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 57
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
RICHARD C. CRANE, a native of Preble County, Ohio, was born December 8, 1834, to George and Elizabeth (Batey) Crane, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York, who emigrated to Indiana in the year 1848, and located on the farm owned and managed by our subject. Mr. Crane was married in February, 1855, to Sarah Hall, a native of Ohio, to whom were born these children, whose names are as follows: Mariah Jane, Catharine, Vioma, Laura, Belle, Mary Elizabeth, Armintha and William, four of whom are still living. He was again married January 1, 1878, to Miss Mary Miller, a native of Miami County, and to this union three children have been born, the names of which are as follows: Fannie, Lydia and George. He was reared on the farm and received a common school educa- tion. He is the owner of 154 acres of land in Harrison town- ship, which he is improving rapidly and which is under a high state of cultivation. He always has taken an active part in the political affairs of the vicinity in which he resides, and at the polls votes the Democratic ticket.
DANIEL F. DEISCH, a son of John Philip and Catharine F. (Kull) Deisch, was born in Hocking County, Ohio, on the 16th of March, 1848. The father and mother were both natives of Ger- many, coming to this country about 1830. They were married in Ohio and settled in Hocking County, where three of their family of twelve were born. In 1850 they moved to Miami County settling in Washington Township. In about 1858 they moved to Clay Township where Daniel Deisch, the subject of this sketch, was raised on his father's farm, receiving a good common school education. Remain- ing and helping his father on the farm until he was twenty-eight, He was on the 16th day of March, 1876, married to Rebecca Ann Murden, a daughter of Thomas W. and Cynthia Ann (Smith) Murden, a native of Miami County, being born there on the 6th of November, 1857, and a lady of English descent. To this union were born six children: Charles Oliver, George F., Matilda B., Cora Adell, Osie Filora and an infant. All are living. Mr. D. began business in Marion where he was married, and in 1879 came to McGrawsville where he now has a large general store, the Post-
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office, and is the Railroad Agent. He also deals in grain and stock. Coming to this county when all was new and nearly wilderness, Mr. D. has seen the great change that has made the country what it is. He is an industrious, enterprising young merchant and a No. I citizen.
EZRA T. LAMB, the son of George and Susannah (Thomas) Lamb, was born the 30th of April, 1850, in Jackson Township, Miami County, Indiana. Both were of English descent, the great- grandfather of Mr. Lamb coming from England. The father was born in North Carolina in 1824, and the whole family removed to Madison County, Indiana. But it was in Grant County that the father and mother met and were married in 1849. They settled in the woods east of Amboy and there began life, and raised their fam- ily of nine children, whose names are as follows: Ezra, Mary E., William N., Sarah M., Martha, Angeline, Asenath Jane, Walter H. and Harvey. Of these Mary and Angeline have since died. Mr. Ezra Lamb, the subject of this sketch was raised on his father's farm, there receiving an education sufficient to enable him to teach nine successive winters in the public schools of Indiana, and the last six years of his teaching he had a first-class certificate. The 23d of September, 1875, Mr. Lamb was married to Eliza Eppele, a lady of German descent, and one well esteemed, her parents both emi- grating to this country from Germany. To this union were born five children, viz: Allie, born July 28, 1876; Charles, born Janu- ary 30, 1879, died July 11, 1879; Alburtus G., born May 21, 1880; Henry S., born November 17, 1881 ; Ina J., born November 9, 1883, and an infant son, born October 3, 1886. In the spring of 1886 Mr. Lamb moved to the farm where he now lives, in Section 27. Mr. and Mrs. Lamb are members of the Friend or Quaker Church at Amboy. Beginning life in fair circumstances Mr. Lamb has worked hard and more than doubled his means. He is an enter- prising, energetic young farmer and his family is respected by all who know them.
