USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 8
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 8
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 8
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 8
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 8
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 8
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume I > Part 8
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Judge J. M. Rabb was born in Fountain county, Indiana, February 14, 1846, and received a common-school education in Perryville. After teach-
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ing for one term he commenced the study of law in the office of Joseph H. Brown, of Williamsport, and at the end of two years went into partnership with him. This business relationship continued up to the death of Mr. Brown, in 1873, subsequent to which Mr. Rabb was associated with Alvin High, and later with Charles B. McAdams, of this place. In 1882 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the bench of the twenty-first judicial circuit, which includes Fountain and Warren counties, and was re-elected in 1888, and again in 1894.
When but sixteen years of age, Judge Rabb enlisted under the stars and stripes, and served valiantly in many a hard-fought battle, winning the com- mendation of his superior officers on numerous occasions. It was in July, 1862, that he was enrolled as a private of Company K, Seventy-first Indiana Regiment, which later became the Sixth Indiana Cavalry. He went through severe campaigns in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, and was actively engaged at Richmond, where his regiment lost heavily, about two hundred being killed and wounded, and the remainder being taken prisoners. Among those captured was our young hero, who was soon paroled and exchanged. He then joined General Burnside in eastern Tennessee, and aided in the siege of Knoxville, after which he went with Sherman in the Atlanta cam- paign, and was with Thomas at the battle of Nashville. In June, 1865, Mr. Rabb received an honorable discharge and returned home, and for years he has been identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, as a member of Bryant Post, No. 53.
June 11, 1872, the Judge married Miss Lottie Morris, who died in May, 1882, leaving three children: Clara, now Mrs. Guy C. Winks; George M., who inherited his father's patriotism and volunteered in the Spanish-Amer- ican war, becoming a member of the First Illinois Infantry, which saw serv- ice in the trenches at Santiago, Cuba; and Fred C., who is at home. Novem- ber II, 1884, Judge Rabb married Ida Elwell, and they have one child, Mary Louise.
REV. CHARLES IRVIN TRUBY.
This gentleman, the pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Fowler, Indiana, is one whom all delight to honor. He possesses that cordial and genial manner which renders him a companion to every one, regardless of church fellowship. In his associations with the young and thoughtless, his conversation, though always chaste and dignified, is along lines best cal- culated to interest and instruct, and this is one secret of his popularity among those outside of the jurisdiction of the church. But Mr. Truby's popularity is equally prominent in his official duties. He is what preach-
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ers call " a good housekeeper." The details of church affairs are ever upper- most in his mind.
Since assuming the duties of pastor in Fowler, his power and influence have wrought a wonderful change. The membership of his church has been nearly doubled, and the spiritual feeling of the older members greatly enlivened. Meeting on his coming a membership of sixty-eight, three short years' labors have brought this figure up to one hundred and thirty-five. But this is not all,-three years ago the congregation was worshiping in an old frame church, which burned down December, 1895. On the ruins of this has been built a most magnificent structure, outrivaling any other ortho- dox church in the city. It is constructed with due regard to the comfort and convenience of all the varied church interests,-not forgetting the acoustic properties for the benefit of the speaker. This edifice cost twelve thousand dollars, and is practically free from debt. It is a modern styled structure, so arranged with sliding panels that two or more meetings may be conducted at the same time without interruption. The basement is fitted up for the social meetings of the church, and is provided with necessary culinary articles for socials, being divided into reception room, parlor, kitchen and dining room, with all necessary furnishings. The ceiling of the auditorium terminates in a beautifully finished dome, having three rows of electric lamps, which give a mellow yet sufficient light for evening services. The choir is composed of volunteers, yet includes much musical talent, which is a great attraction to the church services.
Mr. Truby is an earnest preacher. His manner at once conveys the impression of sincerity. His themes are selected with due regard to their logical connection one with the other. They are also selected from live sub- jects upon which the intelligent auditor desires information. He is a strong and logical reasoner, entirely free from oratorical effect, yet sincere and at times eloquent and impassioned. He is not tedious in his discourses, yet is so well prepared that he says more to the point in twenty minutes than many another minister would say in an hour. His high educational attainments render it possible for him to grasp a subject in its entirety and give his hearers the pure wheat, unmixed with oratorical chaff.
