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 165

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 165

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MRS. LUCIA E. MASSLICH

Is the second daughter of John T. and Harriet C. Farson, and was born in Newcastle, Coshocton Co., Ohio, December 2, 1847. Her father, whose biog- raphy is given among the list of clergymen, came to Union City in 1852, and lived for a few months in a log cabin near the site of what is now the handsome and comfortable residence of his daughter. She spent the happy days of child- hood and youth attending school, some of her early teachers being Mrs. Osborne, Measrs. Dady, Hitchcock, Case, Farson (her father) and Wiley. In 1861, ahe removed with her parenta to Urbana, Ill., where she attended the graded school for about three years, and before she was eighteen was given a position as teacher in the school in which she had been s pupil, where she taught for shout three years, a few months of which time she attended school at the Normal Uni- versity, Bloomington, Ill. Her father, meantime, removed to Champsign, Il,, and Lucia taught what was known as the " Cloyd School" for one year. The following summer, she visited her old home, Union City, and was offered & ait- ustion as teacher in the public school here, which she accepted, and which wee her last year as schoolma'am. In October, 1870, she was married to Bentley Masslich, and she is now the mother of three bright and affectionate children. Mrs. Maaalich united with the Methodist Episcopal Church when ahout nine years of age, and has been an active and useful member. She is a fine alto singer, always & member of the cholr, and now chorister of the Sunday school, also teacher of a young ladies class Mrs. Masslich has been a helper. and co- worker with her husbsod in his office work, and all his Isbors in every worthy enter- prise-except, as he says, Female Suffrage, for which she is not a strong advocate- in every department & safe counselor, and an efficient as- sistant. In truth, the words of Solomon may be fitly em- ployed to describe her influ- ence and her life-"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her. She will do him" good, and not evil, all the days of her life. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he praiseth her." Retir- ing in disposition, ahe le yet firm and steadfast to princi- ple, and earnest and peree- vering in every work of mercy and love, desirous only and ever to be found and reckoned a servant end fol- lower of her Divine Mester and Lord.

RES OF BENTLEY MASSLICH. Nos 53 & 55 PEARL ST. UNION CITY, IND.

G. W. PATCHELL.

George W., son of James and Mary A. Patchell, was born March 10, 1858, in the city of Pittsburgh, Penn. His father was born at Lon- donderry, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1847, when four- teen years of age, where he followed the trade of molding in iron. He was married, at Pittsburgh, to Miss Mary A. Fairbourne, a native of Derby, Eng., who came to the United States with her parents when an infant. In 1861, the father enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Regiment, remaining in the Union army until the close of the war. For gallant and meritorious service, he was promoted, by successive steps, from the ranke to the office of Colonel, in which capacity he re- turned home with his regiment; he came with his family to Union City, Ind., in 1867, where he still resides. George, his son, and the subject of this sketch, attended the schools of Pittsburgh until the re- moval of the family to Union City, and completed his course of study in the schools of this place. At the age of sixteen years, he entered

SeoHatehill,

upon an apprenticeship at the print- er's trade, in the office of the Union Times, of which John Commons was then editor. Three years later, he purchased the Times, and has ever since continued as editor and pro- prietor of this paper. Under his management its sphere of useful- ness has been extended, and it is recognized among the leading and influential journals of Eastern In- diana. It is a faithful exponent of the principles of the Republican party, and enjoys a very satisfactory circulation. Its editor, though a young man, has developed marked ability in his chosen profession, and occupies a high rank in the journal- istic fraternity, while his social standing is of the best. Mr. Patchell was one of the charter members of Invincible Lodge, Knights of Pyth- ias, at Union City, and is still an active and interested member of that fraternity. He was married, on the 14th of December, 1880, to Miss Lillie Butcher, a native of Union City, and daughter of John Butcher, Esq. She is an estimable lady, and shares with her husband the regard of a large circle of friends.

RESIDENCE OF GEO. W. PATCHELL, N.HOWARD ST. UNION CITY, IND.

ale a finado. FORMERLY, CAPT CO K.40' REGT. O. V. INF.

RUBBER ONK TAMRED &RAN HIDE BELANG

ALEX, A. KNAPP

ALEX,A.KNAPP

MACHINISTS SUPPONE

SEMER PIPE, FIRE BRICK FIRE CLAY FLUES MOTOR HEMP JUTE, SOAP. STOLE & RUBBER PACKLM

DAS REF CHIRON & LEAD PIPE RUBBER W KITCHEN SINKS A UND FITTER JET PUMPS BOILER FEEDERS STLAN GAGES I'LOBE YNIVES &t.

