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 44
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the home of Mr. Druley in 1888. Mrs. Druley died March 10, 1907, the mother of three children : Mortimer Rutter, born Sept. 3, 1877, died July 1, 1897; Thollie Wilbur, born Jan. 2, 1879; and Claude Creal, born Sept. 27, 1881, died in 1897. Thollie W. is now farm- ing the homestead tor his father, who has been in poor health for a number of years. The son was married, Nov. 25, 1903, to Miss Emma Elizabeth Minneman, daughter of Christian Fred and Eliza- beth (Criete) Minneman, of Wayne township, and of this union have been born three children: Pauline, Sept. 3, 1905, Ivan, Sept. 19, 1907, and Byron T., May 24, 1911. Christian F. Minneman, father of Mrs. Druley, was born in Franklin county, Indiana, in Highland township, Oct. 17, 1848, son of Frederick and Wilhel- mina (Beckman) Minneman, who came in an early day from Ger- many and settled in Franklin township with their respective parents. To Christian Minneman and wife, the latter of whom was a daughter of Christian and Wilhelmina Kriete, of Dearborn county, and who was born April 21, 1849, and died Sept. 10, 1898, there were born seven children-Laura, Alice Josephine, Emma Elizabeth Lydia Rufiena, Marie Elsie, Frederick Edward, and Ida Rachel.
Levi G. Druley, now living virtually retired on his fine home- stead farm, was long numbered among the most progressive farm- ers and stock-growers of the county, where he has maintained his home from the day of his birth and where he stands as a scion of one of the honored pioneer families of this favored section of the Hoosier State. Levi G. Druley was born in Boston township, Wayne county, Indiana, Dec. 23, 1843, a son of Dennis and Nancy Jane (Grimes) Druley, born in the old Hoosier State, where the respective families were early founded, the father in Union county, Jan. 1, 1816, and the mother in Boston township, Wayne county. Nicholas Druley, the paternal grandfather, was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, and upon coming to Indiana took up land in Union county, where he died in 1849. Dennis Druley was edu- cated in Indiana, and upon reaching manhood engaged in farming in Boston township, where he became a large land-owner and de- veloped his farm into a valuable property. He is now living retired in the village of Boston. He is a man of honest worth, industrious and God-fearing, and has ever been held in high esteem in the com- munity, to whose advancement and material development he con- tributed his quota. In politics the father is a Democrat, and he and his wife are attendants of the Christian church. Dennis Druley be- came the father of seven children: Martha Jane is the wife of Ed- ward Dalby, of Richmond; Levi G. is the immediate subject of this review; Mary Catherine is the widow of Marshall Henry and re- sides in Richmond; Nicholas B. is a resident of Michigan; Sarah E. is deceased; George L. is a resident of Boston township; and Clement D. resides in the same place. Levi G. Druley was reared to manhood on the home farm. His educational training was se- cured in the schools of Boston township, and he continued to assist in the work of his father's farm until he purchased one of his own in Boston township, which place he sold in 1905 and bought his
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present farm in Wayne township. Mr. Druley brought his land under effective cultivation, the while he maintained it at the highest standard of productiveness, through the proper care of the soil, in the rotation of crops, and the use of effective fertilizers when de- manded. His farm is devoted to general agriculture and to the raising of high-grade live stock, and he maintains a general super- vision of the place, though he has lived essentially retired for the past several years. In politics Mr. Druley is a Democrat, giving his support to the men and measures of that organization, and he has never had aught of desire for the honors or emoluments of public office. On Dec. 10, 1869, Mr. Druley was united in marriage to Miss Anna Bulla, daughter of Joseph M. and Nancy (Wilson) Bulla, of Boston township. Her parents were natives of the State of Indiana, the father born in Wayne township, Wayne county, Dec. 11, 1811, and the mother in Franklin county, May 8, 1813. The father was a farmer by occupation and retired a few years before his death, Sept. 16, 1897. He was a Republican in politics, serving as township trustee, county commissioner, and member of the legis- lature two terms, a member of Downey Lodge, No. 233, Free and Accepted Masons, at Boston, and he held membership in the Uni- versalist church, of which his wife, who is deceased, was also a member. Mr. and Mrs. Druley became the parents of four children -Josephine, Arthur L., Horace G. (deceased), and Charles E. Hor- ace married Fannie Thompson, and they had two children-Erma and Kenneth S. (deceased).
