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 74
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T. H. Messick, grain dealer, Ladoga, was born iu Butler county, Ohio, in 1818, is the son of Samuel and Hester Messick, who were of French and German descent, but American born. The father was a native of Maryland and mother of Kentucky, and moved to Preble county, Ohio, where the father died in 1825, and the mother died in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1838. At the age of thirteen the subject of this sketch went to Kentucky, where he served an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade, which occupation he followed for seventeen years. In 1855 he came to Montgomery county, Indiana. He served as mail agent three years on the Lonisville, New Albany & Chicago rail- road, and has been one of the most extensive grain dealers in this part of the county, having handled over 2,000,000 bushels of grain. He has been from his boyhood a strong advocate and worker in the cause of temperance, and is one of the active business men of Ladoga.
J. B. Wilson, M.D., physician and surgeon, Ladoga, one of the suc-
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cessful physicians and surgeons of Montgomery county, is a native of Montgomery county, Kentucky. He was born January 29, 1830, and at four years of age his parents removed to Putnam county, Indiana, and located on a farm. His father, Henry Wilson, came to this county, and died in 1876. At the age of nineteen the doctor began the study of medicine at Danville, Indiana, after which he came to Ladoga and studied under Dr. Kelley, one of the pioneer physicians of the county. Since 1855 the doctor has been one of the leading physi- cians and surgeons of this part of the county. Ile is a graduate of Rush Medical College, of Chicago, also of the Eclectic Medical Col- lege of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a prominent Mason and staunch re- publican, and is a man who has not only been successful profession- ally but also financially. He is the half owner of a fine drug store, and other property in the town of Ladoga. The doctor is of a social turn, making and retaining friends without an effort. In 1859 he mar- ried Miss Mary L. Young, daughter of John Young, formerly presi- dent of the Northwestern University of Indianapolis, Indiana. His wife departed this life in 1879.
J. V. Coombs, principal of the Central Indiana Normal College, was born in Boone county, February 22, 1848. His parents were of English and German descent, and came to Indiana from North Caro- lina. In 1865 Mr. Coombs lost his left hand by the explosion of a gun. This accident caused him to turn his attention toward securing an education. At this time he could scarcely read or write. In 1868 he entered the Academy of Ladoga, and in his twentieth year he began teaching in the country, and continued for three years. In 1871 he entered Butler University, remaining two years. In 1873 he entered Eureka College, but on account of the lack of means he left at the close of the year, and began teaching at Blue Mound, Illinois. 1875 again found him at Butler University. In 1876 he was elected principal of the Alamo graded school. In 1872 he graduated in the institution of which he is now principal. In the fall of 1877 he was elected as prin- cipal of the Waveland schools, which position he held until he was unanimously elected to the position which he now occupies.
B. H. Graves, livery and farmer, Ladoga, is a native of Ran- dolph county, North Carolina, and is the son of Leonard and Mary (Calicott) Graves, who came to Scott township, Montgomery county, Indiana, in the spring of 1833, and resided on the same farm till their death. The father died in 1860, and the mother in 1866. Mr. Graves was raised on the farm where his father settled when he came to this county. Farming has been his occupation all his life. In 1856 he married Miss Sarah Brookshier, who was born in Mont-
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
gomery county, Indiana, in 1833. She is the daughter of Joel and Sarah (Slock) Brookshier, who were natives of North Carolina, and came to this county about 1830. Her father died about 1863, and her mother in 1855. Mr. Graves' family are Homer P., Martin C., Cary H. and Francis E.
William H. Utterback, farmer and stock raiser, Ladoga, son of Martin and Elizabeth (McDowel) Utterback, was born in Henry county, Kentucky, March 3, 1824. At the age of six years he, with his parents, came to this county, and in 1832 his parents entered land on Sec. 4 in Clark township, and immediately moved into the green woods and started their home. Here William grew to man- hood and engaged in the sturdy duties of pioneer life. He thinks that nine months of log cabin schooling will cover his early edu- cational advantages. When twenty years old he commenced learn- ing the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1860, when he moved upon the old farm and became its manager on account of his father's failing health. Since his father's and mother's death he has become the owner of the old homestead. December 13, 1849, he married Martha A., daughter of Thompson and Susan C. Ashby, a native of this township, and was born December 9, 1830. They are the parents of six children : Teressa B., wife of Isaac H. Click ; Martha L., wife of Decatur D. Ellis; Alonzo, in whom his fond parents had centered every hope, at the age of nineteen fell a victim to typhoid fever: Susan C. and Cora A. Mr. Utterback is now quite happy over his grandson, Montie E. Ellis.
