USA > Indiana > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Indiana, from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 20
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
A Fort and Block-house were built during the war of 1812, on the farm of John Lewis, by John, Joseph, and Richard Lewis, Joshua and Thomas Cranor, Seth Way, and others. About three miles north-east from this, another, on land now owned by Thompson Smith, was built by William Whitehead and others, and called the "Whitehead block-house."
An Odd Fellows Lodge, the Chinkarorer, No. 120, was insti- tuted Nov. 25, 1852, on application of Wm. Silver, Wm. Brown, James II. Stanley, D. Dinwiddie, and Abel Evans. Its officers were, Wm. Silver, N. G .; James HI. Stanley, V. G .;
227
GREEN TOWNSHIP.
James Smith, Rec. Sec .; Sylvester Hollister, Treas. Present officers-Samuel Catey, N. G .; Danley Palmer, V. G .; Addi- son C. Reynolds, Rec. Sec .; Barzillai H. Reynolds, Per. Sec. ; Joseph D. Cranor, Treasurer.
The United Brethren organized a church about the year 1845. After a few months preaching, a class was formed, of which the following named persons are believed to have been mem- bers: James Jester and Lucretia, his wife, Benj. Harris and Lydia, his wife, Samuel Johnson and Catharine, his wife, Herbert C. Pierce and Margaret, his wife, Susanna Cranor, James and Phebe Stevenson. Their first meetings were held in private rooms in Williamsburg, afterward in a school-house, ¿ mile east of town. Their present house, about half a mile north-east from town, was built about the year 1855. Their first preacher was Isaac Robinson, who was succeeded by Wm. Ault, Wm. Kendrick, Robert Morris, and their present minis- ter, Thomas Evans. Persons belonging to secret societies are not admitted to membership.
The Town of Williamsburg was laid out by William John- son, proprietor; John Frazer, surveyor, March 16, 1830; and recorded March 23, 1830.
Biographical and Genealogical.
SAMUEL K. BOYD, son of Samuel Boyd, an early settler in Harrison, was born in Kentucky, June 29, 1794, and removed with his father to that township in 1811. He was married, in 1817, to Martha Lewis, daughter of John Lewis, of Green, and settled 12 miles north-east from Williamsburg, where he lived until his removal to Centerville, a few years ago, where he now resides. He had by this wife five daughters: 1. Priscilla, who married James Clemens, and resides at Linnville, Ran- dolph Co. 2. Narcissa, who married John Chamness, of Will- iamsburg, and is deceased. 3. Sarah Ann, who married Joseph Lomax, a lawyer at Kalamazoo, Mich. 4. Evelina, who married William A. Peelle, Centerville. 5. Martha, wife of Winston W. Harris, and resides at Somerset, Wabash Co. After the death of his wife, Mr. Boyd was married, in 1828, to Bethany Ladd, by whom he had ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom six were married: 1. Isabella, to
228
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Thomas Fagan, of Williamsburg. 2. William L., to Rebecca Martin ; resides at Chester. 3. Catharine, to William Good- rich, and resides at Dunkirk, Jay Co. 4. Mary, who married John Keever, of New Garden, where she died in 1861. 5, 6. Bethany and Samuel K., unmarried. Of the other four, James, John, and Amanda died young; and Joseph L., in 1865, the day of his discharge from the United States army, in Texas.
FREDERIC DEAN was born in North Carolina, July 9, 1800, where he was married to Polly Brooks, who was born in 1802. In 1831, they removed to Wayne county, and settled in what is now Clay township, 2} miles west of Washington. Mr. Dean died Jan. 5, 1840, leaving four children, all of whom lived to be married, as follows: 1. Elizabeth Jane, who was mar- ried to George Avery, and after his death to David Fowler. 2. Jesse B., to Martha, daughter of John Green; 3. Luzetta, to Caleb C. Mendenhall, who died in 1867; 4. John L., to Car- oline Lamb, of Perry, where Mrs. Mendenhall also resides.
