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 96

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 96
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 96

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).

and died in North Carolina. His grand- mother, Melvina (Johnson) Woodard, was born in Northampton County, North Caro- lina. His maternal grandparents, James and Winnie (Allen) Oliver, were natives of North Carolina, where the former died, and the lat- ter died in Grant County, Indiana, aged sixty-six years. Oliver Woodard lived in Clinton County, Ohio, until October, 1865, when he moved to Blackford Connty, Indiana, and settled on section 6, Washington Town- ship. Fifteen acres of the land liad been cleared and a two-story log house had been raised, but not completed. He finished the house, making it comfortable for the family the coming winter, and then went to work to prepare his land for spring sowing. He has been a hardworking man, and has been suc- cessful, having added 226 acres to the seven- ty-two he first bought. Of this he has given 118 acres to his children, reserving 180 acres in the homestead. Mr. Woodard was mar- ried January 15, 1854, to Nancy A. Fannon, who was born in Clinton County, Ohio, Jan- uary 24, 1831, a daughter of James and Catherine (Mills) Fannon. Her father was born in Louisiana March 8, 1799, and died August 26, 1871, and her mother was born in Tennessee May 1, 1809, and died January 20, 1875. They had a family of sixteen chil- dren-James W., John M., Jehu A., Nancy A., Samuel J., Jesse C., Elijah J., Wesley B., Joel H., Mary M., Melinda A., Andrew C., Elihu M., Jacob M., Reuben S. and Mil- lican. Mrs. Woodard's paternal grandpar- ents, William and Elizabeth Fannon, were natives of Scotland and early settlers of Clin- ton County, Ohio. Her maternal grandpar- ents, Reuben and Nancy Mills, were natives of Ireland, and on coming to America located in Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Woodard have had ten children-Sarah E., born November 25, 1854; Jesse, born February 25, 1856;

875

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Harrison E., born June 25, 1857, died June 6, 1882; James E., born June 8, 1859; Addi- son L., born December 1, 1860; John II., born July 17, 1862, died July 9, 1877; Chany, born September 12, 1866; Ira, born September 9, 1868, died July 9, 1877; Will- iam O., born October 10, 1872, and Clara E., born February 28, 1874.

ILLIAM II. CARROLL, ex-judge of the Forty-eighth Judicial Circuit, is a native of Indiana, born in Henry County, September 12, 1836. He graduated from Butler University at Indianapolis in 1864, and the same year was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court. He came to Blackford County in August, 1871. In 1884 he was elected judge oft he Circuit Court, as- suming the duties of his office in March, 1885. Mr. Carroll is now a resident of Ma- rion, Grant County, Indiana.

ILLIAM B. COOLEY, an active and enterprising citizen of Hartford City, was born in this city December 27, 1856, the eldest son of C. R. and Cath- erine B. (Brugh) Cooley. He received his education in the schools of Hartford City, and his first employment was as clerk in the hardware store of Fisher & Chiaffel, remain- ing with that firm but a short time. He then engaged in the grocery business in connec- tion with his father, which he continued about six years, after which he clerked in a dry goods establishment for a time. In 1880 he became a partner in his father's milling business, and is still a member of the firm known as C. R. Cooley & Sons. In the fall of 1881, with B. M. Boyd, he engaged in

the grain business under the firm name of Boyd & Cooley, but later in the same year Mr. Boyd was succeeded by C. R. Cooley, this being now a part of the business of C. R. and W. B. Cooley. They handle from 100,000 to 175,000 bushels per year at Hart- ford City, beside which they handle grain at Upland and Dunkirk, which makes the total amount handled over 400,000 bushels. Will- ianı B. Cooley is also associated with his father in a bakery and restaurant at Hartford City, to which he attends altogether. Mr. Cooley was married January 24, 1881, to Miss Cora M. Edson, a daughter of L. O. Ed- son, of Hartford City, and to them have been born two children, named-Mabel and James Clayton. In 1875 Mr. Cooley was appointed town councilnan, which position he filled with satisfaction to his constituents. Politic- ally he affiliates with the Republican party.

