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 74
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 74
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 74
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Isaac was the third child of William Mitchell and but little is known of him. Elizabeth, the fourth child, married a man by the name of Giles Lansford, by whom she had three children, Giles, Jefferson and Mary. The father of these children died and the mother married John Ellis. who went to Floyd County, Ind. William married in Ken- tucky and came to Parke County, where he re- mained for live or six years, and then went to Mis- souri, where he died soon after the close of the war. He had two sons in the Union army and two fighting in the cause of the Confederates. Nothing is known of Chloe, the next child. Giles was born October 3, 1787, and was the father of the follow- ing children: John, James M., Mary Ann, Sam- nel M., Nancy, Stephen, Giles Bedford, Ellen A. and Georgia Ann. Mary was the eighth child of William, and married Levi Burton and reared two children, William and Elizabeth. Robert Mitchell, of whom a sketch will appear on another page of this work, is the next.
Abel Mitchell, of this sketch, is the youngest child of Robert Mitchell, Sr., and was born on the farm south of Bridgeton, where the family first settled, When abont one year old his parents
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came to the place where he has since lived. In his boyhood days he was given the advantages of a common-school education, living with his mother after his father's death, and his home was her abid- ing-place up to the time of her death, December 8, 1892.
Our subject was married January 3, 1858, to America Bell, the daughter of John Bell, who was a pioneer of Vigo County, this State. She is next to the youngest of a family of eleven children, and was born January 2, 1838. Her brothers and sisters were Carolins, Isaae N., Harriet Jane, Frank- lin D., Elenor, Addison W., Emily, Miranda, Aus- tin, America and Malinda. Of this family but five are living, namely: Addison, Emily, Miranda, Austin and America. The father of this family died in February, 1855, and the mother passed away in November, 1882.
The children of Col. and Mrs. Mitehell are: John, born October 7, 1858, and of whom a more extended sketel, will be found in this volume. Sarah Elenor, born August 19, 1860, and at home with her parents. McClellan, born December 23, 1862, and who was married in August, 1883, to Ilan- nah Rea. This lady is the daughter of James Rea, who was one of the early settlers of Bridgeton, and they have three children, Claude, Maud and James Edgar. Emily, the fourth child, born July 24, 1865, was married to William A. Rogers JJuly 20, 1886, and resides on Mr. Mitehell's farm. They have three children: Jessie, Harry Mitchell and Abel Franklin. Horatio Seymour, the fifth ehild of our subjeet, was born July 2, 1868. and died July 26, 1869. Lee, born April 26, 1871, was edu- cated at Bloomingdale and in the Earlham College at Richmond, Ind., and is now living at home. The younger children were Frederick Abel, born Angust 6, 1874; Hampton Worth, born January 17, 1877, and who died December 12, 1879; and Claude Curtis, who was born April 7, 1879, and died February 10, 1881.
Mr. Mitehell of this sketch has been one of the most successful farmers and stock-dealers of Parke County and now owns more than one thousand acres of fine land and his beautiful home on the Big Raccoon. IIe has one of the finest farm resi- dences in the State, and like all of his name is a
strong Demoerat. He attended the Demoeratie con- vention in Chicago in 1864 that nominated Gen. MeClellan for President. Ile was twice a candi- date for County Treasurer, but the county was overwhelmingly Republican and he was defeated. The Colonel served as Township Trustee for one term and on a re-election he refused to qualify. He is one of those square, upright, honest men whom it is a pleasure to meet. Thus briefly we have given the history of this prominent family and from the most reliable information.
W ASHINGTON RYNEARSON makes his home on seetion 2, Cain Township, which was his birthplace and has one of the finest equipped farms in Fountain County. He is a son of Ezekial Rynearson, who was a prominent figure among the early pioneers of this seetion. He was born in Somerset County, N. J., August 9, 1794, and was about twelve years of age when his par- ents moved to the wilds of Warren County, Ohio, in 1806. Hle there grew to a stalwart, active man- hood, and November 24, 1853, took unto himself a wife in the person of Miss Elizabeth Applegate. In 1829 he emigrated from Warren County with his family to this State, and was one of the first to enter land from the Government in Cain Town- ship, there procuring one hundred and ninety- two acres on section 2, township 19. The coun- try was in a perfectly wild condition, and at that time wolves, deer, wild turkeys and other game abounded.
