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 34
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Thomas Cason, the father of the family that settled in Boone County at an early date, was born in Virginia on De- cember 8, 1759, and from there emigrated to South Carolina. Having been afflicted with the " white swelling" in one of his limbs in early life he became a school teacher, following it most of his life. He married Miss Margaret Neill December 30, 1794. Miss Neill was born March 24, 1762. She was a woman of excellent mental ability and great force of character. Her experience during the Revolutionary war, if written, would read like a tale of romance. She was an ardent Whig, while a majority of her neighbors were Tories. She had two brothers, only one being old enough to enlist in the war. Several times her house was robbed and everything in it destroyed except one bed on which an invalid mother lay. One of these times her brother had come home from the army on Sunday morning and was relating the news to the family and some young ladies who had come in to see him, when they were surprised by the click of gun locks from a squad of Hessians at the door of the house. The girls ran in the face of the Hessians and the brother out at the other side of the house. One of the Hessians, seeing her brother would escape, ran around the house, while Miss Neill, seeing his intention, ran through the house and, meeting him, struck up his gun just as he fired, undoubtedly by this act saving the life of her brother. On returning to the house her young brother be- eame alarmed and ran out, and, climbing a high fence, was soon out of sight. The Hessians did not seem disposed to shoot, but followed after him, going to the bars instead of the fence, laying down the middle one ; but when one of them would attempt to go through the girls would jerk him baek. One of the Hessians became so exasperated at Miss Neill that he struck her across the head with his gun, severely wounding her, the scar of which she carried to her grave. The Hessians then went to the house and destroyed everything of value, not leaving Miss Neill a change of clothing. The house had been robbed in the same manner before. At another time her
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young brother and herself had " mowed" their wheat, and the night after a company of the enemy's dragoons came and fed every sheaf to their horses. Her older brother was, before the war closed, murdered. His company was surrounded in an "old house by a very much larger force of Tories. The cap- tain of the Tories offered if they would throw their guns out of the house to protect them as prisoners of war. The captain of the Whigs accepted these terms and ordered his men to throw their guns out of the window. The men at first refused to obey, but as the house had been set on fire they yielded. The first thing the Tory captain did was to order the Whig captain and his lieutenants to be hung to a " fodder pole ; this breaking, he ordered them shot, after which the privates were also all shot. Miss Neill, hearing of the surrender. started immediately for the place, but arrived too late to save her brother; all had been shot and the captain was walking among the dead and hacking with his sword every muscle that moved.
Thomas Cason, owing to his crippled condition, was never molested by the Tories, although his brothers were in the sery- ice of the colonies. After his marriage he settled on a farm. but owing to having a large amount of security debts to pay. he had to sell the farm (a valuable one), negroes, and all his other property, except a small amount of household goods. and then go to Ohio and teach school so as to secure money to move his family to that state. Their children, four boys and one girl, were all born in South Carolina, the daughter dying before they left that state. William, the oldest, was born September 19, 1797; John, May 30, 1799; James, February 13, 1802, and Samuel, March 5, 1804. Thomas arrived in Ohio April 5, 1804, and the family moved in August and September following. From there they came into Indiana territory in 1814 or 1815, settling in Union County on a farm and remaining there until October, 1831, when John, Jame- and Henry emigrated to this county, all settling in the wood- and opening up farms near Thorntown. William, who never
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married, remained with the old folks, staving on the farm until his death, May 16, 1850, aged fifty-two years, seven months and twenty-seven days. His father died October 12, 1835, and mother, July 25, 1846. William Cason was a man of excellent character and habits, and exerted an influence for good over the people of his county equal if not greater than any one who ever lived in it. He was probate judge over twenty years, and was regarded as one of the best probate law- yers in eastern Indiana.
John Cason married Fannie Burkhalter. There were eight children born to them-five girls and three boys-named Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary, Phebe J., Marion N., Ershula, Oliver and Samuel. Margaret, Elizabeth and Marion are dead. John Cason always resided on a farm and devoted his entire attention to opening and cultivating it, and lived to see the day, as also did his brothers James and Samuel, when the farms that had caused them so much toil and hardship in the early settlement thereon became prosperous homes of thrift and independence. He was a man of an unusual kind dispo- sition, and always had a kind word for all whom he met and difficulty with no one. This was, however, a marked trait of character as to all of the older members of the family, and a law suit was a thing no one of the family was ever known to engage in, from Thomas, the father, to the death of his sons. John Cason departed this life in 1868, leaving surviving him his wife, now in her eighty-fourth year, and with the exception of a disease in her feet and limbs that renders walking troub- lesome, she is in excellent health. She has always been indus- trious and greatly devoted to her children, and for whose welfare she ever yet gives her constant attention.
