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 22
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 22
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 22
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Samuel Galey was twenty years old when he accompanied his parents to this State. He entered eighty aeres of land just where his widow lives, bought a tract of one hundred and sixty aeres next to it, and purchased a good deal of other realty besides. Ile had a large and well-conducted farm of three hundred and seventy-three acres of rich land, which he admirably tilled, and the place was supplied with substantial improvements, and well kept up. Mr. Galey had always been a gen- eral farmer, and his farm was stocked with a good class of cattle, horses, etc. He had been an im- portant factor in developing the agricultural re- sources of the township and county, and the peo- ple among whom he lived so many years honored him not only as an old settler, but as a thoroughly good eitizen, as an upright man, and as a good neighbor in every sense of the term. In his so- cial relations he was long identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically, he was a Whig in early manhood, and voted for Henry Clay, and after the formation of the Repub- lican party he entered its ranks.
Before coming to Indiana our subject was mar- ried to Miss Eliza Van Nice, a daughter of John Van Nice, who was a prominent farmer of Ken- tucky. Mrs. Galey died in 1862, leaving behind her a worthy record as wife, mother, and friend. Mr. Galey was married a second time, in 1872, taking Miss Emeline Wilhite as his wife, and she ever devoted herself faithfully to his interests. Her
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father was William Wilhite, a former resident of Union Township, and one of the original settlers of the county, coming here at a very early day. Mr. Galey had ten children by his first marriage, all of whom grew to maturity, and seven are still living. Those that died were Mary Ann, who was the wife of Wesley Van Arsdall; and Nancy, who married F. Graham, who died in New- ton County. ' The surviving children are John V., a resident of Crawfordsville; Susan (deceased), who was the wife of Martin Simpson; Sarah Eliza, who lives with her father; Martha Jane, wife of Green- berry McCrea, of Kenton; William Scott, a resi- dent of this county; Malvina, wife of Ben Easly, a farmer in Brown Township; Samuel Smith, who resides in Union Township; and James, who is also a resident of this township. S. S. Galey died Feb- ruary 15, 1893, at the age of eighty-three years.
R EV. JACOB DICE, a local minister of the United Brethren Church, residing on sec- tion 6, Van Buren Township, is widely known and honored throughout Fountain County, as he has borne an honorable part in its public life, and has exercised a good influence on the morals and religion of the community. lle is a son of John Dice, who was a conspicuous figure among the early pioneers of the county, and was actively identified with its agricultural growth for many years.
The father of our subject was a native of Rock- bridge County, Va. He was educated in its schools, and was reared to the life of a farmer. He was married in 1818, in Augusta County, Va., to Miss Elizabeth Hawpe, who was born in that county in 1792. They continued to live in Virginia some nine years after marriage, but in 1827 they made a change, leaving the State of their nativity to settle in the wilderness of this connty. They lo- cated in the woods three miles south of where Veedersburgh now stands, where their only neigh- bors were the Indians and wild beasts, with the
possible exception of one or two white settlers in the vicinity. By patient toil they converted a part of the forest into a beautiful home, and here they lived in comfort and happiness until death closed their eyes and they rested from their earthly labors, the mother dying January 19, 1845, aged fifty-two years, nine months and twenty-five days. and the father, August 12, 1847, aged fifty-three years, nine months and twenty-five days. They reared a family of seven sons, four of whom are living, and they gave them as good educations as circumstances would permit, and trained them carefully in all that goes to make them good men and desirable citizens. William, John and James M. are the names of the sons that are dead. Those living are Jacob, Franklin, Henry and George, all of whom are residents of Van Buren Township. The father was a patriotic citizen and served with credit in the War of 1812. He was a man of ex- emplary habits, was strictly temperate, and had great firmness of character, united with a social disposition. IIe was generous to the poor and a willing supporter of all benevolent causes. He was very active in religions matters as a member of the Presbyterian Church. His home was ever open to its preachers, and divine services were of- ten held in his barn.
