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 72
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nary 17, 1867, he was married to Elizabeth Shively, daughter of David R. Shively, of Ohio, a union blessed with the birth of three children-William F. (deceased), Anna D. and David T.
DR. HENRY P. McDOWELL was born in Pipe Creek Township, December 20, 1852. His parents, David and Nancy (Childrees) McDowell, were natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Irish and the latter of German descent. The days of Henry's boyhood and youth were passed on his father's farm, and in acquiring a common school education. At the age of seventeen years he began life for himself, devoting his attention to school teaching, which vocation he followed very successfully for ten years. He began the study of medicine under the guidance of Dr. Henry Alford, of Walton. After reading three years with him he entered the Indiana Medical College, graduating in March, 1882. Since his return to Bunker Hill, he has been engaged in practicing his profession, having built up a lucrative business. June 1, 1876, he was married to Miss Ellen Bryant, and to them have been born four children, as follows: Marion, Gladys, Ben- son and Charles. Dr. McDowell is politically a Democrat, and enjoys the confidence and good will of the public. His portrait appears elsewhere in this volume.
DR. JAMES A. MEEK was born in Scott County, Indiana, August 18, 1828. His parents were Robert and Lydia B. (Hass) Meek, natives respectively of Ohio and Virginia. From ten years of age our subject relied upon his own resources for a living. At the age of twenty he went to LaPorte and entered the office of his uncle, Dr. T. D. Lemon. He studied medicine with his uncle for two years and attended lectures at the Indiana Medical College, which was then located at LaPorte. In 1850 he began practicing his profession in New Marion, Ripley County, Indiana. The gold excitement was then at its height, and the Doctor, with others, left on the first day of March, 1852, overland for California. The entire distance was traveled with ox teams, excepting one hundred miles over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which he traveled in four days on foot. After several unsuccessful efforts in taking claims, he began the practice of medicine in Marysville. In the fall of 1854 he returned to the States, and December 25, was married to Matilda E. Lewis, daughter of Daniel and Ann M. Lewis. Two children were born to this union: Mary L. and Thomas O. From the time of his marriage until 1858, Dr. Meek was located in Peru, but has since been a resident of Bunker Hill. In 1866 Mrs. Meek died. She was a member of the Methodist Church and esteemed by all who knew her. In 1868 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary B. Gilmore, widow of Dr. A. W. Gilmore, surgeon of the 9th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. Dr. and Mrs. Meek are the parents
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of two children: Daniel T. and Mary F. Dr. Meek is a member of the F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. fraternities.
JOSEPH S. MILLS .- Mr. Mills was born in Preble County, Ohio, March 19, 1837, and is the son of George and Elizabeth (Swerer) Mills. His father came from Ireland and his mother from New Jersey. He passed his youth and early manhood on his father's farm, in Preble County, Ohio, was educated in the county school, and at the age of eighteen began life upon his own responsibility, as a farmer. He came to this county in 1868, and is one of the most industrious and enterprising farmers of Pike Creek Township. He is the owner of 320 acres of well improved land in Section 13, and is now comfortably situated, a result obtained through his own exertions. He is a strong advo- cate of the principles of the Republican party. Mr. Mills was married May 25, 1860, to Miss F. M. Dodge, of Preble County, Ohio, who was born January 29, 1845. The result of this marriage has been six children: George F., born October 28, 1861, died April 6, 1864; William C., born November. 4, 1863, died August 29, 1865; Charles L., born July 9, 1865; Ella F., born June 29, 1867; Marion E., born September 22, 1882; and Lizzie, born November 20, 1883. Mrs. Mills is a member of the German Baptist Church.
