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 24
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results. In that day and for years afterward, drivers rode one house and guided the other with the rein. In the fall of 1831 he entered 240 or 280 acres in Boone County, in Union Town- ship, south of the present site of Big Springs. And in March, 1832, during sugar-making, he moved his family, now con- sisting of his wife and four children, camping out until the house was built. As soon as the roof was on and the cracks chinked, he moved in on a dirt floor. The men who helped him raise his house were Daniel Stevens, now a very old man in the southern part of Iowa ; William Johns, a nephew, now in Sullivan County, aged about seventy-five; and Eli Cragus- son, of whom all trace is lost. He cleared up about fourteen acres and put it in cultivation, where there had not been a stick amiss that spring. He had but two neighbors at that time-Henry Koutz, a mile south on the Noblesville road, and Benjamin Crews, three miles southwest on the Michigan road, where one of Boone County's ex-representatives, Henry Marvin, now lives. The road hands were cutting out the Michigan road along there when the family moved up. There was but one place in the city of Indianapolis that could be called a store when he moved to Boone, and he could have bought land at $2.50 and $3.00 per acre then, that is now away inside the city limits. He entered several hundred acres at various times afterward, some of which he sold to settlers, and the remainder he gave to his children. His farm in this almost unbroken wilderness soon became the nucleus of a thriving settlement. Curtis Pritchard, Sampson Hartman, John Hartman, Jacob Parr, Isaac Sright, who were already there ; Joel Richardson, John Davis, and perhaps others long since dead, located in convenient neighboring distances for those days, and a flourishing settlement was soon established. Tom Wooden, the subject of a former sketch, was caught within its limits, but soon disappeared, and it was thought all trace of him was lost, but it now transpires that he was still living but a short time ago at an advanced age, in the far West, and he may be the subject of another sketch in this
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department soon. These hardy old pioneers, several of whom had seen service under Jackson and Harrison, had large fami- lies, and soon felt the need of school facilities, and right here it appears that Prof. LaFollette, of Lebanon, now the worthy state superintendent of public instruction, has been wrongly informed as to the location of the first school house in Marion Township. For a few more settlers had dropped in above this nucleus, they divided the distance, united strength, and erected a log school house on the east bank of Eagle Creek, in Marion Township, along the line between Union and Marion, a half- mile west of the present site of Big Springs, on what was known in an early day as the Jonathan Scott farm, now owned by John Stephenson. And in this house, from the best infor- mation at hand, was taught the first school in a school house, and the first singing school in Marion Township. That por- tion of Union Township south of the Noblesville road and west almost to the Michigan road, assisted in building the house, and all who wished to send to school there for a short time. Schools were taught solely on subscription at that time and for years afterward. Settlers coming in and the pop- ulation increasing rapidly, a subdivision was thought neces- sary, and a log school house was erected on the northeast cor- ner of the Jacob Johns homestead, where it remained for years after a new frame had been built, a memento of early days.
JESSE JACKSON,
One of the pioneers of Jefferson Township, and one who has been identified with the county's best interests for years, was born in Jefferson County, Ind., April 22, 1822; came to this county in the year 1836 ; chose as a helpmate through life Miss Armilda A. Stephenson, to whom he was united in mar- riage March 10, 1853. Miss Stephenson was born in Ken- tucky, June 18, 1824; came with her father, John Stephenson, in 1832. Mr. Jackson was county commissioner for a term of years from 1874 to 1878. He died June 4, 1881 ; is buried at
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the Dover Baptist Cemetery, near where he lived so long, and where he was highly esteemed as a friend and neighbor. In person Mr. Jackson was six feet high, dark hair, fair complex- ion, strong and active. His widow is yet living on the home farm, just north of Dover. The following are his children's names: John G., born June 24, 1854; died July 7, 1879. William, born December 6, 1855 ; married to Sarah B. McLain. Mary K., born July 12, 1862; married to Morton L. Hill. Mr. Jackson was member of the Regular Baptist Church.
JACOB JONES, SR.
Mr. Jones, one of the pioneers of Union Township, was born October 18, 1794; died in Oregon, 1870. He married Elizabeth Calvert; born March 4, 1793; died January 1, 1829. They were married May 9, 1812, in Green County, Penn; Mr. Jones moved to Boone County in 1833 ; set- tled on the Michigan road a short distance south of North- field, where he resided till the year 1852, when he, with most of his family, moved to Oregon. He was a grand old man and pioneer, just the man for a frontier life, strong and active, who knew no such a word as fail. Honest in everthing that word means. He helped develop Boone County from a wilderness to a comparatively fine country. He raised a large family, named as follows: Sarah, born in 1809 ; John, born in 1813: Jacob, born in 1814; Isaac, born in 1816; Abra- ham, born in 1818; James, born in 1821; Lewis, born in 1823; Samuel, born in 1825 ; Margaret, born in 1827 ; Henry, born in 1835; George, born in 1837; Harvey, born in 1839. Most of this family are dead. Samuel was drowned in Ore- gon; one daughter died on the plains in 1852, en route to Oregon.
