USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 5
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 5
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 5
USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 5
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 5
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 5
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 5
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On the 28th of January, 1850, the marriage of Joseph C. Hathaway and Mary Wooley was solemnized, in Troy, Ohio. Her ancestors were south- ern people, orginally from Scotland, as it is supposed, and her brothers and
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sisters were: Walker, Henry, Tandy Caroline, Della and Lena. To the union of J. C. Hathaway and wife were born Charles Franklin, March 8, 1851; Clara Belle, November 16, 1853; and Henry Owen, Septem- ber 17, 1855. Charles F. was accidentally killed November 15, 1860, while on his way to school. He was riding on a load of wood, and, in going down a hill, lost his balance and fell at the horses heels, the wagon wheels passing over him and instantly crushing out his poor little life. Clara B. is the wife of William Haff, a farmer of Sandusky county, Ohio, and their children are: May, Perry, Lily and Cora. Mrs. J. C. Hathaway was summoned to the silent land November 5, 1885, and was buried in San- dusky county, Ohio.
Until he was seventeen years of age, Henry O. Hathaway remained with his parents and then commenced learning the carpenter's trade with J. F. Weeks, of Clyde, Ohio. At the end of three years he began work as a jour- neyman, and was located in Toledo two years and in Sandusky for a like period. He then entered his father's employ and carried on his restaurant for six months, and the following winter worked as usual at his trade, in San- dusky. In 1877 he arrived in Winamac, where he found employment with George Rhodes, and worked on the Frain Hotel, the Vurpllat opera-house block and the Sabel block. The next year he spent in Pulaski, but at the end of that time he returned, and for the past seven years has been busily engaged in contracting and building. He has superintended the construction of the county infirmary, the public-school building, the power-house and electric-light plant, the Stutsman block and much other work for private par- ties. He has built up an enviable reputation for thoroughness, punctuality and honesty in the execution of his contracts, and merits the extensive pat- ronage he is now commanding. All local affairs receive his earnest atten- tion, and having been elected to serve as a member of the town council he was its efficient president for three years. He is a Democrat and a member of the Odd Fellows society.
Mr. Hathaway and Sarah Jane Good were united in wedlock December 26, 1878. She was born on her father's old homestead, in Indian Creek township, February 16, 1856, and was successfully engaged in teaching for some years prior to her marriage, -two years in the Busch school, in Beaver township; a similiar period in the Centre school, in Indian Creek township, and another year in the Brown school, in the same locality. She is a daughter of Ephraim and Catherine (Hoch) Good, and sister of Frank, Mary and Linda Good. Her great-grandfather, Abraham Hoch, of Pennsylvania, had eight children, namely: John, Michael, Abraham, Elias, Philip, Jacob, Christina and, Margaret. Jacob, the grandfather of Mrs. Hathaway, was the only one of the sons who came west, and Christina, wife of William Wolf,
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settled in Monroe township, Pulaski county, many years ago. Jacob Hoch, who was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, about the beginning of this century, came to Indiana in September, 1844. The long and difficult journey was marked by the death of his little daughter, Sarah, and in sadness the rest of the family, his wife, Mary (Wagner) Hoch, Harrison, Catherine, Eliza, Israel and Mary Ann, continued the trip across the country to Pulaski county. They had a few household goods and a good wagon and team, and the father bought some land on section 23, Monroe township, which property is now in the possession of his son, Israel, who was born January 28, 1836, and he and his sister, Mary Ann, wife of Henry Zellers, are the sole repre- sentatives of the parental family. To the original purchase of eighty acres, Jacob Hoch later added seventy acres, bought of William Huddleston, and forty acres of state land, all of which he greatly improved. He was a worthy man, a Democrat in politics, and for two years was one of the trustees of his township. Like his ancestors, he adhered to the faith of the German Lu- theran church. His wife was born July 28, 1802, in Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, and died in 1894. Jonas, father of Ephraim Good, had six sons, the eldest of whom, Reuben, married Caroline Meyer, and was seventy-six years of age at the time of his death, September 11, 1897. His wife died Feb- ruary 13, 1889. Samuel, the second son, was thrice married, by his first union having two children, William and Lida, and by his second marriage, Mary and several others, and by his third marriage having two children, Jessie and Samuel. Jonas, the third son, was the father of the following named children: George, Matilda, Betsy, Isaac and John, who are deceased, and Hannah, Ella, Eli, Nancy, Samuel and Frank. Daniel had two chil- dren, Michael and Fanny, and George, the youngest of the family, never married.
