USA > Indiana > Miami County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 47
USA > Indiana > Howard County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 47
USA > Indiana > Cass County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 47
USA > Indiana > Tipton County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 47
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Randall departed this life in 1863, a pious member of the church of the United Brethren in Christ.
William Mills, the subject proper of this biographical record, was five years of age when his father died and he was brought up by a stepfather until he was of age. In 1856 he married and settled upon a tract of land which he obtained from his father's estate in Preble county, Ohio. In 1864, while he was a member of the home guards, he enlisted, under the last call for vol- unteers, in the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. His regiment was placed on transient and guard duty, and he served four months, being mustered in and out as second corporal at Camp Dennison, Ohio, where he received an hon- orable discharge.
Returning home he resumed his duties as an agriculturist. The same year, 1865, he sold out and came to Howard county, Indiana, and purchased a tract of land, which, however, he soon exchanged for the place where he now resides, comprising two hundred acres. A part of this he has since dis- posed of, so that he now has seventy-five acres of that tract, and he has more recently bought one hundred and sixty acres, upon which was some improvement; and this he is now developing into a good farm by clearing, ditching, tiling, etc. The small frame house that was upon the homestead when he bought it he has remodeled and enlarged, so that now he has a com- modious residence. He has also erected a large barn, set out fruit and orna- mental trees and given all the premises a tasteful appearance. In addition to agriculture he also raises some live stock.
In his political principles he was a Republican until 1886, when he joined the People's party, but is now a Socialist, -a strong advocate of his principles. He is well informed on all the questions of public policy, is liberal in spirit, but independent in reasoning and in the formation of his religious and political creeds, reads diligently and investigates judiciously, so that he is sure of his ground before undertaking to maintain it. He has made a specialty of ascertaining what would do the greatest good to the greatest number.
Mr. Mills was united in marriage with Miss Margery Adams, a lady of intelligence and of an honored family, being a daughter of Rev. Samuel and Emily (Cook) Adams, both of Ohio. Concerning Mr. Adams we may say that some time after his marriage he became pious and a minister of considerable
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notoriety in the United Brethren church. Later in life he abandoned the ministry and engaged in merchandising; in 1864 he came to Indiana, locating in Cass county, where he died, in 1880; his wife also is deceased. Their children were Martin (deceased), Lewis, Jane, John, Margery (wife of Mr. Mills), Zarilda, Isaiah (ex-sheriff of Cass county) and Samuel. Mr. Mills' children were nine in number. The living are: Alonzo T., a farmer; Will- iam O., who died when twenty-one years of age; Emily, now Mrs. Drink- water; Edwin A., now a student of medicine; Ulysses G., engaged in agri- cultural pursuits; Schuyler C., in real estate; Samuel, who died at the age of ten months; and John and Joseph W., also engaged in agriculture. Thus Mr. Mills has seven living children and eighteen grandchildren.
Mr. and Mrs. Mills are members of the Christian church. " The grandest event of Mr. Mills' life was when he entered the spiritual kingdom of Christ: and he hails with joy all spiritual efforts, and would advise every one to seek Jesus until he finds him as a personal Savior."
H ENRY P. McDOWELL, M. D .- Among the most competent physi- cians of Peru is Dr. McDowell, who was born in Pipe Creek township, Miami county, Indiana, December 20, 1852, and he has been engaged in the practice of his profession in this county since 1882, in Peru. since 1891.
His father, David McDowell, is a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1824. The first American ancestor of the family emigrated from Ireland about the time of the Revolutionary war in this country and settled in Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this biography was Luke McDowell, who emigrated from the Keystone state to Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life. David McDowell came to Miami county from Ohio about 1850. He married Nancy Childress, also a native of Ohio and of German ancestry. David McDowell still occupies the homestead farm in Pipe Creek township, where he located nearly half a century ago. In his family are four sons and four daughters, viz .: Rev. David A. McDowell, a Christian minister residing at Bunker Hill, Miami county; Henry P., who is the subject proper of this sketch; Anna, wife of John Hop- per, of Cass county, this state; Alice, now Mrs. John Bowers, of Miami county; Laura, wife of Frank Jenkins, of Indianapolis; Marion, at the home-
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stead; Martha, wife of Abraham Reese, of Bunker Hill; and John, at the homestead.
