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 55
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
Dickey & Brewer, dealers in books, wall paper, pictures, and pict- ure-frames, Crawfordsville, have the largest and best assortment of everything in their line of business of any house in the city. They have been in partnership since 1872, and are doing a large business. They have all kinds of books, and all who desire anything in their line will do well to call on them. You will find them pleasant and ac- commodating gentlemen.
John J. Darter, grain dealer, Crawfordsville, was born in Fayette county, Indiana, in 1828. He had a good common school education, and taught school in the winters for about four years. He settled in Montgomery county in 1855, and in Crawfordsville in 1859. He was engaged in the produce and grocery business, and buying of grain, for some eight years. Since then he has been engaged in the grain busi- ness. He has been a member of the school board ten years, city council- man four years, and owns the city elevator on the Indianapolis, Bloom- ington & Western railroad. He was married in 1866, to Miss Stincy Fuller, and has four girls and four boys. His wife is a member of the Center Presbyterian church. Mr. Darter is a republican, and a pro- nounced temperance man. His father and mother, Joseph and Mary Darter, are still living, the former eighty-two years old and the latter eighty-four.
George T. Graham, Crawfordsville, was born Angust 16, 1812, in Rockbridge county, Virginia, near the natural bridge. His father, Thomas G. Graham, was born about 1778, and died about 1830. He lived in Rockbridge county until he removed to Lexington, to learn the trade of a cabinet-maker with Mr. Plunkit. He then worked at his trade, and built a number of boats on North river, and at these he was engaged until he moved to Ohio, near Eaton, where he followed farming until his death. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and a democrat. He married Kaziah Gill in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and became the father of seven children, three of whom are living: George
278
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
T., Elizabeth White, living near Greensburg, and Sarah Bailey, now residing in Huntington county, Indiana. After the death of Mr. Graham Mrs. Graham married Abraham Myres, and at the time of her death, June 26, 1871, was living with William H. Bailey, in Huntington county. She was a member of the Dunkard church. When George T. was but eighteen years of age his father died, and the providing for the family fell upon him, which was cheerfully done until his mother's second marriage. Mr. Graham continued to work at various trades at Morn- ing Sun until his emigration to Union county, Indiana, where he was engaged several years in various enterprises. His next removal brought him to Davis county. He then moved his family to Butler county, Ohio, and was engaged twelve or thirteen years as a clerk and stock buyer in Summerville. He was then employed one year in Illinois, and in 1859 settled near Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he was engaged in farming until 1865, which time marks the date of his removal to the city, where he has been engaged in various undertakings. In October, 1836, he married Mary C. L. Bennett, of Union county, Indiana, who was born January 24, 1817. Her mother, Susanah Bennett, was born April 16, 1784, and died July 25, 1871. Her father, George W. Bennett, was born December 19, 1784, and died December 22, 1852. They were both members of the Presbyterian church. Charlotte M. Kingen, a niece of Mr. Graham, is now making her home at his house. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, as is also his wife. He is a repub- lican, casting his first presidential vote for Jackson. He now has in his possession a badge worn in the campaign of 1840, with a picture of Gen. Harrison upon it. August 12, 1848, he united with the Odd-Fel- lows, in Butler county, Ohio, and has occupied many offices in the order. He is now the left supporter of the vice grand, and a past grand.
Robert B. F. Peirce was born February 17, 1843, at Laurel, Frank- lin county, Indiana. His father, Henry Peirce, came of Puritan stock, and was born in Massachusetts. He came to Indiana at an early day, settling first at Fairfield and afterward moving to Laurel. The family was large, consisting of seven boys and two girls, and the father failing in health, when Robert arrived at the age of seventeen, was too poor to assist him into business or in getting an education. But he made up his mind to have a full collegiate education, and in September, 1860, entered the preparatory department of Wabash College. Being with- out funds, he supported himself by working during his spare time, saw- ing wood and doing such other work as he could obtain ; and for the first two years of his college course he sawed all the wood used by one of the hotels in Crawfordsville. The war broke out soon after he en- tered college, and as the different calls were made for soldiers, one
279
UNION TOWNSHIP.
