USA > Indiana > Huntington County > History of Huntington County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 57
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Andrews Railroad Interest .- In the spring of 1881 the man- agers of the Wabash Railroad determined to locate the shops and division offices for that part of the main line between Fort Wayne and La Fayette, at some intermediate point, and after considering the availability of the several towns proposed, finally selected Andrews as the one most advantageously located for the purpose. A plat of ground west of the village was chosen for the shops and yard, and within a short time a large force of men were at work grading the yards and working on the build- ings, which were completed in the summer of the above year. The foundation for the superintendent's office was laid at the same time, and for several months the town enjoyed an era of prosperity seldom witnessed by towns or villages this side of the
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mushroom cities of the far west. Additions were surveyed by several parties, and the area laid out on town lots would, if com- pactly built up, be sufficient to support a city population of fully twelve thousand inhabitants. Lots were rapidly bought and im- proved, business men and mechanics of all kinds flocked to the place, and within two years the humdrum little town of four or five hundred inhabitants had grown to a flourishing little city of more than twice that number. The company designated their yards and shops by the name Andrewsia, and shortly after their location it was suggested that the name Antioch be changed to that of Andrews, which, after considerable opposition, was finally effected. The failure of the road to locate the superintendent's office here, owing to the management taking charge of the I. P. & C. Line in the summer of 1882, had a depressing effect upon the town, and seemed for a time to effectually check its further growth and development. Real estate, which a short time before commanded unusually good prices, rapidly declined in value, the erection of buildings ceased, and a general stagna- tion of business seemed to fasten itself upon the flourishing and rapidly growing town. From the effect of this general de- pression the town has never entirely recovered, but the inhabi- tants are still living in expectation of seeing the division offices finally brought to the place, which, from the present indication, seems likely to be accomplished at no distant day.
Riot .- On the 22d of June, 1881, occurred quite a serious riot of workmen engaged in the construction of the railroad yards, the particulars of which appear to have been as follows: Among the hands were quite a number of rough characters, who, as soon as they were paid off, proceeded at once to spend their earnings for whiskey, a good fighting quality of which was kept constantly on hand, by one Mr. Brubaker, the proprietor of a fourth rate little doggery, which had long been a plague spot to the otherwise quiet and orderly town. A spirit of discontent had been engendered among the workmen, by certain evil dis- posed persons, who insisted upon an increase of wages, which the contractor, Mr. Danahay, did not see fit to advance. The following account of the disturbance, written at the time, is taken from the columns of the Antioch Enterprise. "Last Wed- nesday was a day that will long be remembered by the good people of Antioch, as the first whiskey riot that ever disturbed their quiet and drove them to a high state of excitement. The business houses were quietly closed, and the frightened women and children were making for home and in-doors, at a fearful rate. Wednesday was pay day, and when Mr. Danahay, the contractor, appeared at the dump, he was met by a large number of men who cried to him '$1.75 a day or no work'. Mr. Danahay refused this but offered them $1.00. They declined to accept and many who desired to keep at work were prevented from doing so, but rather than have any difficulty, they came to town and waited until noon, returned to the dump and resumed their
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work. Mr. Danahay had repeatedly warned the saloon keeper of the town to close his place of business and not sell whiskey to the men, as they were inclined to be quarrelsome and violent when under the influence of intoxicants. On pay day morning he again went to Brubaker, and urged him to close his doors, but received for reply, that he would keep open and sell to all that would buy. The strikers were incited to rebellion by an organized gang, having for its chief, or ring leader, a notorious Canadian tough, one Ed. Dailey. These men had been imbibing quite freely at Brubaker's saloon the evening before, and had made the night hideous, with loud boisterous cursing, and an occasional knock down, and that morning had made threats that they would burn the town before the day was over. In spite of this Brubaker continued to sell his whisky to the already badly drunken wretches, until he found the place getting