History of Hendricks County, Indiana, Part 58

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1885
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 786

USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana > Part 58

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).

William Little, deceased, was a native of Kentucky, born March 5, 1814, the third son of Alexander and Rachel Little, who were among the first settlers of Hendricks County, locating south of Cartersburg. After reaching manhood Mr. Little engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising, and accumulated a large property, owning at the time of his death 430 acres of land, 150 acres being the homestead. He was married in 1840 to Sarah Downard, who died June 18, 1858, leaving seven children-Ann J., James A., Joseph K., Leonard W., Isabelle E., Cynthia E. and Clay M. In 1859 he married Mary E. Rarden, daughter of Asbury and Catherine Rar- den, and to them was born one daughter-Hattie M., wife of Sam- uel Holderman, of Hendricks County. Mr. Little died Jan. 29, 1876. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and one of the most liberal and earnest workers at the time the church at Cartersburg was built. Mrs. Little has been a mem- ber of the same church twenty-five years.

Frank H. Martin, hardware merchant and dealer in agricult- ural implements, Clayton, Ind., is a native of Hendricks County, born Oct. 7, 1860, the eldest son of J. F. and Julia A. (Hunt) Martin, his father a native of Kentucky and his mother of In- diana. He spent his youth on his father's farm, receiving his early education in the district schools and later attending the Dan- ville Normal School a year. After leaving school he engaged in the dry-goods business in Clayton a year, and in 1883 became established in his present business, locating on the west side of the square. His is the only exclusive hardware store in Clayton, and he has built up a good trade. He is a young man of strict busi- ness integrity and his close attention to his pursuits and fair deal- ing have won him many friends. He was married in 1883 to Laura V., daughter of Thomas A. Borders, of Hendricks County.

Churles W. Mc Clure is a native of East Tennessee, born Sept. 2, 1826, the third son of a family of ten children of William and 41

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646 HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

Fanny (Rose) McClure, natives of Virginia. In the spring of 1830 his parents moved to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled on a tract of wild land two miles southwest of Clayton. The mother died in the spring of 1850, and the following fall when the father was rolling logs the chain broke and a log fell on him, crushing him in such a manner that he lived only a few hours. Charles W. McClure was reared and educated in Hendricks County, remaining with his parents till manhood. He then engaged in farming at which he has been uniformly successful. He was married in 1851 to Edna Hiatt, daughter of Harmon and Martha (Boyd) Hiatt. After his marriage he went to Iowa and remained three years, and in 1854 returned to Hendricks County, and located on his present farm, which contains eighty acres of valuable land with a good residence and farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. McClure have had six children-Laura E., wife of Melvin Harkrider; Elizabeth, wife of Reed Pick; Fannie V., Charles A., William A. and James W. Mr. McClure is a member of Clayton Lodge, No. 463, A. F. & A. M. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. McClure's father, Harmon Hiatt, was born in Gray- son County, Va., Nov. 20, 1796, and her mother, Martha Boyd, was born Aug. 18, 1792, a daughter of John Boyd, a hero of the Revolutionary war. They were married July 25, 1819, and in 1822 moved to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled in Guilford Township removing to Liberty Township in 1834. The father died in 1849, and the mother July 24, 1882. They had a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are living, all in Indiana.

Amos D. McCormick, farmer and stock-raiser, Liberty Town- ship, is a native of Fayette County, Ind., born near Connersville, Aug. 23, 1819, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Case) McCormick, his father a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1789, and his mother a native of Kentucky. Samuel McCormick moved with his parents to Ohio when a boy, and was there married. He located in Preble County after his marriage, and later moved to Butler County, and thence, in 1812, to Fayette County, Ind. He helped to build a fort on the present site of Connersville, but owing to Indian troubles returned to Ohio, but a year later moved again to Fayette County, and in 1820 to Indianapolis, where he cleared fifteen acres of land, which is now included in the public square. In 1836 he moved to Hendricks County, and settled near where our subject now lives. In 1864 he moved to Cartersburg, and in 1866 returned to the farm

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where he died in June, 1867. His wife died in 1834. Their family consisted of eight sons and two daughters-John, Jacob, William, Dorcas, Archibald, Amos D., James, Thomas, Elizabeth, and a son not named, of whom but two sons are living. In 1838 he married Matilda Clark, who survived him till July, 1870, and to this union were born four children-Samuel L., Harvey, Virrinda and Riley. He was a member of the Baptist church, and for many years was a preacher in the denomination. Amos D. McCormick was reared in Marion County, Ind., and there received the greater part of his education, completing it in Hendricks County. Since reaching manhood he has given his attention to agricultural pur- suits and now has a good farm of eighty-four acres. He was mar- ried in 1838 to Susannah Jordan, daughter of Aquila and Eliza- beth Jordan, early settlers of Hendricks County, where the father died July 8, 1844, and the mother in December, 1864. To Mr. and Mrs. McCormick have been born two sons-Aquila S. and John W.

