USA > Indiana > Union County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 51
USA > Indiana > Fayette County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 51
USA > Indiana > Franklin County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 51
USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 51
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pioneer of Ohio and an early settler of Union county, Indiana, where he entered land and improved a farm, making it his home until his death. Mrs. Jones was the only child by his first marriage, but by a second union he had five children: David, John, Nancy, Elizabeth and William. Mr. and Mrs. Flack were both members of the Baptist church. The children born to Abraham and Sarah (Flack) Jon's were as follows: Mary, who died in 1824; Benjamin, who died in 1822; Elizabeth, who died in 1838; Robert F., who died in Union county, Indiana, in 1886; Nancy, who died in 1850; Philip T., our subject; Matilda, who died in 1857; Malinda, who died in 1899; Nathaniel, who died in infancy; Sarah, who died in 1847; Abram, who lives on the old homestead in Franklin county; Emily, a resident of Hendricks county, Indiana; and Phebe, who died in October, 1835. The father gave to each of his children who reached years of maturity a tract of land.
Philip T. Jones, of this review, was reared amid pioneer scenes and began his education in a primitive log school-house, where school was con- ducted on the subscription plan. Later he attended the Liberty high school, received a good education and studied civil engineering to some extent. For a time he engaged in school-teaching and later in surveying. He remained with his parents until his marriage, in 1843, and began housekeep- ing in a cabin on the home farm. He then took charge of a forty-acre tract of land in Union county, given him by his father, and for seven years devoted his time to its improvement and cultivation. On selling out, at the end of that time, he bought a farm in Bath township, Franklin county, and in 1862 purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in the same town- ship, making that his home up to the present time. He has erected a com- modious and substantial residence, good barns and other outbuildings, has tiled and fenced the farm and placed it under a high state of cultivation. His entire life has been devoted to general farming and stock-raising, and he has met with a well deserved success in his labors.
In 1843 Mr. Jones married Miss Caroline Girton, a native of Butler county, Ohio, and a daughter of Jacob Girton, a prominent and wealthy mer- chant and farmer of that county, who later in life moved to Shelby county, Indiana, where he died. Of the three children born to our subject and his wife, two died young. Benjamin, the only one now living, was formerly a farmer, but is now engaged in the implement business in Frankton, Madison county, Indiana. The wife and mother died March 11, 1861, and Mr. Jones was again married March 11, 1862, his second union being with Mrs. Lydia Bourne. By a former marriage she had two daughters, Lorinda and Lucy, who were reared by our subject but are now deceased. She became the mother of five children by her marriage with Mr. Jones, namely: Oran H., who died young; Morton P., a farmer of Bath township, Franklin county;
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Charles T., who operates the home farm; Benton, who died in infancy; and Arthur H., an attorney of Alexandria, Indiana. The wife and mother, after much patient suffering, died March 28, 1899. She was a consistent Chris- tian woman, being a member of the Baptist church, to which Mr. Jones also belongs. Her paternal grandfather was William Goff, a native of Ireland, who came to America during colonial days, and who during the Revolution- ary war was in the employ of the government, being a ship carpenter by trade. He had previously married Prudence Passenger, and while he was in the service of his adopted country she operated a gristmill. In 1804 he moved to Hamilton county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm and spent his remaining days. At an early day he entered land in Bath township, Frank- lin county, Indiana, upon which his son, John, afterward located. His chil- dren were John, father of Mrs. Jones; William; Mrs. Lydia Crippin; Han- nah, wife of J. Applegate; Mrs. Sarah Bateman; and Mrs. Garrison. John Goff, Jr., the father of Mrs. Jones, was born in New Jersey, and was only ten years old when taken by his parents to Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He came to Franklin county, Indiana, in territorial days, and here erected a small distillery, engaging in the manufacture of whiskey, for which he found a ready sale among the Indians, who still remained in Rush county. Later he was married in this state and located on the land which his father had entered. Building a cabin in the midst of the forest, he began to improve and cultivate his land. He raised flax and wool, which his wife spun, wove and converted into clothing for the family. Game of all kinds was plentiful and many wild beasts were then numerous in this region, and the sheep and other stock had to be put in pens to protect them from the wolves. In poli- tics Mr. Goff was an enthusiastic Democrat. At one time he cast the only vote for that party in Bath township, and in 1824, when Jackson ran for president, his was one of the three votes cast for him there. In religious faith he was a Methodist. He married Lucy Johnson, a native of Kentucky. Her parents were Edward and Margaret (Dunn) Johnson, natives of Ken- tucky and Pennsylvania, respectively. They were married in the former state and in 1805 came to Indiana territory, locating first in Dearborn county, but in 1807 they came to Franklin county and settled on the present site of Laurel, where Mr. Johnson entered land, which is still in the possession of his heirs. His children were John, Edward, Demire, Lemuel, William, Lucy and Phebe. To John and Lucy (Johnson) Goff were born the follow- ing children: Prudence, Phebe, John J., William, Edward, Wesley, Lucy A., Margaret, Sarah, Lydia (who first married H. Bourne, and, secondly, Philip T. Jones, our subject), and James B. and Adeline.
