USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, together with historic notes on the Wabash Valley; gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic sources > Part 45
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front of his father to shelter him. Even the tory heart was moved, and both father and son were allowed to live. After the death of his parents, Joab lived with his brother in Ohio, but in 1828 he made Montgomery county his permanent home and bought eighty acres, the W. ¿ of N.E. + Sec. 23, Ripley township. There he married, Decem- ber 31, 1829, Susan Mann, the daughter of an early settler. He built the old-time log hut and around the crackling fire did he and Susan muse and think of the roof left and that which they yet would build. The years hastened on and no family was born to them to fill the space around the board, but their hearts went out to the needy, and eight children have found homes within their doors, but one of whom (Net- tie Elliot, or Jennet Sprag) is now at home. Mr. Elliot was partly raised by her great-grandfather. Abont 1857 Mr. and Mrs. Elliot moved from their farm to Crawfordsville, and in 1874 made their resi- dence where Mr. Elliot, with their adopted daughter, Nettie, now live; Mrs. Elliot having died April 17, 1876, at the age of sixty-three years, after a life well spent. At her table the present Hon. M. D. White had boarded many years, and he was pleased to call her mother; also, John White, now of Danville, Illinois, became as one of the family under her roof. With her husband she was a member of the Christian church. Mr. Elliot was an early whig in politics, but for many years he has ever been found true to republicanism and in his old age loves his party. Joab Elliot is one of Indiana's oldest living children.
William Hartman, retired, Crawfordsville, was born in Virginia, January 12, 1804, on a farm, and had only a limited education. He is the son of John and Mary Hartman. They come to Clark county, Indiana, in 1814. Mr. Hartman served nearly seven years in Clark county in the tanning and currying business, and in 1828 he settled in the city of Crawfordsville. For many years he was engaged in the grocery and dry-goods trade. When he came to this city he was afoot and alone. He has been very successful and is now living in private life enjoying the fruits of his labors. He has been a Mason since 1836, and is a republican. He was married the first time in 1829, to Eliza- beth Lee. His second marriage was in 1847, to Martha A. Shanklin. They have four children living. Two of their sons, Samuel L. and David W., were in the army, Samuel having raised an artillery com- pany from this place. Mrs. Hartman had a son, John A., who was a lieutenent in the army and at Pittsburg Landing. The other children are William A. and Martha A. Mrs. Hartman is a member of the New School Baptist church.
Jesse W. Cumberland, justice of the peace, Crawfordsville, is a son of Martin and Ann (French) Cumberland, and was born August 9,
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1825, in Hamilton county, Ohio. His father was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and in the fall of 1825 he made a trip west for the purpose of buying land. He entered 160 acres, and being in need of meat for his journey home, started in search of deer. He succeeded in shooting a deer, but ere he could find shelter from the bitter cold was frozen to death. He left a wife and four children. In 1828 Mrs. Cumberland moved to Crawfordsville, bringing three children, among whom was Jesse, and leaving one child in the east. Here she took in washing and supported her family as best she could until they were able to care for themselves. She died in 1860, at the age of sixty-five years. Un- der these trying circumstances, and the meager advantages of those days, Jesse received but little education. When seven years old he went to live with Hamilton Barnes, of Lockport, Indiana, with whom he stayed two years. He was then adopted by Dr. Grimes, with whom he lived until fourteen years of age, at Delphi, when on account of very poor health he returned and lived with his mother, who in the meantime had been married to Samnel Fisher. He immediately began improv- ing and became quite stout and well. When twenty-one years of age he began manufacturing wagons, which he followed for four or five years in Crawfordsville, then opened the first hardware and agricultu- ral implement store in the city, which he kept for twenty years. Quit- ting this he engaged in the pork business, with John W. Blair, three years, and during the war he speculated and lost all. Since the war he has spent some time in the hotel business, and has also manufac- tured tile for several years. In 1878 Mr. Cumberland was elected jus- tice of the peace. He is a very strong republican and temperance man. He votes for no man that drinks liquor or believes in state rights. He is a good citizen and well known throughout the county as a man of good judgment and fair decisions. He was married January 31, 1849, to Margaret A. Speed, of Crawfordsville. She was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and her parents came to America when she was three years old. Mr. and Mrs. Cumberland have a pleasant family of four children : Mary E., a graduate of the Crawfordsville Seminary, has taught six years in the city schools of La Fayette, and in 1880 went to Massachu- setts, where she studied French, receiving a diploma attesting her pro- ficiency in that language, and entered an eastern college to complete her education ; Frank S., a carriage trimmer and master mechanic; Eva, a graduate of the Crawfordsville high school, and quite noted for her musical talent, both vocal and instrumental; and Lew, a student at Wabash College, and a workman in the coffin factory during vacations. They are a happy family.