John F. Dynes, a popular stock buyer and shipper, of Center- ville, this county, is one of Ohio's native sons, having been born in the county of Warren, July 14, 1848, son of William H. and Mar- ian (Maxin) Dynes, both natives of the State of New Jersey. The parents removed to Ohio in an early day, and from that State came to Delaware county, Indiana, near Smithfield, where they continued to reside until their deaths, the mother passing away in 1852 and the father in 1854. They were the parents of five children : Leonidas is deceased; Martha J. is the widow of William Atherton and re- sides in Indianapolis; William is deceased; John F. is the next in order of birth, and Joel A. is deceased. John F. Dynes acquired his early educational training at Smithfield, Ind., and later attended school near Muncie, Ind. Being very young when his parents died, he was bound out to Charles Mansfield, who resided near Muncie, and remained a member of the household of that gentleman about eight years. He then ran away and enlisted as a private in Com- pany G of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana, for service in the Civil war. This regiment was organized in Indianapolis in May, 1864, being composed of companies raised in the Fourth and Fifth congressional districts, five being raised in the former and three in the latter. It was mustered in May 25 and left the State at once for Tennessee. It was mustered out in August, 1864. Mr. Dynes was taken ill while en route home from the scene of hostil- ities, and his brother, who was at that time conducting a newspaper at Union City, took him to his home. With that brother he began' learning the printer's trade and remained so employed two years.
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Lle also attended school near Indianapolis and later was a student in what was then called the Northwestern University, but now But- ler College. Upon leaving his brother's employ he worked as a farm hand about two years and then entered a printing office at Indianapolis, where he remained about one year. He then rented a farm near Muncie about one year, after which he went to In- dianapolis and engaged in the real-estate business. About four years later he removed to Center township, Wayne county, and pur- chased a farm of 164 acres, upon which he resided about thirty years, and which he still owns. In 1904 he purchased the home in Centerville where he now resides and has since been engaged in buying and shipping stock to different markets, devoting his entire time to the business. Mr. Dynes is one of the enterprising and loyal citizens of his adopted county and is held in high regard in the com- munity. Politically he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, served as township trustee seven and one-half years, and for six years was county commissioner, which positions of public trust he occupied to the general satisfaction of all concerned. In a fra- ternal way he is admirably affiliated, being a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Grand Army of the Republic, of which latter local organization he is quartermaster. On Jan. 14. 1870, was sol- emnized his marriage to Miss Cynthia J. Snodgrass, born in Mis- souri, Jan. 12, 1852, daughter of William and Susanna (Shaw) Snodgrass, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of South Carolina. These parents came to Indiana and located near Econ- omy, where the father followed the occupation of a wheelwright, and there he and his wife resided until their deaths. Three chil- dren were born to them: Cynthia J. is the wife of the subject of this sketch; William is deceased; and Sarah is the wife of Daniel Petty, a farmer near Economy. To Mr. and Mrs. Dynes six chil- dren have been born: Charles Edgar, born March 29, 1871, resides in California, where he has employment as a postal clerk, is mar- ried to Miss Clara Grady, of Indianapolis, and they have two chil- dren-Leslie G. and Esther D .; Minnie May, born Aug. 28, 1873, is the wife of John Curtis Plankenhorn, a farmer of near Webster, Wayne county, and they have one daughter -- Ruth D. ; William 11 .. born April 4, 1876, is married to Nora Miracle and resides in Center- ville, where he is engaged as an engineer, owning threshing ma- chinery, etc .; Earl M., born Jan. 14, 1880, resides on his father's farm, is married to Josie Pike, and they have two children-Audrey Ellen and Cecil L .; John Floyd, born Sept. 6, 1882, is a farmer near Abington, Wayne county, and is married to Annas Stevens; and Eva L., born June 20, 1892, is the wife of G. W. Terry and resides at Centerville, her husband being a telegraph operator at Jackson's ITill.
