USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 29
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 29
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ABEL J. HOLTAM was born in Gloucestershire, England, June 6, 1826, and is the eldest of the four children born to Joseph and Sarah (Harris) Holtam. Joseph Holtam, a baker and grocer, came with his family to America in 1844, and settled in Albany, N. Y., where he car- ried on a grocery three or four years and then came to Reynolds, this township, where he opened a grocery and bakery in connection with a saloon, which he conducted until his death in May, 1880. He was a member of the church of England, and had prospered well in life, own- ing, at the time of his death, a good farm and valuable town property. Abel J. Holtam was taught the baker's trade, which he followed for sev- eral years in England and in America. In 1848, he located in La Porte, Ind., and followed the grocery and baking business until 1856, when he came to Reynolds and engaged in the same business. In 1859, he abandoned baking and added a saloon to his grocery, which he ran until May, 1882, when he withdrew into retirement. Mr. Holtam was first married to Sarah Gerver, a native of the North of Ireland, who died Feb- ruary 20, 1870. April 17, 1870, he married, Pauline Schwantes, a native of Prussia, who has borne him one son-Joseph William. In politics, Mr. Holtam is a Democrat ; he is a member of the Church of England, and his wife of the Lutheran Church.
WINFIELD S. JOHNSON was born in Princeton Township, this county, September 17, 1847, and is the eldest of the five living children of Robert C. and Mary (White) Johnson, natives of Ohio. At the age of seventeen or eighteen, Robert Johnson was brought by his parents to Tippecanoe County, this State; he was there married in 1842, and the following year came to Princeton Township, where he entered eighty acres, which he subsequently increased to 600; in 1866, he moved to Battle Ground to have his children educated, and returned in 1870; he
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had joined the Methodist Church when a youth, but shortly after mar- riage he and wife united with the Christian Church, of which, in about 1846, he became a regularly ordained minister, and was the first resident minister in Princeton Township, and the first to organize a religious society there; he traveled extensively and preached until his death in December, 1876. In politics, he had been a Whig, but afterward became a Republican, and was noted for his zeal in the support of the adminis- tration during the late war; he was also for several years Justice of the Peace in Princeton Township. Winfield S. Johnson was educated at the common schools, and for four years at the high school at Battle Ground. He then engaged in farming and stock-raising with his father until the spring of 1879, when he came to Reynolds and opened a general store in company with W. A. Hennegar, who retired in October, 1881, Mr. John B. Foltz taking his place in March, 1882, the firm name being Johnson & Co. They carry a well-selected stock of dry goods, groceries, clothing, hats, caps, boots and shoes, notions, etc., and do an annual busi- ness of $20,000. Mr. Johnson was married, October 12, 1871, to Louisa A. R. Osman, native of La Porte County, Ind. In politics, he is a Re- publican, and in November, 1881, was appointed Postmaster of Reynolds, which position he still holds.
M. NEIDENBERGER & SON, hardware dealers of Reynolds, carry a large and well-selected stock, valued at from $2,000 to $2,500, their annual sales reaching $7,000 to $8,000. They also do a large tin manu- facturing business. They began trade in 1879, having purchased the stock of goods then held by James Eads. Mathias Neidenberger, senior member of the firm, was born in Bavaria March 26, 1814; he was brought up to the tailor's trade, and in 1831 came to the United States, settling in New York City, where he worked at his trade for about two years; he then went to St. Louis, where he worked about fifteen years ; thence he went to Collinsville, Ill., and in 1879 came to Reynolds and engaged in the hardware trade and the manufacture of tinware. He was married, in St. Louis, to Christina Bechtoldt, a native of Baden, Ger- many, who bore him ten children. Christian G. Neidenberger, the junior partner of the firm, was the seventh child in this family of ten, and was born in Collinsville, Ill., February 1, 1857, and at the age of seventeen began to learn the tinner's trade, which he has followed ever since, and is universally acknowledged to be a skillful workman. The elder Mr. Neidenberger is a member of the Lutheran Church.
