USA > Indiana > Union County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 2
USA > Indiana > Fayette County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 2
USA > Indiana > Franklin County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 2
USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 2
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
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Commercial Bank of Hagerstown, occurred almost half a century ago, and here he is still making his home, respected and looked up to, as was his father before him.
The latter, Jacob Mason, was born in Ohio, in 1818, and in his boyhood he came to Indiana with his father, John Mason. On reaching man's estate, Jacob Mason wedded Louisa Jane Guynn, a native of Kentucky, who was born June 8, 1821, and nearly all of their long and happy married life was passed on the old farm in Jefferson township, already mentioned. By industry and good management they accumulated valuable property, in addition to rearing a large family of children and equipping them well for the battle of life. Jacob Mason was a Democrat of the Jacksonian school, and was a man of unquestioned integrity of character. His death, June 8, 1880 (which day was the anniversary of his wife's birth), was felt to be a public loss to the community with which he had so long been identified. The wife and mother is still living at the old homestead with her son, Benja- min F., and daughter, Laura Belle. Of her ten children, only two are deceased, namely: Charles Emory, who died in boyhood, and John B., whose death occurred when he was about twenty-five years old. The other children are: Martha Ann, Mary Ellen, Sarah J., Louvenia F., Norman Eddy, Laura Belle (twin of Norman E.) and Clement L. With the excep- tion of the eldest child, all were born at the Mason homestead in Jefferson township.
Benjamin F. Mason's birth took place April 3, 1849, and during his youth he aided in the labors of the farm, thoroughly mastering agriculture in its various branches. He was a student by nature, and made rapid progress in his school work. Subsequently to leaving the common schools it was his privilege to attend the Indiana State University, where, in 1876, he was graduated in the law department. Since that time he has devoted his atten- tion to his profession and has an office in Hagerstown, where he has built up an extensive and remunerative practice. When the Commercial Bank was organized here, in 1880, he was one of the foremost in the enterprise, and has served ever since its founding as president of the institution, which ranks- well with the leading ones of the county. In his political faith Mr. Mason is a Democrat, believing thoroughly in the principles of the party with which his father was connected for many years. In all his relations with others he- is sincere, just and upright, meriting to the fullest degree their respect and honor.
GEORGE WASHINGTON ROBBINS, M. D.
More than half a century ago this honored citizen of Richmond took up. the practice of medicine, to which he has conscientiously and self-sacrificingly devoted his mature life. His paternal ancestors were of Welsh stock, but
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since pre-Revolutionary times the family has been represented in America. Our subject's grandfather, Daniel Robbins, was born in western Pennsyl- vania, but was an early settler of Adams county, Ohio, and died on his farm there. His six sons have all, likewise, passed to the better land.
One of the number, Philip, the father of the Doctor, was born August 15, 1784, in the western part of the Keystone state, and, after residing in Adams county, Ohio, until the fall of 1829, he started for Wabash county, Indiana, with his wife, Phœbe (Caldwell) Robbins, and their five children. The road becoming impassable ere they had reached their destination, they stopped, perforce, in the northwestern part of Wayne county, and it so happened that they liked the country, and at the end of three years bought a quarter-section of land near Economy, in Perry township. But a small patch of this property was cleared, and the father and sons had abundant work in cutting down the forest and preparing the ground for cultivation. A quiet, God-fearing man, faithful in all the relations of life, he was respected by every one. He mar- ried Miss Caldwell October 3, 1815, and three sons and two daughters were born to the estimable couple: Sarah J. married G. W. Connor, and both died in 1855; George W. is the second child; Rev. James Caldwell (named for his maternal grandfather), was born in 1822 and died in 1889; Daniel, whose death occurred in 1882, was a life-long merchant of Economy, Wayne county; and Angeline has always made her home in this section of the state. Rev. James C. Robbins, just mentioned, was a prominent minister in the Methodist Episcopal church for many years, his pastoral labors beginning about 1840, and being pursued in Indiana, Wisconsin and other places. The father of these children departed this life on his old homestead, November 27, 1855. The wife and mother, who was born August II, 1789, in western Pennsylvania, died September 8, 1863.
