USA > Indiana > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Indiana : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 35
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Mr. Baker and his estimable wife attend the ministrations of the Christian Church, of which Mr. Baker has been an honored and consistent member. many years,
. NOTR -At the evidration of lls engagement In the ('Itlzetts' Blank, he was presented with a fine gull bended cane, by the officers of the Imuk, It recognition of his fidelity and valoship services
Mr. Baker, in politics, is a prononuerd and active Republican, and enjoys the esteri and confidence of not only his own party, but also of his political appuients.
Mr. Baker, by bis judite courtesy and friendly demeanor toward all who have Imsiness to fransart with him, as well as his social palities, sincerity and largedwarted generosity, make him hosts of friends, not only in town, but all over the county. The reader, by reference to another page of this work, may find the group of county officials, in which is the portrait of Mr. Baker, which. with this brief sketch. is contributed to all friends.
JAMES K. FISHER.
James K. Fisher, present Recorder of Hamilton County, is descended from English ancestry. The family were among the emily settlers of Delaware. James Fisher, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of that State, and. when a young man, removed to North farahna, and shintly after to Ohio, where he was married to Margaret Hockett. He followed farming until 153, when he removed to Indiana and settled on some will lands in Hamilton County, about four and one-half miles from the county seat, where he resided until his sheath, in 1871. at the age of eighty-four years, His widow survived until 1873, when she died, at the age of eighty six years. They were the parents of four children, named Nathan. Rebecca, Jane and Daniel. Of these, all are now living, married, and have families, except Jane, who died when young. Daniel Fisher, the youngest of the family, was born at the old Ohio home in 1818, and at the age of eighteen came with the family to Hamilton County, Ind. He was reared a farmer, which occupation he pursued until 1867, when he entered the growerat Noblesville, which he has ever siner continued. In 1810, he was married tu Sarah Haworth, daughter of George and dane Haworth, all settlers of Hamil- ton Conaty. By this marriage there were four children -John Q, Margaret, James K. and Harriet ; all living at this time except John Q. The matter of these children died in 1818 at the age of thirty years. The werond wife of Daniel Fisher was Mrs. Sarah Clover, a worthy walow lady, by whom he is the father of four children. Daniel Fisher is a business man of solid worth and character, having at various times served in positions of trust, such as County Commissioner for two terms,
James K., was born on the 24th day of February, 1SIG, at the ohl home form in Noblesville Township. His boyhood and carly youth were passed in the schools anul at home on the farm until 1863, when, although but sixteen . years of age, he enlisted for six months as a private in Company A, One Hundred and Seventeenth Imliana Volunteer Infantry ; soon after mustering in, his regiment was sent to Camp Nelson, in Kentucky, near Louisville. They were next 'marched to Cumberland Bap, and then on to Greenville, E. Tenn, where they were employed to hold the rebels in check, and for several weeks they were marching and countermatching over that already imponerished country. The brave soldiers of this command suffered much from these long and repeated marches, being obliged to suleist on what they could forage from that already exhausted territory, and for many days at a time, the poor. famished, and half-starved heroes lived on half-grown green corn, or whatever else could be found, after the country had been stripped repeatedly by friend and for; very many of these brave defowlers of our country, sneembed to these fearful hardships, and fell fainting and exhausted on the match for want of found. Among the number, who, after works of pri- vation, gave out, was Mr. Fisher, who was left at Tazewell to recover ; soon after he was removed back to Camp Nelson, from where, after obtaining a furlough, he returned home; his regiment received its discharge at Indianapolis in Feb- ruary. 1864. In the following June, he re-enlisted in Company B, One Hun- dred and Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, mul with this regiment was stationed at Murfeeluno, on guard duty. At the expiration of the one hundred days for which it was eulisted, it was discharged. In November of the same yrar he ngain enlisted, this time in Company B, Twenty-sixth luciana Volun- trer Infantry, and with his regiment went to Fort Butler, in Louisiana, where they were sintioned until March. In May, in conjunction witht he gouboat feet, they participated in the siege of Mobile. After the fall of that place. his romanand marcheul up through Alabama into Mississippi, where they were employed in guarding confiscated cotton, and in holding the subjugated rebels in check. In November, 1865, his term of enlistment having expired. he obtained his discharge nt Vicksburg, and returned home to his father, in Him- ilton County. He remained on the farm with his father until the next year, when the obl gentleman sold out and removed with his family into Noblesville, where for the next right or nine years he was engaged in his father's store no clerk and salesman. During that time, he became engaged to and married
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Elijah. J. Phillips COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
Hung 86 Hardgin COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
C.S. V. Pettyche AUDITOR.
