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 39
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1822 and the mother on Feb. 23, 1827. Caleb Mendenhall was a farmer by occupation and became a land owner in Perry township, where he spent the residue of his life, dying in 1867. Ilis widow survives and resides with a son in Perry township.
Allen M. Harris, deceased, for many years a respected citizen of Richmond, was born in Green township, Wayne county, Indiana, Nov. 9, 1828. His parents were James and Naomi ( Lewis) Harris, natives of North Carolina. James Harris, a farmer by occupation, came to Wayne county about 1810, and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring July 20, 1854. Upon coming to Wayne county he settled on a farm in Green township and in the district schools there Allen M. Harris received his educational training. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in agricultural pursuits, which occupation he followed throughout all of his active career, and he lived retired in the city of Richmond for about twenty-five years prior to his death. At the time of his death he was a director in the Union National Bank, of Richmond. His death, June 12, 1904. terminated a long life of usefulness. On May 14, 1850, was solemn- ized his marriage to Miss Rebecca Petty, born on Walnut Level, in Wayne county, March 18, 1832. Her parents also came from North Carolina, about 1830, and settled in Jefferson township, where her father gave his whole energy to the cultivation and improve- ment of his farm and was truly successful. He and his wife spent the remainder of their lives in Jefferson township. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Harris were born seven children-two sons and five daughters: John S. (see sketch) ; L. L. Harris is a retired farmer and resides at 2233 Main street, in the city of Richmond ; Josephine is the wife of William H. Coffin and resides on a farm in Henry county, Indiana, two miles east of Spiceland; Rilla V. is the wife of C. D. Gray and resides on a farm near Muncie, Ind .; Olive is the wife of Frank R. McPhail and resides at 100 North Twenty-first street. in the city of Richmond; Ella is the wife of R. A. Benton and resides in Richmond; and Frances is the widow of Charles 11. Land (see sketch). The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Harris was a most happy one, they having enjoyed the unusual distinction of celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary, and they lived in unalloyed bliss until Dec. 20, 1900, when the wife and mother died. Mr. Harris then continued to reside at the old home- stead, at 101 North Thirteenth street, until his death. In addition to his children, he is survived by a sister, Mrs. Serilda Thornburgh, of Dalton. In politics Mr. Harris affiliated with the Republican party, and though he never aspired to hold office served efficiently as justice of the peace while residing in Green township. He was an active member of the United Brethren church at Green's Fork, having joined that organization in early life.
Benjamin Snow Whiteley, one of the popular citizens and rep- resentative farmers of his native county, is a worthy scion of one of the pioneer families of this favored section of the Hoosier com- monwealth. He was born on the farm where he resides, in Wash- ington township, Oct. 21, 1877, a son of Daniel and Anna Maria (Snow) Whiteley, the former a native of Maryland and the latter
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of Williams county, Ohio. Daniel Whiteley remained a resident of the State of Maryland until maturity, when he came to Indiana and numbered himself among the sterling citizens of Wayne county. In Posey township, Fayette county, his father, also named Daniel Whiteley, had secured a tract of land, comprising 160 acres, heavily timbered, and there Daniel, Jr., set himself vigorously to the task of reclaiming a farm from the primeval forest. Those of the younger generation to-day can scarcely realize how strenuous was the toil entailed and how many the vicissitudes to be endured in thus tak- ing the initial steps in the development of the great and opulent agricultural section which denotes the county in the opening years of this glorious Twentieth century. Daniel Whiteley, Jr., lived up to the full tension of the labors and responsibilities of the pioneer and in due time purchased a farm of forty acres, which he reclaimed to cultivation, causing the stately monarchs of the forest to give place to productive fields, and he remained on this homestead until his death, about 1880. Ilis wife, a devoted companion and help- meet during all the years of struggle and toil, survived him and is still living in Fayette county. Of their five children, Benjamin S. is the last in order of birth, and all are living. Edgar resides in Anderson, Ind .; Mary is the wife of Lindley Hussey, of Fayette county ; Ella is the wife of John F. Heacock, of San Francisco, Cal .; and Byron resides in Fayette county. Benjamin S. Whiteley was reared under the environment and influence of agricultural pur- suits and early began to lend his aid in the arduous work of the home farm. His educational advantages as a boy and youth were those afforded in the district schools of Posey township, Fayette county, and the schools of the village of Milton, and he spent sev- eral years upon his father's farm, assisting in the work. In 1907, he inherited the place where he resides, and he gives his attention to the improvement and management of this farm, practically all of which is eligible for cultivation and devoted to diversified agri- culture and stock-raising. The buildings are modern and substan- tial and the attractive residence is a center of generous hospitality. Thrift and prosperity are in evidence on every hand, showing the energy and progressive methods brought to bear by the owner. In political affairs Mr. Whiteley is a Republican and lends his influ- ence and exercises his franchise in support of the men and measures of that organization. April 10, 1907, bore record of the marriage of Mr. Whiteley to Miss Gertrude Olive Clingman, born in Washing- ton township, a daughter of James and Hannah (Johnson) Cling- man, and of this union is a son, Robert Snow, born Feb. 4, 1908.
