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 46
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win, Generals Scott and Cass, and Lorenzo Dow. Mr. Baker took the first newspaper that was brought by mail into Clinton county, which was the Liberty IIall.
Our subject, Linnaeus Baker, had the usual common school education in his native county, and then attended Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Ind., but only stayed at that institution for three years. After leaving there he worked at farming, solicited life insurance, and was elected deputy sheriff from 1886 to 1890, and then returned to farming. Ile was later elected trustec of Washington township and served in that capacity six years. In 1900 Mr. Baker was elected chief of the Frankfort police and since that time he has made an enviable record, both from the standpoint of efficiency and of honest, moral service.
On March 22, 1879 Mr. Baker was married to Dora B. Fields, of Ox- ford, O., who was born there October 13, 1855. He suffered the loss of this wife by death on July 3. 1912, and was left with the care of one daugh- ter, Agnes, who is a graduate of the local high school and is now attending the Western Female Seminary at Oxford, O. Mr. Baker had one other daughter, Flora, who died in the year 1897.
Fraternally, Mr. Baker is a member of the Masonic Order, having at- tain the third degree. He is a Past Master of Vesta Lodge, 136, of Jefferson. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is Past Chancellor of the same, and member of the grand lodge of Indiana. Socially, Mr. Baker is a very pleasant man to meet and it is not hard to understand why his friends are so numerous. His affability and courteous treatment of everyone is a means of insuring a place of admiration and esteem in the hearts of Frankkfort people.
DAVID UNGER.
The Unger family is one of the largest and best known of the pioneer families of Clinton county. Extended mention is made on other pages of this book in regard to the genealogy of the family, and it is there noted that David Unger, the subject of this sketch, is one of the prominent members living in Clinton county. In Russiaville, his home and place of business, the name of David Unger is marked with respect and esteem by the citizens, for he stands as a commercial and business leader. His civic and social career has been such an aid to the town of Russiaville that it ranks. fairly in the
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scale of Clinton county's towns. Mr. Unger is enthusiastic and energetic in his assistance in any enterprise, and especially in the agricultural interests is his influence felt. Although he is not a farmer, his grain and elevator busi- ness bring him into intimate relation with the farmers of the community and county and every one of them is eager to transact business with Mr. Unger. for thereby they are assured of a square deal.
David Unger was born in Howard county, this state, on September 23, 1855, and was the son of George W. and Elvira ( Maggart) Unger. George W. Unger was the son of George and Elizabeth ( Bailey) Unger, who are treated of at length in the sketch of Martin V. Unger, a brother of our sub- ject, in this volume. Our subject's father was born on May 28, 1825, in Morgan county. W. Va., and died on December 20, 1892, in Clinton county. He was married to Elvira Maggart on March 13, 1851, and she was born January 12, 1828, and died February 28, 1896. In 1866 George Unger was elected to the office of magistrate and was re-elected four successive terms of four years each. In 1866 he was drawn on the United States jury. Frater- nally, he was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Middlefork Lodge, No. 304. Nine children were born of the union: Sarah E., John. David, Martin V., Nancy J .. Calvin, Eliza E., and Oliver C.
David Unger received a common school education in the county of his birth, and worked on the farm until the year 1883. In that year he went to Russiaville, Ind., and entered into the hardware business, following this occupation very successfully for five years, then went into the drug business for one year. In 1893 David Unger embarked in the grain and elevator business which he has followed ever since. He also deals a little in live stock. Great opportunity has been given Mr. Unger and today he practically controls the grain business in his district. He makes large shipments. from Russiaville, and is well known over the state and in grain circles of the metropolitan cities to which he ships. In connection with this trade, Mr. Unger takes an active interest in agriculture, possessing a very valuable and fertile farm of three hundred and twenty acres in . Warren township, all of which land is under cultivation and has the latest improvements thereon, and is under his own management. On this land Mr. Unger feeds a great many cattle and hogs.