John Miles, a pioneer of Liberty Township, who has done much toward the development of this county, is a native of Pasquotank County, N. C., born Jan. 30, 1814, a son of Thomas and Sarah Miles. He was left an orphan at the age of seven years, when he was bound out to Thomas Pritchett, with whom he moved to Wash- ington County, Ind. On account of the abuse he received from Pritchett he was released. He was bound out to another party to learn the blacksmith's trade, but not liking this pursuit he was again released. He then went to work on the farm of Thomas Irons for 25 cents per day, and at the end of three years he had saved from his earnings enough to enter eighty acres of land. He still continued to work for Mr. Irons, and at the end of four years became his partner, they engaging as contractors on what was the Clay County Canal, which they followed successfully about three years. He then bought 145 acres, on which he at present resides. He was married in the spring of 1840 to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John and Mary Hollingshead, when he settled with his bride on the farm, where they have since resided, their house being a small log cabin. Mr. Miles has been very successful in his farm- ing pursuits, and by his industry and economy he has acquired a large property. He has provided for his family of three sons and three daughters, and still owns 1,500 acres of land. His surplus means he loans out to his neighbors. Beside his farming pursuits he at the same time traded in stock, dealing in cattle, hogs and

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mules. This being before the days of railroads, his stock was driven to market on foot, over poor roads and in all kinds of weather. While not being a member of any church he has always been a liberal supporter of them, being among the most liberal contributors.

John A. Miles, one of the leading farmers of Liberty Township, was born on the old homestead in this township, Dec. 29, 1844, a son of John and Elizabeth (Hollingshead) Miles. He was reared on the farm, and received a good education, completing it at the High Schools of Belleville and Danville. Attaining his majority he began life for himself and engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has been one of the most successful stock-raisers of the county, and has a good grade of horses, cattle and hogs. His farm contains 700 acres of land, situated on the National Road, in a high state of cultivation. His residence, a large two-story brick, built in 1876, is a model of convenience and architectural beauty. His farm buildings are among the best in the township. Mr. Miles was married in 1873 to Flora, daughter of W. H. Fritts, of Owen County, Ind. They have four children-Victoria M., Nettie R., Mattie E. and John. Mr. Miles is a member of Belleville Lodge, No. 65, F. & A. M.

Thomas J. Miles, a prominent and successful farmer of Liberty Township, is a native of Hendricks County, born Sept. 24, 1842, the eldest son of John and Elizabeth (Hollingshead) Miles. His youth was spent in assisting his father on the farm, and three months of the year, when his services were not needed at home he attended the district schools. He remained with his parents till twenty-three years of age, when he began life for himself and en- gaged in farming and stock-raising. He has been successful and now owns 555 acres of choice land,' and his stock are of the best grades. He was married in 1871 to Talitha Tudor, of Morgan County, Ind., and settled on the farm adjoining his present home. He afterward bought the 375 acres which comprises his homestead and built his brick residence, which is one of the best in the town- ship, where he has lived since 1876. Mr. Miles is a liberal, public spirited and enterprising citizen and is one of the foremost to assist any laudable enterprise. In 1863 he enlisted in Company H, Fifty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served his country four months. He has a family of five children-Horace G., Mary M., Jefferson W. T., Ruth A. and John R.

Risdon C. Moore, M. D., Belleville, Ind., is a native of North

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Respectfully A. ExeRogers County Superintendent

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Carolina, born in Guilford County, April 3, 1820, the youngest of ten children of Thomas and Ann K. (Goldberry) Moore, natives of Maryland. In 1830 his parents moved to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled in Guilford Township, where they lived till their death. He was reared on a pioneer farm, and in his youth attended the old log-cabin schools. When seventeen years of age he began the study of medicine with his brother, S. G. Moore, a physician of Belleville, and took his first course of lectures at the Kentucky Medical College, Louisville. He began his practice at Belleville, and in 1849 attended a course of lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., from which he graduated in 1850. He then returned to Belleville, where he has since lived and has built up a large practice. He has been a hard student and has excelled in his profession, having now a reputation second to none in the county. He was married in 1846 to Emeline Green, who died in 1856 leav- ing one daughter, now deceased. In 1860 he married Allie R. Banta, daughter of Cornelius Banta. To them have been born ten children. Dr. Moore is a member of Belleville Lodge, No. 65, F. & A. M. and Belleville Lodge, No. 205, I.O.O.F. He and his wife are member of the Christian church.

