Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical, Part 27

Author: F.A. Battey & Co; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, F.A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 796

USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 27
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 27

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

N. HORNBECK was born in the State of Ohio, and in 1837, at the age of twelve years, came to White County with his parents, Adam and Margaret (Dungan) Hornbeck. He availed himself of the ordinary advantages afforded by the pioneer school, and then worked on his own account seven or eight years, acquiring about 200 acres of land. In 1853, he married Mrs. Phebe Coil, daughter of William Little, and a native of Miami County, Ohio; to this union have been born four children- Thomas K. (deceased), Frank (deceased) and Fannie (twins) and Addie. Mr. Hornbeck has added to his land until he is now possessor of about 577 acres, improved with every convenience and comfort. He handles from fifty to sixty head of cattle annually, 100 to 125 head of sheep, 130 to 140 hogs, and twelve to fifteen horses. He has served his fellow-citi- zens in the capacity of County Commissioner three years, and also for three years as Township Trustee, and in both positions have given the most complete satisfaction to his constituents.

F. T. HORNBECK, a son of Adam and Margaret Hornbeck, was born on the same farm he now occupies in this township, and was here reared and educated. November 7, 1866, he married Miss Mary J. Coil, a native of Carroll County, Ind., and daughter of Robert Coil, a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the United Brethren Church, and they have had born to them four children, named Maggie P., Robert C., Lora B. and Laura B. Mr. Hornbeck is the owner of a fine farm of 180 acres, and rears and deals in cattle, hogs and sheep, besides raising considerable wheat and corn, but more of the latter than of the former.

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FREDERICK JENNING was born in Saxony, Germany, August 23, 1835, and is the son of Godfrey Jenning, a carpenter. Frederick went to school in Germany between the ages of seven and fourteen, and was then apprenticed to carpentering for three years, two of which he served and then came to America, landing at New York October 24, 1854, and beginning work at Buffalo; he then worked at Plymouth, Mich., and various other places, and May 15, 1856, located at Brookston, where he worked as carpenter for the New Albany and Salem Railroad for three years, and then enlisted, August 15, 1862, in Company F, Ninety-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served three years, lacking two months, being mustered out at Washington and discharged at Indi- anapolis. His only injury was by a spent ball, in one of the many actions in which he took part, among them being the following: Atlanta, Vicks- burg, Jackson, Miss., Mission Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, and others, making in all fifteen. September 14, 1865, he married Miss Caroline Cotenenhan, a native of Boone County, Ind., and to this union have been born four children. Mr. Jenning owns three lots in Brookston, on which are two dwellings, besides two outlots ; also, thirty acres of adjacent land, on which his fine, frame dwelling stands. He is an Odd Fellow, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

THOMAS KENNEDY was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1831, and is the eldest of the three children born to William and Maria (Montgomery) Kennedy, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Vir- ginia. The family came to this county in 1833, where they underwent all the privations of the settler's life, and cleared up the farm on which they ended their days. Thomas Kennedy remained on the home farm until his marriage, in 1858, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Samuel Bushong. He had owed 99 acres of land before his marriage, which he sold, and in 1861 bought 114 acres of his present farm, which he has since increased to 280 acres, all finely improved. He raises over 2,000 bushels of corn per year, 200 to 400 bushels of wheat, 40 head of cattle, 30 to 40 hogs, 10 to 12 horses, and 20 to 30 sheep. Mr. Kennedy is a Freemason, and his wife, until her death in October, 1881, was a member of the M. E. Church. Their six children were named as follows : John C., William S., Jacob B., Thomas J., Mary E. and Martha J.

W. R. KIOUS was born in. Montgomery County, Ind., August 4, 1844, and is the son of Absalom and Mary Kious, who were among the pioneers of Montgomery, and who, in 1859, came to White County, where the father died. The mother still survives, at the age of seventy four, and resides with her son, W. R. Her father was a soldier in the Revolution, and served seven years. W. R. Kious assisted on the home farm until September 19, 1869, when he was married, in Clinton County,

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to Miss Katie Fowler, daughter of W. A. Fowler, and an ative of this State. For a short time after marriage, Mr. K. farmed on rented land, and then purchased 130 acres of his present farm on Section 16, this township. Here his wife died, leaving three children - Lillie M., Almira and Katie. In December, 1875, Mr. K. married Miss Elizabeth J., daughter of Jacob W. Ridgeway, and a native of Virginia, and to this marriage was born one child, Marton, now deceased. Mr. K. has added ninety acres to his farm, which now comprises 220 acres, is highly improved, and contains two miles of hedge fence. Both Mr. and Mrs. K. are members of the M. E. Church.

