USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 80
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
mal Elizabeth Freed Turley, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee. respectively_ the former of German and French and the latter of German descent When our subject was about three years old. In parents removed to Carroll County. this State, where he spent his Inislokal mal early youth working upon a farm. During this time. he wntended the district schools in which, considering the limited melvautogres, he received a goal education. About Isis, they re- moved to a farm in Howard County. In lost he took up the ave cation of a teacher. After teaching two years. he farmed for a short tome nad then engaged in the mercantile business in Walton. whence he had come in 1-57. In the following your he located in Cial- section, where he has ever since resided. During the first three years of his residence here he was engaged in the mercantile busi- In Istil be engaged in buying and selling grain, which re- crivel his entire attention until in October. Itis, when, in addition to the grain business, he purchased a stock of goods and engaged In in rebandising He was thus engaged until 1573, when he retired From the goods business and gave his entire attention to his grain in- teresls and to saw-milling. having in the meantime purchased a saw mill in 1574, for which he paid $3,000000. In 1976, in connection with this, he again resume l the mercantile business, and thus continued until the fall of 1590. At this time he retired from his business interests and for five years he gave his attention to his farm and to the running of steam threshers. He owns three complete outfits for threshing wheat ; besides he is the owner of a good clover huller In the spring of 1996, he built a large elevator in Galveston, and again resumed the grain business. He has alsoagain resumed sau- milling. In Istil be began the construction of a three-story, brick business building in Galveston, which he finished at a cost of $5,000. He also has the credit of erecting one of the best frame business blocks in that place, boades some excellent resident prop- erty. Martha L. Power, n native of Decatur County, this State. born. of English descent, January 12, 1910, beenme his wife Febru- ury 7. 1558. She was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth ( God- card Power, both natives of Kentucky. Mr and Mrs. Turley have lind seven children. six of whom are living Their names are John 11 .. born April 30, 1959; William S., born August s. 1960: Ida 1 ... born April 7. 1862, died September 19. 1963. Minnie A., born Octo- ber 7. 1966: Corn E., born December 21. 1.69: Thomas E., born December 2, 1972, and Lewis C., born April 7. 1579. Mr. and Mrs. Turley are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Turley is a member of the F. & A. M. Jodge and a Democrat in politics.
ELISHA VAN BUSKIRK. M. D., one of the prominent citi- 741% of Jnekson Township. is a native of Wayne County, this State. and was born May 10. 1$17. He was the oldest son of Joseph and
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Polly (Haff) Van Buskirk, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter a native of Kentucky, both of German descent. When our subject was yet a young child, his parents removed to Henry County, where he spent his boyhood and early youth working upon his father's farm. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the carpenter's trade. This was finished in due time, but he soon abandoned it to take up the avocation of a teacher. After teaching two terms he began the study of medicine. In October, 1848, he entered the Indiana Medical College, of LaPorte, Ind., from which he graduated in March, 1849. After practicing his profession at Camden, Carroll County, for two years, he located at Lebanon, Boone County. In 1852 he retired from the medical profession, came to this county and located upon a farm in Jackson Township, since which time his attention has been given to agricultural pur- suits. He located where he now resides in Section 6 of that town- ship, in 1873. He was married, on the 16th of July, 1851, to Martha Ann James, from whom he was separated in 1864. June 25, 1873, he was married to Mrs. Maria Wineholt, a native of Vir- ginia, of German descent, born January 12, 1828. She was the daughter of John Rhine. By his first wife Mr. Van Buskirk had four children: Juniata, Byron, Margara, and an infant daughter who died in infancy, unnamed. Of those named, Margara is de- ceased. In politics Mr. Van Buskirk is a Democrat. He is an hon- est, upright man, an intelligent gentleman and a good citizen.
