USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 26
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
David Brandt, Jr., was reared to manhood's estate in his native county of Fairfield, Ohio, and there he also learned and followed the shoemaker's trade until 1840. On the 17th of February of that year he left the Buckeye state and journeyed to Cass county, Indiana, where he was engaged in the manufacture of shoes until the 15th of May, 1842, coming thence to Dela- ware county and resuming his trade in Union township. In 1851 he took up his abode in the town of Eaton, with the commercial interests of which he was ever after prominently identified, and became one of its most prominent business men, owning a dry goods store and also dealing in boots and shoes. Mr. Brandt witnessed the growth of this section of the country from a wilderness to its present advanced state of civilization. At the time of his arrival here it was an almost unbroken forest, the site of his late place of business being then covered with brambles, and he would relate in a most interesting manner tales of those early times when all settlers stood upon the same social plane and good feeling and hospitality were universal. During his long residence here he witnessed many changes, some for the better, but others not so much so. He at one time owned four hundred acres of land, but sold all but eighty acres, which lies in Union township.
On the 22d of October, 1842, Mr. Brandt was married to Miss Jane Long, born in Clinton county, Ohio, a daughter of Robert and Jane (Woodruff) Long, natives of Kentucky and of Irish ancestry. The fol- lowing children were born of this union: John, who enlisted in the Sixty- fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry September 20, 1863, for service in the Civil war, and died January 12, 1864, in Chattanooga Hospital No. 4; Robert, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this work; Martha, the wife of Daniel Endee, of Eaton; Alice, the widow of Mitchell Neff Way- man; Elmira, who married James Long and resides in Nebraska. Mrs. Brandt died April 15, 1861, and she was a worthy member of the Disciple church. On the 17th of April, 1862, Mr. Brandt married Mrs. Susan Sabin, who was born near Germantown, Montgomery county, Ohio, August 27, 1827, a daughter of Beniah and Sarah (Shafer) Eshenfelder, of German descent. Five children blessed their union: Louise, Willie, Viola, Chloe and Gertrude. For more than forty years Mr. and Mrs. Brandt were members of the Christian church, and he at last was the only one now left of the original organizers of the church in this locality and a member for sixty years. A Republican in his political affiliations, he voted for William Henry Harrison in 1836, and in 1892 for Benjamin Harrison. Fraternally he had membership relations with the Masonic order, and exemplified its beneficent principles in his every day life.
MINERVA McMAHAN. Of the pioneer families which have materially contributed to the prosperity of Delaware those represented by Mrs. McMahon occupy an important place. Her natal day was the IIth of March, 1854, and her parents were Thomas and Ruth (Agnew) Johnson,
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who established their home in the wilds of Delaware county in an early day. The father was born in the western part of Pennsylvania January I, 1816, and in an early day located in Ohio, while later he came to Delaware county, Indiana, and established his home in section 19, Union township. In the dense wilderness he erected him a little log cabin, and with the passing years he performed his full share in transforming this region from a wild and frontier district to a fertile land of farms and villages, and to him also belongs the credit of assisting to cut the roads through the dense forests. He became the owner of four hundred and seventy acres of fine farming land, and during many years was numbered among the leading business men of the county, as well as one of its honored pioneers. His political affiliations were with the Whig party. In Union township Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to one of Delaware county's native daughters, Ruth Agnew, her birth occurring on the 17th of February, 1824, and they became the parents of the following children: Andrew and John, twins, born July 10, 1843, but the latter died in infancy, and Andrew died February 17, 1906; Caleb, born October 17, 1844, died March 29, 1905 ; Maria Jane, born March 20, 1846, married George Hedgland, and both are now deceased; and Mrs. McMahan. The wife and mother died in 1874, and Mr. Johnson afterward married Susan Miller, who is now living in Eaton, and they had one son, Charles L. Mr. Johnson was called to his final rest on the 14th of October, 1880, and thus ended the life of one of Delaware county's most honored pioneers and business men.
