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 164

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 164

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GEORGE W. SMITH was born in 1837, in Champaign County, Ohio; moved to Woodford County, Ill., in 1853; enlisted in the Sixty-eighth Illinois Infantry, Company E. His regiment belonged to the Army of the Potomac, in the Second Army Corps, Gen. Hancock. He was Third Sergeant, and was detailed Post Commissary with the pay of Second Lieutenant. His discharge took place in August, 1864, and in 1865, he married Louisa Enyeert. They have two children. They removed to Union City in 1867. Ilis business is that of an artist, landscape and portrait painter, etc., and he finds large and remunerative employment in his chosen vocation. He belongs to the Disciple Church, and in politics is a Republican.

SHUGARS & BROTHER, etove dealers. Jeremiah Shugars was born Jan- uary 7, 1842, in Columbia County, Penn., learned the tinner's trade at Catawissa, Penn .; came West in 1863, finishing his trade at Williamsport, Warren Co., Ind., and came to Union City in 1870, after spending four years in Pennsylvania. He has worked in this place for Pope, Clapp & Hartzell, setting up business with his brother, Reuben H. Shugars, October 18, 1881. Jeremiah Shugars married, at Union City, Ind., Sarah Mason, daughter of William Mason, an old resident of Randolph County, and they have one child. He is a member of the Disci- ple Church, and is Democratic in politics. Reuben H. Shugare was born in 1840, January 27, in Columbia County, Penn. He was brought up on a farm, taught school six terms, clerked in a store two years, and took up the tin busi- ness with his brother Jeremiah at Limestoneville, Montour Co., Penn., in 1868, remaining two years, and after several years employment by the Pennsylvanis Iron C'ompany, he removed to Union City, Ind., in October, 1881, entering into partnership with his brother in stoves and tinware. He married Melinda Acor in 1869, and they have no children. Mr. S. and his estimable lady united with the Presbyterian Church in Union City shortly after their arrival at the place. They had previously belonged to the Lutheran Church at Danville, Montour Co., Penn. He is an industrious, estimable gentleman, sincere, warm- hearted aud sympathetic, and is rapidly gaining friends by his praiseworthy conduct.

WILLIAM-K. SMITH

WAS born in Randolph County, Ind., April 27, 1836, being the son of Jeremiah and Cynthia (Dye) Smith. His father was born in South Carolina and his mother in Ohio. His father's ancestors were from England. His great-great-grand- . father was an English Quaker from Yorkshire, who settled in Pennsylvania, . Bueke County, about 1727. His great-grandfather, David Smith, was born in 1736, and died in 1801. His grandfather, William Smith, was born in 1779, and died in 1881, having emigrated to Randolph County in 1817. His father, Jere- miah Smith, was born in 1805, dying in 1874 at Winchester, Ind., and his mother at the same place in 1872. Both lie side by side in the Union City Cemetery, where n beautiful and costly monument preserves, and perpetuates their memory: . William K. received his education chiefly at the Randolph County Seminary, which was at that time s valuable institution of learning, and under the energetic control of Prufs. Spencer, Ferris, Cole, etc., many young men and women of promise found the means of n substantial education . suited to the needs of those times. His father's desire was that William should become a member of the legal profession. But the young man's wishes did not lie in this direction, and in 1857 he entered a dry goods store in Union City as clerk ; after about a year thus spent, he acted as agent in the railroad office for a few weeks, and then undertook a course of training in the Commercial College of Cincinnati. Having completed this course he began business as & retail. denler in boots and shoes in 1859. This business inerensed greatly and rapidly in his hands, so that from 1862 to 1870 the establishment did n large wholesale and jobbing trade. He has ereetcd s substantial and com- modious business house on Columbin street, as also a costly residence on the same street, in the north part of the city. Mr. S. was not connected with the army, except for a few days during the excitement of the Morgan raid in the summer of 1863. He is not a member of any religious society, but his wife was during her lifa connected with the Congregational Church. In politics he is, as also was his worthy father, an active and influential Damocrat. In 1863, he married Elizabeth Farley, of Michigan, who died in 1880. They had two children, only one of whom is now living. Mr. S. feels keenly hia bereavement, and has the deep sympathy of his friende and neigh- bors in his lonlinese and affliction. During hie more than twenty years of steady und careful attention to business, he has achieved & eolid and substan- tial reputation ; and his quiet, unobtrusive habits have endeared him to a large

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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

circle of friends, and he enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens in a high degree.

HENRY B. SMITH, HARTFORD, CITY, IND.

