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Full text of "Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages"

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REYNOLDS   HtSTORICAL 
GENEALOGY   COLLECTION 


ALLEN  COUNTY. PUBLIC,  LIBRARY 


3  1833  02413  1937 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2009  witii  funding  from 

Allen  County  Public  Library  Genealogy  Center 


http://www.archive.org/details/biographicalhistawcty01chic 


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fldams  Qtul  JDclTs  (Eounties,  Jndiann. 

Containing  Poktraits  qf  At.i.  the  PRKsinENTs  ok  tiiic  Uniti'.d  Siaiks  khom  \VAsinN(noN  tu 

Cl.EVl;l,ANII,   WITH   ATI  OMl'ANYINi;    BlOCKA  I'll  1  KS  Ol'   ICACIi;    A   C'o.N' I  iK.\Sl:i)   IIlSTOItV   (IF  THE 

Si'ATE  OK  Inihana;  PoRritArrs  and   liuMjiiAi'imos  ok  S()m  i;  ok  iiik  Pkomini:nt 
^^E.\  OF  THE  Stati;;  liNCRAViNcis  of  Pkomink.nt  citizens  in  Aiiams 

and   M'eI.I.S    CoI'NTIES,  with     PeKSONAI,    IIlSTOItlJCS  (IK   MANV 
OF      THE      LeAUINT.       FaMII.IES,      AND       A      CoNt'IsK 

IlisroRV   OF  THE  Counties   and  their 

Cirii:s     AND     ^'|LI,A(■.KS. 


•  rt^ia''"m  «Vi  •  laWii  ^'  i 


Till::  LEWIS  PLn'.LlSlIING  CUMTANV  0  9 

113  Adams  Street,  Ciiic\(io 

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PRESIDKNTS  OF  THK  INITED 
STATES. 

George  'Washiugton 9 

Johu  Atliiins 11 

Thomas  Jell'erson     -0 

James  ^Maiiison -fi 

James  3Ioiiroe Z'i 

Johu  Quincy  Atlaras ^8 

Andrew  Jackson -47 

Martin  Van  Buren 5- 

AV'illiara  Henry   Harrison o(i 

John  Tyler 00 

James  K.  Polk (it 

Zachary  Taylor 08 

.milliard  Fillmore 72 

Franklin  Pierce 70 

James  Buchanan 80 

Abraham  Lincoln 84 

Andrew  Johnson 9:i 

Ulysses  S.  Grant 'JO 


Rutherford  B.  Hayes 102 

James  A.  Garfield 100 

Chester  A.  Arthur 1  i:i 

Grover  Cleveland 117 

HISTORY    OP    INDIANA. 

Former  Occupants 123 

Pre-llisloric  Races 12;i 

Explorations  by  the  Whites.  . .  .125 

National  Policies 126 

Expeditions  o(  Colonel  George 

R.  Clark 127 

Government  of  the  Northwest.  129 
Expeditious    of    St.   Clair    and 

Wayne 132 

Organization  of  Indiana  Terri- 
tory   133 

Governor  Harrison  and  the  In- 
dians  134 

Civil  Matters 130 


i.i'°i.7i  lT.?ii  .L. 


General  Review 130 

Organization  of  the  State 137 

Indiana  in  the  Mexican  War.  ..138 
Indiana    in    the    War   for    the 

I'uion 138 

Financial 148 

Internal  Improvements 149 

Geology l.io 

Agricultural   l,")! 

Educational 151 

Benevolent  and   Penal    Institu- 
tions  154 

PROMINENT    MEN    OP 
INDIANA. 

Oliver  P.  Jlorton 101 

Thomas  A.  Hendricks K!.") 

Schuyler  Colfax ido 

James  D.  Williams 17.! 

Robert  Dale  Owen 177 


HisToi^Y  OF  Adams  County, 


i«^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


Adler,  J.  G 429 

Allison,  R.  B 400 

Allison,  R.  K 283 

Anderson,  Joseph 498 

Andrews.  Lewis i'A 

Archbold,  G.  W 2si 

Archbold,  Johu 313 

Archbold,  J.  M 44s 

Arnold,  Frauk 4S3 

Aspy,  II.  :\I ,31(7 

Aspy,  Mark 394 

Aspy,  W.  A   400 

Ayres,  D.  JI iitl3 

B. 

Bailey,  Nathaniel   529 

Barkley,  Elias 539 


Barkley,  Levi 4."iO 

Barr,  J.W 407 

Baughman,  A.  B 455 

Bears,  W.  H.  H 372 

Beineke,  F.  W 517 

Berg,  Rev.  Frederick 300 

Berger,  Nicholas  490 

Berber,  AVilliam 5US 

Bixier,  T.  C 501 

Blackburn,  Norval 294 

Blakey,  V  F 291 

Blakej',  C.  F.  W 300 

Blossom,  I.  A   552 

Bobo,  J.  R 320 

Boerger,  Jacob 432 

Bolds,  Alexander 304 

P.olds,  D.  P yr,3 

BollmaL   A.  McW 301 

Booher,  x.  D 333 


Bosse,  Herman 409 

Bosse,  J.  \V 410 

Bower,  Jonathan 309 

lirandyberry,  John 374 

Bremercamp,  Jo.^eph 535 

Bremerkamji,  II.  H 537 

Bremerkamp,  J.  H 428 

Bremerkanip,  .1.  11   540 

Breneiuauu,  Jacob 470 

BriL'gs,  A.  G 345 

Bri'ci;-*,  W.  H.  II 542 

Brock,  Charles 390 

BuhliT,  Jacol) 370 

Bunncr,  G.  A 330 

Bunner,  J.  A 532 

Burghalter,  Christian .■)02 

Burk,  J.  G 471 

Buurk,  Diedrich 4sl 

Byrd,  A.  J 289 


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Carpenter,  Ira 

C'liri^maii,  Henry.. . 
C'liri&len,  John,  t^r. 

C'lii-i.-^tcn,  ,I(iliii 

Clirislen,  .)-  U 

Clark,  15   H 

Clem,  ,lulni 

Clem,  Joseph 

Cleiideneu,  James. 
Clencleuen,  Saleu.. 

Cline,  G.  B 

Cline,  Georue 

Collius,  F.  is' 

Conrad,  William. . 

Cook,  G.  F 

Cook, Jecob 

Cowen,  J.  C 

Crawforil,  John. . . 
Crawford,  Josiah . . 

Crist,  Klias 

Crist,  J.  P 

Crozier,  Joseph. .  . 
Cullev,  Adam  . . . . 
Culley,  J.  E 


.395 

.4.-)7 
.  3:i'J 
.;ir,4 
.34:5 
.4(iO 
.320 
.444 

.34« 
.511 
.323 
.417 
A-i-i 
.447 
.4.->0 
.38(1 
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.4.'j3 
.3.50 
.340 
.330 


D. 


Dailey,  Nimrod 

Daugiierty,  An<lrew.. . . 

PaiiL'herty,  A.  15 

Detlenliauixh,  John 

I)ell'eiibaui;li,  Theodore. 

Deild,  San'iuel 

Dent, 15.11 

Derkes,  Henry  

l)e  Vill.iss,  A.  I 

Dickerson,  G.  K 

Dorwin,  C.  T : 

Drew,  U'illiam 

Driimmond,  K.  A 

DiiimMioiul,  \V.  D 

Dunhar,  Leander 


.364 
.518 
.538 
.5411 
350 
.4115 
.407 
.324 
.352 
.41)2 
.  3C0 
.813 
.430 
.323 
.371 


E. 


Edwards,  Lewis  . 

Elev,  David 

Eh'V,  J.W 

Ellsworth,  Oscar 

El/.ey,  E.  V 

El/ev,  M.S  

Engle,  Miihael.. 

ICrwin,  UK 

lOrwin,  'Williani. , 
Evans,  Uoliert... 


.335 

.511 


.480 
.530 
.477 

.440 
.342 
.305 


Fetters,  Samuel.  . 
Eink,  Samuel . .  .  . 

Foimer,  J.  A 

Ford,  A.  ]' 

Foreman,  A.  J  ... . 
Foreman,  Joseph. 
Fought,  W.  II.... 

France,  J.  T 

F.iaiue,  W.  H.  II. 


.328 
.401 
.340 
.438 
.412 
.43:. 
.  52 1 
.41:3 
.2^0 


CONTENTS. 


Frank,  George. 
Frank,  John... 
Freeh,  F.  F.... 
Freeman,  15.  R. 
Frisloe.J.  N... 
Fuelling,  II.  D. 
Fuelling,  J.  II. 


.301 
.380 
.538 
.474 
.407 


f  ja-T  J^~j>y  M  "1 


Jackson,  William. 

Johnson,  J.  T 

Johnson,  L.  W  . . . . 

Juday,  A.  J 

Judd,  John 


Gallmeyer,  F.  W. . . . 
Galloway,  Covey. . . . 

Gass,  J.P 

Geike,  F.  D.  W 

(Gideon  Brothers. . . . 

Gideon,  J.  >I . . 

Gillig,  A.  S 

Gillig,  F.  J 

Gladden,  G.  W 

Gladden,  II.  L 

Glancy,  W.  G 

(Jlass,"Noah 

Gottschalk,  Andrew . 

Gould,  A.  J 

Gulick,  Amos 


.414 
.551 
.4>J0 
.534 
.501 
.4114 
.510 
.30S 
.485 
.2S1 
..548 
.3S4 
.  359 
.475 
.415 


H. 

Ilaefling,  G.  W 

Ilain,  Simeon 

Hale,  J.  1) 

Hale,  S.  W 

Hall,  William 

Harper,  William 

Hart,  II.  11 

Heaston,  N.  P 

Hedington,  Laben. . .  . 
Iledington,  Lhamon.. 
Heimbarger,  George 
Heimbarger,  Isaac  . .  . 

Heller,  D.  I) 

Hendricks,  Bazil 

Hendricks,  J.  I) 

Hendricks,  J.  W 

Hendricks,  John  ... 
Hendricks,  Philip.  .  .  , 
Hendricks,  Thomas.. 
Hendricks,  ^\■illiam.  . 

llerr,  M.  .M 

Hessler,  Gerhard 

Hill,  A.  J 

nines,  Daniel   

Ilisey,  John 

Hocker,  C.  W 

HolVman,  I).  W 

Iloll'man,  Stephen. . . 
Ihdlingsworlh,  T.  P., 

Ho. low  ay,  A.  G 

Holloway,  J.  iM 

Ilolihousc,  Peter 

Hoo),cr,  P.  t; 

Ilouk,  Benjamin.  . .  . 

House,  T   il 

Huser,  Albert 


.315 

.447 
.2110 
.443 
.398 
.523 
.4411 
349 
.301 
.289 
.314 
.383 
.311 
.393 
.427 
.404 
.454 
.420 

.4i;5 

.409 
.513 
.527 
.298 
.497 
.3S0 
.424 
.519 
.457 
.4.50 
.421 
.300 
.429 
.318 
.419 
.408 
.370 


Idlewine,  Andre 


.439 
.341 
.348 
.362 
.434 


K. 


Kerr,  D.  M 

Ketcham,  John . 
King,  John.  .  . 
Kirby,  II.  W... 
Kline,  Uoberl. . 
Kline,  William. 
Kraner,  Hiram. 
Kraner,  M.  N. . 


Lange,  C.  N 

Lankenau,  J.  H.  . .  , 

Lee,  J.  J 

Lehman,  Jeff 

Lewton,  L.  W 

Liby,  Jonas 

Lineiiard,  I.awson. 

Linton,  D.  B 

Linton,  J.  W  

Linton,  San\uel. .  . 

Lister,  Ezra 

Long,  Lewis 

Loid,  Ueuben 

Louthan,  Moses.  . . 
Lutlman,  Henry. . . 
Luiz,  C.  J 


.345 

.517 
372 
.400 
.285 
.532 
.307 
.305 


.428 
.330 
.495 
.499 
.300 
.470 
.333 
.280 
.309 
.284 
.286 
.420 
.543 
.499 
.529 
.396 


M. 


MacWhinuey,  F.J 

Magley,  J.  J 

Malonee,  T.  W 

Malonee,  W.  P 

Mangold,  Abraham 

Manley,  J.  L 

Manley,  P.  15 

Mann,  llarlo 

Mann,  J.  C 

Mann,  J.  E 

Mann,  J.  E 

Mann,  J.  F 

]\Iartin,  Benjamin   . .  .. . 

Martin,  J.  A 

Martin,  Josepbus 

]\Iartz,  G.  H 

jilartz,  Henry 

.Martz,  J.  K 

Mason,  A.  A 

JIatta.x,  Lewis 

Manrer,  Samuel 

^lav,  Emory 

McCunnehey,  William. 

M.Conncll,  John 

McConnell,  M.  M   .... 

McCnne,  James 

McCune,  John 

Mc Daniel,  Perry 

MrGiili;  Michael 


.371 

.388 
.381 
375 
.440 
.329 
.328 
.479 
.334 
.373 
.335 
.491 
.309 
.385 
.539 
.484 
.444 
.449 
.343 
.327 
.283 
.409 
.480 
.410 
.340 
.316 
.305 
.400 
.371 


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CONTENTS. 


I 


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ii 

1 1 

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!■ 


McLeod,  Edward 40G 

Meibers.B.J 51'^ 

Jleiliers,  Jolin . .  .445 

Meeks,  W.  U 5^0 

Jlenelep,  G.  W 044 

Jlerrinuin,  II.  _P 418 

Meriymau,  J.  T ~78 

Miller,  Joseph G.'il 

Miller,  L.  C 297 

Mortett,  E.  D L\S4  \ 

Moses,  E.S 4.58  I 

Jloses,  Samuel 4.51  | 

Moses,  \Y.\V 542  1 

Jlosser,  Solomon 507 

Mowery,  J.  B 507 

Myers,  C.  F 30.S 

Myers,  David 371 

Myers,  I).  W 491 

Jlyers,  Henry 317 

Myers,  II.  H 307 

Myers,  Jesse 309 

Myers,  W.J 515 


N. 


Neaderhouser,  Emanuel 400 

Nelson,  Elias 521 

Nelson,  Isaac 527 

Neptune,  J.  (J 454 

Niblick,  James 303 

Niblick,  Jesse 522- 

Niblick,  Robert 3.80 

Numbers,  John 279 


Parent,  Joseph 330 

Parr,  \V.  II 493 

Pattcr.son,  James 547 

Patterson,  J.  C .543 

Peel,  William "...430 

Peterson,  H.  S 553 

Pontius,  George 298 

Portfi-,  Alexander 379 

Porter,  CI)  325 

Porter,  J.  P 399 

Pruden,  P.  W 294 

Pyle,  A.J 302 

Pvle,  \V.  F 299 


K. 


Uailinu',  Abraham 379 

Hailing,   Daniel 531 

Hainier,  C.  T 412 

Ualslon,  S.  G 510 

Uape,  Lafayette 390 

Kawley,  Abraham 423 

Hawicy,  Tilmon 433 

Hawley,  William 470 

Kay,  E.  M 509 

Pay,  G.  W 51G 

KaV,  J.  W 443 

Heber,  Kli 433 

Ueljer,  E/.ra 514 


Reding,  W.E 452 

Reis,  Pauhis 394  | 

Rice,  Benjamin 509 

Rice,  B.  P 380 

Rice,  W.  P 312 

Robinson,  Perry 510 

Robison,  John 308 

Robison,  Naucy 478 

Robison,  James 543 

Roebuck.  Elienezer 549 

Roll,  A.  O.  A 385 

Rose,  J.  E.  &  M 288 

Rugg,  Jay 300 

Rugg,  S.  L 303 

Rumple,  Jacob 482 

Rumple,  John 494 


S. 


Scheer,  J.  J 474 

Scheer,  J.  P 524 

Schlegel,  Augustus 419  I 

Schurger,  John 308 

Sbackley,  1).  K 280 

Shackley,  II.  \V 405 

Shaler,  George 391 

Sheets,  J.  G  307 

Shepherd,  N.  B 411  1 

Simison,  Robert 477  ] 

Simison,  Samuel 492  j 

Smith,  A.  J 401  | 

Smith,  Jehu 202 

Smith,  Jesse  473 

Smith,  J.  W 54t  ! 

Smith,  Jlorgau 405 

Smith,  P.  VV 547 

Smith,  Samuel  4.59 

Smith,  W.  R 458 

Smith,  Zachariah 514 

Snow,  J.  B .539 

Snow,  J.  F 331 

Snow,  V.  L 533 

Snyder,  AVilliam 403 

Spade,  Jacob 410 

Spangler,  Sylvester 414 

Sprunger,  J.  A 319 

S|)runger,  P.  A 493 

Stacy,  Henry 481 

Steele,  David 315 

Steele,  John 382 

Steele,  Samuel 316 

Steele,  S.  S 329 

Steele,  Washington 472 

Steiner,  J.  C 453 

Stephenson,  R.  R 383 

Studabaker,  David 277 

Stalls,  Jacob 370 

Stults,  W.  II 404 

Sy pliers,  Adam 523 


Teeter,  D.  P 437 

Teeters,  Rev.  Isaac 553 

Thomas,  II,  S 317 


Thompson,  II.  W 392 

Tinkhani,  Dennison 307 

Todd,  Reziu 353 

Townseud,  Richard 520 

Tricker,  Jeremiah   470 

Trout,  1).  G.  M 4S0 

Trout,  William 479 

Turveer,  B.  J    344 

Tyudall,  J.W 398 

V. 

Vance,  M.  P 484 

Vance,  William 498 

A'oglewede,  G.  II 521 

Voglewede,  J.  11 510 

W. 

Wagner,  J.  G ,530 

Wagoner,  John 520 

Wagoner,  Nicholas 432 

Wagoner,  S.  S 431 

Walser,  J.  A 512 

Wabs,  W.  I.  B .548 

Watson,  J.  J 334 

Weaver,  Joel 482 

Weldy,  Daniel 287 

Weldy,  J.  P 4;;8 

Weldy,  Samuel 304 

AVetler,  W.  A 490 

Wherry,  Joseph 490 

Wherry,  Josepli 541 

Wilder,  Edwin 351 

Wilken,  Rev.  M.T 393 

AVilliams,  Jesse 389 

Wilson,  J.  C 388 

AVinans,  Hester  A 421 

Wibuer,  W.  x\. 434 

Wolf,  Sylvester 439 

Wood,  Sylvanus 320 

Woodruir,  D.  M ,537 

Woy,  John 347 

Y. 

Yager,  Jacob 3.55 

Y'oung,  John. 350 

Young,  J.  T 310 

Z. 
Zimmerman,  Eli 325 

GENERAL     HISTORY. 

Introductory 183 

Early  and  Civil  History 188 

Pioneer  Life 201 

Political  and   Ollicial 228 

The  Civil  War 232 

The  Press 242 

Professional 245 

Educational 247 

Miscellaneous 255 

Decatur 259 

Villages 208 


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CONTENTS. 


«r« 


^^^  History  of  Wells  Gouoty.^^- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


Abshire,  Willimii 760 

Alexander,  James 708 

Allen,  Hezekiali 85-1 

Alleu,  Matthew 807 

Alien,  Ransnni '.)2'> 

Archibakl,  Tliunias H'JO 

Ai-uolil,  Kli T,i 

ArnuUl,  Geuiire 700 

AshbaiKlier,  Honjaiiiin    1U0« 


B. 


Bachelor,  Lemuel 734 

Bailey,  I'eler &M 

Baker,  C'hristo|)lier 701 

Barchman,  \V.  F  0'J6 

Batson,  B.  C 814 

liauingartiier,  J.  C',. .      78(5 

JSeavers,  S.  D 800 

Beil,Jacrib  040 

Bender,  J.  H 'J83 

Bender,  Jonathan 964 

Bennett,  J.  0 81', 

Bennett,  J.  It 858 

Bennett,  W.  II 804 

Bergman,  Noah U'.KJ 

BUie,  James !)4o 

Blue,  M.  C <J8C 

Bowman,  John 804 

Bowman,  M.  W 834 

liraner,   l'hili|) 1003 

Bre.hbill,  1).  Ci 904 

BrkUley,  A.J 700 

Brickley,  George 7'J.') 

Brickley,  L.  A 790 

Buckner,  W.  N 872 

lUim^'arner,  Willinni 789 

Bnnn"  Mrs.  Sarah  A 892 

Bur  well,  Newton 702 

Bushee,  Jacob 836 

Byall,  Alexander 937 

Byall,  John 920 

C. 

Carger,  William 979 

Games.  William 1017 

Cartwrijrht,  J.  S 701 

Caslon,  David 747 

Cnark,  A.  J 730 

C'huk,J.l 885  I 

(Mark,  William 796  I 

Cloud,  11.  S 817 

Cobburn,  J.  AV <J48 

C'onuclt,  J.  I' 807  t 

Conrad,  J.  H 9,53  | 

Cook,  L.  1 1   8.55  1 

Coons,  J.  A 778  I 


Cory,  Nathan 740 

Cotton,  C.  S 8S<» 

Cover,  William 943 

Craig,  William 739 

Croasdale,  K.  C 894 

Crosbie,  James 927 

Crouse,  Mrs.  Dr 971 

Crum,  J.  II 733 

Crnm,  I^amiiel 1021 

Curry,  Bobert 844 


D. 


'  Jiailey,  James  999  I 

Dailey,  J.  S  088  \ 

Dalrymple,  H.  W 752  1 

Daveniiort,  L.  C 1024  [ 

Davis,  Josiah   842   | 

I   Davis,  J.  K 901   \ 

Deam,  Wilson 708  \ 

I  Decker,  Isaac 882  j 

j  De  Long,  Alexander 797  i 

Dickason,  G.  F 701   ; 

Dickey,  William 947  1 

Dillman,  Andrew 902  I 

j  Dillman,  S.  M 1010  j 

Ditzler,  G.  C  901 

'  Doau,  T.  A.  F 080 

Doster,  George 084  ! 

Doster,  He/.ekiah 059 

Dougherty,  Hugh 070 

Dougherty,  John 085 

Dougherty,  William 054 

Duglay,  Asbury 722 

E. 

Kckart,  Grafton 1009 

Edris,  Henry 903 

Eichhorn,  riiilip 058 

Elkins,  B.  M 944 

Ellingham,  Theodore 852 

Engeler,  Frederick 907 

F. 

Falk,  Albert 921 

Falk,  John 930 

Farling,  Jacob 938 

Ferguson,  J.  H 815 

Fetters,  L.  H 845 

Fetters,  Z.  T 974 

Fishbaugh,  Isaac 801 

Fitch,  W.  1 824 

Fiizpatrick,  J.  I) 889 

Fleminii,  Aaron 823 

Fornahell,  U.  D  875 

Fousl,  A.  J 809 

Foust,  Samuel 880 

France,  CM 700 


Fritz,  David 908 

Fryback,  George 827 

Fulton,  Allison 757 

Fulton,  J.  C.  &  G.E 715 

Funk,  Absalom 933 

G. 

Gaiser,  George 820 

Galyeau,  8.  H   771 

Gardiner,  G.  E 970 

Gardeuoui',  Mrs.  Martha 0li2 

Garrett,  F.  W 757 

Garrett,  Noah lOOi 

Gavin,  J.  A 8s;! 

Getty,  Jacob 957 

Gilbert,  William 790 

Glass,  David 894 

Glass,  J.  T 818 

Good,  J.J 1012 

Good,  Samuel 1010 

Goodin,  J.  1) 904 

Goodspeed,  LB 781 

Gordon,  John 930 

Gorrell,  Joseph 709 

Graham,  William 9li0 

Grant,  J.  J 873 

Gregg,  AVilliam 940 

Greenlield,  Nathaniel 830 

Griffith,  J.  M 991 

Griffith,  Eli 934 

Grimes,  tJ.  W 994 

Groves,  Joseph 842 

Gutelius.  W.  A 838 

H. 

Hale,  Bowen 051 

Hale,  J.  P 800 

Hall,  Adnah 738 

Harnish,  G.A 818 

Harrold,  G.  E 8.57 

Harper,  William 900 

Ilarter,  George 079 

Harvey,  James 900 

Harvey,  J.  K 800 

Ilatlield,  Hiram 008 

Hedges,  J.  K 804 

Hedges,  K.  M 803 

Herrmann,  J.  C OSj 

Hogg,  James 840 

Iloutz,  Eli 928 

Houtz,  Henry !i29 

Hoover,  Levi 780 

Ilortou,  E.  U 851 

Horton,  Theodore 843 

Houael,  Mrs   Hhoda 874 

Howard,  L.  L 755 

Howard,  R.  G 750 

Huffman,  D.  C  825 


"^•«  *ja??i  ^jaf* 


Huft'man,  Elijah 085 

Huffman,  Frederick  749 

Huffman,  (i.  K 'JIO 

lIuirman,G.   \V ISQ 

Huffman,  H.  li "TO 

Huffman,  Levi   W'JS 

]Iuffman,  Lewis "''J'J 

Huffman,  J.  J 1001 

Huffman,  Samuel lOOT 

J. 

Jarrett,  AVilliara 841 

Johnson,  A.  W liiT 

Johnaou,  W.C 'J71 

Johnston,  William (J'J3 

Jones,  Daniel 0.')4 

Jones,  O.  P tio'3 

Justus,  M.  yi y'.l2 

K. 

Kain,  Daniel  053 

Keller,  S.  J 884 

Kellogg,  Nelson 705 

Kemp,  Joel 875 

Kenagy,  J.  V 7il4 

Kersliner,'Daviii 087 

King,  U    H 7S5 

King,  g!  \V  8-'3 

Kirkwooil,  Henry   !)40 

KirkwooJ,  William 'JUT 

Klingel,  Jonathan HSC 

Kunkle,  Samuel 7S1 

L. 

Lacey,  C.  E 947 

Lambert,  \i.  P 075 

Lancaster,  John G55 

Lancaster,  Nathan 804 

Leavengooil,  P.  C 758 

Lee,  John i)2(l 

Lee.  M.  W 73:2 

Lesh,  Joseph  '.139 

Lipkey,  11.  W 075 

Lipkey,  William SIO 

Lockwootl,  G.  A 087 

Lockwoo.l,  J.  S  711 

Lounsberrv,  Sylvester  903 

Luillum,  A.  W 903 

Ludwick,  Joseiih 1009 

Lusk,  J.  N 955 


M. 


MatUlo.x,  J.  C 805 

:\Luiao\,  L  E 738 

.Maddox,  W.  H 9S2 

Maddox,  W.  M 715 

JIarkley,  1).  F S.s2 

JlarUley,  Gabriel 723 

Markley,  H.  0 992 

Markley,  Jonathan  077 

Markley,  Kev.  J.  J G74 

Markley,  J.  W 095 

Jtarj-h,  ('.  S  901 

Martin,  A.  N 678 


Martin,  H.L 094 

Mason,  L  7.50 

Mast,  Abraham 904 

McAfee,  S.J 847 

McAfee,  W.J 075 

McCall'rev,  Patrick 787 

McCleary,  J.  H 009 

JlcConkey,  James, 1018 

:\IcCuUick,  H.  C 972 

McDowell,  E.  B 050 

Mclntire,  Phanuel 729 

.Ale I Mtire, William 920 

.Mc.Mahou,  W.  P  ...■ 707 

.Melsheimer,  C.  T 720 

Merriman,  J.  M 805 

^lerriman,  J.  V 895 

Jlerriman,  W.  B 080 

Mertz,  William 893 

.Alert/.  Wilhelm 893 

Metts,  J.  1 930 

Mich.ael,  Jonathan 798 

MilhoUand,  Joseph 1022 

Miller,  .Mrs.  Catlierine 738 

.Miller,  V.  .M 1002 

Miller,  Henry 742 

.Miller,  Jacob 070 

.Miller,  N.  T 007 

Miller,  William 937 

.Miller.  W.  H 805 

Miunich,  Jacob 905 

Minnich,  John 973 

.M  innich,  Peter :  083 

.Mixell,  George 1001 

.Mock,  Levi.r 099 

Morgan,  C.  H lOlH 

Morrical,  E.  P 828 

Jlorria,  Thomas 813 

.Mossliurg,  Henry S03 

Alossy,  John  K 902 

Mowery,  G.  F 814 

]\Iyers,  .Joseph 777 

N. 

Neff,  Ira 1000 

Nell",  I.  N 090 

Netf,  John 771 

Newliard,  W.  J 050 

Newman,  M.  N 093 

Nimmons,  W.  B 877 

Noe,  David 852 

Nusbaumer,  George  752 

Nusbaumer,  J.J 759 

Nutter,  Levi 851 

O. 

