USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 57
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 57
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
Reuben Paul, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born Octo- ber 12, 1812, reared to agricultural pursuits, and learned the blacksmith's trade when about twenty years of age, which he followed for twenty years. He was married August 3, 1834, to Lovina Haupt, of Allen county, Penn- sylvania. She was born in that county, in 1814, a daughter of John Haupt, who was a farmer of that place and also a manufacturer of brooms. Only two of his children are remembered by the family here,-Levina and Sarah. Reuben continued to follow his trade in Lehigh county for twenty years, and then emigrated to Perry township, Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where he improved a tract of land which he had purchased of William Gaddis, paying for it fifteen hundred and sixty dollars. At the age of eighty years, five months and seven days he departed this life, and was buried on Tues- day, March 14, 1894. He was a member of the Lutheran church, which he served as a deacon. He was a kind husband and father and a good citizen. His children were Tilghman, Monford, Alfred, Fremont, Sarah, Susannah, Mary, Rebecca, Catherine, and one that died an infant.
On coming west, in the spring of 1851, he made the journey with horses and wagons, being three weeks and three days on the way, stopping over night at taverns. There came with him the families of Charles Moyer, Er- win Jones and Charles Miller.
Tilghman Paul, with whose name we commence this biographical out- line, was born December 31, 1836, in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and came to this county with his father in 1851. He had previously received the usual district-school education, which he continued after his arrival here. He learned the carpenter's trade, and continued to follow it for twenty years, becoming a prominent contractor and erecting many buildings in Dayton and the surrounding country. At the age of twenty-three years he married and settled on land which was partly in Tippecanoe county and partly in Clinton county. After living here a year he made several other moves, as business required, at one period living in Dayton for eleven years. In 1880 he pur- chased his present homestead of eighty-two acres, which is a pleasant place.
Mr. Paul was a soldier in the great civil war, enlisting February 10, 1865, at Lafayette, Indiana, as a private in Company B, One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, to serve one year or dur- ing the war. He served the closing seven months of the struggle, and was
504
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
honorably discharged in West Virginia, August 5, 1865. His company was in the Army of the Potomac in Virginia, and he was always found at his post of duty, cheerfully and promptly defending his country. He was sick three weeks, but remained in camp instead of going to the hospital.
In his township he has served as constable two years, township assessor five years, etc., which offices he filled faithfully, being a straightforward, in- telligent and upright citizen. He has always been an industrious man, and aided by his faithful wife he has accumulated a competency and reared their children in good style.
December 18, 1859, is the date of his marriage, in Clinton county, this state, in Ross township, to Miss Elizabeth J. Burkhalter, who was born Feb- ruary 22, 1839, a daughter of Edmund and Elizabeth (Rycraft) Burkhalter. (For records of these families see sketches of William Burkhalter and Mrs. Margaret A. Goldsberry.) Mr. Paul's children are Edmund H., Harry W. and Eli C., besides two who died young. Mr. and Mrs. Paul are both mem- bers of the German Reformed church, and in politics Mr. Paul is a Repub- lican.
JAMES DUNN.
Captain Dunn is the youngest of a family of four children, and was born April 27, 1839, in Thurles, county of Tipperary, Ireland. His parents were John and Julia (Murphey) Dunn, both natives of that country and emi- grants to this country in 1844. The father located in Lockport, Illinois, and worked on the canal there, building the walls of part of it. He died in 1854 and his wife six years later. Their children were William, deceased; John, who keeps a general store in Dunnington; Mary, deceased; and James, our subject.
