USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 27
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In 18844 Mr. Young was made a deacon in the German Baptist church, and four years later, in 1888, he was called to its ministry, having ever since continued as a faithful servant in that high and noble calling. In 1901 he was advanced to the office of elder, and during the past years has served as a bishop, in charge of the Mississinewa congregation. He has been a delegate to many national church conferences, and attended the conference held in Los Angeles, California, in May, 1907. At that time he and his wife made an extended tour, being absent from home two months, and visited among other places San Francisco; parts of Arizona; Portland, Oregon; Seattle and Spokane, Washington; Berthold, Carrington, North Dakota; and Grundy Center, Iowa. Mr. Young voted with the Republi- cans until he transferred his political relations to the Prohibition party, being an active worker in its ranks.
WILLIAM HENRY PROPS. The history of northern Delaware county, throughout the Mississinewa valley, can be thoroughly told in the lives of a few pioneer families whose several generations have lived there since the days of first settlement. The annals of the Props family, one of whose prom- inent representatives at this time is John Cooper Props, of Eaton, involve many well-known names and important historical facts in the history of
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Eaton and vicinity, and this family sketch will serve to supplement the gen- eral statements made in the history of that locality.
John Props, the founder of the family in Delaware county, belongs to the group of Virginia settlers mentioned elsewhere in this history. Born May 13, 1808, in Rockbridge county, near the Natural Bridge, of German descent, he became a blacksmith, and during his young manhood was employed in the arsenal at Harper's Ferry. On coming to Indiana he did work for the contractors who were building the Wabash canal. At Pendle- ton, Madison county, marriage linked him with another pioneer family, when he took as wife Eliza Janes, on June 12, 1838. She was born in Logan county, Ohio, October 26, 1820, and died on her birthday in 1846. Her father, Zachariah Janes, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and a pioneer of Madison county, Indiana, settling near Pendleton while the Indians were there and building a log cabin with a dirt floor, he lived there until the latter fifties, when he moved to near Lexington, Missouri, and died there in 1867. By his wife, Nancy (George), who was born in Logan county, Ohio, in 1796, and died in Madison county in 1834, he had the following children : Mrs. John Props, Mrs. Nancy Davis, Mrs. Mary Ann Hardman, Sarah Cravens, Mrs. Lucinda Maull and Mrs. Susanna Miller. Mr. and Mrs. John Props had the following children: John A., William Henry, James Madison and Lemuel Theodore. All these sons were soldiers in the Civil war, and John A. died in the service. John Props, it is said, built the first blacksmith shop at Marion, in Grant county. He died in 1859.
William Henry Props, late of Delaware county, son of John Props, was born at Marion, June 18, 1841, and losing his mother at the age of five, he was first cared for in the home of Burtney Ruley, and when seven years old went to live with Joel W. Long, who cared for him as his own child until he had grown to manhood.
This is a proper place to mention the career of the family represented by Joel W. Long, so intimately related to William H. Props by ties of affec- tion, if not by blood. Robert Long, the founder of the family in Delaware county, and father of Joel W. Long, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, of Scotch descent. In 1836 he brought his family to Delaware county and settled a short distance east of Eaton, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres entered by William Shearon several years before. A round- log house was their first home, later a two-story hewed-log house, and in 1852 a brick house took the place of the pioneer dwellings, this last house having been occupied by William H. Props and family at the time of his death. When Robert Long settled on Easley creek, which flows by the farm, there were only a few settlers in this part of Delaware county, among them being William Easley, for whom the creek was named, Junius McMil- lan and a Mr. Harris, in the same neighborhood, while Aaron Mote lived a little to the north. The Shidelers lived west of Eaton. Robert Long was one of the most respected and substantial citizens of this vicinity, and his death in 1852, when he was seventy years old, was generally lamented. He
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helped organize the Christian church at Eaton. It was organized in his resi- dence in 1839. His son Joel W. accompanied the family to Delaware county, and later lived in Grant county, returning to the old homestead in 1850. It is said that Joel W. Long possessed the best virtues of the typical pioneer citizen, mingling hospitality and kindness with a certain ruggedness and determination that caused undeviating pursuit of a line of action under- taken for sake of principle. Thus he was an ardent abolitionist, and the old homestead has added historical interest as having been a station on the "underground railroad," where he often sheltered slaves bound for Canada and freedom. Robert and William A. Long and Aaron Mote were for some time the only free-soil voters in Union township. Joel W. Long married Rachel Wilson, thus introducing another well-known pioneer name in Dela- ware county history. Her father, Amos Wilson, was a Revolutionary sol- dier, and is said to have been the first white settler on the site of Marion, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Joel W. Long, having no children of their own, bestowed parental care and affection on several orphaned children, and were repaid by the love and reverence since shown them by those who were thus benefited.
