USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 21
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 21
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Albert Blaine Miller!
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when but a boy, serving on horseback, and throughout the remainder of his life devoted his attention mainly to agricultural pursuits. He was an indus- trious, energetic man, honest and upright, and a consistent member of the Meneese Mennonite church. He died April 3, 1866, at the age of sixty-six years, three months and nine days, and his wife passed away February 24, 1850, a member of the Lutheran church and a woman of excellent virtue. Their children were Henry, Ellen, Virginia, Hamilton, George W. and John. Henry married Sarah Guthridge, and was a farmer owning a large tract of land near Lincoln, Nebraska, in which city he died, aged fifty-nine years. His children were Florence, Jennie, Ella and Edward. Hamilton married Susan Nally, remained on the home farm and died at the age of forty years. George W. was also a farmer, owning a good farm near Oswego, Kansas. He married J. Nally, and their children were Sherman, Grant, Lottie, Rossie, Jessie, Ira and Andrew. Henry and George W. were both soldiers in the civil war. George W. enlisted in the fall of 1861, in the Fortieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company A, serving three years and three months, was in many battles, and was injured by a shell. Henry enlisted under the first call and was assigned to the commissary department. Ellen and Virginia have always resided on the home farm, which they still manage. They made a home for, and brought up, several of their nephews and nieces, among them Jennie Miller, daughter of Henry Miller. She was well educated at the Catholic institution at Lafayette, mar- ried Henry Gardner and resides in Omaha. The Misses Miller also brought up Andrew Miller, a son of George W., who was but an infant of two years when his father died. He is now attending the Wea high school.
The well known owner of the Walnut Spring farm, John Miller, received his education in the common schools of Indiana, and as soon as old enough to handle the plow began work on his father's farm, so that prac- tical experience in connection with agricultural pursuits well fitted him for farming when he began that work on his own account. In early life he engaged in the stock business, his father assisting him to make a start when he was about seventeen years of age. He was very industrious, ener- getic and persevering and succeeded in accumulating a handsome property. In the spring of 1867 he purchased one hundred and thirty-six acres of land, for which he paid seven thousand dollars, and since that time he has added to the property until now within the boundaries of his farm are comprised four hundred and thirty-two and a third acres, which con- stitute one of the fine farming properties of the county. In 1871 he erected a tasteful and commodious brick residence, and has made many other excellent improvements. He has always engaged in the raising of cattle, and in that branch of his business has prospered, adding greatly to- 12
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his income in that way. In 1883 he visited California, in company with Captain Guthridge, spending the winter in the Golden state.
Mr. Miller was married in Marion county, Indiana, in 1868, to Miss Dora Robb, a native of that county, and a daughter of Andrew and Eliza- beth Robb. Her father was a prosperous farmer of Marion county and his wife was the daughter of a wealthy pioneer living five miles south of Indianapolis. He also owned the present site of the insane asylum and much land adjoining that. Mr. and Mrs. Miller began their domestic life on the Walnut Spring farm, where they yet make their home. and to them was born a daughter, Laura Blanche, now the wife of Charles L. Bushman, a wealthy manufacturer of Indianapolis, Indiana. For his second wife Mr. Miller wedded Margaret A. Goldsberry, and of this union two children have been born,-Albert B. and Mary B. The son is now attending school and is a bright, intelligent boy.
In his political views Mr. Miller is a Republican, but has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business. He is now accounted one of the prosperous agriculturists of the community and belongs to the best class of Tippecanoe county's citizens.
RICHARD W. CLAYPOOL.
Richard W. Claypool, a representative man of Williamsport, Indiana, where he has been a resident many years, was born in Fountain county, this state, March 12, 1831, and is a son of Wilson and Sarah (Evans) Claypool and a grandson of Abram Claypool, of Ross county, Ohio. Wilson Clay- pool, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia, August 24, 1798, and came to this state in 1822, locating on Sugar creek, below Crawfords- ville, in Montgomery county; but about a year later sold this land and returned to Ohio, where he was married March 2, 1824, to Miss Sarah Evans, a native of Highland county, Ohio, and a daughter of Richard and Mary (Pearce) Evans. Soon afterward he returned to Indiana and lived at the home of one of his brothers at Connersville for a time. In October, 1824, he came to Shawnee Prairie, where he lived over fifty years, when overtaken by death, on July 18, 1876. The wife was born November 13, 1805, and reached the age of nearly eighty-eight years, dying July 19, 1893. She had lived on the old homestead for nearly sixty-nine years, and was a kind and sympathetic neighbor. Wilson Claypool was a good man who inher- ited his father's strong antipathy to slavery and all forms of oppression. He was jovial and pleasant, loved a joke, and appreciated it all the more when turned on himself. Although more than twenty years has passed since he was called home, he is still kindly remembered by those who knew him.
