USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 50
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 50
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 50
USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 50
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 50
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 50
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 50
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Mr. Ewalt was married, by Father Pitts, at Tiffin, Ohio, January 28, ISSO, to Miss Louisa Steinmetz. She was born near St. Stephens, Ohio, March 19, 1863, and is a daughter of Michael Steinmetz, of Tiffin. Four children were born to them: Esther, born January 30, 1890; Urban, born July 28, 1891; Eleta, and Isadorus. He is a member of the Dunnington church, whose edifice he also was interested in erecting, and is a charter mem- ber of the Catholic Order of Foresters at that place. In politics he is a stanch Democrat.
JOHN DUNN.
This well-known resident of Dunnington, Benton county, Indiana, is an enterprising and highly respected citizen who has done much to advance the county's best interests. He was born in county Tipperary, Ireland, on November 27, 1837, and is the son of John and Josie (Murphey) Dunn. John Dunn was a grain-buyer and shipper in Ireland, but in 1844 he came to America, landing at New York, and making his way at once to the inte- rior. He reached Lockport, Illinois, and began work on the Illinois & Mich-
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igan canal, building the wall of section 45. He remained here until his death in 1854. His wife, Josie Murphey, was likewise a native of Tipperary, Ireland, where she was married. She followed her husband to this country in 1852, and died in Lockport, Illinois, twelve years later, aged sixty years. Their family consisted of four children: William, who died in San Francisco, in 1896; John, our subject; Mary, who died in Chicago, in 1896, was the wife of Donald McKinnon; and James, who lives two miles north of Dunnington, is represented elsewhere in this work. The maternal grandmother Armstrong lived to reach her one hundred and second year.
John Dunn came to America with his father in 1844, and entered the Lockport schools, in which he was a student until his twentieth year, when he entered the lumber-yard at Lockport, as salesman. He continued there for five or six years and then went into the service of the government during the war, handling hay. After the close of the war he purchased eighty acres of land two miles west of Lockport, and eighty acres near Wellington. He cultivated this land until 1873, at which time he sold it and came to Benton county, Indiana, and bought two hundred and forty acres. The village of Dunnington is located upon a part of this land and Mr. Dunn has added sev- eral improvements, putting up two good, commodious residences, with barns, etc., and the store building which he has occupied since 1887. He ran the first telegraph line across Benton county, connecting Ambia and Fowler. This is now used as a telephone line.
Mr. Dunn entered the state of matrimony in April, 1867, while a resi- dent of Lockport. His bride was Miss Mary A. Robbins, a native of Oneida county, New York, and a daughter of William and Margaret (Tracy) Robbins, of Ireland. She was born in 1837. They have three children: Julia, born March 10, 1868, is the wife of James Murray, who is working. Mr. Dunn's farm; Manuella was born March 2, 1869, and lives at home; and Clara, born February 14, 1874, is the wife of Charles Nickern. Mr. Dunn is a stanch Democrat, and served as trustee of the village during the years 1888-90. He is a zealous member of the Dunnington church, whose edifice he was largely instrumental in erecting.
ANDERSON WATSON, A. M., M. D.
One of the most exacting of all the higher lines of occupation to which a man may lend his energies is that of the physician. A most scrupulous pre- liminary training is demanded, and a nicety of judgment but little understood by the laity. Our subject is well fitted for the profession which he has chosen as a life work, and his skill and ability have won for him a lucrative practice in and around Earl Park, where he now makes his home.
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The Doctor was born in Johnston, Renfrewshire, Scotland, January 27, 1861, and comes of an old and highly respected family of that country, his parents being William and Helen (Anderson) Watson, and his parental grandparents, Robert and Anne (Gemnil) Watson. The grandfather was a . foreman millwright in Stewart's cotton-mill at Johnston, at which place he spent his entire life, and was an elder in the United Presbyterian church there. He died at the age of fifty-five years, and his wife passed away at the extreme age of ninety-nine. Her forefathers were Covenanters and were shot on Fenwick moor, Ayrshire, together with other members of the con- gregation, by Cleverhouse, whose real name was Rigg. The Doctor's ma- ternal grandparents were William and Elizabeth (Lawson) Anderson. The grandfather, who was a stone-mason by occupation, was likewise born in Johnston, where he died at the age of forty-five years, but his wife passed away in Glasgow, Scotland, at the age of eighty-nine.
