Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana, Part 20

Author: Marler, Mike; Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago (Ill.)
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago, : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 366


USA > Indiana > Putnam County > Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana > Part 20


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line Owen, and to them have been born ten children -Elza F., Daniel P., John W .. Oscar, Izora Alva, Rosa, Verna, Jessie and Ramen. William married Melissa Paris, and they have had eleven children-Charles E., Laura E., Mary E., Serelda J., John A., Frank E., Stella A., Minnie, an infant, deceased, Bes- sie and Susie. Emily married George Paris, and has two children-Flora B. and Hannah E .: Joseph's daughter, Elza F., married William O'Conner, and has two children --- Evert C. and Noah. Emily's danghter Han- nah married Joseph S. Albee, and has three children-Leota M .. Thomas F. and Edgar I. At his death Mr. Butler left his family a valuable farm of 160 acres, which was the accumulation of a life of industry and perse- verance. Ile was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and had offi- ciated as a class-leader. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, for which service his widow now receives a pension. He was a kind and loving father, an indulgent husband, and es- teemed by all who knew him. In his death the community lost a good and worthy citi- zen and pioneer. His widow resides on the homestead and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. We quote the following from the Greencastle Star-Press: " The relatives and friends of Mrs. Hannah Butler, who has resided in Greencastle Township more than sixty years, celebrated her eighty- fourth birthday on May 23, by calling and spending the day with her. Notwithstand- ing her great age, Mrs. Butler was in quite excellent health and spirits, and happy to re- ceive her friends and neighbors, and pass with them a pleasant day, of which she and hers were the objects of peculiar interest. Five of her children, eleven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild were present; one son and his family were unavoidably absent. At noon an excellent table was spread, which


HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.


eighty-six guests who tested it can testify, added materially to the pleasures of the day. The afternoon was spent in social converse, the singing of hymns and songs, such as the hostess in youth and age has ever loved, and reminiscences of the ' long, long ago.' Dr. Stevenson, himself eighty-three years old, and a friend of Mrs. Butler for more than sixty years, and other friends of fifty and forty years, were there, as well as others who had enjoyed her friendship their entire lives. Of all these none had other than pleasant memories of their kind hostess. Her faults, if any she ever had, were all forgotten, but each one present could recall her kind and motherly deeds as friend, neighbor and asso- ciate. Mrs. Butler was herself, with her pleasant smiles and kind greetings to every one, and when, at evening, the guests took their homeward way, the only regret they could feel was that so innocent and useful a life could ever grow old. But how pleasant to Mrs. Butler it must be in her age to know that her long life has not only merited. but seenred to her the love and esteem of so many and so long tried neighbors and associates."


D ANIEL E. SHOEMAKER, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on seetion 28, Floyd Township, where he owns 125 aeres of well cultivated land. He was born in Wayne County, this State, September 22, 1836, son of James and Elizabeth Shoemaker, who came to this county in 1840, and are now living at Bainbridge. The father is seventy-four years of age and the mother seventy-three. Dan- jel E. was reared a farmer and has always followed that occupation. He was married in this county, October 10, 1860, to Louisa Stobaugh, daughter of Jacob and Ursula Sto- baugh, born in this county in 1841. Their | gomery County, Kentucky, March 25, 1824,


children are-Lillie D., born October 18, 1861; Jacob II., born April 8, 1863; Arminda B., born March 12. 1865, now deceased; Josephine, born August 18, 1876, and Worley V., born December 14, 1880. Mr. Shoe- maker is a self-made man, having started in life poor, but by economy and good manage- ment has made a good, comfortable home. Ile rented land twenty years, living on one farm eight years. In politics he is Repub- lican. His parents are members of the Christian church.


FRENRY DICKERSON, retired farmer, resides on section 27, Jackson Township, where he owns 160 acres of land. Ile was born in Monroe County, Kentucky, Au- gust 8, 1816, a son of John R. and Mary (Grider) Dickerson, who were born near Harper's Ferry, in Maryland, of Welsh an- cestry. The father moved to Putnam Coun- ty in 182> and settled on Raccoon Creek, subsequently moving to Franklin Township, where he died August 22, 1569, aged eighty- nine years, two months and seventeen days. The mother died July 17, 1861, aged seventy- four years. They were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom lived till maturity and three still survive. Ile entered 160 acres of Goverment land, and went to work to clear it and built a log cabin. He experienced all the hardships and privations incident to pio- neer life. Wolves, deer and wild turkeys were in abundance, and there were some bears and plenty of Indians, but he had but one white neighbor nearer than four miles. Henry was reared on a farm, and has always followed the occupation of a farmer. Hle was married February 10, 1841, to Emily D. Case, who was born in Mont-


