USA > Indiana > Boone County > Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana, giving an account of the early settlement of each locality, church histories, county and township officers from the first down to 1886 Biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and women. > Part 21
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In the winter of 1885-6 he again taught school, but ten days before his school should have closed, he took a severe attack of lung fever, and died on the 15th day of March, 1886. Thus passed off the stage of action one of Boone County's favorite sons.
Mr. Dale was a member of the Newlight or Christian Church since February, 1881;, continuing an active and useful member until death. He was buried at the old Union Cemetery in Jackson Township, near where he lived and where he was loved. See his portrait in another part of this book.
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FLEMING DICKERSON.
This old pioneer was born in Montgomery County, Vir- ginia, July 30, 1812, son of Elisha Dickerson. His mother's name before marriage was Susanah Guthry. This old couple came to Boone County in 1859. Elisha Dickerson died December 11, 1867, aged 67 years. Mrs. Dickerson, his wife, died in 1881, aged 94 years. Buried at the Whitelick Ceme- tery in Perry Township. Fleming Dickerson was married to Jane R. Guyson August 21, 1836. She died July 8, 1848; is buried at Whiteliek Cemetery. The following are his chil- dren's names by the first marriage : Susanna, Mary, Elisha, Eliza J., Henry, Sarah. Mr. Dickerson was the second time married to Mary Clark, November, 1848. The following chil- dren were born to them : Charles, Virginia, Johanna, Elnety, William F. Mr. Dickerson came to Harrison Township in 1842. Located in town 17. He has been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church since 1839. Mrs. Dickerson is also a member of the same church. Mr. Dickerson is one of the pioneer hunters and is at home in the woods, provided he has his trusty gun with him. In person Mr. Dickerson is large, weighing full two hundred pounds, well calculated for a frontier life. Virginia, Johanna and William are dead and are buried at Whitelick.
JOSEPH F. DAUGHERTY.
Mr. Daugherty, one of the pioneer merchants of the county, was born in Ohio, in the year 1814. Came to Eagle Village, this county, in the year 1838, where he was engaged in selling goods for a term of years, in fact, as long as there was any vil- lage there, perhaps up to 1853, when Zionsville sprung up and the building of the railroad there, when he, with A. P. Nich- olas, his former partner in the village, commenced business in Zionsville and were in business there several years, when he
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went to Kokomo, and there his wife, Mariah Daugherty, died, as good a woman as ever lived in Boone County. Her name was Mariah Campbell. They were married about the year 1836 or 1838. The following are their children's names : Adelaide, William W., James, Francis and Joseph. James died in infancy at Eagle Village, in 1844. William W. has been for years in the regular army as captain, in the 18th Reg- ulars, and is now at this writing (1886) at Fort Lewis, Colo- rado. Joseph is also there in that county as a farmer. Mr. Dickerson was, while living in the village, captain of the Eagle Village Light Infantry, a military organization formed there back in the forties. He was, it is said, the best posted man of his day in the county. Was nominated for the state legislature in 1848, but was defeated by the Hon. Henry M. Marvin. Mr. Dickerson is now, and has been for years, a resident of the city of Indianapolis; is in his seventy-fourth year, quite well preserved and looks younger than that. He was an old Whig up to 1826; since that time has acted with the Republi- can party. In person Mr. Dickerson is of medium size, dark hair, good features, well made, and in his best days would weigh 175 pounds. Mrs. Dickerson is buried at Kokomo. Should you visit her grave you might truthfully say : "Here rests one of the noblest women that ever lived in Boone County."
JAMES DOWING, SR.
Was born in Donegal, Ireland, in the year 1784. Came to America in the year 1819, and to Boone County in 1834. On the 11th of October of that year he settled in Clinton Town- ship; died February, 1868. Mrs. Dowing was born in 1795, in England. Her name was Avis Giddings; died in 1879. Both buried at Mechanicsburg, Boone County. Mr. Dowing was a Catholic, Mrs. Dowing a Presbyterian. The following are the names of their children: James F. was born near Hell Gate, New Jersey, January 17, 1827. He was married to Mary A. Witham April, 1868; died on the old homestead
JACOB S. LA FOLLETTE.
SARAH E. LA FOLLETTE.
