USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana, together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 22
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Levi Martin, a leading citizen of Eel River Township, was born March 10, 1826, in Union County, Ind., a son of James and Mary Martin, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Ohio. In 1833 his father came with his family to Hendricks
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HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY. 579
County, and entered 160 acres of land in Eel River Township, which he eleared, remaining here till his death in December, 1849. His wife survived him till October, 1879. Of their twelve chil- dren five are living -- Jesse, William, Henry C., Oliver II. and Levi. Levi Martin eame to this county with his parents in 1833, and was married March 20, 1850, to Emeline Fullen, daughter of Charles and Sarah Fullen, of Hendricks County. Of the six children born to this union, two are living-Charles F., married to Miranda F. Theker, and Horace G., married to Libbie Russell. After a mar- ried life of over a quarter of a century Mrs. Martin died April 27, 1877, and for his second wife Mr. Martin married Mrs. Cassie Dar- nall, widow of the late Simpson B. Darnall, of Kokomo, Howard Co., Ind., and daughter of Philip and Eliza M. Smith, natives of Kentucky. Mr. Martin has a fine farm of 155 acres. . He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and politically he is a Republi- ean. He and his wife are members of the Christian church.
Oliver P. Owen was born in Eel River Township, Hendricks County, Dec. 23, 1S55, a son of Horatio (deceased) and Margaret Owen, who were natives of Kentucky. Horatio Owen came to this township in 1832 and entered a traet of land on which he re- mained till 1868, and then moved two miles southeast of that place within one mile of North Salem, where he resided until his death, in April, 1881. His widow is at present residing at North Salem, this county. Of their children three are living-James M., Oliver P. and Keziah. Oliver P. was reared to manhood on a farm and received a fair education. He has followed farming through life, and now has a pleasant home. He is the owner of 130 aeres of land on which are good and substantial buildings. Nov. 21, 1880, he was married to Florence M. Duckworth, who was born in Hen- drieks County, Ind., Sept. 11, 1862, and is a danghter of James J. and Mary E. Duekworth, who were early settlers of this county. This union has been blessed with one child-Taylor W., born Dec. 5, 1882. Mrs. Owen has two sisters and one brother living-Sarah E., Lettie and George. Mr. Owen and his wife are both active members of the Methodist church.
Robert M. Page was born in Hendricks County, Ind., Feb. 18, 1838, a son of William and Elizabeth Page, natives of Virginia. They came to this county about 1832, and the following year set- tled in Eel River Township, remaining here till their decease.
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Ten children were born to them, of whom seven are living-Me-
Elender, Naney, Andrew J., Jeremiah, Robert M., Demerius and
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Williamson. Mr. Page, on coming to this township, entered over 100 aeres of heavily-timbered land, which, in a few years, he by his industry and perseverance transformed into a well cultivated farm. Robert M., our subject, was thus reared to manhood amid the scenes of pioncer life, and from his youth he was obliged to share the labors of the farm. Aug. 15, 1861, he was married to Elizabeth Morphen, daughter of Benjamin and Jane Morphen, of Hendricks County, natives of Ohio and North Carolina respect- ively. To them has been born one son-Francis M. In 1864 Mr. Page enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-second Indiana In- fantry, Company G, in the 100-days service. He was on duty principally in Alabama, and at the expiration of his term of en- listment he was honorably discharged. He owns a good farm sit- uated in the southern part of this township. He is a member of the Christian church.
Joseph Plummer, a pioneer of Eel River Township, was born in Greene County, Ohio, Oet. 17, 1813, a son of Levi and Mary Plummer, the father a native of Maryland, and the mother of In- diana. In 1815 his parents came to Fayette County, Ind., and lived there five years, and thenec moved to Morgan County, where they also remained five years, and in 1825 eame to Hendricks County. Our subject was reared to manhood on a farm amid the . stirring seenes of pioneer life, and received but a meagre educa- tion. Aug. 2, 1832, he was married in Morgan County, Ind., to Ann Day, and to them were born nine children-Mary, Martha, Thomas, Levi, Hannah, Fannie, John, Ann and Riehard D. After a married life of over a quarter of a century, death entered his home taking his beloved wife Jan. 18, 1870. May 14, 1872, he was married to Lydia Burgau, daughter of Isaac and Sarah Bur- gan, who were among the early settlers of Hendricks County. In the spring of 1835 Mr. Plummer settled in the eastern portion of Eel River Township, where he has since lived. He owns 565 acres of good tillable land. Of Mr. Plummer it may be said that he is a self-made man, and according to his own statements he started life with virtually nothing but his strong arms and his determi- nation to succeed.
