USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Past and present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 49
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William Lyman Jones was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, in 1837, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Nimrod Jones, whose family consisted of four chil- dren, three daughters and one son. The latter, William Lyman, was edu- cated in the common schools of his native community and in Lafayette. He took to farming, which he followed for several years with success, but later, having taken an interest in local political and public affairs, he was slated for a position on the police force of the city of Lafayette, which he held for a number of years to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, always faithful in the performance of his duty, however hazardous or arduous.
Mr. Jones gallantly served for a period of three years as a soldier in the ranks of the Twenty-second Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Robinson. Although he escaped without a wound, he was at one time in the hospital, and subsequently was honorably discharged.
Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Leah Frances Wait on January 9. 1870. She is the daughter of Samuel Wait, who also was a soldier in the Union army, a member of the Fortieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, having been one of the first to enlist in 1861 and served during the entire conflict. He was faithful in the discharge of his duty and eventually rose to
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the rank of captain. He is now deceased. He was a native of the state of New York and his wife was a native of Tippecanoe county. They were the parents of eight children, an equal number of boys and girls, Leah Frances being the third child in order of birth.
To Mr. and Mrs. William Lyman Jones one son was born, named Nimrod, whose date of birth was December 8, 1875, in Lafayette. He was educated in the city schools, and first started in life as a grocery clerk, later became a member of. the local fire department, being now located at No. 3 Engine House, as hoseman. On September II, 1895, he married Grace Belle Mohr, the daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth Mohr and born in Elpaso, Illinois, May 27, 1877, being one of three children in the Mohr fam- ily. Mrs. Grace M. Jones was educated in the schools at Saybrook, Illinois. She and her husband live very happily at No. 1427 Kossuth street, Lafayette, with. Mrs. William Lyman Jones, to whom this comfortable home belongs. The family belong to the Congress Street Methodist church, and are held in high esteem by their neighbors. The death of William Lyman Jones oc- curred August 18, 1886. He was a good man and popular among a host of friends.
ELLIS QUAINTANCE.
Samuel Quaintance, a Virginian of the Quaker persuasion, married Abigail Solomon and when both were young settled in Ohio, two miles north of Bucyrus, when there were few people there besides Indians. He entered three hundred acres of land, and, besides farming, conducted a horse-power mill, which was later replaced by water power. He married twice and had two sons by his first wife, to whom he gave a considerable amount of his land. By the second wife there were thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters. George, the eldest, enlisted in the One Hundred First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died at Nashville of poison. John, the second son, served three years in the Twelfth Regiment Indiana Cavalry and died six weeks after leaving the army. David, the third son, died in 1860. But- ler, a resident most of his life at Buck Creek, Indiana, finally ended his life there. Samuel, now dead, was a farmer in Fairfield township. Thomas, a member of the Seventy-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, died in 1862, at Gallatin, Tennessee. Eli first joined Company G. Fifty-fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but later served in the One Hundred Sixteenth, One Hundred Thirty-fifth and One Hundred Fifty-fourth Indiana
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Regiments, and was at Harper's Ferry when the war closed, now being a resident of Kokomo. Kate, Samson and Ruth are deceased. Ann married Hiram Birch, who was in the One Hundred Fiftieth Indiana Regiment. Mary is now the widow of John Watson, of Indianapolis.
Ellis Quaintance, seventh in the above list of children, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, August 2, 1842. His father died in Crawford county, when the subject was eight years old, and the latter worked out until the Civil war, when he enlisted, in April, 1861, in Company C. Fifteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for the three-months service. After serving his term in Virginia, he came to Buck Creek, Tippecanoe county, en- listed in Company G, Fifty-fifth Indiana Regiment at Logansport, went with his command to Indianapolis, thence to Dearborn, Michigan, by boat to Cleve- land on to Cincinnati, finally joining the "Persimmon Brigade" in Kentucky. Then followed a severe march of one hundred and sixty miles to east Ten- nessee, which took two weeks, and considerable fighting ensued under Gen- eral Burnside at various places, including Blue Springs and Tazewell. After eight months with his regiment, Mr. Quaintance came home and enlisted in Company C, One Hundred Thirty-fifth Indiana Regiment, as color-bearer, going with this command to Louisville, Nashville, Bridgeport, Stephenson, Alabama, and Tullahoma. He was discharged at Indianapolis in 1864, returned home and enlisted in the Twelfth Indiana Battery, with which he served a year at Ft. Nagley, Nashville. He was attached to the largest gun in the battery, remained with it to the close of the war and returned home.