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daughter of Moore and Mary (Keith) Case, pioneers of this county. The father died December 12, 1852, and the mother now lives with Mrs. Dickerson, and although eighty- four years of age, is still active, attending to her bees, of which she has thirteen stands. Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson have had eleven chil- dren, all of whom lived till maturity except one, and six are still living-Moore C., the present assessor of the township, married Martha Lee, and has one child-Anna M .; Mary died unmarried September 8, 1871; Rebecca married JJames K. Sheckles and has four children- - Henry L., Charles B., Blanche, and Ona; Eliza J. married John W. Lee, and died June 13, 1573, leaving two children ---- Atametus J. and Emma F .; John II. lives in Jackson Township; Emily J. died June 15. 1876, ummarried; William L. is also a resi- dent of Jackson Township; Martha E. married James F. Watkins, and has two children; and Effie I. IIiram C. died in the army May 24, 1868. and one died in infancy. Mr. Dicker- son has served as justice of the peace three years and has also been school director, in- spector of elections and supervisor. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Baptist and his wife of the Methodist church.


his farm in Putnam County. In 1874 he sold the farm and rented until the fall of 1884, when he was elected, on the Democratic ticket, to the office of treasurer of Putnam County. In 1886 he was re-elected, and is the present incumbent of that office. Mr. Tucker has been twice married. His first wife, Sarah Jane Britton, whom he married in 1849, died in 1879. They had seven children-John Thomas is a merchant at Clinton Falls, this county ; Barney is a farmer of Russell Township, this county: James 1. resides at home; Christie married E. T. Frank, a farmer of Russell Township; MeKenzie, Nannie and Sarah Elizabeth are at home. Mrs. Tucker was a member of the Predesti- narian Baptist church, of Little Walnut, Put- nam County, of which Mr. Tucker is still a member. In 1881 Mr. Tucker married Mrs. Charlotte Pool, who is a member of the Christian church.


B. CROSS, retired physician and sur- geon, Bainbridge, was born in Wayne County, Indiana, February 12, 1823, son of John J. and Ruth (Poe) Cross, natives of Ohio, and of German ancestry. They were the parents of five children, four of whom lived to be grown, and two are yet living. In 1836 they removed to Montgomery County, where they lived until 1854, thence


PHRAIM TUCKER. treasurer of Put- nam County, was born in Randolph County. North Carolina, May 10, 1826. to Iowa for two years, thence to Putnam In the fall of 1835, he was brought by his : County, where the father died in April. 1872, parents to this county, locating on a farm in 'and the mother in 1876. The doctor was reared on a farm in Wayne and Montgomery counties, Indiana, receiving his early educa- tion in the common schools; then taught school and commenced reading medicine in the office of Dr. A. Kelly, of Ladoga, and took first course of lectures at the Louisville


Madison Township. He remained with his parents until he reached manhood, and after- ward became the owner of the homestead. In the fall of 1868 he rented his farm and went to Orange County, to take charge of French Lake Springs, a watering place, and remained there until the fall of 1872, then returned to . University, Louisville, Kentucky, in 1847


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and 1848. He graduated at the Ohio Medi- cal College, Cincinnati, in the winter of 1852-'53, and commeneed practice in La- doga, Indiana. Later he removed to Car- pentersville, where he lived sixteen years, aad in 1865 came to Bainbridge, this county, where he practiced until 1880, then retired to private life, being afflicted with inflammna- tory rheumatism. In September, 1850, he was married in this county to Sallie Call, who was born in Kentucky October 31, 1831, daughter of Squire and Mary (Moore) Call. Mr. and Mrs. Cross have two children -- - Em- ma F., wife of J. A. Looman, of this county, and they have two children -Ida M. and J. B .; and Anna, wife of Harry G. Brown. The doctor owns 280 aeres of land in Monroe Township, and one acre where he resides. Ile is a member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 75, at Bainbridge, and of the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 311. Ile is also a member of the Christian church. His mother was first consin to General Poe, the great Indian fighter. John Call, a brother of Mrs. Cross, was a soldier in the late war, and died at Young's Point, on the way to Vicksburg.