The subject of this brief biographical record was born in Virginia April 5, 1824, and was four years of age when the family migrated from the pleasant scenes of his birth to the forests of Indiana. He has a clear remembrance of the incidents of their pioneer life and of the primitive mode of living, ne- cessitated by their great distance from civilization. Ilis school days were passed in an old log school- house, typical of the times, that had no windows, was furnished with rude home-made benches, and heated by a fireplace, and the school was conducted on the subscription plan, there being no free schools in those days. At the age of eighteen, onr subject was united with the United Brethren Church at the house of William Hoobler, and he was also licensed to preach, he having a gift that way. At that age he learned the trade of a blacksmith, and he worked at it three years. In 1848 he was licensed to preach at an annual conference at Ver- million County, in this State, and has ever since
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acted as a local preacher. He was ordained as Elder in his church in 1852 at Westfield, Coles County, Ill., and he has worked long and earnestly to propagate the faith so dear to his heart. His labors have been blessed, and he has been a potent factor in extending the faith of which he is so worthy an exponent. He has a fine farm of eighty acres in Van Buren Township, but does not care to farm very much, preferring to devote him- self to his ministerial duties. Ile worked at his trade as a blacksmith many years while preaching.
Jacob Dice and Mary Rynearson were united in marriage in 1844. Mrs. Dice is a daughter of Ezekial Rynearson, one of the early settlers of Fountain County, who is represented in the biog- raphy of his son Washington, on another page of this work. Mrs. Dice's parents were born . in Kentucky, and the family removed to Warren County, Ohio, where Mrs. Dice was born, whence they came to this county when she was but two and a-half years old, and from that time until her marriage she lived on the Rynearson homestead in Cain Township, now owned by her brother Waslı- ington. The marriage with our subject has been blessed to them by the birth of four children, of whom three are spared to be the stay and comfort of their declining years. A sketch of their son Francis M. appears in another part of this work. Their daughter, Sarah Ellen, is the wife of Newton Board, a prominent farmer of Vermilion County, Ill .; Martha F. is the wife of George Mennick, a prominent farmer of Van Buren 'Township; James Monroe, who was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at the time of his death, died March 12, 1862, aged twenty-seven years, three months and five days. He left a wife, formerly Mary Smith, and one child, Kate.
The breaking out of the great rebellion found our subject a loyal Union man, whose heart beat high with patriotic love of country, which he proved his willingness to serve even unto death, if need be, by enlisting in Company C, One Hun- dred and Fifty-fourth Indiana Infantry. Ile was made captain of the company, and nobly did his duty while in the field. His life as a soldier is commemorated by his membership with the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has always
been actively interested. He has done a great deal to forward the cause of education in this county. He was one of the first Trustees of the township, served for ten years, and held that office while the most of the schoolhouses of the county were built. Politically, he is a Republican, who has always stood by his colors. In 1851 he was elected to represent the county in the State Legislature, Edward A. Hannagan being his opponent, and he served six months as a Legislator, that being known as the "long session." William EI. English, of Indi- anapolis, who is his personal friend, was his fellow- member in that Legislature. Our subject has per- formed the marriage ceremony for three hun- dred couples in Fountain County.
C ORNELIUS R. HANGER is the resident agent of the Vandalia Railway. He was born in Staunton, Va., May 28, 1863, to William H. and Elizabeth M. (Brubeck) Hanger, natives of Virginia. The former, who was born in 18.12, was a butcher by trade, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. The latter was born in 1841, and by her union with Mr. Hanger she be- came the mother of one son, our subject, and one daughter, who married Samuel Barton, a resident of Terre Ilaute, Ind.
Our subject spent his youthful days in the usual manner of farmer lads until he was thirteen years old. Fle attended the public schools, from which he received a fair education. After leaving school he learned the art of telegraphy at Rockville, this State, and commenced following this occupation with the Western Union Telegraph Line. At the age of eighteen years he had completed his course, and found himself capable of assuming the respon- sibility of office work, and was working as an extra. until April, 1882, when he was assigned to the branch at Rosedale. on the Vandalia Line. Since that time Mr. Ilanger has bad full control of this office, ereditably filling the duties devolving upon him in this capacity.
