Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 27

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ;
Number of Pages: 962

USA > Indiana > Whitley County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 27
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 27

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).

BLOODY RUN, Bedford Co., Penn., June 20, 1863.

Governor of West Virginia, Wheeling, Va:

I am at this place with nearly half my command, including most of the Twelfth Virginia. Capt. I. B. McDonald, my Commissary, is with me, and is the only staff officer of my command who saved all his papers and money. His conduct in the battles of Sunday and Monday last was most gallant and praiseworthy, and any promotion you can give him would be well deserved and most gratifying to me. He would make a splendid Colonel for my gallant old Third Virginia.

[Signed ] R. H. MILROY, Major General.

He was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel some months later; but, as above stated, returned home in autumn, 1864, after an active military career of three years and four months. He handled millions of dollars of govern- ment property and large sums of money, and has numerous private letters from his superior officers, to whom his accounts were rendered when he resigned, attesting his honesty and fidelity. Col. McDonald takes no greater pride than in exhibiting his many letters from the parents or other relatives of boys whom he cared for during his leisure hours, while they were burning with fever in the hospitals or tortured with agony while lying wounded and helpless on the battle-field. The following letters are two of many. In 1864, a young soldier at Cumberland, Md., by the name of Burton Reynolds, of the Fifteenth New York Cavalry, took sick, and requested Col. McDonald to send for his mother. She came on, but the boy grew worse, and was taken home to New

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York. Mrs. Reynolds was without friends or means, but Col. McDonald gave her money and assisted her in getting her boy home to die. The following is a letter from the mother of the dying young soldier :

CAMILLUS, N. Y., June -, 1864.

Lieut. Col. McDonald :

DEAR SIR-We have delayed writing to you this long, hoping that we might be able to say our son is getting well; but, alas! we fear this is not to be. He is very sick with typhoid fever-seems rapidly passing away. He has spoken of you often ; says he shall ever love you for your kindness to him. To-day he wished that he had a picture of you, that he might never forget your looks. I will not attempt to express our gratitude to you for all that you did for us in that dark and trying hour. If you ever visit New York, don't fail of letting us see you.

Yours, with respect, MRS. G. D. REYNOLDS.

Another letter was received from the same lady, announcing and deploring the death of her boy soldier and repeating her expressions of gratitude and friendship. The following letter, written by the brother of another poor sol- dier boy, who had been kindly cared for by Col. McDonald, explains itself. It will be observed that the writer was once Secretary of the United States Navy :

CLARKSBURG, W. Va., September 8, 1863.

Capt. McDonald :

MY DEAR SIR-I desire to return to you my lasting regards and the sincerest and lasting thanks of my mother, for your unceasing attentions to her during the illness of my brother, and for your many acts of kindness and friendship at his death. I met my mother and Clay's corpse at Grafton, on Sunday, the 6th inst. Owing to your sympathy, kindness and energy, all the necessary arrangements had been made, and much of the grief natural to a fond mother over the death of a son was assuaged by your attentions, gentlemanly deportment and management. We reached home Sunday evening at 5 o'clock P. M. Matters were immediately taken in hand by the military of the place, and Clay was buried by them on Monday morning at 10 o'clock. My father and mother desire to be kindly remembered.

Believe me, Captain, truly your friend, N. GOFF.

These and other letters similar in nature show the sympathy which Col. McDonald had for his suffering and unfortunate fellow-soldiers. Notwithstand- ing the pressure of his duties, he found time to visit the hospitals of pain and cheer the hearts of many poor soldiers with the thought of life and the dear ones at home. He made friends wherever he moved by the sterling qualities of his character. While Commissary of Subsistence, he did all in his power to have an abundance of stores on hand. The following is interesting in this connection :

HEADQUARTERS MILROY'S INDEPENDENT BRIGADE, Woodville, Va., July 31, 1862. To all Whom it may Concern :

Having, from time to time, ever since we have been connected with Gen. R. H. Milroy's Brigade, in Western as well as Eastern Virginia, noticed the constant and untiring efforts, as well as the proper deportment of Capt. Isaiah B. McDonald, C. S., in endeavoring to obtain the necessary supplies for his brigade, we, the Chaplains of the Second and Third Regiments of Virginia Volunteer Infantry, most cheerfully acknowledge the kind appreciation of his success in supplying the wants of both men and officers of the said regiments, of which we have the honor of being Chaplains. Therefore, we feel safe in recommending him to the confidence of all true and loyal men wherever his lot may be cast.