RICHARD KOLB was born in Rush County, Ind., in 1840, and is the son of William and Keziah Kolb, natives of Georgia and North Carolina, pioneers of Fayette County, this State, and now residents of Benton County. Richard passed his boyhood years in Benton County, and, at the early age of nineteen, enlisted in Company E, Fortieth Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry, and served three years and eight months. Among other battles, he took part at Shiloh, Stone River, Mission Ridge and Kenesaw Mountain. He was wounded both at Mission and Kene- saw, at the latter quite seriously. For six weeks he lay in the hospital, and was absent from his regiment nearly six months, owing to his disa- bility-most of the time at home on leave of absence. In March, 1864, he was married, in Benton County, to Miss Huldah Kiger, a native of Wabash County, Ind., and daughter of Jacob N. Kiger. She died in 1868, and January 13, 1873, he married, in Fountain County, Ind., Miss Sabra Penner, daughter of William Penner. In 1874, he settled on 160 acres in this township, but subsequently sold. He is the father of five children-Arta M., Ada M., Viola, Lottie G. and Annie J., and at present is Township Road Commissioner.

J. S. McLEAN was born in the State of Ohio, September 3, 1818, and is the son of Alexander and Jane (Stone) McLean. J. S. McLean passed his boyhood in his native county, until eighteen years old, when he left the home farm and learned the tanner's trade. In 1850, he and his father came to Tippecanoe County, this State, started a tan yard at Battle Ground and ran it about five years. He was first married in Prairie Township, to Miss Martha J. Lafferty, a native of Ohio, but an orphan reared by John Barr. For two years, Mr. McLean taught school, and then for two years kept grocery at Springboro. His wife died, when he sold out and broke up housekeeping and for six years taught school at Hickory Ridge. He was next married, in 1854, to Miss Nancy, Matthews, who soon after died. He taught school again at Tolleston, for about six years, and March 5, 1863, married Miss Mary Lear, a native of Virginia. About 1867, he purchased forty acres of land in this town-

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ship, on Section 26, to which he has since added eighty acres, on which he has a fine hedge 140 rods long. He has five children-J. A., by his first marriage ; Sylvia, by his second ; Alfred A., Eva and Edwin R., by his last marriage.

W. A. McCLEAN was born in the State of Ohio, October 23, 1825, and is a son of Alexander and Jane (Stone) McClean. At the age of ten, he was brought to Tippecanoe County, this State, where he learned the tanner's trade, which he followed about five years. In the spring of 1865, he came to his farm on Section 30, this township, and November 9, 1865, at Monticello, married Mrs. Helen M. Reed, daughter of John Compton and a native of Ohio. This lady died October 18, 1876, leaving two children-Archibald and Mary B., who are now residing with their father on the homestead, which comprises 200 acres, lacking eight rods, of fine land, improved with substantial farm buildings. For four terms, of three months each, Mr. McClean taught school, and he is a gentle- man well informed on all current topics.

E. P. MASON & SONS conduct a general store at Brookston and carry an extensive stock of dry goods, groceries, agricultural imple- ments, hardware, etc., valued at from $8,000 to $10,000. E. P. Mason, is a native of Rutland, Vt., and came to Delphi, Ind., in 1837; remained about three years, and then went to farming near La Fayette; in 1840, he moved to town and kept hotel three years, and then a livery stable six years ; he then conducted a foundry business at Pittsburg, Carroll County, until 1855, when he came to Brookston and entered upon his present enterprise, the second of the kind in the place, his brother-in-law, T. B. Davis, having preceded him one year. His sons have been asso- ciated with him since 1878, and it is said that the firm carry the largest and best assorted stock in town. Mr. Mason was first married in Gen- esee County, N. Y., to Miss Adeline Colton, 'who died at La Fayette in 1842 ; his second marriage took place in La Fayette, to Miss Elizabeth Huntsinger, a daughter of John Huntsinger, and to this union have been born three boys and three girls. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mason are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

EDWARD MAUD, deceased, was a native of England, born in 1824, and was the son of John Maud, who was largely interested in stone quarries. Edward received a fair education and was brought up to farm labor. He was married in England to Jane Waring, and he and wife came to this country in 1856, and for two or three years lived in Phil- adelphia. They made several changes of residence, and finally settled in this township in 1870. Here Mr. Maud ended his days in 1871, a member of the English Church. His widow continues to farm the 160 acres of fine prairie land on Section 23.

