History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 79

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

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

1818. He has never attended a dancing frolic, a museum, fair, circus, or anything in that line. His frolics have been corn-gath- erings, house-raising, log-rollings, etc. He is living on the same farm in good health at the age of ninety years with his son Jacob, who has been taking care of him for twenty-four years. Jacob Bechtelheimer was born in Clermont County, Ohio, in 1826. He worked and toiled for his father until Aug. 25, 1845, when he was married to Catharine Mahoney, a native of Virginia. They both are living at the present date. They have had a family of eleven children; six are living-Nancy J. Current, of Brown County, Minn .; Clemard, Rogersville, Ind .; Jacob A., Carbon- dale, Osage Co., Kas .; Alonzo, Serena, Minnie. Jacob and wife and two daughters and two sons are still living on the old farm.

John H. Billhimer was born in Wayne County, Ind., Dec. 28, 1853, a son of Jacob and Mary E. Billhimer, his father a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Indiana. His early life was spent on a farm, and when eighteen years of age he began working at the blacksmith's trade, but a year later abandoned it and commenced learning the cabinet-maker's trade with his uncle, serving an ap- prenticeship of two years. He then worked in Logansport two years, and from there went to Peru, Ind., and worked for the Howe Sewing-Machine Company two years, then for the Wabash Desk Company, at Wabash, Ind., eight months. Dec. 17, 1879, came to Blountsville, and became established in business for him- self at cabinet-making and undertaking, and also deals in agricult- ural implements. April 8, 1880, Mr. Billhimer married Mary E., daughter of Miles and Sarah Holliday. They have two children- Merton M. and Esther M. Mr. and Mrs. Billhimer are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a Republican.

Aaron Bird was born in Sussex County, N. J., Sept. 2, 1826. His parents were natives of the same State, and in 1836 emigrated to Henry County, Ind., where they lived in different places till 1843, when they bought a farm three miles west of Blountsville, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Aaron remained at home till he was thirty-two years old, when he was married to Mary Bird, a widow. After his marriage Mr. Bird settled on the farm, where he has since resided. He has always followed farm- ing in which he has met with much success, and at present is the owner of 200 acres of well-cultivated land. In politics Mr. Bird affiliates with the Republican party.

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

Warren Blount. - The grandparents of Mr. Blount, William and Mary ( McCoy) Blount, were natives of Tennessee. They re- moved to Kentucky, but three or four years later came to Indiana and located in Wayne County, on Whitewater River, two miles below Richmond. They built a cabin but only remained there four or five years, when they moved to the western part of the county, on Martindale's Creek, that being as far as they could go on ac- count of the Indians. They subsequently moved to Henry County, and in 1820 removed to a farm seven miles above Muncie, remaining in the vicinity of Muncie till their death. They had a family of eleven children - Andrew. John, William, Joseph, Amos, Thomas, Aaron, Rachel, Hannah, Mary and Elizabeth, all now deceased. They were life-long members of the Baptist church. Andrew Blount remained with his parents till twenty-three years of age, when, in 1816, he was married to Sarah Warren, and settled in Wayne County, purchasing land of the Government. Two or three years later he removed to a farm eight miles from Muncie, but remained there only two years. He then lived in Wayne County a short time, and in 1822 bought the land on which the village of Blountsville is now situated. He remained here thirteen years and then in 1835 moved to Blackford County, Ind., where he died at the age of seventy-three years. His wife died at the age of seventy-seven years. They had a family of eleven children - Warren, John, Thomas, James, Andrew A., Mary, Tabitha, Rachel, Katura, Caroline and Sarah. Only four-John, Warren, Andrew A. and Sarah-are liv- ing. Warren Blount, the subject of our sketch, was born in Wayne County, Ind., in 1817. He spent his early life with his parents, receiving only a limited education. He was married in 1835 to Nancy Bedwell. He rented a farm in Henry County a year, and then bought forty acres of Government land, a part of the farm where he now lives. He has made additions from time to time till he now owns 556 acres, all well improved. He and his wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church thirty years. They have had eleven children, but six now living-Me- linda, Andrew R., Jonathan, John W., Thomas J. and Emma. Those deceased are-Fanny, Sarah A., Elizabeth, Jerome, and an infant. Politically Mr. Blount is a Republican.