Mr. Rynearson ereeted a log cabin, into which he removed his family, whose home it was until the year 1856, when it was replaced by the more pretentious one oceupied by the son of whom we write. He was without capital when he started to hew a farm out of the wilderness, but he went to work with a good will and in time became comparatively wealthy. Ile was a Whig in early life, but became identified with the Republicans after the formation of that party, and during the
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war was one of the enrolling officers of the State. He was a strong man, mentally and morally, was exemplary in his habits, and especially was he op- posed to all forms of intemperance, whether in the use of tobacco or liquor. The love and respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances were his in a marked degree. Ile was a typical pioneer, and his early struggles to gain a foothold in the wilderness form an interesting chapter in his his- tory. Ile departed this life in February, 1874, and his wife March 25, of the following year. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom ten grew to adult years: Nicholas, now de- deceased; Mary J., wife of Jacob Dice, a farmer of this county; Martha, who became the wife of Will- iam Walker, and is now deceased; Rebecca, who married George Applegate, and has since passed away; La Fayette, deceased; our subject; Elizabeth, who was the wife of H. C. Wyan, of Hillsboro, and is now deceased; Ellen, wife of L. A. Lucas, of Veedersburgh; Amanda, who married Louis Miller, of Richland Township; John, a mail agent between Brazil and Chicago; and Melinda, who married John Tinsley. There were twenty-five grand- children and eight great-grandchildren in the fam- ily when the parents of our subjact were called to their final bome.
Washington Rynearson was born on the old homestead in Cain Township, February 15, 1836. lle attended the local district schools in his boy- hood, but the most of his education is such as is gained by experience. He early became initiated into all kinds of farm work, and has always fol- lowed farming and stock-raising. After his mar- riage he located on the farm where his life had been previously passed. He bought out the other heirs, and lifted a mortage of $5,000, after which he proceeded to develop and improve the farm. He has spent considerable money on improvements, having placed the land under a fine drainage sys- tem. The farm is highly cultivated, while substan- tial buildings for every needed purpose add to the usefulness and thrifty appearance. To the orig- inal acreage of the homestead the owner has added until it now comprises two hundred and fifty-two acres of fertile land.
Mr. Rynearson was married April 14, 1870, to
Miss Sarah Ellen, daughter of Abraham Herr. The family was of Swiss origin. The father went from Lancaster County, Pa., to Warren County, Ohio, where Mrs. Rynearson was born January 20, 1842. In 1850 her parents came to Indiana, set- tling in Union County, where the father purchased land and engaged in operating a flouring-mill. From there he removed to Crawfordsville with his family, where he lived for a time, subsequently re- turning to Warren County, Ohio, where his death occurred in 1873. Ilis wife died April 26, 1887, aged about eighty years. They were the parents of fifteen children, of whom five are living. To our worthy subject and wife has been born one son, Edwin, December 30, 1873.
Not only as a farmer but as a citizen the career of Mr. Rynearson has been creditable alike to him- self and to his native county. When our country was threatened with disunion and the Old Flag was dishonored, he manfully did bis duty as a sol- dier, becoming a member of Company C, One Ilundred and Fifty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and by his meritorious service was raised to the rank of Corporal. His brother John also fought in the war, belonging to Company C, One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana Infantry. Our subject is a Republican and stanch in his political faith.
ACOB W. RATCLIFF was chosen Trus- tee of Sugar Creek Township, Parke Conn- ty, in the year 1890 by his fellow-citizens, and was elected to that responsible posi- tion on the Democratic tieket by a majority of sixteen votes. This is the more remarkable as the township is thoroughly Republican, and is a trib- ute to his own sterling worth and the high respect in which he is held by his fellow-citizens, many of whom, casting aside party lines, deposited their ballot in his favor. He has lived a life-time in this identical township, where his birth occurred, and is consequently well known by all the old residents. Mr. Ratcliff owns a farm on section
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10, on which he makes his home. This place, which comprises seventy-seven acres, has been brought under a high state of cultivation and is very fertile, yielding abundant harvests in re- turn for the persevering effort and care the owner bestows upon it.
Our subject was born on the Ist of July, 1854, on his father's farm in this township. His par- ents are Miles and Susan Ratcliff, whose life record will be found in another portion of this volume. They have long been counted among this section's most honored pioneers and best citi- zens. The educational privileges of our subject were those of the district schools of the county. He remained with his parents, with filial care lightening their labors and lending his assistance in carrying on the old homestead, until past his majority.