a little too hot for him, when he endeavored to close up his house and get out. But he lingered too long, as the crowd had got too much whiskey to remain long passive. A couple of men suc- ceeded, however, in clearing the room and barring the door. At this junction one Tom O'Brien went to the rear of the building and tried to force his way in, upon which one of the boys inside opened the door, and struck him over the head with an ax han- dle, knocking him down and cutting him severely. Rising to his feet, he went to the front, and with the blood streaming down his face, he excited the drunken mob to a pitch of frenzy, when a general fusilade of stones and other missiles was opened on the building, during which the door was badly banged and the win- dows broken in. Here the first shot was fired, O'Brien receiving the load, and the second shot took effect about the same time in the breast of one Gallagher. After the firing, amid the yellings and battering at the front, Brubaker left the building, through the door, and started in the direction of his home. Seeing this, the mob started too, filling every street with a dense crowd, most of whom were armed with clubs and stones, rending the air with cries of 'Catch him!' 'Kill him!' mingled with the most fearful oaths. Brubaker, finding himself closely pursued, took refuge in the house of Dr. Lines, around which the excited mob soon gath- ered. He succeeded, however, in leaving the house by the back door, and making good use of his time, finally got beyond the reach of his angry pursuers. The crowd, disappointed at losing the object of their rage, returned to the saloon and began to demolish the whole interior of the building, pitching the liquor into the street, and literally grinding the bottles and glasses to powder. Brubaker having eluded his pursuers, went first to his home, and then started to Huntington, but meeting the sheriff on the way, gave himself up, and accompanied that officer back to town. When they reached the town the riot had subsided. During the melee several of the citizens received portions of the charges of shot fired from the saloon, J. N. Dawson getting some twenty- three, and others from ten to fifteen in different parts of their
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bodies. Gallagher and O'Brien were the two most severely in- jured of the rioters, the latter subsequently dying from the effects of his wounds. Several persons were arrested, and the day fol- lowing a large number of the men returned quietly to work, while those who held over were promptly discharged. Mr. Dana- hay made every effort in his power to prevent the outbreak, but his appeals were unheeded by the drunken and frenzied crowd. The citizens manifested no sympathy for Brubaker, and ex- tended their assistance only to prevent him losing his life."
The present mercantile and industrial interests of Andrews may be summarized as follows:
John A Iry, general store; Charles Guass, groceries; E. B. Cubberly, A. Sloan and Samuel Fisher, drugs; Leedy Bros. and Lynn, dry goods and groceries; B. E. Openheim, clothing; F. M. Clawson, boots, shoes and queensware; J. H. Lee, boots, and shoes; Lessel Long, hardware; D. L. Haller & Son, dry goods and groceries; N. . McClure, groceries; McNoun, furniture and un- dertaker. Byram & Byram, furniture and undertakers; A. J. Slusser, and Andrew Lingtferst, restaurants; Mrs. Thomas New- ham and Mrs. Simeon Beauchamp, milliners; Lewis Guass and Peter Schnier, saloons; Pasching and Kern, saloon; Mr. Bellman, warehouse and grain dealer; F. M. Bailey, livery stable; S. Peck, wagon maker; James Rhodes, blacksmith, Long & Davis, black- smiths; Melton Fisher, gunsmith; Frank Bicker, harness maker; Ashley & Bausley, and E. Deal, barbers; C. Rosch, tailor; A. Bellman and John Grace. meat markets; Mitler & Son, pump factory; M. James, O. B. Williams, B. A. Line and W. S. Bran- don, physicians; F. M. Cole, attorney at law; J. H. Lee, post master; William Sheely, railroad agent.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOSEPH BAKER, carpenter and contractor at Andrews, is a native of Dauphin County, Pa., where he was born September 4th, 1834, being the next eldest in a family of seven children born to John and Elizabeth (Reesor) Baker, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. They emigrated to Ohio in 1835, and about 1846 they came to Indiana, settling in Wabash County, where they continued to live until 1880, where the father died. They then re- moved to, and have since resided in Andrews. Our immediate subject was reared at the various places which his parents resided receiving a limited education in consequence of the poor facili- ties of those days. He remained at home and assisted his par- ents on the farm until he attained the age of seventeen years, when he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter and joiner's trade. After serving his apprenticeship he engaged in the business for himself, and has with the exception of four years, when he was engaged in the mercantile business at Andrews, since followed it.
