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 153

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 153

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

GEORGE THOMAS, Jericho, is the son of Benjamin Thomas, Newport. Wayne Co., Ind. He was born in Wayne County, Ind., in 1814, and married Asenath Hill, daughter of Henry Hill, of Jericho, Ind., in 1833 (who was born in North Carolina in 1815). They settled in Jericho in 1835, went to Nora, 211., in 1856; to Newport, Ind., in 1858; to Jericho, Ind., in 1860; to lown in 1863, and to Randolph County, Ind., in 1878, and they now reside in Jericho, on a portion of her father's farm. They have had three children, one of whom is dend. The two surviving children are Elvira ( Diggs), now of Iowa, who has one child : Sarah ( Moore), and she resides at Jericho, and has ten children. Their husbands are both farmers. Mrs. Thomas' health hins been very feeble for

435

WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

many yeare, but she still holds out a' d in fact enjoys better health at this time (January, 1883), than she has done for twenty years before. Mr. Thomas and his wife are both members of Frien. s. In early days they were Anti-Slavery Friends, their parents and relatives ( as also themselves) uniting with thint body of people upon the "separation," 1 bich occurred in about 1843, from the regular Orthodox Quakers, chiefly w thin the bounds of the Richmond Yearly Meeting, then perhaps the largest in the world. The Thomases, the Hills and others, were very active among umny thers in promoting the Free Labor move- ment, which was, for a time, consider. d very important as n means of strength- ening the Anti-Slavery feeling throughout the South. Nathan Thomas, Henry Charles, and perhaps more besides them, traveled through various Southern regions seeking out " Free-Labor cotton," planting " Free-Labor gius," etc., etc. For some years the movement showed considerable activity, evincing at least a high degree of conscientiousness on the part of its promoters, and a strong sen- sitivenese against giving countenance or support in any possible way to evil- doing.

ELIHU THOMPSON is a son of George and Hannab Thompson, and was born in Wayne County, Ind., on the 23d dny of May. 1840. Ile was brought up on a farm, receiving only a limited education, such as was afforded by' the district schools. Ha was one of nice children, and is the only one now living, three brothere-Wilson, Isainh and Howard-having lost their lives while serving in the Union army during the war of the rebellion. In 1846, he came with his parents to this county, and in 1869, he was married to Miss Nancy Bowen, by whom he has had three children, one of whom is now dead. Mr. Thompson is now engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is the agent for the northern half of Indiana for the Mystic Carpet Sweeper.

JOHN M. TURNER was born in White River Township, Randolph Co., Ind., September 14, 1840, being n son of William Turner, a former resident of Randolph, but now of Jay County, Ind. Reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of the time, he has become a steady, hard-working farmer. with sufficient learning to transact successfully the business of life. He was a member of Company H, Eighty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, remaining in the service one year. He was married, June 4, 1865, to Miss Mary J .. daughter of John Hartman. They have hnd four children, viz .. Effie C., Loftus O., Minnie A. and Mary O. Mrs. T. died March 9, 1879, having been a worthy and acceptable member of the Christian Church, to which Mr. T. himself also belongs. He remains a widower, his household affairs being cared for by his daughters, Effie and Minnie, who are respectively fifteen and eleven years old. Mr. T. owns 203 acres of land in Wayne Township, besides a half interest in 194 acres in Greensfork Township. He is a stanch kepublicnu, and takes n deep interest in public affairs, having also served one ierm as Township Trustee of Wayne Township.

