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 162

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 162

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goods, vases, etc. This trade was & new thing here, ao'd a demand for them had to be created. The first year he had hard work to sell ferty pieces of flues. He bought fifty, and hadd ten left over. Frem February, 1880 (to April), he gold mine car-leads, 1,200 feet cach. He sold in 1879 forty-three carleads sewer pipe, and seventeen car-loads from February to April, 1880. The first two years, he sold ouly three pair of vases, and that by the severest begging. From February to April, 1880, he disposed of 400 vases of various sizes. These facts show the incredible increase of this trade. Capt. K. has agents in 120 towns. At Muncie alone there are sold $150 worth per month of the vari- ons articles of this business. The works are at Calumet, Ohio, Jefferson County. These article are wonderfully neat and tasteful, and highly ornamental. They are strong and durable, impervious to water and imperishable by fire, easily anul cheaply put up, and they would seem to be, by all means, preferable. Since this account was written, the business referred to hay increased still mere largely. but the present statistics we have not room to etate.

JOHN KOONS, furniture dealer, born in 1829 in Germany, near Bingen, "fair Bingen on the Rhine;" came to America in 1842 ; he spent his time ou a farm till 1848; then worked as a carpenter, working at Dayton, Cincinnati, New Orleans, etc. He settled in Union City June, 1852, when everything was " in the woods," working as a carpenter till 1856, and in that year begno a onbinet shop. In 1864, he married Mary Caren, of Greenville, Ohio. They have had seven children. He is a Catholic and a Democrat, and is noted fer bis quiet and sturdy independence of thought and action. He is highly re- spected by his fellow-citizens as beiog enterprising and successful in his husi- ness, and npright in his dealings. He has been engaged in handling furniture for nearly twenty-five years, and now carries it on extensively, both wholesale and retail, in all its branches. He owns a factory run by steam power ; is also an " undertaker," and deals extensively in lumber. He is supposed to have acquired a substantial fortune, owning, besides his factory, furniture shop and other town property, several fine farms in the region.

PETER KUNTZ, lumberman (brother of John Koons above), Mr. Keony was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Europe, in the year 1839; he came to Darke County, Ohio, in 1842, and to Union City in 1867. He married Mary Higi in 1879. From 1859 to 1865, he was a weed-cbopper, and thus maile his start, He sokl lumber iu Greenville, Ohio, two years, and set up at Union City in 1867; 1867-73, Kuntz & Willson, and Peter Kuntz alene, 1873- 82. The first year, the firm sold $45,000 worth, the last year of Kuntz & Willson, $100,000, and 1879, $!85,000. He has a sa #-mill, planing-mill, sash and door factory, etc. The establishment has about forty different machines for working in wood. lle receives and handles lumber from Michigan, Wis- consio, Minnesota, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Canada. His business is very largely wholesale, more than 70 per cent of the lumber net coming to Union City at all ; he bought in 1879 about two thousand eight hundred car- loads : he employs in his business here fifty to sixty hands. He is a Catholic und a Democrat. He gave $5,000 as a fund to support a Catholic free school in Union City, and has offered a like sam te Greenville, Ohie, on condition that the Catholics there prepare therefor by building a house, etc., which, however, has not yet been done. Mr. Kuntz, by his prompt and energetic innnagement, has built up an immense business. Though somewhat brusque and forbidding in persmal address, he has yet, by consummate business tact, drawn to his establishment a host of customers, and that host grows ever larger year by year. During the winter of 1880-81, Mr. Kuntz bought an immense quantity of logs of all kinds, paying generous prices, enriching the happy farmers, buying even elm, supposed until lately to be the most worth- less of all trees. One man said that he made $1.50 a day in hauling elm to market, besides getting the stuff out of his way. The saine man sold to Mr. Kuntz the logs from four ash trees, all standing on a single acre of ground, re- ceiving for the same $78!

