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 29
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 29
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 29
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George W. Spencer was brought up in Greene Township, and was educated in the public schools. On August 22, 1862, he took unto himself a wife in the person of Miss Mary Clark. Her father, Eli Clark, who lived near Judson, was an early settler and prominent farmer of the county. Af- ter his marriage our subject located four miles west of Ins present farm, where he resided for four years, and then became the possessor of his pres- ent farm, which now comprises two hundred and forty acres and is well developed. He erected a good barn on the place and has other good build- ings. The land is fertile and yields abundant crops. Mr. Spencer ranks well in the estimation of the leading farmers of this community as a pro- gressive and well-informed agriculturist.
Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have been blessed with ten
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children, nine of whom are living. John is now at Russellville, Ind .; Jesse is a farmer of this town- ship; and the following are still living at home: Allen, George, Frank, Elsie, Aria, Wilbur and Freddie. William died at the age of nine years. The father is a Democrat, and in 1890 was elected Trustee of the township, which position he has held ever since, his term expiring in 1895. Ile is always to be found on the side of improvement and advancement, and is earnest in his support of our present admirable publie-school system. lle is a member of the Christian Church, in which he has been a Deacon since 1862. His wife, an amiable and well-educated lady, has also for many years been a member of the same church.
S AMUEL ATKINSON. Among the enter- prising farmers of Parke Connty is ranked our subject, whose birth occurred here in 1835. He comes of an honored pioneer family, his father, Thomas Atkinson, having set- tled in this locality about the year 1828, when he entered land in Sugar Creek Township and also purchased about five hundred acres. Our subject's paternal grandmother was Mary (Woody) Atkin- son, her father, John Woody, being a leading man in North Carolina in former days. Our subject's grandfather was born in England and emigrated to America when a young man, settling in North Carolina, where he engaged in farming and there passed his remaining days. Ile reared a family of eight children, our subject's father being the eld- est and the others as follows: Hugh, James, Robert, Samuel, John (who is the only one still living), Charity and Mary.
Thomas Atkinson was born in 1796 and re- mained with his parents until he grew to manhood. lle was reared as a Quaker, his parents being of that faith. About the year 1819, leaving home, he concluded to try his fortunes in another State, and accordingly came to Indiana, settling in Orange County, where he married Margery, daughter of
David and Hannah Linley. To them were born eight children: Jonathan; David; Samuel and John, twins; Mary, wife of Levi Dix; Sarah, Mrs. Thomas Marshall; Eleanor, who died in childhood; and Emily. The father was a Whig until the organ- ization of the Republican party, when he became identified with the same. Landing in Indiana without capital or friends, he worked for a time for farmers, receiving $10 per month, but he was persevering and industrious and these qualities in the course of time wrought out for him a gratify- ing success. After a time he removed to Greene County, where he carried on a small farm, and then, as before mentioned, became the owner of a large estate in Parke County. His death occurred in 1872, several years previous to which his wife had departed this life.
Until reaching manhood, our subject remained with his parents, being of great assistance to his father in clearing and developing his new farm. Ilis education was such as was afforded by the primitive log schoolhouse of former days. On starting out in life his father gave him one hun- dred acres of land, which was then only partly im- proved. His place now comprises one hundred and thirty-eight acres, which is well cultivated and a model farm in every respect. At the age of twenty-nine our subject married Miss Martha, daughter of William Hadley. Nine children grace their union: Milton, who married Thelia Barker; Cora; Etta, wife of John McKey; Clayton, Will- iam, Oliver, Clara, and two who died in infancy. Our subject is a member of the Society of Friends, as have been his ancestors for several generations. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the Republi- can party.
David Atkinson, the next older brother of our subject, is also a resident of Sugar Creek Town- ship, his farm, which comprises ninety acres, a por- tion of his father's old homestead, being located on section 6. 1Ie remained by the home fireside until over twenty years of age, when he started out to make his own livelihood. The education which is his has been largely the result of study and reading in later years, as the schools of his young days were few and poorly conducted. When twenty-two years old he was united in mar-
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riage with Mary, daughter of William Marshall, and of that union have been born six children: Elizabeth; Louisa, wife of John Noonan; Cyrenus, Elwood, John and Effie. Mr. Atkinson deposits his ballot in favor of the Republican party, and religiously is a member of the Society of Friends.
