USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 101
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 101
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TOWN OF SPENCER.
Clay County. In 1866-67, he was Deputy Auditor of Owen County, with A. J. Hays. After this he attended Eastman's Business College at Chicago one term. He was married, September 15, 1872, to Magaret A. Brown, of Owen County. They have three children. In 1873, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff, and one year later was made Deputy Auditor, which office he filled for two years; he was then elected cashier of the Exchange Bank at Spencer, which position he still creditably fills. Mr. Wallace is Secretary of Spencer Lodge, No. 95, A. F. & A. M .; holds the office of Treasurer of the K. & L. of H. Lodge, No. 506, and is also Chancellor Commander of K. of P. Lodge, No. 99. Politically, he is a Democrat.
JOHN WAYLAND, stave and heading dealer, was born at Batavia, Ohio, March 7, 1838. He is the eldest in a family of three children born to William and Nancy (Seelye) Wayland, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father, Dr. William Wayland, settled in Ohio in 1806, and after remaining for a short time returned to Virginia. In 1814, he commenced the practice of his pro- fession in Circleville, and during the same year served a short time as Surgeon in the United States Army in the war with Great Britain. In 1815, he removed to Bethel, Clermont County, Obio, where he lived for eleven years. He then went to Batavia, where he continued to practice for twenty years. In 1829, he was elected State Senator, which position he filled creditably for two years. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity for fifty years. He died October 6, 1858, deeply lamented by all who knew him. John Wayland was reared in Ohio, where he received a good education in Batavia, besides attending several terms of school at the Ohio Wesleyan University, and at the Farmers' College, at College Hill, Ohio. He also read law for some time, but has never applied for admission to the bar. In 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany F, Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteers, under Capt. Fyffe, and served until March, 1862, when, on account of disability, he was honorably dis- charged. He then took a position as Chief Clerk in the Quartermaster's Department, at Boyle's headquarters, Louisville, Ky., and served for two years. He then returned home, and was sent as a delegate to the " Andrew Johnson Convention " at Philadelphia. Upon his return home, he was appointed Inspector of Liquors, at Higginsport, and served until the office was abolished by act of Congress. He then went West, and started in the grocery business at Ellsworth and Hays City, Kan., during the building of the Kansas & Pacific Railroad. He returned to Ohio, where he remained for two years, after which time he took a position as book-keeper for the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine Company at Hartford, Conn. One year later he returned to Ohio, remained for a short time, and then came to Spencer. He there purchased the Owen County Journal, which he ran until May, 1880. He then purchased an interest in the stave and heading factory, and at present is doing a lucra- tive business in manufacturing. He is a member of A. F. & A. M., and of the K. of P. He was married in January, 1870, to Ruth A. Kerr, daughter of Henry V. Kerr, a prominent citizen of Batavia, Ohio. By this union there have been born five children, three of whom are living. . O. M. WHITTAKER is a native of Ohio, and was born in Coshocton County July 26, 1848. His parents, George W. and Catharine (South- wick) Whittaker, who were natives of Pennsylvania, removed from Arkansas to Ohio in 1840, and in 1852 they came to Indiana, and located
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in Monroe County, near Harrodsburg. They remained there until 1852, when Mrs. W. died. The father is living in Bolinger County, Mo. O. M. Whittaker is the fifth child, and when seventeen years of age enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Forty fifth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Burton. He served one year, and then returned to his home in Monroe County, to work in his father's saw mill, where he stayed one year. He then traveled until March 6, 1869, when he located in Spen- cer, and began learning the butcher trade with Mr. White. In 1870, he opened a meat market near the post office, where he remained one year, after which he built a room on the north side of the square, which was destroyed by fire some time after. In 1872, he moved to Columbus, Ky., but in a short time returned to Spencer and began business again on North Main street, where, in 1883, he erected a new business room, and is there at present, doing a successful business. Mr. Whittaker is a member of the I. O. O. F., of K. of P., of K. of H., and of the K. of L. He was married, in 1871, to Mary A. Price, daughter of Rev. T. G. Price, who was for many years a resident of Owen County. This union was blest with two children-Guy M. and Jessie.
