History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 51

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996

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Davault Koons, son of George and Mary Koons, was born Oct. 12, 1814, in Randolph County, N. C. He was reared on the farm, receiving a limited education in the log school- houses after he was twenty-one years of age. He was married kr Oct. 30, 1845, to Polly, daughter of William and Hannah Can- aday. She died April 26, 1883. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom are living-William M., George A., John R., Eliza E., Isaac N. and David H. Samuel is deceased. Mr Koons lived on his father's farm two years after his marriage, when he moved to the farm adjoining his present one, residing there till Jan. 8, 1859. He then moved to the farm where he has lived for twenty-six years, where he owns 151 acres of well-im- proved land. He has served one term as Township Trustee. He is a member of the Baptist church, and his wife belonged to the Christian church. In politics he is a Republican. Our subject was one of the most active men in the county. In his younger days he jumped over forty-one feet after rolling logs all day, and

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the same day he jumped over a stick held by two men as high as his head. Onr subject's parents were natives of North Carolina and of German descent. They emigrated to Indiana by wagon in September, 1819, and a few months later moved to Wayne County, Ind., where they remained about two years. Mr. Koons then moved his family to Liberty Township, Henry Co., Ind., where he entered land from the Government and built a log house, residing there sixteen years. He then sold his farm and entered eighty acres in Blue River Township; then he built a log cabin on the same and resided there till his death. He entered at four differ- ent times eighty acres of Government land, and at his death he owned 111 acres. He died March 25, 1849, aged sixty-three years, and his wife died in 1872, aged eighty-four years. Politically he was a Republican, and he and wife' belonged to the Baptist church. Their children were-Elizabeth, Massy, Henry, Absalom, Allie, Davault, Catherine, Gasper, Martha, George and Peter.

Henry Main was born in Liberty Township, Henry Co., Ind., March 9, 1827, the third son of Christopher and Mahalia Main, his father a native of New York and his mother of West Virginia. His father removed to Lawrenceburg, Ohio, with his parents when eighteen years of age, and when twenty-one years of age, in 1817, married Mahalia Johnson, and shortly after moved to Wayne County, Ind., and settled near Jacksonburg, on rented land. He subsequently removed to Henry County, and in 1823 bought forty acres of Government land in Liberty Township, which he after- ward sold and entered eighty acres near the Wayne County line. Three or four years later he sold his land and bought 160 acres of heavily timbered land south of Millville. Jan. 1, 1839, he sold out and bought 200 acres in Blue River Township, on Flatrock Creek, afterward adding eighty-one acres to it. This land he gave to his children, with the exception of thirty acres, which he sold to his son Henry. He and his wife were members of the Chris- tian church forty-five years. His wife died Jan. 10, 1865, and he April 5, 1882. To them were born ten children, but two of whom are living-Lucinda and Henry. Thedeceased are-Samuel, Will- iam, John, Polly, David A., Lewis W., Nathan T., and Martha. Our subject spent his early life on the farm, receiving a limited education, and was married when twenty-one years of age, March 8, 1848, to Magdalena Collingsworth, and settled on the farm where they now live. He owns 135 acres of excellent land all well improved. Politically he is a Republican. He has served

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his township as Trustee two terms. Mrs. Main is a member of the German Baptist church. Mr. Main is a member of Hagers- town Lodge, No. 149, F. & A. M. To them have been born five children, but three of whom are living-Marquis D., Henry H., and Ida M. Mary E. and Eli M. are deceased.

- . Daniel A. Messick, son of Eli S. and Ann (Conwell) Messick, was born July 22, 1840, in Blue River Township, Henry Co., Ind., where he was educated in the common schools. He was married Jan. 30, 1863, to Hannah M., daughter of Ambrose H. and Eliza Evans, natives of Tennessee. They have two children- Luella and Harley. After his marriage he continued to live at home till his father's death, which occurred Aug. 2, 1870, at the age of seventy-two years. He then received half the farm, and bought the remainder from his sister, which he afterward lost by endorsing for a pork firm in New Castle. He still owns 109 acres of well-improved land, and in connection with his farming he buys and ships all kinds of grain. The Indiana, Bloomington & Western Railroad passes through his farm, and the station of Mes- sick on that road is named in honor of him. He and wife are act- ive members of the United Brethren church, and politically Mr. Messick is a Democrat. His parents were natives of Delaware, and in 1837 they emigrated to Indiana, settling on the farm where our subject now resides. Eli Messick's first wife died Aug. 29, 1833, and he was again married to Ann Conwell, who died Jan. 21, 1842. His third wife was Sarah A. Swan, who still survives him. He was an earnest worker in the Presbyterian church, hav- ing been a Ruling Elder in the church for thirty years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, being called out on duty at the age of thirteen years. By bis first and second wives he had nine chil- dren, of whom two only survive-George H. S. and David. Those deceased are-Elizabeth A., George S., Isabel, Asa C., Samuel B., John M. M., and Mary J.

