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 46
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ESLEY SWITZER, who has been identified with the interests of Ver- million County for many years, is a native of Ohio, born March 24, 1821. His home is on section 6, Highland Township. the land having been entered by his brother John Switzer about the year 1824. After partially improving the land he had sold it to his father, Peter Switzer, who settled here in 1834. l'eter Switzer was a native of the State of Virginia, born May 9, 1769. He
was reared in his native State, and was there married October 24, 1794, to Mary Hoover, who was born in Virginia May 3, 1774. They left Virginia for Ohio, and were among the pioneers of Pike County, where the father cleared a large farm of heavily timbered land. Several of his children had settled in Indiana before he came to the State, in 1834. IIe lived on the land now occupied by his son, Wesley, until his death which occurred November 14, 1844. He was a consistent member of the Methodist church for many years, and was held in high esteem by all. In politics he was a Whig. His widow sur- vived him about four years, her death taking place November 26, 1848, in her seventy-fifth year. Peter Switzer and wife had born to them ten children, seven sons and three daughters, and of this once numerous family only three are living-Absalom in Marion County, Illinois; Mary Ann, wife of Charles Loney, of Grant County, Wisconsin, and Wesley, the subject of this sketch. The latter came to Vermillion County with his parents, at that time a lad of about thirteen years, and here he grew to manhood amid the scenes incident to pioneer life. He was married June 3, 1841, to Miss Naney Henderson, a native of Piekaway County, Ohio, born July 12, 1823. This union was blessed with twelve children, nine of whom are living- Mary Ann, William, Sarah, John, Peter, David, Rose Ann, Lincoln and Nancy Main. After a married life of more than forty years Mrs. Switzer died April 10, 1882. She was a devoted wife and mother, a kind neighbor, and was respected by all who knew her. Wesley Switzer has made farming the prin- eipal avocation of his life, and is elassed among the prosperous agrienlturists of Iligh- land Township, and is now the owner of the farin on which he settled with his father's family in 1834. He is always interested in
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any movement calculated to promote the public welfare, and by his honorable and upright dealings he has gained the confidence and esteem of the entire community.
NDREW J. BECK, a progressive farmer of Highland Township, is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, born June 2, 1838, a son of Nicholas and Sarah Jane (Ferguson) Beck, the latter dying when our subject was a child. He was reared in his native State, remaining there until April, 1861. He then went to Vermillion County, Illinois, and in June following he came to Highland Township, this county. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Forty- third Indiana Infantry, and was in the service of his country until June 14, 1865. He participated in many of the severe engage- ments of the Southwest, ineluding the bat- tles of Island No. 10, New Madrid, Fort Donelson, siege of Fort Pillow, the battles at Memphis, Helena, Jenkins Ferry and Marks Mill. Mr. Beck was married in Highland Township, in 1866, to Miss Nancy A. Shaw, who was born in the same township in 1837. Mrs. Beek is a daughter of Hiram Shaw, one of the well known and highly respected pio- neers of Highland Township. IIe was born in Ohio, in 1805, coming to Vermillion County, Indiana, with his mother when a young man. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in the army before the close of the war. The Shaw family first settled in Eugene Township, and later eame to Highland Township. Mr. Shaw purchased land on seetions 17 and 18, in the south part of the township, where he lived until his death, which oeenrred in February, 1878, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, Rachel (Gerrard) Shaw, died the following 28
May. They left a family of seven children -Alias, Samuel, Mrs. Nancy A. Beck, Ra- ehel (wife of Courtland Mack), Hannah (wife of Jolin Lunger), Caleb and Martin Luther, all yet living but Martin L., who has sinee died in Kansas. The following children died before the parents: Mary Elizabeth, Cynthia, Hiram and Sarah Jane. At his death Mr. Shaw left a valuable property, which he had acquired by persevering industry and good management, and the farm oceupied by Mr. and Mrs. Beek is a part of his old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Beck have had born to them five children, of whom four are living-Malind E., born July 9, 1868; Mar- tin A., born December 8, 1870; Laura Ettie, born February 10, 1873, and Sarah May, born May 10, 1878. The eldest child, a son, died May 3, 1877, in his tenth year.
