USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 48
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
acres. During about fifteen years he resided there with his family, and at the close of the period removed to the present family home.
Mr. Mills was born in Randolph county, Indiana, November 14, 1841, a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Thornburg) Mills, who were farming people of that county. The father spent the first eleven years of his life in his native commonwealth of North Carolina, coming thence by the over- land route to Randolph county, Indiana, where he grew to years of maturity on a farm and was subsequently married. Of his parents' nine children, four sons and five daughters, Joseph A. Mills was the eldest, and he resided in Randolph county till 1860 when he came to Delaware county. On the 26th of January, 1861, he married Jane Thornburg, whose birth occurred on the farm on which she now resides, June II, 1842, her father being Alexander Thornburg, a well known resident of Perry township. He was born in North Carolina May 10, 1810, but when about twelve years of age he moved with his parents to Ohio, where he was reared to mature years and married Malinda Huskins, a native daughter of that commonwealth. In about 1833 Mr. Thornburg removed with his family to Perry town- ship, where he entered eighty acres of wood land, erected a log cabin and began the task of clearing his land and placing it under cultivation, con- tinuing his work until his busy and useful life was ended in death. His estate then comprised four hundred acres of land, the result of honorable effort and commendable industry, and in addition he had given each of his three sons a farm. After the death of his first wife Mr. Thornburg mar- ried Angelina Sullivan, who was born in North Carolina. Angelina Sul- livan was eleven years old when her parents, Reuben and Lavina (Bond) Sullivan, came to Wayne county, Indiana, and they had seven children : Malinda, Thomas (deceased), Jane (Mrs. Mills), Dema, Lucinda, and John W. and Andrew, deceased. By his first marriage he became the father of two sons, Joseph, who was born in Ohio, and Isaac, born in Delaware county, while the seven children by his second marriage were born on the old homestead farm in Perry township. Mr. Thornburg gave a lifelong support to the Republican party, and was a member of the Christian church. The death of this honored old Delaware county pioneer occurred when he had reached the age of seventy-two years, and during his long and use- ful life he had endeared himself by his many sterling characteristics to many friends and acquaintances, and when death claimed its own Delaware county lost one of its most useful citizens, whom to know was to respect and honor. Mr. and Mrs. Mills became the parents of two sons, Orliff W. and Thomas Elliott, both of whom were born on the present Mills homestead in Perry township. Orliff is not married and Thomas E. married Laura A. Lake, born in Henry county, a daughter of John W. and Eunice (Davis) Lake. Mr. Mills also gave a lifelong support to the Republican party and was an active worker in the party ranks. He at one time served as the trus- tee of Perry township and was twice a candidate for the office of sheriff. During many years he was a worthy member of the Christian church. He,
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too, endeared himself to the people of Perry township, and not a few cherish a pleasant remembrance of his kindness and courtesy.
WILLIAM L. LINDSEY, a farmer and stock-raiser of Perry township, is also numbered among its native sons, born on the 10th of May, 1871. His father, Robert B. Lindsey, who has been numbered among the leading agriculturists of Delaware county for many years, also claims Perry township as the place of his nativity, born May 23, 1847, the son of Thomas and Sally Lindsey. Robert B. Lindsey received his educational training in the schools of Perry township and remained at home until his marriage, September 29, 1869, Margaret E. Kegerries becoming his wife. She was born in Randolph county, Indiana, where her parents, Thomas and Christina Kegerries, had removed in an early day from Pennsylvania, they having been of Pennsyl- vania Dutch descent. Four children were born of this union-William L., Olpha O., Harley E. and Pearlie M .- but the two youngest are deceased. After his marriage Mr. Lindsey moved to a farm of eighty acres, which he continued to cultivate until his removal in the spring of 1880 to his present homestead of one hundred and twenty acres. He is an active worker in the ranks of the Prohibition party, and for four years served as a justice of the peace. He also has membership relations with the Masonic fraternity and the Methodist Episcopal church in Perry township.
