USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Portrait and biographical record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties, Indiana : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 20
USA > Indiana > Montgomery County > Portrait and biographical record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties, Indiana : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 20
USA > Indiana > Parke County > Portrait and biographical record of Montgomery, Parke and Fountain counties, Indiana : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 20
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capacity of one hundred barrels per day, and is one of the best in this portion of the State.
In politics, Mr. Webster was formerly a Demo- crat, bnt later became a supporter of Prohibition and the People's party. At one time he made the race for the State Legislature on the Greenback ticket. Ile is a strong temperance man, and a friend of all enterprises originated for the welfare of the community. He and his wife arc active members of the Baptist Church, to the support of which he contributes liberally. Socially, he is identified with the Masonic fraternity. Aside from the interests mentioned above, he is engaged in various other enterprises and as a business man has few superiors.
G EORGE W. HUTTON is an old and highly esteemed resident of Montgomery County, who has a fine farm on section 19, Union Township, and has contributed his quota to the ad- vancement of the farming and stock-raising inter- ests of this part of the State. Mr. IIutton was born January 18, 1825, in Rockbridge County, Va., near the famous Natural Bridge. His father, Will- iam Hutton, was also a native of that county, born June 24, 1777, of Irish parentage. He was one of three sons, and was married in Virginia, April 16, 1807, to Mary Cunningham, who was born in that State, October 22, 1790. Mr. Hutton continued to reside in his native county until 1831, when he removed with his family to Ohio, and settled among the pioneers of Greene County, locating three miles from Xenia. He had previously lost his property in Virginia through going security for another, and had but little besides his house- hold goods with which to begin the world anew. Three years later he pushed further westward to the frontier, coming to Indiana, but he was not destined to a long life in his new home, as he died two years after his settlement here. lle was the father of seven sons and one daughter, and six sons and the daughter lived to maturity. Three
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of the sons, Jacob, Samuel and George W., are still living, and all three are prosperous farmers of Union Township.
After the death of the father, the mother cour- ageously shouldered the burden of caring for her family and keeping it together, and nobly did she fulfill her task, rearing her children to good and useful lives. The elder sons obtained a sawmill and with the money they made by that they bought land, and soon the family got a good foothold. Our subject was nine years old when they came to Indiana. His educational advantages were limited, as a good school system had not been introduced at that early period in the settlement of the State. He remained with his mother until he attained his majority, and then married and located on his brother's farm in Union Township. Ile remained there six years, and at the end of that time bought eighty acres of his present farm. He only had the sum of $300 with which to pay for it. He has worked with untiring diligence, has made money by his operations as a general farmer and stock- raiser, and has made additional purchases of land, so that his farm now contains two hundred acres. The first land that he bought was cleared, and a hewn-log house and a barn of the same description stood on the place. Mr. Hutton lived in the log house until the spring of 1879, when he erected a large and conveniently arranged residence at a cost of 82,000, and he has substantial out-build- ings for every needed purpose, everything about the place betokening neatness, thrift and good care on the part of the owner.
The first marriage of our subject was solemnized March 5, 1846, Miss Minerva McDaniel, a daughter of John McDaniel, becoming his wife. She was born September 4, 1824, and died March 17, 1874, leaving behind her a worthy life record in all the relations that she bore to others. Mr. Hutton was married to his present estimable wife, formerly Miss Mary E. Deitrick, March 25, 1875. Her pa- rents were Michacl and Martha Deitrick, who lived in Rockbridge County, Va. Her father had plann- ed to move from that State to Indiana, but died while he was making arrangements for removal, and his family subsequently came to Indiana and settled in this township.
Mr. Hutton has had three children, of whom his daughter Martha E. is the only survivor. She was born October 12, 1861, and April 18, 1878, was married to Cyrus Wray, a farmer of this township, and they have two children: George and Samuel. Mr. Hutton had the sad misfortune to lose his two sons, who were promising young men, by their un- timely death. William P., who was born Septem- ber 23, 1847, died August 14, 1873. Tilman H., who was born October 15, 1851, died January 10, 1873. William left a wife and three children. His eldest son, Quincy M., was reared by our sub- ject, with whom he still resides with his wife, for- merly Miss Coray May Rogers. William's son, George W., is a farmer in this county, and his daughter, Myrtle B., lives with her uncle, Joseph Ilall.
