History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, Part 96

Author: Sulgrove, Berry R. (Berry Robinson), 1828-1890
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 942

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The number of their children was ten, two of whom never came into this county, and but thrce are now living. Margaret lived here twenty years,

married, went to Missouri, and died, aged eighty-two. Polly marricd James Giles. Died about 1831. Katic lived in this county forty years; married James Gittleman. Died in Kansas in May, 1883, of apoplexy, at the age of eighty-nine. Elisha (first settler in Lawrence as before mentioned). Joshua (noticed elsewhere). Helen married Alexander McClaren. Died two years ago in Illinois, at the age of seventy-two. Lived in this county thirty years, and was thirty-five when she left. Lucinda lives at Lathrop, Mo. She lived in this county forty years. Rachel married Moses McClaren, and lives in this county, one mile west of Castleton. She was fourteen years old when her parents came to this county, and has lived here ever since. Aged seventy- thrce.

Joshua Reddick, son of William and Margaret Reddick, was born in Washington County, Pa., May 20, 1804. He went with his father on his various journeys till the last of November, 1823, when he came to this township. He raised a small crop in 1824, and in the fall of that year he went to Ohio and brought his parents and sisters to this new country. He settled on the farm now known as the Elijah Fletcher farm, and one hundred and sixty acres of which was entered for him by his father in 1825. Mr. Reddick lived there about twenty-three years. He sold the farm in 1848 and went to Clin- ton County, Ill., where he resided until October, 1859, when he died of milk sickness. Mr. Reddick and three of his grown children died within two wceks' time. His wife died of the same disease in the following April. Mr. Reddick married Elizabeth, daughter of Adam Eller. Mr. Reddick was a farmer, and in religious belief a Universalist. He took a great interest in all publie improvements, and gave all his children a good education. He had eight children,-seven were born in this township and one in Illinois. Six of the children went to Clin- ton County, Ill., with their parents. Catharine, the youngest, married George Church, and lived here until her death in 1878. Three of the other children are dead.

Samuel Morrow was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., about 1789, of Irish descent. Married

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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.

Agnes Anderson. In 1821 or 1822 himself, wife, two sons, Adam Kerr, and his son, Samuel Kerr, took passage on a flat-boat, and landed at Cincinnati, Ohio, with a span of horses and two "tester" bed- steads. They went from there to near Brookville, Ind., and remained till the fall of 1824. Through the solicitation of John Johnson, his cousin, he came to this township in November, 1824. He entered eighty acres of land Aug. 25, 1824. It is known as a part of the Webb farm, and joined John Johnson on the west. Immediately after his arrival he clcared a spot of ground for his cabin, and erected it on the north side of Fall Creek. Ho bronght into the town- ship with him two horses, one yoke of oxen, and two milch-cows. Thirteen persons landed in the township with Mr. Morrow, and remained with him in his cabin during the following winter. The cabin erected was eighteen feet by twenty fect, without floor. The roof was made of clapboards, and having no nails to Samuel Morrow. nail the boards on, they were weighted down with Agnes Morrow, his wife. poles, and thus kept in place. The room was divided John Morrow, his son. in sleeping apartments by hanging quilts for partitions. Jacob A. Morrow, his son. As soon as Mr. Morrow had his cabin completed he Robert Ellis. began clearing his land. The Indians called fre- Martha Ellis, his wife. quently at his cabin, and camped quite a while on Elizabeth Ellis, his daughter. John Ellis, his son. his farm. A great deal of sickness prevailed at the cabin of this new settler. His son, Jacob A., and Samuel Stewart Ellis, his son. his two daughters, Elizabeth and Thersa, as well as Samuel Johnson Black. Jacob Anderson, who was there on a visit, and Adam William M. Black. Kerr, all died there about the same time, and were Adam Kerr. buried in the Joshua Reddick graveyard. His phy- Samuel Kerr, his son. sicians were Dr. Isaac Coe and Dr. Mears, of Indian- apolis, the nearest doctors. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his family used to ride horseback to Indianapolis, and attend church at the Presbyterian meeting-house on Pennsylvania Street, north of Market. He was a moral, upright man, sociable, neighborly, and exceedingly popular. He was a farmer all his life, and did an immense amount of hard work. He experienced all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and stood up bravely against them all. He was a voter at the first election in the township, and was elected supervisor. When he first came to the township he had to go to Con- ner's, near Noblesville, and get corn, and then take it | in his cabin for six months. He then settled on

to a mill on Fall Creek, ncar where the Crawfords- ville road crosses the stream, to get it ground. It took two days to make the round trip horseback with a two-bushel grist-distance ten miles-from his cabin. That was the nearest mill at that time, and the nearest school-house was six miles. He lived in the township until about 1831, when he went to Washington township, this county, and thence to Morgan County, Ind. He lost an arm while there, and then went to near Colfax, Jasper Co., Iowa, where he bought a pre-emption right, and subse- quently entered the tract, on which he died in the year 1850. His son John died in Iowa. Two daughters, Martha Plummer and Margaret Griggs, are living, the former in Iowa.

