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 34
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The early education of our subject was obtained at Momence, Illinois, in the common schools of that place. In 1886, after the death of his father, Thomas Gillrie came to Clinton county. He did not settle down right away,
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but, in company with his mother, traveled quite extensively over the country He finally returned to this county, and for the next twelve years clerked in a grocery store. Later he was connected with the Frankfort Steam Laundry, and was employed at the same for three years. This position he resigned in order to engage in the restaurant trade. This establishment he still manages with great success, at all times using the latest and best methods in the operation of his place. Every article of equipment is sanitary and modern, and consequently his patrons are many.
On September 3, 1910, Mr. Gillrie was married to Bessie Armantrout, who was one of the six daughters of William II. and Sarah E. (Glick) Armantrout, retired farmers of Clinton county, having been among the earliest settlers of the community. These parents now live in Frankfort.
Religiously, Mr. Gillrie is a member of the Presbyterian church, and be- longs to the Presbyterian Brotherhood. Fraternally, he also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and Woodmen of the World, and has business affiliations with the Merchants' Association of Frankfort. Politically, lie is a Republican.
ELISHA JOHNSON.
Among those who have gained worthy prestige in the agricultural and business circles of Clinton county and have proved themselves loyal and pat- riotic citizens, is Elisha Johnson. This man is a fine specimen of the hardy pioneer. He found this county a wilderness and now sees it in full blossom. He belongs to that noble band of settlers now fast disappearing, and to whom we owe so much; they are rapidly crossing to the other shore, but their good works remain. All about us we hear the falling of the trees of the primeval forest and with them are passing their living prototypes, the grand old men and women who grew up with them. The children of the rising generation can never appreciate truly the lives of these old people and the flowers they place upon their graves soon fade, but they should be taught the principles which ruled the lives of these sacred dead that they too may live to be happy and useful men and women.
Elisha Johnson was born in Stark county, Ohio, January 15, 1828, being the son of Exum and Alice (Pinick) Johnson, the father a native of Virginia, and the mother from Ohio, both Quakers in religion, and farmers by occupa- tion. Both parents died in the state of Ohio. Our subject was one of nine
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children, two others of whom are living: James Johnson, a farmer of Den- ver, Colorado, and Charles Johnson, a shoe merchant of Hobart, Indiana.
Elisha Johnson received a common school education and worked on the farm until the year 1854, when he removed to Howard county, Indiana. arriving there just after the departure of the last Indian across its borders. At this place, in company with his brother, Elijah, he opened up the first saw mill, using the first engine built in Indianapolis by Sinker, the castings being made for it at Madison, Indiana. After his brother's death, Elisha's son was associated with him in the milling trade until the father's retire- ment in 1903. In 1873 Elisha Johnson moved his mill to Clinton county, later moved to Illinois and then again back here after disposing of his busi- ness. Mr. Johnson had the contract and built the first school house and Masonic hall at Russiaville.
In that day the presence of liquor in the town of Russiaville was quite a disturbing element. Laws were useless because everyone drank, many to excess, and nobody attempted to stop the traffic. Inevitable, a company of reformers sprang up, and Mr. Johnson was one of the leaders. He hated the sight of intoxicants, and believed that a man once addicted to the drink habit was not beyond help, so he used his every effort to reformation, some of his charges becoming afterwards the best citizens of the town.
Mr. Johnson was married on November 21, 1856, to Sarah E. Hart, of Highland county, Ohio, the daughter of William and Beulah (Nordyke) Hart, natives of Clinton county, Ohio, and farmers all of their lives. She was one of nine children, one other of whom is living, Mrs. Nancy Proctor, of Russiaville, Indiana. Mr. Johnson's wife is a member of the Methodist church. Two children were born to our subject and wife: Arthur, who lives in Terre Haute, and has one boy, Omer, in school; and Mrs. Anna Pipper, of Sunnyvale, California, wife of a fruit grower.
Religiously, Mr. Johnson is a Methodist, although he was born of a Quaker family and taught their faith. He is a member of the Masonic order, and politically has always been a Republican.
Mr. Johnson owns his own home in Frankfort, and is well liked by the people of the city wherein he is spending the evening of his worthy life. His wife is still the same dutiful and faithful helpmeet of days past, and their companionship now, in the calm, after the storm of life, is beautiful and sacred beyond the power of mere words to paint. They stand as a monument for the younger generation to emulate in this prosaic century.