Few soldiers have had a more varied or creditable record than Mr. Quaintance, as he is able to show five honorable discharges as well as a roll of honor presented to him by Abraham Lincoln. Besides all this, he served six years in the state militia as a private in Battery C. At one time during the Civil war he held a commission as lieutenant of his company. After the war, Mr. Quaintance settled in Tippecanoe county as a farmer and ran a threshing machine for thirty years. He is well known in the county and has many warm friends. For some years he has lived in Wea township and on Decoration Day, 1908, had erected a life-size monument of himself in the Fink cemetery.
In 1868 Mr. Quaintance married Sarah, daughter of Andrew and Eliza (Cunningham) Gates, of Wea township, who died in 1878, leaving one son. His second wife was Laura Long, of Rush county, by whom he had five children. Laura, the eldest, married Lewis Douglas, and resides near Cairo,
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Illinois. John, who married Florence Kidwell, is a farmer in Wea town- ship. Alva, who married Lida Acers, lives with his father. Ira and Emma are also at home. Robert, the only child by the first marriage, married Minnie Sheirer and is a fireman in the gas works at Lafayette. For two years after the war Mr. Quaintance lived in Wea township, then in Wash- ington township, but finally returned to Wea for final residence. He is a member of Logan Post No. 3, Grand Army of the Republic, at Lafayette, and has been a stanch Republican all his life.
ASAHEL B. CONN.
All honor should be given the sterling men who have come down to us from the pioneer days of the Hoosier state's interesting! history, for they have performed a greater work in transforming the wilderness into pleasant places, "making the desert to blossom as the rose," than we are often prone to accredit them. One of that praiseworthy number is Asahel B. Conn, a well-known farmer of Jackson township, Tippecanoe county, who was born February 26, 1839, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. When twelve years of age he came to Indiana with his parents and his early education was obtained in the free schools of Cass county; however, it was limited, owing to lack of adequate advantages in the pioneer days. He is the son of David and Anna (Burnham) Conn, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they were reared and married. They came to Indiana in the fall of 1851, David Conn entering land in Pulaski county from the government at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. After clearing and improving the same, they dis- posed of it and moved to Cass county, Indiana, where they purchased eighty acres upon which they spent the remainder of their lives. David Conn died in 1868, having been over sixty-five years of age, being survived by his widow several years, she attaining the advanced age of eighty-four years; both are buried near Royal Center, Cass county. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity, that number still living, Asahel B. being the third in order of birth. Those living besides him are Lucitta, Mary, Ruth, Christina Ann, Susan, Henry and David.
Asahel B. Conn remained at home assisting with the work about the place until he married Nancy Jane Binns, January 3, 1869. She was born in Ohio, June 10, 1849, the daughter of William and Louisa Binns, both
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natives of the Buckeye state, having been reared in Ross county, where they were married. Later moving to Indiana, they settled in Cass county on a farm where the father died, the mother surviving him several years, dying in Tippecanoe county. They were the parents of fourteen children.
It was in 1872 that Asahel B. Conn and wife moved to Tippecanoe county where Mr. Conn farmed as a renter until 1899, then bought one hundred and thirty acres of well-improved land upon which he now lives, having brought the place up to a high state of improvement. He carries on general farming most successfully and has a comfortable home.
Mrs. Conn was called to her reward on March II, 1903, when fifty- four years old, and she sleeps the sleep of the just beside her mother, in South Raub cemetery, Randolph township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Asahel B. Conn eleven children were born, eight of whom grew to maturity, three dying in childhood. They are: Elizabeth A., the wife of George W. Kite, residing in North Dakota; William H. married Lillie Clearwater, and they reside at Malott Park, Marion county, Indiana, being the parents of four children, Carl, Iva, Goldie and Elva. David Conn married Florence Kern; they reside in North Dakota and are the parents of one child, Elzie. Florence married Clint M. Francis; they reside on a farm in Jackson township. Asahel E., Albert B., Charles and Bertha, all single, are at home with their father on the farm.
