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 79
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good work of faith, hope and charity in the church of her allegiance, and in the midst of the large circle of friends who knew her and compre- hended her virtues. Alexander Telford, the father of Mrs. Ilanna, many years before his death removed to Troy, Ohio. James Hanna had there for many years successfully carried on the business of tanner and currier. His means were quite ample, and his immigration into Indiana, as it seemed, was not so much influenced by hopes of a more successful business as the desire to enjoy the educational facili- ties of Wabash College, then recently founded at Crawfordsville. His commercial venture was not successful, and after a few years of ' trial finally abandoned. In 1836 he built the large brick commercial house on the corner now occupied by George Allen and owned by William Newton. It was at this place he closed out his stock. He had formed a singular affection for Wabash College, and seemed to think or care for little else. In the trying days of that institution, now risen to such great and noble proportions, struggling as it was with its mortgages, and still a little farther on with the ravages of fire, he became its general traveling agent, and rode over almost the entire state on horseback, soliciting subscriptions for its relief. He was eminently successful in his efforts. During one of his soliciting tours he was accompanied by Dr. Elihu Baldwin, the first president of the college. They traveled by private conveyance, and canvassed the northern portion of the state. While there, out of curiosity. they visited a large range skirting lake Michigan, overgrown with whortleberry shrubs. There they supposed they were sickened by a noxious succulent closely resembling the berry now become a commodity of general commerce. They were both taken sick at once, and returned home as rapidly as possible. Mr. Hanna recov- ered under medical treatment, but Dr. Baldwin, after protracted and painful illness, died. Mr. Hanna was large, over six feet in height, had sandy hair, a massive head, manly and well-defined fea- tures, and was strong in frame and mind. He was a devout chris- tian of the Presbyterian denomination, and for many years a ruling elder of the church, both at Troy and Crawfordsville. His early education had been limited, but he was remarkably gifted in the natural graces of speech. He had a rare faculty of attracting to himself the choicest men of talents and culture. Considered as a man untrained in the classic schools, and as one who had only drank at the natural fountains on his way, he was an orator of extraordi- nary merit, - stately, clear, correct, impassioned and strong. On Sunday night before he left home for the last time, and which proved to be his last Sabbath on earth, at a monthly concert held in the
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interest of foreign religious missions, he delivered an appeal of sin- gular power to the young men present, to get ready and go forth to this work. His fiery words on that night will never fade from the memory of any who heard him. He left home on the next Tuesday to go as a lay delegate to the general assembly of the Presbyterian church, that year convened at Philadelphia, and he died on Thurs- day following, May 9, 1849, of Asiatic cholera, on the Ohio river steamer Monongahela. He was temporarily buried a few miles above Blannerhassett Island, at Riggs Landing, but subsequently his remains were removed to this county, and interred on College Hill. So lived and died one of the purest and most useful of the early settlers of Montgomery county. He had three sons and two daughters : James, who died young, Alexander, who died in San Francisco, Martha and Mary, still residing here, and Bayless W. Hanna, ex-attorney-general of Indiana, now a resident of Terre Haute, and for many years the general attorney of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad Company.
Jacob C. Campbell, New Richmond, was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1808. His parents, John B. and Elizabeth (Shipman) Campbell, were natives of New Jersey and of Scottish descent. They emigrated to Ohio, and in October, 1832, moved to Montgomery county, Indiana, and settled in Coal Creek township, bringing three boys and one girl: Jacob C., Sarah. Elisha, and William. The eldest child, Jacob, entered eighty acres of land, which he deeded to his parents. They afterward sold and moved to Schuyler county, Illinois, where he died aged seventy-four years, and she died aged eighty-three years. Both were members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Jacob C. entered forty acres in Sec. 33 in 1832, which he afterward sold, and also 160 acres in Illinois. He now owns property in New Richmond. Besides farming Mr. Campbell has followed blacksmithing for many years. In 1848 he opened his shop in New Richmond, and continues to do work for the surround- ing country. He has also dealt largely in bees and honey, which partly occupies his time now. He was married May 23, 1833, to Mary Ann Pryor, daughter of Nicholas and Lucinda (Wilhite) Pryor, who came from Kentucky to Fountain county, and then to Montgom- ery county. They died near Terre Haute. Mrs. Campbell was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, June 27, 1817. They have five chil- dren: Mary E., Sarah J., Elisha, William, and Maria ; also four chil- dren deceased: Lucinda, John, Robert C. and Emily. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are Methodists. His grandfather served under Gen. Greene in the revolution. Elisha C. Campbell, son of Jacob C. and
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Mary Ann Campbell, was born March 16, 1843, in Coal Creek town- ship. He served six months in the civil war. He is a painter by trade, and in polities a democrat. He was married January 14, 1875, to Jennie E. Sibel, who was born September 30, 1846, in Columbus, Ohio. They have three children: Frank E., William C. and Nelly L. She is a Methodist and he is a Mason. William Campbell, also a son of Jacob C. and Mary Ann Campbell, was born August 5, 1847. During youth he worked at the broom trade, also followed barbering awhile. In 1864 he embarked in the grocery trade, and in 1874 he lost every- thing by fire, but receiving some aid from friends he again began business. He was married September 14, 1879, to Ella Beal, daugh - ter of William and Jane Beal, of Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where she was born June 7, 1864. He is a democrat.