JOHN GREEN was born in North Carolina, Feb. 9, 1795, and was married Oct. 13, 1814, to Judith Ladd, who was born Dec. 5, 1794. In the fall of 1814, he removed to Wayne county, and settled on the farm now owned by Josephus D. Ladd, about 2 m. north of Williamsburg, where he resided until about the year 1848, when he removed about a mile east, where he lived until the year 1865. He was, during his residence in the township, highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens, and held for several years the office of justice of the peace ; and he was a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Green had eleven chil- dren, besides a son who died in infancy, named as follows : 1. Catharine, who married Isaac Study, and resides in Green township. Mr. S. is not living. 2. Nancy, who married George W. Brittan, and removed to Iowa, where he died. 3. William, married, and lives at Attica, Fountain Co., Ind. 4. Cynthia Ann, who married Andrew Thomas, and died, leaving five or six children; he has returned to North Caro- lina. 5. Patsey S., widow of Jesse B. Dean. 6. Hampton L., who married Mary Stanley, and lives in Missouri. 7. Wygatt, who married, first, Mary Macy ; second, Margaret Macy. 8. Elizabeth, wife of John C. Potter. 9. Judith, who married Charles Garrett; removed to Missouri, where he died, and
·
Strobridge & Co . Iith lin.O.
John Green
-
Joseph Lewis.
229
GREEN TOWNSIIIP.
where she resides. 10. Narcissa, who died at 11; and John, who died at 5. Mrs. Green died Sept. 20, 1858; and Dec. 27, 1860, Mr. Green married Mrs. Polly Dean, widow of Frederic Dean. In 1865, he sold his farm, and removed to where he now resides, near Richmond.
EZEKIEL JOHNSON was born in Monmouth Co., N. J., March 14, 1807, and was married, Oct. 16, 1828, to Mary Matthews. They removed to Green township in 1838, and settled 3 miles north-east of Williamsburg; and in 1861 he removed into the town, in which he still resides. He has for many years been a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, and is at present a justice of the peace. Their children were : Eliza- beth, who married David Reynolds, and died in 1852, aged 24. Thomas S., who married Amanda Whitmarsh, of Michigan. They left in December, 1862, as missionaries to India. Maria, who died at 14. Charles P., who married Margaret Cady. Martha, who married Wesley H. Engle, and resides in Mis- souri ; and three who died in childhood and infancy.
JOHN LEWIS was born in Guilford Co., N. C., in the year 1765, and was married to Sarah Ruct. In 1810, he came with his family to Wayne Co., Ind., and settled half a mile south of the present town of Williamsburg. His eldest son, Richard, who had attained the age of majority, accompanied the family. These were the first settlers in what is now Green township. Hence it will be readily presumed that he had a thorough experience in all that pertains to pioneer life in a timbered country. He lived on the farm on which he first settled until his death. His children were : 1. Hannah, who married Thomas Lamb, of Green township; 2. Richard, who married Lavina Hall; 3. Sarah, wife of Obadiah Harris, who lives near Indianapolis; 4. Naomi, who married James Harris, and died in the township ; 5. Martha, wife of Samuel K. Boyd, died in the township; 6. Priscilla, who married David Martin- dale, and died near Indianapolis ; 7. Allen W., who married Lucy Hollingsworth, and resides 1 mile south-west of Will- iamsburg.
JOSEPH LEWIS, son of John Lewis, was born in North Caro- lina, Feb. 6, 1794, and came, at the age of sixteen, with his. father, to Wayne county. IIe married Martha Boyd, who was
230
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
born Nov. 27, 1800. He resides on the farm on which his father settled in 1810. His occupation has been that of a farmer ; and by industry and economy has acquired a large estate. He taught, at an early age, the first school in the township. He has held the office of justice of the peace, and has represented the county in the legislature. He has had twelve children : 1. Samuel W., who died at 10. 2. Louisa, who married Thomas Cranor. 3. Minerva, who married Nathan Wilson, and after his death, Jacob Swearingen, and lives in Henry Co. 4. Adaline M., unmarried. 5. John II., who married Eliza- beth Kelso, of Huntsville, and resides there. 6. Caroline, who married Henry Stigleman. 7. Clarissa, who married George HI. Smith, and lives 6 miles south of Richmond. 8. Lorinda, who married Abner Clawson, and died in 1864. 9. Narcissa, who married Isaac Jenkinson, of Fort Wayne, a lawyer, and editor of the Fort Wayne Gazette, and now consul at Glasgow, Scotland. 10, 11. Martha and Sarah, who died at 6. 12. Josephine S., who married Wm. Hunt, and lives 6 miles south of Richmond.