Andrew J. Davis, farmer, New Ross, Indiana. His parents, Mr. Robert and Keziah (Mallet) Davis, came to this county and settled in the northeast part of Clark township in the winter of 1830. They moved here from Kentucky on pack-horses. Ile at once entered land on a little creek called " Strap's branch," after an Indian chief named Strap from wearing a strap on his nose on account of his nasal organ being affected with something like a cancer. Here Mr. Davis cleared up a farm. As he began in the green woods he drove the deer from his growing grain and the wolves from his door. Here he reared his family, and here himself and wife died and are buried in their own private family burying-ground on the farm where they so long lived. His father is also buried here, though the first man who found a last resting-place here was Mr. John Sumner. A. J., the subject of our sketch, was born in Kentucky, September 22. 1829, and was about six months old when he came with his parents to this county. He had only the advantages of the country schools of this county's early history. In 1852 he married Miss
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Francis E. Litton. a native of Lawrence county. Indiana. They have six children : John W., Joseph H. S., Oliver C., Elizabeth M., Carrie B. and Charlie R. Mr. Davis is one of those congenial kind of men with whom it is a pleasure to meet, and a man well posted in the early history of this township.
William N. Carman, farmer and stock raiser, Ladoga, is a mem- ber of an extensive family in Long Island. His ancestors landed in New England 250 years ago. His grandfather, Joseph Carman. emigrated from New Jersey to Kentucky, and located where Louis- ville now is, at a time in its history when there was but a few pole tents in the district. On his way from New Jersey he stopped. however, a couple of years in Virginia. Soon after reaching Ken- tucky he was murdered by the Indians, near Bedford, in what is now Tremble county. It was supposed by his relatives that he had had some difficulty with one of the tribe, and that they for revenge killed him. His body was cut in pieces and hung upon a tree by the most savage and bloodthirsty of the tribe, indicating complete and satisfactory revenge. William N .. son of Isaac and Mary (Hughs) Carman, was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, November 26, 1827, where his father had previously settled, and entered a farm of 240 acres. Mr. Carman's mother died of Asiatic cholera when he was but six years of age, and at the age of seven he emigrated with his father to Montgomery county, where he has since resided. Jan- nary 25, 1849, he was united in marriage with Miss Ann, daughter of John and Mary (Ashby) Harrison, prominent families in Mont- gomery county's history. She was born in Clark township in 1832. and is the mother of three children : Priscilla A., wife of John F. Zimmerman, Benjamin F. and Sallie F. Mr. Carman is the owner of a beautiful farm of 407 acres.
Lewis Otterman, retired farmer, Ladoga, son of Lewis and Clara (Null) Otterman, was born in Putnam county, West Virginia, in Sep- tember 1811. In the year 1830 he with his father's family emigrated to Clark township, where a farm was immediately entered on the frontier, and pioneer hardships began. Lewis remained at home about two years after reaching this township, when he hired out at $8 per month. By a judicious saving of his first year's wages and what he received in advance upon his second year's work he was en- abled to enter two forties, upon which he is now very comfortably spending his declining years. By an untiring energy and economy he increased the number of his acres to 1,200. a good portion of which he has recently divided among his children. In the summer of 1836 Mr. Otterman was married to Miss Hetty, daughter of Samuel Pefley.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
She is a native of Virginia, and was born July 21, 1818. They are the parents of seven children : Ann Eliza, wife of Isaac H. Smith : Sarah J., wife of D. J. Bradley ; Samuel H., John F., Lewis C .. James M. and George W.
Preston Hicks, farmer, Ladoga, was born January 28, 1830, near Russellville, and is the son of Jefferson and Lucinda (Ragsdale) Hicks. His father was born in Kentucky, June 11, 1810, while his mother was born in the same state May 1, 1811. His father came here in 1831, and settled where his son Samuel now lives. April 9, 1854. Mr. Hicks was married to Martha A. Utterback, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Utterback, by the Rev. Mr. Baldwin. They have be- come the parents of twelve children : William, Samuel, Melissa J., Martin, Marietta, Henry, Allen, Thos. J., Robert F., Jesse O. and Charlie. His first farm contained forty acres, but now he is the owner of 900 acres, and is considered one of the wealthiest men of the township.
