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 17
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was married April 13, 1881, to Miss Mary E. Dye, and this union has been blessed by the birth of four children: Gale H., born March 20, 1885, married Mamie Lamott and resides on his father's farm in Abington township ; Walter E., born Jan. 10, 1888, was mar- ried Nov. 9, 1910, to Miss Goldie Higgins, daughter of Joshua M. and Eliza J. (Angleton) Higgins, and resides in Abington township ; Os- car R., born March 4, 1800, resides at the parental home ; and Thom- as E., born Aug. 18, 1892, was married Dec. 28, 1910, to Miss Ruby B. Miller, daughter of Charles D. Miller (see sketch). Mrs. Smoker was born in Abington township, Oct. 27, 1863, daughter of Ander- son and Elizabeth (Manning) Dye, born in Abington township, the father on June 5, 1826, and the mother on July 29, 1827. The father was always a farmer, though he engaged in saw milling for a time in early life. He became a land owner and operated a farm in Abington township many years, dying in November, 1882, and the mother is now living with a son at Urbana, Ohio. They were the parents of twelve children: Charles is deceased; William is a farmer and resides at Urbana, Ohio; James is a farmer and resides at Urbana, Ohio; Joseph resides in Columbus, Ohio; Mahlon is de- ceased ; Joshua is a farmer and resides in Abington township; Mrs. Smoker is the next in order of birth; Thomas is in the insurance and real estate business at Urbana, Ohio; Sarah Luella is the wife of Stephen A. Ryan, of Richmond ; Carrie A. is the wife of Nathan T. Colvin (see sketch) ; Isaac M. is engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Urbana, Ohio; and Emma is deceased.
Jesse David Kinder was one of the honored citizens and prom- inent business men of Abington township, where he maintained his home a number of years, and where he was engaged in the mercan- tile business until his death, March 9, 1902. His career was char- acterized by signal integrity of purpose as well as by well directed industry, and he gained not only a position of independence, but was also a citizen well worthy of the unqualified esteem in which he was held. Mr. Kinder was a native of Union county, Indiana, born near Philomath, Jan. 1, 1861, a son of Frank and Caroline (George) Kinder, born in U'nion county. Frank Kinder, who fol- lowed the saw mill and threshing business during his active career, is living retired in the village of Abington, and the mother died in 1879. They were the parents of five children: Jesse D. was the eldest; Anchor is the wife of Emanuel Leistner, of Philomath, Union county ; William is a thresher and farmer and resides south- west of Philomath; Lafayette is a thresher and resides in Philo- math; and Milton S. is a grocer in Richmond. Jesse D. Kinder was indebted to the public schools of Union county for his early educational discipline. He was reared to maturity in that county and there his initial efforts in his independent career were made as an employe of his father in a. saw mill. He was thus engaged some time and then followed the threshing business until he came to Abington and purchased the general store, which was then being conducted by a Mr. Weaver. From then until his death he devoted his attention to the mercantile business. His political allegiance was given to the Democratic party, whose cause he espoused upon
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becoming a voter, and he was called upon to serve as township as- sessor one term. On June 27, 1887, Mr. Kinder was united in wed- lock to Miss Rose G. Stephens, born in the village of Abington, June 17, 1868, daughter of Thomas B. and Lavina (Whittinger) Stephens, and of this union were born two children: Roscoe, born Dec. 21, 1894, and Cuba, born Aug. 13, 1901. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Kinder has continued the mercantile business. Mr. Kinder was a member of the Masonic order, Lodge No. 232, and also of Abington Lodge, No. 406, Knights of Pythias. Thomas B. Stephens, the father of Mrs. Kinder, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1824, and the mother was born in Union county, Indiana, in June, 1827. The father was a blacksmith in his early life and came to Indiana with his parents in 1830, settling in Abington township, where he later established a shop and followed his trade until a few years before his death, in 1905. Ile and his good wife were the parents of eight children: Elizabeth became the wife of John Davis, of Anderson, and is deceased ; Louisa is the wife of William Collins, of Anderson; Francis resides in the village of Abington; John resides in Abington and assists Mrs. Kinder in the manage- ment of the store : William is deceased ; Carrie is the widow of Orris F. Wood and resides in the village of Abington ; Grant is a farmer and resides in Southern Kansas; and Mrs. Kinder is the youngest of the children.
