USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 22
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OLIVER E. WEBSTER. Although prominently identified with the agricul- tural interests of Delaware county for many years Oliver E. Webster is a native son of Madison county, Indiana, born in its township of Boone November 12, 1864. His father, Daniel W. Webster, was born in Dalaware in 1848, a son of Robert W. Webster, who when his little son was only six months old started with the family on the overland journey to Indiana, coming with team and wagon to Rush county, which continued as their home for two years, when the journey was resumed to Madison county, Indiana. They established their home in Boone township, where Mr. Webster erected a log cabin in the wilderness, but in the early '6os he removed to Van Buren township and spent the remainder of his days there, enrolling his name among its revered and honored pioneers. His political affiliations were with the Whig party. In this state Daniel W. Webster attained to mature years, and he has lived on the old homestead to the present time, building in 1873 his pleasant and commodious country home. He has served his township as its supervisor and during the early days he taught school. He has always been engaged in the breeding of graded stock and is a lover of fine horses, while on his farm he has a deer park. Mr. Webster also possesses mechanical skill of a high order, and with the aid of his sons he erected in 1892 and 1893 a steam threshing engine. He is a member and for a number of years a trustee in the First Methodist
Oliver & Webster.
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Episcopal church at Summitville, and is a Republican politically. Mrs. Webster, a native daughter of Indiana, died in 1876, aged thirty-six years. In their family were seven children, of whom four are now living: Oliver E., the subject of this review ; Robert E., who married Etta Johnson and is living in Madison county ; Rebecca Jane, the wife of Thomas Cannup, of Van Buren township, Madison county; and Daniel F., who married Bertha Dunham, and resides in Monroe township, Madison county.
During the early years of his life Oliver E. Webster worked with his father on the old homestead farm, attending the neighborliood schools dur- ing the winter months, and he lived with his parents until his twenty- seventh year. He then bought the farm where he now lives in Washington township, Delaware county, and is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has one of the finest roadsters in the county, and breeds from two to three fine draft horses each year. He has inherited from his father the love of mechanics, and has assisted him in much of his work. Mr. Webster had the misfortune to lose his home by fire in June, 1901, but he has now in the course of construction a fine residence, and his is one of the most valuable estates of Washington township.
On the 18th of June, 1892, he wedded Cora B. Dickey, born in Alexandria, Indiana, March 14, 1871, a daughter of William and Mary ( Perdue-Groves) Dickey. Mrs. Webster is their only child, and her father, who was a farmer in Madison county, died when she was but six years of age, in 1877. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Webster,-Gladys, born August 8, 1894; Violet, born April 25, 1902 ; and Clarence, born January 23, 1905. Mr. Webster is a member of the order of Red Men at Summitville, Lodge No. 149, also of the Knights of Pythias, Castle Hall No. 361, at Summitville, and has membership relations with the Methodist Episcopal church. He votes with the Republican party.
OLIVER A. BROYLES. The Broyles family is one of the oldest in Dela- ware county. The paternal grandfather of Oliver A., Anderson Broyles, was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, and his grandmother, Harriet Broyles, in Bourbon county, Kentucky, one in January and the other in April of 1812. They met in Rush county, Indiana, were wedded, and in 1837 moved from Rush county to Delaware county and settled upon a tract of land in Washington township near what is known as Pipe creek. They started with their Virginia and Kentucky strain to conquer the forest and help to make a civilization on this tract of land. Clearing a spot of ground, they cut and drew together round logs enough to build them a log cabin of one room. In this room they cooked, ate, slept and lived. In the garret were beds for the boys who had attained the dignity of graduation from the trundlebed. This was accessible only by a ladder made from two saplings flattened and rounds put in about two inches apart.
