USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 25
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 25
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A. H. WIRT, dentist, is a native of Allentown, Lehigh Co., Penn., and was born March 17, 1828. At the age of six years, he was left to battle with the realities of life by the death of his father, and, although among relatives, his experience for the first eight years was anything but pleasant. When fourteen years old, he was bound out to learn tailoring,
. but being brutally treated by his preceptor, three times ran away, the first two times being overtaken and brought back. When seventeen years old, he ran away the third time, and in spite of his guardian's persua- sions to return, asserted his determination of being a man and doing for himself among strangers. Never liking the tailor's trade, he discontinued it in 1848, and began the study of dentistry at Mauch Chunk, afterward at Allentown. After four year's instruction, he began work on his own responsibility in his native town, but subsequently worked at his profes- sion in different places in Pennsylvania, during which time he obtained a thorough knowledge of practical dentistry. In 1858, he first came to Monticello, and opening an office was not long in establishing a good prac- tice. On his arrival, his total possessions, besides the clothes on his back
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and the instruments of his profession, consisted of just 5 cents in money. He has been enabled to secure a good home by diligence and economy, and is one of the progressive and substantial men of Monticello. To the mar- riage of Dr. Wirt and Miss Grace Tilton, which occurred in the fall of 1859, have been born four children-William, Zebulon, Rebecca and Mary Grace. Dr. Wirt cast his first vote with the Whig party, but in 1856 voted for Col. John C. Fremont, and has since been a Republican. He is a member of the F. & A. M., and the Sovereigns of the Red Star.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
ROBERT R. BRECKENRIDGE was born in Washington County, Ohio, November 21, 1844. Of the ten children born to his parents, John and Martha (Dunlap) Breckenridge, only five are now living, and these reside in Union Township. John Breckenridge and wife were both natives of Scotland, where they were married and where Mr. Brecken- ridge learned the trade of cabinet-making. They crossed the Atlantic to the United States in about 1835, and for ten years and a half resided in Washington County, Ohio. They then removed to Indiana, locating in Tippecanoe County, and five and a half years later moved to the farm now owned by Daniel McCuaig, in Union Township. Mr. Breckenridge died here December 28, 1870, followed by his widow some years later. Like the majority of his countrymen in White County, Mr. Breckenridge retained many of the virtues instilled into his mind while in the old coun- try, among which was his faithful adherence to the Presbyterian Church. Robert R. Breckenridge was reared a farmer, and such has always been his occupation. After receiving a good commercial education, he began teaching school, and of the seven terms he has taught, four have been in White County. At the age of twenty-two, he began doing for him- self, and for a few years farmed in White County, afterward spending about three years in Illinois and Kansas. In 1871, he located perma- nently in Union Township, and has ever since resided here. He owns 125 acres of good land, and was married, December 18, 1873, to Miss Jane Reynolds, daughter of John Reynolds, deceased, and they have had two children-George C. and Mabel (deceased). The mother was born Sep- tember 29, 1854, in White County. Mr. Breckenridge, in politics, is a Democrat, and has served Union Township over five years as Trustee. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
JAMES BURNS, a native of Mifflin County, Penn., was born near Lewistown November 10, 1825, is one of four surviving children in a
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family of eight, and is one of Union Township's progressive citizens. Hugh and Elizabeth (Turner) Burns, his parents, were also natives of Mifflin County, and of Scotch and Irish descent respectively. The spring of 1835, Hugh Burns and family removed to Montgomery County, Ohio, remaining there four and a half years, engaged in farming, but the fall of 1839, they again started Westward, intending to settle near Springfield, Ill. After leaving La Fayette, Ind., they missed the road and by acci- dent wandered to White County, where, meeting an old schoolmate, John Rothrock, since deceased, he was induced by him to settle permanently here. Mr. Burns located in Union Township, two miles south of Mon- ticello, where he died in about 1842, followed by his widow some twenty years later. James Burns made his home with his widowed mother until her death, shortly after which he moved to where he now resides and en- gaged in farming. He was reared principally in White County, acquired a fair education, and in 1865 married Mrs. Mary Jane Burns, a daughter of John Burns, of Big Creek Township. Three sons were born to this union, the last named being dead-Samuel E., Bertie and John. The mother died in August, 1877, and in May, 1880, Mr. Burns married Susan Ferry, whose parents now reside in York County, Neb. He owns a farm of 105 acres, is a Democrat and the present Road Superintendent of Union Township.
