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. 2, Part 16

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 948

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. 2 > Part 16
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. 2 > Part 16

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mt. Zion, an initial village at the northi- east corner of the township, contains a ehurch owned by the United Brethren, where the Methodist Protestants have a membership of fifty-three. Class-leader, Dr Morrison; stew- ard, Thomas Arnold.

OTHER SMALL POINTS.

Eagleville, a mile north of Murray, was laid out by William J. Kirkpatrick, Novem- ber 18, 1854.

Craigville was laid out by William Hart- man and Peter Hetrich, April 21, 1879.

Coreyville on the east county line, was laid out by J. P. Drum and Peter Corey, March 25, 1859. The United Brethren church, near this place, is a frame, ereeted in 1877, and is free for all orthodox Christians.

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Bowen Hale

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B BOWEN HALE, of Harrison Township, Wells County, Indiana, was born in Mason County, Kentucky, July 4, 1801. Ilis father, Jolin Hale, was born in Maryland, and was a son of James Ilale, a native of England, who immigrated to America and located in Maryland, and subsequently re- moved with his family to Kentucky. Being a slave-holder, he carried with him a number of slaves, but being opposed to involuntary servitude, he here set his slaves free, after they had eleared his farm and had made a home for him. He passed the remainder of his days on this farm. In 1802 his widow removed to Greene County, Ohio, with her son, with whom she made her home, afterward removing to Randolph County, In- diana, where she died some six years later. John Hale, the father of our subjeet, was married in Kentucky to Sarrah Bowen, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, of Welsh ancestry. She died January 2, 1813. They had three sons-James Hale, of Randolph County, In- diana, born about the year 1799, died in 1882; Bowen Hale, the subject of our sketeh, and Silas Hale, of Greene County, Ohio, born in

| the year 1803; he still lives near and owns the old homestead in that county. John Hale removed to Greene County, Ohio, in the year 1802, where he followed farming and tanning until the year 1837; he then re- . moved to Whitley County, Indiana, where he entered 1,120 aeres of land from the Govern- ment in Whitley and Kosciusko counties, and built a saw and grist-mill, the first in that seetion of the country. In 1812 he joined a rifle company as a volunteer soldier, and served in Northern Ohio for one year. Ile died in Whitley County, Indiana, on his farm, at the age of seventy-three years. Bowen Ilale, the subject of our sketeh, was only one year old when his father removed to Greene County, Ohio. Ifere his youth was passed on his father's farm near the now old town of Bell- brook, assisting his father in the tannery and on the farm; here, too, in a log school-house in the neighborhood, he received what educa- tion he possessed, which was sufficient to enable him to teach school as schools were taught in those days, he having filled that important position for a few months on the occasion of the siekness of the regular teach-

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er. Ile remained with his father, his mother having died when he was quite young, until he reached his majority, when he left home and learned the chair-making business, which he followed for several years, working in Dayton, Xenia and Cincinnati. During this time too he took a trip South, going down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in a steam- boat. In the State of Mississippi he fol- lowed house-painting, having become skilled in that trade while painting chairs in the shop. After his return from this trip he engaged in the mercantile business in Bellbrook, Ohio, until 1834, when he sold his interest in the store, and came to Wells County, Indiana, in 1835, his physician having advised him to go West for his health, telling him that unless he did so he coukl not hope to live very long, consequently he started into the woods to seek a home. lle came down the Wabash River, and being charmed with the fertile lands along the Wabash, he stopped near the town of Murray and resolved to make this his home. ITis father three years later passed by · these lands and settled on the higher and more broken lands in Whitley County. Here Mr. IFale entered forty acres of land, hired a man to build him a cabin, and started to Cineinnati for a stock of goods, having resolved to start a trading point to trade with the In- dians and the few white inhabitants in the county, there being only about twelve white families within the limits of Wells County. On his return, in the spring of 1836, he found that his cabin had not been built; but he went to work, and with the assistance of Henry Miller and others, he soon had a com- fortable cabin, suitable for store-room and living-room. ITis customers were mostly Indians, who were peaceable, yet, like all good Indians, were dangerons when filled with fire-water, dishonest and treacherous at at all times. His stock of dry goods,

