USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Richmond > Memoirs of Wayne County and the city of Richmond, Indiana; from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Wayne County, Volume II Pt II > Part 16
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
He is a devout and enthusiastic member of the Christian church, with which religious faith he has been affiliated a number of years. On Dec. 10, 1885, he was united in holy wedlock to Miss Mary Ellen Teeter, daughter of Zachariah and Barbara (Iloover) Teeter, who for many years before their deaths resided in the village of Hagerstown. Of this happy union a son was born-George Henry, born Sept. 5, 1891. He received his preliminary education in the Hagerstown schools, prepared for college at the De Lancey School in Philadelphia, and is now in the University of Pennsylvania, tak- ing a course in architecture, and will graduate with the class of 1913. Mr. Keagy has an interest in the Light Inspection Car Com- pany and also has real estate possessions in Arkansas and Mexico. John W. Leavell, living retired at the residence of his son, Wil- liam T. Leavell, in Jefferson township, was born in what is now Tipton county, Indiana, Feb. 11, 1842, the first child of Benjamin and Fannie (Thornburgh) Leavell, natives of Kentucky and Indi- ana respectively. The members of the Leavell family participated prominently in the Revolutionary war, the paternal great-grand- father, John Leavell, serving throughout the entire conflict, and since that period they have always borne an active part in all local affairs of the community in which they lived. The family lineage, for the purposes of this review, begins with the Revolutionary an- cestor, John Leavell, who moved from Virginia to Kentucky about 1790. His son, Robert Leavell, was born in Virginia, moved with his parents to Kentucky, and in 1811 removed to Wayne county, Indiana, taking up a claim of 120 acres of land, upon which is located a part of the village of Jacksonburg. He served as a sol- dier in the war of 1812. He laid ont the village of Jacksonburg and remained there until about 1831, when he moved to a place about one mile north of Hagerstown, where he purchased 231 acres of land, the same now being owned by Adam Rowe and H. C. Knode. There Robert Leavell and his wife, Sarah, born in Virginia, spent the remainder of their lives, he dying in 1847, at the age of seventy- one years, and she in 1857, at the age of seventy-five years. They were the parents of ten children: Elizabeth, born in 1801, mar- ried John Scott and had a son, Joshua; Gabriel died in childhood; James, born in 1804, married Elizabeth Cooper, of Wayne county, in an early day removed to Tipton county, where he entered 120 acres of government land and remained there the residue of his life; Benjamin was the next in order of birth; Ezekiel, born in 1808, married Sarah A. Bales, a native of Wayne county, and of East Tennessee parentage, and they had six children-Margaret E., John IL., Lorinda J., Benjamin F., Thomas J., and William M., and after the death of the mother Ezekiel again married, of which union were born three children-Sarah F., Dora, and Lorain L .; Caroline, born in 1811, married Lewis Jones at the age of eighteen years and died soon thereafter; Mary, born in 1813, died in child- hood; Malinda, born in 1815, was married, Jan. 7, 1836, to Carter T. Jackson, a native of Kentucky, and with him, in 1838, removed to Tipton county, where she died in 1873, having reared a family of six sons and three daughters; Nancy, born in 1817, in Wayne
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county, married Dory Matthews, of Marion county, and died soon thereafter; and Sarah, born in 1819, married Newton J. Jackson, moved to Tipton county in 1838, and died in the prime of life, leav- ing two children. Benjamin Leavell, the father of John W., was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, Nov. 6, 1806, and in 1811 came with his parents to Wayne county, where he was reared to man- hood. In January, 1841, he removed to Tipton county and settled on 160 acres of land, which he cleared, putting 100 acres in a state of cultivation and erecting the necessary buildings. All this he accomplished within a period of ten years by his own efforts, and his was one of the first brick residences in that county. Ile ac- cumulated 340 acres of land in Tipton county and resided there until his death, Oct. 29, 1868. His wife, Fanny (Thornburgh) Leavell, was born on her father's farm, three miles north of Ilagers- town, Nov. 8, 1821, daughter of William and Martha Thornburgh, natives of East Tennessee who removed to Wayne county