USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 44
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agriculture in the most thorough and skilful manner, proving him to be a complete master of the vocation which he is so successfully following.
In 1855, in Ohio, Mr. Bryan married Elizabeth Cannon, a daughter of Bios Newton Cannon, who for half a century was one of the most promi- nent men of Locust Grove, Adams county, Ohio. Mr. Cannon married Julia A., daughter of James Horn, a soldier in the War of 1812, and of the children born of their union seven survive, namely: Joseph, Curtis, Randolph, Cyrus, Wellington (who served as a soldier in the Civil war), Caroline and Elizabeth (wife of Mr. Bryan). Mr. and Mrs. Bryan have had six children, two of whom have passed to the higher life, Effie having lived but one short year, while a son, Wellington R., died at the age of thirty-two years, leaving a widow and one child, Eulah Faye. Four of the children are living, namely: Judson M., Mrs. Ida S. Andrews, Ella V. and Mrs. Laura E. Taylor. All reside in Niles township, not far from the home of their parents. Religiously Mr. Bryan is a Spiritualist and a firm believer in its teachings.
NORVAL T. WINGATE. A wide-awake, capable young man, who is successfully devoting his time and energies to the development and improve- ment of his land, Norval T. Wingate holds high rank among the prosperous and progressive agriculturists of Niles township. His estate, known as the Pleasant Hill Farm, is one of the best in the vicinity, and with its convenient buildings and the various appliances for carrying on his work, is a credit to him and an ornament to the neighborhood. The son of a pioneer of prominence, the late Elisha Reece Wingate, he was born in this township, on what is now known as the William Shirk farm, March 6, 1873. He comes from honored stock, his great-grandfather, Philip Wingate, a native of Delaware, having served in the Revolutionary war.
Elisha R. Wingate, a son of James W. Wingate, of Delaware, was born in Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, in 1840, and died, in 1902, on his homestead farm near Granville. He was a stanch Republican in poli- tics, and for many years he and his wife, whose maiden name was Letta Thornburg, were valued members of the Christian church. They were the parents of eight children, of whom four daughters died in childhood, and one daughter, Lizzie, died when eighteen years old, and three are now living, namely : Frank, of Niles township; Norval T., the special subject of this sketch; and William, of whom a brief life history may be found elsewhere in this volume.
At the age of sixteen years, Norval T. Wingate, who had completed his studies in the district school, began life for himself, poor in pocket but rich in ambition and energy. Profiting by the lessons that he learned from his father, who was well versed in agriculture, he became familiar with all the branches of farming, and soon selected that industry as his life work. Prudent and thrifty by nature, he accumulated money, which he wisely invested in land, buying the "Jaba" Vincent farm of fifty-seven acres, on
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which he now resides. Continuing in his chosen occupation, Mr. Wingate has made substantial improvements on the place, and as a stock raiser and general farmer is exceedingly prosperous. He is an excellent judge of stock of all kinds, and as a buyer and seller of the same is carrying on an extensive and profitable business.
On June 18, 1894, Mr. Wingate married Stella P. Friddle, a daughter of James C. Friddle, the marriage ceremony being performed by Rev. J. A. Rully. Her grandfather, John W. Friddle, was an early pioneer of Delaware county, coming here in 1846. He was born in South Carolina, which was also the birthplace of his parents, Moses and Eliza (Gibbon) Friddle, who came from there north, locating first in Ohio and then in Randolph county, Indiana, where they resided the remaining years of their lives. John W. Friddle was about fourteen years old when he accompanied his parents to Greene county, Ohio, traveling across the country with
teams. In 1846 he took up land in Delaware county, and from that time until his death he was actively employed in tilling the soil. He married Mrs. Mary J. (Campbell) Boots, a daughter of James Campbell, of Greene county, Ohio, and widow of a, Mr. Boots, who died early in manhood, leaving her with three children, namely: Daniel D., Adam and Anna Boots. Of this marriage six children were born, four sons and two daughters, James C. being the eldest child.