The father of Dr. McDowell being a farmer by occupation, the son, as soon as old enough, assisted on the farm and during the winter seasons attended the common school of his district. At the age of eighteen he engaged in teaching, and for ten years followed that occupation. In 1879 he began the study of medicine under the tuition of Dr. Henry Alford, of Walton. His studies, however, had long been in this direction, as he had early formed the resolution to make the medical profession his life work. In 1882 he graduated at the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, and enthusiastically entered at once upon the practice of the "healing art " at Bunker Hill, Miami county. There he remained for eight years, building up and enjoying a fine practice. In 1891 he removed to Peru, where he is enjoying a good patronage, and still retaining many of his Bunker Hill patrons. Both professionally and socially the Doctor is highly esteemed, and he takes a commendable interest in whatever tends to promote the best interests of his town and community. He is a Democrat in his political principles, and he takes deep interest in the success of those principles. He is a member of the Miami Medical Society, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order of Red Men, and the Knights of the Macca- bees.
He was married June 6, 1876, to Miss Ellen Bryant, a native of Ohio, and they have three sons and a daughter, viz. : Marvin, Gladys, Benson and Charles.
P ETER ORR. - Among the most successful farmers of Prairie township, Tipton county, is the subject of this notice. For thirty years he has lived upon his homestead, which he has greatly improved, making it one of the model country homes of the vicinity. He commenced at the bottom rounds of the ladder leading to success, and by industry and perseverance accumulated a comfortable fortune. He now owns several farms and has a good bank account-all the result of his diligence in business and his unques- tionably excellent methods of managing his affairs.
The birth of Peter Orr occurred in Switzerland county, Indiana, Au- gust 22, 1845, his parents being Michael and Minerva Gray) Orr, natives of
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the same part of the state. The former was a son of John Orr, of Germany, who took up his residence in Switzerland county when the land was wild and almost entirely unimproved. After passing many years of his life there he removed to Tipton county, about 1860, and buying some property began its development. He died in 1874 at the ripe age of eighty-three years. His faithful wife survived him more than a score of years, dying in 1895 at the extreme age of ninety-five years. They were both members of the Mission- ary Baptist church and were respected and loved by all who knew them. Their son Joseph, deceased, was a resident of Switzerland county, and a daughter, Mary A., was the wife of William Hannis, but both she and her husband are deceased.
Michael Orr lived in his native county until 1858, when he came to this county with a small amount of money, which he invested in two hundred acres of land. He erected a cabin and at first used quilts instead of doors. In spite of many difficulties he became a well-to-do farmer, and from time to time increased his possessions until he was the owner of four hundred acres. With the assistance of his nine sons he accomplished a great deal in the clearing of his land, thus improving some three hundred acres, and later he retired and gave farms to his children. About 1868 he engaged in running a flouring mill in Russiaville, and also conducted a grocery business. Honored and esteemed by a large circle of acquaintances and friends, he was faithful to the least as well as to the greatest of the duties imposed upon him as a citizen and neighbor. He was affiliated with the Democratic party, but never sought or desired public office. His wife, Minerva, was a daughter of Peter Gray, also of Switzerland county, and one of the first pioneers of this county, coming here prior to its organization. He took up a claim and en- tered land when it was placed on the market. He served for many years as a justice of the peace and was a local leader in the Democratic party. His death occurred about 1890, when he had reached the extreme age of ninety- five years. For one who had grown up in a new country, he was a remark- ably well educated and well posted man. His children were named as fol- lows: Clinton, Mahala, James, Minerva, Charles, Jacob, Joseph, Nancy, Lydia and Robert. To the marriage of Michael and Minerva Orr ten chil- dren were born: John, of Frankfort; Peter, of this article; Susan, who died when seven years of age; Michael, a farmer; Jacob, living on the old home- stead; David and Alpheus, farmers; Oliver, a resident of Russiaville; Robert,
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CASS, MIAMI, HOWARD AND TIPTON COUNTIES.
a telegraph operator in the east; and Marion, a farmer. The parents were members of the Missionary Baptist church. Mrs. Orr was summoned to her reward July 27, 1898, and her loss is deeply felt among her large number of friends.