The marriage of our subject and wife was blessed with five children, two sons and three daughters. Charles Carroll, born October 7, 1879, married Maud Shields, and is now a stationary engineer in the employ of the East Chicago Boiler Works, at Hammond, Indiana. Landry, born September 26, 1886, died April 16, 1888. Arden Owen was born February 19, 1889; Mary Mildred, July 20, 1893; and Marjorie, February 7, 1895.
THOMAS H. ROBINSON.
The gentleman whose name heads this biography is one of the most prominent and influential residents of Rensselaer. He is a retired farmer and stock dealer, and moved here several years ago from his farm in Gillam township. He first saw the light of day on this same farm February 23, 1842, and was reared to manhood in this county, where he is known and re-
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spected by everyone. His father was William Robinson, who came to Gil- lam township from Fort Wayne in 1838. He was one of the pioneer farm- ers of this section, but afterward went to Kansas, where he spent eighteen years, after which he returned to his farm here, where he died. The mother, Mary Hanley, was born in Ireland, and in her childhood was brought to Fort Wayne, this state, where she met and married William Robinson. She was the mother of twelve children, of whom seven are living, and she makes her home with Thomas H., the eldest and the subject of this sketch. The other children are: Michael, of Gillam township; Mary, wife of H. Mccullough, same township; James A., of Oklahoma; George P., of Stockton, Kansas; A. Warren, also of Kansas, and Alfred C., of Hays City, Ellis county, Kansas.
The boyhood of Mr. Robinson was spent on the farm, which meant in those days plenty of hard work, and sometimes, as in his case, a three- months attendance at the country schools in winter. When he was nineteen, in the spring of 1861, he enlisted in the state militia for one year, and when that was disbanded re-enlisted in the Ninth Indiana Regiment at Laporte in September, 1861. They went to West Virginia, and on to the south, where they were in the Army of the Cumberland, under General Rosecrans, and fought in several desperate battles. After his term of enlistment had expired he returned home and once more took up the peaceful routine of agricultural life. His first farm was situated near that of his father, and contained forty acres. He bought the old homestead at a later time and made it his home as long as he lived in the county. He was a good farmer and accumulated considerable property. Besides the homestead of three hundred and sixty acres in Gillam township he owns six hundred and fourteen 'acres in Pu- laski county, which is fenced and in pasture. He has dealt largely in stock and has been wonderfully successful. His own preference has always been for farm life, but he realized the necessity of good education for his chil- dren, and that they might derive the benefit from a residence in town he rented his farm and moved to Rensselaer. Here they have received every advantage, and have repaid him a hundred fold by their close application to study and their rapid progress in all branches.
Mr. Robinson led to the altar Miss Frances M. Rockwell, of Kankakee township, this county. She was a teacher in the schools and is a lady of intel- ligence and refinement. They have five children, all of whom are unusually bright, having inherited from their mother not only the ability to learn read- ily, but the more important art of imparting that knowledge to others under- standingly. They are Emma (Mrs. John Schmidt, of Spokane, Washing- ton), who was a graduate of the State Normal School at Terre Haute and enjoyed a fine reputation as a teacher, in Winamac, where she was principal,
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in Milwaukee, where she taught two years, and later as principal of the school in Helena, Montana; Lois I. lives at home and is a teacher in the Rensselaer schools, having prepared herself for her pedagogic work by a two-years course at the Terre Haute Normal School; Gertrude also took a two-years course at the same normal school and is now teaching in Marion township, making her home with her parents; Schuyler C. is a route agent in the United States mail service; and Sylvia, the youngest of the family, who is at home. She also was intending to teach, but too close application to her studies injured her health so that she has been obliged to rest for a time. This is an unusual record for a family, and the parents may well feel proud of such children. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are liberal contributors, both of time and money, to the cause. They own a pleasant home in Rensselaer and are liberal dis- pensers of hospitality.
Mr. Robinson is a past grand in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in politics is a Republican and voted for Mckinley, although he leans toward the Populists and towards the Prohibitionists at times. He has been candidate for auditor, and served three terms, consecutively, as trustee of Gillam township.
RICHARD COOPER.