A. CORNELL, son of Benjamin and Rosanna (Foley) Cornell, was born in Franklin County. Ohio, September 29, 1811, and was reared in Clarke County, same State. In 1832, he and parents moved to Elk- hart County, Ind. ; in 1834, he came to this county and engaged in school teaching and farming. In the fall of 1834, he returned to Elkhart County, where he owned land, and April 2, 1835, he married Mary Worthington. In 1844, he came back to White County, and followed farming in Jackson and Liberty Townships until 1853, when he moved to Kansas. January 1, 1861, notwithstanding his age, he enlisted in the Sixteenth Kansas Cavalry, and was soon detailed as Veterinary Surgeon, in which position he remained until his discharge, December 6, 1865. He then returned to Kansas, but in 1876 came back to remain permanently in White County. His wife died August 19, 1849, the mother of three children-Sarah A., now Mrs. G. W. Scott; Mary J., now Mrs. J. M. Humphrey ; and Martha M., now Mrs. B. F. Moore. Mr. Cornell was re-married, but his second wife, Mary Ann Simpson, survived her mar- riage but two months. Mr. Cornell is now living with his youngest daughter in this township. He is a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN DUNLAP is a native of the Highlands of Scotland, born in Argylshire December 8, 1808. He was reared to manhood in his native
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country, received only an ordinary schooling, and the fall of 1834 shipped on board the brig " Nora," bound from Grennock to New York, arriving at the destined port after a voyage of six weeks and three days. On this same vessel David Breckenridge and family took passage, and, on their arrival in this country Mr. Dunlap and the Breckenridge family found homes in Washington County, Ohio, where they engaged in farm- ing. It was here on the 20th of November, 1835, that Mr. Dunlap married Charlotte Breckenridge, who was born February 12, 1814, in Argylshire, Scotland. In 1851, Mr. Dunlap and wife moved from Wash- ington County, Ohio, to Tippecanoe County, Ind., remaining there only a few months. The fall of 1851, he came to White County and purchased 300 acres of new land in Union Township, and the succeeding spring moved his family to this place, erected a house and has lived here ever since. He and wife have had twelve children born to them, only the fol- lowing named are yet living-Charlotte (Mrs. J. P. Henderson), Mary (Mrs. George Cowger), Andrew, Martha and Margaret (Mrs. Charles Page). Mr. and Mr. Dunlap have been hard- working and industrious people, have passed through many of the inconveniences of pioneer life, and by industry and economy have secured a good home to shelter them in their old age. Mr. Dunlap, although passed threescore and ten years, is yet hale and hearty, and is one of the county's best citizens. He is a Democrat in politics, has served Union Township five years as Trustee, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
BENJAMIN B. GLAZIER, a farmer of Southern Union Township, was born at Delphi, Ind., July 3, 1840, and his father was Henry R. Glazier, a native of Vermont, a potter by trade, and one of the pioneers of Carroll County. Henry R. Glazier operated the first carding and cloth-dressing machine in Carroll County, afterward starting the first pottery in Delphi. His wife was Margaret Barnhart, a native of Ohio, and four children were born to them, two of whom are yet living. Mr. Glazier departed this life in 1846, and about a year after this event his widow married Philip Wolverton, together moving to White County in March, 1848, settling in Big Creek Township. Mrs. Wolverton bore her second husband two children, and died in 1878, preceded by Mr. Wolver- ton about eight years. Benjamin B. Glazier has always made his home in White County from the time he was seven years old. His educational advantages were limited, but by studying nights and taking advantage of unoccupied time, he was enabled to acquire sufficient education. to teach school. He became a member of Company D, Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in August, 1863, and participated in every campaign and move- ment of his company, until the close of the war, and was finally discharged June 5, 1865. He then returned to White County, and the winter of
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1865 taught his last term of school, since when he has been engaged in farming. March 15, 1866, his marriage with Harriet Hornbeck was solemnized, and the following family was the result of their union: Minnie, Wilda M., deceased, Margaret and one that died in infancy, without being named. Mr. Glazier is a Republican and has served Big Creek Town- ship as Assessor two years. He owns a farm of 115 acres in Union Township, resides on Section 28, and he and wife belong to the United Brethren Church.
