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 35
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 35
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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
LIAS P. MORRICAL, farmer, Notting- ham Township, was born in Darke County, Ohio, September 8, 1842, son of Clark and Sarah (Pence) Morrical, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Ohio. The father removed with his parents from Virginia to Darke County, where he was married. When Elias was about two years old his parents removed to Indiana, living there eleven years, then went to Kankakee County, Illinois, where they passed the re- mainder of their days. The father died April 28, 1857, in Marshall County, Indiana, whither he had gone on business. The mother survived him until December 28, 1867. Elias was thirteen years of age when
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his parents removed to Kankakee County. Hle lived there until he came to Wells County. In 1865 he went to Michigan, where he was engaged in the pump business, and the fol- lowing year came to Wells County, where he was married October 30, 1870, to Sarah O. Adams, who died September 14, 1876, leav- ing four children. All except Dora are de- eeased-Olive, and two infants ninamed. The year after his marriage Mr. Morrieal re- turned to Kankakee, where he resided two years, then removed to this county. It was here that his wife died, and in 1577 he went to Randolph County, where he was married Octo- ber 17, 1877, to Mary Jane Clevinger, who died May 28, 1879, leaving one child-Rosa May. In 1879 he returned to Wells County and located in his present home. Mr. Mor- rical is independent in polities, but is a strong temperance man. He owns about seventy- nine acres of land, sixty-nine acres being eleared. He was married to his present wife January 17, 1882. She was formerly Alice M. Tinsley, a resident of Randolph County, and a daughter of Malachi and Margaret E. Tinsley; the father is deceased and the mother is a resident of Nottingham.
OSEPH C. SILVER, retired, a resident of Bluffton, was born in Monmonth County, New Jersey, April 23, 1806. Ile was an infant when his father, also named Joseph C. Silver, moved with his family to Mason County, Kentucky. During the second war with Great Britain the latter joined "Diek" Johnson's mounted riflemen, moved his family to Montgomery County, Ohio, and started for the seat of war; but before he was called upon to participate in any engage- ment he was thrown from his horse, and from the injuries he thereby received in his breast
he died in 1520, aged about thirty-three years. Ilis wife, nee Rhoda Johnson, sur- vived until she reached the advanced age of seventy-eight years, when she died in Greene County, Ohio. The paternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch were Nathan and Hannah (Woodward) Silver, who moved from New Jersey to Ohio about 1808, and finally died at their home upon a farm ten miles sonth of Dayton, the former in 1818, and the latter a number of years previons. Mr. Silver, our subjeet, as he grew up learned the trade of carpenter. Soon after he was mar- ried, in the winter of 1828-'29, he purchased the lease of a water-power saw-mill in Mont- gomery County, Ohio, which shortly after- ward burned down on his hands, leaving him in debt and with no resources but his own indomitable pluck and energy. Friends offered to assist him, but after some hesitation he respectfully declined to receive any contribu- tions, being determined to put himself upon his feet again, which he indeed succeeded in doing. In 1834 he moved to Fort Wayne, this State, and was the first to bring a steam saw-mill into Allen County, which he set up in running order. While living in the north- ern part of that county he cleared 200 acres of land, on which he followed farming; and during his residence there he was elected justice of the peace for a term of five years, but at the end of two and a half years he re- signed the office. Subsequently he was elected constable, and was also appointed deputy sheriff of Allen County by Sheriff J. L. Sweeny, and he served in these relations for a term of two years, during which time he resided at Fort Wayne. In the spring of 1855 he moved to Bluffton, purchasing 200 acres of land near the town, anticipating a rise in value on account of the prospect of railroads; but these were deferred so long that Mr. Silver was obliged to sell at very
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little advance. He also bought live-stock, shipping it to the East. At this place he also purchased a saw-mill, which too was burned down, but he rebuilt and ran the mill about four years longer, and then sold it and devoted his attention more closely to the real estate business. For a year or so past he has retired himself from active business eares. Mr. Silver was married October 10, 1828, to Margaret Fitts, danghter of Philip and Mary (Hendrickson) Fitts. Her father died in 1525, but her mother is yet living at the great age of ninety-seven years. Mrs. Silver was born January 18, 1810, and the aged and venerable couple have now passed their "golden wedding" day by nearly nine years. Their children have been-Minerva, deceased; William, living at Morganville, Kansas; Philip W., residing in De Kalb County, this State; Samnel D., at Denver, Colorado; Henry Clay, who died at Shreve- port, Louisiana; Winfield Seott, attorney at law in Bluffton; Mary, deceased, besides two others who died in infancy.