Peter Orr, whose name heads this sketch, remained on the old home farm belonging to his father until he was a young man, when he started out upon an independent career. In March, 1868, he married Mahala J. Camp- bell, of an old and honored family in this state, and together the young couple began housekeeping on their present homestead, which our subject purchased of his grandfather. A few acres had been cleared and a log cabin provided shelter. To the original eighty acres which he bought Mr. Orr later added a tract of equal dimensions and he now has two hundred and forty acres here. In addition to this he owns an eighty-acre farm elsewhere and a fine quarter section of land in Howard county. On his home farm he has two hundred and twenty-five acres cleared and improved with tiling and ditches and under good cultivation. On each of his farms he has excel- lent buildings and improvements. Though he has given his chief attention to his varied business enterprises, he has yet found time to devote to the duties devolving upon him as a voter. Originally a Democrat, he became a Repub- lican at the time that Garfield ran for the presidency and has ever since been faithful in his allegiance to the last named party. He has never sought office, but his friends have recently placed his name in nomination for the county commissionership. He is an active member of the Christian church, taking his share of Sunday-school and other department work and responsibility.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Orr five children were born: Mary E., who died at the age of seven years; William, a farmer; Robert, who died in infancy; Dama, Mrs. C. C. Tyner; and David, at home. Mrs. Orr, a con- sistent member of the Christian church, died February 6, 1897. Her parents, William and Nancy (Spears) Campbell, were natives of Kentucky, and were early settlers of Johnson and later of Brown county, Indiana. In 1844 they came to this county, the mother making the journey on horseback-forty miles through the wilderness. Here they suffered the privations and hard- ships of frontier life, but were brave and industrious and eventually triumphed over difficulties of which the present generation can form little idea. The father died here in 1886, at the age of eighty-six years, and the mother, who lived two years longer, was seventy-eight years old at the time of her death.
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They both held membership in the Christian church. Of their children five were sons, namely: Joseph A., James M., David, John and Irvin. The daughters were Maria, Sarah, Mary, Mahala, Matilda and Dama.
A ARON RUST, one of the old soldiers of the civil war and a substantial farmer of Jackson township, Howard county, has won success amid the obstacles of life. "Success treads on the heels of every right effort," says Samuel Smiles; "and though it is possible to overestimate success to the extent of almost deifying it, as is sometimes done, still in every worthy pursnit it is meritorious."
The Rust family, of strong German stock, were among the early set- tlers of Virginia, and moved to Ohio during the early settlement of that state, being pioneers in Clark county. Mr. Aaron Rust was born in this county, October 28, 1838, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Baker) Rust, and as he grew up was reared to farm work and received a common-school education.
The great rebellion of 1861 aroused in him that "inextinguishable spark which fires the souls of patriots " and banishes all fear, and in Cincin- · nati, February 24, 1864, he enlisted as a seaman in the United States Navy and was assigned to the Mississippi squadron, in which he was in service on the Mississippi and Red rivers. He faithfully served for the term of enlistment and was honorably discharged March 2, 1865, at Cairo, Illinois. As a seaman he was very active and efficient, always at his post of duty and always performed his services promptly and cheerfully. But on the Mis- sissippi he contracted an affection of the lungs which has ever since continued to trouble him.
After the close of hostilities he returned to his home in Clark county, Ohio. A few months afterward he was married, and in the spring of 1866 emigrated to Indiana, settling upon his present farm, which he purchased of Alexander Saxon and which at that time comprised forty acres, only ten of which was cleared: the remainder was covered with a dense forest, and there was a log cabin on the premises; and, aided by his faithful wife, he cleared the land and made a cozy home; but this required hard work, long continued. Adding to his first purchase he at length became the owner of about two hundred acres, all of which is good land, well improved. The home is well
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C.ISS, MIAMI, HOWARD AND TIPTON COUNTIES.
furnished, and Mr. and Mrs. Rust had the good sense to know when their opportunity arrived for the enjoyment of the products of their long continued toil. Mr. Rust is one of the most respected citizens of Jackson township. In his political principles he is a Republican.
