Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana : containing portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages., Part 33

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 922

USA > Indiana > Jay County > Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana : containing portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages. > Part 33
USA > Indiana > Blackford County > Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana : containing portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages. > Part 33

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).

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county than the subject of this sketch, one of the most respected men of Jay County.

ILLIAM G. SUTTON, a prominent citizen of Dunkirk, and a representa- tive of one of the old pioneer fami- lies of Indiana, was born in Greene County, Ohio, April 12, 1828, a son ot Isaiah and Catherine (Shrack) Sutton. The father was also a native of Greene County, of English descent, his parents coming from New Jer- sey. He was married in Greene County to Miss Catherine Shrack, who was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, of Dutch- Irish ancestry. In the spring of 1835 he came to Indiana, locating land in what is now Richland Township, Jay County, being obliged to walk to the land office at Fort Wayne to enter it, and on arriving at Fort Wayne he entered 240 acres in three eighty- acre lots. After the division of the county, 160 acres was located in Richland Township, the remaining eighty acres being in Jackson Township, Blackford County. He then re- turned to Ohio, and in September, 1836, he brought his family by wagon, William Shrack and his family coming at the same time. They first landed three miles south of the present site of Dunkirk, and there the fami- lies remained with friends whom they had known in Ohio, while our subject and Mr. Shrack proceeded to cut a road through three miles of dense forest, to their chosen loca- tion, and after completing their log cabins, they returned for their families. There was neither floor nor chimney to Mr. Sutton's small log cabin when his family settled in it, but a space was left in the roof for the smoke to escape. The surrounding country was in a state of nature, and game of all kinds was abundant. Mr. Sutton was quite a hunter,

although he did not follow hunting as a busi- ness, as did some of the pioneers, preferring to devote his time to clearing and cultivating his land, and by persevering industry he managed to clear more than half of his 240 acres. Mr. Sutton was largely instrumental in organizing and constructing the Ma- rion & Mississinewa Valley Railroad, now the Chicago, St. Louis & Pittsburgh, or Pan- handle Railroad, and was at one time a di- rector of the road. This railroad running through his land he laid out the present town of Dunkirk, which he named Quincy, so that he was the founder of that now thriving village. Politically lie was early in life an old line Whig, later a Free-Soiler, and a Re- publican from the organization of that party. He held several township offices, and at one time lacked but four votes of being elected county commissioner. His first wife died abont 1843, and he was afterward married to Mrs. Rebecca (Stewart) Shroyer, whose pa- rents came from Grafton, West Virginia, to Blackford County, Indiana, among the early settlers. She was born, reared and married in Grafton, and her home was visited in 1868 by William G. Sutton, he finding it in per- fect condition. Isaiah Sutton becaine a Free Mason as early as 1848, joining that frater- nity at Portland, and was the pioneer of Ma- sonary in his community. He helped to or- ganize Anthony Lodge, No. 171, at Albany, and became its Master, and he was also one of the organizers of Dunkirk Lodge, No. 275, of which he was the first Master, hold- ing that position several times by re-election. He was active in securing the erection of the Masonic Hall, and in his support of it, and it remained the headquarters of the lodge un- til the present hall was built. He joined the Methodist Episcopal church when fifteen years of age, and the last twenty years of his life he was a local preacher of that denomina-

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tion. He lived the principles of his religion in his daily life, and was esteemed by all who knew him. He died October 22, 1865, was buried with Masonic honors in Blackford County on a part of the old homestead, when an oration was delivered over his remains by General J. P. C. Shanks. William G. Sut- ton, whose name heads this sketch, was but eight years of age when he came with his parents to Jay County, and for over half a century he has been a resident of the county, and has seen the many changes that have transpired, converting the wilderness into well cultured fields and thriving villages. He received his education in the common schools of his neighborhood, and subsequently en- gaged in farming and school teaching, follow- ing the latter vocation thirteen winter terms. He was united in marriage September 5, 1847, to Miss Judith Ganntt, a native of Warren County, Ohio, and daughter of Ezekiel and Mary (Thatcher) Gauntt. Her parents settled in Randolph County, Indiana, in 1832, the father dying there in 1836, and the mother about the year 1844. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sutton only four are living -- Richard J .; John T., in the Pension Department at Washington, D. C .; Rebecca C., wife of James M. Dunn, and Elmer E. The names of those deceased are -Jacob I., Eliza J., Daniel P., Arthur W. and George B. In 1859 Mr. Sutton entered the lists for auditor at the Republican prim- aries, received the nomination, conducted his own canvass in a plain, quiet way, and was elected to the office by a majority of sixty- five votes, although the county was Denio- cratic, and during the campaign he did not spend a penny on the election. Four years later he was re-elected to the same office, and defeated his opponent by eighty-five votes. While holding office, and one year longer, he was a resident of Portland. He has always

