USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 67
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 67
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C. D. WOOD, proprietor of the Winamac Mills, was born August 27, 1846, in Darke County, Ohio. His grandparents, John and Eliza- beth (Harper) Wood, were natives of the Old Dominion and were born respectively May 27, 1770, and December 24, 1774. They were the parents of a family of thirteen sons and four daughters, the tenth born being Jacob Wood, father of the subject of this sketch. His birth occurred May 9, 1809, and December 15, 1831, he was married in Montgomery County, Ohio, to Nancy Bartmess, who was born in Washington County, Md., in the year 1813. Mrs. Wood's father, Philip Bartmess, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1770, and his father, John Bartmess, was a native of Germany. Jacob Wood and family moved from Ohio to Jasper County, Ind., in 1861, and from there to Pulaski, Pulaski County, in 1869, where he amassed a comfortable fortune. He was a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he died October 7, 1875. His widow is yet living, and resides with her son, C. D. Wood, in Wina- mac. The subject of this biography learned the miller's trade in his father's mill, at Pulaski, and in 1877, he and his brother purchased the steam mills in Winamac, and engaged actively in the manufacture of flour ; at the present he is entirely alone. (For a more detailed account of this business see history of Winamac.) Mr. Wood is one of five living children in a family of eight ; was reared in Ohio and Indiana, receiving an academical education, and has been twice married. First in 1872 to Miss Hannah Brown, who died April 10, 1879. He was married to his present wife, Miss Sarah Frain, September 3, 1882. He is a Repub- lican in politics, a member of the Royal Arcanum, and one of Winamac's best business men. The family name " Wood," originated in England many generations back, and was derived from the occupation of the pro- genitor, who was a keeper of the King's woods.
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MONROE TOWNSHIP.
J. K. BOYLES is a native of Ohio, and was born October 19, 1835. He is the son of James and Rachel (Campbell) Boyles, the former a native of Washington County, and the latter of Fayette County, Penn., and of Irish and Scotch descent respectively. They moved to Cass County, in 1842, and to Pulaski County, in 1864, locating in Monroe Township, where they died, the father aged eighty years, one month and ten days. J. K. Boyles was married at Loganspart,'to Miss Emma Julian, March 31, 1864. She is a native of Clinton County, and her parents, Nathan and Rachel (Baker) Julian, were long residents of Cass County, where they died, near Logansport. For the first year after marriage, Mr. Boyles rented his father's farm, and then bought eighty acres in this township. Of this he has sold eighteen acres. He owns forty acres in Starke County, Ind., and five acres of timber on Section 16, this town- ship. Mr. Boyles was for ten years Superintendent of the County Farm of Pulaski. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church and parents of seven children-Francis X. (deceased), Albert E., Martha M. (de- ceased), Ernest J., Myrtle A., Victor G., and Lucy M. (deceased).
J. G. BOYLES is a native of Stark County, Ohio, and is the son of James and Rachel Boyles. His earlier years were principally passed in Cass County, Ind., where he fitted himself for surveying and civil en- gineering. April 9, 1862, in Cass County, he was married to Mrs. Mary A. Campbell, a native of Stark County, Ohio, and daughter of Philip and Veronica Ames. To this union have been born seven chil- dren-William C., Mary E. (deceased), Frances E., Amand E., Edgar X., James P. and Agnes S. Mr. Boyles began housekeeping in Cass County, on twenty acres of land, on which was a saw mill, which he operated three years, and then sold and came to this township and located on his present farm of sixty acres. He owns, besides, forty acres in Starke County, and two forty-acre lots in Monroe Township, and two lots in Francesville. He was elected County Surveyor in 1870, and has filled the position ever since, with the exception of two terms, when he was Assistant. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church.
ALBERT DAVENPORT was born near Sandusky, Ohio, the third in a family of three sons and two daughters born to John and Paulina (Pratt) Davenport, natives respectively of Vermont and Sandusky Coun- ty, Ohio. The mother died in Sandusky County. The father married again, and came to what is now Pulaski County August 19, 1837, when
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Albert was in his sixth year, locating on part of what now constitutes his farm. Our subject attended the school taught by Miss Nancy Chapman, the first teacher in the county. He was married in December, 1860, to Miss E. Amanda Bingaman, a native of Carroll County, Ind., of which her parents were pioneers. Mr. D. and wife began housekeeping on eighty acres he had purchased of his father, to which he has added until he now owns 479 acres of choice land. Mr. Davenport is a Democrat, and has had great experience in the affairs of this township, being one of its earliest occupants.
