History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 52

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

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The township not having any large streams, had no mills early. The settlers were obliged to go either to Vandalia, east of Dublin, or to some other part of Wayne County to procure flour or meal. Some even went to Connersville. The first mill of any kind in the township was a saw-mill built by Abijah Hammer, near New Lisbon. To this he afterward added a corn-cracker, with which a small amount of grinding could be done.

The low lands of this township were slowly taken up. As late as 1840 many tracts remained unimproved. The township is now very wealthy and prosperous. In 1880 its population was 1,544.

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

NEW LISBON.

This old village is situated in the northeastern part of Dudley Township, on the Fort Wayne, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad. It was located in 1833 by James Donaldson and William Crane, and called Jamestown, after the former. A postoffice with the name New Lisbon was established about 1838. The town was incorpo- rated in 1880, and the census of that year showed a population of 187. It has grown some since, and now has about 260 inhabitants.

The first building erected in the place was a store, by Rufus Crane, who was the first merchant. Other early settlers were Aaron Yore, a cooper, and John and Isaac Ware, blacksmiths.

There was a steam saw-mill at "Jimtown," about 1837, one of the first introduced into the county. It was a veritable "wonder to the natives," and people came from miles around to see it work. Another, cotemporaneous with it, was located near Hopewell meeting-house, for a time. It was owned by Daniel Reynolds and A. L. Please. It used about five cords of wood per day as fuel. These saw-mills were doubtless the first establishments run by steam in Henry County.

The first physician in the place was Dr. Benjamin Harrison, who died here after about two years' practice. Many others have practiced in the town a short time each. Dr. Wm. H. Castor, a good and successful physician, resided here for fourteen years or more. The present practitioners are Dr. S. Pickering and Dr. C. N. Gibbs.

The present business interests of the town include the large drain tile factory of Johnson & Sullivan; the saw-mill of Sloniker & Miller; two blacksmiths and one wagon-maker; the general store of Mrs. O. Wiseman, and the drug, variety store and post- office of E. W. Walradth.

STRAUGHN.

The town of Straughn, on the main line of the C., St. L. & P. Railroad and the old National road, is a young but thrifty village. It was laid out in 1868, by John L. Starr, on land formerly owned by Merriman Straughn, an early settler. An addition to the town plat was made soon after by John Hazelrigg.

The first house in the town was erected in 1868 by Benjamin Hayden. The first merchant was John L. Starr. The postoffice was established in 1868. The Postmasters, to date, have been:

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

David Wilson, Joel Palin, Elwood Vickery, T. B. Hammer, Eli Smith and James L. Willis. In 1880 the population was 143.

The town was incorporated in 1882. It now has about 250 in- habitants. Among the business interests are the drain tile fac- tories of Johnson & Sullivan and Dennis & Charles, the saw-mill and planing-mill of Edwin Reynolds, the dry-goods store of E. M. Brittanham, and the groceries of J. L. Willis and E. R. Colburn. The town has a school, two churches and one physician - Dr. Weekly. Reynolds's mill was moved hither from Prairie Township and erected in 1873. The town is improving quite rapidly.

SCHOOLS.

Probably the first school-house in Dudley Township was that which stood on the corner of Thomas Lennard's land. It was a log structure, of the old-time pattern. Here a school was taught as early as 1827. Thomas Lennard and Robert M. Cooper were among the earliest teachers. Later a school was started at Hope- well meeting-house.

In the western part of the township Caleb Cope taught the first school about 1830, in John Bradway's cabin. Later, a log school- house was erected in the same neighborhood.

Soon after Hopewell meeting was organized a school was estab- lished under the auspices of the meeting, which continued to flourish until recently, ranking among the best country schools of the county. William Johnson was a teacher at Hopewell about 1835. He was succeeded by John M. Macy, Robert Hall, Solo- mon Hastings and others. Cyrus Hodgin taught in the new two- story school-house for two or three years. About 1877 Hopewell school-house became the property of the district and one of the township schools is now kept in it. In the Hopewell school the higher branches were taught, and the institution had an excellent reputation.