John D. Brewington was born in Greene County, Ohio, Sept. 25, 1826, a son of Daniel R. and Frances Brewington, his father a na- tive of Maryland and his mother of Virginia. His early life was

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

spent with his parents, and when twenty-three years of age he came to Henry County, Ind., and worked at the cooper's trade in Blounts- ville four years. He then worked at the cabinet-maker's trade seven years, and since then has worked at the carpenter's trade and car- ried on an undertaker's establishment. He is also proprietor of the hotel in Blountsville. He served as Justice of the Peace six years and as Township Assessor six years. He is a member of Blounts- ville Lodge, No. 305, I. O.O. F .; Blountsville Lodge, No. 331, F. & A. M., and David N. Kimball Post, No. 204, G. A. R. He enlisted Feb. 20, 1864, in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana In- fantry and participated in several battles and skirmishes. He has a sword which he captured from a rebel during a conflict. He was detailed Quartermaster-Sergeant, holding the position six months. He was mustered out at Greensboro, N. C., and discharged at Indianapolis, Aug. 1, 1865. Mr. Brewington married Keturah Bedwell. To them have been born five children-Elizabeth J., Flora A., Eimsley J. M., Frances E. and Alice B., the two latter deceased. Politically Mr. Brewington is a Republican.

John M. Burch was born in Otselic, Chenango Co., N. Y., Aug. 9, 1832, a son of William and Mary Burch, his father a native of Vermont and his mother of New York. His father was by trade a tanner, and was also engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes in New York State, and subsequently in Warren County, Ohio, and in 1854 came to Blountsville, where he died April 8, 1866. His parents were both active members of the Methodist

· Episcopal church. Of their ten children seven are living-Emily, John M., Louisa, Orpha, Erastus, Edwin and Millard F. Harriet, Mary and Reform are deceased. Erastus and Edwin enlisted Feb. 29, 1864, in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana In- fantry, and served till Aug. 31, 1865. Our subject worked by the month from his thirteenth till his seventeenth year, and then served two years at the shoemaker's trade with James Henry, in Red Lion, Warren Co., Ohio. In 1854 he came to Henry County and en- gaged in the boot and shoe business, and also in farming, owning at present 153} acres of fine land. Mr. Burch was married in 1860 to Sarah, daughter of Thomas Stanford. They have had ten chil- dren-Alma, Orlo, Ernest, Mary, Thomas, Jennie, Harriet (de- ceased), Harly, Nellie and Clay. Mr. Burch is a member of Blountsville Lodge, No. 331, F. & A. M. Politically he is a Re- publican, as was also his father.

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

David Cory was born in Ross County, Ohio, Jan. 7, 1819, a son of John and Mary (Osborn) Cory, his father a native of Ohio and his mother of North Carolina. His parents moved to Wayne Co., Ind., in 1820, and settled near Economy, where his father died Aug. 20, 1820. He remained with his mother till twenty-one years of age, receiving but a limited education in the country schools. Feb. 9, 1841, he was married to Mary, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Weaver, natives of Virginia. He lived on his mother's farm a year, and in 1842 removed to Henry County, and settled on eighty acres of land inherited from his father. He has since added eighty acres to it, and now owns 160 acres of well- improved land. His wife died Dec. 24, 1871. To them were born nine children. Six are living-John, Matthew, George W., Martha Jane, Margaret, William. The deceased are-Mary E., Sophronia and Barton A. Politically Mr. Cory is a Republican. He is a member of the Christian church, as was also his wife.

Calvin Cross was born in Wayne County, Ind., March 3, 1838, a son of Joseph and Martha (Norman) Cross. His father died when he was eleven years old, and he was thus early thrown upon his own resources. Sept. 20, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, cam- paign of Atlanta, and at the battle of Stone River was wounded, the ball passing from the left hip through the lower part of the bowels and lodging in the right hip, where it still remains, causing him great inconvenience and pain. He was discharged Sept. 1, 1864, and Jan. 18, 1865, he married Eliza E., daughter of John and Annis Bechtell. He lived with his father-in-law a short time and then moved to Randolph County and rented land two years, when he bought his father-in-law's farm. Two years later he sold his farm, and moved to Delaware County and bought 160 acres of land, but was unsuccessful, and after five years sold out and moved to an adjoining farm, where he lived two years. He then returned to Henry County and bought eighty-two acres of land, where he now lives, and by additions has increased his farm to 122 acres. Politically Mr. Cross is a Republican. He is a member of Kim- ball Post, No. 204, G. A. R. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church. They have had a family of eight chil- dren-Ephraim Nelson, Alva Sherman, Barbara Ellen, Adam Brady, Purle Monroe, Della O., Lesty V. and Eliza C.

