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 72
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JOHN W. BROWN was born in Clinton County, Ohio, Sep- tember 30, 1846, and is the eldest son of Asa and Cinderilla ( Wil- son) Brown, natives respectively of Ohio and Kentucky. He was raised a farmer, and enjoyed the advantages of a common school education, supplemented by a course in the Markle High School, where he made substantial progress in the higher branches of learning. He was brought to Huntington County by his parents when but seven years of age, and until his twenty- third year remained under the parental roof working the home farm for a share of the profits. On the 15th of September, he married Miss Anna M. Dill, daughter of John and Mary (Law- son) Dill, of Wayne County, Ind. The spring following his mar- riage Mr. Brown moved to the place where he now resides in Rock Creek Township, owning at this time a beautiful farm of 160 acres, all of which is well improved. Mrs. Brown was born Jan- uary 7, 1851, and is the mother of the following children: Cora, born November 15, 1871; Lucretius E., born September 12, 1873; Harvey M., born October 4, 1875; Mary C., born July 23, 1878;
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Lewis O., born August 5, 1881, and William C. C., born December 4, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Disciples Church.
SAMUEL BRUBAKER, farmer and stock raiser, and second son of Martin and Nancy Brubaker, was born in Perry County, Ohio, on the 5th day of October, 1824. Martin Brubaker was the son of Jacob Brubaker, who came to the United States from Ger- many and settled, many years ago, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He subsequently moved to Ohio, and died in Perry County, about the year 1824. Martin Brubaker, in 1819, married Nancy Neal, and about 1834, or 1835, immigrated to Huntington County, Ind., and entered a valuable tract of land in the vicinity of Brown's Corners, Rock Creek Township. His wife died in February, 1851, and the following September his second marriage was solemnized with Mrs. Caroline (Stevens) McMullen, who bore him two children. Mr. Brubaker was a man of many excellent qualities, a successful business man and stood in high esteem with all who came in contact with him. He was born on the 17th of May, 1779, and departed this life on the 29th of December, 1863. Samuel Brubaker grew to manhood in his native county and re- mained with his parents until twenty-four years of age, when he began to work for himself in the capacity of a common laborer. In October, 1851. he came to Huntington County and settled on a tract of wild land in Rock Creek Township where he soon erected a cabin and improved a farm which he subsequently (1854) traded for the place where he at present resides. He took an active part in the growth and development of the country and bore his full share of the hardships and obstacles incident to a life in the backwoods. He now has a comfortable farm and is classed among the successful and well-to-do farmers and stock raisers of Huntington County. He is a Democrat in politics and in 1886 served as Assessor of Rock Creek Township. On the 10th day of November, 1850, was solemnized his marriage with Miss Mary A. Boston, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, on the 4th of November, 1830. She is the eldest child of William and Rachael Boston, of Virginia, and is the mother of seven children, four of whom are now living, viz .: Martha, wife of William Riley; Emeline, wife of Elliott Hough; Amanda B., wife of John Miller and Edson B. Brubaker.
JAMES H. BRUBAKER. - The gentleman whose sketch is herewith presented, was born in Perry County, Ohio, January 20, 1838, and is the son of Martin and Nancy (Neal) Brubaker, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and Irish descent, respectively. He is the youngest in a family of eight children, was raised amid the active scenes of farm life, and in the pioneer schools obtained the elements of an English education. At the age of eighteen he came to Huntington County, Ind., and after a sojourn of one year, returned to his former home, where he remained un-
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til 1858. In the latter year he came back to Huntington County, but did not remain here long, going to Ohio and living with his father until the latter's death in 1863. He then, for the third time, came to Rock Creek Township, where he has since resided as one of its leading and most highly respected citizens. On the 5th of January, 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah DeHaven, daughter of Samuel DeHaven, one of the pioneer set- tlers of Rock Creek Township. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Brubaker located on his present farm, which at that time was nearly as nature had made it. By commendable industry and economy he succeeded in making a very comfortable home, and at this time is considered one of the successful farmers and stock raisers of the community in which he resides. Mrs. Brubaker was born June 10, 1846, and is the mother of the following chil- dren, to-wit: Matilda, born December 11, 1867; Sarah E., born December 9, 1869; John W., born January 30, 1871; Mary C., born October 1, 1873, and Eva May, born December 9, 1878. Mr. Bru- baker is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and with his wife is highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and neighbors.
