USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 78
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has ever since resided. He had located in the woods and it was necessary for him to do a great deal of hard work in clearing up a farm. He chopped, grubbed, burned brush, rolled logs, plowed, and, in fact, did all kinds of hard work which the development of a new country necessitates. His life occupation has been that of a farmer. November 10, 1848, he was married to Nancy Braford, a native of Rockbridge County, Va., born September 1, 1827. She was the daughter of James and Nancy ( Wilson) Braford, both na- tives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Logan have had eight children- five sons and three daughters-all of whom are living. Their names are Martha E., born September 1, 1849; Anna M., January 4, 1852; Thomas W., December 13, 1853; James S., February 2, 1856; Geo. W., November 28, 1858; Nancy E., August 29, 1861: William G., February 12, 1864, and Andrew J., December 31, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Logan belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Logan is a member of the F. & A. M lodge and a Democrat in poli- tics. He owns 310 acres of good land, most of which is in a state of cultivation. Mr. Logan is an honest, upright man, an industri- ous and successful farmer, and one of our county's most highly respected citizens.
JAMES C. LOOP, a retired physician and surgeon, of Galves- ton, and one among the early settlers of Jackson Township, is a native of Clermont County, Ohio, and was born February 22, 1825. He was the second son born to Henry and Elizabeth ( Marsh ) Loop, the former a native of Cayuga County, N. Y., of Dutch and Irish descent, and the latter a native of Trenton, N. J., and a descendant of the English Quakers. When our subject was about seven years old his father removed to Preble County, Ohio, where the former . spent his boyhood and youth working upon a farm. During this time he attended the district schools, in which he received a good common school education. At the age of twenty he began the study of medicine. He first read one year with Dr. William D. Harris, of Ithaca, Ohio. He then read medicine two years with Dr. Will- iam Mundy, of Dayton, Ohio, after which he attended lectures at the Medical College of Cincinnati. On leaving college, in 1850, he came to this State, and first located at Deer Creek, Car- roll County, where he entered upon his professional duties. After , practicing here with remarkable success for four years he removed to Galveston, this county, where, until 1880, he was actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. In con- nection with the practice of medicine he has also attained consid- erable celebrity in the practice of law, having been admitted to the bar'in 1857. August 29, 1844, he was united in marriage to Saralı Wirts, a native of Virginia, who came with her parents to Preble County, Ohio, while yet a child. She was the oldest child of John S. and Catharine (Grisso) Wirts, both natives of Virginia, of
HISTORY OF CARS COUNTY.
Dutch and English descent, respectively. She was born October 26. 1520, To this union ten children have been born. They are Elizabeth, born September 15, 1547, died October 15, 1947; Will. IAm M., born September 4, 1549; Zuingless U., born July 9. 1551 ; Kate L', born July 18, 1955; Emma and Charles C. ( twins), born April 9. 1993 (the former died August 2, 1563), and Pearle A. born February 19, 1571, and three other infant daughters who died in infancy unnamed. William M. and Zuingless U. are at present hoth prneticing medicine, the former at Deer Creek, Carroll County. and the latter at Galveston. Dr. Loop is a member of the I. O. O. I' lodge, and is a stanch Democrat in politics, In the fall of 1554 he was elected a member of the Indiana Legislature, and is the present incumbent. His life has been rather an eventful one, and it has been especially brilliant in so far as success in his under- takings is concerned. He is well informed upon the history of pioneer life, and can relate some interesting stories of deer-hunting in those times. He has been one of the greatest deer-hunters in the State, and certainly hus not a superior as an expert shot. To illustrate this fact, upon one ocension, a few years ago, he went upon a deer hunt in Allen County, this State, and out of thirteen shots he killed ten deer. In more recent years he has gone on several hunts into Michigan, Wisconsin and Arkanans, but his inclination in this direction was more for pleasure than profit. He has trar- ele l extensively, and only Inst year traveled over 5,000 miles. He is wholly independent in his religious views, and believes in every man exercising the dictates of his own conscience. He is now in ensy circumstances, and not thinking it necessary to continue in netive practice, he is living in retired life. He is a well informed and intelligent gentleman, and one of our county's most highly respected citizens.
