USA > Indiana > Union County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 31
USA > Indiana > Fayette County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 31
USA > Indiana > Franklin County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 31
USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 31
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Himself a southerner by birth, a native of Guilford county, North Caro- lina, Mr. Newman never wavered in his allegiance to the government, and bravely stood by the Union in the time of its peril, as will be seen later on in this narrative. In tracing his family history, it is found that he is a son of Jonathan and Eleanor (Dicks) Newman, grandson of John and Rachel New- man, and great-grandson of John Newman, Sr., who was a native of Ireland and came to America during colonial days. Being a member of the peaceful sect of Quakers, he did not take an active part in the war of the Revolution. He was married in Delaware, and afterward settled in North Carolina, whence his posterity have emigrated to all sections of this country. His son John
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Newman, Jr., lived and died in North Carolina, and the latter's son Jonathan owned a plantation in that state and followed his trade of wagon-making there until 1836. He was born December 3, 1794, and adhered to the faith of his forefathers until his marriage, when, on account of being married out- side the Society of Friends, they forfeited their membership. He refused reinstatement, and, later, further transgressed the strict laws of the creed by joining a militia company, of which he served as captain for thirteen years. In November, 1836, he arrived in Milton, Indiana, with a team of horses and wagon and with some money, which he invested in establishing himself in his accustomed business. He soon rose to a distinctive position among the peo- ple of this section, and was elected to numerous positions of trust and honor. He served as justice of the peace, township trustee and school director, and while acting in the last mentioned capacity the first school-house erected in Washington township was located at Milton, the funds therefor being raised by special tax. This was in 1846, and now, after many years of active serv- ice, the time-honored old school building is being used as a station by the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, it having been donated by the town. Mr .. Newman was summoned to his reward April 4, 1855, and was survived some years by his wife, whose death took place August 16, 1870, when she was in her seventy-second year. She was a daughter of William and granddaughter of James Dicks, prominent Friends and agriculturists of North Carolina, and of English descent.
All but the youngest of the six children of Jonathan and Eleanor New- man were born in North Carolina, and the eldest, Edmund B., the subject of this article, was born September 1, 1826. Granville S., the second child. is a farmer; Milo, unmarried, is managing the old homestead; and Henry C., who was born in this state, has led an active business life and is now retired. The daughters are Mrs. Elizabeth Atkinson and Mrs. Sallie Hussey.
After removing with the family to Milton, Edmund B. Newman con- tinued his education, and spent about two years at Cambridge City Seminary. In 1846 he commenced teaching, and had schools in Henry, Wayne and Fayette counties. Then, turning his attention to the law, he studied when- ever he had any leisure, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1857, in Centerville, by the circuit judge, Jehu T. Elliott. Since that time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, save when occupied in some official position requiring his whole attention.
In 1860 Mr. Newman was elected to represent Wayne county in the Indiana legislature, in which honorable body he served on the important committee on federal relations and upon that on the organization of the courts. In addition to this he was one of a committee of thirteen members to whom was referred a number of important resolutions, introduced at the
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beginning of the session, upon the disturbed state of the Union, and he also served in a special session of the legislature in 1861, called by Governor Morton subsequently to the firing upon Fort Sumter, for the purpose of mak- ing preparations in aid of the government and in support of the Union. Again, in 1862, he was honored with election to the legislative body, and aided in guiding the ship of state through the troublous and stormy session of that memorable year. A certain party of politicians introduced a bill seeking to take the military power out of the hands of Governor Morton and to place it in the province of a special military board, a large number of whose members were favoring the policy of discontinuing the war. Loyally and faithfully did Mr. Newman use his influence in the support of the presi- dent and governor, and all credit is due him for the wise and ripe judgment which he displayed. After the cessation of hostilities he received an appoint- ment as assistant assessor of internal revenue for the counties of Henry, Wayne, Fayette and Union, and continued to serve in this position for some six years. Elected to the office of township assessor of Washington town- ship, he faithfully performed the duties pertaining thereto and continued to hold this position for eighteen years.