MRS. ELIZABETH PLOTNER, a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, was born April 2, 1842. At the age of six she emigrated to Peru Township, Miami County, with her parents, George and Susan (Yeazel) Rhineberger, natives of Ohio. The father of our subject always followed the occupation of a farmer. The father died October 18, 1872, and the mother is residing in Indianapolis. Our subject was married January 7, 1864, to Mr. Samuel Plotner (deceased), to whom were born two sons, whose names are Frank O. and Harry, the former now residing in Iowa and the latter at home with his mother. The husband of the subject of this sketch was a stock dealer, and met his death by riding on top of a moving train and being precipitated to the ground while passing through a low covered bridge on
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Newark, Ohio, October 29, 1876. His life was insured for $2,000, besides a farm of 116 acres, which were left to the widow and her two sons, on which she now resides. Our subject has a fine farm in splen- did cultivation in the northeast corner of Harrison Township, Miami County, of which she has entire management and which is tilled by a tenant.
ELI SCHROCK, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, the 6th of March 1842. Both parents were of German descent. The father was born the 6th of March, 1804, and died the 6th of March 1858; the mother was born in Septem- ber 1806, and is still living. There were twelve children in the old gentleman's family, viz: Catharine, Benjamin, Jacob, Isaac, Jonas, Susannah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Eli, Noah, Lydia and John, all born in Holmes County, Ohio. Benjamin and Susannah are now gone on before. All with the exception of three living right in southern Miami and northern Howard, and all have their share of this world's goods. Mr. Jacob Schrock in 1849, moved to Indiana and settled on the line between Miami and Howard County, and there the fam- ily were reared, and there Eli Schrock, the subject of this sketch, was reared, helping to clear away the forest and make a home. Mr. Schrock had an education sufficient to enable him to teach two terms in the public schools of the State. Although on account of having no schools, he did not go to school until at the age of 13, yet has improved his opportunities and gained a good education for that time. In 1863, Mr. Schrock was married to Elizabeth Schrock, a daughter of John and Mary (Sproll) Schrock. Both were of German descent and both are now living. To this union was born ten children, viz: Amanda, Lavinia, John, Mary Ann, Harvey, Noah, Eli and Elizabeth, Emma and Willard. In 1877, Harvey was called away. In the spring of 1864 Mr. and Mrs. Schrock settled on the farm where he now lives, in Section 2I, where he has since resided and there raised his family. Mr. and Mrs. Schrock are members of the Amish Church. Mr. Schrock began life in fair circumstances and has, by dint of industry and perseverance, gained a fine farm of 115 acres, within 11/2 miles of North Grove. His family has grown to be respected through- out the township, and in 1884 the people of Harrison Town- ship gave him their highest office, that of Township Trustee, and in 1886 he was re-elected. Mr. Schrock, is a thorough gentleman and expects to remain on the farm where he has spent the best part of his life in getting under the state of cul- tivation which it now is.
JONAS STINEMAN, a native of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, was born March 13, 1846, a son of Peter and Fannie ( Hockstetter) Stineman, natives of Germany and Pennsylvania, respectively. The
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father emigrated to America at about the age of thirty, and landed in Canada where he remained for about fifteen years, and then came to the United States and stopped at Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he remained until 1848, when he came to Miami County and remained upon the farm now owned by our subject until his death which occurred February 23, 1862. The mother's parents came from Pennsylvania to the same county in Ohio when she was six years old, where she remained until her removal to Indiana with her hus- band and family. Jonas is the only living child of his father's fam- ily and was reared upon the farm. His education was a moderate one and enabled him to obtain a license to teach school on several occasions. His marriage to Miss Lydia Christner, daughter of Peter and Barbara (Egle) Christner, was blessed with the birth of the following seven children: Peter, Fannie, Sarah, Christian, Ezra, Ira and Noah. This union was severed by the death of his beloved wife, on the 19th day of August, 1882, who died at the age of 31. His second marriage with Mrs. Barbara Metzler (Stahley) occurred December 13, 1885, and to this mar- riage one child, has been born, the name of which is Irwin. His second wife is the mother of nine children by her first husband, Daniel Metzler (deceased), the names of whom are as follows; John, Jonas, Lizzie, David, Mary, Jessie, Fannie, Daniel (deceased), and Annie. Mr. Stineman is the possessor of 216 acres of fine farming land located in Harrison Township, Section 30, which is improved in a substantial manner, having erected a commodious two-story brick house and an enormous bank-barn, which gives his home a most aristrocratic appearance, besides, the soil is under the highest state of cultivation, being drained by ditches running in every needed direction. He and family are members of the Amish denomination of religious worshipers and are regular attendants at service. In former years he belonged to the Democratic party, but latterly is an advocate of the cause espoused by the Prohibitionists. Our subject having came to this county when but two years of age has a just right to be classed among the old settlers, he having experienced the hardships of the pioneers of Miami County, and now has the satisfaction of knowing that he is one of the substantial farmers of Harrison Township. Mr. S. has in his possession a very interesting and valuable relic, which is a production of Zurich, Switzerland, in A. D., 1548. It is a German bible and was made by Christopher Froschour. The book has a great resemblance to those now published, although the works of to-day represent con- siderable improvement. The style of binding is quite similar, although more cumbersome. It is a book that has been the prop- erty of Mr. Jacob Forny, of Canada, and was purchased by the subject's father in about the year 1820, when he arrived in this country. Illustrated.
