USA > Indiana > Henry County > Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-1906, Volume I > Part 43
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Joseph Pearson was a birthright member of the Society of Friends and was faithful in his attendance upon its monthly and other meetings, until his marriage to Sarah Draper, who with her family belonged to the Wesleyan Methodists. He was then baptized into the latter church, of which, he along with the well known Aaron Worth, Miles Lamb, Emsley Julian and others became a class leader. On his marriage to Rebecca Ratliff, she being a strict Friend, he again joined the Friends, to which society he adhered until his death. He served as overseer and elder of the church for a number of years.
Politically, he was a Whig until the dissolution of that party, when he became an active, aggressive Republican. His first vote was cast for William Henry Har- rison ; his last vote as a Republican was cast for Benjamin Harrison ; after this he became a Prohibitionist. He was a total abstainer himself and in the early times when the jug of whisky was common at log rollings, he never took a dramı, saying, "One swallow and then two, then a drunkard, which road leads to eternal destruc- tion of the soul, to rags and the poorhouse for the body, and oftentimes to the penitentiary and to the gallows."
Joseph Pearson was a very plain, unassuming man, of economic disposition and believed that money spent for more than the proper needs of man was waste- ful extravagance. He was a lover of his home and fireside; he gave the closest attention to the labors of the farm and the care of his stock ; he was exceedingly generous and it is said of him that the poor and needy found in him a helping friend. His life is worthy of emulation.
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF NATHAN NICHOLSON
CORPORAL, COMPANY C, 36TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, INDIANA VOLUNTEERS, COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND FARMER.
The well known Nicholson family, now long resident in both Henry and Wayne counties, came to Indiana from Guilford County, North Carolina. The head of the family in the latter State was John Nicholson, whose wife was Mary (Williams ) Nicholson. This family was attracted to Indiana by the many favorable reports received from old friends and neighbors who had preceded them to the Hoosier State. John Nicholson, the grandfather, with his wife, four sons and two daughters, migrated from the "Old North State," and reaching Indiana in the Fall of 1826, located near Greensfork, Wayne County, about half way between Richmond and Hagerstown.
One of the sons, named Williams Nicholson, after his maternal 'ancestors, was born in North Carolina, November 7, 1809. He was united in marriage with Ruth Bond, at Greensfork, May 8, 1834, and three years later purchased a farm, three miles southeast of New Castle, on the road between New Castle and Dublin, where he lived until his death, April 22, 1890. The place is well known and is distinguished as the Williams Nicholson farm. It is now owned by Mr. Martin Kinsey. Williams Nicholson, during his long and busy life in Henry County, earned and enjoyed an excellent reputation both as a farmer and a citizen. For many years, even until the time of his death, he kept a meterological record which was regularly published in the papers of the period. He was elected and served one term as County Commissioner, as is shown elsewhere in this History. Mrs. Ruth Nicholson, his long time helpmeet, preceded her husband to the grave by two years, dying March 9, 1888. Both of these pioneer settlers of Henry County are buried in South Mound Cemetery, New Castle.
The family of Williams Nicholson consisted of the parents and their seven chil- dren. The latter were born in the order named: Jesse, deceased; Merritt N .; Rachel, afterwards Mrs. John B. O'Harra, now deceased; Reason, deceased ; Nathan, the subject of this sketch; Martha, now Mrs. Joseph M. Brown, her husband being the present Clerk of Henry County ; and Charles, deceased. All of the deceased are at rest in South Mound Cemetery, except Rachel, who is buried in the cemetery at Anderson, Madison County, Indiana.
NATHAN NICHOLSON.
Nathan Nicholson, the fifth child and the fourth son of Williams and Ruth (Bond) Nicholson, was born on the farm of his father, March 24, 1843. His experience as a boy was not materially different in character from that of other boys raised in the country. In the proper season, he helped to till the soil, doing also such other work as might be necessary and in the Winter attended the old fashioned country or district school.
