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 47
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 47
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 47
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John W. Lockridge was born June 13, 1819, in Angusta County, Va., and lived there until the family eame to this state, when he was a lad of eleven years. He attended the primitive subscrip- tion schools of his day, but he is mainly self- educated. December 22, 1841, he took an important step in life, whereby he secured a most eapable helpmate in the person of Miss Eliza N. Dorsey, to whom he was wedded on that date, a half a century ago. She was born in Maryland July 23, 1822, a daughter of George Dorsey, a prominent farmer and miller of this county, and she was reared principally in Baltimore, in her na- tive state. Two children have blessed her mar- riage with our subjeet: Benjamin Franklin, who was born February 11, 1858, and died August 27, 1886, aged twenty six years, six months and six- teen days; and Thomas R., who was born May 21, 1860, married Rosa, daughter of Gilbert Gray, a
farmer of this township, and who operates his father's farm northeast of town.
After marriage Mr. Lockridge settled on a farm in Walnut Township, which he lived upon two years, and then removed to Union Township, where he ran a sawmill on Walnut creek. Four years later he abandoned that business and bought the place from which he had previously moved. He remained on that farm until 1864, and in that year bought another of two hundred and forty acres, a mile northeast of Mace. He resided thereon until 1889, when he retired to his present home in the pretty village of Mace, leaving his farm in charge of his son, who is a competent young farmer. He now owns two hundred and sixty acres of land in his farm, besides thirteen acres near the village. It is under a fine state of tillage, is well drained by tile, and has good build- ings for every needed purpose.
Mr. Lockridge has been a resident of this eonn- ty for more than sixty years, has witnessed the many changes that have taken place during its transformation from a wilderness to a beautiful farming country, and has had a hand in promoting its growth. He is well known and greatly es- teemed, and is prominent in social cireles as a member in high standing of the order of the Knights of Pythias, he being Past Chancellor of Mace Lodge, No. 55. He was at one time Trustee of the Township, and in politics he is a Green- backer. He has always taken a deep interest in whatever would advance his calling, and is one of the leading members of the New Ross Agricultural Association, of which he was President from 1881 to 1891.
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H ORACE P. ENSMINGER, ex-City Marshal of Crawfordsville, Ind., is the subject of the present sketeh. For many years this name has been a terror to law-breakers, and the quietude and peacefulness of the city are due to his vigilanee and watehfulness.
Mr. Ensminger was born in Hamilton, Ohio, January 28, 1827, and was the son of Joseph and Jane (Frazer) Ensminger. These parents were
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pioneers from Pennsylvania, who came into the county in 1828, settled here when it was nothing but woods, and located in the eastern part six miles southeast of Crawfordsville. Joseph was a farmer and also understood the trade of brick- laying and assisted in the building of the first brick edifice which was put up in the city. He is still living at the advanced age of ninety-four years, resides with his son, and still loves to dis- cuss politics as well as he did in 1854, when he became a Republican. He has been twice mar- ried. His first wife died in 1839, and his second was Jane Canine, widow of John Canine, and she also died some twelve years ago. Of a family of eleven children eight are now living.
In 1844 the family moved into Crawfordsville, and Horace learned the trade of a saddler at La Fayette, and followed it at this place for a period of twenty years, having a harness and saddle shop here. From 1854 to 1858 he acted as Village Marshal, and in 1875 he became City Marshal and has been elected by the people every two years since. Twenty years ago he was the only officer, and it was about six years later before the force was increased, and in those days he made more arrests than does the whole force at the present time. The present police department consists of five policemen, besides the Chief-three night and two day men. Like his aged father, Mr. Ensmin- ger is a Republican and is a man who could hardly be replaced in this city.
In 1858 our subject was married to Miss Nancy Nicholson, and they have a family of the following children: Charles, a civil engineer in Kansas; John, who is a physician in Waynestown, Ind .; Hal, a druggist in Indianapolis; Hattie, who died when an infant of three years, and another infant who was taken away. The family residence is at No. 411 East Main street.