James C. Friddle was born in Delaware county, December 26, 1847. Succeeding to the free and independent occupation in which he was reared, he has been extensively engaged in general farming the greater part of his life, being now the owner of a well kept and well managed farm in Delaware township. At the age of twenty-five years he married Eliza Ellen Godwin, who was born in Randolph county, Indiana, a daughter of John Godwin, a native of Highland county, Ohio, and granddaughter of Nathan and Elizabeth (West) Godwin. John Godwin married Mary Windowmaker, whose father, Jacob Windowmaker, served as a soldier in the War of 1812. James C. Friddle and his wife were the parents of two children, namely : Mrs. Stella P. Wingate, wife of the subject of this sketch; and Burl F., of Delaware county.
Four children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wingate, namely : Letta Ellen, Mahlon Oscar, Wallace Laselle, and J. Ephus Hanly. Mr. Wingate and his family occupy a pleasant social position among the people of their community, by whom they are respected for their many virtues and heartily liked for their frank, open-hearted hospitality and genial manners. Mr. Wingate is actively identified with the Republican party, and for the past six years he has been a precinct committeeman.
WILLIAM P. WINGATE. The Oak Grove Stock Farm in Niles town- ship is generally regarded and often spoken of as one of the best farms of the county. Its owner, William P. Wingate, a member of one of the oldest families of northeastern Delaware county, is closely identified with the agri-
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cultural prosperity of the county. A young man of great energy and ability, he is interested in all those things that contribute to the welfare and progress of the community and is a valuable and influential citizen. A son of Elisha R. Wingate, he was born on the old home farm, about seven and a half miles northeast of Muncie, near Granville, July 5, 1880. His grandfather, James W. Wingate, and his great-grandfather, Philip Wingate, were both natives of Delaware state, and the latter went from that state to serve under Wash- ington during the Revolutionary war.
The late Elisha R. Wingate, who died at his home on the Granville pike, March 23, 1902, aged sixty-three, was born in Hillsboro, High county, Ohio, February 12, 1840, where his parents were pioneers, and at the age of twelve years came with the family to Delaware county. They purchased the land that has long been known as the Wingate homestead in Niles township, and improved it from a wild state into a valuable and profitable estate. Elisha R. Wingate lived a life of great industry and was highly respected by all who knew him, and a member of the Christian church at Granville. He served his country during the Civil war as a member of the Twenty-second Regi- ment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, being mustered out with his regiment at the close of the war. He is a member of Free and Accepted Masons and the Royal Arch Masons. He married Letta Thornburg March 15, 1860, who was born in Randolph county, Indiana, December 9, 1843, a daughter of Joab Thornburg. Four of their children died in childhood, Lizzie died at the age of eighteen, and the three living, all residents of Niles township, are : Frank S., Norval T. and William P.
Joab Thornburg, father of Mrs. Elisha Wingate, was the founder of another well known family of Niles township. Born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1816, a son of Morgan and Hannah (Hart) Thornburg, he repre- sented an original Tennessee family that was among the earliest settlers of eastern Indiana. His parents were both born in Tennessee, and in 1806 moved to that part of the territory of Indiana which afterwards became Randolph county, being among the very first to locate there. They later lived in Ohio some years and finally returned to Tennessee. Joab Thornburg came from Ohio to Delaware county in 1840 and was among those who secured their land directly from the government. He spent most of his life in tilling the soil. He died near Dunkirk, Indiana. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Medsker, bore him nine children, namely: Catherine Bales ; Letta, wife of Elisha R. Wingate; Mary A. Klugh, deceased ; Martha J. Harty ; Sarah E. Bales ; Elizabeth W. Williams, deceased; William, who died in 1878; Retta S. Cunningham ; and Amanda Rook, deceased.
William P. Wingate received such educational advantages as the public schools of his neighborhood afforded, and at the age of seventeen began work on his own account, spending one season in Illinois. Diligent and thrifty the money he accumulated he wisely invested in land, and it was in this way that he achieved the ownership of his fine stock farm. Oak Grove Farm produces abundant crops of grain and its cattle and horses are 23
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well known for their excellence of breeding. A comfortable residence and substantial farm buildings are among the material evidences of Mr. Win- gate's prosperity and also indicate the thorough ability with which he con- ducts his farm. In politics he steadfastly adheres to the Republican party. He is a member of Heart and Hand Lodge No. 361. I. O. O. F., at Albany. His wife is a member of the lodge of Rebekahs, and is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bethel.
