USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 94
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 94
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819
LA FAYETTE TOWNSHIP.
MILLS, ETC.
The first mill in the township was erected prior to the year 1840, by Jacob Conder, and stood about four miles southwest of the village of Van- dalia. It was a rude affair, with a single run of stone, and was operated by horse-power. It did a good business for a mill of its capacity, having been well patronized by the early settlers of this and adjoining townships, and was in operation about fifteen years.
William King constructed a small mill in an early day on the farm now owned by William Philips, a couple of miles from Vandalia. It was a horse mill also, and constructed upon the simplest imaginable plan, the machinery being held together by strong hickory withes, and the whole covered by a rough shed resting upon four forks driven in the ground. It was operated with fair success until about the year 1843.
The first water mill in the township was erected by William Mears in the year 1840, and stood a short distance east of Vandalia, on Fish Creek. The mill building was constructed of unhewn logs, and the machinery consisted of one run of corn buhrs, operated by a rude water-wheel.
It was afterward remodeled, and machinery added for the manufacture of flour ; but so slowly did it grind that it was not very extensively patron- ized.
Henry Fulke erected a small water mill on the west prong of Fish Creek, in the southern part of the township, about the year 1846, and ran it very successfully for about ten years later. This mill was a log structure also, but a great improvement on the ones described.
In the year 1850, or near that time, John McKelvy built a good frame flouring-mill on the east prong of Fish Creek, in the eastern part of the township.
It did a good business, and was in operation about ten years, at the end of which time it was allowed to fall into decay on account of the dam wash- ing out during a large freshet. An early mill stood in the western part of the township, on one of the branches of Fish Creek, from which it received its motive power. It was built by David Miller as early as 1846, and oper- ated about two years later, when it was abandoned on account of its small capacity.
One of the earliest industries of the township, was a small distillery, operated by Jacob Conder. He did a remunerative business, and supplied the settlers, in a large scope of country, with their favorite beverage, ex- changing it for corn, at the rate of twenty and twenty-five cents per gallon. Mr. Conder conducted the distillery about twelve years, and had the repu- tation of making a fine article of whisky and brandy.
The earliest frame dwellings in the township, were erected by Matthew Cummings, James Robinson, John Long and Israel Sells.
VOTING PLACES.
At the organization of the township, it was ordered that the place of holding elections be at the residence of George Elliott, who lived in the east- ern part. His house was used as a voting place until 1852, at which time the polls were moved to the village of Vandalia, where elections have since been held.
Among early Justices of the Peace were John Long, William Philips, James Robinson, William Kerr, Jordan Doyle and Jacob Abrell. The pres- ent Justices are William Philips, who has held the office for about thirty years, and George Binawell. The last Board of Trustees was composed of the following gentlemen, to wit: Eli Toliver, Nathan Troth and Tunis
820
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
Everly. The single Trustees have been Nathan Troth, Britton Troth, Eli Toliver, William Troth, Jacob Wright, Emanuel Fulke, James Beatty, William Foreman, William McClery, O. Scott, and John McAuley, the pres- ent incumbent.
VANDALIA. 1
The neat little village of Vandalia is situated in the northeastern part of the township, and embraces a part of the southwest quarter of Section 9, in Township 10 north, Range 4 west. It was laid off into lots in the month of February, 1839, by Joseph Cochran and Jacob Hicks, and early achieved the reputation of a stirring business place. Among the first settlers in the town were John Hoagland and Washington Walgamott. The first store was kept by James Black, who sold goods for about three years, and did a large business. Other early merchants were James Allender, Edward Maxey, William Davis, Jacob Everly, Lorenzo Coats, George Troth, Jacob Ober- holser. An early hotel was kept by James Davis, who was also the first postmaster.
The village has lost during the last dozen years much of its former busi- ness standing, and at the present time is a small hamlet of about fifty or seventy-five inhabitants. There is one good general store, a large black- smith shop, a schoolhouse and three churches, the history of which will be found further on.
CEMETERIES.
One of the first burial places in the township was laid out by Michael Mishler, on the farm owned at the present time by John Long. The first burial in this cemetery was the wife of Michael Mishler, whose death occurred in a very early day, the date of which was not learned.
