USA > Indiana > Henry County > History of Henry County, Indiana > Part 50
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
twenty-two months. He was injured by a fall while on duty, from which he never fully recovered. He was discharged in 1863 on account of disability. Soon after his return home he was married to Lydia, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Marlatt, of Wayne County. They lived in Milton till the following spring and then moved to Henry County, and settled on a farm belonging to the Walker heirs. Two years later he bought the Wishart farm, con- taining 200 acres. He was an industrious, enterprising man, one of the most successful breeders of short-horn cattle in the county, owning at the time of his death some very fine blooded animals. Mr. and Mrs. Walker had a family of five children-John T., Myrtle E., Mary, Alice and Jacob M. Mrs. Walker and her son are carrying on the farm.
John N. Watkins, grocer, New Castle, Ind., is a son of George W. and Mary (Needham) Watkins. His grandfather, Thomas Watkins, came to Henry County in an early day from Virginia, and settled near Middletown, Fall Creek Township, but subse- quently moved to Miami County, where he died. George Watkins located on a farm in Franklin Township, where he died March 20, 1863. His widow afterward married T. J. Smith, and resides in Douglass County, Ill. They had a family of four sons, but three of whom are living- John N., Henry C. and Robert R., the two lat- ter in Illinois. John N. Watkins went to Kansas in 1870 and traveled over the eastern part of the State, finally locating in Sum- ner County, where with John Baxter he pre-empted land and re- mained eighteen months. He returned to Indiana in 1874. He afterward clerked for Nixon & Son, druggists, eight years. He then, in company with William Redding, took the contract of building a fence for the New Castle & Rushville Railroad, and after its completion was appointed agent for the American and Adams Express companies, at New Castle. In July, 1883, he erected the store-house on Pennsylvania avenue, and opened his grocery, where he has since had a constantly increasing trade. His residence is on the corner of Broad street and Pennsylvania avenue. In 1874 Mr. Watkins was married to Sophia Rareshaid, of Wayne County, Ind. She died in November, 1878, leaving one daughter-Jessie Ray. May 24, 1882, Mr. Watkins married Jen- nie, daughter of Nelson and Jane Sisson, of Rush County, Ind. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Alonzo R. Wayman, son of William and Fidelia Wayman, was born Feb. 22, 1846, in Henry County, Ind. His education was ob-
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
tained in the schools of New Castle, and when sixteen years of age he began clerking in the store of Burr & Black, remaining there three years. He then went to Anderson, Madison Co., Ind., and clerked for J. R. Cain & Co. four years. While at Anderson, in 1869, he was married to Alice Connell, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. She died in 1873, leaving one son-Frank L. From Anderson he went to Cambridge City and engaged in the grocery business four years. In August, 1873, he came to New Castle and opened a grocery in Powell's Block, and in 1877 erected his fine two story brick building, 25 x 125 feet in size, on the corner of Broadway and Elm streets, to which he moved his stock, and where he is still carrying on a thriving business. Mr. Wayman was married a second time in 1875, to Alcestia Thornburgh, daughter of Hiram and Lydia Thornburgh, of New Castle. They have three children- Kate E., Omar A. and William H. Mr. and Mrs. Wayman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. His father was a native of Kentucky, and an early settler of Henry County. He first located on Blue River, three miles north of New Castle, but subsequently moved to New Castle, where he worked for some time at the tailor's trade. He afterward engaged in the dry-goods business, in which he continued till failing health compelled him to retire from active life. He died in 1856.
Lanson Wilkinson, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Hamil- ton County, Ohio, born Feb. 11, 1821, a son of Joel T. and Hannah Wilkinson, his father a native of Connecticut, and his mother of Kentucky. His father died in 1851 and his mother then moved to Henry County, and located in Liberty Township, where she died in 1865. Our subject was reared a farmer, and has always followed that vocation. He now owns 107 acres of fine land, with good dwelling and farm buildings. He has of late given considerable attention to the raising of Clydesdale horses. He was married to Jane Lockwood, of Hamilton County, Ohio, but a native of New York City. They have six children-John, Augustus, Lewis, Hannah (wife of Albert Hilton), Rhoda (wife of J. A. Millikan), and Hettie. Politically, Mr. Wilkinson is a Democrat, holding to the principles of the old Jeffersonian party.
