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 49
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taking place about one year before. Five of the children born to them are living-Mrs. Derexa Barber, living near Terre Ilante; John, whose name heads this sketch; Mrs. Susan F. Warren, a widow, residing at Terre Haute; James, living in Florida, and Mrs. Carrie Watson, living in Colorado. Two daughters and one son, born in this county, died in early childhood. John Whitcomb, the subject of this sketch, was but a child when brought by his parents to Vermillion County, and his elementary education was obtained in the schools of Clinton, com- pleting his education at Wabash College. At the age of sixteen years he entered his father's mercantile establishment, and there the foundation of his successful business career was laid. He became his father's trusted assistant, and later became a partner in the business, which continued until 1854. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Urbana, Illinois, but before the war re- turned to Clinton and commenced an active, successful business career, which continued until 1581, since which time he has led a comparatively retired life. He has always been a public-spirited man, taking an active interest in the advancement of his township or county, but has never been an office- seeker. In politics, like his father, he was a Whig, and since its organization has affiliated with the Republican party. In the campaign of 1856 he was elected to the Indiana Gen- eral Assembly, the first Republican ever elected from his district, but he retired from the fieldl, his business demanding his whole attention. During the years 1868 and 1869 he was a partner in a wholesale hardware store in Indianapolis, but not having the ex- clusive management, he retired from that business. Ile has large real estate interests in Vermillion County and vicinity, most of | his land being well improved and very pro-
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duetive. IIe also has large tracts of land in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Florida. Mr. Whitcomb has been twice married. He was- first married in February, 1848, to Miss Mar- garet Whitcomb, who was born in Ohio in 1827, and died in 1868, leaving at her death five ehildren-Charles, now a hardware mer- chant in Clinton; Clara; Anna, who died at the age of twenty-five years; Benjamin Il., dealer in agricultural implements at Clinton. and Cora, wife of F. M. Shepardson, of Granville, Ohio. Mr. Whitcomb was mar- ried a second time, January 30, 1870, to Miss Lydia A. Parks, a daughter of Barzilla Parks, of Washington County, New York, where she was born April 29, 1840. To this union three children have been born, as fol- lows-Larz A., Arthur W. and Nena. Both Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ILLIAM C. COOK, farmer, seetion 6, Vermillion Township, is a native of Vermillion County, and a repre- sentative of one of its pioneer families. Ilis parents, Dr. Josepli and Margaret (Dallas) Cook, were well-known and prominent eiti- zens of the county. His father was one of the largest farmers and stock-breeders, his stock farm consisting of 1,560 acres of fine land, and beside this he stood high in his profession and was well known all over the county and this part of the State. IIe died in 1875, aged fifty-five years, lamented by all who knew him. His family consisted of thirteen children, five of whom are living- William, Charles F., Joseph F., Addison and Bertie C. Charles married Cora Patrick and has two children-Fleta and Grace. Joseph married Drue Campbell and has three chil- dren-Nettie, Roy and Mary. Addison lives
in Edgar County. He married Bell Camp- bell and has one child-Jennie. William C. Cook has a good farm of 120 acres, and is one of the successful young farmers of the county. He was married October 16, 1879, to Lucinda, danghter of Enos and Jennie (Cloy) Campbell, pioneers of Vermillion County. They have two children-Clyde C. and Fleetwood. Mr. Cook is a member of the Odd Fellows order, Lodge No. 594, at Newport.
