USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana > Part 55
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The Western Yearly Meeting of Friends was organized in the ninth month, 1858, the first members being Eleazer Bales, Charles Moore, Matthew Stanley and Robert W. Hodson, and their fami- lies. Their house of worship was completed in 1858. It is of brick, and with the grounds, twelve acres, cost $14,000. In 1878 . an unfortunate difference of opinion arose as to the doctrine and practice, which has permanently divided the society. The "con- servatives" meet on the first and fourth days of each week for worship. Their Elders are Albert Maxwell and Davis Meeker; their Overseers, Joel D. Carter and Albert Maxwell. The "liber- als " advocate a more active system of religious work. They also meet the first and fourth days of the week. Their Clerk is Josiah Morris; Treasurer, Moses Hadley ; Elders and Overseers, Jesse Hor-
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ney, Calvin Osborn, Elwood Stanton, Brazleton Hadley, Elwood Wasson and Jesse D. Hiatt. The "liberals " are in possession of the church property, the " conservatives" renting other quarters. The former won a suit brought in Circuit and Supreme Court, and are now defendants in a second suit, yet undetermined.
The Baptists have had a regular organization for some thirty years. Among the first meinbers were Adam Jones and wife, Orrin Bonner and wife, Samuel McCormick and wife, William Douglass and wife and children. After a time the society pur- chased the church which had been occupied by the Friends, and used the same for a number of years. In August, 1884, they dedicated their present brick church, which cost $3,000. Services are held ev- ery alternate Sunday, the present minister being Rev. A. B. Chaffee, of Franklin. The membership of the society is about seventy. The Sunday-school is under charge of Henry Straughan.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church has been supported for some fifteen years. It met for a long time at the Morgan school-house, two and a half miles from Plainfield, and in 1879 commenced holding its services in the village. The church erected in that year cost about $600. There are about twenty-five mem- bers. Rev. Roberts has been the pastor for two years past. The colored Baptists also have an organization, with occasional services conducted by a clergyman from Indianapolis.
SOCIETIES.
Plainfield Lodge, No. 286, F. & A. M., was organized Oct. 21, 1862, with the following officers: Amos Easterling, W. M .; Caleb Easterling, S. W .; Amos Alderson, J. W .; Madison Osborn, Secretary; Carey Regan, Treasurer; N. Y. Parsons, S. D .; William D. Cooper, J. D .; Thomas Powell, Tyler. The list of present officers is: William H. Morgan, W. M .; Allen Pritchett, S. W .; D. F. Cox, J. W .; Eb. Tomlinson, Treasurer; T. Reagan, Secretary; A. D. Krewson, S. D .; William C. Douglass, J. D .; Stephen Os- born, Tyler. The lodge has now a membership of thirty-three, and meets at Masonic Hall the Monday evening on or before the full moon in each month.
McCarty Lodge, No. 233, I. O. O. F., has a membership of thirty-eight, and meets every Friday night at Odd Fellows Hall. The present officers are: N. M. Frazier, N. G .; N. Boggs, V. G .; M. Carter, Secretary; W. R. Snipes, Treasurer; T. B. Kinnan, P. G.
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Virgil H. Lyon Post, No. 186, G. A. R., was chartered June 11, 1883, with forty members. The present number of members is sixty-seven. The officers are: Taylor Reagan, Commander; I. A. Johnson, Adj .; John Walker, Q. M .; Anson Hobbs, S. V. C .; Henry Straughan, J. V. C .; Charles Doane, Chap. The post meets the first and third Monday evenings of each month, over Hobbs's grocery.
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FRIENDSWOOD
is a station on the I. & V. Railroad, in the southeastern corner of the township, in the midst of the richest community and best improved farms in the county. Large quantities of milk and other dairy products are shipped thence to Indianapolis.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Harris Almond, eldest son of Matthew and Rebecca Almond, was born in Richmond County, N. C., Jan. 5, 1809. His father immigrated with his family to Indiana in the fall of 1811 and set- tled in what is now Wayne County where his wife died. He then removed to Winchester, Ind., where he remained four years, and in the fall of 1827 he located in Hendricks County, and in the fall of 1828 he removed to Bridgeport, Marion Co., Ind., where he re- sided twelve years. He then settled in Henry County, Iowa, where he died in 1876. He had a family of six children by his first wife and two by his second. Harris Almond, whose name heads this sketch, being the eldest son, he was obliged to assist his father on the farm, thus his educational advantages were limited, he having the benefit of school but a few months during the year. He was married in 1829 to Ruth Lakey, a native of Ohio. After marriage he settled on eighty acres of land in Marion County, going in debt for the land, which he afterward sold, and bought eighty acres in Washington Township and later bought another eighty acres ad- joining, and on this land he resided about thirty-three years. His wife died April 12, 1841, leaving three children-Sarah J., wife of Samuel Weer; Pleasant and John. He was again married Oct. 17, 1841, to Anna Montgomery, and to this union were born two children, one dying in infancy and the other after reaching matur- ity. His wife died March 4, 1877, and he was married in October, 1877, to his present wife, Mrs. Parthena Tucker. She was the widow of George Tucker by whom she had seven children, four of whom survive. She is a native of Kentucky. Mr. Almond is now in bis seventy-seventh year, and has been a member of the
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Christian church for forty-eight years, of which he has been Deacon twenty-one years, and he has served as Trustee about thirty years. In politics he is a staunch Republican.
