USA > Indiana > Miami County > History of Miami County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
399
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
received in the district schools the rudiments of an English education, and later attended the Cornish high school where he acquired a knowledge of the higher branches of learning. When nineteen years of age he accepted a position in a cotton factory at Saco, Maine, and after working at the same for one year, went to Rochester, New York, and engaged as repairer of track on the Rochester & Niagara Falls railroad. In August, 1852, he came to Indiana, and for three years thereafter was engaged in the construction of what is now the Wabash railroad. At the end of that time he went to Indianapolis where, for a limited period, he worked in the freight office of the I., P. & C. railroad, and later engaged as brakeman for the same company. For about one year he had charge of the freight office in Peru, Indiana, and then took charge of an engine, running freight and con- struction trains for about three years. In December, 1862, he began running a passenger engine on the I., P. & C., a position he has since filled, being at this time one of the oldest and most reliable engineers in Indiana. An estimate of his mileage since engaging as engineer would be difficult to determine, but an approximation of the. distance traversed in his engine would be equivalent to over forty trips around the earth. Mr. Boyn- ton has been twice married, the first time on the 4th day
of July, 1860, to Miss Elizabeth Livesay, of Virginia, who died July 16th of the following year. He married his present wife, Mary J. Todd, daughter of H. S. and Agnes Todd, of Rockville, Indiana, in January 1863, a union blessed with one child, Charles J. Boynton. Mr. Boynton is a member of the Masonic and K. of H. fraternities and belongs to the Baptist church. Mrs. Boynton is a member of the Presby- terian church of Peru.
DR. WILLIAM H. BRENTON, M. D., eldest son of Francis and Mary (Giltner) Brenton, is a native of Clarke County, Indiana, born May 2, 1828. His grandfather, William Brenton, was one of the pioneers of Indiana, moving as early as the beginning of the present century to Clarke County, of which part of the State Francis and Mary Brenton were natives. The Doctor was raised on a farm and his early educational privileges were such as the public schools of that day and locality afforded. During the pro- gress of this primary course he decided upon the medical pro- fession for a life work, and at the age of 16 began preparing for the same, under the able instruction of Dr. Frank Taylor of Westport, Kentucky. He subsequently took a course of lectures in Memphis, Tennessee. and in 1852 graduated from the medical department of the Indiana Asbury University. Prior to that time (in 1849) he engaged in the practice of his profession at Taylorville, Indiana, and after having completed his collegiate course went to Metropolis,
400
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
Southern Illinois, where he continued until 1857. In the meantime, with a laudable ambition to increase his knowledge of the profession he, in 1853 and '54 attended the St. Louis medical college, and sub- sequently in 1866 graduated with honor from Bellevue Hospital medi- cal college, New York, one of the largest and most thorough medical institutions in the United States. In 1862 he joined the Seventy- third Indiana volunteer infantry as first assistant surgeon, in which capacity he continued until his resignation in 1863, acting as surgeon during the greater part of his period of service. He came to Miami County, Indiana, in 1857 and on leaving the army resumed his professional duties in Peru, where he has continued to enjoy a well merited reputation in his calling. . He is a member of the county and district medical societies, and also belongs to the State and American Medical Associations. His professional career has been singularly successful, the reputation being awarded him as one of the most skillful surgeons and thorough practitioners in Miami County. Although a Democrat in his political affiliations, the Doc- tor has not been an aspirant for official honors, preferring to give his entire attention to the practice of his chosen profession. He was married December, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth T. Bills, a native of Louisiana, but at that time a resident of Bartholomew County, In- diana, by whom he had two children, both deceased. Mrs. Brenton died September, 1856. In 1858 he married his second wife, Lucinda Marsh, who bore him two children, viz., Effie M., deceased, and William M., who is at present in the employ of the Wabash railroad company at Peru. The Doctor's third marriage was solemnized in the year 1879 with Miss Loantha Search, of Peru, a union blessed with the birth of three children, viz., Emma E., Mary M., and John H. Brenton.
