USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 10
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 10
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 10
USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 10
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 10
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 10
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 10
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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
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Frank, Isaac, Lydia, Elijah, Susan and Emeline; Rachel, who became the wife of Andrew Hampton when she was in her fifteenth year; Elizabeth (Betsy), wife of Jesse Williams, of this state, and mother of Phoebe, Melinda, Cassandra, Elizabeth and William; Mary, wife of William Rich, of Richmond, and mother of Susanna, Rachel, Samuel and Judith Ann. To the second marriage of Samuel Crampton three children were born, namely: Jacob, who married Miss Gobel; Andrew, who lived in Iowa, was married and had one son; and Ann, wife of John Bulla and mother of Helena and other chil- dren. She was an authoress, and among other popular novels which emanated from her pen a favorite one was entitled, "Addie, or the White Slave."
Merrick Crampton Weeks was born August 23, 1831, on his father's farm near Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana. He remained at home until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he bought forty acres of land in Franklin township, Wayne county. Later, he became part owner in a saw- mill at Arbe, same county, and after two years' connection with that enter- prise he opened a grocery at Richmond. His place of business was on Fort Wayne avenue, and at times he carried a stock of five thousand dollars' valuation. Selling out in 1876, he entered the employ of Nordyke, Marmon & Company, manufacturers of mill machinery, and continued with them for one year, after which he went to Indianapolis and was engaged in the gro- cery and flour business for a period. In July, 1895, he came to Winamac and aided them in the construction of their mill. He is a member of the orthodox Society of Friends, is a stanch Republican, and fraternally is a member of Whitewater Lodge, No. 41, I. O. O. F., of Richmond.
He married Hannah Eliza Thorn, daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Dudley) Thorn, December 23, 1859. She was born March 5, 1838, on a farm situated on Green's Fork, Wayne county. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Weeks was blessed with the following-named children: Minnie Eliza- beth, born October 11, 1860; Charles L .; Cora May, born May 30, 1865; Frank Leslie, born May 8, 1867, and now chief clerk in the Indianapolis office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Walter Benjamin, born May 30, 1873, and now interested in the Winamac mill as a member of the firm of Weeks Brothers; and Lulu Cassandra, born July 5, 1875. Cora M., the eldest daughter, was married on the 8th of October, 1891, to A. R. Roberts, and their little girl, Frances Elizabeth, was born March 5, 1893, and Charles Lacy was born April 11, 1899.
The birth of Charles L. Weeks took place September 21, 1862, in Wayne county. His education was obtained in the district schools and high school in the vicinity of his home. At the age of seventeen years he commenced the battle of life in the Richmond City Mill Works, and from 1879 to 1885
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he was traveling salesman for the same firm, his territory being in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Then for six months he represented E. P. Allis & Com- pany, of Milwaukee, and, following that, was agent for Nordyke, Marmon & Company, of Indianapolis, until 1892. In company with Charles E. Nor- dyke, son of the senior member of the last mentioned firm, he then erected a mill at Montezuma, Indiana, with a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels a day. He owned a quarter interest in this enterprise, and at the beginning of the year 1895 he sold out to the other partners. Coming then to Wina- mac he started to erect a mill, in April, in partnership with his brother, W. B., and is yet connected with this enterprise, which is proving a profitable one. The mill has a capacity of seventy-five barrels of flour a day, and in the summer of 1899 the brothers erected an elevator with a capacity of fifteen thousand bushels of grain. Mr. Weeks is a practical millwright and his long experience in constructing mills and placing the machinery in order for work, which was a part of his duty when he was traveling for the firms above men- tioned, has served him in good stead. He is likewise an excellent financier, and conducts all of his business affairs with method, foresight and sound common sense.
On the 6th of June, 1888, Mr. Weeks married Miss Mary Frances Tin- ney, daughter of Andrew Jackson and Mary Ellen (Wilkins) Tinney. She was born in Richmond, Indiana, June 12, 1868. Four children have been born to our subject and wife, namely: Merle Catherine, April 6, 1889; Mil- lard, April 15, 1892; Paul, April 16, 1893, died in infancy; and Donald, born September 24. 1895.
Following in the political footsteps of his forefathers, Mr. Weeks is loyal to the Republican party. Socially he is identified with the Knights of Pyth- ias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Masonic order, belonging to lodges in Winamac, and, with his wife, he is connected with the Eastern Star.
FOSTER REXSTREW.