Abraham J. Current, son of James and Margaret Current, was born in West Virginia in 1812. He received a limited education

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

in his native State and at the age of twenty-four years accompa- nied his parents to Henry County, Ind., and helped his father clear the farm where he now resides, owning 170 acres of well-improved land. He was married in 1833 to Elizabeth, daughter of Jeremiah Lake, and to them were born seven children-Jeremiah, Mary E., James W., Peter J., Rebecca, Emily and Thomas J. Politically Mr. Current is a Democrat. His father was born in 1773 in West Virginia, and was married in 1796. Heremoved to Henry County, Ind., in 1836, where he bought a farm of 120 acres which he cleared, remaining on it till his death in 1845 at the age of seventy- five years. His wife died Jan. 22, 1876, aged ninety-seven years. They were the parents of eight children, four now living-James, Abraham J., William and Nancy. Peter, Ellen, John and Mary are deceased. Lake

Jeremiah L. Current, son of Abraham and Elizabeth Current, was born in Taylor County, Va., Feb. 20, 1834. When he was three years of age his parents came to Henry County, Ind. He remained at home till his twenty-fifth year when he married Orpha Burch. He bought forty acres of land in Stony Creek Township, where he lived ten years. He then went to Jay County, Ind., and bought eighty acres of land, remaining there three years, when he sold his farm and bought the one in Stony Creek Township, where he still resides. He now owns 1092 acres of good, well-improved land and has recently erected a commodious dwelling, costing over $1,200. Politically he is a Democrat. To Mr. and Mrs. Current have been born eight children-Elvira A., Louisa, Emma E., Edwin R., Clara A., Edith, Rosalie and an infant. Mrs. Current is a mem- ber of the Baptist church.

Peter Davis is a native of Monongalia County, W. Va., born Jan. 14, 1794. He was married Jan. 17, 1826, to Keziah Reed, a native of the same State, who died in 1854. They had a family of eight children. Mr. Davis has always been an industrious, ener- getic man. In the winter of 1883-'84 he cut the most of the wood used in his daughter's house. He came to Henry County in 1860 and makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Lake, of Blountsville.

William Finch, son of John and Mary Finch, was born in 1837, in Randolph County, Ind., where he was reared on a farm, receiv- ing only a common-school education. At the age of twenty-four he married Mary J. Ross, by whom he has had two children- Harland and Della May. After his marriage he settled on the farm where he now resides, remaining there but a few years when

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

he resided two years in Randolph County, Ind. He then returned to his farm where he has since resided and is the owner of fifty- three acres of excellent land which is highly cultivated. He was drafted into the war in 1864, but after serving a few weeks he ob- tained a substitute by paying him $1,000. He is a Republican in politics. Mrs. Finch has been a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church for many years.

Isaac T. Houser was born in Stony Creek Township, Henry Co., Ind., Aug. 21, 1858, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Coffel) Houser, of this township. Of a family of eleven children but four are living-Hannah, Elizabeth, Jacob and Isaac T. The deceased are-Mary, John, Louisa, Lidda, George, Sarah and Susanna. John enlisted Sept. 20, 1861, in the Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry and was killed at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Our subject's mother died Oct. 4, 1858, and his father afterward married Saloma Lewis, by whom he has one son-Eli J. Isaac T. Houser was reared on a farm and received his early education in the common schools. He then attended Spiceland Academy two years, and subsequently taught three years. He then engaged in the mercantile business in Blountsville a year, and since then has been engaged in farming, owning forty acres of good land. Jan. 29, 1880, he was married to Mattie, daughter of James and Jane Duke. They have one child -Jessie May. Politically Mr. Houser is a Republican. His wife is a member of the Christian church.

Leroy T. Howell was born in Stony Creek Township, Henry Co., Ind., June 10, 1857, t e fifth son of Hillery and Fanny (Bidwell) Howell. He received a good education, attending the common schools and subsequently Blountsville Academy. When twenty years of age he attended one term at the graded school in Muncie, Ind. He then taught in the Blountsville Academy one school year, and afterward taught vocal'music. When twenty-two years of age he was married to Laura E., daughter of Charles and Maria Conway. April 1, 1880, he engaged in butchering, which he followed seven months. He was then employed as clerk for S. T. Lake six months, and in 1881 went to Selma, Delaware Co., Ind., and engaged in the restaurant business a short time. He was then employed as clerk for J. W. Goings and the following . spring removed with him to Blountsville. March 23, 1883, he was employed by W. J. B. Luther, still remaining with him. His wife died Sept. 14, 1883. To them were born two children-Car- rie and Freddie. The latter died when nineteen days old. Polit-

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

ically Mr. Howell is a Republican. He is a member of the Christian church, as was also his wife.

