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 95
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 95
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M. ARMSTRONG, engaged in mer- cantile pursuits in the village of Trenton, and in farming and dealing in stock, is a native of Bntler County, Ohio, born August 15, 1829. When ten years old his parents removed to Iroquois County, Illinois, and three years later settled in Wayne County, Indiana, where our subject grew to manhool, remaining there ten years. In the spring of 1853 he came with his parents, two brothers and three sisters to Blackford County, the family settling one and a half miles south of Trenton. The farm on which they settled was partially improved, having ten or twelve acres cleared, and an old log cabin bnilt. The homestead is now under fine cultivation, and
is owned by the subject of this sketch. He was united in marriage December 16, 1860, to Miss Christiana A. Afrey, who was born in Switzerland County, Indiana, in 1841, and died at Trenton, February 3, 1866, leaving her husband with three children-Ezra C., Lilly Estella, and one who died in infancy unnamed. Mr. Anderson was a second time married May 19, 1867, to Miss Lovina Ander- son, who was born and reared in Blackford County, her parents, Humphrey and Harriet (Havens) Anderson, being born in Guernsey County, Ohio. They came to Blackford County, in 1837. The father died at New Orleans, while on his way to California, in 1852. His widow still survives, and is living in Blackford County, aged sixty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have four living children-William, born March 5, 1868; Flora, born in November, 1870; Thnrel, born November 11, 1875, and Ralplı, born August 18, 1882. Mr. Anderson is a son of William and Eleanor (Kennedy) Armstrong, the father a native of Maryland, and the mother of Butler County, Ohio. The father was at one time engaged in the mercantile business, but lost his property through the dishonesty of his partner. He died in Blackford County, March 6, 1876. The mother still survives, making her home with her youngest daughter, Mary E. Ransom.
C. DAVISON, M. D., was born in Morrow County, Ohio, September 25, 1839. He was educated in his nativa State, and at the age of seventeen began reading medicine at Sonth Woodbury, Ohio, and subsequently took a conrse at Ohio Med- ical College. At the age of twenty-one years he came to Blackford County, locating at Trenton. In 1870 he attended the Indiana
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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.
Medical College, and in 1877 became a resi- dent of Hartford City. Doctor Davison was Assistant Surgeon in the Fifty-fourth Indiana Infantry during the war of the Rebellion. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
AMUEL HUGGINS is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Adams County January 5, 1832, his parents, Samuel, Sr., and Mary (Lowry) Hnggins, being also natives of the same State. The subject of this sketchi was reared to farm life in his na- tive county, where he received a liberal edu- cation. On attaining his majority he went to Miami County, Ohio, where he was inar- ried March 26, 1857, to Miss Mary J. Kava- naglı, a native of Miami County, and a daughter of David and Maria (Dick) Kava- nagli. Of the twelve children born to them ten still survive, whose names are as follows -George, David, Samuel, Abraham, Adaline, Morris, Irvin, James, Millic and Eddie. Mary Jane died in her sixth year, and Josie died aged one year. In 1858 Mr. and Mrs. IInggins removed to Indiana, locating in Delaware County, where they followed farm- ing until coming to Blackford County, in 1870. Mr. Huggins then bought eighty acres of timber land in Licking Township, which he immediately began to improve, and by persevering industry and good management he has added to his real estate until lie now las 257 acres of land, most of which is cleared and under good cultivation. Two years after locating here he engaged in the mannfacture of brick, which he has followed quite exten- sively, and has made no less than 3,000,000. He has furnished the brick for the brick bus- iness block's and other structures in Hartford City, and in fact about all the brick used in Blackford County has been manufactured by
lıim. He also put up the brick residence on the Bell farm. In 1885 he exchanged this farm for 655 acres in Washington Township, where he resided for one year. The follow- ing year lie resided in Hartford City, and he is now living on a forty acre farm located one mile northwest of Hartford City, where he lias a handsome cottage. He has again engaged in the manufacture of brick, and during 1887 expects to turn ont 400,000. Mr. Huggins is a liberal, enterprising citizen, and is always interested in any object calcu- lated to be of benefit to his township or county. IIe is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of IIartford City. Politi- cally lie affiliates with the Republican party. HIc is a member of Lodge No. 262, I. O. O. F.