WILLIAM TURNER (now of Camden, Jay ('ounty). Mr. Turner (though not at this time a resident of the county yet), has spent so much of his time and his menne here, that we think it proper to insert an necouot of him in this work, under the head of Wayne Township. William Turner was born in Vir- gioia in 1816, being a son of Randolph Turner. They moved to Tennessee in 1818, and to Alabama in 1826. His father died in Alabama, in 1828, and in 1833, he came with his widowed mother to Randolph County, Ind. They came with a four-horse Carolina wagon and a one-horse carry-all. There were nine in the company, and it was in the fall of the year. During the journey, which lasted a month, they camped out in a tent. Their arrival in this county was in November, and snow had fallen. Their condition ns to property was medium, being considered, in fact, as well off for these times. He married Margaret Monks, in 1839. She was the daughter of John Monks, and the sister of George W. Monks. They were the parents of thirteen children, eleven of whom lived to be grown and ten are living still. Eight of them are married and two are single. The children are : John, who has four children ; Elmira, has one child; Susanna, has one child ; Cyrus, has none; Julin Ano, who is dead; Thomas, who has three children : Matilda, who has four children; Eliza- beth, who died at five years ; Emma Catharine, died an infant ; William, has no children ; Jesse. has no children ; Lucinda, single ; Emma Catharine (second ), single. Mr. Turner resided first south of Winchester, but moved to near Sa- lem, southwest of Union City, in 1848, in which neighborhood he owned at one time 500 or 600 acres of land. lle moved to Uoion City, residing in that vicinity three or four years, but for some years his home has been near Cam- den, Jay County. He had a fine landed property, but has suffered heavy finan- cial reverses, and has lost the greater portion of his estate. Through most of his life he has been a farmer, working also for several years as a carpenter. He invested heavily in Union City, erecting the Opera Hall at a cost of $21,000, which turned out to be nearly n total loss. Io politics, he was a Whig, and is A Republican. He joined the Methodists in 1833. the Disciples, nt Salem, in 1850, and the United Brethren, near Camden. in 1880. Although prostrated by severe pecuniary losses, he is, nevertheless, not disheartened ; but "hoping on, hoping ever," he is still struggling manfully in the great life-conflict, receiving meekly, moreover, the measure of success allotted by the Great Dis- poser of all things.

THOMAS WELCHI was born in Randolph County, Ind., December 17. 1840, being a son of William and Elizabeth Welch, who came from Ohio in about 1837. settling in Randolph County. He was brought up on the farm, receiving bis education in the common schools. He has been twice married, the first time to Miss Rebecca Shelley, in 1861, who died in 1875; and the second time, to Mrs. Margaret Coddington, October 7, 1880, who had been by a previous marriage the mother of five children, three of whom are living, viz .. Mary J., Rosa and Ezra. Mr. W. has been the father of nine children, seven of whom still survive, viz., William, Jacob, Alice, Ida. James, Effie and Maggie. His present wife is a member of the Christian denomination. Mr. Welch owns 228 acres of land, and is an energetic and successful farmer. His grand- parente, Thomas and Mary Welch, emigrated to Randolph in 1837. his grand- father having been a native of Pennsylvania, and bound ont when a lad in n man by the name of Greer; but not being satisfied with his situation he left

his employer, and thus became separated from the rest of his connection. He had a brother. Richard, who was n coverlet-weaver by trade, and when last known lived in Eastern Ohio.

JAMES WHITESELL (P. O. Harrisville) is a worthy farmer of Wayne Township, being a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born February 9, 1818. His father, Jacob Whitesell, had his birth in North Carolina, and his mother, Mary Whitesell, in Ohio. Reared on a farm io tho then new regions of Ohio, and educated in the traditional log cabin, on slab seats and warmed before fire-places with dirt hearths and walls, and erick-nod-clay chimneys, he came, a youth of twenty years, to Randolph County, Ind.,'settling in the woods in 1838, during which year and the year previous, more than balt the land in Randolph was entered for settlement. It was, indeed, a time for hard and steadfast work, in which chopping, rail-splitting, rolling Ings, etc., were more common thno horse-trading is at the present time. He has assisted at rolling logs and raising houses for weeks in succession. Mr. W. was married rather late in life, to Miss Elizabeth A. Coddington, daughter of Ezra R. Coddington, August 16 1856, at the age of thirty-eight years. They have been the parents of five children. Four are living, viz., Mary J., James, Perry and Laura B. Mr. W. served as Justice of the Peace for Wayne Township for three years. He owns 172 neres of land, and is n member of F. & A. M., being a prominent and respected citizen of the locality in which he resides.

