USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 23
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His marriage, as already noted, was solemnized on the 15th of Novem- ber, 1849, with Miss Christena Bowers, who was born March 20, 1828, the daughter of Jacob and Susannah (Andes) Bowers, who were natives of the state of Virginia, born respectively in the counties of Shenandoah and Rockingham. They became residents of Salem township, Delaware county, Indiana, in 1841, purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which the remaining years of their lives were spent, the father dying at the age of sixty-two years, and the mother when she had reached the ad- vanced age of eighty years. They were members of the Presbyterian church, and he was a Jackson Democrat politically. In their family were seven chil- dren. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sharp have been born the following children : Jemima A., Florence O., Otto, who married Kate Stradling, Ora L., the wife of John Hall, Noah, who married Amanda Prim, George, Nelson Grant, Dora, the wife of James Lewis, and Ozora T., who is a graduate of one of the leading literary and law schools of the county, and was admitted to the Federal and Supreme courts of Indianapolis in . June, 1893. He mar- ried Miss May White and at the present time superintends the work of the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp also have twenty-three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. His retentive memory recalls to mind many pleasant reminiscences of the early days of Delaware county, when the deer
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Emma Clark
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John black.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
and other wild game were plentiful, and his mother saw two different droves of deer. Mr. Sharp cast his first vote for General Scott for president.
JOHN CLARK was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, February 19, 1847, a son of John and Susannah ( Webb) Clark, natives respectively of Lincolnshire, England, and Camden, New Jersey, the father born on the Ioth of January, 1810, and the mother on the 17th of March, 1810. Both ended their lives at Indianapolis, Indiana, the mother dying there in 1872, aged sixty-two years, and the father survived until 1883. They were married in Camden, New Jersey, and became the parents of seven children, of whom six grew to years of maturity and four are now living: Hanna, the widow of Jacob Tressler and a resident of Johnson county, Indiana; Susannah, the wife of William Owens, also of Johnson county; Josiah, who makes his home in California ; and John, the subject of this review.
Mr. Clark, the father, was a miller by trade, having learned that voca- tion in England. In 1831 he left the mother country for the United States, making the journey by sailing vessel and landing in the harbor of New York city after an ocean voyage of seven weeks. Making his way to Cam- den, New Jersey, he was there married, and after the birth of his two oldest children he moved to Ohio and followed agricultural pursuits for one year. Transferring his residence to Indianapolis, he resumed his trade of a miller, and thus he spent the remainder of his life with the exception of the two or three years when he was employed.as a retail grocery merchant. He had fraternal relations with the Odd Fellows' order, was a member of the Epis- copal church, and affiliated politically with the Whig party.
When he was a lad of sixteen years Mr. John Clark removed from his native city of Indianapolis to near Franklin, in Johnson county, Indiana, where he learned the miller's trade under his father's able instructions, and continued that occupation until his removal to Washington township, Dela- ware county, in 1873. After his arrival he became identified with agricul- tural pursuits on a new and heavily timbered farm, where his first residence was a little log dwelling, but later on, in 1906, this was.superseded by a mod- ern and commodious home, the one in which he now resides. His homestead farm consists of two hundred and eighty acres of fertile and well improved land. He has never cared for the emoluments or honors of public office, preferring to give his time to his business interests, but he affiliates polit- ically with the Democracy. He is a member of Delaware Lodge No. 46, A. F. & A. M., at Muncie, and he is also a member of the Odd Fellows' order, joining Johnson Lodge No. 76, at Franklin, Indiana, from which he was transferred to Wheeling Lodge No. 325, and is a member of the Encampment No. 229, at Gaston, and the Rebekah Lodge No. 134, also of that city. He is a member of Canton Muncie No. 4, being major of the Third Battalion, Third Regiment, Patriarchs Militant. He is a member of the Grace Episcopal church at Muncie.
