History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 57

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

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A postoffice, named Garnet, with Garnet Hayden, Postmaster, was established in the southern part of the township before Lewis- ville came into being. Soon after the town was founded Garnet was discontinued and Lewisville made a postoffice with Lewis C. Freeman, Postmaster. His successors in that office have been as follows: John Widows, Wm. L. Houston, T. J. Smith, Samuel Hopper, A. B. Guerin, A. I. McMeans, A. B. Guerin, J. C. Howe and Wm. L. Houston. The eastern portion of the town was laid out about 1837 by Wm. D. Westerfield and Roswell Spencer.

Eli Davis, a native of Ohio, came to Lewisville in 1841, a poor man, and opened a store. He was a shrewd business man and prospered greatly. He died in 1871 leaving a large fortune. About 1854 Mr. Davis erected the large flouring mill now owned by W. H. Lewis.

Oliver Griffin, W. D. and D. H. Wiles were among the busi- ness men of former years. W. L. Houston followed mercantile business here over twenty years.

Lewisville has a fine public-school building, large and costly, erected about seventeen years ago, and maintains an excellent graded school.

Tuesday, Aug. 24, 1875, Lewisville had a heavy loss from fire. A block on the south side of Main street was destroyed together with some neighboring buildings. The stores and buildings burned included W. H. Kerr's grocery, F. M. Crull's grocery, the Odd Fellows' Hall, Wright & Roby's blacksmith shop, and Parker & Shoemaker's furniture rooms.

The business interests of Lewisville in 1884 may be summarized as follows: Hotels-Caldwell House, Benjamin Caldwell; Hays House, P. H. Hays. General stores-Mrs. Robert Bartlett, Thomas W. Hall, T. L. Guerin. Druggists-John C. Keller, Bollmeyer & Brown. Clothing -- T. W. Hall, J. A. Gosnell. Groceries-S. L. Houston, C. B. Hollingsworth. Hardware and

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furniture-G. A. Hume. Furniture-R. R. Smith & Son. Flour- ing-mill-William H. Lewis. Saw-mill-John A. Wanee. Car- riage maker-J. F. Champlin. Planing-mill-R. R. Smith & Son. Livery stables-Coltrain & Phillips, William Reynolds. There are also several minor industrial establishments.

The present practicing physicians of Lewisville are: Bartlett & Bartlett, Smith & Rogers, and O. K. Guyer.

Lewisville has grown from a population of 193 in 1850 to 446 in 1880, and about 550 in 1884. The town has always been prosper- ous and to-day it is excelled in the amount of business done by few towns of its size.

LODGES.

Masonic. - Lewisville Lodge, No. 72, F. & A. M., was organ- ized in 1848 and in 1871 had thirty-seven members. It is no longer in existence.

Oddfellows .- Wildey Lodge, No. 191, I. O. O. F., was char- tered May 21, 1857, and instituted May 25, 1857. Following are the names of the charter members: S. B. Wilson, D. H. Wiles, S. S. Wilson, W. B. Gray, B. W. Stratton, T. J. Newby, R. Byr- kett and D. H. Fenstemaker. The lodge built and owns the hall which it now occupies. It has a good hall, nicely furnished. The membership is about thirty and the value of the lodge property about $1,400. The present officers are: James Morgan, N. G .; E. L. Johnston, V. G .; I. N. Wright, P. S .; T. E. Ball, Treasurer.

Farnsworth Encampment, No. 91, was instituted in 1869, and flourished for a time. Owing to the scattered condition of its membership, the organization was abandoned a few years ago. Aretas Lodge, Degree of Rebekah, was organized in 1870.

CHURCHES.