The subject of this review is a native of the Keystone state, born at Millerstown, November 6, 1870. His parents are Simeon and Bella M. (Wilson) Truby. The former descended from German ancestors. The father died in 1883 and the mother is a resident of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, her parents having been Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. In early youth Mr. Truby chose his life profession, and joined the church at the age of fifteen years. From childhood, he has been a student, receiving his elementary education in the public schools of Duncannon, Pennsylvania, where he
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graduated from the high school. He was graduated from the Bloomfield Academy in 1888, and immediately entered Princeton College, at Princeton, New Jersey. From this popular institution he was graduated eighth in a class of one hundred and seventy, in 1892, taking the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, from which he received his diploma in 1895, and came directly to Fowler as pastor of the First Presbyterian church.
Notwithstanding this close application to study for a period covering almost his entire life, Mr. Truby is to all appearances in robust physical health. He takes a lively interest in the innocent sports of young men, particularly the "national game." Fraternally, he is a Mason.
Such, in brief, is the outline of a life which promises great usefulness to mankind and to the church of his choice. Though barely passed the threshold of young manhood, he has already achieved a degree of success worthy of all praise. The possibilities of his future career for the salvation of men, through Divine help and guidance, are indeed very flattering. Ripe scholarship, indomitable energy, conscientious earnestness in his work, a vigorous constitution, a pure Christian character and love of his fellow man, all contribute to the achievement of grand results in his Master's vineyard.
ELI HOLLADAY.
This gentleman is the oldest resident of Tippecanoe county born within its borders, and is therefore deservingly classed among the honored pioneers who have witnessed the entire growth and development of this locality and aided in its advancement and progress. The Holladay family is of Irish des- cent and was founded in America by the great-great-grandfather of our subject, who located in Rockingham county, North Carolina, and was killed in one of the early Indian wars of the country. His son John was born in America and became the father of another John Holladay, the grandfather of our sub- ject, who was born in Rockingham county, North Carolina, and served in the Revolutionary war in the interests of liberty and independence. He made farming his life work, and in 1804 removed to Ross county, Ohio, locating twelve miles north of Chillicothe. He afterward removed to Fayette county, Ohio, where he cleared up a farm, but subsequently returned to Ross county, where he died at an advanced age. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. His children were William, Samuel, John, Jennie, Annie, Martha and Rachel.
John Holladay, the father of our subject, was born in Rockingham county, North Carolina, December 10, 1798, and went with his father to Ross county, Ohio, when six years of age. There he was reared upon a
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farm, and on entering upon his business career, he, too, became an agricul- turist. In that county he married Rachel James, who was born March 6, 1802, a daughter of Evan and Lydia James. Her father was born in Penn- sylvania, of sterling Scotch-Irish ancestry, and in early pioneer times re- moved to Ross county, Ohio, where he and his wife spent their remaining days. Their children were Kins, Davis, Lydia, Rebecca, Polly and Betsy. After his marriage John Holladay located on a farm in Ohio, whence he re- moved to Indiana, locating in what was then Fairfield, but is now Wea, township, Tippecanoe county, October 5, 1825. He first leased a tract of land of a Mr. Hoover, and there made his home for a year. In the spring of 1827 he located on the Wea prairie, where our subject now resides. This land had been entered by his brother, Samuel Holladay, who came to the county in 1824 and pre-empted the farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, the original deed to which is signed by Andrew Jackson, then presi- dent of the United States. John Holladay settled on eighty acres of that tract and began the work of transforming the wild prairies into richly culti- vated fields. He made a good pioneer home, prospered in his undertakings and finally became the owner of a quarter section of land where our sub-
ject now resides. He also made judicious investments elsewhere, and in addition to his home farm owned an eighty-acre tract two miles northeast, eighty acres three and a half miles southeast, and a farm of one hundred acres in Iowa. When he arrived in Tippecanoe county he had only three dollars and a half, but he possessed great energy, strong determination and sound judgment, and by the exercise of these qualities steadily worked his way upward to success. The homes of the settlers were widely scattered in those early days and the work of civilization seemed scarcely begun, but the efforts of such men as John Holladay worked great changes, and the once unsettled region became the home of a prosperous and contented peo- ple. In politics Mr. Holladay was a Democrat, and was a loyal and progress- ive citizen. He died July 6, 1867, when about seventy years of age, and his wife passed away August 17, 1847. Their children were Hannah; Maria; Eli; Samuel, who died January 2, 1855; Ira, who died December 17, 1854, Jonathan and Lydia.
