USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 106
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 106
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905
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
business. He was married in 1856 to Pamela Spainhower, a daughter of Noah Spainhower, a well respected farmer in Wayne Township. She died in 1872, and in 1874 he was married to Catherine Leslie, of New York City. By this union there are four children. Mr. Williams is a member of the I. O. O. F.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
C. M. DAGGETT is the junior of the firm of Blinn & Daggett, at Daggett, this township. The firm are dealers in manufacturers of sawed felloes, wagon and plow wood stock, car timber, flooring, siding, etc., quartered oak and sycamore, of which last two the firm make a specialty. C. M. Daggett came to Jefferson Township and built a saw mill and has increased the business each year until to-day the firm have a large and successful trade. They have also a planing mill in connection. Mr. Daggett is one of the representative business men of Indiana, and enjoys the confidence of all classes. The station where this business is located is named in his honor, and the town is now doing considerable business. Mr. Daggett, although a resident of Terre Haute, has taken an active interest in Clay and Owen, and his business relations are largely in these counties.
JOEL DILLON, a minister of the Christian faith of Middletown, was born November 16, 1826, in Columbiana County, Ohio, and is the eldest child born to Amos and Hannah (Crozer) Dillon, both natives of Columbiana County, Ohio, and of English and French extraction. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to Wellsville and learned molding in the foundry owned by P. F. Geise, and remained there nearly four years. Joel Dillon came to this county in the winter of 1855, and has made this his home since. Shortly after he came here, he engaged in the profession of teaching,which he followed for twenty years with the excep- tion of one winter. He enlisted in 1865, in Company A, Eleventh Indiana Infantry, under Col. Daniel McCayley and Capt. Henry Kemper. He was principally on garrison duty, and was discharged at Baltimore on account of physical disability July 7, 1865. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Lyons, of Columbiana Co., Ohio, March 16, 1848. Six children have crowned this union-Alfred G. (deceased), George C., Frank L., Ellen L., Emma and Walter C. In politics Mr. Dillon is a Republican, and has twice been elected Trustee. After his marriage he first went to Cincinnati, and remained there several years, and moved from there to Portsmouth, Ohio, and remained there until he came to Owen County, and during that time was following his trade.
JAMES L. FETROE, the keeper of a first-class hotel in Coal City, and the owner of a fine farm in Harrison Township, was born December 11, 1833, in Coshocton County, Ohio, and is the fifth of twelve children born to Daniel and Ruth (Smith) Fetroe, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania, and of German and English extraction respect- ively. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, received a good common school education, and has taught two successful terms of
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school in Jefferson Township. He remained in Ohio until he was twen- ty-three years of age, and in the fall of 1856 came to Owen County, and in this vicinity he has since resided. He immediately engaged in the saw mill business, and followed the same for two years, and next engaged in farming, which he followed until 1867, when he engaged in mercan- tile business at the village of Stockton for two years. Selling his stock, he purchased his present farm, which lies about three-quarters of a mile northwest of Coal City, and remained there until the spring of 1882, when he came to Coal City and engaged in the hotel business. He was united in marriage to Sophia C. Gard March 4, 1858, she being a na- tive of Ohio. Four children have crowned this marriage-Sherman G., Lilia (now deceased), Edwin M. and Lulia G. Sherman G., the eldest, is at present engaged to teach the primary department in the schools at Coal City. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He is an active member of the Masonic order, and has been a Republican since the organization of that party.
HENRY N. FISCUS, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of Jef ferson Township, near the little village of Middletown, was born April 20, 1854, on the same farm on which he yet lives, and is the twelfth child born to Jacob and Jane (Bowen) Fiscus, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Ohio, and of German and Irish extrac- tion. They were among the earliest settlers of Owen County, coming as early as 1819, and are still living on the old homestead. Henry N. was reared upon the home farm, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. He was united in marriage to Sarah J. Her- rington, a native of this county, October 17, 1875. Four children have crowned this happy marriage -- Rosy M., Rosaline (deceased), Jesse J. and Homer A. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a sympathizer with the Democratic party, and is an energetic, wide- a-wake, well-to-do young man.
