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 66
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Bainbridge Hall was a distant relative of Commodore Bainbridge, after whom he was named. He served under Jackson at New Orleans and in the war of 1812. He married Polly Nichols. Both were na- tives of Virginia and in early times went to Kentucky. There the slavery spirit became bitterly odious to Mr. Hall, and he sought a home in Indiana. He made several trips through this section, but was not pleased with the outlook. Finally he moved his family in 1831, and settled on a part of Sec. 16, T. 17, R. 3 W., or what is Brown town- ship, on which he took a lease. In 1834 he entered 80 acres in Sec. 15, and soon added a few acres more. He also entered 400 acres in Wal- uut township for his children. There, on the Brown township home- stead, Mr. and Mrs. Hall lived and experienced all the hardships and
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privations together with the peculiar pleasures of frontier life. Mr. Hall was very strong in whig principles, and outspoken in favor of tariff. He and wife were members of the Regular Baptist church. Mr. Hall died September 6, 1855, and was followed fifteen days later by his helpmate of so many years. Their family numbered ten chil- dren : Anderson, who died December 14, 1876; Elizabeth and H. H., now of Walnut township; Sarah, now Mrs. Harris, of Nebraska ; John R., of Union township; William B., of Clinton, Illinois; Francis, who died at the age of twenty-five years ; Benjamin, who died at the age of twenty-three years ; Y. P., of Brown township ; Samuel Q., of Wal- nut township, and Mary E., dead.
H. H. Hall was born in Kentucky, September 13, 1812. His life has been spent on the farm. He remained at home until after his ma- jority, then worked out by the month. On March 24, 1840, he was married to Catharine Wasson, daughter of Alex. and Jane Was- son, who came to Montgomery county about 1826. Mrs. Hall was born April 10, 1814, in Shelby county, Kentucky, also the nativity of her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Hall settled on their farm which his father had entered. This farm embraced the W. ¿ of S.W. } Sec. 32. They began the task of hewing a farm from the dense timber, and the exceedingly wet ground made this no easy task. He afterward bought 40 acres more, being the N.W. } of N.W. } Sec. 32. He has also built a good house and barn. In politics Mr. Hall is an ont- spoken republican. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are earnest members of the old Regular Baptist church. They have had eight children : Mary J., James A., deaf and insane; Benjamin F., Sarah E., Louisa E., Alex. B., Robert S. One child, Emily, is deceased.
Samuel Q. Hall, farmer, Ladoga, son of Bainbridge and Polly (Nichols) Hall, was born September 8, 1828, in Shelby county, Ken- tucky. He came while very young, accompanied by his parents, to Montgomery county, and since his arrival has lived here, with the exception of about nine months in 1856, which he spent in Iowa. He owns 190 acres, for 110 of which he paid his father $400, and for 80 which he subsequently purchased he paid $1,600. His land comprises the E. } of S.E. ¿ Sec. 32 and 30 acres of the south end of E. { of N.E. ¿ Sec. 32; also the E. ¿ of S.E. } Sec. 32. Mr. Hall was married September 8, 1857, to Martha Hall, of Monroe county, Indiana. She was born February 1, 1830. They have four children : Mary E., Anderson N. Amanda F. and Benjamin H. Mr. Hall is a thorough republican and a successful farmer. He looks back to the time when his mother chopped the frozen meal from the sack just brought from the distant mill by his brothers, and mixed it with
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water, then baked and gave it him and the others to eat. Those were early times and he notes the change.
