USA > Indiana > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Indiana, from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 28
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On the cast side of Whitewater river, below the mouth of Green's Fork, were Jacob Grewell, a very early settler, where James Ely lives, on the township line; Robert Diever, on land now owned by Henry Eliason; James MeLane, where John Hollingsworth lately lived; land now owned by the
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
heirs of John M. Hurst. James Hannalı settled on land now owned by Isaac Doddridge. His sons were Samuel; [Sk.] Abraham, who is said to have been an early teacher; Hugh L., who owned the old homestead, and died there in 1860; and William, a lawyer at Laporte. Fernandes, son of Hugh L., has removed to Chicago. Peter Wisler, after a residence of ten or more years in Jackson, near Germantown, settled where he now resides. Two of his sons, David and Peter, live with him on the farm. His other sons are Rudolf, who lives south of Milton ; Jacob, at Shieldsville, in Hamilton county ; and John, at New Lisbon, Henry county.
On the west side of the river, Joseph Lower settled early where his daughter, widow Clark, resides. Benj. Harvey, 2 miles south-east of Milton, where his son John lives. John Kinley, on the land now owned by his son, John W. Kinley. Thomas Hardin, where Mark D. Beeson lives.
The first grist-mill in the township was built by Thomas Symonds in 1814, a mile north of Milton. It was afterward owned, successively, by Mordecai Mendenhall, Jacob Schock, Joseph Stubbs, and others; and a mill was continued there until.about twelve or fifteen years ago. One is also said to have been built by Samuel Shortridge, on Green's Fork, 4 miles east of Milton. A saw-mill was afterward built there, and one of each has been continued to the present time. They came early into the hands of Jacob Crull, and are now owned by Gideon Zaner. John and "Christopher Miller, about the year 1820, built a grist-mill on Green's Fork, 4 miles below Milton. Neither remains. Jesse Brewer, about 1830, built on Green's Fork, 3 miles south-east of Milton, a grist-mill which was burned, and not rebuilt. The next mill in the township is believed to be the " river mill," at Milton, built by Jacob Sinks. It has since passed through the hands, successively, of Daniel Sinks, Swafford, Kimmel & Co., John Ross, Levin Warren, and Jonathan Petty, to Wm. H. Moore, its present proprietor. This mill has the capacity to manu- facture 100 barrels in twenty-four hours. The Canal Mill was built in 1846 by Jonathan Macy, Henry Izor, and Daniel Sinks. Milton Hiatt soon bought the interest of Sinks. In 1852, it passed to Lewis B. Morrison, Thomas Newby, and
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Henry Izor. In 1834, Izor sold out, since which time it has passed through the firms of Morris, Myers & Co., and several others, into the hands of its present proprietors, Bozier & Carr. Its capacity is 150 barrels in twenty-four hours.
There was a Saw-mill at the grist-mill of the Millers; and one was built at the river mill, which still runs. A water saw- mill was built about forty years ago by Samuel Cummack, at the mouth of Green's Fork, and did a pretty large business. Another was built about twenty years ago by Samuel Stokes, as some say, and owned also by George Boden, a mile north of Milton, and afterward converted into a steam mill. It has since been removed to Beeson's Station, where it is run by a portable engine, and is owned by Nathan H. Cummack.
A Carding Machine, said to have been the first in the town- ship, was built by Jonathan Hunt, about the year 1828, a mile north of Milton, and was continued many years. A carding machine was put up also in the north-east part of the town- ship, on Green's Fork, by Williams Petty, as is supposed, to which cloth-dressing machinery was added by Fish & Venable. On this site, Edward Wagoner has at present a saw-mill, a clover huller, and other machinery. Samuel Cummack built a carding machine and fulling mill near his saw-mill. Some ten or twelve years afterward, it was changed to a woolen fac- tory, and run by him a number of years, and removed by Nathan H. Cummack to Milton. It was much improved and enlarged, and conducted by a manufacturing company, and took the name of Milton Woolen Mills. The proprietors, in 1866, were Nathan H. Cummack and John Hollingsworth. In 1868, Caleb J. Morris became a partner. In 1869, Cummack retired, and George W. Callaway and Richard Wallace & Co. came in; and the association took the name of Milton Woolen Mill Company. In December, 1869, Hollingsworth sold his interest to Richard White. Two sets of machinery are em- ployed in the manufacture of cassimeres, plain and plaid jeans, satinets, plain and plaid flannels, blankets, and stocking yarn. Attached is a knitting factory for making ladies and gentlemen's hose. Sales annually about $60,000.