Mr. Clark married Miss Emma Thurston September 16, 1869. She was
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born in Shelby county, Indiana, October 12, 1851, and died September 21, 1896. Her parents. David and Lurinda ( Laing) Thurston, were born in Franklin county, Indiana, the father November 11. 1811, and the mother August 29, 1821. They died December 7, 1889. and January 25, 1891, respectively. They were married in their native county of Franklin July 1, 1838, and became the parents of twelve children. but only five are now living : Mary, the widow of Enos Thurston and a resident of Gaston ; Arthur J., who married Mary J. Hackney and is living in Shelbyville, Indiana ; Abner ; Firman F., who married Zella Ross and resides in Shelby county; and George B., also a resident of that county. Mr. Thurston, the father, was a son of Flavial Thurston, a weaver by trade. The former became a farmer in Shelby county, Indiana, residing on his homestead there until about two years before his death, when he removed to Shelbyville and spent his remaining days retired from active business pursuits. He was a member of the Baptist church, and was a Jackson Democrat politically. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Clark were born three children : William Angus, born June 30, 1870, married Amy McRae; John Talbot, born September 5, 1871, married Edna Rector, and they have two daughters; and Lucy Emma, born September 29, 1873. Mr. Clark also has two grandchildren.
JOHN WESLEY MCCREERY. Delaware county numbers among her native sons John W. McCreery, whose birth occurred in Harrison township on the 24th of December, 1842. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (May- nard) McCreery, were natives respectively of Virginia and Maryland, but were numbered among those brave pioneers who established their home in Delaware county in a very early day in its history and assisted in the reclaim- ing of its wild land for purposes of civilization.
Samuel McCreery, whose natal day was the yth of July, 1801, emigrated when a young man to Carroll county. Ohio, and purchased one hundred acres of land, continuing its cultivation and improvement until his removal to Delaware county, Indiana, in 1838. Here he entered three hundred and sixty acres of land at the government land office then located at Ft. Wayne, paying one dollar an acre. His farm was heavily timbered, and in fact the entire county at that time was but a wilderness, where wild game was found in abundance. His first home was the typical log cabin of the early days, but this in time gave place to a modern frame residence, the homestead was transformed into a fertile and well improved farm, and Mr. McCreery be- came one of the most prominent residents of Harrison township. He was an earnest Christian gentleman, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his political affiliations were with the Whig and Republican parties. His death occurred on the 23d of November, 1893. while his wife preceded him to the home beyond, dying February 2, 1889. They were mar- ried in Virginia, and of the nine children born to them four are now living --- Hannah, William, John W. and Lavina.
During his boyhood days John Wesley McCreery assisted his father in
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clearing the old home farm and placing its fields under cultivation, and in the meantime he received his educational training in the district schools. At the age of twenty-three years he began farming for himself on a tract of eighty acres which had been given him by his father, but previous to this time, on the 19th of December, 1863. he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company G. One Hundred and Twenty-first Regi- ment of Indiana Volunteers. This was the Ninth Cavalry Regiment, and he enlisted at New Corner for three years or during the war, receiving his honorable discharge on the 28th of December, 1865, at Vicksburg, Missis- sippi. His regiment left Delaware county with twelve hundred and forty men and officers, but at the return of this brave band its ranks had been de- pleted to three hundred and sixty men and officers. During his army career Mr. McCreery took part in the following hard-fought battles : Pulaski, Ten- nessee, September 25. 1864: Bentwood, November 7, 1864; Nashville, De- cember 15. 1864; Wilson's Pike, December 17, 1865, besides numerous skirmishes.
When his country no longer needed his services Mr. McCreery re- turned to his home and to his farming pursuits, and the little eighty acre tract which his father gave him at the commencement of his business career was increased by subsequent purchases until he became the owner of one hundred and seventy-six acres. In 1897, however, he put aside the active work of the farm and removed to Gaston, where he purchased a home and has since lived a quietly retired life, at the present time being a member of the town council.
