USA > Indiana > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Indiana : With historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families, Volume II > Part 12
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SAMUEL G. FICKLE AND FAMILY
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homes since the early days, and we are glad to hierein set forth more of the personal side of their lives.
Mr. Fickle, of this sketch, who seems to have inherited the thrift of his German ancestors and the wit of his Irish forebears, was born in Clinton county, on July 11, 1860. He is a son of Stewart G. Fickle and wife. William Fickle the first of the family born in America, first saw the light of day in Virginia in 1784. When ten years old he removed with his parents from the Old Dominion to Perry county, Ohio, which country was then prac- tically a wilderness, and there he grew to manhood and married. He became His son, Isaac Fickle, was born in Perry county, Ohio, April 2, 1815. There he grew to manhood and on February 14, 1838, he married Jane M. Miller, daughter of Robert and Nancy (Bell) Miller, natives of South Carolina, where the daughter was also born, the date of her birth being September 24, 1816. Her father came to Clinton county, in 1829, locating in Madison township where he lived until 1841, then sold his property and moved to Mercer county, Illinois, where both parents died, her death occurring on December 22, 1863, leaving four children.
Stewart G. Fickle, mentioned above, was born in Perry county, Ohio, and there he grew to manhood and married Eliza Durham, daughter of Dennis Durham and wife. They came to Washington township, Clinton county, and here they both died.
Ten children were born to Stewart G. Fickle and wife: Dennis, a car- penter and contractor at Frankfort; Almeda, the widow of Andrew Ghere; Nancy, single, now living in Frankfort; and Samuel G., of this sketch. The death of the father of these children occurred in 1869 at the age of fifty-three years. He devoted his life to farming. His wife died at the age of forty years.
Samuel G. Fickle grew to manhood on the farm and he received his education in the public schools. He was eight years old when his father died, and he went to live with Robert Fickle, a son of Isaac Fickle, and there grew to manhood. In 1879, when nineteen years old, he married Marinda McClary, who for a period of thirty-four years has proven to be a faitlı- ful helpmeet. She was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, and there reared and educated. She is a daughter of Harvey K. and Kate (Fink) McClary, natives of Ohio. The death of the father occurred at the age of seventy- two years, and the mother was sixty-two when summoned to her eternal rest. Eleven children were born to them: Eliza Jane, Marianda, who married Mr. Fickle; Byron, and Mrs. Olive Beck.
Mr. Fickle located in Washington township after his marriage and
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here he has engaged in farming on different farms. He has improved places and sold for a profit. He now owns two good houses and lots in Mul- berry, and formerly owned another which he sold. He has a substantial and modernly appointed large brick house in Mulberry. He has been very successful in his business life and can now live in comfort and without apprehension for the future.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fickle the following children were born: Minnie, who received a good education in Lafayette at a business college, now in In- dianapolis; Nellie, married to John L. Davis, of Lafayette, parents of two children, Dorothy and Ruth; Alice M., at home, and Ida, attending school.
Politically, Mr. Fickle is a Republican. He is a member of the United Brethren church, as is also his wife.
GEORGE H. MILLER.
The prosperity and substantial welfare of a town or community are in a large measure due to the enterprise and wise foresight of its business men. It is progressive, wide-awake men of affairs that make the real history of a community, and their influence in shaping and directing its varied interests is difficult to estimate. George H. Miller, the present able and popular cashier of the Citizens National Bank of Mulberry, Clinton county, is one of the enter- prising spirits to whom is due the recent substantial growth of the town whose interests he has at heart. With a mind capable of planning, he combines a will strong enough to execute his well-formulated purposes, and his great energy, keen discrimination and perseverance have resulted in material suc- cess.
Mr. Miller comes of an old and influential family. He was born in this county, June 23, 1868. He is a son of Aaron Miller, one of the highly es- teemed pioneers of the town of Mulberry, who is still living, being now seventy-one years of age. He was born in the state of Indiana, the son of Elias Miller, a native of the old Keystone state. Aaron Miller's wife was Caroline Moore, a native of Ohio. To Aaron Miller and wife the following children were born : George H., of this review ; Stanley .A., of Mulberry, man- ager of the Jay Grain Company; Frank, a farmer, and Bertha, the wife of Dr. Martin, of Frankfort.