Such was the home of James Thomas Broyles, the father of Oliver A. He was the eldest of a large family of children and was born in the little
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log cabin just described January 25, 1840, growing to manhood amid the surroundings, privileges and privations incident to a life in the pioneer epoch of a country's history. At the inauguration of the Civil war he placed his name on the volunteer roll of Company B, Thirty-sixth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and had splendid opportunity to show his loy- alty at Pittsburg Landing and Shiloh. Failing health caused his discharge in 1863, after two years of service, and he returned home to be a civilian. He was married to Miss Sarah A. Janney September 3. 1863, but becoming more and more desirous to assist in the quelling of hostilities at the front he in the spring of 1864 took an active interest in organizing Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Volunteer Infantry, and was chosen its first lieu- tenant. Again he went to the southland and remained until the war was over and the south partially reconstructed. In the fall of 1864 he returned home, and with his young wife returned to the farm and began the clearing, im- proving and beautifying of his home. His death there occurred November 19, 1902, but his widow yet survives and is now residing at 119 West Main street, Muncie. In their family were the following children: Oliver A., Joseph R., Albert L., George W., Sherman A., Oren E., Walter G., Nelson (who died in 1895), Mrs. Carrie B. Benbow, Hattie A. and Lula B. About thirty years before his death Mr. Broyles was made a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, and he also took an active interest in the G. A. R. Post. He united with the Methodist church in 1857, and served as its district steward, collecting steward, class leader, trustee and Sunday-school superin- tendent. He was also enterprising and public spirited and won the confi- dence of his fellow townsmen. He served as the assessor of his township for twenty years, and then became the county assessor, being the first in- cumbent in that office in Delaware county.
The boyhood days of Oliver A. Broyles, the subject of this review, were spent as other lads on the farm, working in the fields during the summer months and attending the district schools during the winters, and he remained at home with his father until twenty-one years of age. During the following two years he was in his father's employ, and soon after his marriage he began farming for himself on his homestead in Washington township, his first home being a little four-room house. In 1900 the resi- dence which now adorns the homestead was erected, as was also a modern barn, and he is extensively engaged in the breeding of graded cattle, hogs and horses in addition to his general agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Broyles married Ida E. Thurston July 27, 1887. She was born in Van Buren township, Madison county, Indiana, August 19, 1868, the daughter of George R. and Almyra (Allen) Thurston, both residing in Madison county. The father, who was born in Franklin county, Indiana, May 14, 1846, was left fatherless at the age of nineteen years, and soon afterward he came to Madison county and located on eighty acres of land which his father had given him, first building him a little log cabin, which in 1881 was replaced by a more modern and commodious dwelling. He is
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at the present the owner of an estate of two hundred and fifty acres of rich and well improved land, and is one of the leading citizens of Madison county. Mrs. Thurston was born in Madison county June 26, 1848, and on hier father's old homestead there she gave her hand in marriage to George R. Thurston March 21, 1867, and three children were born to bless their union : Ida E., Harrison S. and Alpheus L. Mr. Thurston is a member of the Christian church and votes with the Democratic party. Mr. Broyles sup- ports the principles of the Republican party, and has served his township as a member of its advisory board. For many years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has served as president of its board of trustees and as one of its stewards. Mrs. Broyles belongs to the Christian church in Summitville, Indiana.
JOHN W. GILMER. Numbered among the native sons of Washington township, Delaware county, is John W. Gilmer, who is a representative of one of its prominent early families. His birth occurred on the 19th of February, 1865, and he is a son of Abraham and Isabelle (Jones) Gilmer, both of whom were born in Rockingham county, Virginia, the father on the 4th of April, 1823, and the mother on the 22d of January, 1831 .. They were married in their native county of Rockingham January II, 1851, and in the fall of 1853 they made the overland journey with team and wagons to Indiana, spending about five weeks on the road and establishing their home in Washington township, Delaware county, where Mr. Gilmer pur- chased eighty acres of timber land in the dense wilderness, on which had been erected a little log cabin. After two years in this township they removed to Henry county, Indiana, where he followed his trade of wagon- making, which he had learned in Virginia. Four years later they returned to Washington township, and here the husband and father spent the remainder of his life, dying on the 24th of May, 1874, when fifty-one years of age. Since his death Mrs. Gilmer has built a frame house upon the farm, and she is now living with her son, John W. When age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Gilmer joined the ranks of the Whig party, from which he transferred his allegiance to the Republicans, and he was honored and revered by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. Six children were born to him and his wife, three sons and three daughters, and all are yet living, namely: Elizabeth M., the wife of Conrad Lovet; Mary Jane, the wife of Henry Paxton; Sarah C., wife of James Linsey; William H., who married Emma Hamilton; John W., the immediate subject of this review ; and James M., who married Zina Thorn.