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JAMES ALLEN BIEBER.
James Allen Bieber was born on June 4, 1840, in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Solomon and Barbara (Gangwer ) Bieber. James Bieber's great grandfather came from Loraine, Germany, and lo- cated on a farm on the Little Lehigh river, which is now three miles west of Allentown. At that time the great grandfather drove ninety miles to Philadelphia to market his grain. This farm has been handed down from father to son, and is now owned and occupied by Mr. Bieber's brother Henry. It was on this farm, and in the same stone house built by the grandfather that Mr. Bieber was born. Mr. Bieber's great grandfather, on his mother's side, came from Holland.
Mr. Bieber's brothers and sisters are: Charles (dec.), Henry, Sylves- ter (dec.), Milton, Angelina (dec.), Isabell (dec.), Emma Bieber Danner of Allentown, Pa .; Maria Bieber, and Loraine Bieber Greenwald (dec.). Charles Keck (dec.) of Allentown, an uncle of Mr. Bieber's, was associate judge of Allentown, and also president of the First National Bank of that city
When Mr. Bieber was sixteen years old his father died, and he was bound out by his guardian to learn the coachmaker's trade for three years. At the end of that time the Civil War broke out, and Mr. Bieber volunteered for a nine months' service. At the expiration of the nine months he was honorably discharged, but immediately re-enlisted for a three months' serv- ice and was made a sergeant. During Mr. Bieber's service he was at the front in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He was also at Gettysburg, although not in the actual fighting. Mr. Bieber was a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and fought against the famous Confed- erate general "Stonewall" Jackson. The first battle in which they met Jackson was at South Mountain, where the rebels were routed by the Union army. Three days later, at Antietam, the 128th Regiment, with General Mansfield in support of General Hooker, came on the field and made a desperate charge on the rebel lines, over a field strewn with the dead and wounded from both sides. When the charge was made, the colonel and Gen- eral Mansfield were killed; the division, however, carried the rebel works.
In the spring of '63 Mr. Bieber's regiment was with General Williams' ยท division and in General Slocum's corps, which division, at the battle of
JAMES A. BIEBER, DECEASED
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Chancellorsville, was stationed along the plank road where Jackson stumbled upon them by mistake and suffered a defeat. Mr. Bieber fought under Burnside at the battle of Fredericksburg, one of the bloodiest battles of the war. He helped to build the pontoon bridges across the Rappahannock. Mr. Bieber had several thrilling experiences during the war, although he never received a bullet in his body. He waded through swamps in mud to his waist, and was sick in camp without a nurse, and other incidents which test the nerve and vitality of a man.
Mr. Bieber was educated in a school near the old homestead. After leaving the army Mr. Bieber became the teacher in this school. After a year spent in this fashion, he came west to Fremont, Ohio, in the spring of '64. Here he became the head clerk in the Betts Dry Goods store.
In 1868 Mr. Bieber was married to Mrs. Maria McGee, and in the following year, 1869, they came to Frankfort, Ind. At that time there was no railroad to Frankfort and Mr. and Mrs. Bieber traveled by stage from Lafayette to this city.
For a number of years Mr. Bieber was associated with the late P. J. Kern, one of Clinton county's pioneer carriage makers. Mr. Kern's car- riage business was quite extensive and much of the work and responsibility fell on our subject's shoulders, as he occupied the office of bookkeeper and head salesman. In this manner Mr. Bieber became known over the country and state. At the time of his death he conducted a carriage shop of his own where he manufactured on a small scale a special kind of storm top vehicle of his own invention. He was taken sick, however, and died on August 22, 1910, und was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Fremont, Ohio.
