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 147

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 147

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JOHN M. COLLETT, grain merchant, Randolph, was born in Warren County, Ohio, April 23, 1842, and is a son of Presley and Permelin Collett, who removed to Jny County, Ind., in 1852. He was married in 1863 to Miss Cynthia A. Whitenack, by whom he lias seven children-Ida E., Permelia L., Florence R., Jasper I., Isaac N., Charles P. and William E. Mr. Collett served three years in the late war in Company H, One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., Chick- amnuga, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge; he was wounded at the last-named battle. He came to this county in 1870, and in 1873 engaged in the grain business at Deerfield Station, which he still successfully followe.

DR. ROYSTON FORD, physician and surgeon, Saratoga, was born in Darke County, Ohio, November 28, 1845, and is a son of Mordecai and Mary (Tillman) Ford, natives of Prehle County, Ohio. The Doctor was renred on a farm, and received a common-school education. He hegan rending medicine at

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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

the age of fifteen, and entered the Allopathic Department of the Michigan State University at Ana Arbor in 1872, where he took a thorough course in medicine. He practiced medicine in Darke County, Ohio, until the fall of 1876, when he removed to Saratoga. Here he built up & good practice, and in the winter of 1879-80, attended the Cincinnati Hospital and School of Medi- cine and Surgery, graduating from the latter with high honors February 27, 1880. He then returned to his practice in Saratoga, Randolph Ce., Ind., where he not only has his old practice but many new patients have been added to his list. The Doctor was married January 22, 1870, to Miss Elizabeth Albright, daughter of Simpson Albright, of Arcanum, Ohio. Our subject served in the late war in Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infan- try during the summer of 1864.

DAVID S. HARKER, farmer and stock-reiser, P. O. Deerfield. Mr. Ilarker was born near Woodatowa, Gloucester Co., N. J., January 22, 1827, and ie a son of Enoch and Christiana Harker, also natives of New Jersey. His parents removed to Butler County, Ohio, ia 1830. He was brought up on a farm, nnd educated in the common schools. February 3, 1848, he married Miss Mary Whitenack, a native of Warren County, Ohio, and daughter of Cornelius and Mary Whitenack. They began as renters, and lived in an old log cabin. Mr. Harker worked for ex-Gov. Morrow, of Ohio; he cleaned out his mill race ; he cat wood for 40 cents per cord and hoarded himself; but, by econ- omny and hard work, he saved $200 the first two years of his toarried life, and he then began to farm. He now owns 303 nores of valuable land. He came to this county in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Harker have had twelve children, of whom ten are living, viz., Rebecca, Joseph, Charles, Alice. Emma, Christiana, David, Hattie, Jennie and Adella G.

JOHN KEY, farmer, P. O. Saratoga, was born in Green County, East Tenn., February 6, 1829, and is a son of Andrew and Susannah (Fields) Key, who came to this county in 1829. They settled in the woods. The wild enl- mals end turkeys were very numerous then. Mr. Key was formerly a pupil of Ebenezer Tucker. He helped clear his father's farm, and has since cleared two farms for himself. He was married in 1858 to Miss Avis Smith, a unlive of Hawkins County, East Tenn., and a daughter of Caleb C. Smith. They have had ten children, six of whom are living-Jenona, Ruth, Henry C., George, Nancy E. and Stella. In early life, Mr. Key taught school for the most part for nine years. lle is now farming and raising stock, and owns 130 acres of land. In 1880, Mr. and Mrs. Key returned to their native State on & visit.

WILLIAM O. KING, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Deerfield, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, June 21, 1833, and is & son of Bennet and Susan (Proud) King, the former a native of Fayette County and the latter of Rose County, Ohio. They came to this county in 1837, and settled in the northwest corner of Green Township. Our subject was brought up on a farm, and received a limited education. At the age of nineteen, he learned the carpen- ter's trade, at which he worked ontil 1855. He was married, March 8, 1855, to Miss Sarah Pierce, daughter of Burket Pierce, who came to this county in 1819, and is still living, in his ninetieth year. Mr. King also buys and ships stock. He resides on Section 17, in a fine brick house which cost $4,000. He is a member of the Odd Fellows; has passed all the degrees and filled all the chairs. He filled the office of Assessor two terms and Land Appraiser one term. Mr. King's mother died September 7, 1882, in Oregon, Holt Co., Mo.

