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 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93
13
194
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
1856, and Willie, born in 1860, and died in 1863. In polities Mr. Robbins is a republican.
Benjamin T. Ristine. Among the oldest and most prominent citi- zens of Montgomery county is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. Benjamin T. Ristine is widely known, both at home and abroad ; also in the law circles of Indiana. He was born January 19, 1807, in the neighborhood of Madison, just across the river, in Kentucky. His father, Henry Ristine, was a native of New York, and his mother, Nancy (Gray) Ristine, was born in Virginia. They married in Kentucky, and moved to Jefferson county, Indiana territory, about 1808. Henry Ristine became a lieutenant in the ranging service during the war of 1812, and explored pretty well the Wabash valley. In 1815 he began keeping tavern in Madison, which he continued till 1820, when he bought land adjoining the town and established a tannery which he conducted for two years. Having been well impressed with the rich soil of the Wabash when ranging here, he determined to make this his future home. Accordingly, in 1823, in the month of May, he reached Crawfordsville with his wife and six children. The city was then in the germ, enclosed by a thick and dense hull of green woods, and little did the Ristines dream of the future city with its numerous industries, its schools, and its churches. Here they built a "log hotel " on the ground just south of, and oppo- site to, the present Nutt Hotel. Here they kept tavern till 1829, when they bought land in the edge of Tippecanoe county, and lived there till 1832, then returned to Crawfordsville and bought the frame and log tavern that stood on lot 111, east of the court-house. Several years afterward he sold, and bought a lot opposite the St. James Hotel, where he built a hotel which he kept till he retired from business. He died in 1856, at the age of seventy-three years. He had been a thorough and active whig. He was president of the board of trustees for some time, and from 1828 to 1833 represented his county in the legislature. He was also prominent in the Baptist church. His wife died in 1861, at the age of seventy-three years. Benjamin T. Ristine passed his youth- ful days in hotel life. At the age of twenty-two he kept a subscrip- tion school, and borrowing such books as he needed he studied law by himself in connection with teaching. Abandoning the law he engaged in the dry-goods business for seven years, then resumed his legal studies, selling his store interest and buying a hundred dollars' worth of elementary law books for immediate study. He also had access to such law libraries as the place and times afforded. In May, 1840, Mr. Ristine was admitted to the bar, and settled for the practice of his pro- fession in Crawfordsville, where he has ever since remained. He has
195
UNION TOWNSHIP.
never allowed himself to seek office. He was nominated by the whigs to represent the county in the convention called to revise the constitu- tion, but although he received the full whig vote he was defeated. In 1845 he became associated with Alexander Thomson in the legal pro- fession, which firm, known as Thomson & Ristine, continued for thirty-three years. Since the dissolution Mr. Ristine has taken his two sons, T. H. and O. H. Ristine, into partnership with him. He was married in August, 1837, to Miss Flora Humphrey. They have seven children: Theodore H., Ozea H., attorneys; Warren H., doctor in Crawfordsville; Harley G., M.D., of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Charles W., who manages the home farm ; Albert (deceased); and a daughter, married to W. D. Frazer, of Warsaw, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Ristine are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. He has been a stalwart republican since the birth of that party.
Charles L. Bratton, farmer, Crawfordsville, an old settler, was born in Augusta county, Virginia, June 19, 1819. He came with his par- ents to this county in a four-horse wagon. They started from Virginia September 12, and got here October 12, 1832. They traveled through the week and rested on Sunday, and enjoyed their journey through the woods and wilderness. His parents were William and Mary G. Brat- ton. His father was in the war of 1812, and both his grandfathers were in the war of the revolution. His father was a Jackson dem- ocrat, a whig, then a republican. His mother was a member of the Presbyterian church. The subject of this sketch went to school in a log cabin and sat on puncheon benches, and had greased paper for win- dows. He lived with his father until he was twenty-five years old, having always been a farmer. He has a good farm of 160 acres, upon which he has a nice two-story brick house, about five miles from Craw- fordsville. He was married January 11, 1844, to Catherine Dice. She is a member of the Presbyterian church, and was born November 9, 1824. They have had ten children : Mary M., married to Andrew Smiley ; David A., married to Eliza Grimes; William A. was in the army six months, and is married to Jane Carrington ; John A. (deceased) Martha E .; Charles M., married to Ellen Loop ;- James B., Harvey B., Orpha W. and Rachel J. Mr. Bratton has been a Presbyterian since he was twenty-three years old, and is now a deacon in that church. He is a Good Templar, a member of the Horse Detective Association, and a strong adherent to the principles of the republican party. He cast his first vote for General Harrison, in 1840. He reads a great deal, and is an intelligent, enterprising farmer. He has the patent for the land where he now lives, issued to Charles Johnston, signed by Andrew Jackson.
