USA > Indiana > Union County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Fayette County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Franklin County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Biographical and genealogical history of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 57
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Lewis J. Brown was reared on the home farm in much the usual man- ner of farmer boys of his day, and was given a common-school education. His two brothers learned the mason's trade, while he carried on the home- stead, remaining at his parental home for seven years after his marriage. About 1885 he returned to Dearborn county, where he cultivated a rented farm for three years, and then accepted the position of railroad agent at New Trenton, in which capacity he still continues to serve the company in a most satisfactory manner. He is also successfully engaged in business as a dealer in lumber, grain, coal, flour and feed, having built up a large and constantly increasing trade by fair and honorable dealing.
On the 17th of October, 1879, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Himalaya Bower, who was born near Dayton, Ohio, August 5, 1856, and was brought to Franklin county, Indiana, by her parents, Jacob and Martha (John) Bower, also natives of the Buckeye state. Her father was an extensive fruit-grower and farmer, who at an early day set out a large orchard here of eighty-five acres, but finally sold his property here and went to Chattanooga, Tennessee, near which city he engaged in the nursery and fruit business until failing health compelled his return north. After a linger- ing illness he died in Franklin county, Indiana, January 12, 1887. In his younger years he followed school-teaching to some extent, and was a man honored and respected by all who knew him. Mrs. Bower is still living. Their children were Himalaya, wife of our subject; Vernon, a blacksmith of New Trenton; Mrs. Cozette Stewart; and Ernest, a farmer and stock- man of Colorado. The children born to our subject and wife are Cozy, who now has charge of the railroad office and serves as telegraph operator; Irene, Loretta, Grover, Omar, Bessie and Alford, -all at home.
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Mr. Brown was reared in the Lutheran church, with which he is still connected. He has always taken an active and commendable interest in public affairs and is one of the leading representatives of the Democratic party in his section of the county. He attends its conventions, and on the party ticket was elected township trustee in 1896, a position he is now acceptably filling. He is widely and favorably known and is one of the most influential citizens of New Trenton and surrounding country.
CORNELIUS E. WILEY.
Cornelius E. Wiley, township trustee of Franklin township, Wayne county, has spent his entire life in this locality, his birth having occurred at . the family home, a half mile north of the village of Bethel, on the 11th of October, 1855, his parents being Martin and Elizabeth (Van Nuys) Wiley. They also were natives of Wayne county. The father was born on the old family homestead where occurred the birth of our subject, and was a son of Edward and Nancy (Braden) Wiley, who came to this state from North Car- olina, in the early part of the century, and from the government entered land which is still in possession of their descendants. Upon the farm which they developed, the grandparents spent their remaining days, and their old home forms a part of the present residence. Edward Wiley died on the 17th of May, 1850, at the age of sixty-five years, and his wife passed away June 17, 1875, at the age of eighty-one years and six months. They were among the earliest members of the Christian church in this locality. One of their children, Hardin Wiley, is still living, at the age of seventy years, his home being in Iowa.
Martin Wiley was born and reared on the old family homestead, and in his youth acquired his education in the common schools. After his marriage he · purchased a forty-acre farm, north of Bethel, whereon he made his home four years, after which he spent four years in Randolph county, and then purchased the old family homestead. There he made his abode, with the exception of two years spent in Union City, until the fall of 1882, when he removed to Bethel. He served for four years as magistrate of his township, was also trustee, and was accounted one of the leading and influential citi- zens of the community. He was married February 24, 1850, to Elizabeth Van Nuys, also a native of Franklin township, and a daughter of Cornelius and Matilda (Harrison) Van Nuys. They spent their last years in Bethel, where Mr. Wiley erected a handsome residence. They were lifelong mem- bers of the Christian church, esteemed by all for their sterling worth, and in his political faith Martin Wiley was a stalwart and active Republican. He had three children, Nancy M., Cornelius E. and Abraham L. His death occurred in 1889, at the age of fifty-eight years, and his wife, surviving him
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until 1895, passed away at the age of sixty. Their daughter is now the wife of Jacob Polly, of Union City, Indiana, and the youngest son is an under- taker of Bethel.
