History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 80

Author: Archibald Shaw
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1123

USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 80

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Dr. Andrew Treon was twice married, his second wife being Lydia Steinberger. She was born on May 6, 1822, in Bartholomew county, In- diana. Dr. Andrew Treon and his wife were early settlers near Shelbyville, Indiana, where they lived to a good old age. Their children were: Frederick, Elizabeth Lytle, Rebecca, and Kiser, who died young.

The maternal grandfather was Dr. James Lamb, who was born on Feb- ruary 15, 1818, on Oil Creek, Venango county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of David H. and Margaret (Kidd) Lamb. He was married in November, 1841, to Sarah A. Carnine, of Switzerland county, Indiana. Both his grand- mothers were of Scotch-Irish descent. His parents moved from Pennsyl- vania to Jefferson county, Indiana, in 1827. Doctor Lamb settled in Dear- born county, in 1866, where he practiced medicine up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1894, at the age of seventy-six years. Doctor Lamb cast his first vote for General Harrison in 1840. He and his wife were earnest members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Lamb died aged about sixty- five years. They had five children : America Cerella, Elvina, Lamartine K., Kossuth, and one who died young.

Dr. James Frederick Treon was united in marriage, June 19, 1907, with Margaret C. Coleman, daughter of Joseph S. and Abagail E. (Burgess) Coleman. Mrs. Treon was born on September 5, 1884, at Huntington, In- diana, and is the mother of three children, Joseph F., Kathryn E. and Hen- rietta C.

Joseph S. and Abagail (Burgess) Coleman, parents of Mrs. Treon, were born near Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and have lived at Aurora for the past fif- teen years. Mr. Coleman is a manufacturer of wheels and spokes.

Dr. Treon and wife have a large number of warm personal friends, and their home is the scene of much cordial hospitality.

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DEARBORN 'COUNTY, INDIANA.

GEORGE JOHNSTON.

No history of Dearborn county would be complete without specific men- tion of George Johnston, one of the county's most forceful pioneers, a schol- arly man and a true "gentleman of the old school," who exerted a very wide influence for good in the formative days of this community. George John- ston had served as private secretary to Gen. William Henry Harrison, gov- ernor of Indiana Territory, at Vincennes, during the troublous days of 1811 and 1812, when America was fighting its second war for independence against England, and had thus taken his place among the great history makers of that period. When later he came to this county, his quiet forcefulness of character made him a natural social leader and it is undoubted that he exerted a very beneficial influence during the early days of the community. Though it is not known that George Johnston ever attended a session of school a single day in his life, he was by nature a profound student and, by sedulous and conscientious application, became a singularly scholarly man for his day and generation, wholly self-taught ; therefore, when he entered upon his career as a teacher of the youth of this section he was performing a most valuable service to the new community, a service which did not end with his death, but goes on and on, being reflected to this day in the cultural life of Dearborn county. For this reason. it is especially fitting that in this volume of the history of Dearborn county there should be presented the following brief memorial of this gallant old pioneer.

George Johnston was born near the city of Winchester, Virginia, on May 23. 1790, the third son of David and Elizabeth ( Kyle) Johnston, the former of whom died in 1796. Thus bereft of a father at the tender age of six, George Johnston grew up singularly self-reliant and very early began helping his brothers and his widowed mother to "get along." As a boy he worked in the Lewis Neal flour-mill. near the Johnston home, and also learned the shoe- maker's trade, at which he worked for some time in Virginia. There is no evidence in the family papers, or in the traditions of the family, that George Johnston ever attended school anywhere, yet he early acquired an excellent education. His mother taught him to read and his eager and receptive mind needed no such spur as the cold formalities of a school room to lead him on in the paths of learning. In mathematics, particularly. he excelled, though in all the general branches of learning he acquired, by reading, a good work- ing knowledge.