consisting of brass rings, whisky and such artieles of clothing as the Indians usually Wore, were converted into pelts, there being but little money in the country. These pelts were conveyed usually on Henry Miller's wagon to Dayton, Ohio, or Cincinnati, and there sold. As a matter of course he left nothing behind in his cabin, as the Indians ransacked that as soon as he was gone. The trip to Dayton and Cincinnati usually took about three weeks or longer. Although Mr. IIale had made his home in this wild country, and in common with all that hardy race of pioneers, the first settlers of Wells County, had many narrow escapes from wild ani- mals and wild men, yet he was strietly a man of peace, and never was a hunter, and tells with considerable satisfaction that he never killed but one deer in his life, and that he stood in the door of his cabin and shot. See- ing the deer quietly grazing in front of his door, an Indian who was present picked up his gnn to shoot it, when Mr. ITale asked him to let him shoot, and he took his gun and shot, killing the deer. Ile often said he had all the hunting he wanted in keeping the turkeys, squirrels and other animals ont of his eorn fields. Mr. Ilale was first married in 1837 to Miss Sarah James, a native of Virginia, who died in two years and three months after her marriage, without children. In the year 1840 he married Miss Mary Ann Deam, of Montgomery County, Ohio, a daughter of Adam Deam, probably from Vir- ginia, who afterward removed to Wells County and settled near Murray and built the first grist-mill at that place. Adam Deam had four sons-Abram, William, John and James P. William and James P. each served as treasurer of Wells County; and fonr daugh- ters, Rachel, Mary Ann, Harriet and Ann. Mrs. IIale died in the year 1872, leaving Mr. Hale again a widower. They had eight ehil-

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dren, seven of whom survive-John D., clerk of Adams County; Hon. Silas W., of Geneva, Adams County; James P'., of Bluffton; Lewis B., residing on the old homestead; Emerillas, wife of A. R. Vanemon; Jane, the wife of Daniel Markley, and Mary, living at home with her father. At the organization of Wells County, in 1837, Bowen Hale was elected to the offices of auditor, clerk and recorder, or rather these three offices were then combined in one. Ile continued to hold these three offices until 1841, when an audi- tor was elected and he was relieved of the duties of that office. Ten years later Wilson M. Bulger was elected recorder, leaving Mr. Hale with the office of clerk, which he con- tinued to hold until 1855, making a total of twenty years in the clerk's office alone, his time having expired by the limit of the Consti- tution,and although urged to accept it again he declined to do so. Ile also for a short time during this period held the office of postmas- ter, he being the first postmaster in the county. In the year 1858 he was elected to the office of magistrate and filled the office for three years. Again, in the year 1865, he was elected, against his wishes, to the office of county commissioner; he being indisposed at the time, was not even aware that he was a candidate until the day of his election. Thus is his history the history of Wells County; coming into public life before the organiza- tion of the county, for twenty-six years he was a servant of the people of Wells County, and her interest was his interest, and to say that he did his work well is wholly unnecessary; the people have said as much by their ballots; never were the affairs of any county better or more honestly administered. His records are neat, legible, perfectly formed, accurate, complete and exeite the admiration of the most skilled attorneys. When he removed from his farm near Murray he brought his

dry goods store with him and continued in that business for a short time, his store being a log cabin on Market street, the town being then in the woods with heavy timber and thiek underbrush in all the streets. Ilon. John Studabaker became his rival in business, his store being also on Market street, and they cleared the brush out of the street so that they might be able to see from their boarding-house, a square away, to their re- spective places of business. Mr. Ilale tells, among many instances of his early pioneer life, of a young limb of the law who landed in Bluffton with the avowed intention of practicing his chosen profession. Ile songht Mr. Ilale and asked permission to make the elerk's office his law office for a short time, which request was granted, and the young lawyer sat down to work. Concluding it would be well to advertise his business, he wrote his card on a sheet of paper and posted the same on a tree standing at the crossing of Main and Market streets. When Mr. Ilale went to supper he walked up and read it, and after the young lawyer's name, in large letters, were the words " Eterney at Law." Mr. Ilale informed the young man of his mistake, who immediately tore down the ad- vertisement and left town; he located in an adjoining county, and now bears the honora- ble title of "Judge." Thus, by a mistake in spelling, the town lost a lawyer, judge and eitizen. Mr. Hale was always a Democrat, his first vote for President being cast for Andrew Jackson. Ile never was, however, much of a politician, according to the usual application of that term, and never electioneered for himself; it is said that he once started out for that purpose, but was so disgusted with the business that after going a few miles in the country he turned his horse toward home and never tried it again. When the civil war broke ont two of Mr. Ilale's sons enlisted,

