USA > Indiana > Vermillion County > Biographical and historical record of Vermillion County, Indiana : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; a condensed history of the state of Indiana; portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Vermillion county, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the county and its villages > Part 37
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Vermillion County, born December 16, 1858, and they are the parents of two children- John Vannest and Jane. Since he 'aban- doned flat-boating, Mr. Kibby has devoted. his attention to agricultural pursuits. He has occupied his present farm on section 9, Clinton Township, since 1862. The home- stead is located one mile north of Clinton, and contains ninety aeres of choice land, and is part of the estate of his father-in-law, John Vannest. Besides this farm Mr. Kibby owns a good farm of 220 acres, located on sections 7 and 8 of Clinton Township.
OIIN T. PONTON, deceased, was born in Ohio, Jannary 30, 1830, a son of Obe- diah Ponton, who was a Virginian by birth. He was brought to Vermillion Coun- ty, Indiana, in the fall of 1833, by his widowed mother, she locating on seetion 3, Helt Town- ship, on the land now occupied by the widow of our subjeet. IIere he was reared amid the seenes and incidents of pioneer life, attend- ing sehool in the primitive log cabins with their puncheon floor and elapboard roof, where he received but a limited education. He was married August 5, 1860, to Miss Polly Kearns, a daughter of William Kearns, and a native of Helt Township, born in 1835. Mr. Kearns settled in Helt Township in 1831. He spent the last six years of his life in Montezuma, Indiana, where he died Septem- ber 9, 1884. To Mr. and Mrs. Ponton were born three children, of whom two are living, Oliver P. M. and William S., the latter living on the old homestead with his mother. Mr. Ponton died August 8, 1886, his death eausing universal regret throughout the com- munity where he had lived for so many years, He was a kind and affectionate husband and father, being strongly attached to his home
and family. He was a consistent Christian, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for thirty-five years.
AMES ROBERTS, one of the prominent men of Vermillion County, at present engaged in mereantile pursuits at Clin- ton, is a native of Edgar County, Illinois, born February 13, 1844. His father was a native of Ireland, coming to the United States when twenty-six years of age. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Beers, was born at Bridgeport, Connectieut, in 1799. She was first married in Onondaga County, New York, to Isaae Carman, and in 1836 eame with her husband to Clinton. Mr. Carman died a few years later, leaving his widow with four children- Jotham, the eldest, went to the Mexican war and has never sinee been heard from; Mrs. Emeline Bradshaw, the second ehild, lives in Clinton; Mrs. Mary Freeman lives in Coles Connty, Illinois, and Jonathan resides at Eugene City, Oregon. Mrs. Carman and John Roberts were married in Edgar County, Illinois, in 1842. IIe died in 1856. She retained her mental and physical vigor to a remarkable degree until her death which oceurred October 31, 1887, aged eighty-eight years. She made her home with the subject of this sketch, who is the only child of her second marriage. James Roberts was reared to a farm life, and in his youth received a good common-school education. February 3, 1864,he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and par- tieipated in General Schofield's corps in the Atlanta Campaign in which his regiment did gallant service, taking part in the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Chattahoochie River, and the battles
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
in front of Atlanta, in all of which Mr. Roberts manfully acted a soldier's part. After the fall of Atlanta the regiment as part of the Twenty-third Corps, turned north, and fought in the heroic battles of Franklin and Nash- ville, Tennessee, where General IIood's army was practically destroyed. Mr. Roberts re- eeived an honorable discharge September 13, 1865, when he returned to his home in Ver- million County. Since November 21, 1870, when he entered the mercantile establishment of Whiteomb, Anderson & Co., as clerk, lie has been engaged in mereantile pursuits, with the exception of four years when he was serving as elerk of Vermillion County, having been elected to that offiee in 1878. In 1882 he became a partner in the mercantile firm of A. L. Whiteomb & Co., at Clinton. January 1, 1885, he sold out his interest in the busi- ness to Mr. Whitcomb, and bought a farm in Clinton Township. Later he opened a grocery at Clinton whieli he continued but a short time, when elosing out he engaged in general merchandising with B. H. Morgan and John Q. Washburn under the firm name of Roberts & Co. February 1, 1887, they divided their stoek and Mr. Roberts became associated in business with B. II. Morgan, at the old stand formerly occupied by A. L. Whitcomb & Co. Besides his business interests in Clinton Mr. Roberts owns a fine farm of 145 aeres located on sections 12 and 14, Clinton Township. Mr. Roberts was united in marriage February 20, 1876, to Miss Laura Hagar, a daughter of J. M. and Jane Hagar, her father being deceased. Her mother is still a resident of Clinton. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, a son named Arthur, was born November 7, 1876. Mr. Roberts is one of the leading members of the Masonie fraternity in Vermillion County, and in 1887 was appointed Master of Jerusalem Lodge, No. 99, at Clinton, He is also a member of Owen
Post, No. 329, G. A. R., of which he is Adjutant. In politics lie is a Democrat. He is now serving his fourth term as township treasurer, which shows the confidence and esteem in which he is held.