William Watson, the Doctor's father, was born in 1820, in Johnston, and there attended school and learned his trade. For some time he was foreman of the engine department of the John Napier cotton manufactory and for Coats, Nelson & Company, thread manufacturers. For a half century he has been an elder in the East United Presbyterian church, in which his fa- ther held the same office, and carried the latter's Bible to that church every Sunday for several years. In 1850 he was married at Johnston, by the Rev. Mr. Allison, of the Kilbarchan United Presbyterian church, to Miss Helen Anderson, who was born at that place in 1827, and died at the birth of our subject. Three children were born to them, but the first two, each named Robert, died in infancy. After the death of the mother the father married Elizabeth Boag, in 1864, and they still make their home in Johnston, Scot- land. Two children were born of this union: Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Clark, of Johnston, partner in the firm of William Paton & Son, manufac- turer of sundries; and William, a resident of Castle-Douglas, in Dumfries- shire, Scotland, who is in the employ of the Glasgow & Southwestern Rai !- road Company.
At the age of five years Dr. Watson began his education in a private school conducted by Mrs. Dewar, of Thornhill, Scotland, and at the age of eight entered the Quarrelton school, where he remained until he was eleven. He then attended the Elderslie Wallace school for five years, and every day during this time, on his way to and from school, he passed the Wallace tree and castle, which castle is supposed to have a subterranean passage to Ster- ling castle. Later he was a student at the Glasgow University, where he was graduated with the degree of Master of Arts, in 1884. He next spent four years at Edinburg, where he studied Hebrew, Arabic, Syriac and Cop- tic. At the end of that time he came to America, where he visited Nova
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Scotia, New Brunswick, and several points between Maine and Colorado, and then returned to Ontario, Canada. He later entered the Michigan College of Medicine and Surgery, at which he was graduated with the degree of M. D., in 1894, and after twenty months spent in practice at Pinconning, Michigan, he came to Earl Park, Indiana, where by the quiet, steady perse- verance of a Scotchman, he has succeeded in building up an excellent prac- tice, and now owns his office and residence at that place.
At Denver, Colorado, June 1, 1893, Dr. Anderson was united in mar- riage with Miss Helen Forrester Innes, whom he met while she was serving as matron of the county hospital in that city. Her father, Robert Innes, was an extensive farmer of Auldearn, Nairnshire, Scotland, who died at the age of fifty years, while his wife died at the age of thirty-five. In their fam- ily were four children, of whom Mrs. Watson is the eldest, the others being Alexander, now head plowman of a large estate in Nairnshire, Scotland; Amelia, who is single and resides in Elgin, Scotland; and Christina, wife of A. A. Noble, postmaster of Williamsport, Argyleshire, Scotland. The Doctor and his wife have two children: Sheila, born in Pinconning, Michi- gan, April 14, 1894; and William Innes, born in Earl Park, Indiana, March 13, 1896. The Scottish forefathers of these children belonged to the Suth- erland clan.
In religious belief Dr. Watson is a Presbyterian, and in political senti- ment is a stanch Republican, but not a politician in the sense of office-seek- ing. Socially he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for ten years, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for eight years, the Knights of the Maccabees for four years, and the Independent Order of Foresters for about the same length of time.
FURMAN E. D. McGINLEY.
The subject of this review received an academic education, being a student of Bolmars Academy, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. In early man- hood he located in Ohio and in 1854 was elected the first mayor of the town in which he resided, Mechanicsburg, Ohio. Coming to Lafayette in 1857, he has ever since been a resident of this city and in 1869 he was elected mayor, but at the expiration of his term he declined going before the con- vention for renomination. In 1873 he was again elected mayor and at the close of his second term once more declined re-election, preferring to give his attention to the Sunday Leader, which paper he established in 1874, contin- uing sole editor and proprietor for ten successive years, and disposing of it in 1884. In 1879 Mr. McGinley was elected a member of the common council of Lafayette, being the first Democrat that ever represented the third ward in
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municipal affairs. Just before the expiration of his term as councilman, in 1881, he was again placed in nomination by the Democrats for the mayoralty and again elected, and in 1883 he served for the fourth time as the city's presiding officer. In June, 1886, he became associate editor of the Lafayette Sunday Times, which position he retained for nearly four years. In May, 1889, he was elected mayor for the fifth time and in 1891 succeeded himself in that honorable office. Just before the expiration of his sixth term as mayor, the legislature prolonged the terms of elected municipal officials seventeen additional months, this extension making Mr. McGinley's career as mayor of Lafayette equivalent to seven terms. During the '70s Mr. McGinley was a member of the Democratic state central committee for three years and was twice the nominee of his party for representative, his defeat being due to the fact that in his district the Democrats were largely in the minority. He was chairman of the Democratic central committee of Tippecanoe county for eight years, chairman of the city central committee for four years and was president of the Cleveland & Hendricks Club of this city, which attained an enrolled membership of 1,407.
