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 176

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 176

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Amos Smith came in 1832. James Wickersham came nearly the same time; he had not built a cabin yet when Mr. Smith came. Andrew Debolt was here; he has been married three times, having four children by his first wife, seven by his second and four by his third; she is still living in Jackson Township; he came in 1831, and died seven or eight years ago. John Jones lived on Lowe's Branch, where Ishmael Bunch had lived; Jones entered the land. James Simm ns was here, but not married. William Simmons was living on the Mississinewa; he had twenty-one children by one mother; she never nursed her children, but had to bring them up " by hand." A large number of them grew up. William Brockus was on William Simmons' place. Jerry Brockus lived on Gray's Branch, in Ohio. James Porter had come to the county in 1829.

James Skinner, maternal grandfather of Dr. John L. Reeves, was one among the early pioneers of Jackson Township, coming to that vicinity two years after his son-in-law, James Reeves, did. His death occurred there, in 1848, at the age of about seventy years. He was a Whig of the Revolutionary type, hav- ing. been born during that eventful era, and having had his youthful training amidst the fresh and stirring memories of that grand and memorable struggle. His wife was what was called a " Hickory Qnaker." They had been reared in Carolina and

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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

her father was a slavebolder, and she, moreover, became heir to an estate consisting partly of slaves. It went sorely against her conscience to participate in slaveholding, even in that indirect way, and she received the portions of the estate with much mis- giving, declining at length to take the final installments. Dr. Reeves well remembers, when a lad, seeing his aged grandmother handling a quantity of silver in his lap, which had come from that source, saying while doing so: "I'll have no more of it; if my descendants choose to avail themselves of it, they may do so. I will not burden my conscience with it any longer." They were friends of the slaves in those times of " harboring runaways." James (Dr. Reeves) well remembers, also, seeing a handsome ne- gro standing at the door, waiting for admittance, but inquiring for him shortly afterward, was greatly surprised to have his grand- mother apparently deny that any negro had been there. He knew that he had seen the black face, and years elapsed before he found out why his grandmother should try to make him believe the contrary.

John Skinner, son of James Skinner and uncle of Dr. Reeves, built the first mill in the region. It stood on the Little Missis- sinewa, a little north of New Lisbon, being a log-cabin structure, and it was at first simply a corn-cracker, but was afterward changed to a wheat-mill, a hand-bolt being added. The mill answered well its purpose, standing and running for twenty or twenty five years. The edifice has long been removed, but the mill-stones, backwoods gray-heads, as they were, are supposed to be lying buried where once the mill-race used to be.

Three brothers of James Skinner were with Jackson at New Orleans during the war of 1812, and two of those brothers were buried in that distant Southern clime. James himself volun- teered also, but for some reason, not now known, he was sent home again. James Skinner emigrated from North Carolina to Ohio at an early day, at least before the war of 1812, having be- come at some time, not now known, a resident of Darke County, in that State. Mr. Skinner became a member of the Disciple Church at New Lisbon, continuing prominent therein until his death. His wife, Anna, died in 1816, aged about sixty-eight or sixty-nine years.

Eleanor (Smith-Wiley) Ruby, widow. This lady now resides at Union City; she is the daughter of Amnos Smith, one of the first settlers in Jackson Township. He entered land south west of New Lisbon, and some two or three miles north of Union City. She was born on the Little Miami in Ohio, in 1808. They moved to Middleboro, Ind., in 1809, and to Darke County, Ohio, in 1828. She married, in 1828, Thomas Wiley, a farmer boy, seventeen years old. Her husband was born April 11, 1811. She herself was not old, but she was three years older than her husband. That farmer boy, then unable to read, be- came afterward a noted and efficient preacher of the Gospel of Christ among the disciples, though at his marriage he was not even a church member. He died at Union City in 1861. They moved to near New Lisbon in 1836, and to Union City in 1852. After Mr. Wiley's death, she married John Ruby, farmer, and moved to Wayne County, for two years, and returned to Union City, where Mr. Ruby died. in 1873, aged nearly eighty years. She has had ten children, all by her first marriage, nine girls and one boy-Sally Ann (Thomson), Rebecca (Thomson), Nancy (Coldren), dead, Esther (Reeves), Gilbert S., Annic (Harlan), Elizabeth (Thomson), Abbie (Swisher), Mary Ellen (Vincent), Amaretta, died at eighteen months. Mrs. Rnby now resides at Union City, being seventy- four years of age.