SAMUEL B. WALLACE, one of the enterprising farmers of Jackson Township, is a native of Madison County, Ohio, and was born March 13, 1836. He was the youngest son born to John and Eliz- abeth (Burris) Wallace, natives of Kentucky, and New York, re- spectively, the former of Scotch and the latter of English descent. When our subject was six years old his mother removed to a farm in Hardin County, Ohio, his father having died in Madison County. In 1847 he came with his mother to this county and located upon a farm in Jackson Township. Here his mother died in April of 1883. About 1849 our subject returned to Hardin County, Ohio. In 1856 he again came to this county and located in Jackson Township, where he pursued the avocation of a farmer until 1861. In September of this year he entered Company H, Thirty-fourth Indiana Regiment, with which he served during the entire war, receiving his discharge in February, 1866. He first entered the service as a private, but afterward reached the ranks of corporal, sergeant, first-lieutenant and captain, having held the last position at the close of the war. He served with credit in the battles of New Madrid, Island No. 10, Port Gibson, Champion Hill and the seige of Vicksburg. At the bat- tle of Port Gibson he received a slight wound, but it did not prove serious. After the war he returned to Jackson Township, where he has ever since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. April 24,
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
1×6;4. he was married to Ann Marin Yakey, daughter of Philip and Elizabeth | Keever| Yakey. the Intter of whom is an old resident of Jackson Township. Mr. Wallace is a member of the F. & A. M. lodge, and is a Republican in politics. He is the owner of 160 acres of good land, about 100 neres of which is in cultivation. He is an industrious and energetic farmer and n good citizen.
JOHN L. WAMPLER. one of the influential citizens of Jack- son Township, is a native of Adams County. Penn., and was born January 20. 1-11. He was the fourth son born to Leonard and Mary ( Martin ) Wampler, the former a native of York County. Penn .. and the latter n native of Frederick County, Md. His father and mother were the parents of ten children-five sons and five daughters. It is a singular coincident that the five sons were all born in Pena- sylvania, the native State of the father, and the five daughters were all born in Maryland. the native State of the mother.' In 1525 John necompanied his parents to Tusenrawas County. Ohio, and about 1531 they located upon a farm in Preble County, Ohio. Our sub- ject enme to this State and located in Wabash County in 1549, his parents having located there the year previous. In 1550 he lo- ented at Peru, where he was engaged in the tanning business six years, having learned the trade with his father early in life. After spending a few years in Wabash County, during a portion of which time he was engaged in the mercantile business at North Manches. ter, he, in 1559, enme to Cass County and located in the woods of Jackson Township, since which time his attention has been given to agricultural pursuits. Some years ago, however, on account of in- firmities attending old age, he abandoned the active duties of life and has since been enjoying the life of a retired citizen. He was married February 15. 1541. to Agnes Mack, also a native of Adams County, Penn., born March 21. 1-13. She was the daughter of Alexander and Susan ( Fisher ) Mack, both natives of Pennsylvania. She died February 11, 1545. leaving to the care of our subject two children. Their names are William M., born August 1. 1543: and Susan A .. born February 11. 1945, died February 12. 1546. June 27. 1550, Mr. Wampler was married to Isabella V. Stone, a native of Virginia, born October 14. 1530. She was the daughter of Frank and Isabella ( Kemper ) Stone, both natives of Virginia, Mr. and Mrs. Wampder at present affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal Church, but both formerly belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Politically. Mr. Wampler is an ardent Republican. He owns a good farm of 160 acres of land, most of which is in a high state of cultivation. Another incident connected with the history of Mr Wampler is that he and both of his wives were coupled with three pairs of twins. He has been a hard-working. industrious and sur- cessful farmer, is now an intelligent man and one of our county's most highly respected citizens.
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A. P. WATKINS, an enterprising young grain merchant of Lin- coln, was born in Henry County, this State, December 28, 1856. He was the youngest son born to Armstead and Nancy (Thornton) Watkins, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively, both of English descent. He was left without a father's care at the early age of two years, and before he was fifteen years of age the hand of death had deprived him of both father and mother. At the age of fourteen he began working upon a farm by the month, which he kept up about ten years. During this time he spent his winters in school, and thereby received a good common school education. In December, 1880, he came to this county, and in connection with his brother, Mahlon S. Watkins, he opened up a grocery store in Lin- coln. In the fall of 1882, in connection with the grocery business, they engaged in buying and selling grain. Another brother, Frank Watkins, entered into the partnership in August, 1883, and since July, 1886, their undivided attention has been given to the grain business. Besides a warehouse in Lincoln they have good and sub- stantially built elevators at Kokomo and Tampico, Howard County, and Terrehall and Nevada, Tipton County, at each of which they are doing a good business. February 4, 1883, Mr. Watkins was mar- ried to Emma B. Howard, a native of Jackson Township, born, of English descent, January 24, 1863. She is the daughter of Andrew C. and Cyntha Howard, who are among the old residents of Jack- son Township. Mr. Watkins is a member of the F. & A. M. lodge, and is a Republican in politics. He is an industrious and successful young business man and a No. 1 citizen. In November, 1881, Mr. Watkins received the appointments of postmaster and railroad agent at Lincoln, which positions he still continues to hold.
