USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 47
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 47
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 47
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 47
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 47
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 47
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 47
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Captain Crosson enjoyed excellent educational advantages, beginning his school life in Perry county, Ohio; but as the family home was changed from time to time he attended school in Madison county, Ohio, and subse- quently in Benton county, Indiana. At length he entered the State Univer- sity at Bloomington, but did not complete the prescribed course. About his first independent effort in life was in the capacity of school-teacher,-a pro- fession he followed for three years, when he engaged in general merchandis- ing at Oxford. This he continued until the time of his enlistment as a sol- dier in the Union army, on the 10th of December, 1861. He was enrolled as a private in Company D, Sixtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He soon became orderly sergeant,-the executive officer of his company,-and in due
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time was promoted for valiant services on the battle-field to the rank of first lieutenant, and finally captain. He was mustered out as captain of Com- pany D, Sixtieth Indiana Infantry, at Indianapolis, on the 23d of March, 1865. During his enlistment he saw a great deal of hard service and endured many privations, hardships and dangers for the preservation of the Union. His service covered a broad field in the maneuvers of various armies, being under command, respectively, of Generals Grant, Sherman, A. J. Smith, Banks, Canby and Buell, and participating in the battles of Munfordville, Ar- kansas Post, siege and capture of Vicksburg, battles of Jackson, and the expe- dition up the Red river under General Banks, which was attended with innu- merable incidents in skirmishing, bushwacking and exposure. Returning to the vicinity of Mobile, having served about three months longer than the term of enlistment, he was sent to Indianapolis and finally discharged. On returning from the army he located on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, near Oxford, where he has ever since resided.
Captain Crosson was married October 16, 1860, to Miss Margaret E., daughter of Judge Basil and Jane (Foresman) Justus. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, born March 29, 1796. When very young he moved with his parents to Pickaway county, Ohio, and in 1831 came to Indiana, and in the following year settled in Benton county. On the organization of the county he was elected the first clerk of the county court, serving in that capacity for several years. Later he was elected associate judge, a position he held until the office was abolished by the legislature. The early county courts were held at his private house for several years, and the family enter- tained the judges and lawyers attending the same. Judge Justus was one of the earliest pioneers of Benton county, a man highly esteemed for his many excellent traits of character. His death occurred at Vincennes April 8, 1879. The mother died in 1854, at the age of fifty-one years, within sight of the old court-house in Oxford. Mrs. Crosson was born in this county, on the 8th of March, 1837, and tradition says she was the third white child born within the county. She was the tenth child in a family of eleven born to Judge and Jane Justus. All except four of this family died in childhood or infancy. Rachel N., widow of James F. Parker, resides with her children, principally at Vincennes; Martha Ann, wife of Dr. Theophilus Stembel, resides near Oxford; and Elizabeth Jane is the wife of John C. Chancellor, a real-estate dealer and farmer at Vincennes.
Captain and Mrs. Crosson are the parents of three children, as follows: Stella, born July 20, 1861, is the wife of George Edmonds, a prosperous farmer in Center township, Benton county; Minnie, born October 15, 1867, married Louis Atkinson, of Adylott, this county; and Imy, who was born August 23, 1877, is the wife of James Richards, of the Oxford Tribune.
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Mrs. Crosson owns some real estate in her own right, which came to her as an inheritance from her father's estate.
Captain Crosson has been identified with the Masonic fraternity for forty-five years, having been a member of Oxford lodge, No. 190, F. and A. M., for that time. His political career has been with the Democratic party,-a fact which militated against any political aspirations in Benton county, which has ever been hopelessly Republican. For the purpose of maintaining and strengthening his party organization, he has allowed his name to be placed upon the Democratic ticket as a candidate for office, and his popularity and recognized fitness for the position materially reduced the usual Republican plurality. This was notably true in his candidacy for the offices of sheriff and treasurer of Benton county. He served ten years as trustee of Oak Grove township; was the first school examiner of Benton county,-an office corresponding to that now designated as county superin- tendent of schools; and he has also served two or more years each in the offices of township treasurer and assessor.