William L. Lindsey, the eldest of his parents' four children, received his elementary education in the district schools of his native township of Perry, and then pursued a commercial course in Richmond. This excellent training enabled him to become a member of the teachers' profession, and during ten terms he taught in the schools of Perry township. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred on the IIth of June, 1892, to Mattie E. Hewitt, a native daughter of Randolph county, Indiana, where her parents, Joseph and Louisa H. Hewitt, had established their home in a very early day in the county's history, and were identified with its farming interests. Two sons were born to bless this union-Ermel E. and Robert O.
After his marriage Mr. Lindsey took up his abode on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, his present homestead, and this he has brought to a high state of cultivation and has won a name and place among the leading agriculturists and stock raisers of Perry township. As a supporter of the Democracy he takes an active part in the political affairs of the community, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliating with Whitney Lodge, No. 229. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ALBERT L. GATES, a retired farmer and an honored and revered resident of Perry township, was born in Madison county, New York, March 10, 1817. His father, Zepheniah Gates, claimed Connecticut as the common- wealth of his nativity, born in New London county March 7, 1770, and after attaining to years of maturity he became identified with its agricultural 25
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interests. He was there married to Abigail Griffith, whose birth occurred in Dutchess county, New York, and they became the parents of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters. The parents came to Delaware county at the same time as their son Albert and spent their last years here.
Albert L. Gates, the eleventh child in order of birth, attained to mature years in the states of New York and Pennsylvania, and on reaching the age of twenty-one years he made the overland journey to Indiana and located in Muncie, where during the following three or four years he worked at the carpenter's trade. In that time he assisted in the erection of the old Metho- dist and Presbyterian churches and also helped to build the old brick court house in that city. At the close of the period he moved to Perry township and purchased a farm of sixty-five acres in the woods, and after spending four years in clearing the land he traded the farm for his present homestead of one hundred and sixteen acres. At one time Mr. Gates was the owner of two hundred and fifty acres, but by dividing his land among his children he reduced his possessions to the present boundaries of his farm. He made the many improvements which now adorn the homestead and has cleared a part of the land.
On the 18th of November, 1847, Mr. Gates was united in marriage to Anna Cunningham, who was born and reared in Union county, Ohio. Her father, Samuel Cunningham, a native of Virginia, was one of the prominent early settlers of Henry county, Indiana, and her mother, nee Hannah Walker, was a native of North Carolina. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gates have been born eight children, four sons and four daughters, but two are now deceased, and all were born in Perry township, namely: Mary Ann, Charles Leroy, Sarah Jane, Francis Marion, Fremont, Licena F., Lewis and Viola. Charles L. died in infancy and Licena died aged five years. Since reaching mature years Mr. Gates has upheld Republican principles, and from 1874 until 1878 he served as the trustee of Perry township. He is passing the evening of a long and useful life surrounded with comforts and happy in the enjoyment of warm and devoted friendships.
LEWIS KEESLING, prominently identified with the farming and stock- raising interests of Delaware county, has spent the entire period of his long and useful life in Perry township, his birth occurring within its borders on the 6th of March, 1834. He is a son of Martin Keesling, whose history will be found on other pages of this work. The son received his educational training in the pioneer schools of the township and he remained at home until his marriage in 1864 to Mary Powers, whose birth also occurred in Delaware county, where her parents, Uriah and Sylvana Powers, had estab- lished their home in a very early day in its history. At the time of his mar- riage Mr. Keesling moved to a farm of one hundred acres in Perry town- ship, which he had previously bought, and kept buying and adding real estate until he owned eight hundred and seventy-six acres of land and made
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many improvements thereon. In 1898 he deeded four hundred and eighty acres to his heirs, retaining the remaining three hundred and ninety-six acres.
Five children, three sons and two daughters, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Keesling, namely: Bryce P., Minnie Williams, Adelbert M., Carl E. and Lenola, but the last named is deceased, and all were born in Perry township. Mr. Keesling has given a lifelong support to the principles of the Republican party and has been an active worker in its local ranks. He is a member of the Presbyterian church in Muncie.
