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 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
ELIJAH STITES, farmer, Orange Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born April 8, 1807, son of John and Christena (Steward) Stites, natives of New Jersey, and of English and French descent. They
321
FAYETTE COUNTY.
were married in their native State, and from thence in an early day moved to Pennsylvania, and in 1813 to Cincinnati, Ohio, purchasing a farm where the Twenty-ninth Ward of that city now is, and where Mrs. Stites died in 1874. Mr. Stites subsequently moved to Madison County, Ind., and there died in 1879. Their children were Phebe, Sarah, Mary, Elijah, Christena, Elmira, Enoch, John, Alexander, and others that died in infancy. Elijah, our subject, came with his parents to Cincinnati, with whom he remained until his fourteenth year, when he began work for himself. In 1825 he commenced the car- penter's trade at Cincinnati with Daniel Stagg, with whom he stayed over three years as an apprentice. He was married in Cincinnati, August 21, 1829, to Malinda Colvin, a native of Kentucky, born August 16, 1807. In 1849 Mr. Stites moved to Fayette County, Ind., and settled on the farm where he has since resided. He owns 182 acres of good land, prin- cipally improved by himself.
CHARLES M. STONE, with a twin sister, was horn in Columbia Township, Fayette Co., Ind., May 26, 1821. His father, Martin Stone, was a native of Massachusetts; his mother, Eliza (Klum) Stone, was a native of Vermont. They were married about the year 1814, and moved from Pittsburgh, Penn., in the winter of 1820, and settled in Fayette County, Ind. The father was a blacksmith by trade, also a contractor on public works, having superintended the building of the first macadamized road that led into Pittsburgh. He was killed by the falling of a tree, October 17, 1821. The mother afterward taught school a num- ber of years in the neighborhood where she lived, and died March 25, 1849. Young Stone worked on a farm and attended the district schools, mostly under the tuition of his mother until eighteen or nineteen years of age, when he entered the seminary at Con- nersville, and was one year under the instruction of the late Harvey Nutting, after which he taught a country district school one year. He was married to Miss Lovisa Carver, September 18, 1842, and soon after settled on the farm where he now lives. Mr. Stone was elected Justice of the Peace in the year 1844, and served continuously upto 1850, when he resigned and was elected to the Legislature, being re-elected in 1851; was again elected Justice of the Peace in 1854, resigned in 1856, and was again elected to represent his county in the Legislature. In 1858 he was again elected Justice of the Peace and served up to 1876, when he received the nomination of his party for County Auditor. Though his legal term as Justice expired before the date for the election of Auditor, the pretext of ineligibility was made against him on account of the commission he already held, and to save his friends and his party from any trouble that
might possibly occur he quietly withdrew from the race, and has since lived in retirement on his farm. Mr. Stone was originally a Whig in politics, and afterward a Republican. Through life he has always given a helping hand to every interest of his country, and especially to his own township and county. To him are the people indebted for his efforts while in the Legislature in securing the enactment of laws, and the making of appropriations for the encouragement and benefit of the agricultural interests of the State.
JOHN W. STONE, farmer, Orange Township, was born in Fayette County, Ind., March 21, 1846, son of Silas H. and Martha S. (Dicken) Stone, the former born in Boyle County, Ky., November 9, 1801, and the latter in Scott County, April 2, 1807. They were married in Fayette County, Ind., December 23, 1822, and have remained here principally ever since. Mrs. Stone died of heart disease January 6, 1885. They were the parents of twelve children: Evin S., Nancy A., Allen T., Eliza F., James M., Henry S., Elizabeth I., Desdemona, Matilda, John W., Cathe- rine and Spencer. John W., our subject, was mar- ried in this county, February 15, 1871, to Mary E., daughter of James D. and Elizabeth Henry, born June 21, 1842. Four children were born to this union: Jesse O., Flora I. (deceased) and two that died in infancy. After marriage Mr. Stone settled in Orange Township, on his father's old homestead, which he now owns, and in 1882 moved to Fayette- ville, where he has since resided.