Rich Square Meeting .- Rich Square Meeting of the Society of Friends was established in 1832, and a log meeting-house erected. Among the earliest members were: Caleb Wickersham - through whose influence, mainly, the church was established; Jeremiah Parker, Isaac Parker, Edward Bond, John Reese, Nathan Reese, Needham Reese, Mary Cosand. A little later: James S. Butler, Daniel Johnson, Sally Johnson, Samuel W. Stewart, Benjamin Bond, Jonathan Bond, Samuel B. Benford, Stanton Butler, Jethro Wick- ersham and others. The log house served as meeting-house and school-house a few years, then an addition was built. Later, the

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society erected a frame meeting-house and a school-house which were burned in 1850. The present meeting-house, a frame build- ing, was then erected. The meeting has a large membership. The Monthly Meeting is held alternately at Rich Square and at Hopewell. The Trustees of the Rich Square Meeting are: Cal- vin H. Wasson, Martha A. Gilbert and Edmund Peelle.

Bethel Christian Church .- This church, situated in the northern part of Franklin Township, was organized in 1859. In that year Alvus Walker and wife deeded to Mahlon V. Pentecost, Robert Needham and Thomas Wisehart, Trustees, a lot of land for use of the church. In the same year a house of worship was erected. In 1884 a new church (frame) was built to replace the old, at a cost of about $1,200. The church began with fifteen or twenty members and has had as many as seventy-five, though the mem- bership is smaller at present. Among the original members were: Armstead Watkins, Thomas Wisehart, Mahlon Pentecost, Robert Healey, Robert Needham and their families. Elder Benough was the first pastor; Elders Bennett and Lowe were early preachers. The present church officers are: Robert Needham and Curtis Wigg, Elders; Peter Rhodes and John Catt, Deacons.

Baptist .- A church known as the Ebenezer Baptist church, sit- uated in the northern part of the township, was built about 1858. The congregation, at one time large, continued to meet until re- cently. Now no regular organization exists. Among the early members were Patton Ball, Harrison Goodman, Alvus Walker, old Mr. Hays, old Mr. Ball, and others of the neighborhood.

Presbyterian. - The Lewisville Presbyterian church was organ- ized by Rev. Eben Muse, Feb. 19, 1871. The original members were R. R. Smith and wife, A. B. Guerin and wife, Mrs. Margaret Watson, Robert Smith and wife, and W. B. Wilson and wife. R. R. Smith and A. B. Guerin were elected Trustees and G. B. Mor- ris, Stated Clerk. The pastors have been Rev. Charles Axtell, about fourteen months; Rev. J. J. Inman, six years, who died here; then occasional preaching by Rev. Mr. Dudley, of Rich- mond, and Rev. G. G. Mitchell, of Knightstown. The present pastor, Rev. S. H. Jamieson, has labored here since 1881. The mem- bership has increased threefold since the organization. The present officers are: Charles Okle, R. R. Smith and E. B. Beech, Elders; D. H. Fenstemaker and T. B. Vandike, Deacons; Marion Leviston, E. B. Beech and T. B. Vandike, Trustees. The Sabbath- school was organized in 1871, W. B. Wilson, Superintendent. The

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present Superintendent is D. H. Fenstemaker. The school num- bers about fifty pupils.

Lewisville M. E. Church .- A Methodist class, which met at a school-house near Lewisville, was organized about 1837. Nathan Messick, Mrs. Macy and Thomas McMeans and family were among the early members. The first church, a frame building, was built on the site of the present about 1838. In 1876 the present brick church was erected at a cost of $3,000. The church now has sev- enty members. The Trustees are: T. E. Ball, W. L. Houston, R. M. Russell, Clinton Potter, S. L. Fletcher. Miss Maggie L. Kel- ler is the Class-leader, and B. F. Callahan, Superintendent of the Sabbath-school.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Samuel P. Ball, retired farmer, is a native of Granger County, Tenn., born June 15, 1814, the youngest of eleven children of Thomas and Ellenor (Dyer) Ball, natives of Virginia, the former of English and Irish, and the latter of Irish descent. They were married in Virginia, and in 1796 moved to Tennessee remaining there till 1829, when they came to Indiana and entered 160 acres of Gov- ernment land, and with the help of our subject cleared and cul- tivated it, residing here the remainder of their lives. The mother died Nov. 24, 1848, and the father Feb. 25, 1849, both aged sev- enty-eight years. Samuel P. Ball has resided on his farm in Franklin Township since 1829, and has seen the country grow from a wilderness to one of civilization. He was married Nov. 26, 1835, to Mary, daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Colton) Car- ter. To them have been born nine children; but four are living- Catherine, John C., William D. and Sarah Ann. The deceased are-Elizabeth, Thomas, Phœbe, Emeretta and Nancy E. Thomas was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and died at Milliken's Bend, June 3, 1863. Politically Mr. Ball is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church.