This prominent resident of Ora, Starke county, Indiana, was born De- cember 11, 1835, near Lamberton, in Clinton county, Ohio. His parents were Joshua and Delilah (Starling) Rexstrew, and his grandparents were Joseph and Mary (Foster) Rexstrew. Joseph Rexstrew was a native of Massachusetts and a godly man, having been brought up in the Quaker faith, was of English parentage, and was a cobbler and worked at that business in Ohio to the time of his death, which occurred in 1848, when he was in his seventy-fifth year. His children were Lydia, Charles, Samuel, Jeremiah, Job and Joshua. These grandparents made a home for our subject from the time of his mother's death until their own.
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Joshua Rexstrew also was a native of Massachusetts and went to Clin- ton county, Ohio, when a young man and engaged in farming there until 1841, when he moved to Auglaize county, Ohio, where he died about 1852, in the prime of life. He was a renter, never owning land of his own. He had been reared in the Quaker religion, while his politics were Democratic. He married Delilah Starling, a native of Ireland, who died in 1841, when about thirty years of age. She had four children, viz .: Foster, our subject; Emily, born in 1837 and married to Lawrence Helm. Their children are Annie, Charles, Alonzo, Frank, Theodore, Lily, Jane, Letitia and Nina; Elwood, born in 1839, married Mary Elizabeth Woolary, of Tama county, Iowa, and has three children, -Gibson, Alice and Jane; and Harriet, born in 1841, married John Copeland, lives near Winamac and has seven children, -Emily, Elwood, Harvey, Amanda, Charles, Albert and Edward. The father then married Nancy Berry, by whom he had twins, now dead. His third wife was Elizabeth Walten. Three daughters were born to them but died young. G. F. Starling, the maternal grandfather of our subject, lived in Ireland, never leaving his native soil. His wife had but one arm, the left arm was off at the elbow at her birth. He had three children, -Delilah, the mother of our subject, and two sons.
Foster Rexstrew was a child of six years when he lost his mother, and her place was largely taken by his grandparents, with whom he lived until their death, when he was twelve years old. He then went to the home of Samuel Searles, with whom he lived until two years after he was married. He worked by the month until 1864, and then left with a company for Cali- fornia. A stop of one year was made at Boise City, Idaho, when the troupe pushed on to the coast, arriving at Red Bluff. Here Mr. Rexstrew engaged in farming, but preferred the eastern soil for that purpose and returned to Ohio in 1869. He purchased a farm of sixty acres, which he cultivated until 1876, when he bought eighty acres in this state, where he built and lived until he came to his present location. He is the owner of five very desirable lots in the village of Ora.
April 12, 1855, Mr. Rexstrew was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Marie Woolery, a lady born in La Grange county, Indiana, January 15, 1837. She was a daughter of John and Eliza Jane (Per Voe) Woolery and a grand- daughter of Henry Woolery, and also of Jasper Per Voe. Her father was a native of the state of Pennsylvania, while her mother was from Xenia, Ohio. Eleven children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rexstrew, among them two pairs of twins. The oldest, Allie Viola, was born April 14, 1856, and died the next February; John Wesley was born April 17, 1857, and mar- ried Miss Ida Bennett, by whom he has two children,-Pearl and Sarah; Mary Catherine married (first) Jonas Speice, and had one child, -Pearl Edith;
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
she married (secondly) William Haines and has two children, -Marie Viola and Ethel May; Henry Elwood was born January 31, 1862, and married Miss Etta Johnson; their children are Lavantia Marie, Stanley Elwood and Henry Arthur; Rachel Jane was born February 17, 1863, and was married April 2, 1883, to George William Engle; their children are Henry Oliver, born March 14, 1884; Amy Orilla, born June 18, 1885; John Wesley, born November 14, 1886; Mary Ann, born September 13, 1887, and James Monroe, born March 23, 1890; the next were twins, Hiram Jefferson and William Edward, born June 24, 1870; they died in infancy, as did Charles Edward and Har- riet Belle, born November 17, 1873; the former died March 5, 1874, and the latter at the age of eleven months; James Loyd was born February 28, 1874, and married Pearl Sullivan, and they reside in Jefferson township and have two children,-Allie Viola and Nancy Jane; Emma Luella was born May 22, 1879, and is the youngest of this interesting family.