Hoosier Drill Manufactory .- Joseph Ingels, patentee of the Hoosier Drill, commenced the manufacture in 1859, by horse 24
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
power, and made the first year 25. In 1867, a stock company was formed, composed of Isaac Kinsey, Alexander Jones, and Aaron Morris, by whom the business is still continued. Joseph Ingels is general agent for the company. They manufacture one and two-horse wheat drills, corn drills, and double-shovel iron cultivators. They give employment to between 40 and 50 hands; and their annual sales have averaged for the last four years, about $114,000.
Thomas Reagan kept the first Store in the town, one block north of the main corner, the year not remembered ; probably soon after the town was laid out, which was done in 1824. Samuel Pierce commenced soon after on the opposite [west] side of Main street. John Wright & Son, it is believed, next opened a store on the corner where now John Brown & Son trade; and after them, Joshua Willetts and James Antrim, in partnership. Elijah Coffin commenced in 1829. Among the numerous firms since that time, and down to 1845, were the following; the order and dates of their establishment respect- ively are not remembered : John Talbot, Moore & Hiatt, Elliott, Hannah & Meredith, Sinks & Talbot, E. P. & II. Jus- tice, Mary & Sarah Roberts, Jesse Hiatt, Hopkins & Hiatt, Benj. Elmer, Shipley L. Foulke. Present merchants : Dry Goods-Jones & Gresh, Warren & Myers, Richard Wallace & Co., and Milton Woolen Mills Company. Grocers-John Brown & Son, Michael, Jones & Gresh [Morgan Michael, Franklin Jones, Henry Gresh.]
David G. Kern established a Drug Store in 1844, and has con- tinned it until the present time. Another has been established the present year by Dr. Joel Pennington.
Dr. Joel Pennington, the first resident Physician in the town- ship, settled in Milton, in 1825, and is still there in practice with Isaac F. Swainey as a partner. Other present practicing physicians are Benj. F. Witmer, and Allison B. Bradbury.
Wm. Harris, Samuel Walker, and Jacob Y-, were early blacksmiths in Milton. Enoch Maudlin, George Wirick, Wm. B. Unthank, and Richard J. Hubbard, early carpenters. Joel and Mordecai Hiatt and Charles H. Moore were early saddlers and harness makers. Early tailors-John Conrad, Harvey P. Irvin, Wm. Williams. Henry J. and David G. Kern, from
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Pa., came to Milton in 1839, and commenced the tailoring business. In 1844, David retired, and commenced the drug business, as above stated. Henry still continues the business of merchant tailor. Enoch Maudlin and Charles Wright were early wagon-makers; the present are Peter Warren and Wm. Ferris. First shoemakers-John Maze, Simeon Hubbard; the present, John D. Wallis, Elias Moore, Jacob Noll, Adam F. Spangler.
The first Religious Society in the township was formed by the Friends at Milford, a half mile north of Milton, about the year 1819, called the Milford Meeting. Some of its members resided in Jackson township. Meetings were first held in a log house. Among their early members were Thomas Symonds, Jonathan Justice, John Kinley, John Bell, Aaron Morris, Matthew Symonds, Silas Hiatt, Henry Thornburg ; and later, Mordecai Hiatt, Benajah Hiatt, Aaron White, Charles H. Moore, Richard J. Hubbard. A few years after the formation of their society, they built a frame house, where their meetings have been held to the present time. Among their early preachers have been John Kinley, Benajah IIiatt, Margaret White, Annie Moore, Benj. Fulghum, Louisa, his wife, and John Miles.
