USA > Indiana > Union County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 56
USA > Indiana > Fayette County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 56
USA > Indiana > Franklin County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 56
USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 56
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To the marriage of Henry and Christina (Nagle) Hoffman eleven chil- dren were born, namely: A. Z .; William H., an insurance man of Dayton, Ohio; Edward, who was wounded three times in the civil war, while serving his country, and subsequently was employed as a railroad engineer, and died at Kansas City; Joseph I., a member of the signal-service corps during the war; Mary M., wife of John Smith, a resident of California, and the owner of extensive sheep ranches in Montana; Caroline, whose husband, Mr. Rode- baugh, of Pittsburg, is an inspector on the Panhandle Railroad; Kate, wife of Mr. Garst, a carpenter of Dayton; Mrs. Elizabeth Flatt, also of Dayton, where her husband is engaged in the insurance business; Charles, who for fourteen years served on the Chicago police force, and is now a detective in the employ of the Panhandle Railroad in Kansas City; Olivia, wife of Mr.
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McNaught, who is secretary and foreman of Mr. Smith's ranch in Montana; and Frank T., for fourteen years a policeman in Chicago and now a licensed inspector on his beat. The father of these children died in April. 1883, but the wife and mother survives, her home being at Dayton, and she has attained the advanced age of eighty-three years.
Until he was eighteen years of age, A. Z. Hoffman remained under the parental roof, but as soon as he was permitted to do so he entered the Union army. Animated by the same spirit of patriotism which had dominated his forefathers, he feit that his duty to his country was paramount to everything else. Enlisting in Company H, Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, being placed in the Third Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, his superior officers being Colonel Ferdinand Van Derveer, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Long, Major Henry Van Ness Boynton, with R. L. McCook as brigade commander and General Thomas at the head of the corps, Colonel Van Derveer succeeding McCook at the time of the death of the latter. After being mustered into the service, at Hantilton, Ohio, the regiment was sent to the front, and while taking part in the battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863, Mr. Hoffman was wounded in the right side by the concussion of a shell, and was taken to the Nashville hospital, where for nineteen weeks he lay at death's door. His parents were notified, and spent two weeks at his side, and when a slight improvement in his condition took place they were anxious to have him return home with them, and his major also urged liim to do so, but he refused. As soon as he was well enough to walk around he was made superintendent of the hospital, and in January, 1864, he joined his regiment, then near Chattanooga. Ainong the numerous battles in which he participated were Shiloh, Mill Springs, Cor- inth, Iuka, Perryville, Tullahoma, Lookout Mountain, Buzzards' Roost, Rocky Face Gap, Snake Creek Gap, Resaca, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Jonesboro, and Franklin. He was mustered out at Chattanooga, and received his honorable discharge, at Cincinnati, in October, 1864, at the close of his term of enlistment. Only those who were closely associated with him during the last year of his service realized in the slightest degree the difficulties under which he labored, and they were com- pelled to admire his unusual pluck, for his health was so broken down that few men would have remained in the ranks had they been in his place. For several years after his return home he was constantly under the care of phy- sicians.
Though only twenty-two years of age when he left the battle fields of the sonth, Mr. Hoffinan found himself almost wrecked physically, and with no start made toward a home and business. Thus handicapped, many with less courage and strength of mental balance would have been utterly dis-
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heartened. He soon obtained a position as a clerk in a grocery at German- town, and later he went into the same line of business in Dayton, having as partner a man who defrauded him in the end. In 1869 he came to Milton, and placed himself under medical treatment, Drs. I. F. Sweney and Penning- ton being his physicians. In 1871 he received a stroke of paralysis in the right side, but within a few weeks he partially recovered from this new affliction, and has continued to engage in business and to attend to all of his duties as a citizen until the present time. He has given much of his time to farming and has been very successful in the raising of high-grade hogs, for which he obtains the best market prices. Investing in the Dorsey Manufatur- ing Company, of Milton, and later, buying stock in the Milton Buggy Com- pany, which concern was removed to Richmond and ultimately became the Cramer-Scott Company, he lost heavily in both cases. Nevertheless, he still owns one of the finest quarter-section farms in Madison county, two and a half miles south of Elwood, tiling, good buildings and a gas well adding to the value of the place, and he owns an excellent homestead in this county, property in Portland, Indiana, Milton, and some in Kansas also. In view of his disabilities, his success has been truly remarkable, and it should prove an inspiration to the young, ambitious man just starting upon his business career.