Santford N. Ellison, one of the best known citizens of Jackson- burg and a prominent farmer of Harrison township, is a native of the Hoosier State, born in Henry county, Indiana, Oct. 31, 1868. Ile descends from excellent Indiana ancestry, both paternal and maternal. His parents-Charles W. and Caroline ( Cummins) Elli- son-were born in the Hoosier State. The father has always been
BIOGRAPILICAL
a farmer and resides in Henry county, Indiana, where the mother died in January, 1880. Three children were born to them : Alonzo, of Middletown, Ind .; Alice, deceased; and Santford N., the young- est child, is the subject of this sketch. The last named received his educational training in Henry county and resided with his par- ents and assisted in managing the homestead until twenty-one years old, following which he worked with his father-in-law four years, engaged in general farming. He then removed to Middletown, Ind., where he conducted a harness shop and also worked in the tin- plate mills for a time, and also owned a grocery two years. Ilis last year's work was in a shoe store, and he continued to reside there until Sept. 2, 1902, when he disposed of his interests and re- moved to Harrison township. He has continued in the successful management of the Samuel Carr farm, which is equipped with all modern conveniences, including a fine residence, a commodious barn and other ontbuildings, and the Ellison home is known throughout Harrison township as one of the best improved and equipped farms in the vicinity. Mr. Ellison's cheerful and pleasant home was the scene of many delightful social events during the lifetime of Mrs. Ellison, when she joined her husband as hostess in welcoming friends and neighbors on many occasions that will linger long in the memory of those who enjoyed their hospitality. Fraternally Mr. Ellison is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Encampment, and in politics is allied with the Democratic party, but has never held any public office for himself. In 1904 his Democratic and Republican friends wanted him to run for trustee of Harrison township and, despite the large Republican majority of four to one against him, had he received eight more votes he would have been elected, which shows the esteem in which he is held in the community. In 1909 he organized a band at Jack- sonburg, which organization is known as the "Ellison Band," and at present he is the director and manager of it. Ile is also super- intendent of the Sunday school at that place and an elder of the church. On March 1, 1890, he celebrated his marriage to Miss Ber- tie Cook, an estimable young lady of Henry county, Indiana, daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth (Carr) Cook. Three children were the issue of this union: Dottie, who resides at home with her father; Ina, wife of Carl Ammerman, of Henry county, Indiana ; and Callie, who resides at home. The mother's death occurred Feb. 27, 1907. The parents of Mrs. Ellison were born in llarrison town- ship, Wayne county, but later removed to Henry county, where they reside, and the father is engaged in farming.
Jacob Frank Edgerton, an influential farmer of New Garden township, is a native of this county, born Oct. 23, 1861, in the town- ship of Franklin, in a log cabin on the Arba & Richmond pike, a son of Nathan and Ruth A. ( Rogers) Edgerton, the former a native of Wayne county and the latter of Guilford county, North Carolina. The father was born Aug. 18, 1827, and was reared and received his schooling in his native county. He was a farmer by occupation, conducting agricultural pursuits in the township of Franklin, and there passed away, Oct. 25. 1876. His wife, the mother of Jacob
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F. Edgerton, first beheld the light of day, Sept. 17, 1827, and with her parents came to Wayne county in her girlhood. Here she be- came acquainted with and wedded Nathan Edgerton. She passed to the Great Unknown, Jan. 11, 1904, the mother of five children : William R., born Aug. 2, 1855, resides in Hudson, Mich., and is engaged with a manufacturing concern ; Jonathan O., born March 8, 1857, resides in Richmond, Ind., and is a teacher ; Lydia J., born June 22, 1859, died Sept. 17, 1860; Charles F., born Sept. 27, 1860, resides in Lafayette, Ind., and is a traveling salesman; and Jacob F., of this sketch, is the youngest. The father was a life member of the Society of Friends and his political affiliations were with the Republican party. The parents of Nathan Edgerton were Samuel and Mary (Sargeant) Edgerton, natives of North Carolina who came to Franklin township in an early day. The subject of this review received his schooling in the district schools of Franklin township, this county, and was trained to be a farmer, which has continued to be his occupation. In politics he is an enthusiastic adherent of the Republican party, but votes for the best men of whatever party in local affairs. He is a birthright member of the Society of Friends. On Nov. 24, 1882, he was united in holy matri- mony to Miss Julia Elnora Gardner, daughter of Benjamin and Susannah C. (Morgan) Gardner, of Franklin township. Mrs. Ed- gerton was born one and one-fourth miles south of Arba, on the Arba & Richmond pike, and was reared and educated there. Of this happy union three children have been born: Owen M., born July 15, 1885, is a graduate of the Fountain City High School, has attended Earlham College, and is employed in Richmond; Paul N., born Jan. 22, 1891, is a graduate of the Fountain City High School with the class of 1911, having spent the summer of 1910 at the Cen- tral Normal School in Danville, Ind., and holds a scholarship in Purdue University which he will eventually use in the Electrical Engineering Department; and Naomi J., born Aug. 3, 1897, is a student in the Fountain City schools. They are all members of the Society of Friends and love and appreciate music. Mr. Edger- ton has been on his present farm six years and expects it to be his permanent residence. He has recently remodeled his bank barn and made it modern in every way. He is a progressive, up-to-date farmer, a successful raiser of fine grades of stock, a persistent and thoughtful reader of up-to-date literature pertaining to scientific agriculture, and his progressive spirit is further attested by the excellent education given to his children, who are valuable mem- bers of the social life of the community.
