USA > Indiana > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Indiana > Part 53
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Mr. Keach is indeed a valuable citizen in building up his church and sustaining the moral element of his community.
REUBEN MAY was born October 26, 1796, in Bath County, Va. In 1817 he moved to Dearborn County, Ind., lived there two years and moved to Washington County. In 1827 he moved to Jackson County, where he has lived ever since and is now in his ninetieth year and enjoys the name of being about the old- est living man in Jackson County. He has been a farmer by occupation, which he has always followed except when he was engaged as assessor of his township, which office he held for four years. He was also justice of the peace eight years. He was United States mail carrier for a term of six years. He has been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church since 1820. In 1815 he was married to Elizabeth Downing, daughter of Michael Downing. To them were born eight children: Henry, Michael, Ellen, Thomas, Elizabeth, Alexander, Andrew L., Mary J. In 1858 he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Morgan, daughter of Amos Ross. To this union have been born four children: L. A., Elizabeth, Reuben A. L. and an infant deceased. Reuben A. L. was born in 1865, and at an early age took a deep interest in educating himself, and is now one of the teachers in the public schools and bids fair to lead in his chosen profession. Reuben May, Sr., was early in life a flatboat man, having gone to New Orleans with a cargo starting from "Sogis landing or ferry." He is a Democrat in politics.
JOHN Z. RUSSELL was born in 1816 in Lee County, Va., near Jonesville. When he was just one year old-the 16th of October, 1817-he together with his parents came to Jackson County, Ind., and settled near Tampico, or rather where Tampico now is. He is the first of a family of two children born to James and Elizabeth (Zion) Russell. The Russells are of English descent and the Zions of German descent. Mr. Russell is one of the most successful farmers of his time, and is the owner of 550 acres of very valuable land. October 25, 1838, he was married to Barbara Kelley, daughter of Joshua Kelley, of Jackson County, who came to Indiana from Tennessee in 1828. Mrs. Russell was born in 1821. To them have been born twelve children: Kinchen (deceased), James K., Jesse, Elizabeth, Joseph, Joshua, Robert
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(deceased), William, Mary (deceased), Isabel (deceased), John and George. Kinchen, James and Jesse were in the army, and Kinchen died in the hospital at Madison, Ind. Mr. Russell is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been a member fifty-five years, and the Methodist Episcopal Church near Tampico was named Russell's Chapel in honor of him. He is a Democrat in politics. He now has but one of his large family with him and that is John, who is a young man of no ordinary merit and moral worth. He was born in 1862 and is engaged with his father in farming.
MICHAEL WASKOM was born in 1836 in Grassy Fork Township, Jackson Co., Ind. Joseph Waskom and Sarah (Young) Waskom, are his parents. They came to Jackson County near 1830, and have been identified with its development in no mean degree. Michael is the eighth in a family of twelve, who were born and raised on a farm and are to-day among the leading farmers and stock raisers in their township. In 1861 he entered the service in defense of his country in Company A, Fiftieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, where he served about three years and three months. During his service he was in all the engagements of his regiment, some of which take their place in history among the hardest fought battles of the Rebellion -the campaigns in Arkansas under Gen. Steel are especially notable instances. In 1867 he was married to Nancy Reynolds, daughter of Andrew Reynolds. She died August 4, 1883. To them were born six children: Marion, Rice, Samuel, Walter and two infants (deceased). On December 24, 1885, he was again married to Nancy Trowbridge, born July, 1851. She is a daughter of David Trowbridge, who is one of the oldest men living in Jackson County. Mr. Waskom is the owner of eighty acres of land. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is a Republican in politics. He takes a deep interest in public affairs and society generally.
WILLIAM H. YOUNG was born in 1812, in Shelby Coun- ty, Ky., and is the eighth in a family of eleven children. His parents, Jacob and Rachel (Goodnight) Young, are natives of Kentucky and Virginia. William was raised on a farm and is the owner of 160 acres of land in Grassy Fork Township, near
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Tampico. As early as 1831 he identified himself with the Mis- sionary Baptist Church and in 1845 he was ordained minister in that church. He was for nearly twenty years actively engaged in ministerial labors. His infirmities have precluded active labor for many years, yet he retains his interest in all that pertains to upbuilding the church. In 1835 he was married to Rebecca Sturgeon, daughter of Daniel Sturgeon. To them were born three children: Solomon, David and Susan. His wife having died, he again married, in 1844, Nancy Sturgeon. To them were born nine children: Mary A., William, Isaac, Sarah, Juliet, Rosella, Eva, Crawford and John. In 1867 his second companion died, and in 1869 he was again married to a Mrs. Rachel Downing, who is also deceased. Mr. Young is a Republican in politics and is now in his seventy-fifth year, and rather active and firm for his age.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.
