USA > Indiana > Adams County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 1 > Part 31
USA > Indiana > Wells County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 1 > Part 31
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
Delilah, Hiram, Elender (deceased), Ann C., Mary C. and John O. After his marriage Mr. Kraner followed farming in Hancock County, Ohio, and in 1860 came to Adams County, Indiana, arriving here December 25. Here he purchased a large traet of land and erected the first portable saw-mill in the vicinity. Ile died on the homestead farm, in Wabash Township, May 14, 1852. He was at one time a member of the United Brethren church. He was a man of strict in- tegrity and honorable in all his dealings, and was a man much respected throughout the community where he resided. His widow is now living at Geneva, Indiana.
JOHN McCUNE, deceased, who was one of the early settlers of Adams County, Indiana, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, December 23, 1813. He grew to man- hood in Kentucky, and received a fair com- mon-school education. He came with his father's family to Indiana, they settling in Rush County. He was married in Rush County to Mary Aspey, who was born in that county September 11, 1813, a danghter of Lawrence Aspey, Sr. Twelve children were born to this union, five sons and seven daughters. After his marriage Mr. McCune located in Fayette County, Indiana, and from there he removed to Hancock County. Ile subse- quently returned to Fayette County, and in 1845 came to Adams County, and settled on section 27 of Monroe Township on land which had been entered for him by his father- in-law. His Iand was heavily covered with timber when he settled on it, and he immedi- ately began clearing and improving the place. Ile built a hewed-log house one and a half stories high, covered with elapboards, and afterward built a more commodious frame
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residence, in which he resided until his death November 24, 1873, his wife surviving until Angust 23, 1874. Both were worthy mem- bers of the Christian church. Politically Mr. MeCune was formerly a Whig, but later affiliated with the Republican party. He was active in all enterprises which had for their object the advancement of his township or county, and served faithfully as township trustee and constable. In the early days of the county he was considered quite a hunter. At one time he shot three deer from his north window. He was successful in his agricult- ural pursuits, and at the time of his death had 160 acres of choice land.
AY RUGG, farmer, section 26, Root Township, was born in Decatur, this county, April 4, 1848. Ile lived in his native town until 1858, then removed to Fort Wayne, where his father, Samuel Rugg, was elected State Superintendent of Public In- struction. The family then removed to In- dianapolis, where they lived four years. During the late war he enlisted in Company C, Seventeenth Indiana Infantry, and served three years, or until the close of the war. Ile was in the battle of Chickamauga, Mis- sionary Ridge and all the battles and skir- mishes of his regiment. They went to Atlanta, but returned to Nashville, under General Thomas, and was in the battle of Franklin. IIe was discharged in February, 1864; but when General Morgan made his raid he en- listed in the One Hundred and Thirty-second Indiana for 100 days. After his discharge he lived a short time in Fort Wayne, when the family removed to Nashville, Tennessee, on account of his father's pulmonary ditti- culties. They lived there three years, when the father went to Huntsville, Alabama.
Our subject was then running an engine on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. Hle followed that occupation nine years. Ile was married June 26, 1876, to Mrs. Catherine Smith, who was born in Clarke County, Ohio, October 26, 1836, and when she was five years old the family removed to this county, settling in Washington Town- ship, where she was mostly reared. Iler parents were natives of Virginia. Iler father was born in Rockingham County in 1811, where he was reared and educated. Ile was married in Clarke County, Ohio. He died on the old homestead in Wabash Township August 26, 1874. The mother was four and a half years older than the father, and died on the home farm April 16, 1872, and is buried in the Crawford cemetery. Mrs. Rugg was the oldest of eight children. She has two brothers living in Wabash Township, and one brother in Washington Township. A sister lives in Florida. Mr. and Mrs. Rngg have one child-Gertrude, who was born June 9, 1878.
