USA > Indiana > Miami County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 50
USA > Indiana > Howard County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 50
USA > Indiana > Cass County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 50
USA > Indiana > Tipton County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 50
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After his marriage John Ridgway settled in Harrison county, Ohio, on wooded land which had been entered by his father and which he cleared. In 1833 he sold out and moved to Indiana, locating in Wayne county, near Dub- lin, where he occupied eighty-five acres, one-half of which was cleared; and here he remained until 1837, when he moved to Madison county, this state, settling upon a tract of three hundred and twenty acres which he had entered, and he afterward bought more land until he at length was in pos- session of eight hundred and forty-five acres. Most of this he cleared and: he carried on general farming on a very large scale. In religion he was an. active Quaker all his life, noted for his consistency and stability of character. His children were: Abijah J., Lydia, Daniel, Catharine, Richard, John, Ruth A., Rudolph and Jane. Rudolph became a minister in the Friends' society.
Abijah J. Ridgway, whose name heads this sketch, was born March 8, 1819, in Harrison county, Ohio, received a limited common-school educa- tion and came to Wayne county, Indiana, in 1833, arriving November 10, when he was about sixteen years old, and there he engaged in farming. In 1837 he went with his father to Madison county, this state, where in the autumn of 1844 he was united in marriage with Eliza Ferguson, a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and a daughter of William and Rebecca Ferguson. Her father was a native of the same county, emi- grated with his family to America in 1837, settling in Wayne county, Indi- ana, and afterward moving to Madison county, this state, where he died, aged over ninety-eight years, and a Presbyterian in his religious faith. His children were: Robert, Jane, Maria, Eliza and William.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ridgway settled in Madison county, on eighty acres of land which he received from his father and was partly cleared and had upon it a hewed-log house. He proceeded with the clearing and improvements, residing there for seven years, when, in 1850, he moved to Miami county, this state, locating upon eighty acres adjoining the north side of Amboy, which he purchased, and thus he became one of the original proprietors of the town site. as he laid out a great part of the town on his,
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land. After a residence here of eighteen years he sold out, in the spring of 1868, and moved to Kansas, and after a residence of eighteen years there also he returned to Amboy, where he is now living retired from active life.
The children by his first wife were Robert, Nathan, Ruth A. and Rebecca J. The mother of these children died in Amboy, and Mr. Ridgway, in Miami county, was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Wasson, born in Wayne county, a daughter of Calvin and Mary Wasson, her father a farmer, of Scotch-Irish ancestry and a well known minister of the Society of Friends, traveling and preaching in North Carolina, Ohio and Indiana. His children were William, Nathan, Elizabeth, Calvin, Eliza A. and Asa. He lived to be seventy-five years old, departing this life in Plainfield, Indiana, in which place his wife also left the scenes of this world. By his second marriage the children of Mr. Ridgway were Calvin, Mary, Abijah and Sarah. Mrs. Sarah Ridgway died in Kansas, a sincere and intelligent member of the Society of Friends and an exemplary wife and mother. Mr. Ridgway was married the third time, April 17, 1886, in Amboy, wedding Mrs. Polly Lamm, a native of Grant county, this state, and a daughter of Isaac and Rachel (Overman) Elliott. Her father, of French ancestry, located in Grant county, Indiana, in 1830, and was a prosperous farmer, occupying land on a part of which is now located the Soldiers' Home at Marion. His children were Catharine, Reuben E., Lydia, Polly, Ephraim, Johanna, Isaac, Bethuel, Elijah, Elisha and Rachel. He died on his farm in Grant county at the age of seventy- three years, a consistent member of his church. The present Mrs. Ridgway was first married to John A. Lamm, and by that union were Isaac, Denny, Willis, Ellwood, Arthur, Rachel and Lucy. Mr. and Mrs. Ridgway are both devout members of the Friends' church.