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aid at the battle of Mission Ridge John D. was shot through the body, and lay in the hospital at Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mr. Hale, even then an old man, went to Chattanooga and brought him home. In 1858 Mr. HIale retired with his family to his farm, where he still lives at the ripe old age of eighty-six years. Truly he has been a faithful servant to the people of Wells County; has served them long and well, and he in return has been well rewarded by the love and confi- denee of the people. Ilis strict economy has enabled him to lay up sufficient property to keep him comfortable in his old age, and his temperate habite have given him strength of mind and body, enabling him to endure the hardships of pioneer life and to resist the ravages of disease, and now at the age of eighty-six his mind is elear, his memory good, his hand steady and he is in the full enjoyment of all his senses, with a prospect of many more years of a happy existence. In his earlier life he became a member of the Universalist church, and was for many years a trustee of that church at Bluffton, and is still a believer in the doctrines as tanght by Ballou, Chapin and others. Ile also joined the Masonic lodge at Bluffton, and was for many years a member of Bluffton Lodge, No. 145, and still believes in their teachings and lives in the hope of a blessed immortality.

ILLIAM DOUGHERTY, deceased, father of Ilon. Ilugh and John Dougherty, who are elassed among the active and enterprising men of Bluffton, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania, June 20, 1820, a son of Hngh Dough- erty. His parents were natives of Ireland,

the mother being of Scotch-Irish ancestry. They left their native country for America in 1818, bringing with them their only child, Betsy, who is so well and favorably known as Aunt Betsy Miller, she having married the late Daniel Miller, and both were numbered among the pioneers of Wells County. Six children were born to the parents of our subject after coming to America-Margaret, widow of John Tillman; William, whose name heads this sketel; Ilugh, deceased; John, of Jay County; Anna, wife of Craw- ford Edington, a merchant of Poneto, Indi- ana, and Edward, deceased. The father first settled in Westmoreland County, Pennsylva- nia, where he followed farming until 1831. In that year he removed with his family to Darke County, Ohio, and settled on a farm near Greenville, where he died abont 1833. William Dougherty was reared to the avoca- tion of a farmer in Darke County, Ohio. He was united in marriage June 7, 1841, to Miss Margaret Studabaker, of Darke County, where she died August 15, 1860, at the age of thirty-nine years. Mr. Dougherty became a resident of Adams County, Indiana, in 1874, where he made his home until his death, which occurred June 2, 1879, at the age of fifty-nine years.

HIOMAS WALLACE, deceased, was a native of Ireland, born in county Done- gal, January 1, 1813, a son of James and Nancy (MeClure) Wallace, who were natives of the same country. He grew to manhood in his native land, remaining with his parents until after his majority, and in his youth received a common-school educa- tion by attending the schools of his neighbor- hood. In 1833 he accompanied his father's

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family to America, they loeating in Wayne County. Two years later our subjeet came to Wells County, Indiana, and entered ninety aeres of Government land in Rock Creek Township, which he eleared and improved. He was united in marriage in 1851 to Miss Agnes Crosby, a native of Berwiekshire, Scotland, and a daughter of Thomas and Christina (Kelley) Crosby. who left Scotland for America in the year 1850. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wallace, of whom only four survive, their names being as follows .- Christiana, Maggie, Mary and Martha. Mr. Wallace followed agricultural pursuits on his farm in Rock Creek Town- ship until 1864, when he retired from active life and removed to Bluffton, where he made his home until his death. IIe was an active and consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. Mrs. Wallace is also a member of the Presbyterian church. In his political views Mr. Wallace affiliated with the Republican party. Ile was an active and publie-spirited eitizen, and was always inter- ested in any enterprise for the benefit or advancement of his town or county.

OIIN LANCASTER, retired farmer, Chester Township, was born in Warren County, Ohio, February 24, 1810, son of John and Rachel (Haskett) Lancaster. Ilis father was born and reared in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and when he was twenty years of age went to Florida with two friends, and was there married to a daughter of David Brown, who died in that country. He after- ward removed to South Carolina, where he worked at his trade, that of shoemaker and tanner, and was there married to Rachel