O'Brien,  John 928 

Ogden,  John   871 

Oldfallier,  .Michael 900 

Oppenheim,  Alliert 857 

Op|ienheiui,  Sigmnnd 800 

()rmsby,J.lL..' 782 

Osborn,  Levi 712 

P. 

Parker,  Mrs.  C  A 94G 

Parkison,  W.  J 980 

Perry,  Epliraim 1008 


Perry,  W.T 

Plessinger,  J.  B 

Poulsou,  W.  J 

Poulson,  William. .  . 

Prilile,  J.  J 

PriUaman,  Lewis. . , 
Prillaman,  William. 


703 
057 
7.59 
007 
844 
899 
992 


Quackenbush,  T.  \V 724 

Quick,  Amos 9u8 

Quick,  J.  W 058 

R. 

Randall,  A.  C; lOlO 

Heed,  H.  H 840 

P.eitf,  J.  K GOO 

Kiddile,  S.  L 920 

Uinear,  J.  W 890 

Itineh.irt.  J.  (' ]012 

Uineharl,  J.  K 909 

Pioljerts,  John   S50 

Roberts,   Nathan 800 

Robison,  1'.  L 770 

Robinson,   Robert 7ai 

Rowe,  Amos i)09 

Rupright,  W.  H 881 

S. 

Sale,  J.  W 934 

Scott,  James 7.50 

Scott,  T.  E 732 

Scotton,  Charles 095 

Seaman,  Joseph 810 

Seaton,  1{.  L 903 

Seabold,  G.  H 1()03 

Settle,  W.  S 888 

Shadle,  Philip 745 

Shaw,  E.  B 070 

Shields,  Amaziah 746 

Shively,  Jacob 922 

Shoemaker,  John 740 

Shnui),  Jacob 870 

SbroiU,  Galiriel 707 

Silver,  J.  C 829 

Silver,  \Y.  S 939 

Simmons,  Abram 785 

Simmons,  L.  B 800 

Smith,  D.  T 770 

Smith,  J.  H.  0 878 

Smith,  ilcC'oy 808 

Souerwine,  Peter 909 

Spaulding,  LA 711 

Speece,  Jacob 912 

Starr,  B.  F 834 

Staver,  Jonathan •  997 

Stewart,  A.  J 1020 

Stoops,  James 793 

Straw,  Samuel 901 

Studabaker,  Abraham 700 

Studabaker,  John 683 

Studabaker,  Peter 704 

Stui-gis,  E.  V 848 

Slurgis,  Thomas. ., .   600 

Sunier,  Anlhoii\ 910 

Swaim,  D.  H..." 907 


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CONTESTS. 


Swaim,  William 010 

Swuim,  ^V^  T.  T 711 

T. 

Taylor,  B.  F 8G1 

Templetoi),  J.  F G91 

Tewksbiiry,  Hiram 015 

TlioQui,  Henry HTo 

Thomas,  Uev.  D.  F 1023 

Thompson,  U.  H 1011) 

Thurnburg,  J.W 077 

TocUl,  J.J 003 

Toad,  N.  K 751 

Travis,  John 951 

Twibell,  W.  M 081 

U. 
Unrne,  George 1021 

V. 
Van  Emons,  A.  R : 858 


W. 

Waikel,  Levi 778 

Waikel,  William (ISO 

WaUln.M,  U.  A 807 

Walker,  J.  A 7H« 

Wallace,  Thomas 051 

Walser,  Uannals 958 

Ware,  Jlorgan 1034 

Warner,  Q.  L 1015 

Warner,  Jacob 057 

Wasson,  John 853 

Watts,  Samuel 880 

Weaver,  Branson 725 

Weaver,  Harvey 080 

Weisell,  W.  W 1011 

West,  Isham Oil 

Wiley,  R.  W 835 

Wilkin,  William 084 

Wilson,  Cyrus 808 

Wilson,  Donaldson 700 

Wil3(m,  E.  U 703 

Wisner,  T.  L 742 

Wolf,  William 000 


Zininierlee,  Jacob 705 

Zi(Mi,  W.  (' 722 

Zoos,  Joseph 1007 

GENERAL  HISTORY. 

Geolog-y,  Topography  and  Nat- 
ural History 559 

Early  Settlement 503 

County  Government 570 

Political  and  Ollicial 574 

Patriotism 578 

Professional 580 

Tlie  Press 598 

]\IiscellaneoU9  002 

BlufTton 611 

Ossiau C25 

Liberty  Center 631 

Smaller  Villages 634 


F^o:^T^]Rj^n^©. 


Adams,  John 15 

Adams,  John  Quincy 30 

Arnold,  Eli 773 

Artliur.-.Chester  A 112 

Bachelor,  Lemuel 735 

Bennett,  J.  U 859 

Blue,  M.  C 987 

Bob.),  J.  R 321 

Buchanan,  James 81 

Burghalter,  Christian 504 

Burgbalter,  Mrs.  Mary 505 

(Christen,  John 337 

Christen,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 338 

Cleveland,  Grover 110 

Colfax,  Schuyler 108 

Cotton,  C.  S 888 

Crawford,  Josiah 488 

Dailey,  J.  S 689 

Dalrymple,  H.  W 753 

Dougherty,  Hugh 071 

Eugeler,  Frederick 90(5 

Fillmore,  :\[illard 73 

France,  J.  T 403 

Fulton,  J.  C 714 

Fidlon,  G.  E 719 

Funk,  Absalom  932 

Gardiner,  G.  E 977 

Garfield,  James  A 108 

Garrett,  IS'  oah 1005 


Gottschalk,  Andrew 358 

Grant,  Ulysses  S 97 

Greenfield,  Nathaniel 831 

Hale,  Bowen   050 

Hale,  J.  P 801 

Hale,  S.  W 442 

Harrison,  William  Henry 57 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B 103 

Hendricks,  Thomas  A 104 

Hocker,  C.  W 425 

Jackson,  Andrew 40 

Jarrett,  William 840 

Jefferson,  Thomas 21 

Johnson,  Andrew 92 

Kellogg,  Nelson   704 

King,  G.  W 832 

Kirkwood,  Henry 941 

Kirkwood,  William 900 

Lesh,  Joseph 030 

Lincoln,  Abraham 85 

Lipkey,  William 811 

Madison,  James 27 

Melsheimer,  C.  T 728 

Jliller,  L.  C 290 

Mock,  Levi 008 

]\Iouroe,  James 33 

Jlorton,  Oliver  P 100 

Ogden,  John   870 

Ormsby,  J.  H 783 


Owen,  Robert  Dale 170 

Pierce,  Franklin 77 

I'olk,  James  K 05 

Rinear,  J.  W 807 

Hinehart,  J.  K 008 

Scheer,  J.  P 525 

Shadle,  Philip 714 

Shively,  Jacob 923 

Smith,"  J.  H.  C 879 

Smith,  P.  W 540 

Snyder,  William 403 

Studabaker,  David 270 

Studabaker,  John   082 

Studabaker,  Peter 705 

Stubs,  Jacob 377 

Sturgis,  E.  Y 849 

Taylor,  Zachary 09 

Tewksbury,  Hiram 914 

Todd,  J.  J 002 

Travis,  John 950 

Tyler,  John 01 

Van  Bnreii,  Martin   53 

Waber,  Uannals 950 

Warner,  G.  L 1014 

Washington,  George 8 

Williams,  James  D 172 

Wilson,  E.  R  703 


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%sli;,i^;^hSS^j>/^yj^Qj^^p.  WASHING- 
<>     TON,  tlic  "  Father  of 
Iiis    Country"   and    its 
iirst     President,    17S9- 
'97,  was  born  Fcbru- 
%^^^^^^^''=f^^^^f\!£^        'I'T  2-,  173-,  ill  Wash- 
■'°.?f','ib-y»"'      V  ini);ton   Parish,  West- 

f^iKf£^'  moreland  Count  v,  A'irtrinia. 
•a&^lp}"  ^I'S  fatlicr,  Augustine  Wasli- 
•^^vV*  i'lgton,  first  married  Jane  But- 
ler, who  bore  him  four  chil- 
dren, and  March  6,  1730,  he 
married  Mary  Ball.  Of  six 
cliildren  by  his  second  mar- 
riage, George  was  the  eldest, 
the  others  being  Betty,  Samuel,  John,  Au- 
gustine, Charles  and  Mildred,  of  whom  the 
youngest  died  in  infancy.  Little  is  known 
of  the  early  j'ears  of  Washington,  be3-ond 
the  fact  that  the  house  in  which  he  was 
born  was  burned  during  his  early  child- 
hood, and  that  his  father  thereupon  moved 
to  another  farm,  inlierited  from  his  paternal 
ancestors,  situated  in  Stafford  County,  on 
the  north  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  where 
he  acted  as  agent  of  the  Principio  Iron 
Works  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  and  died 
there  in  1743. 

From  earliest  childhood  George  devel- 
oped a  noble  character.  He  had  a  vigorous 
constitution,  a  fine  form,  and  great  bodily 
strength.    His  education  was  somewhat  de- 


fective, being  confined  to  the  elementarv 
brandies  taught  him  by  his  mother  anfl  at 
a  neighboring  school.  He  developed,  how- 
ever, a  fondness  for  mathematics,  and  en- 
joyed in  that  branch  the  instructions  of  a 
private  teacher.  0\\  leaving  school  he  re- 
sided for  some  time  at  Mount  A'ernon  with 
his  half  brother,  Lawrence,  who  acted  as 
his  guardian,  and  who  had  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  his  neighbor  at  Belvoir  on  the  Poto- 
mac, the  wealthy  William  Fairfax,  for  some 
time  president  of  the  executive  council  of 
the  colony.  Both  Fairfax  and  his  son-in-law, 
Lawrence  Washington,  had  served  with  dis- 
tinction in  1740  as  officers  of  an  American 
battalion  at  the  siege  of  Carthagcna,  and 
were  friends  and  correspondents  of  Admiral 
Vernon,  for  whom  the  latter's  residence  on 
the  Potomac  has  been  named.  George's 
inclinations  were  for  a  similar  career,  and  a 
midshipman's  warrant  was  procured  for 
him,  probably  through  the  influence  of  the 
Admiral ;  but  through  the  opposition  of  his 
mother  the  project  was  abandoned.  The 
family  connection  with  the  Fairfaxes,  how- 
ever, opened  another  career  for  the  yoimg 
man,  who,  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  was  ap- 
pointed surveyor  to  the  immense  estates  of 
the  eccentric  Lord  Fairfax,  who  was  then 
on  a  visit  at  Belvoir,  and  who  shortly  after- 
ward established  his  baronial  residence  at 
Greenway  Court,  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 


'I ' 


'V 


PRESIDENTS     OF     THE     UNITED    STATES. 


I 


1 
1 


I' 


Three  3-ears  were  passed  by  young  Wasli- 
ingtoii  in  a  roui^h  frontier  life,  gaining  ex- 
perience which  afterward  proved  very  es- 
sential to  him. 

In  175 1,  when  the  Virginia  militia  were 
put  under  training  with  a  view  to  active 
service  against  France,  Washington,  though 
only  nineteen  years  of  age,  was  appointed 
Adjutant  with  the  rank  of  Major.  In  Sep- 
tember of  that  year  the  failing  health  of 
Lawrence  Washington  rendered  it  neces- 
sar}'  for  him  to  seek  a  warmer  climate,  and 
George  accompanied  him  in  a  voyage  to 
Barbadoes.  They  returned  early  in  1752, 
and  Lawrence  shortly  afterward  died,  leav- 
ing his  large  property  to  an  infant  daughter. 
In  his  will  George  was  named  one  of  the 
executors  and  as  eventual  heir  to  Mount 
Vernon,  and  by  the  death  of  the  infant  niece 
soon  succeeded  to  that  estate. 

On  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddle  as 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  Virginia  in  1752 
the  militia  was  reorganized,  and  the  prov- 
ince divided  into  four  districts.  Washing- 
ton was  commissioned  by  Dinwiddle  Adju- 
tant-General of  the  Northern  District  in 
1753,  and  in  November  of  that  year  a  most 
important  as  well  as  hazardous  mission  was 
assigned  him.  This  was  to  proceed  to  the 
Canadian  posts  recently  established  on 
French  Creek,  near  Lake  Erie,  to  demand 
in  the  name  of  the  King  of  England  the 
withdrawal  of  the  French  from  a  territory 
claimed  by  Virginia.  This  enterprise  had 
been  declined  by  more  than  one  officer, 
since  it  involved  a  journey  througli  an  ex- 
tensive and  almost  unexplored  wilderness 
in  the  occupancy  of  savage  Indian  tribes, 
either  hostile  to  the  English,  or  of  doubtful 
attachment.  Major  Washington,  however, 
accepted  the  commission  with  alacrit)' ;  and, 
accompanied  by  Captain  Gist,  he  reached 
Fort  Le  Boeuf  on  French  Creek,  delivered 
his  dispatches  and  received  reply,  which,  of 
course,  was  a  polite  refusal  to  surrender  the 
posts.     This  reply  was  of  such  a  character 


as  to  induce  the  Assembly  of  Virginia  to 
authorize  the  executive  to  raise  a  regiment 
of  300  men  for  the  purpose  of  maintaining 
the  asserted  rights  of  the  British  crown 
over  the  territory  claimed.  As  Washing- 
ton declined  to  be  a  candidate  for  that  post, 
the  command  of  this  regiment  was  given  to 
Colonel  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washing- 
ton, at  his  own  request,  was  commissioned 
Lieutenant-Colonel.  On  the  march  to  Ohio, 
news  was  received  that  a  party  previously 
sent  to  build  a  fort  at  the  confluence  of  the 
Monongahela  with  the  Ohio  had  been 
driven  back  bv  a  considerable  French  force, 
which  had  completed  the  work  there  be- 
gun, and  named  it  Fort  Duquesne,  in  honor 
of  the  Marquis  Duquesne,  then  Governor 
of  Canada.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the 
great  "  French  and  Indian  war,''  which  con- 
tinued seven  years.  On  the  death  of  Colonel 
Fry,  Washington  succeeded  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  regiment,  and  so  well  did  he 
fulfill  his  trust  that  the  Virginia  Assembly 
commissioned  him  as  Commander-in-Chief 
of  all  the  forces  raised  in  the  colony. 

A  cessation  of  all  Indian  hostility  on  the 
frontier  having  followed  the  expulsion  of 
the  French  from  the  Ohio,  the  object  of 
Washington  was  accomplished  and  he  re- 
signed his  commission  as  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Virginia  forces.  He  then  pro- 
ceeded to  Williamsburg  to  take  his  seat  in 
the  General  Assembly,  of  which  he  had 
been  elected  a  member. 

January  17,  1759,  Washington  married 
Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  a  young 
and  beautiful  widow  of  great  wealth,  and  de- 
voted himself  for  the  ensuing  fifteen  years 
to  the  quiet  pursuits  of  agriculture,  inter- 
rupted only  by  his  annual  attendance  in 
winter  upon  the  Colonial  Legislature  at 
Williamsburg,  until  summoned  by  his 
country  to  enter  upon  that  other  arena  in 
which  his  fame  was  to  become  world  wide. 

It  is  unnecessary  here  to  trace  the  details 
of  the  struggle  upon  the  question  of  local 


GEORGE     U'ASIllNGTON. 


CJ^ 


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<L8< 


self-government,  which,  after  ten  years,  cul- 
minated by  act  of  Parliament  of  the  port  of 
Boston.  It  was  at  the  instance  of  Virginia 
tiiat  a  congress  of  all  the  colonies  was  called 
to  meet  at  I'hiladclphia  Septembers,  1774, 
to  secure  their  common  liberties — if  possible 
by  peaceful  means.  '  To  this  Congress 
Colonel  Washington  was  sent  as  a  dele- 
gate. On  dissolving  in  October,  it  recom- 
mended the  colonies  to  send  deputies  to 
another  Congress  the  following  s])ring.  In 
the  meantime  several  of  the  colonies  felt 
impelled  to  raise  local  forces  to  repel  in- 
sults and  aggressions  on  the  part  of  British 
troops,  so  that  on  the  assembling  of  the  next 
Congress,  May  10,  1775,  the  war  prepara- 
tions of  the  mother  country  were  unmis- 
takable. The  battles  of  Concord  and  Lex- 
ington had  been  fought.  Among  the  earliest 
acts,  therefore,  of  the  Congress  was  the 
selection  of  a  commander-in-chief  of  the 
colonial  forces.  This  office  was  unani- 
mously conferred  upon  Washington,  still  a 
member  of  the  Congress.  lie  accepted  it 
on  June  19,  but  on  the  express  condition  he 
should  receive  no  salary. 

He  immediately  repaired  to  the  vicinity 
of  Boston,  against  which  point  the  British 
ministry  had  concentrated  their  forces.  As 
early  as  April  General  Gage  had  3,000 
troops  in  and  around  this  proscribed  cit}'. 
During  the  fall  and  winter  the  British  policy 
clearly  indicated  a  purpose  to  divide  pub- 
lic sentiment  and  to  build  up  a  British  party 
in  the  colonies.  Those  who  sided  with  the 
ministry  were  stigmatized  by  the  patriots 
as  "  Tories,"  while  the  patriots  took  to  them- 
selves the  name  of  "  Whigs." 

As  earlv  as  1776  the  leading  men  had 
come  t(j  the  conclusion  that  there  was  no 
hope  except  in  separation  and  indepen- 
dence. In  Mav  of  that  \ear  Washington 
wrote  from  the  hcatl  of  the  army  in  New 
York:  "A  reconciliation  with  Great  Brit- 
ain is  impossible When  I  took 

command  of  the  armv,  I  abhorred  the  idea 


of  independence  ;  but  I  am  now  fvdly  satis- 
fied that  nothing  else  will  save  us." 

It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to  trace 
the  militar>'  acts  of  the  patriot  hero,  to 
whose  iiands  the  fortunes  and  liberties  of 
the  United  States  were  confided  during  the 
seven  years'  bloody  struggle  that  ensued 
until  the  treaty  of  1783,  in  which  England 
acknowledged  the  independence  of  each  of 
the  thirteen  States,  and  negotiated  with 
them,  jointly,  as  separate  sovereignties.  The 
merits  of  W^ashington  as  a  military  chief- 
tain have  been  considerably  discussed,  espe- 
cially by  writers  in  his  own  country.  Dur- 
ing the  war  he  was  most  bitterly  assailed 
for  incompetency,  and  great  efforts  were 
made  to  displace  him  ;  but  he  never  for  a 
moment  lost  the  confidence  of  either  the 
Congress  or  the  people.  December  4,  1783, 
the  great  commander  took  leave  of  his  offi- 
cers in  most  affectionate  and  patriotic  terms, 
and  went  to  Annapolis,  Maryland,  where 
the  Congress  of  the  States  was  in  session, 
and  to  that  body,  when  peace  and  order 
prevailed  everywhere,  resigned  his  com- 
mission and  retired  to  Mount  Vernon. 

It  was  in  1788  that  Washington  was  called 
to  the  chief  magistracy  of  the  nation.  He 
received  every  electoral  vote  cast  in  all  the 
colleges  of  the  States  voting  for  the  office 
of  President.  The  4th  of  March,  1789,  was 
the  time  appointed  for  the  Government  of 
the  United  States  to  begin  its  operations, 
but  several  weeks  elapsed  before  quorums 
of  both  the  newly  constituted  houses  f)f  the 
Congress  were  assembled.  The  city  of  New 
York  was  the  place  where  the  Congress 
then  met.  April  16  Washington  left  his 
home  to  enter  upon  the  discharge  of  his 
new  duties.  He  set  out  with  a  purpose  of 
traveling  privatel}',  and  without  attracting 
any  public  attention  ;  but  this  was  impossi- 
ble. Everywhere  on  his  way  he  was  met 
with  thronging  crowds,  eager  to  see  the 
man  whom  they  regarded  as  the  chief  de- 
fender of   their   liberties,  and    everywhere 


*iHiHS»aSEi*»:i5ai«5i?i 


HT'I»!fl».f? 


i'u.^7:Mif»FSil 


I5i 


iS: 


he  was  hailed  witli  those  public  nianifesta- 
lions  o[  jov,  regard  and  love  whicii  spring 
s])ontaneoiisly  from  the  hearts  of  an  affec- 
tionate and  gratefid  people.  His  reception 
in  New  York  was  marked  by  a  grandeur 
and  an  enthusiasm  never  before  witnessed 
in  that  metropolis.  The  inauguration  took 
place  A]iril  30,  in  the  presence  of  an  immense 
multitude  which  had  assembled  to  witness 
the  new  and  imposing  ceremony.  The  oath 
of  office  was  administered   by   Robert  R. 


within  its  specific  and  limited  sphere,  while 
the  others  were  for  enlarging  its  powers  by 
.inference  and  implication.  Hamilton  and 
Jefferson,  both  members  of  the  first  cabinet, 
were  regarded  as  the  chief  leaders,  respect- 
ively, of  these  rising  antagonistic  parties, 
which  have  ex'isted, 'under  different  names, 
from  that  d.ay  to  this.  Washington  was  re- 
garded as  holding  a  neutral  position  between 
them,  though,  by  mature  deliberation,  he 
vetoed  the  first  apportionment  bill,  in  1790, 


Livingston,  Chancellor  of  the  State.  When  passed  by  the  party  headed  by  Hamilton, 
this  sacred  pledge  was  given,  he  retired  |  which  was  based  upon  a  principle  construct- 
with    the   other   officials   into    the    Senate  !  ively  leading  to    centralization  or  consoli- 


chamber,  where  he  delivered  his  inaugural 
address  to  both  houses  of  the  newly  con- 
stituted Congress  in  joint  assembly. 

In  the  manifold  details  of  his  civil  ad- 
ministration, Washington  proved  himself 
equal  to  the  requirements  ot  his  position. 
The  greater  portion  of  the  first  session  of 
tlie  first  Congress  was  occupied  in  passing 
the  necessary  statutes  for  putting  the  new 
organization  into  complete  operation.  In 
the  discussions  brought  up  in  the  course  of 
this  legislation  the  nature  and  character  of 
the  new  system  came  imdcr  general  review. 
On  no  one  of  them  did  anv  decided  antago- 
nism of  opinion  arise.  All  held  it  to  be  a 
limited  government,  clothed  only  with  spe- 
cific powers  conferred  by  delegation  from 
the  States.  There  was  no  change  in  the 
name  of  the  legislative  department;  it  still 
remained  "the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  of  America."  There  was  no  change 
in  the  original  flag  of  the  countr3',and  none 
in  the  seal,  which  still  remains  with  the 
Grecian  escutcheon  borne  by  the  eagle, 
witii  other  emblems,  under  the  great  and 
expressive  motto,  "if  Pluribits  Unitin." 

The  first  division  of  parties  arose  upon 
the  manner  of  construing  the  powers  dele- 
gated, and  they  were  first  styled  "strict 
constructionists"  and  "  latitudinarian  con- 
structionists." The  former  were  for  con- 
fining the  action  of  the  Government  strictly 


dation.  This  was  the  first  exercise  of  the 
veto  power  under  the  present  Constitution. 
It  created  considerable  excitement  at  the 
time.  Another  bill  was  soon  passed  in  pur- 
suance of  Mr.  Jefferson's  views,  which  has 
been  adhered  to  in  principle  in  every  ap- 
portionment act  passed  since. 

At  tiie  second  session  of  the  new  Con- 
gress, Washington  announced  the  gratify- 
ing fact  of  "  the  accession  of  North  Caro- 
lina" to  the  Constitution  of  1787,  and  June 
I  of  the  same  year  he  announced  by  special 
message  the  like  "  accession  of  the  State  of 
Riiodc  Island,"  with  his  congratulations  on 
the  happy  event  which  "  united  under  the 
general  Government"  all  the  States  which 
were  originally  confederated. 

In  1792,  at  the  second  Presidential  elec- 
tion, Washington  was  desirous  to  retire ; 
but  he  yielded  to  the  general  wish  of  the 
country,  and  was  again  chosen  President 
by  the  unanimous  vote  of  every  electoral 
college.  At  tlie  third  election,  1796,  he  was 
again  most  urgently  entreated  to  consent  to 
remain  in  the  executive  chair.  This  he 
positively  refused.  In  September,  before 
the  election,  he  gave  to  his  countrymen  his 
memorable  Farewell  Address,  which  in  lan- 
guage, sentiment  and  patriotism  was  a  fit 
and  crowning  glory  of  his  illustrious  life. 
After  jNIarch  4,  1797,  he  again  retired  to 
Mount  Vernon  for  peace,  quiet  and  rci)Ose. 


Ilf 

.1i 


GEOttGE     WASHINGTON. 


His  administration  forthc  two  terms  liad 
been  successful  beyond  the  expectation  and 
iiopes  of  even  the  most  sanguine  of  his 
friends.  The  finances  of  tlie  country  were 
no  longer  in  an  embarrassed  condition,  the 
public  credit  was  fidiy  restored,  life  was 
given  to  every  department  of  industry,  the 
workings  of  the  new  system  in  allowing 
Congress  to  raise  revenue  from  duties  on 
imports  proved  to  be  not  only  harmonious 
in  its  federal  action,  but  astonishing  in  its 
results  upon  the  commerce  and  trade  of  all 
the  States.  The  exports  from  the  Union 
increased  from  §19,000,000  to  over  §56,000,- 
000  per  annum,  while  the  imports  increased 
in  about  the  same  proportion.  Tlircc  new 
members  had  been  added  to  the  Union.  The 
progi'ess  of  the  States  in  their  new  career 
under  their  new  organization  thus  far  was 
exceedingly  encouraging,  not  only  to  tlic 
friends  of  liberty  within  their  own  limits, 
but  to  their  sympathizing  allies  in  all  climes 
and  countries. 

CM  the  call  again  made  on  this  illustrious 


chief  to  quit  his  repose  at  Mount  Vernon 
and  take  command  of  all  the  United  States 
forces,  with  the  rank  of  Licutenant-General, 
when  war  was  threatened  with  France  in 
1798,  nothing  need  here  be  stated,  except  to 
note  the  fact  as  an  unmistakable  testimo- 
nial of  the  high  regard  in  which  he  was  still 
held  by  his  countrymen,  of  all  shades  of  po- 
litical opinion.  lie  patriotically  accepted 
this  trust,  but  a  treatv  of  peace  put  a  stop 
to  all  action  under  it.  He  again  retired  to 
Mount  Vernon,  where,  after  a  short  and 
severe  illness,  he  died  December  14,  1799, 
in  tiie  sixty-eighth  )-ear  of  his  age.  The 
whole  country  was  filled  with  gloom  by  this 
.sad  intelligence.  Men  of  all  parties  in  poli- 
tics and  creeds  in  religion,  in  every  State 
in  the  Union,  united  with  Congress  in  "  pay- 
ing honor  to  the  man,  first  in  war,  first  in 
peace,  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  country- 
lucn 

His  remains  were  deposited  in  a  family 
vault  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac  at  Mount 
Vernon,  where  they  still  lie  entombed. 


(^Tt™5?>«'?it' 


:T»^«K?e.^rar!Ta?w"«v*»??!«!?«!?ii?*ji?«?*i«l'n-"«==M"Qi^«i."»_*'-^^^ 


$ 


Is; 


J'J!ES/DENTS    O^    THE     UNITED    STATES. 


&^^. 


OHN  ADAMS,  the  second 
President  of  the  United 
States,  1797  to  1 80 1,  was 
born  in  the  present  town 
of  Ouincy,  then  a  portion 
of  Braintree,  Massachu- 
'  setts,  October  30,  1735.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  of  mod- 
erate means,  a  wortliy  and 
»  industrious  man.  He  was 
a  deacon  in  the  church,  and 
was  ver}- desirous  of  giving 
his  son  a  collegiate  educa- 
-  tion,  hoping  that  he  would 
become  a  minister  of  the 
gospel.  But,  as  up  to  this 
time,  the  age  of  fourteen,  lie  had  been  only 
a  play-boy  in  the  fields  and  forests,  he  had 
no  taste  for  books,  he  chose  farming.  On 
being  set  to  work,  however,  by  his  father 
out  in  the  field,  the  very  first  day  con- 
verted the  boy  into  a  lover  of  books. 

