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 38
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 38
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 38
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Reason Bradfield received only a district school education and on attaining his majority started to carve out his fortune single-handed. For six years he rented land, coming to Indiana with his father, and in 1861 bought two hundred and nine acres of land, which was placed on the market for $3,000. He was able to pay only $100 down, but in time, through his native energy and enterprise,
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made the final payments. He improved and par- tially cleared the place, which was his home until December, 1872, when he located where he now resides, on a farm of seventy-nine acres on Section 21. This homestead he has improved in various ways, having erected good buildings upon it and otherwise greatly added to its value.
Mr. Bradfield has given his son and daughter eighty acres and sold his daughter-in-law a place of fifty-four acres. Previous to this he had accu- mulated four hundred acres, but still operates and is the owner of three hundred and fifty-six acres. When the difficulties which he has overcome are considered his success appears the more remark- able. He cut rails for A. D. Brown in order to pay for the first plow he ever owned. For a num- ber of years he has been greatly interested in the breeding of Short-horn cattle and blooded trotters.
Reason Bradfield casts his ballot in favor of the nominees of the Prohibition party, though he has until late years been a stanch Republican. On September 4, 1856, a marriage ceremony was per- formed which nuited his fortunes with those of Elizabeth Cornthwaite, who was born in Adams Township, June 20, 1833, to Gny and Mary (Tettswith) Cornthwaite, natives of Preble and Butler Counties, Ohio, respectively. In 1832 he came to this county, entering land in Adams Township, where he was one of the early pioneers. He made windmills for cleaning grain, and cleared and improved a place of three hundred acres. He is still living, though well along in years. His parents emigrated from England at an early day with their four children.
Nine children came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bradfield, as follows: Albert, who died at the age of nine; Melvina, wife of Victor Nowling; John, who died, aged twenty-eight, leaving a wife and three children; Ettie, who died when about one year old; Sarah L. ; Mary, wife of Homer Cox; Willie, who died aged seven months; Wallace, still at home. The parents are active members of the Christian Church, to which Mr. Bradfield has be- longed since his twentieth year and his wife since 1861.
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R EV. JESSE J. GOBEN, deceased, was one of the best known ministers of the Baptist Church in this section of the country. He was born in Jefferson County, Ky., near Man's Lick, December 17, 1808. His parents were James and Betsy (Kline) Goben, and James was the son of Billy Goben, a native of Ireland, who married Rebecca Brandy, from Wales, in 1776. The mother of our subject was of Dutch descent, and Jesse's parents settled, at an early day, in Shelby County, Ky., and not long before Jesse's birth removed to Jefferson County, Ky. They had a family of ten children. Elder Goben has left an autobiography, prepared when upwards of seventy years of age, from which we make a few quotations: "My earliest recollection was the War of 1812, when the volunteers were called for, and who, in three months, destroyed many Indian villages and their corn, and thus secured immunity from them." Thus the valnable paper begins.
The father of our subject dying the following year, his wife was removed by her father some sixty miles distant from where they lived and here he remained until he was nineteen years old. He worked at tobacco growing and had in these crops secured money enough to enter a piece of land and in 1829 he decided to come to Indiana. Therefore in October he entered land in Walnut Creek Town- ship seven miles east of Crawfordsville, and in his own language "raised my cabin, hewed puncheons and floored it, built the chimney up to the mantel and prepared the small sticks for running the flue."
One of Mr. Goben's horses was lost, probably stolen by the Indians, but he then returned to Kentucky, and December 8, 1829, he was married to Araminta Plunkett and in a ten days' return trip, his wife riding his remaining horse and he walking, they reached the cabin. This was during a rainy season and the creeks were past fording and they had to cross in canoes. The horse waded alongside. Sometimes this was a hazardous un- dertaking. The first breakfast in the new home . was eaten from the top of the trunk with a small stool on each side. A bread tray was made from the buckeye tree dressed over with an adze and fin- ished with a drawing-knife, and the wash tubs were hewed out of white walnut. A bedstead with one
leg was made fast to the wall with small poles and lined with bark, which made it almost equal to a spring-bottom bed.
