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 9
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
Thomas Jefferson Addleman, for many years a prominent and influential farmer in the township of Franklin, Wayne county, for some time the incumbent of the office of school director, and promi- nent in Sunday school work, having been president of the Wayne County Sunday School Association two years, is a native of the Hoosier State. He was born in Franklin township, Wayne county, Indiana, July 6, 1850, a son of Joseph Pierce and Catherine (Town- send) Addleman, the former a native of the State of Pennsylvania. The first American ancestor was John Michael Addleman, who came to America from Sondereith, Germany, in 1750. Joseph Ad- dleman, great-grandfather of Thomas J., came from Pennsylvania in the spring of 1828 and purchased the old Addleman homestead in Franklin township. John Michael Addleman, the grandfather, also came at about the same time and purchased land northwest of White Water. The father, Joseph P. Addleman, born in 1821, was but seven years old when he accompanied his parents to Indi- ana, and Catherine (Townsend) Addleman, the mother, was a daughter of Jesse and Eleanor Townsend. They became the par- ents of six children. Thomas J. Addleman acquired his education in the schools of his native township and in the academy at White Water, which he attended two terms. At the age of twenty he began teaching and taught two terms in the Pleasant Run school and one term in the Kemp school, working on the home farm dur- ing vacations. Since then he has been actively engaged in farm- ing. In politics he is a Republican, though he has not fostered as- pirations for public office. Concerning religious questions, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Middleborough. On March 20, 1873, he was united in matrimony to Miss Lydia Haw- kins, daughter of William and Sarah Hawkins, for many years be- fore their demise residents of Wayne township, where Mrs. Addle- man was born, May 4, 1852. IIer father died April 23, 1887, and her mother on Sept. 3, 1888. The happy marital union of Mr. and Mrs. Addleman has been blessed by the birth of five children : Leota Mabel, born Feb. 9, 1874, is the wife of Oliver Hodgin, of Preble county, Ohio, and they have four children-Howard, Esther, Harley, and Leonard; Viola Catherine, born Feb. 6, 1875, is the wife of Jesse Bailey, of Richmond, and they have one child-Ray- mond; Sarah Estella, born Nov. 28, 1877, is the wife of Everett Bennett, of Richmond; Leonora, born April 12, 1883, is the widow of Merritt Harris; and Naomi C., born March 15, 1887, died Aug. 8, 1898. Mr. Addleman was for many years a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 261, and passed through the chairs of the local organization.
Leroy Nichols is another of the native sons of Indiana who has attained to success as a follower of agricultural pursuits, being one of the prosperous and representative farmers of Franklin town- ship. Ile was born in Rush county, Indiana, son of Harrison and Emeline (Simmonds) Nichols (see sketch of Harrison Nichols). He came to Wayne county with his parents, in October, 1875, and was reared on the old farmstead, early becoming inured to the strenuous labor involved in its improvement and cultivation, in
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the meanwhile duly availing himself of the educational advantages of the district schools of the community. He has continued to make farming his chief occupation, devoting his attention to gen- eral agricultural pursuits and being recognized as a trustworthy and enterprising business man, entirely worthy of the confidence and esteem so freely accorded him. lle is public-spirited and a stanch supporter of the cause and principles of the Democratic party, though not a seeker of public office. Mr. Nichols is not affiliated with any religious organization, being broad minded and liberal in his views on religion, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Chester. On Nov. 27, 1891, he was united in holy wedlock to Miss Jennie Huffman, born Jan. 12, 1876, daughter of Solomon and Mary (Strife) Huffman, residents of Hamilton county, Ohio, for many years prior to their removal to Wayne county, in 1881, the father being a farmer. The happy union of Leroy Nichols and wife has been blessed by the birth of one child, Mary Alice, born Nov. 16, 1903. Solomon Huffman. father of Mrs. Nichols, was born in Butler county, Ohio, April 18, 1841, son of Tobias and Mary Huffman. His wife, Mary (Strife) Huffman, is a native of White Oak, Hamilton county, Ohio, and was orphaned at an early age. Her father was George Strife, a native of Germany, who followed farming in Ohio, and to him and his wife were born four children: George, a resident of Cin- cincinnati ; Mary, the mother of Mrs. Nichols; Louis, and William, the latter being deceased. Solomon Huffman followed farming during all of his active career, and as before mentioned came to Wayne county in 1881. To him and his wife were born five chil- dren: Charles is a farmer in Wayne township; Mrs. Nichols is the second in order of birth ; and Aaron, Walter, and Jacob died in early manhood. Mr. Huffman is a member of the Christian church and his wife has membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically, Mr. Huffman is a Republican.
