USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 42
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 42
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JAMES S. VAN VOORST was born in Marion County, Ohio, Sep- tember 7, 1836, and is one of the four children born to S. and Eliza (Kerr) Van Voorst, the names of the children being James, John, Abram and Elizabeth, of whom James alone survives. The father of James was born in Ohio, but became one of the most extensive cattle dealers in White
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County, Ind., having from 500 to 3,000 head, and died in Princeton Township. When seven years of age, James was brought to Knox Coun- ty, Ohio, where he remained until August, 1864, when he removed to his present location. On February 4, 1858, he was married to Mary A. De- bolt, by whom he had thirteen children, those living being Catharine, Clara, William, Charles, John, Frank, Mary and Laura. Mr. Van Voorst resides six miles southwest of Reynolds, on a farm of 160 acres, twenty acres of timber lying three quarters of a mile north, and twenty acres four miles northeast of his residence ; most of this land is level, fertile and well cultivated. Mr. Van Voorst gives some attention to cattle-raising, and has his best returns therefrom. He has a comfortable frame dwell- ing, good barns and various other improvements, including a large windmill. He is a prosperous farmer and an esteemed and worthy citi- zen.
BENJAMIN WALKER was born in Chenango County, N. Y., in January, 1838, and is one of the ten children of Orlando and Rachel (Ladd) Walker ; of these children six are living-Harriet, Ilona, Charles, Rhoda, Benjamin and Henry. The father of Benjamin was born in Hampshire County, Mass., in December, 1879, was a farmer, and now resides with his son Benjamin. When quite young, Benjamin removed with his parents to Kendall County, Ill., thence to Kane County, where he resided, except two years in Missouri, until he came to this county, in March, 1870. In 1861, he enlisted for three months, and was engaged in action in Sullivan County, Mo. On February 13, 1866, he was mar- ried to Jennie M. Roberts, by whom he had eight children-Everett, Lo- ren, Anna, Merrill, William, Jessie, Walter and Orlando. Mr. Walker resides on his farm of 200 acres, five miles southwest of Wolcott. His main produce is corn, oats and flax, his land being well improved and cultivated. In 1882, he was appointed Township Trustee, in which office he gives great satisfaction. Mr. Walker is a strong advocate of the drain- age enterprise, and, indeed, of every public improvement. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and a respected citizen.
JOHN WATSON was born in Yorkshire, Eng., in March, 1829. and is one of the eight children of John and Mary (Atkinson) Watson, whose names are William, Martha, Thomas (deceased), Elizabeth, John, Robert, Henry and Sarah. The father of John was also a native of Yorkshire, was a farmer, and died in November, 1870. When eighteen years old, John, with his parents, came to America and located in Lick- ing County, Ohio, where he remained until he came to his present loca- tion, in 1866. John Watson was married, August 31, 1850, to Margaret Downing, by whom he had fourteen children-William, John, Ann, Thomas (deceased), Harvey, Mary, Sarah, Martha, Charles, Joseph,
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Belle, Eliza, James and George. Mr. Watson's home is seven miles southwest of Wolcott, on 640 acres, 400 of which are under good culti- vation ; this land is desirably situated, with good drainage. His chief crops are corn and hay, yet he makes a specialty of raising cattle, hogs, sheep and horses ; he has a fine two-story dwelling, commodious stables and other improvements ; he has been successful as a stock-dealer, which, together with his industry and economy, has made him independent. Mr. Watson is a public-spirited and respected citizen.
OLIVER WILSON was born in Washington County, N. Y., April 27, 1822, and is one of the ten children of Christopher and Martha (Selfridge) Wilson ; of these children, Oliver, Elizabeth and Martha only are living. The father of Oliver was a native of Washington County, where he died in 1867; he was a blacksmith. Oliver came to White County and located on the Meadow Lake Farm, and two years thereafter came to his present location, in December, 1871. On March 14, 1855, he was married to Christiana Hyde, by whom he had eight children- Martin, William, John, Mary, Ida, Mattie, Jesse and Gertrude, of whom the first and last alone remain. Mr. Wilson resides four and one-half miles south of Wolcott on a good farm; he raises mainly corn, oats, buckwheat, seeds, etc., and gives some attention to raising cattle and hogs ; his farm is well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been the means of establishing a church and Sunday school in their neighborhood. Mr. Wilson was the first Sunday School Superintendent at Meadow Lake, and until recently has so officiated. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are the found- ers of the Meadow Lake Church, and their efforts have been able and worthy in every good work, as in the cause of temperance, where their endeavors and attainments have been as propitious as in that of religion.
