USA > Indiana > Union County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 18
USA > Indiana > Fayette County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 18
USA > Indiana > Franklin County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 18
USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 18
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county, Indiana, died while in office. Mrs. Nancy Peele lived and died in Iowa, as did her younger sister, Mrs. Fanny Webb. The father of these children departed this life in 1859, when he was in his seventy-sixth year.
John D. Jones, the father of our subject, was born in Green township, Wayne county, June 1, 1815. By earnest study he managed to acquire an excellent education, and for a quarter of a century he was a teacher in the local schools. Beginning when a mere boy, his first class assembled in a room of a neighbor's cabin, and later he arrived at the dignity of having a log school-house over which to preside. He devoted a portion of each year to agriculture, but always taught for at least the winter term. He carried on the old homestead for years, then selling it and buying another. During the civil war he was in poor health and could not enter the service, but he bought and sold horses to the government, and was a strong Abolitionist. Formerly he had been a Jefferson Democrat, but he allied himself with the Republican party and was glad to vote for Lincoln. He died as he had lived, strong in the faith of the Baptist denomination, the date of his demise being June 4, 1870. By his marriage to Susan Clements, he had five children, namely: William M., who died at the age of eleven years; Isaac, who is employed by the Hoosier Drill Company; Benjamin, who was a blacksmith, and died in Anthony, Kansas; Sarah, of Dayton, Ohio; and Josephine, wife of J. M. Hamilton, of the same city.
Sylvester H. Jones was born on his grandfather's old farm near Will- iamsburg, Wayne county, August 22, 1853. He received an excellent edu- cation, being graduated in Spiceland Academy, in 1872. Later he accepted a position as a bookkeeper for the firm of Osborn & Beard, contractors and builders, of Economy, Indiana, remaining with that house for some three years. As a bookkeeper he succeeded, but sober reflection brought him to the conclusion that as such his possibilities were extremely limited. He pos- sessed exceptional natural ability as a mechanic, and February, ISSI, he took a position with the Indiana Car Company, of Cambridge, where he made such rapid progress that he was placed in charge of one hundred and sixty- eight men in July following. In his department from twelve to fourteen cars a day were made, and during his two years' service in that plant he gained invaluable experience, and it became evident that he was in his natural field of enterprise. In `1883 he entered the employ of the Panhandle Railroad Company as a builder of bridges, and time and again he was given entire charge of the work as superintendent. At the end of a year he came to Richmond, where for fifteen years he has been a valued employe of the Hoosier Drill Company. In 1890 he was put in charge of the experimental pattern department, and five years later was promoted to the superintendency of the factory. Here he has over three hundred men under his instructions,
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and has charge of all of the mechanical construction and inventions of the business. In the interests of the company, he has reconstructed and improved nearly every machine which they now manufacture, and has patented a number of valuable inventions. The constantly increasing sales of the com- pany's machines, in this and foreign countries, attest the value of the improve- ments made by Mr. Jones, and are a substantial and incontrovertible tribute to his skill and wise management of the business.
In 1889 Mr. Jones was ordained as a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which denomination he is enthusiastic and a leader. He was one of seven persons who organized a congregation and reclaimed and reconstructed what was known as the old Pearl Street church. At the time that the First Methodist church was built on East Main street, the old structure had been abandoned, but by the energetic efforts of Mr. Jones and a few others, who felt that the work of the Master in this populous district of the city should be vigorously maintained, the now prosperous and promising Fifth Street church has risen, like the fabled Phoenix, from the ashes of the past. An able pastor and officials, and devoted workers in every department of the church's activities, prophesy well for the future, while much good has already been accomplished. The building was remodeled and made thoroughly attractive and comfortable, the cost of the fittings being about two thousand dollars. For some time Mr. Jones served as the super- intendent of the Sunday-school, and in many ways he has used his means and influence for the welfare of the church.
While a resident of Economy, Indiana, the marriage of Mr. Jones and Miss Mary Northcotte was celebrated, in 1877. Their eldest son, William, now in the employ of the Hoosier Drill Company as a time-keeper and clerk, was educated in the high school here and in the Richmond Business College. The two younger children, Bessie M. and Paul, are at home. The family reside at No. 218 North Thirteenth street, in a comfortable and pleasant home.