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DR. A. P. MENDENHALL, a native of Montgomery County, Ind., was born May 7, 1839, and is the fifth of the nine children born to David and Mary A. (Perkins) Mendenhall, who were natives of North Carolina and Ohio respectively. The father, who was a farmer, died in Illinois about January, 1881, but the mother is still living in the said State, in comparatively good health at the age of seventy-three. When about seven years of age, our subject was removed by his parents to the Wea Plains, where he attended the Farmers' Institute, and some four or five years later was taken to Osawatomie, Kan., where he resided four years, attend- ing school in a private family, there being no schoolhouse within fifty miles ; he was then taken to Vermillion County, Ill., where he attended the Vermillion Seminary four or five years ; thence he moved to Iroquois, Ill., taught school for six winters, and began the study of medicine ; in 1870 and 1871, first attended lectures at the Rush Medical College at Chicago, and .then came to Brookston, spent the summer in study, and then returned to Chicago, but arrived the night of the great fire, which swept away the college, causing him to seek the Cincinnati Medical Col- lege, from which he graduated in March, 1873, and came back to Brooks- ton, where he has ever since been engaged in successful practice. Janu- ary 1, 1876, he married Miss Alice, daughter of James C. and Clarinda Gress. Mrs. Mendenhall became the mother of two children-Nella and C. Alice-and died July 21, 1878.

F. P. MILLS was born in York State, and is a son of Henry Mills. His early life was passed in Ohio, where he was educated at Hudson Col- lege, fourteen miles from Cleveland, and where, also, he married Miss Mary, a daughter of Christian Weltz, and a native of Ohio, who died in 1868, the mother of two children-Francis (now Superintendent of the Youngstown Iron Mining Company) and Mary. He next married Miss Sarah J., daughter of John Hay. This lady has borne him four children, viz., George H., Henry H., John HI. and William H. Mr. Mills was engaged for twenty-two years in mining in the upper portion of the Michigan peninsula, chiefly handling magnetic ores. He was Superin- tendent for the Cleveland Iron Mining Company, and had at first about 100 men under his supervision; but the business so increased that he eventually had over 800 men under his management. While thus engaged, he accumulated what is probably the largest and most valuable collection of specimens of iron and other metals held by any private individual out- side of the large cities. In the fall of 1879, he came to his present farm of 500 acres, which is improved with a fine frame dwelling and all other needed buildings, and ornamented with five miles of hedges.

K. J. MILLS was born in the State of New York, and is the young- est of the eleven children born to Henry and Maria (Purdy) Mills, also

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natives of New York. K. J. Mills was but four years of age when he was removed by his parents to Ohio, in which State his father died; in that State, also, Mr. Mills married Miss Caroline, daughter of Samuel Henline, a farmer, stock-dealer and pioneer of Ohio. For two years after his marriage, Mr. Mills farmed on rented land, and then bought 100 acres, which he occupied six years; then came to this township in 1860, where he now owns an interest in and controls 500 acres. He rears about fifty head of cattle, fifty head of hogs and about fifteen horses per annum, and from 1,200 to 1,500 bushels of wheat. Since coming to this county, his mother has died, and his family now consists of himself and wife and seven children, viz., Mary, Samuel, Caroline, David, Lucretia, Loretta and John. Two other children-Susan and Alice-are deceased.

J. C. MOORE was born in Harrison County, Ky., July 8, 1814, and is the son of James H. and Mary (Campbell) Moore, natives respect- ively of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and pioneers of Wayne County, Ind., in about 1818; in 1832, they came to this township. J. C. Moore being naturally a mechanical genius, his services were always in demand during his early manhood. He assisted in erecting the second building in Monticello, and also in putting up the first court house. His neighbors, far and near, would come to the home farm and fill his place at the plow or at other work, while he did their repairing or made new implements. He thus followed farming and mechanics for fifteen years, but now devotes his exclusive time to inventions. He first invented a hay and straw stacker, then a lifting machine for loading and unloading cars and vessels ; a steam ditcher and grader, and many other useful machines. January 25, 1837, he married, in Tippecanoe County, Miss Elizabeth Fierce, who died in 1866, the mother of ten children-Martha J., Nancy E., Eliza- beth F., Mary A. (deceased), Maria E., William R., Harriet L., John W., Rhodie, and James C. (deceased). In 1869, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Hughes, a native of Darke County, Ohio, who has borne him two chil- dren-Edgar C. and Eva K. Mr. Moore is the owner of 1,000 acres of land, of which 460 are in this county and the balance in Missouri.

