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 88

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 88
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 88

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).

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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

he has always followed, and has now a fine farm containing eighty acres of well improved land. Both Mr. and Mrs. Younts are con- sistent members of the Methodist Protestant church, and are numbered among the respect- ed citizens of Washington Township. Mr. Younts is secretary of Hartford City Lodge, No. 262, I. O. O. F., and is also a member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 52, I. O. G. T.

ILLIAM A. WILLIAMS, was born in Licking Township, Blackford County, Indiana, the date of his birth being May 21, 1859, a son of Zadock T. Williams, one of the substantial men of Blackford County. He was reared to man- hood at the home of his parents, receiving his education in the district schools. On ar- riving at manhood he was nnited in marriage to Miss Nina Parrill, a daughter of Charles W. Parrill, of Grant County, Indiana. To this union three children have been born, named as follows-Florence E., Blanche De- light, and Edith May. Mr. Williams has always followed the avocation of a farmer, and although one of the youngest he is one of the mnost enterprising agriculturists of Blackford County. He removed with his family to their present beautiful farm in 1880, and since that time he has expended $4,000 on the place in buildings and other improvements. His house, which is 28 x 64 feet in size, is one of the most attractive and tasteful farm residences to be found in Lick- ing Township, and his fine substantial barn covers a ground area of 30 x 54 feet, and in fact the entire surroundings show the owner to be a thorough, practical farmer. Politi- cally Mr. Williams affiliates with the Repub- lican party. He is an active member of the

Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee, and is classed among the most re- spected citizens of his community.

A. WALMER, one of the leading business men in Montpelier, is a native of Wells County, Indiana, born at Bluffton, June 29, 1860, a son of Henry S. Walmer, one of Wells County's pioneers, who has been identified with the interests of that county for forty years. Our subject was reared at Bluffton, and received his education in the schools of that place. At the age of fifteen years he became engaged with G. F. McFarren in the grocery business at. Bluffton, with whom he remained one year. He then attended school one year, and at the age of seventeen years became associated with his father, remaining in business with him two years. In 1879 he clerked for B. F. Wiley in the general mercantile business for one year, then accepted a position with John Dougherty, lumber dealer, with whom he remained six months, after which he was en- gaged with II. C. Arnold until 1884, when he began dealing in general merchandise under the firm name of D. A. Walmer & Co. This business was established in 1870 by J. T. Arnold & Co., and was conducted until. 1884, when the present firm took charge of the business. The building occupied by this firm is one of the best in Montpelier, and consists of two large double rooms, 20 x 70 feet in size, one room being used for dry goods and groceries, and the other containing clothing, and boots and shoes. They carry a stock of goods valued at $15,000, their annual sales amonnting to about $55,000, and this is one of the leading business firms in Black- ford County. This firm also deals extensive- ly in wool, buying annually some 30,000

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pounds. Mr. Walmer is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Bluffton Lodge, No. 141, A. F. & A. M., and also a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. No. 341, of Mont- pelier.

RTHUR E. SUTTON, farmer and school teacher, Jackson Township, was born in Dunkirk, Jay County, Indiana, De- cember 11, 1858, a son of Daniel and Sarah C. (Hobson) Sutton. His father was born in Greene County, Ohio, August 20, 1835, and when two years of age was taken by his parents to Dunkirk, Jay County, where he lived until nearly twenty-three years of age, and was then married December 4, 1856, and died Jnne 20, 1875. The mother was born in Harrison Township, Blackford County, July 4, 1840, and is still living in the county. They were the parents of seven children- Arthur E., Albert E., born May 25, 1862; Nellie A., September 11, 1864; Jose S., January 29, 1867; Ada A. R., March 31, 1869; Eliza C., October 8, 1871, and Minnie M., December 25, 1873; the last named died June 2, 1879. The paternal great-grand- father of our subject, William G. Sutton, was born in Ohio, and married Catharine Sutton. Ile was a Revolutionary soldier, and also served in the commissary depart- ment under General Wayne at the time he built Fort Wayne. The grandfather, Isaiah Sutton, was born in Greene County, Ohio, where he married Catharine Shrack, and to them were born seven children-William G., Margaret, John, Daniel, Jacob, Sarah and Elizabeth, Jacob dying in boyhood. The maternal great-grandparents of our subject, Samnel and Catharine (Walgamoth) Goch- nauer, were natives of Virginia, and pioneers of Blackford County, where they both died, the former October 26, 1873, aged eighty years,

