USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 28
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 28
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BENTON THOMPSON is a native of Hancock County, Ill., and is the fifth of the eight children born to Alman and Isabella Thompson. The father was a physician, but resided on a farm, which was conducted by his sons. On this farm, Benton labored until he reached manhood, attending to his education in the meantime. For several terms, he taught school, and in 1874 began clerking in the drug store of George Patton, at Brookston. In April, 1875, Mr. Patton sold and Mr. Thompson remained with the purchasers. In September, 1875, Mr. Patton bought back, and the firm of Patton & Thompson was established, and was con- tinued until April, 1879, when a sale of the stock was made, Mr. Thomp- son remaining as clerk for the purchasers. July 8, 1881, Mr. Thompson became sole proprietor of the establishment, and he now carries a stock valued at over $2,500, and is doing a lucrative trade, his location being a desirable one for business, and his reputation as a druggist and gentle- man an enviable one.
ISAAC WILSON was a native of Indiana, and was born in 1831. His father, Isaac Wilson, Sr., was a native of Virginia, and was one of the pioneers of this State. Our subject was reared to farming, and was educated at the frontier school of his early day. In 1860, in Iowa, he married Miss Catherine Maxwell, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of James and Sarah Maxwell, who were farming people and early settlers of Ohio. In 1833, they came to Indiana, and afterward moved to Iowa, where they ended their lives. January 17, 1880, our subject departed this life, at his home in this township, on Section 17. His widow still resides on the farm, which is one of the finest in the township. It com- prises 300 acres, is well cultivated, and is adorned with two and one-half
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miles of hedge. Mrs. Wilson has borne her husband seven children- Anna, William (deceased), James (deceased), Herbert, Charles, Rose and Harry.
HONEY CREEK TOWNSHIP.
JOHN A. BATSON was born in Berrien County, Mich., August 31, 1842. He came to White County in 1875, and engaged in the drug business at Reynolds until September, 1882, when he sold out to John Brucker. During this time, he spent his leisure hours in the study of law, and was admitted to the bar of White County in November, 1878, since when he has been engaged in practice. Ilis preparatory course was gained through self-instruction, he having begun with Webster's Elementary Spelling Book, and advancing to Arnold's Latin Dictionary; the fixed sciences received due attention, and he also became a proficient in music, for seven years giving lessons on the piano and organ. Septem- ber 13, 1872, he was married to Marion H. Beam, a native of Michigan, and daughter of John Q. Beam, now one of the Commissioners of White County, and to this union one son and one daughter have been born. In politics, Mr. Batson is independent, but was formerly identified with the Republican party, and for over three years was Postmaster at Reynolds. He is at present Clerk of the Board of Town Trustees, and also a mem- ber of Niles Commandery, K. T., No. 12, of Niles, Mich.
JOHN Q. BEAM was born in Frederick County, Md., August 6, 1824, and is the seventh of the ten children born to John and Nancy (Zimmerman) Beam, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Maryland. John Beam, who was born in 1787, came with his parents to the United States when he was but eight years of age, settled in Mary- land, there learned the miller's trade, and there married, and in 1832 moved to what is now Wyandot County, Ohio, where he followed his trade until the spring of 1853, when he moved to St. Joseph County, Mich .. where he died in June, 1856. John Q. Beam was reared a miller, but at the age of fifteen began working by the month at farm labor, which he continued in Ohio and Michigan until 1847, when he went to work in a distillery at Flowerfield, St. Joseph County, Mich., in 1854, became a partner, and sole proprietor in 1861. In 1849, he bought a farm in Kalamazoo County, Mich., and in connection with his stilling conducted farming until 1862 or 1863. From 1863 to 1874, he devoted his entire attention to farming and stock-shipping, and in the last named year came to Reynolds and bought the flouring mill, which is now doing an excellent business. July 2, 1847, he married Hannah M. Wheeler, a native of
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Hartford, Conn., who has borne him one daughter-Marion H., now Mrs. John A. Batson. Mr. Beam served as Highway Commissioner for six years in St. Joseph County, Mich., and was also elected Justice of the Peace, but refused to qualify ; in 1880, he was elected one of the Com- missioners of this county, which office he still holds. At present he is identified with the National Greenback party.
