USA > Indiana > Wells County > Biographical memoirs of Wells County, Indiana : embracing a comprehensive compendium of local biography, memoirs of representative men and women of the county whose works of merit have made their names imperishable, and special articles by Hugh Dougherty [et al.] > Part 20
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Mr. Brickley was early led to take an active interest in political matters and ever since old enough to vote he has been an earn- est and uncompromising supporter of the Democratic party. He never missed an elec- tion when able to go to the polls and his activity and leadership have contributed much to the strength and success of Demo- cratic principles in Wells county during the fifty-two years of his residence therein. Early in the '7os he was elected justice of the peace of his township and continued to hold the office by successive elections until positively declining longer to serve, having held the position for a period of eight years. In 1890 he was nominated and elected a member of the board of county commission- ers, the most important office within the gift of the people, and discharged the duties in- cident thereto for six years, having been chosen his own successor in 1894. It was during Mr. Brickley's incumbency as ,a member of the commissioner's court that many of the most important public improve- ments were inaugurated and carried to suc- cessful completion. Among these were the purchase of one hundred and twenty acres for a county farm, and the erection of the necessary buildings thereon, the construc- tion of two large bridges across the Wabash, besides a general improvement of the public highways and other work of much import- ance to the people. Mr. Brickley's record as a public servant proved eminently satisfac- tory to the people, as well as affording him inward consciousness of having well and faithfully performed his duty. His judg- ment with respect to public matters was sel- dom if ever at fault, and his county is largely indebted to him for much of the prosperity which it now shares with its sister counties of the state.
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Personally Mr. Brickley is a quiet and unassuming gentleman and his relations with his fellow citizens have always been of the most pleasant and agreeable character. He is not much given to speech making, but makes his presence felt by his actions, which have always been correct, and by his influ- ence, which has ever been on the right side of all great moral questions and issues. His popularity with all classes of people is only bounded by the limits beyond which his name is not known and it is a compliment nobly earned and fittingly bestowed to class him with the best and most enterprising of the county's representative citizens.
In the year 1900 Mr. Brickley suffered a sad bereavement in the death of his faith- ful and devoted wife, since which time he has made his home with a daughter living in Bluffton. Mrs. Brickley was a lady of beautiful moral character, a sincere mem- ber of the Presbyterian church and, with a Christian's faith to cheer her, she entered into rest on April 19 of the above year. She bore her husband twelve children, namely : Andrew J., for a number of years one of the county's successful teachers ; James; Louisa M .; Mary C .; John Z., formerly a teacher in the public schools; Elzy M., Cora J., Maggie, Frank, Arlie A. and Artha, all married except Artha and Maggie.
JOHN W. BEAVANS.
This young and thriving farmer of Jack- son township, Wells county, Indiana, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, March .27, 1862. His father, James Beavans, was born in Monmouthshire, England, November 12, 1828. He remained in his native country
until about thirty years of age, when, on the 30th of April, 1859, he was united in mar- riage. to Anne Williams, who was also a native of Monmouthshire. Soon after his marriage James Beavans came to the United States, landing at Portsmouth, Virginia, November 10, 1859, and soon afterward located in Clinton county, Ohio. In the fall of 1864 he removed to Blackford county, Indiana, remaining there until 1870, when he came to Jackson county, Indiana, and lo- cated first on a rented farm, from whence he subsequently removed to his late home in the same township. There, by industry and economy, he made for himself and family a home of comfort and plenty. He had in former years met with many reverses, which were very discouraging, but instead of yielding to their influences, it only awakened in him a determination to take a stronger hold upon the great possibilities of life. He was honest and upright with his fellow men ; his word was as good as his bond; he was a good neighbor, honored and respected by all who knew him. He united with the Methodist church in 1885 and remained a consistent member until death. As a Chris- tian he was not a sun that flashed and burned in mighty energy, but as a star that shone steadily in its constancy. For several years before his death his health and strength gradually failed, and he passed into the silent land February 1, 1899, aged seventy years, two months and eighteen days.
To James and Anne ( Williams) Beavans were born seven children, named in order of birth as follows: Francis, now deceased ; John W., in whose interest principally this biography is prepared; William E., at home with his mother; Horace A., deceased; David E., residing in Warren, Indiana;
mary E. Beavans.