John Dye has been a resident of Wayne county since infancy and is a member of one of the well known pioncer families of this section of the State. He has retired largely from the arduous labors and responsibilities which marked so many years of his life, but still conducts a general grocery and supply store, notions, etc., with a feed barn in connection, in the village of Abington. He was born near Philomath, Union county, Indiana, Sept. 15, 1835, and, though he has passed the psalmist's span of three score years and ten, is well preserved in mental and physical faculties and takes a lively interest in the affairs of the day and the general supervision of his business. He is a son of Joshua and Mary ( Nicholas) Dye, the for- mer born in the western part of Kentucky, Jan. 22, 1807, and the latter in Ohio, about 1810. The father came to Indiana with his parents in 1810, and they located on a farm near Abington, in the edge of U'nion county. A few years later they removed to a farm a few miles west, in the same county. The paternal grandfather served as a soldier in the war of 1812, under Captain Farlow, in General McFarland's brigade. Joshua Dye, the father, moved into Wayne county, in 1836, and in partnership with a brother pur- chased eighty acres of land lying west of Abington. Later, he sold his interest in this tract to his brother and purchased fifty acres near by. Hle resided on this tract sixteen years and then added fifty acres adjoining, and later forty acres more. He reclaimed con- siderable of his land from the forest wilds, in the meanwhile living up to the full tension of the pioneer days. In 1854 he sold his land and removed to Abington, where he built the residence in which his son John lives. In 1861 he built a store room in connection with the residence and was in Cincinnati, buying goods, the day that
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Fort Sumter was fired upon. He continued in the mercantile busi- ness until his death, which occurred Aug. 8, 1881, at which time he had attained to the patriarchal age of seventy-four years, six months and sixteen days. His devoted wife and helpmeet passed away in October, 1878. In the early days the father did consider- able huckstering, stock dealing, etc. John Dye was an infant of less than a year old at the time when his parents took up their residence in Wayne county and completed his early educational discipline in a log school-house then known as the "Stephens School-house," in Abington township, where he was reared to man's estate. He continued to be associated with his father in the various enterprises of that parent until the latter died, although he had in the meantime purchased a house and two lots in Abington. After the death of his parents he purchased the old homestead and has continued in the mercantile business, also superintending a small farm which he owns near the village. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party, in whose faith he was reared, and both he and his wife are zealons supporters of the Christian church at Abington. IIe is a member of Abington Lodge, No. 406, Knights of Pythias. On April 15, 1864, Mr. Dye was united in married to Miss Susanna Whitmer, daughter of Rudolph and Nancy (Stevens) Whitmer, of Union county. Mrs. Dye was born near Brownsville, Union county, in 1847, and of this union were born four children: Edward E., who resides in Richmond, married Ruby Kenneth and they have two sons-Floyd and Wilkie; Min- nie E. became the wife of William Amiel and is deceased, leaving one child, Orville; Cora N. is the wife of Frederick Sanford, of Clark's Lake, Mich .; and Lulu died in infancy. Mrs. Dye was summoned to the life eternal in 1871, and on March 20, 1873, Mr. Dye married Miss Sarah J. Shelby, born in Hancock county, March 20, 1847, daughter of Joshua and Nancy (Dunn) Shelby, former residents of Wayne county who removed to Hancock county, where they both died. Of this second marriage were born two children : Burton Albert, deceased; and Franklin C., who is a truck farmer and resides in the village of Abington, is married to Alta Colvin.