Josiah Hutchison, farmer and stock raiser, Boston Store, was born in Warren county, Ohio, May 15, 1812. Ilis parents, James and Cath- arine (Johnson) Hutchison, emigrated from Kentucky to Ohio, where James Hutchison died, March 1812, of the cold plague, and his wife lived until her death, September 15, 1847. Josiah was raised a farmer, and received very little education. When abont a year old he was bound out until of age, to Alex. Hamilton, of Warren county, Ohio, but the death of Hamilton released him when eleven years old. Josiah then lived with his mother, who had married again. For many years he teamed to Cincinnati. JJanuary 5, 1832, Mr. Hutchison was married to Catharine Hixon, daughter of James and Abigail Hixon, of Warren county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison lived awhile in Ohio, where he farmed and followed huckstering. In 1835 they set out for Indiana, and February 18 arrived at their future abiding-place, which he had spied out a few months before. They rented for a short time in Wayne township. They brought two chil- dren, Abigail and James (twins), two small horses, an old wagon that cost him $5, and twenty-five cents in cash. Upon such a capital the man without learning, but with muscle, grit and honesty, began business in the wilds of Montgomery county. He borrowed a little money, without giving his note, and entered forty acres, and the fol- lowing year he entered forty acres more with borrowed money. Dur- ing the first winter he made 7,650 rails for JJoel Hixon, at twenty- five cents per 100, making $1 per day, and cleared his first six acres of land by laboring after night. That six acres he sowed in buck- wheat, raised 300 bushels, hauled it to Chicago and sold it. Times began to brighten, and Mr. Hutchison added to his farm 200 acres more, in Coal Creek township, and 109 acres in Wayne township. He also owned considerable land in Iroquois county, Illinois, and
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still has 105 acres there. He has dealt largely in young cattle. Ilis credit has always been first-class at the bank, and he is a successful man. He has been a life-long democrat, but not an office-seeker. He and wife are members of the regular Baptist church. They have had ten children: James and Abigail (twins), the latter Mrs. A. Swank ; Sarah, married to Jobe Holms (both deceased) ; Mary, (Mrs. J. MeMullen), George, John and mate (the latter a babe de- ceased), Jasper, Melinda C. (in Illinois), Irvin (controlling home farm). They are all farmers, and four of them live on farms adjoin- ing their father's place.
George Westfall, farmer, Waynetown, was born JJuly 26, 1820, in Darke county, Ohio. His parents, Jobe and Elizabeth (Terry) Westfall, were natives of Ohio. His mother died in that state in 1829. His father married again, and in 1834 or 1835' moved to Montgomery county, Indiana, and rented in different parts of Coal Creek township. He died in 1839, leaving a wife and family. He and wives were members of the Christian church. He was a life- long democrat, and had been a soldier in the war of 1812. The burden of the family fell upon George. For one year he cared for the home and family, when his stepmother marrying again relieved him of the responsibility. He then worked by the month at $14, high wages for the time. September 24, 1840, he was married to Martha A. Houser, daughter of John and Nancy Houser, of Coal Creek township. His marriage took place in the log cabin that stood near Mr. Westfall's present residence. After marriage Mr. Westfall rented for eight or nine years. About 1859 be began buy- ing the land of the Bingham heirs, and soon owned 64 acres. This he sold and purchased 160 acres in Sec. 27. He again sold and next secured his present farm of 2383 acres at a cost of $9,550, which now constitute his possessions, all under fence and fairly stocked. He has been a life-long democrat, and in early times was township trustee, and later township clerk for three years. He and wife, with all the family but the little one, are members of the Christian church. They have had nine children : James (deceased ), Thomas, William, John, Vezy, Enos, Columbus, Nancy E. and Carrie E.