David Stoner, farmer, Ladoga. This highly esteemed and gen- erous hearted citizen was born in Botetourt county. Virginia, May 25, 1806. His early years were spent in farming and attending in the old hilly country of his native state the district school. In 1831 he came to Indiana and entered land in Clark township. In 1851 he was married to Miss Ann Deardorff, a native of Preble county. Ohio, and became the father of six children: Catharine, wife of William Higgins ; Benjamin, Caroline, Samuel, Christena, wife of William Hicks ; Saloma A. Mr. Stoner's life is an example worthy of the following of many young men of our county : beginning life a poor boy, but full of energy and a stirring will, he constantly rose in the estimation of friends and in the accumulation of this world's goods. It was an invariable practice of his in his younger days to make one shoe every evening after his day's work was done. Thus his start in life was among hardships and industry, the fruit of which is 1,000 acres of fine farming land in this and in Boone county. Mr. Stoner traces his ancestors on the paternal side to the English, and those on the maternal side to the Germans. In 1837 he came with his step- mother to this township from Virginia, and has since remained a leading citizen. In an early day he erected a saw-mill, which did good service in furnishing building materials to the pioneers. Oc-
tober 14, 1878, Mrs. Stoner died with a cancer. As honest labor (in the slave state of Virginia) was considered dishonorable for a white man, Mr. Stoner sought a home in a free state early in life.
Huston McCrery, farmer, Jamestown. In 1790 Mr. James Mc- Crery emigrated from Belfast, Ireland, to the United States, and set-
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tled in Virginia, bringing with him his wife, Frances (Huston) Mc- Crery, and two children. After settling in America he became the father of seven other children, all of whom are dead save Huston. the subject of this sketch, who was born in 1808, and came west to find a suitable location. In 1832, while prospecting, he came to this county with the desire of establishing a tan-yard, but not finding a suitable quality of black-oak bark for tanning purposes he and his brother abandoned the project and returned to Virginia. In 1836 Mr. McCrery. having been pleased with the beauties of the country as an agricultural district, returned and bought land on Sec. 11, T.17. He began life for himself with but $16, but by hard work and close attention to business he now owns 400 acres of excellent land under a fine state of cultivation. In 1836 he was married to Miss Lucinda Jorden, who was born October 16, 1814, in Bedford county, Virginia. They are the parents of five children : James, Sarah E., John, Mar- garet J. and Andrew J. Mr. McCrery is an Odd-Fellow, being a member of Luther Lodge, No. 227.
William R. Harshbarger, farmer, Ladoga, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Myers) Harshbarger, was born in Scott township, No- vember 10, 1839, and was reared on the farm and thoroughly edu- cated in the pursuit of agriculture and affairs pertaining to practical business. He received such an education as was obtainable in the school-houses in the township's early history. November 12, 1863, he was married to Miss Anna, daughter of John B. and Sallie (Man- gues) Peffley. She was born in Clark township September 28, 1843. They are the parents of five children : Emma E., Effia L., Daniel W., John, and George F. Mr. Harshbarger is now engaged in farming and general stock raising, making the higher grades of sheep a speciality. Since 1867 he has been the pastor in the Dun- kard church of Scott township.
John R. Peffley. farming, Ladoga, son of John and Mary M. (Robinson) Peffley, was born in West Virginia, April 9, 1830. In 1833 he came with his parents to this county and settled in the wild woods of Clark township. His early education was such as was af- forded in the old log cabin school-house with its split log benches, its greased paper tacked over a hole in the logs through which the light might pass, and its peculiar pedagogue, who would be a real curiosity in this day of the free school system. His first vote was cast for free schools. His practical education was complete espe- cially as far as it related to the clearing of timber and hard labor. October 6, 1859, he married Miss Sarepta, daughter of Jacob Stoner. She died in June 1866. In October, 1870. he was married to his
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
second wife, Miss Eunice A., daughter of Ira Hunt, an early settler of this township. She was born May 1, 1842. Mr. Peffley is the father of three children: William H., by his first wife, and Lorena D. and Dora M. by his last wife. He is now living on his farm, one mile northeast of Ladoga. April 3, 1877, Mr. Peffley obtained a patent for a fence post, which is an excellent thing of its kind, and which should be generally known and used throughout the country. Mrs. Peffley's mother, an intelligent and interesting old lady, is still living, just east of Ladoga, and is well posted in the scenes and char- acteristics of the early settlers' life.