JOHN H. STOOPS, farmer and stock-raiser, Jackson Township, was born in Franklin County, Ind., May 3, 1834, son of John and Eda (Martin) Stoops, the former born in Alabama, May 3, 1802, the latter in South Carolina, November 15, 1804. They were married December 26, 1822, and settled in this county in 1836. They reared a family of eight children, five of whom are now living. The father died October 22, 1869. The subject of this sketch received a common school education; was married, December 31, 1857, to Miss Sarah F. Corbin, who was born in this township May 2, 1838. He resides on Section 7, on a farm of 175ยช acres of land; also owns 167 acres on Sections 7 and 18. He farmed up to 1879, when he engaged in the dairy business, con- tinuing in same up to April, 1884, at which time he closed out the business. In 1870 Mr. Stoops pur- chased over a sixth interest in the Fayette & Franklin Turnpike Company, which has proved a profitable investment. He is also interested in the co-operative store at Everton. He is a member, with his wife, of Fayette Grange, No. 1673; he is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., No. 39, and Fayette County Protection Society. Mr. and Mrs. Stoops are mem- bers of the Baptist Church.
322
BIOGRAPHIES.
J. M. SUTCLIFFE (deceased), Waterloo Town- ship, was born in Kentucky in 1821, a son of Rev. John and Mary Sutcliffe, natives of England, who came to America in 1812, and to this township in 1828. Rev. John Sutcliffe was a man of education and talent, and a valuable worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church in its early history in this locality. He died in 1843, aged about sixty years; his wife preceded him several years. They had ten children, two of whom are now living: John, and Mrs. Maria Thomas, in Iowa. The deceased are Frederick, Mary A., Eliza, Julia, Elizabeth, Alice, Senica and Joseph M. Our subject, who received a good education, was married to Cynthia Ann Robinson, in 1842, by whom he had four children, two of whom are now living: John A. and Emma C. Mary E. and Mary M. are deceased. Mr. Sutcliffe was an exemplary member of the Methodist Church, in which he served his Mas- ter forty years. He served as a Commissioner of the county, and was a gentleman universally respected. Matthew Robinson, father of Mrs. Cynthia Ann Sutcliffe, was born in Morgantown, Va., in 1781. He settled in this township in 1814, and spent the rest of his life here. He was one of the founders of the Robinson Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, and a devoted Christian. Eleven children were born to him, four of whom are now living: Cynthia Ann, George W., Bigelow and Hanson. The deceased are Sarah, William, Nathan, Jesse, James, Elizabeth and Mary. Mr. Robinson died in 1841; his widow, Eleanor Robinson, died in 1864, aged eighty-four years. Mrs. Sutcliffe is a lady of refinement, a zeal- ous worker in the Methodist Church.
.
DAVID SUTTON (deceased), Jennings Township, was born in Pennsylvania, and there married Anchor Fox, who bore him ten children: Mary, Iva, Absa- lom, Rebecca, Jabel, David, Nancy, Abram B., Eliza and William. In 1816 Mr. Sutton settled in the then woods of this township, entered the four quarter-sec- tions of land now occupied by his son, Abram B., and there lived and died. He was very successful in life. He reared a large family, and at his death left them in comfortable circumstances. He departed this life August 15, 1845, aged seventy-nine years and five montlis; his widow died August 11, 1855, aged eighty- two years, eleven months and seventeen days. Both were members of the Baptist Church, with which they had been connected for many years. Abram B. Sut- ton, the only surviving member of his father's large family, was born March 5, 1809, in Warren County, Ohio. He was united in marriage, in 1831, with Sarah, daughter of James Conaway, who bore him nine children: William, Thompson, Lafayette, Jane, Samantha, Sarah, living; and James, Elizabeth and Adeline, deceased. Mrs. Sutton died in 1874. Our
subject has lived on the place where his parents first settled for sixty-eight years. He has reared his large family and has lived to see most of them married. Mr. Sutton has made life a fair success, and now owns fifty-nine acres of good land. He cast his first Presi - dential vote for Andrew Jackson-" Old Hickory." Our subject's father was a cousin to Gen. Sutton, a distinguished military man and pioneer in the early settlement of Ohio.