Mr. McCreery married September 25, 1865, Mary A. Trout, whose death occurred on the 9th of June, 1879. She was the daughter of Washing- ton and Carmilla (Christy) Trout, who were natives of Ohio, but became residents of Delaware county, Indiana, in a very early day, and Mr. Trout was prominent in the early history of this community, where he followed agricultural pursuits. He voted with the Whig party and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Trout eight are now living. For his second wife Mr. McCreery married, March 17, 1881, Nannie J. Pond, whose birth occurred in Clinton county, Ohio, September 29, 1850, the daughter of David and Eleanor (Gregory) Pond. The father, who was born in Ohio, died in Clinton county, that state, at the advanced age of eighty-four years, and the mother passed away in death at her home in that county March 3, 1885, aged sixty-nine years, seven months and four days. Mr. Pond was one of the most prominent men of his community, well known in both its professional and business circles, where he was a school teacher, farmer and minister. He was a graduate from Harvard College and a fine Bible student. Two weeks before his death he preached in the Clarksville, Ohio, Methodist Episcopal church, thus con- tinuing an active worker in the cause of his Master until his life's labors were ended. He served as president of the Old Settlers' Association of Ohio, and was a Whig politically. The following seven children were born to Mr.
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
and Mrs. Pond: Mary C., Sylvester, Levi, Nannie, Virginia and Rosa. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. McCreery three are now living : Etta F., born October 29. 1866, married to David Cole, and resides in Muncie ; Osee O., born January 14, 1870, married Leroy Hiatt ; and Dorsey O., born January 18. 1876, married Nellie Lawson. Mr. McCreery's political affilia- tions are with the Republican party, and both he and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM HIATT. A well-known farmer and stock-raiser, William Hiatt, residing on section 24. Harrison township, has met with de- served success in his chosen vocation, and is to-day one of the prosperous and progressive agriculturists of this part of Delaware county. He comes from honored pioneer stock, his grandparents, John and Charity Hiatt, having been among the earlier settlers of Henry county. His parents, Solo- mon and Elizabeth (McCollester) Hiatt, spent their entire lives in Indiana, during their active years being identified with the agricultural prosperity of town and county. Further parental history may be found on another page of this volume, in connection with the sketch of Alexander Hiatt, brother of William Hiatt.
A native of Delaware county, William Hiatt was born in Harrison township, April 24, 1864, and acquired his preliminary education in the district schools. On the parental homestead he was early initiated into the work attendant upon agricultural pursuits, and when ready to begin the battle of life for himself chose the occupation of a farmer. In 1899 he pur- chased his first farm, and, having added improvements of value, sold it at an advantage in 1906. Mr. Hiatt immediately bought the land upon which he is now living, and has continued his agricultural labors. He has one hundred and ten acres of rich and fertile land, and in the prosecution of his independent calling is reaping a generous reward, being numbered among the successful farmers and stock-raisers of his community.
On October 28, 1888, Mr. Hiatt married Addie M. Brunton, who was born in Decatur county, Indiana, March 23, 1866. Her father, Noah L. Brunton, was born May 5, 1828, in Jefferson county, Indiana, and died March 27, 1905, in Harrison township. The son of a pioneer of Jefferson county, Noalı L. Brunton early became inured to the hardships and priva- tions incident to life in an undeveloped country, and as a boy and youth as- sisted his father in the arduous labor of clearing a homestead from the wil- derness. Soon after the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted, Septem- ber 18, 1861, in Company H, Thirty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served bravely for a little more than three years, receiving his honorable dis- charge October 27, 1864. He was very faithful in the performance of his du- ties, and with the exception of the time that he was in the hospital at Nash- ville, Tennessee, he actively participated in all of the battles and skirmishes in which his regiment was engaged. Locating in Decatur county on his return, he was there a tiller of the soil until 1884, when he bought forty acres of land
S. J. Mebruery
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
in Harrison township and came here to reside. The land was covered with brush and timber, but he cleared it, erected a house, and here spent his re- maining days, an esteemed and respected citizen. He was a member of Bethel Lodge No. 731, I. O. O. F., and of the G. A. R. Post. On January II, 1853, Mr. Brunton married in Decatur county, Louisa H. Bentley, who was born January 4, 1835, in Butler county, Ohio, and is now living in Dela- ware county. She bore him five children, of whom four are living, as fol- lows: Caroline, wife of William J. Colson; James married Sarah E. House ; Addie M., wife of Mr. Hiatt, and Gilbert A., who married Larma J. Hutson.