Jeremiah F. Radford was born March 10, 1850, in Putnam County, Ky., and is a son of Jephtha (deceased) and Nancy J. Rad- ford, who were natives of Kentneky. Of his father's family of thirteen children, five are now living-John W., Jeremiah F., Louisa, Naney C. and Charles H. From his boyhood our subject
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has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, in which he has been eminently successful. He is the owner of a farin containing eighty- eight and a half aeres in a fine state of eultivation, situated in the western part of this township, on which he settled in 1876. He received a fair English education in his youth, and Nov. 6, 1873, he was married to Miss Nancy A. Gillin, a daughter of Willis Y. Gillin, of Putnam County, Ind. They are the parents of one child-Freddie, born Aug. 3, 1879. Politically Mr. Radford easts his suffrage with the Democratie party.
Marquis De Lafayette Ribble, druggist, was born Sept. 5, 1857, in Marion County, Ind., a son of Samnel W. and Nancy Ribble. He was reared to manhood on a farm in his native county, and was there married March 16, 1881, to Miss Amand E. Duty, of Coles County, Ill. They are the parents of two children-Muriel B., born Feb. 17, 1882, and Nancy M., born Nov. 5, 1884. In . the spring of 1883 Mr. Ribble eame to North Salem, this county, and engaged in the drug business, being associated with Mr. J. J. Banta till March, 1884, when Mr. Banta retired from the firm, since which Mr. Ribble has carried on the business alone, and is meeting with gratifying success. He and his wife are members of . the Christian church. He is a member of North Salem Lodge, No. 158, I. O. O. F. In politics he is a Demoerat.
Washington Riggen, a retired farmer of North Salem, was born Dee. 22, 1812, in Mason County, Ky., a son of Rev. John W. and Elizabeth (Kelley) Riggen, natives of Maryland and Virginia re- speetively. He obtained a rudimentary education, and at the age of sixteen years began to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he followed about thirteen years. Feb. 21, 1833, he was married to Miss Mary Nettser, and of the nine children born to this union five are living-Henry V., John W. (a minister), Rice B.,, Aliee and Maria E. May 1, 1864, Mr. Riggen married for his second wife Mrs. Anne R. Riggen, daughter of Sanford and Eleanor A. Wren. By her first husband Mrs. Riggen had nine children, seven ot whom are now living-William H., Ann E., Elizabeth, Richard H., Caroline B., Sarah L. and Robert E. In the spring of 1864 Mr. Riggen came to Hendricks County and settled in the eastern part Eel River Township, where he remained till his removal to North Salem in the fall of 1882. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as Steward and Class-Leader. He has been a liberal contributor to both church and State enterprises, and enjoys the respeet of his fellow citizens. 37
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582 HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
James Trotter was born in Virginia, and when two years of age came to Owen County, Iud., with his parents, who in 1828 settled near North Salem, in Eel River Township, Hendricks County. His father entered a large tract of 1,500 acres of land, and was actively engaged in forwarding the various enterprises which tended to develop the resources of the county, until his death, about 1850. James Trotter was married to Miss Sarah Whitt, a native of Virginia. Of a large number of children five are living- Elizabeth, William W., John C., Catherine and James M. Hc had served as Trustee of Eel River Township for nine years, and was prominently identified with many of the improvements made during his time in the township. He died Feb. 16, 1876, respected by all who knew him. James M., the youngest son, was born Feb. 3, 1841, in Eel River Township, where he was reared to manhood. He was married June 7, 1860, to Miss Nancy E. Crose, born Nov. 11, 1841, in Hendricks County, a daughter of Andrew and Nancy. Crose, natives of Kentucky and early settlers of this county. To them have been born six children-John W., Florence R., James . W., Gretta E., Mary C. and Retta M. Mr. Trotter has, with the exception of a short time spent in the South and at St. Paul, Minn., been a resident of Hendricks County. He has a pleasant farm of 100 acres in the eastern part of Eel River Township. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
John D. Trotter, deceased, was born Nov. 3, 1815, in Lee County, Va., and was a son of John and Nancy Trotter. He was reared to manhood in his native State, and having received a fair education he engaged in teaching school for a short time. He came to Hendricks County, Ind., in 1839, and settled in Eel River Town- ship. Dec. 16, 1841, he was married to Sarah Jones, who was born Dec. 10, 1821. Of the nine children born to this union seven are living-Richard J., Naney, Horace A., John P., Catherine A., Charles Y. and Lee B. In 1870 Mr. Trotter moved to the farmn where his widow still resides, and which contains eighty acres of land. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at the time of his death, which occurred July 7, 1870. He was a mem- ber of the F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. societies, and in politics he was a Democrat.