It is to this family that Eli Holladay belongs. He was born on the farm which is still his home, March 16, 1826, but the little log cabin in which he first saw the light was situated about a mile and a half west of his present residence. The usual educational advantages of that time were afforded him, his studies being pursued in a log building, where school was conducted on the subscription plan. He was early inured to the arduous task of devel- oping new land, and from an early age has been actively identified with the farming interests of Tippecanoe county. On the 6th of February, 1853, in
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Muscatine county, Iowa, he was united in marriage to Sarah Thornton, who was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, June 5, 1825, a daughter of Isaac and Martha (Reynolds) Thornton. Her father was a pioneer of this county, and his brothers, Levi, Err, James, John and Lot, were also among the early settlers here. They all moved to Iowa with the exception of James and located in Muscatine county, where Isaac Thornton spent the remainder of his life. His children were John, Sophia, Vashti, Sarah, Martha, Salinda, Eliza and George W.
For two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Holladay resided in Muscatine county, Iowa, and then removed to Polk county, that state, mak- ing their home near Des Moines where they lived for four years upon a far m of ninety acres which Mr. Holladay owned in Camp township. He then sold his property and returned to Indiana, but went- again to Muscatine county, where he purchased one hundred acres of land, on which he resided for one year. On the expiration of that period he was persuaded by his father, who was alone, to return to the old homestead, where he has since remained, suc- cessfully conducting the farm, which has brought to him an excellent income. His home has been blessed with six children, -Ira, Flora, Eliza, John, Mar- tha and Bessie.
Mrs. Holladay is a member of the Christian church, and gives his polit- ical support to the Democratic party. Numbered among the pioneers of the county, he is both widely and favorably known, and has been actively associated with many of the leading events in the history of the locality. He has a remarkable memory and his mind is well stored with interesting incidents and reminiscences of the early days when Tippecanoe county was on the western frontier. His life has been a straightforward and industrious one, and he is a respected citizen.
JOHN CLOYD.
John Cloyd is to-day one of the oldest pioneers of Tippecanoe county. The time of his residence in the county antedates that of most pioneers, for in 1828 he came to this locality, and has since been identified with the development, progress and advancement of the county. He is descended from Irish ancestry, his grandfather, William Cloyd, having been born on the Emerald Isle, whence he emigrated to America in his early manhood. He located in Tennessee prior to the war of the Revolution, and in that state followed the blacksmith's trade, near Jonesboro, up to the time of his death. He was married in that locality to Miss Jane Barr, a native of Ire- land, who ran away from home in order to becorne his wife. Their children were Joseph, Samuel, William, John, Sarah and Jane. Samuel served his
John Cloud.
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country in the war of 1812. William Cloyd was a very industrious and energetic man, and he became one of the substantial citizens of the com- munity in which he made his home. He was highly respected by all who knew him, and died on his farm near Jonesboro, Tennessee, at an advanced age.
The father of our subject also bore the name of William Cloyd, and was born near Jonesboro, March 22, 1786. Under his father's direction he learned the blacksmith trade, and after attaining his majority he was married in his native county to Miss Esther Neale. In 1814 they removed to Miami county, Ohio, where Mr. Cloyd worked at blacksmithing until he was enabled to purchase a farm of eighty acres. This was covered with timber, but he at once began to clear and improve it, and soon fertile fields yielded him good harvests. In October, 1828, he removed with his family to Tippecanoe county, and on the 16th of that month settled on Wea creek, on the quarter- section of land which forms the eastern part our subject's farm. It was a tract of oak and hickory barrens. With characteristic energy he began its development, and made a good homestead upon which he spent his remaining days, his death occurring between the ages of fifty and sixty years. He was . very industrious and enterprising, and his success was the well merited reward of his own labors. In politics he was a Democrat. His first wife, née Esther Neale, was born in Tennessee, August 9, 1790, and was one of the children of Jesse Neale. Among her brothers and sisters were Nancy and Caleb Neale. She died in Miami county, Ohio, leaving four daughters, all born in Tennessee. Mr. Cloyd was again married, in Miami county, his second union being with Hannah Elmore, daughter of David and Phœbe (Pugh) Elmore. Her father was a pioneer farmer of Miami county, whither he removed from the Carolinas. By the second marriage of William Cloyd three children were born, David, William and Susan.