M. M. Essington EX. CLERK. (DECEASEO)
Jehochristian CLERK
MlerBaker TREASURER.
James W Fisher RECORDER.
SHERIFF.
Jonathan Golborn
JUDOE JONATHAN COLBORN.
The modern traveler as he passes through the western country, reclining on the luxurious sofas of the palace care of to-day, crossing the broad domain of the great State of Indiana in a few brief hours, looke out on either eide on a wide expanse, 60 endless succession of beautiful and picturesque scenery, mile after mile of forest, lake and streama; a fairy vision of the cities and towns, villages and hamlets, chorebes and schoolhouses, and finely cultivated forma, dotted with the cozy and comfortable homes of the sovereign of the soil, flit by in an ever-changing panorama of beauty. But the hardy adventurers who travereed the almost impenetrable wilds of Indiana in the early daya of sixty years ago, on foot, with knapssek and gun, wading through stream and swamp, braving the dangers and hostility of Indiene And wild beasts, and at various pointe building cabine and establishing settlemente, which has resulted in this magnifi- cent picture of civilization and prosperity-had visions and experiences in those early days of hardshipa end trials, sickness and danger, ofttimes cold and hunger, but faintly remembered and little understood at this late day.
All honor to theee brave, hardy old pioneer fathers and mothers, for the grand and magnificent heritage their courage and perseverance have bequeathed their children. Of that race of old first settlers in Indiens but few remain-here and there one, etand- ing in this generation, alone and solitary, like grand old oaks in the forests, they loved en well.
Among the very few of the original 6rst settlers of Hamilton County is Judge Jonathan Colbora, of Noblesville, whose close connection with the Hamilton County f'ourtsfor many years, in the capacity of Sheriff, Judgeand Bailiff, have made him known to every citizen in the county, and whose Christian character and Innste kindness of heart have won for him the respect and veneration of all his acquaintances, and the love and reverence of all hie fricode.
lle is of English extraction ; his ancestors were among the early settlers of New Jersey. Ilia grandfather, Robert Colbern, was a native of that State, where he was born in 1756. In early manhood, he was married to Effie Clawson. lle soon after removed to Somerset County, Penn., purchased & farm, on which he resided until bis death in 1839, at the age of eighty-four years. lle was the father of thirteen children. His son, Robert, was born in New Jersey in 1779 ; he grew up to manhood and was married to Mary Loofborough.
In the year 1800, he removed with his family to Ohio and settled on a farm in Perry County, where he remained until about 1822, when he emigrated to the wilds of Indiana.
He settled in the present township of Noblesville, Hamilton County, on Stony Creek, about two and one-half miles from the county seat, where he resided until his death io 1826, st the age of forty-seven years. His widow eurvived him until 1847, dying at the age of mizty-seven years. They were the parents of thirteen children, named Effie, Jonathan, Robert. Mary, Jesse, Elizabeth, Hannah, Ruth, Ollve, Lydia, John, Perry and Harrison, of whom the only ones now living are Jonathan, Mary and Olive, all residing in Noblesville. Jonathan was born in Pennsylvania on the 10th day of March, 1799. He went to school long enough to acquire a knowledge of reading, writing, spelling and in the mathematios as far as the " double rule of three." He remained at home until 1820, when he engaged with John Hendricks, the father of ex-
Gov. Hendricks, of Indiane, and, with a party of surveyors, came to Indians and as- sisted in the survey of the counties of Decatur, Shelby and Rush, into sectional subdi- visione. This occupied several months, after which he went through the wilderness to Terre Haute, where he worked about a year. He liked the new country and decided to make it his future home. He theu returned to Ohio to visit his parents and induce them to remove to Indians. Soon after his return to Ohio, at a party, he met and be- came acquainted with a young lady-Mies Jane Essington-to whom he soon after pro- posed marriage ; she accepted, and they were united on the 22d day of March, 1821. Soon after bie marriage; he, in company with his father's family, removed to Indians, and they all settled on Stony Creek, near the county seat, in Hamilton County.
Jonathan entered eighty acres of Government land. on which he erected a log cabin and commeneed clearing up a farm. He continued farming for several years, and theo entered into a contract with the indiana Centrel Canal, on which he was engaged for several months thet proved a very disastrous operation, as the State ropudiated its indebtedness and he was financially ruined. He turned over to his creditors all he possessed, and was still in debt several hundred dollars, which be paid in after years. He then for several years farmrd on leased land and made some headway financially. In 1836, he was elected Sheriff of Hamilton County and served two years, and, in 1838, was re-elected and eerved up to 1840. In 1843, he was elected Associate Judge of the Circuit Court to Bil a vacancy: he served three years and was then re-elected to the same position, which he filled for the next seven years, since which time he has been con- tinuousiy connected with the Hamilton County Courte as Bailiff, which position be bolde at this time. During this time, he has served the county as Coroner for twelve consecutive yeare.