O. H. SWIFT, retired farmer, Posey Township, was born near Connersville, Ind., January 24, 1831. He is a son of John Swift, who was born at Center- ville, Ohio, September 12, 1806, a son of Robert Swift, a native of New Jersey, who moved to near Lebanon, Ohio, and afterward to the vicinity of Cin- cinnati, at an early day in the history of Ohio. In 1818 he settled in Connersville, then comprised of three log-cabins. Here he lived until his death, fol- lowing his trade-shoe-making. He was a man of strong religious convictions, and the first preaching of the Methodist Episcopal Church was held at his house. Five children were born to him, one now living -Mary Grace. The deceased children were named John, Sarah (wife of Robert Griffis), Mary J. (wife of William Sparks), and Artemesia. John Swift married Mrs. Elizabeth Lockwood, whose maiden name was Thorp, by whom he had four children: O. H., W. R., Sarah J. and A. C. Mrs. Swift died April 6, 1841, aged thirty-six years. Mr. Swift married for his second wife Mrs. Maria McColley, whose maiden name was Dale, who bore him three children: Char- lotte, America (deceased) and M. D. Mrs. Swift dy- ing September 26, 1849, aged thirty-two years, Mr. Swift married for his third wife Sarah Ann Smith. John Swift died October 15, 1882. The subject of this sketch has been twice married, first to Malinda Daugherty, in 1861, by whom he had two children: Mary E. and James O., the latter deceased. Mrs. Swift died March 21, 1866; born May 15, 1844. His present wife, Mary A. Clifton (nee Lake), he married December 31, 1867, and by her has had one child- Florence Ada. Nine years ago Mr. Swift located in Bentonville, where he kept a grocery store and post- office eight years. Abandoning these, he returned to his farm of 108 acres good land. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM R. SWIFT, farmer and trader, Jack- son Township, is a native of this county, born in Connersville Township, June 14, 1833. His father, John Swift, was born in Centerville, Ohio, September 12, 1806, and with his father, Robert Swift, moved in 1818 to Connersville, then only a few log-houses. Robert Swift stands at the head of the list of Meth- odists in Connersville. In his house the first society was organized for class meetings, he being appointed
323
FAYETTE COUNTY.
Leader. Preaching was also held at his house for some time. John Swift in early life was a merchant and kept a hotel; in middle lifo he was a farmer and trader in stock and real estate. In his older days he lived a retired life, having accumulated considerable wealth. He died in the Methodist faith, October 15, 1882. William R., our subject, enjoyed a good com- mon school education. He farmed until he was of age, and then traded in stock. He was married, December 17, 1867, to Mrs. Cassie G. Snowden, who was born February 28, 1840, daughter of William G. and Sarah Smith, natives of Maryland, where the former was born August 3, 1796, the latter January 27, 1802. Mr. Smith, during the war of 1812, par- ticipated in Perry's victory, and took charge of 300 prisoners, escorting them to Philadelphia for safe keeping. He and his wife came to Indiana in 1835, and spent their declining years with Mr. Swift. Our subject has been successful. His farm of ninety acres is located on Section 7. He and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JAMES H. TATE, farmer, Connersville Town- ship. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is a descendant of one of the earliest settlers of this county. He was born four miles southwest of Con- nersville, July 20, 1830, and is a son of William A. H. Tate, who is still living, in his eightieth year (see sketch of John Tate). He spent his early years upon the farm with his parents, and obtained a fair educa- tion in the district schools. At the early age of nine years he began working for himself as United States Mail Carrier, an occupation which he has since en- gaged in to a greater or less extent. At the age of twenty-one he entered into his first contract with the Government, for carrying a tri-weekly mail between Connersville and Rushville, having charge of several other routes at the same time. This constituted his principal occupation up to 1857, on December 23 of which year he was married to Miss Louisa Holstead, also a native of this county, and a daughter of Hick- son and Eliza (Jones) Holstead, who were among the first settlers here from Kentucky. Mr. Holstead is a native of New York State; is in his eighty-fifth year and very spry. After his marriage Mr. Tate turned his attention to farming, gardening, etc., and this occupation has chiefly engaged him since that date. He was engaged in the carpenter's trade from 1856 to 1861, however, and in that interval contracted for and erected most of the schoolhouses in this town- ship. In 1852 he and his father purchased fifty-two acres, and on this farm Mr. Tate has lived ever since his marriage. He received ten acres of the farm and the house which was erected in 1843-44, and here he brought his young bride, with whom he was ever
after to dwell in the independent pursuits of farm life and the discharge of his official duties. From about 1860 Mr. Tate served as Assessor for twelve years. He was gate-keeper at the county fair for twenty-eight consecutive years, and served seven years in the same capacity at the State fair at Indian- apolis. He has also served as Deputy Sheriff, and is in every sense a very useful citizen, always discharg- ing his duties with credit and satisfaction. Mr. Tate has eight children living: John E., Emery E., Maud M., William H., Curtis F., James H., Jr., Orley and " Tip," the last mentioned only nicknamed. Mand M. and E. E. are engaged in teaching school. " 'l'ip," after the nomination of Mr. Cleveland for President, named himself Grover C. Tate. He is, perhaps, the first child in the United States named for Cleveland, who now occupies so prominent a position. The paternal side of the family is essentially a family of musicians, and most of the above-named children, as well as the father, are devotees of Apollo, the house furnishing an orchestra of eight pieces-three horns, four violins and one organ. Mr. Tate is a Repub- lican of the old Whig stamp, and one of the most wide-awake citizens of the county. His possessions have increased to 172 acres, and this is well improved and cultivated.
