USA > Indiana > Miami County > History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 44
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sister Catherine. Catherine Davis died in August, 1900. On Novem- ber 20, 1902, Mr. Davis married Mary Dains.
The children by his first wife, besides John W., were: Martha J., who was born January 31, 1861, and died in October, 1862; Mary Catherine, wife of Moses Moss, born September 20, 1862; Branson E., born April 4, 1866, and married Anna Pollock; Ira Elwood, born May 29, 1868, and died August 20, 1886; and Isabelle, born August 25, 1870, and died October 8, 1870. By the second wife there were three children as follows : Welthy Della, born June 2, 1873, and married Oscar Reeves, and has one child Ellis Reeves, born November 26, 1900; Louie Arthur, born August 5, 1875, and died March 4, 1878; Fowler Herman, born September 21, 1877, and married Daisy Keppner.
John W. Davis was reared on his father's farm and has remained here conducting its cultivation and in the capacity of active manager ever since his marriage. He has introduced a large number of improve- ments in the way of buildings, fencing, and modern methods of cultiva- tion and crop management, and now owns one-third of the land, 190 acres. On September 21, 1902, John W. Davis married Amy Forth, a daughter of James and Sarah Rebecca (Lewis) Forth. James Forth was a son of Joseph Forth and Sarah Rebecca Lewis was a daughter of James A. Lewis. Mrs. Davis' father was a soldier in the Union army, serving in one of the regiments in the Virginia army, and after eleven months of active campaigning was taken sick and honorably discharged. Mrs. Davis' father lived at the Davis farmstead, where her mother died in 1897. There were two other children in the family; Ella, who married Ed. Burrous ; and Eva, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Davis attend worship at the Christian church.
ROBERT H. QUINN. One of the citizens of Miami county who began their careers in log-cabin homes, labored with courage and industry to develop a wilderness of forest into a broad landscape of farms, and have subsequently reaped the rewards of such diligence in ample material prosperity is Robert H. Quinn, whose home has been in Miami county for nearly half a century, and who is proprietor and active manager of an excellent farm in Deer Creek township. He had always allied him- self with those community activities which make better living conditions for all concerned, and successful himself has been pleased to see others prosper, and has often lent a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself.
Robert H. Quinn was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, November 29, 1855, a son of William and Elizabeth (Warner) Quinn. The Quinns are of Irish origin and the family has a record for longevity. William Quinn lived to be a hundred years old and on his hundredth birthday walked a mile and a half, from his home in Deer Creek township, to Bennett Switch. William Quinn grew up in Kentucky, and during his early life saw and was personally acquainted with such historic charac- ters as Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay and Andrew Johnson. Grand- father William Quinn lived to a still greater age, one hundred and seven years and at that age, still in possession of his faculties, walked up the steps of the old courthouse at Harrisburg, Kentucky, and cast his ballot. William Quinn, father of Robert H. was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, May 17, 1809, and lived there until the close of the Civil war, when he moved with his family into Indiana, landing in Johnson county with nothing but his household goods and twenty-five cents in money. Afterwards they came north to Tipton county and settled near Tipton and three years later moved into Miami county, where the parents spent the rest of their lives and died. They were married in
"PARK LAWN" RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. JACOB AARON
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1853, spent more than half a century of happy lives together, and reared a family to occupy respected and useful positions in life. Elizabeth (Warner) Quinn, the wife of the late William Quinn, was born in Garrett county, Kentucky, where she spent her early years. She was a member of the New Light Church. Of their five children, all sons, four are still living, namely: Robert H .; Abram L., who married Hattie Herrell; John O., who married Alice Norman; and Perry P., who married Ida Oldham and lives in Deer Creek township. Another son, Levi, died several years ago. The farm on which the father and his family settled on coming to Miami county had a small house when he took possession and it was a large task that confronted him to establish a home. He improved and changed in many ways the farm, put up a good house and outbuilding, and the old home, remodeled so that it would hardly be recognizable as the old original dwelling, is still standing.