DR. GEORGE O. BARNES, of Cortland, was born in Jen- nings County, Ind., February 5, 1840, being the third son of Woodford and Elizabeth (nee Barnes) Barnes, both natives of Kentucky. He was educated at the typical log schoolhouse and at a graded school. In 1863 he attended a select school a Seymour, this county. At the age of twenty-two he began teach- ing, and followed that vocation during the winters of 1862-63-64, in the meantime studying medicine, which he had commenced in 1861, under the preceptorship of Dr. Bane, at Reddington; and in 1864-65 he attended the Medical Department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and subsequently the Miami College, at Cincinnati, since which time he has prosecuted his chosen profession at Cortland, this county, with signal success, except the winter of 1875-76, when he was in attendance again at the Miami institution, whence in March, 1876, he received his degree of M. D. The Doctor has been more or less identified with the interests of Jackson County all his life. October 16, 1870, Dr. Barnes was united in marriage with Mrs. Emma Wil- son, nee Isaacs.
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JACOB BROWN, farmer, is a native of Harrison County, Ind., being born on the 15th of October, 1813, in the town of Laconia. His father, of the same name, was born in North Car- olina, and his mother, nee Margaret Lux, was a native of Ken- tucky. Most of his education he received after he grew up to manhood. He was an industrious toiler upon the farm until he was nineteen years of age, when he engaged in flat-boating to New Orleans, making fifteen trips in as many years. After the first two trips he had to walk home from Louisville. For many years now he has been a successful farmer, and he is one of the oldest native residents of the county. Jackson County has always been his home. Ever since 1838 he has been identified with the Christian Church, as have also his family since they have respect- ively arrived at the age of responsibility. In politics he is a Democrat, having cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson. Septem- ber 7, 1837, is the date of Mr. Brown's marriage to Lydia M. Day, a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, and to them three chil- dren have been born: Eliza J., Elias D., and George R .- all living near him.
WILLIAM BROCKER, farmer, is a native of this county, where he was born December 8, 1853, the only son of Jacob and Eunice (Mitchell) Brocker. His father was born in the State of Ohio, and his mother in this State, and they were among the first settlers in Jackson County. Reared upon a farm, and educated in the district school, Mr. Brocker has always been occupied in agricultural pursuits. He was married on the 15th of February, in the year 1874, to Josephine Findley, who also is a native of Jackson County, and only three of their six children are living, namely: Georgie, Mary and Claudie.
JOHN F. BOTTORFF, a leading farmer of Hamilton Town- ship, is a native of Clark County, Ind., where his birth occurred July 23, 1834. His parents were Jacob and Nancy (Nugent) Bottorff, also natives of Clark County, of whom he was the sec- ond son. At the age of twelve he came to Jackson and located in Hamilton Township. His education was acquired in the prim- 'itive school of his times. His whole life was spent upon a farm, where he has been more than ordinarily successful. March 6, 1864, his marriage with Matilda Vun Cannon was solemnized.
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. Mrs. Bottorff is a native of Golconda, Ill., and came to Jackson County when quite small. This union has been blessed with two children, named Calvin M. and William F. Politically Mr. Bot- torff is a Democrat, and has been assessor, and has held the office of township trustee, and in each case served to the entire satis- faction of the people. He is an honest and upright citizen, and enjoys the esteem of all who know him.
JOHN EISEL, of Hamilton Township, was born in Bavaria, Germany, February 28, 1833, educated in his native country, and when twenty-seven years of age immigrated to the New World, landing at New Orleans, December 31, 1860, remaining there four years and learning the butcher's trade. In 1864 he left that place and went to St. Louis, where, however, he remained but a short time. He came next to Medora, this county, and worked in the tanyard of Myron Brown for a period of eight months; then, in 1865, he moved to Seymour, remained there until 1870, and then located upon his farm in Hamilton Town- ship, where he now resides. In January, 1861, he married Bar- bara Crib, a native of Germany, and they had two ,children: Philip and John. She died August 23, 1867, and in June, 1869, Mr. Eisel was united in matrimony with Barbara Frederick, who was born in the "fatherland," Germany. There have been two children also by this marriage. In his political views, Mr. Eisel is a Democrat.
