USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Valley of the upper Maumee River, with historical account of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Volume I > Part 37
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Adam and Elizabeth Hull. They made their home in Shelby county, Ohio, until 1832, when the family removed to Indiana. After reaching Fort Wayne they remained there nearly one year, and settled on the land which the father had bought in Eel River township. The senior Hull purchased 240 acres and began the work of clearing, in which he was assisted by his son. On this account and the absence of schools he did not receive much education in his youth, but is nevertheless well informed. His recollection of the past is vivid and he recalls many inter- esting incidents. In his possession are all his tax receipts since he first settled on his farm, and he also takes much pride in a rifle which his father made in Virginia, and which has served to bring much venison to their tables in Ohio and Indiana. Mr. Hull attended the first election held in the township, and was elected constable; his jurisdiction extended over what are now Noble, Whitley and Allen counties. He held this office two years and then resigned. Mr. Hull is now, though in his seventy-seventh year, quite hearty and active, and recalls with pleasure the progress of his life from the time when he began with a capital con- sisting of a five franc piece, a fiddle and a gun. By nature a pioneer, he has enjoyed the struggle with nature through which he has passed. Mr. Hull was married in 1836 to Elizabeth Crow, by whom he had three children, of whom one, Adam, is living. Immediately after this mar- riage he entered 125 acres of land from the government, and settled on the same and built a log cabin in 1838. In 1845 he was married a sec- ond time to Hester Ann Strean, and they have had seven children, of whom the following survive: Maria, George W., Henry, Jane, Peter and Judson. Mr. Hull is now well-to-do, and is one of the esteemed and respected citizens of the township. He has been a member of the Missionary Baptist church for thirty-six years.
A worthy and popular man in the early days, and one of the first set- tlers in Eel River township, was John R. Johnston, a native of New Jersey, who died in 1876. When he was seventeen years old, he emi- grated to Greene county, Ohio. In 1834, he was married to Belinda Davis, who was born August 13, 1812, and survives her husband. In the same year they removed to Eel River township, and settled on 120 acres of land, which Mr. Johnston had entered. This they never removed from. Here they went through the toilsome, yet ofttimes happy life of the pioneers of civilization. They were deeply religious, and became charter members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Wes- ley chapel, of which she has been a member for over half a century, and is the only survivor of the first members. These respected people had twelve children, of whom six are now living: David, Mary, Catherine, Susan, Emma and William H. David Johnston, the eldest, grew to man- hood on the old homestead, and never lived elsewhere until 1870, when he bought forty acres adjoining, and built himself a neat dwelling and good barn. He received his education in the pioneer schools. Among his first teachers were Elijah Robinson, Mary T. Smith, George W. Done, G. W. Hutchell and Nancy Griswold. He began teaching when
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about nineteen years of age and taught five terms. In 1857, he was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of Otho and Mary Gaudy, born in 1836, by whom he had eight children, of whom Clara Almeda, Inez I., William M., Serena and John O., are living. He and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has been class leader and steward, about three years. Mr. Johnston owns a good farm of eighty-seven acres, and is ranked as a prominent citizen. William H. Johnston, the youngest son of John R., was born September 2, 1852. He now lives on and owns the old homestead where he grew to man- hood. He received a good common school education and attended one term at the Methodist Episcopal college at Fort Wayne. November 9, 1873, he was united in marriage with Sarah N. Scarlett, by whom he had two children: Florence A., born September 10, 1874, died December 18, 1876; Emma G., born October 1, 1876, died March 16, 1888. Their mother, now deceased, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. May 28, 1877, he was married to Lillian J. Scarlett, born January 9, 1861, and they have had two children: Clarence C., born September 10, 1880, and Grace E., born March 21, 1884, died' Febru- ary 15, 1888. Mr. Johnston and wife are both members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and are highly respected.
