Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 50

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 932

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NORTHEASTERN INDIANA.

on argicultural pursuits. He married Mailta McCain, a native of New Jersey and a daughter of William McCain, who was also born in that State and was of Irish lineage. Emigrating to the Buckeye State, he became one of the early settlers of Muskingum county. There the parents of our subject were married, and began their domestic life upon a farm in Madison township, where the father cleared and improved 100 acres of land. In 1845 he sold that property pre- paratory to removing to Indiana, and on the 15th of October he reached Whitley county, settling on section 23, Union township. The tract of land which he secured was heavily timbered, but with the aid of his sons he cleared it and developed a good farm. His business dealings were crowned with success and he became quite well-to- do, and gave to each of his sons a farm. Both he and his wife died in 1872. They were consistent members of the Presbyte- rian Church, and he served as Elder in the same for many years. The cause of educa- tion found in him a warm friend, and he contributed liberally to the support of churches, schools and all other interests cal- culated to advance the general welfare. He was a straightforward, upright man, worthy the esteem of all who knew him, and when he passed away the community lost one of its best citizens.

In the family were ten children, of whom five are yet living, as follows : William; James H. ; Owen L., a resident of Nebraska; Mrs. Phœbe Shulket; and Gilbert, who is located in Missouri. Two of the sons served in the Civil war as defenders of the Union. Gilbert wore the blue for more than a year, and Owen was. an officer in the service for four years.

We now take up the personal history of

James H. Shaw, knowing that it will prove of interest to many of our readers, as he is one of the well known and respected citi- zens of his adopted county. He has resided in Whitley county from the age of sixteen, and attended its district schools until he had attained his majority. In 1850 he left home to take charge of his present farm, which then comprised 120 acres of land, covered with a dense growth of timber. Not a furrow had been turned or an im- provement made upon the place. Mr. Shaw worked for others for two years, and then began to clear and improve his prop- erty, building a little log cabin as his first home.

He secured as a mistress of this man- sion Miss Prudence P. Jolley. They were married in October, 1852, and he then brought his bride to the farm which has since been his home. The lady was born in Richland county, Ohio, September 12, 1826, and is a daughter of Absalom and Phoebe Jolley, who were early settlers of Richland county. They are both now de- ceased, but three of their children still sur- vive, namely, John M., William and Nancy Cobene. In August, 1859, Mr. Shaw was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died leaving three children. The eldest, Phoebe Corinda, is the wife of Michael Hess, of Union township, Whitley county, and they have two children, Robina and James H .; Nancy M. became the wife of Harvey Briggs, and died leaving two children, Frank and Alice; and Mary Jane is the wife of Adrian Irig of Union town- ship, and their children are Vivian and Nina. Mr. Shaw was again married December 23, 1861, to Catherine A. Jerome, a native of Greene county, New York, born May 7, 1832, and a daughter of

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William and Alida Hollenback) Jerome. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw are the parents of five children, -Ida J., Stephen D., Myrtie L., Frederick H. and May Elida. Stephen D. married Cora Flickinger, and they reside on the old homestead with their little son, Fred J. The children have been provided with good educational advantages, and thus prepared to cope with the duties of life.

Mr. Shaw is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity of Columbia City, and has served as its Trustee. In politics he is an inflexible adherent of the Democracy, and his fellow citizens, appreciating his worth and ability, have frequently called him to serve in positions of public trust. He has been School Director, was Con- stable in an early day, was made County Commissioner in 1876, serving for six years, and during all that time was chairman of the board. In 1874 he was a candidate for the office of County Treasurer. His life has been a busy and useful one. The farm upon which he now resides has been cleared by himself, and it now comprises 240 acres, of which 200 acres is under cultivation. He also owns eighty acres on section 7, Union township, which is partially im- proved, and he devotes his attention exclu- sively to general farming. In 1880, he erected a pleasant and substantial brick residence, and to-day has one of the fine country homes of the community as the result of his industry, his perseverance and good management.

J OHN BURNS, a member of the law firm of Burns & Burns, and deputy Prosecuting Attorney of Montpelier, Indiana, is one of the promising young lawyers of this place.