HENRY J. HOCHSTETLER was born in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1851. In 1862, his father removed from the former place to this county, where Henry J. received a liberal common school education. The father being a dry goods merchant, Henry J. assisted him in his store, and served as clerk for ten years. In 1878, he commenced the study of law, and during the same year was admitted to the practice in his own county, and the following year was admitted to practice in Greene County. He afterward formed a law partnership with W. C. Andrews, a splendid counselor and highly respected citizen of Washington, Ind., where he practiced law for two years and a half. While there, he served as Town Prosecutor two terms, and as Town Clerk one year. He after- ward served as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Greene and Owen Counties, and afterward moved to Coal City, his present residence, where he is building up quite a practice. He never had the advantages of a collegiate education, but is a successful lawyer. His father was the first merchant at Coal City, where he yet resides.
GEORGE W. JEAN, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of Jef- ferson Township, was born October 14, 1847, in Owen County, and is the third child born to Absalom and Edith (Hickman) Jean, both natives of Indiana, and of English extraction. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, working most of the time, and with but little chance to receive an education, but is in possession of sufficient to transact his business. He remained with his parents until he was about twenty-five
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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
years of age. The fall of 1853, he, in company with his parents, moved to Texas, and remained until the death of his father, which occurred about two years after they arrived, when he became dissatisfied and came back to Owen County. He has, with the exception of ten years, which time he lived in Greene County, Ind., made this his home. He was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Nelson, a native of Indiana and Owen County, September 27, 1871. Two children have crowned this union-John W., born September 20, 1872; Edith, September 16, 1882. He is an energetic Republican, having voted with that party since he be- came a voter. He is principally the architect of his own fortune, and has 100 acres of good land, with most of the modern improvements.
LEWIS KERCH, a merchant of Coal City, was born June 24, 1831, in Germany, and is the second of three children born to Henry and Mar- garet (Syder) Kerch, both natives of Germany. Lewis Kerch came to America with his parents and several relatives in the spring of 1837, landing in New York City. His father died on the ship, and his mother went from New York to Coshocton County, Ohio, and from there to Holmes County, Ohio, and Lewis made his home with his mother until he was thirteen years of age, when he engaged at working on a farm. At the age of sixteen, he began learning the blacksmith's trade; served three years, and followed the trade for a livelihood until the fall of 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, Sixty-seventh Ohio Volunteers, under Col. Voris and Capt. Brock. He remained until the 10th of May, 1863, when he was discharged on account of physical disability, He returned home, but was unable to resume work, so he sold his shop and came to Owen County and purchased a little farm, and remained upon that for some time, when he engaged in the mercantile business at Marion Mills, met with some reverses, and quit the same and returned to his farm and speculated about six years, and afterward took charge of the poor farm, and ran that for three years. He moved from there to Coal City and en- gaged in the mercantile business. He was united in marriage to Eliza- beth Hochstetler April 24, 1852. Seven children have crowned this union-Lucinda, Sarah, Emma, Mary, John, William and Charley.
GEORGE W. NAANES, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Jefferson Township, and a resident of the village of Middletown, was born March 20, 1835, in Putnam County, Ind., and is the youngest of four children born to Phillip and Elizabeth (Pugh) Naanes, the former a native of Virginia, Lee County, and the latter a native of Claiborne County, Tenn. The subject of this sketch was left an orphan at the age of twelve, and for eight years worked with Isaac A. Farris on a farm, when he began business for himself, and at the age of twenty he had received a common school education; then attended school at Gosport, and afterward became one of the teach- ers of the school, and also taught three successful terms of public school. In 1858, he entered upon the study of medicine under Dr. J. Wooden, of Gosport. He remained with him about one and a half years, and then studied under Dr. U. A. V. Hester, of the same place, and remained with him about one year, when he began attending lectures at the State University of Michigan, and returned and engaged in the practice of his chosen profession at Spencer, Ind., the spring of 1861, and remained there until the same fall, when he moved to Middletown, where he has since resided, and is having a splendid practice, and leaves nothing un- done that will aid him in his chosen profession. He was united in mar-
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riage to Miss Mariah L. Garton August 1, 1861. He and his lady are members of the Missionary Baptist Church since 1858. He is a member of the Masonic order at Freedom, Ind. He is a Republican, and once was the nominee of his party for County Clerk, and was beaten by but few votes. He has a nice farm of 220 acres, and takes great pride in stock-raising.