STEPHTEN II. LADD, grocer, was born in Meredith, N. H., in 1827, his parents being Stephen Ladd and Sarah Adams; his father was born in Sand- wich, N. II., in 1796, and died in Lawrence, Mass., in 1882, eighty-six yents old; his mother died at the same place in 1878, eighty-two years old, both be- ing then nearly of the same age. They were the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters, all of whom became grown ; seven of them were married and five are still living ; three roside in Massachusetts er New Hampshire and two are in Union City. Stephen Ladd, the ckler, was a farmer, a Democrat and a Universalist, and his wife was an old-fashioned Bap tist. Stephen If. Ladd left home at cleven years old as a peanut boy on the railroad, and he has been engaged upon railroads ever since until about three years ago as brakeman. conductor, foremao and engineer, having been engi- neer more than thirty years, the last ten years of which were spent in Union City os foreman of the locomotive department at Union City. The roads with which he has been connected have been the Boston & Maine, the Pennsylvania Central, the Ohio & Indiana (Crestline & Ft. Wayne) und the Cleveland, Co- lumbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis (C., C., C. & 1.) Railways. Mr. Ladd quit railrow ling in April, 1850, and in the spring of 1882 he began business as a grocer at Union City, Ind., in which he is now engaged. Mr. Ladd was mar- ried, in July, 1857, to Miss Sarah F. Hoover, of Crestline, Ohio, and they have lusul seven children, six of whom are living. Their names are given herewith: Ida G., Venin F., Rosa W., Hattie May (dead), Henry L., Maude D., Walter C. llo is a strong temperance man and an enthusiastic Republican. Mr. Would has been but little connected with official station, his only engagement of that sort having heen Councilman of Union City duriog two terms (four years). Mr. Lold is a gentleman possessing greit energy of character, and has been successful in obtaining a competence, owning a fine residence upen West Pearl street io Union City. One of his children is married, and one of them has heen for some years a member of the choir in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Union City,

G. LAMBERT was born in Pennsylvania in 1825. In 1850, he cmigrated to Miami County, Ohio; in 1852, to Clark County, Ohio; in 1859, to Champaign County, Ohio; in 1869, to near Union City, Ohio; and in 1877, to the city

459

WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

itself (Ohio side). He has been a farmer all his life except from 1877 to the present time, which latter years have been spent na n grain-huyer. He is a member of the United Brethren Church; and voted for James A Garfield for President. He has had ten children, nine of them now living. Ile and big sons are engaged in business of several kinds. For several years, he and one son have been operating as dealers in grain. In 1880, the firm was formed of Lambert, Parent & Co., and exists to-day and deals extensively in grain, hand- ling some 200,000 bushels during a single year. One of the sons, J. W. Lam- bert, is a partner in a handle factory, established in 1880. The tiru turns fork handles, neck-yokes, single-trees, spokes nad hubs. They have bought $7,000 to $8,000 worth of " butts" as material for their work in a single year. Their establishment seems aotive and prosperous. One of them is also a part- ner in the firm of Lambert & Mckenzie, saddle and harness makers, Union City, Ohio. They employ in all about twenty-five hands. One of the song is n very active member of the United Brethren Church, being teacher in the Sunday school, class lender, etc.

ALFRED LENOX

was born in Shelby County, Ohio, September 4, 1819, while the territory now comprising that county was yet a part of Miami County. His father was John Lenox, a native of Virginia, who was brought by his paren's to Mariettta, Ohio, in the early settlement of that locality, and who removed to what is now Shelby County in 1810. J. L. enlisted at the beginning of the war of 1812, and served until its close, having attained the rank of Captain of scouts. He re- turned to his original settlement, four miles north of where the town of Sid- ney now is, and where be cleared a farm and raised a family. Upon this farm, young Alfred was raised, accustomed to farm work and wholly deprived of publie school facilities. This deficiency was supplied by the energy and enter- prise of his father, who, at his own expense, built a schoolhouse and employed a teacher for his own nad for his neighbors' children. From this primitive school yonng Lenox entered a select school in l'iqna, from which he received a certificate of graduation. On the 5th day of November, 1840, he was married to Miss Frances Ano Gish, of Montgomery County, Ohio, and to them have been born ten children, seven of whom are now living.