Mrs. McMahan was first married to Benton Thompson, September 19, 1875. He was born in Ohio in 1851, and after a life devoted to agri- cultural pursuits passed away in death on the 4th of March, 1884, a worthy member of the German Baptist church. On the 20th of September, 1888, she was united in marriage to Winfield W. McMahan, one of the county's prominent agriculturists and business men. He was born in Madison county, Indiana, June 23, 1853, a son of Joel McMahan, who for a number of years was a farmer and toll collector near Alexandria, Indiana. He gave to his son Winfield an excellent educational training and in time the latter became one of Delaware county's most prominent business men, while for four years he also served in the office of township assessor. He held fraternal relations with New Corner Lodge, No. 425, I. O. O. F., at Gaston, Indiana, and gave a stanch and unfaltering support to the prin- ciples of the Republican party. During a number of years he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in its faith he passed away in death on the 19th of December, 1903. Throughout the period of his residence in this community he was ever true to the trusts reposed in him, whether of a public or private nature, and his reputation in business circles was unassailable. He commanded the respect of all by his upright life and engraved his name indelibly on the pages of Delaware county's history. To Mr. and Mrs. McMahan was born one son, Harry J., whose birth occurred on the 15th of March, 1894.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
HARRISON STRONG. Among the leading citizens of Union township, Delaware county, is numbered Harrison Strong, a representative agri- culturist. He was born in Greene county, Ohio, November 18, 1840, a son of George W. and Nancy (Hummer) Strong, respectively of Irish and German descent. When five years of age the father was taken from Vermont to Greene county, Ohio, where he grew to years of maturity and was married. During the long period of forty-four years he resided near Jamestown and at the close of that period, during the winter of 1844, he sold his farm and came to Blackford county, Indiana, where he pur- chased land and resided for twelve years. At the time of his arrival there the county was a comparative wilderness, and building him a little log cabin he began the arduous task of clearing his land from its dense growth of timber, having nearly succeeded in his task when he sold the farm and came to Union township, Delaware county, here purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land, which had been nearly cleared, and the old log barn which he built is still standing in a god state of preservation, the board shingles which he split out of blocks still covering it. On this farm he sepnt the remainder of his life and died on the 27th of April, 1863, when he had reached the seventy-second milestone on life's journey. Mrs. Nancy Strong, his wife, died on the 6th of September, 1864, at the age of sixty-one years, and they now lie buried in the Ashenfeller cemetery, where a beautiful monument stands sacred to their memory. He had a sister, Elizabeth, the wife of William Galbraith, living in Grant county.
Mr. George W. Strong was first married to Sarah Mindenhall and they became the parents of eight children: Martin, deceased; Theophilas, now deceased, was a farmer in Iowa; Moses, who was living in Ohio; Jefferson, who was a farmer in Iowa; Prudence, deceased; Susanna, the widow of Osborn Lamar and a resident of Madison county, Indiana; Martha, the widow of David Glass and a resident of Greene county, Ohio; and Ben- jamin, deceased. The wife and mother, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, died in the fall of 1835, and for his second wife Mr. Strong chose Nancy Hummer, by whom he had three children, two sons and a daughter : Elizabeth, deceased; Harrison, whose name introduces this review; and George W., also deceased. Mr. Strong, the father, was a worthy member of the Baptist church, and in early life gave his political support to the Whigs, but later became identified with the Democratic party.
Harrison Strong spent his boyhood days with his parents, attending school during the winter months and assisting his father with the work of the farm until his marriage, when he settled upon the old homestead of one hundred and twenty acres of partially cleared land. By hard work and rigid economy he succeeded in making it one of the valuable estates of Delaware county, adorned with a pleasant and commodious residence and many outbuildings, and everything about the place shows Mr. Strong to be an excellent farmer. He is also extensively engaged in the raising of stock, his specialty being Shorthorn cattle and high grade horses and
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hogs. He was one of the organizers and is a stockholder in the Farmers' State Bank at Eaton, being also one of the directors in that institution. He has sunk four gas wells on his farm, which were in a prosperous con- dition, and in addition to his many other interests he is interested in gold mining in Colorado.
