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 83
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old settlers in this part of the county, the result of this union being a family of six children : Vincent E., Alma C., Isaac W., Johnny W., Mary E. and Eva A. Mr. Craig was born June 1, 1833, in this town- ship, and for the last five years has been a member of the Presbyterian church. In polities he is a member of the democratic party. His farm residence is beautifully situated, and is 32×38 feet, with an L 15×52 feet, in height, one and a half stories. His barn, one of the largest in the township, is 40×75 feet.
Dr. John H. Currie, physician, Darlington, is the son of Providence M. and Amanda (Hill) Currie, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of New Jersey, who settled in Crawfordsville in 1822, at that time consisting of only two houses, on Main street. The doctor was born there August 7, 1828, and is now the oldest native citizen of Crawfordsville alive. He received his early education at the log school-house, and later at Thorntown, under William Ferguson. His preceptors in medicine were Doctors Thomas Currie and Mahlon Harrington, at Crawfordsville, the former, his uncle, being one of the earliest physicians in the city, having succeeded Dr. Yeaman, who was the first. Medicine has been his lifelong study, beginning practice at Pleasant Hill in 1848. In 1853 he removed to Iowa, where he attended the medical school at Keokuk, and graduated in 1853-4. He removed in the fall of 1856 to Missouri, where he engaged in practice until 1865, when he returned to Montgomery county, finally locating, in 1866, in Darlington, where he has since continued to reside, engaged in his professional duties. In 1849 he married Miss Achsah Thomp- son, daughter of Daniel and Lucy (Nicholls) Thompson, who came to this county at an early date. The fruit of this union is a family of two sons and one daughter: Thomas R., born November 14, 1853; Lucy A., born January 22, 1860 ; Sterling P., born February 14, 1865. The Currie family is originally from Greece, from which country they re- moved to Scotland at an early date, remaining for one generation there. In 1768 four brothers, the originators of the family in this country, emigrated to Philadelphia, and some years later his great-grandfather returned to Scotland, leaving his son, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, in the eastern states. After the close of the revolutionary war his grandfather came west, and settled at Columbus, Ohio, where he married a widow, Mrs. Sarah Reagan, by whom he had a family of ten children, Providence M. being the youngest. The average ages of the ten members of this family is eighty-three years, one of the doc- tor's aunts still living, at the age of one hundred and thirteen years. Grandfather Currie served in the revolutionary war, his commission as chaplain being now in the possession of Mr. Charles W. McClure. His
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
father served, during the war of 1812, under Gen. Harrison, his uncle having also served as sergeant under Zach. Taylor. In politics the doctor affiliates with the democratic party, being the only one of the family which does.
Jesse M'Callister, farmer, Shannondale, was born on March 12, 1810, in what is now known as Boyle county, Kentucky, it being named at the time of his birth Mercer county. On December 24, 1829, he came to Crawfordsville, then only a small place, from Madi- son, on foot, the snow being over two feet deep, and with only thirty- seven and one-half cents in his pocket. He at once went to work, and in the following spring (1830) rolled logs for thirty-one days in suc- cession, Sundays not excepted. He helped to raise the first log court- house at Crawfordsville, and also assisted in constructing the second log school-house in the county, which was erected where Elmore's ware- house now stands. During early life he cut great quantities of wood for twenty-five cents per cord, and split thousands of rails at thirty- seven and one-half cents a hundred. On April 3, 1833, he married Miss Ruth M'Cafferty, daughter of Richard and Lydia M'Cafferty, who came to this county in 1818, being among the very first arrivals. His wife was born in Ross county, Ohio, June 17, 1808. During the greater portion of his life Mr. M'Callister has engaged in farming, and cleared off over 100 acres of land before he ever owned any, and has ac- quired his property by ceaseless industry, close economy, and good judgment. He has engaged largely in handling stock, and for the last eighteen years has been employed in practicing law. His family con- sists of three children : David V., born May 15, 1841; Marshall S., September 29, 1842, and Sarah Ann, February 17, 1845. Of one thing Mr. M'Callister is particularly proud, that is of his first vote, which he gave for Jackson, and has never varied from that since, never having cast a vote for a republican in his life. He is a member of the Darlington lodge A.F. and A.M., and his wife and daughter are members of Salem Methodist Episcopal church.
