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 55

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 55
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 55

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Jersey to Mary Silvers, daughter of Aaron Silvers, and to them were born three children -William, Aaron and Jane. Mrs. Letts died December 24, 1884, and May 3, 1886, Mr. Letts married Amanda Hues, a native of Greene Township, Jay County, daughter of Silas and Margaret (Kay) Hues. They have one danghter-Rosa Ellen. In politics Mr. Letts is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church.

ILLIAM MOORE is one of the early pioneers of Jay County, having been a resident of the county since 1835. He was born in Perry County, Ohio, June 29, 1819, a son of John and Jane (Porter) Moore, the father born in the State of Penn- sylvania of English ancestry, and the inother being of English ancestry. Our subject was left an orphan before reaching the age of seven years, and he was reared by his elder brother, Samuel. His youth was spent clear- ing land and working on a farm, and his education was obtained in the subscription schools of that early day. When he was twelve years old he went with his brother to Sandusky, Ohio, where they lived until 1835. In that year in company with Jesse Philips and Michael Nye the brother came to Jay County by team. Our subject first entered a tract of eighty acres from the Government, which he cleared and improved. Ten years later he sold that tract, and bought his present farm from William Vail, then a tract of heavily timbered land entirely unimproved. He first built a small frame honse and com- menced improving his land, and to-day his farm is considered one of the best in Bear Creek Township. He has 110 acres cleared and under fine cultivation, and underlaid with 300 rods of tile. His small frame house of

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BIOGRAPHIICAL SKETCHES.

pioneer days has been replaced by his present fine two story residence, which was built in 1877, and his commodious barn and other farm buildings are all in good condition. His farm is located on the pike road, four miles north of Portland and two and a half iniles south of Bryant. Mr. Moore has been three times married. He was first married to Miss Caroline Vail, a daughter of Willianı Vail, in 1840, and to this union six children were born, of whom three are yet living- James Milligan, Lydia Ann and Alwilda. For his second wife he married Miss Margaret Kessler, a daughter of Herman Kessler, one of Jay County's pioneers, and of the eight children born to this marriage four are living -Jolin, Elva, Herschal and William A. Mr. Moore was married to liis present wife, Mrs. Margaret Martin, in 1876. In politics Mr. Moore is a Republican, casting his first pres- idential vote for Harrison. In his religions views he was formerly a Methodist, but is now a member of the Christian church. He has always taken an active part in the im- provement of his township or county, and is a liberal supporter of worthy enterprises. By his eordial manners, he has made many friends, and is respected by all who know him.

EORGE W. SIMPSON, an active and enterprising agrieulturist of Wayne Township, engaged in farming on see- tion 31, is a native of Ohio, born in Meigs County in 1849. His father, Daniel Simp- son, was a native of the State of New York, and an early settler of Meigs County. He came to Jay County, Indiana, in 1866, and settled in Wayne Township with his family, consisting of his wife, four sons and three daughters. . He lived on the land on which he first settled in Wayne Township until the 31

fall of 1879, when he went to Kansas, and is still a resident of that State. George W. Simpson, our subject, settled on the farm where he now resides in 1879, and has done much toward improving the land, and by hard work and persevering energy he has succeeded in putting seventy acres of his eighty-acre farm under improvement, bring- ing his land under a fine state of eultivation. His present fine residence was erected in 1886, and is both commodious and comfort- able. He began life a poor boy, and lias acquired his property by his own industry and good management. For his wife he married Miss Adeline La Follette, a daughter of Joseplı La Follette, and a granddanghter of Joseph La Follette, Sr. They are the parents of three children, whose names are Nial, Eininett and Ruth.

DOLPHUS C. THORNBURG was born in Washington, Wayne County, Indi- ana, October 15, 1848, a son of Isaac and Jane (IIatfield) Thornburg, natives also of Wayne County, where they were reared, living there until 1858, when they moved to Jay County, and located in Jefferson Town- ship, where they still live. Adolphus C. Thornburg remained with his parents until lis marriage, and then rented land in Jeffer- son Township, where he lived abont three years, when he went to Randolph County, renting a farm on which he lived two years. IIe then rented a farm about a mile south of his present residence, on which he lived ten years. In 1883 he bought his present farin which contains eighty acres of good land, forty acres of which are cleared and in- proved. He moved on his land in the spring of 1885, and has since been hard at work clearing and improving it. He is one of

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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.

