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 50
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JAMES W. McCONNELL, farmer, Fairview Town- ship, son of Thomas and Mary (Downing) McConnell, was born in Brown County, Ohio, January 19, 1804, and was there married March 9, 1826, to Martha, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (St. Clair) Burton, and born in Columbiana County, Ohio, May 17, 1804. After their marriage they settled in Brown County, Ohio, and in 1828 moved to Fayette County, Ind., settling on the farm where they have since resided. Their children are as follows: Amanda M., Mary, Elizabeth, America, Jefferson O., Martha, James M., Nancy. Mr. McConnell has for years been an active member of the Christian Church; in politics he is a Republican. He is one of the few pioneers left to recite to us the tale of privations of pioneer life in the by-gone days of nearly three-quarters of a cen- tury.
ROBERT MCCRORY, farmer, Fairview Township, was born in Fayette County, Ind., November 6, 1841, one of the twelve children of William and Melissa(Iles) McCrory, natives of Ireland and Kentucky respec- tively. William McCrory was a son of Jolin Mc- Crory, a native of Ireland, where the latter married Lillie Aken, and in 1812 emigrated with his wife to the United States, remaining first in Pennsylvania, whence in 1819 they moved to Fayette County, Ind., where they resided until their death. The mother died October 23, 1843, the father July 30, 1868. They were parents of five children: Robert, Samuel, Mar- garet, Jane and William. The father of our subject was born in Ireland in 1804, and was brought to this country by his parents when about eight years of age. He also came with them to this county in 1819, and was here united in marriage with Melissa Isles, after- ward settling on a farm in Connersville Township, where he died in 1875. His widow is now living on the same farm. Their children were as follows: Lil- lie, Samuel, Robert, Hester, John, Sarab, Margaret,
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FAYETTE COUNTY.
Perry, Mary, America, Martha and Salina. Robert, our subject, was married in this county, October 28, 1873, to Catherine E., daughter of Robert and Salina M. (Saxon) McCrory, natives of Ireland and Georgia respectively. In 1879 they settled on the farm where they have since resided. In August, 1864, Mr. Mc- Crory enlisted and served three months.
WILLIAM McGRAW (deceased), late of Water. loo Township, was born in Franklin County, Penn., October 8, 1787. His parents moved to near George- town, Ky., when he was three months old, and lived there ten years; then removed to Clermont County, Ohio, where the parents died. Our subject then went to Lebanon, Warren Co., Ohio, where he lived till 1811, then came to Fayette County, Ind. (at that time a Territory), and here he stayed a short time, but the Indians being hostile, he returned to Ohio. After serving in the war of 1812 he came back and purchased land in Fayette County. Here he married Martha Higgins, and lived many years. His wife died in the township, August 30, 1858, aged fifty- nine years, two months, after which he moved to Hancock County, Ind., where he died May 6, 1871, aged eighty-three years, six months and eighteen days. Both were members of the Methodist Church. They were parents of eleven children, six of whom are now living: Rachel, Margaret, Martha, John, Robort, and Francis, Robert being the only one of the family now living in this county. The deceased are: James A., Hannah, William, Nancy and Mary. Robert Mc- Graw was born on the old homestead in 1838. He was married to Sarah Ann, daughter of Jacol Troxell, and lived in Fayette County ten years, after which he located in Howard County, Ind., where he lived six years, and then returned to Waterloo Township. He has had eight children, seven of whom are now liv- ing: Charley, Edwin, Alvah, Joseph, Jacob O., John, Robert E. William is deceased.
