USA > Indiana > Marshall County > History of Indiana : containing a history of Indiana and biographical sketches of governors and other leading men. Also a statement of the growth and prosperity of Marshall County, together with a personal and family histry of many of its citizens, Vol. II > Part 28
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J. T. Kendall, M. D., a practicing physician at Walnut, Ind., was born at Clifton Springs, N. Y., October 18, 1862, and is a son of George W. and Helen (Palmer) Kendall. The father was born in New York, and is one of three children, namely: Joshua, George W., and Catherine, whose progenitor was Allen Kendall, a native of York state, and of English lineage. He was a very prominent citizen of central New York. George W. Kendall was reared in his native state, where he was given a liberal edu- cation, and his early life was spent in railroading, as a contractor. He has had a wide experience in the business world, and at pres- ent is manager of the Equitable Trust company, of New York city, with his permanent residence at Walnut, Ind. In Ohio he was united in marriage with Helen Palmer, born in New York state, of German ancestry. The above union was blessed by the birth of the following children: Helen, deceased; George Allen, John T., Christine, and Sydney. George Allen Kendall, the old- est son, is the present assistant manager of the well-known Palmer House, of Chicago. John T., the immediate subject of this biography, and Christine, and Sydney, reside in Walnut. John T. obtained a classical education in Niles, Mich., and began the study of medicine in the fall of 1882, at Springway, Ill., under Dr. George A. Zeller. In the spring of 1885 he graduated from the Hospital Medical college, of Evansville, Ind., and while in that institution had one year's experience practicing in the United States Marine Medical hospital. In the spring of 1886 he graduated from the Rush Medical college, of Chicago. Two years later he located at Walnut, Ind., where he has since had an active practice in his profession. He is a mem- ber of the Marshall County Medical society, also a member of the Indiana State Medical society. He belongs to the Argos lodge, No. 399, F. & A. M., and is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, of Walnut.
D. C. Knott, M. D., a practicing physician at Argos, Ind., was
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born in Rockport, Ohio, January 2, 1857. He is a son of Will- iam and Elizabeth (Stephenson) Knott. The father, a native of Richland county, Ohio, and a son of Joseph Knott, who was of Irish birth, and who emigrated in an early day to Ohio. The mother was a native of Pennsylvania, and by her marriage with William Knott, had six children. The parents, in 1857, located in West Cairo, Ohio, where they remained till 1869, in which year they located in Rochester, Ind. David Crawford Knott was liberally educated in the schools of West Cairo, Ohio, and Rochester, Ind., and in early life taught the public schools thir- teen successful terms. The last three years of his teaching was done in the graded schools of Akron, Ind. In 1878 he began the study of medicine under C. Hester, M. D., of Rochester, Ind., and in the fall of 1880 entered the Eclectic Medical institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating here in June of 1882. In July of 1882, he located at Burr Oak, Ind., and began his practice. He had an active practice till 1889, and in March of that year he located at Argos, Ind., where he has since remained, doing a very lucrative business. December 27, 1882, he wedded Miss Hattie E. Clark, of Columbia City, Ind., a union blessed with the birth of one child, Harvey. Dr. Knott is a self-made man. From his own earnings he defrayed the expenses of his education, and by energy and determination, has won the confidence of many who have become his patients and friends. In his practice of medi- cine he is very successful, and promises to rank among the able men of his profession. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church of Argos, and belongs to the Argos lodge, No. 212, K. of P.