Moman Ballard is one of the most prominent pioneers of Frank- lin Township. He was born in Monroe County, W. Va., April 4, 1807, the second of ten children of James and Jane (Keaton) Ballard, and a grandson of William and Elizabeth Ballard and James and Ankey (Ballard) Keaton. He was reared on a farm, his early life being devoted to the hard work of clearing and culti- vating his father's land. His schooling was limited to about four months in the subscription schools of that day, which were of a

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very inferior quality. He acquired a fair education by reading and private study and has kept himself informed on all subjects of public interest. He was married Oct. 25, 1827, to Elizabeth Paul, daughter of Isaac and Mercy (Ellis) Paul, natives of Vir- ginia. In 1830 he left Virginia and emigrated to the wilds of Henry County, Ind., where he leased ten acres of land for four years. In 1834 he bought eighty acres of land, where he now lives, and went to work to make a home. He is purely a self-made man. When he first came to Indiana he had but $7.25, but he has been industrious and energetic, and by good management has accumulated a large property. He had 420 acres of fine land, 300 acres of which he has given to his children. The 120 acres reserved for his own use are valued at $65 an acre. He is a public- spirited, whole-souled man, and all interests of public benefit find an advocate and liberal supporter in him. To Mr. and Mrs. Bal- lard have been born eleven children, eight of whom are living. They have traveled the hill of life together fifty-seven years, and now, when almost at the summit, can look back and review its changing vicissitudes with satisfaction, having the assurance that their labors have not been in vain, and looking forward can claim the promise for those who are faithful over a few things.

William Ballard, farmer and stock-raiser, section 20, Frank- lin Township, is a native of this township, born April 12, 1847, a son of Moman and Elizabeth (Paul) Ballard. He received a good education, residing with his parents till manhood, and has given his attention to agricult" pursuits. He lived on the old homestead three years after his marriage and then bought the farm where he now resides. He owns seventy acres of good land which he has improved and cultivated. He was married Dec. 29, 1869, to Elizabeth M., daughter of John W. and Catherine Sinholtz, a native of Virginia. When she was three years of age her parents moved to Grant County, Ind., where her father died ten years later. Mr. and Mrs. Ballard have had six children-Annie J., Cora Alice, Effie May, Maud O., Francis Marion, and an infant, deceased. Politically Mr. Ballard is a Democrat.

Wm. McKinder Bartlett, M. D., was born in Clermont County, Ohio, May 15, 1826, and is of English-Scottish descent. Dr. Bartlett's grandfather, Alonzo Bartlett, emigrated from England to the United States when a young man and settled at Philadelphia, Pa., and soon after moved to Allegheny County, Pa., where he was married and settled for life, following the occupation of a far-

