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 65
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 65
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rational, but so for the first time in nineteen days, and so weak and emaciated that, after barely recognizing his mother, he again re- lapsed into a state of insensibility, and so remained for several days. His grave had been dug, he had been prepared for inter- ment, and even the appropriate passage of Scripture selected for the burial services. The men in whose care he had been placed, and the assiduons attentions of a skilled physician had done for the boy all that a brotherly kindness could suggest; but in a few ininutes after his mother arrived she had him resting on a softer bed of dried grass; and in the goodness of their hearts his at- tendants remarked, "We thought we were doing the best we could for him; but we now see we might have done more and better," to which Mrs. Shanks replied, in expression of her gratitude, "Before my God I thank you for what you have done; and I only wonder that men could in this place do so well for him; but you must not wonder that a mother thinks of all these things." For six days she watched at the bedside of her son, with the care and attention known only to mothers; but the rapidly falling snows warned them of approaching danger; for if the snow should drift into the gorges all traces of a safe passage out of the distant wilderness would be obliteraeted. Accordingly the men con- structed a kind of platform, consisting of two poles with cross-pieces laslied together with raw-hides, and a weaving of lariats over these, and on this, accompanied with a blanket, was laid the alınost lifeless form of the sick boy, who was thns transported, with a mule between the front ends of the poles and a man at the hinder ends, over the rough and tortuous route by which they had come. During this tedious nine days' trip, on many occasions, if Mrs. Shanks' horse had slipped
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or made a mis-step, she would have fallen from 100 to 1,000 feet! At one time a pack mule fell and rolled down the mountain side a long distance, cansing delay and much labor to set him to rights. Every night hot stones had to be applied to the invalid every half hour. At one time a messenger had to go a distance of seventy-five miles for medicines and supplies. The descent of the Elk Range was as difficult and dangerous as the ascent had been. Mrs. Shanks' pony fell, throwing her among rocks, the fall bruising her severe- ly, and breaking one of the bottles of venison tea which she carried for her son. Her pre- caution, however, had led her to provide two, in anticipation of some such accident. In nine days from camp they reached Twin Lakes, where they ascertained that the miners were prepared with snow-shoes and were watching the mountain pass on the main range, intending, if it whitened with snow, to proceed at once to rescue, if possible, Gen- eral Shanks and all his party. What a human being could suffer more than the boy did and live, would be difficult to imagine; and the heroism exhibited by liis mother is equal to anything we read of in history. The par- ents did not reach home with their son for more than three monthis from the time they set out for his rescue; but his final recovery rewarded the successful efforts in his behalf by a devoted mother. The son is now of sound constitution and prosecuting a lucrative business. In an attempt to save the life of her son's wife, Mrs. Shanks returned with them to the same wild mountains of the Holy Cross, where she found and saved her son. Spending the winter there, she built a house in the mountains near Red Cliff, Colorado, on Eagle River, and remained until hope failed, when she returned with her charge to this State and then took her to Florida, where, in spite of all care and effort,
she died of pulmonary consumption. Re- turning home she was herself attacked with that most fatal of all diseases, internal cancer, of which she died, August 22, 1885, amidst her friends and family. As the press truly said of her, she was one of the best informed, widely known and respected women of the State of Indiana. On the 31st day of Au- gust, 1886, General Shanks was married to his third and present wife, nee Magdalene Oswalt, the danghter of Lonis Oswalt, late of Portland. She is a lady of excellent judgment, and zealously devoted to the inter- ests of her husband, having deliberately un- dertaken to aid him in the restoration of his fortunes, which liave been much shattered by his great liberality.
OBERT CONSTABLE, farmer, section 26, Madison Township, was born in Miami County, Ohio, January 3, 1836. When two years of age he came to Randolph County, Indiana, with his parents, living there until 1855, then came to Madison Township. August 19, 1855, he was married to Margaret J. Woten, and located perma- nently in that township. March 23, 1864, he enlisted in the Seventy-nintlı Indiana In- fantry, rendezvousing at Indianapolis. He was taken sick there and never assigned to any company. He was mustered out May 11, 1865, and returned to his home, and has never seen a well day since. His father, James C. Constable, was born in Clinton County, Virginia, December 20, 1811, and died November 8, 1878, in Randolph County, this State. The mother, Nancy N. (Lindley) Constable, was born in Miami County, Ohio, June 19, 1813, and died December 28, 1879, in Randolph County. They were married July 10, 1831, in Miami County, and were
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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.