WILLIAM V. WILES, M. D., the seventh of a family of ten chil- dren, was born in Brown County, Ohio, March 27, 1827. In 1834, his parents, Peter M. and Martha (Henry) Wiles, moved from Ohio to Fay- ette County, Ind., where the mother died in 1850, and the father in 1876. William V. lived in Fayette County until twenty-one years of age, when he went to Connersville, Ind., and entered the office of Dr. John Arnold, remaining there in the study of medicine about three years, during which time he attended several terms of lectures at the Cleveland Medical College. In the spring of 1852, he came to Owen County, and began the regular practice of medicine at the falls of Eel River, continuing for ten years, when he was nominated by the Demo- cratic party for the Legislature, but previous to this he had accepted a position offered to him by Gov. Morton, as Assistant Surgeon in the Eighty-fifth Indiana Infantry, under Col. John P. Baird, which position he faithfully filled till the close of the war. He then returned home and moved to Spencer, and has been in constant and successful practice here up to the present writing. He is a druggist, and has one of the best places in the town for his business room. He was married, in 1866, to Parthinia I. Jennings, daughter of Theodore C. and Emily A. Jen- nings, respected pioneers of Owen County. They have seven children. In 1878, Mr. Wiles was appointed by Gov. Williams as Trustee of the Institution for the Education of the Blind at Indianapolis, and held that position for two years; was re-appointed in 1880, and still retains the place. Mr. Wiles has taken a leading part in politics. He has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. for thirty years, and is at present High Priest of his Chapter at Spencer. Both he and wife are members of the Pres- byterian Church.
NOEL W. WILLIAMS, attorney at law, is a native of Owen County, and was born October 10, 1844. He is the second in a family of four children born to William and Elizabeth (Pirtle) Williams, who are old and respected citizens of Owen County. His father was born and reared in Tennessee. He came to Owen County when about twenty years of age, and was married in a short time afterward. He is a physician, and at present resides in Lancaster, Owen Count , where he attends to the duties of his profession. The mother died several years ago. Noel W. Will-
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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
iams was reared in Owen County, and, when seventeen years of age, he enlisted in Company D, Fifty-fifth Indiana Volunteers. He served one year, and then returned to Owen County, after which he taught school in Lancaster for some time. In 1868, he was elected Justice of the Peace of Marion Township, and served for six years, after which time he came to Spencer as Deputy Clerk to J. S. Meek, then County Clerk. He served for two years, and was then elected County Clerk on the Democratic ticket, and creditably filled this office for four years, since which time he has been practicing law, and is now a respected member of the bar. He was married, in September, 1867, to Mary A. Tolliver, daughter of Eli and Lucy A. Tolliver, of Owen County. They have six children. Mr. Williams is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and of the Knights of Pythias. He votes the Democratic ticket, and is a thoroughly respectable and highly esteemed citizen.
WILLIAM M. WINES was born at Cloverdale, Clay County, Ind., August 23, 1836. In his infancy, he was removed to Vigo, and, at the age of four years, to Greene County, where he was educated at a log schoolhouse and reared to farming. January 3, 1853, he graduated from W. McK. Scott's Commercial College at Indianapolis; he then engaged in various mercantile pursuits, and next engaged in the practice of law at Bloomfield for five years; he was also civil engineer on the N. G. R. R. from Bloomfield to Sullivan. April 14, 1856, he married Miss Nancy Jane Canary, and to this union have been born three children-Edwin C., Emily A. and Mary B. In October, 1883, he came to Spencer, where he has charge of the National House, one of the first-class hotels of Indiana.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
WESLEY ALVERSON is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Garrard County May 2, 1810, and is the youngest of three children born to Pleasant and Nancy (Overstreet) Alverson. His parents were natives of Virginia, and went to Kentucky, where they purchased a farm in Garrard County and remained for some time. His father was a Meth- odist minister, and stayed but a short time in any one place. His death occurred in Breckinridge County, Ky. Wesley was reared in Garrard and Jessamine Counties, Ky., where his education was attained and all the advantages of those days were his. At the age of eighteen years, he was married to Sabina McArley, daughter of Moses McArley. After his mar- riage, Mr. Alverson lived in Kentucky for nive years, and then came to Indiana, locating in Owen County, where he farmed for three years. In 1836, he purchased the grist mill on Mill Creek, which was destroyed by fire in 1865, and in the following year he erected the stone edifice which more than takes the place of the old one. In connection with the mill, he farmed to some extent, and has for some time been engaged in the stock trade quite extensively. His wife died in March, 1878, leaving hin with seven children-Elizabeth P., William T., Mary A., Cassandra, Samuel H., Nancy J. and Moses J. Mr. Alverson is a member of the Methodist Church, and is a stanch Republican.