JOSEPH PRICE, son of Peter Price, deceased, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume, was born in Mifflin County, Penn., February 7, 1829, and at the age of two years was brought to what was then Carroll County, by his parents. September 15, 1852, he married Ellen Cochell, a native of Pennsylvania, and that same year moved to his present place in Jefferson Township, Carroll County, Ind., two and one half miles from Monticello. To his marriage there have been born nine children, viz .: Isaac, deceased, Mary A., deceased ; Franklin, who married Ella Plummer, and resides in this township; Peter P., deceased ; Emma, who was married to Philip Wolverton and died, leaving one child, Margaret E .; Evaline, John L., Ida M., and one-the first born-that died in infancy unnamed. Mrs. Price died November 4, 1873, and June 10, 1874, Mr. Price married Maria L. Stout, who has borne him three children-Josie, deceased; Benjamin and Edna. Mr. Price owns 480 acres of land in this county, and about an equal number in Carroll County; he is an Odd Fellow and a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
EMANUEL REISH, of the Norway Mills, is a native of Union County, Penn., where he was born October 6, 1833. He is a son of Solomon and Lydia (Stees) Reish, who are of German descent and also natives of Pennsylvania. In 1843, the Reish family moved to Colum- biana County, Ohio, and eight years later emigrated to Huntington, Ind. From this place they removed to White County in 1853, settled in Lib- erty Township and engaged in farming. In 1865, the parents moved to Francesville, Pulaski County, where both are yet living. Emanuel Reish is the eldest of five children, one being deceased. He was reared on a farm ; began doing for himself the fall of 1853, and, July 10, 1854, was married to Miss Elizabeth Summers, of Columbiana County, Ohio. Two children were born to this union, both of whom are now dead, and the mother departed this life August 23, 1863. Mr. Reish followed farming until the past few years, and he yet owns 190 acres good land in Liberty Township, all of which he has acquired by hard work and economy. Sep- tember 29, 1864, he married his first wife's sister, Miss Sally Summers, and February 12th, 1878, he traded one of his farms in Liberty Town-
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ship for a half interest in the flouring mills at Norway, to which place he moved in April, 1878. Mr. Reish is among the progressive citizens of White County, is a Republican in politics, a member of the A. O. U. W., and Mrs. Reish is a member of the Christian Church.
B. K. ROACH, President of the Old Settlers' Association of White County, was born in Allegheny County, Penn., May 16, 1810, and is the youngest of a family of fourteen children born to Peter and Sarah (Kep- ner) Roach, all reared to maturity, but of whom there are only two now living. Peter Roach came from Ireland; his wife was born in Pennsyl- vania, and is of German descent. B. K. Roach was a small boy when his parents moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he was reared to manhood. October 10, 1833, he married Eliza J. Thompson, who was born in Columbiana County, in August, 1814. To this union were born nine children, viz .: Nancy C., Sarah A., Margaret J., Thomas D., James B., William (deceased), John T., David G., and Robert G. (deceased). In September, 1862, the parents came to this township, and settled on 484 acres of raw land. Here Mrs. Roach died January 31, 1879, a faithful adherent of the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Roach also has been a member for the past forty years.
THOMAS D. ROACH was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, January 10, 1840, and came first to this county in July, 1861 ; then vis- ited Jasper County, and returned to this county in August, 1862, and enlisted in Company G, Sixty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was on detached duty at Indianapolis until February, 1864, when he joined his regiment at Camp Nelson, in Kentucky. His first fight was at Resaca, on the 15th and 16th of May, 1864 ; he then took part in the fights at Kenesaw Mountain and Big Shanty, and the siege of Atlanta; then he joined Gen. Thomas at Knoxville, fighting at Columbia and Franklin, Tenn; then went to Nashville, taking part in the fight of the 15th and 16th of December, 1864; then to Virginia and to Fort Fisher, N. C., and to Wilmington. He received his final discharge at Greens- boro, June 21, 1865, and since then he has resided in this county.
JAMES B. ROACH was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, October 17, 1842, and came to White County November 7, 1861, where he taught two terms of school, and then engaged in farming. August 9, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Sixty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and on the organization of the company was made Corporal. He was placed on detached duty in the office of Capt. Bradner, Provost Marshal at Indianapolis, where he remained about one year, and then joined his regiment at Camp Nelson, receiving his discharge at David's Island Hos- pital, Long Island, June 20, 1865. For thirteen years after his return, he engaged in clerking in Monticello, but is now employed in stock-rais-
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ing and working his farm of eighty acres. He was married, December 18, 1872, to Mary S. Berkey, daughter of Michael and Margaret (Logan) Berkey, who were among White County's oldest settlers. He has had born to him two children-Margaret B. and Frank B.