TATE A

BERS A

PLUMELE

LAWN VASES TERRA COTTA GOOD AND

CEMENTS

ALEX, A. KNAPP'S, DEPOT OF PLUMBER'S & MACHINISTS SUPPLIES, SEWER PIPE, FIRE BRICK, VASES, STATUARY, IMPORTED & AMERICAN CEMENT, PLASTER PARIS &c. CROSSING OF COLUMBIA ST. & RAIL ROAD. UNION CITY, IND.

463

WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

land, flowing with milk and honey ; a land swarming with a population, ener- getic, aspiring, ambitious, successful, rising ever higher and still higher in the scale of knowledge, virtue and prosperity, astonishing the world with mul- tiplying proofs of greatness.

One thing is especially worthy of note in this whole pioneer history, and in similar pioneer history the world over, that emigrating nations as a rule, become strong and mighty. The colonies of the Greeks, the Romans, the Pha- nieiana of olden time; the bordes of Northern barbarians upon Southern Euro- pean and Asiatic climes, all formed grant eities and atrong peoples, famous for ages or even to the present day. Our whole land ie one huge theater of emigration. From St. Augustine, and Jamestown, and Plymouth, to the latest rude cabin of the in-coming settler ,in the wilds of Oregon, or to the sod-hut on the Kansas prairies, the vast flood of emigration sweeps with ceaseless flow across the land ; and there are life and light and power in the movement. No matter how poor and humble the emigration may be, the result is uniformly that the progeny, near or more remote, becomes strong and noble. Many, nay most of the great men and noble women of this mighty Weat, are the sons and daughters of 'fathers and mothers who were poor, and not a few, very poor. Some who have risen highest, have come up from the lowest depths of poverty ! This, to a careless observer seems strange, yet it is an open secret. There is no mystery. It takes energy, a desire for better things and & will to accomplish them to make men emigrate; and these qualities, coupled indeed with virtue, integrity, and thrift, is what brings heroie success. The grand results of this world are produced by work, hardship, energy, frugality, perseverance, virtue; and these are, as a rule, exactly what the pioneer possesses; in fact, these nre what makes him be a pioneer; and, having these, and what is better still, the fear and love of God in the heart, he goes straight forward, and bravely hews his way to triumphant success ! All honor to the resolute, hardy pioneer-tha sturdy, on-pushing emigrant !

Let no purse-proud aristoerat, himself, mayhap, the son or grandson of just such a poor emigrant; let na wide-mouthed demagogue despise nor decry the pioneer ; nay, even though he may be poor, and low, and destitute ; but let the haughty, rich and proud bow his head rather in reverent honor, as passes by his gilded mansion the covered, tattered wagon of the weary emigrant, drawn by gaunt and bony horses, or by alow and plodding oxen; the wagon filled with rosy girla, and followed by tramping, rollicking, barefooted boys, let him bow his head in honor of the future kings and queens of this wide- spreading land ! Far worthier such a sight of honor and profound respect, than to see a fawning sycophant crawling for votes : or a wily, smooth-tongued, base-hearted domagogue, luring the " dear people" to assist his aspiring steps to climb over their heads to high and lucrative positions, which he ia no wise competent to fill. Well says the poet:

" Is there for honest poverty, Who hangs his head and a' that ? The coward slave, we pass him by : We dare ba poor for a' that. For a' that, and n' that, Our toils obscure, and a' that, The rank is but the guinea's stamp; The man'a the gowd, for a' that !

" What though en hamely fare we dine, Wear hoddin grey, and a' thnt;

Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine;

A man's a man for a' that. For a' that, and a' that, Their tinsel show, and a' that, The honest man, though e'er sae poor, la king o' men, for a' that !

" Ye see yon birkie, called a lord --- Wha struts and stares, and a' that; Though hundreds worship at his word, He's but a coof for a' that. For a' that, and a' that, Hia riband, star, and a' that, The man of independent mind, He looks and laughs at a' that.

" A king can mak' a belted knight, A marquis, duke, and n' that ; But an honest man's aboon his might, Guid faith, he canne do that. For n' that, and a' that, Their dignities, and a' that, The pith o' sense, and pride o' worth Are higher ranks than a' that!

" Then let us pray that come it may, As come it will for a' that, That sense and worth, o'er all the earth May bear the gree, and a' that. For a' that, and a' that, It's comin' yet, for a' that, That man to man, the warld o'er. Shall brithera be and a' that !"

