USA > Indiana > Miami County > Combination atlas map of Miami County, Indiana > Part 8
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The mouth of the Wahash, of the youthful pioneer's mental pic- toring, was a town of houses and people. the place in reality was without either. It presented nothing to the eye, at that time, but a In 1839, Hiram Butler and young wife moved to Perry Town- ship, Miami County, where eventually be becarue the owner of a larger estate Ile bon grew to have the confidence of the people of' his new county, and in the years 1819 and Is52 respectively wald elected County Commissioner, serving as soch rwo full trims, or -ix years. In 1870, hi- name was announced for the same office again, but before the convention was held-May + 1970-he was kicked and killed by a hope. He was buried with Masonic honors, in the cenietery at Gilrad ; Atul it is said his funeral was attended by the largest conenurse of people ever witnessed in the north end of Mesut Chuncy. dreary waste of turbid water, and to the er no sound but the er; of some will hird and the crash and crunch of the driftau, timber. Net a living creature or sign of habitation was in sight-no 'bus to con- vey him to any part of the city, and no loquacious runner presentiog the superior advantages of the hotel in whose interest he was en- ployed. On the contrary. the young traveler was permitted to enjoy che sweets of solitude, which be dil sitting upou his baggage barely out of the water, where it had been placed by the surly boatien, notil near daylight, when, to vary the monotony, he ventured op on top of the bank above him Here something like a building was outlined in the obscurity of the morning fog, and the faint but wel- His widowed wife still lives on the old homestead, io Perry Township, with their only son,' Win. L. Butler, to whom this is dedicated. cothe sound of human vuices struck upon his ear from a point fartber op the river. Advancing cautionsly in the direction of the sound to a poiot about half' a mile above where he had been landed. he found He was horo at this homestead, January 27. 1441. Growing to manhood, Feb. 7, 1567, he married Miss Catharine Tridle, daughter of Jarob and Sarah Tridle, uf Kosciusko County, Indiana She had come to Indiana with her parents in intuney. from Miami County, Ohio. where she was horn, October 25. 1-40. a steamboat bound up the Wabash as far as Clinton, and he took passage for that point. Here, after several days' detention by high water, he took the stage fur Lafayette. At Lafayette, the hotels were full of people, all seemingly having the same business -- land-hunting for bomes. Finding the seats in the state for Logansport taken for A sketch of that old hatmusical with portraits of Hiram Butler page in this volume Wm I. Butler is now in the prime of life He is surrounded with comfort and plenty, and may a happy future await bim ! several days in advance, and that to secure one he would have to, and wife, and Win. L. Butler and wife, can be seen occupying a full pay his passage and await his turn, he remembered that he mich! walk. In due time he performed the perlestrion task, and reached Peru, his place of destination, Weary and foot-ore.
At Peru, he entered the servire nt' Alexander Wilsun to clerk in a store that he and a brother were going to start at Logansport. lie remained at the latter place in charge of the store until the Spring of 1838, when the business wa- cloud up, and he returned to l'eru. in accordance with the original agreement. At Peru, he clerkrd for A. Wilson until the Fall of 1929, when. as had been previously agreed apon, he becatue the partuer of Mr. Wilsuo the firm being A Wil- son & Co. The first pork ever packed in Peru for sale in another market was packed by this form in 1:29 The enterprise proved a financial failure for several reasons, the most potent of which was that in consequence of low water in the Maurice, they could not get the baron they had shipped to a point on that nivir to New York, and had to ship it back senin to l'ery They tried the experiment again, in 1840, building flatbeats, and shipping by way of the Which to New Orleans, but this venture was equally unene gevful, in course- quence of' hard times, plutted market, and low prices.
The partnership of A Wilson & d'u continued until 141), when the subject of this sketch was cheten Sheriff of the County, to which office he was reelected in 1-13, and which be filled until the expiration of bis term, in 1-15 In Johpiry, 1816. S Fisher, then Superintendent of the Water-h & brie total appointed hun clerk in the ('nnal banel infier which he hu'l until the Summer of 1-1. when, under the art . hu-ting the Plate debt, known as the " Butler Bill," the office was removed to leggisport
Being out of home- after the removal of the Land toffee he bought the printing where, which was hig die, longer several efforts to establish a newspaper in the golden hel failed
After a pesaration of the office be presented to the people on the 24th of June, Ists, the first number of the Norm. franty Sortiert, which be conducted as editor and promoter gold the sapere of THE1. a period of uver thirteen vents The paper storrerdid in a bowing- point of view, and was see of the leading il mocratie paper of the State. It is still joghh-hued. „hlensch it has provedl through a veral hotels situe his connection with it would.
