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 135

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 135

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Sanmel Jackson was born in North Carolina in 1796. ca,no to Ohio from his native State, and in 1820 to West River, Randolph Co., Ind., settling near Hugh Botkin's, one-half mile north of John F. Hunnicutt's ou Martindale Crook. Ho married in Ohio Jemima Cox, daughter of William Cox, and they had eleven children, all grown and married, and nine living now. the youngest that is alive being forty years old, and the oldest sixty four One is in Missouri, four in Randolph, two in Iowa, one in Wayne County and one in Wisconsin. In politics he va a Whig. He died in 1848, aged fifty-two years. His wife was'n friend, and she died in ISAl aged sixty-sever Mrs. Bal- linger, langhter of Samuel Jackson, says that she can remember the storm of the fallen timber, and thinks that she was six or eight years old. She was born in 1820, and that would make the dato of the storm be in 1826 or 1828. Jere Smith puts the time in 1824. She would then be four years old or more. Probably Mr. Smith is correct, and she was younger than she thinks. Mrs. Retz s memory also would seem to make the storm later than 1824. (See reminiscences of Auna Rotz.) Mrs. Ballinger says that Carey Smith. brother of Jere Smith, was a Disciple preacher in those early times, and that Methodists held preach-

Hugh Botkin's and Jesse Cox's, and also at Mr. Lank's. Mr. Jackson's children were: William, dead, had seven children; Hannah (Hutchens, Chamness) six children: Betsey (Ballinger), Randolph County, eight children. Sarah (Hutchens), Iowa. twelve children: John, near Winchester, twelve children; Anna (Hutchens), Wisconsin, seven children; Jemima (Cox), lives iu Randolph County, and has three children: Rebecca (Owens), re- sides in Kansas, and has seven children; Jacob, dead. had seven children. Jacob Jackson was Captain in the Sixty-ninth Regi- ment Indiana Volunteers in the war of 1861. and he was wounded in the army; Melinda (Condi) lives in Iowa, and has four children: Mary (Hutchens) lives in Wayne County, has nine children. There are or have been in all eighty-two grand- children.

Peyton Johnson was born in 1809 in Campbell County, Ky ; married Elizabeth T. Butler; came to Randolph County, Ind .. in 1834; has five children, all living, all grown and all married; owns a saw-mill and a farm also; is an enterprising citizen, and an activo business man.

Robert Lumpkin was born in 1756; married Elizabeth For- rest in 1785, who was born in 1766; moved to Tennessee; theu to Randolph County, 1531. Ho was a wagoner in the Revolu- tionary war. He had twelve children. and raised eleven of the twelve. He died in 1842, eighty-six years old, and his wife died in 1816. eighty years old. His children were as given below: John. 1786. lives in Tennessee, and has twelve children; Mary, 17SS (Howard. Massoy, Reek). Indiana, three children: James, 1791. lives in Indiana, has seven children: Robert, 1793. lives in Ton- nossee, has six children; Sarah, 1796 (Bookont), lives in Indiana. and has had twelve children: Richard. 1798. lives in Indiana. has ten children; William, 1800, lives in Indiana, has six chil- dren; Elizabeth ( Weaver). 1803, lives in Tennessee, has eight chiktren; Washington. 1806, lives in Tennessee, has six children; Nancy. 1809. lives in Indiana, has thirteen children; Anderson, 1812, lives in Iowa, has six children: grandchildren, eighty-three.

Albert Macy was born in North Carolina in 1774; married Nancy Hatl; came to Randolph County. Ind .. in 1819, and set- tled near Huntsville. They had eight children, seven of them having been born in North Carolina, and one in Randolph County. His daughter Phebe is the wife of Ira Swain. of Swain's Hall. West River Township. Mr. Macy died many years ago.