AMES INGERSOLL, a substantial and well- to-do farmer of Fountain County, who is engaged principally in raising grain, al- though he has some good stock on his farm, resides on section 33, Cain Township. He was born January 3, 1820, in Hamilton County, Ohio. His father, Joseph Ingersoll, was a native of New Jersey, and removed to Ohio when a young man. He chose for his wife Miss Lydia Barcus. At the time of his marriage he settled in Hamilton County, where he pursued his occupa- tion as a farmer, residing there until the time of his death at an advanced age, forty or fifty years later. To Mr. and Mrs. Ingersoll were born twelve children, all of whom grew to manhood and wo- manhood. Of these our subject is the only sur- vivor.
Afer eighteen years had rolled over his head amid the pioneer scenes of his birthplace, James Ingersoll started for himself in life. He first ob- tained employment in a sawmill, where he ie- mained six years. He afterward engaged in farm- ing on his own account in Ohio, continuing to live in his native State until he was thirty years old, when he came to Indiana and bought the land on which he now resides. His farm at first consisted of only a quarter of a section of land, which he operated so profitably that he was en- abled to add to his original purchase from time to time, and is now the possessor of three hundred and sixty acres, besides having given forty acres apiece to his sons. His fertile fields are well drained by ditchies, have been brought to a high state of cultivation, and this valuable farm is am- ply supplied with neat modern buildings,
Our subject has been twice married. He was first wedded to Miss Martha Ann Hughes in Ham- ilton County, Ohio, June 18, 1842. She died October 27, 1861, leaving four children: Jonathan H. and Alonzo, who are residents of this township; Berry, who lives at home with his parents; and James W., who resides in this township. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was mar- ried November 6, 1862, was formerly Miss Chris- tiana Keeling, a daughter of Jonas Keeling, who was born in Virginia, and who died while she was a mere child. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ingersoll: Martha E., who lives at home; Elizabetli A., who is the wife of Walter Hesler, of this township; Clayton, who resides with his par- ents; and Joseph, who has married a Miss McCor- mick.
Mr. Ingersoll came to this county with small means, but by energy, economy and well-directed industry he has acquired a handsome property. and in his declining years is enjoying, as he so well deserves, all the comforts of life. In his political opinions, our subject is a Jacksonian Democrat. He is a member of the National Horse Thief Detective Association, and has represented Cain Township on the County Board of Super- visors.
AVIS STEVER. Prominent among the successful farmers and stock-raisers of Parke County, may be mentioned the name of Mr. Stever, who owns and operates a fine farmn located on section 28, Liberty Town- ship. The estate comprises one hundred and sev- enty acres of well-cultivated land and is embel- lished with a substantial set of farm buildings, chief among which is the commodions residence. The improvements usually found upon first-class farms may here be seen, and on every hand abound proofs of the thrift of the owner of the property.
A native of the township where he now lives, Mr. Stever was born February 2, 1833, and is the
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son of Matthew and Agnes (Banks) Stever. Ilis father came to Indiana before it was admitted into the Union and was one of the first settlers of Parke County, where he remained until his death, at Rockport Mill, about 1840. A Democrat in poli- tics, he was public-spirited and enterprising as a citizen, and his untimely death was mourned by all. His wife survived until April, 1866. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Samuel and Washington, both now deceased; . Jo- seph, who enlisted in the Eighty-fifth Indiana Infantry, and died soon afterward; Davis of this sketch; Mrs. Sarah Gilkinson; Mrs. Margaret Gil- kinson; Mrs. Mary Noe; and Matthew, who en- listed in the Ninth Indiana Battery during the late war and died at Vicksburg, in July, 1863.
After the death of Matthew Stever, his widow married Russell Griflin, and remained in Parke County until her death. Originally she had re- sided in North Carolina, whence she removed to Virginia and from there to Indiana, becoming a pioneer of this State. Early orphaned by the death of his father, our subject was afterward bound out, and on receiving his freedom at the age of twenty-one he was also given $60. This he took to the bank, receiving in return but $20 in specie. For five years thereafter he worked for others, re- ceiving as remuneration $15 per month. After his marriage, which occurred October 19, 1858, and united him with Miss Susan Conner, he commeneed to farm for himself.
