USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 33
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 33
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JOHN L. SHAFER was born in Wayne County, Ind., March 31, 1834, and is the eldest of the eleven children-three yet living-born to Daniel and Nancy (Lantz) Shafer, natives of Pennsylvania. Daniel Shafer came to Wayne County on foot when a young man, and there worked in a distillery until 1845. He was married in 1830, and in 1845 moved to Carroll County, locating two miles south of Idaville, White County, where he lived until 1862, when he moved to Idaville, and then,
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a few years later, moved just north of town, where he died in 1880. John L. Shafer worked on the home farm until eighteen, and then learned carpentering. He was married, in October, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Michael B. Shaver, and born in Indiana in February, 1835. This lady became the mother of one daughter, Nancy E., now the wife of John Kirkpatrick, of Carroll County, Ind. Many of the churches, schoolhouses, dwellings and barns in the township have been erected under the plans and supervision of Mr. Shafer, he having become a con- tractor in 1856. He is a Democrat, a Freemason and a member of the Church of God, and of the latter his wife is also a member.
JOHN W. SHULL was born in this township October 24, 1845, and is the sixth of nine children born to Lewis and Clementina (York) Shull, natives of Ohio. Lewis Shull came here in 1835, and here died July 4, 1853, a member of the Baptist Church ; Mrs. Lewis Shull died March 22, 1877, aged sixty-two years. John W. Shull assisted on the home farm until he answered his country's call to arms in the fall of 1863, when he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was assigned to the Army of the Cum- berland, and was in the Atlanta campaign. At the fight at Franklin, Tenn., he was wounded in the right foot, and during the war was badly broken down by exposure and hardship. After the fall of Atlanta, he was assigned to Gen. Thomas's division, and was honorably discharged April 19, 1866, when he returned to this township and resumed farming. March 1, 1867, he married Miss Margaret, daughter of Aaron Price, and born February 16, 1849. To this marriage were born the following children, viz .: Ida May, May 13, 1868; Ira M., May 16, 1869; Mary C., January 15, 1871; Wesley A., September 2, 1873; Lola M .. March 29, 1875; two sons who died in infancy ; Maggie, September 15, 1878, and Omar, January 17, 1882. In March, 1872, Mr. Shull moved upon his present farm on Section 10. He is a Republican, and in 1375 held the office of Assessor ; he has also held a number of other minor offices. He is a member of the G. A. R., and he and his wife are members of the Church of God.
REV. GILBERT SMALL was born in Washington County, N. Y., February 7, 1828, and is the son of James and Mary L. (Robertson) Small, both natives of the same State, and of Scotch descent. The mother died while our subject was yet an infant, and he, consequently, was reared by his maternal grandfather, who brought him up a farmer, and gave him an academic education. At the age of eighteen, he entered Union College, at Schenectady, where he studied two years, and then went to the seminary at Cannonsburg, Penn., studied for the ministry, and, three years later, was licensed to preach in the Associate Presby- 20
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terian branch. In 1856, he was settled at North Liberty, Ohio; thence was transferred to Indianapolis, and in 1867 came to Idaville, and for ten years had charge of the United Presbyterian Church. In 1877, he resigned, and united with the Presbyterian Church, filling vacancies in the Logansport Presbytery. During 1862-63-64, he filled his minis- terial appointments and also clerked in the Quartemaster's Department as transportation clerk. In 1874, he purchased his eighty-seven-acre farm, on which he still resides. He was married, in 1856, to Miss Hellen A. Monroe, of Ohio, who bore him one daughter, Mary L., who died at the age of nineteen. Mr. Small was again married, in the fall of 1858, to Miss Fanny A. Garrett. daughter of David and Rosina Garrett, and to this union were born four children-Harry (a physician at Wolcott), Albert and William (twins), and Stella.
HIRAM SMITH was born in Union County, Penn., October 12, 1839, and is the ninth of the eleven children born to George and Mary (Buffington) Smith. Hiram lived on the home farm and attended school until fourteen years of age, and then worked as a farm laborer until eighteen, when he served an apprenticeship at blacksmithing for eighteen months, and then for three years worked as a journeyman. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-first Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, for nine months ; served on detailed duty as blacksmith in the Army of the Potomac, and was discharged at Har- risburg, leaving his regiment at Fredericksburg, Va. October 29, 1863, he married Miss Emma J. Mertz, who was born in Union County, Penn., July 3, 1838, and was the daughter of Philip and Lydia Mertz. Nine children were the fruit of this union, five now living, viz., Ella, Laura, Philip, Ida May and Harry W. Mr. Smith worked at his trade in Pennsylvania until October, 1864, when he came to Burnettsville, where he worked for six years, then moved to a farm north of the town, on which he lived five years, and then returned to town and resumed his trade. Mr. Smith is a Republican, and has served as Town Treasurer and Road Supervisor, and he and wife are members of the German Bap- tist Church.