RICHARD N. BEEM, the eldest son and fourth child in a family of eight, was born in Montgomery Township, Owen County, November 9,
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1822. His parents, Neeley and Leah (Storm) Beem, natives of Kentucky, came to Owen County in 1816, and located in Montgomery Township. In 1830, they moved to a farm near Spencer, where the father died in 1832. The mother died in 1854. The subject of this sketch was reared in Owen County, and when nineteen years of age he went to Missouri and farmed for four years, and returning to Owen County purchased a farm in Washington Township. He farmed for four years, and then, re- moving to Spencer, purchased a stock of dry goods, and, in partnership with his brother, engaged in business for seventeen years. He then sold his interest and moved to his farm, upon which he now lives. In 1848, he was married to Celia Franklin, daughter of Thomas and Dolly Frank- lin, who were among the first settlers in Owen County. The issue of his marriage was four children, one of whom is living. His wife died No- vember 19, 1856, and one year later he was married to Parnelia Owen, daughter of Evan Owen, a pioneer of Owen County. By this union there are eight children -- Emma A., Richard L., Josephine H., Prior S., Joan, Charley S., Frederick A. and Halla N. Mr. Beem has 220 acres of fine farm land under good cultivation. He is politically a Republican. Mrs. Beem is identified with the Christian Church, and is a faithful worker in upholding this faith.
DANIEL R. BEEM was born in Spencer April 25, 1825. His par- ents, Enoch and Phebe (Richards) Beem, natives of Kentucky, came to Indiana and located on the farm in Washington Township, Owen Co., now owned by Levi Beem. They remained until 1834, and moved thence to McLean County, Ill., where the father died in 1835, and the mother in 1852. Daniel Beem is the eldest in a family of five children, and lived on the old home farm in Owen County until nine years of age. He then went to Illinois, remaining two years; he then came back to Owen County, and worked for Levi Beem until eighteen years of age. He again returned to Illinois, and went to farming on land formerly entered by his father. Seven years later, he removed to Marion County, Ind., and located on a farm near Indianapolis. From there, later on, he moved to Illinois, and farmed for nine years; returning thence to Owen County in 1864, he purchased a tract of 245 acres of land, and since that time has made it his home, having built a neat little house, and being surrounded by every convenience. He was married, April 17, 1845, to Isabella Curry, daughter of James Curry, a citizen of Marion County, Ind. His wife died in November, 1857, and left him the father of one child. He was married, December 24, 1860, to Abigail Beem, daughter of Benjamin Duncan, a pioneer of Owen County. Mr. Beem is politically a Republican, and is an active member of the party.
JOHN A. BLAIR is the second in a family of seven children, and was born in Washington Township, Owen County, January 17, 1833. His parents, James and Martha J. (Eason) Blair, came to Indiana from Ohio early in life, and located in this township, where the father, an in- dustrious farmer, lived until his death, which occurred in 1873. The mother is at this time living on the old farm with her younger son Jeremiah. In 1872, John A. purchased forty acres of good farm land, to which he has since added eighty-five acres of the best in Owen County, and is farming it at present. He was united by marriage in 1872 to Rebecca McCormick, daughter of Joseph McCormick, a pioneer of Owen County. They have three children-Myrtie C., Joseph R. and Fred E. He and his family are all members of the Presbyterian Church. He is also a member of the K. of P., and for several years was Supervisor of Roads.
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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
JEREMIAH M. BLAIR is the third child in a family of seven, and was reared on the home farm, where he now resides. He is a native of Owen County and was born in Washington Township in 1843. His parents, James and Martha J. (Eason) Blair, came to Indiana from Ohio early in life and located in Washington Township, Owen County, where the father, an industrious farmer, reared his children and educated them as best he could in the district schools. He died in 1873. The mother still lives on the farm with the subject of this sketch, who, four years after his father's death, was married to Miss Annie Franklin, a daughter of William Franklin, one of Owen County's oldest pioneers. This union has been blest with three children-Ernest F., Orrie M. and Ollie. Mr. Blair has always voted the Republican ticket, and is one of the active members of that party. He is a good, honest farmer, and is well re- spected by all who know him intimately. His farm land is of the best in all the surrounding country, and highly cultivated.