ATHANIEL GREENFIELD, a promi- nent eitizen of Lancaster Township, where he resides on section 28, has been identified with the interests of Wells County sinee 1852. In the spring of that year he came here from Wayne County, Ohio, and erected a hewed log honse on his land, 120 acres of heavily timbered land, which he had purchased in June, 1846. After erect- ing his house he returned to Ohio, and in September, 1852, moved his family to his pioneer home in Wells County. Mr. Green- field is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born September 13, 1824, a son of Zachariah and Jane (Forsyth) Greenfield, his father born in Baltimore County, Maryland, May
15, 1798, and his mother in the County Tyrone, Ireland, June 25, 1792. They were married July 7, 1821, in Wayne County, Ohio, and to them were born two children- Nathaniel and Rebecca Jane. The latter was born in Wayne County, Ohio, January 28, 1828, and was married to John Shafer, November 1, 1848. To them were born two sons-James N. Greenfield, born Angust 26, 1849, died September 30, 1865, and Winslow B., born October 3, 1554, died February 18, 1860. John Shafer was born in Stark Conn- ty, Ohio, July 17, 1526, and died near where he was born December 21, 1879. Mrs. Shafer is still a widow, residing in North Lawrence, Stark County, Ohio, still hold- ing the position of ticket agent for the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, which position she has held for twenty-five years. The father was one of the pioneers of Wayne County, Ohio, settling in, the then wilderness of that county as early as the year 1818. IIe eleared a farm and erected good buildings and enjoyed a comfortable home in that county until his death March 25, 1876. Ile was a member of the Methodist Episcopal ehnreh for over fifty years and was a member of the first organization of that church in that part of the country and for one year the only surviving member of that first organization. The mother of our sub- ject died November 15, 1856. She was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church during her married life. Nathaniel Greenfield was early in life inured to hard labor, his youth being spent in assisting his father with the work of the farm. Muscle was in demand; all manner of work required hard muscle; ground was plowed with primitive plows with wooden mold boards; grain was cut with siekles and threshed with flails, and cleaned with a sheet; horses were used by some farmers for tramping off grain, passing
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around in a cirele on the barn floor. The opportunity for an education was very limited, his longest term of schooling at any one term being sixty-five days, but by persevering industry and private study he seenred a fair edneation, and when twenty-three years of age was qualified to teach, and for a while taught near his old home in Ohio. After coming to Wells County he taught the first winter in his distriet, the school being held in a log cabin with the desks fastened to the walls of the house on three sides, scholars facing the walls. The following spring he was elected clerk of the township board of trustees, and through his influence twelve new frame school-houses were erected in his township. The two winters following he taught the school in his district, and the three following winters he was engaged in teaching in the schools in Bluffton, after which he taught in his own district again. Mr. Greenfield was united in marriage in Wayne County, Ohio, October 2, 1845, to Miss Elizabeth Kenagy, and to them was born one danghter, Elizabeth Jane, September 14, 1846. Elizabeth Greenfield died September 15, 1846. Elizabeth Jane was reared by her grandparents until her grandmother Green- field died; then she came to Wells County, and lived with her father until September 19, 1867, when she was united in marriage to John Wasson. They are now living in Bluff- ton and have a family of six children. Mr. Greenfield was married to his present wife, Miss Maria Jane Shafer, in Stark County, Ohio, May 8, 1851, who was born in that county March 30, 1832, a daughter of John and Eve Shafer, both of whom died in Stark County, the father in August, 1861, aged seventy-one years, and the mother at the advanced age of eighty-four years July 31, 1876. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters, Mrs. Greenfield being