the parents of nine children-John, born Janu- ary 26, 1833, was a member of the Fortieth Ohio Infantry, and died in hospital on Big Sandy River, Kentucky; Robert, subject of this sketch; Lydia A., born September 17, 1838; Susannah, born February 27, 1841; Demas L., born Angust 2, 1843; Mary E., born Oc- tober 9, 1845, died December 25, 1857; Charles R., born September 20, 1848; Eliza- beth M., born July 19, 1851, died September 4, 1853; Melissa A., born August 24, 1854; Nancy L., born November 24, 1857, died February 28, 1875. Mrs. Constable is a daughter of Hugh and Jincy (Eblon) Woten, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this vol- nme. Mr. and Mrs. Constable have had seven children-James H., born May 26, 1856, died May 26, 1859; John W., born August 13, 1858; Harlin P., born June 2, 1859; Jincy E., born October 10, 1861; George M., born November 8, 1864; Charles A., born September 14, 1872, died February 14, 1874. Both are members of the Cliris- tian church at Pleasant Hill. Mr. Constable's grandfather, Robert Constable, was born in Ireland and came to America when a young inan, first locating in Pennsylvania. He then removed to Clinton County, Ohio, thence to Miami County, where he was killed by being thrown from a wagon. The horses became frightened at a flash of light- ning and ran away, resulting in the death of Mr. Constable. His grandmother, Mary (Collins) Constable, was of Irish descent; was married in 1804, and died in Grant County, Indiana. His maternal grandfather, Demas Lindley, was born in Ireland, came to America, and located in Miami County. He was engaged in the Indian war at Fort Re- covery, under General Wayne, and was at the camp at Greenville, Ohio, when St. Clair was attacked at that Fort. His maternal grand- mother, Susannah (Simmons) Lindley, died
in Randolph County, this State, in 1857, aged ninety years. Mr. Constable was very fond of hunting and was very successful. In politics he was a Democrat.
ILLIAM McNIER, one of the enter- prising and prosperons farmers of Wayne Township, residing on section 35, is a native of Ohio, born in Union County, July 1, 1843, a son of John and Eliza (Hawn) McNier. John McNier was twice married and was the father of ten children, two by his first marriage, and eight by his second. He was a farmer by occupation, to which pursuit our subject was reared, his youth being spent in assisting with the work of the farm, and in attending the district schools, where he received a fair education. He enlisted in the war of the Rebellion An- gust 19, 1862, and was assigned to Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Infan- try. He took an active part in the battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Nashville. He received a wound in the chest at the battle of Perryville, and while scaling the breastwork at Nashville he was wounded in the left knee. Ile was taken prisoner at Campbellsville, Kentucky, bnt was paroled and allowed to return to his regiment. He was again captured at Chicka- manga, but escaped from the rebels and re- joined his regiment. He was in the engage- ment at Smithville near Rolla, from which place he moved with his regiment to Rich- mond, thence to Washington, D. C., where lie participated in the grand review of Sher- man's army. He was honorably discharged Jnne 15, 1865, when he returned to his home in Ohio. He was married July 29, 1868, to Miss Rachel Elizabeth Ridgeway, of Union County, Ohio, a danghter of Basil and Lo-
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vina (Haun) Ridgeway. Mrs. McNier died August 21, 1875, leaving at her death four children-Ida Ann, Etta May, Clara Cath- erine and Rachel Elizabeth. Mr. McNier was married a second time February 18, 1876, to Miss Mary Mast, a daughter of George and Mary (Mntler) Mast, and to this union have been born three children - Emma, Georgia and William Kidd. Mr. McNier is now the owner of a fine farm of 1222 acres of choice land where he resides, a substantial residence, and good barn, and other farm buildings, the entire surroundings of his place showing him to be a thorough, practical farmer. He is a man of public spirit, and in every enterprise for the advancement of his township or county he takes an active in- terest.
