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 98

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 98
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 98

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AMUEL S. CARRELL, an enterpris- ing and prosperous citizen of Blackford County, was born at Xenia, in Greene County, Ohio, November 27, 1830, a son of George B. and Censaline (Shirley) Carrell. The parents were born and reared and mar- ried in Charleston, West Virginia, and in 1828 removed to Xenia, Ohio, where the father followed cabinet-making and under- taking until 1837. In that year he located with his family in Logan County, Ohio, and from there went to Mount Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa, where he died April 30, 1886, within five days of his eightieth birthday. His wife died at Mount Pleasant March 20, 1875. Samuel S. was seven years old when taken by his parents to Logan County, where he was reared to manhood, receiving his edu- cation principally in the schools of that county. His early occupation was that of a carpenter and joiner. In 1863 he engaged in the mercantile business at West Liberty, Ohio, and in 1865 removed to North Lewis- burg, Champaign County, where he engaged in the hardware trade, remaining there until the spring of 1873. In 1872 he removed his hardware business to Hartford City, Black- 52

ford County, Indiana, which he carried on until 1880, when his health becoming im- paired owing to close attention to his bnsi- ness, he retired from mercantile life, and has since devoted his time to liis farm. He has over 600 acres of choice land, of which over 500 acres are located in Blackford County. In connection with general farming he pays considerable attention to stock-raising, and is making a specialty of sheep. Mr. Carrell was married in Champaign County, Ohio, February 21, 1854, to Miss Virginia E. Brown, a native of that county where she was reared. Her parents were originally from Frederick County, Virginia. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Carroll three are living-Gertrude M., wife of George W. Hutchinson, hardware merchant, of Hartford; Harry B., living at Coronado, Wichita County, Kansas, where he conducts a meat market, and Samuel Shirley. William M. is deceased. Politically Mr. Carrell is a Republican. He united with the Odd Fel- lows order in 1853, of which he has since been a member.

HIOMAS ARMSTRONG, one of the respected citizens of Jackson Township, where he is engaged in farming and shipping stock, was born in Butler County, Ohio, December 23, 1842, a son of Willianı and Eleanor (Kennedy) Armstrong. The father was born in Maryland, March 21, 1800, and when a year old was taken by his parents to Hamilton County, Olno, where he was reared. The mother was born in Ohio December 23, 1804. When our subject was six years old they removed to Decatur County, Indiana, and four years later, in 1854, came with their six children to Blackford County, and settled one and a half miles

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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

south of Trenton, where the family was reared. The father died March 24, 1876. The mother is still living, making her liome at Bluffton, with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Elizabetlı Ransom. The names of their chil- dren are as follows-Andrew M., living in Trenton; Maria, wife of Jolm H. Dailey; Priscilla, wife of Benjamin Slack, living near Fort Scott, Kansas; John K., a farmer of Jackson Township; Thomas, our subject, and Mrs. Elizabeth Ransom. Grandfather Arm- strong was born in Maryland, and died in Ilamilton County, Ohio, aged sixty years. He married Priscilla White, and her father's family were among the first settlers at Cin- cinnati, locating along the banks of the Ohio River about 1760 and 1765. She died in La Fayette, Indiana, aged eighty-two years. The great-grandfather Armstrong was a native of Ireland, coming to America when a young inan, locating in Maryland before his marriage. Thomas Armstrong, whose name heads this sketch, was in his fourteenth year when he came with his parents to Blackford County, where he grew to manhood on his father's farm. He was first married November 2, 1860, to Miss Mary L. Alfrey, a native of Indiana, born in October, 1841. She died March 3, 1866, leaving two children-Nancy, born September 11, 1862, and Edward, born September 14, 1864. Mr. Armstrong was again inarried September 30, 1866, to Miss Rebecca Havens, born in Blackford County, Indiana, April 29, 1844, a daughter of Seely and Elizabeth (Stall) Havens. To this union have been born six children-Cora, born Au- gust 9, 1867; Arthur, July 3, 1868; Lee, born May 6, 1871; Wilfred, January 8, 1873; Elmer, August 11, 1878, and Emory, Febru- ary 5, 1883. Mrs. Armstrong's father was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, August 4, 1815, where he was reared, and in 1837 came with his parents to Harrison Township,