A few years after Mr. and Mrs. Bieber came to Frankfort, they pur- chased a home on the 'southeast corner of Walnut and Jackson streets, and here they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Bieber was reared in the German Reformed church. On coming west he brought his letter to the Pres- byterian church at Fremont, Ohio, and later to Frankfort. He was a man of sterling character, and a man of great earnestness and industry. He was a member of the Stone River Post, No. 65, Grand Army of the Republic, serving one year as commander of the post, and four years as chaplain. In politics he was a Republican and always supported the party. For thirty ye os he served as judge and inspector on the Board of Elections of his precinct.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bieber: Mattie Van Doren Bieber and Daisy Josephine, both of Frankfort. Mattie is a graduate of
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the Mrs. Blaker's School of Indianapolis, a teacher's college, and for a num- ber of years had a private kindergarten in Frankfort, but is now engaged in the millinery business. She is a member of the Rebekah lodge and the Presbyterian church. Daisy graduated at the Frankfort high school, spent one year at Indiana University, one summer term at Cincinnati Art Acad- emy, and four years at the Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis. She is now engaged in teaching in this city. She is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Mrs. Bieber's maiden name was Ann Maria Josephine Mead. She was born January 1, 1837, in New London, Conn., and was the daughter of Henry Sanford and Mary ( Larchar) Mead. The name Mead is recorded in the English College of Heraldry as early as 1569. Among the most prominent of the Scotch representatives of the family was the Earl of Clan William. The founder of the English branch was granted arms. The eagle in the crest of the arms was given to Sir Robert Mead for his services in the cause of the German Empire in the wars of Gustavus Adolphus. William Mead, the American ancestor, was born in England in 1600. He came to this country about 1630 and settled first in Massachusetts, then in Hempstead, Long Island, and finally in Greenwich, Conn. He is supposed to have been a member of a family of Saxon origin which settled in very early times in Somersetshire, but had removed to Essex during the reign of Hanry VI. John Mead, son of William, was born in 1685. He married Hannah, the daughter of William Potter of Stanford. Ebenezer Mead, son of John and Hannah Mead, was born in Greenwich, Conn., in 1663, and married Sarah Knapp. Jeremiah Mead, son of Ebenezer and Sarah Mead, was born in Greenwich in 1705 and married Hannah St. John of Norwalk. Stephen Mead, their son, was born in Stratford, Conn. about 1750. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and served as a private in Captain David Hait's company, Ninth Regiment of Connecticut militia, commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel John Mead. He was also in Captain Smith's company of the same regiment. His name appears on the payroll of the "company of householdlers at Greenwich."
Stephen Mcad married Rachel Sanford, the daughter of Captain Sam- uel Sanford of Reading, Conn. After the war Stephen moved to Pittsfield, Mass. He owned land now occupied as the village green of Pittsfield, and his granddaughter, Mary, was considered the most beautiful girl in the town. Ephriam Mead, son of Stephen, was born in Stratford, Conn., in 1773. He was a millwright by trade and a man of great inventive genius. He married Polly Strong. Henry Sanford Mead, son of Ephraim, was born in Pitts-
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fickl. Mass., in 1798. He graduated from West Point and hekl an official position in guard over the Indians He was at one time state account ut at Albany, N. Y. Heure Man G , barchar, a daughter of Joseph War- run Larchar, son of Were Larchat, who was sailing maker of the "Bon Homme Richard," the flagship of Captain John Paul Jones. He took part in some of the most important matai engagements in the war of the Revo- Intion Henry Samford Mead shed it Canen Conn. in 1883. His Faldren were: Edwin Henry, Hiram Warren, Mary Elizabeth Pease. Julia Frances Elliott. Ann Maria Josephine Bieber and Martha Louise Van Doren, all de- ceased. Mrs. Maria Mead Bidra - brother Edwin !! Head was a nam of much provincie in my sister one. For ever fifty your he was connected with the Pennsylvania Cal Company of New York City, and much of this time was associated with the prominent operators of the country. His com- pany was a pioneer in the development of the anthracite coal fields of the Wyoming region, and was remarkably successful. For a number of years and at the time of his death he was president of the Pennsylvania Coal Com- pany. Mr. Mead was officially connected with a number of financial institu- tions, such as the Erie & Wyoming Valley Railroad Company, the Washing- ton Life Insurance Company and others. He was a member of the New York Chamber of Commerce, and of the American Geographical Society. Tiring of New York City life, Mr. Mead moved to the suburb, South Orange, N. J., and bought a beautiful plot of ten acres. On this he erected a handsome villa. He owned a large library and was especially fond of the study of languages, and his collection included almost every written lan- guage in the world. His country home, which he named "Spring Lawn," attracted others to this locality, and people of culture and refinement were induced to settle here. He at one time owned most of the land in South Orange. He was not only a pioneer in the settlement of this place, but a promoter of the several public improvements tending to its development He was a strong advocate of and assisted in securing a village charter for South Orange, served two terms as president of board of trustees, helped improve drainage, member of Meadow Land Association, and Orange Ath- letic Club, also South Orange Field Club. He was a man of striking per- sonal appearance, genial. kind, and with an open hand for "a deed of de- voted charity."
