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 47
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NATHANIEL HAMILTON, farmer, Connersville Township. This venerable gentleman and pioneer of the Whitewater Valley is a native of Pennsylvania, born on the 25th of May, 1798. His parents, Na- thaniel and Elizabeth (Buchanan) Hamilton, were na- tives of Ireland and Pennsylvania, respectively. To them were born twelve children: Nathaniel, John, Polly, George, Mary Ann, Margaret, Adam, Isabelle, James, Elizabeth, Jane and Robert. In 1810 Na- thaniel Hamilton, Sr., with his family, immigrated to the then Territory of Indiana, locating in what is now Franklin County, just above Brookville, where they remained during the war of 1812-14, in which war two of the sons, John and Adam, served. In 1815, on the close of the war, the family moved to what is now Fayette County, Ind., settling in Connersville Township, just northwest of the village. Here Mr.
Hamilton died in 1823. His widow died about 1826, in the State of Illinois. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was an Elder. Nathaniel Hamilton, Jr., resided with his parents until his marriage, in 1821, with Lucinda, daughter of James and Margaret Tyner, of this county. To this union were born: Eliza A., John, Nathaniel, Ln- cinda, James, Margaret Mary, Washington M. and Elvira, of whom the five last named are deceased. In 1824 he began purchasing from the other heirs their shares of the estate, and soon had 100 acres, upon which he still resides. Mr. Hamilton was mar- ried four times, and has outlived all his chosen com- panions. No children were born to him after his first marriage. In his religious views our subject adheres to the doctrines of the Old School Baptist Church, of which church he has been a regular attendant all of his life. Old "Natty" Hamilton, as he is familiarly called, is agreeably known to all of the Whitewater country, by whom he is highly esteemed as a citizen and beloved as a neighbor. He is amiable in his manners, and is remarkably well preserved for one of his age, in both mind and body.
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ALVA S. HARDY, farmer, Columbia Township, was born in Fayette County, Ind., August 7, 1859; son of Charles C. and Elizabeth C. (Heizer) Hardy, natives of Indiana, the former born near Brookville, Franklin County, October 20, 1820, and came with his parents to this county when about two years of age; the latter born in this county, February 12, 1822; they were married October 22, 1846. After this event they settled in Columbia Township, where Mr. Hardy purchased and improved a farm on which he resided until his death, which occurred March 9, 1883. His widow is living with her son, our subject. Their family consisted of William T. (deceased), Mary F. and Alva S. Our subject was married in this county, September 12, 1883, to Florence J., daughter of Francis M. and Dorcas A. (Atherton) Bilby, of Fair- view Township, and who was born in this county September 19, 1858. This union has been blessed with one child-Edith M. After marriage Mr. Hardy settled on his father's old homestead, where he has since resided.
JAMES M. HARLAN, farmer, Connersville Town- ship, was born in Fayette County, Ind., in 1849; son of Enoch and Mary A. (Honeywell) Harlan, the fath- er also a native of this county, the mother of New England. They resided here most of their lives, the former dying in 1851, the latter in 1853. Mr. Har- lan was brought up by his guardian and relatives in this county, and in 1870 came into possession of 136 acres of land, which he has since been engaged in cultivating and improving. He has devoted his en- tire attention to farming and has been very success-
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ful. In 1870 he married Miss Agnes Knipe, a daugh- ter of Thomas and Mary (Meranda) Knipe, who were of English and German descent; her father, a native of England, died in 1852; her mother, a native of this county, died in 1860. Those of the family who are still living are Samuel; Amanda, wife of Charles Okel, and Agnes, wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Harlan are members of Village Creek Baptist Church, and are well respected in the community which has been their home since childhood. Mr. Harlan is a live business man, a keen observer, and generous in his support of benevolent and other enterprises of public interest.