Benjamin Jarvis Hunt, deceased, was a native son of Wayne county, born on the farm where his widow resides, in Abington township, Dec. 27, 1835. He was a son of Charles and Lucinda (Jarvis) Hunt, natives of Wayne county, the father born on the before mentioned farm, June 17, 1813, and the mother in Boston township, in February, 1814. The paternal grandfather, Timothy Hunt, was born in 1771, and the grandmother in 1777, and they came to Indiana from Ohio, settling on the farm which is the resi- dence of the widow of Benjamin J. Hunt. There were nine sons in their family and they all became useful citizens of Wayne county. The parents of Benjamin J. Hunt were married in this county and, the grandfather dying in 1816, Charles remained with his mother until her death. He then established himself on the old homestead and devoted himself to reclaiming the same to cultivation. He continued his residence on this homestead until his death, Aug. 14. 1899. His wife passed away Dec. 2, 1891. To these parents were
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born three children, of which Benjamin J. was the eldest, Timothy died when a young man, and William resides in Richmond. Ben- jamin J. Hunt received his preliminary educational discipline in the district schools of Abington township, later attended the Richmond High School, also what is now known as the Garfield School, the old Greenmount College, a German school at Liberty, Ind., and the Normal at Lebanon, Ohio. When nineteen years old he began teaching in Abington township, teaching his first term at the vil- lage of Abington, and continued in that occupation many years. Being compelled to quit teaching because of the condition of his health, he settled on a farm which he had purchased, across the line in Union county, and there resided fourteen years. At the end of that period he returned to the old homestead and there resided the residue of his life, dying Feb. 27, 1800. On March 23, 1859, was solemnized Mr. Hunt's marriage to Miss Valera Henderson, born July 23, 1837, in Clermont county, Ohio. She is a daughter of Jackson and Maria (Read) Henderson, natives of Clermont county, where they lived out their lives and died when Mrs. Hunt was a child. She came to Indiana with Powell Slade, who still resides in Abington township, and with his family resided until married. She has a brother, Lafayette IIenderson, who resides in Oklahoma. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Hunt has remained on the home farm. Mr. Hunt was a Republican in his political adherency and as the representative of that party gave efficient service one term as trustee of Abington township. He enjoyed fraternal rela- tions with the Masonic order, and as is also his widow, was a worthy and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which denomination he officiated as a local preacher. To Mr. and Mrs. Hunt were born seven children: Charles, born Jan. 1, 1860, died in 1899; Edwin resides with his mother; Jesse married Anna Pad- dock and resides near Lewisville, Ind .; Loretta is the wife of Thomas E. Wynn, of Richmond; Millie is the wife of George Crow, of Abington township; William married Otie Webber and resides with his mother ; and Frank married Flossie Stinson and also re- sides at the old homestead.
Robert B. Colvin, farmer, was born near the county line, in Union county, Indiana, Oct. 23, 1848. Ilis parents were Thomas J. and Rebecca (Bennett) Colvin (see sketch of Josiah B. Colvin). Robert B. Colvin attended a school in Abington, in the old factory building which was used for school purposes, and later attended a school in Smithfield, held in an old dwelling house, and also at- tended school in a log school-house in Union county, and after the removal of the family to Randolph county, in 1861, attended school there. When about twenty years old he began his inde- pendent career as a farm hand, in which capacity he was engaged about three years. He then rented a farm near the county line, in Union county, and resided there one year. When the father died, in May, 1874, each of the five sons were given twenty acres of land, and Robert B. and his brother, William H., traded their tracts for a farm of seventy-five acres, to which they later added forty acres adjoining by purchase, and Robert B. resided thereon until
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1880, when he disposed of his interest to his brother. He then purchased the farm where he now resides and is one of the prac- tical farmers of this county. His farm consists of 120 acres and he operates it in a general way. He was a member of the Home Guards during the Civil war. Politically, our subject is a- Re- publican and has served as a member of the township advisory board. On Jan. 26, 1873, Mr. Colvin was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Railsback, born in Abington township, Nov. 19, 1852, daughter of Nathan Railsback (see sketch of Josiah B. Col- vin). Of this union were born eight children : Mattie, born March 5, 1874, is the wife of Charles Taylor; Alta Lucena, born Jan. 31, 1876, is the wife of Frank Dye, a farmer of Abington township; Charles Earl, born June 21, 1879, married Laura Grimes and after her death was wedded to Macey Turner, and is a farmer in Abing- ton township; Murray Lafayette, born March 27, 1881, married Myra Helms, is a farmer and resides in Preble county, Ohio; Es- tella Pearl, born Sept. 19, 1883, is the wife of Clarence Lybrook, a farmer of Preble county, Ohio; Nellie Rebecca, born March 20, 1885, is the wife of Chester Davis, of Abington ; Bertha Leota, born March 7, 1887, is the wife of Clarence Ham, a farmer residing north of Richmond; and Marie Elsie, born Aug. 26, 1894, resides at the parental home.