In 1809, George Johnston then being nineteen years of age. the Widow

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GEORGE JOHNSTON

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Johnston and her three sons left Virginia, seeking to make a new home for themselves in the then Far West. They crossed the Ohio river at what is now Wheeling and proceeded by raft down the Ohio to what is now Hamil- ton, Ohio, where the family spent a winter, George Johnston employing his time by teaching school while there. In the spring of 1810 the family started westward through the wilderness, en route to Ft. Vincennes, where it was thought safety could be secured against the threatening attacks of Indians. During their stay at Vincennes, George Johnston attracted the attention of General Harrison, then governor of Indiana Territory, and the governor attached him to his staff as private secretary, a position which he held until after the War of 1812, after which the Johnston family went to Kentucky, remaining for a time in the vicinity of Louisville. after which they again. crossed the river and came over into Indiana and in 1815 settled on Hogan creek, about six miles from the Ohio river, in what is now Dearborn county, and there established their permanent home. George Johnston and his brother, Joseph, erected a water-power mill on Hogan creek and became suc- cessful millers, for years doing the bulk of the milling for the pioneers of that neighborhood.

In the year 1821 George Johnston was united in marriage at the home of Thomas Kyle, to Katherine Kearney and to this union ten children were born, of whom George WV. Johnston, the last born of this large family, is the only one now living and he still makes his home in this county, not far from the old Johnston home place. Presently George Johnston gave up the milling business and thereafter, for years, devoted himself to teaching. He was a scholarly gentleman and was highly gifted as a teacher, possessing a directness of style singularly well adapted for the duties of his high calling, and, in molding and directing the minds of the youth whose privilege it was to sit at his feet, gave a direction and impetus to learning in this com- munity that is still reflected in the cultural and social life of this entire sec- tion of the state. Mr. Johnston was regarded as a remarkable mathemati- cian; far ahead of his time, his neighbors admiringly were wont to say, and there is still preserved in the family, cherished as a priceless relic of the past, a considerable fragment of his interesting mathematical conclusions, worked out as early as 1812.

George Johnston died on December 31, 1861, and a contemporaneous neighborly comment accompanying a biographical and obituary comment on his death, published at that time, is authority for the statement that "a quiet, modest, good man has left a noble record."

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DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.

PERRY CANFIELD.

It is always a great pleasure to write the biographical sketch of one of . French descent, as the citizens of this country should never allow themselves to forget that it was largely to the children of friendly France that America owes her freedom. They willingly cast their lot with the struggling American colonies and their descendants have kept the faith of the early fathers, by doing their share in the building up of a country destined to become a power in the affairs of the world.

Perry Canfield, farmer, Hogan township, Dearborn county, Indiana, was born on April 24, 1866, near Wilmington, in the township where he now resides. He is a son of Wesley and Joseph (Baker) .Canfield. He grew up on the home farm, where he attended the public schools of the district, gradu- ating from Moores Hill College, and at once began teaching school, dividing the time as follows: five years in Dearborn county, one year in Jennings county, one year in Ohio county, and eight years in the city schools of Cov- ington, Kentucky, where his work was all of a supervisory character, and while at Covington, he took a post-graduate course at the University of Cin- cinnati, specializing in the philosophy of education. Having earned the money for his own education, he thus developed a strong sense of responsibility and self-reliance, which proved extremely valuable in after life. In 1912 Mr. Canfield gave up teaching and removed to Wilmington, where he owned a farm, on which was a large brick residence. After going to the farm, he thoroughly remodeled his house, putting in expensive improvements, such as a hot water system of heating, an acetylene gas plant for lighting purposes, fire-proof asbestos roof, and all that goes to make up a modern residence. In 19TI he erected another residence on his farm for his tenant, which is also a good, substantial home. His tract of land covers one hundred and twenty- six acres on the outskirts of Wilmington, where he is engaged in the dairy business, with a herd of seventeen Jersey cattle. In 1893, and again in 1895, Mr. Canfield's name was seriously considered for superintendent of schools. He belonged to the Free and Accepted Masons and Knights of Pythias. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church.

Wesley Canfield, father of the subject of this sketch, was born near Wil- mington, Dearborn county, and was a son of Edwin and Elizabeth (Vincent) Canfield. Prior to the Civil War, Mr. Canfield was employed in the railroad shops at Cochran. He enlisted during the Civil War in Company I, Eighty- third Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was in the service about four years. After the war was ended, he returned to agricultural pursuits in Ho-

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gan township, but later moved into Manchester township and lived there until late in life. While here. he retired from active work and moved to Sparta, where he interested himself in church affairs, although not a mem- ber. Mr. Canfield's death occurred in the spring of 1911. His wife. Josephine (Baker) Canfield. was born in Hogan township. Dearborn county, and was the twelfth child of Thomas and Rachel ( Powell) Baker. Wesley and Jo- sephine (Baker) Canfield were the parents of the following children: Anna Eliza, wife of W. C. Prichard. of Sparta : Perry, of Hogan township: Edwin L., of Sparta ; and Robert S .. also of Sparta.