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mer. Alonzo Bartlett's son, Andrew R. Bartlett, the father of the subject of this sketch, came West to Clermont County, Ohio, and located, following his chosen trade, that of a saddler. He was married in 1820 to Miss Phebe Whorton, daughter of John Whorton. Andrew, in 1828, removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1839, to Milroy, Rush County, this State. He was a very devoted Christian of the Methodist faith, and in the later years of his life was a minister of the Methodist denomination. Dr. Bartlett's grandfather, John Whorton, came from Scotland to the United States, and settled in Ohio and married Miss Phebe Saults, she being a native Ohioan. Dr. Bartlett, being only thirteen years of age when he came to Indiana, is in all intent an Indianian. He had only the benefit of the common-school education of that early day, and by making the most of his meager opportunities, acquired knowledge sufficient to begin teaching at the age of seventeen years, and at the age of eighteen began a course of medical read- ing with Dr. William Bracken, then of Milroy, but now of Green- burg, Ind. After perusing his studies three years and taking one course of lectures at the Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, the Doctor was licensed to practice medicine in 1847, and opened his office first in Raleigh, Rush County, the same year, with noth- ing but his medical knowledge and a few drugs. At this place he realized the force of the words, "It is not good that a man should be alone," and April 20, 1848, was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth J. Shefler, daughter of James Shefler. The Doctor has had six children, five living and one deceased. He resided at Raleigh until 1864 and moved to his present residence, Lewisville. In 1869 he attended a course of lectures at Bellevue College, New York, and has always devoted himself closely and successfully to his chosen profession. Politically he was a Democrat until the breaking out of the war, casting his last vote with that party for Stephen A. Douglas. The cause of the war made of him an uncompromising Unionist, and he cast his lot with the then young Republican party, of which party he is still an active member. He repre- sented Henry County in the State Legislature in the session of 1881, this being the only office he ever asked, it being a very im- portant session of the Legislature, as the statute of the State was revised. In religion he is a Methodist in sentiment and has been since his boyhood.

Samuel B. Binford, deceased, was a native of Virginia, born in 1808, a son of Samuel Binford. His parents died when he was

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quite young, and when a child he came to Henry County, Ind., with his uncle, James Binford, with whom he resided till his mar- riage to Ann Butler, and then settled on a farm in Franklin Township. His wife died in 1852. They were the parents of nine children, but four of whom are living. In 1852 Mr. Binford married Hannah R. (Stokes) Cox, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Henry County with her parents when twelve years of age. To them were born three children. Mrs. Binford had six children by her former marriage; two are deceased. Mr. Binford was an upright, square-dealing man and accumulated a large property. He was a popular man in the community and served eight years as County Commissioner. He died Aug. 23, 1872. The family are in religious faith Friends.

Jedidiah Bond, retired farmer, section 7, Franklin Township, is a native of Guilford County, N. C., born Aug. 19, 1804, a son d. 8.15. of Benjamin Bond, of English descent. In 1826 he emigrated to Wayne County, Ind., but soon after went to Hamilton County, Ohio, and remained a year. He then returned to Wayne County and worked at the blacksmith's trade twelve years. About 1840 he went to Lee County, Iowa, and remained six years, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He then returned to Indiana and bought 207 acres of land in Henry County, where he has since resided. He also owns 400 acres of land in Iowa. He was married in 12. 5 1832 to Almira Stanley, of Fort Wayne County. To them were - Lee Co. born five daughters; but four are living. His wife died in 1848, 3 . 3. 187 and in 1851 he married Dinah (Kenworthy) Bond, the widow of Isome Bond. They have had two children, only one of whom is living. Mr. Bond is a representative man of the township, and now in his declining years is enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. almira 2: 10.1812 dt Richard & abigail(Forter)

Robert Butler, deceased, was a native of Virginia, born March 29, 1827, a son of James and Deborah (Johnson) Butler. When he was eight years of age his parents moved to Ohio, and a short time later to Henry County, and located on a farm adjoining the one where his family now live, where he was reared. He was educated in the subscription schools and Earlham College. After leaving school he settled on a farm and devoted his time entirely to farm- ing. Nov. 25, 1852, Mr. Butler married Rebecca A., daughter of > Isome and Dinah (Kenworthy) Bond, pioneers of Wayne County, Ind. To them were born five children-Eva, Allen, Leeburn, Annetta and Leona. Mr. Butler died May 3, 1882.