Frequent encounters with wolves and other wild animals were experienced, not the least exciting being an adventure with a black rattlesnake. In those early days frequent religious revivals were held, but while Mr. Goben had always been under religious training he had held aloof from actual experience. Both himself and wife were good singers and did the most of the singing at the re- vivals held near and he soon began to feel great dissatisfaction and all the torments told of by Bun- yan, but he resisted the efforts to lead him to true belief. He had an innate dislike for the Baptist faith and deemed it unworthy of cousideration. This feeling continued for more than a year, when he received light and was baptized.
Then came a greater struggle, as Mr. Gobeu's brethren thought he should preach, but he would not be convinced. However, he would talk to him- self in the cornfield, would actually preach for himself as audience, and thus he struggled for seven years, when a severe illness brought the conviction to his mind that he was destined to become a preacher. A meeting day came and Brother West arose and said: "Brethren, there is a gift in this church that will be profitable to the church if lib- erated. I mean Brother Goben." Says the biog- rapher: "I then arose and told the story of my de- liverance."
Mr. Goben was then licensed to preach, but a year passed before he made an attempt. Constant reading of the Bible opened his eyes to truth and he began with short discourses upon the third chapter of Hebrews. His fame soon spread around aud Wolf Creek Church asked of Walnut Creek Church that he be permitted to preach to them. Soon after Thornton asked the same and then Pisgah followed. He sometimes traveled twenty- five miles. He preached for four years, when he asked the Lord to let him stop. He was stricken with a strange malady which baffled all physicians. His wife in a dream saw a man who said he could cure him and so Mr. Goben was placed in a wagon and hauled to Crawfordsville, where Dr. Benage was found to fill the description of the man in the
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dream. This intelligent doctor seemed to know what was needed, for in forty-eight hours Mr. Goben was as well as ever and resumed preaching. He had some severe lessons, but space will not permit quoting all of the interesting memoir. He mentions meeting that able debater, Elder Herod, a New Light minister, on the Resurrection, and vanquishing him.
Mr. Goben was a man who was highly esteemed as a minister, as a citizen, as a husband and father, and as a neighbor. In fact, this country has seen few who were his equals. His death was preceded by some months of confinement and hundreds vis- ited him, but the summons came March 15, 1886, and his funeral was preached at Smartsburg by Elder James S. Whitlock and William Darnall. His wife had preceded him several years and they left four sons and one daughter, although they had had fourteen children and had lived together nearly fifty-three years.
R ICH DAVIS is an example of the sturdy self-made man, having commenced at the bottom round of the ladder leading to success and having steadily, as the years elapsed, ascended until he has reached a desirable position, both financially and as regards the place he holds in the hearts of his fellow-citizens. Since 1844 he has been active in Democratic political circles, though he is not an office-seeker. He was elected as Township Trustee just before the war, but refused to serve, preferring to give his attention to his business and home affairs. He owns a well cultivated and improved farm on Sec- tions 8 and 9, where he has made his home for about half a century.
Mr. Davis was born September 10, 1820, in Guilford County, N. C., and is the son of William and Sarah F. (Lamb) Davis. Grandfather John Davis was of English origin, and was a soldier in the war of the thirteen colonies for their inde- pendence. His wife was a Miss Rich, and both died in North Carolina. Mr. Davis was a farmer by occupation. Both he and his wife were mem- bers of the Baptist Church. Our subject's father
was born in North Carolina, where he died about the year 1825. He followed the trade of a black- smith and wagon-maker, and religiously was a member of the Missionary Baptist denomination.
Mrs. Davis, who was born in Randolph County, N. C., was the daughter of Benjamin Lamb, of French descent and a member of the Society of Friends. Our subject is one of seven children. John died in Wabash Township, Ind .; Benjamin was killed in a runaway accident; Martin died in the state our subject was born in; Rich is our sub- ject; Mary is the wife of Cidrick Omstott, de- ceased; William, who served in the Mexican War, died in Missouri; Elizabeth, the youngest, depart- ed this life in the same state.
After his father's death our subject's mother married Absolam Hayworth, a farmer, and in 1827 they removed by wagons to Vigo County, Ind., where they landed Christmas Day, having been four weeks on the road. In 1829 they settled in Wabash Township, of this county, where Mr. Hayworth entered forty acres of land. In the spring of 1840 he sold his farm and migrated to Yaney County, Mo., where he was killed in 1863 by Kansas Jayhawkers. (Our subject's half broth- er was killed at the same time.) He was a Dem- ocrat in politics. Soon after his removal to Mis- souri his wife departed this life. By her second union she became the mother of four children: Ruth, Joab, Rebecca, and Allen (the one killed). She was reared in the faith and was a member of the Society of Friends.
