USA > Indiana > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Indiana, from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 21
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with her daughter, wife of Kilby Ferguson, Indianapolis. 4. Malinda K., wife of H. C. Justice, who went to the far west some thirteen years ago, and is supposed to be dead. She re- sides with her brother, Isaac N., in Harrison.
ISAAC N. BEARD, son of John Beard, was born in North Carolina, May 16, 1808. He was about three years of age when his father settled, in 1811, in what is now Harrison township, the place being then without a name. Being an only son, his help was needed on the farm, where he remained until after he attained to manhood. He married, March 31, 1833, Matilda Swope, who was born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 19, 1814. He settled in -, on the farm where he now re- sides, near that of his father. He possesses the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens ; having received at their hands various offices of trust, the duties of which he faithfully dis- charged. He holds now, and has held for many years, the office of justice of the peace ; and has been elected as representa- tive of the county in the state legislature. His wife died of a cancerous affection, Feb. 11, 1871. Their children are Victoria, who married James Lichty ; Mary, who married George T. Kepler; Benton J., John W., Levi W., Matilda, Ida.
SAMUEL BOYD was born in Craven Co., S. C., May 20, 1763. He was of Scotch descent. His father, James Boyd, had previously emigrated thither from Virginia, and had six sons and two daughters. The father and one son died in a Tory prison dur- ing the Revolutionary war; and Samuel, the subject of this sketch, came near losing his life by a ball from a Tory gun. He recovered, however, with the loss of his left eye, and served through the war, having enlisted at the age of 16. He was married, December 12, 1785, to Isabella Higgins, who also was of Scotch descent, and a not distant relative of Robert Burns, the poet. She did not forget, through life, that, when a young woman, she danced with Andrew Jackson. In 1788, Samuel Boyd, with his wife and one child, moved to Kentucky, where they lived 23 years. To provide homes for his nine children, he removed to Whitewater Valley; and in November, 1811, he built a tent of bark and limbs of trees on Martindale's creek, 2 miles north of Jacksonburgh, where he entered a quar-
Strobridge & Co . Lith Cin 0.
Sure MBearch.
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ter section of land, on which he lived until his death, Novem- ber 27, 1835, aged 72 years.
In 1801, during the famed Kane revival, in Kentucky, he made a profession of the Christian religion, and during the remainder of his life he labored faithfully, as a minister, for the salvation of others. During a missionary tour to the In- dians, he again came near losing his life. An Indian boy thoughtlessly touched a burning brand to a keg of powder, blowing the rude hut to pieces, killing two children, and in- juring Samuel Boyd, who was laid out as dead. He recov- ered, and for more than a score of years was an active laborer in the cause of his Master. He was a member of the Christian church, then often termed "Newlights." As a public speaker he was earnest and animated, and for one of so limited educational advantages was an efficient Christian teacher. His wife lived to the age of 88 years, and died a Christian, October 31, 1852. They had ten children; all but one having lived to be married, and settled as farmers and farmers' wives, and all except one in Wayne county : 1. James, who died in Richmond, September 29, 1863. 2. John, who, at the age of 82, resides in Dublin. 3. William, who died in Harrison township, September 22, 1846. 4. Elizabeth, wife of Elijah Martindale, lives at Newcastle, aged 78. 5. Samuel K., who resides at Centerville. 6. Lard, who died in infancy. 7. Robert, who settled in Henry county, and died there, February 24, 1853. 8. Martha, wife of Joseph Lewis, at Williamsburg, aged 71. 9. Mary, wife of Abner M. Brad- bury, Cambridge City, aged 67. 10. Isabella Ladd, who died in Marion county, September 16, 1854. These nine heads of families had 92 children; and these have so multiplied that it is safe to estimate the descendants of Samuel and Isabella Boyd at the present date (1871), at 550 children, grandchild- ren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. At a social reunion of the Boyd family in 1861, 274 of them sat down to a dinner, more than one hundred and fifty being absent.