George II. Miller grew to manhood on the old homestead where he did his share of the chores when a boy. He received a good public school educa-
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tion. When a young man he started in life for himself by learning the brick- layer's trade, and then engaging in the hardware business which he followed successfully for a period of eighteen years, enjoing an extensive trade in this and and Tippecanoe counties. He carried a large and well selected stock of all kinds of hardware commonly used by the farmer, and he dealt honestly with his many customers so that he had no trouble in retaining them.
In July, 1912, he became cashier of the Citizens National Bank, of Mul- berry, which position he has held ever since, to the eminent satisfaction of both patrons and officials. This is one of the sound and conservative institu- tions of the county of its kind and is rapidly growing. J. E. Combs is presi- dent and F. M. Goble, vice president. It occupies a substantial brick building, which cost five thousand dollars, and is well adapted to banking purposes. The upper story of the building is the Masonic hall.
Mr. Miller was married in 1890 to Addie Gangwer, a woman of educa- tion and refinement, a daughter of Monroe Gangwer. Of this union three children were born, namely : Ruth, Howard and Kenneth, the last named dying when fourteen years of age.
Mr. Miller is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias Orders.
TILGHMAN HOWARD ALLEN.
The true spirit of American progress and enterprise has been strikingly exemplified in the lives of such men as Tilghman Howard Allen, for many years one of the leading agriculturists of Clinton county, now living in hon- orable retirement in the town of Mulberry. A man whose energetic nature and laudable ambition enabled him to conquer many adverse circumstances and advance steadily. He has met and overcome obstacles that would have discouraged many men of less determination and won for himself one of the choice estates of this favored locality, and also a place among the enterprising men of the county. Such a man is a credit to any community and his life forcibly illustrates what energy and consecutive effort can accomplish when directed and controlled by correct principles and high moral resolves, and 110 man is worthier of conspicuous mention in a volume of this kind.
Mr. Allen was born in Clinton county October 19, 1840. He is a son of Jolin and Cynthia (Rush) Allen, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, re- spectively ; and of English and German-Welsh descent. John Allen was born
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in Greene county, Pennsylvania, May 5, 1805, and was the seventh son of a family of twelve children born to Isaac Allen and wife, the former's ancestors having settled in the Keystone state at a period antedating the war of the Revolution. When twelve years old John Allen was taken by his parents to Butler county, Ohio, where, owing to the reduced circumstances of his father, he was early thrown on his own resources and for some time he followed river, rafting logs and lumber and various kinds of merchandise, corn, flour, bacon, etc., to New Orleans. He was quite successful in this enterprise, but, while making what he proposed to be his last trip, suffered a severe financial loss by the sinking of his boat and all its contents while it was tied to the bank as he was securing fuel. The bank was underinined and a tree fell on the boat. In 1828 he located in Clinton county, Indiana, where a brother had previously entered land, and he worked for the early settlers there until 1853, when he invested his savings in a tract of land which he cleared and placed under cultivation. He was married in Butler county, Ohio, to Cynthia Rush, and they lived in a log cabin for a period of thirteen years. Occasion- ally he was engaged in hauling goods from Cincinnati to the village of Jeffer- son, and once while making a trip to Chicago he narrowly escaped death by drowning in the Tippecanoe river, which he attempted to cross on horseback.
Moses R. Allen, brother of our subject, has a military record covering a period of three years in the Civil war. He enlisted on September 16, 1862, in Company I, One Hundredth Indiana Voluntecer Infantry, under Capt. James N. Sims, and his first baptism of fire was at Vicksburg in the memor- able seige, in which he took an active part. He later participated in the pic- turesque battles of Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain, and in the spring of 1864 he was with General Sherman's army and fought throughout the strenuous Atlanta campaign. during the progress of which he was under fire almost continuously for abont one hundred days and nights. After a great deal of service in Georgia the regiment participated in a battle near the town of Griswold, and entered the city of Savannah, December 23, 1864, thence went to Beaufort, South Carolina, marched through the Carolinas, capturing Branchville, Columbia, Georgetown, Bentonville, and finally reached Goldsboro, March 26, 1865, after having marched thirteen hundred miles and fought seventeen battles. Moses R. Allen was honorably discharged on June 20, 1865, with a fine record as a soldier for the Stars and Stripes.
