History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 77

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

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John Lindamood was born in Shenandoah County, Va., in 1820, a son of Michael and Mary (Painter) Lindamood. When eighteen years of age he left home and worked by the day and month three or four years. He came to Indiana and remained in Henry County two months. He then went to Wayne County and rented land six years. He was married July 25, 1839, to Elizabeth Nixon, a native of Wayne County. About 1843 he came to Henry County and rented land six years. He then purchased eighty acres of land on the east side of Spiceland Township and has by industry and good management added to it till he now owns 400 acres of finely improved land. Mr. and Mrs. Lindamood had eight chil- dren; six lived to maturity, and five are still living. May 13, 1866, his wife died and Feb. 12, 1867, he married Lizzie Larth, a native of Wayne County. They have had two children; but one is living. Mr. and Mrs. Lindamood are members of the Society of Friends. Politically he is a Republican.

Solomon Macy is a native of Guilford County, N. C., born Nov. 3, 1805, a son of Thaddeus and Catherine (White) Macy, natives

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

of the same county, of Welsh descent. He lived on a farm till sixteen years of age when he went to learn the saddler's trade. He served as an apprentice two years, but on account of fail- ing health returned to the farm and remained a year. He then again began working at his trade and worked on the farm and in the shop two years. In 1826 he came to Indiana and lived in Wayne County a year; then went to Washington County and re- mained a year, and in 1829 came to Henry County and opened a harness shop in Greensboro with Job Dix, which they carried on successfully three years. He then taught school for a time and subsequently entered 148 acres of unimproved land from the Gov- ernment where he has resided since 1833. He was married a ¿Dec. 2, 1830, to Priscilla, daughter of John and Elizabeth Ham. They have had a family of six children-Edwin, Martha A., Elwood , Samuel H., Caroline and Mary J; the latter is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Macy are members of the Society of Friends and are among the most influential and respected citizens of the county.

William R. Macy was born in Guilford County, N. C., Dec. 1, 1820, the second of twelve children of Enoch and Nancy (Rayle) Macy, natives of North Carolina. His father was of the fourth generation of Macys living in North Carolina. He was by trade a blacksmith and plow manufacturer. In 1835 he emigrated to Indiana and settled in Wayne Township, Henry County, where he purchased 200, acres of land and lived till his death. He was a birthright member of the Society of Friends and a strong anti-sla- very man. He lived an upright life, and had the confidence and es- teem of all who knew him. He died at the age of eighty years. His wife survived him two years. Our subject remained with his father till manhood, assisting him on the farm and in the shop. He was married in 1842 to Sally W., daughter of Job and Hannah Dix. Of their four children but three are living-John B., Emily J. and Julia C. After his marriage Mr. Macy purchased a small farm in Spiceland Township, and erected a shop, where he has since followed farming and worked at his trade with the exception of three years. He and his wife are members of the Society of Friends. Politically he is a Republican.

Adam Miller, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Blue River Township, Henry Co., Ind., April 14, 1842, the youngest of eleven children of Abraham and Mary (Meher) Miller, natives of Ashe County, N. C., where they were married and where two children were born to them. They moved to Ohio in an early day, Mrs.

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Miller and the children riding a horse and carrying all their worldly goods, and Mr. Miller walking and carrying his gun. They lived on rented land in Ohio twelve years and then came to Henry County, Ind., and entered forty acres of land, to which he afterward added 160 acres, entering eighty and buying eighty. Thus by industry and good management he accumulated property. He died in 1864 and his wife in 1872. They were active members of the Christian church. Politically he was a Whig and strongly in favor of Abolitionism. Our subject resided with his parents till their death, when he took charge of the homestead which he afterward purchased of the heirs, residing there till 1879, when he sold the farm and bought the one in Spiceland Township where he now lives, containing 160 acres of finely improved land. He was married April 1, 1860, to Catherine Koons. They had four children-Thomas B., Mary M., Abraham L., and George G. (deceased). His wife died in 1866, and Dec. 17, 1867, he married Nancy E., daughter of Dr. William B. Shockley. They have had eleven children-Louisa E., Letta E., William B., John A., Ber- tha E., Augusta J., Annie A., Gilbert R., James B., and two un- named. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Christian church. Politically he casts his suffrage with the Greenback party.