DR. Z. U. LOOP, an enterprising young physician and surgeon of Galveston, is a native of Carroll County. this State, and was born July 9. 1551. He is the second son of James C. and Sarah ( Wirts) Iwwop, who, at present, are old and highly respected citizens of Gal- veston. Our subject was yet a young child when his parents re- moved from Carroll to Cass County and located where they now reside. His boyhood and youth, up to the time he was nineteen years of age, were spent working upon his father's farm and attend. . ing the district schools. In these he received a good common school education. In 1570 he left home and went to Layransport. where he began to learn the trade of a marble-cutter. He worked as an apprentice for Sylvester Reed, of that place, two years. He then went to Springfield, Ohio, where his apprenticeship was fin- ished with Maxion & Forbes, who were, at that time, prominent marble manufacturers of that city. By the time this trade was finished, he had made up his mind to take up the study of medicine.
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He returned to this State in the fall of 1873, and during the year following he read medicine with his brother, Dr. William M. Loop, of Deer Creek, Carroll County. In the fall of 1874 he returned to Galveston, and in January of 1875 he engaged in the drug busi- ness, in which he has ever since continued with very good success. He had in the meantime kept up his medical studies, and in Febru- ary, 1881, he entered the Kentucky School of Medicine, of Louis- ville, where he attended two courses of lectures, graduating in June, of 1882. During his second course of lectures, he acted as assist- ant to the chair of chemistry. Returning to Galveston he immedi- ately entered upon the practice of his profession, in which he has ever since continued with more than ordinary success. September 10, 1875, he was married to Mary E. Atchley, a native of Clermont County, Ohio, born May 29, 1853. She was the daughter of Will- iam and Mary Ann (Hodges) Atchley, natives of Clermont County, Ohio, and Morgan County, Va., respectively. His first wife died May 22, 1880, and on the 22d of January, 1882, he was married to Mrs. Laura A. Darragh, whose maiden name was Laura A. Wil- son. She was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, August 20, 1850, and was the daughter of Hiram and Rebecca (Coleman) Wilson, both natives of Montgomery County, Ohio. To this latter union two children have been born. They are Clarence V., born May 22, 1883, and Florence, born July 14, 1886. Dr. Loop is a member of the K. of P. and I. O. O. F. lodges, and is a Democrat in politics. Though young in his profession, he has already built up an exten- sive practice. He is now considered a leading physician of Gal- veston, and he promises to become one of the leading practioners of Cass County.
HIRAM LOTT, an old and highly respected citizen of Jackson Township, was born in Piqua County, Ohio, September 10, 1820. He was the son of William Lott, who came from Delaware to Ohio in an early day. Being deprived of his mother our subject was bound out among strangers at the early age of five years, and until he was eighteen years of age he made his home with Jacob Shafer. With him he learned the tanner's trade. About 1838 he went to Perry County, Ohio, where he learned the carpenter's trade with William Larimer. He remained in his employ until 1846, when he entered the service of the United States in the Mexican war. He enlisted in Company H, of the Third Ohio Regiment, commanded by Col. Curtis and Capt. A. F. Knowles. He received his discharge at New Orleans in July, 1847. He then returned to Perry County, Ohio, where he remained until April, 1848, when he came to this State and entered eighty acres of land in Miami County, under a special act of Congress, granting soldiers of the Mexican war the right to take a claim in any part of the unoccupied reservation. This he located upon in 1857, and immediately set about clearing
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HISTORY OF CARS COUNTY
up a farm. Here he pursued the avocation of a farmer until 1971. when he sold his farm and immigrated to Kannas. Six months later he returned to this State, and in the fall of 1-73 he located where he now resides, in Section 33, Jackson Township. May 3, 1557. he was married to Nancy Ann Swinford, A native of Putuam County. this State, born September 5. 1537. She was the daughter of Wil- son F. and Sarah ( Lee) Swinford, natives of Kentucky and Mary land, respectively To this union four children were born, as fol- lows: Ella J., born April 4. 155>; Martha A., born September 7. 1550: Charles W. born September 1. 1561, and Sarah, born March 1, 1563, died June 9. 1964. Mr. Lott lost his wife April 9. 1-63. Politically Mr_ Lott is strictly a man of principde, As his ballots will clearly indicate, they having been distributed among different par- ties. He is now an ardent Prohibitionist, and he is right when he says that a vote for principle is not lost, though the man for whom it is cast is defeated. He owns 120 acres of excellent land, about eighty of which is in a high state of cultivation. He has been nu industrious and successful farmer, and though his life was begun without anything and under very unfavorable prospects. he has by industry, perseverance and economy, placed himself in comfort- able circumstances. It is worthy of mention that during his youth. being under the guardianship of an uncharitable man, he was reared in the words, among the Indians, with no privileges to secure any education whatever, and it was not until he broke the fetters which bound him to this man that he was even taught the existence of a Christian Sabbath. He is now in the sixty-sixth year of his age. and. save a slight attack of rheumatism. is enjoying fair health. He has never identified himself with any church, but he is a firm be. liever in the principles of Christianity. He is an influential mem- ber of the community in which he resides and one of Cass County's most highly esteemed citizens.
