USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 55
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 55
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 55
USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 55
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 55
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 55
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 55
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
P. Miller, Mary Ann Blessing, was born in Greene county, Ohio, August 30, 1826, and their marriage took place September 7, 1846. Her father, Reu- ben Blessing, was born in March, 1800, in Shenandoah county, Virginia, and removed to Greene county, Ohio, with his father, John Blessing, at an early · day. The latter's wife was Clara Skeen in her girlhood, and their children were seven in number, namely: Abraham, Marcus, Reuben, John, Isaac, Joseph, and Catherine. The first wife of Reuben Blessing was Elizabeth, daughter of George Coffel, and sister of Jacob, Michael, Joseph, Moses, Re- becca, and Mary. She was born May 5, 1808, in Shenandoah county, Vir- ginia, and was married to Mr. Blessing December 1, 1825. Their eldest child was Mary Ann, the mother of Mrs. DePoy, born August 30, 1826. The other children were as follows: Marcus, born December 26, 1828, married first Clarissa Holton, and had one son, Charles Johnson, and then wedded Mary Ladd, by whom he had five children: Thomas, Charles, Elmer, George and Lucy; Leannah, born April 8, 1831, married Thomas Hollingshead, of Greene county, Ohio, and has two sons, Willard and Franklin; Joseph, born January 12, 1834, now living in Missouri, has one child, Rose; Melissa, born May 28, 1837, married William Holton, now of Warren county, Indiana, and their children are James, Elizabeth and John; Milburn Albert, the next child, is deceased; Clarinda Elizabeth, born November 29, 1839, married Ball McConnell, and resides at Oxford, Benton county, Indiana; George Allen, born May 21; 1841, married Margaret Ladd, and their children are Abbie, Edwin and Tam; Henry Jefferson, born on Christmas day, 1843, died at the age of sixteen years; Sarah Catherine, born October 6, 1847, married John Watkins, now deceased, and their children were William, Annie, and a little boy who died; Rebecca Maria, born October 30, 1850, died in infancy. For a second wife Reuben Blessing chose Mary Ann Burch, and their only child, Martin Solomon, was born in Oxford.
The children of John P. Miller and wife are as follows: Emily Tiner, who was born November 11, 1847, married John H. D. Conner, in this county, and removed to Nebraska. In 1898 he returned to this county, where he is living at Star City, his wife having passed away January 21, 1887. Their daughter, Estella, married Charles Clark, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and has one child, Alice. James, son of John P. Miller, volunteered his services in the late war with Spain, and is seeing active campaigning in the Philippines as a member of the First Nebraska Infantry, which has been especially noted for gallantry and daring in the far-away Pacific isles. Edmund Ira, a younger brother, is a resident of Star City, Indiana. Francis M., born August 20, 1849, lives in Howard county, Indiana. He married May Perkins, and their children are Anna, Cora, Charles, Woodston, George and an infant. Mary Elizabeth, born February 22, 1852, became the wife
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of William M. Crane, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Bar- bara Ellen, born November 21, 1853, first married Samuel Heater and then wedded his brother, Joseph. She died April 4, 1894, leaving three children: Edith, who married John Metz and has one child, Charles A .; John Milburn, now employed by Martin Stipp; and Reuben Lewis, who lives with his step- father, Joseph Heater. Clarinda Alice is the next in order of birth. John Henry, born May 10, 1849, lives on a farm on section 14, Harrison town- ship. George Blessing Miller, born December 4, 1862, now in Benton county, married Avis Rodman and has a little boy. Reuben Abram, born on Christmas day, 1865, rents and carries on the David Enyard farm.
In his political faith William S. DePoy is a Populist. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow of excellent standing, having passed all of the chairs in the Winamac lodge; is the present commander of Star City Lodge No. 107, Knights of the Maccabees, and, with his estimable wife, is identified with the Daughters of Rebekah. They are members of the Christian church, are earnest in the support of righteous enterprises, and are esteemed by every one.
GUSTAV DASEKE.
