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 51
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 51
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 51
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Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Redenbaugh, of whom five are living: Sarah Jane, wife of Thomas N. Hosier; William, George W., Eliza Ellen and Nancy Eddenfield. Mr. and Mrs. Hosier have one child, Viola Ellen, aged nine years. The names of the deceased children of our subject are: Joseph Henry, Albert, Mary Alice, Andrew, Charlie and John, and one child who died in infancy unnamed. April 29, 1888, Jeremiah Redenbaugh had the misfortune to lose his wife, who had walked by his side for more than forty years, and to whose encouragement, cheerful assistance and wise counsel he was greatly in- debted. Her age at the time of her death was sixty years, six months and twenty-seven days
She left behind her a blessed memory as a wife, mother and friend.
Mr. Redenbaugh bought a piece of land in Wal- nut Township after his marriage, and there he and his wife commenced keeping house together. He worked hard to improve it, and bought other land until his farm comprised two hundred acres of most excellent farming land. In 1886 he retired from active business, and from the rental of his farm he derives a good income. His career as a farmer has placed him among the substantial citizens of the township, although he began life poor. This fact shows that beside being diligent, prudent and thrifty, he also carried on his work methodically, and was shrewd and far-seeing in his management of his affairs. Politically he is a Democrat of stanch principles. He belongs to the Montgomery County Horse Thief Detective Asso- ciation, and has always entered readily into any scheme for protecting the interests of the farmer.
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OHN WARRICK, one of the most industrious and successful farmers of Green Township, Parke County, was born in Fleming County, Ky., October 18, 1832. He is the son of James Warrick, and was born in the Keystone State to John Warrick, who was of English ances- try, coming from there to Fleming County when but fourteen years old. Here he settled in the vast wilderness among the Indians, where he soon married. He then came out to Indiana and looked for a suitable location, but he became disgusted with the country and returned to his home. He was an extensive farmer in Kentucky and was a slave-owner, keeping a large number of slaves on his immense plantation.
James Wurrick grew to manhood in Fleming County and there married Miss Mary Spencer, daughter of James Spencer, who came to Indiana and located in Green Township, this county, where he resided until his death. After Mr. Warrick was married, he located in Kentucky, but came to this state in 1834, and settled on a farm that is near Sappenfield, where Daniel Sappenfield now
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lives. There he purchased a farm that was in a perfectly wild condition, and at once set about clearing and improving it. On this place he lived until he moved to Iowa, about 1885, where he located on a farm and there lived until his death.
Mrs. Warrick died in the old home place in this township, in the year 1851, leaving seven children that grew to mature years, four of whom are still living: John, our subject, who is the second eldest; Elizabeth Allen, the widow of John Braden, at present living in Monroe County, Iowa; Henry, who is an Iowa farmer; Thomas, who is a farmer in the same county. Those that are deceased are named William, James and Milton. The first two died while in the late war, in which they were gal- lant soldiers. The father of our subject owned one hundred and sixty acres of finely cultivated land in this township, which he sold before his death. He was a member of the Christian Church, and also a Deacon.
John Warrick was about two years old when he came to Indiana, where he was reared and edu- cated in the common schools. He lived with his father until he moved to Iowa, after which he spent one year in helping his parents. Returning to this county, he was married February 5, 1857, to Miss Harriet Cord, a daughter of Jacob Cord, who was a native of Fleming County, Ky., and emigrated to Indiana in 1826, where he located about one and one-half miles west of our subject's farm on the Benjamin Jones farm. The father of Jacob Cord was also named Jacob, and came to Indiana before this time and located on the land that our subject's father-in-law owned. He after- ward moved to Vermillion County, III., where Mrs. Warrick was born June 3, 1836, and whence when about one year old she came with her father to Parke County. He located in Rockville and followed farming until the time of his death.
After the marriage of Mr. Warrick he moved to the place where he now lives. This tract of land was partly improved and he has, by economical living and steadfast perseverance, added modern conveniences to his landed possessions until he now is the prond owner of one of the finest and most beautiful farms in the county, comprising two hundred and ninety-five acres of the very best
farming land. The most of his farm is given to pasture land, on which he grazes some very fine stock. This magnificent estate is kept in a fine state of cultivation by good drainage, there being about two thousand rods of tile thereon. He has been engaged chiefly in breeding stock for market purposes.
