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 87

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 87
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 87

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

in 1885, where he has 225 acres of well ini- proved land, a good residence, one and a half stories in height, well furnished, and good barns and other farm buildings. This farm is considered one of the best to be found in Licking Township, and everything about the place shows the care and thrift of the owner. Politically Mr. Beath affiliates with the Dem- ocratic party. IIe and his wife and two sons, George R. and John W., are members of the Disciples church, and he is one of the respected citizens of Blackford County.

V. ERVIN was born on the farm where he now resides, on section 2, Licking Township, the date of his birth being June 20, 1851, and is a son of Samuel and Nancy (Alexander) Ervin, who were among the early settlers of Blackford County: Our subject was reared on the homestead farm, his youth being spent in assisting his father clear and improve the land, his education being obtained in the schools of his neighborhood and at Hartford City. In 1869 he went to the north part of the State, where he was engaged as contractor on a railroad for one year. He then went to Illinois for about one year, where he was en- gaged in the same business. He returned home in the fall of 1871, remaining here until 1873, when he went to Washington Ter- ritory, going as far as San Francisco, and by steamer the remainder of the journey. He was contractor on a railroad in Washington Territory about one year, and in 1874 he went to Idaho, and while there followed mining the greater part of the time. In the summer of 1882 he returned to the old homestead in Licking Township where he has since resided, and in the year 1883 built his present fine two-story residence, which

805

BIOGRAPHIICAL SKETCHES ..

is one of the best in his neighborhood. He has a large barn and other farm buildings, and his land is well improved and under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Ervin was united in marriage June 18, 1883, to Miss Flora Veach, of Hartford City, a danghter of Jerry V. Veach. To this nnion two chil- dren have been born named Moffit H. and Ora Beryl. Though comparatively a young man Mr. Ervin is classed among the most success- ful citizens of his township, and by his fair and honorable dealings he has gained the confidence and respect of all who know him. Hle is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Republican party.

C. MADDOX, Montpelier, one of the leading attorneys of Blackford County, is a native of Virginia, born in Bed- ford County, August 20, 1819, a son of Michael aud Frances (Jones) Maddox. The father of our subject was also born in Bed- ford County, Virginia, his father having set- tled there years before the war of the Revolution, where he spent the remainder of his life. Michael Maddox was reared to man- hood in Bedford County, and was there mar- ried. He afterward removed to Adams County, Ohio, and later settled in Highland County, of the same State. There his first wife died. By his first marriage he had ten children. He was again married in Highland County to Frances Jones, a native of Green- brier County, Virginia, and while on a visit to their native State Joseph C., the subject of this sketeli, was born. In 1832, when a mere boy, he left his home, coming out to Indiana alone, stopping first at Richmond, Indiana, at which place he met a man by the name of Conner, an Indian trader, with whom he 47

went to the Godfrey farm on the Indian Re- serve. A man named William Rockhill, of Fort Wayne, had a contract from the Gov- ernment to build a brick house on the Indian farm, and J. C. Maddox and a man named William Kaiser, of Randolph County, off-bore brick there that summer. He returned with Mrs. Conner to Grant County, remaining with him between one and two years. During this time he traveled about the country, but made his home with Mr. Conner. He then came back to the Indian Reserve, remaining there about one month, when he went to Randolph County, and lived there until his marriage, but spent much of his time in traveling over this and other States. In De- cember, 1838, he was married to Miss Laura Porter, a native of Clermont Connty, Ohio, and a daughter of Elias Porter, one of the old pioneers of Blackford County, having settled on the Godfrey farm in 1833, when Mrs. Maddox was a child. Their marriage took place in Greenville, Darke County, Ohio. At the time of his marriage Mr. Maddox was not worth one dollar, his earnings having been spent in traveling. After his marriage lie settled about two miles east of Montpe- lier, Blackford County, on land owned by Henry Hayes, located on section 1, township 24, range 11. This land was heavily cov- ered witlı timber, which he immediately went to work to clear. He split rails for 35 cents a hundred, and part of the time worked for 50 cents a day and boarded himself, and many a time he worked all day for a bushel of corn. He remained on the land above re- ferred to from February until June of the year 1838, then moved sonth to section 12, where he remained until January, 1840. Here he spent much of his time in [the hunt- ing season trapping raccoons and hunting with dogs, the pelts of which he carried to Fort Wayne on his back, and exchanged for