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Seven sons and two daughters blessed their union and grew to adult years. They are Evans, who lives on the old homestead in Fountain county, and is unmarried; Horatio, a resident of Covington, this state; Solomon, a promi- nent lawyer of Indianapolis, where he died in February, 1898; Richard W., who is here represented; Augustus L., a resident of Springfield, Ohio; Abram, a resident of Chicago; Jacob, who was a soldier in the Rebellion, the lieutenant of his company in the Sixty-third Regiment, Indiana Volun- teers, and was overcome by heat during the battle of Resaca, Georgia, from the effects of which he died; Elizabeth was the wife of Nelson Case, and died at Oswego, Kansas, February 1, 1892; and Maria is the wife of Joseph Shannon, of Vernon, Kansas.
Richard W. Claypool was trained to a life of industry on the old home- stead in Fountain county. He remained at home until he was twenty-one, when he came to Warren county, but in a short time went to Ludlow, Illinois. ' Soon after this be purchased a farm, which he has well improved and still owns; and he for many years bought and shipped grain, doing a very successful business. Mr. Claypool was married on January 11, 1855, to Miss Eliza T. Pearson, and in December, 1861, returned to Williamsport, where he has since been an honored citizen. They are the parents of five children that are still living : Robert W., who is a physician at Newton, Indiana; Bessie, who is the wife of Loy Schossler; Jessie, who is the wife of Grant Taylor; and the two younger are Fred and Mabel. Mr. Claypool is not a partisan, having no "politics." In religion he is a Presbyterian.
THOMAS S. MOTTER, M. D.
Forty years ago the subject of this biography entered upon his life work, and during all this time has faithfully and conscientiously ministered to the sick and suffering. For a similar period he has been very actively connected with the work of the Methodist church, having served as class-leader and in other positions, and gradually his character has been developed into ideal Christian manhood.
Now a resident of Dayton, Tippecanoe county, Dr. Motter has spent almost his whole life in this county, where his ancestors were pioneers, and few men are better known throughout this region. He was born three miles southwest of Lafayette, on a farm situated on the banks of Wea creek, February 5, 1837. His parents were Jacob and Deborah A. (Shultz) Mot- ter, both of German extraction. Andrew Motter, grandfather of the Doctor, came to America about 1796, accompanied by his wife and seven children, and settled in Fairfax county, Virginia, where he, a man of considerable wealth and distinction, bought a large tract of land. He was noted for his
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old-fashioned hospitality and for his love of hunting and sport. He kept a large pack of hounds and a stable full of fine horses. After a few years he removed to the vicinity of Hagerstown, Maryland, and later went to Chilli- cothe, Ohio. His last days were passed in Carroll county, Indiana, with some of his children, and his death took place when he was about eighty- four years of age. His wife, Elizabeth, born in Germany, June 17, 1772, died about 1855, at the home of her son David in Wisconsin. She was the mother of ten children, of whom the names of seven only can be recalled: Jonathan, George, William, Andrew, Jacob, Samuel and David.