M ARION CREEK, a prominent citizen of Jackson Township, owns a good farm of thirty-four acres on section 11, which is well improved and well tiled, having 600 rods on twenty acres. In addi- tion to working his farm he has been engaged in the manufacture of tile since the spring of 1881, at Trenton. He burns about twenty kilns each year, each kiln containing from 800 to 1,000 rods of tile. Mr. Creek was born in Jackson Township, December 20, 1857, and is a son of Joseph and Hukla (Lanning) Creek, and grandson of Joseph and Rebecca (White) Creek, and Robert and Hulda Lanning, early settlers of Blackford County. He was reared and educated in his native township, and is now one of its most prosperous and influential citizens. He was married October 8, 1880, to Margaret A. Whitaker, who was born in Jay County,

876

HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

Indiana, January 1, 1865, a daughter of Jehn and Hannah (Rigby) Whitaker, the former now living in Jay County. Her mother died in the fall of 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Creek have two children-Florence, born March 28, 1882, and Ethel E., born July 13, 1884.

ALVIN Q. SHULL, one of the promi- nent and influential citizens of Mont- pelier, is a Pennsylvanian by birth, born in Huntingdon County, November 24, 1830, a son of Henry B. and Charity Shull. When he was but four years of age the family left Hun- tingdon County, Pennsylvania, for Wayne County, Indiana, and located in Milton, that county. There and at Cambridge City, Wayne County, the subject of this sketch was reared until reaching the age of eigliteen years, receiving his education in the schools of Wayne and Marion counties. From Wayne County the family removed to Indianapolis, where Calvin Shull commenced the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. William Funkhauser, and subsequently attended the old Indiana Central Medical · College, under the auspices of the Asbury University, graduating from that institution in 1852. He practiced a short time with his preceptor, William Funkhauser, and in June 1853 he located at Montpelier, Blackford County, and engaged in the practice of medi- cine with his brother, Dr. W. T. Shull, this partnership existing but one year. Dr. Calvin Q. Shull engaged in active practice until 1879, and since 1885 lias virtually retired from the duties of his profession. From 1870 until 1884 he carried on the drug business in connection with his medical practice. In 1879 he became connected with the Citizens' Bank of Hartford City, being appointed its vice-president, and in 1880 he established

the Montpelier Bank, which is under his entire management. For several years he lias also dealt extensively in real estate, and is now the owner of 1,000 acres of land located in Jay, Blackford and Wells counties, besides a good residence property in Indianapolis and Montpelier. Doctor Shull was united in marriage in Indianapolis, in April, 1852, to Miss Mary C. Scudder, a native of that city, and daughter of Jacob Scudder, who was one of the old pioneers of Indianapolis. He was the first inan there to have a plank floor and a glass window in his house, and lived to see the place change from a wilderness to a thriv- ing and prosperous city. He died in 1867. In politics Doctor Shull is a Republican, and takes an active interest in public affairs, and has been a member of the Central Committee of Blackford County. In his religious faith he is a Presbyterian, belonging to the church of that denomination in Montpelier.

ISAIAH CORTRIGHT is a native of Blackford County, Indiana, born in Jack- son Township, September 14, 1851, a son of Isaac and Mary (Hudson) Cortright. The father of our subject was born in Pennsyl- vania, and when a boy came with his parents by team to Blackford County, Indiana, where the father of Isaac had entered a tract of 160 acres in Jackson Township, on which the family located in 1838 or '39. The parents of Isaac lived in this county until their death. He grew to manhood in Jackson Township, where he married Miss Mary Hudson, whose parents settled in the county at a later date. Isaiah Cortright, whose name leads this sketch, was also reared in Jackson Township, receiving his education in the schools of his neighborhood and at Ridgeville College, where he pursued his studies two years. He

6. 2. Shull

879

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

then began teaching school in Blackford County, teaching two terms here, and two terms in Delaware County, after which he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in 1875 he engaged in the drug business at Hartford City. February 4, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda IIedge, a native of Blackford County, and daughter of John and Mary E. (Townsend) Hedge, her parents now living in Marshall County, Kansas. The Hedge family settled in Blackford County in a very early day, the father of Mrs. Cortright being born in the county. In 1877 Mr. Cortright was elected recorder of Blackford County. In 1881 he was elected clerk of the Circuit Court, and in 1885 was re-elected, his term of office expiring in August, 1889. He is a member of Hartford City Lodge, No. 262, I. O. O. F., and is now conductor in the lodge. He lias passed all the chairs, and has represented his lodge in the grand lodge of the State. He is also a member of the encampment at Hartford City.