JOHN S. STARBUCK is & son of Edward Starbuck, banker (late of Union City, Ind.). He was born in Wayne County, Ind., in 1840 ; came to Union City in 1868 ; married Rhoda A. Robertson in 1865, and Sarah A. Zion in 1874. He has four children. Mr. S. waa n farmer till 1868, then a wholesale grocer

(including eggs, butter and poultry ;- at first, J. Starbuck & Co., but for ten years, alone. The business was extensive and prosperous. It is really wonder- ful how great the egg, butter and poultry business has come of late years to be. Some claim the trade to be greater than the pork trade or the wheat trade. At any rate it has grown to be immense. And it is another curious fact, how so amall a town as Union City should be able to boast two among the largest and most important establishments of the kind in the United States. Mr. Starbuck employs from eight to sixteen handa. He is a Methodist and a Re- publican ; was for several years Superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday School in Union City, and is in all respects a valuable citizen, an se- tive Christian and a reliable man, a worthy son of an excellent, estimable and deeply Inmented sire. Mr. S., in the spring of 1882, sold out his packing es- toblishment, and after he engaged in handling coal for awhile, in September, 1882, he became a member of a company for manufacturing and handling & new patent invention, called the " Heat Fender," the object of which is to cause the free escape of heat during warm weather from stoves used for cooking, ete.

JOHN W. STARBUCK, druggist, ia the youngest son of Edward Starbuck, Sr., late of Wayne County, lad. He has been twice married, and has five children. He has resided in Union City for many years, being for a long time a plasterer by trade. He went into the drug business ; has been & partner with his eldest son James for some eight or ten years, and for about two years with another son, both establishments being in Union City. Mr. S. is a prom- inent citizen ; has been a member of the Board of Trustees, Assessor, etc. He has been for many years a leading member of the Disciple Church, and is in politics an active Republican.

B. F. W. STEWART, born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1830, came to Darke County, in 1832, and to Union City, Ind., in 1860. He married Amanda Powell in 1849, Martha Robbins in 1855, and Mary C. Johnson in 1865, and he has had twelve children, eight of whom are living. He was in early life a farmer, but has been for years in the grocery business, in connection with sev- eral firms, Stewart & Bunch, Stewart & Strong, Stewart & Swain, Stewart alone, Stewart & Stout, twenty years in all. He has been a member of the Disciple Church for thirty-seven years. He is an Elder, and has been for six yeara Secretary of the Disciple Sunday School in Union City. 1Ie is a Repub- lican. Mr. Stewart in the winter of 1881-82, sold out his share in the firm of Stewart & Stout ; but in March, 1882, he entered a new firm with Mr. Wright in his old place of business, where they are doing an encouraging business on the basis of ready pay.

GOTTFRIED STUMPPF, born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1838, came to Philadelphia in 1853 ; went to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1854, to Logan County, Ohio in 1857, aad eame to Union City, Ind., in 1863. He married Louisa Ruck wiedt in 1863 (who died in 1878). They have had six children. He runs a bakery, grocery and eating saloon. He is a Lutheran in religion and a Democrat in politics.

W. H. SWAIN was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1822, married Eliza Jane Balea ia 1844; came to Wayne County, Ind., in 1833, and to Union City, Ind., in 1865. He has six children, five living. He was a farmer and carpenter till he came to this place. First (at Union City) a grocer, eleven or twelve years-Stewart & Swain, Swain & Anderson, Swain & Platt, Wiley & Swain, then alone. Since 1876, Swain & Platt have been booksellers and stationers. This firm is, perhaps, the leading firm of the kind in this county. Mr. Swain is of a quiet, retiring disposition, yet fond of a joke, not aspiring but respected and reliable. He has been Trustee, Councilman, Assassor, and, doubtless, if he would permit, would be selected for other important trusta. He is in politics a Republican.

GEORGE W. SUTTON was born in Pittston, Penn., December 7, 1845. He was raised on a farm, and educated in the common schools. In 1863, when but little past seventeen years of age, he enlisted in the Thirteenth Regiment New York Cavalry, and served two and a half years. He learned the plas- terer's trade, which he followed for a short time. In 1867, he came to Union City, Ind., and has been engaged in various kinds of business, being lately the senior of the firm of Sutton & Law, grocers, of Union City. He ia married and has one child, his wife's maiden name having been Clara A. Randall, of Dayton, Ohio.