Captain Dunn attended the public school at Lockport until he was nineteen years old, and then went into business for himself. He rented three hundred and twenty acres of land near Lockport, and there he engaged most successfully in agriculture until 1872. During this time he owned one hundred and eighty acres of land, which he had rented out. In 1872 he came to Benton county, Indiana, locating eleven miles southwest of Fowler. He bought one hundred and sixty acres, to which he has since added two hun- dred and sixty more, the entire farm of four hundred and twenty acres lying in Parish Grove township. He is a man of wonderful force of charac- ter and his personality is felt throughout the entire community. August 13, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Ninetieth Illinois Regiment. The com- pany was formed largely through his instrumentality, although he entered the service as first sergeant. For bravery on the battle-field he was soon promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, and in 1864 was promoted to the
505
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
captaincy to succeed Captain O'Marah. The boys of his company nick- named him "Old Shakehead," from his habit of expressing himself without words. He served in the rank of captain until he was mustered out in Washington, D. C., June 6, 1865. He was one of fifteen mustered out from a company that numbered eighty-four when they entered service. Unlike most soldiers of the rebellion, Mr. Dunn draws no pension and enjoys the distinction of being the only man of his company who had neither been wounded nor spent a day in the hospital. He took part in twenty-seven of the fiercest battles, and was in two hundred and forty skirmishes. The first encounter was at Holly Springs, where they defeated Van Dorn. Others in which he took part were at Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Atlanta, and all the battles of the Atlanta campaign. He served under General Logan, the corps commander, in the commands of Generals Grant, McPherson and Sherman. His 'stories of army life are at once instructive and thrilling, and the interest is increased by his manner of relating them.
January 9, 1868, he was united in matrimony to Lucy Robbins, at Lock- port, Illinois. She was born in Will county, Illinois, in 1849, and is a daugh- ter of William and Margaret (Tracy) Robbins, of Ireland. She is a graduate of Notre Dame University and a lady of intelligence and pleasing address. She has presented her husband with eight children, as follows: William H., who was born January 30, 1869, and died at Marietta, Georgia, February I, 1898; Maggie, who was born January 29, 1871, and is the wife of Thomas Murray, a farmer of this township; John F., who was born February 10, 1874, and resides at home; Escy, who was born February 25, 1877, and is the wife of Peter Woodlock, and whose husband owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Center township; James, who was born July 11, 1879, and lives at home, as do George E., who was born February 15, 1882; Lucy, born February 9, 1884; and Raymond, October 18, 1896.
Mr. Dunn is an honored member of the Dunnington church, to which he is a liberal contributor. He is a stalwart Democrat, and was town collector of Lockport one term, and has been trustee of this township two terms, -in 1880 and 1884. He is an honorary member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic and a man who is highly esteemed by all.
WILLIAM THORNTON DOBBINS.
Since he was a lad of only ten years the gentleman of whom we write has been a resident of Indiana, and during his whole mature life he has been an energetic and interprising business man. As a citizen he has ever been true to his duties, devoted to the public welfare, interested in the cause of education and religion and ready to promote the good of the community in
506
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
which his lot has been cast in every possible manner. Since 1894 he has lived in Lafayette, and at present is retired from business. In politics a Republican, he was the trustee of Big Creek township for four years, and is still serving as a school trustee.
His paternal grandfather, a native of Ireland, emigrated to Virginia, where he followed agricultural pursuits and died at a good old age. He was the father of seven sons and one daughter. William Hammock, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Virginia, and not only was he a farmer but also an excellent business man, for years successfully carrying on a large tannery on his homestead. He died in Hampshire county, Virginia, at middle life. His daughter, Harriet, the mother of Mr. Dobbins, was one of three children, and with her brother and sister grew to maturity in the Old Dominion, where she was born. She became the wife of Vaus Dobbins, like- wise of Virginia, is still living, having now survived her husband twelve years. Mr. Dobbins came from Tyler county, Virginia, to Indiana in 1856, settling upon land which he had purchased in White county. To his original farm of three hundred and twenty acres he added more by subsequent purchase, and in time became one of the leading, prosperous agriculturists of this part of the state. He also raised live stock to a considerable extent, and in his various undertakings was proverbially successful. He died in 1886, aged sixty-eight years, a faithful member of the United Brethren church, in which he occupied several official positions.
William T. Dobbins, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, September 13, 1846, one of nine children in the family, four of whom were sons. The names of the living children, besides our subject, are: George R., of Brooke, Indiana; Mary C., wife of Albert C. Fisher, of Chalmers, Indiana; Melvina E., wife of Horace E. Allatt, of Riverside, California; and Adelia, wife of C. E. Smith, of Chalmers.