Richland Township's energetic citizens, and his thrift and enterprise is manifest by many improvements he has already made in his home. Mr. Thornburg was married October 30, 1867, to Miss Caroline Brane, a native of Jay County, daughter of Mahlon and Nancy (Barnhart) Brane, natives of . Pennsylvania, who moved to Ohio in their youth, and were married in Miami County, moving thence to Jay County, Indiana, being among the first settlers of Jefferson Township, where they still live. Mr. and Mrs. Thornburg have had eight children, one of whom, Carlton, is de- ceased. Those living are-Mahlon Franklin, Della May, Lillie, Rose, Emil, Tabitha and Maud. In politics Mr. Thornburg is a Dem- ocrat. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Redkey.

YRA LEWIS, deceased, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, September 14, 1811, a son of Thomas Lewis. He was reared on a farm, remaining with his parents imtil his majority. He then followed farın- ing on his own account, and worked at tlie carpenter's trade until the fall of 1839, when he moved to Jay County, Indiana, and entered 160 acres of Government land on section 11, Penn Township. He cleared a spot and erected a cabin, and then went bravely to work to improve his land. Wild game was abundant, and furnished their table with plenty of meat. He transformned lis wild land into a good farm, which he made his home until his death, which occurred September 29, 1855. His widow still lives on this farm, where she reared her family and has spent the greater part of her life. Mr. Lewis was married March 14, 1839, to Sarah Ann Grisell, a daughter of Joseph and Letitia (Whitaker) Grisell, and grand-

daughter of Thomas Grisell. They had a family of eight children, five of whom lived till maturity, and three are now living. Their names in the order of their birth are as follows-Morgan M., of Battle Creek, Michii- gan; Anson, died August 16, 1855, aged thirteen years; Granville S., died February 2, 1881, aged thirty-six years; Letitia; Han- nah M., died August 24, 1855, aged six years; Mary C., married William McKune, and died January 28, 1877, aged twenty- eight years; Oscar W., of Battle Creek, Michigan, and Elmore, died September 6, 1855, aged one year.

ISAAC P. GRAY, Governor of Indiana, is a native of Chester County, Pennsylvania, where his parents were born. His ances- tors were members of the society of Friends, his great-grandfather having immigrated to this country with William Penn, and was a member of the General Assembly from 1684 to 1692, when William Penn was Governor and Proprietary of the province of Pennsyl- vania. His parents moved to Ohio in 1836. Governor Gray moved to Union City, Indiana, in 1855; is by profession a lawyer; was ap- pointed by Governor Morton in 1862 Colonel of the Fourth Indiana Cavalry; also raised and organized the One Hundred and Forty- Seventh Infantry in 1864; was the candidate of the anti-Julian party in 1866 for Congress; was elected State Senator in 1868; in July, 1870, was appointed by President Grant con- sul to St. Thomas, and confirmed by the Sen- ate, but declined the appointment; was a delegate-at-large to the Liberal Republican National Convention of 1872, at Cincinnati, and appointed by the convention member for Indiana of the National Committee. His name was placed before the Democratic State.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES.

Convention of 1872 for Congressman-at- large, but was withdrawn by his orders. His name was again placed before the Demo- cratic State Convention of 1874 for Attorney- General, but again withdrawn by him. The convention of 1876 nominated him by accla- mation for Lieutenant-Governor. The State convention of 1880 nominated him again by ac- clamation for Lieutenant-Governor. The Dem- ocratic Legislative caucus of 1881 nominated him for United States Senator. The party being in the minority in the Legislature, the nomination was simply a compliment. The State Convention of 1884 nominated him for Governor, he receiving on the first ballot two- thirds of the vote of the convention. His canvass of the State was a very brilliant and able one, resulting in his election by nearly one thousand majority more than received by the electoral ticket.

M ATTHAUS THEURER, farmer, re- sides on section 16, Madison Town- ship, where he owns eighty acres of land; he also owns 120 acres on section 20. He was born in Würtemberg, Germany, Oc- tober 15, 1829, and immigrated to America previous to his marriage. He worked two sum- mers at brick making, near New York City, and January 2, 1853, came to this county, where he worked for a farmer one year. He was married March 25, 1854, to Miss Sarah Kurtz, who was born on the ocean, in 1832, while her parents were coming to America. They settled in Pennsylvania, and when slie was a small child they removed to Marion County, Ohio, where she grew to womanhood. She came to Jay County in 1853, and died June 8, 1868, leaving five children-Justinia, born January 25, 1855; Tobias, born May 1, 1856; Caroline, born November 8, 1858;

