History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, Part 98

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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John Newhouse was born in Kanawha County, W. Va., Dec. 21, 1804. When thirty years of age he and his wife came to this township, on horseback, with nothing but a very limited supply of clothing. He located and bought the land on which he now resides. He has cleared a large tract of land, and by his industry and good management succeeded in

accumulating a large amount of property. He mar- ried Catharine Squires, May 22, 1834. They have four sons and four daughters, all living. Their oldest son lives in Virginia. Two daughters live near Lebanon, Ind. Three sons and one daughter reside in this county.

Robert White was born in Clermont County, Ohio, in April, 1802. He came to this township in Sep- tember, 1833, and located in the woods on the eighty acres now owned by him. He cleared the land, and has always followed farming. Four children came to the township with Mr. White and his wife, viz. : Mary Jane, John, Joseph, and Elizabeth. Joseph is dead, the other three are living. Mr. White is now living with his second wife.

Daniel Smay was born in Maryland. He came here with the Lutheran colony in 1824, at the age of fifty-four years, and located in the southwest part of the township, and finally bought the farm entered in 1827 by John North, where he lived until his death, in 1854. He was a farmer, and a member of the Lutheran Church for forty or fifty years. He was one of the leading members in the Ebenezer Luth- eran Church for thirty years, and took an active part in all church affairs. He was a pious, moral, honor- able man, and a good citizen. Four children emi- grated here with Mr. Smay and his wife, viz. : Joseph, who lived here forty years, went to Iowa and died. Polly, who married David Ringer, and died in the township. Absalom, who went to Story County, Iowa, twenty-cight years ago. David, who went to Story County, Iowa, in 1862.

David Hoss was born in North Carolina, 1790. He married Nellie Trout, and moved to Brown County, Ohio. While there his wife died, leaving him nine children. He was married, in Ohio, to Martha Plummer, and by her had two children. Mr. Hoss came to this township in September, 1829, and entered land about one mile southwest of where Oakland now is. He lived there till his death, in July, 1882. He built a saw-mill on Indian Creek, on his land, in the year 1836, and operated it about fifteen years. Farming was his chief occupation, and he cleared a large tract of land. The first school to which he had the privilege of sending his

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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.

children was in an old log cabin once used as a dwell- ing-house. Jeremiah Wells was the first teacher. Mr. Hoss' second wife, Martha, is deceased. Of the nine children who came here with him, five are dead. William lives in Perry township, this county. Chris- tian lives in Pike County, Ill. Sarah is the wife of Henry Apple, and lives one mile south of Oakland. Eliza J. married Nelson Hoss, and lives in Perry township, this county. One of his children by the second wife is dead, and Benjamin is an inmate of the Hospital for the Insane at Indianapolis.

Isaac Hartsock was born in Maryland, and emi- grated thence to Kentucky. In November, 1834, he came to this township with his wife and four children. He located on an eighty-acre tract entered by William McKinster. The first school to which he sent his children was on the Smay land. John Hutcheson was the teacher. Mr. Hartsock followed farming all his life. Peter, the oldest son, is a farmer, and resides in this township. Eliza married Isaac Hensley, and died, aged thirty-five years. Wilson C. died in 1874. Emily married William P. Hensley.

William S. Thomas was born in Nicholas County, Ky., Oct. 25, 1805. He emigrated to Rush County, Ind., in November, 1828, and lived there four years. In 1831 he was married to Polly Hensley. In 1833 they removed to this township with one child, named Elizabeth, who died in July, 1862. Mr. Thomas is an honest, upright citizen. One of his sons was killed in the army during the late Rebellion, and two died of disease contracted while in the army. In all he has had nine children, only two of whom are living.