JACOB NORRIS, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Jefferson Township, was born August 14, 1825, in Coshocton County, Ohio, and is the son of William and Catharine (Reed) Norris, both natives of Ohio and of German extraction. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, working during the summer months and attending public schools during the winter. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when he was married to Mary Bixler, native of Pennsylvania, October 8, 1846. Eleven children have crowned this union-Alfred (de- ceased), Martha (deceased), Elizabeth E., Catharine A., William, Margaret F., Mary A., Henry (deceased), John, Jacob E., Lydia A. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; in politics he is a Democrat. He remained in Ohio until the spring of 1865, when he moved to Owen County, Jefferson Township, where he at present resides. He received a little help in the way of a start in life, and has at present 440 acres of good land beautifully situated, and with most of the modern improve- ments. He is principally the architect of his own fortune, and has always been saving in his earnings and economical in his expenses.
WILLIAM NORRIS, a teacher and an enterprising farmer and stock- raiser of Jefferson Township, was born August 8, 1853, in Coshocton County, Ohio, and is the fifth of eleven children born to Jacob and Mary (Bixler) Norris, the latter a native of Pennsylvania and of German ex- traction. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, and after he arrived at his majority he attended county normal schools; received a certificate to teach and has taught nine successful terms in Owen County. He in company with his parents came to Owen County in the spring of 1865, and has to-day a nice farm of eighty acres beautifully situated, and mostly made by his own shrewd business management. He is an energetic working Democrat, having voted with that party since he became a voter, and was elected Trustee, the spring of 1882, of Jeffer- son Township.
DR. WILLIAM L. YOUNG, one of the leading physicians of Coal City, was born May 16, 1838, in Decatur County, Ind., and is the fifth child born to Thompson G. and Mary (Prebble) Young, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Mississippi, and of Irish and French extraction. The subject of this sketch was reared mostly in small villages, and all the manual labor that he ever performed outside of the practice of medicine was in a blacksmith shop, as his father was an expert in that business. He always had a dislike for that trade, and had a natural inclination for the practice of medicine, and being of a ram- bling disposition, took quite an extensive tour in the Western and East- ern States, but settled in Connersville, Ind., and read two years under Dr. James Carr, and thought of engaging in practice after his course of reading; but he enlisted in the service of his country in the fall of 1861, in Company C, Thirty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Charles Cruft and Capt. J. Mewhinney, and was in several hard-fought battles and numerous skirmishes. He was discharged from that regi- ment to receive the commission of Second Lieutenant in Company D,
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. MARION TOWNSHIP.
One Hundred and Fifteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and held the office until the 25th of February, 1864, when his regiment was dis- charged at Indianapolis on account of the expiration of their term. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Larison November 8, 1857; three children have crowned this union-Melvin H., born July 29, 1858; Clar- ence S., July 16, 1860 (now deceased); Charley C., March 19, 1863. He and his lady are active members of the Seventh-Day Advent Church. He cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas, then voted the Republican ticket up to 1876, and since that time he has voted with the Greenback party, of which he is one of the most active workers.
MARION TOWNSHIP.
STEWART COATS, farmer and stock-raiser, is the third of the five children of Frederick and Susanna (Scott) Coats; the former a na- tive of New York, the latter of Connecticut, and respectively of English and Scotch descent. Stewart was born in Tioga County, Penn., October 1, 1806; was reared on the farm, and when thirteen years old emigrated with his mother and step-father to this State, locating in Jackson County, where his step-father died about 1825. In the year 1841, Mr. Coats moved to this township, then but a waste of land, where he now holds 120 acres in good improvement and high cultivation, also well stocked and with comfortable residence, etc. Mr. Coats has been thrice married-first to Emily Perry, who gave birth to two children, one of whom is living, Lorinda; second, to Rachel Arnold, who gave birth to six children -- Lo- renzo D., Nelson S., Amanda M., Edwin, Frederick, and Stephen (de- ceased), third to Hannah Harris, who gave birth to eight children-Syl- vester, Emily (deceased), Rachel, John H., Margaret J., William A., Robert M., and Mary F. (deceased). Mr. Coats gave his first Presi- dential ballot for Gen. Jackson. in 1828, and has held the office of Jus- tice of the Peace in this township. He is a highly respected citizen, and a member of the Christian Church.