William A. Stilwell, deceased, was born January 19, 1828, in
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Montgomery county, near Brown's Valley, where his father had come from Kentucky in a very early day, entered land, and settled, with wife and one child. His father still lives with his children, at the age of eighty-four, and owns the land he entered. William was one of nine children, all but one born in Montgomery county. William was raised on a farm and educated in the schools of the day. He was mar- ried June 12, 1851, to Mary J. Gott, and the same year began merchan- dising in Waveland. The following year he changed his location to Alamo, and then to Annapolis, and in 1856 moved to Crawfordsville. Here he remained one year, and in April, 1857, went to Linn county, Kansas, and the following July his wife and two children, Wallace A. and Josie, joined him. Mr. Stilwell was a man loyal to the Union and opposed to southern slavery. About one o'clock in the morning, May 22, a party of pro-slavery murderers from Missouri entered the " Trading Post," situated on the military road leading from Fort Scott to Fort Leavenworth, where it crosses the Osage river, about three miles from the state line. They emerged unseen, rode up to the store, and took G. W. Andrews and John Campbell prisoners. They then
started on the road toward Kansas City, overtaking William A. Stil- well, from Sugar Mound, who was going up the river for a load of pro- visions ; they took him prisoner and ordered the other two men to get in his wagon and ride. They continued their maraudings until they had twelve men in custody. On arriving at a deep ravine in a skirt of timber, the commander, the notorious Captain Hamilton, called a halt. The prisoners were formed in line, about five yards in advance of the horsemen. The command was given to "Present arms ! Fire !" every man dropped, and all were killed or severely wounded but one man, who fell for purposes of effect. Four were instantly killed, among whom was brave Stilwell, who, when he found he must die, cried to the villains : " If you are going to murder us, for God's sake take good aim." He fell, having received a charge of buckshot in his left breast. The ruffians then ransacked the pockets of their victims, and one poor fellow, who seemed little hurt, received a shot from a revolver, through the head, while one escaped observation and as soon as opportunity of- fered conveyed the news to the post. For further information of this human slaughter the reader must search the records of those times. John G. Whittier has immortalized the massacre in one of his vigorous and true pen-pictures, printed in the Atlantic Monthly soon after the tragedy occurred, entitled :
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LE MARAIS DU CYGNE.
A blush as of roses Where roses never grew, Great drops on the bunch grass, But not on the dew; A taint in the sweet air For wild bees to shun. A stain that shall never Bleach out in the sun.
Back, steed of the prairies! Sweet song-bird, fly back! Wheel hither, bald vulture! Gray wolf, call thy pack! The foul human vultures Have feasted and fled;
The wolves of the Border Have crept from the dead.
From the hearths of their cabins, The fields of their corn, Unwarned and unweaponed, The victims were torn- By the whirlwind of murder, Swooped up and swept on To the low, reedy fen lands ; The marsh of the Swan.
With a vain plea for mercy No stout knee was crooked ; In the mouths of the rifles Right manly they looked. How pale the May sunshine, Green Marias du Cygne, When the death smoke blew over Thy lonely ravine !
In the homes of their rearings, Yet warm with their lives, Yet wait the dead only Poor children and wives ! Put out the red forge fire, The smith shall not come ; Unyoke the brown oxen, The plowman lies dumb.
Wind slow from the Swan's Marsh, O dreary death-train, With pressed lips as bloodless As lips of the slain ! Kiss down the young eyelids, Smooth down the gray hairs, Let tears quench the curses That burn through your prayers.
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Strong man of the prairies Mourn bitter and wild, Wail, desolate woman ! Weep, fatherless child ! But the grain of God springing up From ashes beneath,
And the crown of his harvest Is life out of death.
Not in vain on the dial The shade moves along, To point the great contrasts Of right and of wrong: Free homes and free altars, And fields of ripe food :
The reeds of the Swan's Marsh, Whose bloom is of blood.
On the lintels of Kansas That blood shall not die; Henceforth the Bad Angel Shall go harmless by -- Henceforth to the sunset, Unchecked on her way, Shall Liberty follow The march of the day.