Gustav Daseke is one of the oldest settlers of Francesville and a most highly respected citizen. Coming from Germany to America in early life, he found himself a stranger in a strange land, but with resolute purpose and unfaltering determination he began the task of seeking a means of livelihood, and his industry and energy in life have won him a place among the substan- tial citizens of the community in which he now resides. He was born in Prussia, on the 31st of December, 1833, and is a son of Henry and Hannah (Deneke) Daseke. His father was a stone-mason by trade, but put aside his business cares in order to serve as a soldier in the seven-years war against Napoleon. In religious faith he was a Lutheran. He died when our sub- ject was but nine years of age, leaving three children, -Hannah, Gustav and Mary,-who were the only'members of the family that reached years of maturity.
Gustav Daseke acquired his education in the common schools of his native land, and then learned the harnessmaker's trade in his native village, thoroughly mastering the business. He lived with his mother during his term of apprenticeship and afterward worked as a journeyman in Prussia for six years. At length he determined to try his fortune in America, hoping thereby to benefit his financial condition, and in May, 1859, sailed from Bremen as a passenger on the good ship Augusta, one of the old-time sailing vessels, com- manded by Captain Erich. After a voyage of four weeks and five days anchor was dropped in the harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, and Mr. Daseke
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stepped on the shore of what was to him a new land, with whose people, man- ners and modes of life he was entirely unfamiliar. He at once came to Indi- ana and for about a year worked at the harnessmaker's trade in New Albany. He then spent one winter in New Orleans, Louisiana, after,which he returned to New Albany, and in December, 1861, came to Salem township, Pulaski county, where he worked as a farm hand for a short time. He next came to Francesville and has since engaged in the harness business here. For twenty years he was in partnership with Samuel Peter, but is now alone and is now enjoying a large and profitable business which has come to him as the result of his excellent workmanship, his honorable dealing and his earnest desire to please his patrons. A laudable ambition to secure prosper- ity through honorable effort has actuated his entire career, and to-day he is the possessor of a handsome competence, which he richly merits. As his financial resources have increased he has made judicious investments in real estate and is now the owner of some valuable property in Francesville.
In October, 1869, Mr. Daseke was united in marriage to Miss Emily D. Gardner, a daughter of Benjamin and Jane (Hull) Gardner. Her father belonged to an old American family and was born in the Empire state. Coming to Pulaski county, he settled on a farm in Salem township, but sub- sequently removed to Marion county, Indiana, where his last days were passed. His children were Alonzo, George, Frank, Henry, deceased, Phœbe, Emily and Eliza. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Daseke have been born three children, -George, Charles and Ray.
In his social relations Mr. Daseke is a Mason, and politically he is a Republican, but is not strongly partisan, and does not consider himself bound to support the candidates of any one party. He attends the Christian church, and lends his aid and co-operation to every movement calculated to prove of public benefit. His has been an honorable and useful career and illustrates most forcibly what may be accomplished in a land where individual ability is not hampered by caste or class. Here the man of energy and determination may steadily advance until he occupies a position among the most substantial citizens of the community, and such has been the record of Mr. Daseke, who has justly won the proud American title of a " self-made man."
· PERRIN KENT:
The pioneers of Indiana are fast passing away. The men and women who formed the advanced guard of civilization, who with great labor, deprivation and sacrifice made possible the happy conditions of life, which to-day are everywhere manifest, have passed from the stage of action. If here and there one still remains, the bent and tottering form is simply evidence
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
that the last of the pioneers will soon be gathered to his fathers. How important then that the history of the lives of these worthy men and women should be preserved, that future generatians may know to whom they are indebted for the blessings which they enjoy! The pioneer element of Warren county furnished no character more worthy of a permanent place in its his- tory than he who is the principal subject of this sketch, Perrin Kent.
Like many of the early settlers of Indiana, Mr. Kent was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Washington county, July 11, 1794. When a child he removed with his parents to Chillicothe, Ohio. This was not long subsequently to the admission of that state into the Union, and he grew to manhood amid the wild scenes of pioneer life, and was thus fitted in his youth for the important part he afterward took in the early development of Warren county. He had attained to early manhood when the second war with England, known as the war of 1812, took place. He entered the service of his country in this war, and in the latter part of his life was pensioned by the government for his services in its defence. ' He was also engaged in the famous, though less important, struggle with the Indians known as the Black Hawk war.