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December 9, 1883, Mr. langer was united in marriage with Miss Lula, a daughter of Stephen and Mary Denehie, of Rosedale. This lady was the youngest of a family of six children, the eldest dying in infancy. Anla was a victim of pulmon- ary consumption, and died when twenty years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Hanger were born four children to gladden their hearts and home. Their first-born died in infancy. The others are Carl E., Harley O. and Nellie M.
The good wife of our subject was taken with a se- vere cold, which developed into quick consumption, and on February 15, 1893, resignedly answered the · call of the Master, and passed from earth to the land of rest. She was a pious and devoted lady, who will be sadly missed in the home, church and social circles, and by her two little ones and fond husband, who have the sympathy of all in their sad bereavement.
Socially, Mr. Hanger is one of those men rarely met with in his position, always ready and willing to impart all the knowledge he can to any and all inquisitors. Some of the prominent traits of his character are a frank and good-natured disposition and an agreeable flow of conversation. Frater- nally, he is a member of Rosedale Lodge, A. F. & A. M. The height of Mr. Hanger's political aspira- tions is to so faithfully support such principles of National Government that he may be known as a "Simon-pure" Democrat.
RCILIBALD B. COLLINGS is a farmer re- siding on section 24, Adams Township, Parke County. His father, Spotsard Col- lings, is an old settler of the county and is now living retired from his former occupation of a farmer. Grandfather Abraham Collings, a native of Virginia, was rearcd in Kentucky, and followed agricultural pursuits until his death, at the age of forty-one. The great-grandfather, Will- iam C., was born in Pennsylvania, of English and
Irish descent, and was a participant in the War of 1812; he followed the occupations of farmer and tanner.
The maternal grandmother of our subject was known in maidenhood as Nancy Nutgrass; she was born in Virginia, reared in Kentucky, and her death occurred in Parke County, Ind., at the age of ninety-one. Her father, Gray Nutgrass, removed from the Old Dominion with his wife and located in Kentucky. The grandparents of our subject had a family of five sons, four of whom grew to manhood, and three still survive. Spotsard was born in Shelby County, Ky., May 19, 1821, when ten years old coming to Putnam Coun- ty, Ind., where he settled on eighty acres of Gov- ernment land, which his step-father had entered. He assisted in clearing farms and aided in the work incidental to rural life.
When ready to establish a home of his own, Mr. Collings was married in Parke County, Ind., in 1841, his wife being Rebecca Madox, who was born in Shelby County, Ky. They became the parents of seven sons, namely: Archibald B .; S. P., a graduate of the Philadelphia Medical Col- lege and a practicing physician at Hot Springs; Abraham J .; Dr. Oliver Perry, who was graduated from the Indianapolis Medical College, now prac- ticing in Missouri; Neri, William Bion, and Dr. Howard P., a graduate of a medical college of New York, now at Hot Springs. After his marriage Mr. Collings remained in Putnam County for two years and in 1843 located in Adams Township, Parke County. For some years he operated as a renter, and then purchased forty acres of school land on section 16, Umion Township. There he resided for some years, when he sold the place and purchased eighty acres on the same section. Some years later he sold that farm and bought one hundred and twenty acres in Putnam County, where seven more years were passed.
Selling that farm, Mr. Collings purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Adams Township, Parke County, where he remained for twenty-three years. He embellished the place with first-class improvements and brought it up to a high state of cultivation. At one time he was the owner of five hundred acres of land, but has divided much
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of his property among his children, having given to each of his sons $1,000 in cash and $2,000 in land. Politically, he is a Democrat. Religiously, he is identified with the Primitive Baptist Church and has served as its Trustee for thirty-six years. An honest, energetic man, he can give to his sons a better heritage even than the goodly amount of this world's goods with which he has endowed them, and that is the heritage of a good name.
Archibald B. Collings was born in Putnam County, Ind., February 21, 1842, and was only about one year old when he was brought by his parents to Parke County. At the age of eight he returned to Putnam County, and when fifteen came back to Parke, settling in Adams Township. His educational advantages were more than ordi- narily good, for he was the recipient of excellent common-school opportunities, supplemented by two terms at the State University of Indiana, at Bloomington. After his marriage he located on the place where he now resides, and which, through his efforts, has been finely improved. With the exception of about thirty acres, the entire tract has been cleared. The place consists of two hun- dred and forty acres, and is embellished with a substantial set of farm buildings. The land is well tiled, and is devoted to general farming and stock-raising, Mr. Collings being especially suc- cessful in the latter department of agriculture.
