USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 24
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In 1867, following the trail established by the pioneers of old, Mr. Hoffman came to Delaware county, locating first as a farmer in Salem township and afterwards removing to Mount Pleasant township, where he was similarly employed for a number of years. Coming to Washington township in 1899, he purchased the farm which he now owns and occu- pies, and began its improvement by the erection of the substantial farm house, of modern structure, in which he is now living. He is not at the present time actively engaged in tilling the soil, but rents the land, deriving a good annual income from the rentals.
Mr. Hoffman married, November 30, 1871, Mary Lambert, who was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, January 10, 1854, a daughter of John N. Lambert and a granddaughter of Noah and Elizabeth Lambert, who were among the earliest settlers of Ohio county, Indiana. John N. Lam- bert was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, December 26, 1830, and died June I, 1907, in Delaware county, Indiana. Coming with his parents to Indiana when a child, he was brought up in Ohio county, living there until 1854. Locating then in Delaware county, he bought fifty-six acres of land on which the timber was still standing, and ere long the steady swing of his axe might be heard as he cleared an opening in which to erect a log cabin. The country hereabout was then but sparsely populated, the wild beasts of the forest having scarce fled before the advancing steps of civilization. Working with courage and perseverance. he cleared a large part of the
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land, and in course of time added to the area of his farm by the purchase of forty acres of adjoining land, and replaced the log cabin with a sub- stantial frame house, in which he spent the remainder of his days, dying honored and esteemed by all. He became a man of influence in the county, and was an important factor in developing its resources. He was a Whig in politics, a member of the United Brethren church, and belonged to Delaware Lodge, I. O. O. F. Mr. Lambert married, in Switzerland county, Indiana, Nancy J. Graham, who was born in that county July 12, 1831, and died in Delaware county February 16, 1879. She bore him nine children, of whom eight are living, as follows: Mary, wife of Mr. Hoff- man ; Joseph O. married Emma Cromer; John W. married Effie Rader ; David H. married Anna Meeker ; Charles E. married Sarah Smith ; Oliver P. married Sadie Bateman; Oscar C. married Agnes Hupp; and Josie B., wife of Charles Walker.
Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman six children have been born, namely : Vertie MI., who died at the age of twenty-four years ; Milton B. married Ethel Oxley; Bessie A., wife of Oscar O. Boxell, of whom a brief sketch appears on another page of this work; George A. married Gertrude Robbins; Harry E. married Fannie Smith; and Hattie L., wife of John Carmon. Politically Mr. Hoffman is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. Fraternally he belongs to Lookout Mountain Post No. 140, G. A. R. Religiously he and his wife are conscientious members of the Methodist Protestant church.
JACOB E. SHARP. As a life-long resident of Delaware county and an important factor in the development of its mercantile. agricultural and in- dustrial prosperity, the late Jacob E. Sharp is specially deserving of honor- able mention in this biographical and historical work. As a successful business man, a trustworthy citizen, and a man of strict integrity and high moral principles, he had the sincere respect and esteem of his neighbors and friends. He was born in Washington township, this county, Novem- ber 2, 1854, and died near Gaston August 30, 1901, while yet in manhood's prime. He was of honored pioneer descent, being a son of Thompson and Christena (Bower) Sharp, of whom a brief account may be found on an- other page of this volume.
Beginning life for himself as a merchant, Jacob E. Sharp had a gen- eral store in New Corner, now Gaston, for two years, carrying on quite an extensive business. Closing out then, he turned his attention to agri- cultural pursuits, for which he had a natural aptitude and liking. Locat- ing in Harrison township, he made substantial improvements on the farm which he purchased, including among other things the erection of a good frame house. He continued his occupation of a farmer until 1895, when he removed to a pleasant home in Gaston, where he resided until called to the better life. Although a stanch Republican in politics, Mr. Sharp never
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sought public office, but he was prominent as an Odd Fellow, belonging to New Canaan Lodge, No. 154, I. O. O. F.
