USA > Indiana > Warren County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 57
USA > Indiana > White County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Newton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Benton County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 57
USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, Indiana, Volume II > Part 57
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John M. Reynolds, father of Mrs. Archer, was a son of James Reynolds. James located in Ohio in pioneer times, and afterward settled in Kosciusko county, Indiana, where he owned much land and was a large farmer. His children were named John, Nancy, Polly, Jemima and Susan. He settled in White county, Indiana, in 1883, and bought property in Norway, that county, where he died, aged about seventy years, leaving a considerable estate. He was a member of the Dunkard church.
DAVID BRYAN.
One of the best known citizens of Lafayette is this gentleman, who is a member of the firm of Bryan & Son, engaged in the real-estate and loan business, and are agents for a number of the leading insurance firms of this country, the office of the firm being at No. 4 North Third street. In the various fraternities Mr. Bryan stands high, and among those with which he is identified are the following: Tippecanoe Lodge, No. 55, I. O. O. F., and Star City Encampment, No. 153; Columbian Lodge, No. 334, Knights of Pythias; Uniformed Rank, Knights of Pythias, No. 1, Lafayette Division; John A. Logan Post, No. 3, G. A. R .; Union Veteran League; Rebekah
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Lodge of the Odd Fellows, and Rathbone Sisters of the Knights of Pythias. He was one of the charter members of Kern Lodge, No. III, and Colum- bian Lodge, No. 334, and also of the encampment, of Odd Fellows.
The parents of David Bryan were David and Caroline (Norris) Bryan, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in November, 1839, he removed with his wife, whom he had married in Ohio, to Tippecanoe county. Settling on a farm near Battle Ground, he resided there until 1861, when he sold out, and for five years made his home in Lafayette. He then located on a farm three miles west of Battle Ground, and there his death occurred in 1881, when he was very nearly eighty-four years of age. His first wife died in 1847, and he chose for his second wife Mrs. Amanda Smith, who had two children by her former marriage. To her second marriage, one son, George W., was born. She departed this life in February, 1898. Both she and her husband were mem- bers of the Christian church, he being a trustee in the same. For over twenty years he held the office of justice of the peace, and, without excep- tion, his acquaintances held him in high esteem. His father, who died in Pennsylvania, was of Irish descent, and his mother, who survived her hus- band, passed her last years in Tippecanoe county, dying at an advanced age. Of the ten children born to our subject's own parents, only four are yet liv- ing. His brother, James M., lives in Elgin, Kansas; William H. is a resi- dent of Sedan, Kansas; and Sarah H., Mrs. Adam H. Smith, the only sister, also lives in that state, her home being in the town of Lowe.
David Bryan, of this sketch, was born in this county, on his father's farm, near Battle Ground, December 29, 1839. There he passed his youth, en- gaged in the accustomed pursuits of farmers' boys, and attending school in an old log cabin. When he had reached manhood his father gave him, as he had done with his other children, a sum of money with which to make a start in life. The young man wisely invested his money in land, and engaged in the cultivation of the same for a year or more, but his labors were just then interrupted by the civil war, and afterward he sold this property.
As he was not yet married and had no one dependent upon him, David Bryan was not the kind of man to stay at home when his country was in dan- ger, and bravely did he fight for her preservation, on many a field of battle, for three years and five months. He enlisted as a private soldier in Com- pany H, Fortieth Indiana Infantry, and was promoted to the rank of second lieu- tenant for meritorious service. At the battle of Resaca he was wounded, and to give a complete account of his sufferings and hardships would exceed the limits of this article. Suffice it to say that his fortunes were such as fell to the lot of many others of the brave boys in blue who with him gallantly participated in the battles of Resaca, Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, Stone river,
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Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, Chickamauga and Knoxville, besides numerous others, and also the long, weary campaign in Georgia.
After the war he was employed by Peck & Abbott, of Lafayette, for the long period of eighteen years, which speaks well for his faithful and appreci- ated work. He was then elected county recorder, and served in that office for four years, since which time he has carried on his present business. He has always been a loyal Republican, but has not been a politician.