Loring A. Williams, agent for the United States Express Com- pany, New Castle, Ind., is a native of this city, born June 18, 1849, a son of Simon and Ann J. Williams, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Indiana about 1845. His father was a saddle and harness
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
maker, and worked at his trade several years in New Castle. Sub- sequently was employed on the Pan Handle Railroad, and was killed July 27, 1854, while in the discharge of his duty, the train passing obliquely over his body. He was a prominent Mason. His mother died about six years after her husband. They had a family of four children-John F., James M., Loring A. and Caro- line V., all, save our subject, deceased. He was educated in the New Castle schools and Spiceland Academy, attending the latter school three years. He then taught several years; afterward was bookkeeper for the I., B. & W. Railroad contractors, in the mean- time serving two years as Deputy Clerk. March 1, 1882, he received his appointment to the position he now occupies. He was married in 1881 to Carrie, daughter of Wm. C. Bowen, then of Wayne County, but now of New Castle. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 59, I. O. O. F., and the Knights of Honor, and Knights of the Golden Rule.
William R. Wilson, County Superintendent of Schools, Henry County, Ind .. is a son of Christopher and Elizabeth Wilson. He was born in North Carolina, April 2, 1844, and when ten years of age came to Indiana with his mother. He was educated in the schools of Wayne County, and later attended Spiceland Academy. He began teaching when nineteen years of age, and taught in the schools of Henry and Wayne counties several years. He subse- quently engaged in the mercantile business till 1880, when he was appointed Deputy Clerk of Henry County, serving till his election to his present position, June 4, 1883. He was married in 1872 to Sallie E. Riddick, a native of Virginia. She died Nov. 15, 1880, leaving three children-Jessie, Lizzie and Louise. Mr. Wilson's mother died in 1875, aged fifty-six years. June 24, 1884, he married Miss Mary I. White, of Richmond, Ind.
Samuel Winings, dealer in grain and agricultural implements, New Castle, Ind., was born in Hamilton County, Ohio. in April, 1837, a son of Joseph and Jane (Mullen) Winings. His father died in 1880. His mother lives in Millville, this county. He came to Henry County with his parents in 1853, locating in Liberty Township. In 1861 he enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Chicka- mauga, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta and others, serving till September, 1864. After his return home he engaged in the mercan- tile business in Millville five years, when he moved to Ashland,
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
and engaged in the grain trade. In March, 1884, he came to New Castle and formned a partnership with Frank P. Ice, the firm name being Ice & Winings. He was the first man to introduce the self- binder in Henry County, in 1877. Mr. Winings was married in 1865 to Mary A. Forkner, a sister of Judge Mark E. Forkner. They have six children, four sons and two daughters.
Captain Pyrrhus Woodward is a native of Henry County, Ind., born Aug. 1, 1822, a son of Asahel and Catherine Woodward, his father a native of Virginia and his mother of Maryland. His parents were married in Ohio, and came to Henry County, Ind., in 1819, settling in the woods near the present site of the I., B. & W. Railroad depot. His father planted the first corn in this part of the county, and continued to reside on the land entered from the Government till his death, March 19, 1875. His mother died Jan. 11, 1871. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812. His grandfather, Thomas Woodward, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and at the battle of Germantown was taken prisoner, but soon after made his escape by crawling on his hands and knees past the guard. Captain Woodward was reared and educated in New Castle. When twenty years of age he learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at it till the breaking out of the Mexican war. He enlisted in that war as a private, but was appointed First Ser- geant, and served as such till the close of the war. He then re- turned to New Castle and engaged in farming till 1861, when he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in Company C, Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry, and was elected its Captain. He served two years and two months, participating in twenty-one battles and skirmishes, among them Shiloh, Stone River, Perryville and Chick- amauga. In the latter he was wounded by a fragment of shell, and resigned his commission. He returned to New Castle where he has since superintended his farm, which lies just in and north of the corporation of the town. He was married in January, 1850, to M. E., daughter of Walter and Isabel M. Hawkins. They have five children-Cordelia J., Isabel F., George W., Lenora and Charles F.
CHAPTER XIII.
BLUE RIVER TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION .- LAND ENTRIES FOR 1822 .- PIONEER SETTLERS .- FIRST DEATHS. - FIRST STORE. - RAILROAD AND POSTOFFICE. - THE VILLAGE OF MOORELAND .- CHURCHES OF THE TOWNSHIP .- BIOGRAPHICAL.
Blue River Township, the last township organized in the county, was formed from the southern half of Stony Creek, June 6, 1848. The township takes its name from Blue River, the headwaters of which are within its limits. Several other streams have their sources in this township.