Until he was sixteen years of age, W. T. Dobbins remained on the home farm, giving his dutiful assistance to his father in the management of the place, and acquiring a practical education in the district schools. Then for a short time he studied at the Battle Ground Academy. After he had carried on a farm for about two years, on his own account, he embarked in mercantile business at Battle Ground, remaining there for two and a half years. Following that he conducted a dry-goods business in Chalmers for seventeen and a half years, and for twelve years of this time he was post- master at Chalmers, without intermission, and when he disposed of his- other business there he tendered his resignation to President Cleveland. Though he owned eighty acres of land in West Point township he lived at Chalmers, and from time to time he bought more property until he
507
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
now possesses three hundred and thirty-seven acres, some of which he has improved. In addition to this he still owns several houses and lots in Chalmers. Having built the tile factory at this place, he operated it for about four years, in partnership with W. H. Stephens, and in 1888 he sold his interest in the plant. During the same year he erected a livery barn in Chalmers, and after running it for three years he sold out to Charles Snyder, and in 1890 retired from the dry-goods business also. After re- moving to Lafayette he entered into partnership with Mccutcheon Gregory in a livery and sale stable, and was thus connected with the business from April, 1895, to June, 1898, when he sold his interest to John A. Wilkinson.
In matrimony Mr. Dobbins was united with Miss Rhoda A. Moore, November 21, 1873, and they have had three daughters and a son. Two died in infancy and the others are named, respectively, Nellie and Harriet. The latter is at her parental home, while Nellie is the wife of W. A. Dresser, a lawyer of Lafayette. Mr. and Mrs. Dobbins are active and valued members of the Methodist church, and Mr. Dobbins is also as- sociated with the Knights of Pythias.
JOHN F. McCORMICK.
One of the most public-spirited and enterprising citizens of Ambia, Ben- ton county, John F. McCormick is largely identified with the different busi- ness interests of the village, and is prominent in any movement that promises to promote the best interest of the community. He was born in Charlton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, December 5, 1853, and is a son of Michael and Margaret (Meagher) McCormick, and a grandson of John and Ellen Mc- Cormick, of county Tipperary, Ireland. Michael McCormick was also a native of that nation, having been born there in 1818, and carne to the United States thirty years later. He landed at New York and settled near Charlton, Massachusetts, where he followed farming and worked at his trade, which was that of a shoemaker. He continued this work for about eight years, when he moved to Illinois, locating at Brimfield, where he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits until 1870, then removing to Stark county, same state, where he remained eight years, thence to Vermilion county, also in Illinois, and finally to Ambia, in 1885, where he died eight years later. He was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to Miss Margaret Meagher, who was also a native of county Tipperary, Ireland, and a daughter of John and Margaret Meagher. They were married in the state of Massachusetts, and her death occurred two years after her husband's, in 1895. Six children were born to them, of whom our subject, John F., is the eldest; Mary is the wife of Edward Weston, a Nebraska farmer; James and Michael are partners
508
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
in a general merchandise store in Ambia; William is deceased; and Nellie lives with James.
Mr. McCormick was three years of age when his parents left Charlton, Massachusetts, and he remained with them until he was twenty-four years of age, attending the public schools during that time, and becoming familiar with the routine of farm work. He then married and rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Vermilion county, which he worked for three years. After this he moved to Ambia, this county, and the next ten years finds him conducting a general mercantile business at this place. He had a very profitable trade and carried a line of goods varying from five to seven thousand dollars. He sold this business to his brothers, James and Michael, who conducted it under the name of McCormick Brothers. Mr. McCormick then turned his attention to the grain business, and bought the elevator of T. J. Lewis, in this village, in 1892. This he still operates, and finds a source of ready revenue. It has a capacity of fifty thousand bushels. He pays daily market prices and furnishes a ready market for the farmers in this section. He has invested in real estate, owning three residence properties and several lots, both improved and unimproved. He is also interested in several local enterprises.