Lemuel Littleton, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Walnut township, was born in Ross county, Ohio, October 7, 1839, and is a son of Levi and Catherine (Hurst) Littleton. The father was born in Ross county, Ohio, November 27, 1802, and died in Henry county, Ind., March 1, 1885. He was a son of Thomas and Sovela Littleton. Thomas Littleton was born in Maryland, of English descent, and was the father of the fol- lowing children: William, Thomas, Mathew, Levi and Harriet. He emigrated from Maryland to Ohio about 1800, locating in Ross county, where he followed the farmer's occupation. His first year in Ohio was spent within a fort at Circleville. He was a whig in politics, a sturdy pioneer and a faithful friend. His son Thomas was a soldier in the war of 1812. Levi Littleton was reared on a farm, and was united in marriage in the state of Ohio, February 14, 1828, to Catherine Hurst, who was born in Maryland, April 12, 1804. She is now residing with her children in Marshall county. She is a daughter of Joseph and Lovicy Hurst. Joseph Hurst was a native of Maryland, born of English parentage, was a farmer by occupation, and settled in
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Ross county, Ohio, about 1806. He was the father of the follow- ing children: Thomas, James, Mary, Catherine, Sarah, Nancy, Margaret and Harriet. The marriage of Levi and Catherine Littleton was blessed by the birth of the following offspring: Martha, Emily, Sovicy, Lovela, Lemuel and Mary. From the time of his marriage up to 1841 Levi Littleton followed farming in Ohio, as a renter and in that year he emigrated to and settled in Henry county, Ind., where he continued until his death occurred. He was one of the pioneers of Henry county, and though beginning life with many obstacles in the way, passed successfully through the many privations and hardships and lived to an advanced age. He was a Methodist, and in politics a staunch republican, originally a whig. Lemuel Littleton was married February 28, 1861, to Sarah M. Bird, of Henry county, Ind., the result of which union has been the following children: Langdon W., Luther (deceased) and Lenora R. Mr. Littleton farmed at home with his father till in January of 1869, when he located in Marshall county, where he has since remained. He is a representative farmer and stock-raiser, owning a well-im- proved farm, and raising the best of imported stock, principally horses. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics he is an ardent republican.
James Lowry was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, April Io, 1816, and is the son of Lazarus and Elizabeth (Sweak) Lowry. The father, a native of Columbiana county, Penn., was one of eight children, viz .: Alexander, Robert, James, Lazarus, Francis, William, Rebecca and Margaret. These are the chil- dren of James and Ruth Lowry, both of whom were born in Ireland, but emigrated to America prior to the American revo- lution, in which James was a soldier. They first settled in the mountains of east Pennsylvania, and subsequently removed to Columbiana county, that state, but later to Ohio, where they both died. Lazarus Lowry, the father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Sweak in Jefferson county, Ohio, and unto their marriage were born: Diana, John, Ruth and James. Soon after the birth of James the mother was called away by death. She was born in New Jersey, and was the daughter of John Sweak, a native of Holland and an early settler of New Jersey. Lazarus Lowry married a second time and lived for a few years in Allen county, Ind., but in old age came to Marshall county, Ind., to make his home with his sons who cared for him until his death. James, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and was given but a poor chance for education, but learned reading, writing and arithmetic. In 1837, when but a young man he came to Allen county, Ind., where August 15, 1839, he was married to Sarah Pearson, daughter of Jacob and Nancy Pearson; the father, a
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native of North Carolina, was a soldier in the revolutionary war; the mother's maiden name was Buffinton, and she was a native of South Carolina. Mrs. Lowry was one of six children, namely: Peter, Aaron, Sarah, Mark, Carry and Benson. Sarah was born in Miami county, Ohio, March 1, 1823. Her marriage with Mr. Lowry has been blessed by the birth of the following offspring: Mary A., John, Alfred, James M., Martha, Aaron, Jasper, Arilla J., Lucinda, Ellen and Nelson. Soon after his marriage Mr. Lowry settled on a farm in Allen county, and be- came a pioneer farmer of that part of the state, where he resided till 1855, in which year he came to Marshall county, settling in Walnut township, where he has since resided. February 1, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Forty-eighth Indiana regiment, and after the battle of Fort Donaldson he was detailed to wait on the sick and wounded, and given charge of a division of the hos- pital, here he contracted disease and subsequently, on account of ill-health, was discharged at Indianapolis December 4, 1862. He furnished two sons who were gallant soldiers in the civil war. After his discharge he returned home, where he has since given his time to farming, stock-raising and dealing in live stock. In his calling he has been a marked success. It might be interest- ing to state that Mr. Lowry in his lifetime has saved the lives of eight persons, the full narrative of which we have not space to give. He has been a lifelong member of the Missionary Baptist church, has filled several positions of honor and trust, and in- deed is a representative citizen. In politics he has been either a whig or republican: He voted for "Old Tippecanoe" in 1840. His life has been one of much endurance, his trials many, but with patience he has borne all, and is now classed among the oldest and most respected citizens of the county.
