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 84
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The year 1837 brought a number of energetic pioneers to the county, prominent among whom was Reinard Reinarson, who settled where the Widow Ham now lives in Section 3. His son, Allen Reinardson, is a leading citizen of the township at this time. Jacob Snyder in 1837 settled in the western part of the township, choosing for his home the place now occupied by Thomas Logan. He had in his family several daughters, all of whom were within a few years claimed in marriage by as many substantial young men of this and other parts of the country.
During the years 1837-38 the population was increased by the following additional pioneers. David Clingenpeel, in south west part of the township; William C. Parker, an early Associate Judge of the county, where Joseph Billiter lives in Section 2; James Price, in Section 35, where his son James lives; George Weaver and his son, Joseph Weaver, adjoining the Fisher farm, in Section 13 ;; George Klum near the Price settlement; Moses Herrell, in Section 4; Ebenezer Thompson, in northern part of the township and James Ruggles, in the fall of 1883, south of the Fisher farm. Mr. Ruggles moved from Kentucky and after a short time spent in the new country, went back to his native State
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where he remained until 1840. He then returned to Indiana and from that year until his death in 1886, was an honored resident of Wayne Township.
Conspicuous among the arrivals of 1839, was James Campbell, who made a home in the southern part of the township. He early gained considerable notoriety as a politician, and the decided stand which he took upon the question of the abolition of slavery was such as to antagonize many of his neighbors, who were bitterly opposed to such a "monstrous political heresy." He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, true to his convictions, and his public lectures on the slavery question brought him into prominent notice, not only in Huntington, but in adjacent coun- ties. It is alleged that he was personally interested in one of the celebrated " underground railways " and there is no question but that many a poor unfortunate black man escaping from the shackles of servitude, found in his home a comfortable and secure hiding place.
The following men are said to have settled in the township as early as the year 1839, to-wit: John Deacon, an old batchelor, near the Klum place; Henry Klum, in the same locality; Jacob Coon, southeast part; Thomas and Richard Stevens, southern part; Bluford Cecil, place of settlement not learned, and others. The following were also early settlers, viz .: James Pattison, Mr. McLean, Benjamin Price, John Heffner, John Sparks, Watson Sparks, John Thompson, Joseph Hall, Joseph Brown, Jesse Star- buck, Reuben Starbuck, John Reicker, Robert A. Robertson, John McDaniel, John Hawkins, J. P. Thompson, Ebenezer Thompson, James Bain, William Bain, Charles Morgan, Thomas Hallowell, and Ephraim Johnson, all of whom became identified with the township some time in the forties. There are doubless many others entitled to a mention, but the omission of their names should not be construed as intentional, as many names as well as facts connected with the early settlement of the county have been long forgotten.
Organization of the Township .- " Prior to 1844, Wayne formed a part of the territory constituting Salamonie Township, which until 1843, included all the territory south of the Salamonie River. This territory was reduced by the organization of Jefferson Township in 1844, and further reduced by the organization of Wayne in June, 1844." To Thomas and Asher Fisher is due the credit of bringing about the organization and the name by them in honor of Wayne County, with the early settlement of which part of the state their father was prominently identified. The first election after the organization was held at the residence of Joseph Weaver in the fall of 1844, Henry Kline acting as Inspec- tor. Among the early Trustees of the Township were Ebenezer Thompson, James Campbell and Asher Fisher. The Trustee at this time is Daniel Price.
Early Events. - The first marriage that occurred in the town- ship was that of Oliver Sanger to Catherine, daughter of Jacob
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Snyder, celebrated in 1837, one of the Associate Judges of the county officiating. It was afterward ascertained that the judge had no authority to tie the " nuptial knot," and in order to legal- ize the union a special act of the Legislature to that effect was passed. Another early marriage was that of Stites Chenoweth, to Sarah, daughter of William Parker, solemnized as early as 1841 or '42. James Parrot and Matilda Snyder were united in the holy bonds of wedlock many years ago, but the exact date of the affair was not learned. In about the year 1841, occurred the death of Ary, wife of Bluford Cecil, said to have been the first event of the kind in the township. Wesley Buzzard, son of John and Rachel Buzzard, was perhaps the first white child born in the township, his birth having occurred in 1836. Rebecca, daughter of Andrew and Phebe Leveston, was born as early as 1836, and in November of the same year, was born to Thomas and Elizabeth Fisher, a son, Daniel Fisher, who is at this time a lawyer in St. Louis, Mo. The first nursery was set out by Thomas Fisher, and the first frame house in the township was erected by John Buzzard in Section 2, prior to 1840. Jacob Snyder, early in the forties, built a brick residence, the first in the county outside the city of Huntington. It is still standing, and its quaint architec- ture is eloquent of days long past.
