USA > Indiana > Henry County > Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-1906, Volume I > Part 31
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To the first marriage of William Fleming were born the following named children, who reached mature years: George, who was a farmer in Delaware County and died about 1862 at the age of seventy years; Mary, who was married to William Jones and died when past sixty ; David H., who had lived on a part of the old farm as a bachelor and died at seventy ; Norville, a veteran of the Mexican War, who resides at Sulphur Springs.
To the second marriage, two sons were born, William R., born June 23, 1838, and Beniah, born March 24, 1843. In the Autumn of 1861, both enlisted in the Union cause as private soldiers in what became Company E, 8th Indiana Infantry (3 years) and were mustered into the service of the United States at Indianapolis, September 5, 1861. Beniah died at Middlebrook, Missouri, from disease caused by hardship and exposure, March 9, 1863. His remains were brought home from the army by his brother and interred in White Union Ceme- tery, Fall Creek Township. William R. Fleming served a full enlistment of three years in the famous regiment to which he belonged, and its history is the history of Mr. Fleming during those three eventful years. He was never absent a day from the service, except on the occasion of his sad mission home with his
William Re Fleming
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brother's remains. He was honorably discharged from the service September 4, 1864.
When Mr. Fleming returned to his home he bought out the interest of the heirs to the old homestead of two hundred and forty acres, but it required about twenty years for him to clear up his indebtedness. On this farm he has made all the improvements, building the dwelling in 1870. He now owns two hundred and eighty acres, on which he grows grain chiefly and fattens hogs, depending on the latter for his profits.
June 22, 1865, Mr. Fleming married Miss Nancy J. Harvey, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Ball) Harvey, who at that time resided near Sulphur Springs. Mrs. Fleming was born April 28, 1840, in Delaware County, Indiana, and when a child was brought to Henry County by her parents, who originally came from Monroe County, West Virginia.
Mrs. Fleming was never of a robust constitution, and for two years pre- ceding her death, she was a confirmed invalid. She passed away March 31, 1887, the mother of five children, namely: Harvey B., a farmer living near the parental homestead; Henry Everett, who died in infancy; Ludoska, who died at the age of fifteen years; Maude, wife of Rutherford B. Harter, who lives on the Fleming homestead, and Nellie, who passed through the common school course, was well educated in music and is now the housekeeper for her father. When he was twenty one years of age (1859), Mr. Fleming went to Pike's Peak, Colorado, where he passed nine months prospecting for gold but the results were not satisfactory and he returned to his home in Fall Creek Township.
In politics Mr. Fleming is a Democrat and stands on the Chicago and Kansas City platforms of the party. Fraternally he has been a Mason since June, 1865, and is a member of Lodge No. 271, at Middletown, but attends meetings only when it is necessary to take part in the work on the "trestle board." He is also a member of the George W. Rader Post, No. 119, Grand Army of the Republic, Middletown.
Mr. Fleming is in fact the "architect of his own fortune," his success in life being the result of his individual efforts, and no residents of Henry County stand higher in the esteem of their fellow citizens than Mr. Fleming and his family, of Fall Creek Township.
There were four Flemings in Company E, 8th Indiana Infantry (three years), all relatives, viz: William R., Beniah, Andrew J., and Charles A. The two first named were brothers, as already stated. Andrew J. Fleming was a first cousin to the two first named and Charles A. Fleming was a second cousin of the other three. The death of Beniah has been noted. Charles A. was discharged from the service for disability, October 25, 1861. William R., and Andrew J., each served a full enlistment of three years and were mustered out September 4, 1864.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SAMUEL ALEXANDER MITCHELL.
LIEUTENANT, COMPANY E, 8TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, INDIANA VOLUNTEERS ( THREE YEARS ), MILLER AND FARMER.
Charles Mitchell, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Montgomery County, Virginia, where he was born May 8, 1797. In early life, he emigrated with his parents to Clarke County, Ohio. Although very young, he was a soldier in the War of 1812-15. Returning from the war, he acquired a fairly good education for the times and taught school in Ohio. Later he learned the trade of a tanner with a man named Guncle, and afterwards became a partner in the business. On March 14, 1824, he married Mary Black, born August 1, 1808. She was the daughter of Andrew Black, who was one of the first settlers and became one of the most substantial citizens of Clarke County.
