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 61
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JERMAN BECK, farmer and stock raiser, was born August 29, 1826, in Mifflin County, Penn., and is the eldest son of Henry and Mary A. (Beighel) Beck. natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively. Henry Beck was a miller by occu- pation, and followed the trade until 1833, at which time he emi- grated to Montgomery County, Ohio and engaged in farming. He died in that county a number of years ago. Jerman Beck was seven years of age when his parents moved to Ohio. He grew to manhood in Montgomery County, that State, and assisted his father on the farm until his twenty-second year, attending school at intervals in the meantime. He began farming for him- self in 1846, and four years later came to Huntington County, Ind., and located on the farm where he still resides in Jackson Township. He purchased his land in 1849, and for several years worked early and late in order to develop a home, an undertak- ing at that time attended with many difficulties. He finally succeeded in making a good farm of 160, which to-day is one of the best places in the township. He was married August 13th, 1848, to Miss Mariah Christian, of Huntingdon County, Penn., by whom he had four children: Joseph, Mary C., Samuel and Sarah A. Beck. Mrs. Beck died November 8, 1859. Mr. Beck's second wife was Lydia Angelmire, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, March 13, 189, the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Good) Angelmire, of Pennsylvania. She was the mother of two children, viz .: William H. and Eva B. Beck, and departed this life on the 9th day of November, 1870. December 3, 1875, Mr. Beck married Margaret Angelmire, sister of his second wife. She was born in Ohio, March 24, 1843. Mr. Beck is a Republican in politics, and & strong advocate of the tem- perance reform. He and wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church.
W. F. BRYSON was born February 22, 1840, being the third of nine children, born to Thomas and Hannah, (Henshaw) Bry- son, who are natives of Pennsylvania, of Irish and German descent. Thomas Bryson was born 1813, in Butler County, Penn., where he was reared as a farmer boy receiving a fair education from the district school. In 1835 he was married in Butler County, Penn., then removed in 1854 to Wells County, Ind. He was a man of great energy and endurance and of large size. He now has a nice home, the results of his labor. Our subject was reared as a farmer boy in Butler County Penn., until fourteen years of age, when he removed with his father to Indiana. Two years later began learning the harness trade, and after three years went to Pike's Peak, where he remained one year when he came home and enlisted in the
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army September, 1861, Company I, Thirty-Fourth Indiana, and served till February 22, 1866. Mr. Bryson went into the army as a private, filled all the grades of offices and came home com- manding a company. After coming home he worked at his trade ten years, when he began business in lumbering with J. B. Bryson, his brother, where he remained until 1883, when his business was burned. Mr. Bryson then went to Hickman, Kentucky, there remained in lumber business about two years, when again burned out, then moved to Indiana, since remaining at Roanoke, where he has been engaged in pension business, which has been very successful. He was married in 1867, to Miss Lucretia Stough, and two children have been born to them: Charles B., June 29, 1869; Ida M., May 16, 1873. Mrs. Bryson belongs to the Methodist Church.
DANIEL CHRISTIAN, prominent farmer and stock raiser, is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, the fourth son and sixth child of a family of eight children, born to Samuel D. and Mary (Culclesser ? ) Christian, of Huntingdon, now Blair County Penn. Samuel D. Christian grew to manhood in his na- tive county, and subsequently with his wife and three children emigrated to Montgomery County, Ohio, where he became one of the leading farmers and stock raisers. In an early day he came to Huntington County, Ind., and purchased for each of his chil- dren, 160 acres of valuable land. August, 1865, he located on Section 29, Jackson Township, and a few years later settled in Section 20, where he lived until his death, which occurred Novem- ber, 1879, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and business capacity, and for many years a devoted member of the German Baptist Church. His wife preceded him to the grave several years, and of their family three members are surviving, and are living, one in Montgomery County, Ohio, the one at Port Townsend, Oregon, and the third, the subject of this sketch, in Huntington County, Ind. Daniel Christian was born July 8, 1835, and grew to manhood in his native county. He enjoyed the advantage of a common school education, and until his twenty-first year, remained under the parental roof, familiariz- ing himself with the rugged duties of the farmer's vocation in the meantime. On attairing his majority he began farming the home place, and was thus engaged until his removal to Hunting- ton County, August, 1863, when he located upon a tract of land in Section 29, Jackson Township. He subsequently moved to the place where he now resides, which at that time was a dense forest. By persevering industry and a determination to succeed, he finally cleared away the heavy timber and developed a home which in point of fertility and improvements will compare favorably with any farm in the township, his dwelling being one of the finest and most commodious in Huntington County. In addition to his farming interests Mr. Christian deals exten-
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sively in live stock, and of late years has given a great deal of attention to poultry, being one of the largest breeders of fine varieties in Northern Indiana. He was born and raised in the Democratic school of politics, and as such has been an active worker in his party, having served two terms as County Treasurer, and one term as member of the Board of County Com- missioners. He is a man of superior business qualifications and is widely and favorably known throughout Huntington and other counties in the northern part of the State. His marriage with Miss Lydia Warner, daughter of John H. and Charity (Hill) Warner, was solemnized March, 1857. Mrs. Christian was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, February 6th, 1833, and is the mother of two children, viz .: John H., born December 11th, 1857, and Mary E., deceased, born December 30th, 1859.
