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 41
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
son Dennis was born in North Carolina, a son of Thomas and Eliza- beth (Wilson) Dennis, and came to Indiana with his parents when seventeen years old. He followed farming in Dalton township during all of his active career and to him and his wife were born three children: Mrs. Billheimer is the eldest; Elizabeth is the wife of W. D. Jordan and they have two children-Frank and Nellie; and Thomas E. married Zenora Davidson, who bore him a daughter, Della, and after the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Carrie (Burris) Lambert and they have four children-Arthel, Hansel, Harmon, and Zelma. The mother of Mrs. Billheimer hav- ing died, her father married for his second wife, Lydia Reynolds, and they had three children: Sarah married Moses Blackburn; Clarkson married Rosa Bookout and they have a son, Russell; and Isaac L. married Viola Thompson and they have a son, Howard.
John A. Bowman, a prominent farmer of Center township, was born in Clay township, this county, June 28, 1861. He is a son of Watkin and Elizabeth (Hoover) Bowman, the former born of Vir- ginia parents and the latter a native of Clay township, where their marriage occurred. The paternal grandfather was born in Vir- ginia in 1810 and came to Wayne county in early life. The father was a farmer and thresher by occupation, and he and his wife both died when their son, John A., was a small boy. They were the par- ents of five children: Flora is the wife of John Linderman, a farmer of Clay township; John A. is the second in order of birth ; Ella married William Heck, of New Castle, and is deceased; and Lula and Willie died in childhood. John A. Bowman enjoyed the educational advantages afforded by the schools of West Grove, and also attended the district schools in Clay township. After the death of his parents he resided with a maternal unele for two years, and after that lived with John C. Harvey until he was about twen- ty-one years old. He then continued to work for that gentleman by the month six or seven years, and after his marriage rented the Harvey farm for a period of thirteen years. He then moved to his present homestead, which he had previously purchased, but after eighteen months again established his residence on the Har- vey farm, where he remained about two and one-half years. He then returned to his own farm of 100 acres, and has since resided there. He built his present residence in 1905, and has attained a reputation and a popularity that are indeed gratifying. In the mat- ter of politics Mr. Bowman is a Republican, and fraternally is iden- tified with the Knights of Pythias. On Aug. 16, 1888, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarena Leonard, daughter of William and Hulda Kitterman, of Harrison township. Mrs. Bowman was born in Harrison township, near Jacksonburg, April 17, 1862. Her mother was born in Virginia, June 8, 1838, and her father was born in Center township, at what is now Jackson Park, Sept. 5, 1837. The father was always a farmer by occupation and spent his entire life in Wayne county, becoming the owner of a small farm north- west of Jackson Park, where he died in 1901, and his widow passed away in 1904. The father enlisted in the Home Guards at the time of the Morgan raid, but never engaged in active service. He and
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his good wife were the parents of two children-Clara, who died in infancy, and Mrs. Bowman. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowman four children were born: Ray Harvey, born Oct. 7, 1889, is employed in Richmond; Emory W., born Sept. 5, 1895; Horace J., born Jan. 19, 1900; and Leonard E., born May 22, 1905; all residing at the parental home.
Jesse E. Brown, an enterprising and successful farmer of the township of Franklin, was born in Wayne township, this county, Nov: 18, 1847, a son of Jeremiah and Juretta ( Evans) Brown, the former a native of the Old Dominion. The father was born May 20, 1813, came west with his parents when thirteen years of age and settled in Center township, this county, and he followed agri- cultural pursuits throughout his active career. He passed away in 1899, and he and his good wife were married in 1835. Samuel Brown, paternal grandfather of Jesse E., and Mary (Thornburgh ) Brown, the grandmother, were natives of Grayson county, Vir- ginia. Upon coming to Indiana they entered land northwest of Centerville and there resided the residue of their lives. Jesse E. Brown is one of nine children born to his parents. lle received his educational training at the Salisbury and Smith district schools, on the National Road, and attended until nineteen years old. Farm- ing has always been his chief occupation and he moved onto the place where he resides, in 1880. Ile is a member of the Mount Gilead Christian Church and has membership in the ancient order of Free and Accepted Masons, Bethel Lodge No. 250, having been a member since the age of twenty-three years. In September, 1869, he was united in holy wedlock to Miss Henrietta Chenoworth. daughter of William and Kittara Chenoworth, of Randolph county, but originally from Maryland. Mrs. Brown died April 27, 1878, leaving a son, Harrison W., born June 24, 1871, and now a farmer of Franklin township, married to Etta Maines, and they have two children-Russell E. and Verlin K. On Sept. 24, 1879, Mr. Brown married Isophene Harlan, daughter of Cornelius and Elizabeth ( Tilson ) Harlan, of Bethel, and of this union have been born five children : Estella May, born May 10, 1881, died Feb. 22, 1882; Roy Morrell, born June 29, 1883, assists in the management of the farm ; Anna Juretta, born March 9, 1885, married Jesse W. Adaman, a Franklin township farmer, and they have two children-Garnet V. and Margaret E .; Jesse Ralph, born April 16, 1890, married Marjorie Price and resides at Richmond; and Rubie Elizabeth, born May 12, 1895, resides at the parental home.
