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 79
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 79
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734
HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.
→ THE PRESS. K
HE newspapers of Blackford County have generally been con- ducted by lionest men. It is usually the aim of a local journal to give the truth and nothing but the truth; and whatever errors in the statement of fact occur in such a journal, as well as in a local history like this work, are due either to the incompe- tency of trusted correspond- ents or ambiguous manuscript. General history, like that of the United States, for example, or of any one country, or distant period of time, is received as all true, although it may be nine-tenths false, because it relates to a topic and a time beyond the reach of our criticism; but local newspapers and local histories relate to what their readers person- ally know something about, and if even a
tenth part is wrong it calls forth scathing re- bnke. Indeed, it generally occurs in one's experience that when he sees in print an ac- count of a circumstance with which he is acquainted, he finds it from ten to seventy- five per cent wrong, or at least different from his version of the matter by that amount, while he will proceed to read all other para- graphs, even in the same paper, taking them all as true and faithful, simply because he sees no error in them. Not being acquainted with the facts, he cannot criticise them; and the paragraphs read so smoothly, positively and clearly as to challenge the confidence of even the most incredulous.
In short, suffice it to say, that local his- tories, like this work, and newspapers, are many times more correct than any general or " standard " history can be, because their re- ports of news, and older events too, are more direct, and their accounts are to be read by people " on the spot."
The first paper started in the county, was
THE PRESS.
the Blackford County News, established in 1852, and was published by L. D. Chamness. Mr. Chamness published the paper until 1854, when A. D. Hook took charge of it, and James M. Bromagem had something to do with its publication. In 1857, J. D. Chipman purchased the News office and con- ducted the paper for a short time. In 1858 William and Samuel McCormack brought another printing office here and established the Blackford County Democrat. Mr. Chip- man, the editor of the News, fell into some difficulty about this time, and this fact, to- gethier with the establishment of a rival paper, caused the News to meet with a sud- den death.
In 1861, James W. Ruckman, from Mun- cie, started the Hartford City Union, and the patronage in the county not being suffi- cient to keep up the expenses of two printing offices, the Democrat soon expired.
In 1864, Jolın M. Rnekman purchased the Hartford City Union, and published that paper for seven years.
In 1869, C. F. Jackson set in motion the Hartford City Democrat. Still the county was scarcely strong enough, in its patronage, to support two papers, and in 1871 the Union office was sold to parties from Portland, and to the Democrat was left a clear field. But the very next year Mr. Jackson sold out to Jolın M. Ruckman, who again set the News on foot. The next year after this again, 1873, R. G. Steele and James Williamson started the Hartford City Courier, which had a feeble life of ten months' duration, netting to the proprietors a loss of over $1,200.
Mr. Ruckinan, although appointed post- master in 1880, continued in charge of the News, always a Republican paper, until 1885. On the resignation of his office as postmaster, in April, 1887, he re-opened his
printing office for job work, for which it is well equipped.
JONN .M RUCKMAN, for many years editor of the Hartford City News, and post- master of Hartford City, was born in 1838 in Mercer County, Ohio. His father. Samuel Ruckman, of French descent, was born in Virginia, was a merchant by occupa- tion during his life, and died in 1850, at the age of fifty years. His mother, née Unity Greer, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, and is still living at Springfield, that State. At the age of fourteen years, Mr. Ruckman, the subject of this sketch, entered the print- ing office of the Standard, published by the Snyder Brothers, at Celina, Ohio, and began to familiarize himself with the printer's trade, completing his knowledge of the same at Springfield, Columbus and Cincinnati, that State. In October, 1865, lie came to Hart- ford, City, purchasing the Hartford City Union, which he published until 1870. when he disposed of the Union and spent one year and a half at Chicago, Illinois, and Milwau- kee, Wisconsin. Returning to Hartford City the latter part of 1871, he purchased the Hartford City Democrat of C. F. Jackson, and commenced the publication of the Hart- ford City News, a Republican paper, and continued the publication of the News until January 1, 1885. In February, 1880, he was appointed postmaster, which position he hield, to the satisfaction of the public, until April 2, 1887, more than two years after the Democratic administration had been inaugu- rated. On leaving the postoffice lie reopened his printing office for job work, for which in all its branches he is well prepared. He was married in 1875 to Dinnie B. Thomas, of Bartholomew County, Indiana, and their children are-Orth M. and Eva Kate. Mr. Ruckman has been prominent in the public affairs of the county; in politics is a Repub_
736
HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.
lican; is a member of the order of Masons, Odd Fellows aud Good Templars, and of the Methodist Episcopal church.