Cornelius E. Wiley, whose name begins this record, spent the first twenty years of his life upon his father's farm, assisting in its cultivation and improvement, and thus gaining a practical knowledge of the work which was afterward to be his source of livelihood. On leaving the old homestead, however, he spent two years as a salesman in a grocery store, and then returned to the farm, working with his father until twenty-five years of age. He was married on the 16th of October, 1880, to Miss Jessie Hunt, daughter of Frank and Lydia (Harris) Hunt, who at the time of her birth were living in New Garden township, Wayne county, but are now residents of Fountain City, Indiana. The young couple began their domestic life on the old Wiley homestead, but after two years went to Bethel, where, in company with John W. Holmes, Mr. Wiley engaged in the meat business for five years. He then traded his property and has since extensively engaged in dealing in stock, making a specialty of this line of enterprise. He buys over a large territory and handles over five hundred head of cattle annually. He owns two farms, -a tract of one hundred acres adjoining the old home place north of Bethel, and another of eighty acres near by. His fields are highly culti- vated, but much of his land is used for pasturage and the crops are largely fed to the stock. His business interests are capably managed, and his dili- gence and industry have brought to him excellent financial returns.
In matters of public importance Mr. Wiley has also taken a deep inter- est. He served as justice of the peace for four years, and was then elected township trustee, in which position he has remained four years, discharging his duties in a most prompt and creditable manner. During this time he has labored most earnestly to promote the best interests of the township, and has been especially active in advancing the educational welfare of the community. The township now has six school buildings, wherein nine teachers are employed, and this includes a good high school at Whitewater. When he entered upon the duties of the office there was an indebtedness of four thousand dollars in the township in the special school fund, but he has suc- ceeded in reducing this to one thousand dollars, and has also erected a new school building at a cost of one thousand dollars. He has attended various county, district, congressional and state conventions of the Republican party and is a member of the township Republican committee. At all times he takes a deep interest in the party and does all in his power to promote its growth and secure its success. Other public service is also entrusted to him, such as comes through the appointment as guardian or administrator of estate. All who know him have the utmost confidence in his integrity and
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business ability, and the trust reposed in him has never been betrayed even to the slightest extent.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wiley has been blessed with four children: Charles T., aged seventeen, who at the time of this writing is a member of the senior class in the high school at Whitewater and will graduate in 1899; Amber, aged twelve; Russell Martin, eight years of age; and William Earl, now in his second year. The parents are consistent members of the Chris- tian church, at Bethel, in which Mr. Wiley has served as clerk and trustee, while at the present writing he is filling the office of deacon. He is a charter member of Victory Lodge, No. 476, K. P., of Hollansburg, Ohio, and is a genial, social and honorable gentleman who enjoys the confidence and good will of a large circle of friends.
WESLEY SANDERS.
This gentleman, a well known citizen and a representative of a pioneer family of Franklin county, resides in Blooming Grove township, where he owns an extensive and valuable tract of land. He was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, in 1819, a son of John and Jane Sanders and a grandson of Moses Sanders. When he was about eight years of age the family emni- grated from Kentucky to Indiana, the father making a settlement upon a farm near Mount Carmel, in Franklin county. Both he and his wife have long since passed away, but all of their children, with the exception of James, the eldest, are now living. They are William, Wesley, John and Sally Anın.
Wesley Sanders and his brothers assisted the father in clearing up a farm, which was one of the first tracts of land developed in Springfield town- ship. He entered upon an independent business career at an early age, working as a farm hand for three dollars per month, In this way he aided in clearing much of the land in the vicinity of Mount Carmel, and thus promoted the material welfare of the community and aided in its progress and improvement. When he had acquired a sufficient capital to make an investment for himself, he purchased forty acres, which was the nucleus of his present farm. From time to time he added to that amount until within the boundaries of his farm are now comprised four hundred and sixty acres of rich land, the greater part of which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, the well tilled fields yielding to him a golden tribute in return for the care and cultivation of the owner. Good buildings and substantial improve- ments also indicate the progressive spirit of Mr. Sanders, who is accounted one of the leading farmers of the community.