Dandridge Tucker, farmer and stock-raiser, Eel River Town- ship, was born March 3, 1827, in Casey County, Ky., the only son of Lee and Miranda (Durham) Tucker. When seven years old his parents removed to Indiana, where his youth was spent in assist-
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HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY. 583
ing his father to clear and improve his farm, and in attending the subscription schools. He was married May 5, 1850, to Miss Catherine Davis, born March 11, 1830, in Montgomery County, Ky., a daughter of Nathan and Naney (Kid) Davis, who came to Hendricks County in 1835. They are the parents of four children -David L., Nathan A., Miranda F. and Robert E. After his marriage he settled on his present farm, and has met with good success in his agricultural pursuits. Mr. Tucker is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife was a member of the Christian church till her death, which occurred Feb. 15, 1883. Politically Mr. Tucker is an active worker in the Republican party. In 1857 he was appointed Township Trustee under the old consti- tution, and was elected Treasurer of the Board, serving in this capacity until the new constitution was adopted. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to Danville Council and Chapter, and to HIazel Regg Lodge, No. 200, having held every office in the lodge many times. Hc is one of the oldest repre- sentatives in the Grand Lodge, and is also a member of the Ma- sonic Veteran Association, which was organized in 1883.
Lee Tucker, deceased, one of the worthy pioneers of Hen- dricks County, was a native of Virginia, born in Bedford County, May 4, 1803. He was the eldest son, and third child of a family of ten children of Dandridge and Nancy (Settles) Tucker, natives of Virginia. His father was the son of William Tucker who served in the Revolutionary war for seven years, during which time he with a friend, Captain Dandridge, obtained leave of ab- sence, and returned to their homes and were married, each agrec- ing that the first son of the one should bear the name of the other. Hence the name Dandridge came into the Tucker family. Will- iam Tucker married a Miss Lec, a member of the same family of which the late General Robert E. Lee was a descendant. Our sub- ject was eight years of age when his parents settled in Casey County, Ky., where he was reared to manhood on a farm, receiving such edneation as the schools of those early days afforded. He was married Feb. 7, 1826, to Miss Miranda Durham, a daughter of Thomas and Frances (Moss) Durham, natives of Virginia and Maryland respectively. They vere pioneers of Kentucky, experi- encing many of the Indian troubles in the settlement of that State. Mrs. Tucker was born in Mercer County, Ky., now Boyle County, Dec. 16, 1805. After his marriage Mr. Tucker resided on the old homestead, and continued his farming pursuits until the fall of
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1834 when, on account of his opposition to slavery, he came to Indiana arriving there Sept. 12, 1834. He purchased 160 acres of unimproved land in Eel River Township, he being one of the first settlers. He then entered eighty acres of Government land, to which he subsequently added forty aeres more where he began making his frontier home, and by his untiring industry he was highly successful. In 1826 he and his wife united with the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and he was soon after appointed Class- Leader, serving in that capacity until his removal to Indiana. Ile organized a church society consisting of six members, their place of worship being his house, and later he organized the first Sabbath- sehool in the township which was also held in the house of Mr. Theker. He served as Class-Leader, Steward and Trustee until hi; death, and his house was always the home of the preachers. He was an earnest advocate of the eanse of temperance all his life, and was the first man in his township to refuse to furnish intoxi- cants at his log rollings or in his harvest field. Politically he was an old-line Whig, but became a Republican on the organization of that party. He was always among the foremost to aid in every enterprise for the benefit of the community. He died June 23, 1884. his wife having died July 24, 1872, after living happily to- gether for forty-four years. Two children were born to them- Dandridge and Lee Ann, wife of John Durham. Besides caring well for his own family he has reared eight orphan children who grew to be useful members of society.