In 1869 the marriage of Mr. Hoffman and Miss Barbara E. Beeson was solemnized. She was born in this township in 1847, her parents being Brazel and Anna (Hoover) Beeson. The former was born in North Carolina, but from his third year he lived in this county, his whole life being spent upon a farm. As a business man he won success, and for years he was considered one of the most influential citizens of the county. A member of a Connersville pork-packing company, and identified with other enterprises, he shipped flour, pork and other products of this region to Cincinnati and various points, in the days of the old canal. The office of township trustee and many minor positions le filled from time to time, and every one loved and respected him. He died at a ripe age, in 1884, having survived his first wife just a quarter of a century. They were the parents of three chil- dren, Mrs. Hoffman, and Benjamin and Mark, who are deceased. By a later marriage one son, McClellan, now of Cambridge City, was born.
Our subject and wife have no children of their own, but they have lov- ingly cared for two orphans, Oscar and Eddy Beeson, nephews of Mrs. Hoff- man, whose parents, Benjamin and Fanny Beeson, died when one of the children was thirteen and the other nine years of age. Oscar, now engaged in business in Connersville, is a young man of excellent education and train- ing, thanks to his foster parents, and Eddy is yet attending school. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman are members of the Society of Friends and seek to do all the
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good they can in their community. They have a pleasant home in Milton, and are now quietly enjoying the competence which they acquired by energy and economy in their younger days. Fraternally he is a charter member of Robert Callaway Post, No. 504, Grand Army of the Republic, of Milton, and has been honored with the office of quartermaster since the organization of the post, with the exception of two years, and has, moreover, been the com- mander. For eight years he was the assessor of this township, acquitting himself with credit.
ALONZO OSBORN ..
For almost three-score years one of the leading and highly respected citizens of Union county was Alonzo Osborn, who departed this life at his old home in Boston township, May 11, 1895. His loss has been deeply and sincerely felt by the hundreds of friends he possessed in this section, for his noble qualities endeared him to all, and his manly, upright life was above reproach. To his children he left a better heritage than mere wealth,-the heritage of a blameless name and of a well spent life.
The birth of Alonzo Osborn occurred March 9, 1837, on the farm which is now owned and managed by his widow, and on this place nearly all of his years were spent, in quiet, industrious cultivation of the soil. His parents were Chatfield and Nellie (Davenport) Osborn, whose marriage was cele- brated in this state. Chatfield Osborn was a native of Long Island and was brought to this township by his parents, Daniel and Jane Osborn, who settled on Elkhorn river at an early day. After the marriage of our subject's par- ents they took up their abode upon a farm adjoining that of Mrs. Osborn's father. This tract of land has never since left the hands of the Osborns save for a year or two during the civil war, and is now owned by the widow of Alonzo Osborn. Here he spent his youth, receiving thorough training in agri- culture, and at the time that he had arrived at his majority his parents sold the farm and thenceforth resided in the town of Richmond, Indiana. Their daughter Rebecca is the widow of Wright Lancaster, and her present home is on North Eighth street, Richmond, in which place her brother William also lives. Pamela became the wife of William Lancaster, and removed to Day- enport, Iowa, where they both died. Scott is an Indianapolis grocer.