James L. McCoy, the railway-station and express agent at Walnut, Ind., was born near Worcester, Wayne county, Ohio, June 2, 1848. He is a son of Stewart and Sarah (Alleman) McCoy. The father, a native of Ohio, was a son of James McCoy, of Irish origin, and the mother a native of Pennsylvania, is of Dutch descent. Stewart McCoy died in 1849, and subsequently the mother was wedded by Frederick Stair, whose sketch ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. Her marriage with Stewart McCoy was blessed by one child. The subject of this mention, James L. McCoy, was reared on a farm, and received a common school education, and remained with his mother and step-father till past twenty-one years of age, and at which time he began the struggle of life for himself on a farm. Farming and trading in live stock, this he continued till 1876, then for two years he bought grain at Walnut. Later he entered the Bryant & Stratton Business college of Indianapolis, graduating in 1878. Since 1880, he has continuously held the position of railway station agent at
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Walnut, and at present is also agent for the express company, and has also continued to deal in grain. October 28, 1885, he wedded Miss Mary E. Bodey, daughter of Samuel Bodey. She was born October 1, 1866, and by her marriage with Mr. McCoy has become the mother of one child, namely, James N., born September 25, 1886. Mr. McCoy is a competent business man, and a well respected citizen. He is a member of the Center lodge, No. 435, I. O. O. F., and in politics is a staunch democrat. Jesse R. Moore was born January 17, 1834, in Marion county, Ind., and is a son of David H. and Jemima (Roberts) Moore. The father was born in Virginia in 1805, and died in Marshall county, Ind., in 1838. He was a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Smith) Moore. Benjamin was a son of Benjamin Moore, who was born in England, emigrating to and settling in Virginia in an early day. His son, Benjamin, who was a farmer by occupation, was the father of the following offspring: John, Franklin, David, Henry, Susan, Martha, Catherine and Jane. The father and family in an early day removed to Kentucky and settled near Frankfort, where the father died. David Moore, the father of Jesse R., moved to Marion county, Ind., in an early day with his mother, where the latter afterward died at an advanced age. David was a farmer by occupation, and while living in Marion county, was married, in 1827, to Jemima Roberts, daughter of Minor Roberts, who was an early settler of Switzerland county, Ind., where Mrs. Moore was born in 1808; she died in Marshall county in 1850. The above marriage resulted in the birth of seven children, namely: Elizabeth, William, Marion, Artimesia, Jesse R., Neoma and Matilda. In 1835 the parents and family removed from Marion county and settled in Marshall county, where the parents lived until death called them away. Jesse R. Moore, the subject of this biography, by losing his parents in youth, was early in life thrown upon his own resources. He was reared upon a farm, given a limited education in the early country schools and began life at farming, which has been his occupation. In 1857 he was united in marriage with Sarah Allen, who died in 1861. He then joined the army, enlisting August 29, 1861, as a private in Company D, Ninth Indiana vol- unteer infantry, and was discharged September 6, 1864. Among several other engagements in which he was engaged may be mentioned Greenbrier, W. Va., Shiloh, Tenn., the pursuit of Bragg, the battle of Stone River and others. After the close of the war Mr. Moore returned to Marshall county, and in 1866 he wedded Miss Ann Starkey, daughter of William D. and Nancy (Pugh) Starkey; the father a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of North Carolina. Mrs. Moore was born in Marion county, Ind., January 18, 1849, and died in this county January 3, 1877. Unto the above marriage were born these children: Eva,
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Sarah, Lucy J. and Israel. In 1878 Mr. Moore married for a third wife, Sarah Low, who is still living. Mr. Moore is a member of the G. A. R., La Fayette Gordon post, No 123, of Argos; also a member of I. O. O. F., Argos lodge, No. 162. He is also a member of the Advent church, and is one of the representative citizens of the county.
Chasteen Pickerl was born in Virginia, October 7, 1808, and died in Marshall county, Ind., January 29, 1871. He was a son of Jonathan Pickerl, who was born in Virginia, of English lin- eage, and who became the progenitor of five children, namely: Hanson, Eliza, Rebecca, Chasteen and Lucinda. In an early day Jonathan Pickerl removed from Virginia, and settled in Holmes county, Ohio, where he remained till his death. He was a farmer by occupation, and with his wife, who was born of Holland-born parentage, belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. Chas- teen Pickerl was reared a farmer, to which his life was devoted, and in early life he learned the carpenter's trade to which he also gave considerable attention. At the age of twenty-two years he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Hughes, daugh- ter of Hugh Hughes, born in Virginia, of Scotch descent. The daughter was also born in Virginia in 1814, June 14, and came to Ohio with her parents in an early day. She died April 15, 1887. The marriage of Chasteen and Sarah Pickerl was consummated in Holmes county, Ohio, and was blessed by the birth of the fol- lowing children: Elizabeth, Hugh, Jonathan, Aram, James B., Margaret J. Hagenbush, Sarah S. Ball, John and Chasteen. The parents left Ohio in an early day and came to Indiana, locating in Marshall county, in what is now Walnut township. Subse- quently they settled about three miles west of the present site of Argos, where the father and sons cleared a homestead on which the parents resided until their respective deaths. These pioneers were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church from early life until death, and were universally respected by all who knew them.