William Maey was born in 1786 in (inilford County, N. C. ; came to Randolph County Ind., in 1821; married Hannah Hin- shaw in 1809. and died after 1867: had fifteen children. sovon in North Carolina and eight in Randolph County. Ind., all of them born between 1809 and 1836. Six of his daughters mar- ried Hadleys (two families). William Macy moved to Morgan County, Ind .. about 1860. He was a Friend. active, prominent and trustworthy.

Rufus K. Mills was born in Wayne County, Ind., in 1823. He married Elizabeth McPherson in 1844, and came to Randolph County in 1857. They have three children. He is a farmer, merchant and trader, and rosides at l'hionsport. He has been Township Trustre five years, and Assessor several years. Ho is reckoned an upright and reliable man, and a worthy and sub- stantial citizen. He is one of the ohl line Abolitionists and early Wesleyans

Anna (Zimmerman) Rotz is the daughter of Frederick Zim- merman, and was born in Randolph County, Ind .. in 1821. She married John Retz in 1537. They have had thirteen children. and seven of them are now living. Her husband. John Retz. died in 1876. being sixty-six years old, and having been born in 1810. She is still a widow, and resides on what was her father's farm. on which he settled in 1818. One of her sons was killed when coon hunting by the falling of a tree. She is an Episco- pal Methodist, as also was her husband. He was a farmer and a worthy citizen. She has resided in the county sixty one years.

Evan Shoemaker is said by some to have come from Tennes- see to Randolph County, Ind., in 1809, settling in West River Township, a little southeast of Mount Pleasant Meeting-House, and dirretly on the east side of the twelve-mile boundary. Ilis brother Henry, who was ummarried. came with him. Evan

WEST RIVER TOWNSHIP.

died shortly afterward, but Henry is still living, in either Miami or Fulton County, Ind .. ninoty-six years old (1881). Shortly after their coming, the Indians stole four head of horses, from them. Evan's son John was four years old at the time when his father camo to Randolph, and he died in 1868. being sixty-three years old. John took care of his mother's family while they were growing up, his father having died while he was a half. grown boy. His mother married a man named Cartwright, and inoved to Union County, Ind., but John continued to reside in Randolph, and, having lost his first wife about 1835. married Martha Kerr, who was living with his mother, then Mrs. Cart- wright, in Union County, Ind. NOTE. - This relation is given by Mrs. Nancy (Shoemaker) Pierce, now residing near Thomas Marshall's, northeast of Economy, ; Ind. She says that her father, John Shoemaker, came with his father, Evan Shoemaker, in 1809, when he was-four years old to Randolph County, Ind .; that he died in 1868. at sixty-three years old. If this statement is true, Mr. Shoemaker settled in Randolph five years earlier than the one who has been heretofore reckoned the first settler. Wo have at present no other means of testing the correctness of the lady's statement. Later researches seem to indicate that the lady is mistaken; that he did not come to Randolph before 1816 or thereabouts.

Robert Starbuck, Buena Vista, is a native of North Carolina, having been born in Stokes County in that State in 1811. He came to Virginia ip 1823, and to Randolph County, Ind .. in 1833, settling near Buena Vista. He married late in life, being fifty-six years old at the time. His wife was Lucy Ann (Green) Gillam. They have one child. He has been a famer, merchant trader, hotel keeper, etc. He is a large land owner, having 900 acres in the vicinity of Buena Vista. His residence has been for many years at that town. He is a prominent and energetic citi- zen and business man.

. Ira Swain, Swain's Hill, youngest son of Elihu Swain, born in Tennessee in 1809; Wayne County, Ind., 1815, near Ran- dolph line; married Lydia Macy; came early to Randolph Coun- ty; has several children; has been a farmer and an active business man. He was Treasurer of Randolph County during one term. In some way he was technically declared a defaulter for some amount. yet ho is generally believed to have been the innocent victim of some mistake, and no one thinks that he willfully or knowingly misused a dollar of the public funds. Mr. Swain therefore still re- tains the confidence of his fellow-citizens, and has the sympathy of the public as for a misfortune instead of its condemnation as for a crimo. He has lived near or in the county for sixty-five years, and is an active, intelligent, enterprising and reliable citizen. During the anti-slavery struggle, he was a wide awake Abolitionist and was honored and trusted among them; and during the ox- istence of the Republican party he has been one of the foremost among the members and supporters of that organization, He is now in his seventh-fourth year, but retains his vigor and activ. ity, both of body and mind, in a remarkable degree, as doos also his worthy wife.