J. H. MOORE is a native of Henry County, Ind., and is a son of Philip and Julia A. Moore, natives of North Carolina, and pioneers of Henry County, where they died. J. H. Moore was married, December 22, 1861, to Miss Emily L. Lamb, a native of Wayne County, Ind., and daughter of Thomas Lamb, a farmer. For two years after marriage, Mr. Moore lived on rented land, then purchased eighty acres in Howard County, Ind., which he farmed a year ; then, in 1865, came to his present place in this township, which he purchased in partnership with his brother, Miles M. Moore, and which then comprised 265 acres; it was later increased to 365 acres, and in 1874 Mr. Moore bought out his

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brother's interest. He handles from twenty to thirty head of cattle a year, seventy-five to 100 hogs, forty to fifty sheep, and about twelve horses. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the United Brethren Church, and are the parents of two children-Mary L. and Hattie E.

JERRY MURPHY is a native of Ireland, and is the son of Dennis and Mary Murphy, who came to America when Jerry was about eight years old, and settled in Delaware about 1853, in which State the father died; the mother died in this State. Jerry became a resident of In- diana in 1854. In 1862, he bought eighty acres of his present farm, and in 1866 he was married, in Tippecanoe County, to Miss Harrietta McIntyre, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Benjamin MeIntyre, who was in early life a physician, but who later cleared up a farm in Tippecanoe County, where he died in 1854. Immediately after mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. M. moved upon his farm in Section 18, this town- ship, which he has increased to 300 acres. He raises about 2,500 bushels of corn per year, 700 to 800 bushels of wheat, some oats, seventy-five tons of hay, about seventy-five head of cattle, seventy-five to eighty hogs, and about thirteen horses. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and an Odd Fellow, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Their three children are named Hattie M. O., Charles D. and Edward.

JOHN PARRISH is a native of Ross County, Ohio, and the son of Henry and Eliza (Harvey) Parrish, who were pioneers of Tippecanoe County, Ind., having settled there in 1831, when John was in his fourth year. There the latter was reared to farming, and received his educa- tion, and there he was married to Miss Rebecca Godman, daughter of Richard Godman, farmer. In the spring of 1851, Mr. Parrish came to this township and engaged in farming, and at present owns 400 acres, all prairie, with the exception of fifteen acres; he owns, besides, the largest steam elevator in Brookston, and buys all kinds of grain at the highest market price; he has a neat office connected with a wagon scale and a steam corn sheller in the elevator, and, in addition to his grain business, acts as agent for the sale of agricultural implements. Mr. Parrish has served the county as Commissioner for six years, and has given satisfac- tion to all parties. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they have two children living-Martha J. and Elizabeth.

A. L. PATTERSON was born in Kentucky December 19, 1815, and is the son of Thomas and Lucy (DeWitt) Patterson, of Irish and French descent. They were among the pioneers of Cass County, Ind., in 1833, and there they died. Until twenty years old, A. L. Patterson assisted on his father's farm and attended school, and then began learn- ing the millwright's trade, working in the summer and teaching in the winter for five years. November 26, 1840, in Tippecanoe County, he 17

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married Mrs. Clementine Harvey, a native of Virginia ; he served in the State Legislature two terms, 1849, 1850 and 1851, and was engaged in farming in Tippecanoe until 1866, when he came to Brookston and fol- lowed his trade ; farmed and conducted a nursery in a small way, and in the spring of 1882 was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he still holds ; he has also been a Notary Public of Prairie Township for four- teen years; he had also served as Justice of the Peace in Tippecanoe County, as Township Trustee and Treasurer of the Board. His first wife having died, he was married, in 1850, to Mrs. Elizabeth Layne. This lady also died, and January 23, 1873, he married Mrs. Mary French. There were born to him, by his first wife, four children-Lucy J., Nancy A., William and Morinsa ; his second wife had no children; his present wife has borne him two-Mattie A. and Minnie A. He is the owner of two good town lots, on one of which is his very pleasant residence.

S. H. POWELL is a native of Kentucky, and is the son of Thomas S. Powell, a farmer (now deceased), and to farming S. H. Powell was also reared. In 1854, he came to this township and farmed until 1867, when he opened his present general store in Brookston, where he has a pleasant central location, and carries a stock valued at between $4,000 and $5,000. September 9, 1852, he married, in Tippecanoe County, Ind., Miss Dorcas A. Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Powell are both members of the Baptist Church, and their only living child, Ellen, makes her home with her parents.

