of Mexico. At Vera Cruz had lately arrived the Fourth Ohio, five companies from Pennsylvania. and a cavalry company from Louisiana, Capt. Walker. Gen. Scott had taken Vera Cruz, fought Cerro Gordo, captured Puebla, and gone forward to fight the terrible battles around the capital city. But the Mexican forces had turned back, and were laying siege to Puebla, defended by the gallant Gen. Childs, with his handful of men.
Just then the little army from the coast came up, fought and won the battle of Huamantla, scattered the swarming foe, raised the siege, and saved the city and its garrison.
They went no further, but stayed in the vicinity of Puebla for several months, having some skirmishes and street conflicts but no heavy fighting. Peace was made, and the soldiers came home. The men from Delaware county arrived at Indianapolis the last of August, 1848. Except Carmi- chael, killed by the explosion, all the "Delaware squad" survived.
346
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
William Sutton was nearly blind, and the severe sunshine made him worse, so that he could scarcely see at all, and he was discharged carly ; but all the others "went the rounds," and came home again safe and sound. "We are enabled to announce the arrival of most of the Delaware vol- unteers. Messrs. Neff, Stone, Halstead, Reeves, Collins, Moore, William- son and Gibson arrived here Sunday. As soon as it was announced that the volunteers were near town our citizens were on the alert, some mounted on horses and others on foot, to meet them, and Hoon's corner (now known as the Patterson block) and the street west to the suburbs of town were literally crowded with citizens." (From Indiana Signal, August 24, 1848.)
The two first above named were probably volunteers from the county of Randolph.
Alexander Armstrong, a soldier of the Mexican war, lived in Shelby county, Ohio. He had two sons and one daughter. In the year 1881 he came to spend the winter with the family of the late William K. Helvie, of Yorktown, Indiana. He died suddenly from heart failure March 13, 1881, aged sixty-eight years, and was buried in the Yorktown cemetery.
Thomas Curtis was a soldier in the Mexican war. He was buried at the Hawk cemetery. No details of his life and service at hand.
John Holbert, a soldier in the Mexican and Civil wars, was born in Ilagerstown, Washington County, Maryland, February 17, 1822. He ac- quired a limited education, and afterwards learned the tailor's trade. In 1846 he removed to Butler county, Ohio, where he enlisted as a private sol- dier in the First Ohio Volunteers, in Captain John B. Weller's company, Second Rifles. Serving his term of one year, he was discharged at New Or- leans, and returned to Butler county, Ohio, in the fall of 1847. He married Miss Mary M. Fadely, April 7, 1848. In 1850 he came to Delaware county and settled in Smithfield, where he continued to follow his trade, until the fall of 1862, when he enlisted in Captain William's Company K of the Nine- teenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. In the engagement at Hatcher's Run, near Petersburg, Virginia, he lost his left leg, which was amputated in the field. In 1866 he was elected trustee of Liberty township, which position he filled for six years, when he was, in 1872, elected treasurer of Delaware county, and re-elected in 1874. At the close of his life Mr. Holbert removed to his farm a few miles out on the Centennial pike, and here he died. July 28, 1883, aged sixty-one years, five months and cleven days. He was buried in Beech Grove cemetery.
James Mcore, a soldier of the Mexican and Civil wars, was born in the year 1823. He was a member of Company A, Fifth Regment, Indiana Vol- unteers, and also of Company G, Eighth Indiana Volunteers. He died De- cember 4, 1893, aged sixty-nine years, six months and fourteen days, and was buried in the Jones cemetery. We are not prepared with data sufficient
317
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
for an account of the service of this soldier of two wars. We are tokdi, how- ever, that the storming of the fortress of Chapultepec furnished great oppor- tunity for the exercise of his descriptive powers, and these he used with such persistence that some wag gave him the name of that historic place, and it remained with him all the rest of his life.
William Sutton, a soldier of the Mexican war, died July 19, 1863, aged thirty-eight years, three nyaiths and twenty-seven days. He was buried in Beech Grove cemetery. We have no data of his life or particulars of his service.
Alexander Williamson, a soldier of the Mexican war, was born in the year 1829 in the state of Ohio. IIc was a member of the Fifth Indiana Infantry Volunteers. After escaping the perils and dangers incident to the career of a soldier, he returned in safety to his home. Some years later he went to the Pacific coast, where he engaged in mining. Like many a man who has had army experience, he frequently related the details of his service to willing hearers. Upon one of these occasions, to a group of men who were his companions and camp associates, he spent part of an evening in fighting over again some of the scraps with the "Greasers." It happened there was a Mexican in the party at the time. Soon after one of the Amer- icans present told Williamson "to keep an eye on the Mexican," as, when the relation of his war experience was under way, "the fellow had turned all kinds of color, and he might do him harm." Williamson thought but little of it and remarked: "I am the only man in camp who can speak the Spanish language, and I can get along with him." The day following, in an unguarded moment, when Williamson was watching the cloud of smoke he blew from a cigar, the Mexican stabbed him three times with a knife. It was one hundred miles to a doctor, but one was brought and did the best he knew to relieve the suffering soldier. But all was in vain. He died a few days later. Before he passed away he was permitted to see his murderer hung from the limb of a tree which stood not far away. He was buried in Jacksonville, Oregon, where he remained until the year 1896, when his re- mains were brought home and buried near the family monument in the Yorktown cemetery. At one time Mr. Williamson raised and commanded a company of miners, who rescued a train of emigrants which had been sur- rounded by Indians. The full details of his very interesting and thrilling experience in the West would exceed the bounds of a sketch of this kind.