Mrs. Bieber's brother, Hiram Mead, was a writer connected with a number of New York papers, among them the Times, also some English newspapers. He was also fond of traveling, and made a number of trips to foreign countries. Mrs. Bieber's sister, Mary Elizabeth, married John
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Pese, cousin of President Hayes. Mrs. Bieber's great great aunt, Betsey Metcalf, of Providence, R. I., without any intention on her part, became the founder of the manufacture of straw bonnets in America. Up to the time of 1789, and when Miss Metcalf was fourteen years old, all straw hats had been imported from Europe and were consequently high in value. They were originally made in Italy, where a particular kind of wheat was cultivated for the purpose. Then they found their way into France and from there into England, thence to America. In the spring of 1798 an exceptionally pretty Dunstable straw was displayed in the window of a milliner's shop in Provi- dence. Betsey Metcalf looked at it longingly, but sighed as the priced was named to her. With true New England spirit she decided to make a bonnet with her own hands. During harvest time, she gathered some of the oat straw, split it with her thumb nail, and plaited it. Before long she had an ex- cellent imitation of the foreign braid. She sewed and shaped it, used com- mon starch for stiffening, and a flat iron for pressing. Soon afterwards, Betsey blossomed out in her new bonnet. All her friends admired it, and followed her example. The braiding of straw became the fashionable fancy work of the day. The new industry was promptly assailed by the press and pulpit, and some hypocritical divine pronounced it a great sin; it fostered feminine vanity, he declared, and would encourage envy and uncharitable- ness. Early in the present century a learned doctor wrote an essay on the "Manufacture of Straw Bonnets," in which nearly all the evils of the day were laid at the door of this dangerous innovation. Certain political econo- mists prophesied a famine as a result of cutting straw before the grain was fully ripe. For a short time Betsey Metcalf monopolized the trade, receiv- ing orders from customers for miles around. But the idea became general and everyone soon braided straw and shaped bonnets.
Mrs. Bieber's girlhood days were spent in Pittsfield, Mass., and she was educated in the girl's seminary of that city. When just a young lady, Mrs. Bieber came west to Fremont, Ohio, to visit her sister. It was necessary for her to travel part of the way by water, being one week on Lake Eric. Yellow fever was raging at Sandusky, and ships were not allowed to land there. Con- sequently, she landed at Toledo and from there traveled by stage to Fre- mont. While on the lake they encountered a terrible storm, and the ship collided with and sank another vessel.
While making an extended visit with her sister in Fremont, Mrs. Bieber became acquainted with Jonathan McGee, a prominent lumber merchant and manufacturer, and they were married. During the Civil War, Mr. McGee filled orders from the government for a great number of gun stocks.
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Mrs. Bieber was president of the Soldier's Aid Society during the Civil War and was very active and energetic in making bandages, etc., and gather- ing in supplies and shipping them to the front. She was also prominent in church and social circles, being a member of the Congregational church, and on coming west brought her letter to the Presbyterian church. She was a woman of strong character, possessing the qualities of the old New England stock from which she came. She was sweet and kind of disposition, always sympathetic and interested in others. She kept young until the last by her live interest in the issues of the day. She was the mother of four daughters, namely: Lillis Jane McGee Hockman, the late Mrs. James T. Hockman, Grace McGee (dec.), Mattie Van Doren Bieber and Daisy Josephine Bieber of Frankfort.
Mrs. Bieber died on October 13, 1912, and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery at. Fremont, Ohio.
NATHAN T. JACOBY.
In the history of Clinton county, as applying to the agricultural inter- ests, the name of Nathan T. Jacoby occupies a conspicuous place, for through the number of years he lived he was one of the representative farmers of the community, progressive, enterprising and persevering. Such qualities always win success, sooner or later, and to Mr. Jacoby they brought a satisfactory reward for his well directed efforts, and while he benefited himself and the community in a material way, he has also been an influential factor in the educational, political and moral uplift of the county in which he resided.