Ilaskett. They remained several years in South Carolina, and in 1796 removed with their four children to Miami County, Ohio, settling about seven miles southwest of Troy. They traveled the entire distance by team. When they went through Cincinnati, that great eity of to-day, there were only abont seven cabins on the hill, and the resi- dents tried very hard to get the travelers to remain there. Dayton was on their ronte, and it also contained but few eabins, and Major Williams, a noted man of that day, was the storekeeper. When they settled in Miami County they were far removed from white neighbors, and quite near the Indians. They lived there eight or ten years, thien re- moved to Warren County, where again they were early settlers. In 1820 they moved to Clinton County, near Wilmington, and in Marel, 1833, they sold their property and came to Grant County, Indiana, locating upon the spot where Marion now stands. The father died in the fall of that year, and on the 9th day of September his wife started back to Miami County, where she died at her brother's in 1840. She was born and reared on Bush River, South Carolina. John fol- lowed the fortunes of the family for some time after his marriage, taking care of his mothier in her last days. In 1837 he came to Wells County and camped out until fall. In the meantime he cleared six acres of land and hanled the logs to the place selected for his cabin, which he built that fall. Wolves, bears, deer and all kinds of wild game were abundant. Ile has killed as many as 500 deer in Wells County, and also several bears. There was a eorn-cracker at Warren, fourteen miles distant, but he frequently had to go to Fort Wayne, and even to Cambridge, seventy-five miles away, to get his milling done. He at one time paid $18 for 100 pounds of flour and a barrel of salt. He

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was married in Clinton County, Ohio, March 1, 1833, to Miss Ruth Shields, a native of Berkeley County, Virginia, and a daughter of John and Ann (Robison) Shields, natives of Virginia, and of Irish descent. Her parents removed to Clinton County when she was but a year old, and from there they moved to Wilmington, the county seat, where her mother died in 1823, and her father in Sep- tember, 1844. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster, only four are living. Nathan married Mary Stone; Ama- ziah married Matilda Holloway; Susan is the wife of William MeIntyre, and lives near Mill Grove, Blackford County, and Mary Miranda is now Mrs. Van Horn. The de- eeased are-John William, Martha Ann, George and Lewis. John William was a member of the Seventy-fifth Indiana Infan- try during the late war. IIe lay siek at Murfreesboro a long time, was brought on the cars to Huntington, and from there in a spring wagon, dying the third day after reaching home. lle left a wife, formerly Margaret Helins, and one child. Mr. and Mrs. Laneaster are members of the Christian church, and in polities he is a Republican.

ILLIAM J. NEWHARD, merchant at Uniondale, came in 1859, with his wife and three children, from Mahon- ing County, Ohio, and made a location in Union Township, Wells County, Indiana. Ile pur- chased his land, which was all in the green with the exception of ten aeres. Ile was a farmer in Ohio, and followed that avocation for many years after locating in Indiana. Ilis cabin was the first that was built upon his land, and is still standing, one of the few monuments of pioneer life to be seen in that

neighborhood. Ilis parents, Samnel and Elizabeth ( Weaver) Newhard, were natives of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and in the borough of Allentown our subjeet was born. While residing in Pennsylvania Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Newhard became the parents of three sons and one daughter-Samuel F., William J., Dillworth and Ellen M. In 1837 the family removed to Trumbull, now Mahoning County, Ohio, and there another son was born-Charles W. The death of the mother occurred in that county, but the father is still living, at the ripe old age of eighty-three years. William J. is the only child that came to this State. December 15, 1853, he married Miss Mary A., daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hart) Ashburn, and they be- came the parents of seven children, six of whom are living - Sarah E., wife of Enoch Taylor; Henry N., who married Ollie Cotton, and William F. were born in Ohio; Emma E., deceased, wife of Clark Scott, Samuel W., who married Annie Meeks, Ida B. and Osear O. were born in this county. Mrs. Newhard died August 18, 1874, and in October, 1875, Mr. Newhard married Miss Eliza Crum, of Mahoning County, Ohio. After coming to Wells County Mr. Newhard inade several purchases of land, and now owns 220 acres of finely improved land. After the new town of Uniondale was platted, in 1883, he began to purchase grain, and was the first to engage in that business in the village. In 1884 he built a residence in the village, leav- ing his sons, Henry H. and Samuel W., in charge of the farm. Prior to his removal to Uniondale he had formed a partnership with Henry W. Lippey in the mercantile business, and this enterprise was the first of its kind in the new town. In 1884 Mr. W. F. New- hard became associated with his father in the grain trade, and in 1886 Mr. Lippey also be- came a partner. Mr. Newhard was elected

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justice of the peace of Union Township in 1877, and served four years. Ile has never been an aspirant for official positions, but at- tends strictly to his business. Since August, 1886, he has purchased and shipped thirty- eight carloads. This enterprise is steadily growing, and a warehouse, 16 x 35 feet, was built in 1884. In March, 1856, a postoffice was established at Uniondale, chiefly through his instrumentality, and Henry W. Lippey was appointed postmaster, Mr. Newhard serving as deputy. The office is located in their store, making it a central place for trade. Mr. Newhard is not only a pioneer farmer, but is one of the first business men of Uniondale, one of the most thriving villages of its size along the line of the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad.