Byram R. Pierce was born at the old Pierce homestead in Perry township, this county, Jan. 26, 1876. He is a son of Lewis and Hannah (Cain) Pierce, both born in Wayne county. Lewis Pierce is the grandson of Gaynor Pierce, who was born and reared in Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, later removed to Virginia and thence to Ohio, where he died. His widow then brought the family to Perry township, this county, where her son, the father of Lewis Pierce, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1790, purchased the farm upon which Lewis Pierce resides. Lewis Pierce is one of the ven-
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erable citizens of Perry township. Ile is one of a family of thir- teen children and was born Nov. 13, 1833, on the farm where he has been residing seventy-eight years. This land was almost a wilder- ness at the time of purchase by the elder Pierce, and great hardship was encountered in clearing and getting it into condition for culti- vation. Lewis Pierce secured his education in the old log school- house in the neighborhood, where he attended school until he was fifteen years old, and as a young man worked as a farm hand by the day. At the age of twenty-three years he purchased a part of the old farm and rented the remainder, and afterward purchased ad- joining land until his farm now contains ninety-seven acres. On Ang. 23, 1856, he married Hannah Cain, daughter of Jonathan and Priscilla Cain, of Wayne county, and of this union were born four children : Webster, born in 1860, died at the age of four years ; Leroy, born in January, 1864, died in 1908; Anna, born Nov. 28, 1868. died in 1891; and Byram R. is the youngest and the only sur- viving child. Lewis Pierce followed general farming during his active career, making a specialty of fruit-growing, but is now living retired and rents out his fields. Politically he cast his first Presi- dential vote for John C. Fremont and has ever since voted with the Republican party. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Economy. Byram R. Pierce received his edu cation in the schools of Economy and as a boy worked on his ta- ther's farm. Ile began his independent career at the age of twenty- one by selling and putting up wire fences, which occupation he fol lowed about nine years. In 1906 he purchased a general merchan- dise store at Economy and conducted the establishment four years, at the end of which period he traded the store for the farm where he resides, and where, in addition to conducting a general farming business, he is an extensive fruit raiser. At the present time he is a member of the township advisory board. On Oct. 17, 1904, he was united in marriage to Miss Claudia Bond, daughter of John and Melissa Bond, of Clay township, where Mrs. Pierce was born in 1876. Of this union have been born two children: Robert Lewis, born April 4, 1907 ; and Mary Helen, born Nov. 13, 1910. Both Mr and Mrs. Pierce are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Economy, and Mr. Pierce is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having passed through the chairs of the local or- ganization and being now a member of the Indiana Grand Lodge.
