USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 29
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 29
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 29
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 29
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 29
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 29
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 29
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GABRIEL MYERS.
A representative of the agricultural interests of Tippecanoe county, Gabriel Myers was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1825, and is descended from sterling Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry. His father, John Myers, was a farmer of that county, was born July 21, 1793, and was a
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son of John Myers, Sr. On the 28th of October, 1815, in the county of his nativity, the father of our subject wedded Mary Smith, who was born January 18, 1794. Mary Smith was a daughter of Jacob Smith, who was a farmer of York county, Pennsylvania, where he owned a good farm and reared a large family. His children were Joel, John, Jacob, Peter, Darius, Mary, Annie and Rebecca. Mr. Smith died in Adams county, Pennsylvania. Mary Smith Myers died August 9, 1833. The children of John Myers, Jr., the father of our subject, were George, Mary, Margaret, Harriet, Susannah, Gabriel, and Elizabeth, who died, a married woman, many years ago. All these children are now deceased excepting Gabriel and Susannah. John Myers, Jr., resided on the old family homestead, which was situated on the Baltimore and Carlisle turnpike, and was known as the Round Hill farm. There it was that at an early day John Myers, Sr., the grandfather of our sub- ject, built the old stone tavern wherein he entertained the public for many years. He married a Miss Sherman, and their children were Peter, Jacob, John, and Peggy, who married a Mr. Shafer; two sisters who married brothers of the name of Chronister, and one, whose name is not remembered, but who married Peter Deerdorff. The father of this family lived to an advanced age. His son, John Myers, Jr., died August 19, 1828, in Adams county, Pennsylvania, at the early age of thirty-five years, and it was about the same time that his father was called to his final rest. In his religious belief the father of our subject was a Lutheran, and was an upright man, respected by all who knew him.
Gabriel Myers was only three years of age when his father died, at which time a wealthy cousin of the latter, Captain John Myers, was appointed his guardian. He attended school but little, for his mother died when he was between seven and eight years of age, and he was then bound out to a farmer, Abner S. Binder, with whom he remained until sixteen years of age. Through the succeeding three years he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, who instructed him in that trade, which Mr. Myers afterward followed in Adams county, Pennsylvania, for a year, and then turned his attention to farming. He was married in 1849 and located in the village of Middleton, after which he removed to a farm a mile east of the town. He carried on agricultural pur- suits in that neighborhood for about ten years, and then purchased thirteen acres of land near Gettysburg, where he made his home for seven years. On the expiration of that period he went to York county, Pennsylvania, where he rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, whereon he made his home for three years, a period which embraced the latter part of the war. In 1862, while in Adams county, he was drafted as a soldier for the Union army, but hired John Jacobs to go as his substitute. At the time of the battle of Gettysburg he was living on a farm in York county, and thirty
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thousand men of Lee's army marched across his land, but did little damage. He and some of his neighbors saved their horses by taking them into the mountains two miles away, where, cutting a clearing in the midst of the hazel brush, they hid the horses for two and a half days, although the rebels passed within two hundred yards of them.
On the 4th of October, 1849, in Adams county, Pennsylvania, Mr. Myers married Miss Mary Slaybaugh, who was born in that county November 17, 1826, a daughter of John Henry and Mary (Rice) Slaybaugh. Her father was born in Adams county May 5, 1786, and was a son of John Slaybaugh. The former was a brick-layer, mason and farmer in Adams county. He carried on agricultural pursuits until old age, when he went to live with his daughter, Rebecca. During his business career he was known for his indus- try, perseverance and enterprise, and worked hard at his trade and upon his farm. He was a member of the Lutheran church, was an honorable man and enjoyed the confidence and good will of all with whom he came in con- tact. He lived to be ninety-two years of age, and died March 28, 1878. His children were Rebecca, Eva, Anna, Barbara, Mary and Henry. During their residence in Pennsylvania four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Myers-Susan E., John H., William E. and Mary J .- and after their arrival in Indiana twins were added to the family, to whom they gave the names of George E. and Calvin A.
