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 18
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
ships and completed his scholastic training in the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio. He resided at home until twenty-one years old, though he began teaching school at the age of eigheen, helping his father during the summer months. In 1878 he rented land from his grandfather, and this he occupied two years, after which for two years he rented land of his father. Then, in partnership with his father, he purchased the farm where he now resides and which consists of eighty acres, and in 1891 purchased his father's interest in the farm. In politics he is not definitely affiliated with any po- litical party, but his sympathies are with the Prohibition move- ment. To an unusual degree Mr. Reynolds has the respect and good wishes of all of his associates and his example and life have good influence on those who are fortunate to be numbered among his friends. Fraternally he is a member of Hoosier Lodge, No. 23, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Centerville, has passed through the chairs of the local organization and is a member of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. His son also enjoys the same dis- tinction and is a member and officer of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Richmond. On Jan. 30. 1879, was celebrated Mr. Rey - nolds' marriage to Miss Anna Harmel, born in Warren county, Ohio, Nov. 12, 1856, daughter of Jarvis and Katharine (Sears) Har- mel. Mrs. Reynolds died in 1891, having become the mother of two children, the eldest of whom died in infancy, and the other, Ralph T., born July 29, 1884, was a bookkeeper and solicitor with the Hackman & Klefoth Coal Company for five years and now con- ducts a news agency at Anderson, Ind. On Feb. 14. 1894, Mr Reynolds was married to Miss Nena E. Bean, born in Green town- ship, June 13, 1858. daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Evans) Bean. The father of Mrs. Reynolds was born near Harrisburg, Pa., Jan. 17, 1816, and the mother in Green township, this county, Nov. 3, 1824. The father removed to Warren county, Ohio, when seven years old, with his parents, and there they spent the residue of their lives. In about 1847 he came to Wayne county and made it his permanent home, dying here, Nov. 28, 1901. His widow died March 12, 1911.
William Culbertson has resided upon his present homestead farm, in Center township, nearly a third of a century, and is one of the venerable pioneers and honored citizens of this section of the county, where he has lived and labored to goodly ends, contributing his quota to the material and civic development of the county, and where he holds the unqualified esteem of all who know him. Though living virtually retired he maintains a general supervision of the farm and has by no means lost his vital interest in the affairs of the day. Ile has well earned the dignified repose which he is en- joying and finds the evening of his life gracious in its memories and its present associations. Mr. Culbertson was born in the town- ship of Center, Wayne county, Indiana, Oct. 27, 1831, a son of Robert and Rebecca (King) Culbertson, the former a native of Delaware and the latter of Kentucky, and they were representa- tives of families founded in America in the Colonial era of our country's history. The father came to Wayne county in early life
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and settled in Center township, where he and his wife continued to reside until their deaths. He became an extensive land owner and was a man of probity and honor, commanding the esteem of his fellow men. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom William is the next to the youngest and the only one liv- ing. William Culbertson was reared on the old home farm and re- ceived his early educational training in a log cabin located on what is now the Henry Stiggleman farm. Ile continued to be identified with the work of his father's farm until thirty years old, and in 1861 purchased a farm in Webster township, one mile north of his present location. He resided there about twenty years, and in 1881 sold that place and purchased the farm where he resides. Ite se- cured eighty acres, has operated the farm in a general way, and how well he has succeeded needs no further voucher than that offered in the thrift and prosperity which mark his fine homestead to-day. The long intervening years of his life have brought their burdens of strennons labor, perplexities and hardships, but he has pressed forward toward the goal of success and independence and in due time was not denied a splendid reward for his well directed endeavors. The farm is devoted to general agriculture. Mr. Cul- bertson has been arrayed as a supporter to the cause of the Demo- cratic party from the time of becoming a voter, and while he has never consented to become a candidate for public office has given his aid and influence in behalf of all worthy measures and enter- prises advanced for the general good of the community. On Dec. 27, 1853, two months after attaining the age of twenty-two years, Mr. Culbertson took an important step in his life and one that has proven of unalloyed satisfaction during all the long intervening years. On that day he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Ebersol, born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, April 25, 1836, daughter of Solomon and Ann ( Longnecker) Ebersol (see sketch of Solomon Ebersol). Mr. and Mrs. Culbertson became the parents of ten children: Lafayette, born in 1854, resides in Richmond ; Alice, born Oct. 22, 1858, is the wife of Ollie Sharon, a retired farmer in Wichita, Kan .; George W. is a rural mail carrier and resides in Richmond ; Kate is the wife of Henry Harney, a farmer of Center township; Ella is the wife of Abraham Potter, a farmer near Williamsburg; Letitia is the wife of William K. Cheesman (see sketch) ; William, Jr., is a farmer and resides near Center- ville; and the last three born died in childhood.