S. DAVIS, a member of the real estate firin of Dalla & Davis, and one of the active and enterprising business men of Newport, is a native of Indiana, born in Parke County, in the year 1844. His father removed with his family to Vermillion County, in 1856, and is now living near Summit in IFelt Township. Our subject was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlist- ing in December, 1863, in Company C, Twenty-third Indiana Infantry. He was in the Twenty-third Corps in the Atlanta and Nashville campaign and after the close of the Nashville campaign he was transferred east with that corps, and operated in North Caro- lina, and participated at the close of the war in the grand review at Washington. After the war Mr. Davis attended school for a time, then went to Salina, Kansas, where he pre- empted a claim, and remained there engaged in farming about five years. He then sold his farm and returned to Vermillion County, and for a time taught school during the win- ter terms, and during the summer months engaged in the manufacture of brick. Iie was engaged in mercantile pursuits about three years, in business at Newport, Highland and IFillsdale. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Martin, a native of Parke
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County, Indiana, and a daughter of John B. 'Game of all kind was abundant, deer were Martin, and they are the parents of three | seen in large numbers every day, bears were children named-Maggie B., Nellie C. and Wilfred P. Mr. Davis has been a resident of Newport since 1878, in which year he was elected to the office of county recorder, to succeed J. A. Sanders. Ile filled that office satisfactorily some eight years and in the fall of 1886 was succeeded by M. B. Carter, the present incumbent. In polities Mr. Davis is a Republican, casting his first presidential vote in 1868 for Ulysses S. Grant. plentiful and Indians still used the forests and prairies for a hunting ground. Ile has been a hard working man and has succeeded his father in the ownership of valuable land, and is now one of the highly esteemed old settlers of Highland Township. Mr. Bow- man has been twice married. His first wife was Nancy Miller, a daughter of Cornelius Miller, who settled in Highland Township about 1830. Mrs. Bowman died December 25, 1874, aged fifty-nine years. They had a family of eight children, five of whom are living-Thomas, Alice, Ellen, Catherine and George. John, Mary and Cornelius are deceased. The present Mrs. Bowman was formerly Mrs. Sally (Gadbury) Warner, widow of Joseph Warner. In his political views Mr. Bowman is a Democrat and in religion is independent.
M OSES BOWMAN a representative farmer of Highland Township, resides on section 30, range 10, township 19. Ilis father, Thomas Bowman, was born on the south branch of the Potomac River in Virginia in 1769, and was there married to Jane Rhoads a native of the saine neighbor- hood. In 1828 he came to Indiana and settled on the land now owned by their son Moses, the farm having been in the possession of the family nearly sixty years. Their nearest neighbor at that time was Henry Goudy, three miles distant. Mr. Bowman was nearly sixty years old when he came to Indiana and had voted for President Wash- ington in his native State. He died in September, 1853, his wife surviving him about four years. They had two children when they came to Indiana-Maria and Moses. Maria married Stephen Bainbridge and died many years ago. Moses Bowman, the only surviving member of his father's family, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, July 11, 1812, and was about sixteen years old when his father came to Indiana. His early life was thins innred to the hardships of a pioneer, and he has many recollections of the trials and pleasures of that carly day.
W ILLIAM Y. RICE, farmer and stock- raiser, section 9, Vermillion Town- ship, is one of the prosperous farmers of the county. He has a valuable farm of 160 acres all well improved with a pleasant residence, his surroundings denoting thrift and enterprise, and in addition to his homestead has a farm of 160 acres on another section. Mr. Rice was born in Floyd County, Indiana, September 28, 1822, a son of Jeliu and Catherine (Smith) Rice, natives of Kentucky, his father being of German descent. His parents came to Indiana in 1818 and located in Floyd Township the remainder of their lives. They reared a family of eight children, six of whom are living. William Y. Rice remained on the farm with his parents during his youth and on leaving home went to learn the shoemaker's trade, serving an apprentice-
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ship of four years. Ile worked at his trade twenty years, and thus got his start on the road to affluence. He invested his savings in land, and now has two of the best farms in Vermillion Township. He has made his property by economy and hard work, and ean now look back over a life of industry and ean enjoy the fruits of his own labors. Mr Riee was married in Floyd County in 1850, to Mary E. Baker, who was born in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, in 1828. They have three children-Carrie A., Charles L. and Mary F. Carrie is the wife of David Russell and has two children-Alice and Clarenee. Mr. Rice has held the office of supervisor of his township. He and his wife are members of the Christian church.
W ILLIAM II. CATES, of the firm of Nixon & Cates, dealers in lumber, grain and agricultural implements, Cayuga, is a native of Indiana, born in Foun- tain County, August 25, 1851, a son of David Cates, who is still a resident of Fountain County. He was reared on the home farm in his native county, and his education was re- ceived principally in the Northern Indiana Normal School and the Business College at Valparaiso, Indiana, graduating from the commercial department of the latter institu- tion in 1875. For three years he taught during the winter terms in Fountain County, and in the summer months worked on a farm. Hle was then engaged as station agent at Cates, Fountain County, for the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Railroad Company until September, 1886, when he came to Cayuga, Vermillion County, and established his present business. The firm earries a full line of pine and poplar lumber and all kinds of building material, and agricultural imple-
ments, and also deals extensively in grain, having between July 23 and October 19 of 1887 shipped forty-three ear loads of wheat. Mr. Cates was united in marriage September 17. 1879, to Miss Harriet E. Lindley, a na- tive of Parke County, Indiana, and a daugh- ter of Nathan Lindley, who is now deceased. Of the four children born to them, three are living-Minnie S., Anna L. and Lizzie M. Mr. Cates is a member of the Knights of Labor. llis wife belongs to the Society of Friends.