The Captain and his estimable wife each represent families prominent in the history of Benton county, whose ancestors were identified with the set- tlement and material progress of the county. As such it is eminently proper that they have representation in a work designed to record, preserve and transmit their history.
JAMES F. STEWART.
Thirty years have rolled away since James F. Stewart settled at his present homestead in Prairie township, White county, and few are better or more favorably known in this locality. His life has been of a character that commands the respect and admiration of all, for he has not striven solely for self-advancement, as too many do, but has endeavored to lend a helping hand to those less fortunately situated, thus fulfilling the noblest mission given to mankind.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Asa Stewart, a native of Virginia. At an early day he emigrated to Kentucky, where he spent the rest of his days, and reared his children to be good and useful citizens. They were named as follows: James, Russell, Allen, William, Charles, Matilda, who married first a Mr. Monfort, secondly, a Mr. Hawkins, and Mrs. Lucy Stewart. James came to Indiana and settled in Bartholomew county, while all of the other sons became residents of White county.
William, father of James F. Stewart, grew to manhood and was married in Kentucky to Miss Mary A. Chilton, daughter of John Chilton, the owner of a large plantation in Henry county and of numerous slaves. Both Mr. Chilton and his wife were influential members of the Missionary Baptist
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church, and their son Levi became a minister in that denomination. They had ten children, the others being Blackwell, James, John, Franklin, Thomas, Wilford, William, and Mrs. Letitia Ellis.
In 1844 William Stewart removed to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where he rented a farm, and three years later he came to this county. He was in straitened circumstances, as about all of his available property was a team of horses and less than fifty dollars in money. He possessed a brave heart and was not afraid of hard work, and to these characteristics he owed his success. At first he worked at whatever he could find to do, one winter making forty-seven hundred rails for one man, out of dead timber, and for five years he rented land. Later he first bought forty acres and resided for a time in a log house until he erected a small frame house on his land, and little by little he transformed the place, which continued to be the scene of his labors during life. He gradually added to his real estate until at length he owned four hundred acres, well improved with good buildings. In addi- tion to raising a general line of crops he devoted much attention to the cattle business, in which direction he met with good financial returns. He died in 1875, revered, admired and loved by all who had known him. Politically, he was a Democrat, and one of his chief traits was his great patriotism and pub- lic spirit. His widow, who ably and nobly assisted him in his arduous pio- neer labors, is still living, now in her seventy-eighth year. Both were char- ter members of the Missionary Baptist church in this county, helping materially in founding the denomination here.
James F. Stewart, born in Henry county, Kentucky, October 24, 1843, is the eldest of his father's family, and was but a year old when he was brought to this county. Here his brothers and sisters, nine in number, were born. They were as follows: Mrs. Letitia Neal; Henry A., of Brookston; Warren, a farmer; Mary, who died unmarried, in 1864; Francis M., of Brookston; Mrs. Ellen Moody; Amanda, who died when young; John P., a farmer near the old homestead; and Charles W., who resides on the old homestead.
When he was twenty-five years of age, our subject started out upon an independent career. Hitherto he had lived at home, aiding in the manage- ment of the place, and becoming a thorough, practical farmer under his instruction. After renting land for a year he bought his present homestead, then wild land, and now marked by substantial improvements, good buildings, tiling and fences. It is situated six miles west of Brookston, and is suitable for the raising of all kinds of crops grown in this latitude. Though not a politician, Mr. Stewart is a stalwart Democrat and has occupied a few minor local offices.
In 1868 he married Miss Mary E. Dawkins, whose father, George
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Washington Dawkins, was one of the pioneers of this state. By occupation he was a farmer and a mechanic, and plied those vocations until his death in 1877. He married Miss Lucinda Simpson in his native state, Kentucky, and in 1856 they removed to Hendricks county, Indiana. Later, they lived in White county, and their last years were spent in Tippecanoe county, this state. Of their children, Elizabeth White is the eldest; William A. died in Kentucky; Jonathan died in 1852; Mrs. Sarah Riardon is deceased; John died in this county; George carries on the old home place in Tippecanoe; and Lucinda is the wife of John Stewart. The mother, like her parents, was a member of the Methodist church.