ISAAC BEASEY, JR., was born in Bartholomew County, Ind., Jan- uary 19, 1827, and is the sixth of the sixteen children born to Isaac and Nancy (Penny) Beasey, natives respectively of the Eastern shore of Maryland and of Johnson County, Ohio. Isaac Beasey, Sr., was mar- ried in Johnson County, Ohio, where he farmed in shares several years ; in about 1824, he moved to Bartholomew County, and in the fall of 1837 came to Big Creek Township, this county, where he entered eighty acres, and also eighty acres in this township; in 1852, he moved to Monticello, and engaged in teaming for about five years. He then bought a farm lying partly in White and partly in Pulaski County, where, on the morning of April 15, 1869, as he was driving from his pasture some of a neighbor's trespassing cat- tle, he was shot dead by their owner, Philip Reeder, who was sentenced to the penitentiary for life for the crime. Mrs. Beasey died in White County in 1853. Isaac Beasey remained on the home farm until twenty-two years of age ; then farmed on shares in Big Creek Township, this county, about six years, and then came to this township and farmed on the same terms five years. In the fall of 1864, he bought forty acres in Honey Creek, on which he still resides. July 2, 1861, he married Mary J. Reeves, a native of Carroll County, Ind., who has borne him five children-Samuel M. and Catherine M. Mrs. Beasey died October 10, 1880, a strict member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church ; Mr. Beasey is also a member of the same, and in politics is a Democrat.
JOHN BRUCKER was born in Wittenburg, Germany, November 23, 1850, and is the second of the seven children born to Jacob F. and Caroline (Keller) Brucker. The father was a wagon-maker, and in the spring of 1853 brought his family to the United States, settling first in Logan, Hocking County, Ohio, where he followed his trade until 1866, when he came to La Fayette, Tippecanoe County, Ind., where he remained one year. In 1867, he came to Reynolds, this township, where he pur- sued his calling until 1873, when he engaged in the lumber business. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. John Brucker re- ceived a very fair education in his youth, and was then taught wagon- making, which trade he followed until twenty-four years old, when he opened a blacksmith shop at Reynolds, and conducted it for eight years.
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He next bought a drug store at the same place, which he still carries on with eminent success. November 24, 1873, he married Rebecca Ridge- way, a native of Virginia, who has borne him three children. In politics, Mr. Brucker is a Democrat, and for two years was Township Trustee, three years Treasurer of the School Board at Reynolds, and is now a member of the Board of Town Trustees.
NATHANIEL BUNNELL, JR., was born in Ross County, Ohio, December 27, 1805, and is the fourth of the twelve children born to Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Donaven) Bunnell, natives respectively of New Jersey and Kentucky. Nathaniel, Sr., was born in June, 1778, went to Keutucky at the age of ten, and was there reared and there married. When a young man, he and others navigated a pirogue of goods from from Marysville to Chillicothe, which was the first boat load of mer- chandise ever landed at that point. About 1800, he moved from Ken- tucky to Highland County, Ohio, then to Ross County, then to Warren County, then to Clark County, Ohio, and next, in the fall of 1833, to Big Creek Township, this county, and here he died in 1850. He had been a soldier in the war of 1812 ; was a life-long member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and for many years an exhorter. Nathaniel Bunnell, Jr., received only a frontier education, and was employed on the home farm until his majority ; he then worked out for about five years, then farmed his father's place on shares several years, and in 1833 came to Big Creek Township, and entered 160 acres, which he increased to 600, a part of which he subsequently deeded to his children, retaining 360 acres. In 1867, he relinquished work, and came to Rey- nolds, where he resides in retirement. December 29, 1831, he married Susanna Runnyon, a native of Clark County, Ohio, who bore him ten chil- dren, all of whom are living, excepting Nathaniel W., who fell at Gettys- burg, leaving a widow and three children. Mrs. Susanna Bunnell died in June, 1873, an active member, from girlhood, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. August 25, 1875, Mr. Bunnell married Mrs. Mary A. (Bartlett- Buchanan) McNealey, a native of Kentucky. Mr. B. was once Trustee of Big Creek Township; he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church over fifty-one years, had four sons in the late war, is a Repub- lican and a zealous temperance man.