John Homer Farlow, a retired farmer of Boston township, was born in Union county, Indiana, Dec. 23, 1843. The paternal grand- father, John Farlow, was a native of North Carolina who came to Indiana and located in Union county, where he entered land and followed farming until he retired, a few years before his death. He was the father of six children: Martha was the first born; Stephen was the second in order of birth ; and the others were George, Ien- rietta, Eva, and Lucinda, all of whom removed to Michigan. Stephen Farlow, father of John H., was born in Union county, In-
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diana, July 16, 1816, and was educated in the schools of that county. He worked at home for a time and then purchased a farm in Union county. In 1853 he came to Wayne county and purchased a farm in Center township, where he resided until 1860, and then removed to a farm in Boston township, where he spent the residue of his life, dying Sept. 15, 1905. The mother of John H. Farlow, formerly Nancy Leviston, was born in Union county, Indiana, Feb. 15, 1817, and died in March, 1899. Besides John H., who is the third in order of birth, the other children of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Farlow are: James M., deceased; Martha J., who is the widow of Alonzo Osborn and resides in Boston township; and William H., who died in 1911. John H. Farlow was educated in the schools of Center township, this county, and worked for his father until twenty-one years old. He tlien rented a farm in Center township, where he continued to reside until 1900, when he removed to Boston township, where he followed farming and stock-buying and shipping until his retire- ment. Politically his affiliations are with the Republican party, but he has never appeared in the role of an "offensive partisan," recog- nizing the right of each citizen to worship politics according to the dictates of his own conscience. That his fellow citizens have faith in the integrity and executive ability of John H. Farlow appears from the fact that he has discharged the duties of commissioner of Wayne county. In the matter of fraternal orders Mr. Farlow is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Abington. His reli- gious affiliations are with the Baptist church, being active in the councils of the home organization. On May 30, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza C. Railsback, daughter of Nathan and Lucina (Hunt) Railsback, of Abington township, and of this union there are six children : Estella M. is the wife of Frank M. Taylor, of Richmond; Bessie is deceased; Nora resides at the parental home; Perey is a resident of Richmond; Walter resides in Center township; and Hubert is deceased. Nathan Railsback, the father of Mrs. Farlow, was born in North Carolina, Feb. 25, 1809, and the mother was born in Abington township, this county, Nov. 24, 1816. Nathan Railsback came to Wayne county with his father, David Railsback, who purchased government land in Abington township and resided there until his death. Nathan Railsback was a farmer by occupation and died on his farm east of Richmond, Dec. 20, 1863, his wife surviving until June 10, 1910, when she, too, passed away. They were the parents of ten children : Sarah and Lafayette are deceased ; Emily is the wife of Josiah Colvin, of Abington town- ship; Elizabeth is deceased; Smith resides in Indianapolis; David is a resident of Preble county, Ohio; Mary J. is deceased; Mrs. Farlow is the next in order of birth; Barbara is the wife of Robert Colvin, of Abington township; and Joel is deceased.