Mr. Rexstrew is a Republican and for seven years has made a most effi- cient justice of the peace. He also served as supervisor for four years. He was always imbued with patriotism and tried several times to enlist in the army. He is a man of sterling worth, all of whose acquaintances are his friends.
ISAAC LEVI WASHBURN.
Pulaski county has been fortunate in the class of citizens who have made their permanent homes here, and among the sterling pioneer families none played a more important part than did the Washburns. As far as their history can be traced they are noted for many of the best qualities of the human race, patriotism being in the foreground. Whenever their personal in- terests have been placed by the side of the country's welfare, all save the public good has been cast to the winds, and they have proved themselves heroes and patriots, indeed. The family is of German extraction, but many genera- tions have come and gone since it was founded in America. George Wash- burn, the great-grandfather of our subject, joined the colonial army under the leadership of Washington, and served from the beginning to the end of that great struggle for supemacy. Later he was one of the comrades of the renowned Daniel Boone, in the wilds of Kentucky. In that state his son Isaac, grandfather of our subject, was born. He married Rachel Laycock, a native of Virginia and also of German descent, and to them eleven children were born. He was a soldier in the second war of the United States with Great Britain, the war of 1812, and subsequently he became one of the first settlers in Brown county, Ohio, where he owned one hundred and seventeen acres of land and continued to dwell thereon until his death in 1828. He was a member of the Baptist church, with which denomination many of his
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descendants have been connected since. After his death his widow married again and removed to Pulaski county, where she lived to be nearly one hun- dred years old.
Moses L. Washburn, the father of our subject, was born in Brown county, Ohio, April 2, 1815, and in 1833 removed to Cass county, Indiana, with his mother and stepfather. After working for wages for some years, he had accumulated sufficient capital to buy a quarter-section of land in Cass county. On the 27th of June, 1838, he arrived in Indian Creek township, Pulaski county, and in the following December he bought a quarter section of land situated in that township. On this property he continued to make his home until his death, with the exception of thirteen years, between 1851 and 1864, when he lived in Cass county. He was honored with numerous local offices of trust and responsibility, was one of the county commissioners for three years, was township trustee for six years, and served as a justice of the peace. He voted the Democratic ticket and took an intelligent interest in public affairs. The Baptist church found in him an earnest worker and con- sistent member, and lofty principles dominated his daily life. His first wife, Susanna Brown, a native of Preble county, Ohio, was united in marriage to him, March 23, 1837. She died September 5, 1859, and on the 11th of September, 1860, Mr. Washburn married Marilla A. McGovney, a native of West Union, Ohio. Three children were born to the first union and four sons and three daughters to the second.
The birth of Isaac L. Washburn occurred April 17, 1842, on his father's old homestead in this county. He remained there until he attained his majority, and upon making his first independent venture in life he leased some land for a year. He next cultivated a farm near Royal Center, owned by his father. In 1862, his father bought the homestead known as the Will- iam Washburn place, on section 14, in Indian Creek township, and Isaac L. managed that farm for five years. Later he became the owner of an eighty- acre farm on section 4, Van Buren township, formerly the property of New- ton Reynolds; about 1869 he bought on section 5, and part of the same tract of one hundred and twenty acres on section 4. During the thirteen years of his residence there he placed the entire land under cultivation, and made valuable improvements. For a short time he next lived in Star City, after which he carried on David Barnett's farm west of that town for one year. Returning to Star City, he rented a hotel and managed it successfully for two years. The ensuing eight years he rented one hundred and sixty- seven acres of Isaac W. Talbott, of Peru, Indiana, and bought the place in 1890. Four years later he built a house, and in 1896 a substantial barn was added to the other farm buildings. About sixty-two acres of the farm is located on section 4, Van Buren township, nearly sixty-five acres is on sec-
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tion 5, and forty acres is on section 22, and in addition to this property, Mr. Washburn owns forty acres on section 27, Indian Creek township. He is an enterprising, progressive farmer, has been the architect of his own for- tunes, and is entitled to great credit for the upright, just manner in which he has met all of his obligations as a citizen, neighbor and friend.