When he was twenty-one years of age Alonzo Osborn went to his grand- father Osborn's farm, on Elkhorn river, and carried on the place until 1863. when he purchased this homestead, his birthplace. He bought but forty acres at first, but his father became the purchaser of forty acres more and eventually made a present of the same to our subject. For some fourteen years, during the winter season, Alonzo Osborn worked in the packing house of Reed & Bieler, of Richmond, receiving five dollars per day for his serv-
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ices. The remainder of the year he industriously cultivated his farm, which he materially improved in many ways. His well directed efforts to acquire a competence met with deserved reward, and when he died he was well off in this world's goods. Desiring to extend the boundaries of his farm, he bought adjoining land, thus making the place one of one hundred and ninety acres. Besides this he owned another farm of seventy acres, in Center township. Especially during his later years he dealt considerably in live stock, feeding, buying and selling sheep, cattle and hogs, and in this way made a large income. Honorable and upright in all his business transactions he had many warm friends in the commercial world, as well as in his native community, where he was highly esteemed by those who had known hint for a lifetime. Broadminded and progressive in all his views, and a Republican in politics, he took a deep interest in whatever concerned the land of his birth and the world in general. For several years prior to his death he had been some- what troubled with heart disease, and though his death was sudden it was peaceful, being accompanied with little suffering, and his wife and son were at his side.
November 12, 1861, Alonzo Osborn married Martha J., daughter of Stephen and Nancy J. (Levison) Farlow. Mrs. Osborn was born in Union county, Indiana, and when she was eleven years old her father settled on the farm now carried on by Homer Farlow. Stephen Farlow also was a native of Union county, a son of John and Catherine (Miller) Farlow; and the mother of Mrs. Osborn is likewise a native of Union county, being a daugh- ter of James and Nancy (Templeton) Levison. Stephen and Nancy J. Far- low are still living, their home being at Myers Chapel, Boston township. The marriage of Alonzo Osborn and wife was blessed with three children, but they are all married and have homes of their own, and Mrs. Osborn still remains on her old homestead, with a young lady as her companion. She is a lady of most estimable qualities and was an able assistant to her husband in all his undertakings. Their elder son, Harry E., lives in Dayton, Ohio. He married Ada Drayea, and their three children are Mattie, Maud and Alonzo. Frank, the younger son, resides on part of his father's old home- stead. His wife was formerly Lizzie Miller, and their children are Nellie, Walter and Gertrude. Mary Etta is the wife of Charles Scearce, a farmer of Preble county, Ohio; and her only child is Russell.
WILLIAM R. ANNESS, M. D.
A prominent and successful physician and surgeon of Colter's Corners, Franklin county, Dr. Anness was born on a farm in Grant county, Ken- tucky, September 12, 1835, and is a son of John N. and Julia (Richardson) Anness, who were natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively, and were
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married in the latter state. The paternal grandparents, William and Jane (Pierce) Anness, were born in Virginia, of French ancestry, and were pioneers of Kentucky, where they spent their last days. In their family were seven children: John N. (father of our subject), Robert, William, Charles, Alexan- der, Mrs. Charity Menifer and Mrs. Elizabeth R. Williams. Of these only John N. and Charity came to Indiana. Our subject's maternal grandfather was William Richardson, also a native of Virginia, a farmer by occupation and one of the representative men of his community. At one time he made his home in Indiana, but his last days were passed in Missouri, where his death occurred. His children were Richard, Hiram, Jessie, John, Julia (who died in Indiana), Elizabeth, Huldah, Samuel, Albert and Andrew. The three eldest died in Kentucky, the others in Missouri.
It was in 1840 that the father of our subject came to Indiana and settled in Decatur county, where he purchased land and improved a farm, on which he spent his remaining days. He left the south on account of his opposition to slavery. In his family were the following children: Jane, who first mar- ried a Mr. Tix, and for her second husband William Smith; William, our subject; Mary, who died unmarried; Martha, who wedded a Mr. Burk; John, a soldier of the civil war, who died from effects of wounds received at Vicks- burg; Hiram, a farmer of Franklin county, Indiana; Wyatt, a resident of Decatur county; and Albert, of Liberty, Indiana. The parents were faithful members of the Baptist church, and were highly respected by all who knew them.
Dr. Anness was reared upon the home farm in this state and attended the common schools of the locality. He engaged in agricultural pursuits upon his father's place and later upon a farm of his own, until after the civil war broke out. In 1862 he enlisted for three years, or during the war, in Company K, Eighty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, under command of General Sherman. As ser- geant of his company Dr. Anness participated in several skirmishes with Morgan's inen. While boarding a vessel he was injured in the hip and sent to a hospital at Memphis, where it was found that he was permanently dis- abled, and he was then honorably discharged, December 25, 1862. He has never recovered from his injury, which has made him a cripple for life.