M. C. HAMILTON, of Hamilton Township, is a native of the same township, being born within its boundaries, July 6, 1819, third son of James and Rebecca (Robertson) Hamilton, both parents natives of Virginia. The senior Hamilton moved into this county as early as 1815, and settled the next year in the township which was named after him, on the land now owned by his son, our subject. Not until the age of fifteen did Mr. Ham- ilton have the advantage of any schooling, his first teacher being Samuel Tanner, a resident of Brownstown Township. He has all his life been a farmer, with the exception of two years, 1861- 62, when he was conducting the Scott House at Brownstown. He has been township trustee two years, 1878-79. In politics he is a Democrat, and both himself and Mrs. Hamilton are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. June 4, 1845, occurred
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the first marriage of Mr. Hamilton, when Miss Lucinda Mitchell, a native of this county, became his wife. Their union was blessed with two children, of whom one, James W., is living and engaged in farming in the same township. Mrs. Hamilton departed this life September 28, 1848, and Mr. Hamilton was again married in 1850, to Mary McIntyre, a native of Shelby County. Of their eight children six are living: Amy, Leroy, Wirt, Stites, Maud and Elnora. For a second time was Mr. Hamilton bereaved of his companion, May 22, 1871; and April 17, 1873, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Eliza M. Poland, a native of Ohio. By this matrimonial union there is one child, Mintie by name.
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WILLIAM M. ISAACS, a farmer of Hamilton Township, is a native of the same township in which he is still a resident, where he was born March 2, 1847; the fourth son of William H. and Highley (Reynolds) Isaacs, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Tennessee. They settled in this county in primitive days, and their children therefore grew up with but little educa- cational advantages. This fact, however, did not hinder them from having a good degree of common sense, industry and busi- ness management, in which they have set good examples. Most of the life of Mr. Isaacs has been passed in agriculture, and all in Hamilton Township. He was married, September 7, 1873, to Martha A. Robertson, a sketch of whose parents appears else- where in this work. To this matrimonial union have been born six children, of whom four are living: Ethel M., Charles, Gracie J. and Cora B. In his political views Mr. Isaacs sympathizes with the Democratic party, and in his social relations he is identi- fied with the P. of H. He has held the office of justice of the peace eight years, and other offices in his township.
JOHN W. ISAACS, one of the pioneers of Jackson County, and for many years a resident of Hamilton Township, was born in Shelby County, Ky., May 20, 1810. His parents were Jesse and Patience (Blevins) Isaacs, who were natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Kentucky. They reared a family of eight children, of whom John W. was the oldest. They moved to Jackson County in 1820, and since that time the family has been prominently known in the county. The lack of educational ad- vantages in the early days of the county prevented Mr. Isaacs
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from acquiring more than a very limited education. His first location was in Salt Creek Township, but at the age of thirteen he was bound out to George Smallwood, of Brownstown Township, one of the earliest settlers of the county. From him Mr. Isaacs learned to work, and much of his success in life is due to the training he received while with him. When he reached the age of twenty-one he began working by the month, which he continued for about four years, at the end of that time having accumulated about $200, a considerable sum for a young man of that day. July 10, 1834, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth McPherson, a native of Driftwood Township. To this union four children were born, three of whom are now living. Her death occurred February 7, 1844, and November 12, following, he married his first wife's sister, Jeannette. In December, 1850, she also died. In April, 1857, he took for his third wife Mrs. Mary A. Tinder, a native of Ohio. She has borne him three children, these two now living: William W. and Jeannette. Mr. Isaacs has been a con- sistent member of the Christian Church for more than thirty-five years. He cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and has ever since followed the teaching of old "Hickory."
