Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical, Part 69

Author: F.A. Battey & Co; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, F.A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 796

USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 69
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 69

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

JOHN T. REES, son of John and Elizabeth (Reinhart) Rees, was born in this township April 7, 1844. He attended at the first school- house erected in this township, and was schooled about three months in the year for several terms, employing himself in the summer at farming and herding until about twenty years of age. January 24, 1867, he married Margaret A. Day, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Haines) Day, and to this union there have been born five children-Salemina, Charles R. (deceased), Lillie B., Susan (deceased) and William. After his marriage, Mr. Rees farmed on rented land until the fall of 1874, when his father's estate was divided, and of this he received sixty-nine acres, on which he is now living and doing general farming. Mr. Rees is a Democrat and an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife is a member.

SOLOMON REISH, SR., is the son of Peter and Susanna Reish. His father was born on the high sea while his parents were coming from England to America ; his mother was a Pennsylvania German, and Solo- mon was born in Berks County, Penn., January 4, 1811. January 8, 1832, he married Lydia Stees, born March 17, 1811, and daughter of David and Susan (Kline) Stees, and to his union with her were seven children born-Emanuel, October 8, 1832; Charles, May 17, 1835;

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Solomon, January 16, 1838 (deceased) ; Samuel, March 16, 1840 (de- ceased) ; Susan E .; John S., December 15, 1847, and Elvina A., January 17, 1851. In 1844, Mr. Reish moved to Ohio, lived on rented land seven years, and in 1851 moved to Huntington County, Ind., where he kept hotel until 1853, and then came to White County, where he bought a farm on the banks of the Tippecanoe River, and resided seven- teen years. He then sold and came to Indian Creek Township, this county, where he engaged in saw and grist milling for three years, and then came to Francesville, bought a house and lot, which he subsequently traded for forty acres in same town, built the house in which he now lives, and is now doing general farming. His family are all members of the Free-Will Baptist Church.

SOLOMON REISH, JR., son of Solomon and Lydia (Stees) Reish, was born in Pennsylvania, January 16, 1838, and when about fifteen years of age came to White County, this State, with his father. He was reared to farming, and learned the carpenter's trade, and assisted his father until July 9, 1857, when he married Nancy Turner, the daughter of David and Temperance (Judy) Turner. There were born to this union four children-Mary J. (deceased), Charles W., Annetta and Lydia E. In 1864, he was drafted into the army, and assigned to Company E,

Twenty-fifth Indiana Infantry. He had been in a few fights, and was then detailed to bridge-building, and while thus engaged received a fall, July 22, 1865, which resulted in death. He was buried at Nashville, Tenn. His widow then came to Pulaski County, and purchased a home in Fran- cesville. Her daughters are both teachers in the public schools, and the son is learning to be a machinist. The family are members of the Pres- byterian Church.

JAMES H. ROSS was born in Clarke County, Ohio, January 22, 1823, the son of Elijah and Mary (Houston) Ross, the former born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1785, and the latter in Maryland about 1780. About 1831, the family moved to Pickaway County, where the father died about 1835. James H. Ross learned cabinet-making, and then went into the milling business with his brother, William L. June 26, 1843, he married Harriet A., daughter of John and Anna Ross, of Montgomery County, Ohio, and to this union were born thirteen children-Robert M., born May 2, 1846, died July 8, 1346 ; John F., born March 26, 1848, died August 23, 1848; Mary B., born July 3, 1849 ; William A., May 1, 1851. died March 15, 1852; James F., born March 26, 1853; Ida E., November 11, 1855; Addie A., January 18, 1857 ; Clara M., July 11, 1859; Asbury L., October 28. 1862; Lanson E., May 10, 1864, died in August, 1865; Edwin A., born January 8, 1865, died August 9, 1867; Albert C., born September 18, 1867; and Joseph W., October

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31, 1869. Mr. Ross and brother soon relinquished milling, and went to Auglaize County, and for four years ran a woolen factory. After various other changes of locality and business, Mr. Ross, in April, 1880, came to this township, and purchased a 320-acre oil-well farm. Here his wife was taken ill, and died January 25, 1882, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Ross now resides in Francesville, and is con- ducting a real estate business, under the firm name of Ross & Haymond. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1882; is a Republican, a Master Mason, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