ANDREW COOLMAN, the subject of this sketch, was born near the town of Warren, Huntington Co., Ind., July 31, 1840, the third in a family of ten children born to William and Mary Ann (McKee) Coolman. William Coolman was a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, and in early life married Sophia Harvey, who died a few years later. He subsequently married Mary A. McKee, and in 1835 moved to Huntington County, Ind., settling east of Warren, having been one of the earliest pioneers in the southern part of the county. Being possessed of lim- ited means, he was obliged to sell his team to pay for his land, and his hardships during the first few years spent in the new country were such as would quickly discourage the bravest hearted of the present day. He made a good farm, however, and lived to see the wilderness of Salamonie developed into one of the most fertile and highly favored regions of Northern Indiana. His death occurred in 1874, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife preceded him to the grave, dying in 1859. Andrew Cool- man grew to manhood on a farm and early became familiar with the hard work of clearing and chopping, having, while yet a mere child, frequently assisted his father in the rugged task of remov- ing the forest growth and preparing the rough ground for culti- vation. His early educational training was received in the old back woods school house, where, by close application, he ob- tained the rudiments of an education which, supplemented by subsequent reading, has made him a comparatively well posted man. He remained under the parental roof until the call to arms for the defense of the Union resounded throughout the country, at which time, 1861, he entered the army as a member of Com- pany D, Thirty-Fourth Indiana Infantry, with which he shared
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
the fortunes and viscissitudes of war in many hard campaigns and bloody battle fields. He reenlisted February, 1864, at New Or- leans, and from that time until February 4, 1866, served with dis- tinction as a brave and trustworthy soldier. During his long period of service, four years and five months, he was always ready for duty, participated in fifteen engagements, and was held a prisoner for six days, having been captured in his last engage- ment, a short time prior to Lee's surrender. On leaving the army he returned home and invested his savings in eighty acres of land, upon which he at once went to work improving a farm. By industry and economy he has been enabled to add to his orig- inal purchase, and at this time owns quite an area of valuable land in Rock Creek Township. He was married February 25, 1875, to Miss Sarah E. Reed. She was born in Preble County, Ohio, December 1, 1845, and departed this life on the 13th day of August, 1883, leaving one child, Charles H., born July 5, 1876. Mr. Coolman married his present wife, Sarah E. Shoemaker, Feb- ruary 28, 1884. She was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, Septem- ber, 1861, and is the mother of one child, William A., born November 30, 1884.
JOSEPH J. CREVISTON, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Grant County, Ind., December 8, 1840, the tenth child of Joseph and Sarah Creviston. Joseph Creviston, Sr., was born in Bed- ford County, Pa., in the year 1797, and in early life emigrated to Knox County, Ohio, where he resided until 1837. In 1822, he was united in marriage with Sarah Kepler, a native of Pennsylvania, born in Bedford County, in 1802, and in 1837 immigrated to Grant County, Ind., being one of the pioneers of that part of the State. He subsequently moved to Huntington County, locating first on the Salamonie River, and later on the farm where his youngest son now lives, where in 1853, he began to clear a farm. He was a man of great energy and endurance, as is attested by the fact that he succeeded in carving a home from the wilderness after he had reached the age of fifty-six years. He served in the war of 1812, and after settling in Grant County, was for some time employed as teacher in the early schools of his neighborhood. His death occurred August 16, 1875. His wife preceded him to the grave, dying on the 11th day of March, 1874. Joseph and Sarah Creviston were the parents of the following children, to wit: Amanda D., Harvey, Melissa, Harriet, deceased, Cather- ine D., Lydia A., Sarah, deceased, William, Mary J., Rachel, deceased, and the subject of this sketch. Joseph J. Creviston was reared to agricultural pursuits, and when eleven years old accompanied his parents to Huntington County, where he has since resided. He received a limited education in such schools as the country afforded, but by intelligent observation, and com- ing into contact with business men in a business capacity, has since acquired a fund of practical knowledge such as books and schools fail to impart. He remained with his parents until his
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twentieth year, and then began life for himself, choosing farming as his vocation. He took charge of his father's farm in 1860, and continued as a renter until 1873, at which time he purchased fifty-two acres, to which he has subsequently added, until he now owns a good farm of 1143 acres, all of which has been accu- mulated by his own unaided industry. In February, 1864, he entered the army, enlisting in the Forty-Seventh Regiment, Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until honorably discharged on account of physical disability, May, 1865, partici- pating in several engagements in the meantime. Since his dis- charge from the army, Mr. Creviston has been in poor health, having been a sufferer the greater part of the time spent in the service. He is an active politician, voting the Democratic ticket, and in 1882 was elected Trustee of Rock Creek Township, filling the office two terms. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Patrons of Husbandry, and is in every respect a most exemplary and trustworthy citizen. On the 1st of November, 1860, occurred his marriage with Miss Mary J. Walker, of Onondaga County, N. Y., daughter of David and Sarah (Wright) Walker. To this union have been born the following children: Sarah E., wife of B. F. Lyons; Armina I., wife of Richard R. Thompson, and Joseph D. Creviston.