Pleasant Almond, a successful stock-raiser and business man of Plainfield, is a native of Hendricks County, Ind., born Jan. 3, 1836, the eldest son of Harris and Ruth (Lakey) Almond, natives of North Carolina, who came with their parents in childhood to Indiana and were reared in Marion County. After their marriage they moved to Hendricks County, where they lived the remainder of their lives. Pleasant Almond was reared a farmer, receiving a cominon-school education. In 1857 he was married to Minerva J. Hadley, daughter of John and Edith Hadley. After his marriage he settled on a farm in Guilford Township a mile and a half east of Plainfield, on the National Road. Here he lived till 1881, and by industry and energy improved his land, till he has 200 acres under cultivation. He has made a specialty of stock-raising, having the best grades of English draft and Clydesdale horses, Jersey cattle and Poland-China hogs. In 1881 he left the farm and moved to Plainfield, where he has a pleasant home. His wife died in 1873, leaving three children-Theophilus, Roscoe and John H. In 1874 he married Mrs. Mary Osborn, widow of Madison Osborn. They have one daughter-Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Almond are members of the Christian church.
John M. Carter is a native of Hendricks County, Ind., born May 16, 1832, the only son of David and Ruth (Hadley) Carter, natives of North Carolina, who moved to Ohio with their parents, where they were married, and in 1822 moved to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled on a tract of heavily timbered land which is now the site of the town of Plainfield. David Carter at one time owned 600 acres of land and at the time of his death owned 500 acres. His wife died about 1871 and he in 1881. They were members of the Christian church, of which he was for several years an Elder. Their family consisted of nine children, one son and eight daughters -Jane, Matilda, Mary, Martha A., John M., Sarah, Orpha, Ara M. and Zipporah. John M. Carter spent his youth on his father's farm and after his marriage settled on a tract of wild land, of which he madea good farm, on which he lived till 1864, when he moved to Plainfield and engaged in the mercantile business. He afterward returned to his farm, and remained till 1870, when he again engaged in the mercantile business till 1874. He then lived on the farm till 1883, and since that year has lived retired from active
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business. He still owns his farm in Washington Township, which contains 183 acres of valuable land, with a good residence and farm buildings, and is now occupied by his son. Mr. Carter has served four years as Township Clerk. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, of which for the past fifteen years he has served as Deacon, and at present is Superintendent of the Sunday- school. He was married in 1852 to Susan Wells, and to them. have been born two. children-David W., and Mary, wife of Dr. J. T. Strong. In politics Mr. Carter is a staunch Republican.
John Fullen, a prominent and successful business man of Plain- field, was born in Fayette County, Ind., Dec. 25, 1821, the second son of John and Jemima (Harrell) Fullen, natives of Virginia, who moved to Fayette County, Ind., in an early day. The father died in Fayette County, and John subsequently moved with his mother to Johnson County and settled on land entered by his father before his death. There he grew to manhood and remained till 1872, when he moved to Hendricks County and located in Plain- field, where he has since lived. He owns a fine farm of 200 acres in Johnson County, all under cultivation, and until his removal to Hendricks County he was successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has accumulated a good property and is now living retired from active business life. He was married in 1841 to Rachel Smith, who died in Plainfield in 1881. They had a fam- ily of five sons aud five daughters; four of the number are living. July 14, 1881, Mr. Fullen married Mary E. Barton. Mr. Fullen has been a member of the Baptist church since 1843 and for sev. eral years has been Deacon of his church. His wife is a member of the same denomination.