OIIN ANDREWS, a prosperous agricult- urist of Vermillion County, engaged in farming and stock-raising on seetion 18, Helt Township, was born in Clermont Coun- ty, Ohio, February 19, 1811, a son of James Andrews who is now deceased. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and was an early settler of Ohio. Ile came to Helt Township among the early pioneers, settling in Helt Township in 1823, when Indians and wild animals were the principal inhabitants. Here the subject of this sketeh was reared amid the wild surroundings of pioneer life, and was early in life inured to hard work. Ile received but limited educational advan- tages, and never attended school until reach- ing the age of eighteen years. He has always followed farming with the exception of 1832- '33 when working in the lead mines at Ga- lena, Illinois. IIe has been very successful in his agricultural pursuits, and is now the
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owner of a fine farm of 250 acres of choice land. Mr. Andrews was married August 14, 1834, to Miss Amanda Rhoads, daughter of Silas Rhoads, and to this union were born three children, one son, Silas, being the only one living. A son named James was killed in the Rebellion while fighting for the Union. Their daughter, Elizabeth, died after her marriage, leaving at her death two children. Mrs. Andrews died in 1840, and in 1841 Mr. Andrews was married again, taking for his second wife, Miss Margaret Rhoads, a sister of his former wife. Of the ten children born to this union seven are yet living-Caroline, Harriet, William, Ira, Otis, Annie and Laura.
OHN W. BEAUCHAMP, of Highland Township, was born in the State of Ohio, in 1821, of French descent, and is a son of David Beauchamp, one of the old and honored pioneers of Vermillion County. He was born in the State of Delaware in 1799, and when young was taken by his parents to Ohio, where they made their home until death. He was married in Ohio to Miss Dorothy Jubinal, a native of Kentucky, and to them were born twelve children, seven sons and five daughters. In October, 1826, Mr. Beanchamp brought his family, then consisting of his wife and four ehil- dren, to this county, and settled on seetion 6, Highland Township, on the farm now owned by Henry Parks. IIe cleared and improved this place and resided here until his death. Ilere his wife died March 14, 1851, and he afterward married Mrs. Ma- tilda (IIenthorn) Hines, a daughter of Will- iam Henthorn, and to this nnion one son, Thomas, was born, who died in childhood. Mr. Beauchamp came to the county a poor
man, but by years of persevering industry and economy he became the owner of a good farm, and in his later years was in com- fortable circumstances. He died March 27, 1868. Of the children of his first marriage, five of the sons are residents of Missouri, and one son lives near Oakwood, Illinois; a daughter lives in Iowa, and another daugh- ter lives in Illinois. Three of the daughters are deceased. John W. Beauchamp, whose name heads this sketeh, is the only member of his father's family now living in Indiana. He was but five years old when brought to this county, and although so young he re- members incidents of the journey to the county. He has been a resident of Vermill- ion County for sixty-one years, and has always taken an active interest in its growth and advancement. He was married August 17, 1843, to Miss Amanda Hughis, who was born in Virginia, March 14, 1823, and to this union the following children were born- James C., who was born October 14, 1844, enlisted in the Fifty-seventh Indiana In- fantry, during the war of the Rebellion, and died in Kentucky a few months after his en- listment; William Mc., born November 15, 1846, served during the last year of the war in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Indiana Infantry; Margaret Ann, wife of William Miller, was born December 10, 1849; Bar- bara E., born July 3, 1851, is the wife of Perry Jones; Asbury M., born August 24, 1853; Clark J. was born March 4, 1856, and died when about sixteen years of age; Mary F. was born November 17, 1858, and died February 8, 1880, and Charley Mc., born No- vember 16, 1860. Mr. Beanchamp was be- reaved by the death of his wife, who had been a faithful helpmeet for over forty-three years, her death taking place at the homestead in Highland Township, December 27, 1886. Mr. Beauchamp is the owner of a fine farm,
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and a pleasant home in Highland Township, where he has made his home since the year 1855, and is one of the respected men of his township.
AMES SMITH, an active and enterpris- ing citizen of IIigliland Township, has lived on the same farm where he now resides since 1866. He is a native of Indi- ana, born in Fountain County, December 13, 1834, a son of Rhoads Smith, who was born in Scott County, Kentucky, August 29, 1803. Berryman Smith, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Virginia, re- moving thence in 1820, to Scott County, Kentucky, settling on Mayor Hurn's farm, five miles from Georgetown, where he made his home for twenty-five years. Hle then im- migrated to Indiana, and settled in Fayette Connty near Connersville, where he resided seven years, removing from there to Fountain County, Indiana, where he died in 1839. Rhoads Smith was united in marriage at Connersville, to Miss Christiana Conner, a native of North Carolina, whose father, Daniel Conner, was a native of the same State. They resided a number of years after their marriage in Fountain County, Indiana, and finally removed to Vermillion County, Illi- nois, abont the year 1849, where the father of our subject died in 1882. He was a worthy and consistent Christian, and a mem- ber of the Baptist church for a period of sixty-five years. James Smith, whose name heads this sketch, was reared in his native county. On reaching manhood he was mar- ried to Miss Lucretia Goff, a daughter of David Goff, and to them have been born seven children, five sons and two daughters. Mr. Smith has a good farm and a pleasant home, and most of the improvements on his
place have been made by himself, erecting his present residence and barn and making other substantial improvements, the entire surroundings of the place indicating the care and thrift of the owner. Mr. Smith has been a member of the Baptist church since June 16, 1855, and has been engaged in the min- istry about ten years. IIe is a preacher of much force and earnestness, and well informed on scriptural subjects, and is one of the most respected citizens of IHighland Township.
