USA > Indiana > Henry County > History of Henry County, Indiana > Part 68
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David Kutz, third son of Joseph and Martha (Shell) Kutz, was born Jan. 27, 1851, in Montgomery County, Ohio. He was reared on the farm and obtained a good education at the district schools. He was married Dec. 25, 1872, to Sarah J., daughter of Daniel and Catherine Gibhart, natives of Pennsylvania. After his marrage he engaged in farming which he still follows and now owns thirty- three acres of valuable land under a high state of cultivation. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church and his political af- filiations are with the Democratic party. Our subject's parents were natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. They were mar- ried in Ohio, and after living there several years they settled in Liberty Township, Henry Co., Ind., where Joseph Kutz carried on farming and coopering until a few years ago when he retired from active business. His wife died Oct. 11, 1875. They were the par- ents of five sons and five daughters of whom two sons and one daughter are deceased. He and wife belonged to the Lutheran church. markle, Ind.
Aaron. B. Leakey, farmer, postoffice Rock Creek, Huntington Co., Ind., was born in Butler County, Ohio, July 6, 1821, the eld- est son of Joseph R. and Abigail (Biggs) Leakey, the former born in Knox County, Tenn., in September, 1798, and the latter a native of Ohio. Joseph R. Leakey moved to Butler County, Ohio, in 1818. In the fall of 1821 he attended the land sales for Henry County, Ind., at Brookville, and entered eighty acres for his mother,
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
160 acres for his brother Levi, and 160 acres for himself, and the following spring moved to the county and settled in what is now Dudley Township. He was married in Ohio, to Abigail, daughter of Aaron Biggs. To them were born eight children, seven of whom are living. His wife died and he subsequently married Mrs. Mar- tha A. Newball. They had a family of six children. Mr. Leakey was for many years a member of the Christian church. His widow still resides in Liberty Township with her daughter, Mrs. Wise- hart. Aaron B. Leakey was married Dec. 15, 1842, to Anna Paul, a native of Virginia, born Aug. 16, 1821, a daughter of Daniel and Leah (Swope) Paul, natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Leakey re- sided in Henry County five years after their marriage and then moved to Huntington County, where he has since resided. To them were born ten children; but three are living. Mrs. Leakey died Jan. 1, 1877, and Sept. 1, 1878, Mr. Leakey married Mrs. Mary Gray, who died Nov. 29, 1882. Mr. Leakey is a member of Rock Creek Grange, No. 574. He is an active member of the Christian church.
L. J. Martz, of the firm of Modlin & Martz, dealers in general merchandise, was born Nov. 3, 1854, in Montgomery County, Ohio, and is the only son of David and Lydia (McMullen) Martz, the former of German and the latter of Scotch descent. In 1864 he came with his parents to Henry County, Ind., and received a good business education. At the age of thirteen years he began clerk- ing in the dry-goods store of Samuel Winnings, of Millville, with whom he remained three years. He was variously engaged for the next few years, and March 26, 1874, he entered the general mercan- tile store of C. & C. Howsen as clerk. He remained with Mr. Howsen till he sold out to Hernly & Bouslog, who was succeeded by Isaac Brumback, Mr. Martz remaining in the same store as clerk until Dec. 1, 1882, when he and W. E. Modlin purchased the stock and have since carried on a successful business. His political affiliations are with the Republican party.
