USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 11
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 11
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 11
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 11
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 11
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 11
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
John Peters, the father of Elihu, was born in that county, was a farmer by occupation, and married, in Pike county, Sarah Wiley, a native of North Carolina, who was early left an orphan and was taken to Ohio by John Hol- laday and his family. Mr. Peters' children were: Ann, who married a man
87
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
named Warren; Belinda, who became Mrs. Wright; and Holladay. The first two of these were married in Ohio, and the last mentioned was married in Indiana. During the third year after his marriage Mr. John Peters settled in Indiana, in October, 1828, making the journey hither with a four-horse team and being two weeks on the way. Warren Wiley and his family were with this party. Mr. Peters settled on Wild-cat prairie, in Sheffield town- ship, Tippecanoe county, where he entered eighty acres in the edge of the prai- rie, in a grove where Frank Earl now lives. There he built a cabin and pro- ceeded to improve the farm. He entered two eighty-acre pieces where Cul- ver Station now is, and eighty acres on the line between Sheffield and Laur- amie townships. About 1836, which was about eight years after he settled here, he sold out and moved to Clinton county, this state, where he pur- chased seven hundred and forty acres four miles south of Jefferson, on Twelve Mile prairie. This place he improved and resided there for seven years, when he sold that also and bought a sawmill in Sheffield township, on Wild- cat creek, with sixty-five acres of land; this was a mile south of Wyandotte, and the mill he operated for four years. Then he sold the mill and bought three hundred and sixty acres of land two and a half miles south in Sheffield township, and here he lived and labored for five years, then rented the place and purchased sixty-five acres near Stockwell and retired from act- ive life. He also bought one hundred and sixty-five acres in Lauramie town- ship, near Conroe, which he rented to his son Elihu, the subject proper of this sketch. He was a practical and prosperous farmer, well known and respected. He had no school education but had a good head for business. Having no faith in banks, he formed the habit of concealing his money in buildings about the premises. After his death three thousand and two hun- dred dollars was found in his house by our subject. After the house on the mill property was burned the old gentleman found a lump of gold, which he sent to the mint. Politically, he was an old-line Whig and voted for Henry Clay. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, stationed at Toledo. His death took place in 1871, when he had reached the age of seventy-three years. His children were: Elihu, Mary, Holladay, Jackson, Langham, Anna, Robert, Sarah and Martha.
Elihu Peters, whose name heads this article, was born January 27, 1826, in Ross county, Ohio, and was eighteen months old when he was brought to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, in October, 1828. He was brought up among the pioneers here, gaining a limited education by attendance at school, which, however, was but two months. His wife taught him to read. The old log school-house was supplied with a window made by sawing out a section of one of the logs in the structure, and with seats made of puncheons, and with a mud-and-stick chimney-the universal style at that period. In
88
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
early life he was a farmer and teamster, hauling many a load of goods from Lafayette to Franklin.
October 4, 1849, at the age of twenty-four years, in Pike county, Ohio, Mr. Peters was married to Caroline Armstrong, a native of Ohio and a daugh- ter of John and Mary (Lucas) Armstrong. Her father, a native of that state, moved to Indiana, settling in Sheffield township. By occupation he was a teamster. He died in Clay county, Illinois, at the residence of his son Martin. His children were: Martin, Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret, Eleanor · (who died when a child), Caroline and William.
After marriage Mr. Peters settled with his young wife in Sheffield town- ship, two and a half miles from Stockwell, on a farm owned by his father, consisting of three hundred and sixty acres. After a residence there of three years he moved to the neighborhood of Conroe, Indiana, and rented there for sixteen years. On the death of his father he inherited fifty-three acres, and he bought more until he had a hundred and ten acres. Afterward he bought eighty acres more near Stockwell, and also a residence in town, where he now lives. Recently, however, he sold this farm. In politics he is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. Their children were Allen T., John W., Harris P., Melvin W., William (who died at the age of four years), Mary A. and an infant who died unnamed.
Mr. Peters has always been a hard-working, industrious man, honest, straightforward and respected as a good citizen by all, who know him. He is one of the few remaining pioneers, and his mind is well stored with remi- niscences of the olden days. He can remember the Indians who used to pass by his father's cabin and stop for a glass of water, and also remembers the old block-house at Wyandotte, which was built by the first pioneers for protection.