Another old settler of much prominence, Joseph Johnston, arrived in 1834 with his wife Martha and children, and settled on the farm where his son now resides. He had entered 160 acres here in the pre- vious year, 1833. Mr. Johnston was born in New Jersey, February 15, 1802, and emigrated to Greene county, Ohio, in 1822, where he was married February 14, 1825, to Martha Opdyke, who was born Decem- ber IS, 1811. He was a distiller by trade. When he came to Allen county his worldly possessions consisted of two yoke of oxen, one bureau, one chest and some old chairs. But in spite of this meagre be - ginning his industry made him triumphant over disadvantages, and he came to own 400 acres of land, and amassed considerable property. He was a good and valued citizen, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and hightly esteemed by all. He served his town- ship as treasurer and clerk of the township board for several years. This worthy pioneer departed this life June 29, 1869, and his wife sur- vived him many years. Perry Johnston, son of the above, was born in Ohio, June 8, 1834. Nearly all his life has been spent in Indiana, and he grew to manhood on the old homestead, which is still his home. In 1855 Mr. Johnston was married to Sarah A. Wells, who was born in 1838, and departed this life in 1880. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he also belongs. He is a member of the Masonic order and - is a representative farmer and a worthy citizen.
Jackson Valentine, of Eel River township, is a son of John Valentine, one of the pioneers of the township. John Valentine, a native of Ohio, was married in 1820, to Susannah Peters, who was born in Maryland, January 4, 1799. Her parents were among the pioneers of Fairfield
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county, Ohio. John Valentine and wife, with little possessions, but with stout hearts, came with their wagon load of household goods into the wilds of Indiana in 1834, and settled in Eel River township, June II, entering 120 acres of wild land. This pioneer enterprise prospered, and they became the owners of 227 acres of good land. In 1856, John Valentine went west and settled in Iowa, where he bought some land, and property in Knoxville, intending to reside there, but becoming dis- satisfied in 1859, he returned to Indiana and made his home with his son Jackson, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1869. He was a member of the Christian church, and one of the leading citizens and representative farmers. Jackson Valentine was born in Franklin county, Ohio, October 15, 1824. He received a good common school education and remained at home with his parents. January 6, 1850, he was united in marriage with Charlotte Greenewalt, by whom he had three children, one of whom is living, John W. She was born May 29, IS30, was a faithful member of the Christian church, and departed this life May 6, 1876. In 1878 he was married to Mrs. Maria Jones, daugh- ter of Peter and Sarah B. Frysinger. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Christian church. In 1868 he was a candidate for trustee on the republican ticket against John M. Taylor and reduced the adverse majority about half. Again in 1880, running against C. L. Greenwell, he reduced the majority to six. His desirable farm of 200 acres is admirably maintained and his handsome buildings are a testimonial to his enterprise.
Robert L. Freeman, a prosperous farmer of Eel River township, was born in this township, July 26, 1843. His parents, Frame C. and Betsy (Simon) Freeman, came to Indiana from Ohio early in the thirties, and set- tled in Eel River township. The elder Freeman, like so many other sturdy pioneers, succeded well, and at the time of his death he owned 240 acres of good land. He was one of the leading citizens during his lifetime, stood well in his community, and his death was mourned by all who knew him. Robert L. was born and lived in childhood in the old log cabin, but about 1849 his father built a two-story brick dwelling which now stands as a relic of bygone days. He enlisted in 1862 in Company E, Eighty-eighth Indiana regiment, under Captain Chauncy Oakley, but was mustered out under Captain C. Brown. He served three years and was in every battle with his regiment except one - Stone River. He received an honorable discharge at Indianapolis, 1865. April 15, 1866, he was united in marriage with Sarah J., daughter of James and Sarah McBride. Of their four children two are living: Winfield S. and Charles Franklin; their mother who was born February 25, 1841, departed this life March 1, 1879. She was a member of the United Brethren church. June 12, 1881, he was married to Katie Ann, daughter of David and Catharine (Hull) Gordon, born January 19, 1862, and they have three children: Goldy Catharine, Sylvia E., and an infant. He has served his township as constable six years. He was a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Red Men during the lifetime of that order, and of the Grange.