Addison E. Rogers, Superintendent of the public schools of Hendricks County, is a native of this county, born March 5, 1846, the youngest but one of nine children of Henry and Mary . (Hadley) Rogers, natives of North Carolina, who settled in Lib- erty Township, Hendricks County, in 1844. His mother died in 1855. He was reared on a farm, attending in his boyhood the district schools and later the schools of Clayton and Danville Academy. Upon reaching his majority he began his career as a teacher, teaching his first school in Franklin Township, this county, in 1866-'67. He was a successful instructor and disciplinarian and gained an enviable reputation in his profession. In June, 1883, he was elected to his present position for a term of two years, and was re-elected in 1885. He gives his entire attention to the duties of his office and has elevated the grade of the schools of the county in a marked degree since holding the position of Superintendent, and his painstaking and efficient management is recognized by all interested in the welfare and advancement of the educational inter- ests of the county. Mr. Rogers was married in 1867 to Miss Mary E. Henderson, daughter of William and Amanda Henderson of Hendricks County. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' fra- ternity and the Grand Army of the Republic.

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Henry Rogers was born in Chatham County, N. C., Nov. 17. 1808, a son of Henry and Nancy Rogers, natives of Virginia, and grandson of Joseph Rogers. He remained with his parents till his marriage, when, having been reared to the life of a farmer, he engaged in the vocation for himself. In the fall of 1839 he moved to Hendricks County, Ind., and settled on what is his pres- ent valuable farm, at that time a tract of timber land very little cleared. He bought 160 acres of land for $1,365, all on time, but by hard work and economy he succeeded in paying for it, and now has a competency for his declining years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Hadley, died in 1850, leaving nine sons, seven of whom are living-Cyrus, born Nov. 12, 1830; George F., born Dec. 29, 1831; Zeno, Jan. 24, 1834 (now deceased); Thomas, Nov. 11, 1835; Job, Oct. 27, 1838; William, Sept. 13, 1840 (deceased); Solon R., June 2. 1843; Addison E., March 5, 1846; Moses C., June 18, 1848. He afterward married Elinor Lindley, a native of Chat- ham County, N. C., born in 1815. They have three children- Mary E., born June 8, 1854; Nancy J., born Feb. 16, 1856, and James H., born Jan. 20, 1860. In 1851 Mr. Rogers joined the society of Friends, his wife being a birthright member of that society.

Rev. John Rynerson, deceased, was born in Mercer County, Ky., Jan. 2, 1805. He spent his youth on a farm, obtaining a good education, and subsequently taught several terms of school. He moved to Hendricks County, Ind., when a young man, and located in Belleville, and was one of the contractors of the National Road, He subsequently returned to Kentucky, but four years later came again to Hendricks County, where, having entered the ministry of the Baptist church, he was instrumental in establishing the church of his choice. He again located in Belleville, and organ- ized a church, of which he was pastor several years. He died in 1864, having lived a useful life, and endeared himself to the hearts of the people he served. He was twice married. His first wife, Elizabeth Cunningham, whom he married in Kentucky, died in 1850. They had a family of eleven children. In 1851 he married Sarah Goss, daughter of George and Mary (Arnold) Goss, early settlers of Owen County, from North Carolina. The Goss family were the first settlers of the town which bears their name. To the second marriage of Mr. Rynerson were born five children, four of whom are living-George G., Jessie F., wife of Winfield Eaton, of Morgan County, Ind., Merlin M. and Eddie V. Mrs. Ryner-

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son lives on the old homestead which before its subdivision contained 240 acres of valuable land. She is a member of the Missionary Baptist church.