B. BUNNELL was born in Ross County, Ohio, April 2, 1807, and is the fifth of the twelve children born to Nathaniel and Eliza- beth (Donaven) Bunnell. He was an infant when his parents moved to Warren County, Ohio, and in April, 1816, they moved to Clark County, where he was employed on the home farm until he was twenty-one, after which he worked out until October 1, 1834, when he came to Big Creek Township, this county, and bought 160 acres of wild land, on which he
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built a hewed-log house, and there worked out a farm, which he increased to 335 acres, a part of which he has since conveyed to his children. He was married, August 16, 1832, to Sophia Bumgardener, daughter of Andrew and Felicia (Lynch) Bumgardener, natives of Virginia, and of German and English descent. She was born in Spring Valley, Ohio, August 23, 1810, and died in this township January 23, 1883, a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the mother of eight children, of whom four are still living ; of these, one son-George W .- was a soldier in the late war for over three years. Mr. and Mrs. Bunnell were among the ten members who formed the first Methodist Episcopal Church ever organized in White County, near Big Creek, in the township of that name, in 1834, under the Rev. Mr. Clark. Mr. Bunnell is a Republican, and is one of the oldest surviving pioneers of the county.
A. R. BUNNELL was born in Clark County, Ohio, October 16, 1832, and is the eldest of ten children born to Nathaniel (Jr.) and Susanna (Runnyon) Bunnell. He received the rudiments of an education at the frontier schoolhouse, and, by subsequent study, improved it to more than the ordinary limits. At the age of twenty-one, after leaving the home farm, he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he was engaged, as jour- neyman, from the spring until the fall of 1856, in Minnesota, when he , returned to Indiana and cast his first vote for Fremont. In the spring of 1857, he went to St. Joseph, Mo., where he worked at his trade two years, and then for two years was employed in flat-boating on the Mis- souri River. In the fall of 1861, he returned to Indiana, and farmed his father's place on shares until February, 1864, when he enlisted in Com- pany F, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. During the Atlanta campaign he was taken prisoner, August 16, 1864, and was confined in the pens of Andersonville, Savannah, Wilbern, Black- shire, Florence and Libby. From the last prison, he was exchanged in the spring of 1865, and was mustered out of the service June 9 following. He again farmed his father's place on shares until the spring of 1868, when he bought the farm of 110 acres in this township on which he still resides. December 25, 1862, he married Susan M. Rinker, daughter of Joshua and Louisa (Reece) Rinker, and a native of White County. The children born to this marriage are Clark, Frank, Cora and Ora. Mr. Bunnell has been a Justice of the Peace for the past three years, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church ..
ROBERT M. DELZELL, M. D., was born in Blount County, Tenn., November 8, 1843, and is the eldest of the eight children born to Will- iam and Mary J. (McTeer) Delzell, both natives of Tennessee, and of Irish and Scotch descent. In about 1750, three brothers and a sister-John, Robert, James and Rosanna Delzell-came to America, two brothers set-
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tling in Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively, and Rosanna and her brother John in Tennessee, where she married Henry Ferguson, and from these brothers it is thought all the Delzells in the United States are descended. William Delzell followed tanning in Tennessee till 1851, when he moved to Crawford County, Ill., entered 120 acres of land, and there remained until his death, October 9, 1861. Robert M. Delzell re- ceived a good academical and collegiate education, and at the age of twenty began to make his own way through the world. In October, 1864, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, and was mustered out at Indianapolis July 14, 1865. In July, 1866, he came to Monti- cello, this county, and commenced the study of medicine with Dr. W. S. Haymond. He pursued his studies and taught school alternately until March, 1869, when he settled in Reynolds and began practice, of which he has now an extensive share. December 30, 1869, he married Mary E. Bristow, a native of Parke County, Ind., who has borne him two chil- dren-Anna L. and Mary E. The Doctor is a Democrat ; was for six years Township Trustee ; has for several years been Secretary of the School Board of Reynolds, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
ANSEL M. DICKINSON.was born in West Fairlee, Vt., January 24, 1815, and is the third of the four children born to Ira and Dollie W. (Fairbanks) Dickinson, both natives of Massachusetts, and of English descent. Ira Dickinson was married in his native State, and soon after removed to Orange County, Vt., and for several years was engaged in rearing sheep. In 1817, he returned to Massachusetts, and died in Hampshire County, a member of the Masonic fraternity. Ansel Dick- inson, when but eighteen months old, lost his mother, and until the age of seventeen years was reared among strangers. He then learned broom- making, and followed the trade in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Illi- nois, Iowa and Indiana for more than thirty years. In the fall of 1843, he came to Pittsburgh, Carroll County, this State, and, in the spring fol- lowing, to this county, where for a number of years he worked at his trade and farmed on shares. In the spring of 1849, he bought the farm of 128 acres in this township, where he yet lives. January 28, 1851, he married Martha Harris, of Illinois, who bore him five children, and died November 2, 1874. Mr. Dickinson is a Republican, and under the old Constitution was Trustee of the township one term ; he likewise served as County Commissioner three terms-from 1860 to 1869. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity.