Five children have been born into the household established by Mr. and Mrs. Hiatt, namely : Carl, who died in infancy; Forest E., Clifford M., Gil- bert A. and a child that died in infancy. A Republican in politics, Mr. Hiatt is recognized as an honest man and good citizen, always ready to per- form his part in advancing the general welfare of the community, and is a member of the Cemetery Association at Bethel. Indiana, of which he is secretary and treasurer. Religiously he is a member of the New Light Christian church, belonging to Kings Chapel, and socially he is a member of Bethel Lodge No. 731, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the offices, and of the Tribe of Red Men at Gaston, Indiana.
SAMUEL J. MCCREERY, prominently identified with the business in- terests of Gaston, was born in Harrison township, Delaware county, Indi- ana, January 25, 1851, and received his educational training in the public schools of his native county. His father, Thomas McCreery, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth McCreery, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, Octo- ber 7, 1826, and departed this life on the 16th of March, 1906. When twelve years of age he came to Indiana with his parents and located on the farm now owned by his son William, one-half a mile south of Gaston. The county at that time was a dense wilderness. His father located on a claim of four hundred acres, eighty of which he gave to Thomas and he cleared it himself and helped to blaze the way from his father's house to a neighbor's, which was no small job. He endured the hardships and en- joyed the triumphs of pioneer days. When quite a young man he became a Christian, his father having been a charter member of the First Meth- odist Episcopal society in the neighborhood, which was organized in 1843, and about 1849 Thomas McCreery and his wife became members, joining the church in Levi Miller's house west of Gaston, and from that time on he was a faithful Christian. He was also very much interested in the public welfare and the country's civilization, and he helped to make the coun- try, highways and schools what they are now. There is scarcely a church around the country that he did not give of his means to build.
In 1849 Mr. McCreery married Miss Catherine Brown, and they be- came the parents of nine children, four sons and five daughters, namely : Samuel J., James W., Nathan A. and John W., also Hannah E. Janney, Phoebe J. McCreery, Rebecca A. McMahan, Sarah L. Kirklan and Effie
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Hannan. On the 14th of April, 1886, his companion, who had been his co- worker in life, passed to her final reward. He was married to Margaret Anderson December 16, 1898. and on February 19, 1901, married Martha J. French, all of his companions preceding him in death, also two of his daughters, Phoebe J. McCreery and Rebecca A. McMahan. He lived alone during a portion of his life, but the last four weeks were spent with his son Samuel, where, after a continued attack of illness, he passed quietly away. He was a good husband, a kind and loving father, an affectionate brother, an energetic and noble man and a representative citizen.
During his boyhood days Samuel J. McCreery, the immediate subject of this review, worked on the farm with his father during the summer months, helping to clear the place from its virgin state, and attended the schools of the neighborhood during the winters. When he was twenty- one years of age he learned the painter's trade, but being the owner of eighty acres which his father had given him he abandoned his trade after nine months and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was also married about this time, and his first home was a frame house of two rooms, but later on he built additions thereto until he had a good eight- room house on his farm, and in the meantime he also added to his land until he is to-day the owner of about two hundred acres, all of which is fertile and well improved, while in addition to his agricultural labors he was also quite extensively engaged in stock raising, breeding Poland China and Jersey hogs. In 1899 Mr. McCreery left the farm and removed to Gaston, where he erected a pleasant home and in 1902 engaged in the canning business with others, he being one of the directors of the business. In 1893 he with others built the New Corner and Anthony pike, and was also one of the charter members of the Gaston Banking Company, in which he served as one of the directors.
On the 25th of December, 1873, Mr. McCreery married Martha Trout, whose death occurred on the 19th of January, 1903. She was born in Licking county, Ohio, November 21, 1847, the daughter of Washington and Carmilla (Christy) Trout, both of whom were also natives of the Buckeye state, but both passed away in death in Harrison township, Dela- ware county, the father when he had reached the age of sixty-five years, and the mother at the age of seventy-five. Of the ten children born to this couple nine lived to years of maturity and four are now living: Henry B., Francis M., Emma R. and Orlena. The parents came to Delaware county in the early '30s, locating in Harrison township. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and gave his political support to the Republican party. On the 25th of December, 1905, Mr. McCreery mar- ried Martha J. Jackson. She was born in Hancock county, Indiana, the daughter of Andrew and Katura ( Boulden) Jackson, both of whom were born in the commonwealth of Virginia, but the mother died when her daughter Martha was but three weeks old. The husband and father sur- vived until the roth of September, 1906, dying in Hancock county, Indiana.