On the 25th of August, 1863, Mr. Strong was united in marriage to Naomi, a daughter of Samuel and Jane ( Haight) Ervin, who moved from Maryland to Pennsylvania, and after a short residence in the latter state, to Ohio. For a number of years that commonwealth continued as their home, and they then came to Union township, Delaware county, Indiana, where for about eight years they lived on one hundred and sixty acres of land. At the close of that period they removed to Blackford county, Indiana, there purchasing a farm of two hundred and eighty acres, and there they spent the remainder of their lives, the father passing to his final rest on the 11th of October, 1878, and the mother on the 14th of July, 1849. This honored old couple now sleep in Mt. Zion cemetery. They had four children, three sons and a daughter: Naomi, who became the wife of Mr. Strong; William L., a farmer of Blackford county, Indiana; Robert, deceased; and John B., also deceased. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Strong, namely: Mary A., the wife of William Michael, of Union township; Samuel W., who died at the age of twenty-seven years; William A., who married Stella Smith and resides in Union township; Nancy J., who died in 1872, aged three years; Emma E., who died at fourteen years of age in 1885; and Lizzie May, at home. Mr. Strong is a Prohibitionist in his political affiliations and he has served in many of the principal offices of his township, including those of deputy assessor for two terms, supervisor of roads, and as school director for a number of years. Mrs. Strong is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and although not a member, he is liberal in its support. They are estimable people who enjoy the warm regard of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
ALEXANDER DUNN. During many years Mr. Alexander Dunn was an honored and esteemed citizen of Delaware county. He was long and prominently identified with its agricultural interests and he commanded the respect of all by his upright life. He was born near Somerville, Somerset county, New Jersey, July 6, 1823, a son of Simeon and Margaret (Dunn) Dunn, in whose family were six children, four sons and two daughters. The father was a farmer and stock buyer in New Jersey.
Moving to Ohio, Mr. Alexander Dunn located in Hamilton township, Miami county, which continued as his home until 1863, in that year coming to Delaware county, Indiana, and establishing his home near Muncie. About three years later he purchased two hundred acres of land in Union township, where for about fourteen years he and his wife lived in a little log cabin which had been built on the land. The frame house which he
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then erected was burned, and in its place he erected a fine two-story dwelling of modern style and architecture, and there he spent the remainder of his life and died on the 13th of July, 1904, being laid to rest in the Union cemetery, Rev. G. W. Martin officiating. He became one of the most prominent farmers of Union township, and was also extensively engaged in stock raising. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party.
On the 19th of September, 1866, Mr. Dunn was united in marriage to Sabrina Williamson, who was born in Ohio July 30, 1831, a daughter of Peter and Rosanna (Shaffer) Williamson, the former a native of Scioto county, Ohio, and the latter of Germany. They became the parents of eleven children, five sons and six daughters, of whom five are now living : James, Adam, Sabrina, Stephen and Joseph. It was in 1835 that Mr. Williamson came to Indiana, locating three miles north of Muncie, the country at that time being on the borders of civilization. He erected a little log cabin home, which in time gave place to a hewed log house, and in after years he erected the large and pleasant residence in which the remainder of his life was spent, passing to his final reward when he had reached the age of sixty-eight years, while his wife was seventy-seven when called to the home beyond. Mr. Williamson was numbered among the early pioneers of Delaware county, and his name is honored and revered by all who knew him. He was a Jackson Democrat in his political affili- ations. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. "Dunn. The eldest, Delia, died when five years of age. Peter W., born April 19, 1868, married first Miss Mary E. Langdon, a native of Blackford county, Indiana, and afterward Mrs. S. Ray, nee Ervin, and they have one daughter and reside on a part of the old Dunn homestead. James was the third child in order of birth, while Francis S., the fourth and youngest child, was born January 26, 1875. He married Miss Ethel Horn, born December 23, 1881, and their two children are Mary and Marjory. Mr. Francis Dunn is farming the old homestead and his mother resides with him. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations. Mr. Dunn, the father, gave his two sons each a farm before his death. He was at all times a public-spirited and pro- gressive citizen, who took a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community, and in his death Delaware county lost one of its most valued citizens.
ROBERT L. BRANDT. One of the leading citizens and influential business men of Eaton, Mr. Robert L. Brandt is now a member of the well known firm of Brandt & Armstrong, dealers in dry goods, groceries, notions, etc. He was born on his father's farm near Eaton, November 16, 1846, and in the community where he has so long lived and labored he is highly esteemed. He is a son of David and Jane (Long) Brandt, the former of whom was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, July 3, 1815, and his death occurred on the 28th of December, 1904, and a more complete review 14
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
of his life will be found elsewhere in this work. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. David Long only three are now living: Robert L., Martha J. and Mary Alice.