Thomas K. Milliken, proprietor of the Spiceland livery stables, was born in Blue River Township, Henry Co., Ind., June 26, 1846, a son of William and Susanna (Frazer) Milliken. He was reared a farmer, remaining with his parents till manhood, and received a good education in the common schools. He was married Nov. 18, 1869, to Myra F., daughter of Zadock and Delilah (Hunt) Rayle. They have one child-Ora E. After his marriage, Mr. Milliken settled on a farm in Franklin Township, remaining there till 1872. when he came to Spiceland and bought the livery and sale stables, where he has since done a thriving business. His stable is well stocked with horses and carriages, and he is able to supply cus- tomers with any kind of outfit required. Mr. and Mrs. Milliken are members of the Society of Friends.

John Mitchell, whose portrait will be found in this work, was born in Iredell County, N. C., April 29, 1810. He was the eldest son of Moses and Elizabeth (Grant) Mitchell. His grandfathers, William Mitchell and John Grant, were born in England, but being favorably impressed with the glowing accounts given of the natural charms of American life, they emigrated to this country at an early age, and when the war began between the mother country

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

and her infant colonies, they espoused the cause peculiar to the land of their adoption, enlisted in the American army, and fought nobly for the principles of liberty and justice for seven long and eventful years. His father was born in Wilks County, N. C., during the memorable year of 1776, and died in 1853. Mrs. Grant, mother of the subject of our sketch, was also born in the same locality, on the 15th day of May, 1785, and departed this life in February, 1871, being nearly eighty-seven years of age. John Mitchell came to Indiana in the fall of 1832, when the country was comparatively new, and much of the now highly cul- tivated lands were a vast and unbroken forest. During his early initiation into Indiana life, he became greatly interested in the sports characteristic of these early days, and was known far and near as a skillful hunter and a crack shot. His first labor was on what is still known as the National road, at a salary of $10 per month. The following year, 1833, he received the appoint- ment of Superintendent of the same road, by the Government, and performed the duties of his office so faithfully as to win the confidence and respect of those by whom he was employed. In 1834 he entered a quarter-section of land in Hancock County, Ind., a part of which he afterward traded for forty-nine acres in Henry County, on which was located a valuable saw-mill. This property, together with a large amount of hogs and lumber, was all de- stroyed by fire, but he subsequently built a more costly structure, which was completed on the day General Harrison was elected President of the United States. In the spring of 1851 he purchased a part of the lands on which he still resides, and continued to add to his broad acres until he became the owner of nearly a section and a half of fertile soil. In 1868 he erected a fine, commodious and well-arranged dwelling, one of the most desirable farm residences to be found any where in his neighborhood, and was seemingly pre- pared for all the pleasures and enjoyments of a ripe old age. He is a member of the Christian church, and has always been a gen- erous and willing contributor to benevolent enterprises, and wher- ever necessity required has always given with a liberal hand. He was married on the seventh day of December, 1837, to Martha E., daughter of Daniel and Prudence (Stansbury) Jackson. She was born May 22, 1817, near Milton, Ind., and died at their home in Henry County, Ind., Nov. 11, 1882. After a married life of nearly half a century, the deceased was laid to rest " un- der the quiet stars." Twelve children blessed this happy union,

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

eight of whom are still living. Two daughters, Nancy M. and Sara J., and two sons, Robert G. and Moses G., reside at San Jose, Cal., and Thomas F. and John P. are at the old homestead; William M. is permanently located in Kansas, and Daniel J. is a resident of Newbergh, Oregon.

James A. Moffitt, of Ogden, is the only attorney in the town- ship, and also carries on farming and is an extensive stock-raiser. He was born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1842, moved with his father when quite young to the northern part of Rush County, Ind., and settled on a farm three miles southeast of Knightstown. His father, Joshua Moffitt, was above the average farmer for in- telligence, taking an active part in all public events that transpired in his time, besides being a great historian, and he took a great interest in the teachings and doctrines of the Bible. He was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., 1808, and died in Henry County, Ind., near Ogden, Nov. 14, 1867. His ancestry is Scotch. His mother, Mary Moffitt, whose maiden name was Welker, was born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1814, and died in Rush County, Ind., March 17, 1853. Her parents came from Germany and settled in Knox County, Ohio, in an early day. She came of a large family of whom nearly all of them have distinguished themselves in different professions in the law, medicine and the ministry. All are deceased except three ; two of the remaining are farmers, the other one, Martin M. Welker, is at present United States Judge, and holds his court at Cleveland, Ohio. At the age of fifteen years James A. Moffitt's mother died, leaving a family of eight boys, four of whom have since deceased. The youngest living is Judge R. B. Moffitt, of Douglas County, Ill. At that early age James was thrown upon his own resources to battle with the realities of life; he worked at farm labor during the summer time and attended district school during the winter, until he was eighteen, when he attended higher schools, after which he taught several schools and read law. He has been a resident of Henry County, Ind., since 1863. In politics he is a Republican, and has always taken an active part in political contests and other public matters. He is a great friend of education, a man of strict integ- rity, moral habits, and in religious belief a Friend. He was mar- ried in March, 1871, to Sarah C. Griffin, youngest daughter of Samuel Griffin, and a member of one of the old standard Quaker families of the county.