JAMES S. McWILLIAMS. one of the enterprising young farmers of Jackson Township, was born in Shelby County, this State. March 29, 1544. He was the only son born to Robert S. and Sarah A. (Graves ) Mc Williams, the former a native of Jennings and the latter a native of Decatur County, this State. When our sulyject was five years old. or in 1>19. his parents came to Cass County and located upon a traet of timber land in Section 21. Jackson Town- ship. Here he spent his boyhood and youth working upon his fa- ther's farm and attending the district school, in which he received an ordinary common school education. His father had located in n wilderness, and as James was the only son, it became necessary for him to enter upon all kinds of hard work found in a new country very early in life. He assisted his father in the development of a farm, after which he remained upon the farm. engaged in agricult ural pursuits, until 1870. In that year he removed to a farm in
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
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another part of the same township. A year later he returned to the homeplace. In 1873 he located upon a farm in Section 22, Jackson Township. Two years later he removed to a farm in Section 27, and in August, 1880, he again returned to the old homeplace, where he has ever since resided. November 8, 1870, he was mar- ried to Martha E. Logan, a native of Clinton County, this State, born September 1, 1849. She was the daughter of George W. and Nancy (Brofford) Logan, natives of Indiana and Virginia, respect- ively. Mr. and Mrs. Mc Williams have had three children, all of whom are living. Their names are Nancy Arminnie, born April 10, 1872 ; Mary Ellen, born November 23, 1874, and George Roberts, born July 15, 1878. Mr. McWilliams is a member of the F. & A. M. lodge. In politics he is a Democrat. He is the owner of 100 acres of good land, eighty of which are in cultivation. He is an energetic and industrious young man, and, though he began poor, he has, by industry and perseverance, already placed himself in comfortable circumstances.
JOHN. W. MORGAN, one of the pioneers of this county, is a native of Licking County, Ohio, and was born April 8, 1832. He was the only child born to his parents, and he spent his early life working upon a farm. In 1841 he, in company with David Bickell and his cousin, Thomas Morgan, came to Cass County and located in Noble Township. In February, 1842, he accompanied them to Jackson Township, where the latter took, for themselves, claims. Our subject has resided in that township ever since, and with the exception of three years, during which he was, in connection with John Turley, in the dry goods and grocery business, in Galveston, he has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. April 9, 1862, he was married to Pauline Hensley, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Fisher) Hensley, formerly of this county. She was born in Shel- by County, this State, June 17, 1842. To them have been born three children, all of whom are living. Their names are Thomas W., born September 17, 1863; Nellie B., October 22, 1867, and Lil- lian L., April 30, 1870. Mrs. Morgan is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Morgan and his son, Thomas W., are both members of the F. & A. M. lodge. Mrs. Morgan and her daughter, Nellie B., are both members of Pauline Chapter, No. 53, O. E. S., of Galves- ton, the chapter having been named in honor of the former, and in which she at present holds the position of Worthy Matron. In pol- itics Mr. Morgan is a Democrat. In the spring of 1880 he was elected to the office of township trustee, and served one term. He owns 160 acres of good land, about 100 of which is in cultivation. He is an industrious and successful farmer and a highly respected citizen.