J. M. KLINE is a native of Union County, Penn., and was born in 1835. His parents were John and Mary Kline, and were natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. The father died on the old farm in his native State. J. M. Kline remained on the farm until grown. He was married to Miss Mary A. Pawling, a native of Pennsylvania, and to this marriage were born six children-Howard P., James B., Joseph J., Mary I., Stella M. and Charles A. Mr. Kline, after his marriage, bought a saw and grist mill which he ran ten years, then sold and came to his present place in this township in 1866. His farm contains 320 acres, and is one of the finest in the township. He raises wheat largely, and handles stock liberally. Mr. Kline is a Democrat, and has served as Township Trustee for four years. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.
JAMES MULVANY is a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1838, and is the fifth in a family of seven children born to James and Ann Mulvany, natives of Ireland, who came to America after they had attained their majority and were here married. They came to this county in 1841, and settled in the wilds on what is now our subject's farm, and here passed away their days. James Mulvany, from the age of three, was reared in this township. He was married in this county to Mary Roark, a native of Indiana, and he and wife have resided on their present place ever since. Mr. Mulvany now owns about 100 acres, having purchased the heirship of a sister. He has good frame buildings and all the comforts of life. They are members of the Catholic Church.
JOSEPH SHIELDS, Superintendent of the County House, was born near Star City, this county, September 6, 1847, and is the youngest in a family of five children born to Joseph and Eleanor (Klinger) Shields. The father was born in Ohio May 21, 1807, and was of Irish descent ; the mother, born in Pennsylvania in December, 1813, was of German descent. Joseph Shields remained at home up to his seventeenth year, when he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry, and served about two years and three months,
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taking part in the battles of Nashville, Franklin, Atlanta and a number of others. He was discharged at Raleigh, N. C., and was mustered out at Indianapolis. He was married in Pulaski County, near Medarysville, to Miss Diana F. Baker, a native of Ohio, who has borne him four chil- dren-Joseph E. (deceased), John C., Minnie and Maud. He lived in and about Medarysville until April, 1881, and at that time came to the County Farm, where he has since acted as Superintendent. His time will expire in April, 1844.
JAMES STOTTS is a native of Elkhart County, Ind. He was reared in the vicinity of Goshen until twenty-five years old, when he married Miss Caroline Stotts, and three years later came to this county, and purchased his present farm, in about 1857. He owns 190 acres, of which 150 are under fence, and hay and wheat claim his chief attention. He has had born to him five children-Martha, Alice, Ozias, Bertha and Guy.
JOHN WOODRUFF (deceased) was a native of Orange County, N. Y., and was born January 16, 1827. At the age of fourteen, he went to New York City, and began learning wood-turning, but at the age of eighteen abandoned the business and went into a saw-mill. He after- ward moved to Philadelphia, where he entered another mill, which he ran till about 1857, when he closed out and came to Logansport, where he was married, December 20, 1860, to Miss Harriet Barnett, a native of Logansport, who bore him five children-Lawrence, Lizzie, Harrison, Charles B. and Nannie. At Logansport, he conducted a mill until 1863, when he disposed of his property and came to this township, purchased eighty acres of land, which he improved and increased to one hundred and eighty acres, and for many years ran a mill on the river bank near his house. Mr. Woodruff met with an accident which ended his life, March 19, 1881, by falling from the railroad bridge that spans the Tip- pecanoe River near the family home. He was a useful citizen, and his death was deeply deplored. His widow and children still conduct the farm and all the business.
R. W. ZELLERS is a native of Snyder, formerly Union County, Penn., and was born February 22, 1831. He came here with his parents in 1848, and remained with them until grown to manhood. He was mar- ried in this county to Miss Jane Conn, a native of Marion, now Crawford County, Ohio. Mrs. Zellers died in 1878, the mother of eight children- John, Harriet E., Henry, Benjamin, Louisa C., Warren R., Mary E. and William. Mr. Zellers and wife began keeping house on eighty acres, three miles west of Winamac; this land is now rented out. He is also owner of another 80-acre farm near Winamac, which is also rented.