William A. Stilwell was a Mason, and he thought this would save him, but so inhuman were the villains that it was said a Freemason (Dr. Hamilton) killed him. He left a wife and two children, who soon returned to Indiana. They lived with his father till 1861, when Mrs. Stilwell removed to Crawfordsville and supported her children with the profits of her needle. She did not neglect their education. Wal- lace A. Stilwell was born September 19, 1854, in Alamo, Montgomery connty, Indiana. He attended the public school, and from 1869 to 1873 was a student at Wabash College. Leaving school, he learned rosewood graining in oil, and worked at the coffin factory for some time; but invention depriving him of his trade, he applied himself to sign painting, in which he has excelled. He now has a shop in the basement at the corner of Main and Green streets.
Andrew S. Shanklin, farmer, Crawfordsville, was the eldest in a family of four sons and four daughters reared by John and Elizabeth (Kiggins) Shanklin. His grandfather, John Kiggins, was serving as a teamster in the war of 1812 when he was killed by the enemy. His grandfather Shanklin emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky in the early settlement of the west. The parents of our subject left Bath county, in that state, in 1823 or 1824, and coming to Lawrence county, In- diana, lived there till 1828. It was there that Mr. Shanklin was born,
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on January 6, 1825. The family removed to this county and made their home on Sec. 25 in Wayne township the first three years, but in 1831 changed to Sec. 9, where the father passed the remainder of his useful life, dying April 1, 1880, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. Mr. Shanklin spent his youth farming and clearing land, and in winter attending the district school ; and at the age of twenty-three celebrated his marriage, which took place April 27, 1848, with Miss Catherine Lowe. She was born in Bath county, Kentucky, June 24, 1829. The succeeding year her father came to Montgomery county, and after raising a crop returned late in the season and brought his family and settled permanently in Union township. Her grandfather Lowe was born in 1789, and died at her house in 1880. Mr. Shanklin and his wife are zealous and efficient members of the Methodist Episco- pal church, of long standing, he having united some thirty years ago and she seven or eight years earlier. He is earnestly devoted to the principles of the republican party. His farm of ninety-five acres lies seven miles northwest of Crawfordsville, and is worth $5,000. In Oc- tober, 1869, he moved with his family to Kansas, and returned in exactly two years from that date. This excellent couple have had five children to bless their marriage union : Elizabeth Ann, now Mrs. Joseph R. Vance, was born April 10, 1849; Lavina Ellen, born March 11, 1853, died January 22, 1854; Emily Alice, born May 19, 1855, wife of John McIntyre; John William, born March 6, 1857, married December 7, 1876, to Emma L. Arheart; and Charles Elmer, born July 6, 1862.
Jonathan Nutt, farmer and stock raiser, Crawfordsville. His father, Edmund Nutt, was one of the earliest pioneers that came to Mont- gomery county. The exact year of his emigration is not known, but it is safe to say that he came as early as 1822 ; not more than two cabins being in Crawfordsville when he arrived. He came on foot, and found the country densely wooded, and bearing peavine and touch-me-not in exuberant and almost impenetrable abundance. Through the matted and tangled growth, and by trails already made, he traced out a piece of land and made a claim southwest of Crawfordsville. After deaden- ing the trees on forty acres he went back to Ohio and remained there at least two years. Returning, this time on horseback, he hired his land cleared off, and then went to raising grain. The country was rapidly settling up, and he had a ready market at home for all his produce, though prices ranged low. Corn brought twelve and a half cents per bushel, and pork twenty-five cents per hundred weight. In a very short time he bought a farm of 160 acres from James Gilkey for $600, and paid for it from the products of his fields at these small
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figures. Finally, in 1828, he married Elizabeth Mann, by whom he be- came the father of five sons and two daughters. Mr. Nutt spent his early boyhood in the " Old Dominion " where he was born, but guided by the common instinct of his countrymen to go west he fell in with the tide of emigration to Ohio. He spent fourteen years there, team- ing in summer, and in winter working in a woolen-mill. Both he and his wife died in December, 1863, the former being about sixty-seven years of age. At the time of his death he owned over 2,200 acres of land. On his second journey out here he arrived just at night at the Indian village north of Thorntown, and being sick and pale, was in- vited to refresh himself in a wigwam. Skins were spread on the ground for his couch, and he was treated with great kindness by his red entertainers ; but he could not be altogether at ease, and in a state of mind which had no tendency to induce sleep he lay awake the whole night looking out of the lodge watching his horse in front. Jonathan, his eldest son and second child, was born in Union township Septem- ber 1, 1829. He was married March 17, 1863, to Mary Ann Cooper, who was born in Union township August 13, 1841. She was the daughter of Sylvester and Lydia Cooper, who settled here the year before her birth. Mr. and Mrs. Nutt have been the parents of three children : Lenora, born March 8, 1864, died September 30, 1865 ; Orra, April 13, 1867; and Flora, February 7, 1873. Mrs. Nutt belongs to the Methodist church, and he is a republican. His farm of 382 acres, 50 of which are woodland, is all fenced; it is in a high condition of improvement, with the adjuncts of excellent buildings and a school- house within a stone's throw of his dwelling. His residence is a fine, tasteful brick structure. He values his real property at $28,000.
