USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 41
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WILLIAM W. GOONTZ. Prominent among the sturdy and enterprising men who have been instrumental in developing and advancing the rich agri- cultural resources of Delaware county is William W. Goontz, a well-to-do farmer residing on section 29, Delaware township. He is a man of influence and prominence, and is now serving as a member of the advisory board. A son of Lewis Goontz, he was born in Liberty township, near Selma, May 7, 1861. He comes of thrifty German ancestry, his paternal grandfather, John Goontz, having emigrated from Germany to this country when young. He settled in Pennsylvania, and there married. Settling upon a farm, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, while yet in the prime of life, having been accidentally killed in 1848. He left a widow and four children.
A native of Pennsylvania, Lewis Goontz was born in 1839, on the homestead which his father cleared from the wilderness, and was there brought up and educated. Coming to Delaware county in 1845, he assisted in the pioneer labors of that early day, and in course of time became owner of a tract of land near Selma, and was there successfully employed as a general farmer the greater part of his active life, although he spent the last three years in Muncie, where his death occurred when sixty-eight years old. He married Nancy A. Hedrick, who was born in Delaware township, a daughter of Cyrus Hedrick, one of the very early settlers of this part of the county. Mr. Hedrick, a man of much enterprise and force of character, was recognized as an important factor in the development of town and county, and during his long and useful life of eighty-eight years exerted a beneficial influence in the community in which he lived. Mrs. Nancy Goontz survives her husband, and is now living in Muncie. She has the following children, namely : William W., the special subject of this brief sketch; Mrs.
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Molly N. Cowley; Harrison; Charles L., of Delaware township: and Edna M. Clark. During the Civil war Lewis Goontz served as a soldier in the One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was for many years a member of De Soto Post, G. A. R. Both he and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church.
Brought up on the parental homestead near Selma, William W. Goontz acquired his first knowledge of books in the common schools. On the home farm he had a practical drilling in the various branches of agricul- ture, and naturally adopted farming as his life occupation. When ready to establish a home of his own Mr. Goontz bought his present farm, advan- tageously located in Delaware county, about eight miles from Muncie. A man of push and energy, diligent in his labors, and wise in his management, he has been uniformly successful in his undertakings, and is now the propri- etor of a valuable farm, which in regard to its appointment and equipments compares favorably with any in the neighborhood.
On January 28, 1885, Mr. Goontz married Caroline Kelley, who was born in Randolph county, a daughter of Leander and Frances (Blakeley) Kelley. Mr. Kelley was born in Fairview, Randolph county, Indiana, and there grew to man's estate. Soon after the breaking out of the Civil war, in August, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under command of Captain Kearney and Colonel William Gross. He went with his comrades first to Richmond, this state, then to Indianapolis and to Jefferson, from the latter place being ordered to Kentucky. He was first under fire at the battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing, as it is called, afterwards taking part in the engagement at Perryville, Kentucky, and serv- ing under General Rosecrans at the battle of Stone river. He subsequently participated in several minor engagements, serving in the army until , August, 1864, when he was honorably discharged and returned home. Mr. Kelley was born in Miami county, Ohio, a son of William and Sarah (Edwards) Kelley, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania, while the latter was born and reared in Georgia. Mr. Kelley, now a resident of De Soto, Delaware county, has been twice married. He married first, at Fairview, Frances Blakeley, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, October 4, 1840, and died May 10, 1867. He married second, in January, 1870, Margaret M. Skillman, of New York. By his first marriage Mr. Kelley had four children, of whom but one is now living, namely: Mrs. Emma E. Bell, of Indianapolis. Politically Mr. Kelley is a sound Republican, and socially he is a member of the Ira J. Chase Post, G. A. R., of De Soto.
The life of Mr. Goontz and his family has been saddened by the death of Mrs. Goontz, who passed to the life beyond December 2, 1902, at the comparatively early age of thirty-seven years. She was a sweet disposi- tioned woman, amiable and kind, a home maker and keeper in every sense implied by the term, and her loss is deeply mourned. She left four children, namely: Nellie M., Fanny Hazel and Lewis Haskell, twins, and Helen Elizabeth. She was a true Christian and a valued member of the Methodist
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church. Politically Mr. Goontz is a stanch Republican and a zealous worker in the party ranks. In 1906 he was elected a member of the township advisory board, and in this capacity has served ably and faithfully. Fra- ternally he belongs to Welcome Lodge, No. 37, K. P., of Muncie.