The following are the names of the thirteen who came from Brookville, Ind., to this township to- gether :

Of the thirteen but three are living, namely : Samuel S. Ellis, at Leavenworth, Kan .; Elizabeth Moore, at Des Moines, Iowa ; William M. Black, at Indianapolis, Ind.

Robert Ellis was born in New York State. He came on flat-boat from Westmoreland County, Pa., to Cincinnati, Ohio, going thence to Brookville, Ind., in May, 1824. He brought with him his wife (formerly Martha Morrow) and his daughter Eliza- beth, and two sons, John and Samuel Stewart, and also Samuel Johnson Black, who was living with him. In the fall of the same year the party came to this township with Samuel Morrow, and lived with him

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LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP.

Congress land ; farm now owned by Robert Johnson. He raised a cabin, and lived there till about 1830, and then went to Hamilton County, Ohio. In 1832 he went to Marietta, Ohio, to visit a sister, took the cholera, and died. The heirs failed to pay for the land he had bought in Hamilton County, and lost it. His wife was a Presbyterian, and, after her husband's death, moved to various places, finally to Iowa, and died there at the house of her daughter, Elizabeth Moore, in Des Moines. Of the three children who came into this township with their parents two are living. Elizabeth married S. P. Moore, and lives in Des Moines, Iowa ; Samuel Stewart lives in Leaven- worth, Kan .; John went to Illinois years ago, and died there. There were four other children born after Mr. Ellis and family came here, viz. : James, whe died in the army; Margaret, who lived in Iowa at last accounts ; Mary J., who lives in Chicago with her daughter ; William B., who lives in Franklin, Ind.

Samuel Johnson Black came to the township at the age of twelve years, and lived with Robert Ellis about five years. He then began learning the tan- ner's trade with Abraham Sellers, in' this township, worked three years, and then went to Indianapolis with Blythe and Noble. He died in Newton, Jasper Ce., Iowa, about 1853. He was one of the party of thirteen who came here together iu the fall of 1824.

Adam Kerr came to the township with Samuel Morrow, his brother-in-law, from Pennsylvania, at an advanced age, and lived here until his death, which occurred Aug. 27, 1828. He was buried in the Reddick graveyard.

Samuel Kerr came to this township with his father, Adam, and Samuel Morrow. He was a boy thirteen years of age in the year 1824. After his father's death he continued living with Samuel Mer- row and with Hiram Bacon until a young man ; learned the blacksmith trade with Thomas Long, worked at journey-work awhile, and then began busi- ness for himself near where Millersville now stands. He married Caroline Ringer, and after her death he married Catherine Easterday. He carried on his trade for several years, where Glen Ethel now is, and died there in 1861. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, a moral, industrious citizen, firm

in his convictions, and his word was as good as bis bond. He experienced all the trials ineident to pioneer life.

William M. Black, son ef Thomas R. and Sarah Black, was born in Erie County, Pa., on the waters of French Creek, Jan. 1, 1811. He was taken by his uncle, Samuel Morrow, on horseback when quite a small boy to Westmoreland County, Pa. He came from there with Robert Ellis and family to near Brookville, Ind., in May, 1824, and in the fall of the same year came to this township, being one of the party of thirteen. He lived with Samuel Morrow till Jan. 18, 1827, and helped him clear land. Mr. Morrow gave him the privilege of remaining with him till of age and receiving an eighty-acre tract of land or learning a trade. He chose to learn the tan- ner's trade. He learned it with Yandes & Wilkins in Indianapolis. He lived with John Wilkins in a house that stood where the station-house now stands. Apprenticed five years, after which he worked at journey-werk till Mareh, 1833. He then entered into a partnership with Yandes & Wilkins, bimself owning a half interest, and bought a tan-yard of John G. Kline at Mooresville, Ind. In 1839, Mr. Black sold his interest and moved to Indianapolis, and has lived there ever since, following various occupations. On July 4, 1833, he married Franees Hardwick, daughter of John and Sarah Hardwick. They have had nine children, six of whom are living,-Sarah and John H. live in Indianapolis, Martha J. lives at home with her parents, Nancy L. lives in Morgan County, Thomas S. is in Virginia, and Elizabeth lives in Washington Territory. Mr. Black is an ardent Free- mason, and is tiler of every lodge, chapter, council, and commandery, both subordinate and grand, that meets in the Masonic Temple. He has been tiler of Marion Lodge since 1867, and of the Grand Lodge since 1869. When the old Masonic building was torn down in 1874 his name was found recorded on papers found in the corner-stone, showing that he was a member when that building was erected. His name is also deposited in the corner-stone of the new build- ing. He was raised a Presbyterian, but is now a Methodist. He saw the first engine and first steam- boat, " General Hanna," come to Indianapolis.