In February, 1862, Mr. Stever enlisted in the Ninth Indiana Battery, and after the battle of Shiloh was granted a short furlough. He rejoined his regiment at Grand Junction, Tenn., and was present at the engagements of La Grange, Miss., Jackson, Queen's Ilill, the siege of Vicksburg, the Red River expedition, and others of minor im- portance, though not less hazardous to life. At the close of the expedition he went to Memphis and volunteered in the Third Indiana Artillery, after which he took part in the battle of Tupelo, Miss., and was in the two-days figlit at Nashville. Altogether he participated in thirty-two engage- ments. From Florence, Ala., he was ordered home, and while sailing down the Tennessee River on the " Eclipse," in company with sixty-four men,
an explosion occurred in which twenty-seven were killed. The injuries there received obliged our subject to remain for two months or more in the Marine Hospital at Evansville, Ind., from which he was discharged in March, 1865. His papers, however, were dated February 25, at Indianap- olis.
On his return home. Mr. Stever resumed the oc- cupation of a farmer, and in September, 1866, pur- chased his first farm, which consisted of sixty-two acres on section 28, Liberty Township. Ile has added to his original purchase until he is at pres- ent the owner of one hundred and seventy-two acres. In all his enterprises he has received the efficient assistance of his capable wife. She was born in Sugar Creek Township, Parke County, and is a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Deer) Con- ner, natives of Kentucky. Mr. Conner was a car- penter by trade. In December, 1861, he enlisted in the defense of the Union and participated in all the engagements of his regiment until his death at Union City, Tenn., in November, 1863. Ilis mortal remains were brought to Parke County and there interred. He was a valiant soldier and had risen to the rank of Lieutenant, in which capacity he was serving at the time of his demise. His wife had passed away in the spring of 1863, leaving six children: Susan, Hettie, Nancy, Allen, Mary and Louisa.
Caleb Conner, the grandfather of Mrs. Stever, was born in Kentucky, and throughout much of his life was employed as a millwright and black- smith. He was a pioneer of Montgomery County, Ind., where he entered some Government land and improved a good farm. Ile was a prominent mem- ber of the Masonic order. ITis religious views were in sympathy with the doctrines of the Bap- tist Church, of which he was a member. Politi- cally, he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and served his fellow-citizens in the office of Jus- tice of the Peace, as well as in other places of trust. He married Miss Susannah Teeter, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, and they became the par- ents of seven sons and three daughters.
Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Stever there have been born seven children, as follows: Samuel; Elizabeth, formerly the wife of Luna Bayless, and
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Asa Hero
Mary Hess
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now deceased; Sarah A., Mrs. William Sherrill, deceased; Davis E., who died when twenty-one years of age; Joseph; Susan B., wife of Otho Coats; and Caleb R. The children received ex- cellent educational advantages, and those who survive are prominent in the communities where they reside. Since 1866, Mr. Stever and his wife have been actively connected with the United Brethren Church, and are foremost in all the be- nevolent and worthy projects originated by that denomination.
SA HESS. Reserve Township, Parke Coun- ty, is the home of many successful farmers, but of none more prosperous than the gentleman above named, who owns and operates a fine estate, which is the result of his excellent management and characteristic industry. A visitor to his home will see that he has not only erected good buildings and kept his farm well supplied with modern machinery, but also that he keeps excellent grades of stock.
Mr. Hess, who is a son of John and Elinor (Runion) Hess, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, June 29, 1833. His father was born in Indiana County, Pa., December 26, 1806, and went to llamilton County, Ohio, with his parents, going from there to Reserve Township, this county, in 1835. They made the trip in a covered wagon with a four-horse team, and located on section 4, on one hundred acres of land, about thirty acres of which were improved. The father's intention was to settle on a tract of land which he had en- tered several years previously, about 1829. In the spring of 1835 the parents located on section 4, one hundred and sixty acres of which they pur- chased, the whole aggregating two hundred and sixty-eight acres, partially improved. On this last-named farm the parents lived the remainder of their lives, the husband's death occurring Sept- ember 19, 1845, the wife's December 26, 1836.