JAMES W. CURRY, Chaplain Third Regiment Virginia Volunteers.

JAMES W. W. BOLTON, Chaplain Second Regiment Virginia Volunteers.

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Mrs. Catharine (Brenneman) McDonald, wife of Col. McDonald, is the second daughter and third child of Abraham and Elizabeth Brenneman, and was born near Lancaster, Penn., July 6, 1827. She went to Champaign County, Ohio, in 1836, but came to Whitley County in 1851. Her marriage with Col. McDonald occurred November 28, 1854, since which time she has resided in Columbia City. She is the mother of four children, all boys, as follows : James Eli McDonald, late teacher of the Columbia City High School, and now half-owner and business manager of the Ligonier Banner. He was clerk of Columbia City, and is now about twenty-seven years of age. Charles Emmett McDonald, second son, is a school teacher, and is at present local editor of the Columbia City Herald. His age is twenty-five. Abraham Carter McDonald, third son, aged seventeen, is now attending the Columbia City High School, and stands well in his classes. Frank Warren McDonald, the fourth and youngest son, is fifteen years of age, is a bright little fellow, and is now learn- ing the printing business. Col. McDonald may justly attribute much of his success in life to the worthy and amiable lady who for so many years has " doubled his pleasures and his cares divided."

E. L. McLALLEN, son of Henry and Frances M. (Lyman) McLallen, was born February 2, 1836, in Tompkins Co., N. Y. His father was of Scotch and his mother of English descent; parents of twelve children, only three of whom survive-Margaret A., the wife of David B. Clugston, of Larwill, and the two sons, E. L. and Henry. From New York the family emigrated to Whitley County, Ind., in 1844. The father was engaged in the grain and commission trade on Cayuga Lake, N. Y., but, after coming to Indiana, turned his attention to farming, and afterward merchandising in Tompkins County, N. Y. He was born August 3, 1808, and died October 30, 1875. Mrs. Mc- Lallen was born in Franklin County, Mass., May 7, 1807, and is yet living in Columbia City. They were married about 1831. During the building of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, E. L. McLallen was one of the corps of civil engineers for that company ; he was engaged in various business affairs in Whitley County until 1874, when, with his brother, he removed to Columbia City and engaged in banking under the firm name of E. L. McLallen & Co. They are among the leading business houses of this city, and have met with deserved success. E. L. McLallen is a prominent member of the Masonic Fraternity, having taken the highest degrees of that order possible in this country.

HENRY McLALLEN was born August 2, 1841, in Trumansburg, N. Y., and came with his parents to Indiana in 1844, where he has since resided. His literary education, like that of his brother E. L., was derived from the schools of that day, combined with home instruction. He took a thorough course in the Indianapolis Business College, and, from 1860 to 1870, was engaged at Larwill by the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & C. R. R. Company. He was then elected Treasurer of Whitley County, and re-elected upon the expiration of his

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term of two years. In 1874, he became a member of the banking firm of E. L. McLallen & Co., in which business he has since been engaged. His wife was Miss Lavinia C. Clugston, to whom he was married June 7, 1866. She was born in New Castle County, Del., June 7, 1842, and died April 14, 1880, leaving a family of four children-Elisha L., Walter F., Henry De Witt and Marshall Carr. Both Mr. McLallen and wife were members of the M. E. Church. Mr. McLallen is an esteemed brother of the Masonic Order, and a member of the Commandery at Fort Wayne. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F., and has passed through both subordinate lodge and Encampment.