William Winfield Cammack, whose entire independent career has been spent in agricultural pursuits, was born on a farm in Ran- dolph county, Indiana, Jan. 30, 1851, and removed to Franklin town- ship, Wayne county, April 5, 1910. His father, Elihu Cammack, was born in Randolph county, Indiana, April 15, 1817, son of John and Jane Cammack. The Cammack family was originally from Scotland and the migration to America was by three brothers, one of whom settled in New York and the other two came to Indiana. Elihu Cammack was a farmer during all of his active career, al- though he conducted a general store at Arba during the years 1873
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and 1874. He married Miss Rebecca Wiggs, born Jan. 9, 1820, daughter of William and Martha Wiggs, natives of North Caro- lina, and of this union were born six children: John Henry ; Fran- cis M .; Martha, who died in infancy; George Washington; Wil- liam W., who is the fifth in order of birth, and Elmina Henrietta. The mother of these children died May 13, 1880. As before stated, Elihu Cammack was a farmer, and he owned a large farm in Ran- dolph county, Indiana, where he was a man of prominence in his locality. For ten years he served as a member of the board of com- missioners of that county, but after the death of his wife, in 1880, removed to lowa, where he lived retired until his death, April 23, 1906, near Marshalltown. William W. Cammack was reared a farmer and his early occupation was in assisting his father in op- erating the old homestead, and he also assisted his father in the mercantile business. After his marriage he rented the old home- stead in Randolph county and resided there until the spring of 1910, when he removed to Franklin township, Wayne county, and there has since resided. In September, 1874, Mr. Cammack was married to Miss Jennie M. Penland, daughter of Henry and Eliza- beth ( Kennedy ) Penland, of Preble county, Ohio, and to them were born six children : Bessie Evaline, born Aug. 13. 1875, married Charles Morton-they have one child, May ; Blanche Elizabeth. born Ang. 31, 1877, is the widow of Guy O. Morton, resides in the city of Richmond and has two sons-John and Guy; Bertha Re- becca, born Sept. 1, 1878, married Ira Hunt and died May 6, 1906. the mother of three children-Ronald, and Martin and Marvin ( twins) ; Mattie Maude, born Feb. 26, 1881, married William l'ress- ler, of Illinois, and they have two children-Mary and Frankie, Mabel Clair, born Sept. 26, 1886, married Harrold Jordan and has two children-Russell and Rupert; and Frankie Penland, born June 10, 1888, resides in Richmond. The mother of these children having died, Mr. Cammack married for his second wife Miss Alice Mary Hoke, March 20, 1898. She is a daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Sennet ) Hloke, of Union City, Ind. They came from Penn- sylvania to Ohio, thence moved to Brown county, Indiana, and thence to Union City, where they died, the former on Feb. 8, 1899. and the latter on Jan. 23, 1899. Mr. Cammack is a Republican in his political views and served four terms as justice of the peace in Wayne township, Randolph county. Fraternally he is a member of the Eagles.