in 1816, and her death occurred Dec. 14, 1893, in Tipton county. To Benja- min Leavell and wife were born seven children: John W. is the eldest ; Martha R., born in April, 1844, was married in 1862 to John O. Green, who died in 1867, after the birth of two children-Ben- jamin B. and Maude E. (deceased)-and a few years later Martha married Jasper N. Wright, a native of Wayne county, and of that union were born two sons-Gilbert and Jesse; Losada J., born in August, 1846, married C. H. Hobbs, and they have five children -- Nellie, Minnie, Thomas B., Melvin W., and Guy; Nancy V., born in October, 1848, married John Hobbs in 1867, and they have six children-Nettie, Maude, Benjamin A., Morton, Fred B., and Chal- mer L .; Sarah E., born in January, 1852, was married in 1872 to T. B. Bates, deceased, and of their union were born two dangh- ters-Ora and Mabel ; Mary E., born in May, 1856, married Lemuel Darrow in March, 1873, and they have four children-Fannie, Ollie. Omar, and Mary ; and Josephine, born in August, 1859, is the wife of W. S. Roberson, of Elwood, Ind. John W. Leavell was born and reared on a farm, where he worked until twenty-two years of age. His education was acquired at the district schools, through his attendance during the winter months. After leaving the farm he learned the tanner's trade, which occupation he followed until 1877, at which time he purchased eighty acres of unimproved land in Tipton county, to which he afterward added until he owned 280 acres. He became actively interested in public affairs and in the spring of 1881 was appointed one of the ditch commissioners for Tipton county, in which capacity he assisted in surveying and lo- cating fifty-five drains, and he served in that position eighteen months. In November, 1882, he was elected sheriff of Tipton coun- ty by ninety-six majority, on the Republican ticket, although the county was Democratic by about 400 votes. Since the death of his wife he has resided at the home of his son in Jefferson township, this county. Fraternally, Mr. Leavell has been a member of the Masonic lodge at Elwood since 1866, and while never affiliated, with any church association is a true follower of the principles of religion and takes a profound interest in all movements which look
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
to the furtherance of the intellectual, moral and spiritual well- being of his fellow men. In March, 1862, he was married to Miss Molcy Beeson, daughter of James and Sarah Beeson, natives of North Carolina who were brought to Wayne county by their par- ents in 1808, and five children blessed this happy union: Dora B., born in December, 1862, married Z. E. Darrow and died in Septem- ber, 1908, the mother of two children-Lola Maude (deceased), and Cecil Howard; William T. was born in January, 1865; Ben- jamin, born in October, 1867, and now in the real estate and loan business in Tipton county, married Nettie Mavity and they have two daughters-Dora B. and Bernice; Cora M., born in July, 1870, died at the age of eight years; and Leolitas, born in November, 1872, married Minnie Fouch, in 1896, and they have four daugh- ters-Mary E., Ruth, Nina, and Geraldine. Mrs. Molcy (Beeson) Leavell was born in Madison county, Indiana, May 8, 1842, her death occurring at her home in Tipton county, Sept. 12, 1909. She was a loving wife, a devoted mother, and a woman of excellent traits of character, which endeared her to her family and a wide circle of friends. William T. Leavell, the eldest son, was born in Tipton county, educated in the district schools, and worked upon his father's farm until arriving at man's estate. He was married to Capitola Nance, a daughter of Theodore and Lovica (Parker) Nance, of Tipton, Ind. He then rented 160 acres of land in Tipton county and followed dairying and farming until 1888, when he moved to his father's farm and there followed the same lines of industry until 1892. The father then sold that farm and William T. purchased eighty-seven acres west of Tipton and remained there nine years, engaged in general farming. In 1899 he sold that place and removed to Wayne county, purchasing 160 acres of land in Jefferson township, about one and one-half miles northwest of Hagerstown, where he has since followed general farming. To him and his wife have been born two children-John T., born July 12, 1887, and Fred, born Feb. 18, 1896. John T., a farmer in Jeffer- son township, was married in November, 1904, to Bertha Turnpaw and they have three children: Mary Imogene, born May 22, 1906; Molcy Bernetha, born May 4, 1998; and Harold Leon, born March 18, 1910. Mrs. William T. Leavell was born Nov. 16, 1868.