BENJAMIN G. SEVERANCE was born in Boone County, Ky., July 9, 1829. His parents, Elisha and Elizabeth (Ganson) Severance, were natives, respectively, of Massachusetts and New York. The family moved to Decatur County, Ind., when our subject was but a child, and when he was about fifteen both parents died, and a year later his only brother. December 2, 1852, he married Miss Surrilda J. Ensley, of Shelby County, Ind., who was born October 26, 1831. To this union were born the following-named children: Luther B., born August 23, 1854 ; Mary E., May 2, 1856, died October 23, 1857 ; Will E., born June 6, 1858, and twin sister, deceased September 6, 1858; and twin boys born May 9, 1860, died July 20, 1860; Ida A., born October 8, 1861 ; Cora B., April 8, 1869; and Laura J., July 28, 1870. About 1853, Mr. Severance moved to Bartholomew County, and in 1871 came to this township, and settled on 160 acres of wild land. March 25, 1873, Mrs. Severance died, a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Severance joined Hope Lodge, Hope, Ind., A., F. & A. M., in 1852, and in politics he is a Republican.

WILLIAM SHORTRIDGE was born in Fayette County, Ky., December 16, 1825. His parents, Samuel and Eleanor (Hulls) Short- ridge, were respectively born in Virginia in 1785, and in Pennsylvania in 1796. William attended school, and worked for his father until the latter's death, in December, 1844, when he took charge of the farm. November 19, 1846, he married Elizabeth L., the daughter of James and Ara Ann (Pelly) McCormack, and born in Fayette County November 23, 1826. There have been born eight children to this marriage-Mary H., September 6, 1847 ; James S., April 12, 1849, died October 22, 1850 ; Massie J., born April 2, 1851; George F., February 26, 1853; Jessie E., December 16, 1856; Elizabeth A., November 10, 1858 ; Clara C., October 25, 1860 died September 4, 1861; and Ella D., born March 24, 1865, died September 25, 1865. Mr. Shortridge engaged in farm- ing at various points until about 1871, when he came to this county, farmed for awhile, and then settled in Francesville, where he engaged in stock-dealing and general trade. In 1876, he was appointed to fill &

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vacancy as Justice of the Peace; in the same year, his wife started a mil- linery and dress-making establishment, and is doing a good business. Mr. Shortridge is an Odd Fellow, and up to 1876 was a Republican, but is now an active Greenbacker. He attends the Christian Church, of which his wife is a member. Mrs. Shortridge's father was born in Pennsyl- vania, February 18, 1805, and her mother in Maryland January 13, 1804.

GEORGE W. STALNAKER, son of Elijah and Mary (Wilcox) Stal- naker, was born in Putnam County, Ohio, April 24, 1842. The father died when George was but nine years of age, and consequently the latter was compelled to aid his mother in the management of the farm, to the neg- lect of his early education. In 1862, he volunteered in Company K, Ninety-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, his mother having moved to near Logan, this State. He took part in all the engagements in which his regiment fought, and at Atlanta was taken prisoner. He was incar- cerated in different prisons, and at Andersonville suffered beyond descrip- tion for eight months. After being paroled, he was taken to his mother's home, where he remained two weeks before he could realize where he was. After his recovery, he was sent to Columbus, Ohio, where he was mus- tered out. April 28, 1865, he married Barbara A. Hanselman, daughter of John and Mary J. (Flowers) Hanselman, and to this union were born six children-Edward R., January 13, 1867 ; William A., September 26, 1869; Mary E .. June 4, 1871; Emma E., September 30, 1874; Nettie A., June 2, 1878, and George H., June 8, 1831 (who died March 3, 1882). Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Stalnaker came to this town- ship, and purchased a farm of forty acres, and here he resided until his death, May 3, 1882, after a lingering illness. He was an Odd Fellow, and an honest, upright man. His widow, with her family, still resides on the farm. She is the Treasurer of Lodge 175, Daughters of Rebecca, Francesville, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

THEODORE F. STOKES is the son of William and Sarah (Laskey) Stokes. The father was born in Philadelphia February 4, 1779, and the mother in the same city February 3. 1783. They were married by Bishop White in Christ Church, Philadelphia, November 12, 1801, and Theodore was born January 2, 1822. At the age of fourteen Theodore began clerking in the first domestic hardware store started in Philadel- phia, and remained until 1841. He then came West and started a gen- eral store at Winamac for W. Brown & Son. June 15, 1843, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Wyatt) Phipps, and to this union have been born five children-William B., Emma W., Rufus B., Sarah E. and Schuyler C. The mother of Mrs. Stokes died in Ohio, in 1835, and the father subsequently married Margaret Gotshall, and came with her and his children to this county when it was quite a wilderness.