Isaac N. Vannice was born in Hendricks County, Ind., May 28, 1839, a son of Lawrence and Caroline Vannice, natives of Ken- tneky, and early settlers of this county. His father at present re- sides at Danville, Ind. His mother is deceased. Of their nine children eight are living-Margaret L., Phoebe E., Harvey N., Isaac N., David M., William E., James O. and Mary E. Our subject received but a rudimentary education. He was reared a . farmer and is one of the successful agrienlturists of this town- ship. Sept. 21, 1861, he was married to Sarah E., daughter of William and Catherine Davis, of this township. Of their eight children six are living-William H., OliverP., Ettie, Laura, Hat- tie M. and Ida M. Charles and Lilly are deceased. In 1575 Mr. Vannice came from Marion Township and settled on his present farm in this township. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in the Ninety-ninth Indiana Infantry, but was soon promoted to the rank of Sergeant, which position he held till 1865, wlien he was
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Lec Tucker
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bonorably discharged. He participated in many battles, among them being the siege of Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, siege of Atlanta, Fort McAllister, Goldsborough, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. Mr. Vannice is a member of the I. O. O. F. He and his wife are members of the Christian church.
Joseph Waters, a pioncer farmer of Eel River Township, was born Nov. 30, 1814, in Lincoln County, Ky., a son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Waters, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Kentucky. His parents were among the early settlers of this township, having located in the southern part on Rock Branch. Of their family of eleven children five are living-Samuel D., Nathan W., George H., Elizabeth and Joseph. Our subject was reared on a farm and obtained a limited education in the schools of his neighborhood. June 16, 1835, he was married to Julia A. Hocker, born Dec. 11, 1813, a daughter of George and Nancy Hocker, natives of Kentucky. To them have been born eleven chil- dren, of whom five are living-Nancy E., Sarah A., Owen H., George H. and Newton E. After his marriage Mr. Waters re- moved to Kentucky but returned in a short time to Hendricks County. He has followed farming through life, and now owns 144 acres of improved land. He settled on his present farm near North Salem in 1852. He was among the first Trustees of Eel River Township, and served creditably foryine year. In politics he is a Democrat. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church.
Francis M. White was born June 12, 1844, in Eel River Town- ship, Hendricks Co., Ind. He is a son of Bloomfield and Mary White, of Danville, this county, who were among the early settlers of Eel River Township. Of his father's family of nine children, three are now living-Francis M., Margaret and Sarah E. In March, 1866, Mr. White was united in marriage with Amanda D. Davidson, daughter of Samuel and Catherine Davidson, of this county. Three children have been born to this noion-William L., James D. and Estella. In June, 1863, Mr. White enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and partic- ipated in the battles of Nashville, Columbus, Franklin, siege of Atlanta and many others. He was honorably discharged in the fall of 1865. He is a member of the Jesse Ogden Post, G. A. R., at Danville. He and his wife are members of the Christian church. He has a fine farm of eighty acres, all under a good state of culti- vation.
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586 HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
Abraham Whitenack, deceased, was born Oct. 31, 1824, in Warren County, Ohio, a son of Andrew and Katie Whitenack, natives of New Jersey. He received a fair education in his youth, and Jan. 25, 1855, he married Caroline E. Reynolds, daughter of William and Nancy (Snodgrass) Reynolds, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. To them have been born twelve children, of whom eight are now living-Ella, Llew- ellyn P., Isalona, Levona, Viola, Theresa, Oscar O. and Leon A. Mr. and Mrs. Whitenack settled in Hendricks County, Ind., in February, 1857, where Mr. Whitenack died Feb. 10. 1882. His widow still resides on the old homestead, and is an active worker in the Baptist church. Mr. Whitenack was a public-spirited man, and always encouraged the various enterprises which tended to develop the resources of his township.
Alexander M. Williams, one of the leading farmers and stock- raisers of this township, was born June 26, 1840, in Hendricks County, Ind. He was a son of James B. and Eliza Williams, who came to this county about 1837, settling in Marion Township, where they died. Our subject was reared to manhood on a farm, and in the management of which he has been very successful, and now owns a fine farmi of 232 acres. Jan. 30, 1867, he was married to Rebecca A. Faussel, daughter of Isaac and Unity Faussel, of Hen- dricks County. To them was born one child-Harry W. Mrs. Williams died June 21, 1868, and he was again married July 20,. 1871, to Martha A. Griggs, a native of Kentucky, born March 3, 1842, a daughter of David and Emiline Griggs. By this union there has been born five children-Emiline, Anne, Urban L., Flora and Dicy. In the fall of 1863 Mr. Williams enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry, under the command of General Scoville. He participated in the siege of Atlanta, the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., and numerous other en- gagements of minor importance, and was honorably discharged in September, 1865. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post at North Salem.