FREDERICK WILLIAM BLAKEY, farmer, resides on section 20, Union Township, where he owns 320 acres
of land. lle also owns 160 acres on section 17, making a total of 480 acres. Ile was born in Prussia November 30, 1825, and came with his parents to America when ten years of age. He was married in December, 1854, to Miss Mary Bevalheimer, who was born in Pennsylvania in December, 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Blakey have nine living chil- dren --- William, Louisa, Caroline, Christine, Edward, Ilelena, Mary, Sophia and Fierinan. Caroline is deceased. His father's family consisted of seven children -- Christian, Fred- erick, who died in Germany at the age of
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one and a half years; Frederick, our subject; Christine, Sophia, Mary, and Amelia, who was born and died in Cincinnati, being about two years old at death. Our subject was not much of a hunter in an early day, but his brother Christian was a very skillful hunter, and turkeys were so thick that he could not shoot without hitting one. Frederick lived in the same house with his brother Christian until 1870, at which time they separated. In 1850 the brothers embarked in the iner- cantile trade, and also conducted an ashery under the firm name of John II. Blakey. In 1880 they commenced the tile business, and two years later abandoned the mercantile trade. They have been very successful in the manufacture of tile. They burn eight kilns per year, caeli kiln containing about 1,200 rods, including all sizes, from two to eight inchies. The Blakey family were the second who settled in Union Township, Daniel Hines being the oldest living settler. The Township was organized in 1841, the first election taking place at the house of John Blakey, there being eight votes cast.
IRAM KRANER, a prosperous farmer of Wabash Township, residing on see- tion 33, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, November 14, 1836, a son of Michael N. Kraner, an old pioneer of Adams County. IIe was reared to the avocation of a farmer, which he has followed the greater part of his life, and in his youth attended the district schools of Hancock County, Ohio, where he obtained a limited education. Ilis father owned the first portable saw-mill in Adams County, Indiana. He subsequently sold a half interest in the mill, which was moved to Decatur, our subject being engaged in running it at that place some three years,
Ile also learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed but a short time. February 1, 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Mays, a native of Virginia, born April 28, 1845, and to them have been born ten children-Mary C., Charles W., Minerva J., Laura E. (deceased), Delphia E., Ann J., John W., Luda A., Clara E. and Hiram C. Mr. Kraner settled on his present farm in November, 1873, which contains 160 acres of well-cultivated land with comfortable resi- dence and good farm buildings, besides which he owns eighty acres in Jay County. In poli- ties he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Decatur.
ENRY II. MYERS, of Washington Township, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, April 18, 1843, son of Frederick and Christina Myers, natives of Germany. They immigrated to America in the fall of 1830, and lived in Pennsylvania several years, then removed to Wayne County, Ohio; thence to Adams County, this State, in the fall of 1851, being among the first settlers of Washington Township. The parents re- mained in this county until their decease, the father's death occurring February 26, 1859, and the mother's December 5, 1879. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom survive-Frederick, William J., Henry HI., David L., Daniel W. and James M. The father was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and was one of the founders of that church in Decatur. He was an honest, hard-working pioneer, and at his death left quite a large estate. Ilenry II. Myers was reared to manhood in this county, and edu- cated in the district schools. Ile was mar- ricd October 16, 1870, to Elizabeth C. Baker, and to this nnion were born six children --
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Charles C., John T., Richard D., Wade HI., Dorsey D. and Jennie E. F. In August, 1862, Mr. Myers enlisted in Company II, Eighty-ninth Indiana Infantry, as a private, but was appointed Color-Sergeant of his regi- ment. Ilis regiment became a part of the Sixteenth Army Corps of Sherman's army, and participated in the battle of Munford- ville, siege of Vicksburg, was in the Red River expedition, and took part in the prin- eipal battles on the Mississippi River. At the battle of Yellow Bayon, Louisiana, he was wounded in the left leg just below the knee, and was for several months in the hos- pital at Jefferson Barracks, Missonri. He then entered the Veteran Reserve Corps, and remained until his discharge in the fall of 1865. Ile returned home to Adams County, and has been a resident here ever since. Ile has served as diteh commissioner for five years; is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Masonic society at Decatur, and of the G. A. R. post. Mrs. Myers' parents, John T. and Margaret Baker, were early set- tlers of Adams County.
HRISTOPHER F. MYERS, of Wash- ington Township, is a native of Ger- many, born May 22, 1829, son of Frederick and Christina Myers, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. He came to America with his parents in 1830, and to Adams County in 1851. He was reared principally in Ohio, and received a rudimentary education in a district school. He early learned the tanner's trade, which he followed nearly thirty years, and for about three years was in business for himself in Wells County, this State. He has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Glancy, and they had one child, Sarah. His second
wife was Mary 1. Karnal, and to this union have been born six children-Rebecca, John W., Charles M., Simon, Amanda J. and Mary E. Mr. Myers owns twenty acres of good land, which is well cultivated. He is a mem- ber of the Christian church, and has officiated as an ordained elder four years. Politically he is a Prohibitionist.