542

HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.

Robert Warren was born in Kentucky in 1797, on Clinch Mountain, at the head of Big Sandy, and with his wife and two children, William and Matilda, came to this county in 1821, and lived near where Millers- ville now is till the year 1824, then came to this township, and entered eighty acres of land just north of and adjoining the land known as the Elisha Reddick land. He lived there seven years and then went to Crawfordsville, where he lived five years, and moved to Michigan, and subsequently to Iowa, where he was living at last accounts. He was a great hunter and a crack shot. He killed a large number of deer; his gun furnished most of the meat for the table. He was a member of the Methodist Church when he lived in this county ; he afterwards became a Univer- salist. Mr. Warren was a kind and good neighbor, and a skillful nurse of the sick. He was very healthy and robust. When he left this county six children and his wife left with him. Nothing further is known of their history.

John Sellers was born in Kentucky, on Clinch Mountain, at the head of Big Sandy, about the year 1797. He came to this county in 1821 and settled near (east of ) where Millersville now is. Lived there three years, and then entered eighty acres in what is known as the Ringer Settlement in this township. He cleared a portion of the tract, and about 1840 he sold out and went to Illinois, where he died about 1871.

Christopher Sellers was born about 1804, on Clinch Mountain, in Kentucky. He married a daughter of Nathan Essary about 1827. He came to this county in 1822, and into this township about 1825. He went to Hamilton County, Ind., about 1829, and died there about 1880.

Daniel Sharts came to this county with a colony of Lutherans in the ycar 1824, and with his wife and four children settled on a farm now owned by Anna C. Pressly, two miles south of Millersville. He entered a tract of land there and lived upon it until he died, about ten or twelve years ago. He was a Lutheran all his life, and took au active part in all church affairs. He was a justice of the peace for some years, and was a good citizen. Of the children that came with him, Hanson was raised in this township,

and is now living in the county. Joseph died in California about 1850. Hc was drowned in the American River. Rebecca went to Illinois about 1855, and lives there now. William died in Hamilton County, Ind., three years ago.

Fountain Kimberlain was born in Kentucky. He came to this county in 1820, and first settled about half a mile north of where Allisonville now is. He lived there seven years. In 1827 he came to this town- ship, and entered the eighty-acre tract of land now owned by his heirs. On that land he lived until his death, in 1864. He followed farming all his life. He built a saw-mill on Fall Creek about 1835, but tore it down in about five years. The election was beld at his house for several years from about 1837. In 1827 he married Elizabeth Shenkle. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church nearly all his life,-a conscientious, upright, moral man. There were born unto himself and wife ten children, three of whom are living, namely : Marion and John Wesley, farmers, and residents of this town- ship ; and Julia Ann, wife of John Thorp, a resident of this township.

Christopher Beaver was born in North Carolina, and emigrated to this township about 1824, and settled near where the Salem Lutheran Church now stands. He came to this country with two six-horse teams, following an Indian trail for more than twenty miles. His wife died in Butler County, Ohio ; and six children came from there to his new home here with him. He died here after a continuous residence of thirty-one years. He was a farmer all his life. He spent all his spare time hunting deer for years after his arrival here, and he was a dead shot. He never swore, drank, or gambled. He was a strict Lutheran for several years prior to his death. Polly, the oldest daughter, came to the township in 1824 with her husband, Samuel Harrison, and three chil- dren. She died here about twenty years ago. Wil- liam, born in North Carolina, came to this township with his father, and died here about 1859. Sarah, born in North Carolina, came to this township with her father, and died in Oakland, Marion Co., about 1873. Mary, born in North Carolina, came to this township with her father, and died in Hamilton

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County, Ind., fourteen years ago. Henry, Moses, Ann, and Elizabeth were born in Ohio, and came to this township with their father. They all lived here until their deaths. Henry died eight years ago; Moses died forty years ago; Ann died fifteen years ago, at the age of thirty years; Elizabeth married James N. McCoy, and died at the age of sixty-one years only a few years ago.