WILLIAM E. MERRIMAN came to Whitley County, Ind., from Wayne County, Ohio, in October, 1847, and purchased eighty acres of land in Washington Township. The winter following, he taught school in La Grange County, returning to Whitley County the next spring with the inten- tion of making a permanent home. He was there united in marriage, April 6, 1851, to Miss Marguerite Shavey, a native of France, who was born August 4, 1824. He worked on his place, improving and clearing, until 1859, when he was elected County Clerk of Whitley County by the Democratic party, in which capacity he served for four years, in the meantime selling his property in Washington Township and purchasing land, of which he now owns 315 acres in Union Township, where he removed with his family in April, 1864, and where he still resides. Served as Township Trustee from April 4, 1867, to October 19, 1874. He was elected Representative of Whitley County in October, 1876, and served one term. In April, 1881, he was appointed County Auditor to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William H. Rutter, in which capacity he is now acting. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, September 19, 1822, and is a son of Elisha and Penelope (Emerson) Merriman, who were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and parents of eight children, six yet living. Soon after the marriage of the parents, they emigrated to Wayne County, Ohio, for the purpose of making a home, and located on a farm, while the country was in a very unsettled condition. Here the mother died in May, 1861, at the advanced age of sixty-eight years. Mr. Merriman, after the death of his wife, removed from Wayne County, Ohio, with his children and settled with them in Washington Township, Whitley County, where he passed away at the home of his son James, in October, 1869, aged seventy-eight years. William E. and wife have a family of five children- Origen (deceased), Catherine, Penelope (deceased), James S. and Frank- lin. Two of the children - Catherine and James-are married, and reside in Whitley County. Mr. Merriman is a Democrat, and an honored member of the A., F. & A. M.

ALF MILLER is a native of Stark County, Ohio, and the son of George F. and Elizabeth (Snyder) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland. They came to this State in 1845, settling in Wells County, and four years later moved to Huntington County. In 1856, they went to Iowa; in 1857,

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returned to La Porte County, this State, and in 1858 came to Whitley, where the father died. There were nine children in the family, six of whom are still living, viz., Jeremiah, Jacob, Alexander, our subject, Martha McHenry and Louisa D. Prickett. Our subject learned blacksmithing in this county, which trade he followed for sixteen years, but is now proprietor of the "Occidental Billiard Hall and Saloon," his chief business being the running of his billiard tables, of which he has four, and with which he is doing a fine trade. In 1865, he married Miss Isabelle Cleland, a native of Whitley County, and born March 23, 1848. They have five children, viz .: Willmetta, born in Larwill, Decem- ber 28, 1868; Jacob W., January 12, 1874; Etheline, March 2, 1876 ; Charles, October 13, 1877, all three in Columbia City ; Jeremiah, April 27, 1879, in Huntington County. Mr. Miller is a Mason, and his establishment is carried on with the strictest regard to propriety.

DR. A. P. MITTEN is a native of Knox County, Ohio, where he was born January 19, 1845. His father, James Mitten, was a native of West- minster, Md., a carpenter by trade. He married Sarah A. Price, in Rich- land County, Ohio, after which he moved to Knox County, and in 1845 emi- grated to, Huntington County, Ind., and in 1852 removed to Huntington, where he afterward died in the fifty-sixth year of his age, and where his widow yet resides. Their family consisted of nine children, Dr. A. P. Mitten being the fourth child and first son. He came to Indiana with his parents and re- mained with them until manhood, receiving a good education in the public and select schools of Huntington. In the fall of 1862, he began the study of med- icine with Dr. D. S. Leyman, continuing with him four years. The winter of 1865-66, he attended lectures at Rush Medical College in Chicago, and again in 1866-67, graduating at the close of the term. He then came to Columbia City and formed a partnership with Dr. D. G. Linvill, remaining until the winter of 1872-73, when he went to Bellevue Medical College, New York, taking both a regular and special course ; devoting himself particularly to sur- gery and diseases of women and children, he graduated at that institution, and returned to Columbia City, where has since been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession, in which he is an indefatigable worker. He was married, August 31, 1876, to Sarah E. Linvill, oldest daughter of Dr. D. G. Linvill, his former partner. This lady was born in Columbia City April 11, 1859; is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the mother of one son, Frank Linvill. Dr. Mitten is a Republican, a member of the I. O. O. F., and also of the O. F. Encampment, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a most excellent and honorable man.

GEORGE W. NORTH was born in Pennsylvania February 22, 1844, and is a son of John and Rachel (Sensebaugh) North, who are natives of Penn- sylvania, and parents of eight children, five yet living. They were married in Pennsylvania March 18, 1824, and removed from that State to Stark Co., Ohio, in the spring of 1850. The father, next winter, removed to Indiana,