Our subject has been three times married. He first wedded Hannah N. Whittaker, whose death occurred ten years later. Four children were born
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of this marriage, but only one is now living: Hannah, wife of James Jarvis, of Connersville, Indiana. Those deceased were Reta, Charlotte and Wallace. For his second wife Mr. Sanders chose Lydia Apsley, who lived only three years, and died leaving a son, Henry A., now of Laurel. The present wife bore the maiden name of Sarah E. Wilson and was a daughter of Robert and Rebecca (Downes) Wilson, natives of Maryland. Two daughters honor this marriage-Ollie May and R. Bertic. .
Mr. and Mrs. Sanders are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He came to this county in its pioneer days, and had but little opportunity to secure an education, but has always manifested good judg- ment in his business career; and by his industry, economy and enterprise has secured a very desirable competence. His life has ever been a busy and useful one, and such men form the strength of the county, state and nation.
JOHN T. MANLOVE.
Few citizens of eastern Indiana are more widely known and universally esteemed than John T. Manlove, the owner and proprietor of Forest Home Stock Farm, in Posey township, Fayette county. His genius and ability as a business man are thoroughly recognized, and he ranks with the most influ- ential agriculturists of the state.
The paternal grandfather of the above named gentleman, Williani Man- love, of New England, came to this state at an early period and entered land in Fayette county, which he improved until his death. He had married in the east and had five children, namely: Jesse, deceased; Mrs. Cynthia Miller; Mrs. Phœbe Stevens; Absalom; and William, who died in Hamilton county. Absalom, the father of our subject, was one of the largest raisers of and dealers in cattle, horses, mules and hogs, of his day and locality. He disposed of large droves in Kentucky and southern points, and supplied the Counsell Packing Company, of Connersville, Indiana, almost exclusively for years. At the same time he carried on his farm in Fayette county profit- ably, and enjoyed the high regard of all who had dealings with him. From time to time he was called to occupy local positions of trust, and never failed to discharge his duties creditably. At first allied with the Democratic party, he joined the Republicans about the time of the civil war and continued faithful to the doctrines of the party. Religiously he was a member of the Primitive Baptist church, and a liberal contributor to its support. For a wife he chose Miss Mary Rea, a daughter of Daniel Rea, of Virginia. The latter was an early settler of Indiana, and in addition to plying his trade as a blacksmith he did some farmning and engaged in freighting to Cincinnati and Indianapolis. His children were: John R., William, David, Benjamin, Christiana, Minerva, Hetty, Mary and Elizabeth. The union of Absalom
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and Mary Manlove was blessed with several children, namely: Anna, wife of P. A. Brown; W. R., an attorney in Chicago; John T .; Joseph L., of Milton; Perinelia, wife of Dr. R. L. Rea, of Chicago; G. B., a lawyer in the same city; and Olive P. The father was summoned to the silent land in July, 1868, and the mother survived until August, 1897.
The birth of John T. Manlove took place in Fayette county, March II, 1844, and his boyhood passed uneventfully upon the old homestead. There he learned the various departments of agriculture, and was of great service to his father in many ways. He supplemented an ordinary country school education with a commercial course in an Indianapolis business college. Since his marriage in 1867 he has lived upon his present farm, which now comprises four hundred and ten acres. Of this he has cleared one hundred and fifty acres, and keeps three hundred and fifty acres under cultivation. A commodious house, two large barns and other farm buildings stand upon the place, which is without question one of the finest and most valuable in this section of the state. Following in his father's footsteps, Mr. Manlove has devoted much time and means to the raising of thoroughbred horses. He has owned Gray Eagle and Blue Bell, Kentucky stallions, and has a number of noble Hambletonians and other high-bred horses having records of from 2:15 to 2:30. Besides, he raises and sells at high prices Shetland ponies and fine cattle and hogs, though his chief pride is in his excellent horses, which command the admiration of the best judges of horse-flesh. He owns property in Indianapolis and other places and receives a good income from the investments.
Though in no wise a politician, Mr. Manlove is an ardent Democrat and has occupied numerous local offices, such as that of township trustee, in which capacity he served for eight or ten years. He is public-spirited and enterprising, doing his full share toward the common weal.