William Shepherd, a successful farmer of Liberty Township, was born in Fleming County, Ky., Feb. 28, 1828, the fifth of ten children of Solomon and Margaret (Tout) Shepherd, natives of the same county, of English parentage. In the fall of 1833 his parents moved to Hendricks County, and settled a mile south of Danville, but a year later bought eighty acres of wild land of Richard Thomp- son, three miles south of Danville. This land they cleared and cultivated and made their home the rest of their lives. The father died in August, 1851, aged sixty-three years, and the mother in 1860 aged sixty years. They were earnest Christians, members of the Methodist Episcopal church. But four of their ten children are living. William Shepherd was five years of age when his parents moved to Hendricks County, and was reared on a frontier farm, his youth being* spent in assisting his father in the work of clearing and cultivating his land. The first school he attended was taught in a log cabin, and was of the most primitive sort. His education was limited, as schools were few in the county at that time and his services were required on the farm. He re- mained at home till his twenty-third year, when he was married to Melissa Downs, daughter of Daniel and Mary Downs, of North Carolina, but later of Hendricks County. After his marriage he settled on the farm where he has since lived, which at that time was mostly unimproved. He has cleared his land, and now has a good farm of forty acres, with a pleasant residence and comfortable farm buildings. To Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd have been born three children; but two are living-Sarah A., wife of A. H. Terhune, and Cora A., wife of William Weesner. In politics Mr. Shepherd is a Republican. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1880, but refused to qualify. He and his wife are members of the Mission- ary Baptist church.

Amos Stewart Wills, one of the pioneers of Hendricks County, was born in Montgomery County, Ky., Jan. 1, 1809, the eldest of four children of Michael and Elizabeth Wills. His parents were natives of Maryland. They moved to Kentucky in a very early day where the father died, leaving our subject to the care of a widowed mother when a mere child. His youth was passed on a farm and in attending school. When he grew to manhood he worked at the carpenter's trade in connection with farming. He

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was married May 12, 1831, to Miss Lucinda D. Tatman, of Mont- gomery County, Ky. Sept. 1, 1831, they started for Hendricks County, Ind., in a wagon drawn by oxen, arriving at their destina- tion on the 15th of the same month. He had previously sent $100 to his uncle, John Darnell, who entered eighty acres of land for him. He then purchased another tract of eighty acres in Lib- erty Township and proceeded to clear his farm, on which he re- sided abont forty years, his farm at that time containing 240 acres. He then disposed of this land, and bought his present little farm of seventeen and a half acres, with good brick residence, just beyond the town limits of Clayton. Mr. Wills was first elected Justice of the Peace in 1840 and served five years when he was appointed Assessor of Hendricks County. In 1852 he was again elected Jus- tice of the Peace, which office he has held to the present time, serving as such in all thirty-eight years. To Mr. and Mrs. Wills have been born thirteen children, of whom five sons and three daughters are living. This old couple have lived contentedly together for over fifty years and together they experienced all phases of pioneer life. They are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Mr. Wills has been a member of the Masonic fra- ternity since 1847. In politics he was a Whig, and on the or- ganization of the Republicans he affiliated with that party. He is a strong temperance advocate.

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CHAPTER XVII.

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.

GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION .- PIONEER HISTORY. - FIRST RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION .- POLITICAL HISTORY .- TOWNSHIP JUSTICES, CON- STABLES, TRUSTEES AND ASSESSORS. - STATISTICS OF PROPERTY AND TAXATION .- BROWNSBURG .- BUSINESS, CHURCHES, LODGES, ETC. -BIOGRAPHICAL.

Lincoln, one of the smallest townships in the county, is bounded on the north by Middle and Brown, on the east by Marion County, on the south by Washington, and on the west by Middle. It was organized by act of the county commissioners in 1863, by a divis- ion of Brown Township into two very near equal parts. The sur- face of Lincoln is almost a level plain, except in the western part, along White Lick, where the land is broken and rolling. The land along the stream is rich. The level portion has a very diver- sified soil; the black alluvial part is very rich and productive, while some of its clay soil is third rate in its advantages for pro- duction.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first settlement in the territory of Lincoln Township was made by James Brown, in the autumn of 1824. Previous to 1830 the following came: G. W. Tyler, William Harris, Daniel and Thomas Newman, Daniel Brown, William Merritt, Robison Turpin, Caleb Shirley, John Given, Larkin Dollahite, James Shirley and Thomas Nash; also Harvey and T. H. Barlow, who settled with their father Enoch just outside the limits of Browns- burg, in 1828. In 1830 and soon after Asa McDaniel and sons, Joel Smith and sons and Peter Metsker settled in the neighbor- hood of Brownsburg.

The first Justice of the Peace was Edward Railsback.

Swaim's tavern, on the road two miles east of Brownsburg, was a general resort for many years, especially for those of the settlers who were convivially inclined.