ALPHEUS TEST.
Over half a century ago this respected citizen of Richmond, Wayne county, came to this place, and during the greater part of this period he has been actively engaged in manufacturing. His reputation as a business man is of the best, and throughout his long commercial career his transactions have been marked by sterling honesty, fairness and justice. He follows in the footsteps of his sturdy, conscientious Quaker ancestors, and is himself a member of the Society of Friends.
It is a well established fact that the founders of the Test family in the United States carne from England with William Penn, and settled in Penn- sylvania. (See sketch of Dr. Zaccheus Test, printed elsewhere in this work. )
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Samuel Test, the paternal grandfather of our subject, however, was born in Salem, Salem county, New Jersey, to which state some of the Tests had eventually gone to dwell. This Samuel Test was born, as the Quaker chro- nology states it, the 2d month, 12th day, of 1728, while his wife, Sarah, was born the 12th inonth, 24th day, of 1737. In his youth he learned the hat- ter's trade, but in later years he gave his attention to other enterprises. Coming west, he stayed in Cincinnati and other cities for some time and ultimately took up his abode in Union county, Indiana, and while there was interested in a milling business. His last years were spent in Richmond and vicinity, he being well known and greatly esteemed, especially in the Society of Friends, of which he was a zealous and consistent member.
Samuel Test, Jr., father of our subject, was a native of Salem, New Jersey, who with his wife and children came to this state in pioneer days. His death took place in Richmond the 9th month, 18th day, of 1856. Like his father before him, he had mastered the business of manufacturing hats, but after his removal to the Hoosier state he was chiefly occupied in running a flouring-mill, and in similar pursuits. His marriage to Sarah Maxwell was solemnized the 5th month, 19th day, of 1796. He was born the Ist month, 16th day, of 1774, while his wife's birth took place the 10th month, 14th day, of 1777. Their children comprised the following: Elizabeth, born 3d month, 31st day, 1797; Samuel, 3d month, 6th day, 1798; Rachel, 5th mouth, 14th day, 1800; John, 2d month, 25th day, 1802; Rachel (the second of the name), 9th month, 19th day, 1804; Sarah, 5th month, 23d day, 1811; Lydia, 3d month, 12th day 1813; Ruth, 4th month, 16th day, 1818; Zaccheus, 11th month, 10th day, 1806; Mary, 6th month, 25th day, ISO8, and Alpheus, 2d month, 6th day, 1821.
Alpheus Test, the subject of this article, was therefore the youngest child in this large family, and his birth took place on his parents' homestead in Union county, Indiana. He was trained in the industrious, upright, just ways of the Friends and in his youth laid the foundations of a useful and happy life. In 1847 he settled in the town of Richmond, where he has since dwelt. Until the close of the civil war, a period of about eighteen years, he was extensively engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods, which business proved a profitable one. Subsequently he lived upon a farm located some four miles south of this place, in Wayne township, and for six years was successfully occupied in tilling the soil. Returning then to Richmond he began manufacturing what are now well and favorably known as the Rich- mond sod-cutters, a patent article of his own invention. Since that time he has continued in this branch of manufacture and does a very fair business in this line.
The first marriage of Alpheus Test was to Elizabeth A. Moffitt, by
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whom he had three children; Charles E., a prominent citizen of Indian- apolis, is the patentee of an improved bicycle chain and is now manufactur- ing the same, doing a large and paying business. Emma, the daughter, is the wife of V. D. Graves and resides in Wayne township; and the youngest died in infancy. For his second wife Mr. Test married Miss Phoebe Hyatt. His present wife was Martha Fulghum, of French-English descent, born and raised in Randolph county, Indiana.
ASA T. WHITNEY.