WILLIAM T. CAIN was born in Bartholomew County, Ind., Janu- ary 17, 1844. His parents, Barnabas and Mary A. (Mounts) Cain, were natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. His father came with his parents to Bartholomew County when he was eleven years of age, and thence removed to Owen County ten years later, where he bought forty acres of land, to which he has since added 200 acres. His father was Road Supervisor for two years, and both parents have for forty years been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The subject of this sketch is the eldest child, and was reared in Owen County. In 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Seventy-first Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Alfred Dyer. . He served for three years, and took part in the battles of Richmond, Muldraugh's Hill, Dalton, Atlanta and Nashville. After his return from the war, he resumed his work on the farm. In 1868, he was united in marriage to Lizzie M. Carter, daughter of James Hicks. They have six children-Charlie, Martha F., John W., Henry C., Orrie E. and Ettie A. After marriage, he continued farming, and in 1880 re- moved to eighty acres, which he now owns, and is cultivating. Mrs. Cain is a member of the Christian Church; he is an active member of the Republican party.
JOHN A. CHAMBERS, second child of Zacheus and Isabella (Blain) Chambers, was born in Washington Township, Owen County, May 30, 1825. His father is a native of North Carolina, his mother of Kentucky. They immigrated to Indiana early in life, and settled in Washington Township, Owen County, where they ended their days. John Chambers was raised in Washington Township on the farm, a part of which he at present owns. In 1854, he moved to Kansas and purchased land in what is now Lane County. He remained about eighteen months, and then returned to Owen County, and settled on the farm of 1112 acres of land, where he at present resides, surrounded by the conveniences neces- sary to a happy country life. He was united by marriage in 1854 to Elizabeth Baker, a daughter of Joseph Baker, a citizen of Johnson County. By this union there were two children-Pleasant Z. and Samuel W. The latter was killed in Cook's Canon, New Mexico, by the Indians in May, 1880.
ELISHA CHAMBERS was born in Washington Township, Owen Co., Ind., November 3, 1833. His parents, John and Nancy (Parks) Chambers, natives of North Carolina, came to Indiana in 1818, and located three miles east of Spencer. They entered eighty acres of land,
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which they improved and lived upon for seventeen years. They then moved to a farm of 170 acres, upon which their son Joseph now lives, and where the father died in 1880. The mother is still living in Wash- ington Township. Elisha Chambers is the third in a family of nine children, and was reared and educated on the farm and in the district schools of Washington Township, Owen County. In 1854, he began farming for himself, and two years later purchased eighty acres of land near the old home farm, and has since lived there. He was married, in 1854, to Miss Electa Cline, a daughter of Philip Cline, one of the oldest settlers of Owen County. Mr. Chambers and wife are members of the Regular Baptist Church, and are active workers in its cause. Mr. Cham- bers is politically a Democrat; a man much respected in his com- munity, and a liberal citizen.
ROBERT E. CHAMBERS, a native of Owen County, Ind., was born in April, 1838, in Washington Township. His parents, Zacheus and Isabella (Blain) Chambers, natives of North Carolina and Kentucky, came to Indiana early in life and settled in Washington Township, where the father died in 1868, and the mother in 1875. Robert is the sixth child in the family, was reared on the home farm, and received his education at the district schools in the neighborhood. When twenty- three years of age, he began running a peddling wagon, which he con- tinued to do for one year, and then became partner in a general mer- chandise store in Stinesville, Ind. After two years in this business, he purchased a flouring mill in the same town, which he managed for two years, the greater part of the time without a partner. In the spring of 1870, he purchased the old home farm, where he was born and where his parents died. He farmed until 1877; then sold out and went to Oregon. He soon, however, returned to Owen County, and upon his arrival almost immediately purchased the farm of 100 acres upon which he still resides. He was married, in 1865, to Elizabeth C. Summit, daughter of Joseph and Catharine Summit, old pioneers of Monroe County. The issue of this union is seven children-Zona A., Robert E. V., Melora A., Jane E., Endamite, Minnie B. and Windsor. Mr. Chambers is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is politically a Democrat.
RUFUS CLINE, farmer, was born in Lincoln County, N. C., July 16, 1822. He was the sixth in a family of eleven children. His parents, Philip and Elizabeth (Abernathy) Cline, natives of North Carolina, came to Indiana in 1829, and settled on a farm about four miles east of Spen- cer. His father died on a farm near the one on which he first located when he came to Owen County. Rufus Cline received an ordinary edu- cation in the district schools, and when twenty-five years of age he was married to Nancy A. Waldron, daughter of Lewis Waldron, a pioneer of Monroe County. After his marriage, he began farming about three miles east of Spencer. In 1847, he purchased eighty acres of land, and five years later he purchased sixty-five acres more, and at present has about 200 acres in all of as good land as there is in the county. He ran a saw mill for about four years, and then again went to farming. He is a Democrat, politically, and both he and his wife are members of the Separate Baptist Church. They have two children-Emily C. and Rufus H.