William Henry Wesler, for many years a well known and in- fluential farmer of Franklin, first beheld the light of day on the old Wesler homestead in that township, Sept. 22, 1859, son of John Conkle and Mary (Davis) Wesler, natives of the Hoosier State The paternal grandfather was Thomas Wesler, born on the old Wesler homestead at Valley Forge, Pa., the farm being the same as that upon which Washington's army encamped dur- ing that long and dreary winter of the Revolutionary war. He married Susan Conkle, of Philadelphia, and came to Wayne county, where he spent the residue of his life. The father was born in Wayne county, Sept. 12, 1836, and died there on Sept. 10, 1910. He was twice married, his first wife being Mary Davis, of which union there were born four children, and the second wife was Anna Parish, of which union there were born three children. Wil- liam H. Wesler acquired his education in the Wesler district school in Franklin township, dividing the days of his early youth between the school room and his father's farm, and at an early age learned the lesson of hard work and self-dependence. His mother died when he was sixteen years old, and he thereafter made his
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home with his grandfather Wesler until married. Later he pur- chased a farm in the community in which he was reared and from that day to this has successfully followed agricultural pursuits. He is allied with the Republican party, though he has never been an office seeker. On Nov. 4, 1881, he was united in matrimony to Miss Nettie McFerren, daughter of John McFerren, a native of Kentucky, and of this union were born three children-Mary, Roy, and Virginia. The mother of these children died Nov. 6, 1956, and on Nov. 22, 1908, Mr. Wester married Eva Davis, daughter of Wil- liam and Mary Davis, many years residents of Wayne county. Mr. and Mrs. Wesler are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Chester. The daughter, Mary, is the wife of Frank Warfel, of Richmond; Roy married Edna Hilbert and resides at San Monica, Cal., and Virginia resides at the parental home.
Rufus Clay Newman, now a resident of Franklin township, but for a number of years a prominent and influential agriculturist of Wayne township, first beheld the light of day at the home of his parents, in Jasper county, Indiana, Oct. 22, 1866, son of John William and Mary Frances ( Larsh) Newman. The paternal grand- father was Vincent Newman, a native of Virginia who came to Union county, Indiana, in early life and devoted the remainder of his days there to agricultural pursuits. John William Newman, the father, was born in Union county, May 9, 1838. Ile has always followed farming and resides one and one-half miles northeast of New Paris, in Preble county, Ohio. The maternal grandparents were Leroy and Elizabeth Larsh. Rufus C. Newman received his schooling in the public schools of the city of Richmond. In 1885 he went to Labette county, Kansas, where he attended school two or three years and then worked on a farm until 1893, when he re- turned to Wayne county. Hence he became familiar with the farming industry very early in life, an occupation which he has pursued with success up to the present time. In politics he is ac- tively affiliated with the Republican party, though he has never sought public office. Fraternally he was at one time a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Richmond, but is not now affiliated. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Chester. On Jan. 22, 1896, he was united in holy wed- lock to Miss Lurana Raper, daughter of John and Eliza Ann Raper, residents of Wayne township many years and both are deceased. This happy marital union has been blessed by the birth of two sons : Ernest Raper, born Feb. 4, 1898; and Willard Earl, born May 13, 1902, died Feb. 9, 1907. To John William and Mary Frances (Larsh) Newman, parents of Rufus C., there were born six chil- dren, of whom two are deceased. Those living are Rufus C .; Jessie Bell, wife of Elza Whitney, of Twin Falls, Idaho; Harry, a farmer in Boston township, Wayne county ; and Grace, wife of O. M. Scott, a merchant at Sioux City, Iowa. To John and Eliza Ann Raper, parents of Mrs. Newman, there were born seven children: Susie is deceased ; Frank is a resident of Richmond; Mrs. Newman is the next in order of birth; Effie is the wife of Harry Newman; and. Jasper, Rufus, and Leslie reside in Richmond.