PARIS NORDYKE was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., July 21, 1838, and is the youngest of the six children born to Robert and Eliza- beth (Shaw) Nordyke, both natives of North Carolina and of English descent. Robert Nordyke, a farmer, was married in North Carolina and
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came to Tippecanoe County about 1825, being among the pioneers ; in 1846, he moved to Princeton Township, this county, and settled on 400 acres of land he had entered about two years previously, cleared up a farm, and there died in 1847, a member of the Society of Friends ; after her husband's death, his widow withdrew from the Quaker faith and joined the Methodist Church. Paris Nordyke, at the age of twenty-one, left the home farm and worked out by the month until July, 1861, when he enlisted in Company K, Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until after the battle of the Wilderness, where he was severely wounded ; he was then sent to Indianapolis, where he was clerk in the office of Gen. J. S. Simonson until May, 1865, when he was discharged. On his return, he bought out a store in Wolcott, this county, and carried on a general trade for one year, and then moved to Reynolds, where he clerked until the spring of 1870; then he went to State Line and was employed in a railroad office a year, and in 1871 returned to Reynolds, where he has ever since been engaged in the lumber trade. April 26, 1868, he married Sarah E. Jewett, a native of Miami County, Ind., who has borne him three children, two yet living -- Gertie E. and Earl J. Mr. Nordyke is a Freemason. In polities, he is a Republican, and has been for several years a member of the School Board at Reynolds.
LIEUT. JUDSON S. PAUL was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, September 1, 1838, and is the sixth of the seven children born to Jacob and Elizabeth (Harding) Paul, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and respectively of Welsh and English descent. At the age of five, in 1807, Jacob Paul was taken to Morgan County, Ohio, by his parents, and was there reared, educated and married, and for many years followed farming. Subsequently, he came to White County, and purchased prop- erty in the village of Bradford or Monon, where Mrs. Elizabeth Paul died, a member of the Baptist Church, and since then Mr. Paul has re- sided with his children, at present making his home with Judson S. The latter received a good education in the common and high schools of his native State, and worked with his father on the farm until 1861, when he entered Miller's Academy, in Guernsey County, Ohio, and interrupted his studies there in August, 1862. by enlisting in Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry. At the organization of this company, he was elected Second Lieutenant, and he was with his regiment in all its engagements until June 15, 1863, when he was taken prisoner at Winchester, Va., and sent to Libby Prison ; thenee to Macon, Ga .; thence to Charleston (where for a time the pris- oners were placed under the fire of the Federal fleet, then shelling the city), and thenee to Camp Sorghum, near Columbia, S. C., from which prison Mr. Paul and others made their escape November 15, 1864, and
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by nocturnal and secret travel made their way to a point about 200 miles north in Cherokee County, where they were re-captured by Thom- as's legion of Indians, taken to Greenville, S. C., and placed in jail, from which they were released by the jailer's daughter, only to be re-capt- ured three days later. In March, 1865, Mr. Paul was sent to Rich- mond, was paroled April 2, and discharged May 15, 1865. In the fall, he came to Union Township, this county, and engaged there with his brother in farming and stock-raising until the fall of 1868, when he bought the farm in this township on which he now lives. December 4, 1868, he married Anna McCuaig, a native of Washington County, Ohio, who has borne him five children-Harriet, William J., Daniel, James and Joseph E. Lieut. Paul is a member of the G. A. R., and in politics is a stanch Republican.
WILLIAM H. RINKER was born in Union Township, this county, May 26, 1836, and is the third of the eight children born to Joshua and Louisa (Reece) Rinker, both natives of Virginia, respectively of German and Scotch descent, born June 10, 1801, and February 14, 1809, and married in Hampshire County, Va., August 28, 1828. In 1831 or 1832, this couple moved to Clark County, Ohio, whence, in the fall of 1834, they came to Union Township. For two years, Joshua farmed on shares. In 1836, he entered 130 acres in Big Creek and Honey Creek Townships. He at first erected a rude log-cabin, but subsequently built the first brick house ever put up in this township. He died December 1, 1869, a zealous member of the M. E. Church, in which for several years he was a class leader. His wife had gone before, April 20, 1864, and she also was a worthy member of the M. E. Church. William H. Rinker received his early instruction at the frontier subscription school, and assisted on the home farm until twenty-three years old. He then farmed on shares about six years, and in the fall of 1866 bought the farm of eighty acres on Section 34, this township, on which he yet resides. He was married, August 19, 1860, to Esther Bunnell, a native of Big Creek Township, who has borne him seven children, five still living. In December, 1864, he enlisted in the Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infan- try, and served until the following May, when he was discharged at Indianapolis. In politics, he is a Republican, and both he and wife are members of the M. E. Church, in which he has held various official positions.