Mr. Warrick is the father of six children, three of whom are: Mary Elizabeth, the wife of Alexan - der Harbison, who lives in Oklahoma, where he is engaged in various pursuits; Nancy, the wife of James H. Odell, a prominent druggist of Monte- zuma, Ind., and William Alexander, who is also in Montezuma. In politics Mr. Warrick is a Repub- lican. He is a member of the Christian Church at Waveland, as is also his companion, and he has acted in the capacity of a Deacon for a number of years. Mr. Warrick has taken great pride in im - proving his farm and has ever been a hard worker. He is an intelligent and honest man, and there is no farm in the county that shows more thrift or whose farm has better buildings than Mr. War- rick's. The residence stands back from the road on a slight eminence, and commands a beautiful view of the country. The family is highly re- spected by the entire community.
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D R. A. J. KLEISER is endowed by nature with those qualities of heart and mind so necessary to the success of one who chooses for his lifework a profession in which hu- man sympathy must be dispensed with a liberal spirit as well as the ability to relieve human suf- fering.
Dr. Kleiser is a native of Waveland, and the success he has achieved in his profession illus- trates the fact that ability must ultimately be ap- preciated. Even though many of the Doctor's patients may remember him as an untutored boy many years before the subject of professional achievements and dignity entered his brain, this knowledge cannot detract from their respect for him now. Our subject commenced his education at the academy of his native town, and at eighteen began the study of medicine with Dr. A. T.
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Steele, one of the most capable practitioners in this part of the state. After completing a two years' course with Dr. Steele, young Kleiser took up another branch of the profession with Dr. J. D. Vannuys, a physician of excellent repute and standing in the community. After completing his course with Dr. Vannuys, Dr. Kleiser entered the Rush Medical College of Chicago, where he remained until the year 1884, at which time he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Md. Dr. Kleiser graduated from the last named institution in the year 1885, and at once established himself at Waveland, Ind.
After practicing in his native town for three years, and assuring himself that success was to be gleaned among his old acquaintances and new friends, Dr. Kleiser concluded to take unto him- self a life partner. The lady who possessed the endearing qualities of heart and mind which he sought in the one who should accompany him through life was Miss Carrie Belton, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Hamilton) Belton, and a lady of more than ordinary culture. The result of their union is one child, a bright little girl named Mildred. .
Socially, the Doctor belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias. He is a stanch Republican, and honors the son of Indiana who has so ably conducted lhe affairs of the nation for the past four years. After leaving his Alma Mater Dr. Kleiser took a special course in gynecology and diseases of the heart, lungs and throat, and is one of the most capable practitioners in this line of specialities that Indiana can boast.
A brief review of the life of Dr. Kleiser shows him to be a man of energy as well as a close student, and it is gratifying to' all who watch his progress to observe the indefatigable and tireless spirit with which he ever seeks knowledge of the best possible results obtained by his predecessors in the field of labor to which he is so well adapted.
It may be well in closing this sketch to give a brief outline of Dr. Kleiser's ancestors. The
name Kleiser is first mentioned in the annals of old Dutch cognomens, and as natives of Holland the bearers of this name ranked with those whose lineage could be traced back many hundred years.
The father of Dr. Kleiser came from Shelby County, Ky., the Kleisers being an old resident family in that part of the country and closely identified with the best elements in the community where they resided. The mother of our subject was a member of the old Watson family, noted as one of the southern settlers in the Hoosier State. Both the Kleiser and Watson families date their migration from Kentucky to Indiana back to the early thirties, and both have contributed their efforts and means to the welfare and prosperity of the town with which they are now identified.
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OHN COYNER, an early pioneer and hon- ored citizen of Kirkpatrick, Montgomery County, Ind., died upon August 20, 1862, but although thirty years have elapsed since he passed away he still lives in the memory of old friends, neighbors and the general public. who knew him as a man of upright principles and un- blemished honor. Mr. Coyner was born in Greene County, Ohio, December, 1821. and came with his parents to Clinton County, Ind., when he was but a little lad. In the new home upon the broad prairies of the west a large family of children grew to manhood and womanhood.