TILLIAM A. FARMER, livery-keeper at Cloverdale, purchased the stock and business of U. V. O'Daniels, August 21, 1886. He was born in Ring- gold County, Iowa, March 30, 1861, a son of Thomas B. Farmer, who resides in Marion Township, this county. When four years of age he came to this county with his parents, where he was reared on a farm and received a good common-school education. Hle fol- lowed farming until he engaged in his pres- ent business. He was married August 17, 1882, to Miss Florence I. Shaw, who was born in Jefferson Township, January 22, !


1864, daughter of Oliver J. Shaw, a promi- nent farmer of that township. He is a mem- ber of Cloverdale Lodge, No. 132, A. F. & A. M., having joined December 1, 1885; he is senior deacon of the lodge. He is a suc- cessful business man, keeps a first-class stable, and socially a gentleman.


- EHU CASSIUS JONES, justice of the peace at Greencastle, was born in Bel- mont County, Ohio, April 19, 1818. When he was a year old his father removed to Zanesville, where he was reared a farmer, and educated in the publie schools and at the Zanesville Academy, where he attended two years. Upon reaching his majority he began teaching school in Muskingum County, and at the same time studied medicine. He then practiced until 1842, when he again took up the study of medicine under Dr. John Wat- kins, at Uniontown, Muskingum County, Ohio, remaining with him two years. In 1844 he took a course of lectures at the Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati. In 1846 he came to Indiana, locating at Paw Paw, where he practiced medicine until 1860. He then removed to Peru, where, in 1862, he was commissioned Captain by Governor Mor- ton, and raised a company for the Union service, which was assigned to the Sixteenth Regiment. Indiana Infantry, as Company F. He commanded this company nearly a year and resigned his commission on account of serious throat difficulty. Ile was on duty in Kentucky and participated in the battle of Richmond, where he was taken prisoner by Kirby Smith, and released on parole. After being exchanged, he with his regiment took part in Sherman's advance on Vicksburg, and was also in the battle of Little Rock. In that battle lie took back the guns that were


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taken from them at the battle of Rich- mond. He was discharged at Indianapolis in February, 1863, and returned to Peru. The following AApril he came to Greencastle, where he was engaged in the drug and grocery business until the fall of 1872. In the spring of 1882 he was elected justice of the peace, and re-elected in the spring of 1886. Janu- ary 10, 1850, Mr. Jones was married at Pern, Indiana, to Miss Lucy O'Brine, and their three children are- Clandins (. and Homer, who reside in Indianapolis, and Howard, of Greencastle. Ella, wife of Dr. J. L. Pres- ton, of Cloverdale, died in 1880, at the age of twenty-eight years, and three children died in infancy. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Greencastle. Mr. Jones is a Master, Royal Arch, and Council Mason, and member of the lodge, chapter and council at Greencastle, having filled nearly all the stations in each.


FORTHINGTON B. WILLIAMS, a prominent farmer of Warren Town- igond ship, was born in New York City in 1815, son of Josiah and Martha (Loomis) Williams, natives of Connecticut. The father was born Windham County, December 31, 1783, the mother was born June 9, 1784. They were married at Lebanon, December 9, 1507, and the father followed the mer- cantile trade in Virginia and New York for many years. He was an intimate friend of Governor Henry A. Wise, of Virginia, and an influential citizen. He was a successful business man, and died at Poughkeepsie, New York, October 7, 1564; the mother died April 13, 1851. They were the parents of eight children-six daughters and two sons. Mr. Williams was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. W. B. Williams


received a collegiate education and in early life followed clerking. He located upon his present farm in 1836, his father having pur- chased several hundred acres, and has resided in the township ever since. In politics he was formerly a Whig and now a Republican, casting his first presidential vote for General Harrison. He was a staunch Union man during the late Rebellion, and furnished from his homea brother-in-law and two sons toassist in suppressing treason. One was Lieutenant Whitfred Reed, killed at Cedar Mountain. Mr. Williams owns 560 acres of land in this State and Missouri. He was married July 13, 1837, to Lydia A. L. Reed, born in Owen County, Indiana, May 25, 1523, and a dangh- ter of Rev. Isaac Reed, a prominent minister in the Presbyterian church, who was born in the State of New York, August 27, 1755, and died in Illinois, January 14, 15%. Her mother, Elinor Young, was born in Philadelphia, September 22. 1799, and died May 9, 1569. They reared eight children- six daughters and two sons. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have had eleven children-Josiah Clinton, Julia Edistina, Ann G., Edwin M .. Worthington A., Mary E., Flora W., Martha L., Frances R .. Carrie Rowe. Oliver Morton is deceased. Mrs. Williams and children are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Williams is a very social man and the "latch string" is always out. Ilis son-in-law, John II. G. Weaver, now a resident of Eureka, California, was a sollier in the late war. Ile is a graduate of Hillsdale College. Michigan, and of the law department of Michigan State University, at Ann Arbor. He has served two terms in the California Legislature, and is now practicing law. He is Com- mander of Colonel Whipple Post. No. 49, G. A. R. Edwin T. Williamson, another son-in- law, is a member of the Chicago Lumber Company, and is now traveling in Europe.