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
WILLIAM C. YARNALL, native of Harrison County, Ohio, was born September 6, 1841, the sixth child of William and Sarah (Spencer) Yarnall, natives of Ohio, who removed to Indiana in 1861, and located on a farm in Martin County, where they resided during the rest of their lives, his father having died in August 16, 1875. The mother is still living. In his twentieth year he volunteered his services to his country, and enlisted in the Sixty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Regiment of Infantry in August, 1862, and continued in that service for three years, or until the close of the war. He entered as a private, and was mustered in at Evansville, Indiana, and took his departure for the South, where he landed on the Southern soil at Henderson, Kentucky, and participated in the following engagements with the enemy of the Union: At Madison, Kentucky, he took his first hand in a skirmish with the Gray Coats, and the first engagement of note in which he took part was at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This experience was varied by several minor engagements, including Bowling Green, until 1863. The army crossed through Cumberland Gap, and were the first Union troops that set foot in Knoxville, Tennessee, where considerable scouting was indulged in for some time, and then the celebrated battle of Mission Ridge was placed on the list of our subject's engagements, and from there the regiment proceeded to the siege of Knoxville, where they arrived a short time before the departure of the enemy. They then received a call from head- quarters to report at Tunnell Hill, Georgia, to assist General Sherman in his celebrated campaign, and participated in the Buzzard Roost engagement, which was soon followed by the conflict at Resaca, and after numerous small encounters they next were in front at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. After this series of engagements a call was issued by General Sher- man for a true and tried " orderly," and for heroic services and past bravery our subject was chosen for that position, he having made a record that warranted the appointment. In this position he was retained thronghout all the engagements of the war, being in com- pany with the noted general, and doing his errands until the good news came that "Peace was restored." He was exceptionally prompt and ever ready to do his duty, always at his post and never
absent on account of sickness or disability. Mustered out at Greensborough, North Carolina, and was honorably discharged at Indianapolis. After the close of the war he labored around through the different parts of the State for some time, and then came to Miami County, where he has been a resident for about twenty years. In 1870 his marriage to Miss Mary A. Hooper, a daughter of Thomas H. and Sarepta (Woodruff) Hooper, was solemnized, to whom have been born two children-Charles Thomas and Will-
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iam C., the latter of whom was deceased while an infant six months. of age. He is an ardent advocate of the Republican party and its principles, and in 1884 he was the candidate of his party for the office of County Treasurer, and made, a gallant race. He is a reg- ular attendant of religious services, but never yet has made a pro- fession of religion. Until his departure for the war he was reared upon a farm and received a fair education, sufficient to enable him to teach the average common school.
CHAPTER XIV.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP-SITUATION AND AREA-SETTLEMENT-OR- GANIZATION-EARLY EVENTS-RELIGIOUS-DEVELOPMENT- XENIA-AMBOY-BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
J ACKSON TOWNSHIP forms the southeast corner of Miami County, and includes a superficial area of twenty-four square miles lying in Township 25, North Ranges 5 and 6, East of the Congressional survey. It is six miles long from North to South, five miles from East to West and bounded as follows: Wabash County on the North, Grant County on the East, Howard County on the South, and the Township of Harrison on the West. The streams are Pipe Creek and its numerous affluents which traverse all parts of the township, affording ample drainage, water for stock and farm use, and, in some places, eligible mill sites. With the exception of the main stream and one or two others the creeks frequently run dry, although the country may be said to be well watered. The surface of the township as a general rule is level with undulations along the various water courses. The character of the soil is a dark loam, exceedingly rich and pro- ductive, producing in abundance all the crops grown in North- ern Indiana. The country was originally covered with a dense forest growth of the finest timber, the greater part of which has been cleared, although sufficient remains for all practical pur- poses. The leading varieties were walnut, poplar, beech, sugar, elm, ash and the different kinds of oak.