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in Clinton Township, one mile from the Clinton Township line. To this family I am indebted for favors shown while canvassing for this work. James Dowing entered the land now owned by James F. Dowing about the year 1834. Mr. and Mrs. James Dowing were married in Providence, Rhode Island. They had five children, three boys and two girls, as follows : John G. resides in Hamilton County, Ind. Edward, deceased, lived at Mechanicsburg. James F. resides on the old farm. Jane E. married to Ephram Davis, resides in Clin- ton Township, near the Clinton County line. Mary M., mar- ried to Charles S. Riley, reside in Center Township, near Holmes Station. Mr. James Dowing landed in Clinton Oc- tober 11, 1834, from the State of New York. He was among the first settlers of Clinton. Their cabin was of the most primitive kind, puncheon floor, clapboard roof, ete. Soon after his arrival a black bear was killed near his house. One of the remaining Indian huts was standing on his land. When he arrived he helped tear it down. It stood on the bank of Tarrepin Creek. Mr. Dowing, in the early settlement, when the mill streams in his locality were frozen, lived on potatoes and hominv. The above sketch was prepared by his son, James F. Dowing.
LORENZO C. DAUGHERTY.
Judge Daugherty for near thirty years was one of the most prominent men in Boone County. He was the son of James and Francis Daugherty, who were citizens of Washington, Indiana, and where Lorenzo C. was born, April 5, 1820, and where he, in 1843, studied law. He became a citizen of Leba- non in 1844. He was married to Rachel Thornburg, August 31, 1839, who survives him and is pleasantly located in the east part of the city. Soon after Mr. D. arrived in Lebanon, he became a partner in the law business with Hon. W. B. Beach, now of Providence, Rhode Island, when they at once built
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up a good practice. Mr. D. was elected to the state legisla- ture in 1847, serving several terms to the satisfaction of the people he represented. He was elected probate judge in 1853, serving until 1860 with honor to himself and the bench. He was for several years connected with the banks of Leba- anon, serving as president and stockholder as well. In all his relations as a citizen of the county, both public and pri- vate, he acted well his part, acquiting himself with credit and honor, for over thirty years. He died October 29, 1876, in the prime of life and usefulness, loved and respected by all. In person he was of medium size, fair complexion, auburn hair, good features. He was elected to the above offices as a Demo- crat. During his active life he accumulated a handsome estate for his worthy help-mate in life and his children who were born to them, named as follows: Mary E., born Sep- tember 10, 1840, married to C. P. Rodman ; reside in Kansas City, Missouri.' Zarilda, married to S. S. Daily, October, 1865. Ella; born July 28, 1851; married to E. T. Lane (druggist, Lebanon). Emma, born February 28, 1858; mar- ried to B. S. Higgins (prosecuting attorney). Curtis, born February 23, 1862, married to Hattie Hollingsworth, June 6, 1883; reside in Lebanon.
WILLIAM J. DEVOL.
One among the many worthy citizens of Boone County was William J. Devol, commonly called the old " Judge" Devol. He was born in the old Buckeye State, December 28, 1814, where his boyhood days were spent. After arriving at the age of twenty-eight, moved his headquarters to Crawford County, Missouri. Here he took up farming for his occupa- tion and prospered with great success. After living here about twenty-three years, at the death of his brother, Clark Devol, his interests were drawn to Boone County, moving on his farm · northeast of Lebanon in 1865, and remaining here until he
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accepted the presidency of the First National Bank, making his residence immediately north of the city.
Mr. Devol has held several offices of trust and profit dur- ing his residence in Missouri, viz., two terms in the legislature, sheriff of Crawford County, county collector, and probate judge of the same county. He was elected a joint representa- tive from Boone and Clinton counties, Indiana, by the Demo- cratic party in 1870.
He was married to Rebecca Thompson, January 20, 1842, who was born in Crawford County, Mo., August 19, 1822. At the age of fifteen she united with the Baptist Church, of which she was a consistent member until she went to join the church triumphant. She made no loud profession, and never made a display of her good deeds or charities, yet she was ever ready and anxious to feed the hungry and relieve all kinds of distress and sorrow. She proved to be a very considerate and affec- tionate wife, living until the 21st day of June, 1886, at about 8:30 p. M., leaving her husband and many friends to mourn her loss.
In early life Mr. Devol joined the Baptist Church, and all through his life has been a liberal supporter of the gospel and a regular attendant on all means of grace, wheu health would permit. He has been a sufferer from kidney disease for several years, besides being badly ruptured, and it was this that caused his death. On Saturday, the 4th day of December, 1886, a surgical operation was performed on him, but only temporary relief was afforded, and the 6th day of December, 1886, at 1 o'clock A. M., his soul took its flight from the body.