WILLIAM GARLAND. Inheriting in a marked degree the brave and patri- otic spirit which characterized his ancestors, William Garland, of Delaware township, won honor and distinction as a soldier in the late Civil war, and for his services therein has the gratitude of his countrymen. As a man and a citizen he is held in high repute, having by his excellent character fully established himself in the esteem and confidence of his associates and neighbors. Since coming to Delaware county he has been employed as engineer at the Albany Paper Mills, filling the responsible position most sat- isfactorily to all concerned. A son of John Garland, he was born March 15, 1841, in Darke county, Ohio, and was there reared and educated.
John Garland was a son of Joseph Garland, who served as a soldier in the War of 1812, being under command of General Jackson, and as a reward for his services was given a tract of land in Tennessee by the government. John Garland spent the larger part of his life of seventy-eight years in Ohio. He married Ellen Albright, whose father, Adam Albright, was also a soldier in the War of 1812, and into their happy household fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters, were born, namely: Elizabeth, who married W. E. Murray, of Indiana; William, the subject of this sketch; Sarah J. Clapp, of Randolph county; Jesse G., deceased; Nancy F .; Mary; Allen; Adam; Isaac; Harvey P .; Philip; Susan M .; Stephen D .; and Katie Clapp, of Whiteley county. The mother lived to the good old age of eighty-one years. The father, who died at the age of seventy-eight years, came from a family noted for its longevity, his father having died at the age of four score and four years, and his grandfather at the age of one hundred and four years. Both parents were consistent Christians and faithful members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.
Reared on the home farm in Ohio, William Garland as a boy became familiar with the many branches of agriculture. On the breaking out of the Civil war he offered his services to his country, enlisting, in May, 1861, at Shelbyville, Indiana, in Company C, Seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was stationed at Phillipi, West Virginia, the greater part of the time. At the end of his three months' term of enlistment he was honorably dis- charged, and returned home. Subsequently responding to Lincoln's call for more troops, Mr. Garland enlisted on August 26, 1861, for a term of three years, in Company F, Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under com- mand of Captain J. E. McGuire, Lieutenant Colonel J. N. Flynn, and Colonel A. D. Straight. Joining the forces of General Buell, he took an active part in the battle of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, and was at Chicka- mauga with General Rosecrans. He was subsequently captured and con- fined first at Belle Isle, and afterwards at Libby prison, remaining in the
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latter place a week before he was paroled. In Nashville, Tennessee, Mr. Garland joined his company and took part in engagements at that place, in Huntsville, Alabama, and at Greenville, after which he went by boat to New Orleans, then across the gulf to Indianola, Texas, thence marched with his comrades to Green Lake, Texas, a hard trip, and one in which many men perished for want of water. Being taken seriously ill, Mr. Gar- land was in the field hospital for a while, but when opportunity occurred was taken to a hospital in San Antonio, Texas. After a service of four years and eight months he was honorably discharged January 12, 1866. Some of his comrades who shared with him the hardships and privations of army life are still living, namely: George Stafford, Joseph D. Smith and W. E. Stafford. Returning to Indiana, Mr. Garland was for several years engaged in farming at Shelby. Since locating in Delaware township he has served as engineer at the Albany Paper Mill, a position that he is most ably filling.
In Deerfield, Indiana, September 6, 1868, Mr. Garland married Abigail Suter, a daughter of Washington and Susan (Ayers) Suter. Seven chil- dren were born of their union, two of whom have passed to the higher life, namely : Frank, who died at the age of five years, and Maud, at the age of eighteen months. Those now living are as follows : Fannie, a clerk; Harry, of Albany; Addie, of Winchester ; Frederick N., of Newcastle; and Ray, a clerk. Mr. Garland was for four years a resident of Dunkirk, Jay county, and while there served for four years as marshal. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of Dunkirk Lodge, No. 275, A. F. & A. M .; of Dunkirk Chapter, No. 43, R. A. M .; of Dunkirk Council, No. 41, R. & S. M .; and belongs to Wil- liams Post, Grand Army of the Republic. For more than thirty-eight years Mr. Garland has belonged to the Masonic fraternity, and has done all that he could to promote the good of the order. He has served in official capaci- ties, for two years being master of the Blue Lodge in Dunkirk.