On their arrival in Tippecanoe county, in March, 1866, Mr. Myers be- gan farming in Perry township upon a farm of eighty acres, which was cov- ered with timber, a little cabin being the only improvement on the place. He cleared the farm by patient effort, and with the assistance of his faithful wife made a good home. He erected a substantial residence and barn ; as the years have passed he has made other excellent improvements, and has purchased an additional eighty-acre tract, which, now in a highly cultivated condition, yields to him a good income. He has prospered by economy and industry, and is now accounted one of the leading farmers of the community. Both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church, in which he has served as trustee. He was also a member of the building committee during the erection. of the house of worship. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never sought office, preferring to give his time and attention to his. business interests, in which he has met with good success.
GEORGE W. BOYLES.
A representative of the agricultural interests of Tippecanoe county and a veteran of the civil war, is George W. Boyles, who was born in Clinton county, Indiana, December 7, 1840, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth
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(Jones) Boyles. The family is of English origin, and the grandfather, Daniel Boyles, came from England to America with his father, locating in Kentucky, where he was reared and married. His children were Joseph, McHatton, John and Samuel. At an early day he removed to Ohio and made his home in the vicinity of Lebanon.
Samuel Boyles, father of our subject, was born three miles from Lex- ington, Kentucky, July 6, 1805, and during his boyhood accompanied his father to Ohio, where he grew to manhood. After attaining his majority he married Miss Elizabeth Jones, who was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, December 21, 1807, and was a daughter of Erasmus Jones. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Boyles was celebrated October 1, 1829, and they began their domestic life on a farm in the Buckeye state, where they lived for some years. They then removed to Clinton county, Indiana, locating six miles north of Frank- fort. Samuel Boyles " blazed" his way from Frankfort to his land, and there in the midst of the forest improved a farm of eighty acres. He built a log cabin and cleared about forty acres of his land, after which he came to Tippecanoe county, in March, 1846, locating in Sheffield township, where he rented land for a time. Later he purchased a farm in Perry township, upon which he resided for a few years, when he removed to his farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Sheffield township, one mile north of the farm belonging to our subject. There the father cleared his land and carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred April 15, 1883, when he had reached the age of seventy-eight years. His wife passed away on the 15th of January of the same year. Mr. Boyles was a prominent member of the Methodist church, and while living in Clinton county served as class- leader. His political support was given the Republican party. His life was an active and useful one, characterized by industry in business affairs and faithfulness in all relations. He reared an excellent family, and the name of Boyles is one which everywhere commands respect. His children are. Martha M .; Erasmus M., who died in Ohio, in childhood; Janie; Elizabeth; Daniel; George W .; Jonathan R .; Malinda, who died at the age of two years; Branton A. and Barton. The father of this family was a strong Union man, and three of his sons served their country in the war of the Rebellion, namely: Jonathan, Daniel and George W. The first named served for three years in the Indiana cavalry and participated in many battles. Daniel was in the Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was afterward in the regiment with our subject. He was at the front for three years, and in many hotly contested battles manifested his loyalty to the Union cause.
George Boyles was a child of six years when he came with his parents to Tippecanoe county. He pursued his education in a log school-house
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which stood on the site of the present substantial brick school building. The first school building was a very primitive structure, supplied with slab seats, while pins driven into the walls supported the planks that served for desks. There was much game in the neighborhood during his early days, and he frequently hunted deer and other wild animals. In the work of the home farm he assisted from the time that he was old enough to handle the plow until his enlistment among the "boys in blue" of the Tenth Indiana Volunteer Battery, joining that command December 8, 1861, when twenty- one years of age. He served for three years under Captain Jerome Cox, and on the expiration of his term re-enlisted, as a veteran, at Nashville, Ten- nessee. He participated in the three-days battle at Murfreesboro, the battles of Perryville and Corinth, and was on a gunboat on the Tennessee river for one year. During that time he participated in several severe fights, including one at Decatur, Alabama, and when the war was ended received an honorable discharge. He was never wounded or taken prisoner, but was always at his post of duty, and faithfully defended the old flag and the cause it represented, until the Confederacy was overthrown. In the last war in which the country was engaged - the war with Spain - Mr. Boyles' brother, Branton, entered the army and is still stationed in Cuba. He also had a nephew, Charles Boyles, son of Daniel J. Boyles, who went to Cuba to aid in the war for the liberation of the oppressed people of that island.