H ULL BENJAMIN COLE, deceased, was for several years one of the leading farmers and highly esteemed citizens of Jefferson township, Tipton county. He was born near Mount Sterling, Switzerland county, Indiana, January 7, 1850, and was a son of Perry and Melvina Cole, who came to Tipton county when he was about eight years old and settled four miles north of Normanda. Four years later the father died, leaving a widow and six children, three sons and three daughters, and the support of the fam-
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ily fell upon our subject, though only twelve years old, and an older brother. Early in life he learned the value of a good education, diligently applied him- self while in school and was rewarded for his studious habits by being able at the age of eighteen to teach the district schools at a fair salary for those days. The education he obtained in the common schools was supplementedi by a short course at Asbury University.
On the 11th of February, 1875, Mr. Cole was united in marriage with Miss Mary Elizabeth Smith, who was born in Jefferson township, Tipton county, October 6, 1855, a daughter of John D. and Phebe H. (Bingman) Smith. Her father was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1810, and was. one of the honored pioneers of Tipton county, Indiana, having located here as early as :830 and assisted in laying out the town of Tipton. He was one of the first county commissioners, also served as township trustee and was recognized as one of the most influential and public-spirited citizens of his community. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Eda Adams, by whom he had six children. After her death he wedded Mrs. Phebe H. (Bing- man) McFarlin, a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and the widow of Lewis McFarlin. By her first marriage she had three children, one son and two daughters, but William E., of Tipton, is the only one now living. Mrs. Cole is the eldest of the children born of the second union, the others being John D .; Jessie, wife of B. F. Nash, of Peru, Indiana; Laura, wife of Clay- ton Martz, of Arcadia, and two who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Cole began their domestic life in Normanda, where he was successfully engaged in the milling business for two years. He then pur- chased eighty acres of land on section 24, Jefferson township, which at that time was covered with a heavy growth of timber, but he soon converted the wild land into a beautiful and productive farm, and to it was added one hun- dred and eighty acres, inherited by Mrs. Cole from her father. He was a most progressive and prosperous farmer, took great interest in the develop- ment of farm produce and believed that a farmer's life was the happiest and most profitable. He was a successful business man and everything he turned his attention to seemed to flourish under his counsel and management.
Mr. Cole was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, was fond of reading and gave much time to the perusal of useful and instructive books. He was a liberal thinker, considerate, broad and logical, and always kept well informed on the leading questions and issues of the day. Just before his
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marriage he went to California and spent six months in visiting the beautiful scenery of the Pacific slope. He also, in later years, crossed the Atlantic and traveled through England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Belgium, Germany and many oriental countries. In politics he was a Republican, and in 1890, at the earnest solicitation of his party, he consented and was nominated for the office of representative, and though defeated made an excellent race, run- ning ahead of his ticket. He departed this life suddenly and unexpectedly at midnight November 9, 1895, in the prime of life and vigor of his manhood. At all times and under all circumstances he was a courteous, genial gentle- man, and his death was widely and deeply mourned. He left a widow and three children: Charles Wesley, Lena Pearl and William Enfield. Mrs. Cole and her elder son are now successfully managing the home farm, and in the social circles of the community the family occupy an enviable position.
ONATHAN D. COX .- One of the most prominent pioneers of Miami J county was Mr. Jonathan D. Cox, now deceased, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, December 9, 1818, and was one of a family of eight members, he being the third son. His parents were David J. and Rosina Cox, natives of Monmouth county, New Jersey. David J. Cox was one of the first Meth- odist ministers in Indiana. The recorded genealogy of the family shows that the first American ancestor was Thomas Cox, who in 1670 became one of the proprietors of the colony of New Jersey, Jonathan D. being of the fifth generation from him. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was James Cox, and it is recorded of him that he served in the war of the Revolution, first as a major and later as a brigadier-general; still later he was prominent in civil life, serving as a member of the legislature of the state and also as a member of the national congress. His death occurred in 1810, when he had attained the age of fifty-seven years. S. S. Cox, familiarly known as " Sunset " Cox, belonged to another branch of the family. He and the subject of this biography were cousins. On the maternal side Mr. Cox was also descended from early colonial ancestry. His grandmother was the youngest child of Joseph Borden, the founder of Bordenville, New Jer- sey. David J. Cox emigrated from New Jersey, his native state, to Butler county, Ohio, and in 1826, when his son Jonathan D. was about eight years
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of age, he came to Decatur county, Indiana, and there he died in 1836: his birth occurred in 1792; and his wife passed away the same year.