been an active Republican, and has been al- most universally a delegate to the State and Congressional conventions of his party. He is at present treasurer of Dunkirk corpora- tion, which position he has filled to the best interest of the village since 1869. He was formerly administrator of about all the estates, and was guardian of a large number of orphans. He was a charter member of Dunkirk Lodge, No. 275, A. F. & A. M., to which he still belongs, and also a member of Dunkirk Chapter, No. 43, and Dunkirk Conncil, No. 242, and is treasurer of the chapter and council. He is also an Odd Fel- low, being a member of Dunkirk Lodge, No. 306, and was a member of the encampment during its existence at Dunkirk.

HILIP DICKES, M. D., was born in Buffalo, New York, January 7, 1853, the youngest of fifteen children of John P. and Mary M. Dickes, natives of Germany. His father, after making the necessary ar- rangements to take his family to America, contracted pneumonia and died on the eighth day of his illness October 2, 1852. His fami- ly came to this country, as requested, remained in Buffalo, New York, during the winter, and in April, 1853, migrated to Mercer County, Ohio, where the widow entered land on which she lived till called to rest August 19, 1870. Philip Dickes was reared in Mercer County. He was given good educational advantages, attending in his childhood the common schools, and later Ridgeville College, in Randolph County, Indiana, and the Normal school at Valparaiso. He commenced the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Brewington of New Corydon, this county, in 1875, and 1877 and 1878 attended lectures at the department of medicine 'and surgery

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in the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor. In 1878 he located at Boundary, Jay County, and commenced his practice. In the winter of 1885-'86, he attended lcc- tures at the Bellevue Hospital Medical Col- lege in New York City, graduating in March, 1886. He is a gentleman of fine literary attainments and is well read in his profession, to which he is devoted. He has a lucrative and constantly increasing practice, his success gaining for him the confidence of his patrons. He is a member of the county, district and State medical societies, taking an active inter- est in anything that will assist him in acquir- ing knowledge relating to his profession. Dr. Dickes was married in July, 1878, to Miss Nancy Viola Snyder, daughter of Philip and Abigail Snyder, of Noble Township. Three children grace their household-Fran- cis Millard, Myrte Maud and Ernest Clyde.

ILLIAM G. JONES, merchant, Penn- ville, Indiana, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, July 11, 1839, a son of Thomas and Sarah (Ransom) Jones. His father was a native of Fayette County, Penn- sylvania, a son of Thomas Jones, who was born in Delaware, and was of Welsh descent. His mother was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John and Frances Ransom, natives of Ireland. William G. Jones lived on a farın until seventeen years of age, and then having a good commnon school edu- cation he taught three terms, after which he went to Vandalia, Illinois, where he was employed as clerk in a general store a year, and then for a year was baggage-master on the Illinois Central Railroad. Leaving the railroad he went to Michigan, and for two summers had charge of a large stock farm,

containing 560 acres, and from there went to Southern Illinois, where he ran a saw and grist-inill. From there he went to Palatine, Illinois, and engaged in buying and shipping grain, and in 1860 moved to Pennville, re- maining one summer, and then going to Coshocton County, Ohio, where he attended school, and then went to Fort Wayne and superintended the gathering of one crop of cranberries, and then went to Chicago, and from there to Effingham, Illinois, where he remained one winter. In 1864 he again came to Pennville, and for two years was in tlie drug business, when he sold out and en- gaged in buying and shipping stock two years. In 1868 he carried on the hotel at Pennville, and also engaged in manufacturing boots and shoes, and in 1869 opened a dry goods and grocery store in company with Thomas E. Bowden, of Portland. In 1870 he closed out this business, and with his family went to California, and lived in Oakland a year, when he returned to Pennville and engaged in farming and stock dealing until 1875. He then went again to California, remaining six months, when he returned to Pennville and disposed of his property and mnoved to Dunkirk, and engaged in the hard- ware business a year, and then returned to Pennville and bought a farm and engaged in farming until 1881, when he sold his farm and removed to Cherry Vale, Montgomery County, Kansas, and engaged in the hotel business a year. He then returned to Peni- ville, and a year later went to California and remained one winter, when he again came to Pennville and bought a farm. In connection with his family he has since 1884, been en- gaged in the general mercantile business, having a large and complete stock. His farm contains fifty-six acres of good land, and in addition to this he owns a large amount of property in the village of Pennville, his resi-