JAMES B. DEARMITT is a son of John and Margaret (Gall- agher) DeArmitt, who are natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish descent. The parents were reared in Huntingdon County of their native State, and remained there until 1869, 'when they came to Indiana. Their marriage occurred November 27, 1856. John DeArmitt has followed farming all his life, and although he began a poor man he has, by energy and economy, acquired .a competency. He has a well improved farm of 100 acres where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. DeArmitt are both members of the Catholic Church. Their son, James B., was born September 3, 1857, and received a good education in the normal school, at Danville, Ind., and in the Seminary at Roanoke. He was thus thoroughly prepared to become a teacher, an occupation he has followed nine terms in Huntington County. He is a young man of correct habits and highly esteemed in the community where he is known. John A. DeArmitt was born December 20, 1861. He received a similar education to that of his brother, and has followed the vocation of a pedagogue. The DeArmitts are all Domocrats and men well and favorably known in the north- western part of the county.
DAVID HAMILTON (deceased), son of James and Mary (Bradford) Hamilton, was born in Washington County, Penn., in the year 1820. At the age of ten he accompanied his parents to Jefferson County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, and where in the common schools, by diligent application, he acquired a practical English education. He remained with his parents until 1849, at which time he moved to Allen County, Ind., and began pioneer life in the woods, where for some years he experienced manifold hardships and privations. On leaving the parental roof he had little or no means, his only capital being willing hands and a determination to succeed in everything he attempted. After living in Allen a few years he traded his place for a farm on the edge of Whitley County, which was his home until 1860. In the latter year he exchanged
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his farm for property in the town of Roanoke, where his family now reside. Mr. Hamilton in 1862, responded to the country's call for volunteers, enlisting August 6, of that year in Company H, Seventy-Fifth Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for a period of three years, earning the reputation of a brave and gallant soldier in that time. He left the army in poor health, and, with the hope of regaining the same, visited Kan- sas in 1868, but atter a short sojourn returned to Roanoke with- out deriving any material benefit from the trip. He died at his home on the 20th day of May, 1870, lamented by all who knew him. He was a man of honor and integrity, a strong advocate of temperance, and in short one of the most esteemed and highly respected citizens of Jackson Township. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha J. Bradford, daughter of John and Ann (Hamilton) Bradford, was born in Washington County Penn., August 27, 1824. She is the mother of five children whose names are as follows: Ann E. (deceased), wife of George Schoeff; Mary Agnes, wife of D. M. Rose; Charles E., and James A. (both deceased), Margaret M., Jennie B., wife of Abraham Kahn; Henry H., (deceased) David G. (deceased), and Millie G., wife of Charles D. Christy.
GEORGE W. HAMILTON. The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, was born in Washington County, Penn., September 1, 1827, the fourth son of James and Mary (Bradford) Hamilton, parents both natives of same county and State. When four years of age he was taken by his parents to Jeffer- son County, Ohio, where on a farm he grew to manhood, acquir- ing a very limited education in the meantime. When eighteen years old he entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the tin and copper smith's trade, at which he served for a period of three years, opening a shop in Richland at the end of that time, where he soon worked into a comfortable business. His father lived near by and he would occasionally go home and assist in the farm work of busy seasons. While assisting in threshing Aug- ust, 1850, his arm was caught in the cylinder of the machine and horribly crushed to the shoulder, rendering amputation necessary. After this he was compelled to abandon manual labor, and in order to fit himself for other employment, entered the Richland Academy, where he purused his studies for two years, with the object of teaching in view. He was engaged as teacher for a period of sixteen years, fourteen of which were spent in Jeffer- son County, Ohio, and two years in Huntington County, Ind., where he moved in the fall of 1866. He abandoned teach- ing in 1868 and engaged in farming and stock raising, in Whitley County, and subsequently in 1871, purchased 110 acres of his present farm in Jackson Township, where he has ever since resided. Mr. Hamilton has met with encourag- ing success in life, and at this time is the possessor of nearly 300 acres of valuable land. He was married May 14,
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1850, to Caroline Hertford, of Jefferson County, Ohio, where she was born, March, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are worthy citi- izens, and enjoy the esteem and confidence of all who know them.