WILLIAM HART (deceased), late of Waterloo Township, was born in New York, December 1, 1796, and was a son of Henry and Ann B. Hart, New York- ers who settled in Pennsylvania, where both died. William, at the age of twenty-one, in 1817, located in Waterloo Township, this county. Here he was united in marriage with Sary, daughter of Aaron and Catharine (Snoterly), who bore him two children: David and Sarah. Mr. Hart was married on second occasion to Eliza Jane Cary, by whom he had sixteen children, viz .: Catharine, Elizabeth, William E., John C., Hannah J., Barbara A., Andrew J., Malinda C., George W., Myra E., Susan F., William H., Pris- cilla A., Parmella A., Martha M., Mary E. Soon after his second marriage Mr. Hart, in company with Mr. Cary, went to Indianapolis, then a village, where they had a contract for clearing off the heavy timber from a portion of the land ou which the city now stands. After the completion of this contract, Mr. Hart settled on land in Waterloo Township, this county, where he died. He creditably filled the offices of Justice of the Peace and Township Trustee. Though never a member of church, he was liberally disposed toward it and freely gave to its maintenance. He was widely and well known, and respected by all acquainted with him. He died Sep- tember 4, 1861. His widow is still living and is a resident of Warren County, Iowa. Madison Aber- nathy, deceased husband of Susan F. (Hart) Aber- nathy, daughter of William Hart, was born on the place where his widow now resides, in Jennings Township, this county, May 12, 1837. They were married in 1858 and five children were the result of this union: Mary A., Nancy J., Florence I., Jesse M., and an infant (deceased). Mr. Abernathy died August 8, 1881. His widow was born in Waterloo Township, this county, October 11, 1840.
LEVI HARTMAN, farmer, Connersville Town- ship, one of the early pioneers of this county, was born in Franklin County, Ind., December 7, 1816, son of Henry and Nancy (Smith) Hartman, natives of Berks County, Penn., and of German and Irish
descent. Henry Hartman was a son of Frederick Hartman, a native of Germany, who emigrated to the United States previous to the Revolutionary war, settling in Berks County, Penn., where he married Nancy Black, and thence, in 1813, moved to Franklin County, Ind., where he remained until death. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; the father of seven children: Jacob, Catherine, Frederick, Nancy, Michael, Hannab and Henry. Jacob, the eldest, father of our subject, was united in marriage with Nancy Smith, in Bucks County, Penn., and in 1813, in company with his parents, moved to Franklin County, Ind., settling near Brookville, where his wife died in 1816. He subsequently married Elsie Tharp, and in 1854 moved to Platte County, Mo., where they remained until their death. He was the father of eight children: Abraham, James and Levi, by first wife, and Jonathan, William, Nancy, Newton and Lovina by second wife. Levi, our subject, was the youngest child born to the first wife. His mother died when he was quite young, and his father being in very limited circumstances, he was compelled to earn his own living, in which he has been successful. He was married in this county in June, 1838, to Rebecca Mount, who bore him nine children: Nancy E., Alfred, John C., Hezekiah, Clarissa, Rhoda, Henry (deceased), Hannah and James. After marriage, Mr. Hartman rented a farm in this township, where he remained about eighteen years, and in the meantime bought land in Wabash County, Ind., which he after- ward sold, and in 1852 purchased and moved on the farm where he has since resided. He owns 420 acres of very fine land, which he has principally improved himself. He started in life a poor boy, and has acquired all he has through his energy, hard work and economy. Mr. Hartman has always voted with the Democratic party.
CHINA HASTINGS (widow of Matthew Hast- ings), Fairview Township, was born in Montgom- ery County, Va., April 19, 1808. Her parents, Stephen and Margaret (Long) Reed, were natives of Virginia, the former born in 1784, the latter in 1781, They were married in Montgomery County, Va. In 1825 they moved to Fayette County, Ind., and in 1836 to Delaware County, same State, where they remained the balance of their lives. They were par- ents of the following children: Elizabeth, William, Fleming, Robert, Mary, Charity, Cornelius, Lewis and China. Mr. Reed died June 12, 1862, his wife having preceded him January 15, 1859. Our sub. ject, who is next to the eldest in the family, was mar. ried in Rush County, Ind., July 26, 1832, to Matthew Hastings, born in Adams County, Ohio, December 20, 1805, son of Robert and Isabelle (Russel) Hastings, both natives of Ireland. After marriage Mr. and Mrs.
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BIOGRAPHIES.
Matthew Hastings settled in Fairview Township, this county, where they resided until his death, which occurred September 7, 1881. There was no issue by this union. Mrs. Hastings owns 240 acres of fine land.
THOMAS HECK, farmer, Posey Township, was born in Bracken County, Ky., in 1818, son of John and Catherine (Kemmer) Heck, former of whom died in Kentucky. In 1827 Mrs. Heck, with her three children, Nancy, Thomas and Mary, moved to Posey Township, this county, where she purchased the land on which her son now resides. Here Mrs. Heck, a genuine pioneer mother, lived and died. She was a woman of more than ordinary courage, unwavering in her devotion to her life's work, the making for her- self and children a home, the great object of her ambition, and in which she was successful. She was an exemplary Christian, a member of the New Light Church. She passed into life eternal in 1872, aged eighty-three years. Thomas Heck was married in 1839, to Eliza, daughter of Peter Kemmer, a brother of John and son of Nicholas Kemmer. On the old homestead he has lived fifty-seven years, a length of time few men live in one place. Five children have been born to them, three now living: Rachel, John and Lewis. Samuel and Louisa are deceased.