The destinies of Edmund B. Newman and Miss Mary A. Harden were united by a marriage ceremony which took place September 1, 1847. She was born March 30, 1824, and is the only daughter of William D. and Esther (Leonard) Harden. Her eldest brother, Nehemiah, died at the age of eighteen years and the youngest, Lewis, who was a merchant in Louisville, Kentucky, died in 1892. John is engaged in farming near Wabash, Indiana, and William E. resides in Attica, this state. William D. Harden, the father, was born in Ireland, his parents being William and Ann (Dodge) Harden, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Germany, their marriage being soleinnized in the last mentioned country. Subsequently to that event the worthy couple returned to the Emerald Isle, and a few years later came to America, where the husband participated in the Revolutionary war. They settled and spent the rest of their lives in the state of New York. William D., their son, entered the service of his adopted country when he was but fifteen years of age, and acted as teamster for the army during the war of 1812. He then left the Empire state and followed boating along the Ohio river for several years. Marrying at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, in 1819, he then located in the vicinity of Jacksonsburg, Wayne county, where he engaged in the manufacture of brick and carried on a farm. Later he bought a farm adjoining the village of Lewisville, Henry county, and during the construc- tion of the old national road boarded the workmen. Next he was the owner of a quarter-section of land situated three miles west of Dublin, and there he kept a hotel for many years, finally removing to the town, where his
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death occurred in 1882, when he was eighty-six years of age. His wife departed this life April 2, 1881, at eighty-one years of age. They were devout Methodists, and always threw open their comfortable home for the entertainment of the old-time circuit preachers or whomsoever else sought their hospitality. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Newman, Nathaniel Leonard, came to the United States from England at an early day, his wife, Esther (Heath) Leonard, also being of English birth.
To the marriage of our subject and wife a daughter and four sons were born. Lawrence, the eldest, died when young; Rutledge H., a commercial traveler, has his home in Richmond, this state; and Homer E. and Virgil G., twins, are, respectively, a traveling salesman and a machinist. The daughter, Florence A., a young lady of exceptional ability and talents, is unmarried, and has long been a valued newspaper correspondent. Mrs. Newman and Miss Florence are identified with the Methodist Episcopal church and are active in every good work in this community.
JAMES A. RODMAN.
Mr. Rodman is a successful farmer of Franklin county, Indiana, and was born in Elizabethtown, Ohio, some fifty-eight years ago. His father, Soloman F. Rodman, was a native of New York, and is at this time a resi- dent of Stockton, California. The mother, Elvira Hurley Rodman, came from Kentucky. Five children, all of whom are living, were born to them, namely: David B., of Kokomo, Indiana; Joseph A., our subject; Georgie Ann, wife of James Davenport; Jane, wife of Peter Rogers, of Connersville : and Donalica, wife of P. A. Bradburn, of this township.
James Rodman attended the public schools of Brookville in his youth, and when fifteen began to work on the farm. He remained at this occupa- tion until he entered Company I, Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteers, in Decem- ber, 1862, and started with his company to the front. The principal engage- inents in which he participated were the siege of Vicksburg. Arkansas Post and Jackson, Mississippi. The places visited by the company after leaving Indianapolis were, in turn, as follows; Cairo, Illinois; Memphis, Tennes- see; Vicksburg; New Orleans; Texas; New Orleans; New York city; Phila- delphia; Pittsburg; Indianapolis; 'Vicksburg; Jackson, Mississippi, where Mr. Rodman was promoted from the rank of orderly sergeant to that of second lieutenant; Vicksburg; Jackson; Vicksburg; and then from Algiers to Louisiana, thence up the Mississippi river and to Indianapolis, where they were discharged in 1863. During this enlistment he contracted inflamma- tory sore eyes, from which he suffered severely and which finally culminated in the entire loss of the right eye, in ISS1. In March, 1865, he re-enlisted. in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Indiana Regiment, going to
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Parkersburg, West Virginia, Harper's Ferry, Shenandoah Valley, Winches- ter and Baltimore, at which last point the company was discharged at the close of the war. He was captured at Vicksburg at the charge of Hines Bluff, and was in the rebel prison two months and fourteen days. He was. then transferred to Jackson, Mississippi, where he was retained one month and fourteen days, then to Pearl river bridge, one month and fourteen days, then marched to Dawson City and New Orleans.