MILTON W. HUFFMAN was born in Jackson Township, Huntington County, Ind., January 25, 1860. His father, John Huffman, was born in Ashland County, Ohio, January 31, 1819, and was the son of Abraham Huffman, who came to Hunting- ton County about the time the land came into market, and entered a tract of land for each of his children, five sons and two daughters. John Huffman became a resident of Jack- son Township in 1855, and in addition to the original farm of eighty acres, succeeded in accumulating a handsome competence, including 266 acres of valuable land, which was highly improved. He married September 29, 1841, Miss Ann Harvont, who bore him five children, four of whom, two sons and two daughters, are living. He died at his home in this township August 21, 1862. His wife survived him several years, dying August 23, 1874. The immediate subject was left fatherless at the early age of two and a half years. and when fourteen years old his mother died. His preliminary education was acquired in the common schools, supplemented by a one year's course at North Fairfield, Ohio, and he later became a student of the Huntington High School, September, 1877. he entered the normal school at Valparaiso. where he pursued his studies for a period of two years, completing a business course during that time, besides making rapid progress in music. Owing to ill health he was compelled to quit school, and in order to recuperate he went west in 1879, and until the fall of 1880, was employed in a hotel at Denver, Colorado. Re- turning to Indiana the latter year, he engaged in farming in Jackson Township, where he has since resided. October 6, 1881, he married Miss Arbie M. Koch, a native of Whitley County, Ind., and daughter of William and Sarah (Yeater) Koch, natives respectively of Ohio and Indiana. The issue of this marriage is one child, Lorenzo M., born May 22, 1883. Mr. Huff- man is a public spirited citizen and an ardent worker in the cause of temperance. Politically he is a Republican, and in religion is a member of the Church of God, as is also his wife.
OLIVER JOHNS, Trustee, and prominent citizen of Jackson Township, is a native of Wayne County, Indiana, born near Ha- gerstown, March 28, 1842. His parents were David M. and Susanna Johns, the former born in Stark County, Ohio, October 20, 1821, and the latter in Montgomery County, same State, Aug- ust 20, 1823. David A. Johns, the paternal grandfather, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a wagon-maker by trade, and, after leaving the army, set- tled in Ohio, where his death occurred many years ago. David M. Johns early learned the wagon-maker's trade, and worked at
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the same, until his removal to Huntington County, Ind., in 1854. He purchased land in Section 8, Jackson Township, and lived upon the same until his death, which occurred March 26, 1861. He married, in 1840, Miss Susannah Overholser, by whom he had eight children, six sons and two daughters, the subject of this sketch being the oldest of the family. Mrs. Johns, in 1867, mar- ried Stephen C. Ulrey, and moved to Kosciusko County, where she still lives. Oliver Johns was twelve years of age when his parents moved from Wayne to Huntington County, and from that time until the present has been one of Jackson Township's most highly esteemed citizens. He was raised to farm work, and on the death of his father was left in charge of the home place, being at that time nineteen years of age. Two years later he purchased an interest in a saw mill, and after continuing the lumber business for some time, sold out and invested his means in the home where he now resides, moving to the same in 1868. He is a Republican in politics, and as such was elected Trustee of Jackson Township in the spring of 1886. His marriage on the 14th of October, 1862, to Miss Sarah Zent, of Richland County. Ohio, and daughter of John Zent, has been blessed with the birth of the following children, viz .: Edwin E., deceased; Jennie M., wife of Rufus Langston; Ellen M., C. C. and Daniel W.