OHN SCHURGER was born in Seneca County, Ohio, March 11, 1838, a son of George A. and Margaret (Rab) Selinrger, natives of Bavaria. Ile was the second of nine children, but five of whom are living, two sons and three daughters-John; Agnes, wife of Ilenry Lang, of Adams County; George, a telegraph operator at Creston, Ohio, and Catherine and Mary, sisters of grace at St. Mary's Catholic Institute in Vigo County, Indiana. When our subject was but thirteen years old his father was taken sick, and the family being in indigent eireumstances and he being the eldest son, he was obliged to as- sist his mother in their maintenance. Ilis father died in 1852. He remained on the farm with his mother until twenty-one years of age. Ile was deprived of all educational advantages, his only schooling being forty-two days at an English and twenty-two days at a German school. Ile, however, by private study acquired a fair business education, ap- plying himself, as he says, " while others slept." In 1864 he came to Adams County and bought land in St. Mary's Township, where he engaged in farming until the spring of 1866, when he sold his farm and went to Root Township, near Decatur, where in con- nection with farming he engaged in butcher- ing. In November, 1874, he was elected recorder of Adams County and was re- elected in 1878, holding the office eight years.
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In politics Mr. Schurger is a Democrat. Since leaving the recorder's office he has been engaged in tracing and writing up abstracts, titles to property, etc. Mr. Schurger was married April 29, 1862, to Agatha Fisher, a native of Baden, Germany, who came with her parents, S. and Theresa Fisher, to Amer- ica when she was eight years old. To them have been born ten children, eight of whom are living Catherine, Rosa, Albert, Lena, Anthony, Christina, Lonisa and Frederick. Bridget died aged six weeks and Andrew aged two years. Mr. Schurger and his fam- ily are members of St. Mary's Catholic church. He has been treasurer of the board of trustees of St. Joseph's school, which is under the auspices of St. Mary's church. Mr. Schurger's mother died at his residence No- vember 3, 1556, aged eighty-four years.
AMES WALKER LINTON, general farmer, residing on section 18, Jeffer- son Township, is a native of Darke County, Ohio, born September 17, 1836, a son of Sammuel and Margaret (Walker) Linton, old settlers of Adams County. He was brought by his parents to Adams County in 1838, and here he grew to manhood, receiv- ing his education in the common schools of his neighborhood. He remained on the home farm with his parents until his marriage De- cember 26, 1858, to Miss Mary Ann Wheeler. She was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, September 21, 1536, a daughter of Amos and Rebecca (Hedge) Wheeler. Iler father was a native of Pennsylvania. Ile came to Indi- ana when a young man, and helped elear the land where Indianapolis now stands. IIe subsequently went to Ohio, where he was married. Ile came to Adams County, Indi- ana, with his family and settled in Wabash
Township in 1539, entering land on section 30, on which he lived till his death. Ile died in the spring of 1877, aged about eighty- five years. His wife died in the fall of 1876, aged seventy-five years. They were the par- ents of nine children, five sons and four daughters. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Linton-Rebecca J., born February 3, 1861, died October 3, 1867; Charles Sylvester, born February 24, 1863; Samuel R., born March 18, 1866; Mary E., born January 18, 1868; John W., born April 2, 1870; James E., born March 24, 1872; Amos W., born December 13, 1873, and Jo- seph M., born June 29, 1878. Mr. Linton enlisted in the late war February 11, 1865, and was assigned to Company E, One Hun- dred and Fifty-third Indiana Infantry. He was taken sick with measles at Camp Car- rington, at Indianapolis, and was discharged there May 23, 1865. After his marriage Mr. Linton engaged in farming on section 33, Wabash Township. Since that time he has owned and lived on several different farms, and in 1881 purchased the farm in Jefferson where he now resides, where he has seventy- two aeres of choice land. Mr. Linton is a member of the German Baptist church. In polities he was formerly a Republican, but is now a Prohibitionist, and has held several local offices with credit to himself and satis- faetion to his constituents.