William K. Cheesman, who for a score of years has been con- nected with the agricultural industry in Center township, which political division of the county he has served as trustee, was born in Webster township, May 31, 1863. His father, Alexander Chees- man, was a native of New Jersey, born in 1811, and his mother, Nancy (Vinedge) Cheesman, was born in Center township, Wayne county, Indiana. The father came to Wayne county in 1820, the family having immigrated, in 1819, to Delaware county, where the father died, and the mother and children then located in Richmond. In his youth Alexander Cheesman worked for others for a time and then became a land owner in Webster township, where he resided until his death, with the exception of about nine months, in 1875, when he resided in Centerville. The father died in August, 1891, and the mother passed away in October, 1896. They were the par- ents of two children, of whom William K. is the elder, and Lennie Leota is the wife of James F. Harris (see sketch). The father had been previously married, of which union were born eight children, and the mother, at the time of her marriage to Mr. Cheesman, was the widow of William Kem (see sketch of Daniel B. Medearis). William K. Cheesman was educated in the schools of Center town- . ship and also attended, during the winters of 1880 and 1881, a normal school in Hendricks county. In 1883 he rented his father's farm, upon which he resided until 1892, when he purchased the place where he resides and which consists of 145 acres. Here he has resided continuously since, with the exception of three years, during which his official duties as trustee of Center township caused him to establish his residence in Centerville. Politically, Mr. Chees- man is a member of the Republican party, but has had no time to court public office, other than that of township trustee, already
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mentioned, and while living in Webster township served as asses- sor. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic order and also has membership in the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Serie 666, at Richmond, in all of which he has filled official positions. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. On May 31, 1883, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Cheesman and Mis- Letitia Culbert- son, born in Webster township. Aug. 25, 1866, daughter of Wil- liam and Mary Jane ( Ebersol) Culbertson (see sketch of William (ilbertson), and of this union there is a son, Earl, born Oct. 29, 1802.
Joshua Newton Swallow is a member of a family whose name has been identified with the annals of Wayne county since the pio- neer era of its history, and here he is one of the representative members of the farming commimity of Abington township, where he is the owner of a well improved landed estate of sixty-five acres. Ile was born at Abington. Wayne county, Dec. 17, 1843, a son of John and Nancy ( Dve) Swallow, the former born in Kentucky, in 1817, and the latter in Abington township, in 182. The father was reared on a farm, but became a practicing physician and early in life located at Abington, where he built up an extensive practice and continued to reside until his death, in 1850. He was one of the honored citizens and well known pioneers of the county and was a man who made his life count for good in all its relations. He was a man of strong mentality and unwavering integrity and con- tributed his quota to the development and civic upbuilding of this now opulent section of the Hoosier State. His widow died in 1871 and they were survived by two children. James Edward Swallow, the elder son, also became a physician and spent his entire life at Abington, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession. He died Feb. 11. 1899. Joshua N. Swallow is indebted to the schools of Abington for his early educational discipline, also attend- ing a couple of terms at Centerville, and this training has since been effectively supplemented through association with men and affairs during a signally active and useful career. His father died when he was young and he continued the assistant of his mother until he had attained to the age of twenty-nine years, although he worked for others to some extent. He then sold his interest in the homestead and purchased a farm in the western part of bing- ton township, to the improvement and cultivation of which he con- tinued to devote his attention for the ensuing fifteen years. Ile then sold the property and purchased sixty-five acres east of Ab- ington, where he has since maintained his residence. He finds satisfaction in having a home in the county which is endeared to him by the memories and associations of the past, and here his circle of friends is circumscribed only by that of his acquaintance- ship. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party and he takes a loyal interest in public affairs of a local nature, hav- ing served as township assessor three terms, and at the present time is incumbent of the position of road supervisor. On Oct. 26, 1871, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Swallow to Miss Bar-
.
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bara Rodenberg, born in Abington township, May 2, 1844. a daugh- ter of George and Mary Catherine ( Plankinghorn) Rodenberg. Mr. and Mrs. Swallow have two children: Ethel Estella, born Nov. 22, 1873, is the wife of Emmet Dye, a blacksmith at Abing- ton, and has two children-Trilba B. and Bernice ; and Roscoe George Edward, born Nov. 5. 1883, resides at the parental home, associated with his father in the work and management of the home farm. Mr. Swallow is a member of Abington Lodge, No. 400. Knights of Pythias, and Abington Lodge, No. 154, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, having passed through the chairs of each of the local organizations. George Rodenberg, father of Mrs. Swallow, came to this county from his native State of Penn- sylvania and became one of the representative pioneer farmers of Abington township, where he passed the remainder of his life, his . wife dying May 22, 1911, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. She was a native of Germany and came with her parents to America when three years old. Her father was a farmer in Pennsylvania and later settled in Abington township, where he spent the resi- due of his life. To George and Mary Catherine ( Plankinghorn) Rodenberg were born twelve children, of whom Mrs. Swallow is the eldest : Anna Maria married Monroe Stinson. of Abington township ; Sarah Malinda is the widow of George Stinson, of Union county ; Bennett 11. married Mary Wright and resides in Kansas; Martin 1. married Louisa Myers and resides in Center township : Mary and John A. reside at the old homestead : William H. married Mrs. Belle Rodenberg and they reside in Centerville ; Cora Alice married Rufus Lambert, of U'nion county ; Laura L. resides at the old homestead ; Ella married Charles Brown and resides in U'nion county ; and Willard R. married Sadie Schodel and resides in Union county.