At the age of twenty-three years, leaving home, our subject went to Fountain County, Ind., where he remained for two years with his brother on his farm, after which he returned and took charge of the old homestead for one year and one-half, when he purchased seventy -seven acres of land, the farm which he now cultivates, and he has made a great many improvements upon it since becom- ing the owner. Ile has steadily overcome the ob- stacles and difficulties in his pathway with com- mendable courage, and his efforts have been crowned with abundant suecess.
In the year 1882 occurred the marriage of Mr. Ratcliff and Miss Gertie Ward, who was born in Penn Township, and was here reared to woman- hood. She is a well-educated and amiable lady, who, like her husband, has won a host of friends in the neighborhood. She is a daughter of J. C. and Elizabeth (McCord) Ward, who are both na- tives of Parke County. The union of our worthy subject and his wife has been blessed with a family of three children, two sons and a daughter: Theron V., Evart L. and Minnie G.
In the development and upbuilding of the com- munity in which is situated his home, Mr. Rat- cliff has ever borne his part, and his faithful per- formance of the duties of citizenship deserves all credit. It has often been said that the farmers are the backbone and strength of a country's pros-
perity, and this has been proven to be true time and again in the history of nations. In the person of onr subject we see one of those who, following that peaceful avocation, have "builded wiser than they knew," and have left to their children and country the benefits accruing from their years of well-spent toil and effort.
P HILLIP SHOAF is the owner of a farm lo- cated on section 3. Sugar Creek Township, Parke County, the place comprising one hundred and thirteen acres. Ile is num- bered among the progressive farmers of the town- ship, and whatever he has acquired has been made by the hardest efforts since reaching his majority. He began working at cutting rails and cordwood, receiving twenty-five cents for one hundred of the former. and a like sumn for each cord of four-foot wood. Often he received only thirty-seven and a-half cents for a hard day's labor, and during harvest worked with the old-fashioned sickle for seventy-five cents per day. He was born in David- son County, N. C., December 5, 1824, and is a son of David and Mary C. (Sowers) Shoaf. The for- mer's lather. whose Christian name was Jacob, was born in Germany, and came to the United States before the Revolutionary War, settling in North Carolina, where he married and reared his family of tive children on a farm. He was a mem- ber of the German Lutheran Church, and lived to a good old age.
It was in 1799 that the birth of David Shoaf oe- eurred. This event took place in North Carolina, where he lived until after his marriage. Eight sons were the result of his union, viz .: Michael, William, Phillip, David, Jacob, Solomon, Alfred and Henry, who are all living. About 1826, the father emigrated to Kentucky with his family, mak- ing the journey with a wagon, and four years later came to Parke County, locating on Raccoon Creek. Ile afterward removed to Illinois, where he died at the age of eighty-one years. He was a mem-
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ber of the Lutheran Church, and was, politically, a Democrat. Our subjeet's mother having died when he was only ten years old, the father mar- ried his first wife's cousin, Mrs. Catherine Myers, nee Sowers, and to them were born the follow- ing children: Margaret (deceased), Samuel, An- drew, Viola, Joseph and Emmeline.
When about twenty-five years old, Phillip Shoaf and Dillie Sowers were united in wedlock. She was his second cousin, and a daughter of David and Sarah (Long) Sowers. Nine children came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Shoaf: Sarah, Jemima, Mary; Alonzo and David, who died within one hour of each other with typhoid fever; Martha, Rosella and Perry W. Solomon, the fifth child, was bitten by a mad dog, and though treated by a mad stone, at the end of nine weeks died from hydrophobia. During the late war, Mr. Shoaf, who was not able to leave home on account of his little family, was obliged to pay $1,000 for a substitute. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, to which his wife also belongs, and in po- litieal faith is a Democrat.
ANIEL CURTIS, a successful farmer and well-known manufacturer of tile in Win- gate, Montgomery County, was born in 1853, in the immediate neighborhood of his present home. His family name is an honored one all over the land. Prominent citizens of varied professions and business, distinguished authors, judges, statesmen, soldiers, and farmers bear the name of Curtis, and all alike, both rich and poor, are the descendantsof English ancestry. More than two centuries ago the name of Curtis was a famil- iar one among the struggling colonists who laid the firm foundation of our national independence.