When the Typographical Union was first organized in Lafayette Mr. Mc- Ginley was elected an honorary member of the society and has ever since retained his identification with the organization, participating with them in every public demonstration, his recognition of the various labor organizations being so avowed that on last Labor day he was elected by the various bodies in this city to preside over the observance of the ceremonies peculiar to such an occasion. Mr. McGinley vacated the management of the Grand opera- house in August, 1898, after satisfactorily catering to the amusement public for fifteen or more years.
Mr. McGinley retains an active oversight of whatever is occupying the attention of the public mind and is ever ready to give assistance to all enter- prises looking to the welfare of the community in which he has held such a prominent place.
LEWIS W. HUBBELL.
This gentleman, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Pu- laski county and numbered among its leading and influential citizens, descends from New England ancestry, the family having been founded in America in early colonial days, probably in Connecticut. His great-grand- father spent nearly his entire life in New York state, but died in Dearborn county, Indiana, at the home of his son Merritt, about 1853, when ninety years of age. He had seven sons.
His son Merritt was the grandfather of our subject, and was born in the " land of steady habits," in 1790. Removing to New York, he became one
R
Law. W. Hubbell Mary & Byers Hubbell.
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of the pioneer farmers in the western section of that state. He married Mehitable Hubbell, who was of the same descent, and their children were John, Sylvia, Mary A., David and a daughter, Catharine, who married Daniel Engle. Merritt Hubbell served as a soldier in the New York state militia. He removed to Chillicothe, Ohio, at an early period in its develop- ment, and there in the midst of the forest improved a farm. Subsequently he moved to Dearborn county, Indiana, where he entered land and made a large farm, becoming one of the leading agriculturists of the community. He served for sixteen years as justice of the peace at Hubbell's Corners, which was the junction of five roads and was so called in his honor. He was a member of the Baptist church and filled a number of its offices. In an early day the religious services of that denomination for his neighborhood were held at his house. He spent his last days upon his farm at Hubbell's Cor- ners, dying in April, 1857, at the age of sixty-seven years. In 1855 he had entered two hundred acres of land in White Post township, Pulaski county, and one hundred and three acres in Salem township, but never lived upon either. After his death this property was divided among his children.
Thomas Ewart, the maternal great-grandfather of Lewis W. Hubbell, was born December 25, 1754, in Ireland, within three miles of Enniskillen, county Fermanagh. He was a tanner by trade, came to America when young, and married Mrs. Fannie Moore, a widow and also a native of the Emerald Isle. Mr. Ewart first settled in Wilmington, Dearborn county, Indiana, in pioneer times, opened a farm on a tract of a hundred and twenty acres which he owned, and lived there the remainder of his life, passing away at the age of eighty-four years. He had but one daughter, Elizabeth, who had a half brother and sister-Robert and Sallie Moore. In his religion he was an old-school Presbyterian.
David Hubbell, the father of our subject, was born in Jackson county, Ohio, August 31, 1826, and acquired a common-school education. With his parents he moved to Dearborn county, this state, where he spent the greater part of his youth, and was married, in 1847, to Miss Frances O. Wood. She was born in the village of Wilmington, that county, November 27, 1825, a daughter of Joel P. and Elizabeth (Ewart) Wood. Her father, a farmer who was a native of New York, was of an old Connecticut family of English line- age. His mother dying in childbirth, and his father having died previously, he was reared by an uncle. In the war of 1812, while he was too young for service in the field, then aged sixteen, he acted as a drummer boy, thus par- ticipating in the battle of Lundy's Lane and other engagements. When he came to Dearborn county, this state, he was a young man, unmarried, and after marriage he continued to reside on the Thomas Ewart homestead. He also served as a private soldier in the war between Texas and Mexico, under 63
-
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General Sam Houston, thus aiding in securing the independence of the Lone Star republic. He enlisted at Cincinnati, while there on business. His pay was to be a Spanish square league of land, which was equivalent to about four thousand, four hundred and forty-four acres.