Henry B. Smith is a son of the late Judge Jeremiah Smith and Cynthia Dye Smith, was born in Winchester, Randolph Co., Ind., November 27, 1847. He attended the common schools at Winchester until the fall of 1862, at which time he entered the Northwestern Christian University at Indianapolis, where he remained twe years. In 1865, he began to learn the trade of n jeweler, and in 1869, after completing his trade, he removed to Hartford City, Black- ford Co., Ind., where he now resides. Engaging in the jewelry business, he continued therein with satisfactory success till 1876. In that year Mr. Smith was elected Clerk of the Blackford Cironit Court, and he is at this time the Democratie nominee for Joint Representative for the counties of Wells and Blackford. In 1879, he, along with others, organized the Citizens' Bank of Hartford City, and at the organization thereof he was chosen to be its Presi- dent, and that position he still retains. February 8, 1872, Mr. S. was united in wedlock to Miss Naney Alice Holliday, only daughter of the late Joseph W. and Elizabeth J. C. Holliday, and there have been born to them three daugh- ters -- Cynthia A., Elizabeth C. and Gretta. Mr. S. is a worthy member of a prominent family, children of a distinguished progenitor and pioneer, Judge Jereminh Smith, a sketch of whose varied life has been elsewhere given. Although comparatively young he has already attained a fine reputation and an honorable standing among his fellow citizens.

JOHN DYE SMITH is the son of Hon. Jareminh and Cynthia (Dye) Smith, and n ustive of Randolph County. He was born at Winchester, Ind., June 16, 1839, and spent his childhood and youth in his native town. His hoyhood education was gained at the old Randolph Semi- nary under Prefs. Faris, Spencer and Colc. In 1856, he entered the Northwestern (now Butler) University, Indianapolis, spending three years in that institution, taking the scientific course, but het graduating. The years 1869 and 1860, he spent in learning the jeweler's trade at Indinn- Apolis with W. H. Talbott, jeweler of that city. He married Miss Ade- line Teal, of Indianapolis ju 1861, and settled in Winchester, purchasing the boot and shoe stock of J. B. Routh, of Winchester. He continued the business titl 1863, and, in 1864, spent n summer at Shelbyville, Ind., clos- ing out his stock. In the spring of 1865, Mr. S. set up as a jewcler in Union City, Ind., which has been his residence and his business to the present time. He has had two children, and they are both living. In politics, Mr. S. is a Democrat, and were his residence in a county where Demorats were numerous enough to give a man of that political faith the ghost of a chance, he would, doubtless, have become n prominent leader and office-holder. In a county so overwhelmingly Republican as Randolph, all the Democrats can do at the political feast is to stand afar off and look wishfully, but in vain, at the pre- cious fruit to them forbidden. His talents, however, are not wholly lost to the public, since he has been for eight years one of the Board of Control of Union City, two years as Town Trustee under the old charter, and (nearly ) six years as Councilman under the city organization. In 1878-80, he was appointed member of the Democratic State Central Committee for the Fifth Congressional District of Indiana. Ile was an original stockholder, and has been for ten years a Director, as also Secretary and Treasurer of the Winchester & Union Turnpike Company. Mr. S. has been an active and enterprising business man, and has the respect of the community, among whom he has resided so long. Ile has built up a thriving and successful business, his house being the leading establishment of the kind in this part of the State.

J. H. SNOOK was born in Maryland in 1829. Learned the tanner's trade at nineteen years of age; followed that business for nineteen years in his native State ; left it for farming ten years ; came to Union City, Ohio, in 1875. He had hitherto amassed no property, but ho was energetic and upright, and had n huge family of boys, all like their father, able and willing to work. 'Ile obtained eredit and bought out n brickyard from George Dutro, and working it for two years made 700,000 brick. In 1877, he began tile-making, at which also success has attended his efforts. Hitherto, by horse-power, he has manu- factured several thousand dollars' worth of tule yearly, burning twenty-five to thirty kilns annually in two kiins. In 1880, he burned three kilns of brick, or 750,000 in number. In 1879, he erected n spoke factory, a building 30x80 feet, two stories high, with an engine room 30x40 feet, the laiter being made in the most substantial manner. This factory has thus far been hut little employed, yet the room is there and the machinery for extensive operations in that line, which will, in due time, if life be spared, be added. Within a few wecks post, Mr. S. has purchased and set up a new crushing and molding machine of the latest and most approved workmanship, at a cost of $1.000. The machine is indeed a wonderful triumph. The crusher grinds up the dirt, stones and all, and the molder projects an endless stream of " pipe," which is cut into tiles as fast as the pipe is pushed from the die. By this machine 600 rota, or nearly two miles of " pipe," can be made in a single day. Brick of excellent shape nud finish can be molded also in the same machine by sim- ply changing the " die," the work of a few moments, and Mr. S. declares that 20,000 brick can be thrown from this machine in one day. This work, as also the work in the epoke factory, is performed by the stenm engine of sixty horse- power, and the force of the engine is carried to the tile and brick machine by a rope of half-joch steel wire 844 feet in length. Mr. S. thinks his tile factory to have been, under the old methods, the most extensive in the region, and he expecte in the future to burn at least fifty kilns a year. His working force varies from ten to fifteen hands, and he hopes greatly to increase the sonle of his business before a long time shall clupse. He came here with- out menns. In six years' time he has secured an investment of more than $20 000, with an indebtedness of only about one-fourth that amount, and he is just beginning to be fixed for business. One secret of his success is that seven of his boys are old enough to work at the concern, and they do it with a will, thus reducing the need of hired help to n minimum. In fact, Mr. S. may well be called the father of a family, for his children number already eighteen,