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And he has been very successful, having accumulated sufficient of this world's goods to live at his ease, owning a farm of 106 acres, one mile east of the town. November 20th, 1858, his marriage with Louisa Rennicker was solemnized. This union was of compar- ative short duration, he suffering the bereavement of losing his beloved wife about two years later. November 27, 1864, his and Mary E. Johnson's nuptials were celebrated, and to their union these two children have been born: Cora and J. Roy. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he is a Republi- can, and he has been honored with an election to the position of one of the Town Council. He has always manifested a good live interest in the political affairs of the county and community in which he lives, and has enjoyed the distinction of being one of the county central committee for his party almost continuously since 1856.
GEORGE W. BELL, a prominent citizen of Andrews, was born near Wakeman, Huron Co., Ohio, October 22d, 1835, the son of Martin and Polly (Miller) Bell, the parents both natives of Susquehanna County, l'enn. In 1849 they emigrated to Allen County, Ind., where the mother died. Subsequently the father removed to and now resides in Johnson County, Neb. The immediate subject of our sketch received a com- mon education, in keeping with the facilities afforded children at that early day, later supplemented by attendance at the Methodist College at Fort Wayne, in the winter of 1854-55. Martha Prindle became his wife in the fall of 1856, shortly after which they re- moved to Wisconsin, where for one winter he engaged in teach- ing. The following summer he farmed and in the fall removed to Crawford County, that State, and spent one season saw-logging there, when he removed to Iowa, remaining there for a period of one year, when he returned to his old home in Allen County, where he continued to reside until 1861, when he answered his country's call and enlisted in Company D, Thirtieth Indiana Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, serving and assisting in all the engagements in which his regiment participated until February, 1863, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability. April following he suffered the bereavement of losing his wife. In 1864 he re-enlisted as First Lieutenant in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-Ninth Regiment, serving the term of 100 days. Then he returned home and was engaged in the recruit- ing service until the. close of the war. April, 1865, he and Mary A. (Deverse) Drum were united in marriage. To their union three children have been born, two of whom are now living, Georgiana and Williaretta. The fall of 1865 he embarked in the mercantile business at New Haven, in which he continued until 1875, when he removed to Andrews, and entered into partnership with J. S. Morris and engaged in manufacturing staves and lum- ber and they have since conducted quite an extensive and suc- cessful business. Mr. Bell is a member of the Masonic, I. O. O. F.
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and G. A. R. fraternities. In politics he is a staunch Republican, casting his first vote for John C. Fremont. In 1884 he was honored with an election to the office of County Commissioner, being the present incumbent of that position.
SAMUEL BELLMAN, grain merchant at Andrews, is a na- tive of Perry County, Penn., born November 28, 1828, the youngest and only surviving member of a family of eight children born to Abraham and Mary M. (Kline) Bellman. He was reared to manhood in his native State, receiving a very limited education greatly supplemented in later years by contact and intercourse with business men. In the spring of 1856, the family emigrated to Indiana, settling in Miami County, where they continued to reside until 1869, when they removed to Huntington County, of which he has since remained a resident. January 17, 1856, his marriage with Elizabeth Ulsh, was solemnized. To their union, these six children have been born: Addison A., who married Anna Thomas; Ellen J., now Mrs. J. F. Foosher; Maggie P., wife of John Leedy; Lewis H., unmarried; Dora L., consort of R. Wesner, and William F. In 1862, he enlisted in Company "C," Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, serving three months. Upon his removal to Huntington County he located near the then village of Antioch, engaging in farming and stock dealing, shipping hogs and cattle quite extensively. In 1881, he platted a portion of his farm, which is now known as Bellman's addition to the Town of Andrews, and also assisted in the im- provement of a great many of the lots. He is one of Andrews' most enterprising and progressive citizens. July, 1886, in company with his sons, Addison A., and Lewis H., he engaged in buying and shipping grain. Their elevator, or warehouse, is conven- iently located on the railway, and when the arrangements are all completed they will be in a position to handle large quantities of grain, and it will prove the most potent factor in the develop- ment of Andrews' commercial interests, bringing trade to its merchants which would otherwise go elsewhere. Mr. Bellman and wife are members of The Church of God, and he belongs to the G. A. R. fraternity. Politically he has always been a Re- publican, but while manifesting a live interest in the political affairs of the country and community in which he lives, he has never sought any preferment.
