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 82

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 82
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 82

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GRAVEL ROADS.

One good pike crosses the entire county from north to south, running through Hart- ford City on Cherry street, and one east and west through the county, crossing Hartford City on Water street, besides branches of six, eight, three, four and seven miles respect- ively.

THE AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL AND IN- DUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION

of Blackford County was organized early in 1877, as a stock company, and leased twenty- four acres of ground in the northeastern portion of Hartford City. J. J. Maddox was the first president. A fair was held in the autumn of that year, and annually up to 1885, when, debts having accumulated be- yond the net income. the association ceased to be active.

In the spring of 1886 a new organization was effected, not a stock company, with Charles A. Rhine as President; Alfred Knight, Vice President; J. H. Rhoads, Sec- retary, and F. L. Mercer, Treasurer; and Griffith Gartin was appointed superintend- ent. They leased the old grounds, and in the fall had a successful exhibition. Superior

MAAN

761

MISCELLANEOUS.

buildings were erected for the floral, horti- cultural and farm exhibits, fine and commo- dions stalls built, with shingle roofs, a half-mile race-track put in good trim, etc. No liquors are allowed to be sold upon the grounds, nor catch-penny games of chance per- mitted. The officers of last year are re- elected for this year.

Among those who have brought in improved live-stock from other counties or States may be mentioned Judge W. H. Car- rell, H. B. Smith, Jesse H. Dow, William Carrell, Thomas C. Neal, J. T. McGeath and others.

The Patrons of Husbandry some years ago were very strong in this connty, and some granges are still kept up. So far as they are nıntual educational societies, they might and ought to be kept up forever.

CENSUS.

In 1880 there were 866 farms in Blackford County, containing 50,461 acres of land, valned at $2,191,890. The value of the farm- ing implements and machinery used that year was $66,383; value of live stock on the farms June 1, $319,468; estimated value of all farm productions for the year 1879, sold, consumed and on hand, $398,558. In 1879 there were raised of wheat, 152,879 busliels; corn, 417,079 bushels; oats, 45,093 bushels; rye, 798 bushels; buckwheat, 496 bushels. Value of orchard products $11,455. Of hay, there were raised 5,730 tons. No barley nor hops were raised. Of Irish potatoes, 28,385 bushels, and of sweet potatoes, 235 bnshels were raised; of tobacco, 1,100 pounds.

On the first of June, 1880, there were in

the county 2,532 horses, 101 mules, 5 work- ing oxen, 2,125 milch cows, 3,856 other cat- tle, 8,373 sheep and 14,622 head of swine.

There were produced in 1879 188,884 pounds of butter, 320 pounds of cheese, and 275 gallons of dairy milk were sold. Of wool, 42,400 pounds were sheared.

There were forty-six manufacturing estab- lishments, with a capital of $127,450, and 171 average number of hands employed. The total amount paid these hands as wages during the year was $47,747; value of mate- rials used, $301,350; value of products, $406,132.

The bonded debt of the county was $42,- 500; floating debt, $150; with no sinking fund.

POPULATION.

Harrison Township, 1,545

besides Montpelier, 618

Jackson Township, 1,756

Washington 1,273

Licking 1,358

besides Hartford, 1,470 -

8,020

The county had in 1870, 6,258

،، « " 1860, - 4,122

The colored population was first reported in 1870, when there were 14; in 1880, 17. In 1880 there were only 194 foreign-born citizens in the county.

There were 1,353 male children of school age (five to seventeen years of age inclusive), and 1,329 female. Of males eighteen to forty-four years of age, both inclusive (mili- tia) there were 1,634; and of males twenty- one and upward (voting population) 1,940.

مم

BIOGRAPHICAL -»SKETCHES.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ILLIAM A. BONHAM, a prominent attorney at law of Hartford City, was born in Perry County, Ohio, January 14, 1834, his parents, Peter and Susannalı (Yost) Bonham, being natives of Pennsylva- nia and West Virginia respectively, the latter born in Wheeling in the year 1800. They were married in Perry County, Ohio, and to them were born eight children-Isaac lives in Lawrence County, Indiana; Nicholas died in hospital at Louisville during the war; Ly- man, deceased, was also a soldier in the late war; George W. was a soldier in the late war, and is now living in Blackford County; W. A., the subject of this sketch, and Francis M., who resides at Briant, Jay County. In 1837 the parents came by team with their family to Indiana, locating first in Delaware County, and in 1839 came to Blackford County, and settled in Washington Town- ship, where the father lived until his death. Although game was in abundance in the county, Mr. Bonham was no hunter, pre- ferring to devote his time to clearing his land and making a home for his family. His widow continued to reside on the old home-