Samuel Harrison was born in North Carolina, and with his wife and three children came from Butler County, Ohio, to this township in 1824 with his father-in-law, Christopher Beaver, and lived on his farm eight years. He then went to Hamilton County, Ind., and died there about twenty years ago. He was a blacksmith by trade. He took a lease and cleared a large tract of land in this township. He followed farming the latter part of his life. He was a moral man,-a member of the Campbellite Church.

Samuel North was born near Stillwater, Ohio, and from there came to Lawrence township in 1825 with his wife, formerly Mahala Brooks, and one daughter. He entered the eighty-acre tract of land now owned by V. T. Malott, one mile west of Lawrence. He lived there two years, and moved into Washington township, this county, and died near Allisonville many years ago. He was a farmer.

. William North was born near Stillwater, Ohio. He came here in 1825 with his wife and one child. He lived here four years, then sold out, and returned to Ohio. He subsequently went to Missouri.

Joseph North came here from Little Troy, Ohio, at an early date, and owned forty acres where John Newhouse now lives. In or about 1850, he returned to Ohio.

John North was born in North Carolina. He was a Tory during the Revolutionary war. From North Carolina he went to Ohio, and in the spring of 1827 he came here. There were high waters nearly the whole of that year, and he had a terrible time getting to his destination. He entered the eighty acres of land now owned by James McHaffey. Mr. North was a farmer, and both himself and wife lived to be about ninety years of age. They both died on the old homestead many years ago.

James North was born in North Carolina. He emigrated to Stillwater, Ohio, and thence here in the year 1821. After his arrival he married Mary Flan- nigan, and three sons and one daughter were the number of their children. He lived here about thirty-five years, until his death, in 1860. He never owned any land, though he was a farmer.

Thomas North came to this township from Still- water, Ohio, in the year 1824. He entered eighty acres of land, now owned by Samuel Cory ; he was a farmer, and died in 1826. His daughter, Matilda, married Richard North, and went to Missouri about 1838. His son, Alexander, returned to Stillwater, Ohio, about 1838.

David Ringer was born in Maryland in 1790. Himself and family, consisting of wife (Susan Darr) and two children, came with the Lutheran colony to this county in 1824. He located at once on the land now owned by James Pressly, and lived there the remainder of his life,-about forty-one years. Ho died June 25, 1865. He was one of the prominent members of the colony, and identified with the Lu- theran Church nearly all his life. He was a farmer and a good citizen. He was married three times ; his last wife died at the age of eighty-nine years. His son Peter died at New Britain, Ind., in 1859; lived in this township twenty-seven years. His daughter Delana is the wife of Leander Harper, a prominent citizen of Lawrence township.

Conrad Ringer was born in Washington, Md., in 1792. Himself and family, consisting of wife (Mary D. Bower) and four children, came from Maryland to this State with the colony of Lutherans, and located in this township in 1824, about one mile southeast of where Millersville now is. He entered two hundred and forty acres, and lived upon the land until his death, in 1851. The land is now owned by six dif- ferent persons. He followed farming all his life. He was a member of the Lutheran Church long before he came to this county, and was a leading member at the time of his death. He was an earnest encourager of all laudable enterprises, a good citizen and a Chris- tian. The names of the children who came with him to this county are Caroline, Joseph, Jacob J., and Emma E. The first named married Samuel Kerr,

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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.

and died December, 1844. Joseph was a farmer and blacksmith ; died about 1857; lived in township twenty-eight years. Jacob J. lived in this county about twenty-nine years ; now lives in Cass County, Ind. Emma E. married John C. Hoss, and has lived in this county since 1824. Mr. Ringer had five chil- dren born in this county,-three boys and two girls. Two are living, Harrison and Ann, both in this town- ship.