Charles P. Moore, son of Phillip and Elizabeth Moore, was born in Blue River Township, Henry Co., Ind., June 18, 1850. He was reared on the home farm and received a good education at the common school. He was married Dec. 16, 1872, to Miss Fanny Wright, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Wright, of Stony Creek Township, Henry Co., Ind. After his marriage Mr. Moore en- gaged in farming on the place where he now resides, and still follows that occupation. His farm contains 120 acres of well- improved land, and he may be classed among the energetic and

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prosperous farmers of Henry County. In politics he is a staunch Republican.

Miles M. Moore, farmer, postoffice Mooreland, was born in Blue River Township, Nov. 18, 1836, the third son of Philip and Julia Ann (Willson) Moore. His boyhood was spent with his parents, receiving his education in the district schools. When twenty-four years of age he took a trip West, and after his return home remained with his father till Aug. 27, 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-second Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles of Perryville, Ky., Stone River, Tenn. (where they were under fire nine days), and Chickamauga; from there fell back to Chattanooga, where they remained till early winter. In the spring the division was assigned to the command of General Hooker, and took part in the battle of Lookout Mountain; assisted Gen- eral Sherman at Mission Ridge, and the battle of White Oak Ridge. From Ringgold the division fell back to Whitesides, and remained there till spring, and while on the march, ten miles from Chattanooga, he received an order from General Thomas to report at his headquarters in Chattanooga for signal service duty. After being drilled eight weeks, he was ready for duty, and served about nine months. He participated in the engagement at Resaca, Ga., and the Atlanta campaign, where his last service was performed in the top of a tree sixty feet from the ground. He was discharged at Atlanta, Sept. 15, 1864, and returned home. March 26, 1865, he was married to Nancy Lamb, daughter of Thomas and Elvyra Lamb, of Dalton, Ind., and immediately went to White County, Ind., where he and his brother had bought 250 acres of land for $7,500. After making the first payment he had $30 left, with which to go to housekeeping. His wife was energetic and economical, and they appropriated but a portion of this for household purposes, spending the rest for corn and hay. After her work in the house was completed she went to the field and assisted her husband till time to prepare the noonday meal. After dinner she again worked in the field till evening. May 12, 1867, a son-Philip Edgar-was born, and then her time was taken up by household duties and the care of their child, who became the pride of their lives. Jan. 15, 1869, a second son was born-Thomas Eugene. His wife's health from this time was very much impaired, and he became discour- aged. In 1872, Eddie, as he was called, was seized with brain fever, and after ten days and nights of suffering his spirit was called home. His wife wishing it, they carried the earthly re-

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mains to Wayne County, and interred them in Nettle Creek Ceme tery. They returned to White County, but the health of the fam- ily not improving, he sold his interest in the White County farm, and in 1874, after the death of his father, bought a portion of the old homestead, and Aug. 18 returned to Henry County. After their return to this county their health improved, and their pros- pects are now bright for a prosperous future. Their son Eugene is now a robust youth, in his sixteenth year, and promises to make an energetic and useful man. After paying for the 250 acres first purchased in White County, Mr. Moore and his brother bought a farm of 110 acres adjoining, which they also paid for. He now owns 170 acres of land, all well improved. He and his wife have been members of the United Brethren church eight years. In his political views Mr. Moore adheres to the National Greenback party. He is a leading member of the party, taking an active interest in all political issues, and sustaining the principle that the Govern- . ment should issue all money to be a full legal tender for all pur- poses both public and private.

Philip Moore was born in Preble County, Ohio, April 24, 1812, a son of William and Catherine (Cotener) Moore, his father a native of East Tennessee, and his mother of Germany. When he was fourteen years of age his parents moved to Indiana, and settled on eighty-five acres of land in Blue River Township, Henry County. He remained with his father till twenty-one years of age, helping him clear his land, and walking each harvest season to Preble County, where he worked for 60 cents a day. When twenty-one years of age, in 1833, he was married to Julia Ann, daughter of James and Elizabeth Willson. In 1834 they entered forty acres of land (the grain elevator at Mooreland is located on a portion of it), and was assisted in paying for it by his uncle, Samuel Moore, of Wayne County. His wife died in 1838, leaving four sons- William A., born in 1833, now a farmer of Howard County, Ind., married Mandy Hensley, of Illinois; James H., born in 1835, mar- ried Emily L. Lamb, and is a farmer of White County, Ind .; Miles M., born in 1836, married Nancy Lamb, and lives on the old home- stead; Henry H., a farmer of Henry County, was born in 1838, and married Lucinda Clapper. After the death of his wife his sons lived with their grandparents till 1846, when he was married to Elizabeth Terhune, of Missouri, and settled on the land first entered by him. To this second marriage were born four children -B. F., born in 1846, is a carpenter of New Castle, and married