This well known and highly esteemed agriculturist, residing on section 14, Blooming Grove township, is a native of Franklin county, born near Cedar Grove, January 20, 1823, and is a representative of one of its inost prominent pioneer families-one that has taken a very active and important part in the upbuilding and development of the county. It was about 1814 that his grandfather, Moses Whitney, a native of Tioga county, New York, emigrated with his family to Indiana and took up his residence near Cedar Grove, in Highland township, Franklin county, becoming one of the earliest settlers of that locality. There he improved a farm, upon which he and his wife spent their remaining days. To this worthy couple were born fourteen children, but, so far as known, all have passed away except two: Moses, who lives near Cincinnati, Ohio; and Mary, wife of William Hudson, who lives on the old homestead in Highland township. Another daughter, Phœbe, went to Texas many years ago, and it is uncertain whether she is still living.
Jeremiah Whitney, the father of our subject, was about fourteen years of age when he came with his parents to Franklin county, where, with the other children of the family, he was reared amid new and wild surroundings. He married Miss Clarissa Tyler, a native of Vermont, who was but a child when she came to this state with her parents, Nathan and Olive Tyler. After their marriage they continued to make their home in Highland township until about 1830, when they removed to Metamora township, where the father pur- chased a farm and lived for many years. Froni there he went to Spring- field township, where he continued to reside until his death. He died very suddenly, while attending church near Brookville, December 18, 1854. His wife survived him many years, dying about the year 1886. He was well known and highly respected, and as a minister of the Baptist church preached the gospel for many years. He was a very industrious man, having followed the occupation of farming throughout life, and commanded the esteem and confidence of all with whom he came in contact.
Asa T. Whitney, whose name heads this biography, was the only child of his parents, and his boyhood and youth were spent at home in much the usual
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manner of farmer lads of his day. He had but limited opportunities for gaining an education, but early became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He remained with his parents until his marriage, which was celebrated February 3, 1842, Miss Polly Ann Vincent becoming his wife. She was born in Fayette county, Indiana, January 8. 1824, and is a daughter of Jonathan Vincent. To our subject and his wife have been born five children, four sons, who are still living, and one daugh- ter, Clarissa Elizabeth, who died in infancy. The sons are William Vincent, who was born February 24, 1843, and is now living in Vermilion county, Illinois; Isaac Wilson, who was born November 17, 1846, and now resides on his grandfather's old homestead in Springfield township, Franklin county: Jeremiah Hiram, who was born May 31. 1850, and is a blacksmith of Fair- field, Franklin county; and John Kingham, who was born September 4, 1854. and resides near his father, in Blooming Grove township.
With the exception of twelve years spent in Illinois, Mr. Whitney has always lived in Franklin county, and is now the owner of a pleasant home in Blooming Grove township, where he has carried on agricultural pursuits with marked success for several years. He and his wife are widely and favorably known, and have a host of warm friends, who esteem them highly for their genuine worth.
JOHN W. COOK.
John Wesley Cook, the progressive owner of Clover Hill Farm, in Wayne township, Wayne county, is respected and highly esteemed by all who know him. His history, in brief, is the history of a man who has con- quered unusual difficulties and has faithfully discharged all duties assigned him and held inviolate every trust reposed in him. Such men deserve fortune and are entirely worthy of honor and position, yet they are usually found pursuing the even tenor of their way, undisturbed by thought of prominence; and thus it is with our subject. As a voter he is a Republican, but he has never been an aspirant for public office, as, indeed, his time is fully occupied by his business cares.
The old house in which our subject was born, September 30, 1860, and in which he is still living, was built by his grandfather, Seth Cook, who set- tled on this tract of land over eighty years ago, and here spent the remainder of his life. The parents of John W. were Elijah and Rachel M. (Crampton) Cook, the former now deceased and the latter still living at the old home- stead, with our subject. Elijah Cook stayed on the home farm after he attained his majority, and for a period was in partnership with John C. Boyd in the manufacture of lime at Middleboro. Shortly before his father's death he returned to the farin and took charge of affairs and tenderly cared for his widowed mother, who was an invalid for many years and survived her son,
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her death occurring when she was eighty-eight years of age. Elijah Cook bought more land as the years passed, and thus enlarged the boundaries of the homestead, making it a place of two hundred and twenty acres. He was energetic and enterprising in his business methods, and had he lived a few years longer, to carry out his plans, would have been a rich man, compara- tively speaking. He was one of the first in this section of the Union to become interested in the breeding of fine Poland-China hogs, and exhibited excellent specimens of the stock, in competition with others, at county fairs. Death closed his busy career July 17, 1877, when he was in his fifty-fourth year.
