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 130

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 130

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He is a farmer, and a Friend. He was an Abolitionist, and is a Republicau.

His home is just south of Lynn, on the east side of the pike from Lynn to Fountain City.

He is the son of Jesse Johnson, one of the oldest pioneers of that section, being a lad of about fifteen years at the time of, their emigration from Carolina.

William Johnson, son of Silas Johnson, was born in 1823, in Randolph County, Ind. : married Ruth Moody, daughter of Isaac Moody, in 1843. They have had twelve children; seven are liv- ing, and four are married. One daughter, who died. had been very gay and vain and proud, but she was so changed as to pos- sess a sweet, gentle, submissive temper, boro ber painful sickness with the utmost patience and resignation, sang for very joy as she lingered on these time chores, and went home at last exultant in a Savior's love. Hor mourning friends preserve her memory as a priceless treasure.

William Johnson is a farmer by voration, a member of the Friends, and an Elder among them; an active and influential citizen, and in every way a worthy and valuable member of society and of the community. He has a railroad station at his place, and a post office has been established there (Johnson's Station), of which office he is Postmaster.

He is an enthusiast in whatever he tries to accomplish, and. within two or three years, has undertaken bee culture. which he presses with all the vigor of his nature, and with reasonable snecess.

Isaac Moody was born in Grayson County, Va .. in 1790: eame to Ohio in 1814; married Mary Heaston. from Pennsylvania, in 1823; emigrated to Randolph County in the same year, and set- tled near Lynn, east of James Frazier's. He had only two chil- dren, and was a " Body Friend." He was in early times a Whig. and in later years a Republican. He lived a farmer, and died in 1865, sixty-eight years old. His daughter Ruth bas become an acceptable and weighty minister among Friends, and has

traveled much in the bearing of her messages for Christ, greatly to the edification of believers in Jesus, and to the comfort of His humble, waiting. trusting children.

Samuel Moody was the father of Isaac Moody, and the grand- father of Ruth (Moody) Johnson. He was born about 1760, in Pennsylvania (or Virginia). His father came from Ireland. Samuel Moody came to Ohio in 1814, and to Randolph County, Ind., in 1821, near Lynn. His first wife was Jane Cox, and his second wife was Jane Cadwallader. He had four children; was a Friend and a farmer. He died in Ohio in 1825, about sixty- five years old. He was faithful in testimony, loving in spirit, and exemplary in the practice of Christian doctrine.

John Moorman was born in Richmond County, N. C., March 23, 1760; married Rebecca Diggs abont 1783, and came to Ran- dolph County, Ind., in 1816. They had ten children:

Anna, who married George Wilson.

Judith, who became the wife of Thomas Sanders, of Ohio. Achsah, whom Paul Way married.

Rebecca, wife of Alfred Clark.

Polly, died.

Julia, married William Braden.

And there were four others besides.

He came to Indiana with all his children, two of them mar- ried -- Anna (Wilson) and Achsah Way.

He settled northwest of where Johnson's Schoolhouse now stands, south of Lynn. He died in 1845, eighty-five years old. He was a farmer, a Friend, a Whig and one of the carliest settlers.

John Moorman, Jr., son of John Moorman, Sr., was born in Carolina in 1807, and was brought to Randolph County, Ind., by his father, in 1816. He married Agatha Butler, and they had two children. He died in 1866, aged fifty-nine years; and she (lied in 1875, at the age of sixty-two years.

Henry D. Nichols, Lynn, was born in Randolph County, Ind., in 1832, in Greensfork Township; married Elizabeth Gray in 1854; has had eleven children, nine of them living and three married. He moved to Lynn in 1864, and has lived there most- ly ever since as farmer, carpenter, merchant, clerk, boarding- house keeper, hotel keeper, etc. He has been School Trustee four terms, Township Assessor three years, etc. He belongs to the Disciple Church, and is a Republican in politics; his father used to be a Democrat, but changed to the Republican party in 1856. H. D. N. is the son of Malachi Nichols, and the brother of Isaac Nichols, of Greensfork. One of his sons is railroad agent at Lynn; another, A. L. Nichols, is an enterprising and successful teacher, having been engaged in the work some eight years, attending several terms in the meantime at Terre Haute State Normal School. He was, in 1880 and 1881, employed as Principal of Lynn Graded School, and now resides at Winches. ter, being engaged in the study of law.

