USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 37
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 37
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DR. JOHN T. REED was born in Delaware County, Ind., May 9, 1850. He is a son of James M. and Nancy E. (Smith) Reed, the former having been born in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1826, the latter in Barthol- omew County, Ind., in 1827. Dr. Reed attended school, and labored on the paternal farm until he was seventeen years old, when he began the study of medicine with Dr. B. F. Snodgrass, of Delaware County. He
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was an industrious, determined youth, and succeeded in saving sufficient means to attend the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, and, by turns, taught school in Delaware, White and Pulaski Counties. After- ward, he became a clerk at Yorktown, and on April 11, 1872, married Henrietta A. Stephenson, of Muncie; to this union were bestowed five children-Bertha May (deceased), Alonzo E., Charles M., Roscoe C. and Bessie M. After his marriage, he resumed farming and teaching, and in 1876 moved to Tippecanoe County and began the practice of medicine ; thence to Beaver Township, Pulaski County, and finally to this township, where he has erected a fine store and dwelling, and obtained a fair prac- tice. Dr. Reed is an Odd Fellow, and in politics a Republican.
PATRICK RYAN was born in Ireland December 21, 1827, and is a son of Patrick and Ellen Ryan. The father of Patrick was a farmer of moderate means, but sent this son to school until he was thirteen years old, after which he worked on the farm until 1849, when he came to America and worked in New York State. In 1850, he married Julia Lan- phiar, daughter of Ambrose and Mary (Ryan) Lanphiar, of Rochester. He now learned the trade of a stone mason, and in 1852 came to Indiana and located at Delphi, where he worked as a tradesman on the Wabash Railroad, and afterward on a farm in Carroll County, in which location he resided until 1859, when he removed to Monon Township. There he purchased 160 acres of wild land, in Section 35, and has now as good a farm as the township contains. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan have had six children -Ellen, Mary, Julia A., William H. (deceased), Joseph and Thomas F. The family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Ryan is a Demo- crat, and one of the best citizens.
GEORGE SAYLOR was born in Lancaster County, Penn., Novem- ber 22, 1807, and is a son of George and Polly (Friestone) Saylor. Mr. Saylor, Sr., was by trade a blacksmith, and had done some farming. George attended school and worked on the paternal farm until nineteen years old, and then worked exclusively on the farm. On December 9, 1830, he married Elizabeth Cochanour, by whom he had one child, Jacob (deceased). Mrs. Saylor died May 22, 1834. and on January 15, 1835, he married Rebecca Umberger, of York County, Penn., by whom he had seven children-David, George, Elizabeth, Mary A., John L. (deceased), Samuel H. (deceased) and Isaac F. In 1843, he came to this township and purchased 120 acres of wild land, on which he made a home and which he improved and cultivated. In addition to his farm produce he raises some stock. Mrs. Saylor died October 18, 1872; she was a member of the Chris- tian Church. On April 16, 1874, he married Anna Morecraft, widow of Jonathan Morecraft, and daughter of Daniel and Maria (Smith) Hull. Mr. Saylor is a Republican, and has been Township Trustee and Justice of the Peace.
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JAMES K. SHEETS was born in Virginia, May, 1838. His father emigrated to Clinton County, Ind., where James attended school and worked for his father until August 30, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K, Second Indiana Mounted Infantry, in which he served three years. On returning home, he resumed his labor on the farm, and on February 28, 1872, was married to Elizabeth Landis, daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Fellhoff) Landis, of Clinton County ; to this union were born five children-Rosa C., Dora B., Samuel H., James H. and Charles William. Mr. Sheets sold his farm in 1876, and bought eighty acres of land in Section 21, of this township. Here he settled to general farming and some stock-raising. In 1882, he built a good house with other improvements, but death soon called him to rest. On February 26, 1883, he was fatally injured by a treetop falling upon him while cutting timber ; his death occurred March 1. He was a good man, a member of the Baptist Church, and a highly respected citizen.