DANIEL P. SNYDER was born in Carroll County, Ind., May 21, 1837, and is one of the nine children born to John W. and Elizabeth (Phillips) Snyder, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Snyder was reared a farmer, but in the fall of 1856, began learning the carpenter's trade, and also wagon-making. In the fall of 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry ; served under Grant at Grand Gulf and St. Charles ; was shot in the left leg, May, 1863, at Port Gibson ; was for nine months incapacitated for active service, and was mus- tered out December 1, 1864. On his return, he resumed his trade; in
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1869, he went to New Orleans, and worked there until 1873; then came back to Stockwell, and in August, 1876, came to Idaville, where he is conducting a wagon factory. He was married, December 27, 1860, to Miss Sarah A. Perrigo, who was born in White County September 11, 1839, one of twelve children of Acea C. and Anna (Moore) Perrigo, na- tives of Virginia and Ohio. Mr. Snyder is an Odd Fellow, and he and wife members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
H. S. STINE was born in Lehigh County, Penn., April 17, 1836. He came to this State in 1850, and lived in Wabash County until 1859, and thence came to this county, and taught school each successive winter until 1867, with one exception-1863-64; during the summers, he en- gaged in farm work. In 1866, he started the nursery business in this vicinity, and has been actively employed ever since in supplying the home demand. In 1867, he established the first insurance agency in Burnetts- ville, representing the Etna and Hartford. In the same year, he was com- missioned a Notary Public, and he was also for one year engaged in mer- chandising in Burnettsville. In the fall of 1878, he began buying and shipping hogs to the Chicago market, and while thus engaged narrowly escaped death by the collision of two trains, near Crown Point, in 1881. In 1866, he married Miss Isabel J. Hannah, the daughter of John Han- nah, born July 5, 1835, and to this union were born eight children, of whom six are still living-Maggie G., John H., Albert, Harry, Andrew and William M. Mr. Stine is a public-spirited citizen, and is one of the oldest members of the Masonic Lodge at Monticello.
A. C. TAM was born in Carroll County, Ind., April 8, 1843, and is the son of Stephen and Mary Tam, both natives of Delaware, and born in 1801 and 1803 respectively. The parents settled in Carroll County about 1830, and were among the pioneers. A. C. Tam was left an or- phan at the age of four, and until eight, he resided with a brother in Cass County ; he then hired out, and roamed over Iowa and Minnesota until nineteen, when he returned to Cass County, owner of a good team of horses, one of which he soon after lost. He then worked by the month one year, and then commenced farming on rented land. December 25, 1863, he married Rachel A. Smith, born in White County March 30, 1844, and daughter of Jacob J. and Hester H. (Timmons) Smith. Soon after marriage, Mr. Tam located on the farm where he now resides in this township. He has now 170 acres, which are nicely improved, and he is worth about $8,000, earned by his own exertions. He is a Demo- crat, and in the fall of 1882 was elected County Commissioner, having already filled several township offices. He is the father of six children- George B., Josephus, John I., Rosa H., Isaac J. and Milton A. Mrs. Tam is a member of the Church of God.
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GEORGE W. THOMPSON was born in Clark County, Ohio, Oc- tober 24, 1833, and is one of the fifteen children born to Stephen A. and Eleanor (Middleton) Thompson, both natives of Ohio. The parents came to this county about the year 1857, and here the father died in 1875, aged seventy-two years. George W. Thompson came here with his parents and farmed on rented lands for a few years ; then moved to Union Township, where he resided four years, and in April, 1874, re- turned here and purchased 120 acres, on which he still lives. He was married, in 1866, to Miss Hester Britton, who was born in Darke Coun- ty, Ohio, December 27, 1843, and who is the daughter of William and Hester (Markwith) Britton, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio. To this union there has been born one son-Harry M. July 4, 1861, Mr. Thompson enlisted in Company K, Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infan- try, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and lost a finger in the fight at Belle Plaine. Mr. T. is a member of the G. A. R., and Mrs. T. of the Christian Church.
