USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 46
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 46
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 46
USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 46
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 46
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 46
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 46
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
944
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORI.
in her sixty-eighth year, is living in Goodland, and is an earnest member of the Methodist church there, which she helped to found years ago.
In his youth Warren Wilson received good educational advantages, com- pleting his studies in Notre Dame University. He received his present fine farm as his portion of his father's estate, and has kept the place under high cultivation. It is situated two miles south of Goodland, in Union township, Benton county, is improved with good buildings and fences, and is a most desirable country home. Ever since he finished his education Mr. Wilson has been engaged in active business, in stores and banks, and has met with success in his transactions. He is quite extensively engaged in buying and selling horses, cattle and hogs, shipping the stock to Chicago and other markets.
In political affairs, Mr. Wilson follows in his father's footsteps, some- times voting for Republican and often for Democratic nominees. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and, with his estimable wife, belongs to the Order of tlie Eastern Star. In 1894 he married Miss Ada, daughter of George E. and Augusta (Johnson) Bittinger, the former of Pennsylvania- Dutch descent, and the latter a native of Oswego county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Bittinger were married in Maysville, Indiana, and are now residents of Andrews, this state, where they are well-to-do farmers. They are affili- ated with the Methodist church, and Mr. Bittinger is an ardent Republican. Frank Johnson, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Wilson, was an extensive and influential stock dealer of Syracuse, New York. His children were five in number, namely: Augusta, Julia (Mrs. J. Hood), Mary (Mrs. H. Hood), Frank, and Nettie (Mrs. De Bilderback). Mrs. Wilson is the youngest of six children, her brothers and sisters being named as follows: Mrs. Florence DeRoss, of Fort Wayne; Frank, a physician of Dayton, Ohio; Mrs. Maggie Moore; Mrs. Luella Post; and George E., Jr. The parents of these chil- dren are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson a little son was born, March 8, 1896. They have a pleasant home and are surrounded with many evidences of refined and cult- ured tastes.
WILLIAM W. MURRAY.
An honored pioneer and veteran soldier of Jasper county, who has been identified with its development and farming interests for a generation past, is William W. Murray, who was born in Logan county, Ohio, February 4, 1828. His parents were Daniel and Mary (Kenton) Murray, the former a son of Daniel Murray, of Virginia, who was of Scotch-Irish descent and was drowned while swimming his horses across the Potomac. The father of our subject settled in Ohio, where his children were born. His half-brother,
945
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
named David L., located in Michigan, where he died and left a family. The father of William W. was married in Ohio, where he farmed for many years, and in 1836 removed to Indiana, locating in White county, where he entered a large tract of land, which he improved into a valuable farm and on which he raised stock. He died in 1845, his wife surviving him until 1864. Mrs. Murray was a daughter of Simon Kenton, of Virginia, who when a young man went to Kentucky and became famous as a scout and Indian fighter, his friend and companion being Daniel Boone, also famous as a frontiersman and hunter. An extended sketch of Simon Kenton will be found in the record of the Parkison family in this volume.
Daniel Murray and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist church and their union was blessed with eight children, as follows: Marshall who was a soldier of the civil war and who died from the effects of disease - contracted while in the service, was married and left one child; William W. is the subject of this review; Elizabeth died when sixteen years of age; Lewis, who served throughout the civil war, was for nine years in the United States service, dying in the hospital in Newport, Kentucky; Mary died when sixteen years old; George, also a soldier in the civil war, died from the effects of his army experience; Henry, the third of the sons who gave his service to his country, is now farming in White county, Indiana; and Joseph is deceased. Of these children, five of whom were brave and loyal soldiers, Henry and our subject are all that are now living.