John W. Gilmer was left fatherless when but a lad of nine years, and the period of his youth and early manhood were spent upon the old home- stead farm, which he assisted to clear and cultivate. In fact, his entire life has been spent upon these parental acres with the exception of three years, from 1889 to 1892, when he was engaged in farming and stock raising in Illinois.
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On the 11th of October, 1900, Mr. Gilmer was united in marriage to Miss Ida Haney, who was born November 19, 1871, the daughter of Bennett and Lydia (Owens) Haney, both of whom were born in Hancock county, Indiana, the father March 2, 1837, and the mother February 25, 1845. They were also married in Hancock county and became the parents of twelve children, seven now living: George, who married Goldie Cox; Ida, the wife of Mr. Gilmer; Arthur E., who married Loretta Case; Cora A., Jesse H., Marshall G. and Fernie. Mr. Haney has devoted his entire business career to agricultural pursuits and is now living in Gaston. He casts his ballot with the Democratic party. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilmer: James Paul Bennett and Jesse Leon. Mr. Gilmer is a member of the Christian church, and his political affiliations are with the Democratic party.
BENJAMIN H. MCKINLEY is numbered among the prominent and well known business men of Washington township. His birth occurred in Eden- burg, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1839, but his educational training was received in the schools of Nilestown, Ohio, where he was a schoolmate of the lamented President Mckinley, his cousin. He is a son of John and Eliza (Boyle) Mckinley, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania April 20, 1818, and died in Muncie, Indiana, August 22, 1896, while the latter was born in Seclonesville, Ohio, August 12, 1818, and died on the 8th of April, 1864. They were married June 27, 1836, in Ohio, and became the parents of the following children: James, born March 4, 1837, died in infancy ; Susan, born February 28, 1838, also died in infancy ; Benjamin H., the subject of this review; Alexander, born August 8, 1841, served nearly three years during the Civil war in the Ninth Regiment of Indiana Volun- teers, when he returned home on account of a broken arm, and re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment, serving until the close of the war, and his death occurred January 11, 1877; Mary, born June 6, 1843, is the widow of Thomas Anderson and a resident of Jay county, Indiana ; John, born September 9, 1845, served his country in the One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment during the Civil war, married Rebecca Burgess, and their home is in Muncie; Louis B., born June 2, 1848, married Anna M. Brewboker, and is a Baptist minister in Goshen; William W., born August 20, 1850, is married and lives in Muncie ; Sara Elizabeth, born April 5, 1855, married John Putnam, who is a printer and lives at the Old Soldiers' Home ; Ira, born February 29, 1858, died November 12, 1861; and Henry, born December 12, 1860, received his education in Earlham College, of Richmond, Indiana, and is a minister in the Friends church in Onoway, Michigan.
Mr. McKinley, the father, came to Ohio during the boyhood days of his son Benjamin, where he followed his trade of a moulder until in 1852, when he made the voyage on a sailing vessel to California, spending three years in the Golden state in search of the precious metal and returning thence to Ohio. In 1855 he came to Indiana and located in what is now
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Gaston, then called New Corner, where he spent the remainder of his life as a minister in the Methodist church. He first gave his political support to the Whig party, from which he transferred his relations to the Republicans, and later became identified with the Democracy.
Benjamin H. Mckinley accompanied his parents on their removal to Delaware county in 1855, and as a boy he worked on the homestead farm here and attended the district schools. In 1860, the year of his marriage, he engaged in farming for himself, continuing in that occupation until 1894, when he became identified with the general mercantile business at Stock- port, and was thus engaged until the 15th of January, 1907. He had sold his farm in 1893.
