USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Indiana : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 34
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He returned to his home in Noblesville, and in the full of 1865 was eleete 1 Recorder of Hamilton County, which office he filled for the rest five years. lle was then elected Clerk of Hamilton County, and served four years, und then served as Deputy Clerk in the same office until his death, which occurred on the Sth day of March, 1879. In 1866, he formed the acquaintance nf Miss Mary E. Richwine, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Richwine, old residents of Noblesville Township. They were united in marriage on the 22d day of November, ISGS ; and the fruit of this union was one child, a daughter, named Clara B. The cause of the death of Mr. Essington was a disease of
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the lungs and the effects of his wound, from which he had never fully recovered. His death was felt to be a great loss, not only to his bereaved wife and relatives, but to the church and Sabbath schools in Noblesville, as well as the community at large in Hamilton County. He had for many years been an active and efficient member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Noblesville, and Superintendent of their Sabbath schools, and was universally honored and loved for his open-handed generosity and charity to all worthy objects. A man of pare character and moral worth, and, in all positions-whether as a soldier in the field, an officer, citizen, or friend-always a gentleman. He left his bereaved wife and child in comfortable circumstances, but a far richer legacy in the memory they so Badly cherish of the loved husband and father. To his relatives and friends, as well as the readers of this work, these lines are dedicated as a tribute to the memory of one who, "although dead, yet liveth." A fine portrait of the deceased Marion W. Essington may be found in the group of county oficials on another page.
THE PETTHIOHN FAMILY.
The earliest records of this family in the United States date back to the seventeenth century, in which live brothers of that name emigrated to the colonies and settled in Maryland and Virginia. In about 1770, several Cunilies of that name removed from Virginia to the Ohio Territory, and settled in what is now Brown County.
PYRENH S STREATOR WEED PETTHIGIEN.
The present Auditor of Hamilton County, whose portrait may be found in the group of county officials in another page of this work, is the oldest a' at family of eleven children. His father, Joseph l'ettijohn, was the som of James Pettijuhn, one of the four brothers who, at an early date, emigrated from Virginia and settled in Brown County, Ohio. James reared a family of eleven children, named Deborah, Sarah, Zachariah, Lewis, Barlow, Joseph, Josiah, Absakan, Noomi, Nancy and James. Of these, the only ones now living are Zachariah, Joseph and James, drough, the sixth child, was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1809. He was reared and educated a farmer, which has been his occupation through life. In 1534, he was married to Salome Roher, of Shelby County, Ind. After his marriage, he transported his wife through the wilderness on horseback to his homme in Brown County, Ohio, where they remained until 1810, when he removed with his family to Illinois, and loented at Knub Prairie, in Jefferson County , seven years later, he removed to Indiana, and settied on a farm in Hamilton County, in the Township of Jackson, near the present village of Deming, where he has ever since resided.
Hle and his excellent wife, who at this time are in the quiet enjoyment of a green old age, can look back with pride mal satisfaction over a long and useful life well spent in rearing a large finnily of children, and fitting them for useful members of society.
They are the parents of eleven children, named Cyrenins, Simon, Frances, Arathusa, Melissa, Simeon, Sarah. Anna, Laura and Alpha. Of these, all are living except Simon, Arathusa. Sarah and Melissa.
Cyrenins, the subject of this sketch, was born at the old home of the Petti- johns in Brown County. Ohio, on the 20th day of November, 18:15, and was about five years old when the family removed to Illinois. His boyhood days were passed in the common schools, and in assisting in the farm labors at home, until he was nineteen years of age, when he commenced teaching in the com- mon schools, and soon became known as a popular and successful teacher and educator. He followed this, his chosen occupation, for eight years. Thering this time he had become acquainted with Miss Melissa J. November, youngest daughter of Christian and Elizabeth Newcomer. Christian Newcomer was a soldier in the war of 1812. and an old pioneer settler of Washington Town- Khip, Hamilton County. This acquaintance ripened into courtship and mar- riage, and they were united on the 1st day of April, 1860. After his mar- riage, Mr. Pettijohn still continued teaching up to August, 1862.
At that time, the black elonds of war which had for many months hung like a dark pall over the " Great Republic," threatening its very life and exist- ence, had burst out into a fierce storm of open rebellion.