after another of his brothers entered the service until he, the fourth and the only remaining one old enough to enlist, volunteered and was chosen second lieutenant of his company. He remained in the army until the close of the Atlanta campaign, when his regiment was m us- tered out of the service. He then returned to college and renewed his studies. In 1866 he graduated with the full honors of the regular classical course. In July, 1866, he went to Shelbyville, in this state, to read law in the office of the Hon. B. F. Love, and although a com- parative stranger, was at once elected to fill a vacancy in the office of city attorney by the unanimous vote of the city council. He was mar- ried November 20, 1866, to Miss Hattie Blair, of Crawfordsville, daughter of John W. Blair. She died October 28, 1878. They be- came the parents of three children : Lais J., Frank H. and Edwin B. He remained there for one year, and in 1867 returned to Crawfordsville and opened an office, and soon ranked high at a bar which has always been noted for its strength. In the following year he was elected by the republicans as prosecuting attorney for the counties of Clinton, Boone, Fountain, Warren, and Montgomery ; and being twice reelected, held the place for six years. He devoted his time assiduously to the discharge of his official duties, and while so engaged was brought in contact with some of the ablest lawyers in the state. He sustained himself well, and soon became known for his energy, zeal and success in the prosecution of criminals ; and his official career is yet pointed to as a model one for prosecutors. He never turned any of his cases over to other management, but without exception gave them his personal attention. In May, 1874, he was appointed general solicitor of the Logansport, Crawfordsville & Southwestern Railroad Company, and elected one of its directors. He continued to hold these positions until the sale of the road a few months ago. He also gave his attention to the practice of the law in his and in neighboring counties, and in the federal courts of Indianapolis and Chicago. He has deservedly taken a high place in his profession, and it is no disparagement to the other members of the Crawfordsville bar to say that he has no superior there. Mr. Peirce has always been a republican, and being a pursuasive and logical speaker, his services on the stump have always been in de- mand, not only in his county and district, but by the state central com- mittee on behalf of the state ticket. He has never been a candidate for any office except that of prosecuting attorney, and though often pressed has always declined to enter the lists for any political office. For the position Mr. Peirce now occupies in his profession and in poli- tics he really is indebted to no one; he is a self-made man in the true sense of the word. His earnestness in whatever he undertakes, his un-
280
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
tiring industry and energy, and his rare talents for command and con- troversy, render him almost invincible before the people. Mr. Peirce is not less distinguished for the inflexible uprightness of his political conduct than for his kindly disposition and winning manners. He is genial, affable, and has the faculty of making warm and enthusiastic friends.
Abner P. Enoch, farmer, Crawfordsville, was born in Butler county, Ohio, August 2, 1837. Mr. Enoch was born on the farm, attended the common school, and Wabash College two terms. He was a punc- tual and diligent student. He began farming for himself when twenty-one years old, and began teaching school the winter he was twenty, and taught for nine successive winters. He was married November 18, 1860, to Phebe Jane Foust. They have had six chil- dren : Howard D., Virgil W., Alma L., Sallie A., Fannie C., Ora H., Bruce H., Mary Maud, the first two of whom died in one day, with spotted fever. In twenty years he has made his farm of 232 acres clear of all indebtedness, it being well improved, watered by springs, and about four and a half miles from Crawfordsville. Mr. Enoch is a republican, a Universalist, an Odd-Fellow, a member of the Detective Association, and a pronounced advocate and exemplar of the principles of temperance. He is a lover of books, and is a successful, enterpris- ing citizen.
Emory Totton, the oldest dentist in Crawfordsville, was born in Trumble county, Ohio, April 2, 1833. He had the advantages of a district school education, attended Gustavus Academy one year and college one year. He began the study of dentistry before he was twenty-one years old. He came to the county in 1856, and studied dentistry with Dr. Detchon. He made a trip down through Ohio into Virginia; made his home in New Richmond, this state, two years, and in 1860 located in the city of Crawfordsville, where he has had a large and successful practice. In 1876 he removed to Bowling Green, Kentucky ; stayed there three years, and then returned to Crawfords- ville. The doctor began life without anything, and has made his own way in the world. He was married to Martha A. Barr. She is a member of the Methodist church. The doctor is a republican, a Methodist, and takes considerable interest in Sunday-school work.
James H. Tammany (deceased) was born September 10, 1825, in Bellefonte, Centre county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Henry and Eva (Fox) Tammany. His father, Henry Tammany, was a native of Ireland, who settled in Pennsylvania and there became extensively en- gaged in railroad and iron business. He came to Indiana about the time of the cholera epidemic in La Fayette, and contracted to build
281
UNION TOWNSHIP.