WILLIAM THOKE (TOKAY) is a native of Germany, born in Hease- Schomburg in 1826, and one of a family of nine children. His parents and the rest of the family remained in Germany. His father and mother are now dead, the former dying at seventy-four years old, and the latter at sixty-three. They grieved greatiy to have him cross the mighty waters, but he came. His ocean passage was in a sailing vessel, and its length was seven weeks, a severe storm occurring while on their way. On lauding at New York, he came imme- diately to Dayton, Ohio, and, in a year, he went to Greenville, and, after six months, to New Madison ; thence after twenty-one months to Union City in 1855. At this place he has resided ever since. He learned the tailor's trade from his father in Germany, and has followed that business all his life. In Union City. he firat had n shop for seven years ; was foreman for Bowers four- teen years, and during four years past he has carried on a shop of his own agaia. He married Catharine Schmidt in 1866, and they have had five chil- dren, four of whom are living. ITe belongs to the German Lutheran Church, and ia a respected, industrious, thriving citizen, and a valuable member of society. His wife. Catharine Schmidt, is a native of Hesse-Cassel, in Germany, born in 1834. She came to America in 1854, landing at New York and coming to Greenville, Ohio. Her father, Simon Schmidt, was a blacksmith. She was married to Mr. Thoke two years after her arrival in this country.

JOSEPH TRITT, father of Tilghman Tritt, was born about 1791 in Mary- lund ; was twice married, having nina children. They emigrated to Greene County, Ohio, in 1843, afterward to Champaign County, Ohio,, near Urbana, and still again to Illinois, where he died some years ngo. He was a carpenter, and some of the time a merchant; prominent in military circles, holding offi- cial position in the militia, and an active, upright, sober-minded, influential citizen.

464

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

TILGHMAN TRITT is the son of Joseph Tritt, of Maryland, and born there, in the town of Frederick, in 1828; came to Greene County, Ohie, In 1843; married Elizabeth Rockfield in 1847; came to Union City iu 1853; moved to Nebraska in 1871 ; returned to Union City in 1873, and still resides there. He has had four children. Ile bas, in the course of his life, engaged in many occupations, having been undertaker, cabinet-maker, carpenter, butcher, grocer, bridge-builder, saw-miller, millwright, etc. For seven years, Mr. Tritt was Superintendent of Bridges on the Bee-Line Railroad, and the same on the " Pan-Ilandle" Railroad for three years; he was builder of bridges en the Midland Pacific Railroad in Nebraska for three years, and has worked largely as a millwright ever since 1847. Mr. Tritt is of Dutch and French descent; is a moral, upright citizen, a steady church-goer, a reliable business man, and a worthy and excellent member of the body politic.

CHARLES G. TRITT, grecer, meat merchant, carriage factory, was born in 1852 in Greene County, Ohio; came to Union City, Ind., in 1856; went to Nebraska in 1869, and returned to Unien City in 1871. His education was obtained at the public schools, nt Ridgeville College and Whitewater Seminary. He was a grocer from 1871 to 1881 ; firms, Tritt & Robbins, McNeal & Tritt, Tritt & Griffis, deing a business of $35,000 to $40,000 a year. This grocery is the second oldest one in town. Mr. Tritt, in 1881, established the butcher business under the firm of Tritt & Julian, sold his part of the grecery to Mr. Vinson and went into a carriage factory with James Starbuck and Pierre Gray. Hle married in 1880; is a member of the Disciple Congregation, a Republican, an active business man and an estimable citizen. It will be seen from this statement that Mr. Tritt has spent nearly bis whele life as a resident of the tewn either as lad, youth or man, and he seems proud to show his youthful associates and his maturer friends that his early training has not been for nought. He is during the summer of 1882 erecting a commodions and tasteful residence upen a curious and unique pattern, combining, it is to be hoped, both cultured elegance and substantial comfort.

FREDERICK TREUDLEY, Superintendent Union City Schools, is a young man, a graduate of one of the colleges of Indiana and a successful iostructor. He came to Union City in the fall of 1879, taking a position in the High School. Upon the death of Prof. Giles F. Mende, in February, 1880, Mr. T. was chosen to succeed him, and has retained the position to the present time. In the summer of 1880, he was married and they have two children. llc is a gentleman of pleasing address, of good talents and fine culture ; is an active Christian, being a member of the Disciple Church, and cuergetic in whatever tends to promote the public welfare; enthusiastic in his profession, beloved by his pupils, and standing high in the estimation of his fellow-citizens.