ELIZABETH (HARTMAN) WIGGS, wife of Windsor Wiggy, now of Portland, Jay Co., Ind .; daughter of John Hartman, and the sister of Solomon Hartman, both of Wayne Township. She was born about 1830 probably in Pennsylvania ; came with her father, first to near Greenville, Darke Co., Ohio, in 1832, and afterward to Wayne Township, Randolph Co., Ind., in 1818. She became the wife of Windsor Wiggs, Jr., and was the father of seven children, all girls- Cornelia (Conts), husband operator at Greenville; Belle (Starbuck). husband (a son of Edward Starbuck, late banker of Union City), now resident of Chi- cago; Carey (Johnson), husband telegrapher nt Knightstown, Ind .: Sarah Frances, unmarried ; Della, Intely married at Portland, Ind. ; Lucy, unmarried, at home with her father. Mrs. Wiggs died several years ago, and her hus- band, after awhile, married for his second wife, Mrs. Almaretta daughter of the famous Dr. Milligan, of Jay Conuty, Ind., and later of Recovery, Mer- cer Co., Ohio, and they now reside at Portland, Jay County, after having dwelt for a time on a farm near Liber, in that county, upon one of the several farms inherited from her father. Mr. Wiggs is the son of Windsor Wiggs, Sr., a pioneer of Greensfork Township, Randolph County, and was for many years an active citizen of Randolph as farmer, merchant, grain-dealer, business man, auctioneer, etc .. etc.

LUTHER C. WILLIAMSON, son of Jobn M. and Nancy F. Williamson, was born in Wayne Township, this county, on the ltith day of January. 1849. He was raised on a farm and brought up to the business of farining. He was eduented in the common schools of the township and in Union City graded school. After arriving at maturity, he taught one term of school in Blackford County, Ind. On the 24th day of August, 1872, he married Sarah, daughter of Henry Bowman, and they have three children, all living. They first settled on a small piece of land in Wayne Township, four miles south west of Union ('ity. to which ha has added by purchase, until he has now seventy aeres-"a small farm well tilled "-with good dwelling and outbuildings. In the spring of 1882 Mr. Williamson was elected Road Superintendent for Wayne Township, which office he now fills.

JOHN M. WILLIAMSON was born in 1812, and died in 1874, aged sixty- two years, being buried in Hoover Cemetery, south of Union City. He came early to this county, entering 200 acres in the forest, south of what is now Union City, Ind., but then a gloomy, dismal wilderness region. Ile married Nancy Wasson. They hnd teu children, eight of whom are yet alive. Their names, etc., are as follows: Harvey, lives in Jackson Township, has four children; John, lives in Wayne Township, has one child; Dock, lives in Wayne Township, has two children; Ivens, lives in Wayne Township, has two chil- dren ; Philene (Graves), lives in Wayne Township, has one child; Isabella (Perkins), lives in Wayne Township, has no children; Baxter, lives in Wayne Township, unmarried; Peter, lives in Wayne Township, unmarried. Mr. W. died some years ago, owning at the time of his death 240 acres of land south of Union City, and his willow occupies the whole homestead still.