ABNER M. BRADBURY was born in Warren Co., O., July 8, 1798, removed from Butler Co., at the age of 17, to
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Martindale's creek, 3 miles west of the town of Washington, and, with his brother John, built a small fulling mill in 1815. In 1820, he settled in Harrison township. In March, 1821, he married Mary, a daughter of Samuel Boyd. He was, in 1820, appointed deputy sheriff under Abraham Elliott; was a delegate to the Whig National Convention in 1848; was elected in that year an associate judge for Wayne Co .; and in 1832, 1833, and 1834, elected a representative in the legisla- ture. In 1836, he was elected a senator, and held two years ; and again in 1841, for three years. In April, 1869, he removed to Cambridge City, where he now resides. His children are : 1. Isabel, who married James Leeson, of Harrison township. 2. Caroline, wife of James Russell, Alexandria, Madison Co. 3. William H., who married Jane Kinley. 4. Elizabeth, wife of Isaac Harned, of Cambridge City. 5. James L., who mar- ried Eveline Nicholson, and resides near Newcastle. 6. Martha, wife of Josephus Mundell, of Hagerstown. 7. Samuel B., who married Margaret O'Neal, and resides at Winchester. 8. Daniel M., who married Sarah Ballenger, and resides at In- dianapolis. 9. Robert Burns, who married Sarah Townsend, and resides at Cambridge City. 10. Albert W., who married Francis Hatfield, and resides at Cambridge City. 11. Allison B., who married Sarah Burr, and is a practicing physician at Milton. 12. Emma, unmarried.
LEWIS HOSIER, from North Carolina, in 1807, after a few years' residence on the Elkhorn, settled on the land now owned by his son Henderson in Harrison. He was a man of limited education, which was chiefly acquired from the few books he was able to obtain, or to which he had access. He was fond of reading, and succeeded in getting hold of a number of works of the best authors, which he read with avidity, and with which he made himself familiar. He delighted in dis- cussion : was an acute reasoner, and adhered with unusual firm- ness, not to say obstinacy, to deliberately formed opinions. He was a man of strict integrity. His children living are Isaiah, in Denmark, Iowa, and Henderson, in the south-east part of Harrison township. Children deceased, Enoch, Jesse, Eliz- abeth, Mary. Lewis Hosier died in 1853, aged 78.
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John Kepler.
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PETER KEPLER, son of Matthias Kepler, a Revolutionary soldier, emigrated from Pennsylvania to this county in the year 1820, and for about a year lived in the Treadway mill on Green's Fork, in the north-east part of Washington township. In 1821, he settled in the cast part of Harrison township, on the land now owned by his son John, where he died in 1847, aged 65 years. His childen were John, Peter, Margaret, Catharine, and Andrew T.
JOHN KEPLER, son of Peter Kepler, Sen., was born January 8, 1808, at Middletown Valley, Frederick Co., Maryland. He removed, in 1815, with his father to Green Co., Pa., and thence, in 1820, to Wayne Co., Ind., and now resides on the farm on which his father settled permanently, as stated in the above notice. Mr. Kepler was married, first, to Anna Foland, Dec. 25, 1828, and had by her a daughter, Mary Catharine, not now living. He married, second, August 8, 1841, in Wayne Co., Angeline Danner, who was born in Maryland, August 9, 1821, by whom he had seven children : Margaret Elizabeth, born June 6, 1843; died, Jan. 22, 1864; Caroline Zerelda, born July 27, 1845 ; Orestes Alexander, born July 28, 1849 ; John Florence, March 10, 1851; died April 2, 1852; Vierling Kersey, born August 5, 1853 ; Manzella, a daughter, born June 24, 1855 ; Alonzo Peter, born May 11, 1858. Mr. Kepler is one of the most successful farmers in Wayne county, and one of the principal financial men of Eastern Indiana.