SAMUEL McKEE, farmer, Orange Township, was born in Brown County, Ohio, July 2, 1818. His parents, John and Anna (Platt) McKee, were natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania respectively, and of Scotch-Irish doscent. John McKee was born in Ken- tucky, June 14, 1789, and his wife, Ann McKee, was born in Pennsylvania, October 28, 1781. They were married in Kentucky, February 14, 1809. In 1817 they moved from Kentucky, settling in Brown Coun- ty, Ohio, but becoming dissatisfied they, with their family, consisting of five children, viz .: David, Mary A., Henry P., John and Samuel (our subject), moved to Indiana in 1821, settling in Rush County. After removing from Ohio, Robert and James were born, making seven children in all. They lived continuously on one farm for forty-three years. The mother died December 10, 1862, aged eighty-one years; the father
died September 4, 1864, aged seventy-five years. Samnel McKee came to Rush County in 1821. There he was married in 1840 to Charlotte Stewart, who bore him one child-Mary A .- and died in 1842. Onr subject subsequently married Fanny, daughter of Joseph and Martha Puntenney, by whom he had three children, viz .: Joseph, Fanny S., and one that died in infancy. After his first marriage Mr. McKee set- tled in Vienna, now Glenwood, where he resided un- til 1858. In 1866 he removed to the farm where he has since resided. He and his wife are members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
DANIEL MOKONN, farmer, Jackson Township, is a native of Scotland, born in Glasgow, March 19, 1840. His parents, Daniel and Mary (Donely) Mc- Konn, were also born in Scotland, and came to America in 1826, locating in Philadelphia, where they died. Our subject received a limited education, and after the death of his parents came to Indiana in 1870. He has followed agricultural pursuits all his life, and his farm consists of 160 acres on Section 18. He was married May 28, 1882, to Mrs. Emma Doben- hyer, a native of Harrison, Ohio, born December 29, 1851, and who had at the time of her marriage with our subject seven children: Lottie, Paul, Nellie, Charles, William, Harry and Pearl. To Mr. and Mrs. McKonn has been born one daughter-Bessie. Our subject is an industrious, quiet citizen, and a good neighbor, his religion being based upon the principle of doing unto others as he would they should do unto him.
ALFRED MANLOVE, farmer, Posey Township, was born on the old homestead in the year 1840, and ie a son of Jesse Manlove, said to be the second white child born in Posey Township (April 3, 1815). Jesse was a son of William Manlove, a native of one of the Carolinas, who settled in this township in 1812, where he lived all his days. Five children were born to him: Jesse, Absalom, William, Cynthia and Phœbe. Mrs. Manlove, after her husband's death, married James McConkey, by whom she had three children: Eli, Thomas and Sophronia. Jesse Manlove was twice married. His second wife, Lana A., daughter of Boswell Colvin, was the mother of his children, eleven in number: F. M., Alfred, Levi, Jane, Will- iam A., Lydia A., John H., Absalom, Prudence E., Jesse and Sarah C. Jesse Manlove died March 26, 1880, his widow October 25, 1881. He was a self- made man, making but 50 cents per day when he be- gan life. He was a member of the Baptist Church. The subject of this sketch was married to Hettie R. Rea, who has borne him two children: Osman R. and Cora L. He is at present Trustee of Posey Town- ship.
MRS. MARGARET MARSHALL, Connersville
16
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BIOGRAPHIES.
Township, is perhaps the oldest person of her sex now living in the county, having been born in Hunting- don County, Penn., May 24, 1795. Her parents, Hugh and Margaret (Buchanan) Morrison, were na- tives of Ireland and Maryland respectively. They resided several years in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and came from the latter State to Brookville, Ind., about 1809, moving to this county about five years later, but returning to Brookville in about eighteen months thereafter. In 1820 Mr. Morrison died, and his widow then took up her residence with her daughter in this county, where she died in 1833. Mrs. Marshall spent the first twenty-one years of her life with her parents. She was married, March 27, 1817, to James F. Mar- shall, who was born in Washington County, Va., March 27, 1785. He came to this State in 1814, and located in this township, where he resided until his death in 1852. He was always a farmer, very indus- trions, and did much to develop this then unbroken forest. He was a man of strong constitution, firm convictions, and an unswerving Democrat in politics. He first purchased 400 acres of land, and subsequently dealt quite extensively in real estate. After her marriage Mrs. Marshall moved at once to this local. ity, and about two years later to the farm on which she has resided up to the present time, a period of nearly sixty-five years. She is the mother of ten chil- dren, six of whom are now living, viz .: Robert, Andrew, Esther, James D., William and Sarah J. The deceased are Sarah J., Isabel, Hugh and Joseph. The last-mentioned was a Captain in the Regular Army, and died at Fort Rice, Dak. T., Sep- tember 15, 1867. Mrs. Marshall is one of the few who are still left to see the seat of their early toil and trials teeming with the fruits of improved indus- try and civilization. The Indians, whom she was ac- customed to see in large numbers, have gone to seek homes in the forests of the West, and their old hunt- ing grounds are transformed into fields of waving grain. Mrs. Marshall is a member of the Presbyte- rian Church. She is well preserved in body and mind, and her memory will be ever kindly cherished by all who know her.
JAMES D. MARSHALL, Connersville Township, son of James F. and Margaret Marshall, was born in 1830, on the farm where he now resides. He here grew to manhood, and in 1876 was married to Fran- ces Rohe, a native of Fayette County, and daughter of Andrew Rohe. She died childless in April, 1882. Mr. Marshall and his sister, Sarah J., are now taking care of their mother, who depends upon them for support, and Mr. Marshall has charge of the undivid- ed estate of eighty-two acres, on which he conducts a general and very successful farming business.