His and his wife's funeral were both largely attended at the Center burying ground, three miles east of Lebanon, where their bodies repose in death.
In life Mr. Devol was extremely eccentric, but many friends and relatives have been made to rejoice by his peculiarities of character. He was courteous to all, and especially courteous and generous to those he took a fancy to. He was one of the wealthiest men in the county, nearly all his possessions being
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in cash and bonds. His will appoints Wesley Lane his exec- utor, viz., to Mary Wondel, the property where he resides and $1,000; the balance to be divided equally between William C. Devol, of Missouri, and William J. and Charley Devol, of Boone County. Witnessed by George W. Baird and Wesley Lane. In another part of this work will be found the por- traits of Mr. and Mrs. Devol.
A. C. DAILY.
It is with pleasure we present our patrons with a brief biography of A. C. Daily, together with his portrait. Mr. Daily was born at New Carlisle, Clark County, Ohio, and being one of the oldest of a large family of children, whose parents were in rather humble circumstances, and of an ambi- tious disposition, he. at the tender age of ten years, began life for himself. A good education was his first purpose in life. and to this end, after completing the course laid down in the public schools, he gained admission as a student in Linden Hill Academy, of his native place. Here he persevered in his studies until the course was almost completed, when he was tendered a position in the office of John C. Daily ( old Cal. as he was long known ), treasurer of this-Boone-county, which position he accepted, but had barely entered upon the discharge of its duties, when James A. Nunn, auditor of this county, appointed him deputy in that office, where he remained for eight years, and was then honored by the voters of this county by election as auditor, which office he filled for the term of four years.
March 11, 1858, Mr. Daily was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Blue, of Mechanicsburg, Ohio, who only survived until November 23, 1863, when occurred the first great sorrow of his life, the loss of his young and devoted wife. Mr. Daily's second marriage occurred December 19, 1867, when he led to the altar Miss Maggie McCorkle, of Mechanicsburg, Ohio.
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The latter marriage has been blessed by the birth of four inter- esting children, two of whom only survive.
In the spring of 1860, the county commissioners appointed Mr. Daily as clerk of the Boone Circuit Court, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Henry Shannon, and his party, the Democracy, nominated him for its candidate for that office at the election of that year, but numbers were against the success of the party at that election and his competitor, Mr. S. A. Lee, was elected. In 1862 Mr. Daily was nominated by the Republicans as their candidate for auditor of the county and he was triumphantly elected, which office he filled for four years in such a manner as to reflect great credit to the people of his county.
In March, 1867, Mr. Daily, the late Major H. G. Hazelrigg, and the late Judge L. C. Dougherty formed a stock company and organized the Lebanon Bank, which name and organiza- tion were maintained until the year 1882, when it organized under the national banking laws as the Lebanon National Bank, with Mr. Daily as president, and his brother, S. S. Daily, as cashier.
Mr. Daily is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Past Master of Boone Lodge, No. 9; a companion of Lebanon Chapter, No. 39, R. A. M .; also of Boone Council, No. 45, R. and S. M .; is a Knight Templar of Frankfort Commandery, and has attained to the 32° in the Scottish Rite. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. of long standing, and has since the year 1861 been a member of the finance commit- tee at almost every meeting of the Grand Lodge of that noble order, which shows in what esteem he is held by his brothers and fellows.
Mr. Daily was a stockholder at the reorganization of the Boone County Agricultural Society, and was the first secretary of that society, serving in that capacity for five consecutive years. He was at one time a director in what is now known as the Midland Railroad Company, and labored hard to have that road completed to Lebanon. He is at present one of the
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directors of the natural gas company, and is thoroughly in earnest in the matter of developing the resources of our country.
Mr. Daily represented this district as a delegate to the National Republican convention, at Chicago, that nominated the Hon. James G. Blaine for the presidency in 1884, and worked hard to carry out the wishes of his constituency. That he succeeded they all bear testimony.
Mr. Daily's political friends presented his name before the Republican state convention last year for nomination for the office of Auditor of State, but Mr. Bruce Carr was the recip- ient of that honor.
Mr. Daily has never formally connected himself with any church, but is at present a member of the board of trustees of the M. E. Church, in Lebanon, his aged mother's church, and greatly assisted that body in the erection of its beautiful new house of worship in the summer of 1886.
Mr. Daily is a great admirer of blooded stock, and as such has a number of fine horses and Jersey cattle that are the pride of his leisure hours. He is also the treasurer and a member of the executive committee of the Indiana Trotting and Pacing Horse Breeders' Association.