HARTFORD CITY TELEGRAM.
This live paper was established in August, 1877, seven-column folio, Democratic, by Charles U. Timmonds. The next year it was enlarged to an eight-column paper, and con- tinued as such by Mr. Timmonds until Marclı 23, 1883, when he sold it to Benjamin A. Van Winkle, and July 1, 1885, he sold to T. S. and S. M. Briscoe, the present pro- prietors. Mr. Van Winkle is now engaged in the furniture trade in Hartford City. In 1881 the office was consumed by fire, when a conflagration swept out the whole corner from the alley south to Washington street. Mr. Timmonds' loss was the entire office.
The Telegram is now published by Samuel M. Briscoe, and edited by his father, Thomas S. Briscoe. Office, east side of public square.
THOMAS S. BRISCOE, editor of the Hartford City Telegram, was born in Kent County, Maryland, October 10, 1828, son of Samuel E. and Margaret Elizabeth (Frisby) Briscoe. His paternal grandfather was a minister of the Protestaut Episcopal church, and his maternal grandfather was a Methodist preacher. His father died September 9, 1871, at the age of sixty-three years, at Galena, Kent County, Maryland, and his mother died at Centerville, Queen Anne County, same State, in August, 1851, at the age of about forty-five or forty-six years. Mr. Briscoe, the subject of this notice, was reared to hard work on the farm; notwitlı- standing he managed to obtain a good educa- tion, study law, and became a member of the bar, November 4, 1852, at Centerville. In 1853 he emigrated to the distant West, set- tling at Lyons, Clinton County, Iowa, where,
and at Clinton, same county, also, he prac- ticed law for ten years. He was mayor of the latter town iu 1862. IIis wife's health failing, he went with her in 1863 to Mis- souri, in hopes of recovering her health; but she died there August 24, 1863. Mr. Bris- coe thereupon returned East, and during 1865-'66 was in the employ of the celebrated S. S. Cox, the New York statesman, in a claim agency office. In 1866 he came to In- diana, settling in Fort Wayne, where he practiced law four years. Next he was engaged by J. C. Bowser to lay the ties from Bluffton to Hartford City, on the present Fort Wayne, Cincinnati & Louisville Rail- road. Since 1871 he has been a resident of Hartford City, where he practiced law until he assumed the editorial chair of the Tele- gram. He was a member of the State Senate in 1878-'82.
Mr. Briscoe was first married April 14, 1854, to Margaret Anna Maclay, of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Maclay. Her grandfather, William Maclay, was a United States Senator. (It is an interesting coinci- dence that the Christian names both of her parents and lier husband's parents were the same). The children by Mr. Briscoe's first marriage were E. F. J. B., born in 1855, and Fannie Mary, both of whom are teaching school in Wilmington, Delaware, and Samuel Maclay Briscoe, subject of the next para- graph. Mr. Briscoe was married a second time, August 24, 1871, to Miss Rachel A. Henley, of Blackford County, Indiana, daugh- ter of John M. Henley, of Wheeling, Dela- ware County, this State. In 1854 Mr. Briscoe was made an Odd Fellow. In religion, he was brought up an Episcopaliau, but abreast with the times, he has long since out-grown the hard shell thus cast about him.
SAMUEL M. BRISCOE, publisher of the
THE PRESS.
Hartford City Telegram, was born April 8, 1863, in Seott County, Iowa, son of the pre- ceding. While a lad he completed the high school course of study at Hartford City in 1881. At the early age of fifteen years he was appointed deputy clerk of the county, which position hie resigned in 1883, on being appointed assistant cashier in the Citizens Bank of this place; and this situation he still holds. He is a charter member of Blackford Lodge, Knights of Pythias, No. 135. Mr. Briscoe is a gentleman of considerable ex- perience for a man of his age; has traveled considerably, especially in the East and South.
11ARTFORD CITY TIMES.
This is a Republican paper of respectable proportions, although young. The first munber was dated December 10, 1885, and the paper is published weekly, and faitlı- fully edited. The editors and proprietors, Messrs. Huffman & Geisler, like their paper, are young but far advanced in journalistic ability, and are men of strietest integrity and highest moral standing. Office on Jefferson Street east side of the publie square.