On December 25, 1875, Mr. Sharp married Florence A. Brady, who was born in Harrison township, this county, April 3, 1855, and into the home thus established four children were born, namely: Elmer Vernon, who died in infancy, Avery L., Lula May and Dora Hazel. Mrs. Sharp's father, the late Aaron W. Brady, was born in Ohio September 25, 1822, and died in Delaware county, Indiana, September 13, 1879. When a child he came with his parents to Indiana, his father taking up a government claim in the wilderness, and from it reclaiming a homestead. In the days of his boyhood the wild beasts of the forest had not fled before the ad- Vallcing steps of civilization, but with the dusky savage habited the vast wil- derness. While assisting his father in clearing a homestead he acquired a practical knowledge that was of much use to him in after years, and when ready to commence his career as an independent farmer he took up a tract of timbered land and began the improvement of a farm. He was very suc- cessful in his undertaking, becoming the possessor of one of the most at- tractive and valuable homesteads in this part of the county. The humble log cabin which he reared in the forest was replaced by a comfortably built frame house, in which he spent his last years in comfort and pleasure. He was a Whig in politics until the formation of the Republican party, when he became one of its most ardent supporters, and belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. He was buried with Masonic honors by the New Canaan Lodge No. 425, A. F. & A. M., of which he was a prominent member Mr. Brady married, in Indiana, Hannah Marshall, who was born in Clinton county, Ohio, January 13, 1821, and died January 13, 1875. She bore him eight children, of whom three survive, namely: Margaret, wife of Thomas Duncan ; William, who married Eliza Hannan; and Mrs. Florence A. (Brady) Sharp.
JOHN W. KIRKLIN, one of the prominent and leading business men of Washington township, was born in Henry county, Indiana, June 25, 1859. His father, John R. Kirklin, was a native son of North Carolina, from whence he removed to Illinois and later to Henry county, Indiana, where he followed his trade of coopering and farming until 1887, since which time he has lived a retired life, making his home in Perry township, Dela- ware county. He has reached the eightieth milestone on the journey of life, and is loved and honored in the community in which he has so long made his home. He is a member of the German Baptist church, in which he has served as a minister during the past forty years, and his political affiliations have been with the Whig and Republican parties. During his residence in Illinois Mr. Kirklin married Louisa Bruer, who was born in 1829, and died in 1861. Of the six children born of this union four are now living: Martha, William T., Jacob and John W. The father was a second time married, Mrs. Elizabeth Richardson, nee Holler, then be-
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coming his wife, and they also had six children, the three now living being Eli, Susan and Charles.
During three years of his early business career John W. Kirklin was engaged in general merchandising in Gaston, after which he turned his attention to farming on twelve acres of land in Washington township. With the passing years he extended the boundaries of this little farm until he became the owner of two hundred and tinrty-five acres, all fertile and well improved land, and here he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. In addition to his extensive agricultural interests he is also en- gaged in the undertaking business in Gaston in partnership with Bert Powers, he having been engaged in this vocation since 1892. He is a member of the order of Red Men, Sioux Tribe No. 123, at Gaston, Indiana, and his political affiliations are with the Republican party.
On the 29th of September, 1887. Mr. Kirklin married Sarah L. Mc- Creery, who was born in Harrison township, Delaware county, May 23, 1866. Her father. Thomas McCreery, was one of the prominent and suc- cessful farmers of Harrison township, being held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. He was born in Carroll county, Ohio, October 7, 1826, and died on the 16th of March, 1906. He came from Ohio at an early date with his parents, with whom he lived until twenty-four years of age, when he was married. After becoming of age he worked with his father until his marriage, the latter then giving him a contract to clear eighty acres of land, while in addition he worked his father's farm on the shares. He was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Maynard) McCreery. The former, born in Virginia July 9, 1801. emigrated to Carroll county, Ohio, when a young man and bought one hundred acres of land, on which he farmed and made his home until 1838, in that year coming to Delaware county and entering three hundred and sixty acres of land in the wilder- ness. His wife died on the 2d of February, 1889, but he survived until the 23d of November, 1893, passing away at the advanced age of ninety-three years. He was a member of the Methodist church, and was identified with the Whig party.