David Spolır (deceased) was born in Augusta county, Virginia, February 7, 1802. His parents were Pennsylvanians. Mr. Spohr was married to Selena J. Foster, daughter of Wm. and Mary A. Fos- ter, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Maryland, and their fathers came from Ireland. In 1832 Mr. and Mrs. Spohr came to Montgomery county, Indiana, bringing two children, Nancy J. and John. Here they entered the E. g of S.E. ¿ Sec. 10, T. 18, R. 3W, pat- ent signed by Andrew Jackson. They soon built a fashionable cabin, and settled amid all the privations and hardships, beginning with but $80. Mr. Spohr died July 1, 1878. He and his wife were Presbyter- ians. In the early Jackson days he was a democrat, but when Jack- son vetoed the Bank bill Mr. Spohr became a bitter whig and later a more bitter republican. Mrs. Spohr still lives on the place at an ad- vanced age. John Spohr, second child of the above, was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, December 4, 1831, and was eight months old when his parents brought him to the wilds of Montgom- ery county. In. his boyhood the axe, maul, wedge and hoe were his daily companions. Three months in a year were supposed to be set apart for his education, but were a load of wood wanted, or milling to be done, it was, "John, I suppose you better stay out of school to- day." When eighteen years of age he was allowed to begin for him- self. He first worked for Jonathan Martin at $9 per month. With his little earnings he was enabled to attend school at the Quaker insti- tution at Darlington, through the spring, summer and fall. He then taught three months in the Detrick log school-house in Franklin town- ship, for which he received $50. In the winter of 1852-3 he taught three months for $60, in the school-house on S.E. corner of Sec. 14, Walnnt township, then went again to the Quaker school. He was prevented from farther teaching by ill health, and his eyes would not allow him to study. Mr. Spohr made a trip west, and invested his earnings in lands till he owned 480 acres. In 1871 he bought his pres- ent home farm of 100 acres for $5,000. He paid $2,000 down, and good crops and fortunate sales of western lands paid the other $3,000, so that now he has a good farm, also pleasant $800 house clear from all encumbrances. His farm comprises the W. } of S.W. ¿ Sec. 11 and S. ¿ of S.W. } of N.W. } Sec. 11. He also owns 160 acres in Shaw- nee county, Kansas, which overlooks the capital of that state. Mr. Spohr was married July 27, 1876, to Mrs. Catharine (Routh) Inlow, daughter of A. J. and Sarah A. Routh, early settlers in Walnut town- ship. She was born January 9, 1843, in a little log cabin on the
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banks of Raccoon creek. When married to Mr. Spohr she had two children by her first husband: Ida B. Inlow and James I. Inlow. They also have one boy, left in the care of Mr. Spohr at the death of the mother; this is Henry F. James. Mrs. Spohr with her daughter is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Spohr is a Mason, also a member of the anti-horse thief association. He is one of the warmest republicans in the county, and a successful farmer.
William J. Inlow, farmer, New Ross, was born December 6, 1833, in Montgomery county, Indiana, near Ladoga. His parents, Abra- ham and Susan (Sparks) Inlow, were natives of Kentucky, and came to Montgomery county in the fall of 1828, and settled on 160 acres of land two miles northeast of the present site of Ladoga. The land is now owned by G. G. Myers. On that farm they toiled to change it to productive soil, and there they listened to the howl of the wolf. November 23, 1857, Mrs. Inlow closed her toils on earth, and was buried on the farm. April 16, 1860, Mr. Inlow passed away, and was buried near his wife. They were both members of the Christian church. He had been a whig, but in his last days he was a strong republican. When war threatened, he was called away, and among his last words when talking to his sons, were " Boys, be true to your country." His father was in the war of 1812. William J. Inlow spent his life on the farm till the spring of 1866. March 15, 1866, he was married to Miss Emarine Sparks, daughter of William and Catharine Sparks, of Kentucky. She was born November 2, 1833. Her parents were leading farmers of Nicholas county, Kentucky. April 1, 1866, Mr. Inlow settled in Valley City, now New Ross. Then there were seven cabins and no store. Mr. Inlow bought a small stock of goods, and first used a wood shed as a store, then in the following spring moved into his new store-building. Mr. Inlow's improvements to the town are fully mentioned in the general history of the town. He has continued to live here, and for some years has resided in the suburbs on his pleasant farm. When the Anderson, Lebanon & St. Louis railroad was projected Mr. Inlow was appoint- ed solicitor for stock and right-of-way for Montgomery and Boone counties. He was also school trustee. Mr. and Mrs. Inlow have but one child, Eddie, born December 18, 1866, in New Ross. Mrs. Inlow is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Inlow is a repub- lican. He now oversees his farm, not being strong enough to do much work. He has seen rapid changes in New Ross and surround- ing country since 1866.