Robert H. Quinn was a boy of ten years at the time the family moved into the Hoosier State, and was just entering his teens when they settled in Miami county. In Miami county his years of boyhood and youth were chiefly spent and he has always considered this county his home. The farm on which he now lives was bought in 1904, and comprises sixty acres. A little distance south of his home place he is the owner of seventy acres. The land was all cleared when he bought it, but he himself has erected the buildings, and has applied himself with such thrifty energy and enterprise to his business that he is practically the . architect of his own fortune. Previous to 1904 Mr. Quinn after his marriage lived on the Waisner farm. On October 31, 1882, Mr. Quinn was married in Pipe Creek township of Miami county to Miss Jennie Snyder, a daughter of Phillip Snyder. Phillip Snyder was one of the early settlers of Miami county, having taken up his residence here in 1847. He was born in North Carolina, April 16, 1826, and died December 4, 1909. Mrs. Quinn's mother, Nora Waisner Snyder, died April 15, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Quinn have three living children, namely : Madge, born May 27, 1883, and the wife of William Zehring; June, born June 5, 1887, and the wife of Ross Peters; and Gladys, born October 15, 1895. Mr. Quinn has long taken an active interest in local affairs, has served as road superintendent, is a member of the Detective Association, and he and his wife are identified with the Methodist Episcopal church.
JACOB AARON. Among the substantial country homesteads of Deer Creek township that bear witness to the progressiveness and hard-work- ing energy of their owners of the best is that of Jacob Aaron. Mr. Aaron has lived in this county twenty years, has earned all he has by following a system of industry, good judgment and fair dealing, and today owes no debts that he cannot pay, and has a wealth of esteem among his neigh- bors and friends.
Jacob Aaron is a native of Ohio, born in Preble county, August 9, 1845, a son of Jacob and Sarah (Rickard) Aaron. His parents were married in Preble county, and had a large family of children, his brothers and sisters in order of birth being as follows: Daniel, deceased ; Susan, deceased; Kate; Joseph; Elizabeth, deceased; Lola, deceased; William; and Emma. In 1848 when Jacob Aaron was a child of three years his parents moved into the neighboring state of Indiana, and settled in Howard county. There the father passed the rest of his life, until he died, his age at death being seventy-one. The mother survived him several years and died in 1905 at a ripe old age.
Jacob Aaron remained in Howard county until 1893, and in the
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meantime had gone through the usual routine of boyhood, including training in the district schools, and an experience of thrift and industry on the home farm. Coming to Miami county in 1893, he bought forty acres of land, and lacked eighty dollars of having enough to pay the entire purchase price. This land was then cleared but he put in many hard days work in fencing and ditching it and otherwise bringing it up to his standard of what a farm should be. Subsequently that land was traded for his present place of eighty acres. In 1902 he erected the buildings on this place, and has added to the value of the land by ditch- ing and fencing, and today his farm ranks with the representative ones of his locality. Also Mr. Aaron owns property at Kokomo, having an acre and a half of land within the corporate limits of that city. Mr. Aaron has been twice married and is the father of four children by his first wife, whose maiden name was Amanda Sauers. They were married in September, 1879, and after more than a quarter of a century of happy companionship, she passed away March 27, 1906. The record of the children is as follows: John W., born June 28, 1880, married Miss Leah Davis; Daisy W., born July 14, 1883, and died February 27, 1904; Clarence M., born June 29, 1886, married Bertha Cain; Mary C., born November 20, 1892, and died at birth. On November 26, 1908, occurred the marriage of Mr. Aaron and Mrs. Anna Belt Pollard, a daughter of Joshua Belt. Although he grew up without schooling and never learned the art of reading and writing, Mr. Aaron has absorbed no small amount of education by the exercise of a vigorous native intellect, and by con- stant observation and contact with the world and with men. He believes in good schools, and has afforded his children good educational advan- tages. Besides rearing his own household he has given a home to several of his relatives' children, and sent them to school. He also educated and maintained in his home three children who are not related-Harry Griffey, who died at age of thirty-six; he was educated in the common schools, was a farmer and he wedded Miss Florence Wright on Christmas Eve of 1912 in Niobrara, Nebraska, and she is yet living. He had taken up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in South Dakota and had ten acres in Florida. He died in February, 1913. He was a young man who was a credit to his foster parents. Maud Sinoker, the next foster child, whom they reared and ·educated, wedded James McCale, a suc- cessful agriculturist of Deer Creek. They have one little daughter. Noah Coulter, the third foster child, is now in the sixth grade and is grateful to his dear foster parents.