Doring the ten years from 1840 to 1850, Mr. Lenox was engaged in farm- ing in the locality in which he was raised. During the succeeding four years, he was engaged apon public works, principally on the " Bee Line " Railway, as contractor nad superintendent of construction, in which capacity he laid the first track and constructed the first railroad works st Union City. A part of this time, he was proprietor und manager of the Forest House, the first hotel in the place. Ia 1854, he engaged in merchandising, keeping a general store for three years. The same year, he lost heavily by fire. Changing bis business, he kept a livery-stable six years. In 1862, be was commissioned a Captain in the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, and was detailed on recruiting service, and afterward as Govern- ment detective. Being dissatisfied with the service, he resigned his commis- sion and recruited a company for the One Ilun Ired and Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteers, with which he entered the field as ils Captnio, being mustered out with his company at Winchester, Va., by reason of the termination of the war. Capt. Lenox returned to Union City, and as superintendent of construction assisted in building the railroad from Union City to Logansport. After its completion, be opened a restaurant, in which business he has continued until the present time. Mr. Lenox came to Union City in 1852, and has been a res- ident of the place ever since, he and his wife having now nearly or quite the longest residence in the town. He finished the first house in the city, and has witnessed the growth of the place from an unbroken forest to its present condition. He has always been active in promoting the business interests of the town and in undertakings for the bettering of society. le has been foremost among the friends of public schools and all educational en- terprises. Union City, like most new railroad towns, was overrun with grog- shops and whisky saloons. Mr. Lenox being a pronounced temperance man, and being encouraged and supported by other good citizens, made war upon the traffic, and after years of peraevoring effort, with expenditure of consider- able money and at great personal risk, the open sale of intoxicating liquors on the Indians side of the town was entirely suppressed, nor have they since been here sold openly ng a beverage. For this exemption, the citizens of the town were originally indebted very largely to the energy aud steadfast activity of Capt. Lenox, as much so, perhaps, as to any other one man. Mr. and Mrs. Lenox are yet citizens of Union City, living in the enjoyment of a fair degree of health, surrounded by their children, grandchildren and one great-grand- child, and having the respect and esteem of all citizens. We but express the sentiment of all when we say that it is hoped that they may live yet many years as landmarks of the good city, and in the enjoyment of advantages which their own efforts have been so instrumental in establishing.

N. B. LEWIS was born in 1849, at Cheshire, Delaware Co., Ohio. Ile was one of fifteen children by two marriages. In 1853, his father removed to New Corydon, Jay County, Ind., and, in 1859, to Union City, Ind. Ile was a black- smith, and was poor, and young Noe had to work in his father's shop to help " keep the wolf from the door," and so he got very little school training. At twenty-two, he left the smith shop, and became a dry goods olerk with Wiggs, Polly & Co., and, in 1875, entering the boot and shoe establishment of Ander- son & Johnson ; he has been connected with that house to the present time, under three different firms. Mr. Lewis married Emma Polly, danghter of David Polly, in December, 1871. They have had two children, neither one living. His wife is a Disciple ; he belongs to the I. O. O. F., and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Lewis, though a young man, is a quiet, worthy, industrions citizen, and is rapidly gaining the respect and confidence of his fellow-towas- men.