OLIVER F. LANDIS, Minister, was born September 4, 1860, being the fifth of eight children (living) born to Michael H., and Mary A. (John) Landis. He was reared until seventeen years old at North Manchester, Ind., when he removed with his father's family to Huntington County. Mr. Landis for three years worked out as a farmer. In 1881, he was married to Matilda M. Price. Two children have been born to this marriage. Mr. Landis has been a hard working man. In early life he received a limited education, but in 1885 began a series of studies at Uni- ted Brethren Seminary, at Roanoke, studying for the ministry. To Mr. and Mrs. Landis two children have been born.
HENRY L. MADDUX. The gentleman whose sketch is herewith presented, is a native of Huntington County, Ind., born in Warren Township, on the 22d day of September, 1852. His paternal ancestors were early residents of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, John Maddux, born February 1, 1788, emigrating from that State to Ohio, many years ago, where he reared a family of eight sons and three daughters. He subsequently purchased from the government a tract of land for each of his children in Huntington, Wells and Allen Counties, Ind., about the time those parts of the State were open for settlement. David Mad- dux, father of subject, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, July 13, 1820. He was one of the early teachers of Huntington County, and an early settler of Wells County, moving there in the year 1840. His wife, Ellen R. (Carroll) Maddux, was born in Washington County, Md., June 3, 1823, of German parentage.
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Mr. and Mrs. Maddux, early settled in Warren Township, Hunt- ington County, where they experienced many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life. He died March 10, 1880, having suffered nearly total blindness in his later years. His widow still survives him and lives upon the home farm. Henry L. Maddux was reared a farmer, and in the common schools en- joyed the advantages of an English education, attending but one term, however, after his fourteenth year, owing to his father's misfortune i. e., bindness, and was early obliged to contri- bute his share toward the support of the family, and until his twenty- fourth year lived at home looking after his mother's in- terests. He then rented the home place and farmed the same, until purchasing eighty acres of land in the fall of 1881, upon which he has since made quite a number of valuable improvements including a brick house, second to no farm residence in Jackson Township. He was married March 18, 1877, to Miss Mina, daugh- ter of Charles and Catharine Bickel, parents natives of Germany. Mrs. Maddux was born in Harrisburg, Penn., November 3d, 1853, and is the mother of two children, to-wit: Alice, born December 29, 1877, died 1880, and Laura, born September 28, 1882. Mr. Maddux is one of the progressive farmers of his township as well as one of its leading citizens. Mrs. Maddux is a worthy member of the Reformed Lutheran Church.
JOHN MARTZ, retired farmer, is a native of Pennsylvania, and the fourth of a family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, born to John and Elizabeth (Beaver) Martz. The pa- ternal grandfather was a native of Switzerland, and on the mother's side he is descended from German ancestry. John Martz was born in Pennsylvania, and by occupation was a black- smith. In 1829 he settled in Trumbull County, Ohio, where he made a good home and reared his children to manhood and womanhood. He died September, 1866, aged seventy-nine years. His wife preceded him to the grave, departing this life in 1840, at the age of fifty-one years. John Martz was born August 26, 1815, and at the age of fourteen accompanied his parents to Trumbull County, Ohio, where the years of his youth and early manhood were passed. His education was limited to the sub- scription schools of that day, and while still a boy he began the blacksmithing trade with his father, and soon became a skillful workman. February 22, 1840, he married Miss Margaret Keller, of Columbiana County, Ohio, daughter of John and Catherine (Kenrich) Keller. Shortly after marriage, Mr. Martz abandoned his trade and engaged in agricultural pursuits, farming for a few years as a renter, and subsequently, 1851, purchased the land upon which he now lives in Jackson Township, Huntington Co. His farm and improvements will compare favorably with any other place in the community, and in point of thrift and all that goes to make up substantial manhood, Mr. Martz stands among the first in the township. He and wife are members of the
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Lutheran Church, and in politics he is an ardent supporter of the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Martz have had nine children whose names are as follows, to-wit: Daniel, deceased; Cath- erine, wife of Alexander Smith; Sarah, wife of Daniel Goodman; John H., Cornelius, Aaron, Clara H., wife of John Fisher; Mary A. and Elizabeth, deceased.
