USA > Indiana > Putnam County > Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana > Part 24
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ACOB CROSBY, retired farmer, resides on section 17, Jackson Township, where he owns 200 acres of well cultivated land. He was born in Mason County, Kontneky, June 8, 1806, a son of William and Cathe- rine Crosby, of English-German ancestry. He came to this county in 1834, locating upon his present farm two years later. He was married in Kentucky in 1531, to Eleanor Osborn. born in that State in 1505. Six of their eight chil- dren are living --- William, Elasha, Anderson G., of Jackson Township, Samuel K., Catherine, in March, 1851. In the fall of 1837 he ro- wife of John Radford, Mary, wife of John moved to Putnam County, locating in Wash- Wright, has three children Eva, Lillie L. and ington Township where he has since resided. Mirble. Mr. Crosby has served as trustee of Both are members of the Christian church.
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Mr. Bond owns 250 acres of land, in a good state of cultivation. Ile is a liberal con- tributor to both church and State, and in favor of everything that will benefit the com- munity. Both are industrious and intelligent and are enjoying the fruits of a well spent life. Mr. Bond has served as deacon of the church for nearly half a century, He is a inan of sterling integrity and is conceded to be one of the most successful business man in the township.
BEL WILSON, retired farmer, resides on section 15, Floyd Township, where he owns 140 acres of land. He was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, March 29, 1814, son of Alexander and Sarah (Lucas) Wilson, natives of Kentucky and of Irish- German ancestry. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812. under General Harrison. Their seven children all grew to maturity, Abel being the oldest. He was reared on a farm and has always been a farmer. He was married in Washington County, this State, in 1830, to Miss Julia Holesapple, daughter of George M. and Phebe ( Hubbard) Holesapple, natives of Virginia and of German ancestry. Mrs. Wilson was born in Washington County, Indiana, in 1813, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had six children, five of whom are living --- Alexander, of Jasper County, Illinois; George W., of Danville, Illinois; William, a resident of Vermillion County, Illinois; John and Lucy A. resides in Floyd Township, and Sarah J., deceased. Mr. Wilson came to this county in 1832. settling in Floyd Town- ship, where he has lived ever since with the exception of six months. He had nothing to commence with and started by renting land and taking jobs of work. He is a Democrat 'nt politics. Religiously both himself and
wife are members of the Disciple church. His early educational advantages were limited, and he suffered all the hardships and priva- tions incident to pioneer life. IIe is widely and favorably known, and is one of the solid men of the county.
LEXANDER GORIIAM, a representa- tive pioneer of Putnam County, and a resident of Marion Township, was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, November 14, 1813, son of Alexander and Sarah (Tyler) Gorham, natives of Virginia. The Gorham family originally came from Ireland and settled in Virginia. Ilis parents were quite young when they removed to Kentucky. His mother was for some time obliged to take refuge with her parents in a fort, as a pro- tection from the Indians. It was unsafe to even go as far as the gate of the fort to obtain water. The father of our subject removed with his family to this county in 1829. Ile entered considerable land from the Govern- ment in Marion Township, settling on section 5, where he had 240 acres of timber land, for which he paid $1,500. Ile lived there mitil his deecase, which occurred in 1837. Ilis wife survived until 1863, and died in her ninety-third year. There were about twenty acres of clearing on his farm when he first settled upon it. The previous owner, Judge Smith, had set out a large number of peach trees and apple trees, which bore fruit the first season he was here. He had some means when he came, so that his family did not suffer the hardships of most of the pioneers. Ile removed his family, which consisted of wife and eleven children, with a six-horse team and one five-horse team. ITe also had two saddle horses. He and his wife rode the saddle horses. The six-horse team belonged
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to his son William, and he returned back to ! Kentucky with his team after leaving the family here. He brought some honsehold goods and some farming implements. and before leaving Kentucky he bought a good stock of cotton, which was very useful to the pioneer. He had been twice married, and was the father of thirteen children, of whom six survive-Intitia, widow of John S. Allen, ! all who knew them.
