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 27
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 27
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right guide, and his regiment was one of the supports of Pickett's battery when they were attacked by the Louisiana Tigers, in the sec- ond day's fight. Mr. Nusbaumer carried from the field the colors of the Eighth Lonisi- ana Regiment, captured in the hand-to-hand tight over the guns. He next took part in the engagement at Fort Wagner, one of the defenses of Charleston, his division becoming a part of the Army of the Gulf. He took part in all the movements of his regiment until, in Florida, he was made a member of the regimental band, and during the last six months of the service he served in that ca- pacity. He was discharged at Charleston, South Carolina, July 10, 1865, and returned home by way of New York to Cleveland; thienee to Wayne County, Ohio; thence to Wells County three weeks later. Ile was a brave soldier, never shirking any duty, however ardnous. In politics he is a Democrat. Himself and wife are members of the Chris- tian church.
EWIS L. HOWARD is a native of Wells County, Indiana, born March 27, 1857, a son of Robert G. and Jane (Dobbs) Howard, early settlers of Chester Township. He was reared in his native county, receiving his early education in the common district schools, and subsequently attended one term at Montpelier and two terms at Bluffton. In 1878 he went to Val- paraiso, Indiana, and entered upon a college course, remaining there a year and a half, when, on account of ill-health, he went to New Mexico, where he remained ten months. Ile then returned to Indiana, and in the spring of 1884 went to Dakota and spent two months. He began teaching when
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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.
twenty-one years of age, and has since given his attention to that profession. He is a mem- ber of Montpelier Lodge, No. 410, 1. O. O. F., of which he is vice-grand.
OBERT GEORGE HOWARD is a na- tive of Hampshire County, Virginia, born March 15, 1800, a son of Samnel and Mary (Biggins) Howard, also natives of Virginia, his father born in Hampshire County, of English parentage, and his mother in Londonn County. The parents were mar- ried in Hampshire County, living there until the fall of 1500, when they moved to what is now Marshall County, West Virginia, locat- ing about ten miles below Wheeling, where Robert was reared and married. In their declining years the parents made their home with Robert, the mother dying at his house January 10, 1851. In 1834 he left West Virginia and with his family and his father moved to Indiana, arriving in Wells County September 7, coming by rail as far as Win- chester, their goods, however, being brought by teams. They located on 160 acres of land in Chester Township, which Mr. Howard had bought the year before. About fifty acres had been cleared and there were some old log buildings on the place, which they made nsc of until better ones could be built. Game at that time was searce in the county, although deer were occasionally seen, and al- though in his early life Mr. Howard had been quite a hunter, he did not have much opportunity to practice the art after coming to Wells County. He has traveled over a large part of Indiana and Illinois on horse- back when there was no other mode of con- veyance, and visited Indianapolis soon after the capital was located there, when the town
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consisted of a few huts. The most imposing buildings in the place were three frame houses which were called Governor's Row, He wit- nessed the first land sale, and could have bought land on the present site of Indianap- olis for $1.25 an acre. He was at Elkhart Prairie when it was the home of the Big Chief. Mr. Howard was married February 21, 1839, to Miss Jane Dobbs, who was born near Redstone, Pennsylvania, a danghter of Andrew and Margaret (Porter) Dobbs, her mother a native of Ireland and her father of Irish ancestry. She was reared in Marshall County, West Virginia, whither her parents moved in her ninth year. To Mr. and Mrs. Iloward have been born ten children, nine of whom are living-Aun Amanda, wife of D. II. Patterson; Samnel, of Upland, Grant County; Margaret, wife of Elliott Crossan, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; William, of Blackford County, married Sarah C. Kelley; Harvey; Thomas B., also of Blackford County, married Irene Hobbs; Lewis L .; Robert G., of Jay County, married Rachel Renberger; Mary E., wife of Walter S. Ilarper, of Rockford, Illinois. One son, James P., was a graduate from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Medical College, and located in Blunt, IInghes County, Dakota, where he died December 29, 1585, aged thirty-two years, his death being cansed by a mistake in compounding a prescription given him by his physician. He left a wife who was form- erly Mary Elizabeth Bryson. He was a member of the Masonie, Odd Fellows and United Workmen orders, and of the Blunt Rifles, a military organization of Dakota. llis remains were brought to his old home in Wells County for burial. Mr. Howard's father was reared in the Whig school of poli- tics and was afterward a Democrat, with which party the son has always affiliated, casting his first presidential vote for Andrew
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Jackson. Ile has in his possession a cane ent from the farm of General Jackson which was a present to his father.
