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 47
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LOUDEN CARL, merchant at Macy, and one of the pioneers of this county, was born in Darke County, Ohio, No- vember 25, 1828. He was the oldest son born to Matthew and Anna (Suffield) Carl, natives of New York and Kentucky, res- pectively. When our subject was about twelve years old his parents came to this county and located in Jefferson Township, where he spent his youth working upon his father's farm. At the age of eighteen he began to learn the carpenter's trade. This received his attention, more or less, for ten years. In 1855 he went to Iowa, but in 1862 he returned to this State and lo- cated upon a farm in Cass County. In 1867 he returned to this county and located at Five Corners, in Allen Township. There he was engaged in the mercantile business until 1869. In that year he located at Macy, erected the first business house in the town, and continued in the mercantile business. He entered into a partnership with Albert Hawkins in February, 1884. They now have a commodious store-room, well stocked with dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and are doing a good business. April 20, 1851, he was married to Caroline Enyart, by whom he has had three children. Their names are Minerva P., Marion B., and Ida E., the last of whom died at five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Carl are members of the M. E. church. In politics, Mr. Carl is a Republican. While a resident of Iowa he held the office of Township Trustee one term. He has also been honored with the Town Treasurer's office in Macy ever since the town was incorporated. He is a pleasant, intelligent gentle- man, an enterprising and successful business man and a No. I citizen.
ONIS CASE, of Macy, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, April 25, 1845, He was the youngest son born to Onis and Sarah (Williams) Case, natives of Wayne and Seneca Counties, Ohio, respectively. Our subject spent his boyhood and youth in his native county working upon his father's farm. In March, 1864, he came to this county and located upon a farm in Perry Township. He enlisted in Company A., 155th Indiana Regiment, in February,
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with which he served until the close of the war. (It is worthy of note that our subject and his four elder brothers all served in the Union Army and that all are still living). He resided in Perry Township until 1876. At that time he located in Macy and engaged in the hardware business. This has received his attention ever since. He now has a commodious little store room, well stocked, and is doing a good business. January 1, 1868, he was married to Rhoda A. Dukes, by whom he has had two children, Rollie and Ethel, both of whom are living. Mr. Case is a member of the M. E. Church and of the F. & A. M. Lodge. In politics, he is a Republican. In 1882 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and was re-elected in 1886. He is an enterprising and successful business man and a good citizen.
ISAAC CAULK, a prominent citizen of Allen Township, was born in the city of Philadelphia, March 27, 1831. He was the only son born to Oliver and Rachel G. (Cox) Caulk, both natives of Maryland, but of English descent. When Isaac was a youth of thirteen years, his parents came to this county and located upon a farm in Allen Township. There the father and mother spent the rest of their lives, their respective deaths occur- ing in October, 1869, and December, 1885. At the time of their deaths the father was seventy-eight and the mother had reached the advanced age of ninety-four. Our subject remained upon the farm, engaged in agricultural pursuits, until the fall of 1873, at which time he located in the town of Birmingham. Since then his attention has been given to the grain business, and to mercantile pursuits. October 15, 1873, he was married to Lunetta A. Fobes, by whom he has had five children, Oliver M., Nellie A., Harry P., Lunetta Grace, and Fred G. The second, Nellie A., died in the fifth year of her age. By virtue of his birth, Mr. Caulk is a member of the Friends' Church. Politically, he is a Republican. He has held the position of postmaster at Birm- ingham since July 28, 1869. He has also held the Railroad Agency for the same length of time. He is an enterprising and intelligent man, and a worthy and honored citizen.