Soon after his marriage, Charles Mitchell came to New Castle, leaving his wife in Ohio. She joined him in the Spring of 1825. He first taught a primitive school in New Castle, but being a tanner by trade and there being great need of a tanyard in the new county of Henry, on September 5, 1826, he purchased of Ezekiel Leavell, land agent for Henry County, for the nominal sum of one dollar, all the property now embraced on the south side of Broad Street, New Castle, extending from the east side of Fifteenth Street to within forty feet of the track of the Panhandle Railroad, and south from Broad Street, twenty four rods, containing in all, three acres of land. This property is all a part of the original plat of New Castle. It was sold for the small sum mentioned, as an inducement to Mr. Mitchell to establish a tanyard. The tannery was a profitable investment and was probably the first one established in the county. It afterwards became known as the John Powell Tanyard, John Powell becoming the complete owner under a deed dated June 14, 1830, the purchase price being four hundred dollars. The property had been sold to Powell under a bond for a deed upon which all the payments had been made.
After the sale of the tannery, Mr. Mitchell left New Castle and moved his family to Pendleton, Madison County, Indiana, where he built and operated another tannery. He also purchased a large tract of land close to Pendleton. He built and operated the mills at the falls of Fall Creek at Pendleton, and was the proprietor of the hotel or as it was then called tavern, at that place. He was also Captain of a militia company. In short he was the all around important man of the settlement, and was at one time one of the heaviest taxpayers in Madison County. Being a man of affairs and possessed of the confidence of his friends and neighbors, he was elected one of the Associate Judges of Madison County, to fill a vacancy, and was commissioned to serve from August 18, 1832, to September 1, 1837. He was elected without opposition.
In building and operating the mills at Pendleton, he had lost considerable money and never recovered financially, and about the time his office as Associate Judge expired, he moved to a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Madison County, situated two and a half miles west of Mechanicsburg, now known as the Franklin farm. In 1843 he sold this farm and returned to Henry County, locating about two and a half miles southwest of Middletown, on what is now
Samuel A. Mitchill
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known as the Jacob Fattic farm, where he built a tannery, the remains of which are still plainly visible. In the Winter he taught school in the southwestern part of Fall Creek Township and, perhaps, at other points. He bought this land under a deed dated March 2, 1843, for the sum of two thousand dollars. Here he con- tinued to reside until his death, March 20, 1863. His widow remained on the farm for several years, dying February 10, 1878. The remains of these two old pioneers are buried side by side in the Cemetery at Mechanicsburg. In politics he was a Whig and afterwards a staunch Republican. He had four sons in the Union Army as noted below, and was always present to bid the boys God speed, as they started for the front and his home was always open to them on their return. He ardently supported the war and himself and wife worked and contributed according to their means in forwarding sanitary and other supplies to the front.
To Charles and Mary (Black) Mitchell were born eleven children, namely : Mathew W .; James E .; Julia A., afterwards Mrs. Elza D. Fleming, now de- ceased ; Cyrus M. ; Willianı A .; Samuel A .; Mary ; Susan ; Charles L .; Leander P .; Emily C., now Mrs. James M. Rittenour, residing in Madison County, near Emporia. Of the foregoing, all are now living, except Mary, Susan, Julia A., James E. and Cyrus M.
SAMUEL ALEXANDER MITCHELL.
Samuel Alexander Mitchell, the subject of this sketch, was born at Pendleton, Indiana, October 18, 1835. As a boy he lived at home with his parents and at- tended school at and in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg. In 1852 he commenced work in a combined flour and saw mill, run by water power, operated by John Swope. This mill was situated on Deer Creek, about half way between Mechanics- burg and Middletown, and just west of the well known farm now owned by James Rice Connell. Today no vestige of this mill remains. In 1858-9, Mr. Mitchell assisted Mr. Swope in building at Middletown, the first steam flour mill ever erected in Fall Creek Township. This mill still stands near the crossing of Locust Street and the Panhandle Railroad, and is known as the Middletown Mills, owned and operated by John C. Daniels and Company. The mill has from the beginning always done a prosperous and profitable business. After the mill was put in operation, Mr. Mitchell became, for a number of years, the head miller. He was with Mr. Swope, both before and after the Civil War, for about sixteen years, excepting some eight months spent in Kansas in 1857, just following the "Border Ruffian" period in that State.