Though no children have blessed the union of our estimable subject and wife, they have reared and cared for five little ones. Four of the number were the children of Mrs. Stewart's sister, Mrs. Riardon. Three of them, now married and happily settled in life, are Willferd, Eldora and Sarah J., aged nine, six and three years at the time that they were taken into the home and hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart; Elizabeth died in infancy, and Fernandez, the daughter of Jarrett White, was an orphan of seven years when she was adopted in this household, and seven years later she passed to the better land. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are faithful members of the Free Baptist church, and pattern their lives after that of the Master whose zealous followers they strive to be.
WILLIAM H. WILLOUGHBY.
The popular chief of the fire department at Lafayette, where he has been a resident for twenty-five years, was born in Madison county, Ohio, near London, November 8, 1847, a son of Andrew J. and Catherine (Coberly) Willoughby, who were natives of Ohio. Our subject was reared on the home farm in Madison county, attending the district schools and remaining at home until attaining manhood, and, being the eldest son, the care of the family largely devolved upon him. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted in the army and was at Camp Chase until the spring of 1865, when he was assigned to Com- pany B, One Hundred and Ninty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private and served until the close of the war. After peace had been declared Mr. Willoughby returned to Madison county, where he resumed farming for two years, then went to Montgomery county, Indiana, for three years and in 1873 he came to Lafayette, where his first employment was with the Breckenridge & Warwick Grain Company, with whom he remained for six years. On account of ill health he was obliged to give up that line of work and secured a position as fireman on the Wabash Railroad, which position he retained for six months, when, finding he had gained in weight from one hundred and
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thirty-five pounds to one hundred and eighty, he concluded his health was. good enough and retired from the road.
Mr. Willoughby next went into the office of Sample & Hawk, coal mer- chants, as manager, a position he retained for three years, at the end of which time he purchased the firm's interest and conducted the business for several years. He then sold out and traveled as a special agent for the Equitable Accident Insurance Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for one year, and was on the road for the Hall Safe & Lock Company for six months. He next engaged in the real-estate and general-insurance business, in December, 1889, and continued in that line of industry until the spring of 1897. He was appointed chief of the Lafayette fire department in 1894, a position he has most efficiently filled ever since.
The marriage of Mr. Willoughby was solemnized January 24, 1869, when he was united to Miss Mary Sager, a daughter of Absalom and Sophia Sager, of Virginia, and of this union seven children have been born, as follows: Cora Ellen, who married Edgar Goldsberry; Grace Dell, who has been a teacher in the public schools for seven years; Catherine married Peter N. Bernardi and they have one child, Willoughby Earl; William A. and another child died in infancy; Esta May and Edna Sophia are at home. Mrs. Wil- longhby and daughters are members of the Baptist church and she and her two eldest daughters are affiliated with the Daughters of Rebekah. Mr. Wil- longhby has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for twenty-five years, and is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters. Politically, he is a strong Republican and was elected a councilman from the fourth ward to fill an unexpired term.
Andrew J. Willoughby, our subject's father, was born in Ohio in 1820, and followed farming all his life. He married Miss Catherine Coberly, who also was a native of Ohio, and of their seven children five are now living, namely: William H., our subject, Samuel, David, John C. and Sherman. The father died in Madison county, Ohio, in February, 1874, aged fifty-four years, and is survived by his widow, who lives on the old homestead.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Andrew Willoughby, was of English descent and became the father of five children. He died in Madison county while yet in middle life. The maternal grandfather, William Coberly, was a native of Ohio, where he followed farming and reared a large family of children.
CHARLES SHIPPS.
This is a queer name for a Swede; but the explanation comes later. We desire to introduce "Charley" to the few people in northwestern Indiana who do not know him. As a business man in Oxford he needs no introduc- 27
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tion. Though thousands of miles intervene between him and his parental home of the "long ago," he is " at home " wherever business booms. As a jolly, whole-souled, companionable business man in Oxford, we particularly wish to speak of him.