EORGE H. REYNOLDS, of Highland Township, is a son of Elias Nelson Rey- nolds, a pioneer of Vermillion County. Elias N. Reynolds was born in Maryland September 2, 1804. He was left an orphan at an early age, and learned the trades of wheelwright and chairmaker, serving an ap- prenticeship of five years, completing it when he was twenty-one years old. He then went to Zanesville, Ohio, where he taught sehool for a time, and in the fall of 1830 eame to Vermillion County, Indiana, and settled abont four miles northwest of Perrysville. Here he entered 100 aeres of land, which he partially improved, living on it about six years, and also in the meantime taught sev- eral terms of school. About 1838 he moved to a farm about three and a half miles north- west of Perrysville, near the present site of Gessie, where he lived until his death, which occurred August 26, 1877, being at that time within a few days of his seventy-third birth- day. He was one of the highly respected men of the county, and was one of its pub- lie-spirited citizens. He was well educated for his day, and always took an interest in the eause of education. In politics he was a Democrat, but during the war was a strong supporter of the Government. IIe was mar- ried May 8, 1828, near Cireleville, Ohio, to Rebecca Craig, a daughter of David Craig, a native of Kentucky, who moved to Ohio in an early day and built the first cabin on the present site of the city of Chillicothe. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds had three sons, but one of
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whom, George H., survives. David J. was born April 12, 1829, and died January 14, 1850; William W., born September 15, 1831, died January 16, 1874. George II. Reynolds was born on the farm where he now lives in Highland Township, July 28, 1835. IIe was married December 31, 1857, to Marinda Bainbridge, a daughter of Stephen Bain- bridge, an early settler of Highland Town- ship. They have six children living-James B., born July 25, 1859; Flora Belle, born January 15, 1861; Mary C., born December 22, 1868; William M., born November 19, 1871; Elias Nelson, born February 2, 1874, and Callie, born June 5, 1881. Their third child, Lanny J., was born May 9, 1864, and died September 15, 1866. Mr. Reynold's mother makes her home with him and is aet- ive and in good health for one of her years. Mr. Reynolds owns abont 300 acres of land in Highland Township.
MOS J. BETSON, one of the prosperons agriculturists of Vermillion County, engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 7, Vermillion Township, was born in Oneida, New York, in the year 1845. Ilis parents, Henry and Mary A. (Johnson) Bet- son, were natives of New York State, and of English deseent. They came to Vermillion County, Indiana, with their family in 1847, remaining here till 1875. They then removed to Chrisman, Illinois, where the father died in 1875. The mother still resides in Chris- man. Amos J. Betson, the subject of this sketch, was reared to the avocation of a farmer, which he has followed through life, and in his youth received but a limited edu- cation in the schools of his day. Ile was married in Parke County, Indiana, in 1874, to Miss Louisa Rubottom, who was born in
that county in 1853, a daughter of Milton and Lula Rubottom. They are the parents of seven children named-Maude, Rosa, Lula, Roy, Garnet J., Bernice and Retie C. Mr. Betson commeneed life for himself without capital, at first renting land, but by his per- severing industry and good business manage- ment he has sneeeeded well, having by his own efforts aceumulated his present fine property. IIe owns 327 acres of land where he resides, besides forty-nine acres in another seetion. IIe has a fine briek residence, erected by himself, and his entire surround- ings show eare and thrift. He raises a variety of crops, most of which he feeds to his stock. In polities he affiliates with the Democratic party. Post office, Newport, Indiana.