William Murray remained at home, gaining what small amount of learn- ing could be obtained in the common schools of that early day, and assisting his father until he reached his majority, when, in 1849, he came to Jasper county and hired out as a farm hand, at ten dollars a month. In this place he remained for four years, then went to Illinois and engaged to feed cattle for a man at fourteen dollars a month. Returning to Jasper county he resumed farm work and after his marriage in 1854 went to White county and located on land given him from his father's estate. This he improved and built a house and barn, which he afterward sold, and coming back to Jasper county in 1857 bought another farm, on which he worked until 1862. In that year he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Fourteenth Corps, Army of the Cumber- land, under General Rosecrans. Mr. Murray saw much hard service, and at the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, took part in some desperate fighting. He was then taken ill with typhoid fever, succeeded by chronic diarrhea, and on account of disability received an honorable discharge at Gallatin, Ten- nessee. He returned home in January, 1863, and for twenty years there- after was not able to do any hard work, and indeed has never entirely rallied from the effects of this illness.
946
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Some time after leaving the army Mr. Murray traded the one hundred and sixty acres on which he had been living for ninety acres, to which he has since added until he now owns two hundred and seventy-four acres in all. In 1895 he built a commodious house, in which he and his wife now live, enjoy- ing all the comforts and luxuries necessary to their happiness. Our subject for many years has done general farming and also engaged extensively in buy- ing and feeding cattle and hogs for the market. He is a leading Republican and has filled most of the township offices, although never caring for political honors. He has always been a loyal and useful citizen and has aided in all the enterprises which had for their object the welfare of his community.
Mrs. Murray, whose maiden name was Rose A. Barclay, was born March 9, 1832, a daughter of Henry and Zilpha (Moore) Barclay. Her fa- ther was born in the Emerald Isle and her mother in New Jersey. They were married in Pennsylvania and in 1837 emigrated to Indiana, locating first at Monticello, White county, and the following year removed to Jasper county. The county was then in a primitive state and but few settlers were to be found in that locality. Mr. Barclay entered land which he improved into a valuable farm and where he died in 1857. His wife survived him un- til 1872. Both were members of the Presbyterian church.
They were the parents of nine children, of whom three are now living. A brief record concerning them is as follows: George, who was a farmer, is deceased; Isabelle is deceased; Robert, a farmer, is now deceased; Mary, who became the wife of William Parkison, is now deceased; John, the eldest of the three survivors, was a soldier in the civil war; William is deceased; Jane is the wife of William B. Shaw; Henry, a farmer, is deceased; and Rose A. is the wife of our subject.
To Mr. and Mrs. Murray five children have been born, namely: Henry, auditor of Jasper county; Mary, living at home; Jennie J., the wife of S. English; and William and Charles, farmers in Jasper county. Mr. Murray is a member of Post No. 84, G. A. R., at Rensselaer.
ROBERT W. SAMPLE.
Among the men who occupy high position in the business circles of Lafayette and to whom the citizens of this place can point with pride, none, perhaps, is more worthy of biographical honors than Robert W. Sample, president of the First National Bank of Lafayette.
He was born in Lafayette September 2, 1833, son of Henry T. and Sarah (Sunwalt) Sample, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Mary- land. In the Sample family were five children, three of whom are now liv- ing: Esabella, widow of Henry Taylor; Robert W .; and Sallie, widow of
947
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
David McBride. Henry T. Sample, the father, was a tanner and pork packer. He came to Lafayette in 1827, and was in business here for many years, up to nearly the time of his death, which occurred in 1882, at the age of seventy-six years. During his early career at this place he operated under the firm name of Sample & Hanna, and later under the style of H. T. Sam- ple & Sons, doing a large business in pork and beef packing. He was also indirectly interested in other business, -manufacturing, farming and stock- raising. Actively identified with the County Agricultural Association, he was its president for many years, holding that office at the time of his death. In other public matters he also took a deep interest, and was recognized as one of the public-spirited men of the town and county.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Sample, a soldier of the war of 1812. He was a native of Ohio, of Scotch descent, and by occu- pation was a miller. From Butler county, Ohio, he came to Indiana and settled in Randolph county, and later went from this state to Henry county, Iowa, where he died of cholera, in 1851, at the age of seventy-seven years. Two other members of the family died on that same day, -his wife and his daughter-in-law, Amanda Sample,-and his son, William T., died on the Ioth of the same month, all of cholera. Mr. Sample's maternal grandfather was named John Sunwalt. He made a visit to Indiana in the pioneer days and died while here, leaving a large family. He was of German descent.
