History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions, Part 25

Author: John C. Odell
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 803

USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions > Part 25

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mrs. Long is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bald Hill. She is a well-known woman in the township and is greatly respected by all her neighbors.

WILLIAM HENRY HUGHES.

The respect which we freely accord to the brave sons of the North, who left their homes and the peaceful pursuits of civil life to give their services and their lives, if need be, to preserve the integrity of the Union, is certainly due to the venerable William Henry Hughes, a well-known citizen of Clay township. He proved his love and loyalty to the government on the long and tiresome marches, on the lonely picket line, on the tented field, amid the flame and smoke of battle and in the horrors of the Southern prison pens. He was the only survivor out of ten soldiers of the Twenty- fourth Indiana Battery, who were in the explosion of the famous prison ship, "Sultana." The great secret of his success has been devotion to duty, whether the duty pertained to his own private affairs or the public welfare. In war and in peace, his record has been signalized by honesty of purpose and integrity of thoughts and action. He well deserves the exalted position freely accorded to him by the people with whom he has mingled.

William Henry Hughes was born in Madison township, Carroll county, Indiana, January 22, 1843. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Roar- baugh) Hughes, the former of whom was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of William I. and Elizabeth (Copes) Hughes. They immigrated by ox-cart from Ohio to Deer Creek township in pioneer times. William Hughes was born in Winchester, Virginia, April 28, 1790, and, when he was a small boy, accompanied his father to Clark county, Kentucky. The

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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM H. HUGHES.

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family moved from that county to Highland county, Ohio, and then returned to Clark county, whence they moved to Adams county, Ohio. When he was about twenty years old, William Hughes was married in Adams county, Ohio. In 1814, he volunteered his services in the second war with England and served six months, having been stationed at Upper Sandusky at the time when Colonel Crogan fought the battle of Lower Sandusky. While in the army, he had a pitched battle with the bully of another regiment and was able to thrash him. William Hughes was a Democrat. His wife was a member of the Christian church. The remains of William and Elizabeth (Copes) Hughes, his wife, are buried in the Masonic cemetery at Delphi. The remains of William Hughes' first wife are buried in Ohio.

The parents of William Henry Hughes were married in Carroll county and were the parents of four children, one of whom died in infancy. After living in Madison township for a time, they moved to Clay township and, in the fifties, after his second marriage, John Hughes moved to Muscoda, Wisconsin, where he remained for a short time. He returned to Carroll county and settled in Clay township, where he purchased land. He then moved to Boone county, Indiana, and purchased one thousand acres of land near Thorntown, on what is now called Sugar creek. After keeping the land for a few years, he moved to Rossville, in Clinton county, where he died. His remains and the remains of his second wife are buried in the ceme- tery at Rossville.

William Henry Hughes received his education in the common schools and grew up on a pioneer farm. On June 2, 1862, Mr. Hughes enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Indiana Battery, Light Artillery, and served until July 31, 1864, when he was taken prisoner in Stoneman's raid near Macon, Georgia. He was held a prisoner at Andersonville, Millin, Savanah, Jack- sonville, and again at Andersonville, from August 2, 1864, until March, 1865, about nine months, and was then ordered exchanged. From Anderson- ville he was taken to Montgomery, Alabama, and then transferred across the river by boat, from which place he took a train to Vicksburg. With others, he was placed upon the steamer "Sultana," which boat was blown up on April 27, 1865, about one o'clock in the morning. William Henry Hughes was the only survivor of the ten members of the Twenty-fourth Indiana Battery, who were held on that boat. The names of the ten mem- bers of the Twenty-fourth Battery, who were on the boat at the time of the- explosion are as follows: Robert Shagley, a half-brother of Mr. Hughes' wife, a native of Clay township and born in the house now occupied by Mr.

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Hughes; Alonzo Maxwell; P. H. Bright, of Flora, Indiana; Isaac Bright, of Flora; John Appenseller, of Burlington, Indiana; Joseph Stonebrock, who, it is claimed, did escape and died later at St. Louis; Frank L. Willard, the sergeant of the detachment; Albert Hubbel; William Denny and Mr. Hughes. After the explosion, Mr. Hughes jumped into the water and finally got hold of and clung to a floating door until he was picked up after suffering cold and hardship which pretty nearly ended his life. After- wards he returned to Indianapolis and finally to his home at Delphi.