ROBERT ROTHROCK, one of the pioneers of this county, was born in Mifflin County, Penn., February 19, 1807, and died in White County, Ind., February 17, 1882, a member of long standing in the Christian Church. He came to what is now White County when it was all a wilderness, and entered from the Government the land on which Monticello now stands. In the fall of 1832, he married Eliza Means, who died in the fall of the following year, leaving no children. In 1837, he married Catherine McKee, who bore him seven children-Robert McK., William M., Mary H., Orpah S., Hervey P., John A. and Joseph T. The mother died August 20, 1855, and in 1856 Mr. Rothrock mar- ried Elizabeth Mowrer, who has borne him three children, of whom two are living-Kate V., now Mrs. John R. Cowger, and Lizzie, now Mrs. James Worthington. James was the second born to this union, but died in infancy. Of the seven children born to Mr. R.'s second marriage, three are married, viz .: Robert, Mary (Mrs. H. W. Sanderson), and Orpah (Mrs. James L. Goodwin).
WILLIAM ROTHROCK, a pioneer of White County, and one of its most substantial citizens, was born in Mifflin County, Penn., August 23, 1821, and became a resident of Union Township when only ten years old. John Rothrock, his father, was of German descent, a farmer, and was twice married, his first wife being Mary Ann Keifer. Their union was solemnized March 20, 1806, and a family of eight children born to them, only two of whom are now living. The mother died November 12, 1822, and for his last wife Mr. Rothrock married Mrs. Sarah Hopper, and, in 1831, the family came to what is now White County, Ind. Mr. Rothrock had looked up this location in 1830, and on their arrival he obtained full possession of the property, having left sufficient money with a friend at Delphi to purchase the land as soon as . it came into market. The family was sheltered by a tent until a log cabin, 12x14 feet, was erected, and this was their home for many years. Here Mr. Rothrock and family encountered all the trials and inconven- iences of a pioneer's life, going forty or fifty miles for milling and marketing, obtaining but very little for their produce, and paying the highest prices for provisions, etc. Mrs. Rothrock died in about 1836, Mr. Rothrock surviving her until February 10, 1860, when he, too, died. William Rothrock, from the time he was ten years old to the present, has always lived in White County. November 11, 1848, he married Elizabeth Cockell, who was also a native of Mifflin County, Penn., com-
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ing to White County with her parents in 1846. The names of the chil- dren born to them are-Mary J. (Mrs. Samuel Hornbeck), Sarah A., Martha, Eliza (Mrs. F. Britton), and Belle. Mr. Rothrock is one of the large land-owners and extensive stock-raisers of White County. He is a Democrat, and, although not an aspirant for political honors, has served in various local positions of honor and trust. He and wife are members of the German Baptist Church.
MRS. SUSANAH SHAFER, one of the few remaining old set- tlers of White County, was born in Rockingham County, Va., June 16, 1810, and is the daughter of John and Mary (Cyman) Peebles. The parents moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, when Mrs. Shafer was but eight years of age, and there, December 1, 1832, she was married to James Shafer, who was born in Perry County, Ohio, August 7, 1806, and was a son of Joseph and Margaret (Robinson) Shafer. For two years they resided in Perry County, and then, in company with two brothers of Mr. Shafer, came to this county, and entered a quarter-section of land, on which Mrs. S. still lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Shafer there were born eight children, viz .: Mary, now Mrs. Daniel Spears ; Margaret, deceased ; Jane, now Mrs. William Lane ; Alexander R .; John P .; Jos- eph, deceased ; Samuel, deceased, and James. Mr. Shafer was a highly respected citizen, and served as County Commissioner of White County for a number of years, dying October 14, 1849. On the 6th of January, 1853, Mrs. Shafer married her deceased husband's brother, Samuel, but this gentleman died March 18, 1875. Mrs. Shafer is the owner of much valuable land in the southern part of Union Township, the home farm comprising 400 acres, on which she has resided the greater part of her life. Joseph Shafer, the eldest of the three brothers who came to White County in 1834, never married, but lived with Mr. and Mrs. Shafer twenty-two years, and then he moved to Illinois, where he died eighteen days before the death of his brother Samuel.