the New Albany, Louisville & Chicago railroad from Greencastle to Crawfordsville. James H. Tammany contracted to build the same road from Crawfordsville to La Fayette. He then became book- keeper for Graham & Brothers in Crawfordsville. In winter seasons he was bookkeeper for Watson & Sample, who at that time were ex- tensive pork packers. Whenever not otherwise engaged he was a welcome addition in the dry-goods store of Graham Bros. He con- tracted to build the gravel road from Crawfordsville to Covington, but the scheme failed, through no fault of his. He was also contractor for the construction of the Crawfordsville and Alamo gravel road, which also failed. April 28, 1861, he enlisted in Co. G, 10th Ind., as orderly-sergeant, under Col. Manson. He served three months, was at the battle of Rich Mountain, and returned home August 10, 1861, and taking ill he died October 26, 1861, and rests in the Odd-Fellows' cemetery. He was raised a Catholic, and a democrat in politics. Mr. Tammany was married July 11, 1855, to Dorcas A. Cooch, daugh- ter of Lowen R. and Eleanor (Taylor) Cooch. She was born January 4, 1827, in Hamilton, Ohio. Her father was a native of Randolph county, Virginia, and her mother of Washington county, Pennsylvania. The Cooches trace their ancestry to the celebrated Randolph, of Roa- noke. Mr. Cooch died December 9, 1855, aged fifty-six, and Mrs. Cooch followed her husband May 3, 1858, on her fifty-eighth birthday. She was a Presbyterian and he a Baptist. Mrs. Cooch's brother, John Taylor, of La Fayette, was a very wealthy merchant, whose two sons were colonels in the civil war. After the death of her husband Mrs. Tammany supported herself partly by writing for John M. Pier- son, claim agent, and in other ways. She had learned to use her pen readily in the county auditor's office in Hamilton, Ohio, when her brother, W. H. Laymon, filled that position. Her only son, Harry Randolph Tammany, born September 13, 1856, has spent three years in Wabash College. Mrs. Tammany now draws a pension as a reward for the service her husband rendered his country and the loss she sus- tained in the death of him, hastened by war's hardships and exposure.
Ira McConnell. The McConnells came, some generations back, from Ireland, and settled in Pennsylvania, while the Beemers hail from Germany. Robert and Eliza (Beemer) McConnell were natives of Ohio. Mr. McConnell became a wagon and carriage manufacturer and carried on quite an extensive business in Cedarville for twenty-one years. In 1849 he moved to Jay county, Indiana, and engaged in farm- ing. In 1879, while attempting to shift a log on a log-wagon, the heavy timber rolled on him, causing his death. He was class-leader in the Methodist Episcopal church, and also a licensed preacher, and was very
282
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
conscientions and a careful teacher of his children. When in the car- riage business he discharged a workman because he swore in the pres- ence of the children, and another because he discovered a bottle of liquor in his tool-chest. He was very indulgent to his family. Ira, one Sunday, asked him to make a top. Mr. McConnell whittled the top, and handing it to the boy, said, " Ira, you have caused me to do wrong by asking me to do this on Sunday." The boy will never for- get the occurrence. Mr. McConnell was an abolitionist prior to the war, and afterward a republican. His wife is still living, and a mem- ber of the Methodist church. Ira, son of the above, was born October 29, 1842, in Cedarville, Greene county, Ohio. At the age of sixteen he left home and hired out to support himself, having but $1 in his pocket, first working for his board. He stayed one year at Xenia, then came to Boone county, Indiana, with his uncle, and labored on a farm. In 1861 he enlisted at the first call for three-months men. He was three times rejected on account of ill health. At last, when Ho- vey's division was called, he gained admittance to the ranks of Co. G, 24th Ind. Vols., under Capt. A. C. Teal. He fought at the battles of Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, with Sherman from Chattanooga to Atlanta, then with Thomas at Frankfort and Nashville, taking part in thirteen engagements. After his discharge he worked among stock for a time at Muncie, and next read law with William Brotherton and Judge March, of Muncie, one year, but concluding to master a literary course he studied one year at the academy of that place. He then attended Wabash College one year, keeping " bachelor's hall," and finished a classical course in 1872. He earned his way by doing all kinds of work, much of it by wood sawing. During much of the time his health was poor, but his tenacity to purpose impelled him onward and seemed to sustain him. Thus he finished his seven years' course, having had $90 to start with, and having borrowed $100. Leaving college he read law with Major Walter one year, then went in the office of Ken- nedy & Brush, at Crawfordsville, soon acted as civil engineer and sheriff's bailiff, and in 1876 was elected county surveyor, in which ca- pacity, together with his duties of civil engineer, he has served ever since. He was married October 29, 1878, to Hettie D., daugliter of William and Priscilla Powers, an old family of Crawfordsville. She is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. McConnell is a solid re- publican and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Rev. George W. Stafford, Crawfordsville, was born September 24, 1815, in Giles county, Virginia. His father, Thomas Stafford, was born in Dublin, Ireland, whither his parents had gone from England for the transaction of business in the fine linen trade. When Thomas
283
UNION TOWNSHIP.