CHARLES R. AUSTIN. Standing high among the representative business men of Albany is Charles R. Austin, superintendent of the Albany Paper Mills. He is a man of ability, possessing in an eminent degree the discre- tion, trustworthiness and force of character necessary for the responsible position which he has so well filled during the past fourteen years. A son of R. A. Austin, he was born January 28, 1868, near Mt. Solon, in old Vir- ginia, being descended from an old and honored family.
R. A. Austin was born in New York city, and was there brought up and educated. During the Civil war he served as a gallant soldier in the Union army, taking part in many engagements. At the close of the war he located at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where he resided several years. He is now a resident of Mt. Vernon, Indiana, and was officially connected with the Albany Paper Mills. He married, in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Emma Cunningham Light, who was born in that state, and there spent the larger part of her life. She died in Albany, Indiana, at the age of fifty-
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seven years, leaving three sons and two daughters, namely: W. Hamilton, Charles R., Frank, Emma Manor and Lillie Howell. Mr. R. A. Austin is identified with the Republican party, and is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In religion he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife was also a member.
Brought up mostly in Virginia and Pennsylvania, Charles R. Austin acquired his education in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-one years began life on his own account. Going to Australia, he spent three years at a paper mill in Melbourne, there becoming familiar with the details of paper-making. Returning then to the United States, Mr. Austin came to Albany in 1893, and at once accepted a responsible position with the Albany Paper Mill, which he has since filled with credit to himself and to the satis- faction of the company by which he is employed. The plant of which he has charge is the leading manufacturing plant of this part of Delaware county. The large two-story building is finely equipped with the most modern machinery, including two Corliss engines, one of two hundred and fifty horsepower and the other of one hundred and fifty horsepower. Employment is here given to fifty men, who turn out sixteen tons of paper daily, the material used in its manufacture being straw, which is bought in the neighborhood or shipped in by the railroad companies. The Albany Paper Company, which owns the paper mill and the strawboard factory, is composed of well-known business men, with William Schaetle as president, Phillip Haucke as vice president, Henry Schmidt as secretary and treasurer and Mr. Austin as superintendent.
While a resident of Australia Mr. Austin married Miss Florence Ryan, who came with him to Indiana and died in Albany, leaving one son, Murray Austin. Mr. Austin married for his second wife Mrs. Imo Steed, who was born in Red Key, Indiana, a woman of education and refinement. Politically Mr. Austin supports the principles of the Republican party by voice and vote. Socially he is a member of Anthony Lodge, No. 171, A. F. & A. M., of Albany, and of the Knights of the Maccabees. Religiously he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a man of unquestioned integrity, and during his residence here has won the confidence and esteem of his fellow-townsmen in a marked degree, being in every way worthy of the high regard in which he is held.
SAMUEL G. SELVY. Prominent among the early and honored pioneers of Delaware township was the late Samuel G. Selvy, whose death, which occurred on the family homestead January 4, 1903, was a great loss to the community in which he had resided for almost half a century. Coming with his wife to Indiana in 1854, he took up land that was still in its primi- tive condition, in what is now Delaware township, and right in the wilder- ness, where deer, wolves, bears and the other beasts of the forests were plentiful, erecting a rude log cabin for their first habitation. With true
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pioneer courage and ambition he bravely dared all the privations and hard- ships incidental to life in an undeveloped country in order to pave the way for those who followed and to establish a home where his children and their descendants might enjoy the comforts and even the luxuries of this world without the labor and toil in which his early years were spent. His untiring efforts were crowned with success, his land becoming transformed into a large and highly improved agricultural estate, while he himself became one of the leading farmers of this locality and a citizen of influence.