Our subject has lead an irreproachable, npright life, and his neighbors and associates hold him in high estimation. He has belonged to the Christian Church for thirty-five years, had previously belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been an important factor in its upbuilding, both as regards his generous contributions and the work he has done within the fold. Ilis present wife has held membership in the Christian Church for thirty-five years, and he is an officer of the Church with which he is personally identified, and which worships at Young's Chapel. He is a sound Republican and always votes with his party on national questions, but in local elections he votes for the best men.
SAAC F. WADE, one of the most respected and best-known of the business men of Craw- fordsville, is the gentleman whose sketch is given to the public at this writing.
Isaac Wade, like many more of the best men in Indiana, was born in Ohio, in Butler County, Jan- uary 9, 1811. He was the son of Thomas C. and Sally (Ferris) Wade. His mother had been born in Connecticut, and his father was a native of
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Maryland, although he was reared in Virginia, and met his wife and married in Ohio. In 1788, at the age of twenty-four years, he came to Ohio and first settled at Columbia. His father had died when he was three years old, and he, Thomas, joined with men who came from New Jersey and secured a large tract in the Northwest Territory. Hle settled at the mouth of the Little Miami, near where the town of Columbia is located, but in 1800 he removed to Butler County, on the Big Miami. Ilis death occurred in 1826. He was a man of force and spirit, and was also of an ad- venturous mind, probably inheriting some of his daring from an ancestor, Gen. Wade, who was a civil engineer under King James the First.
Isaac grew up in Butler County, and in 1831 lie came to Crawfordsville. He had learned the printer's trade on the Tiller, of Cincinnati, the first agricultural paper published West of the Alle- ghany Mountains, his cousin, William J. Ferris, being proprietor. He also worked on the Star at Lebanon, and from there he went to Hamilton, where he conducted the Telegraph, a Jackson paper. Upon reaching Crawfordsville his first thought was to start a newspaper, so in company with Charles S. Bryant he bought an outfit, and Oc- tober 18, 1831, the first issue of the Crawfords- ville Record came from the press.
Mr. Bryant edited the paper for one year and then Mr. Wade became editor and issued it for four years, under many discouragements, and then sold out to a couple of men, one being George Snyder, who now is the editor of a paper in James- town, Boone County. The Record was continued for about ten years and then was discontinued. After selling his paper, our subject returned to Ohio and engaged in farming, but in 1836 re- turned to Crawfordsville to settle up his accounts, and then bought a stock of dry goods, but this venture proved disastrous.
Following this misfortune, Mr. Wade for five or six years carried on farming, and in 1848 he began the making of tombstones, the first man in the county to open such an establishment. At first he sold for parties in La Fayette, but soon started an independent shop and has continued at this business ever since. The marriage of Mr.
Wade took place in Butler County, Ohio, August 9, 1832, to Alethia C. Heaton, the daughter of Hon. James Heaton, a member of the Legislature and afterward a State Senator of Ohio, a very able man. Iler death occurred a few years later, and Mr. Wade was married to Miss Margaret Max- well, of Crawfordsville, but she died three months after marriage, in 1855.
The children of Mr. Wade are: Mary, Mrs. Ben F. Storer, who lives at home; Harrison, who lives in La Fayette; William, a Judge of the Superior Court, who resides in Los Angeles; and Eliza H., Mrs. I. N. Smock, who resides in Indianapolis. Sarah died in Crawfordsville, in 1884; Julia also died in Crawfordsville; and Jane died in Shelbyville, Ind .; one of his children died in infancy. The first Presidential vote cast by Mr. Wade was in 1832 for Henry Clay, and he has voted sixteen times since for the Presidential can- didate. He was one of the earliest members of the Baptist Church here and for many years had been very active, but some feeling grew up in the church which it does not concern the present writer to discuss, and although Mr. Wade did not sever his connection with the church of his choice and belief, he remained a quiet member for a space of twenty-one years. However, in time, influences were brought to bear that brought him again into active and full participation in the affairs of the church.