WILLIAM LEWIS, farmer, P. O. Ridgeville. This worthy old settler is a native of the town of Belbrook, Ohio, and was born September 8, 1826. His parents, Joel and Mercy Lewis, removed with their family to this county in 1827, and settled in the wooda, where the deer, wolves and turkeys were numerous. The Indiane were also in this locality at times. Our subject knows all about grubbing and picking brush, rolling loga, etc., and other haril farm work, lle attended subscription school in an old log cabin, sat on a aplit-log seat, and wrote on a board supported by pins in the wall. The school- house was covered with clapboards, which were secured by weight-poles. He was married, October 24, 1850, to Mias Anna Riddlebarger, by whom he has had eight children, six living-David J., Mary E., Thomas II., Isaac N., George W. and Jesse J. Mr. Lewis is engaged in farming and stock-raising, and owns 225 acres of Innd.

ELISHA L. LOLLAR, farmer, P. O. Saratoga. The subject of this sketch is a native of Randolph County, was born May 18, 1841, and is & son of Joseph Lellar, an carly settler of this county, having loenteil here in 1837. His mother was Sarah Pogue, daughter of William Pogue, also an early sefiler of this county. Mr. Lollar was brought up on a farm and elluented mostly in thio common schools, lle was married, April 24, 1862, to Miss Mary A. Warren, daughter of John R. Warren, of whom we shall make further mention elsewhere in this work. They have had four children born to them, of whom three are living-Minnie A., Ezra E. and Annie G. Mr. Lollar is a prominent farmer nol stock-riser of Ward Township, and owns 185 acres of valnable land. 1n 1862. he left home and loved ones, and went into the rebellion to fight for the liberty of his country. . He served in Company E, Eighty-fourth Indiana Volunteer lofantry, and participated in the battle of Chickamauga, where he was wounded, and afterward discharged on occount of disability occasioned by said wound. Mr. and Mrs. Lollar are members of the United Brethren Church.

WILLIAM MONTGOMERY, farmer, P. O. Clark, was born in Guilford County, N. C., December 12, 1799, and is a son of Samuel and Mary Mont- gomery. His educational advantages were limited. He attended school in n log cabin, with puncheen seats and a dirt floor. He and his schoolmates employed their noone in cutting wood for the huge fire-place. lle was married, in 1829, to Miss Sarah Iliatt, by whom he has had twelve children-John (de ceased), Eli, Phineas, Priscilla, Betsy A., Joseph N., Cyrena, Thomas N (deceased), Lovina, Susanaah (decensed), Milton M. and Christena. Four sons were in the late war-Eli, Phineas, Jasper and Thomns. Thomas N. died in the service. Mr. Montgomery came to this conaty in 1833, and settled in the woods, where nearly all kinds of wild game abouaded. The Indians were also in or near the locality in which he settled. On one occasion, while out

hunting, Mr. Montgomery became lost in the woods, and while wandering around he came to an Indian wigwam which was occupied by a lone Indian and his dog. The hospitable " red man of the forest" shared his narrow cot of leaves and deer skias with him, and they slept " heels to heels," for it was not wide enough for two to lie at one end. Mr. Montgomery owns eighty acres of land, and is engaged in farming.

THOMAS J. MOORE, laborer, New Pittsburg, was born in Liverpool, Eng., and is a son of Thomas and Margaret Moore. He came to America in 1884, and to Randolph County in October, 1870. He is an engineer by trade ; was on Lake Ontario two years, and on the Hudson River one year. lle is & member of the M. E. Church.