Mr. John Burns was born on his father's farm near the town of Keystone, Wells county, Indiana, April 10, 1871, son of Joseph and Ann (McCaffrey) Burns. He is the eldest of a large family of children, the others being as follows: William, who died at the age of seven years; James, Michael Tilden, Joseph Hezekiah, -all engaged in farming; Emily May, at home; Patrick Gratton, also engaged in farming; and Bes- sie, Anna and Phelix, at home. Their father, Joseph Burns, is an Irishman, born in Manchester, England, February 14, 1847, son of Michael and Emily (Fitzgerald) Burns. In 1858 his parents emigrated with their family to this country, their other chil- dren besides Joseph being Mary Emily and John. On the Atlantic voyage the daugh- ters both died and were buried at sea. John was killed in the late war while brave- ly fighting on the Union side. On reaching America, the family first located in New Orleans, subsequently removed to Xenia, Ohio, and still later to Jay county, Indiana. From Jay county they moved about 1866 and made settlement in Wells county, the par- ents and son living together. Grandfather Burns died in 1887, at the age of eighty- three years; and grandmother Burns passed away in December, 1893, at the age of eighty-seven. Tracing the ancestry back still further, we find that great-grandfather Burns originally emigrated from Scotland to the north of Ireland, where grandfather Burns was born, and some time later removed to England. Grandfather Burns was mar- ried in Ireland to Miss Emily Fitzgerald, a native of Dublin, Ireland, and it was after their marriage that they removed to Man- chester. Of the maternal ancestry of our subject, we record that James McCaffrey, his grandfather, now deceased, was born in

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county Fermanagh, Ireland. He emigrated alone .to this country, leaving his family on the Emerald Isle, and for seven years lived in Wells county, Indiana, in that time pre- paring a home and securing the means with which to pay their passage to this country, and at the end of that time was joined by them.

John Burns, the subject of this sketch, like many lawyers throughout the country, paved his way to the legal ranks by teaching school. He taught and attended school al- ternately, his experience as teacher covering four years, all in Chester township, Wells county, and previous to the time he was twenty-one. Then he accepted a position as telephone agent for the Salamonie Mining & Gas Company, located south of Poneto, Wells county, which he filled two years, after which he was superintendent of the Keystone gravel road for three months. In the summer of 1892 he read law in the office of Vaughn & Martin, of Bluffton, and while in the gas office he took a course through the Sprague Corresponding School of Law, of Detroit, Michigan, completing this course in due time and receiving a cer- tificate of graduation. In 1894 he was ad- mitted to the bar in Bluffton, and in No- vember of that same year came to Mont- pelier and established himself in practice with his father, the firm of Burns & Burns being organized on the 14th of November. Also about this time he became deputy for Prosecuting Attorney J. A. Hindinan, Prose- cutor for the Twenty-eighth Judicial dis- trict, and is still acting in this capacity.

Mr. Burns was married February 1, 1894, to Miss Zina Hyer, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, October 16, 1875, daughter of Newton and Ella (Collier) Hyer. They have one child, William Olonzo, born April 25, 1895.

Politically, Mr. Burns is a Democrat, and in religion adheres to the faith of his forefathers, that of Catholocism.

ENERAL JAMES RICHARD SLACK, deceased, was for many years one of the leading lawyers of Huntington, Indiana, and served with distinction during the late Civil war. He was a native of the Keystone State, born in Bucks county, on the 28th of September, 1818, and was a son of James Richard and Sarah (Simpson) Slack, the former of En- glish and the latter of Dutch descent. In their family were five sons and five daugh- ters. Anthony, the only surviving son, served under his brother during the Rebel- lion, and now makes his home in Independ- ence, Missouri. For many generations the name of James Richard has been in the family, being borne by the grandfather of the General, who aided the Colonies in their struggle for independence. An uncle of our subject, Elijah Slack, was president of Princeton College in New Jersey for many years. His mother was a Simpson, and was a second cousin of the late Bishop Matthew Simpson, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in whose honor so many churches and other institutions of that denomination are named.