The Democratic party finds in Mr. Jones a stanch supporter of its princi- ples, and he has attended many county and state conventions, being one of
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the leaders of the party in his locality. He is also a prominent and influen- tial citizen, having the respect and confidence of the entire county, and he has been called upon to fill the office of justice of the peace both in Union and Franklin counties, the duties of which position he discharged in a most commendable and satisfactory manner.
Benjamin Jones, the eldest son of our subject, was married to Lourinda Sumpter, in 1871, and their children are Nora Crissie and Girton. Nora Crissie married Alva Moore, and they have one daughter, two years old, named Zulu Grace. They live in Indianapolis and Mr. Moore is employed in the United States mail service. Girton is twenty-one years old and lives with his father, at Frankton, Indiana. Morton Perry Jones, the first son by the last marriage of our subject, was married to Martha O. Doty, in 1885, and they have two daughters,-Ines, aged thirteen, and Imo, aged nine years. Charles Truman Jones was married to Flora Rozella Alexander, in 1888, and their children are Orin Tenley, aged eleven years, and Ida Lo- rinda, aged nine years. Arthur Hamlin Jones was married to Dasie Bake, in 1894, and their children are Harry Leroy, aged four, and Nellie Elizabeth, aged one year.
CONRAD STRASBURGER.
Among the more prominent and enterprising farmers of Butler town- ship, Franklin county, Indiana, who are of alien birth, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Like others of his countrymen, he has brought to the New World the habits of economy and frugality which are an inherent characteristic of his native land, and the exercise of which, accom- panied by industry and good management, has brought his prosperity.
Mr. Strasburger was born in Medderscheim, oberamt Meisenheim, Ger- many, August 15, 1841, a son of George and Elizabeth (Vender) Stras- burger. The father, who was born in 1808, died in 1870, and the mother departed this life in 1842, when our subject was only a year old. She left three children, the others being Jacob, now a resident of Kentucky, and Elizabeth, wife of John Rerider, of Shelby county, Indiana. For his second wife the father married Christina Volk, of Dearborn county, this state, who died in 1854, and the children born of this union were Catherina; Christina, wife of Charles Stevens; and Mary, wife of Herman Hilbert. The father emigrated to the United States and took up his residence in Jackson town- ship, Dearborn county, Indiana, where he followed farming. He held mem- bership in St. Peter's Liberal church. His father, Christopher Strasburger, lived and died in Germany.
Conrad Strasburger came with his father to America and made his home in Jackson township, Dearborn county, Indiana, until attaining his majority. During his boyhood and youth he learned the cooper's trade and worked by
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the month as a farm hand. Later he was employed in a sawmill, from the age of twenty-one to twenty-four, and then entered into partnership with Braunagel and Jacob Strasburger, two brothers, conducting a sawmill together on Clear Fork, in Butler township, Franklin county, for two years. At the end of that time he was married and purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, of which only four acres had then been cleared, but it is now one of the best improved and most highly cultivated farms of Butler township.