the youngest child. Their daughter Mary resides in Bluffton, and is the wife of Richard S. Bowman, a farmer, who has retired from active business. Mrs. Margret Young, an- other daughter, resides in Stark County, Ohio, the widow of Cyrus Young. Philip Shafer, the only living son, resides on the home farm. William, Susan, Michael and John are de- ceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Greenfield have been born two children-Eva B., born in Wells County, Indiana, November 30, 1863, was united in marriage to Madison Powell, November 27, 1884, and now lives in Hebron, Thayer County, Nebraska; Anna L., living at home with her parents, was born February 6, 1868, and graduated in the class of 1886, from the Bluffton High School. The first home of our subjeet after coming to Wells County was replaced by a fine two-story frame residence in 1867. Ilis buildings for the accommodation of his stock were all erected with a view to comfort and convenience and are all in good condition. Ile devotes some attention to stock raising and is making a specialty of short-horn cattle, also has a few Jerseys. IIe has always been an industrions citizen and by his persevering energy and good management has acquired his present fine property, he having commenced life in Wells County on a very small capital. In October, 1861, Mr. Greenfield enlisted as a recruit in Company G, Twelfth Indiana In- fantry. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and was in General Banks' command through Maryland and Virginia. In February, 1865, he re-enlisted in the One Ilundred and Fifty-third Indiana Infantry and served as Quartermaster-Sergeant. In early days Mr. Greenfield was a Henry Clay Whig, and naturally was one of the founders of the Republican party in Wells Coun- ty. Ile has ever since been prominent in the councils of that political party, and is
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the acknowledged leader of his party in Lan- caster Township. By the suthages of his friends of both parties he was elected to the office of township trustee for one term, which alone shows his popularity in his township, being then over 100 Democratie majority. He is classed among the active and public- spirited citizens of Wells County, and is always ready to aid in any enterprise for the advancement of his township or county, and by his genial manners and striet and honor- able dealings he gained the confidence and esteem of the entire community.
ATTHIAS W. BOWMAN is the resi- dent manager of the business of Ferguson & Bowman, Inmber manu- facturers, at Murray Station, Lancaster Town- ship. The property is situated in the center of section 16, where they own 260 acres of land adjoining their steam saw-mill, the tim- ber from this land being manufactured into Inmber by themselves, and the land being as fast as cleared placed under enltivation. Their mill is 30 x 104 feet, with a fifty horse- power engine, and was erceted in 1882. Since acquiring the property the firm have made quite extensive improvements, among the most noticeable being Mr. Bowman's fine residence, near the mill, and a large barn. Mr. Bowman is a native of Ohio, born in Columbiana County, February 21, 1843, and is a son of Henry and Harriet (Armstrong) Bowman. In 1854 he was brought by his parents to Allen County, Indiana, his parents still living on their property in La Fayette Township. They were natives of Columbiana County, Ohio. Our subject remained under the home roof until he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, when he became a member of
Company D, One Hundred and Thirty- seventh Indiana Infantry. He was mustered into the service May 1, 1864, for 100 days. He was in service principally in Tennessee until his discharge, September 21, 1864, when he returned to his home in Allen County, and engaged in teaching for about two years. He was married in April, 1866, to Miss Sarah Crab, a daughter of William Crab, who resides in La Fayette Township, Allen County. Mrs. Bowman died in 1870, aged twenty-three years, and December 23, 1874, Mr. Bowman married Miss Elizabeth Wilkerson, who was born in Clinton County, Ohio, but reared in Allen County, Indiana, her father, Thomas Wilkerson, being a resi- dent of La Fayette Township. In 1869 Mr. Bowman engaged in the lumber business with his father in Allen and Huntington counties, continuing until 1878, when the firm became Ferguson & Bowman. In 1882 they transferred their business to its present location, Mr. Ferguson residing at Ferguson Station, Allen County. Mr. Bowman has charge of the railroad business at Murray Station. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. Ile is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Bluffton Lodge, No. 145, and Chapter No. 95. Ile is also a comrade of Lew Daily Post, G. A. R., at Bluffton.