Nathan T. Jacoby was born December 26, 1843, in Clinton county, being the son of Peter and Mary ( Peters) Jacoby, natives of Pennsylvania, who traveled overland to Clinton county in the early days, and entered land from the government around Mulberry. At one time they possessed seven- teen hundred acres of ground. The parents lived in their covered wagons until they had built a home of logs in which to live, and in the night, to keep off the wolves and other prowling animals, they built a circle of fires around the wagons. Our subject was one of ten children, all of whom are dead with the exception of John Jacoby and Thomas Jacoby, both retired farmers of this county. Our subject passed away from this life on October 16, 1910.
Nathan Jacoby attended the common schools in his youth and eagerly
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learned everything then limited resources could offer, then he attended col- lege at Battle Ground, just north of Lafayette, in Tippecanoe county, then. during the winter months, he taught scher Land in the summer sport his tine in farming. Until lus retirement, m 188 ;. he remained actively in the agri- cultural business, then he built himself a beautiful homme in the city of Frank- fort and moved there with his wife She still reside- there. Mr. Jacoby continued to keep his farms under the care of competent managers and did so until his death. He owned two farms about two miles from town, one being of one hundred and thirty-two acres and the other of ninety-eight. Corn and wheat were grown extensively on these lands, and their productive- ness rivaled the best that ( Buton cunt, had Mr Jacobs a a dealt in the ' cattle business and made quite a success of his efforts along that live. Mr. Jacoby was well known throughout the county on account of his reliable and honest methods, and he was called upon more than twenty times to settle up varions estates. IJe never cared for public office, although he was a stanch Republican, but he was always ready to assist any enterprise that meant good for his community. He was also a great lover of his home, and after his daughter's marriage was planning to take a trip with his wife and see the world, but the death of his daughter interrupted for all time their fond plans.
In 1866 Mr. Jacoby was married to Margaret C. Goble, the daughter of Israel and Elizabeth (Major) Goble. The parents were natives of Virginia, the father was a mason by trade. They came to Clinton county in an early day and experienced the same hardships that were undergone by Mr. Jacoby's parents. Mrs. Jacoby was one of nine children, all of whom are dead with the exception of herself and one brother, McAllen Goble, a retired farmer 1: ing in Lafayette. She had two brothers, Thomas and David, who served through the Civil war as privates in Company D. Fifteenth Indiana Volun- teer Infantry.
One child, Della, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacoby. She was married to William J. Brown, of Rossville, a farmer, but died two years afterward. leaving one son, Ward B. Brown, who was born on January 16, 1889. He is a graduate of the Frankfort high school and of Purdue University with the class of 1912. He is now proprietor of the Coulter House. He married Pauline Sharick, daughter of J. W. and Minnie (Reep) Sharick, of Ohio, on June 4, 1913. He is one of the most enterprising of the young business men of Frankfort, and he is sincerely liked by all of his many friends.
Mr. Brown is a member of the Presbyterian church and of the Benevo-
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lent Protective Order of Elks and Masonic orders and Phi Gamina Delta fraternity. He is a Republican in politics. He lives in Center township. Clinton county, where he owns and operates a farm of one hundred and thirty-two acres. His father is still living at Rossville, Indiana, where he is engaged in extensive agriculture and cattle business.
Nathan Jacoby was affiliated with no lodges, but was a member of the Presbyterian church.
JAMES MILTON BELL.
To a very great extent the prosperity and welfare of the agricultural sections of Clinton county is due to the honest industry, the steady persistence, the wise economy which so prominently characterized the farming people of Indiana. Among this number may be mentioned the subject of this short record, who, by years of thrift and unceasing labor, has not only acquired a material prosperity for himself, but has also won the esteem of the people with whom he has been associated, and left his indelible stamp upon his com- munity.
James M. Bell was born October 31, 1846, being the son of James and Jane ( Givens) Bell, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation, and came to Clinton county in 1848 and continued his vocation. He owned six hundred acres in this county, and was one of the hardest workers in inducing the first railroad to cross this locality. He was a Democrat in politics, and was a member of the United Presbyterian church. The mother's parents were retired farmers, who came to Clinton county in 1860. The father and mother died at the age of eighty-six years. The Givens family were originally from Ireland, and the Bell family of English ancestry.
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