In 1-500, But salgart of this sketch was elected Representative Del- egate to the Indians Conversational l'invention. In Imes, he wa- elected Clock of the Court He has beena Member of the Town and City Commits at different times, Comoty Agent I united State-
of which he his tor de qanty and internity
school was ed an elementary character, and toturn that there.
Ho was tuntried in Peru, Indiana, on the 25th of June, 1512, to | division of ithen) Union Township. The petition was granted and thus, from the north half' of' I mon was constructed the Township of Allen, as now appears.
Carolino A. Avalue, and a family at six girls and three boys bie sael their home. The band of Death hay wrapped their outer just as household in mourning, is taking lance, a few years ago, two tos sons, and within the past year, bis ouls son and beloved with.
He lives in a comfortable home in Form, surrounded by his i corner of the town of Lincoln, purchase a small stora tal como tal
remaining children, and orcupies his time in superintending his farm near town, and managing his other business
WM. L. BUTLER, PERRY TOWNSHIP.
was a son of Hiram and Nancy Butler, and grandson of Wm and Khaileth Butlet
Hiram Butler, the father, was boru Dre 21, 1804, in Warren County. State of Georgia. During boshund, was brought he has parents to Indiana. Here they first settled in Wayne County, then in llenry County, and finally so La l'orte County, There be welded Nancy Crumparker, Nov. 22, 1934. She was the daughter of Joel and Elizabeth Crumpacker, born JJune 14, Jong. in Bedford County, Virginia. She emigrated with her parents tu La Porte County, io 1935
GEORGE WILKINSON, LINCOLN ALLEY TOWNSHIP.
Thin worthy citizen of Miami County is a native of Ros- County, Ohm. His father, John Wilkinson, emigrated to that county, at an carly day, from North Carolina-the State which had given birth to both the father and the muther.
Tracing farther hack his origin, his grandfather Wilkinson was boro in Ireland, while his mother had descemled from Vierman Juces- try George had heen burn February 16, 1- 17 During the Fall nt his twentieth year ( 18'i; ,, his father's family, including him-elf. tunk their have of the State of this, and emigrated to the Ilorsier State, Of care. at that time, there was no other medium tout the overland A double as team was employed, and twenty-live days were required to make the journey of three hundred miles
They spent their first Winter in the then hamlet of Mexico, this county, changme, the following Spring, to the spot where now stande the village of Lincoln, and there established a porubent settlement. At that time the toreifying yell of the Pottawattomates sull rang through the forests of Minmi Candy
The Willausens were the fourth family to seule in the present limits of Allen Township-those of Jobs, Horton, Surge and William Noren only having preceded them.
During these jenner dass, bilious diseases were very preculent The atmosphere, of course, must have been tainted there with mads rinne persone slan see the denver tomter began to disappear, sier the closing mon could penetrate to should aus golden. healthful rays, #] siner skill and industry have maior. 44 chent Is Br dr.dnes. The retacurry were to severe for the endurance of the latter. Il. died December 20, 1-3- The mother marvelously agrvised len thing-two years Sle followed him to the Golden Shops in 1-To,
I'min the death of his father, Course-then 21 years of age- took upon him-elf the care of la. solowed and aged medier and the Www Sarah of Biowell with whom life how wine . Forse happily pastel 13. 1- at this time, and has been for some years, bad preacher in the M E Church to afentifeed fornow if with theat church ste september.
fmmir weare, Brenrdered Miwa L'onuty, serving han ball torin one chtaldy tre barnsol' med , the rendly as a service for the public In 1-39, for. with others, potatisand the lord of County Commentoner for s
During the Fall, at-o, of that year (1-39 ), le and his be cher Jaunes ererted a building for a store at what is now the northwest opened up trade. Soon after, he heorzes bought his treather's inter est in both the building and stock Thus, porsurag almost three years, and finding the business not yielding suitetery returns, Mr Wilkinson closed out his stock in trade and retired ago to fintrang
it the time of entering the mercantile tonnes, Mr. Wilkinson laid out twenty lots and called it Lincoln, selling some of the luts at ten dollars each
The I, l' & C. B & was completed in Ista During that year. Mr W., Jointly with Mr. James M. Powell laid out what is brown as Wilkinson & Puwell's Addition to the Town of Lincoln. Also, during said year ( 1969), Mr. W erected the building for a railroad depot at Lincoln ; then selling it, erected the gram warehouse at the sawe town. Since then up to the present year ( 187; , he has been connected with the grain und warehouse hitsiness. but he has now retired. He saya for many years after their settlement in whis is Dow Allen Township, he knew, by name and countonaner. o-aris every voter in the ourth hall' of Miami County. But at this time he is no.wequainted with many of' the voters of his own tuwoship and feels that he has becoui largely a stranger in his own land
Ile is now in his tilet year, and says that, in taking a review of his life, he sees in it wany defeet-, " but is thankful to the All- wise Being for Ilis godness and mercy wherewith he has been blessed. so that, in the language of one uf old time. he excluirus, "foodness and merey bath followed me all the days of my life.""