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F. STARR, a progressive and enter- prising farmer of Chester Township, B 0 was born in Chester Township, Wells County, Indiana, August 12, 1846, a son of Benjamin and Matilda (Popejoy) Starr. His father was a native of Virginia, and when three years of age was brought by his par- ents to Hocking County, Ohio. There he was reared to manhood and was married in
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that county to his first wife. They came to Wells County among the carly settlers, set- tling here in 1840 on a traet of eighty acres which Mr. Starr had entered in the spring of 1839. The land was entirely unimproved, not a tree having been cut on the place. The family came from Ohio to their new home in Wells County in an ox wagon. They made a brush shanty on their land, in which they lived until the father cleared a small space and erected a log cabin, into which they moved as soon as it was completed. Ilere Mr. Starr lost his wife the following spring, and was subsequently married to Matilda Popejoy, the mother of our subject, and both parents are still living in this county, enjoy- ing the rest which they have so well earned by years of toil and industry. B. F. Starr, our subject, was reared and educated in Wells County, where he has always made his home. When twenty-six years of age his father gave him eighty aeres of land of which twenty acres had been cleared. By persever- ing industry and good management he has prospered in his agricultural pursuits, and has added to his original eighty acres until his home farm in Chester Township now con- sists of 160 aeres, of which 125 aeres have been cleared, and beside this he owns sixty aeres about a mile south of his home place, twelve acres of this traet being cleared. lle has erected all the buildings on his land and made many substantial improvements about the place. January 14, 1572, Mr. Starr was united in marriage to Miss Sabina Nutler, a native of Ilocking County, Ohio, whose father was an early settler of Wells County, Indiana. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Starr; four still living-Mary Blanche, Ora Otis, Oliver and Olive (twins). Levi is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Starr are members of the Methodist Protestant church. Ile is a trustee of Blanche Chapel, and is
Secretary of the Quarterly Conference, Sala- monie Circuit, Indiana Conference. In poli- ties he affiliates with the Prohibition party.
OBERT W. WILEY, farmer and stock- raiser, was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, March 10, 1826, only son of John and Naney (Athens) Wiley, also natives of Virginia. The father was a son of Robert Wiley, who was of Irish parentage. The mother was a daughter of Wilson Athens, who served during the entire war of the Rev- olution. In September, 1836, the parents of our subjeet left their native State and re- moved to Preble County, Ohio, where they resided two years, and then removed to Huntington County, Indiana, where they lived a short time, and finally settled upon the old Miles place in Jackson Township, this county, where the father entered eighty aeres of Government land, and where the parents passed the remainder of their days. The father died March 14, 1857, at the age of fifty-five years and five months; the mother survived him several years. They were the parents of four children-Charlotte, wife of Samuel Griffith; Robert W .; Mar- thia, wife of John JJones, and Eliza, who mar- ried Zebulon Stanton, and resides on the old homestead. During his youth our subject assisted his father in elearing and improving his farm, and he remained at home until he was twenty-five years old, receiving at that time from his father eighty aeres of wild land in Jackson Township. He worked out about four years, then purchased 360 acres of wild land on section 1, Liberty Township, for which he paid $3.50 per acre. The money he had earned by his own hard labor. April 27, 1855, he was married to Miss Sarah Jones, daughter of Enoch and Mary (Brier-
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man) Jones, who removed from Highland County, Ohio, to Huntington County, this State, in an early day. After his marriage, Mr. Wiley rented land for about two years, then settled upon his present farm, which he has cleared and improved, and erected fine buildings. He now owns 280 acres of well- improved land, after helping his children to a good home. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley have had fourteen children, eight of whom are living -- John, Mary E., Naney, Alexander, Mahala, Amanda, Perry and Charlotte J. The de- ceased are-Enoch, Henry, Jones, Martha E., and two died in early infaney. Mrs. Wiley died April 18, 1886, a worthy and consistent member of the Christian church. Politically Mr. Wiley is a Democrat.