December 6, 1866, Mr. Bryan married Mary E., daughter of Harrison and Martha (McBeth) Bennett. They became the parents of four children, namely: Harry L., who is engaged in business with his father, married Ida Anson and has two children, Robert and Geneva; Ella May, who is unmar- ried; and George W. and Minnie, deceased. The mother of these children died, and Mr. Bryan afterward married her sister, Harriet J., by whom he had one child, Bessie. This wife also died, and Mr. Bryan wedded Alma S. Birch, daughter of Sylvester E. Birch. Two children bless their union, Hazel B. and Benjamin Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan are members of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church. Since 1887 the family has resided at the cor- ner of Howell and Fifteenth streets, the property having been purchased that year by our subject.
JOHNSON E. CHILDRESS.
The subject of this review is a man whose example is well worthy of emulation by our young men of to-day. He started in life at the bottom of the ladder, and by patient industry, pluck and perseverance has become one of the most prosperous and influential men of Benton county. He owns a farm of two hundred and forty acres, near Raub, and his advancement has been steady and a result of his own efforts. He was born July 1, 1849, near Orange Court House, Orange county, Virginia, and is a son of George A. and Wilhelma (Schifflett) Childress, of that place. His grandparents were of English extraction, and his father, George A. Childress, was a native of Vir- ginia, having passed his entire life in Orange county. He owned forty acres of ground, and raised such staples as corn, oats and tobacco. He died in 1863, at quite an advanced age. His wife, Wilhelma Schifflett, was likewise a native of Orange county, where they were married. She was the mother of nine children by this marriage, as follows: Monroe, who died in infancy; Johnson, the subject of this sketch; Ada, the wife of John Graves, of New- ton county, this state; Jane, the deceased wife of Alton Hull, of Iroquois county, Illinois; twins, who died in infancy; George A., of Barce, Indiana; James W., who owns and cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of land three miles north of Kentland, Newton county, and Betty, who married
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Alfred Yates, a farmer, living near our subject. After the death of her hus- band, Mrs. Childress married his brother, William R. Childress, and bore him one child, Wilhelma, the wife of Doris Smith, of Rensselaer, Indiana. She died in 1892, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alfred Yates.
Johnson Childress attended school in Orange county, Virginia, until the breaking out of the civil war closed those institutions of learning. He is, however, a man of extensive learning, derived from a systematic course of reading and a keen perception and observation. When the trouble arose between the two sections of our country, he was but a lad, and secured the position of head sawyer in the sawmills of Bond, Henderson & Company, working for them in various places in Orange, Albemarle and Louisa coua- ties. Later he worked for Goodlow & Bowner in Orange and neighboring counties. He continued in this line of work until 1875, when he moved to Iroquois county, Illinois, where he rented a farm of one hundred and forty acres, which he worked for two years. He then came to Benton county, In- diana, where he rented two hundred and forty acres, which he cultivated from 1879 to 1889. In the meantime he was saving his earnings, and in 1882 he purchased eighty acres of the land he was cultivating, and four years later forty acres more were added to the purchase. In 1881 he bought an adjoining eighty, and in 1891 was able to add forty acres more. This two hundred and forty acres lies five and one-half miles due west of Earl Park and is one of the most productive farms in this section.
Mr. Childress was married January 25, 1872, in Orange county, Vir- ginia, to Miss Harriet E. Vaughan, daughter of Pascal and Henrietta (Dowell) Vaughan, of that county. This union resulted in the birth of six children: James Edward, born October 28, 1872, is a resident of Kentland; William Ellis, born February 27, 1874, runs a general store in New Berlin, Illinois; Mattie and Mary, twins, reside at home; John is a farmer near Kent- land, this state, and the youngest died in infancy. Mr. Childress is a Demo- crat in his political ideas, and an attendant of and contributor to the Pres- byterian church, which is situated near his home. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum and the Court of Honor, and is a man who enjoys the respect and esteem of the entire community.
WILLIAM JONES.
More than half a century has passed since the Jones family, to which the subject of this sketch belongs, became identified with the development of Pulaski county, and their name and history have an honored place in the an- nals of this section, as may be observed in this volume.