Jacob Jones, Jr., and third son, is the only one now living in this county ; resides on the Michigan road, where he has lived most of his life. He was about eighteen years of age when his father came to the county ; owns a fine farm, and is
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regarded as a No. 1 man. The Jones family will be remembered in time to come as one of prominence in the county. The elder Jones kept public house on the Michigan road many years, and where the old " stage coach " stopped at and exchanged horses. Samuel Jones drove the old coach teem for many years, and I believe Jacob Jones, Sr. was the contractor. He was a large man, very square built, florid complexion, light hair. Many who read this imperfect sketch will call to mind Jacob Jones, among the best men who ever lived in Boone County. He was the second time married, and three children were born to him, who reside in Oregon. Their names are : Mark D., Mahala and Howard ; their birthdays are not given.
JOSEPH JACKSON.
Mr. Jackson, one of the early settlers of Jackson Town- ship, was born in Gilbert County, North Carolina, March 2, 1803; married to Martha Heady (who was born in Kentucky, December 23, 1804) in 1825. Soon after they were married they came to Putnam County, Indiana, where he resided until 1835, when they came to Boone County, settling on the farm now owned by John Leck near Ward Postoffice. Mr. Jack- son died March 1, 1876, Mrs. Jackson died January 20, 1885, both buried at the old Union Cemetery in Jackson Township. Mrs. Jackson was a member of the Christian Church. There were born to this family the following named children : Thomas H., Joseph, Elisha, Rebecca, Emsley, Sarah A., George, Lydia E., Mary E., Lewis M., Amanda M. Of this family Joseph, Elisha, Amanda, Emsley and George reside in Boone County. Thomas H. resides in Kansas ; Sarah A. resides in Hendricks County, Indiana ; Lydia E. resides in Cowley County, Kan- sas. Mr. Elisha Jackson, third child of this early family, was married to Elizabeth J. Hendricks, resides in Jackson Town- ship, where he owns a fine farm and is one of the substantial farmers of the county. I am indebted to him for favors received in gathering material for this work.
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FREDERICK KINCAID,
A son of John and Christina Kincaid, was born in Trumble County, Ohio, December 14, 1815. Came to Boone County April 23, 1847. He purchased the farm that he still lives on of Thomas Osburn, who entered it ; he has been a hard worker in his time, has improved his farm and made it what it is. He was married to Rachael Stogdill, October 11, 1837; the result of this marriage was nine children, of whom four are deceased. Levi, born August 28, 1842, was married to Mar- garet Edwards, is living in Marion Township, Boone County ; Anthony, born December 26, 1844, was married to Christina Cobb ; Anthony is very popular among the people of Boone County, commonly known as "Quart;" he owns a fine farm in Marion Township, is a substantial, energetic farmer and stock trader ; Manda, born August 22, 1847, still lives with her father and mother; Martha Jane, born December 20, 1849, was married to Theodore Staton, resides in Center Township, Boone County, Indiana; William A., born September 23, 1852, married to Darthy Cobb, January 22, 1879, is one of the most substantial farmers and stock raisers in Marion Township, owns a fine farm just immediately south of his father's.
THOMAS KERSEY,
Born in Kentucky, Nicholas County, April 12, 1802. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Hinton, January 3, 1827. Mr. Kersey came to Boone County in March, 1831, and en- tered eighty acres of land between what is known as Hazelrigg Station and Lebanon. In the following fall he and his wife and two children started to their wilderness home, on the 18th day of October, and completing their journey November 5, 1831. The result of their marriage has been a very fruitful one, being twelve children, seven boys and five girls, as fol- lows : Nathaniel, born in Nicholas County, Ky., August 25,
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1829 ; married to Miss Mary Hemphill, of Boone County ; he re- sides immediately south of the old homestead, owning a large farm, and runs a tile factory and saw mill in connection with the farm. William, born October 15, 1830 ; married for his first wife, Miss Mary Slayback, and for his second, Miss Elizabeth Ross. Mr. Kersey died May 8, 1886, leaving a widow and childern : Lucretia, born April 15, 1832, deceased August 14, 1833 ; Martha, born July 8, 1834; married to Adam Kerns, of Clinton Township. She died January 6, 1871. Benjamin F., born April 30, 1836; married Miss Martha Graves, afterward to Miss Mary Coldwell, and reside in White County, this state. James H., born December 6, 1837; married Miss Calitha Kern. David, born October 20, 1839; married Sarah Graves, afterwards to Miss Kessiah Gray ; living just north of the home farm. George W., born January 11, 1841 ; deceased October 27, 1874. Mary J., born April 10, 1842; resides in Lebanon. Thomas A., born January 7, 1844; married to Martha J. Stoops ; resides in Lebanon. Joseph, born June 25, 1846; mar- ried Charlotte McDaniel. Sarah E., born May 9, 1849 ; mar- ried to Clark Kern, and residing on the old homestead.