Robert Johnson was born in Scotland; time of birth not known. He emigrated to Ireland at the age of seventeen years ; learned the weaver's trade at the age of twenty-one; was drafted as a soldier to serve the British government for four years. He found a favorable opportunity and came to America, leaving behind his British uniform, and became a citizen of Pennsylvania. He set up a loom in Phila- delphia, and engaged in weaving for some time. He then married Sarah Guthry, and shortly moved to Morgan County, Ohio, locating there on eighty acres

of land. He remained until November, 1836, when he sold and removed to Lawrence township, Marion Co., Ind., taking with him his family and six chil- dren His children, all born in Ohio, were James, -who died at the age of twenty years; Margaret, married Thomas P. Silvey ; John, born Aug. 21, 1828; married Nancy Thomas. He has raised a large family, and takes an active interest in the wel- fare of his township, county, and country generally. Robert, born Aug. 31, 1831; married Mary H., daughter of George W. Deford. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Masonic fraternity, and takes rank as one of the leading citi- zens of the township. Richard, born Jan. 17, 1834; has lived a bachelor; George G., born Aug. 18, 1836; married Nancy Day.

Mr. Johnson being a man of firmness and steady aim, as well as a foreigner by birth, was not greatly admired by his pioneer neighbors, who spent their Sundays hunting, aod seemingly no moral influence existed. He did not rebuke them, but engaged the services of a minister of the gospel of his choice to preach at his house. For some ten or twelve years preaching was held there, until a church edifice was erected. Mr. Johnson lived a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church ever since any of his children can remember. In his last days he told his pastor that he felt that his time spent in his religious de- votion was not in vain. He felt that he was like a sheaf of corn fully ripe, ready for his Master's garner. He died at the age of seventy-eight years.

John Herron, his wife, and two children emigrated from near Crab Orchard, in Kentucky, to this town- ship in 1828. He entered eighty acres, now owned by Robert Johnson, and died of typhoid fever about 1853. He was a farmer. His wife and daughter, Polly, are dead. Jane married William Sigmund, and lives in this township.

Peter Castater came from Ohio to this township about 1824 with wife and four children. He entered eighty acres, known as the Stoops farm, and improved it. He was a voter at the first election ever held in the township; was elected justice of the peace in 1825, and served as such for several years. About 1837 he moved to Hamilton County, Ind.

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Samuel Conn and family came here from Ohio about 1827 or 1828, and lived here about one year, and then moved to Pike township, where he died.

Lewis Hossenfaus was born in Ohio in 1834, and came to this county with parents in 1846. He lives one and a half miles west of Oakland. At the age of twenty-one he married Catharine Baker. He has two children living and two dead. Mr. Hossenfaus is an industrious and enterprising citizen.

Edward P. Day was born in North Carolina, Aug. 6, 1788. He emigrated to Ohio, and thence, in the fall of 1830, to this township. He located in the woods, on the land where " Male" Emery now lives, where he resided until his death. He was a farmer. His wife (formerly Elizabeth Williamson) and six of the eight children came here with him. Joseph N., Josiah W., and Evaline live here now; Nathaniel W. is dead ; Jonathan W. went to Kansas several years ago, and John E. lives in Illinois.

William McIntosh came here about 1828, a single man. He married Sallie, daughter of Peter Negley, about 1830. He was a minister of the gospel, and called himself a Dunkard Baptist. By trade he was a stone-mason. He moved to Illinois, west of Vin- cennes, Ind.

Moore McIntosh, with his wife and family, came here about 1830, and lived in the Highland neigh- borhood. He was justice of the peace for four years.

John Cory was born in New Jersey, May 9, 1792. He emigrated to Clermont County, Ohio, and thence to this township, arriving here Sept. 10, 1834, with his wife, Mary, and six children. He located on eighty acres near Indian Creek, a quarter of a mile north west of where Oakland now is. He lived there until his death, June 26, 1872. He was a farmer, and built and ran a saw-mill on Indian Creek for sev- eral years. His wife died two months subsequent to his death. He was a member of the Universalist Church for thirty-four years preceding his death. He belonged to the first society of Universalists organ- ized in the township, which was about the year 1838. He was constable of the township two terms. But two of his children are living, viz., Samuel and An- drew F., both prominent citizens of the township.