On the 19th of November, 1867, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Strasburger and Miss Catherine M., daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Schweg- mann, of Butler township. About 1830 her father came to this country from Germany and located at Oldenburg, Franklin county, Indiana, when that place contained but three families. He assisted in building the first church in the town and in other ways aided in its upbuilding, He died in 1890, aged eighty-two years, and his wife in 1879, aged sixty-nine. Of the eleven chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Strasburger, nine are still living, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Sophia M., wife of John Hesselbrock, a jeweler of Cincinnati, Ohio, September 19, 1868; Elizabeth M., wife of Charles Reifel, a teacher of Haymond, Indiana, December 26, 1870; William, May 1, 1872; Mary C., June 11, 1875; Michael C., September 1, 1877; Charles J., August 16, 1879, Louisa C., March 22, 1882; Rosa T., August 30, 1884; and Clara C., August 29, 1888. Those deceased are Edward H., who was born December 7, 1869, and died September 9, 1870; and Anna C., who was born December 3, 1873, and died October 2, 1874.
Mr. Strasburger is a man of unusual business ability and force of char- acter, and is a popular and influential citizen of this community. In April, 1880, he was elected township trustee, which office he creditably filled for two terms; was justice of the peace from November 8, 1884, to November 8, 1888; on the 8th of November, 1894, was elected county commissioner, and being re-elected November 5, 1896, is the present incumbent from the second district. He has also been school director and inspector of elections, and was central committeeman for the Democratic party from 1890 until 1894. He and his family are devout members of the Church of the Holy Trinity, at Oldenburg, and are highly esteemed socially.
W. E. WINEBURG.
The true measure of individual success is determined by what one has accomplished, and, as taken in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, there is particular interest attaching to the career of the subject of this review, since he is a native son of the county where he has passed almost his entire life and so
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directed his ability and efforts as to gain recognition as one of its representa- tive men. He is now filling the office of county superintendent of schools, and for a number of years has been prominently connected with the educa- tional interests of this section of the state, his name being placed high on the roll of able instructors.
Professor Wineburg was born in Hillsboro, now Whitewater, in Frank- lin township, Wayne county, September 29, 1849, and is of German lineage. His grandparents, George and Elizabeth Wineburg, resided in central Penn- sylvania, where the former carried on agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life. He died on his farm in 1827. In his family were four children: John, who went to the south in his boyhood; Eli, who died in Wabash county, Indiana; George, father of our subject; and Mrs. Maria Wineburg.
George Wineburg, the father of our subject, was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1814. Although only thirteen years of age at the time of his father's death, he then started out in life for himself, going to western Pennsylvania, whence he came to Indiana in 1834. He spent a few months in Richmond, which was then a mere hamlet, and afterward went to Hillsboro, where he began working at the wagon-maker's trade, which he followed throughout his business career, meeting with a fair degree of suc- cess in his undertakings. He was a quiet, unassuming man, domestic in his tastes, and his entire time outside of business hours was spent with his fam- ily. He married Elizabeth Magee, a daughter of Barham Magee, who was of Scotch descent and a native of North Carolina. There he was married, and with his family removed to Highland county, Ohio, whence he came to Wayne county, in 1848, settling in Hillsboro. There he followed the black- smith's and gunsmith's trades and was an expert mechanic for that time. On retiring from active business life he removed to Hagerstown, Wayne county, where his last days were passed.
In her early life Mrs. Wineburg, the mother of the Professor, engaged in teaching, and while in Highland county, Ohio, plighted her troth to Dr. Graham, who soon afterward located in central Illinois, it being the inten- tion of the family to remove there as soon as the Doctor was established in business. Accordingly, in 1828, they started on their journey, the marriage of the young couple having been arranged to take place as soon as they reached their destination. But fate interposed. By private conveyances they traveled as far as Hillsboro, Indiana, where they arranged to pass the night in the home of Nathaniel Perkins. There a messenger came to them with the sad news that Dr. Graham had died very suddenly. This deter- mined them to remain in Wayne county, where Elizabeth Magee later formed the acquaintance of George Wineburg, whom she eventually married. For fifty-four years she was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church,
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and aided in organizing a congregation of that denomination in Whitewater. She was a most devout and earnest Christian worker, took an active part in the Sunday-school and did much toward aiding the young in starting in the Christian life. She was a lady of superior intellectual culture and refined literary taste, and was not only conversant with the best writings that had been produced, but also wrote many short poems, inspired by the civil war. Among these was one entitled " On the Death of a Soldier," and another called "Decoration Poems." She always looked upon the bright side of life, and exercised a strong influence for good over her immediate family and throughout the neighborhood. She died in August, 1881, at the age of sixty- seven years, her birth having occurred April 21, 1814, and Mr. Wineburg died in Whitewater, December 31, 1890.