May his enjoymenty aud deerls of usefulness yet be inany.
JOIEN AKRIGHT, GILEAD, PERRY TOWNSHIP
This must worthy citizen of Miami County is hy deacent a com- bination of English and German. His grandfather, Abraham Alright, born in England, crossed the Atlantic to Aiserienn whores at the age of 13 years. At the freaking out of the Revolution. he took sides with his adopted country, and. potrivit-like, fight through- out the long and hingdy struggle. He was in the batth, 4 of Bratdy- wine. Monmonth, Trenton and wiany others. Waw a soblier, brove and true ' but as if shielded, camped through all, wahrmed! He lived to a good old age, and died about 1828.
W'n. Akright, the father of John, amd a native uf the Keystone State, was horn io 1788. Arriving at the age of young manhned, he came westward, as far as Wayne County. This, where, eventually (about 1819), he married, and there fixed his residence for a onm'a r nf years. For his companion, he chose Mies Sarah M. wrey, dad:h- ter of Juhn Mowrey, who had heen a pioneer of Wayne iwanty. Mr Mowrey's vocation was showmaking. Hi- ancestors were fieroan After mreriage, and while residing in Wayne County, Wm Akoght pursued tho vocation of farming
Areninsulating a small property, he resolved. in 1-31, to wek a home still farther westward During that year. he reached Long as port. Ind., moving hy trant, arrumpanied hy his finvily. and having, upon his arrival, cash avete 812 in silver. With 8100 of this amount be directly purchased si arres, four tuiles to the northeast of the then bandet or small village of Lagningort.
Making slight imtouvementy, he sold the same before the end of that year for a viral advance, and rented a farm in the virimty, printly under cultivation. This done, he paid a visit tothe the n unorganized County at Mono. Saiting him If he bought 120 acres on the ast liter of what is now Ferry Township. The second year thereaters tto H), he speed his family to this to welaim
The telliter tales of industry now for migrated comfortable surroundings But a few years in fact, and ing ente d a home - desirable and sumgtonly provided No Where goethes in, and they were no longer in a wildernis, phuany, wolitury ami art roken' The Comaly of Win Abright, all told, consisted of ten childr . Seven s. r born in the Bookes side one in Case Conors, and the two young et in Perry Townslap John, of whom we write, was the birth child, barn Wayne County Ohio, Ang. ~ 1-21 Of the Large family, Let.es. Elzibeth and Immeff une the only children yet living I'm really in Kemsky d'unty, this state, and Elizabeth wil of Info | Shoemaker in Ferry Towinshop, this county John we an industrias had an derleyen dental not To help him lober through
Beready been limited Three months- and that sery belly die on- wet. I- would agere zase the same total of his w load privileged and you love parese of the three -hold of portotie at lite. literally a ats payment for our tion, halloween his rommurer Entering the fee for wet interest and
Sner costing this bo rease ment, his father was mou thed agente the Spring
of Isit, sines which time the subject of our hotel has provided a ! to his father, notwithstanding the entrenties of his cousin to way of stock to the Examall Indempole & Cheddar Stanche in full Acme and lo stowed true blind care road "This be good boy band falder, is it all toget to the me h and In enses, Irat, die's sell their time for Me he to l'salih Spal, Istin his engaged in imeschicchisine at talent, where get In the Scene of Lo V. a me Darbey hard to work on the the- he is successfully parement This store landing with mostde ne ared portraits of's it and wife can be Contul among the representation of this work for liris Townolup. and ambitions and bear a good chopper, was put to letto, trois del
Te mettretons With the boss towns a public montant, is at this time serving his fiantsonthe year as divine of the Peace laen
Postmaster of love town plus I'm yours port, and Notary Public for , learned to low and has the one among the laws howers on the eight years. Was first a Wing in politics, washing his best suffrage ( " live" this san was alaming brighter, ambition and some ware for President Zubary Taylor Has been a la pudico since dla { clearing the pathway. He was le ared to the five weak on floor organization of that party for many sens has been a member of the M. E. Church I- 4 min of' stent int ants, Patitofte, enter. prising und hunor ille, he rrevives the vonbdence and esterm off' hits entire acquaint.iler.
