USA > Indiana > Blackford County > Biographical memoirs of Blackford County, Ind. : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography embellished with portraits of many well known residents of Blackford County, Indiana > Part 31
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George W. Steele opened a law office here in the early part of 1861, and for five or six days practiced law or held himself in readiness to practice, and then in response to the first call for troops closed his office and entered the army and served in the Twelfth Indiana Regiment in the one-year service and then served in the One Hundred and First Regiment during its terin of ser- vice and afterward spent some years in the regular army.
William H. Carroll and James B. Weir came to Hartford City in 1871. Each had been engaged in the law business for some time before coming here. Judge Carroll, after retiring from the bench went to Mar- ion, Indiana, where he still resides.
Mr. Weir remained here some ten years and then went to the west where he spent several years, most if not all the time at Kan-
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sas City, Missouri, and then returned and is again a resident of Blackford county.
John sconan, after completing his term as County recorder in August, 1877, read law in the office of B. G. Shinn, with whom he afterwards became a partner for a short time. Mr. Noonan was deputy prosecuting attorney for Blackford county from October, 1879, until the fall of 1882, when he went to Colorado, where he has since resided and has served some years as county judge of Garfield county.
Thomas S. Briscoe, during his residence of twenty-two years in Hartford City im- midiately preceding his death ( 1871-1893), was engaged in the practice of law a portion of the time.
John Cantwell, recently deceased, was for many years a prominent probate and commercial lawyer, and an able and influ- ential leader in the Republican party.
J. J. Mills, now of Arkansas, practiced law a short time at Hartford City. In the latter part of 1889 D. H. Fouts came to Hartford City and remained here in the practice about nine or ten years. A few years later his nephew, Charles M. Fouts, located in the same place and was in the law business a short time and then went to Me- tropolis, Illinois.
Thomas Slater, Joseph C. Maddox, Sr .. and John E. Mason, all deceased, practiced law for a number of years, having their offices at Montpelier.
D. F. Kuffel, Geddes Rayhouser, Cary A. Taughinbaugh and Charles J. Ryan have also practiced in this county, having their offices at Montpelier.
Michael Frash, now retired from prac- tice, and Orlo L. Cline, now in the practice at Marion, Indiana, were both for some years active members of the Blackford county bar.
Thomas M. Pierce came here from Ran- dolph county about 1892, and practiced for a few years in partnership with John A. Remey, but his health failing, he returned to his former home.
The roll of Blackford county attorneys now consists of the following names: At Hartford City, Benjamin G. Shinn, Elisha Pierce, Sydney W. Cantwell, John A. Bon- ham, Enos Cole, Jay A. Ilindman, Aaron M. Waltz, John A. Remy, Luther B. Sin- mons, Finley Geiger, Eugene M. Shinn, Charles W. Pierce, Enoch D. Moffett, Thomas A. Kegerreis, Henry S. Fargo, Ar- thur F. Kinsley, Maurice M. Powell, and William H. Honey; at Montpelier there are Jolın P. Boyd, Collins W. Kinnan, Ashley G. Emshwiller, Joseph Burns, John Burns, George A. Mason and Joseph C. Maddox, Jr. Of the foregoing, Finley Geiger is county school superintendent, E. D. Mof- fett is postmaster at Hartford City and A. F. Kinsley is mayor of Hartford City, neither of them giving much attention to the prac- tice of law.
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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
The inhabitants of Blackford county have not been exempt from the common mis- fortunes of the human race and disease in its various forms, as well as numerous ac- cidents, have made the services of the physi- cian and surgeon indispensable. Wonder- ful advance has been made in the science of medicine and surgery and in the methods of combating the foes of health during the sixty years of the county's existence. The limited space at our command will only per- mit a brief reference to some of the prac- titioners of the healing art in this county.
David Long, who came from Virginia, was the first county agent and the first physi- cian in Hartford City and in the county. After remaining here a few years he went to Michigan.
Dr. Nelson D. Clouser located here in August, 1842, and for many years had an extensive practice. He still resides in Hart- ford City, but on account of the infirmities of age is no longer in the practice. In re- spect of age and length of residence in the county, he is the Nestor of the profession. In his long career in this vicinity he has traveled many thousands of miles on horse- back and in his active years was an accom- plished equestrian.
Henry Stewart practiced here many years, beginning at or before the time that Dr. Clouser came. He was one of the first associate judges of the circuit court. While continuing his practice he was also engaged in farming.
Dr. Reuben %. Cassel came from Ohio to Hartford City at an early day and took 15
an active part in public affairs. After a few years he removed to the far west.