Milton Jacob Bowermaster was engaged in farming in Wayne county during all of his adult life and his memory is held in affec- tionate regard in the community in which he resided. It is cer- tainly most consonant that in this publication be perpetuated a brief review of this honored and loved citizen, who died at his home near East Germantown, Jan. 11, 1906. Mr. Bowermaster was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, Jan. 20, 1848. a son of Jacob and Sarah (Armstrong) Bowermaster, natives of the same county. They came west to Wayne county, in 1861, and lived m Jacksonburg one year, after which the father purchased a farm one mile north of Jacksonburg, where he spent the remainder of his life. The mother survived him and died in Jacksonburg. Milton J. Bowermaster was reared in a home of culture and refinement and after due preliminary study in the schools of Jacksonburg assisted his father on the farm until he reached the age of twenty-two years. lle then rented a farm in Jackson township and entered upon the active pursuit of his chosen vocation, residing on this farm two years. Ile then removed to Harrison township, where he lived several years, and in 1993 came to the present home of the widow, consisting of 14 acres, where he erected a house and maintained his home and business activities until death. He gained recogni-
MILTON JACOB BOWERMASTER.
MRS. EMMA R. BOWERMASTER
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BIOGRAPHICAL
tion as one of the representative farmers of Wayne county and ever continued a close and appreciative student of his occupation. He was a Republican in politics, was a member of the Masonic order, and was an attendant of the Lutheran church, in which faith he was reared. Mr. Bowermaster was a man of broad sympathy and gentle toleration. That he gained and retained the affectionate regard of those with whom he was associated, need not be stated, and in his death there was left in the community a deep sense of personal loss and bereavement, for his friends and admirers were in ail classes and stages of life. He made his own life count for good in its every relation, and the world gained through his serv- ices and his noble manhood. On Dec. 21, 1870, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bowermaster to Miss Emma Bonghner, a dangh- ter of Charles and Mary ( Waltz ) Boughner, both boru in Schuylkill county. Pennsylvania. When thirteen years old Charles Boughner came W'est with his widowed mother and located in Germantown, Ind., where he followed carpentering a time and then engaged in farming, retiring some time before his death. The parents of Mary (Waltz) Boughner came to Wayne county when she was eighteen months old and located on the farm where Mrs. Bowermaster re- sides. The original log house is still standing. in a good state of preservation, although about 100 years old. Mr. and Mrs. Bower- master became the parents of two children: Lena, the wife of Claude Kitterman, a banker in Cambridge City (see sketch ), and Alvin, deceased. Alvin married Levina Caldwell, daughter of Amos and Catherine ( Morris) Caldwell, and they had a son, Carl C. The widow and son make their home with Mrs. Bowermaster. Mrs. Bowermaster still maintains her home at the farmstead, where she is surrounded by many devoted and cherished friends. She holds membership in the Lutheran church.
Marcus D. L. Reyonlds, a leading farmer and one of the prom- inent and influential citizens of Center township, was born in llar- rison township, Wayne county, Indiana, March 26, 1857. His par- ents-Abraham and Melissa (Jones) Reynolds-were natives re- spectively of the State of New Jersey and Wayne county, Indiana, the father born Aug. 24, 1824, and the mother near Centerville, June 28, 1835. Abraham Reynolds came to Wayne county with his parents when twelve years old and the family located a short dis- tance west of Centerville, where the son grew to manhood. Early in life he engaged in teaming, from Centerville to Cincinnati, and followed that occupation until about thirty years old, when he en- gaged in the threshing business and farming. Hle purchased a farm in the southeast corner of Harrison township and there resided about twenty-five years, at the end of which period he sold that place and purchased a farm near Centterville, where he continned to reside until his death, which occurred Feb. 13. 1904, his wife having passed away Nov. 24, 1891. They were the parents of two children, of whom Marcus D. L. is the eldest, and Wallace C. is a farmer and resides in Wayne township, having formerly been a school teacher in this county twenty-three years. Marcus D. 1 .. Reynolds was educated in the schools of Harrison and Center town-
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