JAMES P. SIMONS was born in Prairie Township, this county, November 9, 1856, and is the eldest of the seven children born to George H. and Mary (Welch) Simons, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio, and respectively of German and Welsh descent. In 1843, at about the age of eight years, George H. Simons came to Big Creek
Samuel Vinden
TILDAN FOL P
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Township, this county, with his parents ; his father died when he was about twelve, after which he made his home with an aunt until he was twenty-one; he then farmed on shares for several years, then moved to Butler County, Kan .; bought a farm and remained until the fall of 1881, when he returned to White County and settled in Union Township, where he and wife now reside, members of the Union Baptist Church. James P. Simons, until eighteen years old, was employed by his father ; he then began teaching school in winter and farming in summer, and has been so employed ever since. In September, 1881, he married Sarah E. John- son, a native of White County, who has borne him one son-Walter A. In politics, Mr. Simons is a Democrat, and in Big Creek Township served as Deputy Assessor two years. In November, 1882, he was elected Re- corder of White County, receiving a large majority, and almost the entire vote of his own township.
JOSEPHI SKEVINGTON was born in Bedford, England, March 8, 1806, and is the youngest of the sixteen children born to Marcer and Ann (Parker) Skevington. Marcer Skevington was an employing shoe- maker, was a member of the Bunyan Meeting-House congregation, which met near the place of imprisonment of the author of "The Pilgrim's Progress," and died in 1815. Joseph Skevington served an apprentice- ship of seven years at tailoring, worked nearly two years as journeyman, and in 1828 opened a shop on his own account. In the summer of 1851, he came to the United States and located at Cincinnati, worked as jour- neyman about eighteen months, moved to Carthage, Ohio, and thence, in November, 1854, came to Reynolds, where he opened a shop and trans- acted business until 1876, when he retired. He was married in Bedford in June, 1828, to Lucy Hedge, who bore him eleven children (five of whom are still living) and died April 27, 1847, a member of the Bunyan congregation, in whose churchyard her remains were interred. Two of the sons, John and William, served in our late war. John was a member of Company K, Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and re-enlisted on his discharge for disability, in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty- eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served all through until the end -having been color bearer at the battle of Franklin. William Skeving- ton was a member of Company D, Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was with his regiment in all its marches and engagements until the battle of Mission Ridge, where he fell. Joseph Skevington is a Repub- lican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
SAMUEL D. SLUYTER, M. D., was born in Liberty Township, White County, July 18, 1857, and is the youngest of the three children born to Iliram and Elizabeth J. (Debra) Sluyter, the former a native of Ulster County, N. Y., and the latter of Darke County, Ohio, and respect-
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ively of German and Scotch descent. Hiram Sluyter was but seven years old when he came with his parents to Liberty Township, then an almost unbroken wilderness and filled with Indians. He helped clear up a farm and remained on the place until twenty-one, when his father gave him sixty acres of wild land in the same township, which he converted into a farm and added to from time to time until he has now a homestead of 120 acres. He has served as Justice of the Peace for the past twelve years, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. Samuel D. Slyter worked with his father until he was twenty years of age, and then farmed on shares for two years. In January, 1880, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. R. B. Palmer, of Idaville, remaining one year. He then attended a course of lectures at the Eclectic Medical Col- lege at Cincinnati, after which he studied at home until September, 1882, when he came to Reynolds, where he has since practiced his profession with flattering success. April 7, 1878, he married Sarah E. Ross, a native of Montgomery County, Ind., who bore him one daughter- Maggie R .- and died September 1, 1880, a member of the Christian Church. August 24, 1882, the Doctor married Geneva A. Woolley, a native of Hamilton County, Ohio. The Doctor is a member of the Green- back party, and in 1882 was its candidnte for County Clerk. Both the Doctor and his wife are members of the Christian Church.