Nathan Franklin Canaday, M. D., a prominent and influential physician of Hagerstown, is a native of Henry county, Indiana. born Feb. 9. 1845, on a farm north of New Castle. His father. Nathan Canaday, entered a Government claim of eighty acres about three miles north of New Castle, paying the statutory price of $1.25 per acre for the tract, to which he later added 120 acres, at which place he died in 1874, at the age of sixty-six years. He was a loyal member of the Republican party from the birth of the organization until the time of his demise. Prior to that organi- zation he was a Whig. He was reared a Quaker, but later became a member of the Christian church. The mother of Nathan F. was
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Nancy Leeson, and she passed away in 1875 at the age of sixty-six years. She, also, was a member of the Christian church. The father of Nancy Leeson was James Leeson, a direct descendant of the Leeson family of Royalty. He was born near Mountrath. Queen's county. Province of Lenister. Ile married Gemima Sar- gent. Aug. 2, 1798. He came to America with his wife and two children, April 18, 1803. They first settled near Morgantown, W. Va., and later moved to Indiana. Gemima, his wife, was born June 10, 1782, in Ireland, and died Nov. 8, 1846, and was buried near Hillsborough, Henry county. Indiana. None of the Leeson family ever were Catholics. Mr. Canaday's grandfather was a na- tive of North Carolina, from whence he removed to Tennesee and thence to Wayne county, locating near Centerville, where both he and his wife died. While living in Tennessee he was a man of considerable note, and for a time Davy Crockett lived with him at Knoxville. There were ten children born of the union of Nathan and Nancy ( Leeson) Canaday, and of these four are living. Anna M. is the wife of Jacob M. Gough, manager of the gas company at New Castlle, Ind .; Nathan F. is the subject of this review ; Henry HI. is a blacksmith at New Castle; and Miles M. is with the Central Trust and Savings Company at New Castle. Nathan F. Canaday acquired his educational training in the district schools of Henry county and at the New Castle High School. He began reading medicine with Dr. G. E. Swan, now living retired in Wisconsin ; later spent some time in the old Eclectic College at Cincinnati, and graduated at the Homeopathic Medical College at Cleveland with the class of 1870. In the same year he located at Hagerstown for the practice of his profession, in which he has been very success- ful. Ile is a member of the State Medical Institute at Indianapo- lis. In politics he has been affiliated with the Republican party since becoming a voter, and was appointed, in Harrison's adminis- tration, to a position with the Colorado River Indian Agency, and in 1891 located at Parker, Ariz., where he remained one year, at the end of which period he resigned and returned to Hagerstown, ow- ing to the health of his wife. For more than forty-five years he has been affiliated with the Dunkard Brethren church, in the af- fairs of which he is an active and enthusiastic participant, as is also his wife. On July 6, 1867, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Clapper, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Priddy) Clapper, who re- sided near Mooreland, in the northern part of Henry county, where they died, aged respectively sixty-six and eighty years. Of the brothers and sisters of Mrs. Canaday, William H. is in the real es- tate business at Dayton, Ohio; Jacob L. is a farmer at Mooreland. Ind .; David is a doctor in Mooreland; Sarah and Matilda. the former being the wife of D. A. Niccum, of Hagerstown, and the latter is the widow of Marvin Chamness and also resides at Hagers- town; and Lucinda is the wife of Henry Moore, a retired farmer at Mooreland. Ind. Of the union of Dr. and Mrs. Canaday there have been born two children: Gracie Matilda, born Sept. 8, 1870. died June 26, 1870; and Clifford Edson, born Sept. 18, 1876, attended the Hagerstown High School, spent two years at Indiana Univer-
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
sity, graduated in 1900 at the Pulte Medical College, and is prac- ticing his profession at New Castle, where he is enjoying a very successful practice. He was married to Ina Ault, Sept. 19, 1899. She is a daughter of Lee Ault, one of the ablest educators in the State, who is given extended mention on another page of this vol- ume. The Leeson family of Ireland is a family of Royalty and has held a peerage since the year 1350. Sir Thomas A. Leeson, who died recently, was one of the last to hold the peerage that had been in the family so long, and his two sons-Albert Edward Leeson, of Dublin, Ireland, and Joseph Roark Leeson, of Nottinghamshire, are now contending for the honor, both being claimants for it. James Leeson, grandfather of Dr. Canaday, was a direct descendant of this family of Royalty. Richard Largent Leeson, a brother of James Leeson, was born in Green Briar county, Virginia, came to Indiana in 1812, and settled near Jacksonburg, Wayne county. Hle was married to Jane Dooley about that time and to them were born eleven children. He served as colonel in the war of 1812, under General Harrison, and was present at the siege of Fort Meigs. He was a colonel in the Indiana militia many years. He held township and county offices much of his life and was a leading man in his community. His son, Richard L., Jr., served as a captain in the Civil war, and for many years was a wealthy merchant in Elwood, Ind., and died in 1905. Another son, Moses D. Leeson, was a major in the Civil war and died some years after the close of that con- flict.