In the home of Joel W. Long, William HI. Props grew to manhood, attending a log cabin school on the corner of the home farm, and later was a pupil in a school located where the town of Eaton now stands. August 5, 1862, when a little past his majority, he enlisted at Muncie in Company B, Sixty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three years' serv- ice. He participated in his first battle at Richmond, Kentucky, August 30, the same year, and was shot through the right lung. He was reported as dead by his captain and comrades, but had in fact been carried off the field by the nephews of James Yates, a slaveholder of the neighborhood, who disappeared on the approach of the Union army, and some negroes, and was carefully cared for in a negro cabin near by until he was able to return home, where he came as a joyful surprise to his friends, who had mourned him as dead, and were even then arranging a memorial service. He was honorably discharged from the army on account of disability, November 25, 1862.
He soon resumed the activities of civil life, and for many years was engaged in farming and stock raising. He was a successful man in busi- ness, and deserves recognition as one of the intelligent farmers who were leaders in the agricultural development of this county. His fine farm of one hundred and eighty-three acres near Eaton is still considered one of the most valuable properties in Union township. In politics he was an early Republican, and his early interest in politics recalls the incident that when he was only fifteen he and two other boy companions, John and Rob- ert L. Brandt, cut, hauled and assisted in raising the first Republican flag- pole in Union township, this being in the first Republican campaign, when Fremont was candidate for president. He supported Lincoln and Grant by his early votes, then turned Greenbacker, voting for Peter Cooper and
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Weaver, became identified with the later organization of the People's party, and finally became a firm supporter of William J. Bryan. He was also active in G. A. R. matters, being a charter member of John Brandt Post at Eaton, which was named to commemorate the services of his old com- rade John Brandt, who died from the results of wounds received at Chicka- mauga. Mr. Props had three brothers who also served in the war.
William H. Props married, September 7, 1865, Sarah Lewis, who was born May 26, 1845, in Niles township, a daughter of John and Mary (Babb) Lewis. her father being a pioneer of that township and one of those who entered land there. Mr. and Mrs. Props had the following chil- dren: Mrs. Mary McFee, deceased ; Rachel Louella, who married, first, Reuben Estep, and second, George Pickerill; Joel W., who died June 21, 1905, aged thirty-six, leaving one son, Emil W., a bright and promising student ; George Robert, who died at the age of nineteen; John Cooper (see below) ; Nettie B., who married George Silers. William H. Props, after a life of well-spent activity, honorable in business, respected and esteemed by family and friends, passed away in death June 8, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Props were both members of the Eaton Christian church, and lived a daily Christian life. They were charitable to a fault and many were the poor who were made happy by their gifts and acts of kindness. Mrs. Props died July 3, 1902.
J. Cooper Props, a son of this honored Delaware county resident. was born in Union township, March 20, 1877, and received an excellent educa- tion in the schools of Eaton and in the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, after which he taught in the schools of Union township for five years. For a time he was also identified with newspaper work as a member of the staff of the Star Publishing Company, publishers of the Muncie Star, but in 1904 became interested in the real estate and insurance business at Eaton, where he has become one of the progressive business men.
Mr. Props married, April 9, 1902, Miss Beatrice Mckeever, born in Grant county, Indiana, February 14, 1876, a daughter of Albert and Elmyra (Dunn) McKeever, the former a resident of Jonesboro, this state, where he is a carpenter, while the mother died some years ago, leaving two children, Zelmar R. and Beatrice. Beatrice was reared and tenderly cared for by her uncle, Oliver P. Dunn. Mr. and Mrs. Props have one child, Isabelle, born September 15, 1903.
