USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana: containing a history of the townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies, etc., etc. > Part 45
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JASPER N. DAVIS, JR., farmer, Connersville Township, was born in this county March 11, 1834, and is a descendant of Thomas J. and Maria (Ball) Davis, who were among the first settlers of this coun- ty. His paternal grandfather came from South Car- olina, and his grandfather Ball from Georgia. His parents were highly respected farmers. His father died in 1856; his mother is still living. Mr. Davis resided with his parents till grown to manhood, and obtained a fair education in the district schools. He was married at the age of twenty-six to Parmelia A., daughter of Benjamin Clifford, of Harrison Town- ship, and to this union were born six children: Mary M., Charles E., James M., Wheeler C., Benjamin F. and Clarence U. After his marriage Mr. Davis rented land for several years, and then purchased eighty acres in Fairview Township. About eight years later he sold this farm at a handsome profit and then pur- chased his present one of 120 acres, for which he paid the sum of $10,400. Here he has since been quite successfully engaged in the quiet pursuits of farm life, including stock-raising. His success in rearing hogs is perhaps unequaled by any other farmer in the county. On his farm is a fine pond, arranged expressly for the cultivation of German carp, a fish of which he has some very fine specimens. He is one of the most energetic farmers of this coun- ty, and his industry has been rewarded by an abund- ant harvest of the comforts of life.
ZACHARIAH DAVIS, farmer, Orange Township, was born in Rush County, Ind., February 27, 1840; son of James and Mary (Murphy) Davis. His father was a son of Zachariah Davis, a native of Pennsyl- vania, where he married Miss Hannah Davis, and in 1816 moved to Franklin County, Ind., where he remained until his death. His widow is still resid- ing on the farm. Their children were-James, Da- vid, Keziah, Nixon, Mary, Samuel, John and Nelson. Our subject's father was born in Pennsylvania, June 4, 1814, and came with his parents to Franklin
County in 1816, and in 1837 he came to Rush Coun- ty, Ind., and purchased a farm on the county line of Rush and Fayette, about two miles south of Fayette- ville, where he settled. He was there married May 16, 1839, to Mary, daughter of James and Eunice (Seward) Murphy, who was born in Butler County, Ohio, January 17, 1821. After their marriage they romaiued on the farm south of Fayetteville until 1845, when Mr. Davis purchased and removed on a farm in Rush County, Ind., about one and a half miles west of Fayetteville, where his wife died July 23, 1867. He subsequently moved to Fayetteville, where he was again married, this time to Elizabeth Huston. He died October 27, 1882. His children, eleven in number, were-Zachariah, Morrison, Elbert H., Jesse, Margaret J., Sarah E., Hannah M., Fan- ny, David and Eunice, by first wife, and William C. by last wife. Our subject was married in Rush Coun- ty, Ind., September 15, 1839, to Zenith N. Summers, born in that county June 29, 1843, daughter of Eli- jah and Penelope V. (Morris) Summers. After his marriage he settled first in Rush County, and subse- quently in Shelby County, thence returned to Rush County, and in 1871 came to Fayette County, settling on the farm where he now lives. His wife died July 31, 1877. She was the mother of four children: Lo- rena, Cora, Fanny M. and Walter M. Mr. Davis was again married, this time at Rushville, May 18, 1879, to Maggie Neptune, widow of Noah Neptune, daugh- ter of Alexander and Lucinda (Adair) MeLaughlin, and a native of Brookville, Franklin Co., Ind., born December 3, 1851.
JAMES H. DEARMOND, farmer, Orange Town- ship, was born in Franklin County, Ind., July 5, 1842; son of Marshall and Minerva (Allison) Dear. mond, the former of whom was born in Fleming County, Ky., in 1816, and the latter in Fayette Coun- ty, Ind., in 1824. They were married in Franklin County, Ind., where they remained until 1848, when they moved to this county, and in 1859 to Randolph County, Ind., where they still reside. Their children were-James H., Mary E., William H., Orro, Edward J., Margaret A., Luella, Leroy and John W. Our subject attended the home district schools of Ran- dolph County, where he received a thorough educa- tion, and afterward engaged in teaching school for several years. June3, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Fifty-fifth Ind. V. I., serving until September 6, 1862, after which he returned home. In 1867 he went to Buchanan County, Mo., where he engaged in teach- ing school until 1871, when he returned to Randolph County, and shortly afterward came to this county. Here he was married September 21, 1871, to Mary A., daughter of Lawrence and Mary Johnson, born in Fayette County, Ind., March 10, 1843, and by this
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union were two children: Edna and Luella. Mrs. Dearmond dying April S, 1875, our subject was again married November 28, 1877, this time to Joanna, daughter of Cornelius and Joanna Foley, born in Madison County, Ind., January 1, 1857. Three chil- dren were born to this union: Charles L., Clifford and Marshall.