WILLIAM MARSH, flagman, was born in Butler Co., Ohio, in 1818 ; wns engaged in railroading for thirty years ; he laid the track from Greenville to Union in 1852; was baggage-master on the D. & U. R R. trains for twelve

years, switchmau on the " Bee-Line" three years, band on the track three years, aml for nine years past, flagman at the main crossing on Columbia street. He is employed by the " Bee-Line," and the " Pao-llandie" pays half his salary. Mr. Marsh states it as a fact, that the (nearly) twenty-eight years since trains began to pass this crossing, not an accident, nor an injury of any kind has ever occurred in connection with that crossing. More than 200,000 trains and teams, vehicles, and passengers innumerable ( perhaps scores of mil- lions), have passed that street, yet, during all that time, through all these twenty-eight years of constant traffic and travel, no train, no vehicle, no living creature, no min, wointo nor child, has suffered the slightest injury. Such n fact speaks volumes for the wonderful and unfailing care hy the railroad com- panies in their intercourse with the publio, and fur their faithful employes, in guarding the lives nad the safety of the persons, and the property iutrusted to their charge. It seems a pleasing aod an assuring sight for persons desirous to Attempt that dangerous passage to see the " grizzly locks" of our " old friend Marsh," waving his flag, and when he gives the signal to cross, they go rapidly but trustingly forward ; sure that when he proolaims to " go ahead," no harm will happen as they jog on their onward way. Long, long may be live to wave that sigual flag, and to enjoy the proud satisfaction arising from the thought that his " brek ward signal " or his " forward wave " has served to guard hun- dreda of thousands of lives and myriads of animals and vehicles from passing on to destruction, or bas beckoned them on ward in safety and in peace. Though his position might, by haughty aristocrats, be reckoned humble and obscure, yet it may with truth be affirmed that the faithful labor sod care of one man like Flagman Marsh, is worth indefinitely more to the world than the labor per- formed by a dozen millionaires, yet the millionaire is good in his place, nad so is the flagmno at a grand thoroughfare railway crossing. Hurrah for the flag- mao, and may we always have one as good.

ROBERT B. McKEE was born in 1830 in Adams County, Penn .; cameto Darke County, Ohio, in 1838, and to Uuion City, Ind., in 1852 (October). He mar- ried Margaret Manuel in 1855, and has six children, all living but one. His business for twenty-eight years has been that of a salesman in Union City, seventeen years with Joseph Turpen (five years of that time as partner), elevco years with Kirschbaum & Co. In 1880, in connection with O. C. Gordon, Tresorer of Randolph County, he bought Paxson's boot und shoe store, under the firm name of Gordon & McKee. He is Township Trustee for Wayne Town- ship, having been elected in 1878 and again in 1880. He is an active Repub- lien, and a prominent citizen. In 1881, he sold out his part of the shoe store to I. A. Thomas, late of Winchester, Iad., and is chiefly engaged in dealing in horses, besides his employment as Township Trustee. During the summer of 1882, he has been and is busying himself in erecting a commodious residence npon North Howard street, which is expected to be an unique model of beauty and convenience.

CHARLES MCKENZIE has spent a life of great adventure and varied ex. perience, having been a rover from his youth. He was born in Nicholns Coun- ty, Ky., in 1822, being the son of James Mckenzie, who was born in Maryland, af Scotch descent, July 4, 1776; moved to Darke County, Ohio, in 1812; was in the war of 1812 ; removed after the war to Kentucky ; was the father of ten children, and died in Kentucky, twelve miles from Maysville, ia 1831. C. W. Mckenzie came with his widowed mother to Greenville, Darke Co., Ohio, dur- ing the cholera season in 1832; he traveled somewhat in his boyhood. In his early manhood, he went to Canada, and, becoming acquainted with the " Kn- nucks," was employed in several trips to Hudson's Bay, some of the time as bearer of messages for the Hudson's Bay Company, remaining io that country several years. Returning to the States, he spent three years (1842-1845) in La Grange County, Ind., going then to Jackson, Mich., and to Detroit ; he afterward went Eist to New York, and by ocean voyage to New Orleans; set ont for Cuba, was wrecked and landed at Mobile, Aln .; went to South America for somemonths, and spent two years in Central America, returning to the United States again, and so onward to the present time. He has been several voyages to Europe, once in 1854, and the last time.some years ago. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio, from Lima, Allen Co., Ohio, Company 1 ; served from Angust 12, 1862, to March 24, 1863; was crippled by a car acci- dent at Cynthiana, Ky., and discharged therefor, receiving a back pension of $1,100, under the Act of Congress for that purpose. He has traveled over the whole country, North, South, East and West, being at the "Centennial" in 1876. He visits this county every few years, having a brother and sister re- siding at Union City (Mckenzie and Mrs. Eisenhonr). He has many relatives in this region. Jesse Gray, the famous hunter, wns his sister's father-in-law ; William Vail, n noted pioneer and resident of Joy County, Ind., is his brother- in-law, and Charles Sumption, father of Robert Sumption, of Ridgeville, was his uncle.

