USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County, Indiana, from 1820 to 1874 : giving a general review of principal events, statistical and historical items, derived from official sources > Part 17
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He is a prominent member of the M. E. Church. Mr. C. is about five feet eight inches in hight, of heavy build, fair complextion with light hair.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF CONRAD CROSSLEY.
Among the early settlers of Fall Creek township was Mr. Crossley. He was born in Virginia in 1799 and came to Madison county in 1820. He was one of the guards over Bridge and Sawyer, of the Indian murder, in 1824. Mr. C. was highly respected wherever known; his honesty was never called in question, and he was one of the right kind of men to settle a new country. He contributed much to build up and develop Fall Creek township; he was one
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of its best farmers, and had an excellent farm three miles southwest of Pendleton, near the Bellefontaine R. R. He was largely engaged in fine stock raising, and took great interest in the Fall Creek Agricultural Fair. Mr. C. will be remembered by many as one of the staunchest citizens of the county. An instance of his kindness will be given which actually took place in the year 1823. Mrs. Hollings- worth, after a severe spell of sickness, desired some tea· Mr. C., learning of this, started to New Castle to obtain some. Finding none there, he continued to Richmond, where he met with like success ; not easily discouraged, he continued to Eaton, Ohio, where the coveted herb was- obtained. Mr. C. returned, and a cup of tea was made to gladden the heart of Mrs. Hollingsworth, who lived to remember that act of humanity, which had few equals at that day. Mr. C. died in 1869, aged seventy years; and was buried on his farm described above. Mr. C. was tall and of light complexion.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF DR. DANIEL COOK.
MR. C. was born in Virginia in 1826; came with his parents to the State when a youth. I first became acquainted with Dr. Cook in 1855. He was then living in Hunts- ville, having just returned from Kansas. In February, 1856, he removed to Markleville where he continued to live up to the year 1868, when he again moved to Fishersburg, where he now resides. While in Markleville he had an excellent practice and was generally successful. He was generous to a fault. He would walk that he might loan a horse to a friend to ride. I have received many kind acts from him which I gratefully recall to mind. He was a strong war man and gave liberally to the boys in blue with whom he was very popular. He built a large business house in Fishersburg which proved to be a bad investment.
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With his generous nature he lias necessarily proved a poor financier. He is in possession of a good name which is far better than riches. It is understood that the Doctor has a fair practice at Fishersburg. He has been married twice; first, to a Miss Shelton, and last to Miss Walker, both of whom are buried at McCallister's cemetery.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF WARREN COLE.
MR. C. was born in Noblesville, Hamilton county ; came to Perkinsville in 1856 and engaged in the mercantile bus- iness with T. L. Beckwith, in which he still continues. On the breaking out of the war his patriotism was stirred, and he enlisted as a private in Co. E, 34th Ind. Vol. He was soon promoted to corporal, then to orderly sergeant, then to second and first lieutenant, and was elected captain June 1, 1865. He was in thirteen different engagements. He was at Cairo, Illinois, with his company and went from there to New Orleans. Mr. C. crossed the Gulf four times. He was in the Vicksburg campaign, and was in the engage- ments at New Madrid, Fort Pillow, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, and at Palmetto Ranch, May 13, 1865. Mr. C. re-enlisted as a veteran, December 14, 1863. He was in Texas on duty when the war closed, and was discharged February, 1866. Mr. C. is about thirty years of age, rather under the medium size, with black eyes and hair and fine features. His wife died in June, 1874.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF DR. JOHN H. COOK.
DR. COOK was born in Virginia and came to Madison county when comparatively a young man. He located at
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Pendleton and commenced the practice of medicine, in which he was eminently successful. His practice extended over the southern part of Madison and into the adjoining counties of Hancock and Hamilton. He was generous almost to a fault, especially to the poor, who will kindly remember him in time to come. He was public spirited and was an earnest advocate of the Bellefontaine rail- road. He was a candidate for the legislature against Andrew Jackson, and was defeated by only a few votes. He proved rather a poor financier and did not accumulate much property to rear a costly monument above his grave, but over his humble resting place the silent tears may flow as well, in remembrance of this good man. The last few years of his life he devoted to some extent to the practice of law in which he gained some notoriety. He lived a few years in Anderson in the practice of his profession. He returned to Pendleton and died there in 1864, aged fifty-six. He is a brother of Dr. Ward Cook, of Pendleton.