Jonathan D. Cox, as stated, came to Miami county in 1837, and for a while was employed on a farm and afterward as a clerk in a store. In 1840 he formed a partnership with Richard Miller and opened a store at Paw Paw. Four years later he quit merchandising and entered agricultural pursuits, which he generally followed, though sometimes he interested himself in other business. In 1857 he embarked in the stove and lumber trade, but in about a year he relinquished that and returned to farming, which he contin- ned until he retired from active life in 1885. His death occurred February 18, 1889. But a few times in his life did he accept calls into public position. In 1867 he was appointed assessor of Miami county for the internal revenue department, and in 1868 was elected to represent Miami county in the gen- eral assembly, to which he was re-elected in 1870.
Mr. Cox was a successful farmer, a man of great decision of character and of the strictest integrity.
" A friend to truth, of soul - incere, In action thoughtful ard in honor clear, Who brok . 1 0 promise, served no priva e end, Who gain-d no tit e and wi.o lost i o friend; Ennobled ły himself, by all approved, And | rai-ed unen iel by the Muse he loved."
Politically, in early life he was an abolitionist, and later a Republican, with which latter party he affiliated until 1866, when the fifteenth amend- ment to the United States constitution was adopted conferring the right of suffrage on the former slaves. He then rebelled against the party, believing that it had made a mistake. The wisdom of that amendment is now doubted by thousands of well informed Republicans, who then believed that it was a just measure. Before the adoption of negro suffrage he perceived the evils that others realized only from the practical working of the amendment, and he ever after affiliated with the Democratic party, and kept himself well informed on the general issues of the day. In religion he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and believed in the practical teach- ings of Christianity.
February 2, 1842, he married Mary Jane, oldest daughter of Richard Miller, who died in 1848. By that marriage there were two children,-
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William H. and Alphonzo C., of whom only the latter is living. February 12, 1850, Mr. Cox was again married, this time to Miss Caroline, daughter of Rev. William M. Reyburn, who was one of the pioneers of Miami county. Mrs. Cox passed to the other life in 1856. By this marital union were three children,-Charles R., Horace G. and Emma, of whom only Charles R. is living. In 1859 Mr. Cox was united in marriage with Miss Jane Thornburg, who survives her husband. By the last union there was one child, named Jessie B.
D AVID C. RIDENOUR, M. D .- Dr. Ridenour, of Peru, is a native of the county of which Peru is the seat of government, born in Chili, Rich- land township, August 25, 1868. His father, Dr. David Ridenour, was also a practicing physician, residing at Chili, this county, ever since 1868, and is well known. He was born in Ohio, the son of George Ridenour, who was a native of Pennsylvania. The family is of German ancestry. The maiden name of the mother of the subject of this sketch was Abigail Kittzmiller, and she also was of German origin. Of their three children we may relate the following items: The eldest, a son, died in 1885; the next is the subject of this sketch; and the only daughter is Daisy L., who is the wife of Benjamin F. Williams, of Wabash, Indiana.
Dr. Ridenour received his literary education at the graded schools of Chili. In 1887 he began teaching, at the age of nineteen, and continued in that occupation until 1890, and during the last two years of this time was pursuing the study of medicine under the preceptorship of his father. In September, 1890, he entered upon a course of lectures at the Starling Med- ical College at Columbus, Ohio. The summer of 1891 he spent in medical study again under the guidance of his father, accompanying him in his pro- fessional visits, receiving in this manner all the advantages of clinical instruc- tion at a medical college.