JOHN CHAMP-Farmer and tile manufacturer, at Macy, was born in Piqua County, Ohio, April 8, 1830. He was the son of Joseph and Martha Ann (Baggs) Champ, natives of Ken- tucky and Virginia respectively, the former of Scotch-Irish and the latter of German descent. The father of our subject died when the latter was but seven years old. When he was ten years old his widowed mother and five children came to this county and first located at Peru. That was in 1840. Five years later they located upon the present site of Somerset, Wabash County and erected the first house in that place. In about 1848 they returned to Peru. They removed to a farm in
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Kosciusko County in 1850. About two years later they removed to Cass County and located in the vicinity of the Huldah Iron Works, four miles east of Logansport. John took a position in that establishment, which he continued to hold four years. In 1856 he and his mother located upon a farm in Adams Town- ship, Cass County. In 1864 he removed to a farm which he had purchased in Fulton County. In February 1865, he enlisted in Company F., 15Ist Indiana Volunteers, from which he received an honorable discharge in the following November. In the spring of 1876 he again came to this county and this time located at Macy. He owns a farm adjoining that place which he superin- tends, and in connection with this he is engaged quite extensively in the manufacture of tile, having entered into a partnership in that business in 1878, with Peter Carvey. June 23, 1859, he was married to Sarah M. Scott, a native of Preble County, Ohio, born March 18, 1839. She was the daughter of Daniel and Ellen M. (Dilhorn) Scott, natives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the for- mer of Scotch and the latter of . English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Champ have never had any children of their own, but are the foster parents of eight children, six of whom are living. Out subject and his wife have been members of the Christian Church over thirty years. The former is a member of the F. & A. M. and G. A. R. Lodges and a Prohibitionist in politics. In the fall of 1876 he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace and served one term. He is an industrious and successful farmer and business man and a . worthy and honored citizen.
THOMAS CLEMANS, a venerable and aged citizen of Allen . Township and pioneer of the county, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, November 10, 18II. He was the fifth in a family of eleven children born to Isaac and Elizabeth (Carpen- ter) Clemans, who were natives of New Jersey and Virginia, respectively. He chose for his life work the occupation of a farmer. As early as 1835, he came to this county and settled in the woods of Allen Township, where the deer, wild turkeys and Indians were plenty. He immediately set about clearing a farm, and to do this, naturally devolved upon him a great deal of hard work. His strong constitution and iron will, however, proved equal to the emer- gency, and these coupled with an indefatigable pluck and energy, enabled him to convert his wilderness home into beautiful and well- tilled fields. Unlike most of the early settlers he did not stop at one conquest over the forest, nor two, but for a third time he settled down in the woods and experienced the hardships of the sturdy pioneers. Three of the best farms in Allen Township were placed in a state of cultivation through labor performed by his own hands. He was not only courageous but fearless as well. Nothing will serve better to illustrate his bravery than the following incident,
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which occurred one day while he was riding on horseback, in the vicinity of his habitation, with some loose horses that belonged to him in his advance. His attention was suddenly attracted by the yell of an Indian, whereupon he faced about and two Indians, armed with guns and tomahawks were seen approaching him some two or three hundred yards distant. They ordered him to wait which he did until they came up. One of them approached a loose horse, adjusted a rope around its neck in a manner indicating that he intended to take possession. An exclamation of "Let loose that horse," from Mr. Clemans failed to cause the Indian to desist, where- upon the former bounded to the ground, gathered a well seasoned club and, drawing it over the Red-skin's head, repeated the com- mand. The Indian, not yet ready for a journey to those Happy Hunting Grounds, immediately obeyed and, joining his companion, walked peaceably away. On the 18th of January, 1836, Mr. Cle- mans was united in marriage to Delilah Wildman. She was born in Jefferson County, this State, June 24, 1820, being the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Underwood) Wildman, who were respectively natives of Virginia and Kentucky. For more than half a century Mr. and Mrs. Clemans have stood side by side, administering to each other's wants and sharing, alike, each other's sorrows and pleasures. They are the parents of twelve children-seven sons and five daughters. Their names are James, Mary, Joseph, David, Samuel, John, Elizabeth, Eliza J., Thomas A., Catharine, Silas and Maggie, of whom James, Joseph, Samuel and Eliza J. are deceased. Our subject and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. In politics the former is a Republican. They have a comfortable home where they are spending the decline of life in a quiet, happy way. They are among the worthy and honored citizens of the township.