Mr. and Mrs. Kersey have undoubtedly struggled with the hardships of pioneer life of Boone County. He has never moved from the farm that he first settled on, and died there July 9, 1876, and is buried at the Beck graveyard. His occu- pation has been that of farming.
COLONEL WM. C. KISE.
Wm. C. Kise was born in Fayette County, Kentucky, January 30, 1815. In the year 1821 he came with his parents to Indianapolis, where they remained one year; again moving to Hendricks County, remaining there until the Mexican War broke out in 1846, when he enlisted first as a private in the First Regiment under the late J. P. Drake, serving one year. During the remainder of the war he served as a commissioned officer under Gen. J. H. Lane. At the close of the war in
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1848 he returned to Hendricks County, where he remained only a short time when he came to Boone County. Soon after his arrival he was elected County Clerk, in which capacity he served eight years. In 1860 he was one of the presidential electors of Douglas and Johnson. When the late war broke out in 1861 he again buckled on his armor, raised a company of young men for the three months' service and was elected as captain. His company formed a part of the 10th Indiana Volunteers, which took such a gallant part in the "Rich Mountain " battle. After the three months were out the reg- iment re-organized for three years, when he was commissioned as Lieut -Colonel by Governor Morton; was soon after pro- moted to Colonel, in which capacity he served until he was, on the 17th of November, 1862, honorably discharged. He was in command of his regiment at the battles of Mill Springs, Perryville, and Corinth. After his return to Lebanon his health having improved, he organized the 116th Indiana Reg- iment and was commissioned Colonel, and again entered the service, serving six months, participating in several battles and skirmishes. Mr. Kise was a war Democrat, and as such went to the front when his country called, always ready to de- fend the flag he loved so well, serving all along the line from private to General. After the war was over and peace once more smiled he returned home, where he was loved and hon- ored as well as in the field. He is the father of the late Reuben C. Kise and J. W. Kise, of Lebanon. He died Sep- tember 10, 1884, and was buried at the new cemetery in Lebanon.
REV. JOHN KLINGLER.
Mr. Klingler was born in Pennsylvania on February 22, 1787. When young he went to Kentucky, in 1795, where he was married in Bracken County, August 11, 1808. From there they removed to Clermont County, Ohio, where twelve of the older children were born. In 1831 they came to Marion County, Indiana, where they remained until the year
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1839, when they became citizens of Boone County, and where they lived the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Rachel Klingler was born in Kentucky on January 8, 1792. On coming to this county they settled on " Irishman's Run," in Eagle Town- ship, where Mr. Klingler died, aged eighty years. The follow- ing are the names of this family : Joshua, born in Ohio June 22, 1809; John, born in Ohio November 28, 1810; Martin, born February 7, 1812, died in Kentucky, and was buried in Marion County, Indiana, October 5, 1828; George F., born November 4, 1813, resides in Eagle Township; Frederick, born June 19, 1815, died April 20, 1867 (his wife died June 23, 1869-both buried at Salem, Cemetery); Byron, born Novem- ber 25, 1816, died in infancy ; Polly, born December 4, 1817, died October 25, 1879, and buried in Boone County at the Pitzer Cemetery ; Francis L. was born September 11, 1819- deceased ; Catharine, born February 27, 1821, died March 8, 1823, and buried in Ohio; Samuel, born in Ohio April 30, 1824, died October, 1868, and buried at the Pitzer Cemetery ; Elijah, born in Ohio May 21, 1826, died in Morgan County, Ind., January, 1875, and buried at Martinsville; William A. born in Kentucky June 1, 1828, resides in Eagle Township ; Richard P., born in Kentucky, died November, 1870, is buried at Pleasant View Cemetery in Union Township; Joel, born in Marion County, Indiana, November 6, 1831, deceased. Mr. John Klingler, the subject of this sketch, died November 1, 1848 ; Mrs. Margaret Klingler, wife of John Klingler, died May 29, 1864. It will be seen that nearly all of this large family are dead. George married Miss Nancy Wolf, daughter of John Wolf, in 1849. In 1843 Elijah married Mary Steph- enson. Joshua was married to Sarah Tibbets in Kentucky ; John was married to Sarah Roback in 1834; Frederick to Muriney Sullivan, February 21, 1843; Polly to Anderson Gutterg, 1837; Francis L. to Polly Mullen, August, 1841; Samuel to Sarah Lanier, March 16, 1852; William A. to Mary A. Moore, August 1, 1886; Richard P. to Eliza Broa- hard, 1847; Joel to Margaret Ray, 1851.