After receiving only a limited district-school education, Rich Davis, at the age of sixteen, com- menced carving out his fortune. He began by working in a woolen mill at Mecca, receiving $12 a month and keeping steadily at work for six years. In 1842 he ran a steam sawmill on Rocky Run, receiving fair wages, and at the expiration of two years he purchased eighty acres of farm land on Section 8, the place which is still his home. He has since increased the boundaries of his farm and he is now the owner of a place of one hundred and sixty acres, the usual size of farmus which are thoroughly cultivated and all in use. When he took possession the place had been but little cleared and had but few improvements
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upon it. All this is now changed and the place has literally been made to " blossom like the rose." For thirty years, during the winter season, Mr. Davis has been engaged in rendering lard for packing houses at Armiesburg and Montezuma, at which occupation he makes $3 a day.
Mr. Davis has been twice married, his first wife being Mary Hayworth, daughter of James and Sarah F. (Winn) Hayworth. To them were born a large family of children. Sarah died at the age of two years; Alexander departed this life when four years old; Commodore is a resident of Hoop- eston, Ill .; Martha died aged eighteen years; Mary died when twenty-three on the home farm; Willard, Charles and Minda, of Terre Haute, com- plete the list. Minda is the wife of W. Williams, of Terre Haute, in which city Frank also resides; Willard died when one year old. The mother of these children was called to her final rest Jann- ary 20, 1887. Mr. Davis' present wife is Mary, widow of Henry Bascomb, and daughter of Floyd Burks, who came from Kentucky to Indiana in 1826, and is now deceased.
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A LEXANDER MONTGOMERY is one of the enterprising and leading farmers of Wabash Township, where he has resided during his entire life, or about fifty five years, as his birth occurred December 28, 1837, on the identical homestead, situated on Section 18, where he now dwells. He has long been numbered among the representative citizens and farmers of the community, and is a man noted for his honor and integrity of purpose.
The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was of Scotch origin, but born in the Em- erald Isle, from which country he emigrated at an early day, settling first in Kentucky, where he ran a tannery, and later locating in Hamilton County, Ohio. In that county our subject's father, Samuel, was born, and when he arrived at mature years he came in a wagon to Parke County, Ind., in 1827, settling on eighty acres of land in Wabash Township, He extended the boundaries of his farm in the course of time until he owned one place of one hundred and fifty-seven acres on Sec-
tion 29, and another farm comprising one hun- dred and fifty-seven acres on Section 18. He was a successful agriculturist, being active until just before his death in 1854, at the age of fifty years. Politically he was a Whig and was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject's mother, who bore the maiden name of Prudence Monn, died twenty years after her husband's demise, at the good old age of seventy-two. She was born in Pennsylvania, and with a brother removed to Hamilton County, Ohio, making her home with him until her marriage.
Alexander Montgomery is one of seven chil- dren, viz .: Mary J., deceased; John, deceased; William, who served in the Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry and died in 1865; David, who was also in the same company and whose sketch may be found in another portion of this work; Alexander; Martha, who was twice married, hier first husband being Armstead Clark, and her second, Edward Richey; Margaret, wife of James Painter.
Alexander Montgomery was reared in this county, receiving here the benefits of a district- school education. He was only seventeen years of age when his father was called from this life, and since that time he has earned his own way, caring for his mother with tender and filial respect. He now owns one hundred and twenty-seven acres of the old homestead and has besides a tract of forty acres. In November, 1875, Mr. Montgomery wedded Maria J. Plaster, who is a native of this county and a daughter of Michael and Caroline O. (Underwood) Plaster. Three children have come to bless the home of our subject and his estimable wife: Olive P., Mary B., and Clare. The parents are workers and members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and are held in the highest esteem by the many friends they have in this, the county of their birth.