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and located in Columbia Township, where he purchased 160 acres of land, that that he might give his children better opportunities for beginning life. He was a man of broad and decided views, and confined to no party or creed-a man of honor, and possessed the unbounded confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He filled various offices in the gift of the people of his township satis- factorily, and died November 21, 1879, aged eighty-one years. His widow yet survives, and is a resident of Whitley County. G. W. North came with his parents to Whitley County in 1850, and was reared and educated on the farm, two miles east of Columbia City. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as private; went to the front with his regiment, and participated in the battles of Chickamauga, McLimore's Cove and Resaca ; received a wound in the hand at Resaca, and was severely wounded in the side at Chickamauga, from which he is yet a sufferer. His brother Edward, who enlisted in Company F, One Hundredth I. V. I., died in the service. After he returned from the army, he attended school, taught school and worked on the farm until 1874, when he opened a first-class hard- ware store in Columbia City, which business he has since successfully followed. He was married, in 1869, to Miss A. T. Harley, who died the year following. In January, 1882, Mr. North married his present wife, Miss Anna Rice. He is a Republican and a member of the A., F. & A. M. Like his father, he began life dependent on his own resources, and by his own unaided efforts has attained a position of prosperity and success.

WALTER OLDS was born in Delaware (now Morrow) County, Ohio, August 11, 1846. He is the youngest of eleven children, five of whom are yet living, born to Benjamin and Abigail (Washburne) Olds, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York. They came to Ohio at an early day, where the father died in November, 1862 ; the mother is yet living. Walter Olds availed himself of the advantages of the public and union schools of Mt. Gilead. In July, 1864, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Participating in several severe skirmishes and engagments, he was discharged at the close of the war. After the war, he attended for some time the schools of Columbus, Ohio, and, in 1867, began reading law in the office of Olds & Dickey, of Mt. Gilead. In January, 1869, he was admitted to the bar in the Supreme Court, and, in April, 1869, came to Columbia City and formed a partnership with Hon. A. Y. Hooper (since deceased) in the practice of law. Since coming here, Mr. Olds has devoted himself to the prac- tice of his profession. He is a Republican in politics, and, in 1876, was elected a member of the State Senate, to represent the counties of Whitley and Kos- ciusko. In July, 1873, he was married to Marie J. Merritt, daughter of Zenas L. and Martha L. (Patterson) Merritt, and to them has been born one son- Lee M. Mrs. Olds is a native of Morrow County, Ohio, where she was born December 4, 1850.

S. J. PEABODY was born in Noble County, Ind., September 29, 1851,

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and was one of eleven children, two yet living, born to John L. and Hannah (Ayers) Peabody ; the former born in Pompton, N. J., January 12, 1812, and dying at Arcola, Allen County Ind., September 13, 1865; and the latter born in Pompton December 28, 1818. After their marriage, they lived in New York City till May, 1841, when they moved to Huron County, Ohio, and thence to Noble County, Ind., in 1843, where Mr. Peabody engaged in farm- ing till 1851, when he moved to Arcola, Allen County, and entered the lumber trade. S. J. Peabody was reared in Allen County, where he received a good practical education. At the age of fifteen, he began doing for himself, running an engine, acting as head sawyer, etc., thus acquiring sufficient means to estab- lish a shingle factory at Arcola, in 1869, which he ran for two years. In 1871, he moved to Taylor, this county, where he established a saw-mill ; leaving this in charge of a nephew, George Peabody, he came to Columbia City and engaged in a general lumber trade, which he has since continued with success, his last year's shipments amounting to 1,200 car loads, or a total of 7,000,000 feet. Beginning life with nothing, he now owns, besides his lumber interests, over 1,100 acres of land. When he came to Columbia City in 1879, his brother, J. B., came with him, and together they purchased two saw-mills, but have since disposed of one. May 22, 1875, our subject married Miss Hannah S. Swift, who was born in Wareham, Mass., and a lineal descendant of Peregrine White, the first child born in this country of the Mayflower Pil- grims. Mrs. Peabody bore her husband one child, Lina Genevieve, who was born April 8, 1876, and who died February 20, 1879, the mother following a month later.

C. H. POND, architect and builder, was born in Connecticut, the son of Charles and Florilla (Preston) Pond, who both died when our subject was quite young. He began his young life, on his own resources, by working on a farm at the age of fifteen ; a year later he tried clockmaking; then went to learn carpentering, serving two years. He followed this trade several years in Wis- consin, Wayne County, Ohio, etc., and in 1855 came to Columbia City, where he has since remained, with the exception of three years passed in Chicago. During his residence in Columbia City he was engaged for five years clerking in a drug store, but the balance of the time has been passed at his present busi- ness. He has planned and erected some of the leading and many of the best buildings in the town. He married, in 1844, Miss Jane Hartsock, a native of

Ohio, and to their union were born four children, viz .: Rodney D. (deceased), Sumner (who died at the age of twelve), Florilla and Olen J. Both he and wife are members of the Baptist Church ; he is a Mason in the ninth degree, and has filled various offices in that fraternity-as Master of his lodge and as High Priest in his Chapter-and is now filling the office of Secretary of both lodge and chapter. As an architect, Mr. Pond has fine natural talents, and the many plans, drawings, etc., in his possession, all designed and executed by himself, evidence the highest degree of merit.