Taylor C. Kerr, deceased, was born in Tennessee, March 4, 1827. His parents came to Indiana when he was small and set- tled in Stony Creek Township, Henry County. He spent his early life with his parents on a farm receiving only a common- school education. When twenty-four years of age he married Lida Duke, and settled in Blue River Township, at Rockland. He remained there five years working at the carpenter's trade, and then rented a farm two years. At the expiration of that time he purchased land in Stony Creek Township. It was in the woods but he built a log cabin and went to work and by industry and energy brought it under a good state of cultivation, leaving at his death 120 acres of good land, with comfortable buildings. He was a member of Blountsville Lodge, No. 305, I. O. O. F., Blountsville Lodge, No. 331, F. & A. M. To Mr. and Mrs. Kerr were born five children-James R., Joseph A., Elmer E., Mary L. and Randolph T., the two latter deceased. Mr. Kerr died April 22, 1875.

Daniel Kilmer was born in Berkeley County, W. Va., in 1817, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Sebert) Kilmer, natives of Pennsyl- vania. His parents were married in Berks County, Pa., in 1814 and removed to Berkeley County, W. Va., where they remained till Oct. 18, 1841, when they moved to Wayne County, Ind., buying the old Davenport farm. The mother died June 15, 1851, and the father in 1853 while visiting friends in Virginia. They were members and zealous workers of the Lutheran church. They had a family of twelve children-Catherine, Daniel, John, Elizabeth, Henry, Eli, George, Mary, Barbara, Thomas, Anna and David, the latter deceased. Daniel resided with his parents on the farm and came with them to Indiana. He was married in 1848 to Lavina, daugh- ter of Jacob Seaney, of Wayne County. The year after his mar- riage he removed to Stony Creek Township, Henry County, and settled in the woods, there being no building of any kind on his farm. He has improved his land, erected good buildings and now has one of the best farms in the county, owning at present 400 acres of land. Politically Mr. Kilmer is a Republican. He has served as Township Trustee one term. He was one of the founders of the temperance organizations in Henry County. He has been a member of the German Reform church since 1836. To Mr. and Mrs. Kilmer were born eight children-Jacob H., Emma

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E., William, Luella A., Laura V., John, Harrison and Isaac, the three latter deceased. Mrs. Kilmer died Dec. 29, 1880, in the fifty- sixth year of her age.

Levi Littleton was born in Ross County, Ohio, Nov. 27, 1802, a son of Thomas and Lovely (Jones) Littleton. He was reared on a farm receiving his education in the old fashioned schools. He acquired sufficent education to enable him to teach and taught fourteen winters, receiving his pay in the spring, his patrons help- ing him clear his land in compensation for his services. In 1829 he was married to Catherine Hurst, and settled in Piqua County, Ohio, remaining there twelve years. He then came to Henry County and bought eight acres of land in the woods paying $500 for it, and erected a log cabin. He has by his energy succeeded in making his farm one of the best in the township, having now 110 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Littleton are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have had seven children-Martha, Emily, Lucy, Sevilia, Lemuel, Mary, and Margaret (deceased).

Thomas Littleton was born in Maryland in 1757. He spent his early life on a farm acquiring only sufficient education to en- able him to read and write. He was married when twenty-one years of age to Mary Hurst. A few weeks after his marriage he was cut with an ax which made him a cripple the rest of his life, having to use a wooden leg fifty-six years. To Mr. and Mrs. Lit- tleton were born five children-Nancy, Mathew, William, Leah and Thomas. Mrs. Littleton died and in 1801 he married Lovely Jones, and removed to Ross County, Ohio. He remained there twenty-five years, and then moved to Piqua County, Ohio, where he died in 1833. His wife died in 1841. They had two children-Levi and Margaret. Three of his sons were soldiers in the war of 1812.