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Emma Kilmer, of Blountsville; John W., born in 1848, married Bettie Keisling, and is a physician of Mechanicsburg; Charles P., a farmer of Blue River Township, was born in 1850, and married Fannie White, Mary Jane, born in 1852, was married in 1872 to Reason Davis, of Henry County. Mr. Moore was an energetic, per- severing man, a good manager, combined with a shrewdness which enabled him to accumulate property. Having a desire to see his children comfortably settled in life, he did not wait for death to give them their portion, but aided them when they left the pater- nal roof to establish homes of their own. In 1873 he became afflicted with consumption, and for seven months was a great sufferer, but retained his right mind till death relieved him, Nov. 27, 1873. He was buried in the German Baptist cemetery, Hagers- town, Ind. His wife, Elizabeth, survived him seven years. A sufferer from rheumatism, she was unable to attend to her house for a number of years, and therefore made her home with her son, Charles P. The last year of her life she was almost helpless, but was cheered by frequent visits from all the children. March 11, 1880, she was stricken with paralysis of the heart, and died very suddenly, and was buried by the side of her husband. We here append a copy of a portion of the last will of Mr. Moore, made while suffering from his last sickness. It was signed and sealed Aug. 23, 1873, and was admitted to probate Dec. 1:

"Item I .- After my just debts and funeral expenses shall be paid, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Elizabeth Moore, the sum of $8,000 for and during her natural life; and the interest of said sum shall be sufficient to afford her a good and comfortable support and maintenance. Then such portion of the principal of the above sum shall be taken and appropriated by her as may be necessary to render her a comfortable and suitable living during her said life.

"II .- I have heretofore made to my children the following advancements, to wit .: To William A. Moore, $2,000; to James H. Moore, $1,500; to Miles M. Moore, $1,700; to Henry H. Moore, $3,000; to Benjamin F. Moore, $3,000; to John W. Moore, $1,500; to Charles P. Moore, $3,000; to Mary J. Davis, $1,500.

" III .- I give and bequeath to my children above named, after deducting and setting apart the above legacy to my wife, all the rest and residue of my estate, both real and personal, to equally be divided among them, subject to and taking into account the above- named advancements.

"IV .- In case my wife should elect to take her portion of the

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real estate, as provided by law, instead of accepting the provision made for her in this will, then, and in that case, I deduct from the shares of Benjamin F. Moore, John W. Moore, Charles P. Moore and Mary J. Davis an amount which would be equal to any amount which they might invest or get from their mother's estate, in case my children by my first wife do not get an equal portion with my children by my second wife of said estate.

"V .- In case my wife accepts the provisions of this will, then I give and bequeath to all of my children whatever of my estate shall be remaining and unconsumed at her death, to be equally divided among them, as specified in the third item of this will.

" I hereby nominate and appoint Henry H. Moore and Charles P. Moore as my executors."

Thomas M. Sears was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Jan. 2, 1820, a son of Curtis and Nancy (Huey) Sears, his father a native of New York and his mother of Hamilton County, Ohio. He re- ceived a common-school education, and when sixteen years of age began driving a team for his father. He went from Muncie, Ind., to Cincinnati, taking a load of whisky, and returning with a load of dry-goods. At the end of six years he began farming with his father. Dec. 23, 1840, he married Mournen, daughter of Joseph and Lida (Adamson) Lamb, a native of North Carolina, born in 1819. He then settled on rented land on Morgan Creek, Wayne Co., Ind., and remained there two years, when he went to Ran- dolph County and bought 160 acres of land in Nettle Creek Town- ship. In February, 1849, he sold his land and came to Henry County and bought the farm of 149 acres, where he now resides. Mr. Sears is a member of Blountsville Lodge, No. 331, F. & A. M. To him and his wife have been born eleven children; eight are living-Lorenzo, Emanuel, Synthia A., Nancy Ellen, Volney, Willard B., Mary E., Charles F. The deceased are-Abiathar, Melissa Jane and Louisa A. Politically Mr. Sears is a Democrat. Mr. Sears' parents were married in Hamilton County, Ohio, and in 1836 moved to Wayne County, Ind., and bought a farm which they sold four years later and moved to Dalton, where Mr. Sears ran a mill a year. He then rented a farm in Randolph County, and two years later moved to Delaware County. In 1845 he took up a homestead in Iowa County, Iowa, where they are now living. To them were born twelve children-Thomas M., Maria, Robert H., Lida, Louisa, Susanna, John W., Charlotta, Eliza J., William Smith, Levi and Rufus. Four are deceased, two of whom, Will-

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iam S. and Levi, died in the army. Mr. and Mrs. Sears are mem- bers of the Christian church.