Edwin and Eliza (Vincent) Canfield. paternal grandparents of our sub- ject. were natives of Dearborn county.

The Canfield family has been traced back to 1350 in France and Eng- land, where the name was originally spelled Cam de Philo. and descended from James de Philo, a French Huguenot. a French citizen of Normandy, who was given a grant of land on the river Cam in Yorkshire, England. As early as 1639 the name was known in New Haven, Connecticut. as Camphilo, and in 1680 at Milford the spelling was Camfield, and again. in 1720. the name was Canfield. Thomas Canfield. of Milford. Connecticut, who lived from 1680 to 1730, was the father of John Canfield and others, and John was the father of Phineas, who was born in 1753 and married Amy Newton, of Dur- ham, Connecticut. They were the parents of eight children. the fourth of whom was Noyse, born in 1782. in the state of New York, and died in Dear- born county in 1860. His wife was Fanny Tyler. a relative of President Tyler. They moved from New York to Virginia, and at the end of one year came down the river on a raft nearly all the way. locating on section 25, in Hogan township. near North Hogan Creek. where he entered land from the government. He secured employment across the river in Kentucky, and was obliged to leave his wife alone in their home until Saturday night of each week, when he returned with. provisions sufficient for the following week. and frequently during his absence the Indians would come and take it all. leaving her without food. They were friendly Indians and did not molest her, thanking her for the food, which she gave without protest. After two years spent in this way, Mr. Canfield built a home on the hilltop, and moved there in order to avoid the chills and fever, the bottom lands being damp and malarial.

Noyse Canfield participated in the War of 1812, and was a farmer all his life, owning several farms where he first settled. To Noyse and Fanny (Tyler) Canfield were born nine children : Edwin, born in 1805, died in 1885 ; Eliza, 1808, became the wife of Alcin Kerr; William, 1810, died in 1885:

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Newton, 1813, was married to Susanne Baker; Mary, 1816, died in 1891, married James Chisman; Cyrus, 1818, died in 1892, married Mary Richard- son ; Alfred, 1822; Henry, 1825, married Charlotte Chisman; Benjamin, 1827, married a Miss Johnson. From Noyse Canfield descended most of the Canfields in his part of Dearborn county, where they were good substan- tial farmers.

Josephine (Baker) Canfield, mother of Perry Canfield, was born in Hogan township, Dearborn county, and was the twelfth child of Thomas and Rachel ( Powell) Baker. Her death occurred in the spring of 1914.

Thomas Baker, the maternal grandfather, was born on October 24, 1789, near Salisbury, Maryland, coming to Dearborn county with his parents in 1809. He was married in 1811 to Rachel Powell, daughter of Nathan and Sarah Powell, who settled in Hogan township at an early day. The parents of Thomas Baker pre-empted land from the government during the time of Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Baker followed farming all his life, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. To this union were born twelve children, only two of whom survive: Mrs. Angeline Bruce, of Hogan township, who was born on April 3, 1824; and Nelson T. Baker, now residing in Illinois, who was born on March 24, 1827.

Perry Canfield was united in marriage in 1894, with Ida Spicknall, daughter of Leonard and Rachel (Sellers) Spicknall. She was born just west of Wilmington.

Leonard Spicknall, father of Mrs. Perry Canfield, was born on Noven- ber 9, 1828, in the house where he now lives, west of Wilmington, in Hogan township. Here he grew up, and on December 19, 1849, was united in mar- riage with Rachel Sellers, who was born on December 5, 1826, in Hogan township, on the farm where Adam Bruce now resides. Her parents were Benjamin and Elizabeth (Bruce) Sellers. After his marriage, Mr. Spicknall moved to Van Buren county in southeastern Iowa, where he lived about seven years, and in the spring of 1863, returned to Dearborn county. He served as trustee of Hogan township for a period covering thirteen years, in all. In 1914 Mr. Spicknall sold his one hundred and sixty acre farm and now resides at Wilmington. They have had eight children : Rosanna Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Thomas Ward, and left three children; Mary Eliza became the wife of Nathaniel Dresser, died in July, 1879, leaving two sous; Sarah Catherine, the wife of David E. Clements, who resides near the old Spicknall home; William, who is at present trustee of Hogan township, and lives on a portion of the old home place; Clara keeps house for her father,

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Thomas L. is a farmer in Hogan township; Ida became the wife of the sub- ject of this sketch; and Alice, who was a twin of Clara, died in infancy.