ACHIARIAII D. JAMES, late of Ver- million County, but now a resident of Montezuma, Parke County, was born in Virginia, Angust 30, 1811, a son of Dr. William B. and Elizabeth James. In the fall of 1811, when our subject was an infant, his parents removed from Virginia to Jefferson County, Ohio, making the entire trip on horseback, his mother carrying him all the way. In 1816 the family settled in Mans- field, Ohio, among the early settlers, the father preaching the first sermon preached in that place, and superintended the building of the first church there. He immigrated to Vermillion County, Indiana, in 1822, where he practiced medicine and preached the gos- pel until 1826. In that year he took a load of corn to New Orleans on a flatboat, and on the return trip died at Vicksburg, Missis- sippi. Our subject was about eleven years of age when his father settled in this county, and here he was reared to manhood amid the wild surroundings of pioneer life. Ile helped
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
cut the first wheat, and gather the first corn raised on the Swayze farm on Helt's Prairie. Ile was united in marriage November 4, 1830, to Miss Jane Skidmore, the eldest of eight children of Joshua Skidmore, and to this union five children were born, of whom three are yet living, named William A., a resident of Helt Township; John S., engaged in the grocery trade in Danville, Illinois, and Ilenry H., a practicing physician of St. Ber- nice, this county. Mr. James followed farm- ing until 1852, when he removed to Montezuma, where he was engaged in the mereantile business some sixteen years. Ile then dealt extensively in grain and stock for a time, and is now living retired from aet- ive business life, enjoying the fruits of his years of toil and industry. Mrs. James died January 23, 1873, and Mr. James was a second time married November 20, 1873, to Mrs. Anna R. Elder, a native of Clinton County, New York, widow of Samuel Elder and daughter of Mason Meade. Mr. James has been a member of the Methodist Epis- copal ehurel sinee 1828, his wife having also been a member of the same church many years. In his political views he affiliates with the Republican party.
EORGE A. CRABB, one of the leading business men of Clinton, engaged in dealing in groeeries, was born at Clinton Locks, in Parke County, Indiana, Jannary 22, 1859, a son of Walter G. and Eliza (Thayer) Crabb. His father was born in Ohio, August 2, 1816, a son of John W. Crabb, who was one of the pioneers of the Wabash Valley, and who made his home on Walker's Bluffin Parke County, this State, in 1824. Walter G. C'rabb, when a young man, by the death of his father, had the care of the family
thrown upon him, his elder brothers having married and left home. A few years later he married a Miss Hanson, and to them were born eleven children, of whom only three are now living-Azro P., of Idaho Territory; Mrs. Elizabeth White, of Ilelt Township, Vermillion County, and Winfield S., residing in Iowa. The mother and the remaining eight children are buried at Clinton Locks. The second wife of Walter G. Crabb was a Miss Laney, who died shortly after her mar- riage. He was again married to Miss Eliza Thayer, a native of New York, and to this union five children were born, of whom George A., the subject of this sketeh, is the eldest, and excepting his sister, Mary E., of Clinton, is the only one living. Three of the children died in infancy. Walter G. Crabb led an active business lite, and was among the first traders at Clinton Loeks, a place of im- portanee during the days of the operation of the Wabash and Erie Canal. He erected a warehouse which is still standing there, and was a contractor in the construction of the canal. Hle carried on a ferry there for eleven years, erossing the Wabash at Clinton. In 1862 he became identified with this place, and until the spring of 1865 he owned and operated a steam grist-mill one and a half miles west of Clinton. In 1865 he ereeted the briek grist and merchant mill at Clinton, which he operated until his death, and which is now a part of his estate. lle died August 22, 1884. IIis wife died November 12, 1877, aged forty-five years. All the brothers and sisters of Walter G. Crabb are deceased, with the exception of Mrs. Mary Welton, who resides in Edgar County, Illinois. The edu- cation of Mr. Crabb was limited to a few months attendance in the subscription schools. He became a thorough, practical business man, and in all respeets was a self-made man. Ifis father, once well-to-do in this world's
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goods, became a poor man through the failure of others, and left his family in limited cir- cumstances, and every dollar owned by Wal- ter G. Crabb was earned by himself, and at his death he left a fair estate. In politics he was first a Whig, but affiliated with the Republi- can party from its organization. While not a professing Christian he gave freely of his means toward the building of churches, and also purchased books for a Sunday-school at Clinton Locks, of which he was superintend- ent. Ile was a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and was buried with Masonic honors. George A. Crabb, whose name heads this sketch, was reared from the age of three years in Clinton, and his education was obtained in the schools of Clinton. At the age of fifteen years he took charge of his father's books, and assisted his father in his mill until es- tablishing himself in his present business, March 14, 1883. October 16, 1881, he was married to Miss Metta V. Davidson, who was born at Clinton, September 8, 1860, a dangh- ter of John and Jane Davidson, both of whom are deceased. Their only child, Metta Amelia, was born December 22, 1885. In politics Mr. Crabb casts his suffrage with the Repub- lican party.