HENRY C. BOUGHTON, train master at Andrews, for the First and Second Districts of the Wabash Railway, extending from Toledo, Ohio, to Tilton, Illinois, is a native of Victor, On- tario County, New York, where he was born June 25, 1844, being the eldest of a family of six children, born to Harry and Mary A. (West) Boughton, the former also a native of Ontario County, born 1797, and always lived on the farm where he was born, dying there in 1877. Our subject was reared to manhood at his native place, receiving a common school education, supplemented
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by attendance at the academy at Canandaigua. In 1861 he at- tempted to enlist in the service of his country, but was rejected on account of his immature age. Later, in 1864, he again enlisted in Company H, First New York Cavalry, where he served until the close of the war. He was present with Sheridan from Winchester until the close of the campaign at Appomatox. After his return from the army, he remained on the farm, serving a short time as baggage master at his home town on the New York City Railroad. In 1870, he came west and entered the em- ploy of the Wabash Company, first as switchman at La Fayette from which position he was promoted to that of yard master, in 1871, filling that place with the exception of a short time when he acted as conductor on the road until November, 1879, when he took charge of the Toledo Yards, from whence he was promoted to be assistant train master, station at La Fayette. September, 1882, he was again promoted to that of train master, where he is now engaged at Andrews. December, 1874. his and Anna Peet's nuptials were celebrated, and to their union five children have been born, of which these two are living: Bertha and Esther He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. His political views are Republican.
GEORGE W. CHESEBRO, a citizen of Dallas Township, and a descendant of Artemus Woodworth, one of its earliest settlers, was born June 3, 1843, being the next youngest of a family of six children born to Joseph and Susan (Woodworth) Chesebro, who were natives of New York and Southern Indiana respectively. The former came to Huntington County for the purpose of build- ing a lock, which was subsequently known as Chesebro's Lock. During the time he was constructing the lock he met, and won her hand in marriage, Miss Susan Woodworth, their nuptials being the first that were celebrated in the township. He ever afterward remained a resident of Huntington County, until his death, which occurred July, 1863. He was a man of considerable local prominence, representing the county in theLegislature. Ar- temus Woodworth, maternal grandfather of our subject, was the first settler of Dallas Township, of which he continued a resident until within about five years of his death. Our immediate sub- ject was reared to manhood on the farm, receiving a common school education. September 28, 1869, his marriage with Cythera M. Blish was solemnized, and to their union this one child has been born: Stella F. His occupation has always been farming, and he has been very successful. He now owns eighty acres of well improved land. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and he always manifested a good live interest in the political affairs of the county and community in which he lives.
FRANCIS M. CLAWSON, boot and shoe and queensware merchant at Andrews, has been engaged in the mercantile busi-
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ness almost continually since 1867. He is a native of Preble County, Ohio, where he was born, October 11, 1839, being the twelfth in a family of twelve children, born to Samuel and Mary (Lewis) Clawson, who were also natives of Preble County. They emigrated to Indiana and Grant County, about 1846. They continued residents of that county about three years, when they lived for a time in Wabash County, thence removing to Tipton, from where they returned to Wabash, where the former died in 1851; his widow married again after the latter's death. She died in 1876, while on a visit to her son in Indianapolis. She had made her home for some years prior to her death with our sub- ject. At the early age of twelve, when his father died, Mr. Clawson was cast upon his own resources. He worked as a farm hand until he attained the age of eighteen, when he engaged to learn the painter's trade, which he followed until 1861, when he entered the service of his country, enlisting in Company F, Thirteenth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, where he served for three years. During this period he was present at all the engagements in which his regiment participated, and was wounded at the battle of Foster's Farm, near Petersburg, May 20, 1864. He was then sent to the hospital, and when he recov- ered sufficiently to travel returned home and organized a com- pany known as Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-Third Reg- iment, he being mustered as First Lieutenant, then serving until the close of the war. He was honorably discharged at Louisville. April 17, 1876, his marriage with Martha Sayler was solemnized. He had removed to what was then Antioch in 1860, and where he has since, with the exception of seven years, from 1873 until 1880, when he was engaged in the mercantile business at Peru, made his home. From a business point of view he has been very successful. He has a fine store and enjoys a good renumerative trade. He and wife. are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a Republican, and held the position of Postmaster from 1866 up to and inclusive of the year 1868.