JACOB DEHAVEN, farmer, Harrison Township, was born in Fayette County, Ind., August 2, 1818. His parents, Isaac and Nancy (Stucker) Dehaven, were natives of Kentucky and came to this county in 1816. Our subject received a common school education. He was married, September 26, 1846, to Miss Vilet Davis, who was a native of Indiana. She died August 19, 1881. Mr. Dehaven was married on second occasion March 18, 1883, to Sarah J. Lockhart. He is a kind- hearted, honest, upright citizen, and is comfortably situated in life. His father served in the war of 1812.
JOHN DEHAVEN, farmer. Harrison Township, is an enterprising young man, a native of Fayette County, born April 30, 1850, son of James I. and Eliza (Hamilton) Dehaven, natives of Indiana. Our subject had the benefit of a good common school edu- cation. He was married October 27, 1875, to Miss Kate Nichols, and by this union their home has been made more cheerful by the addition of a bright and shining light in the person of their little daughter- Nellie May.
J. W. DICKEY, farmer, Fairview Township, was born in Fayette County, Ind., January 10, 1847; son of Robert C. and Elizabeth (Worsham) Dickey, the former of whom was a son of John Dickey, a native of Ireland, and who in an early day emigrated with his parents to the United States, settling in what is now Fayette County, Ky. In 1815 he came to Fayette County, Ind., where he passed the remainder of his life. He was twice married and had eight children: Robert C., John, Darius, Nancy, Benjamin, James, Parrish, and Oliver. Robert C. (father of our sub- ject), the eldest in this family, was born in Fayette County, Ky., April 19, 1811. He came with his par- ents to this county in 1815, and in the course of time learned the cabinet-making trade, at which he worked for several years. He was married in this county, to Elizabeth, daughter of Jeremiah and Nancy Wor- sham, and settled on the farm now owned by Joseph Worsham, where his wife died in .1848. Mr. Dickey subsequently married Miss Lucretia Kinder, and moved to Madison County, Ind., where he now resides. His second wife died in 1863. His children were: John, Nancy and Jeremiah W. (by first wife), and Euphemia, Josephine and Joseph (by second wife), all of whom are living and married. J. W. Dickey, our subject, was married in this county, February 16, 1871, to China A., daughter of Henry and
Mary (Pyke) Hawk, and born in Rush County, Ind., January 30, 1853. They have the following-named children: Marshall, Mary E., Frank, Rollie, Flora, and William H. After marriage Mr. Dickey settled on a farm now owned by Jesse Murphey, but after remaining there one year he removed to the farm where he now lives. He is at present Trustee of Fair- view Township, which office he has held two terms. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
WILLIAM A. DUNCAN, farmer, Harrison Town- ship, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Franklin County, January 26, 1826. His parents, Joseph and Jane (MacNichols) Duncan, came to this State in 1850. His father, a native 'of Pennsylvania, died May 4, 1860; his mother died December 15, 1858. Our subject had a very limited education. He was married Juno 25, 1861, to Miss Mary Fallen, born in 1831, daughter of John and Ann (Padden) Fallen, natives of Ireland, who reside in Liberty. To this union were born the following children: Joseph, Maggie, John, James (died January 24, 1882), Jane (died February 24, 1882). Mrs. Duncan was brought up a Catholic.