Accordingly,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
entered  Harvard  College,  and  graduated  in 
1755,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  highly  esteemed 
for  integrity,  energy  and  ability.  Thus, 
having  no  capital  but  his  education,  he 
started  out  into  tiie  stormy  world  at  a  time 
of  great  political  excitement,  as  France  and 
England  were  then  engaged  in  their  great 
seven-years  struggle  for  the  mastery  over 
the   New   World.     The  fire  of  patriotism 


seized  young  Adams,  and  for  a  tini.r  he 
studied  over  the  question  whether  he 
should  take  to  the  law,  to  politics  or  the 
army.  He  wrote  a  remarkable  letter  to  a 
friend,  making  prophecies  concerning  the 
future  greatness  of  this  country  which  have 
since  been  more  than  fulfilled.  For  two 
years  he  taught  school  and  studied  law, 
wasting  no  odd  moments,  and  at  the  early 
age  of  twenty-two  years  he  opened  a  law 
office  in  his  native  town.  His  inherited 
powers  of  mind  and  untiring  devotion  to 
his  profession  caused  him  to  rise  rapidly 
in  public  esteem. 

In  October,  1764,  Mr.  Adams  married 
Miss  Abigail  Smith,  daughter  of  a  clergy- 
man at  Weymouth  and  a  lady  of  rare  per- 
sonal and  intellectual  endowments,  who 
afterward  contributed  much  to  her  hus- 
band's celebrity. 

Soon  the  oppression  of  the  British  in 
America  reached  its  climax.  The  Boston 
merchants  employed  an  attorney  by  the 
name  of  James  Otis  to  argue  the  legality  of 
oppressive  tax  law  before  the  Superior 
Court.  Adams  heard  the  argument,  and 
afterward  wrote  to  a  friend  concerning  the 
ability  displayed,  as  follows:  "Otis  was  a 
flame  of  fire.  With  a  promptitude  of 
classical  allusion,  a  depth  of  research,  a 
rapid  summary  of  historical  events  and 
dates,  a  profusion  of  legal  authorities  and  a 


13- 


'a^a  ''jt'*Bi1'?m!?j«li 


(^cii/nJ/lmi^ 


S=ii*ia?itMii?'ir=?i»'«"'ir?]S^ 


i«^ii*  »i?f«Hit«?ii»?-.Bi??!a^»*ii**  J 


yOHiW    ADAAfS. 


prophetic  glance  into  futurity,  he  luirricd 
away  all  before  him.  Aincricaii  i)idcpeudcucc 
was  then  and  there  born.  Every  man  of  an 
immensely  crowded  audience  appeared  to 
me  to  go  away,  as  I  did,  ready  to  take  up 
arms." 


lishing  the  principle  that  the  infamous 
royal  prerogative  of  imjiressnient  could 
have  no  existence  in  the  colonial  code. 
But  in  1770  Messrs.  Adams  and  Josiah 
Quincy  defended  a  party  of  British  soldiers 
who  had  been  arrested  for  murder  when 


Soon  Mr.  Adams  wrote  an  essay  to  be  I  they  had  been  only  obeying  Governmental 
read  before  the  literary  club  of  his  town,  !  orders;  and  when  reproached  for  thus  ap- 
upon  the  state  of  affairs,  which  was  so  able  i  parently  deserting  the  cause  of  popular 
as  to  attract  public  attention.  It  was  pub-  I  liberty,  Mr.  Adams  replied  that  he  would  a 
lished  in  American  journals,  republished  j  thousandfold  rather  live  under  the  doraina- 
in  England,  and  was  pronounced  by  the  '  tion  of  the  worst  of  England's  kings  than 
friends  of  the  colonists  there  as  "  one  of  the  ;  under  that  of  a  lawless  mob.  Next,  after 
very  best  productions  ever  seen  from  Nortli  |  serving  a  term  as  a  member  of  the  Colonial 
America."  Legislature  from  Boston,  Mr.  Adams,  hnd- 

The  memorable  Stamp  Act  was  now  j  iiig  his  health  affected  by  too  great  labor, 
issued,   and    Adams   entered    with  all  the  I  retired  to  his  native  home  at  Braintree. 


ardor  of  his  soul  into  political  life  in  order 
to  resist  it.  He  drew  up  a  series  of  reso- 
lutions remonstrating  against  the  act,  which 
were  adopted  at  a  public  meeting  of  the 
citizens  of  Braintree,  and  which  were  sub- 
sequently adopted,  word  for  word,  b}'  more 
than  forty  towns  in  the  State.  Popular 
commotion  prevented  the  landing  of  the 
Stamp  x\ct  papers,  and  the  English  author- 
ities then  closed  the  courts.  The  town  of 
Boston  therefore  appointed  Jeremy  Grid- 
ley,  James  Otis  and  John  Adams  to  argue  a 
petition  before  the  Governor  and  council 
for  the  re-opening  of  the  courts;  and  while  j 
the  two  first  mentioned  attorneys  based 
their  argument  upon  the  distress  caused  to 
the  people  by  the  measure,  Adams  boldly 
claimed  tliat  the  Stamp  Act  was  a  violation 
both  of  the  English  Constitution  and  the 
charter  of  the  Provinces.  It  is  said  that 
this  was  the  first  direct  denial  of  the  un- 
limited right  of  Parliament  over  the  colo- 
nies. Soon  after  this  the  Stamp  Act  was 
repealed. 

Directly  Mr.  'Adams  was  employed  to 
defend  Ansell  Nickerson,  who  had  killed  an 
Englishman  in  the  act  of  impressing  him 
(Nickerson)  into  the  King's  service,  and  his 
client  was  acquitted,  the  court  thus  estab- 


The  year  1774  soon  arrived,  with  its  fa- 
mous Boston  "Tea  Party,"  the  first  open 
act  of  rebellion.  Adams  was  sent  to  the 
Congress  at  Philadelphia ;  and  when  the 
Attorney-General  announced  that  Great 
Britain  had  "  determined  on  her  system, 
and  that  her  power  to  execute  it  was  irre- 
sistible," Adams  replied  :  "  I  know  that 
Great  Britain  has  determined  on  her  sys- 
tem, and  that  very  determination  deter- 
mines me  on  mine.  You  know  that  I  have 
been  constant  in  m}'  opposition  to  her 
measures.  The  die  is  now  cast.  I  have 
passed  the  Rubicon.  Sink  or  swim,  live  or 
die,  with  my  countr}',  is  my  unalterable 
determination."  The  rumor  beginning  to 
prevail  at  Philadelphia  that  the  Congress 
had  independence  in  view,  Adams  foresaw 
that  it  was  too  soon  to  declare  it  openly. 
He  advised  every  one  to  remain  quiet  in 
that  respect;  and  as  soon  as  it  became  ap- 
parent that  he  himself  was  for  independ- 
ence, he  was  advised  to  hide  himself,  which 
he  did. 

The  next  year  the  great  Revolutionary 
war  opened  in  earnest,  and  Mrs.  Adams, 
residing  near  Boston,  kept  her  husband  ad- 
vised by  letter  of  all  the  events  transpiring 
in  her  vicinity.     The  battle  of  Bunker  Hill 


m 


^TSVtf^Tl  li  »  WTWl  ]K»«  f 


i 


;*; 

i 
ill 


III 

''8; 

m 


I 


came  on.  Cont^ress  liad  to  do  something 
immediately.  The  first  thing  was  to 
choose  a  commander-in-chief  for  the — we 
can't  say  "  army  " — tlie  hgiiting  men  of  the 
colonics.  The  New  Kiigland  delegation 
was  almost  nnanimoiis  in  fav'or  of  appoint- 
ing General  Ward,  then  at  the  head  of  the 
Massachusetts  forces,  but  Mr.  Adams  urged 
the  appointment  of  George  Washington, 
then  almost  unknown  outside  of  his  own 
State.  He  was  appointed  without  oppo- 
sition. ^^r.  Adams  offered  the  resolution, 
which  was  adopted,  annulling  all  the  royal 
authority  in  the  colonies.  Having  thus 
prepared  the  way,  a  few  weeks  later,  viz., 
June  7,  1776,  Richard  Henry  Lee,  of  \'ir- 
ginia,  who  a  few  months  before  had  declared 
that  the  British  Government  would  aban- 
don its  oppressive  measures,  now  offered 
the  memorable  resolution,  seconded  by 
Adams,  "that  these  United  States  are,  and 
of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent." 
Jefferson,  Adams,  Franklin,  Sherman  and 
Livingston  were  then  appointed  a  commit- 
tee to  draught  a  declaration  of  independ- 
ence. Mr.  Jefferson  desired  Mr.  Adams 
to  draw  up  the  bold  document,  but  the 
latter  persuaded  Mr.  Jefferson  to  perform 
tliat  responsible  task.  The  Declaration 
drawn  up,  Mr.  Adams  became  its  foremost 
defender  on  the  floor  of  Congress.  It  was 
signed  by  all  the  fifty-five  members  present, 
and  the  next  day  Mr.  Adams  wrote  to  his 
wife  how  great  a  deed  was  done,  and  how 
proud  he  was  of  it.  Mr.  Adams  continued 
to  be  the  leading  man  of  Congress,  and 
the  leading  advocate  of  American  inde- 
pendence. Above  all  other  Americans, 
he  was  considered  by  every  one  the  prin- 
cipal shining  mark  for  British  vengeance. 
Thus  circumstanced,  he  was  appointed  to 
the  most  dangerous  task  of  crossing  the 
ocean  in  winter,  exposed  to  capture  by  the 
British,  who  knew  of  his  mission,  which 
was  to  visit  Paris  and  solicit  the  co-opera- 
tion of  the  French.     Besides,  to  take  him- 


self awa)-  from  the  country  of  which  he 
was  the  most  prominent  defender,  at  that 
critical  time,  was  an  act  of  the  greatest  self- 
sacrifice.  Sure  enough,  while  crossing  tiie 
sea,  he  had  two  very  narrow  escapes  from 
capture ;  and  the  transit  was  otherwise  0 
stormy  and  eventful  one.  During  th'' 
summer  of  1779  he  returned  home,  but  was 
immediately  dispatched  back  to  France,  to 
be  in  readiness  there  to  negotiate  terms  of 
peace  and  commerce  with  Great  Britain  as 
soon  as  the  latter  power  was  ready  for  such 
business.  But  as  Dr.  Franklin  was  more 
popular  than  heat  the  court  of  France,  Mr. 
Adams  repaired  to  Holland,  where  he  was 
far  more  successful  as  a  diplomatist. 

The  treaty  of  peace  between  the  United 
States  and  England  was  finall}'  signed  at 
Paris,  January  21,  1783;  and  the  re-action 
from  so  great  excitement  as  Mr.  Adams  had 
so  long  been  experiencing  threw  him  into 
a  dangerous  fever.  Before  he  fully  re- 
covered he  was  in  London,  whence  he  was 
dispatched  again  to  Amsterdam  to  negoti- 
ate another  loan.  Compliance  with  this 
order  undermined  his  physical  constitution 
for  life. 

In  1785  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  envoy 
to  the  court  of  St.  James,  to  meet  face  to 
face  the  very  king  who  had  regarded  him 
as  an  arch  traitor !  Accordingly  he  re- 
paired thither,  where  he  did  actually  meet 
and  converse  with  George  III.!  After  a 
residence  there  for  about  three  years,  he 
obtained  permission  to  return  to  America. 
While  in  London  he  wrote  and  published 
an  able  work,  in  three  volumes,  entitled: 
"  A  Defense  of  the  American  Constitution." 

The  Articles  of  Confederation  proving 
inefficient,  as  Adams  had  prophesied,  a 
carefully  draughted  Constitution  was 
adopted  in  1789,  when  George  Washington 
was  elected  President  of  the  new  nation, 
and  Adams  Vice-President.  Congress  met 
for  a  time  in  New  York,  but  was  removed 
to  Philadelphia  for  ten  years,  until  suitable 


■JO //A''     A/JA.)/S. 


■31 

Ml 


'4 


: 


buildings  should  be  erected  at  tlie  new 
ciipital  in  the  District  of  Columbia.  iMi\ 
Adams  then  moved  his  family  to  Phila- 
delphia. Toward  the  close  of  his  term  of 
office  the  .French  Revolution  culminated, 
when  Adams  and  Washington  rather 
sympathized  with  England,  and  Jefferson 
with  France.  The  Presidential  election  of 
1796  resulted  in  giving  Mr.  Adams  the  first 
jjlace  by  a  small  majority,  and  Mr.  Jeffer- 
son the  second  place. 

Mr.  Adams's  administration  was  consci- 
entious, patriotic  and  able.  The  period 
was  a  turbulent  one,  and  even  an  archangel 
could  not  have  reconciled  tlic  hostile  par- 
ties. Partisanisni  with  reference  to  Eng- 
land and  France  was  bitter,  and  for  four 
years  Mr.  Adams  struggled  through  almost 
a  constant  tempest  of  assaults,  in  fact,  he 
was  not  truly  a  popular  man,  and  his  cha- 
grin at  not  receiving  a  re-election  was  so 
great  that  he  did  not  even  remain  at  Phila- 
delphia to  witness  the  inauguration  of  Mr. 
Jefferson,  his  successoi\  Tlie  friendly 
intimac}'  between  these  two  men  was 
interrupted  for  about  thirteen  years  of  their 
life.  Adams  finall)'  made  the  first  advances 
toward  a  restoration  of  their  mutual  friend- 
ship, which  were  gratefuU}-  accejited  b}' 
Jefferson. 

Mr.  Adams  was  glad  of  his  opportunity 
to  retire  to  private  lile,  where  he  could  rest 
his  mind  and  enjoy  the  comforts  of  home. 
By  a  thousand  bitter  experiences  he  found 
the  path  of  public  dut}-  a  thorny  one.  For 
twenty-six  years  his  service  of  the  public 
was  as  arduous,  self-sacrificing  and  devoted 
as  ever  fell  to  the  lot  of  man.  In  one  im- 
portant sense  he  was  as  much  the  "  Father 
of  his  Country "  as  was  Washington  in 
another  sense.  During  these  long  years  of 
anxiety  and  toil,  in  which  he  was  iayingi 
broad    and    deep,    the    foundations   of   the 


greatest  nation  the  sun  ever  slione  upon,  he 
received  from  his  impoverished  country  a 
meager  siii)port.  The  onl}'  privilege  he 
carried  with  him  into  his  retirement  was 
that  of  fi'anking  his  letters. 

Although  taking  no  active  part  in  public 
affairs,  both  himself  and  his  son,  John 
Ouincy,  nobl}'  supported  the  policy  of  Mr. 
Jefferson  in  resisting  the  encroachments  ol 
England,  who  persisted  in  searching 
-American  ships  on  the  high  seas  and 
dragging  from  them  anv  sailors  that  might 
be  designated  by  any  pert  lieutenant  as 
British  subjects.  Even  for  this  noble  sup- 
port Ml'.  Adams  was  maligned  b)'  thou- 
sands of  bitter  enemies  !  On  this  occasion, 
for  the  first  time  since  his  retirement,  he 
broke  silence  and  drew  up  a  very  able 
paper,  exposing  the  atrocity  of  the  British 
pretensions. 

Mr.  Adams  outlived  nearly  all  his  family. 
Though  his  physical  frame  began  to  give 
way  many  years  before  his  death,  his  mental 
powers  retained  their  strength  and  vigor  to 
the  last.  In  his  ninetieth  year  he  was 
gladdened  by  the  popular  elevation  of  his 
son  to  the  Presidential  office,  the  highest  in 
the  gift  of  the  people.  A  few  months  more 
passed  away  and  the  4th  of  July,  1826, 
arrived.  The  people,  unaware  of  the  near 
approach  of  the  end  of  two  great  lives— 
that  of  Adams  and  Jefferson— were  making 
unusual  preparations  for  a  national  holiday. 
Mr.  Adams  lay  upon  his  couch,  listening  to 
the  ringing  of  bells,  the  waftures  of  martial 
music  and  the  roar  of  cannon,  with  silent 
emotion.  Only  four  days  before,  he  had 
given  for  a  public  toast,  "  Independence 
forever."  About  two  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon he  said,  "And  Jefferson  still  survives." 
But  he  was  mistaken  by  an  hour  or  so; 
and  in  a  few  minutes  he  had  breathed  his 
last. 


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PRESTDEIVTS    OF    THE     UXITED    STATES. 


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^ri^-iiiiff  son,  the  third  Presi- 
^'>^^^lll  dent  of  the  United 
States,  1801-9,  ^^''^s 
burn  April  2,  1743, 
the  eldest  child  of 
his  parents,  Peter 
and  Jane  (Randolph)  Jef- 
ferson, near  Charlottes- 
ville, Albemarle  County, 
Virginia,  upon  the  slopes 
of  the  Blue  Ridge.  When 
he -was  fourteen  years  of 
age,  his  father  died,  leav- 
ing a  widow  and  eight 
children.  She  was  a  beau- 
tiful and  accomplished 
lady,  a  good  letter- writer,  with  a  fund  of 
humor,  and  an  admirable  housekeeper.  His 
parents  belonged  to  the  Church  of  England, 
and  are  said  to  be  of  Welch  origin.  But 
little  is  known  of  them,  however. 

Thomas  was  naturally  of  a  serious  turn 
of  mind,  apt  to  learn,  and  a  favorite  at 
school,  his  choice  studies  being  mathemat- 
ics and  tiie  classics.  At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen he  entered  William  and  Mary  College, 
in  an  advanced  class,  and  lived  in  rather  an 
expensive  style,  consequently  being  much 
caressed  by  gay  society.  That  he  was  not 
ruined,  is  proof  of  his  stamina  of  character. 
But  during 'his  second  year  he  discarded 


society,  his  horses  and  even  his  favorite 
violin,  and  devoted  thenceforward  fifteen 
hours  a  day  to  hard  study,  becoming  ex- 
traordinarily proficient  in  Latin  and  Greek 
authors. 

On  leaving  college,  before  he  was  twent}'- 
one,  he  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and 
pursued  it  diligently  until  he  was  well 
qualified  for  practice,  upon  which  he 
entered  in  1767.  By  this  time  he  was  also 
versed  in  French,  Spanish,  Italian  and  An- 
glo-Saxon, and  in  tiie  criticism  of  the  fine 
arts.  Being  very  [>olitc  and  polished  in  his 
manners,  he  won  the  friendship  of  all  whom 
he  met.  Though  able  with  his  pen,  he  was 
not  fluent  in  public  speech. 

In  1769  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the 
Virginia  Legislature,  and  was  the  largest 
slave-holding  member  of  that  body.  He 
introduced  a  bill  empowering  slave-holders 
to  manumit  their  slaves,  but  it  was  rejected 
by  an  overwhelming  vote. 

In  1770  Mr.  Jefferson  met  with  a  great 
loss;  his  house  at  Shadwell  was  burned, 
and  his  valuable  library  of  2,000  volumes 
was  consumed.  But  he  was  wealthy 
enough  to  replace  the  most  of  it,  as  from 
his  5,000  acres  tilled  by  slaves  and  his 
practice  at  the  bar  his  income  amounted  to 
about  $5,000  a  year. 

In  1772  he  mariied  Mrs.  Martiia  Skelton, 
a    beautiful,     wealthy    and     accomplished 


^aj^T'tf^MiiWii^.,  j^^^H^ 


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I 


THOMAS     JEFFERSON. 


of  Congress.  Tlie  signing  of  tiiis  document 
was  one  of  the  most  solemn  and  momentous 
occasions  ever  attended  to  by  man.  Pra3-er 
and  silence  reigned  throughout  the  hall, 
and  each  signer  realized  that  if  American 
independence  was  not  finally  sustainctl  by 
arms  he  was  doomed  to  the  scaffold. 

After  the  colonies  became  independent 
States,  Jefferson  resigned  for  a  time  his  seat 
in  Congress  in  order  to  aid  in  organizing 


prcssive  toward  the  American  colonies, 
and  ^fr.  Jefferson  was  ever  one  of  the  most 
foremost  to  resist  its  encroachments.  From 
time  to  time  he  drew  up  resolutions  of  re- 
monsti^ancc,  which  were  linally  adopted, 
thus  proving  his  ability  as  a  statesman  and 
as  a  leader.  B}'  the  \ear  1774  he  became 
quite  busy,  botli  with  voice  and  pen,  in  de- 
fending the  right  of  the  c(jlonies  to  defend 
themselves.  Ilis  jjamphlet  entitled:  "A 
Summary  View  of  the  Rights  of  British 
America,"  attracted  much  attention  in  Eng- 
land. The  following  year  he,  in  company 
witii  George  Washington,  served  as  an  ex- 
ecutive committee  in  measures  to  defend 
by  arms  the  State  of  Virginia.  As  a  Mem- 
ber of  the  Congress,  he  was  not  a  speech-- 
maker,  yet  in  conversation  and  upon 
committees  he  was  so  frank  and  decisive 
that  he  always  made  a  favorable  impression. 
But  as  late  as  the  autumn  of  1775  he  re- 
mained in  hopes  of  reconciliation  with  the 
parent  country. 

At  length,  however,  the  hour  arrived  for 
draughting  the  "  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence," and  this  responsible  task  was  de- 
volved upon  Jefferson.  Franklin,  and 
Adams  suggested  a  few  verbal  corrections 
before  it  was  submitted  to  Congress,  which 
was  June  28,  1776,  only  six  days  before  it 
was  adopted.     During   the    three   days  of 


he  was  chosen  Governor  in  1779,  when  he 
was  thirty-six  years  of  age.  At  this  time 
the  British  had  possession  of  Georgia  aiul 
were  invading  South  Carolina,  and  at  one 
time  a  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a 
secret  expedition  to  Monticello  to  capture 
the  Governor.  Five  minutes  after  Mr. 
Jefferson  escaped  with  his  famil}-,  his  man- 
sion was  in  possession  of  the  enemy  !  The 
British  troops  also  destroyed  his  valuable 
plantation  on  the  James  River.  "  Had  they 
carried  off  the  slaves,"  said  Jefferson,  with 
characteristic  magnanimity,  "  to  give  them 
freedom,  they  would  have  done  right." 

The  year  1781  was  a  gloomy  one  for  the 
Virginia  Governor.  While  confined  to  his 
secluded  home  in  the  forest  by  a  sick  and 
dying  wife,  a  party  arose  against  him 
throughout  the  State,  severely  criticising 
his  course  as  Governor.  Being  very  sensi- 
tive to  reproach,  this  touched  him  to  the 
quick,  and  the  heap  of  troubles  then  sur- 
rounding him  nearly  crushed  him.  He  re- 
solved, in  despair,  to  retire  from  public  life 
for  the  rest  of  his  days.  For  weeks  Mr. 
Jefferson  sat  lovingly,  but  with  a  crushed 
heart,  at  the  bedside  of  his  sick  wife,  during 
which  time  imfeeling  letters  were  sent  to 
him,  accusing  him  of  weakness  and  unfaith- 
fulness to  duty.  All  this,  after  he  had  lost 
so  much   property  and  at  the  same   tmie 


the  fiery  ordeal  of  criticism  through  which  1  done  so  much  for  his  country!     After  her 

it  passed  in  Congress,  Mr.  Jefferson  opened  death    he   actually    fainted    away,  and    rc- 

not  his  lips.     John  Adams   was  the   main  mained  so  long  insensible  that  it  was  feared 

champion  of  the  Declaration  on  the  floor  (  he  never   would   recover!     Several  weeks 


yoLuig  widow,  who  owned  40,000  acres  of 
land  and  130  slaves;  yet  he  labored  assidu- 
ously for  the  abolition  of  slavery.  For  his 
new  home  he  selected  a  majestic  rise  of 
land  upon  his  large  estate  at  Shadwell, 
called  Monticello,  whereon  he  erected  a 
mansion  of  modest  yet  elegant  architecture. 
Here  he  lived  in  luxury,  indulging  his  taste 
in  magnificent,  high-blooded  horses. 

At  this  period   the  British  Government 
gradually    became    more   insolent  and  oj)-  '  the  government  of  Virginia,  of  which  State         f 


I 
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PRES/DS.VTS     OF    THE     U.VITED    STATES. 


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passed  before  he  could  fully  recover  his 
equilibrium.  He  was  never  married  a 
second  time. 

In  the  spring  of  1782  the  people  of  Eng- 
land compelled  their  king  to  make  to  the 
Americans  overtures  of  peace,  and  in  No- 
vember following,  Mr.  Jefferson  was  reap- 
pointed by  Congress,  unanimously  and 
without  a  single  adverse  remark,  minister 
plenipotentiary  to  negotiate  a  treaty. 

In  March,  1784,  Mr.  Jefferson  was  ap- 
pointed on.  a  committee  to  draught  a  plan 
for  the  government  of  the  Northwestern 
Territory.  His  slavery-prohibition  clause 
in  that  plan  was  stricken  out  by  the  pro- 
slavery  majority  of  the  committee;  but  amid 
all  the  controversies  and  wrangles  of  poli- 
ticians, he  made  it  a  rule  never  to  contra- 
dict anybod)'  or  engage  in  any  discussion 
as  a  debater. 

In  company  with  Mr.  Adams  and  Dr. 
Franklin,  Mr.  Jefferson  was  appointed  in 
Mav,  1784,  to  act  as  minister  plenipotentiary 
in  the  negotiation  of  treaties  of  commerce 
with  foreign  nations.  Accordingly,  he  went 
to  Paris  and  satisfactorily  accomplished  his 
mission.  The  suavity  and  high  bearing  of 
his  manner  made  all  the  French  his  friends; 
and  even  Mrs.  Adams  at  one  time  wrote 
to  her  sister  that  he  was  "  the  chosen 
of  the  earth."  But  all  the  honors  that 
he  received,  both  at  home  and  abroad, 
seemed  to  make  no  change  in  the  simplicity 
of  his  republican  tastes.  On  his  return  to 
America,  he  found  two  parties  respecting 
the  foreign  commercial  policy,  Mr.  Adams 
sympathizing  with  that  in  favor  of  England 
and  himself  favoring  France. 

On  the  inauguration  of  General  Wash- 
ington as  President,  Mr.  Jefferson  was 
chosen  by  him  for  the  office  of  Secretary  of 
State.  At  this  time  the  rising  storm  of  the 
French  Revolution  became  visible,  and 
Washington  watched  it  with  great  anxiety. 
His  cabinet  was  divided  in  their  views  of 
constitutional   government  as   well   as  re- 


garding the  issues  in  France.  General 
Hamilton,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  was 
the  leader  of  the  so-called  Federal  party, 
while  Mr.  Jefferson  was  the  leader  of  the 
Republican  party.  At  the  same  time  there 
was  a  strong  monarchical  party  in  this 
country,  with  which  Mr.  Adams  sympa- 
thized. Some  important  financial  measures, 
which  were  proposed  b}'  Hamilton  and 
finally  adopted  by  the  cabinet  and  approved 
by  Washington,  were  opposed  by  Mr. 
Jefferson  ;  and  his  enemies  then  began  to 
reproach  him  with  holding  office  under  an 
administration  whose  views  he  opposed. 
The  President  poured  oil  on  the  troubled 
waters.  On  his  re-election  to  the  Fresi- 
denc}'  he  desired  Mr.  Jefferson  to  remain 
in  the  cabinet,  but  the  latter  sent  in  his 
resignation  at  two  different  times,  probably 
because  he  was  dissatisfied  with  some  of 
the  measures  of  the  Government.  His 
final  one  was  not  received  until  January  i, 
1794,  when  General  Washington  parted 
from  him  with  great  regret. 

Jefferson  then  retired  to  his  quiet  home 
at  Monticello,  to  enjoy  a  good  rest,  not  even 
reading  the  newspapers  lest  the  political 
gossip  should  disquiet  him.  On  the  Presi- 
dent's again  calling  him  back  to  the  office 
of  Secretary  of  State,  he  replied  tliat  no 
circumstances  would  ever  again  tempt  him 
to  engage  in  anything  public!  But,  while 
all  Europe  was  ablaze  with  war,  and  France 
in  the  throes  of  a  bloody  revolution  and  the 
principal  theater  of  the  conflict,  a  new 
Presidential  election  in  this  country  came 
on.  John  Adams  was  the  Federal  candi- 
date and  Mr.  Jefferson  became  the  Republi- 
can candidate.  The  result  of  the  election 
was  the  promotion  of  the  latter  tothe  V^ice- 
Presidency,  while  the  former  was  chosen 
President.  In  this  contest  Mr.  Jefferson 
really  did  not  desire  to  have  either  office, 
he  was  "so  weary"  of  party  strife.  He 
loved  tiie  retirement  of  home  more  than 
any  other  place  on  the  earth. 