MARTIN MURPHY was born in Wayne Township, Ran dolph Co., Ind., in 1836; bis school privileges were very limited, attending solely at the old log cabin, standing on the site of the eight-sided schoolhouse, near the Downing farm, west of the Hoover Cemetery. At sixteen, he went for himself, working ont by the month for $12 to $18 a month. In 1861, he enlisted in the Seven- teenth Ohio (three months') Regiment, and served four months and eight days. He did not re-enlist, but served his country faithfully at home. For five years he was employed in a livery stable, under different proprietors, Branhem, Ospy, Ruby, etc. In 1868, he became Marshal of Union City, in which post- tion be served for eight years. He was Constable of Wayne Township for two years ; he has also been a veterinary surgeon for twenty years, which vocation he follows still, besides being employed in the livery stable of George W. Prior. He married Mary E. Enocha in 1863. They have had eight children, five of whom are living. Mr. Murphy is a reliable citizen, and a thorough Repub- lican. His father, an nged gentleman and a pioneer of Wayne Township, still resides on the land which he first occupied nearly fifty years ago. Though fee- ble from age, he enjoys reasonable health and strength, and the comfort and peace that spring from n long life spent in the service of God, and faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation.

460

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

W. S. MURRAY is still a young man, and, in the beginning of what may yet prove to be a life of activity and usefulness to his country and his kind. Hle was born in Madison County, Ind., March 4, 1803, the day that. Franklin Pierce was inaugurated President. He is one of eight children, his father be- ing a carpenter, now resident in Union City. In 1861, when eight years old, his father having brought him to Deerfield, Randolph, County, and, in 1865, they moved to Union City. W. S. M. attended the Union City schools, gnin- ing a moderate education. In 1872, he entered Branham's Restaurant, cootin- uing therein five years. In 1878, he was elected Constable of Wayne Township, and, in 1881, City Marshal of Union City. His official duties have been performed with necurney and faithfulness, and to the satisfaction of the community. Sep- tember $0, 1875, he married Harriet Seihert, of Greenville, Ohio, and they have had two children, one of them being now living. [Ie is a Republican, & member of K. of P., and of the Improved Order of Red Men (I. O. O. R.) In May, 1882, he was re-elected to the position of City Marshal, having been Dominated at the Republican primary election h / a large majority. In An- gust, 1882, he resigned the office of City Marshal, and accepted employment from the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad Company ns Station Freight Agent nt Union City.

JESSE PAXSON, boot and ehoe dealer, was born in 1810 in Pennsylva- nia ; went to Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1818; went to Canal Dover in 1827- 30; to Newville and to Brookville. Hle married Mary Slusser, and lived At Brookville several years. Two children were born, both died, and his wife also. In 1839, he " tramped " to Lake Erie, Cleveland, Sandusky, Toledo, Lo- gansport, Indianapolis and Vernon. From Vernon to Madison were twenty- four miles of railway, the first he had seen, and the first in the State. He (and his comrade) rode those twenty-four miles on the cars ; took bont on the Ohio River for Cincinnati ; thence " tramped" to Goshen, Clermont Co., Ohio. There be tarried and married Catharine Bronson ; had one child; lost it at Newville, Richland Co., Ohio, where his father lived. His wife was taken sick, and they returned to Goshen to her father's. She died there with consumption, that scourge of the human race. He traveled, and, finally, at Piqua, married Jane Walkup, his present wife, in 1848. Soon after this, they moved to Cam- den, Jay Co., Ind., nnd, in 1852, came to Union City. His business had been chiefly carpentering and cabinet-making. In 1856, he set up in the boot and shoe business, which has been his occupation ever since that time. Lately his health has been poor, and his failing strength has obliged him to cease front active life He sold his store to Gordon & McKee, and has been spending his time apart from the cares of business, being now already past his " threescore years and ten," the allotted nge nf mortal man.

