USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 14
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 14
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 14
USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 14
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 14
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 14
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 14
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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.
tie, Grover and Mabel. William Ozias, Jr., born August 10, 1867, died on the second of the following November.
On the 16th of November, 1871, William Ozias Taylor and Jane Riley, daughter of Fenton and Lucretia (McPherson) Riley, were united in wedlock. She was born February 10, 1843, in Randolph county, Indiana, and her twin sister, Sarah Ann, died March 23, 1879. Her eldest sister, Harriet, was born February 18, 1832; the eldest brother, Joseph McPherson, October 2, 1833; Nancy, born October 27, 1835, died August 4, 1865; George Wash- ington, born November 5, 1837; James Hamilton, born May 30, 1841; John J., born January 5, 1846; Mary Elizabeth, born May 14. 1848, died March 10, 1893; Nathan, born September 23, 1850, died March 6, 1880; Abigail Ellen, born September 9, 1852; and William P., born May 10, 1856. The father of these children was born in Warren county, Virginia, June 25, 1809, was taken to Ohio when six months old and moved to Wayne county, Indi- ana, at the age of twelve. In 1849 he went to Delaware county, Indiana, whence he moved to Marshall county, this state, in 1864, and in 1866 came to Pulaski county, where he lived until his death, March 10, 1872, his home being on section 2, Franklin township, where he owned forty-seven acres. He was a son of Nathan Riley and grandson of Abram Riley, both natives of Virginia. The former married Nancy Ballinger, a native of Ohio, and their children were William, Eliza, Fenton, Margaret, Sarah, Joshua, Elizabeth and Nancy (twins), Mary, James, Nathan and Miranda. Nathan Riley, Sr., died in Wayne county, in 1841. Mrs. Fenton Riley, who was born in War- ren county, Ohio, May 30, 1815, moved to Wayne county in 1816, and was married there January 21, 1831. Her father, George Washington McPher- son, was born in North Carolina and removed to Ohio in 1814. He died in 1871, aged eighty-four years, and his wife, Charity (Locke) McPherson, who died the same year, was about his age and a native of the same state. They were the parents of eight children: Joseph and Lucretia (twins), Abigail, John, Ruth, Elizabeth, Armenia and William. Joseph, father of G. W. Mc- Pherson, married Lucretia Hicks, by whom he had the following named chil- dren: Stephen, Hannah, Jehu, Joseph, John, William, George W., Abigail, Lydia, Anna, Ruth, Jane and Mary. Charity (Locke) McPherson was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Locke.
The marriage of William Ozias and Jane Taylor was blessed with a daughter, Nettie Catherine, born August 26, 1872. She became the wife of Harry Herbert Hall, a son of John and Sarah Adeline (Dunham) Hall, born September 27, 1870. The young couple have five interesting little ones, namely: Mabel, born March 21, 1892; Chester, August 15, 1893; Ethel, March 24, 1895; Carl, February 22, 1897; and Dewey, October 20, 1898.
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Mrs. Jane Taylor is still living on the old homestead which has been her place of abode for over twenty-eight years. She possesses a wonderful memory for facts and dates, and had she enjoyed the advantages which are afforded to the children of this generation, beyond doubt, would have won a name and fame for scholarship and achievement in some field of learning. Her mental qualities are no less marked than her kindness and goodness of heart, as her friends know well. She has been a professing Christian and is now a member of the Methodist church. Until recently her constant com- panion was Sarah Josephine, daughter of William Burroughs. She was born March 16, 1879, and when but nine days old she was taken into the heart and home of Mrs. Taylor, who gave a mother's kindness to the child. Now, grown to womanhood, she was married, on the 26th of February, 1899, to Markel M. Stevenson, and has gone to dwell in Starke county. Mrs. Taylor also brought up Lewis Eldon Parker, a grandchild of Mr. Taylor's and mentioned above, from his third year until manhood.
LEVI HOMER TAYLOR
One of the prominent agriculturists of Pulaski county is he of whom this sketch is penned, a worthy representative of the Taylor family, which was founded in this section of Indiana almost three-score years ago, ever since being closely identified with the development and increasing prosperity of this region.