stead until 1870, when she removed to Law- rence County, Indiana, where she has since made her home. W. A. Bonham, our sub- ject, was a lad of five years when brought by his parents to Blackford County, where he was reared on his father's frontier farm, and has ever since claimed Blackford County as his home. His education was received in the common and select schools near Hartford City, and in Anglaize County, Ohio. When twenty-one years of age he commenced teach- ing school in Ohio, where he was thus en- gaged two years. He then returned to Blackford, where he followed the teacher's profession until 1864. He was persuaded to adopt the legal profession by Andrew J. Neff, who was at that time the leading lawyer in Hartford, and in 1858 he began the study of law with Mr. Neff. In January, 1861, he was admitted to the bar at Hartford City, before Judge J. M. Haynes, judge of the Common Pleas Court. His first law partner was Jacob T. Wells, who is now deceased, with whom he was associated at intervals about six years. From about 1874 until 1879 he was associated with John Cantwell,

766

HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

after which he practiced alone until the fall of 1885, when his son, John A., became his partner, under the firm name of Bonham & Bonham. Mr. Bonham was united in mar- riage, February 2, 1860, to Miss Mary A. Robey, whose parents, Henry and Mary M. Robey, came to Blackford County from Perry County, Ohio, in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Bon- ham are the parents of three children-Jolin A., with his father; George L., married and living in Hartford, and Florence Alice. Mr. Bonham has been connected with the Repub- lican party since 1860, althonghi his first presidential vote was cast for a Democrat. His father was a Democrat in politics, and at the time of his death was holding the office of county commissioner. In 1860 Mr. Bon- liam was a candidate for recorder of Black- ford County, on the Republican ticket, bnt with the entire ticket suffered defeat. In 1862 he was appointed deputy collector of internal revenue for Blackford County, and held the position until superseded by an ap- pointee of President Andrew Johnson. In the fall of 1864 lie was elected State Senator from the district composed of Blackford and Delaware counties, and served in the regular and special sessions of 1865, and in the regu- lar session of 1867. In April, 1865, he was one of those invited from Indiana to escort the remains of President Lincoln to the Illi- nois State line. In 1866 lie was the editor of the Hartford City News, a Republican paper published by John M. Ruckman, and continned until a difference arose between himself and the publisher of the paper as to the policy of Johnson. Mr. Bonham vigor- ously opposed the administration and sup- ported Congress, while Mr. Ruckman for a time was inclined to support the policy, but finally yielded. In 1867 Mr. Bonham was elected Assistant Secretary of the Senate, serving in this capacity in the regular and

special sessions. He was the Republican candidate for Congress in the Democratic Twelfth District of Indiana, but was defeated. In 1869 he was the candidate for Representa- tive from Jay and Blackford counties, but the district being Democratic his opponent was successful. He has served as chairman of the Republican Central Committee. Mr. Bonham is a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders, and has passed through all the chairs in the local organiza- tions of each. IIe las represented tlie Odd Fellows lodge in the grand lodge of the State, and has also represented the chapter of the Masonic lodge in the grand lodge.

G. SHINN, attorney at law, Hartford City, Indiana, was born in Dublin, Wayne County, Indiana, October 20. 1838, a son of Hyman and Ann (Van Buskirk) Shinn. His father was born in Harrison County, West Virginia, and when thirteen years of age accompanied his parents to Dnblin, Indiana, where he was reared, and married Ann Van Buskirk, who was a native of Hampshire County, West Virginia. In 1841 the family moved to Blackford County, and located in Harrison Township, where the parents lived until December, 1886, when they moved to Hartford City, where they now live. B. G. Shinn has lived in Black- ford County since he was three years of age, living on a farm until twenty-six years old. His early education was received at the dis- trict schools, and in the winter of 1857-'58 he attended Liber College, in Jay County. He then attended Asbury University, at Greencastle, two years, and while there enlisted in April,, 1861, in a company of college stu- dents for the three months' service in the war of the Rebellion. They went to Indianapolis