Robert W. Sample, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared in his native town and received his education in its common schools and sem- inary. In youth he learned the tanner's trade, and when he grew older became interested in business with his father, as partner in all the latter's interests. After his father's death the packing and other business enter- prises were disposed of, and Robert W. devoted his energies to farming and stock-raising, operating three large farms and breeding and raising cattle extensively, making a specialty of the Hereford variety. He had been a director and vice-president of the First National Bank of Lafayette for many years, and in 1889 became its president, a position he still holds, while he is also interested in various manufacturing industries.
Mr. Sample resides at 311 South Ninth street, Lafayette, where he built the family residence in 1868. He was married October 31, 1855, to Miss Elizabeth M. Anderson, and they have had seven children, namely: Can- dace, wife of Dr. Burt; Anna A., wife of Ashley Johnson; Elizabeth, who died at the age of two years; Robert W., who died in infancy; Mary S., widow of John Ewry; John G., teller in the First National Bank; and Richard B., vice-president of the Henry Taylor Lumber Company.
In their religious views Mr. and Mrs. Sample are Methodists, belonging to Trinity Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee. Politically
948
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORI.
he is a Republican, always taking a commendable interest in public affairs and at the same time firmly refusing to accept any official honors. He has traveled all over the country, but has always made Lafayette his home, honoring the city by his residence here and enjoying the highest esteem of his fellow citizens.
THOMAS J. BARNES.
The subject of this sketch has rounded out half a century of life in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, and has for some years past been identified with the business interests of Lafayette, now being a member of the firm of Bone & Barnes, who conduct a successful real-estate, insurance and loan business.
Mr. Barnes was born in Pike county, Ohio, near the town of Piketon, August 21, 1847, son of Samuel and Nancy (Rice) Barnes, natives of Ohio. In their family were nine children, six of whom are living at this writing, namely: Frances V .; Elizabeth M., wife of Obed Barnard, of Fowler, Indiana; Harriet E., wife of Job H. Van Natta, of Lafayette; Sarah J. T., wife of W. I. Culver, of Chicago; Thomas J., whose name introduces this article; and Samuel T., of Otterbein, Indiana.
Samnel Barnes, the father, was a farmer and came from Ohio over into Indiana in November, 1848, locating near Battle Ground, in Tippecanoe county, where he engaged in his wonted occupation and where he reared his family. He died on his farm March 14, 1863, at about the age of fifty-two years. His wife passed away in 1885, at the age of seventy-three years. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Barnes. He was born near Harper's Ferry, in Virginia, and had in his veins a mixture of English, Irish and Scotch blood. He moved to Ohio at an early day and settled in Pike county, where he died at about the age of fifty years. He was a mili- tia captain, was a farmer by occupation, and in the early history of the state was a member of the Ohio legislature. Mr. Barnes' maternal grandfather was James Rice. He also was a Virginian and a farmer. He traced his ancestry to the English. He died in middle life, leaving a family of several children.
Thomas J. Barnes was one year old at the time his father moved to Indiana, and he has never known any other than a "Hoosier " home. He was educated in the district schools and in the Battle Ground Collegiate Institute, and after leaving school returned to the farm and devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits. He carried on farming until he was thirty- five years of age. In 1882 he was elected county auditor, four years
949
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
later was re-elected, and was the incumbent of that office eight years, retir- ing from the same with the good will and confidence of all with whom he had in any way been associated. He engaged in the hardware business in the spring of 1891, at the organization of The Johnson-Barnes Hardware Com- pany, an incorporated institution, and was with that firm until the latter part of February, 1898, when he sold his interest and formed a partnership with Charles W. Bone, which continues to the present time.
November 21, 1872, Mr. Barnes married Miss Mary H. Mason, daughter of E. P. and Elizabeth (Huntsinger) Mason of Brookston, White county, Indiana. Five children have been born to them, as follows: Gertrude Mason, Mary Grace, Thomas J., Jr., Lois Christine and Helen Louise. Mrs. Barnes and daughters are members of Trinity Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Barnes is a member of Lodge No. 313, F. & A. M., Battle Ground; Lafayette Chapter, R. A. M .; Commandery, No. 31 K. T .; and Lodge No. III, Knights of Pythias. Politically he is a Democrat.