Cyrus O. Albertson is one of the well known citizens and pro- gressive farmers of Center township, where he is the owner of a fine farm, and for several years has been living in retirement. He has passed his entire life in this county, has wielded no little in- fluence in public affairs of a local nature, and has so ordered his course as to retain at all times the inviolable confidence and regard of his fellow men. Mr. Albertson was born in the city of Rich- mond, Wayne county, Indiana, March 27, 1833, a son of Joshua and Abigail (Ratliff) Albertson, natives of Randolph county, North Carolina, which county furnished many pioneers to Wayne county. Joshua Albertson, born in the year 1790, was a man who
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
was animated by unequivocal patriotism. In early life he was a carpenter contractor and builder and came to Richmond about 1820. There he engaged in the carpenter trade and continued his resi- dence in that city until about 1839, when he purchased a farm in Clay township, where he died in 1877. His wife preceded him by many years and was summoned to the life eternal in 1850. Of the twelve children only four are living: William resides in Sedge- wick City, Kan .; Cyrus O. is the next in order of birth ; Elizabeth is the widow of Amos Heston and resides in Greensboro, Henry county ; and Rebecca Jane is the wife of Seth Stafford, of near Greensboro. Cyrus O. Albertson secured his early educational discipline in the district schools of Center township. In his youth he assisted his father on the farm, and after remaining at the old homestead until twenty-four years old rented land about three years. Hle then purchased his present homestead farm of eighty acres in Center township and upon the same has since continued to reside, with the exception of two years when he resided on his father-in-law's farm. He has given to the farm his general super- vision and has been known as one of the progressive agriculturists of the county. His farm is one of the model places of the town- ship and is improved with specially good buildings, including the attractive modern residence, which was erected by him. He has a residence property in Centerville and also owns the old James Albertson residence in Richmond. Though showing a loyal interest in public affairs and doing all in his power to insure good govern- ment in his township and county, Mr. Albertson has never sought office for himself, and in matters of political import is a Republican. Hle and his wife are both zealous supporters of the United Brethren church. On Dec. 12, 1855, Mr. Albertson was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Brooks, born near Economy, in Perry township, June 5, 1836, daughter of John and Rachel ( Lock) Brooks, honored and well known residents and pioneers of Perry township. Of this union were born four children: Emma R. is the wife of James R. Helms (see sketch) ; Olive J., born March 14, 1861, is the wife of Ezra A. Clemmons, of Fountain City ; India A., born Dec. 13, 1863, became the wife of Warren Irvin and died July 26, 1901 ; and Ora B., born Aug. 3, 1872, is the wife of Cortez H. Jones, of Centerville. Mrs. Albertson's father was born in Guil- ford county, North Carolina, Nov. 18, 1806. He came to Wayne county when a young man, and after his marriage to Rachel Lock, Sept. 5, 1833, settled on land in Clay township, where he developed a good farm and was one of the honored and influential citizens of that part of the county. Of that union were born two daughters : Betsy Jane (Brooks) Bailey, born Nov. 12, 1834, and Martha Ann, the wife of Mr. Albertson. Rachel (Lock) Brooks departed this life Aug. 24, 1843, and on Dec. 21, 1844, John Brooks was married to Mary Ann Johnson, in Morgan county, Indiana. Of this second union were born three children: Jesse W., born Nov. 9, 1845; Emma Alice ( Brooks) Bellis, born Jan. 19, 1856; and Flora Bell (Brooks) Worl, born March 11, 1863. John Brooks died on the old homestead, Jan. 19, 1896. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Al-
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bertson were William and Damaris ( Mills) Lock, natives of North Carolina, the former born in Granville county, June 13, 1787, and died Nov. 3, 1868, and the latter in Stokes county, April 7, 1784, and died Nov. 27, 1858. Their daughter, Rachel (Lock) Brooks, was born in Perry township, Wayne county, Indiana, May 26, 1816. The maternal great-grandparents of Mrs. Albertson were Aaron and Charity Mills, the former born Feb. 22, 1749, and the latter Jan. 19, 1754, and departed this life in 1836. The paternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Albertson was David Brooks, the cele- brated Quaker preacher, born in April. 1737, and his wife was Sarah (Sanders) Brooks, born in June, 1739. Their son, Jesse Brooks, was born in Stokes county, North Carolina, Oct. 20, 1775, and he married Judith Johnson, a native of North Carolina, born. May 25, 1779. Of their union was born John Brooks, father of Mrs. Albertson.