Michael Shank was born in Virginia about 1785, being the son of Henry Shank, who was born about 1758. He came to Montgomery County, Ohio, with his father at twenty-one years old. about 1806, and they settled ten miles from Dayton. Two or three years afterward, he helped bring a drove of cattle to Greenville for meat for the Indians at oue of their gatherings to confer with" agents of the United States. M. S. entered 160 acres of land, and whon twenty-four years of age, about 1809, he married Polly Davis, who was born in 1794 in Montgomery County, Ohio. They were the parents of six children, only two of whom are now living --- Richard, with whom he has resided nearly forty years, and a married daughter. His wife died in

1841. His father had ten children, only two of whom are now living, the oldast son, Jacob, ninety eight years old, and Michael, himself two years younger.

When Me. Shank cams to Ohio there were only two stores in Dayton and a few dwelling-houses. Mr. Shank's father died at seventy-five years of age, and his mother at sixty-three. His grandfather came from Germany. His father and mother both belonged to the United Brethrou, and the former was probably a Democrat in politics.

Michael Shank has belonged to the United Brethren for sev- enty years; he voted for Jefferson and for Jackson, and for Dem- ocrats uniformly since that day. Richard Shank came with Mi- chael Shank to Randolph County in 1875, and resides there still. Michael Shank was never in the war. When he helped drive the lot of cattle to Greenville, he was in the place only about an hour or two. They got there after dark, and returned that night to Mr. Studebaker's, some five or six miles (who had a fort or block-house for defense against the Indians). Mr. Shank had enjoyed tolerable health during his long life, except that he had the phthisic five or six years, about 1833 to 1839, and that he has been afflicted with nervous trembling for some eight or ten years past. He is now feeble and somewhat hard of hearing, but is able to walk about the house or yard, being in his ninety- seventh year, and probably the oldest person residing in Ran- dolph County.

[It would be interesting to know what gathering of Indians is referred to in the above statement. The narrative would seem to refer to about 1809. We do not remember to have seen any account of such assemblage of Indians at Greenville at that date. Doubtless, however, Mr. Shank is correct, since he could hardly be mistaken as to an occurrence of that kind. ]

Aaron Simmons was born in 1810 in Miami County, Ohio. He came to Randolph County, Ind., in 1838, and married Rebec- ca Marquis in 1840. They have had six children. He entered 240 acres of land, and has dwelt in the same place more than forty years. Mr. Simmons and his family are Dunkards. The . settlers when he came were Eli Noftsinger, east toward the Ohio line; Jamos Wickersham, north of the Catholic Cemetery; Amos Smith, southwest of New Lisbon; Charles Smith, son of Ainos Smith; William Warren, east of Aaron Simmons'; Thomas Wi- ley, New Lisbon; Jacob, Johnson, west of Aaron Simmons; John Johnson, northwest of Aaron Simmons'; Andrew Debolt, Mt. Holly; John Sheets, Smith farm; William Byrum, came same year. just after N. Cadwallader and Simmons did.

Disciple Church was organized perhaps in 1939; log house built soon afterward, about 1847, the present meeting-house at New Lisbon was built. Dunkards resided in that region from early times, but no meeting-honse was built by them till about 1870, at which time one was built one mile north of Union City, on the Ohio line, in Jackson Township. There are four min- isters and about 250 members. They hold stated meetings on the first and third Sundays of each month, and they observe the Lord's Supper once a year. One of Aaron Simmons' sons is a minister among the Dunkards. They are very steady, sober- minded. Christian-hearted people. Originally, the State road from Greenville to Portland passed by Mr. Simmons' house, crossing the Mississinewa a mile southeast of Pittsburg, but within a few years most of that " angling " road has been dis- continued, and this removal of the highway brings his dwelling nearly half a mile from any public road.