W. J. MCNAMARA, born in Cecil County, Md., February, 1839. He was second of nine children born to William and Susan (Porter) McNamara, who were natives of Maryland of Scottish descent. William McNamara was reared, and lived in Maryland until about forty-eight years of age, then moved to Indiana where he died at the age of sixty-three, 1868. Mrs. McNamara, is still living at Ft. Wayne, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. McNamara were very worthy people. Our subject was reared as a farmer's boy and has followed farming up to within a few years of the present time, when he became engaged in stock raising which he now follows. He received a limited education in the schools of his time. Lived with father until about twenty-six years of age, when he was married to Miss Sarah Sibert, who died seven years after their marriage leaving her husband with three chil- dren, two of whom are dead, the other being the wife of William Koch. Two years after his wife's death he married a very excell- ent lady, Catherine Weaver. Mr. McNamara has been a hard working man, and as the fruits of his labor has accumulated con- siderable property. At the present time he owns some of the finest horses ever brought to Huntington County. He is a strong Democract and belongs to the Methodist Church. By his second wife five children have been born, as follows: Frank E., born June 17, 1874; Jay B., born December 4, 1876; Leroy E., born March 11, 1880; Pearl E., born April 26; 1883, and Eldie E., born August 22, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. McNamara are good people, and are highly esteemed by the community.
WILLIAM T. PURVIANCE, the subject of this sketch, is descended from an old Huguenot family and traces his an- cestry back through many generations. His parents, James and Jane (Ireland) Purviance, were born in Bourbon County, Ky., in the year 1804, and were the parents of the following children, viz .: Andrew I., William T., Elizabeth H. and Jane Purviance. James Purviance, when four years of age, accom- panied his parents to Preble County, Ohio, where December 26, 1826, he was united in marriage to Jane Ireland. In 1835 he settled near Goshen, Ind., where on the 29th of September, 1838, Mrs. Purviance died. In 1842 Mr. Purviance disposed of his in- terest in Elkhart County and purchased 160 acres of land in Jackson Township, Huntington County, to which he moved in the spring of the following year. January, 1844, his second mar- riage was solemnized with Mrs. Sarah Knox, of Bourbon County, Ky., by whom he had three children, viz .: James M., Charles C.
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and Margaret, deceased, wife of William Webb. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Purviance located upon the home place where his death occurred, December 8, 1854. He was a man of great popularity and influence and served in various official positions in the township. Mrs. Purviance departed this life September 1, 1885. William T. Purviance was born in Preble County, Ohio, October 19, 1829, and at the age of six years was brought by his parents to Indiana. When nine years of age he returned to Ohio and lived with his grandfather until the spring of :843, at which time he came to Huntington County with his father, and has ever since been an honored resident of Jackson Township. He was educated in the common schools, and on the death of his father took charge of the home farm upon which he still lives and which he has made one of the best places in the township. July, 1863, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Eigh- teenth Indiana Infantry, for the six months' service and was with his regiment under Gen. Burnside in East Tennessee during his period of enlistment. He was honorably discharged March 1, 1864, and immediately thereafter returned home and resumed farming which he still carries on in connection with stock rais- ing, being quite successful in both branches of industry. He served as Trustee of Jackson Township several terms and dis- charged the duties of that office in a manner highly creditable to himself and satisfactory to all concerned. He is a member of the G. A. R. post at Roanoke and one of the public-sprited citi- zens of Jackson Township.
MARVIN W. RICHARDS, manufacturer of lumber and drain tile, was born in Jackson Township, Huntington Co., Feb- ruary 22, 1856, the son of Daniel and Harriet (Smith) Richards, natives of Stark County, Ohio. He was reared a farmer, enjoyed the advantages of a common school education, and on attaining his majority engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he carried on successfully until the spring of 1886; at that time he began dealing in farm implements at Huntington, and one year later purchased an interest in a saw mill and tile factory two and a half miles south west of Roanoke, with which he is at this time connected. He is an energetic man, and in his latest business venture has met with the most encouraging success. Decem- ber 19, 1878, he married Miss Rosa McCaughey, daughter of James W. McCaughey, of Jackson Township. She was born in Huntington County, August 3, 1857. The father of our sub- ject, Daniel Richards, was born March 14, 1814, the fifth child of Benjamin and Rachael (Warner) Richards, natives of Pennsyl- vania and Maryland, respectively. He is by occupation a farmer, and began life for himself at the early age of fourteen. April 24, 1837, he married Harriet Smith, and a little later moved to Sum- mit County, Ohio, where they lived until they removed to Huntington County, Ind., in the fall of 1851. He located where he now lives, having redeemed from the forest a fine farm of 100
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