FREDERICK S. COATS, senior partner of the firm of Coats & Schmalz, was born in this county October 18, 1847, is the youngest of six children of Stewart and Rachel (Arnold) Coats, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Kentucky, and both of English descent. Frederick was reared on a farm. After the death of his mother he went to live with his uncle, Patrick Sullivan, after whom Patricksburg was named, and after whose death he was thrown upon the world. At the age of nineteen, he engaged in business with Coats Brothers, general merchants, of which business he became sole proprietor after four years. He afterward took a partner-Mr. William Royer-to whom he later sold the business. In 1878, he formed a partnership with Mr. Schmalz, which firm is doing a thriving business. March 2, 1870, he wedded Fan- nie L. Johnson, and to this union have been given four children, two of whom are living-Clifton E. and Irma F. Mr. Coats is a most enter- prising and successful business man, who has earned his own way to his prosperous condition, and is a greatly respected citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Coats are members of the Christian Church.
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LEWIS GECKELER, farmer, is a native of Germany, born May 4, 1829, where he received a fair education. His parents were Jacob and Mary (Spaarnagle) Geckeler, both natives of Germany. Jacob Geckeler was a tanner, and of this trade Lewis made himself master when four- teen years of age. In 1853, he emigrated to the United States, landed at New York, thence went to Philadelphia for a year, and thence moved to Ohio, where he followed his trade for twelve years, after which, in 1865, he came to this county, and located at Patricksburg, where he has built a fine modern residence and manufactures a first-class article of leather. In 1859, he married Mary, daughter of Frederick and Martha Schauwecker, to which union have descended four children-John F., born March 8, 1862; Laura, born December 26, 1864; Lewis M., born May 6, 1868, and Otto F., born October 7, 1873. Mr. Geckeler has been an industrious and economical man, by the exercise of which he has acquired a good farm of 268 acres, near Patricksburg, where he has a comfortable home. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.
JOHN ADAM HALT, pioneer farmer, was born in Germany June 28, 1824, and is the third of ten children of Christopher and Elizabeth (Koch) Halt, also natives of Germany. John Adam grew to manhood on a farm, and received a German school education. His father having died, in company with his mother, in the spring of 1852, he came to America. They landed at New Orleans, whence they traveled to Evans- ville, Ind., thence to Terre Haute, and thence to this township, where he entered the field of agriculture. June 10, 1855, he married Margaret, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Smith. Having previous to his mar- riage saved sufficient means to purchase forty acres, he erected thereon a cabin and began the establishment of a home, to which he afterward added forty acres more, the same now constituting a good farm, culti- vated, stocked, adorned and variously improved. In the securement of this property, Mr. Halt has been aided only by the fidelity and assistance of his wife. He is a much-respected citizen, and, with his wife, a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, and of which he is Secretary and Trustee.
JOHN G. HULETT is the eldest of the five children born to George and Mary (Kinney) Hulett, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Kentucky. John G. was born in Greene County, Ky., March 13, 1813; was reared on a farm, and owing to the early death of his father and other stringent circumstances, he was unable to obtain much education. November 14, 1833, he married Margaret Piles, of Tennessee, daughter of Peter and Catharine (Richey) Piles. This union was succeeded by ten children-Thomas S., Catherine, James H. (deceased), Robert A., Elizabeth (deceased), Joseph H., John H., Mary, Elvira (deceased), and Margaret A. (deceased). In 1828, Mr. Hulett emigrated to this State with his parents, who afterward returned to Kentucky; but he remained, and has since resided in Clay and Owen Counties. The country was then a wilderness, and he has made his way, by toil and struggle, to a position of independence. He owns 170 acres of fine land, ornamented, cultivated, improved and stocked. He is one of the township's pio- neers, a rigid Democrat, and has passed thirty-four years of his life in the offices of Township Assessor, Trustee and Justice of the Peace, which last office he is now holding.