Valentine Pegg, Wayne County, was born about 1743 in Mary- land; he had two sons in the Revolutionary army; he moved to North Carolina during that war: he came to Wayne County, Ind., in 1808, and died about 1826, an old man, eighty-three years old.

John Pegg, son of Valentine Pegg, was born in Maryland in 1770; moved to North Carolina during the war of the Revolu- tion; married Margaret (Davis) in 1792, born in 1773; they had seven children. He died iu 1847, seventy-seven years old; his wife died in 1856, eighty-three years old. Their children were Mary (Pearson), born in 1793, six children, died in 1879, eighty- five years old; Ruth (Pearson), born in 1795, four children, died in 1876, eighty-ono years; Davis Pegg, 1798, seven children, living in Wayne County; Sarah (Baxter), 1800, six children, living in Randolph County; Valentine Pegg, 1803, nine children, living in Wayne County; Lydia (Massey) 1805, two children, died in 1849; John Pegg, 1809, nine children, living in Wayne County. John Pegy, Sr., son of Valentine Pegg, as above given, entered land in Randolph County November 7, 1816, and moved to the county not far from that date.

Valentine Pegg, son of John Pegg above named, is now an old man of seventy-nine years; has a family of nine children. He and they are noted for their mechanical genius; they build their own houses, do their own blacksmithing, etc. One invent-

383

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

ed a superior threshing machine. Mr. P. is eccentric in his thoughts and words, quaint but clever, old-fashioned but genial and hospitable, greatly confident of his own opinion, and a stickler for personal liberty.

Thomas Phillips came in 1821, being born in about 1790; he died in 1872, about eighty-two years old; he was an intelligent and enterprising citizen, an enthusiastic Republican, an ardent Methodist and a friend of every good work. His widow is still living, in her eighty-ninth year, sprightly and active, able to cook and waslı dishes, and altogether a notable specimen of pin- neer strength and hardiness. Thomas Phillips came from New Jersey; he married Rebecca Hammett; they had nine children, six boys, three girls; eight grown and married; seven living still; one son, John Wesley, was killed at Milford, Kosciusko County, Ind., as he was on the cars returning from a political rally ad- dressed by Hon. Schuyler Colfax, as the result of throwing stones by a gang of villainous rowdies at the cars crowded with people. Thomas Phillips' son, William Phillips, resides at Blooming- port, and is a wide-awake, thoroughgoing citizen, a life-long Methodist, a brave and efficient soldier, and an enthusiastic and reliable Republican.

William Rash, born in the Carolina region in 1786; came to Wayne County, Ind., among the very first; was married there under the first license ever issued in the county; served in the war of 1811-13 against the Indians; moved to Randolph County, west of Bloomingsport, in about 1817, and resides there still, being about ninety-six years old, nearly or quite the oldest man in the county. An eventful life, truly, has that of this aged veteran proved to be. We should be glad to give a more detailed statement of the family and the history of this hardy pioneer, but we have not the requisite information at hand.

Eli Reece, Cherry Grove, was born in North Carolina April 10, 1804; he has been married three times; his first wife was Matilda Greenwood, married in Randolph County in 1828; she died in 1854. His second wife was Elizabeth Arnold, of Arba, in 1856; she died in 1867. His third wife is Mrs. Cynthia (Maulaby) Pickering, married in 1868. He had seven children by his first wife; six of them became grown and were married, but only one is living now. He settled first on Green's Fork, three miles southwest of Lynn (town); then a mile south of Cherry Grove; then, in 1866, he moved to his present home, near Cherry Grove Meeting-House.