DWARD A. FLAUGHER, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of Cayuga, was born in Vermillion Conn- ty, Illinois, September 7, 1846, a son of Zachariah Flaugher. Ilis father was born in Brown County, Ohio, February 22, 1811, and died in Vermillion County, Illinois, Decem- ber 3, 1865. Ile being a farmer, our subject was reared to the same avocation, and his education was received principally in the Industrial University of Champaign, Illinois, from which institution he graduated in June, 24
1868. Ile then began reading medicine with Dr. W. T. Summers, of Urbana, Illinois, and later read under the preceptorship of Dr. Balch, of Georgetown. During the year 1871 he attended the St. Louis Medical College one term, and in 1881 he spent one term at the Ohio Medical College of Cincin- nati, and two terms at the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, graduating from the latter college in March, 1883. Dr. Flaugher commenced the practice of his profession in 1870, which he has since followed with the exception of the time spent at college. Ile makes a specialty of diseases of the eye in which he is very successful, and has become identified with the prominent medical men of this part of the county. Ile located at Eugene in August, 1870, and in 1876 went to Williamsport, Warren County, returning to Eugene, in January, 1880. Ile removed his office to Cayuga in October, 1884, being the first settler at this place. IIe estab- lished a drug and grocery store at Cayuga, the pioneer store, which he carried on in connection with his medical practice until March 17, 1885, when he disposed of his business to Nathan Tutt. He was appointed postmaster at Cayuga in March, 1886, and still holds that position. He has now a good practice at this place. Dr. Flangher was married August 28, 1874, to Miss Mary J. Greer, whose father was George W. Greer, an early settler of Eugene Township. Of the two children born to this union but one is living, a daughter named Mary E.
HOMAS HENRY HARRISON, one of the old and honored pioneers of Highland Township, residing on sec- tion 31, about five miles west of Perrysville, was born in Ohio County, West Virginia,
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
January 1, 1810. ITis father, John Harri- son, removed from Baltimore, Maryland, to West Virginia, and later settled with his family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he died when the subject of this sketeh was a ehild. IIe was a nailer by trade, and was engaged in the manufacture of nails at Pitts- burgh. After his death the family returned to West Virginia, remaining there until 1819, then moved to Monroe County, Ohio. The mother was a second time married, to William Harris, who died in the United States army, and to this union two sons were born, named Charles and Samuel. In 1834 the mother immigrated with her family to Vermillion County, Indiana, where she died April 9, 1861, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. Thomas Henry Harrison, whose name heads this sketch, arrived in Perrysville for the first time December 20, 1834. January 29, 1835, he was united in marriage to Miss Marinda Henthorn, a daughter of William D. Hen- thorn, who came to Vermillion County at the same time as the IIarrison family. He then settled on the land now occupied by our sub- ject, where he lived until his death, his wife also dying at the homestead some time be- fore. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Henthorn only four danghters are living at the present time. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, of whom seven are yet living- Virginia, Richard, Susan, Marinda, Mary C., Charles and Mar- garet M. Their eldest son, William M., was a member of Company K, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry, in the war of the Rebellion. He was wounded at the bat- tle of Perryville, Kentucky, but died of pneu- monia at Gallatin, Tennessee, January 13, 1863, in his twenty-sixth year. The remain- ing children who are deceased are -- John, who died Angust 18, 1846, aged six years; Thomas B., died in his thirty-second year,
July 4, 1883, at Jonesboro, Arkansas, and one who died in infancy, unnamed. In April, 1835, shortly after his marriage, Mr. Harri- son went to Porter County, Indiana, return- ing to Perrysville, Vermillion County, in October of the same year. In Angnst, 1838, he settled on the place where he has since resided, with the exception of one year. As will be seen Mr. Ilarrison has been a resident of Highland Township about fifty-four years, and is now the only representative of his father's family living in Indiana. He has always been an active and publie spirited citizen, being interested in all enterprises which tend toward the advancement of his township or county. In politics he was in early life a Whig, but in later years a Re- publican.