On the 22d day of May, 1866, he was hereaved in the death of the wife and com- panion of his youth, who died at the age of sixty-two years. She had borne him thir- teen children, three of whom died in infaney, and the others were named Effie, An- drew J., Robert W., Jonathan W., Susannah, Eliza O., James G., Mary J., Lewie C. and Albert B. Of these the only once now living are Lewis C. and Elita O. One of his grandchildren is the wife of R. R. Stephenson, a prominent attornoy of the Ham- ilton County bar, and resides in Noblesville.
The Judge removed and settled in Noblesville in 1869, where he has continued to reside ever since. On the 25th day of December, 1878, he was married to Miss Olive D. Steward, his prosent wife, who was a worthy widow lady, a native of Maine.
In politics, the Judge was a Democrat until the disruption of that party at the Charleston Convention, since which he has acted and voted with the Republicans. Ha is an honored member of the Order of Free and Accepted Masons, and whether as En- tered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, or Master, has always been regarded by tho fraternity as that noblest and trueet type of a Mason-an honest man. In 1884, he was convarted and joined the Christian Church, be being one of the twelve original members of that church in Noblesville.
The Judge and hie excellent lady reside in a comfortable home io Noblesville, in the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of a green old age, " patiently waiting their sp- pointed time," in the bright hope of immortal life and eternal repose at the end of their earthly pilgrimage.
To the citizens of Hamilton County, this page in dedicated as a monument to the memory of an old pioneer, sod as a brief testimonial to the many virtues of a good man.
101
NOBLESVLLE TOWNSHIP.
Miss Lydia E. Crull, daughter of 11. P. Crull, an old business resident of Noblesville. They were united on the 5th day of May, 1870, and the fruit of this union is three children, named Daniel P., Lizzie L. and Emma; the eldest, Daniel P., died at right years of age.
Mr. Fisher and bis lady reside in a cozy home of their own in Noblesville, and enjoy the friendship and esteem of a wide circle of warm and admiring friends and acquaintances in Noblewville and throughout the county. Mr. Fisher is at this time Dictator of Noblesville Lodge of Knights of Honor, of which order he is an honored member.
In the spring of 1878, at the primary elections of the Republican party, he was a candidate for nominee for the office of Recorder of Hamilton County. Having seventeen competitors in the contest, he received 149 votes more than any of the contestants, and became the nominee, and, at the ensning election in October, was elected by a large majority. Elsewhere in these pages may be found his portrait, in the group of county officials.
HAYMOND WILLIAM CLARK, M. D.
In the group of representative members of the medical profession of Ham- ilton County, on another page of this work, may be found a fine portrait of Dr. Clark, the oldest living representative of the profession in the county, and one of the very few surviving pioneer settlers of 1819, a patriarch in his family, and in the noble profession to which he has devoted the energies of a long and useful life.
By reference to the following genealogical history of his family, it will be seen that he came of a long line of honorable and distinguished ancestry, and that his family is connected with many of the notable characters to be found in the pages of the early history of the " Great Republic."
As early as 1637, Richard Clark, an English Puritan, and son of Dr. Clark, in order to escape religions persecution, emigrated to America, and settled at first in the Connectient colony at New Haven. From there he removed to Southampton, thener to Sonthold, Long Island, and finally, in 1678, to Elizabeth, N. J., where he died in 1797. He was the great-grand- father of Abraham Clark, one of the illustrious signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Nisan Clark, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Westfield, New Jersey, June 22, 1776. He was the son of Henry and Mary ( Valentine) Clark. He emigrated to West Virginia in 1787, where he became a man of nech influence, and served in many distinguished positions, such as Sheriff, mem- ber uf' the Virginia Assembly, and various other offices of minor importance. He died March 6, 1813. His mother ( Mary Valentine ) was born in Elizabeth, N. J., in 1731, and died March 7, 1795. She was the daughter of Richard and Phobe ( Haines) Valentine, who emne there from Hempstead, Long Island, in 1728. Richard Valentine, one of her ancestors, emigrated from England to Connectient, and afterward, in 1614, settled in Hempstead, Long Island. The Valentines were an old English family of high political standing, and it appears in history, that. during the reign of King Charles 1, one of the family was committed to the Tower and fined Chce, by the King's Council, for refus- ing to answer ont of Parliament for what was said in the House.