James Cason married Margaret Rutherford December 13, 1827. Her family were of the old English stock of Ruther- fords, the name originating from Ruther's Ford, a stream near the line between England and Scotland, on which there was a ford on the land of a man named Ruther. Her mother's folks were named Harper, her grandfather being the owner and
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giving the name to Harper's Ferry, Virginia, which Old John Brown immortalized. Thus are united in one family the name of one branch originating from a ford and the other giving name to a ferry. James Cason resided on the land he first settled on in coming to this county until the fall of 1865, when he moved to Thorntown, where he lived until his death. He was a carpenter as well as farmer, and was a master of his trade. There are many houses, barns, bridges and other structures yet standing in this county which well attest the care and fidelity with which he did his work. Although a man small in stature, yet his physical strength and endurance was remarkable. He had a clear, incisive insight into most every subject before the people of his day, and with this he had most excellent "common sense," giving to his opinions and judgments unusual correctness. He was outspoken and frank almost to a fault, and was extremely active and energetic -doing everything with all his might; and he was always ready to assist in every enterprise for the public good. He departed this life January 31, 1875, leaving his wife surviving him, now in her eighty-first year, and with the exception of rheumatism in one of her limbs is in excellent health and as active as most persons at fifty or sixty years old. Her life has been unusually active and industrious. She is frank, ont- spoken and independent at all times, yet kind and genial to all who meet her, and liberal and tolerant in all her views. Her mental faculties are far above an ordinary person's, and her devotion to her children has been untiring; and they owe to her much of whatever success that has attended them in life. There were nine children born to them-six boys and three girls-one of whom, William, died at four weeks of age. Of the others, Thomas J., Samuel L. and Sarah Ann are yet living ; John O., Joseph N. and Margaret E. lived to be mar- ried and have children ; Mary E. died in her eighteenth year. and James H. on September 11, 1850.
Samuel Cason first married Mary Burkhalter. She was an excellent woman, a prudent and careful mother, and it is
HON. NELSON FORDICE.
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largely due to her training and instruction, young as her children were at her death, that several of them have become more than ordinary men and women. There were nine chil- dren born to them-six girls and three boys. Jane, Mary and Cynthia are dead; the others, Elizabeth, Margaret, Fanny, William N., Joseph M. and John are living. She departed this life about 1844. Samuel Cason was much like his oldest brother, William, in his traits of character and mental ability, and like him he exercised and held an influence for good over the people of the county that few, if any, have ever attained. Soon after coming to this county he was made one of the asso- ciate judges of the circuit court of the county. Judge Cacon became a good judge of law, and was treated with great respect by the presiding judge, who, upon all occasions, consulted him. Among the best lawyers of the circuit he was regarded as a sound lawyer and one of the ablest associate judges of the state. He always gave close, careful attention to his duties of every character, and had a clear, logical and incisive insight into most every subject brought before him, which, with the good common sense he exercised upon all occasions, caused his opinions to be received with great confidence. Like his brothers, he was of a positive, open, frank nature, and always straightforward in his intercourse with others. At the time of his death, and for some years prior thereto, he was presi- dent of the First National Bank, Thorntown. Under his management the stock, at the time of his death, sold at twenty- six per cent. premium. There was never a dollar lost to the bank while he was at its head. He had for several years been one of the directors of the Lafayette & Indianapolis Railroad, and resigned the position when he became convinced it was managed in the interest of a few directors instead of the stockholders. Both James Cason and himself had devoted much time, expense and labor in procuring the organization of the company and establishing the road through this county. Judge Cason was married the second time to Alphea Norris,
29
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and by this marriage there were three children-two girls and one boy-Lysia and Idia, and James. He departed this life August 6, 1871, at the the age of sixty-seven years, five months and one day, his wife surviving him.