eight months and twenty-nine days, and the latter December 23, 1865, aged seventy years. They were the parents of three daughters-Mary A., Eliza and Catharine. They were all born in Virginia. The latter married Jose K. Hobson, and to them were born six children that lived to man and womanhood-Saralı C., the mother of our subject; James P., Margaret A., Jacob E., George L. and Walter M. Arthur E. Sutton lived near the village of his birth until six- teen years of age, when he with his mother's family moved to Blackford County. Through great disadvantages he managed to procure a common school education, and was able to enter college, which he did, going a few terins to the Methodist Episcopal College at Fort Wayne, Indiana, although he was nn- able to complete the course. As a teacher his success is good, using energy and determina- tion. Ont of the nine terms of his teaching five has been at his home school, the Goch- nauer. He was married September 3, 1885, to Anna E. Schmidt, who was born in Ham- ilton County, Indiana, October 17, 1862, and came to Blackford County when a child. She is a danghter of John P. and Anna B. (Triech) Schmidt, natives of Germany. Both died in Blackford County. To them were born five children-Anna E., Jacob, Catharine B., Eva and William H. Mr. and Mrs. Sut- ton have one child, Jacob A., who was born May 12, 1886, in the house built by his great-great-grandfather shortly after he set- tled in Blackford County.

OIIN G. WOOD, farmer and stock- dealer, section 6, Harrison Township, is one of the leading citizens of Blackford County. He is a native of Morrow County, Ohio, born April 1, 1842, a son of Rezin

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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

Wood. He accompanied his parents to Black- ford County when ten years of age, and here he was reared, and was educated in the dis- trict schools. During the war of the Re- bellion he was among those who enlisted in defense of his country's honor, serving six months in Company H, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Infantry. He was mar- ried October 13, 1864, to Jane Bugh, a na- tive of Perry County, Ohio, daughter of Bernhard Bugh. To them have been born nine children, six of whom are living-Nora, Emma, Norman, Nellie, Ollie, and Lillie. Anstin, Arthur and a babe unnamed are de- ceased. Anstin died July 27, 1887, aged nineteen years, ten months and eighteen days. After his marriage Mr. Wood located on the farm where he now lives, but in 1867 re- moved to Washington Township, where he lived ten years, when he returned to his present farm. His homestead contains 160 acres of well improved land, and he also owns 240 acres in Washington Township. His residence and farm buildings are cominodions and comfortable. Mr. Wood is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry.

P. McGEATH, real estate, notary pub- lic and abstractor, established his office in the C. Q. Shull block, Montpelier, in 1883. He has abstracts of all the real estate in Blackford County, and pays special attention to buying and selling property, and attending to the interests of non-resi- dents. He was born in New Castle, Henry County, Indiana, August 24, 1845, a son of Thomas R. and Rebecca (Perfect) McGeath. In 1857 his parents moved to Wells County, locating a mile northwest of Montpelier, where he grew to manhood. His youth was spent in working on the farm and in at-

tending school. He had good educational advantages, completing his school days at Bluffton. When twenty-one years of age lie began teaching, at which he was very snc- cessful, and taught fifteen winter terms, eight of them being in one district. Mr. McGeath was married in 1870 to Miss Sarah L. Bales, a native of Wells County, daughter of Ab- salom Bales. She died in 1877, leaving two children-Augustus M. and Lerti E. In 1881 Mr. McGeath married Mary Alice Brannum, born in Wayne County, Indiana, July 23, 1857, a daughter of H. C. Brannnm, hard- ware merchant of Montpelier. In politics Mr. McGeath is a Democrat. He has served acceptably as township trustee and assessor. He is a member of Lodge No. 410, I. O. O. F.

OSHUA T. KELLEY, treasurer of Black- ford County, was born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, November 14, 1844, his parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth (Hall) Kelley, being members of old Virginia families. When he was bnt one year old his parents moved to Tennessee, and one year later to Clinton County, Ohio, and thence in 1852 to Blackford County, locating in Wash- ington Township, where he was reared to manhood. In March, 1864, he enlisted in the war for the Union, and was assigned to Company I, Thirty-fonrth Indiana Infantry, going from Hartford City to Indianapolis, and thence to Cairo and Memphis, and about two weeks later to the mouth of Red River, and from there to New Orleans, where his regiment remained nearly a year, doing guard duty. They were then relieved and sent to the Island of Brazos Santiago, in the Gulf of Mexico, at the month of the Rio Grande River, where they remained six months, and the rest of their term of service was spent

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along the Rio Grande, at Brownsville and above that point. He was mustered out at Brownsville, and discharged at Indianapolis, in February. 1866. In August, 1886, Mr. Kelley was nominated by the Republican party for the position of treasurer of Black- ford County, and at the election, the follow- ing November, received a handsome majority over his Democratic opponent, and is now filling the position to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Ile has been twice mar- ried. First, to Annie E. Gettys, who died in October, 1878. They had three children -Sarah E., A. M. and Annie M. IIis present wife was Martha R. Pearson. They have one child-Mary Ethel. Mr. Kelley is a member of Jacob Stahl Post, No. 227, G. A. R., of which he is the present quarter- master.