Thomas McCreery added to the homestead farm at different times until he at one time owned four hundred and seventeen acres, while in addition he also owned a half interest in a large store room in New Corner, now Gaston, and other property in that city. Mr. McCreery married, October 25, 1849, Miss Catherine Brown, a daughter of Samuel and Phebe Brown, natives of Clinton county, Ohio, but they became residents of the western part of Delaware county, Indiana, where the husband and father was en- gaged in farming. He was also a cooper by trade. Mrs. McCreery was born April 7, 1828, and died April 15, 1886, her remains now resting in the Cumberland cemetery, where a beautiful monument stands sacred to her memory. She was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and enjoyed the esteem of all who knew her. By this marriage the follow- ing children were born: Samuel J., whose biography also appears in this
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work; Hannah E., the wife of William Janney; Rebecca, deceased ; James W .; Nathan A .; John W .; Sarah L., the wife of John W. Kirklin; and Mary M., the wife of Barney Hannan. Mr. McCreery married Septem- ber 18, 1888, for his second wife, Mrs. Margaret Ellen Anderson, the widow of O. Anderson and a native of Clermont county, Ohio. Mr. McCreery was a Republican in his political affiliations, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kirklin, namely : Byrel R., born September 22, 1888; Floyd R., born June 2, 1891 ; Twily T., born December 23, 1893; Wayne L., born August 9, 1896; and Oren L., born April 29, 1903.
JOSEPH A. BROYLES was born in Washington township, Delaware coun- ty, Indiana, August 5, 1852, a son of Anderson H. and Harritt (Wilson) Broyles. The father was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, August 19, 1812, but in 1834, when twenty-two years of age, he came to Rush county, Indiana, where he worked on a farm for about two years. Not being satis- fied with that location, however, he concluded to remove to another part of the state where he could procure a home of his own. It was in 1837 that he came with his father's family to Washington township, Delaware county, which was then but a dense wilderness. He built him a little log cabin and started in life in very humble circumstances, but by energy, industry and excellent business ability he became numbered among the largest real estate owners in Washington township, as well as one of its leading citizens. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for nearly fifty-five years, and when his good and useful life was ended in death, on the 29th of December, 1879, his funeral services were held in Zion Chapel on the 31st, conducted by Rev. J. D. Croan. He gave his political support to the Whig party. On the 20th of February, 1835, during his residence in Rush county, Indiana, he was there married to Harritt Wilson, who was born in Kentucky April 9, 1812, and died in Washington township, Delaware county, Indiana, March 23, 1895. Of the eight children born of this union, four are now living: John W., William H., Lewis H. and Joseph A.
Joseph A. Broyles remained at home with his parents until his mar- riage, in the meantime assisting his father in the work of the farm and pursuing his education in the district schools and in the high school of Muncie. Soon after his marriage he began farming for himself on forty acres of land, later on building him a log house which served as the family home until 1902, in that year erecting the modern frame dwelling which adds so much to the value and attractive appearance of the homestead. He has improved his farm of one hundred and thirty-nine and a half acres from its primitive state to its present high degree of cultivation, having been assisted in the work by his sons but in the spring of 1907 Mr. Broyles laid aside the active work of the farm and has since lived a retired life, his sons conducting the work of the homestead.
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The marriage of Mr. Broyles was celebrated on the 12th of August, 1876, Eliza C. Reeder becoming his wife. She was born in Grant county, Indiana, December 25, 1850, the daughter of William H. H. and Elizabeth (Daily) Reeder. Mr. Reeder, who was born in Ohio, took up his abode in Grant county, Indiana, during the early '40s, entering government land, and on his farm he erected the hewed log house which now serves as the home of his son, William H. H., Jr. At one time he was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land, most of which he cleared himself, and his name is enrolled among the honored early pioneers of Grant county. He served as a justice of the peace for a number of years, during which time he settled a number of estates, and during an extended period he was also a member of the teacher's profession. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, and his political support was given to the Whig party. The marriage of Mr. Reeder occurred in Decatur county, Indiana, whither his wife, who was a native daughter of Kentucky, had been brought by her parents when but six years of age. During her young womanhood she united with the United Brethren in Christ church, and lived a beautiful Christian life during the remainder of her days. Mr. Reeder attained to the age of seventy-one years, dying in 1882. Five of their seven children are now living: Margaret, Eliza C., William H. H., Flora M. and Robert B. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Broyles have been born four children : Catherine R. is the wife of M. M. Schlenker, and they have three sons. William, born October 2, 1879, has taught school every winter since he was eighteen years of age, having received an excellent training in the State Normal College at Angola, Indiana, in which he graduated August 10, 1895, and he graduated with the class of 1908 in the State University. He is now attending the Bloomington, Indiana, University. Robert . B., born January 19, 1882, attended the Indianapolis Business College. He married Maggie Rector. Charles M., born May 14, 1884, attended the Angola Normal Col- lege. He married Leora M. Fergus. The family are members of the Meth- odist church, and Mr. Broyles is a Republican politically.