Mr. Ensminger deserves to be retired on a pen- sion. For twenty years he has been the guardian of the peace of this city. In those early days it was quite a common thing to have fights and drunken brawls on the streets, but the evil doers soon learned that the Marshal was a man of nerve and pluck and that he could not be turned from duty. The fame of Crawfordsville extended
abroad,and too much praise cannot be given the effi- cient officer who brought this state of things to pass. He has developed an admirable corps of assistants, and the city may well feel proud of its peace de- partment. They are all splendid specimens of manhood, and each one feels the responsibility of the office entrusted to him, and, better than all, each one is a gentleman, so unlike are they to the guardians of the law in many much larger cities.
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R EV. WILLIAM L. ANDERSON, residing on a farm on Section 7, Clark Township, where he is variously engaged in raising small fruits, in the manufacture of sor- ghum, in the management of a sawmill, and in bee and poultry culture, is well known as a minister and lecturer in the Christian Church and as a leader in the Fariners' Alliance movement in Montgomery County. He is a son of Madison B. Anderson, who came to this county in 1849 from Brown County, where our subject was born July 15, 1847.
Mr. Anderson was scarcely two years old when his father came to Montgomery County, and his boyhood was passed on the farm where he now lives. He obtained the preliminaries of his edu- cation in the Ladoga public schools and in the academy at that place. In 1869 he entered the Bible College of the Kentucky University, and was a student therein until 1871, and also took a course in the College of Arts while there. In 1871 he went to Meadville, Pa., to attend the theolog- ical school at that place, from which he was gradu- ated in 1874. While a student in that institution he was tutor of Greek and Latin.
After the completion of his studies Mr. Ander- son began his career as a pastor by taking charge of the Christian Church at Aurora, Portage County, Ohio, he having united with the Christian Church in 1866. In 1876 he was called to the Christian Church, at Bedford. Ohio, and remained there until the following year, when he returned to Ladoga. In 1878 he completed the course of study in the Normal School that he had begun some years before. In 1879 he turned his atten-
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tion to the profession of teacher, and for one year held the position of Superintendent of the Town- ship schools of Winchester, in Hendricks County. In September, 1880, he returned to this county, and settled on his father's farm, where he has been living ever since.
Mr. Anderson devotes his attention largely to the various industries before noted, but he has by no means given up bis professional work entirely, as he gives much time to lecturing and preaching. In the campaign of 1888 he was employed by the Prohibition Central Committee to lecture on tem- perance, and did some effective work for the party, as he is a strong advocate of prohibition. His chief prominence in political circles, however, is as the organizer of the Farmers' Alliance in Mont- gomery County, of which he is an active member, and he is Chairman of the joint committees of labor organizations in the county. He also be- longs to the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. He is one of the leaders of the Christian Church, and does a great deal of pastoral work. He re- cently delivered a lecture on the "Historical Evi- dences of the Divinity of the Christian Church."
During his first pastorate at Aurora, Ohio, the Rev. Mr. Anderson was married in 1874 to Miss Ora Johnson, who has cheerfully co-operated with him in his work, cheering and inspiring him to do his best. Mrs. Anderson was born August. 5, 1854, and is a daughter of Henry Johnson, a prominent business man, residing at Pawnee. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have had six children, of whom the following is the record: Annie was born Sep- tember 27, 1875; Allie, June 24, 1877; Edgar Clay, who was born April 27, 1879, died July 12, 1879; Angie, who was born October 19, 1880; Paul Johnson, March 27, 1884, and Henry Warren, Oc- tober 14, 1888.
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E NDWARD BRADFIELD comes of one of the pioneer families of Parke County, and is a gentleman who has always endeavored in every possible manner to promote the interests and welfare of this community. He is now engaged in carrying on his fertile farm on
Section 15, Adams Township, which comprises two hundred and seventy-nine acres of land all in one body, and of this one hundred and fifty acres are now under cultivation. Altogether he owns three hundred and thirty-nine acres of farm land, the remainder being located on Section 23. That much confidence is placed in his judgment and integrity is shown by the fact that he has been called upon to settle a great many estates. In 1879 Mr. Bradfield erected a residence on his farm at a cost of about $2,000.
