USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 55
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 55
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 55
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 55
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 55
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 55
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 55
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children, who were: Daniel ; David ; Serepta, the wife of our subject ; Ellen (Mrs. Hawkins); Melissa (Mrs. Booth); John, Thomas and Lou (Mrs. Con- over). Both parents were members of the United Brethren church.
The parents of our subject were John and Mary (McMullin) Waymire. The former was a son of Frederick and Mary (McMullin) Waymire, both na- tives of Ohio and of German descent, who came to Indiana in pioneer days and located in Warren county. The father was a farmer, an old-line Whig, and filled several of the township offices. Both parents were members of the United Brethren church. Their children were: David, Solomon, John, Isaac, Daniel, Hulda, Rachel, Sarah and Betsy.
John Waymire was born in Dayton, Ohio, and was five years old when his parents came to Warren county, Indiana. After his marriage he made a trip to Pike's Peak, but was not satisfied to remain in that country and in 1860 he removed to Jasper county, where he bought land and farmed for a while. His next move was to Benton county, but he soon returned to his former home, where he permanently settled and improved a farm, which in 1888 he sold to one of his sons and retired from active life, dying in Attica, Indiana, in 1894. He was an influential man in the Republican party and filled the office of township assessor for many years, also serving as county commissioner. He was an honorable and upright man and had a good record as a soldier in the civil war, in which he served for three years. His wife, a native of Illinois, afterward resided in Rensselaer, and on July 1, 1899, died at the home of Frederic Waymire. She and her husband were worthy members of the United Brethren church. Their children were four in number: Ann, who is Mrs. Michaels; Frederic, our subject; Daniel, liv- ing on the old homestead, and Eva, the wife of J. Adams.
ADIN NORDYKE.
Captain Adin Nordyke resides on a small plat of ground in the suburbs of Seafield, White county, Indiana, and is a prosperous and most estimable gentleman. He is a native of North Carolina, as were his parents and grand- parents, and was born in Guilford county, that state, January 12, 1822. His father, Robert, was a son of Adin and Sarah Nordyke, and lived in North Carolina until 1831, when he brought his family to Indiana, settling first in Henry county and later in Tippecanoe county, where he purchased four hun- dred acres of land on the Wea. He sold this in 1844, and with his sons bought four hundred acres north of Seafield. He married Miss Elizabeth Shaw, also of North Carolina, who bore him eight children and died at Sea- field in 1862. These children are Levi, deceased; Adin, our subject; Israel, a hardware merchant in Monticello; Aaron, a resident of Wolcott; Rhoda,
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wife of William Hinchman, of Wolcott; Noble, a retired farmer of that vil- lage; Benajah, a farmer near Laporte; and Paris, a lumber merchant of Reynolds, this state.
Captain Nordyke came to this state with his parents when nine years of age, the journey being made across the mountains by team. This was a slow and tedious mode of travel, but the one principally used at that time. They crossed the Ohio river by ferry, at Cincinnati, and made a home near Newcastle, Henry county, Indiana. He remained at home helping with the work until he was twenty-five, breaking sod, building fences, etc., both on that farm and on the one bought later on the Wea. The farming was carried on in the most primitive style, with oxen and a wooden-moldboard plow; but the farmers of those days made the most of their opportunities, put their shoulders to the wheel and in many cases forged both fame and fortune out of their rude surroundings. He began farming for himself on the home- stead place, a short distance northwest of Seafield, where he at one time owned two hundred acres. He has since sold part of this, retaining one hun- dred and twenty acres, which he cultivated until 1894, when he bought a small tract of fourteen acres near town which he has since made his home, renting the farm to his son-in-law, Henry Osner. He dealt extensively in cattle, handling large herds of them, and just before the war sold a herd of two hundred and twenty head for six thousand dollars, restocking a few days later and clearing eight hundred and eighty dollars on the deal. He was one of the largest stock dealers of that time, and handled the Standard Kentucky Durham cattle, besides about two hundred hogs and fifteen horses.