was three years old (1790) his parents came to America and settled in Giles county, Virginia. Here Thomas was raised on a farm, and in manhood became quite a stock dealer. In 1812 he fought in the battle of Norfolk. Later he emigrated to Fountain county, Indiana (1832), near Attica, where he died September 16, 1847. He had been an active member in the Methodist church, and was chorister for many years. His wife, Ruth Neel, daughter of John B. Neel, Esq., of Mon- roe county, Virginia, a member of the same church from girlhood, died April 24, 1854, at the age of sixty-four years. Both had lived good lives, and died peaceful deaths. Mrs. Stafford's father, John Neel, was quartermaster-sergeant, and a hero in the battle of Bunker Hill. George W., the subject of this sketch, became inured to the toils of the farm, and in early manhood attended Wabash College. Mr. Stafford being desirous of entering the ministry, and there being no theological seminaries in those days within his convenience, he studied at home, assisted by ministers of the church, chief of whom was Rev. James' Dixon. In the fall of 1836 he was licensed by the Methodist Episco- pal conference to preach in Stafford's meeting-house, Virginia. In 1840 he was ordained deacon by Bishop Soule, at Indianapolis, and elder by Bishop Morris, at Centreville, in 1842. He continued in the itineracy till 1878, when he withdrew from the active ministry. Dur- ing his life-work he has been stationed at the city of Richmond, Frankfort, Valparaiso, Greencastle, Rockville, and in 1861 he perma- nently located at Crawfordsville, where he purchased a farm near the suburbs of the city. Since that time, while engaging in the ministry at different points, he has also supervised his farm of 300 acres. During the war he served somewhat more than a year as chaplain in the 40th Ind. Vols. ; was at the engagements at Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and with Sherman to Atlanta, where, on account of sickness, he re- signed. During his ministry he has been one of the most successful workers in the Methodist church, having received 3,500 persons into membership, 400 of whom he received at his first charge on the New- town circuit, Fountain county, and ten of whom are now in the minis- try, some in foreign lands and some at home. He has also been an earnest worker in the temperance cause, and signed the first temper- ance pledge in America, and every one presented him since. He is also a member of the fraternities of Masons and Odd-Fellows. Finan- cially, also, Mr. Stafford has made a success of life. Having received from his father's estate, after having fairly started in life, but $1,000, by perseverance and economy has accumulated a competency for his old age, and legacy to his children, of $25,000 or $30,000. He was married March 24, 1842, to Miss Rachel R. Stitt, daughter of Judge
284
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
Stitt, who sat upon the Crawfordsville bench for twenty-one years. Her parents were from Virginia. She was born December 25, 1822. Their family have numbered eleven children : Charles W. (deceased) ; James F. and John M., ministers in the Methodist church; Sarah A. (deceased) ; William A., farmer; George W., attorney at the Craw- fordsville bar ; Lewis and Oscar (both deceased) ; Eddie A., student at Wabash College; and Mary and Lizzie at home.
Maurice J. Lee, tile and brick-maker and farmer, Crawfordsville, was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, February 17, 1837. He is the son of Mor- ris and Cecilia Jane (Runey) Lee, who were born in Ireland, his father emigrating about the year 1818, and locating in Philadelphia. His mother came later. They were married in Philadelphia in 1835. The sub- ject of this sketch was their only child. About the year 1836 the parents moved to Frankfort, Kentucky. They were poor, and their only son was early inured to a life of toil, but attended school in Frankfort sufficiently to acquire the rudiments of an ordinary English education. At the age of nineteen his parents died. From that time for several years he worked with R. A. Brawner, of Frankfort, in his brick-yard. In 1862 he crossed to Indiana, and for awhile engaged in bridge- building with Harry Taylor, contractor and civil engineer, Salem. In 1863 he came to Crawfordsville, worked at brick-making two years, and in 1865 began the business for himself. This he has followed since, but in 1877 he added tile-making to his other pursuits, and is very largely the leading tile-manufacturer of Montgomery county. The first year he manufactured 50,000; the next season he increased his facili- ties, and his business has since constantly enlarged, the product amount- ing the last year to 325,000. This is convincing evidence of the valne of this industry, and that as the importance of tile-draining becomes better understood, and the good results of the system are witnessed, those who depend for success immediately on the products of the soil are hastening to secure its benefits. It is reasonable to expect that it will not be many years hence until the wealth of Montgomery county will have doubled from this single source of improvement. Mr. Lee was married April 4, 1864, to Miss Margaret M. Keenan, of Frankfort, a lady of Scotch parentage. She died November 16, 1866, leaving an only son, Henry Keenan. January 25, 1870, Mr. Lee married Miss Catharine A. Crowe, daughter of Michael and Dorothea Crowe, of Crawfordsville. Her father was among the pioneers of the state and of Montgomery county, and superintended the construction of that part of the Wabash & Erie canal lying between La Fayette and Attica. He afterward was a farmer in this connty. Three sons and one daughter are the fruits of Mr. Lee's second marriage: Walter J., Francis C.,
285
UNION TOWNSHIP.