late of Greencastle; Priscilla, wife of Timothy Mark, of Monroe County; Mary, who became the wife of Henry Sanders, of this county; Beersheba, widow of Caleb Reeves, late of Greencastle, and Susan, who married Samuel Flynn, of Fayette County, this State. Alex- ander Gorham. the subject of this sketch, has
elder. The parents of Mrs. Gorham were natives of Virginia and removed to Kentucky when young. They were among the first settlers of Marion Township. Of their twelve children, only four are living-Thomas, Eliza- beth, Eliza and Mary. The mother died in 1831 and the father in 1864. They were very worthy people and greatly respected by
EXON. EDWIN T. LANE, farmer, section 10, Monroe Township, was born on see- tion 11 of that township, February 7, 1831. Hlis father, Hon. Higgins Lane, de- always been a farmer. He received a rudi- : ceased, came to this county from Montgom- mentary education in the early subscription : ery County, Kentucky, in 1844. He was a schools of his time, and this was all. He was very prominent man, having served five married February 13, 1534, to Eliza (. ; terms in the Indiana State Legislature. Ed- Jackson, born June 13, 1812, in Harrison County, Kentucky, and a daughter of Thomas
win T. was reared a farmer, and his early education was obtained in the common and Nancy Jackson. In 1929 she came to : schools, and he was prepared for college by a this county with her parents, who settled in private tutor, graduating at the Northwestern Christian University. now Butler, at Irving- ton, June 15, 1871. His health became im- paired, and for one year he was unable to do anything. February 10, 1572, he was nom- inated by the Republican party for the State Legislature, and was defeated. and in 1876 he was nominated on joint ticket for Put- Marion Township, remaining there until their decease. Mr. and Mrs. Gorham have had four children, three of whom are living --- Mary E., wife of Isaac M. Day. of this county ; John W. and Campbell A., also of this county. Sarah C. is deceased. Mr. Gorham owns 148 acres of well devoloped land, and has been quite successful as a farmer. He nam and Hendricks counties, and was elected operated the second circular saw-mill -- a by a large majority, receiving 130 more votes in Hendricks County than did Ben Harrison, candidate for Governor. Before the close of his term he had an attack of bleeding at the lungs, and he was obliged to leave his labors, but not before he had succeeded in getting several measures before the Lower House. He served one session as chairman of committee portable mill run by steam-power -- in the county. In polities Mr. Gorham is a Demo- vrat and cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson. He has never accepted offi- cial positions, though frequently solicited to do so. He is a public-spirited man and al- ways contributes to anything that will benefit the community. He has been a member of . ou Benevolent Institutions, also on enrolled the Christian church since 1838: has served bills and House Journal. He pushed the as deacon, and for many years officiated as Libel Bill through, which made libel a erim-
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igal act, especially the blackening the char- neter of women. He stood high in college, and was elected to deliver the Master's ora- tion three years after graduating, although the degree of honors had been previously abandoned by the college. He taught school ten years, and had charge of the Bainbridge schools seven sessions. He taught at Brownsburg, Hendricks County, and New Maysville, this county. Hle settled upon his present farm in 1882, where he owns 240 aeres of excellent land, and gives consider- able attention to graded stock. He was mar- ried December 25, 1876, to Miss Jessie F. Darnall, daughter of the late Dr. Milton D. Darnall, Surgeon in the Forty-third Indiana Infantry, who lost his life in the service. He was an carly settler in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Lane have two children ---- Henry II. and Mary E .; the former was born February 17, 1878, and the latter December 80, 1879.
M ILFORD B. RUDISILL, familiarly known as "Cap. Rudisill," deputy clerk of the Putnam Cirenit Court, was born at Greencastle June 13. 1832. He graduated at Asbury University with the class of '52, and during the winter of 1853- '54 was principal of the Greencastle High School, studying law in the meantime. Hle was admitted to the bar at Greencastle in 1855, and during the same year was depu- tized as clerk of the Putnam Circuit Court, by Jacob Maginnis, and served as such under his successors, Melvin McKee and Heury C. Priest, until 1872, when the latter died, and Mr. Rudisill was appointed to fill the vacancy. In the fall of 1874 he was deputized by Clerk Moses D. Bridges, and afterward by his suc- cessor, John W. Lee, serving in the same office over thirty years. Between the ages
of thirteen and sixteen he was deputy record- er under his father. In polities he is a Democrat. May 7, 1863, he was married at Greencastle to Miss Mary E. Eads, daugh- ter of John and Cynthia G. (Adams) Eads, of Garrard County, Kentucky, who died at Greencastle in 1871, leaving one danghter --- Callie. She was a member of the Christian church. Mr. Rudisill's father, David Rudi- sill, was a native of North Carolina, and of " Pennsylvania Dutch " ancestry. He came to Putnam County in 1827, locating at Greencastle. Ile was a carpenter by trade. and in politics a Democrat. He served two terms, two years each, as sheriff and tax col- lector of Putnam County, as county record- er eight years, deputy sheriff fifteen years, and justice of the peace several years. He had two sons besides Milford B., who served as county officers, both as principals and deputies. He died at Greencastle Feb- ruary 29, 1884, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. The mother, Barbara (Carpenter) Rudisill, was also born in North Carolina and of German-Irish ancestry. She came to Putnam County, with her husband and fam- ily, in 1827, and died at Greencastle in 1865, aged nearly seventy years. They were the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters.