ELSON D. CLOUSER, M. D., Hart- ford City, Indiana, was born in High- land County, Ohio, near Hillsboro, An- gust 13, 1822, a son of Simon and Mary (Duekwall) Clouser. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Berkeley County, Virginia, but went to Highland County in their youth, and were there mar- ried and spent their lives. Nelson D. Clouser was reared and educated in his native county. Choosing the practice of medicine as his life work in 1837 and 1838. He read nnder the direction of Drs. Isaac S. Lilley and John M. Johnston, of Hillsboro, and in the winter of 1838-'39 attended lectures at the Ohio Med- ical college. In August, 1842, he located in Hartford City, and began his practice, being the second physician to locate in the place, Dr. Long having preceded him. He has since made Hartford City his home, and the month of August, 1887, completed the forty-

fifth year of his practice in Blackford Conn- ty. When he first came to the county there were no railroads and few wagon roads, and his visits were made on horseback, sometimes so far from home that he would be absent two or three days. His course was generally through the woods, and sometimes night would overtake him and he would be obliged to camp in the woods until morning. IIe lias outlived those early experiences and now has a Incrative practice in the city of Hart- ford, where he has many friends who honor him as a citizen and love and trust him as a friend and physician. Dr. Clouser was mar- ried in Ohio in February, 1841, to Miss Mary Mann. They have five children- Charity Anu, widow of James Ruckman; Robby, of Union City, Indiana; Lydia, now Mrs. Stier, of Findlay, Ohio; Charles A., a jeweler of Madisonville, Kentucky; and Lizzie, wife of George Merrick, a dry goods merchant of Dayton, Ohio.

R. J. E. McFARLAND, a physician and surgeon of Millgrove, is a native of Ohio, born in Darke County, Novem- ber 5, 1847, a son of Lewis and Charity (Mar- qnis) McFarland. When niue years of age lie was taken by his parents to Randolph County, Indiana, the family settling on a farm on which the father is still living. His edu- cation was received at the common schools of his neighborhood, and completed at a graded school in Wayne Township. He sub- seqnently engaged in teaching, and taught one school in Randolph Connty, Indiana, and two schools in Jefferson County, Kansas. IIe began reading medicine in Angust, 1869, at Union City, Indiana, and September 30, 1869, went to Lawrence, Kansas. He took one course of lectures at the American Medi-

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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

cal College at St. Louis, Missouri. When, May 12, 1875, he settled at Millgrove, Black- ford County, his intention was to return to Kansas to practice, but owing to Kansas be- ing devastated by grasshoppers he changed his mind, and as before stated, came to Mill- grove, where he has met with success in his chosen profession, and bnilt np a good prac- tice. Dr. McFarland was married December 25, 1875, to Miss Anna McFarland, who was born in Randolph County, Indiana, Septent- ber 20, 1848, a daughter of Joseph and Susannah (Schlecthy) McFarland. They are the parents of the following children-Josie M., born January 21, 1877; Mary N., born July 9, 1882. Both the doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and among the most respected citi- zens of Millgrove. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Republican party. Lewis McFarland, the father of our subject, was born in IIolmes Connty, Ohio, March 12, 1819, and when a boy his parents moved to Mary- land, living there some two years, when they returned to Darke County. The mother of our subject was born in Darke County, March 11, 1821, where she was reared and married. She died in February, 1885. They were the parents of eight children-Mary J. married M. W. Byram, and died in March, 1872; Norman, a physician living in New Pittsburg, Randolph County; Emily E., wife of William Zumbrum, living in Kansas; William died aged about eighteen months; J. E., the subject of this sketch; James F., living in the West; George W. died aged two years, and Isaac K., who died at the age of nineteen years. John McFarland, the grand- father of our subject, was born at sea, while his parents were coming from the Highlands of Scotland to America, they settled in Mary- land near Baltimore. He died in Darke County, Ohio, in his sixty-ninth year. His

