USA > Indiana > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Indiana, from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
The First National Bank of Centerville was established in 1863. Its stockholders were Jacob B. Julian, Oliver T. Jones, Joseph W. Jackson, David Commons, Joshua Elia- son, Jesse Cates, Jeremiah W. Swafford, Wm. Culbertson, Alexander Cheeseman, Jos. C. Ratliff, Philip Jenkins, James Forkner, George W. Julian, and others. Oliver T. Jones was chosen President ; Benj. L. Martin, Cashier. The latter de- clined, and J. P. Southard was elected. After a few months, Jacob B. Julian was elected President, and Oliver T. Jones, Cashier. Since then no change has been made in its officers. Its capital is $100,000.
The Machine Shop and Saw-mill in Centerville was built by Wharton Lyman, Norris Jones, and others, about the year 185 -. It is now owned by - Fulghum.
The Engine House and Town Hall building was erected in 1858, by Norris Jones, who also built the Odd Fellows' build- ing the same year. Perhaps no man has done more to im- prove the place than Mr. Jones.
The history of Newspapers published at Centerville, as given in preceding pages, was condensed from a sketch in the True Republican of Nov. 12, 1863, and terminated with the discontinuance of the Wayne County Chronicle in 1864, and the removal of the press and types to Cambridge. Since the sheets containing that history passed through the press,
170
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
the following supplement has been received, which is not in- appropriately inserted in this place :
In 1866, John and James Bromagem commenced The Union in Centerville, and published it about one year. In 1869, Charles W. Stevens established The Republican, and continued its publication about six months. And the first of July, 1871, R. J. Strickland revived the Wayne County Chron- icle, which is still published by him at Centerville.
The present Public School-house was built in pursuance of an act of the legislature, which authorized the establishment of a County Seminary in each county, the cost of the building to be paid from the fines collected therein. In 1827 or 1828, the west wing was built; in 1841 or 1842, the east wing; and about the year 1851, the main building. In pursuance of a law under the new constitution, the county seminary buildings throughout the state were sold, and the proceeds put into the school fund. In 1853, the buildings were bought by the Methodists, who established a school under the name of Whitewater College, which was kept up until 1870, when the building was sold to the school trustees, and is now the public school-house. The present principal of the school is Edgar A. Brown.
The first Religious Society in the township was that of the Friends, who, in 1815, organized the West Grove meeting, about 3 miles north-west from Centerville, and built a log meeting-house. The society, at its organization, was com- posed of the families of Robert Commons, Wm. Hastings, James Townsend, Benj. Maudlin, Jacob Griffin, Wm. Harvey, Axum Elliott, Obed Barnard, and perhaps Edward Benbo. It was named by Robert Commons, West Grove, that being the name of the place where he had resided in Pennsylvania. They met in the woods at the place selected for the meeting- house. The following named persons were also early mem- bers, some of them, perhaps, at the time of the organization : Abraham and Joseph Cook, Jehu Wickersham, John Max- well, John Brumfield, John Copeland, John Harvey, Robert Harvey, Charles Canaday, George Russell, Nathan Overman. Among their early preachers were Jesse Bond, Hannah Baldwin, and Daniel Williams, who is still living in Clay. This meeting has been continued until the present time.
171
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
A Baptist Church is said to have been formed early about 3 miles north of Centerville. Early members were Isaac Cotton, Samuel Taylor, preachers ; John Stigleman, Joshua Eliason, Richard Cheeseman, Isaac Voorhees, and others. It long since ceased to exist.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Centerville was formed in 1822. In the absence of carly records of the society, re- course could be had only to the memory of its early mem- bers, a few of whom are still living. Among the members who joined at or near the year of its organization, were Israel Abrahams, Elisha King, Edward K. Hart, and their wives, Mrs. Hart, Samuel King, Margaret Ringo, John Scott and wife. Within a few years after, Mrs. Therese Finch, Al- fred Carter and Ephraim J. Merritt and their wives, Mary Merritt, mother of Ephraim, and Elizabeth Hart. The first preachers are said to have been Russell Bigelow, George Gatch, John Strange, and James Havens. Their first meet- ings were held in the dwelling of the late Israel Abrahams, nearly opposite the Bank. In 1828, they built a frame meet- ing-house north of the present jail. Their brick house was built in 1842.