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EORGE T. ALLEN, farmer, seetion 9, Monroe Township, was born in Mont- gomery County, Kentucky, March 10, 1841, son of James Allen, a native of the same county. His unele. John Allen, was a soldier in the war of 1812. He came to this county in the fall of 1851, settling upon the farm he now occupies. ITis early life was spent on a farm, and he was educated at the Bainbridge Academy. He spent some years
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in clerking in stores in Bainbridge and other places. Ile was married March 13, 1867, to Miss Mary Jane Lingenfelter, daughter of Valentine Lingenfelter, of Hamilton County, Indiana, who was a native of Clark County, Kentucky. They have three children-Ilub- bard L., Prudie S. and Walter G. Ile owns 2.40 acres of land, and devotes his attention to farming and stock-raising. Mrs. Allen died November 26, 1885, a worthy and con- sistent member of the Presbyterian church.
HOMASBAYNE, proprietor of Bayne's steam saw-mill, at Greencastle, was born on a farm near Easton, Pennsyl- vania, May 17, 1840. When fifteen years of age he came to Indiana with his parents, who located in Tippecanoe County. During the following year he came to this county and was employed in a flouring-mill at Bain- bridge, and he also attended Bainbridge Academy during his residence there. In 1565 he purchased a saw-mill at Bainbridge and engaged in the manufacture of hunber. continuing there until 1878, when he sold out and came to Greencastle, and manufac- ured lumber there also. In 1880 he built his present steam saw-mill. In polities he ISAAC BURNETT. of the firm of Lucas & Burnett, proprietors of the Raccoon saw- mill, and manufacturers of wire picket fence, was born in Hendricks County, this State, October 16, 1855. Ilis father, Isaac Burnett, now deceased, was a native of Ken- tucky, and came to Indiana in early life. Our subject was reared in a mill, and has done little else than mill work all his life, begin- ning with wheeling sawdust. He was head sawyer for several years. He went to Scott County, Tennessee, in 1851, where he oper- ated as head sawer nearly two years, then re- is a Republican, and in 1879 he was elected to the city council of Greencastle, being re- elected in 1884. July 15, 1863, he was married in Carroll County, this State, to Miss Sarah E. Hanna, daughter of Joseph and Hannah (AAldridge) Hanna. She was born in Putnam County, and educated at Bainbridge Academy. Mr. and Mrs. Bayne have had four children-Edna E., born July 15. 1865; Olive S., born October 31, 1867; Thomas Dwight, boru March 10, 1875, and one that died in infancy. Miss Edna was a student at De Pauw University until recently, į turned to Raccoon in February, 1>83. They
when she had to abandon her studies owing to weak eyes. Olive is attending the De Pauw University in the class of 1890, and Dwight is attending the Greencastle public school. The parents are members of the College Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been a steward for several years. Mr. Bayne has been very successful in a business point of view. In 1875 he erected the Bayne block in Greencastle, and in 1878 built a substantial brick residence, one of the very best in the city. His father, James Bayne, was a native of New Jersey, and of English ancestry. Ile came to Indi- ana in 1855, locating in Dayton, where he died in 18S5, aged eighty-seven years. Ile was a farmer by occupation. The mother, Lydia Bayne, nce Basel, was a native of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry. She died at Dayton in 1557, aged fifty-nine years. She was a member of the Dutch Re- form church. The parents had eight chil- dren, four of whom are living- Sarah, wife of Robert Leinberger, of Mulberry, this State; John, a resident of Danville, Indiana; Tilman, also of Mulberry, and Thomas.
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
have an extensive trade, making a specialty of sawing bridge and railroad timber. April 29, 1579, he was married to Miss Alice G. Taylor, daughter of Abner Taylor, of Hen- dricks County, and their two children are --- Edna W. and Ilera J.