WILLIAM FREEMAN. A gentleman of courteous and agreeable manners, of good intelligence and memory, William Freeman is a highly esteemed and respected citizen of Eaton, this county, and for many years was actively identified with its public affairs. A native of this county, he was born in Hamilton township, October 14, 1837, a son of Isaac Freeman.
A native of Adams county, Ohio, Isaac Freeman was born on Scioto Brush creek, January 25, 1802, and died on his home farm, at Jake's creek,
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Delaware county, Indiana, January 5, 1864. In 1835, accompanied by his little family, he started for Indiana, then considered thie emigrant's Eldo- rado, a large part of the way following the trail marked by blazed trees. He located on Jake's creek, Delaware county, entered one hundred and ninety-four acres of government land, and ere long the ringing blows of his axe were heard as he felled the mighty giants of the hitherto unbroken for- est to make a space on which he might erect the humble log cabin of the pioneer. He succeeded well in his efforts, and on the homestead which he cleared spent the remainder of his laborious life in general farming. He was a Jacksonian Democrat in politics, and a faithful member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. On December 26, 1822, near Portsmouth, Scioto county, Ohio, Mr. Isaac Freeman married Jemima Moore, who was born on Blue creek, Adams county, Ohio, February 21, 1801, and died in Selma, in this county, February 15, 1871. Eight children were born to them, four of whom survive, namely: John; Mary Jane, wife of Andrew Hoover ; Elizabeth H., wife of Dennie Lewis, of Iowa; and William, the subject of this sketch, who was the seventh child in succession of birth, and the second son.
William Freeman received excellent educational advantages for his times, and on the completion of his school life taught in the Gerard school, in Hamilton township, for a while. He subsequently learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a number of years. being actively identified with the building interests of this part of the county. He took a leading part in public matters, and for nine years was assessor of Union township. In 1887 Mr. Freeman was commissioned as postmaster at Eaton, and in 1892 was again appointed to the same office, serving four and one-half years longer. He also served as township trustee part of one term, in each capac- ity performing the duties of his office with ability and fidelity. He is a strong Prohibitionist in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On September 26, 1860, Mr. Freeman was married, by Rev. Benjamin Smith, to Nancy Catherine Munsey, who was born in Shelby county, Ohio, July 8, 1837, a daughter of Skidmore Munsey. A native of Virginia, Mr. Munsey was born January 9, 1802, and died, in Hamilton township, this county, August 14, 1887. Reared in humble circumstances in his Virginian home, he early sought to improve his finances in a newer country, and when a young man migrated to Ohio, where he was employed in tilling the soil a number of years. In 1851, desirous of still further broadening his opportunities, Mr. Munsey came to Indiana, took up land in Hamilton town- ship, cleared a farm from the wilderness, but sold his land and died in Jay county, Indiana. He was quite prominent in the management of local affairs, being a Jacksonian Democrat, and served as justice of the peace several terms, and also as postmaster at Parker. He was a consistent Christian and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Munsey married, first, Maria Williams, who was born and bred in Virginia. She
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died in Ohio, when but thirty-three years old, in 1839. She bore him six children, four of whom are living, namely: Jane, wife of David H. Jesse ; Jeremiah ; Margaret, wife of William Collins; and Nancy Catherine, wife of Mr. Freeman. With a love for Virginia maidens strong in his heart, Mr. Munsey returned to his native state some time after the death of his first wife, and there married for his second wife Rebecca Ewing, by whom he had six children, three of whom survive, namely: Samuel, David O. and Emma. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman three children have been born, namely: Laura Bell, born August 24, 1862, died August 19, 1865; Charles S., born October 21, 1868, resides in Eaton; and Dottie Dell, born July 19, 1873, is the wife of Cyrus O. Mitchell, who was born in Frankfort, Indiana, and is now engaged in teaching school.