A marriage ceremony performed February 2, 1863, united the fortunes of Mr. Washburn and Mary Elizabeth McCombs. She is a daughter of John and Alice (Garrett) McCombs, and was born on the parental homestead near Royal Center, Cass county, Indiana, November 13, 1844. Susanna, eldest child of our subject and wife, was born August 16, 1863, became the wife of Charles Badger and died in 1891; Rachel Ann, born February 2, 1865, mar- ried Alonzo Stalnaker, a civil engineer, died April 10, 1883, and was brought to Star City for burial; John Elliott, born January 27, 1867, married Ida Simms, and has five children, namely: Moses Lloyd, Hugh, Vern, Glenn and Rettie M. M .: the family are residents of Denver, Indiana. Martha Alice, born on Christmas day, 1866, married James Blew and has two children, - Mary and Donald: they live in Star City, where she has been a successful teacher in the public schools; Frances, born March 23, 1876, is the wife of Leonard Felker, an attorney at law of Warsaw, this state.
Socially, Mr. Washburn is a respected member of the Star City Lodge of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all of the chairs, and, with his wife, he is also identified with the Daughters of Rebekah. They are members of the Christian church of .Star City, he being a deacon and trustee. Politically he is a Democrat, and has served the people of his township as an assessor and as a justice of the peace.
LAWSON H. RECHER, M. D.
Lawson Henry Recher, M. D., of Morocco, Newton county, is a lead- ing member of the medical profession, president of the Citizens' Bank of Morocco, an enterprising business man and a substantial factor in the devel- opment of the material interests of his community. He is of German an- cestry, but his first American forefathers settled in this country in colonial times. His paternal grandfather was a native of Maryland, and in the early years of the present century emigrated to Ohio, settling near Dayton. He was independent financially, as he brought eight thousand dollars with him, and he was soon recognized as a leading factor in the development of his part of the state, building mills and distilleries, and carrying on a freighting business with teams and wagons between Cincinnati and Dayton. In every business line he was successful. He lived to the age of three-score years and ten. He had eight sons and two daughters. One daughter died unmar-
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ried and the other became the wife of Rev. David Winters, D. D., who was a noted divine. He performed more marriage ceremonies than any other clergyman in the state. Of the eight sons, Peter was a farmer, near Day- ton; Elias, a farmer and capitalist; Joseph, a farmer; Fred, Jacob and John died in early life; and Lewis, the youngest, was the father of our subject. He was born in Montgomery county, in 1816, and was about ten years of age when his father died. He was reared a farmer, and in 1839 married Nancy Whitmer. He tilled the soil in Ohio until 1866, when he emigrated to Indi- ana, settling upon a tract of land near Francesville, where he pursued farm- ing and stockraising. His death occurred in 1889. He was a kind-hearted, liberal man, never had a lawsuit in his life, and always observed the golden rule. He brought up his children in the principles of industry, economy and probity, accumulated a competency, and set a good example of citizenship. His widow is living in Morocco. They had six children, namely: Martha J., born near Dayton, Ohio, in 1845, married David Ridenour, an iron-worker, and resides at Galva, Illinois; James D., unmarried, is engaged in the lum- ber trade in Texas; Lewis S. is the partner of our subject; Lawson H. is the subject proper of this sketch; and two died in early life. The parents were members of the German Reformed church.
Lawson H. Recher was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, near Dayton, September 19, 1856, came with the family to Indiana in 1866, and here assisted on the home farm and attended school at Francesville. Early in life he learned the value of time and was not afraid to work. At the early age of seventeen he began teaching public school, and continued in that profes- sion three terms in the graded schools of Francesville; and while teaching he also studied medicine under the professional guidance of Drs. Robert Mat- tingly and D. J. Loring; then, entering the medical department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, he completed the prescribed course there, and was grad- uated with the degree of M. D. in 1879, being a member of the first class to. take the extended course of that thorough institution of learning. To begin the practice of his chosen profession, he first located at Medaryville, this state. In 1882 he came to Morocco, where he soon had a large and lucra- tive practice. Being, however, also an able business man, as well as physi- cian, he saw, in his extensive rides over the country, a great opportunity of improving the vast acreage of wet land existing within the bounds of his- travel. After much thought devoted to the problem of the best manner of draining and reducing to cultivation this extended waste, he decided upon the tile system; and, accordingly, in 1886, he associated himself with A. D. Peck and built the first tile manufactory in the vicinity of Morocco. This institu- tion, however, was soon afterward destroyed by fire; but the proprietors rebuilt, and successfully conducted their business for two years, when they
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sold out. When the railroad was completed to Mount Ayr, Dr. Recher united in partnership with Samuel Wilson and established a drug business at that place, to be under the immediate personal supervision of Mr. Wilson, and this continued for three years. In 1890 the Doctor associated himself in business partnership with Ralph S. Paxton, under the firm name of Recher, Paxton & Company, and organized the Citizens' Bank of Morocco, which they managed, meanwhile continuing to carry on the drug business. A year later Lewis S. Recher purchased the interest of Mr. Paxton, and the firm style became Recher Brothers, bankers and druggists, Lewis S. being cashier of the bank.