William Cox, Darlington, was born in Richmond, Wayne county, July 23, 1814, his parents, Jeremiah and Catharine (Morrison) Cox, being natives of North Carolina, and settled in Wayne county at an early date, subsequently removing to Randolph county, this state, where his father died in 1829. In the fall of 1829, the four boys, Rob- ert, William, Samuel, and John, accompanied by their widowed mother, emigrated to Montgomery county, locating on the present site of Darlington, the land having been bought by their father, who made a trip to this vicinity previous to his death. Here they endured all the privations incident to pioneer life, and assisted largely in laying
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the foundation of the present prosperity of this part of the county. The subject of our memoir received his education at the pioneer log school-house of the period, and spent the greater part of his life in ag- rieultural pursuits. The original piece of land left him by his father, consisting of 160 acres, has been steadily added to, until now he owns nearly 500 acres of splendid farming land in the county. He is also owner of the large flouring-mill west of Darlington which stands on the site of the first mill erected in this vicinity ; this occurred in 1831. The present mill building is 30×50 feet, three stories in height, the grinding being accomplished by two run of burrs driven by water power. In 1835 he married Miss Hannah Pickett, a daughter of one of the early pioneers, and has two sons, Ira and Albert, and one daugh- ter Emily, a talented and accomplished young lady. Mr. Cox is es- sentially a self-made man, and fitly represents that elass of which this county has so many honorable examples, starting out with little but own strong arms, yet by persevering industry and good management he has acquired a position in the front rank of business men. During all his life he has been a member of the society of Friends, and has taught his family the same practical christianity and morality. In politics he is attached to the republican party. It would be impossi- ble to give a full history of this family without detailing the history of all this neighborhood, so the further particulars will be found in the general history of Franklin township.
Capt. E. P. M'Claskey, farmer, Darlington, is a native of this town- ship, and is now residing on the farm upon which he was born. His parents, James and Nancy (Poague) M'Claskey, are natives of Ken- tucky, the former having come with his parents to Washington county, Indiana, when twelve years old. From there they removed to Mont- gomery county, settling, in the fall of 1830, in Franklin township. Mr. M'Claskey obtained his education at the early schools of the neighborhood during the winter months until he reached his twenti- eth year when he went to school-teaching, which he followed for five or six years, educating himself at the same time. In the fall of 1863 he enlisted in the 120th Ind. reg., and was elected first lieutenant of Co. B, and shortly afterward was promoted to the captaincy. He served with the regiment at Resaca, and in the Atlanta campaign, dur- ing a hundred days the regiment was either engaged or within sound of the firing; at the battles of Franklin and Nashville, then from Washington to North Carolina, where they took part in the battle of Kinston and met Sherman at Rolla. He stayed in North Carolina until January 1866, when he was discharged. On leaving the army he returned home and went to farming. On April 30, 1857, he mar-
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ried Miss Elizabeth Cox, daughter of Elijah Cox, on old settler in Dar- lington. She died Angust 24, 1860, leaving one son, John, who died of typhoid fever in Kansas, where he was engaged in making a farm. In May, 1870, he married Miss Atlanta Harland, daughter of William G. Harland, who located on the present site of Darlington in 1824; the result of which union is a family of two sons, William and Joe. Mr. M'Claskey represented the county in legislature during the ses- sion of 1867, and since that time has served one term as township trustee. He is a leading member of the I.O.O.F., and in politics is a republican.