John Cloyd, whose name begins this sketch, was born in Miami county, Ohio, near Troy, December 8, 1816, and when thirteen years of age came with his father to Tippecanoe county. The journey was made with teams and there was quite a large party of emigrants, eighteen wagons being used to accommodate them. The men were all armed, as the Indians were still numerous in this section of the country. They experienced considerable dif- ficulty in crossing the rivers and swollen streams, but at length reached their destination in safety. In the party were David Elmore with his family, and two of his sons-in-law with their families. They all camped out every night near the roadside and thus traveled for two weeks, when they arrived in Tip- pecanoe county. John Cloyd assisted in driving the cattle and sheep, which they brought with them in considerable numbers. Here he was reared amid the wild scenes of the frontier, where civilization was just en- 5
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croaching upon the wildness of a hitherto unimproved section. Lafayette then contained only two log cabins and two log stores. Mr. Cloyd had lit- tle opportunity to secure an education, attending a subscription school for three weeks, which was the extent of his privileges in that direction. He aided in the laborious task of developing new land, and at the age of twenty- two years was married to Betsy Nicewander, December 16, 1838. Her parents were Joseph and Elizabeth Nicewander. The young couple began their domestic life upon a part of his father's farm, which land he cleared and improved, transforming it into rich fields. Four children came to bless the home, namely, Maria, William, Margaret and Louisa. The mother died in 1851, and in Clinton county, Indiana, February 8, 1854, Mr. Cloyd was again married, his second union being with Jane Bailey, who was born in Ohio, December 10, 1835.
Her parents were Silas and Sarah (Trotter) Bailey. The former was a representative of an old colonial family of Virginia and Maryland, and was a pioneer of Clinton county, Indiana, his home being near Colfax. He died in Cleveland, Ohio, about 1851, when en route for the gold fields of Cali- fornia. His children were Nun, Jane, Thomas, Jehu, Dorothy and Henry. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cloyd were Jesse, who died when about six- teen years of age; Henry, who died in infancy; Ritchie; Ellen; Thomas B .; Esther J .; Martha; and Annie. Again, Mr. Cloyd was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died April 7, 1880, at the age of forty-five years. She was a faithful member of the Christian church, and her well spent life won her the friendship of all with whom she came in contact.
In his political views Mr. Cloyd is a Democrat, but has never sought office, always giving his time and attention to the improvement of his farm and property. Thus has he prospered. He first located on a part of his father's land, but after some years he was enabled to purchase the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead, and to-day he is the owner of four hundred acres in that tract. He has also made other purchases, and his landed possessions aggregated five hundred and sixty acres in Tippecanoe county, in addition to a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Iowa. Some of this he has given to his children, but still retains possession of the old homestead of four hundred acres. He has also engaged quite extensively and successfully in stock-raising, has paid high prices to secure the best grades of stock, and for several years has taken premiums at the county fairs for the best stock on exhibition there. Notwithstanding he has paid out forty thousand dollars in security debts for others, he is now numbered among the prosperous farmers of the county. He is truly a self-made man, his success being the merited reward of his well directed labors, his enter- prise and his capable management. His honesty is proverbial and he has
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the confidence of all with whom he has had dealings. He well deserves mention among the honored pioneers of the county, which has been his home for more than seventy years, and which owes not a little of its improvement in agricultural districts to his efforts.
SAMUEL BRAND.