B. F. DUNGAN, farmer, Waterloo Township, was born December 24, 1836, in the township in which he now resides, and the district schools afforded him the only means for an education. He was mar- ried May 28, 1865, to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Susanna Strong, who has borne him two children: Mary M. and William A. He owns eighty acres of land, which are finely improved. Mr. Dungan has served three terms as Trustee of the township, and Assessor six years. Politically he is a Democrat. Benjamin Dungan, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Virginia. He was married to Margaret Mitchell, and in 1814 removed with his family to Waterloo Township, where he entered 160 acres of land in Section 10. Although not a professor of religion, he adhered to the Presbyterian belief. He was the father of ten children, five of whom are living: James, John W., Joseph A. Isaac J. and Elizabeth. The deceased are: Elias, Rebecca, Hettie, Benjamin W. and Charles. After a residence here of many years, he and his wife removed to Delaware County, Ind., where they died. Isaac, brother of Benjamin, came to the township some years after, receiving from his brother ten acres of land as an inducement to settle here. William M., son of Benjamin and father of our subject, was born September 8, 1814. He was married March 2, 1836, in Fayette County, to Rachel, daughter of Enoch and Margaret Chambers, and born in Waterloo Township, August 11, 1815. He lived in the township till his death, which occurred February 11, 1838; he left one child-B. F. Enoch Chambers, father of Mrs. Rachel Dungan, was born -
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in Maryland, June 28, 1778, a son. of Rev. James and Nancy (Tracy) Chambers. He was reared in his native State, after which he removed to North Caro- lina, where he was married to Margaret Brown. Sub- sequently they settled in Kentucky, from which State they removed to Wayne County, Ind., and in 1812 settled permanently in Waterloo Township, Section 33, where he died. He held several of the township offices and was an efficient business man. He was not a member of any denomination, yet was religiously inclined, and gave freely toward the support of the church. He served a short time in the war of 1812. 14. His wife was a member of the Baptist Church and a consistent Christian. Nine children were born to them, four of whom are now living: Martha, Rachel, Lydia and Rebecca. The deceased are Lin- nie, James, Jesse, Nancy, and William F. Mr. Chambers died June 8, 1850; his widow, who was born January 17, 1779, died May 3, 1856.
AMOS R. EDWARDS (deceased), late of Conners- ville Township, was one of the leading citizens of this county, born in Greene County, Penn., in 1808, a son of William Edwards, a native of Indiana, where he was reared. Our subject's parents moved to this county in 1817 and resided here till their deaths. He grew to manhood here and was educated in the Fayette County district schools, his early life being spent in mercantile business in Fairfield, Franklin County, and Connersville, Fayette County. He sub- sequently purchased land in this locality and for sev- eral years engaged in farming. About 1845 he was elected to fill a vacancy in the office of County Clerk and subsequently served in that capacity for twelve consecutive years, after which he retired from active business. He was prominently identified with the Junction Railroad construction and was ever in the lead in public enterprises of every sort. Mr. Ed- wards was married to Miss Jane Patterson, who was born and reared in Ohio, and by this union four chil- dren were born: Alexander, Elizabeth (deceased), Alfred (deceased), and Francis. Mr. Edwards died December 29, 1864; his widow is still living.
ALEXANDER EDWARDS, farmer, Connersville Township, was born in this county in 1835; son of Amos R. and Jane (Patterson) Edwards. Our sub- ject's early life was passed partly on the farm and partly in the town of Connersville, in the public schools of which place he was educated. Since his maturity he has been chiefly and quite extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising, in which he has been very successful. He now owns 246 acres of excellent land, well provided with fine buildings and all modern conveniences. Mr. Edwards was united in marriage, December 24, 1862, with Catha- rine Sparks, a native of this county and a daughter
of William Sparks, one of the most notable of the pionoers. Mr. Edwards is an industrious, energetic farmer, and, though careful in his dealings, is a lib- eral supporter of all legitimate enterprises.
JESSE P. ELLIOTT, Jennings Township. This enterprising and progressive farmer of Fayette County was born in Bracken County, Ky., August 19, 1826. When seven years old (1833) his father, John Elliott, removed to and settled in Union County, Ind., near the mouth of Eli's Creek, where he lived five years, after which he settled in this township, and though he subsequently lived in other places, always remained in the county. John Elliott was born in Culpeper County, Va., January 10, 1800, a son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Figins) Elliott, na- tives of Virginia, who settled in Bracken County, Ky., in 1802. Elijah Elliott served on the northern front- ier in the war of 1812-1815. He was one of Maj. Croghan's gallant little band that so heroically de- fended Fort Stephenson after refusing the British demand for surrender. He was tomahawked and killed by the Indians on the River Raisin, Canada. Before going to the war he leased his slaves for a term of years; on account of his premature death the lessee violated the terms of the contract by con- tinuing to hold the slaves in bondage, after the expi- ration of the lease. Previous to the late war of the Rebellion John Elliott, son of Elijah, procured their freedom. John Elliott, the father of our subject, was married in Kentucky, to Rachel, daughter of Jesse and Lurany (Newland) Pigman, born July 2, 1805. In 1833 they with their children-three in number -- settled in Indiana as above stated. Both were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and consist- ent Christians whose labors of love ended only with their lives. Mr. Elliott was something of a genius, possessing that rare mechanical ingenuity which en- abled him to produce whatever his fertile mind devised. With the aid of a whip saw he helped to get out the lumber used in the construction of the first court house built in Rush County, Ind. This pioneer couple left their Kentucky home on account of slavery and poverty. When they arrived here they had only a team and a few household utensils. Mr. Elliott was a man of good judgment, a hard worker, generous to a fault, giving to the support of every worthy public enterprise. He was a war Dem- ocrat, and during the late war of the Rebellion gave from his large means with uustinted hand, to aid the Government in the struggle. He was unassum- ing and reticent in manner. He was parent of eleven children, the three eldest of whom-Jesse P., Charles W., and Elijah-were born in Kentucky; the others-Elizabeth (deceased), James M., John (de- ceased), Lurany (deceased), Sarah (deceased), an
