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 21
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
to Wayne county in October, 1857, and he followed that occupa- tion until his death, June 13, 1902, and his widow now resides in Richmond. They were married in North Carolina, Oct. 20, 1850, and became the parents of nine children: Louise, born in 1851, died in infancy, as did also the second child; Mrs. Kendall is the third in order of birth; Joseph A., born Nov. 24, 1855, resides in Richmond; William B., born Dec. 28, 1857, is a farmer and re- sides in Wayne township; Elenora M., born March 16, 1860, re- sides with her mother; Essie A., born Aug. 28, 1863, is the wife of Thomas C. Taylor, engaged in the livery and sale stable busi- ness at Richmond; Anna, born Dec. 6, 1865, is the wife of William C. Pickett, of Richmond; and Rees M., born Sept. 3, 1874, is a mechanic and resides with his mother.
Theodore Smith Martin, whose fine homestead farm is located conveniently near the city of Richmond, has there maintained his home during all the years of his active life and is one of the hon- ored citizens of the county, now living virtually retired, but still maintaining an active interest in the supervision of his farm. He comes of a long line of American ancestry, the family having been established in Pennsylvania in an early day. Theodore S. Martin was born in Wayne township, May 3, 1849, a son of Benjamin L. and Sarah ( Christman ) Martin, natives of Pennsylvania, the former born Dec. 27, 1806, and the latter Sept. 3, 1807. The father was reared on a farm in Pennsylvania, where he was married, and early in life became a school teacher. He and his wife came to Indiana in the early '4os and located at Goshen, Wayne township, making the journey' overland. llere he began teaching school and also worked in the saw mill operated by his father, who had preceded him to Indiana. He later received the appointment as deputy auditor of Wayne county, and in 1854 was elected auditor, which position he held continuously until 1863. About this time he established what is now the Union National Bank at Richmond, then located at Centerville, and was elected cashier of that in- stitution; but before entering upon the duties was appointed by Governor Morton as paymaster in the army, in which position he served until the close of the Civil war. He then returned to his farm in Wayne township and also engaged several years in the pork-packing business in Richmond, but this he later discontinued and devoted the residue of his life to the farm, where he and his wife continued to reside until their deaths, he dying May 31, 1904, and she in July, 1889. The father served two terms as repre- sentative from Wayne county in the State legislature. Concern- ing their children the following brief data are given: Rebecca L. is the wife of William L. Boyd, of Richmond; William C. oper- ates a stock ranch in Montana; Theodore S. is the youngest of the family ; and the others, six in number are deceased. Theodore S. Martin gained his rudimentary education in the schools of Cen- terville, but at the age of sixteen left school to assist his father. He resided with his parents until married, after which he worked his father's farm one year. In 1874 he purchased a farm of IIO acres in Wayne township, adjoining his present home, where he
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fifteen yours and then purchased the twenty off antes where he resides and to which he removed on account of school advantages. fle owns 200 acres and has recently given his son fifty-five acres. He has developed this property into one of the fine farms of the county, making the best of improvements, including the erection of a handsome modern residence. He operated the land himself until 1905, since which year the man- agement has been in the hands of his son and son-in-law, the land being maintained under a highi state of cultivation. Mr. Martin buys and feeds hogs for the market and also sells fertilizer for an Indianapolis firm. He is a staunch Republican in politics, he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and their attractive home is a center of gracious hospitality. At Green- field, Ind., May 8, 1873, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Frances Foley, born in Hancock county, Indiana, Dec. 17, 1850, daugliter of James P. and Eliza (Templeton) Foley, the father being a native of Kentucky, born in 1804, and the mother born in Virginia, April 11, 1811. The father died near Greenfield, Ind., in 1864, and the mother passed the closing years of her life at the same place, where she died Sept. 1, 1889. They were the parents of seven children: Mansfield is living retired at Indianapolis; Mary M. is the wife of L. W. Gooding, a lawyer, of Greenfield; Letitia is the widow of Freeman II. Crawford and resides at Howard, Kan .; Mannie J. is the wife of Milton T. Mor- ris, of Indianapolis; Mrs. Martin is the youngest in the family, and two are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Martin became the parents of four children: Ernest N., born July 3, 1874, married Anna Essmaker, is a railroad engineer, and resides in Indianapolis ; Florence May, born Nov. 18, 1877, died June 10, 1883; William Foley, born Jan. 10, 1880, married Hazel Eliason, of Centerville, resides on his father's farm, and they have one child, Virginia Frances, born March 21, 1910; Lulu Emma, born June 30, 1885, is the wife of James M. Webster, resides on the Martin homestead, and they have one child, Florence May, born Dec. 14,. 1907. Mr. Martin is a member of Woodard Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Richmond. The father of Mrs. Martin came to Indiana in early life and engaged in the mercantile business at Knightstown some years, being a stockholder and director in the old Indiana Central (now the Pennsylvania) railroad. He at one time engaged in buying and driving stock to Cincinnati, before the days of railroad transportation, and later settled near Greenfield, where he died. He was at one time a member of the Indiana legislature.