Mr. Robert L. Brandt received his educational training in the public schools of the community and in 1868 he went to Helena, Montana, while in the following spring he continued the journey to Hamilton, Nevada, traveling overland and remaining there about six months. At the close of the period he went to Treasury City, that state, which was then a wild mining camp, and he followed the varying fortunes of a miner both there and in Hamilton, witnessing the strange and varying scenes of the camp life, and during his mining experience he has seen lumber sell as high as five hundred dollars a thousand feet. In 1870 he returned to his old home in Eaton and began work for his father at a dollar a day, thus con- tinuing until in January, 1876, when he purchased the business and became a member of the firm of Brandt, Carter & Company. In 1902 Mr. Arm- strong purchased Mr. Carter's interest in the business, since which time transactions have been conducted under the firm name of Brandt & Arm- strong, this being one of the leading dry goods houses in the city. In addition to this large commercial interest Mr. Brandt is also prominently connected and is the treasurer of the Eaton Mining & Gas Company. During a long period he has been accounted one of the leading citizens of Eaton, and in all this time has given his aid and influence to measures which have promoted the public good.
In January, 1882, Mr. Brandt married Miss Emma Van Buskirk, whose death occurred six years later, in 1888. On the 6th of July, 1904, he was united in marriage to Miss Chalista Simonton. Mr. Brandt gives his political support to the Republican party, while fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Red Men, and his religious asso- ciations are with the Christian church. He commands the respect of his fellow citizens by his sterling worth, and Eaton numbers him among her honored sons.
HENRY HYER. Among the citizens of Eaton to whom is vouchsafed an honorable retirement from labor as the reward of a long, active and useful business career is Mr. Henry Hyer, who through an extended period was prominently connected with the agricultural interests of Delaware county. He traces his descent to the fatherland of Germany, from whence in 1786 three brothers, Jacob, Rufus and Abraham Hyer, emigrated to the United States. Jacob, the great-grandfather of Henry Hyer, established his home in Virginia, while Rufus settled in Trenton, New Jersey, and Abraham located in Winchester, Pennsylvania. Nathan R. Hyer, a son of Jacob, was born in Virginia, but was a strong Union man, as were the other members of the family. John Hyer, a son of Jacob and the father of the subject of this review, was born in Ohio, where he was reared as farmer's son, and he there remained until sixty-four years of age, coming thence to Henry
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county, Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his life and died at the age of seventy-two years. His business career was devoted to agricultural pursuits, and he also bought and shipped stock. He was a Jacksonian Democrat in his political affiliations, but voted for Lincoln and took an active part in the public affairs of his community, at one time serving as township supervisor and as school director. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his early manhood he married Elizabeth Straley, also a native of Ohio, and who died at the age of forty-six years. They became the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom six are now living,-Henry, Mary, Susan, Martha, Harvey and John.
Henry Hyer, whose name introduces this review, was born in Ross county, Ohio, November 10, 1837, and he remained at home until in April, 1861, when he enlisted at Chillicothe, Ohio, in Company C. Twenty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three months' service. In going from that city to western Virginia he was in a wreck on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, receiving injuries which detained him in the hospital for some time, and he thereafter did detached duty until the expiration of his term of enlistment. After his discharge from the army he returned home, and after his marriage embarked in the lumber business in Highland county, Ohio, but in 1865 he removed from there to Missouri and engaged in farm- ing near Warrensburg in Johnson county. After the death of his wife he came to Delaware county, purchasing one hundred and six acres of low land in Washington township, which was covered with a heavy growth of timber and one-half of the land was under water. At the time of his arrival in this county Mr .. Hyer's cash capital consisted of but fifty cents. This was in the year of 1873, and after building his frame residence he began the arduous task of clearing his land and placing it under cultivation. With the passing years it became a valuable and well improved tract, and he sold the farm for a hundred and three dollars an acre. He owns other land at the present time, but in 1903 he removed to Eaton and laid aside the active cares of a business life, enjoying the rest which he has so truly earned.