After the war he returned to Indiana, but the next year he went again to Texas and took up a section of land in what afterward became Wood county, that division of the state being named in his honor. Subsequently he again came north, and then once more went to Texas, where, it is believed, he died of yellow fever on the Red river. His widow went to that state about 1860 to look after the land. At Dallas she found an entry of a section of land in her husband's name, and then walked and rode horseback many miles to reach the tract, passing through an almost unexplored section of the coun- try, keeping a solitary camp at night, and making her saddle a pillow when she had a horse to ride, in the midst of the wilderness, and braving the dangers that might be occasioned by wild beasts, wilder Indians, or the rough des- peradoes then common in that country. However, she ultimately reached her destination, secured a deed to the land, and finally (not till after the civil war) was the squatter's claim settled; and then she sold it. Mr. and Mrs. Wood were the parents of the following named children: Francis O., Lydia E., Stephen, Thomas E. and Elizabeth W. Stephen was a soldier in the Mexican war, and was captured by the Mexicans, but after being badly cut he succeeded in making his escape. He was a member of the army when it reached the city of Mexico, and witnessed its surrender. On the march he was overcome in some way and fell out of the ranks, and he would have been left behind had not the celebrated General "Jim" Lane, afterward of Kan- sas border-trouble notoriety, dismounted and placed him on his own horse, and he rode into the city. After the war he was a steamboat master for a while, and he finally died in a hospital. Mrs. Elizabeth Wood, wife of Joel P., lived to the venerable age of eighty-eight years, dying at Monon, at the residence of her daughter, in the year 1891.
In addition to agricultural pursuits in Dearborn county, David Hubbell carried on merchandising for some years, but in 1856 disposed of his prop- erty in that county and purchased eighty acres of partially improved land in Salem township, Pulaski county. There he made his home until 1865, when he sold that tract and bought a hundred and twenty acres in White Post town- ship, -a part of the farm upon which his son Lewis now resides. It was wild prairie and timber land, but he at once began its improvement, and soon transformed it into rich and fertile fields, making his home thereon until his death. He was a war Democrat, and took an active interest in politics. He did much to raise men and money to clear the township from the draft, and twice succeeded, but the last time the draft was proclaimed half of the men
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in the township were thus forced into the service. Mr. Hubbell was an ex- cellent citizen, and was active in promoting interests for the public good. He was elected a member of the board of county commissioners, serving from 1866 until 1876, and was called the "bull-dog of the county treasury," be- cause of his watchfulness over the public finances. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist church, and died on his farm January 5, 1879, at the age of fifty-two years. His children were Sylvia, Lewis W., James, Cyrus M., Edward E. and John M.
Lewis W. Hubbell, whose name introduces this review, was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, August 11, 1849, and pursued his education in a log school-house with a puncheon floor, slab seats and stick chimney. He came with his parents to Pulaski county in his seventh year, and when a young man taught school for four terms, part of the time in White Post township and one term in Medaryville. He then began merchandising as a dealer in grain, farm implements and sewing machines, in Francesville, carrying on operations in that line until 1876, when he sold out and removed to his present farm in White Post township, Pulaski county, purchasing a part of the old homestead. He owned ninety acres of this land, and he has added to it from time to time until he now has a valuable property of two hundred and fifty-four acres, on which he has built a pleasant residence and made other substantial improvements, having one of the best farms of the neighborhood. Its well tilled fields and neat appearance indicate his careful supervision, and his labors are rewarded with good financial returns.