Nathan Beach was a native of Brown county, Ohio, whither his parents had come from Pennsylvania. His ancestry hailed from England. He was born and raised a farmer, and at the age of eighteen years became a laborer on a flat-boat, and was afterward em- ployed on a steam-boat, and later became captain, plying on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Leaving the river about 1826 he engaged
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in farming, also dealt largely in horses. About 1831 he was married to Mary Meharry, only daughter of Alex Meharry, of Ohio, and lived in Ohio till 1837. He then shipped by way of the Ohio and Wabash rivers to Attica, Indiana, and soon after bought 480 acres of land in Secs. 11 and 24, R. 6 W., T. 20, or Coal Creek township, Mont- gomery county, Indiana. He also bought in Fountain county. He was a man of good judgment and foresight. He dealt largely in stock and was a successful farmer. He was the architect of his own fortune. He died September 15, 1874, and was buried in the Me- harry graveyard. He left 500 acres of land and other property to his children. Mr. Beach was one of the foremost men in both church and civil affairs. He was steward and trustee in the Method- ist Episcopal church. He took a pride in public improvements, and it was due to his untiring effort that the road from Pleasant Hill to Shawnee Mound was made direct, thereby shortening the distance of travel at least one and a half miles. For years he worked for a sys- tem of schools supported by direct taxation, which the poor people blindly fought. In politics he was whig and republican, and al- though strong and outspoken, he was jovial and friendly even with his political opposites. He was an ultra temperance man, and at times was even refused a drink of cold water by some of the adverse on account of his antipathy to intoxicating liquors. Mrs. Beach died April 9, 1868, aged sixty-seven years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a woman of large bible information and a beautiful singer of hymns. She possessed an even temper and good judgment, and managed her household affairs well, al- though weakly from a cough contracted when young by over exer- tion. Mr. and Mrs. Beach were the parents of six children, two of whom died when young and two when grown. But two are now living: Josiah, of Tippecanoe county, and Stephen A. R., of Montgomery county. Stephen A. R. Beach was born in Adams county, Ohio, January 2, 1835, and came to Indiana with his parents. His life has been that of a farmer and stock raiser. In the latter branch of business he deals extensively, feeding all his grain to hogs and cattle. He owns the old home farm of 480 acres. Like his father he takes an active part in political, temperance and progress- ive movements. He is always on hand to aid the republican party and champion its principles. He is ready with his pen and usually fills the secretary's chair at meetings. He has been secretary in the Masonic lodge for over fifteen years. Mr. Beach was married Sep- tember 8, 1859, to Margaret E. Carter, daughter of Samuel Carter, of Fountain county, where Mr. and Mrs. Beach lived twelve years
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after marriage. She died December 1, 1868, and is buried at Salem graveyard, Fountain county. She left four children : Corwin L., Samuel J., Anna M. and Lizzie E. She was a Methodist. Mr. Beach was next married to Hannah E. (Collins) Espey, daughter of James and Mary Espey, of Champaign county, Illinois. Her father was a companion of Gen. Grant in his youth. He was killed by lightning when sixty-three years of age. He was a strong abolition- ist and a New School Presbyterian. Her mother was a member of the same church and died at the age of forty years. Mr. and Mrs. Beach are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have five children : Alice C. Willard A., Walter J., and Martha F. and George C. twins.