DR. H. R. KYTE, of Courtland, was born February 24, 1860; next to the youngest in the family of David and Julia A. (nee Reynolds) Kyte, both natives of this State, the former of Wash- ington County and the latter of Lawrence County. In his youth he attended the district school and the Clear Springs Academy, thus obtaining some knowledge of the higher branches. After read- ing medicine one year alone, he continued the study a year longer under the preceptorship of Dr. Spurgeon, of Muncie, Ind., and subsequently entered the Physio-medical College, at Indianapolis, attending two terms, and graduating March 20, 1884. In 1882-83 he also received private instructions from Dr. A. F. Elliott. He is now located at Courtland, where he is establishing a very lucra- tive practice. February 24, 1885, Dr. Kyte married Mary E. McPherson, a native of Jackson County, and they have one child. In his political principles the Doctor is a Democrat, and both himself and Mrs. Kyte are members of the Christian Church.
FRED NEWKIRK, a prominent citizen of Hamilton Town- ship, was born in Hanover, Germany, the 17th of October, 1828.
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His parents were George and Mary Newkirk. A portion of his schooling was acquired in his native land, where all are com- pelled to attend between the ages of six and fourteen years. When about ten years of age he immigrated to America, then, as now, a home for the oppressed of all nations. Most of his life has been devoted to farming, raising and shipping stock, in which he has been fortunate, and acquired a competence for life. In the early part of 1854 he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he fol- lowed various callings. From Cincinnati he went to Dearborn County. He married Elizabeth Severing, who has borne him twelve children. Of these, seven are now living: Fred, Mary, Emma, Matilda, George, Walter and Sarah. Mr. Newkirk has been a resident of Jackson County for about twenty years, and is most favorably regarded by all who know him.
FRANZ QUADE, Hamilton Township, is a native of Prus- sia, where he was born the 23d of June, 1829, and is the eld- est son born to Frank and Clara Quade. His early schooling was received in his native country, where all are compelled to attend. After leaving school at the age of fourteen, he went back to the farm, where he remained until his twenty-second year, when he entered the German army. After five years in the service of his country he left the Army and embarked for Amer- ica, landing in Baltimore August 19, 1856, from whence he came directly to Jackson, and settled on a farm in Hamilton Town- ship, where he still resides. When Mr. Quade came to Hamil- ton Township he was almost without a dollar, but by his unremit- ting energy and unceasing industry, he soon possessed himself of one of the best farms in Jackson County, which is at present in a high state of cultivation. March 25, 1858, Mr. Quade was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Stinecamp, a native of Prus- sia, and to this union have been born eight children: Fred, Anna, Henry, William (deceased), Edward, Frank, Willie and Adelina (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Quade are consistent members of the Lutheran Church.
GEORGE A. ROBERTSON was born in this county March 8, 1839, being the youngest son of Andrew and Esther (Hamil- ton) Robertson. His father immigrated to this county about 1818, and his mother in 1819, both from Virginia. George's
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early education was obtained from curriculum characteristic of the primitive log schoolhouse. The one he attended had a log taken out of the wall to constitute the window; the seats were made of puncheons, and when the sun shone the scholars had to sit outside to keep from freezing. In the winters of 1857 and 1858 he attended the White River Academy, a graded school at Brownstown, where he obtained some knowledge of the higher branches, such as algebra, geometry, surveying, etc. On leaving school he returned to the farm of his father, where he continued until he became of age. Then, in 1860, he was for a while dep- uty clerk under Dan H. Long. In 1862 he was elected county surveyor, and was the incumbent of that office until 1869. He has also served several terms as township trustee, assessor, etc. In the spring of 1882 he was nominated by his party-the Dem- ocratic-for representative to the State Legislature, without op- position. He was elected, and two years afterward renominated and again elected, thus faithfully serving his constituents for two terms. His political views are clearly defined and positive. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. August 16, 1860, Mr. Robertson married Miss Elizabeth Jones, a native of Washing- ton County, this State, and their two children are Mary B. and Esther L. Their mother died December 5, 1865, and May 27, 1868, Mr. Robinson married Mary M. Van Cleave, a na- tive of this State, and by this union five children were born, three of whom are living-Maud, Willetta and Andrew V. For a second time was Mr. Robertson bereaved of his compan- ion, May 4, 1881.