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Robert B. Butler, farmer and stock-raiser, section 13, Franklin Township, is a native of Dinwiddie County, Va., born May 2, 1828, a son of Stanton and Elizabeth (Binford) Butler, natives of Vir- ginia, of English descent. In the fall of 1832 his parents came to Indiana and bought a farm in Franklin Township, Henry County, where the father died in 1869, aged eighty-nine years, and the mother in 1878. aged eighty years. She was a member of the Society of Friends. Our subject followed farming in Franklin Township till 1879 when he went to Kansas and remained three years when he returned to Henry County. He has a fine farm of eighty acres of improved land. Mr. Butler was married Dec. 1, 1853, to Margaret S., daughter of Jesse and Sarah Healey, the former of Guilford, and the latter of Surry County, N. C. They were married in Wayne County, and in 1821 came to Henry County. Mrs. Healey cooked the dinner for the men at the erection of the first court-house in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Butler have had seven children; but five are living-Albinus O., Stanton W., Olive H., Jessie Ann and Loretta. Loren E. and an infant are deceased. Mrs. Butler is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a Republican.

John Cosand, retired farmer, is one of the old pioneers who en- tered the land in Franklin Township. He was born in Randolph County, N. C., Jan. 24, 1805, a son of Benjamin and Mary (Mor- gan) Cosand, his father a native of Pasquotank, and his mother of Perquimans County, N. C. His father died in Randolph County, N. C., and in 1822 his mother came with her family to Indiana and settled in Wayne County, and in 1824 came to Henry County and settled on land entered by his brother, where his mother lived till her death, Dec. 17, 1872, aged ninety-five years, eleven months and seventeen days. Mr. Cosand is a member of the Society of Friends and one of the most influential and highly respected citi- zens of the township.

Joseph Cosand, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Perqui- mans County, N. C., April 7, 1829, a son of Charles and Elva (White) Cosand, natives of North Carolina, of German descent. He remained on his father's farm till the spring of 1856, and then came to Henry County, Ind. His parents followed him the next fall and settled on the farm in Franklin Township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Cosand being in limited circum- stances when he came to Indiana worked for wages two years and then bought the farm where he now resides, at that time wild timber

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land, but now a well-improved and highly cultivated farm. He was married Dec. 21, 1859, to Sarah Symonds, a daughter of John and Rebecca Symonds, who were among the pioneer settlers of Henry County. Mr. and Mrs. Cosand are members of the Society of Friends and among the most highly esteemed citizens of the township.

Michael Dolan, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1823, a son of James and Margaret (Slow) Dolan. In 1845 he came to America, landed at New Orleans, with only sufficient money to pay his passage to Cincinnati. He obtained employment as driver of a canal boat for one season, and afterward worked for farmers, on the railroad, on steamboats, etc., till 1860, when he came to Henry County, Ind., and rented n ne acres of land in Spiceland Township. He afterward bought forty acres and remained there six years, when he bought the farm where he now lives. He owns 152 acres of well-improved land in Henry County and eighty-five acres in Morgan County, all earned by his own industry and economy, coming to this country a poor man. Mr. Dolan was married May 1, 1859, to Mary (Nixon) Flannigan, a native of Ireland, who came to America in 1845. They had one child that died in infancy. They have reared a child of Mrs. Dolan's by her first marriage, Barney Flannigan, and also a child of the latter from the age of eighteen months to eleven years. Mr. and Mrs. Dolan are members of the Catholic church. Politically he is a Democrat.