WILLIAM EICHHORN, one of the largest and most suc- cessful farmers and stock raisers of Rock Creek Township, is a native of Crawford County, Ohio, and dates his birth from the 20th of March, 1841. His parents, Philip and Margaret (Hassler) Eichhorn, were born in Germany, but early emigrated to the United States, and settled with their respective parents near the City of Mansfield, Crawford Co., Ohio. Here Philip Eich- horn began the life of a farmer and although quite poor when first starting into the world upon his own responsibilities suc- ceeded in accumulating a handsome property which he sold in 1863, for $12,350, and moved to Wells County, Ind. He invested his money in a choice tract of land on the Wabash, and one year later, November, 1864, died at his new home aged fifty-seven years. His widow still lives on the home place. William Eich- horn is the second in a family of nine children, and spent his youth and early manhood with his father on the farm, attending in the meantime the country schools where he obtained the ele- ments of an English education. August 26, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Adeline, daughter of Martin and Lydia A. (Houtz) Gilbert, by whom he has had three children, two of whom, Wilson C., and Edwin H., are now living. The eldest, Irena A., died in infancy. Mrs. Eichhorn was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, November 15, 1848. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Eichhorn moved to the farm where he is now living in Rock Creek Township. He now has a beautiful place of 160 acres, the same which his father purchased in 1854, for the sum of $950. The farm is well improved and upon it can be seen some
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of the finest stock in Huntington County. Mr. Eichhorn has been a Democrat in politics, but of late years inclines to the Prohibition party. He belongs to the Wells County Short Horn Breeders' Association, and as a farmer and stock raiser, has few, if any superiors in the county where he resides. He and wife are members of the German Reformed Church.
GASPER FELABOM, one of the successful and self-made men of Rock Creek Township, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1823, the fourth son of David and Jane (Richey) Felabom, parents both natives of the same State. David Felabom early emigrated to Ohio, and died in that State late in the forties, at the age of sixty-five years. ,After his death his wife returned to Pennsylvania, where her death occurred several years later. They were the parents of sixteen children, only six of whom, four brothers and two sisters, grew to man and woman- hood. Gasper Felabom was raised to habits of industry, his father being a poor man, in consequence of which he was early in life obliged to rely in a great measure upon his own resources. He attended school but a few months, and when only ten years of age was hired to a farmer for two years, his compensation be- ing $1.50 per month. He remained with his employer seven years, a part of the time receiving $10 per month, and in August, 1840, emigrated to Wayne County, Ohio, where he began to learn the miller's trade. He abandoned this in a short time, again en- gaged as a farm laborer, and subsequently rented land, until 1856, when he moved to his present farm in Rock Creek Township, having purchased eighty acres the year previous. Upon this land he at once went to work, and although possessing but limited means, succeeded within a few years in making a very comfort- able home. He has always been a hard worker, and is, in every respect a self-made and thoroughly upright man. He cast his first vote for James K. Polk, and has been an earnest supporter of the Democratic party ever since. On the 22d of August, 1848, was solemnized his marriage with Miss Sarah J. Bonewitz, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Franks) Bonewitz, of Pennsyl- vania. Mr. and Mrs. Felabom have had ten children, seven of whom are now living, viz .: Joseph B., James M., Mary J., Adda A., Samuel W., Perry O., and Belle I. The names of de- ceased children are: Sarah M., R. A., and Cora M.