Improvements. - As is well known Wayne is pre-eminently an agricultural township, and as a consequence but few manu- facturing enterprises have been attempted within its borders. The lumber business, however, has for many years been a re- munerative industry, and a number of saw mills have been in successful operation from time to time. The first mill was built by John Sparks, near the southwest corner of the township; it was in operation a number of years and did a very extensive business. There are at this time, in addition to the lumber inter- ests, there mills for the manufacture of drain tile, operated by James Pattison, Riley Stephens and Mr. Minnich, respect- tively.
Religious. - " The inauguration of religious ceremonies in the settlement was at the house of Anderson Leverton, in the year by 1836, the minister being a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church." The Baptists came next, and a society of that denomi- nation was organized in the southwestern part of the township, as early, if not earlier than 1850. The organization increased in members quite rapidly and its growth soon foreshadowed the necessity of a house of worship. Accordingly in 1852, a neat frame edifice representing a value of several hundred dollars was erected on the Kimmel farm, in the northwest quarter of Section 34. The organization is still kept up, and is reported in a fairly prosperous condition. The next religious sect to gain a footing in the township was the Christian (Disciple), an or- ganization of which was brought some time in the fifties. A house of worship was built about two miles northwest of the site chosen by the Baptists. It has been prospered in its labors
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and is still accomplishing a good work in the community. There are no towns or villages in Wayne, with the exception of an addition to Mt. Etna and the little hamlet of Banquo, near the west central part of the township. The latter place is the outgrowth of the neighborhood's demand for a trading point and, at this time has two stores, a postoffice, blacksmith shop and the large tile mill operated by Riley Stephens. The mill is run by steam power and has a greater capacity than that of any other enterprise of the kind in Huntington County.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
H. F. BILLITER was born March 16, 1819, being the second of nine children born to Joseph and Elizabeth (Shaffer) Billiter. Our subject's father was reared in Pennsylvania, afterward mov- ing to Ohio, and after living several years in Ohio, moved to In- diana. He was of Dutch descent. He was a large man, dark complexioned, and of great energy and endurance. He was a poor man when he moved to Ohio, but in after life accumulated a vast amount of a property. He was a Democrat in politics, and was very much respected in the community in which he lived. Our subject is a farmer, living in Section 12, Wayne Township, and was born in Pennsylvania, where he remained until he was two or three years of age, when he removed with his father and mother to Ohio, where he remained for about twenty-five years. In the mean time, he was married to Drusilla Staton, of Ohio. He afterward moved to Indiana (1853) where he has remained ever since. There was a great deal of game here when he first · located, but he was not much of a hunter. Mr. and Mrs. Billiter have had nine children, two dead, James F. and Serena, and seven living: Mary J., Joseph H., Sarah H., Rebecca M., William N., Turner, and Lucius. Mr. Billiter was a Whig in early days, but afterward became a Republican. He is a member of Mt. Etna Masonic Lodge, No. 333. Mr. Billiter and wife are very much respected.
WILLIAM BILLITER, a farmer of Wayne Township, was born October 20, 1849; was the fifth of nine children born to H. F. and Drusilla Staton Billiter, whose sketch will be seen elsewhere. Our subject was reared until four years old in Brown County, Ohio, when he removed with his parents to Hunting- ton County. At the age of twenty-eight years he was mar- ried to Miss Amanda Fisher, of Wayne Township. After mar- riage he commenced house-keeping on the old Parker farm. He lived here about two years, when Mr. Billiter removed to the old Fisher farm in Wayne Township, where he remains to the present day. He is a Republican, and belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity Mt. Etna Lodge, No. 333. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Billiter
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two children have been born, the oldest, Mary, born July 4, 1881; James, born August 21, 1885.