ADDISON K. SILLS was born in Crittenden County, Ky., Janu- ary 14, 1855, and is the son of Benjamin D. and Catherine (Stewart) Sills, both natives of Kentucky, and respectively born in 1827 and 1833. Addison attended his first school in a log house, in Ballard County, when five years of age, and about this time his father died; his mother then moved to Metropolis, Ill., and thence to this county, Addison attending school at both places. At the early age of ten, he began work- ing out on farms, studying during all his spare hours, and was finally granted a license, September 28, 1872, to teach in the public schools. He taught at various places, and in the winter of 1874 came to Monon and engaged in teaching. October 17, 1875, he married Lavinia C. Ramsey, who has borne him three children-Maud, Ethel and Lyman, all now deceased. During his spare hours, he also studied law, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1875. In 1878, he started a drug store in his own two-story building, and conducted it until 1882, when he sold. Mr. Sills is a Mason and a Knight of Pythias, has served as a Justiceo f the Peace, and in politics is a Republican ; his wife is a member of the Baptist Church, which he also attends.
THE TURPIE BROTHERS (William and James H.) were born in Ireland, William on August 26, 1848, and James H. on August 15, 1850. Their parents, James and Bridget (Finn) Turpie, were also natives of Ireland. The father came first to America and purchased a small farm in this county. In 1857, he sent for his family. The broth- ers attended the school of Thomas Jones; they also worked on farms, saved their money, and soon had sufficient to purchase eighty acres of wild land in Honey Creek Township, in this county. On this they began life, having built a house and made other improvements. In
1
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1866, while hunting, James was injured by the discharge of a gun, which resulted in the loss of his left arm below the shoulder, but after recover- ing he could still do good work on the farm. In 1868, James H. taught school five terms at Reynolds and Medaryville; he afterward attended school, and in 1874 studied law two years with Robert Gregory. Finally the brothers settled in this townsnip, and in December, 1876, bought a stock of general merchandise, and also began the real estate business. They have been very successful, having large properties in Ohio, and in this and Pulaski, Stark and Jasper Counties, and in Kentucky, Nebraska and Missouri. All they possess is the issue of hard work and perseverance. They occupy one of the finest residences in the township. In January, 1882, their storehouse was burned, causing a loss of $52,000, insured for $25,000. In 1878, William had also a severe accident, his scalp being torn from his head, while riding in a railroad omnibus. William was married, March 23, 1868, to Mary F. McCrag. born June 15, 1850, daughter of John and Rebecca (Askey) McCrag : they have had five children-Viola J., James H., John William (de- ceased), Emma C. and Anna A. James H. was married, January 16, 1873, to Emma J. Baughman, born July 5, 1857, daughter of Henry M. and Sarah (Eddy) Baughman; they, too, have had five children- Berl A., Mary J., Alice M., William H. and an infant. The brothers are Republicans, and public-spirited and respected gentlemen.
JESSE L. WATSON was born in Bedford County, Va., April 23, 1806, and is a son of Thomas and Rebetta (Mobeman) Watson. When Jesse was five years old, his father removed to Greene County, Ohio, and engaged in mercantile business, and to Jamestown when he was fourteen years old, and conducted the same line. Here Jesse remained assisting his father until he was married, February 7, 1828, to Mary McCart. On October 30, 1829, he moved to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where he re- mained one year, and thence to this county, where he bought forty acres of timber land, which he cleared, and built a log cabin-16x18-one of the first in the county. He and his brother farmed and raised stock together. In 1833, his father removed from Ohio to Tippecanoe County, and leased Davis' Ferry, in which Jesse assisted him during four years, and afterward engaged with his brother, Charles M., in mercantile busi- ness at the Battle Ground. In 1855, he returned to White County, and purchased town lots in New Bradford (now called Monon). Mr. Watson's wife died in April, 1842, and in June, 1844, he married Sarah Peck, of Dearborn County, who also died in 1846, leaving one child-William W. In 1848, he married Mary Langsdon, of Montgomery County, Ohio, by whom he had five children, of whom but one-James S .- survives ; this wife died in 1855. In 1857, he married Delinda Dewace, of Ohio, and
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the same year purchased the only tavern in the village, but afterward en- gaged in merchandising until 1870, when he traded this for a farm; he is now in the lumber business. Mr. Watson has been Justice, Notary and Postmaster, and is the oldest survivor in the county.