The education of the General was ob- tained in the academy at Newton, Pennsyl- vania. At the age of nineteen he accom- panied his parents to Delaware county, Indiana, and during the following two years assisted his father in the labors of the home farm. The winter of 1838 was devoted to school-teaching, but in the meanwhile he had begun the study of law, having deter- mined to enter the legal profession. In 1839 he joined the engineering corps en-

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gaged in the construction of the Indiana Central Canal, and continued in that em- ploy until the State authorities suspended the work. He then devoted his entire time and attention to his legal studies, and was admitted to the bar on the twenty-second anniversary of his birth, having passed the required examination. A few weeks later he arrived in Huntington, where he commenced life on his own account. The entire county of Huntington at that time had a population of only 1. 560, while the village contained but sixty-five souls. Thus Mr. Slack became one of its pioneers. His cash capital con- sisted of but $6 and his wardrobe was slender; but with a determination to suc- ceed he began teaching school. At the close of the term he obtained employment in the county clerk's office, where he re- mained two years. The Legislature having created the office of County Auditor, he was elected to that position in the summer of 1842, and was twice re-elected, holding that office until March, 1851, when his official term expired.

Being nominated by the Democratic party the following summer, Mr. Slack was elected to the State Senate, and for two terms acceptably filled that position, im- mediately after the adoption of the new constitution. On the expiration of his Sen- atorial career he resumed the practice of his profession and did not again enter the political arena until 1854, when he became the candidate of the Democratic party of his district for Representative in Congress; but, owing to the joint efforts of the anti- Nebraska element and the Know-Nothing movement, he was defeated. In 1858 he was again elected to the State Senate, by a handsome majority, running far ahead of his ticket, and for four successive terms re-

mained a member of the Assembly, serving in the upper house until May, 1861.

No sooner was Fort Sumter fired upon than Mr. Slack determined to give his time and if need be his life to aid in the preser- vation of the Union, and by his fervid elo- quence and earnestness of purpose con- tributed largely to the raising of troops in various parts of the State. In the fall of 1861 he was appointed Colonel of the Forty-seventh Regiment of Indiana Volun- teers, by Governor Morton, and at once be- gan collecting his troops, -a task which was deemed by many to be hopeless, one regiment of volunteers having al- ready been secured in the district. His regiment was filled, however, by the Ist of December, 1861, and on the 13th was or- dered to Kentucky, where he remained two months. In February, 1862, he was or- dered to Commerce, Missouri, to report to General Pope, who was then concentrating his forces for the engagement at Island No. IO and Madrid. Colonel Slack was given command of a brigade consisting of five In- diana regiments, and after the capture of Island No. 10 proceeded to Tiptonville, Tennessee, where he was placed in command of the district embracing that point, Island No. 10 and Madrid. In May, 1862, he as- sisted in the attack on Fort Pillow, and after the surrender of Corinth he was given com- mand at Memphis, which was then in a very turbulent condition, remaining there until General Grant reached the city in July. He was next appointed post commander at Hel- ena, Arkansas, but in December was again placed in command of a brigade, taking part in the White river expedition and also the engagement at Yazoo Pass. Returning to Helena, he was given command of the Sec- ond Brigade, Twelfth Division, Thirteenth

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Army Corps, participating in the siege of Vicksburg, and rendered some valuable serv- ice during that memorable campaign, being in most of the severe battles, including the one at Champion Hill, where he lost nearly a third of his command. While the Union army was advancing on Vicksburg, he was left on the east bank of Black river to resist the rebels under General Johnston, and on being relieved participated in the assault on Vicksburg, until its surrender on the 4th of July, 1863. The following day he pro- ceeded to Jackson, Mississippi, where at the end of a seven-days siege the Union forces defeated the Confederates under Johnston. Colonel Slack then returned to Vicksburg, where for a fortnight he remained, and for the following two weeks was at Natchez, from which place he went to New Orleans. With that department of the army he re- mained until the close of the struggle, par- ticipating in all the engagements, including the capture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely on the east side of Mobile bay, and was at the surrender of Mobile two days later. His command was then stationed at Spring Hill, six miles from that city, where he remained until June 1, 1865, whence he was ordered to New Orleans, where he reported to Ma- jor General Steele. He was thus separated from those with whom he hasbeen associated for nearly four years, -an association greatly intensified by hardships of innumerable cam- paigns and the strife of many a bloody field. With General Steele he soon started for Brazos Santiago, Texas, where he was given command of 5,000 men, the remnant of the Thirteenth Army Corps, stationed at Clarks- ville, near the mouth of the Rio Grande, where he was entrusted with the delicate task of maintaining peace and quiet between the United States forces and the French army

then stationed at Bagdad, a Mexican city on the opposite shore. At the end of two months he was ordered to Brownsville, forty miles up the river, where he remained until the middle of September, when he was re- lieved from duty and ordered home after almost four years of constant service on Southern battle-fields. He had been made Brigadier General in November, 1864, and Major General by brevet the following March, and in January, 1866, was mustered out, having valiantly served his country in her hour of peril.