GEORGE W. WILLIAMS, one of the substantial and influen- tial citizens of Galveston, is a native of Giles County, Va., and was born September 19, 1839. He was the youngest of fourteen chil- dren-three sons and eleven daughters-born to James F. and Anna (Acles) Williams, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respect- ively, both of English descent. When our subject was four years old his parents immigrated to the State of Indiana and located two miles southeast of Delphi, Carroll County. Two years later, they removed to that part of Clinton County which has since been at- tached to Howard, and located upon a farm one mile east of Russia- ville. In 1852 they removed to this county and located three miles west of Galveston, in Jackson Township. Here our subject spent his youth working upon his father's farm. He attended the district schools, in which he received a good common school education. At his father's death, which occurred January 24, 1864, our subject came in possession of a portion of the farm, and since he has pur- chased the shares of other heirs and thus became sole owner. This farm he still continues to own. Here he pursued the avocation of
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
n farmer until Isde, when he removed to a handsome brick resi- Joner which he had erected in Galveston. During the first eight eurs of his residence at that place he was engaged in the drug In- nowy He then formed a partnership with John Turley, with whom he was in the drug business about two years. since which le has been engaged in the hvery business and attending to the mangement of his farm. November 21. 1573, he was married to Hunah J DeHaven. a native of Frederick County. Va., boru 1 1 24. 1.52. She was the daughter of Willinin and Surnh Smokey De Haven, both natives of Virginia To them have been born four children. Their names are Maal .A. born November 25. 1-73. Sarah B., born March 25. 1-75, die l August 24, 1-75: Ber- lunda B., boru July 21. 197: Herschel E., born February 17. 1553. In politics Mr. Williams is a Democrat He is an industrious and enterprising man anl an influential cirizen. In the spring of ISS he was the candidate of his party for township trustee, but failed to . overcome an opposing majority
DR. JOHN B. WILLS, of Lincoln. is a native of Liberty. U'ilon County, this State, and was born May 30. 1553. He was the oldest childl born to John B. and Mary A. | Warner ) Wills, both of whom are natives of Plymouth. England, of English descent. They were married in their native city in 1951, and immediately after- ward they numgrated to America, arriving at Quebec in August of . that year They came to this State vin Cincinnati, and located at Laferty. this boing their first permanent location in this country. Our subject spent his early boyhood in his native place, attending the public school while that was in session. At ten years of age he left home, and during the seven years following he worked ujum a farm. In 1965 he necompanied his employer to this county, and located with him in Washington Township. Having concluded to tit himself for the teacher's profession, in 1570 he went to Terra Haute, where he attended the State Normal School one year. Ho then took up the avocation of a teacher, in which he was engaged for ten years with good success. In the meantime he had improved hi- eduention by attending the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, two terms. During the closing years of his career as a teacher he devoted his leisure time to the study of medicine, having made up his mind to enter the medical profession. During the summer of 1si he rend medicine with Drs. Lybrook & Barnett. of Young America. In February, 1>79, he entered the Kentucky School of Molicine, of Louisville, where he attended two courses of lectures. graduating in June, 1550. He returned to this county and entered upon his professional duties at Lincoln, where he has built up a good practice. July 2s, Isis, he was married to Flora E. Camp- bell, who was born in Deer Creek Township, this county. December . 1962. She is the daughter of Jumes and Elizabeth Campbell.