JONATHAN ROBERTSON, a farmer of Hamilton Township, is a native of Jackson County, Ind., where he was born July 12, 1823. He was the second son born to Andrew and Esther (Ham- ilton) Robertson, who are prominently mentioned among the pio- neer settlers of Hamilton Township. They were of old Virginia stock, and trace their ancestry back to the Robertson who accompa- nied Lord Berkley to America. As with other members of the family, Jonathan had limited school advantages, attending only a few weeks of each year at the old log schoolhouse, where reading, writing and arithmetic were imperfectly taught, He afterward, however, attended two terms at a grammar school, in Brownstown,
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about the year 1840. March 29, 1849, Mr. Robertson was married to Miss Mary E. Frank, also a native of Jackson County. Of this union there is one child living, viz., Sarah. April 29, 1852, Mrs. Robertson died, and March 20, 1853, he married Susan A. Harrel, and to this second union seven children were born: Harriet J., Columbus, Laura E., Florence A., Elnora, Josephine, and Holmes. In politics Mr. Robertson is a stanch Democrat, and has served his party as township trustee and assessor. He cast his first vote for James K. Polk.
WILLIAM M. ROBERTSON, of Hamilton Township, is a native of that division of the county. His father, John Robertson, was a native of Virginia, and his mother, nee Elizabeth Hamilton, of Ireland. He received his early education in the characteristic log schoolhouse of pioneer days. Has been engaged in agricult- ural pursuits all his life, and all except two years in Brownstown Township. September 7, 1848, Mr. Robertson was married to Miss Elizabeth M. Sewell, a native of Jackson County, and by that matrimonial union there were twelve children, of whom the following are now living: Mary A., who married E. L. Holmes and resides at Newbern, Va .; James Wayman, residing in Ewing; Martha A. married William M. Isaacs, of Hamilton Township; David B. resides in Seymour; Saul W. at Ewing; Blaze is next in order of birth; George is mining in Colorado; Ida married Will- iam Laraway, of Hamilton Township; and Celestus H. is the youngest living. The mother of these children died in Janu- ary, 1869, and their father, December 8, 1874, was united in mar- riage with Margaret L. Jacobs, and by the latter union two chil- dren have been born, and named James W. and D. T.
WILLIAM ROBERTSON is a native of Hamilton Township, Jackson County, and was born August 3, 1827, being the fifth son of Andrew and Easter (Hamilton) Robertson. His early educa- tion was limited. George H. Murphy was one of his first teachers. He afterward attended school at Brownstown, obtaining some knowledge of algebra and a few other high branches. After spending some time again upon the farm, he engaged in 1851-52 as clerk for Charles Wayman, in a dry-goods store at Browns- town; and on leaving there he started up for himself for about eighteen months. On leaving mercantile business, in 1862, he
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was appointed school examiner, in which capacity he served one term, and since then he has occupied his farm. Under the ad- ministration of President Buchanan he served as postmaster. The postoffice, named Valley Farm, which was then the address of C. L. Dunham, was discontinued in 1860. In 1870 Mr. Robertson was elected township trustee, and served one term. In 1881 he was elected justice of the peace for the term which expires this year, 1886. In politics he is a Democrat, and is a member of the church. Mr. Robertson was united in the bonds of matrimony, February 4, 1868, with Sarah C. Johnson, a native of Ohio, and of the eleven children born to them seven survive, whose names are George A., Ruth B., John B., James R., Walter R., Sarah E. and Thomas J.
BLAZE ROBERTSON is a prominent farmer of Hamilton Township and a native of Virginia. His birth occurred August 8, 1814. Two years later (1816) he came to Indiana, and settled in Jackson County, and, with his parents, located near where he now lives. His early education was very limited, and what little he did get was, as he says, "acquired between the plow handles," except a few terms that he attended at the old log house in the Robertson settlement. Early in life he chose farming for his occupation, and for more than fifty years has been upon the farm where he now resides. Mr. Robertson underwent all the hard- ships of pioneer life, and now in his old age has the satisfaction of enjoying the result of a life of hardship and toil. November 26, 1835, he was joined in wedlock to Mary Robertson, of Ohio, and to this union ten children have been born. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson celebrated their golden wedding November 26, 1885, and thus they have been permitted to enjoy half a century of wedded happiness. Mr. Robertson has always been a Democrat, and has taken an active interest in the public affairs of his coun- ty. He held the office of county commissioner for seven years, and has also served in the capacity of justice of the peace of Hamilton Township.
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