Richard Cooper, who was named in honor of his paternal grandfather, a respected citizen of Delaware, is a native of Indiana, his birth having oc- curred in Union township, Fulton county, upon the old homestead owned and carried on by his parents. His ancestors, as far as known, have followed agricultural pursuits as a means of livelihood, and, without exception, have been noted for all of the qualities which go towards the making of good and thoroughly desirable citizens.
William Cooper, the father of our subject, was born in Sussex county, Delaware, and continued to reside there until he reached man's estate. Be- lieving that the west afforded better opportunities to an ambitious young man, he came to Indiana, and in the vicinity of Attica, Fountain county, found employment on the Wabash & Erie canal, then in process of con- struction. Later he made his home in Fulton county, and eventually came to Pulaski county, where his death occurred about 1872. His devoted wife, whose maiden name was Mary Weible, survived him many years, dying about 1855. She was a native of Pennsylvania, and was married to Mr. Cooper about 1841. They became the parents of the following named chil- dren: Ann E., Richard, Peter, Martha, William Martin, John and Luke.
Richard Cooper, born April 18, 1843, remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when he yielded to his earnest longing to strike a
John Brain
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blow for the Union, in which he firmly believed. He enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in October, 1864, and served until his country no longer had need of him. He took part in numerous encounters with the enemy, and was actively engaged in the battle of Franklin, December 13 and 14, 1864, and Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864. After Lee's surrender he was honorably discharged, July 21, 1865, at Indianapolis.
Returning home from the southern battle-fields, Mr. Cooper resumed his former occupation of agriculture, renting land for some time. In 1883 he bought his present fine homestead, situated on section 24, Franklin township. This farm he has greatly improved, having built necessary barns and fences and placed the land under good cultization. In addition to operating his home farm, he has rented outside land from time to time and has been pros- pered in his business undertakings.
On the 29th of December, 1868, Mr. Cooper married Margaret Ann Morse, a daughter of Solomon and Harriet (Baum) Morse. She was born October 13, 1847, in Rochester, Fulton county, Indiana, and by her mar- riage she became the mother of one daughter, Ruth Lenora, who was born October 24, 1869, and died March 3, 1880.
The boys who wore the blue during the Rebellion have ever had a warm place in Mr. Cooper's heart, and he greatly enjoys the comradeship of Win- amac Post, G. A. R., with which he is connected. In his political standing he is a stanch Republican, having departed from the faith of his father, who was affiliated with the opposite party.
JOHN FRAIN.
Few citizens of Pulaski county are more widely known or have taken a more active part in the upbuilding and development of this section of Indiana than John Frain, who, for some fifty-five years has been a resident here. Like all of the frontiersmen, he was obliged to endure many hardships in the early days, but he possesses the courage and force of character of his Ger- man ancestors, and by persistence and determination won a decided victory over difficulties which would have daunted many men.
The original spelling of our subject's surname was Frahn, it is believed, and by accident or design it was changed to its present form, -Frain. His grandfather Frain was born in Germany and was for years a resident in the environs of Philadelphia, where he was engaged in the teaming business. The parents of John Frain were Peter and Rebecca (Bilger) Frain, both natives of Maxatawney township, Berks county, Pennsylvania. The father, who was small in stature, and weighed only one hundred and forty pounds,
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was a stone mason by trade, and while working and lifting received injuries from the effects of which he died, December 28, 1822, at the age of forty- six years. At that time he was making his home near Middleburg, in Centre township, Union county, Pennsylvania, and his remains were laid at rest in the old Hosinger Lutheran church-yard. He was a lifelong member of that church. His will was probated before Peter Hachenberg, at New Berlin, January 4, 1823, John Bilger, his brother-in-law, being named as his executor.