On the 5th of October, 1843, General Slack had married Miss Ann P. Thompson, who was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, February 4, 1821. She was the daughter of Ebenezer and Mary Ann (Bradford) Thompson, the former a native of Virginia, of Scotch descent, and the latter a native of Kentucky, of Irish descent. Four children were born in the family of the General and his wife, three of whom still survive: James Richard, a prominent citizen of Huntington; Sarah Elizabeth, wife of E. K. Alpaugh; and Mary Catherine, wife of Dr. B. H. B. Gray- ston.

On leaving the army the General re- turned to Huntington, where he resumed the practice of law, and continued its prosecu- tion until the organization of the Twenty- eighth Judicial Circuit, of which he was ap- pointed Judge by Governor Hendricks. In 1872 he was elected to that office, and six years later was re-elected, each time over- coming a large opposing majority. In 1880 he was made the candidate of his party for Congressman from his district, but was de- feated by Major Steele of Marion. He con- tinued upon the bench until the 28th of July, 1881, when, while waiting for a car on the corner of Fifth avenue and Madison street,

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Chicago, he was seized with a stroke of paralysis, and died within an hour!

His military carcer from its commence- ment until its close is worthy the grateful re- membrance of his fellow countrymen. As a leader he won the regard of his fellow offi- cers and the love and confidence of those under him. No officer looked more carefully after the interest and welfare of his com-

mand. He was wise in council, brave and energetic in action, unflagging in zeal, and ever watchful for the safety of those under him. As a lawyer he had few equals in the State, and as a judge was noted for the fair- ness of his rulings and the impartiality which he ever displayed.

Q HARLES HARRIS CHANEY has been a resident of Montpelier for six years, but in that time has been prominently identified with the prosperity of the city. He is a man of re- markable ability, whose well conducted busi- ness interests are crowned with success be- cause they are carefully managed. He is energetic, tireless and progressive, and no man in the community takes more interest in the welfare of Montpelier than he.

Mr. Chaney was born on the 2 1st of June, 1848, in Ashland county, Ohio, and is a son of Henry and Mary Jane (Hilburn) Chaney. He began life for himself at the early age of twelve years, and not only provided for his own support but aided largely in the support of the family. In 1860 he removed to Ma- rion, Grant county, Indiana, where he lived for five years. Ilis next place of residence was in Camden, Jay county, where he en- gaged in the tile business with J. R. Cash, under the firm name of Chaney & Cash. After a connection of ten years they sold out

and Mr. Chaney came to Montpelier in Jan- uary, 1889. Here be purchased the general hardware stock owned by Saunders & John- son on High street, and on the 20th of Au- gust, 1895, he removed to his present place of business. He now carries an $8,000 stock, and his trade is steadily and con- stantly increasing. He has everything found in a first-class establishment of the kind, and has won a liberal patronage through honor- able dealing and courteous treatment.

While engaged in the manufacture of tile, Mr. Chaney also conducted a general contractor's business, erecting barns, resi- dences and business blocks for a period of more than ten years, and many buildings in the counties of Wells, Jay and Blackford stand as monuments to his thrift and enter- prise. Associated with A. H. Bonham, in August, 1895, he erected a fine brick busi- ness block, in which he carries on his hard- ware store, while the second floor is occu- pied by the Grand Opera House. "All the world's a stage," and Mr. Chaney has pro- vided for the citizens of Montpelier a place where an excellent class of plays and other entertainments can be produced. In con- nection with his other property he owns 140 acres of land in Penn township, Jay county, Indiana, on which he has five oil-producing wells.

On the 18th of December, 1874, in Cam- den, Indiana, was celebrated the marriage of Charles H. Chaney and Miss Catherine Shirk, who was born November 27, 1854, and is the daughter of John and Catherine Shirk. Her father was born February 14, 1824, and died March 9, 1889. His wife died December 5, 1869, at the age of forty years. Two children have been born to our subject and his estimable wife, namely: Will- iam Bartlett, who was born December 20,

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1875, and is now in business with his father; and Viola Alice, born July 13, 1884. The family is connected with the Methodist Church.