The industries of Blue River are chiefly agricultural. In population the township is the smallest in the county. In 1870 it had 861 inhabitants; in 1880, 805.
The first elections were ordered to be held "at the house of Philip Moore, or at the meeting-house near his house." The township officers for 1883-'84 are: Abraham Wrightsman and Eli Holliday, Justices; Thomas C. Lound, Trustee.
The land now included in this township was not offered for sale until 1822. In that year the following persons entered tracts, Oct. 28, Richard Wilson, Michael Conway; Oct. 31, Joseph Cory: Abraham Cory, Betsey Cory; Nov. 4, Reuben Wilson; Nov. 6, George Koons; Nov. 11, John Koons; Nov. 12, Jacob Huston; Nov. 13, George Hetrick; Nov. 14, Richard Alsbaugh, Henry Metzger; Nov. 18, Henry Stumph; Nov. 22, John P. Johnson.
Several of the men above named moved their families to their purchases as early as 1823, and in that year the settlement became quite flourishing. Yet the township never had a large population, for as late as 1850 it contained but 174 polls.
The Corys were probably the first families to locate in the town- ship. The first death is believed to have been that of Eleanor, wife of Abraham Cory, and the second that of Esther, wife of Joseph Cory.
The first store was opened by Dr. W. M. Kerr, at Circleville.
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
The first school was taught on the farm of David Terhune. The township now contains six school-houses and maintains good schools.
Three religious denominations are represented by churches in the township: The German Baptists, the " New Light " Christians and the Disciples.
The Indiana, Bloomington & Western Railroad was built through this township in 1882. A small village, a station on the road, has since sprung up. It is known as Mooreland and was laid out in September, 1882. It contains two stores, one saw-mill and planing-mill, one agricultural implement store, one grain elevator, and has about 100 population. Dr. D. Clapper is the physician. A postoffice was established March 8, 1882; Harvey Main, Post- master. Marcus Holliday is the present Postmaster.
Churches .- Blue River church (New Light) was organized in 1850. It has about eighty members and a good church building.
The German Baptist meeting house in this township is a branch of the Hagerstown church. It will seat about 400 people and has a good congregation.
The Disciples' church has a comfortable house of worship and a fair membership.
PERSONAL.
James Taylor, an old resident and a respected citizen, came to Henry County in 1836, and a few years later to the farm where he now lives. Mr. Taylor was born in North Carolina in 1816.
David and Rachel Pidgeon came from North Carolina to Indiana in 1833 and purchased Government land. The first cabin built by Mr. Pidgeon is still standing. He died in 1874; his wife in 1866. Both were prominent Friends. Their son, Jesse W. Pidgeon, is a well-known citizen.
Andrew Baldwin, a well-known old resident, was born in North Carolina in 1816, and came to Indiana with his parents. At the age of eighteen he entered eighty acres of land where he now lives.
Solomon Cory, who was born in Ohio in 1810, settled in this township in 1841, beginning on unimproved land. Mr. Cory is held in high regard by his neighbors. He has served in several township offices.
Stephen and Milly (Sperry) Cory were among the early settlers. The former was a native of Ohio and the latter of Virginia. Mr.
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Cory died in 1883; his widow is still living. Elijah Cory, their son, was born in this township in 1828 and is still living here.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Solomon Bales was born in Blue River Township, Henry Co., Ind., June 15, 1834, a son of Parnell and Elizabeth (Koons) Bales, natives of Tennessee. He remained on the farm with his parents, receiving a common-school education, till sixteen years of age. He then went to work on the farm of Solomon Cory, re- maining with him seven years. He then began working at the carpenter's trade with James Dykes, and remained with him nine months. In 1857 be settled on the farm of Thomas Sears in Stony Creek Township, and in March, 1858, moved to a farm be- longing to Henry Manifold. He subsequently bought forty acres of land of Joseph Corn, adjoining eighty acres owned by his wife, and some time after bought a farm of Nathan Freeman. He lived on the latter six years and then bought of Robert H. Taylor the farm of 103 acres where he now lives. He was married in May, 1857, to Elizabeth, daughter of Noah and Lucretia Cory. She died Oct. 13, 1862, leaving one daughter-Ada Josephine, now Mrs. Wilson Drake. Dec. 24, 1863, Mr. Bales married Lucinda, daughter of David and Rachel Pidgeon. They have four children -William Henry, Rachel Elizabeth, Albert Lindley, and Dellie Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Bales are members of the Society of Friends. Politically he is a Republican. After her mother's death Mr. Bales gave his eldest daughter the forty acres of land first purchased by him.