Thomas Worth was a native of North Carolina, and came to Randolph County in 1812. He was born in 1802, and married Sarah Macy, and afterward Nancy (Macy) Marshall. He had ten children-Theodore, Eliza, Aaron, Mary, Lucinda, Anna, David, Emily and two others. David was a member of the Sixty-ninth Indiana, and died in the service. Aaron has long been an active and efficient preacher in the Wesleyan Church. T. W. was a hearty supporter of the Wesleyans, and an old-fashioned Abolitionist and an out and ont Republican.

Ho is said to have been liberal in his gifts to the Gospel ministry. He was a good, thorough, thriving farmer, and a quiet. steady, reliable man, being one of a family of ten children, and the brother of Daniel Worth and Lydia (Worth) Osborn. Lydia, was the wife of Isaiah Osborn, who was the son of Charles Osborn, famous in the anti-slavery movement among the Friends, and perhaps the pioneer in Abolition work in this country. [For Daniel Worth and the Osborns see Religion. ]

Frederick Zimmerman was born in Tennessee. He moved first to Pennsylvania, on the Susquehanna River, and then to Ohio, and after that to West River, Randolph County Co., Ind. The

removal last mentioned was made in 1818, and he moved no more till the pall bearers bore his lifeless remains to the last nar- row house, the place appointed for all the living. He bought ont William Blount's 160 acres, and resided in the same place till his death in 1835. He had married in Tennessee Catherine Bowerman, and his widow survived him twenty-one years, dying in 1856. They had fourteen children, only three of whom are now living. One of them, Anna Retz, still lives on the old place. He was a Methodist and a Democrat.

WILLIAM ADAMSON, farmer, P. O. Cerro Gordo, lle was born Febru - ary 5, 1837, in West River Township, this county : he was educated in this county, and has followed farming from boyhood ; he was married to Mary E. Stanley in September, 1867; she was born in Wayne County, lud. Mr. Ad- amson was a gallant soldier in the war for the Union, serving through the war in Company D, Sixty-ninth Indiana Volunteers ; he is an industrious, enter- prising farmer, owning a beautiful farm of eighty-four acres of fertile land ; he is Republican in politics, and a worthy citizen. He has two children living- Carrie E., born April 24, 1875, and Orrie B., May 29, 1876; he is of English descent.

CYRUS H. BALDWIN, farmer, P. O. Trenton. He was born July 7, 1840, in Wayne County, Ind. : he located in West River Township in 1849, and was educated in its district schools. He was married October 3, 1803, to Emily J. Pitts, who was a native of Wayne County, and born January 19, 1845. They have two children-Clayton D., horn August 3, 1864, and Harriet O., June 18, 1867. He is a member of I. O. O. F., 248 Trenton Lodge ; is liberal in poli- tics, and a gentleman noted for his integrity.

MILTON HI. BEESON, farmer, P. O. Trenton. This esteemed citizen was horn February 19. 1826, in Wayne County, Ind., and settled here in February, 1878. He was educated in the common schools of Wayne County, and was married September 19, 1848, to Martha Sherry, who was born July 6, 1832, in Tippecanoe County, Ind. This union was blessed with six children, of which number five are living-Viola J., born March 4, 1851 ; A. C., September 13, 1853; Laura N., Novmber 16, 1855, deceased October 24, 1857; Ira A., Janu- ary 21, 1858 ; Jesse E., February 3, 1861, and Mary J., March 6, 1865. His father, Isaac Beeson, was a native of Guilford County, N. C., where he was born in December, 1779 ; he settled in Wayne County, Ind., in 1806, ou the land which he entered, and deceased there July 6, 1848. He was a genial compan- jouable man and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father of Mrs. Beeson was John Sherry, born Jannary 7, 1799; settled in Tip- pecanoe County, Ind., and deceased March 17, 1867. Mr. Beeson and wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and universally es- teemed for their sociability and hospitality. Their ancestors were of English descent and Quakers.