Hugh W. Baugh, a fellow student of Dr. Clouser, came from Hillsboro, Ohio, and was a practicing physician here for two or three years about midway between 18so and 1850, and then went back to Ohio.
Dr. Ambrose W. Henley came from Ohio, and located in Wheeling, Delaware county, and began to practice about 1840. his work extending into Blackford county. ITe removed to LaPorte, Indiana, and while there suffered an accident by which one of his legs was broken and had to be ampu- tated. From there he came to Hartford City and died about 1861.
Dr. Wilford Hess, a native of Indiana, practiced here three or four years and died of consumption about forty-five years ago.
Dr. Roland R. Sherwood, a Methodist local preacher, was a physician here a few years and then went to Camden, in Jay county, where he continued in the business several years.
John E. Moler, a graduate of Dickinson College, in Pennsylvania, and having a medi- cal diploma from the University of Mary- land, came to Hartford City in 1851 and practiced medicine a few years and was in the drug business some five years. He is still living here at the age of eighty-three years.
Dr. Hathaway, also from Ohio, came about 18.18, and after a short time went to Muncie.
Moses S. Stahl studied medicine in the office of Dr. Clouser, completed a course
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in Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York, and tl . attended lectures and took a diploma at Rush Medical College. Chicago, and practiced for some years in Hartford City. He left here about 1870 on account of failing health and went to Texas. Since then he has resided for periods of greater or less length in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Arkansas and New Mexico, and is now, at the age of seventy-four years, in Oklahoma.
Dr. Jonas Good, also a graduate of Rush Medical College, and a native of this state. followed the medical profession here in part- nership with Dr. Clouser during the period of the Civil war.
Dr. Marvel Mills, of the Botanic School of Medicine, practiced here for a number of years and died about the year 1866.
William H. Wheeler, now retired on ac- count of physical disabilities, is a native of the state of New York and received his med- ical training in that state and Michigan. He was in Kansas from 1855 to 1859, and came to Indiana in the latter year. After stop- ping one year at Granville, Delaware county, he came to Hartford City in October, 1865, and has since resided here. While in butsi- ness he was esteemed as a careful, prudent and conscientious practitioner.
Dr. John W. Sage, an eclectic physician, had a good practice here for many years. He died December 10, 1899. He was born in Jay county, Indiana, June, 1884; was a private sollier in the Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment and was severely wounded at the battle of Chickamauga.
A number of other persons have prac- ticed medicine for a time at Hartford City and then gone elsewhere, or have retired from the business, among whom might be mentioned Samuel Mason, now and for sey-
eral years past at Camden, Jay county ; J. T. Alexander, who went to Indianapolis; John Spaulding, now also at Indianapolis; Drs. Van Dyke, Lomas and Coble and WI. T. Gaines and C. L. Bell. Dr. William C. Ransom and John A. Ransom were both practicing physicians here for a unmber of years. Also Mrs. Kate Houseman, who left here recently.
Dr. Henry Kirby was a physician in Hartford City for a few years between 1850 and 1860, and then went to Granville, in Delaware county, and entered the military service as captain of Company K, Eighty- fourth Indiana Regiment, and became assist- ant surgeon and then surgeon of that regi- ment. After the war he again practiced ser- eral years in Hartford City.
The first resident physician at Montpelier was William T. Shull, who located there in. September, 1844, and for some six years was the only physician in that vicinity. In 1872 he engaged in the drug business and from that time he gradually retired from active practice. Ile died in 1890.
About 1850 . Amander G. Cole came to Matamoras, a village three-fourths of a mile east of Montpelier, where he soon built up a successful practice and for at least one term held the office of justice of the peace. He removed from there about thirty-five years ago.
Calvin Q. Shull, a brother of William T., located in Montpelier in 1853, and after more than thirty years of practice has been for several years retired from the business.
A few years later Samuel M. Breese came and soon acquired an extensive practice and left there about 1870 and has since died.
William R. Hallowell, an eclectic, prac- ticed there two or three years some thirty years ago or more.
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William W. Wilt read medicine with Dr. J. A. Ransom at Dundee, and after attend- ing a term of medical lectures practiced some eighteen months at that place and then located in Montpelier in 1873, and prac- fed until physically disabled and died a few years since. About 1877-1878 Joseph G. Lacey practiced a year or two in partner- ship with Dr. Milt.
H. H. Bennett and J. C. Bennett, both deceased, practiced as physicians several years in Montpelier.
Dr. J. A. Morrison has practiced in Montpelier several years and is still in busi- ness, but now resides on his farm in Wells county.