A native of Virginia, Mr. Selvy was born in 1826, coming from sub- stantial colonial stock. With his parents he migrated when a boy to Ohio, where he grew to manhood, living on a farm in Clinton county, not far from Xenia. Working with his father, he received an excellent training in mat- ters pertaining to the cultivation of the soil, and naturally decided to take up farming as his life occupation. In 1854, following the march of civiliza- tion westward, he came with his family to this county in the early days of its settlement, and having erected a small cabin of logs in the space which he cleared on his land, at once began the improvement of a homestead. As previously stated, he was well rewarded for all of his pioneer labors, his persevering energy, wise management and good judgment enabling him to make his farm one of the best in regard to its appointments and improve- ments of any in the vicinity. He added by purchase to the original prop- erty, at the time of his death having a clear title to two hundred and sixty- five acres of choice land. The log house had been replaced by a comfortable and conveniently arranged residence, and his outbuildings were of modern construction, well adapted for farm purposes. While living here, Mr. Selvy witnessed wondrous changes throughout this section of the state, and in the grand transformation took an active part, contributing his full share as a good citizen towards the development and growth of his adopted town and county.
In Clinton county, Ohio, October 10, 1852, Mr. Selvy married Clar- renda McIntyre, who was born in that county, a daughter of John and Polly (Howland) McIntyre, both natives of New York state, their places of birth having been at the foot of the Catskill mountains. Mr. and Mrs. McIntyre were pioneer settlers of Clinton county, Ohio, and there spent the larger part of their lives. Both, however, died in Indiana, spending their last days with their daughter, Mrs. Selvy, the mother dying at the age of seventy years, and the father attaining the age of four score years. Of the five children born to them two grew to years of maturity, namely: John E. G. McIntyre, who died in Ohio, and Clarrenda, wife of Mr. Selvy. Mrs. Selvy still lives on the homestead in which she and her husband passed so many years of happy married life, a woman of intelligence and refinement, who is respected and esteemed by old and young for her many excellent qualities of heart and mind. She was a loving wife and true helpmate to her husband, and one to whom he ever turned for counsel and encourage- ment.
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Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Selvy, namely : James G., of Delaware township; William H., a prosperous farmer, living three- fourths of a mile south from his mother's home; Samuel S., having charge of the homestead; Mary A., wife of Manuel Johnson, of Grant county ; and Ella, wife of Azure E. Holloway, of this township.
CHARLES ASBURY EVANS. Actively and prominently identified with the agricultural and business prosperity of Delaware township is Charles Asbury Evans, a well-known farmer and stock-raiser. He is a man of enterprise, ability and sound judgment, and one whose general worth strongly impresses all with whom he comes in contact. He and his family reside on section 26, and their farm home, a model of comfort and good taste, is an attractive place for the large circle of friends whose esteem and respect they have won. A son of Evan Evans, he was born June 16, 1850, at Redkey, Jay county, Indiana. He comes of Welsh ancestry, the founder of the branch of the family from which he is descended having emigrated to this country from Wales in early Colonial times. His grandfather, John M. Evans, a native of Virginia, born about 1789, served as a soldier in the war of 1812, after which he located as a farmer in Ohio. His father, Evan Evans, was born in New Jersey about 1752, and died in High- land county, Ohio, at the age of ninety-five years. He had one sister that lived to be ninety-eight and another to the age of ninety-nine.
In Highland county, Ohio, near Hillsboro, was born Evan Evans, on November 19, 1815, being the second child and eldest son of his father's family. The hardships of pioneer life did not altogether prevent him from getting a common school education. April 13, 1836, he was united in marriage with Rhoda Allegre, who represented an old family of Ohio and this county. Her father was James Allegre, a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, who was born September 9, 1782, and died at Albany, August 6, 1852. His wife was Rhoda Phelps, born January 1, 1787, and died at Albany, November 22, 1871. The Allegres formerly emigrated to Virginia from France during the Huguenot period on account of their re- ligious faith.
