History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships, Part 114

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman
Number of Pages: 664

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships > Part 114

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are married and comfortably situated in life, the former living in Iowa and the letter in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Almonrode have been honored and useful members of the United Brethren Church for twenty years. Mr. A. is & etanch Republican, and is ever active in the welfare of the party. Mr. and Mrs. A., with their two children, are surrounded by the comforts and come of the lux- uries of life; honored and respected neighbore and citizens, and valunble members of society.

DAVID ADDINGTON, fermer, P. O. Farmland, is a native of Wayne County, Ind., and was born March 9, 1827. His parents were Joseph and Celia (Townsend) Addington, who were the parents of ten children, viz., Rachel, Celia, Thomas, Jonathan, Elvira, Elisha, Elihu, Stephen, Benjamin and David, our subject. His mother was left & widow when he was emell, and the boys were obliged to work hard, and enjoyed but limited educational adven- tages. They worked in the field many nights until 9 or 10 o'clock. Mr. A. owns 160 acres of land in White River Township. He was married in 1849, to Miss Huldah R. Bolinger, by whom he has had four children, two living- Joseph L. and Mary E , now Mrs. James M. Pursley. His grandfather, John Townsend, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Addington arc worthy members of the Methodiet Episcopal Church.

IRA ADAMSON, farmer, P. O. Winchester, ie a native of West River Township, this county, and was born April 30, 1833. His parents were Abra- ham and Nancy (Botkins) Adamson. He served one year in the late war in Company F, One Hundred and Fortieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was married in December, 1855, to Miss Nancy A. Wilmore, daughter of W. C. Wilmore, of White River Township. They have ten children-Willis A., Mary R., Sarah N., Jesse W., Lucinda A. A., John M., James I., George W., Han- nah F. and Theress E. Mr. A. is a shoemaker by trade, but is also engaged in farming. They are members of the Predestinarian Baptist Church.

JAMES M. ADKINS is a resident of White River Township. He is an enterprising farmer, and was born in Darke County, Ohio, June 29, 1838. He is a son of George and Nancy (McClerkin) Adkins; the former is a native of Delaware, and the latter of South Carolina. Mr. James M. Adkins wss resred on a farm, and obtained a common-school education. He came to Randolph County in February, 1861, and has since been a resident thereof. In 1860, he wa: married to Miss Mary C. Hart, who was a native of Darke County, Ohio, and a daughter of Dennis Hart. They have two children, named William O. and Minnie A. William O. was born August 10, 1861, and Minnie A. April 4, 1874. Mr. Adkins owns a valuable tract of land on Bear Creek, consisting of 216 seres. His farming land is under good cultivation and well improved Mr. Adkins gives his time to overseeing his farm and stock-raising. He has been eminently successful in both these enterprises, and has about him some of the finest stock in the county.

HON. NATHAN T. BUTTS.

l'erhaps among the many eminent and influential men of Randolph County, none are more truly " self-made " than he of whom we write. His position in the world has been attained under difficulties, and in despite of circumstances that, in other cases, have led to results very dissimilar to those which have marked his as a noble life. He was born on the 25th of July, 1838, in Ran- dolph County, Ind. His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Butts, formerly resi- dents of Ohio, came to Indians in 1834, and for a few brief years subsequently, bore their share in the pioneer history of an infant community, until death removed them from their sphere of activity, and changed the current of their sou's life. When the latter was but four years of age, his mother died, and five years later, he and his two sisters were made orphans by the death of their father. Soon the son began to know the bitterness of & cruel world, and the hardships awaiting a boy whose natural protectors were dead. His guardians -John M. Lucas and William Kennedy-" bound him out" to a citizen of this county to serve until he should attain his majority. In the compact, it was stipulated that the boy should receive three months' schooling each year, and at the end of his period of service should receive, in addition, a suit of clothes and & horse, saddle and bridle. Scarcely had he reached his new home. when he was made aware that a terrible life was in store for him. His master was cruel, and kicked and abused him unmercifully upon the slightest pretext, and more often without any pretext whatever. But the boy was only nine years old, and not equal to the resentment of the abuses heaped upon him. IIe cudured them until fourteen years of age, when one morning, after an unusually severe outburst from the old man, he determined to escape from such a life, and turned his back upon the place where the past five years of his life had been made wretched. In memory of his master's brutality, he carried with him a bruised, aching kuot over his eye, as large as a hen'a egg. Pursued by the old man, who started atter him, with his henchmen, on horse-back, he finally made his way to his guardisus, who released him from the bondage in which he had been enthralled. It is a noble trait of his character, that in the years of his manhood, he cherishes no resentment, and has never sought to bi revenged upon the man who made his youth so unhappy.