Asa Hess is one of three children born to his
parents, himself and a brother Michael being the only survivors. Their father was a blacksmith by trade, but spent the latter years of his life on the farm, in the meantime dealing considerably in lumber. After the death of his first wife he was married to Emily Ephland, who became the mother of four children: Elinor, George, Ann (deceased) and Nancy. The devoted wife and mother passed away about 1878. The grandfather of our subject, Michael Hess, was of German descent, a son of Jacob Hess, who came in his boyhood to Penn- sylvania, where he settled on a farm in Indiana County. On this farm was reared a family of three children: Michael, Jacob and Barbara. Jacob, Sr., was a zealous worker in the Lutheran Church and died in that faith.
The grandfather of Asa Hess went with a brother and sister to Hamilton County, Ohio, where they followed agricultural pursuits. Before going to Ohio he found a wife in the person of Miss Ann Blue, who bore him the following children: Corne- lins, John, Samnel, Peter, Joseph and Ann. Like his father, he was a member of the Lutheran Church and a liberal supporter of the same. He was always a supporter of the Democracy. After the death of her husband, the grandmother of our subject was married to one Asa Runion, who came to Parke County and settled on one hundred and twenty-eight acres in Liberty Township, where they both died shortly after.
The mother of our subject was born in Somerset County, N. J., to Asa and Rebecca (Cooper) Runion, who were natives of New Jersey, but set- tled in Hamilton County, Ohio. The original of this sketeh received a limited education, and at the age of fourteen years began working on a sal- ary, which he continued to do for ten years. He began on $8 per month for a Mr. Linbrook, and after a time his meagre earnings were increased to $15 per month. In 1855 he and his brother bought one hundred and thirty acres on section 4 of this township, where the former has since made his home. To this tract they have added until they now own four hundred and forty acres of well-cultivated land, which is equally di- vided between them.
Mr. Hess keeps in his possession some of the best
13
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breeds of cattle and horses, of which he is justly proud. Politically, he is a Democrat, casting his first vote for James Buchanan. Thinking it not good for man to live alone, Mr. ITess was married to Mary Milliken, the ceremony taking place Feb- ruary 6, 1862. Mrs. Hess is a daughter of Jona- than and Elizabeth (Brown) Milliken, who came from Randolph County, N. C. Mr. Milliken was twice married, the first union resulting in the birth of five boys and two girls. He came to Indiana a few months prior to the admission of Indiana to the Union, in 1816, settling in Orange County, where he remained for a time, thence coming to Parke County, where his wife died. Ilis second companion, who bore him two sons and five daughters, was the daughter of a Mr. Brown.
The United Brethren Church finds in the wife of our subject a most active and devoted member, and she is not only a faithful companion to her husband, but a most worthy helpmate. This worthy couple's fortune has been acquired by in- dustry, integrity and energy, and they are trying to bear their part of that responsibility which falls in great or small degree on all.
L EWIS A. HAVERCAMP is a well-known farmer and stock-raiser of Montgomery County, residing on section 30, South Union Township, where he has a good farm of one hundred and six acres. He is a native of Ripley County, this State, and was born November 2, 1856. Ilis father, William H1. Havercamp, was born in Germany in 1826. He grew to manhood in the Fatherland, and served in the German army four years, in accordance with the laws of the country. Shortly after his marriage to Miss Eliza- beth Millbrook he emigrated to America, and at first rented a farm in Ripley County, which he op- erated about four years. 'At the end of that time he removed to Cincinnati, where he found employ- ment in a lumber-yard. He subsequently returned
to Indiana and resumed farming, locating on a farm in Clay County. He was successful in his vocation, but finally lost a good deal of his prop- erty by going security on a neighbor's note. His death occurred in 1881. During his life he was a faithful member of the German Lutheran Church, and in politics was an old-time Democrat. He was the father of three children, all of whom are still living: our subject; Mary, wife of Henry Hide- man, a farmer of Ripley County; and John Will- iam, who is in the livery business at Brazil, Clay County. The mother of our subject re-married, becoming the wife of Louis Hideman, and she is still living in Ripley County.
The subject of this biographical sketch was five years old when his father settled in Clay County, where he continued to live with his father until he was eighteen years old. Ile then went to work for others by the month, and was thus employed two years. At the expiration of that time he went into the lumber business, which he carried on seven or eight years. In 1882 he came to Mont- gomery County, and located at New Market, where he was in the lumber business two years, and also worked at carpentering. After that he lived on his farm for a year, and then resnmed his trade as a carpenter in New Market. Two years later he returned to his farm, and has lived on it ever since. His land is well tilled, the buildings are substantially built, and Mr. Havercamp is do- ing well financially as a general farmer. Ile be- longs to the Horse Thief Detective Association, and, although not desirous of political preferment, he conscientiously performs his duty as a citizen, and as a rule votes the Democratic ticket.
