USA > Indiana > Grant County > Fairmount > The making of a township, being an account of the early settlement and subsequent development of Fairmount Township, Grant County, Indiana, 1829 to 1917, based upon data secured by personal interviews, from numerous communications > Part 19
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Joseph Reeder the third married in Hopewell. New Jersey, about 1740, as his second wife, Susana Gano. daughter of Daniel Gano, and great-granddaughter of Francis Gano, a wealthy Huguenot, of Roch- elle. France, who, after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, barely escaped martyrdom by fleeing with his children and their families. about 1686. first to Guernsey Island, and thence to America, and he died at New Rochelle, New York, aged one hundred and three years. Joseph and Susana had a large family, of whom six sons lived to have large families, and all of them settled in the Miami Valley, Ohio. In 1763 he had settled in Loudoun County. Virginia, and his son, Joseph. the fourth, having married Anna Huff, in New Jersey, removed to the same county in 1766, and a number of years later removed to Hamp- shire County. now in West Virginia, and lived on the Great Cacapon
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Dulings, Reeders and Simonses.
River, whence with all his family he removed to Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1789. His son. George, married in Cincinnati, June 2. 1796. Margaret Van Cleve, daughter of John Van Cleve, who was killed by Indians there June 1. 1791. John was descended. in the fourth genera- tion, from John Van Cleve, a Hollander, who came to Long Island, New York, in 1650: and, in the fifth generation, from John Vander- bilt. also a Hollander, who settled at Gravesend the same year, and New Utrecht, Long Island, in 1659. This John Vanderbilt was the father of Aris Vanderbilt and grandfather of Jacob Vanderbilt, the ancestor of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. The foregoing is an abridged sketch of the ancestral history of Franklin and William Reeder, pioneers in Fairmount Township.
The Reeders had one brother and four sisters who lived to have families, the brother. George, the last surviving of his father's family, dying in Hutchinson, Kansas, August, 1900. One of the sister's hus- bands was Dan Wright, father of Rev. Harvey Wright. Bishop Milton Wright and Rev. William Wright, whose son, Ellis, resides on a farmi owned by him east of Fairmount. Another was Prof. Ryland T. Brown, of Northwestern Christian University, now Butler University, father of Capt. George Reeder Brown, who commanded the Ninth In- diana Battery through the Civil War. Another is John Braden, a retired merchant, of Greensburg, whose sons are merchants of Watseka. Illinois.
J. Franklin Reeder married in Rush County, Indiana, July 19. 1827. Nancy Furnish, and they had Mary Jane. Margaret, Phebe Catharine, Eliza and Asenath, all of whom married and have since died, except Eliza, and all had children. His wife, having died some years pre- viously. Mr. Reeder, about 1853. married Fanny Broyles, by whom he had one son. George, and a daughter, the latter dying within a few years. The son married, removed to Michigan, and died some years afterward, leaving a widow and several children. Mr. Reeder's descendants are scattered, but those living in Fairmount Township are the children of Asenath, William Millspaugh, a former merchant at Fowlerton, and Mrs. Horace Reeve.
William H. H. Reeder, the pioneer, was of a fine mould mentally. morally and physically. Physically, of fine symmetry, handsome feat- ures, and of a magnetic temperament : mentally, of an active, acute and strong cast ; morally, having a deep sense of the right and an abhor- rence of anything unjust or wrong ; with a ready tongue, accurate utterance and good voice, his conversational powers were fine; and if they had been so used he would have made an able and eloquent
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The Making of a Township.
public speaker. But his ideas of the necessities of education forbade his entering public life, and probably his taste did not incline him to it. He was, however, a successful school teacher a small part of his long life. He died in honor among the best people, and having a very hum- ble opinion of his own worthiness of everlasting life.