William Henry Hughes was married, on January 21, 1866, to Sidney R. Shagley, the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Lester) Shagley, the former of whom was born at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and the latter born near Washington, D. C. Jacob Shagley was married three times, the first time to Sarah Hurley, to which union were born six children, Harriet, Mary Ann, Lavina, Nancy, Robert and Sarah, all of whom are deceased except Sarah, who is the wife of Jacob Thatcher and lives at Sedalia. By Mr. Shagley's marriage to Elizabeth Lester there was born one child, Sidney R., who married Mr. Hughes, the subject of this sketch. By his third marriage, which was to a Mrs. Hamilton, there were born two sons, William P., of Deer Creek township, and George W., of Democrat town- ship. Robert Shagley, who was killed in the explosion of the "Sultana," was a son of the first marriage. Jacob Shagley, the father of Mrs. Hughes, was born on December 25, 1796, and died on February 20, 1867, in Carroll county, Indiana. He was a veteran of the War of 1812. Mrs. Hughes' mother died on August 16, 1849.

Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Hughes have been the parents of nine children, all of whom are living: Emma E., the wife of James McCune, of Carroll county; John A., who lives in Kalispell, Montana; James L., a resi- dent of Santa Ana, California; Clifton C., who lives in Portland, Oregon; William O., who resides in Clay township; George I., who lives in Los Angeles, California; May, the wife of Albert Johnson, of Huntington, Indiana; Mary A., now Mrs. J. C. Coss, lives near Andrews, Indiana; David V., who conducts the home farm, married Stella Campbell and has one son, Morris Harold. David V. Hughes is a Democrat.

Mr. Hughes owns one hundred and sixty-one acres of land in Clay township. He is now living retired on the farm, which is operated by a son. He is prominent in Masonic circles in Carroll county, being a member of the blue lodge at Delphi and of the Royal Arch chapter. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

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PHILIP LESLIE.

To rear a large family of children to honorable and useful lives deserves perhaps a consideration superior to that of any other achievement in life. This credit belongs to Philip Leslie, a retired farmer of Madison township, Carroll county, Indiana, where he still owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, having divided some two hundred and seventy-six ecres among his several children. The Leslie farm is situated two and one-half miles east of Ockley, in Madison township.

Philip Leslie was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, March 15, 1836, and is the son of John and Catherine (Mikesell) Leslie, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and who removed with his father at the age of sixty-seven years to Ohio. Jacob Leslie, the paternal grandfather of Philip, settled in Butler county, ten miles from Dayton. Catherine Mikesell also moved with her parents from Pennsylvania to Butler county, Ohio, and there grew to womanhood. After their marriage in Butler county, Ohio, John and Catherine (Mikesell) Leslie lived there for a few years or until they had four children, when they came to Indiana, settling in Tippecanoe county, where they entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. There they built a cabin and lived for several years, in the meantime clearing twenty acres of the farm. Subsequently, they moved to an adjoining farm northwest of the first and there they lived for many years. When Mrs. Catherine Leslie was sixty-three years old and her husband sixty-seven, they immigrated to Illinois, purchasing a farm there, and there spent the remain- der of their lives. They were the parents of thirteen children, only two of whom are living, Philip, the subject of this sketch, and Catherine, the widow of Charles Weaver.

Philip Leslie did whatever he could find to do when he was a young man, until 1860, when he was twenty-four years old. At that time he purchased eighty acres of land in Tippecanoe county, which he farmed for many years.

On April 23, 1863, Philip Leslie was married to Sarah Jane Murphy, the daughter of Alexander Murphy, of Clay township. After living on the farm until 1865, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie sold the farm and moved to Carroll county. He and his brother-in-law established a woolen-mill at Prince William. After operating the mill for one year, Mr. Leslie purchased one hundred acres of land, where he has lived ever since. For sixteen years Mr. and Mrs. Leslie lived in a log house. At the end of that period, Mr.

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Leslie built a commodious brick house which he now occupies. He owned at one time four hundred and thirty-six acres, which he has divided among his children until he now retains only one hundred and sixty acres.

Mr. and Mrs. Leslie have been the parents of six children, Dr. Francis, who is a graduate of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and is now situated in Toledo, Ohio; Dora, the wife of Philip Ray, of Camden; Nevada T., the wife of Eli Miller, of Democrat township; Roscoe, a resident of Nampa, Idaho; Raymond, who lives in Cambridge City, Indiana; and Mabel, a graduate of the College of Music at Oberlin, Ohio, married Earl Chapman, who was a student at DePauw University for three years.