Harry Fremont Ewbank is an able representative of the benef- icent industry of agriculture and is successfully established in that occupation in New Garden township. He is specially skilled in the industry and in the technical knowledge pertaining to its applica- tion, and by this reason has been most successful. Mr. Ewbank is a native of Wayne township, this county, born July 31, 1855, a son of Thomas and Hannah (King) Ewbank, the former born in Dear- born county, Indiana, in 1827, and the latter in Wayne county in 1829. The great-grandfather, John Ewbank, came from England to Dearborn county in September, 1811, purchased a section of land and added to his possessions until he owned 1,000 acres. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Ewbank, was an Englishman by birth, coming with his father and settled in Dearborn county, In- diana, where he died in 1857. The father, also named Thomas
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BIOGRAPHICAL
Ewbank, was reared and educated in his native county, where his early training was in connection with the work of the home farm. He followed agricultural pursuits in Dearborn county until 1851 and thereafter was a resident of Wayne county during the remain- der of his active business career. Ile was a man of industry, energy, and inflexible integrity and was held in high esteem in the com- munity which represented his home. He passed to the life eternal, Feb. 1, 1900. He was married to Hannah King, in 1846, his wife being a daughter of Levinus King, and of this union were born thirteen children: Levinus, born in 1848; Charles, born in 1849, died in 1854; William Albert, born in 1852, died in 1854; Elizabeth, born in 1853, married Benjamin Sharp, in February, 1875; Harry F. is the next in order of birth; Frank, born in 1857, died in 1891; Norman, born in 1859; James S., born in 1860; Magdaline, born in 1863; Mary, born in 1865, died in infancy, as did also Marcellus, born in 1866, and Esther, born in 1870; and Wilson P., born in 1871, was killed by a falling tree in 1901. Harry F. Ewbank gained his preliminary educational discipline in the public school on the Coggeshall farm in Webster township, and at the Olive school and the Concord school, attending until seventeen years old. At the age of twenty he began his independent career, working by the month as a farm hand until 1879, and in 1891 purchased the farm which he occupies in New Garden township. In company with his son 'he has also conducted a grocery store in Fairview six years. Mr. Ewbank is independent in his political views. On July 9, 1879, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma Jane Miller, born Jan. 17, 1862, daughter of David (deceased ) and Rachel Malinda Miller, prominent and influential citizens of Center township. Mrs. Miller is now residing with her children. Of this union were born six chil- dren: Charles Clifford, born Sept. 10, 1880, married Estella Dick- inson, in Richmond, and is in partnership with his father in the gro- cery business; Oliver Elbert, born Nov. 24. 1882, married Monna Lee, of Fountain City, and is connected with the grocery ; Eddie Wilbur, born May 30, 1888, resides on the farm of his father ; Irma Hazel, born Feb. 17, 1892, died Ang. 15, 1910; Esther King, born July 25, 1895, and Marian Alice, born July 3, 1901, are at home. Charles C. and wife have four children -- Vernon, Helen, Wilbur, and Myron ; and to Oliver and wife have been born two children- Reba, who died in childhood, and Velma C. Mr. and Mrs. Ewbank enjoy the social life of the community and their home is a center of generous hospitality. They are members of the Friends' church.