Columbiana County, Ohio, is the place of Mr. Bradfield's birth, which event occurred August 1, 1841. He is a son of William Bradfield, who was born in the same county in Ohio. There he was reared to manhood and married Miss Sarah Robi- son, by whom he had a family of ten children. Seven of the number lived to adult years, six still survive, and five are residents of this county, viz .: Reason, who lives in Wabash Township; Hannah Jane, wife of Theodore Marshall, of this township; our subject; Levi, who is a farmer in Wabash Township, and Arminda, who resides also in Wabash Township, and is the wife of Joseph McAdams. Our subject's father migrated to Indiana in the fall of 1852, settling in Rockville, and the following spring removed his family to a home had prepared for them. His farm, which consisted of one hundred and twenty acres, was partly improved, and to its cultivation he devoted himself until death called him from his labors April 26, 1863. His wife died on the old home- stead in September, 1883. The father was a member of the Christian Church, being an Elder of the same, and in politics was a Republican.
The early years of Edward Bradfield were passed in his native county, and when he was twelve years of age he came to Indiana, remaining under the parental roof-tree until his father's death, when he took up the management of the estate and settled' it. He was first married in 1867, at which time Miss Sarah Jane Cox became his wife. She is a danghter of John B. Cox, n well- known farmer of this township. To the worthy conple were born five children: William A., who is married and a resident of the township; Reason E., also married, and living in Adams Township;
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Minnie Inez, who lives at home and is a success- ful school teacher; Seth M., who is also at home, and Myrtle, who died in infancy. The mother of these children departed this life in 1882. In March, 1883, Mr. Bradfield wedded Mrs. Cynthia Louis, daughter of Peter Pence, who formerly was a resident of the county.
About 1869 Mr. Bradfield located on his father's farm, which he carried on for about six years, and then made a permanent settlement on the farm now operated by him. For thirteen winters Mr. Bradfield taught school, eight years of the time in one school-house in this county, in the neighbor- hood of which he built up quite an enviable repu- tation as an educator. His own privileges in the direction of an education were those of the com- mon schools and the Bloomingdale Academy. In his political faith he is a Republican, and for five years has held the position of Assessor. He is a strong and active worker in the ranks of the party, and is a patriotic citizen, devoted to the best interests of his country and fellow-men. He is numbered among the pillars of the Union Christian Church, where he is now holding the offices of Clerk and Treasurer. He is Superintendent of the Sunday-school, in which he takes a commend- able interest.
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J OHN H. CHENOWETH is a native son of Parke County, having been born in Union Township December 6, 1868. He is one of the enterprising and wide awake young farm- ers of Adams Township, his home being on Sec- tion 12. It has been often remarked that the ag- riculturists of the country are the bone and sinew of the nation, and surely they deserve to have their memory perpetuated as the true founders of our national prosperity. Mr. Chenoweth was reared upon a farm and it is not, therefore, strange that on arriving at man's estate he chose to con- tinue in agricultural pursuits.
Cornelius B. Chenoweth, our subject's father, is now a resident of Illinois, engaged in farming in Vermillion County. He was one of the honored early settlers of Parke County, where he resided
several years. John H. Chenoweth was an infant of about eighteen months when his parents re- moved to Bridgeton, this county, and after living there for two years they moved to Vermillion County, where the early boyhood of our subject was passed. When thirteen years of age he re- turned with his father to Parke County and in 1883, with his parents, went to Gentry County, Mo., where he lived for one year, then returning to Raccoon Township. At the end of three years the family emigrated to New Discovery, where Mr. Chenoweth lived until a year before his mar- riage.
The date of that important event in Mr. Cheno- weth's life was October, 1891, when he was united in wedlock with Mrs. Alice E., widow of George W. Adams, of Parke County. Mrs. Chenoweth is the daughter of Archibald B. Collings and was born on the old homestead in this county. She was educated in the common schools and is a cul- tured and most estimable lady.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Chenoweth re- moved to a farm adjoining the one which he now carries on, but only lived there one year, after which he settled on his present farm. This place comprises one hundred and fifty-five acres, a part of which is under good cultivation and well im- proved. Good buildings have been placed on the premises and altogether the farm is considered a valuable one. The owner has, of late years es- pecially, given most of his time and attention to raising fine stock.