I 


i?l 


IK 


]3ut  for  four  loii^-  years  liis  \'ic(.--I 'resi- 
dency passed  joylessly  away,  wliilc  tlic 
partisan  strife  between  Fetleralist  and  Kc- 
publican  was  c\'er  growing  liotter.  The 
former  party  split  and  tlie  result  of  the 
fourth  general  election  was  the  elevation  of 
Mr.  Jefferson  to  the  Presidency !  with 
Aaron  Burr  as  Vice-President.  Tliese  men 
being  at  the  head  of  a  growing  party,  their 
election  was  hailed  everywhere  with  joy. 
On  the  other  hand,  many  of  the  Federalists 
turned  pale,  as  they  believed  what  a  portion 
of  the  pulpit  and  the  press  had  been  preach- 
ing— that  Jefferson  was  a  "  scoffing  atheist," 
a  "Jacobin,"  the  '■  incarnation' of  all  evil," 
"  breathing  threatening  and  slaughter!  " 

Mr.  Jefferson's  inaugural  address  con- 
tained nothing  but  the  noblest  sentiments, 
expressed  in  tine  language,  and  his  personal 
behavior  afterward  exhibited  the  extreme 
of  American,  democratic  simplicity.  His 
disgust  of  European  court  etiquette  grew 
upon  him  with  age.  He  believed  that 
General  Washington  was  somewhat  dis- 
trustful of  the  ultimate  success  of  a  populai- 
Government,  and  that,  imbued  with  a  little 
admiration  of  the  forms  of  a  monarchical 
Government,  he  had  instituted  levees,  birth- 
days, pompous  meetings  witii  Congress, 
etc.  JclTci'son  was  always  polite,  even  to 
slaves  everywhere  he  met  them,  and  carried 
in  his  Countenance  the  indications  of  an  ac- 
commodating disjiosition. 

The  political  principles  of  the  JefTersoni- 
an  party  now  swept  the  country,  and  Mr. 
Jefferson  himself  swayed  an  influence  which 
was  never  exceeded  even  b}'  Washington. 
Under  his  administration,  in  1803,  the  Lou- 
isiana purchase  was  made,  for  $15,000,000, 
the  "  Louisiana  Territoiy  "  purchased  com- 
prising all  the  land  west  of  the  Mississippi 
to  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Tiie  year  1804  witnessed  another  severe 
loss  in  his  family'.  His  highly  accomplished 
and  most  beloved  daughter  ALiria  sickened 
and    died,    causing   as   great   grief    in    the 

!SL..,. L.,.,.: 


T//OM.IS     JEFFElfSOA'. 
\ 


stricken  parent  as  it  was  i)ossible  for  him  to 
survi\'e  willi  any  degree  of  sanit}'. 

The  same  year  he  was  re-elected  to  the 
Presidency,  with  George  Clinton  as  Vice- 
President.  During  his  second  term  our 
relations  with  England  became  more  com- 
plicated, and  on  June  22,  1807,  near  Hamp- 
ton Roads,  tiie  United  States  frigate 
Chesapeake  was  fired  upon  by  the  Brit- 
ish man-of-war  Leopard,  and  was  made 
to  surrender.  Three  men  were  killed  and 
ten  wounded.  Jefferson  demanded  repara- 
tion. England  grew  insolent.  It  became 
evident  that  war  was  determined  upon  by 
the  latter  power.  More  than  1,200  Ameri- 
cans were  forced  into  the  British  service 
upon  the  high  seas.  Before  any  satisfactory 
solution  was  reached,  Mr.  Jefferson's 
Presidential  term  closed.  Amid  all  these 
public  excitements  he  thought  constantly 
of  the  welfare  of  his  family,  and  longed 
for  the  time  when  he  could  return  home 
to  remain.  There,  at  Monticello,  his  sub- 
sequent life  was  very  similar  to  that  of 
Washington  at  Mt.  ^''e^non.  His  hospi- 
talitv  toward  his  numerous  friends,  indul- 
gence of  his  slaves,  and  misfortimes  to  his 
property,  etc.,  finally  involved  him  in  debt. 
For  years  his  home  resembled  a  fashion- 
able watering-place.  During  the  summer, 
thirty-seven  house  servants  were  required  ! 
It  was  presided  over  bv  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Randol[>h. 

Mr.  Jefferson  did  much  for  the  establish- 
ment of  the  University  at  Charlottesville, 
making  it  unsectarian,  in  keeping  with  the 
spirit  of  American  institutions,  but  poverty 
and  the  feebleness  of  old  age  prevented 
him  from  doing  what  he  would.  He  even 
went  so  far  as  to  petition  the  Legislature 
f(3r  permission  to  dispose  of  some  of  his 
possessions  by  lottery,  in  order  to  raise  the 
necessary  funds  for  home  expenses.  It  was 
granted ;  but  before  the  plan  was  carried 
out,   Mr.   Jefferson    died,  July   4,   1S26,  at 

12:50  I'.  M.      ,.,   ,   , 


t.a.»tfni»arJc.-J«w«*-'.i*uTir,i;«g«rMarn,M^tj.iri».i.^B.^.^..t3^«^^ 


PRES/DBNTS    OF    THE     V.WITED    STATES. 


f^j^fa"ia^si*iim^m'^m^a^M!^m^^ttSm^-m.f^WmWmll^ 


1 

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— fi- 


t^tJ-^  til  -I-  tj5  •!•  i^  -1^  Sia  •;-"(«;Scja~'!"-e^!l;a)  ■'•  >^p  ''•  •*»' -r-  ^  -r-    . 


a»';,^'^'AMES     MADISON,    the 

1%     fourth    President   of   tlie 

Ijt^"**     United   States,    iSog-'i;, 

was   born   at   Port  Con- 

•t''  -  '    ll^'J "  ^•.       ^^'''.V'     I'l'ince    George 

"T^sjjs^-ii^^jr   i^ i'       Count)',  Virginia,  March 

1 6,     1 75 1.       His    father, 

Colonel  James  Madison,  was 

^\\ljfe       ^  wealthy  planter,  residing 

up(Mi    a    very    fine    estate 

,  called    "  Montpelier,"    only 

^ijy^     twenty-five  miles  from  the 

home  of  Thomas  Jefferson 

at  Monlicello.     The  closest 

personal    and    political    at- 

taciiment     existed      between 

these  illustrious  men  from  their  carl)' 3-outh 

until  death. 

James  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  seven 
children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  all 
of  whom  attained  maturity.  His  early  edu- 
cation was  conducted  mostly  at  home, 
under  a  private  tutor.  Being  naturall\'  in- 
tellectual in  his  tastes,  he  consecrated  him- 
self with  unusual  vigor  to  study.  At  a  very 
early  age  he  made  considerable  proficiency 
in  the  Greek,  Latin,  French  and  Spanish 
languages.  In  1769  he  entered  Princeton 
College,  New  Jersey,  of  which  the  illus- 
trious Dr.  Weatherspoon  was  then  Presi- 
dent.    He  graduated  in  1771,  with  a  char- 


acter of  the  utmost  purity,  and  a  mind 
highly  disciplined  and  stored  \\ith  all  the 
learning  which  embellished  and  gave  effi- 
ciency to  his  subsequent  career.  After 
graduating  he  pursued  a  course  of  reading 
for  several  months,  luider  the  guidance  of 
President  Weatherspoon,  and  in  1772  re- 
turned to  Virginia,  where  he  continued  in 
incessant  study  for  two  years,  nominally 
directed  to  the  law,  but  really  including 
extended  researches  in  theology,  j)hiloso- 
phy  and  general  literature. 

The  Church  of  England  was  the  estab- 
lished church  in  Virginia,  invested  with  all 
the  prei^ogatives  and  immunities  which  it 
enjoyed  in  the  fatherland,  and  other  de- 
nominations labored  inider  serious  disabili- 
ties, the  enforcement  of  which  was  rightly 
or  wrongl}'  characterized  by  them  as  per- 
secution. Madison  took  a  prominent  stand 
in  behalf  of  the  removal  of  all  disabilities, 
repeatedly  appeared  in  the  court  of  his  own 
county  to  defend  the  Baptist  nonconform- 
ists, and  was  elected  from  Orange  County  to 
the  Virginia  Convention  in  the  spring  of 
1766,  when  he  signalized  the  beginning  of 
his  public  career  by  procuring  the  passage 
of  an  amendment  to  the  Declaration  of 
Rights  as  prepared  by  George  Mason,  sub- 
stituting for  "  toleration"  a  more  emphatic 
assertion  of  religious  liberty. 


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III  1776  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Virginia  Convention  to  frame  tlie  Constitu- 
tion of  the  State.  Lilce  Jefferson,  he  took 
but  little  part  in  the  public  debates.  Mis 
main  strength  lay  in  his  Cc^nversational  in- 
fluence and  in  his  pen.  In  November,  1777, 
he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Council  of 
State,  and  in  March,  1780,  took  his  seat  in 
the  Continental  Congress,  where  he  first 
gained  prominence  through  his  energetic 
opposition  to  the  issue  of  paper  mone}'  by 
the  States.  He  continued  in  Congress  three 
years,  one  of  its  most  active  and  influential 
members. 

lu  1784  Mr.  Madison  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Virginia  Legislature.  He  ren- 
dered important  service  by  promoting  and 
participating  in  that  revision  of  the  statutes 
which  effectually  abolished  the  remnants  of 
the  feudal  system  subsistent  up  to  that 
time  in  the  form  of  entails,  primogeniture, 
and  State  support  given  the  Anglican 
Church  ;  and  his  "  Memorial  and  Remon- 
strance" against  a  general  assessment  for 
the  support  of  religion  is  one  of  the  ablest 
papers  which  emanated  from  his  pen.  It 
settled  the  question  of  the  entire  separation 
of  church  and  State  in  Virginia. 

Mr.  Jefferson  says  of  him,  in  allusion  to 
the  study  and  experience  through  which  he 
had  already  passed : 

"  Trained  in  these  successive  schools,  he 
actjuired  a  habit  of  self-possession  which 
placed  at  ready  command  the  rich  resources 
of  his  luminous  and  discriminating  mind  and 
of  his  extensive  information,  and  rendered 
him  the  first  of  every  assembly  of  which  he 
afterward  became  a  member.  Never  wan- 
dering from  his  subject  into  vain  declama- 
tion, but  pursuing  it  closelv  in  language 
pure,  classical  and  copious,  soothing  al- 
ways the  feelings  of  his  adversaries  by  civili- 
ties and  softness  of  expression,  he  rose  to  the 
eminent  station  which  he  held  in  the  great 
National  Convention  of  17S7;  and  in  that  of 
Virginia,  which  followed,  he  sustained  the 


new  Constitution  in  all  its  parts,  bearing  off 
the  palm  against  the  logic  of  George  Mason 
and  tiic  fervid  declamation  of  Patrick 
Henry.  With  these  consummate  powers 
were  united  a  pure  and  spotless  virtue 
which  no  calumny  has  ever  attempted  to 
sullv-  Of  the  power  and  polish  of  his  pen, 
and  of  the  wisdom  of  his  administration  in 
the  highest  office  of  the  nation,  I  need  say 
nothing.  They  have  spoken,  and  will  for- 
ever speak,  for  themselves." 

In  January,  17S6,  Mr.  Madison  took  the 
initiative  in  proposing  a  meeting  of  State 
Commissioners  to  devise  measures  for  more 
satisfactory  commercial  relations  between 
the  States.  A  meeting  was  held  at  An- 
napolis to  discuss  this  subject,  and  but  five 
States  were  represented.  The  convention 
issued  another  call,  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Madi- 
son, urging  all  the  States  to  send  their  dele- 
gates to  Piiiladelphia,  in  Ma}',  1787,  to 
draught  a  Constitution  for  the  United 
States.  The  delegates  met  at  the  time  ap- 
pointed, every  State  exce[)t  Rhode  Island 
being  represented.  George  Washington 
was  chosen  president  of  the  convention, 
and  the  present  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  was  then  and  there  formed.  There 
was  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  active  in 
framing  this  immortal  chjcument  than  the 
mind  and  pen  of  James  Madison.  He  was, 
perhaps,  its  ablest  advocate  in  the  pages  of 
the   Federalist. 

Mr.  Madison  was  a  member  of  the  first 
four  Congresses,  i789-'97,  in  which  he  main- 
tained a  moderate  opposition  to  Hamilton's 
financial  policy.  He  declined  the  mission 
to  France  and  the  Secretaryship  of  State, 
and,  gradually  identifying  himself  with  the 
Republican  jtartv,  became  -from  1792  its 
avowed  leader.  In  1796  he  was  its  choice 
for  the  Presidency  as  successor  to  Wash- 
ington. Mr.  Jefferson  wrote:  "There  is 
not  another  person  in  the  United  States 
with  whom,  being  placed  at  the  helm  of  our 
affairs,  my  mi-nd  would  be  so  comi^letcly  at 


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PRESIDENTS     OF     THE     UNITED    STATES. 


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rest  for  the  fortune  of  our  political  biirk." 
But  Mr.  Madison  declined  to  be  a  candi- 
date. His  term  in  Congress  had  expired, 
and  he  returned  from  New  York  to  his 
beautiful  retreat  at  Montpelier. 

In  1794  Mr.  Madison  married  a  young 
widow  of  remarkable  powers  of  fascination 
—  -Mrs.  Todd.  Her  maiden  naine  was  Doro- 
thy Paine.  She  was  born  in  1767,  in  Vir- 
ginia, of  Quaker  parents,  and  had  been 
educated  in  the  strictest  rules  of  that  sect. 
When  but  eighteen  years  of  age  she  married 
a  young  lawyer  and  moved  to.Philadelpiija, 
where  she  was  introduced  to  brilliant  scenes 
of  fashionable  life.  She  speedily  laid  aside 
the  dress  and  address  of  the  Quakeress,  and 
became  one  of  the  most  fascinating  ladies 
of  the  republican  court.  In  New  York, 
after  the  death  of  her  husband,  she  was  the 
belle  of  the  season  and  was  surrounded  with 
admirers.  Mr.  Madison  won  the  prize. 
She  proved  an  invaluable  helpmate.  In 
Washington  she  was  the  life  of  society. 
If  there  was  any  diffident,  timid  young 
girl  just  making  her  ajjpearance,  she 
found  in  Mrs.  Madison  an  encouraging 
friend. 

During  the  stormy  administration  of  John 
Adams  Madison  remained  in  private  life, 
but  was  the  author  of  the  celebrated  "  Reso- 
lutions of  179S,"  adopted  by  the  Virginia 
Legislature,  in  condemnation  of  the  Alien 
and  Sedition  laws,  as  well  as  of  the  "  report" 
in  which  he  defended  those  resolutions, 
which  is,  by  many,  considered  his  ablest 
State  paper. 

The  storm  passed  away ;  the  Alien  and 
Sedition  laws  were  repealed,  John  Adams 
lost  his  re-election,  and  in  1801  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson was  chosen  President.  The  great  re- 
action in  public  sentiment  which  seated 
Jefferson  in  the  presidential  chair  was  large- 
ly owing  to  the  writings  of  Madison,  who 
was  consequently  well  entitled  to  the  post 
of  Secretary  of  State.  With  great  ability 
lie  discharged  the  duties  of  this  responsible 


office  during  the  eight  years  of  Mr.  Jeffer- 
son's administration. 

As  Mr.  Jefferson  was  a  widower,  and 
neither  of  his  daughters  could  be  often  with 
him,  Mrs.  Madison  usually  presided  over 
the  festivities  of  the  White  House;  and  as 
her  husband  succeeded  Mr.  Jefferson,  hold- 
ing his  office  for  two  terms,  this  remarkable 
woman  was  the  mistress  of  the  presidential 
mansion  for  sixteen  years. 

Mr.  Madison  being  entirely  engrossed  by 
the  cares  of  his  office,  all  the  duties  of  so- 
cial life  devolved  upon  his  accomplished 
wife.  Never  were  such  responsibilities 
more  ably  discharged.  The  most  bitter 
foes  of  her  husband  and  of  the  administra- 
tion were  received  with  the  frankly  prof- 
fered hand  and  the  cordial  smile  of  wel- 
come; and  the  inffuence  of  this  gentle 
woman  in  allaying  the  bitterness  of  party 
rancor  became  a  great  and  salutary  power 
in  the  nation. 

As  the  term  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  Presidency 
drew  near  its  close,  party  strife  was  roused 
to  the  utmost  to  elect  his  successor.  It  was 
a  death-grapple  between  the  two  great 
parties,  the  Federal  and  Republican.  Mr. 
Madison  was  chosen  President  by  an  elec- 
toral vote  of  122  to  53,  and  was  inaugurated 
March  4,  1S09,  at  a  critical  period,  when 
the  relations  of  the  United  States  with  Great 
Britain  were  becoming  embittered,  and  his 
first  term  was  passed  in  diplomatic  quarrels, 
aggravated  by  the  act  of  non-intercourse  of 
May,  1 8 10,  and  finally  resulting  in  a  decla- 
ration of  war. 

On  the  iSth  of  June,  1812,  President 
Madison  gave  his  approval  to  an  act  of 
Congress  declaring  war  against  Great  Brit- 
ain. Notwithstanding  the  bitter  hostility 
of  the  Federal  party  to  the  war,  the  countrj' 
in  general  approved;  and  in  the  autumn 
Madison  was  re-elected  to  the  Presidenc}' 
by  128  electoral  votes  to  89  in  favor  of 
George  Clinton. 

March  4,  18 17,  Madison  yielded  the  Presi- 


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deiicy  to  his  Secretary  of  State  and  inti- 
mate friend,  James  Monroe,  and  retired  to 
iiis  ancestral  estate  at  Montpelier,  where  lie 
])assed  the  evening  of  his  da^'s  surrounded 
by  attached  friends  and  enjoying  the 
merited  respect  of  the  whole  nation.  He 
took  pleasure  in  promoting  agriculture,  as 
president  of  the  county  society,  and  in 
watching  the  development  of  the  University 
of  Virginia,  of  which  he  was  long  rector  and 
visitor.  In  extreme  old  age  he  sat  in  1829 
as  a  member  of  the  convention  called  to  re- 
form the  Virginia  Constitution,  where  his 
appearance  was  hailed  with  the  most  gen- 
uine interest  anc?  satisfaction,  th(jugh  he 
was  too  infirm  to  partici[)ate  in  the  active 
work  of  revision.  Small  in  stature,  slender 
and  delicate  in  form,  with  a  countenance 
full  of  intelligence,  and  expressive  alike  of 
mildness  and  dignity,  he  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  all  who  attended  the  convention, 
and  was  treated  with  the  utmost  deference. 
He  seldom  addressed  the  assembly,  though 
he  always  appeared  self-possessed,  and 
watched  with  unflagging  interest  the  prog- 
ress of  every  measure.  Though  the  con- 
vention sat  sixteen  weeks,  he  spoke  only 
twice ;  but  when  he  did  speak,  the  whole 
house  paused  to  listen.  His  voice  was 
feeble  tiiough  his  enunciation  was  very  dis- 
tinct. One  of  the  reporters,  Mr.  Stansbury, 
relates  the  following  anecdote  of  Mr.  Madi- 
son's last  speech: 

"  The  next  day,  as  there  was  a  great  call 
for  it,  and  the  report  had  not  been  returned 
for  publication,  I  sent  my  son  with  a  re- 
spectful note,  requesting  the  manuscript. 
My  son  was  a  lad  of  sixteen,  whom  I  had 
taken  with  me  to  act  as  amanuensis.  On 
delivering  mv  note,  he  was  received  with 
the  utmost  politeness,  and  requested  to 
come  up  into  Mr.  Madison's  room  and  wait 
while  Iiis  eye  ran  over  the  paper,  as  com- 
pany had  prevented  his  attending  to  it.  He 
did  so,  and  Mr.  Madison  sat  down  to  correct 
the  report.     The  lad  stood  near  him  so  that 


his  eye  fell  on  the  paper.  Coming  to  a 
certain  sentence  in  the  speech,  Mr.  Madison 
erased  a  word  and  substituted  anotiicr  ;  but 
hesitated,  and  not  feeling  satisfied  with  the 
second  word,  drew  his  pen  through  it  also. 
My  son  was  young,  ignorant  of  the  world, 
and  unconscious  of  the  solecism  of  which  he 
was  about  to  begLiilty,  wlien,  in  all  simplic- 
ity, he  suggested  a  word.  Probably  no 
other  i)erson  then  living  would  have  taken 
such  a  Hberty.  But  the  sage,  instead  of 
reoarding  such  an  intrusion  with  a  frown, 
raised  his  eyes  to  the  boy's  face  with  a 
pleased  surprise,  and  said,  '  Thank  you,  sir  ; 
it  is  the  very  word,'  and  immediatelv  in- 
serted it.  I  saw  him  the  next  day,  and  he 
mentioned  the  circumstance,  with  a  compli- 
ment on  the  young  critic." 

Mr.  Madison  died  at  Montpelier,  June  28, 
1836,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five. 
^Vhile  not  possessing  the  highest  order  of 
talent,  and  deficient  in  oratorical  powers, 
he  was  pre-eminently  a  statesman,  of  a  well- 
balanced  inind.  His  attainments  were  solid, 
his  knowledge  copious,  his  judgment  gener- 
ally sound,  his  powers  of  analysis  and  logi- 
cal statement  rarely  surpassed,  his  language 
and  literary  style  correct  and  polished,  his 
conversation  witty,  his  temperament  san- 
guine and  trustful,  his  integrity  unques- 
tioned, his  manners  simple,  courteous  and 
winning.  By  these  rare  qualities  he  con- 
ciliated the  esteem  not  only  of  friends,  but 
of  political  opponents,  in  a  greater  degree 
than  anv  American  statesman  in  the  present 
centurv. 

Mrs.  Madison  survived  her  husband  thir- 
teen years,  and  died  July  12,  1849,  in  the 
eighty-second  year  of  her  age.  She  was  one 
of  the  most  remarkable  women  our  coun- 
try has  produced.  Even  now  she  is  ad- 
miringly remembered  in  Washington  as 
"  Dolly  Madison,"  and  it  is  fitting  that  her 
memory  should  descend  to  posterity  in 
company  with  thatof  the  companion  of 
her  life. 


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^     'J.'^'AMES  MONROE,  the  fifth 

^j]:-^^^^^/^^:        President  of  the    United 

ilS''fk''/ii\tM*^    States,  1817-25,  was  born 

'%■■!  *Mrui  *i'         i  11  Westmoreland  Count  v 

''-'-      I^P  '\.      Virginia,  April  28,   1758, 

iSij'^.-,v)*3-  &'>'      He  was  a  son  of   Spence 


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Monroe,  and  a  descendant 
of  a  Scottish  cavalier  fam- 
ily. Like  all  his  predeces- 
sors thus  far  in  the  Presi- 
dential chair,  he  enj(jyed  all 
the  advantages  of  educa- 
tion which  the  country 
could  then  afford.  He  was 
early  sent  to  a  fine  classical 
school,  and  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen entered  William  and  Mary  College.. 
In  1776,  when  he  had  been  in  college  but 
two  years,  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  adopted,  and  our  feeble  militia,  with- 
out arms,  amunition  or  clothing,  were  strug- 
gling agaiust  the  trained  armies  of  England. 
James  Monroe  left  college,  hastened  to 
General  Washington's  headquarters  at  New 
York  and  enrolled  himself  as  a  cadet  in  the 
army. 

At  Trenton  Lieutenant  Monroe  so  dis- 
tinguished himself,  receiving  a  wound  in  his 
shoulder,  that  he  was  promoted  to  a  Cap- 
taincy. Upon  recovering  from  his  wound, 
he  was  invited  to  act  as  aide  to  Lord  Ster- 
ling, and  in  that  capacity  he  took  an  active 
part  in  the  battles  of  Brandy  wine,  Ger- 
inantown  and  Monmouth.   At  Germantown 


he  stood  by  the  side  of  Lafayette  when  the 
French  Marquis  received  his  wound.  Gen- 
eral Washington,  who  had  formed  a  high 
idea  of  young  Monroe's  ability,  sent  him  to 
Virginia  to  raise  a  new  regiment,  of  which 
he  was  to  be  Colonel;  but  so  exhausted  was 
Virginia  at  that  time  that  the  effort  proved 
unsuccessful.  He,  however,  received  his 
commission. 

Finding  no  opportimity  to  enter  the  army 
as  a  commissioned  ofticer,  he  returned  to  his 
original  plan  of  studying  law,  and  entered 
the  of^ce  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  who  was 
then  Governor  of  Virginia.  He  developed 
a  very  noble  character,  frank,  manly  and 
sincere.     Mr.  Jefferson  said  of  him: 

"James  Monroe  is  so  perfectly  honest 
that  if  his  soul  were  turned  inside  out  there 
would  not  be  found  a  spot  on  it." 

In  1782  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly 
of  Virginia,  and  was  also  appointed  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Executive  Council.  The  next 
year  he  was  chosen  delegate  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  for  a  term  of  three  years. 
He  was  present  at  Annapolis  when  Wash- 
ington surrendered  his  commission  of  Com- 
mander-in-chief. 

With  Washington,  Jefferson  and  Madison 
he  felt  deeply  the  inefficiency  of  tiie  old 
Articles  of  Confederation,  and  urged  the 
formation  of  a  new  Constitution,  which 
should  invest  the  Central  Government  with 
something  like  national  power.  Influenced 
bv  these  views,  he  introduced  a  resolution 


,.«i,L»  _,»-», 


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that  Congress  slioiild  be  cinpowcrcd  to 
regulate  trade,  and  to  lay  an  impost  dut)' 
of  five  per  cent.  The  resolution  was  refer- 
red to  a  committee  of  which  he  was  chair- 
man. The  report  and  the  liiscussion  which 
rose  upon  it  led  to  the  convention  of  five 
States  at  Annapolis,  and  the  consequent 
general  convention  at  Philadelphia,  which, 
in  1787,  drafted  tlie  Constitution  of  the 
United  States. 

At  this  time  there  was  a  controversy  be- 
tween New  York  and  Massachusetts  in 
reference  to  their  boundaries.  The  high 
esteem  in  which  Colonel  Monroe  was  held 
is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  judges  to  decide  the 
controvers}'.  While  in  New  York  attend- 
ing Congress,  he  married  Miss  Kortright, 
a  young  lady  distinguished  alike  for  her 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  For  nearly 
fifty  )'ears  this  happv  union  remained  un- 
broken. In  London  and  in  Paris,  as  in  her 
own  country,  Mrs.  Monroe  won  admiration 
and  affection  by  the  loveliness  of  her  per- 
son, the  brilliancy  of  her  intellect,  and  the 
amiability  of  her  character. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  Colonel  Monroe 
commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Freder- 
icksburg. He  was  ver}-  soon  elected  to  a 
scat  in  the  -State  Legislature,  and  the  next 
year  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  \'ir- 
ginia  convention  which  was  assembled  to 
decide  upon  the  acceptance  or  rejection  of 
the  Constitution  which  liad  been  drawn  up 
at  Philadelphia,  and  was  now  submitted 
to  the  several  States.  Dcepl}'  as  he  felt 
the  imperfections  of  the  old  Confederacy, 
he  was  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
thinking,  with  many  others  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  that  it  gave  too  much  ]:)Ower  to 
the  Central  Government,  and  nut  enough 
to  the  individual  States. 

In  1789  he  became  a  member  of  the 
United  States  Senate,  which  office  he  held 
acceptably  to  his  constituents,  and  with 
honor  to  himself  for  four  years. 


Having  opposed  the  Constitution  as  not 
leaving  enough  power  with  the  States,  lie, 
of  course,  became  more  and  more  identi- 
fied with  tiie  Republican  p.irty.  Thus  he 
found  himself  in  cordial  co-operation  with 
Jefferson  and  Madison.  Tiie  great  Repub- 
lican party  became  tlie  ihmiinant  power 
which  ruled  the  land. 