Carlos E. Tubesing is one of the progressive farmers and high- ly honored citizens of his native township of Center, where he occupies a well improved farm of 100 acres, and he is a representa- tive in the third generation of one of the sterling pioneer families of this county, with whose annals the name has been identified from the pioneer era in the history of this section. Mr. Tubesing was born on the farm and in the house where he resides, in Center township, July 11, 1884, a son of Henry and Amelia (Frauman) Tubesing, the former born in Webster township, this county, Nov. 21, 1857, and the latter at Richmond, Ind., Sept. 24, 1861. Henry Tubesing was reared amidst the scenes and influences of that ear- lier era and his early educational advantages were such as were afforded in the district schools of the locality and period. In his youth he assisted his father on the farm and resided at the parental home until he arrived at the age of maturity. About 1878 he rented the farm where his son, Carlos E., resides, and after some years' resi- dence there purchased thirty acres adjoining, in Webster town- ship. The farm which his son occupies was later deeded to him and he also purchased the place known as the "Thompson Farm," upon which he resided about five years. Then turning that place over to his son, Edgar, he returned to the place where Carlos E. resides, and after a residence there of four years removed to Rich- mond, where he and his wife live retired, at 324 North Fifth street. He is a man of a high order of mentality, and, living a "goodly, righteous and sober life," has held as his own the inviolable con- fidence and esteem of his fellow men. To him and his good wife were born three children: Edgar, who is a farmer and resides in Center township, married Rose Placke and they have one child, Verlin ; Carlos E. is the second in order of birth ; and Hilda resides with her parents in Richmond. Carlos E. Tubesing gained his pre- liminary educational discipline at sessions of school in the Starr school-house, the Sevastapool school-house, and later at Culbert- son's school-house. He was reared to the beneficent and invigorat- ing life of the farm, is familiar with all details of the work, has gained a definite knowledge of the various scientific principles in- volved, and has never found it necessary or desirable to seek other
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
vocations. He has thus been identified with agricultural pursuits in his native county from his boyhood to the present time, and dur- ing all of that time has been associated in the work and manage- ment of the old homestead, where he continues his successful oper- ations as a general farmer. In politics he gives an unqualified alle- giance to the Republican party, but has never held public office. lle is one of the most zealous and valued members of Trinity English Lutheran Church at Richmond. On Nov. 29, 1906, he was mar- ried to Miss Clara Tieman, a native of Richmond, who presides over the domestic economies and social affairs of their hospitable home. Of this union have been born two children, the first one, born July 4, 1909, having died in infancy, and Earl Henry, born Aug. 20, 1910. Mrs. Tubesing's parents-Harmon and Louisa (Sut- off) Tieman-were born in Germany, the father on Oct. 5, 1858, and the mother on March 13 of the same year. Coming to America, they located in Richmond, where they resided until about 1892, when the father purchased a farm in Boston township, to which he has added until he now has 180 acres, which he is engaged in cultivating.
