USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 18
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
came to the United States with his parents when sixteen years of age, mak- ing the journey on a sailing vessel, and they were two and a half months on the ocean, and from New York harbor they made their way to Darke county, Ohio. Mr. Huber continued to reside with his parents until 1860, when he came to New Corner, Delaware county, Indiana, where he fol- lowed his trade of carriagemaking until his enlistment for the Civil war on the Ist of August, 1863. He was made a member of Company B, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Volunteer Regiment, and was discharged on the Ist of March, 1864, having served his full term of enlistment. He participated in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Walker's Ford, Strawberry Plains, and was with his regiment in all of its battles and skirmishes with the exception of a short time which he spent in the hospital, his health hav- ing become impaired during his army service. Returning from the army, Mr. Huber engaged in the manufacture of wagons, to which in 1880 he added a saw and flour milling business, while later on he engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising, merely superintending the business, for his health would not then permit of active labor. He was an active member of the United Brethren church, and in 1873 he furnished the money, with the ex- ception of ninety-three dollars, with which to erect the United Brethren Church in Christ at Gaston. He was well and favorably known throughout Delaware county and also the state of Indiana, and was loved and honored for his many noble traits of character. In his early life he gave his political support to the Republican party, but later on became identified with the Democracy, althoughi in local politics he voted for the man rather than for the party.
George W. Huber received an excellent educational training in his boy- hood days, first attending the high school and then the normal of Muncie, while later he became a student in the American Medical College at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, in which he graduated with the class of 1894, and with the class of 1907 graduated from the Eclectic Medical College at Indianapolis, Indiana. On the 2d of Marcli, 1890, he married Miss Corrina May Barrett, whose birth occurred on the 24th of January, 1870, and her death on the 9th of December, 1898. She was the daughter of Samuel and Lana (McInterf) Barrett, both of whom were born in Delaware county, Indiana. Mr. Bar- rett served with Company B, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Volun- teer Regiment, in the Civil war, and his chosen life occupation is farming. For his second wife Mr. Huber chose Miss Nannie Thompson, their wed- ding occurring December 25, 1900. She was born in Eaton, Oliio, October 5, 1874, the daughter of Frank and Sarah (Shepard) Thompson, the former of whom was a farmer, born in Ohio, and was a soldier in the army during the Civil war. His last days were spent in Delaware county. Two children were born to Mr. Huber by his first marriage, Alfred W. and Beatrice B. Mr. Huber is a member of the State Millers' Association. Since his boy- hood days he has held membership relations with the United Brethren church, and his political affiliations are with the Democratic party.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
WALTER P. MITCHELL, M. D. Since 1899 Dr. Mitchell has been en- gaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Gaston, and in addition to the large private practice which he has earned in this vicinity through his ability, his abiding sympathy and his earnest zeal, he is also the surgeon for the Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville Railroad at this place.
The Doctor is a native son of Indiana, born in Henry county on the 2d of March, 1862, a son of Samuel and Margaret (Swope) Mitchell, the former a native of Madison county, this state, born October 14, 1835, and the latter of Henry county, Indiana, born March 6, 1842. They are now residents of Madison county. Their marriage was celebrated in Middle- town of this state, and the only child born of this union was Dr. Walter P. Mitchell. The father has followed milling and agricultural pursuits, and in 1858 he and John Swope erected the Middletown mill, continuing as proprietors for a number of years, after which he turned his attention to farming. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company E, Eightlı Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, for three months, and in that time was made the lieutenant of his company. At the expiration of his first term of service he re-enlisted for three years or during the war. At the close of the conflict he returned to the milling business, but selling his interests therein he engaged in farming, and in 1878 retired from an active business life. He is a member of Middletown lodge of the Masonic order, and is identified with the Republican party.
Dr. Mitchell, the only child of this well known resident of Delaware county, was born in Middletown, Henry county, Indiana, March 2, 1862, and received his literary training in the Danville Normal College, of Dan- ville, Indiana, while his medical training was begun in Rush Medical Col- lege of Chicago, in which he graduated with the class of 1886. In the same year of liis graduation he located in Madison county for the practice of his profession, but later moved to Charlottesville, Indiana, and in 1888 pursued a post-graduate course in surgery in Cincinnati, Ohio. From 1895 until 1899 he was engaged in general practice and railroad surgery in Wisconsin, and it was in the latter year that he located in Gaston, where he has ever since enjoyed a large and lucrative practice in both medicine and surgery.
