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 49
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SANFORD KEMMER, farmer, Posey Township, is the seventh child of John and Sarah (Overturf) Kemmer, of whom mention is made in the sketch of Samuel J. Kemmer. He was born in 1832, where he now lives with his aged mother.
LEWIS KEMMER, farmer, Posey Township, is the youngest of nine children born to John and Sarah (Overturf) Kemmer, mention of whom is made
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in the sketch of Samuel J. Kemmer. He was born in this county and township November 13, 1839, and was here married April 14, 1861, to Sarah J., daugh- ter of Levi and Susan Ayers, of this township, and born in this county March 31, 1837. They have two children-Virginia and Claronettie. After his mar- riage Mr. Kemmer settled on his brother's farm in Posey Township, Fayette County, where he remained about nine years, and thence moved on an adjoining farm and remained about fourteen years. In 1875 he purchased his present farm, and in 1883 erected a fine house, where he has since resided.
DANIEL KERSCHNER, farmer and inventor, Harrison Township, was born in Harrison Township, Fayette County, Ind., July 24, 1846, a son of Dan- iel Kerschner, who was born in Berks County, Penn., and emigrated to Indiana in 1833. He died August 23, 1860. Our subject acquired a common school education. He was married December 18, 1873, to Miss Ella R. Scofield, also of Fayette County, Ind., who bore him four children: Irene (died September 23, 1875), Daniel F., Clara M. and Ina L. Mr. Kerschner has been engaged in farming nearly all his life. He is an inventive genius and has produced two useful patents, viz., horse corn drill and corn cul- tivator.
DANIEL KLINE (deceased), late of Waterloo Township, was born in Chester County, Penn., about the year 1791; son of Isaac Kline, who was de- scended from German stock. The subject of this sketch was reared in Pennsylvania, where he was married to Catherine Weichey. When two children-Isaac and Henry-had been born to them, they removed, in 1825, by team and wagon, to Waterloo Township, this county, where Mr. Kline purchased the quarter section now owned by his son Benjamin, and after that eight children were born to them: Mary, John, Abraham and Benjamin (twins), Daniel, Samuel, William and John. Here our subject lived many years and prospered, having added enough to the scant means he brought to make himself independent of the ordinary demands of the world. He died in Huntington County, Ind., May 27, 1873. He was an exemplary member of the German Baptist Church, though previously he held membership in the Chris- tian Church, of which his wife was a devoted mem- ber. She died October 6, 1862, aged sixty-two years. Benjamin Kline is the only representative of the family in Fayette County; born January 1, 1834. He was reared on the farm where he was born and on which he has always lived. He now owns the old homestead, which is complete in its original condition.
MATT. T. LAIR, farmer, Jennings Township, was born on the old homestead in Fayette County, in 1832, son of William Lair, who was born in Rock-
ingham County, Va., July 7, 1784. When the latter was but a child his father, Matthias Lair, also a Vir- ginian, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war, set- tled in what is now Harrison County, Ky., where he died. William Lair was first married in Kentucky to Rachel, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Bell. His second wife, Emily Bell, born in the year 1804, was a sister of his first wife, and the mother of his chil- dren, twelve in number, viz .: Samuel (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Joseph, Rachel, Matthias, Harriet (deceased), Adeline, Charles, Osa (deceased), Sophia, John and Jennie. Mr. Lair served in the war of 1812-15, and was in the battle of the Thames, Canada, and after the fight saw the lifeless body of the famous Indian chief, Tecumseh. Before going into service he had followed boating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and their tributaries, making fre- quent trips to New Orleans, returning on foot through a wilderness where the houses were frequently many miles apart. Once, in the early history of steam nav- igation, he attempted an up-trip in a steamboat, but its progress was so slow he abandoned it and took to the woods on foot, and beat the vessel to Louisville. After the close of the war of 1812 he removed to In- diana, then a Territory, and settled where S. H. Hel- vie, his