ENOS H. TURPEN, grocer, born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1826 ; was brought to Darke County in 1828, and came to Greenville, Ohio, to learn the tailor's trade in 1843 : worked et Ithaca, Dallas and New Madison seven years : set up as a grocer in Union City, Ind., in 1856, and during ten years he was alone in business, but since 1866 the firm has been composed of C. H. Turpen and William Harris, under the style of Turpen & Harris. His wife's name was Julia Breitman, and they have had five children. The firm carry on a large grocery and produce business, including as a specialty the department of but- ter, egg's and poultry. This branch of their operations has grown to be very extensive. The money handled by them therein exceeds $500,000 in a single year. They are thought to be (as gatherers and shippers of these commodities) at least second, and possibly first, in the United States. They employ thirty hands, not reckoning the host of wagoners, peddlers, etc., concerned in the work at large. Their business extends over a large portion of the Western country. Mr. T. has been for over forty years an acceptable member of the M. E. Church, and his worthy and estimable lady is especially noted and be- loved for her activity and efficiency in the work of religion and of benevolence in general. Mr. Turpen is an intelligent and industrious man of business, who, by careful economy and close attention to affairs as well as by tact and akill, has succeeded, by the stendy help of his efficient and wide-awake partner, in establishing a solid, substantial business, and in acquiring a genteel and creditable income.

JOHN C. VAN NUYS was born near Bethel, Wayne Co., Ind., in 1830; has resided at Betbel, Richmond and I'nion City, and has been for many years s cabinet-maker and undertaker. IIe now follows the undertaking business in connection with Mr. Weymire, who has lately bought ont Col. Isaac W. Snell. for many years employed in that department of business tn Union City. Mr. V. married Elizabeth Porch, and they have one child. lle is a member of the Disciple Church, and is, in politics, a Republican. A brother of his, Cornelius Van Nuys, employed in the lumber works of Witham, Anderson & Co., was fatally wounded in the establishment belonging to that firm in October. 1881. A large quantity of lumber piled up (under his own supervision) behind his post of labor in the shop, fell forward upon him, forcing him suddenly upon the saw in motion at which he was working. lle was badly cut about the face and head, and also seriously wounded in the body and loins by the mass of lumber striking him as it fell. Ile lingered some thirty-six hours and sank in death, leaving a stricken wife and weeping children to mourn in bitterness of grief the fearful and fatal catastrophe.

WILLIAM A. WILEY was born in Darke County, Ohio, in 1834. When two months old, his father moved to Illinois, and in a year they returned eastward, settling in White County, Ind., among the Indians. After nine years, they moved into Howard County, Ind., and in a short time his father died at the age of twenty-eight, being the first white person buried at Kokomo. Howard County, was still an Indian reservation. W. A. W. was then ten years old, nod was put immediately to work ; and from that time onward earned his own support. The first boots he ever had were bought with the money thus earned when a small lad. Ile had very little schonling in youth, learning to rend at twelve, and having not nbove five months schooling till of age. Attwenty-two years old, he went with a party of emigrants comprising thirteen familes travel- ing in wagons and bound for the Blue Earth country, Minnesota, young Wiley helping drive their cattle to pay his board as he went. On reaching the Mis-

sissippi, taking a steamboat he passed up the river, after which, with a single comrade be " tramped" ever portions of Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. They traveled on foot, sleeping often on the ground under the epen sky. His advent - ures were many, being much among the Indians who were hostile in feeling. Once between Faribault and Canon City in Minnesota, he met a rough and savage Sienx Indian, with painted face and warrior costume. He says, "I saw him coming; terribly scared, I walked on nevertheless, till as he came near, be looked so hideous that I stopped. He came up, and, as he passed, [ ' shied ' off and gave him the road. He turned toward me, and I gave a fearful spring. The savage fellow gave a loud, rough laugh, and went on, and I went on, too. He had a rifle and I had nothing, but he was not se hostile as I had feared; I was in the Spirit Lake country, just after the massacre in that region, and the Indians were hostile, and great fear was on the people. After seven months, I returned to Indiana, attended school, became myself a successful instructor, teaching at Bethel, Wayne County, Union City, Randolph County, and else. where." His teaching life was from 1859 till 1862. In 1860, he married Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of Felix G. Wiggs, and they have had two children, one of whom survives. Since 1862, Mr. Wiley has been a farmer, a merchant and a grain dealer. He is an active and influential member of the Disciple Church At Unien City, having been chorister for five years, and Superintendent of the Sunday school for nine years. He is also an efficient friend and supporter of education. For eight years, he has been a member of the City School Board of Union City, and in 1881 he was elected for three years longer. He has been City Clerk. His training was Democratic and his first vete was for James Buchanan, but, ever since " Republicanism " has been his political faith. Mr. Wiley is an influential citizen, energetic in every matter of public welfare, and greatly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen. His father was Ezekiel F. Wiley, the son of William Wiley, Esq., who was the brother of Rev. Thomas Wiley, an early pioncer nud preacher of Jackson Township, whose fame as s mis- sionary is in all the region. W. A. W. is now doing business in Chicago, Il1.

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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 165

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