USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana > Part 49
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 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
James Christy, section 29, Clay Township, is one of the pioneers of Hendricks County. He was a son of James and Elizabeth Christy, and when a child moved with them fromn Virginia to Put- nam County, Ind., where they both died. In 1828 he came to Hendricks County and settled on land entered by his father in 1828. He has been a successful financier, and has by industry and energy made of his land a good farm and acquired a competence for his old age. He has been thrice married. His first wife was Harriet Kinsler. Their only child, a daughter, died in infancy. His second
Digitized by Google
.
HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY. 553
wife was Kesiah Vice. To them were born three children-Mary, James A. and Robert K. His third and present wife was Nancy Flinn. They have had two children - William Sherman and Charles. The latter is deceased. William Sherman was born June 5, 1865, and lives with his parents on the homestead. He is an industrious, enterprising young man, intelligent and well edu- cated, and takes an active interest in all enterprises of social or mental benefit.
Jesse F. Elrod was born in North Carolina, Aug. 29, 1824, a son of Joseph and Catherine Elrod, the former born in 1806, and the latter in 1810. In 1834 Joseph Elrod and his family, and John Gambold and George Fausler and their families left North Caro- lina to seek homes in the wilds of Indiana, and after a journey of six weeks arrived in New Garden, ten miles north of Richmond, Wayne County. The father lived but two years after his settle- ment in the new country, and after his death, in 1836, the mother moved to Hendricks County with her family, and settled on forty acres of leased land in Franklin Township. She died in Costes- ville, Sept. 10, 1877. The family consisted of seven children, four of whom are living-Jesse F., Barbara Ann, Charles and Joseph. Jesse F. Elrod was twelve years of age when he came to Hen- dricks County. He remained with his mother till manhood, and in connection with farmning was engaged in milling several years. In 1863 he bought the farm where he now lives, on scction 31, Clay Township, adjoining the village of Coatesville, which contains 108 acres of choice land, and is one of the pleasantest homes in Clay Township. He was married to Lydia Pursell, a native of Mariou County, Ind., born June 8, 1834, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Strong) Pursell. The former lives at Tuscola, Ill., but the latter has been dead many years. Mrs. Elrod died Sept. 28, 1884, leav- ing her husband and children to mourn the loss of a true and affectionate wife and mother. The children are four in number- Samuel H., Charles W., William F. and Mary A.
Josephus B. Gambold, of the firm of Draper & Gambold, gen- eral merchants, Coatesville, Ind., is a son of John C. Gambold, one of the pioneers of Hendricks County. John C. Gambold was born in Pennsylvania, in November, 1805. His parents died when he was a child and he was placed in a family named Green and with them went to North Carolina and was reared in a Moravian settle- ment. He was married to Nancy Swaim, a native of that State, and in 1834 they came to Indiana in company with Joseph Elrod and
Digitized by Google
.
554 HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
family and located in Wayne County. In 1835 he moved to Hen- dricks County and settled in Clay Township. In 1856 he started for Minnesota, and before reaching his destination, at Delhi, Dela- ware Co., Iowa, in January, 1857, his wife died. The family remained in Minnesota till 1859, and then returned to Clay Town- ship, where the father died June 2, 1870. His family comprised ten children, six of whom are living-Levi S., Eri A., Louisa C., Mary J., Josephus B. and Cynthia A. Josephus B. Gambold was born in Clay Township, Oct. 18, 1839. Aug. 7, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-seventh Indiana Infantry, and served three years and two months. He participated in the battles of Win- chester, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettys- burg; was transferred West and participated in the Atlanta campaign. He escaped without injury save a slight wound at Dallas, Ga. After his return from the war he was employed by the Terre Haute and Indiana Division of the Vandalia Railroad till 1872, and the next three years by Pierson, Fellows & Stanley, merchants of Coatesville. In 1882 he formed his present partnership with Mahlon B. Draper. He was married to Mary E. Brown, of Putnam County, Ind. They have two children-Charles and Ella E.
William Greenlee is a native of Hendricks County, Ind., born in September, 1839. His father, Abner Greenlee, settled in Marion Township in 1829, and there he was reared and educated. He enlisted in October, 1861, in the Fifty-first Indiana Infantry, and served in the defense of his country three years, two months and ten days, participating in many important campaigns and battles. He was in General Buell's command at Shiloh; was at Stone River, with General Streight on his noted raid, at Franklin, and later with Gen- eral Thomas at Nashville, where he was discharged Dec. 17, 1864. He returned to Hendricks County, and in 1865 bought the farm on section 28, Clay Township, where he has since lived. He is a model farmer and has one of the pleasantest homes in the township. He has been twice married. His first wife, Martha Bryant, is deceased. His present wife was Melinda J. Pierson, daughter of Ervin Pierson. He has had two children, only one of whom is living-Ernest, born Sept. 16, 1876. His eldest son, Emerson, died in infancy.