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Joseph Howard Thomas, a prominent and influential citizen of Franklin township, this county, was born at the old Thomas homestead in that township, Oct. 25, 1863. His father, John West Thomas, a native of the same place, born Dee. 16, 1821, married Elizabeth McPherson, mother of the subject of this review, and a native of New Paris, Ohio. Their entire wedded life was spent on the old home farm, where the father died Feb. 6, 1897, and the mother died in 1880. The mother was a daughter of James and Hannah McPherson, and bore her husband twelve children. Joseph II. acquired his elementary education in the old Wesler district school, which he attended until about eighteen or nineteen years old, working on the farm in the meantime. Since his marriage he has been successfully engaged in farming, and has put the place in modern shape. Ile is a Republican politically, though he has never sought public office. He and his wife are both devout and enthu- siastic members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Middle- borough. On Dec. 16, 1886, he was united in holy wedlock to Miss Keturah Derth Showalter, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Townsend) Showalter, residents of Wayne county for many years, both now deceased. Of this happy union there is a son, Clyde Augustus, born Ang. 29, 1887, who married Myrtle Allen, and they have a daughter, Ilazel Olive, born Oct. 4, 1909, and a son, Willard Earl, born Oct. 1, 1911. After his marriage Mr. Thomas worked by the month for Allen Harris, in Clay township, one year ; then operated the Taylor farm two and one-half years, and since the end of that period has conducted the operations on the old home place. The father of Mrs. Thomas was born in Virginia and her mother was born in Wayne county. Mrs. Thomas is the fifth in a family of eight children, the others being Nancy, deceased; Judith E., wife of Frank Thomas, of Fountain City; Samuel J., of Ran- dolph county ; Christina, deceased; Catherine, deceased; George, of Fountian City; and Elizabeth, wife of Horace Throckmorton, of Fountain City.
Marshall Samuel Smith, a prosperous and highly respected agriculturist of Franklin township, is a native of Delaware county, Indiana, born Oct. 24, 1855, son of Jonathan and Cynthia (Leeka) Smith. His paternal grandparents were natives respectively of Virginia and Scotland. His father was born in the Buckeye State, near Lebanon, Sept. 12, 1818, and when a young man migrated to Indiana and took up government land in Blackford county. He was a farmer and flour and grist miller by occupation and erected a mill on White river. The mother of Marshall S. Smith, Cynthia (Leeka) Smith, was also a native of the Buckeye State, born near Wilmington, July 14, 1822, and her parents-George and Elizabeth Leeka-were natives of Pennsylvania, the Leekas originally com- ing from Germany. Marshall S. Smith received his educational training in the district schools of Randolph county, attending two or three months in winter and working on the farm the remainder of the time. [Ie continued thus until fourteen years old, when he commenced working as a farm hand by the month, continuing so employed until twenty-five years old. Ile then worked in an oil
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mill at Richmond nine months, and then was employed on the Wabash railroad about three and one-half years. At the end of this period he returned to Richmond and was employed as engi- ne'er at the Wayne Works seven years. In 1892 he purchased his present farm of eighty-five and one-half acres, upon which he erected a new house and barn and there has since resided, with the exception of the years 1908-09, when he rented the farm to another and resided in Fountain City. In politics he is allied with the Democratic party, but has never been a seeker of public office. In his religious views he is very liberal, and though a Christian, has never been affiliated with any religious denomination. His wife is a member of the Fountain City Quaker Meeting. On Oct. 30, 1890, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth (Decker) Sheffer, daughter of Ifenry and Henrietta Decker, who came from Germany about 1852 and located in Richmond, where the mother died Dec. 22, 1890, and the father on Jan. 19, 1891. Mrs. Smith is one of nine children born to her parents, and was born in Rich- mond, April 26, 1854. Of this family three sons and four daughters are living. Mr. Smith is one of thirteen children born to his par- ents, and of this family there are five sons and two daughters liv- ing. There have been no children born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, but by her former marriage, to George W. Sheffer, of Preble coun- ty, Ohio, Dec. 25, 1877, Mrs. Smith is the mother of two-a son and a daughter. The son, Orville W. Sheffer, born Nov. 27, 1882, died Oct. 28. 1907 ; and the daughter, Octavia, born Feb. 1, 1884, is the wife of Andrew Riley, of Franklin township, of which union there have been born four children-Robert, Marshall (died in 1906), Pauline, and George W. For many years Mr. Smith was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 287, at Spartanburg, and at different times filled various offices in the local organization. Aside from his homestead, Mr. Smith owns the old Laughlin place of eighty-two acres, in Franklin township, and 193 acres in Green's Fork township, Randolph county.