ISAAC KINLEY was born in Guilford Co., N. C., Oct. 19, 1797. Ile settled in Randolph Co., in 1817, and in Jackson, now Harrison, Wayne Co., in 1825. He removed, in 1846, to Iowa, where he died, December 24, 1858, from the kick of a horse. He married, in 1816, in Highland Co., Ohio, Ann Reese. Their children were : 1. Caleb, who died at 24; 2. Edward, who married, first, Mahala Macy, second, Mrs. Mary B. Davis, and is a lawyer at Brunswick, Missouri. 3. Frederick, who, in 1846, removed from Randolph Co. to Iowa. On the breaking out of the war in 1861, he enlisted, with his two sons, Daniel and Oliver C., aged 19 and 17. He was in numerous battles, and was wounded at Vicksburg, in May, 1863; was fur- loughed home ; rejoined his regiment at Memphis in October; and was killed at Chattanooga on the 25th. 4. Isaac. [Sk.]
18
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
5. Anna, who married Joseph Waln, and resides at Wamego, Kansas. 6. Jane, who married Wm. Bradbury. 7. Sarah, who died in infancy. 8. Martha, who married John Daniels, and resides at Marion, Linn Co., Iowa, and is recorder of the county.
ISAAC KINLEY, JUN., was born in Randolph Co., Ind., Nov. 27, 1822. He married, first, Nancy B. Holloway, in 1849; second, Mrs. Jeannie G. Adams, October 2, 1859. At the age of 15, he commenced as a teacher, and taught district schools for several years. In 1848, he commenced teaching at Greens- boro' Seminary ; and afterward taught in Union Seminary at Spiceland, Henry Co. In 1850, he was elected from that county to the Constitutional Convention as a free-soil delegate. In 1854, he was elected state senator for four years. In 1861, he removed to Richmond ; and the same year he enlisted in the war, and was chosen Captain by the company, and elected by the officers of the 36th regiment of Indiana as Major, and commissioned by the governor. He was in the battles of Corinth, Perrysville, Wildcat, and wounded at Stone River. In 1863, he was appoined Provost Marshal of the 5th District. In 1866, he was elected to the senate from Wayne Co. In 1869, he departed with his wife on a tour to Europe, and returned to his home in Richmond, having, during his absence written a series of interesting letters which were published in the Radical newspaper of Richmond.
JOHN SCOTT, a native of Virginia, from Kentucky in 1814, settled in the north part of what is now the township of Har- rison, where his son John now resides, and where he died in 1824, aged 53 years. His children were James C., William, Robert, Jane, Maria, Lorenzo, Harrison, John, Paulina, and Lucinda. James C. died in 1854, where his son Elias now lives, aged 50 years. Also, William, Robert, and Lorenzo are deceased. Harrison, who married a daughter of the late Caleb Lewis, of Washington township, resides in the north part of Harrison.
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Jackson township was formed in February, 1817, by the first board of county commissioners under the first state con- stitution. It then probably contained about one-sixth of the area of the county, or upward of 60 square miles. By the several alterations of its bounds, in the formation of new town- ships and of adjoining counties, it has been reduced to about 282 square miles, and to a shape not easily described. It is 6 miles wide on its west line, and 3 miles of its east end is but 13 miles wide-its entire length 8 miles. The National road and the Indiana Central Railroad run on nearly parallel lines, about 60 rods apart, east and west, nearly through the whole length of the township.
The earliest settlement in the township appears to have been made in the eastern part. In 1809, or soon after, John Short- ridge, from Ky., settled near and south of East Germantown. He was the father of John Shortridge who was shot by an Indian, as elsewhere related. Wm. G. Reynolds, from Ohio, with his brother-in-law, Isaiah Drury, came in 1811. Reynolds served in the Indian war under Col. Taylor, afterward general and president of the United States. Reynolds and Drury moved in 1855 to Illinois, and died there. George Shortridge, a son of John, Sen., settled where Joseph Vinton lives, near the depot. He afterward laid out the town, mostly on his own land, and called it Georgetown. The name not being generally acceptable to the inhabitants, it was changed to Ger- mantown.