FRED M. COLE, attorney and notary public at Andrews, is a native of Jefferson County, N. Y., born at Rodman, August 2, 1818, being the fourth in a family of nine children born to Abel and Rebecca (Burnham) Cole who were both natives of Vermont. They emigrated to Indiana in the fall of the year 1820, settling in Fayette County. The following year they removed to and located in Shelby County, where they lived until their death, the former dying in 1861, and the latter in about two years later. Our immediate subject was reared to manhood in Shelby County, remaining at home and assisting his parents until he attained the age of twenty years, receiving a common school education such as the facilities of those days afforded, since greatly sup- plemented by constant reading. In 1837, he removed to Nobles- ville, and entered the employ of Gen. John D. Stevenson, who at that time filled the office of County Clerk, Recorder, Post
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Master, and was quite a prominent merchant, in all of which Mr. Cole assisted him. In 1841-42 he was engaged in reading law in the office of Fletcher, Butler & Yandis at Indianapolis. Octo- ber 8, 1843, his marriage with Martha A. Dale, of Noblesville, was solemnized, after which, he removed to a farm in Shelby County where he remained until 1857, serving during that time ten years as Justice of the Peace. At the latter date he returned to Nobles- ville, and embarked in the mercantile trade continuing there until 1868, when he removed to Andrews where he has since made his home. For the ten years immediately subsequent he was engaged in divers pursuits principally buying timber for wagon material. February, 1877, he was appointed Post Master, which position he filled continuously until October, 1885, since which time he has made the law his profession. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Cole, these six living children have been born, Viola, now Mrs. Dr. A. W. Spaine, of Terre Haute; Scott, unmar- ried; Ida, wife of C. M. Long; Clarke, who married Mira James; Will D., whose wife was Emma Lee, and Lena E., consort of A. J. Boughton. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, having identified themselves with that organization about fifty years. In politics he is a staunch Republican casting his first presidential vote for Gen. W. H. Harrison. Abel Coles was a practicing attorney, which he followed in connection with his farming for a great many years after coming to this State. While a resident of New York, he was favored with an election to a number of important positions among which were Judge of the county, and Representative for several terms in the State Legis- lature.
JOEL CRAMER, a farmer of Dallas Township, is a native of York County, Pa., where he was born, February 16, 1833, being the next youngest in a family of nine children, born to Christian and Katherine (Warner) Cramer, who were also natives of Penn- sylvania. They removed to Seneca, Ohio, about 1837, where they lived until their death. Joel was reared to manhood there, receiv- ing a common school education, such as the facilities of those days afforded. When about seventeen years of age he emigrated to Indiana, first settling in Wabash, with the expectation of learning the carpenter's trade with his brother, remaining with him the most of the time for three years. Then for about six or seven years his time was divided between this and Wabash County. In 1856 he permanently located at what is now Andrews, where he lived until the fall of 1869, when he removed to the farm on which he now resides. November 16, 1856, his marriage with Mary A. Shively was solemnized, and to their union five children were born, of whom three are now living: Charles E., Gilford S., and Alpheus T. The deceased children were: Laura E., who died the wife of Millard F. Millman, and William A. Janu- ary, 1865, he enlisted in the service of his country; February, he was mustered in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-Third In-
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diana Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged at Louisville, Ky., October, 1865. Since 1869 he has made farming his occupation, and he has been very successful. He now owns 187 acres of well im- proved land. He and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. In politics, he is a Republican.
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