806

HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

land, and in this way he acquired sixty-five acres of land on section 5, township 24, range 12. This land was also covered with tim- ber, and no improvements had been made save where the Indians had built a sugar camp. He moved to this land with his wife and one child, when the snow was fifteen inches deep on the ground. He cleared about fifteen or twenty acres, remaining there until 1843, when he packed what he could carry on two horses and went to the present site of Camden, where he obtained a wagon, then proceeded down to Wayne County, where he found employment on the White Water Canal. He remained there until the fall of 1848, when he returned to Camden. He was very successful while on the canal, clearing about $15,000 or $16,000 by his work, but as the company failed lie only obtaincd about $10,000 of it. He invested all his money in real estate, knowing that this was the best investment that could be made in the county. He remained at Camden until the spring of 1849, when he removed to Matamoras, Black- ford County, where he purchased a small store and carried on the mercantile business until 1853, at which time the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati, now the Fort Wayne, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad, was located, when he was elected the first director and chairman of the committee which located the road. He then removed to Montpelier, where he carried on the dry goods business until February 28, 1855, when he returned with his family to Camden, Jay County, taking with him his stock of goods. From that time until 1879 he lived at intervals on his farm at Camden on section 12, township 24, range 11, and since 1879 he has been a resident of Montpelier. In the spring of 1839 the father of Mr. Maddox came to Blackford County, Indiana, buying 137 acres fo timber land, on which Joseph C. settled,

remaining on that land until January, 1840, as mentioned above, and he is now the owner of that land. He was at one time the largest land owner in this part of the country, own- ing 4,900 acres, and is now the largest land- holder in Blackford County, and has given to his children much of his land. His father died in the fall of 1847. Mr. Maddox com- menced the study of law about 1862, and the following year was admitted to the bar at Portland, Jay County, before Judge Kilgore. He now devotes his time to his legal practice and to the management of his property. He has been engaged in every murder trial ex- cept one that has ever been held in Black- ford County, and also the celebrated Walker case of Wells County, the equally celebrated Blackburn Lovell case in Ohio. He defended Mary Mayer, at Piqua, Ohio, who shot a man in the Catholic church. In the Walker murder case his fellow counsel were Dailey & Mock, of Bluffton, Indiana, and John R. Coffroth, of Lafayette. He was also the de- fending lawyer in the Whitaker case of Black- ford County. Politically Mr. Maddox was an old line Whig, but he lias been identified with the Republican party since its organi- zation. Some of the very brick which lie off-bore on the old Indian Reserve in 1832 are now in a house which he owns in Cam- den, having purchased this house in 1865. This house was built in 1841 by Goldsmithi Chandler, and lie was employed in carrying brick and mortar for three masons at 50 cents a day. When he worked for a bushel of corn a day, he carried the corn a distance of fourteen miles to liave it ground, return- ing with it the same day. Mr. Maddox lias never been an office seeker, having found abundant employment outside of that line, and the only position of public trust he has held being that of a director of the railroad. He has always taken an active interest in the

807

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

advancement of his town or county, and has been prominently identified with the develop- ment of this part of the country.

DRAYER, M. D., was born in Mont- gomery County, Ohio, December 5, 1840, a son of Lewis and Susannah (Sorber) Drayer. Lewis Drayer was born in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, and in the early part of this century, when but seven years old, accompanied his parents to Mont- gomery County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, and married Susannalı Sorber, who was a native of Preble County, Ohio. He died in 1884, aged seventy-six years. His mother is now a resident of West Alexandria, Preble County, Ohio. P. Drayer was reared in Montgomery County, Ohio, attending the common schools until fifteen years of age, when he went to Oxford, Ohio, to take a col- legiate course at the Miami University. He left that institution in his senior year on ac- count of the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion. He began the study of medicine with Dr. John Davis, of Dayton, Ohio, and then attended one course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College, and subsequently at the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1865. He was assistant physician one year at the Sonthern Ohio Hospital for the Insane, and then went into the general practice at Lewis- burg, Olio, where he remained six months, when he removed to Harrisville, Randolph County, Indiana, and a short time later to Hartford City, where he has practiced since 1866. Since locating in Hartford City, in addition to having a large medical practice, he lias gained an enviable reputation as a surgeon, and is recognized as one of the most skillful practitioners in that line in Eastern

Indiana. He has a fine library, and also takes all the leading medieal journals, thus keeping well informed on all the new de- velopments and treatment of diseases. He was one of the organizers of the Blackford County Medical Society, and was its first secretary, and one of its earliest presidents. He is a member of the District Medical As- sociation, of which he has been president, and also of the Indiana State Medical So- ciety and the American Medical Association, and attends all of the annual meetings. In politics Dr. Drayer is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders. IIe is a trustee of the Presbyterian church, of which he is a prominent member. He was married October 1, 1867, to Matilda Aun Oldfather, of Lewisburgh, Preble Conn- ty, Ohio. They have five children -- Mary O., Lewis Parker, Edith D., Julia Ann and George P.