Charles A. McClure, teacher and farmer, Pleasant Hill, is a son of Matthias and Abigail (Elmore) McClure. Matthias McClure was born October 8, 1812, in Adams county, Ohio, where his parents had immi- grated from Kentucky. His father, Nathaniel, was a native of Vir- ginia, and his mother, Mary (Beder) McClure, was a Kentuckian. Mr. McClure with his parents moved to Montgomery county in 1838, and settled in Pleasant Hill, Coal Creek township, where he lived three years. His mother died October 16, 1841, aged fifty-nine years, and his father followed in 1851, quite old. They were earnest and consist- ent christians, and members of the Methodist Episcopal church. When he came to Montgomery county Matthias McClure purchased 113 acres of land close to Pleasant Hill, which he has continued to farm ever since. On December 12, 1841, he was married to Abigail Elmore, daughter of John and Abigail Elmore, of Crawfordsville, Indiana. They then settled on their farm. About that time he erected their present dwelling. They are both members of the Methodist Episco- pal church. He has always been prominently connected with educa- tional schemes, whether intellectual or moral. His energies were bent to the securing the efficient graded school, which did honor to Pleas- ant Hill for years. He was a whig, and then a republican. In the home farm are 185 acres, Charles A., his son, having added seventy-two acres. Mr. and Mrs. McClure have had five children : Nathaniel, John W., now a merchant in Pleasant Hill, Charles A., Matilda, and Thomas deceased. Charles A. was born May 1, 1855, on the old home farm near Pleasant Hill. He received a common school education, pursuing his studies for some time in the Pleasant Hill graded school. When seventeen years old he secured a license to teach. For six years he has been employed as principal of the Pleasant Hill schools. His success as a teacher is apparent. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for two years has been recording secretary. Since sixteen
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years of age he has been local correspondent to the Crawfordsville " Journal," and is now notary public. In 1880 he was employed in taking the census, and in the same year was a candidate for nomination for county recorder in the republican convention.
Amos Ebrite, justice of the peace, New Richmond, is a son of George and Mary (Wright) Ebrite. His parents were natives of Ohio. They emigrated to Montgomery county, and settled [in Coal Creek township in 1839. Here he followed his trade as wagon maker, then farmed, and also worked at carpentering for a time. He was a life-long democrat, and served as township trustee. He was trustee in the Christian church. He died March 1, 1864. His wife, also a member of the Christian church, survives him, and lives with her son Daniel. Amos Ebrite was born January 15, 1833, in Adams county, Ohio, and came with his parents to Montgomery county. His years have been spent on the farm. October 22, 1857, he was married to Mary J. Kel- ley, daughter of Wm. and Mary Kelley, of Illinois. She was born in Madison county, Indiana, Angust 21, 1837, and died May 10, 1866, leaving one child, Emma F. She was a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Ebrite was next married October 25, 1868, to Mary E. Thomas, daughter of Jacob Campbell, of New Richmond, who is else- where noticed. She was born in Coal Creek township, April 4, 1836. Mrs. Ebrite has been twice married, and has one child by former mar- riage, Flora Thomas, and one child by present union, Mary A. Ebrite. Mr. Ebrite has ever stood in the ranks of the everlasting democracy, and has been magistrate for over ten years.
William A. Krug, saddler and farmer, Pleasant Hill, was born September 17, 1790, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His parents, John V. and Eve (Graff) Krug, were natives of the same city and state whither their parents had come in an early day from Europe,-the Krugs from Germany and the Graff's from Holland. John V. Krug died in 1817, in Adams county, Pennsylvania, and his wife died in 1801 in Lancaster. William A. Krug early learned the saddler's trade, which he followed in Pennsylvania till 1821, in York and also in Philadelphia. In York he was married to Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Jones, old settlers of Pennsylvania. In 1821 Mr. Krug moved to Ohio, where, in Paris, he followed his trade for four years, then located in Hamilton fourteen years. In 1839 he emigrated to Montgomery county, Indiana, bringing wife and eight children. He had buried two infants, hence is the father of ten chil- dren, five of whom were born in Pennsylvania and five in Ohio. He bought the whole of Sec. 31, R. 6 W., Coal Creek township. In 1846 he moved to Pleasant Hill, where he opened a hotel. There he
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became postmaster, which position he held for ten years. March 17, 1860, his wife died. This was a severe stroke to Mr. Krug, already seventy years of age. He quit business, and has since spent the years in Pennsylvania, Kansas and Indiana, being much of the time with his children. Mr. Krug is a member of the Episcopal church. In poli- tics he was federal, and then a whig, and later a stalwart republican. He has never been very active in politics, yet was township clerk in Paris, Ohio. He still owns eighty acres of land in Coal Creek town- ship. The Krugs are noted for longevity ; John V. Krug's sister was over one hundred years old when she died. William A. Krug is now ninety years old, and still active, hale and hearty. He is almost as old as the government he loves, and has seen it grow from infancy to its present power. In 1876 he visited the Centennial Exposition and noted the advancement in all the avenues of industry since that day of mourning when he attended the sham funeral of George Washington at Lancaster.