Returning to Columbus in the autumn of the same year, he was found sufficiently qualified for a physician's diploma, and he was accordingly gradu- ated, March 3, 1892, in a class of fifty-eight members. It is worthy of remark that the Doctor's tutor in medical practice at the college, Professor Starling Loving, who is also dean of the faculty, was professor of materia medica at the same institution when his father graduated there in 1858. On
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completing his college course, Dr. Ridenour formed a partnership with his father at Chili, which continued till December 13. 1893, when he received the appointment of resident surgeon at the Wabash Railway hospital at Peru. He served in that capacity till January 3, 1894. when, having given three weeks' extra work to the hospital, he was relieved for that period of time, and then recalled, January 25, 1894, continuing to serve in the capacity of resident surgeon till July 1, 1895. Then, through the courtesy of the Wabash Railway Company, he took an extensive trip through the west. Returning, he located at Columbus, Ohio, and engaged in the practice of his profession, but, though the prospect of establishing a fine practice in that city was very encouraging, he was persuaded by his family to locate near his old home, and accordingly on October 1, 1896, he established himself at Peru. In May, 1897, he was appointed by the common council of Peru as secretary of the. city board of health for one year. He was reappointed in May, 1898, for a term of two years by a Democratic council. He has also served as clerk of the board of United States pension examiners.
Dr. Ridenour is a gentleman of excellent attainments, ranking high in his profession and being highly esteemed as a citizen. He is a member of the Miami County Medical Society and of the Masonic order; is a charter member and medical examiner of Peru Lodge, No. 492, of the Sexennial League. This lodge has had a remarkable growth. It was instituted July 22, 1897, with thirty-four members, and has now (February, 1898) one hun- dred and seventy-one members, -a most phenomenal increase, being a greater percentage of growth than that made by any other lodge in the league and thus has won for Peru Lodge the prize of the " Sexennial Standards " offered by the league for the greatest proportion of increase. Dr. Ridenour takes a great interest in the growth of this most excellent fraternal and benevolent organization.
In politics the Doctor is a Republican.
O RLANDO POWELL. - History generally treats of those who have attained eminence in politics or statecraft, in military circles and to- some extent in the field of letters and art, but has little to do with those toilers of the land upon whom the real prosperity and progress of the nations
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rest. It is left to biography to perpetuate the record of those law-abiding citizens who are ever true to their country, their neighbors and themselves, and who in the active affairs of this work-a-day world find time to stand loyally by friends and native land and at the same time care for their families and private interests. To this class belongs Mr. Powell, one of the most enterprising and industrious agriculturalists of Bethlehem township, Cass county, in which locality he has spent his entire life.
He was born near Wabash, Indiana, on the 17th of January, 1845, and is the third in a family of four children, whose parents were Jacob and Mar- tha (Troutman) Powell. The father was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and of Welsh descent. In 1835 he cast his lot with the pioneer settlers of Cass county, locating in Bethlehem township, where he spent his remaining days. His wife was born in Illinois and was of English extraction. The members of their family were Maria, Matilda, Orlando and Jehu.
Orlanda Powell was reared upon the farm where he now resides, and the sports of boyhood, together with the duties of the field, occupied his atten- tion through the years of his childhood and youth. He attended the district schools of the neighborhood and those of Logansport; and an observing eye, extensive reading and a retentive memory have made him a very well informed man. At the age of seventeen he put aside all other considerations in order to respond to the patriotic promptings of his nature and go forth in defense of the Union. He joined Company K, Ninety-ninth Indiana Infantry, under command of Captain George W. Julian, and faithfully served until the close of the war. He participated with his company in many of the impor- tant battles of the war and was always found at his post of duty, faithfully defending the starry banner and the cause it represented. He never wavered in the thickest of the fight or on lonely picket duty, and at the conclusion of the war returned to his home with a most honorable military record. November 25 he pursued Bragg and fought at Graysville, Rocky Face Ridge, and in all the battles'in the Atlanta campaign from May 9 to September 2, including Resaca, Dallas, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station ; next pursued Hood until Novem- ber 15, and then went with Sherman to the sea. He fought at Fort McCal- lister and through the Carolinas-at Columbia, Bentonville, etc., arriving at Goldsboro, North Carolina, shortly after Lee's surrender.
Following his army service Mr. Powell engaged in teaching school for a
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number of years and was a most capable and successful instructor. He now devotes his energies to agricultural pursuits and is the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres, which is under a high state of cultiva- tion and improved with all modern accessories and conveniences. The fields are well tilled and yield to the owner a golden tribute in return for the care he bestows upon them, while good buildings supply ample shelter for grain and stock. He is a very industrious man, keeps fully abreast of the advance of the times and his business methods are strictly honorable, commending him to the confidence of all with whom he is brought in contact.