wife was American born, and also died in Darke County. They reared three children -William, Henry, and Lewis, the father of our subject. The maternal grandparents of our subject, William Kidd and Polly (Stingla) Marquis, were natives of Maryland and Vir- ginia, respectively, the former dying in Darke County, Ohio, at the advanced age of sixty- eight years. The latter is living in Randolph County, Indiana, in her ninety-first year. The father was born in Darke County, April 23, 1817, where he grew to manhood, and was there married November 29, 1838, to Susannah Schlectly, a danghter of John and Mary (Noggle) Schlecthy, who were born in Pennsylvania, and died in Darke County, Ohio. To the parents of Mrs. McFarland were born six children-John, Archibald, Mary, Eliza J., Anna and David, all of whom are living and married. Soon after their marriage they moved to Jay County, and lived in Pike Township some fifteen years, when they moved across the line to Ran- dolph County, where both died, the father November 18, 1879, and the mother April 26, 1872. Archibald McFarland, the grand- father of Mrs. McFarland, on coming to America settled in Ohio. He and his wife, Mary (Phillips) McFarland, died in County, Randolph Indiana.

HEI?

LONZO M. WILLIAMS, an active and progressive young farmer of Licking Township, is a native of Blackford County, Indiana, dating his birth in Licking Township, January 28, 1864. His parents, Zadok T. and Lydia D. (Dougherty) Williams, were among the pioneer settlers of the county, and the subject of this notice is a worthy representative of this old pioneer family. He was reared to farm life, and like the other

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BIOGRAPHICAL

members of his father's family, received the best education that the schools of his neigh- borhood afforded. He remained with his parents until after his marriage, which oc- curred February 1, 1883, to Miss Emma V. Gettys, a daughter of John R. Gettys, one of the honored pioneers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of three sons John Z .. William Y. and Charles E. In - politics Mr. Williams casts his suffrage withi the Republican party. During the compara- tively short time Mr. Williams has resided on his present property the place has shown wonderful improvements, and he bids fair to rank among the prosperons farmers of this county.

HOMAS HI. HAVERFIELD was born in Ilarrison County, Ohio, November 24, 1825, a son of Nathan and Harriet (Barnet) Haverfield. His father was also a native of Ohio, and his mother was born in Scotland, but came to America when a child. His father died in 1875, aged eighty years, and his mother March 14, 1884, aged eighty- seven years. Thomas H. Haverfield was reared in liis native county, remaining at home until two years after his marriage, when in the fall of 1850 lie moved to Indiana and located in Penn Township, Jay County. The following spring he bought eighty acres of land on section 6, Harrison Township, Black- ford County, to whichi he moved. His land was covered with a dense growth of timber, the only improvement being a little log cabin and a small patcli cleared and an orchard set out. A few of these fruit trees still „remain, although the entire place has under- gone a change. His tract of woodland is now a good farm with over sixty acres cleared, and the improvements that have been made

are indicative of the owner's thrift and en- terprise. Now for over a third of a century he lias lived in Blackford County, and has witnessed its wonderful development. He was married March 22, 1849, to Mary Ann Bell, a native of Harrison County, Ohio, a daughter of George W. and Jane (Heavilin) Bell, her father a native of Maryland and her mother of Ohio. In 1845 Mrs. Haver- field's parents moved to Pike County, Illinois, where her father died in 1846, her mother surviving many years and dying in July, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Haverfield have had two children-Harriet, deceased, and Mary Laucea Augusta. Harriet T. B. was twice married, first to Daniel G. Pierce, by whom she had two children-Thomas T. and Mag- gie May. Her second husband was Alexan- der McClish, and to this marriage were born three children-Charles S. J., Leonard Pat- terson and Della Agatha. Their daughter Mary is the wife of Daniel M. Marker, of Jay County, Indiana. Mr. Haverfield has always taken an active interest in public af- fairs, and althoughi not an aspirant for official positions has served as director of school district No. 3, and in 1881 was township supervisor. He was in politics originally an old-line Whig, but since its organization has affiliated with the Republican party.