March 3, 1864, occurred the marriage of Archi- bald Collings to Miss Lydia E. Jessup, who was born in Adams Township, Parke County, January 26, 1847, and received an excellent education in the district schools. Her father, John Jessup, was one of the pioneers of Parke County, who came here from Ohio and located in Adams Township. His home was northwest of where our subject now lives, where he lived for more than forty years. Mr. and Mrs. Collings have three children, as fol- lows: Alice E., who is the wife of J. Il. Cheno- weth, a prominent farmer of Adams Township, Parke County; Ruric, who married Miss Lela Mar- tin, and owns and operates a farm of eighty aeres in Adams Township; and Cora J., who is the wife of Charles Lee Overpeck, a resident of Adams Township.
Mr. Collings takes an intelligent interest in all
the vital issues of the day, and in his political affiliations is a Democrat. Socially, he is identi- fied with Bellmore Lodge No. 519, A. F. & A. M., of which he is Past Master. He is a Royal Arch Mason and belongs to Parke Lodge at Rockville. For many years he has been active in the work of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association, and has filled the position of President for some time. lle and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and he has served with efficiency as its Treasurer. The Sunday-school work is one in which he is deeply interested, as he has served as Superintendent, in which capacity he was popular and successful.
OHN ADAMSON. The life record of him whose name appears above has been one of more than usual interest, for not only was he a more than usually successful agricul- turist, but he was a gentleman by instinet and training, and this worthy attribute was manifested daily in his walk through life. lle was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, December 18, 1808, and in that State he was married in 1834 to Miss Nancy Nebeker, who was born December 2, 1816 or 1817. For three years thereafter they resided in White County, but in 1837 he and George and Richard Nebeker bought the ferry at Covington, to the successful management of which Mr. Adamson devoted his attention. In 1851 he began to con- struct a house and bridge at that place, the lat- ter being ready for use at about the end of two years. Each year these gentlemen made small pur- chases of land, until they became the owners of abont twelve hundred acres, besides entering eight hundred acres of land in Iowa. Our subject was quite an extensive trader, and although he inher- ited anything but a strong constitution, he was a very busy man, and never allowed any department of his work to be neglected. He was troubled with a bronchial affection, which developed into
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typhoid fever, and almost before his friends could realize that the end was so near, death entered the portals of his home, and on the 14th of Novem- ber, 1866, he was called from life. His widow sur- vives him, at the age of seventy-six years, and is a resident of Covington.
John M. Adamson, their son, is a stock dealer and shipper, and is quite extensively engaged in feeding hogs, which he has found to be a profitable employment. He was born in Warren County, opposite Covington, March 23, 1844, and obtained a keen insight into the occupation which at pres- ent receives his attention from his father, who was an experienced buyer and shipper of stock, as well as a practical and far-seeing agriculturist. He was always a Republican politically, was a strong worker for his party, but was never an office-seek- er. In a family of ten children born to himself and wife, three are now living. Oliver died in Covington in April, 1888, at the age of fifty years, having been a farmer. Those living are John M., Ada C., and Hortense, wife of Challen Spinning, of Covington.
John M. Adamson grew up on the old farm, but in 1864 took up his residence in Covington, and after the death of his father, he, in connection with his brother Oliver, began tilling the home farm, having previously devoted much of his at- tention to the buying and selling of mules in con- nection with his father. He afterward formed a partnership with E. H. Nebeker, which lasted from 1869 to 1873, during which time they handled an enormous number of mules, their sales at one time reaching $18,000. Ile continued the business alonc after their connection was severed, and has given special attention to shipping. His father and George and Richard Nebeker and Joseph Foster had built the wagon bridge above mention- ed, and after his father's death his mother owned all the stock therein, with the exception of one sixth, until 1886, when she sold the bridge. The business of Mr. Adamson will average about one carload of stock per week, there being about ninety hogs to the car. He also handles railroad ties along the Wabash Railroad, to the extent of from forty to fifty thousand per year.