JUDGE HERVY CRAVEN.
MR. C. came, some twenty years since, to Pendleton. He engaged in the practice of law and has been very suc- cessful, not only at the bar of our county but at those of adjoining counties. He has served two years in the State senate. He represented the counties of Madison and Grant. He is a prominent member of the Universalist church at Pendleton. He has taken great interest in the agricultural development of the country, and in the improvement of stock. Mr. C. is one of the encouragers and stockholders of the Fall Creek Agricultural Fair. In fact he is one of our best citizens. At the breaking out of our late war he went into the service as lieutenant colonel of the 89th regiment and was promoted to colonel. He served through the war with distinction and was very pop-
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ular with the 89th boys. In 1872 Mr. C. was elected judge of the circuit court which was composed of the counties of Madison and Hamilton, and is at this writing serving with credit to himself and to the people. He seems well fitted for the place and is noted for possessing decision and good judgment. In person Mr. C. is about five feet and nine inches in hight, has fair complexion and brown hair, and good features. Politically he is a staunch Republican and you know where to find him at all times. Previous to his election to the judgeship he was practicing law in connection with Charles Henry, Esq., at Pendleton. Mr. C. is about forty-five years of age.
REVEREND J. F. COLLIER.
MR. COLLIER came from Ohio in 1830, and settled in Adams township, where he has resided ever since. He joined the Baptist church when he was twenty-one years of age, continuing an earnest and faithful teacher up to the present time. It was through his instrumentality that a society of this kind was organized in Adams township. He gave a spot of ground and also other means for the erection of both old and new churches which will be described here- after. Mr. Collier may be classed among the old-style preachers; and though he has been preaching to the people of this locality for many years, he is ever able to have a proper hearing and to command the attention of those who have listened to him so often with interest and profit. He has lived to see this society rise from its infancy, and take a stand among the most influential churches of this order in the county. Mr. Collier is a strictly moral and upright man, and a strong advocate of temperance. He has per- haps preached more sermons, joined more in marriage, and administered immersion to more candidates than any man of which we may write. Mr. Collier has, through a long
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series of years of toil and economy; accumulated consider- able property. He owns a large farm one and one-half miles south-east of Markelville, where he now resides. Politically, Mr. Collier was an old line Whig, but of late has acted with the Republican party. He has lived to see the freedom of the slave, an object he nourished from his very boyhood, ever reflecting upon it as a blot upon our national honor.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF WM. DILTZ AND WIFE.
Prominent among the early settlers of Union township was Mr. D., coming here in 1820; settled just east of Ches- terfield, near the Henry county line. In 1835 he built a large brick hotel, three-fourths of a mile east of the above town, the cost of which was $3,000. This hotel in early times was known as one of the best in this part of the State. Mr. D. was a member of the United Brethren Church, as was also his wife, who is worthy of special mention. The Author has had occasion to speak but seldom of those worthy females who were wives of those early settlers of whom he has given a life sketch; however, under existing circumstances, he feels it a duty to speak of Mrs. D. in par- ticular. She is living in Chesterfield ; is in her eighty-sec- ond year. What thoughts must come up for utterance when she reviews the past ! Alone in the world, as far as early associates are concerned. They have passed off the stage of action. Mr. D. died in February, 1874, aged eighty-one years. They lived together fifty-seven years - trod the rough journeys of life together; saw the Indian driven away; the first settlers arrive ; Chesterfield laid out ; the railroad built, and our county grow from a handful to one of the most populous in the State. Mrs. D. will soon be called to join her husband and associates in another world,
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where the toils and hardships incident to this will be for- ever unknown. Mr. D. was born in Pennsylvania in 1793; died as above stated, and was buried at the cemetery just west of Chesterfield.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF JUDGE JOHN DAVIS.