son-in-law, now lives, entering at the time 160 acres of land, upon which the rest of his natural life was passed. When he began in life he had only sufficient means to secure his land, but being indus- trious and a good manager, he steadily increased his accumulations, which at his death aggregated $35,- 000. Though small in stature, he was symmetrically built, muscular, and capable of enduring, with but little fatigue, the heavy burdens that devolved upon him. Politically he was a Whig of strong anti-slavery principles. Before leaving Kentucky he gave free- dom to two slaves. He held the office of Township Trustee for several years. He died October 7, 1870; his widow March 11, 1881. The subject of this sketch was reared to farming pursuits, and attended the district schools during the winter season, obtain- ing a common yet practical education. He has been three times married; first to Martha Ross, who bore him one child-Edna. By his second wife, Rebecca D. Ferguson, he had four children: Georgia (de- ceased, aged three years), Charles, Rozzie and Em- ma Kate. He married for his third and last wife Ella Sparks-no issue. He is a worthy member of Warren Lodge, No. 15, F. & A. M., at Connersville. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., Subordinate and Encampment. His farm comprises 160 acres, and is well improved. Politically he is a stanch Republi- can, and an efficient worker in the ranks of the party.
CHARLES W. LAIR, farmer, Jennings Town- ship, is the third son and ninth child of William Lair
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(see above sketch). He was born on the old homestead, November 25, 1838. During the late war of the Re- bellion our subject enlisted, August 12, 1862, in Company K, Sixty-ninth Ind. V. I., which was sent at once to the front; and, on the 13th of the same month, was engaged in the battle of Richmond, Ky., where he was taken prisoner. Two days later (during which time he was without food) he was paroled and returned home. He was exchanged the following December, and again took his place in the ranks at Memphis, Tenn. His regiment then moved to Vicksburg, thence to Arkansas Post, where it as- sisted in the battle fought there, and returning, par- ticipated in the siege of Vicksburg; then took part in the fight at Jacksou, Miss .; thence went to Texas, via New Orleans, where it joined Gen. Banks' expedition that proceeded up the Red River to Brownsville, La. From that point a running fight was made back to the banks of the Mississippi River, and from there they went to Pensacola, Fla., by water, and from that place proceeded on foot to Fort Blakely, carrying seven days' rations. (They were twenty-one days out, and during that time built sixty-five miles of corduroy road, arriving at their destination in time to take part in the battle, which was the last of the war.) From there they proceeded to Selma, and thence to Mobile. At Arkansas Post Mr. Lair was detailed Wagon-master, in which eapacity he served until dis- charged at Mobile, Ala. Upon his return to civil life he began work where he left off at time of his enlist- ment. He was married, February 15, 1866, to Sarah E. Zimmerman, by whom he has had soven children, five of whom are now living: Effie B., William J., Charles G., Mary E. and Rudolph A. The deceased are: Delia and Bessie A. Mr. Lair has a farm of 120 acres. He votes with the Republican party.
SAMUEL LAMBERSON, farmer, Posey Town- ship, was born in Bracken County, Ky., April 28, 1823, son of Thoroughgood and Christena (Thomas) Lamberson, who, in the fall of 1831, settled in this township. By his first wife Thoroughgood Lamber- son had five children: John, Samuel, Henry (de_ ceased) William and Thomas. Mrs. Lamberson died in 1849, aged fifty-five years, and Mr. Lamber- son married, for his second wife, Mrs. Mary Dailey. He died in 1873, aged nearly eighty years. Our sub- ject was married, in 1852, to Demaris, daughter of James Overturf, of Brown County, Ohio, and to them have been born nine children, eight of whom are now living: Benjamin, Anna, Christena, Laura, Jen- nie, Joseph, George and Cora. Jacob is deceased. For several years after his marriage Mr. Lamberson lived in this township; then went to his native coun- ty, and in 1859 returned and settled on his present farm. He owns 430 acres of fine land, upon which
are excellent improvements. He is one of the self- made men of the county, having started in life with a capital of 623 cents, which amount, though insig- nificant, was the nucleus of his now splendid prop- erty.