EWIS WILLMAN, county superinten- dent of schools, is a native of Pennsyl- vania, born in Chambersburg, Franklin County, August 18, 1839. His parents were born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, where they were reared and married. On coming to America they lauded at Baltimore, Maryland, and soon after settled in Cham- bersburg, Pennsylvania, where the father found employment on the Cumberland Valley Railroad. In 1841 the parents removed with their family to Indiana, and after stopping a short time at Hagerstown, Wayne County, finally located in Blackford County. Here the father began farming, but being a wagon- inaker by trade, he camne to Hartford City and established a wagon manufactory about 1846,

he being the first wagon-maker in Hartford City. He continued this trade at Hartford until 1852, when he removed to his farm, and there resided until his death in 1875. He was born December 28, 1805. He came to Blackford County when it was a wilderness, and lived to see it well settled, and dotted with well cultivated farins and prosperous towns and villages. He was twice married, his first wife dying in 1850. He left a widow, who still survives him. Lewis Will- man, whose name heads this sketch, was reared from his second year in Blackford County, and has always made this county his home. He received his education in the common schools of the county, and at Asbury (now De Pauw) University, at Greencastle, Indiana, after which he engaged in teaching school in Hartford City, following that pro- fession a number of years. Mr. Willman was united in marriage September 6, 1866, to Miss Martha I. Fulton, a native of Wells County, Indiana, and a daughter of Robert R. Fulton. Her parents were among the early settlers of Wells County. Both are now deceased. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Willman of whom four are living-Fred W., a student at Purdue Uni- versity; Ernest Floyd, Emma Z. and Wade W. Olga C. and an infaut unnamed are deceased. In 1868 Mr. Willman was elected county examiner for Blackford County, and when the county superintendent law was enacted he was elected to that office which lie has since filled with the exception of a term of two years, with honor to himself and satis- faction to his constituents. Mr. Willman tauglit his first school about the commencement of the late civil war, in Washington Town- ship, Blackford County. Ilis school-honse was built of logs, and furnished with old slab benches supported by wooden pins, the writing desks being constructed by driving

880

HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

pins in the wall, and a plank laid across them. This primitive structure was subsequently replaced by a frame building, and in 1880 a substantial brick school-house was erected. Mr. Willman is an active member of the Presbyterian church in which he was ordained an elder in 1870.

AMES J. MADDOX was born in Iligh- land County, Ohio, March 7, 1827, a son of Michael and Frances (Mann) Mad- dox, who were natives of Culpeper County, Virginia, and of English and German de- scent respectively. The father was one of the early settlers of Highland County, Ohio,

and is said to have built the first blacksmith shop in that county. In 1839 he came with his family to Indiana, by team, and located near the Godfrey Reserve in Blackford County, October 13 of that year, where the year before he liad bought 147 acres of land, and here the family ex- perienced many of the privations and hard- ships incident to pioneer life. The father died on this place in 1845, in his seventy- fifth year. His widow remained on the home- stead until about 1869, when she went to Nebraska to live with her children. She died in Falls City, that State, about 1873. James J. Maddox was twelve years old when brought to this county, and here he has since made his home. He began life poor, but by good business management he met with ex- cellent success, and is to-day classed among the wealthy men of his township. He was married February 15, 1849, to Sophia M. Miller, born near Strasburg, Germany, a daughter of Jacob and Christina Miller, the former dying in 1869, and the latter in 1871. They have had seven children, of whom six

are living-Elizabeth A., wife of Harry Caff- rey, ot Findley, Ohio; Jacob married Lucy Blake, and lives in Hartford City; P. L. married Lucinda Porter, and lives in Hart- ford City; Alonzo C. married Nellie Meneely, and is engaged in the grocery business at Hartford; John W. and James H. Their son William, who is deceased, was inarried, and left at his death three children. Mr. Maddox started each of his children in life for themselves with $3,000. In October, 1861, Mr. Maddox helped raise the first com- pany from Blackford County, which was inustered in as Company I, Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and after remaining with the company for a time he resigned his com- mission as Second Lieutenant and returned home. In politics he was a Democrat before the organization of the Republican party, since which he has voted the Republican ticket. He is now serving as justice of the peace, having been twice appointed to this office by the county commissioners. He was a delegate to every State Republican Conven- tion from 1856 until. 1870, and also several times since that time.