JOHN W. O'HARA is a native of Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana, born September 22, 1853. He is the son of James and Catharine (Galvin) O'Hara, both natives of Ireland. At an early age the subject of this sketch moved with his parents to Rush County, where the father died in the fall of 1861, thus leaving a large and helpless family dependent on the care of a widowed mother. Soon after the death of the father the family moved to Cass County and settled on an undeveloped farm near Galveston. By unremitting energy the woodland was soon converted into the growing field, and the poverty, which the family had long endured, gave way to prosperity. He received his elementary education in the common schools of his adopted county and in the graded schools of Galveston, which he attended during the winter of each year. Believing himself competent to assume the responsibility of a pedagogue, he entered that profession in October, 1875, teaching three successive terms in the same district, which fact alone speaks for his success. He afterward filled the responsible position of principal of the Bunker Hill Graded School. He was elected Jus- tice of the Peace of Pipe Creek Township, which position he held for three years. In 1883 he bought the office and equipments of the Bunker Hill Press, and became its editor and proprietor. Under the management of Mr. O'Hara the Press has been a financial suc- cess, and in matter and make-up commends itself to its patrons. For the party service rendered and his acknowledged qualifications,
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
Mr. O'Hara was appointed postmaster at Bunker Hill, September, 1885. Mr. O'Hara was married January, 1878, to Miss Ella C. Thornton, of Galveston, Cass County, and this union has been blessed with four children, viz .: May (deceased), Bessie, James and Genevieve. Mrs. O'Hara is a lady of superior intelligence, and, besides being a ready writer in prose, has written much in verse, which is said, by those best acquainted with her writings, to possess much merit.
WILLIAM W. ROBBINS, proprietor of the Robbins Hotel in Bunker Hill, is the second in a family of six children born to Joseph M. and Elizabeth (Knox) Robbins, the former a native of New York, and of English descent; the latter a native of Ohio and of Irish descent. The parents were united in mar- riage in Jefferson County in the year 184I, and moved to DeKalb County, Indiana, in 1851, where they resided until their respective deaths, the mother dying in 1863 and the father in 1876. William grew to manhood in DeKalb County, and was raised to agricultural pursuits. He obtained a good English education, and at the age of sixteen years tried to enter the army, but was rejected on account of his youth, but was accepted later. He enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Eeighteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, under Buchanan, and served eight months, when he received an honorable discharge. He enlisted in September, 1864, in Company G, Twenty-first Regiment, First Indiana Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war. Returning from the war he embarked in the photography business, which he conducted until 1875. In 1880, he took charge of the Robbins Hotel in Bunker Hill. April 22, 1869, Alice E. Dinius became his wife. They were married by Rev. Bishop A. Weaver, of the U. B. Church. She is a native of Huntington County, born July 18, 1851, and one of a family of seven children born to John G. and Mary (Bash) Dinius, natives of Stark County, Ohio, and of German descent. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robbins, namely: Edith, Clara E. and Paul. Mr. Robbins is now captain of the Bunker Hill Light Guards, which company he organized in 1885. While a resident of Huntington County he held a commission as second lieutenant in the Lime City Battery, a State organization. Mr. Robbins is one of the leaders and able counselors of the Demo- cratic party in Miami County, a member of the I. O. O. F. and John M. Wilson Post, No. 12, G. A. R.
BENSON SULAVAN, son of Joshua and Nancy Sulavan, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter a native of Vir- ginia, is the proprietor of the leading general store of merchan- dise in Bunker Hill. He was born near Athens, Ohio, Feb- ruary I, 1838. His parents emigrated to and settled in Harrison
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Township, this county, in 1847. Here they purchased a wild tract of land, built a cabin and opened up roads, there being but two laid out roads south of the Wabash. Benson was reared at home until thirteen years of age, when he began bat- tling with life alone. He engaged in farm labor for some time, and then followed the carpenter's trade until twenty-four years old. July 22 he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-seventh Regi- ment Indiana Volunteers, and was placed in the Department of the Ohio, under Buell. He remained during the war, partici- pating in the following battles: Perryville, Hoover's Gap, Tul- lahoma, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, Ringgold,
Dalton, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and Marietta, and, strange to say, passed through all those hard fought battles without receiving a wound. Prior to entering the war he was married to Rebecca E. Rees, September 3, 1857. To this union was born one child, Charles A., who is now aid- ing his father in the mercantile business. Mrs. Sulavan was called away in 1867, and December 4, 1868, he was united in marriage with Lucinda Keyes, a native of Ohio. Mr. Sulavan is a member of the F. & A. M., and a Republican in politics. He is a thorough-going business man, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
ALVIN L. WECKLER, only son of William and Hannah (Walters) Weckler, both natives of Germany, was born January 30, 1858, in this county. He received an ordinary education. Owing to the father's delicate health, it devolved upon Alvin to take charge of the farm when but sixteen years of age. September 21, 1882, he married Miss Ida Bell Duckwall, daughter of John and Lydia Duckwall, old and respected residents of this county. Mrs. Weckler was born July 24, 1859. After completing the common school course, she attended Franklin College for two years, and then taught school for a number of years. She is the mother of two children, Jennie Olive and John William. Mr. Weckler owns a half interest in the Champion Mills, near Bunker Hill, and a half interest in one of the best farms in this locality. He is a Republican in pol- litics, and a young man of energy and ability.