Mr. Leslie is independent in politics, preferring to vote always for men and measures rather than for parties and party emblems. He is a good man and a good citizen and has discharged well all of the duties of life.

W. R. DUNKIN.

The rank and file of the world's workers constitute the bone and sinew of the nation, and each individual worker is a vital part of a perfect whole. Each class and every component part of the entire structure deserves the praise commensurate with the effort put forth and recognition should be given each earnest endeavor for individual and civic advancement. A resume of the life of W. R. Dunkin is only a modest tribute to a man who deserves much appreciation for the rich material he has woven into the fabric of his life.

W. R. Dunkin, of Flora, Carroll county, Indiana, has been a contractor on a large scale for nearly six years, but a general contractor for fifteen or twenty years. Many of the beautiful buildings in this section are a result of his thought and work. In spite of his many business interests, he has not been unmindful of the broadening influence of agriculture and, not long ago, he purchased a farm of twenty-five acres located on the south edge of Sharon, in Carrollton township. Its value is greatly enhanced by reason of its favorable location, being situated on the Michigan road.

W. R. Dunkin was born on July 15. 1861, and is the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Ratcliff ) Dunkin, the former of whom was born in Ohio, the son of Richard Dunkin. Richard Dunkin came with his family to Carroll- ton township, Carroll county, at an early date, his being one of the first families to settle in this region. He entered land on Deer creek and settled

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on it, farming, and operating the old inn at Sharon, on the banks of Little Deer creek, on the Michigan road. Richard Dunkin spent the remainder of his life upon this farm. He was fairly well-to-do and owned considerable land for a man of his day and generation.

Benjamin S. Dunkin came to Carroll county with his parents when a lad of about twelve years and grew up on the home farm. After he had become a man, he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Con- tent with the selection of his home, he led a quiet life during the remainder of his days in Carrollton township. His wife, who, before her marriage, was Sarah Ratcliff, was born in Henry county, Indiana, and was the daugh- ter of Abner Ratcliff. The Ratcliff family came to Carrollton township when Sarah Ratcliff was a small girl, settling on the opposite side of Little Deer creek from the Dunkins. A brother of Benjamin S. Dunkin died when a young man and the latter was the only son of Richard Dunkin who grew to maturity. He became well known for his lovable traits of character and especially for his clear judgment. He and his wife became the parents of nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity. The names of the children are as follow: Abner Ward, who is deceased; Winkfield R., who lives at Sharon, Indiana; Tillie, the wife of Rev. E. Sanford, a Baptist clergyman, of Winter Haven, Florida; Melissa, the wife of Addison E. Smith, and who now resides on the Benjamin S. Dunkin farm; W. R., the subject of this sketch: Elmer, who is a farmer and stockman living one mile south of Sharon, in Carrollton township; Rev. Daniel, who is a graduate of theological colleges at Franklin and Columbus, and resides at Columbus, Indiana; Emma and Perry, both deceased.

Of these children, Elmer Dunkin, who was born on the old Dunkin homestead, July 2, 1866, lived at home until his marriage, on March 31, 1884, to Jennie Landes, the daughter of Jacob Landes, a pioneer citizen of Carrollton township. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Dunkin have been the parents of two children, Vera May, who died at the age of eight years, and Doro- thy Marie, who lives at home and is attending school. Mr. Dunkin owns one hundred and twenty acres of land. He is a member of the Baptist church at Sharon and, for the past twenty-three years, has been one of the teachers in the Sunday school. He has also been treasurer of the Sunday school for the past twenty-three years. As a Republican, Mr. Dunkin was elected as member of the advisory board five years ago and still holds this position.

The late Benjamin S. Dunkin was a Republican and a devout member

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and worker in the church. At one time he owned nearly two hundred and fifty acres. Aside from his farm and his home his chief interest was his church, in which he served as deacon and trustee for many years.

When a young boy, W. R. Dunkin learned the carpenter's trade. He remained at home until twenty-six years of age, assisting his father in the farm work. On February 29, 1888, Mr. Dunkin was married to Lillie King, the daughter of George King, of Columbus, Indiana. After his marriage he moved to his present home and engaged in general contracting. Mr. and Mrs. Dunkin have two children, Hazel, who is at home, and Glenn F., who is a graduate of the high school at Young America and who has joined his father in the contracting business.