In 1828, a separation of the Milford Meeting took place ; and those known as Hicksites formed a new society, which also was called Milford Meeting, and built a frame house in the lower part of the town of Milton. Their early members were Matthew Symonds, Aaron Morris, John Morris, Henry Thorn- burg, John Ferris, Jonathan Justice, Silas Hiatt, Bethuel Coffin, Daniel and Isaac Whitely, and others.
The Methodists [Episcopal] are said to have formed a society about the year 1820, and built a log meeting-house 7 miles south-east from Milton. It is probable, however, that a class was formed there several years earlier. Among the early members of this church were Philip Doddridge, John Dod- dridge, John Spahr, and their wives, Joseph Lower, Joseph Williams, Thomas Beard, David Waymire; also, Michael Helm and his wife, John Henwood, and Isaac Weekly and their wives.
About the year 1825, for the accommodation of the mem-
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bers of the above society residing near its western bounds, they built a hewed log house about 5 miles below Milton on the west side of the river. Some twelve or more years after, they built on Lower's land a frame house, called Lower's Chapel, which has since been named Havens Chapel, probably in honor of James IIavens, an early Methodist minister in this part of the state. Among their members were Joseph Lower, Alexander Walters, John Elliott.
James Havens, John Burns, Elijah Whitten, Benj. Lawrence, A. W. Elliott, and John Strange are remembered as among the early Methodist preachers. The last named is believed to have labored here as early as 1812.
About the year 1846, a Methodist Church was formed in Milton. John W. Sullivan, an early preacher, formed the class, of which Thomas D. Axe, James Swafford, Grandy Bell, - Linten, and their wives, and John Walker, were mem- bers; John Zell, Alexander Jones, Joshua Gresh, and Peter Warren and their wives, a few years later. Dr. John Bell and John Zell formed the first Sabbath school in the town. Mr. Zell was from the time of its formation for many years its superintendent. Among the preachers of this society have been - Stiver, Seth Smith, Eliphaz Miller. Their first meet- ing-house, a frame building, in the west part of the town, was built about the year 1846.
Franklin Church, about 23 miles east from Milton, was organ- ized June 27, 1840, some of whose members had belonged to a society called "Newlights." The following named persons are believed to have been members at, or soon after the organ- ization : Wm. G. Reynolds, Caleb Lewis, Wm. McGrew, Wm. Swafford, and their families; Mary Wharton, wife of Richard Wharton, and their children ; Jacob Boughner, Jacob and Amos HI. Oldake, Wm. Kerlin, and their wives; Jane, Ruth, and Mary Willetts, and Eli Willetts' wife. Officers-Wm. G. Reynolds, elder; Milton Reynolds, Wm. Kerlin, deacons; Caleb Lewis, standing elerk. Daniel Winder, first preacher ; next, A. Harlan, Samuel K. Hoshour.
The United Brethren have a church in the north-east corner of the township. The date of its organization and the names of its early members are not ascertained.
Strobridge & Co. Lith Lin. 0.
PUBLIC SCHOOL HOUSE, MILTON.
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The Town of Milton was laid out by John Bell as proprietor, and the plat and description recorded July 5, 1824. A num- ber of additions were made by the following named persons : Thomas Symonds, Benajah Hiatt, Jonathan Justice, Elijah Coffin, the date not ascertained. Thomas Symonds and others, Dec. 5, 1825, and March 31, 1827. Jonathan Justice, July 6, 1829. Jacob Sinks, July 3, 1838. Jonathan Justice laid out another, Oct. 6, 1838, which was recorded March 23, 1839. James Brown, Feb. 8, 1847 ; recorded Feb. 16, 1847.
Biographical and Genealogical.