MAHLON F. SMITH was born in this county August 22, 1843, and is the only child of Peter B. and Mary (Fraser) Smith, natives re- spectively of Norway and Ohio. Peter B. Smith was a ship-owner and sea-captain, and after visiting nearly every port in the world, arrived at New Orleans in 1831, where he and partner sold their ship and cargo and came to this county in the winter of 1831-32, and entered a large tract of land in what is now Union Township. Here they laid out the town of Norway, built the first dam across the Tippecanoe River, erected the first saw mill in the county, and also put up a small store building, now occupied by B. O. Spencer, in Monticello, which was probably the second built in the town. Mr. Smith died January 2, 1850, a life-long member of the Masonic fraternity. Mahlon F. Smith' lost his mother when he was but ten days old, and was reared by his grandmother until seventeen years of age. July 14, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until mustered out, August, 1864. He was presented by Gen. Birney with the "Kearney Medal of Honor," for meritorious services and conspicuous bravery at the battle of Chancellorsville, and, although he took part in many battles, escaped without a wound. After his return, he engaged in farming and stock-raising in this county, and in March, 1869, took possession of his present farm of 240 acres, where he continues in the same business.
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April 14, 1868, he married Mary A. Kenton, daughter of William M. and Mary A. (McColloch) Kenton, and grand-daughter of Simon Ken- ton, the famous hunter, and companion of Daniel Boone. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have left to them one child, Birney K. In 1880, Mr. Smith in- vented a device for preserving sced corn, and the next year a friend, Rev. Smith, of Monticello, invented a machine capable of turning out 24,000 of these corn preservers per day. ' Mr. Smith is a prominent Mason, and in politics is a Republican.
WILLIAM H. H. SMITHI was born in La Fayette, this State, May 19, 1836, and is the second of the eleven children born to Stephen J. and Catherine (Snyder) Smith, natives of Virginia and Indiana. Stephen J. Smith came to La Fayette in 1828, where he followed his trade of chair-maker. In 1851, he came to Liberty Township, this county, bought and worked a farm until 1862, then moved to Battle Ground and thence returned to La Fayette, where he is living retired, at the age of seventy-five years. William H. H. Smith was employed on his father's farm until nineteen; he then clerked in a grocery at La Fayette; then worked a year at the printing business in Indianapolis ; then engaged in news dealing on the railroad a short time; then learned the photographers' art at Indianapolis; worked at the picture business in Franklin awhile; opened a studio at Greenwood; opened an art gallery in Reynolds in 1858; engaged in a jewelry store in La Fayette eighteen months ; was employed in the picture business again in Indianapolis ; re- turned to La Fayette in 1865 and opened a studio ; moved to Monticello in July, 1869, and opened a gallery ; came again to Reynolds, and for a short time engaged in picture making, and in 1879 here opened his hotel, and has been doing a good business ever since. In May, 1858, Mr. Smith married Sarah E. Bear, a native of Jennings County, Ind., who died in March, 1875, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In February, 1876, he married Annie Turner, who has borne him one daughter, Lizzie K. In politics, Mr. Smith is a Greenbacker.
SOLOMON SPENCER was born in Union Township, this county, January 6, 1839, and is the third of the eight children born to Thomas and Elizabeth A. (Barnet) Spencer, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia, and of Scotch and English descent. When a small boy, Thomas Spenser was taken by his parents to Perry County, Ohio, where he was taught the tanner's trade ; he was there married, and soon after abandoned his trade and became a farmer. In 1830, he came to this county with his brother, George A. Spencer; returned to Ohio, and in 1860 came back to this county and bought 160 acres of his brother, Benjamin M., in Union Township, also entering 320 acres in Union and 920 acres in Honey Creek Township. On the Union Township land he
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erected a cabin, in which Solomon Spencer was born, and on this place Thomas Spencer died in October, 1877, having been preceded by his wife October 10, 1870; both had been life-long members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Spencer had held various official posi- tions. Solomon Spencer received the ordinary education obtainable at a frontier schoolhouse, which he afterward improved by, extensive reading and study. He remained on the home farm until thirty years of age, and then bought a farm of 480 acres in this township, where he has ever since been extensively and successfully engaged in the stock business. Feb- ruary 11, 1869, he married Olivia Thomas, a native of Ohio, but there have been born no children to this union. Mr. Spencer is a member of Monticello Lodge, No. 144, A., F. & A. M., and is liberal in his political views. His parents were among the pioneers of the county, and among the heirlooms in his possession is a looking-glass more than a hundred years old, which belonged to his maternal grandmother ; he has also a camp kettle which was used by his maternal grandfather in the war of 1812.