OLIVER CALLK.
Me. Oliver Culk, whose biography we here briefly outline, was died when he was last three was he ald when he was adopted toy box uncle, through when he reveived a very liberal educativo. He made rapid progress in his studies, and acquired extraordinary proteiney all the branches essential to a gond partied education.
At the age of 19, he was sent "a Philadelphus to acquire a commercial education. There he rommed eleven years, during which time ho berate thoroughly ouversant with ull the various commercial forms. Becoming thesatisfied with commerend life, he retired to une of the farms bequeathe.i han by his father, situated in the casteru part of' Maryland, where he resuled several years, tullow- ing the pursuit of' farming.
When 31 years of age, he married Raclul G, Cux, in the year 1535. He sulesquently returned to Philadelphus, where he engaged in the wholesale silk trathe. This enterprise Jewanded his whole attention, and in consequence of the close confinement thus necessitated, his health began to fail. Believing that a change of' climate would he lanoticial to his health. he despost of his property and in the year 1-43 removed with his family to Miami County, In- diana. Here he pun hased a large innt uf lund ithen known as the Jussler farin), consisting of Did actes.
During the Winter of 18 ft and 1844, he remained with his family in logansport, then scarcely more than a village. In the fol- lowing Spring, he removed with his family to the farm. The family consisted of himself, wife, our son and two daughters the latter young ladies). The country then was new. und very sparsely settled. the nearest neighbor being two miles distant. Ilere bear, deer am! wolves roamed the trackles forests, surest momolisted. Coming from the populous city, so abundantly supplied with religious and social advantages, the change, associati 1 as it was, with the scenes of frontier life, bad a depressing influence upon the household who had entered the wilderness to link their destinies with the great State of Indiana. With his courage as his stimulus and surress his motto. Mr. Caulk applied his energies to the task of reducing his workland farm to a state of productiveness, working carly and late in his endeavor to improve the land. Success crowned his efforts, and he lived to see his brightest hopes realized.
He lived a pore and ride life. and was noted for his strict probity of character He was loved and respected by all who came within the pale of bis gentle influence. He was a consistent tem- ber of the Society of' Friendly, during a long and useful life, and after attainioy the ripe old age uf 77 years be departed this life, lamented hy a large circle of friends, ou the sth day of October, 186 !!
JOSEPH M. DARBY.
His premises, as sketched io this Atlas, are in full view of the town of Xenia, south, on the Jerume road, his farmi extendiug to the corporation.
Ilis fischer, Owen Darby, was of New Jersey, and of English descent. His mother, Margaret Fritt4, was of Virginia, amt of fier- man descent. They were married in Virginia, in 1799, and were the parents of cleven children-three daughters and eight cone-Joseph, the soluret of this narrative, being the grangeost He was barn an Butler County, Chiu, F. hruarv =7, 1-19. 11 .- inother died when he was about four years old, cunosquently he knows nothing of a kind mother's care and traitung His father married again shortly after and moved to Fayette L'ounty, this state \ few years afirrward, he bought a small form in the same county, even miks southwest from Conm ryville, the county -rat, un what we- then called " Human; Ridge," a he isby howation, and now a farintiful wetion of country. On this Firm young; Darhy -punt as fow yi trend' heyhood life. ~ hunting squirrel-, winnipecher-, trapgang quais, fishing and swimming, with avusting his father of the farm, ws 'd las paing handy could do; in time of harvest. " gouging" for his father and others, by which Dans le herange a granel reageer, and, at the age of filtern, made a " full hand."
The same year, un thu, 22d of July, he married Miwy Catharine Servire Little, of Ghin County, this Stite, and neat Ri-me sun She was the daughter of tavad and Mary Little, and was born in the rity of Philadelphia, Denn., January 22. 1427 Her father was of Cirurgia and of dri-i deaagent, her father was of New deres and of Seaton descent. They were married in New Jersey in This and were the parents ad six cloudren-three sets and three thought- Catherine's being next to the youngest Her forher was a second other of his centrales, in Large and Sonsil Harrows t'recebe; also . teacher and died in Xema. Ohio, in Jodi, while teching a wohnt welunid at that piace Her mother's maiden name was Morgan. She duel at Mr. And Mrs. Pithy . respirare in 1-78. at the age of
In 1- 11, his father sold out and moved to Tippecanoe County, bought a -teil form of Wild &'it 'rock, in the timber, ton mail . from ladis the: he negensed they are. Joseph helping to ernte. quick and Form beasts, bude foneis, ato, sending wane of his time in the romantic " Wild fat. 'as boys of the times and johan knew bose how to dos. His father when sole e in, and that was the best land he ever wood He format tres pons the the Wes and one of the Wild d'ar Pratio, selling corn at you create your batchel, de liverpool these times sorry Darby asistent h a father les working out.