Settlement .- As is well known, the Township of Jackson origi- nally formed a part of the Miami Reservation, consequently but few settlers came to the country prior to the purchase of the land from the Indians. It is true that hunters and trappers, lured by the abundance of game with which the forests abounded,
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
traversed the country from time to time in quest of their favorite pur- suit but it was not until about the year 1842 that the first actual settlers made their appearance. In that year "Thomas Creviston and Silas Braffet two stalwart, energetic young men, having determined to try their fortunes in a new country, came and built two cabins near the line of Miami and Grant Counties." "The cabin of Braffet stood just across the line in Richland Township, Grant County, while Creviston located in what is now Jackson Township on land still in possession of his heirs."
The next comer was probably John Powell, who settled in the eastern part of the township on land now owned by H. Draper, some time in the above year.
Another settler of 1842, was Thomas Mason, who located a home in the northeast corner of the township, where he resided a few years, selling out in an early day to a Mr. Davis and moving from the county. Thomas Addington came as early as 1842, and settled upon the present site of Xenia, where he made a good farm upon which he resided for a period of about twelve or fifteen years. He left the township at the end of that time and moved to Henry County.
The year 1843 witnessed the arrival of quite a number of substantial men, prominent among whom was Oliver H. P. Macy, formerly an early settler of Grant County. He came January of the above year and located a tract of land which is now occupied by a part of the town of Xenia, and for forty-three years has been one of the leading citizens of the township. He has not only manifested an active interest in all the affairs of the township, but was formerly a potent factor in county poli- tics, and on account of his superior business qualifications, was twice elected to the office of Sheriff. He is now an honored resident of Xenia, where he is spending his declining years in the enjoyment of that peace and quiet which only those who have successfully grappled with the world for a half century know how to appreciate.
John Gates settled about three miles north of Xenia, early in 1843, chosing for his home the farm now owned by Mr. Haskett; about the same time or perhaps a little later, James Que located near the central part of the township on what is now the Lad farm. In 1844 James McKinley settled in the northwest corner of the township, where he lived until within a very recent date. James Poulson located the Busby farm in the same ' year, and prior to 1845, William Bowman and Samuel Long were living in the same locality. Another settler in the northern part of the township was John Long, who early acquired an unenviable notoriety on account of his quarrelsome disposition. He was a true type of the roystering, backwoods bully, and no
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occasion was allowed to pass by unimproved, where he could have a friendly little knockdown with somebody whom he knew was not his equal in the manly accomplishment of pugilism. He came to be dreaded by all the peaceably disposed people of the neighborhood and many could not repress a sigh of relief when they learned of his sudden "taking off" in a bloody encounter with a kindred spirit at an infair party. His widow afterwards married Samuel Long.
Among the settlers of 1844 and '45, were James Calhound, near the central part of the township; David Daniels, on the Helm farm, near Pipe Creek; Rev. Abraham See, a local preacher of the Methodist Church, about one mile northeast of Xenia, and Henry Thomas, who changed his habitation at frequent intervals. Samuel Butler located near the northwest corner of the township about the year 1846 and was a resident for several years. He subse- quently became a Mormon and in company with several others of that faith emigrated to Utah, since which time nothing has been heard of him.
Another early comer, whose arrival antedates 1846, was Samuel Draper, who settled about one-half mile west of Xenia. David Draper came a little later and located a short distance north of the town. Henry Addington, father of Thomas Adding- ton, was an early settler south of Xenia, and about the year 1845 George Badger came to the township and made some improve- ments two and a half miles west of the present site of the town.