The family residence of Thomas J. Barnes is at No. 1211 Columbia street, Lafayette.
CYRUS CUNNINGHAM.
Cyrus Cunningham, a representative of two of the oldest and most respected pioneer families of Indiana, has been engaged in the cultivation of his desirable homestead in Mound township, Warren county, for the past forty-five years. He is a thrifty, practical agriculturist, and by industry, economy and good management has acquired valuable property and an abundant competence.
In examining the records of our subject's ancestors it is found that his paternal grandfather, Nicholas Cunningham, lived in Virginia, whence he removed to Ross county, Ohio. There he and his good wife, Ann (Morrissy) Cunningham, the daughter of a soldier of the Revolution, passed the remainder of their days. Their son Thomas, the father of our subject, was born December 16, 1799, and early in the year 1820 he came to Indiana. Soon afterward he married his cousin Eliza, daughter of Thomas Cunningham. The latter was born February 8, 1777, and died June 15, 1854, and his wife, whose maiden name was Jane Houston, was born March 10, 1772, and died February 7, 1856. She was a daughter of a soldier of the war for independ- ence, in which conflict he was employed as an artisan in the colonial army. Thomas Cunningham, Sr., brought his family from Ross county, Ohio, to Indiana in 1818, and four years later they settled in Warren county. After his marriage Thomas Cunningham, the father of our subject, was for many years extensively engaged in the business of taking flat-boats laden with pro-
950
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
duce down the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers, being thus employed to some extent until 1842. He had settled in Highland township, Vermilion county, Indiana, and was a resident of that locality at the time of his death, November 26, 1846. His widow survived him several decades, her death taking place July 3, 1880.
Cyrus Cunningham, born in Vermilion county, December 15, 1829, was one of four children, but the only one who attained maturity, as the others, Nicholas, Jared and George, died in early years. He was reared on the old homestead, which was his birthplace, and in 1854 he settled on his present property, in Mound township. As the years rolled by, he prospered, and gradually added to his possessions until he is now the owner of fourteen hun- dred and eighty acres of improved farm land. In his political faith he was a Whig in former years, and is now devoted to the Republican party. Honor- able and conscientious in all his dealings, he enjoys the sincere esteem and admiration of all who have been associated with him in any manner.
In all his struggles and work Mr. Cunningham has found a loyal com- panion and helpmate in the person of his faithful wife, who, before their marriage, December 17, 1855, was Miss Mary Oliphant. She came to War- ren county from Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1835, when she was about two years old, and does not remember living in any other place than in this county, of whose development from a wilderness she has been a witness. The two eldest children born to this worthy couple, Horatio and Reuben, died when young, and there are left to them three sons and two daughters, namely: Walter M., Caleb V., Harriet, Melinda and James. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have long been members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are liberal in their gifts to religious and charitable enterprises.
JEPTHA CROUCH.
One of the best known and respected importers of horses and dealers in draft and fancy breeds of trotting and pacing stallions is the gentleman whose name initiates this review and whose reputation extends not only throughout the United States and Canada but also over Europe. He is the senior mem- ber of the firm of Crouch & Son, proprietors of the celebrated Lafayette Stock Farm, and is a representative of two of the oldest families of Ken- tucky, where he was born, in Owen county, June 13, 1843, a son of William and Martha Crouch, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The father "was a prominent man politically and held various offices in his township. He moved from Virginia to east Tennessee and later located in Owen county, Kentucky, where he engaged as a farmer, distiller and tobacco manufacturer until 1853, when he came to Indiana and embarked in farming and stock-
951
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
raising, in Decatur county. He died there in 1861, having attained an advanced age. His wife survived him until 1869, when she, too, passed away, at the age of sixty-seven. Both were devout members of the Baptist church. To Mr. and Mrs. Crouch were born the following children: George W., of Marshall, Missouri; Nancy, who married Jerome W. Copeland, of St. Paul, Indiana; Jeptha, our subject; Amanda, who became the wife of Everett Thompson, of Zionsville, Indiana; and five others, who are deceased. Joseph Crouch, the father of William, was a native of Virginia and of Eng- lish descent. He reared a large number of children and died at a good old age. On the maternal side was the family also of Virginia descent.