Mr. Chaney is a stalwart Republican in politics, and is now serving as a member of the School Board, where his labors have been of material benefit to the cause of edu- cation. He is a man of broad views and progressive ideas, wide-awake and enterpris- ing, a thoroughly self-made man who de- serves great credit for his success in life.

LEX MORE, who devotes his time and energies to farming on section II, Union township, Whitley coun- ty, is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Miami county, on the 6th of April, 1833. His father, John W. More, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, and was a son of John and Sarah (Gandy) More. The grandfather, John, was a native of Germany, and on crossing the Atlantic to the New World located in Virginia, where he was married. In an early day he with his son John went down the Ohio river on a flatboat, . landing at Dayton, Ohio. He remained for several years in Montgomery county, and when the land came into market in Miami county he entered 160 acres from the Government and made a permanent home there. Upon that farm John W. More was reared, remaining on the old homestead until starting out in life for himself. As a companion and help- meet on life's journey he chose Miss Mary Spear, a native of Miami county, Ohio, and a daughter of Robert and Margaret (Mc- Clure) Spear, both of whom were born in one of the Carolinas and became early set-

tlers of Miami county, Ohio. There the father died, but the mother's death oc- curred in Whitley county, Indiana.

The parents of our subject were mar- ried in Miami county, Ohio, and began their domestic life upon the old More homestead, where they lived for five years. In Febru- ary, 1836, they came to Whitley county, settling in Smith township, when there were but four other white families in the town- ship. Indians, however, were still very numerous in the township, and wild game were very plentiful in the forests. It was a frontier region and the work of progress and civilization seemed scarcely begun. Mr. More settled upon 160 acres of wooded land, and in the midst of the forest built a log cabin, in one end of which was a large fire- place. They had here few conveniences and fewer luxuries, and it was quite a change to them from their Ohio home. The nearest neighbor was two miles away. Mr. More remained upon that farm, clearing and im- proving it until the fall of 1854, when he sold out and settled upon an improved place, on section 1, Union township, the farm which is now occupied by his son, William C. He was an upright, honorable man with a quick, decisive mind, with a good ed- ucation and liberal views. He was a friend of the public schools, and took an active in- terest in all that pertained to the welfare of the community. He was quite prominent in local politics and aided in naming and organizing Whitley county and Smith town- ship. He was the first Justice of the Peace elected in this township, serving for several years; was its first Assessor, was also Town- ship Clerk, and was candidate for the office of County Commissioner, but the Demo- cratic majority was too great to overcome. His death occurred August 3, 1887, at the

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age of seventy-seven years and two months, while his wife passed away January 1I, 1891, at the age of eighty years. They and their family belonged to the United Brethren Church.

Mr. and Mrs. More were the parents of four children, three of whom are now living, viz. : Sarah Ann, wife of A. J. Briggs, of Union township; Alex; William C., of Union town- ship; and Huldah, who died August 19, 1867.

Alex More was not yet three years of age when he came to this country, whose growth he has now witnessed for almost sixty years. He was educated in a log schoolhouse, where school was conducted on the subscription plan, and aided his father in clearing and developing the farm, remaining at home un- til twenty-three years of age. He was mar- ried November 29, 1855, to Miss Elizabeth J. Nickey, a native of Ross county, Ohio, born December 12, 1834, and a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Briggs) Nickey, early settlers of Whitley county of 1839. Upon their marriage the young couple removed to Missouri, settling upon a prairie farm in Da- viess county, where they lived for five years. They then returned to Whitley county, and for two years lived in Smith township. In August, 1869, Mr. More purchased his present farm, taking up his residence thereon in the spring of 1870. It was a tract of wild land and he erected a log cabin, which in the spring of 1880 was replaced by his present commodious and substantial brick residence. All the improvements upon the farm have been put there by him, and stand as monuments to his thrift and enter- prise. He has set out a good orchard, planted trees and now has one of the finely improved places of the community. He owns 230 acres, all of which is fenced, while 160 acres is in a high state of cultivation. In

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 50

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 932

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 932