OSEPH FUTRELL, one of the prosper- ous agriculturists of Blackford County, residing on section 29, Washington Township, is a native of Ohio, born in Clinton County, January 31, 1839, a son of Michael and Mary (Rix) Fntrell. Our subject was nine months old when his parents removed with their family to Grant County, and abont two years later left their farm in that county for a partially improved farm in the same county, where the parents are still living. Our subject remained on that farm until he attained his majority, when he started ont in the world to make his fortune. February 2, 1860, lie was married to Miss Christina Stafford, who was born in 1842. After his marriage he settled on his father-in-law's place, where he built a log cabin, remaining there a year. He then lived on a rented farm

808

HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

for two years, when on account of failing health he was obliged to give up farming. He removed to Warren, Indiana, where lie carried on a grocery for seven months, when disposing of his business he removed to a farm of forty acres owned by his father, where he remained a few months. He then removed to Dundee, Indiana, and engaged in the mer- cantile business, including drugs, buying the latter business from Dr. Dodson, and there hie resided one year. There his wife died in February, 1865, leaving one daughter, Nancy E., who was born December 11, 1864, now the wife of James Elwood. A few days be- fore his wife's death he had sold his mercan- tile interests, and subsequently engaged in farming, making his home with his father in Grant County. About a year after the death of his wife he bought forty acres of partially improved land. In August, 1867, he was married a second time to Miss Matilda A. Nelson, born in 1845, a daughter of Elisha and Rebecca (Oliver) Nelson. Mr. and Mrs. Futrell are the parents of seven children --- Rebecca A., Josephi W., Charles, George W., Cora, Dolly and Abe Weller. Mrs. Futrell's parents were natives of Northampton County, North Carolina. Botlı are deceased, and are buried in the Howe cemetery in Grant County. They were the parents of six children-Will- iam James, Winnie, John, Matilda, Eliza, and Stephen. By persevering industry and good management, Mr. Futrell has accumulated about 550 acres of valuable land, 120 acres being no section 29, eighty acres on section 30, 110 acres on section 18, and 240 acres on section 19 of Washington Township, his land being well improved, and underlaid with from 3,000 to 4,000 rods of tile. He is a prominent man in his township, and has filled several official positions, in all of which he has served with credit to himself and to the best interests of his township or county. In the fall of 1874

he was elected to the office of county treas- urer, serving as such two terms of two years each. In the spring of 1869, he was elected township trustee, and was re-elected at the following election, serving in that capacity three years. Michael Futrell, the father of our subject, was born in Northampton Coun- ty, North Carolina, November 15, 1810, . where he grew to manhood. When twenty- three years old he went to Clinton County, Ohio, where he married Mary Rix, who was born in that connty in 1813, and to them were born eleven children-Enos, Jordan, Elizabethı, Joseph, James, John (died leaving a wife and child), Martin, Nancy, Michael, Isaiah (died in 1860, aged about seven years), and Mary (died, aged three years). The par- ents lived in Clinton County until removing to Grant County, Indiana, in the fall of 1839, where they are still living at a good old age, and are among the most respected pioneers in the county. The paternal grandparents of our subject died in North Carolina. His grandfather, Jordan Rix, was a native of North Carolina, but at the time of his death was living in Clinton County, Ohio. His wife, Sarah Rix, also died in Clinton County, Ohio.

ILLIAM S. BRANNUM was born in Union County, Indiana, September 7, 1861, a son of Henry C. and Re- becca (Johnson) Brannum. His father was a native of Indiana. His mother was born in Ohio, but was also reared in Indiana. Wlien William S. was an infant his parents moved to Chester Township, Wells County, Indiana, and in the fall of 1869 they moved to Mont- pelier, Blackford County, but subsequently returned to Wells County, where they now live. William S. was educated principally

809

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

in Montpelier, and when a mere boy began clerking in that village. In the fall of 1880 lie embarked in the drug business with C. Q. Shull, that partnership continuing until the spring of 1885, when he bought Dr. Shull's interest and conducted the business alone until November, 1886, when he sold out to J. P. McGeatlı. Mr. Brannum was elected anditor of Blackford County in November, 1886, by 137 majority, which was 267 votes alead of his State ticket, which gave a major- ity of 130 to the Democratic party. Mr. Brannum being a Republican. He is a faith- ful public servant, and has many friends, whose confidence in him is being strengthened by his close attention to the trusts imposed on him. Mr. Brnanum married Elma Z. McGrew, a member of one of the oldest falll- ilies in the county. They have one child -James H. Mr. Brannum is a member of Hartford City Lodge, K. of P.