ELWOOD HUFFMAN Was born in Hartford City, in 1854, and learned the trade of printer in the offices of the Hartford City Courier and Telegram. He also worked for a time in the office of the Muncie Herald then, in 1885, he formed the present partnership, as stated above. IIis father, Philip Huffman, a native of Pennsylvania, was brought when
very young, by his parents to Zanesville, Ohio, and in later years removed to Hartford City, where he died, in 1877. His mother, née Rebecca A. Stahl, was a native of Bed- ford County, Pennsylvania, and is living, in Hartford City,. Being industrious and in- telligent, he is winning for himself a good reputation as a journalist.
FRANK GEISLER was born in Ilagerstown, Wayne County, Indiana, July 31, 1864. ITis father, George Geisler, was a native of . Bavaria, Germany, a shoemaker by trade, came to America at the age of eighteen, and died in Hartford City in 1873, at the age of forty-five years. Mrs. Geisler, née Anne Magdalena Rife, was a native of Wittemburg, Germany, came to this country at the age of sixteen, and is still living. Frank was about seven years of age when his parents settled in Hartford City, and at the age of sixteen he entered the office of the Telegram to learn the printer's trade. Three years afterward he went to Chicago, where he was employed for a short time in the office of the Chicago Telegram. Afterward he visited Milwaukee, and varions points in Illinois and Wisconsin and Minnesota, and Chicago again for a short period, when, in the spring of 1885, he returned to the scenes of his boyhood, Hartford City, and in December following formed the partnership above referred to. Mr. Geisler was brought up in the Lutheran Church, is quiet in his manner, liberal in disposition and in- dustrious in his habits.
W
43
738
HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.
THE CIVIL WAR,
F there is any one thing more than an- other of which the peo- ple of the Northern States have reason to be proud, it is of the. record they made during the dark and bloody days when red- handed rebellion raised its hideous head and threatened the life of the nation. When the war was forced upon the country, the peo- ple were quietly pursuing the even tenor of their ways, doing whatever their hands found to do -working the mines, making farms or cultivating those already made, erecting homes, founding cities and towns, building shops and manufactories-in short, the country was alive with industry and hopes for the future. Thepeople were just recover- ing from the depression and losses incident to the financial panic of 1857. The future looked bright and promising, and the indus-
trious and patriotic sons and daughters of the Free States were buoyant with hope, looking forward to the perfecting of new plans for the insurement of comfort and competence in their declining years; they little heeded the mutterings and threatenings of treason's children in the slave States of the South. True sons and descendants of the heroes of the " times that tried men's souls"-the struggle for American Independence-they never dreamed that there was even one so base as to dare attempt the destruction of the Union of their fathers-a government bap- tised with the best blood the world ever knew. While immediately surrounded with peace and tranquility, they paid but little attention to the rumored plots and plans of those who lived and grew rich from the sweat and toil, blood and flesh of others-aye, even traffick- ing in the offspring of their own loins. Nev- ertheless, the war came, with all its attendant horrors.
April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter, at Charles- ton, South Carolina, Major Anderson, U. S.
.
739
THE CIVIL WAR.
A., Commandant, was fired on by rebels in arms. Althoughi basest treason, this first act in the bloody reality which followed was looked upon as the mere bravado of a few hot-heads-the act of a few fire-eaters whose sectional bias and hatred were crazed by ex- cessive indulgence in intoxicating potations. When, a day later, the news was borne along the telegraph wires that Major Anderson had been forced to surrender to what had first been regarded as a drunken mob, the patriotic peo- ple of the North were startled from their dreams of the future, from undertakings half completed, and made to realize that behind that mob there was a dark, deep and well-organized purpose to destroy the Government, rend the Union in twain, and out of its ruins erect a slave oligarchy, wherein no one would dare to question their right to hold in bondage the sons and daughters of men whose skins were black, or who, perchance, through practices of lustful natures, were half or quarter re- moved from the color that nature had given thiem. But they "reckoned withont their host." Their dreams of the future, their plans for the establishment of an independent confederacy, were doomed from their incep- tion to sad and bitter disappointment.