William Shepherd (deceased) was a native of Highland county, Ohio, and moved to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, about 1840. He settled in Sugar Grove, where he lived till death, which occurred De- cember 27, 1876. He spent his life in tilling the soil. His father came from Ireland and served in the revolution. His wife was born July 23, 1819, in Ohio, and now lives on the Sugar Grove farm. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was also her hus- band. He left seven children : Thomas, Albert N., William F., Hale, James R., Elwood, and Edwin.
Thomas was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, April 9, 1843. He lived at home till 1862. In that year, September 16, he enlisted in Co. E, 72 Ind. Vol. Inf., under Col. Miller. During the war he was promoted corporal, and was also transferred to Wilder's brigade, called by the rebels " Wilder's Hellians," so troublesome were these boys in blue. Mr. Shepherd battled for his country at Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Farmington, Tenn., all through the Atlanta campaign, then with Thomas to Nashville and Franklin, on Wilson's raid and at Okolona, Mississippi, and in many skirmishes. At Okolona he was taken prisoner, but immediately escaped. July, 1865, he was discharged, having done valiant work for his country. He returned to the quiet and toil of the farm. September 17, 1867, Mr Shepherd was married to Mary R. Kirkpatrick. She was born in Tippecanoe county, March 28, 1840. Her parents, John and Nancy Kirkpatrick, emigrated from Ohio to Tippecanoe county about 1825. He died September 12, 1879, aged sixty-nine years, and she died April 14, 1864, aged fifty-one years. Mr. Kirkpatrick was steward, class-leader, Sunday-school superintend-
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ent, and a pillar of the church. In the temperance cause he was a zeal- ous worker. He left four children. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd started for Kansas, where they lived three years, then re- turned to Tippecanoe county and farmed till 1876. At that time Mr. Shepherd bought the Charles Dazey farm of seventy acres , at $65 per acre. Mrs. Shepherd also received 105 acres from her father's estate. They have added till they now own 357 acres, fine house, etc., and are among the most thrifty farmers. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a stalwart republican. They have four children : Lulu, Mamie, Nannie, and Ettie.
L. K. Thomas is a son of John M. and Margaret (Kite) Thomas. John M. Thomas was born in Virginia, and emigrated to Kentucky, then to Ohio, where he married Margaret Kite, a native of Ohio, and whose parents came from Germany. In 1843 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas moved to Montgomery county, Indiana, bringing a family of seven children : Elizabeth A., L. K., Seth, Adaline, Kifer, Caroline, Wm. (dead), and Fry. One child was born since coming, Dorsey (deceased). The Thomas family settled two miles southeast of Pleasant Hill, in Coal Creck township. A purchase of forty acres was made, and afterward enlarged to 200 acres. Mr. Thomas also bought 240 acres in Iowa. when young he was deprived of educational advantages, attending the common school but fourteen days in his life. He worked in the Ke- nawha salt works, spending his evenings in study by the light of pine knots, which he used for candles. He began studying medicine with Dr. George Kifer, and became very successful in his profession, doing a lucrative and extensive practice in Montgomery county. In politics he was a whig, and later a republican. He was colonel of the Ohio Home Militia for many years. He was a prominent Mason, having taken all the degrees in that order, and occupied the office of worship- ful master for years. Mr. Thomas lived a christian life, being connected with the Christian church. March 24, 1871, the man who at twelve years old could neither read nor write closed a career of usefulness at the age of sixty-seven years. His widow, also a member of the Chris- tian church, now resides at Pleasant Hill, in her seventy-second year. There are six children living. Ludlow K. was born December 29, 1819, in Champaign county, Ohio. He lived at home till his majority, then spent one year with his uncle in the stock business, and two years peddling in northern Indiana and Michigan. He was married July 24, 1853, to Mary E. MeKinney, daughter of Elder James and Mary (Flinn) Mckinney. She was born in Coal Creek township, December 24, 1831. Her parents were among the earliest settlers of Montgomery county, and prominent in the Christian church. After marriage he
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bought eighty acres, and has since added sixty, on which he now lives. In business he has been successful; in politics, abolitionist and repub- lican, and is a Mason. His wife died March 24, 1877, leaving four chil- dren : Joedith, Cassius Clay, Luella, and Jessie F. Mrs. Thomas was a member of the Christian church. Mrs. Thomas' three brothers, Seth, Kifer and Wm., were in the civil war. Kifer was in the command that captured Jeff. Davis.
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