USA > Indiana > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Indiana, from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 37
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JEREMIAH HUBBARD Was born in Virginia, Feb. 13, 1777, and brought up in Person Co., N. C. IIe became, while a youth, a member of the society of Friends. He was in early life a school teacher. Later in life he devoted himself to the work of the ministry, traveling in many of the states. In 1837, he came to the West, and finally settled in Richmond. In a memorial published by the Whitewater Monthly Meeting, he is represented as having evinced a " deep regard for the Holy Scriptures," and having, in his preaching, dwelt much upon the prominent doctrines of the gospel, and the " necessity of sincere and living faith." He died in the neighborhood of Newport, at the house of his son-in-law, Zeri Hough, Nov. 23, 1849.
JOHN S. LYLE, from Rockbridge Co., Virginia, came to Richmond in 1823, with his father, David Lyle, who was a brick and stone mason, and who subsequently removed to Randolph Co., where he died in 1848. John, his eldest son, resides in Richmond. In 1837, he commenced an apprentice- ship in the printing business with Holloway and Davis, and worked at this trade twelve years. In 1855, he was elected justice of the peace for the term of four years, and re-elected
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for a second term. Before the expiration of his second term, the war broke out, and he assisted in raising Co. B. of the 5th Indiana cavalry, of which he was chosen captain. In November, 1862, he was promoted to senior major of the regiment. Ile served in the army to the close of the war. He was with kis battalion in Kentucky, within twenty miles of the rebel Gen. Morgan when he crossed the Cumber- land river on his famed raid through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio, and followed him up with his regiment until he was taken at Buflington Bar, Ohio, where Morgan's forces were routed. Major Lyle was engaged in the two battles of Blountsville, and the battles of Knoxville, Henderson's Mills, Walker's Ford, Pulaski, and the great battle of Nashville. He is at present city attorney in Richmond.
JAMES R. MENDENHALL Was born in Randolph Co., N. C., July 3, 1795. While yet a child, his parents removed to South Carolina; and in 1816 to the vicinity of Richmond. About a year afterward, he went to Vevay to study medicine with his brother, and while reading there, attended one course of medical lectures in Cincinnati. In 1822, he returned to Richmond and began practice ; and after over a year's prac- tice, he attended a course of lectures in the medical depart- ment of Transylvania University, in Lexington, Kentucky, where he graduated in the spring of 1824, and returned to Richmond, being the first physician in the county having a diploma. In 1830, his failing health unfitting him for the arduous labors required of the profession in those early times, he removed to Liberty, Union Co., and engaged in mercantile business. He represented that county in the legislature at the session of 1833-4. In 1836, he returned to Richmond, and engaged in milling. He was a stockholder in the " Rich- mond Manufacturing Company," and was afterward inter- ested in the old Richmond Foundry, on South Green street. After the failure of that establishment, he took control of the paper mill, in 1843, and continued in that business until 1854. After that time he was engaged in various mercantile pur- suits to the time of his death. He was several times a mem- ber of the town council, school trustee, a member of the board of health, and in 1837 was elected first burgess of the
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town. He was, in 1840, a delegate to the Harrisburg conven- tion which nominated Gen. Harrison for president. He was afterward an associate judge. Dr. M. was one of the first directors of the Indiana Central Railroad, and was the first man to ride over the railroad bridge at Richmond, occupying a seat on the front of the locomotive, which bore his name. He was also for ten years president of the Fort Wayne and Richmond Railroad Company, and retired from that position in 1866. He joined the Masonic fraternity while residing at Vevay, and was made a Royal Arch Mason and Sir Knight while at the University in Kentucky ; and was one of the applicants for the first charter granted for a council in Indi- ana. He died February 18, 1870, and was buried with the usual masonic ceremonies, conducted by the Knights Templar. Dr. Mendenhall was married, in 1824, to Lydia Wright, daughter of John Wright, an early merchant of Richmond. She lived but a few months after her marriage. He after- ward married Sarah T. Williams, a daughter of Jesse Will- iams, and sister of Achilles Williams, of this city. She re- sides in Richmond.