Our subject's paternal grandfather, Levi Jones, was born in Pennsyl-
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vania, of Scotch descent. Thomas, father of William, born July 7, 1798, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, survived until October 25, ISSO. He lived in several counties in Ohio and Indiana, driving from the former state to Pulaski county with his family, and reaching here in February, 1848. He owned eighty acres of land on sections 25 and 26, and built a house on the latter in 1859. A member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he joined the United Brethren after coming here, as there was no church of his own denomination in this locality. He served throughout the war of IS12, taking the place of his father, Levi Jones, who, though then well along in years, had been drafted into the army. Thomas Jones wedded first Elizabeth Van Zandt, and to them were born Margaret, Naomi, Catherine, Robert, William, Levi and John. Margaret married William Anders and Naomi became the wife of Richard Anders; Robert, whose home was in Miami county, Ohio, lived to be sixty years of age; he married and had three children: Jefferson, Addison and Ann; Levi married Clarissa Jones and had a son, William, and other children; and John died when about sixteen years of age. The second wife of Thomas Jones was Mrs. Mary V. (Clifton) Falkinburg, a widow, who by her previous marriage had six children: Mary Ann, Abigail, Hannah, Charles, James and Caleb. To Thomas and Mary Jones were born: Esther Elizabeth, who became the wife of Joseph Hurst, and lives in Cass county; Trusten Adams (see his sketch); Lydia Ann, who married George William- son; and Matthew E.
William Jones, born April 22, 1825, in Clinton county, Ohio, came with his father to this county in the early part of 1848, and has resided upon his present homestead of forty acres on section 24, in Van Buren township, for the past forty-eight years. Long ago he built a substantial house and barns and improved the place until it ranks among the best in this locality. Though not a politician, Mr. Jones takes an active interest in public affairs.
On the 22d of April, 1851, Mr. Jones married Miss Elizabeth Sidney Williamson, daughter of David and Marie (Hollenback) Williamson: She was born September 16, 1832, in Fairfield county, Ohio, and came to Lo- gansport in 1837. The following are the names and records of Mr. and Mrs. Jones' children: Mary Elizabeth, born April 1, 1852, married Frederick Bon- nett, had one son, William, and died May 7, 1870; David Williamson, born July 20, 1853, first married Annie Miller and had one child, Eva, and by his marriage later, to Addie Pickard, had four children, Glenn, Lee and Lena (twins) and Ethel; Francis Marion, born June 7, 1856, married Mary Kistler and had one child, Berta Fay; Thomas, born February 27, 1858, married Sarah Lively, and their children were: Elmer, Cora, Walter, Gertrude, Florence and Ernest; Marie Catharine, born September 17, 1860, mar- ried first John Burns, March 15, 1883, and their children were William,
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born December 24, 1883; Virgil, born January 6, 1887; Nora Belle, born Oc- tober 25, 1888; and Walter, born January 17, 1895; while for her second hus- band she married William L. Hettinger, February 14, 1897, and their son, George Dewey, was born November 27, 1898; Emily Elvira, born May 16, 1863, married Richard Brown, had two children-Effie and Ella-and died December 2, 1886; Louisa, born May 9, 1864, married William Barnes, and their children are George, Lessie May, Emma Elizabeth, Flossie Fay and Edmund; William Alfred, born August 29, 1865, wedded Olive Deck and has one child, Essie; Ella Estella, born October 13, 1868, became the wife of William Jacob Knebel, January 10, 1894, and their sons are Everett Earle, born June 26, 1895; William Floyd, September 27, 1896, and an infant son, April 17, 1899; Charles, born October 27, 1869, died December 27, follow- ing; and Anna, born December 3, 1871, died March 10, 1872. William J. Knebel, who was born January 26, 1860, owns and carries on a farm of forty acres on section 14, Van Buren township.
SAMUEL K. FUNK.
Samuel K. Funk, one of the most honored citizens of Lauramie town- ship, Tippecanoe county, comes of sterling Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry. His father, Jacob Funk, was born in that state, January 18, 1806, and in boyhood removed to Greene county, Ohio, with his parents. There he engaged in teaching school and farming until 1832, when he removed to Shef- field township, Tippecanoe county, Indiana. He entered eighty acres of heavily timbered land on the south fork of the Wild-cat creek, half a mile from the Clinton county line, and later he entered another tract of similar extent. He cleared all of this property, making a fine homestead, and as he prospered, by thrift and well-directed energy, he invested in more land, until his possessions amounted to one thousand acres of excellent farm land. He dealt largely in live stock for some years, was straightforward and just in all his transactions, and enjoys the high esteem of all who knew him.