LLISON FULTON, farmer and stock- raiser, Ilarrison Township, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1820, son of Robert and Letitia (Kenning) Fulton, also natives of Pennsyl- vania. The father was a son of James Ful- ton, who came from Ireland and settled in western Pennsylvania, forty miles east of Pittsburg, when the inhabitants were prin- cipally Indians. The mother was a daughter of Charles Kenning, of Indiana, who was born in Ireland, iminigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania. Our subjeet was reared on a farm and remained at home until he was of age, after which he went to Mary- land and took charge of a plantation for five years. Ile then returned to his native coun- ty, where he was married October 17, 1850, to Miss Mary Catherine MeQuade, daughter of Andrew and Sarah MeQuade, who were natives of Pennsylvania and of Irish descent. In the fall of 1853 our subjeet removed to Indiana, accompanied by his parents, driving through with teams. Mr. Fulton purchased 155 acres of heavily-timbered land, which they at once began to elear and improve. They have lived on this farm thirty-four years. He afterward added eighty aeres to his original purchase, but has disposed of it. Mr. and Mrs. Fulton have three children -- Jaunes M., a postal clerk on the Wabash Rail- way, living at Huntington, Indiana, was married March 15, 1872, to Mary Powell, daughter of David and Catharine Powell; John M., a real estate dealer in Kansas City, Missouri, was married March 23, 1880, to Mary Daily, a daughter of Samuel and Lu-
einda Daily, and has one child-Harry; Frank O., living on the old homestead, was married August 19, 1886, to Rose Eaton, daughter of Thomas and Mary Eaton, and has one child-Allison. The parents are active members of the Presbyterian church, and in polities Mr. Fulton is a Republican. Mr. Fulton is a self-made man. By industry and economy he has acquired a good property that will make his life comfortable in his old age.
RANK W. GARRETT, physician and surgeon, Liberty Center, was born in Ashland County, Ohio, June 27, 1855, a son of Joseph Garrett. When six years of age his parents removed to this county, where he was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. At the age of twenty years he began teaching school, and taught three years. In 1878 he began the study of medi- eine under the preceptorship of John A. Mor- rison, of Liberty Center. While he was still pursuing his studies, he and his preceptor engaged in the drug business as partners. In December, 1879, he was appointed post- master under President Ilayes' administra- tion, holding the office three years and ten months, then resigned. Ile took his first course of lectures during the winters of 1880-'81, and the second in 1881-'82, and graduated March 1, 1882, at Butler Univer- sity, Indianapolis. He then began practice at Liberty Center, continuing the drug busi- ness at the same time. Ile also associated himself with his former preceptor in his practice, which he continued two years. lle then succeeded him and is now the only practitioner in the place. Ile has a large and lucrative praetiee and is eminently sue- cessful. Ile was married April 5, 1882, to
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Miss Susie Funk, a daughter of Absalom Funk, and they have one child, Joseph P., born June 10, 1583. Himself and wife are members of the Baptist church, and politi- eally Mr. Garrett affiliates with the Republi- ean party.
€ ETER C. LEAVENGOOD was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, November 11, 1823, son of Christian and Elizabeth (Keiser) Leavengood. His grandfather, Jacob Leavengood, was born in Germany, and with his wife settled in Union County, Pennsyl- vania, near the Susquehanna River, during the latter part of the seventeenth century. Hle, with his brothers John and Fiedel and their sisters, were sold from the ship in which they crossed the ocean, to pay their passage money. Jacob was married before the war of 1812. Ile and his brother John served during that war, and during its progress John was killed and scalped by the Indians. Twice during their early life in Pennsylvania Jacob had to flee with his wife across the Susquehanna, where there were more settlers, in order to save their lives from the prowling savages. These savages were hostile, and frequently murdered and robbed the early settlers. At the age of eighteen years Christian began to learn the blacksmith's trade, and later took charge of his employer's shop. Previons to his mar- riage he built a shop on his father's farm, where he worked at the forge for many years, quitting it in later life to take charge of the ancestral homestead. On this farm their nine children were born-Mary, Elizabeth, Jacob, John, Susanna, Daniel, Catherine, Peter C. and George. In 1830 the family removed to Tusearawas County, Ohio, where Christian had bought land before the Indians