JAMES M. BROWN, prominent member of the Miami County bar, is a native of Union County, Indiana, born October 16, 1826. He is the son of Walter Brown who was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, and Keziah (Laboyseaux) Brown, a native of New Jersey. His paternal ancestors were English and on the mother's side he is descended from the French. Walter Brown was a prominent pioneer of Union County, moving to that part of the State in 1820, where he was widely and favor- ably known for his many excellent qualities. James M. Brown was reared on a farm, and in early life attended the common schools. At the age of eighteen he entered Beech Grove Academy, an institution under the control of the Friends and conducted at that time by one William Haughton. Until he was twenty-two Mr. Brown was variously occupied in attending school, farming and teaching. In the fall of 1848 he married Emily C. Willis, also a native of Union County. For five years he continued teaching, farming and studying, spending eighteen
40I
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
months of the time in preparing to enter upon the practice of the law. In the meantime he held the office of Township Trus- tee for one year in Preble County, Ohio. He removed to Con- nersville, Indiana, in 1854 for the purpose of completing his studies, and there entered the law office of Hon. Nelson Trusler and was soon after admitted to the bar. In October, 1855, Mr. Brown removed to Peru, Indiana, where he began the practice of his profession, and one year later effected a co-partnership in the law with Orris Blake, Esq. From 1859 until 1862, with some intermission, he was associated in a law partnership with Hon. James N. Tyner, ex-Postmaster-General. In the spring of 1860, Mr. Brown was elected Mayor of Peru, and being three times re-elected served for four successive terms. Immediately after he was elected City Engineer, the duties of which position he discharged for a period of about eight years. He also served as School Trustee two years, and from 1877 until 1879 was a member of the Peru City Council. He has always been identi- fied with the Republican party, and in 1868 was connected with G. I. Reed as part owner of the Peru Republican, continuing as associate editor of the same the greater part of the succeed- ing three years. Mr. Brown is recognized by all who know him, as one of the most useful and upright citizens of the com- munity in which he lives. Possessing an extraordinary fund of exact information on many subjects, his qualifications to discharge with ability the duties of each official trust to which he has been called are unquestioned. A close student of history, science and ancient literature, he is also a genial, companionable gentle- man, beloved by his family, and honored and respected by his friends. His marriage has been blessed with the birth of two children, viz: Benjamin and Mary E. Brown.
GEORGE W. CHAMBERLAIN, contractor and builder and son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Johnson) Chamberlain, natives of New Jersey, was born in that state on the 13th day of June, 1822. He was reared in the state of his nativity until his fourteenth year, at which time (1836) he removed with his parents to Seneca County, Ohio, where one year later he began working at the carpenter's trade. He soon acquired great proficiency in his chosen calling and worked at the same at different places until 1851, when he came to Peru, where he has since followed the trade with success and financial profit. He is at this time engaged in contracting and building principally in Peru and Miami County, and some of the most elegant residences and business houses in the city and adja- cent country were erected under his personal supervision. Mr. Chamberlain is an intelligent mechanic, and, with his family, pos- sesses in an eminent degree the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens. His marriage with Miss Margaret Morrison, a native
402
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
of the State of Pennsylvania, has been blessed with the birth of two children, viz: George R., and Nellie Chamberlain.
GEORGE R. CHAMBERLAIN, teller First National Bank, was born in Peru, Indiana, August 4, 1854, son of George W. and Margaret (Morrison) Chamberlain. He was educated in the city schools, which he attended until his sixteenth year, completing the High School course in 1870. He then engaged as clerk in the mercantile house of J. S. Hale, Peru, in which capacity he continued one year, severing his connection with the dry goods business at the end of that time and engaging February 17, 1872, as book-keeper in the First National Bank. In May, 1881, he was promoted teller, the duties of which responsible position he has since discharged in a manner eminently satisfactory to his employers. Mr. Cham- berlain is an accomplished business man, enjoys the confidence and respect of all with whom he comes in contact, and has before him a future fraught with much promise. He is a member of the K. of P. order, and politically votes with the Republican party.