David D. Neely, farmer, Ladoga, son of Thomas and Laruhama (Dryden) Neely, was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, May 15, 1823. Very early in life he came to this county and has ever since made his home within its borders. September 3, 1850, he was mar- ried to Miss Martha E., daughter of James and Sarah (Wilcox) Hanna. She was born in Brown township, in this county, where her father entered land in 1829 and soon opened a tan-yard. It is be- lieved by many that this was the first enterprise of this kind in this portion of Montgomery county. Mr. Neely learned the carpenter's trade early in life, and has since followed that trade in connection with his farming. He spent one year in Iowa, and while there he built the first frame house in Des Moines. February 15, 1864, he moved to his present home, about three miles northeast of Ladoga, where he is comfortably situated engaged in farming. Mrs. Neely traces her ancestry back to the distinguished pioneer, Daniel Boone, who was an uncle of her grandmother, this lady being a daughter of Jonathan Boone, and was raised in the old fort built by the first members of the Boone family.
Josephus Graybill, farmer and stock raiser, Ladoga, son of Samuel and Lydia ( Arnold) Graybill, was born in Scott township September 10, 1837. His principal education was hard work, in- dustry, economy and honesty, and a few leisure days in the winter spent in attending the early subscription schools of his native town- ship. December 12, 1861, he was married to Miss Mary J., daughter of Samuel P. Frame. She was born in this township January 27, 1846, and has become the mother of two children, Saloma .A. (or Duck, as she is more familiarly known) and Homer F. Mr. Graybill is now living one half mile east of Ladoga, engaged in farming and general stock raising. He received 160 acres of land from his father to begin upon, but by an ever persistent energy, economy, and close attention to business, he is now the happy possessor of 560 acres
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of good farming land, under a high state of cultivation. He is one of the enterprising, wealthy and leading men of Clark township.
Thomas M. Rose, farmer and stock raiser, Ladoga, son of Alfred and Mary (Morrison) Rose, was born in this township November 13, 1831, and is, with the exception of Smith Mills, the first born citizen of Clark that is now living in it. He has been a citizen of no other township since his birth. His education was such as an industrious and eager boy might have obtained at the early schools. August 15, 1860, he was married to Miss Sarah, daughter of John and Mary (Robinson) Peffley. They are the parents of two children : Mary E. and Grant E. Mr. Rose traces his ancestry back to England. Ilis great-grandfather, John Rose, came from there early in the last cen- tury, and landed in New York, where he was sold out to pay his passage fare from his native country to America. Later in life he settled in Shenandoah county, Virginia, where Alfred Rose was born February 8, 1804. April 24, 1825, he was married to Miss Mary Morrison, and in 1829 he moved from Virginia to Montgomery county, and settled in Clark township. Here they raised a family of eight children, the fourth of whom is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Rose's mother was born September 5, 1807, in east Tennessee, and died November 3, 1868. Mr. Rose's farm is located on the gravel road, about two miles east of Ladoga, from the highest point of which can be had a fine view of the surrounding country. Mr. Rose is now turning his attention to tile-draining and other improve- ments, which will soon make his one of the finest farms in this town- ship. Ilis father, Mr. Alfred Rose, has recently (February 19, 1881) met with a most distressing accident, the loss of an arm, caused by bruising one of his fingers between two blocks of wood, January 1. 1881.
Zachariah Peffley, farmer, Ladoga, son of John and Mary M. (Robison) Peffley, was born in this township September 24, 1834. His education was received in the public schools of the county, and consisted of a thorough training in the elementary branches. In 1857 he was married to Miss Sarah J., daughter of John Barnett. She died in November, 1861, and September 11, 1862, Mr. Peffley was married to Miss Nancy, daughter of Samuel Parkhurst. She was born in Henry, Indiana, June 23, 1837. They have become the parents of six children : Sarah A., Artie I., Emery A., Albert Z., Lydia B. and Omer L. Mr. Peffley is actively engaged in farming and stock raising on his farm one and a half miles northeast of La- doga. His parents are still living, and are among the earliest set- tlers now living in this part of the county, having located here in
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
1831. They came from Virginia, and reached here when the county was but sparsely settled. His father was born April 21, 1803, but his mother not until January 11, 1808. On August 7, 1842, his father, while returning home from a short distance west of his resi- dence, in company with two of his sons, was badly crippled by a tree falling on them from behind. He has since been unable to work on account of the affair. One of the boys, aged seven years, was killed outright. Mrs. Peffley has suffered much during the past two years from a severe stroke of palsy, which has worried her watchful husband and respecting children to an unmeasured degree.