CASS TOWNSHIP.
JOSEPH HANAWALT was born in Mifflin County, Penn., Octo- ber 10, 1823, and is the eldest of twelve children (three now living) born to Henry and Mary (Rothrock) Hanawalt, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. The father first visited this county in 1833, and again in 1838, when he entered 240 acres of land ; in the fall of 1846, he moved permanently upon a farm north of Burnettsville; he died in June, 1863, aged sixty-seven years ; his widow survives him at the age of eighty-three years. Joseph Hanawalt was reared a farmer, but also learned the plasterer's trade ; in the fall of 1845, he came to this county and taught school for three months, then returned to Pennsylvania and
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was married, August 18, 1846, to Miss Catharine Gressmire, born in Mifflin County, Penn., June 21, 1823, and daughter of Daniel and Eliza- beth Gressmire, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German extraction. To this union were born three children, of whom only one is living-William H. Soon after his marriage, Mr. H. came overland to this county and taught school a term, worked at his trade, etc., until 1849, when he be- came a resident of Monticello, where he remained seven years, and then moved to the home farm, where he lived until 1862, when he purchased eighty-five acres on Section 6, Jackson Township ; in 1866, he moved to Battle Ground, Tippecanoe County, remained two years, returned to his farm, and in 1870 again moved to Monticello, made several exchanges of property, and finally, in 1879, he and son purchased their present home of 160 acres. Mr. and Mrs. H. have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1849.
JOSEPH MCBETH was born in Clark County, Ohio, May 3, 1837, and is one of the seven children of William and Anna (Steele) McBeth, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch descent. The family came to this county in 1847 ; the father died September 9, 1854 ; the mother survives, at the age of seventy-nine, and resides with her son Joseph. July 4, 1861, Mr. McBeth enlisted in Company K, Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He took part in the seven days' fight before Richmond, at Glendale and Mal- vern Hill, and at Gettysburg, where he was twice shot in the left thigh. After three months' confinement in hospital at Washington, he rejoined his regiment near Culpeper, Va., remaining with it until the battle of the Wilderness, when he was detailed for hospital duty at Philadelphia, where he was honorably discharged in August, 1864. May 3, 1866, he married Miss Elmina M., daughter of David and Lydia (Hibbard) Shee- han, and born in Montgomery County, Ohio, December 30, 1839. To this union have been born six children-John S., Anna A, Blanch E., William W., Joseph M. and Pery Morton. Mr. McBeth is the owner of the old homestead of 200 acres ; he is a Republican. and has served as Township Trustee and Assessor; he is also a member of the United Presbyterian Church.
CHARLES REID, the youngest of the eleven children of Alexander and Catherine (Anderson) Reid, was born in Scotland July 13, 1813, and at the age of sixteen was apprenticed to a cooper, whom he served three years, and then worked as journeyman until 1834, when he came to America, stopping awhile at London, Canada, and then coming to Fremont, Ohio. There he first worked as a journeyman, but soon started a shop of his own, employing five to eight hands, and turning out 100 barrels per day. In 1842, he married Miss Susannah Glaze, a native of
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CASS TOWNSHIP.
Ohio, born November, 1821, and daughter of John and Rachel Glaze, of German extraction. To this union were born twelve children, of whom eleven grew to maturity, and ten are now living-Catherine (wife of Henry McFarland), Alexander (a minister and farmer), Rachel (wife of John N. Harbert), Susannah (wife of Jacob B. Timmons), Charles, John, James, Margaret (wife of Perry D. Teeters), Mary (wife of Frank Gibson) and Emma. Mr. Reid came to this county in the fall of 1850, and is one of the three men yet living who settled in this township at that early day. He entered 160 acres of Government land, at $1.25 per acre; has created a comfortable home and increased his farm to 200 acres. He has served as Township Trustee nine years, and as Justice of the Peace nine years, and has filled other minor offices. Mrs. Reid died in December, 1876, a devout member of the Catholic Church, which church Mr. Reid joined in Scotland. In politics, Mr. Reid is a Democrat, and cast his first Presi- dential vote for Martin Van Buren in 1836.