THOMAS BEARD, a brother of John, Patrick, and Jesse Beard, elsewhere noticed, was born in Randolph Co., N. C., and came to this county in the fall of 1811, and settled on the west side of Whitewater river, about a mile below the mouth of Green's Fork, in what is now Washington township, on a farm now owned by Bezaleel Beeson. He was one of the first few set- tlers within the present limits of the township, and had a thorough experience of pioneer life. He "cut his way" for his team from where Abington now is, through the wilderness. He had not been long at his new home when the Indian alarms commenced. He received a visit from Judge Martin, Samuel Jobe, and Isaac Dyer, who came to warn him and his neigh- bors, who had increased to the number of about half a dozen, of their danger, and advised them to leave immediately, or to " fort." Mr. Beard, unwilling to remove his effects, or to leave them exposed, resolved to remain. Four of the six, however, determined to leave. The three men went home, and returned with ten or twelve others, with guns and rifles, to assist in building a fort. The cabin of Mr. Beard was taken into the inclosure, in which three block-houses were built. The three families were crowded into this single cabin. This fort was afterward adopted as one of those in which the government kept small garrisons. This fort was never attacked; but near the fort next below, two young men were shot down, and although but about one hundred yards from the fort, they were sealped before the Indians could be driven off by the pickets. Mr. Beard was a member of the first board of county commissioners elected in the county. They met at Salisbury
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in February, 1817. He resided on his farm where he first settled until his death. IIe had eight children, the eldest of whom was an only son, John, the subject of the following notice.
JOHN BEARD, son of Thomas Beard, came with his father from North Carolina, where he was born Jan. 4, 1795. In the spring of 1816, three months after he attained his majority, he cast his first ballot for delegates to the convention that framed the first constitution of the state. He was a few years after, though young, elected a justice of the peace. There being little litigation, his official business was chiefly the posting of stray horses, and in the absence of the minister, marrying some of the young people, with whom, being himself young, he was rather a favorite. For this service no charge was ever made nor fee received. There having been for several years an unusual amount of sickness, from which his family had greatly suffered, and hoping to find a more healthful locality, he fol- lowed some of his friends to Montgomery county, and settled, in the fall of 1823, near Crawfordsville, a new town just laid out, where he still resides. In 1827, he was elected a repre- sentative from that county in the legislature, and, with a single exception, was continued in one or the other branch, for fifteen consecutive years, most of the time in the senate. Of all the members with whom he served the first term, but one besides himself is now living; and he is a citizen of Wayne county- John Jones, of Center township. He attained a high reputa- tion as a legislator. Bills for the abolition of imprisonment for debt; liberal exemptions of property from liability to exe- cution ; investing the governor with power to commute capital punishment for imprisonment for life, and the free school sys- tem received his active and efficient support. He rendered very effective service in the passage of the bill for the con- struction of the Wabash and Erie Canal. The most formid- able opposition to this measure came from James Rariden, a representative from Wayne county; the other two members, Wm. Elliott and John Finley, being friendly to the measure. In 1833, Mr. B. being then in the senate, a bill to incorporate a state bank had passed the house, and was sent to the senate. The great loss sustained by the general government from the old State Bank at Vincennes with her branches, induced Mr.
Strobridge & lo Lith .lin .0.
John Beard.
DORCAS BEESON.
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Beard and other senators to oppose it; and it was defeated by a single vote. But believing that the people were determined on having a bank, he offered a resolution, which was passed, providing for the report, at the next session, of a plan designed more effectually to secure the public against loss. The meas- ure was a complete success. The advantages to the people of this state of that institution are well remembered by the oldest citizens of the state.