Mr. Reece was not a Friend by birthright, but joined them when about twenty-eight years old; he has been an Elder among Friends for abont thirty years. He returned to Carolina upon a visit to that State in 1841, and again in 1857. The Friends in Carolina form a yearly meeting in that State of pretty good size. Before the war, the Southern Friends had loft in great numbers, so as almost to break up their "yearly meetings" there, but since the war they are increasing, and the Carolina Quakers are a growing body. Mr. Reece, although almost eighty years old, seems young and lively; to appearance, he is no more than sixty. five. When he emigrated to this State, Mr. R. was poor, and had to "rent" land, being obliged to earn money here to buy a homestead for himself and his loved ones. But, like many another, industry, economy and the blessing of God that maketh rich, have enabled him to obtain a competence of this world's goods, and he endeavors, thankfully, to employ what Providence has bestowed upon him in the humble service of the Lord.

Isaiah Rogers, Bloomingport, was an early settler, coming from New Jersey to Randolph County in 1821 or 1822; he has had eight children, seven of whom were grown and married, one having died in the army. Mr. Rogers is eighty-five or eighty-six years old, stout and spry and nimble as a cat; he is a life time Methodist and a true-blue Republican; his residence is now in Kansas, having left Indiana for the Western prairies in 1880.

Edward Scott was born in North Carolina in 1789, and came to Randolph County, Ind., about 1820; he settled in Washington Township at first, and afterward changed his residence to White River; he died on White River, June 30, 1871, aged eighty-one years nine months and one day; his widow is living still, eighty- five years old and very feeble and infirm. both in mind and body.

They had twelve children; eleven grew up and ten aro living at this time; five of his children reside in Randolph County, and five have moved to Kansas; he lived in Randolph County fifty- one years, and his wife and widow has been a dweller in this fair Western land and in Randolph about sixty-one years. He was a member of the Baptist Church and a most excellent and worthy man, beloverl in his life, and sorely lamented in his death.

Daniel Shoemaker came to Washington Township, Randolph Co., Ind, in 1818, and had eleven children, and eight of them grew up: seven wero sons and one was a daughter. He died about 1830, aged fifty-five; he was born in the fall of 1775, and hence was just too young to vote at the election which raised John Adams to the Presidential office in 1796.

Samuel Smith, father of Temple Smith, Stone Station was boru in West Virginia in 1772; married Elizabeth Calboun, in West Virginia, in 1794 or 1795; came to Champaign County, Ohio, in 1802; Kentucky, 1803; Highland County, Ohio, 1811; Randolph County, Ind., 1819 (one-half mile west of Bloomingport); he died in 1856, and his wife in 1857; they had six children- Reuben (Mary Hockett), two children: Martha (Joseph Hockett), twelve children; Avaline (Jeduthun Havenden), twelve children; Jefferson (Lydia Pickering), seven children; Temple (Priscilla Crossly), twelve children. Milton died at six years old. Tem- ple Smith only is left of the six.

James H. Stine, Washington, D. C., late of Washington Township, born in New Jersey in 1837; came to Darke County, Ohio, in 1839; Wayne Township, Randolph Co., Ind., near Union City, attending school on the Ohio side; Washington Township, 1851; . Winchestor Seminary, 1853; taught Maxville Public School in 1854, and several times since; Liber College, Jay County, 1856; Madison College, Pennsylvania. While there, two professors and eighty-five students left the college for the South, which movement closed the college; knowing that war would soon come, his room-mate, C. H. Causey, of Hampton. Va., said to him: "Stine, the South means war, and we shall erelong be found in hostile armies; let us care for each other if possible." The agreement was made, and they parted. Stine joined Company C, Nineteenth Indiana; he was twice wounded at the Second Bull Run, once by a severe shell wound.