James M. Wyall, farmer and Director of the Commercial Bank, Hagerstown, Ind., was born in Union County, Ind., near Robbin's Chapel, July 28, 1830, the third son of Joseph and Nancy (Esteb) Wyall, his father a native of Tennessee and his mother of North Carolina. His early life was spent on a farm with John Hart. When twenty-one years of age he began farming on shares with his uncle, remaining with him four years. He then moved to Henry County and bought a farm in Liberty Township, living there till 1876, when he bought a farm in Wayne County and lived there three years. He then came to Blue River Township, where he now owns a fine farm of 268 acres. He also owns about 2,700 acres in different States. He was married when twenty-five years of age to Elizabeth Moss, who died March 24, 1870. They had three children-Martha I. (deceased), Nancy J. and Mary E. Mr. Wyall was again married to Nancy Lewis. They have one child-Olive E. Mr. and Mrs. Wyall are members of the Ger- man Baptist church. Politically he is a Republican.

William Young was born April 21, 1828, in Lincolnshire, Eng- land, a son of John and Mary (Brown) Young. He received a limited education, and July 1, 1850, he started for America, land- ing in New York City. He started at once for Albany, thence to Buffalo, and from there to Sandusky City, Ohio. He then trav- eled on foot from Sandusky to Monroeville, where his brother re- sided, but on arriving at that place he found his brother was at Greenfield, a few miles distant. He was then taken sick with cholera, and after his recovery he hired to work for his brother for a year. At the expiration of the year he took a little vacation, when he engaged to work six months for his brother, after which he was variously engaged until he hired to work on the Sandusky & Newark Railroad, where he remained eight months. Shortly after, he began working on the Bellefontaine Railroad, but at the end of two months he left his situation and was employed on the Richmond & Chicago Railroad for over a year, after which he was employed by Martin D. Boyd, farmer, with whom he re- mained eleven years. June 1, 1856, he was married to Fanny Stam, and to them have been born four daughters-Mary E., Emma B., Martha A. and Manda C. Previous to his marriage Mr. Young bought 160 acres of land in Delaware County, which he sold two years later and bought forty acres in Blackford County, games young ?

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which he afterward traded for 123 acres in Randolph County, pay- ing a difference of $900. He afterward sold this land for $1,950 and purchased seventy-eight acres in Wayne County and remained there ten years, when he sold it for $4,710, and bought his pres- ent farm in Blue River Township, containing 160 acres, for which he paid $5,555. His land is well improved and is well supplied with farm buildings. He has recently erected a fine house at a cost of $2,000. Politically Mr. Young is a Republican.

CHAPTER XIV.

-- DUDLEY TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION .- THE FIRST TOWNSHIP IN THE COUNTY. - FIRST ELECTION. - FIRST OFFICERS. -- FIRST LAND ENTRIES. - EARLY SETTLERS IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS. - PIONEER LIFE .- VILLAGES .- NEW LISBON AND STRAUGHN. - FIRST SCHOOLS. - CHURCHES .- THE OLDEST FRIENDS' MEETING IN THE COUNTY .- OTHER CHURCHES.

Dudley Township was the first township formed in Henry County. It was erected by the commissioners June 11, 1822. Wayne and Henry townships were formed the same day, but Dudley precedes them upon the records. As then laid out Dudley included all of its present territory, and all that is now Franklin Township, excepting one tier of sections on the west. The first election was ordered " at the house of Mr. Paul, on the 6th of July next [1822], for the purpose of electing one justice of the peace." It was also further ordered that William McKimmy be appointed Inspector for said township. William McKimmy and Garnet Hayden were the first Overseers of the Poor, and Richard Pearson and Robert Thompson, Fence Viewers. Elections were afterward held at the house of Benjamin Stratton for twenty-four years, then at Daniel Reynolds's. The township has now two voting places, New Lisbon and Straughn.