B. F. ZELLERS was born in that part of Union now known as Sny-
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der County, Penn., June 15, 1833, and is the son of Henry and Eliza- beth Zellers, also natives of Pennsylvania. The family came to this township in 1848, where the mother died in 1871, and the father in 1875. Mr. Zellers was married in this township to Miss Mary A. Martz, a native of Pennsylvania. Of the children born to this union there are nine living-Sarah J., James A., Margaret M., Elizabeth, Clara B., Hattie, Dora, Nelson and Charlie. Mr. Zellers has resided on his pres- ent farm since 1860; it contains 180 acres, and none in the township can surpass it. He raises grain and deals in stock principally, handling on an average twenty-five to thirty head of cattle. He is at present a member of the Board of Commissioners, having been elected to the office in the fall of 1880.
SALEM TOWNSHIP.
JOHN J. ADAMS was born in England February 27, 1845. His parents died when he was about eight years of age. He attended school until about sixteen, and was then employed for a short time in a dry goods store in London ; he was afterward employed by a pawnbroker in the same city, with whom he remained till twenty-one years of age. In 1866, he came to America and located in Grundy County, Ill., where he worked on a farm. February 2, 1867, he married Fanny, daughter of Lawrence and Isabella (Hannihan) Wills, and born September 30, 1843. To this union five children have been born-Frederick W., December 2, 1868; Sylvia B., September 2, 1870; Annie M. and a twin sister (de- ceased), November 12, 1872, and James E., April 30, 1877. In 1879, Mr. Adams came to this township, purchased eighty acres of land, par- tially improved, and has now a finely improved farm of 160 acres. Mr. Adams and wife are attendants at the M. E. Church, and in politics, he is a Republican.
JOHN C. BREWER was born in North Carolina April 7, 1817, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Cavaness) Brewer, of whom the former was born in North Carolina in 1768, and the latter in Vir- ginia in 1770. When John C. was aged about twelve, his parents came to Morgan County, this State. There our subject worked at the car- penter's trade from the age of seventeen until April 6, 1836, when he married Mary E., daughter of Noah Wilhite, of Oldham County, Ky. To this union were born eleven children-Urban C., June 27, 1837; Parthena A., January 31, 1839; Minerva J., December 6, 1840; Mary E. (deceased), December 12, 1842; William A., March 17, 1845; Cynthia M., April 8, 1848 .; Candace C. (deceased), May 21, 1850 ; John H.,
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December 7, 1852; Theodocia (and a twin sister who died in infancy), November 8, 1855, and Malinda C., October 8, 1858. After his mar- riage, Mr. Brewer engaged in various pursuits until 1857, when he came to White Post Township, this county, where he farmed until 1860; he then came to Francesville, farmed two years; he was then appointed Postmaster under Lincoln, started a general store, and in 1874 was re- appointed Postmaster under Grant, but three years later was compelled to relinquish business on account of ill health. From 1861 to 1863, he kept the Brewer House in Francesville. Mr. B. is a Mason, and he and wife are members of Christian Church. Frederick Cavaness, grand- father of our subject, was born in England and died in North Carolina about 1823; his grandmother was a native of Holland, and died in North Carolina in about 1825.
WILLIAM A. BREWER, son of John C. and Mary E. (Wilhite) Brewer, was born in Morgan County, Ind., March 17, 1845, and there attended school till aged about seventeen, when his father moved his family to White Post Township, this county. William worked on the home farm for awhile and then came to Francesville and clerked for some time. April 15, 1866, he married Margaret M., daughter of Dr. Robert Mattingly, and to this union were born five children-Mary E., January 3, 1867 ; Cora M., March 4, 1869; Robert C., March 4, 1871 : Margaret E., March 5, 1873, and Willie, in January, 1874, at which time Mrs. Brewer died. April 1, 1869, Mr. Brewer was appointed agent for the American Express Company, and he still holds the position ; at the same time he engaged in the lumber business to some extent-his largest sale in one day reaching 130,000 feet of fencing. February 14, 1875, he married Eliza A., daughter of Abraham and Gramilda Ann (Wilson) Dennis, who has borne him five children-Otho D. and Guy D., Sep- tember 9, 1876; Paul B., May 6, 1878; Gramilda, August 13, 1880, and Jennie F., September 4, 1882 (died September 18, 1882). In August, 1878, Mr. Brewer engaged in general merchandising, and has now a fine store well stocked with a full line of dry goods, clothing, hats and caps, boots and shoes, ladies' and gents' furnishing goods, groceries, canned goods, game, etc., etc. Mr. Brewer is a Mason, a member of the Chris- tian Church and a Republican. Mrs. Brewer is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
DR. STEPHEN I. BROWN was born near the town of Pulaski. this county, June 17, 1848. His father, Ira Brown, was born in New Jersey October 30, 1813, and his mother, Sophia (Blew) Brown, in Franklin County, Ind., December 18, 1816. Stephen I. attended school until about sixteen years of age, when he enlisted in Company H, Forty- sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was with his-regiment in all its en-
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gagements. He was mustered out September 12, 1865; returned home and attended school (now the normal) at Valparaiso a year, then taught two winters, and then for two terms attended the Asbury University at Greencastle. Following this he spent a year at home, and then for two years attended Wabash College at Crawfordsville. January 28, 1872, he married Emma M., daughter of Christian and Lucinda (Schlosser) Mes- serly, and born August 8, 1854. To this marriage have been born four children-Gracie, January 29, 1873; Arthur H., January 13, 1875 ; Howard C., June 11, 1880, and Lottie B., August 8, 1882. In 1872, soon after his marriage, he began reading medicine under Dr. D. F. Moss, of Pulaski ; then for two years at the medical college at Indianapolis, whence he graduated in 1875. He then located in Merrillville, Lake County, where he practiced until 1882, and then moved to Medarysville, this county ; he next came to Francesville, bought Dr. Loring's stock of drugs, and formed a copartnership with Dr. Mattingly. The Doctor is a Master Mason ; is a Repulican and an attendant of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which his wife is a member.