767

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

and were in camp eight days, when the quota being full without their company they were sent back. He returned home and the following August again enlisted, and on the organization of Company B, Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, was elected its Second Lien- tenant. The regiment went into camp at Anderson, and while tliere he was taken sick, and not recovering was compelled to resign before he left the State. The following spring he returned to college. In the spring of 1864 he again enlisted and was assigned to Company I, One Hundred and Thirty- eighth Infantry and was appointed Orderly Sergeant, His regiment was principally engaged in doing gnard duty on the line of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad. In the spring of 1865 he went to Bluffton and began reading law in the office of Judge E. R. Wilson, and was admitted to the bar before Judge Borden, in April, 1867. He immediately began the practice of his profes- sion,and for a year was associated with Dwight Klink, in Bluffton. He was then in partner- ship with J. J. Todd until April, 1871, when he returned to Blackford County, and located in Hartford City, and for two years was associated with Michael Frash, when Mr. Frash temporarily retired from practice and Mr. Shinn was alone until the spring of 1882. He then formed a partnership with John Noonan, which continued nntil the fall of 1883, when Mr. Noonan went to Leadville, Colorado. Mr. Shinn then practiced alone until July, 1885, when the present firm of Shinn & Pierce was formed. In politics Mr. Shinn is a Republican, and has been chairman of the Central Committee throngh three campaigns, being the present incumbent. He has served Hartford City as clerk, treas- urer and school trustee. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in 1868 was licensed to preach, and in 1874 was

ordained a local deacon. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order, Hartford City Lodge, No. 262, and has passed all the chairs and represented his lodge in the grand lodge of the State. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Jacob Stahl Post, No. 227. Mr. Shinn was married in the fall of 1862 to Emily J. Harris, a native of Wells Connty, Indiana, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Ann (Dawson) Harris, early settlers of Wells Connty. She was left an orphan when five years of age and was reared by her grand- parents, Jolin and Prudence Dawson. Mr. and Mrs. Shinn have three sons-Orlando M., Elmer Ellsworth and Engene M.

LISHA PIERCE, attorney at law, and Representative from this district in the Fifty-fifth General Assembly of Indi- ana, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, December 14, 1846, a son of L. B. and Huldah (Graham) Pierce, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Ohio. When but five years old, he was bronght by his parents to Indiana, their first location being in Grant County, bnt four years later they removed to Blackford County, where they have made their home since the fall of 1868. Before reaching the age of sixteen years our subject entered the Union service, insisting on taking his father's place in the ranks, and in October, 1862, he was enrolled in Company I, Fifty-fourth Indiana Infantry. This regi- inent was soon at the front, and their first field of operations was in the movements connected with the siege of Vicksburg. The first regular engagement in which he partici- pated was at Chickasaw Bayon in the rear of Vicksburg, where Sherman's attack was re- pulsed. He then went with his regiment to Arkansas Post, and from this point on he was

768

HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

in all the movements of his command during the siege and until the surrender of the city and defenses by General Pemberton. Shortly after the surrender his regiment marched to Jackson, Mississippi, and after several skir- muishes proceeded to New Orleans, and from there went to Texas. In that department they were engaged until the expiration of their term of service when they proceeded to New Orleans. Mr. Pierce was discharged at New Orleans in the winter of 1863, when he re- turned to his home. In the fall of 1864 he again enlisted, becoming a member of Com- pany C, Twenty-sixth Indiana Infantry, and resumed service in the department of the Mississippi. Proceeding to Fort Butler, seventy-five miles above New Orleans, he subsequently came with his command to the vicinity of Mobile, where they participated in the engagements at Forts Spanish and Blakely, which not only resulted in the fall of Mobile, but were also the last regular en- gagements of the civil war. From there they marched to Montgomery, and at a point forty miles west of the city went on guard duty, having charge of Government property, and in this service Mr. Pierce had uuder him a detail of a dozen inen. Their next objective point was Jackson, Mississippi, where they were mustered out. Mr. Pierce received his final discharge at Vicksburg, when he again returned to his home. During his boyhood his educational facilities were very limited, and while in the army he was obliged to dic- tate to a comrade the letters he wished to write home. But although a good reason lad heretofore existed for his lack of school train- ing, it was not suffered to stand in his way on his return from the war. Four years of schooling at Hartford City and Jonesboro were supplemented by four years of hard earnest study at home, so that he may be considered a largely self-educated man. In