From the old family Bible of the Funks is copied the following record, which briefly embodies the events which brought joy or sorrow into the life of the worthy pioneer, Jacob Funk: "Sarah (Hamer) Funk, wife of the above (Jacob Funk), born April 10, 1812. Eliza (Charles) Funk, second wife of the above, daughter of John Charles, born August 23, 1816, in Greene county, Ohio. Children of Jacob and Sarah (Hamer) Funk: Cath- erine, born July 5, 1829, was the only child. Children of Jacob and Eliza (Charles) Funk: David, born October 16, 1833; Susanna, September 3, 1835; John, August 5, 1836; Harriet, January 7, 1839; Sarah, March 5, 1842; Samuel K., August 12, 1843; Eliza J., September 3, 1846; Jacob, Jr., Janu-
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ary 7, 1850; Origen, August 4, 1852; Jo A., September 26, 1854; Iva, April 18, 1857, and Ida, twin of above. Jacob Funk and Sarah Hamer married May 18, 1828. Jacob Funk and Eliza Charles married November 4, 1832. Sarah Funk, wife of Jacob, died September 12, 1829, aged seventeen years, four months and twenty-three days." In another's writing, lower on the page headed " Deaths," appear two additional records: " Jacob Funk, Sr., died March 20, 1880, aged seventy-four years, two months and two days. Eliza Funk, wife of Jacob, died May 16, 1888, aged seventy-one years, eight months and twenty-three days."
Samuel K. Funk, whose name heads this biography, was born on his father's farm in Sheffield township; Tippecanoe county, and in his youth he experienced the vicissitudes of pioneer life. The most important event in his early manhood was his marriage, in October, 1869, to Annie, daughter of William Bell, who was a pioneer farmer of Lauramie township, and owned about three hundred acres of land, which he cleared of the dense forests which covered it at that time that he assumed its possession. He was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hiatt) Bell, and was born near Harper's Ferry, in the beautiful Shenandoah valley, Virginia, October 16, 1814. His father was a rich planter at one time, and at an early day settled in Lauramie township, where he died at a ripe age. He had several children, among them being: John, William, Joseph, Mary, Frances and Nancy. William Bell was about twenty-two years of age when he accompanied the family to this locality, in 1836, and four or five years later he was united in marriage to Sarah A., daughter of Robert and Rachel Brooks, the ceremony being performed December 16, 1840. She was a native of Lauramie township, while both of her parents were born in southern states, Virginia or Tennes- see, and her paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland. Robert Brooks settled in Clinton county, Indiana, about 1828 or 1830, and took up land along the county line, part of it in Lauramie township, Tippecanoe county, and there his descendants are yet living. Robert Brooks and wife were re- spected citizens, and were consistent members of the Methodist church. He died at his homestead when abont sixty years of age. His children were Margaret, Thomas, William, Millie, Nancy, John, Betsy, Charlotte, Mary,
Daniel, Sarah A. and James. William Bell and a brother bought the Bell estate, and finally the former purchased the entire property, owning two hun- dred acres at his death. He departed this life at his old homestead when he was in his sixty-fourth year, and is survived by his widow, who still remains at the loved old home. He was affiliated with the Republican party, though his father had been a Democrat. The children of William Bell were seven in number, namely: Elizabeth, George, Annie, Chester, Vance, Solomon and Clyde. The parents of these children were members of the Methodist church 67
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for many years, and set a worthy example to them. Mrs. Annie (Bell) Funk was summoned to the silent land March IS, 1885.
The lady who now bears the name of our subject, Samuel K. Funk, be- came his wife November 30, 1888. Her maiden name was Mary Ann Wells, and she was born and reared in Lauramie township, the date of her birth being March 17, 1854. One child, Charles, was born to our subject and wife.
For three years subsequent to his first marriage Mr. Funk lived on a portion of his father's farm in Sheffield township, after which he bought the old Jacob Geiger place, -a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, adjoin- ing the property owned by the senior Mr. Funk. He resided on this farm for eighteen years, and in 1889 removed to his present homestead in Lauramie township. In addition to this place, which comprises two hundred and forty- one acres of fertile, well improved land, he still owns the homestead which was his place of residence for almost a score of years. He has been hard- working and industrious, and is respected by all with whom he has dealings. He is a Democrat politically, and, with his estimable wife, belongs to the United Brethren church, at present being one of the trustees.