ACOB WARNER, farmer, Nottingham Township, was born in the town of Wash- ington, Pickaway County, Ohio, Novem- 15 ber 17, 1812, son of Leonard and Eve (Biddle) Warner, of German ancestry, who removed from Pennsylvania to Pickaway County, where they passed the remainder of their days. The father died about 1837, and the mother abont 1874. Jacob was reared in his native county, and commenced his career on the farm when so young that he had to reach up to take hold of the plow-handle. In 1836 he left Ohio, and with wife and one child started for Indiana by team, and after a trip of seven days arrived at their new home, which was about a half mile north of their present home. Mr. Warner had entered 160 acres of land from the Goverment prior to removing here, and after his arrival he entered eighty acres more for two young men who assisted him in clearing his farm. The first year he suc-

ceeded in getting about fifteen aeres cleared, which gave him a good start. Ile brought with him two bushels of corn and one bushel of potatoes, which was all he was able to get until he raised these articles for himself. Ile worked away, adding a little to the clearing each year, until he now owns 240 acres of land, with 150 acres eleared. ile used to go to Winchester, a distance of thirty miles, to get his milling done, and in order to get there he and his neighbors had to clear the way through the forest. Mr. Warner was married in 1836 to Miss Rebecca Gilbert, a native of Adams County, Pennsylvania, who died in March, 1848. By this tion were six children, three living-Leonard, Jonathan, who resides in Brown County, Kansas, and David. The deceased are-Benton, Daniel, and one that died in infancy. Mr. Warner was married to his present wite in 1849. She was formerly Miss Sarah Gehrett, a native of Berks County, Pennsylvania, and daughter of Henry and Susanna (Feehan) Gehrett. Her father died in that county, and her mother died in Fairfield County, Ohio. To this union ten children were born, six of whom are living-Rebecca, wife of Sylvester Meyers; Samuel, who married Louisa Keller; Jacob, who married Josie Karnes; Henry, husband of Sarepta JJ. Ninde; Eve, now Mrs. George King, and Andrew, who married Ida Smith. The deceased are-George, Andrew, Sarah and Susanna. Mr. Warner has been identified with the interests of Wells County for more than half a century, and has wit- uessed its growth from the time it was a wil- derness, containing the Indian wigwams, until it has arrived at its present prosperous condi- tion. In early days he was accustomed to shoulder his rifle and kill deer and other game, which was the only meat the country afforded. Ile was the first supervisor of Nottingham Township, and served as its trustee for many

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years. IIe has been a life-long Demoerat, and has never changed his political faith. Ile is the oldest pioneer in the township.

HIILIP EICHIIIORN, deceased, was born in Baden, Germany, June 8, 1808, a son of John and Philicia (Berkehieker) Eichhorn. He was reared on a farm in his native country, remaining there until 1835, when he immigrated to America and located in Crawford County, Ohio, where he was married January 8, 1837, to Miss Margaret HIassler, a daughter of Frederick and Barbara (Baker) Hassler, who were also natives of Germany. They left their native home May 8, 1833, in the ship Everhart, and after a voyage of ninety days, landed at Baltimore, August 8 following. From Baltimore they started by team for Crawford County, Ohio, and four weeks later arrived at Mansfield. IIere Mr. Ilassler purchased a farm, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their days. After his marriage Mr. Eichhorn set- tled on his father-in-law's farm, where he re- sided until coming to Wells County, Indiana, in March, 1864, where he purchased 460 acres of land in Rock Creek Township, and about the same time he bought 360 aeres of land in Huntington County, and spent the rest of his life on his farm in Rock Creek Township. ITe died October 11, 1864. In politics he always affiliated with the Dem- ocratic party. He was an earnest member of the Reformed church, his wife being yet a member of the same church. She was born November 14, 1816, and is still living in Wells County at the age of seventy years. Mr. and Mrs. Eichhorn had born to them nine children as follows-Frederick, William, John, Daniel, Elizabeth, Mary, David, Mar-

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Author: Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 948

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 948