April, 1869, he commenced the study of law with A. B. Jetinore, of Hartford City, and after the departure of Mr. Jetmore from this city he pursued his studies with W. A. Bon- ham, and in April, 1871, he was admitted to the bar before Judge Cogo. October 3, 1870, he was married to Miss Elmira Beecher, a native of Pennsylvania. Her father died in Hartford City, of which place her mother is now a resident. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are the parents of one child named Greeley. The experiences of Mr. Pierce when he began life for himself are worthy of particular notice. He began teaching school to obtain the abso- Inte necessaries with which to commence house-keeping. He put up a log cabin, 12 x 15 feet, on his father's farm, and for five years he walked daily from this place to town, not only while pursuing his studies, but also in the early days of his practice. Nothing but the most indomitable spirit and strongest exercise of will-power enabled him to overcome the many obstacles in his way, and to bear up under the many discouragements cast upon him by those who should have aided him with an encouraging word. He practiced without a partner until 1875, when he became associa- ted with Jacob Welch, but the following year this partnership was dissolved, the latter going to Hartford City. In 1877 Mr. Pierce formed a partnership with James B. Weir, which continued until 1880, and from 1882 until 1884 he was associated with Judge Carroll. In July, 1885, he became associated with B. G. Shinn, when the present law firm of Shinn & Pierce was formed. The political career of Mr. Pierce may be said to have ac- tively commenced in 1873, when he became deputy prosecutor for Blackford County, which position he filled until 1877. In 1878 he ran for district prosecutor, and although the county was largely Republican, he came within sixty-three votes of an election over

769

BIOGRAPHIICAL SKETCHES ..

his opponent. In 1886 he entered the lists for Representative to the_ General Assembly from the district composed of Jay, Blackford and Adams counties, and at the convention held at l'ortland in June of that year he re- ceived the nomination of his party, being elected at the election in the following No- vember. In that General Assemby he was on the following committees: Claims, Ju- diciary, Benevolent Institutions, Southern Prison and Bribery, and took part in tlie investigations of the Insane Hospital, Deaf and Dumb Institution, and Institution for the Blind. In this session he introduced a number of measures, among which were the bills for the following purposes: to amend section 10 of the drainage act; to amend the law relating to justice of the peace, so as to give the justice authority to imprison for costs as well as for fines; to amend the law in relation to changing county boundaries, etc. Mr. Pierce is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and also belongs to the Grand Army Post at Hartford City. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, he being steward of his church.

THOMAS LILLIBRIDGE, an old and respected pioneer of Blackford County, residing on section 27, Washington Township, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, June 15, 1823, and from his fifth year he was reared in Nelsonville, Athens County, Ohio. He was married in Hocking County, Ohio, March 31, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth Mills, a native of Morgan County, Ohio, born June 19, 1827, a daughter of Samuel and Anna (Shields) Mills, the father born in a Southern State, January 1, 1792, and the mother born in the South, August 3, 1801. The Mills family came to Blackford County

in 1848, where the father died February 25, 1863, and the mother March 23, 1858, and both are buried in the Hadden Cemetery. In October, 1847, Mr. Lillibridge came to Blackford County, Indiana, with his family, then consisting of wife and one child, Emily, who is now the widow of William Clapper, and is living on the homestead in Washing- ton Township her father had purchased a month before settling in the county. Mr. Lillibridge first purchased a tract of 100 acres, of which about six acres had been cleared, on which stood a small log cabin, and by persevering industry he cleared his land and brought it under a high state of cultivation. His wife died on this farm April 11, 1882, aged fifty-three years, nine months and twenty-three days. They were the par- ents of the following children-Emily, now Mrs. William Clapper, born December 31, 1846; Mary A., born July 27, 1848, died September 27, 1849; Francis M., born Octo- ber 27, 1849, died November 3, 1849; Thomas J., born February 3, 1851; Madora A., born March 21, 1853, wife of Isaiah Mahan; Almeda, born October 5, 1854, wife of Samuel Gettys; James B., born April 2, 1856; Viola V., born June 14, 1858, wife of Richard Vantilburg; Alvia M., born Decem- ber 14, 1860, died August 3, 1869; Mahala Ollive, born August 1, 1863, living at Lead- ville, Colorado, and Marvel M. D., born July 5, 1865. Mr. Lillibridge was married a second time March 31, 1887, to Mrs. Jane G. Bryan, a native of County Donegal, Ire- land, born April 28, 1838. She came to America when two years old, with her par- ents, Mr. and Mrs. Ginn, and her sister Re- becca, the family locating in Delaware County, Indiana, where she was reared, and was there married to James Hadden, who immediately after brought her to the old Hadden home- stead in Washington Township, on which his