Mr. Wingate was married at the age of twenty-one to Miss Laura Della Shirk. They have one child, Margaret Hazel, born August 28, 1903. Mrs. Wingate, who was born in Niles township, September 9, 1878, is a daughter of William Shirk, a well known citizen of this part of the county. Mr. Shirk was born in Greene county, Ohio, was a soldier in an Ohio regiment during the Civil war, being wounded at Buzzard's Roost, Georgia, and later, follow- ing a period of residence one-half mile from Jasper, Ohio, located on the farm in Niles township where he has since lived, a successful and esteemed farmer. He married at the age of twenty-three Miss Margaret Golder, daughter of John and Emeline (Bullock) Golder, who were pioneers of Greene county, Ohio, from the state of New York. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Shirk were: John A., Hiram G. (deceased), Dorothy E., Barley, Jacob M., William S., Margaret E. Fudge and Laura Della Wingate. Mrs. Win- gate graduated from the Niles township schools in 1898 and spent a term in Muncie College.
DAVID H. NIHART. Among the active and leading business men of Albany, Delaware county, is David H. Nihart, a well known and successful druggist. He was born in Center township, this county, October 21, 1840, a son of Philip Nihart, who located here in 1837. He comes of excellent German stock, his grandfather, Jacob Nihart, having been born in one of the Rhenish provinces of Germany, from whence he emigrated to the United States.
After spending the earlier years of his life in Perry county, Ohio, Philip Nihart moved to Indiana, settling in Delaware county as a pioneer in 1837. Like his thrifty ancestors, he was a farmer, and by dint of sturdy labor cleared and improved a fine homestead, on which he was engaged in his independent calling until his death, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He married, in Perry county, Ohio, Christine Roth, who was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of an old and highly respected family. Seven children were born of their union, five of whom grew to years of maturity, and three of whom are living, namely: Susan; David H., the subject of this brief sketch; and Elizabeth. Both parents were members of the Methodist church, and in his political relations the father was a Republican.
Educated in the pioneer schools of his district, and reared on the home farm, David H. Nihart remained beneath the parental rooftree until attaining his majority. He was well trained in the various branches of agriculture,
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and when not employed on the farm felled trees in the forest and cut rail- road ties, work that strengthened his muscles and developed a fine physique. In 1863 he enlisted as a private in Company G, Ninth Indiana Cavalry, and served bravely under Captain James R. Nation and Colonel G. W. Jackson. He went with his comrades from Richmond, Indiana, to Indian- apolis, thence south to Nashville, and from there to Pulaski, where he was stationed three months. He subsequently participated in many of the important engagements in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, and under that gallant leader, General Wilson, took an active part in several famous raids of the southern campaign. At Franklin, Tennessee, on one of the raids Mr. Nihart received a serious flesh and bone wound, but refused to go to the hospital, keeping on with his company to Vicksburg, Missis- sippi, continuing in service until after the close of the war. He was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, September 9, 1865. Embarking then in business as a druggist, Mr. Nihart was first located in Lima, Ohio, after- ward removing to Muncie, Indiana, and from there coming to Albany, where he has built up an excellent and remunerative trade and won a desirable position among the leading citizens of the place.