David M. Luellen, merchant and Postmaster of Rogersville, was born in Rogersville, Henry Co., Ind., Sept. 25, 1844, a son of Jabish and Mary Luellen, his father a native of West Virginia, and his mother of Tennessee. His parents were married in Henry County, Ind., and settled in Rogersville. His father died in 1876 and his mother in 1882. Mr. Luellen spent his early life on a farm. He learned the blacksmith's trade and worked at it four years and then worked at the carpenter's trade about four years, and since then has been in the mercantile business. He has served as Justice of the , Peace five years and is now serving his sixth year as Assessor. Feb. 8, 1865, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry, and served till Sept. 25, 1865. Politically he is

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a Republican. He has been a member of Blountsville Lodge, No. 305, I. O. O. F., twelve years. Mr. Luellen was married when twenty-two years of age to Serepta McFadden. They have had seven children-Viva L., Jabish N., Dorsey E., Ada M., Kate D., Ocea A. and Walter Wesley.

William J. B. Luther was born in Greensburg, Decatur Co., Ind., Jan. 25, 1843, his father being a native of Rhode Island, and hi mother of Pennsylvania. When he was about three years old his parents removed to Shelbyville, Ind., where he spent his childhood and youth. His father was in delicate health for a number of years and died when William was about eighteen years of age. He was the main dependence for support of his mother and four younger children, for a number of years, when his mother marrying again and the other children getting able to take care of themselves he was left to pursue his own interests, though of course with no capital except his energy and a determination to succeed. About the last of the year of 1867 he took a position with Eli Johnson, of Indianapolis, to drive a wagon, remaining with him two years. He saved about $800 of his salary, which was his capital on which to commence business for himself. He was married to Melvina Murray, of Blountsville, in this county, Dec. 25, 1869, and in January following he and his wife's brother bought out the drug store of House & Williams. They continued in partnership about a year when he purchased his brother-in-law's interest and since then, considering the place and its advantages and opportuni- ties, he has been eminently successful. In addition to his drug store he is now proprietor of quite a nice dry-goods store and the owner of some valuable real estate. His wife's inheritance he has always kept invested separately in her name, never having used it in his business transactions. In short, his success may be consid- ered a fair specimen of what may be accomplished by pluck, energy and determination. His family consists of three children -Eugene Murray, Annie and Beatrix.

William Murray, Jr., was born in Brown County, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1818, the fourth son and eighth child of William and Mary Murray, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish descent. His father having met with some financial reverses, removed to Wayne County, Ind., in William's early boyhood, where they lived for several years' engaged in farming and superintending the Wayne County Asylum for the poor. The whole family then came to Henry County about 1840, settling in Stony Creek Township, near

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

the town of Blountsville, where William continued to reside till his death, which occurred Feb. 10, 1872. By occupation he was a farmer, owning a nice farm of 240 acres one mile from Blounts- ville. He began teaching when he was about twenty years of age and for ten or twelve years taught during the winter season. He was married Oct. 5, 1842, to Mary Taylor, of Wayne County, with whom he lived happily till her death, Nov. 2, 1856. She left a family of six children, the eldest not being thirteen years and the youngest ten months of age. He never re-married, living a widower for about fifteen years. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a strong supporter of all its institutions for a great many years. He was also a member of the Freemasons. In politics he was a strong Republican, having been originally a Whig, in strong sympathy with free-soil and aboli- tionism. He was a strong supporter of public improvements, good schools, all moral reforms, and an unyielding advocate of temperance. When the summons to bid this world and its cares adieu came, he received it with all serenity, telling those about him that he had no regrets and that he was at peace with his Maker. The oldest of the children, Melvina, married Wm. J. B &? Luther, and is living at Blountsville, near the old home. Alvin R. Murray, the second, is living in Reno County, Kan., engaged in farming and cattle raising. He married a Miss Clyne, of Del- aware County, and has two children. He is a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church. J. C. Murray, the third child and second son, is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and a member of the North Indiana Conference, this being the third year of his location at Knightstown, in our own county. He is a graduate of Holbrook's Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, and of Drew Theological Seminary, at Madison, N. J. He married a Miss Trembley, of Franklin County, and is the father of two sons. Louisa, the fourth, is married to a Mr. Sutton, who is engaged in the dry-goods line in Adams County, Ind. They have four chil- dren. Clara, the fifth, died unmarried at the age of nineteen. She was engaged in teaching school, and was cut off in the flower of her youth, being a young lady of great promise. Emma J., the youngest, is a graduate of Holbrook's Normal School, and engaged in teaching in a graded school in Adams County, Ind.

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History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 79

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