For a year after his marriage Evan Evans remained in Ohio, as an employe of Lorenzo Allegre, receiving one hundred dollars for the year's work. In 1837, about four years after the platting of Albany village, he came to this vicinity, and for three years lived on James Allegre's farm. In the almost unbroken wilderness, near where Redkey now stands, he bought a farm of eighty acres. From this place to Albany he blazed a road through the woods, and frequently walked out from Albany to the farm before moving his family to the home he was getting ready for them. On one such occasion he was pursued by a wildcat, and the experience of running for his life through the woods, until he reached the home of George Smith, who lived about a mile northeast of Albany, was one that he never forgot throughout his life. Their first home in Jay county, to which he
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moved his family in 1840, was a round log cabin, about fourteen by sixteen feet. A hewed log house was the next family residence, and a number of years later a substantial ten-room frame house was built. Evan Evans was a man of courage, energy and great activity, and met with fair success in farming and the other enterprises of his lifetime of eighty-one years. He and his wife were members of the Methodist church, the latter having been converted at the age of fourteen. They gave three hundred and fifty dollars toward the erection of the first M. E. church in Redkey, in 1871 (his being the largest individual contribution). He was one of the trustees of the church at that time. When the present church, costing ten thousand dollars, was erected in 1894, he contributed altogether seven hundred and fifty dollars, two hundred and fifty dollars being a memorial to his deceased wife, Rhoda Evans, who had died December 9, 1889. Evan Evans passed away November 8, 1898. Financially his career would be called highly success- ful, since he was the owner of three hundred and seventy-five acres of good Indiana land, and he earned by hard work all the money which he had paid for this estate. In politics he was a Whig, until the formation of the Republican party, when he became one of its most loyal adherents. Of the seven children, four are now living, namely: Wesley, of Redkey, who served during the Civil war in the Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry, later for twenty-two months with the One Hundred and Thirtieth, making a total of three years and four months, and was severely wounded at the battle of Shiloh; Charles Asbury (see forward) ; John B., of Redkey, and Mrs. Emma Dunn. Of those deceased, one died in infancy; Calisty, at the age of forty-one, and Mary, at the age of thirty-four.
Very pleasantly located, his home farm being but four miles from Al- bany, Charles Asbury Evans carries on general farming and stock raising after the most approved modern methods, keeping well abreast of the times by reading and observation, as regards agricultural advancement. His fertile and well improved farm yields excellent crops each year, and in the breeding and raising of stock he is meeting with the success of the leaders among eastern Indiana stock-raisers, having some of the finest cattle, horses and hogs to be found in this locality. His excellent dwelling, ample barns and outbuildings, and plenty of machinery to carry on the work, are im- provements that mark the most progressive farms of the state. Mr. Evans has been twice married. He married first, Mary Strong, who was born in Delaware county, the youngest child of John W. and Clarissa Strong and granddaughter of Reuben Strong, one of the original pioneers of this county. Further ancestral history of the Strong family may be found on another page of this volume, in connection with the sketch of George R. Strong. Mary A. Strong was converted in a most powerful manner while at prayer in her father's orchard, in September, 1871, and lived a most beautiful Christian life. She possessed a faith that gave her in- describable visions of angels and the Heavenly world, and was a kind and devoted wife and a loving and affectionate mother. She died in 1889,
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aged thirty-eight years, in the triumphs of the Christian faith. Her last words were: "Jesus has come-Glory, Glory." Her happy spirit then went sweeping through the gates into the city. She left three children, namely : Mrs. Grace Wingate, of Delaware township; Burton L., of Jay county, and Mae. Mr. Evans married second, March 5, 1895, Mary Banghn, who was born in Liberty township, a daughter of Jolin Baughn. The latter, who was a native of North Carolina, moved from there to Fayette county, Ohio, when young, and from there to Liberty township in this county, where he lived to the advanced age of four score and four years. By his first wife John Baughn had three children, and by his second (who was Rebecca Jones, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Jacob Jones, of the same state) were born ten children, of whom six survive, namely: Susan ; Mary, now Mrs. Evans; Walter; Nancy; Nora, and Gertrude. Rebecca Jones Baughn was a member of the Methodist church, and had attained the age of seventy-nine years. Mrs. Evans is a woman of most excellent Chris- tian character, a kind and devoted wife and a loving and indulgent mother. One of her marked characteristics is her charity. She is always ready to sacrifice to help the needy and is industrious and hard working. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have had one child, Margaret, now deceased. Mr. Evans is a straightforward Republican, and in the Methodist church at Mt. Pleasant is a steward and trustee and one of the earnest workers of the Sunday school.
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