Tilghman Howard Allen, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm and he received a common school education. He was one of a family of nine children. His father, John Allen, died September 28, 1876, and the mother passed away at the age of sixty-eight years.
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CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
On February 6, 1873, Howard Allen married Mary A. Ohl, who was born July 26, 1854, and was a daughter of Edward and Mary Ann (Rodoc- ker) Ohl. The father was born June 26, 1835, in Ohio. He is living on a farm, but his wife died in 1892 at the age of fifty-nine years. Eight children were born to them : Mary Ann married Mr. Allen; Rachael Agnes died No- vember 4, 1885, at the age of thirty years; Malinda Jane married Thomas Rush; Samuel, Jacob and Charles all dying in childhood; Levina, born March 1, 1886, died November 10, 1881 ; and Ada, wife of Clinton Harshman, born August 28, 1872, now living on the old homestead.
Mr. Allen engaged successfully in general farming and stock raising on a large scale on his two fine farms of four hundred acres, two miles south and southeast of Mulberry. He remained there until 1909, when, having accu- mulated a competency, he retired from active duties of life and purchased ten acres in Mulberry, on which stand a modern ten-roomed house, and here he is spending his declining years in quiet and comfort. His family consisted of four children: Cora S., John Edward, now in Shreveport, Louisiana; Moses Rush, Jr., died when seventeen months old; and Lucretia, the youngest, now living at home.
Politically, Mr. Allen is a Republican, and fraternally a Mason. He has always stood high among his many friends and acquaintances throughout the county.
MRS. LAURINDA OHL MOORE.
Words of praise and periods of encomium could not clearly convey the personal characteristics of the noble woman of whom the biographer now essays to write in this connection, for only those who have had the good fortune to know her personally can see the true beauty and individual traits, which have been the resultant, very largely, of a long life of devotion to duty-a life filled with good deeds to others and led along worthy planes. She is one of those brave women who did so much to help their loved ones during the early days of the settling of our counties, and in the dread days of the Civil war when gloom and danger settled upon our fair land. Mrs. Moore lives in Washington township, Clinton county, where she has successfully managed a valuable landed estate of eighty acres, known as Oakwood, left by her late husband, George W. Moore, farmer and veteran of the war be- tween the states, and twenty acres more owned by Mrs. Moore. As a result
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of her commendable characteristics she enjoys the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances in her community.
George W. Moore was born in Madison township, Clinton county, No- vemiber 21, 1842, on the old Zebulon Moore farm near Mulberry, the old log house in which he opened his eyes to the light of day is still standing. His father, Zebulon Moore, was born July 19, 1814, in Virginia, of an old southern family. There he grew up and when a young man married Nancy Mitchell, who was born April 12, 1818. . His death occurred on the old home place in Clinton county, October 2, 1846, his widow surviving thirty-five years, passing away October 2, 1881. Two sons were born to them, George Wash- ington, of this sketch ; and J. Smithi.
George W. Moore was reared on the home farm and received his educa- tion in the common schools. In 1862 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served nine months, later serving six months in the Thirty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, proving to be a very faithful soldier for the Union.
January 2, 1873, he married Laurinda Ohl, who was born in Clinton county September 26, 1856. She is a daughter of David Ohl, who was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, a son of John and Lydia (Wehr) Ohl, of Pennsylvania. David Ohl grew up in his native community and married Sarah C. Peter, daughter of William and Laura (Stinespring) Peter. The father was born in Pennsylvania and was a son of William Peter, Sr. To William and Laura Peter seven children were born, six of whom grew to. maturity, namely : Henry, Julia, Adam, Sarah C., Gustavus and Laurinda. The death of David Ohl occurred at the advanced age of sixty-eight years. His family consisted of three children : Mrs. Laurinda Moore, of this sketch ; William, and Mrs. Elizabeth McNelley.