Additional to those mentioned, the following persons came to the township in an early day, viz: William Overman, Eli Overman, Arch Moorman, Jonathan Pearson, Nathan Arnold, Jabez and Wil- liam Berry, William Bond, George W. Gates, Thomas Stillwell, William Balinger, Solomon Wright, Calvin Edgerton, Jacob Rob- bins, Newton Tangury, Elihu Ensley, William Tangury (father of Newton), James Wimmer, Joseph Shook, Morgan Williams, Ira Steele, John Pearson and B. B. Lamb, the majority of whom became residents prior to the year 1848. After that date the tide of immigration set in more numerously and it will be impossible to give a complete list of all entitled to a mention as early settlers. Among the number, however, are mentioned: Thomas Shinn, F. M. Davis, Joseph Powell, David Adams, Wm. Adams, Jesse Shinn, Frank Shinn, Abraham Bell, Elliott Walker, Willis Elliott, David Stanley, Henry Cooper, Turner Sullivan, Moses Kimball, Jacob Riggle, Jacob Hudlow, John Hudlow, Sr., John Hudlow, Jr., Jefferson Shinn, Moses McCoy, Wesley Draper, Elijah Draper, Robert Cook, Benjamin Benbow, Hiram Pearson and Michael Holingsworth.
Township Organization .- In 1846 the township organization was effected, the chief mover in the same being O. H. P. Macy.
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Mr. Macy circulated a petition to this effect which was signed by all the citizens of the township except two, who gave as a reason for not allowing their names to be placed on the paper that they wanted "to keep law and order out of the country as long as possible." The majority of the petitioners expressed a preference for the name of "Liberty," by which the new town- ship should be designated. After visiting every citizen of the township, Mr. Macy walked to Peru and presented the paper to the County Commissioners, who, after some deliberation, granted the request of the petitioners, substituting the name of Jackson (in honor of Andrew Jackson) for that of "Liberty." Under the order designating the boundaries and setting apart this area as a separate jurisdiction, a further order was entered fixing the date at which an election would be held for the purpose of choosing the necessary township officers. The election was held accordingly, at the cabin of James C. Poulson, near Xenia, Abraham See, acting as inspector. At this election David.Daniels was chosen Justice of the Peace, and Abraham See, Constable. Probably the earliest Trustees were James McKinley and Gabriel Hayes, and later Christian Life, Mr. Bond and A. D. Kimball, held the office. Among the early Justices were Henry Cooper and Moses Kimball. The following citizens of Jackson have been honored by elec- tion to county offices at different times, viz: Dr. M. D. Ellis, Audi- tor; Enos Massey and Jos. B. Mills, Commissioners; O. H. P. Macy, Sheriff, and J. W. Eward, Representative.
Early Deaths, Births and Marriages .- The first death in Jack- son Township was that of an infant child of Thomas and Mary Addington, which occurred a few years after the family moved to the county. It was buried in the Xenia grave yard, the first ceme- try in the township, laid out on the land of Thomas Mason. Susan- nah Poulson, daughter of James C. and Delilah Poulson, was born May, 1844. This from the most reliable information appears to have been the first white child born within the present limits of Jackson. Among the early marriages celebrated in the township were those of Charles Marine to Maria Balinger, Oscar Addington to Mary A. North, and Peter Cluster to a Miss Wright. Among early marriages deserving special mention was that of David Dra- per to Miss Elizabeth Balinger, which was solemnized under very peculiar circumstances. It appears that the lady in question resided with a sister a short distance across the line in Grant County, while the groom, who was resident of Miami, made the serious mistake of going to Peru to procure the document necessary to legalize the union. The license properly signed and adorned with the seal of the Miami County Court, was procured in due time, and with this in his pocket the happy young man wended his way to the residence of the expectant bride, who, with a number of invited guests, was
Hame Dowell
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anxiously awaiting his arrival. Everything was gotten in readiness for the ceremony, when the clerical gentleman, who was to officiate, astonished the assembled company by the startling intelligence that a marriage in Grant County could not be legally solemnized under a license from Miami. As an escape from the embarrassing dilemma which followed this announcement, some one suggested that, as the county line was not far distance, the whole party should walk over to the proper territory where the ceremony could be per- formed and much disappointment saved. This was no sooner said than acted upon, and the jolly crowd, headed by the clergyman, made its way across the border, where in the midst of a thick woods, were said the words which forever made the happy couple man and wife.
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