JEREMIAH E. DUNHAM was born in Logansport, Cass County, Ind., January 16, 1840, and is one of the ten children born to Enoch and Leonora B. (Selover) Dunham, both natives of Long Branch, N. J.
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Enoch Dunham was a physician, and soon after his marriage in Long Branch moved to Ohio, and a short time after to Logansport, where he followed his profession until his death in 1868. Jeremiah E. Dunham, at the age of sixteen, began teaching school at Logansport; from 1861 to 1865, he was agent for the T., P. & W. R. R., at Burnettsville, this county ; April 14, 1865, he moved to Reynolds, and read law under R. W. Sill for three years, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1868 ; in 1869, he took charge of the school at Reynolds, and taught four and a half years ; one year and a half before leaving the school he started the White County Register, teaching during the day and setting type at night ; in October, 1879, he opened a grocery store, and has been doing a good business ever since; September 4, 1879, he married Mrs. Mary B. (Brady) Arrick, a native of this county, who has borne him one daugh- ter-Leonora E. She is also the mother of four children by her former husband. In politics, Mr. Dunham is a Republican ; was Clerk of the Board of Trustees for many years and is now Treasurer of said board.
GABRIEL EBERHARD was born in Union County, Penn., May 28, 1815, and is the third of the fourteen children born to Barnet and Susanna (Henry) Eberhard, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German de- scent. Barnet Eberhard in early years was a hatter, but later became a cooper, which trade he ran in connection with farming in Mifflin County, Penn., where he still lives. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 ; was married in his native State, and is a member of the Lutheran Church. Gabriel Eberhard lived with his parents until twenty-one, learning farm- ing and coopering ; he then farmed on shares in Mifflin County for five years, when he bought a saw mill, which he ran until 1852 ; he then sold and moved to Huntingdon County ; a year later, he returned to Mifflin County and bought a farm, and engaged in making shingles in connection with farming, until December, 1856, when he came to Union Township, this county, bought forty acres of land which, in the spring of 1869, he sold, and came to this township and purchased the eighty acres on which he now resides. August 28, 1836, he married Anna M. Knepp, of Union County, Penn., who bore him five children, and died April 7, 1846, a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. October 15, 1853, he married Mrs. Catherine (Yeter) Knepp, a native of Germany, and to this union have been left four children. Both Mr. and Mrs. Eberhard are members of the German Baptist Church, and in politics he is a Dem- ocrat.
ROBISON FLEEGER was born in Juniata County, Penn., Decem- ber 7, 1829, and is the eldest of the five living children of Michael and Elizabeth (McCrum) Fleeger, the former a native of South Carolina, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Michael Fleeger was born in 1795, and is
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now probably the oldest man in White County. He is a tailor, and was married in Juniata County, Penn. ; he came to Princeton Township, this county, in 1852, and worked at his trade until 1879, and then retired to private life. He served through the war of 1812, and is the only pen- sioner of that war in the county. His wife died in the fall of 1863, a member of the Presbyterian Church. Robison Fleeger, from the age of twelve to twenty, worked out on a farm and then chopped wood, at 40 cents per cord, for three years, in his native State ; then farmed on shares for two years. In October, 1854, he came to Princeton Township, this county ; bought 120 acres of unimproved land, and wrought out a farm, which he still owns. He did a great deal of hunting and trapping, gen- erally clearing from $400 to $500 during the winter, and he has also been quite extensively engaged in bee culture, and has amassed a hand- some property, although he lost $6,000 a few years ago by becoming surety for a neighbor. October 14, 1851, he married Isabella Logue, a native Canada, who has borne him five children, three of whom are still living. In April, 1881, Mr. Fleeger came to Reynolds, where he is now engaged in the grain and coal trade and in the sale of agricultural im- plements. In politics. he is a Republican, and for three terms he served as Trustee of Princeton Township, and is at present Trustee of Honey Creek.