The numerous friends of George Wells, the father of Mrs. Funk, will be interested in perusing the following sketch of one of the venerable pioneers and best loved citizens of Lauramie township. It is believed that the original spelling of the family name was Wales, and that representatives of the nanie were among the old colonial inhabitants of Lancaster and York counties, Pennsylvania. Edmond, father of George Wells, was for years a resident of Morgantown, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer and carpenter, and for several years was very successfully engaged in building and taking contracts for the construction of bridges. He it was who erected the handsome "long bridge " across the Susquehanna river at Harrisburg. For a wife he chose Margaret Ross, a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and they commenced housekeeping in Martintown, Berks county. A few years later they located on a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, situated in York county, same state, and dwelt there for many years. In 1837 he and his son, George, came to Tippecanoe county on a visit, and, liking the country, he bought two hundred and seventeen acres of land in Sheffield township, and returning home sold his property there. In 1838 he came back to this state and, locating on his new farm, industriously set about improving the place, which he greatly increased in value and desirability by the erection of substantial buildings and in other ways. During the first years of his residence here his house was generously open at all times to visiting preachers and brethren of the Methodist denomination, and for a great many years he was a class- leader, steward and church official. He passed to his reward when in his
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seventy-first year, in 1848. His children were named as follows: Jesse, Ross, Mary A., James, Mary (the second), George, Levi, Edmond and Margaret.
George Wells was born in York county, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1814, and when he had reached a suitable age he went to Gettysburg, same state, and, during an apprenticeship of three and a half years, learned the trade of harness-making and carriage-trimming. He was given only his board during that period, but he thoroughly mastered everything pertaining to the trade, including the making of saddles, trunks and other leather goods. On the day that he was twenty-one years of age he went to Frederick City, Mary- land, where he was employed the ensuing winter, after which he worked at his trade in Westminster and Hagerstown. Then returning to the old home in the Keystone state, he made a visit, and in 1837 accompanied his father to Indiana, as previously stated. He opened a harness shop in Lafayette, and manufactured the first trunk and trimmed the first carriage made in that town. He continued to reside in Lafayette until the fall of 1840, and for several years subsequently to 1842 he was engaged in working at his trade in York- town, Tippecanoe county. He then settled upon a farm of eighty acres, located four miles east of Yorktown, and after improving that place he removed to his father's homestead, near Wyandotte, this county, residing there for four years. In 1851 he took up his abode on the farm which has been his home ever since. He bought one hundred and nineteen acres of land, entirely wild, and by industry and unremitting efforts developed an excellent farm. At the time that he settled here the country was so wild that deer often came into his garden and ate cabbages and other vegetables. He was a good marksman, and many a fine deer, wild turkey and other game fell beneath his well directed aim.
On the 10th of November. 1842, George Wells married Tamson West- lake, who was born near Dayton, Montgomery county, Ohio, March 7, 1827, a daughter of James Westlake. He was a pioneer of Lauramnie township, this county, locating on the land now owned by George Wells, about 1838, and at the time of his death he had five hundred acres. He departed this life at Stockwell, Indiana, when about seventy-seven years of age. He was identified with the Methodist church, and heartily supported all worthy pub- lic measures. His children were named as follows: Rachel, Thomas, Nathan, Sabethney, John, Mercy, Tamson and James.
The marriage of George and Tamson Wells was blessed with the follow- ing named children: Sarah Margaret, born August 21, 1843; Charles Wes- ley, January 22, 1845; Sophia Ann, September 13, 1846; James Edmond, born in 1848; Henry Thomas, in 1851; Mary Ann, March 17, 1854; and Jesse C., twin of Henry Thomas. James E. died November 16, 1850; Sarah
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Margaret, March 20, 1856; Jesse C., October 6, 1857; Henry Thomas, No- vember 14, 1882, and the mother was summoned to the better land August 2, 1891.
When he was but nineteen years of age Mr. Wells joined the Methodist church at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and from that time until the present he has been a consistent member of the church and a liberal contributor to its maintenance. He has not been narrow in his generosity, but has aided in the building of other churches in his neighborhood, and many a.worthy cause, regardless of sectarian lines, has been materially assisted by him. From early days he and his loved wife have been noted for their open-hearted hos- pitality. She, too, was a loyal member of the church, doing her full share in its noble work. For many years he has been a class-leader, steward, and clerk of the congregation. In political affairs he takes the patriotic interest of a true American citizen. He cast his first presidential vote for General Jackson, but thereafter became a Whig and later a Republican, voting for Fremont and Abraham Lincoln. He has never sought nor desired public office, but strives to keep well posted on the leading issues of the day, and to that end subscribes to and reads four newspapers, though he is eighty-five years of age. By strict attention to the fundamental principles of business he won a competence and at the same time made a name and record for integrity and honor of which he and his posterity should justly be proud.
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