Wm. W. Ward, farmer, Mace, was born February 16, 1835, in Union township, Montgomery county. Indiana, and is a son of Uzal
David Enoch
WOONFOUNDATION
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and Lydia (Lafuse) Ward. His parents came from Union county, Indiana, to Montgomery county about 1834 and settled southeast of Crawfordsville, where they bought 160 acres of land. There they spent their remaining years. Mr. Ward was born in 1801, in Ohio, and died May 8, 1877, and Mrs. Ward was born 1802, in Union county, Indiana, and died July 7, 1870. They were widely known, and did much toward developing the soil and increasing the pros- perity of the county. They were earnest christian people, and mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Ward was a democrat, then a republican. His elder brothers were in the war of 1812. In their family were eight children : James, Julia A., Samuel J., Wm. W. and Mary E. Alfred, John L. and Elizabeth deceased. William W. when nineteen years old began life for himself. For some years he farmed the home place. ' In 1857 he bought twenty-six and two-thirds. acres of land adjoining his father's. He sold this and bought seventy acres near Shannondale. He then traded for the farm of eighty-two. acres on which he now lives, and has added to his possessions until: he now owns the W. ¿ of S.W. 4 Sec. 6, and E. ¿ of N. W. } Sec. 7, and W. ¿ of N. W. 4 Sec. 33. He enlisted in August 1862, in Co. K, 86 Ind. Inf., under Col. George F. Dick. He was engaged at Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, all the battles in the Atlantic cam- paign ; was at Franklin and Nashville, and was discharged in June 1865, when he returned to the quiet pursuit of farming. He was married December 31, 1857, to Mary A. Linn, daughter of William HI. and Eliza Linn, early settlers of Montgomery county. They have two children : Lillia F. and Eliza J. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are mnem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been a life-long and staunch republican, and is to-day one of the successful farmers of the county.
Samuel Imel was born in Virginia, and Susan Imel, his wife, was a native of North Carolina. They emigrated to Ohio in an early day, then to Wayne county, Indiana, and in 1836 settled on the N .¿ of N. W. ¿ Sec. 31, and E. ¿ of S. W. ¿ Sec. 30, Walnut township, Montgom- ery county, Indiana. This farm they improved. Mr. Imnel died in 1861, at the age of sixty-one years, and his wife departed to her rest in 1871, aged seventy years. Mr. Imel was an early whig, and later a democrat. Mrs. Imel was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a consistent christian lady. Their children numbered seven, three of whom are living: one in Iowa, one in Boone county, Indiana, and Frederick Imel, a re-ident of Walnut township, and subject of this sketch. He was born January 8, 1828, in Wayne county, Indiana, and came while young to Montgomery county. Here
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
he attended the pioneer log school and learned to cypher a little, but his education was mostly derived from sources outside the school-room. He has made farming his life-work. Mr. Imel was married in 1854, to Martha J. Harris. They have had two children : Samuel S., now a young man, and a babe (deceased). They are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Imel is independent in poli- tics. They have seen great changes in their years, and have con- tributed their toil toward the present development.
Thomas E. Harris, farmer, New Ross, is one of the old settlers of Walnut township, and has been among her most prominent citizens. Mr. Harris was born September 15, 1804, in Buckingham county, Virginia. His father, James Harris, was a native of the same place, and became a leading planter, and was a life-long demo- crat. He died in 1853 at an advanced age. His father, John Har- ris, and grandfather to Thomas E., fought in the revolution, and was at Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered. The Pendletons and Freemans, famous in Virginia, are relatives of the Harrises. The mother of Thomas E., Ellen (Staples) Harris, was an amiable woman, and died in 1835 from sorrow at losing her son while he was at medical college at Philadelphia. Thomas E. Harris was raised on the Virginia farm. At the age of twenty-two, in 1826, he was married to Rebecca Powers, and raised nine children, four of whom are living, and following successful occupations and upright lives, which is very gratifying to their father. These four children are : John F., James S., Mary A. and Martha E. In 1836, in the fall, Mr. and Mrs. Harris, with their family, emigrated to Montgomery county and settled in Walnut township, where he now lives. He bought ninety-five acres of the N. W. ¿ of Sec. 25. Here he built a cabin and proceeded to prepare for future years. Many were his privations and hardships, yet happiness and love reigned within the cabin of round logs for six years. About 1842 Mr. Harris built a hewn log house, and was very particular to make it "neat." The bricks he moulded and burned for the chimney. This house was 18×24, "with upstairs," and two rooms below. This was his habi- tation for sixteen years. He then erected a fine frame house, 18× 30, with ell 16x18, two stories. In 1868 he lost this by fire, yet, noth- ing daunted, he built his present commodious dwelling, 28×33, two stories, at a cost of about $2,000. He has added to his original ninety-five acres till he now owns 381 acres, besides having given some away. Soon after coming to the township he was elected jus- tice of the peace and afterward served as township trustee and in- spector of elections. In 1850 and 1851 Mr. Harris represented
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Montgomery county in the legislature and was offered the nomina- tion again, but refused. He has been a life-long democrat and has been respected by both parties. His contributions to church pur- poses and benevolent causes have been liberal, and his life has been one of uprightness and integrity. He has been a member of the Baptist church for many years, also church clerk. Mr. Harris has been three times married. His first wife, who shared his early toils, died in 1853, aged forty-four years, and rests in the Pisgah grave- yard. He next married Mrs. George, an estimable lady, who died in 1862. His last wedding took place in latter part of 1862, to Mary Johnson, daughter of Clement and Nancy Johnson, old set- tlers of Montgomery county. There are two children by the last union : Virginia J., born July 30, 1863, and Robert E., born June 30, 1876. Mr. Harris appears quite prominent in the general his- tory of the township. Perhaps no man has done more toward de- veloping Walnut township than has Mr. Harris.