DWIN H. FORD, one of the prominent young farmers of Harrison Township, is a native of Indiana, born in Wabash, Wabash County, January 12, 1861, a son of Dr. James and Amelia (Holton) Ford, his father being a prominent physician of Wa- bash County. He was reared in his native county, and was given good educational ad- vantages, attending first the schools of Wabash and later Lehigh University, Penn- sylvania, and Butler University, Indiana. On leaving school he decided to devote his attention to agriculture, and accordingly in 1880 located in Blackford County, where he

LA44

881

BIOGRAPHICAL, SKETCHES ..

now owns 200 acres of choice land. He is engaged in general farming, and also makes a specialty of raising the better grades of horses and cattle. In politics he is a Repub- lican. In 1883 he was elected justice of the peace, a position he is well calculated to fill. He is a member of the Phi Delta Theta Society, and also of the Knights of Pythias, Hartford Lodge, No. 135. Mr. Ford is a young man of genial manners, and in the few years he has lived in Blackford County has made many friends.

AMES A. GADBURY, a progressive farmer of Licking Township, was born on the farm where he now resides, the date of his birth being April 25, 1835. His parents settled on this farm in 1834, when the territory now embraced in Blackford County contained more wolves and other wild animals than it now has domestic live-stock. Our subject was reared amid the scenes at- tending the clearing up of the wilderness, and his youth was spent in assisting his father in the laborious work of making a farm out of a forest. In his younger days the facili- ties for obtaining an education were fully as limited as any of the other blessings of an older settled community, but he received such educational advantages as the schools of his . neighborhood afforded, and he now looks back with feelings not unmixed with pleasure at the days spent in the old log school-house, with its puncheon floor and rongh hewed benches. He remained on the home farın with his parents until reaching manhood, and when twenty-three years of age he went to Illinois, locating in La Clede County, but one year later found him again in Blackford County, and with the exception of this inter- val spent in La Clede County he has always

lived in Blackford County. Mr. Gadbury was united in marriage March 4, 1857, to Miss Mary Ann McVicker, who was also born in Blackford County, and reared within a short distance of the Gadbury homestead. Her father, Aaron Mc Vicker, was also one of the pioneers of the county, coming here abont the same time as did Mr. Gadbury's par- ents, whom he met on the way when they were coming to the county. Mr. and Mrs. Gadbury have five children living-Clara, Emma, Riley R., John Anderson and Arthur E. In his political views Mr. Gadbury is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in the public affairs of his township or county, al- though he has never been an office seeker. He has on his place a fine gravel pit, which apparently contains an inexhaustible supply of that material now such a potent factor in the improvement of this region. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gadbury live within sight of the places where they were born, and have seen the many wonderful changes which have taken place in the county, transforming it from a wilderness to its present prosperous condition.

OHIN R. HARROLD, M. D., Dundee, Indiana, was born in Forsythe County, North Carolina, March 24, 1848, a son of Ithamer and Ruth (Clampett) Ilarrold, natives of North Carolina, the father born in June, 1809, and the mother March 15, 1811. They were married in their native State, and in September, 1852, moved to Wells County, Indiana, where the father died in 1878. The mother is still living, making her home with our subject. They had a family of ten chil- dren, nine born in North Carolina and one in Wells County-Melinda and Elizabeth (both deceased); Rebecca J., wife of Isaac Richards, of De Kalb County, Missouri;

882

HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

George E., of Wells County; Lewis F., of Huntington County, Indiana; Albert II., of Pottawatomie County, Iowa; Williamn A., of Warren, Indiana; John R .; Elias, deceased; and Christina, wife of Thomas Forest, of Wells County. John R. Harrold was four years of age when his parents came to Indi- ana, and was reared in Wells County on a frontier farm. He completed his literary studies at the Bluffton High School, and sub- sequently taught eight terms in Wells Coun- ty, seven terms in the district where he at- tended when a child. Ile closed his last school March 3, 1874, and immediately began the study of medicine with Dr. J. J. Good, of Warren, remaining under his pre- ceptorship a year. Before beginning his medi- cal studies he bought forty acres of nnin- proved land and after completing a year's study he bought tools and began clearing his land, working at it a year. He then renewed his medical studies and went to Broadway Medical College, Fort Wayne, from which he graduated in the winter of 1878-'79. He practiced a few months before his graduatiou in company with Dr. Edmonson, at Dundee, but subsequently practiced alone, and has built up a large and lucrative business. He has served as county physician two years, and in the spring of 1884 was elected township trustee, and re-elected in the spring of 1886, by a handsome majority, although he is a Republican in a strong Democratic township. Dr. Harrold's mother was a distant relative of Generals Albert Sidney and Joe Johnston, and while his relatives were bending their energies to destroy the unity of our country he enlisted to assist in preserving it. He enlisted February 20, 1864, in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana In- fantry, for 100 days. Prior to this he had served two years and four months in Gover- nor Morton's provost guards, commanded by