JOHN G. TIMMONS was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1837, and is one of the four children of Sothey K. and Turlley Timmons, natives of Delaware. The family came to this township in 1864, and here the elder Timmons served as County Commissioner and Swamp Land Commissioner, being elected by the Democrats. He died in the prime of life, aged forty-nine years. John G. Timmons received a prac- tical business education, as his father was a lumber merchant and stock- shipper. He was married, March 10, 1860, to Miss Ruth Price, daugh- ter of Aaron and Mary (Hancock) Price, of White County. Eight chil- dren were born to this union, of whom seven are yet living-Miranda J., Nance E., Sothey K., Mary W., Harvey E., Cora B. and Rosa. Mrs. Timmons died in 1876, and March 4, 1877, Mr. T. married Mrs. Mattie S. (Droke) McCully, widow of John McCully, who was the father of her two children-Frank E. and Hamilton E. Mr. Timmons has been largely engaged in mercantile affairs in Idaville, but in February, 1882, retired to his present farm of 1,380 acres, all under fence. In 1864, he was appointed to fill an unexpired term as Trustee, and then elected one term, and re-elected in 1880-82. His property is valued at $54,000, and during the war he gave freely for the relief of soldiers' widows. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Monticello.
JOHN B. TOWNSLEY was born in Greene County, Ohio, March 1, 1817. He was reared on a farm until eighteen, when he began car- pentering, at which he worked twelve years and then came to Carroll County, this State, where, in company with his brother William,. he built a saw mill and ran it ten years. The firm dissolved in 1855, William continuing alone, and John B. coming to this township and investing in
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land adjoining Idaville er Hannah, for which town he furnished a part of the land, and to which he has besides made two additions. He was mar- ried, November 1, 1838, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of George and Martha Miller, of Greene County, Ohio. Mrs. Townsley died June 24, 1857, aged thirty-six years, the mother of eight children, five still living- Margaret H., William A., John A., James M. and Ferdinand P. De- cember 21, 1859, Mr. Townsley married Rebecca E. Russel, of White County, who bore her husband three children-Emma C., Cleora and Edwin L .- and died April 10, 1865. Mr. Townsley's third marriage was on December 30, 1869, to Mrs. Nancy (Cope) Paugh, daughter of David and Charlotte Cope, and born in Jefferson County, Ind., September 14, 1821. The parents of Mr. Townsley were Thomas and Margaret (Bar- ber) Townsley, natives respectively of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. They moved to Ohio when both were quite young and, after rearing a family of twelve children, died in this county.
J. M. TOWNSLEY, son of John B. and Rebecca Townsley, was born in Carroll County, Ind., August 10, 1850. At the age of seventeen, he taught his first school (that of Idaville), and during this and the following fourteen years taught fifteen terms within a radius of twelve miles. He followed farming until October 14, 1882, when he purchased a stock of drugs and notions worth $1,000, and became the successor of J. G. Wil- son at Idaville. He is a Republican, and during the years 1875-76 was acting Deputy Sheriff of White County. While living in Carroll Coun- ty, he was a member of the Republican Central Committee for three years. He was married, August 25, 1874, to Miss Melvina, daughter of Robert and Margaret J. (McCully) Delzell, of Idaville, and born in 1855, and by her is the father of three children-Fred, Frank and Mary. Both he and wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church.
J. W. VAN DEMAN was born in Marion County, Ind., February 18, 1843, and is one of the thirteen children born to Samuel II. and Mary J. (McCalla) Van Deman, natives respectively of Ohio and Ken- tucky, and of Holland and Scotch descent. Since 1878, Samuel Van Deman has resided at Bloomington, Ind., where he is farming and has charge of a saw mill. In October, 1861, J. W. Van Deman was mus- tered in at Indianapolis as a member of Company A, Forty-seventh In- diana Volunteer Infantry, and in December, 1863, veteranized in the same company. He was in the Thirteenth Army Corps, Department of the Mississippi, and took part in the fight at New Madrid and in the Vicksburg, Red River and Mobile campaigns. He received a flesh wound at Champion's Hill, and his comrade on each side fell during this engage- ment. He was taken prisoner at New Iberia, La., imprisoned at Alex- andria, and was exchanged Christmas morning following. He was hon-
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orably discharged October 23, 1865, at Baton Rouge. On his return to Indianapolis, he learned blacksmithing, and ran a shop until 1873, when he traded for 320 acres of land in this township. In May, 1875, he moved to Idaville, ran a shop four years and engaged in other busi- ness, and in November, 1882, returned to his farm. He was married, in 1866, to Nancy A. Montague, of Lexington, Ky., and by her is the father of five children-Frank, Alma, Lony, Clarence and Milford T. In 1876. he was elected Justice of the Peace, and re elected in 1880. He is a Democrat, an Odd Fellow and a member of the G. A. R.