Robert B. Green, attorney, New Ross, was born April 30, 1836, in Miami county, Ohio, and is the son of George W. and Mary (Hen- dricks) Green. His father was born in Pennsylvania and his mother in North Carolina. They were farmers and Baptists. R. B. Green was raised on the farm till nineteen years of age. He then attended the Tippecanoe, Ohio, Academy, from which he graduated in 1856 in the scientific course. He paid his own school expenses by work- ing mornings, evenings and Saturdays, thus mixing muscular toil with mental exercise. Leaving school he engaged in the manufac- ture of lumber, which he followed more or less till 1873. In the mean- time he also taught school eight winters. In 1873 Mr. Green be- gan the study of law with R. B. F. Peirce, of Crawfordsville, with whom he was associated till 1880, when he became connected with M. W. Bruner. He settled in New Ross in 1872, where he prac- ticed in connection with study. He is rapidly establishing an ex- tensive practice in the different avenues of his profession. He now owns two houses and three lots in New Ross. During the dark days of the rebellion Mr. Green was not asleep. In 1862 he en- listed in the hundred-days service, and in 1864 he reënlisted for one year, when he staid till the close of the war. He was at the battle of Rich Mountain, Kentucky, and some minor skirmishes. During the last year he became cook in the hospital at Indianapolis, then steward, and finally sergeant. For years he has been a member of the order of Odd-Fellows. Mr. Green was married in 1863 to Martha Caldwell, of Boone county. She died June 20, 1878, and is buried at Shannondale, Montgomery county. She left three chil-
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dren : Viola M., Fanny R. and Carrie J. Mrs. Green, with her husband, was a member of the Christian church. Mr. Green is a solid republican. He is town clerk, and town attorney, and notary public.
Harrison Linn, deceased, was born November 4, 1813, in Butler county, Ohio. He was there married to Eliza Corrington, of Butler county, also. About 1837 Mr. and Mrs. Linn emigrated to Mont- gomery county, and bought land east of Fredericksburg, two miles. Selling this they purchased 160 acres in Sec. 6, Walnut township. By patient toil and economy 265 acres were their possessions when Mr. Linn died, June 6, 1877. IIe was buried at Oak Hill Ceme- tery. All his life he had been an energetic, progressive man, sup- porting liberally all measures he thought profitable to the county or township. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and a warm republican, but never sought office. His father was a revolutionary soldier, whose last words upon leaving home for the war of Independence were, slapping his hand on his thigh, "Here goes for liberty." He and wife, James and Ella Linn, were Pennsylvanians. From such parents Harrison received his birthright, which has been transmitted to his children. Mrs. Linn now lives with her son, George W. Linn. George W. was born January 4, 1855, in Walnut township, on the homestead. He has made farming his life work. He was married February 27, 1877, to Jennie Freeman, daughter of Samuel and Lucy Freeman, of Mace, Indiana. She was born March 17, 1858. They have one child, Ethel. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a republican, also a member of the Knights of Pythias and Good Templars. Mrs. Linn's parents came to Montgomery county when young and settled with their parents in Union township, Montgomery county. IIer father is a native of Iowa, and her mother of Kentucky. They moved to Mace in 1874 and are Method- ists.