THE CIVIL WAR OF IS61.
"Mark ye well her bulwarks. "That you may tell it to the generation following."
Within twenty-four hours after the fail of Fort Sumter, the wires bore the following message to President Lincoln :
348
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
"EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA,
INDIANAPOLIS, April 15, 1861.
"To Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States:
"On behalf of the State of Indiana, I tender to you for the defense of the Nation, and to uphold the authority of the Government, ten thousand men.
"OLIVER P. MORTON, "Governor of Indiana."
The call of the President issued on the same day for seventy-five thou- sand troops greatly stimulated the military ardor of the people, and volun- teers came forward in great numbers to offer their services. Who that lived. during those exciting days of the Civil war period can ever forget them? In the county of Delaware, which up to that time knew so little of war, some preparations had already been made. When the Government under- took to reinforce the garrison and send supplies to Fort Sumter, and the Star of the West was fired upon, the signs of the coming contest were evi- dent to all thoughtful people. Then it was that the nucleus of our first organization was begun. It bore the name of "The Minute Men of Muncie." The company was drilled in "Scott's Tactics," by the only man then in this locality who had seen service and knew the duties and demands of a soldier's life .* An attempt was made to have the company accepted by the state, but that step was premature and nothing came of it at that time. The name was subsequently changed to the "Delaware Guards." At a meeting held in the courthouse on the night of April 16, 1861, at which Judge John Brady presided, the ranks were filled. Thomas J. Brady (afterwards brigadier general by brevet) was elected captain, who at once proceeded to the state capitol, tendered the company to Governor Morton, which was promptly accepted and ordered to report for duty immediately. It was later known as Company "D," Eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Bright and early on the morning of April IS the ringing of the bell at the courthouse called the Guards together ; the company was formed on East Main, right resting at Walnut street. Here each member was presented with a testament. A beautiful banner, the gift of the loyal ladies of Muncie, was also accepted and unfurled at the front of the line. Then, led by the Muncie Cornet Band playing "Hail Columbia," and accompanied and cheered by hundreds of sympathetic and patriotic citizens, these raw recruits marched to the station on what was then the Indianapolis and Bellefontaine Railroad.
The scene at the station was one always to be remembered. There were many touching and tearful farewells by the loyal people who saw these first volunteers depart, and who were to be followed to the field by two thousand of her brave sons before the war ended.
'Lieutenant Joseph Kirk, who had recently closed a three years' term of service in the United States Army. His regiment was on the frontier and participated in the campaign under the command of General Albert Sidney Johnston against the Mormons in Utah.
1
3.19
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
The journey to the capital was one continued ovation. People at towns and villages crowded to see the strange spectacle of an organized body of men on the way to the field of strife. Cannon and anvils thundered their greetings ; cheers were mingled with tears; bands played stirring national airs. The hearts of those boyish soldiers swelled with emotions of pride as they hurriedly passed to obey the summons to defend the flag so gloriously fluttering in the morning sunbest .
Eighth Regimen: . ; antry (Three Months).
The Eighth Regiment, Indi. "a Infantry Volunteers, was organized and mustered into service for three months at Camp Morton in Indianapolis by Major Thomas J. Wood, on April 25, 1861, with William P. Benton as colonel. On the 19th of June it marched by rail to Clarksburg, in Western Virginia, via Cincinnati, Marietta and Parkersburg. Remaining here two days engaged in building fortifications, it marched thence to Buckhannon, thirty miles away, where the enemy were reported to be encamped. Upon arrival the enemy had abandoned the place and moved toward Rich Moun- tain. Here the Eighth was reviewed by General Mcclellan on July 4, and assigned to the Brigade commanded by General Rosecrans. Three days later the column under General Mcclellan, consisting of three Brigades, had marched to Roaring Creek, about two miles from Colonel Pegram's po- sition at Rich Mountain. A reconnoissance made on the 10th showed the enemy in a very strong position, difficult to assail by a front attack. In the evening Rosecrans took to McClellan a young man named Hart,* whose father lived on the mountain two miles in the rear of the Confederate posi- tion. He proposed to guide a column of infantry, by a trail making a cir- cuit to the right of eight miles, up the rocky slopes to his father's farm.
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.