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Ranald JM DAmacy
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Nelson Hyndman, of Eel River township, is a native of Indiana, born September 24, 1847. His father, John Hyndman, a native of Ireland, was born in 1809 and emigrated to America in 1835 with just enough money to bring him to land. He was four or five months crossing the sea, being ship-wrecked, and landing from life-boats on American soil, with- out any coat, but fortunately fifty cents in his vest pocket. He settled in Fort Wayne and began work on the canal and afterward at odd jobs until he began blacksmithing, at which he worked several years. In 1844 he entered forty acres of land in Allen county and afterward traded this for eighty acres in Eel River township, where he settled. He lived a bachelor until early in the forties, when he was married to Lucy Jack- son, by whom he had four boys and three girls. He and wife were members of the Missionary Baptist church. His life is a remarkable illustration of the success that can be achieved by indomitable will and energy. He was always friendly to schools, churches and all laudable enterprises, and in all ways a leading citizen and representative farmer. He owned at one time 855 acres of valuable land. He was the first man that began the stall-feeding of cattle in Eel River township. He died April 20, 1874. Nelson Hyndman was born in the old log house in Eel River township where he grew to manhood and received a good common school education. In 1875 he was united in marriage with Mary Pumphrey, born March 4, 1852, by whom he had four children, three now living: Ruah Elizabeth, Robert (deceased), Florence A., James A. He administered on his father's estate, which was quite a large one and required four years to make final settlement. His is among the first families of his township. He owns 160 acres of good land, with a good dwelling and barn. Mr. Hyndman still has the clock, now over fifty years old, used by his father in his bachelor days, which cost $40; also a secret drawer in which the old gentleman kept money.
W. W. Shoaff, of Eel River township, of a well-known pioneer fam- ily, was born November 15, 1829, in Miami county, Ohio. His father, John P. Shoaff, was a native of Maryland, born October 12, 1804, and at the age of one year was taken to Ohio by his parents, who settled near Dayton. He remained in Ohio until February 5, 1836, when he settled in Allen county, Ind. Here he remained until February 4, 1885, and then removed to Churubusco, where he died February 1, 1887. Mr. Shoaff's pioneer life did not permit any advantages of schooling, but being of a studious turn of mind, he improved what leisure moments he had as a miller, and became quite well informed. February 5, 1828, he was united in marriage with Priscilla Freeman, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, January 4, 1810, and departed this life at the old homestead in Allen county, May 22, 1880. To this union eleven children were born, of whom W. W., John F., Anna E., James B., Jennie, Allen P. and Wade Scott, are now living. Mr. Shoaff was not a member of any church, but was a liberal supporter of that work .. He served his town- ship as justice of the peace sixteen years, and three or four terms as trustee. In 1862 he was elected representative to the general assembly,
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and served three terms. His business shrewdness was early manifested by trading in live stock. By going to Ohio and bringing on milch cows he accommodated his neighbors and also soon began to accumulate considerable property. By good management he increased this so that he came into possession of over 1,400 acres of good farming land which is now in the hands of his children. W. W., his oldest son, was seven years of age when his father settled here, and his first experience in Allen county was in burning brush. He received a common school education, and attended school at Fort Wayne about two years, and the Methodist college two years. On March 10, 1859, he married Eliza J., daughter of Robert and Sarah A. Work, born January 18, 1839. They have two children: John R. and Joseph Y. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a member of the Masonic order. Mr. Shoaff has served as justice eight years, and as ditch com- missioner of Allen county seven years. He is one of the representative farmers of his county, and one of the leading citizens, and in politics has been a supporter of the democratic party since its organization. After leaving college he followed civil engineering for the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad. He located the line for the road and finished up two sections of forty miles which he had full charge of between Plymouth and Valparaiso.
W. Scott Shoaff, the youngest son of John P. Shoaff, was born Decem- ber 16, 1847, on the old homestead which his father entered from the government. There he grew to manhood and received a common school education. He remained with his father until he reached his majority, and then adopted farming as his own vocation. In 1885 he was united in marriage with Lena M. Jimmerson, daughter of Thomas and Mar- garet J. Farmer. She was born August 10, 1868. He is now one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Eel River township, and one of the prominent land owners of the county, holding 440 acres of good farming land with substantial buildings. He makes a specialty of draft horses and good grades of cattle. He is a member of the Masonic order.