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I. W. PRICKETT was born in Clark County, Ohio, the son of John and Sarah (Wood) Prickett, natives respectively of Ohio and New Jersey. They were married in Ohio and followed farming there until 1836, when they came to Indiana, and the father entered largely into wild lands in Kosciusko County, and in Sparta and Washington Townships, Noble County, taking up their residence in the last-named township, where the remainder of their lives was passed, both dying in the Free-Will Baptist faith, the first church of which denomination in Noble County was located by Mr. Prickett. Their deaths occurred respectively in 1854 and 1855, and they had a family of eleven chil- dren, seven of whom reached maturity, viz .: Jane Voris, Isaac W., Jacob P., William, Mary Metz, Thomas and Ann Beezley. Our subject was only three years old when he came to the county with his parents, with whom he remained till nineteen, and then went to Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, and learned the saddler's trade. He next took up his residence in Wabash County, Ind., for one year ; then went to South Whitley and engaged in trade, and in 1874 came to Columbia City, where he has built up a fine trade. He has a large salesroom, a brick block, and carries an extensive assortment of harness, sad- dlery, trunks, robes, etc. He was married, in 1855, to Miss Lois Martin, a native of Troy Township, and they have had four children, viz .: Herschel, Estelle Peabody, Walter and Stephena.

JACOB RAMP, dealer in lumber and manufacturer of barrel hoops, was born in Cumberland County, Penn., and was the son of Philip and Elizabeth (Markward) Ramp, early settlers in this county. He resided on his father's farm in Pennsylvania till eighteen years of age, and then went to learn the coachmakers' trade, at which he served four years, and afterward worked at carpentering for five years. The next seven years he followed farming, and in 1864 came to Indiana and engaged in the lumber business, which he has ever since followed, with the exception of two and a half years passed on his farm in Richland Township, this county, which he still owns and which com- prises 160 acres of well-improved land. In the spring of 1882, he added to his lumber trade the manufacture of barrel hoops and is now steadily pushing that department. He has served in the Corporation Council two years, as School Trustee three years, and was once elected Justice of the Peace, but did not serve. In 1852, he married Miss Rebecca Grawbaugh, a native of Cum- berland County, Penn. They have five children living, viz. : Margaret M. Bodley, George W., Martha E., Laura F. and Philip G. One son, Joseph E., twenty-one years of age, in August, 1881, was killed in his father's mill. Mr. Ramp is a member of the I. O. O. F., and, with his wife, a member of the Lutheran Church, and is regarded as one of Columbia's most enterprising citizens.

PHILIP RAMP is a wholesale and retail dealer in lumber, and runs a saw-mill and planing mill in Columbia City. His parents, Philip and Eliza- beth (Markward) Ramp, were natives of Cumberland County, Penn., and came

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to Troy (now Richland) Township, this county, and settled on a farm in 1853, where the mother died in 1869. The father died while on a visit to Pennsyl- vania in 1863. Both were members of the German Reformed Church. They had seven children, as follows : Isaac, now in Southern Indiana ; Philip ; Jacob ; William ; Margaret Dennis, of Huntington County ; Abram, in Illinois, and Samuel. Our subject was born in 1828, in Cumberland County, Penn. ; worked on the farm till 1850, when he started for himself and came to this State, where, for three years, he hired out as a farmer. Then he farmed for himself awhile in Union Township; went to Iowa, remained six years, and then came to Columbia City in 1861. In 1862, he commenced his present business, and has energetically pursued it, so that he now constantly employs ten or twelve assistants. He does quite a shipping business, and his mills are always busy. In February, 1851, he married Rachel North, a native of West- moreland, Penn., and of their offspring five are living, viz. : Frank, Elizabeth, Al. H., Edward and George W. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and the family are regarded with respect and esteem by their neigh- bors and the citizens generally.

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 27

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ; Number of Pages: 962

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ;
Number of Pages: 962