David Millikan. - William and Eleanor, Millikan were the parents of Alexander Millikan, and grandparents of the subject of this sketch. They emigrated to Tennessee from North Caro- lina in the year 1795, settling in Granger County, of the former State, which was then an almost unbroken wilderness. They reared a family of eight sons and two daughters, all of whom lived to old age, the youngest being sixty-two years old at the time of his death. William was a very zealous Quaker and a strong
730
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
1788 21 1809
Democrat. He was an excellent mechanic, as a worker in both wood and iron. Alexander was the fifth son, and was born in 1788, being seven years old when his father went to Tennessee. At the age of twenty-one he married Elizabeth Russell, of the same State. About that time he came into possession of a farm, which he pro- ceeded, with energy and in good faith, to clear up and improve. But upon a subsequent survey it was discovered that the title to the land was in another, and he therefore lost all. He again set- tled another claim and that was taken in the same way, thus forc- ing him to lay the third claim, after spending much labor on the first and second. This third farm was a purchase, and embraced about 300 acres. There he opened up a farm and reared a family of twelve children, eight girls and four boys, who all lived to have families of their own. In December, 1838, he moved to Indiana, having been preceded by three of his children. On his way here, just west of Cincinnati, his four-horse team took fright and ran away, coming in contact with the fence and tearing loose a stake which struck the driver, Martin Stubblefield, on the head, killing him instantly. Four of his children were in the wagon, but all escaped unhurt, and were rescued after the team had run about a mile. Arriving in Indiana he settled on a farm which he had pre- viously bought, about a mile and one-half east of Hillsboro, on Little Blue River. Again settling in the woods, he moved into a small log house which his son, John R., had prepared for him. He lived there and improved the farm. His family being grown and his wife very weakly, his children began to marry and go to places of their own; all but two of them were here married. In May, 1855, his wife, Elizabeth, died. Shortly after he moved to a farm on Flatrock, in Liberty Township, which is now owned and occupied by his son David Millikan, where, on the 18th day of August, 1880, he passed peacefully away, being almost ninety-three years old. He and his wife had joined the Baptist church when about twenty-four years old, and ever afterward remained faithful and consistent members of that faith, and died in the hope of a bliss- ful immortality. David Millikan, the subject of this sketch, was born in Jefferson County, E. Tenn., Jan. 13, 1828, and came to this State with his father in 1838, and lived, as other boys of that day, enjoying very few of the advantages of school, helping his father to open up and prepare the Blue River farm, rolling logs and clearing; at the age of sixteen years, plowing here and there among roots and stumps with the old-fashioned right-hand plow.
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
When about twenty-one years old he saw his first double-shovel plow, made by his brother, John R. Millikan, and thought it one of the grandest improvements he ever beheld. He continued with his father, farming on the shares, until his marriage, Feb. 11, 1858, to Martha A. Runyan, the youngest daughter of Thomas and Mary Runyan. In the meantime he had bought a piece of land in Grant County. He never moved to it, but sold it and purchased the old home farm on Flatrock, in order that he might live in the neighborhood of his brothers and sisters, and be the support of his father in his declining years. He has lived on and so improved this farm that it is to-day one of the most pleasant homes in the beautiful valley of Flatrock. Martha Millikan, his wife, was born in Henry County, Ind., July, 1840, and was brought up on her father's farm, which joined that of her husband. Her Chris- tian graces and virtues have been such as to not only adorn the marriage relation, but make it a blissful and happy one. She is a consistent and zealous member of the Universalist faith, and her husband, although not a member, is in full sympathy with her religious views, and does his full share in supporting and advanc- ing the interests of said church. The fruits of said marriage were one girl and two boys-Ora Lee, who died in infancy; Mont. V., born March 8, 1868; and Clint. R., born April 15, 1871. Mr. Millikan is an active and zealous member of the Democratic party of the old Jacksonian and Jeffersonian school, and firmly believes that the affairs of this Government will never be fairly, honestly and economically administered until that party resumes control of the executive and legislative branches of the Government, which he has great faith it will do about March 4, 1885. Mr. Milligan enjoys the confidence of the members of his party to a high degree. and has often been honored by them in various positions of respon- sibility. In the last quarter of a century few have been the County and State conventions to which he has not been sent by his constituents as a delegate. He was elected one of the three Trustees of Blue River Township under the new school law of 1854, although the Whig party was largely in the ascendency in that township. As such Trustee he helped locate all the school- houses of that township. For the second term of said office he was opposed by Jacob Hill, a prominent Whig and member of the Society of Friends, and defeated him by a large majority. Mr. Millikan was then only twenty-six years of age.
732
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Isaac N. Millikan, farmer, was born in Liberty Township, Henry Co., Ind., Dec. 31, 1855, a son of J. R. and Martha (Koons) Millikan. His early life was passed on the home farm, receiving his early education in the district school. He then at- tended the New Castle Academy one term, the Spiceland High School a year and a half, and the Butler University, at Irvington, Ind., a year. He was married Dec. 15, 1881, to Narrie Boyd, daughter of James M. and Permelia Boyd. After his marriage Mr. Millikan settled on a part of his father's farm, where he has since resided. He owns 100 acres of fine land. Mrs. Millikan is a member of the Christian church.