J. J. HEIDER, blacksmith, Waterloo Township, was born in Somerset County, Penn., July 4, 1814, son of Leonard and Mary Heider. In his boyhood he accompanied his parents to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and at New Philadelphia learned the trade of black- smith, which he followed there till twenty-two years of age. In 1836 he went to Iowa, where he remained one year and then returned to New Philadelphia, Ohio. In 1840 he went to Wabash County, Ind., where he became an Indian trader, trading with the Pottawatomie and Miami Indians in the Indian Re- serve. In 1846 he enlisted for service in the Mexican war, in the Seventh United States Regular Infantry He participated in the memorable campaigns of that war, doing his country good service for eighteen months, after which he was honorably discharged. In 1848 he settled in Springerville, where he has since resided and followed his trade. In 1851 Mr. Heider married Parmela Shepler, by whom he has had seven children, six of whom are now living: Mary, Jane, Cyn- thia, Jefferson, Alice and Joseph. Sophia is deceased. He and his wife are consistent members of the Lutheran Church, with which they have been con- nected eight years. Our subject is a worthy member of Brownsville Lodge, F. & A. M., with which he has been connected since 1864. Politically he is a Democrat.
SAMUEL HEIZER, farmer, Columbia Town- ship, was born in Fayette County, Ind., November
22, 1831, son of Joshua (who was a soldier in the war of 1812) and Jemima (Cory) Heizer, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. They were married in Virginia in 1819, and immediately moved to this county, settling on the farm where our subject now resides, and where they both died. Their family numbered eight children: Hannah C., Elizabeth C., Mary A., Noah C., Lydia, Lavina, Joanna and Sam- nel, who is next to the youngest. He was married in this county, February 24, 1863, to Sarah A., daughter of Henry and Margaret (Waltz) Kershner, and after- ward settled on his present farm, where he has since resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Heizer were born eight children, all now living: Joshua H., Mary J., Mar- garet L., Ella E., Hannah C., Martha J., Helen M. and Charles C. Mr. Heizer is a worthy and affable gentleman, respected by all. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
S. H. HELVIE, farmer, Jennings Township, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, November 23, 1843, and is a son of Peter A. and Eliza Helvie, natives of Virginia, who settled first in Ohio, but sub- sequently removed to Delaware County, Ind., where the father died. Our subject was reared to farming pursuits, receiving in the common schools a practical education. During the late war of the Rebellion he enlisted July 27, 1862, in Company B, Sixty-ninth Ind. V. I. He saw active service, having partici- pated in a number of engagements during the Rebell- ion, at the close of which he was honorably dis- charged. Mr. Helvie was married June 17, 1869, to Emma J., daughter of William Lair (see sketch). To this union were born two children: William L. and Armor P. After marriage they settled upon a farm in Delaware County, Ind., where they lived twelve years, after which time they settled on the Lair homestead. Mr. Helvie is a F. & A. M. ; in poli- tics a Republican.
HENRY HENRY (deceased), late of Waterloo Township, was a native of Ireland; emigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where he was married to Margaret Little. In 1820, accompanied by his wife, his mother-in-law (Catherine Little) and nine children, William, James, John, Alexander, Henry L., Ann, Mary, Jane and Cynthia, he moved to and settled in Waterloo Township, this county, where he lived during the rest of his life. He died December 31, 1859, aged eighty-two years. His widow died August 2, 1867, aged seventy-eight years, three months and eight days. Mrs. Catherine Little died October 4, 1855, aged eighty-six years, nine months and twelve days. Mr. Henry was a success- ful farmer, a member of the Presbyterian Church. William, eldest son of Henry Henry, and who was a boy when his parents came to Indiana, married
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FAYETTE COUNTY.