In 1841, Mr. Beard was appointed by President Harrison to the office of Receiver of Public Moneys at the land-office at Crawfordsville ; in consequence of which, he resigned his office of senator two years before the expiration of the term. Ile held the office until after the accession of Mr. Van Buren to the presidency ; and in 1846 he was returned to the senate. The remainder of his legislative career was no less successful than the former part had been. Several measures of great public importance adopted during his last term in the senate, were largely indebted for their success to the influence which he had acquired in that body. Although Mr. Beard many years ago ceased to be a resident of the county, he is remem- bered and esteemed by many of its old citizens-some of them his associates in the legislature. This fact, together with that of his having been one of the earliest settlers of the county, for which he still entertains a warm regard, seems to justify a com- pliance with the expressed wishes of his old friends that his name be given a conspicuous place in our county's history.
BENJAMIN BEESON was born in Guilford county, N. C. He was married to Dorcas Starbuck; and in 1814 he settled in Washington township, 3 miles south of Milton, on the farm on which he resided until his death in 1852, and on which his son, Benj. Franklin, now resides. He was an carly justice of the peace. The following are the names of his children, the first two of whom were born in Carolina : 1. Bezaleel, who mar- ried, first, Anna Hoover, and had four children, three now living; married, second, Phebe Bobbs, who has a son. 2. Oth- niel. [Sk.] 3. Templeton, who resides near the line of the township, in Fayette county. 4, 5. Delilah and Rachel, who died leaving families. 6. Gulielma, married, and lives in Hamilton county. 7. Benjamin F., living on the homestead.
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8. Amanda M., who married Thomas Emerson, and is dead. 9. Marcus D., who lives in the township. 10. Charles G., who died at 21. Mrs. Dorcas, widow of Benj. Beeson, lives with her son, Benjamin F.
OTHNIEL BEESON, son of Benjamin, was born in North Carolina, May 7, 1813, and came, when young, with his father's family to Washington township, in which he has re- sided until the present time. He was in 1838 elected a justice of the peace; in 1850, a delegate to the constitutional con- vention; in 1858, a state senator for 4 years; re-elected in 1862, and again in 1870. He married in Washington, Eliza- beth Whissler. Their children are, Monford G., who mar- ried Louisa Harvey, and resides in the south-west part of the township ; Helena; Barbara, who married Franklin Y. Thomas, of Posey, Fayette county; Amanda N.
BENAJAHI HIATT, second son of Wm. Ifiatt, was born in North Carolina, and was married to Elizabeth White. In 1824 he removed to this county, and settled near Milton. He was the first saddler in the township, and had a shop in a part of his dwelling. After a few years, he devoted his attention wholly to farming. He had 6 children, who settled in this county : 1. Naomi, wife of Elijah Coffin. 2. Mordecai, who married Rhoda Dicks, in N. C .; removed to Milton in 1827, commenced business as a saddler, and continued it about 25 years, when he removed to his farm near town, which he conducted about 16 years ; and in 1868 removed to Richmond, where he now resides. IIe had 9 children, besides 3 who died in infancy and childhood: Elizabeth D., wife of Samuel F. Fletcher, in Richmond. Benajah W., who married Martha Ann Wilson, and lives in Kansas. Semina, wife of Dr. Wm. P. Waring, Richmond. Martha W., wife of Joshua Moffitt, Thorntown, Ind. Jesse D., who married Louisa Woodward, and moved to Springdale, Kansas. Wm. J., who married Eliza Smith, of Indianapolis, and is a merchant in Richmond. Francis Henry, unmarried ; resides at Springville, Kansas. 3. Anna, second daughter of Benajah Hiatt, married Eli Unthank ; they live at Spiceland. 4. John, who married Re- becca Unthank; they live at Spiceland. 5. Esther G., wife of Joseph Dickinson, both living and residing in Richmond.
Stoortaya & & Lith in
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6. Hannah F., wife of Charles Dickinson, brother of Joseph, and lives at Spiceland.