JOSEPH PERSONETT, a native of Maryland, removed from Hamilton Co., O., in the winter of 1821-1822, and settled 12 miles south of Williamsburg, on the land now owned by Frank Beverlin, where he lived until his death, in 1864, aged 84 years. Susannah, his wife, who was a native of Virginia, died several years earlier. They had a daughter and five sons : 1. Lavina, who married Wm. Case; removed about 1854 to Wabash Co., and died there in 1868. 2. Rolla, who married Thamer Livingston ; lived in Ohio several years; and lives now in Hancock Co., Ind. 3. John, who married Jane Clingon, and died near Troy, Ohio, in 1836. 4. William, who married Julia Ann Fulton; taught school in this county several years; served two terms as county surveyor ; removed to Hancock Co. about the year 1854, and died there in 1857. 5. Joseph II., who married Therissa Jane Murray ; lived on the homestead until 1870; now resides in the north part of this county. 6. Lorenzo D., who married Ann E. Ogborn ; taught schools about three years; was engaged in mercantile business about three years ; studied medicine with Dr. John Pritchett in Centerville, from 1841 to 1844, and removed to the town of
Strobridge & le Lith Cin.0.
HENRY STUDY.
231
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
Washington, where he has been, and is now, in the practice of his profession and in the mercantile business.
HENRY STUDY was born in Pennsylvania, near Maryland line, Feb. 12, 1780. In his twenty-third year he removed to New Windsor, Md. ; and was soon after married to Charlotte Cook. He removed thence to this county, and settled, in 1819, a mile west from Williamsburg, where he resided until his death, Aug. 6, 1862, and where his son John now resides. Ilis wife died about a year later. He was a member of the Meth- odist church, and was associated with other pioneers in estab- lishing Methodism in this section of the country. He was one of the few who organized the first class in the region where he lived, and was appointed its leader. Ilis children were- 1. David, who married Lydia, a daughter of Seth Way, and resides 23 miles north-west from Williamsburg. 2. Joseph, who also married a daughter of Seth Way, and lives 2 mile south of David's. 3. Louisa, who married Joseph Cranor, and is deceased. 4. William, who married Harriet Stegall, who resides 13 miles west from town. 5. Samuel, who resides at Hagerstown, and is a cabinet-maker. 6. Matilda, who mar- ried James Stanley, not now living; she resides at Williams- burg. 7. Henry, who married Sarah Lomax, and resides 2 miles .west from town. 8. Isaac, who married Catharine, daughter of John Green, and is deceased; the widow resides in town. 9. Martin, who married Helen Greenstreet, and re- sides in Selma, Ind. 10. John, who married Nancy Smith, and lives a mile west from Williamsburg.
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
This township was formed in the year 1843. Its shape is irregular. The distance between its eastern and western bounds varies from 5 miles to 2; the distance between its northern and southern bounds varying from 2 to 43 miles. Its area is less than that of any other township in the county except Dalton, being only 19 square miles. Green's Fork crosses the eastern part of it, about a mile and a half west of the cast line; and the main branch of another stream crosses
232
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
the two northernmost and the three western sections of the township.
Samuel Boyd, from Tennessee, settled, in the spring of 1811, about 23 miles north-west of the present town of Jack- sonburg. He was probably the first settler in the township. His land was that at present owned by Jacob Metzker's heirs. In October following, John Beard, from N. C., after a year's sojourn in Tennessee, and a residence of five years south of Hunt's settlement, within the bounds of the present county of Union, settled near the south-west corner of this township. He cut his road a great part of the way through the wilder- ness, without assistance, having his family and goods with him, and driving his team, and his cow and calf. His farm, on which he resided the remainder of his life, is now owned by his son, Isaac N. Beard, who lives about a mile north-east from the old homestead.