At the opening of the Civil War, he was at the proper age for the ideal American soldier, and inspired by the patriotic zeal and loyal sentiments which he inherited from his ancestors, he determined to enter the army then forming to preserve the Union. He enlisted in what became Company C, 36th Indiana In-
Nathan Nicholson
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
fantry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a private, at old Camp Wayne, Richmond, Indiana, September 16, 1861. The history of that regiment, as set out in the preceding chapter in this History, is as fully the military history of this young soldier, as that of any other who served in his country's cause. It is a fact that from the day Private Nicholson was mustered into the arniy until he was mustered out as a Corporal, at Indianapolis, September 21, 1864, he never missed a day's service with his regiment. In all of the camp life of the regiment, in all of its campaigns, marches and heroic battles, Corporal Nicholson was always ready for duty. He was conspicuous in his company and regiment in the famous battles of Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Perryville, Stone's River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and all the greater and minor engagements of the Atlanta campaign.
At Chickamauga, September 19, 1863, he was wounded by being struck in the forehead by a minie ball, which rendered him senseless and caused his com- rades to believe that he had been killed. Happily his injury was not serious and he soon showed signs of life, whereupon he was removed to the field hospital and thence to the general hospital at Chattanooga. After a rapid recovery, he rejoined his regiment and from that time to the end rendered his usual faithful and meritorious service. As a soldier, he was prompt in the discharge of every duty and had the full confidence of his superior officers as well as the high regard and esteem of his comrades.
Corporal Nicholson's term of enlistment having expired, he at once, after his discharge from the army, returned to the home of his parents and in the fol- lowing November, 1864, took up his studies in the country school, near his father's residence. In the Summer of 1865, he worked on the farm and in the Winter of 1865-6, attended the school at New Castle, then presided over by the now venerable Reverend Henry M. Shockley, one of Henry County's best known and best qualified teachers. In the Winter of 1866-7, Mr. Nicholson himself be- came a teacher and taught his first school three miles east of New Castle in what was then known as the Stout neighborhood. He afterwards taught in the Devon (Liberty Township) district and subsequently, in the Winter of 1867-8, at the "Black Swamps" (Dudley Township) school, about two miles west of New Lis- bon. During this last period, he boarded with the family of Samuel Leonard, and on September 24, 1868, he married Elizabeth, a daughter of Mr. Leonard, whose acquaintance he had made while a member of the family. From this time until April, 1904, when he moved to New Castle, Mr. Nicholson lived continuously within a half mile of the place where he was married.
After his marriage, he followed the life of a farmer but taught school during the Winter months, two more terms at the "Black Swamps" school and three more terms at the school in New. Lisbon. In 1876-7, Professor George W. Huf- ford, of the New Castle schools, was county examiner, a part of whose duty it was to visit once each school in the county. This duty, however, he delegated to Mr. Nicholson, who, during those two years, made a tour of the county and visited most, if not all, of the schools.
Following the events above chronicled, Mr. Nicholson was chosen by his Dudley Township constituency as township trustee, in 1887. He was re-elected in 1889, thus serving two full terms of two years each. The duties of the office
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are very onerous but were discharged by him to the full and complete satisfaction of his friends and neighbors. In 1891, he was elected a county commissioner for the term of three years, and was re-elected in 1894, serving another term of three years. The nomination for this office, in both instances, came to Mr. Nicholson without an opposing vote. His colleagues on the Board of County Commissioners were Thomas Wilhoit, Eli Brookshire, Newton B. Davis, John W. Whitworth and Harvey B. Chew. Mr. Nicholson brought to his duties, as county commis- sioner, the same care and prudence as have always marked the conduct and management of his own private affairs. He has always been a warm and active Republican in politics. He is a member of George W. Lennard Post, No. 148, Grand Army of the Republic, New Castle.
His first wife, Elizabeth (Leonard) Nicholson, died May 24, 1892, and is buried in South Mound Cemetery. To them were born two children : Pearl. born December 1, 1870, now the wife of James M. Keesling, a prominent business man of New Castle; and Lawrence T., born June 21, 1874. This son is a farmer and resides on the home place, two miles west of New Lisbon. On March 6. 1904, he was united in marriage with May E., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mathew R. Millikan, a well known family of Prairie Township, residing a mile west of the village of Messick.