A Methodist Episcopal Church was formed some twenty-five or more years ago, about 3} miles north of Centerville, at the present Centerville Crossing, on the railroad. The par- ticulars of its history have not been obtained. There is near it a camp ground, on which meetings have been held for many successive years.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in De- cember, 1342, Rev. Le Roy Woods present and officiating. Members uniting were John B. Stitt, James Woods, Eliza A. Bolander, Sarah Garthwaite, James II. and Susan Hudson, Henry Brown, A. F. Dunham, Francis Smith, E. C. Seaton, Mary Stitt. A little later, Elizabeth Burbank, Margaret Meredith, Wm. B. and Charlotte Hornish, David and Sarah Dinwiddie, Wm. and Martha McCord, Adam and Eve Trum- bull. For about a year the church had only occasional serv- ice, which was held in the Methodist house. In 1849, their present house of worship was built, under the superintend-
172
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
ence of E. McCord, Wm. McCord, Adam Trumbull, David Dinwiddie, Wm. Bolander, trustees. Le Roy Woods was their minister for several years, and was succeeded by Elam McCord. Rev. Felix G. Black became their minister in 1854; Charles Bond, March, 1866; IIenry D. Onyett, the present pastor, April, 1867. Present elders-Wm. McCord, Adam Trumbull, Norris Jones. A Sabbath-school is con- nected with the church, superintended by the pastor.
The Christian Church was organized about the year 1832. A Baptist church had existed as early, probably, as 1820, among whose members were Jesse Thomas, Henry Shoe- maker, and others, and had commenced the building of a house of worship in the north part of the town. On the organ- ization of the Christian church, the Baptists gave up theirs, and most of them joined the Christians, who proceeded to finish the house, which they still occupy. Their minister at that time was Daniel Winder. They have since then been served by - Van Buskirk, Samuel K. Hoshour, and others. Among their early members were Joshua Eliason, Jesse Thomas, Jehiel Lampson, Judith King, John Winder.
The Presbyterian Church of Centerville was organized April 14, 1866. Present, Rev. James A. McKee, moderator, and Rev. L. W. Chapman; A. Samson, clerk. Members-John Me- Farland and Ann, his wife, Wharton Lyman and Ann M., his wife, Caroline Dickey, Jane Rowan, Kate Jolmson, John M. Coyner, elder, and Mary W., his wife, Louisa A. Cun- ningham, Jane Doughty, Samuel Wilson, and Mary, his wife, M. Wilson, Elizabeth Young, Elizabeth IIeuston. John McFarland and John M. Coyner were chosen elders ; Whar- ton Lyman, deacon. Services were on this occasion held in Snider Hall.
In May, 1866, Rev. Faunt Le Roy Senour was called as pastor of the church, and a Sabbath-school was organized; John M. Coyner chosen superintendent ; - Coggshall, assistant superintendent ; S. A. Wilson, secretary. In June, Snider Hall was rented for a place of worship for one year. The trustees of the society were John McFarland, F. V. Sni- der, Nimrod Johnson, Thomas Heuston, and the minister, who is a trustee, ex-officio. In 1869, T. J --. was elected in
173
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
the place of Judge Johnson, deceased. In 1868, their brick church edifice was built. In October, 1867, Samuel Potter and John Smith were chosen elders. Mr. Senour, after a pastorate of two years, was succeeded by Rev. S. S. Potter, for about two years ; and in May, 1870, Rev. Eben Muse, the pres- ent minister, commenced his labors.