GRANVILLE BOCOCK, a Wayne Township farmer, was born August 27, 1847, being one of two children born to Lewis Bocock and wife. Our subject's father was born in Clark County, Ohio. He was reared as a farmer boy until at the age of sixteen, when he was bound out as an apprentice to learn the cabinet trade, serving as an apprentice five years, when he was married to Miss Arnold, of Fayette County, Ohio. After marriage he began business as a cabinet maker and house joiner in Fay- ette County, and lived there about five years, when he moved to. Grant County, Ind., where he commenced farming in connection with his trade. When he first came here he was empty-handed .. After arriving in Indiana he had but one horse and 12₺ cents in money. After Mr. Bocock settled here he found plenty of work to do as he was the only undertaker at that time in the county. In after life he accumulated considerable property. He is a man of medium size, dark complexioned, and a man of great energy and endurance. Mrs. Bocock died several years ago, leaving Mr. Bocock and two children to mourn her loss. A few years later he was married the second time to Miss Sarah Newland. He and wife are both living in Grant County. Belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, is a good man well respected by the community. Our subject was born and reared in Grant County, Ind., as a farmer boy. Lived with his father until about twenty-five years old, when he was married to Miss Mary Cul- bertson, of Grant County. After marriage he began farming for himself in Huntington County. He remains to the present day on the same place he settled. He was empty-handed in early life, but as the fruits of his labor has redeemed a good farm, well improved. Mr. Bocock is a Democrat, member of I. O. O. F. Lodge, and is a man well respected by the community. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Babcock three children have been born: the oldest, Edwin M., Maud I. and Silas H.
JOHN F. CAMPBELL, a farmer of Wayne Township, was born March 22, 1843, being the sixth of nine children, born to James and Lucy Campbell. Our subject was born in Grant County, and removed with his parents to Huntington County when he was but six months old. He was reared as a farmer boy, and remained with his parents until the war broke out, when he entered the service in the Thirty-Fourth Indiana Vol- unteers, Company G. He remained in the army four years and eight months, when he returned home and began attending school at Roanoke, Ind. In 1869, he was married to Mary Trow- bridge, of Huntington County, and after marriage began farm- ing on Sections 22. He remained on Section 22 about fourteen years, when he sold his farm and bought what was known as the Campbell farm, Sections 23 and 26, where he remains to the
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present day. He is a Prohibition in politics, and belongs to the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Campbell seven children have been born: William, Alvin, Lua, Emma, Ella, John and Arthur. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are good people, and well respected by the community.
JOEL CHENOWETH, a Wayne Township farmer, was born December 4, 1826, in Warren County, Ohio, being the fifth of six children, born to Jacob and Charlotte (Cabe) Chenoweth. Mr. Chenoweth's father was reared in Virginia. When yet a young man he moved to Warren County, Ohio, with his parents. Had a limited school education, was a large man, rather dark complex- ioned and was a man of energy and endurance. Mr. Chenoweth was a Wbig and belonged to the Baptist Church. He was married in the year 1819 to Miss Charlotte Cabe, of Warren County, Ohio. Mr. Chenoweth's forefathers came from Wales, and Mrs. Chen- oweth is of German and Irish descent. Mr. Chenoweth died in 1825, and Mrs. Chenoweth is still living in Wayne County, Ind. Our subject was reared in Warren County, Ohio, until he was about fifteen years old, as a farmer boy, then he moved to Wayne County with his mother. When about sixteen years old he began learning the tanner's trade and worked as an ap- prentice for about six months, when, in the spring of 1845, he removed to Huntington County, where he again worked at his trade at Mt. Etna, about six years, after which he began farm- ing in Wayne Township. After two years in this township he removed to Huntington Township when he again removed to Wayne Township. Mr. Chenoweth, in his early days, was rather a poor man; is a man of great energy and endurance, and as the fruits of his labors, has accumulated about 360 acres of fine land with good improvements. Mr. Chenoweth is a strong Republican, and belongs to the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Mt. Etna. Mr. C. was married in 1847 to Elizabeth Leverton, of Wayne Township. Mrs. Chenoweth was born September 24, 1824, in Wayne County, Ind., and when about five years old removed with her parents to Highland County, Ohio. She remained here five years, when she again removed to Huntington County, Ind., and has remained here ever since. She has lived in Huntington County about fifty- two years. Mrs. Chenoweth belongs to the same church as her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Chenoweth have six children born unto them, four boys and two girls, the oldest, George P., Enos A., William S., James M., Anna and Melvina. Mr. and Mrs. Chen- oweth are good people, and well respected by the community.