On April 17, 1817, Mr. Kent was married to Miss Rebecca Dill, who was connected with families well known in the history of the west, and a relative of General Arthur St. Clair, whose unfortunate defeat by the Indians in No- vember, 1794, has a prominent place in the history of the northwest. Mr. Kent in his early life studied surveying. The surveys of the public lands furnished him ample opportunity to pursue this calling, and he was for many years employed by the government in this occupation. It was in this capacity that he first came to Warren county. This was about 1820, and he made many of the original surveys of Warren county and other parts of the state. In 1826 he became a permanent resident of the county, locat- ing in the township which is named in his honor, and which was ever after- ward his home. He became possessed of a large amount of land, not less than two thousand acres, becoming both wealthy and influential. He was county and contract government surveyor for many years. He was a man possessing strong traits of character, was upright and honorable in all his dealings with his fellow men, and was in all respects a most worthy citizen. In his political views he was in early life a Whig, and was a Douglas Demo- crat in the days immediately preceding the war of the Rebellion. In that contest he took advanced ground in favor of the Union and in the suppression of those who would destroy the unity of the country. Mr. Kent passed away at his home in Kent township, January 31, 1882, full of honor and of years. His wife had passed away many years previously, her death occurring in 1863. They became the parents of eight children, three sons and five
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
daughters. One son and two daughters are still living, namely: John W. Kent, of Danville, Illinois; Mrs. Isabel Hannah, of Kent township; and Mrs. Caroline DuBois, also of Danville, Illinois.
The homestead farm in Kent township, which has been in possession of the family since 1826, a period of seventy-two years, is now owned by a grandson of Mr. Kent, William Carmichael, now a resident of Williamsport, Indiana, son of Ralph and Rebecca (Kent) Carmichael. The former was born in Lawrenceburg, Dearborn county, Indiana, November 29, 1827. He was a son of Duncan Carmichael, who was a son of John, who was a son of Archi- bald Carmichael. The Carmichael's are of Scotch ancestry and come from an old family of Scotch Covenanters. The first to come to America was John Carmichael, who in 1760, with his wife, Nancy Graham, settled in Orange, New Jersey. Their son Duncan emigrated thence to Washington county, Pennsylvania. He married Catherine Crane, who also was of Scotch ancestry. They came to Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1811, and later to Rushville, where Duncan Carmichael died in 1856. His wife passed away about the same time. Ralph Carmichael was one of fourteen children, ten of whom grew to mature years, and of these Ralph was the youngest. A son and daughter are the only surviving members of that generation, Dr. Will- iam Allison Carmichael, of Loveland, a suburb of Cincinnati; and Mrs. Clara Robb, of Manchester, Ohio. December 14, 1852, Ralph Carmichael and Rebecca Kent were married, and Mr. Carmichael was ever after a resi- dent of Warren county. His death occurred November 8, 1858. His wife survived until November 22, 1887. They became the parents of four chil- dren, but all passed away in infancy except William Perrin, whose birth occurred April 14, 1858. On the death of his father he and his mother became occupants of the home of his grandfather Kent. At the age of fifteen years he entered Wabash College, from which he graduated in 1879, receiv- ing the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by his alma mater in 1891. After his graduation Mr. Carmichael was engaged in Indianapolis as a manufacturer of chemists' and druggists' supplies. In 1884, on account of the death of his grandfather, he returned to the homestead of the latter. In 1886 Mr. Carmichael was elected surveyor of Warren county, and was three times re-elected, serving in that capacity for eight years, and in the meantime did a general practice of civil engineer. He was secretary of the Indiana Engineering Society for four years.
March 2, 1887, Mr. Carmichael was married to Miss Alice Norris, daugh- ter of John J. and Ann (Andrews) Norris. The former was a native of Brown county, Ohio, and the latter of Vermilion county, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael have a daughter, Katherine, born at the old home in Kent
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
township, December 10, 1889. Since 1893 Mr. Carinichael has been man- ager for the Williamsport Stone Quarry Company, and is also engaged in contracting on his own account. In his political affiliations he is an ardent Republican. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Carmichael and family resided at the homestead till 1893, when they removed to Williamsport.
JACOB J. SMITH.
Jacob J. Smith, who for many years has been actively identified with the business interests of Pulaski county, is now acceptably and efficiently serving as justice of the peace of Medaryville, and in the discharge of his duties manifests a spirit of fairness that has won him high commendation.