CLAYTON LAMBERT, (deceased) late of Water- loo Township, was born in Warren County, Ohio, Oeto- ber 9, 1802, son of Josiah and Lucy Lambert, the for- mer a native of Berkeley County, Va., the latter of New Jersey. The family located at Columbia on the Ohio River when the State was a Territory, and sub- sequently removed to Warren County. The subject of this sketch was married in 1821, to Rhoda Lee, by whom he had eleven children, three of whom are now living : James H., H. D. L. and W. B. Lucinda, Josiah, Lousia, John W., Mary J., Sarah A., Dorenda and Valinda are deceased. Mrs. Lambert died Sep- tember 22, 1850, and Mr. Lambert was married, on second occasion, December 15, 1851, to Rachel Pearce, who died without issue, May 26, 1877. In 1882 he came to this county, locating on his farm, which comprised 160 acres at his death, which his father entered. He died December 20, 1884, aged eighty-two years, two months and eleven days. He was one of the original members of the Robinson Chapel Methodist Church, with which he had been connected over fifty years. To church work he was devoted, always taking an active part which he sustained with true Christian valor. Through life he was blessed with good health, and had met with success, his accumula- tions aggregating many thousand dollars. He was raised a Whig, but during the later years of his life voted with the Democratic party. William B., his youngest son and only child at home, was married June 9, 1870, to Mary J., daughter of William Henry, and by this union are two children : Nannie L. and Jessie H.
WILLIAM C. LAMBERT, farmer, Harrison Town- ship, was born iu Wayne County, Ind., March 21, 1845; son of William and Jane (Holliday) Lambert, natives of Ohio, the former born May 17, 1800, the latter May 30, 1801. They were married May 11, 1820, and moved to Wayne County, Ind., in 1827, and to this county in 1854, where William Lambert died November 30, 1874. Our subject acquired a common school education. He was married May 8, 1873, to Miss Mary E. Lucas, who was born in Wash- ington County, Iud., January 15, 1844. To this union were born: Lewis C., Inie M., Walter R., Jessy T. and William B. Mr. Lambert is a quiet citizen, pursuing the even tenor of his way, not seeking the emoluments arising from office.
ALBERT LAYSON (deceased) was born in Paris, Bourbon Co., Ky., March 14, 1816. He was fifteen years old when his parents, John and Sydney (Mauk)
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Layson, moved to this county, settling in Waterloo Township in 1831, where they lived and died. Of their four children three are now living: Mary, wife of Daniel Burris; Catherine, wife of William Bur- ris; Harvey, who resides in Union County, Ind .; Al- bert is deceased. Mrs. Layson died in 1854, aged sixty-four years. She was a true Christian and an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John Layson died in 1861, aged seventy- six years. Our subject obtained a practical education in the common schools. He was married August 20, 1840, to Miss A. E., daughter of James and Eliza- beth Perry. Five children were born to them, all now living: Martha J., Mary M., Perry M., Elizabeth E. and Russell H. Albert Layson was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he joined early in life, and which he served with devotion till the close of his earthly pilgrimage. He passed into life eternal March 23, 1880. James Per- ry, father of Mrs. Albert Layson, died in Ports- mouth, Scioto Co., Ohio, in 1829. His widow re- moved to Waterloo Township with her family in 1836. She had five children: Anna E., widow of our subject; Corrilla J., wife of Harvey Layson; Russell B., who died leaving a widow, Eliza A. (Rider) Per- ry, and four children, viz., Leonidas H., Cortes R., James H. and William A .; Malinda and Henry B. died in infancy. Mrs. Perry died in 1855, aged fifty- nine years.