EVI A. MeKNIGHT, one of the active and progressive business men of Ver- million County, was the pioneer mer- chant of Gessie, establishing his business at this place in the spring of 1871. He was born in Xenia, Ohio, June 1, 1846, a son of Linton MeKnight, who removed from Vir- ginia, his native State, to Ohio, and in 1850 to Fountain County, Indiana, where he lived until his death. The father being a farmer, our subject was reared to agricultural pur- suits, his youth being spent in assisting with the work of the farm, and in attending the public schools of his neighborhood. In his twentieth year he began teaching school. In 1865 he came to Ilighland Township, Ver- million County, where he taught two years, when he was appointed principal of the school at Eugene, a position he held two years. Ile then engaged in the mercantile business at Boswell, in Benton County, where he remained until the building of the rail- road through Vermillion County, and the establishing of the station at Gessie, when he removed to this place. In connection with his general mercantile business he is also engaged in buying grain, and is the leading grain and general merchant of the place. Mr. MeKnight has been twice mar-
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
ried, taking for his first wife Miss Flora E. Bennett, who was a daughter of David Ben- nett, Sr., who for many years was a prominent and successful farmer of Highland Township, but now a resident of Danville, Illinois. The maiden name of the present wife of Mr. McKnight, was Sarah Belle Erwin, she being a relative of Robert J. Gessie. Mr. Mc- Knight is a member of the Masonic frater- nity. In politics he is a Republican, and ;an able advocate of the principles of that party.
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OIIN RICHARDSON is one of the active business men of Newport, and a representative of one of the pioneer families of Vermillion County. His father, Benjamin Richardson, was a native of South- crn Ohio, born April 28, 1808, a son of Joseph Richardson, who was one of the early settlers of this county, father and son settling about two miles northwest of Newport, where Benjamin Richardson lived until his death, which occurred February 18, 1870. IIis wife, Elizabeth Richardson, was born May 16, 1818, and died September 16, 1866. They reared a family of three sons and three daughters-William, of Eugene Township; John, our subject, living in Vermillion Town- ship; Sarah, wife of Dr. Ira Gillum, of Mil- ford, Illinois; Florinda, who resides with her sister Mrs. Gillum; Franklin, living near Georgetown, Illinois, and Jane, wife of But- ler Gillum, of Sylvania, Parke County, Indi- ana. The parents of our subject had born to them, besides those already mentioned, six children, who died before reaching maturity. John Richardson, the subject of this sketch, is a native of this county, born in Vermillion Township, March 21, 1843, and here he was reared to the vocation of a farmer. He en- listed July 26, 1862, in the war of the Re-
bellion, and served in the Sixth Indiana Cavalry, until June 17, 1865, being in active service all the time. He served in Kentucky under General Sherman, and in Tennessee and Georgia, and was at the battle of Rich- mond, Kentucky, and the siege of Knoxville, Tennessee. He was in the Atlanta campaign, and participated in the battles attending that campaign, and was in Stoneman's Macon raid. Mr. Richardson and another soldier named Lucien Whipple, now of Engene Township, were the only members of their regiment that escaped capture or death, in this last mentioned expedition. In April, 1865, the regiment went from Pulaski, where they were mustered out of the service. Mr. Richardson was united in marriage to Miss Susan H. Hart, a daughter of Gold M. Hart, and a native of Vermillion County, Indiana, the date of her birth being June 22, 1839. To this union have been born three children, named-Willie E., Ella and Annie Laura. Mr. Richardson has established a good busi- ness in Newport, where he deals in stationery, tobacco and cigars, confectionery and fruits, and by his fair and honorable dealing he has gained the confidence of all who know him.