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and makes his home in Kansas. He was a ; owns 356 aeres of good land, 221 being in his soldier in the late war, a member of the Six- : home farm. He is a Democrat in politics. teenth Indiana Infantry. One son lives in . He has held the office of township trustee. Kansas and two in Missouri. The two latter Mrs. Houck is a member of the Predestinarian Baptist church. were soldiers in the late war. Captain Josiah C. Williams was with Company C., Twenty- seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville. Edwin M. was a member of the One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteers.


AVID HOUCK, farmer and stock- raiser. Washington Township, was born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1831, son of Jonathan and Nancy (White) Houck, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1837 he went with his parents to Ohio, and in the spring of 1839 came to Putnam County. his father loeating in Clinton Township, where he still resides. Three of his father's family are living --- David, Thomas and Elijah. His father is in his seventy-seventh year, and is widely and favorably known. His mother is in her seventy-sixth year, and is well pre- served. They are enjoying the fruits of a life spent in usefulness. His father was for- merly a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; his mother is a member of the Pre- destinarian Baptist church. David has been reared to manhood in this county, and received a limited education in the common schools. Ilis ocenpation has always been farming. He was married August 10, 1851, to Miss Rachel Talley, and to this union have been born seven children, six of whom are living - Jonathan, Nancy E., wife of Lennox L. Boone, James E., Henry, Oliver, and William. Anthony, Jr., died in 1863, aged one year. For his second wife Mr. Houck married Martha (Honek) Penney. He settled upon his present farm in September, 1867. He


CORNELIUS G. RAINES, of Greencas. tle Township, is one of the honored pioneers of Putnam County, and was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, September 26, 1516, son of Walker and Tabi- tha Raines, who were natives of Virginia and removed to Kentucky in an early day. In the fall of 1829 the family removed to this county, locating in Monroe Township, where the father died soon after his arrival. The mother remained in this county until her de- cease, which occurred in August, 1864. Of their seven children, four are living- Cornel- ius G., James M., Matilda, wife of Hugh Siddens, and Armilda, now Mrs. Monet. The father was a shoemaker by trade, being one of the first mechanics to settle here. IIe was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was honored and respected by all. Our subject was reared to manhood in this county, and received a common-school educa- tion. In February, 1843, he was married to Miss Penelope Dale, and they were the par- ents of five children. three of whom are living-Sarah, wife of Caleb Reeves, of Kan- sas; James W. and Robert W. R. The de- ceased are-Selena and Elizabeth. Mrs. Raines died, and Mr. Raines was a second time married in 1859, to Intecia Heath, widow of Christopher Heath, and daughter of Ennis and Polly Hardin, pioneers of Put- nam County. To this union have been born nine children, six of whom are living-Ella, wife of Frank Allee, George, Albert, Arte- mus, Minnie, and Emma J., wife of James


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Farmer. The deceased are-John D., Cor- nelins and Mary. Mr. Raines settled upon his present farm on section 13, Greencastle Township, in 1855, where he owns 500 acres of valuable land. Although not a church member, Mr. Raines is a good man and con- tributes liberally to all worthy enterprises.


ILLIAM R. BEADLE, farmer, Mill Creek Township, was born in this county April 23, 1840, a son of Samuel and Sarah Beadle, the former a native of Con- necticut and the latter of Tennessee. The Beadle family descended from three brothers who came from England, probably before the Revolutionary war. One of these brothers was William's great-grandfather. Ilis father went with his parents to Chenango County, New York, when four years of age, where he was reared to manhood. He removed to Putnam County abont 1838, and entered 155 acres of land from the Government, in Mill Creek Township, locating on the farm now owned by our subject, which was then a wilderness. He first built a log cabin and then began the work of clearing the land. He raised pork and delivered it for 14 cents a pound. In 1839 he married Sarah C. Jones. Three of their ten children are now living-Maria E., wife of J. R. Hopkins, of Sedgwick County, Kansas, Lovisa and Will- iam R. The deceased are-John W., Louisa, Frances E., Mariett, Margaret J., Candiz and Lucretia. The father was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was very active in promoting the welfare of the church. In politics he was a Democrat. He died May 28, 1887, in the eightieth year of his age. His life was one of usefulness and well-doing, and in his death Putnam County lost one of its best and most intelligent citi-