Jacob Motter, the Doctor's father, was born in Virginia, March 9, 1805. He learned the blacksmith's trade at Chillicothe, Ohio, with his father, and in 1825 came to Indiana, making the trip on horseback. Four miles above Lafayette, near Davis' ferry, he saw a large party of Indians standing on a mound, near the river, and when he asked them about fording the stream one of the reds waded out, showing the way, and when Mr. Motter gave him a silver piece he was very much pleased. Locating on what is now Third street, Lafayette, the young man built a shop on the present site of the Bramble House, and here he worked at his trade until 1835, when he traded his town property for a quarter section of land on Wea creek. He cleared his land and engaged in farming, running a blacksmith shop at the same time. In 1849 he moved to White county, Indiana, where he bought a partly im- proved farm of two hundred and eighty acres, near Monticello. In Febru- ary, 1854, he went to Bloomington, Illinois, and embarked in the bakery and confectionery business, and also purchased a farm adjacent to the city. At the close of a year he settled on this homestead and in May 22, 1856, his death occurred. He was an influential member of the Methodist church; was an old-line Whig, and as a citizen was honored and respected by all. In 1836 he had married Deborah, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Dunbar) Shultz, the latter natives of Germany and Kentucky, respectively. Mr. Shultz came to America when he was fourteen years old and served in the war of 1812. He was a member of the Methodist church, and was living near Connersville, Indiana, as early as 1823, for a Methodist camp-meeting was held on his farm that year. In the latter part of his life he owned a tannery and a gristmill in the northern part of Carroll county, and there he died when about sixty years of age. Mrs. Deborah Motter was born Sep- tember 29, 1815, and was one of nine children, the others being as follows: Caroline, Isabel, Sarah, Elizabeth, Angeline, James, Francis A. and John B. The three elder children of Jacob and Deborah Motter-Thomas S., Margaret and George L .- were born on the old homestead on Wea creek. John A. was a native of White county, Indiana. When fourteen years old Francis A. was accidentally killed by the discharge of a gun.
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In his youth Dr. Motter, of this sketch, received unusually good advan- tages in the way of an education, for that day, and completed his literary course at the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Illinois, where he was a student for two years. He then took up medical work under the guidance of his uncle, Dr. F. A. Shultz, and in the winter of 1858-9 attended medical lectures at Cincinnati, Ohio. In the last mentioned year he commenced practicing at Logansport, Indiana, but in the autumn he went to Selma, Alabama, and was nicely established in his professional work when the civil war broke out. He later accepted a position as surgeon of the Fourth Ala- bama Volunteer Infantry (Confederate) and cared for the wounded in seven- teen battles, many of them the most dreadful ones of the war. At the first battle of Bull Run he was slightly wounded while on duty. He worked heroically at Williamsburg, at the seven days' fight at Richmond, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and was present at more than fifty skirmishes. At the battle of Knoxville he was shot in the right thigh and was captured by the Union forces and imprisoned on an island in the Delaware river, twenty-two miles south of Philadelphia, and for twenty-one months he had charge of a ward in the hospital. June 15, 1865, he was exchanged, and soon returned to Indiana.
Here for two years he practiced at Mulberry, eight miles east of Dayton, after which he was located in practice at Lafayette until 1878. Returning then to Mulberry, he conducted a drug business, and for two years he was similarly engaged at Crawfordsville, while he made his home on a farm near that place, and continued his practice at the same time. In 1889 he removed to Dayton, where he now enjoys the patronage of the best citi- zens. He owns a fine library and keeps posted in all the scientific researches and discoveries of the day, whether relating directly to medicine or otherwise. He is a Democrat in politics.
At Clark's Hill, this county, Dr. Motter was married, January 3, 1867, to Electa Bowles, a native of that town, born November 5, 1847. Her father, Robert Bowles, was born October 30, 1818, at Maidstone, Kent, Eng- land, and came to this country with his parents. When a young man he settled in Clark's Hill, Indiana, and there married Gensey Buckley, daughter of James Buckley. She was born August 12, 1827, and by her marriage became the mother of six children: Electa, Tiffany, Delia, Richard, John and Edwin. After her death Robert Bowles married Virginia Lowe, and their children were named, respectively, Isa and Mary. To the Doctor and his wife were born: Robert L., May 6, 1870, at Brookston, White county, Indiana; George E., June 25, 1872, at Lafayette, Indiana; Ada M., August 5, 1878, at Mulberry, Indiana; and Jay S., May 8, 1884, also at Mulberry.
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MARTIN LUCAS.
Now living a retired life in Lafayette, Martin Lucas has spent almost his entire life in Tippecanoe county, where he is held in the highest esteem. Through the civil war he loyally served his country on the field of battle, and has since been as faithful to his duties of citizenship and as true to Ameri- can institutions as when he followed the stars and stripes into the fire of enemies' guns. The same fearless defense of honest convictions has charac- terized his entire career and made him one of the honored and representative citizens of his native county.