In -- , he was appointed to the patent office, but was dis. missed for refusing to indorse President Johnson. In --. lie was given a position in the Treasury Department, which he stil! holds. He was one of the founders, and later, the commander of United States Grant Post, G. A. R., having such members ny Senator Wilson, Gens. Banks, Schenck, Crittenden, Shanks, Milla, Packard, Bullock, etc. In the famous Fitz John Porter case, he was appointed an attorney for the Government, to select and examine witnesses, and, among others, Messrs. Campbell, Macy and Murray, from Randolph County, were summoned to the trial. Mr. Stine is understood to be preparing a valuable history of the Government. He has been faithful in w. tehing for the advantage of "Old Randolph," and never omitted to favor her interests. He has purchased a farm near Union City. which has been named Bloomingdale, upon which farm an extensive and valuable collection of foreign shrubbery is in progress. Having been long at the National Capital, Mr. S. is happy to have been able to assist many Randolphi County citizens having business with the Government. Mr. S. has been from the very first a zealous Republican, and has achieved an enviable reputa tion as efficient and trustworthy in the discharge of public official duty, and as accommodating and generous in serving his fellow-citizens of Randolph. Mr. S. has become somewhat prominent as a speaker in the political field, approving himself as efficient and successful in this respect.

The Thornburgs, of Washington. - The Thornburgs have been and still are numerous in Randolph County. A strong branch of the family settled in Stony Creek Township and another in Washington. Those who resided in the latter town- ship in pioneer times were Nathan, Edward and Isaac Thorn- burg. Nathan had four children-Isaac, Jesse, Nathan and Ann. The Thornburgs there were all Friends, and went with the Anti- slavery branch in the "Separation " of 1843. Wehave no es-

384

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

pecial account of this portion of the Thornburg connection, though a considerable statement concerning those who settled in Stony Creek may be found in its appropriate place.

Joseph T. Wood. Wood Station-Rural -- was born in 1819, in Wayne County, Ind .; married Sophia Fender, in 1841; has had six children, five living now, and all the five married. They came to Randolph County in 1866, and settled at Rural in 1569; he is a carpenter and farmer, a Methodist and a Republican. His grandfather, Henry Wood, went, in 1804, from near Rich- mond, Va., to Kanawha County, Coal Creek, Western Virginia. and died there in 1814, sixty years old. Joseph Wood's father, born near Richmond, Va., came to Wayne County, Ind .. in 1814; he had twelve children, and died in 1863, seventy-two years old.

ALBERT R. ABSHIRE, tencher, P. O. Snow Hill, was born in this county March 12, 1860; he is the son of Isaac Abshire, who was born in Preble County, Ohio, April 26, 1815; his mother, Sarah (Ballard) Abshire, was & native of Ohio, born October 27, 1823; his father and mother were married June 6, 1842; his sister, Marin, was born October 2, 1851 ; his mother died Jequery 18, 1874 ; his father was married December 16, 1876, to Sarah G. Shinn, who was born in Virginia August 30, 1848. The subject of this sketch was educated in the district schools and at the high school of Winchester; he has taught fourteen terms in the distriet schools of this county : owns a neat furm of fifty-five acres und is n gentleman who commande the respect and confidence of all who know him.

NEREUS B. BALDWIN, teacher, P. O. Snow Hill, way beru in Wayne County, Ind., April 6, 1854; he is the son of Jesse F. Baldwin, who was born in North Carolina in February, 1828 ; his mother, Phceba A. (Bales) Baldwin, was born in this county. Mr. Baldwin was educated in the district schools and at the graded schools at Lynu. Since 1872, he has spent the larger part of his time in teaching. Mr. B. was married April 17, 1875, to Martha E. Gordon, who was born in this county July 8, 1855; her father, James Gordon, was born in Ohio April 30, 1828; her mother, Sidney (Slaughter) Gordon, was born in North Carolina. This union has been blessed with Gillett A , who was horn March 2, 1879. Mr. B. is a member of and an earnest werker in the Christian Church; he owns n neat little farm of thirty-five acres, in Sec- tion 81, on which he resides. Mr. Baldwin is n sterling gentleman.