JEREMIAIE BLY, farmer, P. O. Trenton. This worthy citizen was boru May 13, 1829, in Germany ; he came to Ohio in 1845, and after making several changes in his location, he finally settled here in the fall of 1848. Mr. Bly was educated in the schools of his native land, and is now engaged in farming and stock-raising. lle was married on the 24 of October, 1850, to Mildred A. John- son, who was born in the State of Virgioia January 12, 1835. They have five children --- Murray B., born October 7, 1857 ; Osceola. June 28, 1863 ; Payton G., June 1, 1868; Margaret, March 7, 1872, and Frank, December 20, 1875. Mrs. Bly is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; he is a member of 1. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 248 ; he served in Company D, Sixty-ninth Indiana Infantry, in the war for the Union, and losing his health was dia- charged. llo owns n valuable farm of 207 acres of land, and is regarded as one of the best citizens in his vicinity.

THOMAS W. BOTKIN is a physician, and his post office address is Umions- port ; he was boru in Randolph County April 14, 1844; he is a son of Dr. John W. Botkin, an eminent physician, who has practiced extensively in Randolph and adjoining counties ; his mother's maiden name was Mary Peacock. Thomas W. was educated in the common schools, and studied medicine with his father; be was also a student at the Eclectic Medical College of Indianapolis ; he en; listed in Company D, Sixty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and senvedl through the war. After the cruel war was over he came home and engaged fur a time in farming. On the first of September, 1868, Dr. Botkin was mar- ried to Mary E. Irvin, a daughter of Lafayette Irvin ; she was born in this county February 17, 1851. The Doctor and Mrs. Botkin have surrounded their hearth stone with three children, viz .: John L., horn September 5, 18724 Charles L., July 6, 1878 ; and Clyde E., June 29, 1882. Dr. Botk Jris by his energy and success built up a lucrative practice, nmounting to $18,000 .per annum. Mrs. Botkin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; her mother's maiden name was Cynthin E. Hill. She was born in Virginia March 29, 1827 ; her father was born in this county July 26, 1825. Dr. Botkin is a Republican in politics, and attentive to business ; he and his estimable Judy are well received in society, and popular among a large circle of friends ..

J. A. BOTKIN, farmer and saw-milling, P. O. Lynn ; he is a > > of Peter and Elizabeth Botkin ; his father was born in Knox County, Tenn:, November 2, 1804, and came with parents in 1815, who settled at present site of Washing- ton. Wayne Co., Ind., and two years later came to this county ; his mother was horn in Randolph County June 20, 1812. They were married in this county April 28, 1831, and settled on Martindale's Creek, West River Township, where they continued to reside until called away by death. His father died Novem- ber 24, 1876, and his mother August 29, 1868. J. A. was born July 5, 1855, and marriedl Ida M. Hunt November 17, 1875. Mr. Botkin has been engaged in different pursuits ; lived in Missouri from fall of 1874 to 1875, when he re- turned to this county; formed a partnership with D. T. Harris, and in 1876

396

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

built o tile factory at Farmland, and manufactured tile for about three years, when they sold out to D. F. Young 26th of March, 1879, and December 25, 1879, bought the Jesse Smith farm of about one hundred and ninety acres, where he resided for a time in a hense that withstood the terrific storm of 1824 (in the fallen timber helt). It is, perhaps, the oldest inhabited house in the county. He has successfully engaged in farming and saw-milling. Mr. und Mrs. Botkin are both active members of the Methodist Eplecopal Church at Iluntsville. In politics, he is a Republican, and in domestic relations a kind and devoted hushand. Mr. Botkin sold his farm in West River Township, and located at Lynn, where he is now engaged in a tin store, and manufacturing tinware and all kinds of metalic roofing.

