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 70

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 70
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 70

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years old he settled in Logan County, Ohio. The mother of Mrs. Grisell was born in Champaign County, Ohio, a daughter of Solomon Lnpton. She died November 7, 1836. Mr. Starbuck was again married to Miss Rebecca Lupton, a sister of his first wife, and to this union were born four chil- dren, three still living-James A., John M. and Joseph A. By his first marriage Mr. Starbuck had three children, of whom two still survive-Rachel Ann, now Mrs. Grisell, and Grace P., wife of Joad Somers. Mr. Starbuck died in March, 1844. The same year Mrs. Grisell and her sister were taken to Jay Connty by their maternal grandparents, remaining with them until their death, grand- mother Lupton dying in 1846, and her hus- band in 1848. After their death the sisters made their home with an uncle until their marriage.

LBERT BURRIS, a worthy pioneer of Bear Creek Township, was born on the farm where he now resides, October 8, 1844, the youngest of sixteen children of John Burris. His yonth was spent at farm work and in attending the pioneer schools of Jay County. During the great Rebellion he was one to go forth in defense of his conn- try's flag. He enlisted July 22, 1862, in Company F, Seventy-fifth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles of Chicka- manga, Atlanta, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Ringgold, Snake Creek Gap, Buzzard's Roost, Stone River, Allatoona Pass, Jonesboro, and Smithfield, North Car- olina. In all of these engagements he never received a wound, but his health was greatly impaired by chronic disease, from which he has never recovered. He was honorably dis- charged June 16, 1865, and returned to his

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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.

home in Jay County. He was married No- vember 26, 1867, to Miss Mary Melissa Strain, of this county, danghter of Alexander and Elizabeth Strain, of Bear Creek Town- ship, and to this union were born five chil- dren, only two of whom are living-Albert Perry and Miles Allen. Alfred, Alexander and Win are deceased. Mrs. Burris died March 15, 1887, lamented by all who knew lier. She was a consistent Christian, a de- voted wife and an affectionate mother. Mr. Burris is a Republican in politics, and has served in several township offices in a credit- able manner. His farm contains 120 acres of improved land, in a good state of cultiva- tion. He has a comfortable residence, and good farm buildings. He is a member of the United Brethren church, and assistant class-leader of the same. He belongs to the John P. Porter Post, No. 83, G. A. R., at Geneva.

TIPTON, senior member of the firmn of D. Tipton & Sons, wagon and car- 0 riage manufacturers, southwest corner of Commerce and Walnut streets, Portland, was born in Marion County, Ohio, in 1841, son of Elisha and Cynthia (Stahl) Tipton, who were natives of the same State. Tlie mother died in 1844, and the father in 1849, leaving our subject an orphan at an early age. When fourteen years old he began learning the blacksmith's trade, which he afterward followed, principally in the town of Delaware, Ohio. He was united in mar- riage in 1860 to Miss Hannah Haire, a daughter of John Haire, of Delaware, Ohio. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tipton-Williamn, Charles, Jolin, Mary, Flora (died in 1876, aged seven years), Lil- lie, Daisy and Alice. Mr. Tipton enlisted in the cause for the Union in October, 1861, in

Company F, Sixty-third Ohio Infantry, com- manded by Colonel Thomas S. Sprague, of Cleveland, and participated in the battles of New Madrid, Island No. 10, Corinth, Missis- sippi, Iuka, besides other battles and skir- mishes. After leaving the army he engaged in business in Fayette County, Illinois, where misfortune swept away what little capital he had. He then returned to Delaware, Ohio, where he followed blacksmithing until 1879. In that year he came to Portland, Jay Coun- ty, Indiana, and opened a blacksmitlı shop, beginning here without capital, and by per- severing industry and strict economy, he has. been enabled to extend the capacity of liis shops, and enlarge his business, so that witlı the aid of his three sons he is now conducting the largest carriage manufactory in Jay County. The latter feature lie added to his blacksmithing in 1882, and the shops now cover a lot 40 x 132 feet. In 1885 Mr. Tipton admitted his three sons, William, Charles and John, as partners into the business, wlien the firm became known as D. Tipton & Sons. Mr. and Mrs. Tipton in their religious faith are Lutherans, and Mr. Tipton has served his church as trustee. He has been a member of the council of Portland for three years, and in every enterprise for the advancement of his town or county he takes an active in- terest.