RANDOLPH BEUOY, Gaston, Indiana, was born in Washington town- ship, Delaware county, Indiana, August 14, 1834, and is the oldest living native of that township. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Heart) Beuoy.
Thomas Beuoy was born in West Virginia, June 3, 1786, and devoted the major portion of his life to agricultural pursuits. He earned his first money by hunting and trapping in Ohio, having entered Ohio before it had become a state. He had the distinction of being one of those who saw the first steamboat which came down the Ohio river. When fifteen years of . age he helped to build the court house at Waynesburg, West Virginia. He later removed to Wheeling, Virginia, when there were but three. shops in the town. He suffered from a severe attack of fever when but a young man, and hope for his recovery was given up, but thanks to previous 13
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sound health and careful nursing he recovered. He purchased his first land, an eighty acre timber tract, in Guernsey county, Ohio, with money which he had made by hunting and trapping. Later he added an addi- tional eighty acres to this tract, and built upon the property a double hewed log house. He made a trip, with his pony and dog, to Fort Wayne, Indiana, then down the Wabash river, and up the Mississinewa to the point where the city of Marion now stands. At this point he encountered a young man and his wife engaged in building themselves a log cabin. These were the first white people he had met on his trip. From this point he continued to Wheeling and then returned to Ohio, and in the spring of 1832, removed with his wife and children to Washington township, Delaware county, Indiana. He entered two hundred acres of timber land at the land office in Fort Wayne, and upon this holding erected the first frame house in Washington township, and before he died he presented to each of his sons tracts of land varying from eighty to one hundred acres. He belonged to the primitive Baptist church; was originally a Democrat, next a Whig and finally a Republican. His death occurred August 27, 1865. The mother of our subject was born in Virginia in May, 1785, and is now deceased. She was the mother of twelve children, two of whom are living, Randolph, our subject, and Benoni.
Randolph Beuoy as a boy worked upon his father's farm helping to clear the land and put it into condition for cultivation, and managed to get a couple of months' schooling in the winter months. When he reached the age of seventeen his father turned the farm over to him and he man- aged the same until his father's death. when he and his brother Benoni farmed the land in partnership. In the fall of 1877 Mr. Beuoy built the attractive house in which he now resides. He has retired from active work and rents the farm but still maintains his residence on the place. He and his wife are among the organizers of their local primitive Baptist church. In politics he is a Republican and has voted for every Republican nominee for the presidency since the days of John C. Fremont.
On January 14, 1858, Mr. Beuoy was united in marriage to Miss Eliza McVicker, who was born in Blackford county, Indiana, January 9, 1837. She is the daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth (Brunner) McVicker. The father was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, in September, 1810, and died March 18, 1860, and the mother was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, May 4, 1811, and died in September, 1875. Of a family of thirteen children but four are living: Eliza, wife of our subject, James, Harriet, and Eli. Mr. McVicker located in Blackford county in 1834. He was a member and a deacon of Primitive Baptist church, and a great Bible stu- dent. In politics he was a Jefferson Democrat.
Mr. and Mrs. Beuoy are the parents of three children: Alice, wife of Jacob Richards, Grant county, Indiana; Mack, who married Jennie Wat- son, and lives in Washington township; and Jennie, wife of John C. Rich- ardson. Besides their own, Mr. and Mrs. Beuoy adopted and raised three
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children : William B. Jones, who lived with them until he was twenty-two years of age, Lizzie Leard, and Lulu Beuoy. There are eight grandchildren in the family.
MONROE DORTON, a prominent and well known business man of Wash- ington township, is a native son of the Hoosier state, born in its county of Union March 30, 1852, and there his parents, Henry and Phebe (Rose) Dorton, also had their nativity, the father born on the roth of September, 1826, and the mother November 8, 1829. They were married on the 28th of November, 1849, in Union county, and the mother is now living in Mathews, having long survived her husband, who died on the 4th of July, 1895.