George  Washington  was  then  President. 
England  had  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
Bourbons  against  tiie  {principles  of  the 
French  Revolution.  President  Washing- 
ton issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality  be- 
tween these  contending  powers.  France 
had  helped  us  in  the  struggle  for  our  lib- 
erties. All  the  despotisms  of  Europe  were 
now  combined  to  prevent  the  French 
from  escaping  from  tyrann}'  a  thousandfold 
worse  than  tiiat  which  we  had  endured. 
Colonel  Monroe,  more  magnanimous  than 
prudent,  was  anxious  that  we  should  help 
our  old  allies  in  their  extremity.  He  vio- 
lently opposed  the  President's  procla- 
mation as  ungrateful  and  wanting  in 
magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such 
a  character,  developed  his  calm,  serene, 
almost  divine  greatness  by  appointing  that 
very  James  Monroe,  who  was  denouncing 
tiie  policy  of  the  Government,  as  the  Minis- 
ter of  that  Government  to  tlie  republic  of 
France.  He  was  directed  by  Washington 
to  express  to  the  French  people  our  warm- 
est sympathy,  communicating  to  them  cor- 
responding resolves  approved  by  the  Pres- 
ident, and  adopted  by  both  houses  of 
Congress. 

Mr.  Monroe  was  welcomed  b}'  tiie  Na- 
tional Convention  in  France  with  the  most 
enthusiastic  demonstrations  of  respect  and 
affectiiin.  He  was  publicly  introduced  to 
that  body,  and  received  the  embrace  of  the 
President,  Merlin  de  Douay,  after  having 
been  addressed  in  a  speech  glowing  with 
congratulations,  and  with  expressions  of 
desire  that   harmony  might  ever   exist  be- 


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twceii  the  two  nations.  Tlie  flags  of  the 
two  reiJubhcs  were  intertwined  in  the  halt 
of  the  convention.  Mr.  Monroe  presented 
tlie  zVnierican  colors,  and  received  those  of 
France  in  return.  The  conrse  which  he 
pursued  in  Paris  was  so  anno3'ing  to  Eng- 
land and  to  the  friends  of  England  in 
this  countr\'  that,  near  the  close  of  Wash- 
ington's administration,  Mr.  Monroe,  was 
recalled. 

After  his  return  Colonel  Monroe  wrote  a 
book  of  400  pages,  entitled  "  A  View  of  the 
Conduct  of  the  Executive  in  Foreign  Af- 
fairs." In  this  work  he  very  ably  advo- 
cated his  side  of  the  question;  but,  with 
the  magnanimity  of  the  man,  he  recorded  a 
warm  tribute  to  the  patriotism,  ability  and 
spotless  integrity  of  John  Jay,  between 
whom  and  himself  there  was  intense  antag- 
onism ;  and  in  subsequent  years  he  ex- 
pressed in  warmest  terms  his  perfect 
veneration  for  the  character  of  George 
Washington. 

Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  country 
Colonel  Monroe  was  elected  Governor  of 
Virginia,  and  held  that  office  for  three 
years,  the  period  limited  by  the  Constitu- 
tion. In  1802  he  was  an  Envoy  to  France, 
and  to  Spain  in  1805,  and  was  Minister  to 
England  in  1803.  In  1806  he  returned  to 
his  quiet  home  in  Virginia,  and  with  his 
wife  and  childrenand  an  ample  competence 
from  his  })aternal  estate,  enjoyed  a  few  years 
of  domestic  repose. 

In  1809  Mr.  Jefferson's  second  term  of 
office  expired,  and  many  of  the  Republican 
])arty  were  anxious  to  nominate  James 
Monroe  as  his  successor.  The  majority 
were  in  favor  of  Mr.  Madison.  Mr.  Mon- 
roe withdrew  his  name  and  was  soon  after 
chosen  a  second  time  Governor  of  Virginia, 
lie  soon  resigned  that  ofifice  to  accept  the 
position  of  Secretary  of  State,  offered  him 
by  President  Madison.  The  correspond- 
ence which  he  then  carried  on  with  the 
British    Government     demonstrated    that 


there  was  no  hope  of  any  peaceful  adjust- 
ment of  our  difficulties  with  the  cabinet  of 
St.  James.  War  was  consequently  declared 
in  June,  1812.  Immediately  after  the  sack 
of  Washington  the  Secretary  of  War  re- 
signed, and  Mr.  Monroe,  at  the  earnest 
request  of  Mr.  Madison,  assimied  the  ad- 
ditional duties  of  the  War  Department, 
without  resigning  his  position  as  Secretary 
of  State.  It  has  been  confidently  stated, 
that,  had  Mr.  Monroe's  energies  been  in  the 
War  Department  a  few  months  earlier,  the 
disaster  at  Washington  would  not  have 
occurred. 

The  duties  now  devolving  upon  Mr.  Mon- 
roe were  extremely  arduous.  Ten  thou- 
sand men,  picked  from  the  veteran  armies 
of  England,  were  sent  with  a  powerful  fleet 
to  New  Orleans  to  acquire  possession  of 
tlie  mouths  of  the  Mississippi.  Our  finan- 
ces were  in  the  most  deplorable  condition. 
The  treasury  was  exhausted  and  our  credit 
gone.  And  3'et  it  was  necessary  to  make 
the  most  rigorous  preparations  to  meet  the 
foe.  In  this  crisis  James  Monroe,  the  Sec- 
retary of  War,  with  virtue  unsurpassed  in 
Greek  or  Roman  story,  stepped  forward 
and  pledged  his  own  individual  credit  as 
subsidiary  to  that  of  the  nation,  and  thus 
succeeded  in  placing  the  city  of  New  Or- 
leans in  such  a  posture  of  defense,  that  it 
was  enabled  successfully  to  repel  the  in- 
vader. 

Mr.  Monroe  was  truly  the  armor-bearer 
of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  His  energy 
in  the  double  capacit}'  of  Secretary,  both 
of  State  and  War,  pervaded  all  the  depart- 
ments of  the  countr}'.  He  proposed  to 
increase  the  army  to  100,000  men,  a  meas- 
ure which  he  deemed  absolutely  necessary 
to  save  us  from  ignominious  defeat,  but 
which,  at  the  same  time,  he  knew  would 
render  his  name  so  unpopular  as  to  preclude 
the  possibility  of  his  being  a  successful  can- 
didate for  the  Presidency. 


aTB^»'W^M.^»J"^»raxM«raT»«'k»''Jii 


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JAMES    MONROE. 


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The  happy  result  of  the  conference  at 
Ghent  in  securing  peace  rendered  the  in- 
crease of  the  army  unnecessary;  but  it  is  not 
too  much  to  say  that  James  M(Miroe  i)laced 
in  the  hands  of  Andrew  Jackson  the 
weapon  with  which  to  beat  off  the  foe  at 
New  Orleans.  Upon  the  return  of  peace 
Mr.  Monroe  resigned  the  department  of 
war,  devoting  himself  entirely  to  the  duties 
of  Secretary  of  State.  These  he  continued 
to  discharge  until  the  close  of  President 
Madison's  administration,  with  zeal  which 
was  never  abated,  and  with  an  ardor  of 
self-devotion  which  made  him  almost  for- 
getful of  the  claims  of  fortune,  health  or 
life. 

Mr.  Madison's  second  term  expired  in 
March,  1817,  and  Mr.  Monroe  succeeded 
to  the  Presidency.  He  was  a  candidate  of 
the  Republican  party,  now  taking  the  name 
of  the  Democratic  Republican.  In  1S21  he 
was  re-elected,  with  scarccl3-any  opposition. 
Out  of  232  electoral  votes,  he  received  231. 
The  slavery  question,  which  subsequently 
assimied  such  formidable  dimensions,  now 
began  to  make  its  appearance.  The  State 
of  Missouri,  which  had  been  carved  out  of 
that  immense  territory  which  we  had  pur- 
chased of  France,  applied  for  admission  to 
the  Union,  with  a  slavery  Constitution. 
There  were  not  a  few  who  foresaw  the 
evils  impending.  After  the  debate  of  a 
week  it  was  decided  that  Missouri  could 
not  be  admitted  into  the  Union  with  slav- 
ery. This  important  question  was  at  length 
settled  by  a  compromise  proposed  by 
Henry  Clay. 

The  famous  "Monroe  Doctrine,"  of  which 
so  much  has  been  said,  originated  in  this 
way:  In  1823  it  was  rumored  that  the 
Hoi}'  Alliance  was  about  to  interfere  to 
prevent  the  establishment  of  Republican 
liberty  in  the  European  colonies  of  South 
America.  President  Monroe  wrote  to  his 
old  friend  Thomas  Jefferson  for  advice  in 
the  emergency.     In  his  reply  under  date  of 


October  24,  Mr.  Jefferson  writes  upon  the 
supposition  that  our  attempt  to  resist  this 
European  movement  might  lead  to  war: 

"  Its  object  is  to  introduce  and  establish 
the  American  system  of  keeping  out  of  our 
land  all  foreign  powers;  of  never  permitting 
those  of  Europe  to  intermeddle  with  tlie 
affairs  of  our  nation.  It  is  to  maintain  our 
own  principle,  not  to  depart  from  it." 

December  2,  1823,  President  Monroe 
sent  a  message  to  Congress,  declaring  it  to 
be  the  policy  of  this  Government  not  t(j 
entangle  ourselves  with  the  broils  of  Eu- 
rope, and  not  to  allow  Europe  to  interfere 
with  the  affairs  of  nations  on  the  American 
continent;  and  the  doctrine  wasanncHuiced, 
that  any  attempt  on  the  ])art  of  the  Euro- 
pean powers  "  to  extend  their  s^'stem  to 
an}'  portion  of  this  hemispiiere  would  be 
regarded  by  the  United  States  as  danger- 
ous to  our  peace  and  safety." 

March  4,  1825,  Mr.  Monroe  surrendered 
the  presidential  chair  to  his  Secretary  of 
State,  John  Ouincy  Adams,  and  retired, 
with  the  universal  respect  of  the  nation, 
to  his  private  residence  at  Oak  Mill,  Lou- 
doun County,  Virginia.  His  time  had  been 
so  entirely  consecrated  to  his  country,  that 
he  had  neglected  his  pecuniary  interests, 
and  was  deeply  involved  in  debt.  The 
welfare  of  his  country  had  ever  been  up- 
permost in  his  mind. 

For  many  years  Mrs.  Monroe  was  in  such 
feeble  health  that  she  rarely  appeared  in 
public.  In  1830  Mr.  Monroe  took  up  his 
residence  with  his  son-in-law  in  New  York, 
where  he  died  on  the  4th  of  July,  1831. 
The  citizens  of  New  York  conducted  his 
obsequies  with  pageants  nvjre  imposing 
than  had  ever  been  witnessed  there  before. 
Our  country  will  ever  cherish  his  mem- 
ory with  pride,  gratefully  enrolling  his 
name  in  the  list  of  its  benefactors,  pronounc- 
ing him  the  worthy  successor  of  the  illus- 
trious men  who  had  preceded  him  in  the 
presidential  chair. 


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PRESJDEiVTS     OF     THE     UN  J  TED    STATES. 


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^^-^"OHN  OUINCY  ADAMS, 
the  sixth  President  of  the 
United    States,     iS25-'9, 

3Vri!</^/J,*^3-  was    born    in    tlie    rural 

home    of     his     honored 
fatiier,  John    ^Vdams,    in 
Q  n  i  n  c  y  ,    Massachnsetts, 
July  II,  1767.     His  mother, 
a  woman  of  exalted  worth, 
watched  over  his  childhood 
during  the  almost  constant 
absence  of  his  father.      Me 
commenced    his   education 
-  at  tiie  village  school,  giving 
at  an  early  period  indica- 
tions of   superior  mental  en- 
dowments. 

When  eleven  years  cjf  age  he  sailed  with 
his  father  for  Europe,  where  the  latter  was 
associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as  Minister 
Plenipotentiarv.  The  intelligence  of  John 
Quincy  attracted  the  attention  of  these  men 
and  received  from  them  flattering  marks  of 
attention.  Mr.  Adams  had  scarcely  returned 
to  this  country  in  1779  ere  he  was  again 
sent  abroad,  and  John  Quincy  again  accom- 
panied him.  On  this  voyage  he  commenced 
a  diary,  which  practice  he  continued,  with 
but  few  interruptions,  until  his  death.  He 
journeyed  with  his  father  from  Ferrol,  in 
Spain,  to  Paris.  Here  he  applied  himself 
for  six  months  to  study;  then  accompanied 


his  father  to  Holland,  where  he  entered, 
first  a  school  in  Amsterdam,  and  then  the 
University  of  Leyden.  In  1781,  when  only 
fourteen  years  of  age,  he  was  selected  by 
Mr.  Dana,  our  Minister  to  the  Russian 
court,  as  his  private  secretary'.  In  this 
school  of  incessant  labor  he  spent  fourteen 
months,  and  then  returnedalone  to  Holland 
through  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
Bremen.  Again  he  resumed  his  studies 
under  a  private  tutor,  at  The  Hague. 

In  the  spring  of  1782  he  accompanied  his 
father  to  Paris,  forming  acquaintance  with 
the  most  distinguished  men  on  the  Conti- 
nent. After  a  short  visit  to  England,  he  re- 
turned to  Paris  and  studied  until  May, 
17S5,  when  he  returned  to  America,  leav- 
ing his  father  an  embassador  at  the  court 
of  St.  James.  In  1786  he  entered  the  jun- 
ior class  in  Harvard  University,  and  grad- 
uated with  the  second  honor  of  his  class. 
The  oration  he  delivered  on  this  occasion, 
the  "  Importance  of  Public  Faith  to  the 
Well-being  of  a  Community,"  was  pub- 
lished—an event  very  rare  in  this  or  any 
other  land. 

Upon  leaving  college  at  the  age  of  twenty 
he  studied  law  three  years  with  the  Hon. 
Theophilus  Parsons  in  Newburyport.  In 
1790  he  opened  a  law  office  in  Boston.  The 
profession  was  crowded  with  able  men,  and 
the  fees  were  small.     The  first  3'ear  he  had 


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no  clients,  but  not  a  moment  was  lost.  The 
second  year  passed  away,  still  no  clients, 
and  still  lie  was  dependent  upon  liisj)arents 
for  support.  Anxiously  he  awaited  the 
third  year.  The  reward  now  came.  Cli- 
ents began  to  enter  his  office,  and  before 
the  end  of  the  year  he  was  so  crowded 
with  business  that  all  solicitude  respecting 
a  support  was  at  an  end. 

When  Great  Britain  commenced  war 
against  France,  in  1793,  Mr.  Adams  wrote 
some  articles,  urging  entire  neutrality  on 
the  part  of  the  United  States.  The  view 
was  not  a  popular  one.  Many  felt  that  as 
France  had  helped  us,  we  were  bound  to 
help  France.  But  President  Washington 
coincided  with  Mr.  Adams,  and  issued  his 
proclamation  of  neutrality.  His  writings 
at  this  time  in  the  Boston  journals  gave 
him  so  high  a  reputation,  that  in  June, 
1794,  he  was  appointed  by  Washington 
resident  Minister  at  the  Netherlands.  In 
July,  1797,  he  left  The  Ilague  to  go  to  Port- 
ugal as  Minister  I^lenipotentiary.  Wash- 
ington at  this  time  wrote  to  his  father,  John 
Adams: 

"  Without  intending  to  compliment  the 
father  or  the  mother,  or  to  censure  any 
others,  I  give  it  as  my  decided  ojjinion, 
that  Mr.  Adams  is  the  most  valuable  char- 
acter we  have  abroad;  and  there  remains 
no  doubt  in  my  mind  that  he  will  prove  the 
ablest  of  our  diplomatic  corps." 

On  his  way  to  Portugal,  u[K)n  his  arrival 
in  London,  he  met  with  dispatches  direct- 
ing him  to  the  court  of  Berlin,  but  request- 
ing him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  should 
receive  instructions.  While  waiting  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  Catherine  John- 
son, to  whom  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged. Miss  Johnson  was  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  American  Consul 
in  London,  and  was  a  lady  endowed  with 
that  beauty  and  those  accomplishments 
which  fitted  her  to  move  in  the  elevated 
sphere  for  which  slie  was  destined. 


In  July,  1799,  having  fulfilled  all  the  pur- 
poses of  his  mission,  Mr.  .\dams  returned. 
In  i8o3  he  was  chosen  to  the  Senate  of 
Massachusetts  from  Boston,  and  then  was 
elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  si.\: 
years  from  March  4,  1S04.  His  reputation, 
his  ability  and  his  experience,  placed  him 
immediately  among  the  most  prominent 
and  influential  members  of  that  body.  He 
sustained  the  Government  in  its  measures 
of  resistance  to  the  encroachments  of  Eng- 
land, destroying  our  commerce  and  insult- 
ing our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America 
more  familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the 
British  court  upon  these  points,  and  no 
one  more  resolved  to  present  a  firm  resist- 
ance. This  course,  so  truly  patriotic,  and 
which  scarcely  a  voice  will  now  be  found 
to  condemn,  alienated  him  from  the  Fed- 
eral party  dominant  in  Boston,  and  sub-. 
jected  him  to  censure. 

In  1805  Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  professor 
of  rhetoric  in  Harvard  C(jllege.  His  lect- 
ures at  this  place  were  subsequently  pub- 
lished. In  i8og  he  was  sent  as  Minister  to 
Russia.  He  was  one  of  the  commissioners 
that  negotiated  the  treat}'  of  peace  with 
Great  Britain,  signed  December  24,  18 14, 
and  he  was  appointed  Minister  \.o  the  court 
of  St.  James  in  1815.  In  1817  he  became 
Secretary  of  State  in  Mr.  Monroe's  cabinet 
in  which  position  he  remained  eight  j^ears. 
Few  will  now  contradict  the  assertion  that 
the  duties  of  that  office  were  never  more 
ably  discharged.  Probably  the  most  im- 
portant measure  which  Mr.  Adams  con- 
ducted was  the  purchase  of  Florida  from 
Spain  for  $5,000,000. 

The  campaign  of  18^4  was  an  exciting 
one.  Four  candidates  were  in  the  field. 
Of  the  260  electoral  votes  that  were  cast, 
Andrew  Jackson  received  ninetv-ninc;  John 
Onincy  Adams,  eighty-four;  \Villiam  If. 
Crawford,  forty-one,  and  Hcnr}'  Cla\-, 
thirtj'-seven.  As  there  was  no  choice  bv 
the  people,  the  question  went  to  the  House 


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of  Representatives.  Mr.  Clay  gave  the 
vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  ^Vdams,  and  he 
was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  disappointed  candidates 
now  combined  in  a  x'cnomoiis  assault  upon 
Mr.  ^Vdams.  I'here  is  nothing  more  dis- 
graceful in  the  past  history  of  our  country 
than  the  abuse  which  was  jioured  in  one 
uninterrupted  stream  upon  this  high- 
minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  There  was 
never  an  administration  more  jnire  in  prin- 
ciples, more  conscientiously  devoted  to  the 
best  interests  of  tlie  country,  than  that  of 
John  Ouincy  yVdams;  and  never,  perhaps, 
was  there  an  atlministration  more  unscru- 
pidously  assailed.  Mr.  Adams  took  his  seat 
in  the  presidential  chair  resolved  not  to 
know  any  partisanship,  but  only  to  con- 
sult for  the  interests  of  the  whole  Republic, 

lie  refused  to  dismiss  any  man  from  of- 
fice for  his  political  views.  If  he  was  a  faith- 
ful officer  that  was  enough.  Bitter  must 
have  been  his  disappointment  to  find  that  the 
Nation  could  not  appreciate  such  conduct. 

Mr.  Adams,  in  his  public  manners,  was 
cold  and  repidsive;  though  with  his  per- 
sonal friends  he  was  at  times  very  genial. 
This  chilling  address  very  seriously  de- 
tracted from  his  popularit}-.  No  one  can 
read  an  impartial  record  of  his  administra- 
tion without  admitting  that  a  more  noble 
example  of  uncompromising  dignit)'  can 
scarcely  be  found.  It  was  stated  publicly 
that  Mr.  Adams'  administration  was  to  be 
put  down,  "  though  it  be  as  pure  as  the  an- 
gels which  stand  at  the  right  hand  of  the 
throne  of  God."  Many  of  the  active  par- 
ticipants in  these  scenes  lived  to  regret  the 
course  they  pursued.  Some  years  after, 
Warren  R.  Davi«,  of  South  Carolina,  turn- 
ing to  Mr.  Adams,  then  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  said: 

"  Well  do  I  remember  the  enthusiastic 
zeal  with  which  we  reproached  the  admin- 
istration of  that  gentleman,  and  the  ardor 
and  vehemence  with  which  we  labored  to 


bring  in  another.  For  the  share  I  had  in 
these  transactions,  and  it  was  not  a  small 
one,  I liopc  God  -will  forgive  vie,  for  I  shall 
never  forgive  myself." 

March  4,  1829,  Mr.  Adams  retired  from 
the  Presidency  and  was  succeeded  by  An- 
drew Jackson,  the  latter  receiving  168  out 
of  261  electoral  votes.  John  C.  Calhoun 
was  elected  Vice-President.  The  slavery 
question  now  began  to  assume  pretentious 
magnitude.  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Ouincy,  and  pursued  his  studies  with  una- 
bated zeal.  But  he  was  nf)t  long  permitted 
to  remain  in  retirement.  In  November, 
1830,  he  was  elected  to  Congress.  In  this 
he  recognized  the  principle  that  it  is  honor- 
able for  the  General  of  yesterday  to  act  as 
Coiporal  to-day,  if  by  so  doing  he  can  ren- 
der service  to  his  country.  Deep  as  aie 
our  obligations  to  John  Ouincy  Adams  for 
his  services  as  embassador,  as  Secretary  of 
State  and  as  President;  in  his  capacity  as 
legislator  in  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, he  conferred  benefits  upon  our  land 
which  eclipsed  all  the  rest,  and  which  can 
never  be  over-estimated. 

For  seventeen  years,  until  his  death,  he 
occupied  the  post  of  Representative,  tow- 
ering above  all  his  peers,  ever  ready  to  do 
brave  battle  for  freedom,  and  winning  the 
title  of  "  the  old  man  eloquent."  Upon 
taking  his  seat  in  the  House  he  announced 
that  he  should  hold  himself  bound  to  no 
party.  He  was  usually  the  first  in  his 
place  in  the  morning,  and  the  last  to  leave 
his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure 
could  escape  his  scrutiny.  The  battle 
which  he  fought,  almost  singly,  against  the 
pro-slavery  party  in  the  Government,  was 
sublime  in  its  moral  daring  and  heroism. 
For  persisting  in  presenting  petitions  for 
the  abolition  of  slavery,  he  was  threatened 
with  indictment  by  the  Grand  Jury,  with 
expulsion  from  the  House,  with  assassina- 
tion; but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him, 
and  his  final  triumph  was  complete. 


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On  one  occnsion  Mr.  Adams  presented  a 
petition,  signed  by  several  women,  against 
tiie  annexation  of  Texas  for  tiie  purpose  of 
cutting  it  up  into  slave  States.  Mr.  How- 
ard, of  Maryland,  said  that  these  women 
discredited  not  only  themselves,  but  their 
section  of  tlie  country,  by  turning  from 
their  domestic  duties  to  the  conflicts  of  po- 
litical life. 

"Are  women,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Adams, 
"  to  have  no  opinions  or  actions  on  subjects 
relating  to  the  general  weKare?  Where 
did  the  gentleman  get  his  principle?  Did 
he  find  it  in  sacred  history, — in  the  language 
of  Miriam,  the  prophetess,  in  one  of  the 
noblest  and  sublime  songs  of  triuiriph  that 
ever  met  the  human  eye  or  ear  ?  Did  the 
gentleman  never  hear  of  Deborah,  to  whom 
the  children  of  Israel  came  up  for  judg- 
ment ?  Has  he  forgotten  the  deed  of  Jael, 
wiio  slew  the  dreaded  enemy  of  her  coun- 
try? Has  he  forgotten  Esther,  who,  by  her 
petition  saved  her  people  and  her  coiui- 
try? 

"  To  go  from  sacred  history  to  profane, 
does  the  gentleman  there  find  it  'discredita- 
ble '  for  women  to  take  an  interest  in  politi- 
cal affairs?  Has  he  forgotten  the  Spartan 
mother,  who  said  to  her  son  when  going 
out  to  battle,  '  My  son,  come  back  to  me 
with  thy  shield,  or  upon  \.\\y  shield  ? '  Does 
he  remember  Cloelia  and  her  hundred  com- 
panions, who  swam  across  the  river  under 
a  shower  of  darts,  escaping  from  Porsena  ? 
Has  he  forgotten  Cornelia,  the  mother  of 
the  Gracchi?  Docs  he  not  remember  Por- 
tia, the  wife  of  Brutus  and  the  daughter  of 
Cato  ? 

"  To  come  to  later  periods,  what  sa3's  the 
history  of  our  Anglo-Saxon  ancestors  ? 
To  say  nothing  of  Boadicea,  the  British 
heroine  in  the  time  of  the  Ccesars,  what 
name  is  more  illustrious  than  that  of  Eliza- 
beth? Or,  if  he  will  go  to  the  continent, 
will  he  not  find  the  names  of  Maria  Theresa 
of    Hungary,    of  the    two    Catherines    of 


Prussia,  and  of  Isabella  of  Castile,  the  pa- 
troness of  Columbus  ?  Did  slic  bring  '  dis- 
credit '  on  her  sex  by  mingling  in  politics  ?  " 

In  this  glowing  strain  Mr.  Adams  si- 
lenced and  overwhelmed  his  antagonists. 

In  January,  1842,  Mr.  Adams  presented 
a  petition  from  forty-five  citizens  of  Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts,  praying  for  a  peaceable 
dissolution  of  the  Union.  The  pro-slavery 
party  in  Congress,  who  were  then  plotting 
the  destruction  of  the  Government,  were 
aroused  to  a  pretense  of  commotion  such  as 
even  our  stormy  hall  of  legislation  has 
rarely  witnessed.  They  met  in  caucus,  and, 
finding  that  they  probably  would  not  be 
able  to  expel  Mr.  Adams  from  the  House 
drew  up  a  series  of  resolutions,  which,  if 
adopted,  would  inflict  upon  him  disgrace, 
equivalent  to  expulsion.  Mr.  Adams  had 
presented  the  petition,  which  was  most  re- 
spectfully worded,  and  had  moved  that  it  be 
referred  to  a  committee  instructed  to  re- 
port an  answer,  showing  the  reason  why 
the  prayer  ought  not  to  be  granted. 

It  was  the  25th  of  January.  The  whole 
body  of  the  pro-slavery  party  came  crowd- 
ing together  in  the  House,  prepared  to 
crush  Mr.  Adams  forever.  One  of  the  num- 
ber, Thomas  F.  Marshall,  of  Kentucky,  was 
appointed  to  read  the  resolutions,  which 
accused  Mr.  Adams  of  high  treason,  of 
having  insulted  the  Government,  and  of 
meriting  expulsion;  but  for  which  deserved 
punishment,  the  House,  in  its  great  mercy, 
would  substitute  its  severest  censure.  With 
the  assumption  of  a  very  solemn  and  mag- 
isterial air,  there  being  breathless  silence  in 
the  audience,  Mr.  Marshall  hurled  the  care- 
fully prepared  anathemas  at  his  victim. 
Mr.  Adams  stood  alone,  the  whole  pro-slav- 
ery part}'  against  him. 

As  soon  as  the  resolutions  were  read, 
every  eye  being  fixed  upon  him,  that  bold 
old  man,  whose  scattered  locks  were  whit- 
ened by  seventy-five  years,  casting  a  withei'- 
ing  glance  in  the  direction  of  his  assailants. 


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in  a  clear,  slirill  tone,  trcnniloiis  witli  sup- 
pressed emotion,  said: 

"  In  reply  to  this  audacious,  atrocious 
chari^e  of  high  treason,  I  call  for  the  read- 
ing of  the  first  paragra])h  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence.  Read  it !  Read  it!  and 
see  what  that  says  of  the  rights  of  a  people 
to  reform,  to  change,  and  to  dissolve  their 
Government.' 

The  attitude,  the  manner,  the  tone,  the 
words;  the  venerable  old  man,  with  flash- 
ing eye  and  flushed  cheek,  and  whose  very 
form  seemed  to  expand  under  the  inspiration 
of  the  occasion — all  presented  a  scene  over- 
flowing in  its  sublimity.  There  was  breath- 
less silence  as  that  paragraph  was  read,  in 
defense  of  whose  principles  our  fathers  had 
pledged  their  lives,  their  fortunes  and  their 
sacred  honor.  It  was  a  proud  hour  to  Mr. 
Adams  as  they  were  all  compelled  to  listen 
to  the  words: 

"  That,  to  secure  these  rights,  govern- 
ments are  instituted  among  men,  deriving 
their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the 
governed;  and  that  whenever  any  form  of 
government  becomes  destructive  of  those 
ends,  it  is  the  right  of  the  people  to  alter  or 
abolish  it,  and  to  institute  new  government, 
laying  its  foundations  on  such  principles 
and  organizing  its  powers  in  such  form 
as  shall  seem  most  likely  to  effect  their 
safety  and  happiness." 