ROBERT MORRISSON was born October 19. 1786, in North Carolina, whither his parents had emigrated from Chester Co., Pa. He married Jane Price, and, in 1810, removed to Wayne Co., Indiana. Having made no purchase of land be- fore his arrival, and having, consequently, not even a cabin of his own, he took temporary shelter in an outhouse made of logs, belonging to his brother-in-law, Jeremiah Cox, and not designed at all as a dwelling. He soon settled north of Middleboro', just within the bounds of the present town- ship of Franklin. He resided there a few years ; but, unable to endure the hard labor of clearing a new farm, he sold his farm, and, with a few hundred dollars, made his second ad- vent in the place where he spent the remainder of a long life. With a small stock of goods, he commenced the mer- eantile business on the corner of Main and North Front streets. His name is. intimately associated with the history of Richmond. Being one of its earliest merchants, he rode on the tide of its growing commerce, and with his frugality, prudence, and business talent, accumulated a large estate, and retired from mercantile business before the town had at-
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tained a high degree of commercial importance. When bank- ing houses were established in Richmond, he invested largely in bank stocks, being the owner of one-third of the stock in the Citizens' Bank. He had also a connection with the branches of the State Banks, in Richmond. Though rich, he was a friend to the poor. With his declining years his benevolence seemed to increase. A portion of his in- come went to the relief of the needy and suffering. His alms being unostentatiously bestowed, their amount was not generally known. The war of the rebellion opened a new field for the exercise of Christian philanthropy ; and prob- ably no man in Richmond contributed more liberally than he. Being a life-long member of the society of Friends, he was careful not to compromise his long-cherished peace prin- ciples. The crowning act of his life was the founding of a library, at a cost of $20,000, which he transferred as a gift to Wayne township, Richmond included, provision having been made for its perpetuation. It is placed under the control of a library committee, and kept by a competent lady librarian. He barely lived to see this splendid gift executed and the library building completed. A life-size portrait painting of the donor was placed in the public reception room of the building, and paid for by contributions of citizens without his knowledge. The former township library has been merged in this, which is now probably the largest township library in the state. A few years before his death his general health be- gan to fail; and he was prevented from mingling with his fellow-citizens, and from meeting with his friends in the house of worship. In the latter part of the summer of 1865, he was seized with violent illness, which soon terminated his life. He died Sept. 12, 1865, aged nearly 79 years. A large number of friends, relatives, and citizens followed his re- mains to the Friends' Cemetery, three miles east from Rich- mond. Ilis wife died Aug. 17, 1849, aged nearly 63 years.
Robert Morrisson had three children : 1. Hannah, who died in 1828, at the age of 20, just after her return from Westtown, Pa., boarding-school. 2. Jonathan, who died in infancy. 3. James L., who succeeded to the estate and busi- ness of his father, as a partner in the banking firm of Mor-
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risson, Blanchard & Co. He has two children: Robert, of the firm of Plummer & Morrisson, wholesale druggists; and Elizabeth Jane.
. SAMUEL E. PERKINS was born at Brattleborough, Vt., De- cember 6, 1811. He removed with his father to Conway, Mass., where he resided until 1834. He removed to Penn Yan, Yates Co., N. Y., and studied law with Henry Welles, now or lately a judge of the supreme court of that state, and removed to Richmond, and was admitted to the practice of law in 1837. He was subsequently appointed prosecuting at- torney by the governor of the state. In 1844, he was a can- didate for presidential elector on the Democratic electoral ticket. In January, 1846, he was appointed by Gov. White- head judge of the supreme court; was reappointed, and held the office until January, 1865. In 18-, he removed to In- dianapolis. About the year 1859, he was elected Professor of Law in the North-western University at Indianapolis, which office he held about six years. In the autumn of 1870, he was chosen Professor of Law in the State University at Bloomington. He married, in Richmond, Amanda J. Pyle, daughter of Joseph Pyle. They had nine children, only two of whom are living : Amanda, who married Oscar B. Hord; and Sanmel E., now a partner in law. Judge Perkins mar- ried a second wife, Mrs. Lavinia M. Wiggins, a sister of his former wife, by whom he had a daughter, Alma Rosa, now living.
JAMES PERRY was born in Madisonville, Ohio, January 19, 1799. He removed, when about five years of age, with his father to Kentucky. In 1823, he removed to Liberty, Union Co., Ind .; and was admitted to the practice of law in 1824. In 1840, he was elected judge of the judicial district com- posed of the counties of Union, Fayette, Rush, Decatur, Henry, and Wayne. At the expiration of the term of his office as judge, he removed to Richmond, where he still continues the practice of his profession. IIe was married in 1824 to Elizabeth Snow, in Union county. They had two sons : Rufus, who was born in 1832, and drowned at Centerville, at the age of 17 years ; and Oran, noticed below.