GEORGE MARTIN, farmer, Connersville Town-
ship, is another of the substantial farmers of Fayette County who have carved homes from the hard rocks of circumstance. He was born in Franklin County, Ind., in 1817, and is a son of George Martin, Sr., who came from South Carolina in 1808. His mother, Mrs. Jane (Smith) Martin, was a native of Old Vir- ginia. Our subject grew to fourteen years of age in his native county. He then moved with his parents to this county, where they resided twenty-eight years, and then moved to Wabash County, where the mother died about 1867, the father in 1871. At the age of twenty-two Mr. Martin began operations on his own resources. He was married, in 1839, to Elizabeth Hamilton, who was born and reared in this county, daughter of George Hamilton, one of the first settlers of this locality. After his marriage he rented land one year and then purchased eighty acres of bis father. About ten years later he sold out and moved to Wabash County, where he purchased 320 acres, which he sold six months afterward. In March, 1851, he purchased his present farm of 168 acres, on which he has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have six children living: Rebecca A. (now Mrs. Springer), Nancy J. (now Mrs. Scott), Francis M., George M., Mary A. (now Mrs. Sharp) and Charles M. The deceased are: Oliver, Silas M., Helen C. and Elizabeth. Mr. Martin has always devoted his atten- tion to farming and stock raising, and by industry and economy has obtained a handsome competency, although having lost heavily by securities for friends. He is a Republican of the old Whig persuasion, and is held in high esteem as a citizen.
GEORGE M. MARTIN, Connersville Township, one of the enterprising young farmers of this county, was born in Connersville Township, this county, March 4, 1853. He is a son of George Martin, whose sketch appears above, and with whom our subject spent his early days on the farm in this township, receiving his education in the district schools. After his twentieth year Mr. Martin began operations on the "Iron High- way" as brakeman, and was subsequently pro- moted to conductor of a supply train, continuing in this occupation three years. He was married, October 5, 1877, to Ida M. Frybarger, who was born on the farm where they now reside July 12, 1856. Her parents were Martin and Mahala (Wilson) Fry- barger, natives of Connersville and Franklin Coun- ties respectively. Her father was born August 22, 1826, her mother December 10, 1827, and they were married May 9, 1849. They had three children : Wm. Watt, born September 6, 1851, died April 9, 1882; Eva G., born January 29, 1854, died June 10, 1875, and Ida M. Mr. Frybarger died May 20, 1860, and Mrs. Frybarger married H. L. Weth-
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erald, July 17, 1883. Mrs. Martin's father was a merchant, and did quite an extensive business, his father being a banker of considerable influence. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two children: Mary Lelia and Eva Gracie, the former born July 22, 1878, the latter September 26, 1880. After his marriage Mr. Martin moved to the farm on which he resides, a part of which he purchased and a part inherited by Mrs. Martin. Here he has since been successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is a progressive farmer and highly esteemed as a citizen.
HON. MINOR MEEKER (deceased), late of Har- rison Township. This prominent pioneer settler and citizen of distinction was a native of Orange County, N. Y., born July 5, 1795, and at the age of two years was left in the world without parents. When ten years old he went to Seneca County, same State; in his eighteenth year he was drafted into the United States' service, and in the fall of 1813 shouldered his gun and marched to Niagara under the command of Col. Swift, an officer who had served in the Revolu- tionary war. Young Meeker was honorably dis- charged after three months' service, when he went to Steuben County, and there learned the tanning bus- iness, with Allen Boardman. After completing his trade he was for a period engaged as pilot on boats in the lumber trade between Elmira, N. Y., and Har- risburg, Penn., the distance being 150 miles, which he walked on return trips, and at one time made the journey in three days. In 1819, in company with Elder Minor Thomas and others, Mr. Meeker started for the West, going by way of Olean on the Allegany River, thence by flat-boat, to a point some five miles above Cincinnati, Ohio, where they remained until July, when they made their way to Fayette County, Ind., and here Mr. Meeker located permanently. Our subject acted as pilot on the voyage, which was of nine days' length. On his arrival in Connersville he engaged in the tanning business for a time for a Mr. Rees. January 15, 1820, he was married to Rachel, daughter of Elder Minor Thomas, and born in Tomp- kins County, N. Y., April 21, 1799. To this mar- riage were born in this county, Marcella and Ches- ter C., the former October 23, 1823, the latter July 27, 1828. After his marriage Mr. Meeker for a time resided on the farm with his father-in-law; subse- quently he purchased eighty acres of land on Will- .iams Creek, in Harrison Township, on which he reared a cabin home, and where he lived the rest of his days. He died May 10, 1865; his widow died March 1, 1881. Besides being occupied as a farmer, Mr. Meeker operated a tan-yard on his place for a time, and with it conducted a boot and shoe business. For many years he was engaged extensively in the pork trade, in connection with several large firms operating
in that line in Connersville. He was for a time one of the directors of the old Canal Company, and always took an active part in all the early public improvements of the county. He was elected to and served three terms in the State Legislature, and two terms in the Senate. He was never defeated for office. He was a member of the Second Baptist Church, Williams Creek. Ches- ter C., son of our subject, is an affable and courteous gentleman, one of the substantial citizens of the county. His first wife was Susan A. Budd, whom he married in 1851; she died in 1852. In 1856 he next married Ann J. Johnson, and to this union have been born six children.