Stephen Hathaway, of Eel River township, is a native of Michigan, . born September 20, 1836. His father, John Hathaway, was born Octo- ber 12, ISII, in Washington county, N. Y .; emigrated to Michigan early in the thirties, and in 1836, came to Indiana in search of land and entered eighty acres in Eel River township, which he and his wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Chase, and their children, settled upon in 1838. When he settled in Allen county he had one yoke of cattle, one cow, about $300 in wild-cat money, and very little furniture. He suc- ceeded by close application and frugal habits in gaining 340 acres of excellent land, besides some property in Fort Wayne. He was one of the leading farmers of the county and respected by the people of his township. Stephen Hathaway was raised on the old homestead, and received a good common school education, and attended six months at Perry Center seminary. January 22, 1865, he was united in marriage
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with Mary E., daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Norman) Fair, born January 11, 1840. They have three children: Orphelia, James Sidney and Emma. He was elected justice of the peace in 1882, on the demo- cratic ticket, and was again elected in 1886. During his terms of office he has had but one case before him in which he had to commit a man to jail, and he has done the bulk of the business of the township. His beautiful farm in Eel River township includes 200 acres, under a good state of cultivation, with substantial buildings. He is a member of the Masonic order.
Levi Chase, a prominent farmer of Allen county, was born in Eel River township December 4, 1845, and is a descendant of a noted pio- neer family. His father, Uriah Chase, came with his parents from Michigan in 1837, and settled in Eel River township where the grand- father had entered land in 1836. Here Uriah Chase grew to manhood, bearing his share of the burdens of the pioneer's career. In 1842 he was united in marriage with Mary Jackson, and in her he found a true wife and helper; she survives him and is now in her sixty-sixth year. She is a member of the Close Communion Baptist church. They had five children, two of whom are now living: Louisa and Levi. The lat- ter was raised on the old homestead where he has since resided. In 1869 he was united in marriage with Sarah Bricker, born in 1847; she died in 1873, leaving one child, Chester. April 2, 1874, he was married to Sarah Rhoads, born February 2, 1849, by whom he has three chil- dren: Osa, Ida and Ira. He and wife are members of the Baptist church. He is one of the prominent farmers of this township, owning I 44 acres of desirable land.
Notable among the old settlers of Eel River township was John McKee. He was born in Virginia in 1804, and subsequently came with his parents to Ohio, and settled near Springfield, Clark county, where he grew to manhood, and married Martha Lansdale, who was born in Maryland in 1799. He was a cabinet-maker and house-joiner by trade. While in Ohio he passed through the cholera plague in New Carlisle, which swept away 130 of the 340 inhabitants, and was kept busy at that time furnishing coffins. In 1836 he came to Eel River township and entered land, and in 1837, he and W. M. Lansdale attempted to drive their wagons through, but on reaching the Black Swamp could only make four miles a day, and at St. Mary's village abandoned their wagons and came through on horseback. They arranged for the building of their cabin, to which they brought the family in the fall of 1837. Mrs. McKee died January 17, 1839, and was the first person buried in the cemetery, conveyed by her husband. Mr. McKee did an important work in the early settlement in the organization of Wesley Chapel church, and was an official member and an ordained minister of the gospel. In his business relations he was both popular and successful and came to hold 220 acres of valuable land. Thomas L. McKee, son of the above, was born in Ohio, June 9, 1827. He received a good com- mon school education in Ohio, and in this county experienced the life of
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the pioneer. At about the age of nineteen he returned to Ohio, and attended school about six months, then coming here and beginning teach- ing, at which he was engaged six or seven years, farming in summer. He taught two winter terms in Illinois. He was one of the first teachers in the county to introduce the outline system of teaching geography. In IS52 he was married to Melinda J. Rock, by whom he had two chil- dren, one of whom is living, Martha J., wife of Frank Alderman. Mrs. McKee was born in 1834 and died in 1870. In 1874 he was united in marriage with Sarah C. Gilpen, born in 1847, and of their two children, one is living, Zilpha Gertrude. Mrs. McKee is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. In 1853, Mr. McKee emigrated west and settled in Iowa, where he remained about two years. Returning to Indiana he remained until 1857, after which he resided in Illinois two years, and re- moved to Kansas. Here he stayed about nine months and lost all he had but $2.00. He subsequently resided in Iowa about one year, in Illinois two or three years and then returned to the old homestead. In 1870 he removed to Fort Wayne and went into the produce and commission busi- ness with Solomon Bash and P. D. Smyser, and was so engaged un- til 1878, when he sold his interest and retired to the farm. He has been a member of the Fort Wayne lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 14, for about twenty-six years. His land possessions include 300 acres in Eel River township.