It was November 16, 1865. that Mr. Rust and Miss Lydia A. Davis were united in marriage, in Champaign county, Ohio. She was born August 4, 1842, in Shelby county, that state, a daughter of Ananias and Phebe (Sutton) Davis, and her father was the son of Joseph and Sarah Davis. Joseph Davis was a native of Virginia, of the old colonial stock, who emigrated from Vir- ginia to Ohio in very early day, settling in Champaign county, where he cleared a farm from the resisting forest and established a comfortable home. His children were Matilda, Ann, Keziah, Cornelius, Joseph, Gilbert and Ananias. He passed his life in Ohio, reaching an advanced age, was an esteemed member of the Seventh-Day Baptist church and a pioneer respected as far as he was known. Ananias Davis, father of Mrs. Rust, was born in 1818, in Virginia, and came with his parents to Champaign county, Ohio, where he was brought up in pioneer life, clearing a large amount of land and always industriously engaged in agricultural and mechanical work, in both which he became skilled, making ax handles, plow stock, farming apparatus, heavy furniture, shoes, etc. His children were David, Maria J., Joseph, Lydia A., Jasper N., Charity, Eliza, Albert R., Ada and Jerry.
Mr. Davis settled in Shelby county, Ohio, in the woods and cleared up a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he subsequently sold, and moved to Champaign county, same state, where he cleared another farm and estab- lished a comfortable home. He and his excellent wife were valuable mem- bers of the Baptist church, and in politics he was a Democrat. He was an upright man and highly respected, closing his life in 1878, aged about fifty- nine years. His widow survived until she had reached the age of about seventy-six years, leaving the scenes of this life in January, 1837. They brought up an excellent family. Mrs. Davis was the daughter of Amos and Sarah (Lippincott) Sutton. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812 and a pioneer of Clark county, Ohio, where be became the owner of one hun- dred and sixty acres of land. His children were Levi, David, Joshua, Reuben, Simeon, Charity, Lydia and Emma. By his first marriage he had one child, Sarah, who married Morris Littlejohn. Mr. Sutton lived to be a venerable patriarch of eighty years of age, closing his long and useful life in Ohio,
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The children of Mr. and Mrs. Rust are Jacob A., a farmer of Sims town- ship, Grant county, Indiana, who married Miss Carrie Curry; Alice M., who- became the wife of Collins Ray, a farmer of Jackson township, and has two children; and David M., also a fariner of Jackson township, who married Elizabeth Gear.
Mr. and Mrs. Rust are both members of the Methodist Protestant church,. in which he is trustee. In politics he is a Republican.
The foregoing statements constitute only a brief outline of genealogical facts, along with a small amount of other matter, giving scarcely any idea of the many experiences, hopes, ambitions, deeds and accomplishments of Mr. Rust and his relatives, but we have notwithstanding made the best use of the space allotted us, for our subject deserves a presentation of the record of his- life far beyond the meager outline here given.
ESSE W. WARE .- One of the most highly respected citizens and sub- stantial farmers of Liberty township, Howard county, is the gentleman whose name appears above, who has also reared his children to be excellent citizens.
He was born in Warren county, Ohio, July 12, 1824. His father, John Ware, was a native of New Jersey, born about ten miles from Philadelphia, of sterling English descent, receiving a common-school education, and by occupation was a farmer. When a young man he emigrated to Warren county, Ohio, where he married Margaret Roberts, and afterward located on a farm in Warren county, Ohio, and about 1830 emigrated to Indiana, settling in the northeastern part of Henry county amidst an oak forest. Entering eighty acres there he proceeded to clear it and had this work partly done when he sold the place and purchased a farm two or three miles distant, but soon after that moved to Flat Rock, about seven miles away, where he lived about twenty years. He then moved to Grant county, Indiana, arriving in April, 1844, and purchased a cleared farm of eighty acres, lived there about four years, improved it and finally deeded it to his son John; and then, in company with his four sons,-William, Jesse, John and Benjamin F.,- bought four hundred acres on Wildcat creek, Howard county, which was. completely covered with heavy timber. After partly improving this immense.