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

Hopewell Meeting. - The oldest Friends' meeting in Henry County is the Hopewell meeting, The first Friends' meeting was held at the house of William Charles, near the State road. About 1823 a meeting-house of hewed logs was erected on the land of Richard Ratliff, about three-quarters of a mile southeast of the present church. Among the leading early members were Joel Gilbert, Sr., Thomas Gilbert, Josiah Gilbert, Benjamin Stratton,

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

Robert Parker, John Hall, Thomas Bell, William Maudlin, Aaron Boggs, Benjamin Dennis, Richard Hawley, Geo. Stanley, Elisha Hammer, Christopher Hiatt, John Symons, Jonathan Ratliff, Jesse Bundy, and their wives, and Elizabeth Ratliff. James Macy, Sr., is one of the oldest living members. The second meeting-house, a frame building, was built about 1838, where the present house stands. The new meeting-house, also a frame, was built in 1878 at a cost of about $1,600. The first minister of Hopewell meeting was Rachel Bundy; later, Mordecai M. Gilbert became a minister. The present ministers are Mordecai M. Gil- bert and Thomas Henley. The Trustees are Morris Reynolds and Harvey Gilbert. . Hopewell meeting has nearly 300 members.

Baptists .- The Baptists of this township organized and built a log church about the same time Hopewell meeting was formed. The church was used for several years as a school-house. The organization went down years ago. The house stood about one and one-half miles northeast of where Daniel Paul settled.

Salem U. B. Church .- This congregation was organized about 1842, and immediately a log church was erected on land now owned by Thomas W. Smith, about one and one-half miles southeast of where the present church stands. Caleb Witt was the first minister and organized the society. Early members were: Chas. W. McGath, Wayne Smith and wife, Micajah Maudlin and wife, Charles Pax- son, Paul Coffin, Eli Maudlin, John Stiggleman, Thomas B. Scott and their wives. Among the early ministers were Caleb and Joseph Witt, John Vardeman and Thomas Evans. The present house of worship was erected in 1860 at a cost of about $1,000 The society now has about eighty members, and the Sabbath- school about forty. The present Trustees are: C. P. Hawley, Joseph Riggle and C. W. McGath; Class-leader, Eli Hawley.

At Beech Grove a church was erected some years ago by the Free Methodists. The United Brethren afterward met there. Their organization has now gone down and the building is only used for occasional preaching.

New Lisbon Churches. - The first church in New Lisbon was organized by the Methodists who erected a house of worship about 1835. Three or four years later the Christians built a church. Neither of these organizations is now in existence. The United Brethren society built a church in 1864 at a cost of about $2,200. The congregation was organized a short time before by P. S. Cook, the first pastor. Alexander Floyd was the minister who was in-

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

strumental in building the church. The church started with about twenty members and has now about sixty. The present pastor is W. A. Ohler. Trustees: John Raffensbarger, Enos Shaffer and Jasper Matney. The Evangelical Association organ- ized a church in New Lisbon and erected a house of worship in 1864. The congregation has never been large.

Straughn Christian Church .- The "New Light" Christians who now worship at Straughn organized at the Macedonia school- house south of that town and there met for two years. In 1868 they erected a frame church at a cost of about $1,800, which in 1881 was moved to the town of Straughn. The congregation was organized by Elders Duncan and Eddings. The first Deacons were John L. Starr and Dempsey Jenkins. There were about twenty- five members at first; the present membership is about eighty. Elder Duncan was the first pastor. The present is Elder Kemp. The church officers are: Win. Gauker and Edwin Reynolds, Dea- cons; Amos Stevenson, Secretary.

Straughn M. E. Church .- In December, 1881, a Methodist Episcopal class, consisting of nine members, was formed at Straughn by Rev. R. S. Boston, who began preaching at this place May 1, 1881. N. S. McMeans was the first Class-leader. The house of worship, a neat frame building, was erected in 1882, and dedicated June 24, 1883. Its cost was $1,569. The present mem- bership is seventeen. The Trustees are: N. S. McMeans, W. O. Bogue, Leonard Scott, Eli Smith and Samuel Watson; Class- leader, N. S. McMeans; Pastor, Rev. E. R. Small.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Jesse Ballard, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Franklin Township, Henry Co., Ind., Aug. 4, 1840, the third son of Moman and Elizabeth (Paul) Ballard. His youth was spent on the farm and in the district school. July 4, 1863, he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in Company K, One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Infantry. His term of enlistment was six months, but he served eight months. After his return home he went to Grant County, Ind., and engaged in agricultural pursuits, and while there was married, Nov. 9, 1864, to Alice Shinholtz, a native of Virginia, who came to Indiana with her parents when eight years of age. After his marriage Mr. Ballard returned to his native county and settled on his farm in Dudley Township He has eighty acres of finely cultivated land, with good farm

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Ballard have had six children-Marion Grant, Lizzie J., Ida Ellen, Rosetta May, Pearl Estella, and Jennie Lillian. Politically Mr. Ballard is a Democrat.