B. SMITHI, President of the Citizens Bank at Hartford City, is a native of Indiana, born in Winchester, Randolphi County, November 22, 1847, a son of Jere- miah and Cynthia (Dye) Smith. He was reared at Winchester until fourteen years of age, where he had commenced his education, and on attaining that age he went to Indian- apolis to attend the Northwestern Christian University (now known as the Butler Univer- sity of Irvington). He attended this uni- versity from 1862 until 1865, and in the latter year went to Union City, where he learned the jeweler's trade. In April, 1869, he came to Hartford City, Blackford County, and engaged in the jewelry business, which he followed until February, 1877. He had been elected to the office of clerk of the conrt in 1876, and had disposed of his busi- ness to assume the duties of his office in August, 1877, his term expiring in August, 1881. In January, 1879 the Citizens' Bank was organized and he had been elected its
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
president, and after the expiration of his term of office he devoted his time exclusively to the business of the bank. In 1882, how- ever, he was elected to represent the district composed of Blackford and Wells counties, in the Indiana Legislature, and during the session he served on the house committee, State prisons, on the joint committee on State library, and one other joint committee. Mr. Smith was united in marriage in Black- ford County in February, 1873, to Miss Nancy A. Holliday, a native of Blackford County, and a daughter of Joseph W. Hol- liday. Just before the Mexican war Mr. Holliday had been elected to represent the distriet of Jay and Blackford counties in the Indiana State Legislature, but on the break- ing out of the above war he enlisted as a soldier. On his return from the army he was again elected as Representative, and while in the Legislature his death occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of four children-Cyn- thia, Elizabeth, Gretta and Addie. Mr. Smith is a member of Blackford Lodge, No. 106, A. F. & A. M., of which he has passed all the chairs, and has represented his lodge in the grand lodge of the State. He has been a member of the Democratic central committee in Blackford County several times, and twice has been its chairman.
OHN W. SAGE, M. D., of Hartford City, was born in Bear Creek Township, Jay County, Indiana, June 10, 1841, his parents, Ebenezer and Emily Sage, being among the first settlers of that county. He was reared in his native township until attain- ing the age of twenty years. July 19, 1862, he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, in Company F, Seventy-fifth Indiana Infantry, joining his regiment at Wabash, Indiana.
He then proceeded to Indianapolis, thence to Louisville, serving for some time in Ken- tucky. He went to Murfreesboro in January, 1863, remaining there until May 5, then started on the marchi for Chattanooga, and on the first day out came under fire at Hoover's Gap, where his regiment was en- gaged two or three days. From there they were engaged in fighting every day until reaching Chickamauga, where they took part in the battle of that name. Doctor Sage was wounded in the left arm at the battle of Chickamauga, which disabled him for dnty. He was sent to Nashville to hospital, and from there was transferred to a veteran reserve corps. He then commenced reading mnedi- cine, and was appointed Assistant Ward- Master, which position he held until the close of the war. He was discharged at Nashville in July, 1865, when he returned to Jay County, and for the next two years at- tended Liber College, at the same time keep- ing up his medical studies. He then went to Union City, where he studied medicine with Doctor Simmons, and afterward attended lectures at Cincinnati Medical College, from which institution he graduated in 1868. In the fall of the same year lie came to Hartford City, Blackford County, where he has since followed his chosen profession, and being well skilled in medical science, has succeeded well, building up a large and lucrative prac- tice. Doctor Sage was married July 1, 1869, to Miss Martha E. Barr, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and a daughter of Henry and Emily Barr, who are now living in Jackson Township, Blackford County. To this union have been born five children, whose names are-Harry Alvin, Ernest-D., Freddie Arthur, Mary Gertrude and Howard Hamlin. In politics Doctor Sage is a Republican. Ile has twice been president of the town board, and is at present a member of the city conn-
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IIISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.
cil. He is also a member of the board of health. He is a comrade of the Grand Army. Post No. 228 of Hartford City, and has held the position of Surgeon ever since the post was established. He is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, and has been jimior warden of Blackford Lodge, No. 106, about ten years. He is a member of the State Eclectic Medical Society.