This pioneer settler and publisher of Crawfords- ville is now in his eighty-third year, yet a hale old gentleman whom it is good to meet. For forty-six years he has been a dealer in marble monuments, and his association with this section has been a close and peculiar one. Ile is affee- tionately regarded by the people for whom he has fashioned the monuments which mark the resting- places of three generations of his own associates, residents of his beloved State of Indiana. Also he is remembered as the first one to record the happenings of the new country, and although he was not financially successful his paper was the pioneer in the field. He gave the news of sixty years ago, and at that time the happenings did not seem any more tame than do our spicy pages of to-day. The readers were fewer and the printer
yours Silas Peterson
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was but poorly paid, but great interest then was felt in the tariff (that everlasting subject), the United States Bank, the street fights, horse stealings, loggings, house-raisings, births and deaths, and the movements of the great people in the United States Capital, and all of these interesting and ex- citing subjects may be read in the file of papers in the possession of Mr. Wade. At that time edu- cation was at a very low ebb in the country neigh- borhoods, and interest there was taken only in local happenings, and the logging-bees and house- raisings were times for great commingling for gos- sip and flow of conversation. It was at this time that the great and good James Thompson founded Wabash College, and a record of its birth and in- fant struggles can be found in the old files of the paper published by our subjeet.
S ILAS PETERSON, a representative citizen and prominent resident of Sugar Creek Township, has been located in Montgomery County ever since 1830. Growing from childhood to mature years upright and honorable in his daily life, he early gained, and still retains, the confidence of the numerous acquaintances and friends he has throughout the State of Indiana. Occupying various positions of public trust, he has ever discharged the duties of each office with en - ergy and ability.
Mr. Peterson was elected to the office of County Real-Estate Appraiser in 1868, and devoted him- self with impartiality to the work. In 1876 Mr. Peterson was the candidate of the Democratic party for State Senator, and was elected by an overwhelming majority. Giving great satisfaction to his constituents by the able manner in which he handled the interests of the district he represented, he was in 1884 unanimously selected by his party for a second term of office, and so great was his popularity, that, although the Democrats lost nearly all the elections that year by the large in- crease of Republican voters, Mr. Peterson was again triumphantly returned to the Senate.
The IIon. Silas Peterson is a native of Ohio, and was born in 1825. The records of the family his- tory show their name to be well represented in early Colonial times. Before the Revolutionary War there emigrated from Switzerland to America John Peterson, a man of courage, resolution and integrity, who located with his family in Ilardy County, Va., about 1760. In the Old Dominion his son John reared eight children, and founded in the New World that branch of Petersons of which our subject is the direct descendant. The children were Solomon, the eldest-born; Elizabeth, who married William Harpool, of Madison County, Ohio; Martin; Phobe, who became the wife of Michael Coyner, and died in Clinton County, Ind .; Jonas, who was born in 1800; Jolin; and two wlio died in childhood.
In 1806 John Peterson and his family removed to Ross County, Ohio, which State had only been admitted into the Union four years before, and was yet scarcely more than a wilderness. The family passed through the privations and stirring experi- ences peculiar to early pioneer life on the frontier, the sons capturing game and killing wild animals where now stand flourishing towns with a popu- lous country all about them.
Solomon Peterson, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1790, and was therefore about sixteen years of age when the family emi- grated to the Buckeye State. He married in Ross County, Ohio, at a very early age, Miss Elizabeth Bowers, who became the mother of five children, all of whom lived to mature years. These sons and daughters were, William; Samuel; Mary, wife of Gustin Irwin; Maria, who married William Strong, and moved to Keokuk, Iowa, and still re- sides there; and Martin, the youngest. The mother of these children having died, the father married Miss Wilmena Walternut, who emigrated from Germany to this country with her parents. By this union Mr. Peterson became the father of Silas, our subject; Phobe, who married Thomas Gray: and John. A third marriage added two more children to the family. These children were Sol- omon, and Margaret, who married Louis Cave, who served bravely as a Union soldier in the late war. The two children born after Solomon Peterson's
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fourth marriage were Martha, now deceased, who married G. W. Wilson; and David.