Mr. Nathan Nicholson was again married June 8, 1893, to Almeda Donahoo, a sister of Mrs. Mark E. Forkner, Mrs. J. B. Lowe and a half sister of Mrs. Will Bond. all well known citizens of New Castle and vicinity. Mrs. Almeda (Donahoo) Nicholson was, for nineteen years, a teacher in the primary grade of the public schools of New Castle, and as such gave eminent satisfaction to the school authorities and to the patrons of the schools. Mr. Nicholson is now a retired farmer and with his wife is pleasantly and happily situated in their new and comfortable home on South Twelfth Street, New Castle. He is a director in the First National Bank, New Castle.
Merritt N. and Reason Nicholson, two brothers of the subject of this sketch, were Morgan Raid Minute Men. They belonged to Company A, 110th Indiana Infantry (Morgan Raid). which was raised in New Castle and vicinity, and served during the brief period that John H. Morgan and his Confederate troopers were raiding in Indiana, in July, 1863. Boyd Nicholson. a son of Reason Nichol- son, and nephew of Mr. Nathan Nicholson, was a soldier during the Philippine Insurrection. He enlisted as a private in Company G, 31st Infantry, U. S. V .. and was mustered into the service of the United States. July 18, 1899. He served with his company and regiment in the Philippines until mustered out June 18, 1901.
Pyrrhus Woodward
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF PYRRHUS WOODWARD.
SOLDIER IN THE MEXICAN WAR; CAPTAIN, COMPANY C, 36TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, INDIANA VOLUNTEERS, AND FARMER.
It is as firmly established as any historical fact can be that is not a matter of record, that Asahel Woodward and Catharine (Hollett) Woodward were the first white people to settle in Henry County, coming here and locating near the present site of the town of New Castle, among the Indians, in the year 1819, nearly three years prior to the organization of the county. Thomas Woodward, father of Asahel Woodward, came from England and settled in Philadelphia, where he was living at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. It is certified from the official records of Pennsylvania that "Thomas Wood- ward was a private in Captain George Gryst's Company, Eighth Bat- talion, Chester County Militia, Colonel Patterson Bell. May 5, 1778," in the Revolutionary War. He was married in Philadelphia. The next information re- - garding Thomas Woodward, relates to the time when he was a resident of Rock- ingham County, Virginia, where he must have moved at the close of the Revolu- tion and where he continued to reside until about the year 1802, when he emigrated to Kentucky, settling near Versailles, the present county seat of Woodford County. Later, he moved from that place to Ohio, locating near the site of the present town of Eaton, in what afterwards became Preble County. Here he died and was buried, but the exact date of his death is not now ascertainable.
Asahel Woodward, the father of Pyrrhus Woodward, the subject of this sketch, and the head of the Woodward family in Henry County, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, March 20, 1791, and when but eleven years of age (1802) was taken by his father, with the rest of his family, to the State of Kentucky and later to Ohio, settling in what is now Preble County, which was at that time, the fringe of settlement and civilization in America. The territory of Indiana had not yet been organized and New Castle and Henry County were non- existant and unthought of. Asahel Woodward continued to reside near Eaton. leading the venturesome life of a young and active frontiersman, until the beginning of the War of 1812-15, when he enlisted on October 8, 1812, as a private, in Captain Richard Sloan's Company, Adams' Battalion, Ohio Militia, and served six months. After his discharge, he returned to Preble County, where he again enlisted, this time in Captain James Rightmire's Company, Russell's Battalion, Ohio Militia, serving from September 6, 1814, to the close of the war, March 5, 1815, during this period, being on duty at Fort Frontier, located about half way between the present town of Eaton, Ohio, and the present city of Richmond, Indiana.
After his discharge from the army, Asahel Woodward continued to live in the vicinity of Fort Frontier, until late in the year 1815, when he was married to Catharine Hollett. This pioneer woman was born December 1, 1792, in the State of Maryland, whence she was taken, at the age of two and a half years, by her parents, to Washington County, Kentucky. The family remained in that State until January, 1811, when they crossed the Ohio River into Indiana Territory and later moved to Preble County, Ohio, where on October 1, 1815, she was united in
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marriage with Asahel Woodward. To this union were born the following named children : Rachel, Vienna, Thomas Bennett, Pyrrhus, Franklin, Martha Jane, Clarinda and Martin Van Buren. Appended to this sketch will be found a table, compiled from the Woodward family records, showing the birth, marriage and death of each of the members thereof.