His widow, Rebecca Frain, who was born December 14, 1785, died Jan- uary 31, 1874, and was buried in the Grubb churchyard in Union county. Pennsylvnaia. She had become acquainted with Mr. Frain in childhood, but their marriage took place in Union county, where she thenceforth made her dwelling-place. Four years subsequent to the death of Mr. Frain she became the wife of Frederick Meiser, who was a substantial farmer and the proprie- tor of a saw and grist mill. They had two sons, namely: Joseph, born Novem- ber 12, 1827, and Frederick, June 23, 1829. The elder son, who died in 1896, never left the old homestead in Union county, and in addition to owing considerable valuable real estate he was the owner of several mills. He married a Miss Schadel first, and had five children by that union, and later married another lady and had several children. Frederick, the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Meiser, is now living in Perry county, Pennsylvania. He has been married three times, his first wife being a Miss Houser, and several children graced their union. Mrs. Rebecca (Frain) Meiser was a large woman physically, and was exceedingly active and energetic. Doubtless her chil- dren inherited from her much of her strength of constitution and keenness and vigor of mind and disposition. Her father, George Bilger, a tailor by trade, came to America from Germany prior to the war for independence, and dur- ing the Revolution he was employed in making clothes for the soldiers. His eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married Robert Hasley, a carpenter, and lived in the Keystone state. Rebecca, (Mrs. Frain) was the next in order of birth. Susan, the next, first married Samuel Boyer, a tanner, of Middlebury, and later she became the wife of a Mr. Keller and had several children. Jacob, the next of the family, married Mollie Gilbert, and he, as well as his younger brothers, George and John, were stone masons, all living in Pennsylvania. John was engaged in farming, also, and for his wife he chose a Miss Wetzel. Frederick, the youngest of the family, also a farmer, was born November 6, 1787, in Maxatawney township, Berks county, and married a Miss Katherine Boyer.
John Frain is the fourth child of Peter and Rebecca (Bilger) Frain. The eldest, Sarah, was born March 20, 1809, died February 6, 1893, and was buried in the Winamac cemetery. In her girlhood she became the second wife of Lewis Guss, who was a tailor by trade. She bore him eighteen chil-
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dren, eight of whom are living, and Edward and Peter reside in Pulaski coun- ty. Catherine, born about 1811, died and was buried in Michigan. She was the wife of Benjamin Shetherley, a farmer of that state, and a number of children blessed their union. Peter, born February 2, 1814, in Middleburg, Pennsylvania, died in that town May 6, 1889. He was a tailor by trade and followed that calling throughout his active life. For a wife he chose Nancy Baughmann and they became the parents of John, Charles, Howard, Mary Elizabeth and Martha. Elizabeth, born July 14, 1818, in Middleburg, mar- ried Michael Womer, who was born December 15, 1818. When they had reached middle life they were quite substantial people, physically, as he weighed two hundred and forty-five pounds, while her weight was about two hundred and twenty-five or thirty. Their children, seven sons and three daughters, were also remarkably large and strong. Peter married a Miss Rouch and moved to Michigan, where he has become wealthy and highly re- spected. He owns about thirteen hundred acres of fertile land, most of which is under high cultivation. George, born September 7, 1820, in Middleburg, died and was buried in Lafayette, Indiana, in November, 1893. He came to the west in 1842, and, after spending a year in Logansport, went to La- fayette, where he made his permanent home. For some time he was engaged in running a tailoring establishment, but later he dealt in real estate and did teaming and transferring. He married a Miss Cook and their only child was Oscar. Mary, born May 4, 1822, died in Perry county, Pennsylvania, at the age of fifty-five years. Her first husband, Henry Sechrist, was a prosper- ous farmer, owning large islands in the Susquehanna river. They had two daughters. After the death of Mr. Sechrist his widow married Henry C. Clemens and they had several children. Both are now dead.
The birth of John Frain, of this sketch, occurred October 3, 1816, in the town of Middleburg, Union county, Pennsylvania. He was young when death deprived him of his father, and after his mother's second marriage the lad was offered sixty dollars to stay with them until he was eighteen years of age, Lewis Guss being made his guardian. Six months at the blacksmith's trade, however, was as much as the youth desired, and he left home and worked for George Lyman, a carpenter, for two years, and learned the trade, Mr. Lyman giving him only his board for his services. He then completed his trade at Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and worked as a journeyman until June, 1839, when he started for the west, believing that he would have bet- ter opportunities in a new country.
On the 25th of June, 1839, he and Rudolph Hoch embarked on a canal- boat at Lewistown, thence going to Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, over the mountains to Johnstown, and by canal to Pittsburg, down the Ohio river to Cincinnati, and, after two days spent in that town, went by stage to Indiall-
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apolis. There they found employment with Jonathan Gable, a contractor and builder, for three months, after which they went to Rochester, and there separated, Mr. Hoch going to visit his sister, Mrs. Abraham Bruce, in Fulton county, while our subject went to Laporte county, and worked at his trade with Mr. Griffith Treadway, until December, 1839. The two young men then joined their fortunes again, and prospered in various places,-Laporte, Michigan City, South Bend, Plymouth, Rochester, Delphi, Logansport and Lafayette among others,-looking for work and a good opening for business. At the last named place they remained, being employed by J. L. Pfeifer until the spring of 1840, and thus Mr. Frain was enabled to attend the convention which nominated William Henry Harrison for the presidency, on the famous battle ground at Tippecanoe.