He was married January 31, 1878, at Brimfield, Illinois, by Father Kochenbrauch, to Miss Anna Weston. She is the daughter of Patrick and Anna Weston, and was born at Kilkenny, Ireland. Four children have been born to them: William M., born June 1, 1881, a student; Pearl Ellen, Sep- tember 15, 1886; Anna Rosamond, December 21, 1893, and James Ray- mond, June 10, 1895. They are members of the Dunnington church, and were liberal contributors toward its construction. He is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, and is the present deputy chief ranger. He is a Democrat in politics and takes an active part in the interests of his party. He was township treasurer and trustee two terms, and is treasurer of the school board at this time. He is chairman of the township central com- mittee, and served as alternate of this district at the last Democratic con- vention held in Chicago. He is a shrewd worker in the ranks, and renders the party valuable aid.
HON. J. FRANK HANLY.
The state of Indiana is justly proud of the able, eloquent young states- man whose name appears above and who has won laurels more distin- guished than often fall to the lot of one in his early prime. Coming up from among the people, thoroughly acquainted with their needs and struggles by his own past experiences, having endured hardships like a good soldier and surmounted difficulties greater than are commonly encountered, he is at once
509
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
an exponent and advocate of the people and a splendid example of what may be accomplished by an American youth of brains, energy and sterling sense.
Even had he never made but the one speech, on the subject of increas- ing the navy of the United States, which speech was delivered before the house of representatives March 26, 1896, Mr. Hanly's name would be res- cued from oblivion and placed in the bright galaxy of western statesmen. His earnest, impassioned, logical discourse on the subject will be remem- bered for years to come by those who were so fortunate as to be present; and even the printed page glows with brilliancy, in the pamphlet in which is reproduced his truly remarkable speech. It would seem that he was gifted with a spirit of prophecy, almost, as he pictured the dangers which would confront our seaboard cities and property in the event of a war with a for- eign nation, a danger to which we were rudely awakened two years later, when hostilities were rife between our government and Spain. If the limits of this sketch would permit, we would gladly reproduce much of the opportune article, which set forth with startling emphasis many facts in regard to our navy as compared with the navies of other governments and urged upon congress further appropriations for battle-ships. No argu- ment of the kind is now required, for we have had an impressive lesson as a nation, and are now thoroughly awake to our needs in this direction. Mr. Hanly, however, took the lead and realized just as strongly two years ago what our difficulties were, as to-day, and then and there endeavored to present the matter clearly to the American people. A sentence or two, culled here and there, will prove of interest.
" Last February (1896), when parliament convened, in the face of Great Britain's already stupendous power at sea, in the face of the fact that year after year she has been making great improvements in her naval vessels and in their armament, the queen said to the English parliament: 'The extension and improvement of the naval defenses of the empire are the most important subjects to which your efforts can be directed and will doubtless occupy your most earnest attention.' What has been the answer of the British parliament to this appeal? Right Hon. George Goschen, first lord of the admiralty, brought in a naval programme that involved the appropria- tion of one hundred and twenty million dollars for the increase of the navy during this year. That is the amount asked, and an overwhelming majority * * of the English parliament is ready to indorse that programme. *
Since 1883, the year in which the reconstruction of the American navy began, we have expended for the increase of the navy, including all of the ships authorized or in process of construction up to this time, one hundred and ten millions, three hundred and seventy-one thousand, seven hundred and ten dollars. In thirteen years we have appropriated less money for the
510
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
construction of our navy than the English have appropriated for this single year."
In the conclusion of his masterly address Mr. Hanly said: "The American people will awaken to the present conditions that surround them. We will construct the Nicaragua canal and will put a fleet by and by upon the waters of the Caribbean sea and in the Gulf of Mexico that will secure to us the control of that great ocean highway when we once have builded it. When that canal is built it will become a great highway of commerce. The nations of Europe will be brought to our very shores. Then complications will arise. Then, sir, we will indeed face a crisis in our affairs. * I believe it the duty of the American congress to so legislate now that we will, when the crisis comes, as come it will, have a fleet in those waters that will command the respect and submission of English greed and English avarice. 'Peace is the offspring of power.' With such a fleet we can main- tain peace with honor; without it, humiliation must needs come. * I am impatient for the time when my country's rights, or reparation for her wrongs, shall be enforced by her fleets in every land and on every sea throughout the world."