On December 18, 1883 David Unger was united in marriage to Sarah Melissa Eikenberry, who was born in Warren township, this county, April 9, 1858, and was the daughter of Isaac and Arabella (Scott) Eikenberry. Isaac Eikenberry was born in Union county, Ind., in 1831, and was one of
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a family of fifteen children. In the carly 50's he came to Clinton county, where he died in 1862. His wife, Mrs. Unger's mother, was born in Switzer- land county, Ind., in 1835, and died in 1894, after a life of usefulness and devotion to her family. To Mr. and Mrs. David Unger there have been born two children, Iso Bell, who died in 1899 at the age of fourteen years ; and Henry Manson, who is now associated in the elevator business with his father.
Fraternally, Mr. Unger is a third degree Mason and a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Religiously, he is a Baptist, and politically a Democrat.
ZIMRI ELISHA SHEETS.
The gentleman whose name appears above is a representative of an honored pioneer family of Clinton county, so that a consideration of his genealogical and personal history becomes doubly interesting and doubly appropriate in connection with the prescribed province of this publication. Mr. Sheets is one of the most prominent farmers of Owen township, having a finely improved landed estate on which he is carrying forward his opera- tions with that energy, foresight and careful discrimination which ever be- token the appreciative and model yeoman.
The subject of this text, Zimri Elisha Sheets, as aforesaid, can'trace his lineage back to his great grandfather and great grandmother, and as the Sheets family are very prominent in Clinton county and have been for years and have been identified in developing this county, we are glad to say that Mr. Zimri Sheets has been able to furnish the names of his great grandfather and great grandmother, as well as his grandfather and his grandmother and his father and mother, in the order namely to-wit: On his father's side, his great-grandfather, Jacob Sheets, who married Barbara Lindamude, and who lived and died in Augusta county, Virginia. The great grandmother after the death of her husband came to Clinton county with her son Joseph, died here and is buried in the old south graveyard near Frankfort. His grand- father Phillip Sheets was born in 1801, Augusta county, Virginia. He mar- ried Mary Shafer. They moved to this county in 1836, residing here in Frankfort a short time and then moved to Warren township. He died in this county in 1873, aged 71 years. David Sheets, his father was born in
ZIMRI E. SHEETS AND FAMILY
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Augusta county, Virginia, August 30, 1828 and died in this county April 18, 1911. The mother, Nancy E. (Thompson) Sheets born in Preble county, Ohio, April 27, 1830. She died in this county November 30, 1909. On his mother's side : Ilis great grandfather, Robert Thompson was born in North Carolina and married Nancy Brown. Moved to Preble county, Ohio, and later moved to Illinois and there died. His grandfather, Dennis Thompson married Mary Thompson, daughter of Robert Thompson but of no kin. They died in Preble county, Ohio.
Nine children were born to David Sheets and wife, eight sons and one daughter, all of whom are still living, at this time, named as follows: John C., James H., Perry M., Zimri E., of this sketch; Mary M. Haggerty; Albert W., Elmer E., Philip M., and Wilda M.
Zimri E. Sheets grew to manhood on the home farm, performing the usual work of country boys of his time, and he received his education in the common schools. On July 24, 1880 he married Amanda J. Unger, who was a cousin of M. V. David, John Clint and other subjects of this volume, in which mention is made of the Unger ancestry. Mrs. Sheets was born in Owen township, Clinton county, and grew to womanhood in her native com- munity and received a common school education. She has borne her hus- band one child, Walter L. Sheets, whose birth occurred September 29, 1882. He grew up on the home farm and was given good educational advantages. He married Nellie M. Davis, who was born in Carroll county, Ind., July 25, 1886, and they have one child, Edith May Sheets, who was born September 16, 1907.
Zimri E. Sheets began farming for himself early in life and this has continued to be his vocation. In 1882 he moved from Warren to Owen town- ship where he has since resided. He has prospered with advancing years through hard work and good management, and is now owner of two hundred and eighty-six acres of valuable, well improved and productive land, one of the finest farms in the township on which he carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. His land is all tillable but thirty-two acres which is good timber land. He now lives on the "rabbit-track" road one-half mile west of Moran and one mile north of Moran. In 1910, he built a modern, commodious and attractive county home across the road from where he first lived, which is one of the most up-to-date residences in the township. It was constructed of cement blocks, is sanitary in every respect.
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has a heating plant and actylene lights. He also has a garage and owns a modern, standard make five-passenger automobile. He has long been an ex- tensive handler of all kinds of livestock and buys and feeds cattle in large numbers. He specializes in Poland-China hogs. His farm bears the name of Zimri E. Sheets' Farm.