Hugh Pickerl was born in Holmes county, Ohio, December 29, 1834, and was reared and educated on a farm. He came to Mar- shall county with his parents, Chasteen and Sarah Pickerl, and has since been an honored resident of the same. He remained with his parents till past the age of twenty-one years, and at the age of twenty-two was united in marriage with Samantha Berry, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, in which county her death also occurred. The marriage was blessed by the birth of the following offspring: Doria, Wilber (deceased), and Frank M. Mr. Pickerl married for a second wife Cyntha Gordon, who has borne him one child, Austin. In early life Mr. Pickerl taught four terms of country school, teaching in winter and farming in summer. His career as a farmer was brief, and ended in 1867.
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About 1868, with his brother Jonathan as a partner, he embarked in general merchandising in Argos, which he continued till 1880, in which year, in partnership with B. F. Taylor, he entered the grocery business. In 1885, on account of failing health, he aban- doned the grocery trade, and for four years was out of business. September 1, 1889, he was appointed postmaster of Argos, and is the present incumbent. In politics he is an ardent republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Argos, and also a member of the G. A. R., Lafayette Gordon post, No. 132, of Argos. He enlisted as a private in Company F, Eighty- third Indiana volunteer infantry, in September, 1864, and was discharged from Company E, Forty-eighth Indiana volunteer in- fantry, in August, 1865. As postmaster of Argos, he is assisted by his son, Frank M., who is a promising young man. Frank M. was given a common school education in the schools of Argos, and completed a liberal education by attending for two years the Purdue university of Greencastle. For four years he taught in the public schools of the county, achieving success in the profession. Like his father, he is an ardent republican in politics. He is a member of the Argos lodge, No. 212, K. of P., and also of the Argos lodge, No. 399, F. & A. M., of Plymouth chapter, No. 49, R. A. M., and Plymouth commandery, No. 26, K. T., and is a member of the Sons of Veterans, Gettysburg camp, No. 97, of Argos.
Elias Hicks Pocock, a citizen of Walnut township, is the sub- ject of this biography. Daniel Pocock, his paternal grandfather, was born in England about 1718, and at an early age emigrated to America, and in 1734 settled in what is now Harford county, Maryland. At Baltimore he heard of Eleanor Pocock, a native of England, who had emigrated with relatives in about 1734, but no relation could be traced, and in 1736 they were united in mar- riage. To their union there were born the following offspring: Salem, Charity, Daniel, Nella, David, Jesse, Mary, Elisia, Char- lotte and Elijah. Before coming to this country Daniel Pocock was a soldier in the British army, and during the American revo- lution he was a tory. Notwithstanding his father's political loyalty to the king, the oldest son, Salem by name, became a colonial soldier, and served as captain of a company during the war of independence. Daniel Pocock was a rich slave holder, and a farmer by occupation. His son, Elijah, the father of our subject, was born in Harford county, Md., in 1770, and died in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1863. He was raised on a farm. At about nineteen, he was placed in Washington county, Penn., to learn the blacksmith's trade. Here he became associated with a class of Quakers, to which faith he became converted, remaining faithful to the church of his choice until his death. Upon the death of his father he became heir to fourteen slaves and other
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property, but slavery not being in harmony with his views, these bondmen were accordingly liberated. Subsequently he became united in marriage with Catherine Hughes, who by the marriage became the mother of Daniel, Joseph, James, Elijah and Eliza- beth. Some years after the mother's death Mr. Pocock wedded for a second wife, Grace Smith, who became the mother of the following children: Jabez, Eleanor, Cornelius, Elias, Robert, Rachel, William, David, Dudley and John. In about 1819 Elijah Pocock became an early settler of Wayne county, Ohio, and there remained till he died. He cast his first presidential vote for Washington and his last for Lincoln. His son, Elias H., the immediate subject of this sketch, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, May 10, 1832. He was raised on a farm and given a liberal common school education, and remained on the farm with his father till past twenty-two years of age. At the age of twenty- one he began the study of medicine. In 1866 he graduated from the Charity Hospital medical college of Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1870, graduated from the Starling Medical college, of Columbus, Ohio. He then continued an active and successful practice up to 1879, coming to Marshall county in 1872, remaining in the county, being now located on a farm in Walnut township. He abandoned the medical profession for farming, which he has since followed as a matter of choice. He served as surgeon in the United States army from October, 1862, to September, 1864. In 1853 he was united in marriage with Mary A. Hinkle, who died after there were born three children, namely: Charles, Lee and Frank. In 1876 he married Mary A. Reddinger, who died after the birth of Grace and Rett. In 1883 he married his present wife, Mary E. Bowman. Dr. Pocock is a progressive citizen, a close student of the classics and sciences, and is one of the intel- ligent men of Marshall county.