Mr. Rodman was married, in 1865, to Nancy A. Butler, a daughter of Hiram H. Butler. Mr. Butler was a miller in Brookville for many years and was prominently identified with the various interests of the place, and was for many years county assessor. He is now in his ninetieth year and makes his home with our subject. His wife was Rachael Hollowell, who died at about thirty years of age. Mr. Rodman is a Democrat and a member of Hackleman Post, No. 64, G. A. R., and encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He began on his present farm in 1866, in a rude log house, which has since been replaced by a modern residence and other buildings.
HENRY CRIST.
Among the enterprising, energetic and successful farmers of Franklin county, who thoroughly understand the vocation which they follow, and con- sequently are enabled to carry on that calling with profit to theinselves, is the subject of this notice. He is extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits upon his magnificent farm of five hundred and twenty-five acres, in Brookville township, a part of which he has owned since 1854.
Mr. Crist was born in that township, July 24, 1823, and is a son of John and Mary (Smalley) Crist, natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The father came to Franklin county, Indiana, in 1818, as did also the grand- father, Abram Crist. The former first located in Brookville township, and after living there for a time removed to Springfield township, and later to the village of Brookville, where he spent the last three years of his life, dying there at the age of seventy-two years. He was a devout member of the Methodist church and lived a religious life, consistent with his professions. He had one sister, Betsy, who was the wife of Peter Snook; and an older brother, George, who lived and died in Decatur county, Indiana.
Long before he attained his majority the subject of this sketch began the active duties of business life, by cutting wood and hauling it to market, and this was followed by a period in which he engaged in farm work. At the age of twenty-two years, he purchased a farm in Brookville township, upon which he has since resided, but has extended its boundaries from time to time, as his financial resources have permitted, until it is now one of the largest, as well as one of the best, places in the locality. By his industry and frugality"
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he has been unusually successful and is now one of the most substantial citi- zens of his community.
In 1845 Mr. Crist married Miss Martha, daughter of Samuel and Betsey (Adams) Logan, of Brookville township, but she died in 1857, leaving one child, James M. For his second wife Mr. Crist married Miss Margaret Berry, daughter of Judge Henry Berry, in February, 1858, and by this union had one son, George, now deceased. Mrs. Crist died July 23, 1890, at the age of sixty-six years, and on the 15th of September, 1892, he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John and Eliza (Jones) Goudie. She is a sister of the late James W. Goudie, who was born near Wynn, Franklin county, September 10, 1844, and was reared on the home farm. In early manhood he married Mary E. Cline, of Peru, Indiana, and to them were born five children, three still living. He was an earnest and consistent member of the Christian church, always took an active and prominent part in all church benevolent work, and assisted in organizing the church of that denomination at Whitcomb, Indiana. In his death the community realized that it had lost. one of its most valued and useful citizens, -one whose life was devoted to the public good.
Since the age of nineteen years Mr. Crist has held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and in his daily walk has shown himself to be consistent with the beliefs which he possesses, being generous and charitable in answering the appeals of the distressed. His life has been manly, his actions sincere, his manner unaffected and his example well worthy of emulation.
HOMER M. BROADDUS.
The basis of the development and material prosperity of the great iniddle-western section of the Union has been agricultural, and to the noble art of husbandry have been given as devotees some of the strongest and most sterling characters which have figured in the annals of the nation. In view of this fact there is always a distinct satisfaction to be gained in defining the life history of old and prominent families who have contributed to the con- tinuous progress of any locality through this time-honored medium. He whose name initiates this review is a representative of a family whose history has been indissolubly connected with that of Fayette county, Indiana, from the early pioneer epoch; and it is clearly incumbent that in this work there may be made at least incidental reference to the lives and labors of those of the name who have thus honored the locality through their endeavors and their characters.