Russell B. Watkins, farmer and stock raiser, Darlington, is the son of George and Rebecca (Kelly) Watkins. The family is of Welsh and Scotch descent, three branches of it having come to this country at an early period, one of which located in Pennsylvania, another on James river, Virginia, and the third in Baltimore, Maryland. From the lat- ter Mr. Watkins traces his descent. From Baltimore the family came west, his grandfather locating at Maysville Station in the early settle- ment of Kentucky, and afterward removed to Lexington Station, where his mother was born. His uncle Charles, who was a hunter and well known Indian fighter, was killed by the aborigines at Frankfort, Ken- tucky. His father was born at Topseka Falls, Maryland, and here his grandfather, who was a stone-mason, helped to build the Elicot mills, at which the first steel forge was erected. On account of slavery his parents left the south and settled in Montgomery county, Ohio, about 1805 or 1806, where they bought land of Judge Sims, of Cincinnati, the government at that time only disposing of the land in large tracts. While the family were resident in this state the subject of this memoir was born in January, 1826, and the family remained here until 1831, when they removed to Montgomery county, Indiana, settling in Scott township. The party which accompanied them from Ohio numbered twenty-seven persons, and consisted of friends and relatives, among them being Daniel Watkins, who was the pioneer preacher of the Methodist denomination in this county, and conducted the first camp meeting in Franklin township, and was the organizer and first preacher of the congregation now known as Salem Methodist Episcopal church, of which a full history appears in the history of this township. In 1852 Mr. Watkins removed to this vieinity and married Miss Scott, daughter of Mr. Thomas Scott, one of the pioneers of this neighbor- hood, who arrived here in 1825 and entered the land upon which Mr. Watkins now resides. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. E. A. Hazen, at that time pastor of the Salem church. The re- sult of this union was a family of two daughters, Evangeline and D.
JOHN BEARD (DECEASED)
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Josephine, both of whom are now married and reside in Crawfords- ville. Mrs. Watkins was born in this township, and here her father died in his fifty-seventh year. Mr. Watkins is a member of the I.O.O.F. and has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal church all his life, and is a prominent member of the republican party.
Isaac Booher, farmer, Darlington, came in 1834 from Sullivan county, Tennessee, with his parents, John and Margaret (Zimerly) Booher, their family consisting of Benjamin (deceased). John J., now in Illinois; William K., Nathaniel, Nathan, Isaac, Elkanah, Jonathan, Sylvanus, Mary, Margaret, and Catherine, all of whom arrived at man- ·hood and womanhood. Arriving here, his parents settled in the green woods, a short distance from his present residence, and made a farm out of the wilderness, raising their children around them, the subject of this history being only eight years old at the date of the settlement here. His early education was acquired at the pioneer log school house, which was situated on Isaac Cox's land, his teacher being James D' Spain. Throughout his life he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, yet being a natural mechanic he turned his attention a good deal in that direction, during his spare moments, which were, however, very few. His well improved farm of eighty acres is the result of his own labor, it being, when he bought it, covered with heavy timber, all of which he has cleared and brought to its present high state of cultivation, through unremitting toil. The house is of brick, and is a neat and commodious residence, comfortably furnished, while the grounds around it are tastefully laid out, bearing evidence of careful attention. The other farm buildings are substantial and in keeping with the other improvements. In 1850 he was married to Miss Mary Booher, daughter of G. Booher, another of the pioneers of this neigh- borhood, the union resulting in the birth of one son, Marcellus, who is now married. Throughout his life Mr. Booher has been a consistent member of the Lutheran church, and, like all the rest of the Booher family, is a solid member of the old democratic party.
Silas Hiatt, farmer and stock raiser, Darlington, is the oldest per- son now living who was born in the county. . His parents, John and Sarah (Kenworthy), were natives of North Carolina, where they were married, and removed at an early date to Ohio, from which state they came to Union township, Montgomery county, where the subject of this memoir was born, August 5, 1823. His maternal great-grand- father came to America from London previous to the revolutionary war, and served throughout the whole campaign, his grandmother hiding the valuables in the soap barrel to prevent the soldiers carrying them off. During his youth the Indians were still in this part of the
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
country, and when quite a little fellow he can recollect of witnessing the exodus of the aborigines, there being a body of over 300 horsemen, beside the other members of the tribe, all dressed in gorgeous style, and presenting a gay appearance. He received his early education at the pioneer log school-house, his tutor being Jedediah Bowles. Col. Clark was his companion, and sat on the same split pole bench. The education here received was very limited, having only attended in all nine months, but during his after life he has studied and improved him- self greatly. He has followed farming since he reached his eighth year, and has just passed through his forty-third harvest. He married, in 1843, Miss Elizabeth Kashner, whose father was one of the carly set- tlers of this neighborhood. His first wife having died, he, in 1848, mar- ried Miss Elzira Booher, whose parents'arrived here about 1830. By the latter nnion there is a family of seven children : Eleanor, Ira, El- vira, Clara, Lydia, Belle, and William. Mr. Hiatt now has a splendid farm of 100 acres, well improved and in general good shape, the result of his own industry and thrift. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., and trustee of the lodge, and in politics is connected with the republican party.