ABRAHAM WARFEL was born in Lancaster County, Penn., Feb- ruary 9, 1815, and is the son of Adam and Elizabeth (Layman) Warfel, both natives of Pennsylvania. He was left an orphan at the age of eleven, and was reared by a brother on a farm until sixteen, when he started out, empty-handed, to make his fortune. In 1833, he went to Dayton, and thence to Wayne County, Ind. May 22, 1834, he married Nancy Heinary, of Lancaster County, Penn. She died March 9, 1835. In February, 1836, Mr. Warfel moved to Carroll County and entered 160 acres, and was married, June 9, 1836, to Miss Mary, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Horine) Patton, and born in Maryland, August 7, 1815. Six children were born to Mr. Warfel, five yet living, viz .: Levi, Elizabeth, Herzekiah, Ellen and Nancy A. In 1851, Mr. W. sold his farm and moved to Liberty Township, this county ; purchased 160 acres, which he worked until 1871, when he traded for a farm in Cass County, which he sold two years later, and then came to Idaville, this township, where he now resides in retirement. He has served as Township Trustee both in Carroll and in this county, and he and wife are members of the Church of God.
JOHN W. WIMER, merchant, at Logansport, and formerly of Bur- nettsville, was born in Orange County, N. Y., February 7, 1829, and is the third of the five children of Michael and Hannah (Belcher) Wimer, both natives of the Empire State. The family moved to Carroll County, Ind., about 1841, and there John W. attended school and kept his father's accounts, studied surveying and trigonometry, German and Latin. At the age of twenty-one, he took a position in J. B. Gordon's mercantile house in Georgetown, where he remained eight years ; then began trade on his own account at Lockport, and was appointed Postmaster by Presi- dent Buchanan. Three years later he moved to Delphi, where he en- gaged in trade until 1845, and then moved to Burnettsville, where he did business under the firm name of J. W. Wimer & Co. until 1865, when he succeeded the firm and carried on trade individually until 1868, when he sold a half-interest to J. M. Love, and under the firm name of J. M. Wimer & Love continued till 1882. Mr. Wimer then withdrew, and
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shortly after removed to Logansport, where he is now largely engaged in the dry goods trade. Mr. Wimer is an active Republican. In 1864, he was appointed Postmaster at Burnettsville, which office he resigned six years later. The same fall he was elected Representative from White and Benton Counties, and in 1876 was a Presidential Elector from Indiana ; in 1880, he was a Delegate to the National Convention at Chicago, and was one of the first to vote for James A. Garfield. Mr. W. has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church for twenty-seven years ; he is a well-known contributor to the county press, and is a gentleman of consid- erable literary ability and poetical tastes.
REV. WILLIAM WINEGARDNER was born in Preble County, Ohio, in January, 1821, and when about fourteen years old came to Cass County, this State, with his parents, and was reared a farmer. In 1842, he married Miss Margaret Wiley, of La Porte, Ind., but a native of Ten- nessee, born February 18, 1822, and daughter of John and Mary Wiley, also natives of Tennessee, and of Irish extraction. This lady died in 1854, leaving four small children, of whom three are yet living-Austin, Mary and John. In April, 1855, Mr. W. married Miss Nancy Scott, a native of Indiana, who bore him two children-Sanford and Clara-and died January 21, 1877. In 1878, he married Mrs. Caroline C. (Graham) Seawright, who died a year later, having one son-Earl Stanton. Feb- ruary 7, 1880, Mr. Winegardner married Mrs. Esther (Coleman) Wilson, a native of Ohio. In 1853, Mr. W. was ordained a minister in the Christian Church, and has been an active worker ever since. He con- tinued at farming until 1878, and filled the office of Township Trustee four years, and of Justice of the Peace eight years. His eldest son, Aus- tin, enlisted, in the fall of 1862, in Company K, Ninety-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was under Sherman until the close of the war, being honorably discharged in June, 1865.