GEORGE W. COON, a Wayne Township farmer, was born May 2, 1825, the eldest of seven children born to Jacob and Mar- garet (McDaniel) Coon. Jacob Coon was born and reared in Harrison County, Ky., receiving a limited school education. He removed from Kentucky when about twenty-one years of age to Rush County, Ind., where he began farming for himself. About
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1824, he was married to Miss . Margaret McDaniel, of Kentucky. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Coon began farming for them- selves on rented ground and lived here about fourteen years. He then moved to Franklin County, Ind., where he began team- ing, remaining at this occupation about three years, when he moved to Wabash County, Ind., where he remained but one year, when he again moved to Huntington County, where in the meantime he had bought a farm and lived here until his death, which occurred in 1882; Mrs. Coon dying a few months earlier than her husband. Mr. Coon in early days was a Whig, later a Republican, and belonged to the Christian Church. Our subject was born and reared in Rush County, Ind., until he was seventeen years of age, when he removed with his parents to Wabash County, Ind. In the following year he removed with his father to Huntington County, where he remained with his father helping him to clear his farm until he was twenty-three years of age, when he was then married to Miss Elizabeth Har- rell, of Huntington County. After their marriage he began farming for himself on rented ground for about two or three years. He then purchased forty acres of land in the woods, which he began clearing and farming. He also owned a threshing machine, which he ran during the fall of the year. Mr. Coon has lived in Huntington County about forty-four years, and is a
Republican in politics. In 1863 he enlisted in the Eleventh In- diana Cavalry, Company L, and remained in the army about twenty-two months, when he was discharged and returned home, and again he began farming, which business he has carried on ever since. He belongs to the G. A. R. Post of Mt. Etna. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Coon eight children have been born to bless their home: Martha, Jacob, John, Moses, Levi, Jessie L., Margaret A. and George W. Mr. and Mrs. Coon are good people and well respected by the community.
JOHN F. CURTIN, merchant of Banquo, was born May 19, 1859, the youngest of three children born to his father and mother, of New York City. Mr. Curtin was left an orphan at the age of two years, and came with two sisters west to Fayette County, Ind., near Connersville. Forty-two children were sent west by the Children's Aid Society, of New York, at the same time as Mr. Curtin's arrival. He was raised by Samuel Harlan and lady until twenty-three years of age, when he was married to Sarah J. Harlan, a, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Har- lan. She, too, was an orphan, living with the same family as Mr. Curtin, (marriage August 9, 1882). He removed with his wife to Huntington County, and began farming on 210 acres of land purchased by them, on Sections 15 and 16, Wayne Town- ship. He was engaged in farming about three years when he disposed of fifty acres of land, and removed to Banquo, and en- gaged in mercantile business, where he has remained ever since. Mr. Curtin has always been a strong Democrat. His first presi-
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dential vote was cast for Hancock and English. One child has been born to bless Mr. and Mrs. Curtin's home: Rena, born July 28, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Curtin are good people, respected by the community.
SAMUEL H. EVISTON, a farmer of Wayne Township, was born June 15, 1841, in Guernsey County, Ohio, being the second of nine children born to John and Mary J. (Hannah) Eviston. The father of our subject was a blacksmith at Mt. Etna, where he re- mained for about a year, when he removed to a farm, remaining about five years, when he again removed to Mt. Etna, where he remained, being in poor health, until his death, which occured May 11, 1854. Mrs. Eviston died January 14, 1879. Our subject was reared in Grant County until eight years of age, when he re- moved with his father to Mt. Etna, Huntington County. When about nine years old, Mr. Eviston removed with his father on a farm, where he remained and worked for his father. After his father moved to Mt. Etna, Mr. Eviston began working by the month on a farm, at which he remained until his twenty-first year, when he began farming for himself. Three years later he was married to Mary F. Green, of Wabash County. In January, 1882, Mr. Eviston removed from Wabash County to this county, and purchased a farm, where he has since resided. He is a Republican in politics, and belongs to the Christian denomina- tion. In 1862 he entered the army, enlisting in Company F, One Hundred and First Indiana Infantry. After serving one year he was discharged, on account of disability. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post, at Mt. Etna. Mr. Eviston and wife are good peo- ple, and are highly respected by the community.