WILLIAM T. BOTKIN, farmer, P. O. Unionsport. The subject of this sketch was born in West River Township, this county, June 27, 1842; he was wlucated in the common schools in this county, and has gained much information from reading and observation ; he was united in the hely bonds of matrimony November 9, 1865, to Martha F. Cropper, who was born May 24, 1844, in this county. Mr. Botkin has followed farming for a living, and by his industry and frugality has succeeded well in life; he owns a good farm of 119 neres of valuable land, and is considered to be a mandel farmer; he served in the war for the Union in Company D, Sixty-ninth Indiaan Infantry, participating in all the battles of that organization ; be was elected Assessor of West River Town- ship in the year 1872, and again in 1874. The faithfulness and fidelity with which he performed this trust imposed upon him by his fellow-citizens, demon- strates the high regard in which he is held by them. These parents have been blessed by the birth of eight children, of which number seven are living-Mary E., born November 29, 1866 ; Farra L., April 7, 1868; Laura N., September 9, 1869; Abbie A., December 5, 1871 ; Guy W., October 1, 1875; Orpha G., August 23, 1877, and William Il., July 31, 1879.

HENRY H. BROOKS, farmer, P. O. Cerro Gordo. This esteemed citizen was horn March 8, 1841, in West River Township, this county ; his father's name www Thomas Brooks, who was born in New Jersey May 17, 1790; served in the war of 1812; emigrated to this county in October, 1837, an-1 deceased January 28, 1868; his mother's maiden name was Kimbrough, born March 19, 1803, still living at this date. Mr. Brooks was educated in the common schools of this county, and has followed farming and moving houses for a living: he was mar- ried, August 1, 1865, to Belinda E. Groshong, who was born February 22, 1849, in White River Township, this county ; he has six children living-De Witt C., born May 7, 1866; Minnie M., December 8, 1867; Allen R, born March 9, 1871 (died May 26, 1871); George Il., May 4, 1872; Martin T., March 19, 1875; Allie D., Jannary 17, 1880, and Anne M., born May 29, 1882. The father of Mrs. Brooks, Zimri Groshong, was born in the year 1818 in Buchanan County, Mo., and at this date is still living ; his family is of Scotch descent, and are worthy industrious citizens.

JOHN II. BUTLER, farmer, l'. O. Trenton ; he was born January 9, 1811, in Stony Creek Township, this county ; ho was educated in the common schools of this county, and hns followed farming from boyhood ; he was united in mar- ringe, to Elizabeth Wilcox, December 14, 1865. She was born in Darke County Ohio, February 27, 1845, and came to this county with her parents in the fall of 1862. They have three children-Mary V., born November 2, 1866 ; Caro- line V., December 29, 1869, and Charlie C., September 15, 1873; he and his wife are noembers of the t'hristinn Church, and be of F. & A. M., Lodge No. 367, TIuntsville ; his father, James Butler, was a native of Virginia, where he was born in 1808; he came to this county in 1836, and deceased June, 1862. The forefathers of Mr. Butler were in the wars of the Revolution and 1812. The father of Mrs. Butler was John Wilcox, who was born in Butler County, Ohio, uhout the year 1808; come here in 1862, and at this date is living in fuwn. Mr. Butler is a kind and courteous gentleman.