EPHRAIM B. CLENDENNING, a native of this county, and at present one of the leading business men of Macy, was born in Union Township Feb. 16, 1841. He was the oldest child born to Robert and Cynthia (Clymer) Clendenning, the former a native of Ireland, born Oct. 15, 1810; emigrated to Amerca in 1835 and to this country about 1837; the latter was a native of Ohio, born Feb. 22, 1817; came to this country about 1837 and on the 8th day of December, 1839, was married to Robert Clendenning. She died in this county March 14, 1863. When Ephraim was about eight years old his parents removed to Richland Township, where he grew up to manhood working upon his father's farm. He re- mained at home until July 26, 1863, at which time his marriage occurred with Martha E. Bell. She was born in Wayne County, Ohio, April 22, 1838, being the daughter of Eben and Elizabeth Bell, natives of Ohio and New Jersey, respectively. After his mar- riage Mr. Clendenning engaged in farming for himself. That was in Richland Township. In 1866 he returned to his native town-
EBlelenduring
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ship, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until in Feb- ruary, 1874, when he located at Macy and engaged in the mer- cantile business. This has received his attention ever since. He is now the senior member of the firm of Clendenning & Waite. They have a good store room well-stocked with dry goods, gro- ceries, boots, shoes and general merchandise, and are doing a profit- able business. During his early life Mr. Clendenning acted in the capacity of a school teacher for eight years. He is the father of six children: Mary A., Amanda E., Alabama E., Lydia A., Viola B. and Laura M. Of these Amanda E. and Viola B. are deceased. In politics our subject is an ardent Republican. In September, 1874, he received the appointment of postmaster at Macy, in which capacity he acted until September, 1885. As such he discharged his duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. He is an industrious and successful business man and a good citizen.
THOMAS D. COFFING, a prominent farmer and stock- raiser of Allen Township, was born in Fayette County, Pennsyl- vania, March 26, 1828. He was the youngest son born to Joshua P. and Mary (Davis) Coffing, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Dutch and the latter of Irish descent. When Thomas was eight years old his parents came westward to Ohio and lo- cated in Knox County, where his youth was spent, working upon his father's farm. There, on the 29th day of April, 1848, he was married to Sophia McDaniel. She was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1826, being the daughter of Joel and Catharine (Smith) McDaniel who, also, were natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Irish and the latter of Dutch descent. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Coffing and wife removed to Delaware County, Ohio. There they resided on a farm about eighteen months. They then returned to Knox County, but a year and a half later they located upon a farm in Defiance County, Ohio. They came to this State and located where they now reside in the fall of 1866. The chief' occupation of Mr. Coffing has been that of a farmer and breeder of fine stock. He owns a handsome farm of 160 acres of land, fitted up with good fences and buildings, and altogether a very desirable location. He has always taken especial pains to secure the best grades of stock possible. He now has some excellent specimens of Cotswold. sheep, Berkshire hogs, Clydesdale and Norman horses, and his large: herd of Devonshire cattle is the finest of the kind in Northern Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Coffing are the parents of seven children, Joshua P., Mary E., Joel, Susan C., Isabel A., Lucy A., and! Jackson. Of these Mary E., Joel, Isabel A. and Jackson are de- ceased. Mr. Coffing is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and independent in politics. He is also a member of the Amer-
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ican Devon Cattle Club. He is an industrious, pushing and en- terprising farmer, and a worthy and honored citizen.
JOSHUA COFFING, one of the enterprising young farmers of Allen Township, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, Novem- ber 9, 1849. He was the oldest in a family of seven children born to Thomas D. and Sophia (McDaniel) Coffing, who are now prominent citizens of Allen Township. When he was five years old his parents located in Defiance County, Ohio, where his boy- hood and early youth were spent working upon his father's farm. At the age of seventeen he accompanied his parents to this county and located with them where the latter now reside in Allen Township. There he continued to work on the farm until he reached the age of twenty-three, when, on the 22nd day of December, 1872, his marriage with Cynthia Ann Burket occurred. She was born in Tipton County, Indiana, January 29, IS55, being the daughter of Asa and Lucinda (Fouts) Burket, now of Allen ' Township. That marriage resulted in the birth of five children. The first was a daughter that died in infancy, unnamed. The others were Effie E., Edger E., Arthur E. and Emma J. On the 17th of August, ISSI, Mr. Coffing suffered the bereavement of losing his first wife, and the 4th of April, ISS2, he was married to Mrs. Jane Lichty, daughter of Jeremiah and Barbara Ann (Study) Rigel, natives of Pennsylvania. She was born in Defiance County, Ohio, September 28, IS53. This latter union has resulted in the birth of three children: Mary E., Joshua D., and a daughter that died in infancy. Joshua D. also died in infancy. Mr. Coffing is a mem- ber of the Patrons of Husbandry, the F. & A. M. Lodge, and inde- pendent in politics. At the time of its organization he was chosen secretary of the Macy District Fair Society, which position he has filled in a creditable manner ever since. He is an industrious farmer and a good citizen.