AVID W. HAINES, farmer and stock- raiser, Jefferson Township, was born in this county August 15, 1841, a son of Wesley and Adaline Haines. His father came to Indiana with his parents when a boy, where he was reared to manhood. Hle mar- ried Edaline Scott, and they had seven chil- dren, of whom six are living -James M., Harvey, William, Mary, wife of Tabor Hurst; Lorinda, wife of George Lewis, and Emily, deceased. In 1850 he united with the Mis- sionary Baptist church and remained a mem- ber until his death, January 1, 1883. He was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, Oc- tober 11, 1814, and removed to Putnam County in 1821. He was one of the first settlers of Washington Township, and was known and respected by all. He followed farming, and took an active interest in the development of the county. He located upon the farm now owned by Samuel R. Allee, where he resided a short time. At one time he served as trustee of Jefferson Township. giving good satisfaction to his constituents. Politically he was a Democrat. David W. passed his early life on a farm, and was edu- cated in the common schools of the county. February 2, 1871, he was married to Miss Ra- chel Broadstreet, daughter of James and Mel- vina Broadstreet, early settlers of that locality. The father is deccased. IIe was born De- cember 8, 1815, and died October 25, 1881. Her mother was born June 20, 1817, and is living. They reared a large family of chil-
dren. of whom seven survive - Quinton, Thomas, John C., Rachel. Sarah A., wife of Henderson Lane: Nancy, wife of John Stringer, and Mary E. Her parents were members of the Missionary Baptist church, and were very worthy people. Mr. Haines settled on his present farm soon after his marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Haines are rearing a boy, Charles Turner, who has been with them since he was four years of age. Mr. Haines owns 200 acres of good land, and is a snecessful farmer. Politically he is a Demo- erat.
ANIEL EPPERSON, farmer, resides on section 16, Jackson Township, where he owns eighty acres of land. He was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, October 28, 1816. son of Francis and Tabitha (Red- ding) Epperson, also natives of Kentucky, and of Scotch descent. They came to Put- nam County in 1825, where they remained until their decease, the father dying about 1874 and the mother in 1868. They reared eight children, fonr sons and four daughters. three of whom are living. Daniel was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and has al- ways followed that ocenpation. He was married in this county, in 1849, to Rebecca Sanders, daughter of Thomas and Sally (Mor- ton) Sanders, natives of Kentucky, where she was born in 1813. They had seven children, five of whom are living - Francis married Sa- rah Perkins and has seven children -- Frances, Lonisa E., Charlie, Harvey E., Oren B., George W. and Clarence; John II., of Roach- dale, married Margaret Payton, and they have two children -- Alonzo and Lillie M .; Matilda J. married George Dean and has one child -- John; Martha A. married George W. Heu- drieks and has three children -- William,
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Daniel and Sarah F .; Mary E. married Lewis Hendrieks and has four children- Cora B., Frank, Harvey and Cordelia M. Mr. and Mrs. Epperson and their family are members of the Christian church, and in poli- tics he is a Democrat.
nam County, and Mary M., wife of David Stoleop. The deceased are-Daniel S., Will- iam F., George and Fillmore. Mr. Rollings has held the office of assessor several years. Both are members of the Baptist church, and in politics Mr. Rollings is a Republican. IIe has lost considerable property from various sources.
OBERT ROLLINGS, farmer and stock- raiser, resides on section 8, Washing- ton Township, where he owns 118 acres ILSON W. YEATES, farmer and stock-raiser, section 4. Monroe Town- ship, was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, Jannary 15, 1811. Ilis father, Elijah Yeates, deceased, was born in Londonn County, Virginia, son of Joshua Yeates, also a native of Londonn County, born in 1741, who came to Kentucky when Elijah was a boy of eight years. Wilson's mother, for- merly Polly Woodruff. was a daughter of Jesse Woodruff, who was a native of Vir- ginia, and served seven years in the Revolu- tionary war. She was of Irish ancestry. Polly Woodruff's mother was Esther Bu- chanan, of Irish descent. Wilson's uncles, Enoch Yeates and William Woodruff, were soldiers in the war of 1812. He was reared a farmer in his native county and received a limited education in the log cabin subserip- tion schools of the carly day. These cabins were small, the seats were made of split logs, withont backs, slabs on the wall were used for desks, greased paper was used for win- dows, and the roof's were made of clapboards. The doors were also made with clapboards of land in a good state of cultivation. He was born in Putnam County November 13, 1824, son of Jesse and Nancy (Cunningham) Rollings. His father was born at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and removed to Kentucky at an early age. He remained there a few years, then came to Putnam County in 1819, raised a crop one year in Washington Town- ship, then returned to Kentucky for his family. In 1821 the family came, and lo- cated in this county, where the father remained until his decease, which occurred in 1862, at the age of seventy-three