The father and mother of our subject, Michael and Phoebe (Peterson) Coyner, were the parents of ten children. The brothers and sisters who gath- ered around the family hearth were: Jacob, who now resides in Clinton County; Mary, now the wife of Benjamin Lovelace (she had five children by her former husbands, Peter Horney and Will - iam Crowell); John, onr subject, the third child; next in order of birth, Martha, widow of Edward Lovelace, of Clark's Hill; Dill, who now resides in Kansas; Susan, wife of William White, of Boone County; Jane, wife of Jesse Boyd, also of Kansas; William, who is dead, but left a fanily in Illinois; Martin, who now resides in Clinton Coun- ty; Melissa, who lives in Chicago, Ill.
John Coyner and Mary A. Horney were united in marriage in 1844, and continued to reside in Clinton County about seven years. At the expira- tion of that time the husband and wife located on
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the farm where he died and the widow still resides. Mr. Coyner left to the mother's care a family of two children, daughters, who are both married. Rhoda is the wife of William Halsted; Phoebe married Henry C. Shobe. Mr. Coyner was a practical farmer of energy and ability; he had done much to improve the homestead after he took possession of it, but when he died, leaving to the mother's care two little girls, the burden of her widowhood was heavy, but the capable manner in which she handled the estate evidenced her fitness for the trying position.
Mrs. Coyner's parents, William and Rhoda (Anderson) Horney, were born in North Carolina, in 1784, and reared there to mature years. They were married in 1806, in the old Tar State. In a short time they located in Ohio, and from there removed to Indiana, where they both died. This worthy old pioneer couple were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as were also Mr. and Mrs. Coyner and their family. Mr. Coyner never was a politician, but he was a stanch Republican and firmly advocated the principles of the party. He was a close observer and an intelligent man, always taking an active interest in public affairs and the general events of the day. In his death the county lost a progressive citizen, and his neighbors missed a true and highly valued friend.
Mrs. Coyner is sole survivor of the family of eight children, tenderly reared by her father and mother in the eastern part of Montgomery County. Since 1829, when her parents located there, how wonderful have been the changes in the surround- ing country, to the steady growth of which she has been an eye-witness. She has watched the rapid transformation of the scene from the bleak rugged- ness of early days to waving fields and smiling villages, all linked together with rails of steel.
Although Mrs. Coyner achieved success in her agricultural work, she has now retired from the active management of the farm, and has entrusted the business to Mr. Shobe, who was married to her daughter Phœbe in 1886. Henry C. Shobe is a native of West Virginia, and was born in 1853. His parents were Washington and Rebecca Shobe and were both natives of West Virginia. The father died in 1862, and the courageous and enter-
prising mother moved with her family to Mont- gomery County, Ind., where she lived to see her six sons and one daughter grow to mature years. Mr. Shobe is well adapted to do the work he has in hand, and is accomplishing excellent results. Freed from outside duties, Mrs. Coyner now de- votes herself to household affairs and has more time for her many friends, who regard her as a noble woman who has done life's work both wor- thily and well.
ACOB P. ISLEY is the President of the Citizens' National Bank of Attica, Ind. which was organized as a national bank on the 16th of July, 1887, with a capital of $50,000. In looking over a comparative state of the institutions of financial character, doing busi- ness in this city, it is found that in comparison with the same class of organizations elsewhere they are solvent, prosperous and useful in the highest degree. The Citizens' National Bank adds no lit- tle to this and is one of the best and most substan- tial of its kind in the state.
Mr. Isley, was born in Warren County, Ind. ten miles northeast of Attica, Angust 12, 1838, a son of Benjamin and Margaret (Southard) Isley, natives of North Carolina and Virginia respect- ively. The father was born in 1808 and about 1832 removed to Warren County, Ind. where he entered quite a large tract of Government land, and although he followed the occupation of a car- penter, he made his home on his farm and was there called from life in 1866. His widow, who bore him four children, still survives him. The maternal grandfather, while en route to this section from Virginia, died on the way, but his widow with her children came on and located in Warren County, Ind. The parental family consisted of the following children: Thomas, who was killed in a railroad accident on the Central Illinois at the age of forty years, was a stock-shipper and farmer of Benton County, Ind., Elizabeth Catherine, who is the wife of Henry Ritenour, and Sarah, Mrs. John Cook of Benton County, Ind.