An early burial ground was laid out on Shadrach Franklin's place in the western part of the township about the year 1838. The first interments therein were members of the different Franklin families.
The principal burial place for many years was the graveyard in Section 19, southwest of Vandalia, on land owned by William King. Among first burials here were Mrs. William Randleman, Nicholas Criss, Sr., Nicholas Criss, Jr., and Mrs. Criss.
The Vandalia burying ground was set apart for the purpose in 1851, and is the principal place of interment at the present time. Henry Newport was the first person laid to rest in this city of the dead. Mrs. James Davis and James Martin were buried here soon after the ground was laid out.
A small graveyard in the central part of the township was laid out a number of years ago, by George Ritter, on land that had been previously owned by William McCrary.
The first burials were two sons of Mr. Ritter, who had been dead and buried a number of years, but were taken up and brought here for inter- ment, when the family moved to the township.
CHURCH HISTORY.
The early history of Christianity in La Fayette Township is not very well known, and many facts and incidents connected with the first preachers and their work have been forgotten. The first meetings appear to have been held from house to house, by pioneer missionaries of the Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian Churches, and seem to have been well attended. The oldest organization at the present time is the Presbyterian Church of Van- dalia, which dates its origin from the year 1848, at which time it was founded by Revs. Cozad and Ferguson, at the residence of Anthony Eick. About twenty-one members went into the organization, among whom were
821
LA FAYETTE TOWNSHIP.
Anthony Eick and wife, Peter Eick and wife, Henry Johnson and wife, William Davis and wife, James Martin and wife, James Davis and wife, John Smith and wife, with the younger members of their respective fami- lies. For one year, services were held at the dwellings of different mem- bers, and later at the village schoolhouse. A frame house of worship was erected in the year 1849, near the western limits of the town, and cost the sum of $500. It is still standing, but is in a rather dilapidated condition at the present time. The following pastors have ministered to the congre- gation at different times, viz. : Revs. Peck, Milligan, Ferguson, Cole, Ward, Booth, Fox, Omelvena and Sammis. The society has but few members at the present time, and no preaching is sustained.
The Vandalia Methodist Episcopal Church is an old organization, and has been one of the aggressive societies of the county. At one time it boasted of a large congregation, and the good it has accomplished in the community cannot be told in words. Like many other churches, its mem- bership is much smaller than formerly, owing to deaths and removals. Although it has always maintained its identity and sustained regular preach- ing. The house of worship is a commodious frame building, with a seating capacity of about 250 persons.
Palestine ,Christian Church, near Vandalia, was organized in the year 1863, by Elder James Blankenship, with about twenty members. The first meeting was held in a large barn belonging to John Jarvis. Services were afterward conducted at the village schoolhouse, which served as a meeting place until 1873, at which time the present neat frame edifice was erected. This building has a very commodious audience room, and cost the sum of $1,000. Since its organization, the society has been served by the following ministers, viz .: W. B. F. Treat, - Brown, Joel Dillon, - Berry, Har- rison Hight, Charles Caton, Mr. Castle, Isaac Walton, William Littell and Harris Gaston.
The present membership is about thirty. The church officials are Andrew and Asbury Jarvis, Elders ; David Keyfobber and John Jarvis, Deacons.
In about the year 1862 or 1863, an organization known as the Church of the Saints sprang into existence near the southeastern part of the township, under the preaching of one George Duncan, whose eloquence and untiring zeal soon attracted a large number of adherents. Mr. Duncan had previously belonged to the Mormons, and the doctrine he preached was a mild type of the faith advocated by the Latter-Day Saints. The society increased in numbers very rapidly, and it soon gained sufficient strength to erect a house of worship, which was built on the farm of David A. Criss. While Duncan lived the organization flourished, but after his death, seven or eight years later, it was abandoned, there being no one to take his place.
The church property fell into the hands of Mr. Criss, who afterward sold it to the Methodists, by whom it is still used, under the title of the Pleasant Hill Methodist Episcopal Church. The Pleasant Hill organization was founded about the year 1875, by Rev. -- Bell, with twenty-five constitu- tional members. The second pastor was Rev. Mr. Canady, after whom came in regular succession Revs. Cooper, Johnson and Spear. The organization is in good condition at the present time, and numbers about forty members in good standing. The officers are : James Beatty, Class Leader ; Tunis Everly and Levi Day, Stewards; William S. McCrary, Armstrong Kerr, Daniel Johnson, William Need and Edward Willy, Trustees ; Robert Bid- dle, Sunday School Superintendent.