William E. Modlin, member of the general mercantile firin of Modlin & Martz, was born in Dudley Township, Henry Co., Ind., June 17, 1857, the eldest son of Amos and Samantha (Stig- gleman) Modlin, natives of Virginia and Henry County, Ind., re- spectively. He was reared on a farm and educated at the district schools of his native township. When he reached the age of twenty-one years, his grandfather gave him 140 acres of land, which he farmed five years. He was married Aug. 21, 1880, to Lizzie, daughter of David and Lydia (McMullen) Martz, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland respectively, of German and Scotch descent. Two years after his marriage Mr. Modlin came to Mill- ville, and purchased a half interest in his present store, carrying a general line of drugs, hardware, groceries, etc. They carry a stock of $2,000, and the sales for 1883 amounted to $7,800. Po- litically Mr. Modlin is a Republican. His parents were married in Henry County, Ind., where they resided on a farm till his father's death. His mother was married again a few years after- ward to Henry Scott, of Henry County. She is now deceased. She had three sons by her first husband and one son by her second.
Joel Mullen, of the firm of Mullen & Craig, proprietors of a saw-mill, and wholesale and retail dealers in hardwood lumber, Ashland, Ind., was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, July 28, 1846, a son of Thomas and Rachel Mullen, of New Castle, a sketch of whom will be found on another page. He resided with his par- ents till manhood, receiving a good education in the schools of the county. He was reared a farmer, and followed that occupation till 1882, when he formed a partnership with George Craig in his present business, which they have carried on very extensively and . successfully. He was married Nov. 5, 1865, to Mary H. Craig, daughter of George and Elizabeth Craig, natives of Pennsylvania.
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
They had three children-Elzetta, Irena and Arminda (deceased). Mrs. Mullen died Feb. 3, 1881. July 28, 1883, Mr. Mullen married Martha J., daughter of Alfred and Mary Ann Welker, of Henry County.
Daniel Neff, blacksmith, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., March 21, 1851, a son of Cyrus B. and Mary A. (Johnson) Neff, natives of the same county. Eight of a family of ten children are living. Cyrus B. Neff has been for the past twenty-five years chief engineer of the blast furnace at Cordelia, Pa. He was a member of the Two Hundred and Twelfth Pennsylvania Infantry and served four years. He was taken prisoner at Richmond, and sent to Belle Isle, and thence to Libby Prison, where at the end of eleven days he was paroled and exchanged and immediately joined the command, and subsequently participated in many hotly contested battles under General Sherman. Daniel Neff learned his trade at Silver Spring, Pa. He came to Indiana in 1876 and lo- cated two and a half miles from Millville, where he remained four years and then moved to his present location. In connection with his trade he also carries a full line of farın implements, including the celebrated Wood twine binder. Mr. Neff is the inventor of Neff & Folck's sectional harrow, and is now sole owner and pat- entee. He has manufactured over 400 of these harrows, the greater number having been sold in this vicinity. All that have been sent to adjoining States have given perfect satisfaction. Mr. Neff was married in 1874 to Margaret Meiskey, a native of Lan- caster County, Pa. They have five children, three sons and two daughters. Politically Mr. Neff is a Republican.
John Netz, Postmaster, and dealer in dry-goods, groceries, hard- ware, drugs, etc., Ashland, Ind., was born near Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1836, a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Shoup) Netz, natives of Prussia. His parents were married in their native land, and in 1836 came to America and settled in Ohio, where they died, leav- ing two sons-John and Peter. Both were members of the Lutheran church. His father was a soldier in the Prussian army six years. When he was eight years of age our subject was bound to Peter Shoup and remained with him six years. He then was variously employed till he was twenty-one years old, when he began to learn the cooper's trade. The next year he came to Henry County, Ind., and remained eighteen months, when he re- turned to Ohio, and enlisted in August, 1862, in the Wallace Scouts. He served one month, and then enlisted for three years
734
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
in the Eighth Ohio Cavalry, First Batallion, afterward consoli- dated with the Second Ohio Cavalry, under General Rosecrans. He was discharged at Washington, October, 1865. After his re- turn from the war, Mr. Netz engaged in saw-milling fourteen years, when he sold his mill and carried on a farm till 1881. He then established his present business, at which he has been very suc- cessful. He was appointed Postmaster in April, 1883, and in 1884 was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace. He is also station agent of the third division of the Pan Handle Railroad, at Ashland. April 15, 1866, Mr. Netz was married to Mary Ann, daughter of Truman B. and Rachel (Boothby) Strong. They have had eight children-Andrew J., John W., Mary E., William, Elizabeth (deceased), Charlie, Flora and an infant, unnamed.