ORAN PERRY was born at Liberty, Union Co., Ind., Feb-
Gran Per Perry
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ruary 1, 1838, and removed with his father to Richmond in 1844. He enlisted, April 9, 1861, in Co. B, Sixteenth Regi- ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for one year; was ap- pointed sergeant-major in June ; served his term, and was discharged. He was commissioned adjutant of the Sixty- ninth Regiment; was in the battle of Richmond, Ky., where his horse was shot from under him, and he was wounded in the leg and captured ; was paroled, and afterward exchanged. He was also in the battles of Chickasaw Bluff and Arkansas Post, and promoted to lieutenant-colonel. He was afterward in the battles of Thompson's Hill, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss. ; in the several ex- peditions of Teche River, Texas, Red River, and Pascagoula, and the assault on the works of Fort Blakely, Alabama, in the last of which he received a severe wound in the head ; after which he was promoted to brevet colonel, having com- manded the regiment more than two years. He served until July, 1865, when the regiment was mustered out of service. He was married May 16, 1866, to Jennie Poe, daughter of James M. Poe, Esq., of Richmond. He is now proprietor of the Richmond Plow Works.
JOSEPH PEMBERTON PLUMMER Was born in Anne Arundel Co., Md., Oct. 4, 1783. He married Susanna Husband, who died, leaving four children, a son and three daughters. In 1819, he married Lydia Husband, and removed with his family to Cincinnati, and in 1823 to Richmond. He built a two-story frame dwelling, with store-room attached, on the south-east corner of Main and Front streets, and engaged in mercantile business. In 1824, he purchased a grist-mill, and in 1825 he built an addition to it for the manufacture of oil from castor beans; but sold all in 1827, and confined his at- tention to his store. In 1834, he purchased and moved upon the farm now owned by Mark E. Reeves. Having lost his second wife by death, he returned to town to live with his children, two of whom, John T. Plummer and Joanna P. Laws, were then living here. With one or the other of these he resided until his death, Sept. 20, 1868. He was an active business man, a good citizen, and regardful of his social and domestic duties. He refrained almost entirely from connec-
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tion with political and other associations, content with the influence of an exemplary life upon those with whom he had daily intercourse. He was for many years an honored min- ister in the society of Friends, and an active member until his activities were impaired by his bodily infirmities, which kept him at home during the last two years of his life. His children, all by his first wife, were : 1. John T. [Sk.] 2.
Mary M., who married William Owen, and is deceased. 3. Joanna P., who married John M. Laws, an early watch- maker and jeweler, and afterward for many years a merchant in Richmond. 4. Sarah C., who married Wm. Bancroft, and died in Philadelphia in 1856.
JOHN THOMAS PLUMMER Was born in Montgomery county, Md., March 12, 1807, and removed with his father to Cincin- nati in 1819, and thence, in 1823, to Richmond, where he re- sided until his death, April 10, 1865. He commenced the study of medicine in his eighteenth year, and graduated from Yale College just before he had attained his majority. As a physician, he was much beloved and popular, notwithstand- ing his extreme aversion to the means often used to gain popularity. He continued in practice until within a short time of his decease. In the spring of 1833, he was married to Hannah Wright, of Springboro', Warren county, Ohio, who died in 1836, leaving a son. In the fall of 1837, Dr. Plummer married for his second wife, Sarah O. Pierce, of Portsmouth, N. H., who, with two sons, still survives him. Dr. P. early became a close and successful student. An in- timate friend of his, himself a man of science, wrote of him after his death, as follows:
"Ile obtained, by his own exertions, a good, nay, a critical knowledge of the English language; studied Latin, Greek, and Hebrew of the dead, and French and German of the living languages, and acquired some knowledge of several others. He was the personal friend and correspondent of Noah Webster, and assisted him with some western words in the preparation of his dictionary.
" Dr. Plummer's acquirements were general and profound. IIe was a naturalist, not a mere amateur or theorist, but an active and practical one, applying his knowledge to the
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investigations of his surroundings, giving whatever was new and interesting to the world through the scientific periodicals, more particularly Silliman's Journal, between the editor of which and himself there existed a warm personal friendship. Ilis cabinet of specimens and preparations was at one time large, thoroughly classified, and of especial value as illustrat- ing the several departments of natural science as they were developed in his immediate neighborhood. During the latter years of his life, his impaired health unfitted him for exer- cises of this kind; and he distributed his collections to schools and to other places where he thought them likely to do most good.