William Ozias Taylor, the honored father of our subject, and other of his relatives and ancestors, are fully mentioned in this history. The birth of Levi Homer Taylor occurred August 10, 1853, in the old-fashioned double log cabin on the parental homestead, which served the family as a home during the early days of their pioneer life here. Growing to manhood in the peaceful yet active vocations common to the time and locality, our sub- ject then visited the far west, passing nearly a year in California. Returning home, after his marriage, he at once removed to his present home, then owned by Stephen Parker. In 1880 he bought forty acres of this place and ten years later built a comfortable dwelling-house. He now owns one hun- dred and sixty-five acres, situated on section 6, Tippecanoe township, and has instituted various substantial improvements, adding greatly to the value and desirability of the place. He has made it one of the model farms of the section.
On the 16th of December, 1875, Mr. Taylor married Jennie Cooper, daughter of Benjamin Cooper. She was born in Cass county, January I, 1853, and died January 18, 1881, leaving two children. Morris, the eldest child, born December 23, 1877, died when but six months old. Claud, born
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September 14, 1879, is employed in the Malleable Iron Works of Marion, Indiana. Clyde Ozias, the youngest, was born May 2, 1880. The second marriage of Mr. Taylor was solemnized August 1, 1883, the lady of his choice being Miss Marietta Snyder, daughter of James B. Snyder. She was born October 16, 1860, in Morgan county, Ohio, and first came to this state in 1863. Three children bless the union of our subject and wife,-two sons and a daughter. The eldest, Homer Ralph, was born April 29, 1884. Julia Alberta was born December 1, 1885; and Earle was born August 10, 1898, and died on the same day.
In his political faith, Mr. Taylor is a Republican of high standing, and though he has never cared for office he has served his neighbors most accept- ably as township trustee and road supervisor, acting in the former capacity for a period of four years, and his present term expiring in November, 1900. He has been road supervisor for ten years. Fraternally, he is an Odd Fel- low, being a member of Monterey Lodge. In the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Taylor and daughter Julia hold member- ship, he is one of the trustees, and all worthy charities find in him a true friend.
JEREMIAH WILLIAMSON.
This thrifty and successful farmer of Franklin township, Pulaski county, was born October 28, 1849, on his father's farm in Rock Creek township, Carroll county, Indiana. His ancestors were natives of England, and his great-grandfather, Williamson, was the founder of the family in America. Samuel Williamson, the grandfather, was born in Juniata county, Pennsyl- vania, and in 1800 married Nancy Hannah, who bore him the following named children: David, Mollie, Samuel, John S., Joseph, Sally, James, George, William, Moses, Henry, Nancy and Joshua. The death of Samuel Will- iamson occurred in 1849. He had become wealthy for that day, and owned thirteen hundred and sixty acres of land in Carroll county, besides other prop- erty in Cass county.
Our subject's father, John Stewart Williamson, was born in the Tus- carora valley, Juniata county, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1805, and with his parents removed to Montgomery county, Ohio, the following year, and to Carroll county, Indiana, in 1829. He entered a quarter-section of land there, paying a dollar and a quarter per acre, and his deeds and papers giving him legal right to the property were signed by President Jackson. He was a Republican in his later years, and was an active member of the Presbyterian church. He departed this life September 11, 1880, and was buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery within sight of his own farm, in Carroll county. His
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wife, whose maiden name was Mary Ann Millard, was born August 1, 1828, in Warren county, Ohio, and is still residing upon the old homestead, where she has dwelt since 1846. Her father, Thomas Millard, a native of Spring- boro, Ohio, died in 1877, aged seventy-four years. He chose for his wife Mary Pence, of German descent, and to them were born Catherine, Frances, Mary Ann, Joseph, Samuel, Mordecai, Henry, Warren, Aaron, Rebecca, Eliza Ann and Elizabeth. The latter died June 20, 1899. Henry died De- cember 3, 1863, in Helena, Arkansas, while a member of Company F. For- ty-sixth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry; and Aaron was a member. of an Iowa regiment for some time during the civil war. He was a prisoner for some time in rebel prisons. The father of Thomas Millard was a native of France, and there, as here, the family has been of the agricultural class.
John Stewart and Mary Ann (Millard) Williamson' were united in wedlock June 8, 1846, and their eldest child, Lewis, born October 31, 1847, died April 24, 1875, unmarried. Jeremiah was the next in order of birth. Thomas, born in January, 1852, died at the age of six years. Mordecai, born Febru- ary 4, 1854, died in January, 1858. Aaron, born April 20, 1855, died March 4, 1862. Albert, born July 8, 1857, never married and is still living upon the old homestead. Eliza Jane, born August 1, 1859, is the wife of Joseph Aaron, a farmer in the vicinity of Galveston, Indiana, and they have two children. Noah, born August 20, 1864, married a Miss Hance.