822
HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY.
SCHOOLS.
It is not known who taught the first school in La Fayette, nor where the first house erected for school purposes stood. One of the first houses stood in the western part of the township, on Jonas Fulke's farm, and was used in an early day by James McKee, Emanuel Fulke, William Morris and Adam Cinder. A small log cabin was built about the year 1839 or 1840, and stood three miles east of Vandalia. Among the first teachers in this house was William Philips. A hewed-log schoolhouse was built a short distance north of the last one mentioned, on land owned by James Grimes ; it was erected about the year 1847. Another early house stood north of Vandalia on the Jacob Hicks land. The old buildings all disappeared about the year 1855, at which time the township was divided into districts and supplied with good frame houses.
At the present time there are nine districts in the township, with as many frame buildings. The amount paid for tuition during the school year of 1882-83 was $1,497.74. The teachers for that year were Maggie Wisely, Hendershot, Jacob Travis, Samuel McCaren, D. S. Toliver, John H. Chilson, John H. Knox, Nathan Mccrary and Peter Miller.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
TOWN OF SPENCER.
LAWRENCE ADAMS is a native of Ireland, and was born April 22, 1804. His parents, John and Annie (Byron) Adams, were also natives of Ireland. His father came to America in 1820, but returned to Ireland five years later, where he died in 1830. The mother died in 1812, at her native place. Lawrence is the youngest in a family of fifteen children, and came with his father to America when sixteen years of age ; and began learning blacksmithing in Strasburg, Lancaster Co., Penn. After staying there for ten years, he came to Spencer, where he worked at his trade, and ran a small confectionery for six years ; after which time he returned to Pennsylvania. In 1837, he was married to Mary Blair, a native of Ireland. By this union there was one child-Maria J., who died in July, 1841. The mother died January 4, 1882. After his mar- riage, he returned to Spencer, worked at his trade for many years, and also ran a confectionery. For the last few years, he has retired, and is now living with his adopted son, Solomon Fouts, an energetic carpenter of Spencer. Mr. Adams has reared and educated five orphan children, which fact plainly shows that he is possessed of rare goodness and kind- ness of heart. He has been for many years a consistent and active mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. He is highly esteemed by all who know him.
JOHN W. ALLISON (deceased) was born in Martinsville, Morgan Co., Ind., on March 8, 1825. His parents, Noah and Mary (or Polly) T. (Boswell) Allison, natives respectively of Maryland and Kentucky, came from Kentucky to Monroe County, Ind., where they settled on a farm, which they cultivated a few years, and then commenced merchandising in Martinsville, Morgan Co., Ind., for a few years, and from thence removed to Spencer, Owen Co., Ind., where the father died in 1878, the mother having been dead many years. Our subject is the eldest child in a very large family. He was reared in Owen County, and acquired a good com- mon school education in Spencer, after which he attended the Asbury University at Greencastle for some time. Upon his return to Spencer, he went into the mercantile business, and continued in this until 1863, when he removed to his farm near this town, being in ill health, and re- mained there until his death. In February, 1858, he was married to Mary L. Patrick, daughter of Ebenezer Patrick, one of the oldest minis- ters in Owen County. By this union there are four children-Orrie, Carl, Minota and Tudella. The two eldest are now engaged in the grocery business, in the same old stand where their father was so successful. Mr. Allison was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
many years. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was a good man morally and religiously; was conscientious in his business transactions, and at his death, which occurred in Owen County January 7, 1868, was sadly missed by all who knew him.