The first marriage of John T. Manlove was to Mary E. Loder, who was born and reared in this county, a daughter of James R. and Malinda (Wright) Loder and granddaughter of John Loder. Her only sister, Sarah J., is unmarried. One child was born to our subject and wife, namely, Mary E., who wedded W. J. Rusk, of Ohio, now deputy postmaster at El Paso, Texas. Mrs. Manlove, who was a consistent member of the Methodist church, was summoned to her reward February 17, 1871. The lady who now bears our subject's name was formerly Miss Ellen E. Loder, and their marriage was solemnized in 1872. She was born in Bentonville, this county, her parents being Alfred and Eliza Loder. The father, a prominent mer- chant of the town mentioned, was a native of Cincinnati, where his father, Benjamin Loder, was a wealthy and influential business man. About 1838 Alfred Loder married a lady of the same city and soon afterward removed 65
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to Bentonville, where he spent the rest of his busy and prosperous life, his death occurring in 1865. His widow is yet living upon property which they owned in Bentonville, but their two sons, William P. and Oliver, are deceased, as also is Frances H., who died unmarried.
HOUSE OF HANNA.
The American Hannas are of the Scotch-Irish race. The original Scotch ancestor, John Hanna, was a follower of Cromwell, from the west of Scot- land, and settled in county Down, Ireland, where his sons Robert and Hugh, after the restoration of Charles II, became obnoxious to the favorites of that king because of the activity and aggressiveness of their father, and to better their condition and escape persecution they sought a home in the American colonies, and settled in Wilmington, Delaware. Robert went from there to Prince Edward's county, Virginia, where he died. His son Robert married Mary Parks, a descendant of the Littlejohns, of Ireland, and, accompanied by his mother, sister and wife, he moved from Virginia to South Carolina, Law- rence district, about the year 1768, and for some years he was surveyor gen- eral of that state.
He remained there until all his family were born, consisting of eight chil- dren, and in 1800, A. D., a company of emigrants was organized to seek homes in the then Northwest Territory, under the leadership of Robert Hanna and Robert Templeton. The company was composed of the follow- ing heads of families: Robert Templeton, Sr., William Logan. George Lev- iston, John Logan, John Ewing, Robert Swan, Robert Hanna, Sr .. and his two sons, John and Joseph Hanna, and his son-in-law, John Templeton. In ISO1 they reached the "Dry Fork" and made a temporary halt at a point near the present site of Harrison, Ohio. There they remained while the lands in the western part of Wayne's Purchase were being surveyed, which work was accomplished by 1802-3. But, as the law then existed, no less than a whole section could be entered. When, however, early in 1804, the amount was reduced to one-eighth of a section, or more, with reduction of the price also, and with provision for payments in installments, then the Carolina emigrants entered their lands. Having selected them and built their cabins in the fall of 1804 and the spring of 1805, they moved their fam- ilies into the cabins they had erected, the Whitewater valley, at that time, being a dense wilderness. They were the very first pioneers of the valley, although Robert Green entered the first land, on January 15, 1804,-after the Carolinians had built their cabins; but he fortunately possessed money to enter the land. The second entry was that of Robert Hanna, Sr.
The sons of Robert Hanna, Sr., were John, James, Joseph, Robert and David Graem, of all of whom he was justly proud; for, possessed of the res-
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tleness of the Scotch-Irish race, they were intolerant of anything that seemed tainted with cowardice, false pretense or hypocrisy. Thus with a keen sense of justice and fairness, and overflowing with mirth and good nature, is it any wonder that they should have become leaders in their " day and genera- tion ?"
After the erection of the new county (Franklin), steps were taken toward the establishment of a judicial government, and the first court con- vened at Brookville, on the 18th day of February, 1811. The judges present were Benjamin McCarty, Thomas Brown and John Templeton (son-in-law to Robert Hanna, Sr.); and Robert Hanna, Jr., was sheriff. On the 13th of May, 1816, an election was held to select representatives to meet at the seat of government of said territory to form a constitution, and take the necessary steps toward the formation of a state government. There were then but thirteen counties in the state, and, according to the apportionment then made, this county was entitled to five representatives in the convention. William H. Eads, James Brownlee, Enoch McCarty, James Noble and Rob- ert Hanna, Jr., were elected. Mr. Hanna was a member of the committees on revising the constitution and on the militia.