Immediately upon the surrender of Fort Sumter, Abraham Lincoln -- America's mar- tyr President -- who, but a few short weeks before, had taken the oath of office as the na- tion's Chief Executive, issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteers for three months. The last word had scarcely been taken from the electric wires before the call was filled. Men and money were counted ont by hun- dreds and thousands. The people who loved their whole government could not give enoughi. Patriotism thrilled and vibrated and pulsated through every heart. The farm, the workshop, the office, the pulpit, the bar, the bench, the college, the school-house, every
calling offered its best men, their lives and fortunes, in defeuse of the Government's honor and unity. Party lines were for the time ignored. Bitter words, spoken in nio- ments of political heat, were forgotten and forgiven; and, joining hands in a common cause, they repeated the oath of America's soldier-statesman: " By the great Eternal, the Union must and shall be preserved!"
Seventy-five thousand men were not enough to subdue the rebellion. Nor were ten times that number. The war went on, and call followed call, until it began to look as if there would not be men enough in all the Free States to crush out and subdue the monstrons war traitors had inaugurated. But to every call, either for men or money, there was a willing and ready response.
And it is a boast of the people that had the supply of men fallen short, there were women brave enongli, daring enough, pa- triotic enongli, to have offered themselves as sacrifices on their conntry's altar. Such were the impulses, motives and actions of the patriotic men of the North, among whom the sons of Blackford County made a con- spicnons and praiseworthy record. Of the offerings made by these people during the great and final struggle between freedom and slavery, it is the purpose now to write.
April 14, A. D. 1861, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, issned the following :
PROCLAMATION.
" WHEREAS, The laws of the United States have been and now are violently op- posed in several States, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed in the ordinary way; I therefore call for the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggregate number of 75,000, to suppress said combina-
740
HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.
tions and execute the laws. I appeal to all loyal citizens to facilitate and aid in this effort to maintain the laws and integrity of the perpetnity of the popular Government, and redress wrongs long enough endured. The first service assigned to the forces, prob- ably, will be to repossess the forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union. Let the utmost care be taken, con- sistent with the object to avoid devastation, destruction or interference with the property of peaceful citizens in any part of the coun- try; and I hereby command persons compos- ing the aforesaid combination, to disperse within twenty days from date.
"I hereby convene both Houses of Con- gress for the 4th day of July next, to deter- mine upon measures for public safety, whichi the interest of the subject demands.
"ABRAHAM LINCOLN, "President of the United States. "WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State."
The quota above called for, was promptly filled by the people of the loyal States, but with a feeling that the number was not lialf large enongh, which fear was soou justified, and ere the end of four years, call after call was made, until regiments were placed in the field by the thousands.
Blackford County was faithful to its pa- triotic duty during the war, raising its quota generally by volunteering, and with the usual amount of drafting. A resort to conscrip- tion, by the way, is no proof of a lack of patriotism, as many intelligent citizens hold, with a considerable show of reason, that all soldiery should be so raised.
Isaac Goodin and Josiah Twibell were, perhaps, the most active men in Blackford County in raising recruits.
A number of the women of Hartford City did do their duty, and more, shouldering
burdens far beyond their obligations,-con- spicuous among whom might be mentioned : Mrs. Rebecca Huffman, President of the Soldiers' Aid Society ;. Mrs. H. Shelton, Vice- President of the same; Mrs. Edith Maddox, Treasurer; Mrs. Eliza Gable, Mrs. Mollie Russey, Mrs. Dr. Clouser, Mrs. Isaac Goodin and Misses Mollie Slater, Mary and Rebecca Stahl, Abigail Shelton, Maria W. Cook, Mol- lie Shrader and others.
These devoted ladies took great pleasure in collecting and sending forward to the suffer- ing soldiers in camp, on the march and in the battle field, such necessary supplies and com- forts as would be most appreciated. Mrs. Russey visited the military hospital at Nash- ville, Tennessee, taking along with her a large case well packed with the loving con- tributions of appreciative citizens.
The county also donated some $16,000 for the relief of soldiers' families; and some funds were raised for bounties to volunteers.
TWELFTH INFANTRY.