Jonathan A. Booher, farmer, Darlington, was born in east Tennes- see, March 3, 1833, and came to this county with his parents, John and Margaret Booher, when quite a babe, in November 1834. On coming here the family settled in Sec. 3, on the farm which Mr. Booher now owns, and here he was raised, receiving his education at the pio- neer log school-house, which stood on Isaac Cox's land, his first teacher being William Miller. In 1854 he married Miss Phebe Martin, a na- tive of Ohio. This union resulted in a family of seven children : Re- beeca Ellen, William S., Daniel Vorhees, Newton Alexander, Reuben E., Sarah Millina, and Minnie May. The old barn which was built in 1837 is still in use. Mr. Booher is a prominent member of the Lutheran church, and also of the Masonic fraternity. Throughout his life he has been attached to the democratic party.
Samuel T. Miller, farmer, Shannondale, the son of William and Cassandra (Ross) Miller, was born in Bath county, Kentucky, in March 1829. The family is of Scotch and Irish descent. His parents came to Wayne township, Montgomery county, in 1836, and here he spent his youth and obtained his education in the educational establishments of that period. In 1853 he was married, in the same neighborhood, to Miss Harriet Applegate, whose parents were old settlers in the county, having arrived in Crawfordsville when it only consisted of a few log cabins. The result of this union is a family of nine children : Sylvanus M., Mary O., John W., Rheni C., Willie C., Emma O., Samuel H.,
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Otto L. and Charlie K. Throughout his life Mr. Miller has been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, and by his industry, perseverance and energy has worked his way upward. His farm of ninety acres is in a high state of cultivation, and well improved. His residence is situated on one of the finest sites in the township, on the side of a large mound, which has attracted the attention of many geologists. He has been a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is now one of the leading members of Salem congregation in this township. In poli- tics he is a prominent member of the republican party, and is connected with the detective company of this township.
Dr. J. J. Shannon, physician, Shannondale, was born in Woodford county, Kentucky, February 17, 1825, where his parents, David A. and Nancy (Alexander) Shannon, were married, and removed with them to Indiana in September, 1836, settling in Parkersburg, Scott township. His father occupied a prominent position in Kentucky ; was a member of the convention in 1851 at which the constitu- tion was amended. The town of Shannondale was surveyed by the doctor's father, and named after him. Dr. Shannon received his edu- cation at the district school, and until eighteen worked on the farm. In 1845 he began the study of medicine, and spent two years with Dr. H. Labarlee, of Ladoga. He then removed to Beckville, where he re- mained three years, and at the end of that time settled in Shannondale, where he has since continued to reside. He married Miss Hester E. Palmer, and has a family of six children : Cornelia E., born March 20, 1853; George W., born August 3, 1855; Charles D., August 1, 1858 ; Edward Z., February 23, 1861; Lizzie P., March 16, 1864; May B., December 17, 1871. Mrs. Shannon was born April 25, 1834, in New York. Her mother, Hester Palmer, died January 1, 1864. His father died August 13, 1870, and his mother June 28, 1880. The doctor is a member of the I.O.O.F., and takes great interest in Shannondale Lodge, of which he was the originator and organizer, and still takes great in- terest in its welfare. In politics he is a member of the democratic party.