John. W. Beavans
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Lawson J., farming in Jackson township, and Mary M., wife of B. F. McCoy, a resi- dent of Jefferson township, Huntington county, Indiana.
John W. Beavans attended the district schools of Jackson township until about twenty-one years of age, and continued to assist on the home farm until he married, March 6, 1886, Miss Mary E. Alexander, who was born March 7, 1865, and is a daughter of Robert and Mary Jane (Jones) Alexander, natives of Ohio, but who were brought to Indiana when young by their parents.
Robert and Mary Jane Alexander were the parents of nine children, namely : Rhoda Adeline, deceased; Susan; John T., a resi- dent of Salmonie township, Huntington county ; Enoch, farming in Jackson town- ship, Wells county ; William R., a resident of Jefferson township, Huntington county ; Sarah, wife of Edward Fornshell; Mary E., now Mrs. J. W. Beavans ; Daniel, deceased, and an infant also deceased.
When John W. Beavans started in life for himself his father assisted in buying him a team of colts and John W. himself bor- rowed one hundred dollars with which to purchase furniture. He located on a part of his father's farm, where he resided about a year and then moved to a log cabin al- ready standing on the farm he now occupies and here built his modern dwelling in 1894 and his substantial barn in 1901, and now owns one hundred and five acres of arable land and also twelve producing oil wells which in 1901 netted him a little over one hundred dollars per month ; but the supply is gradually diminishing and the income from these wells is now about seventy dollars monthly. His farming is of a general 11
character, but he gives a great deal of atten- tion to live stock, making specialties of shorthorn cattle, Shropshire sheep and Po- land China hogs, in the breeding of all of which he has. been remarkably successful.
The marriage of John W. Beavans and Mary E. Alexander has been crowned by the birth of five children, namely: A daughter who was born March 22, 1887, and died un- named in infancy ; Lawrence L., born Feb- ruary 26, 1889; Frederick E., born Septem- ber 9, 1894; Mabel M., born September 9, 1896, and Nora E., born February I, 1902.
Mrs. Beavans is a member of the Meth- odist Protestant church and Mr. Beavans affiliates with the Jackson Center Lodge No. 769, I. O. O. F., at McNatts. In politics Mr. Beavans is a Democrat, but is not par- ticularly active save during the campaign season, when he warms up to his work as a party man. The Beavans family are held in very high esteem by their neighbors, Mrs. Beavans being a lady of many amiable domestic qualities and Mr. Beavans being recognized as one of the most upright as well as industrious young farmers in the township.
As being of special interest in connec- tion with the foregoing sketch, the follow- ing obituary notices are here reprinted :
Anna, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Wil- liams, was born in Monmouthshire county, Eng- land, October 7, 1834. Departed this life July 18, 1902. Was united in marriage to James Beavans April 30. 1859. To this union were born seven children, five of whom survive her, four sons and one daughter, her husband, one son and a daughter having preceded her to the glory land. She leaves two brothers, eleven grandchildren and a number of other relatives and friends. She united with the Church of England while in youth. She, with her husband, came to this country November 10, 1859, landing at Portsmouth, Virginia. They set-
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tled in Clinton county, Ohio, the same year, re- moving to Blackford county, Indiana, in the fall of 1864; removed to Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana, in 1870; March 17, removed to where she lived at the time of her death. She united with the Methodist Protestant church at Union Chapel in 1884 and remained a faithful member until her death. She was a kind and de- voted Christian mother and by her deeds of kind- ness she had won a great many friends and will be missed by the church and community in which she lived. The home circle is once more broken. Mother is gone, but not forgotten. In her declin- ing years the burden of her conversation was, "We cannot do too much for the Lord." She was aged sixty-seven years, nine months and eleven days. The funeral was conducted by her pastor, Rev. J. L. Barclay, at Union Chapel, before a large and sympathetic audience. Interment took place at Woodlawn cemetery, Warren, Indiana.
Robert Alexander, son of John and Rhoda Alex- ander, was born in Brown county, Ohio, October 23, 1822; died March 24, 1897, aged seventy-four years, five months and one day. He moved with his parents from Ohio to Warren, Indiana, in 1841. He was married to Mary J. Jones in 1846, and to this union were born nine children. The wife, two sons and a daughter preceded him. Father Alex- der was the oldest of six brothers and three sisters. He leaves three sons, three daughters, three broth- ers, a sister and a host of relatives and friends to mourn his departure. He united with the Meth- odist Protestant church about thirty years ago and lived a true Christian life. He will be sadly missed in church, for as long as he was able his seat was seldom vacant. The funeral was held at Union Chapel, conducted by Rev. Tharp, assisted by Rev. Bundy. The text was, "Be ye faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life."-Rev. 2:10. Faithfulness comes with charity, hope and love. The concourse of friends showed their last tribute of respect by being present at the funeral and interment in the Batson cemetery.