Jeptha Crouch was ten years old when he arrived in Jefferson county, Indiana, and he attended the district schools of that county and Decatur county, devoting the intervals to work on the farm. He remained at home until attaining manhood, when he began dealing in horses, raising them in Decatur county and shipping them to various parts of the United States, un- til, in 1861, he went to Indianapolis. After remaining there for five years be moved to Monticello, where he conducted a general store for fourteen years, and in 1879 came to Lafayette, where he once more engaged in stock-rais- ing, buying and shipping domestic horses until 1882, when he began import- ing. He established the famous Lafayette Stock Farm, which is located just northeast of Lafayette, and has since conducted a business that has acquired an enviable reputation throughout the civilized world. Mr. Crouch is the owner of the well-known pacing horse, Captain Crouch, which has a record of 2:113, and also of the sire, General Smith, with a record of 2:20, besides many others who have made reputations on the track. He and his sons are largely interested in stock-raising in South Dakota, where they have one of the most extensive ranches in the west, and they own land in various states. Mr. Crouch resides on his farm, on East Union street, which is called Union Heights. He is a Master Mason and belongs to the Knights of Pythias. Politically he is a Democrat. His wife is a member of the Second Presbyterian church.
On July 9, 1863, Mr. Crouch was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Hughes, a daughter of Roland and Nancy (Ives) Hughes, and to them three children have been born: Nannie, who married F. B. Searight, of Lafay- ette, and they have two children, -- Nannie and George B .; George R., who is associated with his father; and William J., who married Miss Pearl Cov- ington, and is in the plumbing business at Lafayette, besides which he is in- terested with his father and brother in the stock farm.
The Lafayette Stock Farm is well known to every one who is in any way interested in the breeding or buying of horses, the offices being located at No. 237 Main street, and the barns, which have accommodations for over one
952
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
hundred head of stock, on Union street. Only the best grade of horses is handled by Messrs. Crouch & Son, such as Normans, English Shires and Clydesdales, and trotting and pacing stallions with records as low as 2:13, special attention being paid to the importation of the famous German Coach horses, among which the Oldenburg Coach, brought direct from their native place with a well authenticated pedigree, have no superiors as regards beauty, style, knee action or finish. This firm makes a specialty of organizing stock companies, to which they sell their thoroughbred stallions, thus affording many individuals who contribute to the purchasing price not only the privil- ege of obtaining service at a trifling cost but eventually also of insuring a- handsome return on their investment.
The present prosperous and flourishing condition which the Lafayette Stock Farm enjoys is due in a large measure to the energy, industry and en- terprise of George Roland Crouch, the junior member of the firm, who, al- though a young man has acquired a business acumen and education that is the direct result of practical experience. To his charge is entrusted all the foreign transactions of the firm, and he has completed eight trips to Europe, the last one being of five months' duration. The objective points of his travels have taken him to France, England, Germany, Scotland and Belgium, where his keen business qualities have been put to the test in buying and selling stock, the results of which have been most gratifying. Mr. Crouch was reared in Lafayette and has been associated with his father ever since he was old enough to understand the business. He is a genial, sociable gentleman and enjoys a wide circle of friends.
HENRY I. ADAMS.
Among the representative men of Jasper county, Indiana, who have passed away should be mentioned Henry I. Adams. He was borne in Wayne county, Ohio, March 19, 1838, and died in Rensselaer, Jasper county, Indiana, November 25, 1892. His parents were Isaac and Ann Adams. The maiden name of the latter was Idings. Both were natives of Jefferson county, Ohio. The birth of the father occurred May 28, 1814, and that of the mother, February 3, 1818. In 1844 the family removed to Miami county, Indiana, and in 1856 came to Jasper county and settled in Marion township. Isaac Adams was a well known citizen. His death occurred in 1882 and that of the wife and mother in 1879. They had quite a numerous family of children, named as follows: Henry I., Elizabeth, Sarah Ann, Joseph, William E., Mary and Marion.
Henry I. Adams was reared to the occupation of farming. He was educated in the public schools, was industrious and studious as a boy, and
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.