Nathan W. Martin was one of the substantial and highly re- spected citizens of Wayne county. He was a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, born Oct. 5, 1834, son of Benjamin L. and Sarah (Chrisman) Martin, natives of the same county and State, the father born Dec. 24, 1806, and the mother Sept. 3, 1807. The father was a teacher in early life. Nathan W. Martin accom- panied his parents to Indiana at the age of seven years, received his education in the schools of Centerville and Goshen, in Wayne
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township, and at the age of fourteen years began to work for others in various occupations, being employed on the river be- tween Cincinnati and New Orleans one year. Among others, he worked for William Parry, of Wayne township, nine years, and after his marriage rented a farm from his father, across the road from the old Martin homestead. Later, he removed to another of his father's farms, adjoining, and resided on these two farms twelve years. He was an economical man and in due time had saved sufficient funds to purchase a farm of 160 acres in Frank- lin township. His first duties there were to finish clearing his land and reclaim it from the wilderness. Later he sold sixty acres and continued to reside on his farm of 00 acres until 1900, when he sold it and erected the house where his widow resides in the city of Richmond. The house was built on a lot that had been the property of Mrs. Martin's father, and there the husband continued to reside until his death, April 8, 1907. Mr. Martin was, with his son, the first rural route mail carrier to go out from the Richmond office, and the son, Alexander W., still continues in the service. The father was compelled to retire two years before his death, because of failing health. His politics were those of the Republican party but he never held any public office, other than supervisor. On March 4, 1860, he was married to Artelissa Cheesman, born in Center township, Oct. 3, 1841, daughter of Alexander and Nancy (Russell) Cheesman, the former born near Trenton, N. J., Nov. 3, 1811, and the latter near Pickaway, Jan. 16, 1815. In early life Mr. Cheesman did a great deal of teaming between Centerville and Cincinnati, although he always followed agricultural pursuits. He came with his parents to Indiana, about 1817, and the family first settled near Muncie, where his father resided the remainder of his life. Upon the death of the father the mother came to Richmond and lived the residue of her life with her son. To Mr. and Mrs. Nathan W. Martin were born the following children : Benjamin L., born Nov. 3, 1861, is em- ployed by Gaar, Scott & Co. and resides in the city of Richmond, is married to Ella N. Jeffries and they have three children- Harry E., Oscar N. and W. Ray A .; Mary Elmira, born May 10, 1863, is the wife of John Livelsberger, a carpenter and cement worker, of Richmond, and they have one child, Erma N .; Mattie C., born March 22, 1865, is the wife of William G. Bennett, of Richmond, and they have one child, Artelissa B .; Sarah C., born May 5, 1868, is the wife of Herbert Greene, of Richmond, and they have one child, Eunice A .; Elizabeth II., born July 6, 1870, died Aug. 5, of the same year; and Alexander W., born May 11, 1874, resides with his mother.