ENJAMIN F. KELLEY, a worthy and respected citizen of Washington Town- ship, is a native of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, born in June, 1823, and is a son of James and Betsy (Stone) Kelley, natives of Virginia, both of whom died in Pittsylvania County. The father was of Irish ancestry, his grandfather being a native of Ireland, and on coming to America settled in Virginia, in which State lie lived until his death. Benja- min F. grew to manliood in his native State, and was there married January 4, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Hall, a native of Campbell County, Virginia, where she was married. Two years after his marriage Mr. Kelley left his native county for McMinn County, Ten- nessee, wliere he remained about eight months, working by the month for a farmer. He then immigrated with his family to Clin- ton County, Indiana, where he farmed on rented land for six years. From Clinton he came to Blackford County, where he inade his first land purchase, buying a tract of eighty acres of heavy timber land in the school section of Washington Township. By persevering industry and years of toil he cleared his land and added to his original purchase until he became the owner of 280 acres, part of which he has given to his children. He still retains 105 acres, lis farm being well improved and under cultiva-
tion. Here the family endured many of the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life, but are now living to enjoy the fruits of their years of toil. Their liumble log cabin has been replaced by a comfortable and com- modious frame residence, and the out-build- ings on his farm are noticeably good, the entire surroundings showing care and thrift. Mrs. Kelley died January 16, 1880, leaving at her death three children-Joshua T., William HI. and Martha J. Mr. Kelley was married a second time in November, 1882, to Mrs. Amanda J. (Baker) Bowen, widow of James Bowen, and to this union have been born four children, whose names are-Min- nie M., Ida M., John A. Logan and Benjamin Franklin. Mrs. Kelley is a native of Penn- sylvania, born in 1846, and when fourteen years old was brought by her parents to Blackford County, Indiana. She was twice married in Blackford County, her first lius- band, James Bowen, leaving at his deathı two children, named Della M. and William T. In his political views Mr. Kelley affiliates with the Republican party.
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ARIUS SHINN was born in Harrison County, West Virginia, November 16, 1815, a sou of Daniel and Mary (Whiteman) Shinn. Daniel Shinn was born in old Virginia, and when a young man went to West Virginia, where he married Mary Whiteman. They lived in Harrison County until 1823, when they moved to Tyler Coun- ty, where they lived until 1829, when they started for the West, taking a flat-boat to Cincinnati, and thence going by canal to Hamilton where they hired a team to take them to Indiana. They located in Henry County, which was then in a wild State. There Mrs. Shinn died in November, 1833, Mr.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Shinn subsequently removed to Fayette, and thence to Blackford County, and from here went to Dubnqne County, Iowa, and from there to Illinois, where he died. His family consisted of thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters. Darius Shinn was reared in his native State and in Henry County, Indi- ana. After the death of his mother he be- gan to work for himself and was employed on farms in Wayne, Henry and Fayette coun- ties. He was married in Fayette County in October, 1840, to Rachel Turner, a native of Ohio. In November, 1841, they moved to Blackford County, and located on ninety-two and three-fourth acres which he had entered five years before, and on which he had made a deadening. This land was in the wilder- ness and with the exception of the deadening and the round-log house he liad built was un- improved. The only roads were those he hewed ont through the woods. Game was plentiful and Mr. Shinn being a good marks- man killed more than enough to keep the family in meat. As an evidence of his skill with the rifle we cite a few of his adventures: One day when returning to his home from Montpelier lie saw five deer and taking aim he killed a doe. Reloading he waited a few minutes when a buck returned and he killed him, and again waiting he killed the third one, all falling within five rods of each other. He killed four wild turkeys one morning be- fore breakfast by calling them up, while standing under a tree. One morning when calling turkeys he heard something heavy step on the leaves behind him, and on looking around, saw a wild-cat creeping up on him, having probably been drawn to the spot by the smell of the turkeys. Mr. Shinn drew his gun on him and he immediately left the field to his superior hunter. Wild hogs were numerons and one cold winter a number were frozen to death. Wolf tracks were often
seen about the house in the morning, and a wild eagle and ravens were often seen. Mr. Shinn has been identified with the county nearly a half century, and is located on the same place where he built his log cabin in 1840. He is an honorable, upright man, and has been one of the foremost in advancing the interests of the county, which he has seen develop from a wilderness to one of the best in the State. He is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church at Shinn's Chapel, which he helped to organize, and has been a trustee over a third of a century. In poli- tics he is a Republican. He has held the office of supervisor several years. Mrs. Shinn died in 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Shinn had ten children, seven of whom are living-Sarah Jane, wife of Jep McDaniel, of Jay Conn- ty; Martha, Philip A., Mary Amanda, wife of Stephen Smith; Cornelius, of Jay County; Mahala, wife of James Dawley, of Jay County, and Charlotte Abigail. Martha and Abigail are at home with their father. Daniel Henry was a member of the Thirty- fourth Indiana Infantry, serving through the war and died after his return home, from the effects of his army life. Silas Newton was a member of the Seventy-fifth Indiana In- fantry, and died at Gallatin, Tennessee, from the effects of taking cold while sick with the measles. Arabel died at the age of sixteen years.