Milton E. Hudley is a representative of one of the most promi. neut pioneer families of Hendricks County, and is one of the oldest living natives of the county. He was born in Center Township in December, 1829, a son of Simon T. Hadley, the second Clerk of Hendricks County. He has lived in Clay Township since 1870 and
.
. Digitized by Google
HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
555
owns a fine farm on section 32. He now resides in the village of Amo. His wife was Jane Phillips, daughter of John Phillips. They have no children, but have an adopted daughter-Sarah.
Mordecai Hudley is a representative of one of the leading pioneer families of Hendricks County. His ancestors were early settlers of Pennsylvania. Subsequently one branch of the family moved to North Carolina, another to Kentucky and a third to Massachusetts, for whom Hadley of that State is named. The grandfather of our subject, Joshua Hadley, was a member of the North Carolina branch, and was born May 23, 1743. He married Ruth Lindley, who was born at London Grove, Pa., March 25, 1745. Their son, Joshua Jr., was born in Chatham County, N. C., Dec. 13, 1783, the thir- teenth of sixteen children. Joshua, Jr., was married twice. His first wife was Lydia Hiatt, by whom he had one daughter, who grew to womanhood and married William White, and died several years ago. Mr. Hadley's second wife was Rebecca Hinshaw, who was born in Randolph County, N. C., Feb. 20, 1789. Their fam- ily consisted of eleven children, ten of whom grew to maturity. In the fall of 1838 they came to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled in Clay Township. At that time their two eldest children were married. Mr. Hadley died Aug. 23, 1847. As is characteristic of all members of the society of Friends, he was strongly opposed to slavery, one object of his leaving North Carolina being to escape the evils resulting from it. He was a man of decided convictions, strong in the support of what he believed to be right, and equally earnest in denouncing what he believed to be wrong. He was a well-educated man and for some time a teacher in his early life. His wife survived till April 19, 1882, dying at the age of ninety- three years. She was a woman of great energy and fortitude, and strong religious convictions, and a devoted Bible student. She was a frequent attendant at church, riding horseback when between eighty and ninety years of age. Mordecai Hadley was born in Chatham County, N. C., June 30, 1827, and was ten years of age when his parents moved to Hendricks County. He was educated in the schools of his adopted county, remaining with his parents till manhood. He has been twice married. His first wife, Sarah Jane Clark, was born in Chatham County, N. C., in July, 1827, and died in October, 1877. His present wife, Susan Lindley, was born in Chatham County, N. C., May 16, 1842. Mr. Hadley is one of the leading citizens of Clay Township, representing its most pros- perous agriculturists.
Digitized by Google
.
556
HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
W. N. Lakin is the proprietor of the carriage and wagon factory, Coatesville, Ind., one of the principal enterprises of the town. He is a native of Illinois, born in 1845. His father, William H. Lakin, is a native of Ohio, moving thence to Illinois about 1845, and in 1859 coming to Hendricks County, Ind., and locating in Plainfield, where he still lives. W. N. learned his trade of his father, and was for some time associated with him in business in Plainfield. He then went to Danville and remained a year, and in 1869 located in Coatesville. In 1875 he erected a commodious building to accommodate his growing trade, and in 1885 built an addition, 20 x 45 feet in size, as a storeroom for his carriages and agricultural implements, which is a leading feature of his business. He carries on a general blacksmithing business. He is one of the most prosperous business men of the town and one of its most in- fluential and enterprising citizens. He married Louisa C. Gam- bold, daughter of John Gambold, a pioneer of Hendricks County. They have one son -- Otto F.
George W. Mc Cloud, proprietor of the livery and sale stables, Amo, Ind., was born in Lee County, Va., Dec. 27, 1811. His father, John McCloud, died in 1819, and in 1830 his mother, with her four children-George W., Nancy, Thomas and Archlif, moved to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled in Franklin Town- ship. Of the family, George W. is the only one living. He mar- ried Eunice Bray, a native of Kentucky, daughter of Henry Bray. To them were born twelve children, seven of whom are living. His wife died several years ago and he subsequently married Eliz- abeth Elliott, who died Jan. 14, 1885, leaving two children.