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GENERAL REUBEN C. KISE.
The subject of this sketch was born August 15, 1840, four miles east of Danville, Hendricks County, Indiana, and was the first born of three sons of Colonel William C. and Polly A. Kise. His early boyhod . was spent in the county of his birth ; at the age of ten years he came with his father's family to Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana, and at the early age of eleven years, entered the Boone County Pioneer office to learn the printer's trade, which he successfully graduated from three years later.
In 1856 he entered the county clerk's office as deputy and continued to act in that capacity under his father, Henry Shan- non, and A. C. Daily, until November 1860, at which time the office passed from under the control of his party, after which he embarked in the mercantile business until the break- ing out of the great civil war, April, 1861. He entered the war as a private of Company I, 10th Regiment, Indiana Vol- unteers, and filled the various positions of adjutant, 10th Indi- ana Volunteers, assistant adjutant general and chief of staff to Generals Manson, Judah, and Schofield ; major, lieutenant- colonel, and colonel of the 120th Regiment, Indiana Volun- teers, and was in April, 1865, breveted brigadier-general, by President Lincoln, for gallantry in the battle of Kingston, North Carolina. He was wounded once slightly, and twice captured, but immediately paroled each time, and was acknowl- edged by all with whom he served to be a superior . officer. In January, 1867, he was appointed as first lieutenant in the regular army, and assigned to the 25th United States Infantry (Colonel Gordon Granger's regiment), but resigned without seeing any service, and returned to his Lebanon home.
At the close of the war he returned to Lebanon and began the practice of law, in which profession he remained until Decem- ber, 1870, at which time he removed to Vincennes, Indiana, and became editor and proprietor of the Vincennes Sun news-
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paper establishment, which paper he continued to publish to the time of his death. He was the publisher of several news- papers in Boone County, the last and most important of which was the Boone County Pioneer.
In 1868 he was the nominee of the Democratic party of his state for the office of secretary of state, on the ticket with the late lamented vice-president, Thomas A. Hendricks, who was the candidate for governor, but party prejudice running so high, the entire ticket was defeated at the polls, General Kise running several hundred votes ahead of his ticket.
In the spring of 1866, General Kise was married to Mrs. Adelia Shannon, near Thorntown. This union was blessed with one child, a son, who survives his father and now lives near Crawfordsville, Indiana.
General Kise was a true gentleman and a successful busi- ness man, respected by all who knew him. A man of strong convictions and ever ready to battle for the principles which he espoused, and had he not been cut off in early manhood, would doubtless have graced many honorable positions in the State. He died at Vincennes, November 21, 1872, aged thirty- two years, three months, and six days. His remains were interred at the Rodefer Cemetery, near Lebanon, November 23, 1872.
ABNER KNOTTS,
A native of the old tar state, was born in Gilford County, March 29, 1813, was married to Eliza Carson, born June 5, 1817. They were married about the year 1836. Mrs. Knotts died March 16, 1862, is buried at the Nelson Cemetery in Clinton County. The following are the children's names by the first wife : Mary A., married to 'Squire Nelson ; Harriett M., married to Martin McDaniel, resides in Clinton County ; Margaret, married to William. Wildon, died December 24, 1815, buried at the Nelson Cemetery ; Elizabeth J., married to George W. Cassaday, resides in Clinton Township. The following are the names of the children by the second mar-
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riage : William, John A., Amret L., all living at home. Mr. Knotts owns a fine farm in the northern part of Clinton Town- ship, and by industry and economy saved enough to do him and have some left for his children. He came to this part of the county when it was in the woods, in 1836, when he entered his land where he now lives.