The following persons made entries of lands in Dudley Township during the year 1821: Aug. S, David Butler; Aug. 11, Josiah Mor- ris; Aug. 16, Stephen Hall, Jesse Shortridge, Dally Beard; Aug. 17, Elisha Shortridge; Aug. 18, John Wilson, Jesse Frazier; Aug. 21, Jonathan Bundy; Aug. 24, William Modlin, Hampton Green; Aug. 28, William Seward; Aug. 30, Joseph Charles; Aug. 31, Linus French; Sept. 1, John Gilleland; Sept. 8, Susannah Leaky, ₩ Joseph R. Leaky; Oct. 5, Joseph Cox; Oct. 6, John Green; Oct. 17, William Riadon; Oct. 20, W. Mckinney; Oct. 21, Josiah Gil- bert; Oct. 23, Exum Elliott; Nov. 26, David Thompson; Nov. 27,

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Aaron Morris; Dec. 1, John Pool; Dec. 3, John Smith; Dec. 12, Daniel Paul.

John Huff and a man named Carter are supposed to have been the first settlers of Dudley Township. They were here as early as 1820. Huff lived near the junction of the New Castle and Dublin and the Hopewell and Flatrock turnpike roads, and Carter about three-fourths of a mile west of the site of Hopewell meeting-house.

Charles Smith lived on the State road in 1822, and William White, a noted horse jockey, north of that road. Merriman Straughn was an early settler near the town now called after his name. Richard Ratliff, father of Cornelius Ratliff, who for many years was a very prominent citizen, and Nathan Ratliff were among the earliest settlers. The latter was Richard's son. He was a noted hunter and trapper. After residing a number of years in the township he removed and settled on the Blue River. He was found dead in the woods, having gone out to look after traps which he had along the stream. Jonathan Ratliff, his brother, was also an early settler. Daniel Paul, Josiah Morris, William Mc- Kimmy, William Owen, William Maudlin, Elisha Shortridge, Richard Thompson, Richard Hawley, Jesse Bundy, Jonathan Bundy, Thomas Lennard, Joseph R. Leaky and Thomas Gilbert were among the earliest settlers. It is estimated that the popula- tion of the township was less than 150 in 1822 .. William Charles was an early settler near the State road, and there the first meet- ing of Hopewell church was held. Thomas Bell was an early settler where Marcellus Symons now lives; Jesse Bundy, in the northern part of the township; Robert and William Hester; John Paxson, a blacksmith; Henry Palin; Peter Winslow (colored) and his sons-Joseph, Nathan and Daniel, the latter a preacher; Sam- uel Stewart and John Bradway, in the western part, were all early settlers.

Benjamin Stratton, from Ohio, came to Richmond, Ind., in 1819, and thence, in 1825, to the farm, on part of which his son Joseph, an aged and respected citizen, now lives. Ephraim, an- other son, also resided in the township. Caleb Cope, a son-in-law of Benjamin Stratton, was an early settler. He was noted as a " coon hunter," and was also a schoolmaster. It is said that he was not fond of work, but he would chop on a big tree all night if there was a prospect of securing a raccoon by so doing. William Walters and Jackson Smith's father were early settlers on the State road. The Macys and other Friends were early settlers, but not among the first, in the vicinity of Hopewell meeting-house.

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Sampson Nation, father of William Nation, of New Lisbon, came from Kentucky and settled in the northeast part of the township in 1822. Other early settlers in the same neighborhood were Thomas Lennard and Joseph R. Leaky (already mentioned), Jacob Swafford and John Van Buskirk. The widow of Van Buskirk is still living. Benjamin Dennis settled in the eastern part of the township prior to 1822.

Richard Hawley, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in this township in 1822. He died in 1839, aged forty-four. He was a good type of the pioneer settler, noted for his activity and feats of strength at log rollings. His sons Eli and Charles are old resi- dents of the township. The Hawley family moved here from Richmond, where Mr. Hawley had been for about a year previous. He hired a man to move his effects with an ox-team, and after paying him had but 75 cents left. They lived three days as best they could until a cabin could be completed. Then there came up a rain, and as no door had yet been cut through the logs, crawled under and got inside. To make an opening for egress and entrance they piled firewood against the green logs, and kindling a fire burned a hole through. Soon after, Hawley cut his foot and was confined to the house for several weeks, during which time he was unable to provide for his family, except by a novel method of hunting. He had an old flint-lock musket the lock of which was out of order. Wild turkeys were so plenty that they often came near the house, and Mr. Hawley, watching through the cracks, would notify his wife when they approached. She would then apply a fire coal to the gun to touch it off, while he aimed it. In this way he managed to secure several supplies of game. Such was one of the many expedients to which the pioneers were obliged to resort.

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History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 51

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 996

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996