COLWELL HOWELL, a prominent and well known farmer of Perry town- ship, residing in section 22, was born in Henry county, Indiana, September 12, 1851, a son of Hillery Howell, a deceased farmer of Henry county and a native of Wayne county, Indiana, and a grandson of Jason Howell, who claimed Wales as the country of his nativity. His parents died in Wales during his boyhood days and he was brought to America by strangers and reared by them in Wayne county, Indiana, near the city of Economy. Hillery Howell, his son, was married in Henry county to Fannie Bedwell, who was born in that county, where her parents had taken up their abode in an early day, and they became the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, namely: Kitturah, Osborn, Jonathan, Sarah Jane, Jason, Colwell, Serina, Leroy, Alonzo, and Orange, all born in Henry county, but the four eldest are now deceased. Mr. Howell, the father, gave a lifelong support to the Republican party, had fraternal relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a member of the New Light Christian church. His death occurred when he had reached the age of seventy-three years.
It was in the year of 1870 that Colwell Howell came to Perry township, Delaware county, where for ten years he lived on a rented farm of one hundred and eleven acres, also rented another farm for about one year, and in March, 1880, he purchased ninety-five acres, the nucleus of his present estate of one hundred and twenty and a half acres, the most of which is cleared. The homestead lies in section 22, Perry township.
On the 13th of October, 1870, the year of his removal to Delaware county, Mr. Howell married Mary C. Jordan, a native daughter of Perry township, where her father, William A. Jordan, is numbered among the early pioneers, and a review of his life will be found in this history. Five children, two sons and three daughters, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Howell: Linnie, deceased; Pearl; Gertrude; Letha, also deceased; and Beulah, all born in Perry township. Mr. Howell has supported the prin- ciples of the Republican party since attaining to mature years and takes an active part in the work of his chosen party. In 1900 he was elected to the office of trustee and served in that position for four years. He has fraternal relations with the Masonic order, in which he has attained the third degree, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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JOSEPH H. THORNBURG is a prominent representative of one of the honored early pioneer families of Delaware county, where for many years its members have been identified with its agricultural interests, and this calling finds a worthy devotee in Joseph H. Thornburg. His homestead of one hundred and sixty acres lies in Perry township and is one of the valuable estates of the community.
Although reared and educated in Perry township, Mr. Thornburg is a native son of Ohio, born in Clinton county on the 17th of April, 1831. A history of his father, Alexander Thornburg, will be found on other pages of this work. During his early youth the son Joseph attended the log schools of Perry township and also assisted in the work of the home farm, and after his marriage he established his home on the farm which he now owns and operates, the young couple first taking up their abode in a little log cabin and the husband began the arduous task of clearing his land. He cleared sixty acres of the place, and with the passing years added to his landed possessions until he became the possessor of four hundred acres. He also cleared the most of this large tract, but has since disposed of a part of the acreage, his homestead now consisting of one hundred and sixty acres.
Mr. Thornburg married, December 24, 1855, Hannah Cunningham, who was born and reared in Henry county, Indiana, and was the daughter of Samuel C. Cunningham, a farmer. Four children were born of this union- Francis M., William A., Elenora E. and Sarah. The last named is deceased. By his second marriage, to Paulina Swaringen, Mr. Thornburg had two children, Emma and Irvin, while by his third marriage, to Sarah Benbough, he had two children, Jennie and Charles. For his fourth wife Mr. Thorn- burg wedded Sarah Craig Thornburg, the widow of Alexander Thornburg. There are three children by the fourth marriage-Ora, Myrtle and Burtes. He is a member of the Christian church, is a Republican in his political affiliations, and is a stockholder in the People's Bank of Muncie.