Sarah ( Haymond) Clark, the mother of our subject, was born in Herseys- port, wear Morgantown, W. Va., January 21, 1778, at which place the family had nt that time taken refuge from hostile Indians. She lived to the age of seventy-six years, dying on the 22d day of August, 1851, ut Nobles- ville, Ind. She was the daughter of William and Casandra (lelmed) Haymond. Her father was the son of John and Margaret Haymond. Hle was born January 1, 1710, in Fairfax County, Va. He died November 12, 1821. Hle served as a Captain in the Virginia forces during the Revolu- tionary struggle, and in 1781 was appointed County Surveyor of Harrison County, which offire he held until his death, and was then succeeded by his sons, the office being held in the family for eighty-four years consrentively. Ile wi n man of fine intellectual endowment, a good mathematician, and one of nature's noblemen-an honest man. He was the father of nineteen children, eleven of whom survived him ; eighty-one grandchildren, sixty-two of whom were living, and thirty-eight great-grandchildren, thirty-one of whom were living, At his death.
Almarine Casandra Clark, the wife of Dr. 11. W. Clark, is the danghter of Thomas and Casandra ( Haymond) Bond. She was born in Harrison County, Va., May 16, 1807. She is the great-granddaughter of the distinguished and famous " Pioneer of the Alleghanies, " Col. Benjamin Wilson. His father, William Wilson, a Scotch-Irishman, emigrated from Ulster, Ire- land, to this country, and settled in the Shenandoah Valley in 1737. He was
married to Elizabeth Blackburn in 1747. Benjamin was the first child of this marriage, and in 1770 he was married to Ann Ruddell, by whom he had twelve children. She died in 1795. He was afterward married to Phebe Davidson, who became the mother of sixteen children. Col. Benjamin Wilson, was an officer in Gov. Dunmore's army in 1774, and served as aid to the Governor in that campaign, and during the Revolutionary war he served na Captain, and was promoted to Colonel in the Virginia forces. After peace was established, he served as member of the Virginia Assembly for several sessions, was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1788, and also served as ('lerk of the Court for about thirty years. At his death, there were of his children twenty-four living, with seventy-three grandchildren, thirty great- grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
In the family of Mison Clark there were three daughters and two sons, who survived infancy : Olive Pamela, became the wife of Dr. Joseph Moffitt, of Connersville. She died in Tippecanoe County, Ind. Amo- randa Rachel, the wife of Benjamin Harvey, died in the sumne county, and Rowena Davidson, the wife of Solomon Clark, died in Jasper County, Ind. One of the sons, the late Dr. Othniel 1 .. Clark, was the first Phy- sirian that settled in La Fayette, Ind. He was married in 1831 to Charille, daughter of Dr. John Purker, of Tippecanoe County. He was a mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention of 1850, and member of the State Legislature for ten years, and was distinguished for his public and private virtues. He died in 1867 ; his widow still survives,
Dr. Ilaymond W. Clark was born in Clarksburg, W. Va., on the 7th day of March, 1803. He received a good common-school education, and in 1819 came to Indiana, where, with Dr. Joseph Moffitt, of Connersville, he studied medicine. He received his license to practice by the Censure of the Fifth Medical District of Indiana in 1827. He then commenced the practice of his profession at Noblesville, Hamilton Co. He remained in Nobles- ville four months, and then removed to Somerset, now Laurel, Ind., and then, in 1829, to Connersville, and then, in 18:30, he returned to Noblesville, where he has ever since resided, and has been actively engaged in his practice up to 1869, when he retired from active work. The Doctor is a member of the American Medical Association, to which he was a delegate from the Indiana State Medical Society, in 1871, and also in 1877. He is a member of the Hamilton County Medieal Society. He served as a member of the Indiana Constitutional Convention in 1830 ; was also a member of the Indiana Legis- lature in 1843, and served as Probate Judge of Hamilton County from 1811 to 1852, at which time that office was abolished by law.
From boyhood it was the ardent desire of the Doctor to become the por- sensor of a respectable library, and during all these years he has ben constantly and steadily accumulating a large and valuable collection of standard works, by the best authors, on history, science, law, philology, etlmology and mythology, besides a complete and valuable medliest library, which he has donated to the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Indianapolis.
The Doctor has always taken an active part in the political issues of the day, and is a stauch adherent of the Republican party. His religious views are based more upon natural and scientific farts, than faith in Divine revelation, and he is known as one who discards the dogmas of narrow creeds, and the iron rule of orthodox opinions. In other words, he is a " Free Thinker."