Joshua C. McKinsey, retired, Crawfordsville, was born in Warren county, Ohio, September 6, 1827, and is the son of Samuel and Rebecca Mckinsey. When two years old he came with his parents to Ripley township, Montgomery county. His father died there in 1866, his mother in 1855. Mr. Mckinsey lived in that township forty-three years. He then settled in the city of Crawfordsville. His residence is 23 Pike street. He is a Mason and a republican, and one of the city councilmen. He was married in 1849 to Rachel Sparks. She is a member of the Christian church. Their home is made pleasant by the presence of an only daughter, Emma E. She is a member of the First Presbyterian church.
John P. Wray, deceased, Crawfordsville, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, November 27, 1822. His father died when he was eight years old, and he was indentured to Samuel Gilliland, with whom he lived until he became of age. He was given a small sum of money by
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his guardian, and then began his way in the world with no other help. One of his first important acts was to get married ; but his wife, Miss Julia Ann Busenbark, survived their union only six months. He next married Miss Mary L. Britton, March 6, 1849. She was born in this township February 6, 1831. Her great-grandfather Farnsworth was a native of Scotland, and emigrated to New Jersey. Her great- grandfather Britton was a soldier in the revolution. Her mother's parents removed from New Jersey to Ohio in 1820, and there her mother was married to Thomas P. Britton. This couple came to Union township in 1829, and settled near where North Union is. They died there. Mr. and Mrs. Wray were the parents of six children : Laura P., born May 6, 1851, married in November, 1870, to George Steele, of Clinton county ; Anna J., born February 8, 1854, married in Decem- ber, 1874, to James Finley, of Clinton county ; Martha Francis, born October 27, 1855, died July 8, 1863 ; William J., born December 13, 1857 ; Clara E., born December 6, 1860; and John M., born Septem- ber 28, 1863. Mrs. Wray belongs to the New Light church, and her husband was a democrat. He died January 1, 1866. When he was married the second time he had $500, but being industrious and a care- ful manager, he prospered, and at his death left his heirs a good home- stead of 180 acres. He was respected by all who knew himn.
Charles W. Elmore, grain dealer, Crawfordsville, was born in Mont- gomery county, December 23, 1829. He had a common school educa- tion, and lived on the farm until 1863, when he enlisted in Co. B, and was captain of the 120th Ind. reg. He served one year and was then discharged on account of ill health. He was in all of the battles of the Atlanta campaign. After the war he went into the dry-goods business in this city, and continued five years. He afterward went into the grain trade, which he has since successfully followed. He is an Odd- Fellow, and a republican, votes as he shot. He has a large warehouse, with elevator, and does a large business. He was married in 1867, to Eliza E. Palmer. She is a member of the Episcopal church.