William H. H. Reeder married, in Decatur County, Indiana, August 18, 1847, Miss Elizabeth Dealy, and they were the parents of the fol- lowing children, all born in Fairmount Township: Margaret Elizabeth, who married John W. Broyles, of Delaware County : Eliza Catharine. who married Joseph A. Broyles, of Delaware County ; George, who died at thirteen years of age: Madora, who died at four; William Henry Harrison, who married Mattie Parks, of Jefferson Township, and who has served as Justice of the Peace : Flora M., who married Oliver A. Glass; Robert B., who married Hattie Glass. The older daughters have children and grandchildren. The two youngest children have each several children. William, who has no heirs, Flora, who resides on a farm of their own near Lincolnville, Wabash County, Indiana; and Robert all live on parts of the old homestead in Fairmount Township.
(Editor's Note .- Milton Wright, a pioneer of Fairmount Town- ship, was born in Rush County, Indiana, in 1828, and died at his home. Oakwood, Dayton, Ohio, April 3. 1917. His paternal grandfather was Dan Wright, Sr., who was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and participated in the Battle of Saratoga. His paternal antecedents traced their ancestry back to Samuel Wright, of England, whose descendants probably settled originally in Connecticut. His maternal grandparents were George and Peggy Reeder, of Ohio, the former born September 24. 1767, and died May 13, 1845. Dan Wright, Jr., father of Milton. was born September 3. 1790, at Centerville, Ohio, and died October 6. 1861. The mother, Catherine ( Recder) Wright, was born March 17. 1800, and died September 24, 1866. Dan Wright, Jr., and wife were the parents of five children, namely: Samuel Smith Wright, Harvey Wright, Milton Wright, Sarah Wright and William Wright, the latter the father of Ellis Wright, who resides southeast of Fowlerton. Milton Wright passed the early part of his life on the farm, attending country schools and for a time was a student at Hartsville College. When about twenty-one years of age he was a licensed exhorter in the United Brethren Church : in 1852 he was granted a license to preach ; in 1856 he was ordained by Bishop David Edwards. In 1857 he was sent as a missionary to the Pacific Coast, and taught and preached in the region of Salem, Oregon, for two years. Returning East in 1859 he taught school a short time, and then served under the White River Conference
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Dulings, Reeders and Simonses.
until 1869 as pastor and presiding elder. He was the first authorized professor of theology in the church and taught at Hartsville College. He was elected to the general conference in 1861 and served forty-four years as a member of this body. In 1869 he was chosen editor of the
THE OLD W. H. H. REEDER HOMESTEAD
Located about one mile and a half southwest of Fowlerton. This hewn-log cabin was built by William Henry Harrison Reeder out of native timber in 1844, three years before his marriage. In the early day it was pointed out as the finest home in that part of the Township. Up to the time of its con- struction there were but very few two-story cabins in the new country of like dimensions and elegance. This cabin is still standing on the farm, which is yet in the hands of members of the original family, being now owned by a son, William H. H. Reeder. For many years the son occupied this com- fortable cabin, until it was recently replaced by his present modern resi- dence. The elder Reeder served in the Indiana State Militia before coming to Fairmount Township. It was in this cabin that the well known pioneer frequently presided as the arbiter in matters which came before him while serving as Justice of the Peace. In the early day William Henry Harrison Reeder was known far and near as a peacemaker. Upon many occasions he adjusted differences between neighbors which promised endless litigation and bitter enmities if carried into the courts. Well poised, with a mind keenly analytical, of discriminating judgment, and possessing a broad view of justice and equity, his upright character and profound knowledge of men and affairs enabled him to command the respect and confidence of all who knew him. In several disputes where there were prospects of contention and strife he proved to be the man of the hour. His tact and resourcefulness served him in good stead in rendering quietly and unobtrusively a good deal of important service to his pioncer friends. It was at this cabin home that many contentions were satisfactorily settled and friendships which might have been abruptly ended were made permanent and beneficial.
Religious Telescope, official publication of the church, in which capac- ity he served for eight years. In 1877 he was elected Bishop of the
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The Making of a Township.