196
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
John Bishop, tailor, Crawfordsville, the son of Benjamin and Maria (Britton) Bishop, was born April 22, 1832, in Montgomery county. At the age of fourteen he began to learn the saddle and harness trade with William W. Nicholson Sr., of Crawfordsville. At the age of sixteen he enlisted for five years in the Mexican war, in Co. D, 16th U. S. Inf., under Col. J. W. Tibbatts, of Newport, Kentucky. Au- gust 7, 1848, at the close of the war, Mr. Bishop was honorably dis- charged, having served about sixteen months. Returning home he served three years' apprenticeship at tailoring with George W. Pier- son, for $135. At the expiration of this time he formed a partnership with Mr. Pierson, which continned for several years. On June 23, 1852, he was married to Elizabeth M., daughter of James and America
Galey, of Crawfordsville. His family of four children, James M., George W., Henry C. and Edwin S., are all in business in Crawfords- ville. In 1863 Mr. Bishop enlisted in a volunteer regiment of home- guards, under Col. S. M. Houston, and during the same year enlisted in Co. C, 108th Ind., under Col. W. W. Wilson, for the Morgan raid, and was mustered out July 17, 1863. In May, 1864, he again enlisted, this time in the 135th Ind., commanded by Col. W. W. Wilson, and was mustered into service May 23. He was appointed hospital steward. After serving his full time of enlistment, mostly in the States of Ten- nessee and Alabama, he was honorably discharged September 29, 1864. Returning to Crawfordsville he resumed his trade in the tailoring establishment of Wilhite Bros., where he continued until 1876, then bought out the senior partner, the firm still continuing Wilhite & Bishop. Mr. Bishop has for years been one of the most reliable busi- ness men and valuable citizens of Crawfordsville. Ever solicitous for the pure morals and good name of the city, he always stood with the leaders in every work of reformation and education. May 8, 1879, he was elected to the city council for two years, and has by strict in- tegrity and impartiality secured the confidence and esteem of the com- munity. In 1848 Mr. Bishop united with the Methodist church, and during his connection has been entrusted by the church with positions of honor and responsibility, which he has always filled creditably. His conversion has a remarkable feature, and illustrates the power and efficiency of prayer. While in the Mexican service, stationed at the city of Monterey, without chaplain or religious services of any kind, he was suddenly and powerfully convicted of sin and the necessity of living a different life, which he at once resolved to do. Two months afterward he received a letter from his mother stating that during a revival in Crawfordsville she had presented him to her class as a special object of prayer. On comparing dates he found that the time
197
UNION TOWNSHIP.
of his conversion coincided exactly with the time of his mother's spe- cial earnestness in regard to him. Mr. Bishop lives to-day believing he was saved by the grace of God in answer to the prayer of his devoted mother and her friends in the church.
Robert J. Vance, Crawfordsville, was born near Winchester, Vir- ginia, September 22, 1814, and is the son of Robert Vance. He lived in Virginia till he was fourteen years old. He then went to Ken- tucky, and came to Montgomery county when he was nineteen years old. His grandfather, Maj. Beall, was all through the hardships, sufferings and battles of the revolution. Mr. Vance began clerking for his brother Samuel in a dry-goods store when fourteen years old, and thereafter went into partnership with him, which continued for several years, and then went into business for himself. Mr. Vance was in business in the city of Crawfordsville for nearly forty years, part of the time as a grain dealer, a note-broker and general trader. He has been a Mason for twenty-five years, and is a deacon in the First Presby- terian church of this city. His ancestors came from Scotland, and were Presbyterians for fully 300 years back, and were active in the religious troubles between Scotland and England. Mr. Vance was marred in 1843 to Martha Tilden, of Virginia. Her father was a phy- sician of some note, and her grandfather was a physician and a Presby- terian preacher. Mr. Vance has five children living : Elizabeth, Mary, Ruth, William and Lucy. In politics Mr. Vance is an original whig. He has relatives in Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio and Indiana. He has been a successful business man, and although he has met with reverses within the last few years, yet is pushing on with the energy and anibition of a younger man. Mr. Vance is active, ener- getic and honest. In personal appearance he very much resembles the great statesman from New York, William H. Seward.