On the 13th of April, 1889, Dr. Mitchell married Miss Carrie L. Smith, who was born in Hancock county, Indiana, July 16, 1867, the daugh- ter of Timothy F. and Dorzina (Roland) Smith, natives respectively of Virginia and Hancock county, Indiana. The mother still resides in the county of her birth, having attained the age of seventy-two years. Of their eight children six are now living,-Joseph, Olive, Elizabeth, Carrie, Rose and Bertha. Mr. Smith was a prominent and well known agri- culturist of Hancock county, where he owned many acres of land, and he was long numbered among the county's most influential men. His death occurred at the age of forty-four years. He was also a prominent mem- ber of the Odd Fellows' order, in which he held all the state offices, He
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
was a member of the Christian church, and gave his political support to the Democratic party. One little daughter. Halcyon Margaret, has been born to Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell. The Doctor is a stanch Republican in his political affiliations, and i a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
THOMAS L. DUNN was born in Washington township, Delaware county, February 4, 1864. His father, John Dunn, one of the honored early residents of Delaware county, was born in Monroe county, Ohio, August 25, 1829, and his death occurred in Washington township of this county March 20, 1903. He was the son of John and Catherine (Knight) Dunn, the former of whom was born in Monongalia county, West Virginia, and the latter in Monroe county, Ohio. Mr. John Dunn, Sr., went to Monroe county when a young man, remaining there until his marriage, and follow- ing this event he engaged in farming, continuing that occupation in Ohio until 1832, the year of his arrival in Delaware county, Indiana. Arriving here, he secured one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 15, Washington township, afterward purchasing a tract of two hundred and forty acres, but he remained on the first purchase until his death, which occurred in 1865. His wife died in 1863, both passing away in the faith of the Baptist church. Mr. Dunn gave his political support to the Democ- racy until 1856, when he joined the Republican party.
His son, John Dunn, Jr., remained obedient to his parents' will until twenty-one years of age, and he then rented his father's farm until the latter's death, when he inherited eighty acres of the homestead and bought an adjoining eighty acres, living upon this land for about ten or twelve years. He then purchased one hundred acres in section 10, where he spent the remainder of his life, at one time owning four hundred acres of fine farming land. He erected one of the handsomest residences in the town- ship and was numbered among the county's most prominent citizens.
Mr. Dunn married, September 3, 1854. Serepta Littler, who was born in Grant county, Indiana, February 24, 1834, a daughter of Thomas and Susan ( Fry ) Littler, the former of whom was born in Hardy county, West Virginia, in 1802, and the latter in the same county in 1805. In 1829 they journeyed to Grant county, Indiana, where they entered one hundred and twenty acres of land and afterward purchased one hundred and thirty- eight acres. Mrs. Littler died in 1869, but her husband survived until 1883. both dying in Iowa. They were members of the Methodist church, and were worthy and highly esteemed people. To Mr. and Mrs. Dunn were born the following children: Rosetta, the wife of John Dorton ; Sylvester C., who married Angeline Richards; Thomas L., who married Ella Linder ; Alma Amanda, the wife of B. Frank Duling ; and Emma May. Mrs. Dunn died on the 27th of August, 1893, and on the 20th of March, 1906, her husband joined her in the home beyond, their remains now resting side by side in the New Cumberland cemetery. He was well known and honored in the county in which he had so long made his home, and was a firm be-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
liever in the principles of the Democratic party, giving to it his hearty support.
Thomas L. Dunn, a son of this honored pioneer couple, remained with his parents during the period of his boyhood and youth, assisting his father to clear the farm from its dense growth of timber, and they lived together until 1904 when the son removed to another part of the homestead. He carries on the general work of the farm and is also engaged quite exten- sively in stock-raising, handling a fine grade of Duroc hogs and other stock. His farm consists of eighty acres of fertile and well improved land.