The boyhood days of Monroe Dorton were spent at work on his father's farm, attending the district schools during the winter months, and soon after his marriage he purchased a livery business at Jonesboro, Grant county, Indiana. After about one year there he sold his business and re- moved to Dunkirk, this state, where he erected a barn and continued the livery business about two years. Again selling, he came to Washington township, Delaware county, and bought forty acres of land of David Hollis in section 16, which he farmed, and later purchased fifty acres where he now lives. In 1892 he erected on this homestead a fine farm residence, while in 1902 was built his modern and commodious barn. During his business career Mr. Dorton has been connected with various lines of trade, having spent nine years with the Deering Harvester Company in selling their machines through Indiana and Ohio, while during one year he was also associated with the International Harvester Company at Richmond and two years at Fort Wayne. During the years of 1875-6 he was engaged in the construction of gravel roads throughout Washington township.
Mr. Dorton married Samantha Dunn December 14, 1873. She is a native daughter of Washington township, born on the 31st of May, 1851, her parents being Thomas and Sarah (Reasoner) Dunn, natives respec- tively of Virginia and Ohio, the father born on the 25th of July, 1812, and the mother on the 26th of February, 1815. They were married in Black- ford county, Indiana, July 19, 1838, and became the parents of nine chil- dren, the four now living being John C., who married Sarah Horner, deceased; Mary H., the wife of Esla Stephenson; Sarah Jane, the wife of Richard A. Watson; and Samantha, Mrs. Dorton.
Mr. Dunn came from Ohio to Indiana with his parents in 1826, when but eleven years of age. He was the son of John and Catherine (Knight) Dunn, early and honored pioneers of the Hoosier state. Soon after Ins marriage the son built him a log house in section 16, Washington town- ship, where he had entered one hundred and sixty acres of timber land at the government office at Fort Wayne, while later on he entered forty acres more. During the early years of his business career Mr. Dunn worked at the carpenter's trade, and in 1864 he purchased of Mr. James Kisner a saw
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and flouring mill at New Cumberland, Indiana, which he conducted up to the time of his death, although he was not himself a miller. He served as the township trustee for twelve years, and in 1865 he sold his farm to remove to New Cumberland, and there his busy and useful life was ended in death on the 15th of October, 1881, his wife surviving him just ten years, and dying on the 19th of July, 1891. He was a worthy and accepta- ble member of the Presbyterian church, in which he served as a deacon during the long period of about thirty-five years. His political affiliations were with the Whigs until the dissolution of that party and the formation of the Republican in 1856, when he joined the ranks of the latter party. One son has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dorton, Charles C., who is engaged in farming in Douglas county, Missouri. He married Clara Rich- ardson, and they have three daughters, Clara I., Mary A. and Beatrice. Mr. Dorton was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church from the age of sixteen years until 1896, but since that time he has held membership rela- tions with the Presbyterian church.
JAMES WESLEY MCCARTY. Throughout his entire business life James Wesley McCarty has been connected with journalistic work, and now as the editor and proprietor of the New Gas Light he holds an enviable position in journalistic circles throughout the county. The paper was named from the first gas well discovered in Indiana, located at Eaton, and was purchased by Mr. McCarty on the Ioth of February, 1902. The journal has a large circulation and a splendid advertising patronage, and since coming under the supervision of Mr. McCarty it has more than doubled its patronage.
James W. McCarty was born in Boxley, Hamilton county, Indiana, May 22, 1871, but his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson McCarty, farming people, were born and reared in Brown county, Ohio. During his boyhood days their son attended the public schools of Boxley and graduated with the class of June, 1888. As soon as his education was completed he went to Sheridan, Indiana, and began work at the printer's trade, working as a journalist throughout the entire "gas belt," and, as above stated, he purchased the New Gas Light in 1902, and has since continued as its editor and proprietor. In June, 1907, he was elected the secretary of the Eighth District Editorial As- sociation of Indiana, and he is also a member of the fraternal orders of Knights of Pythias and the Red Men. He takes an active part in the work of the order of Red Men, and is the past sachem of his lodge.
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