On the 2d of October, 1871, Mr. Powell was united in marriage to Miss Sarah S. McElheny, a daughter of Moses and Philena (Treen) McElheny. This union has been blessed with five children, namely: Ada F., who was born August 14, 1872, and died November 17, 1889; Tacy C., born July 31, 1874; Dyer J., born December 8, 1878; Martha P., born July 6, 1881, and Emma B., born March 6, 1883. Mrs. Powell is a worthy member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Powell maintains friendly relations with his old army comrades through his membership connection with the Grand Army of the Republic and is popular among his associates of the days when he loyally stood by the old flag. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and on that ticket has several times been elected to the office of township trustee. As an educator, agri- culturist and war veteran he has played an important part in the history of Cass county and well deserves representation in this volume.
W ILLIAM G. NASH .- One of the extensive land-owners and leading farmers of Tipton county, Indiana, is William G. Nash, who resides on section 17, Cicero township. He owns and operates four hundred and ten acres of valuable land, and has wrought a wonderful transformation in the appearance of the tract upon which he located a third of a century ago. All the improvements on the place stand in evidence of his busy, industrio s and useful life, and the farm is a monument to his enterprise.
Mr. Nash was born in Fayette county, Indiana, on the 6th of July, 1835, and is a son of Richard Nash, a native of Pennsylvania, born in Westmore- Jand county, December 3, 1798. The latter went with his parents to Ken-
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tucky when fourteen years of age, and in early life began boating on the Ohio river, which pursuit he followed for forty years. He then went to the falls of the Ohio, where he served as station pilot, and in 1831 removed to Fay- ette county, Indiana, where he purchased land and carried on farming. He- was married in Ohio and had two sons, one now deceased, and the other a resident of Sharpsville, Indiana. In 1832 Richard Nash was again married, his second union being with Margaret Moffett, by whom he had seven chil- dren, all of whom are now living.
William G. Nash is the second child and eldest son of the second mar- riage. He was reared in the county of his nativity and assisted his father in the cultivation of the old farm until the fall of 1861, when, feeling that his duty to his country called him to the scene of battle, he enlisted in Company F, Third Indiana Cavalry, as a private. He served for three years and two. months, and participated in the second battle of Bull Run, the engagements at South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Brandy Sta- tion, Upperville, Gettysburg, Williamsburg, Mine Run, Cold Harbor, Wilder- ness, Petersburg, the Wilson raid and others of minor importance. His serv- ice was active and often of a most dangerous nature, but he was never wounded, and after more than three years of loyal service he was honorably discharged, in Indianapolis, in September, 1864.
Returning to his home in Fayette county, Indiana, Mr. Nash entered: the employ of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad, driving a team. In 1865 he came to Tipton county, Indiana, where he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land. In 1866 he worked for the railroad company, and the following year began the operation of his farm, of which only fifteen acres had been cleared, the remainder being covered with brush and native forest timber. The house that stood on the farm was a three- room dwelling, built of planks, placed vertically, and in this home he con- tinued to reside until it was replaced by his present fine brick residence, erected in 1877. In 1873 he built a large barn, and other substantial improvements have been added, making the farm one of the most valuable. and attractive in Cicero township. In 1895 Mr. Nash added to his landed possessions by the purchase of one hundred and seventy acres on section 9, Cicero township, and thus has he acquired a handsome property through his- own well directed labors.
In November, 1867, Mr. Nash was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca.
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E. Galloway, a native of Greene county, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Isabel (Buick) Galloway. They are now the parents of eight children: Leroy B., who married Winona Berryman; Estella, wife of Carl Gifford, by whom she has a son, John; John R., who married Jane Frier, and has one daughter, Jean A .; Laura, wife of Frank Burkhardt, has one daughter, Emily; Lula, twin sister of Laura; Bonnie J., William G. and Robert R., all at home. All of the children were born in Tipton county and have been carefully educated in order that they might be ready to meet life's respon- sible duties. Mr. Nash does all in his power to promote the happiness and welfare of his family, and in social circles the members of the household occupy an enviable position.
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