Ephraim C. Griffith, contractor and house builder, Crawfordsville, was born January 5, 1833, in Crawfordsville. He is a son of Townsend and Mahala (Cattlin) Griffith. His mother was born in Hamilton, Ohio. Her parents were from Virginia, and in 1822 came to Mont- gomery county and bought the present Stafford farm, just east of the city of Crawfordsville, where they lived for many years, then went to Clinton county, Indiana, where they died, he at the age of seventy-six and she at ninety years. Her father was a Pennsylvanian, and with his parents went to Maryland, then came to Indianapolis, when there was not a shingle roof to be seen in the place. There about 1822 he saw his father, an old revolutionary soldier, buried with the honors of war. The old gentleman was a Quaker, and the Friends gathered to make his shroud, but when they understood he was to be buried as a soldier,
198
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
they departed. About 1823 Townsend Griffith came to Crawfords- ville. In 1827 he was married, and settled in a little old store-room, bought of John Willson, and which stood where the engine-house now stands. Here his father died in 1829. His mother died in Maryland. When Townsend first came he bought the ground on which the Center Presbyterian church now stands. Mr. Griffith built the first log jail of Crawfordsville. This burning, he put up the first brick jail. He was always active in public improvements. He held public meetings throughout the county, and solicited nearly all the subscriptions for the old New Albany railroad stock. He was major in the state militia also. He was a warm democrat, yet a particular friend and companion of the Hon. John Willson (deceased). In 1852 he went to Minnesota, and on his way home was taken ill. When just across the northern Illinois state line he was obliged to leave the train and seek a stranger's cot, and in a little village in northern Illinois he died. He was buried there but was removed in the following winter to Crawfordsville. He was widely known and highly esteemed in the county. Mrs. Griffith is still living in Crawfordsville. Ephraim C., son of the above, was raised in the town of Crawfordsville and educated in the common school. At the age of twelve years he applied himself to learn the cabinet and carpenter's trades with his father, when he was so small that he was obliged to make a platform on which to stand at his bench. This has been his life work. He is probably the most extensive con- tractor in the county, having built a great number of business and dwelling-houses. He was a school trustee for some years, and was ap- pointed to superintend the erection of the county court-house, which cost $135,000. He keeps from eight to twenty hands employed. In 1879 he was elected city councilman. He is a warm democrat, a Mason, and an Odd-Fellow. He was married February 14, 1855, to Mary J. Brassfield, of Montgomery county. She was born in Shelby county, Kentucky. She is a member of the Methodist church. They have three boys and one girl. The Griffiths have done much toward the improvement and development of Montgomery county and Craw- fordsville.
Henderson J. Coleman, farmer and veterinary surgeon, Crawfords- ville, was born in Scott county, Indiana, January 14, 1829. His parents, John and Mary (Jacobs) Coleman, removed thence to Frank- lin county in his early infancy, and lived there until 1833; at that date they came to Union township and made their residence on the home- stead where Mr. Coleman now lives. His mother died of cancer August 29, 1864, at the age of sixty-eight; and his father died April 19, 1874, aged eighty-four years. Mr. Coleman received a common
ยท 199
UNION TOWNSHIP.
school education, and twenty-five or thirty years ago was much of the time engaged as a pedagogue, but as he was a natural penman his teaching was chiefly limited to writing-classes. At that day he was accounted the champion penman of Montgomery county. With this 'exception, he has always led the life of a farmer until within very re- cent years he has grown into the practice of veterinary science, which for twenty-five years he has been studying and applying in his own business. For some time, at first, he bought diseased and disabled horses, and after curing, sold them. His successful treatment of these animals gave him a gradually extending reputation, and the demands which the public at length made upon his time rendered it necessary that he should give up either his farming or his practice. Recently he has operated his farm by hired help, and about a year ago adver. tised as a practitioner. He attends three days in the week at the liv- ery stable of Smith & Bro., in Crawfordsville, where he responds to all professional calls. In 1876, and again in 1880, Mr. Coleman listed for taxation all the real estate in the south half of Union township. The farm he owns comprises 138 acres, situated three and one-half miles south of Crawfordsville, and valued at $6,000. This property he has accumulated by his own unaided industry. He has been a Mason eighteen years, and a life-long republican. His marriage with Deborah Edwards, who was born March 6, 1833, was celebrated on September 16, 1856. The fruits of this union have been nine chil- dren : Elizabeth (deceased), Mary Ellen (deceased), Emma E., wife of Edward Kelsey ; Susie Edna, Josiah (deceased), Julia, William R., Samuel, and John. Mrs. Coleman belongs to the Christian church.