It required thirteen days to move their families from Union County to this county, the distance being only about one hun- dred miles. It rained every day or night while they were on the road. Swamping and breaking down was an every- day occurrence ; and to cap the climax of all their troubles the wagon in which the family of James Cason was riding, when within five miles of their destination, overset in a creek, plunging them and everything belonging to them under water ; and although it was cold and raining, they had to camp out of doors in their wet clothes and bed covers.
The winter of 1831-'32, after the three brothers settled in this county, was a severe one. It set in early, a heavy snow falling the last of November or first of December, and lay on the ground until about the middle of March next. They had all landed in the woods "without a stick amiss," except Samuel, who had a small log cabin on his land when he came to it. It was spring before some of the chimneys were higher than the mantle-piece. Neither were there any doors in their houses until spring; old quilts and sheets had to be substi- tuted, and when some of the doors were made they were of split boards from trees. No mortar could be made to stop the open space between the logs of the house, so split pieces of timber and old clothes were the only substitute. The howl of' the wolf and other wild animals were heard nightly, and the writer remembers of their frequently driving the dog under the floor of the house where he would flee for safety. The feed for both man and beast had to be procured through the entire winter, spring and summer following their settlement in this county from Shawnee, Scott's and Wea Prairies, the di -- tance being about forty miles; and when procured the flour would often be sick, the corn so unripe and soft that when the
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cold came it froze and all had to be thawed out by the fire be- fore it could be used for feed to either man or beast.
It would take a volume to recite only the more important part of the hardships of any family of early settlers of this county, and it would be impossible to go into detail in a brief article.
WILLIAM COBB
Was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1809, and was the third child of William and Catharine Cobb. The former was born in the Borough of Southwick, County of Surry, England, October 21, 1760; the latter, Catharine Stransbaugh, born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1776, they being married February 26, 1805, both living to a ripe old age, he being eighty-three and she eighty-four. Mr. Cobb, when but a small lad, came to Harrison County, Ohio, where he learned his trade, which was carpentering, at which he was a very apt scholar. His father was a ship builder, and the Cobb's from him down are talented in that mechanical art. Here he was united in marriage to Mary Copeland, March 24, 1836. The result of this marriage is nine children, as follows : Thomas A., born January 21, 1837, and married to Miss Julia Wilharm; William F., born December 8, 1838, and married to Miss Amy Hileman ; Jacob S., born August 25, 1841, and married to Miss Ellen Lowe; Nancy, born August 11, 1843, married to Thomas Evans; James, born October 6, 1845, married to Miss Pet McNeal; John L., born January 29, 1848, married to Miss Lizzie Clark; John was accidentally killed by the cars at Indianapolis, November 11, 1876. Christina, born March 13, 1850, married to Anthony Kincaid ; Henry, born April 25, 1852, married to Rachel Clark ; Mary L., born January 13, 1855, died December 29, 1862: Dorothy A., born March 2, 1861, married to Alfred Kincaid.
Personally, Mr. Cobb was a tall, spare-built man, about six feet tall, with blue eyes and rather light complexion. He always wore a pleasant smile on his face, and spoke a kind
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word to all. He was a very active member in the Methodist Church, always attending when health would permit.
Mr. Cobb served as justice of the peace for about twelve years in Harrison County, Ohio. After coming to Boone County, in 1853, he served in the same office six years. He was justice of the peace when he died. Slowly wasted by disease, he died October 1, 1877, near the hour of sunset, peacefully --
" Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him and lies down to pleasant dreams."
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SILAS A. LEE
Was born in Decatur County, this State, on the 17th of March, 1832, from whence he came to Boone County in the spring of 1854, locating near Clarkstown, where he taught a school, after which he entered the store of Messrs. Dougherty and Nicholas, at Zionsville, as clerk, where he remained until 1856, when he formed a partnership with W. W. Atchison, carrying on a general store and grain trade until 1860. On the 3d day of December, 1856, he was married to Amanda M. Rose, of Zionsville. Having taken quite an interest in poli- tics, in 1860 he was nominated and elected by the Republican party Clerk of the Boone Circuit Court. In 1864, he was nominated and again elected to the same office, which he resigned in December, 1868, having served over eight years. On retiring from office he first engaged in the practice of law, in partnership with Hon. C. S. Wesner, which he gave up in 1870, to enter as a partner in the Lebanon Bank, where he continued until the latter part of 1872, then disposing of his interest in the bank, removing to the city of Indianapolis, where he is still engaged in the lumber trade.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
JOSEPH T. McLOUGHLIN.