ALFRED LESLIE MURRAY, M. D. Conspicuous among the successful professional men of the town of Eaton, Delaware county, Indiana, was Dr. A. L. Murray, and in his death the community lost one of its most prominent and useful citizens. He was born in Henry county, Indiana, February 25, 1845, a son of James and Catherine (Taylor ) Murray, the former born in Pennsylvania July 19, 1813, and the latter in Indiana on the 31st of March, 1817. James and Catherine Murray were married in Wayne county, Indiana, November 19, 1835, and immediately thereafter located in Henry county and engaged in farming. During the winter seasons Mr. Murray was also engaged in school teaching, continuing the profession for several years after his marriage. In 1880 he sold his farm and built a home in Blountsville, Henry county,. Indiana, there residing until his busy and useful life was ended in death in September, 1895, but his widow still resides there with her son, F. W. Murray. Mr. and Mrs. Murray were numbered among the early pioneers of that county, he having bought his first forty acres of land in 1838, and during his farming life he accumulated some two hundred acres, becoming a very prosperous and successful business man. In 1855 he was stricken with paralysis and from that time until his death was not able to do much in any active line. In early life he was a Whig, but later joined the Republican party, and public affairs, particularly temperance and educational matters, interested him greatly, and he was always regarded as a man of intelligence and high moral character. Mr. and Mrs. Murray reared the following children : F. W., who is engaged in farming in Henry county; S. T., a physician of Greentown, Howard county, Indiana; Mary A., deceased; Alfred L., the subject of this review ; Helen, Viretta and Alice, deceased; and Laura, the wife of R. H. Johnson, of Hamilton township, Delaware county, Indiana.
Dr. A. L. Murray was reared on the home farm and received the advantages afforded in the common schools, remaining with his parents until he was nineteen years of age. At the age of eighteen he began teaching in Delaware county, this being in 1863, and he taught for six terms, or two years, later entering upon the study of medicine under the
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direction of Dr. John A. Windle, of Blountsville. He continued his reading with him for eighteen months and completed his preparatory course with Dr. D. N. Kendall, of the same place, while subsequently he passed one term in the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. He began his practice at Economy, Wayne county, in 1867, at which place he remained one year, returning thence to Blountsville, where he practiced his profession until 1873. In that year he located in Granville, Delaware county, Indiana, and in 1884 came to Eaton, where he continued in active practice until failing health in 1892 caused him to retire from practice, but in 1889 he engaged in the drug business with J. M. Motsenbocker.
Near Blountsville, Delaware county, Indiana, December 24, 1870, Dr. Murray married Miss Viretta Jordan, of Delaware county, where she was born on the 30th of January, 1849, a daughter of William A. and America (Davidson) Jordan, of Irish and English descent, and both natives of Indiana. The father now resides near Blountsville, where he was well and prominently known as an agriculturist, but since 1897 he has lived retired. He is a Republican in his political affiliations and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Jordan died at the age of forty- one years, in 1872. In their family were twelve children, nine of whom are now living: Viretta, F. M., Mary C., Josephine, Seward W., John R., Carrie, William and Volney. Three children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Murray : Bertha. the wife of C. K. Van Buskirk; Goldie and Cora, deceased. The Republican party received the Doctor's active support and cooperation, and he took an active interest in the public affairs of Delaware county, which numbered him among her representative citizens. Straight- forward in all his business dealings, loyal to his duties of citizenship, he commanded the respect and confidence of his fellow men, and by his death the community lost one of its valued citizens. He was accidentally killed on the 7th of June, 1906. He had been visiting his farm just south of Shideler and on returning started to walk down the tracks of the Hartford City Traction Company, but he was overtaken by a car and killed. Few men were so well or so favorably known in the county as was Dr. Murray, and for many years he was one of the foremost physicians in this section of the state.