" While all branches of medical science received his care- ful attention, chemistry and pharmacy were his favorites. The Journal of Pharmacy will testify to some of his labors in the latter direction ; and as a chemist, theoretical and prac- tical, not only as chemistry is applied to medicine, but gener- ally, it is doubted whether he had a superior outside of those who are devoted to chemistry as a special profession."
He was editor of the Schoolmaster, a paper published by Holloway & Davis during the year 1839, and author of one or two Readers for Friends' schools. His writings upon agricul- tural, educational, and scientific subjects, other than that of his profession, were numerous, and inspired by a desire to ad- vance the interests of his fellow-men. Devoting so much of his time to his profession and to scientific and literary studies, he had little time and less inclination to take part in public business, although he was for a short time a stockholder in the Richmond Gas Light and Coke Company, and its first presi- dent. While he had decided views on political questions, and inculcated, with his voice and his pen, the principles of hu- manity, temperance, and general benevolence, he stood aloof from parties and organizations, as tending, in his opinion, to give a wrong bias to the convictions and actions of men. And he conscientiously refused to participate in any political move- ments, or cast a vote for any candidate who, if elected, might be required to use force in the discharge of his official duties. We quote again from his friend :
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" Born into the society of Friends, he continued a con- sistent member until death. Without being a slave to the dis- cipline of the society or a bigot to its tenets, he held his duty to his Maker and his fellow-man through its organization paramount to all other duty. His Christian life was not an idle one, but of active and efficient labor in whatever capacity he was called to act. Perhaps no man among the Friends was more thoroughly versed in a knowledge of the size, the prog- ress, and the principles of their sect; and it was all brought into use to advance the welfare of the society and the world. This made him one of the most influential members of the society. Nor was his christianity confined to the church and its associations; but all his acts were performed as his con- victions of Christian duty dictated.
" His opposition to public show or exhibition of any kind was carried almost, if not quite, to eccentricity ; and this senti- ment was, doubtless, combined with others, the cause of his several times declining tendered professorships in medical schools, and leading positions in other educational institutions, as well as of deterring him from uniting with or attending formal medical organizations that held public meetings."
It is proper to add, that Dr. Plummer rendered a valuable service to the public by the writing and publishing of " A Historical Sketch," in connection with his "Directory to the City of Richmond," which appeared in 1857. The timely pub- lication of this little book has rescued from oblivion many interesting facts and reminiscences of early times, which can not now be obtained from any other source. John T. Plum- mer had five children : By his first wife, Jonathan W., of the firm of Plummer & Morrisson, wholesale druggists, Richmond. By his second wife : Charles P., still living; Joseph P., who died of cholera in 1849 at the age of 9 years ; Wm. S., who died in 1863, aged 16; and James, still living.
JAMES M. POE was born in Maryland, November 12, 1811, where he was married to Matilda Chandler, with whom and one child, he came to Richmond in 1838. He soon commenced teaching school, in which business he was engaged about ten years ; first, in a house at or near the Public Square, and after- ward in the basement of the old frame Methodist meeting-
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James Ap. Soc.
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house on Pearl street. He was elected a justice of the peace in 1846, but continued teaching during the first two years of his official term. He was elected for a second term, at the ex- piration of which, in 1855, he declined a re-election. In 1863, he was again elected to the office of justice, and re-elected in 1867; and before the expiration of the term, he was elected in 1871, Mayor of the city, which office he now holds. He was for many years a notary public, and has been for about twenty years a real estate agent. In connection with others he has bought lands near and adjoining the town. Those on the south side, designated as " Poe and Hittel's addi- tion," have been annexed to the city. Mr. Poe became a mem- ber of the Pearl Street Methodist church soon after his removal to Richmond, and has for nearly twenty years served alternately as superintendent and assistant superintendent of its Sabbath- school. He has four children : Margaret, wife of James J. Russell; Jennie, wife of Oran Perry ; Sarah Ellen, and Amanda Bell.