John Stump, farmer and stock raiser, Crawfordsville, eldest son and second child of George and Martha (Talbot) Stump, was born in Boone county, Kentucky, May 8, 1820. Eight years afterward the family settled in Rush county, Indiana, and in 1830 removed to Mont- gomery county, and improved a farm in Union township, three-fourths of a mile southwest of the present residence of Mr. Stump. The country was then covered by deep forests, and settling in the green woods Mr. Stump helped his father clear his farm and make a com- fortable home. When he began to do for himself he worked first by the day, and at length hired for a year. At the end of this term of service he was able to buy eighty acres of timber land. He took jobs of felling trees and making land ready for cultivation, and while so employed did a great amount of hard labor. He has accumulated a sufficient competence for his old age. His farm of 230 acres lies six and one-half miles southwest of Crawfordsville; 150 acres are under cultivation and in pasture. It is worth $9,000. He was married to
200
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
Sibella A. Farley December 22, 1846. She was born April 30, 1821, and died November 17, 1871, having borne seven children : Robert, born December 18, 1847, married Laurinda A. Payton August 6, 1871 ; Martha Catherine, born June 28, 1849, married to David Payton Jan- nary 18, 1866; William H., born January 19, 1851, married Luella Northcott August 15, 1875, she died April 14, 1876, and he September 22, 1878; Mary Elizabeth, born July 8, 1855; George W. and Re- becca Ann, March 11, 1859, the latter was married to William Grubbs September 23, 1875 ; and Jennie, born February 22, 1864. Mr. Stump was married again June 24, 1873, to Elizabeth Hopkins, widow of Jacob Routh and David Hoel. She was born in Clinton county, Ohio, June 30, 1832. Fifteen years ago she united with the Christian church, but since her marriage to Mr. Stump has become a member of the United Brethren society, to which he has belonged the last five years. Mr. Stump draws his political inspiration from the old-time tenets and prac- tices of the democratic party, and cast his first vote for president for James K. Polk, in 1844.
Redden B. Snyder, farmer and stock raiser, Crawfordsville, was born on the place where he lives, April 3, 1835. His parents arrived here from Butler county, Ohio, in the autumn of 1831. His father entered 160 acres, and soon afterward bought as much more adjoining; this comprised his real estate at the time of his death. The contrast between the log cabin which he built on these premises and the elegant residence just completed by Mr. Snyder a little north of the old site is striking and picturesque, and is not an unfair measure of the rate of progress made in this region of country in fifty years-a wonderful social and material growth. Mr. Snyder was married October 23, 1862, to Elizabeth, daughter of Sanford and Mary (Kemp) Gray. She was born November 1, 1839. The Grays were from Kentucky, and the Kemps from Pennsylvania. Her parents removed from Ohio to this county about 1836, and settled in Ripley township. Mr. Gray has been a man who has excelled in all the qualities of good citizenship; his high-minded life, warm-hearted intercourse, and unquestionable usefulness, should keep his memory long in the hearts of the people. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have one child, Mary Luella, born January 27, 1864. Both parents have been members of the Christian Union church six years, and the former is a Master Mason. He is also a democrat in politics. Mr. Snyder owns 281 acres of choice land lying in a body and situated on the northwestern gravel road, three miles from Craw- fordsville. It is valued at $25,000. The large and substantial brick house erected on the premises the last year, and just completed and furnished, is a model of finish on the interior, which has not been
201
UNION TOWNSHIP.
allowed to supplant the main object of convenience. It contains eleven principal, besides a large number of smaller rooms, and wardrobes. Mr. Snyder himself was the architect who planned the building and furnished all the designs. It is the best residence in Montgomery county, and was built at a cost of $8,000.