That  one  sentence  routed  and  baffled  the 


foe.  The  heroic  old  man  looked  around 
upon  the  audience,  and  thundered  out, 
"  Read  tliat  again!"  It  was  again  read. 
Then  in  a  few  fiery,  logical  words  he  stated 
his  defense  in  terms  which  even  prejudiced 
minds  could  not  resist.  His  discomfited 
assailants  made  several  attempts  to  rally. 
After  a  conflict  of  eleven  days  they  gave 
up  vanquished  and  their  resolution  was  ig- 
nominiously  laid  upon  the  table. 

In  January,  1846,  when  seventy-eight 
years  of  age,  he  took  part  in  the  great  de- 
bate on  the  Oregon  question,  displaying 
intellectual  vigor,  and  an  extent  and  accu- 
racy of  acquaintance  with  the  subject  that 
excited  great  admiration. 

On  the  2 1  St  of  February,  1848,  he  rose  on 
the  floor  of  Congress  with  a  paper  in  his 
hand  to  address  the  Speaker.  Suddenly 
he  fell,  stricken  by  jiaralysis,  and  was  caught 
in  the  arms  of  those  around  him.  For  a 
time  he  was  senseless  and  was  conveyed 
to  a  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving 
consciousness  he  opened  his  eyes,  looked 
calmly  around  and  said,  "  T/iis  h  the  end  of 
earth."  Then  after  a  moment's  pause,  he 
added,  "  /  am  eontent."  These  were  his  last 
words,  and  he  soon  breathed  his  last,  in  the 
apartment  beneath  the  dome  of  the  capitol 
— the  theater  of  his  labors  and  his  triumphs. 
In  the  language  of  hymnology,  he  "  died  at 
his  post;"  he  "  ceased  at  once  to  work  and 
live." 


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NDREW  JACKSON, 
tlie  seventh  President 
of  the  United  States, 
i829-'37,  wns  born  at 
the  Waxhaw  Settle, 
nient,  Union  Coun- 
ty, North  Carolina, 
March  i6,  1767.  His  parents 
were  Scotch-Irish,  natives  of 
Carrickfergus,  wlio  came  to 
America  in  1765,  and  settled 
on  Twelve-Mile  Creek,  a  trib- 
utary of  the  Catawba.  His 
father,  who  was  a  poor  farm 
laborer,  died  shortly  before  An- 
drew's birth,  when  his  mother  removed  to 
Waxhaw,  where  some  relatives  resided. 

Few  particulars  of  the  childhood  of  Jack- 
sou  have  been  preserved.  His  education 
was  of  the  most  limited  kind,  and  he  showed 
no  fondness  for  books.  He  grew  up  to  be  a 
tall,  lank  boy,  with  coarse  hair  and  freck- 
led cheeks,  with  bare  feet  dangling  from 
trousers  too  short  for  him,  very  fond  of  ath- 
letic sports,  running,  boxing  and  wrestling. 
He  was  generous  U)  the  j'ounger  and 
weaker  boys,  but  very  irascible  and  over- 
bearing with  his  equals  and  superiors.  He 
was  profane — a  vice  in  which  he  surpassed 
all  other  men.    The  character  of  his  mother 


he  revered;  and  it  was  not  until  after  her 
death  that  his  predominant  vices  gaincil 
full  strength. 

In  1780,  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  Andrew, 
or  Andy,  as  he  was  called,  with  his  brother 
Robert,  volunteered  to  serve  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary forces  under  General  Sumter,  and 
was  a  witness  of  the  latter's  defeat  at  Hang- 
ing Rock.  In  the  following  year  the 
brothers  were  made  prisoners,  and  confined 
in  Camden,  experiencing  brutal  treatment 
from  their  captors,  and  being  spectators  of 
General  Green's  defeat  at  Hobkirk  Hill. 
Through  their  mother's  exertions  the  boys 
were  exchanged  while  suffering  from  small- 
pox. In  two  da)'s  Robert  was  dead,  and 
Andy  apparently  dying.  The  strength  of 
his  constitution  triumphed,  and  he  regained 
health  and  vi^or. 

As  he  was'  getting  better,  his  mother 
heard  the  cry  of  anguish  from  the  prison- 
ers whom  the  British  held  in  Charleston, 
among  whom  were  the  sons  of  her  sisters. 
She  hastened  to  their  relief,  was  attacked 
by  fever,  died  and  was  buried  where  her 
grave  could  never  be  found.  Thus  Andrew 
Jackson,  wlien  fourteen  years  of  age,  was 
left  alone  in  the  world,  without  father, 
mother,  sister  or  brother,  and  without  one 
dollar  which  he  could  call   his  own.     He 


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soon  entered  a  saddler's  sliop,  and  labored 
dili<;entlv  for  six  months.  But  gradually, 
as  health  returned,  he  became  more  and 
more  a  wild,  reckless,  lawless  boy.  He 
gambled,  drank  and  was  regarded  as  about 
the  worst  character  that  could  be  found. 

He  now  turned  schoolmaster.  He  could 
teach  the  alphabet,  perhaps  the  multiplica- 
tion table;  and  as  he  was  a  very  bold  boy, 
it  is  possible  he  might  have  ventured  to 
teach  a  little  writing.  But  he  soon  began  to 
think  of  a  profession  and  decided  to  study 
law.  With  a  ver}'  slender  purse,  and  on 
the  back  of  a  very  fine  horse,  he  set  out 
for  Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  where  he 
entered  the  law  office  of  Mr.  McCay. 
Here  he  remained  two  years,  professedly 
studying  law.  He  is  still  remembered  in 
traditions  of  Salisbury,  which  say: 

"  Andrew  Jackson  was  the  most  roaring, 
rollicking,  horse-racing,  card-playing,  mis- 
chievous fellow  that  ever  lived  in  Salisbury. 
He  did  not  trouble  the  law-books  much." 

Andrew  was  now,  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
a  tall  3'oung  man,  being  over  six  feet  in 
height.  He  was  slender,  remarkably  grace- 
ful and  dignified  in  his  manners,  an  exquis- 
ite horseman,  and  developed,  amidst  his 
loathesome  profanity  and  multiform  vices,  a 
vein  of  rare  magnanimit}-.  His  temper  was 
fiery  in  the  extreme;  but  it  was  said  of  him 
that  no  man  knew  better  than  Andrew 
Jackson  when  to  get  angry  and  when  not. 

In  17S6  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and 
two  years  later  removed  to  Nashville, 
in  what  was  then  the  western  district  of 
North  Carolina,  with  the  appointment  of  so- 
licitor, or  public  prosecutor.  It  was  an  of- 
fice of  little  honor,  small  emolument  and 
great  peril.  Few  men  could  be  found  to 
accept  it. 

And  now  Andrew  Jackson  commenced 
vigorously  to  practice  law.  It  was  an  im- 
portant part  of  his  business  to  collect  debts. 
It  required  nerve.  During  the  first  seven 
years  of    his  residence    in    those   wilds  he 


traversed  the  almost  pathless  forest  between 
Nashville  and  Jonesborough,  a  distance  of 
200  miles,  twenty-two  times.  Hostile  In- 
dians were  constantl}'  on  the  watch,  and  a 
man  was  liable  at  any  moment  to  be  shot 
down  in  his  own  field.  Andrew  Jackson 
was  just  the  man  for  this  service — a  wild, 
daring,  rough  backwoodsman.  Daily  he 
made  hair-breadth  escapes.  He  seemed  to 
bear  a  charmed  life.  Boldly,  alone  or  with 
few  companions,  he  traversed  the  forests, 
encountering  all  perils  and  triumphing 
over  all. 

In  1790  Tennessee  became  a  Territory, 
and  Jackson  was  appointed,  by  President 
Washington,  United  States  Attorney  for 
the  new  district.  In  1791  he  married  Mrs. 
Rachel  Robards  (daughter  of  Colonel  John 
Donelson),  whom  he  supposed  to  have  been 
divorced  in  that  year  by  an  act  of  the  Leg- 
islature of  Virginia.  Two  years  after  this 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  learned,  to  their 
great  surprise,  that  Mr.  Robards  had  just 
obtained  a  divorce  in  one  of  the  courts  of 
Kentucky,  and  that  the  act  of  the  Virginia 
Legislature  was  not  final,  but  conditional. 
To  remed}'  the  irregularity  as  much  as  pos- 
sible, a  new  license  was  obtained  and  the 
marriage  ceremony  was  again  performed. 

It  pnjved  to  be  a  marriage  of  rare  felic- 
ity. Probably  there  never  was  a  more 
affectionate  union.  However  rough  Mr. 
Jackson  might  have  been  abroad,  he  was 
always  gentle  and  tender  at  home;  and 
through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  their  lives,  he 
treated  Mrs.  Jackson  with  the  most  chival- 
ric  attention. 

Under  the  circumstances  it  was  not  un- 
natural that  the  facts  in  the  case  of  this 
marriage  were  so  misrepresented  b}'  oppo- 
nents in  the  political  campaigns  a  quarter 
or  a  century  later  as  to  become  the  basis 
(jf  serious  charges  against  Jackson's  moral- 
ity which,  however,  have  been  satisfactorily 
attested  by  abundant  e\'idence. 

Jackson    was    untiring    in    his   duties   as 


1^: 


United  States  Attoriie_v,  wliicli  demanded 
frequent  journeys  throiigli  tlic  wilderness 
and  exposed  iiim  to  Indian  hostilities.  He 
acquired  considerable  property  in  land,  and 
obtained  such  influence  as  to  be  chosen 
a  member  of  the  convention  which  framed 
the  Constitution  for  the  new  State  of  Ten- 
nessee, in  1796,  and  in  that  year  was  elected 
its  first  I'iepresentative  in  Congress.  Albert 
Gallatin  thus  describes  the  first  appearance 
of  the  lion.  Andrew  Jackson  in  the  House: 

"A  tall,  lank,  uncouth-looking  personage, 
with  locks  of  hair  hanging  over  his  face  and 
a  cue  down  his  back,  tied  with  an  eel  skin; 
liis  dress  singular,  his  manners  and  deport- 
ment tliose  of  a  rough  backwoodsman." 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the 
Democratic  part}'.  Jefferson  was  his  idol. 
He  admired  Bonaparte,  loved  France  and 
hated  England.  As  Mr.  Jackson  took  his 
scat,  General  Washington,  whose  second 
term  of  office  was  just  expiring,  delivered 
his  last  speech  to  Congress.  A  committee 
drew  up  a  complimentary  address  in  rcpl)'. 
Andrew  Jackson  did  not  approve  the  ad- 
dress and  was  one  of  twelve  who  voted 
against  it. 

Tennessee  had  fitted  out  an  expedition 
against  the  Indians,  contrary  to  the  policy 
of  the  Government.  A  resolution  was  intro- 
duced that  the  National  Government 
siiould  pay  the  expenses.  Jaclcsou  advo- 
cated it  and  it  was  carried.  This  rendered 
him  very  popular  in  Tennessee.  A  va- 
cancy chanced  soon  after  to  occur  in  the 
Senate,  and  Andrew  Jackson  was  chosen 
United  States  Senator  bv  the  State  of  Ten- 
nessee. John  Adams  was  then  President 
and  Tliomas  Jefferson,  Vice-President. 

In  1798  Mr.  Jackson  returned  to  Tennes- 
see, and  resigned  his  seat  in  the  Senate. 
Soon  after  he  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  that  State,  with  a  salary  of 
S600.  This  office  he  held  six  years.  It  is 
said  that  his  decisions,  though  sometimes 
ungrammatical,  were  generally  right.     He 


did  not  cnjov  his  seat  upon  the  bench,  and 
renoui\ced  the  dignity  in  1804.  About 
this  time  he  was  chosen  Major-General  of 
militia,  and  lost  the  title  of  judge  in  that  of 
General. 

When  he  retired  from  the  Senate  Cham- 
ber, he  decided  to  tr)'  his  fortune  through 
trade.  He  purchased  a  stock  of  goods  in 
Philadelphia  and  sent  them  to  Nashville, 
where  he  opened  a  store.  He  lived  about 
thirteen  miles  from  Nashville,  on  a  tract  of 
land  of  several  thousand  acres,  mostly  un- 
cultivated. He  used  a  small  block-house 
for  a  store,  from  a  narrow  window  of 
which  he  sold  goods  to  the  Indians.  As  he 
had  an  assistant  his  office  as  judge  did  not 
materially  interfere  with  his  business. 

As  to  slavery,  born  in  the  midst  of  it,  the 
idea  never  seemed  to  enter  his  mind  that  it 
could  be  wrong.  He  eventually  became 
an  extensive  slaveowner,  but  he  was  one  of 
the  most  humane  and  gentle  of  masters. 

In  1804  Mr.  Jackson  withdrew  from  pol- 
itics and  settled  on  a  plantation  which  he 
called  the  Hermitage,  near  Nashville.  He 
set  up  a  cotton-gin,  formed  a  partnership 
and  traded  in  New  Orleans,  making  the 
voyage  on  flatboats.  Through  his  hot  tem- 
per he  became  involved  in  several  quarrels 
and  "affairs  of  honor,"  during  this  period, 
in  one  of  which  he  was  severely  wounded, 
but  had  tiie  misfortune  to  kill  his  opponent, 
Charles  Dickinson.  For  a  time  this  affair 
greatly  injured  General  Jackson's  popular- 
it)'.  The  verdict  then  was,  and  continues 
to  be,  that  General  Jackson  was  outra- 
geously wrong.  It  he  subsequently  felt  any 
remorse  he  never  revealed  it  to  an3'one. 

In  1S05  Aaron  Burr  had  visitetl  Nash- 
ville and  been  a  guest  of  Jackson,  with 
whom  he  corresponded  on  the  subject  of  a 
war  with  Spain,  which  was  anticipated  and 
desired  by  them,  as  well  as  by  the  people 
of  the  Southwest  generally. 

Burr  repeated  his  visit  in  September, 
1806,  when  he    engaged  in  the  celebrated 


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combinations  wiiich  led  to  his  trial  for  trea- 
son, lie  was  warmly  received  by  Jackson, 
at  whose  instance  a  public  ball  was  given 
in  his  honor  at  Nashville,  and  contracted 
with  the  latter  for  boats  and  provisions. 
Earl}'  in  1807,  when  Burr  had  been  pro- 
claimed a  traitor  by  President  Jefferson, 
volunteer  forces  for  the  Federal  service 
were  organized  at  Nashville  under  Jack- 
son's command;  but  his  energ}'  and  activ- 
ity did  not  shield  him  from  suspicions  of 
connivance  in  the  supposed  treason.  He 
was  summoned  to  Richmond  as  a  witness 
in  Burr's  trial,  but  was  not  called  to  the 
stand,  probabl}'  because  he  was  out-spoken 
in  his  partisanship. 

On  the  outbreak  of  the  war  with  Great 
Britain  in  18 12,  Jackson  tendered  his  serv- 
ices, and  in  January,  1813,  embarked  for 
New  Orleans  at  the  head  of  the  Tennessee 
contingent.  In  March  he  received  an  or- 
der to  disband  his  forces;  but  in  Septem- 
ber he  again  took  the  field,  in  the  Creek 
war,  and  in  conjunction  with  his  former 
partner,  Colonel  Coffee,  inflicted  upon  the 
Indians  the  memorable  defeat  at  Talladega, 
Emuckfaw  and  Tallapoosa. 

In  May,  1814,  Jackson,  who  had  now  ac- 
quired a  national  reputation,  was  appointed 
a  Major-Generalof  the  United  States  army, 
and  commenced  a  campaign  against  the 
British  in  Florida.  He  conducted  the  de- 
fense at  Mobile,  September  15,  seized  upon 
Pensacola,  November  6,  and  immediately 
transported  the  bulk  of  his  troops  to  New 
Orleans,  then  threatened  by  a  powerful 
naval  force.  Martial  law  was  declared  in 
Louisiana,  the  State  militia  was  called  to 
arms,  engagements  with  the  British  were 
fought  December  23  and  28,  and  after  re-en- 
forcements had  been  received  on  both  sides 
the  famous  victory  of  January  8,  181 5, 
crowned  Jackson's  fame  as  a  soldier,  and 
made  him  the  typical  American  hero  of 
the  first  half  of  the  nineteentii  century. 

In  iSi7-'i8  Jackson    conducted  the  war 


against  the  Seminoles  of  Florida,  during 
which  he  seized  upon  Pensacola  and  exe- 
cuted by  courtmartial  two  British  subjects, 

Arbuthnot    and    Ambrister acts    which 

might  easily  have  involved  the  United 
States  in  war  both  with  Spain  and  Great 
Britain.  Fortunately  the  peril  was  averted 
by  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  United 
States;  and  Jackson,  who  had  escaped  a 
trial  for  the  irregularity  of  his  conduct 
only  through  a  division  of  opinion  in  Mon- 
roe's cabinet,  was  appointed  in  1821  Gov- 
ernor of  the  new  Territory.  Soon  after  he 
declined  the  appointment  of  minister  to 
Mexico. 

In  1823  Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United 
States  Senate,  and  nominated  by  the  Ten- 
nessee Legislature  for  the  Presidency.  This 
candidacy,  though  a  matter  of  surprise,  and 
even  mcrryment,  speedily  became  popular, 
and  in  1824,  when  the  stormy  electoral  can- 
vas resulted  in  the  choice  of  John  Ouincy 
Adams  by  the  House  of  Representatives, 
General  Jackson  received  the  largest  popu- 
lar vote  among  the  four  candidates. 

In  1828  Jackson  was  triumphantl}'  elected 
President  over  Adams  after  a  campaign  of 
unparalleled  bitterness.  He  was  inaugu- 
rated March  4,  1829,  and  at  once  removed 
from  office  all  the  incumbents  belonging  to 
the  opposite  party — a  procedure  new  to 
American  politics,  but  which  naturally  be- 
came a  precedent. 

His  first  term  was  characterized  by  quar- 
rels between  the  Vice-President,  Calhoun, 
and  the  Secretary  of  State,  Van  Buren,  at- 
tended by  a  cabinet  crisis  originating  in 
scandals  connected  with  the  name  of  Mrs. 
General  Eaton,  wife  of  the  Sccretai-y  of 
War;  b}-  the  beginning  of  his  war  upon  the 
United  States  Bank,  and  by  his  vigorous 
action  against  the  partisans  of  Calhoun, 
who,  in  South  Carolina,  threatened  to 
nullify  the  acts  of  Congress,  establishing  a 
protective  tariff. 

In    the    Presidential    campaign    of    1832 


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ANDRE]V    JACKSON. 


Jackson  received  219  out  of  288  electoral 
votes,  his  competitor  being  Mr.  Clay,  while 
Mr.  Wirt,  on  an  Anti-Masonic  platform, 
received  the  vote  of  Vermont  alone.  In 
1833  President  Jackson  removed  the  Gov- 
ernment deposits  from  the  United  States 
bank,  thereby  incurring  a  vote  of  censure 
from  the  Senate,  which  was,  however,  ex- 
punged four  years  later.  During  this  second 
term  of  office  the  Cherokees,  Choctaws  and 
Creeks  were  removed,  not  without  diffi- 
culty, from  Georgia,  Alabama  and  Missis- 
sippi, to  the  Indian  Territory;  the  National 
debt  was  extinguished;  Arkansas  and 
Michigan  were  admitted  as  States  to  the 
(Jnion;  the  Seminole  war  was  renewed;  the 
anti-slavery  agitation  first  acquired  impor- 
tance; the  Mormon  delusion,  which  had 
organized  in  1829,  attained  considerable 
proportions  in  Ohio  and  Missouri,  and  the 
country  experienced  its  greatest  pecuniary 
panic. 

Railroads  with  locomotive  propulsion 
were  introduced  into  America  during  Jack- 
son's first  term,  and  had  become  an  impor- 
tant element  of  national  life  before  the 
close  of  his  second  term.  For  many  rea- 
sons, therefore,  the  administration  of  Presi- 
dent Jackson  formed  an  era  in  American 
history,  political,  social  and  industrial. 
He  succeeded  in  effecting  the  election  of 


his  friend  Van  Ruren  as  his  successor,  re- 
tired from  the  Presidency  March  4,  1837, 
and  led  a  tranquil  life  at  the  Hermitage 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  June  8, 
1S45. 

During  his  closing  years  he  was  a  pro- 
fessed Christian  and  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  No  American  of  this 
century  has  been  the  subject  of  such  oppo- 
site judgments.  He  was  loved  and  hated 
with  equal  vehemence  during  his  life,  but 
at  the  present  distance  of  time  from  his 
career,  while  opinions  still  vary  as  to  the 
merits  of  his  public  acts,  few  of  his  country- 
men will  question  that  he  was  a  warm- 
hearted, brave,  patriotic,  honest  and  sincere 
man.  If  his  distinguishing  qualities  were 
not  sucii  as  constitute  statesmanship,  in  the 
highest  sense,  he  at  least  never  pretended 
to  other  merits  than  such  as  were  written 
to  his  credit  on  the  page  of  American  his- 
tory— not  attempting  to  disguise  the  de- 
merits which  were  equally  legible.  The 
majority  of  his  countrymen  accepted  and 
honored  him,  in  spite  of  all  that  calumny 
as  well  as  truth  could  allege  against  him. 
His  faults  may  therefore  be  truly  said  to 
have  been  those  of  his  time;  his  magnifi- 
cent virtues  may  also,  with  the  same  jus- 
tice, be  considered  as  typical  of  a  state  of 
society  which  has  nearly  passed  away. 


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SUd^-V^J^^lF*  ARTIN    VAN    BU- 
REN,   the    eighth 
-j;<3;    President  of  tlie 
United  States,  1837- 
'41,  was  born  at  Kin- 
dcrhook,  New  York, 
December    5,    17S2. 
His  ancestors  were  o(  Dutch 
origin,  and  were  among  tlie 
earliest  emigrants  from  Hol- 
land   to    the    banks    of    the 
Hudson.     His  father  was  a 
|-     tavern-keeper,  as  well  as  a 
i^'aSl>*^-    farmer,  and  a  very  decided 
%^l  Democrat. 

'■*'  Martin  commenced  the  study 
of  law  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  politics  before  he  had  reached 
the  age  of  twentv.  In  1803  he  commenced 
the  practice  of  law  in  liis  native  village. 
In  1809  he  removed  to  Hudson,  the  shire 
town  of  his  county,  where  he  spent  seven 
years,  gaining  strength  by  contending  in 
the  courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men 
who  have  adorned  the  bar  of  his  State. 
The  heroic  examjile  of  John  Quincy  Adams 
in  retaining  in  office  every  faithful  man, 
without  regard  \o  Iiis  political  preferences, 
had  been  thoroughly  repudiated  by  Gen- 
eral Jackson.  The  unfortunate  principle 
was  now  fullv  established,  that  "  to  the 
victor  belong  the  spoils."  Still,  this  prin- 
ciple, to  which  Mr.  Van  Burcn  gave  his  ad- 


herence, was  not  devoid  of  inconveniences. 
When,  subsequently,  he  attained  power 
which  placed  vast  patronage  in  his  hands, 
he  was  heard  to  say :  "I  prefer  an  ofifice 
that  lias  no  patronage.  When  I  give  a  man 
an  office  I  offend  his  disappointed  competi- 
tors and  their  friends.  Nor  am  1  certain  of 
gaining  a  friend  in  the  man  I  appoint,  for, 
in  all  probabilitv,  he  expected  something 
better." 

In  1812  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  elected  to 
the  State  Senate.  In  18 15  he  was  appointed 
Attorney-General,  and  in  iSi6tothe  Senate 
a  second  time.  In  181 8  there  was  a  great 
split  in  the  Democratic  party  in  New  York, 
and  Mr.  Van  Buren  took  the  lead  in  or- 
ganizing that  portion  of  the  part}'  called 
tiie  Alban}-  Regency,  which  is  said  to  have 
swayed  the  destinies  of  the  State  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century. 

In  1 82 1  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the 
convention  for  revising  the  State  Constitu- 
tion, in  which  he  advocated  an  extension  of 
the  franchise,  but  opposed  universal  suf- 
frage, and  also  favored  the  proposal  that 
colored  persons,  in  order  to  vote,  shoulil 
have  freehold  property  to  the  amount  of 
$250.  In  this  year  he  was  also  elected  to 
the  United  States  Senate,  and  at  the  con- 
clusion of  his  term,  in  1827,  was  re-elected, 
but  resigned  the  following  3"ear,  having 
been  chosen  Governor  of  the  State.  In 
March,  1829,  he  was  appointed  Secretary  of 


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MARTIN    VAN   BUREN. 


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State  by  President  Jackson,  but  resigned 
in  April,  1S31,  and  during  the  recess  of 
Congress  was  appointed  minister  to  Eng- 
land, whither  he  pr(5ceeded  in  Se|)tember, 
hut  the  Senate,  when  convened  in  Decem- 
ber, refused  to  ratify  the  appointment. 

In  May,  1832,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  nomi- 
nated as  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Vice- 
President,  and  elected  in  the  following 
November.  May  26,  1836,  he  received  the 
nomination  to  succeed  General  Jackson  as 
President,  and  received  170  electoral  votes, 
out  of  283. 

Scarcely  had  he  taken  his  seat  in  the 
Presidential  chair  when  a  financial  panic 
swept  over  the  land.  Manv  attributed 
this  to  the  war  which  General  Jackson  had 
waged  on  the  banks,  and  to  his  endeavor  to 
secure  an  almost  exclusive  specie  currency. 
Nearly  every  bank  in  the  country  was  com- 
pelled to  suspend  specie  payment,  and  ruin 
pervaded  all  our  great  cities.  Not  less  than 
254  houses  failed  in  New  York  in  one  week. 
Ail  public  works  were  brought  to  a  stand, 
and  there  was  a  general  state  of  dismav- 
"President  Van  Buren  urged  the  adoption  of 
the  independent  treasury  system,  which 
was  twice  passed  in  the  Senate  and  defeated 
in  the  House,  but  fii.all}'  became  a  law  near 
the  close  of  hij  r.dmini;tration. 

Another  important  measure  was  the  pass- 
age of  a  pre-emption  law,  giving  actual  set- 
tlers the  preference  in  the  purchase  of 
public  lands.  The  question  of  slaver}',  also, 
now  began  to  assume  great  prominence  in 
national  politics,  and  after  an  elaborate 
anti-slavery  speech  bv  Mr.  Slade,  of  Ver- 
mont, in  the  House  of  Representatives,  the 
Southern  members  withdrew  for  a  separate 
consultation,  at  which  Mr.  Rhett,  of  South 
Carolina,  proposed  to  declare  it  expedient 
that  the  Union  should  be  dissolved  ;  but 
the  matter  was  tided  over  by  the  passage 
of  a  resolution  that  no  petitions  or  papers 
relating  to  slavery  should  be  in  any  way 
considered  or  acted  upon. 


in  the  Presidential  election  of  1S40  Mr. 
Van  Buren  was  nominated,  without  opposi- 
tion, as  the  Democratic  candidate,  William 
H.  Harrison  being  the  candidate  of  the 
Whig  part}-.  The  Democrats  carried  only 
seven  States,  and  out  of  294  electoral  votes 
only  sixty  were  for  Mr.  Van  Buren,  the  re- 
maining 234  being  for  his  opponent.  The 
Whig  popular  majority,  however,  was  not 
large,  the  elections  in  many  of  the  States 
being  very  close. 

March  4,  1841,  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired 
from  the  Presidency.  From  his  fine  estate 
at  Lindenwald  he  still  exerted  a  powerful 
influence  upon  the  politics  of  the  country. 
In  1844  he  was  again  proposed  as  the 
Democratic  candidate  for  the  Presidency, 
and  a  majority  of  the  delegates  of  the 
nominating  convention  were  in  his  favor; 
but,  owing  to  his  opposition  to  the  pro- 
posed annexation  of  Texas,  he  could  not 
secure  the  requisite  two-thirds  vote.  His 
name  was  at  length  withdrawn  by  his 
friends,  and  Mr.  Polk  received  the  nomina- 
tion, and  was  elected. 