WILLIAM HIATT, who remained in North Carolina, had 9 children who reached mature age, all of whom, except one, came to this county : 1. Prudence, wife of James Stanley, who settled in Ohio, both still living, aged about 92. 2. Joel, who settled at Milton, about 1827. His son, Allen, came in 1824 or 1825; was first a potter, afterward a merchant at Knightstown and at Anderson a few years, and for many years at Milton, of the firms of Moore & Hiatt, and Hopkins and Hiatt. Isom, another of his sons, removed west. 3. Benajah, subject of the foregoing sketch. 4. Rachel, wife of Wm. Kersey, who settled south of Dublin, now in Washington township. A son, Vier- ling Kersey, is a physician in Richmond. Another son, also a physician, resides 3 miles east of Richmond. and is also a farmer. 5. Silas, who married Anna Clary, and settled one mile south- west of Milton, and died at Milton. 6. Isom, married, and lives in Ohio. 7. Esther, wife of Jesse Evans, both living 2 miles west of Richmond. 8. Amor, who married Achsah Wil- lis and lives in Hamilton county. 9. Rebecca, wife of Wm. Unthank, Spiceland.
JESSE HIATT, son of Eleazar Iliatt, came, when young, with his father, from North Carolina to Ohio in 1815, and thence to Richmond in the winter of 1818-19. He was for about five years a clerk in the store of Hiatt & Moore, in Milton, and, in 1840, commenced trade for himself, and continued until 1860. In 1861 he removed to Dublin, where he is still in business with his son, Wm. F. He married Margaret Ann Fletcher. He has four children : William F., who married Frances M. Lawrence, daughter of Edmund Lawrence, formerly a county commis- sioner and a member of the legislature. Charles E., who married Ella Pike, and is on a farm in Henry county, adjoin- ing Jackson. Frank F., at Earlham College, and Sarah Anna, aged 11 years.
RICHARD J. HUBBARD, son of Jeremiah Hubbard, was born in North Carolina, and was married to Sarah Swain, Novem- ber 26, 1826, and in the fall of 1828, removed to Milton, where he now resides. He is by trade a carpenter. He has taken an active interest in political affairs. About the year 1834, he was elected a representative in the state legislature, and re-
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elected at the next three successive elections. He belonged to the Whig party; but in 1848 joined the Free Soil party in support of Martin Van Buren and Charles F. Adams, the presidential nominees of the Buffalo convention, by which party he was nominated as a candidate for Congress. He has had a life-long connection with the society of Friends. He had twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, none of whom died until nearly full grown; and nearly all of them attained to manhood and womanhood. Four of his sons served in the late Union army, two of whom died as veterans in the service. Mr. Hubbard has a brother at Newcastle, But- ler Hubbard, late recorder of Henry county, and two sisters and a daughter who are ministers in the society of Friends. He has a second wife.
WILLIAM MCGREW, a native of Kentucky, moved from Ohio, and settled about 1814 four miles east from Milton. He was a soldier under General Harrison in the war of 1812. He died of cholera, in Iowa, in 1851, while on a visit, with his wife, to their children in that state. Their children were : 1. Lewis, who married Ann Highfield, removed to Iowa, and died there. 2. Isabella, wife of Charles Myers; both deceased. 3. John, married, and resides at Muscatine. 4. Polly, wife of John Scott, who is dead; she resides at Carmel, Hamilton county. 5. Rachel, wife of B. Scott, and died in Illinois. 6. Charles, who married Melinda Hurst, and lives about 5 miles south-east from Milton. 7. Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Whitmer, of Milton. 8. Melinda, wife of Jonathan Fertish, Carmel. 9. Letitia, wife of James Morris, Upland. 10. James B. married Huldah A. Welliver, and is postmaster, Dublin. 11. Hannah, wife of John Ewing, Wabash. 12. Lindsey married Sarah Zell, and lives in Milton.
CHARLES II. MOORE was born October 24, 1806, in Person county, N. C., and at the age of 10 years removed to Guilford county. In 1829, he removed to Milton, and engaged in the saddle and harness making business. In 1834, in company with Joel Hiatt, he went into the dry goods trade and the saddling business, in which they continued until 1841, since which time he has lived on his farm half a mile east of town. He is an esteemed citizen and an exemplary member of the society of Friends. In 1839, he married Marcia White,
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