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dence being one of the best in the county. He was married August 1, 1865, to Rachel C. Gregg, a native of Jay County, Indiana, a daughter of Hiram and Patience (Cadwalla- der) Gregg, natives of Ohio, the former born in Belmont County, of Irish descent, and the latter in Warren County, of English parent- age. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have six children- Carrie B., Charles W., Hattie G., Murray A., Ethel W., and Lorena Dawn. Mr. Jones is a member of the Odd Fellows order. In politics he is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

IMOTHY L. STRATTON, section 14, Pike Township, was born in Clarke County, Ohio, June 14, 1838, a son of H. S. and Rebecca (Hedrick) Stratton. When he was but sixteen months old his parents settled in the forests of Pike Township, and he lias since lived in that neighborhood, his parents now being his nearest neighbors. Reared thus in a frontier home he has lived to see the forests felled and in their places thriving towns and villages spring up, and large farms cultivated. After the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, being devot- edly loyal to his country he offered his ser- vices in her defense and was assigned to Company E, Eighty-ninth Indiana Infantry. His baptism of fire was received at Munford- ville, Kentucky. He was under the gallant General A. J. Smith in the disastrous Red River campaign, and participated in the bat- tles at Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, and all the engagements that covered the retreat of General Banks. Smith's corps then coming north he was in the Missouri campaign against General Price's army. Then again in Tennessee he was in the heroic battle at 21

Nashville in December, 1864, which de- stroyed Hood's army. Thence went south, and was in the assault upon Fort Blakely at Mobile. General Smith likened the erratic movements of his corps to those of a comet. July 15, 1865, he received his final discharge at Indianapolis, and returned to Pike Town- ship, and began the improvement of eighty acres of land bought during the war, to which he afterward added thirty-three acres. He is one of the thorough, practical farmers of Jay County, understanding well its needs and resources. His farm buildings are con- venient, commodious and well built. In poli- tics Mr. Stratton is an ardent Republican. In religion he is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church. As a citizen, he ranks among the best, public spirited and enterprising. Mr. Stratton was married November 25, 1860, to Louisa Maloy, who died February 14, 1862, leaving no children. September 26, 1867, he married Rebecca Col- lett, who died in July, 1868, leaving one son -Charlie, who died aged three years, two . months and one day. January 26, 1871, he married Mrs. Jaretta (Babb) Lewis, a daugh- ter of David Babb, and widow of Isaac Lewis, by whom she had one child-David W. Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Stratton have seven children-Henry E., Ora W., Isaac II., Lola L., Viola F., Bessie M., and Lucas H.

B ENJAMIN R. BRADLEY, one of the prominent citizens of Greene Township, Jay County, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1825, a son of John and Elizabeth (Evans) Bradley, who were also natives of the State of Penn- sylvania. Ilis grandfather, Thomas Bradley, Was a native of Ireland, coming to America before the Revolutionary war, and served

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through the entire war. He died in Penn- sylvania. In 1832 the parents of our sub- ject settled in Trumbull County, Ohio, where the mother died in 1834. The father sur- vived until 1872, dying in Moultrie County, Illinois, at the age of seventy-five years. Of their six children Benjamin R. was the eld- est son and second child. One son, John E., lives in Moultrie County, and a daughter, Mrs. Sarah Margaret Cochran, is a resident of Moultrie County, Illinois. The other children are deceased. Benjamin R. Brad- ley, the subject of this sketch, was married in Trumbull County, Ohio, June 17, 1847, to Miss Mary Reed, a native of Pennsylvania, born November 5, 1827, who was brought to Ohio by her parents when nine years of age. She is a daughter of James Reed. To Mr. and Mrs. Bradley were born five children- John; James R., who died January 19, 1882, at the liome of his parents, aged thirty years, leaving a wife and one child; David E., re- siding in Greene Township; George H., died in infancy, and Nancy Ellen died aged five years. After his marriage Mr. Bradley fol- lowed blacksmithing in Ohio until 1853, when he came to Jay County, Indiana, and settled on section 24 of Greene Township, May 2, of that year. Here he purchased forty acres of land on which a small log house had been built, and about an acre of ground had been cleared, and he began clear- ing his land and making a home. He resided on this farm about thirteen years, to which he added by purchase thirty-six and a half acres, and in 1866 he sold his land and re- moved to Portland and engaged in the trade of saddle and harness making, which he fol- lowed nine years with fair success. In 1876 he traded his town property, consisting of his business house and two residences, for 131 acres of land on section 24, Greene Township, which he now owns and occupies. One hun-

dred acres of his land is well improved and under fine cultivation, and his residence and farm buildings are noticeably good. Mr. Bradley in his political views is a Democrat. In 1856 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, serving as such eight years, and during his residence in Portland he served two years as magistrate, and was elected assessor of Greene Township in 1880 and served two years. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church.