In  1848  Mr.  Cass  was  the  regular  Demo- 
cratic candidate.  A  schism,  however, 
sprang  up  in  the  party,  upon  the  question 
of  the  permission  of  slavery  in  the  newly- 
acquired  territory,  and  a  portion  of  the 
party,  taking  the  name  of  "  Free-Soilers," 
nominated  Mr.  Van  Buren.  They  drew 
away  sufficient  votes  to  secure  the  election 
of  General  Taylor,  the  Whig  candidate. 
After  this  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  to  his  es- 
tate at  Kinderhook,  where  the  remainder 
of  his  life  was  passed,  with  the  exception  of 
a  European  tour  in  1853.  He  died  at 
Kinderhook,  July  24,  1862,  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years. 

Martin  \'a\\  Buren  was  a  great  and  good 
man,  and  no  one  will  question  his  rigiit  to 
a  high  position  among  those  who  have 
been  the  successors  ol  Washington  in  the 
faithful  occupancy  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  ,    .,  ,     •.    ,  _,  :        •  ,  ., 


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PJRESfDENTS    OF    THE     U/V/TED    STATES. 


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LI  AM     HENRY 
HARRISON,  the 

ninth  President  of 
the  United  States, 
I  84  I,  was  born 
February  9,  1773, 
in  Charles  County, 
Virginia,  at  Berkeley,  the  resi- 
dence of  his  father.  Governor 
Benjamin  Harrison.  He  studied 
at  Hampden,  Sidney  College, 
with  a  view  of  entering  the  med- 
ical profession.  After  graduation 
he  went  to  Philadelphia  to  study 
medicine  under  the  instruction  of 
Dr.  Rush. 
George  Washington  was  then  President 
if  tiie  United  States.  The  Indians  were 
committing  fearful  ravages  on  our  North- 
western frontier.  Young  Harrison,  either 
lured  by  the  love  of  adventure,  or  moved 
by  the  sufferings  of  families  exposed  to  the 
most  horrible  outrages,  abandoned  his  med- 
ical studies  and  entered  the  army,  having 
obtained  a  commission  of  ensign  from  Pres- 
ident Washington.  The  first  duty  assigned 
him  was  to  take  a  train  of  pack-horses 
bound  to  Fort  Hamilton,  on  the  Miami 
River,  about  forty  miles  from  Fort  Wash- 
ington,    He    was   soon    promoted    to   the 


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rank  of  Lieutenant,  and  joined  the  army 
which  Washington  had  placed  under  tiie 
command  of  General  Wayne  to  prosecute 
more  vigorously  the  war  with  the  In- 
dians. Lieutenant  Harrison  received  great 
commendation  from  his  commanding  otifi- 
cer,  and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Captain,  and  placed  in  command  at  Fort 
Washington,  now  Cincmnati,  Ohio. 

About  this  time  he  married  a  daughter 
of  John  Cleves  Symmes,  one  of  the  fron- 
tiersmen who  had  established  a  thriving 
settlement  on  the  bank  of  the  Maumee. 

In  1797  Captain  Harrison  resigned  his 
commission  in  the  army  and  was  appointed 
Secretary  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  and 
ex-officio  Lieutenant-Governor,  General  St. 
Clair  being  then  Governor  of  the  Territory. 
At  that  time  the  law  in  reference  to  the 
disposal  of  the  public  lands  was  such  that 
no  one  could  purchase  in  tracts  less  than 
4,000  acres.  Captain  Harrison,  in  the 
face  of  violent  opposition,  succeeded  in 
obtaining  so  much  of  a  modification  of 
this  unjust  law  that  the  land  was  sold  in 
alternate  tracts  of  640  and  320  acres.  The 
Northwest  Territory  was  then  entitled 
to  one  delegate  in  Congress,  and  Cap- 
tain Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that  of- 
fice.    In  1800  he  was  appointed  Governor 


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WILL/ AM    HENRY     IlARIi/SON. 


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of  Indinna  Territory  and  soon  after  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  I  le  was  also  Superin- 
tendent of  Indian  Affairs,  and  so  well  did  he 
fulfill  these  duties  that  he  was  four  times 
appointed  to  this  office.  During  his  admin- 
istration he  effected  thirteen  treaties  with 
the  Indians,  by  which  the  United  States 
acquired  60,000,000  acres  of  land.  In  1804 
he  obtained  a  cession  from  the  Indians  of 
all  the  land  between  the  Illinois  River  and 
the  Mississippi. 

In  1S12  he  was  made  Major-General  of 
Kentucky  militia  and  Brigadier-General 
in  the  army,  with  the  command  of  the 
Northwest  frontier.  In  1S13  he  was  made 
Major-General,  and  as  such  won  much  re- 
nown by  the  defense  of  F(jrt  Meigs,  and  the 
battle  of  the  Thames,  Octobers,  1813.  In 
1814  he  left  the  army  and  was  employed  in 
Indian  affairs  by  the  Goycrnment. 

In  1816  General  Harrison  was  chosen  a 
member  of  the  National  Mouse  of  Repre- 
sentatives to  represent  the  district  of  Ohux 
In  the  contest  which  preceded  his  election 
he  was  accused  of  corruption  in  respect  to 
the  commissariat  of  the  arm)'.  Immedi- 
ately ujion  taking  his  seat,  he  called  for  an 
investigation  of  the  charge.  A  committee 
was  appointed,  and  his  vindication  was 
triumphant.  A  high  compliment  was  paid 
to  his  patriotism,  disinterestedness  and 
devotion  to  the  public  service.  For  these 
services  a  gold  medal  was  })rcsented  to  him 
with  the  thanks  of  Congress. 

In  1S19  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio,  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  Presiden- 
tial electors  of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote 
to  Henry  Clay.  In  the  same  3-ear  he  was 
elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 
In  1828  he  was  appointed  by  President 
Adams  minister  plenipotentiary  to  Colom- 
bia, but  was  recalled  by  General  Jackson 
immediately  after  the  inauguration  of  the 
latter. 

Upon  his  return  to  the  United  States, 
General  Harrison   retired  to   his   farm  at 


North  Bend,  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  six- 
teen miles  below  Cincinnati,  where  for 
twelve  years  he  was  clerk  of  the  County 
Court.  He  once  owned  a  distillery,  but 
perceiving  the  sad  effects  of  whisk}'  upon 
the  surrounding  poi^ulation,  he  promptly 
abandoned  his  business  at  great  pecuniary 
sacrifice. 

In  1836  General  Harrison  was  brought 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency. 
Van  Buren  was  the  administration  candi- 
date; tiie  opposite  party  could  not  unite, 
and  four  candidates  were  brought  forward. 
General  Harrison  received  seventy-three 
electoral  votes  without  any  general  concert 
among  his  friends.  The  Democratic  party 
triumphed  and  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  chosen 
President.  In  1839  General  Harrison  was 
again  nominated  for  the  Presidency  by  the 
Whigs,  at  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  Mr. 
Van  Buren  being  the  Democratic  candi- 
date. General  Harrison  received  234  elec- 
toral votes  against  sixty  for  his  opponent. 
This  election  is  memorable  chiefl}-  for  the 
then  extraordinary  means  employed  during 
the  canvass  for  popular  votes.  Mass  meet- 
ings and  processions  were  introduced,  and 
the  watchwords  "  log  cabin  "  and  "  hard 
cider  "  were  effectually  used  by  the  Whigs, 
and  aroused  a  popular  enthusiasm. 

A  vast  concourse  of  people  attended  his 
inauguration.  His  address  on  that  occasion 
was  in  accordance  with  his  antecedents,  and 
gave  great  satisfaction.  A  short  time  after  he 
took  his  seat,  he  was  seized  b}'  a  pleurisy- 
fever,  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
ness, died  April  4,  just  one  short  month  after 
his  inauguration.  His  death  was  universally 
regarded  as  one  of  the  greatest  of  National 
calamities.  Never,  since  the  death  of 
Washington,  were  there,  throughout  one 
land,  such  demonstrations  of  sorrow.  Not 
one  single  spot  can  be  found  to  sull}'  his 
fame;  and  through  all  ages  Americans  will 
pronounce  with  love  and  reverence  the 
name  of  William  Henry  Harrison. 


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PRES/DEi\TS     OF     THE     UN /TED    STATES. 


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'5^*^'0IIN  TYLER,  the  tenth 
President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in 
Charles  City  Count}-, 
Virginia,  March  29,  1790. 
I  lis  father,  Judge  Jolin 
T^lcr,  possessed  large 
landed  estates  in  Virginia, 
and  was  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  men  of  his 
day,  filling  the  oflfices  of 
Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Delegates,  Judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  and  Governor 
of  the  State. 
At  the  early  age  of  twelve 
young  John  entered  William  and  Mary 
College,  and  graduated  with  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.  He  then  closely 
applied  himself  to  the  study  of  law,  and  at 
nineteen  years  of  age  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  When  only  twenty- 
one  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  acted  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  advocated  the  measures  of 
Jefferson  and  ^Lldison.  For  five  years  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving 
nearly  the  unanimous  vote  of  his  count}-. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  Congress.  He  advo- 
cated a  strict  construction  of  the  Constitu- 
tion and   the  most  careful    vigilance   over 


State  rights.  He  was  soon  compelled  to 
resign  liis  scat  in  Congress,  owing  to  ill 
health,  but  afterward  took  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  he  exerted  a 
powerful  influence  in  promoting  public 
works  of  great  utilitv. 

In  1825  Mr.  Tvler  was  chosen  Governor 
of  his  State — a  high  honor,  for  Virginia 
had  man}'  able  men  as  competitors  for 
the  prize.  His  administration  was  signally 
a  successful  one.  He  urged  forward  inter- 
nal improvements  and  strove  to  remove 
sectional  jealousies.  His  popularity  secured 
his  re-election.  In  1827  lie  was  elected 
United  States  Senator,  and  upon  taking  his 
seat  joined  the  ranks  of  tlie  opposition.  He 
opposed  the  tariff,  voted  against'the  bank 
as  unconstitutional,  opposed  all  restrictions 
upon  slavery,  resisted  all  projects  of  inter- 
nal improvements  by  the  General  Govern- 
ment, avowed  his  sympathy  with  Mr.  Cal- 
houn's views  of  nullification,  and  declared 
that  General  Jackson,  by  his  opposition  to 
the  nullifiers,  had  abandoned  the  principles 
of  the  Democratic  party.  Such  was  Mr. 
Tyler's  record  in  Congress. 

This  hostility  to  Jackson  caused  Mr. 
Tyler's  retirement  from  the  Senate,  after 
his  election  to  a  second  term.  He  soon 
after  removed  to  Williamsburg  for  the 
better  education  of  his  children,  and  again 
took  his  Seat  in  the  Legislature. 


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JOHN     TVLER. 


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In  1839  lie  was  sent  to  the  National  Con- 
vention at  Harrlsburg  to  nominate  a  Presi- 
dent. General  Harrison  received  a  majority 
of  votes,  much  to  the  disapjiointment  of  the 
South,  who  had  wished  for  Henry  Claj-. 
In  order  to  conciliate  the  Southern  Whii^^s, 
John  Tyler  was  nominated  for  \'ice-Presi- 
dent.  Harrison  and  T\lcr  were  inaugu- 
rated March  4,  1S41.  In  one  short  month 
from  that  time  President  Harrison  died, 
and  Mr.  Tyler,  to  his  own  surprise  as  well 
as  that  of  the  nation,  found  himself  an 
occupant  of  the  Presidential  chair.  His 
position  was  an  exceedingly  dilHcult  one, 
as  he  was  opposed  to  the  main  ]:irinciples  of 
the  party  which  had  brought  him  into 
power.  General  Harrison  had  selected  a 
Whig  cabinet.  '  Shoidd  he  retain  them,  and 
thus  surround  himself  with  councilors 
whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own.'' 
or  should  he  turn  against  the  party  that 
had  elected  him,  and  select  a  cabinet  in 
harmony  with  himself?  This  was  his  fear- 
ful dilemma. 

President  Tyler  deserves  more  charity 
than  he  has  received.  He  issued  an  address 
to  the  people,  wiiich  gave  general  satisfac- 
tion. He  retained  the  cabinet  General 
Harrison  had  selected.  His  veto  of  a  bill 
chartering  a  new  national  bank  led  to  an 
open  quarrel  with  the  part}'  which  elected 
him,  and  to  a  resignation  of  the  entire 
cabinet,  except  Daniel  \Vebster,  Secretary 
of  State. 

President  Tyler  attempted  to  conciliate. 
He  appointed  a  new  cabinet,  leaving  out  all 
strong  party  men,  but  the  Whig  members 
of  Congress  were  not  satisfied,  and  they 
published  a  manifesto  September  13,  break- 
ing oH  ail  political  relations.  The  Demo- 
crats had  a  majority  in  the  House;  the 
Whigs  in  the  Senate.  Mr.  Webster  soon 
found  it  necessary  to  resign,  being  forced 
out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends. 

April  12,  1844,  President  Tyler  concluded, 
through  Mr.  Calhoun,  a  treaty   for  the  an- 


nexation of  Texas,  which  was  rejected  b)' 
the  Senate  ;  but  he  effected  his  object  in  the 
closing  da\s  of  his  administration  b\-  the 
passage  of  the  joint  lesolution  of  March  i 
1845.^ 

He  was  nominated  tor  the  Presidency  b\- 
an  informal  Democratic  Convention,  held 
at  Baltimore  in  May,  1844,  but  soon  with- 
drew from  the  canvass,  pcrceixdng  that  he 
had  not  gained  the  confidence  of  the  Demo- 
crats at  large. 

Mr.  Tyler's  administration  was  ]iarticu- 
larly  imfortunate.  No  one  was  satisfied. 
Whigs  and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him. 
Situated  as  he  was,  it  is  more  than  can 
be  expected  of  human  nature  that  he 
should,  in  all  cases,  have  acted  in  the  wisest 
manner ;  but  it  will  probably  be  the  verdict 
of  all  candid  men,  in  a  careful  review  of  his 
career,  that  John  Tyler  was  placed  in  a 
position  of  such  difficulty  that  he  could  not 
pursue  any  course  which  woidd  not  expose 
him  to  severe  censure  and  denunciation. 

In  18 1 3  Mr.  Tyler  married  Letitia  Chris- 
tian, who  bore  him  three  sons  and  three 
tlaughters,  and  died  in  Washington  in  1842. 
June  26,  1S44,  he  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Jidia  Gardner,  of  New 
York.  He  lived  in  almost  complete  retire- 
ment from  politics  until  Februar}-,  1861, 
when  he  was  a  member  of  the  abortive 
"  peace  convention,"  held  at  Washington, 
and  was  chosen  its  President.  Soon  after 
lie  renounced  his  allegiance  to  the  United 
States  and  was  elected  to  the  Confederate 
Congress.  He  died  at  Richmond,  January 
17,  1862,  after  a  short  illness. 

Unfortunately  for  his  memory  the  name 
of  John  Tyler  must  forever  be  associated 
with  all  the  misery  of  that  terrible  Re- 
bellion, whose  cause  he  openly  espoused. 
It  is  with  sorrow  that  histor}'  records  that 
a  President  of  the  United  States  died  while 
defending  the  flag  of  rebellion,  which  was 
ariayed  against  the  national  banner  in 
deadly  warfare.  .^  ,,. 


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J'h'ESIDHNJS     OF     THE     UXlTEl)     SIATES. 


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JAMES  M.  FffiILK3'<- 


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.4'^^^^jf  ^^  M  ]■:  S    K  N  O  X   1'  ()  LK, 
<;',;'  "j^.i*-/^,^^^^^      the   clevcntli   President   of 
!:■/?  y,'/[jyi';M**     tlie  United  States,  1845- 
■j     'i*Mr^|''^p'  49'    ^^'''''   Iji^rn   in    Meck- 

?^'''  Kl'*'"'^-  I'-'iibiir";  County,  North 
li^r^-i^H;^;^?-*  Carolina,  November  2, 
1795-  J  I'-'  ^^''''s  the  eldest 
son  of  a  family  of  six  sons 
and  four  daughters,  and  was 
a  grand-nepliew  of  Colonel 
Thomas  Polk,  celebrated  in 
connection  with  the  Meck- 
lenburg Declaration  of  In- 
dependence. 
"i^^'T  In  T 806  his  father,  Samuel 

Polk,  emigrated  with  his  fain- 
i]^'  two  or  tiiree  lumdred  miles  west  to  the 
valle)'  of  the  Duck  River.  He  was  a  sur- 
veyor as  well  as  farmer,  and  gradually  in- 
creased in  wealth  until  he  became  one  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  region. 

In  the  common  schools  James  rapidly  be- 
came proficient  in  all  the  common  branches 
of  an  English  education.  In  18 13  he  was 
sent  to  Murfrcesboro  Academy,  and  in  tiie 
autumn  of  1815  entered  the  sophomore  class 
in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at 
Chapel  Hill,  graduating  in  1818.  After  a 
short  season  of  recreation  he  went  to  Nash- 
ville and  entered  the  law  office  of  Felix 
Grundy.     As  soon  as  he  had  his     finished 


legal  studies  and  been  admitted  to  the  bar, 
he  returned  to  Columbia,  the  shire  town  of 
Maury  County,  and  opened  an  office. 

James  K.  Polk  ever  adhered  to  the  polit- 
ical faith  of  his  father,  which  was  that  of 
a  Jeffersonian  Republican.  In  1823  he  was 
elected  to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  As 
a  "strict  ct)nstructionist,"  he  did  not  think 
that  the  Constitution  empowered  the  Gen- 
eral Government  to  carry  on  a  system  o( 
internal  improvements  in  the  States,  but 
deemed  it  important  that  it  should  have 
that  power,  and  wished  the  Constitution 
amended  that  it  might  be  conferred.  Sub- 
sequently, however,  he  became  alarmed  lest 
the  General  Government  become  so  strong 
as  to  undertake  to  interfere  with  slavery. 
He  therefore  gave  all  his  influence  to 
strengthen  the  State  governments,  and  to 
check  the  growth  of  the  central  power. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss 
Mary  Childress,  of  Rutherford  County,  Ten- 
nessee. Had  some  one  then  whispered  to 
him  that  he  was  destined  to  become  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  and  that  he  must 
select  for  his  companion  one  who  would 
adorn  that  distinguished  station,  he  could 
not  have  made  a  more  fitting  choice.  She 
was  tridy  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  culture. 

In  the  fall  of  1825  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen 
a    member   of  Congi'ess,  and    was  c(intinu- 


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ousl}'  re-elected  until  1S39.  He  then  with- 
drew, only  that  he  might  accept  the 
gubernatorial  chair  of  his  native  State. 
He  was  a  \varm  friend  of  General  Jackson, 
who  had  been  tlefeated  in  the  electoral 
contest  by  John  Quincy  Adams.  This 
latter  gentleman  had  just  taken  his  seat  in 
the  Presidentird  chair  when  Mr.  Polk  took 
his  seat  in  the  House  of  Representatives. 
He  immediately  united  himself  with  the 
opponents  of  Mr.  Adams,  and  was  soon 
regarded  as  the  leader  of  the  Jackson  ])arty 
in  the  House. 

The  four  years  of  Mr.  Adams'  adminis- 
tration })assed  away,  and  General  Jackson 
took  the  Presidential  chair.  Mr.  Polk  had 
now  become  a  man  of  great  influence  in 
Congress,  and  was  chairman  of  its  most 
imptjrtant  committee — that  of  Ways  and 
Means.  Eloquently  he  sustained  General 
Jackstjn  in  all  his  measures — in  his  hostility 
to  internal  improvements,  to  the  banks,  and 
to  the  tariff.  Eight  years  of  General  Jack- 
son's administration  passed  away,  anfl  the 
powers  he  had  wielded  passed  into  the 
hands  of  Maitin  Van  Buren  ;  and  still  Mr. 
Polk  remained  in  the  House,  the  acKocate 
of  that  t)'pe  of  Democracy  which  those 
distinguished  men  upheld. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress  Mr. 
Polk  was  speaker  of  the  Mouse.  He  per- 
formed his  arduous  duties  to  general  satis- 
faction, and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to 
him  was  passed  by  the  House  as  he  with- 
drew, March  4,  1839.  He  was  elected 
Governor  by  a  large  majority,  and  took 
the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville,  October  14, 
1839.  He  was  a  candidate  for  re-election 
in  1841,  but  was  defeated.  In  the  mean- 
time a  wonderful  revolution  liad  swept 
over  the  country.  "W.  H.  Harrison, the  Whig 
candidate,  had  been  called  to  the  Presiden- 
tial chair,  and  in  Tennessee  the  Whig  ticket 
had  been  carried  by  over  12,000  majority. 
Under  these  circumstances  Mr.  Polk's  suc- 
cess was  hopeless.     Still  he  canvassed  the 


State  with  his  Whig  competitor,  Mr.  Jones, 
traveling  in  the  most  friendly  manner  to- 
gether, often  in  the  same  carriage,  and  at 
one  time  sleeping  in  the  same  bed.  Mr. 
Jones  was  elected  by  3,000  majorit)-. 

And  now  the  question  of  the  annexation 
of  Texas  to  our  coimtry  agitated  the  whole 
land.  When  this  question  became  national 
Mr.  Polk,  as  the  avowed  champion  of  an- 
nexation, became  the  Presidential  candidate 
of  the  pro-slavery  wing  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  George  M.  Dallas  their  candi- 
date for  the  A'ice-l^residencv.  They  were 
elected  bv  a  large  majority,  and  were  in- 
augurated March  4,  1845. 

President  Polk  formed  an  able  cabinet, 
consisting  of  James  I3uchanan,  Robert  J. 
Walker,  William  L.  Marcy,  George  Ban- 
croft, Cave  Johnson  and  John  V.  Mason. 
The  Oregon  boundary  questit)n  was  settled, 
the  Department  of  the  Interior  was  created, 
the  low  tariff  ol  1846  was  carried,  the 
financial  SNStem  of  the  Government  was 
reorganized,  the  Mexican  war  was  con- 
ducted, which  resulted  in  the  acquisition  of 
California  .and  New  Mexico,  and  had  far- 
reaching  consequences  upon  the  later  fort- 
unes of  the  republic.  Peace  was  made. 
We  had  wrested  from  Mexico  territory 
equal  to  four  times  the  empire  of  France, 
and  five  times  that  of  Spain.  In  the  prose- 
cution of  this  war  we  expended  20,000 
lives  and  incjre  than  §100,000,000.  Of  this 
mone)'  $15,000,000  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

Declining  to  seek  a  renomination,  Mr. 
Polk  retired  from  the  Presiclcnc\-  March  4, 
1S49,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  General 
Zachar)'  Ta3'lor.  He  retired  to  Nashville, 
and  died  there  June  19,  1849,  ''^  ^^^  fifty- 
fourth  year  of  his  age.  His  funeral  was  at- 
tended the  following  day,  in  Nashville,  with 
every  demonstration  of  respect.  He  left 
no  children.  Without  being  possessed  of 
extraordinary  talent,  Mr.  Polk  was  a  capable 
administrator  of  public  affairs,  and  irre- 
proachable in  jirivate  life.  ■ 


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ACIIARY  TAY- 
LOR, the  twelfth 
President  of  the 
United  States, 
i849-'50,  was  born 
in  Orange  Count}', 
Virginia,  Septem- 
,  1784.  His  father, 
Richard  Taylor,  was  Colo- 
nel of  a  Virginia  regiment 
in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  removed  to  Kentucky 
in  1785 ;  purchased  a  large 
plantation  near  Louisville 
and  became  an  influential  cit- 
izen ;  was  a  member  of  the  convention  that 
framed  the  Constitution  of  Kentucky;  served 
in  both  branches  of  tlie  Legislature;  was 
Collector  of  the  ]:)ort  of  Louisville  under 
President  Washington ;  as  a  Presidential 
elector,  voted  for  Jefferson,  Madison,  Mon- 
roe and  Clay;    died  January  19,1829. 

Zachary  remained  on  his  father's  planta- 
tion until  1808,  in  which  year  (Mav  3)  he 
was  appointed  First  Lieutenant  in  the 
Seventh  Infantry,  to  fill  a  vacancy  oc- 
casioned by  the  death  of  his  elder  brother, 
Hancock.  Up  to  this  point  he  had  received 
but  a  limited  education. 

Joining  his  regiment  at  New  Orleans,  lie 


was  attacked  with  yellow  fever,  witii  nearly 
fatal  termination.  In  November,  iSio,  he 
was  promoted  to  Captain,  and  in  the  sum- 
mer of  i8i2jie  was  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Wabash 
River,  near  the  present  site  of  Tcrre  Haute, 
his  successful  defense  of  which  with  but  a 
handful  of  men  against  a  large  force  of 
Indians  which  had  attacked  him  was  one  of 
the  first  marked  military  achievements  of 
the  war.  He  was  then  brevetted  Major, 
and  in   1814  promoted  to  the  full  rank. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  war  Taylor 
was  actively  employed  on  the  Western 
frontier.  In  the  peace  organization  of  18 15 
he  was  retained  as  Captain,  but  soon  after 
resigned  and  settled  near  Louisville.  In 
May,  1816,  however,  he  re-entered  the  army 
as  Major  of  the  Third  Infantry  ;  became 
Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Eigiith  Infantry 
in  1 8 19,  and  in  1S32  attained  the  Colonelcy 
of  the  First  Infantry,  of  which  he  had  been 
Lieutenant-Colonel  since  1 82 1 .  On  different 
occasions  he  had  been  called  to  Washington 
as  member  of  a  military  board  for  organiz- 
ing the  militia  of  the  Union,  and  to  aid  the 
Government  with  his  knowledge  in  the 
organization  of  the  Indian  Bureau,  having 
for  many  years  discharged  the  duties  of 
Indian  agent  over  large  tracts  of  Western 


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country.  He  served  through  the  Black 
Hawk  war  in  1833,  and  in  1837  was  ordered 
to  take  command  in  Florida,  then  the  scene 
of  war  with  the  Indians. 

In  i84(')  he  was  transferred  to  tiic  com- 
mand of  the  Army  of  the  Southwest,  from 
which  he  was  relieved  the  same  year  at  his 
own  request.  Subsequently  he  was  sta- 
tioned on  the  Arkansas  frontier  at  Forts 
Gibbon,  Smith  and  Jesup,  which  latter  work 
had  been  built  under  his  direction  in  1822. 

May  28,  iS-tj,  he  received  a  dispatch  from 
the  Secretary  of  War  informing  him  of  the 
receipt  of  information  by  the  President 
"that  Texas  would  shortly  accede  to  the 
terms  of  annexation,"  in  which  event  he 
was  instructed  to  defend  and  protect  her 
from  "foreign  invasion  and  Indian  incur- 
sions." He  proceeded,  upon  the  annexation 
of  Texas,  with  about  1,500  men  to  Corpus 
Christi,  where  his  force  was  increased  to 
some  4,000. 

Taylor  was  brevetted  Major-General  May 
28,  and  a  month  later,  June  29,  1S46,  his  full 
commission  to  that  grade  was  issued.  After 
needed  rest  and  reinforcement,  he  advanced 
in  September  on  Monterey,  which  city  ca- 
pitulated after  three-days  stubborn  resist- 
ance. Mere  he  took  up  iiis  winter  quarters. 
The  plan  for  the  invasion  of  Mexico,  by 
wa)^  of  Vera  Cruz,  with  General  Scott  in 
command,  was  now  determined  upon  by 
the  Govenrment,  and  at  the  nunuent  Taylor 
was  about  to  resume  actiye  operations,  he 
received  orders  to  send  the  larger  part  of 
his  force  t(j  reinforce  the  army  of  General 
Scott  at  N'era  Cruz.  Though  subsequently 
reinforced  by  raw  recruits,  yet  after  pro- 
viding a  garrison  for  Monterey  and  Saltillo 
he  had  but  about  5,300  effective  troops,  of 
which  but  500  or  600  were  regulars.  In 
this  weakened  condition,  however,  he  was 
destined  to  achieve  his  greatest  victory. 
Confidently  relying  upon  his  strength  at 
Vera  Cruz  to  resist  the  enemy  for  a  long 
time,  Santa  Anna  directed  his  entire  army 


against  Taylor  to  overwhelm  him,  and  then 
to  return  to  oppose  the  advance  of  Scott's 
more  formidable  invasion.  The  battle  of 
Bucna  Vista  was  fought  February  22  antl 
23,  1847.  Taylor  received  the  thanks  of 
Congress  and  a  gold  medal,  and  '•  Old 
Rough  and  Ready,"  the  sobriquet  given 
him  in  the  army,  became  a  household  word. 
He  remained  in  quiet  })ossession  (jf  the 
Rio  Grande  Valley  until  Noyember,  when 
he  returned  to  the  United  States. 