JOHN M. WINKLEY was born December 1, 1849, in this township. When seven years of age, he attended school at New Bradford, until his father moved to Winamac, Pulaski County, where he attended school un- til 1862, when he began to learn type-setting in the Democrat office at Winamac. When he had finished this business he returned to Monon, and subsequently attended school in Salem Township, Pulaski County. He then learned shoe-making, and kept a shop at Monon for two years ; he was also in the confectionery business, which he gave up when elected Justice of the Peace, in 1880, as which he served four years. Mr. Wink- ley was married September 27, 1874, to Laura E. Grady, born April 23, 1856, daughter of Jackson K. Grady, to which were born three children- Francis M. (deceased), Harry S. and Dora. Mr. Winkley has built a good home, and dealt considerably in real estate. His parents were na- tives of Ohio, married in Allen County, in that State, September 13, 1846, and came to Monon Township in 1847, as pioneers. Mr. Winkley is a member of the Odd Fellow fraternity, and Mrs. Winkley is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
BIG CREEK TOWNSHIP.
JOHN ALKIRE was born in Ohio December 20, 1825, and was one of the twelve children born to Samuel and Dollie (Alkire) Alkire, both natives of the same State. Samuel Alkire was married in Ohio, and in 1830 or 1831 came with his family to Prairie Township, this county ; he remained one year, moved to Illinois for a year, and then returned and entered 600 acres in Prairie and Big Creek Townships, erecting his cabin on the Big Creek portion. John Alkire received an ordinary frontier education, and, at his majority, was presented by his father with forty acres in this township, to which he added from time to time till he be- came owner of a fine farm of 240 acres, partly in Big Creek and partly in Prairie. December 10, 1848, he married Margaret L. Adam, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, November 21, 1828. She is the daughter of Robert and Mary (Mowbray) Adam, natives of Virginia and Maryland, and of Scotch and German descent. Robert Adam was a pioneer of White County, having settled in the southern part in 1837. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Alkire, four are yet living-Robert
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S., William J., Henry N. and Franklin H. Mr. Alkire died at his home in this township, October 18, 1865. In politics, he was a Republican, and he was one of the oldest settlers as well as one of the most respected citizens of the township. Mrs. Margaret L. Alkire still resides on a part of the home farm, a consistent member of the Christian Church, and highly esteemed by all her neighbors.
WILLIAM S AYRES was born in Prince William County, Va., August 23, 1842, and is the eldest of the six children born to Daniel and Amanda (Davis) Ayres, natives of Loudoun County, Va., and of English descent. The father was a farmer ; was married in Loudoun County, and died on his farm in Prince William County September 13, 1856. Will- "iam S. Ayres was reared a farmer, but before reaching his twentieth year became a soldier. He enlisted, in April, 1861, in Company A, Thirty- eighth Virginia Light Artillery, C. S. A., a part of Gen. Longstreet's corps in Gen. Lee's Army of North Virginia, and served until the fall of 1864, when he was transferred to Capt. Stribling's cavalry company, forming a part of Lee's body-guard. April 2, 1865, he was taken pris- oner and confined at Point Lookout, Md., until the close of the war, being discharged June 12, 1865. In the spring of 1866, he came to this county and engaged in farming. He was married, July 4, 1871, to Miss L. V. Plumb, a native of Pickaway County, Ohio. She has borne him one child -Virginia Lee. In politics, Mr. Ayres is a Republican.
WILLIAM J. BAUGH, M. D., was born in Kentucky, and is a son of Thomas and Nancy (Paris) Baugh, natives of the same State. Thomas Baugh was a machinist in early life, but subsequently became a farmer. He was married in Kentucky, and there died in 1862 or 1863. William J. Baugh learned engineering and machine-work in his youth, and at the early age of sixteen traveled from place to place in the West and South, engaged in his trade. In 1851, he returned to Kentucky and engaged in mercantile trade at Port Royal until 1854. and then went to Boones- boro, Mo., where he also engaged in merchandising. In 1856, he embarked in trade at Omaha, Neb., and in 1859 removed his goods to Denver, where in a few months he sold most of his stock, and started a wholesale peddling wagon through the camps of Colorado, Arizona, New and Old Mexico and Texas, also engaging in the trading of horses, mules and cattle. He thus continued until the fall of 1862, when with others he laid out Bannack City, the first town of Montana. In the spring of 1864, he resumed the road, and was variously employed until 1867, when he went into the hotel business, which he followed at different points un- til the fall of 1869, when for seven or eight months he engaged in steam- boating on the Lower Mississippi. In the spring of 1870, he began the study and practice of medicine at Cincinnati and Covington ; from 1875
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to 1877, he practiced in Champaign County, Ill. ; in the class of 1877-78, he graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis. In the spring of 1878, he came to Chalmers, this township, where he has acquired an extensive practice. Dr. Baugh was married in 1845 to Louisa R. Hanks, who has borne him four children, of whom three are still living. The lady died at Chicago in 1866, a member of the M. E. Church. The Doctor is a member of the I. O. O. F., and was a charter member of Henry Lodge. No. 101, of Kentucky.