R. M. A. GLENTZER, of Briant, is one of the leading physicians of the village. He has practiced his profes- sion in Jay County since 1864, and has been very successful. He was born in Miami County, Ohio, April 7, 1836, son of John and Nancy (Hott) Glentzer, natives of Penn- sylvania. They were the parents of fifteen children, the doctor being the fourteenth child of the family. He was six years of age when his parents came to this county. They located on section 9, Bear Creek Town- ship, entering land from the Government, where the fatlier lived until his decease, which occurred in 1879. The mother died in 1860. The doctor was reared a farmer, his youth being spent in assisting in clearing the land. In 1860 he commenced the study of medi- cine under Doctor Wilson, of Bear Creek Township, and later studied under Doctor Harter of Jay County. In 1865 he com- menced practice in Bear Creek Township, and has been engaged in his chosen profes- sion since that time. Many families of the village feel very grateful to the doctor for his professional services. In 1857 he was married to Miss Nancy Ann Wheeler, of Jay County, and they had eight children- Zipporah, James Monroe, John M., Nancy

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Ann, Madison Aaron, Jesse T., Vernon Frances Belle and Edwin. Mrs. Glentzer died in June, 1883, and in September of that year the doctor was married to Mary Nichols, of Jay County. He was ordained minister of the Disciple church in 1879, and is a zealous worker in the cause of Christianity. By his genial disposition and cordial manner he has won many friends. He is a strong advocate of temperance as set forth by Christ and the apostles in the New Testament.

SAAC. B. LOTZ, farmer, section 11, Madi- son Township, owns 183 acres of well improved land. He was born September 3, 1829, in Meigs County, Ohio, and in 1832 came to Jay County with his parents, who settled on the same section where Isaac now lives. The parents brought to this county the following children-Fidelia S., James G., who died July 5, 1862, leaving a wife and three children-Jeremiah C., Jacob E., Sarah M., Philissa A., Abraham, who died in infancy. The father, Abraham Lotz, was born in Green- brier County, Virginia, and died June 19, 1876, aged eighty years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and received a pension which continued until the mother's death. The mother, Nancy (Carpenter) Lotz, was born in Virginia, and died in August, 1882, aged eighty-three years. She was reared in Meigs County, Ohio, and was married in that county. When the family came to this county the father had to cut roads to find his land he had entered. He entered the land where Isaac now lives, at Cincinnati. His family occupied a neighbor's cabin while he built one for him- self. The house was 18x20 feet and one story in height. The family lived in this first shanty nearly thirty years, and it stood several years after he built the hewed-log house; the | located in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

latter is still standing and occupied by Henry G. Rickerd, who owns the original farm the father entered. There is only one family liv- ing here now that was here when Mr. Lotz's family came-Hugh Woten's. The father was justice of the peace fifteen years, and also served as commissioner. He sold his farm and purchased a residence at Fort Recovery, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their days. Our subject helped to build the house where he first attended school. The seats and writing desks were of the most primitive style. Ile was married July 3, 1856, to Miss Thurza J. McDonald, who was born at Fort Recovery, Ohio, June 28, 1839, and died June 12, 1876, leaving six children- Miltou, born October 9, 1857; William L., born September 16, 1859: Rinaldo E., born June 25,1861 ; Charles A., born April 9, 1863; Otto P., born June 7, 1866; Nora D., born August 9, 1873; Harry M., born March 29, 1878; Thomas A., born August 17, 1879. Mr. Lotz was again married May 16, 1877, to Mrs. Amelia Marion, widow of Francis Marion, who was born in Ashland County, Ohio, August 14, 1837, and when two years old, came to Fort Recovery, Ohio, where she lived until she was married to Mr. Marion, Sep- tember 30, 1865. Mr. Marion died in the service of his country during the late war. He left one child-Maude, born July 10, 1866. Harry and Thomas are children of Mr. Lotz's second marriage. Mrs. Lotz is a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Junod) Roop. The father was born in Snyder County, Pennsyl- vania, May 30, 1807, and is living in Fort Recovery. He is a shoemaker by trade, and has followed it in connection with farming during the greater part of his life. The mother was born in France, coming to America when seven years old. Her family were three months and eleven days in crossing the oceau. They

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and lived there until their decease. The mother is four years younger than her hus- band. She is still living. March 9, 1865, Mr. Lotz enlisted in Company B, One Hun- dred and Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry. Upon reaching Winchester he heard of the surrender of General Lee, and was discharged August 5, 1865, and returned home where he has since been engaged in farming. Ile is also engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of horses.