GEORGE K. HOLLINGSWORTH.
The senior member of the firm of Hollingsworth & Hopkins is one of the brightest business men in this vicinity, and is a typical representative of the thrift and push which have culminated in the present prosperity of Ren- sselaer, Indiana. His father, Thomas Hollingsworth, came from Columbiana county, Ohio, about 1865, soon after the civil war, and conducted a general store in Rensselaer until 1872, when he died, in the thirty-sixth year of hisage. Both parents died young, the mother being but thirty-five at the time of her death. She was Elizabeth, a daughter of George Kannal, and moved from near New Libson, Columbiana county, Ohio, to this state when quite small. Two children were born to them-Emmet L., the cashier of the Commercial State Bank, and our subject, George K.
89
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Mr. Hollingsworth was born in Rensselaer, Indiana, September 26, 1868, and was reared to manhood in this place. He attended the common schools, receiving a good business education, and at an early age developed a business ability that has surprised even his most intimate acquaintances. He and his brother organized the Commercial State Bank, where the brother still holds the responsible position of cashier, and of which our subject was vice-presi- dent until January, 1898, when he disposed of his stock in the institution. Since then he has given his entire attention to his real-estate and loan busi- ness, which he established in 1892. In 1893 he formed a partnership with Mr. Arthur H. Hopkins, and has built up a large, profitable business. The steadily increasing business made it necessary to open a branch office, which is conducted in Chicago under the immediate supervision of Mr. Hopkins. They have another office at Englewood, which was established in 1897. They have one of the best equipped real-estate offices to be found any place, and a splendid law library, treating of real-estate cases. Mr. Hollingsworth is himself a member of the bar, but takes no cases except those pertaining to his line of business, preferring the more lucrative pursuits of the real-estate and loan business.
He was married September 26, 1889, to Miss Nora A. Hopkins, by whom he has two children, Donald H. and Thomas. This sketch would be incomplete without more than a passing mention of the father of Mrs. Hol- lingsworth, as he was closely identified with the business interests of Ren- sselaer for many years. Ludd Hopkins was born at Homer, Licking county, Ohio, on September 13, 1832. When four years old his parents moved to South Bend, Indiana, and at the age of eighteen years he entered Wabash College. He did not finish the course there, as he joined his father on his second trip to California, going overland and braving the dangers encoun- tered by so many emigrant trains in crossing the plains. In 1855 he joined Captain Sutter's expedition and returned to South Bend, where he was married to Emma Perault. He returned with his bride to California and settled in Saloma county, where she died. He engaged in stock-raising on an extended scale and was worth considerable property, but his possessions were swept away in a single night by a flood of water that came pouring down the valley, deluging his ranch and destroying everything in its course. He then tried silver-mining for a time, with indifferent success, and made several trips back and forth between South Bend and the different mining regions of California. In 1864 he came overland to Chicago, and from there to Rensselaer, where he opened a general merchandise establishment. This store he carried on for about twenty-five years, and gained the good will and esteem of all who knew him. In 1865 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Austin, and thereafter made three trips to California. He
90
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
died in this city, August 18, 1891, leaving, beside his family, many friends to mourn his loss. His first marriage resulted in the birth of two chil- dren,-Frank and Mayme, the later being now Mrs. Benjamin Waldorf; while to the second union were born Nora A., the wife of our subject; Louis F .; Ludd, Jr., of Chicago, who died in November, 1895; and Senior.
Mrs. Hollingsworth is a lady of many amiable traits, and has many friends, who appreciate her true worth. Both she and Mr. Hollingsworth are members and active workers in the Presbyterian church, although he was of Quaker parentage. He is a Republican in his political views and has been a member of the town board. He is also a prominent Mason.
JAMES C. HALL.
In. 1896 James C. Hall, of Steuben township, Warren county, was elected county commissioner of this county. This honor, bestowed upon him by the old acquaintances and friends of a life-time, is a slight indication of the high place which he occupies in their regard. He has been a zealous Republican since he cast his first presidential vote, for Abraham Lincoln, in 1860, but has never sought or desired public office for himself.