Mr. Mckinley married, October 25, 1860, Arah Bryan, who was born in West Virginia June 11, 1835, the daughter of George and Nancy (Jones) Bryan, both of whom were also natives of that commonwealth, the former born February 11, 1800, and the latter August 19, 1801. The father passed away in death on the 2d of January, 1850, but the mother long survived him and passed away December 25, 1874. They were married in Virginia and became the parents of the following children: Samuel, Nathan and Abraham, all deceased; William, who lost his life while in the service of his country during the Civil war; Anthony, Betsy and Alfred, also deceased; Arah, the wife of Mr. Mckinley; and Rebecca, the wife of William B. Woodring, of Gaston, Indiana.
Mr. Bryan was born in Randolph county, West Virginia, but in the early year of 1839 came to Indiana and established his home in Washington township, Delaware county, where the family lived in a wagon until their little log cabin home could be built. He cleared his land and made him a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, having been long numbered among the leading agriculturists and business men of the .township. He was also a prominent member of the Methodist church, and affiliated with the Whig party. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mckinley, namely: Nancy Jane, born August 4, 1861, died in infancy ; William I., born January 17, 1862, married Katie Driscoll, and is engaged in business in Stockport, Indiana; John W., born September 22, 1864, married Ethel Trowbridge, and is a merchant of Canon City, Colorado; James A., born September 8, 1865, married Carrie Turner, and is engaged in the lampblack business in West Virginia; Samuel, born February 11, 1868, married Ella Rarach, and lives in Union township, Delaware county; Thomas M., born September 12, 1870, married Millie Rarach, and is also living in Union township; Mary N., born September 13, 1871, married Creed Broadwater, of Stockport; George M., born March 8, 1873, married Pearl Melvin; and Robert N., born November 1, 1875, married Minnie Adams, and is living in Muncie, Indiana.
Mr. Mckinley was made a member of Gaston Lodge, A. F. & A. M., from which he was demitted to Oak Hill Lodge, of Oak Hill, Tennessee, and later transferred his membership to the home lodge. He is also a 12
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member of Wheeling Lodge, No. 325, I. O. O. F., of Gaston Encampment, No. 424, of that order, of which he was one of the organizers, and is also a member of the State Grand Lodge. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a stanch Prohibitionist in his political affiliations.
SAMUEL MILHOLLIN. Throughout his entire life Samuel Milhollin has been a resident of Washington township, prominently identified with its farming and stock-raising interests, and his birth occurred within its borders September 18, 1856, a son of Nathan and Mary (Carmin) Milhollin. The father was born in Grant county, Indiana, in 1834, and his death occurred on the 25th of January, 1902. He purchased his brothers' and sisters' interest in his father's estate, and moved into the old log house which stood upon the homestead, there residing for about sixteen years. At the close of that period he bought a farm of George Benoy, about three miles east of his former place, in section 24, Washington township, there spending the remainder of his life engaged in farming and stock-raising pursuits. During a number of years he was extensively engaged in buying and selling stock, shipping to the Buffalo, Cincinnati and Cleveland markets. He first drove his stock to Muncie or Eaton, and then shipped by rail, and he was also well known as a wool buyer for a number of years. Washington township numbered him among her most useful and prominent citizens and honored him with many of her public offices, he having served as a constable and also acted as an attorney for some of his neighhors, trying his cases before the justice of the peace. He was a member of the Farmers' Grange and affiliated with the Whig party. In December, 1854, Mr. Milhollin married Mary Carmin, who was born in Washington township, Delaware county, January 29, 1836, and she now makes her home with her son Samuel. Four children were born to them: Samuel, William L., Anna, who died in infancy, and Allie, who married Charles Beuoy.
Samuel Milhollin spent the early years of his life in assisting his father in the work of the home farm, and during his subsequent years they farmed in partnership until the father's death. Since then he has conducted his operations alone, and at the present time he is farming three hundred and three acres of land of his own and also superintends the work on two hundred acres belonging to his mother. In 1904 he remodeled his residence, making it one of the most modern and pleasant homes of the township. In addition to his general agricultural pursuits he breeds fine horses, both driving and draft horses, and in his pastures he keeps about twenty head or more all of the time. He also breeds Poland-China and Jersey hogs, crossing the breeds, Shorthorn cattle and Cottonwood and Merino sheep.