Daniel Osborn, one of the pioneers of Hendricks County, was born in Hart County, Ky., in 1811. In 1829 his father, Daniel Osborn, Sr., emigrated with his family to Hendricks County, and settled in what is now Franklin Township, and lived where he first settled till his death, in 1839. His wife survived her husband till 1855. They had a family of seven children, two sons and five daughters. Of these there are living Margaret, Christina, Daniel and Mary. Daniel Osborn, Jr., married Mary Broadstreet, a na- tive of Clark County, Ind. She died in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Osborn had twelve children, nine of whom are living, eight sons and one daughter.
Eli Phillips, deceased, was one of the first settlers of Clay Township. He was born in Stokes County, N. C., in 1805. He was reared in his native county and there married Peggy Cosner,
Digitized by Google
HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
557
who was born in 1814, a daughter of John and Abigail Cosner, who came from North Carolina in 1832 and settled in Clay Town- ship, Hendricks Co., Ind., where the father died in 1849 and the mother Jan. 1, 1861. In 1833 Mr. Phillips moved to Indiana and settled on a tract of wild land on sections 33 and 34, Clay Township, on which he lived till 1867, when he moved to Amo, where he died Jan. 1, 1881. To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips were born twelve children, all in Clay Township; six are living-William; Pamelia, wife of Bennet Osborn; Phoebe, wife of William Beason; Abigail, wife of William Demoss, of Kansas; Jane, wife of John Walls, of Stilesville, and Arcada, wife of Dr. H. C. Summers. Mrs. Phillips makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Summers. She has one brother and four sisters living older than she. The eldest, Mrs. Mary Vass, was born Jan. 1, 1795.
Jonathan F. Phillips, the eldest son of Samuel and Rachel (Newman) Phillips, resides on the southeast quarter of section 5, Clay Township. His farm contains 128 acres of valuable land, located on sections 4 and 5. He was born in Clay Township, April 16, 1840. He remained with his parents till July, 1863, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventeenth Indiana Infantry for six months. He was discharged after a service of seven months, and in February, 1865, enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Indiana and served till the close of the war. He was married March 23, 1868, to Makina Couch, a native of North Carolina. They have, a family of five children-Alma, Lora, Aldus, Amanda and Olney.
Samuel Phillips, deceased, was one of the pioneers of 1836. He was born in 1808, in North Carolina, a son of John S. and Sally Phillips, who emigrated from Forsyth County, N. C., to Wayne County, Ind., where the father died, and in 1836 the mother and two unmarried children, Samuel and Sally, came to Hendricks County, and settled on section 4, Clay Township. Samuel bought a tract of land, but a few acres of which had been cleared of the timber, and on it a small log cabin had been built. This land he cleared and improved and made his home till his death, in July, 1880, and it is still the home of his widow and younger children. He was married in 1839 to Rachel Newman, a native of Randolph County, N. C., born in 1818, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Newman, who came to Hendricks County in 1837, and settled in Franklin Township, where they both died. To Mr. and Mrs. Phill- ips were born seven children-Jonathan F .; Susanna E., wife of
Digitized by Google
558 HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
Enoch Harlan; Lewis A .; Sally M., wife of William Shirley; John N., Oliver P. and Emery E. Mr. Phillips in an early day hauled a load of wheat to Lawrenceburg, which he sold for $9.00, the time occupied in going and returning being fourteen days.
Simon Rammel, one of the pioneers of Hendricks County, was born in Franklin County, Ind., Nov. 16, 1818, a son of Rev. Henry and Elizabeth P. (Heward) Rammel. Henry Rammel was a na- tive of New Jersey, and a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. He came to Indiana in 1817, and in 1828 to Hendricks County, and settled in Danville. He organized the first Method- ist society in Center Township. He died Feb. 21, 1882, aged eighty-six years, one month and twenty-eight days. He was mar- ried three times and had a family of seven children, six of whom lived till maturity-Eli, a Methodist minister, died in Kansas in October, 1882; Simon; Elizabeth, deceased; James, of Nebraska; Ruth, of Illinois; Lydia A., deceased; Heury, deceased. Simon is the only member of the family living in Hendricks County. He is by trade a mason, and has been one of the most industrious and enterprising citizens of Danville. He has served as Justice of the Peace twelve years. He has been twice married. His first wife was Lavina Ball, and to them were born four children- David, William, Eliza and James. His present wife was Cynthia A. Griggs.