AVID SMITII, one of the old and re- speeted pioneers of Vermillion County, who is now deceased, was born in Bueks County, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1793, a son of John Frederick and Elizabeth (Paul) Smith, the father being a native of Germany. John Frederick Smith came to America when twelve years of age, the rest of his father's family dying at sea. Ile grew to manhood in Philadelphia, where he was married. Ile was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and at one time was a member of General Washington's body guard. David Smith, our subjeet was reared to manhood in Virginia, where he was married to Miss Susan Hun- sieker, and to them were born thirteen chil- dren, of whom eight are still living-John F., William P., Thomas II., David, Walton C., Mrs. Susan A. Fleshman, Mrs. Mary J. Leseur and Joseph M. He left Virginia with his family, then consisting of wife and eleven children, September 17, 1833, coming to Indiana by wagon. The family lived on rented land in Highland Township, Ver- million County, about two years, and in the spring of 1836 made a permanent settlement about two and a half miles southwest of Perrysville, the original farm being still in
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possession of the family. Here Mr. Smith made his home until his death, January, 1872, in his eighty-ninth year. His widlow survived until October 21, 1878, aged nearly eighty-eight years. David Smith was a suc- cessful business man, as well as a highly esteemed citizen, and acquired a large amount of land, and at the time of his death he owned over 1,100 acres of Vermillion Coun- ty's best soil. lIe made two bequests before his death, one of $6,000 to the Westfield Col- lege, and another of $2,000 to the missionary fund. After the death of Mrs. Smith the estate was divided into ten shares by the heirs, and almost all of the land is still in possession of the family.
OIN L. EGGLESTON, a son of Joseph Eggleston, one of the old and honored pioneers of Vermillion County, Indiana, was born in Vermillion Township, this coun- ty, November 26, 1827, and is perhaps the oklest native born citizen now living within its limits. ITis father was born in the State of New York, in February, 1799, of English origin, and his grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. When about fifteen years old, Joseph Eggleston came west with his mother, his father being deceased, and settled near Portsmouth, in Scioto County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, and mar- ried Nancy Lindsey, a native of Ohio. Of the nine children born to this union six still survive --- Mrs. Sarah Jane Morehead, of New- port; John L., our subject; Mrs. Mary J. Weller, living in Dakota; Benjamin, in Ash- land, Oregon; William, an attorney of Terre Haute, Indiana, and Henry II., in Jonesboro, Arkansas. In 1824 the father immigrated with his family to Indiana, and settled in Eugene Township, this county. About two
years later he entered eighty acres of land farther sonth in the same township, on which he lived nine years, when he sold ont and returned to Ohio, but two months later he returned to Vermillion County, and entered land in Vermillion Township, which he im- proved and lived on until his death, which occurred March 13, 1854. His wife died but five days before her husband. In politics Joseph Eggleston was a Whig, and all of his sons have been identified with the Republi- can party. John L. Eggleston, whose name heads this sketch, has spent his life in Ver- million Township, and has made farming his principal vocation. His homestead contains eighteen acres of choice land, besides which he has a tract of forty acres in the same township. He was first married to Miss Nancy Powers, whose father, Luther Powers, was one of the early pioneers of this county. She died in August, 1871, leaving four chil- dren-Selden B., Flora E., Edwin S. and Laoma E. Mr. Eggleston was a second time married, to Miss Margaret Sanders, a daugh- ter of Capt. Leonard Sanders, who was also a pioneer of this county, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Eggleston held the office of justice of the peace for four years, which position he filled with credit to him- self and satisfaction to his constituents.
HOMAS JACKSON MITCHIELL, JR., a worthy representative of an old pioneer family of Vermillion County, is a native of this county, born in Highland Township, December 7, 1834, and is a son of Thomas J. and Susannah (Ricketts) Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell was reared to the vocation of a farmer, which he has followed through life. Hle has always lived in Highland Township, and has seen it change from a wilderness to
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a well settled country, covered with well cultivated farms, and prosperons villages. IIe is one of the prosperons farmers of his town- ship, his farm containing 250 aeres of choice land, his residenee being three and a half miles from Perrysville. He was united in marriage to Naney J. Wright, a daughter of Thomas Wright, one of the pioneers of this eonnty. Of the six children born to them only two daughters are living, named Joseph- ine and Flora. Their daughter Ellen mar- ried ITerschel V. Cade, and died in February, 1884; MeClellan died aged ten years; Dex- ter died at the age of thirteen years, and Lewis died aged eighteen months.