JAMES WOODBURY was born in Athens County, Ohio, June 19, 1825. le came with his father, Nathan P. Woodberry, to Wayne Township, Randolph Co., Ind., in 1839. November 4, 1849, be married Harriet Conkling. They havs had seven children, all living and five married. His elucation was obtained mostly at home. Ile has taught school some, but his business has heen farming, in which he takes an honest pride, and he rejoices in his abon- dant success. Mr. W. is an active and prominent citizen, in politics, in agri- culture and in business matters in general, though he has scarcely ever held public office. He has been Township Treasurer, Manager of the I'nion Fair. held at Union City, member of County Executive Republican Committee, etc. lo youth, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, though he is not n mem- ber at present. As to politics, in early manhood he was a Democrat, voting, however, for Gen. Taylor; but in 1856, he joined the Republican party, and is still a member thereof. Mr. W. is in the vigor of middle life ; an energetic, successful farmer, and a valuable and respected citizen, owning an extensive and valuable farm some two miles southwest of I'nion City, from whien, by means of agriculture, stock-raising, etc., he realizes a generous income.

THE WOODBERRYS. [NOTE,-In early times, it was the fashion to spell the name as given nbove, and we have written it accordingly. lamey Wood- bury, however, chooses another method, which other method has, therefore, tor him nad his, been adopted.]

ROBERT WOODBERRY, grent-grandfather of James Woodbury, came to Ohio about 1790 or sooner, being one of the shareholders in the Ohio Land Company of that day, and, as such shareholder, owning 1,300 acres of land. Nathan Woodberry, grandfather of James Woodbury, was born in Beverly, Essex Co., Mass .. November 28, 1759, and came to Athens County, Ohio, before

436

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

1800, and resided thers fill his death. Nathan P. Woodberry, father of James Woodbury, was born in Athens County, Ohio, April 23, 1800. He came to Randolph County, In l., in 1839, and settled about two miles south of Union City, near the gravel bank on the State line. He entered a half-section two miles northenst of Winchester, and purchased 480 acres south of Union City, on n part of which James Woodbury now resides. He first lived in a cabin on the Ohio side, but soon built a residence on his own land in Indiana, in which he lived for thirty years or more. He died March 15, 1878, aged seventy- seven years ten months twenty-two dnye, at his residence south of Union, where hie aged widow still lives. He was married, August 29. 1824, to Susanna Jennings (who was born in Somerset County, Penn .. in 1806), in Perry County, Obio. They had nine children; eight came to be grown and married, and five are living. They were James, living, seven children ; George, dend, twelve ebildren ; Charles, dead, five children : Nathan, living, one child ; Sarah, living; Nancy, dend, two children; Lucinda, living, two children; Susanna, dead; Daniel, living, four children. lle was a tall, straight, robust, young-looking old man : learned shoemaking in his youth, but was n farmer and brick-mason, a natural genius, and could do almost anything needful. His widow's health is good, her age being seventy-five years. Till 1856, he was a Democrat, but joined the Republicans in that year, and so continued till his death. In religious connection, he wns a Methodist. When he died he was the owner of 200 acres of land. His father, Nathan Woodberry, was a Methed- ist nearly all his life, but in his later years, he joined the Christians (New Lights). He died in 1838. in his gsveoty-ninth year. N. W., the elder, was employed in the United States Naval Service during the Revolutionary war. He had on hand at the close of the war several thousand dollars of Continental money, which were n total loss. He left it with a friend to lay out for Innd, but that "friend " expended all his own and neglected to invest that belonging to Mr. W., and it hecame worthless. When in a naval engagement. a canano- ball cut in two a cousin standing by his side but left him unharmed. One of his children was horn "in the woods." They lived eight miles from the nearest neighbor, and, not wishing to be alone, they started on horseback to go those eight miles; hut the crisis came abont midway of the distance, the child was born there in the woo ls, and they reached their destination about night- fall. Mr. Woodberry's house was a place for travelers to stop on their east- ward way. and the statesmen of those times were often his guests. One night Lewis ('aus was there, and the boys being noisy, Cass drew out n huge knife and jumped at them, crying, " Ilush!" They hushed! Another time, one of them came up on horseback. The family were nt dinner, eating mush and milk. One of the boys left the table to attend to the horse. The gentleman come in and slipped into the lad's seat, aod took a how] filling it with the simple and healthful food, much to the chagrin of the mistress of the mansion, that so distiognisbed a guest should have nothing but mush and milk !