Jeremiah Williamson remained on the home farm until he was twenty- four years of age, thoroughly masteriug the details of agriculture. In 1873 he bought forty acres on section 15, Franklin township, Pulaski county, and forty acres on section 8, same township. In 1883 he erected a comfortable house upon his property on section 15, and has gradually made improvements which add greatly to the value of the homestead. He is a practical farmer and is an excellent business man. He is a Democrat in his political creed, and is now acting in the capacity of justice of the peace, a position he has filled for the past five years with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all.
On the 28th of April, 1874, Mr. Williamson married Amanda Jane Bousoum, a daughter of Samuel and Samantha (Davison) Bousoum. She was born September 24, 1852, in Rock Creek township, Carroll county, In- diana. Josephine, our subject's eldest child, was born October 1, 1875, and after teaching successfully in this county for two terms has taken charge of a nunnery in Tipton county. Pearl, born June 2, 1880, has taught in the Bransky and Conn schools in this township. Andrew Jackson, born Septem- ber 30, 1882, is at home and is a diligent student in the neighborhood schools.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
MARSHAL CARPER.
Prominent among the business men of Winamac is the gentleman whose name introduces this review, He occupies a leading position in commercial and financial circles, and his enterprise, resolute purpose and laudable ambi- tion are the elements of his success. The portals of prosperity always swing wide to the demands of energy, and through this agency Mr. Carper has advanced steadily to a foremost place in the ranks of the business represent- atives of Pulaski county.
He was born April 7, 1858, in South Whitley, Indiana, his parents being Obediah and Martha (Miller) Carper. The family is of German origin, and was founded in America at a very early day in the history of this country. The great-grandfather of our subject was twice married, and by his first wife, Elizabeth Carper, had eight children. The only child of the second marriage was Nicholas Carper, grandfather of our subject. He was born in Pennsylvania and married Rebecca Corcoran, a native of Virginia. By occu- pation he was a farmer and followed that pursuit throughout his entire life. His sons were: John, Adam, Samuel, Philip, Obediah, and his daughters: Sarah, who became the wife of a Mr. Snyder, and another daughter, who became the wife of David Jacoby. Of the sons, Philip married Sophia Keefer, and their children were Isabella, who married Jacob Baker; Harrison; and Jacob, who married Catharine Ritter. For his second wife Philip Car- per married Elizabeth Wise, and they had a daughter Elizabeth, now the deceased wife of Jacob Haflick. The third wife of Philip Carper was Cath- arine Reifsinder, and their children were Sophia, wife of John North; Will- iam, who married Emeline Butler; Monroe, who wedded Elizabeth Guthrie, and resides in Guthrie Center, Iowa; Alfred, who was born April 15, 1842, and was married in June, 1873, to Sarah Way, who died May 21, 1874, at the age of twenty-four years, two months and twenty-seven days. They had one child, Catharine, who is the wife of Alfred Hathaway. Harriet, the youngest child of Philip Carper, by his third wife, is the widow of Milton Cooper, and resides in Grundy county, Missouri. The fourth wife of Philip Carper was Marie Finestone, and their children were Frances Elmira, wife of Francis E. Hathaway, who resides near South Whitley, Indiana; Mordecai; and Arthur Green, who is living in Virginia, Nebraska.
Obediah Carper, father of our subject, was born February 18, 1818, near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Canton, Ohio, and later to Massillon, that state. He was a carpenter by trade and for many years followed that pursuit. He went from Ohio to Iowa and subsequently returned to Markle, Indiana, where he lived on a small farm of forty acres for two years. He then took up his residence in the town and opened a gro-
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cery store, which he conducted until his removal to Springfield, now South Whitley, where he carried on general merchandising for ten years. In the spring of 1861 he came to Winamac and engaged in the grocery business with his cousin, J. G. Miller, under the firm name of Carper & Miller, which connection was continued for two years. On the expiration of that period he erected the Jackson Hotel on the site now occupied by the Varpillat Block, and after two years he bought out his partner, Mr. Miller, and conducted the hotel alone until 1874, when he sold to Henry Greenwall. This was his last business venture. The hotel building burned just a few days prior to his death. Mr. Carper was also the owner of about two hundred acres of land in Jefferson township and one hundred and sixty acres in Monroe township. He manifested excellent ability in the management of his business affairs, and the success he achieved was the merited reward of his own labors. In height he was five feet and six inches, and weighed about one hundred and seventy- five pounds. His political support was given the Republican party, and he served as trustee of his township, but was never a politician in the sense of office-seeking. He became a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows so- cieties in Huntington, Indiana, belonging to both the lodge and encampment in the latter. He died January 5, 1881.