PERRY SPENCER was born in this township August 16, 1841, and is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Barnett) Spencer, and one of a family of eight children, of whom three only are living. November 12,. 1863, he married Susan, the daughter of John and Martha (Dyer) Rob- erts, and in April, 1865, moved to the place of his present residence, where he is engaged in farming and trading in stock. There has been born to him one son, Robert, June 5, 1868. Mrs. Spencer was born in this township November 6, 1841. Mr. Spencer owns between 600 and 700 acres of land in the southern part of the township, a part of which is the old homestead ... On all subjects he is independent in his views, but always takes an active part in the development of any measures cal- culated to advance the interests of his township and county.
THOMAS SPENCER. ( DECEASED.) WHITE CO.
ASTOR, LECX TILDEN FOCADA DIE"! x
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THOMAS MCKEAN THOMPSON, deceased, was born June 28, 1810, in Steubenville, Ohio. His father, after whom he was named, was a nephew of Thomas Mckean, an ex-Governor of Pennsyl- vania and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence ; and his mother was Alletta Halstead, who bore her husband a family of nine chil- dren, only four of whom yet live. The family moved to Granville, Ohio, in 1817, and there the subject of this sketch was reared to manhood. After attending public school in his earlier years, he became a student at Kenyon College but remained only one year, afterward entering Miami University, where he graduated at the end of three years. He read law in the office of Col. Marthiat, of Newark, Ohio, until he had a thorough knowledge of that profession, and in about 1834 he went to Indianapolis and began practice. In 1837, he came to Monticello, where he continued the practice of law and engaged in other occupations. For a number of years he was Justice of the Peace, and in 1851 was elected County Auditor. In politics, Mr. Thompson was a warm supporter of the Whig party un- til the organization of the Republican party, when he joined its ranks and remained in hearty accord with the same until his death. He was married to Mary Ann Sheetz, December 17, 1843, and a family of seven children were born to them-Elbert H., Frederick S., Margaret A., James M., Mary I., Maud and Minnie. The mother was born in Hampshire County, Va., November 21, 1825 and died October 24, 1867. Mr. Thompson died August 24, 1881, and both he and wife lie sleeping side by side in the Sheetz burying-ground, situated a short distance above Monticello on the banks of the Tippecanoe. Mr. Thompson was one of the best men ever in White County and his liberality and kindly ways endeared him to many warm and lasting friends. Both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. The old homestead left and its additions now amount to about 500 acres of good land, and is owned by the children of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. The Sheetz family were among the first in White County.
NOAH TUCKER is a son of Jonathan Tucker, who was a native of Tennessee, and became a resident of Indiana as early as 1834, but not a permanent one. Jonathan Tucker was of Swiss descent, his grandfather being the family progenitor in this country, and his occupation was that of a farmer and miller. He married Sarah Swisher, and of the thirteen children born to them only seven are now living, as is also the mother, but Mr. Tucker died a number of years ago in White County. Noah Tucker's birth occurred in Montgomery County, Ohio, June 18, 1829, and on reaching the age of twenty-one he began doing for himself. The greater part of his life has been passed as a contractor and builder, and this was one of the inducements that led him to locate at Delphi, 16
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Ind., in 1864. In 1852, he secured Keziah Kennard for a wife, but this lady died in 1860, leaving one daughter-Viana, yet living. Four years after the loss of his first wife Mr. Tucker married Sarah J. Kitchen, who has borne him two children-Flora and Lewis. In 1866, he began farm- Ing in Liberty Township, White County, but he discontinued this and moved to Kokomo in 1868, having contracted for the erection of the court house of Howard County and other valuable buildings. In the spring of 1871, he returned to his farm in White County. Having formed a partnership with Emanuel Reish in the purchase of the flouring mill at Norway, he moved to this place in 1878 and has since made it his home, although yet owning a farm of 160 acres in Liberty Township. Through the enterprise of Reish & Tucker, new and improved machinery has been introduced into their mill. It is operated by water-power, has three runs of buhrs, with a capacity of fifty barrels per day, and is a three- story frame, including a stone basement, 45x60 feet. In addition to their milling interest, the firm buys grain quite extensively and they transact an average annual business of about $65,000. Mr. Tucker is a Repub- lican and a Mason, and Mrs. Tucker belongs to the Christian Church.
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