B ENJAMIN F. PITMAN. Among the pro- gressive and enterprising farmers of Wa- bash Township, Parke County, is the sub- ject of this sketch, who was born in the western part of Adams Township, of this county,
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November 17, 1853. His parents were Thomas and Agnes (Wishard) Pitman. Grandfather Ben- jamin Pitman was the son of Joseph, who was of German origin, and a resident of Pennsylvania when his death occurred. Benjamin Pitman was born in the Keystone State and removed to Knox County, Ohio, about the year 1812. He then re- moved to Michigan, where he made his home until 1833, when he made a settlement in Adams Town- ship, Parke County. The opening year of the war he went to Iowa where he died shortly after in his eighty third year. Religiously he was a member of the Free will Baptist Church, and politically was a Democrat. He was three times married. His first wife, Sarah Stephens, was born in Penn- sylvania and died in Ohio, after which Mr. Pitman wedded Jemima, widow of Mr. Swift, to whom were born three daughters. The mother died in Michigan. The third wife, Mrs. Polly James (nee Whittaker), was called from this life in Iowa.
Thomas Pitman, our subject's father, was born in Pennsylvania, April 27, 1811, and was given common-school privileges. In 1831 he came on horseback to Indiana, locating in Vermillion County, where he worked out for a time by the month. In October, 1836, he settled on eighty acres of land belonging to his wife in Adams Town- ship. To this as a nucleus he continually added adjoining land, until his farm comprised three hundred and seventy acres, which he and his sons cleared and otherwise improved. He was a lead- ing agricultnrist, one who was held in the highest respect for his worthy qualities as a man and neighbor. He cast his ballot in favor of the Dem- ocratic nominees and was ever found on the side of progress and advancement. His death occurred December 9, 1888.
Mrs. Pitman was born October 4, 1812, in Nich- olas County, Ky., her parents being Samuel and Margaret (Oliver) Wishard, natives of Red Stone, Pa., and Lexington, Ky., respectively. The form- er, who was a farmer by occupation, removed with his parents, who were natives of Ireland, to Ken- tucky. In 1830 he came in a wagon to Vermillion County, Ind., where he entered and improved three hundred and twenty acres of land. In his eighty- fourth year, in September, 1857, he departed this
life. His wife survived him a number of years, dying April 6, 1873, having attained the extreme old age of ninety-three years, as she was born in Ohio in 1780.
Benjamin F. Pitman is one of eleven children: Abednego; Samuel, who died at the age of thirty. two years; William, who enlisted in the Eleventh Indiana and was killed in the battle of Champion Hills; Margaret, Mrs. William Cook of Kansas; Thomas, of Bourbon County, Kans., who served in the Eighty-fifth Indiana as Corporal; Jane, Mrs. G. W. Payton of Kansas; Sarah, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Mary A. and Susan A. (twins), whose death occurred at the age of twenty-three; Rebecca, deceased, wife of Franklin Bell, and our subject.
After receiving a district-school education Ben- jamin Pitman started ont to make his own way, and when but little past his majority rented the old homestead. In November, 1883, he purchased eighty acres on Section 9, Wabash Township, and also owns fifty acres of the old home farm. On September 24, 1876, ocenrred his marriage with Mary E. Cox, who was born in Adams Township, July 29, 1858, and is a daughter of Wesley and Elizabeth (Evens) Cox, natives of North Carolina and Indiana, respectively. The former was an early and respected settler of Parke County, where he owned and carried on a farm. He died in Jan- uary, 1880, aged seventy years, and seven years later his wife also passed away at the age of sixty- eight. They were both members of the Christian Church and passed their latter years at the home of Mr. Pitman. In his political faith the father was a Republican.
Mrs. Pitman is one of fourteen children. James served in the war, enlisting in Tuscola, Ind .; Will- iam, Albert and John were also in service during . the civil conflict. The remainder of the family were: Alexander; Barton; Arestus; Fred; Lillie, who died at the age of nine years; Emily (dle- ceased), who was the wife of B. Young: Lovisa (deceased), wife of F. Wright; Mary, and two who died in childhood. Our subject and wife had four children: Fred D., Benjamin E., Love (who died at the age of six years) and Claude W. Mrs. Pit- man has been a member of the Christian Church
James brooks
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for fourteen years and like her husband has the friendship and good-will of all who have come in contact with her.