OHN DETAMORE, is one of the repre- sentative business men of Portland. He deals exclusively in live stock and is proprietor of the meat market on the east side of Meridian street. He came to Port- land in 1883, and is now the principal stock dealer of the place. He was born in Preble County, Ohio, October 24, 1843, a son of Joseph and Barbara (Moots) Detamore, his father a native of Virginia, and his mother of Germany, her father, Peter Moots, coming to America when she was eleven years old, and settling in Preble County. In 1855 Joseph Detamore moved with his family to Jay County, Indiana, and settled on a farm on section 23, Greene Township, where the father died in June, 1873. The mother now lives with her son in Portland. They had a family of five children, two sons and three daughters. One son, Samuel, died in 1869, aged nineteen years. A daughter, Mary Ann, is also deceased. The eldest of the family, Mrs. Elizabeth Reyburn lives in Miami County, Indiana; and Christianna is the wife of Ira Butcher, of Portland. John is the only son living. He was twelve years of age when his parents moved to Jay County, and was here reared, remaining at home until he enlisted in the war of the Re-

bellion in the fall of 1864. He was assigned to Company F, One Hundred and Fortieth Indiana Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was with General Thomas in the Nashville campaign, and was at Raleigh, North Carolina, when the war closed. After the war he engaged in farmning until 1883, when he moved to Portland, and still owns a fine farm in Greene Township, which includes a part of his father's homestead. He was married in Portland to Mary Jane Kinsey, a danghter of Henry Kinsey, an old settler of Jay County, and they have two sons-Charles Grant, and William Henry. They have lost two daughters-Flora Isabel, and Luella Clark.

ALMER J. SMITH, the present auditor of Jay County, is a worthy representa- tive of one of the pioneer families of Knox Township. His father, Abraham C. Smith, settled in Knox Township, Jay County, in 1838. He had come here in 1836 and entered a section of land on the northwest quarter of section 24, where he had erected a log cabin, into which his family removed on coming to the county in 1838. The father lived on this land until his death, which oc- curred in November, 1863. He was a native of Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood, and married Elizabeth Dill, who was also a native of the Keystone State. The town of Dillsburg, in York County, Pennsylvania, was built on her father's farm, hence the name. In May, 1834, he removed with his family from Pennsylvania to Clarke County, Ohio, coming to Indiana from the Buckeye State, and was prominently identified with the early history of Jay County. He served as probate judge of Jay County, for seven

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years. Judge Smith, after his election to the bench, took an active interest in the early political and civil history of the county. He was highly respected and esteemed wherever he was known. He and his wife were con- sistent and influential members of the Pres- byterian church. They were the parents of twelve children of whom six sons and three daugliters grew to maturity. The following still survive-Thomas D., living in Randolph County; Mrs. Sophia Croft, of Montgomery County, Ohio; David G., and Mrs. Maria E. Bowman, residents of Knox Township, Jay County; Palmer J., the subject of this sketch, and William G., a physician, of Winchester, Randolph County. Palmer J. Smith was born in Clarke County, Ohio, the date of his birth being September 11, 1834. He was reared on his father's farm, receiving his primary education at the public schools, which was supplemented by a course of study at the Wittenberg College, in Clarke County, Ohio. At the age of eighteen years he be- gan teaching school, which he followed dnr- ing the winter terms for a number of years. He has long been connected with the school interests of his township, and for nine years was school trustee. He was also assessor for two years in Knox Township. For ten years he was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Redkey. In 1862 he offered his services as a volunteer in the defense of his country, but owing to physical disability was not ac- cepted, but later in the war served four months, mostly on provost duty. His wife was formerly Miss Jennie S. Winters, and is a daughter of Erastus Winters of Knox Township. They are the parents of three children-Wilburn Lee, who is now serving as deputy auditor; George H. and Hattie E. Mr. Smith is serving his second term as county auditor, having been elected to that office in 1882, and re-elected in November,

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Author: Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 922

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 922