left that county. Only three houses had been built in New Philadelphia, the county seat of that county, when he made his purchase, and one of these he helped to put the rafters upon. When he selected these lands Indians yet had their cabins in the woods, and he slept in their deserted wigwams. The parents died on this farm, the father at the age of ninety years, and the mother at the age of seventy-nine years. All their children were married before their death, and all are living in Ohio except our subjeet and his sister Mary, who married Jacob Stahe in Pennsyl- vania previous to the removal of the family to Ohio. Elizabeth married Abram Deitz; Jacob married Susanna Stahl; John became the husband of Margaret Horner; Susanna married Jacob Lehmann; Daniel married Mary Lowrey; Catherine became the wife of George Peshing; George married Magdalene Forney, and Peter C. married Martha A. Zimmerlee, daughter of Jacob and Clara (Brown) Zimmerlee, of this county. She was born in Huntington County September 6, 1848. Their marriage was celebrated March 28, 1868, John Lantz, Esq., performing the ceremony. In 1849 Mr. Leavengood bought the land upon which be now resides, and for fifteen consecutive years made annual trips to Ohio, where he was a contractor in his business, that of a stone mason. Ilis first log cabin is still standing, fronting their handsome eonntry residence, and it presents a venerable appearance. It is a monument to the pioneer days when, full of life and vigor, the young husband felled and hewed the logs which form its weather-beaten walls. Ile was a proud and happy husband when his young bride was installed mistress of what was then an aristocratie mansion. The death of their first-born, Melinda E., occurred be- neath its roof, September 23, 1878. The other children, Delphena, Silas G., Salome
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A. and Celeste O., were all rocked to sleep within its portals. The family have moved into a fine frame building, and the wealth of the owner has increased with his years. His broad aeres are bereft of the stately oak, and large crops are raised where the Indian onee chased the flying deer. The same that roamed the woods in countless numbers have all disappeared, and the young men of forty years ago are the aged sires of to-day, and from their lips are gathered the facts that make the history of their county.
ILLIAM JASPER POULSON, of Chester Township, was born in Har- rison Township, Blackford County, February 26, 1848, son of William and De- boral (Ross) Poulson. When he was six- teen years of age his parents removed to this county, and here he has since resided, with the exception of twenty months spent in the West. About 1873 he moved to Smith County, Kansas, but returned again to Indi- ana after a brief sojourn. Ile purchased his present farm in February, 1881, which eon- sists of eighty acres, sixty aeres being cleared, and good improvements. lle was married October 17, 1867, to Miss Rebecca Jane Dodds, a native of Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, and daughter of David and Elizabeth (Duncan) Dodds. Her father was also a na- tive of Butler County, of Scotch-Irish descent. Her mother was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, also of Scotch-Irish descent. Iler parents were married in Allegheny County and located in Butler County. In 1855 they removed to Harrison County, Indi- ana, thence to Wells County in the spring of 1866, and to Blackford County in 1873, where the father died February 14, 1879, and the mother August 17, 1877. Mr. and Mrs.
Poulson have two children -Mary Alice and James Harvey. Politically Mr. Poulson is a Republican, and has held the office of su- pervisor. Ile is a member of the Christian church, and Mrs. Poulson of the Missionary Baptist church.
JOHN J. NUSBAUMER, farmer, Not- tingham Township, was born near Canton Solothurn, Switzerland, February 29, 1824, son of Joseph and Barbara (Schwaller) Nusbaumer, also natives of that country, where the father followed farming and mill- ing. John J. assisted his father in his work, and in 1842, when he was eighteen years of age, the family left their native land, and going through Franee to Havre, took passage on the ship Ville de Lyons. After a pleas- ant voyage of thirty-six days they arrived in New York the last of June. The father pre- eeded them one year, and had purchased 100 aeres of land in Wayne County, Ohio, then went back to Switzerland for his family. From New York they went up the Hudson River, the Erie Canal, Lake Erie to Cleve- land, thence by canal to Massillon, and by wagon to their new home. There they fol- lowed farming, butehering, changing to grocery keeping, ete., until 1863, then re- moved to Wells County, where our subjeet bought eighty aeres of land where he now re- sides, abont forty acres being partly cleared. Ile has added to his original purchase until he now owns 160 acres of excellent land, 100 aeres being cleared of timber. His father died in September, 1865, and his mother in October, 1876. John J. was married in this eonnty July 12, 1863, to Elizabeth Warner, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Dundoor) Warner, natives of Pennsylvania. Her father
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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.
died when she was a small child, and her mother afterward married Samnel Shoemaker. She died when Mrs. Nusbaumer was four- teen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Nusbaumer are the parents of ten children-Alexander and Lewis A. (twins), Franklin, Mary Ann, Christina, Magdalena, Sarah Ann, Agnes, Catherine and Eva. The parents and family are members of the Catholic church, and in politics he is a Democrat.