John G., born August 7, 1861; Jacob, born February 22, 1864. Mr. Thenrer was mar- ried again, November 30, 1868, his second wife being Mrs. Christina Rosine Klingel, widow of Joseph Klingel, who was born in Germany, and came to America when four years of age with his parents, who located in Marion County, Ohio, where he grew to man- hood. In February, 1866, he came to this county with his wife and five children, set- tling on section 22, Madison Township, where he died in January, 1868. His children were -Charles F., born November 16, 1856; Anna L., born September 24, 1858; Chris- tiana B., born May 5, 1861; Elizabeth F., born February 13, 1863; Margaret Chris- taina, born September 26, 1865. Mrs. Theurer was formerly Miss Christina Rosine Lehman, born in Würtemberg, Germany, March 11, 1833. Her parents died in Ger- many and she came to America while yet a single woman. Her father was born in 1801 and died in 1848. The mother was born July 3, 1797, and died in 1856. Mrs. Theurer had two brothers, Philip Jacob and Jolin Gottlob, who came to America; the former went away and all trace of him has been lost, and the latter lives at Shreveport, Lonisiana. Mr. and Mrs. Theurer have three children- Sarah, born October 20, 1869; Mary E., born September 30, 1871, and Amelia R., born May 1, 1874. Mr. Theurer's grandfather, Daniel Thenrer, was born and died in Ger- many. The following were his children- George, Frederick, Jacob, Daniel, Matthias, Catherine. IIe was twice married. The chil- dren are all deceased except Jacob, who re- sides in Marion County, Ohio. All came to America except Daniel, Matthias and Cath- erine. Mr. Theurer had three brothers and one sister-Jacob, Mathias, Justina and To- bias. The following are the children of Mrs. Theurer's parents-Carl, Christiana, Jacob,

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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.

Louisa, Gottlob and Mrs. Theurer. Her grandfather, Philip Lehuman, was born in Germany, and died there, at the age of eighty- four years. Her parents, Philip J. and Chris- tiana B. (Thnının) Leliman, were born and died in Germany. Her grandfather, Michael Thumm, was born in Germany, and died there at the age of ninety-two years. Her grandmother, Christiana Thumm, was also born in Germany, and died there at the age of sixty-four years. Mr. Thenrer's mother died when he was five years old, and his father afterward married Barbara Sülsle. She was born in Germany, and died in this county; both are buried in Salamonia.

SAAC HUEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Bear Creek Township, is one of the old pioneers of Jay County. He was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1830, a son of Warner and Cena (Hardin) Hney. From Pennsylvania his parents moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and from there in 1838 to Jay County, Indiana, and settled in Wabash Township, on section 31. Isaac was then a sturdy boy of eight years. He was reared on a farm and was early obliged to assist in clearing and improving a frontier farm. Schools were few, being limited to those taught by subscription in the old log school-houses, and in this Isaac Hney received the instruction and learned the lessons which formed the nucleus of his education, the rest being obtained by observation and reading. Arriving at manhood he began farming for himself and working for others, and in this way bought his first land. He cleared a farm for William Prillaman, and then in 1867 loca- ted on the farm where he now lives, which contains 130 acres of choice land. At that time his land was heavily timbered, but he

now has fifty acres cleared and drained with tile. His residence is a good cottage, his barn is commodious and convenient, and he has a good orchard of bearing trees. Mr. Hney was married in the year 1857 to Edith Brown, dangliter of Thomas Brown, a prominent pio- neer of Jay County. They have a family of seven children-Ida Lnella, Emma Dell, Mary Loretta, Etta Myrtle, Saralı Alice, Thomas Brown, Ada Pearl.