They were the parents of four children: John B., who enlisted in the Thirty-first Indiana Cavalry, in response to President Lincoln's first call for troops, died April 8, 1866, at the age of twenty-four years. He served his country for thirty-four months and was then honorably discharged, on account of disability. After recuperating he re-enlisted, in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment, continuing at the front until the close of the war, but his services occasioned his early death. He par- ticipated in all the battles of the Second Cavalry and when great privations and hardships had to be borne he was constantly cheering and encouraging his comrades, among whom he was a special favorite. He never faltered in the thickest of the fight or under stress of serious difficulties, but followed the stars and stripes wherever duty called, and with a spirit of most glorious loyalty remained at the front until the banner of his country floated over the reunited nation. James A., the second son, now a house- painter of Muncie, Indiana, was likewise a soldier in the Union army. He enlisted when only fifteen years of age, a slight yonth, weighing ninety-six pounds. He was enrolled with the boys in blue of Company F, Eighty-fourth Indiana Infantry, in 1862, and was never off duty but three days during the entire time. After his return he resided in Franklin township, Wayne county, and was elected township trustee for two terms. In 1893 he removed to Muncie, Indiana. W. E., is the third of the family, and Henry M., the fourth son, died at the age of five years.
Professer Wineburg, of this review, acquired his early education in the public schools of Whitewater, and there later attended a private academy, taught by Professor .Charles C. Atkinson. At the age of twenty he began teaching, and his professional career has been crowned with a high degree of success. He possesses the essential qualities of the capable instructor, has the faculty of holding the attention of his pupils, presents the lessons in a clear and concise way, is an excellent disciplinarian and always commands
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the respect of his students. He was principal of the Whitewater schools from 1875 until 1880, then had charge of the Williamsburg school for two years, after which he accepted the superintendency of the Chester schools. remaining there until 1891, when he resigned in order to accept the princi- palship of the Whitewater school in Richmond. He acceptably served in that capacity four years, and then resigned, having been elected, in 1895, county superintendent of schools of Wayne county. His two years' service was so commendable that in 1897 he was re-elected, and is now the incumbent in that office. He has always been a close student of the best educational methods and has adopted the more progressive measures, whenever practi- cable. In 1886 he was a member of the committee appointed to revise the course of study for Wayne county, which resulted in the adoption of a uni- form course that has proved of great benefit and has largely advanced the standard of the schools.
Professor Wineburg married Miss Mary E. Townsend, of Greenboro, Indiana, and they occupy a high position in cultured society circles. He is a prominent Mason, and is now serving as master of Webb Lodge, No. 24, A. F. & A. M. He also belongs to King Solomon's Chapter, R. A. M., and Woodward Lodge, No. 212, I. O. O. F., of which he is past noble grand. In the Methodist Episcopal church he holds membership, and in politics he is a Republican, giving an active and intelligent support to the party. He is now serving as secretary of the Republican county central committee, and exerts a strong influence in its counsels. His many excellent qualities have won him a host of warin friends, and as a representative of the intellectual interests of the county, and as a citizen of more than ordinary prominence, he is well deserving of a place in a work which contains the biographies of the prominent men and leading business representatives.
BERT COFFEY, M. D.