The birth of Dr. George W. Robbins took place in West Union, Adams county, Ohio, March 15, 1820. His boyhood was filled with most arduous labor on the farm in this county, and by the time that he had arrived at his majority he felt that he preferred to enter some other line of occupation. At this juncture, when he was in doubt as to what course he should pursue, his uncle, Dr. Thomas McGarraugh, visited the pioneer home and pursuaded the young man to choose his own profession. Accordingly, the latter went to the home of Dr. McGarraugh, in Frankfort, Ohio, and, for about a year, studied with this able instructor. Returning home, on account of illness, young Robbins then had Dr. Henry Carver as his preceptor for two years, and in 1845 he commenced practicing in Economy and vicinity, where he had been known from boyhood. For a period of forty years he continued to reside in that town, ministering to the sick and suffering, and beloved by the whole community. After attending lectures in the Ohio Medical College, in
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1863, he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Among the first to espouse the "germ" theory, in the west, he made special study of remedies for use in certain manifestations of disease, with the result that he proved to his own satisfaction, and to that of many others, the efficacy of a combination of antiseptic drugs. Upon this he obtained a patent, and has manufactured and sold in great quantities, it being known as Robbins' Anti- septic Compound. Since 1885 the Doctor has been engaged in practice in Richinond, whither his fame had preceded him.
Fraternally Dr. Robbins is a member of the blue lodge, in the Masonic order, and in his political affiliations he has been a Whig and a Republican. For many years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a liberal contributor to various worthy philanthropies. In October, 1848, he married Juliet Forsyth, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and of their five chil- dren Sarah J. and Florence May are deceased. John F. is a successful attorney of Richmond; Philip C. B., of Detroit, Michigan, is interested in various business enterprises there, and is a traveling salesman for the Cincin- nati firm of Proctor & Gamble; and Hattie is the wife of Eugene Hatch, of Detroit. Mrs. Robbins is a daughter of John and Juliet Forsyth, the former at one time sheriff of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania.
EZRA MARTIN.
Among the representative early settlers of Fayette county, Indiana, was found the subject of this memoir, Ezra Martin, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, January 10, 1816, a son of early pioneers of that place. His father, Samuel Martin, was a native of Redstone county, Pennsylvania, born September 4, 1778; his mother, whose maiden name was Anna Potter, was born in New Jersey, February 24, 1784. After their marriage Samuel and Anna Martin moved from Pennsylvania to Butler county, Ohio, where they resided until about the year 1831, when they came over into Indiana and set- tled on the southeast quarter of section 20, Connersville township, Fayette county. At the time of their settlement here the family consisted of parents and seven children, -four sons and three daughters. Here Samuel Martin improved a farm and here he and his wife passed the rest of their days and died. His death occurred January 9, 1851; hers, March 4, 1863. He was a man of many estimable traits of character and was highly esteemed through- out the community. Both he and his wife were lifelong members of the Baptist church, in which for many years he was a deacon. Their seven chil- dren have all passed away. Daniel, the eldest, remained in Ohio, and there died August 11, 1849, leaving a family. Russel P. was for years a resident of Muncie, Indiana, where he died March 22, 1874, leaving a family of seven children. Rachel married Stout Atherton, and she died November 5, 1851,
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leaving a large family. Mary married Ezekiel Squires; she left no family. Sarah was the second wife of Stout Atherton; she had no children. Ezra was the next in order of birth; and Maxwell was the youngest.
Ezra Martin was fifteen years old when he came with his parents to Fayette county. He was reared to farm life, and in his youth had the advantage of only a common-school education. Being naturally a student, however, he acquired, by close observation and home study and reading, a wide range of useful information. He remained on the home farm until his marriage, after which he settled at Bentonville, in Fayette county, where for ten years he was clerk in his father-in-law's store. At the end of the ten years, his father having died, he returned to the homestead to take care of his mother and sister. After his mother's death he purchased the claims of the other heirs to the homestead, and on it he passed the rest of his life and there died. His death occurred August 28, 1893, in his seventy-seventh year. Mr. Martin was one of the representative men of his county. He was a Republican and took an active interest in political matters, serving six years as county commissioner and also filling the office of county assessor. Religiously he was a Baptist, and was one of the prominent and active mem- bers of his church. His many excellent traits of character and his blameless life endeared him to the community in which he dwelt, and his death brought a loss not only to his own family but also to his whole neighborhood.