Elias Hadley, deceased, was one of the early settlers of Hen- dricks County. He was born in Chatham County, N. C., Aug. 5, 1809, a son of Jeremiah and Mary Hadley. When he was three years of age his parents moved to Butler County, Ohio, and subse- quently to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled in Guilford Town- ship, where they both died. Oct. 14, 1829, Elias Hadley was mar- ried, in Butler County, Ohio, to Miss Cox, danghter of Mordecai and Nancy Cox, a native of Butler County, born in 1814. After his marriage he settled on a tract of wild land which is now the site of Plainfield, but at that time was heavily timbered. He cleared and improved a farm, which he subsequently sold and bought one north of Plainfield, where he lived till 1874, when he rented his farm and moved to the village and lived retired from active busi-
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ness till his death, Dec. 8, 1884. The farm contains 180 acres of valuable land, all under cultivation. To Mr. and Mrs. Hadley were born sixteen children, six sons and ten daughters, twelve of whom are living-S-, Hiram, Nancy, Mary, Jane, David, Enos, Emma, Susan, Addie, Oscar and Arthur. Mr. Hadley was a member of the Christian church fifty years and his wife is a member of the same denomination.
John Hanna, a son of James Parks Hanna, was born Sept. 3, 1827, in what is now a part of the city of Indianapolis. His father entered and improved eighty acres of land in Warren Township and there died Aug. 31, 1839, leaving a widow and five children, John being the eldest. The mother died in 1844. John and the children remained on the farm until 1846, when, at the instance of General Robert Hanna, their guardian, they broke up house- keeping that they might go to school. The subject of this sketch, determined to acquire an education, started for Greencastle in Feb- ruary, 1846, with only $4 in his pocket. He walked the entire dis- tance, entered the university, got the position as janitor of the col- lege, worked his way through college and graduated with honors in June, 1850. He then entered the law office of Judge Delaney R. Eckles and there finished the study of his profession. He then became the law partner of his preceptor and settled in Greencastle. He was elected Mayor of the city of his adoption and served three years. After Judge Eckles went upon the bench as Circuit Judge, Mr. Hanna formed a partnership with the Hon. John A. Matson, which continued until the spring of 1858 when he went to Kansas. He was the same year elected a member of the Territorial Legislat- ure from the county of Lykins, now Miami, and served as such during the session of 1868-'9; was chairman of the judiciary com- mittee, introduced and carried through the act abolishing and pro- hibiting slavery in the Territory; was an earnest-working Repub- lican in politics. After remaining one year in Kansas he returned to Greencastle and resumed the practice of law. In the presidential canvass of 1860 he was the Republican elector of the Seventh Dis- trict, and as such voted for Abraham Lincoln. Prior to the Chi- cago convention he had advocated the nomination of Edward Bates, of Missouri, for the Presidency. Afterward Mr. Bates became Lincoln's Attorney-General. Hon. Henry S. Lane and Schuyler Colfax recommended the appointment of Mr. Hanna for United States Attorney for the district of Indiana, and he was also recom- mended by Mr. Bates, and appointed a few days after the inaugu-
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ration of President Lincoln. He served four years; then his re-ap- pointment was ordered by Mr. Lincoln, although his name was not sent to the Senate until after the death of the President. He con- tinued to serve until the split between Johnson (the successor of Lincoln) and the Republican party, when he denounced Johnson, and at a Johnson meeting held in Indianapolis he introduced a series of resolutions which was the immediate cause of his being removed, and Alfred Kilgore was appointed. This proves clearly that Mr. Hanna's political opinions were not in the market, to be transferred as merchandise. He furnished Mr Kilgore all the infor- mation desired as to the business of the office; assisted him in the trials the first term after his appointment. Mr. Hanna then formed a partnership with General Fred Knefler, of this city, in the prac- tice of law, and has devoted his time entirely to the practice of his profession, except in the canvass of 1868, when he, at the request of his political friends, canvassed the county of Putnam as a can- didate for the Legislature. Although defeated he ran ahead of the State ticket. Since 1868 he has made no political speeches, although known as a decided, out-spoken Republican in politics. His life at the bar has been a constant warfare and he has more than the usual share of hotly contested litigated cases. He has perhaps been engaged in as many jury trials as any lawyer of his age. As United States Attorney during the war his position was one requiring great labor, yet, without assistance, he managed to discharge his duties to the entire satisfaction of the Government. The prosecutions for violations of the draft laws, the revenue laws, confiscation acts, conspiracies, treasons and felonies were numerous, as the records of the court attest. As a successful prosecutor his record was sat- isfactory to those who gave him their influence. Since he com- menced the practice of law in this city he has been engaged in a number of the most prominent murder cases for the defense, the Clem case perhaps being the most noted. His practice at present is remunerative. He still resides at Greencastle, where he has a lovely home near the town. His family library is the best in the county and the favorite resort of his children of evenings. He regards it as money well spent, and it is his boast that he never had a moment's concern about the whereabouts of his boys at night. His sons incline to be farmers rather than profes- sional men. The oldest is now a farmer in Hendricks County. While' attending the University Mr. Hanna became acquainted with Miss Mahala Sherfy, of Perrysville, Vermillion County, who