JAMES M. FELABOM, second son of Gasper and Sarah (Bone- witz) Felabom, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, on the 28th day of September, 1851. At the age of seven years he came with his parents to this county and grew to manhood on the farm, assist- ing his father in the arduous duties of clearing and developing the same. Owing to his time being required in contributing to the support of the family he received but a limited education, but by coming in contact with his fellow men in different busi- ness capacities has since obtained a valuable practical knowledge,
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which has since enabled him to successfully discharge the duties of an active life. He remained with his parents until arriving at the years of manhood, when he began life for himself, and is at this time farming the home place. He is an intelligent and worthy citizen, and a highly respected member of the com- munity in which he resides. He was married September 30, 1885, to Miss Awilda, daughter of Joel C. and Sarah (Kane) Emley, of this county. She was born May 9, 1859.
J. HARVEY GEBHART is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, and the second of a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters, born to John H. and Salomia Gebhart. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, but in an early day re- moved with his parents to Ohio, where, in 1845, he was united in marriage with Miss Salomia Gebhart. He was by trade a cooper, but in 1854 abandoned that vocation, moving to Huntington County, Ind., that year and engaged in farming in Salamonie Township. He became a prominent farmer in the community in which he resided, and was a resident of Salamonie until his death, which occurred on the 24th day of October, 1886. His wife and seven children survive him. J. Harvey Gebhart was seven years of age when his parents moved to this county, and from that time until the present he has been one of its substan- tial and well-to-do citizens. He was raised on a farm, received a fair English education, and at the age of twenty-two started in life for himself with but a, meagre amount of this world's goods, but an abundance of that capital so necessary to success, known as perseverance and determination. He purchased, in 1872, his present home in Rock Creek Township, to which he has subse- quently added, until he now owns 100 acres of valuable land - the result of his own industry. December 30, 1869, Miss C. E. Coolman, eldest daughter of William Coolman, of Salamonie Township, became his wife, a marriage blessed with the birth of one child, viz .: Moria A., wife of John M. Beerbower, born Sep- tember 10, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Gebhart are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and enjoy the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
HENRY C. GEMMILL, M. D., is one of the leading physi- cians of Huntington County. He was born in Frederick County, Va., February 24, 1845, a son of Hugh and Julia A. (Vigus) Gem- mill, and is of Scotch descent. The father was born in Maryland in 1799, and died in Logansport, this State, in 1876. His mother was a native of Virginia, born July 29, 1816, and her death occurred January 9, 1887. Hugh Gemmill, the paternal grand- father of the doctor, was a native of Scotland, whence he came to America and settled in Maryland, where he lived at the time of his death. During a considerable portion of his life he was a sea captain. The Gemmill family moved to Cass County, Ind., in 1858 .. Henry C. Gemmill is the elder of three living children
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born to his parents. He was raised upon a farm, with the rugged duties of which he became familiar in early life. With his par- ents, he left Virginia in 1858. Like nearly all the self-made men, his education was obtained in the public schools of his time. In the spring of 1862, he enlisted in his country's service and served in Company B, of the Fifty-Fifth Indiana Regiment. On account of a wound received at Richmond, Ky., he was dis- charged. In 1864 he again enlisted, this time in Company H, of the One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Regiment, in which he served until the close of the war, attaining the rank of a non commissioned officer. After returning from the war he began the study of medicine with Drs. Fitch and Coleman, of Logansport. In 1868 he graduated at Rush Medical College, Chi- cago, one of the leading institutions of its kind in the United States. He then spent one year in the practice at St. Luke's Hos- pital. He has since practiced at New Richmond and Galveston, this State. In 1882, he located in Markle, and has been in the active practice of his profession there ever since, gaining the present high rank which he holds among the physicians of the county. In September, 1886, he was elected President of the County Medical Society, a position he now holds. In 1872 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Col. Thomas H. Bringhurst, of Logansport, where she was born in July, 1850. To them have been born Henry C., Jr., Arthur S., Robert B., Thomas B. and Julia. Dr. Gemmill is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow's fraternities, and belongs to the Baptist Church. His portrait appears elsewhere in this volume.