Although one of the younger representatives of the medical profession in Franklin county, Dr. Bert Coffey, of Laurel, has attained high rank in his profession. A native of Ohio, he was born at Catawba, Clark county, July 1, 1871, on the farin where also occurred the birth of his father, George Coffey, and his grandfather, William Coffey. His great-grandfather, Joseph Coffey,- was a native of Pennsylvania and settled in the territory of Ohio in 1799. George Coffey and his wife still reside on the old homestead in Clark county. He is a veteran of the civil war, having enlisted, on the 11th of June, 1861, in the Third Regiment of Ohio Volunteers. He served in the Army of the Cumberland, participated in the battle of Perryville, in October, 1862, and the battle of Murfreesboro, on the last day of that year and the first two days of 1863. He was taken prisoner on Colonel Streight's celebrated raid
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and was incarcerated at Belle Isle for some time before he was exchanged. On the expiration of his three-years term of service he was honorably dis- charged, June 21, 1864. In his family were three children, the Doctor being the eldest. The daughter, Mrs. Mary Wingate, resides in Clark county, Ohio, and the younger son, Kemp Coffey, is on the old homestead.
The early education of Dr. Coffey was acquired in public schools. He was graduated at the high school in Catawba in 1887, after which he spent one year in study in the Ohio Normal University and then pursued a two- years course in the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware. When he entered that institution it was his intention to prepare for the ministry, but becoming deeply interested in the study of physiology he found that his tastes and inclinations tended toward the medical profession rather than theology, and he accordingly entered enthusiastically upon preparation for the work to which he is now devoting his energies. He was graduated June 4, 1895. in the Eclectic Medical Institute, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and a remarkable coin- cidence in his school life is that his first teacher was also his last. As a child he began his primary school work under Professor William E. Bloyer, who at the time of his graduation was occupying the chair of anatomy in the medi- cal college.
Dr. Coffey began the practice of medicine in 1893, at No. 427 York street, Cincinnati, and less than two months after completing his college course he located in Laurel. Although one of the youngest representatives of the medical fraternity in Franklin county, he has already taken high rank as a physician and surgeon and has a large and growing practice. He is a gentleman of culture, and his library contains not only the latest standard works pertaining to his profession, but also the latest and most comprehen- sive works of reference in science, history and literature. He occupies the position of health officer of his town, has been pension examiner for two years and is the present secretary of the examining board of Franklin county.
On the 23d of December, 1895, Dr. Coffey was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Allison, who died October 2, 1896, and on the 17th of October, 1897, he let to the marriage altar Miss Etta Ensminger, daughter of Henry Ensminger. He is a member of the Order of Red Men, and socially is held in high esteem, his genial manner, sterling worth and uniform courtesy mak- ing him a popular citizen.
JOHN CALLOWAY.
The Calioway family, which is represented in Cambridge City, Wayne county, by the subject of this article, is one of the oldest in this section of the state, for in 1814, when the country was an unbroken wilderness, two ambitious men, father and son, John and James Calloway, arrived here, hav-
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ing made the long journey from their former home in Massachusetts, in a wagon. With the true zeal and energy of the successful frontiersman, they set to work and cleared and improved land in Washington township. They were members of the Society of Friends, sober, temperate and peaceful in their ways, and won the respect and confidence of the red men as well as of their few white neighbors.
John Calloway, the grandfather of our subject, died in Ohio, in 1848, at the advanced age of ninety years. James, the father, married Matilda Cooper, of this county, and during their active lives they gave their attention to agriculture. Mrs. Calloway died in her seventieth year, and Mr. Callo- way lived to reach four-score years, his death taking place in 1878. One of their sons, Robert, was a hero of the civil war, his life being a sacrifice to his country.
John Calloway, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Washington township, Wayne county, February 19, 1828. He is the fourth in order of birth, of ten children, six of whom are living. He has followed the occupa- tion of his ancestors, that of farining, and has met with success in his endeavor to make a livelihood for himself and family. In 1874 he removed from his former home, in his native township, to his present residence in Cambridge City. He is a member of Cambridge City Lodge, No. 5, Free and Accepted Masons, and in his political faith is a Republican.
The first marriage of Mr. Calloway was celebrated in 1848, Miss Anna Maria Ragan becoming his bride. She died, leaving one child, Sarah, now the wife of Lewis Walton. The second wife of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary D. Sawyer. Five children blessed this union, namely: Mary. wife of James Clark; Zella, deceased, formerly the wife of Edward Turner, of California; John G .; Bella, wife of Frank Marson; and Catherine.
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