DR. WILLIAM T. WILSON, a prominent physician of Bunker Hill, is a son of Reuben and Miriam (Overman) Wilson, both natives of North Carolina and of English descent. He was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, August 4, 1827. When quite young his parents came to Wayne County, Indiana, and settled on a farm. The Doctor, having prepared himself for college, attended Earlham for one year and a half. He then went South with a drove of horses, and visited his relations in South and North Caro- lina and Virginia. After his return he taught school for several years. In 1851 he began reading medicine with Dr. Purviance, of
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
what was then known as "New Port," but now called Fountain City, with whom he remained three and a half years; after which he practiced his profession in West Newton, Marion County. During this time he was married to Mary E. Cooper, daughter of Robert Cooper, a prominent attorney of Henry County. Two children blessed this union: Ida B. and Eva M. The Doctor lost his wife April 1, 1866, and was again married, May 8, 1873, to Mary A. Barker, relative of the noted Dr. Fordyce Barker, of Bellevue Col- lege, New York. In 1866, Dr. Wilson located in Bunker Hill, where he has since been actively engaged in his profession. Pre- vious to his coming he took a two years' course of lectures in the Cleveland Medical College, and also took a course of lectures in the Rush Medical College of Chicago, where he graduated in medicine and surgery, January, 1863. He is a Republican and a strictly tem- perate man.
CHAPTER XVIII.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP-THE PIONEERS-MILLS AND INDUSTRIES -- ORGANIZATION -- EARLY EVENTS-CHURCHES -- CHILI-PAW PAW-WOOLEYTOWN-ANSON -- BIOGRAPHICAL . SKETCHES.
R ICHLAND TOWNSHIP is situated in the tier of townships on the eastern border of the county, and includes a superficial area of about thirty-eight square miles, or 24,320 acres. It lies a little north of the central part of the county and is bounded as fol- lows: Perry Township on the north, Wabash County on the east, Erie and Peru Townships on the south, and the townships of Jeffer- son and Union on the west. Eel River flows through the township from northeast to southwest, and receives in its course a number of tributaries; chief among which is Flower Creek. The latter flows in a southerly course through the central part of the township and empties into the river near the village of Chili. The country adja- cent to the river is somewhat broken, while the other parts of the township are pleasantly diversified; level lands and gentle undula- tions alternating. The soil varies in structure; the land lying along the streams being the most productive. It contains a large per cent of vegetable matter, with a mixture of light sand and porous clay, containing in every respect the highest elements of fertility. The other portions of the township are also highly productive, and no more appropriate name than " Richland" could possibly be thought
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of as a designation for the township. The citizens are an intelligent, thrifty class of people, who have carried the science of agriculture to a degree of comparative perfection.
Pioneers .- A little more than half a century ago, the territory embraced within the present limits of Richland, was a wilderness undisturbed by the presence of white men. Predatory savage tribes were the only inhabitants, and wild animals, both fierce and numerous, lurked amid the dense forests, the dark retreats of which afforded them secure hiding places. Occasionally a few hunters and trappers, lured by a love of adventure, and the abundance of of game, visited the country, but made no attempts at improvements beyond erecting a few temporary habitations, spending all their time in the enjoyment of their favorite pursuits. They were sojourners, rather than settlers, the spume that crested the wave of advancing civilization; and having a large region wherein to choose, soon drifted to other localities. The year 1836 witnessed the arrival of the first actual settlers, conspicuous among whom was David Will- iams, who built his cabin upon what is now known as the Davis farm. The Long family came about the same time, and located in the northwestern part of the township, in Section 14, where John Long, the oldest living settler at this time, still resides. James Long, a brother of John, settled where Charles Long now lives, and before the close of 1836, William Jones was living in the same part of the township, on the farm owned and occupied at this time by Joseph Norris. So far as known the above were the only residents of Richland prior to 1837.