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He was born in Wayne county of this state March 10. 1823, a son of Levi and Elizabeth Jackson. When he was seven years of age the family moved to Madison county, Indiana, and in a very early day they established their home in Hancock county. He united with the Methodist Episcopal church during his boyhood days, and thereafter lived a true Christian life, becom- ing one of the leading members of his church and for many years served as its class leader. He became the father of five children by his first mar- riage, but only four are now living: Thomas J., Sarah H., John W. and Martha J. By his second marriage, to Priscilla Haney, Mr. Jackson be- came the father of eight children, but only two of this large number now survive, Pearl E. and Lottie. On the 5th of August, 1885, Martha J. Jack- son married Ivens P. Curtis, whose death occurred on the Ist of July, 1897, and to them were born two children, Annie E. and Roy E .. the elder dying in infancy. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McCreery, but the first born died in infancy, Birdella, the second married George W. Miller, and died February 16, 1906, aged twenty-six, and Lloyd E. mar- ried Winona Manring and resides in Gaston.
Mr. McCreery was made a Mason in New Corner Lodge No. 524, from which he transferred his membership to Muncie Lodge No. 334, and he was also a charter member of the order of Red Men, but is not now a member of that fraternity. He affiliates with New Corner Lodge No. 425. I. O. O. F., of which he is a past noble grand, and is also a member of Encampment No. 223, in which he has passed all the chairs and has been a representative to the Grand Lodge of Indiana. Since seventeen years of age Mr. McCreery has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the meantime having assisted in the erection of two churches in Gaston, and for twenty years or more served in the office of steward, while at the present time he is the president of the board of trustees. He is a stanch Republican in his political affiliations.
WILLIAM C. HOFFMAN. For forty years a resident of Delaware county, William C. Hoffman has been closely identified with its industrial and agri- cultural growth and progress, and is widely known as a citizen of sterling worth and integrity. A veteran of the Civil war, he is distinguished for his military record as a soldier, while in private life he is recognized as a true, upright man, one to whom will be said when "taps" are sounded for the last time, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." A son of William H. Hoffman, he was born, March 8, 1846, in Montgomery county, Ohio, and there spent his early years.
William H. Hoffman was born in Pennsylvania, in 1807, and died in 1852, in Ohio, while yet in manhood's prime. With his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hoffman, he moved to Ohio, where he was reared and edu- cated. He began life on his own account as a merchant in Dayton, Ohio, but afterwards settled on a farm, and from that time until his death was actively employed in agricultural pursuits. He was a Whig in his political
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affiliations, and in religion belonged to the United Brethren church. He married in Ohio Maria Camp, who was born in 1819 in New Jersey, and died in 1893 in Delaware county, Indiana. Seven children were born to them, five of whom survive, as follows: William C., the special subject of this sketch: Harriet, wife of J. J. McCarter; George W. married Delia Bliss ; Lucetta, wife of Noah Sinks ; and Elizabeth, wife of Perry Waymier.
During the days of his boyhood William C. Hoffman worked on the home farm, attending the district schools during the winter seasons. When the tocsin of war rang throughout the land he was a beardless youth, but his patriotic blood was aroused, and on October 22, 1861, he enlisted for three years in Company F, Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On July 25, 1864, he was honorably discharged with his comrades from serv- ice, and at once re-enlisted in the same company, becoming a veteran of the regiment in which he first enlisted. On February 8, 1865. he was made corporal of his company, and in that capacity served until receiving his final discharge, July 10, 1865. With the gallant heroes of the Seventy- fourth Regiment Mr. Hoffman participated in some of the more important battles and skirmishes of the war, taking part in more than twenty engage- ments, including among others the following named: Chickamauga, Look- out Mountain. Missionary Ridge, Stone River, Buzzards Roost, Resaca, Dallas, Jonesboro and Atlanta. Returning to his Ohio home at the close of the war Mr. Hoffman resumed farming, remaining there about two years.
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