JAMES M. MILNER, farmer, Connersville Township, is a native of this county, still residing on the farm where he was born January 10, 1830. His parents, John and Nancy (Miranda) Milner, were married in 1806 and came to this locality when it was yet a wilderness, inhabited only by savages and wild beasts. There were eleven children in the family, all of whom grew to maturity, five now living: William; Jemima, wife of Matthew Harlan; Malinda, wife of Achilles Backhouse; Nancy, wife of Samuel Back- house, and James M., who is the youngest of the family. The father purchased 328 acres of land, and died on the farm now owned by his son James M., March 22, 1856; his widow survived till February 6, 1873. James M. Milner resided here with his parents till twenty-one years of age. He was married April 14, 1850, to Melissa A. Stoops, daughter of Robert Stoops, of Franklin County, and six children were born to this union: Martha, Nancy, George, Mary, Charles and Walter. Martha and Mary are deceased. The mother also passed away August 8, 1882. After his marriage Mr. Milner continued his operations on the farm of which his father gave him a deed of sixty acres, and to which, still later, he added his mother's interest. He now has 114 acres of valuable land. He has been generally successful, but has met with some reverses. Our subject is a Democrat and strong in the faith of his party. Death has broken the fam- ily band, and this has forever saddened what would otherwise be a happy family.
JOSEPH MINOR, farmer, Connersville Township, is a native of Connersville Township, this county, born on the farm where he now resides, July 29, 1821, son of Joseph Minor, a native of Pennsylvania, and Rebecca (Smith) Minor, a native of Kentucky. His parents moved to Mr. Minor's present farm as early as 1812, and the family has since been one of the thriftiest in this county. There were seven children, six of whom are now living: Alexander, Joseph, Noah, Samuel, Frank J. and Rebecca. A daughter, Ann, is deceased. The father died in April, 1858; the mother on Christmas Day, 1875. Our subject
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BIOGRAPHIES.
resided on the farm with his parents till their death, when he inherited the homestead of 160 acres and on this farm he has since been engaged in dealing in and raising stock, and in general agriculture. He has done considerable shipping and has always been alive to every interest for the general development of his farm as well as the county's resources. About 1875-77 he became a member of the firm of Smith, Minor & McCormick, and assistod in establishing a fertilizing factory, purchasing the interest of the other members later, and assuming full control, which he yet retains. In 1880, in company with Samuel Doll, of Centreville, Mr. Minor erected a large ice house on the west fork of the Whitewater River, and has since given some attention to the ice business. He was married in 1861 to Sarah Jackman, a native of Adams County, Ohio, and daughter of Hiram Jackman. Mr. and Mrs. Minor are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are highly esteemed as citizens and neighbors.