ALEXANDER CRAIG (deceased), a native of Jackson County, Ind., was born November 1, 1819. His parents were John and Eliza- beth (Beem) Craig, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of
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Kentucky. Alexander was educated in his native county, and when twenty-two years of age was married to Priscilla Richards, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Richards, old and respected pioneers of Owen County, the Rev. Jacob M. Stallard officiating. After marriage, Mr. Craig ran a wool-carding machine in Spencer for several years, and then formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Harlen Richards, in a tannery, which they conducted for several years, when he purchased the entire business and continued in it until the fall 1856, when he bought a farm of 239 acres of good farm land four miles northwest of Spencer,. where his widow at present resides, owning 359 acres well improved. Mr. Craig's death occurred August 22, 1875. He was much beloved, and at his death deeply lamented by all who knew him. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M., Spencer Lodge. He was Justice of the- Peace for several years, and always an active worker in the Repub- lican ranks. He had been for over forty years a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife has belonged to the same church for many years. She was left with eight children-Adaline A., Charles C., Rachel J., Robert A., Mary P., Richard B., Martha and Harriet E.
ISAAC EDWARDS was born in 1807 in West Virginia, where he lived until 1821. He then with his parents went to Kentucky. They remained there for three years, and removed thence to Lawrence County, Ind. His parents, Sylvanus and Elizabeth (Williams) Edwards, were natives of North Carolina, and died, the father in 1838, the mother four years later in Owen County. Isaac Edwards is the youngest in a family of four children. After his father's death, he came to Owen County, and began farming, having for several years previous to this been a flat-boat- man, taking provisions and produce to New Orleans. When he came to Owen County, he began working earnestly, and by economy and industry has succeeded in purchasing a farm of 240 acres of well-improved land, besides which he owns some eighty acres in another part of the county. He was married, in 1824, to Hannah Edwards, daughter of William Ed- wards, an old settler and pioneer of Lawrence County. By this union there were three children. His wife died, and he subsequently mar- ried Mary Collier, a native of North Carolina. They had twelve chil- dren-James, Elizabeth, George, Benjamin, Rosa, Sarah, Maggie, Thomas, Laura, John, Samuel and Charlie. The mother of these chil- dren died in March, 1882. Mr. Edwards is quite an old resident of Owen County, and has many stanch friends, being a man of good prin- ciples and moral habits.
HENRY A. GROUND is a native of North Carolina, and was born in Lincoln County in September, 1822. His parents, Henry and Mary (Icahour) Ground, natives of North Carolina, came to Indiana in 1833, and located in Monroe County on a farm, where they lived quietly until their deaths. Henry A. is the fourth in a family of fourteen children, and was reared in North Carolina until he was eleven years of age, and from that up to the age of twenty-three he lived in Monroe County on a farm with his parents. In 1843, he was married to Mary Summit, daughter of Christopher Summit, an old settler in Monroe County. They have four children-Lawson M., Henry C., Amanda and William L. After his marriage, Mr. Ground remained in Monroe County for ten years. He then came to Owen County and located on the fine farm of 165 acres where he at present lives. He and his wife have long been
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members of the Lutheran Church, and are active workers in its cause. Mr. Ground is a man of noble principles, and well respected in the county.
HENRY C. GROUND, second son of Henry A. and Mary (Summit) Ground, natives of North Carolina and Monroe County, Ind., respective- ly, was born in Monroe County September 25, 1846. His father came to Indiana with his parents when but twelve years of age, and settled in Monroe County, where he remained until 1853, ten years after his mar- riage. He then came to Owen County, and settled in Washington Town- ship on a farm of 165 acres, where he is yet living. Henry C. Ground came to Owen County when but five years of age, and remained for fif- teen years; then began farming for himself in Monroe County, Ind. Eleven years later, he returned to Owen County, purchased 181 acres of land in Washington Township, and has since resided there, meanwhile cultivating his farm land. He was married, March 17, 1866, to Sarah J. McCormick, daughter of Hudson and Nancy A. McCormick, pioneers of Owen County. By this union there have been two children-Alexander (deceased) and Thomas H. Mr. Ground is politically a Democrat.
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