Hosier Lodge, No. 23, I. O. O. F., was organized August 15, 1845. Its charter members were Francis King, Daniel Lantz, Lazarus Noble, Israel Hannah, Enoch P. Justice, Milton Hiatt, Jason Ham. Its present officers are John Pritchett, N. G .; Henry D. Onyett, V. G .; Henry B. Leeson, Rec. Sec. ; Adam Trumbull, Per. Sec .; Jonathan R. Whitacre, Treas.
Hiram Lodge, No. 42, (Masonic,) was organized May, 1847. . Its charter members are not now known. Its officers were Francis King, W. M .; Samuel Boyd, S. W .; Martin M. Ray, J. W .; John Pritchett, Sec.
This lodge was reorganized June 16, 1870, and is now Hiram Lodge, No. 417. Its officers are Joseph C. Ratliff, W. M .; Wm. Dickey, S. W .; Elihu M. Parker, J. W .; John Pritchett, Sec .; Wm. A. Chance, Treas. Its charter members were Joseph C. Ratliff, Wm. Dickey, Elihu M. Parker, Calvin J. Woods, Morgan McCoy, John F. Julian, John F. Kibbey, John Pritchett.
Biographical and Genealogical.
LOT BLOOMFIELD, a lawyer, commenced practice in Center- ville in 1820. He was a good scholar, well read in general literature, and a man of fine mind, but was unsuccessful at the bar, withdrew from practice in a few years, and engaged in mercantile pursuits, in which he was very successful. He died many years ago in Indianapolis.
SAMUEL P. BOOKER, a native of Winchester, Virginia, was, as has been stated, one of the first merchants in Centerville, where he commenced business in 1818 or 1819. He is rep- resented as a man of fine personal appearance, of pleasing manners, and a shrewd business man. He was successful in business, dying the wealthiest man of his day in the county. He died July 19, 1823, the day on which he was 44 years of
.
174
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
age. His funeral was largely attended, being the first Masonic burial in the county; Joseph Holman officiating.
HENRY BRYAN was born on the Brandywine, near Wilming- ton, Delaware. When young, he removed with his parents to Beaver county, Pennsylvania; and thence he removed in 1811 to the farm on which he died, two miles south-west of Center- ville. Ile was a high-toned gentleman, a fine scholar, and held the office of county surveyor, from its creation to the time of his death, in the spring of 1835. His widow yet sur- vives.
STEPHEN COMER, from North Carolina, settled, first, two miles and a half north-east from Richmond, and soon after in Center, near Dover. During the Indian troubles, he fled to the vicinity of Richmond, and returned to his farm after the paci- fication of the Indians, where he died in 1850, and where his son William resides. His children were John, William, Joseph, James, Rebecca, Stephen, and Mary. John married Elizabeth C. Teagle in 1823, and lived in Green, about a mile from Dover, where he died about the year 1838. His children are Mary Ann; William, living in Richmond; Joseph, manufac- turer of cutlery, one mile north of Richmond; John, who re- sides in Green ; and Elizabeth.
ROBERT COMMONS was born in Ireland in 1748, and removed in infancy with his father's family to Chester county, Pennsyl- vania. He was married to Ruth Hayes, and removed to West- ern Virginia in 1792, and thence, in 1812, to this township, a mile and a half north-west from Centerville, where he resided until his death, December 19, 1837, aged 89 years. He had nine children: 1. Lydia, who married Adam Davis in Vir- ginia; removed to North Carolina, and thence, in 1811, to Washington county, Indiana, and finally to Mercer county, Illinois. 2. Phebe, who married Jesse Bond. [Sk.] 3. Isaac, who came to Whitewater in 1807; married Mary, daughter of John Townsend, and in 1810 settled seven miles north of Rich- mond, now in Franklin township. His children were Jonathan, who married a Miss Moore, and died near his father's. Ilan- nah, wife of Samuel Nicholson, in Franklin township. John, married, and now resides in Union City. Lydia, wife of Daniel Kitselman, Wayne township. Robert, who married
175
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
Elizabeth Cook, Wayne township. Elvira, died unmarried. Joseph, married, and is deceased. Isaac, who is married, and resides in Richmond. 4. William, son of Robert, Sen., mar- ried Sarah Brady. [Sk.] 5. John married Elizabeth Mote, of Ohio, and resides at Drakesville, Wapello county, lowa. 6. Ezekiel, who married Sarah Julian, and had three sons and three daughters. Jesse, the only son living, is in Rush county. Lydia, wife of - - Hulett, her third husband, lives in Rush county. Elbina, wife of Allen Hatfield, lives in Hancock county. The other daughter deceased. Ezekiel Commons died in 1831. 7. Hannah married Greenbury Cornelius in Virginia; both died in Center, in 1824. They had two sons : George, who lives in Tipton county ; David, in Madison county. 8. Nathan, who married Martha, daughter of Patrick Beard. Their children, Enos and IIannah, reside in Mississippi. 9. David, who resides in the township. [Sk.]