Church, serving as such the remainder of his life. He was an ordained minister of the Gospel for sixty-one years, a record seldom equalled in the work for religious and moral uplift. In politics Bishop Wright was a Republican. November 24, 1859, he was married to Susan Catherine Koerner. of Union County, Indiana, who died in 1889. By this union five children were born, namely, Reuchlin, Lorin, Wilbur. Orville and Kathrin. Reuchlin was born in a two-story log cabin le cated northeast of Fowlerton ; Lorin was born near Dublin, Indiana, and Wilbur, Orville and Kathrin were born at Dayton, Ohio. Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved world-wife fame by their invention of the aeroplane. This machine is now being utilized, with telling effect, in the greatest war of all history. It was an invention designed by these modest young men to bless and benefit mankind. It has by the exigen- cies of the hour been diverted from its original purpose to a potential agency of terrorism and destruction in the fiercest of all human con- flicts. )
William H. H. Reeder was one of the most capable and conscientious teachers during the early period of the Township's history. The writer has the register of a school taught by this pioncer instructor in Union (now Fairmount) Town- ship, commenced December 17, 1862. This record was kept by Mr. Reeder with scrupulous care. Ilis penmanship is plain, easily understood, and would be a model for the present day. The record is kept on a blank arranged in his own way, and is concise. The names of his pupils are given. In most cases the age is accurately indicated. The names appearing are those of the best known fami- lies of that day, as follows :
Name. Age.
Elizabeth A. Adams 17
Sarah D. Adams. 15
Avis Adams 10
Timothy Adams 12
Hannah L. Adams 7
W. H. IL. REEDER
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Dulings, Reeders and Simonses.
John Wood 12 Mary Wood' 1.4
Arnalda C. Wood.
7 Elizabeth J. Payne. 12
Catherine E. Mann
Martha A. Furnish 4
Mary J. Mann
6
Nancy A. Payne. 13
George Mann II
Martha E. Payne
William A. Mann 8
James Terrell 16
James W. Furnish 12
William Shields 8
Joseph M. Furnish
II
John Harris
20
Thomas J. Furnish
7
Sarah A. Payne
6
William F. Ward. II
Sylvester Payne
David O. Ice. 7
Andrew Mann 16
John S. D. Lewis 20
Charles Ice
17
Elizabeth Lewis 17
Susan Mason
15
Catharine A. Payne
6
Sidney J. Mason 13
Margaret E. Reeder
Matilda Burk 13
Eliza C. Reeder.
Louisa Shields
17
John Payne 23
George Shields
13
John Rhoads
4
Alphis Shields TO
James B. Mann
Allen W. Payne 17
Nancy Terrell
William Payne 14
Sarah Terrell
Sarah E. Wood 13
Luther Harrison
McGuffey's Readers, Webster's Elementary Spelling Books, and Ray's and Talbots' Arithmetics were used as text books in that day.
Margaret Payne
16
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The Making of a Township.
ROBERT B. REEDER
Robert B. Reeder, one of the enterprising farmers of Fairmount Township, resides one mile and a half southwest of Fowlerton. He is a son of William Henry Harrison and Elizabeth (Dealy) Reeder, the father born at Centerville, Ohio, November 15, 1813, and the mother
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Dulings, Reeders and Simonses.
in Buckeye County, Kentucky, December 29, 1824. William Henry Harrison Reeder died at his home in Fairmount Township on June 24, 1885, and Mrs. Reeder passed away on May 6, 1892. George Reeder, the paternal grandfather, was born September 24, 1767, and married Margaret Van Cleve, at Cincinnati, Ohio, June 2, 1796. She
MR. AND MRS. O. M. BEVINGTON .AND FAMILY
died September 12, 1858. George Reeder served as a captain in the American Army during the War of 1812. He died May 13, 1845.