JOHN LEONBERGER, farmer, Posey Town- ship, was born in Germany, December 14, 1833, son of Matthias and Elizabeth (Myers) Leonberger, also natives of Germany, born, the former in 1801, the latter in 1803. They were married in their native country, and there lived and died, the parents of five children: John, Regie, Frederick, Augusta and Caroline. Our subject, who is the eldest of the family, emigrated in 1851 to New York City, where he remained but a few days, however, and thence came to Sandusky, Ohio, and there lived about one year; then went to Milwaukee, Wis., and from there to New Orleans, remaining one winter. He then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked op a steamboat on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers about one year; thence went to Butler County, Ohio, and worked on a farm. He was there married, in 1856, to Elizabeth Metz, by whom he had a family of four children: Christena, Henry, Margaret and Frank B. In 1866 our subject moved to this county, purchasing and moving on a part of the farm where he has since resided. He owns, at present time, 133 acres of fine land. He started in life a poor boy, and has achieved success.
ELIZA LEWIS (widow of John G. Lewis), Fair- view Township, was born in Bourbon County, Ky.,
July 2, 1811, daughter of Abraham and E. (Fife) Baker, natives of Maryland and Kentucky, respect- ively, and who married in the latter State and came thence in 1823 to this county, where they remained the balance of their lives. Their children were: David, John, Harrisou, Mahala, Nancy, Ellen, Daniel and Eliza. Our subject was united in marriage, in this county, Angust 15, 1833, with John G. Lewis, born in Washington County, Va., April 20, 1811, son of John and Caroline Lewis. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis settled in Fairview Township, this county, where they afterward resided. Their chil- dren are as follows: Lovina, Caroline M., David, William and Daniel. In 1847 Mr. Lewis purchased and moved on the farm, where he died January 4, 1872, and where his widow now resides. He was a good citizen, a kind neighbor, highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was a member of the Christian Church for several years.
DANIEL LEWIS, farmer, Fairview Township, was born in Fayette County, Ind., December 5, 1845; son of John G. and Eliza (Baker) Lewis, both born in 1811, the former in Washington County, Va., the latter in Bourbon County, Ky. They were married in this county, after which they moved to Rush County, but subsequently returned to this county, where Mr. Lewis died January 4, 1872. His widow still survives. Their children are: Lovina, Caroline M., David, William and Daniel. Our subject, the youngest of the family, was married in this county, September 23, 1874, to Fannie Jeffrey, a native of Fayette County, Ind., born July 25, 1853, and daugh- ter of Ephraim and Jane Jeffrey. Mrs. Lewis died March 21, 1884, without issue.
E. H. LINK, merchant, Fairview Township, was born in Washington County, Tenn., July 30, 1829, son of John and Barbara (Hansbarger) Link, the former born in Pennsylvania in 1777, and the latter in Virginia in 1780. They were married in Virginia and from there moved to Washington County, Tenu., and subsequently to Greene County, Tenn., where Mr. Link died in 1852 ; his widow died in this county in 1875. John Link had been twice married, and was the father of ten children: Sarah, Thomas, Ephraim, Margaret, Henry, Harvey, John, Peter, Emeline, and Emanuel H. Our subject, the youngest in the fam- ily, was married in Preble County, Ohio, June 7, 1859, to Sophronia, daughter of John and Jemima (Shidner) Holderman, and who was born in Preble County, Ohio, July 5, 1835. To this union were born nine children, viz : Alma, Lewis, John, Marietta, Oscar, Lee, Edward, Fanny and Kate. Mr. Link, in 1875, purchased and moved on the farm where he has since resided.