Samuel Cory was born in what is now Hancock County (then Brooke County), W. Va., Jan. 4, 1818. At the age of three years he went to Highland County, Ohio, lived there eight years, and moved to Clermont County, Ohio. From there he emigrated with his parents to this township in September, 1834. He taught the first public school ever taught in the Oakland district, commencing October, 1837, and con- tinuing six months. He taught school during each subsequent winter till the winter of 1849. He worked on the farm and at his fathers's saw-mill when not teaching. He served as school officer for nine years, and in 1849 was elected one of the associate judges of Marion County, serving in that capacity from April, 1850, to November, 1851. The office was then abolished by the new State constitution. He was then appointed by Governor Wright probate judge of Marion County, and filled the vacancy occasioned by the death of Adam Wright. He served as such until the office was abolished by an act of the Legis- lature, which act transferred the business of that court to the Court of Common Pleas. In April, 1853, he was elected one of the township trustees for Lawrence township under the new school law ; was re-elected from time to time, and served till 1874 (except for the year 1859). In October, 1874, he was elected county commissioner for Marion County, and served as such for three years, during which time the new court-house was completed. He has settled a large number of estates of deceased persons and acted as guardian for a number of orphan children. In the mean time he has lived on the farm and labored there, and raised a family of three sons and six daughters. He served for thirteen and a half years as Worshipful Master and eight years as secretary of Millersville Lodge, No. 126, F. and A. M. He has been a member of that lodge since May, 1853. He belongs to no church, but in sentiment is a Universalist. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat, and looked upon as a leader of that party in Lawrence township. He is a moral, honest, consci- entious citizen, positive in his views, and temperate in his habits. A better or more honorable citizen never lived in the township.

Andrew F. Cory was born in Highland County,

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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.

Ohio, April 21, 1821. He emigrated to this county and township with his parents in 1834. He lived with his father on the farm until eighteen years of age, and then learned the carpenter trade. He worked at that trade three years and then studied medicine. In the year 1844 attended lectures at the Eelectic College in Cincinnati, Ohio. He received the degree of M.D. in 1846, and has practiced medicine ever since. He has a good farm near Oakland. He was treasurer of the township for several years,-as long as it had three trustees. He served over seven years as Worshipful Master of Oakland Lodge, No. 140, F. and A. M., and three years as secretary of that lodge. He is a prominent Demoerat and an in- fluential citizen. He has three sons and two daugh- ters. .

Jeremiah Plummer was born in Kentucky about 1776, and emigrated from Brown County, Ohio, to this township in 1826 with wife and seven children, and entered two hundred and forty acres on Indian Creek, now owned by John Smith and Chris. McCon- nell. His wife's maiden name was Monica Chapman. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and took a great interest in all affairs of the church. About the year 1835 a class was organized at his house, and preaching held there regularly every four weeks for two or three years. He was the leading spirit in the formation of Wesley Chapel, Methodist Episcopal Church, and in the building of the first church in the township, loug known as the " Plum- mer Church." He had five sons and two daughters. The two daughters are dead, also two sons. Mr. Plummer died about 1853. His wife is also dead.

John MeConnell was a native of Ireland. When he first came to this country he settled in Pennsyl- vania, and subsequently moved to Brown County, Ohio. While there he enlisted and served eighteen months in the army during the war of 1812, at the close of which he was discharged, and he returned to Ohio. Betsy Brown was his wife's maiden name. He, together with his family (wife and nine children), emigrated to this township Nov. 17, 1824, and entered eighty acres about three miles southwest of where Oakland now is. The land is now owned by Chris. MeConnell. He continued to reside there until 1837,

when he died. He was a blacksmith, but his prinei- pal occupation was that of a farmer. While in the township on a prospecting tour in the fall of 1823 he assisted at the raising of the first eabin ever raised by a white man in the township. The first barrel of salt bought by him cost twelve dollars and fifty cents, and two and one-half bushels of wheat furnished all the flour his large family ate during the first year of his residence here. The first school privilege was a subscription school, taught for eighteen days only, in the kitchen of Peter Negley,-distance six miles. His family had to go seven miles to church in the early days of their residence here. Mr. MeConnell was an honorable, conscientious citizen, and being one of the very first settlers of the township, was com- pelled to endure many privations and hardships. His companion has long since passed from this earth, and of their nine children only two remain. Four of the children died in 1855 at about the same time. Isabel lived here about twenty years; married John Shenkle, and died in Iowa in. 1880. Betsy married Alexander Smith ; lived here till 1837, when she died. Martha married Andrew Eller; located on Indian Creek, and lived there till her death, in 1850. John L. died about 1855; lived here thirty-one years. Thomas died about 1855; lived here twenty-nine years. William died about 1855; lived here twenty- six years. Hiram died about 1855; lived here twenty-four years. Washington lived here twenty- two years, and went to Missouri thirteen years ago.