Asahel and Catharine (Hollett) Woodward, the first white settlers of Henry County, were pioneers and frontiersmen, in the broadest sense of the expression. They came to Henry County in the Spring of 1819, early enough to plant a few acres of corn, on a small Indian clearing, situate about one- half mile east of where the Panhandle crosses over the Big Four Railroad and less than two miles northeast from the court house in New Castle. They were both blessed with strong constitutions and labored with willing hands not only to better their own fortunes but with generous helpfulness to assist their neighbors as well. They were followed to Henry County by Thomas Woodward, a brother of Asahel, who entered land and lived in the county until his death. In a sense, the history of one pioneer is the history of all, so far, at least, as relates to their settlement. their sacrifices and their hardships. They were persistent in effort, self reliant in difficulties and courageous in the face of danger, and, when their day was ended. yielded their accumulated property as a goodly heritage to their children.
The first home of Asahel and Catharine Woodward was near the place, where they had planted their first field of corn. It was a log cabin with the usual scanty and homely furnishings. From this cabin home; the family afterwards removed to the present corner of Twelfth and Woodward Streets, New Castle. These streets were not then in existence and the house which they occupied stood on a part of what was later known as the Asahel Woodward farm. Afterwards on this same plat of ground, a two story frame house was erected, which is still standing and habitable. At a later date, Mr. Woodward built a primitive brick house, the first in this locality, which stood about where the present residence of Thomas J. Burk is situated, and still later he joined with his son Franklin in building on the land . set apart as the inheritance of Franklin, the brick residence afterwards owned and occupied for many years by the late Joshua Holland and family, the money used in the building being furnished from the earnings of the son named. This residence is still standing and is situated immediately west of the Burk mansion. After the sale of this property to George W. Lennard in 1854, who, a year later, sold it to Joshua Holland, Asahel Woodward and family moved back to the frame dwelling at the corner of Twelfth and Woodward Streets, which they practically made their home until the death of Mrs. Woodward, which occurred January II, 1871. After her death Mr. Woodward made his home with his son, Pyrrhus, who owned the property, now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Belle Springer, until his death, March 19, 1875.
Asahel Woodward was among the very first to enter land in Henry County and he added to his possessions by purchase as he was able, until he became one of the largest land owners in the county, his holdings at one time amounting to one thousand acres or more, most of said land extending in a semi-circle from the original plat of the town of New Castle, as far west and north as Blue River from the Cadiz turnpike and on around to the Muncie turnpike. He also owned a tract of land east, and another tract of one hundred and sixty acres, southeast
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
of New Castle. The land of the Industrial Association and the Piano Works is a part of the Woodward land. He, himself, rarely sold any land, preferring to leave it as a legacy to his children, thus making them all rich.
Asahel Woodward was a man of strong convictions and positive opinions and prejudices in social, religious and political affairs. A partisan by nature, he was fond of argument and was sometimes extreme in his judgments but, withal, of such solid character and natural good sense, that he was a man of weight in the community. Many of these characteristics have been transmitted to his descendants. In politics he was a lifelong Democrat and that party had no more zealous advocate. He was a man of kindly heart and generous nature and was possessed of phenomenal industry, being, as the homely adage has it, without "a lazy bone in his body." He was a devout member of the Christian Church and so long as he was able to attend divine services, his seat in the sanctuary was always occupied. At his funeral, which took place on a Sunday, the members of the other churches held no services out of respect to his memory, but so far as possible attended and participated in the ceremonies of the Christian Church. Catharine (Hollett) Woodward, his wife, was "a mother in Israel," indeed. She- was quiet and unobtrusive in manner, affectionate towards her husband and children and absorbed in her domestic affairs, creating and maintaining an ideal home.
PYRRHUS WOODWARD.