After his escape, he was hired out to work by the month during the sum mer, and attended school in the winter, working for his board. He developed! an aptness for learning, and a thirst for knowledge, using all his leisure time to the best advantage in its acquisition. In the spring of 1856, he became a student in the Uniou Literary Institution, at Spartansburg, Randolph Co., Ind., and by diligent study qualified himself for teaching. On the 80th of November, 1857, he received his first license to teach school from Hon. John J. Cheney, afterward Judge of the Randolph Probate Court, Entering zealously into the duties of his profession, he soon rose to the first rank as a teacher, and became popular with pupils and parents alike. He subsequently removed to Wayne County, Ind., and there, on the 19th of August, 1859, was united in marriage with Miss Louise Mncy. In 1861, he returned to Randolph County, and pur- chased a small farm, to the cultivation of which he devoted his time. During the spring and summer of 1863, he was n teacher in the seminary at Winchester

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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

with Prof. Cooper, at the same time reciting in some of the higher branches. He labored twn er three years ns a fencher, with the most marked success, until compelled by impaired health te ahandon that profession, and retire te his farm, where he resumed agricultural pursuits. Since then, his principal occupation has been that of the agriculturist, and he has deveted himself to his work with the same zeal and energy that has characterized all his life. By his industry and good management, he has accumulated a comfortable store of worldly wealth, and has a fine farm and a cozy home, surrounded with the comforts of life, and blessed by the presence of wife and loving children. Ifie wife, an estimable Indy, is the daughter of Ileary L. and Rachel Macy, and is & Indy of rare intelligence and wifely qualities. Her father, who is a native of South Carolina, came to Wayne County, Ind., with his parents in 1810, being then ten years of age. Ile is still living near Williamsburg, in that county, at the age of seventy-six years. Mr. Butts and wife are the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are now living, viz. : Idn F., Mary V., Anna L., Clar- ence E., Rachel E., Mary E., Viela M. and Alice E. Clara S., Julis E. and an infant nre deceased.

Though in early life, Mr. Butts experienced much that had a natural ten- dency to sour and embitter his unture, he grew up with the principles of religion firmly implanted, and as he grew older, they developed and strengthened. In the spring of 1867, he united with Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, during the pastorate of Rev. G. 8. Jenkins, and before the close of bis period of probation, was appointed Class Lender, a position which he held for several years. On the 30th of May, 1868, he was licensed to exhort by Rev. G. S. Jenkins, and was licensed te preach at the Quarterly Conference held at Mount Zion by Rev. Mahin, Presiding Elder, in Jaly, 1870). At the annual conference held at Union City, in April, 1880, he was ordained a Dencon by Bishop Foster.

Several years ago, his services began to he sought in the settlement of estates, hia well-known honesty and integrity making him very desirable ns an administrator or excentor. In 1870, he was appointed administrator of the estate of James IT. Johnyon : of the estate of Themas Marshall in 1871; of the estate of William Kennedy in the saine year, and of the estates of Nancy Kennedy and Heury Edwards respectively in 1881. In 1872, he was nomi- nated hy the Republicans of this county as their Representative in the General Assembly of Indiana, and in the fall of that year was elected by a majority of 1,768. He served faithfully through the regular and extra sessions of that year, taking an active part in all the work of the House. Ile way, ia a sense. the author of what is known as the " Baxter Liquor Law." The original draft of this bill was prepared by himself and Willinm Baxter, Representative from Wayne County. When the bill was brought before the House, a multitude of amendments were proposed, which, to secure the enppert of the members pro- pesing them, would necessarily have te be adapted. These amendments an lesded the bill down, crippled its operation and destroyed its effect, that it became evident to its projectors that it could not be passed without revision. It was accordingly revised by Gov. Baker, Judge Mellett, of Henry County, and others, and in Its new forar was passed and became a law. The bill ay reconstructed contained many of clanses that were a part of the original bill formulated by Mr. Butts. The local option clanse was exclusively the work of Mr. Baxter, and this being incorporated verbatim in the revised bill, gave to the measure the name of the Baxter bill. The Indianapolis papers printed a statement of the facts ns here presented, nud gave it the name of the Butts- Baxter bill, by which it was leag known. Perhaps in all the legislation of that session, there was none into which Mr. Butts gatered with so much zest and enthusiasm as that which affected the temperance canse. He is, and has always been, radically and uncompromisingly an advocate and friend of that canse, and has been identified with it for year's as an active worker in the ranks. A correspondent of the Winchester Journal was in the House when when Mr. Butts, Chairman of the Committee on Teroperance, made the closing specch in favor of the hill. Says this correspondent : " At 2 o'clock, Mr. Butts took the floor, and as I was representing Randolph County in the lobby, 1 felt & natural county pride that the representative from Randolph should sue- cecd in putting the cap-stono in the temperance arch. The speech was very effective; the compactness of its logic. the irresistible force of the facts he adduced, the terseness of his language, and withal the deliberate and impres- sive style of his delivery, combined to render his speech overwhelmingly con- vincing. A few minutes before he arose to speak, the House was all confusion ; weak-kneed members ant uneasily in their gents. Mr. Butts had not pre- nounced more than two or three sentences, before he commanded the attention of all, and before he had got half way through, a denthly stillness pervaded the whole nasemihlage. From the earnest. attention manifested, it way evident the speech was producing the desned effect. Members who before seemed entirely indifferent te the passage of the bill, became intensely interested. *