OHN GETTYS, a native of Blackford County, Indiana, was born in Licking Township, December 8, 1847, a son of James and Sarah Gettys. He remained on the homestead which his parents had made in the woods of Blackford County, remaining witlı his parents until one year after his marriage when he received a piece of the homestead as his own. To this he has since added until he has 136 acres of choice land, eighty-five acres being cleared and very productive, which has been accomplished by persevering industry and years of toil by the subject of this sketelı. He still continues to hew into the timber, so that each year another piece is added to the productive portion of his land. His faithful and excellent help-mate, who has materially aided him in his labors, was formerly Miss Laura A. Waters, to whom he was inarried

December 15, 1872. She is a native of Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana, and a daugliter of Lawrence and Eve Waters, her parents being now residents of Blackford County. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gettys, whose names are as follows-Walter L., Mary Addie and Joseph. Politically Mr. Gettys is a Republican. He is a worthy representative of an old pioneer family, and has grown up with the county. While a young man game was yet plenti- ful, and he has shot numbers of wild turkey over the same ground where he now follows the plow. The Gettys family is one of the old families of the Keystone State, and from one of its members the town of Gettysburglı takes its name. James Gettys, the father of our subject, was born and reared in Greene County, Pennsylvania. He was married in the same county to Mrs. Sarah (Moore) Penn, who was also born and reared in Greene County, and was the widow of Thomas Penn. To this union five children were born, of whom John was the third child. They lived in their native State until about 1845, when they removed by teamn to Blackford County, Indiana, where Mr. Gettys had previously entered 120 acres of timber land in Licking Township. No improvements of any kind has been made on the land, and on coming to the county the family lived with Joseplı Gettys, a brother of James, while the latter cleared a space and erected a log cabin, whichi was occupied as soon as completed. Althoughi game of all kinds was found in abundance Mr. Gettys was no hunter, preferring to devote his time to clearing his land and attending to his farm. He lived at the old homestead until his death, which occurred September 29, 1869, aged sixty years, ten months and fifteen days. In politics he was an adherent of the principles of the Republi- can party, and was an active man in the early

810

HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

history of the county. His widow lived to see the many changes which have taken place in the connty, transforming it from a wilder! ness into its present prosperous condition of well cultivated farins, and thriving towns and villages. She died April 28, 1883, aged sixty-six years, six months and twenty-four days, and is buried beside her husband in the Hartford City cemetery. She was a member of the Baptist church.

R. D. C. CALDWELL, a prominent physician of Millgrove, Indiana, is a native of Indiana, born in Jackson Township, Hancock County, December 25, 1852, a son of B. F. and Mary J. (Sample) Caldwell. He was reared to manhood in his native connty, where he attended the common schools until 1869. In that year he entered the academy at Knightstown, Henry County, Indiana, from which he graduated in Octo- ber, 1873. In the winter of 1873 he com- inenced teaching school, and has taught during the past fifteen years. In 1874 he came to Blackford County. He began the study of medicine in the spring of 1875 with Dr. N. D. Clouser, with whom he remained four years, reading and practicing medicine, and in 1879 located at Millgrove. where lie lias since been engaged in the practice of mnedi- cine. In connection with his medical prac- tice he is also engaged in farming and raising horses. He is the owner of a fine farm of seventy-three acres located on section 34, Jackson Township, his land being well im- proved and nnderlaid with 2,000 rods of tile. Dr. Caldwell was married June 7, 1885, to Miss Sarah O. Fleming, a native of Delaware County, Indiana, born December 2, 1859, where she was reared, but married in Hunt- ington County, Indiana. B. F. Caldwell, the