James Simmons was born in North Carolina in 1809, brought to Wayne County, Ind., in 1811; drove an ox-team with a wagon load of bacon from Richmond to Fort Wayne in 1821 (at twelve years old). From that time onward, he "went for himself." He drove team to Fort Wayne, drove hogs to Cincinnati, etc., etc. But he spent much of his time in Randolph County, Ind., from 1821. He took a claim, a tract occupied by one George Vance. He cleared and " cropped." raising corn and fattening hogs, and thus got money to enter his land, He had been through the country at different times, and he selected a claim as early as 1825, and settled, but not until 1832. In 1821. his uncle, William Simmons and himself, were hauling to Fort Wayne with three yoke of cattle. They slept under some oak trees that

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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

were afterward in his dooryard. These trees were near a beau- tiful spring, and he thought then: " How fine a piece for settle- ment," and years afterward, the twelve-year-old lad then grown a man, entered the tract and in due time married and established his home there. They are both buried in the Hawkins' Grave- yard, near Antioch, Jay Co., Ind. Ho had three sons in the Union army-Joseph C., unassigned recruit, 1865, sick at hos. pital, in Indianapolis till the close of the war; Nathan C. joined Company F, Sixty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteers: Benja- min W., Eleventh Ohio (three months), April. 18, 1861, dis. charged September 5, 1861, then Company F, Sixty-ninth In- diana Regiment; he was never sick. bur was wounded at Thom. son's Hill May 1, 1863.

James Simmons, in 1831, entered a tract occupied by George Vance, and lived with Mr. Vance in the cabin built by Mr. Vance till Mr. S. got married, which he did in 1834, to Avaline Haw- kins, daughter of Mr. Hawkins, pioneer of Jay County. Ind. After Mr. S. was married, he built a new cabin, and let Mr. Vance live still in the one built by him (Mr. V.). Mr. S. was twice married, and was the father of twelve children. He died in 1873, and his second wife yet survives him; his first wife died in 1863. He was an active, intelligent. enterprising, genial man, an ardent Whig and a straight out Republican, and was highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens. He was a Whig from the beginning, and is said to have voted the Whig ticket alone in Jackson Township.

Samuel Simmons came some time before James Simmons. perhaps in 1827. William Simmons moved here, and then went to Blue River, for a year or more, and then returnod. William is the one that was frozen so badly (see Jay County history). Samuel and William Simmons came nearly at the same time. Benjamin Simmons thinks that Samuel (his uncle) was perhaps the first settler in the township.

John Vance lived on James Simmons' place three or four years, till he (Simmons) got married. Several of the Simmons family emigrated to Oregon. Benjamin Simmons has had four uncles in Oregon, and a fifth died of small-pox, at St. Louis, on his way to Oregon, as also his eldest danghter. Samuel Sim- mons went to Oregon in 1837, among the first emigrants. Ed. ward, John and Andrew went in 1851. Edward died there, in March, 1880. The other three are supposed to be living still. John Buff was an early settler, but did not stay long. John Jones was also among the first.

William Sizemore was born in North Carolina in 1780; came to Tennessee and afterward to Jackson Township, Randolph County, Ind., in the fall of 1834. He had nine children and was three times married, the last wife being now living. He lived a farmer and died in 1877, in his ninoty-seventh year. He was buried in Prospect, but has no stone erected. His first wife was Esther Anderson, died in 1850, aged abont sixty-six years, buried at Prospect with no tombstone; his second wife. Jedidah Fields, died May 17, 1859, aged between sixty-five and seventy years; buried at Prospect, no tombstone. He bought land of William Warren, Sr. His son. Edward Sizemore, born in 1822, lived east of Middletown.