Ralph A. Paige was born in Ware, Mass., Aug. 26, 1825, and died in Richmond, Ind., Sept. 23, 1887. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to the early part of the Seventeenth century. when settlement was made in Massachusetts by ancestors of the subject of this sketch. The grandfather, Maj. James Paige, was . minute man on the immortal 19th of April, 1775, when American history first began to be made. His immediate ancestors were Ben - jamin Paige and Mary Ann (Magoon) Paige. Benjamin Paige saw service in the Massachusetts militia, holding a commission as lien- tenant, signed by Elbridge Gerry in 1811, and one as lieutenant- colonel by Governor Brooks, of Massachusetts, in 1822. Ralph .i Paige was the youngest of a large family of children. In 1831, when
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he was six years of age, his parents decided to try their fortunes in the great and then almost unknown West. They came out to Zanesville, Ohio, but after a short stay removed to Richmond, Ind., where Benjamin Paige for some time kept hotel, or "tavern," as was then the usual method of denominating hotel business, at what is now known as the northeast corner of Sixth and Main streets. In after years his son, Ralph A., owned and conducted a store at the southwest corner of Sixth and Main streets, which was his last place of business, and which property the widow owns. The son, Ralph .A., for a brief period during his boyhood days, attended such private schools as the times and country afforded-crude and im- perfect affairs, compared with the system of modern times; but the greater part of his education was obtained through his own indus- try and efforts, after his daily work was finished, and the midnight hours often found him endeavoring to overcome the want of early educational training. He began his busines career at an early age, first clerking for James Morrisson, Sr., a relative of the well known Robert Morrisson, donor of Morrisson Library. After some time spent with Morrisson he was employed in the dry goods business with James E. Reeves, with whom he was associated later as partner. In 1846 he started a store at Williamsburg, Wayne county, Indiana, but after a short time there returned to Richmond, where he con- tinted business with William Wilson. Upon the dissolution of this partnership he was associated with his cousin, Edwin C. Paige, in the dry goods business, with whom he continued in business until 1853, when he bought out his partner. From this period until the time of his retirement from active business, in 1873, he was alone in his business ventures, which he carried on with excellent judg- ment and success. In 1853 he was married, at Centerville, Ind., to Miss Mary E. Mccullough, only child of Isaac W. Mccullough, and a granddaughter of Samuel Mccullough, one of the early settlers of Oxford, Ohio. Two children were born to them, Ralmaro and Lillian E. Fraternally he became a member of the order of Odd Fellows, and was an early Noble Grand in the first lodge at Richmond-Whitewater Lodge. He was also a char- ter member of Oriental Encampment, of which he was Chief Patriarch. He also obtained the charter and selected the name, it being suggested to him on account of the situation of Richmond, in the extreme eastern part of the State. Politically, his first vote was cast for Zachary Taylor. Upon the formation of the Republican party he became one of the original members of that organization, with which party he continued to affiliate. While in no sense an office-seeker or politician, he took great interest in the political wel- fare of his country ; and his extensive reading of political history and his wonderful memory of events and dates were such that few men were better acquainted with the historic affairs of his country than he. Coming from New England Congregational religious train. ing, his later years were, through family association, more or less Presbyterian. Though not a member of any church, his religions beliefs were well grounded, and his knowledge and practice of fun- damental religious principles were more thorough than those of
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
many of more pretensions. His belief can best be expressed by an extract from a poem written by himself, which we quote :
"When our work on earth is done, And time shall veil our setting sun; When the spirit shall leave its mortal mold,
And all the glories of lleaven behold,- Then the goal of life is won."
In his business relations he was thoroughly upright and con- scientions, gentlemanly, considerate and courteous in his personal and social contact, and with all mankind an honest man.
Lee Ault, superintendent of the Cambridge City schools for ten years, was born at New Madison, Ohio, April 29, 1846. His parents-Jacob W. and Rachel ( Wallace) Ault-were also natives of Ohio, the father born at Germantown, near Dayton, May 20, 1815, and the mother at Hamilton, Dec. 7, 1819. Jacob W. Ault came with his parents to Darke county, Ohio, in 1837. He was married to Rachel A. Wallace, Dec. 27, 1840. Hle owned and oper- ated a farm in the southern part of Darke county until 1870, when he removed to Greenville, Ohio, where he continued to reside until the time of his death, April 25, 1903. Ilis wife survived him six years and died in Greenville, July 25. 