The first representative of the Broaddus family in Fayette county was Robert L. Broaddus, grandfather of the immediate subject of this review. This honored pioneer was a native of the Old Dominion and a representative
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of a prominent family long settled in Virginia. He was born in Louisa county, Virginia, May 15, 1794. As early as the year 1828 he left his south- · ern home and came to Fayette county, where he settled on a tract of four hundred and fifty acres of practically unimproved land in Harrison township. · Part of this ancestral estate is now occupied by the subject of this sketch, and as one of the finest and most valuable farmsteads in the section gives evidence of the approved methods and wise discrimination which have been brought to bear in its development and cultivation. Robert L. Broaddus continued his residence on his farm until his death, which occurred in 1856, when he had reached a venerable age. He devoted his entire life to agricult- ural pursuits, was successful in his endeavors and was a man whose honor and integrity in all the relations of life were uniformly recognized. He car- ried on farming operations on an extensive scale, as evident front his large holdings of land, and he occupied a position of distinguished prominence in the community. In politics he was originally a Whig, but upon the organ- ization of the Republican party espoused its cause and was thereafter a stalwart supporter of its principles and policies. He held the office of cap- tain in the Indiana state militia, and was on that account generally referred to as Captain Broaddus. His old sword, a valued souvenir, is now in the possession of the subject of this sketch. Captain Broaddus and his wife were exemplary members of the Christian church.
Captain Robert L. Broaddus married Miss Betsy I. White, who was born in Scott county, Kentucky, February 8, 1797, and they became the parents of two daughters and four sons, all of whom were born and reared on the old homestead farm, and reached mature age, but none of them are now living.
The father of our subject was W. H. Broaddus, who was born in Har- rison township, as above implied, on the 13th day of August, 1826. He lived a long and useful life and the esteem and honor in which he was held came as the natural consequence of his genial personality and his stanch integrity. His entire active career was devoted to agricultural and closely allied pursuits, in the prosecution of which he occupied and operated the homestead farm. He was a man of pronounced intellectuality and marked enterprise and public spirit, his prominence as a representative of the inter- ests of the community being shown in the fact that he was called upon to serve a term in the state legislature, from the district comprising Fayette and Union counties. He was an active worker in the cause of the Republican party, in whose advancement he ever maintained a lively interest, his belief in its principles and policies being thoroughly fortified by a careful study of the issues of the hour and by a discriminating judgment.
WV. H. Broaddus eventually devoted considerable attention to dairying,
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establishing on his farm a cheese dairy, which he conducted with indifferent success, but amplified this feature of his industrial pursuits by establishing also a creamery, from which he supplied milk to the citizens of Connersville. He was ever alive to the obligations which an active business life imposes in connection with the welfare of his fellow men. August 31, 1847, he was united in marriage with Miss Amanda E. Scott, of Wayne county, and of their children three sons are now living: Homer M., the immediate subject of this sketch; Lunsford L., who is an attorney at law in Connersville, being a member of the well known firm of Florea & Broaddus; and Frank S., who is engaged in farming, stock-raising and dairying in Harrison township, this ·county. The parents were devout members of the Christian church in Harris- burg, in which the father held for many years the office of elder. The death of the mother occurred September 21, 1887, she having attained the age of fifty-eight years, six months and twenty-nine days; while the father entered into eternal rest on the 30th of September, 1896, aged seventy years, one month and seventeen days.
Homer M. Broaddus was born on the old homestead, in Harrison town- ship, on the 20th of October, 1848, and here he has continued to reside all his life with the exception of five years passed in Wayne county, Indiana. He received his preliminary educational discipline in the district schools of the neighborhood, after which he prosecuted a course of study at Dublin, this state, and then matriculated in Northwestern University (now Butler ·College) at Indianapolis, where he continued his studies for one year. Hav- ing thus been reinforced by excellent educational advantages, Mr. Broaddus entered upon his practical business career by returning to the ancestral home- stead, where he has since devoted his attention to farming and stock-raising, his efforts being attended with a success which has proved him an able suc- cessor of his worthy and honored father. In early life he taught in the dis- strict schools for seven years, in winter, farming summers.