Frank Phelman, farmer, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, March 23, 1837, a son of Francis and Elizabeth (Cook) Phelman, natives of Pennsylvania. He was married when twenty-two years old to Amanda Laboyteaux, of Hamilton County, Ohio. They have had three children; but two are living-Blanche and Effie. Guy died Oct. 2, 1881. Mr. Phelman came to Henry County, Ind., March 7, 1865, and bought eighty acres of the farm in Liberty Township, where he has since resided. In 1881 he added forty acres to his original purchase, having now a fine farm of 120 acres. He is one of the most successful hog raisers in the county. Politi- cally he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Universalist church.
John Pressel (deceased) was born in Kentucky, Feb. 14, 1801, a son of Daniel and Motley (Larndy) Pressel, natives of Kentucky. He passed his early life on a farm in his native State, and when a boy came with his parents to Montgomery County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He was married in 1825 to Barbara, daughter of George and Fannie (Wendall) Hoffman, who emi- grated from their native country, Germany, to America. They lived some time in Pennsylvania, and from there moved to Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their days. John Pressel left Ohio for Henry County, Ind., in 1829, where he resided till his death in 1846. His widow still resides on the place where they first settled when coming to this county. They were the parents of nine children, of whom four survive. Mrs. Pressel is a mem- ber of the German Baptist church. Mr. Pressel also belonged to that church.
735
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
John Runyan, farmer, was born in Liberty Township, Henry Co., Ind., in 1840, a son of George and Elizabeth (Mullen) Run- yan, natives of Hamilton County, Ohio. George Runyan was born in 1808, and in 1829 was married and came to Indiana and entered eighty acres of land, where he has since resided. His wite died July 17, 1881, after a married life of fifty-two years. . They were among the founders of the Devon Universalist church, and were earnest supporters of its interests. Six of their eight children are living. John Runyan was reared a farmer and has always followed that vocation. He now owns 160 acres of land in his native township and has a pleasant home. He was married in 1859 to Margaret, daughter of George and Catherine Evans. They have had seven children-George, Clay, Bertha, Walter, Jennie, Arthur and Oscar, the latter deceased. Mr. Runyan is not a mem- ber of any church; his wife formerly was a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church.
Thomas Runyan, one of the early settlers of Henry County, was born in New Jersey, Jan. 26, 1799, a son of Noah and Cath- arine (La Boyteaux) Runyan. When the subject of this sketch was six years old his father moved with his family to Hamilton County, Ohio, and settled in Colerain Township, about eleven miles from Cincinnati, which was then comparatively a small town. Here Thomas Runyan grew to manhood, and was married to Mary Mullen March 16, 1820. The fruits of this union were nine children, four of whom died in infancy; another, Mariah. married to Henry Jones and died about three years after her marriage, leaving a husband and one child. The remaining four, a son, A. J. Runyan, and three daughters, Mrs. David Wilson, Mrs. David Millikan and Mrs. Jane Peed, widow of Richard Peed, are living. On starting out in married life he and his wife were entirely de- pendent on their own labor and management for their support, but by industry and economy they soon secured a small home in the immediate neighborhood where they were reared. To show the value of property near Cincinnati at that time we will here insert one of his tax receipts. The reader will observe a tax receipt was not worded half a century ago just as it is now:
HAMILTON COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE, Nov. 13, 1 29.
Received of Thomas Runyan the sum of two dollars, forty- three cents and one mill, being in full of the tax assessed against
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
him for State, county, township, road and school purposes, for the year 1829, on the following property :
R. T. SEC. ACRES.
VALUE. TAX.
1, 2, 14 N. W., 22
$ 60 $.51
1, 2, 15 S. W., 100.
130 1.10.5
Two horses and two cattle
90 .81.6
Total.
$2.43.1
FR. R. FOSDICK, Treas. THOS. M. JACKSON.
When a boy he was taught the business of farming and the cooper's trade, and continued to follow those two occupations for several years, when he concluded to turn his attention to farming, exclusively, and in order to secure land better adapted to that pur- pose, he removed with his family to Henry County, Ind., in 1831, and purchased the farm on which he resided till his death, April 25, 1877. His wife died nearly ten years before, May 14, 1867. It may be said of him that one of his principal traits was to be strictly honest, and all through the journey of life he sustained the reputation of being an honest man. His old homestead is now owned and occupied by his son, A. J. Runyan, whose birthplace it was and whose home it has always been.