DeWitt C. Russell, who died June 28, 1911, was one of the sub- stantial farmers and honored citizens of Center township, a resi- dent of Wayne county from his birth, and when it is stated that the period thus represented was nearly sixty-four years it will be readily understood that he witnessed the development of this sec- tion from the conditions of the early epoch to a day of opulent pros- perity and advanced civic status. DeWitt Clinton Russell was born on what is known as the "Kempton Farm," in Center town- ship, Sept. 29, 1847, a son of Vinnedge and Jane (Rich) Russell, the former born in Trumbull county, Ohio, Dec. 10, 1811, and the latter in Guilford county, North Carolina, Oct. 21, 1817. The pa- ternal grandparents came to Indiana when Vinnedge was nine months old and located on the farm where De Witt C. Russell was born. There Vinnedge Russell grew to manhood, became an early land owner in Wayne county and followed farming until his death, Dec. 19, 1887, his wife having passed away Ang. 15, 1851. He was a man of strong and vigorous mentality, his life was one of exalted righteousness, and his name merits a place on the roll of the hon- ored pioneers of the county, to whose civic and material develop- ment and progress he contributed his quota. In an old copy of the "Indiana Farmer," dated Dec. 1, 1851, is found the following con- tribution from his pen, which shows him to have been among the foremost of those interested in agricultural pursuits: "Messrs. Editors :- In conversation with a brother farmer a few days since, the subject of the above named paper [ Indiana Farmer | came up; he remarked that he had not seen it, but he supposed that it must be a great paper, as the editors were great farmers-that in his opinion they knew about as much about farming as a jackass. Now, Messrs. Editors, the light I viewed the matter in is this : I pro- fess to know something about farming. When corn planting arrives, I go to my crib and select from the mass my seed,if not previously done. So with the publisher of a paper ; he selects from the mass
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BIOGRAPHICAL
such articles as possess the greatest merit. It would be a great paper that I could publish, or even my brother farmer who thinks your qualifications so high and exalted, although we profess to know something about farming. The object I have in view is this ; to stir up my brother farmers to pen their experiments and re- sults-to throw their mites in, that the editors may have a store- house to select from. Now I will give an experiment that I tried in the fall of 1849. When I dug my potatoes, I found the rot to a considerable extent. I assorted them and left them on the ground to dry, after which I piled them up and covered them to keep them dry, and let them remain some three weeks, and then put them away in the following manner: I first leveled off the ground and sprinkled it over with slacked lime, and then put potatoes, sprinkled them with lime occasionally, after which I covered with straw and then earth to about eight inches' thickness, covering the whole with flax straw sufficient to keep the earth dry. The result was, that when I come to open in the spring I found them perfectly dry and sound. As far as my experience goes, I think potatoes keep their flavor better in the ground than in a cellar. Come, brother farmers, let us hear from you. Perhaps you may hear from me again." To Mr. and Mrs. Vinnedge Russell were born seven children : John, born April 8, 1839, is deceased ; Francena, born Nov. 2, 1841, became the wife of Abijah Jenkins and is deceased ; Joseph P., born June 12, 1844, is a mechanic and resides in Richmond; Ithamer, born Dec. 31, 1845, died March 30, 1853; DeWitt C. was the next in order of birth ; Allen W., born March 9, 1849, died in 1894; and Martha is the wife of Michael Helms (see sketch). After the death of his first wife, Vinnedge Russell, on Feb. 22, 1852, was married to Elizabeth Jay, born in Miami county, Oct. 6, 1813, but no chil- dren were born of this union. DeWitt C. Russell secured his rudi- mentary education in the schools of District No. I in Center town- ship, which he attended during the winter terms, when his services were not in requisition in connection with the work of the home farm. He resided with his father until the death of that parent, although he took charge of the farm at the age of twenty-five years, and continued to reside there until 1888, when he purchased a fine homestead of seventy acres, in Center township. He resided there about five years and then went back to the old homestead, where he remained until it was sold by the heirs, about four years later. He - then returned to his own place, where he afterward maintained his home and where the labors of years are definitely shown in the general air of thrift and prosperity which pervades the place and marks it as one of the model farmsteads of the county. He showed in his career a signal devotion to the duty represented in the affairs of everyday life, and was one of the world's noble army of workers. Than this commendation no man needs more. His life was guided by strict principles of personal integrity and honor, and the objec- tive sequel was the reposing in him of unqualified confidence and esteem on the part of his fellow men. His advancement was coin- cident with the progress and development of the county, and in the latter days, when the shadows of his life began to lengthen