Leonard Spicknall belongs to the Masonic Lodge. He and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Spicknall died on Feb- ruary 10, 1885.

Thomas Spicknall, the paternal grandfather of. Mrs. Perry Canfield, was born in Virginia, June 2, 1801, and died on December 31, 1873 and his wife, Elizabeth Williams, daughter of William and Lovey Williams, was born on February 25, 1802, in Cornwall, England, and died about 1887. They were married on May 21, 1826, and were the parents of nine children. They came to America, spending the first two years at Washington City, where Mrs. Spicknall died, after which Mr. Spicknall brought his children west in 1820, settling at Lawrenceburg, from where they later moved to Hogan township. · Thomas Spicknall was a son of Leonard Spicknall, Sr., who lived and farmed on the farm later owned by his son, Thomas. He died in 1873.

Benjamin Sellers, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Canfield, was born and reared near Elizabethtown, and Elizabeth (Bruce) Sellers, his wife, was born in Dearborn county, and was a daughter of Amer and Catherine (Flake) Bruce.

The name of Perry Canfield stands for all that is of the best in his com- munity, and everything about his home indicates thrift and enterprise. He is an active and highly-respected citizen.

IRA A. SCRIPTURE.

The subject of education should always be a matter of deep interest to all thinking people, and those who are willing to devote their time and energy to imparting knowledge to others receive but a small portion of the appre- ciation and credit to which they are justly entitled.

Ira A. Scripture was born on December 1, 1865, near Westport, De- catur county, Indiana, and is a son of Alfred Marion and Mary E. (Mitchell) Scripture. His education was received at the district schools of Decatur county, the high school, Hartsville College, Hope Normal, and he was grad- uated from Moores Hill College in the class of 1902. In 1887 he began teaching school at Gainesville, Decatur county, in connection with farming, and in 1893 he went to Westport, where he was principal in the city school for three years. In 1896 he went to Dillsboro, and was superintendent of the Dillsboro school until 1899, going from there to Moores Hill, where he taught

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in the normal department and took college work at the same time. On May 4, 1903, Mr. Scripture bought a one-half interest of F. C. Noble in the hard- ware business, and they conducted the business under the firm name of Noble & Scripture. In 1903 Mr. Noble disposed of his interest to George C. Miller, and in 1906 Mr. Miller sold out to J. Frank Turner. In 1908 Mr. Scripture bought the interest of his partner, and the business is now known as Scripture & Sons. Mr. Scripture has always given his support to the Democratic party, and in 1904 was elected township trustee for a four-year term. He carried the first gravel road election returns which made the first free road in the county under the taxes of the people, securing a twenty-nine thousand five hundred dollar bond issue to cover same. This was the start of the good roads of Dearborn county. He was a member of the town board and city council, serving until 1914. Mr. Scripture is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Alfred Marion Scripture, father of the immediate subject of this sketch, was born on May 30, 1837, in Decatur county, Indiana, where he was edu- cated and grew to manhood on his father's farm, and then bought sixty acres of his father's farm, to which he later added thirty-five acres more, and be- came the owner of a fine tract of one hundred and ninety-five acres in all, where he carried on general farming. He was always an active and loyal Democrat, holding some of the local offices. He belonged to the church of the United Brethren, in which he was a church officer. His death oc- curred in 1891, at the age of fifty-four years. Mr. Scripture was a son of John and Isabelle ( Holmes) Scripture. His wife, Mary E. (Mitchell) Scrip- ture, was born on December 2, 1848, in Illinois, and came to Decatur county at the age of twelve years with her widowed mother. Mr. and Mrs. Scripture were the parents of ten children, Leonard E., Ira A., Isom E., Elmer L., Brad- ford J., Alvin P., Landos H., Lerta, Emma Netta and Fred P.