Asahel B. Conn is a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted February 15, 1865, in Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under command of Capt. A. B. Davidson. He received an honorable discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, September 19, 1865, the war having ended. During his term of service he was assigned to general duties around Nashville and other towns in Tennessee, doing considerable scouting duty, and once served as a train guard to Louisville, Kentucky.
Mr. Conn's father was an old-time Whig, and, following in his foot- steps, the subject has always been a loyal Republican, that party having succeeded the Whig party. He is also a strong supporter of the county's local option law, and an advocate of the temperance cause. He has never held public office, although often solicited to do so. Mr. Conn and his family are members of the Free Methodists at Antioch, Mrs. Conn having been also a member of this church up to her death. The family is active in church work and loyal supporters of its various lines of endeavor. Mr. Conn is faithful in his attendance in the church and is an officer in the same. He is held in high favor by all who know him for his life of industry, honesty and kind and considerate treatment of his fellowmen.
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ROBERT HENRY HOWELL.
Any piece of biographical writing should have an autobiographic qual- ity ; should be an impression and interpretation, quite as much as a summary of facts. Facts, to be sure, are of use, but in the condensed narrative of a life there is danger that they may unduly predominate. In studying a clean- cut, distinct character like that of the subject, interpretation directly follows fact. His character is the positive expression of a strong nature. A partial revelation of his prolific application, sturdy patriotism, and eminently suc- cessful life will be found through perusal of this brief tribute.
Robert Henry Howell was born in New Brunswick. New Jersey, on the 12th day of January, 1840, and is a son of Robert and Catherine (Newett) Howell. These parents were natives of Ireland and were mar- ried and had one child in their native land. They came to America about seventy-three years ago and located at New Brunswick, New Jersey, where they lived until about twenty years ago, when they came to Tippecanoe coun- ty, Indiana, and spent the remainder of their days here in retirement. The father was a shoemaker by trade and followed this vocation until coming West. His death occurred about fourteen years ago. He was a member of the Episcopal church and stood high in the estimation of those who knew him. He was the father of seven children, of whom but three are now living, namely: Philip, of West Lafayette; Robert, subject of this sketch, and Sarah, who resides in Lafayette.
Robert Henry Howell secured a limited education in the subscription and free schools, but has by persistent reading and keen observation become a well-informed man. He remained under the parental roof until about eighteen years old, when he went to Princeton, New Jersey, and apprenticed himself to learn the trade of carriage-maker. He had served but three years at this work, when the great rebellion broke out in the Southland and the subject, heeding his country's cry for help, enlisted in the First Regiment New Jersey Cavalry. He served three years, during most of which time he was with the Army of the Potomac, doing scout and skirmish duty. This was arduous and dangerous work and during his service Mr. Howell had several horses shot from under him, but was himself not seriously injured. At one time he was sent with secret dispatches from Leesburg to Point of Rocks and had an exciting time getting back to the Union lines, having a close horse race with a number of the enemy who were determined on his capture. He was discharged from the army in 1864 and then for a short
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time was employed in a wagon shop in Washington, District of Columbia. On the day President Lincoln was assassinated, Mr. Howell started for the West and came to Lafayette, Indiana, where he went into the bottling busi- ness with his brother. Subsequently he decided to take up agriculture and located on a tract of land about five miles north of where he now lives. He successfully operated this farm until about a year ago, when he came to his present place. He has a splendid farm, located in section 36, Shelby township, and has made many substantial and permanent improvements. The place is kept up to the highest standard of excellence and Mr. Howell will undoubtedly achieve here the same degree of success which has at- tended his efforts elsewhere.
In 1873 Mr. Howell married Theresa Kane, a native of Gloucester, New Jersey, and to this union have been born seven children, as follows : Joseph, deceased; Richard, who is married and lives in Memphis, Tennes- see : Gertrude is a member of a sisterhood of the Roman Catholic church at Chicago; Sadie is a teacher and lives at home; Robert, who is a farmer at Octagon, this county, married Bessie Neville, and they have one child; Katherine is a teacher and lives at home; Mamie, at home.