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tract he sold out his interest there. He died in June, 1865, in West Lib- erty. Howard county, at the age of sixty years. He was a typical American pioneer, labored hard and cleared up an immense amount of land in the virgin forest. His children were: William, Jesse, Sophia, John and Ben- jamin. In religion he was a sincere and intelligent Methodist, and in poli- tics a Democrat originally ; but when the Kansas troubles broke out in 1854-6 he became a Republican. He was a man of stern principles, strict self- discipline and high honor; and his wife was also an exemplary lady of noble qualities.
Jesse W. Ware, whose name forms the caption of this article, received a limited education in his youth in his native county and in Wayne county, Indiana, to which section his parents removed when he was six years old, or about 1830. There he grew up among the pioneers, inured to hard manual labor of all kinds on the farm. He became an expert at making rails, split- ting many thousands of them during his early life. When about twenty years of age he was married, in Howard county, to Phebe Moore, a native of Henry county, this state, and a daughter of William Moore. Mr. Moore was a pioneer farmer of Henry county. His children were Philip, Hiram, Phebe, Sarah J., Caroline and Mary A. After marriage Mr. Moore settled in Randolph county, this state, on a quarter-section of land which his father owned, in the " fallen timber " tract. He built a log cabin and made his home there for a year, clearing and improving the place, and had a farm consisting of two hundred acres, which he finally deeded to his children. The children by his first wife were Sarah E., Mary J. and Sophia. Mrs. Moore died in Union township, Howard county, in June, 1855, and Novem- ber 9, following, in Henry county, this state, Mr. Moore was married to Lucinda Main, who was born August 19, 1834, in that county, a daughter of Grant and Miranda (Robinson) Main. Her ancestry on both sides were of sterling English stock. Grant Main, a native of New York state, emi- grated to Ohio; and his wife, née Miranda Robinson, was a daughter of Abel and Fannie (Stoddard) Robinson. After marriage he settled in Henry county, Indiana, as a pioneer. About 1838 he moved to Michigan, locating in the forest of St. Joseph county. About 1847 he returned to this state, settling in Howard county. He participated as a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting at the age of fifty-five years and serving about three months in an Indiana regiment. He finally died in Howard county, this state, well and
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favorably known as an industrious and upright citizen. His children were Cynthia A., Catharine, Leonard, Lucinda, Harriet, John, Miranda and William. Mr. and Mrs. Main were members of the Baptist church. He was a Republican in his politics and a strong Union man.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ware settled first in Union township, and in 1865 moved to Liberty township, where they have since continued to reside. Industry and consequent thrift have characterized the labors of these honest and intelligent people. Mr. Ware has here a fine farm of two hundred acres, and aided by his faithful wife he has prospered, developing and furnishing a pleasant home. They have one child, Oliver M.
Mr. and Mrs. Ware in their religious relations are Methodists. In poli- tics he was formerly a Republican, but is now a Prohibitionist, being a man of strong and definite principles. He is a hard-working man of good judg- ment and reliable in all his dealings. He has seen this state arise from its primitive condition of a wild forest to be one of the great states of the Union. Being a zealous Union man during the great war, he paid out eleven hundred dollars to secure volunteers. He is now seventy years of age, is yet a good worker, and, like his father before him, has done his share as a pioneer and as an industrious laborer all his life in the development of the community.
JACOB T. HANSHEW .- Among the early settlers of Tipton county who J have been " prime factors" in its development is the well-known farmer and prominent citizen of Madison township whose name appears above. He was born in Ripley county, this state, August 16, 1820, reared on a farm and educated at the country subscription schools typical of the period.
His father, Henry Hanshew, was a native of Maryland, who emigrated to Tennessee and there married Barbara Thomas, a native of Knox county, same state. Afterward, in 1809, they moved to Butler county, Ohio, and in 1816 to Ripley county, Indiana, where they remained four or five years; they then returned to Butler county, Ohio, and in 1830 came again to Indiana, this time locating in Rush county. In 1850 they moved to Madison county, where he bought a farm and spent his remaining days, dying in 1866 at the age of eighty-three years. His wife had died there in 1857. Both were
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CASS, MIAMI, HOWARD AND TIPTON COUNTIES.
members of the Primitive Baptist church. He was well and favorably known for his sincerity and simplicity of conduct. His children were: John, Andrew, James, David, Clarissa, Jacob T. (our subject), Amos, Mary M., Henry, Susan A. and George, of whom only three are now living.
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