Robert B. Reeder is a native of Fairmount Township, where he was born June 13, 1864. He was educated in the Township, attending school in winter and working on his father's farm in the spring and summer months. He owns a farm of one hundred acres, part of which is the original Reeder homestead, and has been quite successful in its management. In politics, Mr. Reeder is a Progressive Republican and has served several terms as a member of the Grant County Repub- lican Central Committee. In 1912 he was the choice of the Progres- sive party for the nomination of Representative in the Legislature. As a member of Fowlerton Lodge No. 848, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, he passed all the chairs and was a delegate at one time to the grand lodge. On February 5, 1892, he was married to Miss Hattie Glass, a native of Rush County. Their children are Crystal, George S., B. Dora and Edgar C., all graduates of high school or common school.
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The Making of a Township.
SIMONS FAMILY. ( By John Il. Simons. )
My father, Henry Simons, was born in Bradford County, Pennsyl- vania, May 15, 1815. He moved, with his father, about the year 1819. to Darke County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. In the sum- mer of 1837. probably July, he started West. on foot. to find some place to locate, where he could make himself a home for the future. He walked to Grant County, where, after spending some time looking for a location, he found eighty acres in Section 36. Fairmount Township, which had not been taken of the Gov- ernment. Most of the land at that time which was thought to be of much account had been en- tered or bought by people hunting for homes. It was so wet and swampy that it was supposed to le nearly worthless for agricul- tural purposes.
HENRY SIMONS
Pioneer farmer, was a native of Brad- ford County, Pennsylvania. His fath- er. Adrial Simons, was born April 0, 1792, and died February 26, 1876; and Huntington Counties, strik-
After getting the description of the eighty acres, he started on foot to the Land Office at Ft. Wayne. He went north through the wilderness, traversing Grant
his mother, Palsy (Merit) Simons, ing the canal at Lagro or Hunt- ington, after which he walked along the towpath used for the minles and horses pulling the ca- nal boats. These boats conveyed the products of the settlers 10 market, and bringing back such things as they could use. It took about three days to make the trip was born September 30. 1795, and died March 21. 1863. Henry Simons was persevering, industrious and thrifty, and at the time of his death. March 31, 1902, owned one hundred and sixty- five acres of good land. In politics he was a Republican. He was a mem- ber of the New Light Church, and did much in the early days of the Town- ship toward the organization and es- tablishment of this denomination. The influence of Henry Simons in his neighborhood was always exerted for the best interests, both material and from southern Grant County to moral, of the community.
Ft. Wayne. Father said he never
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Dulings, Reeders and Simonses.
suffered from thirst more than he did while walking on the towpath on his way to Ft. Wayne. There was plenty of water in the canal, but it was not fit to drink, and the settlements, where he could get a drink. were a great ways apart. After reaching Ft. Wayne, he found the Land Office and closed up the deal for the eighty acres. He left as payment for the land $too in gold, which he had carried all the way on his trip from Ohio. After his purchase was made, he started on the return trip to Grant County, covering practically the same ground. Reaching the farm, he put out a deadening, after which he returned to Ohio to earn money and prepare to move to his newly acquired possessions.
By the summer of 1840 he was prepared to go West, he having pre- viously married Phebe Thomas, who set out with him for Fairmount Township. Their mode of travel was by horses and wagon. They brought all of their possessions with them. They arrived at the home of their uncle, Bingham Simons, who lived a mile north, in the edge of Jefferson Township.
Leaving their goods at the home of their uncle, with the help of the early settlers he set out to cut logs and build a house in which to move his belongings. After three or four days they had logs cut and the house built and a door cut through the wall. Then they were ready to move into their own home. They were obliged to prop up clapboards to close the doorway at night while they slept. the wolves howling on the outside of their cabin.