MR. D. was born in Maryland in 1812 and came to Anderson in 1837, and immediately commenced the prac- tice of law. He arose rapidly and gained a wide reputation in the adjoining counties and in the Supreme Court as an attorney. He was elected to the legislature as a Whig in 1842, over his competitor, Thomas McCallister. In 1850 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention over his competitor, William C. Fleming. In 1867 he was elected circuit judge of the counties of Madison, Hamilton, Howard and Tipton, but he failed in health and did not serve his time out. He went to Italy for his health, and while at Aquia was stricken with palsy, from which he has never recovered, and at this time he is quite helpless, so much so as to require the constant attention of his family. Mr. D. came to the county a poor young man with knapsack in hand, but since that time he has accumulated considerable property, and filled some of the highest offices in the county. As a private citizen and as a public officer he has always maintained a high standard. He is the father of Mrs. A. C. Burr, of Anderson. In person Mr. D. is large, weigh- ing near two hundred pounds, with large square face, florid complexion, dark hair and strongly marked features.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF GEORGE DUNHAM.
MR. DUNHAM came from Hancock county, Ind., to Fish- ersburgh, in 1866, and engaged in the mercantile business,
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and in connection with Dr. Cook, built an excellent business · house, consisting of two store-rooms below, each 18 by 50 feet, well finished, and a large room above, 30 by 50 feet, at present used by the Grange Lodge of Fishersburgh. The building cost about four thousand dollars. Mr. D. has bought the interest ot Dr. Cook. Mr. D. was elected just- ice of the peace in 1869, and re-elected in October, 1872. He has been postmaster since 1867, and through his influ- ence will have a semi-weekly mail after July, 1874. Mr. D. was a r ember of Company G 12th Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and discharged July 22d, 1865. He was in the battle of Missionary Ridge; was through Georgia; also in the battle of Atlanta, Georgia, July 22d to 28th, 1864, and was slightly wounded on the chin at Ezra's Church, Georgia, June 6th, 1864. Mr. D. is yet in the goods business, enjoys the confidence of the people, and sells ten thousand dollars" worth per annum. In person, Mr. D. is rather under size, of fair complexion, and auburn hair. He is thirty-one years of age, and is a member of the M. E. Church and Masonic Order.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF LORANA EASTMAN.
Mrs. E. is the daughter of Nathaniel Richmond, sen., and sister of the Reverends Nathaniel and F. M. Richmond. She was born in New York State in 1808; came with her parents to this county in 1820: In 1830 she was married to Joseph Eastman. After a brief stay there she returned to Pendleton, where she has made it her home ever since. She is, perhaps, the oldest lady citizen in the county, having been here fifty-four years. She is a very intelligent woman- attends all the old settlers' meetings, where she is listened to with interest while she rehearses the incidents of early times. She has a vivid recollection of the Indian murders, and Sawyear and Bridges. The author is indebted to her
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for much information as regards the settlement of Pen- dleton. She is the mother of a large family of children. But few women have had the experience or sustained the trials which have been upbourn by Mrs. E. She seemed to possess the necessary characteristics which the times seemed to demand. Her disposition seemed to portray more intel- ligence, bravery, and hardihood, than usually met with in one of her sex. Her memory will ever live in connection with the early history of the county.
Her husband was a very intelligent man ; was a devoted Baptist ; labored to build up that society at Pendleton. He was an active and zealous Mason, having taken the highest degrees taken in the county. He was born in New Hamp- shire in 1805. In person, he was a fine looking man, high forhead, dark hair, being in hight six feet, with general good features. His occupation was, for many years, that of coopering. He died in 1866. Is buried at the Pendle- ton cemetery. His funeral was largely attended by the Masonic Fraternity, of which he was an honored member.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF DAVID FRANKLIN.
ELDER FRANKLIN was born in Morgan county, Ohio, in 1824; came to Henry county, Indiana, in 1833; remained there until 1861, when he became a citizen of Madison county, first settling one and one half miles below Pendle- ton, on Fall creek, where he lived four years, when he removed to Adams township, two miles north of Markle- ville, where he now lives.
He has been an elder of the Christian church for twenty- five years. He is considered an able defender of the doc- trine he teaches ; has had several debates of note, among which we may mention one with B. F. Foster, Universal- ist, at the old Bell Meeting House in 1849. Another with T. S. Lyons, a prominent Baptist minister of Henry county.
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The third with M. P. Armstrong, a Methodist, at Hills- borough, Henry county, Indiana, in 1854. Mr. Franklin is one of the strong men of the Christian church ; spends much of his time in preaching. In person Mr. Franklin is a large and powerful man and is not afraid of work. I saw him to-day ditching and preparing his ground for planting. He is a brother of Benjamin and Daniel Franklin, and au uncle of Joseph Franklin of Anderson.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF PETER FESTLER.