WILLIAM G. MOULTON, teacher, Saratoga. This enterprising young teacher is a native of Richmond, fad., and was born August 5, 1856. 1lis parents were George W. and Mary A. Moulton, of Auburn, N. Y., and New Paris, Ohio. He wes reared on a form and educated in Ridgeville College and Winchester Normal School. He began teaching in September, 1876, and ie now Principal of the Saratoga Schools, which, under bis wise management, are in a prosperous condition. He uses the latest normal methods in his work, and has established a systematic course of instruction. The Professor was married, April 25, 1880, to Miss Eva R. Koon, daughter of Harvey W. Koon, of New Pittsburg, this county. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is also a member of the Epsilon RhoLiterary Society of Ridgeville College.

THOMAS G. MULLEN, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Clark, was born in North Carolina January 28, 1828, nad is a son of Thomas and Nancy Mullen, who removed from North Carolina to this county in 1829. Mr. Mullen re- ceived & common school education, and assisted his father on the farm. He was married, October 1, 1852, to Miss Susannah Johnson, a native of this county and daughter of John Johnson. They had six children, four living- James M., Louis A., Samantha J. and Phoebe A. Mrs. Mullen died, and on the 1st day of January, 1866. he married Mre. Elmina Thompson, by whom he has had seven children ; of these, eix are living-Ida B., Frank, Flora and Clarence (twins), Bessie and Charles. Mrs Mullen had one child by her first busband-Emma Thompson. Mr. Mullen owns 320 acres of land. He served in the Inte war for fourteen months in Company G, Fifty-fourth Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Grand Gulf and Thompson's Ilill.

URIAII PIERCE (deceased) was born in Ross County, Ohio, October 21, 1818, and is a son of Burket Piercc, who came to this county in 1819, and is still living at the age of ninety years. The country was wild, and there were no educational advantages except to study by hie father's fire-side. He was married, in 1840, to Miss Martha A. Mock, a native of Greene County, Ohio, and daughter of Daniel Mock, who came to this county in 1824. They had six children, of whom three are living, viz. : Thomas N., John Q' and Daniel M. Thomas and John were soldiers in the late war. Mr. Pierce taught the first publie school in his district, No. 3, Township 21 ; and organized the first Sab- bath school in the neighborhood. He was a worthy member of the M. E. Church, a benevolent man, and a valuable member of society. He died March 11, 1878, loved by all.

ELWOOD O. PIERCE, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Ridgeville, was born in Raadolph County August 27, 1855, and is a son of Joel Pierce (deceased ). He was left an orphan, and his grandfather, Burket Pierce, raised him until fourteen years of age. He was educated at Ridgeville College; was married, October 2, 1876, to Miss Edith E. Thompson, by whom he has had two children, one living, viz. : Laura Alice. Mr. l'ierce is engaged raising stock on Section 7, and owns ninety-four acres of valuable land.

DAVID POGUE, retired farmer, P. O. Saratoga, being an old settler of Randolph County, is entitled to more than a passing notice in a work like this. He was born May 26, 1828, and is a son of Robert Pogne, who came to this county in 1837, and now resides in Union City at the age of seventy-nine years. Mr. Pogue was brought up on a farm, and educated in a subscription school, which was taught in a log cabin, with a huge fire-place in one end, and a window the length of the building and only one light high. He sat on a puncheon sent, and wrote on a slab which was supported on pins in the wall. The door of schoolhouse was made of clapboards, as also was the roof, which was secured hy weight-poles. When the Pogues settled in Ward Township the land was "in the green." Much credit is due to these old pioneers for their untiring labors in preparing the way for the prosperity of future generations. Many a day has Mr. Pogue worked in the clearing in his bare feet, sore and bleeding, and the ground frozen hard. They had to go to Richmond to mill, a distance of twenty-six miles. Our subject was married, February 15, 1856, to Mias Mary Barber, daughter of George W. llarber, an early settler of this county. They have no children, but have raised two others. Mr. and Mrs. l'ogue are worthy members of the M. E. Church in Saratoga.