W. C. Robeson, N. C. Dill, F. M. Fra- zier, J. R. Williams, L. E. White and Charles C. Elder have also practiced here for brief periods in recent years, but have gone to other localities.
The medical profession in Montpelier is now represented by Robert B. White, Le- ander E. Maddox, John Sellers, Charles B. Mulvey, Samuel A. Goodin, F. M. Reynolds, Marion A. Emshwiller, H. C. Hunt, J. A. Taylor, J. C. O'Day and Arthur W. Blox- som.
There have been several physicians at Dundee, in Washington township. The first one of which the writer has been able to learn was Dr. Aikman, who came there about 1863 and remained a few years. When he left Dr. John A. Ransom came, and he in turn was succeeded by George W. Cassel for a few months, and then Dr. W. W. Wilt
practiced there a short time. Early in the '70s Hanford Edmondson, a retired Method- ist minister, located at Dundee and practiced several years. Dr. John R. Harrold w ... for some time a partner with Dr. Edmond. son. Within perhaps a decade past Dr. George Crum, Drs. Howe and Beck and Dr. Reed M. MeVey have practiced for short periods at that place.
Those at present in business there are Drs. J. R. Harrold and M. D. Cronin.
Dr. Henry C. Davisson located at Tren- ton, in Jackson township, in 1800 and prac- ticed there seventeen years and then came to Hartford City. James M. Anderson prac- ticed at Trenton for some years. Dr. Lewis C. Landon is, and for several years has been the only physician at Trenton.
Dr. Sumpter, Dr. D. C. Caldwell and Dr. T. M. Hunt have practiced for short periods at Millgrove. John E. McFarland has been in business there for twenty-five years past, and is now the only physician at that place.
The corps of practicing physicians now in business at Hartford City comprises Peter Drayer, Charles R. Mason, Henry C. Davis- son. Alfred Harden, William N. Cronin, Manford M. Clapper, Charles W. Corey, Samuel A. Hollis, Ella Hollis, Charles F. Sexauer, J. A. Chevigney and R. L. Truitt.
The profession of dental surgery is rep- resented at Hartford City by T. W. Sharpe, WV. H. Ervin and J. Milton Miller ; at Mont- pelier by J. F. Covault and Del Wilt.
CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.
We shall only be able to sketch briefff , being in both Blackford and Grant counties, and imperfectly the churches and church organizations of Blackford county. A large number of religious denominations are rep- resented by organizations or by members , and professed adherents in Blackford county. The following churches are comprised in the list : Old School or Predestinarian Baptist, Missionary Baptist, Christian ( Disciple ), , sides ucar Mill Grove, has for a great many
Christian (New Light), Church of God (Soul Sleeper), German Baptist (or Dunk- ard ), Lutheran, Methodist Episcopal, Meth- oxdlist Protestant, Methodist Wesleyan, Or- thodox Friend or Quaker, Presbyterian, Prot- estant Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Reformed Dunkard, Seventh Day Adventist, United Brethren (Liberal), United Brethren ( Radi- cal), Universalist, and it may be two or three others. The Christian Scientists and : One of his stopping places was at the home Spiritualists also have organizations.
As early as the time of the organization of the county the two Baptist and the 1 Methodist Episcopal churches were here with ministers and organized membership. The carly ministers of the Old School or Predesti- narian Baptist church were Abraham Buck- les and John Buckles, of Delaware county, both of whom preached at Hartford City, the At Hartford City the carly adherents of this church were David Johnson, Ira and John Casterline and their families and Mrs. Dr. Clouser. David Johnson was probably the leading spirit, and through his untiring efforts in season and out of season a frame church building was erected on East Wash- ington street, about the year 1844, which was latter for several years. AAmong the leading members at this place were Jacob Stahl and wife, Mrs. Abraham Stahl, Asher Van Cleve and wife, Adam Hart, Jacob Hart, Aaron Me Vicker, Jacob Covault, Abraham Hess, AAbner Hess, Stillwell Truax and their wives and the brother and sisters of Mrs. Truax, named Karney. A church was also formed also used in later years as a school house. northwest of Hartford City, the membership ;. Rev. William Chaffee, an able and scholarly
the society being known as the "Walnut Creek Anti-Mission Baptist Church." Among its active supporters were James Gillespie and Daniel Watson, both ministers, and Peter Bonham. John Baldridge and others from a distance also preached in this county, and William N. Buckles, a son of john, who re- years exercised the functions of a minister in this denomination.