Returning home, he soon discovered that he would never be able to resume farming and so commenced reading medicine with Dr. Cass as a pre- ceptor. After studying for about eight years, he commenced practice at Lin- colnville, Ripley county, and met with quite good success. In 1879 and ISSo he attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, and then came to Colter's Corners, Franklin county, where he at once opened an office. He has since given his entire time and attention to his profession,
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with most gratifying results, his patronage extending for many miles into the surrounding country. He stands high in the esteem of his professional brethren and is very popular with all who know him. He served as presi- dent of the Franklin county board of United States pension examiners for four years, -during President Harrison's administration. Socially he affili- ates with the Masonic fraternity and politically is identified with the Repub- lican party. The Doctor's postoffice address is Bath.
In 1860 Dr. Anness married Miss Jennie Whipple, a native of Indiana, who died leaving one child, Charles, now a resident of Hamilton, Ohio. Her parents were Seneca and Sarah (Skull) Whipple, natives of Ohio and early settlers of Ripley county, Indiana, where her father followed the occupation of farming. He and all his family are now deceased. The Doctor was again married in 1870, the lady of his choice being Miss Effa Smith, a native of Switzerland county, Indiana, and a daughter of Levi and Anna (Carring- ton) Smith, New England people. The father is a highly educated man who for many years successfully engaged in teaching school; later he engaged in business as a carpenter and contractor, and finally located on a farm, where he and his wife still reside, aged eighty-seven and seventy-one years, respectively. In religious faith they were formerly Universalists, but are now earnest members of the Methodist church. Their children were Mrs. Rosa Heath; Samuel, deceased; and Effa M., wife of our subject. By his second marriage, Dr. Anness had three children: Greeley, a resident of Hamilton, Ohio; Nelly, wife of E. Brockley; and Alta, at home. The wife and mother, who was an earnest and consistent Christian, died in the faith of the Methodist church, March 26, 1898.
DAVID D. BASSETT.
A representative of an honored pioneer family, David D. Bassett has long been identified with the growth and development of this section of Indi- ana, and with the promotion of its farming interests. He was born in Fair- field township, Franklin county, Indiana, August 31, 1832, a son of Nathaniel and Eliza (Dubois) Bassett, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the la ter of New Jersey. Their marriage was celebrated in Indiana, where the father located when a young man. He was one of the pioneers of the state, and prior to his arrival here had spent some time in Cincinnati, where he worked at the brick-mason's trade. He afterward came to Fairfield, Frank- lin county, where he followed the same pursuit until after his marriage. He then purchased a farm on which a log cabin had been built, while a few acres had been partly cleared. In addition to agricultural pursuits he then carried on brick-laying, and erected some of the best buildings of that day in the sur- rounding country. He reared his family upon his farm and in his declining
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days.removed to Fairfield, where his death occurred in 1867. His wife after- ward made her home with her children, and she died at the residence of her daughter, in Fairfield township, in 1875. They were both consistent niem- bers of the Methodist church and were leading advocates of the temperance cause, the father ever adinonishing his sons never to take the first drink. Their children were Jonathan, now deceased; Ann, who became the wife of B. Gentry, and died in Decatur county; Lyda, who was the wife of J. Lane, and died in Illinois; David D .; Mrs. Caroline Smith, who died in Brookville; Mrs. Martha J. Skinner; and Charles, a stone-mason by trade, now residing at Elwood, Indiana. The last named served throughout the civil war, and now receives a pension on account of injuries sustained.
David D. Bassett was reared on the old home farm and for a year after his marriage continued there. He afterward purchased a farm in Blooming Grove township, but subsequently sold it and removed to another farm, upon which he lived for three years. He then bought property at Colter's Corners, and engaged in the manufacture of tile for two years, when he turned his attention to the butchering business, which he carried on three years. On the expiration of that period he purchased his present farm, three-fourths of a mile east of the town of Colter's Corners, on which was a small log house of one room. Therein he lived until, as the result of his industry and capa- ble management, he was enabled to erect his present commodions two-story residence. He has also cleared the land, placed many rods of tiling upon it and now has his farm under a high state of cultivation. He has planted a good orchard and set out a fine grove around his house, and now has one of the most attractive and desirable country homes in the locality. A few years after taking up his residence on the farm he built a large tile factory, which he conducted for several years. He then sold out and after two years resumed the butchering business, having a market at his home and also selling to farmers in the neighborhood and at Oxford, from a wagon. He has met with some difficulties in the course of his business career, but through his undaunted energy and perseverance and the assistance of his good wife he has triumphed over all obstacles and is now the possessor of a handsome competence.