The Twelfth Regiment of the Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which was a repre- sentation of the Blackford County soldiery, was first organized from the surplus of com- panies that had reached Indianapolis in answer to the call for six reginients of troops, and was accepted for State service for one year, May 11, 1861, with Jolın M. Wallace as Colonel; but before actual service had begun, William H. Link, of Fort Wayne, was ap- pointed its Colonel. The companies of this . regiment marched and skirmished around in the vicinity of the Potomac River, and at the end of the year was mustered out of service and returned home.
On the 17th of August, following, how- ever, (1862), the regiment was reorganized, with Colonel Link continuing in command.
741
THE CIVIL WAR.
On the 30th it participated in the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, losing 173 killed and wounded, including the Colonel. The most of the regiment were taken prisoners of war, and afterward paroled. Lientenant-Colonel Williams was promoted Colonel, in place of Colonel Link.
In June, 1863, it was assigned to Logan's Fifteenth Corps, Army of the Tennessee, and during the two years following participated in all of its marches, skirmishes and battles, namely: at Vicksburg, Jackson, Big Black River, Memphis to Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, pursnit of Bragg, relief of Burnside, Scottsboro, Alabama, Atlanta campaign, Dallas, Resaca, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Jonesboro, chase of Hood, March to the Sea, and thence through the Carolinas back to Washington, where it was mustered ont, Jnne 8, 1865, only 270 strong.
THIRTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
A sketch of the work of this regiment is given in the history of Jay County, in this volume. In it was a full company (I), from Blackford County. From this county Benja- min G. Shinn was Second Lieutenant of Com- pany B. Of Company I, Josiah Twibell, of Montpelier, was captain, followed by two others from other counties, and finally by Chambers B. Shadle, of Montpelier; Isaac Goodin, of Hartford City, was First Lientenant, followed by two from other counties, and then by Chambers B. Shadle and William F. Bryson, in turn, from Montpelier; James J. Maddox, of Montpelier, was Second Lienten- ant, followed successively by James M. Butler, of Marion, Chambers B. Shadle and William F. Bryson, of Montpelier, and Reu- ben Bennett, of Hartford City.
Some of the men of this company are still living as shining monuments of their patriot-
ism, while the others have fallen and now lie under the sod, some of the places marked by columns of cold marble and some not marked at all, but whose example lives in clustering memories of far more valne than the marble and granite erected over their final resting places.
FORTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY.
This regiment, which contained a noble representation of Blackford County's patriot- ism, was organized at Anderson, October 10, 1862, with James R. Slack, of Huntington, as Colonel. The whole regiment was made up of companies from the Eleventh Congress- ional district. The points of operation in the experiences of this regiment were New Madrid, Missouri, Riddle's Point, Brown's Plantation, Mississippi. General Quinby's expedition to Yazoo Pass, Vicksburg, Cham- pion Hills, Jackson, Mississippi, Grand Coteau, Louisiana, Red River expedition, Atchafalaya Bayou, Morganza, Mobile Shreveport, etc. On being mustered out, October 23, 1865, it was found to be 530 strong, besides thirty-two officers.
SEVENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY.
According to the Adjutant-General's re- port, abont twenty men from Blackford Connty enlisted in this regiment. For an account of their service, see the history of the regiment under the head of Jay County, in this volume, as that county was much more largely represented in this regiment.
EIGHTY-FOURTH INFANTRY.
Of this body, in which Blackford was represented, a sketch is also given in the Jay County department of this work.
THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST INFANTRY,
which contained a few men from this county,
742
HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.'
was organized in Angust, 1862, with William Garver, of Noblesville, as Colonel. Troops were at that time being rapidly thrown into Kentucky to repel the invasion of Kirby Smith; and this regiment was ordered first to guard a railroad train to Springfield, that State, then to Crab Orchard, Lebanon, Mun- fordsville, Glasgow, Castillian Springs, in pursnit of Morgan, Murfreesboro, Milton, (where Morgan was repulsed with loss), Hoover's Gap, and various other points to Chickamanga, where much of the time it was at the front, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, At- lanta campaign, (participating in several severe engagements), Savannah on the sea, and through the Carolinas to Washington, D. C., Louisville, Kentucky, and finally to Indian- apolis, where it was discharged. During its term of service it marched 3,507 miles, be- sides traveling many hundreds of miles by river and railroad.
Thirty-eight soldiers are buried in the two cemeteries at Hartford City, besides others in other parts of the county; but most of Blackford's sons who were sacrificed on the altar of patriotism lie under the sod of the sunny South.
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