Mrs. Aaron is a native of Howard county, Indiana, born August 5, 1860, the fourth in a family of seven children, all daughters, born to Joshua and Elizabeth (Dewell) Belt. There are three of the daughters living at present, viz .: Rowena, wife of Aaron Stevenson, a resident of St. Elmo, Illinois, and a farmer. They have one son and are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Nora is the wife of James Morrison, a resident of Kokomo, Indiana, and a prominent attorney at law. They are members of the Methodist church and Mr. Morrison is very active in the church work. Anna, Mrs. Aaron.
Joshua Belt was a native of Ohio and traced his lineage to England. He received a good education in the common schools and was an agricul- turist. He was a pioneer of Indiana and entered land from the govern- ment in Howard county. He was twice married. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church and both died in Howard county. Mrs. Aaron is a genial, cordial lady and makes her pretty home a pleasant place for her family and her many friends. She received a good common school education. Her first marriage was with Mr. Charles L. Pollard, a native of "The Old Dominion" state of Virginia. There
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were no children by this marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Aaron were married November 26, 1908, and they are citizens who stand high in the estima- tion and regard of all who know them. Their pretty homestead known as "Park Lawn," is the abode of peace and happiness. -
SOLOMON WAISNER. While an education is an excellent possession, it is by no means a. necessary adjunct to a man's equipment for the battle of life. Some of the most successful men in every walk of life have been and are those who were denied proper educational advantages in their youth. It is, of course, all the more to the credit of these men that they have been able to move steadily forward, guided mainly by their natural good sense and ability. Perhaps no occupation affords more or better opportunities for advancement on the part of the man of modest education than does that of farming, for the cultivation of the ground and an appreciation of its needs are gained through experience and good common sense. The man who has developed a good farm, put up substantial buildings and made his property into a valuable one has no reason to be dissatisfied with his progress even if he has not as large a stock of book learning as some of his neighbors. One of the men of Miami who is a self-made product and should be proud of the fact, is Solomon Waisner, the owner of a well-cultivated property in Deer Creek township. Mr. Waisner came to this locality when deer still roamed the woods and the virgin forests still covered the fields now abundant with flowing grain, and has done his full share in developing this country into one of the most productive sections of the State. He is a native of Indiana, born in Washington county, a son of Jacob and Mary (Russell) Waisner.
When he was still a child, Mr. Waisner's parents removed to Green- castle, Putnam county, and subsequently came to Deer Creek township, Miami county. Here the little family settled down among the wild animals which were still found in plenty, while a band of Indians aiso roamed the woods. The little log cabin, with its mud fire-place, was erected by his father. The lad was reared to the hard work of clearing and cultivating the wild fields, and his education was limited to a short attendance in the primitive subscription school of the vicinity, but he made the most of his opportunities and learned to read and write, and later observation and experience has given a good fund of practical knowledge. After his marriage he settled down to farming on his own account, and as the years have passed he has, from time to time, erected new buildings and added to his equipment, until now he has one of the valuable tracts of his township. He carries on general farming and raises sone stock and his standing among agriculturists is high. He has ever been honorable in his business dealings, fairly earning and maintaining the respect and esteem of those with whom he has come into contact. Mr. Waisner is a faithful attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has served as supervisor of his township one term.