In the latter year, however, a number of substantial settlers sought homes in the new country, among whom were Robert Miller, who located where his sons live, in the eastern part of the township; James Conner, on the Wilson farm; John Ellison, in the northeast corner, where the widow Smith now lives; Allen Lock- ridge, in the same locality; Edmund I. Kidd, a short distance south of the Miller place; John Conner, on the Holinshade farm; Moses Martindale, where his descendants still reside; Daniel Ward, on the James Holinshade farm; Martin Scruggs, on the Baltimore place; Jesse Martindale, on the present site of Chili village; Richard Miller, brother of Robert Miller, near the village of Paw-Paw, of which he was proprietor; Alvin Riddle, east of Paw-Paw; William Bish, a short distance north of Chili, and Thomas Smith, on the Bish farm. The following two years settlements were made by Henry Norris, east of Paw-Paw village; Amos Murphey, in the eastern part of the township; Mr. House, on the N. G. Miller farm, near Paw-Paw; Samuel Rank, in the northeast corner, on Eel River; John Miller, where his widow lives, not far from Paw-Paw; R. C. Harrison and Robert Watson, on the eastern boundary of the township; Mr. Finley; on Eel River, in the northern part of the
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township; Joseph Clark, in the same locality; J. D. Cox, one mile south of Paw-Paw; a Mr. Venamong, on the James Holinshade farm; Mr. Griffy, on the Speck place; Michael Taylor, where he still resides; Jacob Peer, on the Hagey farm; Samuel Hart, on the Brower farm; Reuben Overman, on what is known as the Latta farm; Samuel Fisher, east of Chili; Caleb Petty, south central part, where he is still living; David Marquis, Willis Hill and Alanson Dowd, in Section I of Township 28 north, Range 4 east; Solomon Hobaugh, in Section 10; David Graham and Benjamin Baltimore, Section 13; Peter Woolpert and Benjamin Griffith, Section 14; Enos Baldwin and John Sellers, Section 23, and others, whose places of settlement were not learned. Additional to the above, the following settlers made improvements in various parts of the town- ship in an early day: Samuel Jameson, Lewis King, Watson Mon- teith, James Jones, Samuel Heilman, Ezekiel Reed, Joseph Hall, Joseph Clark, Thomas Black, Josiah and William Petty, Mr. Rid- dle, Thomas Smith, David Marquis, James Tracy, Samuel Davis, Andrew Wolfe, Jonathan Fisher, Benjamin Guire, Andrew Hann, Jacob Lander, James Holinshade, Reuben K. Charles, Amos and James Wooley, Jesse Murphey and Willis Hill. The above, doubt- less, comprise the majority of the early settlers of Richland, although there may have been others entitled to mention whose names our informants failed to give us.
Mills and Other Industries .- It is difficult at this day to imagine a state of society where even the commercial means of social progress must be invented and set in motion, but the pio- neer found this fact a very prominent and practical one in his early experience. The supplies brought into the country by the immigrant were occasionally by the closest economy, made to last until the growing crop or garden could supply the necessi- ties of the family. For several years, in some of the settle- ments, the people were obliged to rely almost altogether upon their own resources. The nearest point where flour could be got or wheat ground was the Burrell Daniels mill, on Eel River, west of Mexico, a trip to which through the forests in the absence . of roads was an undertaking of no little difficulty. A temporary supply of grain was occasionally secured from some older set- tler who had harvested a crop, which sufficed until the growing corn became of sufficient size to eat. When the kernel was suf- ficiently firm, the grater was brought into requisition, and a sort of head or porridge made. The grater often got the name of " blood mill" from the mishaps which frequently befell the fingers of the operator. This simple machine was made by per- forating the bottom or sides of a worn-out tin pan with numer- ous small holes, which were punched with a nail or similar instru- ment, and upon the ragged edges of these perforations, the
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immature corn was rubbed until little but the cob remained. When the grain became hard and the grater no longer effective, the mortar was brought into requisition. This consisted of a large block or stump, in which a kettle-shaped excavation was made by burning or scraping. A pestle was made of a heavy pole, to the end of which was often fixed an iron wedge. This was suspended to a sweep, such as was formerly used at wells, the lower end of which was fixed to the ground by stakes, con- verting it into a spring pole. Many of the cabins had the burn- ing block, and among the earlier sounds about the domicile was the monotonus proceeding of the frontier mill. The machine furnished several grades of meal from fairly fine to simply cracked grains, and this was separated by seives, some of which were constructed with a deer skin tightly stretched on a frame and punctured with small holes. The finer part of the meal was transformed into the " dodger," which was baked upon the hearth, while the coarser product was served up as hominy.