PETER FESTLER was born in Pennsylvania in 1805; came to New Columbus in this county in 1840. He worked at blacksmithing at this place seven years. He then bought a farm just north of town, where he lived until his death in 18 . He built a brick house, which was at that time one of the best buildings in the township. At his death he was the owner of four hundred and twelve acres of land on the north bank of Fall creek. Mr. Festler was elected on the Democratic ticket as county commissioner in 1862. Serv- ing in the most critical period of the war, at a time when the questions of the county bonds were at issue, requiring some financial skill and firmness, which was at the time of no little importance; was a devoted member of the German Baptist or Dunkard Church; the annual meeting of this Church often being held in his barn previous to building the new Church near his house, of which he was one of the first to move in favor of its erection .. He gave largely of his time and means to forward the work, but did not live to see it completed. The memory of Mr. Festler will long be cher- ished, especially by those connected with this Society, for he, with his own hands, commenced the work which resulted in the erection of a substantial Church house, of which we will speak more particularly hereafter. He was a large stock- holder in the Anderson and New Columbus turnpike. He
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died November 13th, 1872; was buried at the old Baptist Church cemetery, just west of Columbus.
REV. JOHN FOREST OF BOONE TOWNSHIP.
MR. F. was born in Virginia in December, 1810, and located in the above township in 1847, in what was then known as the Miami Reserve. Although Mr. F. is not in every sense of the word a pioneer, he arrived in that part of the county when it was quite new. There were no roads, no mills or other conveniences. He went as far as Pendleton to mill, the few first years after his arrival there. Mr. F. was blessed with a strong constitution, well fitted for pioneer life; he one spring was at no less than twenty- six log rollings, which required no small amount of physi- cal ability. He has been a member and minister of the Baptist church for many years, and gave the land and con- tributed largely of his means to erect a church, near his house. He served twelve years as justice of the peace, and acted as swamp land commissioner, and is, at this writing a candidate for the Legislature on the grange ticket. He has always taken a strong temperance stand, and fought the introduction of ardent spirits into his township. He was the founder of Forestville, and was the first postmaster in the township. As a public speaker Mr. F. can not be said to be eloquent, yet he is listened to with attention, not only as a minister, but also as an advocate of the grange move- ment. Previous to this movement, Mr. Forest had acted with the Democratic party. In person, he is rather under the medium size, heavy built, low forehead, heavy eye- brows, and in hight about five feet seven inches.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF ISAAC FRANKLIN.
MR. FRANKLIN was born in Ohio in 1820; settled on Fall creek, two and one half miles north of Markleville, in
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1843, where he now resides. Mr. F. was a candidate for the legislature in 1864 but was defeated by David Croan by a reduced majority. In 1865 Mr. Franklin removed to Mechanicsburg, in Henry county, and engaged in the mer- cantile business for a period of three years a portion of which time he served as postmaster. Returning again to Madison county he remodeled his mill which he had built in 1845, making it a first class mill valued at $3,500. It is propelled by water from Fall creek, has two run of stone and does only a custom work. In connection with the mill Mr. Franklin owns a fine farm of some two hundred acres. He is one of the substantial men of the county, thoroughly posted on political matters, and in faith is a Universalist. He is the father of John and Calvin Franklin, of Adams township. Mr. F. is a member of the Republican Central Committee for 1874. He was the foreman of the jury that tried the famous Makepeace and Stillwell bond suit.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF ELDER JOSEPH FRANKLIN.
MR. FRANKLIN is the eldest child of Benjamin Frank- lin. He was born September 13, 1834, near Middtetown, Henry county. At the age of twelve he went into his father's printing office in Centreville, Wayne county, where he worked at the printing business till sixteen. About this time his father moved to Cincinnati, where Joseph still set type, stopping sometimes for months to go to school. His best schooling, however, was received at the printing office. At the early age of nineteen he was married to Miss S. E. Planhook, of Covington, Kentucky. The following year he moved to Warren county, Indiana, where he was appointed county examiner, and also received the charge of the Christian church at West Lebanon. He was here five years, when he was called to the city of Lafayette, by his
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brethren, to preach for them. In 1860 he was called to Covington, Kentucky, his old stamping grounds, to preach for the brethren there. He preached acceptably for eighteen months, when the city was put under martial law. Mr. Franklin procured a pass and got as far north of the Ohio river as Madison county, where he has become identi- fied with the church and schools of this same magnificent county.