BENJAMIN E. ALLISON, farmer, a native of Owen County, was born in Spencer August 5, 1837. His parents, Noah and Mary (or Polly) T. (Boswell) Allison, natives of Maryland and Kentucky respectively, came to Indiana in 1817, and located in Monroe County, where they lived on a farm for a few years, afterward engaging in the general mer- chandise business in Martinsville ; thence in a short time removing to Spencer, Owen County, where, in 1878, the father died, the mother hav- ing been dead many years. Benjamin is next to the youngest in a fam- ily of thirteen children, and being reared in Spencer he received a good education in the town schools. In 1856, he began farming for himself. He was Road Supervisor for several years in Washington Township, has been School Director for fifteen years, and is at present filling his second term of office as Township Assessor. In 1858, he was married to Mary J. Browning, daughter of David Browning, ex-Clerk of Monroe County. By this union there were three children -- Harriet C. (deceased), Mary J. and David B. His wife died in 1868, and in 1872 he married Helen C. Vanmeter, of Franklin County, Ind. They have two children-George E. and Lawrence. Mr Allison is a member of the K. of H., of the K. and L. of H., and assisted in organizing the Grand Lodge of Indiana. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and is farming 359 acres of the best land in Owen County.
J. N. ALLISON is a son of Noah and Mary T. (or Polly T.) (Bos- well) Allison, who settled in Monroe County, Ind., after which they moved to Owen County, and in 1827 came to Spencer, where both died. J. N. Allison is the seventh child in a family of thirteen children, and was born in Spencer, February, 1832, where, he received a very good edu- cation, and in the years 1849-50-51, he attended college at Green- castle. In 1852, he went into the general merchandise business, and, be- ing quite successful, continued in it for twenty-four years. In 1881, he bought a saw mill in Bloomington Township, Monroe County, but on account of ill health was obliged to sell out July 27, 1883, having been in the business but about two years. He then purchased the grocery store at Spencer, belonging to the heirs of B. Levistine, and is at pres- ent doing a flourishing business here. In 1855, he was married to Emily D. Patterson, a daughter of Jacob and Nancy Patterson, old and very highly esteemed citizens of Owen County. Mr. Allison has always, in all of his business, social and political relations, pursued an honora- ble, conscientious course, and is universally regarded as one of the citi- zens of whom Owen County should feel justly proud. His wife has for many years been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
J. W. ARCHER, eldest son of James M. and Margaret K. (Dunn) Archer, was born in Edgar County, Ill., September 6, 1828. His
father was a native of Maryland, and of German and English descent. He moved to Grand View, Ill., in 1829, built a tannery, and after remain- ing there for two years moved to Paris, where he lived until 1840; then came to Spencer, where he died in 1864. The mother is a native of Ken- tucky, and of Scotch descent. She was born in 1811, and is yet living at the advanced age of seventy-two years. J. W. Archer came to Owen County, in 1840, with his father, He learned harness-making, and
TOWN OF SPENCER. 825
worked at that trade with his father for four years. He then helped his father clear up a farm from the green woods southeast of Spencer. In March, 1846, he went to Wisconsin Territory, and stayed until Novem- ber of the same year, when he returned, and until 1849 remained on the farm. He then went overland to California to the gold mines. In August, 1852, he returned to Spencer, and was in the furniture business for one year. He then farmed until 1859, and again returned to Spen- cer, where he became a partner with his brother in a drug store. In 1860 and 1861, he farmed, and on September 18, 1861, volunteered in the United States service. He helped to raise a company for the Fifty- ninth Indiana Regiment, being organized at Gosport, in which he served as First Lieutenant of Company A; was soon promoted to Adjutant of the regiment, and in April, 1861, was detailed as Aid-de-camp on the staff of Brig. Gen. N. B. Buford, where he remained until he resigned on the Surgeon's certificate of disability, January, 1863. He returned to his home and in a short time accepted a situation as clerk of a steam- boat on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. He was afterward Captain until the close of the war. He was in the dry goods business for one year, and farmed for several years. He was interested in the building of a planing mill in Spencer, and also engaged in the lumber trade at Vincennes as well as Spencer. He was partner in the Simpson Stone Quarry at Mundy's Station until 1878, and in consequence of the panic lost largely and sold out at a great loss. He had a grocery store for some time in Spencer, and from 1879 to 1883 he farmed. After this time he became Pension Attorney, which business now occupies his time. He went into the army a Democrat, and is one at present. He has never held an office in the county. Content to bear his share of the public burden, always ready to give a reason for his political faith, he is proud of the rank of a private citizen. He was married on June 4, 1854, to Elizabeth Chambers, by whom be has six children-Dora Belle, James Chambers, Luretta, Nellie Almira, John Buford and Charles Williamson.