The first election in the county, under the new constitution, was held on the 5th day of August, 1816, and among other officers elected was Robert Hanna, Jr., for sheriff, and his brother John for associate judge. The first court held in the county under the constitution was in March, 1817, when John Jacobs and John Hanna were the associate judges, and Robert Hanna, Jr., sheriff. In 1818 another election for sheriff resulted in giving Robert Hanna, Jr., one thousand and ninety votes over William Rose, who received three hundred and three votes. At the expiration of his last term of office as sheriff he was elected to represent his adherents in the legislature. He was the first United States marshal for the territory of Indiana, appointed by William Henry Harrison.
In 1817 a militia organization was effected and the state was divided into divisions and brigades. Franklin county was the Sixth Brigade and Third Division, and Robert Hanna, Jr., was created brigadier-general of the Sixth Brigade, Third Division. He was also one of the two first United States senators representing that state on its admission. General Robert Hanna was among the very first men in early Indiana. He was, in person, below the common size, strong, and firmly built, his head large, forehead high, his eyes light and well set in his head. His walk would point him out as a drill officer, and his appearance in full uniform at the head of his brigade was truly " en militaire."
General Robert Hanna was born in Lawrence district, South Carolina, April 6, 1786. Sarah Mowry was born in Virginia, November 10, 1797.
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They two were united in marriage March 13, 1813. by Judge Benjamin Mc- Carty, at Brookville, Indiana. She died at Indianapolis, August 29, 1837. He was killed by accident on the Pennsylvania Railroad, in Indianapolis, November 19, 1858. They left ten children, one of the number a daughter.
Of his sons, four attained distinction during the Rebellion. The oldest son, Claiborne Hanna, was commissioned major and paymaster of the United States Army. Barlow, captain of Company H, Seventy-second Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry, served in what was known as the Mounted Lightning Bri- gade, and was an active participant in the maneuvers, skirmishes, raids and battles in which that command was from time to time engaged. Captain Joseph Madison Hanna served in the Eighth Illinois Infantry, and John L. Hanna was captain of the Eleventh Indiana Infantry. William Hanna became a prominent lawyer.
John Hanna, the eldest son of Robert Hanna, Sr., was one of the three first judges elected under the new state constitution (in those days three judges sat on the bench at one time, and were designated as " associated judges " ), and he served well and satisfactorily through two terms. He had a large family, and one of his grandsons, John Hanna, Jr., represented his constituents in the United States congress, and at the expiration of his term he was renominated by the Republican party, but died while making the can- vass. His widow and younger children reside at their country-seat, near Plainfield, Indiana. Of Joseph Hanna's family, one son, Joseph Hanna, Jr., arose to considerable prominence as a Campbellite preacher.
David Graem Hanna, youngest son of Robert Hanna, Sr., married Mary McKinney, sister to Associate Judge John Mckinney, and to that union ten children were born -- four sons and six daughters. Graem Hanna was noted as an active, reliable worker in his political party, -- the Democratic party being that of his choice, and he having voted the " straight " ticket from 1810 to 1869, At one time lie was chosen to represent his party in the state legis- lature, and his oldest son was a member representing a western district at the same time. He was honorable, upright and just. Cheerful, and gener- ous to a fault, a neighbor once said of him: "Graem has given away enough to buy a farm."
His oldest son. James McLaine Hanna, entered the profession of law and soon succeeded in acquiring a fine practice and establishing a reputation for penetrating shrewdness that was sure to win. He had so far gained the confidence of the public that on the death of Judge Perkins he was appointed to fill the vacancy on the supreme bench. At the expiration of the time he was elected to a full terin, and was again re-elected. but died before the last term was near its finish.
Henry Clay Hanna was the third son of Graem Hanna, and he also
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entered the profession of the law. He was first elected circuit prosecuting attorney, and after a few years' practice he became so well known that he was elected circuit judge, and he died while in the twelfth year of his service. It can be said of Mrs. Mary Hanna that she was sister to a judge, sister-in- law to a judge and mother of two judges, and also sister-in-law to a senator and aunt to a congressman.
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