Mary Jane Jones was born in Clinton county, Ohio, June 4, 1823, and departed this life Novem- ber 15, 1892, aged sixty-nine years, five months and eleven days. She came to Wells. county, Indiana, in the year 1837. She was united in mar- riage to Robert Alexander January 8, 1846. Nine children blessed this union, five boys and four girls, three of whom-two boys and one girl-
sleep in the city of the dead. Sister Alexander in early youth consecrated her life. to God. At the age of nineteen years she joined the Methodist Episcopal church, where she remained a consistent member until 1846, when she united with the Methodist Protestant church, continuing a faithful member and an earnest Christian until death marked her his own and the God whom she loved to adore said: "Enter thou into the joys of thy Lord." Her sickness, though long and severe, was borne with patience. She was willing at all times to say, "Thy will, O God, not mine, be done." But she is gone. We will see her no more. She has left this world for the other shore. We will miss the work of her dear hands; we will miss her in the family band; we will see the paths she has trod, but it is a joy to think she rests with God. She leaves a husband three sons and three daughters to mourn her departure. Funeral ser- vices at Union Chapel, conducted by Rev. J. R. French; interment in the Batson cemetery.
SOLOMON B. NELSON.
Recurrences to the past, with the recol- lections and associations which cause it to pass in lifelike review before our mental vision, will continue to be, as of yore, a source of satisfaction, especially when they connect themselves with facts and incidents reflected from our own experience. These reminders remain with the life of the partic- ipants when no landmarks remain to save us the pictures faintly delineated on the tab- lets of memory. To preserve from forget- fulness the leading facts in the lives of the pioneers and older citizens of our country is the work devolved upon the writers of this work. Biography fails in its mission when it fails to preserve these valuable facts committed to its care. More than any other form of history, it commands the most in- terested attention for the reason that it is largely a record of our own experiences as -
/ seen reflected from the careers of others
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who have traveled the rugged pathway of life as our companions, acquaintances and friends. In the life of the gentleman whose name introduces this article the reader will find much that is interesting and instructive. An honored resident of Wells county for over a half century and a gallant soldier in one of the greatest wars of history, he has borne well his part in life and now, when the shadows have deepened, he looks back over his long and useful career, finding in the retrospect little to condemn and much to commend. Solomon B. Nelson is a native of Ohio and the son of James and Sarah (Beals) Nelson, both parents born in Penn- sylvania. James Nelson was taken to Wayne county, Ohio, when a small boy, and there grew to maturity and married. Short- ly after taking to himself a helpmeet he re- moved to the county of Stark, where he owned a farm, and for some years lived in that section of the state, engaging in agri- culture and blacksmithing. About 1844 he disposed of his place and moved his family to Adams county, Indiana, where he pur- chased a quarter section of timber land, thirty-five acres of which were cleared and reduced to cultivation during the five years that followed. In 1849 Mr. Nelson sold this place at a good figure and came to Wells county, locating in the township of Lancas- ter, where he bought an eighty-acre farm on which the remainder of his life was spent. In connection with agriculture he worked at blacksmithing and by industry and suc- cessful management succeeded in accumu- lating a sufficiency of this world's goods to place himself in comfortable circumstances. James Nelson was a man of excellent parts, honest and industrious and the embodiment of all that was honorable and upright in
citizenship. For many years he served as class leader in the Methodist church and he always tried to measure his life according to the high standard of excellence as found in the life and teachings of the man of Nazareth. In politics he was a Democrat and as such was elected to various local offices, among which was that of township trustee. James and Sarah Nelson were the parents of twelve children, all but one reaching the years of maturity, four sons, Solomon B., William, Silas and Sanford P., serving their country faithfully during the great Rebell- ion.