DAVID M. BYERS was born in Ashland County, Ohio, January 18, 1836, and was the son of Adam and Mary (Boger) Byers. The family moved to Elkhart County, where David M. attended school, and worked on the home farm. In 1869, he moved to White County, and in about 1871 came to this township, where, March 20, 1873, he married Annie E. Mckinney, daughter of James T. and Catherine H. (Keever) Mckinney, and born November 21, 1853. To this union there were born two children-Effie A., August 30, 1874, and May H., May 26, 1879. He at first bought 150 acres of land in this township, went to farming, and took great interest in stock-raising. In 1875, he bought forty acres adjoining the village of Francesville, and built a good frame house, into which he moved his family. In 1878, he was seized with an illness that lasted until October 13, 1881, when he expired. He was a member of Monon Lodge, No. 208, of Masons, and was buried by that body with full honors. He was also a member of the Lutheran Church, and was greatly respected by all who knew him. Mrs. Byers, with her little ones, resides in the Francesville home, and attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM H. CONN was born in Cass County, Ind., July 10, 1849. His parents, Jesse and Sarah (Gundrum) Conn, were natives of Pennsyl- vania and were respectively born January 26, 1800, and March 2, 1810. The father, a farmer, came to Cass County, this State, about the year 1832; he entered land which he subsequently purchased from the Govern- ment, but soon after the birth of our subject sold and came to Winamac, this county, and started the hotel called the Conn House, and also a gro-
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cery. William H. Conn attended school in winter and assisted his father in summer, until about sixteen; he then worked on a brother's farm for some years, and then with his brother John went to La Crosse, La Porte County, and started a hotel; he next went to Xenia, Ohio, and there ran a restaurant; then returned to Winamac and farmed about a year. April 19, 1874, he married Eliza J., daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Hartelroad) Ginder, and by her became the father of three children- Cecil, born September 19, 1875, and died October 13, 1879; Lillie, born February 1, 1877, and Pearly, March 18, 1881. After his marriage, Mr. Conn again went into the restaurant business at Winamac for about two years; was then in White County for a time, and March 7, 1882, came to Francesville and rented the Commercial Hotel, which he is now successfully managing. He has been also a school teacher; was four years Township Trustee, is a member of the Royal Arcanum and is a Republican.
PEYTON DAVISSON was born in Johnson County, Ind., June 20, 1829. His father, Hezekiah Davisson, was born in Virginia in 1780, and his mother, Hannah (Bristol) Davisson, in Kentucky, Sep- tember 29, 1796. The family moved to Illinois when Peyton was quite young, where he went to school and worked on the home farm until 1848, when the family returned to Indiana and located in Jasper County. In 1856, Peyton came to this township and went into business as cabinet- maker, undertaker and dealer in household furniture at Francesville. October 18, 1860, he married Nancy Jane Comstock, who has borne him four children-Emeline, July 18, 1861; Mary C., April 2, 1867 ; Hettie, November 18, 1872 (now deceased), and Rosa Irena E., April 4, 1874. Mr. Davisson's grandfather was a soldier throughout the Revolu- tionary war, and died at the age of one hundred and four ; Hezekiah Davis- son was a soldier of the war of 1812, and August 15, 1862, Peyton Davisson enlisted in Company G, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and fought at Perrysville, Ky., at Stone River and in various skirmishes. He was taken ill at Readyville, Tenn., and was confined in hospital nearly a year; was transferred to the invalid corps and remained with it until discharged, January 5, 1865; he then came home and resumed his business. He now resides on his farm, adjoining the town on the north.