John G. Clark, a prominent and influential citizen of lagers- town, is a native of Hamilton county, Indiana, born near Nobles- ville, on a farm, Oct. 16, 1865. His father, Thomas Clark, is given extended mention on another page of this volume. The subject of this review was nine years old when his parents removed to Wayne county, and he acquired his education in the district schools of Webster township, after which he took a course in bookkeeping at a business college in Richmond. He remained on his father's farm until 1806 and then entered the employ of McConaha & Tay - lor, in Richmond. In 1902 he purchased the Rising Sun Mill and Elevator at Centerville, of McConaha & Parrot. In 1907 he pur- chased the Hagerstown City Roller Mills of Teeter Brothers and located in Hagerstown, selling the Centerville Mills to Fred Schlientz' Sons. While located at Centerville Mr. Clark carried a line of implements in addition to his mill business. Daniel B. Clark, a brother of John G., is a partner with him in the business, and he has two sisters: Mary, who resides at the parental home; and Anna, who is the wife of William Unthank. Politically Mr. Clark is independent and is an enthusiastic believer in the single- tax philosophy as advocated by the lamented Henry George. He has not acquired the habit of seeking public office, although he served on the town council while residing at Centerville and at the present time is president of the council at Hagerstown.
Thomas Clark, for thirty-six years an enterprising and in- fluential farmer in the counties of Hamilton and Wayne, for sev- eral years a teacher in Tippecanoe, Rush and Henry counties, and
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throughout his life a highly respected citizen in the communities in which he has resided, is a native of North Carolina. Ile first be- held the light of day, Aug. 27, 1831, a son of John and Nancy (Ilussey) Clark, the former a native of Guilford county, North Carolina. The father was born in 1795 and the mother in 1797, and the closing years of their lives were spent in Indiana. The Hussey family of Philadelphia was well known in the eastern part of the United States and its members were successful people, with a well defined literary trend. John G. Whittier's mother was a mem- ber of this family. John Clark, the father of Thomas, removed from North Carolina to Rush county, Indiana, after his marriage. He was a farmer by occupation and also built two grain and flour mills, one of which was the "Holloway Mill," near Carthage, in Rush county, which village he platted, and his second mill was also erected at that place. He died in 1885 and his wife passed away in 1864. He was a Whig until 1854, when he joined the newly organized Republican party, and he and his wife were members of the Orthodox Quaker church. The paternal grandfather was Dan- iel Clark, a planter in North Carolina; but he was not a slave- owner. It was the abhorrence of the institution of slavery that caused John Clark to remove to Indiana. Of the union of John and Nancy ( Hussey) Clark there were born nine children-six sons and three daughters-among whom Thomas is the sixth in order of birth, and in addition to the last named only one survives- Hezekiah, a retired merchant of Carthage, Ind. Daniel, another brother, who died recently in Rush county, many years ago taught in Earlham College and became quite prominent in Wayne county as an educator and as a member of the Quaker church. He was also a teacher in the White Water school in an early day. Ilis children. as are also Hezekiah's, are all succesful in the business affairs of life, and a son of Daniel is in the Interior Department of the United States Government. The subject of this review was partially educated at Carthage and at Earlham College and grad- nated at Haverford College, in Philadelphia, after completing a course of three and one-half years, with the class of 1857. The en- suing four years he was engaged in teaching, and in 1861 settled in Hamilton county, where he purchased an improved farm of 230 acres, about six miles northwest of Noblesville. He cleared seventy acres of this tract and devoted much attention to fruit culture, putting out a large apple orchard, and in addition operated a saw- mill. In 1875 he sold this farm and moved to Webster township, Wayne county, where he purchased land and made that place his home for twenty-two years. In 1897 he disposed of his farming interests and retired from active labor, removing first to Richmond, thence to Centerville, and later to Hagerstown, where he now re- sides. TIe is held in unqualified esteem in the community, and while he has never sought nor held public office, takes a great in- terest in public affairs and is a stanch supporter of the cause of the Republican party. His religious faith is expressed by member- ship in the Friends' church. Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Emily J. Griffin, June 26, 1861. She was a daughter of Joseph
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
and Rebecca ( Burgess) Griffin, for many years residents of Spice- land, Henry county, and was one of four children-a son and three daughters. One of the daughters died in infancy ; John W. lives on a farm in Henry county. and Sarah Ann is the widow of Elwood Please and resides in Henry county. Emily J. was born July 30, 1833, and died in Webster township, March 20, 1882. Of her happy marital union with Thomas Clark there were born seven children, three of whom died in infancy and four are living, as follows: Mary B., born Oct. 22. 1863, resides at Hagerstown with her father ; John G., who is given extended mention on another page, and Dan - iel B., born June 19, 1868, also reside at the parental home; and Anna R., born Oct. 12, 1873, is the wife of William Unthank and the mother of one child, Frances Virginia.