Solomon B. Nelson was born in Wayne county, Ohio, July 30, 1837, and was a lad of about eleven when his parents moved to the county of Wells. Aside from the daily routine of labor on the farm, varied of win- ter seasons by attending the common schools, his early life was marked by no striking incident or fact worthy of note. He grew up to the full requirement that man should earn his bread by honest toil and from his excellent parents learned those les- sons of duty and correct living which re- dounded so greatly to his advantage in after years. After completing the public school course he taught one term, but not caring to devote his attention exclusively to educa- tional work soon exchanged that calling for the vocation of farming.
In April, 1860, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Clark, a na- tive of Ohio who came to Wells county with her parents as early as the year 1839. Her father, Allen Clark, a native of Pennsyl- vania, was of Irish descent and her mother, who bore the maiden name of Florinda Mar- quis, was born and reared in Ohio. The childhood and youthful years of Mrs. Nel-
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son were spent on the home farm in Lan- caster and after receiving a good common school education she taught for some time in the village of Eaglesville. Immediately following his marriage Mr. Nelson turned his attention to farming, but was not very long permitted to pursue that vocation un- disturbed. The President's call for volun- teers to crush the rebellion in the southern states so appealed to his patriotism that he at once tendered his services to his country in its time of need. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, Captain William Swain, and after spending a short time at Ander- son, Indiana, proceeded to the front, meet- ing the enemy for the first time at New Madrid, Missouri. Subsequently the regi- ment was sent to Memphis, Tennessee, thence up White river to meet the force un- der General Curtis and later to Port Gib- son, on the Mississippi, where the subject took part in one of the hard fought battles of the war. Mr. Nelson shared with his comrades the vicissitudes and fortunes of war in a number of campaigns in different states and proved his bravery and loyalty under many trying circumstances. He par- ticipated in the bloody engagement at Cham- pion Hill, Mississippi, where his colonel was severely wounded, and some time there- after was obliged to take hospital treatment for disability brought on by exposure and over-exertion. At the expiration of his period of enlistment, December, 1863, he was discharged, but the following year re- enlisted and served until the close of the war, being mustered out the second time at New York City on the 26th of June, 1865. While in the service Mr. Nelson's eyes be- came seriously affected and at one time it
was feared his sight would be lost. He has never recovered from this ailment, his vision being very greatly impaired at the present time, so much so in fact that it is impossible for him to perceive any but very large and distinct objects. For this mis- fortune he is partially reimbursed by a pension of seventy-two dollars per month, which, though quite liberal, by no means compensates him for the loss of vision. After the war Mr. Nelson took up his resi- dence at Eagleville, where he supported his family by various kinds of manual labor un- til his diminishing eyesight compelled him to retire from active life. When it became impossible for him to work, he moved to Bluffton and here he has resided since 1883, honored and respected by all who know him. He purchased a beautiful and comfortable home and, barring his disability, is well situ- ated to enjoy the many blessings of life by which he is surrounded.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have had five chil- dren, namely : Florence E., born January 16, 1861, died at the age of twenty months ; Rachel E., born January 15, 1865, married J. Z. Brickley and departed this life some years ago; Marion F. was born September 22, 1866, married Irene B. Cobbins and is now in the United States mail service, hav- ing charge of Rural Route No. 6; Martha J., born January 1, 1869, died when seven years old ; the youngest of the family, Allen C., whose birth occurred on the 6th day of May, 1878, is a compositor in the office of the Bluffton Chronicle and News.
Prior to the Rebellion Mr. Nelson was a Democrat, but after the war he joined the Republican party and has been one of its earnest supporters ever since, though not a partisan in the sense the term is generally
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understood. He belongs to the Grand Armny post at Bluffton and takes an active inter- est in all of its deliberations. His religious creed is represented by the Presbyterian church, of which body he has been an earn- est and consistent member for many years; Mrs. Nelson also belongs to the same denomination. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are among the oldest and best known residents of Wells county and all who are favored with their acquaintance speak in the highest terms of their many sterling qualities of head and heart. They have lived long and well, have done their duty without fear or favor and the future awaits them with abundant rewards.
JOHN BAKER.
John Baker, who was born October II, 1845, in Champaign county, Ohio, is a son of John and Susan ( Hower) Baker, natives of Pennsylvania, who, when they were chil -. dren, moved with their parents into Ohio, where they grew up and were married. John, Sr., was a cooper by trade and worked at that business until the end of his life, his death occurring in 1853 in Wells county, Indiana, on the farm where the subject now lives.