MOSES LOCKHART (deceased), was one of the
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first settlers of this county; he was born in Kentucky, and was the son of Elisha and Elizabeth (Ellison) Lockhart, who were natives of Pennsylvania. His parents moved to Kentucky in an early day, and there reared a family. In 1812 Moses Lockhart moved to this county and found little else than forests, wild animals and Indians. He entered land on which his only surviving daughter, Nancy, now lives, aud where he himself resided till his death, in 1832, at the age of forty years. He was married in 1809, to Eliza- beth Reed, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of John Reed, who were among the first settlers of this county; the fruits of this marriage were twelve children: Thomas, Robert, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Elisha, Nancy, Ellison, Rawlston, John, Moses, Mary J. and Moses, Jr., all now deceased but Nancy and John. The mother died in 1876. Mr. Lockhart was a man of excellent character, a devoted member of the Chris- tian Church, and highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was among the first to begin the develop- ment of this county, and as such is entitled to a high place in its history. His daughter Nancy now has charge of the old homestead, where she has spent her entire life, and which will at the end probably meas- ure her sojourn here from the cradle to the grave. Her only brother, John Lockhart, resides in this town- ship, and they are now the sole representatives of the original Lockhart family in the county.
MRS. HANNAH (CAMPBELL) LUDLOW, Har- rison Township, widow of Samuel B. Ludlow, was born in Seneca County, N. Y., November 27, 1798. She received a common school education; was mar- ried February 13, 1817, to Samuel B. Ludlow, who was born in the same county, May 12, 1797, and there received a common school education. He chopped wood at 37 cents per day to buy his wedding suit. They moved to this township in 1821. Mr. Ludlow had walked from New York to Indiana in 1819, and selected land for his future home, but it not being in the market, he walked back to New York, returning in 1821, when he sent to Brookville and pur- chased the land where he lived until 1857, when he re- moved to the farm where he died. When he arrived at his future home he had only 25 cents with which he pur- chased a bushel of corn, and this, by means of a horse he borrowed, he took to the mill. Such was the begin- ning of the life-work of this good man. To Mr. and Mrs. Ludlow were born twelve children: William, Francis H. (died February 26, 1848), Harriet, Jane, Hampton, Wealthy, Nancy, John, Annie, Emily, James and George G. Mr. Ludlow died July 30, 1879, leaving a widow and a large family of children to mourn his loss.
JAMES LUDLOW, farmer, Harrison Township, is a native of Harrison Township, Fayette County,
Ind. He was united in marriage January 7, 1875, with Miss Lucy E. Wymore, a native of Kentucky. He was for three years a member of Company H, Thirty-sixth Regiment, Ind. V. I., and for two years of his term of service was unable to talk. He partici- pated in the battles of Chickamauga (where he was slightly wounded), Stone River and many others. Since his return home Mr. Ludlow has regained his speech, but his health has been ouly partially restored. He is a member of the G. A. R .; a quiet, peaceable citizen.
OTHO MCCARTY, farmer, Columbia Township, was born in Fayette County, Ind., Angust 4, 1819, son of Owen and Alice (Rice) McCarty, natives of Ire- land, the former born in County Limerick in 1757, latter in County Tyrone in 1782. Owen McCarty, about the year 1804, immigrated to Newfoundland, where he engaged in fishing until 1806, when he came to the United States, settling near Hagerstown, Md., where, in 1814, he married Alice Rice. After their marriage our subject's parents settled at Hagerstown, where they remained until 1819, and they then moved to Fayette County, Ind., remaining for a short time at first in Jennings Township, afterward settling in Columbia Township, where they resided until their death. In 1828 Owen McCarty paid a visit to Hagerstown, aud was there taken sick. He died in November of that year. His widow died in this county in December, 1871. Their children were as follows: William, John (deceased), Catherine and Otho, next to the eldest. Our subject was married in this county in 1842, to Nancy, daughter of William and Lucinda (Ginn) Jones, and settled on a farm in Columbia Township, which he had previously pur- chased and lived on. In 1849 he moved on his fath- er's old farm, where his wife died, July 9, 1848. Their family numbered three children: Louisa (de- ceased), Susan (deceased) and John W. Our subject was again married February 5, 1856, on this occa- sion to Bridget E., daughter of Thomas and Mary (Greene) Kane, and born in County Clare, Ireland, January 6, 1831, of which county both her parents were natives; the father born in 1796, the mother in 1812. They were married in 1830, and immigrated to Fayette County, Ind., in 1854, where he died in 1868. His widow is now living in Columbia Town- ship, this county. Their children were: Bridget E., John, Mary, Catherine, Ellen, Andrew, Ellen D., Henry F., Ann, Margaret and one deceased in infancy. To the union of our subject with Bridget E. Kane were born the following children: Mary E., Alice C., William E., Louisa A. (deceased), Ann A. and Joseph O. Mr. McCarty and family are well respected by all who know them, and are looked upon as energetic and well-to-do farmers. They are members of the
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Catholic Church. He owns 366 acres of excellent land, well improved, and deals to some extent in live stock. In politics he is a Democrat.