Nathaniel Quick, farmer and stock raiser, Crawfordsville, was born in Union township, June 30, 1832. Edwin and Abigal (Ball) Quick were his parents. He obtained a common school education, and after he was married attended one term at Merom Union Christian College. July 17, 1853, he was united in marriage with Catherine M. Groenen- dyke, who was born December 2, 1828, and died November 18, 1869. She was the mother of eight children : Flora Hannah, born February 10, 1855, now Mrs. George Fuller, married August 7, 1875 ; Jessie F., born January 5, 1857, died February 5, 1859 ; Mary, September 15, 1858, died October 5, 1859 ; Clara, July 16, 1860; Thomas B., May 6, 1862, died November 8, 1865; Abby, December 2, 1863, died June 20, 1864; Nathaniel, July 15, 1865; and Daisy C., November 16, 1869, died April 9, 1870. Mr. Quick married Miss Sweak Cook, March 8, 1877. She was born December 11, 1845. He has been a member of the Christian church (New Light) thirty-one years, and has held the office of clerk most of the time during that period, and is still occupy- ing the position. He is now a deacon, and a licentiate member of the Indiana Western Christian conference, having filled the former place four years, and been licensed in the other about twelve years. Mrs. Quick belongs to the Campbellite branch of the Christian church. Mr. Quick owns 262 acres of land worth $13,000. In politics he is a green- backer. His brother Stebbins was a soldier in the 72d Ind. Vols. about six months and was discharged on account of disability.
Elijah C. Brown, retired, Crawfordsville. Just before the war of 1812 his paternal ancestors, who were of English extraction, emigrated from Virginia to the northwest territory and established themselves near the present site of Chillicothe, Ohio. The war coming on, liis father volunteered, but partial deafness prevented his acceptance by the inspecting officer. Some of the relations still remain in the vicinity of Chillicothe and are to be found in the Thurman family, one of whom has risen to distinction in the senate of the United States. His grand- father's family on his mother's side came from North Carolina. They were Quakers, and descended from Dutch and Welsh ancestors. Mr. Brown was born in Highland county, Ohio, January 12, 1814, on the Capps farm, in the neighborhood of an earthwork which is a vestige of the Mound Builders. He was made a namesake of Elijah Capps, a nobleman by nature, who gave him a term of schooling. He had eight
202
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
brothers and sisters, all younger than himself, the greater number of whom, with the parents, are dead. In 1825 the family secured a home near Greencastle, in Putnam county, and having become settled down on it, he assisted his father to clear the little farm of ninety-five acres. This small homestead was not sufficient for so large a family, so our subject, at the age of sixteen, began to learn the cabinet trade. His apprenticeship being ended, he was not able at all times to obtain em- ployment in his line, and so on numerous occasions did so much at joiner work as to acquire such a knowledge of that art as to make it of material assistance to him. He was endowed with a deeply religious nature, and some circumstances and observations were not wanting to make a solid impression on his mind. Near his birthplace he had seen massive blocks of stone which had been borne from their native beds and scattered in curious isolation over the ground. These, he had been told when very young, by his father, were thrown into their present positions by the convulsion of nature at the crucifixion of Christ. The cavernous formation of ground near his home, in Putnam county, set his mind, already excited with the story of the supernatural, at work with thoughtful inquiries concerning these natural wonders. It was then that the value of an education appeared to him. Without this essential to extended usefulness he felt that he would be barred out into outer darkness, and destined to endless mental misery. So, upon the recommendation of friends, he was led, in the fall of 1834, to un- dertake a course of study in Wabash College, then but recently founded, and by means of his trade, hoped to work his way through ; the purpose of the founders of the institution being at that time to organize a manual labor, and also an agricultural department. This object falling through, he, with others, was disappointed and deprived of the benefit of his plans, and after a term or two spent in the school was obliged to turn away with a heavy heart from his ambitious aspirations ; but not till after Prof. John Thompson had proffered con- ditional aid to ail the hopeful but indigent aspirants for learning. Some accepted, others declined ; among the latter was Mr. Brown. He re- turned to former pursuits. Shortly afterward he contracted marriage and celebrated his nuptials with Mary B. Bowles, whose maiden name was Daniels, on July 27, 1835. With this wife he lived in comparative harmony thirty-eight years. She was a lineal descendant of Col. Linn, one of the first settlers of Kentucky, whose name is conspicuous in the pioneer history of that state. They reared three children, two sons and a daughter, born respectively at four, eight, and sixteen years after their union. In the spring of 1835 Mr. Brown set up in the furniture and undertaking business in Crawfordsville, and followed it fifteen years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.