JOHN B. BUNNELL was born in this township February 2, 1839, and is the second in the family of five children born to Thomas and Nancy Bunnell, both natives of Warren County, Ohio. Thomas Bunnell was a carpenter, and came to this township in March, 1834. Here he was married on the 2d day of April following, and in the same year en- tered 280 acres of land, which he improved and resided upon until his death, July 16, 1870, owning at that time between 1,100 and 1,200 acres. He was for four years Trustee of the township, was a Freema- son and a member of the M. E. Church, and a Republican. Mrs. Nancy Bunnell still resides on the old homestead, and she also is a member of the M. E. Church .. John B. Bunnell was educated at the frontier school- house, and has always lived at and been employed upon the home farm, which he and his mother now own. He has never married. In politics, he is a Republican, and is one of the leading farmers of the township and the county.
JOHN N. BUNNELL was born in this township September 28, 1836, and is the third in a family of ten children born to Nathaniel and and Susanna (Runyon) Bunnell. John N. Bunnell was educated in the ordinary schoolhouse of the frontier, constructed of logs and supplied with puncheon floor and slab seats. Until twenty-one years of age, he worked on the home farm, giving his service to his parents, but after that time he worked the farm on shares, and now owns the old place. In the fall of 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until December 26, 1864, when he was discharged at New Orleans, having taken part in the battles of Port Gibson, Cham- pion Hill, Vicksburg, and the Red River expedition under Gen. Banks. On his return, he resumed farming and stock-raising, and he has now a well-improved farm of 435 acres. He was married, April 8, 1868, to Martha E. McColloch, a native of Union Township, and daughter of Van and Elizabeth (Rothrock) McColloch, who were among the early set- tlers of this county. Mr. Bunnell is a Republican, and a strong advo- cate of the temperance cause, and shows his consistency by never touch- ing a drop of intoxicating liquors.
JOHN BURNS was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, January 4,
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1809, and is the eldest of nine children born to Joseph and Delilah (Tip- ton) Burns, natives of Kentucky and of Scotch descent. Joseph Burns was married in Pickaway County, to which point he moved when a young man. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving under Gen. Wayne during the entire struggle. In 1826, he moved to Logan County, Ohio, entered 160 acres wild land and developed a farm. About 1835, he sold out and came to this county and remained two years, and then moved to Jasper County, entered 160 acres, and wrought from the wild another farm, on which he ended his days, a member of the Christian Church. Mrs. Delilah Burns, a member also of the Christian Church, died Decem- ber 1, 1880. John Burns was employed on his father's farm in Ohio until he was eighteen years old, receiving a common school education dur- ing the meanwhile. He was married in November, 1826, to Malinda Ferguson, a native of Ohio, who became the mother of six children. In 1830, he came to what afterward became Big Creek Township, and en- tered eighty acres of land, erected a log cabin with a dirt floor and clap- board roof, and in this he and family lived several years, experiencing all the hardships as well as homely joys of pioneer life. To his original en- try Mr. Burns has added until he is now probably the largest land-holder in the township-owning, as he does, about 1,200 acres. IIe is an ex- tensive stock-breeder, his product averaging fifty head of cattle, 150 head of hogs and seven or eight head of horses annually. Heis now giving much attention to thorougbreds. Mrs. Malinda Burns died in February, 1866, and December 18, 1868, Mr. Burns married Elizabeth J. Virden, a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, and the only daughter of William Virden, a pioneer. In politics, Mr. Burns is a Republican. He is one of the leading farmers of the county, and he and one other are the only persons yet living on land originally entered by themselves in Big Creek Township.
WILLIAM BURNS was born in Big Creek Township April 23, 1831, and is the eldest of six children born to John and Malinda (Fergu- son) Burns. He was either the first or second white male child born in the county. He received his early education in the frontier log school- house, with all its primitive appurtenances of dirt floor, clapboard roof, puncheon seats and desks, and greased paper window-panes. Until twenty-three years of age, he was employed on his father's farm, by which time he had accumulated $700, with which he bought a partially improved farm of 120 acres in this township, on which he yet lives, and which he has increased to 500 acres and improved with a dwelling and farm buildings equal to the best in the township. For the past fifteen years, Mr. Burns has been extensively engaged in rearing thoroughbred stock-cattle, horses and sheep-some of the last worth $200 per head ;
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but for the past two years he has discontinued sheep rearing. His aver- age product is fifty or sixty head of cattle, and four or five fine horses per annum. Mr. Burns was married, October 24, 1860, to Etna McTire, a native of Champaign County, Ohio, who has borne her husband two chil- dren-Samuel Mc and Maryette. Mr. Burns is a Republican in politics, and one of the leading farmers of the township and county.