James C. Hall is a son of one of the typical pioneer characters of Warren county, Dr. Daniel D. Hall, physician, minister and farmer. His life was useful, busy and devoted to mankind, and none knew him but to admire and love him. A son of Josiah and Phœbe (Dutton) Hall, born in Canada in 1802, he came to this county in 1828, and took up a large tract of land in Pike township, about two miles south of old Lebanon. His parents. were natives of Connecticut, and the blood of a long line of sturdy Puritan ancestors was in his veins. Soon after the birth of the Doctor, Josiah and Phobe Hall removed to New York state, and a little later they went to Butler county, Ohio, where the mother died in 1821, and the father passed away about seven years afterward. Daniel D. was a lad of some twelve years when the family settled in Butler county, and there he attended the pioneer schools. The instruction obtained there was entirely inadequate for his ambitious mind, and every leisure hour was spent by him in study and reading. At length he decided to enter the medical profession, and entered Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, where he pursued a course of lectures on medicine. At the age of twenty-six years he came to Warren county, as previously mentioned, and thenceforth devoted his life to the good of his fellows. Through the storms and floods of winter and spring, over a wild and trackless country, he went to the bedside of the sick and suffering, never considering his own comfort or health, and always carrying strength and courage with him. Doubtless his fidelity to his duty, throughout his-
.
91
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
professional career, tended to shorten his earthly life, for death put an end to his labors in September, 1852, when he was but fifty years of age. But it was not alone as a skillful physician and nurse that he won the love and gratitude of the people. He possessed a highly religious nature, and soon after coming to this county he was instrumental in organizing the Christian church at West Lebanon, the first church of that denomination established in the county. He officiated as a preacher in this church, and his ministra- tions were attended by a great spiritual awakening among the people of that locality. In addition to all of his other qualities, which elevated him above the ordinary, he possessed not a little musical talent. Warm-hearted and generous, few men were more highly esteemed or more deeply missed when their places became vacant in the community. He was a brother of the well known Methodist minister of this section, Rev. Colbraith Hall.
Before coming to Indiana, Dr. Hall was married, in Ohio, to Jane J. Buell, a native of the Buckeye state. They became the parents of ten chil- dren, seven of whom grew to maturity. Those who are now living include: Buell, of the state of Washington; Isaiah, of Kansas, and Frances, wife of Alfred Cade, of the state of Washington. Harvey enlisted in a Missouri regiment in the war of the Rebellion, was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Springfield, Missouri, and was released on parole. Later, re-entering the service of the Union, he took part in the famous battle of Shiloh, and was again wounded. When he had sufficiently recovered to take his place in the ranks he was sent to Arkansas, and the last ever heard about him was that he died fighting for the country he loved and had suffered so much for. He had been sent with a small body of picked men on a foraging expedition for the troops, when they were attacked by a superior force of Confederates. Isaac, another son, died when about fifty-two years old. Cecelia grew to womanhood and then died, and several other children died when young. After the death of his first wife, Doctor Hall remarried, and had one daughter, who died in infancy.
James C. Hall was born on the old homestead in Pike township, June 4, 1837, and there he continued to dwell until 1859, when he succumbed to the gold fever and joined the throng of western-bound emigrants, whose watch-word was Pike's Peak. He was gone from home about a year, and then returned, well satisfied with his native county. On New Year's day, 1861, Mr. Hall married Miss Elizabeth James, daughter of Hughey James, an honored pioneer of Warren county. Six children came to bless the hearts and home of our subject and wife, but three of the number have been called to the better land. Those who survive are Frank E., Harvey H. and Isaac L. The finely improved homestead, which has been brought to its present thrifty condition by many years of industrious effort on the part of our sub-
92
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
ject, is now under the management of his eldest son, Frank E., an enterprising young farmer. The year after his marriage Mr. Hall became a member of the Christian church, and his good wife is likewise identified with the same. They are worthy, unostentatious people, hospitable to all and kind and benevolent to the poor.
JOHN H. MARTIN.