In his political affiliations Mr. Chenoweth sup- ports the Democratic party, and is a member of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. He is a member of the New Discovery Missionary Baptist Church. He is held in the highest respect by the many friends and acquaintances he has in the neighborhood of his home, and though quite young has already succeeded as a farmer to a de- gree of which one many years his senior might well be envious. This result is entirely owing to the native qualities of industry, perseverance and energy that he has called into requisition, and it is safe to predict that before many years have elapsed he will be one of the most prosperous and extensive farmers of the county.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
EORGE T. DURHAM is a general farmer and stock - raiser of Howard Township, Parke County, located on Section 24. He is a native of Boyle County, Ky., being born August 10, 1846, to Jesse Y. and Martha Durham. Jesse Durham was also born in Boyle County and was the son of John Durham, who emigrated to Kentucky in a very early day and helped to drive the Indians out of that state. He was a gallant soldier in the Revolutionary War. John Durham came to Indiana in a very early day and entered five quarter-sections of timber land in Montgomery and Parke Counties. He died in his native state. His wife, who was a Miss Laws, bore him nine children.
The father of our subject was born in Boyle County and was reared there on a farm, in the meantime securing a limited education in the little log school-house. He remained with his father till his marriage to Martha Franklin, daughter of Jo- seph Tarkington. After his marriage he lived for six years in Kentucky and in 1850 he moved out to Indiana and settled in Brown Township, Montgom- ery County, on the land that his father had entered from the Government, and which, with the excep- tion of a very few acres, was in a perfectly wild condition. He cleared the land and transformed it from a wilderness into a finely cultivated farm, where he still lives.
Jesse Durham is the father of nine children, seven of whom still survive, namely: John, who is a farmer and physician of Sullivan County; George; Crittenden, who lives on the old homestead; Laura, who is the wife of William Rue, of Danville, Ky. ; Joseph, a resident of Indianapolis and a book- keeper in a bank at that place; Joshna B., a horse- trader of Terre Haute, and William, who is at Waveland, where he is engaged in farming. Those that are deceased are Julia and Cornelius. Jesse Durham represented Montgomery County in the State Legislature a number of years ago. Po- litically he is a stanch Democrat and is one of the prominent farmers of Montgomery County, being the possessor of one of the finest farms in the town- ship.
George T. Durham was about four years old when he came to Indiana, where he was educated
in the country schools, after which he attended Waveland Academy, where he materially increased his stock of knowledge. He lived with his parents until the time of his marriage, December 8, 1880, to Miss Betty Elliott North, who is the daughter of Henry North, of Bullitt County, Ky. He then located on a farm in Howard Township, where he now lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Durham have been born four children, namely: Julia Belle, Rosalie, Roscoe Conkling and Henry, all at home with their parents. Another child, Betty, died at the age of eighteen months.
Mr. Durham is at the present time farming two hundred and twelve acres of land, all of which is well improved and in a very good state of cultiva- tion. It is counted one of the best farms in How- ard Township. Mr. Durham is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Jacksonville, Ind. Politically he has always supported the Democratic ticket and in 1890 was elected Trustee of his town- ship, which position he still holds to the entire sat- isfaction of the community.
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N ATHAN FREEMAN, who is engaged in farming on Section 8, Clark Township, Montgomery County, devoted the opening years of his manhood to his country's service in the late war, and won an honorable mil- itary record, his bravery and efficient soldiership gaining him promotion from the ranks to the posi- tion of an officer in his regiment. He is a native of Indiana, and was born in Randolph County July 28, 1839. His father was Joshua Freeman, who was a native of North Carolina. He in turn was a son of Nathan Freeman, whose birth oc- curred in the same state July 24, 1793, his parents being Robert and Nancy Freeman. The family was of English origin, and it is probable that Robert Freeman was a native of England and emigrated to this country in colonial times. Nathan Freeman married Mary Buckingham, who was distantly related to the Duke of Buckingham of that day. Nathan and Mary Freeman had five children: Joshua, Mary, Rachel, Nathan and Oliver.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Joshua Freeman was born September 28, 1814, and when a young man came to this state to cast in his lot with its pioneers. He engaged in farm- ing in Randolph County, and was there married to Mary Warrick, a daughter of a pioneer farmer of that section. In 1846 Mr. Freeman left Randolph County, and took up his residence in Howard County, where he continued to farm, owning a farm of eighty acres. He was living there when the war broke out, and notwithstanding he was consid. erably past the meridian of life, he offered his services to his country, and his name was enrolled as a member of the Twenty-sixth Indiana Infantry, Company C. The hardships of a soldier's life proved too much for him to bear, and he was taken sick and sent home, only to die a short time after his arrival in Howard County, in 1862. Thus was a courageous and patriotic spirit sacrificed on the altar of our country.