When John W. Cook, a youth of about seventeen, succeeded his father on the farm he found before him a task which seemed almost an impossible one to perfom. Upward of four thousand dollars must be paid to his grand- mother's heirs and to the heirs of his father ere the property could be really his, and in accordance with the will of Elijah Cook, the young man must not shirk the responsibility. At first he deemed it best to work but a part of the farm himself and to allow his brother-in-law to operate the main home- stead. One season, however, convinced the youth that this plan was not a good one, and that he had better undertake the task of managing the whole
place, single-handed. Desiring above all things to be perfectly just and upright, he was now deeply troubled about the verbal agreement into which he had entered with his sister's husband. An opportunity, however, pre- sented itself for declaring the whole arrangement at an end, when the other party in the affair refused to stand by his agreement in the matter of a division of a crop, and decided that the lion's share must fall to him. John WV. then asserted his rights and entered upon the great task of his life in earnest, -the payment of the indebtedness on the farm. Though friends discouraged him at the outset he persevered in his noble intention, and, aided by the faith and co-operation of his devoted mother, met the pay- ments one by one as they fell due. He denied himself everything but the barest necessaries of life in order to do this, and worked early and late. The farm was sadly in need of improvements, and an outlay of several hundred dollars was imperative, and this, too, he accomplished. Several years ago he reached the goal of his ambition, and the farm, unincumbered, became his. For the past twelve years he has been engaged in the raising of Poland-China hogs, of which he makes a specialty, and at present he has about one hundred thoroughbreds. At various county fairs he has taken the prizes on hogs, and at the Ohio state fair he was awarded the first premium and sweepstakes, even with strong competitors. About ten years ago he commenced the raising of shorthorn cattle, and in this, too, he has met with success. He sells stock extensively and ships to distant states.
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Well built barns are on his premises, these being especially constructed to accommodate his live stock in the winter season. For three years he has been a stockholder and director in the Ohio Poland-China Record Association.
Mr. Cook is a member of the Friends' church at Smyrna, Indiana, and patterns his life upon the upright, peace-loving principles of that denomina- tion. On the 10th of September, 1886, Mr. Cook married Miss Anna M. Richey, formerly a teacher. Her father, L. W. Richey, was a merchant and a justice of the peace in New Paris, Ohio, for many years. Three children grace the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cook, namely: Frank Elijah, born December, 21, 1888; Bessie R., born February 24, 1891; and John Carl, born February 9, 1898.
JESSE CHRISMAN.
Occupying a representative position among the leading farmers of Fay- ette county, Indiana, and residing on his fine farm three miles north of Connersville, is found the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, Jesse Chrisman.
Mr. Chrisman was born in the township in which he now lives, August 28, 1839, and here passed his boyhood days, working on his father's farm in summer and in winter attending the district schools. His parents, Jacob and Nancy (Swisher) Chrisman, were natives, respectively, of South Caro- lina and Ohio and were married in the latter state. Jacob Chrisman, Sr., the grandfather of Jesse, moved from South Carolina to Ohio at an early day and settled in Preble county, where he passed the rest of his life and ·died. He was of German extraction. His children, three in number, were Lewis, who came to Indiana, but who afterward returned to Ohio and died in that state; Jacob Jr., the father of Jesse; and Mrs. Barbara Kaylor.
The younger Jacob Chrisman came with his wife to Indiana soon after their marriage, entered land in Fayette county, and here spent his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died in 1863. His first wife died in IS40, leaving two children, namely: William, who died in Fayette county, leaving a family; and Jesse, the subject of this sketch. By his second mar- riage Jacob Chrisman had no children. He was a man of industry and ster- ling integrity and to his own honest efforts was due his success in life. He improved a good farm and in his later years was surrounded with comfort and plenty. During the war of 1812 he was a young man in Ohio and served all through that war. Politically he was in early life a Whig, though he never aspired to political honors. He was a Christian man, active in church work, and generous to a fault, and in a quiet way did much to assist the worthy poor. Mr. Chrisman's mother was the only one of the Swisher family that came to Indiana, and, as above stated, her death occurred a few
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years after their settlement here. She was the third of four children, the others being Jesse, Lewis and Martin.