" Mr. Butts, by his unwavering and enrnest zenl in the temperance cause, has won for himself the highest compliments. not only from members of the Legislature, but a large portion of the people of the State. It has been asserted by several of the most prominent members of the House, that his was the best speech made during the present gestion."

lle lins always had the courage to maintain his convictions, at whatever cost ; and by his firmness and manly independence, he has won many friends, by whom he is held in the highest esterin. D)f him, the Western Life Boat says : " He is a man who is calculated to take the world as it comes, and make the most of it. lle has a prevailing moral and religious sentiment, and under its control always desires to do right. He is inclined to he true and honest and loyal to mankind as he understands it." He is n Inrge, well-built man, full of vitality and vigor, carnest, conscientious and intellectual-a man whose inter- course with his fellow-mon is entertaining and elevating.

LEWIS BOLANDER.

Lewis Bolanler, a farmer, was born in the State of Hesse, Germany. November 12, 1926. He is the son of John and Mary ( Slamer) Bolander, and is

the second of a family of five children, two of whom are living. Of these chil- dren, three were born in Germany and two in the United States. Ilis only living sister, Malinda Strohm, resides in St. Louis County, Mo. His parents were native Germans, and came to the United States in the year 1833 and set- lled in Franklin County, l'enn., where they lived for fifteen months, when they moved and settled in Richmond, Wayne County, this State. They remained here for nine months, when they came to thuis county and entered land in White River Township, and remained here until their deaths. His father died in 1865 and his mother in 1874. Lewis was seven years old when he came, with his parents, to this country. He obtained a menger education from the district schools of this county. His occupation has always been that of n farmer, working very hard in his carlier days assisting his father to clear a farm from the forests. He cultivated his father's farm until his death when it came into Lewis' possession by will. His father was in the French Army under Bonaparte, and was actively engaged in the battle of Waterloe. He also made the celebrated passage across the Alps with the French Army. Lewis was married to Rosina Fraze, daughter of John and Abbie Fraze, of Preble County, Ohio, May 20, 1854. Ilis wife was born in Darke County, Ohio, In the year 1834, but was raised principally in Preble County. Her parents come to this ceunty nhout the year 1859, and settled in White River Township, where they beth died. Mr. and Mrs. Bolander arc the parents of eight children, five of whom are living-Francis N., born August 14, 1855; Mary L., January 16, 1856 ; Charles A., April 14, 1868 ; William C. and Jobu A., July 1, 1870. Mr. Bolander had two great uncles who took part in the Revolutionary war And surrender with Cornwallis at Yorktown. Mr. B. Is owner and proprieter of eighty-seven acres of good land, with sixty-live acres under n high state of cul- tivation, and his whole attention is given to farming and stock-raising. He has been an active and uncompromising Republican all his life, and has done much work for the party. His farm buildings are beautifully located and con venient, a sketch of which is given in this work. He is one of Randolph County's substantial and honored citizens, an industrions, prudent man, moral. upright and a valuable member of enciety.