Joseph I. Helms .- No family in Wayne county is held in higher regard or is better known that that of which Joseph I. Helms is a representative in the fourth generation, and when it is stated that his paternal great-grandfather settled here in the Terri- torial days it becomes evident that the family name has been iden- tified with the annals of the county from the earliest recorded time-in fact, it has been linked with the civic and industrial his- tory of this favored section of the State for a century. It has stood for the highest type of citizenship as one generation has followed another onto the stage of life's activities, and those who have borne
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
it have contributed in a large measure to the development and upbuilding of what is now an opulent and populous county. Joseph I. Helnis, living in Abington township, was born in that township, Aug. 19, 1874, a son of Michael Helms (see sketch) and is the eld- est of four children. He is indebted to the public schools of Ab- ington township for his early educational discipline and his initial services in the field of practical endeavor were rendered on the farm of his father. He was thus employed until twenty-one years old, when he worked one year for his father as a hired man and then operated his father's farm two years. Then, having married, he co-operated in the management of his father-in-law's place two years, at the end of which period he purchased the farm where he resides and which consists of 160 acres of land adjoining Center township. He operates this farm in a general way, including stock raising, and makes a specialty of Poland China hogs. He devotes his entire time to the farm, which is one of the best equipped in the township, and his modern residence was built in the summer of 1905, the barn being erected in 1908. In politics, Mr. Helms is aligned as a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and is at present a member of the Wayne County Council and also present chairman of Abington township. He is affiliated with Hiram Lodge, No. 417, Free and Accepted Masons, at Cen- terville, being Worshipful Master in 1911. Ang. 3, 1898, recorded the marriage of Mr. Hehins to Miss Mand E. Fender, born in Ab- ington township, Nov. 20, 1876, a daughter of Milbern L. and Fran- ces (Wood) Fender, the former born in Abington township, May 7, 1848, and the latter in Center township, north of Centerville, June 11, 1854. The father became a land owner in Wayne county and devoted his time to general farming. About 1904 he moved to Centerville, where he lived retired until his death, April 18, 1908. Mrs. Helms was his only child. Henry L. Fender, paternal grand- father of Mrs. Helms, was born on the farm where he resides, May 12, 1827, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Long) Fender, natives of North Carolina, the former born in 1779 and the latter in 1780. Henry Fender was a land owner in North Carolina but disposed of his holdlings there and came to Indiana in 1811, settling in Boston township, Wayne county, where he resided two years, and then, in 1813, came to the farm where his son, Henry L., resides. The surrounding country was then a wilderness and there was no settle- ment between his farm and Noland's Fork, or what is known as the "Doddridge Settlement." Henry Fender began clearing his land and spent the residue of his life here, dying July 8, 1863, his wife having died in 1861. They were the parents of twelve chil- dren, Henry L. being the youngest and the only one living.
Elihu Hiatt, residing in the township of Abington after a busy career as an agriculturist, was born in Darke county, Ohio, June 24, 1839, son of Jabez and Anna (Sullivan) Hiatt, natives of North Carolina. Jabez Iliatt removed to Ohio in an early day and after a residence there of a few years came to Wayne county and settled in Franklin township, where he became a land owner and continued to reside until his death, in 1874. His wife passed away some
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BIOGRAPILICAL.