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

Emory C. Newby, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Spiceland Township, Henry Co., Ind., Nov. 21, 1851, the son of Joseph and Naomi Newby. He was reared and educated in Spiceland Town- ship, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. In 1878 he bought 120 acres of fine land which he has improved, and has one of the best farms in the township. He was married April 29, 1880, to Margaret, daughter of Zachariah and Sarah A. (Shull) Nixon, the former a native of Wayne County, Ind., and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Newby are members of the Society of Friends. They have two children -- Arthur and Terrell. Po- litically he is a Republican.

Joseph Newby, one of the earliest settlers of Henry County, was born in what is now Wayne County, Ind., Oct. 7, 1815, the Elizabeth youngest of sixteen children of William Newby, a native of North + Ratliff Carolina, a son of Samuel Newby, who was a native of England. William Newby was a blacksmith by trade, and when only eighteen years of age took the contract to iron a large vessel. afterward took all digitech monulis voyage to the West russel. Islands, and then returned to his native county. In 1813 or 1814 he moved to Wayne County, Ind. He afterward lived in Ran- dolph County, and in 1830 moved to Henry County where he died in 1831. His wife died in 1841. He was married to Elizabeth Ratliff, who died in North Carolina. They reared a family of twelve children. He afterward married Elizabeth (Simonds) X Small and to them were born four children. Our subject lost his father when he was seventeen years of age and he was left to his own resources. He was married Jan. 29, 1840, to Naomi H. Dix, a daughter of Job and Hannah Dix. He then rented a farm two years, when he bought sixty acres of partially improved land on Buck Creek, to which, by industry and good management, he has added until one time he owned nearly 400 acres of fine well-im- proved land which he divided equally among his four children. He is purely a self-made man, and is one of the most influential and liberal-minded men of the township. All matters of public benefit find in him an earnest advocate. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Society of Friends. They have had a family of seven children; but four are living-Jason W., Thomas A., Emory C. and Sarah A. Jesse, Josiah and Job are deceased.

J. W. Payne was born in Henry Township, Henry Co., Ind., Jan. 7, 1838, a son of John and Sarah (Wilson) Payne. He was married when twenty-two years of age, March 14, 1860. He then

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

settled on a tract of unimproved land containing eighty acres, to which he has added till he now owns 360 acres, besides forty-four acres where he now lives, adjoining the town of Spiceland, remov- ing to the latter in 1882 that his children might have better educational advantages. His children are six in number; but three are living-Flora, Jesse and Ollie E. Marietta and Lizzie V. died in infancy; Mary L. died May 15, 1882, aged sixteen years. Politically Mr. Payne is liberal in his views. He takes great interest in the cause of temperance and the leading reforms of the day. His wife is a member of the Society of Friends.

William R. Pearce, dealer in hardware and agricultural im- plements, Dunreith, Ind., was born in Vigo County, Ind., July 13, 1823, a son of Isaac and Nancy (Waldon) Pearce, the former a native of Savannah, Ga., and the latter of Kentucky. His par- ents came to Indiana in an early day and settled in Putman County and afterward moved to Vigo County where the mother died aged forty-five years and the latter aged sixty-two years. Our subject remained on a farm till twenty years of age. When fifteen years of age he began working for himself. He went to Clermont County, Ohio, and worked on a farm for a time; afterward was a cabin boy on the Ohio River six years. In 1851 he engaged in the mercantile business with his brother in Lockport four years. He then went to Whitesides County, Ill., and remained till 1866 when he came to Dunreith, Ind., and engaged in the general mer- cantile business with J. T. Crum till 1876, and since then has been engaged in his present business. He was married May 5, 1855, to Elizabeth Ann, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Kinnear) Morris. They have two children-Mary Luella and Morris T. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce are members of the United Presbyterian church. Politically he is a Republican.