In response to the call from the Government and the patriotie old War Governor of Indiana, Mr. Pettijobs enlisted as a private in Company A, One Hundred and First Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Soon after mustering in, his regiment was assigned to duty in the field, and was attached to the Second Brigade, Fifth Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps, under Gen. Thomas, in' the Army of the Ohio, whose operations were mainly confined to the States of Kentucky and Tennessee.
He remained with his regiment and shared in its fortunes through all the various skirmishes and engagements to which it was subjected, among which may be mentioned Vaughts Hill, Hover's Gap and Tullahoma, until the erle- brated and disastrous battle of' Chickamauga, in which his regiment suffered severely. In that battle, Mr. Pettijohn was one of the Color Ginard ; the color bearer and the entire guard were shot down, Mr. Pettijuhn receiving a shot which passed through his right side. While lying on the field helplessly wounded, the rebels charged over the bodies of the slain and wounded in pur- snit of the retreating Union forces, and then were in turn repulsed, and a retreat of the rebels and a counter-charge from the Union soldiers again swept over the lundies of the dead, dying and wounded on that devoted field. Mr. Pettijoba, although supposed to be mortally wounded, was just alde to raise his left hand and with the other fallen heroes cheer their comrades as they paved over the bloody field in pursuit of the enemy. At the close of that day's en- gagement, he with a portion of the wounded, was removed from the battle ground and placed in the field hospital, at Crawfish Springs. Then came the next day's fierce, bloody awl sanguinary tight, and the disastrous and humiliat- ing defeat of the Union army, and the hospital, with its stores and wounded soldiers, fell into the hands of the victorious and exulting rebels, Ten days later. Mr. Pettijohn and his wounded compatriots were parolled and sent back to Chattamuga.
Meantime the unweleine news of that terrible defeat had gone North, and there was mom ning, fasting and prayer in the homes of the brave fallen heroes, and defenders of our country. The friends of Mr. Pettijohn mourned him as dead, and it was not until after his removal to Camp Stevenson, nearly a month after the great battle, that he was able to communicate to his devoted wife and friends the joyful intelligence that he was alive and in a fair way to recover.
Although he recovered from his wound, he was incapacitated for active service, and freon that time was enydoved on light duty.
At the glove of the war, he was humoraldy discharged, and returned to his home and family at bamong, in Washington Township, Hamilton County. Soon after his return from the service, he resumed his former oerupation and con- tinned teaching up to 1876. In the spring of that year, the Republican County Convention placed him in nomination for the responsible office of Auditor of Hamilton County, and, at the ensuing election in October, he was elected by a handsome majority.
Mr. l'ettijohn, by his courtesy and affability to all in the administration and management of his official duties, has made himself deservedly popuhr with his constituents, and he is regarded by all as a faithful and efficient ofhierr, a candid, honorable gentleman, and. in all the various relations of life, whether as citizen, friend, husband or father, is respected hy a wide circle of acquaintances, admired by his friends, loved and honored by his relatives.
He and his esteemed wife ovenpy a pleasant residence in Noblesville, and their home is cheered and enlivened by the company of their three bright and interesting daughters-Ella A. Cora M. and Lara Florence.
Mr. Pettijohn and his lady are known as sincere and consistent Christians, having been for many years honored members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, To the friends and relatives, as well as the readers of this work, this imperfect sketch is contributed as a memorial of their worth.
JAMES n. CHRISTIAN.
James H. Christian, the present Clerk of Hamilton County, is the descend- ant of Welsh ancestors, who in the early years of our country's history, were among the first settlers in Georgia.
His paternal grandfather, Elijah L. Christian, was boru near Atlanta, Ga., in 1791, where he resided all his life. He was married. and reared a family of five children. He died in 1810, at the age of forty six years.
Daniel R. Christian was born at the old Georgia home in 1821, and at the age of seventeen years left home, came North and settled in Indiana, in Wash- ington County, where he engaged in teaching school and farming. He remained there for several years, and in 1843 was married to Eliza A. Click. Soon after his marriage, he removed to Hamilton County and settled on a small farm in Clay Township, where he also engaged in teaching and farming, which he continned until 1859, when he removed to Noblesville with the intention of engaging in the study and practice of law, but, on necount of the ill health of his family, remained only about a year, when he went into the country and settled on a farm, recently purchased by him, a few miles from Noblesville. Soon after that, the political horizon of the Great Republic became overcast with the dark cloudy of secession, and the Southern slaveholders, with their friends at the North, talked treason, and openly and holdly threatened war. Mr.