When hostilities had ceased between the two sections of this country, George W. Boyles returned to Tippecanoe county, and has since been iden- tified with its agricultural interests. He was married February 2, 1869, in Sheffield township, to Miss Lucy A. Grafft, who was born in Sheffield town- ship, November 12, 1850, and is a daughter of Moses and Mary A. (Baker) Grafft. Her father, a farmer by occupation, removed from Ohio to Tippe- canoe county. Four children have been born of this union: Martha E., who was born May 29, 1870; Orth S., born January 26, 1872; Ida F., born September 1, 1874; and Moses W., born March 20, 1877.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Boyles located in Sheffield township, Tippecanoe county, upon a farm of fifty acres which he purchased and which adjoined his father's farm on the west. Upon the death of his par- ents he purchased the old homestead, which he afterward sold, buying eighty acres one mile south. There he resided for a number of years, after which he removed to Dayton. In 1893 he purchased and located upon his present farm of eighty acres, in addition to which he owns sixty-eight acres of the old Grafft homestead. He is an enterprising and progressive farmer, who follows the most modern and practical methods in the cultivation and care of his land, and his labors are rewarded with a well deserved prosperity. In his political associations he has always been a Repub-
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lican. He holds a membership in the Methodist church, in which he has served as trustee, and in the church work he has always taken an active interest, contributing liberally to its support. He is a charter member of the `Grand Army post of Dayton, is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is serving as one of the trustees of the Masonic lodge in Dayton. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend, and he was one of the prime movers in securing the erection of the new brick school-house in the district. He has always favored every movement tending toward the moral, intellectual or material benefit of the community and as a citizen is as true to his duties to-day as when he followed the stars and stripes upon southern battle- fields.
JAMES W. MONTGOMERY.
James W. Montgomery is a well known farmer of Tippecanoe county, and resides in Jackson township, where he has a valuable property compris- ing two hundred and thirty acres of rich and arable land. It is well improved with good buildings, and the well tilled fields indicate his careful supervision. He was born in Jefferson township, Tippecanoe county, Jan- uary 15, 1831, and is a son of John Montgomery. His grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, who was among the missing, probably killed in battle. John Montgomery was born in Virginia, March 14, 1800, was a farmer by occupation, and was married in Virginia, March 17, 1825, to Jane McMillen. Her mother bore the maiden name of King, and there is a tradition in the King family that there is a large estate belonging to them in England. For a time John Montgomery followed farming in Virginia, and in 1831 took up his residence on a farm in Wheeler's Grove, Jackson township, Tippecanoe county, Indiana. He made the journey westward with a four-horse wagon, there being three families in the party, - the Millers, the Montgomerys and the Sayers. They spent about a month on the way, Mrs. Montgomery riding all the distance on horseback and carrying a little child before her on the saddle. For a few years Mr. Montgomery continued his residence in Jackson township, and then removed to a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Jasper county, Indiana, where he lived for fifteen years. There he purchased land until he owned between two and three hundred acres. Sub- sequently he sold his property, and in 1852 removed to Montgomery county, locating on a farm of one hundred acres on Coles creek. At the latter place he lived for four years, when he again sold out, and in 1856 returned to Jackson township, Tippecanoe county, where he made his home until his death, which occurred April 15, 1888, when he had reached the age of eighty-eight years, one month and one day. His wife was a member of the
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Methodist church, and while he did not belong to any religious organization, he was a man of high moral character and unquestioned integrity. He served for fifteen years as postmaster in Jasper county, and was a valued and representative citizen.
Three times married, his first wife died October 13, 1865. Their chil- dren were: Nancy T., born in Virginia, December 25, 1825; Matilda Jane, born April 1, 1827; Mary Ann, born in Virginia, December 9, 1828; James and Jackson, twins, born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, January 15, 1821; Elizabeth M., born April 23, 1833; William P., born April 10, 1835; Eve- line, born November 15, 1837; John, born May 23, 1840, and Thomas J., born November 4, 1844. All are now deceased excepting James W., Andrew J. and Mary A. After the death of his first wife Mr. Montgomery was mar- ried, January 8, 1867, to Miss Mary Dimmitt, who died some years later, and on the 30th of October, 1881, he wedded Amanda Conn, who still sur- vives him.