Jeremiah Vanlaningham was born in Fleming County, Ky., in May, 1801. He assisted his father in clearing a farm in Bath County, Ky. At the age of eighteen he went to New Orleans as a hand on a flat-boat, returning home on foot. He drove hogs to Washington City in 1821, and returned to Kentucky on foot. In 1822 drove hogs to South Carolina, and returned on foot. In 1823 drove hogs to North Carolina, and returned home on foot. In 1824 drove hogs to Petersburg, Va., and returned home on foot. In fall of 1824 he came to Indiana and selected land in this township, upon which he moved with his wife and two children in the fall of 1828. The farm is situated on Indian Creek, one mile southwest of Oak- land. He settled in the woods and cleared a farm, and resides upon it now. His wife (Naney Denton), to whom he was married in 1822, died about seven years ago. Mr. Vanlaningham is a highly respected and prominent citizen of the township. He has endured many privations and trials, but has triumphed over them all. Of the two children who came to the township with, him but one (Woodford) is now alive. He has lived in the township fifty-five years. The other child (Jane) lived in the township seventeen years ; married James MeClain, and is now dead. Mr. Vanlaningham had eight children born here; six are living. Ellen lives in Hancock County, Ind., and John lives in Texas ; the remainder live in this township.

Alexander Smith came into this township in 1825 and entered forty acres on Indian Creek, near its mouth. In 1827 he married Betsy McConnell. He was a shoemaker by trade, but followed farming also for a livelihood. He lived on that forty aeres about twelve years, and then moved to the Indian reserve in this State, where he lived about twelve years until his death.

John Shenkles was born in Ohio in 1803; was married to Isabel McConnell in Brown County, Ohio, in 1822. In 1824 they came to this township and settled on Indian Creek, two and a half miles south of where Oakland now is. He remained there about twenty-two years, and emigrated with his family to Illinois, and subsequently to Iowa, where he died about 1877. He was a farmer, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty years previous to his death. His wife also belonged to the same church.

John Mock was born June 1, 1820, in Butler County, Ohio. At the age of three years he went with his father to Ripley County, Ind .; lived there three years, and returned to Ohio; remained there till 1831, in which year he came to this township with his father. He has resided here sinee 1831. His mother died when he was but seventeen months old. Mr. Moek has lived on his farm adjoining Oak- land during the past thirty-two years, and in the township fifty-two years. He laid off an addition to the town of Oakland several years ago. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church about twenty-five years. He has been married twice. His first wife's maiden name was Leah Klepfer, and that of his second wife was Mary Ann Lingle. Mr. Moek is a Freemason, a Democrat, and a good eitizen.

Alexis Riley was born in Maryland abont 1802. At the age of eleven years he went to Clermont County, Ohio, and in the year 1824 he came to this county. He worked two years for Peter Negley, near Millersville, this county, and in 1826 bought forty acres of government land about two miles south- west of where Oakland now is. He came into the township with his family, consisting of wife (Naney Moore) and four children. He was a farmer and great stock-raiser. He was raised a Catholic, but never pro- fesscd any religion. He was a great promoter of the public schools and the cause of education. At one time he operated a little mill on Indian Creek for about ten years. In all he had ten children,-two by his second wife (Jane Davis). Of the four children who came into the township with him, two, John and Oliver, are dead, and Elias L. wont to Illinois about 1856, and lives there now. Ellen has never

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LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP.

left the township, and is now the wife of Joseph N. Day. Of the children born here, Charles J. and George N. are dead; Stephen P., Wesley, Lavinia, and William have lived here since their birth.

Stephen P. Riley is a son of Alexis and Nancy Riley, and was born in this township in 1832, and lived in it ever since. He lives half a mile west of Oakland on a farm. He married Lizzie Bolander, and has four children,-one son and three daughters. He is a member of the Patrons of. Husbandry, Inde- pendent Order of Odd-Fellows, and Free and Ac- cepted Masons. He is one of the most influential citizens in the township. He takes a great interest in politics, and always votes the Republican ticket. He takes great delight in encouraging every worthy public enterprise.

William Lakin came here from Clermont County, Ohio, about 1833, and took a lease. Afterwards he traded the lease for forty acres where Daniel Jordan now lives. He took an active part in the building of the first church in this township, and was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for nearly half a century. He was a class- leader and an exhorter, and took a great interest in church affairs. He moved to Jennings County, Ind., about 1847, and died two years ago. His widow lives in Indianapolis. One of his children lives in Ripley County, Ind. One of his daughters married, and lives in Grant County, Ind. Another lives in this township, and is Anderson Hamilton's widow.

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History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, Part 96

Author: Sulgrove, Berry R. (Berry Robinson), 1828-1890 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 942

Author: Sulgrove, Berry R. (Berry Robinson), 1828-1890
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 942