JOHN TATE, farmer, Connersville Township. The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is a son of W. A. H. Tate, one of the pioneers of this county, and was born in Connersville Township, this county, Oct. 1, 1832. His mother was Louisa Cunning- ham. His parents came to this township from Virginia in a very early day. On the farm where they endured their frontier trials and hardships, the old cabin which first sheltered them still stands, surrounded by a rem- nant of the old orchard which they planted. William Tate, the great-grandfather of our subject, was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and the latter has in his possession a silver button, on which is engraved the initials " W. T." and dated 1775, the same having been taken from the old Revolutionary hero's uniform. Our subject resided on the farm with his parents till twenty-seven years of age. He obtained a good com- mon school education, and this he has supplemented by several years of careful self-culture gleaned from his own private library, being thoroughly up to the times, on the topics with which he is remarkably con- versant. On arriving at his majority Mr. Tate began business as a United States Mail Contractor, and con- tinued in the employ of the Government four years, doing some farming in the meantime. He was next engaged in carpentering, erecting school buildings in various parts of the county, assisting his father and brother. December 23, 1858, he married Miss Mary A. Conaway, a native of Orange Township, and
324
BIOGRAPHIES.
daughter of A. S. and Elizabeth (Griffin) Conaway. After his marriage Mr. Tate resided on the farm of his father-in-law three years and then removed to his present home of 117 acres, which he purchased in 1864. Here he has since resided, and although vari- ously engaged during the time, has given his chief attention to agricultural pursuits, always being alive to the best interests of his community. He was a prominent worker in the organization of the Green- back party at Indianapolis, in June, 1874, and for the past thirty years has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he has been connected officially twenty-five years. In its day he was a prominent leader in the grange move- ment, but of late years has not given much attention to public affairs. Mr. Tate is a man of decisive char. acter and a very useful citizen in his community. His family of children are four in number: William A., Mary L., John C. and Myrtle M. Two infants are deceased. The eldest son is engaged in the study of law at Connersville.
SYDNEY J. TAYLOR. farmer, Harrison Town- ship, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., January 8, 1819. His father, Joseph Taylor, was born in Hamp- den County, Mass., December 2, 1791, and died May 26, 1828. His mother, Abigail (Thomas) Taylor, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., September 8, 1794, and died April 2, 1872. They came to this county in February, 1825. Our subject received a common school education. In 1830 he commenced farming, which he followed till 1850, then engaged in carpen- tering until 1863. He was married, April 10, 1862, to Miss Harriet Ludlow, who was born in this town- ship December 25, 1823. By this union two children were born: Joseph H. and Morvin J. Since 1863 Mr. Taylor has resumed farming. He has served as Road Supervisor; has been a member of Harrison Lodge, No. 84, I. O. O. F., since 1852. His father was drafted in the war of 1812, but as his employer could not spare him from the business, was obliged to hire a substitute.
BENJAMIN THOMAS, farmer, Harrison Town- ship, is another of the pioneer settlers of the valley, who came to it when it was almost an unbroken for- est, and for a period of upward of sixty years has he been cognizant of the wonderful changes wrought by the onward march of progress, in which he has played his part. His birth occurred in Allegany County, N. Y., on the 22d of August, 1802, son of John and Sarah N. (Beardrouff) Thomas, natives of New York State, where the mother died in 1810. About the year 1818 the father removed to Ohio and in 1822 to Indiana, locating in what is now Fayette County. He was twice married. By his first wife were born Benjamin, Jesse, Gilbert and Stephen. His second
wife, Sarah Simons, bore him one child-Sallie. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, an honorable citizen, much respected. Our subject was reared to agricult- ural pursuits, and received but meagre educational advantages. In 1829 he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Savage, a native of Maine. To this union were born Jesse H., Sarah A., Eliza J., Oliver C., Margaret, Samuel, Mary A., Austin, Benjamin W., Winfield S. and Hannah E. Sarah A. died Novem- ber 9, 1851, and Oliver C. died in the hospital Sep- tember 13, 1862, of erysipelas, while serving his country as a member of Company L, Second Regi- ment Indiana Cavalry. The wife of our subject died February 22, 1857, and he subsequently married Francena Reed, whose death occurred two years later. His third marriage was with Mary A. Keener. Mr. Thomas and a portion of the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a well-to-do farmer and a most excellent citizen.