Isaac Chamness was born in Randolph County, N. C., May 26, 1829, the eldest of five children of Joshua and Hannah& Chamness. In the fall of 1832 his parents came to Indiana and settled in Nettle Creek Township, Randolph County. He remained with his parents till twenty-one years of age, helping to clear and cultivate the farm. He was married Nov. 20, 1850, at Nettle Creek meet- ing-house, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Den- nis. He remained on his father's farm till the fall of 1852, and then moved to Henry County and bought sixty-five acres of land in Blue River Township. There was on it a cabin with one door, one window and a stick and clay chimney. Fifteen acres were cleared, the rest was heavily timbered. They lived in this cabin till 1857, in the meantime clearing and improving the land. He then built a new house, 28 x 36 feet in size, into which they moved.
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
When the new house was paid for he bought forty-one and two- thirds acres more land, making in all a farm of 106g acres. In 1874 he built a barn 40 x 60 feet in size. In 1875 he and his son bought a steam saw-mill which they ran in the winter for the ben- efit of the neighbors. To Mr. Chamness has been born seven chil- dren-Milton W., married Isabel A. Hough, of Tipton County, Ind., and lives on the home farm; Esther M., married Jonathan Cloud, now of Washington, Wayne County; Mariam T., married Edgar T. White, of Henry County; Cyrus C., deceased; Margaret B., married T. E. Stewart, of Spiceland Township; Elmina and Hannah E. Mr. Chamness and his family are all members by birthright of the Society of Friends. Politically they are Repub- licans. Mr. Chamness cast his first vote for President in 1853 for Franklin Pierce.
David H. Conwell was born April 19, 1854, in Blue River Township, Henry Co., Ind., a son of George W. and Mary J. (Messick) Conwell, natives of Delaware, the former born Dec. 24, 1822, and the latter born Sept. 14, 1822. They were married Aug. 18, 1842, and the following December settled in Blue River Town- ship where our subject now resides, remaining there till George W. Conwell enlisted in the Sixty-ninth Indiana Infantry. He died at Helena, Ark., Feb. 15, 1863. His wife died March 10, 1883, aged sixty years and six months. To them were born twelve children-Harriet E., Eliza A. (died March 2, 1865), Samuel R., Eli M., Sarah E., Winfield S., David H., Alice W. (died May 26, 1861), Josephine, Ida, Mary E. (died Sept. 20, 1862), and Georgetta. David H. was reared to farm life and was edu- cated at the common schools. He was married at the age of twenty-four years, Nov. 28, 1878, to Mary M., daughter of Adam and Katharine (Koons) Muller, natives of Indiana. To Mr. Con- well and wife has been born one son-Gilbert. After his marriage Mr. Conwell settled in Stony Creek Township on his farm of eighty acres, where he resided until March 22, 1883, since which he has lived on his present farm of 1594 acres of improved land. Politi- cally he is a Republican. His sisters, Josephine and Georgetta, re- side with him. Mrs. Conwell has been a member of the Campbell- ite church for the past eight years.
Abraham Covalt was born in Blue River Township, Henry County, Feb. 19, 1849, and is a son of Cheniah and Elizabeth Covalt. When fifteen years of age he began shipping stock and has since followed that business with good success. In the winter
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
of 1883-'84 he shipped seventy-three car-loads of hogs, besides sheep, horses and cattle. Dec. 8, 1869, he was married to Mary Ann, daughter of John and Jemimah Wiles, and settled at Econ- omy, Ind. He remained there two years, and then moved to Franklin, and lived one year, when he returned to Henry County and settled in Blue River Township, where he is engaged in farm ing in connection with trading in stock. Politically Mr. Covalt is a Republican. Mrs. Covalt is a member of the United Brethren church. To them have been born five children-Frank, Georgia, Ethel, Grace and an infant.