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NOBLESVILLE TOWNSHIP.
Christian, although born in the South, where all of his relatives were living, many of whom were slave-owners, was an uncompromising enemy to the " peculiar institution," and. by every word and act, upheld the cause of uni- versal freedom. And when at last the war commenced, he was anxious to enlist and go to the front, and his eldest son, who at that time was a boy of sixteen years of age, also desired to offer his services to his country. After much discussion between father and son, it was settled that the father shotel go, and the son remain at home in charge of the Gumuily and farm. Su, in 1862, Mr. Christian enlisted in Company A. Fifth Cavalry, Ninetieth Indiana Vol- unteers, and served in the varions raids, skirmishes and engagements in which the cavalry was so actively and conspicnonsty engaged in Tennessee and Georgia. until, under the command of MeCook, in a sharp engagement at the south of Atlanta, the I'nion cavalry were overpowered by an overw helning force of the enemy, und a large mimmber captured, among whom was Mr. Christian. They were sent to the historically infamous and loathsome prison pous of Anderson ville, where, with many thousand brave men, they were starved for two months; he was then removed to Charleston, and from there to Florence, where the condition of the pour famished prisoners was even worse than at Andersonville. While a prisoner at Florence, Mr. Christian, by speeches and carbest appeals to his follow-prisoners, exported them to stand firm and east their votes for Abraham Lincoln, and, not withstanding the offers made to the poor, famished sabliers, by their captors, if they would vote otherwise, they almost to a man remained firin, and east their votes for the Martyr President" From there. on the approach of' Gen. Sherman's army, they were removed to fuld-boro, when, unable any longer to bar np under the cruel and fiendish treatment to which the Union prisoners were systematically subjected by their inhuman eanders, he died, a martyr to the cause of human liberty, and a victim to the curse of human slavery. His widow still survives him and now resides at the farm lemme of the family, in Noblesville Towo-hip. She is the mother of right children, named James R., Mary A., John W., Frank P .. Ira W .. William S., Jennie and ficarge S., all living at this time except Mary A. and John W.
James R., the chilest, was born in Washington County, Ind, on the 2d day of March, 1886. Wie boyhood was passed in the schools, and assisting on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, at which time he was left in charge of' the farm and family, and, together with his energetie and noble mother, he, with the co-operation of each member of the family, all acting in harmony. in a few years, by good management, industry and economy, cleared the farm of a large indebtedness, and placed the family in comfortable circumstances.
On the Ist day of February, 1872, Mr. Christian was united in marriage to Miss Maria Hurlock, daughter of Mrs. Sarah and Ebenezer Harlock, of the same pince. After his marriage, he settled on a farm of his own, a part of which was n portion of the old home farm, which has since been his home. Mr. Christian is a practical farmer and stock man, having given much attention to the breeding and rearing of fine cattle and swine, in which he has been ni- formly successful. In politics, he is an carnest and active Republican, and, ns an evidence of the esteem and appreciation in which he is hell by bis party, it is proper to mention that in the spring of 1878, he was placed in nomination fur the office of Clerk of Hamilton County, and, at the election in the following Detaber, he was elected by a large majority. He and his esteemed wife are the parents of six children, named Gerald 11., Ernest C., Daniel L., Walter M. and William W. and Mary, twins; all living except Walter M., who died in infancy. We are pleased to present to our readers, elsewhere in these pages, the portrait of Mr. Christian in the group of County Officials.
ANDREW J. FRYBERGER.
Andrew J. Fryberger, as the name implies, is of German extraction. His ancestors, nt an carly period, settled in the United States, Andrew Fryberger, the pateroal grandfather of our subject, was one of the early settlers in Ohio, and, in 1831, removed to Indiana and settled on the banks of White River, in Immilton County, about a half-mile from the town of Noblesville. Here he carried on farming and reared his family. His death occurred in 1815, nt the age of sixty-live. His widow survived his death until 1867, dying at the age of eighty-five years. They were the parents of eight children, named Anthony, Elizabeth, Joseph, John, Rachel, Martha, Andrew J. and William.