Mr. Martin was married January 13, 1842, to Miss Caroline Dale, daughter of Joseph Dale, one of the prominent citizens of Harrison township, Fayette county, her birth having occurred at the old homestead December 15, 1821. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin were born eight children, seven of whom are living, six sons and one daughter, viz .: Marshall, of Connersville, Indi- ana; Marcus, a farmer of Fayette county, owning and occupying a portion of his father's homestead; Lewis N., a resident of Kansas; Alice, wife of William Porter, of Connersville township, Fayette county; Elmer, of Con- nersville; Leon A., at the homestead; and Charles, of Connersville township. Emma died in infancy.
Leon A., who lives with his mother at the home place, was born August 23, 1853. Like his father, he has always been a student. He completed his education with a normal training, and for twenty years has been success- fully engaged in teaching. He is married and has two sons, Harry G. and Gussie B.
JOSEPH DALE.
Joseph Dale was born at Georgetown, Woodford county, Kentucky, April 12, 1792, son of George Dale, who was likewise a native of that county. At the age of seven years Joseph was left an orphan, and when he was fourteen he came to Indiana with an older brother, Alexander Dale, who located at
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Brookville. Alexander Dale engaged in the distillery business, and for some time Joseph was in his employ. At the age of twenty the latter married Mary Ann Bradburn, a daughter of Dr. Bradburn, and after their marriage they settled in a frontier home in Fayette county, entering land from the government. He cleared the forest from his land and in time developed a fine farm and made a comfortable home for his family. He was a great trader, and for a time was engaged in merchandising. At the homestead above referred to twelve of their thirteen children were born. With one exception, all reached maturity, the exception being William, who died at the age of seven years. Five of the members are still living, viz .: Mrs. Caroline Martin; Mary, wife of John Rea; De Witt C .; Susan Jane, widow of James Elliott; and Joseph, -all but the first named being residents of Kan- sas. Those deceased were George W., Eliza Flora, Sarah C., Martha and Amanda Minerva.
After an active and useful life, respected and esteemed by all who knew him, Joseph Dale passed away August 6, 1862, his death following closely that of his wife, who died August 25, 1861. Both were devoted members of the Baptist church. An enterprising and public-spirited citizen, he took an interest in all that pertained to the welfare of his locality. Two terms he served as county commissioner, and as the incumbent of that office did much to advance the material growth and development of Fayette county.
JOHN M. HARTLEY.
In Colonel John M. Hartley, of Hagerstown, Wayne county, are united the best qualities of the patriotic, progressive American citizen. Keenly alive to the responsible duties which devolve upon him, the soul of upright- ness and integrity, he possesses the friendship of all who know him, and no one is more justly entitled to representation in this volume.
His father, Josiah Hartley, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, whence he removed to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in his early manhood, there marry- ing Ann Brady. In 1838 they came to Indiana with their two children, the younger of whom was John M., and locating in Milton, Wayne county, the father found employment at his trade as carpenter and as a mechanic. Six children were born to this worthy couple during their residence in Milton, but the only survivors of the family are the Colonel and two of his sisters. The wife and mother died in the spring of 1852, and the father spent his last years with his children, dying at the home of his daughter Harriet, in Kansas, some years ago. Joseph, the eldest son, served in the Nineteenth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry for the full term of his enlist- ment and was wounded, during the war of the Rebellion. He died at Madi- son, this state, in the spring of 1897, from injuries received in the explosion
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of a steam boiler. Henry, another son, who served in the war as a private of the Tenth Illinois Infantry, died at Knightstown, Indiana, in the spring of 1888, and left a wife, son and daughter to mourn his loss. Josiah was a member of Company F, Nineteenth Indiana, was wounded at the battle of Gainesville, and died at Bellevue Hospital, Philadelphia, in August, 1862. George W. died in infancy. Mary Ann, the eldest daughter became the wife of Alonzo Rice, and now resides in Kansas City, Missouri. Harriet, who married Amos Crawford, died in Kansas, and left four sons and a daughter. Elvira is the wife of Thomas J. Hanna, of McCordsville, Indiana.