ENRY ULLOM, one of Greene Town- ship's respected citizens, and a descend- ant of one of the early pioneer families of Jay County, was born in Jefferson Town- ship, July 3, 1848. His parents, Jacob and Susannalı Ullom, were natives of Ohio, where they were reared and married, their three eldest children being born in that State. About the year 1835 they left Darke County, Ohio, for Jay County, Indiana, and settled in the dense wilderness in the sonthi part of sec- tion 10, where the father began improving his forty-acre tract. He prospered in his agricultural pursuits, and added to his real estate until he became the owner of a fine property consisting of 200 acres, which he lived to make into a good home, and here his four youngest children were born. The inother died in 1855, and the father afterward married Mrs. Sydney (Fields) Meranda, widow of James Meranda. Mr. Jacob Ullom died in 1871, aged sixty-two years, his widow sur- viving him about one year. He was a mem- ber of the Christian church, and was a man highly esteemed by all who knew him. His children are as follows-Mrs. Emeretta Nix- on, living in Jefferson Township; Mrs. Ma- linda Flesher, also of Jefferson Township; Stephen, died aged eighteen years; Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, resides in Jefferson Town-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ship; Henry, the subject of this sketch; Elias, died aged fifteen years, and John, living in Jefferson Township, on part of the old home farm. Since the death of the parents the homestead has been divided among the heirs. Henry Ullom, whose name heads this sketch, remained at the home of his parents until attaining the age of twenty-three years, when in the fall of 1871 he was married to Miss Minerva Nixon, who was born in Jeffer- son Township, Jay County, a daughter of David and Nancy Nixon, of whom her mother is deceased. Their first home after marriage was on a tract of forty acres bought of his father. Abont six years after her marriage Mrs. Ullom died, August 15, 1879, leaving three children-Florence R., Lydia Ann and Ervin. Mr. Ullom was again mar- ried April 21, 1881, to Miss Saralı Malinda Spahr, a daughter of Matthias Spahr, one of Jay County's most worthy pioneers. Three children have been born to this union- Claudia May, Inis and Ola. Mrs. Ullom was born on the homestead, on section 35, Greene Township, which she and her husband now own and occupy, where they have 134 acres of as choice land as can be found in Jay County. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ullom are members of the Methodist church. Like her father, Mr. Ullom casts his suffrage with the Democratic party.

ROF. ELWOOD HAYNES, son of Judge Jacob M. Haynes, was born Oc- tober 14, 1857, in Portland, Indiana. At school age he was sent to the Portland public schools, where he at an early age evinced a great desire for learning, and in later years especially for chemistry; and was often found by members of the family, ont- side of school hours, making practical experi-

ments and tests. He closed his studies in the public schools at the end of the second year in the High School, and in 1878 went to Worcester Technical Institute, at Worces- ter, Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1881. Ile then returned home, taught one year in the district schools, and two years as principal of the Portland High School. He then went to Johns Hopkins University, Bal- timore, Maryland, and took a Post Graduate Course. Returning home, Professor Suman gladly gave him charge of the Special Chemis- try Department of the Eastern Indiana Normal School and Commercial College, where his services were highly esteemed and greatly appreciated by the students and faculty. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.

DAM CHRISTMAN, a progressive farmer of Bear Creek Township, re- . siding on section 19, is a native of Jay County, Indiana, born on the old Christman homestead in the year 1851, his father, John V. Christman, being one of the prominent pioneers of the county. Our subject was reared to the avocation of a farmer, his boy- hood being spent in assisting with the work of the farm and attending the common schools of his neighborhood. He was married March 3, 1872, to Miss Roxy Ann Shade, a dangh- ter of William and Mary (Pingry) Shade, of West Liberty. Mr. and Mrs. Christman are the parents of one son, Whittaker Engene, who was born February 2, 1873. Mr. Christ- man removed with his family to his present farm in 1875, where he has forty-five acres of as good land as the township affords, well im- proved and very productive. He has a com- fortable residence, good barn and orchard, and his land nnderlaid with some 150 rods of tiling. His farm is in one of the best loca-

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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.

tions in the county, and on one of the best pikes in the county, his residence being one and a half miles south of Bryant, and five miles north of Portland. Both Mr. and Mrs. Christman are consistent members of the Christian church at West Liberty, and among the most respected citizens of Bear Creek Township. In politics Mr. Christman is a staunch Republican.

F. METZNER, engaged in farming in Bear Creek Township, was born in Licking County, Ohio, January 6, 1844, son of John Metzner, one of the prominent pioneers of Noble Township, Jay Connty. W. F. Metzner was a lad of some four or five years when brought by his parents to Jay County, and here he grew to manhood, being reared on a farm in Noble Township, and educated in the district and subscription schools. He was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in December, 1863, in Company E, Eighty-ninth Indiana Infantry. He took an active part in the battle of Yel- low Bayon, and was in the Red River ex- pedition under General A. J. Smith. While on a boat in the Mississippi River he was severely wounded, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. He received an honorable discharge at the close of the war, when he returned to his home in Jay County and resumed farming. He was mar- ried December 8, 1867, to Miss Mary Ann Haley, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and a daughter of Sebastian Haley, who now resides in Noble Township, Jay County. Mr. and Mrs. Metzner are the parents of six children-Jolın W., Louetta Jane, Lydia J., Amanda A., Irvin G. and Pearl M. Mr. Metzner located on his present farm in 1868, then a tract of heavily-timbered land, entirely

unimproved. He has cleared and improved his farm and put it under good cultivation, built a comfortable residence, a large barn, and made other valuable improvements. He is one of the active and public-spirited men of his township, aiding all enterprises which he deems for the advancement of his town- ship or county, and during his residence in the county he has made many friends, and by his honorable dealings has gained the confi- dence of all who know him. He is a mem- ber of the Evangelical Association, of which he is class-leader. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.