He is the possessor of a comfortable fortune, and has assisted all his chil- dren to make a fair beginning in life. He and his esteemed wife live in n comfortable, unpretentious residence in Noblesville, honored und respected by all. They are the parents of eight children, named Philander W., Julian, Casandra, Alison, Thomas, Haymond W., Henry C. and Mary A., of whom the only ones now living are, Julia, Casandra and Haymond W. The venera- bile old gentleman, although in his seventy-eighth year, attends to his business affairs with the same sagacity and precision of his younger days, and he bida fair to survive many years yet, a living example of an industrions, temperate and useful life, and a monument, among the living of this generation, of the early days of bygone years.
WILLIAM BRADEN GRAHAM, M. D.
Dr. Graham is a descendant of the old Scottish family of that name. Ilis grandfather, William Graham, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and he was married to Jane MeElvaine. They were the parents of five children, named Thomas, Mary, William M., Robert and Edward.
William M. Graham, the father of our subject, was born in Butler County, l'enn., in 1814, and in early manhood was married to Amanda Kerr, of the same place. After his marriage, he settled down on the old home farm of the
102
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
family, on which he was born; he purchased the interest of the other heirs, anul he has ever since resided on the same spot. He is a man of much influ- ence and consideration in his locality, and has held a prominent place in the estimation of his fellow-town-men for many years, and has been of much service in settling up the estates of deceased persons, and serving for many years as Magistrate, and also as member of the General Assembly of the State, a number of sessions. He and his wife are the parents of seven children, named William B, Amanda J., Erastus, Ann E., Joseph K., Mary HI. and Robert, who are all living, except Amanda and Erastus.
Willian B. Graham, the oldest of these children, was born at the old home of the Graham family in Butler County, Pen., on the 22d day of October 1835. He remained with his parents assisting in the farm labors, and attend. ing the winter terms of the common schools until he reached his majority. He also, during that time, attended a couple of terms at the West Sunbury Arade. my. On coming of age, he cator to Indiana and entered the office of Dr. Joyde Kerr, an unele at Clermont, as a student of medicine ; at the expira- tion of six months, bis angle died, and the young student then went to another nurle, Dr. Harvey Kerr, with whom he remained four years in the study of medicine, during which time be attemhat two courses of medical lectures, during the winters of IS60 amt 1861, the first at the Michigan University, ut Ann Arbor, and the second at Bush Medical College, at Chicago, when in the spring of 1861, he received his diploma. He then settled at Clarksville, Hamilton Co., Ind , and, in copartnership with Dr. P. P. Whitesell. com- menred the practice of his profission, They continued in practice together Int n short time, before Dr. Whitesell entered the army and Dr. Grahamn wax left alone with the practice, which he continued until February, 1863, when he also entered the service of the Government as Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred aml First Indiana Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was in mamy of the severe engagements of the war, including that of the disastrous battle of Chickamauga, in which his command lost many in killed and wounded. The field hospital at Crawfish Springs was captured by the rebels,
and the wounded soldiers and the army surgeons were taken prisoners ; soon alter, the wounded soldiers were paroled and sent through the lines, but all the sound men and the surgeuns were sent to Libby Prison. Dr. Graham remained a prisoner at that place from September until November, when he was exchanged at City Point, and returned to his regiment at Chattanooga, after which he, with his regiment, accompanied Sherman in his march to the sea. Previous to this, in January, 1804, he was promoted to Surgeon of his regiment. He remained with his command all through the war, sharing in its perils, and winning from his comrades, both officers and men, the admiration and respert that bis valuable services and kindness to the sick and wounded deserved, and, at the time of his discharge, he was acting as Brigade Surgeon of' the Seeund Brigade of the Third Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps, commanded by Gen. Thomas. After receiving his discharge, he returned homme and settled at Noblesville, Hamilton Co., and resumed the practice of medicine, which he has continued up to the present time. Soon after returning from the servier, he became engaged to an estimable young lady, Clara Par- row, the daughter of James and Elizabeth Parrow, of Noblesville. They were united in marriage on the 25th day of July, 1865. The fruits of this mar- riage are five children, named Mice, Edith, William D., Robert K. and Amanda E. The Doctor hus a large and lucrative practice, both in the city and surrounding country, and has been successful in accumulating a Ang competency. He and his worthy lady reside in n enzy and comfortable resi- dence in the central part of the city, and enjoy the love and esteem of' all. They attend the serviers of the M. E. Church, of which they are both mem- bers. The Doctor orenpies the position of Past Grand in the order of 1. 0. 0. F. and is a companion of the Royal Arch in Masonry. He is a member of the Hamilton County Medieal Society, also of the State and National Medical Associations.
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