thirteen of whom are now living and twelve are at home, and eight (with the father) do substantially each a man's work in connection with the business under their hand. The size of the tile manufactured by his machine is from three to twelve inches, any size desired being produced simply by changing the die regulating the opening from which the clay is projected from the machine. llis tile factory burned up December, 1882, causing a loss of several thousand dollars; but, with his accustomed energy, he is going straight ahead, rebuild- ing in a better and more substantial style.

ISAAC G. STAHL, dentist, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1830; taken to Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1831; to Perry County, Ohio, in 1839 ; remembers the log-cabin campaign of 1840; went to Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1861; enlisted in the Eighty-eighth Ohio, Company A; became First Lieuten- ant of the One Hundred and Eighty-second Ohio; was discharged at the close of the war and went to Marysville, Ohio, in 1865, staying two years ; to Adrian, Mich., in 1867; came to Union City, Ind., in 1868. Married Lavina Leggett, and they have one child. He was a clerk one year, and has been a dentist fourteen years. He was n member of the City Council (Trustee) three years, and is n Republican. Ilis wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Union . City, and they attend religious services with that so- ciety. Dr. S. is a worthy, intelligent, reliable man, deserving and receiving the esteem of those who know him. He was, in March, 1882, nominated for Mayor of Union City by the Republicans without opposition, and at the city election in May he was chosen by a large majority to that honorable and responsible post of public duty.

EDWARD STARBUCK, SR.

The history of the pioneer settler named above is so remark- able, and so many of his descendants reside in Randolph. that we insert a brief statement concerning him and his family in this work :

Elward Starbuck, Sr., Wayne County, Ind., was the son of William Starbuck, who was horn on Nantucket Island, 1747, and meved te North Caro- lina, 1771; marrying soon afterward, Jane Taylor, of Virginia, a member of the Stuarts, once heirs to the English and Scotch crowns; he raised eleven children, nine girls. After the girls were all married, a Indy visitor asked him, " How many sons-in-law have you?" "But nine," said he. "Anybody that would buit at that, ought to have his horns knocked off," retorted she.