On April 13, 1861, Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage with Margaret, the second child of John and Mary Ann Swope. To this union was born one son, Walter P. Mitchell, March 2, 1862. He is a physician of the old school, a gradu- ate of Rush Medical College, Chicago, and is now practicing his profession at Gaston, Delaware County, Indiana. Dr. Mitchell was married to Luella C., daughter of T. F. and Dorzina Smith, on April 13, 1889, at Charlottesville, Hancock County, Indiana, and to them was born, July 6, 1892, one daughter, Halcyon Margaret.
When the Civil War broke out, three men who were working for Mr. Swope, in the mill, namely : Samuel A. Mitchell, George W. Shane and Benjamin F. Elwood, signified their intention to enter the army. They enlisted in Company
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B, 8th Indiana Infantry (three months), but Mr. Swope felt that he could only spare two of them, whereupon, choice being made by lot, it fell to Shane and Elwood to go, leaving Mr. Mitchell at home, much to his regret. When the second call for troops was made, in 1861, Mr. Mitchell could no longer be restrained. He assisted in organizing what became Company E, 8th Indiana Infantry (three years), and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a private, September 5, 1861. He served with the regiment in its campaigns, marches and battles, without exception up to and including Fort Esperanza, Texas, which was the last battle of the regiment before he left the army.
So great was the confidence of his officers in his capacity and qualifications as a soldier, that he was steadily promoted from private, without the intermediate rank of Corporal, to Sergeant and then First Sergeant. He afterwards won by merit his commission as Second Lieutenant of his company and was mustered in as such, March 9, 1863. He continued with his company and regiment until February 28, 1864, when on account of failing health he was compelled to resign. The history of the 8th Indiana up to the time of his resignation is the military history of Samuel A. Mitchell and should be taken as found in the preceding chapter, following the roster of Henry County soldiers, in connection with this sketch, to complete his military career. Following the history of the regiment is a list of the battles in which it was engaged from which can be ascertained the battles in which he participated from Pea Ridge, Arkansas, to Fort Esperanza, Texas.
Returning to Middletown in March, 1864, he rejoined his wife, who had made her home with her father during her husband's absence in the army. After re- gaining his health, he resumed his duties in the mill of his father-in-law, where he continued until 1868, when he moved to the old home farm, near Mechanics- burg, where he remained some three or four years, and then moved in the Fall of 1871 to a farm in Madison County, Indiana, near Markleville. He resided there for several years and then moved to the farm which he now owns, situated a short distance north of Emporia, and seven miles from Anderson, Madison County. This farm comprises a quarter section of land and is highly improved and well cultivated. Its buildings are all of modern construction and the whole place bears the marks of superior management. It is one of the best farms in Madison County.
Mr. Mitchell is a stalwart Republican and cast his first presidential vote in 1856 for the noted explorer, soldier and citizen, General John C. Fremont. He is a member of the Masonic order, which he holds in high regard. He is also a member of the George W. Rader Post, Number 119, Grand Army of the Republic, Middletown.
In the Civil War, the Mitchell family, which was a numerous one, rendered valuable and patriotic service to the Union cause. William Mitchell enlisted in Company E, 8th Indiana Infantry (three years), and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a Corporal, September 5, 1861 ; he was mustered out September 4, 1864. Charles L. Mitchell served during the Morgan Raid into Indiana, as Corporal in Company K, 105th Indiana Infantry (Morgan Raid). He afterwards enlisted in Company E, 9th Indiana Cavalry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a private, January 8, 1864; he was mus-
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tered out August 28, 1865. Leander P. Mitchell enlisted in Company B, 139th Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a private, June 5, 1864; he was mustered out September 28, 1864.
ANCESTRY OF MRS. SAMUEL A. MITCHELL.
The first record of Mrs. Samuel A. Mitchell's ancestry in Henry County, Indiana, is found of entry, December 16, 1823, when Michael Swope, her paternal grandfather, was commissioned by Governor William Hendricks, a Lieutenant in a militia company, organized in the southeastern part of Henry County. Of this company, Achilles Morris was Captain and William Hough, Ensign. It is other- wise well established that when the Swopes first came to Henry County, probably from Virginia, they settled on Symons Creek, in Dudley Township. In 1835 Michael Swope moved to what is now Jefferson Township, where he entered eighty acres of land, one mile north of Sulphur Springs, which is now known as the Albert N. Yost farm. He accumulated other lands in that locality and continued to reside there until his death. His remains and those of his wife are buried in the Sulphur Springs Cemetery.