In 1857 Mr. Waisner was married to Marguerite Brasheer, daughter of Otho Brasheer, who came to Indiana from Maryland, and they had a family of ten children: Lafayette, who married Caroline Fitzpatrick; James, who died when young; Emma, who also died as a child; Laura, who married William Weir; Herbert, who married Lydia Herrell ; Albert, who married Jane Weaver; Ida Belle, who married Omar Ewing; Martha J., who became the wife of Oscar Julius; Charles, who married Hattie Moore; and Alice, the wife of Allen Colver. Mr. Wais-
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ner's first wife died, and he was married then to Miss Mary Waisner, daughter of Solomon Waisner, and to this union two children were born : Nora, who wedded Marvin Powell and they have three children, Ruth Mildred, Nina Alberta, and Berdadene May; and Lambert, who married Minnie Glasborn. Mrs. Waisner's parents are both deceased.
READ S. GARRITSON. That enterprise which has transformed all of Miami county from a wilderness into landscape of beautiful and valu- able farms has a splendid example in the case of Read S. Garritson, whose home is in Deer Creek township. Mr. Garritson has lived in Miami county for more than sixty years, spent his early youth in a log cabin, is a product of the old-time district school, and for a long term of years applied himself with industry and judgment to the important business of establishing his individual prosperity and at the same time doing his share of the community work which falls upon every public spirited citizen. His efforts have been well rewarded and about ten years ago he was able to give up the heavy business of farming, and now lives at ease and in comfort in a fine country homestead, surrounded by his children and enjoying the affections and esteem paid to men of his integrity and worth.
Read S. Garritson was born in Clinton county, Ohio, August 10, 1848, a son of James M. and Esther (Frazee) Garritson. The name of the paternal grandfather was also Read Garritson. In 1850, when the son Read was two years of age, James M. Garritson and wife mnoved to Indiana, locating in Deer Creek township. There in the midst of the primitive forest his father built a log cabin, set about the work of clearing and developing the land and with the exception of about five acres, which was already cleared when the family moved there, the remainder was improved and developed almost entirely as a result of the toils of the father. In 1872 James Garritson sold his land in Miami county and went to Missouri, in which state he lived until his death, on December 10, 1893.
Read S. Garritson was brought up on the old family estate in Miami county, the farm where he spent his boyhood being situated just north of the one he now occupies. On reaching his majority he was married and then located on eighty acres of land just northwest of his present farm. There was a frame house and a stable on the place, but he tore both of them down and replaced them with good new buildings, and by vigor- ous work was able to clear about half of the eighty acres. That continued to be his home until 1894, in which year he moved to his present farm. Evidences of enterprise and improvement have followed Mr. Garritson wherever he has had his home. He has about one hundred and sixty acres of land, in his present farm, a comfortable dwelling affords a delightful place for his declining years, and his home was built into a modern residence a few years ago. When he first took possession of the place there was a brick house, and that is still standing, and is used as a home for the tenant. Ten years ago Mr. Garritson practically retired from the active work of the farm.
On November 11, 1869, Mr. Garritson married Miss Margaret Cot- terman, who was a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, born September 9, 1850, a daughter of Andrew and Barbara (Stiver) Cotterman. Mrs. Garritson was but nine years of age when she came with her parents to Miami county, Indiana, the journey having been made in wagons in true pioneer style. Mr. Cotterman purchased his first one hundred and sixty acres of land in Deer Creek township, the same farm which now constitutes the home of Read S. Garritson, and there the pioneer became successful in his operations and accumulated in time four hundred
Margaret Sarrition -
R. S. Garrison
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acres, all in Deer Creek township. He lived an honorable life, and both he and his wife were members of the German Lutheran church. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party. Andrew Cotter- man traced his lineage to the German, and the original spelling of the name was probably Kautermann. Mrs. Cotterman was also of German descent.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Garritson were born eight children, as follows: Lizzie; Emma, who died October 5, 1906; Effie, who is engaged in teaching in Peru; William, who married Jessie Wilson; Grace, who died on the 19th of November, 1907, at the age of twenty- seven years; Alice, whose death occurred on the 11th of November, 1877, when she was but seven years of age; and Louie and Lula, twins, who died respectively on March 4 and 6, 1890. Mrs. Garritson was called from this life on the 10th of July, 1913. She was a noble Christian woman, endowed with those womanly traits of character which adorn the true and faithful wife and the loving mother. Mr. Garritson and his children occupy a substantial place in the community and are honorable and honored citizens.