Mr. Nihart married, September 29, 1869, at Pennville, Jay county, Indiana, Diantha E. Stansbury, a daughter of George Stansbury. They are the parents of two children, namely: Charles L., an optician in Muncie ; and Arthur Aubrey, who is in business with his father in Albany. Politi- cally Mr. Nihart is a sound Republican, and as a stanch and true citizen uses his influence to promote the best interests of town and county. Socially he is a member of Delaware Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Muncie, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His son Charles is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
SHERMAN J. SHROYER. No man in this community is more widely known or more highly esteemed than Sherman J. Shroyer, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Delaware county, and who is at the present time serving as the trustee of Liberty township and is the leading hardware merchant of Selma. His paternal grandfather, Melker Shroyer, was the first to establish the family home in Delaware county, coming from West Virginia, his native commonwealth, and becoming one of the early pioneers of Liberty township. He was married in West Virginia to one of its native daughters, Rebecca Jones, and they became the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters, three of whom were born in West Virginia and the remainder in Delaware county. About 1836 the family made the overland journey to Delaware county, Indiana, where Melker Shroyer purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Liberty township, build- ing him thereon a log cabin, barn and shop, for he was a gunsmith by trade. He remained in Liberty township until his life's labors were ended in death, and in the interim cleared and improved his one hundred and
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sixty acres of land in sections 3 and 10. He was a lifelong Republican in his political affiliations, and his name is recorded among the brave and revered pioneers of Delaware county, where for many years he served as a justice of the peace. His busy and useful life was ended when he reached the age of sixty-nine years, passing away in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was long a valued and faithful member. His brother John Shroyer was killed by bushwhackers during the war of the rebellion.
A son of this honored early pioneer and the father of him whose name introduces this review, Nathan J. Shroyer, is numbered among the native sons of Liberty township, born on the 19th of October, 1838, and for many years he was numbered among the township's leading farmers, owning and operating eighty acres of land. He was here married to Eliza Jane Wood, the daughter of John and Mary Wood, who established their home within the borders of Liberty township, the birthplace of their daughter, Eliza J., in a very early day in its history. Six children, three sons and three daughters, were born of this union, all born in Liberty township, Delaware county, namely : Harvey (deceased), M. Baker, Emma, Sherman J., Julia and Sarah. As a representative of the Republican party Mr. Shroyer served in the office of trustee for four years, and during a period of six years was also one of the commissioners of Delaware county. His fraternal affiliations were with the Masonic and Odd Fellows' orders, and he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, passing away in its faith when he had reached the sixty-seventh milestone on the journey of life.
Sherman J. Shroyer, Selma's leading hardware merchant, was born in Liberty township October 9, 1864, and in its district schools he received his educational training. He left home when twenty-four years of age and thereafter was identified with the well digging business for ten years. In 1898 he removed to Selma to enter upon his duties in the office of post- master, and ere the expiration of his term of service he embarked in the hardware business, this being in 1903, and he has since purchased the stock of J. E. Davis, the auditor of Delaware county. Mr. Shroyer carries in his store a complete line of hardware goods, and in addition is also engaged in the sale of buggies.
He was married December 29, 1899, to Luella Watt, a native of Liberty township and a daughter of John C. and Jane (Williams) Watt, farming people of the community. Two sons, Nathan Watt and John Frederick, have been born of this union, born respectively March 8, 1901, and August 29, 1903, in Selma. Mr. Shroyer has given a lifelong support to the prin- ciples of the Republican party, and in 1904 was elected its representative in the office of trustee of Liberty township, entering upon the duties of this position in January, 1905. He has membership relations with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and its encampment, with the Red Men, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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JOHN A. SHROYER. Mr. John A. Shroyer is extensively engaged in farming and stock raising on his valuable estate of one hundred and fifty- eight acres in section 35, Liberty township. This township also numbers him among her native sons, born December 21, 1845. His father, Melker Shroyer, was born and reared near Grafton, West Virginia, a son of Louis Shroyer, whose sketch appears on other pages of this work. In his native commonwealth Melker Shroyer married Rebecca Jones, whose birth also occurred in that state. He was a blacksmith and gunsmith and followed those trades in West Virginia until he made the overland journey with his family to Indiana. After sojourning in Madison county for a few years they resumed their journey to Delaware county, where the husband and father entered eighty acres of land in the dense woods of Liberty township. Later another eighty-acre tract was added thereto, the purchase price being a dollar and sixty-five cents an acre, and with the aid of his sons he cleared his land and placed it under cultivation, supplementing his agricultural labors for a number of years with the work of his trades. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shroyer, namely: Louis, deceased; William; Sarah, also deceased ; Nathan, deceased ; Elizabeth ; Jacob, who was killed at the battle of Kenesaw mountain in the Civil war, in which he served with the Eighty- fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry; John A., the subject of this review, and Eliza. Mr. Shroyer, the father, affiliated with the Republican party and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was well known and honored throughout this section of Delaware county.