AVID GOUTY, a resident of Gessie, and a representative of one of the well- known pioneer families of Vermillion County, is a native of this county, born in Highland Township, December 9, 1828. His father, Henry Gouty, was born in the State of Maryland in 1800. He went from his na- tive State to Ohio, where he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Whitsell, and to them were born eight children, all of whom reached maturity, and of this once large family only two are living at the present time-Jane, wife of Daniel Shute, of IIigh-
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land Township, and David, the subject of this sketch. The names of the deceased are- Henry, Thomas, Jeremiah, Zachariah, Eliza and Elizabeth. From Ohio, Mr. Henry Gonty emigrated with his family to Parke County, Indiana, and later removed to Vermillion County, where he lived until his death, which occurred October 14, 1858, at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife also died in this county in Highland Township, aged seventy- four years and ten months. David Gouty, whose name heads this sketeh, is one of the oldest native born citizens living in Highland Township, and few men have become better known or more universally respected through the township than he. He has been three times married, taking for his first wife Miss Minerva Shute. Ile was a second time mar- ried to Miss Eliza Cossey, whose father was one of the early pioneers of the county. The maiden name of his present wife was Cath- erine Hoobler. She is a daughter of Rev. John Hoobler, who settled in the county in the year 1832. Mr. Gonty has but one ehild, a son, by his second marriage. Ifis son, William Henry, was born in Highland Town- ship, in 1864. Ile was united in marriage to Miss Flora Rodgers, a daughter of Samnel Rodgers. They reside on the homestead farm.
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NOCII GEORGE SPARKS, a repre- sentative citizen of Vermillion County, was born on his father's homestead in Highland Township, July 19, 1843. Ilis father, Daniel Sparks, was born in Maryland, near Baltimore, in 1805, and when a lad went with his parents to Ohio, they settling near Kingston where he lived many years. He was twice married, his first wife being named Miss Margaret Towers. Of the children born
to this union, three are still living, a son and two daughters. The father came with his family to Vermillion County, Indiana, about 1835, and made a temporary settlement near Eugene. Shortly afterward he settled on section 9, Highland Township, where he spent the rest of his life. IIere his wife died in 1839, and the following year he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Fleming, who was born in Piekaway County, Ohio, in 1818. She was brought to Vigo County, Indiana, in early childhood, and when eleven years old to Vermillion County, where she was reared. Seven children were born to this second union of whom only three survive-Enoch George, our subject, who was the eldest child of this marriage; Annie M., wife of Rev. J. B. Combs, and Warner who left his home a number of years ago, and his location is unknown. Of those deceased-Daniel died in his sixth year; Joseph F., died May 31, 1873, in his twenty-seventh year; Edith, wife of Samuel B. Lewis, died October 8, 1883, in her thirty-second year, and one child died in infaney. Their son, Joseph F., was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, serving two years in the Seventy-first Indiana Infantry. IIe was in the ranks abont a year when he was placed on detached serviee, and served in the commissary department. IIe was a young man of high ability, and for sometime was a student at Greencastle, Indiana. He studied law with Rhoads Brothers, at Newport, Indi- ana, and subsequently engaged in the practice of law at Danville, where he lived until his death. The father of our subject died March 24, 1866. He was an honest, upright citizen, and was much esteemed by all who knew him. Ile began life poor, but by persevering in- dustry, combined with good business ability, he acquired a good competence, and was the owner of 200 acres of fine land. For a num- ber of years before his death he was in poor
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
health. Ile was strictly temperate in all things, and was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years. Ilis widow is still living on the homestead, on which he settled over fifty years ago. Enoch George Sparks, whose name heads this sketeh, was reared at the homestead, to the voeation of a farmer, and has always made his home in Highland Township. IIe now resides on section 16, where he has a fine farm, and a pleasant home. His farm is one of the finest improved in his township, as may be indi- eated by the fact that he has expended about 85,000 in improvements. Before her mar- riage the name of Mrs. Sparks was Miss Susan- nah Cossey, she being a daughter of Peter Cossey, who settled in Highland Township among the early pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Sparks have five children living named- Mary Lnella, wife of Daniel Gouty; Edith, Enoch George, Elizabeth and Grace. Their eldest child, Peter Franklin, died at the age of five years. Politically Mr. Sparks casts his suffrage with the Republican party.
ILLIAM N. HOSFORD, a member of the firm of Hostord & Bell, gen- eral merchants, Engene, was born in Eugene Township, Vermillion County, Indi- ana, February 3, 1858, his father, Lemon llosford, being a native of the State of New York. Ile spent the first thirteen years of his life on his father's farm, and his eduea- tion was obtained in the schools at Pana, Illinois. IIc engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at Engene in February, 1879, in which year the 'present firm was formed. They carry on two stores now, having in the fall of 1887 added a large dry goods, clothing and grocery establishment to their already exten- sive business, their other store containing
drugs, paints, oils, groceries, etc. Both mem- bers of the firm are active business men, and by their accommodating manners, and strict attention to the wants of their customers, they have built up a good trade which is steadily increasing. Mr. Hosford was post- master of Engene from 1879 until 1886. Ile is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Ile was married in April, 1880, to Miss Anna Boyd, a daughter of the late Josiah Boyd, and to them have been born two children, named Fred and Hazel.