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In 1852, Mr. Stokes was appointed the first station agent of the L., N. A. & C. R. R. Co. at Francesville, and retained the position until 1861; he was then appointed to a first-class clerkship in the Land Office at Wash- ington, D. C., and has now reached the fourth class, the highest in this department. He has passed all the chairs of the Odd Fellows order. His first vote was cast for Henry Clay for President. Mrs. Stokes is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. S. is an attendant of the same.

STEPHEN THRASHER was born in Marion County, Ind., April 2, 1841. His parents, Josiah and Elizabeth (Clarke) Thrasher, were born in 1815 and 1821, respectively, and were married, March 17, 1836, in Rush County, Ind. At the age of fourteen, Stephen began an appren- ticeship with his father at carpentering, and worked with him until June, 1861, wlien he enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth Indiana Volunteer In- fantry. He took part in the fight at Greenbrier, West Virginia, then in the battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth ; the fight at Stone River, where his regiment charged the ford ; he was at Chattanooga and with Sheridan's division at Mission Ridge and then at Knoxville. He was mustered out at Indianapolis June 25, 1864, and then came to Salem Township. Sep- tember 27, 1865, he married Rachael A., the daughter of William and Mary A. (Cartright) Gordon, and to this union have been born five chil- dren-Britamoote, Cyrus, Minnie (deceased), Mary (deceased) and Carrie L. Mr. Thrasher farmed four years and then sold out and moved to Francesville, bought a lot and built a dwelling and shop and resumed business as carpenter and builder. Mr. T. is a Master Mason, and a member of the G. A. R., and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

WILLIAM S. VALENTINE was born in New York City April 20, 1806, and is the son of Charles and Rachel (Hopkins) Valentine, natives of Long Island. His youthful days were passed partly on his father's farm on Long Island and partly in the city, where he learned tailoring and followed the business for a number of years. About 1829, he mar- ried Emily L. Bull, who bore him four children-Clarence William, Frederick F. (deceased), an infant son who died unnamed, and Marie E. Having lost his wife, Mr. V. came to Logansport in 1858, but soon re- turned to the East, and married at Newark, N. J., in March, 1859, Mar- garet P. Chadwick (widow of Thomas Chadwick), daughter of Nathan and Ann (Berry) Pickles, and mother of six children-John (deceased), Sarah Ann, Tabitha, Mary, Margaret and Alice (deceased). Mr. Valen- · tine then came back to Logansport and began hunting, in a short time realizing $300. He then came to Winamac, this county, where he kept hotel until 1842, when he left the place in charge of his son and came to Francesville and again engaged in hunting and shipping birds. He built

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a large freezing house, with a capacity for six hundred dozen birds, and he now buys all he can, freezes them and ships them to New York and other markets. He is now seventy-seven years of age and is still con- sidered one of the best marksmen in the county. He has a fine dwelling, with ample storehouses and other outbuildings, and his business continues to thrive. Mrs. Valentine is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

CAPT. CARTER L. VIGUS is the son of Cyrus and Alazand C. (Heth) Vigus. The father, a soldier in the war of 1812, was born in Old Virginia September 4, 1793, and the mother in Pennsylvania some twelve years later. They were married in Harrison County, Penn., about 1822; were proprietors of a hotel at Corydon, and there Carter was born September 27, 1829. When quite young, Carter was brought to Logansport by his parents, who there kept a hotel for a number of years. In 1846, he enlisted in the First United States Mounted Rifles, served through the Mexican war, and on his return engaged in mercantile pur- suits and farming. June 23, 1851, he married Eliza J., daughter of Capt. John Douglass, of Logansport, and to this union have been born six children-Henry W., Belle E., Elizabeth B. (deceased), Henrietta H., Carrie D. and Ada E. (deceased). At the outbreak of the late war, he went out as Second Lieutenant of Company D, Ninth Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, for three months' service, and was appointed Regimental Quartermaster. On his return, he raised a company and went out as Captain of Company B, Fifty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for one year's service. While in the field, his wife died, in the summer of 1863. After his return, he again went out, Captain of Company G, One Hun- dred and Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He had been wounded at the battle of Cerro Gordo April 17, 1847, but passed through all his engagements during the rebel- lion unharmed. He resided at Logansport until about 1868, when he came to Francesville and adopted the life of a hunter and dealer in game. August 15, 1869, he married Laura H., daughter of Dr. Robert and . Mary (Howard) Mattingly. The Captain is a member of the G. A. R., and is a Republican. He and wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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HARRISON TOWNSHIP.