Charles H. Land, deceased, was born in Richmond, Ind., June 10, 1860. He was a son of the late Horatio Nelson and Emeline ( Gaar) Land, numbered among those families of sterling worth who came from the East to Indiana when it was an infant State (see sketch of Horatio Nelson Land). Charles 11. Land secured his education in the schools of his native city and for twenty-three years was connected with Gaar, Scott & Co., having spent his en- tire life after reaching maturity in the office of that concern, and he was treasurer and a director of the company at the time of his death. Always kind and considerate, he was exceedingly popular with all the employees and associates, and his loss was keenly felt by the company. Ile was also a director of the Second National Bank and of the Dickinson Trust Company, and indirectly he was connected with the Wayne Works. Mr. Land died at St. Luke's Hospital, in Chicago, 111., Sunday, Ang. 15, 1909. Seemingly in per- fect health, he left for a trip through the Northwest a few weeks before his death, in the interests of Gaar, Scott & Co., and while in Chicago on his return was stricken with appendicitis. An imme- diate operation was insisted upon by the attending physician, in the hope of saving his life, but Mr. Land refused to permit an opera- tion until after his wife and brother, from Richmond, had arrived at his bedside. It is believed his reluctance cost him his life. as the physicians declare that the operation was delayed too long to be successful. He rallied from the operation and hopes were enter- tained for his complete recovery, but serious complications de- veloped and he passed away. Perhaps no one was more closely associated with the business interests of Richmond than Mr. Land. Ile was recognized as a leader in the business world and did much to promote the welfare of his native city. On Oct. 10, 1896, he was united in holy wedlock to Miss Frances Harris, who was born, reared and educated in Richmond, and now resides at 70 Sonth Eighteenth street. Her parents were the late Allen M. and Re- becca ( Petty) Harris (see sketch of Allen M. Harris). Besides his wife Mr. Land is survived by two daughters-Dorothy and Eme- line-his mother-Mrs. Emeline (Gaar) Land-two brothers- Frank and Harry Land-and one sister, Mrs. Charles Holton, all of whom reside in Richmond. The funeral took place from the home of Mr. Land's mother at 114 North Thirteenth street, and it
Charles of Land
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was private, Rev. T. J. Graham, of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Mr. Land's fraternal relations were with the Masonic order, in which he attained the thirty-second degree, and he was also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He stood high in the circles of both orders, was a Past Master of Webb Lodge of Masons, and was a trustee of the same at the time of his death. Socially, he was a member of the Richmond Country Club and of the Commercial Club.
Francis Marion Clevenger merits recognition in the pages of . this publication by reason of being one of the substantial farmers of Abington township and one of the worthy representatives of an honored pioneer family of the county, where his entire life has been passed. Mr. Clevenger was born on the farm where he resides, .April 15, 1857, a son of Samuel and Ruth (Spahr) Clevenger, na- tives respectively of the Buckeye State and the Old Dominion, the father having been born in Darke county, Ohio, March 9, 1810, and the mother in Virginia, near the Pennsylvania line, Jan. 4, 1813. The father came to Indiana very early with his parents, and the mother started for this State with her parents when she was but six weeks old, being three months on the road. The pa- ternal family located in Abington township, just west of the vil- lage of Abington, where the grandfather entered land. The father continued to reside there until his marriage, when he built a log cabin where the home of his son, Francis M., is located, and there he passed the residue of his life. He was a man of absolute integ- rity and honor, and while he never acquired great wealth was not denied that better tribute, the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. Ile devoted his entire life to farming, was a stockholder in the Coffin bank at Richmond, served as trustee of Abington town- ship, and became the owner of 380 acres of land, all in Abington township. He died in April, 1881, and his widow in September, 1895. They were the parents of ten children: Rebecca became the wife of Wesley Connelly and is deceased; John and Susan died in infancy; Sarah is the wife of Emanuel Leab, of Liberty, Union county ; Mary is the widow of David Riegel and resides in Browns- ville, Union county ; Samuel S. resides on the old homestead in Abington township; Joseph resides in Milton; Nancy is the wife of William Quinn, a retired farmer of Cartersburg, Hendricks county; Thomas resides in Centerville and is president of the Citi- zens' Bank; and Francis M. is the youngest of the children. Fran- cis M. Clevenger enjoyed the educational advantages afforded in the somewhat primitive district schools of Abington township. After leaving school he became the assistant of his father in the management of the farm and so remained until the death of that parent. One year later he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the farm of 160 acres and has there since continued to make his home. He has brought the farm under effective cultivation and has made good improvements of a permanent nature, including the erection of a part of the present buildings. Care and good management have kept the place up to a high standard and Mr .. Clevenger has reason to be proud of his homestead and of the suc-
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