Blackford County, Indiana. He was married in Blackford County to Elizabeth Stall, a na- tive of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, born June 19, 1819, and to them were born five children-Benjamin Franklin, a farmer living in Blackford County; Rebecca; Jacob Calvin died in 1877, aged twenty-six years; Sarah E., living with her mother on the old home- stead, and Pierce, who is also living on part of the homestead. The father died Septem- ber 3, 1878. He was a son of James and Phœbe (Dyson) Havens, both of whom died on the home farmn where they first settled in Blackford County. Mrs. Armstrong is a member of the Protestant Methodist church. Mr. Armstrong is a member of Trenton Lodge, No. 405, A. F. & A. M. He is an active and public-spirited citizen, and is always interested in any enterprise for the advancement of his township or county. The first saw-mill in Jackson Township was built at Trenton by Mr. A. M. Armstrong, Daniel Landon and David Creek. The father of our subject built the first frame school-house in Jackson Township, on section 24, and the same year, 1856, he also built the school- honse at Converse.

IRAM FOGLE was born in Noble County, Ohio, August 28, 1835, a son of Elisha and Miranda (Merry) Fogle, his father a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Vermont. They both died on the homestead in Noble County, which the father entered from the Government and on whichi he lived fifty-six years. They reared a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters. Hiram was reared on the old homestead, re- ceiving but limited educational advantages. He was married in December, 1857, to Eliza- beth Jane Wood, and to them were born three

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

children, two of whom are living-Miranda Jane and Willianna. Mrs. Fogle died in March, 1866, and Mr. Fogle afterward mar- ried Almira James, who died in 1880, leaving four children-Rachel Matilda, Hollis Harry, Birdie Belle and Hiram Elmer. In August, 1882, Mr. Fogle married Anna Condray, and to them have been born three children-Dor- rel D., Cora Belle, and an infant unnamed. In December, 1861, Mr. Fogle enlisted in Company G, Seventy-eightlı Ohio Infantry, and participated in the battles at Fort Donel- son, Shiloh, Corinthi, Jackson, siege of Vicks- burg, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, and was with Sherman to the sea, and was in line at the grand review of the army at Washing- ton. IIe was wounded at the battle of Vicksburg, a thirty-pound shell hitting him in the shoulder, and has never recovered from the effects of the shock, and now receives a pension. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Post 368. In politics he is a Republican. IIe is one of Blackford County's prosperous citizens, owning a good farm ot 155 acres, which is well improved.

W. HOLMES, one of the enterpris- ing business men of Hartford City, a member of the firm of Holmes & Shinn, is a native of Indiana, born in Huntington County, May 2, 1863, a son of J. P. and Anna Holmes. When he was eight years old his parents removed with their family to Delaware County, locating at Eaton, where he attended school regularly during his residence at that place. Six years later the parents changed their place of residence to Blackford County, and our subject completed his education in the schools of Hartford City. At the age of sixteen years he began working iu a spoke factory, where he was employed

three years. IIe thien learned the jeweler's trade, mastering all its details, and has since successfully carried on the business. IIe is a Knight of Pythias, and is a charter mem- ber of the lodge of that order at Hartford City.

K. GADBURY, a worthy representa- tive of that old and honored pioneer, James A. Gadbury, Sr., was born in Ross County, Ohio, January 29, 1820. He was fourteen years of age when the family came to Blackford County to build a home in the wilderness, and his youth was spent in assisting his father clear up their farm. He grew to manhood on the home place, and October 1, 1842, he was married to Miss Lucy Ann Townsend, a native of Steuben County, New York, and a daughter of Gil- bert and Mary (Saxon) Townsend. Five children were born to this union, of whom three are living-Lucy Ann, IIenry T. and Lydia Jane. Gilbert and Joseph are de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gadbury commenced housekeeping right in the woods of Licking Township, the country at that time being in such a wild state that Mr. Gadbury had to cut a road three miles through the forest be- fore reaching his place. Ilere he built a rude log cabin which served them as a shel- ter for a time, when it was replaced by a cabin built of poplar logs, with walls two . feet in thickness, this being at the time of its construction considered one of the best houses in the county. This in turn has seen its day, and the present residence is hand- some and commodious, being one and a half stories in height, and built in modern style, and the farm, once a dense forest, is now one of the finest in the county. It is divided into cleven fields, and is underdrained by 600

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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

rods of tile, and the entire surroundings show the care and thrift of the owner. In politics Mr. Gadbury is a Democrat, and has served Licking Township as justice of the peace, in which office he made an honorable record. He has witnessed the many changes which have taken place in the county, seeing the fine gravelled pikes of to-day supplant the Indian trail which in former years threaded its way here and there through the forests, and the wigwam give way to the log cabin of the carly settler, which in their turn through successive changes make room for the hand- some residences of to-day.