The paternal grandfather was John Scripture, and his wife was Isabelle (Holmes) Scripture. The former was a native of New York state, coming west by ox-team when twelve years of age, with his uncle, who took up gov- ernment land to the amount of one hundred and sixty acres, at a cost of one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre. He lived near Westport all his life. dying at the age of sixty-one years. His wife, Isabelle ( Holmes) Scripture, was born in Decatur county, where she lived all her life.

Ira A. Scripture was married on February 7, 1889, in Decatur county, to Emma Taylor, daughter of Isaac H. and Amelia A. ( McConnell) Taylor. She was born on July 18, 1866, in Decatur county. This union has been blessed with three children, Ina, born on March 22, 1891, is the wife of James B. Wirt.

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a traveling salesman of Decatur county; Martin Luther and William Crigh- ton Duffy.

Isaac H. Taylor, father of Mrs. Ira A. Scripture, was born in Pennsyl- vania and came to Decatur county when quite small, with his parents, where he followed farming all his life, dying at the age of seventy years. His wife, Amelia (McConnell) Taylor, was born in Decatur county, March 8, 1841, and lived there all her life. They were the parents of seven children, Emma, George, John, James, Mary, Gertrude and Hugh.

Mr. Scripture and his wife move in the best society of the township, where they have the respect and high esteem of all who know them.

MORRIS D. OLCOTT.

The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, although born and reared as a farmer boy, has turned out to be one of the most prosperous and successful citizens of Moores Hill, Indiana. He was careful to fit himself with a good education, and herein lies a great part of the secret of his success.

Morris D. Olcott was born on December 24, 1866, at Chesterville, In- diana, and is a son of C. L. and Adelia (Record) Olcott. Mr. Olcott was first a pupil at the public schools at Woodbury, and later attended Moores Hill College. After leaving here he entered Purdue University, and after graduating he followed farming under the instruction of his father until 1907, when he saw possibilities in a feed and seed store at the thriving little city of Moores Hill, and accordingly established himself in business, the outcome of which has been highly satisfactory. Through his own efforts Mr. Olcott has, in addition to his investment in the business already men- tioned, been enabled to acquire considerable valuable real estate in the city of Indianapolis, as well as in his home city, Moores Hill. He is a strong believer in the Prohibition principles, to which party he gives his loyal support. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Olcott is a public- spirited man, and takes a deep interest in all endeavors toward bettering the condition of the community in general, being especially interested in Epworth League work, serving as treasurer for a good many years.

C. L. Olcott, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on February 27, 1841, in Dearborn county, and is a son of William and Mary ( King) Olcott. He was educated at the district schools, after which he remained on the home farm until the death of his father, and then bought the farm, con-

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sisting of three hundred and eighteen acres, following agriculture until 1907 when he moved to Moores Hill, where he still resides. His wife, Adelia (Record) Olcott, was born at Chesterville, Indiana, July 17, 1844, living there until 1907, when she came to Moores Hill. This union was blest with three children, Morris, Stella, deceased, and Hattie, also deceased.

The paternal grandparents were William and Mary (King) Olcott. The former was born in Connecticut, and came to Dearborn county when quite young. Mrs. Olcott was a native of Dearborn county, Indiana.

Mr. Olcott is an industrious worker, and through his perseverance and good management has placed himself in a position of independence, and he occupies a position of high esteem in the city of Moores Hill.

JOHN HENRY NOLTE.

Among the enterprising citizens of Cæsar Creek township, Dearborn county, Indiana, none stands in higher esteem than the man whose name forms the caption of this article. Descended from sterling German ancestry, he has embodied within himself their leading characteristics in such manner as to make of him a man in every sense of the word in the estimation of those who have known him long and well.

John Henry Nolte was born in Clay township, Dearborn county, on December 3, 1879, a son of Charles and Mary (Schriefer) Nolte, the former born in Cæsar Creek township on August 24, 1854, and the latter born in this state, on June 16, 1854. Charles Noble worked on a farm all his life and never owned but the one tract of land, on which he passed his active years and where death overtook him. That was his farm of two hundred and thirty-six acres located in Clay township. His death occurred on June 6, 1899, when forty-five years of age. All his life he had been a devout member of the Lutheran church, serving his local organization as trustee for a num- ber of years, and in other official capacities. He was a Democrat, although taking no particular interest in politics. Mrs. Mary Nolte is still living.

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History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 80

Author: Archibald Shaw Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1123

Author: Archibald Shaw
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1123