Joshua Freeman was a thoroughly good man and a faithful member of the United Brethren Church. After his first wife had died he married Elizabeth, daughter of Frank Lytle, a farmer of Grant County. Four children were born of the first marriage, and seven from the second union. William, Richard, Nathan and Mary were by the first wife, and Jane, Sarah, Harriett, Winnie, Lyndsey, David and Oliver are the children of the second marriage, all living but Oliver and Sarah.
The first seven years of Nathan Freeman's life were passed in Randolph County, and the inter- vening years, from that time until Lincoln called for three hundred thousand troops for three years' service were spent in Howard County with his father. He was prompt to respond to the call, and the 29th of July, 1861, found his name inscribed on the roll of Company C, Twenty sixth Indiana Infantry. He early displayed true soldierly valor and other excellent qualities, and upon bis merits was promoted through the different grades of Corporal and Sergeant to be Second Lieu- tenant.
Mr. Freeman saw much hard service and took an active part in several important battles, notably those at Pea Ridge, Wilson Creek, Perry Grove, Pittsburg Landing, Vicksburg and Mobile. He was
finally taken prisoner with others while engaged with the enemy at Morgan's Bend, on the Missis- sippi river, and was taken to Tyler, Tex., where lay in prison nine months. At the end of that time he, D. V. Burns and Joseph Burgett were so fortunate as to escape by running between the guards and quickly getting beyond pursuit. They skulked through the country, traveling by night and sleeping by day for fourteen long days and nights, until they reached their friends on the banks of the Mississippi. After four years and six months' experience of the terrible trials of army life in the greatest of civil wars ever re- corded, Mr. Freeman was honorably discharged Jannary 15, 1865.
Mr. Freeman resumed his residence in Howard County when he left the army, and was there mar- ried to Cynthia Mitchell, a daughter of Silas Mit- chell, a farmer of Tipton County. Mr. Freeman bought his father's farm of eighty acres, and sub- sequently bought forty acres more land, and lived npon the old homestead from 1866 to 1884. In the latter year he removed to Hancock County, where he stayed two years. In the spring of 1886 he came to Clark Township and purchased one hundred and eighty acres of excellent farming land, upon which he settled; he has besides one hundred and twenty acres of land in Missouri. The land is well drained, fenced and tilled, and the farm is supplied with a good class of buildings and everything needful for carrying on agriculture advantageously.
Mr. Freeman is prominently identified with various local social organizations. He has held the offices of Tyler and Treasurer of the Masonic fra- ternity, and he is also a member of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. He has sensible po- litical views and votes independently, regardless of party, for the man he deems best fitted for the office.
Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have had seven children, four of whom are living, as follows: Lulu, wife of Benjamin Kinder, of La Fayette; Sibey, wife of . David Miller, who is a farmer, residing west of Parkersburg; Charles and Frank. The names of those that are dead are Mary, Nancy and Lewis.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
W ILLIAM J. GILKESON during the war was a strong Union man, and has been a resident of Section 19, Adams Township, Parke Connty, since 1875. He has always been active in forwarding and promoting the best interests of this locality, the welfare of which he has ever had deeply at heart.
Mr. Gilkeson was born in Augusta County, Va., January 3, 1823, and is the son of John, who was likewise a native of the same county and state. Our subject's mother was, in her maidenhood, Miss Jane, daughter of William Brownlee. Grand- father Gilkeson was a soldier of the Revolutionary War and also participated in the War of 1812. Mr. Gilkeson has in his possession an old-fash- ioned gun which was carried by that gentleman in the last-mentioned war.
John Gilkeson was a farmer by occupation, and in 1829 went to Ohio, locating near Hillsboro, in Highland County, where he lived for seven years, cultivating rented land. In 1837 he removed with his family to Parke County and purchased land of Gen. Howard. This was nearly all in a wild state at the time of his purchase, but with characteris- tic energy he proceeded at once to the work of its improvement and development, accomplishing good results by the aid of his children. Of the latter there were six in number, four of these still surviving, viz. : Mary, widow of Robert Christian; Jane L., who lives in Adams Township; John, a resident of Allen County, Kans., where he is en- gaged in farming, and our subject.
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