OHN S. TEMPLIN was born at Hills- boro, Highland County, Ohio, July 22, 1828, a son of James and Catherine (Swan) Templin. James Templin was born in Ohio, and was reared near Chillicothe, and after his marriage located at Hillsboro, where he worked at the tanner's trade. In 1829 he moved to Indiana by team, there being 110 roads of any kind, the only path through the woods being the old Indian trail. ile en- tered a tract of land in what is now Perry. Township, Delaware County, and while he was getting a cabin built, his family remained in Bluntsville, Henry County. Wild animals were the principal inhabitants of the county, and wolves were especially troublesome, as the stock of the settler was not safe fromn their depredations. The family lived on this farm about eight years; and then bought an- other tract in the same township, on which he lived until 1853, when he moved to Wheeling, Delaware County, and subse- quently to Grant County, where he died in 1880, aged seventy-five years. His wife died in Delaware County about 1842. He was originally an old-line Whig, and subsequently

became identified with the Republican party. He and his wife were members of the Pres- byterian church. John S. Templin remained with his father until his marriage, and then settled on the farm where he now lives, but seven or eight acres of which were at that time free from timber. He now has fifty- three of his ninety acres cleared and under cultivation, and his farm is one of the best in the township. In 1883 he built a hand- some, substantial residence, which conimands a fine view of the surrounding country, and lis grounds are tastefully laid out, and orna- mented with beautiful shrubs and shade trees. Mr. Templin was married October 9, 1851, to Elizabeth Atkinson, a native of Pennsyl- vania. She died May 10, 1863, leaving three children - George H., Hannah Ann and James Albert. October 27, 1867, he married Elizabeth Lyons, a native of Muskingum County, Ohio. To them have been born five children. The eldest, Addie Jane, is de- ccased. The others are-Charles Oscar, Richard Anson, Florence Willene and Ida Blanche. Mr. and Mrs. Templin are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church, of which he is a ruling elder. In politics he is a Na- tionalist, withi prohibition proclivities. He is an exemplary man, and is respected by his friends and neighbors.

EANDER TARR, an old and respected pioneer of Blackford County, who is now deceased, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, September 16, 1827, where lie grew to manhood. He was married in his native State to Miss Mahala Mills, Septem- ber 30, 1847, who was also born in Clinton County, Ohio, August 9, 1825. To them were born eight children- Samuel, born January 26, 1849, and died June 3, 1881;

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Lucius, born July 16, 1850; Annis, born September 1, 1851, married James R. Will- iams, and died at Hartford City, April 12, 1873; Marvel, born July 8, 1853; John, born November 25, 1854, and died January 13, 1876; Moses, born May 26, 1856; Alonzo, born December 24, 1858; Emily Alice, born December 11, 1860, married Theodore Moon, and dicd September 18, 1886, leaving two children. Mrs. Mahala Tarr died April 24, 1879.

OLEMAN L. BUTCHER was born near Knoxville, East Tennessee, in 1829, his parents, Joseph and Mary (Oak) Butcher, being born and reared in East Ten- nessee. They remained in their native State mitil the subject of this sketch was nine years of age, when they removed with their family to Ripley County, Indiana, the father dying in that county shortly after. The mother and children remained there abont one year, when they removed to Delaware County, locating in the vicinity of Muncie, and about four years later came to Blackford County and settled in Licking Township, where Mrs. Butcher had previously entered. This land was right in the woods, and here our subject grew to manhood amid the scenes and incidents of pioneer life. No towns were to be seen in the county at that early day, and Mr. Butcher has picked berries where the city of Hartford is now located. Game of all kinds was very plentiful, and lie has often see his brother shoot deer from their cabin door. During his youth he was bound out for a time. He was a yonng mall of rugged constitution, and has assisted many of the early settlers in the erection of their cabins. After reaching manhood he was the mainstay of his father's family, caring for