FRANCIS S. DRAKE, son of Alden and Phytinda (Reynolds) Drake, was born in New Jersey September 4, 1823. When but four years old, Francis was bound out to farmer Leverett Seymour, who sent him to school in the winters till fifteen, keeping him at work in the sum- mers, and holding him until past twenty. June 19, 1844, he married Sarah Langworthy, who became the mother of two children-Emily E. and Julia J., and died May 7, 1851. In March, 1853, Mr. Drake
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moved to Ohio, where he worked in a saw mill, and at bridge-building until December 10, 1854, when he came to Francesville and engaged in carpentering for about two years. September 30, 1856, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Watson) Waples, and to this union have been born six children-Ada L., June 26, 1857; Nathaniel W., April 5, 1859; Edwin L., August 9, 1860; Hester F., December 21, 1863; Millie E., January 1, 1870, and Guy B., December 14, 1875. Mr. Drake kept a hotel in the village about two years, and then purchased a small farm which he has increased to eighty acres. In 1856, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and was again elected in 1880
for four years. His grandfather, Noah Drake, was a soldier of the Revolution ; his father served in the war of 1812, and Mr. Drake himself enlisted in 1862, in Company B, Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry : was at the battle of Chappell Hill, and in 1863 was discharged on account of sickness. He taught school about nine terms in District No. 5, and was the first to teach in the new house in what is now known as that district. He is an Odd Fellow and a Republican, and his wife is a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church.
PETER J. ELDRIDGE is the son of Stephen and Dicey Eldridge, natives of Massachusetts. The parents moved to Stark County, Ohio, at an early day, where, on April 26, 1812, Peter J. was born, twin to a gir !. When but two weeks old, he was adopted by a friend of the family, Mr. Peter Johnston, by whom he was educated and reared to manhood. He was apprenticed to a carpenter, and after learning the trade was mar- ried, February 14, 1831, to Catherine Traxler, who bore him eight children-William, May 14, 1832 ; Daniel, February 15, 1834 (deceased); Henry, June 26, 1836 (deceased) ; Stephen, August 25, 1839 ; Nathan, August 28, 1841; Elizabeth J., August 7, 1843; Thomas, January 25, 1845. September 11, 1848, the mother died and was buried with a newly born boy in her arms. In 1840, Mr. Eldridge moved to Crawford County, Ind., and remained there until 1849. He then moved to Marion County, where he established a steam saw mill. September 14, 1851, he married Maria Countermass, daughter of John H. and Ann (Kint) Countermass, and to this union ten children were born-James, January 31, 1853; Peter, January 31, 1855; Lucinda, March 28, 1857; Ann, July 9, 1859 (deceased) ; Sarah, November 8, 1861; John, April 1, 1864; Elias, January 12, 1866 ; Charles, November 6, 1868; Mary, December 21, 1870, and Joseph, May 29, 1873. In 1857, Mr. Eldridge came to this township, where he had previously purchased 160 acres of wild land, and engaged in farming and in carpentering and house build- ing. In 1875, he lost his dwelling and contents by fire. In 1876, his son Henry was killed accidentally. He and others were out to charivari
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a newly married couple, when the wad of a gun discharged by a nephew entered Henry's body, causing death two weeks after. Mr. E. is a Democrat and has served as School Trustee; he and wife are members of the Free-Will Baptist Church.
STEPHEN ELDRIDGE, son of Peter J. and Catherine (Traxler) Eldridge, was born in Crawford County, Ohio, August 25, 1839. He attended school there in winter and worked with his father at carpenter- ing in summer until 1857, when they came to this township. Here Stephen continued at his trade until the war broke out, when he enlisted in Company I, Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was with Gen. Thomas in all his battles to Atlanta, and was then with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. He was mustered out at Indianapolis, and on returning home resumed his trade. December 22, 1867, he married Caroline, daughter of Nathaniel and Lucinda (Owens) Waples, and to their union were born six children-Charles M. (deceased), Princess E., Francis E., Oregon, Martha L. and Grant E. In 1867, he purchased twenty acres in Section 31, and now owns 260 acres, well improved with good dwelling, barn and other outbuildings. In 1880, he was elected School Director, which position he still holds. In politics, he is a Re- publican.
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