JAMES SPRAGUE was born in Burlington County, N. J., Septem- ber 21, 1837, and is the second of the four children born to Richard and Rebecca A. (Pettit) Sprague, both natives of New Jersey. At the age of eight years, James Sprague lost his mother, and thereafter, until twenty- one, he made his home with Jacob Sutts. He then worked out at farm- ing until the spring of 1860, when he came to Monticello, this county ; remained a short time, and then went to Warren County, where he farmed until August, 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served till mustered out at Indianapolis, in Sep- tember, 1864, having taken part in the battles of Mill Springs, Chicka- mauga, Mission Ridge, and the Atlanta campaign, and numerous skir- mishes and minor engagements. He next farmed as a hired hand for three years, near Monticello, and then on shares in Big Creek Township about eight years. In the spring of 1875, he bought eighty acres of wild land in this township, which he has since improved, and on which he still resides. October 30, 1866, he married Mary A. Moore, a native of Union Township, and a daughter of James P. and Sarah (Worthington) Moore, who were among the early settlers of this county. To this union six children have been born, four yet living-Elsie L., Chester S., Lor- etta C. and James A. In politics, Mr. Sprague is a Republican, and for four years was Assessor of Big Creek Township, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
SAMUEL VIRDEN was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, January 23, 1815, and is the second of the nine children born to William and Lydia (Hopkins) Virden, both natives of Delaware. William Virden went to Pickaway County when he was a young man ; he was a carpen-
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ter, which trade he followed in connection with farming until his death, May 2, 1830, and had been a soldier in the war of 1812. His widow died in Tippecanoe County, Ind., September 23, 1845, a consistent mein- ber of the Presbyterian Church. Samuel Virden, now a man of very extensive reading, was educated at the log schoolhouse of the frontier. At the age of fifteen, he lost his father, and thereafter he was the main sup- port of his widowed mother and his seven younger brothers and sisters. In November, 1833, the family came to Big Creck Township, this county, where the brothers took a lease on a half section of land owned by Philip Wolverton, and for three years improved about 100 acres. They then moved to Prairie Township, and in 1838 to Tippecanoe County, where they bought a farm of 720 acres on the Wea Plains, having received the proceeds of a bequest left them a few years be- fore by a relative in the East. They engaged in the live stock business, finding markets at Michigan City, Chicago and Detroit, to which points the cattle were driven on foot. The business prospered, and in 1853 Mr. Virden, one brother and a sister bought out the inter- ests of the others, and the same year the farm was divided among the three. Samuel Virden remained on his portion until the spring of 1857, when he sold out and moved to Lodi, Ill., where, in company with Nathan Plowman, he erected a steam grist mill at a cost of $25,000. On the night of December 2, 1861, the mill was destroyed by fire, and was un- insured. This loss left Mr. Virden quite impoverished, and in 1863 he returned to Tippecanoe County, and for ten years farmed on shares and engaged in rearing stock, in which he was very successful. In 1872, he bought 560 acres in this township, on which he moved the following year, and here he still resides, having been ever since successfully engaged in stock-raising. January 25, 1853, he married Mary F., a daughter of James and Esther (Fallis) Welch, and a native of Clinton County, Ohio. Turner Welch was a physician, and for a time was Surgeon in the army during the war of 1812. To Mr. and Mrs. Virden has been left one son-Samuel T., now attending Purdue University. In politics, Mr. Virden was formerly a Whig, later became a Republican, and is at pres- ent Road Superintendent of the township.
ANDERSON T. VIRDEN was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., December 5, 1846, and is the eldest of the five children born to Stratton and Louisa (Thompson) Virden. He was educated at the common schools and at the Farmer's Institute of Tippecanoe County, and until twenty- eight years old was employed on the home farm. In the spring of 1873, his father gave him an interest in forty acres of land in Big Creek Town- ship, this county, which interest he sold in 1875, and came to this town- ship, where he bought 120 aeres of unimproved land, on which he still
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