When the call to arms was made during the Rebellion, Adin Nordyke enlisted, at. Reynolds, Indiana, February 10, 1862, as a private in the Sixty- third Indiana Infantry, Company D. He was sent to Lafayette and detailed as prison guard for two months; then to Indianapolis, where he was detailed to a similar charge; next he was ordered to Washington and commissioned to recruit the six companies of the regiment that were wanting. These recruits were made up at Indianapolis and were mustered in in August, 1862, when Mr. Nordyke was mustered in as second lieutenant of Company G. He fought in the battle of Resaca and others of the Atlanta campaign, includ- ing the engagements at Atlanta, Altoona Pass, Franklin and Nashville. After the last battle before Atlanta he was promoted to the rank of first lieu- tenant, and later, upon the resignation of Captain Holloway, he was pro- moted to the rank of captain, where he served until the close of the war. He was under Generals Manson as brigade commander, Cox as division commander, and Schofield as corps commander, and also served under Gen- erals Sherman and Thomas. He was not wounded during the entire period and was mustered out at Indianapolis, in July, 1865.
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Captain Nordyke was married in January, 1851, in Palestine, Princeton township, to Miss Lucy A. Jewett. She was a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, as was her father, Anson Jewett, who moved to Palestine in the early days. Mrs. Nordyke is in her seventy-second year, and is the mother of the follow- ing children, viz .: George, who resides with his parents; Elizabeth, the wife of James P. Foltz, of Wolcott; Ellen, the wife of Linsey Burch, resides near Seafield; Benajah, deceased; Leander R .; William, at his parental home; Winnie, the wife of Henry Osner, living on the home farm; and Rob- ert, deceased.
Captain Nordyke was reared in the Quaker religion and still holds to that doctrine. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and has filled all the offices in the post. He was made a Mason in 1856, in politics is a strong Republican, and has served as township trustee for two years.
DANIEL W. WAYMIRE.
This representative farmer and stockman of Jordan township, Jasper county, was born in this county February 6, 1863, a son of John and Mary (McMullin) Waymire, honored pioneers of Indiana, who bravely encountered and surmounted the hardships and deprivations of frontier life and were in- fluential factors in developing the resources of the country. A sketch of the family will be found in the record of Fredric Waymire on another page of this volume. Of the mother's family but little is known, as she was left an orphan at an early age. She has two sisters, Nancy (Mrs. Marlo) and Betsy A. (Mrs. Eller).
The subject of this review was brought up on the old homestead, which after his marriage he bought from his father. He has always been energetic and industrious, and is prominently identified with the agricultural and stock- raising interests of the county. He is now extensively engaged in the latter business, from which he derives a handsome income.
Mr. Waymire was married March 13, 1891, to Miss May Hammond, and they have one son, Delos, born November 3, 1894. Mrs. Waymire is a member of the Baptist church and is active in all good works. Her husband is a strong Republican and is ever ready to work for the good of his party.
The parents of Mrs. Waymire, Stewart and Rebecca (Pillars) Hammond, are natives of Indiana, were married near Lancaster, and came to Jasper county in 1848, where the father bought land, opened up a farm, engaged in stock-raising and also did some work at his trade of carpenter. He is now retired from business and with his wife is living in Rensselaer, where they are enjoying the fruits of their well spent lives. Both are members of the Free- Will Baptist church and Mr. Hammond takes an active interest in all public
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affairs, especially in connection with those of the Republican party. The children of this worthy couple were seven in number, as follows: William, who died when fourteen years of age; Emma is the wife of M. Adams; Joseph was a teacher in Demotte, Indiana, and is now engaged in the insurance busi- ness and is also truant officer of the county; Rose is the wife of Clarence Harold; Charles, a teacher in Mount Ayr; Mary, wife of our subject; and Bertha.
GEORGE J. EACOCK.
The history of this sterling citizen of Lafayette is the history of a self- made man, of one who rose by intrinsic worth and absolute merit, to a posi- tion of high esteem in the community wherein he dwells. With unflinching courage he made his way through difficulties seemingly insurmountable and has long been numbered among the leading members of the bar of Tippeca- noe county. His place of business and office is at No. 103 North Fourth street.