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the latter of whom at present resides in Deer Creek Township. This union has been blessed with one child-Leslie A .- born May 19, 1879. Mr. Wills is a member of the F. & A. M. lodge and a Republican in politics. In the spring of 1886 he was elected to the office of township trustee, and is therefore the present incumbent. The fact that he received a majority of 30 in a township where the political parties are about equally balanced, reflects upon his good standing in a very creditable manner. He is a young man of abil- ity and integrity, and promises to be a success in his chosen profes- sion.
HUBBARD A. WOOLLEY, one of the prominent citizens and farmers of Jackson Township, is a native of Orange County, this State, and was born January 1, 1829. He was the third son born to James and Rachel (Guthrie) Woolley, natives of New Jersey and Maryland, respectively, both of English and Dutch descent. Our subject spent his boyhood and youth in Chambersburg, of his native county, during which time he attended school in the winter time, and assisted his father, during his vacations, at his trade, which was that of a wagon-maker. In the fall of 1849' he left home, and went to Parke County, this State, and located at Annapo- lis, where for six years he worked at the trade of a wagon and car- riage-maker. In 1855 he removed to a farm near Kokomo, How- ard County, where he engaged in the nursery and sweet potato busi- ness. He came to this county, and located where he now resides, in Section 29, Jackson Township, in the fall of 1865, since which time he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. October 8, 1851, he was married to Elizabeth E. Lee, also a native of Orange County, this State, born, of Irish and English descent, April 15. 1832. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Queen (Lindley) Lee, natives of North Carolina and Indiana, respectively. She died October 10, 1862, and on the 14th of April, 1864, he was married to Mrs. Mary Ann Peters, a native of Marion County, this State, born, of Irish and English descent, June 27, 1838. She was the daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Tolin) Jennings, natives of Ohio and Virginia, respectively. Mr. Woolley and his first wife had six children. Their names are Martha E., born August 30, 1852; Mary E., born July 4, 1854; Hester E., born December 29, 1855; Amy A., born October 28, 1857; William A., born March 18, 1860, died February 11, 1864; and Oscar K., born November 24, 1861. Mr. Woolley is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, and is a Repub- lican in politics. He was elected to the office of township trustee in the fall of 1869, and was re-elected to the office three times, serving eight years consecutively. In the fall of 1880 he was the candidate of his party for county commissioner, and the manner in which he reduced an opposing majority is evidence of his standing in his township and county. In his official capacity he discharged his duties
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He has a beautiful home and a handsome little farm of eighty acres, where he resides, besides a farm of eighty acres in Howard County. He is an industrious and successful farmer and a good citizen. He began life poor, but by industry, economy and perseverance he has placed himself in comfortable circumstances.
MRS. ELIZABETH YAKEY, whose maiden name was Eliza- beth Keever, was born in Maryland, October 13, 1804. She was the daughter of Philip and Mary ( McWilliams) Keever, both na- tives of Maryland. About 1830 she came with her father to Mont- gomery County, Ohio. About 1845 she came to this State, and lo- cated in Miami County. About 1850 she removed to this county, and located where she now resides, in Section 34, Jackson Town- ship. About 1824 she was married to Henry Beachley, who died eleven months after their marriage. February 15, 1835, she was married to Philip Yakey, a native of Maryland. born November 11. 1812. He died August 29, 1886. By her second husband she had three children, as follows; Mary C., born January 12, 1837. died December 20, 1837; Ann Maria, born October 13, 1839; and John A., born December 16, 1842, died February 1, 1861. Mrs. Yakey is a member of the United Brethren Church. She is com- fortably located upon 160 acres, having at home with her a daugh -. ter and the latter's husband. Mrs. Yakey is now in the eighty-sec- ond year of her age.
CHAPTER XVI.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP-SURFACE FEATURES-SETTLEMENT-FIRST LAND PURCHASES - ORGANIZATION - MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS - MILLS - CHURCHES-GEORGETOWN-LAKEVILLE-CURVETON, ETC .- BIOGRAPIII- . CAL SKETCHES.