Mr. Curtis was undoubtedly named in honor of his paternal grandfather, Daniel Curtis, who was a native of Maryland and a man of more than or- dinary courage and ability. He served as a sol- dier in the early history of the United States, and
afterward, marrying a Miss Pocock, also a native of Maryland and a lady of excellent family connec- tions, transmitted to his descendants the love of his country and the ardent patriotism of the true American. Grandfather Curtis and his wife were the parents of eight children, most of whom lived to marry and rear families of their own. The names of the brothers and sisters are Levi, Jane, Joseph, Mary A., James P., Temperance, Wesley and Nicholas. Jane married a Mr. Wiley; James P. now lives in Middletown, Ohio; Temperance married William Moore, of Bushnell, Ill.
Levi, the eldest son, was the father of our sub- ject. He was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1817. His wife, Elizabeth (Dick) Curtis, was born in Ilartford County, Md., in 1821. She was the daughter of Adam and Temperance (Wadlow) Dick. Adam Dick was a native of Pennsylvania, a worthy man and a good citizen. Like Grand- father Curtis, this maternal ancestor also fought for his country, and left a record of an honest, up- right life. The parents of Mr. Curtis settled in Montgomery County, Ind., at a very early day, and were prosperous, the father leaving behind him at his death a comfortable estate.
Daniel Curtis enjoyed the advantages afforded by the district schools, and grew up to manhood amid the scenes and early associations of his life. He exchanged single blessedness for matrimony at the age of twenty-five years. The lady whom he married was Miss Julia Stout, and their marriage was blessed by the birth of two children, one of whom died in infaney. The surviving child, Etna B., is a bright, promising boy, the sunshine of a happy home.
Mr. Curtis, although a successful manufacturer of tile, has devoted much of his time to farming. As a tiller of the soil he has had a wide experi- ence and profitable results. His father left him an inheritance of three hundred and thirty acres of valuable land, and, as a wise investment, our sub- ject has added to his farming property a fine tract of four hundred acres of land, well situated and susceptible of high improvement. In 1881 Mr. Curtis bought an interest with Maurice J. Lee in the tile mill business, of which he has had the management ever since. At the expiration of
RESIDENCE OF RICHARD N. NEWTON , SEC. 32. FLORIDA TP. PARKE CO. IND.
RESIDENCE OF DANIEL CURTIS, SEC.14. COAL CREEK TP MONTGOMERY CO. IND.
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five years he purchased Mr. Lee's interest, and since 1886 has been sole proprietor of the busi- ness. Mr. Curtis is not a politician in the ordi- nary acceptation of the word, but he is well in- formed as to the matters of the day, especially the conduct of local affairs, and is a Democrat, adher- ing strictly to the principles of his party. Frater- nally, Mr. Curtis is identified with the Knights of Pythias, and socially has a host of friends in the community where he has spent his life-time.
R ICHARD N. NEWTON represents the agri- cultural class of Florida Township, Parke County, and was born in old Virginia July 23, 1828, being the third child in order of birth in a large family of children born to William and Eliza (Barnes) Newton, as follows: Emeline, the eldest, who died when a young lady; Benjamin W., now one of the wealthiest farmers in this township; Mary and Margaret, deceased; Martha, deceased, who married Mr. Kettle, and after his death made her home in St. Clair County, Mo .; Harriet, who married John Faws, and lives at Roseville; Linnie, widow of John Conner, of St. Clair County, Mo .; Lucy, wife of James W. Holt, both now deceased; and Isaac II., who married Mary B. Jones, and lives in Bates County, Mo., near Prairie City.
The parents of this family were born in Virginia, the mother having been born March 23, 1801. Both families were of English and Irish ancestry, and the grandfather of our subject was an orphan and married an orphan. He was of Revolutionary fame and fought under Gen. Washington at the capture of Guilford Court House. Benjamin, a brother, was also a soldier.
The father of our subject moved to Kentucky from Virginia and finally to Indiana, locating near Rockville. Ile died in what is known as the Pence Neighborhood. The mother died at the home of her son Benjamin, of whom we have just spoken. Richard had but poor advantages for obtaining an education, his father being a man of
very limited means, and as soon as he was old enough he was obliged to earn his own living. In 1850, he went to Iowa and there purchased a farm; but thinking it best to have a helpmate who would encourage and assist him in his pursuit, he married Amanda A. Horne, at Bloomfield, Iowa, October 9, 1851. This lady was born in Parke County, Ind., November 9, 1829, and was a daugh- ter of Thomas Horne, a native of Tennessee, and one of the pioneers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Newton remained in Iowa until 1859, when they returned to Parke County, and lived in various places until 1870, at which time they settled on the place where they now reside, having purchased it a year previously.