EBRING BROTHERS, general grocers and dealers in queensware and glass- ware, are among the prominent business men and progressive citizens of Portland. Their business was established at Portland in the spring of 1870, their first location being on the corner of Meridian and Main streets, in the Miller block, where they remained several years, when in 1876 they erected the Sebring Block, corner of Meridian and Wal- unt streets. This building contains two fine store rooms, 22 x 80 feet, one of which is occupied by Sebring Brothers, and the other they rent. Besides this building they also have an interest in the Marsh & Sebring Block, which was erected by them in 1884, and also the fine residence on Walnut Street which they occupy. George Sebring, the elder of the brothers, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, December 14, 1818, a son of John Sebring, who removed with his family to Beaver County, when his son George was a small lad, and from there to Coshocton County, Ohio, when he was about sixteen years of age, and two years later removed to Greene County, Ohio, where the family lived

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

abont forty years. Both parents died in Greene County. They reared eight children to maturity, three sons and five dangliters. George Sebring was the eldest in his father's family. He began life poor, and the success to which he has attained is the result of his persevering energy and good business manage- mnent. In 1862, although over forty-five years of age, lie enlisted in the defense of his country, and was assigned to Company F, Thirty-fourth Ohio, also called the First Ohio Zouaves, and served until the close of the war. His regiment was in West Virginia the greater part of its term of service. He was in active service while in the army, serving on detached duty much of the time. After the war he returned to Ohio, where lie remained until coming to Portland in 1866, and here he followed carpentering and join- ing until he engaged in his present business. For his wife he married Miss Margaret E. Dorsey, who died March 17, 1886. In poli- tics Mr. Sebring is a staunch Republican. He has assisted in the erection of many buildings, among which is the conrt-house at Portland. He lias been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for over forty-five years, and lias served twenty-two years of that time as Sunday-school superintendent. His brother, Wesley D., with whom he is associated in business, was reared by him, and he is now making his home with him. Wesley D. Sebring is a native of Greene County, Ohio, the date of his birth being August 28, 1842. HIe grew to manhood in his native county, and when the war broke out he enlisted April 22, 1861, in the three months' service in response to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers. At the time of his enlistment the quota of Ohio was found to be full, and he was assigned to the Second Kentucky, and reported for duty at Camp Clay. Before the Second Kentucky was ready the President

made another call for the three years' service, and Mr. Sebring immediately enlisted for a term of three years, and becanie a member of Company F, Thirty-fourth Ohio Infantry, commanded by Colonel A. Sanders Piatt. This was the first and only Ohio zouave regiment, and was the same regiment in whichi George Sebring served. Wesley Sebring served the full term of his enlistment, and was in active duty with his regiment all the time, with the exception of a few months when on detached duty. He was severely wounded in the face by a bullet from a rebel carbine at Wytheville, while his regiment was engaged in a hand to hand fight with the enemy while on a scouting expedition for the purpose of destroying the famous bridge at Wythville. One of the severest battles in which he participated was at Fayetteville, Virginia, where his regiment, and the Thirty- seventh Ohio, held in check 7,000 of the enemy commanded by Humphrey Marshall, until all was secured, and the Confederates defeated. The Thirty-fourth regiment was one of the best disciplined in the army, the greater part of their fighting being with guerrillas on the zouave plan, in which they did excellent service; bnt whenever any hard fighting was to be done the Thirty-fourth was always ready to take a hand in battle. In 1865 Mr. Sebring came to Portland, and first engaged in the grocery trade. He was sub- sequently employed by the connty anditor, W. G. Sutton, and while so engaged made a duplicate of the county. Later he went to Hartford City, where he remained about six months, then returned to Portland, and en- gaged in selling drugs for a time. He then returned to Ohio, but in 1870 came again to Portland, and engaged in business with his brother under the firm name of Sebring Brothers. Mr. Sebring was married at Port- land to Miss Mary McArthur, a daughter of

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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