WILLIAM DEMUTH. Now past the psalmist's span of three score years and ten, William Demuth has spent all except the very earliest years of childhood in Miami county, and is one of the living citizens whose experience and knowledge cover almost the entire range of development and progress in this section of the state. He has had a career of worthy and prosperous effort as a soldier of the war, and has always identified himself with honorable activities in life.
Born in Montgomery county, Ohio, September 20, 1840, William Demuth was a son of John and Sarah (Shumacher) Demuth. Both parents were born in Maryland, whence they moved to Ohio at a very early date. The father was a millwright by trade, and in 1845, in the fall of the year, brought his family out to Miami county. He located in Peru, and subsequently took up his residence at Mexico in this county. The family accomplished its journey from Ohio in a canal boat which came down the Wabash and Erie Canal and landed the people and the goods in Peru at the place where the Chesapeake & Ohio railway depot now stands. Nearly all the country in this vicinity was then covered with dense woods and the Demuth family were here in time to bear their share of pioneer labors, and hardships. The father engaged in the mill business, operating a grist mill and a saw mill at the point on the Wabash River where the dam used to be. He built a mill for John Duckwall, and subsequently engaged in the manufacture of chairs, spinning wheels, and various articles of furniture to supply the mis- cellaneous needs of his patrons. He was frequently called upon also to manufacture coffins. Although an expert mechanic and an industrious man, John Demuth was not steadily prosperous in his milling experiences and finally lost all his money by these ventures. It was then that the children had to start to work to earn their own living. In those days the only provisions in the house frequently consisted of cornmeal, and with the exception of Sundays they never had any other kind of bread than corn bread. The facilities for education were likewise meagre and primitive. School was held only thirty or forty days in the year, and the school furniture consisted of slabs set on kegs about two feet from the floor with no backs to these rough seats, and greased paper covered up the spaces allowed for windows and all but shut out the light of day from the room. Mr. Demuth remembers few books in the schools of those days, and one of the early ones which he recalls was Ray's arithmetic, and also an elementary speller.
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William Demuth and his brother John during their youth, before the war, worked together on a farm. William received wages of twenty dollars a month for his work. Soon afterward the war came on and in 1862 he enlisted in Company C of the Eighty-Seventh Indiana Infantry. He and his brother went into the service at the same time and the latter became an officer and made a distinguished record as a soldier. He went in as a private, was promoted to second lieutenant and when the first lieutenant of the company was killed in the battle of Misssionary Ridge he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. He went on with the conquering army of Sherman, and Hooker, and Thomas, up to the very gates of Atlanta and was killed in front of that city on August 22, 1864. William Demuth served as a private and came out of the army a sergeant. He was in the war from 1862 until 1865, after the final surrender, and his regiment saw some of the hardest fighting of the entire conflict.
On returning to Miami county he began work for John Davison at eleven dollars a month. 'By dint of hard work and application he had acquired a quite thorough education and soon after the war was granted a certificate as a teacher. After working as a farm laborer for a time he attained a school, and was engaged in teaching for fifteen terms, these terms being continuous with the exception of one omission. In 1868 Mr. Demuth married Julia A. Henton, daughter of James D. Henton. They had one son, Frank E. Demuth, who is now a resident of Ellsworth, Kansas, engaged in the mercantile business.
For the last twelve years Mr. Demuth has been engaged in the con- tracting business in Peru. His present home is in south Peru, he built the home himself while he was still engaged in teaching school. Before locating in South Peru he was for some time engaged in teaching in Kansas. Mr. Demuth's wife died on February 4, 1913, when she was eighty-six years of age. Mr. Demuth is affiliated with the Masonic Order and also with the Grand Army of the Republic. For four years he was honored with the office of the justice of the peace and served as assessor for two years.
A. P. CLELAND. Long years of identification with the interests of Perry township have made the Cleland family one to be reckoned with in considering the citizenship of the community, and as a lifelong resi- dent of the town and the representative of a family that was here established in 1830, it would be out of keeping with the spirit of this publication to fail to mention at some length those who still reside here and carry on their share in the business and other activities of the place.
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