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B ENJAMIN PHILLIPS for over thirty years has been a resident on his farm of four hundred and twenty acres, situated on Section 5, Wabash Township, Parke County. He has made a success of agricult- ural pursuits and at one time was owner of six hundred and fifty acres, but has disposed of a por- tion of this, having given his children two hundred and thirty acres and some money. He has fed live-stock and dealt extensively in it all his life, having been quite successful in that line.
Mr. Phillips was born October 16, 1829, in Fouquier County, Va., being a son of William and Harriet (Robisan) Phillips. Jenkins Phillips, of Virginia, the grandfather of our subject, fol- lowed the occupation of an agriculturist in the Old 'Dominion. His son William, who was born in the same state, was a farmer and slave-owner. In 1833 he went to Coshocton County, Ohio, and in 1835 came to Reserve Township, Ind., where he resided until his death. He purchased and improved about two hundred and twenty acres, where he died March 14, 1882.
William Phillips was born August 27, 1797, was a Hardshell Baptist and a strong Democrat. His wife, who survived him until November 6, 1886, was born in Virginia, September 15, 1804, and was the mother of ten children, all but two of whom lived to mature years. They are as follows: Albert, who died in Iowa; Rachel, Mrs. Henry Mil- ligan, who died in the same state; Nancy, wife of Wm. Hawkins of Illinois; Jenkins, a resident of the Hawkeye State; Benjamin, William, Alpheus of Illinois, Randolph, and two who died in child- hood. The mother was for half a century a devoted and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Benjamin Phillips came to Indiana with his parents and received only limited common-school advantages. At the age of twenty years he left home, starting in business for himself, and in 17
1852 settled on seven acres of land on Section 2, Wabash Township, which belonged to his wife. This he engaged in cultivating for seven years, about 1860 locating on his present farm, which has been his home continuously until the present time, with the exception of two years spent in Montezuma. He owns four hundred and twenty acres of valuable and desirable land, which is well kept and a model farm of this decade.
Mr. Phillips has been twice married, his first union being with Jane, daughter of William and Mary (Bateman) Morgan. Four children blessed their home, three of whom are now living: Nelson G., Samuel B., and Warner. The wife and mother, who was born April 29, 1829, was called to her final abode Jannary 21, 1864. The present wife of our subject was before her marriage Julia, widow of Smith Dunlap, and daughter of John and Barbara Newman, of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. The father was one of the pioneers of this county and a Minister in the United Brethren Church. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, three are living: George of Califor- nia, Nettie, wife of Charles Mathews of Illinois, and Annie. Mrs. Phillips had two children by her first marriage: James H. and David R. Our worthy subject and wife are faithful members of the United Brethren Church. The former is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has the respect and friendship of all who know him.
AMES CROOKS, A.M., M.D., one of Parke County's most prominent physicians, as well as one of its most esteemed and wealthy citizens, has spent his whole life from early childhood in the locality where he now resides. He was born in Butler County, Ohio (on the Indiana line), October 26, 1825. In order to give the readers of this volume a better idea of the man of whom we write, it will be necessary to go back into the remote past and see whence the Crooks family came and what royal blood flows in the veins of the subject of this sketch.
We find that the progenitors of the Crooks
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family were genuine Scotchmen, but it has been impossible for us to trace their history through all the centuries that have passed, for with the past are buried many interesting matters connected with this prominent family, but it is our aim to give here some reliable information, on which future generations may base a more complete history of the family. While many things may be lost from our view that would interest the present and the future generations, our object will be to give only such facts in this sketch as are strictly reliable, and on which the future writer can base his history without the extended research that has been necessary in this article.
The earliest settlement that we have been able to trace of this family was at Paisley, a small village some six miles from old Glasgow. In those early days the members of the family were noted for their piety and were well known in the Pres- byterian Church, being Ruling Elders in that denomination. We also find that there is in that locality a memorial to the name of Crooks in the shape of a castle called Crookston Castle. Leaving the family in Scotland, let us see what we can learn of them in this country. The immediate ancestors of our subject came to America about 1720, in company with many others, and settled in the New England states, principally in Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire. For a short time they sojonrned in Hephirton, abont thirty miles from Boston, but soon went farther west in the state and made a permanent settlement in Hamp- den County, calling the place where they located Scotland, on account of their good old Scotch pre- dilections. This town was in later years named Ploneford.
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