The early boyhood days of John A. Shroyer were spent in assisting in the work of clearing and cultivating the old homestead farm, and his early educational training was received in the primitive log schools of Liberty township. The first home of his own was a rented farm in Liberty township, but in 1879 he purchased and moved to his present homestead, then partially cleared, and the many improvements which now add so much to its value and attractive appearance have been placed there by him.
In 1874 Mr. Shroyer married Margaret Baughn, who was born in Ohio, the daughter of Lester and Susannah Baughın, farming people of Randolph county, Indiana. Of the nine children, eight sons and one daughter, born to Mr. and Mrs. Shroyer, seven were born on the present homestead, and all were born and reared in Liberty township, namely : Charles, Ernest, Harvey, Arthur, Herbert, Walter, Burch, Zilla and Frank. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Shroyer has allied his political interests with the Republican party, and he is a worthy and valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM HENRY WILLIAMS. Mr. Williams, one of the most promi- nent and successful business men of Liberty township, engaged in the drug trade in Selma, where he is also serving as the postmaster, was born in Liberty township, August 3, 1853, and is a worthy representative of one of the most prominent pioneer families of this region. His father, Colonel
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Samuel J. Williams, who laid down his life on the altar of his country dur- ing the period of the Civil war, was born in Virginia in 1831, and was the son of William Henry Williams, Sr., a well known and prominent figure in the early history of Delaware county, whither he removed in 1833 and established his home in Liberty township. Here he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, built him a log cabin and began the arduous labor of clearing and improving his land. Ere leaving his native state of Vir- ginia he was there married to Celia (Young) Grafton, a widow with two children, and Samuel J. was the only child of the second marriage. Mr. Williams, Sr., was an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, and his death occurred on his farm in Liberty township when but thirty-seven years of age.
Samuel J. Williams received his educational training in the district schools of Liberty township, and after attaining to years of maturity he was here married to Lurena Davis, by whom he had one child, Lurena Ellen, wife of M. L. Harris. After the death of the wife and mother Mr. Williams married Rebecca Shroyer, whose birth occurred in the Old Dominion state of Virginia, but she was reared and educated in Liberty township, and was the daughter of Bazel Shroyer, of Delaware county pioneer fame. Five children, three sons and two daughters, were born of the second marriage-William Henry, Parthena J., Mary E., Samuel J. and Cassius B., all of whom were born and reared in Liberty township. In July, 1861, Mr. Williams, the father, enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering Company K, Nineteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned a captain, but in 1862 he was promoted to the rank of colonel, and in 1864 he was killed in the battle of the Wilderness. He was formerly a Democrat in his political affiliations, but in 1856 he voted for Fremont on the Republican ticket and was a Republican ever after. His fraternal relations connected him with the Masonic and the Odd Fellows' orders. Throughout his business career he was engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, and was also well known as a dealer in live stock throughout eastern Indiana. In early times he drove stock to Cincinnati. His varied interests won him success in the business world.
The schools of Selma gave to William Henry Williams the educational training which he enjoyed in his youth, continuing his studies therein until he started out in the world for himself, first working by the month, while later as a clerk he was employed in nearly every store in Selma. In 1876 he opened a brickyard in that city, continuing its operation until about 1880, when he resumed his former occupation as a clerk in a hardware store. After being thus employed for several years he entered the mail service on the Big Four Railroad, his run being between Cincinnati and Chicago, and after severing his connection therewith he returned to Selma and entered the employ of Joseph N. Orr, with whom he was associated in the capacity of clerk for thirteen years. In 1900 he became associated with his son in the drug business, later obtaining full possession of the store, and his is one
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of the leading industries of its kind in the community. In 1904 he received his commission as the postmaster of Selma, and in January, 1905, entered upon the duties of this office. Mr. Williams is a Republican in his political affiliations, and from 1890 to 1895 and again from 1900 to 1904 he served as the trustee of Liberty township.
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