in the Fall of 1-85, his Toher moved to Jebioun County, on the rist side id' White River, twor.c miley month .d' Indian andli-, having provivesely given hay wort at mister is the privilege ad dot ; for hing If'- ' round, jag, or wie The lo catifui world was In tony has youthful imagtuation He lured les ne year to los cammin, Jours l' Kilis, K-q. a wedding farmer at the sager grote and " high gate" farm hands But when his feber was ready to move to Jeden i County, doone ph resolved to acessospany har, a .auch was hi attin la i
looks this first ough on the sand was los delin kants, in old ther neste-Barrioman. He sten d'unks wal pinhar pleasure of that tag and the scenes while working for him. "The + pas white " what a Jour place to close' They shall banks, une aloose the other! Next young Harly worked for Five & Burke at the lock, by Col. John Washard's, his was a la ing lest to the loss work now at the
Here he witnees same langlade weare which till linger in
The next season, he worked for the same mơn at the tyn lunch just south il Indianajadis receiving the same wies to the law Work man-89 per day. Here was hard work and band tare, but ties, at the " Freder Dato," at Waverly. Morgan County. Hon he was made laws of the taules sorks a more lad af nineteen, having. nt truns, to order and dirvet titty ur one hundred Irish in partiing in the timber of the dam. Here, in the Fall, with many other is, he took the fever, and this ended his work on the canal. As he got able to ride, a horse ran away with how and threw bis against a tree. mashing up his left arm, making him a eringde tor lite. When ite Now that he was disabled for manual labor, he wept bitterly, thinking that he would never be able to make a living; but these were child- ich thoughts his former energy rallied; he thought how he lind swan White River when it was full from bank to bank : he dotur- mined to swim instead of drownio,: Hiy education was quite limited, and to this his thought- were turne.l.
The next season, 1259, he attended a country school, taught by Maar P. Bradley, at which several young wen were pupils Hire he gained a suficient knowledge of the common branches to teach school; was examined by Judge stephens, of Indianapolis, and received a certificate for teaching. This occupation he followed for nine years, teaching and going to school-first, in Marion County. west of Imbranatohs. At this time and place, he bought an acre of land. with a cabin nud other Imsiblings, for $100. This he gave to his father his lifetime, and here his father died in 1814 Lfis step- tuother moved away in 1849, after which he sold it for $75.
Young Darby went to Batler County, Ohio, in the Fall of Is 1. in the vicinity of his birth Taught school in the Corton Rua school house. Before this ended, he took the measles, which ulucred his eyes very much, from which they never entirely recovered, having them operated tion record times since Next he taught at the Si ren-Mile House, amning the Pennsylvania Dutch. Here was nov- elty and! pleasur . After this school , losed. in the Spring of 1~42. he attended the Miami University, at Oxford. Had for his room mate Mr. John Fegely, a German scholar. He and Mr Darby entered as irregulur .cientifies, George lunkin, D. D . President At the eluse of this term, he. with Mr. Freely, preited in threek aml Latin, to a Mr Henry R. Josselyn, at the Seven Mie House, Ifere Mr. Darby learned, to a limited extent, to read these languages.
In the Spring of' 1843. he attended a German school taught hy Mr. Fegely, in the beautiful and romantic action called the " Hickory Flat." At this school he learned to read and write the German language. He bounded with a rich old German fartuer by the nathe of Sowers. He wis delighted with the novelty of some of the well- prepared dishes of the table. On a large nne, in the center of the table, would be sauerkraut, healed or fried ham, sansare. emurs, noodles, potatoes, uninus, etc.
Mr. Darby taught four years at Itirrtown, four miles east of Oxford, and one term at Sunterville. flis last place, in that State, Was at Jurksonbury.
In the Spring of 1817, having a wved some muncy by his industry and economy, he bought an eighty sere farm. twelve miles south of Indi imagede, in Johnson County, on the Bluff State road for Sell, it being too little improved
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