To Henry and Phebe ( Thomas) Simons were born six children. five sons and one daughter, namely, Jonathan, Martha Ann. Ransom Ellis, William and Adrial. One infant child was buried in the Fank- boner Graveyard in 1841. Three others died of scarlet fever within one month of each other. William and Adrial Simons are still living. William resides in Fairmount and AAdrial lives on his farm near the old home.
Phebe Simons was born in 1820 and died February 3, 1852.
In February, 1854, Henry Simons was united in marriage to Eliz- abeth Ann ( Walker) Parrill. To this union were born seyen chil- dren, five sons and two daughers, four of whom are living, namely. John H. Simons, Levi P. Simons, Mata M. Buller, and D. Wilson Simons, Morris, Arthur, Walker and a daughter having passed away in infancy.
Mata Buller and her husband. Oliver Buller, own the eighty acres bought of the Government by my father. There never has been but the one transfer made-the conveyance to Oliver and Mata Buller.
Elizabeth ( Parrill) Simons died on March 29, 1899.
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The Making of a Township.
Henry Simons died March 31, 1902. He was the grandfather of twenty-three children, seventeen still living. Donna Jean Simons, first great-grandchikl. daughter of Harry L. and Jessie Simons, was born on his one hundredth anniversary.
My great-grandfather. Adrial Simons, was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary War.
Below are the names of some of the pioneers of Fairmount Town- ship fifty years or more ago, as the writer recollects them: Joseph Corn, Edmund Leach. I. N. Miller, Esom Leach, William H. H. Reeder. John R. Minton, Thomas Estell. John Leach. David Lewis, Elijah Ward. John Brewer. Stephen Brewer, Benjamin Ice, Edmund Duling. Thomas Duling. George Simons, George Nose. John Heavilin, Sr .. Abraham Reeve. Elwood Smith, William Maynard. Milton Wright. William Payne and Absalom Furnish.
The only one living at the time this article is written, to my knowl- edge, is Bishop Milton Wright, who resides at Datyon, Ohio. (Bishop Wright has passed away since Mr. Simons prepared this matter. )
One of the first churches, if not the first, organized in the east end of the Township was organized at my father's house in 1842. Among some of the old records I have in my possession I find the following :
"September the 26, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- dred and forty-two. We this day at Henry Simons', umite ourselves together as a branch of the Christian Church to take the Holy Scrip- tures as our only rule of faith and practice, as we have hereunto set our names. E. S. PARKS.
Samuel Todd. Elizabeth Todd. Sarah Ann Ervin.
Henry Simons. Abraham Rader. Christopher Mittank.
Anna M. Simons. Martha Jane Rader. Elizabeth Mittank.
William Ervin."
This organization was called Barren Creek Christian Church. They built a log church on my father's farm soon after this organization. The pews were made by taking logs and splitting them and then they were hewn off smooth on the flat side, then a hole bored on the round- ing side and wooden legs put in. They were then turned over and set in position ready for occupancy. This organization was kept up for a number of years, until better churches were built in the country nearby. Then the organization was abandoned, but the old log church stood near a half century.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE WILSONS.
R ACHEL WILSON was born February 6, 1719, and departed this life January 5. 1785. aged sixty-nine years and eleven months. John Wilson was born January 10, 1725, and departed this life October 23, 1776. aged fifty-one years and nine months. John and Rachel Wil- son were married January 16, 1758.
Joseph Wilson, son of John and Rachel, was born November 9, 1760. Sarah Charles, daughter of Samuel and Abigail Charles, was born April 20, 1761. Joseph Wilson and Sarah Charles were married June 11, 1780.
Rachel Wilson, daughter of Joseph and Sarah, was born September 20, 1781, and departed this life July 13, 1784, aged two years, nine months and twenty-three days.
John Wilson, son of Joseph and Sarah, was born July 13, 1784.
Samuel Wilson, son of Joseph and Sarah, was born January 28, 1787.
Joseph Wilson, son of Joseph and Sarah, was born September 8. 1788, and departed this life October 17. 1788, aged one month and nine days.