WILLIAM COMMONS, a son of Robert, was born in Virginia, August 30, 1786, and came to Whitewater about 1810. He married Sarah Brady in 1815, and settled a mile and a half north-west from Centerville, and in 1823, one mile north of town, where now Oliver T. Jones resides. He built the first court-house and jail, (both of logs,) at Salisbury, and after- ward, at Centerville, the first jail [log] and the present court- house. He was esteemed for his moral worth; was a friend to the poor, and ever ready to contribute to their relief. He died May 23, 1848. His wife died May 24, 1863. They had six sons and six daughters : 1. Ruth, who married Lewis Jones, a farmer and horticulturist. 2. Darid B., who died in Kansas. 3. Rebecca, who married, first, Wm. Beverlin, second, Isaac Lewis, and lives at Rockville, Parke county. 4, 5. Reason and Charity, twins. Reason married Mary Woods, and removed to Iowa. IIe and his son Ilenry were in the late war. Henry died of sickness in camp; his father, also sick, died at Louis- ville, Kentucky, on his way homeward. Charity married, first, John Wolf, who died in Hancock county; second, Simpson Chandler, and died in the same county. 6. Eliza, who married Washington Henderson, who died in the township. 7. Ellen, who married Joseph P. Boyd, and lives in Mercer county, Illinois. 8. Nathan, went to California; unmarried; not lately
176
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
heard from-probably not living. 9. Robert, married, removed to Iowa; now resides in California. 10. Francena, who mar- ried, first, Mallory Norman ; second, George Blackleach, and died in the township. 11. Washington, died in infancy. 12. Isaac, married Martha A. Jones, and resides at Anderson.
DAVID COMMONS, the youngest son of Robert Commons, was born in Western Virginia, July 18, 1800, and came with his father to this township in 1812. He was married in 1824 to Rachel Mote, and had by her two sons : 1. John, who mar- ried Eliza Jane, danghter of John Boyd, and has a son and three daughters. He is secretary of Gov. Baker, at Indianap- olis. 2. Philip S., who married Hannah Ann, danghter of John Maxwell, and lives in Vermillion county, Illinois. Mrs. Commons died in 1827. Mr. C. married, second, Bethana Car- ter, and had by her five sons and two daughters : 1. Sarah Ann, who married Thomas Jordan, merchant in Indianapolis, where she died. 2. William, who died at 19. 3. Isaac L., who married Martha, daughter of John Boyd, and resides at Milton. 4. Robert D., who served three years in the late war in the Eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteers. He married Olive Jane Harvey, and lives near his father. 5. Joseph A., married Amanda Beeson, and lives three miles north of Cen- terville. 6. Mary E., wife of Ira Izor, and lives in the town- ship. 7. Walter S., unmarried, at home. Mr. Commons has held the offices of township trustee and of county commis- sioner; and was elected in 1847 and again in 1848, as a repre- sentative in the legislature. In 1838, after the death of his father, he removed to the farm he had owned for many years, and on which he now resides.