Mr. Newton and wife have been the parents of eleven children. Martha J., wife of William Cottral, died July 13, 1871, leaving one child, Cora. Sarah C. married Joseph Cox, December 24, 1874. Eliza A., born January 15, 1856, is now the wife of Josiah Boatman. Margarette, wife of R. A. Mod- set, lives in Vigo County. William T. and John Isaac (twins) were born January 6, 1861; the former married Miss Mary Boatman and lives in Rosedale, and the latter died March 26, 1863. Nora is living with her father. Richard V. is now engaged at the Michigan University, at Ann Ar- bor, where he is a law student. Perry O. married Miss Annie Hamersly and they are residents of Rosedale. Laura A., born May 16, 1871, lives at home. Charles G., born December 14, 1873, is helping his father in the farm work. The mother of these children died March 31, 1889.
Mr. Newton has always been a great temper- ance man and in politics has devoted his life and influence to the Democratic nominees. lIe is an influential member of the Church of Christ, as is also his wife and all his children but one.
W ILLIAM H. BARNES, one of the represen- tative farmers of Parke County, Ind., is also a native of the county, born in Wash- ington Township, June 11, 1850. His parents were Edward and Serepta (Bruin) Barnes, a biog-
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raphy of whom also appears in this work. Our subject received his early education in the schools of Washington Township, and subsequently at- tended the college at Waveland, Ind. After com- pleting his education, he was for three years a sue- cessful teacher in Washington Township.
Mr. Barnes' entire life has been spent in Parke County, where he is a highly esteemed and sue- eessful farmer, and is the owner of two hundred and twenty-seven aeres on section 24, Washington Township. He also owns his father's old homestead of one hundred and ninety acres, on section 24, both farms being finely improved. lle was mar- ried December 29, 1887, to Miss L. C. Stark, daugh- ter of T. C. and Mary Stark, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Barnes were born the following children: Lottie, Freddie, Eddie, Elmer, Thomas, Alice Ray and llal, all bright and interesting girls and boys, of whom their parents may be justly proud.
HOMAS MILLER, one of the active, prom- inent and enterprising citizens of Van Bu- ren Township, Fountain County, is en- gaged in farming, and has a highly productive farm on section 6. Ile is a son of Daniel Miller, a native of Pennsylvania, who went to live in Butler County, Ohio, when fourteen years old. There he grew to manhood and in due time mar- ried Ruth, daughter of Thomas Collier, a promi- nent pioneer of Butler County. The father of Thomas Collier was one of the heroes of the Rev- olutionary War.
After his marriage Daniel Miller continued to reside in Butler County some three years, on a farm that he owned. At the end of that time he came to Indiana, in 1835 or 1836, and settled in Richland Township, this county, where he pur- chased one hundred and sixty aeres of land, to which he subsequently added forty acres, and that was his home until he elosed his eyes to
the scenes of earth. He was a valued member of the Christian Church and was a Deacon for many years. In early days he was a Democrat, but afterward identified himself with the Republican party and voted for Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were the parents of four children, three of whom are living, viz .: Mary Ann, wife of Jacob Snyder, a farmer residing at Veedersburgh; Thomas; and Margaret, the wife of John McKnight, a farmer and grain-dealer of Noble County, Minn. Dan- iel W. died at the age of three years.
The subject of this sketch was born November 7, 1838, in one of the pioneer homes of Richland Township, and grew up in his native county to be one of its useful citizens. He was educated in the district schools, and gained a practical knowl- edge of farming on his father's farm. After his marriage he rented the old homestead, which ult- imately came into his possession, but in April, 1855, he traded it for his present place of resi- denee in Van Buren Township. Ilis farm consists of ninety aeres of the richest land in Fountain County, which has been well developed by judi- cious cultivation and produces abundant erops of grain, from fifty to seventy-five bushels of corn and upwards of thirty bushels of wheat to the acre being the average yield. The improvements that our subject has made upon it are of a good elass.
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