ILBERT L. MOCK is one of the repre- sentative business inen of Highland Township. His father, Wareham Mock, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1804, a son of Richard Moek, who was born in Scotland and came to America when a boy. Richard Mock was a Methodist minister, and was a ehaplain under General Washington during the war of the Revolution, and also at the same time served in the capacity of drummer. He came to Vermillion County with his son Wareham, and died many years ago, being one of the last survivors of the - war of the Revolution. He had five sons -- Erastus, Asa HI., Richard, Wareham and AAMES H. WILSON, senior member of the firm of Wilson & Crane, dealers in drugs, school books, stationery and oils, at Clinton, is a native of Ohio, born at Spring- field, March 19, 1839, a son of John B. and Eliza C. Wilson. His father was born in Kentucky, and his mother, who is still living, is a native of Virginia. They were married in the State of Ohio, and in 1856, when our subjeet was sixteen years old, the family left Samuel. The last three beeame residents of Vermillion County, and all are now deceased, Warcham being the last to pass away. He was one of the well-known pioneers of the county, and for many years was a flat-boat pilot from Vermillion County to New Or- leans. He was married in Ohio before eom- ing to Indiana to Elizabeth Shilling, and to them were born seven children, but three of whom are living-Barbara, widow of Horace | Springfield for Fairfield, Iowa. where they
Brown; Elizabeth, widow of William Stock- well, and Gilbert. Philena, Henry, Christo- pher and Edna are deceased. Gilbert Mock was born in Helt Township, Vermillion County, April 3, 1831. IIe married in his early life Mary Holdman, a daughter of William Holdman. She died March 8, 1879, leaving three children-Armstead, Daniel and Mary. November 6, 1881, Mr. Mock married Rebecca (Hartman) Deyo, daughter of George Hartman, and widow of Nelson Deyo. She had been twice married before her marriage to Mr. Mock, her first husband being David Rennager. She was born in Vir- ginia in 1820, and was about twelve years of age when her parents removed to Indiana. Her father died in 1843, and her mother April 15, 1886, the latter being eighty-eight years old at the time of her death. Of a family of three sons and nine danghters born to Mr. and Mrs. Hartman, two sons and seven dangh- ters are living-Priscilla, Rebecca, Polly, Sally, William, Christina, Andrew J., Isa- bella and Zerilda. The deceased are Eliza- beth Ann, Nancy and John A. Mrs. Mock has reared four children. two, Sarah and Martha ITartman, being the children of her brother Jolin, and two, David and Mary Jane Long, being relatives of her first husband.
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resided until a short time before the breaking ont of the war. They then removed to Schuyler Connty, Illinois, where the father died in October, 1865, aged fifty-three years. The mother still resides on the old homestead in Schuyler County. The subject of this sketch preceded his parents to Fairfield, Iowa, a few months, where he was engaged for two years as clerk in a drug store. From there he went to Lexington, Missouri, remaining there but a short time when he went to Car- thage, Illinois, in March, 1859, and engaged as clerk in a mercantile house, which position he held until May 9, 1861, when heenlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Illinois Infantry. IIe was instered into the United States service May 29, 1861, and re-enlisted as a veteran December 23, 1863, his service reaching until July 10, 1865. His regiment was on guard duty until February, 1862, in Missouri, when it became engaged in the operations on the Mississippi. The regiment took part in the siege of Island No. 10, the capture of Fort Pillow, under General Pope, the siege of Corinth, under General Buell in his cam- paign against General Bragg, during which time they were once besieged at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1863. They also fought at Chickamauga, and in the campaign under General Sherman for possession of Atlanta the regiment did heroic work, and followed the banners of Sherman to the sea, up through the Carolinas, and to the grand review of Sherman's grand army at Washington, D. C. Mr. Wilson gallantly performed a soldier's part in all the battles of his regiment, passing through all unscathed, and after his discharge returned to his home in Illinois, where he re- mained until 1872. Hle then went to Douglas Connty, Kansas, and there followed farming two years, and after visiting Ohio, he, in March, 1875, became a resident of Clinton. Here he first entered the drug store of P.