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infant (died unnamed), Mary Jane (deceased), and Adam (deceased)-were born in Indiana. The moth- er of these children died February 27, 1870. Mr. Elliott married, for his second wife, Margaret Shields. He died September 13, 1873. Our subject up to his eighteenth year lived upon the farm, attending the district schools, where he obtained a good practical education. He was married, March 9, 1847, to Nancy, daughter of Robert Hulgan, and who was born in 1819. To this union were born four children, three of whom are now living: John, Rachel Ann, and Nancy J. Mary is deceased. Mrs. Elliott died in 1853. He then married, Jannary 7, 1855, Margaret Darby, who bore him seven children: Mary E., Jesse (deceased), Catherine (deceased), Fan- nie B., Emma, Frances A. (deceased) and Charles. Daniel O. Darby, the father of Mrs. Elliott, was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1806, a son of William and Mary (Fritz) Darby, the former of Welsh, the latter of German extraction. William O. settled in Columbia Township in 1825, subsequently moved near Indianapolis, where he died. Daniel O. Darby settled in the above mentioned township in 1828. He was a mechanic and noted for being a general purpose man. He was Justice of the Peace and Constable several terms each, and Postmaster for sev- eral years. In 1862 he enlisted in the Fourth Ind. V. C., and participated in the famous Morgan raid. His wife, Hannah Hopkins (nee Lovelace), bore him nine children: Margarett, William O., Nancy, John D., Sarah J., Lucinda, Elizabeth, Lucinda (second), Elizabeth (second). Mr. Darby died in 1875. His wife, who was born in Monmouth County, N. J., in 1799, died in 1865. Her father and mother, Joseph and Mary Lovelace, were of English and Scotch extraction. By her first husband, Mr. Hop- kins, she had three children: Mary, Emily and Joseph. For seventeen years the subject of this sketch operated a saw-mill in Fayette County. At the beginning of the late war he bought (in partnership with James Hulgan) 128 acres of land where he now resides. He has been eminently successful and now owns 454 acres of well-improved land. His home farm of 203 acres is one of the best improved places in the county. His commodious house, erected in 1882, at a cost of $5,000, is without an equal in the town- ship for convenience, etc. It was erected to replace one built in 1876, at a cost of $4,000, destroyed by fire in 1882. Mr. Elliott has been elected to the offices of Trustee and Justice of the Peace, discharg- ing the duties of each in a creditable manner. His commission for the latter office was issued by Gov. O. P. Morton. Mr. Elliott possesses good business ability; is a shrewd, far-seeing man, seldom making an error in business speculations. While living in
Columbia Township he assessed the personal property and in 1867 or 1868 assessed most of the real estate of the county. He is an acceptable and worthy member of Warren Lodge, No. 15, F. & A. M., at Connersville, and of Everton Lodge, I. O. O. F. He is an uncompromising Republican and always votes the straight ticket.
CHARLES W. ELLIOTT, farmer, Jackson Town- ship, is a native of Kentucky, born near Brookville, Bracken County, April 15, 1828. He was favored with a graded school education, and farmed with his father until 1847. Being naturally inclined to form and design that which would be useful in life, he learned the blacksmith trade, and after becoming an expert at it, went to California in 1849. Shortly after his arrival there he was seized with the Panama fever, and returned home in 1850; taught school in 1851, and cradled wheat and farmed during the har- vest, after which he engaged in all kinds of work, being an expert in mechanics. Mr. Elliott was mar- ried, December 18, 1855, to Amanda A. Smallwood, who was born in Loudoun County, Va., February 24, 1822. After his wife's death he married, January 19, 1864, Eliza A. Nash, daughter of Richard Nash, and who was born October 13, 1841; to them were born five children: Lurena M., born March 21, 1865, died May 12, 1869; Dasie V., born July 21, 1870, died August 24, 1875; Richard, Charles W., Jr., and Cecil. In religion, as in all laudable pursuits, Mr. Elliott is liberal, contributing to the Lutheran and Methodist Churches. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
LEWIS ELLIS, farmer, Harrison Township, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., April 11, 1811, son of Moses and Betsey (Judd) Ellis, natives of Massa- chusetts and Connecticut, respectively, and who emi- grated to western New York about 1803 or 1804, and from there, in 1818, moved to the vicinity of North Bend, on the Ohio. For eight years they resided on the farm of Gen. Harrison, whence, in 1826, they came to this county, settling on land where our sub. ject now resides. They were parents of six children. Both were members of the Christian Church, in which Mr. Ellis was a zealous and untiring worker. He was exempt from military service on account of near- sightednoss. He was the first Postmaster of the office known as Plum Orchard, established in 1827; was a good citizen, and succeeded well in life. Politically, he was a Whig, with strong anti-slavery viows. He died in 1848, his wife having preceded him in 1841. Our subject's grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. Lewis Ellis was married, December 30, 1832, to Miss Samantha P. Thomas, a daughter of Elder Minor Thomas, and to them the following-named children have been born: Caroline, born November 11, 1833;
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FAYETTE COUNTY.