On the 26th of February, 1896, Mr. Dunn married Miss Ella Linder, who was born in Grant county, Indiana. April 28, 1866, the daughter of James H. and Martha E. (Watson) Linder. The father, who was born in Muskingum county. Ohio, April 5. 1833, came to Indiana with his parents, Jacob and Elsie Linder, when but six years of age, the family home being established in Grant county. Indiana, where Mr. Linder helped his father to clear and improve his farm. The first home which he owned was a little log cabin, but later on this was superseded by the fine brick house in which he spent the remainder of his days, passing to his final reward on the 27th of January, 1903. He was the owner of about three hundred acres of land, all of which he had improved, and he also bought and sold cattle, hogs and sheep, becoming extensively identified with the stock-raising industry. During a number of years he served as a school director, was also a supervisor of his township, was a Whig politically, and was a mem- ber of the Methodist church. In 1859 Mr. Linder married Martha E. Watson, who was born in Grant county. Indiana, March 26, 1841, and is now living in Upland of that county. They had five children : Philena, the wife of Jacob Rogers, of Blackford county, Indiana; Lemon M., who mar- ried Ella Walters; Ella, the wife of Mr. Dunn; Norah; and Lettie, who married Eli Balenger. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dunn, namely: Ralph L., Carlos M., Clifford. Delores M. and Mary L. The youngest child died in infancy. Mr. Dunn gives his political support to the Republican party.
JAMES H. WILLS was born in Licking county, Ohio, March 31, 1834, the only child of Samuel and Mary ( Wills) Wills, both of whom were also born in the Buckeye state. The father spent his life in that commonwealth and there died, and the mother afterward married in Grant county, Indiana, Henry Richards, by whom she had five sons, three now living: Benjamin, William and Thomas. Mrs. Richards died in Grant county when she had reached the age of forty-four years.
James H. Wills came with his widowed mother to Indiana when four years of age, spending their first two years in this state in Washington township, Delaware county, after which they removed to Grant county. In 1864 he removed to Marion county, Iowa, and purchased a farm, remain-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
ing in that county until 1875, and from that year until 1881 he was a resi- dent of Cass county, lowa. Going thence to Audubon county of that state, he remained there until 1891, when he returned to Grant county, Indi- ana, and in 1894 came to Washington township, Delaware county. In 1905 he retired from the work of the farm and now rents his land, his well directed labors in the past years having won for him an honored re- tirement. Mr. Wills has membership relations with the Methodist Episcopal church and also with the Odd Fellows' fraternity, becoming a member of Atlantic Lodge No. 80, of Atlantic, Iowa, in 1880, and is a member of Wheeling Encampment No. 125, of Wheeling, but the meetings are held at Mathews. He has held all the offices in this encampment.
When he had reached the age of twenty-two years Mr. Wills married Sarah L. Sanders, their wedding having been celebrated on the 3d of June, 1856. She was born in Grant county, Indiana, November 24, 1838, a daughter of William and Rachel ( Wharton) Sanders. The father, who was born in Virginia September 19, 1809, came to Indiana in 1820, thus becom- ing numbered among the commonwealth's earliest pioneers, and he estab- lished his home in the then wilderness of Grant county. His first residence was a little log cabin on the banks of the Mississinewa river, but later this log cabin home was replaced by a frame dwelling, and subsequently the modern and substantial frame residence which is yet standing was built. Mr. Sanders' farm consisted of one hundred and eighty aeres, which he evolved from the wilderness to its present high state of cultivation. He was a member of the Methodist church, and was a Whig in his political affiliations. In Delaware county he married Rachel Wharton, who was born in Ohio April 2, 1812, and her death occurred at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Mr. Sanders passed away in death at the age of seventy-one years. In their family were five children, of whom three are now living: Nancy Jane, the widow of David Collins; Sarah L., who be- came the wife of Mr. Wills; and John. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wills three are now living, namely: John W., who married Alice Lacher; Mary A., the wife of M. P. Allen, of Mathews, Indiana; and Charles L., who married Bertha Hayworth, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wills also have ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