Albert Burton Carman, one of Franklin township's highly es- teemed agriculturists, has been a resident of Franklin township the past decade. Ile, like a large majority of the residents in this sec- tion of the commonwealth, is a native of the Hoosier State, and was born in Franklin county, Indiana, July 11, 1870. Ilis paternal grandfather was John Burton Carman, a native of Maryland. His parents were George B. and Caroline (Ilegg) Carman, the latter a native of Germany and the former a farmer by occupation. To them were born two sons-Edward W., born March 4, 1868, and Albert B. The father died in 1872, when his son, Albert B., was two years old. After the death of the father the mother married John B. Carman, a brother of her former husband and they reside on the Chester pike, in Wayne township. The subject of this rec ord was reared to the sturdy discipline of rural life and at a tender age acquired the lessons of hard work and self-reliance. At the same time he gained an intimate knowledge of farming, which has been his occupation a number of years. He lived on a farm until nineteen years old, during the last three years of that time working
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as a farm hand by the month. He then secured employment in a carpet factory in Richmond, and in 1897 went to Elwood, Ind., where he worked in a tin plate mill one year. He then hired out to Abner Bulla for over a year on Mr. Bulla's farm in Wayne township, and also attended to Mr. Bulla's milk trade, after which he bought Mr. Bulla's dairy route, which he operated over a year. He then.removed to Centerville, where he conducted a butcher shop one year, after which he did bridge carpenter work several months. He then rented Jonathan White's farm, where he resided one year, and then purchased property in Chester, in 1902, and resided there seven years. During a part of this time he was engaged at the Hoosier shop in Richmond, and the last four years were spent in operating a dairy, selling milk in Richmond. In 1909 he purchased the farm which he occupies and upon which he remodelled the resi- dence and built a new barn. It is a very productive farm, consist- ing of eighty acres, and the new buildings adorn and add to its value and attractiveness. Mr. Carman sold this farm in 1911, with the intention, however, of remaining in Wayne county. Mr. Car- man is a loyal and public-spirited citizen and is a Republican in polities. On April 10, 1898, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Berthelya Hiatt, a native of Franklin township, born west of Bethel, Jan. 1, 1874, daughter of William and Lydia (Gist) Iliatt, who have been residents of Franklin township many years. This happy marital union has been blessed by the birth of three chil- dren-a son and two daughters: Bonnie Laverne, born Feb. 17, 1899; Lydia Blanche, born Sept. 7, 1901, and George Stanley, born Ang. 7, 1904, died April 19, 1906. Mrs. Carman is a member of the Christian Church at White Water. William and Lydia (Gist) Hiatt, parents of Mrs. Carman, were born in Franklin township and they are the parents of four children: Orley E., Everett J., Mary B., and Russell S.
Vernon Reynolds, for many years one of the leading citizens of Williamsburg, first beheld the light of day on his uncle's farm, one and one-half miles northeast of that village, July 8, 1848. His father, Joseph Fowler Reynolds, a native of New Jersey, migrated westward to Wayne county in 1832, in company with his parents- Samuel and Rebecca (Jeffrie) Reynolds-who settled on a farm in New Garden township. Joseph F., the father of Vernon, was one of eight children born to his parents, the others being John and Samuel (twins), Firman, Jesse, George, Elizabeth, and David. He learned the shoemaker's trade and followed that occupation throughout his active career in Williamsburg. IIe was twice mar- ried, first to Elizabeth Brittain, a native of New Jersey, who bore him three children, among whom was Vernon, of this sketch, the others being Daniel F. and Charity, who died young. The first wife died in 1851, and the father then married Amy Brittain, a sister of Elizabeth Brittain, of which union there were nine children-Emma, Frank, Katharine, Fletcher, Charles, Asher, Taylor, and Ernest, and one that died in infancy. Vernon Reynolds received his edu- cation in the schools at Williamsburg and Green's Fork, attending until about sixteen years old. He learned the shoemaker's trade of
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his grandfather, Joseph Brittain, and in 1865 commenced working for himself at the old tanyard building at Williamsburg, where he remained three years. He then opened a shoe shop at his present location in Williamsburg, buying the property soon thereafter and has been engaged in business at that place ever since, conducting a harness and shoe store. Politically he is actively affiliated with the Republican party. On Sept. 29, 1871, Mr. Reynolds was united in holy wedlock to Mary Ann Hutchins, daughter of Thomas and Letitia (Veal) Hutchins, the family having come from North Caro- lina, and of this union there was a son, Raymond V., born Jan. 19, 1884, and died Jan. 21, 1901. The father of Letitia Veal was Enos Veal, who came to Indiana from New Jersey, and the mother was Mary Brunsworth, born in Pennsylvania.