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In the year 1828 or '29, the Regular Baptists built a church at the cross-roads south of Thomas Newham's, in which Archibald Thorne taught, in the same year, the first school in the township. Thomas Newham, D. D. Brown, V. J. Brown, William Harris, Mrs. Rice and some others were pupils of this school. The next school district organized was near Brownsburg, where Jesse Smith taught first in 1832, in the log house which still stands at the toll gate, one-half mile west of town. Rev. Thomas Sparks began his education at this school. The church organized in the meeting house just referred to was the first church organization in the township, and among the earliest of Hendricks County. This congregation worshiped here for several years, and then built them a new house on the farm of Mr. Swaim, the proximity of which to a tavern proved disastrous to the morals of many of the brethren, and the congregation was dissolved and re-organized at Salem, three miles below, where the church still exists.

POLITICAL.

In politics Lincoln was Republican until about fifteen years ago, since when it has gone Democratic. Following is the vote for President at each election:

1864-Abraham Lincoln .147

1880-Winfield S. Hancock .. . 188 49

James A. Garfield ..... 139

1868-Ulysses S. Grant .. 168

James B. Weaver ..

Horatio Seymour. 144

1872-Ulysses S. Grant .. 168

1884-Grover Cleveland.

.195

Horace Greeley. 165

1876-Samuel J. Tilden.

209

Peter Cooper. 8

OFFICIAL.

Following are the names of those who have been elected to the more important township offices, with the years in which they were chosen:

Justices of the Peace: Jacob P. Welshans and William M. Brown, 1863; Harrison S. Turpin, 1865; W. E. Brumfield and William Hylton, 1866; Thomas W. Morgan and John W. Smith, 1867; Robison Turpin, 1868; Isaac C. Nash, 1869; William B. Hoagland and Jacob Miller, 1870; Israel L. C. Bray, 1872; Isaac W. Gray, 1874; Joseph M. Tolle, 1876; Isaac W. Gray, 1878; Joseph M. Tolle, 1880; Charles W. Tyler, 1882; Joseph M. Tolle and Robert Miller, 1884.

Constables: William P. Jones and Israel L. C. Bray, 1863;

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James G. Blaine.

170

Benjamin F. Butler

Rutherford B. Hayes .. . 167

George B. Mcclellan .. 93

HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY. 655

Will Rob. Smith and Israel L. C. Bray, 1864; Heath and Henry Stewart, 1865; H. R. Barlow and Thomas W. Wingate, 1866; John Davidson and Josiah McDaniel, 1867; Josiah McDaniel and John Rainey, 1868; Benjamin F. Logan and Simeon Tharpe, 1869; H. G. Turpin and Robert A. Watts, 1870; Benjamin F. Logan and Daniel South, 1872; Redding Bray and Charles Ridgeway, 1874; Benjamin F. Logan and Redding Bray, 1876; William J. Eblin and John Garvey, 1878; Edward Hughes and Solomon B. McClain, 1880; Philip E. Stevensonand Benjamin F. Anderson, 1882; Ever- son Eaton, Horace Cook and Thomas Gorner, 1884.

Trustees: Simpson B. Darnell, 1863; Lewis S. Hunter, 1864; Jesse R. Cope, 1865-'66; John W. Parker, 1867-'68; James A. C. Dobson, 1869-'70; John W. Parker, 1872-'76; Stephen H. Thomas, 1878; Albert W. Davidson, 1880-'82; J. F. Lingeman, 1884.

A88e88018: Robert V. Franklin, 1870; John S. McClain, 1872; William G. Mitchell, 1874; John W. Davidson, 1876-'78; Theodore Stout, 1880; Alvin M. Brown, 1882.

CENSUS REPORT.

By the census of 1880, the population of Lincoln Township was 1,610. The following statistics of property and taxation are for 1885: Acres of land assessed, 14,812.64; value of same, $400,- 525; value of improvements, $132,483; value of lots, $16,558; value of improvements, $28,377; value of personalty, $228,692; total taxa- bles, $806.35; polls, 279; dogs, 174; State tax, $1,107.45; county tax, $2,416.60; township tax, $632.37; tuition tax, $870.24; special school tax, $1,224.92; road tax, $1,264.74; endowment tax, $40.32; bridge tax, $806.64; total tax, $10,595. 11; delinquent tax, $1,128.22.

BROWNSBURG.

. The village of Brownsburg, with 800 inhabitants, is on section 11, in the northern part of the township, and is a station on the I., B. & W. Railroad. It was laid out by William Harris in 1835, and named by him Harrisburg, but the name was changed to Brownsburg when the postoffice was established. B. M. Logan was the first merchant at Brownsburg.

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History of Hendricks County, Indiana, Part 58

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co. Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Number of Pages: 786

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1885
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 786