The life of Mr. Daily has been a successful one, and is due to the resolution formed in boyhood to "act well his part," and in the various positions which he has been called upon to fill we find that unfaltering devotion to principles of honesty that characterize the lives of our successful men.
Personally Mr. Daily is rather a heavy set, square should- ered man, with dark hair and eyes, an open countenance. His convictions are plain and are not easily transformed.
MICHAEL, ERSKIN.
Mr. Erskin is perhaps the oldest person in Boone County, or the oldest man who ever lived in the county. He is now iu his ninety-fourth year. He was born in Monroe County, Vir-
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ginia, January 15, 1794. He was married to Nancy Mur- dock in 1824, when in his thirtieth year. Soon after he was married he moved to Highland County, Ohio; remained there six years, then removing to near Pendleton, Indiana, where he resided two years, when in 1836 he came to Jeffer- son Township, Boone County, where he now resides, two miles south of Dover. His wife died in 1845, and on the first day of February. Is buried at the Cox Cemetery. Four children were born to them, two of which are now living. Mr. Erskin was the second time married, to Rebecca Parks, in 1847. Two children were born unto them, both living. Mr. E. is now, for one of his age, enjoying good health. Has been a very hard working man, and has thrice been a pioneer to the front. He has never been out of the state since 1836. Never rode on the cars or steamboat. He voted for President Jackson the second term, and has been voting that kind of a ticket up to 1886. Mr. Erskin was in the war of 1812; was not in any battle, peace having been declared soon after he was drafted. He bids fair to live his one hundred years. He is the father of James M. Erskin, of Jefferson Township, who was quite young when the family came to Boone County .. He has served as justice and trustee of his township. His wife died a few years since. Thanks to him for favors.
SIMON EMERT.
Simon Emert, one of the pioneers of Jackson Township, was born in east Tennessee, March 4, 1804. He was the son of Peter Emert, and grandson of Simon Emert, who died in Tennessee in 1800. Simon Emert, the one whose name heads this sketch, was married to Mary Kennedy, April 1, 1825. Moved to Boone County, October, 1832, where he entered a large tract of choice land, which he developed into a fine farm. When he and Mrs. Emert arrived in Jackson Town- ship it was all woods, and the outlook was, to say the least, quite gloomy. They came, however, with strong hands and
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willing hearts to make a home, and to this end their best energies were devoted. And through privations untold and hardships almost unbearable, they fought their way, made a fine farm, and lived long enough to enjoy the fruits of their early toil. Mr. and Mrs. Emert were members of the Protestant M. E. Church, and lived examplary lives many years, setting a good example to their children and friends with whom they came in contact.
Mrs. Emert was born in South Carolina, September 24, 1808; died July 18, 1880; buried at the Mount Zion Ceme- tery, near where she lived so long. Mr. Emert died Septeni- ber, 1886 ; also buried at the same cemetery. The following are the names of their children ; the deceased ones are buried at the Mount Zion Cemetery, in Jackson Township: Candees, married to Hizah Hudson ; David J., married to Eliza Card- ington ; Jane, married to Jeremiah Bush ; she is deceased. William W., married to Dulcena Younger ; reside in Jackson Township ; is one of the prosperous farmers, two miles north- west of Jamestown. Francenia, married to John McIntyre; she is deceased. Stephen, married to Margaret Airhart, reside in Jackson Township, where they own a fine farm. Clarissa, married to John H. Cline ; Mary A., married to John Airhart, who resides in Jackson Township. (See sketch in another part of this work). Martha A., married to Enoch Whitely, resides on the home farm, where Mr. Simon Emert died. This a short sketch of one of the early and interesting fami- lies of the county. In person Mr. Emert was low, heavy-set man, fair hair and complexion.