James T. Mack, merchant, Crawfordsville, is a son of John and Catharine (Wilhite) Mack. John Mack was a native of Virginia, and accompanied his parents to Kentucky. The Wilhites were also Vir- ginians, and early settlers of Kentucky. In the latter state Catha- rine was born, and came with her people in an early day to Mont- gomery county, Indiana. Mr. Mack also made a trip to Indiana to inspect the land, and while here occurred his marriage. At the time of his arrival Crawfordsville consisted of two log cabins. Some time after coming he bought the " hotel," a double log house which stood on the spot now occupied by the large store-rooms east of the court-
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house. There he kept tavern. He sold this and bought a private dwelling-honse which stood on the present site of the St. James hotel. He there kept hotel until he moved on a farm one mile south of Craw- fordsville. Mr. Mack was also a skillful cabinet-maker. He hauled his grain to Terre Haute, fifty-six miles, to mill, and helped chop the forest from the spot on which Crawfordsville flourishes to-day. In politics he was whig, and in religion he was a constant christian and member of the Center Presbyterian church, as was also his wife. He died in 1841. Mrs. Mack, after his death, supported herself and daughter Jennie by means of her needle. Jennie was fairly educated, and after maturity was married to Robert H. Snyder, now a wealthy gentleman of Louisville. Mrs. Mack died December 26, 1874. She was dearly beloved by her children and highly respected by all who knew her. James T., the only son, was born September 15, 1830, in the log hotel mentioned. Being but eleven years of age when his father died, he was obliged to forego many of the advantages of ednca- tion and other pleasures, and therefore worked at anything that offered itself. At the age of nineteen years he opened a restaurant, which has been his principal occupation since. For a time during the war he was in the sutler department of the 20th Ky. reg., with John Mor- gan, son of Dr. Morgan, of Crawfordsville. In 1869 and 1870 he kept a restaurant in Kankakee, Illinois, but since that time has been in Crawfordsville. He spent seven months in Leadville in 1879. In 1880 he moved into his present pleasant room, No. 44 East Main street, Elston's block, opposite the post-office, and is doing a good busi- ness. He is one of the few successful men in his line of business. Mr. Mack was married in 1849 to Elizabeth E. Wasson, daughter of John and Sarah H. (Allbright) Wasson. They have four children : Fannie, Sarah, Jaja, and James T. Jr. He is a Mason, an Odd-Fellow, and a member of the A.O.U.W. He and wife are members of the Methodist church.
H. Rice Canine, salesman, Crawfordsville, was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, August 11, 1824, and came to Montgomery county when eight years old, attending Wabash College some three months. He followed farming till he was thirty years old, when he sold out and came to Crawfordsville, and sold hardware for Cumberland, Gregg & Co. He has been engaged in the same store, either as salesman or proprietor, for twenty-five years, except two years he was in the dry- goods business. He was married September 22, 1845, to Sarah A. Benefiel. They have two children : Mary E. and Edna J. Mr. Canine is a republican, an elder in the First Presbyterian church, and a re- spected and honorable gentleman.
E. O. HOVEY
THE NEW YORA PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENNOX A . D TILDEN FOUNDATIONS X L
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P. M. Layne, physician and surgeon, Crawfordsville, whose residence in Crawfordsville dates back to 1830, is the son of Elisha Layne, who came with his family to Montgomery county, November 30, 1830. He began at farming and followed it as a business during the balance of his life. The doctor now has in his possession some manuscript, a great part of it written by his father, and some by his father's friends ; some portions of it bear dates as early as 1751, and is still in a good state of preservation. The doctor was born in 1827, and is a native of Ken- tucky. His early education was obtained, as he says, "in the woods." At the age of eighteen years he began the study of medicine and some time after put himself under the instructions of a physician. In 1855 he first began a regular practice by buying the office of his old tutor Dr. S. W. Bennage, who had opened the office in 1847. Since 1855 the doctor has devoted his time to the practice of his profession. His faith is of the eclectic school and he is a member of the Eclectic State Medical Society. In 1847 he was made a member of the Masonic order and has since filled the different offices in the blue lodge, royal arch., royal and select master, and in the commandery. He is a member of Crawfordsville Commandery, No. 25. In 1856 he was married to Miss Minerva J. Hughes, a native of Crawfordsville. Her people were among the earlier settlers of the place, and her father built the first brick court-house of the county. She died in 1875, leaving two sons and one daughter. He was married again in 1877, to Miss Louisa Downing, a native of Michigan, though she had been a resident of Crawfordsville for some time prior to her marriage. The doctor has, . by his close application and success in the practice of medicine, placed his name among the list of old and prominent physicians of the county.
Thomas M. Robbins, proprietor Nutt Hotel, Crawfordsville, was born in Butler county, Ohio, December 6, 1829, and is the son of Sam- uel and Jane Robbins. His parents settled in Ripley township, Mont- gomery county, in 1831. His mother died there in 1832; his father in 1855. His father was a farmer, and was in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood on the farm, and had a good educa- tion, attending what is now Bloomingdale, but then Annapolis, College, four or five years. He first went in partnership with his brother, and continued with him on the farm until his brother died, in 1863. He was then in the livery business awhile, and next kept a hotel in Terre Haute, and afterward kept a livery stable in Danville, Illinois, until 1877, when he became proprietor of Nutt Hotel, making it one of the best hotels in the state. In August, 1855, he was married to Miss Mary E. Holton. Their children are John H., born September 23,
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