Among the many members of the Baptist church at Sharon, Indiana. there are none who are more energetic in their work than Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Dunkin. Mr. Dunkin is clerk of the congregation.

W. R. Dunkin belongs to the great army of workers who constitute the Prohibition party, and his enviable standing in this party makes him a power of strength in its support. His success in business is the result of having given uniform courtesy and service to his many customers and loy- alty to his many friends.

Abner Ward Dunkin, a brother of W. R., was for many years a well- known business man of Delphi. His early years were spent in farming, but after his removal of Delphi he engaged in the insurance business. Still later he engaged in the undertaking business.

WILLIAM W. PARSE.

Among the well-known and well-to-do citizens of a past generation in Democrat township, Carroll county, Indiana, was the late William W. Parse, a veteran of the Civil War, who enlisted in an Ohio regiment at the breaking out of the war and served until the close, making for himself a splendid record as a soldier in the preservation of his country. At the time of his death, on January 30, 1913, he was one of the most widely-known and best-heloved citizens of the community where he lived.

William W. Parse was born on March 1, 1841, in Butler county, Ohio, the son of Felix Parse, and was reared to manhood in Ohio.

On August 30, 1864, William W. Parse was married . to Ruhama Young, the daughter of A. P. and Mary (Dowden) Young, both of whom

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were born in Butler county, Ohio, who grew up and were married in that county. Some time after their marriage they immigrated to Indiana and settled in Clinton county on what is now called the Milliner place. Mr. Young entered eighty acres of land and a little later eighty acres in Democrat township, having sold the first farm and moved to the second farm in Car- roll county. At one time A. P. Young owned altogether three hundred and sixty acres of land in Democrat township. He and his wife were the par- ents of four children, two of whom, Robert, the eldest, and William Edgar, are deceased. The living children are Margaret Jane, the wife of J. B. McCune, of Sedalia; and Ruhama, the widow of William W. Parse, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Parse was born on August 29, 1849, on the farm now owned by a Mr. Burgen, of Frankfort, but which was at one time owned by Mr. Parse.

After Mr. and Mrs. Parse were married they settled near the Adams mill on the Betsy Ellen farm, which they rented on shares. After living there for one year they moved to the Robert Young farm, in Clinton county, which they occupied for three years. They then moved to the farm upon which Mrs. Parse was born and lived there until they erected buildings on the eighty acres of land one and one-fourth miles south of Lexington, where Mrs. Parse now lives. This farm originally comprised eighty acres, but has been increased by the addition of two eighty-acre tracts, until it now includes two hundred and forty acres.

Mr. and Mrs. William Parse were the parents of four children, three daughters and one son, namely: Ann Miranda, who married Harve Brookie and has four children; Oliver Howard, who married Martha Abs- ton, the daughter of Dr. J. M. and Amanda (Walker) Abston; Pearl Jose- phine, deceased, who was the wife of George Philips, of Brookston, Indiana; and. Bertha Z., the wife of James D. Miller, of Democrat township. The children of Anna Miranda Brookie are Arthur W., who lives in Cass county; Maude, who married Joe Burley, of Cass county, and his two chil- dren, Hazel Ruhama and Clarence; Blanche and Guy R., who are unmar- ried. The children of Oliver Howard are Vera L., a graduate of the com- mon schools; Jesse H., Iva Ruth, Mary M. and Howard P. Pearl was the mother of three sons, Virgil Clayton, Verne Devon and Claude Emmett. The children of Bertha Miller are Mabel Ruhama, Edwin L., Edith L., who died on January 26, 1913, and Helen E.

Mrs. William W. Parse is a member of the Presbyterian church. Her husband was a deacon in the church at one time. He voted the Republican ticket and was prominent in the councils of his party in Democrat township.

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JAMES R. DAWSON. -

One of the well-known farmers and citizens of Madison township, Carroll county, Indiana, during the past generation, was James R. Dawson. Having enjoyed educational advantages superior to those which came within the opportunity of most boys of his day and generation, he naturally became a leader in the agricultural life of Carroll county, and at his death there was no man living in Madison township who was more highly respected than he.