He has preached for the congregation at Anderson for nine years, occasionally traveling into other parts of the State. He has acted, part of the time, as superintendent of the public schools. For five years he taught the Anderson Normal and Graded schools, during the week, and preached on Sunday. In June, 1873, he was elected county superin- tendent of public schools, an office he has thus far filled with honor and ability. The standard of education has been so much elevated under his administration that Madi- son county now begins to rank with the highest in the State. Mr. Franklin is an able defender of the doctrine he pro- claims. He is a good speaker and debater. In person Mr. Franklin is tall and slender. He is exceedingly fair in complexion, with light hair and good features, and benign expression of countenance. Mrs. Franklin is a lady of fine attainments. She is the mother of eleven children, ten of whom are living, yet she finds time to cultivate, not only her mind, but her flower gardens. She has a choice collec- tion of plants and flowers, which she delights to care for herself. She was the president of the " Ladies' League " dur- ing the temperance crusade. I am much indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Franklin for valuable assistance in the prepara- tion of this work.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF CHARLES FISHER.
MR. F. was born in Ohio, in 1819, and came with his parents to Madison county the following year. His father
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located where Fishersburgh now stands, and founded the town which bears his name. Consequently Mr. F. is one of the oldest settlers of his township. He was the first merchant in Fishersburgh ; served as postmaster as early as 1844; and it was through his influence that the postoffice was established there. Mr. F. served as township trustee tor several years, and was a candidate for county commis- sioner in 1872, in the Democratic primary convention. He was, however, defeated by G. W. Hoel. Mr. F. has always been an uncompromising Democrat, and has served his township on the central committee. He is a member of the M. E. Church at Fishersburgh, and was among the active movers towards building the present church. He is a director and stockholder in the Pendleton and Fishersburgh turnpike. He owns a fine farm just east of Fishersburgh, on the banks of Stoney creek. He is the father of Dr. J. M. Fisher, of Fishersburgh, and Mrs. J. H. Harter, of Pendleton. Since writing the above, Mr. F. has shaken the dust of the farm off his feet, and become a citizen of Fishersburgh.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF B. F. GREGORY.
MR. G. came when a boy from Virginia, settling in Fall Creek township, where he worked with J. F. Swain at the carpenter trade. Huntsville was his headquarters, living just north of town for many years. In 1868 he bought a farm two miles north of Pendleton, where he now lives. Mr. G. began to exhort about fifteen years since in the Christian Church. He has devoted much time to the study of the Scriptures; and, considering his advantages through life, is a man of ability. He has much of the Scriptures by heart, and is able to tell what he knows in a plain straight- forward way if not as eloquently as some others. Mr. G. is regarded as a number one man, splendid mechanic, a
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kind and generous neighbor, and perhaps a little too sec- tarian to suit many. In politics he is a Republican and gave his oldest son to defend the flag of his country. In person Mr. G. is tall, rather stooped, rough featured and careless about his dress, but underneath those rough exteri- ors lies a warm and genial heart. He gave of his time and means to build a church near his house, and occasionally preaches there as well as many other points throughout the county. He is fifty years of age and has buried six of his children. He is now engaged in erecting a dwelling house on the farm above described. He is identified with the Grange movement and is one of its ablest defenders in the county.
PERSONAL SKETCH OF MORRIS GILLMORE, OF ADAMS TOWNSHIP.
MORRIS GILLMORE came to Madison county in 1728, and settled one mile east of Columbus. Mr. G. was born in West Virginia, in 1807. Columbus contained but one house when Mr. Gillmore settled in the vicinity, and all the sur- rounding country was new, Anderson being but a very small place. Mr. G. owns a large farm on the south bank of Fall creek, where he built a brick house in 1838. He has always been a devoted Methodist, joining the church when a young man ; and has been one of the main stays of the church ever since. He is regarded as one of the best men in the county, and has accumulated considerable property. He met, how- ever, with quite a misfortune in the fall of 1873, lightning striking his barn, killing a valuable horse, and burning wheat, hay, etc., his entire loss being $1,500, on which there was no insurance. He is, at this writing, preparing to build again. For several years after Mr. G. arrived in the county there was no Methodist society near him. He and his wife attended church in Henry county, seven miles dis-
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