Pyrrhus Woodward, the subject of this sketch, was born near the present site. of the town of New Castle, August 1, 1822. He lived the life of a young man on the frontier, on his father's farm and about the village of New Castle, until the year 1842, when he apprenticed himself to Nathan Livezey and Jacob Elliott to learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner. Jacob Elliott was his brother -. in-law, having married his sister, Rachel. Soon after he had finished his trade, the Mexican War broke out, whereupon, he joined with the late Mathew S. Ward, afterwards an officer in the Confederate Army, and the late Henry Shroyer, in organizing in New Castle and vicinity, a company for the war, which was called. "The Henry County Guards," organized under authority of Governor James Whit- comb, January 18, 1846. The officers were Mathew S. Ward, Captain; Henry Shroyer, First Lieutenant; and Pyrrhus Woodward, Second Lieutenant. This company was not accepted for service but young Woodward, being determined to get into the army for the war with Mexico, recruited some men at New Castle and elsewhere in Henry County, who joined what became Company H. 5th Indiana Infantry, and was known as a Grant County company from the fact that most of the men were from that county. The Colonel of the regiment was James H. Lane, who in after years became the well known "Jim" Lane, of Kansas. He was originally from Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Woodward's company was officered as follows: Ebenezer G. Cary, Captain ; Thomas F. Marshall, First Lieutenant : and David Shunk, Second Lieutenant, all of whom were from Marion, Grant County. Lieutenant Shunk, during the Civil War, became Colonel of the 8th Indiana Infantry (three years), and later Brigadier General. The Grand Army Post at Marion, Indiana, is named in his honor.
Pyrrhus Woodward was made Orderly Sergeant of this company. He was
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
enrolled October 4, 1847, and mustered into the service of the United States, October 14, 1847, for the term of, "During the war." He was mustered out July 28, 1848. After entering the service, young Woodward and his comrades first went on horseback from New Castle to Madison, Indiana. From Madison the regiment was sent by water to New Orleans and thence, across the Gulf of Mexico to Vera Cruz, where it joined the army under General Winfield Scott and moved overland to the City of Mexico. The history of Henry County in the Mexican War is practically embodied in three articles published in a chapter of this work, which were prepared for publication by Captain Woodward in 1895 and left by him among his papers at the time of his death. They were furnished to the author by Captain Woodward's daughter, Mrs. Belle Springer. The articles relate to an important period in the life of Captain Woodward and should be taken in conjunction with this sketch to complete a review of his career.
After the war with Mexico was over, Pyrrhus Woodward returned to New Castle and resumed his trade and the first contract on which he was engaged was the carpenter work for the brick block, known as the "Murphey Corner," situate on the southeast corner of Main and Broad Streets. At that time (1849) this structure was one of the largest and most imposing in New Castle or, for that matter, in Eastern Indiana.
On January 15, 1850, Pyrrhus Woodward was married to Mary E. Hawkins, daughter of William and Isabel M. Hawkins, well known pioneers of Wayne County, Indiana. They were leading members of the Friends' Church and resided near Cambridge City. Preparatory to his marriage, Mr. Woodward built the house, since remodeled, which is now the residence of Doctor and Mrs. William F. Boor. This home, Mr. Woodward and his wife occupied until 1854, when he sold it to his brother-in-law, Samuel Hazzard, quit the carpenter's trade and removed to that part of his father's farm which had been set aside for him. That farm is now mostly part and parcel of the northwestern portion of New Castle and is nearly all within the corporate limits of the town. Here he continued to live until the beginning of the Civil War.
Pyrrhus Woodward was a natural born soldier, and came honestly by the war spirit which sent him into the Mexican War and later into the great civil conflict. The martial instincts of the sire had descended to the son, and when the nation leaped to arms, he was among the first to answer the call for volunteers. Early in the Summer of 1861, he, assisted by George W. Lennard, began recruiting a company which afterwards became Company C, 36th Indiana Infantry, which was officered as follows: Pyrrhus Woodward, Captain; George W. Lennard, First Lieutenant ; and James W. Connell, Second Lieutenant. This company left New Castle for Camp Wayne, Richmond, Indiana, August 27, 1861, where, before the regiment was formally mustered into the service of the United States, the officers of Company C were changed, First Lieutenant Lennard becoming Adjutant of the regiment ; Connell, First Lieutenant, and John E. Holland, Second Lieu- tenant. The company was mustered in September 16, 1861, and from that date, the history of the 36th Regiment is the military history of Pyrrhus Wood- .
ward, until he was forced to resign from the services on account of disability, resulting from wounds received. at Chickamauga, Georgia. It is a matter of record that Captain Woodward was not absent from
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