his mother until her death, which occurred about 1859. Mr. Butcher was married in 1848 to Miss Frances Ellen Powell, a native of Pennsylvania, coming to Blackford County from Ohio. She died about ten years after marriage, leaving at her death three children -Mary, Joseph, residing in Mercer County, Illinois, and James. Mr. Butcher was again inarried about 1873 to Miss Cynthia Hal- dren, and of the six children born to this union one only survives, a son named Walter. Mr. Butcher was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in 1862 in Company I, Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served for a time in Kentucky. He was taken sick while in the service, and was mustered ont in Arkansas, when he returned to his home. After his health was restored he returned to the army, enlisting in Company I, One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana Infantry at Hartford City. His regiment rendezvouscd at Kokomo, thence to Nashville, Tennessee, and from there went to Georgia on the Atlanta campaign. He was under fire first at Resaca, and from that time until the taking of Atlanta he was under fire abont 100 days, participating in all the heavy engagements of that celebrated campaign, and in all the movements which resulted in the fall of Atlanta. Ile was then taken sick, and his command going back with General Thomas toward Nashville he was in line again for the battle of Nashville, and once inore participated in the great and decisive battle of Nashville, where the rebels were completely vanquished. After this he went with his regiment down to North Carolina, and after one engagement they came upon the flank of Johnston's army, where they re- mained until the surrender of Johnston twelve miles from Raleigh. He participated in the grand review at Raleigh, and was there mus- tered out in July, 1865. To this day one of his hands bears the mark of a rebel bul-

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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

let. After his return from the army he bought forty acres of his present farm, then heavily covered with timber, which he in- mediately began to clear and improve, and to this he has added until lie now owns sixty- seven and three-quarter acres, of which about forty-five acres have been cleared and brought under cultivation. He has a natural slope and drainage on his land, and has constructed a system of drainage from timber, and has also laid some tile, his improvements being as good as any in Licking Township. His present substantial and commodious residence was erected in 1885, and in the spring of 1887 his fine barn was completed. Mr. Butcher has spent the greater part of his life in this portion of Indiana, and has had his share of the hardships and privations inci- dent to pioneer life. He has witnessed about all the material growth of the county, and has lived to enjoy its prosperity, and by his fair and honorable dealings through life he has gained the confidence and respect of the entire community. He is a member of the Dunkard church, in which he has served as deacon. In politics he is a Republican, and is a firm advocate of the principles of that party.

H. HIATT, proprietor of the Hartford City Livery Stables, is a native of In- diana, born in Grant County, June 17, 1848. His father is a native of Ohio, and his mother, Drusilla (Johnson) Hiatt, was born in Indiana. He was reared to manhood in his native county, and in 1870 came to Hart- ford City, Blackford County. At that time he possessed but limited means, but with a determination to succeed he established him- self in the livery business, and his success in this undertaking has been something remark-

able, and his natural business ability, and the strict attention he has paid to the details and requirements of his trade have placed him in the front rank of Hartford City's business men. His livery barn has a frontage of 32 feet on Washington street and 40 feet on Monroe street, beside which he has sheds for stabling fifty horses. He has an excellent equipment of rigs, and a number of first-class horses, all being of good stock. In connec- tion with his livery he also conducts the Hartford City Bus and Transfer Line, which has become popular, the certainty and promptitude of the service giving complete satisfaction.

HEODORE FUQUA, a respected and worthy citizen of Blackford County, resides on section 32, Jackson Town- ship, where he owns eighty acres of well im- proved land. He was born in Madison County, Indiana, February 29, 1844, a son of Austin and Elizabeth (Woods) Fuqua, natives of the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, where they were reared and married. Soon after their marriage the parents moved to Indiana, and settled in Henry County, and thence to Madison County, and in 1850 moved to Delaware County, where the father died in April, 1863. The mother died in 1873, and both are buried near the old homestead. They were the parents of thirteen children-Jordan, Burden, William, James, Harry (died aged six years), Mary J., Theodore, Sarah A., Elizabeth, John, Nancy, an infant died 1111- named, and Margaret E. Theodore was six years old when his parents moved to Dela- ware County, and there he was reared, remaining at home until after the breaking ont of the war of the Rebellion, when filled with patriotic zeal, he enlisted August 4,