W. A. GOURLEY, merchant, Brown's Corners, is a native of East Tennessee, born January 28, 1831, the oldest son of Allen and Susan (Hampton) Gourley, parents both born in the same State. His paternal ancestors were natives of Ireland, his grand- father emigrating from that country in an early day and settling in Tennessee. The grandfather on the mother's side, Mr. Hamp- ton, was an early resident of Tennessee, and a soldier in the last war with Great Britain. Allen Gourley was reared in Tennessee, and early learned the mill-wright's trade which he carried on in connection with carpentering. He emigrated in 1831 to Preble County, Ohio, from thence in 1833 to Huntington County, Ind., and for a number of years worked at his trade -erecting the first grist-mill on the Salamonie River. He subsequently returned to Ohio, but in 1841, came back to this county and settled in the village of Warren, where he lived until 1854. In the latter year he moved to Peru, Ind., in which city his death occurred in 1860. W. A. Gourley was but an infant when his parents came to In- diana, and ten years of age when the family settled in the town of Warren. He was educated in the common schools, and at the age of seventeen began the carpenter's trade, which he carried on with good success until 1865, abandoning it that year and engag- ing in the saw-milling business at Peru, Indiana, moving to that
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city about the year 1854. He subsequently moved his mill to Huntington and sold it, but continued some time longer in the business in that city, and for two years at the town of Roanoke. In the fall of 1880, he purchased a small stock of general mer- chandise at Brown's Corners, out of which has since grown his present successful business, his store being one of the best of its kind in the county, outside the larger towns. He is a wide- awake business man and has met with deserved success in his various enterprises. He is a Republican in politics, but cast his first vote in 1852 for Franklin Pierce. In the spring of 1884, he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, the duties of which position he has since discharged in an eminently satis- factory manner. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and with his wife belongs to the "Church of God." His marriage with Miss Mary J. Poreman was solemnized on the 25th of June, 1854, a union blessed with the birth of six children, viz .: Sarah A., Amanda E., Troy, Belle, Glenn, and William H. Mrs. Gourley was the daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Zent) Poreman. She was born in Knox County, Ohio, June 27, 1836, and died in Hunting- ton County, Ind., May 31, 1876. On the 27th of August, 1877, Mr. Gourley married his present wife, Miss Mary J., daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Cornes) Hoyser. Mrs. Gourley was born in Ohio, October 15, 1844, and is the mother of one child, a son, viz .: John A. Gourley.
ISRAEL H. HEASTON. - Conspicuous among Huntington County's representative men is Israel H. Heaston, who was born in Wayne County, Ind., September 23, 1843. His father, Jacob Heaston, was born in Rockingham County, Va., May 8, 1797, and at the age of seven years, accompanied his parents to Butler County, Ohio. From there in 1809, he moved to Montgomery County, the same State, where in 1819 he married Catherine Goodlander, who was born in the City of Philadelphia, Penn., November 15, 1801. In 1823, Mr. Heaston with his family moved to Wayne County, Ind., and settled near Hagerstown, where he lived until his removal to Huntington County in 1847. He set- tled near the village of Lancaster, Lancaster Township, and was an honored resident of the same for a period of thirty-one years, or until his death, which occurred August 19, 1878. His wife survived him two years, dying on the 19th day of August, 1880. They were both members of the German Baptist Church, and among the most exemplary citizens of Huntington County. They raised a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, nine of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. Israel H. Heas- ton was reared to manhood on his father's farm near Lancaster having been but four years old when the family moved to Hun- tington County. He received in the common schools, an educa- tion, which though not a finished one by any means, has en- abled him to successfuly discharge the duties of a very active and energetic life. At the age of eighteen, he responded to the
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