GEORGE W. BOWSMAN, farmer, P. O. Saratoga, was born in Preble County, Ohio, February 24, 1817, and is a sen of Adam and Susan Bowsman, natives of Virginia, and of German descent. Adam Bowsman moved to Ohio in 1812, where he reared his family. Our subject was reared on a farm, and educated in the commeu school. He was married in 1838 to Miss Sarah Al- monrode, a native of Virginia, and daughter of George Almenrede, deceased. They have had eight children, five living-Susannah, Mary, Cyrus, John Il. and June. Mr. Bowsman moved to this county in 1839, and settled in the woods, and struggled hard with nothing to start on, and has been very suecees- ful. Ile owny 320 acres of valunhle laud.

ETHAN A. BROWN is n farmer and resides in White River Township; he was born in Stony Creek Township, Randolph Ce., Ind., March 26, 1841 ; he is n sen of Washington Brown, who is a native of Highland County, Ohio. The Brewn family came from Virginin, and are of English descent. Ethan A. Brown's mother is a daughter of Henry Kline, who is of German descent. When Ethan was a boy, his parents moved to Grant County, Ind., where they resided till December, 1873, when Ethan came to Randolph. lic was a soldier in the late war, and a member of Company B, Eighty-fourth Indiann Volunteer Infantry, and served nearly three years. He participated in the following bat - tles, viz. : Re acg, Rocky Face Ridge, Lookout Mountain, siege of Atlanta and others. He was married, March 25, 1867, to Miss Mahnla Brooks, daugh- ter of Enos Brooks. They had one child-Anna J., when Mrs. Brown died. Mr. Brown married again September 30, 1875, to Miss Ruth E. Hinshaw, daughter of Solomen Hinshaw. Mrs. Brown's mother, Rachel Hinshaw, wny a daughter of Joseph Hedgen. They emigrated from North Carolina, Mr. And Mrs. Brown have had four children, of whom three are now living-Otio O .. Orah L. and William F.

GEORGE COX.

George Cox, farmer, was horn in White River Township, Randolph Co .. Ind., June 6, 1820. Jle is is the sen of Simon and Tamar (Sugart) Cex, and is the eldest of a family et four children, and the only one who is now living. His father and mother were natives of North Carolina, and the former was born February 15, 1,98, and the latter March 14 1801. They moved from North Carolina to Ress County, Ohio, und from there to this county in the full of 1819, and settled on a farm in White River Township. They lived on this farm until the year 1812, when they moved to Wayne Township, this county. where his mother died November 11, 1857. His father was subsequently twice married, first to Mrs. Hannah Weigner, second to Mrs. Abigail Paxton, who lived seven years. A remarkable fnot connected with the death of his three wives is, they all died in the same mouth and on the same day of the month, viz., the 11th day of November. After the death of his third wife he made his home with the subject of this sketch, until his death, which occurred November 8, 1881, at the age of eighty-three years, eight months and twenty- three days. George was raised on a farm, and has followed the occupation of farming very successfully all his life. He received n very limited education from the subscription schools of this county. At that time the schools were nlnost worthless, and opened but a very brief period during the winter. Mr. Cox being a man possessed of more than ordinary intelligence, is well informed in the current literature of the day. lle was united in n first marriage to Zer- uinh Tomlinson, at the age of twenty years. Ilis worthy wife was the daugh- fer of William and Naney Tomlinson, and was a native of this county. This union was blessed with the birth of nine children, six of whom are living, as follows: Nancy, born August 30, 1839, she was married, to Isom llarris, in 1861, and died October 13, 1862; Lavinia, born October 23, 1840 ; William L., hora September 16, 1842 ; Angeline T., born October 2, 1844; Olinthus, bern August 22, 1846 : Tamar, born December 18, 1848 ; Henry, born November 13, 1860; Gilbert, born Angusi 15, 1852; Cyrne, born December 6, 1853. Henry died in infancy, and Tamar in maturer years. His faithful wife died Septem-