In company with Joseph Atkinson he conducts the largest furniture establishment in Oxford; perhaps its equal is not to be found in Benton county. Here we find the "latest" in all lines of staple and fancy furnish- ings; and the young couple starting on life's journey must be very hard to please if they cannot secure the necessary outfit for housekeeping among Charley Shipps' well selected stock. The subject of death is one upon which we dislike to dwell; but since dissolution will come sooner or later to all of us, it may be not inappropriate to say that here we find everything necessary to the mournful occasion. A full line of undertaking goods and a handsome hearse are in waiting for those so unfortunate as to need them. Mr. Shipps is a practical embalmer, having taken scientific instructions on the subject and having his certificate of qualification. He has had extensive experience in this particular department of his business, and has been found "worthy and well qualified." In connection with the furniture and undertaking busi- ness he also owns and conducts a fine livery stable, and here we find a first- class stock of horses and vehicles; and should the traveler exact a "2:40" gait, the stock is here to make it, and the drivers know just how to get the required speed. Charley keeps the "high-steppers," and takes delight in exhibiting them.
Mr. Shipps was born August 13, 1844, near Stockholm, Sweden, and left his native country at the age of ten years, coming directly to Lafayette, Indiana. In the kingdom of Sweden the soldiers of the national army are given an "army name." The family name of our subject was Williams. His father entered the Swedish army and served twenty-one years. The official name given him was "Shipps," and this has been the family name ever since. It is said that this custom prevails to prevent the enlistment of two men of the same name.
His parents located on a farm near Attica, Fountain county, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Of their two sons and two daughters, our subject is the second born. Elizabeth, now Mrs. Charles Linn, resides in Chicago and has five children, all " natural-born " musicians and engaged in that delightful business for a livelihood. One daughter receives a good salary as a vocalist in one of the aristocratic churches in Chicago; another is an instrumental musician, etc. Mary, sister of our subject, is the wife of Louis Johnson and resides at Attica, this state; her husband is a policeman. The aforementioned were all born in Sweden. William was born at Attica, and is a farmer near his birthplace.
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Charles Shipps followed farming until about 1874, when he engaged in the manufacture of carriages at Attica and later at Oxford, where he located in 1886, and where he continued the business until 1890, when he suffered the loss of his entire possessions by fire, the insurance being a very insig- nificant portion of the loss; besides, he was in debt on stock; but, nothing daunted, he "started in" again, although the odds were against him more than ever. First he engaged in the livery business, and in August, 1895, the undertaking art, and in 1897 he added a stock of furniture. In June, 1896, on the completion of a course of study in the Renovard Training School for Embalmers, in Chicago, Mr. Shipps received his diploma as a thoroughly qualified embalmer.
Accordingly, starting in business with a small stock, to which he has added largely from time to time, he has continued to prosper and enlarge his operations until his stock would now invoice about three thousand dol- lars; and his livery stock and barn are worth between four and five thousand dollars.
Mr. Shipps was married at Attica, Indiana, October 2, 1879, to Miss Mary Abrams, a native of Sweden, who came to Attica when a child of three years. They have two sons and two daughters living and one daughter deceased; Luella died November 2, 1894; Howard has been employed in his father's business, as is also Laurence at the present time, they dividing their time between the livery barn and the store. The daughters are Caroline and Pearl, both employed more or less in the store.
During the great war of the Rebellion Mr. Shipps served fifteen months in the army, as a member in succession of two different regiments, -the One Hundred and Sixteenth and the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Indiana Infantry,-and was in the Army of the Cumberland. He was a charter member of Burnside Post, No. 95, G. A. R., of Attica. He received the privilege of a pension, but sacrificed it rather than to comply with the re- quirements of the Cleveland-Hoke Smith administration. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, holding membership at Attica. As to religion, he was reared in the faith of the Swedish Lutheran church, and in politics he has been a lifelong Democrat.
But Mr. Shipps' domestic relations are the source of his principal en- joyment in life, his wife and children being "all in all" to him; and likewise he is " all in all" to them. After twenty years of wedded life he can say what very few men can truthfully boast of, and that is, that the first family brawl is yet to come. His wife is a most devoted and amiable companion, for whom no sacrifice is too great to make for the comfort and happiness of her family. Charley Shipps is a man universally esteemed for his many ex- cellent traits of character.