EDWIN R. WOODBERRY was born in Athens County, Ohio. October 17, 1820, and is a son of William nul Margaret Woodberry. He came to this county in 1839, and for two winters taught schonl in Darke County, Ohio, and one winter in this county. In the fall of 1841, he was married to Wiss Eliza- beth Duvall, by whom he has had fifteen children, thirteen of whom are now living. - ile now resides at the little village of Salem, four miles southwest of I'nion City, and hy occupation is n carpenter. His wife died July 28, 1879.

UNION CITY.

DESCRIPTION GENERAL. - PLAT ADDITION.

Two hundred and fifty-two lots; Jeremiah Smith. proprietor. Size of plat, 160 aeres. Location southeast quarter of Sertion 25. 18. I, on Ohio line fextended afterward into Sections 24 and 36|. Recorded December 17. 1849. | Union City is in two States, Indiana and Ohio. but rach State has a distinct corpora- tion. ]

The plat was corrected and enlarged. the plan being radically changed. the angle of the streets being made different. the lots smaller and more numerons, etc. The new plan and plat were recorded February 6, 1854. more than four years after the first was made. In the new plat there were 483 lots. The streets are mostly not "synare with the world." but ran at a considera ble angle. the northward streets voering toward the west. The north and south streets (beginning with State Line) were as fo !. lows: State Line. Union. Columbia, Howard, Phun. Walnut, High (and Broadway, east of the Branham House, from Pearl to Chestnut, across the depot). The east and west streets, begin- ory. Oak. Pearl. Smith, Chestont. Smith street is on the rail- road, and Chestnut is sonth of the railroad. The streets are eighty feet wide, exempt Smith and Broadway, which are 100 feet. and Division and State Line, which are much narrower than eighty fort. The alleys in the original plat are thirty foot wide.

First addition. Converse's. J. N. Converse. proprietor. Re- corded July 1. 1853. E. L Watson. surveyor. Fifty-six acres, 220 lets. Location, sonth of the original plat, on the State line ia the northeast quarter of Sortion 36, 18, 1. New streets cast and west. Vine and Maple.

Second addition, Carter's; S. L. Carter, proprietor. Fifty lots. E. L Watson. surveyor. Location, east of Howard and north of Division. New street east and west. Carter street. Re- corded July 17, 1853.

Third addition. Converse and Mississinewa Valley Railroad; thirty-two lots, many of them large. Location, north of Divis- ion and west of Howard, in the northeast quarter of Section 25, 18. 1. Recorded December 13, 1856.

Fourth addition. Haney, Fisher & Ferenson's. Jacob Ha- ney. R. L. Fisher. David Ferguson. proprietors. Forty-two lots. Location, some distance west. north of Oak. New streets north and south. Sycamore. Mulberry. Chatham. Recorded October 23. 1866.

Fifth addition. Minnick's: John Minnick, proprietor. Twelve lots. Location north of a narrow street next north of Division an 1 between Howard and Plum (south part of Lot 56. Converse and Mississinewa Valley Railroad Addition). Record- ed August 26, 1867.

Sixth addition. Bradfor.I's; Joel Bradford. proprietor. Nine lot4. Location. between Union and State Line, north Record- ed September 39. 1867.

Seventh addition, Carter's Second; S. L Carter. proprietor. Forty-five lots. Between State Line and Howard. north part of town. Recorded November 2. 1872.

Eighth addition. S. C. Carter's: S. C. Carter. proprietor. Eight lots. Location. worth of Minaick's Addition, between Howard and Pinm, north part of Ontlot No. 56. Recorded April 17. 1874.

Ninth addition. T R. Turner's; T. R. Turner, proprietor. Six lots. Location, east side of Howard. north of S. L. Carter's Addition Recorded August 8, 1874.