770

HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

father settled in 1839. Mr. Hadden died May 20, 1865, and his widow subsequently married Anthony Bryan, who was born in Virginia, September 16, 1837, and died No- vember 21, 1872. Thomas Lillibridge, our subject, lias been prominently identified with the early history of Washington Township. For nine years he held the office of justice of the peace, and for a number of years served as trustee of his township. He has taught school thirty winter terms. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and was secretary of the Northern Indiana Conference for twenty years, and during this period was absent bnt once, and then on account of sick- ness. Mr. Lillibridge is a son of John and Mary (Bentley) Lillibridge. His father was a native of Rhode Island, born May 15, 1799, and when eleven years old was taken to Pennsylvania, in which State he was reared to manhood and was there married to Mary Bentley, who was born in Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 12, 1802. They died in Hocking County, Ohio, the father in 1844, and the mother in 1845. They reared three children to maturity-Thomas, our subject; John, born September 5, 1830, a tailor by trade, is living at Fairmount, Grant County, Indiana. He was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion. Nancy married Thomas G. Mills, and died February 17, 1872, aged fifty-one years and ten months. Three of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Lillibridge died in in- fancy. Joseph Lillibridge, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Connecticut, March 16, 1763, and his grandmother, Rachel (Stevens) Lillibridge, was born in the same State, November 5, 1760. They were the parents of nine children-Warren, born April 18, 1785; Elizabeth, January 2, 1787; Buel, March 12, 1789; Mary, March 10, 1791; Joseph, March 4, 1793; Erastus, March 16, 1795; Jacob, born January 10, 1797; John,

the father of Mr. Lillibridge, born May 15, 1799, and Sarah, March 23, 1801. The ına- ternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas Bentley, was born May 5, 1755, and Novem- ber 4, 1781, was married to Miss Mercy Johnson, and to them were born eight chil- dren, as follows -- Jemima, February 16, 1783; Mercy, July 11, 1784; Ezekiel, February 2, 1786; Abigail, June 1, 1789; William, May 10, 1791; Mercy, March 9, 1794; Phœbe, September 18, 1805, and Mary B., born Feb- rnary 12, 1802, mother of Mr. Lillibridge.

SAAC M. RICKETTS, one of the enter- prising and progressive citizens of Black- ford County, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, December 5, 1826, a son of Reason and Hannah (Mason) Ricketts, the father be- ing a native of Maryland and the mother of Pennsylvania. Reason Ricketts died when our subject was seven years of age, and his widowed mother with her eleven children, subsequently came to Blackford County, Indiana. They finally settled in Wells County, locating in Jackson Township about five miles from Montpelier. There, assisted by her two sons, Cyrus aged thirteen years and Isaac but eleven years of age, she began to make a home out of the forest, experienc- ing all the trials and privations which usually fall to the lot of pioneer families. Isaac M. Ricketts spent his youth in hard work, but the lessons of persevering industry and economy learned in early life have proved of lasting benefit to him. The schools of that early day afforded but limited educa- tional facilities, but by study at home he acquired a good practical education. March 10, 1850, he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Swain, a native of North Carolina, and a daughter of John H. and Elizabeth

771

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

(Swindel) Swain. Of the eight children born to this union one daughter, Elizabeth, is deceased. The names of those yet living are-Hannah E., John R., Sarah F., Charity A., Cyrus F., Nancy B., and Cynthia R. Mr. Ricketts continued to reside on the old homestead nntil 1857, when he settled on section 1, Washington Township, Blackford County. In 1867 he removed with his family to Harrison Township, and has since resided on his present farm. His farm contains 120 acres of valnable land, of which 100 acres are cleared, and under a high state of cultivation. ITis residence is comfortable and commodi- ons, and his barn is large and conveniently arranged for his stock. His land is well im- proved and is divided into different fields for stock and grain raising. In politics Mr. Ricketts is a Republican, and a strong ad- hierent of the principles of that party. In 1869 he was elected justice of the peace, and during the four years he filled that office his decisions were always wise and just. He was county commissioner six years and always served to the best interests of the county. He is an active member of the United Brethren church, of which he is a trustee. His genial manners and honorable dealings have gained for him many friends.

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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