Julius C. Mooney, one of a pioneer family in Eel River township, is a native of Miami county, Ohio, born September 9, 1825. His father, William F. Mooney, came west in search of land in 1835, and entered 120 acres of land in Allen county, and returned to Ohio, and on February 9, 1837, came with his wife Elizabeth and family and took possession of the cabin he had prepared for them. His life was that of the pioneer in general, little money but abundance of pluck. He suc- ceeded in life, gaining a valuable farm of 160 acres, and made for him- self a name for fair and honest dealing. He lived to the age of sixty-five years. Julius C. Mooney was twelve years of age at coming, and aided in the early clearing. He received such an education as could be obtained in the old log school-houses. In 1867 he was united in mar- riage with Rosa, daughter of Jacob and Mary Morton, and this union is blessed with two children, William F. and Maude. In 1865 he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-third regiment, under Capt. Young, and served about one year. He has made a success of life, and owned at one time 280 acres of good land. He now has a farm of 160 acres, where he lives, on which he has recently built a two-story dwelling.
John S. Benward, of Eel River township, was born in Pennsylvania September 24, 1837, son of Isaac and Elizabeth Benward. The mother was of German, and the father of English, descent. The family emi- grated to Allen county in 1838 and settled in Perry township, where the father bought eighty acres, which was improved with a double log house. He began to keep a hotel for the accommodation of emigrants
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and for teamsters to and from Fort Wayne and remained in this busi- ness until he cleared up his farm, when he began farming. After remaining in Perry township eight or ten years he traded for 160 acres of wild lands in Eel River township where his son now lives. He built a log house here, but his land being low and swampy at that time, he rented his old farm in Perry where he lived four years, at the same time clearing his wild lands. In 1852 he went to the gold fields of California and remained about four years, afterward returning to Allen county and settled on his new farm, which in the meantime had been well improved by his family. His death occurred about 1870. He was an industrious man and well-liked. John S. Benward received a good common school education. November 30, 1857, he was united in mar- riage with Eliza Jane, daughter of Abraham and Rebecca Workman, early settlers of Noble county. This union was blessed with six chil- dren, of whom Edmund C., John E., Commodore and Arthur are now living. Mrs. Benward was born November 30, 1839. She is a mem- ber of the Missionary Baptist church. In 1865 Mr. Benward enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana regiment, and was discharged at Indianapolis September 5, 1865. He has given much attention to threshing machines during the past thirty-six years and although he never studied engineering, is an expert in the management of an engine. He is popular, prosperous and owns a farm of 160 acres.
John McCarty (deceased), was an early settler in Eel River town- ship, and was a successful farmer. He was a native of Ohio, born June 4, 1817, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Wood) McCarty. Growing to manhood in Ohio, he attended school during a short period while he was too young to be of service on the farm. and as he grew older he became a necessity to his father, and thus drifted naturally into farming as his occupation in life. He shared the hardships of a pioneer life in Ohio before coming to Indiana. About 1841 he was married to Mary Douglas, born April 7, 1817, by whom he had five children, of whom two are now living: Eunice, wife of James Potter, and John Henry. In 1844 Mr. McCarty settled in Allen county, where he remained until his death, which occurred August 17, 1877. During his first years here he had to suffer not only poverty, but the more dreaded chills and fever, and had to return to his old home in Ohio for a season to regain his former strength. Beginning again with indomitable will, the morning found him with ax and maul, ready for the woods. From then till eve he worked hard felling heavy timber, making rails for fencing, while brush-piles and log-heaps were burned after nightfall. By such hard work and good management, he gathered to himself 328 acres of fertile land. In his wife he found a true helper; in the many vicissitudes of life she proved herself eminently deserving, patient, kind, frugal and indus- trious. Sharing his toils and hardships, she lived to see them crowned with success. Mr. McCarty was a man of upright character, and was esteemed throughout the community in which he lived. John H., his youngest son, now occupies the old homestead farm, and the old log
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