Study of the history of Tippecanoe county will soon disclose the fact that the Brand family has been one of the most prominent from the time of the earliest settlement here to the present. Its representatives have been especially active in promoting the agricultural interests, and at all times have been numbered among that class of loyal citizens who promote the public good while advancing individual prosperity, and who labor earnestly and consecutively for the improvement and betterment of the community with which they are associated. Such a man was Samuel Brand, the subject of this review, and at his death the county lost one of its best residents. He was born on the old family homestead in Sheffield township, February 22, 1837, and is a son of Samuel Brand, an honored pioneer of the locality, who was born in Maryland, December 13, 1802. His father, who also bore the name of Samuel Brand, removed from Maryland to Pennsylvania and thence to Ohio, locating among the pioneers of Butler county, that state. There he carried on farming, and also operated a distillery near Hamilton, Ohio. He spent his remaining days in Butler county, and reached an advanced age. Both he and his wife were members of the United Brethren church, and to them were born nine children, namely, Samuel, Michael, Elizabeth, Barbara, George, Susan, John, Mary and Rebecca.
Samuel Brand, the father of our subject, was a boy when he accom- panied his parents to Ohio. There he acquired a limited education, and on attaining his majority married Lydia Vance, the wedding taking place December 19, 1826. The record in the old family Bible says that she was born November 11, 1805, and that their children are Elizabeth, born May 19, 1828; Washington, born February 22, 1830; Mary Ann, born October 27, 1831; Michael, born December 29, 1833; Samuel, born February 20, 1837; Eli, born September 11, 1839; John, born April 16, 1841; and Lydia, born January 7, 1844. The mother of these children died November 27, 1859, and Mr. Brand was afterward married, on the 6th of April, 1865, to Mary Burkhalter. They had no children who reached years of maturity. Mrs. Brand died April 11, 1869, and Samuel Brand, Sr., departed this life September 21, 1872. Upon his first marriage he located on a farm in Butler county, Ohio, whence he removed to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, about 1835, and made a home in Sheffield township.
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It was upon the old farmstead that the birth of our subject occurred. He was afforded the usual common-school advantages, but being a good student he became a well informed man, adding largely to his knowledge through reading, experience and observation. The occupation to which he was reared he made his life work, and was accounted one of the enterpris- ing and prosperous farmers of his neighborhood.
When about twenty-three years of age he was married in Sheffield township, Tippecanoe county, to Sarah A. Peter, who was born July 4, 1838, in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John and Mary (Kern) Peter. Her grandfather also bore the name of John Peter and was a brother of William Peter, an honored pioneer of Clinton county, Indiana. John Peter, Sr., carried on agricultural pursuits in Lehigh county, Penn- sylvania, and was a substantial citizen. He was a member of the German Reformed church and enjoyed the high regard of all who knew him. His children were Jacob, John, Elizabeth, Leah, Sallie and Lydia. Mr. Peter, the father of Mrs. Brand, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and also made farming his life work. He married Mary A. B. Kern, a daughter of Nicholas Kern, whose family were relatives of the family of William Peter. Nicholas Kern resided near Slatington, Lehigh county, where he owned a large farm and was also financially interested in a slate mine. He acquired a handsome competence and died on his farm at the age of eighty years. In the Lutheran church he held his ecclesiastical member- ship. His children were Henry, Jacob, Stephen, Eli, Polly and John. After his marriage John Peter located on his father's farm, where five of his children were born. In the fall of 1840 he came to Indiana, making the journey with team and wagons, accompanied by Jonathan Peter, a second cousin of Mrs. Brand, and Henry Kern, a brother of Mrs. John Peter. John Peter located in Sheffield township, Tippecanoe county, on eighty acres of timber land, of which only a few acres had been cleared. He cut down the remainder of the trees, transformed the land into fertile fields and made an excellent pioneer home, at the same time adding to his property until his farm comprised one hundred and twenty acres. He was an elder in the German Reformed church, and his wife was a mem- ber of the Lutheran church. In politics he was a Republican. His death occurred in 1859, when he had attained the age of fifty-three years. His chief characteristics were such as commended him to the confidence and respect of all. He was industrious and enterprising, temperate and moral, loyal to his duties of citizenship and devoted to the best interests of his family, rearing his children so that they became an honor and credit to his name.
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