Jesse Chrisman remained under the parental roof until he was twenty- two years of age. It was then that the civil war came on and he left home to enter the Union army. He enlisted in September, 1861, for a term of three years, in the Second Indiana Cavalry, under John A. Bridgland, colonel, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. The first engagement in which he participated was the battle of Shiloh. A detailed account of his army life would cover much of the history of the civil war, and it is not our purpose here to write a history of that war. Suffice it to say that he took part in numerous engagements, including those at Corinth and Lookout mountain. He was never wounded, although he was some- times in the hottest of the fight; but on one occasion, at Gallatin, Tennessee, he was captured with part of his regiment and sent to Hartville, Tennessee, where he was paroled. He was then sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, and a short time afterward to Indianapolis, where he was exchanged and whence he again went to the front. Only once during his army service was he home on leave of absence, and then for a short time. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to Indianapolis, received an honorable discharge and came back to his old home.
In the meantime, in 1864, his father had died and the administrator had divided the estate according to law. The following year, 1865, Mr. Chris- man married and settled down to farming and has been engaged in agricult- ural pursuits here ever since. He has retained his portion of the homestead and has added to it adjoining land until he now has two hundred and forty acres of choice valley land, its location being three miles north of Con- nersville.
As a citizen, neighbor and friend Mr. Chrisman is held in the highest esteem by those who know him best. Broad-minded, generous and genial, he has along life's journey exerted an influence for good, by his kindly act and generous deed assisting others on the road to success. He has always been an ardent Republican, and in recognition of his sterling merits his fellow citizens have honored him with local office. He has served as super- visor and in other minor offices, and for the past nine years has been town- ship trustee, his faithful service gaining him re-election from time to time. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Maple- wood and are active workers in the same, he being a trustee and steward.
Mrs. Chrisman was formerly Miss Catherine Price, who was born in Franklin county, Indiana, in 1844, daughter of Williamn and Elizabeth (Clemmens) Price, pioneers of that county. Mr. Price was for years engaged in farming in Franklin county, from which place he came to Fayette county
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.
and bought a flouring-mill, which he ran during the remainder of his life, being successful and accumulating a snug fortune. In politics he was a Republican and in religion a Methodist, one of the pillars of the church to which he belonged. His children were as follows: Allison, Richard and Caleb, deceased; Tamizen, now Mrs. Hinebaugh; Emmons, of Connersville; Morris, of Idaho: Catherine, Mrs. Chrisman; and Davis, of Fayette county. Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman have six children, viz .: Edward R., of the United States Army; Lora, wife of R. Henry; Albert L., who is engaged in the hardware business at Connersville; Minnie, Mrs. Bush; and Oliver P. and Gayson, at home.
The eldest son was educated at West Point and is fast making a name for himself. He entered the United States Military Academy in 1884 and graduated with honors in 1888. He was appointed second lieutenant in the Second United States Infantry, which regiment was engaged in the Sioux campaign in 1890-1, and here he was mentioned for meritorious conduct. The next year he entered the School of Torpedoes and Submarine Mining, at Willets' Point. In the same year he was married to Florence Isabell Ryan, daughter of the late William and Mary Ryan, of New York city, and sister of Captain John P. Ryan, a classmate at West Point. He was appointed professor of military science and tactics at the University of Idaho, and also held the chair of mathematics. On the declaration of the Spanish-American war he joined his regiment, the Sixth Infantry, as a first lieutenant, and conducted himself in such a manner during the battle of San Juan Hill that he was breveted during the next session of congress for brav- ery. Since the war Captain Chrisman has been stationed in all parts of the United States, mustering out troops, and at the completion of this work will join his regiment, now in Manila, the youngest captain in the regular army.
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