JAMES THOMAS, farmer, Connersville Town- ship, was born in this county in 1827, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Pixley) Thomas, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respectively, and who married in this county and resided here most of their lives. The father died in Huntington County, Ind., in 1860, the mother in Logansport in March, 1881. Our subject resided with his parents till he was twenty-four years of age, and in 1851 married Margaret A. Jones, also a native of this county and daughter of William and Lucinda (Ginn) Jones, who settled in this county during the period of its Indian history. After his marriage Mr. Thomas engaged in farming up to 1860. He then worked at the stone-mason's trade at Hunt- ington, Ind., for five years, returning to this county in 1865, and purchasing his present farm of seventy- three and one-half acres in 1874. Hehas since been chiefly employed on the farm, doing an occasional job of stone work for his neighbors when called upon. He has been quite successful in pursuits, and by hard labor has earned for himself a comfortable home. Mr. Thomas is the father of five children: Josephine, Eliza A., Lucinda, John and Edward- all married but the latter. In politics Mr. Thomas is a Republican, not aggressive in his sentiments, but choosing to let every man think and vote as he pleases.
BUEL J. THOMAS, farmer and stock-dealer, Har- rison Township, was born September 21, 1835, in Harrison Township, Fayette Co., Ind., son of Will- iam W. and Polly (Trobridge) Thomas, natives of New York, and who emigrated to this township in 1819. They were married August 23, 1827. The father was born June 24, 1800, and died August 21, 1883; the mother was born August 24, 1805, and died October 1, 1875. Our subject acquired a common school education, and has farmed and dealt in stock
325
FAYETTE COUNTY.
all through life. He was married, May 27, 1857, to Miss Martha Caldwell, who was born in Fayette County, Ind., January 14, 1837. They have had four children born to them: Elmer, born May 5, 1858, died March 5, 1865; Charles I .; Hubbard T .; Harry H. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Baptist Church. WILLIAM D. THOMAS, farmer, Fairview Township, was born in Tipton County, Ind., Decem- ber 26, 1843, son of Minor L. and Cynthia P. (Jef- frey) Thomas, natives of Fayette County, Ind. Minor L. Thomas was born in 1820, a son of David F. Thomas, a native of New York, born in the year 1795, a soldier in the war of 1812, and one of the early pioneers of Fayette County. He was twice married, and was the father of three children: Har- riet, Erasmus, and Minor L. Our subject's father was married in this county to Cynthia P. Jeffrey, born in 1822. After their marriage they moved to Tipton County, Ind., where they remained about four years, then returned to this county, and in about two years later moved to Tipton County, but subsequently came back here, settling at Connersville, where he engaged in merchandising for some time, after which he moved the store to Tipton, and carried on business there about three years, then sold out and engaged in keeping hotel at that place until 1857, when his wife died. He subsequently returned to Fayette County, and was again married, this time to Elizabeth Shisler. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Fifty- fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until 1863, when he came home on furlough, and died July 20, 1863. He was the father of five children: William D., Henry H., Caroline, Mary and Erasmus. Our subject, the eldest child, enlisted October 19, 1863, in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty- fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until September 16, 1865, when he was discharged, and returned to Fayette County, Ind. He was married, November 21, 1867, to Amanda E. Shortridge, born in this county July 19, 1846, and daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Shortridge, of Fairview Township, this county, and to this union have been born fonr children: Altha C., Emma J. (deceased), Elmore and Martha P. In 1875 Mr. Thomas purchased and moved on the farm where he now lives.
HON. WOODSON W. THRASHER, farmer, Fairview Township, was born in Pendleton County, Ky., February 4, 1812. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Rush) Thrasher, were natives of Ken- tucky and of English and Irish extraction. John Thrasher was a son of Josiah Thrasher, a native of Maryland, and his father, John Thrasher, Sr., was one of three brothers who emigrated from England to the United States during the Revolutionary war. He first settled in Maryland and was there married
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.