William Alvin Morrow, one of the substantial citizens of Wayne township, was born just east of Chester, in that town- ship, Ang. 14, 1859, son of John and Rachel (Strawbridge) Mor- row. The father was a native of North Carolina, born in 1806, and the mother was born in Wayne township, this county, Dec. 26, 1827. The father came to Indiana with his parents when quite young, and they first settled in Wayne township, where they en-
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tered the place which is known as the "Abram Gaar Farm," and later the grandfather became the owner of over 1,000 acres of land in Wayne township, where he spent the residue of his life. John Morrow, the father of William A., grew to manhood here and continued a resident of Wayne township. He was one of the first school teachers in the county and followed that occupation more than twenty years, his wife, whom he married when she was but eighteen years old, having been one of his pupils. After his marriage he devoted his time exclusively to farming and, like his father, owned considerable land in Wayne township. He re- sided on his farm until his death, in March, 1874, and his widow continued on the old homestead until her death, in February, 1903. They were the parents of eight children: Nancy Jane is the wife of Grear N. Williams, a farmer of Franklin township; Charles died in infancy ; Joseph S. died April 14, 1911, in Wayne town- ship; John C. resides east of Chester, in Wayne township; Min- nieola died in infancy ; William A. is the next in order of birth ; Edwin F. is a farmer and resides in Randolph county ; and Jesse L. died in 1899. William A. Morrow's educational advantages were limited to the course prescribed in the schools at Fairview, Wayne township, and was fourteen years old when his father died. The homestead was then divided and as his share he re- ceived twenty-seven acres, which he at once began clearing, haul- ing the wood to Richmond. Ile was married at the age of nine- teen and settled on the twenty-seven acres, embarked in farming, and by industry, discretion and careful attention to the duties at hand made the venture of farming a decided success. He has added to this tract from time to time and has 165 acres, most of it being in Wayne township, and he operates a part of the land himself, his son-in-law, Albert Kemp, residing on the old place and giving it general superintendence. In religious matters Mr. Morrow and his wife give devout support to the Friends' church, and he is prominently identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Woodard Lodge, No. 212, at Richmond. Although he has given unswerving support to the men and measures of the Republican party he has never sought to become its candi- date for public office. On Nov. 7, 1878, Mr. Morrow was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Jefferis, born in Franklin township, this county, Feb. 28, 1856, daughter of Abraham Darlington and Mary (Williams) Jefferis. Mr. and Mrs. Jefferis were born in Wayne county, he in Franklin township, in 1828, and she in Wayne township, May 11, 1830, and they spent their entire lives in this county. Five children were the issue of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Morrow: Pearl, born Sept. 3, 1879, is the wife of Albert Kemp, resides on the old homestead, and they have two children -Adelaide, born Dec. 22, 1903, and William A., born July 10, 1907; Harry Newton, born Dec. 9, 1880, is an express messenger on the Pennsylvania railroad and resides in Columbus, Ohio; Kit- tie, born Dec. 16, 1882, died Dec. 30 of the same year; Royal D., born Jan. 25, 1884, is a practicing physician and surgeon in Rich- mond; and Nellie J., born Dec. 9, 1885, is a teacher in the Sevas-
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topool school in Wayne township. The father of Mrs. Morrow was a farmer by occupation. He became a land-owner in Wayne county and spent his entire active career on a farm in Franklin township, one and one-half miles north of Chester, dying there July 3, 1898. After his death his widow removed to Chester, where she resides, at the advanced age of eighty-two years, in the full possession of her faculties and in the best of health. She is the mother of five children: Josephine became the wife of James Joy and both are deceased; Mansfield was accidentally killed while repairing a bridge on his farm in Wayne township, in 1907; Alice is the wife of David Haisley, a farmer in Franklin township; Mrs. Morrow is the next in order of birth ; and Ella is the wife of Wil- liam A. Clements, a merchant, of Fountain City.
John Harmon Shofer merits recognition in the pages of this publication by reason of being one of the substantial men of af- fairs of the city of Richmond and a worthy citizen of the county where the major portion of his life has been passed. Mr. Shofer was born in Usenbrook, Germany, Jan. 6, 1842, a son of Harmon and Catherine Shofer, natives of the Fatherland. They migrated to the United States in 1844, coming direct to Richmond, but later removed to Fairhaven, Preble county, Ohio, where the father worked in a mill. He continued in such employment at that place about four years and then returned to Richmond, where he died of cholera at the time of the widespread epidemic of that scourge, in 1849. He was a man of absolute integrity and honor, and while he never acquired wealth was not denied that better tribute, the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. He was a street contractor in Richmond at the time of his death. His widow survived him many years and died March 12, 1888, at the age of eighty-five years. Of their eight children, J. Harmon is next to the youngest in point of age and the only one living. He was but two years old at the time of the family removal from Ger- many to the United States and his early educational advantages were those afforded in the public schools of the city of Richmond. Before he had reached his majority he engaged in the horse and livery business and during the past fifty years has been engaged in that occupation, buying and selling horses and conducting a first-class livery, his place being the oldest established concern of the kind in the city of Richmond. He erected the large brick barn which he occupies, in 1861, and built the residence at the corner of Seventh and South A streets, where he resides. The barn is located at the corner of South Sixth and A streets. Mr. Shofer also conducts the livery across the street, but his prin- cipal line of business there is the keeping of sale horses and board- ing. Care and good management of his business have brought him deserved advancement in the world of affairs and he has rea- son to be proud of the success which he has gained through his own efforts. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Repub- lican party, and he is a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. In the city of Richmond, in 1868, Mr. Shofer was united in marriage to Miss Katharine May, born in Castlebar, County