PHRAIM SHUTE, one of the success- ful agriculturists of Highland Town- ship, resides near Howard Chapel, where his father, Richard Shute, settled in the year 1829. Richard Shute and his wife, Hannah (MeCartney) Shute, had a family of fifteen children, all yet living with the ex- ception of two daughters, Minerva and Re- becca. The names of those yet living are- William, living in Illinois; Daniel, John, Ephraim and Jehu, residents of Highland Township, Vermillion County; Mahala, wife of William Nicholas; Sarah Ann, widow of Peter Cossey; Susan, wife of Reece A. Ra- burn; Marian, wife of Rezin Iloward, living in Missouri; Mrs. Elizabeth Gouty, and three sons, Joseph, Richard and Harrion, living in Missouri. Ephraim Shinte, the subject of this sketeh, was born in the State of Ohio in 1827, and was but two years old when his parents inimigrated to Vermillion County. Ile was reared on the homestead to the voeation of a farmer, and has resided on the same place almost sixty years. The farm on which he resides contains 240 aeres of well- improved land, under a high state of cultiva- tion, besides which he has fifty acres elsewhere in the same township, and also a half section
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of valuable land in Kansas. Mrs. Shute was formerly Miss Elzina Goff, a daughter of David Goff, who was one of the pioneers of Vermillion County. Mr. and Mrs. Shute are the parents of ten children, whose names are as follows-Martha, David (living in Mis- souri), Hannah, Aurelia, Elias M., Squire, Philander, Marintha, Marah Helen and Eph- raim A., the two latter being deceased. Mr. Shute has always manifested a deep interest in the welfare of his township and county, and every enterprise for the public welfare has had his encouragement and support.
OHN COLLETT, SR., was born near Wil- mington, Delaware, in 1762, a descendant of an old English family whose traditions say that their remote aneestry eame from Normandy to Britain with William the Con- queror, and shared in the division of Saxon property assigned to his favorite warriors. The name Collett is indirectly derived from the ancient Nicholas, through the following intermediate forms: Nicoletus, Coletus, Colet, Collett. A quaint volume now in the library of his grandson, John Collett, of Indianapo- lis, tells of an aneestral Jolm Colet, who was Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in the reign of Henry VII. and VIII., and founder of St. Paul's School for Boys, and whose father, Sir Henry Colet, while serving his second term as Lord Mayor of London, became treaty bondsman for his monarch, Henry VII., with the Duteh Republic. A branch of the Collett family, who were "Round- heads" with Cromwell for the Common- wealth, left England on the restoration of Charles II., and after a brief sojourn in Ire- land two brothers came to America, about the year 1755, landing at Wilmington, Dela- ware. The family early removed to the val-
ley of the Juniata, in Pennsylvania, and at the age of nineteen years the subject of this memoir became a soldier under Washington. After his marriage to a German lady near the junetion of the Juniata and Susquehanna, he made his home among the hills and mountains of Huntingdon County, Pennsyl- vania, and found after the lapse of more than fifty years that his mind was happy in re- viving the memories of the "bright, blue Juniata, and its rushing, silvery current." In 1800 he removed with his family and little property in a flat-boat down the affluents of the Ohio River, and the river itself, to Lime Rock, opposite the present town of Portsmouth, Ohio. His objective point was the new capital, Chillicothe, and unloading his horses and wagons, he cut out the first road from the landing to Chillicothe, which road was long known as "Collett's Trail." When the seat of government was removed to Columbus, he went with his family, and ereeted the first shingle-roof house in that place, which is now a considerable eity. Ile was appointed to several publie trusts in both these towns. At that time he kept tavern, before "hotels" were "invented," and was known as the kind and generous landlord. He was appointed United States Deputy Sur- veyor, and surveyed large traets of land in the swamps of the Maumee Valley. One of his comrades was Captain Riley, famous as the author of "Riley's Narrative of Wreek and Wonders on the African Coast;" and he would mildly remark that Captain Riley eould diseover as many terrors and wonders in the swamps of the Maumee as in Africa. In 1818 he was directed to make surveys in Central Indiana, and came West by Indian trail, passing the spot where the city of In- dianapolis is now located. In 1819 he sur- veyed parts of the counties of Owen and Putnam, making his home at Terre Haute.
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