The family from which he is descended is of English origin, but for many generations has resided in America. The paternal grandfather, James Lucas, was born in Maryland, and married a lady of German lineage. He made farming his life work and became one of the pioneer settlers of Chilli- cothe, Ohio, taking an active part in the substantial development of that region. His son, Martin Lucas, father of our subject, was born in the Dis- trict of Columbia, and in his early life learned and followed the trade of millwright, but subsequently gave his time and attention to agricultural pur- suits. At an early epoch in the development of the west he removed from Virginia to Ohio, locating in Fayette county. In 1832 he came to Indiana, taking up his residence in Tippecanoe county. At that time Lafayette con- tained but one log store, and the farmers were notified by the firing of pow- der in an old stump that the grocer had returned with a stock of goods from which they could obtain a supply. In those days Mr. Lucas hauled wheat to Chicago with ox teams and brought back loads of salt. He located in Sheffield township, Tippecanoe county, where he entered eighty acres of tim- ber land and eighty acres of prairie land from the government, and after- ward added another tract of one hundred and sixty acres, which he trans- formed into a good farm. There he reared his family and made his home until his death.
Martin Lucas, Sr., married Miss Margaret Turner, whose father, Adam Turner, was a native of Virginia and a tanner in Chillicothe, Ohio, to which state he removed during its early development, locating in Fayette county. He tanned the first leather ever manufactured in Chillicothe, and carried on business there for some time, but subsequently sold out and came to Indiana, establishing a home in Kosciusko county, not far from Warsaw. He pur- chased land there for himself and most of his children,-eight daughters and one son, James Turner. His death occurred when he had reached an ad- vanced age. As before stated, one of the daughters, Margaret Turner, be- came the wife of Martin Lucas. She was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, and by her marriage became the mother of ten children, nine of whom reached years
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of maturity, namely: Adam, of Waterville, Minnesota; James, of Tippeca- noe county; Rebecca, deceased wife of David S. Brelsford; Luther, of Stock- well, Indiana; William, of California; Eliza, deceased; David, also of Stock- well; Martin, of this review; Margaret, twin sister of Martin and now the wife of John E. Rogers, of Frankfort, Indiana; and Rachel, deceased wife of George Cisna. The father of this family died on the old homestead in Tip- pecanoe county in 1865, at the age of seventy-one years, and his wife, sur- viving him fifteen years, passed away at the age of seventy-six. He enter- tained Methodistic views, but was not a member of the church; his wife, however, belonged to the Presbyterian church. When the war of 1812 was in progress, being unable to go himself, he sent a substitute. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican.
Upon his father's farm in Sheffield township, Tippecanoe county, Mar- tin Lucas, of this review, remained until the country called for the support of her loyal sons. He attended the district schools of the neighborhood in his early youth and after his return from the army resumed his education. In 1861, however, he put aside all personal considerations in order to do battle for the Union and went to the front as a member of Company A, For- tieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served until May 4, 1864, when he was honorably discharged. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Stone river, Missionary Ridge and a number of skir- mishes and running fights, and at Missionary Ridge lost his left forearm in the engagement. Thus disabled for further duty, he was honorably dis- charged and returned to his home.
Later Mr. Lucas entered Stockwell College, where he spent nearly two years, and in 1867 he came to Lafayette, where he served as deputy treas- urer, under Captain J. F. Marks, for four years. On the expiration of that period he was elected county treasurer for a two-years term, after which he served for four years as a deputy under his successor, Richard H. Godman, his connection with the office therefore covering a period of ten years. On his retirement to private life he engaged in the hardware business in Lafayette for several years, and then removed to Saybrook, Illinois, where he engaged in the grain business for five years. That period having ended he traded his property for tenement houses in Lafayette, where he has since resided, his time and attention being given to the management of his property interests. His own commodious and substantial residence was erected in 1872, and is located at No. 1212 Tippecanoe street.
On the 22d of December, 1870, Mr. Lucas was united in marriage to Miss Susannah Hallowell, daughter of Nathan and Susannah Hallowell. They have four children: Margaret D., wife of J. S. Johnson, of New Albany, Indiana; Amy W., who is successfully engaged in teaching in the sixth ward
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school of Lafayette; Lloyd M. and D. Ralph. The daughters are both grad- uates of the high school of Lafayette and Purdue University, and have been successful teachers; and the sons both responded to President McKinley's call for volunteers for service in the Spanish-American war, and enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Sixtieth Indiana Infantry. The former left Purdue University in order to go to the defense of his country, and was made a corporal. The latter became an orderly at General Wiley's head- quarters.