Enoch H. Shawhan, farmer, was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1827, a son of David C. and Eliza (Huff) Shawhan, natives of the same county, his father born in 1801, and his mother in 1807. His parents were married in 1824, and in 1830 moved to Henry County, Ind., and settled in Fall Creek Township. David C. Shaw- han was purely a self-made man. He studied law, and practiced several years in connection with attending to his other business. He erected a grist and saw mill in Fall Creek Township, but in 1842 traded it for the farm of 120 acres, where Enoch H. now re- sides. He served several terms as Commissioner of Henry County, and one term in the State Legislature, as a representative of the county, elected by the Whig party. He and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died in 1853, and his wife in 1864. Of a family of eight daughters and two sons, four daughters and one son are living, three in Howard County, Ind., and two in Henry County. Enoch H. Shawhan re- ceived a good education and taught school two years in Henry County. Nov. 3, 1853, he was married to Melinda Humbard, of Wayne County. In 1856 he moved to Madison County, Ohio, and engaged in farming in the summer and teaching school in the
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
winter, till 1864, when he returned to Liberty Township and set- tled on the old homestead, where he has since resided. Politically Mr. Shawhan is a Republican. His wife is a member of the New Light church. They have had five children; but three are living -Emma, wife of E. Ellabarger; Paulina and Silas. The deceased are-Albert and Frank.
William H. Smeltzer was born in Frederick County, Md., June 5, 1847, a son of Jacob and Arie E. (McLain) Smeltzer, natives of Maryland, the former of German and the latter of Scotch descent. They were married in their native State and resided there till the death of the latter, in 1879. Jacob Smeltzer then removed to Ohio, where he died May 12, 1883. Our subject was reared on the home farm in Maryland, receiving a good common-school edu- cation. At the age of twenty-four he came to Henry County, Ind., and worked on a farm for John Stanley about eighteen months. He was married Sept. 28, 1876, to Sallie Kessler, daugh- ter of Jacob and Catherine Kessler, who were natives of Indiana, but are now deceased. They are the parents of two daughters- Elzora and Lulu May. After his marriage he farmed on Riles Stanley's farm about four years, then removed to Delaware County, Ind., remaining there one year, when he moved to the farm where he now resides. Mr. Smeltzer is a member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 54, I. O. O. F., of New Market, Ind. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Richard Smith, farmer, postoffice Millville, was born in Union County, Ind., March 8, 1849, a son of John P. and Mary (Sedg- wick) Smith, his father a native of Kentucky and his mother of Union County, Ind. His parents were married in 1839, and sub- sequently moved to Wayne County, locating near Richmond, where the mother died in 1864 and the father still resides. Richard · Smith received a good education, attending Earlham College two years. He was married in 1877 to Belle, daughter of Wright and Rebecca Lancaster, of Richmond. In 1878 he moved to HIenry County and bought the farm where he has since resided, contain- ing 160 acres of well-improved land. April 7, 1884, he was elected Assessor of Liberty Township. In politics he is a Republican: Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one son-George D.
James A. Stafford, M. D., is a native of Henry County, Ind., born Sept. 28, 1839, of Quaker parentage, the eldest child of Dr. D. H. and Sarah G. (Stretch) Stafford. His father is a native of Indiana, and mother of New Jersey. He received a common-
738
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
school education and then attended Earlham College, Richmond, Ind., afterward teaching a few terms of common school, then began reading medicine with his father in 1864. After attending two full courses of medical lectures in the Physio-Medical Insti- tute, Cincinnati, Ohio, he graduated in 1867. He then located in Millville, Ind., where he has built up a large and lucrative prac- tice. He owns a good farm of 100 acres which he has cultivated in accordance with the latest and most approved modes of agri- culture. Also he devotes considerable attention to bee culture and the improvement of apiarian furniture which is attested by his fine apiary and bountiful products of beautiful honey. He owns a general store with an average stock of $5,000 in Millville, of which his wife has full charge. In 1879 he was appointed Postmaster, still holding the position. He was married in the fall of 1860 to a daughter of John Payne, who died in 1866, leaving two sons- Horace and Charles, who are now attending school at Purdue Uni- versity, Lafayette, Ind., preparing themselves for the medical profession. In 1868 Dr. Stafford married his present wife, a daughter of John Worl, an early settler of the county. They have one son-Earl, aged thirteen, who is an amateur printer, taking great interest in his business. Dr. Stafford is a member of the First District and State Physio-Medical Association, and of the Odd Fellows Lodge. Is very lenient in his religious views, but assists liberally in all local religious movements. He is also an uncompromising temperance man, believing that the use of all intoxicating beverages should be discouraged and prohibited by law.
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