Mr. Smith was born in Lafayette, Indiana, August 8, 1830, and is a son of Jacob and Ellen (Michaels) Smith. The father was born in New York city, and was a son of Abraham and Jeanette (Demarre) Smith. The grand- father was born in Cumberland county, England, and was married in his na- tive land. In 1798 he crossed the Atlantic to New York city, where he fol- lowed the furrier's trade, which he had learned in the land of his nativity. About 1810 he removed to Hamilton, Ohio, and during the war of 1812 he entered the service, participating in the campaigns against the Indians under General Crawford, who was afterward burned-at the stake by the red men. Mr. Smith was killed in the war. His children were Jacob, Leah, Hiram, George, Dorothea and Joseph. Upon the devoted mother devolved the task of rearing her family in that pioneer settlement, and nobly she performed the task. She continued on the old homestead, and reached the advanced age of one hundred and three years. She was of French-Huguenot descent.
·
Rev. Jacob Smith, the father of our subject, was born in New York city in 1800, and was reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life in Ohio, where he received a limited education in the common schools. He was only nineteen years of age when he entered the ministry of the Methodist church, and throughout his entire life he devoted much of his time to gospel labors. He was one of the early circuit-riders in northern Indiana at a time when the circuit extended from Indianapolis to the lake, and for a considerable period he thus labored in the frontier districts. He was married in Rossville, But- ler county, Ohio, to Ellen Michaels, a native of that county, and a daughter of William Michaels, who was killed at the battle of the River Raisin, in the war of 1812. By occupation he was a farmer, and his home was near Ham- ilton, Ohio. His children were William, Paul, James, Rebecca and Ellen. Rev. Jacob Smith resided at various places in northern Indiana, preaching the gospel among the people, and in 1829 he went to Lafayette, whence he re-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY'.
moved to Fort Wayne, where he lived for several years. He was well known in his denomination, and took a very active part in planting the cause of Methodism in Indiana, going from place to place to proclaim the "glad tidings of great joy" at a time when such journeyings necessitated the fording of streams and the threading of his way through almost pathless forests. He died in Bluffton, Indiana, March 15, 1835, but the influence of his noble life was strongly felt for many years, and is still manifest in the veneration ac- corded his memory by all who knew him. In his family were two sons and a daughter, who reached years of maturity: John, Leah and Jacob J.
Jacob J. Smith, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Lafayette and pursued his education in a log school-house where instruction was furnished after the primitive manner of the times. He was obliged to begin work when very young, and when a lad of only nine years was apprenticed to a man whose vocations were those of house-builder, brick-layer, stone-mason and carpenter. When he was able to do a man's work he was given only six dollars per month and his board, but he saved his money, and wishing to secure a better education he attended the excellent Battle Ground Institute for some time, applying himself diligently to his studies. He took a great interest in mastering the English language and became not only one of the best spellers in his part of the state, but also an excellent elocutionist. Subsequently he went overland to California with a party from Tippecanoe county, starting from Lafayette in the spring of 1850. They drove with ox teams to Council Bluffs, where they were joined by a large party and were fully organized, there being fifteen hundred people in the train. The famous explorer, Kit Carson, and a band of scouts acted as guides and guards, and after six months of travel across mountain and plain they reached the Golden state. They encountered many bands of the Sioux, Arapahoe and Apache In- dians, but were never molested, as their number was too strong. At night they made a great circle with their wagons, the poles pointing under each wagon, and within this they enclosed their stock, which was thus able to graze all night. A strong guard was always maintained, and at length the journey was completed in safety.