ACOB BUSHEE, farmer, at Ossian, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, Novem- ber 22, 1822, son of John and Sarah (Derrick) Bnshee. Ilis father was born in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, of French parentage, but being reared among the Ger- mans in that county he learned their language. Far baek in the history of the religious wars in Europe and during the prosecution of the war between the Catholies and Protestants, the great-great-grandfather of our subjeet was one of those who dared to assert his belief in a Power above that of the Pope. The great massaeres which followed, in which rivers of innocent blood flowed on the streets, will be well remembered by every reader of history. One of the three men that escaped the mereiless sword was the remote aneestor of our subjeet. The trio separated and Bnshee alone made his way to the seacoast where a vessel lay at anchor. Conecaling himself among the rocks used for ballast, he
lay for three days and nights before he al- lowed anyone to see him, the ship then being far away on the bosom of the sea. Search was made before the vessel sailed, and after she weighed anchor two other inspections were made, but his secure concealment battled all discovery. He had been discovered by his enraged avengers prior to his getting on board the vessel, but fortune favored him; and to this circumstance is due the fact that a race of men was begun in America, not prolific, but noted in many ways. The discovery of Bushee almost caused a mutiny on board the ship. The captain desired to put about and deliver him to the authorities; but between passengers and erew a reconciliation was ef- feeted, and money was raised to pay his fare, and he was landed in New York. It is sup- posed that he made his way to Berks County, Pennsylvania, married and reared three sons. One of these sons was John, who married and became the father of three sons, one of whom was Jacob, the grandfather of our sub- jeet, who married Christina Landich, who also bore three sons. John, the second son, and father of our subject, married Sarah Derrick, who bore three sons - Jacob, Richard and John W. The two latter died young. John had two brothers-Jacob and Isaac, who also married and had three sons. Each of Isaac's sons were married and in turn became fathers of three sons. Jacob Bushee, our subjeet, was married in Laurel Township, Hocking County, Ohio, to Miss Olive Cave, August 1, 1847, by David Barn- hill, J. P. Her father, Rev. Emanuel Cave, was born in Kentucky, and was one of the first settlers of Ohio, and when married to Elizabeth Mounce was unable to read or write. Ilis wite taught him to read, and after his conversion he united with the Methodist Episcopal church. His aptitude qualified him to preach the gospel, and for
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sixty-six years he traveled and preached the Word to hundreds and thousands of people. Ilis ministry closed with his death, but his last years were spent as a minister of the United Brethren church. In 1850 our sub- ject came to this county, settling in Union Township. Twelve years later he purchased land in Jefferson Township. Hle cleared a seventy-aere farm in Ohio, and since coming to Indiana he has cleared enough land to amount to 300 acres, and at least fifty acres of this contained trees that were ent into logs, rolled and burned with his own hands. His location in Union Township was on the Indian Reserve, and his land was remote from roads. He eut his way to the tract, taking his wife and family into a rude log cabin near his land. Nearly all the men were young and robust fellows, and near his place was a set- tlement of Hocking County men, which he assisted in rolling logs and erecting their buildings, as well as the men in his immedi- ate neighborhood. During the seven years following almost all the improvements were made. The clearings were divided into tracts, neighbors came in to help roll the logs, and were divided into squads under the leadership of a captain, and much rivalry was manifested among the different com- panies. Only a few men are now left who aided in the pioneer work of that day. It was then customary to take a " dram " while at work, as it seemed to stimulate to in- creased exertion among the men. Mr. Bushee, long used to clearing and rollings, was invariably chosen as a leader, and it is well known by men who were then partici- pants that his squad was never second in the work. Perhaps no man now living has done more to aid the pioneers than Mr. Bushee, for his heart always had a kindly feeling for the sick or distressed. He aided in the building of almost all the early cabins.
One of the most peculiar circumstances of his life was a presentiment which caused him to save the life of a neighbor. Charles Earle, now a resident of Union Township, was dan- geronsly ill. Mr. Bushce had watched by his bedside until he was worn out with fatigue and loss of sleep. Leaving the siek man in care of three watchers, he left the house and was to return the next evening. At two o'clock at night. the presentiment came that he must go back and see the sick man. Hle arose and half-dressed himself, but concluded that it was all a dream, and it would seem silly to go, as he was not to return that night. After breakfast he shouldered his ax and began cutting a tree about a quarter of a mile distant from his house. But when half done the impression came so strongly upon him that he must hasten to the sick man, that he left his ax buried in the tree, ran to the house and as quickly as possible was on his way. With his horse at its highest speed he made the three and a half miles and ar- rived to find Earle pulseless, cold, and, to all appearances, dying. Used to emergencies, he applied stimulants externally and inter- nally, and later was rewarded by seeing his patient regain consciousness. Hlad he not acted with such promptness Earle's death would most probably have occurred a few moments later. Mr. and Mrs. Bushee have eight children-Allen, Sarah E., William, Rhoda, James F., Matilda and Bethilda (twins), and Martha. The oldest son mar- ried Jane Woods, and she had three sons. Rhoda married William Amos Arnold. The other children are unmarried. This biogra- phy is one of the most remarkable on record, containing as it does the wonderful fact of several generations in which each father had three sons. Mr. Bushee has been one of the most active politicians in the northern part of Wells County, having frequently acted as .
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