During the winter and spring of 1812, Jesse Beard, Thomas Ray, Wm. Irving, John McKee, Robert Leavell, Joseph Worl, and others, also settled in the township. On the breaking out of the Indian war in the spring of 1812, a num- ber left, and some of them never returned. Those who remained built a fort, with a block-house in one corner, in which they gathered at night, and in the day returned to their homes. Most of the women and children were taken to the east part of the county, or to the border of Ohio, and stayed until the war was over. The fort was on the ground of Henry Brown, now owned by Benj. Clark, a mile west of Jacksonburgh, and was built by Samuel Boyd and his sons Samuel K., James, William, and Robert Boyd, IIenry Brown, Wm. Irving, and Thomas Ray.
The following are the names of early settlers in this town- ship, and of the present owners and occupants. Those named as early settlers, however, were not in all cases the first set- tlers-some of them, perhaps, were the second or third owners :
Robert Leavell, in 1811 or 1812, settled near the present site of Jacksonburgh, the town being on a part of the quarter sec- tion, and a part of the land now owned by Henry Null. Jonathan Morris, on land now owned by his son Jonathan, and resides with his son Elias Morris. Abraham Crum,
Stobridge& Co Lith Cinannati. 0
John Beard.
233
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
(probably) where D. Reisor lives. Wm. Brown, where Lewis Bond resides. Isaac Sellers, where John Kensinger lives. Peter Roller, on land now owned in part by John Boyd. Peter Runyan, on land now owned by Washington Worl's heirs. James Wilcox, on land now owned by Jacob Allen. Samuel and Wm. Boyd, on land now owned by Joseph Lewis, of Green township. James Ralston and John Shank, on land now owned by Martin Worl. Joseph Charles, on land now owned by Silas Spitler. Sampson Nation, a native of S. C., after a sojourn in Tennessee and Kentucky, settled near Jacksonburgh, 1815, where Samuel Carr resides. Hc also lived near Germantown, and moved to Dudley. Henry Co., in 1825. His sons, Abel and William, are at New Lisbon. Ephraim Clark, a native of Pa., came from Ky. in 1814, and settled on land first owned by Henry Brown, on which his son Benj. Clark now resides.
James Dougherty settled a mile south of Jacksonburgh, and worked at farming and tailoring. His farm is now owned by Adam Rader. Zadok Dougherty made spinning-wheels in town, and afterward settled half a mile west, where his family now reside. George N. Holman, from England, set- tled near James Dougherty; had a small farm, and was a shoemaker. John McKee, from Ky., settled 13 miles south- west of town, where he died, land now owned by heirs of Ebenr. Eliason. John Scott, from Ky., in 1811, settled 1} miles north from town, where he died. ITis sons Harrison and John reside in the township; John on the homestead ; Harrison, on a farm adjoining. Another son, Elias, died in the township.
Thomas J. Warman settled, first, south of town, afterward permanently 2 miles south-west from town, where he resided until his death. He was a member of the first board of county commissioners elected under the constitution of 1816, and was associated with JJames Odell and Thomas Beard. In 1815, Josiah Bundy settled on Warman's first place, sold it afterward to Abner M. Bradbury, and removed to Rush or Henry Co. ; the farm now owned by Philip Binkley. Michael Swope, from Pa., settled about a mile east from town, on land lately owned by Andrew Eliason, now by John Kepler.