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Mayo, Ireland, June 24, 1850, daughter of Bernard and Katharine (Burke) May, natives of County Mayo, born in about the year 1819. They came to America about 1851 and first settled at Syra- cuse, N. Y., where they resided until the death of the father. The mother then married Richard Stanton and moved to Ohio, and later, about 1880, to Richmond. Mr. Stanton was a tailor by trade and was engaged in that occupation here until disabled by a stroke of paralysis, about nine years before his death, May 7, 1907, at the age of ninety-five years, and he was the oldest man in Rich- mond at the time he died. Mrs. Shofer is the second in order of birth of the three children born to her parents. Her sister, Delia, is the widow of William Dangherty and resides in Portland, Ore., and her brother, Anthony, resides in Cincinnati. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Shofer were born four children: Mary Ellen, born Feb. 12, 1870, is the wife of John S. Fitzgibbons, a real-estate dealer in Richmond, and they have had born six children-Jerald Shofer, born Feb. 7, 1894, Rea and Roland (twins) Dec. 2, 1896, Mary Carmel Oct. 10, 1899 (died Feb. 1, 1901), Eileen June 6, 1902, and Mary Isabella Nov. 19, 1908. John H., the second child and eldest son, born Oct. 10, 1871, died July 12, 1898; Charles Edward, born June 3, 1874, resides at the parental home; as does also Lillian May, born Nov. 8, 1881.
Isaac Alexander Gormon, who, since Jan. 1, 1910, has been the incumbent of the position of Superintendent of Police in Richmond, and who has filled other offices with great efficiency, was born in Highland county, Ohio, Dec. 25, 1847. lie is of Old Dominion stock, his father, John W. Gormon, having been born in Virginia in 1817, and his mother was Ammazilla Johnson, born Feb. 14, 1823, near Bainbridge, Ohio. The marriage of the parents occurred in Highland county, Ohio, and in 1858 they re- moved to Wayne county, Indiana, locating at Centerville, where they continued to live until the death of the father. The mother died March 5, 1911, at Richmond. Of the union of these parents were born six children-three sons and three daughters-and all are living save one daughter, the subject of this review being the first-born. Mrs. William Brown is deceased; Mrs. Charles Wil- son resides in Richmond; Joseph works for the Pennsylvania lines of railway; David is associated with the Interurban railway at Richmond, and Mrs. Homer Hammond resides in the same city. The two younger children were born at Centerville, Wayne county, and all were educated at that place. Although a mere boy when the Civil war was in progress, Isaac A. Gormon offered his services to his country and served three months as a member of the Seventh Indiana cavalry during the closing days of that great conflict. Learning the trade of a blacksmith in his youth, he came to Richmond in 1866 and worked at that occupation until 1877. In 1878 he was appointed deputy sheriff of Wayne county under Sheriff William H. Trindall and served in that capacity four years. In 1882, by election, he was elevated to the position of sheriff, was re-elected in 1884 and successfully held the office until 1886. During his incumbency of the office of sheriff it be-
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came his duty to officiate at the hanging of a condemned mur- derer, the last man hanged in the county jails of the State in In- diana. Hon. Henry U. Johnson, afterwards a prominent mem- ber of the United States Congress, was at that time a senator in the Indiana legislature, and at the request of Sheriff Gormon introduced a bill, which became a law, providing for the execu- tion of all death sentences in the penitentiaries of the State. Thus was brought about a much needed reform and Mr. Gormon justly claims the credit for the same. Following his retirement from the office of sheriff Mr. Gormon operated as a detective for the Pennsylvania lines of railway about sixteen years, his field of work being mostly on the Southwest system. Ile later was appointed, by Governor Mount of Indiana, to the position of mem- ber of the Police Board of the State and served in that capacity throughout the administrations of Governors Mount and Durbin, until 1903, when he resigned to accept the position of Superin- tendent of Police of Richmond. He resigned the last named po- sition in 1905 and for the ensuing five years did special detective work for corporations and other parties, meeting with unusual success in that line. On Jan. 1, 1910, he again was inducted into the office of Superintendent of Police at Richmond and is filling the position with his usual faithfulness and ability. Politically he is a member of the Republican party, fraternally is affiliated with Richmond Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with Iola Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of which he is a charter mem- ber, and he also has membership in the Commercial Club. On June 21, 1871, occurred his marriage to Mrs. Mary E. Moore, nee Strickler, daughter of John Strickler, of Cincinnati, where Mrs. Gormon was reared and educated. To Mr. and Mrs. Gormon was born a son, Elmer A., who now has charge of the Secret Service department for the State of Michigan. He was born in Richmond, Oct. 26, 1873, and was educated in the public schools there and at Purdue University. Ile married Miss Grace D. Detch, of Rich- mond, and they have one daughter, Irene, fourteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Gormon reside at 130 Fort Wayne avenue.