For many generations the families from which our subject sprang have been respected residents of Suffolk, England. The father of George J. was Dr. Robert Eacock, who for over half a century was actively engaged in the practice of medicine in the town of Hopton, Suffolk, and was beloved and admired by a very large circle of friends and acquaintances. He died about 1890, when over eighty years of age, and was survived some five years by his devoted wife, whose death occurred in July, 1895. She bore the maiden name of Mary Brooks. Both were faithful members of the Episcopal church and their lives were given up to good works and deeds of mercy and love toward their fellow men. Eight children blessed their marriage, and of the number six are now living, namely: William F., of Lopham, England; Mary, wife of Arthur Scrutton, of Brandestone, Suffolk, England; John M., of Indianapolis, Indiana; Joseph and George J., of this city; and Frank, of Wey- mouth, England.
The birth of George J. Eacock took place in his father's old home in Hopton, Suffolk, April 15, 1853. His education was obtained in the paro- chial schools of his native shire and until he was about twenty years of age he remained at home, devoting much of his time to agricultural pursuits. Being somewhat ambitious and enterprising, he concluded that he would come to America and try his fortunes here, where he believed that wider opportunities awaited him. He reach Lafayette February 8, 1873, and set diligently to work to find honest employment of any kind. He chopped wood and husked corn and for some time was employed on the farm of Levi Morehouse, near this city. He next learned the trade of carriage-making, in Lafayette, and at last opened a general collection office. He met with fair success in his new
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undertaking and in the meantime read law. In 1878 he was admitted to the bar of this county and has since been engaged in continuous practice. His specialty is law as applied to business operations of various kinds, and his clients comprise many of the leading commercial houses of this city and sur- rounding country.
A quarter of a century has slipped away since Mr. Eacock cast in his lot with the inhabitants of this flourishing little city, and he has never found occasion to regret his decision. By hard work and persistent energy he forged his way to the front and is now one of the most popular attorneys of this section. Such men deserve success and no one begrudges honor and prosperity to them. All who know Mr. Eacock accord him high praise for his fine ability and good qualities of head and heart, and his friends are legion. From time to time he has been influential in starting new enterprises here and elsewhere and has always labored for the welfare and prosperity of his own community. He is secretary of the National Collection Agency, of Indianapolis, which he helped to organize. At present he is also financially concerned in the A. Jeffrey Cigar Company. For seventeen years or so he has been attorney for Bradstreet and is also the representative of R. G. Dun & Company for this locality. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Uniformed Rank of that order, as well, and to the Royal Arcanum. Both he and his wife are members of the Second Presbyterian church of this city.
The handsome home of Mr. Eacock is situated at the corner of Hartford and Thirtieth streets. This residence was built by him in 1890, and since it was finished the family have dwelt within its hospitable walls. Mr. Eacock married Miss Ella M. Chamberlain April 25, 1877, at the home of her par- ents, Lewis and Josephine (Groff) Chamberlain. Harry L., elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Eacock, died when but five months old. Robert M., the younger, is now a student in the Culver Military Academy, at Culver, Indiana.
CHARLES A. NATTINGER.
Charles A. Nattinger, a leading contractor and builder of Benton county, has demonstrated the true meaning of the word success as the full accomplish- ment of an honorable purpose. Energy, close application, perseverance and good management are the elements which have entered into his business career and crowned his efforts with prosperity. He now makes his home one mile southeast of Earl Park, and in connection with contracting and building is also interested in farming.
Mr. Nattinger was born in Zanesville, Ohio, February 20, 1847, and there spent the first nine years of his life. He then went to Ottawa, Illinois, in
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company with his parents, Samuel and Mary (Miller) Nattinger. The father was born in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1806, the latter near Richmond, Vir- ginia, in 1807, and both died at Ottawa, Illinois, aged sixty-eight and sixty- seven years, respectively, and were buried in the same grave. They were faithful members of the Methodist church and most estimable people. Of the nine children, only four sons are now living; a son and daughter died in infancy, and the others are as follows: John, a contractor and builder of Red Lands, California; Elmira and Julia, both deceased; Lyman, a fruit-raiser of San Jose, California; Eliza, deceased; William, a carriage-maker and black- smith, of Chicago; and Charles A., of this review.