Helen C. and Morris. Mr. Lee is a democrat in politics. He resides at his country home, one and a half miles north of Crawfordsville, at the junction of the Crawfordsville and Concord and the Crawfordsville and New Richmond gravel roads, in an elegant brick dwelling conveni- ent to his extensive tile factory and brick-yard. The farm comprises 112 acres of choice land.
Joseph F. Tuttle, D.D., president of Wabash College, second son of Rev. Jacob and Elizabeth Ward Tuttle, was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey, March 12, 1818. When ten years of age he entered the Newark Academy, and pursued his studies for four years, afterward ac- companying his father and family to Ohio, where he engaged in farm work with his uncle until his eighteenth year. This invigorating em- ployment improved him physically, and developed a vitality that has endured through a long and active life, making his advanced age an easy burden. Developing in early life a desire for intellectual culture, he entered the freshman class of Marietta College during the presi- dency of Dr. Joel Lindsley, and graduated with the first honors as valedictorian at the commencement of 1841. The same year he began a course of theological studies at Lane Seminary, under Dr. Lyman Beecher. In September, 1843, he became a tutor in Marietta College, which position he held one year. In 1844 he was licensed a minister of the Presbyterian denomination. About the first public literary effort of Mr. Tuttle was on the occasion of his receiving the degree of A.M., in 1844, when he delivered a poem entitled “ The Aztec Sacri- fice." In April, 1845, Dr. Tuttle was ordained and installed pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of Delaware, Ohio. In 1847 he ac- cepted a call to the Presbyterian church of Rockaway, New Jersey, where he remained fifteen years. These years of ministerial work yielded an abundant fruit in the growth and prosperity of the church, and in the earnest and close ties of fellowship developed between pas- tor and people. During his busy labors as a clergyman Dr. Tuttle inade many contributions to the current religious and secular literature of the day, including a number of elaborate articles written for the " New Englander," the " Biblical Repository," and other reviews. He also prepared and published several volumes on various subjects. In 1860 Marietta College conferred upon him the honorary degree of D.D., the first given by her to any of her alumni. A new and important field of labor was opened to Dr. Tuttle by his election to the presidency of Wabash College in 1861, and he entered upon the responsible duties of the position in May 1862. At the commencement of the war of the rebellion, in 1861, the larger portion of the students attending this col- lege volunteered in the military service of the general government,
286
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
which left the classes very much depleted in numbers. It is worthy of record here that this band of youthful patriots so well performed the duties of the soldier at the front as to reflect lasting honor upon the in- stitution whose classic halls they willingly left to encounter the perils of the " tented field." Under the wise and energetic presidency of Dr. Tuttle, Wabash College did not languish. The number of students in- creased beyond those of antibellum days. Friends of the institution came forward to relieve its financial embarrassments. Additional en- dowments were generously subscribed. Unfinished buildings were completed, and the college in all its facilities and appointments before long took rank second to none in the great central states of the country. The venerable and venerated president remains, in health and vigor, teaching his classes and directing the destinies of this important and growing institution of learning, which is the pride of the people of the state and a credit to the nation. During the first year of his ministry, in 1845, Dr. Tuttle was happily married to Miss Susan C. King, of Rockaway, New Jersey, and they have four children. In physical de- velopment, Dr. Tuttle is a fine specimen of manhood. He is above the medium height, muscular, erect, and elastic in motion, with a massive head of perfect shape, and a benevolent and highly intellectual cast of countenance, united with a gentle dignity of demeanor. Dr. Tuttle's life and character may properly serve as an example from which the youth under his ministration may derive an influence that cannot fail to be of benefit in their future career. Besides special educational duties, Dr. Tuttle has been much before the public as a prominent citi- zen, and as a public speaker has frequently been invited to deliver ad- dresses on important occasions. His Sabbath afternoon lectures to the students during the college terms are esteemed as among the most profit- able and interesting exercises of the college.
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.