Politically Mr. Sheets is a Republican and has been faithful in his sup- port of the party. He was elected county commissioner in 1888, serving one term with much credit and satisfaction.
Mr. Sheets had six uncles in the civil war, namely: Jacob. James and Isaac Sheets and Isaac. Zimri and Elisha Thompson.
JOHN T. PHILLIPS.
Agriculture has ever been the one dominion wherein man's efforts are directed as nature intended. At an early day the farmer was an agriculturist in every sense of the word, and his labors were of direct benefit to himself and his neighbors, without the intervention of commission men and dealers such as check the endeavors of the modern farmer. Among the agricul- turists of Clinton county whose names typify the industry, the prosperity and the progressiveness of the territory, that of John T. Phillips stands high. There is much pleasure in sketching the life of this man.
John T. Phillips was born March 31, 1848. in North Carolina, being the son of Solomon and Frances (Lynch) Phillips. also natives of that state. Solomon Phillips was a mechanic and cooper by trade, and had, like his wife, a good common school education. Eleven children comprised his family : John, Ray, Mary, Millie, Henrietta, Sally, Malinda, and Walter. Three of the children are now dead. Both of the parents have also passed from the land of the living.
In 1872. John Phillips moved to Illinois, staying there until 1900 At that time he came to Kirklin township. Clinton county, where he now resides. Although he obtained a slight education in the common schools in early life. Mr. Phillips received most of his scholastic training after he was sixteen years of age. He took great interest in his work, and derived as much benefit from the limited work he could get as most obtain from a thorough college course.
In 1874. March 1, Mr. Phillips was married to Irene Werts, born in
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Illinois in 1857. the daughter of Jesse S. and Mary (Shisher) Werts, natives of Ohio. Like her husband, Mrs. Phillips received a common school educa- tion. She was a lover of her home and children and a loyal friend to her many acquaintances. She was called from this earth on July 13, 1893. They had four children : Nellie Hawley, born 1875, died June 3. 1912: Edward B., born 1877: Charles, born ISSo; and Nettie, born 1885.
John Phillips has since the day he settled in Kirklin township, farmed with an extraordinary degree of success. He is a self-made man, having started without a penny, and by perseverance and hard work working himself up to his present position. He lives now on a farm of one hundred and twelve heres, well tiled and all tillable land. The most modern of improve- ments equip his estate, including a good, roomy house and an excellent barn.
Mr Phillips has not desired to enter very extensively into public life, but has been contented to do his share of social work in other ways. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Phillips is now leading a retired life resting from the labors of his past years.
COL. NEWTON A. LOGAN.
The name of Logan is picturesque in American history. To the youth- ful reader the name has charm and romance, and to the elderly and experi- enced reader it calls for admiration and respect. There are names which, to others, are symbolical of certain things, and, although it is generally denied, men are judged more than a little by their name. Logan means action, with a distinct military flavor, and when we narrate the few facts concerning the family history which the scope of this history will allow, we find that there has been a Logan wherever there has been a clash of human passions. Our subject, Colonel Newton A. Logan, earned the right to his name during the blind, unreasoning days of the early's '6os. Providence infused into his per- sonality the characteristics of a leader, and he was as such recognized, with- out effort upon his part. It is our pleasure to present the following facts to the reader.
The Logans have been noted in the history of this country, the first mention we find being of two brothers who came to the Virginia valley and were soldiers in the French and Indian wars. Their names. David and James, found on the official registers, prove that they were citizens as early as 1740. Another member of the Logan family married Jane B. Dandridge, a descend-
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ant of Pocahontas, the Indian girl of Virginia history. Also from this family came George Washington. Doubtless John A. Logan, the Civil war hero, and founder of that beautiful observance known as Decoration Day, came from this same line, as it was claimed by many historians that he had Indian blood in his veins.