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was attending the female collegiate seminary, then in charge of Mrs. Larabie, wife of Prof. William C. Larabie. Miss Sherfy and Mr. Hanna graduated from the same rostrum in June, 1850, and May, 1851, they were married. Mrs. Hanna was a woman of liberal education and superior intellect, and in the fullest sense of the word a true wife. As a Christian she was loved by her neigh- bors and idolized by her husband. She was the mother of seven children, one who died in infancy. She died in the spring of 1870, leaving her husband three sons and three daughters. Mr. Hanna remained a widower two years then married Mrs. Emma Pothorff, of Greencastle. They have now another son and daughter, eight in all. His children are devoted to him, and it seems a labor of love for him to work in their interest. His eldest child, a daughter, Lillie, graduated at the University two years ago. Mr. Hanna was, therefore, the first graduate of the institution that furnished a daughter for graduation. His second daughter and two of his sons are now attending the same University. He believes in giving girls equal chance with boys in the advantage of education, and, therefore, insisted that the University open its doors to both, which was finally done. The result has proven that the " honors " may be won by the so-called weaker sex if they are given an equal opportunity. Mr. Hanna's great success in his profession has demonstrated that he is a man of much more than ordinary natural ability, starting out a poor boy comparatively, without friends or money, working his way through college and attaining an enviable and high position both as a civil and crim- inal lawyer. It is certainly a great incentive to other poor young men to go and do likewise. Mr. Hanna's record shows that he has descended from an ancestry that had rendered service during the Revolution. His great-grandfather was a native of South Carolina and was there engaged during the entire struggle for American independence in behalf of liberty and the stars and stripes. He had a large family of sons. Mr. Hanna's grandfather, John Hanna, was one of the elder brothers. The late General Robert Hanna, the younger, and several more of the family removed to Brookville, Franklin County, early in the history of Indiana Ter- ritory. General Robert Hanna was a member of the convention that framed the first Constitution of the State in 1816. The father of the subject of this sketch was a mere boy at the time they first came to Indiana. They removed to Marion County in 1826. The grandfather settled on a farm near where the poor house now
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stands in Wayne Township; his brother Joseph, a short distance from him on the Crawfordsville State road. James Parks Hanna, father of John, lived with his uncle, General Hanna, up to the time of his marriage with Miss Lydia Heward, of New Jersey. Four years ago Mr. Hanna removed the remains of his father and mother to Greencastle cemetery, where they will probably remain until that day when the graves and the sea will be called on to give up their dead. Mr. Hanna's record is one worthy of emula- tion, and should be inscribed in the pages of history.
In person he is about five feet eight inches in height, with a heavy, square frame, though not inclined to corpulency, dark hair, eyes and complexion, and seems to be in the full strength and vigor of manhood, plain and unassuming in manner. A stranger upon entering our court could at once single him out as one of the leading spirits of the Indianapolis bar.
In 1884 Mr. Hanna was nominated by the Republican conven- tion for Representative in Congress from the capital city district, and was elected at the State election in October, defeating the Hon. Franklin Landers, the incumbent, and one of the most popu- lar men in the district, 1,398 votes.
"Nothing is difficult beneath the sky, Man only fails because he fails to try."
Alva W. Hornaday is a native of Hendricks County, Ind., born in Washington Township, Oct. 8, 1845, the eldest son of Isaiah and Elvira Hornaday, his father a native of Ohio and his mother of North Carolina. They were married in Hendricks County, and settled in Washington Township, and then they moved to Brownsburgh, Lincoln Township, in 1875, where they now reside. Alva Hornaday was reared a farmer, attending the com- mon schools of his district. He remained with his parents till his marriage, and then bought what is known as the old William Townsend farm, which contains 136 acres of choice land. His residence is a neat one-story frame building, and his farm buildings are among the best in the township. Mr. Hornaday is a thrifty and one of the representative agriculturists and stock-raisers of the county. " He was married in 1875 to Ella E. Cox, daughter of James H. and Lillus Cox. They have one child-Elvira Belle Hornaday. Mr. and Mrs. Hornaday are members of the Chris- tian church.