SAMUEL SWARTZELL was born in Union County, Penn., Octo- ber 10, 1825, and is the son of John and Elizabeth Swartzell, natives of Pennsylvania and of German extraction. The family came to this State in 1851, and settled in Cass County, but a few years later removed to Starke County, where the father died. His widow remarried, and came to live in this township, but died while on a visit to her daughter at Wolcott, Princeton Township. Samuel Swartzell was reared a farmer, but at the age of twenty learned coopering. In 1848, he came to this State, locating near . Royal Center, Cass County, and entering 160 acres of land. In 1849, he married Miss Lovisa Snethen, who bore him six children- Alvin B., Abraham, Lydia, Rachael, John M. and Hannah. After losing his wife, Mr. Swartzell, in 1859, married Miss Mary A. Burns, who was born in Union County, Ind., October 15, 1837, and to this union were born eleven children-Elizabeth, Adam, Marion J., Isaac W., Albert P., Jasper F., Martha M., Melissa J., Andrew J., Celestia M. and Ada A. In 1861, Mr. Swartzell sold his farm in Cass County, and came to White, renting land for the first two years, and then buying his present home of eighty acres, which he has greatly improved. Mr. Swartzell had been a Democrat, but on the breaking-out of the late war espoused the Republican cause, to which he still adheres.
WILLIAM J. TEETER was born in Montgomery Connty, Ind., April 14, 1835, and is the third of four children born to Robert and Harriet (Ramey) Teeter, natives respectively of Kentucky and Indiana. Mr. Teeter began for himself at the age of eighteen, doing job work. April 19, 1855, he married Martha A., daughter of Edwin and Abigail (Ball) Quick, and born in Montgomery County, Ind., June 30, 1836. Five children have been born to their union-Dennis P., Abigail J., Mar-
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garet A., George M. and John F. 3 In February, 1862, Mr. Teeter came to this township and located on the land where he now lives as a renter, and thirty days later enlisted in Company D, Sixty-third Indiana Volun- teer Infantry ; was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and then trans- ferred to the Army of the Cumberland. He took part in the second bat- tle of Bull Run ; was at Dalton and at Resaca; he was wounded three times in less than five minutes. He was honorably discharged in May, 1865. In 1866, he bought forty acres of his present farm, which he has increased to 280 acres, and owns in all 600 acres in Cass Township and eighty in Pulaski ; he has two engines for threshing and one separator, and in the winter attaches both engines to a portable saw mill, making from 3,000 to 5,000 feet of lumber per day. Mr. T. is a Republican, and has served as Road Supervisor and School Director. Through his instrumentality was established the mail route from Pulaskiville to Mon- ticello, and for four years he carried the mail between the two points ; he was also the means of having offices established at Sitka and Headlee.
ELIAS VANAMAN was born in Wayne County, Ind., December 26, 1822, and is one of the twelve children born to Elias and Abigail Vanaman, natives of New Jersey, and of German and English extraction. He was reared a farmer, received about three months' schooling and worked for his father until twenty-one. October 21, 1847, he married Miss Sarah Roller, born in Virginia November 17, 1828, and daughter of Peter and Mary Roller. To this union eleven children were born, of whom seven are yet living-Mary, wife of John Barkshire ; Abigail, wife of John Grandstaff; John, William, Daniel E., George and Cather- ine A. Mr. Vanaman came to Indiana with his parents in 1837, settled in Miami County, and there remained until February, 1849, when he came to this township, entered eighty acres of land and built a log cabin, which is now replaced by a substantial frame dwelling. Mr. V. is now the oldest living settler in the township ; he was present at the first elec- tion, and he has served as Supervisor of Roads and as School Director some fifteen years each. Both he and wife are members of the Church of God.
ROUND GROVE TOWNSHIP.
CHARLES F. BAKER was born in Baltimore County, Md., March 29, 1822, and is the second of the eleven children born to Jacob and Charlotte (Dove) Baker, both natives of Maryland, and of German and Scotch descent respectively. Jacob Baker was educated and married in his native State, where also he was many years employed in a cotton fac-
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tory as a weaver and spinner, and subsequently as a workman in an iron foundry. In 1829, he moved to Licking County, Ohio, where he bought a farm on which he ended his days December 11, 1855. He was a sol- dier of the war of 1812, and served through the entire struggle, and throughout his adult life was a consistent member of the M. E. Church. Charles F. Baker remained on his father's farm until twenty-five years old, and then for six years farmed on shares ; he then moved to Defiance County, Ohio, where he farmed on shares for three years, and in the spring of 1857, moved to Miami County, Ind., and in 1859, to West Point Township, this county, farming on the same plan until 1875, when he bought 303 acres in this township, on which he still resides. Septem- ber 6, 1847, he married Ann J. Gill, a native of England, and daughter of George and Mary (Scarbrough) Gill, who came to the United States in 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have had left them six boys and three girls. In politics, Mr. Baker is a Republican, and his wife is a member of the M. E. Church.