Cheniah Covalt, Sr., was born in Clermont County, Ohio, July 2, 1810, and was the son of Cheniah and Rachel Covalt, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New Jersey. His parents settled in Clermont County, Ohio, in 1790, where they remained about twenty years, when they removed to Brown County, where the father died in 1820 and the mother in 1835. Mr. Covalt's grandfather, Abraham Covalt, was killed by the Indi- ans in 1789. His father served in the army of General St. Clair during the French and Indian war. He was present at the battle fought by St. Clair and the Indians in the year 1791, and was capt- ured during the engagement but succeeded in making his escape. He afterward served under General Anthony Wayne, and was in the battle in which the Indian chief Tecumseh was killed. Subse- quently he served for several years as a Captain in the State militia. There were born to the father of the subject of this sketch ten children, of whom but three, Abraham, Jarrett and Cheniah, are living. The subject of this sketch passed his early life on a farm, and enjoyed but limited opportunities for obtaining an education. On May 15, 1833, he was married to Elizabeth Eckelbarger, a very excellent woman. In December, 1842, he removed to Blue River Township, Henry Co., Ind., and settled on the farm where he now resides. By industry and economy he has become the owner of 500 acres of land in the county. He has acceptably served as Justice of the Peace, and has several times been elected Trustee of his township. In 1882 he was elected to the office of County Commissioner, a position he still holds. Prior to his coming to Indiana he had filled several responsible official positions. He has many times been called upon to act as guardian and administrator, and has discharged every trust with honesty and fidelity. He is the father of ten children, eight of whom are living-Ellen, born March 19, 1834; William, born July 12, 1835; Susan, born May
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20, 1837; John, born Jan. 16, 1839, died Oct. 21, 1877; Rachel, born Sept. 16, 1840, died Sept. 11, 1841; Cheniah, born Oct. 16, 1842; Christena and Abraham, born Feb. 19, 1849; Dorah, born March 19, 1854; and Elizabeth, born Feb. 9, 1857. In all the walks of life Mr. Covalt has been upright and consistent, and few men possess in a larger degree the confidence and respect of the people of Henry County.
Marcus Holaday was born in Blue River Township, Henry Co., Ind., Jan. 23, 1858, a son of Oliver and Nancy Holaday. He received a good education, and when nineteen years of age began teaching school. He taught four years in the district schools of his township. In 1879 he became engaged in the mer- cantile business at home, with his father. In August, 1882, he left home and went to Leonard, now known as Moore- land, a station on the I., B. & W. R. R., and opened a gen- eral store; he built the first store in the place, and was really its founder. He had a stock valued at $2,500, when in February, 1883, he was burned out, everything he had being consumed by fire, but after getting an insurance of $1,800 he rebuilt and ven- tured into the business again, but soon after, his wife becoming sick with typhoid fever, and seeing he could not manage the business, sold out to his father and since that time has been working with his father in the store, managing the business for him. April 1, 1883, he was appointed Postmaster. April 14, 1883, was married to Emma J., daughter of Adam S. and Rachel Rinaud. They are both members of the Christian church. Politically Mr. Holaday is a Republican. Mrs. Holaday owns sixty acres of good, well improved land in Delaware County, Ind., eight miles south of Muncie.
Oliver Holaday was born in Chatham County, N. C., Dec. 8, 1823, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Holaday. His parents came to Indiana in October, 1826, and settled in Liberty Township, Henry County, where his mother died in July, 1862, and his father in April, 1873; the first winter spent in Indiana a family o our- teen lived in a log house 16 x18 feet in size. When Oliver Holaday was fifteen years of age he began teaching school, and taught thirteen years; he was married June 10, 1849, to Nancy, a daughter of William and Mary Wyatt, and soon after settled on a farm in Blue River Township, where his family still reside. He has been a member of the Christian church thirty years and a min- ister in the church since 1845. In 1870 he opened a general mer-
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cantile store at his home place, where he continued until 1879, when his son Marcus bought and continued to run it until 1882, when he moved it to Leonard, now known as Mooreland, Ind. Oliver Holaday has also worked at the boot and shoe trade for forty years, or since he was twenty years old. At home they have ninety acres of land well improved. To them have been born twelve children, nine of whom are living - Eli, William H., James, Marcus, Albert, Oliver, Mary E., Martha and Matinda A. The deceased are-Nancy E., Josephine and John. Politically Mr. Holaday is a Republican; originally a Whig.
Benjamin F. Koons, son of Joseph and Lucinda Koons, was born in Henry County, Nov. 23, 1839. His father, who was born in Wayne County, was one of the pioneer ax-makers of Eastern Indiana. The subject of this sketch obtained in the schools of his neighborhood such an education as qualified him for teaching, a pursuit he successfully followed for a period of several years. On the 27th of June, 1861, he was married to Mahala Deardorff, a very excellent woman. Eight children have been born to them all of whom are living. Mr. Koons who lives upon a farm has been quite successful in agricultural pursuits. He has been called upon frequently to act in trust capacities, and he has discharged every duty honestly and faithfully. He and his wife are members of the German Baptist church, the former having been a Deacon in the church for a number of years.
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