DAVID CHARTERS (deceased) was a native of Lewis- ton, Pennsylvania, and son of William and Elizabeth (Comfort) Charters, parents natives of the same state. The family moved to Miami County, Indiana, in 1846 and settled on a farm two miles west of Peru, where the mother died in 1873 and the father in 1865. David Charters was born, January 24, 1821, was reared a farmer and followed agricultural pursuits all his life. He came to Miami County in 1846 and from that time until his death lived upon the beautiful home place west of Peru. He was a man of much more than ordinary intelligence as is attested by the fact that he was several times chosen by the people of Miami to positions of trust, in all of which he acquit- ted himself with such commendable fidelity that no one was ever known to utter a breath of suspicion against his official record. During the war and for several years thereafter, he served as County Commissioner and in 1874 was elected to rep- resent Miami in the State Legislature. In his business trans- actions he was uniformly successful and as a farmer he stood among the first in the county. On the 24th day of October, 1852 he was married to Eliza Long, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Tingle) Long, of Delaware. Mrs. Charters was born in Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, and is the mother of nine children, seven of whom are living, to-wit: William, Juniata, Mifflin, Emmet, Margaret, Lafayette and Charle Charters. The deceased mem- bers of the family were Sarah and Catharine. Mr. Charters died on the IIth day of March, 1882. His widow and several of the children still reside upon the home place, which is one of the best improved farms in Peru Township.
JOSEPH C. CLYMER, County Treasurer, was born in Jef-
403
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ferson Township, Miami County, March 15, 1847. His pater- nal ancestors were Pennsylvanians, his grandfather, Christian Clymer, emigrating from that State in an early day to Warren County, Ohio, where he lived until his removal to Miami County, about the year 1834. He, with his son Levi Clymer, father of subject, settled near Mexico, Jefferson Township, and was among the earliest pioneers of that section. He was a farmer by occupa- tion and died sometime in the latter part of the forties. Levi Cly- mer was born in Warren County, Ohio, January 15, 18II. He was a resident of Jefferson Township, this county, until the year 1848, at which time he removed to Clay Township, where he has since resided. He is one of Miami County's representative farmers and a man widely and favorably known for his many sterling quali- ties. Subject's mother, Elizabeth Clymer, was the daughter of Henry Kirby, one of the early and substantial citizens of Warren County, Ohio. She departed this life at her home in Clay Town- ship, in the year 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Clymer, were the parents of nine children, four of whom are living, Joseph C., being the youngest son of the family. He was reared on his father's farm in Clay Township, acquired in the common schools a practical education and subsequently attended the Peru High School and the Valpa- raiso Normal College. He began life as a farmer and followed agricultural pursuits until 1881, at which time he accepted the posi- tion of Deputy County Treasurer, under E. Humrickhouse, and continued in that capacity for a period of four years. In the mean- time, 1884, he was nominated by the Democratic party as a candi- date for that office, and at the ensuing election received a large majority of the county vote, a fact which attested his great popu- larity with the people. He having discharged the duties of the responsible trust in a manner highly satisfactory to all he was in 1886 re-elected and is now entering upon upon his second term. Mr. Clymer is an intelligent, thoroughly well posted business man, and his career has been a marked success. He was married January 21, 1885, to Miss Emma, daughter of Isaac and Maria Miller, of Miami County.
JUDGE ALBERT COLE (deceased) was born May 13, 1790, at Berlin Connecticut. He was the son of Stephen and Lucy (Deming) Cole. His father was a farmer and died in 1801. Albert, then eleven years old, went to live with his oldest brother, who was also a farmer, and until the age of fifteen attended the dis- trict schools during the winters. He spent the interval between fif- teen and twenty in learning tanning and shoe-making at Meriden, Connecticut. Illness obliging him to give up his trade, he engaged one year in selling notions through the country. In 1812, he decided to go to Mississippi, where he had an older brother living. He hav- ing reached his destination he remained one year, a part of the time
404
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
assisting his brother in a saw mill-on account of sickness, which he could not throw off, he purchased a pony at New Orleans and started North by land-there being at that time only one steamer on the Western Waters. After a long and tedious journey, during which he passed through the possessions of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, he reached a white settlement near Columbia, Tennessee, where, owing to a severe illness, he was obliged to remain four weeks. In the fall of 1813, he reached Cincinnati, Ohio, and remained there until the following spring. In the mean- time news came that peace had been declared between the United States and Great Britain. After leaving Cincinnati Mr. Cole returned to Connecticut. There in September, 1814, he married Mary Galpin, and started for the west. He purchased a farm of eighty acres in Zanesville, Ohio, where as a farmer, tanner and shoemaker, he remained until 1833. That year by means of a four horse wagon-probable among the first seen in that section, he transferred his family first to Goshen, Indiana, and afterwards, July, 1834, to Peru, in the same State. Miami County had then been recently organized and Peru selected as the County Seat. Con- siderable enterprise had, however, been manifested in the construction of the Wabash and Erie canal, the laying out of town lots, etc. Soon after going to Peru Mr. Cole formed a partnership with Mr. D. R. Bearss, carried on a general mercantile business for one year and erected a store house. At the end of that time the firm dissolved. Mr. Cole taking his share of the goods to Lewisburg on the canal where he put up some log buildings, and sold goods for another year. . He then returned to Peru and was engaged in mercantile pursuits for about six years, after which in 1848 he was elected postmaster, which office he held till 1851 and then retired to a farm which he purchased in an early day just north of the city. After the death of his wife who had been a faithful companion for forty years, he returned to Peru, having disposed of his farm, and invested his capital in city property. Judge Cole was a Whig during the existence of that party and after its dissolution identified himself in the Republican party, voting the latter ticket until his death. He was elected Judge at the August election in 1840, when the circuit was com- posed of a President judge, elected by the Legislature and two associate judges, from each county, chosen by the people. He was United States Commissioner under President Harrison, for distribu- tion of Surplus Revenue. In 1857 he married Mrs. McCleary, of Zanesville, Ohio. Judge Cole had six children by his first wife, namely: Emma A., now Mrs. D. R. Bearss, Alphonso A., deceased, Lucy, wife of Lewis D. Adkison, Mary L., the late Mrs. James T. Miller, James O., and Ellen, wife of H. G. Fetter. Mr. Cole died November, 1878.