DR. JOHN PURCELL, physician, Deerfield, was born in Northumberland County, Penn., February 12, 1834, and is a son of David and Grnee Purcell, the former a native of l'ennsylvania, and the latter of New Jersey. The Doc- tor was brought up on a farm, and ednented near and at Mount Gilead, Ohio. He rend medicine under Dr. William Turner, of Waterford, Ohio. 1n 1867, he began the practice of medicine in that place, and in the fall of 1870 came to Deerfield, where he has built up a good practice. He was married, December 18, 1873, to Miss Sarah Lipps, by whom he has three children-David Guy, Frank M. and Charles M. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and Masonic fraternities.

JESSE RIDDLEBARGER, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Deerfield, is a nalive of Botetourt County, Va., and was born October 2, 1825. He ie & son of David and Ann Riddlebarger, who removed with their family to near Dayton, Ohio, in 1829, and to this county in [830. Mr. Riddlebarger was raised on a farm, and attended echool in a log cabin with a greased paper window, clap- board roof, puncheon floor, and split slab seats. In those early daye they went to Richmond to mill, a distance of over thirty miles. Mr. R. has many a time crushed corn in a hominy block. lle was married, September 28, 1852. to

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WARD TOWNSHIP.

Miss Lucinda Barnhart, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and daughter of Valentine Barnhart. They have had nine children, eight living-Josephine, | attending the common schools in winter. His education, however, is largely Ella, Eva, Thomas, Claud, Mark, Oscar and Hattie. Mr. Riddlebarger owns 240 acres, and resides on Section 18.

MILES SCOTT, farmer, P. O. Harrisville. The subject of this sketch, having resided in Randolph County for nearly fifty years, is identified with its history, and is, therefore, entitled to more than & passing notice in & work like this. He was born in Wayne County, Ind., April 17, 1831, and is a son of Ed- ward and Chloe Scott, who came to this county in 1832. He was brought up on & farm, and educated mostly in a subscription school, taught in a log cabin, with slab benches, a board supported by pins in the wall for desks, and greased paper pasted over a hole in the side of the house for a window. Mr. Scott knows all sbout grubbing and picking brush, rolling logs, and other hard work attending the making of a farm in the woodland. He was married, March 2, 1850, to Miss Sarah Ann Coffin, a native of Randolph County, and daughter of Stephen Coffin, an early settler of this county. They have had eight children, of whom four are living-Stephen C., Edward W., Luzens M. and William H. Mr. and Mrs. Scott are worthy members of the Christian Church at Harrisville. He has held the office of Justice of the Pesce acceptably to his many constitu- ents in Wayne Township for twelve years, and is the present incumbent.

EDWARD W. SCOTT,, teacher, Harrisville. This enterprising young teacher is a native of Randolph County, and was born April 22, 1858. His father, Miles Scott, of Harrisville, came to this county when a small boy. Our subject was brought up on a farm and educated at Lebanon, Warren Co., Ohio. He is now teaching an interesting school st Randolph, Ward Township. He nses the latest approved normal methods in his work and has reduced his labors to a perfect system which the pupils all well understand. He is & member of Christian or New-Light Church. :

JAMES A. SIPE (deceased ) was born in Bedford County, Penn., May 12, 1823, and was a son of Conrad Sipe. During the progress of the Mexican war he enlisted in the service of the United States, in the company known as the Bedford Greye. He was at the cities of New Orleans, Buena Vista, Vera Cruz, Mexico and others. He came to this county in 1848, and October 6, 1850, he married Mies Nancy Sipe, daughter of John H. Sipe. They had twelve chil- dren, ten living, viz., Orlando, Almaretta, John O., Lucy L., Mary J., George M., Clara A., James F., Emma R. and Henry O. Nr. Sipe was a worthy member of the M. E. Church. He died March 27, 1876. He was a respected citizen, s benevolent man, and strong advocate of temperance.