Mr. Dawson was born in Democrat township, Carroll county, Febru- ary 8, 1854, and was a son of Samuel and Catherine (Travis) Dawson, natives of Indiana. The former, who was the owner of more than three hundred acres of land in Carroll county, was a Democrat in politics and a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was twice mar- ried, the first time to a Miss Wilson, to which union were born two chil- dren: Isabel, the wife of James Whiteman, one of the oldest citizens of Carroll county, and a former trustee of Madison township, and one child who died in infancy. Mr. Dawson was later married to Catherine Travis, and to this union were born five children: James R., the immediate subject of this review; Joseph, deceased; Charles, also deceased; Flora and Emma.

During his boyhood, the late James R. Rawson worked on his father's farm, attending the district schools during the winter seasons. After his marriage he rented the home farm, where he lived for three years, and then purchased an interest in Gee's mill, on Wildcat creek, where he worked for three years. Afterwards he entered DePauw University, at Green- castle, Indiana, and for some time was a student there in the classical course. Upon the death of his father he inherited one hundred and twenty acres of land in Democrat township, which he farmed for some time, in all about eight years. Mrs. Dawson also inherited eighty acres, a part of her present farm, which Mr. Dawson rented. He also bought forty-six acres addi- tional, making a total of one hundred and twenty-six acres in the home farm.

The late James R. Dawson was married to Emily Jane Shaffer, the daughter of John and Mary (Shaffer) Shaffer, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and who came alone from the Keystone state to Fairfield county, Ohio, where he became a farmer, and where he met and married his wife. Subsequently he came to Madison township, Carroll county, purchasing the farm which Mrs. Dawson now owns. He died on August 10, 1881. His wife, who was a native of Fairfield county, Ohio,

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JAMES R. DAWSON.

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had passed away previously, on May 11, 1861. They were the parents of six children: Harvey, who lives on a farm adjoining Mrs. Dawson; Esther, deceased; Catherine, who lives in Madison township, is the wife of Frank Wood; Matilda, who died in infancy; Mrs. James R. Dawson, and Nelson, who married Lily Thomas.

Mr. and Mrs. James R. Dawson were the parents of six children : Edith, who lives in Clinton county, Indiana, is the wife of Harry Kearns, and they have one child, Emily; Maude, living in Benton county, Indiana, is the wife of John Travis; Lelia Laurel, who died in infancy; Mabel, liv- ing in Colorado, is the wife of Charles Sandifur, and they have two chil- dren living, Mary and Ruth; Ruth, who is living at home with her mother, and Josephine, who became the wife of N. Thompson, of Madison township.

Since the death of her husband, October 15, 1907, Mrs. James R. Daw- son has rented out the farm by fields, and lives in a unique old brick house, with surroundings which are thoroughly modern.

The late James R. Dawson was a Democrat in his political faith, while fraternally he was a member of the Masonic order, and was an ear- nest and consistent member of the Methodist church, in which he took an active and interested part.

WILLIS V. POLK.

Willis V. Polk, a prosperous farmer and stockman, who lives on the Michigan road, two miles south of Burlington, owns a farm of two hundred and seventy-two acres. He is prominent in the councils of the Democratic party in Burlington township and for the past four years has served as township chairman. For a number of years he has been living more or less retired, having turned the work of the farm over to his son. Aside from his large land holdings he also is a stockholder and director in the Burling- ton State Bank. In 1899 he built a commodious country house and later erected a large barn, so that his farm is now well improved.

Willis V. Polk was born in Irvin township, Howard county, Indiana, on January 9, 1861, and is the son of William I. and Mariah (Kirkpatrick) Polk, the former of whom was born in Virginia, the son of Joseph Polk. The mother was born on the Kirkpatrick farm in Carrollton township, the daughter of Benjamin and Hannah Kirkpatrick. The Kirkpatricks came to Indiana from Ohio and were early settlers in Carroll county. William

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M. Polk accompanied his father, Joseph, to Carroll county when he was three years of age, about 1831, at which time Joseph entered land two miles west of Wheeling, in Carrollton township. He was a blacksmith, coal- burner and farmer by occupation. Joseph Polk died when about forty-five years old, as the result of pneumonia, contracted from exposure while engaged in following his trade. His son, William, lived continuously on the same farm until about ten years before his death, when he moved to a farm near Young America and retired. William L. and Maria (Kirkpat- rick) Polk had five children, including one who died in infancy. Benjamin lives in Burlington, Indiana; W. H., at Galveston, Indiana; Willis V. is the subject of this sketch, and Alice Bell is the widow of Henry Bell, of Kokomo.

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History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions, Part 25

Author: John C. Odell Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Number of Pages: 803

Author: John C. Odell
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 803