Robert F. Porch, proprietor of the Humboldt Washing Ma- chine and Furniture Factory, was born in Newport, Wayne Co., Ind., Sept. 23, 1840, a son of Samuel and Annie J. (Un- thank) Porch. His early life was spent in assisting his father and in attending school. In 1875 he established his present works where he is doing a large and successful business. He was mar- ried in 1873 to Emma Vaughan, of Shelby County, Ind. They have one son-Samuel C. Mr. and Mrs. Porch are members of the Society of Friends.

Samuel Porch, one of the prominent men of Henry County, was born in New Jersey in 1816, a son of Michael and Elizabeth

I loveal x Smn (Brittain)

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

(Cassiday) Porch. When sixteen years of age he learned the car- riage-maker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He was married in 1839 to Annie Jane, daughter of Josiah Unthank, + anu Brettian and settled in Newport, Wayne Co., Ind. In 1849 he moved to Spiceland and built the first steam saw-mill in the place. He en- gaged in various kinds of manufacturing pursuits ten years, and then engaged in the store and tinware business four years. He was Postmaster of Spiceland four years. He was engaged in the manufacture of pumps and washing machines with his son Robert F. two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Porch were born four sons- Robert F., Albert W., William A. and Lee L. They were mem- bers of the Society of Friends. Mr. Porch died May 4, 1884.

Alpheus Rayle, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Guilford County, N. C., Nov. 2, 1837, the second son of Zadoc and De- lilah (Hunt) Rayle. He was seven years of age when his parents moved to Spiceland, and since that time has been a native of the township, receiving his education in the Spiceland schools. He was married Nov. 27, 1862, to Ruth Emily, daughter of William and Elizabeth Edwards, and a native of Henry County. She died June 8, 1879, leaving one son-Harmon H. Dec. 27, 1883, Mr. Rayle married Emily, daughter of Alfred and Charity Bogue. Mr. Rayle owns 130 acres of finely cultivated land which is a part of the old homestead. He and his wife are members of the So- ciety of Friends. Politically he is a Republican.

William H. Rayle, farmer and stock-raiser, Spiceland Town- ship, was born in Guilford County, N. C., Sept. 30, 1841, a son of Zadoc and Delilah (Hunt) Rayle, and was three years of age when his parents came to Indiana. He was reared and educated in Spiceland Township, remaining with his parents till manhood. After reaching his majority he bought a farm of ninety acres in Hamilton County, a mile north of Eagletown, which he sold five years later and bought one of eighty-five acres in Spiceland Township, Henry County, where he has since resided. He has added to his farm till he now owns 1522 acres of finely cultivated land. He was engaged as a public auctioneer for nineteen years and in this work lost his health. He was married Nov. 14, 1867, to Julia Stalker, daughter of Thomas and Sallie (Milliken) Stalker. They have two children -Walter S. and Mary L. Mr. and Mrs. Rayle are members of the Society of Friends.

2.12 29 Zadoc H. Rayle was born in Guilford County, N. C., March 8, 18861808, a son of George and Hannah (Cannada) Rayle, and grand- canday

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

son of George Rayle, a native of Ireland, and Charles Cannada, of North Carolina. He received a common-school education and when eighteen years of age began to learn the hatter's trade, serv- ing an apprenticeship of two and a half years. He worked at his trade ten years and then bought a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits till 1845, when he came to Henry County, Ind., and bought 115 acres of fine land in Spiceland Township, where he followed farming till 1879, when he moved to Spiceland and has since lived rather retired. He has a good property gained by his own exertions, and is a prominent and influential citizen. He was married July 16, 1829, to Delilah, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Griffin) Hunt, and to them were born nine children, four of whom are living-Addison C., Alpheus, William H. and Samira F. The deceased are -- Julia A., Paulina, Thomas E., Harmon K. and George W. Mrs. Rayle died April 4, 1874. May 4, 1876, Mr. Rayle was married to Isabella A., daughter of Absalom and Mary (Hodson) Poer, who came to Henry County from North Carolina in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Rayle are members of the Society of Friends. Mr. Rayle is a strictly temperate man, never having used tobacco or spirituous liquors in any form.