The subject is identified with the Republican party, but takes no very active part in politics. His religious membership is in the Catholic church. Because of his well-ordered life and the many fine personal qualities of character, Mr. Howell is accounted one of the leading men of his township and is deserving of the high regard in which he is held.
JOHN W. MCCORKLE.
The record of the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical review is that of a man who has worked his way from modest beginnings to a place of influence and financial ease, his life having been one of unceasing industry and perseverance, and the notably systematic and honorable methods he has employed have won him the unbounded confidence and regard of those with whom he has come into contact.
John W. McCorkle, well-known banker and representative citizen of Wingate, Montgomery county, Indiana, was born in Tippecanoe county, throughout which he is popular, his birth occurring on May 15, 1868. He attended the public schools in Jackson township, and later attended Purdue University at Lafayette, having been in the class of 1889, making a most
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commendable record in the same. After finishing his education he taught school several terms at Sycamore and Fairview in Jackson township, also taught the New Comber school in Sheffield township, five miles northeast of Stockwell, having won a very favorable reputation among both patrons and pupils, and had he continued in this line of work he would have no doubt become one of the noted educators of this part of the state. However, be- lieving that the world of business held greater attractions and opportunities for him he engaged in the banking business at Wingate in 1901, becoming cashier of the Farmers' Bank, which position he still very creditably holds, giving every evidence of a man of natural business acumen of no mean order and by his courteous and considerate treatment of the bank's numer- ous patrons he has added much to the prestige of this popular institution.
John W. McCorkle is the son of Andrew C. and Polly A. (Meharry) McCorkle, the former a native of Putnam county and the latter of Mont- gomery county, Indiana. They were married at the home of the latter in Montgomery county, June 30, 1864. After remaining about one year in that county, they moved to Tippecanoe county, where they engaged in farm- ing and became well established, improving a valuable place and laying by a competency by reason of their industry and habits of economy. The mother, whose birth occurred in 1838, died August 17, 1887, at the age of forty-nine years, and she sleeps the sleep of the just in the Meharry! cem- etery near Wingate, Montgomery county. Her husband lives in the city of Lafayette, having reached the age of seventy-two years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Andrew C. McCorkle two children were born, Charles A. and John W., the subject of this review being the younger. Andrew C. McCorkle married a second time, his last wife being Julia Martin, this union resulting in the birth of one child that died in infancy.
John W. McCorkle's happy domestic life began on October 24, 1894. in Tippecanoe county, when he espoused Carrie M. Devore, a native of Jack- son township, this county, where her birth occurred January 18. 1873. Her parents were both relatives of Indiana, in which state they married and made their home. Her mother died in 1893, when forty years old, and is buried in Wheeler cemetery. Her maiden name was Allis Borum. Her husband, Jerry Devore, has since again married, his last wife being Lula Broe; they reside in North Dakota. To Mr. Devore and his first wife four children were born, Carrie M., Alta A., Okh and Charles T., all of whom grew to maturity and are still living, Mrs. McCorkle being the oldest in order of birth. No children have been born to Mr. Devore by his last marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. John W. McCorkle three children have been born, one boy
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and two girls, namely : Charles Howard, born April 27, 1897; Alice A., born April 10, 1899; Mildred C., born April 8, 1904.
Mr. McCorkle, as already intimated, has been a very successful man in his business career. Besides his holdings in the Farmers' Bank at Wingate, he is the owner of five hundred and eighty acres of land in Jackson town- ship, Tippecanoe county, also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Mont- gomery county, besides his residence property in Wingate where he re- sides, which is a modern, beautiful and commodious home, presided over with rare grace by Mrs. McCorkle, who together with her genial husband make their many friends feel an old-time hospitality when they visit there. Mr. McCorkle's farms are highly improved in every respect, and under an excellent system, all the modern methods known to progressive and up-to- date agriculturists being employed in such a manner as to bring the greatest results. On the farms good buildings are to be found and livestock of ex- cellent grades. No better land is to be found in either Tippecanoe or Mont- gomery counties.