Sarah M., daughter of Jesse and Nancy Shaw, who bore him eight children, six of whom are now living: Jesse S., John C., James L., Samuel K., Mary J. and Nancy M. Mr. Henry lived in the township all his life, a successful farmer and respected citizen. He held the office of Township Trustee several years, and was an efficient business man. He died July 12, 1873, aged sixty-four years, six months and six days. His widow died August 12, 1881, aged sixty-five years and fifteen days. Mr. Henry was a Democrat in politics. Jesse S., son of William Henry, was born in 1836. He was reared on the farm, and the dis- trict schools afforded him the means for an education. He was married in 1859, to Elizabeth A., daughter of Levi Cross, since which time he has lived two years in Rush County and sixteen in Harrison Township, the most of the time on the old home place. He was elected Township Trustee in 1884, and has also held other minor offices. He had nine children, seven of whom are now living: William L., Levi G., Jesse O, Robert W., Alfred N., Effie M. and Ivy M. James M. and an infant are deceased. Mrs. Jesse S. Henry was born in Ohio, November 6, 1836, died July 14, 1883. Jesse S. Henry owns a farm of 180 acres, utilized principally in grain producing. He is a Dem- ocrat in politics.
JAMES L. HENRY, farmer, Waterloo Township, son of William Henry and grandson of Henry Henry, was born on the old homestead in 1841, and his boy- hood was passed on the farm and in receiving his education in the district schools. In 1864 he mar- ried Roxinea, only child of Dr. W. R. Skinner (see sketch of Daniel Skinner) who has borne him one child-W. Albert. In 1878 Mr. Henry purchased a part of the old homestead where he now lives. He owns fifty and a half acres of good land. He and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Episco pal Church (Robinson Chapel), with which they have been connected several years, and take much interest in religious matters. In politics he is a Democrat.
EDWARD HIGHAM, carpenter, Harrison Town- ship, was born in Wilmington, Del., February 18, 1823. He received a good education; was raised a tanner, and at the age of sixteen was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade. In 1856 he moved to Ohio, locating in Dayton, where he worked at pattern- making two years. In 1858 he returned to Delaware, remaining sixteen months; thence came to Fayette County, Ind., where he has remained ever since, fol- lowing carpentering and various other avocations. April 16, 1844, he married Miss Susanna D. Hamp- ton, a native of Wilmington, Del. Their home has been blessed with eight children, four now living: Sarah W., now Mrs. B. F. Guard; Anna, now Mrs. E. W. Hackleman; William H., married to Miss Mary
Campbell, and resides in Milton, Ind .; and Lucy Lee, now Mrs. Homer Hackleman. Mr. Higham is a member of the I. O. O. F. Subordinate Lodge, and also a P. O. S. of A. Is a member of the Christian Church.
THOMAS HINKSON, farmer, Connersville Town- ship, is one of the earliest sons of this county, hav- ing been born in Connersville Township on the farm where he now resides, December 10, 1816. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Drenan) Hinkson, the for- mer a native of County Cavan, Ireland; the latter of Pennsylvania. They were married in Pennsyl- vania, moved to Virginia, and later to Ohio, where they were residents by turn of both Adams and Brown Counties. The family subsequently moved to Dear- born County, Ind., and in 1814 to the farm in this township where Mr. Hinkson now resides. This farm was purchased at the land sales of 1812, and here the father of the family died March 22, 1850, aged seventy-seven years; and the mother August 24, 1824, aged forty-four years. They were parents of ten chil- dren, two only now living-our subject and his sister Susanna, who is in charge of the household, Mr. Hinkson never having married. Our subject spent his early days on the farm where he still lives, and obtained a good education in the district schools. At his father's decease he inherited the old homestead, and here he will probably end his days. He is a man of keen intelligence and excellent character; is strong- ly attached to his home and friends, in the esteem of whom he occupies a high position. He was one of the first Township Trustees after the new Constitu- tion and enjoyed ro-election. He has voted with the Democratic party all his life, casting his first Presi- dential vote for Martin Van Buren.
ROBERT HOLLAND (deceased), late of Conners- ville Township, was born in County Fermanagh, Ire- land, August 21, 1779, and is a son of Mordecia Hol- land, a native of Ireland. The latter was a son of William Holland, who fled from his native Scotland during the persecution in the year 1641. John, brother of William, a minister of the Gospel, suffered martyrdom in this religious war. William fought at the battle of the Boyne, July 1, 1690, under William, Prince of Orange, who there defeated King James II. After the war he settled in Enniskillen, County Fer- managh, where Mordecia, the father of Robert, was born. Our subject left his native land, May 27, 1816, for the hospitable shores of America, which he reached at New York, August 13 following. He set- tled in Chester County, Penn., where he resided two years, and then drifted with the tide of immigration to the great West, stopping in Hamilton County, Ohio, where, December 14, 1821, he was married to Margaret Stephenson, who bore nine children: James, Thomas,
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BIOGRAPHIES.