Lewis E. Hahn, who died at his home in Cambridge City, Nov. 13, 1907, was a worthy scion of one of the honored pioneer families of Franklin county, Indiana, and left upon the annals of his adopted city a definite and beneficent impress. Here he passed a goodly portion of his long and useful life, which was ordered upon the loftiest plane of integrity and honor, so that in passing to the life eternal he left the heritage of a name unsullied and one which will be held in lasting esteem by all who came within the sphere of his influence. Lewis E. Hahn was born in Metamora, Franklin county, Indiana, April 22, 1842, and the place of his nativity was the family homestead in that village. IIe was a son of Archibald and Ann (Case) Hahn, the former a native of the old Empire State of the Union and the latter was born in Franklin county, Indi- ana. The father was a man of strong individuality and sterling character and was prominent and influential as a citizen, both in the pioneer days and in the later years of advanced prosperity. Lewis E. Hahn, subject of this memoir, spent his boyhood days in his native village and his educational advantages were those afford- ed in the schools of that place. He was the oldest of three chil- dren born to his parents, all of whom are deceased, the others being Wilber and Lucy. As a youth he began working for his father, a drygoods merchant in Metamora, and continued in that employ until the death of his father, when he assumed the manage- ment of the business, in which it was his to attain to marked suc- cess. In 1880 he removed to Cambridge City and in partnership with his father-in-law, Samuel B. Trembly, engaged in the dry- goods business, and this association continued until 1892, when Mr. Trembly died. Mr. Hahn then continued the business alone until 1905, when he disposed of his interests to Morris & Krahl, but until his death maintained his home in Cambridge City, where lie purchased the beautiful residence property now occupied by his widow. Mr. Hahn ever wielded an influence for good in all the relations of life and was naturally a leader in all affairs in which he was interested. Ilis political allegiance was given to the Re- publican party, in whose cause he rendered effective service, and he was a generous supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church it Cambridge City. His kindliness and helpfulness gained for him in- violable friendships and his death was deeply mourned by all who
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LEWIS E. HAHN.
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had known the man and had recognition of his noble attributes of character. Ilis widow still resides in Cambridge City and is a leader in the social life of the community. She is a woman of gra- cious refinement and her beautiful home is a center of generous hospitality. In early life Mr. Hahn gave four years of his vigorous manhood to the preservation of the Union in the time of its sore need, enlisting as a private in the Eighteenth Indiana infantry. This regiment was organized at Indianapolis and was mustered in Aug. 16, 1861, for three years. It left the State the next day for St. Louis and accompanied Fremont into Missouri. On its return it moved with Pope's army to the Blackwater and aided in the capture of a large number of prisoners. In February, 1862, it marched to Cross Hollow, Ark., and in an engagement near Lees- ville in March its brigade saved another from capture, the Eight- eenth recapturing the guns of the Peoria artillery. The regiment participated in the advance at Elkhorn Tavern, when the enemy was forced from the field, and then marched for Helena, Ark., be- ing engaged at Cotton Plant early in July and reaching Helena on the 13th. On Oct. IF it moved for Southeastern Missouri, where it passed the winter, and was transferred to Grant's army in the spring of 1863, participating in the engagement at Grand Gulf. At Port Gibson it captured a stand of colors and some artillery ; was engaged at Champion's Hill, Black River Bridge, and at Vicksburg from May 19 until its fall, being in the assault on the enemy's works and the first to carry its colors to the parapet. It was in the Bayou Teche campaign and other operations in Louisiana dur- ing the fall, and on Nov. 12 embarked for Texas. It was engaged at Mustang Island, and in the attack on Fort Esperanza. It re- enlisted at Indianola in January, 1864, and was furloughed home, stopping at Baton Rouge to aid in repelling a force about to attack the garrison there. It was ordered to Virginia in July, joined General Butler's forces at Bermuda Hundred, and was engaged in several severe skirmishes at Deep Bottom. It was then trans- ferred to Washington and assigned to the Second division, Nine- teenth corps, which joined Sheridan's army in Virginia. It partici- pated in the battle of Opequan, aided in the defeat of Early at Fisher's Hill, fought at Cedar Creek, took transports for Savan- nah, Ga., Jan. 6, 1865, and was engaged three months in building fortifications. It was detached May 3 and sent to Augusta, Ga., raising the Stars and Stripes over the arsenal for the first time since the beginning of the war. It returned to Savannah on June 7, was sent to the southern part of the State, and was mustered out Ang. 28, 1865. Mr. Hahn contributed his full share to this glorious rec- ord and until his death bore an honorable scar from a wound re- ceived in the service. On Dec. 24, 1877, in Metamora, Franklin county, Indiana, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hahn to Miss Emma Frances Trembly, a daughter of Samuel B. and El- mira (Francis) Trembly, the former born in Brownsville, Ind., and the latter in New Jersey. Samuel B. Trembly was a miller in early life, but later engaged in the mercantile business, and he and his wife were honored residents of Cambridge City from 1880 until
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