Mr. Smith engaged in mining on the American river for a time and later engaged in packing goods, with mule trains, from San Francisco to the mines. In 1855 he returned home by way of Cape Horn and New York, in a sailing vessel, which made the journey of seventeen thousand miles in four months and ten days. After reaching Lafayette he worked at his trade for some time and then became fireman on the Cleveland, Columbus & Cin- cinnati Railroad. Subsequently he worked in the machine shops in Lo- gansport and was then locomotive engineer on the same road and afterward on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Road for twenty-three years, with
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
the exception of the time spent in the Union army. He enlisted at Indian- apolis and was mustered into the United States service June 15, 1861, as a private of Company H, Twentieth Indiana Infantry, to serve for three years. or during the war. He was honorably discharged, at Indianapolis, Decem- ber 23, 1865, having been on detached service at Vicksburg from May of that year, his regiment having been mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, June 15, 1865. He was always engaged in active duty and was in the battles of Richmond, the Seven Days' battle and the second battle of Bull Run, in which his stepbrothers, Edmund, Edgar and Howell Ferguson, also par- ticipated. Edmund was killed and Howell taken prisoner in that engage- ment. He was then in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam and Chan- cellorsville. Mr. Smith was also in the battles of Fredericksburg, Gettys- burg, the Wilderness campaign, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad and Appomat- tox. He was slightly wounded at Weldon Railroad by buckshot in the knee, again at Peach Orchard, June 25, 1862, and at the battle of Bull Run a piece of shell struck his head and a Confederate colonel thrust a sabre through his left wrist. He was in the battle of Chancellorsville in 1863, and at the battle of Gettysburg, in July of that year, was wounded in the left thigh, and he still carries the rebel lead there. He, however, did not go to the hospital until the summer of 1865, when he spent three months in the hospital at Mobile, Alabama, suffering an attack of yellow fever, and from August until the Ist of November of that year he was in the hospital at Columbus with stomach trouble. He was detailed for duty in the quarter- master's department, May 25, 1865, and served as clerk in Nashville, Mo- bile, New Orleans, Galveston, Columbus (Mississippi), and Vicksburg, where he was at length mustered out. He was in all the campaigns, battles, skirmishes and marches in which his regiment took part, performing his duty cheerfully and loyally, and with an honorable military record returned home when the preservation of the Union was an established fact.
Mr. Smith was married in Tippecanoe county, in June, 1856, to Eliza- beth Guinn, who was born in that county, June 1, 1836, a daughter of Isaiah and Margaret J. Guinn. They had one son, Leroy, who is now in Oregon. Mrs. Smith died November 5, 1862. Mr. Smith then chose for his wife Martha J. Waples, who was born in Wabash county, Indiana, April 14, 1848, a daughter of Nathaniel and Lucinda J. (Owens) Waples. Her father was a native of Delaware and was of Welsh descent. In 1816 he removed to Larue, Ohio, and in 1846 went to Wabash county, Indiana, whence he came to Pulaski county four years later. He entered a large tract of land southwest of Francesville and thereon spent his remaining days, his death occurring at the age of seventy-four years. He first married a Miss Watson and their children were Ellen, Julia, Elizabeth, and one who 66
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
became the wife of George Long and is now deceased. For his second wife Mr. Waples chose Lucinda J. Owens and their children were Isaac, Caroline, Martha J. and Eli. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith are Chesney T., Myrtle, Mahlon D. and Grace.
Mr. Smith maintained his residence in Lafayette, Indiana, until August 8, 1891, when he came to Medaryville, where he has since made his home. He was for some time engaged in contracting and building as a brick and stone mason, and laid the foundation for many of the business blocks and residences of that city. His excellent workmanship secured him a liberal patronage, and he thereby gained a very desirable income. In 1894 he was elected justice of the peace, and has since been re-elected by a large majority, so that he is now filling the office. He discharges his duties with absolute fairness and impartiality and does a large amount of business, having the con- fidence and respect of the entire community. He is a member of Marsh B. Taylor Post, No. 475, G. A. R., of Lafayette, and was formerly a member of Henry S. Lane Post, of Francesville, in which he served as commander. His life has been an eventful and interesting one. He went with the gold- seekers to California in the early days of mining there and saw the great plains of the west in their primitive condition, when traversed by the tribes of wild Indians. He fought throughout the civil war, when the fate of the Union hung in the balance, and in the walks of private life he has always been found as a citizen faithful and true. His many excellencies of char- acter have won him high esteem, and he is regarded as one of the most val- ued citizens of the community.
JAMES H. CLARK.
This veteran of our great civil war, a resident of Pulaski county, was born in Kingston, Canada, December 17, 1846, a son of Peter and Mary (Clark) Clark-of the same surname but not a relative, although of the same original Scotch stock.
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