ATTHIAS SPAHR, one of the early settlers of Jay County, was born in Hardy County, West Virginia, Au- gust 22, 1821. His parents, Edward and Elizabeth (Seitz) Spahr, were born in Virginia, of German descent, and were reared and mar- ried in their native State. In the spring of 1822 they removed to Greene County, Olio, where they made their home until their death.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Matthias Spahr, our subject, grew to manhood in Greene County, where he was reared to agricultural pursuits, his father having been a farmer by occupation. At the age of eighteen years he engaged in the manufacture of brick, to which he devoted his time until his marriage in May, 1845, to Miss Elizabeth Cooper. She was a native of the State of Virginia, born in Hardy County. Mr. Spahr liad come to Jay County, Indiana, in 1839, and entered ninety-six acres of land in Greene Township. In 1840 he and his brother came again to Jay County, and deadened some of the timber on his land. In November, 1845 he brought his wife from Greene County to his pioneer home in Greene Township, set- tling in a small log cabin which had been built on his land in the winter of 1839-'40. Game was then in abundance, such as turkey and deer and bears; wild-cats and catamounts were still in the neighborhood. Mr. Spahr was quite a hunter, and in the first years of his settlement in the county killed no less than 300 deer, beside clearing his land from the timber. After coming to Jay County he followed farming, although occasionally worked at masonry and carpentering. After clearing his land in Greene Township, he traded it for a farm near New Mount Pleasant, where he has seventy-six acres of land, all but fifteen acres being cleared and under cul- tivation. Mr. Spahr was bereaved by the death of his wife, May 6, 1876. She was the mother of eleven children, of whom only six are living-John, served as a soldier during the last year of the war of the Rebellion; Mary, wife of Andrew McCartney, lives near Des Moines, Iowa; Melinda, wife of Henry Ullom, lives on the old Spalır homestead; Ella, wife of Henry Horner, living near New Mount Pleasant; William, living in Gage County, Nebraska, and Julia, wife of George Gaunt, a merchant of Redkey, Indiana.

Those deceased are-Henry, who died in the army; Parthena, wife of John Saunders; Jennie, wife of John Pierce; Christy Ann, and Emily. Mr. Spahr was married a second time December 9, 1881, to Mrs. Caroline Virginia (Cromwell) Andrew, a native of Washington County, Maryland, and daughter of Richard and Susan (McLaughlin) Cromwell, who were also natives of Maryland. Her father died in Maryland in 1824, and about 1828 his widow, with her family, removed to Greene County, Ohio, where she died. On coming to Ohio she had bought a farm three and a half miles southwest of Xenia, whichi she afterward sold, and bought a farm two and a half miles northwest of Xenia, where her deathı occurred in 1872. Mrs. Spahr was first married in Greene County, June 20, 1844, to Robert A. Andrew, who was born in Greene County, Ohio, of English descent, and to this union were born three children- Susan Comfort married Jacob Dougherty, and died in 1869; Joseph C., residing at Red- key, and Henry A. In the spring of 1846 Mr. Andrew removed with his wife to a tract of eighty acres which he owned, near the present site of Redkey, in Jay County. This land was right in the woods, and no improve- ments had been made in the place except a small log cabin built, into which they re- moved. This served the family for a home until 1860, when a handsome and commodi- ous residence was erected. Mr. Andrew was a successful farmer, and during his life accu- mulated 200 acres of land, and made many improvements. He died February 8, 1875. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church before coming to Jay County, after which he united with the Methodist church, and died in that faith. He was a class-leader in the Methodist church a number of years. In his political views he was a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Spahr are worthy members of

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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.

the Methodist Episcopal church at Redkey. In politics Mr. Spalir was formerly an old line Whig, like his father, and now affiliates with the Republican party. He remembers the time when religious meetings were held in his father's house, and for thirty years he has been steward or class-leader in the church in which he was reared.

IMOTHY EHRHART, farmer, section 6, Madison Township, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, January 24, 1825, son of David and Catherine (Ruperd) Ehrhart. His father was born in Pennsyl- vania, February 24, 1785, locating in Colum- biana County when a young man, where he was married. Timothy was reared at his birthplace and came to this county with his parents in 1853, settling on his present farnı. His mother was born March 9, 1785, and died August 18, 1848. His parents had ten children-George, born March 20, 1808, now lives in Seneca County, Ohio; Rebecca, born January 2, 1810; Rachel, born October 28, 1811; Philip, born July 28, 1813; Isaac, born October 19, 1815, died in 1835; William, born May 17, 1818; David, born July 13, 1820; James, born October 7, 1822, died in 1883; Timothy, our subject, and Catherine, born July 22, 1827. Timothy was married January 24, 1846, to Miss Mary P. Finch, born in Columbiana County, Ohio, April 5, 1827, where she was reared and married. Her parents were Adam and Susan (Ather- holdt) Finch. Her father was born in Mary- land and died in 1832, at an advanced age. The mother was born in Columbiana County, and died near Ravenna, Ohio, about 1870. They had fifteen children, nine of whom grew to maturity-Caroline E., Elizabeth, Mary P., Sarah A., Thomas J., Henry M., 1867 he commenced his practice at Fairview,