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

1862, in the defense of his country's honor, and was assigned to Company B, Sixty- ninth Indiana Infantry. His regiment joined General Nelson's command in Kentucky, and at Riclnmond, he with others of his regiment were captured, but were paroled a few hours later, although not exchanged for two months. They then joined General Grant's command at Memphis, and soon after had an encounter with the enemy at Chickasaw Bluff. From there they went to Arkansas and assisted in the capture of Arkansas Post. Returning they went into camp at Milliken's Bend, where Mr. Fuqua was taken sick, and being unable to perform his duties, he was dis- charged April 20, 1863. He reached home May 1, and for a year was unable to engage in any business, but this year of rest, supple- mented by the care of his devoted mother, restored his health. Mr. Fuqua was mar- ried October 3, 1864, to Mary J. Rinker, who was born in Delaware County, Indiana, De- cember 4, 1845, a daughter of Jolin and Jane (Clevinger) Rinker, whose farm adjoined the Fuqua homestead, Mr. and Mrs. Fuqua being schoolmates in their childhood. They have had three children -- Emma F., born June 22, 1865; Maggie L., born August 1, 1867, died August 29, 1870; and Clara M., born June 25, 1872. Emma F. was married September 22, 1881, to Joseph Whitecotton, who died November 21, 1883. leaving one child-Jesse Earl, who was born September 21, 1883, and died October 31, 1886. She was again married June 14, 1885, to J. B. Orndorff, and they have one child-Ora Gol- den, born September 28, 1886. The parents of Mrs. Fuqua were natives of Virginia, her father born May 10, 1803, and her mother January 28, 1809. They were reared and married in their native State, and soon after their marriage moved to Union County, Ohio, and thence a few years later to Henry County,

Indiana, subsequently moving to Delaware County, where the father died March 1, 1874. The mother now makes her home with Mrs. Fuqua. They were the parents of ten chil- dren-Elizabeth, born November 11, 1827, died in September, 1875; George, born May 1, 1830; Daniel, October 7, 1832; Jacob, April 2, 1837; Phœbe, born September 23, 1834, died in 1841; Samuel, born January 26, 1840; Aaron, born April 16, 1842; Alura, born December 19, 1843; Mary Jane, born December 4, 1845, and Sarah E., born August 29, 1850.

ACOB C. HESS, deceased, was born in Wells County, near Ossian, March 7, 1840, a son of Daniel and Sarah (Covault) Hess, who were both natives of Pennsylvania, the father born in Bedford County. They were married in their native State, and in an early day removed to Wells County, Indiana, when the surrounding country was a wilder- ness. White settlers were few at that time, Indians being the principal inliabitants of the county, and the cabin of the Hess family was visited almost every day by Indians. The father died in Wells County about six months after the birth of our subject, and shortly after the mother and family returned to Pennsylvania. When our subject was tlirce years of age the family returned to Indiana, and located in Licking Township, Blackford County, on land on which not a stick had been cut but what had been cut down to put up a log cabin. The mother is still a resident of Blackford County, living not far from Dunkirk. Jacob C. Hess, the subject of this sketch, was reared from his third year in Blackford County, making his home on the land on which his mother first located in Licking Township, until his marriage, when

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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

he removed to the place in Licking Township, which is still occupied by his widow. Mr. Hess was married October 21, 1866, to Miss Nancy E. Moore, born near New Cumberland, Grant County, a daughter of Henry and Maria (Atkinson) Moore. Four children were born to this union, all of whom are living-Elmira, wife of G. J. Patton; Burt, William L. and Callie Gertrude. Mr. Hess was a man much respected by all who knew him, and his death which occurred March 10, 1883, was a source of universal regret throughout the community in which he lived. He was a member of the Methodist Protes- tant church, to which his widow still belongs. In politics he was first a Republican, but later affiliated with the National party. He . always took a deep interest in public affairs, but was not an office seeker, and although once elected to the office of constable he declined to serve.

OSES W. LANNING, engaged in the manufacture of tile at Millgrove, is a native of Blackford County, Indiana, born in Jackson Township, March 26, 1850, and liere lie was reared on a farm, and received his education in the common schools. He was married January 1, 1880, to Miss Almeda L. Wright, who was also born in Jackson Township, Blackford County, the date of hier birth being February 16, 1860, and is a daughter of William G. and Talitha J. (Buckles) Wright. Mr. and Mrs. Lanning are the parents of three children -- Lefa A., born October 15, 1880; Hattie J., born August 19, 1883, and an infant son, born March 19, and died March 21, 1884. Mr. Lanning is one of the enter- prising business men of Jackson Township,

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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