The subject of this sketch attended school in Ottawa until he attained the age of fifteen, and for three years pursued his studies in the schools of Pontiac, Illinois, where he made his home for seven years. At the age of eighteen he returned to his father's farm, on which he worked for four years. In 1869 he commenced learning the carpenter's trade of Josiah Pope, of Ottawa, with whom he remained for six years, and later worked for different contractors in that place, and also for Adams Brothers, of Marseilles, Illinois. In the spring of 1873 he spent three months at Fowler, Indiana, and then returned to Ottawa, where he began to take contracts for the erection of buildings, in which business he has since met with great success. Returning to Fowler in 1881, he operated a farm of one hundred and sixty acres two miles northeast of that place, and then moved to the southeast corner of York township, Benton county, where also he engaged in agricultural pur- suits, for six years, on a farm varying from two to three hundred acres. In the meantime, however, he continued to follow contracting and building. It was in 1889 that he removed to his present home, one mile southeast of Earl Park, where he owns two hundred and twenty-three and a third acres of valuable land,-a portion of the Adams Earl estate,-which he bought of Leroy Templeton.
Mr. Nattinger has erected a great many of the large buildings con- structed in the county during his residence here. His first large contract was made in 1884, with Leroy Templeton, for the erection of a barn on what was then known as the Boswell place. He then built Mr. Hawkins' barn, four and a half miles southwest of Earl Park, valued at two thousand dollars; Gahart Hasdebeck's house and barn, valued at four thousand dol- lars; John Roth's house and barn, valued at two thousand dollars and eight hundred dollars, respectively; Wilson Cope's house and barn; Mr. Ditten's house at Earl Park, valued at twenty-five hundred dollars; W. B. Fowler's cold-storage warehouse and an ice-house in Earl Park in 1894 and 1895; and large barns for Henry Gick, Theophilus Anstett and James A. Lowman. In 1895 he built his own residence, valued at twenty-five hundred dollars,
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and during the past year completed a fine six-thousand-dollar brick store building and opera-house for Theme & Wagner, of Lafayette.
On the 29th of October, 1872, Mr. Nattinger was united in marriage, at Ottawa, Illinois, with Miss Clara Lowman, a daughter of Arthur Lowman, an early settler of that place, and seven children have been born to them : Charles Edwin, who assists his father on the home farm; Ralph, a carpenter by trade; Walter, who also works on the farm; and Ethel, Frank, Mabel and James-all at home. Mr. Nattinger attends the Methodist church, and casts his ballot with the Republican party. He is recognized as a man of ability, and those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends.
MOSES G. DOBBINS.
Moses Greenwaid Dobbins is the son of Jackson and Elizabeth (Miller) Dobbins, and was born in Princeton township, White county, Indiana, Jan- uary 25, 1850. His grandfather, Samuel Dobbins, came from Ireland and settled in Virginia at an early day, becoming an extensive land-owner in that state. The maternal grandparents, Isaac and Sarah (Greenwaid) Miller, were from Maryland, springing from English and German stock. Jackson Dobbins was a Virginian by birth, but left his native state when twenty-three years old and settled in this county. Here he bought the forty acres on which the homestead stands, and at different times entered other land until he owned at one time nine hundred acres. Much of this was sold at various times and the remainder, six hundred and forty-two acres, was bought up by his children and by them broken and improved, and cheerful homes were made upon it. He was a general farmer and stock-raiser, but during his later years he moved to Logansport, where he resided eleven years, returning to the farm for two years and then, in 1866, went to Wolcott, where he died one year later. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Miller, who is now in her seventy-first year and resides in Monticello with her son, Schuyler. She was a kind and helpful wife, and is the devoted mother of five children. Of these, Matilda is the wife of Charles Jones, of Monticello, Indiana; Moses is the subject of this review; Samuel is a farmer near Wolcott; Robert is a grocer in that village, and Schuyler is a liveryman at Monticello.
Moses G. Dobbins was ushered into existence on the farm now owned by Joseph Burley, which was the first homestead of his father. When he was one year old the family removed to what is now known as the Dobbins homestead, the dwelling built in 1851. He went with the family to Logans- port, remaining five years, when he returned to Princeton township and bought from his father one hundred and seventy-five acres of land. The house is one of the oldest in the township and is occupied by Mr. Dobbins and
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his family. He has greatly improved the premises by adding new barns and fences and setting out a fine orchard. He at one time kept a large number of cattle and horses, but has practically abandoned the business of keeping so large a number, having now only about thirty-five or forty head of good farm stock. His land at present comprises one hundred and seventy-one and one- half acres. He has given one and one-half acres for use as a cemetery.