Amos Smith was born in Pennsylvania abont 1783, and moved to Kentucky when a young man; married Elizabeth Ashby, in Ken- tucky, about 1805, and came to Miami County. Ohio, about 1807; to Wayne County, Ind., abont. 1810; moved back to the Ohio settlements for fear of the Indians in 1811; returned to Wayne County again and afterward settled in Darke Conuty, Ohio. In 1830. he came into the wilds of Jackson Township, Randolph County, being nearly or quite the first permanent set- tler in that township. He came in the spring with a son and daughter, partly grown, the boy to help him clear a patch and put out a crop, and the girl, Esther (now Mrs. Carn, of Grant County, Ind.), to cook and keep camp for them. Probably she helped outdoors, also. for the camp needed but little attention, and they had but little to cook, and the girls in those days could pile brush as fast as boys could. They put out their crop and he bronght his whole family in August, and the whole company lived in a camp for some time. He had had fourteen children. eleven of whom grew up and were married. Two were married

in Darke County. Ohio, and he bronght nino into "Randolph woods;" and the others came afterward. bringing the whole family together. Four of them are living so far as known. He entered eighty acres of land, and on that homestead he resided nearly twenty-five years, tilling his land and working, also, somewhat as a cooper. He removed, in 1853. to Grant County, Ind .. and died there about 1856, his wife outliving her husband and dying in 1863, seventy six years old. Mr. Smith was, like many of the pioneers, a famous hunter. In politics, he was a sturdy Whig, and afterward a Republican, though he died not long after the rise of that party. He joined the Disciples short- ly before his death. In politics, ho was long nearly alone in that Democratic stronghold. At one time there were only three of his faith in politics in the township. As to the settlers in Jackson Township, it is probable that few permanent settlers were there much before Mr. Smith. An old man by the name of Ishmael Bunch lived about one-half mile southwest of Dolphus Warren's, on Lowe Branch. He was a " squatter " and did not reside there very long. Philip Storms was also in the region, owning no land, however. Eli Noffsinger, then a young man, made a clearing about the same time, and moved his mother and sisters up to his cabin perhaps the next spring. John Sheets came not long afterward. There was not a house from Hill Grove to Now Lisbon. Andrew Debolt came about 1831. Mr. Smith appears to have been in the township four years before he entered his land, W. S. E. 27, 21, 15, eighty acres, May 15, 1834.

[Note .- Mr. Simmons seems to have come before Mr. Smith, and James Porter says that he came in 1829. Mr. Porter's first entry of land was in October 29, 1833. There seem to have been somo settlers on the Mississinewa, in the west part of Jack- son Township, before those in the neighborhood of New Lisbon. Mr. Porter says his brother George came in the spring of 1829, and raised a crop and brought his family in the fall of 1820, and that Thomas Shaler had been a " squatter" in the same neigh- borhood for some years. William Simmons probably lived in Ward Township, as he was down the Mississinewa from James Porter's.

James Warren was the father of the (older) Warrens, who are still residing in Jackson Township. He was born in 1787, in North Carolina, and came to Richmond. Ind., in 1825. He had married Elizabeth Cabaniss, in 1809, and they had ten chil- dren, eight of whom came to be married, and four are now liv- ing. He came to Jackson Township, Randolph County, Ind., in 1835. settling near New Middletown, between Union City and Deerfield. He died in 1876, in his ninetieth year. His wife died many years ago. He was a farmer and a Democrat. His sons were William, John and Dolphus Warren, who are still residents of Jackson, prominent and influential among the citi- zeus there, large land owners and prosperous and successful farmers, and all thorough Democrats of long standing, except, indeed, Dolphus, who belongs to the Republican fold.

William Warren is the son of James Warren, and was born about 1811. He came to Randolph County about 1834, stopping first near New Lisbon. and afterward near New Middletown. Ho has had eleven children, seven of them now living. He en- tered forty acres at first and 240 acres in all. He is a farmer and a Democrat and an active man of business. He lives north of Middletown, Ind. He emigrated to Wayne Connty, Ind., in 1825, and married Elizabeth Newton in 1832.