WILLIAM TELL BURSEAR is a farmer, and resides in West River Town- ship; he is a son of Martin and Sarah Bursear; his father was a native of Switzerland, and came to this county about the year 1803, and enlisted in the war of 1812 and served ahout six months. Soon after the close of the war, he married Sarah Calahan nee Vir, and moved to Hamilton County, Ohio, about 1815, where the elder Burgear died in 1833, and his widow removed to this county in 1856, and here, in December, 1879. William T. was born in Hamil- ton Courity, Ohio, August 14, 1821, and settled in West River Township, this county, in October, 1843, where he has resided ever since. On the 5th day of December, 1844, Mr. Bursear was married to Ann Howell. Since their mar- riage, they have had many additions (fourteen) to the first union, viz .: Mary J., John F., William H. and .Joel W. (twins), Mahala M., Evaline and Emmeline (twins), Samnel T., David J., Robert M., Martha E. Lydia A., Dora A. and Benjamin F. Mrs. Bursear died June 19, 1879. Mr. Bursear obtained a fair education in youth, and began the battle of life by working for $4 per month. by his Ersevering energy and great industry he has reared his large family, and secured a competence for his winter's age. In politics, he is a Democrat.

EDWARD MILSTEAD BARR.

Edward Milstead Barr was born in Loudoun County, Va., January 6, 1844. ITe is the gen of George and Mary (Coe) Barr, and is the fifth of a family of ten children. all of whom are living at this writing. His brothers and sisters Are all married, with the exception of two, four of whom reside in this State. "lis father and mother were both born in Loudoun County, Va., the former No- aber 12, 1808, and the latter January 11, 1811. They were married In 1838, .I raised and educated a large family of children. llis mother died in the Anic county of her birth July 12, 1868. Ilis father still lives in Clark County, Va., with his daughter, Mrs. Rowena C. Payne, but still keeps possession of the old homestead in Loudoun County. His mother had been a consistent and honored member of the Baptist Church all her life. His father was of Irish and his mother of English extraction.

The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood on a farm in his native county and State, until be was seventeen years old, receiving his education from the common schools of Virginia ; his youthful experience was in common

with boys of his time, save that he was very domestic in his likings and noted for his stendy and industrious habits ; he was a bright example of honesty aod morality for the youth of his day.

In the winter of 1862, he emigrated to the State of Ohie, and settled in Licking County, where be hired out by the month as a form hand.

In November, 1867, he moved from Licking County, Ohio, to Union County, Ind., where he again engaged in farming. He came to this county in October, 1869, and purchased eighty acres of land in West River Township, and settled upon it, where he has since resided. This farm is well improved, being sup- plied with convenient and commodious buildings, a sketch of which is given in this work.

He was married March 12, 1868, to Miss Rowena C. Davis, who is a most estimable lady and the daughter of Isaac and Martha (Barr) Davis. She was born in Union County, Ind., October 2, 1843. She is the second of a family of eight children, of whom four are now living. Her father was born in Butler County, Ohio., January 20, 1906, and her mother in Loudoun County, Va., October 8, 1813. Her father esme to this State, in company with his parents, in the year 1808, and settled in Union County, where he died April 24, 1858. Her mother came to this State in the year 1889; was married to Isaao Davis September 14, 1841, and died May 27, 1864. Rowena was raised on a farm, and received a liberal education from the distriet seheels af Union County and the Female College of Oxford, Ohio. From 1863 to 1868, she taught almost continuously in the public schools of Union County. In March of the latter yenr, she was married to the subject of this sketch, as elsewhere stated.

Mr. and Mrs. Barr have never been blessed with any children of their own, but have taken a bright little bey to raise, who is new ten years of age. His name is Alenze Coffin, and he is the goo of Willium R. and Rebecca Coffin. Ilis mother died November 12, 1877. This boy ie a very active, intelligent lad, and highly appreciates the comfortable home of Mr. and Mrs. Barr.

Mr. Barr usually votes the Republican ticket, but was educated' in the Democratie school of politics, nod affiliated with that party notil sinee bis resi- dence in this county. He is an honored and useful member of Trenton Lodge, No. 248. 1. 1). O. F., and has filled all the chairs of his lodge three times, and been three times a representative to the Grand Lodge.

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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 135

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