East of Germantown, John Lacy, of N. C., settled where Henry Shisler lives, and owned also where Jolin W. Steffy resides. - - Vance early owned the land south side of the road where Peunville is. James Personett, from Ohio, settled in 1819 on land now owned by - Houck, of Centerville, and Henry Whisler. Jacob Waltz, of Pa., in 1823, on land previously owned by Jesse Frazier, who was a Christian preacher. Joseph Boyd, from Ky., about 1814, in the east part of the township, near the National road. Richard
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Wharton, from Ky., in 1814, settled where Joseph Rothemal and Henry II. Bruce reside. Wm. G. Reynolds, on land now owned by Cyrenus Wysong and Wm. Long. Aaron Mannon, from Ky., on the turnpike; land now owned by John Jacobs. Peter Lacy, about 1812, where Andrew Eliason lives. Patrick Beard, from N. C., about 1811, settled near the east line of the township. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1816, and was since elected twice to the senate.
Jacob Brooks, from Ky., settled on land still owned in part by himself and by - Austin, and has removed into Center township.
At a later period, Pennsylvania Germans began to settle in this part of the township; and the immigration continued many years. John Huntsinger, Frederick Waltz, Henry Leon- ard, and others, natives of Pa., came from Ohio, about the year 1820. Huntsinger settled a mile north-west of German- town, and the others near the town. Joseph Schock, from Pa., about 1823, settled near the south-west corner of the town, and still resides on the farm, a bachelor, at the age of 73 years. He bought of the Shortridges. George Shaffer settled south of the town, and died about twelve years ago. Charles Morris, from N. C., settled in or about 1824 where - Boughner now lives. Morris now resides in town. About the years 1837 and 1838, came Jacob, Michael, and Wm. Gipe, and Jacob Sowers, Jacob Heist, and still later, Mahlon Boughner. Peter Jamison, in 1838, settled 2 miles east of town; was a school teacher, moved to town, and taught the first school in town. He died in Dayton, Ohio, in 1850.
Jacob Vanbuskirk, from Ky., settled about 2 miles east of Germantown, and was a blacksmith, probably the first in the east part of the township. Henry H. Bruce, a blacksmith, settled near town in 1824; married Polly Wharton in 1825, and removed to where he now resides, 2 miles southeast of town.
Town of Germantown.
The town was laid out by George Shortridge, proprietor ; John Beard, surveyor. It was named Georgetown, and the plat was recorded Aug. 1, 1827. The name was afterward changed to Germantown, and recorded under that name Sept.
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14, 1832. The name of its post-office is East Germantown, to distinguish it from an earlier one named Germantown in this state; and the town also seems to have taken the name of East Germantown. Several additions have been made to the town : by Frederick Johnsonbaugh, Oct. 11, 1837, recorded in 1839; by Jacob Rieman, Oct. 11, 1837, recorded Jan. 23, 1841; by Jacob and John Baker, Jan. 1846; by Charles Morris, March 7, 1853.
Dr. Trout, from Ohio about 1834, was the first Physician in town. He remained but a few years. The second is supposed to have been Dr. E. Licket; the third, Dr. Hittel, from Ohio. Present physicians are Joseph Weeks and Daniel Carpenter.
George Negly is said to have kept the first Tavern, about 1836, then in the west part of the town. The next was kept by Jacob Waltz, who built a house in 1836 or 1837, and opened it in 1838. It was afterward kept by John Berry and others, and later by Jacob Gipe, who sold it some six or seven years ago to Charles Morris, who sold it to Wm. Goldman.