At the age of 21 years Jacob P. Isley began farming in connection with his father, continuing
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on the old homestead until 1867, when he removed to Benton County, where he and his brother Thomas were in business together until the latter's un- timely death about ten years ago. They were actively engaged in looking after an extensive farm comprising 1,100 acres, over which large numbers of stock roamed while being fattened for the mar- ket, an enterprise which these gentlemen found both profitable and congenial. Jacob P. Isley resided in Adams Township, Warren County, until December, 1891, when he came to Attica, and although he has been connected with the above mentioned bank since 1881, the most of his atten- tion is given to conducting his farm and to dealing in stock. He is one of the stirring and progress- ive citizens of Attica but is very unpretentious and unassuming, much preferring to quietly pur- sne the "even tenor of his way" rather than to engage in the strife and turmoil of political life, although he is a stanch Democrat in his political views.
The bank with which our subject is now con- nected was established as the Citizens' Bank. Mr. Isley has been its President one year and is also connected with the Central Bank at West Lebanon. Mr. Isley's principal shipping point is at Temple- ton on the Big Four Road, where he is well known and does a very extensive business. He is very favorably known owing to his honorable business methods, and his genial nature and candor have made him a general favorite with those with whom he has had business relations. On the 5th of October, 1881, he was married to Miss Mary Jones, who was born and reared in Warren County, a daughter of Clement Jones, a pioneer of that county, and their union has resulted in the birth of two children: Clement B. and Anna Margaret. Mr. Isley became a member of the A. F. & A. M. at Oxford, in which he has attained to the Com- mandery.
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AMES LAYTON resides in Troy Township, Fountain County, on ninety-seven acres of fine farming land, where he was born the 11th of March, 1824, to Joseph and Betsey Layton, residents of New Jersey. The father of
our subject moved to New York in 1800, where he married and followed the milling business for a time and then moved west to St. Joe, where he was engaged in farming.
He was the father of the following children : John, who was born in 1804, and married Miss Rachel Roads, who bore him eleven children; they resided in New York, where the husband died. Betsy was born in 1805, became the wife of Alfred Roads, a resident of New York; David, born in New York, was married to Miss Bully, and followed shoe- making; Polly Ann, born 1809, and married War- ner Ayan, a resident of New York, and became the mother of four children; Aaron, who married Miss Balcom, and died in New York, leaving a family of five children; Cornelia, who married Charles Cawkin, a well-to-do blacksmith of New York, and who became the father of five children; Eliza, now the wife of Ralph Burzer, a resident of New York; James, who was united in marriage to Miss Wilson; Emily, who died at the age of twelve years, and Peter, who was married to Miss Adkins, a resident of Fountain County, Ind. They have two children, and are living happily to- gether on four hundred acres of well-improved land.
The wife of our subject, whose maiden name was Sarah, was one of the seven children born to Samuel Wilson. She was born in the year 1838, and after her union with Mr. Layton, became the mother of four children, namely: William who was · born in 1861, and married Miss Mary Emily Har- ship, who was born in California, went in her girlhood days to Nebraska, and was united to Will- iam Layton in the year 1881; Charles Layton, who is a druggist, was married 1882; Emma, born 1862; Frank, born in 1864 and married Etta Thompson; Effa, born 1871 and married to Mr. Drolinger, now residents of Valparaiso.
Our subject first located on eighty acres of land that was worth abont $1,350, for which he paid, and then entered another tract of eighty acres worth $1,800. He farmed on these possessions for some time and finally located on the ninety - seven acres on which he now resides, and has im- proved by erecting substantial buildings and cul- tivating the soil to a good advantage. Mr. Lay-
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ton and his estimable wife and all the children are active workers in the Baptist Church of this city, in which they are all consistent members. Polit- ically he is a stanch Republican and has been since the casting of his first vote. Mr. Layton has witnessed wonderful progress and improve- ment during the time he has lived here, has been an active factor in local growth and prosperity, and has an extended circle of acquaintances who wish him well.