Col. Newton A. Logan was born March 24, 1836, in Parke county, Ind .. and was the son of Amzy and Jane A. ( Allen) Logan. The family line lead- ing up to our subject starts with a James Logan. Alexander Logan, a son of James, married Jane McCampbell, a daughter of Samuel McCampbell, in Augusta, or Rockbridge county, Va. They came to Kentucky by way of the Ohio river, and landing above the falls, they came overland to Shelby county and there made their home The following children were born to them : Samuel, Amzy, Cynthia, Harvey, Asenath, Addison, Philander, Milton, Rob- ert, Eliza, Julia, Irwin and Sarah Martha. Amzy Logan was born in 1803 and died in 1846. He married Jane Allen, who was born in 1806 and died in 1878. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Margaret (Youel) Allen, natives of Kentucky. They had five daughters and two sons: Margaret, born 1829, died 1862; Jane S., born 1831, died 1879; Sarah E., born 1834, died 1866; John Newton A., born 1836; Josephine M., born 1838; Columbia E., born 1840; and Benjamin A., born 1845 and died 1876.
At the firing upon of Fort Sumter, Newton A. Logan was one of the first to shoulder a gun to preserve the Union. In July, 1861, he entered the army as a captain of Company G, Twenty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He participated in almost all of the important battles and skirmishes in the western department and for gallantry on the field was promoted to the rank of Major, then Lieutenant-Colonel, and finally Colonel. He was a prisoner during the war for ten months and knew full well the rigors of the Con- federate prison. Colonel Logan was mustered out in 1866.
Our subject was married in 1864 to Susan G. White of Colfax. Ind. She was the daughter of William V. and Mary J. (Tilden) White The father was born in Virginia on September 29, 1806, and the mother March 7, 1814, in the same state. They were married March 2, 1835. Our subject's wife was born December 10, 1844. Her father died in February, 1870, and her mother in July, 1871. To our subject and wife there were born ten children : Mary, August 9, 1866, died August 6, 1892; Anna, May 16, 1868; James A., March 6, 1870; William V., February 7, 1872, died April 22, 1902; Sally, June 7, 1874, died October 15, 1877: Henry, October 27, 1878, died
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December 18, 1878; Charles P., March 20, 18So : Fred M., January 22, 1883; Ruth, December 12, 1884 ;; and Arthur E., March 22, 1887.
Newton A. Logan lived on a farm until the year 1871, and then removed to White county. Ind., and stayed there four years, going into the milling business at Norway, that county. He moved again to Michigantown, Clin- ton county, in October, 1882, and engaged in milling business until fire destroyed his plant in 18866. Ile still lives happily in Michigantown.
Fraternally, Colonel Logan belongs to the Masonic Order and of course is a loyal member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
HARRISON W. COCHRAN.
Fairly good crops may be produced in any section of Indiana when the season is particularly favorable to that section even though the best methods of crop production are not followed, but it is when unseasonable conditions prevail that results of good farming are most apparent. The beneficial re- sults of good farm management are very apparent on the fine farm of Har- rison W. Cochran, in Forest township, Clinton county. He has adopted the modern system of permanent agriculture, treats his soil with proper fertilizers, natural and commercial, carefully rotates his crops of corn, oats, wheat and clover, takes care of his orchard, has time to look after his garden and never neglects his chicken yard and barn yard, no small part of his annual income being derived from the judicious handling of live stock.
Mr. Cochran was born March 10, 1861 in Warren township, Clinton county, Ind. He is a son of Aaron M. and Adeline (Walters) Cochran. The father was born January 8, 1818 in Switzerland county, Ind., where he was reared and married to Laura Morrison, also a native of that county. Of this union four children were born: Merietta (deceased), who married George Tapp; Lucy A. (deceased). was married to Frank Sims: John (de- ceased) ; and Sarah Frances married to J. W. Guthridge.
After the death of his first wife, Aaron M. Cochran, in the early fifties, moved from Switzerland county to Clinton county, locating in what is now known as Forest township, and in August, 1856, he married Adeline Walters, who was born in Pennsylvania, December 23, 1832. She was a daughter of Gillian and Elizabeth (Kanable) Walters. Mr. Walters was born in Somer-
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set county, Penn., June 23, 1805. Grandmother Walters was born March 10, 1810, also in the above named county. They were married on March 29, 1829. Mr. Walters was well educated for his day. In 1844 he, with his parents, crossed the mountains in "prairie schooners" to Clinton county, and here purchased wild land which they cleared and developed into a good farm on which a sturdy bunch of children were reared. The family of Gillian Walters consisted of twelve children : Harrison, born December 8, 1829, a soldier in the Civil war, died when in his eighty-second year; Jacob, born January 27, 1831, died in 1908; Adeline, wife of Aaron M. Cochran; Cath- erine, born September 26, 1834, died November, 1908; Levi, born July 3. 1836, a soldier in the Union army, died while in the service, on May 6, 1864. at the great battle of the Wilderness; Rebecca, born February 8, 1838, died March 17, 1903; John, born December 20, 1840, now living in Ohio; Samuel, born June 16, 1843, now living at Frankfort, Ind .; Oliver, born December 8, 1845, died January 1, 1908; Lucinda, born April 21, 1848, died March 30, 1884; Madison, born May 21, 1852, died December 30, 1879; and Minerva, died in infancy.