years. The mother died in 1867, aged sixty-nine years. They were married in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and reared six children, three of whom are living --- John C., of this county: James F., of Kansas, and onr subject. They moved here with an ox team, and were among the first settlers of the county. The father held the office of justice of the peace several years. Our subject was reared a farmer, and has always followed that occupation. He was married in this county, in 1844, to Phela A. Rissler, daughter of William and . and had wooden hinges. The house was Susan (Boone) Rissler, who was born in ornamented with plenty of ox-gads, which Washington Township in 1827. Her parents were used for spice. Our subject removed were pioneers of the county. Five of their ! to Montgomery County, Kentucky, in 1532, nine children are living-John M., of Illi- where he was married, October 3, 1833, to nois; Hiram, of this county; Harriet C., 'Miss Duleena Badger, daughter of David and wife of Robert Hoopingomer; Perry, of Put- . Elizabeth ( Miller) Badger, who was born in
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Montgomery County, December 9, 1816. ITer father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother in Culpeper County, Virginia. Her grandfather, Joshua Badger, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Her uncle, George Miller, served in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Yeates have had fifteen children, eleven of whom are living --- Amanda F., Emily R., Mary E., Carrie S., James M., Henry C., Thomas J., William W., David E., Jennie N. and B. Franklin. James, Henry, Thomas and William were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion. All are married except Henry and Jennie. Mr. Yeates has twenty grand- children and one great-grandchild. He came to this county in 1834, settling where he now lives, and where he owns 318 acres of land. Ile has never songht official honors. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and his wife of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Politically he was formerly a Whig, and a great admirer of Henry Clay, but he is now a staunch Republican. He has dealt in mnles more than forty years.
HOMAS JACKSON. of Marion Town- ship, the oldest living pioneer of Put- nam County, was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, May 28, 1798, son of Thomas and Nancy Jackson. His maternal ancestors came from Ireland before the Rev- olationary war. His mother's father. James Little, with several others, served in the American army during that war. His father served under General Wayne in his campaign against the Indians, and subsequent to the war settled in Bourbon County, Ken- tucky, where he married and reared a family of twelve children. Four of these children are living . Thomas, Elizabeth, Eliza and Mary. Thomas Jackson, the subject of this |
sketch, was reared to manhood in Kentucky, and has always been a farmer. In the spring of 1821 he came to this county, and soon after entered eighty acres of land from the Government, in Greencastle Township, where he lived abont three years. Hle subsequently entered a quarter-section of land in Marion Township, and has since resided in that township, with the exception of a few years spent in Greencastle Township. He invested all his money in land, and depended upon his daily labor for a living. His first crop of corn consisted of about ten acres. He split many thousands of rails for 25 cents per 100. lle has assisted at many log-roll- ings and helped to build many log cabins. He bas seen more of pioneer life than usually falls to the lot of the new-comer, and suffered hardchins and privations. He was married in July, 1522, to Miss Sarah Woods, dangh- ter of Bartholomew and Sarah Woods, the former a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have had three chil- dren, only one surviving -Thomas. He has been a hard working man all his life, and now, in his ninetieth year, is still inclined to vigorons exercise, doing considerable work. In polities he has always been a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen- eral Andrew Jackson. He is familiarly called " Uncle Tommy," and is widely and favora- bly known. He has twelve grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren, all living. Andrew Jackson, a son of the preceding, was born in this county April 12, 1528, and has always been a resident here. He owns 320 aeres of well-cultivated and well-improved land. He was married February 16, 1845, to Miss Harriet Browning, born June 27, 1830, in Mason County, Kentucky, and daughter of John and Bulah Browning, who came to Putnam County about 1830. The parents were pioneers of Greencastle Town-
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ship, and lived there until their decease. To ; by the Confederate forces, unider General thus union have been born twelve children --. Thomas, Join: Mary E., wife of James L. Browning, of Greeneastle; Bertha T., who married Alonzo Day, of Putnam County; Andrew, Marion M., Artemas, Hercules; Flora A., wife of Daniel S. Bowen, of this county; Eliza B., Willas M. and Nannie B. Mr. Jackson, his wife, his father, and four of their children weigh 160 pounds each. He is a Democrat in politics, has seen much of pioneer life. has been successful in life, and is considered one of the representative men of the county.
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