Colonel John M. Hartley was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1836, and nearly the whole of his life has been spent in the state of Indiana. He had but limited educational advantages, but was diligent in his studies, and · experience and observation have been excellent teachers. He assisted his father at carpenter work and then served an apprenticeship to the cabinet-maker's trade. Thus he was occupied until the breaking out of the civil war, when he was among the first to respond to his country's call. He enlisted for one year in Company E, Sixteenth Regiment of Indi- ana Infantry, which regiment was the first to rendezvous at Camp Wayne, Richmond, Indiana. In the ensuing June it was sent to Harper's Ferry, Virginia, where it remained for several months, and the following winter was passed at Frederick City, Maryland, in General Banks' command. Sev- eral skirmishes were had with the rebels in the early part of 1862, but the Sixteenth was in no serious battles, and was mustered out of service at Wash- ington, D. C., about the Ist of May. On his return to this state the Colo- nel located at Knightstown, and soon afterward, when the contest between the north and the south had reached a most threatening state and the fate of the Union hung gloomily in the balance, he commenced raising a com- pany of volunteers. Though his patriotic ardor was undampened, his plans were terminated by illness, and it was not until July, 1864, that he was enabled to re-enter the service of his country. At that time he was made captain of Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, but was soon promoted to the rank and duties of lieutenant-colo- nel of the regiment, acting in that capacity until the close of his term of enlistment. During the greater part of this period the regiment was sta- tioned in Kentucky, with headquarters at Murfreesboro, engaged in guard duty and in guerrilla warfare.
Since 1866 the Colonel has been closely associated with the commercial interests of Hagerstown. For some years he worked at his trade and later was occupied in the insurance business. Since the Natural Gas Company was organized here, in the fall of 1887, he has been its secretary, and for the past four years he has been the secretary and treasurer of the Railway Cycle
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Manufacturing Company, which was founded here in February, 1895. Both he and his son are largely interested in this flourishing concern, the business of which is constantly increasing in volume and importance.
The Colonel is active as a Republican partisan, and during President Harrison's administration he served as postmaster of Hagerstown. He was trustee of Jefferson township for two terms, or for four years, and in these public capacities he won the confidence and respect of the people by his fidelity to their interests. Fraternally he is identified with Bowman Post, No. 250, Grand Army of the Republic, and H. A. Lodge, No. 25, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
On the last day of January, 1858, the Colonel married Miss Amanda, the eighteen-year-old daughter of John W. Macy, who had removed to Rush county, Indiana (where Mrs. Hartley was born), from North Carolina. Later the Macy family dwelt in Knightstown and Milton, Indiana, and, after spending eleven years in the last mentioned town, settled in Franklin county, this state, where the father departed this life in November, 1886; the mother, who was afflicted with blindness for many years, died at the home of our sub- ject and wife, in December, 1897, when in her eighty-fourth year. The only daughter of the Colonel is Laura, widow of Isaac D. Hines, and for some time an employe of the Commercial Bank of Hagerstown. The only son, Charles H., is the superintendent of the Ashland (Wisconsin) division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. Colonel Hartley and wife are members of the Christian church, and are in thorough sympathy with all endeavors to uplift and aid humanity.
D. W. MASON.
Deeds are thought crystallized, and according to their brilliancy do we judge the worth of a man to the country which produced him, and in his works we expect to find the true index to his character. The study of the life of the representative American never fails to offer much of pleasing interest and valuable instruction, developing a mastering of expedients which has brought about wonderful results. The subject of this review is a worthy representative of that type of American character and of that progressive spirit which undeterred by seeming obstacles or disadvantages steadily presses forward to a desired end and accomplishes the result in view. In no pro- fession does advancement depend more entirely upon individual merit than in the law, and that Mr. Mason has attained a position of due relative distinc- tion at the bar of Wayne county is an unmistakable evidence of his ability. He is now practicing in Cambridge City, and has secured a liberal clientage.