YLVESTER ROBERTSON SHEL- TON, a resident of Blackford County since 1842, was born August 1, 1819, in what is now Logan County, West Virginia, his parents being Robertson Shelton, a native of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and Jane, née Guthrie, a native of Maryland, but reared in Virginia. When Sylvester was very young his parents moved with him to Lawrence County, Ohio, where they lived on a farm

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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

eight or nine years, and then, in 1827, moved to a point in Rush County, Indiana, two miles south of Knightstown, before even the National Road was laid out. Here the sub- ject of this sketch was innred to the hardships of farmning during a monotonons period of pioneer life, until 1842, when he moved to Blackford County, occupying a log cabin in the northern part of Hartford City two years; then he built the main part of the residence he still occupies. Until 1855 he followed the occupation of carpenter and joiner, then removed to Matamoras on the Salamonie River, a mile above Montpelier, and there for two years engaged in the mercantile business. This he sold out, with the intention of mov- ing farther West, but instead of going thither he returned to Hartford City, where he has since followed various occupations, from 1864 to 1880 being postmaster. Since the latter. year he has been assessor, insurance agent etc., is now depnty township assessor. From 1850 to 1854 he served as justice of the peace. Both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which denomination he has served as steward. In the Masonic order he has held some official position most of the time since he first became connected with it, being secretary for several years; and in both branches of Odd Fellow- ship-subordinate lodge and encampment- he has passed all the chairs. September 8, 1840, he married Miss Hannah, daughter of Belteshazzar and Rebecca (Anstin) Dragoo, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Shelton was born August 3, 1819, in Brown County, Ohio. Their children have been as follows-Jane Maria, who was born August 13, 1841, and died when nine years of age. Thomas Ben- ton, born February 16, 1843, entered the ariny during the last war, where he contracted disease from which he died March 23, 1864, and he is buried in the Hartford City ceme-

tery; Abigail R., born November 17, 1844, whose name has been radically changed to Mrs. Dillie Stahl, being the wife of E. M. Stahl; Martin Morrison, now living in New Orleans, where he has been most of the time for a number of years engaged in steamboat- ing; Julia Ann, who married Mr. Johnson and died October 5, 1870, leaving one child -Hattie E., who died in her twenty-seventh year; Nancy J., who married Dr. L. A. Spanlding, and now resides in Bluffton, Indi- ana; John McIntyre, now in Kansas; and William S., now in Troy, Ohio.

AMUEL MARKER, was born in Fred- erick County, Maryland, July 7, 1815, a son of John and Elizabeth (Water- becker) Marker, natives also of Maryland. In 1823 the family moved to Montgomery County, Ohio, where they lived nine years, when they moved to Miami County, near Piqua, where the father died in 1860, and the mother in the spring of 1865. In the sum- mer of 1836, when our subject was twenty- one years old, he went to Darke County, Ohio, which was then a wilderness, and ex- changed land in Miami County for a tract of land in Darke County. About 1840 he located on his land, which he cleared and improved, making of it a good farm, on which he lived until 1864, when he moved to Blackford County, Indiana, and settled on 110 acres of land he had previously bought in Harrison Township. A part of this land was partially cleared, but the most of the improvements have been made by Mr. Marker. He has given forty acres to his children, his home- stead now containing seventy acres, sixty of . which are under cultivation. Mr. Marker was reared in a new country, and has assisted in developing two counties. In the twenty-

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three years he has lived in Blackford County he has seen the country change front a com- parative state of wildness to one of thriving villages and well improved farms. Mr. Marker was married April 27, 1837, to Rosa- mond Robinson, a native of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, but reared in Darke County, Ohio, where her parents settled when she was a child. To Mr. and Mrs. Marker were born eight children, four of whom are living-John R., now of Warren County, Iowa; Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Menden- hall; Mary, wife of William Pugh; and Sallie, wife of Theophilus Gunckle. Andrew, Jacob, Solomon and Amanda are deceased. Mrs. Marker died September 26, 1886, when within but a few months of the fiftieth an- niversary of her marriage. In early life Mr. and Mrs. Marker united with the United Brethren church, and held their membership with that denomination until the church in Harrison Township disbanded, when they joined the Methodist Episcopal church at Shinn's Chapel. In politics Mr. Marker las been a lifelong Democrat, casting his first vote for Martin Van Buren.

ILLIAM TAUGHINBAUGH was born in New Chester, Adams County, Pennsylvania, about nine miles from Gettysburgh, the date of his birth being June 19, 1805. The Taughinbaugh family have lived in the State of Pennsylvania for generations. Mathias Taughinbaugh, the grandfather of our subject, settled in Adams County in a very early day, removing from Berks County in the same State. Nicholas Taughinbaugh, the father of our subject, was reared in Adams County, and on reaching maturity engaged in farming, as well as saddle and harness making. He married

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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