William Robinson, John and Isaac A. Mr. and Mrs. Ehrhart have had nine children, five of whom are living-Elizabeth A., born July 23, 1846, died in 1875; Susan M., born March 13, 1848; John T., born July 13, 1850; Mary C., born August 15, 1852, died in 1877; Rebecca J., born October 2, 1834; Timothy M., born June 1, 1857; Amanda E., born May 5, 1860; Ida Viola, born July 18, 1865, died at the age of three years; an infant, unnamed, died at the age of two inonthis. Mr. Ehrhart's paternal grandparents died in Pennsylvania; the latter was born in Ger- Inany. Ilis maternal grandparents were born in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Ehrhart's grand- mother, Alice Finch, died in Columbiana County, in 1870; her grandfather Ehrhart died before she was born. Her maternal grandparents, Henry and Betsey Atherholdt, were born in Pennsylvania, and died in Columbiana County, Ohio. .

AMUEL E. MUNSEY, M. D., of Mount Pleasant, Indiana, was born in Russell County, West Virginia, September 9, 1843, a son of Skidmore and Rebecca (Ewing) Munsey, natives of Virginia, the former born in Giles County and the latter in Washington County. In 1853 the family moved to Delaware County, Indiana, and settled in Hamilton Township, and there onr subject was reared, his youth being spent in assisting his father on the farm. He early chose the profession of medicine as his lifework, and in 1862 went to Muncie and began his studies. under the preceptorship of Dr. H. C. Winans. In 1866 and 1867 he attended lectures at the medical department of the Michigan State University, Ann Arbor, from which he grad- uated in the spring of the latter year. In

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Randolph County, and August 3, 1868, located at Mount Pleasant, where he has since lived with the exception of a temporary absence in 1875 and 1876. He has devoted his time to his profession, which he has made successful, and is now one of the first physi- cians of the county. Dr. Munsey was married December 24, 1867, to Martha J. Smith, a native of Marion County, Indiana, daughter of William Smith. She died July 3, 1876, leaving one child-Estella R. November 30, 1882, Dr. Munsey married Mrs. Ellen (Brown) Collett, widow of M. L. Collett, and daughter of Charles and Melissa Brown, residents of Jefferson Township. Mrs. Munsey has two children by her former marriage-Dora R. and Carrie I. In politics Dr. Munsey is a Democrat. Since the first of December, 1885, his parents have made his house their home. His father is now in the eighty-sixth year of his age, and is blind, and his mother is in her sixty-eighth year.

ENRY HUCKERIEDE, proprietor of the Briant Tile Works, was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, December 13, 1853, son of Henry W. and Anna (Schmidt) Huckeriede. He resided in his native county until 1882, and May 24 of that year he was married to Miss Alvena Roettger, a native of the same county, and daughter of William and Charlotta (Coach) Roettger. They have one child, born June 17, 1886. Mr. Hucker- iede owns the house where he resides, and it is comfortably furnished. Both are worthy members of the Reform church, and Mr. Huckeriede is one of the leading business men of Briant. The Briant Tile Works were established in May, 1882, by the present proprietor, and it is one of the leading indus- tries of Briant. The drying shed is 18 x 166

feet; the furnace 14 x 16 feet, in a building 22 x 40 feet. The amount of tile manufac- tured is 9,000 or 10,000 per annum. The sales amount to $2,500 a year. Three to five men are employed during the busy season. The amount of wood consumed is 200 cords a year. The tile here manufactured is of the best quality, and is second to none in the State. The proprietor is a man of strict in- tegrity, and a good business man.

AMUEL HALL, one of the old and honored pioneers of Jay County, Indi- ana, who is now deceased, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, June 15, 1806. IIe grew to manhood in his native county, where he was first married to Miss Matilda Hunter, who was born near Jefferson, Ohio, leaving at her death two children named Amanda and John. ' Mr. Hall was a second time mar- ried August 27, 1837, to Miss Mary B. Shepherd, who was born June 3, 1810. In the fall of 1837 Mr. Hall immigrated with his family to Jay County, Indiana, and set- tled on land in Wabash Township, which had been entered from the Government by Peter Studabaker, the father of Judge Studabaker, of Decatur, Indiana. On this land Mr. Hall made his home until his death, a period of forty-six years, his death occurring December 30, 1883. His wife also died on the old homestead, September 28, 1876. Both are buried near New Corydon, Indiana.