JOHN W. MCCARTY, farmer, Columbia Town- ship, is a son of Otho and Nancy McCarty, and was born in this county, November 11, 1845. He was first married at Connersville, October 15, 1869, to Ellen, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Greene) Kane, and to this union was born one daughter-Nancy U. Mr. McCarty died April 14, 1873, and our subject then married, in Liberty, Ind., April 28, 1875, Joan- nah, daughter of Jeremiah and Mary (Curn) Breen. To this union were born four children: Mary E., Nora T., Clara L. and Daniel L. After his first marriage Mr. McCarty settled on one of his father's farms, and in the fall of 1873 he purchased his pres- ent farm, to which he moved the following spring, and here he has since remained. He owns 160 acres of land. He and his family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
E. D. McCONNELL, farmer, Fairview Township, was born in Brown County, Ohio, February 19, 1802. His parents, Thomas and Mary (Downing) McConnell, were natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, respect- ively. Thomas McConnell was a son of Arthur McConnell, a native of Ireland, who there married Elizabeth Wilson, and who, previous to the Revolu- tionary war, emigrated to the United States, settling in western Pennsylvania, where he remained until death. He was the father of nine children: Sarah, Susan, Margaret, Mary, George, Arthur, James, John and Thomas. The father of our subject was born in Pennsylvania, November 4, 1772, and when a young man moved to Mason County, Ky., where he and Mary Downing were united in wedlock. She was born in Pennsylvania, October 7, 1779, and was one of four. teen children born to John and Susan (Ellis) Down- ing. Some time after their marriage our subject's par- ents moved to Brown County, Ohio, where the father entered land, and remained until death. The mother died November 5, 1832, and the father subsequently married Elizabeth Downing, a sister of his first wife, and who is still living. Thomas McConnell died April 26, 1865. He was a Captain in the war of 1812; was the father of thirteen children: John, Susanna, Ellis D., James W., Nathan B., Thomas E., Elizabeth, Rachel, Mary, Amos, Milford, Nancy, and one unnamed (deceased). Our subject, the third child in the family, was married in Brown County, Ohio, Angust 21, 1823, to Nancy, daughter of James and Hannah (Allforet) Hodkins, born near Lexing- ton, Fayette County, Ky., September 5, 1803, and by this union twelve children were born: Oliver P., James W., Thomas M., Jesse H., Julia A., Nathan, Indiana, Mary Ann, Susan, John P., William H.,
and an infant unnamed. After their marriage our subject and wife settled in Brown County, Ohio, and in 1825 moved to Fayette County, Ind., settling on the farm where he now lives. Mrs. E. D. McConnell died May 30, 1882. Our subject has always taken an active interest in religious matters, having been iden- tified with the Christian Church for forty years. In politics he is a Republican. He cast his first Presi- dential vote for Henry Clay, voting the Whig ticket without change until the organization of the Repub- lican party, since when he has ever been an uncom- promising and zealous supporter of Republican principles. He started in life a poor boy, but by industry, close application to business, and a judicious use of his time, he has accomplished at least one of the great objects of life, having secured a good home and living in the full enjoyment of every comfort.
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