The senior Baker and his family came to Wells county about the year 1850 and his wife died here in 1884. Mr. Baker was the father of eight children, six of whom are living: Sarah, the wife of Jacob Huffman ; Lydia, the wife of John Knott; Mary A., the wife of Andrew Bilbee; Jacob, now a resident of Huntington county, Indiana ; John; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Neriah Hunnicott ; Martin, now residing in
Chester township, Wells county, Indiana, and an infant, deceased. John, Jr., attended the public schools of Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana, until he was eigh- teen years of age. He then enlisted in the army, becoming a member of Company E, Seventy-fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, December 6, 1863, and remained in the serv- ice of his country until the close of the war, being discharged therefrom in August, 1865. He was with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea, engaging in all the battles of that memorable march. After his return from the army he began to work at the carpen- ter's trade and continued at the business for about twelve years, or two years after his marriage. He was married October 31. 1848, in Wells county, Indiana, to a daugh- ter of Benjamin Hudson, a native of Mary- land, and Katie Ann Mullen, a native of Ohio. When Benjamin Hudson was a small boy his parents, Selby and Elizabeth Hud- son, came to Cincinnati, Ohio. Later on Selby removed his family to Brown county, Ohio, and there Benjamin grew to man- hood. The parents of Katie Miller were Abram and Hannah Miller. Benjamin and Katie were married in Ohio and after a few years moved to Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana, where they spent the re- mainder of their days. Katie was born January 7, 1815, and died October 22, 1888. Benjamin Hudson was born December 26, 1808, and died February II, 1897. He was twice married. To the first wife, Nancy S., two children were born, and to the second, Katie M., nine children were born. The children by his first marriage were James, a resident of Jackson township, Wells county, Indiana, and Sarah O. Of the sec- ond marriage the children are Lucinda, de-
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ceased; William, who died in the army; Lavina, deceased; Elizabeth, the wife of Alexander Little, of Montpelier, Indiana ; Sophrona, deceased; Mollie, wife of John Baker; Selby, now a resident of Kansas; Abram, deceased; Belinda, the wife of Ross D. Dintman, deceased, and is now living in Kansas.
After John Baker's marriage he settled on the farm where he now lives. He owned the south forty acres and after the death of his parents he purchased the remaining forty acres of the farm. He now owns two hundred and sixty-nine acres of fine land in Jackson township, eighty acres of which is in the home place. There are fourteen oil wells on his land, the production of which yields a profit of about two hundred dollars per month. Besides looking after his in- terests in this line, Mr. Baker also has the supervision of his farm. He is a general stock farmer and has devoted the greater portion of his life to farming and its allied interests. He has earned and accumulated the most of his wealth by his own efforts. He is the father of three children: James W., born May 23, 1876, married Anna Good and lives on a part of the home place and is now an oil pumper; they have one child, Maxie; Benjamin Franklin was born Sep- tember 23, 1876, married Mary H. Hay- ward, and lives on a part of his father's land, and is an oil pumper ; he is the father of two children, Ethel and Hazel; Oscar E., the youngest son, was born November 29, 1884, and is at home with his parents. Both Mr. Baker and wife were formerly members of the Christian church, but the congregation to which they were attached having disband- ed, they have not formed other church con- nections. He is a member of Masonic Lodge No. 246 in Warren, Indiana.
In politics Mr. Baker is a Democrat and has always voted that ticket in national and state affairs. In local and municipal mat- ters, however, he believes in voting for the best man, without regard to the party to which he belongs. In 1896 he built a very fine house on his farm and has it well fur- nished. He constructed his barn in 1901. The success which has attended the efforts of John Baker to improve his environments has again demonstrated the fact that in this country no life need be barren of results if directed by a definite purpose, accompanied by industrious habits and the moral recti- tude which gives stability and worth to char- acter. Upon commencing in life, his plans, like those of so many thousands of others, were interrupted by the Civil war, which gave to the country a new and valuable ex- perience. As a patriotic citizen he perform- ed his duty as a soldier, and returned after peace had been declared to continue his pur- poses in life. After working a number of years as a carpenter, he became identified with the agricultural pursuits of the coun- try, the ground work of the nation's pros- perity. In this he has been eminently suc- cessful and, chiefly by his own labor and efforts, has secured a competence and a po- sition in his community which is highly creditable to him as a citizen and neigh- bor.
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