ISAAC NEWTON PARKISON was born within the borders of Washington township, where he has spent his subsequent life and is prominently identi- fied with its farming and stock-raising interests, Delaware county, Indiana, September 27, 1857. His father, Samuel Parkison, was a native son of the Buckeye state, born in Somerset county, Ohio, August 28, 1841, and in 1853 he came with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Parkison, to Indiana, the family home being established on the banks of White river, where the little lad grew to mature years. Remaining under the parental roof until his marriage, he then engaged in farming for himself, and at one time was the owner of two hundred and twenty acres, the most of which he cleared
Mars Isaac No. Parkison
Isaac In Parkison
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
himself. On the first forty acre tract which he bought was located his log cabin home, but later on he sold his farm of eighty acres to the Western Improvement Company for one hundred dollars an acre, and built the brick house in which he spent the remainder of his life, dying on the 28th of March, 1896. With his agricultural pursuits he was also extensively engaged in buying hogs, which he shipped to the Buffalo and Cincinnati markets. He was a good and worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and affiliated with the Republican party. His fraternal relations were with the Odd Fellows order, affiliating with Yorktown Lodge No. 345, in which he filled all of the offices and acted as Noble Grand. He was also a member of the Encampment at Muncie. Mr. Parkison was married in Delaware county to one of its native daughters, Jane Neeley, whose birth occurred in Mount Pleasant township. She died at the age of forty- two years, in 1879. Five children were born of this union: Emma, who died at the age of thirty-one years; Isaac, the subject of this review ; John, who married Melly Williamson : Oliver, who died in infancy; and Joseph, who married Melvina Humbert and is living in Yorktown.
As a farmer lad Isaac N. Parkison assisted in the work of the home- stead farm, remaining at home until his twenty-fourth year, when he was married and engaged in farming for himself in Mount Pleasant township. In 1886 he removed to Washington township, but three years later re- turned to Yorktown, and it was in 1892 that he came again to Washington township and located on his present homestead farm in section 24. where he now operates one hundred and fifteen acres of rich and well-improved land, and on which in 1904 he erected a modern and commodious home. His church relations are with the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and he is a member of Yorktown Lodge No. 345, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past noble grand. He is also a member of Muncie Camp No. 30, and Mrs. Parkison is a Rebekah.
Mr. Parkison married, September 7, 1882, Miss Amanda Beuoy, who was born in Washington township, Delaware county, September 4, 1863, a daughter of George W. and Alzina ( Thompson) Beuoy. Six children have been born to them: Jessie Pearl, who died at the age of seventeen years; Samuel B., Ella J., Sallie M., Ralph R., who died in infancy, and Earl Thompson. Samuel B. and Sallie M. have both received their diplomas in the common schools. He received his with the class of 1902 and Sallie with the class of ¥905. Samuel also took one year's high school work, and Sallie is now in her second year in the high school at Gaston, Indiana.
JOHN W. DEWITT. Distinguished for the honorable record he won for his services on the battlefield during the Civil war, and for his life record as an upright, honorable and valued citizen, John W. DeWitt, of Gaston, fully deserves the esteem and respect so generously accorded him by his neighbors, friends and associates. A native of Delaware county, he was 10
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
born in Monroe township August 24, 1846, a son of Elisha DeWitt, and in this part of the state he has had his home during his entire life.
Born in Wayne county, Indiana, October 17, 1820, Elisha DeWitt has now the distinction of being one of the oldest residents of Monroe township, The son of a pioneer settler of this county, he has seen wonderful changes take place in the face of the country during his long life, watching with great pride its gradual evolution from a dense wilderness to a superb agricultural region whose well-cultivated and well-stocked farms give sure indications of its general prosperity. He married Mary Gibson, who spent her entire life in Indiana, dying at the age of seventy-nine years. They had a large family of children, fourteen in number, and of these eight are living, namely : Catherine, Cynthia, Rebecca. John W .. Julia, Caroline, Patrick and Daniel W. He is a Republican in politics, having formerly been a Whig, and is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he was class leader for many years. Socially he is one of the oldest members of Burlington Lodge, No. 485, A. F. & A. M.