1
407
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
RICHARD H. COLE, of the Miami County Sentinel and one of the proprietors of the Cole Block, was born in this city, Nov. 26, 1853; son of Hon. Alphonso and Sarah H. (Henton) Cole, and is of English extraction. His father was born near Oberlin, Ohio, December, 25, 1818. He came to Miami County in 1834. By oc- cupation he was a lawyer and one of the early members of the Miami County Bar. In 1847 and '48, and in 1849 and '50, he rep- resented this county in the Indiana Legislature. He was one of the early prominent men of this county. His death occurred August 4, 1862. Our subject is the elder of two living children. After graduating at the Peru High School, he was a student for two years at the University of Illinois, located at Champaign. In 1876 he was elected Surveyor of Miami County, and in 1881 was elected City Engineer of Peru. In 1879 he purchased a half interest in the Miami County Sentinel, and with which he is now connected. In politics he is a Democrat and is a member of the K. of P. fraternity of this city. He was married November 15, 1882, to Miss Belle M. Talbot, of this city, born March 15, 1860. Mr.
Cole is a representative of one of the early families of this county.
HARVEY COMER, gunsmith, was born in Allen County Indiana, May, 30, 1846 and is the fifth child of James and Sarah E. (Somers) Comer, natives of Virginia. James Comer moved to Indiana in an early day and settled in Allen County prior to the founding of the City of Ft. Wayne. He was a cooper by trade but after moving to Indiana engaged in farming which he carried on until his death in 1875. Mrs. Comer is still living on the home place in Allen County having reached a ripe old age. Harvey Comer was raised on a farm, enjoyed such educational advantages as were afforded by the common schools and at the age of nineteen began life for himself in the employ of the I. P. & C. rail road company at Peru. He worked in the shops here until 1873 at which time he took up his present trade, that of gunsmith and after following the same for some time in Peru, went to Terre Haute. He soon returned to Peru, where, since 1874, he has ceen actively engaged at his vocation, and is now in the enjoyment of a very prosperous business. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and National Union Orders and is in every respect an honorable and trustworthy citizen. On the 15th day of April, 1877, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Marshall, daughter of John Marshall, of Peru.
GODLOVE CONRADT, native of Wurtemburg, Germany, and son of Henry and Catherine Conradt, was born on the 10th day of July, 1834. When four years of age he was brought by his parents to the United States, and from 1840 until 1845 lived in Springfield, Columbiana County, Ohio. The family moved to Miami County, Indiana, the latter year, and settled in Peru, where the
10
408
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
father for a number of years carried on a successful tannery busi- ness. The parents both departed this life in the year 1870. God- love Conradt received in the common schools a practical education, and at an early age learned the tanning trade, which he followed until his twentieth year. He then engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, opening a leather and shoe-findings store in Peru, which he carried on in connection with the tannery, operating the latter with encouraging success until 1884. In addition to his private enter- prises, Mr. Conradt has at different times been called to fill positions of trust, the first of which was that of Township Clerk, to which he was elected in 1860. He was subsequently chosen a member of the City School Board, the duties of which position he discharged in a manner highly satisfactory to all concerned for a period of nine years. In his business ventures Mr. Conradt has been successful, and at this time, in addition to other property, owns a valuable tract of 200 acres of land in Deer Creek township. On the 27th day of December, 1857, he married Miss Mary Smith, daughter of Chris- topher Smith, of Germany, a marriage blessed with the birth of four children, three of whom, Matilda, Fred and Albert, are living. Mr. Conradt is liberal in his political views in State and National affairs, voting the principles of the Democratic party, and in local matters voting for the man best qualified for the position. Mrs. Conradt is a member of the Lutheran Church of Peru.