GEORGE W. ODEN, one of the influential citizens of Jack- son Township, was born in Zanesville, Muskingum Co., Ohio, De-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
cember 21. 1543. He was the youngest son born to John. and Eliz- abeth ( Reeder ) Oden, the latter of whom was a native of Green- hrier County. Vn. His father died while he was yet a young child. and in 1547 he, in company with his mother and other members of the family, came to this county and located upon a farm in Noble Township. Here George spent his boyhood and early youth on a farin. At the age of sixteen he accompanied the family to Deer Creek Township. In August, 1561. he entered the service of the U'nion Army, in Company B, Forty-sixth Indiana Regiment, from which he was honorably discharged in September, 1565. He served most of the time in the rank of corporal. He participated in the buttles of Champion Hill, Port Gibson, Siege of Vicksburg, Island No. 10, and some others. At the battle of Sabine Cross Roads. Ln., he was taken prisoner, and was in a Southern prison in Texas nine months. He was liberated, by exchange. Decem- ber 12. 1864. At the close of the war he returned to the home- place in Deer Creek Township, and took up the avocation of a far- mer. in which pursuit he has ever since been engaged. He located where he now resides, in Section 25, Jackson Township, in 1571. June 2, 1566. he was married to Mary J. Harness, a native of this State, born June 2. 1543. She was the daughter of George W. and Drusilla ( Beck ) Harness, now of Deer Creek Township. His first wife died January 1, 1873, and on the 25th of February, 1575, he was married to Rebecca J. Rusk. a native of Howard County, this State, and daughter of William and Eliza J. ( Lung) Rusk, former- ly of Howard County. By his first wife Mr. Oden had five chil- dren: Elmer C., Schuyler C., Warren C., Luella A. and Oscar M., the last of whom died in infancy. He and his present wife have bad three children: Willard O., Stella Mand and Lelia May. Mr. Oden is a member of the G. A. R., and is a Republican in politics. He has a beautiful home and a handsome farm of 110 acres, situated in one of the best farming localities in Cass County. He is an industrious and successful farmer, and through industry, perseverance and economy he has placed himself in comfortable circumstances. He is an honest, upright, square-dealing man and a good citizen.
SIMMONS RAMSEY, one of the prominent citizens of Jack- son Township, was born in Marion County, this State, June 18. 1\36. He was the oldest born to John and Annis (Harbert) Ramsey. The father of Mr. Ramsey was of Irish, and his mother of Scotch-Irish descent. The father of Mrs. Ramsey was of Irish. and her mother of English descent, natives of Pennsylvania and South Carolina, respectively. He came with them to this county in 1853. They located upon the farm where our subject now re. sides, in Sections 27 and 34. Here he worked upon the farm until he was twenty years of age, when he immigrated to Kansas. Here he took a claim, which he located upon and immediately set about
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
developing a farm. He pursued the avocation of a farmer until August 2, 1861, when he entered the service of his country in Com- pany E, Tenth Kansas Infantry. From this company he received an honorable discharge in August, 1864. He entered the service as a private, but was soon promoted to the rank of sergeant. His service was chiefly upon the frontier, where he took part in several important skirmishes, perhaps the most hotly contested of which was the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark. At the close of the war he returned to his farm in Kansas and resumed agricultural pursuits, in which he has ever since been engaged. In July, 1873, he returned to this county, and again located upon the old homestead, near Galveston, Jackson Township. July 23, 1865, he was united in marriage to Ada Jane Buck, daughter of Ethel C. and Mariam ( Underwood) Buck, the former a native of Steuben County, N. Y., and the latter also a native of New York. She was born in Boone County, Ill., February 8, 1849. To them have been born six children. Their names are Francis A., born January 26, 1867; Howard O., born March 27, 1869; Fred. A., born October 10, 1871; the next was an infant son, born Octo- ber 10, 1874, who died in infancy unnamed; Nellie A., born Feb- ruary 5, 1876, and Porter Garfield, born June 22, 1880. Mr. Ram- sey is a member of the G. A. R. and is a Republican in politics. He is the owner of 137.5 acres of good land, most of which is in a high state of cultivation. He is an industrious and successful farmer and a leading citizen.
MORTON E. RAY, the efficient young book-keeper for F. H. Thomas & Bro., of Galveston, is a native of Indianapolis and was born January 20, 1863. He was the only son born to Andrew and Frances M. (Lattimore) Ray, the former of which was a native of Marion County, this State, and the latter a native of Vincennes, Ind. When our subject was four years old his parents removed from In- dianapolis to Michigantown, this State. Two years later they re- moved to Galveston, where Morton spent his boyhood and youth, attending school. In the spring of 1878 he accepted a position as clerk in the large dry goods store of M. H. Thomas & Sons, which position he held until August of 1882, when he became book- keeper for the firm of F. H. Thomas & Bro., in which capacity he has been ever since. Gertrude M. Darragh, a native of Winches- ter, Ohio, born December 13, 1866, became his wife June 16, 1886. She was the daughter of William and Laura (Wilson) Darragh. Mr. Ray is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, and is a Republican in politics. He is a young man of sterling integrity and irreproach- able character, and well worthy the trust and confidence placed in him by his employers and the public.