John F'ryberger was born in 1811 ; was reared n farmer, and, in 1835, was married to Mary E. Mallory, the daughter of Curtis Mallory, an old settler of Imnilton County. They are the parents of eight children, as follows: Nancy, Julia, Joseph, Caroline, Andrew J., Mary, Jane and Alice ; all living except Joseph and Alice.
Andrew J. was born in Hamilton County, at the farm hume of his parents, about one mile south of the town of Noblesville, on the 8th day of October, 1814. He received the usual education of a farmer's boy, and passed the carly days of childhood and youth in nequiring n conmoon-school education, and in working out at farm labor, until he was seventeen years of age. At that time, actuated by the same patriotic zeal that burned in the hearts of thousands of youthful heroes, prompting them to offer their lives and services, n willing sne- rifice, in defense of country, government and liberty to all, he enlisted for there months in the Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, to do guard duty, but his regiment was ordered to the front, when, after four months' servier, it was munstered out. Shortly after that, the young soldier bay, desiring more active servire, re-enlisted for three years, or during the war, as a private in Company E, Eighth Cavalry, i. e., known as the Thirty-ninth Indiana Volunteers. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland, and was successively under the command of, first, Gen. Rersean, then Med'ouk and afterward, Kilpatrick. He remained with his regiment and served in all the marches, raids, skirmishes and battles in which his regiment was engaged, among which was the celebrated raid of Gen. Rossran into the cotton regions of Alabama, in which many miles of railroad were torn up, many thousand bales of cotton destroyed, and much other damage done to the enemy. And afterward, near Marlboro, ten regiments, under the command of MeCook, were attacked by a superior force of the enemy, and a fierce and bloody battle ensued, in which the I'nin firees hot, in billed, wounded and prisoners, about one-half their number. And afterward, with his command, he shared in a severe engagement at Lovejoy's Station. After the capture of Atlanta, his regiment. and the entire cavalry force under command of Gen. Kilpatrick, arrompanied Gien. Sherman in his celebrated march to the sea. The cavalry force on that great expedition had nearly all the fighting to do, as it was their duty to guard the supply trains and protect the Blanks of the columns from the attacks of Wheeler's rebel cavalry. In March, 1865, our advancing columns encoun- tomat the rebel low Johnson, at Averyshore, with his army posted in force in a strong position. The battle was commeneed promptly at daylight in the morning ly the cavalry force of Kilpatrick's command. The engagement was opened by Company E, but, soon after, the regiment and the entire cavalry we're engaged, and maintained the fight until 10 o'clock, when they were relieved by the Fourteenth Army Corps. In that fierce and bloody battle, the company and regiment to which Mr. Fryberger belonged lost heavily, and he was shot through the right ling and fell among the slain and wounded, where he lay for a long time unconscious, and was by his comrades piled among the dead. After some hours, it was discovered that he was alive, although sup- posed to bee mortally wounded. He was sent back to the hospital at Golds- boro, N. C., and afterward to n New York hospital, and next to Madison, Ind, whener, in June, 1865, be was discharged on account of his wound. He then returned to his home, in Hamilton County, and became engaged in farming in Wayne Township.
On the 11th day of May, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary .I. Wolfgang, of the same place, and, from that time until 1878, he was engaged alternately in farming and selling goods. As an evidence of the con- fidence and esteem in which Mr. Fryberger was held by his fellow-townsmen, we may mention that he filled many positions of trust and responsibility, among which was the offer of Trustee of Wayne Township, and afterward as Mngis- trate for four years. At the primary meetings in the spring of 1878, he was placed in nomination by the Republican party for the responsible office of Sheriff of Hamilton County, and, at the ensning election in October, was elected by a large majority. Mr. Fryberger and his esteemed wife are the parents of six children, named Victoria, Harry D., William, Murtilla, Julia and Katie, all living at home with the parents in Noblesville.
Mr. F'ryberger is known and trusted as an efficient and incorruptible officer, and enjoys the friendship and esteem of all. His portrait may be found in the pages of this work, in the group of County Officials,
NEHEMIAH B. BAKER,
the present Treasurer of Hamilton County, is the second child of Joseph and Anna Baker. The family are of English origin. Their nocestora were among the carly settlers of Pennsylvanin, and their home was in Chester County, near Philadelphin.