On the 14th of November, 1875, Mr. Hubbell was married in Valparaiso, Indiana, to Mary E. Byers, a lady of culture and refinement, who completed her education in the normal school at Valparaiso. She was born in Clinton county, Indiana, February 15, 1857, and is a daughter of Joshua and Eliza- beth (Young) Byers. Her father is one of the respected citizens and old set- tlers of Pulaski county, and is a representative of an old Pennsylvania family of German descent. His grandfather, Jacob Byers, was born in the Keystone state and was one of the pioneer farmers of Perry county, Pennsylvania. His children were Adam, Benjamin, Ephraim, Joshua, Susan Elizabeth and Eve. Of this family Joshua was a soldier in the war of 1812 and partici- pated in the battle of Lundy's Lane. The father of this family died in Pennsylvania. Ephraim Byers, the grandfather of Mrs. Hubbell, was born in Perry county, about 1894, and was a farmer and miller. In his native state he married Catherine White, who was born near Philadelphia, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. Ephraim Byers built a mill in Powell's valley, Pennsylvania, and carried on business there until 1833, when he removed to Clinton county, Indiana. He made the journey with wagons, bringing his family with him. He settled within three miles of Frankfort, where he
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bought prairie and timber land to the amount of two hundred and forty acres. There he built a house and barn and improved an excellent farm. In 1847 he built a mill on the south fork of Wildcat creek, in Clinton county, and operated it for some time, when he sold to his sons Abner and Joshua. He was a well-to-do man, prominent in his county and much respected. In politics he was a Jackson Democrat and was twice elected to the Indiana legislature, serving his last term in 1849. In religious faith he was a Presby- terian. In 1854 he went to Missouri to see the country and there died, at the age of sixty years. His children were Jacob, Abner, Joshua, David, Mathew P., Elenora, Agnes, Mary and Eliza.
Joshua Byers, the father of Mrs. Hubbell, was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, May 21, 1824, and when about four years of age was brought by his parents to Clinton county, Indiana, where he was reared amid the wild scenes of pioneer life. He received a limited education in the common schools and later attended Franklin College, in Johnson county, for one term. He became a farmer and in connection with his brother Abner purchased the Byers homestead in 1852. In 1854 he traded for half the mill and engaged in its operation. He was married November 14, 1850, in Jackson township, Clinton county, to Elizabeth Young, who was born March 18, 1830, in that county, a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Carker) Young. Her father was of Holland Dutch descent, a son of Mathias Young, who was born in Holland. The latter was a farmer by occupation and on coming to this country located in Pennsylvania. Later he became one of the pioneer settlers of Mont- gomery county, Indiana, and improved a farm on the edge of Twelve Mile prairie. He had served his adopted country in the Revolutionary war, loyally aiding in the struggle for independence. He died of malarial fever some time after coming to Indiana, but his widow lived to the advanced age of ninety years. Their children were Mathias, Henry, Samuel, David, Daniel and Solomon.
Henry Young, the father of Mrs. Byers, was born in Ohio, and married Sarah Carker, a native of Pennsylvania. He then located on a farm near Dayton, in Montgomery county, Ohio, and in 1829 removed to Clinton county, Indiana, where he purchased three hundred and sixty acres of land on Twelve Mile prairie. Part of it was covered with timber, but he cleared away the trees, plowed the fields and in course of time gathered abundant harvests. There he reared his family, including seven daughters and three sons, namely: Minerva, Margaret, Sarah, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Keziah, Mary Ann, Henry, John and Perry. The parents were members of the New Light or Christian church and were people of the highest respectability. Mr. Young died about 1839, at the age of forty-five years and the community mourned the loss of one of its most valued and substantial citizens.
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After their marriage Joshua Byers and his wife, the parents of Mrs. Hub- bell, located in Clinton county on a part of the old Byers homestead, which he purchased of his father. He then traded for a half interest in the mill, and later purchased the other half. He carried on the milling business for about ten years, prospering in the undertaking, and in 1865 he removed to Iroquois county, Illinois, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land. A few years later he returned to White Post township, Pulaski county, and located on a farm which he ran for fifteen years, when he sold out. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Byers were born twelve children, eleven of whom reached mature years: Ephraim H., Mathew F., Florence A., Mary E., Richard J., Ida E., Catherine E., who died at the age of seventeen years, Sarah A., Lillie E., Lucia A. M., Enoch, and Arthur, who died in infancy, and was a twin of Enoch. The parents are members of the Christian church, and Mr. Byers was formerly a Democrat in his political affiliation, but is now a Prohibitionist. He has served as justice of the peace for nine years in White Post township, and is a gentleman of sterling worth, who, in business, public or social relations, is ever found true to duty.
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