Charles MeConuell, the third child of John and Betsy MeConnell, was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1808, and came to this township with his parents Nov. 17,-1824, and remained with them until twenty- one years of age. He assisted in grubbing and grad- ing the National road for several miles east of Cum- berland, this county, at thirteen dollars per month, and thereby saved enough money to buy the eighty- acre tract of land upon which he now lives with his son-in-law, Mr. Barr. At the age of twenty-three he married Barbara Hoss, with whom he lived forty- one years, until her death. By this marriage there were born unto them nine children, eight of whom are living, and seven of whom live in this township. He has been a member of the Universalist Church

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for thirty years, and has been a believer in that faith all his life. He has always been liberal in his dona- tions towards all churches and for all purposes. The public highways and schools always received great encouragement from him. By his perseverance, in- dustry, and economy he has accumulated quite a for- tune. He is now seventy-five years of age, and is one of Lawrence township's best citizens. He fol- lowed farming most of his life, but has now retired. In politics he is a Democrat.

John Bolander was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 11, 1791. He emigrated to Brown County, Ohio, and thence to this township, arriving here in October, 1828, with his family, consisting of a wife and eight children. He located on Indian Creek, two miles southwest of where Oakland now is. He entered there two hundred and forty acres of land, and lived upon it until his death, June 16, 1865. He farmed all his life, and was a member of the Universalist Church many years. His children were Samuel, died November, 1875, never left county to live ; Levi, lives in township ; Irena, died June, 1881, never left county to live ; Elizabeth, died May, 1880, never left county to live; Joseph, died May, 1878, never left county to live; Solomon, lives in county, has lived in Iowa and Illinois ; Noah, died in 1848, never left county to live; Polly, died about twenty-two years ago, in township. Three children were born after their parents came to this county, viz. : Christina, died about 1858, aged twenty-three ; Catherine, mar- ried Joseph Apple, lives in township; Rebecca, lived here until she moved to Hancock County, Ind., four years ago.

Levi Bolander was born in Brown County, Ohio, October, 1815, and came to this township with his parents in October, 1828. He has lived here ever since, and now owns seven hundred and twenty-three acres of as fertile land as there is in the township. He resides two miles northeast of Lawrence. He has been a great encourager of the public schools, and has freely given his money and time towards the improvement of the public highways. He is treas- urer of the Lawrence District Fair Association, an Odd-Fellow, a granger, and a member of the Law- rence Township Horse Company. He has fourteen

children living, all of whom reside in this county ex- cept two. He has been married three times, and is now living with his third wife (Mary J. Badgley), whom he married twenty-three years ago. He is known throughout the county as one of Lawrence township's most substantial, influential, and valuable citizens. He votes the Democratic ticket.

George H. Negley, son of Peter and Elizabeth Negley, and a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, came to this county with his parents in the year 1823. He located in this township about 1830. He was a Methodist preacher for years, a farmer, and a true Christian,-moral, temperate, and industrious. At the time of his death he owned four hundred acres of land in this township. At an early age he married Elizabeth Ludwic, who survived him thirty- three years, and who raised a large family of children by her own industry, economy, and good management. Rev. Negley died April 23, 1848, aged thirty-seven years and two months. They had twelve children,- two died in infancy and ten are now living. Three sons and three daughters reside in this county. One son lives in Frankfort County, Ind., one daughter in Kansas, one in Ohio, and the youngest daughter in Sheridan, Ind.

William McCoy, a native of Pennsylvania, emi- grated to this county Dec. 21, 1826, with his wife and ten children, and located half a mile west of Malott Park. He moved to this township about 1830, and bought the farm now owned by the Bash heirs. He followed farming. He and his wife both died in this township. The following are the names of their children that came to this township : Rebecca, married John Collins, died after a residence of six- teen years ; Elizabeth, married, went to Illinois and died there; John, lived in township twenty years, died in Illinois ; William, lived in township thirty years, died here about 1870 : Clarrisa, lived in town- ship thirty-five years, been dead eight years ; Hanoah, been dead twenty-two years, died here; James N. has lived in county fifty-seven years; Murdock, went to Wabash County, Ind., forty years ago ; Morris, died four years ago, lived in county fifty-three years ; Nancy, married James Ballenger, lives in Grant County, Ind., been there twenty-five years; Louis

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HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY.

and Polly were born in this county, and are both dead. Four children died before Mr. MeCoy came here.