William Frame, farmer, Ladoga, son of William and Susan (Da- vis) Frame, was born in Kentucky, November 27, 1817. In 1828 he came with his parents to Scott township, and settled a little north of Parkersburg. Here young William received a good prac- tical education while attending the various log-cabin schools, and was well drilled in the requirements of the pioneer and their many difficulties. In 1838 he went to Iowa, and while there was engaged in various connections with his farmings until 1849, when he re- turned to this county. In the spring of 1850 he came to Clark township, and took charge of the farm of Mr. Jacob Harshbarger. April 3, 1850, he was married to Miss Ann, daughter of Jacob and Saloma (Amon) Harshbarger. She was born in Virginia, March 3, 1830. They have six children living : Marcus D. L., George W., Mary E., Jane S., wife of Mr. Jerry Gish ; John C. and Alice A. Mr. Frame is now engaged in farming and general stock raising on his farin adjoining the village of Ladoga on the north.
In September, 1838, Mr. Daniel Graybill came to this county, and settled in Scott township. Here he bought a farm and engaged in farming. In 1840 he built a saw-mill, and engaged in preparing lumber with which the pioneers could replace the cabins with inore suitable and commodious houses. In about 1848 he added a grist- inill to his enterprise. In September, 1880, he sold his farm and came to Ladoga, and now lives a retired life. He was born in Vir- ginia, November 13, 1810. February 9, 1832, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Frankebarger, also a native of Virginia, who died February 6, 1873. August 2, 1873, he was married to Mrs. Eliza- beth Masterson, a daughter of John F. Lane. Mr. Graybill is the father of six children, one of whom, Samuel F., was born in Ohio, May 5, 1837. In 1838 he came with his parents to this county. llis education was limited as far as school advantages were con- verned, but it was abundant when hard labor and practical affairs are taken into consideration. September 20, 1860, he married Miss
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Mary C., daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Myers) Arnold. She was born in Scott township, January 19, 1839. They have four children : Laurie E., Alice M., Manson, and Louie L. Mr. Graybill is now engaged in farming and stock raising on his excellent farm of 190 acres northwest of Ladoga, which, with its beautiful growth of tim- ber, its fine, undulating appearance, and its exquisite improvements and surroundings, make it one of the most desired homes of Scott township.
James Manners, farmer, Ladoga, son of James and Lettice (Hight) Manners, was born in Russellville, Indiana, August 8, 1827, and in the spring of 1830 came to his present home in Clark township. In a log cabin one mile south of his home he learned his A B C's sitting upon the flat side of split logs for benches, and receiving the light through greased paper stretched over holes in the sides of the building in place of windows. He had much experience in the hard ways of pioneer life, having many times followed the trail through the woods to a point four miles north of Crawfordsville, on horseback, as the nearest point to mill. January 4, 1849, he was married to Miss Sarah A., daughter of Robert and Mary (Blades) Miller. She was born in Kentucky, April 30, 1831, but soon came with her parents to this county, and became one of its pioneer citizens. They have five children living : Robert M., Louisa L., Lettie H., Priscilla C., James H. (died February 1877) and George P. Mr. Manners has, with the exception of about six years spent in Iowa and about the same time in Putnam county, spent his life in Clark township. He has been engaged during life in farming, school-teaching, milling, and the mer- cantile business. September 22, 1862, he became a member of Co. F, 54th Ind. Vol. Inf., which participated in the siege and capture of Vicksburg. He was discharged at New Orleans in September, 1863, on account of disability. His father was born in Maryland, March 30, 1793, and although his paternal parents were born in Ireland he traces his maternal ancestry to England. His father died in Clark township, after a life of usefulness and industry, in February 1871. His mother died February 3, 1870, after raising a family of eight chil- dren, all of whom were educated to be u eful men and women.
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