In a speech made in the house of representatives January 15, 1896, on the subject of pensions,-of cutting down the pensions of veterans of the Union army, Mr. Hanly quoted the closing sentence of the bill which was before the house, and the remark, "Let us pass the present bill, containing one hundred and forty millions of dollars, and then stop and avoid the throw- ing of any more unneccessary money into the bottomless pit," and replied to this as follows: "Too much! is 'it? Gentlemen, there was a time, as back from Bull Run came the shattered fragments of the federal armies, when men stood in this chamber and in answer to Lincoln's request for an appropriation of five hundred million dollars to prosecute the war, said it was too much. There was a time when, after the great carnival of death at Gettysburg, some men in the north said, ' It is too much.' There were times, sir, during the war when more men were asked, when more funds were demanded, that a few of the people of the north stood up and said, 'It is too much.' But history has vindicated those who fought to a successful conclusion that great struggle. 'Too much!' was it? Thirty years of the best history that the world has seen; thirty years of stupendous achievement, of marvelous devel- opment, of a reunited land have said to you that it was not too much. 'Too much!' Why, sir, when you have traveled over the battle-fields of the south, when you have counted the bleaching bones, when you have numbered the tears of those who wept for those who fell, when you have counted the agony of those who in fevered dreams, in Andersonville and in Libby, saw the faces of loved ones at home; when you have weighed in the balance of an apothe-
511
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
cary's scale, as you would these pensions, and have found the weight and measure and value of human liberty and of freedom, then, sir, you may say it is ' too much;' but not until then."
We must now pass on to a resumption of the biographical career of the subject of this sketch.
The birth of Mr. Hanly occurred in Champaign county, Illinois, April 4, 1863. His parents were poor and lived in a sparsely settled region, among the forests, their nearest neighbors being four miles away. It was not the boy's privilege to attend school when he was young, but he was naturally gifted and studious, and some of the first lessons in patriotism, so manifest a trait in his character, were imbibed in his perusal of the history of the civil war, a book which his father bought for him, and which he, at the age of seven years, knew almost "by heart," as children say. His father became an invalid when he, the lad, was twelve years old; and two years later additional misfortune befel the little family, for the mother became blind. Thus his parents and a sister and a brother became more or less dependent upon the brave lad, who, putting aside the dreams of acquiring an education to fit him for a place among men of affairs, heroically "put his shoulder to the wheel " and took up the unwonted burden. In 1879 he walked the entire distance from his home to Warren county, Indiana, and found employment at sawing wood, at seventy-five cents per day. The following summer he worked upon a farm and the next winter attended school for the first time in his life. He was soon sufficiently advanced in his studies to secure a certificate to teach, and for eight years he diligently spent his time in the summer season upon a farm, while the remainder of the year he taught school. In the meantime his father had died, and he continued to live with his mother.
In 1881 he married Eva Simmers, a daughter of Peter Simmers, of Warren county, and his present home is in Lafayette.
There is something almost marvelous about the career of Mr. Hanly; for, as he had almost unconsciously gained his education, at least sufficient for him to engage successfully in teaching, he also mastered the principles of law, during such hours as he could snatch between the hours of farm labor and of the school-room, and all this, too, by the study of borrowed books. No obstacles daunted this brave, determined soul, and when admitted to the bar, in 1889, he at once took a place in the front rank as an advocate. Thus, self-educated and self-made, invincible in character, a man of unblem- ished reputation and strong Christian tendencies, he is a model for the young man who is just starting out in life, - almost discouraged, perhaps, by the obstacles which confront him on every hand. The old, old allegory of the oak growing strong in withstanding storms comes to one's mind in
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.