J. C. Martin, merchant, Mace, was born February 22, 1842, on the old homestead. Evi Martin, his father, was born February 20, 1796, on Mill creek, ten miles north of Cincinnati. About 1806 his parents moved to Lebanon, Ohio, and lived there five years, then in Troy, Ohio, till 1827. He was married August 19, 1819, to Ann Mills. She was born October 4, 1799, near Lebanon, Ohio. In 1827 Mr. and Mrs. Martin turned their faces west toward Indiana, and arrived at his father's house in Union township, Montgomery county, November 26, 1827. Mr. Martin soon entered the S. ¿ of S.W. ¿ Sec. 7, and N. ¿ N.W. } Sec. 18, T. 18, R. 3 W., what was
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afterward called Walnut township. About the middle of December he built a cabin, made a bedstead of two poles, one post, two augur- holes, and bed-cord brought with them. February 4, 1828, the family moved into their new abode, the fifth cabin built in the town- ship. Mr. Martin was soon attacked with a light form of asthma, and for three continuous years he was unable to lie down to sleep. Mr. and Mrs. Martin, by energy and economy, gathered a com- peteney for old age. In 1854 they moved to Linn county, Iowa, where they remained till 1865. They then sold and returned to In- diana and lived with their son, J. M. Martin, till June 1867, then went again to Iowa, to their son Samuel, in Mahaska county. After one year they lived with their son Isaac, at Center Point, Iowa, till June 6, 1871, when they again returned to Indiana to make their permanent home with J. M. Martin. In their old days Mr. Martin sold his place and put his money, over $3,200, in a bank ; the bank failing, the savings of a lifetime were lost, a severe stroke to the old people. In 1830 they united with the Regular Baptist church, and were baptized by Rev. John Lee, the first Baptist preacher of their region, and Mr. Martin's house became a favorite place for pioneer worship. In his prime days Mr. Martin supported whig principles, but later became a radical republican. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are the oldest people in Walnut township, and have lived together in happi- ness for sixty-one years. They sent six sons to the civil war, all of whom returned. J. C. Martin was educated mostly in the field, and in 1854 went with his parents to Iowa. June 25, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 5th Iowa, under Capt. Jolin L. Grubb. He fought in about twenty battles, and was neither hurt nor captured. He was always present when his regiment was engaged. A few of the battles in which he took part are Iuka, Corinthi, Champion Hill, all the battles in the rear of Vicksburg. At Vicksburg Mr. Martin made himself famous among his company by an act of bravery. A volunteer was called for to reconnoiter the enemy's position, and Mr. Martin im- mediately stepped forward. Twice he examined their positions and reported, and explained the mode in which the charge should be made, declaring tlie charge possible. So near to the enemy was he that there were a thousand chances of his being shot to one of his safe return. The charge was ordered, but the captain being killed the sergeant refused to make the charge, whereupon he was threatened with death from Martin's gun, and the arms of another. Just then orders came not to go. The cowardly sergeant was reduced to the rakns, and J. C. Martin promoted to the place. In a letter written by an officer of that day, in years since, appear these words regarding
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the daring deed : "Had that aet been done under the eye of a Na- poleon, the actor would have worn a marshal's cross." Mr. Martin was also at Mission Ridge. He made two trips north on recruiting service, a veteran furlough. Was in the rear at Atlanta, also was at Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill, and Pulaski. In the meantime the 5th Inf. had been transferred to the 5th Iowa Cav., and under Gen. Wilson he was in Wilson's raid. August 17, 1865, Mr. Martin was discharged. He returned to Iowa, and in 1865 came to Montgomery county, Indiana. He farmed in Franklin township till 1873, when he engaged in general merchandising in Mace, which he still follows. In 1880 he erected a very fine residence in Mace, costing about $1,800. Mr. Martin was married Januarp 21, 1869, to Miranda Hutchings, of Franklin township, this county. She was born in Union county, Indiana, September 16, 1849. They have three children : Elmer G., Everet J. E., and Arthur J. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are Methodists. He is thoroughly republican.
James K. Everson, proprietor of New Ross saw-mill, New Ross, was born August 26, 1847, in Union township, Montgomery county, Indiana. His father, George W .. Everson, was born in Pennsyl- vania, August 28, 1807, and his mother, Rachel (Hankins) Everson, was born in Ohio in 180S, and died in Montgomery county, Indiana, April 2, 1877. They were farmers and came to Montgomery county about 1832, and settled near Crawfordsville. Mr. Everson still lives in Union township at the age of seventy-three. He has been a close adherent to the democracy all his life. He is a member of the Christian church, so also was his wife. James K. Everson, son of the above, and subject of this sketch, was raised on a farm and worked for his father till eighteen years of age, when his father gave him his time, and he took charge of the home farm, which he tilled on the shares for eight years. Leaving home he became a partner in the saw-mill at Mace with Eli Meiser, where he remained two years, then bought the saw-mill at Beekville. In October, 1877, he traded for the saw-mill at New Ross, which he owns. Here he employs six men in the mill, also from six to twelve hands with teams, hauling logs, besides choppers. He manufactures all kinds of hardwood lumber native to the forest of the region. He ships very largely to Bloomington, Illinois. Mr. Everson began the world's battle poor and with but little education, but with care and by industry he has thus far well succeeded. In 1880 he finished a pleasant dwelling in New Ross, at that time the best in the town. He is strictly democratie in politics. He was married November 2, 1868, to Hannah Everson, daughter of Stephen M. and Sarah (Hor-
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