W. R. BALLINGER was born in Miami County, Ohio, August 19, 1825, and is one of the seven children of Benjamin T. and Nancy (Lightfoot) Ballinger, natives respectively of Tennessee and Ohio. In April, 1839, the family came to this county and located on the south side of the Tippecanoe River, two miles above Winamac. At his majority, W. R. Ballinger left his father's farm and started on his own account on rented land, and two years later purchased a farm three miles south of Winamac. December 7, 1848, he married Miss Susanna Sutton, born in Darke County, Ohio, May 13, 1831, and daughter of John and Mary Sutton, who came to this county in March, 1840. This lady became the mother of one son, who died in infancy. Mr. B. lived on his seventy- five-acre farm for nine years, and then exchanged it for 180 acres of his present farm in this township, which he has greatly improved and in- creased to 188 acres. In 1862, he was elected Trustee of his township, and in 1866 elected Sheriff of the county, and two years later re-elected. He has served as member of the Democratic Central Committee for a number of years. He is a Master Mason and an Odd Fellow, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

ISAAC H. BARKER was born in Delaware April 16, 1831, and is one of the seven children of Caleb and Prudence (Barker) Barker, both natives of said State and of Irish extraction. Caleb Barker, a farmer, came to this county January 1, 1844, pre-empted forty acres of wild land, erected a round-log cabin, increased his estate to 140 acres, and here died in 1873, aged seventy-two years. Mrs. Prudence Barker died in 1880, aged seventy-five years. Both were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Isaac H. Barker was reared on the farm, receiving his early education at a schoolhouse three miles distant. He was mar- ried, at the age of twenty-three, to Miss Margaret Burk, of Carroll Coun- ty, Ind., daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Givens) Burk, and born Decem- ber 31, 1832. There were born to this union nine children-Sarah J. (deceased), Thomas E., Caleb W., John H., Margaret E., Isaac F., Clara C., Oliver M. and Lucy P. In the spring of 1855, Mr. Barker leased a farm in Van Buren Township, on which he lived seven years. He then came to this township and purchased forty acres. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, took part in the fights at Chappel Hill, Resaca, Atlanta, Jonesboro and other points. Was with Gen. Sherman on his grand march ; was in hospital

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a year, and was mustered out June 15, 1865. He is now owner of eighty-six acres of good land, well improved. He was Trustee of Van Buren Township, and was Road Supervisor a number of terms. He is an active member of the National party, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN F. BORDERS was born in Darke County, Ohio, July 22, 1833, the second of the seven children of Wesley and Sarah W. (Edson) Borders, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. The family came to Miami County, Ind., in 1836, entered land, and remained there twelve years, and then came to this township. In 1862, the father and a portion of the family moved to Kansas, where he is now a leading farmer and stock-raiser, at the age of seventy-five. At the age of twenty- one, John F. Borders began farming on rented land, and so continued until 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Forty-sixth Indiana Volun- teer Infantry. At the expiration of one year, he was honorably dis- charged, when he returned and purchased a piece of land. In the winter of 1864, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, returning in September, 1865. He then rented a planing mill on Mill Creek, and for three years did a good business. In the spring of 1869, he moved upon his land, and, although he began with nothing, has now a farm of 160 acres, of which seventy-five are well improved. He was married, September 9, 1855, to Miss Nancy, daughter of William and Jane (Kain) Benefield, who came to this county in 1847. Mrs. Borders was one of eleven children, and was born in Delaware County, Ind., in 1837. She has borne her husband ten children-Burlingame, Minerva, Almina, Martha, Frank, Ada, Warren, Walter, Frederick and Charlie. Mr. Borders was elected Township Trustee in 1863, and again in 1882, and has also served as Supervisor and School Director.