In May, 1840, the two young men came to Pulaski county, where Mr. Hoch had sisters residing. In 1842 Mr. Frain bought, for two hundred dol- lars in cash, the pre-emption claim of Jesse Klinger (uncle of Colfax Klinger, of Winamac). This tract of land, one hundred and forty-two acres and a fraction, situated on section 19, in Monroe township, Pulaski county, was improved by a small log cabin, and five acres had been broken and planted with corn. The patent to this property was made out to Mr. Frain, August 1, 1844, and signed by the president of the United States, John Tyler. In the meantime Mr. Frain had been employed at his trade in Logansport, and in the spring of 1844 he returned to his native state on a visit. In the autumn of the same year he came back to Indiana, but before going east he became the owner of another tract of land-thirty-three acres, bought of Henry P. Rowan, the payment therefor being one horse. In 1846 Mr. Frain settled on his farm, which has been his home ever since, and as the years passed he added to his possessions and improved his property until it bears little resemblance to the wild tract of half a century ago. In the home place he has about five hundred acres, in addition to which he owns forty-three acres on section 7, Tippecanoe township; forty-five acres on section 35, Har- rison township, where his daughter, Mrs. George Graffis, lives; fifty-four acres on section 19, same township; and one hundred and sixty acres-the old Helm farm-in Harrison township, now managed by his son, Felix Frain. Alto- gether, Mr. Frain owns about eight hundred acres in this county, four hundred acres or more of this being improved and under cultivation, and three good dwellings and other buildings stand on this property. After coming here he resided in the old cabin for four years, and then built a large log house, which sheltered his family until 1865. That year witnessed the erection of the present house of our subject. He owns an interest in the Frain Hotel, at Winamac, and it is named in his honor, and besides this he owns other prop- erty there.
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The marriage of John Frain and Rebecca Jane Donham, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Cohee) Donham, took place January 1, 1846. She was born October 15, 1820, in St. Clair township, Butler county, Ohio, on her father's farm, and when she was but three years old her mother, then only thirty years of age, was summoned to the silent land. She left five children, namely: Rachel, Sarah, John, Rebecca and Nancy. The father married again, choosing Mary Lyman for his wife, and they became the parents of Mary, Julia and Samuel. The entire family of Daniel Donham (with the exception of Rachel) came west in 1837 and located in Carroll county, Indi- ana. The father died July 30, 1863, aged seventy odd years. He was of English descent, a son of Richard and Nancy Donham, of Delaware. Rich- ard and Nancy Donham passed their entire lives in that state, and left three children: Rachel, Daniel and Hannah. The Cohees, as well as the Don- hams, were Delaware people.
The children born to John Frain and wife are named as follows: Edwin, Daniel, George, John, Mary Emma, Felix B. T., Sarah Jane, William Henry and Alice. Edwin and Felix B. T. are represented elsewhere in this work. Daniel, born March 12, 1848, is the proprietor of a marbleyard at Rochester, Indiana. He married Elnora Emory, and has three sons, William Henry, Carl and Howard. George, born February 2, 1850, was married, on Christ- mas day, 1872, to Fiana, daughter of William Wentz. She was born in Har- rison township, this county, March 25, 1855, and by her marriage has two daughters, Hilda Myrtle and Mary Belle, aged sixteen and eleven years, respectively. John, born December 6, 1851, died June 16, 1863. Mary Emma, born December 19, 1853, became the wife of George Washington Graffis, a farmer of this county, December 31, 1874. His birth occurred March 31, 1850, in Pulaski county. Their children are: Bertha Alice, born September 22, 1875; Virgil Warren, July 29, 1877; Earl Floyd, March 29, 1879; and Thomas Errett, June 6, 1881. Bertha Alice and Elmer Rouch were united in marriage July 12, 1892, and their two children are Otto Sam- uel, born June 7, 1893, and Grace Marguerite, December 15, 1894. Sarah Jane, born December 27, 1858, is the wife of David Wood, a miller, living at Terre Haute, and their children are Effie Frain and Otto. William Henry, born May 8, 1861, died March 17, 1872. Alice, born October 2, 1864, died October I, 1865.
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