ISAAC N. BALES.

This gentleman, one of Randolph County's honored nod respected citi- zens, is the son of Pleasant and Mary ( Abshire) Bales, and was born in this county March 5, 1837; he is the fifth of a family of eight children, of whom eix are now living ; his father was born in Clinton County, thio, September 21, 1810; his mother was born in Virginia September 27, 1809; his grand- father, Curtis Bales, was one of the pioneers of this county, having become a resident about the year 1824; his grandfather on his mother's side, James Abshire, was among the very first settlers of the county ; he was also a soldier of the war of 1812.

lesac's parents entered eighty acres of land in Washington Township, this county, about the year 1838. This traet lies adjoining the farmu upon which Isaac now lives. They remained upon this farm, enduring all of the toile, hardships And deprivations of pioneer life, until the year 1864, when they temporarily removed to Merom, Sullivan County. They did not remain here long; on account of Mrs. Bales' failing health, they returned to their home in thie county, where she died December 31. 1864. Mr. Bales very soon returned to Merom, where he died February 8, 1865; hay remaing were brought to this county, and deposited by those of his wife in New Liberty Cemetery. They were acceptable sud honored members of the Christian Church, and were among the first organizers of that church in the county.

The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood upon his father's farm, Assist- ing him in clearing a homestead from the forest; his experience was severe, having te teil very hard in his earlier life ; his eluentional advantages were very poor, having no free schools; he attended from six weeks to two months during the winter for a few years only. lle was married to Martha J. Platt August 16, 1856. After marriage, he and his excellent wife settled upon the farm where they now reside. At that time, there were but furty neres, which he rented for two year-, and then bought it, going in deht $800. The farm he lives on now consists of 100 acres of well improvedl Innd, with seventy-five nores cleared ; he also owas a farm of eighty acres in Jay County : h's farm is under a high state of cultivation, with convenient nod commodious buildings ; he is comfortably situated, and, in addition to the cultivation of grain, he gives attention to the raising of hogs and cattle.

Mr. and Mrs. Bales are the parents of three children, of whom two are living --- William 11., born September 11, 1857; Mary E., horn January 19, 1861, deceased November 7, 1861 ; Magnolia M., horn January 29, 1868. William H., married Mary A. Fisher, dunghter of Amos Aod Aun Fisher, of this county. They are the parents of one child, Newton A.

Isaac enlisted in the army August 5, 1862, in Company E. Sixty-ninth Regiment Indiana Infantry ; he was a brave soldier and did gallant service for his country ; he was netively engaged with his regiment in many severe hat- tles, but was never wounded, but he was confined in the hospital at Indian- apelis and Natchez, from two attacks of the lung fever ; he took an active part in the battles of Richmond ( Ky. ), Chickasaw Bluffs, Arkansas Post, siege of Vicksburg, etc. After the siege of Vicksburg, he was transferred, with his regiment, to New Orleans, Brashier City, Opelusas; then returned to New Orleans ; thence across the fiulf to Texns, where they were engaged in several

skirmishes. They were then transferred to the disastrous and fatal Red River expedition, in which the Sixty-ninth suffered greatly, marching for thirteen days and nights without rest. From this expedition, they returned to Morgan- zes Bend; thence to Baton Rouge, East Pascagoula, Peosscola Bay and Pollard. They then arrived at Blakely, Ala., the defense of Mobile. This place was besieged for six or seven days, and then carried by storm, which they capt- ured with a large number of prisoners. They then took possession of Mobile without further resistance. After the capture of Blakely and Mobile, the Sixty-ninth was deployed to convoy the prisoners to Ship Island ; after which Mr. Bales' company accompanied Maj. Gen. C. C. Andrews ny hody guard to Selma, Ala. They then returned to Mobile, where they were placed on pro- vost duty, where they remained until mustered out of service, July 5, 1865. Mr. Bales reached home July 20.