JOSEPH B. CUNNINGHAM is a member of two of the oldest and most prominent families of Delaware county, and on the farm which he now owns and operates, located on section 8, Perry township, he was born on the 27th of February, 1864. His father, Benjamin G. Cunningham, was a native son of Maryland, born, reared and educated in that commonwealth, but when a young man he came overland to Indiana and located in Perry township, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in the woods. With the passing years he cleared the most of that tract, and in addition bought several other farms in the township, finally removing to the present Cunning- ham homestead. The nucleus of this present large estate was one hundred and forty acres, but he added to its boundaries until at his death he was the owner of six hundred and twenty acres, located in Perry township. He cleared most of that large tract. In Perry township Mr. Cunningham mar- ried Mary Rees, one of its native daughters and a representative of one of
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its most honored pioneer families, whose history will be found elsewhere in this work. Her father, Judge Lewis Rees, was the first judge of Delaware county and was a prominent factor in the early history of this section of the state. Eight children, seven sons and a daughter, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham, namely: Benjamin G., Louis, Marion, Stephen, Adeline, John, James and Joseph, but Benjamin, John and James are deceased. All were born in Perry township. Mr. Cunningham, the father, gave a lifelong support to the Republican party, and was a member of the Masonic order, as are also his sons.
Joseph B. Cunningham has spent his entire life on the farm on which he now resides, and is now the owner of two hundred and forty-one and three- fourths acres of land. He cleared fifty-seven acres of the tract and has further enhanced the beauty and value of the homestead by the erection of many substantial improvements, while Perry township numbers him among her leading agriculturists and stock raisers.
On the 4th of December, 1889, Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ross, who was born in Monroe township, Delaware county, Indiana, where she also grew to years of maturity, and is a daughter of Garrett Ross, whose biography appears in this history. Their union has been blessed by the birth of five children, Edna E., Ross, Flossie, Von and Ray, all born on the homestead which was also the birthplace of their father. Mr. Cunningham takes an active part in the public affairs of his community, voting with the Republican party. He has membership relations with the Masonic order.
LEWIS SAMUEL CUNNINGHAM. Among the honored native sons of Perry township is numbered Lewis S. Cunningham, whose birth occurred on the old homestead of his father, Benjamin D. Cunningham, whose history appears elsewhere in this work, on the 16th of November, 1852, and to the schools of this township he is also indebted for the educational training which he received in his youth. In 1873, after attaining to years of maturity, he went west and worked in the Colorado mines of the San Juan country and also did cattle ranging. During his sojourn in the west he was married in Crawford county, Kansas, in 1884, to Elizabeth Page, who was born in Logan county, Kentucky, where she also attained to years of maturity. After their marriage the young couple came to Delaware county, Indiana, and located in Perry township on a farm of one hundred and twenty-nine acres. After making many improvements on this place Mr. Cunningham sold it and moved to another farm, where he remained until coming, in 1893, to the farm which he now owns and occupies. The homestead is one of the valuable ones of Perry township, the land being fertile and well improved, and its owner has greatly enhanced its value and attractive appearance by the erection of many substantial improvements.
Three sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham, all born in Perry township, namely: Page, Benjamin and Vernie W. Since age con-
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ferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Cunningham has voted with the Republican party, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order.
CARL REES. The gentleman whose name heads this biographic review is both the son and grandson of pioneers who have greatly honored Perry township and Delaware county. He himself is a native of the township named, born December 2, 1879. and is a substantial representative of its agricultural interests. His father, John, is the son of Louis and Polly Rees, both natives of Wales who came to America with their parents and settled in Ohio. The paternal grandfather reached manhood as a resident of that state, secured a tract of government land in Perry township, and in 1822 came personally to take possession of it. At that time the country was on the very outskirts of the frontier, Indians and wild beasts holding full sway in the wilderness, and Louis Rees, with his good wife Polly, bore the common brunt of the hardships incident to pioneer life-an experience of continuous dangers and incessant labors, which so bound together the real pioneers of the west and which can be appreciated by only a small band living in the present. The grandfather erected a little log cabin in Perry township, began the usual hard task of clearing his land of timber, and on this rugged home- stead first came to life his son John, the father of our subject. The date of his birth was July 13, 1826, and his life until he reached young manhood was also a succession of hard labors faithfully performed. He was married in Perry township to Mary Rees, a native of Indiana, and the three sons and five daughters, who were all born to them within the limits of the township, were as follows: Cracey and Adaline, deceased; Louis, Emma, Eca, Wes- ley (deceased), Albertus and Carl.