Joseph Ballard, farmer and stock-raiser, Dudley Township, was born in Franklin Township, Henry Co., Ind., Nov. 8, 1842, a son of Moman and Elizabeth (Paul) Ballard. He received a me- dium education in the common schools, remaining with his father till manhood. Aug. 11, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Sixty- ninth Indiana Infantry. He was sent with his regiment to Ken- tucky, after the battle of Richmond, where he was taken ill and became unable to perform the duties required. He was transferred to the invalid corps, remaining there till his discharge, Oct. 31, 1863. After his return home he remained with his father till his marriage and then moved to Dudley Township, where he now has a fine farm of eighty acres. He was married March 3, 1864, to Nancy Ann, daughter of Samuel Shidler. They have three children-Minnie, now Mrs. Marcellus Symons; Angie Viola, and William M. Politically Mr. Ballard is a Democrat.

W. O. Bogue was born in Washington County, Ind., in 1825, a son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Evans) Bogue, natives of North Car- olina, his father born in 1790, died in 1855, his mother born in 1797, died in 1879. His father came to Indiana in 1812, and during the war settled in Washington County where he suffered many hard- ships and privations and where he was married and remained till 1829, when he moved to Henry County, and located on the farm now owned by W. O., on section 35, Dudley Township. His family consisted of three children-Benjamin E., W. O., and Sarah A., now Mrs. William Puntney, of Iowa. W. O. Bogue has made Henry County his home since 1829, with the exception of two years spent in Wabash County. He has made farming his principal vocation through life, and now owns 125 acres of excel- lent land. He was married in 1849 to Lucinda Coxen, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, born in 1833. She died in 1855 leaving two children-Oliver H., an attorney of Wabash, Ind., and Frank, died aged fifteen years. In 1858 Mr. Bogue married Mary A. Holland, who was born in 1836. They have had three children-Flora M., Marshall G. (deceased) and Gertrude. Politi- cally Mr. Bogue is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Society of Friends.

Edmund Dare, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Franklin County, Ind., born April 10, 1845, a son of John J. and Mary Ann (Cassady) Dare. His father was a native of Zanesville, Ohio, born

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

in 1809. His mother was a native of New Jersey, a daughter of John Cassady, an early settler of Franklin County. His grand- father, Abiel Dare, moved with his family to Franklin County, Inday in 1812, and was soon after drafted into the war of 1812. He died in Franklin County, leaving his wife with seven children to rear and educate on a frontier farm. John J. Dare, died in Franklin County in 1869 and his wife two years later, in 1871. Five of their eight children are living. Edmund Dare received his early education in the common schools, taking a course at Brookville College and Cincinnati. It was his desire to enter the legal profession, and his father sent him to school to make the needful preparation, but subsequently buying more land, Edmund was obliged to return home and assist in its cultivation. His father died before the land was paid for, but before his death divided it equally, with the understanding that they pay the indebtedness. This they did and as a result Mr. Dare has never resumed his legal studies. He was married Oct. 2, 1874, to Eva, daughter of Dr. C. N. Gibbs, now of this township. They have two children -Oakley L. and John J. Mr. Dare came to Henry County in the spring of 1875 and bought the farm where he has since resided containing ninety acres of well-cultivated land.

Solomon Elliott was born in Wayne County, Ind., Dec. 2, 1819, the fifth of eleven children of Jacob and Mary (Peelle) Elliott, natives of North Carolina, his father born in 1793 and his mother in 1790. His parents were married in 1810, and in 1815 moved to Wayne County, Ind., and located near Centreville, remaining there till 1822 when they moved to a farm of 160 acres near Dublin, where the mother died Dec. 18, 1853, and the father Oct. 27, 1868. They were members of the Society of Friends. In politics he was a Republican. Their children all lived till maturity, and seven are now living -- Absalom, of Hamilton County, Ind .; Rhoda, widow of Nathan Gilbert; Solomon; Catharine, wife of M.M. Gilbert; Exum, of Dublin, Ind .; Rachel, wife of James McCoy, of Dublin; Mary, wife of T. B. Pearson, of Florida. The deceased are-Jonathan; Gulana, wife of Stephen Marshall; Mark, and Ruth, wife of C. B. Eidson. Solomon Elliott remained in Wayne County till 1842, when he came to Henry County and settled on the farm where he now lives, in Dudley Township. He owns 170 acres of fine land, all well im- proved. He is one of the earliest settlers of the township, and the only one living of the old settlers that owns property within its limits. Politically he is a Republican. He has served as Town-