1909. Throughout their lives, from childhood, they were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of eight children: John, who died at the age of six years; Lee, the second in order of birth, is the subject of this sketch ; Sarah Ann, who was the wife of Rev. I. M. Woolverton, of the North Indiana Conference of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, died in August, 1879; Harry is in the em- ploy of the Southern Pacific railroad, and is located at Texarkana, Tex .; Wesley is Inspector of Weights and Measures for Darke county and resides at Versailles, Ohio; Ellen resides in the old home at Greenville, and George is deceased. Lee Ault received his early education in the public schools of Darke county and of Greenville. He attended the academy at White Water, Ind., sev- eral terms, and later completed a course in the Southwestern Nor- mal School, now the National Normal University, at Lebanon, Ohio. Ile began teaching in Darke county, Ohio, Sept. 5, 1864, and was connected with the schools of that county five years. In 1869 he was elected superintendent of the schools at Farmland, Ind., which position he held three years. He has since held the superintendency in the following places in this State: Winchester, five years; Hagerstown, eleven years ; Centerville, one year; Wil- liamsburg, six years; and Cambridge City, ten years. During four vears, from 1883 to 1887, he engaged in the book business, repre- senting the American Book Company, of Cincinnati, and Lea Brothers & Company, of Philadelphia, in Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia. On May 25, 1869, Mr. Ault was married to Mary E. Bowen, a daughter of Rev. William C. and Priscilla (Magee) Bowen, of Hagerstown, Ind., and of this union were born six chil- dren : Harriet, who taught in the public schools of Indiana twelve years, but because of ill health was compelled to quit the profes-
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BIOGRAPHICAL
sion, resides with her parents; Ina is the wife of Dr. Clifford E. Canaday, of New Castle, Ind. ; Harry is a bookkeeper for Sprague Warner & Company, of Chicago; Frank is with the Charlton Silk Company, of Chicago; Charles, who is in the employ of the Lunn & Sweet Shoe Manufacturing Company and resides at Auburn, Me., has charge of the trade in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware; and Edgar is in the employ of the William C. U'n- derwood Company, of Boston, and looks after the jobbing trade of that firm in the leading cities of the United States. Mr. Ault is a Republican in his political views. Ilis religious faith is that of the' Congregational church. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, also with the order of Knights of Pythias. In 1907 he went abroad, spending several months in England, studying English institutional life.
John L. Batchelor has attained to success and prestige as a representative dairyman and is the manager of a productive and well improved farmstead in the township of Wayne He is a na- tive of the Hoosier State, born in Randolph county, Indiana, Feb. 15, 1875, son of Joseph Woodford and Nancy C. ( Davis) Batchelor, the latter a daughter of Thomas Jefferson Davis and a relative of Jeff. Davis. Joseph Woodford Batchelor was a cooper and painter by trade, which occupation he assiduously followed at Blooming- port, Randolph county. He was ever a hard working, conscien- tions and thrifty man and a generous and indulgent husband and father. One of the kindest and most brotherly of men, he did not permit his feelings to influence his judgment. Always tolerant of the desires and opinions of others and willing to yield in minor matters, he never compromised with that which he knew to be wrong. The subject of this review was reared in Randolph county and carly began to contribute his quota of labor, working on sev- eral farms in the vicinity of his home, in the meanwhile availing himself of the advantages of the local schools. He came to Wayne county in 1895 and continued general farm work until 1901, when he purchased a half interest in Levi Moorman's dairy business, lo- cated two and one-half miles southeast of Richmond, near the Elliott Mills. In 1902 he purchased the remaining interest and at the same time rented a farm of 100 acres in connection there- with. Ile continued there until November, 1904, when he removed to a 100-acre farm belonging to Henry Roberts and adjoining his former place on the north. In 1910 he disposed of his original dairy interests, having purchased a farm of fifty-five acres, adjoin- ing the Roberts farm on the east. Since then he has made many changes and improvements in his new place, but still retains his interest as tenant in the Roberts place, and all of hi- farming oper- ations are devoted to the dairy business. In addition to his own production he contracts for milk from some nine or ten other farms and does an independent wholesale and retail business. He came to Wayne county with less than twenty-five dollars, but by energy, pluck and hard work has become one of the substantial citizens of the community. He is a man of broad and liberal views,'
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
employs much discrimination in attending to the various details of his business, and has achieved success and prominence in his chosen field of endeavor. He enjoys the utmost respect of his neighbors and is widely, recognized as a progressive and enterpris- ing business man. Politically he is a staunch supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and though he takes a profound interest in public affairs does not aspire to public office. Reared in the Quaker faith, he has the greatest respect for religious or- ganizations, and his family contributes to the support of the Chris- tian church. Fraternally, he has membership in Woodward Lodge, No. 212, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Richmond. On June 21, 1893, Mr. Batchelor was united in holy wedlock to Miss Mary Benson, daughter of Henry and Caroline (Moody) Benson, who resided in Lynn, Randolph county, Indiana, where the father was a painter and decorator. Mrs. Batchelor was born Dec. 25, 1875, and to her and her husband have been born three children: Russell, March 25, 1894; Edith, Aug. 25, 1900; and Marjorie, April 7, 1903. Mr Batchelor is the fifth in a family of ten children, the others being: Emma, Asa, Isabel, Byron, James, George, Myrtle, Roscoe, and one that died in infancy.