ICHARD STROBLE, a well-to-do farın - er, residing on section 6, Jackson Town- ship, is the owner of 214 acres of good land, 146 acres being in the homestead and the rest on section 7, and also a lot containing three acres and a house in Hartford. IIe was born in Germany, February 15, 1830, a son of Nathan and Mary (Shipley) Stroble,
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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.
both born in Germany in 1801. The former died in 1866 and the latter in 1865. When twenty years of age, in 1850, he came to the United States, landing in New York City. He first went to Waterloo, Canada, but six weeks later returned to New York and shipped as a sailor, following the sea two years. He then went to Buffalo, Cleveland, Columbus, Springfield and Dayton, remaining a short time in each place. At Dayton he was taken sick and for three months was in the hospital. After his recovery he worked on the railroad two months and then returned to Dayton, and for eighteen months was employed in a saloon. Tiring of this lie again engaged in railroading at Union City, Indiana, four months, when he went to Muncie and worked six months in a steam saw-mill. He then went to Texas and found employment with a cattle-dealer, and assisted in driving a herd of 400 to Pittsburg. They swam the herd over the Missouri River at St. Joseph, the Mississippi at Burlington and the Illinois at Peoria. While crossing the Mississippi two were lost, being too weak to make the Illinois shore. They were from January 1 to September 15 in going from Texas to Pittsburg. Soon after this went to St. Louis, and four months later to New Orleans, on a steamer, where he was employed as fireman at $75 a month. At New Orleans he obtained employment as foreman for a molasses house, remaining there three months. He then returned to St. Louis, and thence to St. Josephi, where lie was engaged by a drover who was abont starting across the plains with 600 cattle. The Indians being troublesome they only went to Utah, when they returned, but the following spring, 1859, again started for Cal- ifornia, but again were forced to retrace their steps. Returning to St. Joseph he left the drover and came again to Indiana, and opened a butcher's shop, which he ran six months.
He then worked a year for a farmer, and then for a few months in a livery stable, when lic concluded to settle down and was therefore married. Ile lived in Muncie five years after his marriage and then moved to Hartford City, where he lived over five years, when he bonglit eighty acres of land which he cleared, and engaged in farming, at which he has been snecessful, being now one of the prosperous citizens of Jackson Township. Hc was married July 9, 1863, to Mary Wentz, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1836, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Wentz, who came from Germany to America in 1832, and in 1842 moved to Blackford County, Indiana, where the father died in 1874, aged sixty- eight years, and the mother in 1881. They were the parents of seven children -- Anna D., Jacob, Henry, Philip, Jolin, Mary and Eliza- beth. Mrs. Stroble died February 9, 1870, leaving three children-Jacob A., born Jan- uary 6, 1864; John E., born May 6, 1868; and Richard F., born February 9, 1870. April 9, 1871, Mr. Stroble married a sister of his first wife, Anna D. Wentz, who was born in Germany, February 6, 1830.