HENRY BRUCE was born in Union County, Penn., January 7, 1812, one of the eight children of Stephen and Elizabeth Bruce, natives of the same State, and of Scotch and German extraction. The family came to Fulton County, this State, in the fall of 1836, and were the first white settlers of Union Township. Henry Bruce, reared a farmer, was married in January, 1833, to Catharine Raraich, of Union County, Penn. She died in 1834, leaving one son-John. In January, 1835, Mr. Bruce married Catharine Miller, of Lancaster County, Penn. She was born in 1817, and became the mother of ten children, of whom six are now living-George, Frances M., Benival, Fiana, Abbie and Emeline. Mr. Bruce resided in Fulton County but a short time, and then went to Carroll County, where he engaged in hauling lumber ; two and a half years later, he came to this township, moved into the Indian trading-

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house, and lived there six years. He ran a breaking-team through the summer season, and hunted in winter for ten consecutive years. In breaking, he used from seven to eleven yoke of oxen, hitched to a 30-inch plow, and received $1.50 to $3.00 per acre, breaking from two to three and three-quarter acres per day. He was a wonderful fisherman, and has caught pike weighing as high as twenty-four and three-quarter pounds. He entered his first land in 1843, and now owns in one body 555 acres, which he occupies as his home farm, besides 115 acres of timber land in Fulton County, and is now worth upward of $23,000.

DANIEL BRUCE, a native of Centre County, Penn., was born June 6, 1836, the eldest of the eleven children of Abraham and Sarah A. (Hoch) Bruce, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish and German descent. The family came to Fulton County, Ind., in the fall of 1836, locating near what is now known as Bruce's Lake. There they resided, enduring all the hardships of pioneer life, for several years, when they came to Winamac, where the father worked as a blacksmith for five years, and then went to live on his 80-acre farm, which he had pre-empted in 1836. This he increased to 1,000 acres, 800 of which were in one body. After a long and useful life, he died August 21, 1874 ; his widow is still living on the homestead, aged sixty-six. Daniel Bruce, at the age of twenty-one, with a purse of $50, began life by working the home farm on shares. He was married in October, 1857, to Miss Sarah E., daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth Hiser. She is a native of Fulton County ; was born in November, 1839, and has borne her husband nine children, of whom five still live-Naomi E. (wife of William A. Light), Emma Alice, James O., Manoah M. and Cora V. Mr. Bruce located on part of his present farm in 1861. August 11, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany E, Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry ; went into camp at South Bend, and was mustered in at Indianapolis, August 31. He was detailed as teamster ; was mustered out at Washington, and discharged at Indianapolis, June 24, 1865. He then resumed his farming, and now owns 460 acres, and is worth at least $15,000. He is a Republican, and both he and wife are prominent members of the Evangelical Church.

JACOB A. DEPOY was born in Fayette County, Ohio, July 22, 1829, and is one of the six children born to William and Maria (Purnell) Depoy, both natives of Rockingham County, Va., and of French, Ger- man and English extraction. The parents settled in Fayette County in the fall of 1824; in November, 1850, they moved to .Howard County, Ind .; in 1860, they came to this county, locating at Star City, and finally came to this township, where they died at the home of our subject in the spring of 1870, aged, respectively, seventy-three and sixty-nine years. Jacob A. Depoy was reared a farmer, but after his majority learned to be

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a carpenter. He married, December 2, 1852, Miss Cyrena J. Marcum, born in Darke County, Ohio, October 3, 1832, and daughter of Josiah and Rachel (Penny) Marcum, natives of Tennessee and North Carolina. By this marriage there were born to Mr. Depoy ten children, six now living-Amanda J., William S., Harriet E., James L., Frank D. and Harry E. Mr. Depoy followed farming in Howard County until 1860, when he came to Indian Creek Township, this county, purchased eighty acres of land, and lived here two years; then he returned to Howard, where he worked at his trade two years; then came back to this county, sold his land in Indian Creek, and bought ninety-one acres in this town- ship. This land he has highly improved, and has erected a fine, large frame dwelling. He is a Republican, and was Township Trustee in How- ard County. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.

GEORGE S. DOUGLASS was born in Cass County, Ind., January 23, 1844, and is one of the six children born to Joseph and Susan (Keith) Douglass, natives, respectively, of Ohio and Tennessee. George S. was educated at the common schools ; was reared a farmer, and at his major- ity began on his own account, farming on the homestead as a renter. He was married in December, 1869, to Miss Emma, daughter of Samuel and Charity (Thomson) Horn, and a native of Highland County, Ohio, and born in 1847. Three children have blessed this union-Jessie, Gra- cie and Joseph. Mr. Douglass came to his present home in this township in 1870, finding very fair buildings and fences, but he has since erected a large frame dwelling, and made other corresponding improvements. His farm comprises 180 acres, which are well improved. He is an active Republican, and in 1878 was elected Township Assessor. Both he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical, Part 69

Author: F.A. Battey & Co; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, F.A. Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 796

Author: F.A. Battey & Co; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, F.A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 796