231
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Wm. Irvin settled } mile west from town, where John Mundel lives. Andrew Cunningham, on land now owned by the heirs of Nicholas Hipe. David Bowers, where George Lichty lives, in the south-west part of the township. George Bundy, on land now owned by Charles Boughner. Isaac Morris, on land lately owned by A. Boyd, now by - Shanks. Joseph Shanks, on the land now owned by his son- in-law, Enos Beard. Richard L. Leeson, from Va., in 1816, on the land now owned by his heirs, on Green's Fork. He served in the war of 1812. School section, [16] now owned by R. L. Leeson's heirs, HI. Hoover, Peter Kepler, and Hender- son Hosier. P. Kepler owns lands in sections 10 and 15. Lewis Hosier settled early south of school section, probably on the quarter owned by A. M. Hosier, J. Boyd, and A. Bond. Thomas Reynolds, from N. J., now in the south-east corner of the township; first settler not recollected. Isaac Kinley, father of Major Isaac Kinley, of Richmond, on the land now owned by M. Jarbow. On the south half of sec. 10, owned by J. Beeson, P. Kepler, and S. Kitterman, first settlers not remembered. Daniel Huff, where now C. Huff, his son, lives, on the east line of the township.
The first School is said to have been taught-probably in the winter of 1814-15, in a log school-house on the bank of Martindale's creek, 13 miles north of Jacksonburgh. It is supposed by others that Jonathan Kidwell kept the first school in a log school-house 12 miles south-west from town. A whole log, says Isaac N. Beard, was cut out for a window, and the aperture closed by his father, John Beard, who pasted over it numbers of the Cincinnati Gazette.
The first Blacksmith was Joseph Rippey, 1} miles north of Jacksonburgh.
The first Grist-mill is said to have been built as early as 1812, by one Doane. The frame consisted of two sycamore trees felled across the stream. The bed stone was laid on these logs, and a shaft from a tub wheel passed up between the logs, and turned the upper stone. Four forks set into the ground supported the roof of split clapboards, which covered the millstones and hopper. Like many of the earlier mills, it ground only corn. Aaron Miller, about 1818, built
235
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
on Martindale's creek a saw-mill, said to have been the first in the township. Several years after, James Wilcox and Francis Brown built a saw-mill a mile and a half north of Jacksonburgh ; and another was built by Jehu Jones, about the year 1825, a mile and a half north-west from town, in the place of a grist-mill burned some years before. Another saw- mill was built 2 miles south-west from Jacksonburgh, by Jonathan Morris. On Green's Fork, a mile east from town, a grist-mill was built about the year 1838, by Wm. MeLucas, where a mill is still run by Henry Hoover.
On and near Green's Fork, Jacob Hoover settled where Bee- son lives, and near the land owned by H. Hoover. James and John Boyd settled on the land now owned by Henry Hoover, who lives on it and owns the grist-mill. Knott, on land now owned by John Kepler, who also owns land adjoining.
John Holliday settled about 2 m. north-east from town ; the land now owned by his heirs. Samuel Holliday, where now Rankin Baldridge resides, adjoining Jefferson and Clay town- ships. Nathaniel Leonard is believed to have settled on the land now owned by J. Alonzo Scott, on the north line of the township. David Beeson, from N. C. to Wayne Co. in 1825, settled in 1830 on the place now owned by his son Jabez, in the south-east corner of the township. He died in 1855, aged 61. Solomon Kitterman, from Va., in 1838, on the place where he now lives. Jesse Hosier was born on Green's Fork, in this township, and died in 1866, aged 51. His widow resides 2} miles north-west from Centerville.
The Town of Jacksonburgh was laid out by Robert Leavell. The survey, by IIenry Bryan, was dated March 23, 1815, and recorded May 31, 1815. Centerville is the only town of earlier date in the county. Jacksonburgh was the place for holding elections in the township of Jackson until 1836, when it was changed to Cambridge. It was a central place for military parades, horse-racing, and somewhat signalized for fighting. For a few years it grew considerably. Abraham Elliott set- tled in the town soon after it was laid out, and kept the first Tavern in a log house. A Tannery was built by Josiah Brad- bury ; a Hat-shop was established by John Zatt; a Pottery by Zachariah Gapen; one or more Blacksmith-shops; a shop for
236
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
making Spinning-wheels, by Zadok Dougherty. Jonathan Kidwell, also, who soon settled in town, is said to have been a wheelwright, and for a time a preacher in the Christian church, and later a Universalist preacher.