ILLIAM R. HICKMAN, a success- ful farmer and stock-raiser of Rich- land Township, is a native of Ohio, born in Greene County, May 2, 1842. When he was thirteen years old his parents, Laban and Catherine (Price) Hickman, came with their family to Jay County, Indiana. His father being a farmer, he was reared to the same avocation, remaining on the home farm with his parents until his marriage. He was married November 27, 1862, to Miss Eliza- beth E. Campbell, a native of Randolph County, Indiana, her parents, John and Re- becca (Gibson) Campbell, coming from Greene County, Ohio, to Randolph County, among the early settlers, where they made their home until their death. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hickman, of whom only three are living-Emma, wife of James A. Strong, of Delaware County; Franklin Leroy, and Susie B. Albert, Ketu- rah Myrtle, and two infants unnamed are de-
ceased. After his marriage Mr. Hickman commenced farming on a part of his present homestead, the only improvements then be- ing a log cabin and small log stable, bothı of which are still standing on the farm. He purchased this land in 1868, at that time consisting of 100 acres, of which he had cleared about twenty-five acres. He now has abont seventy acres cleared and well improved, all being well drained, and the pioneer cabin has been abandoned for a more commodious residence built in 1878, which is tastefully set off with beautiful shade trees. Ilis large, substantial barn was erected in 1874, and his other out-buildings are correspondingly good. Politically Mr. Hickman affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order, and at present is inside guardian of Fairview Lodge, No. 134. He is also a member of Richland Grange, No, 316, P. of H., and is master of the grange. Mr. Hickman is an active and public spirited citizen, and is always interested in any enter- prise for the advancement of his township or county. Both he and his wife are mnem- bers of the Sugar Grove Congregation Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and he is superintend- ent of the Sabbath-school. He is a member of the Muncie District, Northern Indiana Conference.
R. JACOB BOSWORTH, one of the prominent pioneers of Jay County, who is now deceased, was born in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, in 1791, and was of New England ancestry, two brothers of the name of Bosworth having come from England in the early history of the colonies, from whom all of the name have descended. When a young man Doctor Bosworth came West, locating first at Marietta, Ohio, and from
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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.
there went to Gallipolis. He followed teach- ing both before and after coming West, and for a time was a teacher in Winchester Col- lege, Massachusetts. He was married in Gallia County, Ohio, to Miss Nancy West- lake, who was born in Virginia, of English descent. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom grew to maturity. Four sons and three daughters still survive- Augustus, residing on land which he entered on section 22, Wayne Township; Dr. Richard, living in Winchester, Randolph County, is a graduate of the medical department of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, and was Surgeon of the Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry in the war of the Rebellion; Thomas, a member of the law firm of Bosworth, Mark- land & Snyder; Jacob, a physician of Cam- den, Jay County; Elizabeth, wife of Lewis J. Bell, of Pike Township; Ann, wife of Jolın Miller, living on the old homestead of her father; Mary, wife of George Turner, of Randolph County. Joseph died in Ohio in early infancy; Leander died in Ohio, aged eleven years. Hannah died aged seven years, in the spring of 1837, her coffin being made from the boards of a box in which the first goods were brought to Portland. Sarah married Joseph C. Hawkins, and died in Wayne Township, and Nancy B. was the wife of J. W. Headington, and died in Wayne Township. Doctor Bosworth was prominently identified with the early history of Gallia County. He followed the teacher's profession in that county for a considerable time, and during his career as a teacher he devoted his leisure time to the practice of medicine, which he adopted as a profession, and prac- ticed medicine until late in life. He came to Jay County, Indiana, with his family in May, 1836, locating on section 33, Wayne Township, where he had entered land earlier in that year, and in connection with clearing
his heavily timbered land he answered to the calls of the suffering, and far and near the name of Doctor Bosworth became a house- hold word. He made his home in Wayne Township until his death, which occurred January 8, 1866. He was quiet in liis man- ner and benevolent in his character, and always foremost in any enterprise which had for its object the advancement of his town- ship or county, or public good. He ever maintained an interest in the cause of educa- tion, and in 1837, with the assistance of a few of his neighbors, erected a log school- house on his land, and here he and his wife, without compensation, alternately taught the children of the early settlers. This was the first school-liouse erected in Wayne Town- ship, which was used until a public school building was erected.