Although the stream afforded good sites for the construction of water mills, the necessary machinery and mechanical skill were for a long time wanting. The first grist mill within the borders of Richland was built on what is now the J. C. Davis farm as early as 1841 by one George Goudy, who operated it with good success for several years. The mill building was a frame structure, supplied with fair machinery, and received its motive power from the waters of Eel River. It passed through the hands of various parties, and ceased operations about the year 1883. The last proprietor was a Mr. Zeyner. Another flouring mill was built a few years later on Eel river, above the town of Chili, by William McCally, which is still standing, operated at this time by Jacob Myers. It has been repaired and is now doing a fairly successful business. About the year 1846, John Long built a saw mill on Flower Creek, near Chili, which was subsequently converted into a mill for grinding grain by Wil- liam McColley, who operated it several years. The machinery was afterwards moved from the country, and the old building finally fell into decay. Messrs. Daniels & Burns built a large frame flouring mill on Eel River, near the northeast corner of the township, about the year 1858. It was operated by Dan- iels & Burns several years, and afterwards by L. Patterson, who did the last grinding in 1879 or '80. One of the first early saw mills in the township was built by Samuel Rank about 1850, and stood on the site of the Daniels flouring mill. It was in operation for several years and did a fairly successful local business. A still earlier mill for the manufacture of lumber was built on Paw-Paw Creek, one-half mile west of Paw-Paw village, some time in the forties, by Robert Miller, who operated it
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.
quite extensively for a number of years. It subsequently passed into the hands of other parties and ceased operations about the year 1874. Jonas Hoover was the last proprietor. A saw mill was built on Eel River, opposite the village of Chili, some time in the fifties, by William Miller. It manufactured a great deal of lumber, but was allowed to fall into disuse about the year 1870. Another early industry of the township was a carding machine erected by Mr. Martindale on Flower creek, near Chili, prior to 1846. It ran several years as a woolen factory, but, not proving remunerative, was subsequently remodeled and sup- plied with machinery for the manufacture of flour and meal. It fell into decay many years ago, and but few vestiges now remain to mark the spot upon which the building stood. There have been several steam saw mills in the township at different times, and the lumber business has for years been an important industry.
Township Organization .- Richland Township was organized and set apart as a separate jurisdiction on the 6th day of Novem- ber, 1837. "The following August, 1838, an election for the pur- pose of chosing the officers necessary to put the township machinery in motion was held at the residence of David Williams. Edmund I. Kidd and Martin Scruggs were chosen the first Justices of the Peace: Moses Martindale, Thomas Smith and David Williams, Trustees.
Early Events .- "Among the first marriages celebrated in the township was that of Willis Buck to a daughter of Robert Watson, in 1839. The same year was solemnized the marriage of Edmund Blackman and a Miss Williams, daughter of David Williams. The first death, so far as known, was that of a daughter of Richard Mil- ler, which occurred some time in 1839. Among the first births of the township was that of Richard Miller, son of Robert and Rebecca Miller, born in the year 1838. The oldest burying ground in Rich- land is the Chili cemetery, where rest many of the pioneer settlers of the country. The Paw-Paw graveyard was consecrated to the burial of the dead in 1840, and the first person interred therein was Margaret, daughter of Richard and Amy Miller."
Churches .- Among the early pioneers of Richland were many pious men and women, consequently its religious history dates from the period of its first settlement. The first meeting was held at the cabin of Robert Miller in 1837, by ministers of the Methodist Church. Among the earliest whom are remembered were Revs. Beswick, Truslow, Raymond, McFarland and Westlake. The same year public services were held at John Long's residence, where in 1838 was organized a small class, out of which, subsequently, grew the organization at Chili. The Paw-Paw Church in the east- ern part of the township was organized about the year 1839, and
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