SAMUEL D. BARCUS was born in Butler County, Ohio, December 6, 1825, and is the eldest of the ten children born to William and Maria (Butler) Barcus, natives of Virginia and Georgia, and of English and Irish descent respectively. When but a small boy in 1807, William Barcus removed with his parents to Belmont County, Ohio ; about 1818, the family removed to Butler County, where William married and en- gaged in farming for several years ; he then came to Indiana and farmed in Warren, Tippecanoe, Cass and White Counties for about eight years. From 1837 to 1840, he was a hotel-keeper in Tippecanoe and Fountain Counties, and then, until 1860, he farmed in Indiana and Illinois ; he then engaged in merchandising in Southeastern Missouri until the fall of 1861, when he came to this county, and died a member of the M. E. Church in June, 1866. Samuel D. Barcus, at the age of twenty-one, left his home and for one year farmed on shares in Tippecanoe County ; was then construction foreman on the L. & I. R. R. one year, and in 1850 came to White County and farmed on shares in Liberty, Union, and Prairie Townships until 1859, when he came to this township and bought the farm of 160 acres on which he still resides. May 15, 1849, he married Eliza Hughes, daughter of Hugh and Hannah (Wilson) Hughes, and a native of Greene County, Penn. To this union there have been born nine children, of whom three boys and two girls are yet living. Mr. Barcus is a Republican, and he and family are members of the Baptist Church.
JOHN BOURK, one of the ten children of Patrick and Mary (Cardy) Bourk, was born in Ireland in 1817. He was reared a farmer, and came to the United States in 1846, settling in Onondaga County, N.
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Y., where he was employed on a farm by the month for about six years. He then went to Brownsville, Ind., where he was employed as a foreman on the Junction Railway for three years. In the spring of 1856, he re- moved to Tippecanoe County, where for eight years he farmed on shares, and then for one year on the same plan in Benton County, and then again for two years in Tippecanoe County. In 1867, he bought a farm in Warren County, which he worked until the spring of 1869, when he sold out and bought a farm of eighty acres in this township, on which he still resides. In 1861, he married Bridget Kiltay, a native of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Bourk have left to them seven children, three boys and four girls, and the family are members of the Catholic Church, of which church Mr. Bourk's father, who died in Ireland, in 1878, was also a member. In politics, John Bourk is a Democrat.
JAMES J. BRIGGS was born in Cass County, Ind., May 3, 1837, and is the seventh of the eleven children born to Alexander and Jane (Stanley) Briggs, natives respectively of South Carolina and Tennessee, and both of Irish descent. Alexander was taken by his parents to Ten- nessee when he was a small boy ; when a young man, he went to Pennsyl- vania and farmed two years, and then came to Fountain County, this State, entered 160 acres of land, and farmed until 1832, when he sold out and moved to Cass County, where he bought a farm and lived until 1840; he then came to Liberty Township, this county, bought a farm , and resided thereon until his death in 1849. He was married in Fountain County, and for over twenty years was a minister in the Christain Church. James J. Briggs lost his father at the age of twelve, and he was bound out to Mr. A. L. Paterson, of Tippecanoe, with whom he remained until he was twenty-one. In 1858, he came to Prairie Township, this county, and for three years farmed on shares ; returned to Tippecanoe, bought a small farm, and in the spring of 1865 came back to White and for two years farmed on shares again; he then bought eighty acres in this town- ship, which he has converted into a good farm. July 5, 1858, he mar- ried Sarah McKim, a native of Racine, Wis., who bore him six children, and died May 20, 1881, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. August 31, 1882, Mr. Briggs married Mrs. Anna (Van Meter) Briggs, a native of Cass County, and the mother of four children by her first husband. In politics, Mr. Briggs is a Democrat, and for the past ten years has been Assessor of the township ; he is a member of the Baptist Church and his wife of the Methodist.
JOHN V. BROWN was born in Hocking County, Ohio, July 15, 1846, and is the second of the seven children born to Simpson and Char- lotte (Beck) Brown, natives respectively of Virginia and Germany. At the age of ten, Simpson Brown was taken by his parents to Ohio. In
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ROUND GROVE TOWNSHIP.