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ยท JAMES S. CHILTON.
No one in Prairie township, White county, is better known or more highly respected than James S. Chilton, the present postmaster at Badger. A pioneer of the Hoosier state, he has aided materially in its development, and'is justly entitled to an honored place in its history.
The paternal grandparents of our subject were George and Mary (Ball) Chilton, who were married in Virginia and later emigrated to Kentucky, where their remaining years were passed. He was the owner of a large plantation and several slaves, and for some time operated a mill. Though not an aspirant to public office he was much interested in the welfare of his party, in early life using his ballot for the Whig faction, and subsequently for the Democrats. His children were John, Charles, James, George, Leti- tia, Jane, Mary, Susan and Lucy.
John Chilton, whose birth took place in the Old Dominion, grew to man- hood in Kentucky, where he wedded Eeleon Stewart. For a quarter of a century he served as justice of the peace, and was commonly known as 'Squire Chilton. Politically, he favored the Whig and Republican parties until after the civil war, when he transferred his allegiance to the Demo- cratic party. In the Missionary Baptist church he was a deacon and promi- nent member for years, and was looked up to and consulted upon all mat- ters relating to the good of the community in which he dwelt. He died about 1871, having survived his second wife, Rosa (Stewart) Chilton, several years. His children were named as follows: George B., Sarah, Thomas, John, James S., Joseph, Mary A. (Mrs. William Stewart), Letitia (Mrs. Duncan Ellis), Levi, Franklin and Marion,-the three last mentioned being born of his second marriage.
The birth of James S. Chilton occurred in Henry county, Kentucky, July 25, 1820, and he was reared on the old plantation. In 1842 he started out to make his independent way in the world, and, going to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, he rented land, which he improved, in the meantime work- ing at whatever he could find to do, whereby he might earn an honest living. Later he bought a land warrant for a tract in White county, and after mak- ing a few improvements on the place he sold it and bought a quarter-section of land six miles west of Brookston. This property he continues to make his home, and it bears little resemblance to the original place at the time it came into his possession. Everything is kept in excellent repair, good build- ings have replaced the small ones of former years, tiling has added to the productiveness of certain parts of the farm, and it is now one of the most desirable homesteads in this locality.
When the Greenback party was in force, Mr. Chilton gave it his polit-
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ical support, and at present he favors the free-silver platform. He served as constable and supervisor in his own district and has been school director, likewise. About seven years ago he received the appointment to the post- mastership of Badger, and is still officiating in this capacity. At one time he was elected justice of the peace, but refused to qualify for the position. He is a Master Mason, holding his membership in Brookston Lodge, No. 66, and stands high in the estimation of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
In his early manhood Mr. Chilton married Maria, daughter of George Johnson, a native of Virginia, who settled in Kentucky and became a pros- perous farmer. Mrs. Chilton's brothers and sisters-Elizabeth, Sarah, George and Thomas-went to Missouri. She died in 1845, and left two children: Margaret, wife of A. Brown, a merchant of Badger, and Leti- tia, wife of J. Brown, a farmer. In 1847 Mr. Chilton married Mary, daughter of Prior Russell, but she lived scarcely six months thereafter. The third wife of our subject was Nancy Russell, the fourth in order of birth of the six daughters of Samuel Russell, an early settler of Wayne county, Indiana, and a native of Virginia. The others are Mrs. Eliza- beth Boggs; Mary, who is unmarried; Mrs. Sarah Garrett, Mrs. Rebecca Burwell and Mrs. Margaret Curren. Mrs. Chilton, who was a devout mem- ber of the Methodist church, died in 1868, leaving two sons: Joseph, who is managing the old homestead; and Charles, a resident of Brookston. In 1873 Mr. Chilton and Mrs. Rachel Miller, a widow, were united in wedlock. She is a daughter of B. M. Miller, who was a farmer of Clinton county, Indiana, and a member of the Society of Friends. By her former marriage, Mrs. Chilton had one son. She is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, and, with her husband, has many sincere friends in this community.
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