ILLIAM ABSHIRE, farmer, Chester Township, was born in Madison County, Virginia, November 29, Ista. son f Allen and Polly (Farmer) Ab- shire, who were born, reared and married in that State. When William was two years old his parents removed to Henry County, Indiana, by wagon, where the mother died in 1846. William was reared in Delaware County, and after changing residence twice, finally bought land there. In 1862 he sold ont and purchased 186 acres of land in this county, of which about 141 acres were cleared. He was married in Rush County, in 1853, to Miss Emily Elizabeth Tackett, daughter of John and Martha R. Tackett, natives of Kan- awha County, Virginia. Her father was killed in a railroad accident in Hancock County, her mother also dying in that county. Mr. Abshire is independent in politics, al- ways voting for men and measures rather than for party. IIe has held the office of supervisor of Chester Township.
HARLES MELVIN FRANCE, an active and enterprising citizen of Bluff'- ton, and senior member of the law firm of France & Lee, was born in Windsor County,
Vermont, June 8, 1833. His parents, Frede- riek and Alice (Stoughton) France, were born in the State of Vermont, the father of Welsh- German descent and the mother of Puritan ancestors. Twelve children were born to them, of whom only five survive-Charles M., our subject; William II. II., superintendent of the Adams County Infirmary; Martha P., of Willshire, Ohio, widow of George W. Place; Mary, also living in Willshire, is the widow of Seth Watkins, who was killed at the battle of Shiloh while in the Union service, and Philemon, living in Van Wert, Ohio. The father was a farmer by ocenpation. In 1846 he came West with his family and located in Licking County, Ohio. In May, 1853, he removed to Adams County, Indiana, locating on a farm in St. Mary's Township, where he died the following September. IIe was a Universalist in his religious belief, and while living in Vermont was a member of the Universalist church. The mother is still living at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, making her home with her son in Adams County. She is a member of the Baptist church at Pleasant Mills. Our sub- jeet, Charles M. France, was reared from his thirteenth year in Lieking County, Ohio. In his youth he attended the district schools, and completed his education at the high school at llartford, Ohio, where he spent eighteen months. On becoming of age he engaged in farming in Mercer County, Ohio, and for ten winters, until 1865, he taught school in Mercer County, Ohio, and in Adams County, Indiana. lle settled in Adams County in 1865, where he followed farming until 1869. lle then began reading law in the office of James R. Bobo, of Decatur, with whom he subsequently became associated in the practice of law under the firm name of Bobo & France. This partnership was dis- solved in 1876. Mr. France continued to
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practice his chosen professor at Decatur until 1879, being at different times associated with others, and in November of that year he came to Bluffton, Wells County, where he has since been in constant practice. He was associated with Jay G. French as France & French until 1984, when he formed a partner- ship with M. W. Lee, thus forming the present law firm of France & Lee. Mr. France has been twice married. Ile was first married to Miss Miranda Thomas in Dela- ware County, Ohio, December 24, 1853. She died while on a visit in Whitley County in 1857. She left one son, John T., who is now an attorney at law at Decatur, Indiana. For his second wife Mr. France married Miss Elizabeth Santhrin, of Alais County, Indi- ana, the date of this marriage being October 20, 1870. In politics Mr. France is a Dem- ocrat. While living in Adams County he served as justice of the peace for twelve years. He is a Master Mason and is a mem- ber of the Masonie lodge at Decatur, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Bluffton. Mrs. France is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
AMES S. CARTWRIGHT, farmer, sec- tion 22, Jefferson Township, was born in Niles, Trumbull County, Ohio, son of John and Margaret (MeCorkle) Cartwright, the former a native of Berks County, Vir- ginia, born February 3, 1797, and the latter born October 24, 1801, in Trumbull County, Ohio, of Irish ancestry. They were married in that county, and seven of their children were born prior to their removal to Indiana- James S., John A., Allison B., Margaret, Mary, Naney and Lorinda. In the fall of 1852 the family settled in Ossian, and John engaged in the mercantile trade for several