He opened a stock of goods at his home in Washington Township in the spring of 1874. In the fall of the same year, he moved his steck to Wood's Station, taking as a partner in a general mercantile business his brother, Pleasant W. Bales, They kept a large and well selected stock of goods and did a thriving business. While at Wood's Station, Mr. Bales acted as Postmaster aud ticket agent. He remained here until the fall of 1876, when he sold out to Lewis Norton and returned to the farm.

As n business man, Mr. Bales was industrioue, economical and successful. He and his family are acceptable members of the Christian Church at New Liberty, Mr. and Mrs. Bales being charter members. Mr. B. has been Treas- urer of this church ever since its organization. Ile is a stanch Republican, and is an industrious worker in the party. His father was a Free Soiler.

Isaae is strictly temperate in his habits, an honest, moral, upright citizen, a kind husband, an affectionate father and a true friend.

MARTHA JANE (PLATT) BALES, wife of Isaac N. Bales and daughter of Abram C. and Eliza (Horner) Platt, was horn in Wayne County, Ind., March 16, 1838. She is the eldest of & family of three children, two of whom are. living. Her father was born in New Jersey and' her mother in Ohio. Her parents came to this State in early times, and settled in Wayne County. Her father died when she was but three years of age, and her mother followed in the year 1862. She lived with her grandfather until she was eight years old. when she found a home with David and Martha Taylor, who were members of the Society of Friends. She lived with them until she was eighteen, when she was married to Isaac N. Bales. Mrs. Bales is a mest estimable woman, and has been of great assistance to her husband in his business. During the time Isaac was in the army, she took upen herself the entire management of the farm, and did it well. She is a consistent member of the church, a de- voted wife, an affectionate mother and a valuable member of society.

DR. J. S. BLAIR.

James S. Blair was born May 26, 1850, near Williamsburg, Wayne Co., Ind. He is the son of George W. Blair, M. D., who was born in Ballylogle, County Sligo, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parentage, and came to the United States in 1835, locating at Williamsburg, Ind. He was married there to Hannah Cranor, and was engaged in the practice of medicine until his death, which oc- curred in 1861. ITis wife is the daughter of Themas Cranor, a native of North Carolina, who came to Indiana at an early day, locating at Williamsburg, where his daughter was born, and where she still continues to reside. James S., the subjeet of this sketch, received a good education in the high school of Williams- burg and the Centreville Collegiate Institute, and after completing his studies was engaged for two years in teaching in the common schools. At the end of that time, he took charge of the Willinnisburg Graded Schools, in which posi- tion he continued until he began the study of medicine, in 1872, with Dr. L. P. Taylor, of Williamsburg. In 1874, he attended lectures at the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from that institution in 1875. He then began the practice of medicine with his former preceptor, Dr. Taylor, with whom he was associated for two years. In 1877, he came to Randolph County, and loented at Lyon, where he has ever since continued to practice his profession. He is yet a young man, hut has already achieved a fine pro- fessional reputation, and enjoys a large and lucrative practice, which is con- stantly increasing. lle is enthusiastically devoted to his profession, and hy his promptness and genial good nature has won the good will and high esteem of all who know him, while his ability and skill accord him a high place in the medical fraternity. lle is identified with both the Odd Fellows and Masonie or lers, having united with the former at Williamsburg in 1875, and with the latter at Lynn in the spring of 1880. He has been married three times, and has twice mourned the death of a devoted wife. He was first married, in Au- gust, 1869, to Miys Ellen Potter, a native of Wayne County, Ind., and daughter of John C. and Elizabeth Potter. This unien was blessed by two children, the eldest -- Adla G .- still survives. The mother died in January, 1876. On the 7th of January, 1877, he wedded Miss Carrie Medearia, of Williamsburg, Ind., who died August 10, 1879, leaving one daughter-Ethel M .- who still sur- vives. On the 12th of May, 1881, Dr. Blair was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Kelly, of Lynn. They have a cosy, pleasant home, and enjoy the high esteem of the best citizens of the community in which they reside.

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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 130

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