Robert Fletcher is a native of Monroe County, Va., born July 15, 1806, a son of William and Margaret (Spickard) Fletcher. His father was a native of England, and was pressed into the service by the British at the time of the German war. He served on the sea nine years when he deserted and came to America at the time of the Revolution. He received his naturalization papers from Gen- eral Washington. He lived with David Young in Pennsylvania twelve years, and then married and moved to Virginia, where his wife died, leaving five children, and he married Margaret Spick- ard, a daughter of Jacob Spickard who died while serving in the Revolutionary war. To this union were born seven children. Our subject is the only survivor of the family. The father met with reverses and the family was scattered, Robert finding a home with Lewis Tockett, who settled in Virginia in an early day. His wife and grandson, the former seventy and the latter eighteen years of age, were captured by the Indians and traveled through the wilder-

Mormon Ballard

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ness 300 miles. Preparations were being made to burn Mrs. Tockett and two other old ladies when they were rescued by the Friends. They were gone from home from October until April. Robert Fletcher lived with Mr. Tockett six years. The winter of 1821 he worked for $3 a month and the next March emigrated to Fayette County, Ohio. He lived with his brother and brother-in- law a year, and the next year worked on a farm. In 1824 he came to Indiana but returned to Ohio and remained till the winter of 1825 when lie came again to Indiana and has since made Henry County his home. In 1826 he split 4,000 rails for Gabriel Cosand at 25 cents a hundred. He then leased a tract of timber · land of Michael Sea for nine years and built a " Buckeye cabin." He lived there two years and cleared ten acres of land. In 1827 Mr. Sea died and in 1828 Mr. Fletcher sold his lease to the widow and moved to a tract of eighty acres, belonging to his father-in- law, west of Lewisville. The following winter he bought the land for $350, $100 cash and the rest in yearly payments. He cleared the land, residing there till 1831 when he traded it for 200 acres east of Flatrock, now owned by his eldest son, Andrew. He lived there till 1865 when he rented the farmn and moved to Dub- lin, Ind. In 1871 he returned to his farm, but in 1872 moved to Lewisville, where he is spending his declining years and enjoying the accumulation of many years' hard work. Mr. Fletcher was married Feb. 16, 1826, to Keziah Tockett. They had a family of nine children ; six lived till maturity, and five are still living. His wife died in the fall of 1843, and in 1844 he married Elizabeth Messick, a native of Kentucky. Ten children were born to them; but three are living. Mrs. Fletcher died in Dublin in 1870. In 1872 Mr. Fletcher married Ann Traber, widow of Henry Traber. Mr. Fletcher was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church fifty-five years but is now a member of the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a Democrat.

John J. Gilbert, farmer and stock-raiser, section 18, Franklin Township, was born in Dudley Township, Henry Co., Ind., Feb. 12, 1837, a son of Josiah and Abigail (Bell) Gilbert. His grand- parents, Josiah and Dorothy (Nixon) Gilbert, were natives of North Carolina, where their son, Josiah, Jr., was born Nov. 30, 1809, and when he was quite young they came to Indiana and en- tered land in Wayne County, near the present site of Richmond. Josiah, Jr., was married May 10, 1832, to Abigail Bell, who was born Jan. 14, 1814, a daughter of John and Lydia (Symonds) Bell, see the Pasquotank recorte?

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and soon after they moved to Henry County, where he lived till his death, Jan. 26, 1839. Nine of the family, including his father, died within a period of six months. He left three children- Isaiah B., John J., and Dora J. After the death of the father the mother went back to Wayne County and remained eight years, when she returned to Henry County. In 1847 she married Daniel Johnson, who died in 1872. She is now living with her son John. He remained with his mother till manhood. His step-father was like an own father to him, giving him a good education and then a fine start in the world. He has made the most of his opportu- nities and now owns 160 acres of land, all well improved. He was married May 21, 1862, to Mary, daughter of Phineas and Hul- dah (Bundy) Lamb. They have had nine children-Levi M., Daniel J., Huldah (deceased), Abbie, Olive, Emery (deceased), John G., Mary E. and Anna B. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert's ancestors for many generations have been members of the Friends' Society. Politically he is a Republican.

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History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 57

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