Job Reynolds, deceased, was born in Randolph County, N. C., May 14, 1794, a son of Francis and Sarah Reynolds, natives of North Carolina, of English origin. He was married Nov Bolikan 1814, to Phobe Hocket, daughter of Mahlon Hocket. Her great- grandmother was stolen from her parents in Ireland and brought to America and sold, never seeing her friends again. Mr. Rey- nolds followed milling a number of years, meeting with success. He afterward built an iron foundry which he carried on till his re- moval to Indiana in November, 1839. He located in Newport, Wayne County, where he bought a half interest in a flouring mill, Five years later he sold out and moved to what was known as the New Garden settlement and purchased a water mill which he owned six years. He then moved to Ogden, Henry County, and bought a flour-mill, which he owned till his death in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds had a family of fourteen children; eleven lived till maturity. Job Reynolds and wife were born in Friends' Soci- ety, called Quakers; remained in that denomination as long as they lived; his wife was a minister of the gospel. She died in 1881.

Jacob Taylor, one of the most enterprising men of Henry County, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, May 5, 1828, a son of Jesse and Deborah (McMillan) Taylor, his father a native of Penn-

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 829

sylvania, and his mother of Ohio. His grandfather, Jacob Taylor, came from England and settled in Pennsylvania and subsequently moved to Clinton County, Ohio. His maternal grandparents, David and HannahAMcMillan, were of Irish descent. His parents removed to Indianapolis, Ind., from Ohio, and while on a visit to Richmond, Ind., died, his father only three months before his mother. He remained with his parents till manhood, "and when twenty years of age bought his time of his father and bought a farm in his native county, remaining there till 1854, when he came to Henry County and settled in Spiceland Township, where he has since resided. He has always been among the foremost to advance anything of interest to the county; was one of the prime movers in the introduction of pike roads. He was one of a com- pany who imported short-horned cattle to the county of Clinton, Ohio, and for many years was extensively engaged in stock-rais- ing. He was married Nov. 20, 1851, to Sarah, daughter of George and Mary (Hasket) Evans, who were pioneers of Henry County. They have had six children; but three are living-Jesse Frank, a farmer near Spiceland; Ella, wife of Dr. William N. Wilson, of Richmond, and Oliver P., of Minneapolis, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Society of Friends.

Edward Y. Teas, proprietor of the Dunreith nursery, was born in Union County, Ind., March 8, 1830, a son of Thomas S. and Sarah C. (Strattan) Teas. After completing his education he was sent to Kansas by the Richmond Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends and spent two years teaching the Indians. He then re- turned to Henry County and became established in the nursery business. Six or seven years later he went to Indianapolis and was in the same business there, and at Richmond, Ind., till August, 1876, when he came to Dunreith and established his present place of business. He has had over thirty years' experience and is one of the most successful nurserymen in the county. He was married in 1854 to Maria, daughter of James and Ann Given, a native of Danville, Ind. She died in 1863 leaving two children-Ellen M. and William S. In 1866 Mr. Teas jmarried Mrs. Sarah A. Hadle Coffin, daughter of Amos and Matilda Stuart. They have three children-Frederick E., Mary M. and Frank H. Mr. and Mrs. Teas are members of the Society of Friends.

Thomas S. Teas, deceased, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1792, a son of John and Rachel (Nicholson) Teas, the former a na- tive of Ireland, who came to America before the Revolutionary

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

war, and the latter a native of New Jersey, of English descent. He learned the carpenter's trade in his native city, and soon after reaching his majority came to Indiana and worked at his trade a year. He then loaded a flat-boat with bacon and flour and took it to New Orleans, and from there to the West Indies, where he sold his cargo and returned to Philadelphia. Soon after he again came West and was married in Preble County, Ohio, to Sarah C. Strat- tan, daughter of Eli and Eunice (Dallas) Strattan, natives of New Jersey, of English descent. After his marriage he settled in Union County, Ind., and built the first oil-mill in Indiana. He remained there several years and then bought a farm adjoining Richmond, where he lived till 1834, when he came to Henry County and built the Spiceland Flour-Mills and engaged in milling till his death in 1850. His wife survived him about twenty-one years. They had a family of six children -John C., Edward Y., Martha D., Rachel (deceased), Eunice (deceased), and Thomas S. Mr. and Mrs. Teas were members of the Society of Friends, he being Clerk of the Spiceland Quarterly Meeting a number of years.

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History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 77

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