JOHN SMILEY, farmer, P. O. Pittsburgh, was born in Botetourt County, Vs., March 1, 1824, and is & son of Walter and Susan Smiley, also natives of Virginia. Mr. Smiley was educated in s subscription school taught in a log cabin. He came to this county in 1841, and settled in the woods ; was married, September 10, 1857, to Miss Louisa Bragg, daughter of Ephraim Bragg, an early settler of this county, They have had twelve children, eleven living, viz., Hezekiah, Sarah J., Martha L., Mclellan, William S., Mary A., Ezra, Emma, Henry, Noah and Pearls. Mr. Smiley owns forty ocres of land on Sec- tion 12. Mr. and Mrs. Smiley are members of the Pleasant Grove Christian Church.

WALTER B. SMILEY, farmer, P. O. Randolph, was born in Green County, E. Tenn., June 1, 1826, and is a son of Walter and Susannah Smiley, natives of Botetourt County, Va. He was reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools. From 1844 to 1849, he worked in a woolen factory. He then learned the painter's trade, which he has followod more or less ever since. He came to this county in February, 1839. Was married, June 24, 1860, to Miss Huldah Bragg, a grand niece of Gen. Bragg. They have had ten children, of whom eight are living-Clement G., Jenetta A., Sarah E., Emma B., Mary J., James C., Anna L. and Clara R. Mr. Smiley held the office of Constable for two years. Mrs. Smiley is a member of the Christian Church.

WILLIAM STICK, farmer and mechanic, P. O. Randolph, was born in Adams County, Penn., March 25, 1846, and is a son of Casper and Julia Stick, who removed with their family to this county in 1858. At the age of eighteen, Mr. Stick learned the carpenter trade, at which he has worked, for the most part, ever since. He was married, August 14, 1873, to Mrs. Sarch Alexander, daughter of Joel Williams, of this county. They have one child-Clyde H. Mrs. Stick had two children by her first husband-Harry O. and Violetta L. Alexander. Mr. Stick is engaged in farming at present, and owns thirty-six acres of land. Ile is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and Mrs. Stick is a member of the M. E. Church.

ALEXANDER VORHIS.

Alexander Vorhis was born September 7, 1842, in Hunterdon County, N. J., and came to Randolph County, Ind., in 1852, with his father, Cornelius Vorhis. The latter was an enterprising, industrious man, and, had he lived, would doubtless have identified himself with the history and improvements of this county. He located near the village of Deerfield, in this county, and erected a dwelling house upon his land, but eleven days after the completion of his home he died. He left only a moderate estate to his family, and they were thrown largely upon their own resources for a livelihood. His wife kept hotel at Deerfield, pursuing this enterprise until her death, in 1864, and deriv- ing & fair income from the public patronge. His son, the subject of this

sketch, was employed about the hotel, assisting his mother in her labors, and

self-acquired by & patient course of study at home, after the day's work w88 done. and the blazing fire on the hearth at night furnished him the light to pursue this effort to acquire knowledge. As he grew up he manifestel a taste for business, and to those who watched his course it was apparent that he possessed the qualities that give assurance of success. He was sober, hon- est and industrious, and found plenty of friends to encourage him. At the age of twenty-two years, he opened a store at Deerfield, the capital for this en- terprise having been loaned him by some of his friends. In due time he hail paid his indebtedness and had a flourishing business. Two years later, he re- moved to Randolph, s station then recently established on the Cincinnati, Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroad, and for the next thirteen years was suc- cessfully engaged their in mercantile pursuits, serving as Postmaster at tha' point during six years of this period. In May, 1880, he began the study of the low, without a preceptor, having purchased the necessary text books, and devoted all his leisure time to this object. In November, 1881, he was ad- mitted to the bar of Randolph County, and is rapidly rising in the estimation of the public and the legal fraternity. He has retired from the mercantile business, and devotes all his energy to the practice of his profession. He has the qualifications of a good lawyer, and his well-known integrity secures for him the confidence of all within the scope of his practice who have legal busi- ness to transact, while those who know him best predict for him a professional success not less pronounced than that which attended his life as a merchant. His industry and prudent management in mercantile life returned him a fortune which, though not colossal, is yet ample to secure him against the possibility of want, while his uniformly honorable dealings in business transactions se- cured for him the public confidence. Personally, he is a splendid specimen of physical manhood, tall and well proportioned, weighing 300 pounds ; jolly and good-natured, able to receive or give a joke, and looking always at the bright side of life. His personal characteristics have won him friends, and perhaps no man in the community is more universally respected. In 1863, he was united in marriage with Miss Hettie M. Drew, a native of Steuben County. N. Y., and daughter of Rufus B. and Mary' A. Drew, both of whom are now living in Steuben County, N. Y. His wife is an estimable lady, and shares with her husband the affectionste regard of the community in which they reside.