Wm. Anderson was the first Merchant in Germantown, about 1834; the second, it is said, was John Binkley. In 1840, Wm. Lawrence and Lackey & Johnsonbaugh had stores here; in 1841 and 1842, F. & M. Johnsonbaugh; in 1843-4, and perhaps later, John S. Wolf. In 1844, Jacob Gipe opened a store where H. T. Jamison now trades. Mr. Gipe has since been in trade at different times with T. J. Riley, H. T. Jami- son and - Goldman, retiring finally in 1857. Business is continued by Jamison. - Sowers, who commenced in 1856 with T. J. Riley, has since, as partner in the firms of Schoff & Sowers, Sowers & Brother, and Sowers & Riesor, been in the business, with the exception of one short interval, until May, 1871, when the store was purchased by its present proprietors, Riesor & Rhule.
The first Blacksmith in the town probably was Jacob Stevens, from Pa., about 1834. John Condo, from Pa., early bought of John Crum, on the state road near Germantown, forty acres of land with a blacksmith shop. After two years it was de- stroyed by fire ; and Condo built a shop in town. A year or two after, it passed into the hands of Adam Condo; and the business was carried on by Adam and Peter Condo, near where
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
the latter now carries on the blacksmithing and wagon-making business, at the east end of the town.
The manufacture of Cast Steel Plous was commenced many years ago, by Adam Condo, an early resident of Germantown. The business was afterward carried on by A. Condo & Son [Daniel Condo]. New buildings of brick were erected in 1870; and since last winter the business has been conducted by A. Condo and Jacob Spence, his son-in-law [A. Condo & Co.] The establishment has 10 forges, employs about 15 men, and is capable of making about 2,000 plows a year.
The Lutheran Church and congregation at East Germantown, composed mainly of Germans from Pennsylvania, was formed about the year 1824. Among their early members were the Waltzes, Condos, Keplers, and others. Meetings were for several years held in the log school-house. Their minister, Rev. Gruber, lived in Ohio, but came over at stated times to preach and perform other pastoral services. Two acres of ground, a short distance north of town, were purchased at $11 an acre, comprising the sites of the present house of worship, parsonage, and cemetery. The meeting-house was built in 1833. There being among these Pennsylvania immi- grants members of the German Reformed Church, they joined with the Lutherans in building the house, and called a pastor of their own, S. Zumpey. The ministers preached alternately to the united congregation. This union con- tinued but a few years, since which time the congregation has been solely under a Lutheran pastorate. After Mr. Gruber, they were served for a time by missionaries, Henkel, HIeinaka, and perhaps others ; and since by regular pastors, beginning with Schultz, who was succeeded by Eisency. They preached only in the German language. Next, Julius Stirewalt and Isaac Hursh, who preached in German and English alternately. M. J. Stirewalt, the present minister, preaches exclusively in English. About ten years ago, the church edifice was thoroughly repaired, and a gallery at one end, a steeple, and bell were added.
Another church, called Evangelical, and distinguished more particularly by the name of Albright, was organized about the year 1835, and built a meeting-house about 1842. Among its
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early members were Adam Condo, Charles Knecht and wife, Barbara, wife of Jacob Gipe, John Dill and wife, Samuel Cochran, Jacob Rieman, William Clingenhagen and wife, Henry Erkart and wife. Early ministers, Absalom B. Shafer, Augenstein. Present minister [1870], James Wales.
Settlement about Cambridge.