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her 8, 1858. She was a devoted wife, a loving mether and a zealous Christinn. Mr. Cox was united in a second marriage, to Sarah Sanders, November 22, 1862, who still survives. She is & most estimable Christian lady. She is the daughter of William and Tabithn Sanders, and was born in Johnson County,- Ind., July 17, 1822. Her parents were natives of North Carolina. After his first marriage, Mr. Cox settled on 120 scres of land in White River Township, With about twenty acres cleared. Ile subsequently eold this and bought & quarter section adjoining the farm upon which he now resides. He suhse- quently added his home farin to this purchase, and is now owner and proprie- for of 400 acres of excellent land, with 200 aores under a high state of culti- vation. As & farmer, Mr. Cox has been eminently successful, and has acon- mulated n competence of worldly effects. He gives special attention to the improvement and raising of stock of all kinds. llis farm buildings nre besu- tiful in architecture and are situated on s commanding kooll on the Union City pike, about three miles east of Winchester. A sketch of his buildings is given in this work. Mr, Cox has been a member of the Society of Friends all his life, and his wife for about twenty-two years. Mr. C. has always acted and voted with the Republican party since ite organization, was strongly anti slav- ery during the existence of that institution, and has taken an active interest in all moral reforme, especially the temperance reform. He is a strong advo- cate of prohibition. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are useful members of the church, highly respected citizens and honored members of society, and surrounded by all of the comforts and many of the luxurics of life.

WILLIAM RILEY COX, farmer, l'. O. Winchester, more commonly known 88 Riley Cox, was born in Randolph County December 8, 1839, and is a son of Benjamin and Alice Cox. He received a common school education, and has always been a farmer. Hle served in the war, during the 100 day's service, in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Was married, April 7, 1866, to Miss Marths Parsons, s native of Ohio, and daugh- ter of James Parsons, of Monroe Township, this county. They have seven children-Alice, David E., Edgar G., Jennie M., Cora, Willard R. and Oesa G. Mr. Cox is engaged in farming and stock-raising and owns 163 acres of valun- ble land. They are members of the Society of Friends.

ANDREW COX, farmer, P. O. Winchester, is s nalive of White River Township, and was born April 7, 1831. His parents were Joshua and Mar- garet Cox, the former n native of North Carelins and the latter of Ohio. They were early settlers of this county. Our subject received most of his education in the Friends' Church on White River. He was married, November 27, 1852, to Miss Mary A. Hickman, a native of this county, and daughter of Jacob Hickman, an early settler of this county. They have had twelve children, eight living-Marthe E., Berrilla J., Sylvester H., Nancy A., Minnie O., Albert R., Andrew H. and Elt& G. Martha is married to lsom Pickett, Mr. and Mrs. Cox are members of the Society of Friends. Mr. Cox hee in his posses- sien a powder-horn, beautifully engraved with Indian hieroglyphics, which was purchased of a squaw, by his father, fer a basket of turnips.

JAMES J. CLAYTON, farmer, P. O. Farmland, was born in Kent County, Md., August 8, 1819, and is & son of Stephen and Mary Clayton, who located in Randolph County in 1820. The former died in 1834 and the letter in 1858. Mr. Clayton's mother was left a widow with a large family of small children, and sha therefore had much hard work to do. His educationel ad- vantages were very limited. The schools were taught wholly by subscription, and fer s very short term in the winter only. Their schoolhouse was a round-log cabin, with a ten-foot fire-place in one end, split logs for seats, and a log re- moved from one side of the house for a window. Our subject's uncle, James Clayton, settled close to his brother Stephen, with an eighty-acre between them. This they finally procured, by keeping others off until they could obtain the money with which to pay for it. James Clayton died in Wayne County, Ind., in 1873. In those early days, the pioneers msde log-rolling a special work in the spring of the year. Mr. Clayton rolled legs, at one time, for eighteen days in enccession, leaving blood marks en his band spike. Burning brush at nights was a pastime. He was married, in 1844, to Miss Jemima, daughter of Peter Hester, who came to this county in 1832. They have had two children -Willard F., living, and Stephen L., who died at the age of ten. Mr. Clayton owns 473 acres of valuable land in the White River Valley, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. Clayten had the Indian boys for his playmates, and their playground was the present site of the Macksville Cemetery. He lias been engaged in shipping stock, more or less, for the past twenty years.

JOHN M. CLAYTON, farmer, P. O. Farmland, was born in this county, where he now resides, October 29, 1831, and is & son of Stephen and Mary (Cheffing) Clayton, natives of Maryland. In the early days, his father had te go thirty miles te mill. Mr. C. was married, in 1859, to Miss Mary Wright, daughter of Solomon Wright, of Stony Creek Township. She was born in Stony Creek Township January 4, 1830. Mr. Clayton obtained most of his education at home by the fireside. He owns 516 acres of Innd. Ile rents out his land and deale in stock.

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History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships, Part 114

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman Number of Pages: 664

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman
Number of Pages: 664