RANCIS M. RILEY, of Rileysburg, was born on the homestead which he now owns and occupies, April 14, 1844, and is one of the representative citizens of Vermillion County. Jacob Riley, the father of onr subjeet, was one of the early pioncers of the county, settling on the farm now occu- pied by his son in 1842. He was born in IIardin County, Kentucky, in 1803, where he was reared, and received a fair education con- sidering the lack of educational advantages in that early day. IIe came to Perrysville, Vermillion County, in 1827, and engaged in teaching sehool, in which he had considerable experience. He was married at Perrysville in 1831, to Elizabeth Nichols, sister of Will- iam Nichols, of Highland Township, and to this union were born four sons and one daughter. Three of the sons yet survive- George Harding, Frank M. and Jacob. Will- iam, the eldest son, died in Green County, Wisconsin, March 3, 1865, and the daughter,
Mra Martha I Kiley
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Nancy, died February 19, 1861. She was the wife of Isaac Rouse, and left at her death three children. The father established the first harness shop in Perrysville, where he carried on the business until 1842. He then sold out and purchased 100 acres of the Riley homestead, on which he located. He added largely to his original purchase until he owned about 600 acres, becoming one of the wealthy and influential men of Highland Township. He died at the homestead, No- vember 1, 1880. The mother of our subject died May 4, 1868, and after her death the father married again. His widow still sur- vives and is making her home in Danville. Francis M. Riley is one of the leading farm- ers and stock-raisers in Vermillion County. He was the first to introduce the Poll-Angus breed of cattle into the county, and is making a success in the raising of this valuable breed. He is also engaged in the manufac- ture of tile, this enterprise being carried on under the firm name of Riley & Shute. The works of this firm are at Rileysburg, where a superior quality of tile is produced. Mr. Riley served four months in the war of the Rebellion, being a member of the Seventy- first Illinois Infantry. Ile was married May 8, 1877, to Miss Martha W. Rodgers, who was born in Warren County, Indiana, March 25, 1860, her father, Elisha Rodgers, being still a resident of that county. Politically Mr. Riley affiliates with the Republican party. He is at present one of the commis- sioners of Vermillion County, having been elected to that office in the fall of 1884, and re-elected in the fall of 1886. He has a beautiful farm of 327 aeres of land, 160 of which belonged to the original homestead, and its entire surroundings are indicative of the enterprise and industry of the owner. On the building of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, a station was secured at
Rileysburg, through the influence of Mr. Riley. The name was originally Riley, but there being another station on the railroad bearing that name, the name of this station was changed to Rileysburg in the spring of 1885. The place was formerly but a flag station, but is now a regular station, and is a place of some importance, where con- siderable shipping is carried on. Mr. Riley takes a deep interest in the welfare of the town, and every movement calculated to aid in building up the place has his encourage- ment and assistance.
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TEPHEN STEVENSON COLLETT, deceased, was a resident near Eugene. Hle was a son of John and Elizabeth Collett, a sketch of whom we give elsewhere. Born in Pennsylvania in 1792, he was nine years old when the family came West with him, traveling by flat boat down the Ohio River to Lime Rock, Kentucky, in 1800. He came to this State in 1818, in company with his brother, Josephus, their father having been appointed deputy United States Surveyor in the Maumee Valley. Stephen himself, as deputy United States Surveyor for a part of Indiana Territory, made the first surveys of the counties of Owen, Putnam, Montgomery and Tippecanoe. Ile was subsequently en- gaged in mercantile pursuits at Terre Haute, where the firms of Linton & Collett, and Rose & Collett, had extensive business relations in the fur trade with John Jacob Astor, with headquarters at Mackinac. In 1827 he removed to Eugene, Vermillion County, of which village plat he was the first proprietor, and where he engaged in the shipping of farm products and general mer- chandise by flat-boats to New Orleans. He was chosen as a Whig of the Henry Clay
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school to represent Vermillion County in the House of Representatives for the sessions of 1833-'35; then was senator from Parke, Ver- million and Warren counties in 1835-'36 and from Parke and Vermillion in 1842-'44. During all his legislative career he served with marked ability; was a member of the standing committees on Finance, Education and Agriculture; and was one of the nine members, including Governor Whiteomb and Calvin Fletcher, who voted against the internal improvement seheme, which after- ward proved so disastrous. Although he had had but little opportunity for school education, he acquired studions habits, be- eame posted in history and general literature. Although not a member of any church, he maintained a steadfast faith in the general principles of Christianity, especially the Golden Rule. He died December 28, 1843, at Browning's Hotel, Indianapolis, while serving as State Senator, and the Legislature passed resolutions of sincere respeet coneern- ing him, and many members delivered eloquent eulogies. Senator Bradley, for ex- ample, said: " By his energy, sagacity of in- telleet and integrity, which was never soiled by a stain nor darkened by a cloud of suspicion, he deservedly attained a high place in publie estimation." Representative Thomas Dowl- ing, of Vigo County, said: " As a merchant he was upright, serupulously honest, direet and plain in his dealings; as a farmer he was distinguished for his good taste and industry ; as a neighbor he was kind and obliging; as a friend, firm and steadfast; as a legislator, conscientious, prudent and upright; as a politieian, devotedly attached to the great principle of constitutional liberty." On his farm he was a pioneer in the introduction of fine stock, and improved varieties of grain and other farm products. His clover field in 1832 was a curiosity, as it was one of the earliest
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