Perhaps no man ever lived in the county who was better known than Mr. Mc. He was early and for years closely con- nected and associated with the best interests of the county, in fact, as long as he lived here. He first settled in Jamestown, where he remained a term of years, perhaps until he was elected County Treasurer, which was in the year 1845, and he was the first person that was chosen by the people to that office. He was born about the year 1806, in the State of Ohio, and in the year 1828 was married to Miss Vidito. About the year 1863, he moved to Iowa, where at latest accounts he was living, at the age of 81 years. He was a Democrat of the Jacksonian style, and in person he was low, heavy-set man; fair complexion. In his make-up he was social, loved his friends, who were legion in Boone County, where his best days were spent. We hope he will live to read the " Early Life and Times in Boone County," and overlook this poor sketch of one so worthy.
COL. A. O. MILLER.
Col. A. O. Miller was born in Madison County, Ohio, in 1827. His parents moved to Clinton County, Indiana, in 1830, where both died in less than five years. He was taken by a relative and raised on a farm on the Twelve Mile Prairie. Studied medicine and graduated at the University of Louis- ville, Kentucky, 1856 ; raised a company of men for Lincoln's call of 75,000 for three months, in '61. Was in command of his company, C, 10th Regt. Ind. Vol., at the battle of Rich Mountain, in July, '61. His company was the first of the army to enter the works and took down their flag, the first one taken from Rebel works during the war. Was Lieu- tenant-Colonel of the 10th Regt. in its three years' organiza- tion. Was made Colonel of the 72th Regt. in 1862, and served in the field until the close of the war, at which time
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he, with one hundred and fifty other wounded, were at Mont- gomery, Alabama, three hundred miles from any Union forces; was promoted to Brigadier-General. While in the army he married Mary L., youngest daughter of Wm. Zion. V Was Clerk of Boone Circuit Court for four years. Organized the first National Bank at Lebanon; was its Cashier four years, duurg which time the bank only lost one hundred dollars, and the banking system changed from 18 per cent. broker to 10 per cent. banking. Being enterprising and in favor of pub- lic improvements, he, with Zion Kinworthy and others, lost all they had in building the A. L. & St. L. Railroad, his loss being $20,000 bank stock, a fine home and other property.
THOMAS P. MILLER
Was born in Tennessee, December 1, 1812. Son of William Miller, one of the early pioneers of Eagle Creek, who arrived at that locality in 1830, and on whose land the town was laid out. Thomas P. Miller, the subject of this sketch, was first married to Eliza Meek, April 15, 1832, in Tippecanoe County. The following are the names of his children by his first wife : William M., Sylvanus S., James and Margaret, all of whom are deceased. Mr. Miller was the second time married to Margaret B. Cope, January 16, 1838. The following are the names of their children : Eliza J., Caroline, Maria and Mark D., all living. Eliza J. is the wife of A. F. Combs ; resides in Clinton Township. Mr. Miller was married the third time to Susan A. Kersey, March 1, 1846, in Lebanon. The following are the names of their children : Mary F .. deceased ; Harrison S., resides in Indianapolis ; Syseline, mar- ried to George Wysong, resides in Indianapolis ; Charles B., deceased ; Edwin H., married to Minnie Richard, resides in Indianapolis. Mr. Miller's first wife was drowned in the Wa- bash River, near Lafayette, January 11, 1838. His second wife died August, 1845, and was buried at the Eagle Village ceme-
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tery. Mr. Miller was appointed Postmaster in 1841, and served nine years. He was elected December 31, and served ten years as Justice of the Peace. Was elected County Recorder August, 1850, served eight years. Joined the Odd Fellows' in. 1846, moved to Lebanon 1850, became a citizen 1864, where he served four years as Justice of the Peace. Mr. Miller was elected to all the above offices as a Democrat. He has been an invalid for years, scarcely able to leave his room. His religious belief is that of Universalist. On another page will be found an interesting communication from Mr. Miller.
WILLIAM MILLER.