M. LEW. ENYART, editor and proprietor of the Macy Monitor, is a native of Cass County, this State, and was born June 22, IS40. He was the youngest son in a family of six children born to Benjamin and Mary (McColla) Enyart, the for- mer a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, of French descent, and the latter a native of Clark County, West Virginia. At the tender age of three years our subject was left without a mother. Owing to a physical disability he was unable to help his father upon the farm and was in consequence kept in school. At the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to Thomas Bringhurst, of Logansport, with the view of learning the printer's trade. Dur- ing the winter of '56-7 he taught school in Fulton County. In the spring of 1857 he went to Waterloo, Iowa, where he entered the office of the Cedar Valley Register. Here he remained about six months. In the following fall he returned to
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Fulton County and taught another term of school. In the spring of 1858 he again returned to Waterloo, Iowa, and began the study of law under Judge L. D. Rannalls. In the spring of 1861 he again returned to the home of his father in Fulton County, and, feeling a desire to enter the army, he made three unsuccessful attempts to join the Union army but was refused admission on account of the deficiency in his leg. He then went to Logansport and read law under Judge Chamberlain one year. August 2, 1862, he again made an attempt to enter the military service, and this time was successful. He entered Company K., 5th Cavalry, 90th Regiment Indiana Volunteers, from which, owing to his physical weakness, he received an honorable dis- charge in December following. On leaving the army he returned home and again took up teaching. In 1865 he again began the study of law; was admitted to the Rochester bar in 1867. At that place he formed a partnership with Col. K. G. Shryock, with whom he practiced law two years. In 1869 our subject entered upon the practice of law at North Manchester, Wabash County. A year later he came to this county and located at Lincoln (now Macy). In 1875 he located at Twelve Mile, Cass County. He went to Wolcott, White County, in the spring of 1876, and in the following fall he returned to Logansport and engaged in the real estate. business. In 1879 he engaged in the same business in Peru. To promote his interests in this he published for a time The Real Estate Review, and it is worthy of note that Mr. Enyart became the most successful agent of that kind that has ever done business in the county. In March, 1885, he returned to Macy, and on the 16th day of May, following, the first issue of the Macy Monitor went forth with the name of M. Lew Enyart as editor and proprietor. He took into his employ Mr. David O. Huffman, who has acted in the capacity of publisher ever since. June 14, 1868, he was married to Sophia M. Knight, a native of Sandusky County, Ohio, born Aug. 6, 1840. She was the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Jones) Knight, the former a native of New York and the latter a native of Piqua County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Enyart have had four children. The first was an infant son that died in infancy unnamed. The others are Ora M., Orpha E. and Edwin K., all living. Mr. Enyart is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge, and an ardent Republican in politics. He was honored with the office of Justice of the Peace in Allen Township one term, at the close of which he declined the nomination of both political parties. Mr. Enyart is a pleasant, intel- ligent gentleman and a good citizen.'
THOMAS G. EWER, one of the enterprising young farmers of Allen Township, is a native of Fulton County, this State, and was born March 17, 1843. He was the second son born to James
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and Hannah (Holcome) Ewer, natives of New York and Virginia respectively. Thomas grew up to manhood in his native county, working upon a farm. At the age of twenty-three he began farm- ing for himself upon the home place. In March, 1869, he located where he now resides, in Allen township, but in the following November he had the misfortune to lose his house by fire. He then returned to the old homestead in Fulton County. In April, 1871, he located upon a farm in that county, owned by Wil- liam Hatch, but in the following fall he returned again to his farm in Allen Township, having in the meantime erected another house. March 6, 1869, he was married to Mary E. Burket, a native of Wayne County, this State, born December 25, 1851. She was the daughter of Asa and Lucinda (Fouts) Burket, the former a native of Wayne County, this State, and the latter a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Ewer have had eight children. Their names are Nancy J., Hannah M., Sarah L., James W. A., Hiram M., Thomas J., Iona P. and Benjamin F., all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Ewer are members of the Christian Church. In politics the former is a Republican. He owns 180 acres of land, eighty of which lie in Fulton County. He is an industrious farmer and a good citizen.