zens. His wife survives him and is living in Kansas. William R. Beadle has been. reared and educated in this county. He was married April 3, 1862, to Merinda Hurst, daughter of Jackson Hurst, a pioneer of Jefferson Township. To this union ten chil- dren have been born-Samuel, Hester, Charles, Laura, Ida, James, Ernest, Effie and Roxie M .; John is deceased. Mr. Beadle owns 154,45 acres of land in Mill Creek Township, and it is all in a good state of cultivation. In February, 1865, he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Forty- ninth Indiana Infantry, as a private, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. Ile was in the service about three months, was taken sick at Nashville, and discharged in May, 1865, and returned home. He is a member of the Regular Baptist church, and has served as clerk two years. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as school director, supervisor and assessor of Mill Creek Township two terms. Ile has also been justice of the peace.


AMUEL L. KELLER, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Jefferson Township, residing on section 17, was born in Putnam County, August 4, 1839, son of Lewis and Susanna Keller, natives of Vir- ginia. In 1838 his parents and three children came to the county, coming the entire dis- tance with two horses and a wagon, occupy- ing about six weeks of time. They were obliged to camp out wherever night overtook them. They first located in Greencastle, and his father being a blacksmith, followed his trade in that place until 1851, when he re- moved to Cloverdale Township and bought a farm east of the village. He subsequently bought a farm one-half mile east of Belle


HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.


Union, where he lived until his death. Sep- tember 1. 1575. His wife survived until March, 1587. They were the parents of . twelve children --- Frances E., wife of Martin Ilancock, of Jefferson Township; Mary A., deceased; Eliza, wife of Joel Dobbs, of Mill Creek Township; Josephine, wife of J. D. Parker, of Cass County, Missouri; Sam- nel L., John A., of Greencastle, Indiana; Hiram E., of Cloverdale Township; William II .. of Jefferson Township; Emma, deceased; Joanna, wife of W. T. Scott, of Belle Union; Alice, wife of Eli Pruett, also of Belle Union, and Agnes, wife of S. W. MeIninch, of Coatsville, Indiana. The parents lived to see all of their twelve children married and having families of their own. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the father having served as class-leader. Lewis Keller was a Republican in politics. and a strong advocate of the temperance cause. Ile came here in limited circum- stances, but has been very successful in his business. Samuel L. Keller has been reared to manhood in this county, and was edu- cated in the schools of Greencastle. He enlisted in July, 1863. in Company K. Fifty- fifth Indiana Infantry, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. After serv- ing four months he re-enlisted in the Twenty- fifth Indiana Battery of Artillery, as a private, but was promoted to Corporal. He fought at Nashville, and in several skirmishes; was with General Hood in his retreat to Alabama. Ile served one year and was honorably dis- charged July 16, 1865. He then returned home and has since resided in this county. lle was married in September, 1864, to Frances E. McGinnis, also a native of Put- nam Connty, a daughter of Joshua and Eliz- abeth MeGinnis, carly settlers of Putnam County. To this union one child has been born -- Lewis J., born April 9, 1869. Mr.


Keller owns eighty acres of well cultivated land. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of Cloverdale Post, G. A. R., where he officiates as senior vice-com- mander. Ile is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, and has officiated as clerk of that church about fourteen years. Two of his brothers, John A. and Hiram E., were soldiers in the late war, and both returned in safety to their homes.


R USSELL LORENZO HATHAWAY was born in Berkley, Bristol Comty, Massachusetts, in the year 1911. His father died when he was but two years of age. After receiving such an education as the schools and academies of the State afforded, under the tuition of Dr. Thomas Andros, a celebrated divine of that State, he fitted for college, but want of pecuniary means obliged him to abandon the idea of a collegiate education. He taught school sev- eral years in order to maintain his own ex- penses, and also to help to support his widowed mother. For one year he was prin- cipal of the Millbury Academy, and ocenpied the some position at Marblehead Academy in his native State. At the same time he employed his spare moments in acquainting himself with law, and at the age of twenty- five commenced devoting his whole time to its study. IIe read first in the office of C. R. Mills, at Millbury, but afterward went to Boston and read under the tutorship of the celebrated legal light, Rufus Choate, and finished with Zachariah Eddy, of Middle- borongh, each of whom gave him certificates as to hiis proficiency. He was admitted to the Plymouth County bar in 1840, under a rigid examination, not having completed the




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