James W. Montgomery, whose name introduces this review, was a small boy when he accompanied his parents to Jasper county, Indiana, and it was not until he had attained his majority that he returned to Tippeca- noe county, where, however, he has since made his home. He obtained his education in the usual manner of pioneer times, pursuing his studies in a log school-house built with a puncheon floor and stick chimney, while greased paper took the place of window glass, being inserted in an aperture made by the removal of a log. School was conducted on the subscription plan and Mr. Montgomery attended for two or three months during the winter season, learning to read and write, and also making some progress in arithmetic. He early began to work in the fields, for he was one of the older children and his services were needed in the development and cultivation of the home- stead.
Having arrived at years of maturity Mr. Montgomery was married November 1, 1860, to Ann Kesterson, of Jackson township, Tippecanoe county. She was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, February 6, 1843, a daughter of Thomas and Susan (Norwood) Kesterson. Her father was a native of Clinton county, Tennessee, a son of Sylvester and Elizabeth Kesterson. Her maternal ancester, George Norwood, of Irish descent, was one of the heroes of the Revolution and served throughout the war. Her paternal grandfather, Sylvester Kesterson, was a farmer of Clinton county, Tennes- see, and there he spent his entire life, passing away at the advanced age of one hundred and five years, and his wife was one hundred and ten years of age when called to her final rest. Their children were James, Peter, Will- iam, John, Nancy and Eliza.
Thomas Kesterson, the father of Mrs. Montgomery, received no educa-
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tional advantages and was entirely a self-made man. He came to Indiana when eighteen years of age and devoted his energies to farming. He was married in Hamilton county to Susan Norwood, daughter of George and Mary Norwood, who were owners of a good farm in that county, Mr. Nor- wood having been one of the pioneers in the vicinity of Noblesville, Indiana. He was a centenarian at the time of his death and his wife was almost one hundred years of age at the time of her demise, so that the four grand- parents of Mrs. Montgomery had a remarkable record, all reaching the century mark. The children of the Norwood family were Spicie Ann, Nathaniel, William, Susan and Catherine. After their marriage Thomas Kesterson and his wife located in Hamilton county, Indiana, where they lived for many years. Mr. Kesterson also resided in Jackson township, Tippe- canoe county, for a few years, and then went to Lucas county, Iowa, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of government land, upon which he made his home for three years. On the expiration of that period he came to Tippecanoe county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Jackson township, where he remained for fifteen years, going thence to Champaign county, Illinois, where he became the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he spent his remaining days. He was a faithful member of the Methodist church, in which he served as class- leader. He. and his first wife were of the old revivalist order of Methodists and took part in many of the old-time revivals and camp-meetings, in which they were earnest exhorters. In politics he was a Republican and a stanch Union man during the civil war. His life was honorable, upright and useful, and at the age of sixty-eight years he was called to the reward prepared for the righteous. By his first wife, the mother of Mrs. Montgomery, he had six children: Mary E., George S., Ann, William, Lucina and Delphina. After the death of the mother he was married to Nancy Richards, and the children of the second union were John W., Samuel I. and Sarah. Two of the sons, George and William, were valiant soldiers in the northern army, serving for three years as members of Company E, Seventy-second Indiana Infantry. They participated in many battles and George had his health un- dermined by the hardships and rigors of war.
Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery began their domestic life near their present home, upon a sixty-acre tract of land, which he has since sold. There they lived for sixteen years, when in 1875 Mr. Montgomery purchased his present farm, to which he has added from time to time until he now has a very valuable property of two hundred and thirty acres. This is well improved with well tilled fields, good buildings and the accessories and conveniences of the model farm, and the Montgomery homestead is now one of the best in the neighborhood. The home has also been blessed by the presence of five
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children; but Sarah J., the first born, died at the age of one year and eight months. The others are Mary E., Frank T., Luella and John S. The last named is a graduate of the Purdue University, having completed a four-years course in mechanical engineering with the class of 1898, when twenty-three of age. He is now in Schenectady, New York, occupying a responsible position as draughtsman in extensive locomotive works.