One of the most venerable of the old pioneers yet living in Randolph township, Tippecanoe county, Indiana, is John H. Martin, whose post-office address is South Raub. His father, David Martin, was born in Pennsylvania and early in life emigrated from that state to Ohio, then called the Western Reserve, and settled near Circleville, where he engaged in farming. He married Sarah Monohan, daughter of Peter and Silence Monohan, and they became the parents of the following named children: Cynthia, Joseph, John H., Owen, David, Samuel, Mary, Sally, Abby and Margaret. The family home continued to be near Circleville until after seven of the children were born, when, in 1829, it was exchanged for one further west. That year David Martin, accompanied by his wife and children, came to Indiana and settled in Randolph township, Tippecanoe county, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of timber and prairie land and devoted his energies to the work of making a farm. He prospered from the first and became one of the most respected pioneers of this locality. As he was able he purchased more land, thus adding to his farm until he had about three hundred acres, well improved. He died on his farm when near the age of seventy years. Politically, he was a Democrat.
John H. Martin, the third born in the above named family, and the direct subject of this review, dates his birth near Circleville, Ohio, February 23, 1816. He was about thirteen years old when his father moved to Indiana and can well remember the journey from Ohio to this state, which was made with ox teams and which consumed fifteen days, the nights being spent in camp by the roadside. For a few winters after coming to Tippecanoe county he attended school, held on the subscription plan, in a log school-house with a stick-and-mud chimney, big fire-place, and with a greased paper for window in the north side, while the south side could boast of a four-light window. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, and at about the age of twenty- five years was married, in Randolph township, Tippecanoe county, to Patience Burroughs, their marriage being consummated October 3, 1837. Mrs. Martin was born September 30, 1822, in Meigs county, Ohio, daughter of Josiah and Hannah (Pierce) Burroughs, natives of New Jersey. Josiah Bur- roughs was a son of Jacob Burroughs and Silence, his wife. After marriage
93
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Josiah and Hannah Burroughs settled in Meigs county, Ohio, to which place he had gone and entered land a short time previously and where he provided a rude frontier home for the bride he brought from New Jersey. There he farmed and worked at his trade, that of cooper, and found a market for his barrels on the Ohio river. He was an industrious and intelligent man and acquired a good education, attending school after he was twenty-one years of age; and in connection with the other occupations above referred to he also taught school and did some surveying. In September, 1824, he moved to Indiana and took up his abode in Randolph township, Tippecanoe county, where he made a comfortable home. He taught two terms of school in this county when he was an old man. Politically, he was an old-line Whig, and his religious faith was that of the Friends or Quakers. His children were Hester, Job, Elizabeth, Nancy, Edward, Hannah, Patience, Abby and Josiah.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Martin settled on the farm where they now live, at first renting of his father. He inherited a portion of the homestead; subsequently bought adjoining land, from time to time adding to his holdings until his landed estate comprised five hundred acres, but he has since divided with his children, now retaining for himself two hundred and twenty acres, one of the best farms in the vicinity. Industry and good man- agement have characterized his efforts and contributed to the success he has attained, and besides accumulating a competency he has, aided by his faithful wife, reared a large family of children to occupy useful and honored positions in life. Their children are as follows: Martha, born December 18, 1842; Josiah, September 10, 1844; William, January 18, 1846; Ellen, November 27, 1849; Benjamin, January 10, 1851; Caroline, March 3, 1853; Melissa, August 29, 1855; Sarah, January 5, 1857; David W., March 8, 1860; John, February 25, 1862; Hettie, March 15, 1864; and Albert, February 5, 1865.
Mr. Martin is, politically, a Democrat and is an advocate of " free silver." Of him it may truthfully be said that his word is as good as his bond.
ISAAC PARKER.
Isaac Parker, deceased, was for a number of years one of the wealthy and substantial farmers as well as highly respected citizens of Jasper county, Indiana. He was a native of the Old Dominion, born April 4, 1824. At the age of ten years he accompanied his parents on their removal from Vir- ginia to a western home, and on the frontier he passed from boyhood into manhood, his youthful days being spent in hard work incident to the life of the pioneer farmer boy. In 1848 he came to Jasper county, Indiana, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, and the following year, when
94
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
the gold excitement broke out in California, he sought the golden shores of the Pacific. He remained in sunny California, engaged in mining, until 1853. For his first month's work there he received four hundred dollars. Return- ing to Indiana, he soon resumed farming operations and for some time ran a threshing machine. He was successful in his undertakings, owing to his honest industry and good management, and succeeded in accumulating a large property, having at the time of his death one thousand six hundred acres of land in Hanging Grove township. He died here in 1886, at the age of sixty-two years, his death being the result of an injury received from a horse kick. Mr. Parker was a Republican, always taking an intelligent interest in public affairs, but never seeking official preference.