Silas Peterson when five years old eame with his parents to Montgomery County in the year 1830, and received an education in the publie schools, which in those early days were primitive in their method and limited in number. When Silas Pe- terson was twenty-five years old, he married Miss Lorinda Dain, a lady highly esteemed by all who knew her. The husband's possessions were limited to a small traet of land, but through close appli- cation to his business, and excellent management, his property increased until he owned at one time two thousand acres of land. In 1888, when he had already served two terms as State Senator, he was nominated again by the Democrats, and was de- feated only by the redistricting of the district.
Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Peterson: John Q., a young and prosperous farmer; Wilmena, wife of George Seybold, a hard- ware merchant of Waveland; Esther, wife of Rev. W. B. Slutz, a Methodist minister located at Frank- fort; and Charles P., a farmer near the old home- stead. Mr. Peterson has been identified in the past with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife are valued members of the Disei- ples Church, at Darlington. He has always wielded a powerful influence in behalf of religion and morality, and is strongly opposed to the liquor traffic. Mr. Peterson is widely known as a man of broad intelligence, just and generous in his views, and deeply interested in local and national affairs. Hle has always been spceially zealous in all eduea- tional matters looking toward progress.
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M ILTON ROBISON. For twenty years this gentleman carried on an extensive and luerative practice in the courts of Indiana, in addition to which he had charge of nn- merous cases which called him to other States. When, after having gained an enviable reputation as a skilled and learned attorney, he retired from
the profession, he chose an occupation for which he had always had a predilection, - that of agri- culture. In November, 1863, he located in How- ard Township, Parke County, where he has sinee resided. His farm includes one hundred and twenty-four acres, and in addition to this he is the owner of fifty-seven acres of the old homestead. His residence, which was creeted in 1868, is a sub- stantial frame structure, and was built at an expense of $2,500.
The father of our subject, Thomas B. Robison, was born in Miami County, Ohio, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, and in his native county married Margaret Oswalt, who was born in Warren County, Ohio, May 7, 1807. Her mother died when she was one year old, and the death of her father, ten years later, left her an orphan in childhood. She was married to Thomas B. Robison February 18, 1830. The year prior to their marriage, Mr. Robi- son came to Indiana and entered one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he built a double log cabin. With his young wife he came to Indiana on horse- baek, where they endured all the hardships inci- dent to life in a frontier settlement.
In their religious faith, the parents of our sub- ject were members of the Presbyterian Church at Diek's Creek, Ohio, whieli they joined in 1828. On coming to Indiana, there was no church of their denomination in the community, and services for some time were held at their home. The Rev. Mr. MeNutt was their minister and they were pres- ent when a meeting was held to arrange for the organization of the first Presbyterian Church at Bethany, of which there were eighteen charter members. They were the parents of seven ehil- dren, one daughter and six sons, three of whom died in infancy. William was killed during the early part of the Civil War. Jane P. died in Ed- gar County, Ill., August 18, 1884. Two sons, Milton and Daniel, are now the only surviving members of the family. The mother died at her residence in Howard Township, Parke County, Ind., April 14, 1889. For some time prior to her demise she had realized that the end was near and was reconciled to death. Even while undergoing great suffering she often uttered beautiful prayers on behalf of
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her friends for their salvation. One of her last expressions was: "My soul is at rest, but my body suffers pain all the time." She left two sons, twenty-four grandchildren and sixteen great- grandchildren.
Upon the land which he entered from the Gov- ernment, Thomas B. Robison remained until his death, September 6, 1865. He farmed on an ex- tensive scale and was the owner of about five hun- dred acres of land, the most of which was cleared by his individual efforts, aided by his sons. As one of the earliest settlers in the county, he was widely known, and enjoyed the esteem of a large cirele of personal friends. In his early days he was a Whig in his political opinions and upon the organization of the Republican party enlisted in its ranks. During the late war he was a devoted adherent of the Union cause, and a strong Abol- itionist.