father of our subject, was born in Campbell County, Kentucky, May 6, 1828, and when eight years old went with his parents to Hall- cock County, Indiana, where he was reared, and married to Mary J. Sample, who was born in Hancock County May 11, 1833, and they continued to reside in that county until the spring of 1875. To them were born two children-onr subject, who was the eldest, and Adelia E., born February 16, 1861, wlio is still at home with her parents. A boy named Ila H. Sample is being reared by them. He is a son of Andrew V. B. and Vanila E. (Ross) Sample, and was born July 24, 1872. Ifis mother died when he was two inonthis old, leaving six children. His father is still living at Cleveland, Hancock County. David Caldwell, the grandfather of onr sub- ject, was born in Eastern Virginia March 6, 1794, and when a boy went to Kentucky, where lie grew to manhood. He was married in Kentucky to Ann S. Anderson, who was born in Campbell County, Kentucky, July 3, 1803, and to this nnion were born eiglit chil- dren, as follows-Eliza, born March 6, 1824, died March 10, 1887; Nancy, born July 20, 1826, wife of Thomas Fierman, living in Grant County, Indiana; B. F., the father of our subject, born May 6, 1828; Rosa B., born July 4, 1830, died in 1834; Lncinda, born March 22, 1832, is the wife of Elijah A. Bar- rett; William A., born June 1, 1834, living in Bollinger County, Missonri; John W., born February 22, 1836, living in Henry Conuty, Indiana; Julia A., born June 12, 1838, married Hnghi Neallis, and died in Hancock Connty in 1876. After his mar- riage David Caldwell left Kentucky for Han- cock County, Indiana, where he lived until his death, which occurred at the age of forty- eight years. His widow survived until May 13, 1885, dying in Millgrove, Blackford County. The great-grandfather of our sub-

811

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ject, Robert Caldwell, was born in New Jer- sey, and was of German descent. He lived a number of years in Pennsylvania, moving from that State to Virginia, thence to Camp- bell County, Kentucky, where lie died. His widow, Elizabetlı (IIuff) Caldwell, left Ken- tucky for Indiana about 1830, settling in Hancock County, where she lived nntil her death, at the age of ninety years. The ma- ternal grandparents of Dr. Caldwell were John and Sally (Barrett) Sample, the former born in Pennsylvania, the latter born, reared and married in Greenbrier Connty, Virginia, re- maining there until coming to Hancock Conn- ty, Indiana, in 1832, the former dying there in the fall of 1875, aged eighty-six years, and the latter dying in 1872, aged seventy-seven years. The Barrett and the Sample families are of Irish descent, both the maternal great-grandfather and the great-grandmother of our subject being natives of Ireland.

OSEPH W. YOUNTS, engaged in farm- ing on section 27, Washington Township, was born in Troy, Miami County, Ohio, the date of his birth being April 18, 1854. His parents, George and Mahala (Michael) Younts, were born in the State of Ohio, the father June 5, 1816, and the mother in Hamilton County, July 20, 1818. They reared a family of twelve children to maturity -- Willianı H., Philip F., John A., Samuel, Elizabeth A., Charles A., Abraham W., Mary C., Margaret E., J. W., Daniel H. and Lydia A. Four of the sons, William, Philip, Sam- nel and Charles, were soldiers in the war of ! and Mrs. Younts have had born to them four the Rebellion. Philip and Samuel were members of Company G, Fifty-seventh Indiana Infantry, and Philip died in Texas in November, 1865, after receiving his discharge. Charles was a member of Com-

pany I, Seventh Indiana Cavalry Regiment, and was killed at Okolona, Mississippi, Feb- ruary 29, 1864, and was buried on the battle- field. The father died in Eaton, Delaware County, Indiana, February 9, 1878. He was a son of Philip and Margaret (Burket) Younts. who were born in North Carolina, and died in Miami County, Ohio. He is of German descent. IIis great-grandfather, Solomon Younts, with three of his brothers emigrated from Germany to America, and Solomon served in the Revolutionary war. Philip Younts was a soldier in the war of 1812. Joseph W. Younts, whose name heads this sketch, was but two years old when brought by his parents to Delaware County, Indiana, and there he was reared to manhood. He left Delaware County in 1872, coming to Blackford County, where he was married December 20, 1876, to Miss Cassie May Stobie, who was born on the farm in Wash- ington Township on which she is now living April 2, 1859. She is the dangliter of John and Susannah (Hadden) Stobie. Her father was born in Scotland, where he remained until attaining his majority. He then came to America, settling in Wells Connty, Indiana, where he lived until after his marriage to Susannah, daughter of William and Catherine (Cabun) Hadden, which occurred July 8, 1858. He died April 27, 1871, and is buried in Hadden cemetery. Mrs. Stobie was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, April 7, 1815. where she lived until 1839, when she came to Blackford County with her parents, and is now living on the farm which her father en- tered, with her only child, Mrs. Younts. Mr. children as follows-William S., born Febru- ary 16, 1879; Grace A., born May 14, 1880; Harry M., born January 16, 1884; and Ora E., born December 2, 1886. Mr. Younts was reared to the avocation of a farmer, which

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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