Mr. Havercamp was married June 7, 1884, to Miss Ida E. Davis. Their pleasant wedded life brought to them four children: Merrill, who was born February 25, 1885, and died on the 7th of the following March; Otto, who was born on the 30th of March, 1887; and Earl and Bearl, twins; Mrs. Havercamp is a daughter of George S. Davis, who was born in Shelby County. Ky .. in the year 1818, and made his home in his native State until 1843, when he came to Mont- gomery County. After his marriage, in 1846, he located in Brown Township, where he followed the
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trade of a blacksmith. He departed this life February 14, 1890. He had been sueeessful in business, was a good eitizen, and an honored mem- ber of the Baptist Church. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Ellis, was a daughter of Thomas Ellis, who was a native of Shelby County, Ky., and came to Indiana in 1833, settling upon a farm that he probably entered from the Government. He was the father of ten children, of whom Mrs. Havercamp's mother was the sixth in order of birth. Mrs. llavercamp herself is one of five ehildren, of whom four grew to maturity, and these three are still living: Tilman G., who resides at Waveland; Mary J., wife of R. G. Crist, who is in the hardware and implement business at New Market; and Mrs. Havereamp. The two deceased are William Warren, and Martha A., who was the wife of Edward Lawrenee.
W ILLIAM A. SELLER, whose home is on section 4, Walnut Township, has long been associated with the agricultural in- terests of Montgomery County as a well-to-do farmer. He was born in Ilarrison County, Ky., September 20, 1823, a son of James Seller, who was an early pioneer of this county, and one of its foremost farmers and public men in his day. James Seller's father, who died when James was a small boy, was an early settler of that part of Vir- ginia in which his son was born, and he was a sol- dier in the War of 1812. The family removed to Kentucky, and there James grew to man's estate, and was married to Mary D. Johnson, a daughter of William Johnson, a Kentucky farmer. Mr. Seller continued to live in Harrison County after his marriage until 1827, when he left Kentucky to found a new home in Indiana. He bought land east of Crawfordsville, and spent the remainder of his life thereon, dying December 24, 1874. His pioneer labors were abundantly blessed, and he be- eame the possessor of a large and valuable farm of four hundred and forty acres, although he had be-
gun life in poverty. He was a conspicuous figure in the eivic and military life of the county, as he was a man of marked force of character, and was sensible, elear-headed and business-like in his deal- ings. lle was Commissioner of Montgomery County for several years, and he also represented it in the State Legislature in 1843 and 1844, show- ing exeellent powers of statesmanship. He was sent there by the Whig party, of which he was an ardent supporter until its demise, and he then cast in his lot with the Republicans. IIe was often called upon to aet as administrator of estates, such was the confidence reposed in him. He was a Cap- tain in the State Militia, and bore an active part in the Black Hawk War. He was of great assist- anee in the upbuilding of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was an Elder, and was a zealous worker in its behalf up to the time of his death.
William Seller was four years old when his parents eame to this county. He is one of six children, all of whom grew to maturity. His brother, John M., is a farmer in Franklin Town- ship; Thomas P. is a physician at Mt. Jaek- son; Marshall H. resides on the old home place; Eliphalet D. and Elizabeth J. are twins. The for- mer is a farmer in Ilendricks County, and the lat- ter, the widow of Joseph Ellis, lives in Tippecanoe County.
Our subject was reared amid pioneer seenes, when this eonnty was but little better than a wilderness, wherein the Indians still made their home, and wild animals, such as foxes, deer, ete., roamed at pleasure. He gained the neees- sary experience to make him a good farmer on his father's farm, which he helped to improve after he became old enough to be of use. After his marriage he rented a farm in Walnut Town- ship, and he and his bride began housekeeping in a little old log cabin. They lived there but a short time, however, and then removed to Frank- lin Township. Three years later he bought the Wilson Airs place in Walnut Township, and still makes it his home. He erceted a substantial house, and has made nearly all the improvements on the place, which is in fine order, and is a highly pro- ductive farm of two hundred and twenty-eight
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