Edward Starbuck, Sr., born in Guilford County, N. C., 1772; mar- ried Sarah Dwiggins, 1795. She died 1821, and he married Judith Gardner, 1822, who died 1851, and he married HIester Kemp, 1863; he died 1862, ciglity-five years old, and she died 1868 ; he had eighteen children, ten by his first wife, nad eight by his second; five boys and five girls at first, and four hoys and four girls at last. All the eighteen grew up and were married, and when the youngest was twenty-three, all the children and the father were still alive; and now, when the youngest is forty-four years old, twelve are still liv- ing. Seven of them were present at a family re-nnion held at John Fisher's, Septemher, 1877-William (eighty), Jane Fisher (seventy-four), Robert (seven- ty-two), Andrew (seventy), Mary Dwiggins (sixty-six), Cyrena Biokford ( forty- seven ) and John W. ( forty-five). The occasion was the fifty-eighth anniversary of John and Jane Fisher's wedding day. The united nges were 454 years, an Average of sixty-five years. When E. S. died, his offspring, children, grand- children, etc., were nearly 300. His ten children by the first wife, were all born in North Carolina, the other eight all in Wayne County, Ind. The family may be describedl thus: Edward Starbuck, born Guilford County, N. C., May 15, 1777; parents, William Starbuck and Jane (Taylor) Starbuck. Marriage, first, Sarah Dwiggins, September 28, 1795; second, Judith Gardner, December 26, 1822; third, Hester Kemp, October 1, 1867; number of children, cighteen. Residence: 1777 to 1817, North Carolina; 1817 to 1862, Wayne County, Ind. Farmer, Whig and Republican, Friend. Died, Hillsboro, Ind., April 8, 1862, aged eighty-five. Buried, Mt. Vernon, Ind. (east of Newport). Children : Elizabeth ( Knight), born 1796, eight children, died in North Carolina, 1875; William, born 1797, eight children, Wayne County, Ind .; James, bern 1799, nine children, died 1861, age seventy-three; Plebe (Leverton), born 1801, nine children, died 1861, aged sixty ; June (Fisher), born 1803, fourteen chil- dren, Union City, Ind., died 1881 ; Robert, horn 1805, ten children, Ridgeville, Ind. ; Andrew R., born 1807, eight children, Huntington, Ind .; Lydin (Turner- Reynolds), five children, died in Illinois, in 1878, seventy-one years old; Mary Ann (Dwiggins), eight children, Rensselaer t'ounty, Ind .; Edward, born 1813, three times married, nine children, died Union City, Ind., 1874, sixty-one years; Sarah (Brown) born 1824, lives in [own; Milton, born 1825, resides in Huntington County, Ind .; Ann (Grey), born 1827, lives in lowa; Jesse, born in 1829, resides in Michigan ; Cyrena (Bickford), born in 1830, no children, llantington County, Ind .; John W., born 1832, five children, lives in Union City. Ind .; Nathan, born 1831, lives in Huntington County, Ind .; Susan ( Roberts), born in 1838, resides in Wayne County, Ind.

It will be seen from the statement just given, that the "Starbuck family " have been and still are truly a " power in the land." Active, frugal, thriving, prolific, intelligent, sober-minded, devout, they have long been und they con- tinue to be a fountain of life and light to the region and the world. Few fami- lies can be found so numerous and so long-lived. In 1862, the entire family of eighteen children, the father and the step-mother, were alive-the oldest child sixty-five, the youngest, twenty-three. Their united ages were then 957 years, an average of forty-six years. And in 1880, the ages of the thirteen living children made 778 years, Averaging about sixty years-the oldest, eighty-three ; the youngest forty-two.

With such facts before us, with the fact that hundreds of families, hardy, robust, prolific, determined, aspiring, virtuous, pouring into enr borders one grand, constant, perpetual inflowing stream of immigration, and of propaga- tion, it censes to be a mystery how and why this whilom waste and howling wilderness has come to be the " garden of the Lord; " a fertile and beautiful

ROBERT S. FISHER.

Robert & Fisher was born in

Wayne County, Ind., north of Fountain City. in 1834. His early life was on his father's old homestead. His education was obtained at U. L. Institute and Earlham College ; as also he had a commercial course at Rich- mond, Ind. He taught school several terms in Wayne and Union Counties ; in 1860 enter- ing the Winchester Bank in the employ of James Moorman, and soon showing marked ability. The National Bank at Union City was established in 1865, with Edward Starbuck as Presi- dent, and Robert S. Fisher as Cashier. For fifteen years he was active and efficient in all public interests. He was a member and a liberal supporter of the M. E. Church and of the 1. M. C. A., giving freely of time and money in their help. He w .. s a member of the I. O. O. F. He was twice married, first to Arn- 17. ndersou, second to Rosa Cottom, both of Winchester, and has had three children. Mr. F.

Robot S. Fischer [ DECEASED)

had gathered a handsome fortune and was just in the meridian of his business and moral activity. He had expressed to a friend his intention to "lighten up on busi- ness," and give his time and strength to benevolent work. He was taken suddenly sick, and died, after one week's illness, April 8, 1880. Disease, typhoid pneumonia. He said to Capt. Jackson, his brother-in-law (who has been for years very infirm in health), "I have for years ex- pected to see you go, and now here you are seeing me die, but it is all right. My work is done !" He was buried in Union City Cemetery, the funeral cere- monies being conducted by Rev. H. J. Meck, pastor, assisted by Revs. Greenman, Lynch, Simp- son, Vigus, and others, former pastors. [NOTE .- The funeral was during the session at this place of the Indiana Annual Con- ference, and great numbers of ministers and laymen from' abroad were present.] He left considerable fortune to be inhe: ited by his surviving family.

RESIDENCE OF THE LATE ROBT. S. FISHER. NORTH HOWARD ST. UNION CITY, RANDOLPH, GO. IND.