John, Rebecca N., Elizabeth, Robert, William A., Elsie J. and Mary. In 1822 he came to what is now Waterloo Township, this county, settling on 160 acres of land in Section 2, which he entered front the United States Government, and where he lived till the day of his death. He was a model man, being honest, temperate, conscientious and liberal. The possessor of a good intellect, with retentive memory, he remem- bered all that he read, which made him a pleasing and instructive companion. Although starting in life at the beginning, lie gradually worked upward in the scale of prosperity, leaving, at his death, 400 acres of Indiana land. He died August 22, 1857. Mrs. Holland was born in Ohio in 1788; died May 14, 1851, aged sixty-three years.
ROBERT HOLLAND, farmer and ex-County Commissioner, Waterloo Township, is the fifth child and fourth son of Robert Holland, Sr., born where he now lives, November 26, 1829. His boyhood was passed in the manner usual to youth in a new country, receiving in the common schools a practical educa- tion. Upon attaining his majority be began life on his own account, selecting farming as his avocation. He was married, in 1861, to Miss Eda, daughter of Henry McMullen, and who, after three years of happiness, was called to another life, dying July 5, 1864, when in the bloom of youth, aged twenty-eight years, three months and eleven days. Mr. Holland was elected a member of the Board of County Com- missioners in 1863, to serve three years. He has also served out an uncompleted term to which he was ap- pointed. He has executive ability of a high order, and takes rank with the intelligent, influential men of the county. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in 1884. He is an uncompromising Republican, having always voted with that party upon all leading questions. His farm consists of 207 acres of excellent land, highly improved.
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WILLIAM A. HOLLAND, County Commissioner and farmer, Waterloo Township, was born on the old homestead in the year 1833, and is the fifth son and seventh child of Robert Holland. By close application to study in the common schools he qual- ified himself to teach, which for ten consecutive win- ters he successfully did in country schools. In 1859 he was married to Mary A., daughter of John Scholl, after which he located on his present farm and has prospered. To this union five children have been born: Alice N., James F., John W., Charles E. and Edie B. In 1872 Mr. Holland was elected to the Board of County Commissioners, with which be has since been identified. His well-balanced mind, al- ways deliberate in actions, makes him an almost in- dispensable acquisition to the Board of the county, where his judgment is regarded sound. The town-
ship he has assessed once; has been Clerk of the Board of Trustees two terms. Although originally a Democrat, he now votes the straight Republican ticket. His farm comprises 480 acres of well-im- proved and highly cultivated land.
JOHN HONEAS, farmer, Jennings Township, was born in Berks County, Penn., August 10, 1811. He spent his early life in bis native State and when a grown man removed to Miamisburg, Ohio. After living there a short time he continued his jour- ney to Fayette County, where he found employment as teamster. He was married to Elizaboth, daughter of Thomas Simpson, Sr., the first settler on Simpson's Creek, and settled near where he now lives. Eight children were born to this union, four of whom are now living: William H. H., Thomas D., John and James. The deceased are: Peter, Sarah E., Mary and Elizabeth. In 1861 Mr. Honeas enlisted in Com- pany K, Fifty-seventh Ind. V. I., but was soon after transferred to Company I. He fought at Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing, Perryville, Ky., and on other battle-fields of less note. After serving two years and two months he was honorably discharged on account of disability. His son Peter was a member of the same company and regiment. Thomas, another son, was in Company D, same regiment, and a third son, William H. H., volunteered in 1861, in the Sec- ond Ind. C., serving his time. All were good soldiers. Mr. Honeas owns a farm of fifty acres improved land. He cast his first vote with the Dem- ocratic party, but since the days of Van Buren he has affiliated with the Whigs and subsequently with the Republicans. Mr. Honeas has been connected with the Evangelical Church since he was seventeen years of age, and has lived the life of a consistent Chris- tian.
JOHN HUBBELL, farmer, Waterloo Township, was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1814. He is a son of John and Barbara (Varner) Hubbell, the former born in New Jersey, a son of John and Mary (Robinson) Hubbell, natives of New England, who moved to Pennsylvania when their son John was eight years old. Here they lived twelve years, after which the family, except John, removed to Ohio, and settled in Butler County. The son remained in Pennsylvania one year, engaged in cutting cord wood, after which he walked the entire distance in midwinter, to rejoin his parents in Ohio, where he was soon after married. In 1817 he removed and settled in Water- loo Township, Fayette County, Ind. He bought 160 acres of land, all in the woods, for which he paid $600. Here he lived the balance of his life. Although laboring under many disadvantages, he succeeded in getting together considerable property. He was a pious man, holding membership in the New Light
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