But Dr. Recher has not confined all his time and attention to his private affairs, but has also been a public servant, and as such no man has ever been more faithful to his trust. When the town of Morocco was incorporated the Doctor was chosen its first treasurer. Subsequently he served five years as trustee of Beaver township, being elected as a Democrat in a strong Re- publican township. During his term of office in this relation the first two miles of gravel road was built, new roads laid out, drainage ditches con- structed and many other improvements made or inaugurated, -all to the en- tire satisfaction of the tax-payers, as all the work was done economically and honestly. The Doctor at present is a member of the school board. In his social relations he is past master of Morocco Lodge, No. 372, F. & A. M., and in religious matters he is one of the original members of the Christian church at this place.
Dr. Recher has been married twice. First, December 29, 1882, he was united with Lizzie Conner, who died in 1887, leaving no children. In 1890 the Doctor was united in matrimony with Laura Pratt, M. D., a daughter of Dr. Benjamin W. and Jane M. (Bean) Pratt. She was born at Johnstown, Ohio, August 21, 1856, and was educated at Johnstown high school, and at- tended Columbus Medical College, from which institution she was duly gradu- ated with the degree of M. D. After graduating at the Columbus Medical College she took a special course of study in New York city. She practiced her profession in Goodland, Indiana, till her marriage to Dr. Recher. This happy couple have one daughter, Freida, born July 18, 1892. The family have one of the best homes in Newton county.
WILLIAM LEROY BOTT.
There should be something of inspiration to every young man starting out to fight the battles of life, in the history of William L. Bott, of Star City. Few men have had more difficulties to contend with in early years, and very few have possessed more pluck and perseverance.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
The paternal ancestors of the above were Irish Protestants, and for sev- eral generations lived in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Emanuel Bott, father of our subject, was born in the Keystone state, and removed to Franklin county, Ohio, in his young manhood. He then settled in Cass county, Indiana, where he found plenty of employment as a carpenter and builder, and in 1869 he went to Logansport. There he became the foreman of Ste- vens Brothers' extensive business, as contractors and builders, and was thus employed at the time of his death, in 1871. He was then in his prime, be- ing but forty-five years of age, and though he was but five feet and a half tall and weighed one hundred and fifty pounds, he was robust and of good constitution. He was a worthy member of the German Reformed church, and in political faith was a Democrat. He married Lydia Schrock, who pre- ceded him to the silent land some four months. She was a native of Frank- lin county, Ohio, and was about forty years of age at the time of her death. Their two eldest children died in infancy. Alice married Jacob Dietz, of Franklin county, Ohio, and their children are Edgar and William. Charles, now living in Cass county, married Minnie Ross and has three children, - Burland, Myrle and a little girl. Frank, next to the youngest child of Emanuel Bott, married Maud Ross and resides in Logansport; and Minnie is married and living in Warsaw, Indiana, and has two children.
William L. Bott was born March 21, 1866, in Boone township, Cass county, Indiana. He was left an orphan at a very tender age and fell into bad hands. The poor child would have died from ill usage and neglect, probably, had not a kind old German woman, a Mrs. Swering, nursed him back to health and strength; but for almost a year he was sickly. He then lived with his maternal uncle for a short time, and was a member of Scott Oliver's household for two years. Then he returned to his uncle, and a few months later found a good home with Daniel Martz, one of the pioneers and respected citizens of Van Buren township. The lad was only eight years of age at this time, though he had passed through some experiences which left a lasting impression upon his character. Mr. Martz, the worthy man, treated him like a son, sent him to school and followed out the teachings of the golden rule in regard to him. Being an apt pupil, the boy made rapid prog- ress in his studies, and later was enabled to pursue a course in the Wina- mac school and the American Normal College. As soon as he felt himself qualified he began teaching, and was first located in charge of the Roundtop (now Pepper) school, on section 35, Indian Creek township, and the follow- ing year taught the Skillen school on section 19, same township. During the summer seasons he worked on farms. and in 1888 he secured a position in the general store of Whitmer & Pepper.
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