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On the 18th of September, 1883, Mr. Milhollin married Miss Julia Smith, who was born in Muncie October 16, 1858, the daughter of Henry and Mary ( Reeves) Smith. Mr. Smith was born in the state of New York February 14, 1830, and is now living retired in Muncie. When but
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three years of age he came with his parents to Indiana, where his father, John M. Smith, followed his trade of coopering. During his younger days the son Henry conducted a lime kiln near Muncie, but later purchased a farm in Center township and continued its cultivation for a number of years, later buying eighty acres of timber land in Hamilton township. This he cleared and improved and made his home there until 1901, when he moved to Muncie and has since lived retired from active labor. During his boyhood days he assisted in driving stock through to New York city. During the Civil war he served as a dispatch carrier, serving as a member of Company I, Thirteenth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. He has been both a Whig and Republican in his political affiliations, during a number of years held the office of school director, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Smith was born in Muncie November 2, 1831, and in that city they were also married, becoming the parents of seven children, of whom five are now living: Julia, Lydia E., E. James, Cordelia K. and William H. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Milhollin : Nathan H., Corna and Ralph. Where national issues are involved Mr. Milhollin upholds the principles of the Republican party, but locally votes regardless of party ties, and he is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
THOMPSON SHARP, a prominent farmer of Washington township, Delaware county, is a native of Indiana, born in the county of Henry, November 12, 1827. His father, Edward Sharp, was born January 4, 1801, in Tennessee, and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Anna Thompson, was a native of Virginia, where her birth occurred on the 18th of January, 1808.
Edward Sharp in an early day accompanied his parents, William and Elizabeth Sharp, to Ohio, this being in 1813, where they remained for a few years, and then came further west, locating in 1820 in Henry county, Indiana. Subsequently Mr. Edward Sharp purchased a farm in Salem township, Delaware county, where in time he became the possessor of a large tract of real estate, owning at the time of his death in 1855 six hundred and forty acres, the result of his own energy and thrift. In addition to the pursuit of agriculture he dealt quite extensively for a number of years in live stock, purchasing in various parts of Indiana and driving to Cincinnati, making of this a very profitable business. He was recognized as one of the leading citizens of the community in which he resided, was a member of the Christian church, and exerted a wholesome, moral influence upon all with whom he had business or other relations. His wife, a most estimable Christian lady and a member of the Protestant Methodist church, departed this life in 1862, and was laid to rest by the side of her husband in the Sharp cemetery on the old homestead in Salem township. Thirteen children were born of this union, all of whom attained to years of maturity,
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and those now living are: Thompson, William, Mary, Amanda, Martha, Kate and John. Mr. Sharp was a Whig in his political affiliations.
Thompson Sharp remained under the parental roof until his majority, working on the farm during the summer months, clearing the wilderness, and attending school about three months of each year until reaching the age of thirteen years. Consequently he is not an educated man in the knowledge of books, but in the practical affairs of life possesses a knowledge such as institutions of learning fail to impart. Immediately after his mar- riage, which occurred on the 15th of November, 1849, he removed to his present farm in Washington township, where he has since resided, actively engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. At that time the farm consisted of one hundred and twenty acres of timber land, with a little log house. He cleared the land and added to it until he had three hundred and twenty acres, while in 1868 he built him a fine brick house, in which he now lives, and his improvements upon the farm make it among the best in the town- ship and county. Mr. Sharp has surrounded himself with all the modern improvements and conveniences of agriculture and home life. He is recog- nized as one of the intelligent and substantial pioneers and citizens of the community, and he manifests a lively interest in everything that pertains to the material and moral well being of the township of which he has so long been a resident. As an active worker in the Republican party he is widely and favorably known through the community. As a reward of his party service he has been twice elected to the responsible position of county com- missioner, first in 1888 and second in 1892, the duties of which he discharged with ability and most commendable fidelity.
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