JOHN R. WARREN, having resided in this county for over forty years, is entitled to more than a passing notice in our county history. He was born in Randolph County, N. C., April 12, 1812, and is & son of James and Elizabeth Warren, who came to Wayne County about the year, 1821. James Warren was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was in the field when peace was declared. Our subject was raised on s farm, and attended subscription school in & log cabin, where he sat on a slab seat and wrote with' e. goose-quill on & hoard supported by pins in the wall. He was married, January 9, 1834, to Miss Ann Newton, and in 1836 removed to this county and purchased a pre-emption right to eighty acres of land on Section 26, in Ward Township. There was but ten acres of this cleared, and, except the ten acres, he has made a farm. Ile kept adding to this until at one time lie owned one thousand acres. He sold his landed estate in 1875, and lins retired to quiet life, and resides in the pleasant village of Saratoga, in Ward Township. He had ten children by his first wife, of whom seven are living, viz., Henry, Mary A., William, Mahala, Joseph, John F. and Martha. One of the deceased, Elizabeth, lived to the age of eighteen years. Mrs. Warren died April 21, 1877, and he again married to Mrs. Aan Dixon ; she lived but about nine months, and he married a third time, Septem ber 16, 1880, this time to Mrs. Sarah A. Reid. Mr. and Mrs. Warren are members of the M. E. Church.

JAMES M. WARREN, farmer, P. O. Union City, is a native of this county. and was born May 18, 1840. He is a son of Dolphin and Nancy Warren. Ile was married, September 6, 1860. to Miss Sarah E. Miller, & native of this county, and daughter of Daniel B. Miller, late of Winchester. They have had four children, three living-Sarsh E., Nancy A. and Daniel D. Mr. Warren ie engaged in farming and stock-raising, and owns 399 acres of land. Ile also buys and sells stock. Mr. and Mrs. Warren are members of the Disciple Church.

WHIPPLE & HARKER, millers, Deerfield. This enterprising firm own and operate the flouring-mill at Deerfield. They run four set of buhrs, and make the best of flour. The mill was erected in 1854, by Willis Whipple, and his father, Jason Whipple. The mill now contains one purifier, and has a capacity of forty barrels in twenty-four hours. Willis Whipple, the senior member of the firm, was born in Rhode Island, November 25, 1827. His parents removed with their family to Jay County, Ind., in 1838. In 1848, he came to this county, and has been engaged in milling for the most part ever since. He was married, December 29, 1849, to Miss Margaret S. Miller, by whom he had one child, Mary A. (deceased). Mr. Whipple is a member of the M. E. Church. The junior member of the firm, Joseph E. Harker, was born in Warren County, Ohio, October 24, 1850, and is a son of David S. Harker, of Ward Township, who came to this county in 1857. Mr. Harker wns educated at Ridgeville College. On the 10th of April, 1872, he married Miss Mary A. Whipple, daughter of Willis Whipple, of whom we spoke above. They had two chil- dren-Alma and Lenmy W. Mrs. Harker died November 5, 1878.

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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 147

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