George S. Wren was born Sept. 11, 1819, in Montgomery County, Ky.` His parents were Sanford and Eleanor Wren, natives of Virginia. They had a family of ten children, of whom six sur- vive-Enoch S., John R., Thomas S., George S., Sarah A. and Anne R. Those deceased are-Andrew J., Richard W., Eliza and Lucinda. . Our subject was reared to manhood in his native State. His father died when he was fifteen years old, and he was then
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thrown on his own resources. He was married Dec. 9, 1841, to Caroline Davis, who was born in November, 1821, a daughter of Benjamin E. and Nancy Davis, the father a native of Virginia, and the mother of Kentucky. To thein have been born six children- Eliza A., Sarah F., William Z. T., Benjamin F., Mary E. and Ida J. In 1852 Mr. Wren came, with his wife and four children, to Eel River Township, this county, and bought 160 acres of land. He has sinec added forty aeres to his original purchase, and is now the owner of 200 acres of land, which he has gained by his own exertions. He has served his township as Trustee for two years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a true Democrat.
CHAPTER XIV.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
DESCRIPTION .-- EARLY HISTORY .- FIRST SCHOOLS .- TOWNSHIP OFFI- CIALS. - FIRST ELECTION .- POLITICAL HISTORY .- PROPERTY AND TAXATION .- STILESVILLE. - BUSINESS, CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES. -BIOGRAPHICAL.
Franklin is situated in the southwest corner of the county, and contains parts of township 14 north, ranges 1 and 2 west. It is bounded on the north by Clay Township, on the east by Liberty, on the south by Morgan and Putnam counties, and on the west by Putnam County. The township is rolling in the central, and level. in the northwestern and southeastern portions. It is drained by Mill Creek and its tributaries in the central and western parts, and Mnd Creek in the sontheastern. The streams which pass through this township are small, but their valleys are wider and the extent of bottom lands along their banks is greater than that of the streams in any other part of Hendricks County. There is but lit- tle second-rate land in Franklin Township, and it possesses a much greater proportionate extent of alluvial lands than any other town- ship in the county. So far as corn is concerned, Franklin Town- ship is the Egypt of Hendricks County.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first settler in Franklin was Judge Nathan Kirk, who, with- out doubt, located on Mill Creek where the old Terre Haute road crosses it, in 1820, and kept a house of entertainment. The next settler of whom we can get any account was Jeremiah Stiles, the founder of Stilesville, in 1830. He settled there in 1823, and was closely followed by John Swart, John and Isaac Wilcox, John Eslinger, David Orsburn and Jacob Reese. It is not known when Franklin Towns! was organized but it was soon after the begin- ning of Hendricks County. Jere Stiles was the first Justice of the Peace. He laid out the town of Stilesville in 1830. Samuel Wick (588)
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was the first merchant in the place, and Dr. Mahan the first physi- cian.
The first religious meetings in the township were held by the New Lights, and John Smart and Thomas Woods did the preach- ing. This denomination organized a church at Orsburn's horse- mill, which was the most noted place in the township until about 1835. At this mill the Christian church was organized by Thomas Lockhart, in 1832. There are at present five churches in the town- ship -- Christian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Missionary and Regular Baptist. Three of these are in the village of Stilesville.
In comparison with the other townships, it stands ninth in area, tenth in wealth, ninth in the number of inhabitants and eighth in the density of its population. It is the only township in the county that is not touchred by a railroad.
The first school in Franklin Township was taught in 1831, by Jediah White, one mile south of Stilesville. The district consisted of two townships. Thomas Barker was successor to Mr. White in the school. He was a good teacher, of fair attainments, but addicted to the use of "tanglefoot." Often, at noon recess, he would go to the village and return much exhilarated, and would devote the afternoon to illustrated lessons in politeness, which the children enjoyed hugely. In 1831 Eli Lee taught the first school in Stiles- ville; in connection with this he also mended shoes. One day while a class was up rattling off its lesson, and the teacher was pegging away on a shoe, Luke Stiles, who had been sent ont from the school to prepare some fuel, ent down a tree which fell the wrong way and came down with a erash across the school house.
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