On the 5th of July, 1841, in Canton, Ohio, was celebrated the marriage of Obediah Carper and Miss Martha Miller, who was born May 24, 1822, on her father's farm in Perry township, Stark county, Ohio. She is a daughter of Frederick Miller, who died in 1864, at the age of ninety-two years. He was born at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and married Mary Fansler, a daughter of Henry and Annie Marie Fansler. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were married June 2, 1808, and to them were born seven children: George, born June 6, 1809, married Elizabeth Snyder, and their children are Mary, Jere- miah, Alexander, Alfred, Elizabeth and Eli. Henry, born April 8, 1811, married Susan Roush, and their children are Sevilla, Frederick, Samuel, Benjamin, William, Polly, Lydia, Angeline and Katy. Rebecca, who was generally called Peggy, was born April 11, 1813, and became the wife of Jacob Roush, by whom she had the following children: Jesse, Mary Ann, Reuben, Jacob and Edward. Polly, born April 19, 1813, became the wife of Robert Allen, and their children are William, Levi, Mary Ann, Rebecca, Mahala, Hanan, Tora and Alfred. David, born May II, 1818, married Sarah Ar- nold, and their children are Hannah, Eveline, George, Sarah, Mary, Clara, Rebecca and John. Mrs. Carper is the next of the family. Susan, the youngest, was born February 12, 1824, and married Martin Miller, by whom she had eleven children, Mary, Cyrus, Rebecca, Delilah, and seven others, whose names are not known.
The following is the record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Obediah
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Carper: Angeline, born February 3, 1843, on a farm about ten miles west of Burlington, Iowa, died March 31, 1865. She became the wife of Samuel Cook, April 1, 1862, at South Whitley, Indiana, and their children were Obediah, Jacob, and one other whose name is not known. All are now deceased. Naham, born October 29, 1845, was married August 16, 1865, to Amelia Heater, and they had one son, Alfred M., born July 26, 1866. On the 6th of September, 1873, Naham Carper wedded Mary Story, and they had a son, Charles Naham. He was married a third time, July 20, 1897, Elizabeth Steckel becoming his wife. Ann Eliza, the next of the fam- ily, died when only two days old. Elizabeth Ellen, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, August 6, 1848, died October 31, 1864, and was buried in the cemetery at Winamac. Marie, born May 13, 1852, died December 5, 1872, at the age of twenty years, six months and twenty-six days; she also was buried in the Winamac cemetery. She was married in Winamac, October 14, 1867, to Paul Shafle, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, April 2, 1836, and died May 5, 1895. He located in Philadelphia in 1850, there learned the tailor's trade, and subsequently removed to New Jersey. During the civil war he enlisted in the Third New Jersey Cavalry and served until the close of hostilities. In 1866 he came to Winamac, where he followed his trade until his death. Of the Masonic fraternity he was a very prominent and active member. He was married October 14, 1867, to Marie Carper, and their children were as follows: Emma, who was born August 20, 1868, and was married October 8, 1896, to John Weldy, a farmer of Pulaski county, by whom she has one son, Lloyd; Ella, who was born March 14, 1870, and died May 17, 1876; and Edna, born December 4, 1872. After the death of his first wife Mr. Shafle married Catharine Elizabeth Mulvaney, and their children are Mollie, born November 10, 1877; and Annie and John, both deceased. Elizabeth Carper, another member of the family of Obediah Carper, died September 30, 1864, at the age of sixteen years, one month and twenty-three days. Marshal, whose name introduces this review, is the youngest of his father's family.