He is one of the native sons of this county, his birth having occurred on a farın in Jefferson township, February 19, 1833. He comes of one of the
D. W. Mason
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respected pioneer families of this region, his father, John Mason, having emi- grated to this country in 1816, when the district was an almost unbroken wilderness. He was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and possessed the spirit, enterprise and courage of the true frontiersman, who undaunted by any obstacle bears the hardships of pioneer life in order to make a home for himself and family in a new country and manifests the greatest industry and perseverance in all his undertakings. Upon his arrival here he located in Washington township, but after a brief period removed to Jefferson town- ship and there improved a valuable farm. At the close of a long, busy and successful life of eighty-four years, he was called to the home beyond, March 3, 1869. His devoted wife, whose maiden name was Barbara Crull, attained the same age, her death occurring in 1872. They were the parents of fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters, but only five of the num- ber are now living: William J., John C., George W., D. W. and Hannah, widow of David Weaver.
D. W. Mason, whose name introduces this review, spent his boyhood days upon the parental homestead, his time being occupied with the various labors which fell to the lot of the boys of that day on the frontier. Though his educational privileges were limited, he was an apt student, and by his own persevering efforts he became well informed on general subjects. Not desir- ing to make agriculture his calling in life, he took up the study of law, and in 1861, at the age of twenty-eight years, was admitted to the bar of Wayne county. He at once began practice, and his careful preparation of cases and his devotion to his clients' interests soon secured to him a good patronage. He was living at Hagerstown and was enjoying a good practice when, on the 18th of December, 1862, he put aside all personal considerations in order to enter his country's service as a defender of the Union cause. He enlisted in the Ninth Indiana Cavalry, the One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment, as a private and was soon actively engaged in service in the south, loyally defending the starry banner and the cause it represented on many a southern battlefield. In August, 1863, in recognition of meritorious conduct, he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant and transferred from Company C to Company H, in the Ninth Cavalry. In December, 1864, he was com- missioned first lieutenant of the same company, and in July, 1865, was made captain of Company H, but as the war was then so nearly ended he was mustered out with the old rank. He rendered his country most effective service and made for himself an honorable military record. He participated in the engagements at Huntsville, Alabama, Florence, Sulphur Branch Trestle, Tennessee; Pulaski, Sugar Tree Gap, Columbia City, Tennessee; Franklin, and the two days' fight at Nashville and at Brentwood.
Returning to his home, Captain Mason resumed the practice of law, and 35
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for the past twenty-five years he has been a member of the bar of Cambridge City. In the spring of 1866 he received the nomination of the Republican party for the office of prosecuting attorney of the Wayne criminal circuit court, just organized. He was appointed by Governor Baker to fill that position from the spring until the time of the general election in the fall, when he was chosen by popular ballot to the office, and was continued there by successive re-elections until the fall of 1872. He discharged his duties with commendable fidelity and ability and won the commendation of all law- abiding citizens. During the period of his private practice of lawe he has been retained as counsel in some very important litigated interests. His pleas have been characterized by a clear and decisive logic and a lucid pres- entation rather than by flights of oratory, and his power is the greater before court or jury from the fact that his aim is ever to secure justice and not to enshroud the cause in a sentimental garb or illusion which will thwart the principles of right and equity involved.
In 1853 Mr. Mason was united in marriage to Miss Matilda E. Murray, daughter of William and Nancy Murray. Her father died in 1863, at the age of fifty-four years, and her mother, who was a native of Scotland, departed this life ten years subsequently, when in her sixty-fourth year. They were the parents of eleven children, but only three are living, Mrs. Mason, John W. and Alonzo. Our subject and his wife have two daugh- ters. Flora married John C. Hoover and now resides in Guthrie, Okla- homa. Dora Alice is the wife of Charles C. Bowker, a resident of Sarcoxie, Missouri, who possesses considerable literary merit and is a writer of note, having contributed many excellent articles to newspapers and magazines. Having spent his entire life in Wayne county, Mr. Mason is very widely known, and his extensive circle of friends and the warm regard in which he is held indicate his upright and honorable life.
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