JONATHAN D. COX, was born in Butler County, Ohio, December 9, 1818, being the third son of David J. and Rosina (Bake) Cox, native of Monmouth County, New Jersey. The father of Mr. Cox emigrated to Ohio, and in 1826 came to Decatur County, Indiana. He was born in 1792 and died in 1837. The mother of Mr. Cox died in 1836. The subject of this biography, received a common school education. He came to Miami County in 1837, and for some years worked on a farm and later clerked in a store. In 1840 he, in partnership with Richard Miller, started a general store at Pawpaw. He continued this business for four years and then engaged in farming. February 2, 1842, he married the daughter of Richard Miller, who died in 1848. By that marriage were born two children, Wm. H. and Alphonso C. Mr. Cox was married again February 12, 1850 to Miss Caroline, daughter of Col. William M. Reyburn, (deceased), who was one of the pioneers of Miami County. They have two children, viz: Charles R. and Horace G. Mrs. Cox died in 1856. Mr. Cox was married again in 1859 to Miss Jennie Thornburg, a native of Wayne County, Indiana. By this union they have one child, Jessie B. Mr. Cox removed to Peru in 1856. In 1857 he engaged in the stove, tinware and lumber business. This business he continued one year and then again engaged in the agricultural pursuits which he con- tinued until 1885, when he retired from active life. In 1867 he was
409
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
appointed Assessor for Miami County of Internal Revenue. In 1868 he was elected to represent Miami County in the General Assem- bly of Indiana. He was re-elected to the same office in 1870. He is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic fraternity.
HON. JABEZ T. COX. The gentleman whose biograph- ical sketch is herewith presented, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, January 27, 1846. His parents, Aaron and Mary (Skeggs) Cox, were natives respectively of Ohio and Kentucky, the father of English-Welsh, and the mother of German lineage. Jabez T. Cox, in early life attended the common schools and subse- quently entered the Westfield Academy, an educational institu- tion under charge of the Society of Friends at Westfield, Ind., in which he pursued his literary studies for a period of four years. Having early decided upon the legal profession as his life work, he, in. 1865 entered the law office of the late Hon. N. R. Overman, of Tipton, Indiana, under whose instruc- tions he continued until his admission to the bar, a little later, and with whom he formed a partnership in the practice which lasted from 1867 till 1869. In the latter year he abandoned the law for a time and entered the field of journalism as editor of the Frankfort Crescent, of which paper he was proprietor until 1871, when he returned to Tipton and again took up the legal profession with his former partner, Judge Overman. From 1871, till 1875 he practiced with marked success in the courts of Tipton and adjoining counties, but in the latter year owing to his wife's ill health disposed of his interests in Indiana and removed to Hutch- inson, Kansas, In that state he soon acquired more than a local reputation, as is attested by the fact that in 1878 he was nominated on the Democratic state ticket for the office of Attorney General. Although defeated at the ensuing election, the Democratic party in Kansas being in a hopeless minority, yet, when the vote was canvassed it was found that he had run 3,500 ahead of his ticket. Owing to continued ill heath of his wife he shortly afterward left Kansas and went to Colorado where he remained until 1883 when he returned to Indiana and located in Peru, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. In politics Mr. Cox has always been a pronounced Democrat, believing earnestly in his politi- cal convictions. In 1886 he received the nomination for Representa- tive to the Lower House of the State Legislature and after a bril- liant canvass defeated his competitor, by a very decided majority. Mr. Cox's legal career presents a series of continual successes and his acknowledged familiarity with the principles of law, and thor- oughly independent cast of his mind make him a safe and trusted counselor. He has a military as well professional career, entering the service of his country in 1864 as private in Company B, 136th Indiana Infantry, and serving with the same until honorably dis-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.