Bernard H. Moorman, deceased, was a worthy representative of the intelligence, the integrity, and the moral worth of those Germans who have contributed so much to the building up of our great commonwealth. He was born in Richmond, Ind., Sept. 22, 1854, son of Joseph Henry and AAnna Mary (Neinaber) Moorman, natives of Osnabruck, Germany, but immigrants to America in early life, and they spent the period of their activities in Richmond, where they died. The father was a stockman by occupation. Ber- nard Il. Moorman received a very thorough education in the schools of his native city and from the age of twenty-one years was engaged in the wholesale and retail liquor business, continuing in that occupation until about ten years prior to his death, which occurred March 18, 1908. Ile was a successful business man in whatever he undertook and was self-made in the fullest sense of that term. His place of business in Richmond was located at 21-23 North Eighth street. On Feb. 1, 1876, he took to himself a wife
BERNARD H MOORMAN
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and helpmate in the person of Miss Jeannette Turpin, born in Charleston, Ohio, but reared and educated in Richmond, a daugh- ter of John A. Turpin, long a prominent and highly respected citi- zen of Richmond. To Mr. and Mrs. Moorman was born a daughter, Harriet, the wife of Galen Lamb, of Richmond, a traveling sales- man for J. M. Brady & Company, 30-34 West Twenty-sixth street, New York City, manufacturers of ladies' custom-made cloaks and suits, and they have a son, Moorman Lamb, born in Richmond. The daughter and mother reside together, as Mr. Lamb's business necessitates his being away from home a great deal of the time. Mrs. Lamb was born in New Castle, Ind., but was educated in Richmond, graduating at the high school there with the class of 1807, and she also took special work at Eartham College. In poli- tics Mr. Moorman was an adherent of the Republican party, but never aspired to hold office. His religious associations were with St. Andrews' Catholic Church of Richmond, of which he was a de- vont member. Fraternally, he had membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, being a charter member of the lodge at Richmond, and prior to its organization was a member of the lodge at Albany, Ind. Mrs. Moorman and her daughter reside in a home pleasantly located at 1133 Main street, in the city of Rich- mond.
Matthew Franklin Barker, who was a prominent resident and substantial citizen of Wayne township, was born in Richmond, Ind., Feb. 19. 1866, and died on his farm in Wayne township, Ang. 26, 1907, having been a resident on that place about thirty-seven years. Mr. Barker was reared on that place from the time he was four years old and received his education in the schools of Fair- view, Wayne township. Ile remained with his parents until they died, and then, being an only child, continued on the farm of eighty acres, inherited from them, operating it in a general way. Mr. Barker was allied with the Republican party, but had no political aspirations, preferring instead the business he had chosen and the opportunity of enjoying his home, in which he was a devoted husband and father. On Feb. 26, 1892, he was married to Miss Ida Spotts, born near Milton, in Wayne county, Jan. 4, 1870, danghter of William and Adaline ( Winters) Spotts, and of this union were born four children: Howard L., Dec. 1, 1902; Marvel S. and Myron J. (twins), Aug. 25, 1904; and Ruth Ann, Ang. 24, 1906. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Barker con- tinnes to reside on the farm, in order to enjoy her social rela- tions with her large circle of friends and also to be near the last resting place of him who was near and dear to her. The parents of Mr. Barker were Matthew M. and Lydia (Brown) Barker, the former born on Nantucket Island. He came to Indiana in early life, became a land-owner in Wayne township, and resided there until his death. Matthew F. Barker was a birthright member of the Friends' church. The parents of Mrs. Barker were born in Pennsylvania, the father in Berks county, Dec. 8, 1835, and the mother in Union county, in 1828. The father died in 1890 and the mother resides with her daughter, Mrs. Barker.
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