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
from the Golden West, "with the glory of God in the after-glow," he could revert to what had been lost and what had been won, and find that little had been left undone that was possible of accom- plishment on his part. In matters of public import Mr. Russell always showed a deep interest and did his part in sustaining all worthy enterprises and measures advanced in behalf of the general good of the community, though he never sought nor desired public office. Ilis political allegiance was given to the Jacksonian Demo- cratic party, and the only local office in which he ever consented to serve was that of supervisor. He was a devout and zealons sup- porter of the Third Methodist Episcopal Church at Fairview, as is also his widow, and he was affiliated with the Odd Fellow frater- nity, in the local organization of which he served two terms as Noble Grand. On April 10, 1873, Mr. Russell was united in mar- riage to Miss Margaret A. Hammond, born in Jay county, Indi- ana, Oct. 11, 1851, daughter of Pleasant Hammond, a well known pioneer of that county. They became the parents of two children, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Russell was summoned to the life eternal, Dec. 29, 1877, and on March 10, 1880, Mr. Russell was united in wedlock to Mrs. Luella N. (Medearis) Davis, daughter of John Fletcher and Caroline (Abrahams) Medearis (see sketch of Daniel B. Medearis). The children of the second marriage are : Luella, born Dee. 7, 1880, wife of Charles Wilson, a farmer of Wayne township; Fannie E., born March 7, 1882, wife of John Wickersham, a farmer residing on the old John Fletcher Medearis farm at Olive Hill; Jennie, born Aug. 25, 1887, residing at the parental home; and John Clinton and Clara Martha (twins), born May 25, 1891. Jolin Clinton was married, March 1, 1911, to Leota Colvin, and resides at the parental home, and Clara Martha was married, May 31, 1911, to Ralph McMinn, and they reside in Cen- terville. Mrs. Russell, by her first marriage, has one child, George D. Davis, born Nov. 3, 1877, also a member of the Russell house- hold. The family has in their possession a copy of the "Western Citizen," published at Paris, Ky., in 1808, and which presumably was brought to Wayne county by some of Mr. Russell's ancestors. They also have the copy of the "Indiana Farmer," containing the article quoted from the pen of Mr. Russell's father.
Wallace C. Reynolds is one of the progressive farmers of the present active generation in Center and Wayne townships, where he is the owner of a well improved and productive farm of 127.5 acres, forty acres of which is in Center township and the remainder in Wayne, and his dwelling house is located exactly on the line dividing these two subdivisions of Wayne county. His energy and good management are clearly indicated in the general thrift and prosperity which are distinctively in evidence in all parts of his landed estate, and he is known as a reliable, public-spirited and loyal citizen of his native county. Like many others of the valued citizens of Wayne county, Mr. Reynolds claims Harrison town- ship as the place of his nativity. He was born in that township, April 1, 1861, a son of Abraham and Melissa (Jones) Reynolds (see sketch of- Marcus D. L. Reynolds). Wallace C. Reynolds was
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BIOGRAPHICAL
reared to maturity on the paternal homestead in Wayne county, where he was afforded the advantages of the public schools, and he graduated in the Central Normal College at Danville, Ind., with the class of 1881. He continued to be associated in the work of the home farm until nineteen years old, when he began teaching school in Center township, and after his graduation continued to spend his summers on the farm and taught during the winters a period of twenty-three years, during one year of which time he taught in Meade county, Kansas. In 1891 he was enabled to make judicious investment of his accumulated earnings, since, in that year, he pur- chased his well improved farm of 127.5 acres, continuing teaching, however, for several years thereafter. As an independent farmer he has manifested the same energy and enterprise which had made his efforts as a teacher prolific in benefit to himself and his pupils, and the result is clearly shown in the appearance and appurtenances of his farm, which is devoted to diversified agriculture and stock growing. He is also a stockholder in the First National Bank at Richmond. Though he has never sought nor desired public office he is a stanch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party and is loyal to all the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. Dec. 25, 1886, bore record of the marriage of Mr. Reynolds to Miss Rosa E. Townsend, born in Center township, this county, Aug. 25, 1866, daughter of John M. and Elizabeth (Edgerton) Townsend. Mrs. Reynolds died Oct. 28, 1910, the mother of two children: Cora, born Nov. 23, 1887, in Kansas, graduated at Earlham College with the class of 1910, and Maud, born Sept. 17, 1889, graduated at Earlham College in the same class with her sister, won the Bryn Mawr scholarship, and is now a student in that institution of learn- ing. The parents of Mrs. Reynolds were early residents of Wayne county and are both deceased.
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