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

ship Trustee three years. Sept. 30, 1841, he married Penelope Morris, a native of Wayne County, Ind., born Aug. 12, 1823, a daughter of Jonathan and Abigail Morris. They had a family of nine children, eight of whom are living-Franklin has been a mis- sionary of the Friends Society in Indian Territory four years; he served three years in the late war in Company A, Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry; he was wounded twice,-at Stone River, and Chickamauga,-and was a prisoner a short time; Martin L. resides in Jasper County, Mo .; Emma F., wife of Reuben Peelle of Clinton County, Ohio; Charles M., died aged one year and ten months; L. M. H. and Laura C., wife of William Mills, reside in X Dudley Township; Amanda is teaching in Clinton County, Ind. ; Anna M. and Milo are at home. Mr. Elliott and family are members of the Society of Friends. Mrs. Elliott died Dec. 26, 1883.

Charles M. Gilbert, son of Jeremiah and Mary Gilbert, was born in Henry County, Ind., Feb. 8, 1854. When twenty years of age he commenced to work at the carpenter's trade, which with con- tracting he has since followed, and at the same time has carried on farming. He was married in 1876 to Elizabeth Coate, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Coate. They have four children- William, Nora, Ray and Lora. Politically Mr. Gilbert is a Republican. He has served as Township Assessor and since 1882 has been Trustee. He and his wife are members of the Society of Friends.

Joel Gilbert, deceased, was born in North Carolina in 1793. In 1824 he came to Indiana and spent one year in Wayne County, and in August, 1825, he came to Henry County and settled on land entered from the Government, on section 23, Dudley Township, where he remained till his death in 1870. He was married in North Carolina to Lydia Morgan, a native of that State, born in 1786. She died in 1845. They had nine children; but three are living-Joel; Lydia, wife of Cyrus Kendall; Mordecai M. The deceased are- Aaron; Abigail, wife of Cornelius Ratliff, of Grant County, Ind .; Millicent; Pennina, wife of John Cook; Nathan and Jeremiah. Mr. Gilbert and his family were members of the Friends' Society of which he was an Elder many years.

Mordecai M. Gilbert was born in North Carolina, Sept. 5, 1824, a son of Joel and Lydia (Morgan) Gilbert. He was reared and educated in Henry County, Ind., residing with his parents till manhood. He now owns a farm of 120 acres in Dudley Town-

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

ship. In 1845 he was married to Martha Bundy, a native of Henry County, born in 1828. To them were born five children- Abel, born in 1846; Rachel, born in 1849, died in 1855; Esther, born in 1852, wife of W. P. Binford, of Hancock County; Jeptha, born in 1856; Wilson, born in 1859, died in 1863. Mrs. Gilbert died in 1863. In 1864 Mr. Gilbert married Mary Moore, who was born in 1830 and died in 1880. They had two children-Alfred and Albert, twins, born in 1867. The latter died in 1868. In 1881 Mr. Gilbert married Catharine, widow of Thomas Gilbert,X and daughter of Jacob Elliott. She was born in Wayne County, Ind., in 1821. She has three children by her first marriage- Jonathan N., Oliver, and Anna, wife of N. A. Moore. Politically Mr. Gilbert is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Society of Friends.

Josiah T. Lewis, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Highland County, Ohio, born July 10, 1819, the eldest of nine children of Nathan and Rachel (Thomas) Lewis. His father was a native of Bedford County, Va., a.'son of Evan Lewis and a grandson of Louis Lewis, who came from Wales and settled in Jamestown, Va., ·· in 1650. He was a noted man of his day, and held an appoint- Yment from the King in the colonial government. His mother was a daughter of Josiah T. Thomas, a native of North Carolina, who died when she was a child. Her mother afterward married Elisha Johnson, and in 1806 they moved to Ohio, and settled near Hills- boro, in Highland County. In 1811 Nathan Lewis emigrated to Ohio, and lived in Cincinnati several years. He was married to Rachel Thomas in September, 1818, in Waynesville, Ohio. Both were consistent members of the Society of Friends, and they were married by order of their society. In the spring of 1822 they moved, with their family, to Randolph County, Ind., and in 1825 to Wayne County, locating near Richmond. In 1842 they came to Henry County, and settled in Dudley Township, where the father died in 1847, aged fifty-six years, and the mother in 1881, aged eighty-seven years. Josiah T. Lewis was married Nov. 9, 1848, to Juliann Heacock, a native of Pennsylvania, born near Philadelphia March 12, 1830, a daughter of Nathan and Eliza Heacock, who came to Henry County, Ind., in 1837, and settled in Knightstown. After his marriage Mr. Lewis bought his present farm, which he now has under a good state of cultivation. In his early life his educational advantages were limited, but being ambitious, he ap- plied himself to study and became prepared to teach, a vocation he

Evan + Sarah Jenison Levis

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

followed in connection with farming fifteen years. He has taken a great interest in educational matters, and has held many respon- sible offices for the promotion of the cause. To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been born seven children; but three are living-Mary E., Marcus A. and Charles A. Nathan H., Sarah J., O. W. and an infant are deceased. Politically Mr. Lewis is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Society of Friends.