William Rammel, merchant and Postmaster, Reno, Ind., is a son of Simon Rammel and grandson of Rev. Henry Rammel, one of the earliest settlers of Danville. He was born in Danville, in 1852, and has been a life-long resident of Hendricks County. In August, 1881, he located in Reno, and bought the stock of general merchandise of William Davis, and at the same time was appointed Postmaster. His is the only store of any importance in the place, and he has a good trade, his annual sales amounting to $5,000. He was married to Jennie, daughter of David Haworth. They have two children-Otis and Clara.
Cyrus L. Stanley, attorney at law, Coatesville, Ind., is a son of Samuel Stanley, one of the pioneers of 1831. Samuel Stanley was a native of North Carolina, and was there married to Anna Bow- man. They were members of the society of Friends, with strong anti-slavery principles, and not wishing to rear their children un- der the influence of that institution, in the fall of 1830 they left North Carolina, and with a one-horse team came to Indiana, be- ing six weeks in making the journey. Their family at that time
.
2
Digitized by Google
.
-
1
·
HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
559
consisted of five children, the eldest fourteen, and the youngest two years of age. They located near Richmond, Wayne County, where, April 6, 1831, Cyrus L. was born. The same season they moved to Hendricks County and settled on the east half of the south west quarter of section 23, Clay Township. The land was heavily timbered with no improvements. Mr. Stanley erected a log cabin fourteen feet square, and began clearing his land, which he made his home till his death in October, 1850. His wife survived him but one week. He was an upright, honest man, of a quiet disposition, but decided in his convictions. He was in politics a Whig, strongly opposed to slavery, and was as conscientious in his political as in his religious views. He had a family of eight chil- dren, all of whom are living except Barkley, who died in October, 1849. The surviving children are Harvey, of Douglas County, Kas .; Rebecca, of Dallas County, Iowa; Sarah, of Warren County, Iowa,; William, of Parke County, Ind .; Cyrus L .; Levi, of Warren County, Iowa, and Anna Jane, of Huron, Dak. The second son, Barkley, learned the carriage-maker's trade, and settled in Spring- ville. He took a prominent part in politics; was a strong anti- slavery man, a member of the Free-Soil party, and a delegate to the convention that nominated Martin Van Buren in 1848. He died in October, 1849, leaving a wife and one child, the former since deceased. Harvey and Barkley were prominent in the early settlement of the county. Harvey was well educated and taught school a number of years. After reaching maturity he cleared a farm of his own, but in 1871 removed to Kansas. Cyrus L. Stan- ley has been a resident of Clay Township since his infancy. He has always given some attention to agriculture, and owns a fine farm. He was also for some time engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, and since 1870 has devoted considerable time to the practice of law. He was originally in politics, a Whig, but since its or- ganization, has been a Republican. In 1860 he was elected Jus- tice of the Peace, and was re-elected in 1864, but resigned before the expiration of his term, and in 1868 was again elected to the same office. He has also served as Commissioner of Hendricks County. Mr. Stanley has been twice married. In 1850 he mar- ried Lucy Elrod, who died in 1853, leaving one daughter-Mary Elma. In 1857 he married Sarah Jane Braun, a native of Ohio. They have three children-Eva Ettie, Ena Ethel, and Oscar O.
1
H. C. Summers, M. D., is a native of Putnam County, Ind., born in 1849, a son of Benjamin F. and Marion (Collings) Sum-
Digitized by Google
560
HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
.
mers. His paternal grandfather, Rev. Cornelius Summers, was a native of Kentucky and one of the pioneer Presbyterian ministers of Northern Indiana. His maternal grandfather, Rev. Harvey Collings, was a native of North Carolina, and a pioneer Methodist minister of Putnam County, Ind. H. C. Summers was reared in his native county, where he received his literary education. He began the study of medicine with Drs. Holman and Johnson, of Martinsville, Morgan Co., Ind., and subsequently attended, in 1872-'73, a course of lectures at the medical department of the University at Louisville, Ky. He then returned to Putnam County and entered the office of Drs. Ellis and Smythe, at Green- castle, and later entered the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati. After being at Cincinnati two months he was prostrated with ty- phoid fever and was sick about three months. This prevented him from graduating, and he returned to Indiana, and in 1874 formed a partnership with Dr. S. C. Monnet, and located at Amo. In the fall of 1877 he returned to Cincinnati and graduated in the spring of 1878. Dr. Summers was married Sept. 18, 1879, to Arcada Phillips, daughter of Eli Phillips, one of the pioneers of Clay Township.