WILLIAM CRAWFORD was born near Belfast, Ireland, about the year 1745. Before he had arrived at man's estate he sailed for America, leaving a large prospective inheritance, which he forfeited by joining the Colonial army, to which he was attached during the entire Revolutionary struggle. He was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill, being stabbed in the shoulder in the hand to hand fight which followed the giving out of the ammunition of the Colonial army. He was in Lafayette's command a great part of his time; and on ac-
Strobridge & Co. Lith Cin .0.
David Commons.
177
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
count of his activity and physical strength, as well as his courage, he was selected as the bearer of messages and the performer of dangerous excursions. He was an early set- tler, about two and a half miles south-west from Centerville. where Richard G. Charman resides. He died December 30, 1826, and was buried in the Bryan grave-yard.
JOSHUA ELIASON was born in Delaware, and was married to Christina Hucall. He removed to this county with his fam- ily, and settled where Thomas Eliason now lives. He had by his first wife six children : William, Joshua, Levi, Lydia, Kitty, and Betsey Ann. After the death of his first wife he married in Center, Patsey Smithson, and had by her five children : Ebenezer, Andrew, John, Henry C., and Thomas Clayton, who lives on the homestead, near the railroad. Four of the sons of Joshua Eliason married and settled in the township : 1. William, who married Harriet McCollister, and settled where he now lives. His children are, Levi, who lives in Iowa ; James C., south of his father; John M., north- east of his father ; Andrew J., near his father, north; Martin V., south of Centerville ; Joshua, west of his father; Wm. C., with his father. Daughters: Mary Ann, who married Joseph Eperly, and moved to Iowa; Betsey Ann, who mar- ried Wm. King, of Crawfordsville; Sarah Ann, who mar- ried Elijah R. Harvey. 2. Joshua, brother of William, mar- ried Lucinda King, lives a mile east of Centerville, and has a daughter who married James Seaton, and lives in Indianap- olis. 3. Levi, also a brother of William, married Sarah Smith- son, and had two daughters; the first married Joseph J. King; the second, Thomas Myers, who served in the war, and lost an arm. 4. Thomas Clayton, the youngest of the brothers. is married, and lives on the homestead.
CYRUS FINCH was an early and promising lawyer in Cen- terville. He was a man of good character, and popular, and is well remembered by many of the old inhabitants. He died at an early age. He was married to Therese A. Booker, sis- ter of Jacob N. and Samuel P. Booker, who, after the death of her husband, married Wm. Widup, who also died. She still survives, at the age of nearly 73 years.
4
178
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
ABNER HAINES commenced the practice of law in Center- ville in 1831, and continued in it till 1838, when he removed to Eaton, Ohio, where he now lives. Judge Haines was a fair lawyer, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fel- low-citizens.
SAMUEL HANNAH was born Dec. 1, 1789, in the state of Del- aware. At the age of six years he removed with his father's family to Brownsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the Monongahela river, thirty miles above Pittsburgh. He was married July 11, 1811, to Eleanor Bishop, who died Sept. 26, 1864. In the spring of 1815, with his wife and two chil- dren, he went in a flat-boat to Cincinnati, and thence by wagons to Warren county, Ohio, where he taught school two years. In 1817 he settled in the woods, in what is now the township of Washington. His cabin was one of the rudest of the rude, being for a time a mere shelter, without a door or chimney. In Dec., 1823, having been elected Sheriff of Wayne county, he removed from his farm to Centerville, the county seat. Belonging to the society of Friends, and con- scientiously opposed to the collection of fines for refusing to do military duty, he resigned his office in the spring of 1825. In August following he was elected as a representative in the legislature. He declined a re-election, but was in 1826 elected a justice of the peace, which office he held about four years. The county business being then done by the Board of Jus- tices, he was chosen and continued President of the Board until 1829, when the Board of County Commissioners was restored. He was appointed Postmaster at Centerville under the administration of John Quincy Adams, and held the office until removed under that of President Jackson, in 1829. He was one of the three commissioners appointed by the legislature to locate the Michigan road from the Ohio river to the Lake, and to select the lands secured to the state by a treaty with the Indians, held on the upper Wabash in 1826. In 1830 he was elected Clerk of Wayne county, and served seven years. In 1843 he was again elected to the legisla- ture. In December, 1846, he was elected by the legislature Treasurer of State, and served three years. On his election
179
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
he removed to Indianapolis, where he resided until his death, with the exception of a residence of about two years at Cen- terville, during the construction of the Indiana Central rail- way. In March, 1851, he was chosen first President of the company, but resigned in July following. He was the same summer elected Treasurer of the Indianapolis and Belle- fontaine Railroad Company. In May, 1852, he accepted the office of Treasurer of the Indiana Central Railway Company, and held the office until January, 1864, when he retired from active life. He died Sept. 8, 1869, aged nearly 80 years.