On the ist of January, 1856, Mr. Bassett was united in marriage to Miss Matilda C. Fry, a member of an honored pioneer family. She was born January 12, 1836, a daughter of Philip and Catherine (Butler) Fry, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Indiana. Her father was a son of Henry Fry and came with his parents to the west in 1818, the family set- tling in Fairfield township, Franklin county, where the father purchased large tracts of land, giving to each of his five children a farm. He built a gristmill on Templeton's creek and successfully conducted his farm and mill.
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He was a leading member of the United Brethren church and an active factor in securing the erection of the first house of worship of that denomina- tion in the neighborhood. Honest and upright in all things, he lived to a ripe old age and died respected by all who knew him. His children were Simon, who reared a family and died in Franklin county; Lewis, who reared a fam- ily and died in this county; Lizzie, wife of J. Flint; Philip, father of Mrs. Bassett; Samuel, who reared a family and died in Union county. Philip Fry remained with his parents until his marriage and then settled on land which his father had given him, and upon which he made many excellent improvements. He remained there until his children were grown, when he removed to Colter's Corners, where he and his wife spent their last days. His wife died there August 21, 1887, at the age of eighty-two years, after which Mr. Fry went to live with his daughter, passing away at her home June 14, 1896, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. . Both were members of the United Brethren church in early life, but afterward united with the Methodist church and died in that faith. Their children were Henry W., who died at the age of nine years; Joshua, a retired farmer and banker living at Oxford; Matilda C., the wife of our subject; Mary B. Glasner, now deceased; Robert J., who is living with Mrs. Bassett; and Mrs. Nancy K. Beasley, who is liv- ing on the old family homestead.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bassett have been born four children: Jonathan M., who was born October 17, 1856, now resides near Oxford; Emma A., born November 14, 1866, is at home; Mary D., born November, 1869, is the wife of W. H. Garrod, a business man of Oxford; and Bertha M., who was born May 6, 1873, and is the wife of C. V. Wilson, a tile manufacturer.
The parents and children are all faithful members of the Methodist church, Mr. Bassett having been connected therewith since the age of six- teen years. He has always been very active in Christian work. When he came to his present home religious services were held in private houses, and he inaugurated the plans which resulted in the erection of the house of wor- ship. He has filled all the church offices, has long been class-leader, and is a recognized leader in both church and Sunday-school work. His life exem- plifies his Christian belief through his kindly spirit, his benevolence and his liberality in support of all good measures. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, but has never been an office· seeker, preferring to devote his attention to his business interests, in which he has met creditable success.
LEWIS J. BROWN.
This well known and popular railroad agent at New Trenton, Indiana, and a leading business man of the place, is a native of this state, born in Dearborn county, June 4, 1854, and is a son of Christian and Mary (Stoll)
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Brown, who were born, reared and married in Germany and emigrated to America in 1847, landing in New York. They first went to Cincinnati and later to New Orleans, but finally returned to Cincinnati, and afterward made their home for a time in Dearborn county, Indiana, and in Adrian, Michigan. Returning to Dearborn county, the father purchased a small farm, and in connection with its operation also worked at the brick and stone mnason's trade until 1865, when he sold the place and moved to Harrison county and from there to Franklin county, Indiana. He bought a farm two miles north of New Trenton, and upon that place spent the remainder of his life, dying there April 17, 1892. He was a Democrat in politics but never an aspirant for office, and a Lutheran in religious faith. His widow, who now finds a good home with our subject, also is a member of the German Lutheran church. In their family were four children, namely: Theodore, a resident of Brookville, Indiana; Henry, who died leaving three children; Lewis J., . our subject; and Mary, wife of John Node, a farmer.
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