He is the owner of a farm of four hundred acres,
which is a part of the old homestead, and he owns twenty-four acres in the suburbs of the town where he lives, on which is erected a handsome and sub- stantially built brick residence. He has always been connected with the Republican party, and is an active and intelligent member of the City Council. On the 13th of October, 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor M. McDonald, of Coving- ton, who died November 18, 1883, and on the 8th of September, 1887, he took for his second wife Miss Caroline Bell, of Vermillion County, Ind. His first wife bore him one child, John McDonald, who was born November 2, 1871; and to his second union three children were born: Frank, born June 16, 1891, and two children that died in infancy. Mrs. Adamson is a worthy member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. Mr. Adamson is a Di- rector of the Fire Department. He is a man of worth and substantial and progressive spirit, and his career has been not only profitable and honor- able to himself, but to the community in which he resides. He is a very agreeable gentleman with whom to have business dealings, for he is strictly honorable in every respect, and is always ready and willing to do what is fair and right by his patrons.
ARMAN A. PULLIAM is one of the lion- ored early settlers of Greene Township, Parke County, having purchased the place which he still owns November 8, 1849. This farm is located on seetion 28, and for the eighty-acre tract which he then purchased, and which was in a perfectly wild state, Mr. Pulliam paid $575, buying it at second-hand. He put up a small house, and with characteristic zeal under- took to develop the place. He has succeeded ad- mirably, and now has his one hundred and thirty- five acres under good cultivation. He raises grain largely, and aims to keep a good variety of stock of all kinds on hand.
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Garrard County, Ky., was the place where our subject first opened his eyes to the light of day, that event taking place in March, 1823. His fa- ther, Harman Pulliam, was born in Virginia, and cmigrated to Garrard County, Ky., at an early day. He was, however, reared in Hanover, Va., and there married Keziah Glover, by whom he had ten children, our subject being next to the youngest. Of this large family only one other is now living, Keziah, a resident of lowa. The mother died when our subject was merely an infant. Harman Pulliam, Sr., was a farmer by occupation, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812.
When our subject was only five years of age, his father came to Indiana, settling in Ripley County for one year, whence, at the age of ten years, Har- man A. came to Parke County with his eldest brother William, and lived with him for six years, when he started out to make his own way in the world. For one year he worked for Nathaniel Steele, in Washington Township, and afterward worked around by the month until he was married. His first wife was Miss Sally Ann Burks, their union being celebrated in 1843. She was the daughter of Thomas Burks, and was called untimely from this life, only six months after her marriage. Again, in the year 1847, Mr. Pulliam was married, this time to Elizabeth, daughter of Jesse MeLain, who was one of the old settlers of this county, coming here from Shelby County, Ky., about the year 1852. Mrs. Pulliam is a native of Kentucky, and was not quite three years old when her par- ents brought her to Parke County. For six years after his marriage Mr. Pulliam rented land one mile east of where he now lives, after which he set- tled on a farm a mile southeast of here, which he carried on for one year. Four years previous to this, however, he had purchased his present home- stead, and since that venture his business career has been marked with success.
Eight children came to bless the hearthstone of our subjeet, six of whom are yet surviv- ing. They are as follows: Mary Jane; John T., a farmer of Montgomery County, Ind .; Sarah Aun, widow of William McClain; Jesse, who lives on a portion of his father's farm; George; and Al- fred, a farmer of Adams Township. Laura died
when three years of age, and Matilda, wife of E. Pitts, departed this life when thirty-two years of age, leaving two children, who live at the home of our subject. In regard to polities, Mr. Pulliam uses his influence and casts his ballot in favor of the Democratie party. By his upright and honor- able career as a business man and citizen he has won the sincere respect and esteem of his fellow- citizens. It is always his endeavor to advance in every possible way the publie good, and this can- not be too highly commended, as it is only the narrow-minded man who makes his chief object the acquisition of wealth, regardless of the rights and feelings of others.
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