Abraham Williamson, farmer and stock-raiser, section '28, Clay Township, Hendricks Co., Ind., is a native of Somerset County, N. J., born Aug. 24, 1827. When he was twelve years of age he accompanied his parents to Ohio, and there grow to manhood. When twenty-three years of age he came to Indiana and has since been a resident of Clay Township, Hendricks Co., Ind. In 1855 his father-in-law, James Kersey, Sr., gave him forty acres where he now resides, which he has improved and erected good build- ings, and now has a pleasant home. He was married Nov. 29, 1854, to Mary Kersey, daughter of James Kersey. She died April 29, 1879, aged forty-three years, four months and four days, leaving five children-Rachel, Eva, Luella, Lillian and James Claude.
.
Digitized by Google
CHAPTER XIII.
EEL RIVER TOWNSHIP.
DESCRIPTION. - EARLY SETTLEMENT. - FIRST ITEMS .- MILLS AND DISTILLERIES .- " BOULDER CLUB."-"COULD READ BIRD TRACKS." -TOWNSHIP OFFICERS .- FIRST ELECTION. - POLITICAL HISTORY. -PROPERTY AND TAXATION. - NORTH SALEM. - BUSINESS. - CHURCHES. - LODGES .- BIOGRAPHICAL.
This is the northwest township of the county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Boone County, on the east by Union and Center townships, on the south by Marion Township and Putnam County, and on the west by Putnam and Montgomery counties. In number of streams and in natural drainages, Eel River Township is equal to Guilford, except that the east and west sides of the town- ship, from its center toward the north, is not well drained by these streams, and is rather flat, but no part of the township may be called wet land. In the southwest corner of Eel River Township are the highest hills in Hendricks County, and just below where Rock Branch flows into Eel River, some of the hills rise 100 feet from the bed of the stream, and are covered with native evergreen trees.
Near the southwest corner of the township, from different direc- tions, come together five considerable streams, to form Eel River proper. These five streams spread out over the township like a fan, and make as many beautiful valleys, which are separated by undulating ridges which were originally covered with a dense growth of sugar maple, walnut, oak and poplar trees. From many points in the township extensive tracts of country may be seen at one view; and as the delighted beholder looks out upon vistas of rich farm land, stretching down the valleys, with alternating fields of dark green corn or golden wheat, while upon either side stretch away beautiful undulating hills, diversified by open woodland and cleared fields, upon which hundreds of fat, sleek cattle are feeding upon the rich carpet of blue grass, or ruminating beneath some mighty old monarch of the primeval forest, he can hardly realize (561)
Digitized by Google
.
·
562
HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
that he has before him a reality, and that the picture he sees is not a dream about some fairy land. As may be already inferred, there is little land in Eel River Township that is not first-class. The soil is uniformly good, and is adapted to grain and grass alike.
SETTLEMENT.
In the spring of 1824 Noah Bateman and Reuben Claypool set- tled in this township a mile south of North Salem, and were fol- lowed in the fall by John Claypool and John S. Woodward. Among those who located in the township previous to 1830 were James Trotter, Henry Bales, J. and Martha Page, John P. Benson, Robert Covey, Enoch Davis and his sons, William, Frank and Jesse; William Dewitt, Dr. Collins, Andrew Clifton, James Camp- bell, Mr. Crum and the Penningtons. John P. Benson built the first mill in the county on Rock Branch, in 1826. Colonel Nichols says it was a very patient and industrious mill, but "rather slow."
Mr. Benson's mill stood only a few years, and in 1829 Mr. Crum built a mill on Eel River, not far from the location of the Benson mill. As early as 1830 some one started a distillery at Crum's mills. This was the first distillery in the county. It is believed that there has never been a distillery in any other township except Center, but there was, from time to time, a number of different distilleries in Eel River Township, which, in an early day, bore much fruit in the form of drunkenness and immorality; but with the still-house passed away its effects, and in its place the tenets of temperance and religion have brought forth sobriety, morality and prosperity.
The date of organization of this township cannot be definitely ascertained, but it was soon after that of the county.
BOULDER CLUB.
In defense of their property, which was often taken and sold by the constable, the citizens passed a "stay law," which they de- nominated a "boulder club." Whenever the constable advertised any property for sale, on the night before the sale the club would carry a few bushels of boulders and pile them upon the premises as a legal notice to the constable not to offer the property for sale.
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.