ABRAHAM KEISER, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Stark County, Ohio, October 17, 1812. and is the eldest of the six children of Daniel and Mary (Domer) Keiser, the former a native Pennsylvania, the
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MARION TOWNSHIP.
latter of Maryland, and of German descent. Abraham was reared as a farmer, and received from the schools of that time such advantages as were obtainable. March 12, 1835, he wedded Susan, daughter of Christian and Catharine Sceip, and a native of Pennsylvania, from which marriage resulted seven children-Sarah (Mrs. Dickey), Delilah (Mrs. Rinehart), Elizabeth (Mrs. Miller), Louisa (Mrs. Miller), Hester (Mrs. Rontchler), Martin and Margaret (Mrs. Norman). Mr. Keiser owns and controls a good farm of 200 acres near Patricksburg, which was, when he first came to this county in 1852, a barren waste; it is now well cultivated, im- proved, stocked and planted, making a desirable and valuable property. Mr. Keiser is a stanch Democrat, and has held several offices, as Asses- sor, Trustee and County Commissioner. Although more than seventy- one years of age, he has, apparently, many years of useful life. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.
REV. JOHN F. LAUTENSCHLAGER, pioneer farmer and stock- raiser, is the sixth of the eight children of George M. and Anna Maria (Effinger) Lautenschlager, natives of Würtemberg, Germany. George M. Lautenschlager emigrated to America in 1831, with a family of eight children, his wife having died in the Fatherland, and located in Penn- sylvania. John F. was born February 19, 1822, and passed his boyhood between labor on the farm and school going. Later, our subject received a higher form of education, and studied theology under Rudisill and Henkle, in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Indiana, and, graduating, was licensed as a minister in 1844, and has since been distinguished as a conscientious divine, his sermons being of the purest diction and effect- iveness, and he having organized a number of churches in this and other counties. December 9, 1847, he married Leah Coble, a union which was productive in nine children-Luther, Leah, Melancthon, Anna, Maria, Jacob S., Sarah E., Brunetta E. and Jeremiah. Mrs. Lautenschlager died April 13, 1874, and April 25, 1876, Mr. Lautenschlager wedded his second wife, Mrs. Nancy Beatty, with an issue of one child-Matthias. Mr. Lauterschlager is a strong Democrat, and has served as Township Trustee and Notary Public. He came to this county in 1856, and re- deemed from the wilds his farm of 190 acres, now cultivated, improved, stocked and planted. Mr. Lautenschlager is a generally esteemed cit- izen, and has officiated in St. John's Church, in Clay County, near Staunton, since 1855.
LEONARD LLOYD, of the firm of Lloyd & Son, saw, planing and shingle mill, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, September 27, 1845, and is the third of the nine children of Gabriel and Mary (Brown) Lloyd; the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Ohio, and both of German descent, who emigrated to Indiana when our subject was eight years old, and settled in Marion Township, near Patricksburg, where they pur- chased 100 acres; they became pioneers, and made a good home and farm from the wilderness. Here Leonard was reared, and later served three years to learn the trade of a carpenter, and worked at the same two years before engaging in his present vocation, in which he has been signally successful, and shown fine business qualities. December 26, 1872, he wedded Anncourline Croft, which marriage gave being to four children- Emory C., Mary B., George G. and Marinda O. Mr. Lloyd is a very energetic and prosperous business man, and highly esteemed by his neighbors. Mrs. Lloyd is a member of the Lutheran Church.
GEORGE S. LUCAS, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Greene County, Penn., February 22, 1854, and is the fifth of the ten children of
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Charles and Catherine (Barnhart) Lucas, natives of Pennsylvania, and
- respectively of German and English extraction. George was reared on a farm and obtained a rudimentary education from the common schools. December 29, 1878, he married Miss Letitia, daughter of William and Nancy McCrary, and a native of Owen County. By this union have been born to them two children-William O., born March 7, 1880, and Charles S., born January 5, 1882. Mr. Lucas came to Franklin Township, in this county, in company with his parents in 1868, and March, 1883. lo- cated in this township, where he now owns an excellent farm of eighty acres, with valuable improvements and choice stock (among which is a Norman stallion); the farm contains a fine residence, barns, fencing, orchards, etc. Mr. Lucas is one of the enterprising farmers and liberal citizens of the township.
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