James Wickersham was born in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1780. Ho learned the hatting business at Harrisburg, Penn., came to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1805, married Rachel Smith, sister of Amos Smith, and moved to Wayne County Ind., and, in 1832, to Jackson Township, Randolph County, Ind., and in 1867, to Jay County, Ind. He died in 1873, ninety-three years old, and his wife in 1855. They had eleven children. seven grown and five living. He was u hatter and then a farmer, he was also a gro- cer at New Lisbon awhile, etc. Mr. W. was Justice of the Peace both in Wayne and Randolph Counties. He has also been Township Trustee, Assessor, etc. He was a Disciple and a Dem- oerat, and an upright, exemplary and trustworthy man. He is thought to have been the first Justice of the Peace in Jackson

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Township. He entered his land July 29, 1835 (Section 13. Town 18, Range 1 west), forty acres. Like most of the pioneers of Jackson Township, Mr. W. had not much of this world's goods, but he had what is better, intelligence, sound judgment and the love of God in his heart, and these are better than a kingdom

John A. Wickersham is the son of James Wickersham. He was born in 1818, in Wayne County, Ind .; came to Randolph County, Ind., in 1832; married Elizabeth Criviston in 1839; has had nine children, seven living, two married. He is a farm- er, owning 190 acres of land; is a Disciple and a Republican. Mr. W. is an intelligent, estimable citizen, a thrifty and pros- perous farmer and an upright and honorable man.

MINUS W. BERKHEIM, farmer, P. O .: Union City, born November 4, 1851, in Jay County, Ind. He received n common school education, and was married, September 15, 1872, to Malissa Simmons, a native of Miami County, Ohio, who was born October 22, 1852. Four children blessed this union --- Benjamin F., born August 11, 1873; Mary A., April 23, 1875; Clara M., October 28, 1877; and Charles' L., May 24, 1880. Mr. Berkheim is a member of the Caristian Church, and of the Magooic order. He owns a good farm of 109 acres, and is Democratic in politics. His father, Isaac Berkheim, is a native of Frederick County, Va., born June 26, 1808; came to Obio in 1828, and from thenice to Jay County, in 1833 ; he married Margaret Conoway, who was born April 23, 1813, deceased October 1, 1880. Benjamin Simmons, the father of Mrs. Berkheim, was a native of Miami County, Ohio, born October 30, 1827; came here twenty-six years ago; decensed, October, 1871 ; he married Jane Lindley, a native of Miami County, Ohio, born August 11, 1823. Mr. Berkheim is a social, companionable gentleman, and one whom people love to meet.

ELI BYRUM.

Eli Byrum was born in North Carolina in 1816, and died in Randolph County, Ind., in Febuary, 1877. His father, William Byrum, was a farmer and blacksmith, and a man of fine intellect. Ile was a prominent aod les ling citi- zen of his county, and was three times elected as its Representative in the Legis- lature of North Carolina. In 1838 or 1839, he came North, locating in Preble County, Ohio, and about n year later came to Randolph County, Ind. Eli, the subject of this ske ch, accompanied bis father in his removals, and at the time of the removal to Randolph County, purchased eighty acres adjoining his father's farm, in partnership with his brother Robert. Ilis land was covered by a heavy growth of timber, and he devoted his time to clearing it and reduc- ing it to a fine state of cultivation. At the age of twenty-nine years-in 1815- he was united in marriage with Rachel Newton, daughter of Henry and Mary Newton, who resided at that time near Richmond, Ind. In November, 1846, his wife died, leaving a daughter, who died a few months later. On the 25th of July. 1848, be married Miss Luciada Fields, daughter of Lansford and Nancy Fields, who came from Tennessee to Randolph County, Ind., in 1832. By this second union Mr. Byrum and wife were the parents of thirteen children, nine of whom are now living, vix., Eli W., Fletcher N., Robert L., Lourinda, Eaoch E., Drusilla, Emma J., Noah II., and Norman E. Mr. Byrum was one of the self-made men of this locality. lIe entered upon his career as a farmer, with n capital of only about $50, and with a tract of wild, unimproved land from which to develop a farm. Vet this small amour' proved the foundation of an ample fortune, which accumulated year by year undler his tireless energy and excellent management. He cleared two farms during his life ; first the one near Lisbon, upon which he first located in this county, and afterward the one upon which he lied. Gradually he enlarged the boundaries of . his farm, by sundry purchases, until he possessed 340 acres, free from debt, and the larger portion of it under a fine state of cultivation. Upon the last-named farm his widow and children still reside. Mr. Byrum was rearel in the Dem- ocratic school of politics, and for many years was an adherent of that party. Latterly, however, he cast aside party ties, and exercised the privilege of an independent voter. But he was never n politician, and never held an elective office. He confined his attention to the pursuit of farming, and managed his affairs with an nhilily that returned him very satisfactory results, and placed him among the wealthy farmers of the township. In all his transactions, he was governed by n high sense of honor, aod among all who knew him he wns recognized ns a man of irreproachable integrity, and a good citizen in the best sense of that term. Ile was a consistent member of the United Brethren Church, with which denomination his wife and family are still identified.