JOHN YORK was born in Preble County, Ohio, January 31, 1821, and came to this township with his parents in the fall of 1835, entering eighty acres on Section 14. He assisted in erecting the first schoolhouse in the township, and attended at the same two winters. He assisted his father in clearing up the farm until he reached his majority, and then, March 10, 1842, married Miss Sarah J. Ryerson, of Darke County, Ohio, born August 24, 1824, and daughter of John and Elizabeth (Winegard- ner) Ryerson, natives of New Jersey and North Carolina. This family came to Cass County, Ind., in 1839, and there cleared up a farm ; in 1867, they came to Burnettsville, where the father died in 1869, and the mother in 1876, aged respectively seventy-four and eighty-five years. Mrs. York has borne her husband four children-William H., Lydia (de- ceased), Jonathan S. and Amanda J. (the wife of George Mertz). In the
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early days of Mr. York's married life, he hauled wheat to Logan, and sold it for 33 cents to 35 cents per bushel, and pork, dressed, at $1.25 per hundred weight, and hauled his salt from Michigan City, a distance of one hundred miles ; but he has thriven, and now has a farm of 305 acres, and has, besides, given to each of his children about $1,500, and he also owns property in Burnettsville of great value. Since 1837, Mr. York has lived in town in retirement. In politics, he is a Democrat, and has served as Township Trustee eight years. He was one of the building committee appointed to superintend the erection of the Baptist Church edifice, and he also contributed largely from his own means toward its completion. He and wife are members of the organization.
PRINCETON TOWNSHIP.
CHARLES H. BAXTER, an ex-Trustee of Princeton Township, is a native of the Empire State, and was born in Putnam County Septem- ber 4, 1844, and is a son of Marcus and Ann E. (Odel) Baxter. Scarcely had the scenes of life commenced with the subject of this notice, when his father died, and he was left to help support a widowed mother. The . spring of 1860 found young Baxter wending his way on foot to Peekskill, N. Y., where he entered the Democrat printing office and began learning the business, and continued at it for five years, save one winter, during which time he was a conductor on a street car in the national metropolis. In 1865, Mr. Baxter went to Illinois and immediately engaged in farm- ing, and continued there until 1869, when he came to Princeton Town- ship, and for several years taught school in the winter and farmed during the farming season. In 1875, he was appointed Township Assessor, and was elected Township Trustee in 1876 and 1878. During these admin- istrations, he did much for the schools of the township, and also increased teachers' wages. In 1881, Mr. Baxter received the appointment of Post- master at Wolcott, which position he still retains. On the 10th of November, 1871, he was married to Miss Ann M. Gill, of Newark, Ohio. There have been four children born to them, viz .: Mabel, Charles E., Flora and Frederick. Charles E. died April 28, 1878, and Mabel May 7, the same year. In religious belief, Mr. Baxter is a Universalist, and in politics Republican, and is one of Princeton Township's most enter- prising citizens. In September, 1872, the mother of Mr. Baxter was married to George D. Washburn, one of the oldest residents in Mon- ticello.
E. G. BOICOURT is a native of Decatur County, Ind., son of
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Absalom and Rebecca (Homes) Boicourt, was born February 17, 1837, and is of French-Irish lineage. In 1857, Mr. Boicourt removed with his father to this county, and settled in West Point Township, and there remained until about fifteen years ago, when he came to Princeton Town- ship, and purchased land in Sections 29 and 30. The mother of Mr. Boicourt died June 28, centennial year. Not until twenty-two years of age did Mr. Boicourt begin for himself. Besides attending the common district school, he spent two school years in a graded school at Decatur, Ind. On the 15th of June, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Twenty- seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was in a number of battles, some of the most important being the following : Atlanta, Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was honorably discharged September 12, 1864. The marriage of Mr. Boicourt to Miss Elzina Timmons, of Jasper County, Ind., occurred October 2, 1873. There has to this union been born two children-Clement T. and Thomas N. Mr. and Mrs. Boicourt are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he has been a life-long Republican.
JAMES W. BRITTON is a son of William and Susan (Grable) Britton; is a native of Ohio, and was born January 1, 1839. The mother of Mr. Britton died when he was but three years of age, and as soon as he was old enough he was put at farm work, and this occupation he has followed all through life. He was married, February 23, 1859, to Miss Sarah Gill, daughter of George and Mary Gill, natives of Yorkshire, England, who came to America more than half a century ago, and settled in Ohio, where they died. The voyage across the stormy Atlantic was of nine weeks' duration. To Mr. and Mrs. Britton there have been born three children, viz .: Frank G., Mary E. and Maud A. Mary E. is de- ceased. Mr. Britton came to Princeton Township about thirteen years ago. Though he began life with nothing, he now owns 290 acres of choice land, and is worth at least $10,000. Mr. and Mrs. Britton are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he is a Democrat.
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