Joseph Baker was born in 1811. at the old home of the family, in Ches- ter County, l'eno, and, while yet a child, his parents emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Highland County, from where, soon after, they removed to
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Indian and settled in Wayne County, bear Richmond. Nelwink and Jane Haber. the grandparents of our subject. continued to reside in Wayne County until 1818, when they renused to Hamilton County and settled in Adams Township, wear Baker's Corners, where they resided until their death, Nein- mình dying in 1850, at the age of seventy -seven, and his wife in --. at the age of - -. They were the parents of nine children, named as fol- lowe: Lydia, Sarah, Mary. Jose. Anna, Joseph, Eli, Kersey and Hannah. Of these, the only was now living are lydia, Jesse, Anna and Here's.
dieophe was reared a farmer, which occupation be pursed through life. On the 24 day of May, IST, he was married to Anna Mills, daughter of James and Elizabeth Mills, of' Wayne County, Ind., who were also descrml- ants of an old English family. After his marriage, they settled on a farm in Wayne County, but soon after, in -, removed to Hamilton County, and settled on some wild land in Jackson Township, where they resided. and reared their children. In 18 -- he sold his farm at renewed into Noblesville, where be resided until his death, which occurred in 1-78, at the age of sixty-www. Joseph Baker was, all his life, known as an uncompromising curry to slavery, and voted the Abolition ticket when there were but three or four others to vote the same ticket in his township.
The hospitality of his Immmulle home was always open to the poor panting fugitive, and hundreds of that per-scented race were assisted and piloted by him through the forests, on their way to Canada and freedom. The holde off lady. his widow, still survive, and finds a pleasant and welcome home in the families of her children, who all reside in Noblestille. They are the parents of right children, named dames M., Nehemiah H . Julietta, Adaline, Albert Ii., Oliver, Lizzie J. and Sarah A. Of these, James, Nehemiah, Albert and Lizzie are living ; all married and reside in Noblesville.
The subject of this sketch was born at the old farm home in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Ind., on the 5th day of November. 1839. He was reared on the farm, and obtained a good, practical common-school niueation, which he acquired in the district at home, and the high school at Wiefield He remained at lenne with his parents, assisting in the farm labors, until be reached his majority, and, for some years after, continued to lahor in rommon with the family, and make the parental roof his home.
In Istit, during the dark and dreary days of our country's fearful struggle with the great rebellion, there was a call for volunteers for one hundred days, atl among the heroir thousands who respondled was Mr. Baker, who enlisted and entered the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Ilis regiment was assigned to guard duty in Tennessee, and, at the expiration of hiv terms of enlistment, he promptly re-enlisted for servier during the war, in the One Hundred and Forty seventh Regiment bediana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served mutil the war was over, when he returned to his home and friends in Hamilton County.
After his return from service, he engaged in the drug business, first as clerk, and afterward as partner. His place of business way at first in the village of Cicero, and afterward at Westfield. He continued in that business until the spring of 1869, when he accepted a position in the Auditor's office AN Assistant, under Elisha Mills, who was at that time Auditor. From that time, until 1878, he was continuously employed in some one of the county offers, either as Assistant Auditor, or Deputy Treasurer, or as hook-keeper or Cashier in the Citizens' Bank of Noblesville,+ The ripe experiener and matured business qualities acquired by Mr. Baker, in these various responsible positions, admirably fitted him to assume the duties of County Treasurer, to which adhier he was appointed to fill the varaney caused by the death of Mr. Fodand. And then, in the spring of 1878, he became the nominee of the Republican party for the office of Treasurer of Hamilton County, and at the rusning election, in Ortaber, he was elected by a handsome majority.
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During this time, he had formed the acquaintance of Miss Mary E. Shirts, only daughter of Angustne F. Shirts, Kay,, one of the most eminent atturney, of the Hamilton County bar. This acquaintance resulted in courtship und marriage, and they were united on the 21st day of September, 1973. Shortly after marriage, they moved into their new residirure, in Noblesville, where they still reside. They are the parents of five children, named Earl S., Hertie, Folgar, Frank and Julia A. All living, except Hertic, who died in infiney.
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