Tenth addition. Worthington's; W. T. Worthington, pro- prietor. Fourteen lots. Location. west of Haney & Ferguson's Addition, west of Chatham street. Recorded December 24, 1874.

Eleventh addition. Worthington's Second. W. T. Worthing ton. proprietor. Fifteen lots. Location, north of Carter's Sec- ond Addition. Recorded December 24. 1874.

Twelfth addition. Fisher's: R. S. Fisher, Charley Heitzman. proprietors, Sixteen lots. Location, south of S. L. Carter's Second Addition. east of Howard. Recorded February 10. 1875.

Thirteenth addition. Gnllett's: Alex Gullett, proprietor. Twenty-five lots. Location. east of Bothast's brickyard. north- west part of town. Recorded February 18, 1875.

Fourteenth addition. Doty's. Morris Doty. proprietor. Six ontlots. Location. between Howard and Plum to North pike. Recorded August 27. 1875.

Fifteenth addition. Doty's Second; Morris Doty. proprietor. Five lots. Location, west of Plum, Park and north to pike. Recorded October 14. 1875.

Sixteenth addition, Turner's, Angnst S. 1874. Replatted by Third Building and Loan Association. Six lots. Location, same as Turner's Aiklition (ninth). Recorded June 1, 15's0.

Seventeenth addition. Livengood's : Maria C. Livengood. administratrix of Jacob Livengood. proprietor. Forty-five lots Location. north, between Howard and Plum. and west of Plnm. New street. Lynn. east and west. Recorded April 6, 1877.

Eighteenth addition, Jackson's: J. R. Jackson, proprietor. Seventy-two lots and a park. Location, south of Park (includ- ing Park). west of Pinm street. Recorded November. 1880. Now streets north and south. Jarkson: east and west. Fisher. Heitzman.

Union City. Ind., was first laid out by Hon. Jere Smith in ning at the north. wern Division (directly east and west), Hick- ' 1849, containing 252 lots, and was afterward replatted and en- larged-with 483 lots, this latter plat having been recorded Feb. ruary h, 1854. The original plat of the town comprised 160 acres, or half a mile square, being the southeast quarter of Sec- tion 25. 18. 1 west.

Large additions have been made from time to time (about eighteen or more, in all) in Indiana, till the entire town in that State covers nearly a mile square-perhaps rather more than that.

It is a curious fart that. north of Division street, which marks the north line of the quarter-section, and of the original half- mile plat, there are scarcely any east and west streets. How the

Very respectfully yours the, Der. Smith.

S. Branham

SIMEON BRANHAM.

Siment Branham was born in Scott County, Ky., in 1806. His mother died in 1813 ; his father married again and removed to Jefferson County, Ind., in 1815 (sixty-seven years ago), and to Bartholomew Coun- ty, Ind., IS20, after the public lands there had been surveyed, but before they had been offered for sale, Mr. Branham, the elder, died soon after- ward (in 1822). The subject of our sketch was then a lad of sixteen years, one out of fifteen children, ten by the first wife and five by the second. Mr. Branham saya : " My father was very poor, and his death left his widow utterly destitute. I assisted her to her brother's, forty miles distant, and then struck out into the world, to fight the battles of life, poor, friendless, an orphan. Aa I was going along through the wooda on that sad journey of kindness and affection to assist my widowed and desolate step-mother, I looked out upon my future career, and reflected : ' Here I am, a poor, helpless orphan boy ! What I become, I must, by God's help, achieve for myself. I cannot afford to drink apirits, nor use tobacco, for such an expense will keep me poor, and I can never rise. By the grace of God, I will never use either.' And I never have. By His strength I have been enabled to keep sacred the solemn vow that in my lonely and helpless orphanhood, in that dreary forest path I made." Simeon Branham moved to Jennings County, Ind., 1831 ; to Johnson County, Ind., 1849; and to Union City, August 23, 1853, and this city has been his home ever since that day. He married Jemima Chambers abont 1835. They have had six children, five living still.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 153

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