The first ministers of the Missionary Baptist church were Franklin G. Baklwin, one of the Vermont colonists that settled at Montpelier, and Rer. William Tisdale, an aged veteran who lived in Virginia or Ken- tucky and who traveled through the wikls of northeastern Indiana as a missionary. of John Wells, north of the Salamonie, where he preached the gospel to the few early set- tlers in that neighborhood. Among the original communicants of 'the church at Montpelier were the families of Elder Bald- . win, John Wells, William Ellsworth, New- ton Putnam, John C. and Francis G. Spauld- ing and some others of the Spaulding family.
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BLACKFORD COUNTY, INDLINA.
minister of the denontination, located in I were the families of Ervin, Sims, Payton Hartford City about 1850, and during the following fifteen years preached at several places in the surrounding country. 1
Among other ministers who preached in this county about the same time were Nathan C. Rice. Clayton B. Kendall, who married a daughter of Elder Baldwin, and John C. Skinner, who resided near BloomGekl in Jay county. There are now two organiza- tions in this county, one at Montpelier and one near Pleasantdale school house in the south part of Harrison township.
It is probably not now known when or by whom the first Methodist sermon was preached in the territory comprised in Black- ford county. But it is known that the Methodist itinerant, "the man on horse- back," was always on the frontier line of civilization, ready to erect the standard of the cross in the rude cabin of the earliest settler.
Among the earliest pioncers in Licking township were John Ervin and Elijah Sims, both local preachers in the Methodist Episco- pril church, and just across the line in Jay county, near where the city of Dunkirk now flourishes, was Isaiah Sutton, also a local preacher. Hartford City and Licking town- ship were at first in the territory of the Mar- ion mission. The preachers in charge from the fall of 1837 to 1841, each serving one year, were George W. Bowers, John H. Bruce, Daniel F. Stright and John H. Hull. In I&Ar two men were appointed on the charge, viz: Hezekiah Smith and Brenton Webster. In 1842 John S. Donaldson and William Anderson were the appointees. The first regular preaching was at the house of William Payton and prayer-meetings were hell at the house of John M. Marlay. The first members of the church here
and Marlay, already named, and those of James E. B. Rose, Sylvester R. Shei. ton, Francis II. Graham, Abraham Cas- sel and a few others. Soon after there were added the families of Simeon T. Marlay. Philip Smell and Silas Maddox. The first church building in Hartford City was erected by the Methodists in 1843, a hewed-log house on lot No. 2 in block No. 4. It was occu- pied for about five years and was superseded by a brick building on the west side of the public square, 35×40 feet in size. The bricks were made and the walls erected in 1847, and the house was finished and dedi- cated in the summer of 1848. At the con- ference session of 1843 Hartford circuit was formed and Francis M. Richmond appointed to the work, who remained two years. In 1873 Hartford City became a station with M. S. Metts as pastor. In June, 1879, the present church building was dedicated by Rev. Abijah Marine, with E. M. Baker as pastor. In 1896, under the pastorate of L. A. Beeks, the building was remodeled and enlarged and again dedicated by David Il. Moore, D. D., now one of the bishops of the church. The present parsonage was built in 1886, during the pastoral term of H. J. Norris.
The early preachers at Montpelier and near there were G. W. Bowers, Seth Smith, Henry H. and Arthur Badley and George Guild. Among those who constituted the original membership were the families of Thomas Hulett, Josephus Streeter, Josiah Twibell, Michael Maddox and Lyman Simp- son. A frame house of worship w. built two or three years prior to 1860. T pres- ent commodious church was erected in: 1895. Methodism now has in this county four so- cieties in Licking township, three in Jack
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HUISTOR AL SKETCH OF
son, two in Harrison and one in Washing- ton. In membership and number and value of church buildings it is the leading denom- ination in the county.