Grandfather Walters made his home in this locality and died here September 30, 1875. Grandmother Walters died September 9, 1904. The mother of the subject of this sketch was twice married, first, to Josiah Baker, who was born in Pennsylvania, and whose death occurred in Clinton county, after which Mrs. Baker married Mr. Cochran, who spent his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. His family consisted of five children by his second wife: William, born April 6, 1856, married to Mary Auble, now living in Forest township; Munroe, born August 4, 1857, died August 20, 1909, mar- ried to Alice McFarland; Harrison W., subject of this review; Cynthia, born December 2, 1866, married to Andrew Eikenberry; India, born January 4, 1871, married to Charles Blair, with the last named daughter the mother of these children is making her home. The death of Aaron M. Cochran oc- curred on June 30, 1886. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and politically he was a Republican. He was township assessor for several years and was an influential man in his community.
Harrison W. Cochran grew to manhood on the home farm, and re- ceived a good education in the common schools of his native county. On December 11, 1902 he married Lydia Burns, daughter of Joseph I. Burns, a complete sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. Here Mrs. Cochran grew to womanhood, received a public school education. and for
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several years taught school successfully. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran have had no children.
Mr. Cochran has followed general farming and stock raising since a boy. He owns over eighty acres of good land in Forest township, all tillable but about six acres, which is in pasture. The place is properly tiled-and fenced and has two barns and a good dwelling. Mr. Cochran is at present living in the village of Forest, where he has a fine, well furnished two story dwell- ing, and here he also owns seven valuable lots. He raises Jersey cows, Duroc hogs and a general breed of horses. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Masons, is a Republican and a Methodist.
CHARLES W. MCKINNEY.
No better representative of the thrifty and progressive younger genera- tion of farmers in Clinton county can be found than Charles W. Mckinney. the scion of an old Hoosier family. He believes in adopting the best twen- tieth century methods in his agricultural work and is doing well whatever is worth doing at all; no dilatory tactics are evidenced in his life, and he leaves no stone unturned whereby he may benefit himself, but he takes a loyal citizen's view of the community in which he lives, and does his duty to his neighbors and friends by aiding in every enterprise which works for the com- mon good.
Mr. Mckinney was born April 7, 1869, in Sugar Creek township, Clin- ton county, the son of James and Josephine (Ward) Mckinney. The father was born February 28, 1839, in this county, and died in 1904, after a worthy life spent in the pursuit of farming. He was a Republican politically. The mother was also born in Clinton county in 1843, and departed this life in 1889. Both parents had good common school educations. Five children were born of the union. Cora (deceased), Charles W., of this review ; Mary, Dolly (deceased) and Flora.
Mr. Mckinney attended the common schools of his native county when he was a young man, but soon after drifted into farming, which he has fol- lowed up until the present time. Mr. Mckinney owns one hundred and ninety acres of fertile land in this township, all of which is tillable with the exception of twelve or fifteen acres. The estate is also well tiled and the commodious home thereupon is the handiwork of Mr. Mckinney himself.
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The best improvements are used in the work of the farm and they include a good silo. Beside the general farm work our subject carries on general breeding of good live stock.
On August 13, 1893, Mr. Mckinney was married to Minnie Billingsley, who was born in Shelby county, Ind., in 1870, and is the daughter of Charles and Jane (Herndon) Billingsley, and received a good common school educa- tio. Six children have been born of the union: Earle, 1893: Edward. 1895; Virgil, 1897, died 1899; Pearl, 1899, Nora, 1902: and May, 1904.
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