JAMES . EVANS
Resides in Jackson Township, three miles west of Jamestown. Born in Russell County, Va., June 13, 1806. Married to Margaret Hammond in the year 1830, in the state of Virginia. Remained there until the year 1835, when he emigrated with a three-horse wagon to the western district of Tennessee. " Here,"
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he says, " I raised one crop, consisting of corn, cotton and sweet potatoes. And here, in the midst of slavery, it was the most religious place in which I ever lived. This, I think, is one cause of my being religious now. My wife desired to go to her people, who lived in Ohio, so we gathered up our little effects, and started, via Nashville, Tenn., passing through Richmond, Ind., into Dark County, O., where my wife's peo- ple lived. Remained there a few years, when we decided to 'Go West, and grow up with the country.' It was in 1838, October, with an ox-team, we started. I did not see the elephant, but have since seen him in all his reality. The country in and around where I now live was then comparatively new. Plenty of hard work had to be done, such as house-raising, log-rolling, clearing, etc. I have went as many as sixteen days in one spring to help our new-comers to do such work. The people were social in the extreme, and only too glad to assist in this way, so they could get a start in the world. Though we have passed through the flint-mill, so to speak, I am thankful for health and strength given me all along the pathway of life. We raised twelve children, six sons and six daughters, all living as far as we know. My wife was born in January, 1811."
EVAN EVANS.
The subject of this sketch is the third of a family of eight sons.
His father was of Welsh descent, his mother of pure Irish.
David Evans, his father, was born in Virginia, 1772, and his mother, Susanna Evans, a few years later. Of his seven brothers but one, Samuel, survives.
Evan Evans was born August 15, 1801, in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and with his parents moved to the valley of the Scioto, in Southern Ohio, in 1804. Here, under the supervision of his father, he and his brothers were taught a lesson in pioneer life which proved beneficial in his later . migrations. Miss Jane Bell, who had emigrated from Ireland
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at the age of three, won his affections, and in 1826 they were united in marriage. He is the father of six children, four boys and two girls, three of whom are living: Jonathan, in Northwestern Kansas, stockman ; Margaret Jane, residence Lebanon, Ind .; and Thomas B., who lives on the old home- stead.
Two years after his marriage he removed to Wayne County, Ind., where he resided for ten years, engaged in farm- ing and milling ; but at the end of that time he sold his little farm of thirty-three acres, and again started west. With an ox team he brought his few household effects and drove before him eighteen head of cattle and one horse. Following the old Indian trail which led to Thorntown, he struck the Forty Mile Swamp, and after ten days' hard travel he reached Boone County, Ind. On his way he passed through the old Indian Reserve, and viewed the stake at which the Indians burned the whites who had been so unfortunate as to fall within their vengeance.
He entered a section of land in the northeastern part of Center Township, and afterward bought 120 acres more, mak- ing in all 760 acres.
There being no market for eastern manufactured goods near he was compelled to make his own clothing from flax, and foot-gear from leather which he had himself tanned. His food was principally hominy and wild meat, the latter being procured by the aid of the flintlock. To procure his flour and meal during the dry season of the year he was com- pelled to go to Indianapolis or Lafayette, but having too much ingenuity to bear this burden he erected, in 1838, a hand or sweat mill as it was then called, making the burrs from rock commonly called by Hoosiers, "niggerheads." After eleven days of faithful labor he had a grist mill, the capacity of which was about five bushels per day. - The burrs are now on exhi- bition at T. B. Evans'. But,
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" Into our lives some rain must fall,
Some days be dark and dreary,"
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And on the 9th day of July, 1876, his true and noble help- meet left him, with nothing to lean upon but that rock which has been a pillar to him since 1840. He now resides with his son, Thomas B. Evans, at the old homestead, and if you want a sketch of pioneer life you will find him equal to the task of giving it.
GEORGE FARLOW.
This sturdy old veteran made his mundane appearance in Union County, Indiana, April 2, 1811. Came to Boone County in 1836. Was first married to Mary Martin. The second time to Martha Stipe. The third time to Armilda A. Burk, March 31, 1872. First children's names: Nancy J., married to Wm. Bowman; Henry, died in Iowa, February, 1878; Absolem, lives in Clinton County, Indiana ; Alfred, lives in Iowa ; Sarah, married to Jacob Harlan, resides in Jef- ferson Township; George W., resides in Oregon. Of the sec- ond family of children Mary E. married Nathan Ross, lives in Kansas; Hester A. married Henry Oxley, resides in Jefferson Township; Clarissa A. married Henry Boman, resides in Jef- ferson Township; James M .; Ellie married Jackson Roark, resides in Thorntown ; Amanda O. married D. Higgs; Milly F. married Abraham Smock, resides in Hendricks County, Indiana. Third family: Charley, born December 9, 1874. Mrs. Farlow, present wife, was born in Monroe County, Indi- ana, June 29, 1831. Mr. Farlow lives in Dover, eight miles west of Lebanon. Mrs. Farlow's former husband was David Lasley, married February 17, 1854, died April 7, 1864, buried at Thorntown, Indiana.
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