MRS. ANN W. FOSTER, of Macy, was the daughter of Jesse and Betsy (Hurst) Hays and was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, June 27, 1821. Her parents were natives of Maryland and Delaware, respectively. She grew to womanhood in her native County where, on the 29th day of October, 1846, she was mar- ried to John W. Hurst, a native of Ross County, Ohio, born Decem- ber 27, 1818. He was the son of William and Sarah (Alkire) Hurst. In 1846 she came with her husband to this Connty and located upon a farm near Chili, in Richland Township. A few months later they removed to a farm in Allen Township, where her husband died, January 26, 1854, leaving to her care four children: Jesse H., Joseph W., Ira B., and Levi J., the first two of whom are deceased. In March, 1854, she in company with her children, returned to the home of her father in Ohio. While there she was married on the IIth day of December, 1856, to Abraham F. Gep- hart, who died July 26, 1857. That marriage resulted in the birth of one child, Abraham F., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. In the spring of 1864, our subject again came to this county and located upon the farm she had formerly occupied in Allen Township. Cn the 30th day of January, 1872 her marriage with William Tanquary occurred. With him she located upon a farm near Xenia, this county. There Mr. Tanquarry's death oc- curred on the 27th of May following their marriage. Our subject continued to reside near Xenia until August 5, 1873 at which time she was married to James Foster. She accompanied him to Moul-
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trie County, Illinois, where the hand of death again made her a widow, December 23, 1877. In February 1886, she once more re- turned to this county and this time located at Macy where she now resides in a quiet happy way. She has been a member of the M. E. Church since August 1838.
A. F. GEPHART, a promising young man of Macy, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1857. He was the only * child born to Abraham F. and Ann W. (Hays) Gephart, the former a native of Virginia, of German descent, and the latter a native of Pickaway County, Ohio. When our subject was six years old his mother came to this county and located in Allen Township, and in 1873 he accompanied her and his step-father to Moultrie County, Ill. There he acted in the capacity of a clerk and was otherwise variously employed until the spring of 1886, at which time he and his widowed mother returned to this county and took up their resi- dence at Macy. On the first day of March, 1886, he became the partner of his half-brother, L. J. Hurst, in the lumber business at Macy. He is, also, an equal partner of the latter in the agencies of the railroad and express companies at that place. Politically, he is a Prohibitionist. He is a young man of good habits and irreproach- able character, and is well worthy the confidence of the public.
ALEXANDER N. HOOVER, one of the enterprising farmers of Allen Township, is a native of the township in which he resides, and was born December 4, 1846. He was the fifth son born to Daniel C. and Frances (Shrofe) Hoover, both natives of Ohio, who settled in this county about 1832. Our subject spent his boyhood and youth working upon his father's farm in his native county. He attended the district school, in which he received a good common school education. In February, 1865, he made a third effort to enter the Union army, having been refused twice already on account of his youthfulness. This time he succeeded, and the name of Alexander N. Hoover appeared upon the roll of Company C, 15Ist Indiana Regiment. With this he served until the close of the war, receiving his discharge in September, 1865. An attack of a chronic disease, occa- sioned by exposure and the habitual use of unwholesome food and water, had impaired his health somewhat, in consequence of which two years were spent at the home of his father recruiting the same. As soon as it was sufficiently regained he resumed farming. He, however, availed himself of an opportunity to at- tend school during the winter time, which he did until the fall of 1871, at which time he took up, for his winter employment, the avocation of a teacher. In this capacity he was successfully en- gaged for eight years. In order to qualify himself for this pur- suit he attended the State Normal School at Terre Haute, during the spring of 1874, one term. Since the spring of 1879 his at-
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