MARK E. REEVES, son of Mark Reeves, came from New Jersey to Richmond, in 1823, with his father, who was by trade a carpenter. The father being partially enfeebled by ill-health, it was necessary for the son to commence labor at an early age ; and he was employed in the brick-yard of Wm. Cox. He next served temporarily as clerk in the stores of John Wright and Robert Morrisson. In 1824, Mr. Wright opened a store at Milton, conducted by his brother, Wm. Wright, and em- ployed young Reeves as a clerk in that store. In 1826, he re- turned to Richmond, and was employed as clerk in the store of Robert Morrisson and Joseph P. Strattan [J. P. Strattan & Co.] In 1827, he went to Liberty as a clerk for Mr. Morris- son, who established a branch store at that place. In Decem- ber, 1830, at the age of about 19, he commenced the mercantile business at Washington, now Clay township, with a capital of about $1,000 in goods, bought principally of Robert Morrisson on credit, and remained there about ten years. In 1836, Mark and his brother James bought the goods of J. C. Hawkins & Son, at Hagerstown, and James took the charge of this estab- lishment. In 1840, James left the concern, and established a store in Richmond, and Mark removed to Hagerstown, con-
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tinning an interest in the store at Washington, in partnership with James W. Scott, for about five years. In 1847, Mark at Hagerstown, and James at Richmond, both discontinued busi- ness, and went to Cincinnati, where they continued trade, in partnership, until 1855. James then returned to Richmond ; and his brother has retained an interest in a large mercantile establishment in that city to the present time. In 1853, he purchased the residence and farm of the late Joseph P. Plum- mer near the city, to which he removed, and where he now resides, in the possession of a fortune acquired, not by luck in a few random speculations, but by a long course of prudent management, and close attention to business. It is said to have been at least an implied condition on which credit was obtained for his first goods, that he should practice due fru- gality in expenses. The young debtor, following the coun- sels of his former employer and exemplar, took board for himself and his brother James, his clerk, at 56} cents per week, they furnishing their own bed, which was made on the store counter. The examples of Morrisson and Reeves should not be without their influence upon young men of the pres- ent time, many of whom make sad failures in attempts to ac- quire fortunes in a few large and hazardous operations. Mr. Reeves was married, first, to Julia Pretlow, of Virginia, by whom he had a son, Charles P .; and after her death, to Caro- line Middleton, and had by her two children, Mary T. and Arthur Middleton.
JAMES E. REEVES, also a son of Mark Reeves, came when a small boy to Richmond. His business life, so intimately con- nected with that of his brother, has been in great part already sketched in the foregoing notice. On his return from Cin- cinnati to Richmond, in 1855, he purchased of Robert Mor- risson the farm now owned by Win. Baxter, on the west side of East Fork, near the city. In 1863, he commenced the banking business in the city, being one of the association which established the First National Bank, of which he has been its president to the present time. His business habits and capacity, being similar to those of his brother, have also been attended with success. He was married, first, to Isa- bella Cornell, of Philadelphia, and after her death, to Mrs.
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Daniel Reid
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Hannah Ireland, of Peoria, Illinois. He has, by his first marriage, a son, James Franklin, at present cashier of the First National Bank in Richmond; by the second, a son, William P.
DANIEL REID Was born in Rockbridge county, Va., Febru- ary 5, 1799. He married Letitia Scott, and in 1821 removed to Ohio, near New Paris, where he engaged in teaching school. In October, 1823, he removed to Richmond, and en- gaged as a merchant's clerk for James McGuire, and after- ward for Robert Morrisson. About the year 1827 or 1828, he commenced business for himself, with Joseph P. Strattan. He was engaged alternately in trade and farming until 1838. In 1829, he was appointed postmaster, and held the office until 1836. In 1838, he was appointed by President Van Buren register of the land office at Fort Wayne. He re- turned to this county in 1855, and settled on a farm a mile and a half west of Richmond, where he now resides. He was an early member and ruling elder of the United Presby- terian church in Richmond, which office he holds at the present time. Mr. Reid had seven children : 1. William S. [Sk.] 2. Mary Ann, who died at 3. 3. Mary Ann, who mar- ried Franklin P. Randolph, a lawyer, of Fort Wayne. 4. James P., who married Anna Reid, and lives in Wayne town- ship. 5. Margaret Jane, unmarried. 6. Hannah M., who died of cholera in 1833. 7. Robert M., who emigrated to California in 1852. Mrs. Reid died September 3, 1854; and in October, 1856, Mr. Reid was joined in marriage to Mrs. Ann Dougan, then living at Niles, Mich., a daughter of Isaac Gray, an early settler in Richmond.
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