Stanchly arrayed in the advocacy of the principles of the Republican party, he has been a zealous worker in its ranks, and his eligibility for posi- tions of trust and responsibility has not lacked for public recognition, since in 1894 he became the candidate of his party for the office of county auditor, to which he was elected for a terin of four years, assuming the duties of the position in November, 1895, and discharging the same with credit to himself and in such a way as to gain the commendation of his local public, and secured for him in 1898 a re-election to this office for a second term of four years. He also served for four years as township trustee of Harrison town- ship, and is recognized as one of the enthusiastic and valuable inembers of his party, and as a man whose intellectuality, good judgment and fairness make him worthy of any office to which he may be called. In religion he
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clings to the faith of his parents and ancestors, and is a member of the Chris- tian church. During the progress of the war of the Rebellion Mr. Broaddus evidenced his patriotism and loyalty by enlisting, May 30, 1864, in the Union ranks, when in his sixteenth year. He became a member of Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served for a few months. He maintains his interest in his old comrades in arms by holding a membership in Connersville Post, No. 126, G. A. R.
On the 23d of October, 1873, Mr. Broaddus was united in marriage to Miss Alice F. Caldwell, of Harrison township, who died September 6, 1885, leaving three children, namely: Flora C., a teacher in the public schools of Connersville; Dan R., who is engaged in farming on the parental homestead; and Mary I., wife of T. A. Coleman, of Rushville, Indiana. The family enjoy a distinct popularity in the community, and the home is a center of refined hospitality.
JOHN KING.
This pioneer merchant and business man of Brookville, Franklin county, has long ranked with the influential citizens of this place and sec- tion of Indiana. Early in life he resolved upon certain worthy principles which should govern him in all his dealings with his fellow men; and now, in his declining years, he may look back along the way he has pursued, with- out regrets and with the assurance that only veneration and respect are paid to him, and that he has no enemies. With him, to know his duty was to do it; and the opportunity to perform kindly deeds he has often found and improved -- something for which he has been grateful.
The grandfather of John King was Joseph King, who was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, married, and had five sons and two daughters prior to his removal with his family to the United States in 1819. Going to the vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio, they remained there for a period, and later located in Butler county, same state, where Joseph King lived until his death. William King, the father of our subject, did not accompany the other members of the family when they left Cincinnati. In 1832 he settled in the town of Blooming Grove and kept a store and tavern there until 1835, when he removed to a farm two miles north of Blooming Grove. Later he dwelt in Shelbyville, and died in Iowa, whither he had gone to reside. In addition to carrying on agricultural pursuits, he had, while in Cincinnati, been very successful as a manufacturer of soap and candles, finding a ready sale for these wares.
The birth of John King, of this sketch, occurred in the city of Cincinnati, June 28, 1820. He was reared in Blooming Grove and vicinity, receiving a district-school education, and for about ten years after attaining his major- ity he was engaged in farming, in this county and in Ohio. In 1847 he
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turned his attention to the sawmill business, and was thus occupied for four years at Blooming Grove. Then, selling out, he spent four years in general merchandising, in the meantime keeping also the postoffice. On the Ist of May, 1856, he removed to Brookville, where, for a year, he was the pro- prietor of the Valley House. On the Ist of September, 1856, he entered upon his long career as a general merchant, in this town, running the hotel in connection; and it was not until 1890 that he retired from the business. Strict integrity and fairness won for him the high regard of all and resulted in his success. Many a lesson might be gleaned from his experiences by the younger generations, and no more vital than this,-that absolute honesty is the essential corner-stone of character on which the entire superstructure must depend. Persistence and courage in the face of difficulty, also, are necessary factors to success, and energy and determination must lend their aid.
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