On the 19th of August, 1862, Mr. Hyer married Elizabeth E. Winegar, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, August 27, 1839, and her death occurred on the 8th of December, 1872. She was a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Johnson) Winegar, both natives of North Carolina. During his boyhood days the father removed with his parents to Virginia, but a few years afterward they took up their abode in Highland county, Ohio. In 1866 Mr. Winegar removed with his wife to Marion county, Iowa, and after farming there for ten years he located on a farm in Nebraska, and his death occurred there just a few days after his arrival. Of the five chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Hyer three are living: Lizzie, who married J. S. McWilliams, and is a resident of Johnson county, Wyoming; Charles H., who also makes his home in the same locality; and Maud E., the wife
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of George Hoover, of Eaton. In 1881 Mr. Hyer wedded Mrs. Mary E. Harding, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, November 8, 1850, the daughter of Jesse and Mary ( Ferron) Moore, who also claimed Mus- kingum county as the place of their nativity. The mother died when her daughter Mary was but a babe, and her father was called to the home beyond in 1889, after many years devoted to agricultural pursuits. Two children were born of this union, Harvey C. and Pearl, the daughter the wife of Roy Morris, of Eaton. Mr. Hyer has two children living in Wyo- ming, whom he visits every two or three years, and he also has ten grand- children. He has membership relations with the Grand Army of the Repub- lic of Gaston, with Lodge No. 606, A. F. & A. M., in Eaton, and with Wheeland Lodge, No. 325, I. O. O. F. He is unwavering in the support of Republican principles, and in all the walks of life he is found true to duty and the trusts reposed in hin.
ABRAHAM C. YOUNG was born in Darke county, Ohio, July 17, 1854. and received his educational training in the public schools of Darke and Miami counties of his native state. He is a son of David and Mary (Min- nich) Young, the former of whom was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, and died in August, 1906, at the age of seventy-eight years, and the latter was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and died in 1862. They were married in Darke county, Ohio, and became the parents of six children, of whom four are now living: Abraham C., Nancy, Isaac M. and Henry M. Mr. Young, the father, learned the shoemaker's trade, but he was princi- pally engaged as a stone mason and farmer. Coming to Union township, Delaware county, Indiana, he engaged in farming and also in the manufac- ture of sorghum molasses for about fifteen years, while for a number of years he was also identified with the poultry business, buying and selling. He was a worthy member of the German Baptist church, and in politics was a Republican, but took no active part in public affairs. He was at all times highly esteemed for his true nobility of character.
Abraham C. Young lived at home only until eight years of age, when he went to the home of his uncle, Christian Landis, with whom he remained for seven years. At that early age he engaged in farming by the month in Ohio, continuing to work for others until 1877, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits for himself in Darke county, Ohio. He maintained his home in that county until 1893, and in 1887 he bought a farm near Lightsville, which he continued to own and cultivate until his removal to Union township, Delaware county, Indiana, in 1893. At that time he sold his land and bought a farm here, but this he also later sold and purchased his present homestead in section 26, Union township. During about seven years he also conducted a threshing machine and saw mill in Indiana.
On the 16th of September, 1875, Mr. Young married Miss Minerva Landis, whose death occurred July 19, 1899. She was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, the daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Longenecker) Landis,
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both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. The father, who followed agri- cultural pursuits as a life occupation, moved to Montgomery county, Ohio, and there spent his remaining days. Mr. Young married secondly Mrs. William Pulley, nee Melissa C. Frank, who was born in Wabash county, Indiana, May 9, 1858, the daughter of Daniel R. and Sophia ( Emerick) Frank, the father born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, November 6, 1820, and died November 13, 1899, in Wabash county, Indiana, and the mother born in Darke county, Ohio, June 20. 1830, and died October 20, 1898. Thirteen children were born to this couple, all of whom grew to years of maturity, and eight are now living, four sons and four daughters: Sarah A., Eliza J., Lovina C., Melissa, George M., John F., Norah W. and Wil- liam S. Mr. Frank, a farmer, came to Indiana, in October, 1853, and located in Wabash county, where he spent the remainder of his life. In addition to his agricultural pursuits, he also taught school during the win- ter months in Ohio and Indiana. He was a member of the German Bap- tist church, in which he was elected to the ministry in Indiana. His political support was given to the Republican party. Mrs. Young was first married to William L. Pulley, August 9, 1883. He was born in Grant county, Indiana, and was identified with agricultural pursuits, while for many years he also served as a minister of the German Baptist church. He voted with the Prohibition party. Mr. and Mrs. Pulley were the parents of three chil- dren : Walter A., Cora E. and Harry. The first-born, Walter A., died at the age of twelve years and five months, in Darke county, Ohio, and there the husband and father also passed away in death, January 4, 1897.
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