Henry Wilson, son of Joseph and Sarah, was born April 8, 1791.
Mary Wilson, daughter of Joseph and Sarah, was born August 31. 1793.
Abigail Wilson, daughter of Joseph and Sarah, was born March 22. 1796.
Nathan Wilson, son of Joseph and Sarah, was born November 29. 1800, and departed this life January 3, 1801, aged about five weeks.
Sarah Wilson departed this life October 10, 1803, aged forty-two years, five months and twenty days.
Joseph Wilson departed this life October 20, 1803, aged forty-two years, eleven months and ten days.
Mary Winslow, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Winslow, was born July 20, 1797.
John Wilson, son of Joseph and Sarah Wilson, was born July 13. 1784.
John Wilson and Mary Winslow were married.
Jesse Ewell Wilson, son of John and Mary, was born on Sunday, July 14, 1816, at about half after 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
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The Making of a Township.
Nathan Darwin Wilson, son of John and Mary, was born on Sun- day. December 21, 1817, at about half after 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Cyrus Wilson, son of John and Mary, was born November 21. 1819. Henry Wilson, son of John and Mary, was born December 27. 1821.
Nancy Wilson, daughter of John and Mary, was born December 15. 1823. about 10 o'clock in the evening.
Micajah Wilson, son of John and Mary, was born February 17. 1825, about 9 o'clock at night.
Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of John and Mary, was born February 22. 1827, about eighteen minutes past 2 o'clock in the morning.
Eliza Ann Wilson, daughter of John and Mary, was born May 2. 1829. about half after 2 o'clock in the morning.
John Milton Wilson, son of John and Mary, was born Friday, Jan- . uary 8. 1831. about half past 11 o'clock in the evening.
Lindsey Wilson, son of John and Mary, was born on Wednesday. December 19, 1832, about 8 o'clock at night.
Samuel Charles Wilson, son of John and Mary, was born on Tues- day. October 14, 1834, about five minutes after 4 o'clock in the evening.
Abigail Wilson, daughter of John and Mary, was born Tuesday. December 13, 1836, about 2 o'clock in the morning.
( By Webster Parry )
In eastern North Carolina, what is now Perquimans and Pasquotank Counties, the Wilsons were a prominent family of Quakers before the year 1700. Among the Friends families there in very early times were those of Michael. Jesse. Edward, Robert, James, Isaac and Benjamin, Wilson, and probably others that I know nothing of. I suspect the Fairmount Township Wilsons were there as early as 1695 to 1700. I cannot certainly trace your family further back than to thy great-grand- parents, John and Rachel Wilson. In fact. I know nothing further about them than that Rachel, the wife, was born February 6. 1719, and died January 7. 1785, and that they had at least one child. Joseph, thy grandfather, who married my great-grandfather's sister. Sarah Charles, on June 11. 1780. He, Joseph Wilson, was born November 9, 1760, and died October 20. 1803. Ilis wife, Sarah Charles, was born April 2. 1761. and died either the same day as her husband or ten days pre- viously. The records did not agree as to that. They were married at Symons Creek Meeting and lived in Perquimans County, North Caro- lina, near Nixonten, where most all of their children were born. Later they moved to Randolph County, North Carolina, where they died and were buried.
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The Wilsons.
Samuel Wilson and Ruth Thornburgh were married at U'warrie Meeting. Randolph County, North Carolina, in 1809. They had a fan- ily of thirteen children, eleven of whom married and generally had large families. They lived in Hamilton County, Indiana, and Ruth died there on March 15, 1860. Samuel then moved to Leavenworth County, Kan- sas, where he died. His descendants are widely scattered throughout Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, California and others of the far Western States. I think it likely that his sons, Henry, Eleazer, Sam- nel and Nathan, may still be living, as I have not heard of the death of either of them. Henry, born in 1815, was not long ago living at Santa Ana, California, almost totally blind.
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