UDGE JEREMIAH SMITH, a promi- nent man in the early history of Indi- ana, who is now deceased, was born in South Carolina in the year 1805. Hc came with his father, William Sinitli, to Randolph County, Indiana, in 1817, and in early man- hood moved to Winchester, that county. He was truly a self-educated man, having but very limited school facilities during his early life, but by diligent study at home he was enabled to teach school, and taught one term at Rich- mond, Indiana. He acquired a knowledge of surveying, and from 1820 until 1822 he was engaged on the survey of Kankakee County.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
He studied law in Winchester with Zachariah Pratt, and was admitted to practice there in 1837. Charles Conway was for twenty-one years clerk and recorder of Randolph County, and with him Mr. Smith was for many years associated as deputy and in other capacities. HIe held nearly every office in the gift of Randolph County and the judicial district, including the offices of sheriff and deputy sheriff, prosecuting attorney, surveyor, depu- ty clerk, and judge of the Circuit Court. His principal attention, however, was given to his profession, which he practiced for thirty years, gaining the reputation of being one of the best judges of English law in the courts of Indiana. In 1839 he erected the Franklin House at Winchester. In connection with Hon. O. H. Smith he located the town of Union City, which made such progress after the completion of the Bee Line in 1853. Judge Smith, however, maintained his resi- dence at Winchester, making that place his home until his death. He was the anthor of several manuscript volumes, among which may be mentioned, " Reminiscences of Ran- dolph County," and " Civil History of Ran- dolph County." The maiden name of his wife was Cynthia Dye. She died July 7, 1872, her death resulting from terrible injuries she received in a railroad accident at the depot of the Richmond & Grand Rapids Railroad, at Winchester. Her sad end is supposed to have hastened the death of her husband, who died in December, 1874. They were the parents of ten children, eight still living- William H., a merchant at Union City; John Dye, jeweler, Union City; Charles C., farmer near Winchester; Mary E., wife of Frank B. Carter, of Bradford, Ohio; Henry B., a banker of Hartford City; Charlotte, wife George W. White, of Bradford, Ohio; J. Giles, a plumber and gas-fitter of Indianapolis, and Oliver H., of Union City. Judge Smith was a man of 51
pronounced opinions on any subject in which he became interested. He was a strong ad- herent of the principles of the Democratic party, of which he was an able and uncom- promising advocate. His parents were con- sistent members of the regular Baptist church. He was a member of the Disciples, and was active in the support of that branch of the Christian body, being also an accredited teach- er among them. He was a successful business man, and by prudence and foresight he amassed a handsome fortune, most of which was in landed estate. He was a man of strict integ- rity, honorable in all his dealings, and wou the confidence and esteem of all who knew him.
JOHN T. BROTHERTON, general mer- chant, Dundee, Indiana, was born in Preble County, Ohio, November 8, 1838, a son of Jolin T. and Polly (West) Brotherton. John T. Brotherton, Sr., was born in North Carolina in 1800, and when sixteen years of ageaccompanied his parents to Preble County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and was married, and in 1840, with his wife and two children, he moved to Indiana and settled in Wells County. In the spring of 1858, they moved to Crawford County, Wisconsin, but not liking the country they returned to Indi- ana, and located in Allen County, where the father, overcome by discouragements and disease, died in August, 1858. The mother then returned with her family to Wells County, where she passed the remainder of her life. They had a family of ten children, seven of whom were born in Wells County. The eldest died in Preble County, aged one year, and the others in the order of their births are as follows-Sarah A., Jolın T., William, James, George, Hannah, Nancy,
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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.
Thomas and Eliza. William, James, and George, were soldiers in the war of the Re- bellion, and Willianı sacrificed his life for his country, living but four days after his return home. Jolın T. Brotherton, Jr., was reared in Wells County, living there until after his marriage. He was married March 3, 1864, to Miss Abigail Wright, who was born in Clinton County, Ohio, May 30, 1845, a daugliter of Jesse and Eliza (Woolsey) Wright. When she was less than a year old, her par- ents mnoved to Wells County, Indiana, where her father died. Her mother afterward mar- ried again, and is now living in Blackford County with a son of her second marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Brotherton have had six chil- dren-Emma E., Mary F., Irvin O., Rosa W., James C. and Ada O. Mr. Brotherton is a self-made man, starting in life with no means; he has accumulated an ample fortune, and is now numbered among the prosperous business men of the county.
LIVER WOODARD, section 6, Wash- ington Township, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, November 20, 1832, a son of Etheldred and Nancy A.(Oliver) Wood- ard, natives of Northampton County, North Carolina, his father born in September, 1809, and his mother in 1810. His mother died June, 1846, and his father April 11, 1864. They were married in their native State, where two children were born to them, and subsequently moved to Clinton County, Ohio, where they both died. They had a family of six children-Lecy, Lucy A., Oliver, James H., Jeremiah D. and Winnie M. Lecy and James are deceased. Mr. Woodard is of English descent, his great-grandfather coming to America in an early day. His grandfath- er, Jesse Woodard, was a native of Tennessee,
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