CHARLES W. PIERCE. The warehouse on the lot where Charles W. Pierce now (1881) does business, was built by Shreer & Ilill for a flouring-milt in 1861. Mr. Shreer retired in 1802, giving place to Mr. MeFeeley. The mill machinery was removed in 1868 of 1869, and the business was changed to th it of the grain trade, Mr. McFeely died in 1872, and Hiram Vail took his place till 1878. N. f'ulwallnder succeededl Mr. Vail, and, in turn, sold out to Charles W. Pierce in 1874. November 5, 1875, Mr. Pierce bought out Mr. Hill and has since been sole proprietor. In 1875, the business renched $100,000. In 1879. it had grown to nhont $260,000. The warehouse was burned in 1878, but was rebuilt at once on a larger scale. The establishment is popular, its business and trade is steadily increasing. Mr. Pierce is connected with the M. E. Church and active in all good causes. Dis excellent wife is a daughter of John and Jane Fisher, A worthy and aged couple who are all pioneers, coming to the region in 1817, before Randolph was formed. Mr Pierce has just erected a splendid residence, which, when finished and furnished, will be an ornament to the city. In the spring of 1881, Mr. P. sold his grain establishment to Worth & Alexander, and he is at present engaged in " Marriage Dowry " (som- mer 1881). In the spring of 1882, Mr. P. is understood to linve bought a cattle ranche in Arkansas, and he spent some months in that region. In July, 1882, he resumed the grain-buying business at his old stand in Union City, Jud.

WILLIAM M. REEVES wns boro in Jackson Township, Randolph Co., lad., September 19, 1834, bring a son of James Reeves, an early pioneer of that region. He grew up a farmer's son, with only the learning obtained from the common country school of the period. In the fall of 1855, he married Esther Wiley, the daughter of Rev. Thomas Wiley, late of Jackson Township. They have had four children, and all are living. Before the war, he was a farmer. Ile enlisted in August, 1862, in Company F, Sixty-ninth Indiana Heg- iment ; remained in the service till mustered out, at the close of the war, July 5. 1865. He was wounded by a piece of a shell striking his head at Thomson's Hill at Port Gibson, Miss., May 1, 1863. He remained in the hospital (on James' Plantation ) between Grand Gulf and Vicksburg one month, and then went with the regiment (convalescent, but not able for duty), till September 22, 1863. At that date, he received leave of absence for twenty days, nudl he left Br whenr City, La., for the North and for home. The twenty days were all consumed in reaching home. Ife got his papers renewed twice, but. in nbout twenty-five days, he learned that his regiment was on its way to Texas, and he joined them at New Orleans, and went forward. landing at Matagorda Island, Texas, and continuing with his comrades till the end. He had been captured (ac Richmond, Ky.), August 20. 1862, nol paroled, but returned after n short time. He was mustered ag Second Sergeant ; was promoted Orderly, Second Lieutenant and First Lieutenant. Mr. Reeves removed to Union City in 1874; wn9 a butcher two years, and for five years he has been nod is now on the city police. In religion, he is a Disciple, and in politics, a Republican. He be- longs to the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Reeves is an esteemed and valuable cit- izen. In August, 1882, he was appointed City Marshal in place of Winfield S. Murray, resigned.

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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 162

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