JOHN HAGEN, was born in Germany January 1, 1830, and is the youngest of three children born to John and Margaret (Holte) Hagen. John Hagen, Sr., was a sawyer in the old country ; in 1859, he came to America and resided with our subject until his death, April 16, 1860. John Hagen, Jr., was employed at farming in Germany un- til July, 1854, when he and wife came to America, locating first at Bradford, or Monon, this county, afterward moving to Reynolds. For the first two years he was employed as a laborer on the N. A. R. R., and for the following fifteen years as foreman. In 1870, he bought eighty acres of wild land in this township, to which he has since added forty acres and put all in a good state of cultivation. June 7, 1854, he mar- ried Sophia Schrader, a native of Germany, who has borne him nine chil- dren, of whom four are yet living-Ernestine J., Eliza M., Emma L. and Amelia H. In politics, Mr. Hagen is a Democrat, and both he and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.
GOTTFRIED HEIMLICH was born in Germany January 27, 1825, and is the younger of the two children still living born to Gottlieb and Susanna Heimlich. The father was a farmer and died in his native Germany in 1829, a member of the Lutheran Church. Gottfried Heim- lich attended school from the age of six until fourteen, and then worked on the home place until twenty-one; he then, for four years, served in
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the Prussian Army, taking part in the civil war in Baden and Southern Germany. In the early part of 1852, he came to the United States ; stopped at Milwaukee two months, then went to Wanatah, Ind., and thence came to Reynolds in June of the same year, and worked on the N. A. & S. R. R. two years, and two years on the P., C. & St. L. R. R. In January, 1865, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until mustered out in the fall of same year. In 1856, he bought forty acres of wild land in Big Creek Township, which he has since increased to 225 well-improved acres, extending into Section 33, this township, where his residence now stands. In the fall of 1853, he married Rosa Langner, a native of Ger- many, who bore him two children (both now deceased), and died in 1855, a member of the Lutheran Church. In October, 1856, he married Polly Quada, a native of Posen, Germany, who bore him twelve children, and died in April, 1879, a member of the Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Heimlich is also a member. Of these twelve children, eight are yet living.
CHARLES HEIMLICH & BRO., at Reynolds, are doing a good business in the manufacture of wagons, at blacksmithing and in the selling of agricultural implements of all kinds. The firm is composed of Charles F. and John Heimlich, sons of Gottfried and Polly (Quada) Heimlich, natives of Germany. Charles Heimlich was born in Honey Creek Township February 16, 1859 ; received a very fair education at the common schools, and was employed on his father's farm until twenty years old ; he then served an apprenticeship of three years at black- smithing and wagon-making. In 1882, he and his brother John bought out John Brucker at Reynolds, and are now doing a prosperous business. John Heimlich, the junior member of the firm, was born also in Honey Creek December 27, 1861; received a fair education, and is now learning his trade under the tuition of his brother. Both the brothers are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church, and in politics both are Democrats.
CAPT. JAMES HESS was born in Findlay, Ohio, February 10, 1839, and is the fourth of the ten children born to John and Elizabeth D. (Sanderson) Hess, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Vermont, and of Welsh and English descent. John Hess was a brick mason ; he was married in Huron County, Ohio, and in 1834 moved to Hancock County ; in 1852, he removed to Branch County, Mich., and in 1856 came to Big Creek Township, this county, and in the following year to this township, where he died January 1, 1873. James Hess never at- tended school, even for one day, but since his majority has acquired a sound knowledge of practical affairs ; he learned the mason's trade from his father, and at the age of twenty-two, in April, 1861, enlisted in Com-
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pany K, Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served a term of three months. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Forty-sixth In- diana Volunteer Infantry, and served until December, 1864, when he was mustered out at Lexington, Ky., having been promoted through all the intermediate grades to a Captaincy, receiving his commission September 12, 1863, as Captain of Company G, Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer In- fantry. He took part in the battles of Rich Mountain, New Madrid, St. Charles, Ark., Fort Pemberton, Grand Gulf, the Vicksburg campaign and the expedition up the Red River under Gen. Banks, and he it was who planted the first Federal flag on the ramparts of Fort Pillow. In the fall of 1874, he settled on seventy-four acres in this township. He was married, February 21, 1866, to Lottie E. Lawson, a native of Sweden, who has borne him three children-Lena, Mary D. and Clarrie W. Capt. Hess is a Freemason, and in politics, a Democrat.
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