Lucy, born June 18, 1835; Oliver H., born October 2, 1836, died August 24, 1837; Elvin, born March 17, 1838, died July 29, 1839; Jasper D., born No- vember 15, 1839, died October 26, 1860; Emma, born January 29, 1840, died April 7, 1841; Minor, born January 25, 1841, died in the city of New Or- leans, September 21, 1863, while in defense of his country, as a member of Company C., of the Sixty- ninth Regiment, Ind. V. I .; Melvin, born November 10, 1843; Nancy, born April 25, 1845, died Febru- ary 22, 1870; Adaline and Angeline (twins) born August 12, 1846, (Adaline died October 1, 1861; An- geline died December 16, 1348); Mary, born Novem- ber 6, 1848, died November 20, 1848; Eliza, born April 10, 1850 (Mrs. John Payne); Ellen and Edwin W. (twins), born October 16, 1852; and Hewit T., born August 22, 1854. Both parents are members of the Old School Baptist Church, with which they have been connected for many years. Mr. Ellis is one of the substantial men of the county, the inter- ests of which he has ever labored to advance. He resides on a fine farm of 176 acres of well-improved and highly cultivated land. Politically, he is iden- tified with the Republican party.
ALBERT FERGUSON, farmer, Posey Township, was born in Fayette County, Ind., January 28, 1857; son of Livingston and Elizabeth (Gilland) Ferguson. He was married in Wayne County, Ind., October 20, 1881, to Adda, daughter of Charles and Susan Wil- son, who was born in Wayne County, Ind., September 3, 1861, and to this union one child-Lula-has been born. After our subject's marriage he settled on the same farm where he at present resides. He owns 292 acres of fine land, well improved and under a high state of cultivation.
DANIEL FIANT, SR., (deceased) was born in Berks County, Penn., and is a son of one of the Hessian soldiers brought from Germany to America to fight against the colonists during the war of the Revolu- tion. Being in sympathy with the colonists he with- drew from the British standard and cast his lot with the struggling freemen. The subject of this sketch learned the carpenter's trade in early life. He was married to Saloma Gaby, in Pennsylvania. In 1802 they, with their family, removed overland to Indiana, and effected a settlement in Union County, near the border of Fayette, purchasing a mill property and farm; but the mill did not prove a profitable enter- prise. He then took up his trade, going to Ohio, with his eldest son, Samuel, to seek employment. In 1834 he settled on the farm where Jonas Fiant now resides, having previously leased 160 acres of school land for a term of ninety-nine years, on which he lived till his death. He and his estimable wife were members of the German Baptist Church, to which
they belonged for many years, and were consistent Christian people. Twelve children were born to them, five of whom are living: Catherine, Jonas, Lydia, John, David. The deceased are: Samuel, Martin, Peter, Elizabeth, Mary, Susana and Hannah. Mr. Fiant died December 22, 1866, aged eighty-six years, nine months and twelve days. Mrs. Fiant departed this life February 7, 1867, aged eighty-five years, eight months, and thirteen days.
JONAS FIANT, farmer, Waterloo Township, was born in Berks County, Penn., in 1814, and is the seventh child of Daniel Fiant, an old settler. His boyhood was passed on the farm and in obtaining, in the subscription schools, a very meagre education. He was united in marriage, July 26, 1838, with Mary, daughter of George and Frances Munger. To this union the following children were born; the four now living are: Solomon, Peter, Hester Ann and Amos; the deceased are: Samuel, Jonas, Adam, Jonathan and an infant. After marriage Mr. Fiant located permanently on the farm where he now resides, and which comprises eighty acres of excellent land, well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Fiant are members of the German Baptist Church, with which they have been connected since 1842, and all their children, except Solomon, are consistent members of the same.
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