One of the early settlers of Eagle Creek was he whose name heads this short sketch. He was born in North Caro- lina, in the year 1781, May 29. He was married to Nancy Meek, who was born in North Carolina, September 6, 1782. They came to the county in the year 1830. Mr. Miller died at Eagle Village in the year 1844. Mrs. Miller died in the vear 1848. Both buried at the Eagle Village Cemetery. The following are their children's names: Moses M., born in Tennessee, May 11, 1809 (deceased). William W., born in Tennessee, February 4, 1811. Thomas P., born in Tennessee, December 1, 1812; resides in Indianapolis. John, born in Indiana, March 20, 1816. Margaret, born in Indiana, Decem- ber 30, 1817 (deceased). Rachel, born in Indiana, April 12, 1819. Alexander, born in Indiana, January 8, 1821; died in 1851; buried at Eagle Village Cemetery. Silas, born in Indiana, 1823; died in the year 1850. Elizabeth, born in Indiana, July 10, 1825 (deceased) ; buried near Zionsville. James, born in Indiana, March 28, 1830; died 1847; buried at Eagle Village.
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CHARLES F. S. NEAL.
This gentleman, whose portrait appears in this volume, was born in the city of Lebanon, Ind., August 24, 1858. He is the oldest son of Stephen and Clara Davis Neal. He attended the schools of Lebanon until the year 1877, during which last year therein he graduated, and for a time thereafter he became a teacher in the schools of the city. In the year 1880 he at- tended the Normal School in Ladoga, Ind., and during the same year he received the nomination from the Democratic party of Boone County for the office of county surveyor, to which office he was that year elected ; and after filling that office one term, he was appointed by the board of commission- ers of the county, to the position of superintendent and civil engineer of the gravel roads of said county.
In the year 1881, he was married to Mary E. Henry, of Ladoga, Ind., and to them have been born two children, one daughter and one son. Mr. Neal is connected with five of the six building and loan associations of his native city, and takes an active interest in public enterprises, and in building up the city, and the public improvements of the county. In the year 1887, he erected the finest and most elegant business block in the city of Lebanon. His noted characteristic is: "grit and git," and he is energetic, economical, and whatever he engages in, he manifests first-class executive ability. Physically and mentally he is a strong man.
THE ROSE FAMILY.
Sterling C. and Anna Rose, with two children, emigrated from North Carolina in 1832, settling first in Pike Township, Marion County, and four years later (1836) removed to Eagle Village, Boone County. Sterling C. Rose was born in North Carolina in 1795, and worked at farming and as a carpenter. Anna Rose, his wife, was born in North Carolina in 1800, and
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carried on tailoring in order to help her husband support their family in early life in Indiana. While he, in addition to building houses, made looms, spinning wheels, plows and wagons, she cut and made the fashionable clothing for the set- tlers. Sterling C. Rose served in the war of 1812, and drew a pension at the time of his death in 1875, being about eighty years old. Anna, his wife, died in 1863, being sixty-three years old. Their remains lie in the little cemetery at Eagle Village. They were honest, hard-working people, and filled well their part in the early settlement of Indiana.
Their children, six in number, are : Augustus D., Martha, Sarah, Addie, Amanda and Martin. The first two were born in North Carolina ; the other four in Indiana. Augustus D. Rose, when sixteen years old, went to Indianapolis and learned the trade of printer, finishing it in the Sentinel office under the Chapmans in 1849. Married in 1851, was elected Chief of Police in Indianapolis in 1857 and held it until 1861, when he resigned to volunteer in the army for the Union, and served four years, during which time he filled the position of first-lieutenant, captain, major and lieutenant-colonel. He is now compositor on the Sentinel, and is sixty years old. He has three children living, the youngest twenty-eight years old. Martha Rose married Dr. Samuel W. Redman in 1850 (a prom- inent physician). She died at Zionsville several years ago, leaving her husband and five children surviving, most of whom are in Oregon. Sarah C. Rose now resides in Indian- apolis with her sister, Amanda Lee. She never married, re- maining with her parents as long as they lived. She is now in her fifty-fifth year. She will long be remembered for her devotion to her father and mother. Addie Rose married George H. Carter, ex-sheriff of Marion County, in 1858. They went to California, where she died in 1865, leaving her husband and one son. . Amanda Rose married Silas A. Lee about twenty-four years ago. He was then a merchant in Zionsville, and afterwards Clerk of Boone County for eight years. They are now residling in Indianapolis, where he has
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