JOSEPH HOLMAN, son of George Holman, was born in Wood- ford county, Kentucky, October 1, 1788, and removed with his father to the Whitewater country, two miles south of where Richmond now stands. He married, November 22, 1810, Lydia Overman, daughter of Ephraim Overman, who was born June 13, 1792. He settled half a mile from the present town of Boston, and, in March, 1812, three miles north of Centerville, on Noland's Fork. In 1814, he was a candidate for the territorial legislature. Voting being done viva voce, and it being known that there was a tie, his rival, Joseph Brown, voted for himself, and Holman, refusing to vote for himself, lost the election. Brown died at Corydon before the close of the first session, and, in 1815, Holman was chosen to fill the vacancy. At the next session, [1815-16,] Congress, in response to a memorial of the territorial legislature, authorized the calling of a couven- tion to form a state constitution with a view to the admission of Indiana as a state into the Union. Gov. Harrison ordered an election for the choice of delegates, and Joseph Holman, Patrick Beard, Jeremiah Cox, and Hugh Cull were chosen. He was, the same year or the next, again elected, and by suc- cessive re-elections continued as a representave in the legisla- ture, with the exception of one year, until his removal to Fort Wayne. In 1823, having been appointed by President Mon- roe, Receiver of Moneys at the new land office at Fort Wayne, be removed thither, and, with Capt. Samuel C. Vance, Register, opened the office in October. He held the office of Receiver about six years, and was removed by President Jackson. Dur- ing a part of this time he was a partner in the tanning, mercan-
180
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
tile, and pork business. In 1830, while at Fort Wayne, he was again elected to the legislature. In 1833 he removed to Peru, where he was for nine years engaged in farming. In August, 1843, at the solicitation of his father, who, in his de- clining years, desired the attention of one of his children, he removed to the old farm of his father, purchased in 1804. In 1860, the year after his father's death, he removed to Center- ville, where he now resides.
Joseph and Lydia Holman had twelve children. Their names, except of two who died in infancy, are as follows : Polly, who married Chauncey Carter, who died at Logansport, a county auditor or treasurer. Solomon, who married Mary Forey, of Peru, Ind., where he died. He had been assistant engineer in constructing the Wabash and Erie Canal, and en- gineer of the Whitewater Canal. Patsey, who married Isaac Marquiss, of Peru, where both died, leaving eight children, of whom Jacob and Isaac died in the late war, of disease. Ra- chel Jane, who married Richard Rue, son of Henry Rue. They had thirteen children, of whom six or seven are living. Elizabeth, who married successively Robert James, Fisher, and Isaae Marquiss, and is also dead. Wm. J., who married Rebecca Burk, of Indianapolis, and had by her four children, all of whom and their mother are dead. IIe mar- ried, second, Martha Butler. By her he had six children, two of whom died at Pike's Peak. She also died. He married, third, Kate White, by whom he had four children, all living. Sarah, who married Henry James, and resides in Grant county. He has been twice a member of the legislature, and is a preacher in the Christian Church. Rachel, who died at 11. Margaretta L., who married Samuel Conner. They reside in Texas, and have five children living. Joseph George Eph- raim, who married Catharine Morley, of Preble county, Ohio. They have six children, and reside near Fort Wayne.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.