John Rees, the father, gave his political support to the Republican party, and was well and favorably known in the county in which his entire life was passed. He assisted in clearing the old paternal farm, and after residing on several homesteads of his own he removed to his present farm of three hun- dred and sixty acres, the most of which he cleared, and here the remainder of his busy and useful life was spent.
On the 25th of November, 1906, Carl Rees was united in marriage to Anna Fuson, who was born in Monroe township, Delaware county, a daugh- ter of the well known Thomas Fuson. Mr. Rees' political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he is classed as a progressive and promising member of the community.
WILLIAM W. Ross. As one reviews the history of the county and looks into the past to see who were prominent in its early development, as well as its subsequent advancement, he will find that from an early period the name of Ross has been closely connected with the progress of this section of the state. The name stands exponent for the most sterling personal character- istics, the deepest appreciation of the rights and privileges of citizenship, and is one which is indissolubly identified with the annals of Monroe town-
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Hilliam A. Rosa
Rachel. Ross
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ship from an early epoch in its history. One of its most prominent repre- sentatives, William W. Ross, is a native son of the township, born on the 23d of June, 1843. His father, Aaron Ross, was born, reared and educated in Guilford county, North Carolina, but in the early '3os he left the county of his nativity and journeyed to Delaware county, Indiana, establishing his home in Monroe township, where he entered eighty-eight acres of land, erected a little log cabin in the woods, and began the arduous labor of evolving a farm from the wilderness. On horseback he rode to Indianapolis to pay his last dollar of entry fee, starting homeward without a cent, and his entire possessions in later years were the result of indomitable industry and ability. His crops were hauled to Cambridge City once a year, and among the manifold duties of this brave and hardy pioneer was the making of the shoes for the family, and he also raised the flax and his wife spun and wove their own materials for clothing.
Mr. Ross was married in North Carolina to one of its native daughters, Mary Weatherly, who was born and reared in Guilford county, and at the time of their removal to Delaware county they left all their friends and relatives behind, journeying alone to this then new and undeveloped region. Twelve children were born to them, six sons and six daughters, but three of the number died in infancy, and their son William was the seventh child in order of birth. From the Whig party Mr. Ross transferred his allegiance to the Democracy, and in his early life he was a member of the Methodist church, but later became identified with the New Light Christian denomina- tion. The life of this well known and honored Delaware county pioneer was ended in death when he had reached the age of seventy-five years. His was a long, active, useful and honorable career, and his name is indelibly inscribed on the pages of Monroe township's early history.
William W. Ross was reared to years of maturity on the old home place, receiving his educational training in the district schools of Monroe township, and in the meantime assisted to clear the old place and put it under cultivation. In 1864 he volunteered his services to his country's cause, enlisting in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, in which he served for five months, but he was ill during the most of his military career. At the time of his marriage he moved to a farm of forty acres, which he partially cleared and placed many improvements thereon, but in 1888 he traded the place and moved to the original one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm. With the passing years, how- ever, he has added to the tract until his estate now consists of four hundred and thirty-two acres of rich and fertile land, and the many improvements which add so much to its value and attractive appearance have all been placed there by the work of his own hands. During his early life Mr. Ross took an active part in political affairs, laboring effectively in public office, and is accorded that recognition which is justly due the public-spirited and progressive citizen. As a representative of the Republican party he was elected the trustee of Monroe township in 1889, in which he served for
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seven years, and at the expiration of that period, in 1896, he was made a member of the state legislature. During three terms he was the incumbent of that high official position, and since the expiration of his term he has withdrawn from active political life.
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