James Wesley Tribbett, stock raiser (Maple Grove stock farm), Dar- lington, is the son of James and Sarah (Gibbons) Tribbett, natives of Virginia, wlio moved from Woodstock, where they were married, to. Preble county, Ohio, where they remained for nine years. In 1826 they came to Montgomery county, Indiana, by wagon, and located in Franklin township, and erected their cabin, which building is still standing on the old homestead, of which Mr. Tribbett is now the owner. In this old cabin the subject of this memoir was born, August 11, 1836, and has continued to reside in this neighborhood. He re --
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
ceived his education at the log school-house one mile east of his resi- dence, his teacher being William Miller. During life he has been en- gaged in agriculture, and for the last fifteen years has turned his attention principally to raising stock, in which he has been very snc- cessful. His residence presents a fine appearance from the road, situ- ated in a beautiful park dotted with large forest trees, in the shade of which recline his herd of deer. On September 1, 1859, he was inar- ried to Miss Rhoda Booher, whose grandfather, Elisha Kenworthy, was one of the first settlers in Union township. They have one son, Clark, who was born July 22, 1860. He takes great interest in obtaining all kinds of relics, and has a splendid collection of archaeological speci- mens. Mr. Tribbett's farm now consists of 160 acres of splendid land, and embraces the original homestead, all of which he has acquired by his own efforts. His father was born September 18, 1788, and died here September 7, 1866. His mother, who was born September 12, 1791, also died here October 28, 1872. His father's family consisted of nine children, all of whom reached adult age. His brother, Robert, who enlisted in Co. E, 87th Ind. reg., was killed at the battle of Chick- amauga. Mr. Tribbett is a member of A.F. and A.M., and in politics is republican.
Samuel Nelson, blacksmith, Darlington, is a native of North Caro- lina, having been born in Guilford county, that state, in 1832. When he was two years old his father, Peter Nelson, removed to Iroquois county, Illinois, where they only remained a short time. He then re- turned to Indiana, settling in Montgomery county, where he died in 1835. The subject of our memoir was bound out February, 1836, to Isaac Rich, and with him remained until he reached his eighteenth year, working on the farm. He then served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith business in Clark township, and since has followed that craft. On April 11, 1855, he married Miss Susan Ashby, a daughter of one of the earliest settlers in Clark township, a full account of which settlement will be found in the history of that township. His family consisted of nine children, of whom four are now alive, Dulcina F., Minneola, Thomas H. and Edmund W. Those deceased are Susan R., John F., Henry L., Austin L. and Olily N., the last three dying within three days of each other. Henry L., who died in his twenty-second year, was a young man of fine natural ability, and gave promise of making his mark in the world, but the Almighty saw fit to remove him and take him to himself. In 1868 Mr. Nelson came to Darling- ton, where he has since continued in the blacksmith business. He is attached to the republican party.
Dr. I. E. G. Naylor, physician, Darlington. Prominent among the
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early settlers and professional men stands the name of Dr. Naylor, whose life has been a busy one, and the positions he has filled greatly varied in character. Teacher, printer, editor, saw-miller, merchant, drug- gist and physician, all have known him, and in all he has made his mark. He was born in Charlestown, Clark county, Indiana, October 9, 1819, his parents, Charles B. and Lydia (Gano) Naylor, being natives of Frankfort, Kentucky, who emigrated to Clark county in 1799. When the subject of this memoir was seven years old his parents re- moved to Salem, and there remained until 1832, and during his resi- dence here he served an apprenticeship as printer with Ebenezer Pat- rick, From Salem he went to Danville, then after a four years' resi- dence, to Crawfordsville, where he obtained employment in the " Rec- ord " office, at that time edited by I. F. Wade. In 1841 he came to Darlington and remained there until 1843, having taught the second school in town, at that time in its infancy. Next we find him back in his native town, in 1843, editing the " Clark County Mirror," and en- gaged in the practice of medicine. On leaving Charlestown the second time he settled in Camden, where he practiced professionally for a short period. His next removal was to Darlington, where he still resides, engaged in the management of his large drug establishment, and at- tending to the extensive and lucrative practice which he has built up by his skill and industry. In 1845, while at a camp meeting, he became acquainted with Miss Calista W. Huffman, a young lady, who, with her father, Mr. Peter Huffman, had just arrived from New York. The ac- quaintance thus formed soon ripened into love, and in the same year he led her to the altar. The result of this union is a family of ten children : Charles, who died at Bowling Green, Kentucky, while in the 86th Ind. reg .; George, Kossuth (deceased), Ida, Ellen, Fanny (deceased), Tamson, Hattie and John, and one who died in infancy. In 1848 the doctor edited the "Delphi Herald," and during the war was active in raising recruits for the army, and served as assistant surgeon in Col. Rice's regiment, which was raised at Lafayette to ope- rate against Morgan. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., and of the Methodist church, and in politics is independent.
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