Theodore Fisher, whose immediate ancestors were pillars of strength in the upbuilding of the moral and intellectual welfare of this community, and whose own life has been one of devotion to its best interests, was born in Franklin township, this county, Jan. 26, 1849. His present location is in the same township, where he successfully cultivates a large farm and is prosperous. His paternal
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grandfather was Daniel Fisher, who came from North Carolina in 1808 and entered land in Franklin township, where he lived until his death, in 1840. The father was Edward Fisher, who came to Wayne county with his parents, in 1808. and built for himself a home and name that are lasting. Edward Fisher was born in the State of North Carolina, Dec. 3, 1805, and the estimable woman he chose for a wife was Phoebe Bunker, daughter of Abram and Anna Bunker, born Dec. 24, 1807. Edward Fisher attended the pioneer schools in Franklin township and in early life followed farming, but afterward learned the millwright trade. He was mar- ried Jan. 6, 1837, and to him and his good wife were born six chil- dren : Ellis N., born Jan. 7, 1839, is deceased ; Daniel, born Oct. 21, 1840, resides in Franklin township ; Esther Jane, born Oct. 29, 1842, ยท is deceased ; Alexander Hamilton, born Nov. 23, 1844, is a larmer in Huntington county ; Ann, born Jan. 7, 1847, is deceased ; and Theo- dore is the youngest of the family. The grandfather's lands were acquired by direct Government grant and the price paid was but a fraction of one per cent. of the present value of the land. Theo- dore Fisher was educated at the district schools of his native town- ship, which he attended until sixteen years old, and has followed farming during his entire career, with the exception of four years which he devoted to the trade of plastering. In politics he is a Republican. Ile now farms a part of his father's place, which first consisted of 219 acres, of which Mr. Fisher farms 138 acres. Ile follows general farming and stock-raising according to modern methods.
William S. Farlow, a retired farmer of Dalton township, was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, Ang. 27, 1832. Ilis father, Enoch Farlow, was born in the same county and State and was a son of Michael Farlow, a native of North Carolina. The Far- lows originally came from Ireland. William S. Farlow came to Wayne county and settled at Dayton, in Dalton township, in 1801. leaving his native State on the day that it seceded from the Union. He began life in Indiana as a farmer, which occupation he followed until in September, 1864, when he enlisted as a recruit in Company A of the Seventeenth Indiana regiment, for service in the Civil war. From the time of his enlistment until Oct. 31. he was constantly engaged with his regiment in the cavalry and scouting operations incident to the Atlanta campaign, being in many skirmishes and the engagements at Rome and Coosaville. It left Rome on Nov. I, for Louisville, leaving its horses with Kilpatrick's cavalry. It was remounted and left for Gravelly Springs, Ala., Nov. 28, and on March 12, 1865, marched with Wilson's cavalry, overtaking the forces under Roddey and Forrest at Ebenezer Church, twenty-nie miles from Selma, on April 1, where, in a charge, the Seventeenth captured 100 prisoners and a gun. It participated in the action at Selma, driving the enemy into the forts, then out of them and out of the interior works and from their position behind the railroad embankment, taking all the forts from No. 18 to the river on the west side of the town. It also took four pieces of artillery and 300 prisoners. It then moved to Macon, Ga., where it drove the enemy
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into the city and saved two bridges which were about to be de- stroyed. The city was surrendered, together with 3,000 prisoners, including Gens. Howell Cobb, Mackall, Mercer, and G. W. Smith, five stands of colors, sixty pieces of artillery, and 3,000 small arms. The regiment had but 451 men in this action, but the enemy be- lieved it was the advance of a large force. The regiment was on post duty at Macon until Aug. 8, 1865, when it was mustered out. Upon his discharge Mr. Farlow returned to Dalton and again took up farming, which he continued until his retirement, and now lives in the village of Dalton. In politics he is a Republican and in 1880 was elected justice of the peace, which office he held four years. In 1884 he was elected township trustee, was re-elected in 1886, and in 1894 was again elected to that position, serving until 1900. Ile is a member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge, No. 529, at Franklin, and is one of the most highly respected men of his township. In North Carolina he married Miss Louisa Beckerdice, born in that State, Jan. 12, 1834, and of this union were born seven children: Lorenzo D., who resides in Dayton township, married Alice Jewett and they have nine children -- Nellie, Charles, Edward. Bertha, Mary, Harry, Hazel, Frank, and a boy unnamed; Nancy R. is the wife of Theo- dore Covalt, a farmer and stock-dealer in Henry county, and they have six children --- Clyde, Mabel, William, Pearl, Ruth, and Perry; David, who resides at Pythian, Ill., married Flora Pierce and they have two children-Elmer and Clyde; John, who is a farmer in Perry township, married Levonia Kennedy and they have two children-Clara and Blanch ; Schuyler C., who resides in Delaware county, married Carrie Helm and they have two children -- llil- dreth and Helm: William E., of Wayne county, married Sarah Goodson and they have three children-Sylvia, Georgia, and Dor- othy ; and Myrtle L. resides with her parents.
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