February 21, 1877, Mr. Dobbins was joined at Hymen's altar to Miss Jane Kinney. She was born near Wolcott, April 27, 1853, and is the daugh- ter of William and Lucinda (Walston) Kinney, who came here from Ohio in 1852. She received her education in the district schools of her native county, and is of a cheerful, sunny disposition and pleasing address. They have five children, all of whom are living at their parental home but one. They are Lena, Maude, Mintie (who married Otto Hemphill April 20, 1899), Fred and Mabel. Mr. Dobbins was made a Mason in 1874. He is active in all good works, and he has held the office of trustee in the Christian church, of which organization he is a member, and was for five years an elder. He is a firm believer in the principles laid down by the Republican party but is no politician, as a petty office presents him but small inducements.
JOHN H. ADAMS.
John Hess Adams was born near Norwalk, Ohio, March 2, 1832, and is a son of Silas and Martha (Hess) Adams. His grandparents were Jesse and Keziah (Howe) Adams, natives of Massachusetts. Jesse was a soldier of the war of 1812, and a cousin of John Quincy Adams. Silas Adams was born near Massachusetts bay, in 1802, and died in White county, Indiana, at the age of seventy-two years. He went to New York with his family when our sub- ject was twelve years old. He bought two large farms, which his sons attended while the father worked at his trade of cooper. This property was sold and after spending a few winters in Ohio, the family returned to New York, and in 1845 came to Reynolds, White county, Indiana, where Mr. Adams bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which was cultivated by his sons, while his time was devoted to carpentering and coopering. He taught school for two winters, and after the town of Reynolds was estab- lished he was appointed agent for the New Albany & Salem Railroad, now the Monon, route. He held this position for six years, and in 1867 the family went to southwest Missouri, where they bought three hundred and twenty acres, the father retaining one hundred and twenty acres, upon which he passed the remainder of his life. He was twice married. His second wife, the mother of our subject, was Martha Hess, who was born in Pennsylvania, of wealthy Welsh parents. She died in 1873, the mother of six children.
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Of these, John is the eldest and is the subject of this sketch; Orin is a farmer in Oklahoma; Nathan died during the civil war; Andrew died in Missouri; Harriet is the widow of L. A. Hill, of Missouri; and Nancy died in her youth. By his first wife, Nancy Howe, he had three children, William, Franklin and James.
When John Adams was two months old his parents removed to New York, where they lived until 1845, then came to Big Creek township, where our subject remained with them until he was twenty-two. He was educated in the common schools and learned the carpenter's trade of his father; was foreman on the bridge works on the New Albany Railroad for six years; farmed for a few years and went to Missouri with his father in 1867; pur- chased eighty acres of land, which he cultivated for sixteen years, the last ten years working at wagon-making in addition, and finally he returned to Reynolds, in 1883, and bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, and a residence with three acres in the suburbs. He disposed of the farm in 1890.
Mr. Adams was married March 18, 1857, in Big Creek township, to Rebecca Elizabeth Runnell, a daughter of Burzellar and Sophia (Bumgard- ner) Runnell, of Ohio. Her ancestors were represented in the war of 1812. She was born in this township November 12, 1835, and owns in her own right sixty-two acres of ground near Reynolds. She has given birth to five children, of whom we enter record as follows: Martha Marilla is at home; Franklin O. is in Chicago; Sophia died at the age of thirteen years; Ida May is the wife of Robert Williams, of Reynolds, and has three children, - Harry, Rebecca and Geneva; and John A. is on his mother's farm. He married Nancy Knight and has two children,-Clarence and Floyd. Mr. Adams is a believer in the doctrines of Methodism. He is a Democrat in his position on national issues, and has held all the minor offices in the gift of the people. He was postmaster during Cleveland's first administration, and is a man who commands the respect of all.
GEORGE W. LEAR.
This well known farmer of West Point township, where he has resided since 1861, possesses an enviable record as a veteran of the civil war, in which he served from December, 1861, until its close. He first enlisted, at Wolcott, as a private in Company K, Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and eighteen months later re-enlisted as a veteran. He was first stationed at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, and among the principal battles were those fought at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, seven days before Richmond, Cold Harbor, the Wilderness, siege of Petersburg, Gettysburg, besides a
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