ROF. GEORGE SUMAN, principal of the Eastern Indiana Normal School, Portland, is a native of Maryland, the date of his birth being March 17, 1853. His parents, George and Susan (Longman)

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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.

Snman, were natives of the same State, and subsequently became residents of Ohio, set- tling at Rose Hill, Darke County, when their son was an infant. As the latter approached manhood he followed farming and coopering, and in his youth received as good an educa- tion as could be obtained in the common schools of his neighborhood. Thirsting for more knowledge lie, at the age of twenty-one years, entered the Otterbein University at Westerville, Ohio, and for a time alternated his studies there with teaching school. In 1879 he entered Valparaiso Normal School where he completed the scientific, classical and civil engineering courses in an incredibly short time, as lie not only learned readily, but being so assiduons lie allowed himself but five hours sleep in each twenty-four hours. In the early part of 1882 lie came to Portland, Indiana, and said to the people of Jay County: " With your assistance we will found a school in Portland which some day you will feel a pride to own," and although many were skeptical and treated the propo- sition with indifference, some were alive to the enterprise, and within a year the Eastern Indiana Normal School was established. Since his twenty-first year Professor Suman has taken an active interest in the cause of education, and since that time has been en- gaged in educational work either as a pupil or teacher, and is now ranked among the popular educators of Indiana.

ANIEL KELLY, farmer, resides on section 5, Wabash Township, where he owns 338 acres of land, most of which is improved. He was born in Carroll County, Ohio, February 26, 1827, and in the fall of 1849 came to Wabash Township, locating on a piece of land on section 7, which he still

owns. He commenced keeping house in log cabin which he built after his arrival. At the time of building he was not able to pur- chase windows, but succeeded in getting them before winter set in. He and his wife lived in this cabin seventeen years. He then built a hewed-log house, lathed and plastered it, and also weather-boarded it. That house is still standing, and is occupied by one of his married sons. In 1882 he removed to Jay City, and December 19, 1885, his house was burned to the ground. The loss was $1,400, there being no insurance. In the summer of 1886 he built a new house on the same ground. Mr. Kelly is a son of Jonathan and Sarah (Kerrigan) Kelly, natives of Pennsylvania. They were married in that State and soon after removed to Carroll County, Ohio, where they lived until their removal to Jefferson Township, Adams County, in 1849. The mother was born in 1795 and died in August, 1853. The father was born in 1795 and died in September, 1861. He was a member of the State Legis- lature in 1859-'60, and also served as com- missioner of Adams County. Daniel Kelly was married March 11, 1852, to Miss Rosy A. Snyder, who was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, March 17, 1830, and when she was fourteen years old, moved with her parents to Champaign County, Ohio. They lived there until she was eighteen years old, when she came with her parents to New Corydon, where the family located. Mrs. Kelly's parents were Jesse and Mary (Hoff- man) Snyder, both of whom were born in 1794 in Culpeper County, Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have had eight children, two of whom are deceased. The living are- Sarah Emeline, wife of Abram Helmer; Mary Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Bastian; William Marion, Jonathan Augustns, Daniel Arnold, Clement Alonzo, Percy Lamdena, -

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

and Fernando Edson. Mrs. Kelly's grand- father, John Snyder, was born in Wales. Mr. Kelly's grandfather, Daniel Kelly, is sup- posed to have been born in Pennsylvania. The Kellys were of Irish ancestry.

ENJAMIN L. DE WEES, merchant, Balbec, Indiana, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, January 8, 1845, a son of John and Saralı (Street) De Wees, also natives of Ohio, his father a son of Thomas De Wees, who was of French parentage, and his mother a daughter of Benjamin Street. When our subject was eight months old his father died, and two years later his mother died, leaving lim an orphan when less than three years old. Ile found a home in the family of Emery Lewis, with whom he came to Jay County in 1854. He was reared on a farm, and was given good educational advan- tages, completing liis school days at Liber College. In 1857 Mr. Lewis died, and in the spring of 1861 Mrs. Lewis followed her husband to their eternal home, and again our subject was left without a home. He thien lived with Enos Lewis until nineteen years old, when he began to work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a part of two years, and also in the meantime engaged in teaching school, which he continued five win- ters. May 24, 1864, he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and was engaged in guard duty in Kentucky until October 8, 1864, when he was honorably discharged. In September, 1869, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was employed in the non-explosive lamp fac- tory, having charge of the shipping depart- ment a year, when he was sent by the same company to New York, where he remained until June, 1871, when he went to Morgan