FREDERICK LOWE,
One of the pioneers of Boone County, was born in Gilford County, North Carolina, October 13, 1786. He was married to Patience Grist, in Roan County, North Carolina, in the year 1811. Remained there until four children were born. Mrs. Lowe was born March 17, 1788. The following children were born in North Carolina: Sarah, married to Jacob Hoover, deceased, buried in Kansas; she was born January 31, 1812; John was born March 4, 1813, was married to Elizabeth Van- devender January 22, 1837, in Boone County, she died July 29, 1839, is buried at the Bethel Cemetery, south of Clarks- town. Mr. John Lowe was again married to Mrs. Lydia Jones, June 27, 1841, died July 17, 1885, is buried at the same cemetery ; George, born November 3, 1815, married to Eliza Davenport, December, 1836, he died in Stockwell, Indi- ana, February, 1881, is buried at Bethel Cemetery ; Celia, married to Jesse Essex, June, 1834, she died in Pulaski County, Indiana, is buried at Bethel Cemetery; Mary, mar- ried to James W. Blake about the year 1840, resides in Zions- ville ; Charity, married to Hiram Woolf about the year 1838, resides in Missouri; William G., born November 18, 1822, married to Melia Jones in the year 1844; Nancy, born in 1824, married to Asa Cox, resides in Kansas, her husband is dead, as is Mr. Hiram Woolf; David G., born February 16, 1826, married to Terresa A. Wolf; Benjamin F., born in the year 1835. Two died in infancy.
Mr. Lowe came to Boone County in the year 1826 and set- tled on Eagle Creek. He died March 20, 1866. Mrs. Lowe
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JAMES M. MARTIN.
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died May 13, 1878, buried at Bethel Cemetery, both members of the Christian Church. He was the county agent and one of the first county commissioners. In person Mr. Lowe was tall, full six feet one inch high, fair complexion, light hair, weight 185 pounds. He acquired the name of captain that stayed with him all through life by being captain of the Indi- ana Militia in 1827. The first meetings were held at their house. He gave the land on which to erect the Eagle Creek Regular Baptist Church, the first church in the county. In the death of these two pioneers Boone County lost two valuable citizens, who helped develop this county from a wilderness.
THE LANE FAMILY,
Consisted of four brothers, who came to Boone County in 1835. Their names were as follows : Addison E., Josiah C., Lewis and Levi; all now deceased except Levi, who resides in Lebanon. They were the sons of William and Sarah Lane, who died in Tennessee. Addison E. was born in Grange County, Tenn., in the year 1804; was married to Sarah Den- nis about the year 1824; came to Putnam County, Indiana, 1825; bought land near Greencastle. Josiah C. was born February 11, 1806 ; was in 1828 married to Minerva Tomlin- son, in Putnam County, Ind. Lewis was born in Tennessee, 1810; came to Putnam County in 1827; married there to Emma Jackson. Levi, the only one now living, was born in Grange County, Tenn., July 9, 1815; he was married to Pheraby Hayes, September, 1841, in Lebanon, where he came a short time previous. Mr. Levi Lane was, on his arrival, installed as deputy clerk under S. S. Brown, and has served as deputy and county clerk by election, thirty-nine years-so long and so well did he serve as to have no equal in that capacity. He served three terms as county commissioner to the entire satisfaction of all the people. The following are the names of his children : Henry S., Clara L., E. T., druggist in Leba- 21
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non ; married to Ella Dougherty ; J. B. Lane, married to Eliza Jenks ; resides in Oxford, Ind. ; Millrod W .; resides at home ; Albert L., resides at home; married to Mollie Robinson ; Eddie lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. Lane belong to the M. E. Church. Addison E. and Josiah C. Lane engaged in the mercantile business in Lebanon for several years. Lewis en- gaged in farming in 1849. Addison E. and family moved to Texas, and both died there in 1873, in a few hours of each other. Lewis Lane died near Lebanon, in 1880; his wife died in 1877 ; but buried at the Brockway Cemetery. Josiah C. died in Lebanon, May 11, 1885; his wife died in 1883; all buried at the cemetery in Lebanon. This is a brief sketch of an early and interesting family, highly esteemed by all. Long may their memory live. The Lane family mostly were members of the M. E. Church.
HARVEY MARION LAFOLLETTE.
The career of Mr. La Follette shows a man of pre-eminent usefulness, holding a prominent place among the men whose industry and ingenuity have illustrated the history of the west. Few have done more or obtruded themselves less than himself. His success, like all great successes, has been achieved against constant disappointments. Perseverance and indomitable energy have been characteristics of Mr. La Fol- lette's life, which has been one of struggle, self-reliance, bold efforts, hard won though inadequately required succes. He was a son of Harvey and Susan C. LaFollette, born in the state of Wisconsin, near Madison, September 8, 1858; two years later removed to Indiana, and made their final home in Thorntown, Boone County, Indiana, where his father was acei- dentally killed by putting a new wheel in his flouring mill, in 1865, leaving a widow and six small children, Harvey being the fourth.
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