ILLIAM W. HARTLEY, section 36, Penn Township, is a native of Mont- gomery County, Ohio, born January 8, 1832, a son of Samuel and Deborah (Bor- den) Hartley. His father was a native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, born in 1808, a son of Thomas Hartley, who was of Irish parentage, and who moved to Ohio in 1816. His mother was born in New Jersey, and was a daughter of Anthony Borden, who moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, about 1816, where she was reared and married. Samuel Hartley was by trade a blacksmith, at which he worked in Ohio until the fall of 1848, when he moved to Jay County, Indiana, and lived in Portland one year. He then settled on a tract of land in Penn Township, where he followed farming in connection with working at his trade, until 1856, when he removed to Minnesota, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1877. His wife died in
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Lansing, Mower County, Minnesota, in 1874. He was in politics first a Whig, and then a Republican. He and his wife were members of the Metliodist Episcopal church. They reared a family of eight children, seven of whom are living. William W. Hartley was given a good education, and when not in school assisted his father in the shop. He was sixteen years old when he came to Jay County, and a few years later he began to learn the wagon-maker's trade, at which he worked as an apprentice six years. His first land purchase was eighty acres on section 30, Jackson Township, which he improved and made his home ten years. He then exchanged it for land in section 31, on which he lived two weeks, and tlien by another exchange be- came the owner of his present homestead, which contains eighty acres of valuable land, now all under cultivation, althoughi at the time he bought it it was but partially im- proved. Mr. Hartley was married June 11, 1857, to Mary J. Grisell, a daughter of Samnel Grisell. She died December 14, 1859, and October 9, 1862, he married Mary W. Griffith, a native of Warren County, Ohio, daughter of Lukens and Elizabeth (Wharton) Griffitli, who settled in Jay County in 1848. To Mr. and Mrs. Hartley have been born four children-Walter L., Edwin Charles, Frank L. and Roy Griffith. Mr. Hartley is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, Pennville Lodge, No. 245. In politics he is a Republican. Mrs. Hartley is a member of the Society of Friends.
UGH WOTEN, an early settler of Madi- son Township, resides on section 27, where he owns 160 acres of well im- proved land. He came to this county October 9, 1833, with his parents and one brother,
Jonathan, who died in Maliaska County, Iowa. At this time Jay County was a part of Randolph County. The family located on section 2, in the wilderness of Madison Town- ship, where the father had entered 160 acres of land. He cut away the brush to build his cabin. They had only one near neighbor, James Stone, living on section 11; Abraham Lotz also lived within a reasonable distance. The family lived here two years, when Huglı and Jonathan were both married, December 31, 1835, Huglı marrying Miss Elizabeth Goldsmith. He went to keeping house in a log cabin he built in the woods on Congress land, where his wife died one year later, leaving a babe, Benjamin, who was born De- cember 1, 1836, and died August 12, 1879. He was a minister of the Disciple church, an earnest, devoted advocate of the gospel; he died in Madison Township, leaving a wife and five children. He was buried in Salamo- nia beside his mother. April 19, 1838, Mr. Woten married Jincy Eblen, who was born in Gallia County, Ohio, November 24, 1821, and when ten years of age came to Madison Township with her parents, who settled on section 14, on the farm now owned by Ira Shaffer. The father entered the land in 1833, the second year after he came to the county. He raised stock, principally horses, to obtain money to pay for his land. At one time lie owned 400 acres of land, all having been entered from the Government except eighty acres which he bought of Isaac Beardslire. He afterward sold and went to Missouri. When he came liere his nearest neighbors were James Stone, Peter Studebaker, and William McDole; the last two lived on the Wabash River where Fort Recovery now stands. The first sermon that was preached this side of Greenville was at Fort Recovery, on Christmas day, 1831. They fired a cannon that the boys dng up from the old Fort. The
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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.
preacher was father Crozot, who afterward built a flourishing church, the first in Preble County. Mrs. Woten, the first wife, was a daughter of Benjamin and Nancy (Sellers) Goldsmith. The second wife was a daughter of John and Margaret (Rife) Eblen, who were born in Greenbrier County, Virginia. The father died November, 8, 1863, aged seventy years, two months and six days, and the mother died Angust 7, 1874, aged seventy-six years, eleven months and fifteen days. Both died in Mahaska County, Iowa. They were the parents of eight children-Jesse, Isaac, Joseplı, John, who died at the age of five years, Esther, wife of Mr. Woten, Cynthia and Nancy. Mr. Woten's father, Bell Woten, died May 17, 1856, aged ninety-one years. The mother, Jane (Gilliland) Woten, died April 24, 1864, aged eighty-seven years. They were the parents of fourteen children-Sam- uel, Elizabetlı, Sarah, Anna, Nathan, Mary, Susan, Jane, John, Cynthia, Jonathan, Hugh and Eleanor. Mr. and Mrs. Woten have one child-Margaret Jane, who was born Septem- ber 21, 1839, and is the wife of Robert Con- stable, whom she married August 19, 1855, and lives near her parents. Mr. Woten joined the Christian Conference in 1861, was ordained minister in 1878, and is now a local preacher in the East Indiana Conference. His education was limited to the early subscrip- tion schools. Mr. and Mrs. Woten are the oldest settlers of Madison Township that are now living.