JOHN PRICE (deceased) was born in Fayette County, Ohio, Febru- ary 13, 1810, and was the only son in a family of seven children born to John and Sarah (Smalley) Price, natives of Pennsylvania and of English descent. John Price, Sr., was employed at his trade of blacksmith in the army during the war of 1812, he being an enlisted man. He was married in Pennsylvania, and soon after removed to Fayette County, Ohio, where he died. John Price, Jr., lost his parents when he was but a mere lad, and from the age of ten until twenty his home was among strangers. He was married, December 24, 1829, to Susanna Kent, who was born near Dayton, Ohio, May 31, 1814. Her parents were James and Cathe- rine (Hawk) Kent, who were natives of New Jersey, and of English and Irish descent. In 1835, Mr. Price and family, accompanied by James Kent and family, came to this township, where he remained a year and then moved to Jasper County, where the Indians were about his only neighbors. These savages became so troublesome that, at the end of two years, Mr. Price abandoned his claim and came back to White County and entered about 1,200 acres in Prairie and Big Creek Townships. This land he improved and resided upon until his death, January 12, 1852.

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When Mr. Price came to this county, his possessions consisted of a team of horses, a wagon he had himself made, and 25 cents in cash, but by in- dustry and good management he acquired a comfortable fortune. His widow is still living with a daughter on part of the old homestead.

OSCAR K. RAINIER was born in Randolph County, Ind., Feb- ruary 28, 1850, and is the second of the three children born to John F. and Virinda (Neal) Rainier. He was fairly educated when young, and worked on the home farm until twenty years of age, when he and a brother bought a farm of eighty acres in this township, which, with other lands he rented, he farmed for two years. He then sold his interest and purchased his present farm on Section 2, on which he has recently erected one of the best residences in the township. He was married, April 4, 1872, to Rachel R. Price, a native of White County, and daughter of John and Susanna (Kent) Price, and to this union have been born three children-John F., Scott C. and Susanna M. Mr. Rainer is a Demo- crat in politics, and is looked upon as an enterprising and rising young farmer.

WILSON SHIGLEY was born in Greene County, Ohio, June 22, 1823, and is the third of the ten children of John and Annie Shigley, natives respectively of Virginia and Ohio. In 1826, the family came to Tippecanoe County, this State, and there Wilson was reared on the home farm, caring for his parents in their age and remaining with them until their death. He was married, in this county, to Lucy E. Steward, daughter of Hiram Steward, a farmer ; for two years kept house in the village of Chauncy, and then moved upon his present farm of 180 acres in 1865 ; he has put forty acres under cultivation, and chiefly raises corn. He keeps from eight to ten horses and from twenty to thirty hogs. His children are three in number, and are named Henry M., Myrtle and Nellie M.

T. W. SLEETH was born in Greene County, Ohio, and is the son of Alvin and Eliza (Forker) Sleeth, who came to White County in 1841. Here the father died in 1846; the mother still survives him. T. W. Sleeth was but one year of age when brought to this county, and here he has lived ever since on Section 29. The homestead comprises 200 acres, belonging to Mr. Sleeth, his mother and brother, but outside of his in- heritance he owns forty acres ; he deals in cattle and hogs, and is engaged in general farming. In 1874, he married Miss Susanna J. Barr, daugh- ter of Cyrus and Margaret Barr, natives of Ohio, who came here in 1830. In June, 1876, Mrs. Sleeth died, and Mr. S. remains a widower. Mr. Sleeth answered to his country's call during the late war, and for three years served in Company A, Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry.

W. H. SLEETH was born in this township May 20, 1843, and is

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a son of Alvin and Eliza A. Sleeth. He was reared a farmer, and was educated at the district schools. He was married, in Mahaska County, Iowa, to Miss Mary M. Barr, a daughter of Alfred Barr, and a native of this township. Her grandfather was one of the pioneers of the county, and donated the land on which the county seat is located. For three years, Mr. and Mrs. Sleeth lived in Mahaska County, Iowa, but since then have resided on their homestead on Section 24, this township. They are the parents of two children-Charlie M. and Laura M. In 1862, Mr. Sleeth enlisted in Company D, Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served principally under Sherman and Logan. At the battle of Richmond, Ky., he was taken prisoner, but was paroled three days later and was soon exchanged. He took part in the siege of Vicks- burg, the fight at Jackson, Miss., at Mission Ridge, the siege of Knox- ville, Tenn., and the battle of Resaca, where he was wounded. He lay in the hospital thirteen months, and was honorably discharged July 7, 1865.

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Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical, Part 27

Author: F.A. Battey & Co; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, F.A. Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 796

Author: F.A. Battey & Co; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, F.A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 796