In their labors Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery have prospered. The lady in- herited a most vigorous constitution and in her earlier years she worked side by side with her husband in the fields. As time has passed, however, and pros- perity has come to them, they have been enabled to leave the harder work to others and enjoy more of the quiet and rest of life. They are both earnest Christian people, Mrs. Montgomery having joined the Methodist church in Iowa when sixteen years of age, while Mr. Montgomery became a member at the age of thirty-five. They have contributed liberally to the support of the church and labored earnestly in its behalf, and their upright lives exemplify their Christian faith.
JONAS A. PETERSON.
Among the substantial and highly respected farmers of Sheffield town- ship, Tippecanoe county, Indiana, is Jonas A. Peterson, whose post-office address is Dayton. He was born April 3, 1831, in Linkoping, Wostena, Sweden, where the family had lived for generations, engaged in agricultural pursuits.
The grandfather of Mr. Peterson was John Lawson. The custom in Sweden is not to retain the family name, but the given name. For instance: John Lawson's son Peter, the father of our subject, became Peter John's son, or Johnson, not Lawson, and our subject became Peterson. John Lawson owned a farm of about one hundred and sixty acres and was in comfortable circum- stances. He lived in a well finished, stanch log house, carefully built so that it would stand the hard climate. He was the father of Peter, John, Swanson, and one who had a military name, "Alquist,"-which also was another curious custom of the Swedes. There were also several daughters, whose names are not remembered. John Lawson lived to be an old man. His father, the great-grandfather of our subject, lived to the age of one hundred and twelve years, eleven months and twenty-four days, and was a man of great strength. He could drive his ax into the butt end of a saw-log and lift it up on a bob- sled. John's son Peter became, according to the custom, Peter Johnson, and he was the father of our subject. He lived on a farm which he bought, and, like his father, was in good circumstances. He married Sarah Jacobs, and their children were Andy, John, Annie, Sarah, Mary, Christina, Louisa and
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Charlotte. He lived to be eighty years of age, was a member of the Luth- eran church and a man highly respected by all who knew him.
Jonas Augustus Peterson was born and reared on a farm and received a good education in his native language. At the age of twenty-eight years he went to Liverpool, and there, on the last day of September, 1859, took pass- age on a sailing vessel bound for America, and after a voyage of three weeks landed at New York, October 25, 1859. From New York he came west to Attica, Fountain county, Indiana, and engaged in farming. .
Mr. Peterson was married March 14, 1872, in Lafayette, Indiana, to Susannah Paul, a native of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, born March 16, 1839, daughter of Reuben and Lovina (Houpt) Paul. Reuben Paul was a son of John George Paul, and was born October 5, 1812. He came from Pennsylvania to Indiana at an early day and settled in Perry township, Tip- pecanoe county, on eighty acres of land, which he developed into a fine farm. Politically, he was a Republican, and, religiously, both he and his wife were Lutherans. They were the parents of the following named chil- dren : Thomas F., Tillman, Susannah, Munford, Sarah, Alfred, Mary A., Rebecca and Fremont. Four of the sons were in the civil war - all except Fremont, who had been injured. Alfred was in Battery D, Tenth Indiana Artillery, and served three years, participating in numerous battles, and the others were in Company B, One Hundred and Fiftieth Indiana Infantry. John George Paul, the grandfather of Mrs. Peterson, was of Dutch descent, and was a prosperous farmer of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. He sold his land in that county for one hundred and two dollars per acre, and the town of Hokendauqua was built upon it. From there he moved to Allen county, same state, where he died at the age of sixty-five years. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Hettie Faust, had eight children, namely : Thomas, Eli, Reuben, Mary A., Annie, Eliza, Polly and Sallie. Mr. and Mrs. Peter- son immediately after their marriage settled on their present farm, renting it for several years and purchasing it in 1886. This farm comprises one hun- dred and ninety-two acres, and is well improved. Their children are Charles P., Anna M. (who died in infancy), Francis P., Sarah L., and Jonas P., who died an infant .. Mrs. Peterson is a member of the Presbyterian church, while Mr. Peterson is a Lutheran, clinging to the creed in which he was reared.
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