William Railsback, the paternal great-grandfather of William Railsback, was Henry Railsback. Henry and wife, Margaret, were born in Germany, were married in their native country, and there the following children were born: Henry, Edward and Elizabeth. In May, 1765, the father, mother, and three children set sail for the American colonies, and later landed in Virginia, first stopping with a brother of the father, who had previously settled in Loudon county, that state, in 1760. Soon they pro- ceeded to Rowan county, N. C., and settled on the Yadkin river, less than thirty miles from the Atlantic coast, where the follow- ing members of the family were born, namely: David, Mary, Daniel, Rose, Lydia and Annie. Of these children David was united in marriage with Sarah Stevens, of Virginia birth, and be- came the father of the following offspring: Enoch, Edward, William, Caleb, Mathew, Joel, David, Nathan, John, Mary, Judia and Sallie. The father of these children was born
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in 1768, and lived to the age of eighty-eight years, the mother dying at the age of eighty-five years. They came with their family to Indiana in 1807, and settled on White Water river, in Wayne county, locating in the woods, and at that time Indians were numerous in the locality. Subsequently the parents removed to Marion county, where they died. Their son, Caleb, was born in North Carolina, July 7, 1805, and hence was but a child when brought to Indiana. Caleb grew to man- hood in Indiana, and has continuously lived in this state. He was married in 1828, in Marion county, to Nancy Barnhill, a native of Butler county, Ohio, born in 1811, dying in Marshall county in 1875. Unto the above marriage were born: Sarah, William, David, Robert, Nathan, Hugh, Richard, Benjamin F., John, Joël, and Mary J. Railsback. The parents and children came to Mar- shall county in the fall of 1846, and located in what is now Wal- nut township, where the mother died and where the father still resides at an advanced age. His life has been spent in farming, and as a pioneer of Marshall county, he is of the earliest and oldest now living to tell the story of the county's early history. His son, William, who is the immediate subject of this sketch, was born in Marion county, Ind., December 3, IS30. He was reared and educated on a farm, and farming, together with saw- milling, has been his principal occupation up to recent years. He came to the county with his parents in 1846, and has since remained in the county. In February 3, 1853, he was united in marriage with Miss Melissa Brown, a native of Jefferson county, N. Y., and a daughter of Charles and Lucy (Conner) Brown, who came to this county with her parents in 1837. Unto the above marriage have been born the following children: Simon B., Diantha, Melissa J., Nancy M., John W. and Lucy E. Mr. and Mrs. Railsback are members of the Church of God, in Argos. Mr. Railsback has been associated with T. O. Taber since April 21, 1885, in the banking business in Argos. He is one of the representative business men and enterprising citizens of the county.
Jacob Shafer was born in Maryland, in 1794, and died in Mar- shall county, in 1854. He was of German ancestry, and emigrated from his native state in an early day, and located in Stark county, Ohio. Here he was united in marriage with Catherine Baum, who was born in Bucks county, Penn., in 1800, dying in Marshall county, Ind., in 1890. The above marriage resulted in the birth of the following offspring: Polly, John, Henry, Daniel, David, Joseph, Rachel, Samuel, Elihu and Hannah Shafer. In 1848, the family left Ohio and came to Indiana, settling on a tract of land in section twenty-five, of Walnut township, Marshall county. The old homestead is now owned and occupied by Elihu Shafer. On this land had been built a log cabin by the former occupants
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