He was married first to Miss Rhoda Moore, who died in 1864. Sep- tember 5, 1865, he married Miss Isabel, daughter of John and Matilda (Ken- ton) Parkinson, who was born in this county in 1842. Their union resulted in the birth of six children. Mrs. Parker remained on the home farm until about five years ago, when she sold her interest in the estate and moved to Rensselaer, where she has since resided.
Her father, John G. Parkinson, was born in Kentucky, in 1808, was taken by his parents to Virginia and came thence to Ohio and later to Indi- ana, where he died. Simon Kenton, the great Indian fighter, was her mater- nal grandfather. John G. Parkinson came to Jasper county, Indiana, in 1843, and bought two hundred acres of land here. Mrs. Parker's mother died at the age of fifty-eight years. In their family were eleven children, of whom five are now living,-three daughters and two sons.
WILLIAM C. COMPTON.
This well known citizen of Benton county, Indiana, dates his birth in Adams county, Ohio, January 21, 1851, and along the agnatic line traces his origin to Ireland, his grandfather Compton having come to this country from the "Emerald Isle." Grandmother Compton was a native of America. Both lived to a ripe old age, and it may be said that our subject comes from a long-lived family, for his maternal grandfather and grandmother reached the ages respectively of eighty-six and ninety years.
Joseph D. Compton, the father of William C., was a blacksmith by trade. He was born in Adams county and lived there until September, 1866, when he moved to Grant county, Indiana. He owned a farm of two hundred acres in Adams county, Ohio, which he exchanged for two hundred and forty acres of Iowa land, and the latter property he exchanged for a sawmill, which he lost in litigation. On his removal to Grant county he bought eighty acres of land, and this he also lost. He died in Grant
95
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
county, in May, 1879. Of his life it may truly be said that he was an example of one who was a friend to those unworthy of his friendship. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Cynthia Ann Spurgeon, was born in Adams county, Ohio, and in that county was married, and she died, in Benton county, Indiana, in December, 1896, at the age of eighty years. Joseph D. and Cynthia Ann (Spurgeon) Compton were the parents of twelve children, a brief record of whom is as follows: John L., who was a member of the Seventieth Infantry, Ohio Volunteers, was in the service four years, and was killed at Fort McAllister, at the age of thirty; Sarah Ann, who was twice married, first to John Nesbot and after his death to 'Dr. Charles Riggs, is now a widow and resides in Grant county, Indiana; Mar- garet Ann, deceased, who was twice married, first to Frank Holmes and secondly to Harrison Thurman: the husband survives her and is a resident of Adams county, Ohio; George, who enlisted in the Seventieth Infantry, Ohio Volunteers, and died in the hospital after eight months' service; Mary Jane, the wife of Benjamin N. Leisure, a farmer of Grant county, Indiana; Joseph S., who at present makes his home with the subject of this sketch; Alexander G., who died in Grant county, in 1888, at the age of forty-four years; Cynthia Ann, who died April, 1867, at the age of eighteen years; William C., whose name initiates this review; James D., whose home is with his brother Will- iam C .; Silas, who died in infancy; and Henry B., who died in 1879, at the of twenty-two years.
William C. Compton was reared on his father's farm in Adams county, Ohio, and his opportunities for obtaining an education were not of the best, owing to the civil war. Some of his brothers were absent from home in the army, and from the time he was ten until the war closed his attendance at the public school was more or less interrupted. At the age of sixteen we find him employed as teamster in Grant county, Indiana. For eight years he was thus occupied in Xenia, now called Converse, that county. In the meantime he married, and in September, 1876, he located at Sugar Grove in York township, on the Sumner farm, five miles southwest of Earl Park. Here he cultivated one hundred acres of this farm until the death of E. C. Sumner, after which he became manager of Mrs. Sumner's share of the estate, six thousand acres, and he now lives at the Sumner homestead. He owns a half interest in the hardware, lumber, coal and agricultural imple- ment business operated under the firm name of Compton & Company at Earl Park.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.