MRS ESTHER REEVES.

Gaff John S. Reeves MAJOR 40' REGT. O. VOL.

RESIDENCE OF DR. JNO. L.REEVES. No. 77. COLUMBIA ST. UNION CITY, IND.

JAG Horithan Ton

Wmy. Worthington

RESIDENCE OF WM. T. WORTHINGTON, COLUMBIA ST. UNION CITY, RANDOLPH CO. IND.

Buttu, maslich

BENTLEY MASSLICH.

Bentley Masslich (of whom a brief notice has already been given in con- nection with the article on the presa) was born at Litiz, Lancaster Co., Penn., July 23, 1837, but he has been a resident of Union City, Ind., ever since April, 1859. Having learned the trade of a printer in his native State, he abandoned it on account of ill health, and came to Montgomery County, Ohio, engaging while there in surveying, music teaching, etc. Early in 1859, he returned to Pennsylvania, where he was married April 5, 1859, to Mias Louiss E. Bachman, teacher of French, German and music, in the Litiz Female Seminary. They came almost immediately to Union City, where, for some years, he succeeded in acquiring a scant livelihood, contending constantly with misfortune, sickness and death, losing in six years three children, as also his wife, who died June 1, 1865. During this period, he was employed in the jewelry trade, in photograph- ing, etc., buying, in March, 1864, an interest in the office of the Union City Eagle, only a few months after it was established ; but so many newspaper en- terprises having failed here, people had little faith in its permanency, and some time elapsed before printing was remunerative and the paper on a paying basis. Early in 1866, Mr. Masslich, who up to this time had had successively L. G. Dynes, B. F. Digga and George H. Bonebrake as partners, became sole proprietor of the Eagle, to enable him to advocate the claims of Col. Isaac P. Gray, as a candi- date for the Republican nomination for Congress, Mr. Bonebrake favoring Hon. George W. Julian. March 17, 1867, he was married to Mica Peninnah Wat- kins, a school teacher, resident near Fort Recovery, Ohio; but, in less than eight- een months, death claimed her as his prey, and a month later anatched away, sleo, her infant child, leaving Mr. M. once more hereft of hope and comfort. October 19, 1870, he was married to Mias Lueia E. Farson, of Champaign, Ill., by whom he has two sons and a daughter-Cheater B., George B. and Nellie H. For twelve auspicious and prosperous years, happiness and contentment have marked their fot in life. As the editor of the Eagle, he has not been given to dashing editoriala, but he enjoys the satisfaction of believing that he has op- posed, with considerable success, many schemea and enterprisee which seemed to him of at least questionable utility, or absolutely hurtful tendency. Among these have been lottery schemes and gift enterprisea, "graveyard" insurance, mar- risge dowry associations, etc. He has contributed his share, in influence and in money, toward creating and main- taining the Union Agricultu- ral and Mechanical Fsir Aseo- ciation; toward the construc- tion of railroads, turnpikes and all other public enter- prises adapted to promote the general welfare. The Eagle has always been and atill is a stanch and reliable Republi- can paper, steadfastly on the side of morality and temper- ance, and, for some time past, has been an advocate of Pro- hibition and Female Suffrage.

Mr. M. has taken s leading part in the establishment and management of Building snd Loan Associations during the last ten yeara; owning stock in all five of such companies organized here up to Septem- ber 1, 1881. He has been Secretary of four of them, and has assisted in securing from time to time, several new features In their workinge. He je the author of the plan of the Fifth Building and Losn Association (of which he and Plerre Gray, Esq., have secured & copyright). This "Plan" providea for le- euing stock monthly, per- mits the withdrawal of stock on demand or at ninety days'

Lucia E. Masolich

notice, and can allow & higher rate of Interest than 6 per cent on euch withdrawsle; gives interest upon dues paid in advance, refunds dues paid on forfeited stock, less fines; provides various methods to secure the re-payment of loans, and in other ways favors the borrower, at the same time protecting the non-borrowers. Mr. M. was formerly s Moravian, but united, in 1870, with the Methodist Episco- pal Church of Union City, being the first laken into membership in the new church building. He has been Organist a large part of the time, and Secretary of the Board of Trustees about seven years. He has been an active member of the Y. M. C. A. from the beginning of its existence in the city; helped to organize the S. S. V. & E. L.'s, and as Secretary of both these societies, and for their bene- fit he projected the two lecture courses referred to under the head of "Lectures" in this work. He is & charter member of Turpen Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 401, and is at this time Secretary of Union City Lodge, No. 152, I. O. O. F.

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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 164

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