County, Ohio. In the fall of 1871 he came to Jay Connty, and the following winter taught school, and subsequently drove a huckster's wagon, and in 1874 he bought a stock of trees and shrubs and has since been engaged in the nursery business, having now the largest stock to be found outside the county seat. He has been the postmaster of Balbec since 1874. Mr. De Wees was mar- ried September 26, 1871, to Elizabeth Scott, daughter of Stanton and Esther (Edmunson) Scott. They have had seven children-Roy E., Ivan K. (deceased), Wendell A., Tina E., Mina A. (deceased), Mark M. and Sarah. Mrs. De Wees is a member of the Society of Friends. In politics Mr. De Wees is a Re- publican.

USTICE G. CROWELL, a prominent farmer and stock-dealer of Jay County, residing on section 29, Wayne Township, has always been a resident of the county, and was born in Wayne Township in the year 1841. His father, James W. Crowell, was one of the pioneers of Jay County, settling liere as early as 1839. He was born in the State of Maine, and when a young man went to Meigs County, Ohio. He was mar- ried in Ohio to a Miss McClure, who died in that State, leaving one son, Charles G., who is now in California. Mr. Crowell sub- sequently married Sarah Greene, the mother of our subject. They brought with them to Jay County three children-Charles G., and two daughters, Louisa M., now the wife of E. R. Sheffield, and Angeline, who married David J. Moore. Both the daughters are now living in Kansas. On coming to Jay County the family settled on a new farm in Wayne Township, which Mr. Crowell improved, and lived on a number of years, when he sold to

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HISTORY OF JAY COUNTY.

George Straly. He tlien settled at Bluff Point, Pike Township, but during the gold excitementin California, he went to the Golden State, remaining there about two years, when lie returned to his family at Bluff Point. His eldest son remained in California. On the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he became a member of the Nineteenth Indiana Infantry, in which he occupied the position of Fife Major. IIe remained in the army about a year, when he was discharged on ac- count of disability. After his return from the army he continued to reside at Bluff Point for a number of years, and engaged in tavern-keeping and farming. He finally re- moved to Kansas, where he still resides. Justice G. Crowell, whose name heads this sketcli, was one of the very first to enter the service of his country from Jay County, en- listing in the three months service April 17, 1861, in Company E, Eighth Indiana Infan- try, and passed this period of his enlistment in West Virginia, taking part in the battle of Rich Mountain and other events. He re- turned in August of the same year, at which time a company was being organized at Port- land, and he at once re-enlisted, and was appointed Orderly Sergeant of his company by virtue of the experience he already had, and in February, 1862, he was promoted to First Lieutenant at Nashville, Tennessee. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, in Buell's command, where he commanded his company, he having command of the company the greater part of his terin of service. The same year he was promoted to Captain at Bridgeport, Alabama. He took part in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga. After the battle of Stone River his regiment was mounted and served as cavalry the rest of the war. He was in the Atlanta campaign, and with Sherman ou his march to the sea, under the command of General Kilpatrick,

and was finally mustered out at the close of the war, August 8, 1865. Since the war he has been engaged in farming, dealing in stock, buying and shipping a large amount of stock each year. Mr. Crowell has been twice mar- ried, taking for his first wife Vianka Winters, a daughter of Obadiah Winters, who was born on the place where Mr. Crowell now lives, which was formerly the Winters homestead. His wife died April 7, 1880. His present wife was formerly Martha La Follett, a daugh- ter of John La Follett. Mr. Crowell has eight children by his first marriage-Winnifred, Clifford (a student at Perdue University), Bertha, Leon, Louisa, Anna, Etliel and Fannie.

ENRY A. ANDREW was born in Rich- land Township, Jay County, Indiana, the date of his birth being September 6, 1852, a son of Robert A. and Caroline (Cromwell) Andrew. The father of our sub- ject was born, reared and married in Greene County, Ohio, the mother being a native of the State of Virginia. They came to Jay County, Indiana, in 1845, and located on the farm now occupied by their son, Henry A. The original purchase consisted of 160 acres of heavily timbered land, and by his persever- ance and industrious habits, combined with good management, he acquired a fine farm property of 200 acres, on which he resided until his deatlı, which occurred about the year 1875. His widow, the mother of our subject, is still living in Richland Township. Henry A. Andrew, whose name heads this sketch, was reared in Richland Township, where he has always lived with the exception of part of the summer of 1881, which he spent in Southern California. He is the owner of forty-five acres of choice land, all of which is cleared

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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