Mr. and Mrs. Lucas are members of the First Presbyterian church, and are people of the highest respectability, holding an enviable position in social circles where intelligence and genuine worth of character are received as the passports into good society. In his political views Mr. Lucas is a Republic- an. With the exception of the five years spent in Illinois, he has been a res- ident of Tippecanoe county throughout his entire life, and through almost sixty years has witnessed its development and transformation. In the work of progress and advancement he has borne no inconsiderable part and has always discharged his duties of citizenship in a most prompt and loyal man- ner. In all the relations of life he is found true and faithful to the trust reposed in him, and his upright life commends him to the confidence and regard of all.
JAMES KNOX POLK DECKER.
Born September 24, 1845, on his father's homestead in Indian Creek township, the subject of this article has always been identified with the wel- fare of Pulaski county. His great-grandfather Decker was a hero of the Rev- olution, prior to which great conflict his ancestors had settled in one of Will- iam Penn's colonies in Pennsylvania. His son, John Decker, a native of the same state, died in Seneca county, Ohio, in the early part of the '50s, when over three-score years of age. He married Julia Ann Royer, and their chil- dren were as follows: 1. Jacob, who was twice married and lived in Seneca and Huron counties, Ohio; his children were: John, David, Amos, Milton and Barbara. 2. John, who married Jane Taylor, and whose home was in New Orleans for a period, later in Wells county, Indiana, where he bought half a section of land, and after selling that property, came to Pulaski county. His son, Charles, owns one hundred and eighty acres on section 22, Beaver town- ship. Julia, the eldest daughter, became the wife of Jacob Nice, Jr., who owns a farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres on section 30. Ellen mar- ried Henry Jasper Emler, who cultivates a homestead of two hundred acres on section 22. Dora is the wife of Benjamin Herrick, who carries on a one- hundred-and-twenty-acre farm on section 17. 3. Samuel, the father of our subject, was the next in order of birth. 4. Elizabeth became the wife of
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William Heater, and in 1860 removed from Seneca county, Ohio, to Rich- ardson county, Nebraska, where she is yet living. She is the mother of seven children: Lydia, Hattie, Julia, Catherine, Freeman, John and Austin. 5. Sarah wedded Peter Barguer, a farmer of Seneca county, Ohio. 6. Adam married a Miss Romig and had one son, Samuel, who resides in Seneca county, Ohio. In the '50s Adam Decker came to this county and settled upon land in Tippecanoe township (on sections 17 and 20). For a second wife he wedded Catherine Hatton, and their daughter Sarah, who married Ed Young, resides upon a farm of forty-seven acres, on section 17, Tippeca- noe township, while the son, John, married Mary Hazel and lives in Fulton county, this state. 7. William married and had the following-named chil- dren: Julia, who died at the age of eighteen years; Elizabeth; Mary, who is married and lives in Bellevue, Ohio; Alice, wife of Joseph Felker, who owns eighty acres on section 21, Indian Creek township; Olive, who married Ben- jamin Dipert and lives in Kewanna, Indiana; and Laura, unmarried. 8. Catherine, the wife of Thomas Harpster, removed to Richardson county, Nebraska, in 1865, and later dwelt in Gage county, same state; but both are now deceased. Their children were named Freeman, Elizabeth, Sarah, John and Hattie. 9. David married Mrs. Margaret Highland, a widow, and, com- ing to this state in the early part of the '5os, located in Fulton county.
Samuel Decker, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born Janu- ary 27, 1813, in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and when young accompanied his parents to Wayne county, Ohio. Later he lived in Seneca county, same state, and in 1842 he located in Logansport, where he engaged in teaching school for a year. In the spring of 1844 he came to this county, where he had taken up two hundred acres of land from the government the preceding year, and built a log cabin. This property, now owned by our subject, is situated on sections 10 and 11, Indian Creek township, one hundred and twenty acres on the first-named section, and the rest on section II. The first small cabin was supplanted by a good hewed-log house at. the end of eight years, and this was burned down February 17, 1863, a few clothes, only, being saved, as the mother was alone there at the time. After he settled here he entered forty acres of land on section 17; eighty acres on sec- tion 24, and another tract of forty acres, all in this township. The patents to his first two hundred acres are dated April 10, 1843. At the time of his death, June 27, 1894, he owned two hundred and forty acres, one hundred and eighty of which had been under cultivation, while forty acres is covered with timber. This land, originally deeded to John Reeder by the govern- ment, April 1, 1843, was purchased by Mr. Decker, May 27, 1847.
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