Captain Webb. The One Hundred and Thir- ty-eighth Regiment was assigned to the Fourteenth Army Corps, which they joined at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and were placed in the Third Brigade. They daily encountered Wheeler's and Forrest's cavalry forces, and at McMinnville half of his regiment was captured. They were in the Reserve Division at both Franklin and Nashville. He was dis- charged in the fall of 1864 and returned home to Wells County. He was inarried April 4, 1872, to Saralı A. Bevington, a na- tive of Wells County, Indiana, born March 20, 1855, a daughter of Reason A. and Catherine (Shadd) Bevington, her father a native of Pennsylvania and her mother of Ireland. To Dr. and Mrs. Harrold have been born three children-Anstin T., born Febru- ary 20, 1873, Edwin O., January 26, 1875, and Myrta A., November 2, 1880. Mrs. Harrold is the sixth of nine children, her brothers and sisters being-Chambers, Clar- inda, Melissa, Henrietta, Charles S., Orin, Ira and J. Oscar.

ESSE H. DOWELL, president of the Hartford City Natural Gas and Oil Com- pany, and drainage commissioner of Black- ford County, was born in Madison County, Virginia, June 25, 1833, a son of William and Lucinda (Hill) Dowell. In September, . 1837, the family came to Indiana by team, locating first in Wayne County, where they remained about five years. The father died in Wayne County, and the winter following his death his widow and family removed to Richmand, where she lived until her death in 1870. Jesse H. Dowell, the subject of this sketch, began work in a woolen mill at Richmond when in his thirteenth year, which he continued about two and a half years,

883

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

after which he learned the boot and shoe- maker's trade. In 1850, when seventeen years of age, he came to Blackford County, where he conducted a shop of his own until 1861. He was married May 26, 1852, to Miss Fannie A. Ellis, a native of Steuben County, New York, and daughter of Seely and Hepsabeth Ellis. Her [parents came to Blackford County in 1844, and settled right in the woods, about one and a half miles from Hartford City. Her mother died in the year 1851, and her father's death occurred September 17, 1858. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dowell, of whom only two are living-Frank P. and Arthur S. Ella and Elmer are deceased. In 1861 Mr. Dowell engaged in the dry goods business with William H. Campbell, this partnership being terminated about fourteen months later by the death of Mr. Campbell. Mr. Dowell then conducted the business alone until Sep- tember, 1866. In 1867 he began dealing in grain, building one of the largest warehouses on the Pan-Handle Railroad, and continned this business until 1873, and at the same time carried on a saw-mill, which was after- ward merged into a heading factory. During this time he was also engaged in the hard- ware business. He sold out the latter busi- ness and the heading factory in 1873, and shortly afterward discontinued the grain business. After selling his hardware and manufacturing business, he entered the Hart- ford City Bank, becoming its president, which position he filled about three years, when he sold out his interest. He then en- gaged in farming and trading, he being the owner of 550 acres of choice land, all lying within a mile and a half of Hartford City, and some adjoining. In November, 1886, Mr. Dowell organized the Hartford City Natural Gas and Oil Company, of which he has been president since its organization, and

has since given his personal attention to the company's interest. In 1881 he was ap- pointed drainage commissioner, and during his term of service almost the entire drainage system of the county has been constructed in a manner to reflect credit on all connected with this great improvement. Mr. Dowell is a member of the Masonic lodge and chapter, and has passed all the chairs, and has many times represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the State. In politics he is a Re- publican. He has been councilman several times, serving five years at one time. His son, Franklin P. Dowell, is one of the enter- prising men of Hartford City. He has car- ried on a loan and fire insurance agency about two years. He has a complete set of abstract books made by himself. His wife was for- merly Miss Nancy Coddington.

ACOB M. REASONER, is one of the successful agriculturists of Jackson Town- ship, engaged in farming on sections 3 and 4, where he has 200 acres of well improved land. He is a native of Blackford County, Indiana, born in Licking Township, December 2, 1847, a son of Peter and Rhoda (Frye) Reasoner, the father born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, May 9, 1798, and the mother born in Harrison County, Virginia, February 16, 1809. The father was reared to manhood in Muskingum County, Ohio, where he was married, and the mother was reared in Guernsey County, Ohio. They were the parents of eleven children-Sebur, Wash- ington F., Mary, Noah H., Calista A., Joseph (died in early childhood), Evelyn (also died young), Harriet (died aged eighteen years), John B. and Almira C. (twins,) and Jacob M. our subject, who was the youngest child. The father remained in Muskingum Connty

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