John Swope, the father of Mrs. Mitchell, was born December 14, 1818, and died June 27, 1876. He was married April 29, 1841, to Mary Ann Stewart, who was born May 5, 1825, and died November 13, 1881. Their remains are interred, side by side, in the Miller Cemetery, east of Middletown.
John Swope was in his day one of the most progressive and prosperous of Henry County's large list of prominent citizens. He was a pioneer in the milling business in the county, his first venture in that line being made in 1851. On No- vember 25th of that year, he purchased of Washington Franklin, for the sum of twenty five hundred dollars, the combined flour and saw mill, situated on Deer Creek as above stated in the sketch of Samuel A. Mitchell. After the building of the present Panhandle Railroad through Middletown, he purchased the site of the Middletown Mills, from Joseph Yount, for one hundred and ten dollars, and erected the mill there as above stated in the Mitchell sketch, and had it in operation in 1859. He continued as proprietor of the mill until February II, 1876, when he sold it to Martin Painter for four thousand dollars. While Mr. Swope will always have the credit of having established this mill, it has, nevertheless, been remodeled from time to time to meet modern conditions.
John Swope and his wife were both earnest, active members of the Chris- tian Church, and did all that lay in their power to strengthen that large de- nomination. Mr. Swope had the confidence of the entire community, among whom his word was regarded as good as his bond. He was active in his support of the Civil War; warm in his allegiance to the Government, and contributed liberally of his time and means to the forwarding of sanitary and other supplies to the soldiers in camp and field and hospital. His son, Joseph A. Swope, enlisted in Company C, 109th Indiana Infantry (Morgan Raid), and served until the invasion of Indiana soil was ended. He afterwards enlisted in Company G, 17th Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a private, March 9, 1864, and was mustered out August 8, 1865. He is now a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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Mr. and Mrs. Swope were the parents of eleven children, namely : Eleanor, now Mrs. George W. Shane; Margaret, now Mrs. Samuel A. Mitchell; Joseph Arthur; Louisa, afterwards Mrs. Francis M. Sanders, now deceased; Jonas B .; Perthena, now Mrs. John Weesner, of New Castle; George W .; Charles ; Sarah Jane and Sophia, both of whom died in infancy.
Les. D. Shoemaker
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF LEVI PERRY SHOEMAKER.
LIEUTENANT, COMPANY E, 8TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, INDIANA VOLUNTEERS (THREE YEARS), AND FARMER.
The ancestry of Levi Perry Shoemaker takes root in Germany, whence his progenitors came to this country in early days, settling in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This German element became very strong in that Colony, and its steadfast support of the cause of the colonies during the Revolutionary War, in no small degree contributed to their success. The original German immigration to America was largely from the lower or Rhine and the upper or Bavarian Palatinate, during the disastrous wars concerning the succession to the Palatinate (1689-1697). This immigration steadily increased in later years, until the large infusion of German blood, especially in Pennsylvania, produced a distinct type of American manhood, commonly called the Pennsylvania Dutch. They were a sturdy, industrious and courageous people and have contributed much of value to American character and institutions.
The grandparents of Levi Perry Shoemaker were John and Elizabeth Shoemaker, who came from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1833, and settled one mile north of what is known as the "Cross Roads," in Delaware County, Indiana, where they lived and died. Their remains lie buried in the Saunders Cemetery, east of Daleville, in that county. They belonged to the German stock above mentioned and neither could speak much English. They were the parents of the following children : Michael. John. Jonas, Jacob, David, and two girls, who were married and remained in Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Shoemaker died October 19, 1861, and John, her husband, died January 22, 1865. They were very religious people.
The parents of Levi Perry Shoemaker, the subject of this sketch, were David and Amanda (Wall) Shoemaker. The former was born in Pennsylvania, June 22, 1816, and died August 8, 1859. The latter was a native of Kentucky, where she was born June 30, 1819. She died January 31, 1860. They were married April 30, 1840, and to them were born the following children : Levi Perry, May 30, 1842; Sanford Harrison, November 3. 1844; Silas Marion, September 17, 1846; died August 21, 1871 ; Franklin Taylor, August 24, 1848; Mary Elizabeth, born December 13, 1850, now Mrs. William F. Painter, of Delaware County ; Jonas Fillmore, April 16, 1853; William Francis, June 3, 1855 ; and Louisa Clara- belle, afterwards Mrs. David W. Kabrich, now deceased. She was born January 28, 1858, and died January 16, 1887. All of the above, who are deceased, are buried in Saunders Cemetery.