Z. Anderson & Co., and later was employed by B. F. Morey. Ile established his present business Angust 15, 1883, in which he is meeting with good success. Mr. Wilson was married at Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, December 23, 1865, to Miss Damia Nourse, who was born in Butler County, Ohio, Jann- ary 19, 1843, a daughter of E. B. Nonrse. In politics Mr. Wilson affiliates with the Republican party. IIe is a comrade of Owen Post, No. 329, G. A. R., and is at present holding the office of quartermaster of the post.
ILAS N. TODD, foreman of the Cay- uga Lumber Company, Cayuga, was born in Putnam County, Indiana, June 15, 1845, his father, John M. Todd, who is now deceased, having been a native of the State of Kentucky. He was reared on the home farm in his native county nntil attain- ing the age of fifteen years, when his parents removed to Terre Haute, and there he was employed in spoke mannfactories, working for three different companies there. He was then in the employ of Booth, Delany & Co., of Dennison, Illinois, for three years, and also went to Lyon County, Kentucky, where he helped build a spoke factory in Kuttawa, for the same company. He came to Eugene, Vermillion County, in 1881, returning to Terre Haute in 1883, and in January, 1887, came to Cayuga, bringing his family here in the following June. The Cayuga Lumber Company is one of the leading industries of this place, and under the skillful management of Mr. Todd the business is steadily increas- ing. Mr. Todd enlisted in the late war in Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Indiana Infantry. He was soon after taken siek with measles and sent to the hospital,
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where he received his discharge before taking part in any service. He was married August 9, 1868, to Christian Larkins, a daughter of Sanford Larkins, deceased, and to them have been born four children named-Dora M., Clova L., Callie B., and Benjamin F. Mr. Todd is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. Todd is a member of the Christian church of Terre Haute.
active and enterprising citizens. William H. Benefiel died July 22, 1885, his widow sur- viving him until November 24, 1886. While he never attained to wealth, Mr. Benefiel was an industrious citizen, and was highly es- teemed by all who knew him. IIe was a carpenter by trade. In the carly history of the county he, with Mr. Criveling, built a number of flat-boats for the purpose of trad- ing between Perrysville and New Orleans. Ile was a natural mechanic, and in early life also learned the trade of a wheel-wright. He made many spinning wheels after coming to Perrysville. He was always interested in the advancement of his township or county, and was a worthy representative of the brave old pioneers,
ILLIAM H. BENEFIEL, who was one of the old and honored pioneers of Vermillion County, was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, a son of Samnel and Elizabeth Benefiel. Samuel Benefiel died in Kentucky, and in 1826, his widow came with her son, William H., to Vermillion - MOS FORMAN, farmer and stock- raiser, section 15, Vermillion Town- ship, was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1827, a son of Benjamin and Mary (Lines) Forman, natives of Ohio, of German descent. When Amos was a boy his parents came to Vermillion County, and here he was reared, spending his youth on his father's farm. Ile has devoted his attention to agriculture and now has a fine farm of 224 acres, the greater part under cultivation, and his building im- He is purely a self-made man, having no capital when he started for himself, but by good management he has acquired a compe- tence for his declining years. His first money was earned by running a ferry-boat on the river and from money with these earnings he made his first purchase of land. Mr. For- man is one of the prominent men of the township. He votes with no particular party, giving his suffrage to the man he considers best fitted for the office. He was married in County, Indiana, where she spent the re- mainder of her days. She died in 1856, aged seventy-two years. William II. Bene- fiel was twice married, taking for his first wife Miss Mary Hunt, and to them were born seven children, of whom three are living at the present time. Mr. Benefiel was a second time united in marriage to Mrs. Margaret (Smith) Criveling, a native of New Jersey, and a daughter of Jesse Smith. She was first married in her native State, to William Criveling, and to this union seven children were born, all now deceased. William Criv- " provements are among the best in the county. eling was also an old pioneer of Vermillion County, coming here in 1830, his wife follow- ing some two or three years later. They settled in Perrysville, where Mr. Criveling followed his trade, that of a carpenter, nntil his death. Several years later the marriage of Mr. Benefiel and Mrs. Criveling took place, and to them one child, a son William M., was born, the date of his birth being August 2, 1850. IIe is now a resident of Perrysville, where he is classed among the
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