1840, he settled in Hocking County, where he farmed on shares ; in 1852, he moved to Franklin County, and thence in 1855 to Cass County, Ind .; thence, in 1857, to Fulton County ; thence to Tippecanoe County in 1866, and then, 1872, to this township, where he died March 19, 1876, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John V. Brown remained with his father until February, 1865, when he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served un- til August, 1865. On his return, he farmed on shares in Tippecanoe County until the spring of 1872, when he came to this township and bought a 160-acre farm of unimproved land, which, thoroughly improved, constitutes his present farm. February 24, 1875, he married Charlotte H. Warner, a native of La Fayette, Ind., who has borne him four children, three of whom are yet living-Addie M., Jennie M. and Effie B. In pol- itics, Mr. Brown is a Republican, and for one term served as Township Trustee ; he is a member of the Pine Grove Horse-Thief Detective Asso- ciation, and he and wife are members of the Free-Will Baptist Church.
PETER BURNS was born in County Meath, Ireland, in 1828 ; is the youngest of the four children born to Lawrence and Ann Burns, and was left an orphan when but three years old. He was reared by an aunt until he reached his teens, and was then employed until twenty-two, mostly at farm labor. In 1850, he came to the United States and settled at La Fayette, Ind., where for a few months he was employed on what is now the C., C. & I. Railroad, and afterward on a farm until October, 1861, when he enlisted in Company E, Thirty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out in December, 1864, having taken part in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Resaca, the Atlanta campaign, and many other engagements of lesser importance. After his return, he farmed on shares in Benton, Warren and White Coun- ties, until April, 1878, when he bought 160 acres of land in this township, his present home. September 13, 1867, he married Margaret M. Clark, a native of Scotland, and daughter of James and Mary (Fie) Clark, her father being one of the earliest settlers of Tippecanoe County. To Mr. and Mrs. Burns have been born ten children, of whom four boys and three girls are still living. In politics, Mr. Burns is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Catholic Church.
PHILANDER L. BUSH was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., August 28, 1837, and is one of the five living children born to William S. and Jane (Kilgore) Bush, natives of Marion County, Ind., and Ohio re- spectively. The parents of William S. Bush were pioneers of Tippecanoe County, and there the latter was reared from childhood, was married, and there he died, in 1850, on his homestead, which bore the name of the Mound farm, near Dayton. P. L. Bush was but thirteen years old when
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his father died ; he then removed with the family to Green County, Wis., and was employed at farming five years ; he commenced to learn black- smithing, but abandoned it at the end of four months, and in the fall of 1855 returned to Tippecanoe County, and served an apprenticeship at hatting, in La Fayette, of two and a half years. He then engaged in farming in various parts of Indiana and Illinois until the fall of 1875, when he came to this township and bought eighty acres of wild land and developed a farm, on which he still lives. November 24, 1861, he mar- ried Lydia A. Morris, a native of Tippecanoe County, who has borne him nine children, seven still living. In politics, Mr. Bush is a Democrat, and for the past five years has been a Justice of the Peace of the township ; in 1882, he was nominated as County Commissioner, but his office pre- cluded his acceptance of the honor offered him by his party.
A. JACKSON DERN, M. D., was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, August 24, 1853, and is the fifth of the nine children born to Ethan R. and Zelda (Shafer) Dern, both natives of Fairfield County, both descend- ants of Revolutionary ancestors of Dutch extraction, and respectively born February 10, 1821, and December 19, 1828. Ethan R. Dern, at the age of thirteen, lost his father, when the support of his widowed mother and several younger brothers and sisters devolved mainly on him. He worked as a laborer on farms and on a canal for several years, and after his marriage, June 26, 1846, farmed on shares for a time; he then bought 160 acres in Fairfield County, but in 1855 sold out and came to Carroll County, Ind., bought 160 acres, on which he resided just twenty- one years, and in 1876 came to Union Township, this county, and bought the farm of 200 acres on which he now lives. A. J. Dern received an excellent education at the common schools, the Frankfort Academy and Asbury University. At the age of nineteen, he began teaching during the winter and attended school the remainder of the year for several sea-
sons. In 1875, he commenced the study of medicine, and in 1876 took an extensive tour through the East and South, including the Centen- nial Exposition. In April, 1877, he entered the office of Dr. S. R. Cowger, of Monticello, and read medicine until March, 1879, in the meantime attending lectures at the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincin- nati. In March, 1880, he located in this township, where he has now a good practice, and in February, 1881, was appointed Postmaster at Dern, where he also started a grocery in the spring of the same year. Septem- ber 23, 1879, he married Amanda Young, a native of Pulaski, Ind., born January 18, 1857, and the youngest of the thirteen children born to Daniel and Amelia (Payne) Young, both natives of Pennsylvania. The .Doctor had born to him, May 13, 1881, a son, christened Guy. In politics, Dr. Dern is a Republican, and both he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as are his parents.
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