The first Physician in Jacksonburgh was Loring A. Waldo, about 1818, who, about fifteen years afterward, moved to Del- aware Co. The next, it is believed, was L. P. Pumphrey, who, after a few years, removed to Henry Co. Among his suc- cessors were Dr. Leggett, Dr. Taylor, and in 1849, Dr. Samuel S. Boyd, now of Dublin. Present physician, John R. Mauk.
Ezekiel Leavell is supposed to have been the first Merchant in Jacksonburgh, probably soon after the town was laid out. Who were his early successors has not been ascertained. Rif- ner & Hurst were there in 1841; and in 1843-45, Strattan & Wright.
Richard L. Leeson, a native of Pa., came from Eaton, O., settled a mile east of town, and established a Tannery about the same time that Josiah Bradbury commenced his in town, and sold to his brother Abner M., who continued it for many years.
The first Religious Society in the township is believed to have been that of the Christians, then called by some Newlights, at Jacksonburgh, formed about 1815. They held meetings in dwellings, barus, and school-houses. In 1820, they built a frame meeting-house in town. The society was formed by David Purviance, Samuel Boyd, John Scott, and others, who were afterward joined by John Beard, Richard L. Leeson, Robert Leavell, Elijah Martindale, and others. Another in- formant names as first members, Samuel and Isabella Boyd, Sarah, William, John, and Abraham Crum, Wm. Reynolds, Jesse Frazier, Henry Logan, Jonathan Kidwell, and others- 60 or 70 in all. The society, he says, was organized as a Christian or Disciple church, by James McVey and Daniel Winder. Among the members were Joseph Shank, Wm. Boyd, R. L. Leeson, Mary Graham, and others. Their house was destroyed by fire about 1840, by an incendiary. It was replaced in 1841 by a brick house, which was remodeled in 1870; and a dedicatory sermon was preached by Elder David Franklin.
Strobridge & Co.Litr Cincinnalı ,0
Mary Beard.
237
HARRISON TOWNSHIP.
The Friends also formed a society about the year 1815 or 1816, at West Union, 12 miles south of Jacksonburgh. Patrick Beard, Benj. Morgan, Wm. Saint, John Lacy, Lewis Hosier, Josiah Bundy, Jehoshaphat Morris, and Jonathan Morris, were early members. Meetings were held in a log house. The society existed about 15 years. [See Milford Meeting.]
Biographical and Genealogical.
' JOHN BEARD Was born in North Carolina, August 2, 1780. His parents emigrated from Londonderry, Ireland, and settled in North Carolina in 1770. IIe married Mary Wright in Car- olina, in 1803; removed with two children to Tennessee, and thence, a year after, in 1806, to a few miles below Hunt's set- tlement, now in Union county, and in October, 1811, to the present township of Harrison, cutting his road a part of the way through the wilderness, and driving his team with his family and household goods, and a cow and a calf, without as- sistance. IIe had a full measure of the experience of pioneer life. IIe is represented as having been an honest, industrious, and estimable citizen. He was for a time a member of the Christian society at Jacksonburgh, and one of their preachers; and at a later period embraced the Universalist faith. He is spoken of by one who knew him well, as "a patriot and a true lover of his country, at all times manifesting a deep inter- est in the prosperity of the United States, and the perpetuity of our free institutions; and that in the faithful discharge of his duties as a husband, a parent, and a neighbor, " he left behind him an example worthy to be followed." He died Feb. 13, 1859, in his 79th year. Being a member of Hall of Milton Lodge of Free Masons, he was buried with the usual Masonic ceremonies on the 15th. His wife survived him less than two years. She died at Milton, Oct. 16, 1860, in her 81st year. She proved a valuable helpmeet to her husband amidst the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and possessed in a high degree those qualities which adorn the female character, and which fitted her so well for the discharge of her social and domestic duties. The children of John Beard were: 1. Sarah, wife of Robert Willitts, who died in Iowa. 2. Isaac N. [Sk.] 3. Mary W., wife of Jacob Sinks, deceased ; resides
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.