Marshal Carper acquired his education in the public schools, which he attended until 1874. At the age of sixteen he began learning telegraphy, in an office of the Panhandle Railroad, and followed that pursuit for a year, when he entered the employ of Nathan Brothers, of Winamac, with whom he remained a year. On the expiration of that period he secured a clerkship with Frankle & Oppenheimer, and a year later, in connection with G. W. Dolph, purchased the drug stock of M. A. Dilts, valued at about five hundred dollars. In August, 1877, they removed to the old Barnett block, and Octo- ber 25, 1880, to the present place of business, in the Keller block. In August, 1888, Mr. Carper bought out his partner's interest and has since
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been alone in the business. He carries a stock worth six thousand dollars, and his sales amount to fifteen thousand dollars annually. His line of goods is carefully selected to meet the varied wants of the public, and his careful management, honorable dealing and uniform courtesy have secured to him a very liberal patronage. In June, 1896, he purchased a two-fifths interest in the bank at Winamac and was at once chosen vice-president, in which capa- city he has since served.
Mr. Carper was married September 25, 1881, to Lola Linetta Hath- away, and in the community they have many warm friends. The hospitality of the best homes of the county is extended them, and they occupy an envi- able position in social circles. In his political views Mr. Carper is a Repub- lican, but has never been an office-seeker, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs, in which he has met with gratifying prosper- ity. His executive ability, keen foresight and tireless industry are his marked characteristics, and have made him one of the most successful merchants of the county.
JETHRO A. HATCH, M. D.
In point of time Dr. Hatch is the oldest physician in Kentland, Newton county, and he has been prominently before the public for many years as a member of congress and of the state legislature, being well and favorably known throughout the county as an able practitioner and as a man possess- ing rare qualities of mind and heart.
Dr. Hatch was born in Chenango county, New York, June 18, 1837. His parents, Jethro and Minerva (Pierce) Hatch, were natives of Connecticut and New Hampshire, respectively, and were pioneers of Kane county Illinois, in which place they settled in 1847. The father was a well-to-do farmer and an influential man in his community. He died in 1878, when eighty years of age. His wife survived him until May, 1882, when she passed away at the age of seventy-six years. Both parents were devout members of the Congregational church.
The subject of this review received his literary education in the academy at Batavia, Illinois, and on leaving this school became a student in Rush Medical College, in Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1860. The fol- lowing year he took up his residence in Kentland, being the first physician to locate in this place. In 1862, the second year of the civil war, Dr. Hatch was commissioned as assistant surgeon of the Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was promoted to surgeon in 1864, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out in October, 1865. Resuming his profession in Kent- land, he also took an active part in local affairs and held various offices in the
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town and county until 1872, when, in the special session of the legislature of that year and in the regular session in 1873, he was the representative of Jasper, Pulaski and Newton counties. In 1874 he was the candidate of his party for the state senate, but as the Republicans were largely in the minor- ity, he was defeated with the rest of the ticket. For two years he was chair- man of the county Republican central committee. In 1894 he was elected to congress from the tenth district of Indiana, being a member of the lower house, and during his term of office he was a member of the committees on mines and mining and on war claims. He was not a candidate for re-elec- tion, and since returning from Washington has devoted himself entirely to the practice of his profession, in which he stands at the head.
On May 26, 1881, Dr. Hatch was married to Miss Sarah Shaeffer, daughter of Gilbert and Margaret (Houseman) Shaeffer, of Lancaster, Ohio. They have two children, Darwin S. and Hazel M. The Doctor owns an improved farm in Benton county, within two miles of Kentland, to which he devotes his leisure time and which is a valuable piece of property. Socially, he is past master ef Newton Lodge, No. 361, F. & A. M., and past high priest of Kentland Chapter, No. 89, R. A. M., at Kentland, and is a Knight Templar. He is also post commander of McHolland Post, No. 102, G. A. R., and a member of the Knights of Pythias. His genial, kindly disposition, his well known ability and his conscientious discharge of the duties of his profession have made Dr. Hatch very popular throughout the community and have brought him a large patronage. He is still active and ever ready to answer the call for help from suffering humanity, and his friends hope he may see many more years of usefulness.
MOSES ALBERTUS DILTS.
One of the most extensive land-owners and wealthy business men of Winamac and Pulaski county is Moses A. Dilts, who has reason to be proud of the truly wonderful success which he has achieved, especially within the past few years. He is a worthy representative of one of the sturdy pioneer families of this state, now numbering hundreds of descendants, and from the early days of the annals of Indiana those bearing the name of Dilts have been accounted among her most patriotic, enterprising citizens.
The tradition, as handed down from one generation to another in the family, is to the effect that five brothers of the name of Dilts left their native Scotland to found homes in America, in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and that they separated, locating in Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, respectively. Some of their posterity have spelled the name Diltz, but the majority, at least in this generation, adopted the other form. It is
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