years later, at the age of eighty-eight years. They were the par- ents of seven children, only two of whom are living, and Elihu is the eldest. William, a younger brother, is a farmer and resides in New Garden township. Elihu Hiatt attended school in District No. 2 of Franklin township and also a short time at Bethel school. Since leaving school he has had no other interest than agriculture, in which he has been actively engaged. At the age of nineteen he rented a farm in Franklin township and at the time of his father's death inherited sixty acres of the old homestead. A number of years later he purchased the remainder of the old homestead, which increased his farm to 133 acres, and this he traded for an eighty- acre farm in Franklin township, where he resided about three years. He then sold that tract and lived practically retired until 1902, since which time he has resided on a farm of thirty-four acres in Abington township. In his political convictions Mr. Hiatt has been unswerving in his allegiance to the Republican party, though he has never aspired to hold official position. On Nov. 5, 1857, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hiatt and Miss Martha Ann Tharp, born in Franklin township. in November, 1841, daughter of John and Anna P'. ( Middleton) Tharp, born in North Carolina. They came to Franklin township in an early day and located near Bethel, where they lived on a farm the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Hliatt died, having become the mother of three children: Mary Adeline, born Nov. 16, 1858, is the wife of Frank D. Crawford, a carpenter in Richmond; Oliver P. Morton, born Aug. 13, 1863, is a truck farmer and resides at Greenville, Ohio; and Anna May, born June 3, 1866, is the wife of Eugene Anderson, a farmer residing three miles southeast of Richmond. On June 25, 1902, Mr. Hiatt was married to Mrs. Francena (Helms) McConaha, born in Abington township, Dec. 25, 1845, daughter of Isaiah Helms (see sketch of Michael Helms ). Mrs. Hiatt was first married, Sept. 6, 1866, to Louis McConaha, born in Center township, Oct. 10, 1845, son of Thomas and Christina ( Kramer) McConaha (see sketch of Thomas McCon- alıa). Louis McConaha died Oct. 31, 1877, the father of five chil- dren : Isaiah, born May 4, 1868, died June 26, 1890; Minnie E., born June 27, 1869, is the wife of James Wilson, a farmer residing four miles north of Liberty, in U'nion county; Elizabeth Jane, born Feb. 27, 1872, is the wife of John G. Klinger, of Richmond; Joseph Arthur, born April 27, 1874, is a mechanic and resides in West Richmond ; and Phebe Eveline, born Oct. 8, 1875, is the wife of Milton S. Kinder, a grocer in Richmond. Mr. McConaha was a farmer during his active career and his widow continued a resident of Abington township until her marriage with Mr. Iliatt. Mr. and Mrs. Hiatt are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lo- cust Grove.
Harlan Parker Jarrett, a native son of Abington township and one of the prosperous farmers of that community, was born Oct. 2, 1852, son of James M. and Sarah Ann ( Robbins) Jarrett, natives of Abington township, the former born Nov. 15, 1825, and the lat- ter, May 8, 1826. The father in early life was a farmer and stock dealer, at which he was for a number of years successfully engaged.
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
When his father died, in 1848, he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the parent's estate and afterward became one of the most extensive buyers and shippers of stock in Wayne county. He also became an extensive land owner, owning land in other parts of the county and also in Iowa, where his possessions amounted to 200 acres, and he devoted the major portion of his life exclusively to the stock business, in early times shipping to the Eastern markets, but later to Indianapolis and Chicago. He served with the Home Guards at the time of the Morgan raid, and served as justice of the peace and was elected township trustee, but died before taking the office, in February, 1895. To him and his wife were born four children: Mattie, born in 1847, died in 1871 ; Emily, born Sept. 26, 1848, is the wife of Dr. Gabel, of Cen- terville ; Harlan P. is the next in order of birth : and William M., born March 18, 1856, is a farmer and resides in Abington township Harlan P. Jarrett received his education in the schools of District No. 3, in his native township, and continued with his father until about twenty-five years old, for several years as a partner with the parent and the younger brother. He then moved to the farm where he resides and for a few years engaged in the stock busi- ness. Since becoming the owner of this place he has devoted his energies to scientific and progressive agriculture, and his measure of success is best evinced by his high standing in the community. While engaged in the stock business he traveled over a large part of this country, but never became a resident of any place but Ab- ington township. He has 115.5 acres of land, does general farm- ing and raises stock and grain of all kinds. Politically, Mr. Jar- rett gives his support to the men and measures of the Republican party, but has never sought official honors for himself. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. On June 27, 1877, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Jarrett and Miss Celia Fender, daughter of Leborn L. and Rebecca (Connard) Fender, of Abington township. Mrs. Jarrett was born on the farm where she now resides, Aug. 31, 1857. Her father, Leborn L. Fender, was a lifelong resident of Wayne county. He was born on the farm where his daughter resides, Feb. 3, 1835. On Oct. 22, 1856, he married Rebecca Connard, born in Ohio, June 23, 1836, and continued to reside on the old homestead until his death, Oct. 10, 1859, having lived an honorable and upright life in all his dealings with his fel- low men, whose confidence and esteem he commanded to the last. Mrs. Jarrett is the only child of these parents. After the father died the mother continued to reside on the homestead until she be- came the wife of Joseph Yager, and she died Oct. 28, 1903. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jarrett: Jesse Fender, born Nov. 6, 1879, married Edith McCowan, of Centerville, resides in Richmond, and they have two children-Ruth E., born Dec. 7, 1898, and Howard Parker, born April 4, 1910; Estella Alice, born Dec. 21, 1881, is the wife of Perry C. Shadle (see sketch) ; James W., born Sept. 27, 1886, married Pearl Hoppus, of Liberty, Union county, Indiana, is a farmer and resides in Abington township, and they have one daughter, Celia Bell, born Oct. 20, 1910; and Wil-
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BIOGRAPHICAL
liam R., born Feb. 18, 1889, married Della Stinson, of Abington township, resides on a farm adjoining the old homestead, and they have two children-Walter James, born Oct. 7, 1907, and Hazel Josephine, born June 8, 1910. Jacob Fender, paternal grand- father of Mrs. Jarrett, was born in North Carolina, Jan. 28, 1806, son of Ilenry and Elizabeth (Lang) Fender, natives of North Caro- lina, the former born in 1787 and the latter in 1789. In October, 1811, his parents came to Wayne county, Indiana, and settled in the southern part, or in what is now Union county. In 1814 they removed to what is now Abington township, entered 100 acres of land and built a log cabin. They were members and zealous work- ers in the Methodist Episcopal church and their house was used as a place of worship before a church was built. They had a fam- ily of eleven children-Jonathan, Gabriel, Susannah, Jacob, Little- ton, Sarah, John H., Lydia, Sophia, Mary Ann, and Ilenry L. Jacob Fender was married Nov. 3, 1829, to Betsy Ann Ilolland, born in Wayne county, Jan. 9, 1811, daughter of Elijah Holland, of English descent. After his marriage he purchased 120 acres of land in Abington township, the same being that now occupied by Mr. Jarrett. He was a generous man and assisted many. IIe died March 2, 1904, and his wife passed away June 17, 1887. Of their union was born a son, Leborn L., the father of Mrs. Jarrett.
William Smoker is a leading farmer of the township of Abing- ton, where he has been engaged in the successful conduct of agri- cultural pursuits throughout all of his career, and both as a tiller of the soil and a citizen is held in high esteem by his associates. Mr. Smoker was born Nov. 13, 1856, one and one-half miles north of Abington, in Abington township, son of Amos and Mary (Brum- field ) Smoker, the former born in Union county, one-half mile southwest of Abington, and the latter in Abington township, one- half mile north of Abington. The father was a farmer by occupa- tion and followed agricultural pursuits exclusively in Abington township until a few months before his death, when he went to his boyhood home in Union county. Ile was born Sept. 27, 1832, and died in January, 1859, and the mother was born July 7, 1834, and is still a resident of Abington township. The father was very successful in his endeavors during his short but active career. To him and his good wife were born two children: Eliza, who is the wife of John Sullivan, of Centerville, and William. The son re- ceived his preliminary education in the excellent schools of Abing- ton township and resided with his mother until twenty-six years old. He then purchased land adjoining the old homestead and upon that tract resided about twenty-six years, at the end of which period he purchased the farm where he resides. Ile has added to his belongings from time to time until he has 288 acres, all in Abington township, and in addition to this he and his family oper- ate land rented from others. Beginning in early manhood, he oper- ated a threshing outfit seventeen seasons. The religious faith of himself and wife is expressed by affiliation with the Christian church at Abington, and in politics he gives a consistent support to the men and measures of the Republican party. Mr. Smoker
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