James N. McCoy, son of William MeCoy, was born in 1816. The first school attended by him in this county was half a mile west of Malott Park, and was taught by James Blackaby. The first church attended by him was at his father's house, early in the year 1827. He suffered all the trials and hard- ships of a pioneer life, and has been a very hard- working, industrious man. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for fifty years ; has held numerous positions of trust and honor in the church at different times. In early times he was compelled to go horseback to Pendleton to get corn ground into meal, and during the time of high waters resorted to the use of the "hominy-block." His first wife was named Elizabeth Beaver, daughter of Chris- topher Beaver.

Hilary Silvey was born in Prince William County, Va., July 27, 1798. He emigrated with his parents to the Twelve-Mile Purchase near Brookville, Ind., in the year 1812. He married Patience Williams in Franklin County, Ind., and in 1832 moved with his wife and five children to this township. He entered one hundred and sixty acres near the centre of the township, land now owned by William K. Sproul. He lived there five years, and then moved into Washing- ton township, this county, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of Francis Holland, upon which he has since lived. He has been a farmer all his life, and has done an immense amount of labor. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for fifty-nine years. During his residence in this county circuit preaching was regularly held at his eabin. During the past few years he has been totally blind, and his usefulness is thus somewhat impaired. His wife is still living, and on the 27th day of No- vember, 1883, they had been married sixty years. In all there were born unto them thirteen children. The five who came here with them were Thomas P., lived in Lawrence township till his death, two years ago; Martha, died in Indianapolis in 1872 ; Sarah, married Joshua Houston and lives in Zionsville, Ind .; William A. is a farmer in Washington town-

ship, this county ; John Wesley was drowned in a spring when a baby. Several of the other children live in this county.

Travis Silvey was born in Prince William County, Va., in 1796. He emigrated with his parents to the Twelve-Mile Purchase, near Brookville, Ind., in 1812. He married Elizabeth Powers, and in 1834 moved, with wife and three children, to this township, and entered two hundred acres of land, now owned by his heirs. He lived there until his death, in April, 1878. He followed farming all his life, and was a useful member of the community in which he lived. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty-five years ; was an exhorter, and took a great interest in all matters of religion. His wife survives him. The three children who came here with him were Mary Jane, married Jordan Hendricks, went on the Wabash, and died there; William, lives in Mis- souri, went there five years ago; Martha, went to California four years ago ; is a widow.

Henry Bell, a native of Kentucky, came to this township when sixteen years of age (in 1835), and located where he now resides, two and one-half miles south of east of Lawrence. He worked in Indian- apolis nine years. He has followed farming nearly all his life. During the past thirty years he has fol- lowed auctioneering. He was married in 1843 to Elizabeth Brown. They have had seven children, of whom two sons and two daughters are living. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for a quarter of a century, and evinees a great interest in its prosperity. He has been a good farmer and a snc- eessful man.

. Jacob Fred was born in Virginia Sept. 29, 1794. He emigrated to Clermont County, Ohio, with his parents at the age of five years. He and his family moved to this township in 1833, and settled in the woods one and one-half miles southeast of where Lawrence now is. He entered one hundred and sixty aeres of land, upon which No. 11 school-house now stands, and lived there until his death, in January, 1863. His wife died in 1866. He was a blacksmith by trade, but followed farming after he came herc. During his lifetime he cleared seventy acres of heavy timbered land. Of the eight children who came to

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LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP.

the township with him but four are living, as follows : James B., lives on a part of the old homestead ; Israel, lives in McCordsville, Ind., left here about 1843; William W., lives on the west ninety acres of the old homestead ; Hulda, married Samnel Groves, and went to Illinois in 1866. She lived here thirty-three years.

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History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, Part 98

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