JOHN A. OATESS, a farmer of Wayne Township, was born May 18, 1845, being the second of eight children born to Josiah and Sarah E. (Smith) Oatess. Our subject was born and reared in Green County, Ohio, until eight years of age when he removed to Grant County, Ind. He remained with his father on the farm until he was twenty three years of age, when he began working by the month. He worked by the month about one year when he was married November 4, 1869, to Anna E. Shuff, of Grant County. After his marriage he began farming for himself on a rented farm, for one year, when he purchased a farm of forty acres. He lived about six years in Washington Township, Grant County, when he sold out and bought a farm in Pleasant Township, Grant County, where he lived about three years, when he again sold out and moved on his father's farm. He remained here about three years when he again purchased a farm and moved to it in Grant County. He lived here two years when he sold out and moved to Wayne Township, Huntington County, where he re- mains to the present day. He is a Democrat and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He and wife are well respected by the community.
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DANIEL T. PRICE a farmer of Wayne Township in Sec- tion 35, was born in 1847, being the sixth of nine children born to Benjamin and Eliza (Sexton) Price. His father was raised and lived in Bourbon County, Ky., until he was thirty-six years old. He removed to Indiana in 1836, and settled near the city of Marion, where he lived thirty-six years and until his death. He was rather a large man, of light complexion, and a Demo- crat in politics. He and wife belonged to the School Baptist Church. Mr. Price was a man of energy and endurance, and as the fruits of his labor redeemed a good home. Mr. Price died in 1875, at his home in Huntington County, in his seventy-seventh year. His wife is still living on the old home place in Section 27, Wayne Township. Mrs. Price was born in Lewis County, Ky., July 2, 1812, and remained with her parents until married when she removed to this county. Our subject was reared in Hunting- ton County, Ind., as a farmer boy, and lived with his father until sixteen years old when he enlisted in the army, Company L, Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, where he remained two years, when he returned home, and after remaining about two years he went to Kansas, there he stayed about two years, when he again returned home and engaged in farming for himself on the home place, about the year 1870. He remained here five years when he was married to Lorena H. Logan, a well respected lady of Wabash County, and a daughter of John M. and Mary Logan. Mr. Price after he was married lived on the same place until January 25, 1887, when he removed .to Section 35, where he remains to the present day. He was a poor man in early days, but as the fruits of hard labor has redeemed a nice home, having one of the nicest residences in the county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Price two children have been born. Their names are Eva O., born December 19, 1876, died July 31, 1877; the second, James E., born June 26, 1878. Mr. Price is a Democrat and a member of the Odd Fellows and Masonic Lodges. Mrs. Price belongs to the Baptist Church. They are well respected in the community. In the year 1870, Mr. Price was elected Assessor of Wayne Town- ship; later on, in the spring of 1886, he was elected Township Trustee by a majority of eight.
ALLEN RINEARSON, a Wayne Township farmer, was born July 9, 1829, in Fayette County, Ind., being the third of six child- ren born to Richard and Nancy (Scott) Rinearson. Our sub- ject's father was reared in Butler County, Ohio, until ten years of age, when he removed from there with his father and mother to Dearborn County, Ind., and remained here about five years, when he removed to Franklin County with his father and mother. After remaining in Franklin County a few years he removed to Fayette County. While in Franklin County he was married, and after marriage removed to Fayette County and began clearing land and farming, remaining there ten years, when in 1836 he removed to Huntington, where he and wife lived
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until their respective deaths, the former August 10, 1860, and the latter August 10, 1863. Mr. Rinearson was a large man, dark complexioned, and was a man of great energy and endurance. Mr. Rinearson was one of the first grand-jurymen after the country was organized, was a Democrat, and he and wife be- longed to the Baptist Church. They were good people, well re- spected by the community. Our subject was reared in Hunting- ton County, and lived with his father until twenty-two years old, when he was married to Miss Sarah A. Pawett, of Fayette County, Ohio. He volunteered, February 2, 1865, into the army, served about four months, when he returned home and began farming on Section 3, Wayne Township. In 1869 he removed to Section 4, where he remains to the present day. In early days Mr. Rinearson remembers of seeing a great deal of game, such as deer, etc., but was not much of a hunter himself and does not remember of killing deer. A great many Indians were here at that time. Mr. Rinearson has passed through a great many hardships, but as the fruits of his labor has redeemed a good farm of 116 acres. He is a Democrat in politics, belongs to Ma- sonic Lodge, No. 333, at Mt. Etna, also to the Thomas Post, G. A. R. He is a good man and well respected by the community. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1886. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rinearson ten children have been born: the oldest, Nancy, Charlotte, Jacob, Christina, Martha E., Peter, Jonathan, Charles, Noble and Anna M.
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