George W. Moore devoted his life successfully to general farming and stock raising. He owned a good farm in Washington township, on which his widow still resides. This' place was well improved by him and on it stand a pleasant home. Mr. Moore was killed by the interburabn cars August 17, 1903, at the age of sixty-two years. He was a hard working, honest. neighborly man who had the respect of all who knew him. He was a mem- ber of the United Presbyterian church. Mrs. Moore is a member of the Methodist church at Mulberry.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Moore, namely: Zella, who married Charles W. Collins; Otto M. is operating the home farm; Giles S. is an inventor of considerable note, having a number of important inventions to his credit ; Sarah Mildred died when nineteen years old.
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JOHN T. PAYNE.
One of the owners . valuable farming interests in Clinton county is the gentleman whose name initiates this sketch, who resides in Perry township. His excellent property has been acquired through his own persistency of pur- pose and determination, and the prosperity which is the legitimate reward of all earnest effort is today his.
John T. Payne, proprictor of Locust Grove Farm, in section 3 of the above named township, is a descendant from one of the old and well known early families of this locality. He was born on the old Payne homestead in Perry township on November 9, 1859, and he has been contented to spend his life in his native community. He is a son of Elijah and Nancy Heston Payne, both natives of Ohio, the father having been born in 1825, the son of William Payne, a soldier in the war of 1812. It was in the pioneer days that the father of our subject took up his residence in Clinton county and here he worked hard, lived honestly, developed a good farm and lived to see the country progress from a wilderness to one of the foremost counties in the state. His children are, John T., of this sketch; Albert C., now living on the old home place ; William F., died February 11, 1873; George W., died June 16, 1872; Charles E., died October 6, 1895; Nancy J., born January 13, 1848, died in infancy ; Sarah Ellen, Martha J., Lydia C. and Mary E.
John T. Payne was reared on the home farm and there he did his full share of the work when a boy. He received his education in local public schools, and he has made farming his life work.
He was married in 1890 to Elmeda Bewsey. She was born, reared and educated in Clinton county. She is a daughter of Samuel Bewsey, one of the well known and substantial residents of this county. Mrs. Payne has proven herself to be a faithful helpmeet. She has some valuable land, a part of the old home place.
Mr. Payne carries on general farming and stock raising, paying par- ticular attention to the raising of draft horses. He sold one for which an offer of one thousand dollars was made at the Chicago Stock Show. His fine stock is admired by all who see them, owing to their superior quality. He understands well the care and training of livestock as well as general and mixed farming, and his place ranks with the best in the township.
Four children have been born to our subject and wife: Blanche Opal, Flossie Gail, died at age of eight months: Doris Marie and Forest Hubert.
Physically our subject is a man of robust health and size and a genial,
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jovial and obliging gentleman whom everybody likes. He is a member of the Christian church, and was a member of the building committee that erected the fine edifice of this denomination in Colfax.
Mrs. Payne was born on the old home place in this county, August 17. 1865. Her mother's name was Elizabeth Dukes before her marriage. The Bewsey family came to Indiana in an early day. Mrs. Payne had three brothers; Manson A. (deceased ) : A. W. and Favorite H., of Frankfort. The former, an influential citizen of Clinton county, who died in 1912, was a large farmer and horse dealer, active in church work and was a liberal sup- porter of the church. The father of Mrs. Payne died at the age of sixty- nine years. He was a member of the Methodist church. He was a soldier during the Civil war, and took part in repulsing Morgan's raid. Mrs. Payne's mother died at the age of sixty-seven years. She was also a member of the Methodist church.
JOHN E. COMBS.
Few can draw rules for their own guidance from the pages of Plutarch, but all are benefited by the delineation of those traits of character which find scope and exercise in the common walks of life. The unostentatious routine of private life, although in the aggregate more important to the welfare of the community than any meteoric public career, cannot, from its very nature, figure in the public annals, though each locality's history should contain the names of those individuals who contribute to the success of the material af- fairs of a community and to its public stability-men who lead wholesome and exemplary lives which might be profitably studied by the coming genera- tion. In such a class must consistently appear the name of John E. Combs, one of the leading business men and public-spirited citizens of Clinton county, and president of the Citizens' National Bank of Mublerry, an honor which was conferred upon him by the votes of the stockholders of that sound and popular institution, and he is also largely interested in agricultural affairs and stock raising. He is a man who leads a plain, industrious life, always en- deavoring to deal honestly with his fellow men and to contribute in every way possible to the general public good in an unobtrusive manner.