Asa Hunt is a native of Highland County, Ohio, born May 5, 1807, the fifth of seven children of Asa and Sarah (Gifford) Hunt.
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In his youth he assisted his father on the farm, and later worked three years in a carding and woolen mill. When he was twenty years of age his father died, and the management of the farm de- volved on him till the estate was settled by his elder brothers. He was married when twenty-three years of age, to Lydia Ste- phens, of Highland County. After his marriage he settled in Clinton County, Ohio, and twelve years later moved to Hancock County. In 1851 he moved to Hamilton County, Ind., where he lived twelve years, and thence to Indianapolis. He lived in Indianapo- lis five years and a half, and in 1870 exchanged his property there for property in Plainfield, where he has since lived. He owns one of the finest houses in Plainfield, built by Mack Shideler, lo- cated on Long Mound, one of the pleasantest sites in the township. To Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have been born six children-Mary A., Levi S., Cyrus A., Gideon, Eunice and Jesse L. They are mem- bers of the society of Friends. In politics he is a Republican.
Judge Alexander Little was one of the first settlers of Hendricks County. His parents, Thomas and Mary (Campbell) Little, came to the United States about 1770 and located in Virginia, removing later to Mercer County, Ky. Their family consisted of eight children-Molly, Nancy, Sally, John, Peggy, Jane, Thomas and Alexander. The mother died March 25, 1808, and the father Dec. 5, 1814. Alexander Little married Rachel, daughter of William and Ann Robinson, and to them were born twelve children-Anna, born Aug. 27, 1801, married Robert MeKnight; Polly, born Jan. 20, 1803, married James Green; Patsy, born Oct. 30, 1804; Betsy, born May 4, 1806, married John Canary; John, born April 12, 1808, married Nancy Rawlings, who died and he afterward mar- ried Jane Beasley; Samuel, born April 26, 1810, married Rebecca Green; Rachel, born June 24, 1812, married James Richardson; William, born March 5, 1814, married Sarah Downard, who died and he subsequently married Mary Lee; Rebecca, born April 29, 1816, married three times-first, Josiah L. Wines; second, Jacob Welch, and third, Aaron Wilhite; Joseph, born Feb. 22, 1818, was killed when a young man by being thrown from a horse; Robert, born Dec. 23, 1819, married Mildred Thompson, and after her death Maria Worth; Sarah, born Oct. 22, 1823, married Joseph Simpson, who died and she then married John Wilhite. In an early day Judge Little and his family moved to Washington County, Ind., and in 1830 came to Hendricks County. While in Washington County he was a Lieutenant and then Major in the
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first militia organization of the State. He held several offices of trust; was Associate Judge, and served several terms in the Ter- ritorial Legislature. After coming to Hendricks County he served one term of three years in the State Senate. He died July 26, 1849. His wife died Sept. 7, 1851.
Samuel Little is a native of Mercer County, Ky., born April 26, 1810. The day of his birth his father, Judge A. Little, started for Washington County, Ind., where he entered a tract of land. He cleared a small piece, planted it to corn and returned to Kentucky for his family, moving to Washington County the following June. In 1830 he moved to Hendricks County and settled in Liberty Township. Samuel Little was married in Washington County, to Rebecca Green, and in February, 1830, moved to Hendricks County and settled in Liberty Township, on the farm now owned by his son Thomas. To his original entry of eighty acres he added till he owned 400 acres of valuable land. He has been one of the most successful stock-raisers of the county, having some of the finest grades of cattle and hogs. In 1884 he left the farm and moved to Plainfield, where he has a pleasant home. His wife died in 1883. They had a family of eleven children; four died in in- fancy, and one, Joseph, after reaching maturity. The living are -Sarah, wife of Edward Crawford; Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Cox; Mary A., wife of Benjamin Edwardson; Robert and Thomas. Dec. 14, 1883, Mr. Little married Margaret A. McKnight, widow of Alexander McKnight, by whom she had eight children; four are living, two died in infancy, and two in adult age. Mr. Little has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church fifty years, and has served as Elder several years. His first wife was a member of the same denomination. His present wife is a member of the Old Presbyterian church. He has been President of the Plainfield and Cartersburg gravel road twenty years, and is one of the stock- holders and Directors of the First National Bank of Danville.
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