ENJAMIN MARTIN, farmer, seetion 30, Union Township, was born in Frank- lin County, Pennsylvania, in December, 1812. In 1835 he removed to Stark County, Ohio, with his wife and two children, where he lived until 1842, then removed to Union Township, Adams County, this State, and settled upon the farm he now owns. He
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eame with wife and four children, one ehild having died in Stark County. He came with wagon and two yoke of oxen, and eut his own road a part of the way from Decatur. While building his log house he lived with a man named Peter Sickafoose. Ilis eabin was one and a half stories in height, 20 x 24 feet, with puncheon floor. He lived in that house until 1562. when he built his present frame house. Mrs. Martin died Mareh 23, 1854, leaving twelve children, three of whom have died sinee her death. One died in Pennsyl- vania, and one in Stark County, Ohio. Mary C. died in Pennsylvania at the age of thirteen months; Thomas died in this county, aged about twenty-two years; Benjamin Franklin was born in November, 1835, and died in this county; Peter, born July 6, 1837, died November 7, 1837; John, born May 22, 1839; Catherine, born May 13, 1841; Haman M., born November 29, 1842; Margaretta, born February 23, 1845: Sarah, born April 17, 1847; William H., born April 10, 1849; Amelia, born December 20, 1850; George W., born February 22, 1852, died August 7, 1853. December 2, 1873, Mr. Martin was married to Caroline Courtney, widow of Will- iam Courtney, and daughter of John and Sarah (Parks) Leaeh. Her father died in Trumbull County, Ohio, when she was about ten years old. Her parents came from New Jersey to Ohio, settling in Trumbull County. The mother died in Greenville, Ohio, in 1876, aged eighty-nine years. Mrs. Martin was born in Trumbull County, April 6, 1822, and was reared and edneated in that county. She lived in Trumbull County some time after her first marriage, and they removed to Allen County, this State, where the husband died, leaving four children, three of whom are living-Margaret, born May 29, 1844, now the wife of James Leach; Sarah R., born December 22, 1845, died in 1881, leaving
three children; Mary A., born September 22, 1847, wife of Jacob Shull; William H., born October 25, 1852. The Martins and Leaches are of English ancestry; Mrs. Martin's first husband was of German aneestry.
AMES T. YOUNG, engaged in farming 1. com on section 29, Wabash Township, where he has thirty acres of choice land under a fine state of cultivation, was born in Miami County, Ohio, April 9, 1847, his parents, John and Elizabeth (Thompson) Young, being natives of the same State, and of Scotch and German deseent respectively. Their ances- tors were soldiers in the war of the Revolution. When our subjeet was but a month old his mother died, and at the age of seven years lie was left an orphan by the death of his father. After his father's death he lived at different places until February 16, 1864, when he enlisted in Company G, Eighth Ohio Cavalry, and was with Hunter under Sheridan in the Eighth Army Corps, cavalry division. He participated in the second battle at Lexington, the battles of Charlotteville, Linehburgh, and Liberty, where he was wounded, and taken prisoner June 19, 1864. He was then sent to Andersonville, where he was imprisoned until November 20, 1864, when he was paroled, returning home for thirty days. IIe was then exchanged and rejoined his company at Weston, West Virginia, receiving his final discharge July 31, 1865, the war being over. After receiving his discharge he returned to his home in Miami County, Ohio, and later went to Darke County, Ohio, where he was married May 5, 1868, to Miss Lucretia Eng- lishi, who was a native of that county, born August 4, 1850, a daughter of James and Lucretia (Russell) English. Her father was born in County Antrim, Ireland, November
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26, 1811, and with his parents, William and Wabash Township. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Republican party. Ile draws a pension from the Government for his services during the war of the Rebellion. He is a charter member of John P. Porter Post, No. 83, G. A. R. Mrs. Young is also a charter member of the Woman's Relief Corps, auxiliary to Porter Post. Elizabeth (Davidson) English, came to America in May, 1512. landing at Charleston, South Carolina. They first settled in Ten- nessee in 1813, and moved to Warren County, Ohio, where his mother died. He then with his father, two brothers and two sisters removed to Darke County in 1823, and located on a farm of 163 acres all in timber. In 1832 his father, William English, built the finest farm house then in the county, and lived in it until his death, February 23, ANIEL DAVID HELLER, attorney at law, a member of the firm of Heller & Hooper, Decatur, Indiana, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, March 29, 1839, a son of Henry B. and Mary A. (Weyandt) Heller, natives of Greene County, Pennsyl- vania. His parents were married in Harri- son County, Ohio, where they made a per- manent residenee. The mother died in May, 1874, aged fifty-seven years, and the father in September, 1851, aged sixty-four years. D. D. Heller was reared on a farm, receiving his education in the New Hagerstown Academy, Carroll County, Ohio. When twenty years of age he began teaching school and taught several winter termins, and during the summer read law with Stambangh & Bartleson, of New Philadelphia, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar at Carrollton, Ohio, in 1863, and in August of the same year located at Millersburg, where he practiced until March, 1867, when he removed to De- catur, Indiana. IIe has been connected with several firms in the city, and March 30, 1881, became associated with Paul G. Hooper, forming the present firm of Heller & Hooper. In 1872 Mr. Heller was appointed eonnty school examiner, and in 1873, when the new law creating the office of county superin- tendent went into efleet, he was the first to hold that office in Adams County, resigning 1856. James English then became possessor of the farm, and in 1880 built another house, which is now the finest farm house in the county, in which he lived until his death, which occurred November 4, 1856. Both houses are now owned by the widow and their seven heirs. The mother of Mrs. Young, Lueretia Russell, was born in Grant County, South Carolina, in 1812, and with her parents, William and Annie Russell, moved to Piqua, Ohio, and thence to Darke County, where she was married to James English, in 1836. They were members of the United Presby- terian church. Mr. English was very much opposed to slavery and was a strong Republi- can. He was a constant reader of the Bible and of his local paper from its first issue until the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Young are the parents of three children- Samuel Ottwell, Warren W. and Martha D. Just after the war Mr. Young spent a year traveling in Iowa and Kansas. After his marriage hie engaged in the manufacture of tile in Darke County, and subsequently engaged in the same business in Jay County, Indiana. Hle eame with his family to Adams County, Indiana, in 1875, locating at Geneva, where he was engaged in the manufacture of tile from 1878 until 1884. Ile then sold out his tile factory, and has since followed agricultural pursuits on his present farm in | after a service of eighteen months. In May,
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1885, he was elected mayor of Decatur for a term of two years. Mr. Heller was married July 15, 1869, to Anna J. Corbus, a native of Millersburg, Ohio, daughter of John and Mary (Armstrong) Corbus, who before her marriage was a teacher in the graded school of her native eity. Mr. and Mrs. Heller have four children-Mary C., a gradnate, with the honors of her class, of the Decatur High School; John II., Henry B. and Bertha C. Mrs. Heller is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In polities Mr. Heller is a Democrat.
ILLIAM P. RICE, farmer, seetion 35, Root Township, is the owner of 235 acres of land, aportion of it lying in Washington Township and a portion in Root. Ile came to this State in 1835, with an older brother, Benjamin, and they went to work in the woods, on some land their father had entered from the Govern- ment the previous spring. This land was entered on section 14, Root Township. They first built a log cabin, one story high, with puncheon floor, elapboard roof, and an old- fashion wooden chimney, with the baek and jams of mud. They boarded with a brother- in-law, Benjamin Pillers, who settled here the previous year. They took their dinners with them in a basket, and would return at night for supper and lodging. They lived in this way until the rest of the family came in the spring of 1836. There were six children with the parents, and three already here, making a total of nine children. In a few years the father built a better log house. It was a story and a half in height and built of hewed logs. Here the father died in 1848. He was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, in 1789, and was a soldier in the war of 1812.
Ile was married in his native State, and four of his children were born there. In 1827 the father and family removed to Stark, now Carroll County, living there until they came to Adams County, where they passed the remainder of their days. Their mother was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, in 1793, and died in 1554, at the age of sixty-one years. William P., our subject, was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, January 1, 1820. He remained at home until he was of age, then went to work for himself, doing any- thing he could find to do, principally elearing land, splitting rails and chopping cord-wood, until he earned money enough to enable him to enter forty aeres of land. He worked for Mr. George A. Dent for $11 a month until he could pay for it. He then built his shanty, cleared his land, married a wife and borrowed the money to pay the preacher for performing the marriage ceremony. Ile moved into his shanty, and was at a great loss to know how he could repay that bor- rowed money. lle finally went eight miles away from home and worked half a month, splitting rails, to get 85 to pay baek. The following June he went to Fort Wayne and received $1 per day and night for burning brick in a kiln. He did not sleep day or night until that kiln was burnt. He at last fell asleep while walking. When he went to housekeeping his household goods consisted of the following artieles; three knives, three forks, six cups and saneers, six plates and two tin cnps. Their bedstead was made of poles and logs, and the bed rope was made of bark. He was married in March, 1843, to Frances Rabbit, who was born in Virginia in 1823. When she was nine years old her parents removed to Carroll County, Ohio, and in 1837 they all came to Allen County, Indiana. IIer parents were Joseph and Hannah (Black) Rabbit, the former a
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