Our subject recalls the time when deer and bears were plentiful, as well as large rattlesnakes, which have since become extinct. During those early days, he aided in the work of clearing the farm, and was the recipient of such educational advan- tages as the neighborhood afforded. He resided at home until April 17, 1854, when he married Achsalı, daughter of Nathan and Sarah S. (Hockett) Newlin, natives of North Carolina, who came to Parke County, Ind., in early life. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Robison was Nathan Hockett, a native of North Carolina. who removed to Indi --- ana and located in Washington Township, Parke County, becoming one of the earliest settlers of this part of the State. Mrs. Sarah S. Newlin was born in Guilford County, N. C., was sixteen years old when she came to Indiana, and died at the age of seventy-two years, two months and ten days. Mrs. Robison was one of nine children, seven of whom are now living.
After his marriage, our subject located on section 16, Howard Township, where his father gave him eighty acres of partially improved land. He fin- ished clearing the place and made it his home for about four years, when he returned to the old homestead. For eight years he managed the place in partnership with his father, and, as above stated, located on his present farm in November,
1863. At the time of his settlement here, the im- provements were few, but through his industry and enterprise he has succeeded in clearing over forty acres, and has embellished the farm with first-class buildings, adapted to their varicd uses. In connection with general farming, he is engaged as a stock-raiser and has on his place a good grade of cattle.
The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Robison was taken from them in infancy. In his political opinions, our subject is a Republican and has voted the straight party ticket since 1856. He cast his first vote for Gen. Scott, in 1852, and has voted at every succeeding Presidential election. In his early manhood, he commenced the study of law and was admitted to practice at the Bar May 24, 1877. He conducted an extensive legal practice and was also prominent in an official capacity. For four years he served as Township Assessor and has filled other positions of trust and honor. In all measures calculated to enhance the prosperity of the county he is deeply interested. IIe assisted in getting up the petition for the building of the Marshall and Narrows of Sugar Creek gravel road, and is greatly interested in gravel roads, for which Parke County is famous.
OSEPH M. JOHNS, one of the members of the firm of Hensley & Johns, was born in Parke County, near Bridgeton, in 1869. He is the son of Jacob Jolis, who was a pioneer of this county, coming in 1834 from Preble County, Ohio, where he was reared until nine years of age. He is the son of John Jolins, a native of the Keystone State, who emigrated to Ohio about the year 1809. He served in the Rev- olutionary War. Returning home at the close of the war, he lived with his parents until his mar- riage to Miss Minton, of Pennsylvania. To him- self and wife was born a large family of children. John Johns eame to Indiana and located at Brazil,
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Clay County, where he lived and engaged in buy- ing and selling stock for a number of years. Then he moved to Parke County, and settled at Portland Mills, where he again began his business, but, not being entirely satisfied with his progress, he went to Mansfield, this county, where he died about 1857.
The father of our subject grew to manhood in Parke County, and here married Miss Amanda Rut- ter, the daughter of a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church near Zanesville, Ohio. After his marriage he located on a farm near Bridgeton and was engaged in stock-raising. He was the fa- ther of three children, two of whom are still liv- ing. They are: Joseph M., our subject; and John R., who lives on a farm near Bridgeton. The fa- ther of our subject was in favor of the Republican party and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, working in that congregation until he was called by the messenger of Death, April 10, 1890. His wife had preceded him to rest twelve years.
Joseph M. Johns was reared on the old home- stead near Bridgeton, receiving his early educa- tion in the public schools of the county. After he had completed his studies there he attended the Friends' Academy at Bloomingdale, where he completed the course, and then took a term at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College. After leaving school he commenced to read law under Puett & Hadley, afterwards pursuing his legal studies, and was admitted to the Bar November 19, 1889. At this turning point in his life he was taken as a partner of the firm of Puett & Adams, under the style of Puett, Adams & Johns. Here he continued in his profession until he formed the connection with Mr. Hensley, as has been stated in the sketch of that gentleman elsewhere in this volume.
Mr. Johns was married to Miss Carrie Aydelott in 1892. This lady is the daughter of John and Cynthia A. Aydelott, who are retired residents of this city. Politically, Mr. Johns of this sketch is associated with the Republican party, in which he has always taken an active part. He is also a member of the Methodist Church of this place, in which he not only helps financially but also by
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