Mr. McCorkle has always been a Republican and deeply interested in the success of his party's principles, having long taken an active part in local political matters. He is a strong advocate of the local option movement in- dorsed by the Republican party in 1908 in this state. He has been many times solicited by his friends and neighbors to serve them in some official capacity, but he has never consented to do so, preferring to devote his time to his business affairs ; however, any movement calculated to benefit the coun- ty or community finds in him a loyal supporter.
Fraternally he is a Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree. be- longing to Mercer Lodge, No. 633, at Wingate; he also belongs to Com- mandery No. 3. Knights Templar, at Lafayette, and he has taken the thirty- second degree of the Scottish rite at Indianapolis. He has served as wor- shipful master in the blue lodge, also other chairs in the order. He takes an abiding interest in this ancient and honorable order and one would judge from his daily life that he endeavors to carry out the sublime precepts and doctrines of the same in his dealings with his fellowmen.
Both Mr. and Mrs. McCorkle are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Wingate, being active in all lines of church work, Mr. McCorkle holding the office of trustee, and Mrs. McCorkle being an active and influen- tial member of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, being an ardent supporter of all phases of religious work. She is a woman of pleasing per- sonality and gracious demeanor. Mr. McCorkle is a most companionable gentleman and all who come within range of his influence are profuse in
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their praise of his admirable qualities of both head and heart, and the high regard in which he is held not only in the business world but socially indi- cates the possession of attributes and characteristics that entitle him to the highest esteem. He is essentially cosmopolitan in his ideas, a man of the people in all the term implies, and in the best sense of the word a repre- sentative type of that strong, virile American manhood which commands and retains respect by reason of inherent merit, sound sense and correct con- duct.
CASPER RAUSCH.
The career of the subject of this review illustrates what is possible of accomplishment on the part of the honest and industrious young man who leaves his native land and identifies himself with the industrial activities of the great American republic. Mr. Rausch is a sterling representative of the German-American element in our national life, and is now one of the suc- cessful farmers of Tippecanoe county, having come here without other rein- forcement than a stout heart and willing hands and having attained a fair measure of prosperity through his own efforts.
Casper Rausch is a native of Prussia, Germany, where he was born on the 18th of February. 1841, and is the son of Nicholas Rausch. The family come to this country when the subject was but a lad of five years, landing at the port of New York. They proceeded at once to Wisconsin, most of the trip being made by water. as railroads in those days were few and far be- tween. In Wisconsin the father followed agricultural pursuits until his death, of consumption, at the age of forty-nine years.
The subject of this sketch was early thrown on his own resources and in 1861. before attaining his majority, he left home to carve his own fortune. Going to Indianapolis, he was there variously employed until 1867, when he came to Tippecanoe county, locating at Octagon. There he engaged in farm- ing and remained there about fifteen years, being fairly successful in his hahors. At the end of the period noted he came to Wabash township and located at his present place in section 7. Here he has a splendid farm, well improved. and maintained at the highest standard of excellence. He follows a diversified system of farming, raising all the crops common to this latitude. He is progressive and keeps in close touch with the latest ideas in up-to-date farming methods, the result being that his returns for his efforts are highly satisfactory.
CASPER RAUSCH
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In 1866 Mr. Rausch married Anna Stuck, of Indianapolis, but their wedded life was not of long duration, being broken by the hand of death. Subsequently he married Katie Bausman, of Dayton, this county, and after her death he married Anna Thralmer. This union has been blessed in the birth of seven children, as follows: John, who lives in Wabash township, is married and the father of four children: Michael married Mary Authrop and also lives in this township; Charles married Anna Authrop and lives in Wabash township; Mary is the wife of Roy Carpenter and lives in Lafay- ette ; Elizabeth is the wife of Christopher Tillon, of Wea township, and has one child, Katherine; Joseph, at home. The family are all members of the Catholic church at Lafayette. In politics Mr. Rausch is a Democrat, but has never taken an active part in matters political, preferring to devote his at- tention to his private affairs and to the comfort of his family. He has a splendid home in which he takes a justifiable pride, and in his community he stands in public estimation. He is a sturdy representative of that foreign- born element which has played such an important part in the development of our state and is well entitled to representation in this work
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