years. Soon after locating he was appointed postmaster, and during a Democratic admin- istration, from the time of President Pierce until after the inauguration of President Lincoln, he filled that position. He was a very prominent local politician, and with the exception of James S. all his children were Democrats. The death of the mother oc- curred September 12, 1857, and afterward John Cartwright married Mrs. Nancy Staple- ford, of Fort Wayne. Both are now de- ceased. Isabella, the oldest child, was mar- ried in Ohio to Henry G. Donaghy. They had four children, only one surviving. Mar- garet married John Johnston, and they had two children. Mr. Johnston died and his widow married Samuel Oswalt, of Ossian, and they have one son. Mary married Milo J. Garrell. John A. became the husband of Susan Ilyatt, and is a resident of Delphi, Carroll County, Indiana; he was principal of the schools of that city for several years; was a member of the General Assembly in 1884- '86. Naney became the wife of Dr. John I. Metts. Allison D. graduated in medicine and practiced at Zanesville several years; he married Mary Jennings, and they reside in Delphi, Indiana, where Mr. Cartwright is engaged in the mercantile trade. Lorinda graduated at the Presbyterian College at Granville, Ohio, and has taught many terms of school in Bluffton and Kansas; she mar- ried John S. Howard, a merchant of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Cartwright was educated in the common schools, and passed his early life on the farm. October 5, 1842, he was married to Miss Sarah Shafer, daugh- ter of Jacob and Mary Shafer, William Rob- erts, Esq., of Trumbull County, performing the ceremony. The Shafer family were na- tives of Perry County, Pennsylvania, and immigrated to Ohio in about 1818. They were the parents of eleven children, five of
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HISTORY OF WELLS COUNTY.
whom are living- Susan, wife of John Rush, of Southern Iowa; Emily became the wife of William Ripple, of Youngstown, Ohio; Laura married John Murphy, a farmer of Champion, Ohio; Almira married Emory Kibler, a farmer of Manchester, Ohio; Mrs. Cartwright is the only child living in this State. Both her parents are deceased and are buried in Ohio. When Mr. Cartwright enme to this eounty he purchased and set- tled upon the traet of land now owned by David Hoopingarner. A cabin had been built and a few aeres cleared. A stick tire- place ornamented the most of one end of the eabin, and the great piles of wood consumed were not taken into account in that early day. Mr. Cartwright also purchased the eighty acres where he now resides, not a stick having been removed. In 1855 he purchased and removed to this tract a small frame honse, which has since been replaced by good substantial buildings, and the appearance to- day suggests mueh care and taste upon the part of the owner. He wielded a skillful ax, and while some of his neighbors employed their time in hunting, Mr. Cartwright made large inroads upon the forest trees which covered his lands. He also dealt considera- bly in stock as his lands became improved, and from the commencement of his business life in this county it has been a snecess. Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright have had twelve children, six of whom are living-Jolm T. (deceased), Ilenry J. (deceased), Andrew J., William A. (deceased), Mary (deceased), Clark and Margaret (deceased). Emma, Alice J., Susan F., Lney and Morton M. John T. was a veteran of Company K, Seventy-fifth Indiana Infantry, and passed through many severe engagements unharmed. The malari- ous atmosphere of the southern swamps finally caused his death at Nashville, Tennes- see. ITis remains were sent home and are
buried in Ossian cemetery. Henry was also a member of the same company, and served in many battles. lle was with Sherman on his march to the sea. His death occurred after his return from the army. Andrew enlisted, when seventeen years of age, in the One Hundred and Fifty-third Indiana In- fantry. His regiment did garrison duty in Kentneky, and never saw active service in the field. He is the husband of Lydia Archi- bald and resides in Jefferson Township. William A. died in infancy. Mary also died in childhood. Clark died of small-pox in 1852. Mr. Cartwright contraeted the disease on the lakes when coming to this county, and was the first to have the dread disease which terminated the lives of his children the sec- ond year of their stay in the new country. Margaret married Martin Caston, and at her death left two children-Maggie C., the sur- viving one, is eared for by her grandparents, and is an unusually bright and interesting child. Emma married James K. Beatty and resides in this township. Mr. Beatty is an insurance agent and does an extensive busi- ness. Aliee J. married Warren Taylor, a large carriage manufacturer at Zanesville. Susan F. married Josephus Caston, a farmer of Jefferson Township. Lney became the wife of James C. Johnston and resides with her parents on the home farm. Morton M. is ummarried and lives in the West. The first vote Mr. Cartwright east in Jefferson Township was challenged, he, with four others, casting their votes for Hale, the Free- soil candidate for President. The Free-soil party and the Whig party united formed the Republican party. His vote was afterward accepted, and he aeted and voted with that party, then voted the Whig ticket, and was one of the first Republicans forming a party organization in this county. Himself and wife have been members of the Methodist
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