LEVI PERRY SHOEMAKER.
Levi Perry Shoemaker was born in Delaware County, Indiana, on the home farm, one mile north of the "Cross Roads," near Richwoods Lutheran Church, four miles northeast of Middletown, Henry County, Indiana. Until he volun- teered in the service of his country, he remained on his father's farm, working during the farming season and going to school in the Winter. Here he grew to young manhood and when the tocsin of war sounded its loud alarm throughout
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the land, his patriotic blood was aroused and he determined to enter the ranks of the armies then rapidly forming.
He enlisted in Company E, 8th Indiana Infantry (three years), and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a private, September 5, 1861. He was a brave soldier and a remarkable circumstance connected with his service is the fact that he was never absent a day from the army, during his service of four years, except when at home on a thirty-day furlough, after the regiment had veteranized. He never missed a roll call and was in every battle in which his regiment was engaged. For historical purposes, a list of the battles in which Mr. Shoemaker participated is here given: Pea Ridge, Arkansas, March 5-8, 1862; Cotton Plant, Arkansas, July 7, 1862; Austin, Mississippi, August 2, 1862; Port Gibson, Mississippi, May 1, 1863; Jackson, Mississippi, May 14, 1863 ; Champion Hills, Mississippi, May 16, 1863 ; Big Black River, Mississippi, May 17, 1863 ; Vicks- burg, Mississippi, May 18, to July 4, 1863 ; General Assault on Vicksburg, May 22, 1863; Siege of Jackson, Mississippi, July 9-16, 1863; Mustang Island, Texas, November 17, 1863; Fort Esperanza, Texas, November 27-29, 1863 ; Atchafalaya River, Louisiana, July 28, 1864; Berryville, Virginia, September 3-4, 1864; Opequan, Virginia, September 19, 1864; Fisher's Hill, Virginia, September 22, 1864; New Market, Virginia, October 7, 1864; and Cedar Creek, Virginia, October 19, 1864, besides numerous affairs and skirmishes. All of these were notable en- gagements and the soldier who participated in them has a record to which he can proudly refer. At Cedar Creek, when General Sheridan came up on his famous ride from "Winchester town," it was the good fortune of this intrepid soldier to be present when Sheridan first arrived, and to hear the inquiry put by Sheridan to a general officer as to the situation. When answered by the officer with the words, "We are whipped," Sheridan hotly replied, "You may be but these men are not." The history of the 8th Indiana is the military history of Levi P. Shoemaker, and should be taken as found in the preceding chapter, following the roster of Henry County soldiers, in connection with this sketch, to complete his military career. That Shoemaker's soldierly qualities were appreciated is shown by the fact that entering the army as a private, he rose by steps to Corporal, to Sergeant and to Second Lieutenant of his company. He was in all of his military conduct, the ideal American soldier and faithfully performed a soldier's duty. His army record is without stain.
The war being over and the Union preserved, Lieutenant Shoemaker returned to his home and doffing the habiliments of war, again resumed the life of a farmer, this time on his own account, and so continued until within very recent years he rented his farm, a very fine one, three miles north of Middletown, in Delaware County, and moved to Middletown, Henry County, where he now resides, and where he and his family are enjoying the fruits of his energy and industry.
Levi P. Shoemaker was married January 18, 1866, to Margaret R. Van Matre, daughter of Joseph Perry and Julia Ann (McAllister) Van Matre. Three children were born to this union, namely : Minnie Annis, born November 7, 1866; died September 6, 1878; Carrie Vearl, born September 29, 1880, and married to Bruce Hampton Lilly, of Middletown, February 14. 1901 ; Joseph Harrold Blaine, born July 18, 1888. Joseph P. Van Matre, born May 14. 1817, and Julia Ann Mc- Allister, born January 20, 1822, parents of Mrs. Levi P. Shoemaker, were married
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February 2, 1843. Besides Mrs. Shoemaker, born May 10, 1847, at or near "Cross Roads," Delaware County, there were the following other children : Lewis, born January 23, 1844; died November 4, 1847; Mary Jane, born July 1, 1850, died January 28, 1854 ; Ulysses and Eunice, twins, born August 6, 1864, both of whom died in infancy. Of those above mentioned as deceased all are buried in Painter Cemetery.
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