JEFFERSON A. RODIBAUGH, one of the enterprising young farmers of Jackson Township, is a native of the township in which
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he resides, and was born July 6, 1550. He was the second son bord to Joseph and Anna ( Harbert ) Perilmugh, natives, respectively. of Randolph and Wayne C'ounties, this State, former of Dutch, and latter of English nud Irish descent. The boyhood and youth of our sub jeet were spent working upon his father's farm und attending the district schools, in which he received a good common school educa tion. In 1979 he took up the avocation of a teacher, and has now taught for reven consecutive winters. During this time he has furthered his studies by attending the normal school ut Valparaiso one term: this was in the spring of 1550. He has also attended the tenchers' normal in Logansport three terms. His home bas always been in Jackson Township. He located where he now re- sides, in Section 29. in April, Isst. June 9. 1553, he was mar- ried to Idn Engler, daughter of David and Martha J. ( White) Engler, the former of whom nt present resides in Walton. Mrs Rodibangh was born in Shelby County, this State, May 24. 1560. Mr. Rodibangh is n member of the 1. 0. O. F. lnge, and is a Repub. liean in politics. In April. Iss2. he was elected to the office of township assessor, and was re-elected in the spring of Iss6. He is the owner of 110 neres of good land. about 75 of which are in a high state of cultivation. He is an industrious and successful former, a first-class teacher and n No. I citizen.
JAMES M. RONK, of JJackson Township, was born in Green- brier County, Va. (now West Virginia ), May 3, 1536. He was the oldest child born to George W. and Sarah JJ. (Cary ) Ronk ; natives of Ronnoke and Greenbrier Counties. Vn .. respectively. James grew up to manhood in his native county, and at the age of fifteen he became n deek-hand upon a steam-hoat plying upon the Great Kanawha and Ohio Rivers between Charleston. W. Va .. and Cincinnati, Ohio After one year's experience he was promoted to first mate, a few months later he was made watchman. At the end of three years, or when he was eighteen years old, his kuowl- edge of the river had become so thorough, and the confidence of his superiors had become so implicit, that he was, at this early age. commissioned as pilot. He served as such about seven years and discharged his duties in a creditable manner. He entered the serv- ice of the Confederate Army in 1961. in Company A. Twenty- second Virginia Regiment. He had voted for the Union, and his sympathy was with the Union, and it was only the direst provocation and most inhuman treatment by a company of Union men that caused him to renounce his allegiance to the Federal cause and en- ter the Southern Army. The said Union company had. for some little petty grievance, boldly and outrageously insulted him by con- fiseating his own private property and putting it to its own use. whereupon Mr. Ronk, in the heat of revenge, declared he would sacrifice his own inclinations and enter the ranks of the foe. lu
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the course of the war he displayed such military valor and bravery that he was promoted to the rank of captain, in which capacity he served until in July, 1864, when he and his entire company-ex- cepting twenty-five men which he had secreted in a stock-well- were captured at Winchester, Va. After a nine-months' imprison- ment at Point Lookout, Md., he was liberated and permitted to en- ter the retreat of civil life. He served in a creditable manner in the battles of Manassas Junction, Seven Day's Fight at Richmond, Pine Bluffs (South Carolina ) Cedar Creek, Winchester, and a great many others. In all, he participated in thirty-eight battles. After the war he came West, and, in June, 1865, he located at Burlington, Carroll County. He came to this county in the fall of 1877 and lo- cated upon a farm in Section 31, Jackson Township, where he has ever since continued to reside. December 25, 1865, he was married to Sophrona J. Cox, a native of Howard County, this State, born May 17, 1846. She died March 18, 1885, leaving to the care of our subject eight children. Their names are William A., Martha A., Anna M., Miranda M., Cora A., Mary D., Lizzie M. and Daisy M., all of whom are living. Mr. Ronk is a member of the Christian Church and a Democrat in politics. He owns a farm of sixty acres where he lives, besides twenty-acres in Howard County. His life has been rather an eventful one, but he is now living in a quiet way with his children, and the only impediment in the pleasure of the family circle is the absence of the wife and mother.
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