Spending the days of liis boyhood and youth at home, John W. DeWitt attended the district school during the winter seasons, and helped as much as he could to clear the land which his father-in-law, Harvey Heath, entered from the Government. On July 29, 1863. when but sixteen years old, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, at Muncie, and in March, 1864, his term of enlistment having expired, he was honorably discharged. In May, 1864, Mr. DeWitt again offered his services to his country, enlisting for one hundred days in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, he, with twenty of his comrades, receiving for this patriotic act a eulogy signed by President Lincoln. At the end of the one hundred days he was honorably discharged, and in February, 1865, he re-enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, from which he received his honorable discharge on the nineteenth anniversary of his birth. He was on the field at the Battle of Blue Springs, and at Walkers Ford was detailed from the line of battle to guard teams. Mr. DeWitt left home in 1863, a smooth-faced lad, with the thoughts and feelings of a boy, and came home a man, old not in years, but in experience, and in the years spent upon the battlefield and in camp he saw more of life in its sadness and glory than many men see in a life of three score and ten years. Since his return to civic life Mr. DeWitt has been extensively engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in Monroe and Harrison townships, carrying on general farming and stock raising in a most judicious manner. He owns a fine farm of eighty acres in Harrison township, and from this he removed August 20, 1907, to the pleasant home that he now occupies in Gaston, intending now to lead a life of more leisure, if not of more pleasure.
Mr. De Witt married, October 13, 1867, Mary E. Heath, who was born in Monroe township, January 3, 1846, a daughter of Harvey Heath, who was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, in 1814, and died in
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
Monroe township, this county, in 1904, at the venerable age of ninety years. Coming to Indiana at an early age, he worked by the month for William Y. Williams, one of the very early pioneers of Delaware county, toiling early and late in felling trees in the forests. Although wages were very modest in those days, he saved some money, and when desirous of taking up land walked to Indianapolis to the land office, and when he got there found that he had not money enough to pay the entry fee, lacking the full sum by seventy-five cents. He tried to pawn his hat for that amount, but found no one willing to take it. His employer, Mr. Williams, however, came to the rescue, lending him two dollars and fifty cents, enough to pay the fee and buy himself something to eat. Building a log cabin on the tract which he took up, Mr. Heath began the improvement of the property, and in course of time became one of the most prosperous and respected farmers of this locality, at one time being owner of three hundred and sixty acres of valuable farming land and several town lots. He was a Whig in politics and for nearly half a century was a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Heath married, in Putnam county, Indiana, Arminta Finlay, who was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, and died in Delaware county, Indiana, in 1905. aged ninety-one years. Of the nine children born to them four survive, as follows: John T., Mary E. (Mr. DeWitt's wife), George F., and Lavina. Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt have two children, namely : Elza A. married Addie B. Skinner, and Ora, wife of A. M. Kelley. Politically Mr. DeWitt is a stanch Republican. Fraternally he is a member of Bethel Lodge, No. 731, I. O. O. F., and both he and Mrs. De Witt belong to Lincoln Lodge, No. 563, Daughters of Rebekah.
JOHN DORTON is one of the prominent business men of Washington township, and to his own energy and perseverance he owes the success which he has achieved thus far in life. He was born in Union county. Indiana, March 9, 1854, and traces his descent to the mother country of England. His grandfather, Ephraim Dorton, of English parentage, was a sea captain, and both he and his wife were natives of New Jersey. Their son, Henry Dorton, was born in Union county, Indiana, September 10, 1826, and died on the 4th of July, 1895. In 1857 he located in Jefferson township, Grant county, three miles north of Mathews, where he followed agricultural pursuits until his removal to Washington township, Delaware county, in 1883. Here he spent the remainder of his life and won for himself a place among the prominent farmers and business men of the township. He was well known as a breeder of good standard bred stock, principally Poland-China hogs and draft horses. He never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office, but voted with the Republican party. During the Civil war he enlisted as a soldier in one of the Indiana volunteer regiments, but was never in battle, principally doing guard duty in Indian- apolis. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a man of the highest standing in the community. In Union county, Indiana,
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