SAAC THORNBURG, one of the pros- perous farmers of Jefferson Township, residing on section 32, is a native of In- diana. born in Washington Township, Wayne Connty, January 14, 1826. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Nordike) Thornburg, were
natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, re- spectively, coming to Wayne County, Indi- ana, with their parents who were among the pioneer settlers. They were married in Wayne County, and to them were born three children-Mrs. Rachel Doherty, now residing in Boone County, Indiana; Isaac, the subject of this sketch, and George, living in Randolph County. When Isaac was thirteen years old his father died, and his mother subsequently married William Hindman, and to this union was born one son-Wesley, who is still liv- ing in Wayne County. Mr. Hindman died abont a year after his marriage. The mother of our subject survived until April 18, 1887, dying at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Her last years were made comfortable by the care of lier two sons, Isaac and George. Isaac Thornburg remained with his mother until reaching manhood, his earnings during his youth going toward the support of the family. He was united in marriage Decem- ber 4, 1844, to Miss Eliza Jane Hatfield, a daughter of Jonas and Tabitha (Veal) Hat- field, early settlers of Wayne Connty, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Thornburg are the parents of six children, all of whom are mar- ried and well settled in life. They are as follows-Adeline Tully, of Jefferson Town- ship; Adolphus, of Richland Township; Jonas, of Greene Township, Randolph County; John, living on part of his father's farm; Eugene, of Delaware County, Indiana; Mrs. Tabitha Flesher, of Jefferson Township. Mr. and Mrs. Thorn burg commenced housekeeping on rented land in Wayne County. In 1855 they came with their family to Jay County, bnying an eighty acre tract, which they lived on four or five years. Mr. Thornburg then bought 160 acres of his present homestead, adding forty acres to his original purchase in 1886. His home farm now contains 200 acres, 160 acres being well improved and
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under fine cultivation, with good farm build- ings, the above having been acquired by patient industry and persevering energy, Mr. Thornburg having commenced life a poor boy. Politically he is a Democrat, casting his first vote for General Cass in 1848. He and his wife and four of their children are members of the United Brethren church.
ILLIAM PENN GITTINGER, farmer, section 33, Madison Town- ship, was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, March 13, 1831, son of Jacob and Mary (Deal) Gittinger, natives of the same county. They removed to Randolph County, this State, where the fatlier entered 100 acres of land. Both parents died on the farm that was first entered, the mother dying'in 1861, aged sixty-eight years, and the father in 1865. His grandfather, Jacob Gittinger, and his wife, were born in Germany. William was married September 6, 1855, to Miss Mary Catherine Berkheimer, born in Muskingum County, Ohio, September 12, 1834. She came to Jay County, when seven years of age, where she was reared and married. Her father, Isaac Berkheimer, was born in Virginia, and died in this county in 1881, aged seventy- one years. The mother, Margaret (Conaway) Berkheimer, was born in Muskingum County, and her death occurred before that of her husband; both are buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Her grandfather and grandmother, Berkheimer, were born in Virginia and died in that State. Her maternal grandparents, Samuel and Mary (Moore) Conaway, were born in Ireland, immigrated to America and located in Muskingum County, where they passed the remainder of their days. Her grandmother, Conaway, was twice married, her second husband being James Maloy. She 36
had five children by each marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Gittinger have had eight children- Isaac and Mary M. (twins), died at the age of seven years; Louisa; Malinda J., Arminda and Milda (twins), Benjamin F. and Dora. Mr. Gittinger is a Democrat in politics, and both are members of the Christian church. The children of Mr. Gittinger's parents were -John, who died on the old homestead at the age of seventy-one years ; Jesse (deceased), Harriet and Elizabeth (deceased), Jacob, Paul (deceased), Daniel, Henry, Maria (deceased), Benjamin F., Willianı P., and Nimrod (deceased). Their parents lived to see eleven of these children married and settled in life. Mrs. Gittinger's parents had seven children John, Mary C., who died in infancy, Will- iam Franklin, Isaac H. (deceased), Melinda J. and Henry L. (deceased), Minus W.
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