Benjamin Branson Beeson, deceased, was born on the old homestead in Dalton township, this county, March 17, 1843, and there passed all the years of an exceedingly active and useful life. His parents were Isaac W. and Mary (Branson) Beeson. natives of North Carolina. Their married life was spent in this county, the mother passing away Oct. 10, 1851, and the father's death occurred Nov. 26, 1871. For generations the Beeson family has been identi- fied with the Society of Friends and noted for sterling qualities. Patriotic and loyal to the government, strongly in favor of peace, right, and justice, and faithful in the discharge of every duty de- volving upon them, whether in their public or domestic relations, they have embodied the ideal citizenship of this great Republic. Benjamin Branson Beeson, who in life was one of the most promi- nent men in Wayne county, was a worthy representative of his family, which, the old records show, was founded in the United States by two brothers of the name who accompanied William I'enn to the colony in Pennsylvania. One brother settled in Phila- delphia and the other, from whom our subject was descended, went to Guilford county, North Carolina. Benjamin Beeson, the grand- father of Benjamin B. Beeson, was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, about 1765, a son of Isaac Beeson. In 1786 Ben- jamin Beeson married Margaret Hockett, and in 1826 they re- moved to Wayne county, Indiana, locating about one mile south of the present village of Franklin, in Dalton township. Of their ten children who grew to maturity, five sons and four daughters eventually immigrated to this county, and most of them left de- scendants. The five sons were Isaac W .; Benjamin F .; Ithamar; Dr. Silas 11., the first physician in Dalton township; and Charles, who came here with his parents. The daughters were Hannah, who married Seth Hinshaw and located in Greensboro, Henry county, Indiana; Margaret, who became the wife of Jesse Bald-
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win; Ruth, who married James Maulsby ; and Rachel, who died unmarried. The father reached an advanced age and lies buried at the side of his wife in West River Cemetery, two and one-half miles east of Dalton. Isaac W. Beeson, the eldest son of Ben- jamin and Margaret Beeson, was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, Dec. 9, 1789. Physically he was of medium size, with fair complexion, dark hair, and light brown eyes. Of a frame none too robust, he nevertheless endured the numerous privations and hardships incident to frontier life and lived to the advanced age of eighty-two years. He was a student by nature, quiet and thought- ful, and in his early manhood taught several terms of school suc- cessfully. Later he learned the wheelwright's trade, which he fol- lowed to some extent throughout life. He possessed great determi- nation and industry, and one rule which he followed-that of sav- ing at least $100 a year from his earnings, at a time when money was scarce-is worthy of emulation by all young men. Ilis favorite brother, William, was a man of fine business talent, had large and varied financial interests throughout North and South Carolina and Virginia, and subsequent to his death Isaac W. was occupied for about four years in settling his estate. Isaac W. Beeson was ex- ceptionally devoted to the lady who finally became his wife. They were fondly attached as young people, but owing to opposition on the part of relatives their marriage was postponed from time to time. In the spring of 1822 Isaac W. Beeson started for Wayne county, Indiana, with a small outfit which served him for many such journeys between his old and new home. It consisted of a horse and rustic cart, the trip taking seven or eight weeks. U'pon his arrival in Dalton he made several entries of land, including 240 acres of the homestead in Dalton township. Here he made his headquarters, and here his death took place nearly half a century later. The autumn of 1822 found him on his return journey to the South, where he worked at his trade until 1828, when he came again to Indiana, with many others, and entered "Congress" lands in various parts of the State. Again he returned to the home of his childhood, to which he finally bade a last farewell in the spring of 1833 and returned to Indiana. He located near the village of Franklin, in Dalton township, where his father and several brothers were living, the firm of Beeson Brothers having already become widely known. The three brothers who were in this partnership were Silas H., Benjamin Franklin, and Ithamar, and among their numerous enterprises were the running of a grist mill, a tannery, and a general merchandise business. The town which sprang into existence as a result of their industry and enterprise was widely known as "Beesontown," in honor of the family, and everything was flourishing when the financial crisis of 1837 came and swept away the fortunes and prospects of the little community. Isaac W. Beeson lost heavily on securities, but was not disheartened, and, ere many years had passed, more than retrieved his fortunes. All this time the attachment between Isaac W. Beeson and Mary Branson had continned, and at last, in the fall of 1837, she left , her girlhood home and many sincere friends in the South and set
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