In 1843 there were several persons in and around Hartford City of the Presbyter- ian faith, and they desired to enjoy the forms of worship and pulpit ministrations pro- vided by that church. Accordingly a society was organized of the New School branch December 18, 1843, with Rev. Samuel N. Steel as pastor. The following persons be- came members: George Atkinson, Abigail Marlay, Jacob Brugh, Lydia Brugh, Elijah Spangler, Nancy Ann Spangler. William Taughinbaugh. Lydia Taughinbaugh. James Parker, Elenor Parker, Jacob Emshwiller, Sarah Dildine and George Folkenroth. To this number were added, in the following March and April, Mrs. Jane Moore, Mary Ann Emshwiller, William Rousseau and Miss Elizabeth Atkinson. In 1845 Thomas Spencer became the pastor and in 1848 he was succeeded by Asa Martin. Both of these gentlemen taught school here while serving this church. In March, 1852, Al- fred Hawes was employed for four months, to spend one Sabbath in each month with this church. On May 2 of this year Philan- der Anderson was invited to become a stated supply for one year. On September 24. 1853. the name of the local church was changed to Blackford Presbyterian church. About this time the society seems to have ex -. perienced a season of depression and dis- couragement. On October 7, 1854, a peti- tion was presented to the Muncie presby- tery (Old School) asking for the organiza- tion of an Old School church here, as the New School minister (Anderson) had gone away and they were destitute of preaching. Revs. C. A. Manor and. J. F. Boyd were
appointed to visit and ivestigate the con- dition of affairs here. At a meeting held April 3. 1855. it was resolved to seek ad- mission to the Old School presbytery. The petition was signed by John Kirkpatrick. Jacob Brugh, Ralph Dildine, George Atkin- son and John Templin. The ministerial ser- vices of Rev. J. F. Boyd were requested. The request was granted and the church re- ceived and enrolled as the Presbyterian church of ITartford. The following ministers have since served as pastors, the year being given in which their term of serrvice began. 1857, R. Mccullough; 1861. John A. Camp- bell : 1869, William Armstrong; 1873, Will- iam TT. Honnell: 1877. W. W. Eastman; 1878, D. B. Rogers ; 1883, P. S. Cook : 1884. John Q. McKeehan; 1890, A. J. Arrick ; 1892, J. W. Fulton: 1897, Edwin Craven. About 1844 the first house of worship for this church was built here on a fractional lot on the east side of Mulberry street, midway between Washington and Water streets. Henry Ward Beecher once preached in this church. It was during his pastorate at In- dianapolis and when he was on his way to attend the session of the presbytery or synod at Fort Wayne. He stopped over the Sab- bath at Hartford City. Several persons still living here remember the occasion and heard the sermon. About 1868 a larger and bet- ter furnished frame church with a cupola and bell was erected on the southeast corner of High and Franklin streets, which was occupied for twenty-four years and then re- moved, in 1892, to make room for the pres- ent brick building, which was completed and dedicated in 1893. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Charles H. Payne, D. D., secretary of the board of education of the Methodist Episcopal church.
There has been a Presbyterian society
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in Montpelier for several years and a com- fortable frame church was recently built there. Fred W. Willman was pastor for a short time after this church was built.
As early as 1847 the German Lutherans in and around Hartford City had pastors to visit them. Rev. Kleinegies, stationed at Greenville, Ohio, frequently walked the seventy miles from there to attend to the spiritual wants of the people of this neigh- borhood. He confirmed a class about the year 1850. Rev. P. T. Hoffman confirmed several young people in the old court house. The services were usually held at the Goch- nauer and Wadle school houses and some- times in the groves. Pastors Hursch, Sand- haus and Dechant served the people before the organization of the congregation. The latter confirmed a class in 1858 at the Goch- nauer school house, and Rev. Hursch con- firmed seventeen persons in the old Baptist church. In the winter of 1866 Rev. J. D. Nunemacher was recommended to the peo- ple by the president of the English district. He was called to organize and serve congre- gations at Hartford City, Warren and Mont. pelier. On March 30th and 31st he organ- ized in the Wadle school house the Evangel- ical Lutheran Zions' congregation of Hart- ford City. Although all the fifty-one mem- bers were German, they decided also to have English services. Rev. G. Baughman in- stalled Rev. Nunemacher at Hartford City, July 10, 1866. The services were held in the Methodist church. Steps were at once taken for the erection of a church. The corner stone was laid March 29. 1867. and the church was dedicated in October by Pastor Nunemacher and Revs. Hinkel and Hursch. In 1868 the congregation united with the joint synod of Oh: . Rev. Nune-
macher continued till 1869 when he left, and S. C. Weisman was called and preached a few times. Student B. F. Schillinger. of Columbus, Ohio, served the congregation from September, 1870, till the spring of 1873. J. B. Schumann, student of Colum- bus, Ohio, served for two years. September 3. 1876, student Charles Mayer, of Colum- bus, Ohio, was called. He continued as pastor till July, 1880. During his pastorate an English Sunday school and parochial school were organized. Rev. W. J. Schroyer was installed December 12, 1880. He served seven years. February 6. 1888, Rev. Samuel Baechler was called from Goshen, Indiana. In him were united the energy of youth and the experience and wisdom of old age and he was much beloved by the people. He was suddenly called to his eternal rest, August 4, 1890, having become deathly sick while at the pulpit. William Lehman was then pastor from November, 1890, till the spring of 1893. In November, 1893. Rev. C. A. Schaefer accepted a call and has since been the efficient pastor of this church. In 1899 the present beautiful church was built and dedicated. The com- gregation has about fifty voting members and nearly two hundred confirmed members.
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