T THE township of Jefferson lies in the western part of the county, and embraces the greater part of Congressional Township 27 north, Range 1 west. It is bounded as follows: Boone Township on the north, Noble on the east and the counties of Carroll and White on the south and west, respectively. Crooked Creek, the largest and most important water-course, flows a westerly direction through the northeastern part of the township to Section 9, where its course is deflected southwest. The main stream flows through Sections 10, 14, 23, 26, Cicott's Reservation, and empties into the
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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
Wabash about one mile below Georgetown. This stream furnishes abundant water-power, and was an important factor in inducing im- migration to this part of the county. The southern part of Jeffer- son is characterized by a broken surface, and in many places along the Wabash may be seen precipitous limestone bluffs of romantic boldness. The country adjacent to Crooked Creek is also much broken in places, while the northern and western parts of the town- ship are more even. The greater part of the township is suscepti- ble of a high state of cultivation, and as an agricultural district stands second to none in the county. Lake Cicott, a beautiful sheet of water, covering an area of about 100 acres in Sections 20 and 21, has, within the past few years, achieved much more than a local reputation as a pleasure resort. The waters of the lake are of crys- tal purity, and the beautifully wooded banks surrounding the greater part of the same, together with the romantic location, mark it as one of nature's loveliest pieces of handiwork in Cass County.
Settlement .- Among all grades of history none is more eagerly sought after than that which truthfully delineates the rise and prog- ress of the State, county or community in which we live. There is pleasure as well as profit to every inquiring mind in contemplat- ing the struggles of the early settlers in all portions of the Great West; how they encountered and overcame every species of trial, hardship and danger to which human beings were subjected. But these things strike us more forcibly and fill our minds with more immediate interest when confined to our own community, where we can yet occasionally, with some of the now gray-haired actors in those early scenes, with whom life's rugged day is almost over, whose bravery in encountering the troubles and misfortunes inci- dent to backwoods life has borne an important part in making our country what it now is, and whose acts in connection with hundreds of others in the fast settling of our vast domain have compelled the civilized world to acknowledge that the Americans are indeed a pro- gressive people. The pioneer was the peculiar product of the pe- riod in which he acted. The separating and classifying influences of an advanced civilization were not prominent, and save in older com- munities the homogeneous character of the people was undisturbed by factitious distinctions of wealth and education. These men and women were not a sordid people, and in moving to the new country they were influenced less by the natural beauty of the region than
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
by the opportunities it afforded to improve their fortunes neither were they visionaries. There can be no greater mistake than the popular error which confuses the character of the founders of the commonwealth with that of the heroes of modern sensational writ- ings, the theatrical terrors which burrow up the imaginations of the young and timid. They were eminently practical men, who sought new homes where their growing families could reap the ben- "fit of cheap lands, and where persevering labor might lead to com- pretence. To this unique blending of sentiment and common sense. the wilds of Jefferson Township appealed with captivating power. Its primitive fertility and beauty entranced every beholder, and it was enrly and engerly sought by the pioneer in preference to other equally favorable localities.
The first comer of which there is any definite knowledge was George Cirott, a French Canadian, who for many years lived and traded with the Pottawatomie Indians, who looked upon him as one of their own number; in fact, he married an Indian wife, and was to all intents and purposes a savage so far as the rights and privi- leges of the tribe were concerned. By the treaty of 1526 a reserva- tion of over 1.000 acres in the southern part of the township was ceded to him, an were also other tracts of lands in various parts of the county, from the sale of which he accumulated a handsome competence. His arrival in Jefferson antedates 1527, and for nev- eral years thereafter he lived and dealt almost exclusively with the Indians. He erected the first mill in the township in 1529, near the present site of Georgetown, and operated it for the accommodation of the tribe with which he lived. It was highly prized by the early white settler also, and supplied meal for the sparse settlements for several years Mr. Cicott died about the year 1532 or 1533.
As early as 1528, according to the best authority, one William Price came to the township and made a settlement on what is known as the Elsroth farm. For one year he was the only white resident of the township, his only companions being the Indians, with whom he appears to have lived on terms of the greatest friendship. In 1529 John Myers settled in the southern part of the township. on the Gordon farm, and one year later the population was increased by the arrival of Peter Elsroth, who settled the farm owned by his heirs, Maj. Smith, in Section 33. near the Carroll County line: James Williams, near the Wabash River, Section 36, and Andrew McMillen. who made some improvements on the Sanderson place.
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