GEORGE R. BABBS, a native of Washington County, Ind., was born July 25, 1848. His parents, Alex and Lucinda (Carter) Babbs, early in life came to Indiana from Virginia, and located in Washington County. They afterward moved to Illinois, where his mother died in 1858. His father with the children returned to Indiana, and located at Spencer, where he died in 1863. The subject of this sketch is the second child of a large family, and, being left an orphan at the age of fifteen years, he enlisted under Capt. Freid, in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, and in October, 1864, he enlisted for one year in Company F, Sixth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. McMillan. After the close of the war in 1865, he returned to Spencer, and assisted in the survey of the I. & V. Railroad, and was afterward made foreman for a number of years in Schwitzer's Stone Quarries. In March, 1883, he purchased the saloon of Heck & Co., and has made it one of the coziest, neatest little places for refreshments in Spencer. He was married in August, 1866, to Nancy J. Thomas, daughter of Wilson and Polly Thomas, citizens of Spencer. They have had two children. Mr. Babbs is an active member of the Republican party, and has served as Town Trustee one year. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., of the K. of P., Lodge No. 99, and of the Grand Army of the Republic.
46
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
FRANK T. BATTERTON, dealer in hardware, was born in Bloom- ington, Monroe County, Ind., June 4, 1851. His parents, David and Amanda (Tilford) Batterton, were among the very early settlers in Bloomington. The mother died in 1865, the father in 1869. Frank T. is the eighth child of a family of nine children. He received a good education, and when nine years of age he began learning the tinner's trade with his father. Five years later, he went to Edinburg, Johnson County, Ind., where he served one year, receiving further information concerning the same trade. He then came to Gosport, Owen County; was employed by Henry Lease, a tinner, and remained with him about nine months; he then returned to Bloomington, and removed his tin shop to Bloomfield, Greene County. In about one year, he came to Spencer and went into the employ of Bladen & Daggy. He stayed with them until 1869, and then came to Freedom, Owen County, where he went into business for himself, with a capital of $200, and in about one year sold out at a gain of $850. He then went West for a short time, after which he returned to Spencer and opened a stove and tinware store, and soon added a stock of hard- ware. He at present has the largest store and the heaviest stock in this line in Spencer. He was married in 1873, to Dorothy L. Schell, daugh- ter of Dr. and Elizabeth Schell, highly esteemed citizens of Spencer. Mr. Batterton is an active member of the Republican party.
HENRY BAUGH, City Marshal, is a native of Putnam County, Ind., born February 12, 1839. His parents, Christopher and Hannah (Lan- guell) Baugh, immigrated to Indiana from Kentucky, and located in Putnam County, and afterward moved to Monroe County, where the father still resides. The mother died in 1877. Henry Baugh is the fifth in a family of seven children, and was reared in Monroe County on a farm. When he was twenty-three years old, he enlisted in Company B, Sixty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. Denny. He was dis- charged late in the same year, on account of inability to serve, and re- turned to Monroe County, where he went to farming. In 1871, he sold his farm, and removed to Spencer, Owen County; farmed near the town, but was teamster during part of this time. In May, 1882, he was elected City Marshal, and, his first term of service giving satisfaction, he was re- elected in 1883, and at present creditably fills the office. He was mar- ried, when nineteen years of age, to Letha Boles, daughter of Hawkins and Taroby Boles, old and respected pioneers of Monroe County. By this union there are eight children. Mr. Baugh is a member of K. of P., Lodge No. 99, and is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Republican.
DAVID E BEEM was born in Spencer, Owen Co., Ind., June 24, 1837, and is the sixth of twelve children of Levi and Sarah (Johnson) Beem, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of Virginia. The father came to Indiana Territory in 1810, and settled in Owen County in 1817. The grandparents both entered land and made farms where the town of Spencer stands. Here the parents were married in February, 1825, and here they have resided every since. Having been born on a farm, our subject continued thereon, and was accustomed to all sorts of farm labor until he was nineteen years of age, when, having made suit- able proficiency in the schools of his native town and by study at home, he entered the University at Bloomington, Ind., in 1856, and graduated from that institution in 1860; also, having chosen the law for his pro- fession, he was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1860, and, forming a
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