James Macy, Jr., son of James and Anna Macy, was born in Henry Connty, Ind., Sept. 26, 1840. He worked on the farm with his father till manhood, and then began working at the black- smith's trade, which he followed four years. He was then in the saw-mill and lumber business thirteen years, and since then has been engaged in farming. He owns a fine farm of 100 acres on section 14, Dudley Township. He was married in 1869 to Miriamy Pidgeon, a native of Henry County, born July 3, 1844, a daughter of David and Rachel Pidgeon. They have seven children-Rachel A., Mary E., Malinda J., Oliver L., Luella, Dora E. and Rolland W. Politically, Mr. Macy is a Republican. He and his family are members of the Society of Friends. 2. 4.12.1898

Phineas Macy, farmer and stock-raiser, was born near Liberty, Union Co., Ind., Aug. 19, 1833, the eldest son and fourth of ten children of James and Anna ( Mendenhall) Macy. His father was a native of Guilford County, N. C., born Aug. 29, 1805, and came with his parents to Indiana in 1819. His mother was a native of Miami County, Ohio, born in February, 1805, and was married in her native county about 1823, and came with her husband to In- diana. When Phineas was two years of age his parents came to Henry County, and settled in Dudley Township, where he was reared and educated. He was married June 26, 1852, to Bettie Ratliff, a daughter of Cornelius Ratliff, who was one of the first to enter a farm in Dudley Township. They have a family of four children-Mary M., Rachel, John W. and Joseph R/ Mr. Macy has a fine farm of 150 acres, all well improved. He and his family-k are members of the Society of Friends. Politically he is a Re- publican.

Alonzo Mills, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Randolph County, Ind., born Jan. 25, 1852, a son of John D. and Huldah (Mendenhall) Mills, of Franklin Township. When he was four years of age his parents moved to Wayne County, and nine years later to Miami County. In 1871 they came to Henry County, and located in Franklin Township. Alonzo Mills received a good edu-

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In Charles Williams

Rachel (gardner)

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

cation in the common schools, remaining with his parents till his marriage. He then bought the farm where he resides, in Dudley Township, containing eighty acres of fine, well-improved land. He is an enterprising young man, and is surrounding himself and family with all the comforts and conveniencies of the present day. He was married Feb. 20, 1879, to Emma, daughter of Samuel and Hannah Binford. To them has been born one son-Roscoe C. Mr. and Mrs. Mills are members of the Society of Friends. Politi- cally, he is a Republican.

Nathan Nicholson, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Liberty Township, Henry Co., Ind., March 24, 1843, a son of William and Ruth (Bond) Nicholson. His early life was spent on the farm of his father. When eighteen years of age he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, Aug. 27, 1861, in Company C, Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River and Chickamauga. At the latter battle he was wounded in the head and disabled for a short time. After his recovery he joined his company and participated in the battle of Lookout Mountain, and was with Sherman from Chattanooga to Atlanta. After serv- ing three years he was discharged in September, 1864, and re- turned home. He attended school for a time. Sept. 24, 1868, he was married to Lizzie, daughter of Samuel Leonard, an early set- tler of Dudley Township. After his marriage he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, and now has a good farm of 200 acres of well cultivated land. For ten years he engaged in teaching during the winter months. His wife was also a teacher before her marriage. To them have been born two children-Pearl and Lawrence. Politically Mr. Nicholson is a Republican.

Charles Smith was born in Virginia in 1775 and died in Henry County, Ind., in July, 1846. In his early life he went to Kentucky and there married Betsey Noble, a native of that State, born in 1785. In 1823 he moved to Henry County, Ind., and entered eighty acres of land in Dudley Township, where he lived the re- mainder of his life. In early life he worked at the hatter's and blacksmith's trades, and in later life followed farming. Politically he was a Democrat. He served as Trustee of Dudley Township, and for several years was Justice of the Peace in Kentucky. He and his wife were members of the Christian church. Their chil- dren were four in number, three born in Kentucky and one in Henry County, Ind .- Rebecca, born Nov. 14, 1818, deceased wife of Isaac Brittingham, of Fayette County, Ind .; Jackson Smith;

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History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 52

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