The lands at and in the vicinity of the site of Cambridge City were settled early. John Hawkins, from Kentucky, a native of South Carolina, entered, in 1813, the north-east quarter of section 27, which included the site of the old town of Vandalia; but he did not live to occupy it. The land descended to his son, William Hawkins, who took up the fractional quarter west of it ; the two quarters embracing nearly all of the site of Cambridge. Simon Powell, from Kentucky, also a native of South Carolina, entered the quar- ter north of the present farm of General Meredith, extend- ing to the old State road. He, too, died without settling on his purchase. His family settled on it in 1813 or 1814, the oldest son having nearly attained to manhood. Their cabin stood on the east bank of the river, south of East Cambridge. Jesse Symonds, North Carolina, bought north side of the State road, adjoining Hawkins's, but, without settling on it, sold to Josiah Draper. Nathan Symonds, from N. C., settled north of and adjoining Jesse's, and afterward sold to Wm. Conwell. These lands are now owned by John Callaway. Henry Crull settled early on the north part, and George Ish on the south part of the present farm of Gen. Solomon Meredith. They sold to Ira Lackey, who, in or about the year 1836, built the house (since enlarged) where Meredith now resides. Win. Hawkins bought, besides the lands already mentioned, the land where his son Nathan S. resides, near and north-west of the town. Samuel Charles, from N. C., on land east side of Hawkins's, forming a part of the tract north side of town, owned by John Callaway. --- Van- buskirk, on the land now owned by Alfred B. Williams, and perhaps the lands of Henry and John Ingerman and others. Henry Palen, from N. C., on land now owned by John
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Morris. Palen had resided a short time 7 miles north from Richmond.
Josiah Draper, about the year 1820, built, north side of the State road, a Grist-mill and a Saw-mill, which were sold to Benj. Kirk, who built the grist-mill below, which he sold to Wm. Conwell, who added a saw-mill. The grist-mill was sold to John Cockerfair, who put into it a Carding Machine and other machinery, and who still owns the grist-mill.
The Town of Vandalia was laid out by Wm. Hawkins, sur- vey recorded June 1, 1824. Wm. Conwell opened a Store there in April, 1828, and Hudson Cannon about 1830, who two or three years after removed to Milton, where he died. Benj. Conklin, who had been from the beginning a clerk of Conwell, bought the store, and continued business there until 1838. After the construction of the National road, business was attracted to the line of that road. Ira Lackey opened the first Store in East Cambridge as early as 1835; some say 1833 or 1834. Others soon followed him, among whom were Elliott, Hannah & Meredith, and J. & I. Pennington ; and in 1838 Benj. Conklin removed his store from Vandalia to the large two-story building he had erected for a store and dwell- ing, on the south side of the road, a short distance east of the bridge. But the business career of East Cambridge, though commenced with flattering prospects, was of short duration.
Cambridge City.
This town was laid out in 1836; Ira Lackey, Sandford Lackey, George Graham, Thomas Tyner, Williams Petty, Wm. Hawkins, proprietors. The plat was recorded Oct. 26, 1836. Several additions have since been made by Wm. Con- well, Wm. Hawkins, Thomas Newby, Jonathan Hawkins, and in 1867 by Charles HI. Moore and Benjamin Fulghum.
After the incorporation of the town, business tended rap- idly to the west side of the river. Sanford Lackey opened the first store in the new town, on the cast corner of the block east of the canal, south side of the street, in the present brick building erected by him for a store. He afterward
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built the house on the opposite corner, now occupied as a hotel.
Benj. Conklin, the last merchant who left East Cambridge, removed to the building then owned by Wm. Hawkins, now occupied by Felix Conklin as a hardware store. About the year 1845, Post & Enyeart built the "Mammoth Store," and for two years carried on an extensive wholesale grocery trade. The Whitewater Valley Canal, which was completed in 1846, contributed vastly to the trade of Cambridge City. This soon became the central point of trade of an extensive territory. It was the grand depot for the produce of the country, brought here for shipment, and for the delivery of merchandise. The merchants of Indianapolis received for a time their goods at this place. Large quantities of wheat were floured here. The present brick flouring-mill, then newly built by Benj. Conklin, had in it, at one time, 90,000 bushels of wheat, or 5,400,000 pounds.
That this extraordinary prosperity, the result, in great part, of a peculiar juncture of circumstances, should be en- during, was hardly to be expected. The completion of the canal to Hagerstown, and the construction of railroads, have virtually established a mart of trade in every town, and measurably narrowed the sphere of the trade of Cambridge; yet this being the converging point of so many railroads, and being surrounded by a fertile country and a wealthy population, it can hardly fail, with an enterprising popula- tion, to maintain a large and prosperous trade.
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