HENRY WITAMYER. For many years Mr. Henry Witamyer has been an honored resident of Delaware county, Indiana. His probity, fidelity and sterling worth have won him the unqualified confidence of his fellow citizens, and now in the evening of his life his pathway is brightened by the veneration and respect which ever follow an upright career. He was born in Richland county, Ohio, May 14, 1833, a son of John and Elizabeth (Beachley) Witamyer, both of whom had their nativity in the common- wealth of Pennsylvania. The father's death occurred in Richland county, Ohio, at the remarkable age of nearly one hundred and one years, and the mother was eighty-one when called to the home beyond. They became
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the parents of twelve children, eleven, of whom are yet living, namely : Emanuel, Abraham, Mary, Henry, Harriett, Sarah, Isaac, Amanda, Eliza Jane, Rodema and Mahala. Mr. Witamyer, the father, was numbered among the honored pioneer residents of Richland county, Ohio, where he took up his abode in a very early day, and there spent the remainder of his life. He was a well known agriculturist, a Jackson Democrat in his political affiliations, and a member of the Baptist church.
In November, 1851, Henry Witamyer, whose name introduces this review, came to Indiana and located in Wabash county. He was a car- penter by trade, and he continued his residence in that county until in September, 1857, when he removed to Union township, Delaware county, and purchased him a home with ten acres west of Eaton and resumed the work of his trade. Not long afterward, however, he sold that place and moved to Hamilton township, where he purchased a farm and lived for some time, going thence to Muncie and entering the contracting and building business. He was thus employed for four or five years and during that time erected the city mills and many other large and important buildings. Purchasing him a farm near Shideler, he remained there until 1872, when he sold and bought a farm in Union township, near Eaton, but in July, 1896, he again sold and purchased another place near Eaton, which he now rents. In October, 1906, he purchased a home in Eaton, and in February, 1907, took up his abode therein, where he is now living in quiet retirement, enjoying the comforts and luxuries which his former years of labor have brought him.
On the 7th of September, 1857, in Wabash county, Indiana, Mr. Witamyer was married to Miss Nancy Younce, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, July 28, 1838, the daughter of Joseph and Amy (Fife) Younce, the former of whom died in Indiana at the age of sixty-six years, and the latter in 1838, when her daughter Nancy was but a babe. They had become the parents of five children, but only two are now living- Margaret and Nancy. For his second wife Mr. Younce chose Mrs. Lydia Thayer, and of their three children two are living-Joseph and Minerva. Mr. Younce came to Indiana in 1857, locating in Union township, Delaware county, where he became a well known farmer and there spent the remainder of his life. His political views were in accordance with the Whig prin- ciples, and he was a member of the German Baptist church. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Witamyer, but only three survive: William E., who married Ella Lucas; Ada L., the wife of Frank Wood; and Rella L., who became the wife of Ross Thompson. They also have seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mr. Witamyer is an active worker in the local ranks of the Republican party and has often been solicited to serve in the office of trustee, but he has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office, although he has served as supervisor of Hamilton township. He and his wife are members of the Brethren church in Union township. His career has been an active, useful and
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honorable one, and by reason of his well spent life he enjoys the high regard of his fellow citizens.
JOHN E. SMITH. This well known agriculturist and honored citizen of Delaware county has throughout his active business life been prominently identified with the farming interests of this community. He was born in Mi- ami county, Ohio, January 28, 1869, a son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Rai- righ) Smith, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania April 18, 1832, and the latter in Bradford, Ohio. They were married in Covington, Miami county, Ohio, and their union was blessed by the birth of one son, John E., whose name introduces this review. The father followed blacksmithing as an occupation until 1869, when he became identified with agricultural pursuits, and in 1875 he located two miles southwest of Covington, Ohio, which continued as his home until 1885. It was in that year that he came to Delaware county, Indiana, establishing his home in Union township, where he purchased a farm and spent the remainder of his life, passing to the home beyond on the 21st of April, 1903. His wife preceded him in death, passing away November 15, 1899, at the age of fifty-nine years. He gave his political support to the Republican party, and was a member of the German Baptist church.
The boyhood days of John E. Smith were spent on his father's farm, where he assisted in its work during the summer months and attended school in the winters. After his marriage he began farming for himself on the one hundred and thirty-six acres which form his present estate, and on which in 1903 he erected a pleasant and commodious residence, while three years later, in 1906, he doubled the size of his barn, making it one of the largest and best structures of its kind in the community. His land is fertile and under an excellent state of cultivation, and is adorned with many substantial and valuable improvements, all of which stand as monuments to his industry and ability.
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