JOSEPHI BROWN, farmer, P. O. Union City. This industrious citizen was born August 2. 1821, in the State of Maryland. He immigrated to Miami County, Ohio, in 1823, and from thence settled in this county in October, 1844. Mr. Brown was united in marriage, November 25, 1847, to Nancy A. Harshman, n native of this State, who was born July 11, 1829. The following children blessed this union : William S., born October 8, 1848; Mary A., September 28, 1851 ; Daniel W., April 26, 1857 ; Tillie C., November 6, 1859; Abraham November 3, 1864; Isaac E., January 12, 1865: Francis M., Febuary 27, 1870, and Albert, August 13, 1872. His father, Joseph Brown, was a native of Ger- many, and was born about the year 1798; came to the State of Maryland, and was married there to Margaret Lower. Abraham Horshuer, the father of Mrs. Brown, was a native of Preble County, Ohio; born in 1787, and was married to Ilanna Garner, of his native county. He came to this county in 1831 : deceased, September 13, 1866, his wife having died October 2, 1840. William S., the son of the subject of this sketch, was married, December 1, 1872, to Evaline Simmons: they have two children-Phebe L. and Dorn. Mary A. was married to Ira Porter, May 1, 1868 ; they have two children-

Nancy E. and Rudolph. Mr. Brown owns a good form of 200 acres of choice land, is Democratic in politics, and an enterprisimg citizen.

ITENRY DEBOLT, farmer, P. O. Union City. This worthy citizen was barn February 28, 1817, in Butler County, Ohio ; he went to Preble County in 1839, and finally settled in this county in 1846. He was educated in the com- mon schools of his native State, and was married April 14, 1840, to Ann Mikesell, who was a native of Preble County, Ohio, born December 20, 1823. This union was blessed by the birth of ten children, of which number seven nre living-George M., born February 22, 1845; Oscar F., Jannary 14, 1846, deceased May 21, 1852; Emmaretta, August 16, 1848, decensed August 27, 1849; Irene E., April 2, 1851 ; Annett% J., January 28, 1852 ; Cass C., Sep- tember 22, 1853, deceased March 10, 1875; Martha C., May 17, 1855; John B., October 27, 1856, deceased December 6, 1856 ; Kate, July 20, 1858 ; Charles, March 15, 1860, and Henrie A., January 27. 1863. Mr. Debolt has served as Justice of the Peace of Jackson Township for over seventeen years, and was Justice of the same township for four consecutive years. Ile and his worthy wife are consistent members of the Disciple Church, and are generally esteemed. He is a Democrat of the old school, and enjoys the confidence of his friends. His father, John Debolt, was a nativo of Hamilton County, Ohio, born about 1797; came to this county in 1838, deceased 1852, in June. His wife was originally Rachel Clawson, born in 1800, deceased December 30, 1862. These people had many noble traits of character.

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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 176

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