HENRY CHAMBERLIN was born in Ontario County, N. Y., De- cember 29, 1830, and is the second of ten children born to Aaron and Elizabeth (Thacher) Chamberlin, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jer- sey. In early life, Aaron Chamberlin was employed in rafting on the Delaware River, and later in farming in Ontario County, N. Y., where he was married. In the fall of 1834, he brought his family to Carroll County, this State; in the spring of 1837, he moved to Tippecanoe County, where he farmed on shares until the spring of 1843, when he came to West Point Township, this county, and entered 160 acres of land, on which he resided until his death, February 9, 1849, followed by his widow May 30, 1882. Henry Chamberlin remained on the home farm until about a year after his father's death, when he went out to work by the month at farming and on the Wabash & Erie Canal, continuing about four years. In the spring of 1859, he bought his present farm of 160 acres in this township. March 2, 1854, he married Catherine J. Biddle, a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., and born March 11, 1838. To this union have been born five children, of whom three are living-Clara J., Henrietta E. and Edward H. Mr. Chamberlin is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics is a Democrat.
ENOCH H. CLARRIDGE was born in Madison County, Ohio, and is one of the eleven children born to William and Drusilla (Timmons) Clarridge, natives of the same State. William Clarridge was reared a farmer, but became a carpenter and brick-mason, to which he devoted his entire attention in his later years. In 1873, he came to this State, and settled in Pulaski County, where he died January 4, 1878. Enoch H. Clarridge began blacksmithing at the age of twelve, with his brothers and others, and he has followed the trade most of the time ever since, with the exception of four years spent at harness-making. In March, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Victoria, Texas, in No- vember, 1865. He took part in most of the battles of the Atlanta cam- paign, and in the fights at Franklin and Nashville. On his return, he worked at saw-milling and farming for about four years, and then resumed blacksmithing. In November, 1873, he moved to Pulaski County, and in 1880 came to Chalmers, this township, and has ever since been doing a good trade. He was married, February 28, 1869, to Mary A. Cheno-
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weth, a native of Ohio, who died July 6, 1872, a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and mother of two children, one only now living- Delver S. July 12, 1874, Mr. Clarridge married Caroline N. O'Brien, a native of Ohio, who has borne him one daughter-Rosalie. Mr. Clar- ridge is a member of Star City Lodge, No. 444, I. O. O. F., and in pol- itics is a Democrat.
THOMAS COOPER was born in Ross County, Ohio, July 26, 1825, and is the youngest of the six children born to James and Jane (Tull) Cooper, both natives of Delaware. James Cooper was a shoe- maker and gardener. He was married in his native State, and afterward moved to Ross County, Ohio, where he owned a small farm, and there died in 1828. Thomas Cooper, at the age of five, was compelled to look to strangers for a home; until he was thirteen, he was cared for by Mr. E. Clemmons, and then he began working on farms by the month. In August, 1846, he enlisted in Company K, First Regiment United States Mounted Rifles, organized to serve with Fremont in California; but the regiment was assigned to the command of Col. P. F. Smith, and sent to Mexico, where it joined Gen. Scott's army. The regiment was the first to land at Vera Cruz, and was in every battle to the capture of the City of Mexico, which city it was the last to leave. At the close of the war in 1848, Mr. Cooper located in Macoupin County, Ill., where he farmed on shares several years, and where he married, December 25, 1848, Nancy Whitworth, who bore her husband six children-three yet living- and died August 4, 1877, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1850, Mr. Cooper moved to Tippecanoe County, and in 1856 to this township. In the fall of 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, served through the war, and was mustered out in September, 1865. At Port Gibson, he was wounded in the hip and back, from the effects of which he will never entirely recover. At the close of the war, he purchased his present farm, and in March, 1879, he married Mrs. Angeline (Thompson) Layman, who has borne him two daughters (twins). Mr. Cooper is a Republican, and has filled several official positions; he is a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife is also a member.
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