Mr. Combs was born March 24, 1853, in Madison township, near the town of Mulberry, Clinton county. He is a scion of one of our sterling old pioneer families, noted for its industry and honesty. He is a son of William B. and Susan Patterson (Richardson) Combs. The elder Combs who came
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MR. AND MRS. JOHN E. COMBS
CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA. 481
to Clinton county in 1852, became one of the prominent citizens of this local- ity. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, and was a son of John Combs, a native of New Jersey, where the family had long been well established. Susan Patterson Richardson, mentioned above, was a native of Butler county, Pa., and was a daughter of M. C. Richardson, a well-known citizen there in his day and generation. The death of William B. Combs occurred at the age of fifty-five years. His widow survived to the advanced age of eighty-one years. They were the parents of five children: John E., of this review; Sarah Frances, who married a Mr. Elliott, living at Elwood, Ind .; William B., an extensive farmer and stock man of Madison township, this county; Malachi and Charles N.
The father of the above named children owned a valuable farm of two hundred acres here and was a successful general farmer. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and is an Odd Fellow and a Mason.
John E. Combs was reared on the home farm, leading a life during his boyhood days not unlike that of other boys on the farm of his time. He re- ceived his early education in the public schools, which has been greatly sup- plemented in after life by wide home reading and by actual contact with the business world. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-three. years old, when he married Tillie Steckel, representative of an excellent family, and herself a young lady of much promise. She met an untimely death in 1880, when only twenty-one years of age, being accidentally burned. She left one child, Ollie, who died when two years old. She was a member of the Reformed church. She was a daughter of Joseph Steckel. Mr. Combs subsequently married Jennie Muse, a native of Lehigh county, Pa., of a highly respected family, and she has proven to be a worthy helpmeet in every respect. She is a daughter of Charles Muse, deceased. Our subject's last union has been blessed by the birth of six children: two sons and four daugh- ters: Cleveland, married to Bertha Kinney; Lulu, wife of E. Clapper of La- fayette, Ind .; Mattie B., Elizabeth B., William and Emma, who died in in- fancy. These children were all given good educational advantages, attend- ing the local schools and Purdue University, at Lafayette, Ind.
John E. Combs has devoted his life principally to general farming and stock raising and he has long ranked among the leading men in these lines in the county. He owns a finely improved and productive farm of four hun- dred acres in Madison township. He has an attractive, large and modernly furnished home, and substantial and convenient outbuildings. He is a stock- holder in the Citizens' National Bank at Mulberry and has for some time been president of the same, doing much toward making this one of the leading
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banks of the county. Politically he is a Democrat and is a worker for the party. He takes a lead in all movements that are calculated to be of general good to the county in every way, and he is a man of exemplary habits, so that the high esteem in which he is universally held is well merited. Mr. Combs is a member of the Masons, I. O. O. F. and the K. of P. Ile was postmaster at Mulberry for four years during Cleveland's administration.
JOHN W. TIMMONS.
One of the artful and up-to-date farmers of Perry township, Clinton county, and a man who has so ordered his course as to gain the respect and admiration of his fellow men is John W. Timmons. He has been a close student of the soil, noting its changes as well as the climate changes since he was a boy, and has farmed so skillfully and scientifically that his land has re- tained its original fertility and his outlay of labor is annually rewarded by handsome crops.
Mr. Timmons was born September 27, 1864. He is a son of John Tim- mons, Sr., who was a native of Fountain county, Ind. Our subject is descended from a thrifty pioneer family, who did their part in clearing the wilderness. His paternal grandfather came to Indiana from Ohio in a very early day. Our subject's mother was known in her maidenhood as Harriet Wyant, a native of Virginia, and was a daughter of William Wyant, a soldier under Gen. William Henry Harrison in the war of 1812, and who fought at the great Indian battle of Tippecanoe, November 7, 1811. After the war he returned to his home in Virginia, where he continued to reside until 1828, when he built a flat boat, in which he placed his household belongings and his family and drifted down the Kanawha river to the Ohio, and down that stream to Cincinnati, where he sold his boat and purchased a wagon and an ox team and came overland to Indiana, locating in Clinton county, three miles northwest of Colfax. Here he established the future home of the family. William Wyant's wife was a native of Ireland and she always retained a strong love for the old sod.
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