ANDREW MOFFITT, farmer, Fairview Town- ship, was born in Cumberland County, Penn., Sep- tember 15, 1809. His parents, natives of Ireland, immigrated to the United States previous to the Revolutionary war, settling in Cumberland County, Penn., where the father died. The mother subse- quently moved, with her family, to Ohio, and in 1822 came to Fayette County, Ind., settling on the farm where our subject now lives, and where she remained until her death. Her family was as follows: Thomas, Robert, Jane, John, Margaret, William and Andrew. Our subject, who is next to the youngest in the family, left Pennsylvania in 1821, and came to Ohio on foot; shortly afterward he walked through to this county, reaching here in May, 1822. He worked at different occupations, and when about nineteen years of age was employed by one of his neighbors at 25 cents per day, until he had $6.50 in cash. He then walked to Cincinnati (in company with John Scott and Sam McCory), where he took a steam-boat to Maysville, Ky., and there hired out on a keel- boat belonging to Armstrong, Grant & Co., at 50 cents per day, working for them about nine months and saving $100 of his wages. He then came home and entered eighty acres of land in Fairview Township, at $1.25 per acre. The following spring Mr. Moffitt went to Charleston, Va., and worked six summers in the salt works, between the Kanawha Licks and the mouth of the Cumberland River. He then returned home, and March 30, 1830, married Miss Athaliah, eldest danghter of John and Nancy Rees, and who was born in Greene County, Penn., June 28, 1816. To this union were born ten children: John R., Nancy J., Amanda, Alvira, Hiram, Lovica, Alice, Sardena, Greenberry and one that died in infancy. Mr. Mof-
fitt, after marriage, rented a farm, raised one crop and in that fall moved to Connersville, Ind., and engaged in the manufacture of linseed oil for about six months. He subsequently moved on a farm where he resided over a year; then bought eighty acres of land from John Rees, where he resided about two years; then purchased and moved on the farm where he now lives. He lost his wife by death Feb- ruary 20, 1879. Mr. Moffitt has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for nearly forty years; has been identified with the interests of the county, filling a number of its minor offices. Though he himself received but a limited education, he has ever been interested in educational matters. He, like most of the hardy yeomen of the Western country, began life a poor boy, but by hard work and economy he has accumulated considerable estate, and is a re- spected citizen. He cast his first vote for Adams and voted with the Whig party until its dissolution, and since with the Republicans.
JOHN R. MOFFITT, farmer, Fairview Township, was born in Fayette County, Ind., August 4, 1836, the eldest of ten children born to Andrew and Atha- liah (Rees) Moffitt, whose sketch appears above. Our subject attended Fairview Academy, Rush County, Ind., where he acquired a thorough education, and after- ward engaged in teaching school for some time. He was married at Aberdeen, Brown Co., Ohio, May 28, 1860, to Minerva, danghter of Hiram and Harriet (Wallace) Banister, and born in this county March 17, 1843. To this union were born the following- named children: Alva P., Le Roy D., Hiram C. and Richard G. After marriage Mr. Moffitt settled on the farm where he has since resided.
WILLIAM A. MONTGOMERY (deceased), late of Waterloo Township, was born in Connersville Township, this county, August 10, 1833, and is a son of William and Rebecca Montgomery. He enlisted in 1861 in the Twenty-first Indiana Battery, and died at Lexington, Ky., in Jannary, 1862. He was mar- ried to Huldah, daughter of Lewis Monger, Septem- ber 5, 1852, and to this union four children were born, two now living: James R. and Frank. William C. and Lewis are deceased. Lewis Monger, father of Mrs. Montgomery, was born in Virginia, in 1803, a son of George and Frances Monger, of Virginia, who settled here in 1833. They had nine children: Lewis, Mary (wife of Jonas Fiant) and David, now living; and John, Daniel, Adam, Margaret, Elizabeth and Ann, deceased. Mr. Monger died in 1845, his
wife in 1839. Lewis Monger married Mary A. Reeder, and in 1827 they settled in Waterloo Town- ship. Both have been members of the Christian Church fifty-six years. They have had eleven chil- dren, nine of whom are now living: George, L. K.,
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FAYETTE COUNTY.
Thomas, Augusta, Huldah J., Electa E., Mary P., Narcissa and Sydney; Adam and Reeder R. are deceased.
ANSON MOOR, farmer, Orange Township, was born in Franklin County, Ind., August 23, 1818; son of Artemus and Jane (More) Moor, natives of New York and Pennsylvania respectively. They were married in Franklin County, Ind., and in 1823 moved to Rush County, settling near Rushville, where she died. They had a family of four children: Anson, Chester, Mary J. and Artemus. Artemus Moor subsequently went to Boone County, Ind., and lived with his daughter until his death. Our subject was married in Fayette County, Ind., March 12, 1840, to Mary Ann, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth McNiel, latter born in Fayette County, Ind., November 2, 1821. After their marriage they settled in Rush County, Ind., and in 1852 moved to this county, and settled on the farm where he now lives. Mr. Moor owns at present a fine farm of 210 acres, which he has greatly improved. He lost his wife by death, October 8, 1868, and was again married in this county, October 14, 1869, to Mrs. Lucinda Wright, widow of William Wright. He had born to him six children: Elizabeth J. (deceased), Chester E., Saman- tha F. (deceased), Israel C. (deceased), and Harvey W., by first wife, and Bertha by second wife. Mr. Moor was elected Township Trustee in 1878, which office he held four years.
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