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D AVID T. OLIVER, a business man of wide experience, and an influential and esteemed citizen of Yeddo, is one of the leading merchants of this part of Fountain County. He comes of one of the earliest pioneer families of this section, and was born on his father's old homestead in Richland Township, November 22, 1837. He is a son of John L. Oliver, who was born in North Carolina. His father's father was a Quaker, who came to this country with William Penn. The father of John L. was Ahijah Oliver. John Oliver grew to maturity in the state of his nativity, and during the War of 1812 was a soldier under Gen. Jackson. He was a young man when he migrated to Clinton County, Ohio, and settled near Wilmington, where he engaged in farming until 1827, when he came to this state, and was one of the first to take up Government land in Richland Township. In the busy years that followed he reclaimed a goodly farm of two hundred and twenty acres from the virgin soil, and he and his wife died in the comfortable home which rewarded their united labors. They were laid to rest by loving hands in the cemetery at Wingate. He was a devoted Christian, and the Wesleyan Methodist Church had in him a con- sistent member from first to last. His wife bore the maiden name of Annie Smith. She was English by descent and a Virginian by birth. Her parents were among the early settlers of Clinton County, Ohio, going from Virginia to their destination on pack-horses. John L. Oliver was the father of the following children: William M., who lives near Wingate; Ruth P., John F.,
Phebe A. and Jacob R. are deceased; Silas W. and D. T.
The subject of this brief life-record was edu- cated in the district schools of the county, acquir- ing sufficient learning to enable him to enter the teacher's profession. He made a most excellent teacher, engaging in that vocation winters and spending his summers in farm work. He finally abandoned teaching to adopt the mercantile busi- ness, establishing himself first at Wingate, whence he went two years later to Waynestown. He sub- sequently sold his stock of goods at that point that he might engage in the drng business at Hillsboro. Two years later he disposed of that and bought a general stock of goods in the same place, where he remained another year. The year after that he spent in Knox County, Ind. Returning to this connty he took up his residence at Wallace, and was appointed Postmaster for that town, he having held the same position at Wingate. He lived at Wallace seven years, and his next move, which occurred in 1883, was to Yeddo, where he has been stationed ever since. He was Postmaster here from 1884 until September, 1886, and during the whole of his residence here he has been actively engaged in business as before noted. He has a commodious, well-arranged store, which is completely stocked with all kinds of merchandise generally found in such an establishment, and he enjoys an extensive and lucrative trade.
Mr. Oliver was married in 1872 to Miss Kate Pevler, in whom he has found a true wife. She is a daughter of Leonard Pevler, a farmer, residing near Hillsboro, who is an honored veteran of two wars, the Mexican and the late Rebellion. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver have had the following children: Alpha and Carrie, who died in infancy; Mabel, who is twelve years old, and Arthur, who is five years old
Mr. Oliver is a thoughtful, intelligent, well-read man, with strong convictions of his own on all subjects with which he is conversant. He believes in the divine right of religious freedom, and in the teachings of the Bible as a guide thereto, and does not hold to creeds or sects. He is a strictly tem- perate man in his habits, and carries his principles into his politics, being an ardent advocate of the
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Prohibition party. He is now filling his first term as Justice of the Peace, and discharges the duties appertaining to his office with characteristic fidelity, and with the wisdom and impartiality that win confidence in all who have dealings with him as a conservator of law and order.
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D AVID J. RATCLIFF, a veteran of the late war, in which he devoted the opening years of his manhood to his country's service, has proved a no less valuable citizen since those trying times as a tiller of the soil in his native county, Fountain, where he has accumul- lated a goodly amount of property, including a fine farm on Section 25, Mill Creek Township.
Our subject belongs to one of the old pioneer families of this part of the state, and was born on his father's old homestead, in this township, De- cember 6, 1843. He is a son of Thomas Ratcliff, a well-known resident and old settler of Mill Creek Township. Thomas Ratcliff was born in 1819 in one of the pioneer homes of Hamilton County, Ohio. His father, whose name was the same as his own, went from his early home in North Caro- lina to Hamilton County, Ohio, whence he came to Fountain County in 1829 and cast in his lot with its pioneers, entering land of the Government in Mill Creek Township, of which he was an early settler. The father of our subject did his share of the pioneer labor necessary in developing the agri- cultural resources of the country, and has lived to a good old age to witness the marvelous changes that have been wrought by the hand of man since he came here more than sixty years ago.
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