In  the  Whig  conyention  which  met  at 
Philadelphia,June  7,  1848,  Taylor  was  nomi- 
nated on  the  fourth  ballot  as  candidate  of 
the  Whig  party  for  President,  over  Henry 
Clay,  General  Scott  and  Daniel  Webster. 
In  November  Taylor  received  a  majority 
of  electoral  votes,  and  a  popidar  vote  of 
1,360,752,  against  1,219,962  for  Cass  and 
Butler,  and  291,342  for  \"an  Buren  and 
Adams.  General  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
March  4,  1849. 

The  free  and  slave  States  being  then  equal 
in  number,  the  struggle  f(jr  supremacy  on 
the  part  of  the  leaders  in  Congress  was 
violent  and  bitter.  In  the  summer  of  1849 
California  adopted  in  convention  a  Consti- 
tution prohibiting  slavery  within  its  borders. 
Taylor  advocated  the  immediate  admission 
of  California  with  her  Constitution,  and  the 
postponement  of  the  question  as  to  the  other 
Territories  until  they  could  hold  conven- 
tions and  decide  for  themselves  whether 
slavery  should  exist  within  their  borders. 
This  policy  ultimately  prevailed  through 
the  celebrated  "  Compromise  Measures"  of 
Henry  Clay ;  but  not  during  the  life  of  the 
brave  soldier  and  patriot  statesman.  July 
5  he  was  taken  suddenly  ill  with  a  bilious 
fever,  which  proved  fatal,  his  death  occur- 
ring July  9,  1850.  One  of  his  daughters 
married  Colonel  W.  W.  S.  Bliss,  his  Adju- 
tant-General and  Chief  of  Staff  in  Florida 
and  Mexico,  and  Private  Secretary  during 
his  Presidency.  Another  daughter  was 
married  to  Jefferson  Davis. 


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I  L  L  A  R  D  FILL- 
MORE, the  thir- 
JkI;  teeiith  President 
of  the  United 
States,  i850-'3,  was 
born  in  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga 
Ojunty,  New  York,  Janu- 
ary 7,  1800.  He  was  of 
New  England  ancestry,  and 
his  educational  advantages 
were  limited.  He  early 
learned  the  clothiers'  trade, 
but  spent  all  his  leisure  time 
II  '  in  study.  At  nineteen  years 
^  of  age  he  was  induced  b)' 
Judge  Walter  ^Vood  to  abandon  his  trade 
and  commence  the  study  of  law.  Uj)on 
learning  that  the  young  man  was  entirely 
destitute  of  means,  he  took  him  into  his 
own  office  and  loaned  him  such  money  as 
he  needed.  That  lie  might  not  be  heavil)- 
burdened  with  debt,  young  Fillmore  taught 
school  during  the  winter  months,  and  in 
various  other  ways  helped  himself  along. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-three  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  the   village  of  Aurora,  situated  on  the 


eastern  bank  of  the  Cayuga  Lake.  In  1825 
he  married  Miss  Abigail  Powers,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Lemuel  Powers,  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth.  In  1825  he  took  his  seat  in 
the  House  of  Assembly  of  his  native  Slate, 
as  Representative  from  Erie  Count)-, 
whither  he  had  recently  moved. 

Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very 
active  part  in  politics  iiis  vote  and  his  sym- 
pathies were  with  the  Whig  party.  The 
State  was  then  Democratic,  but  his  cour- 
tesy, ability  and  integrity  won  the  respect 
of  his  associates.  In  1S32  he  was  elected 
to  a  seat  in  tiie  United  States  Congress. 
At  the  close  of  iiis  term  he  returned  to  liis 
law  practice,  antl  in  twoyeais  more  he  was 
again  elected  to  Congress. 

He  now  began  to  have  a  national  reputa- 
tion. His  labors  were  very  arduous.  To 
draft  resolutions  in  the  committee  room, 
and  then  to  defend  them  against  the  most 
skillful  opponents  on  the  floor  of  the  House 
requires  readiness  of  mind,  mental  resources 
and  skill  in  debate  such  as  few  possess. 
Weary  with  these  e.\hausting  labors,  and 
pressed  by  the  claims  of  his  private  affairs, 
Mr.  Fillmore  wrote  a  letter  to  his  constitu- 
ents and  declined  to  be  a  candidate  for  re- 
election.    Notwithstanding  this  ccmmuni- 


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cation  liis  friends  met  in  convention  and 
renominated  him  b}'  acclamation.  Thougli 
gratified  by  tliis  proof  of  tiieir  a[)preciation 
of  his  labors  he  adhered  to  his  resolve  and 
returned  to  his  home. 

In  1847  •^I''-  Fillmore  was  elected  to  the 
important  office  of  comptroller  of  the  State. 
In  entering  upon  the  ver}'  responsible  duties 
which  this  situation  demanded,  it  was  nec- 
essary for  him  to  abandon  his  profession, 
and  he  removed  to  the  cit}"^  of  Albany.  In 
this  year,  also,  the  Whigs  were  looking 
around  to  find  suitable  candidates  for  tiie 
President  and  \"ice-President  at  the  ap- 
proaching election,  and  the  names  of  Zach- 
ary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying  cry  of  the  Whigs.  On  the  4th 
of  March,  1S49,  General  Taylor  was  inaug- 
urated President  and  Millard  Fillmore 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 

The  great  question  of  slavery  had  as- 
sumed enormous  proportions,  and  perme- 
ated every  subject  that  was  brought  before 
Congress.  It  was  evident  that  the  strength 
of  our  institutions  was  to  be  severely  tried. 
July  9,  1S50,  President  Taylor  died,  and,  by 
the  Constitution,  Vice-President  Fillmore 
became  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  agitated  condition  of  the  country 
brought  questions  of  great  delicacy  before 
him.  He  was  bound  by  his  oath  of  office 
to  execute  the  laws  of  the  United  States. 
One  of  these  laws  was  understood  to  be, 
that  if  a  slave,  escaping  from  bondage, 
should  reach  a  free  State,  the  United  States 
was  bound  to  do  its  utmost  to  ca])ture  him 
and  return  him  to  his  master.  Most  Ciiris- 
tian  men  loathed  this  law.  President  Fill- 
more felt  bound  by  his  oath  rigidly  to  see 
it  enforced.  Slavery  was  organizing  armies 
to  invade  Cuba  as  it  had  invaded  Te.xas, 
and  annex  it  to  the  United  States.  Presi- 
dent Fillmore  gave  all  the  influence  of  his 
exalted  station  against  tlie  atrocious  enter- 
prise. 

Mr.  Fillmore  had   serious    difficulties  to 


contend  with,  since  tlie  opposition  had  a 
majority  in  both  Houses.  He  did  cvery- 
tiiing  in  his  power  to  conciliate  the  South, 
but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  that  secti(jn 
felt  the  inadequency  of  all  measures  of  tran- 
sient conciliation.  The  population  of  the 
free  States  was  so  rapidly  increasing  over 
that  of  the  slave  States,  that  it  was  inevita- 
ble that  the  power  of  the  Government 
should  soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free 
States.  The  famous  compromise  measures 
were  adopted  imder  Mr.  Fillmore's  admin- 
istration, and  the  Japan  expedition  was 
sent  out. 

March  4,  1853,  having  served  one  term, 
President  Fillmore  retired  from  office.  He 
then  took  a  long  tour  through  the  South, 
where  he  met  with  quite  an  enthusiastic 
reception.  In  a  speech  at  Vicksburg,  al- 
luding to  the  rapid  growth  of  the  country, 
he  said: 

"  Canada  is  knocking  for  admission,  and 
Mexico  would  be  glad  to  come  in,  and 
without  saying  whether  it  would  be  right 
or  wrong,  we  stand  with  open  arms  to  re- 
ceive them;  for  it  is  the  manifest  destiny  of 
this  Government  to  embrace  the  whole 
North  American  Continent." 

In  1855  Mr.  Fillmore  went  to  Europe 
where  he  was  received  with  those  marked 
attentions  which  his  position  and  character 
merited.  Returning  to  this  country  in 
1856  he  was  nominated  for  the  Presidency 
bv  the  "Know-Nothing"  part}'.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan, the  Democratic  candidate  was 
the  successful  competitor.  Mr.  Fillmore 
ever  afterward  lived  in  retirement.  Dur- 
ing the  conflict  of  civil  war  he  was  mostly 
silent.  It  was  generally  supposed,  how- 
ever, that  his  S3'mpath3'  was  with  the  South- 
ern Confederacy.  He  kept  aloof  from  the 
conflict  without  any  words  of  cheer  to  the 
one  party  or  the  other.  For  this  reason 
he  was  forgotten  by  both.  He  died  of 
paral3sis,  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  March  8, 
1874. 


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"^fJ^ANKLIN    PIERCE, 

f  the  fourteenth  Prcsi- 
>-^3  dent  of  the  United 
'^  States,  was  born  in 
Hillsborough,  New 
Hampshire,  Novem- 
ber 23,  1804.  His 
father.  Governor 
Benjamin  Pierce,  was  a  Rev- 
olutionar)'  soldier,  a  man  of 
rigid  integrity  ;  was  for  sev- 
eral years  in  the  State  Legis- 
lature, a  member  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's coimcil  and  a  General 
of  the  militia. 
Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 
As  a  boy  he  listened  eagerly  to  the  argu- 
inents  of  his  father,  enforced  by  strong  and 
ready  utterance  and  earnest  gesture.  It 
was  in  the  days  of  intense  political  excite- 
ment, when,  all  over  the  New  England 
States,  Federalists  and  Democrats  were  ar- 
rayed so  fiercely  against  each  other. 

In  1820  he  entered  Bowdoin  College,  at 
Brims  wick,  Maine,  and  graduated  in  1824, 
and  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the 
of^ce  of  Judge  Woodbur}',  a  very  distin- 
guished lawyer,  and  in  1827  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  Hejjracticed  with  great  success 
in  Hillsborough   and  Concord.     He  served 


in  the  State  Legislature  four  years,  the  last 
two  of  which  he  was  chosen  Sjicaker  of  the 
House  b}'  a  very  large  vote. 

In  1833  he  was  elected  a  member  of  Con- 
gress. In  1837  he  was  elected  to  the  United 
States  Senate,  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  com- 
menced   his   administration. 

In  1834  he  married  Miss  Jane  Means 
Appleton,  a  lady  admirably  fitted  to  adorn 
every  station  with  which  her  husband  was 
honored.  Three  sons  born  to  them  all 
found  an  early  grave. 

Upon  his  accession  to  office,  President 
Polk  appointed  Mr.  Pierce  Attorney-Gen- 
eral of  the  United  States,  but  the  offer  was 
declined  in  consequence  of  numerous  pro- 
fessional engagements  at  home  and  the 
precarious  state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health. 
About  the  same  time  he  also  declined  the 
nomination  Utr  Governor  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party. 

The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr.  I'ierce 
int(3  the  arm)'.  Receiving  the  appointment 
of  Brigadier-General,  he  embarked  with  a 
portion  of  his  troops  at  Newport,  Rhode 
Island,  May  27,  1847.  He  served  during 
this  war,  and  distinguished  himself  by  his 
bravery,  skill  and  excellent  judgment. 
When  he  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State  he  was  enthusiastically  received   by 


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tlic  aiivocatcs  of  the  war,  and  coldly  by  its 
opponents.  lie  resumed  tlie  practice  of  his 
profession,  frequently  taking-  an  active  part 
in  political  ([uestions,  and  "giving-  his  sup- 
port to  the  pro-sla\Tr\'  wini;-  of  tlie  Demo- 
cratic jiartv. 

June  12,  1852,  the  Democratic  convention 
met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate 
for  the  Presidencv.  For  four  da3-s  they 
continued  in  session,  and  in  thirtv-five  bal- 
lotuig-s  no  one  had  received  the  reipiisite 
two-thirds  \'ote.  Not  a  \'ote  had  been 
thrown  thus  far  for  General  Pierce.  Then 
the  \'iii^inia  delegation  brought  forwar<l 
his  name.  There  were  fourteen  more  bal- 
lotings,  during  which  General  Pierce 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-ninth 
balhjt,  he  received  2S2  votes,  antl  all  other 
candidates  eleven.  General  \Vinfield  Scott 
was  the  Whig  candidate.  General  Pierce 
was  elected  \\'ith  great  unanimity.  Only 
four  .States — \'ermont,  Massachusetts,  Ken- 
tuck'N'  and  Tennessee — cast  their  electoral 
votes  against  him.  March  4,  1853,  he  was 
inaugurated  President  of  the  United  States, 
and  William  R.  King,  \'ice-President. 

President  Pierce's  cabinet  consisted  of 
William  S.  Marcy,  James  Guthrie,  Jefferson 
Davis,  James  C.  Dobbin,  Robert  McClel- 
land, James  Campbell  and  Caleb  Cushing. 

At  the  demand  of  slavery  the  Missouri 
Compromise  was  lepealed,  and  all  the  Ter- 
ritories of  the  Uni(jn  were  thrown  o])en  to 
slavery.  The  Territor\'  of  Kansas,  west  of 
Missouri,  was  settled  by  emigi'ants  mainly 
from  the  Xorlh.  According  to  law,  they 
weix'  about  to  meet  and  deciile  whether 
slavery  or  freedom  should  be  tlie  law  of 
that  i"ealm.  .Slavery  in  Missoui'i  and 
other  Southern  .States  rallied  her  armed 
legions,  marched  them  into  Kansas,  took 
possession  of  the  j)olls,  drcise  away  the 
citizens,  deposited  their  own  votes  by 
handfuls,  went  through  the  farce  of  count- 
ing them,  and  then  declared  that,  by  an 
overwhelming  majority,  slavery  was  estab- 


lished in  Kansas.  Tijese  facts  nobody 
denied,  anil  yet  i'l'csident  Pierce's  adminis- 
tration felt  bound  to  respect  the  decision 
obtained  by  such  voles.  The  citizens  of 
Kansas,  the  majority  of  whom  were  free- 
State  men,  met  in  convention  and  adopted 
tlie  following  resolve : 

"Rfsohii!,  That  the  body  of  men  who, 
for  the  jiast  two  months,  have  been  passing 
laws  for  the  people  of  our  Territory, 
moved,  c(junseled  and  dictated  to  by  the 
demagogues  of  other  .Stales,  are  to  us  a 
foreign  body,  representing  only  the  lawless 
invaders  wdio  elected  them,  :md  not  the 
people  of  this  Territory  ;  that  we  repudiate 
their  action  as  the  monstrous  consummation 
of  an  act  of  violence,  usurpation  and  fraud 
unparalleled  in  the  history  of  the  Union." 

The  free-State  people  of  Kansas  also  sent 
a  petition  to  the  General  (iovernment,  im- 
ploring its  ]irotectioii.  In  repl^'  the  Presi- 
dent issued  a  proclamation,  declai'ing  that 
Legisl.ature  thus  created  nuist  be  recog- 
nized as  the  legitimate  I^egislature  of  Kan- 
sas, and  that  its  laws  were  binding  upon 
the  j)eoi)le,and  that,  if  necessary,  the  whole 
force  of  the  Governmental  arm  woidd  be 
put  forth  to  inforce  those  laws. 

James  Buchanan  succeeded  him  in  the 
Presidency,  and,  March  4,  1S57,  President 
Pierce  retired  to  his  home  in  Concord, 
New  Hampshire.  When  the  liebellion 
burst  forth  Mr.  Pierce  remained  steadfast 
to  the  principles  he  had  always  cherished, 
and  gave  liis  sympathies  to  the  pro-slavery 
])artv,  with  which  he  had  ever  been  allied. 
lie  declined  to  do  an^'thing,  either  b}' 
voice  or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hands  ol 
the  National  Government,  lie  resiiled  in 
Concord  until  his  death,  which  occun-ed  in 
()ctol)er,  iSriy.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
genial  antl  social  of  men,  generous  to 
a  fault,  and  contributed  liberall}-  of  his 
moderate  means  for  the  alleviation  of  suf- 
fering and  want.  lie  was  an  honored 
commimicant  of  the  Episcopal  church, 


J) 

4 


ill 
) 


% 


So  Pirns  I  DENTS     OF     THE     UNITED    STATES. 


,f|ir^r.7>,t;>,rf,>^tg>>,r->,r;-,>^t,-.>^g>!?)(J^#^ 


_-^© 


f^^ 


^f'  -i^vj^Xi*^-'-'  ''''•■ 


^<@Y 


-  .  w  ^^      ff  'AMES  BUCHANAN,  the 
'''^'''^^^WM%        fiflcentli  President  of  the 
United   States,    iS57-'6i, 
was     born    in     Franklin 
Count  y,  Pennsylvania, 
April    23,    1791.      The 
ace    where    his  father's 
cabin    stood    was    called 
Stony   Batter,    and   it    was 
situated  in  a  wild,  romantic 
spot,  in  a  gorge  of   mount- 
ains,   with    towering    sum- 
mits rising  all  around.     He 
was   of   Irish   ancestry,  his 
father  having  emigrated  in- 
1783,    with   very  little  prop- 
erty, save  his  own  strong  arms. 

James  remained  in  his  secluded  home  for 
eight  years  enjoying  very  few  social  or 
intellectual  advantages.  His  parents  were 
industrious,  frugal,  prosperous  and  intelli- 
gent. In  1799  his  father  removed  to  Mer- 
cersburg,  where  James  was  placed  in 
school  and  commenced  a  course  in  English, 
Greek  and  Latin.  His  progress  was  rapid 
and  in  1801  he  entered  Dickinson  College 
at  Carlisle.  Here  he  took  his  stand  among 
the  first  scholars  in  the  institution,  and  was 
able  to  master  the  most  abstruse  subjects 
wnth  facility.  In  1809  he  graduated  with 
the  highest  honors  in  his  class. 

He  was  then  eighteen  years  of  age,  tall, 


graceful  and  in  vigorous  health,,  fond  of 
athletic  sports,  an  unerring  shot  and  en- 
livened with  an  exuberant  flow  of  animal 
spirits.  He  immcdiatel)'  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812.  He  rose 
very  rapidly  in  his  profession  and  at  once 
took  undisputed  stand  with  the  ablest  law- 
yers of  the  State.  AViien  but  twenty-si\' 
years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  the  State  Senate 
one  of  the  Judges  of  the  State,  who  was 
tried  upon  articles  of  impeachment.  At 
the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally  admitted 
that  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar,  and 
there  was  no  law3-er  in  the  State  who  had 
a  more  extensive  or  lucrative  practice. 

In  1 81 2,  just  after  Mr.  Buchanan  had 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  the  law,  our 
second  war  with  England  occurred.  With 
all  his  powers  he  sustained  the  Govern- 
ment, eloquently  urging  the  rigorous  pros- 
ecution of  the  war;  and  even  enlisHng  as  a 
private  soldier  to  assist  in  repelling  the 
British,  who  had  sacked  Washington  and 
were  threatening  Baltimore.  He  was  at 
that  time  a  Federalist,  but  when  the  Con- 
stitution was  adopted  by  both  parties, 
Jefferson  truly  said,  "  We  are  all  Federal- 
ists: we  arc  all  Republicans." 

The  opposition  of  the  Federalists  to  the 
war  with  England,  and  the  alien  and   .sedi- 


i-i»j"_ei"_«"ia«i._"_ik^ 


tfiaj?  IK™»t?tJ«  ? 


<Z^//Zf^    (2y2^/'rOyi^,;^yi^£<'^y>^ 


... 


■.»*«-"»««*■«»»*'■'»:;  ■^'i;«'M"WK"«  i.*^  ^r 


i-«iiu;r3«rr,TS 


'.ii!/7,-3r^:iu-,,,ifiai,Bf,j;jBi,t«;^ia,itr^«.';;i-ii 


JAMES    BUCHANAN. 


I 


tion  lau'S  of  John  Adams,  brought  the  party 
into  dispute,  and  the  name  of  Federalist 
became  a  leproach.  Mr.  Buclianan  ahnost 
immediately  upon  entering  Congress  began 
to  incline  more  and  more  to  the  Repub- 
licans. In  the  stormy  Presidential  election 
of  1824,  in  which  Jackson,  Clay,  Crawford 
and  John  Oiiincy  Adams  were  candidates, 
Mr.  Buchanan  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen- 
eral Jackson  and  unrelentingly  opposed  the 
administration  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Upon  his  elevation  to  the  Presidency, 
General  Jackson  appointed  Mr.  Buchanan, 
minister  to  Russia.  Upon  his  return  in  1833 
he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met  as  his  associates, 
Webster,  Clay,  Wright  and  Calhoun.  He 
advocated  the  measures  proposed  by  Presi- 
dent Jackson  of  making  reprisals  against 
France,  and  defended  the  course  of  the  Pres- 
ident in  his  unprecedented  and  wholesale 
removals  from  office  of  those  who  were  not 
the  supporters  of  his  administration.  Upon 
this  question  he  was  brought  into  direct  col- 
lision with  Henr}'  Clay.  In  the  discussion 
of  the  question  respecting  tiie  admission  of 
Michigan  and  Arkansas  into  the  Union,  Mr. 
Buchanan  defined  his  position  by  sa3'ing: 

"  The  older  I  grow,  the  more  I  am  in- 
clined to  be  what  is  called  a  State-rights 
man." 

M.  de  Tocqueville,  in  his  renowned  work 
upon  "  Democracy  in  America,"  foresaw 
the  trouble  which  was  inevitable  from  the 
doctrine  of  State  sovereignty  as  held  by 
Calhoun  and  Buchanan.  He  was  con- 
vinced that  the  National  Government  was 
losing  that  strength  which  was  essential 
to  its  own  existence,  and  that  the  States 
were  assuming  powers  which  threatened 
the  perpetuity-  of  the  Union.  Mr.  Buchanan 
received  the  book  in  the  Senate  and  de- 
clared the  fears  of  De  Tocqueville  to  be 
groundless,  and  yet  he  lived  to  sit  in  the 
Presidential  chair  and  see  State  after  State, 
in  accordance  with  his  own  views  of  State 


rights,  breaking  from  the  Union,  thus 
crumbling  our  Republic  into  ruins;  while 
the  unhappy  old  man  folded  his  arms  in 
despair,  declaring  that  the  National  Consti- 
tution invested  him  with  no  power  to  arrest 
the  destruction. 

Upon  Mr.  Polk's  accession  to  the  Presi- 
dency, Mr.  Buchanan  became  Secretary  of 
State,  and  as  such  took  his  share  of  tiie 
responsibilit}'  in  the  conduct  of  the  Mexi- 
can war.  At  the  close  of  Mr;  Polk's  ad- 
ministration, Mr.  Buchanan  retired  to  pri- 
vate life;  but  his  intelligence,  and  his  great 
ability  as  a  statesman,  enabled  him  to  exert 
a  powerful  influence  in  National  affairs. 

Mr.  Pierce,  upon  his  election  to  the 
Presidency,  honored  Mr.  Buchanan  with 
the  mission  to  England.  In  the  year  1856 
the  National  Democratic  convention  nomi- 
nated Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  Presidenc}'. 
The  political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most 
severe  in  wliich  our  coimtry  has  ever  en- 
gaged. On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  Mr. 
Buchanan  was  inaugurated  President.  His 
cabinet  were  Lewis  Cass,  Howell  Cobb, 
J.  B.  Flo3'd,  Isaac  Toucey,  Jacob  Thomp^ 
son,   A.  V.  Brown  and   J.   S.  Black. 

The  disruption  of  the  Democratic  party, 
in  consequence  of  the  manner  in  which  the 
issue  of  the  nationality  of  slavery  was 
f)ressed  by  the  Southern  wing,  occurred  at 
the  National  convention,  held  at  Charleston 
in  April,  i860,  for  the  nomination  of  Mr. 
Buchanan's  successor,  when  the  majority 
of  Southern  delegates  withdrew  upon  the 
passage  of  a  resolution  declaring  that  the 
constitutional  status  of  slavery  should  be 
determined  by  the  Supreme  Court. 

In  the  next  Presidential  canvass  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  was  nominated  by  the  oppo- 
nents of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration. 
iNIr.  Buchanan  remained  in  Washington 
long  enough  to  see  his  successor  installed 
and  then  retired  to  his  home  in  Wheatland. 
He  died  June  i,  1868,  aged  seventy-seven 
)'ears. 


'is' 
>V- 


rt=.-»ri-ji;! 


t<:^J!ii±:i.r  J  r  — jSl' 


}^Ai^  si-f.-^-t 


'■M  — «j**rt^^'*M^*'M'^t^^>M*'wPs8^ 


Plin.SfDHNTS     OF     THE     UN  J  TED    STATES. 


■«i€|i%BiR;ffiBffiiyK?ii;N:OQ-M|liil:f^ 

C'stiKsi'''"  MJ   •;-  *^~-I-   t^   'T^  uja   -lM6)Str<ar^'-s»niE:^ 'I-   tja   M-   »j9   ^-   ti»   't>   (^  •'0\iii3;-," 


ill 

•Hj 


BRAHAM      LIN- 
COLN, the  sixteenth 
President    of   the 
United  States,  i86i-'5, 
^  .      was   born  February 


w 


1S09,  in  Larue 
(then  I  Lardin)  County, 
Kentucky,  in  a  cabin  on  Nolan 
Creek,  three  miles  west  of 
Hudi^ensville.  His  parents 
were  Thomas  and  Nancy 
-jiji^^A.  (Hanks)  Lincoln.  Of  his  an- 
-^li^^  cestry  and  early  years  the  little 
that  is  known  may  best  be 
given  in  his  own  language  :  "  M}- 
parents  were  both  born  in  Virginia,  of  un- 
distinguished families — second  families,  per- 
haps I  should  say.  My  mother,  wiio  died 
in  my  tenth  year,  was  of  a  family  of  the 
name  of  Hanks,  some  of  whom  now  remain 
in  Adams,  and  others  in  Macon  County, 
Illinois.  My  patcrna'  grandfather,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  emigrated  from  Rockbridge 
County,  Virginia,  to  Kentucky  in  1781  or 
1782,  where,  a  year  or  two  later,  he  was 
killed  by  Indians — not  in  battle,  but  by 
stealth,  when  he  was  laboring  to  open  a 
farm  in  the  forest.  His  ancestors,  who  were 
Quakers,  went  to  Virginia  from  Berks 
Count}',  Pennsylvania.     An  effort  to  iden- 


tif}'  them  with  the  New  England  family  of 
the  same  name  ended  in  nothing  more  defi- 
nite than  a  similarity  of  Christian  names  in 
both  families,  such  as  Enoch,  Levi,  jNIor- 
decai,  Solomon,  Abi"aham  and  the  like. 
My  father,  at  the  death  of  his  father,  was 
but  si.\  years  of  age,  and  he  grew  up,  liter- 
ally, without  education.  He  removed  from 
Kentucky  to  what  is  now  Spencer  County, 
Indiana,  in  my  eighth  year.  We  reached 
our  new  home  about  the  time  the  State  came 
into  the  Union.  It  was  a  wild  region,  with 
bears  and  other  wild  animals  still  in  the 
woods.     There  I  grew  to  manhood. 

"  There  were  some  schools,  so  called,  but 
no  qualification  was  ever  icquired  of  a 
teacher  beyond  '  readin',  writin',  and  cipher- 
in'  to  the  rule  of  three.'  If  a  straggler,  sup- 
posed to  understand  Latin,  happened  to 
sojourn  in  the  neighborhood,  he  was  looked 
upon  as  a  wizard.  There  was  absolutely 
nothing  to  excite  ambition  for  education. 
Of  course,  when  I  came  of  age  I  did  not 
know  much.  Still,  somehow,  I  could  read, 
write  and  cipher  to  the  rule  of  three,  and 
that  was  all.  I  have  not  been  to  school 
since.  The  little  advance  I  now  have  upon 
this  store  of  education  I  have  picked  up 
from  time  to  time  under  the  pressure  of 
necessity.    I  was  raised  to  farm-work,  which 


'A 


'Jl — 


t:}-i     c^'. 


Cr^.^ 


tlir     I    -rri-.-  I;,,-  .^. 


L^Ji«5iiV»»t«[i»?ii?«iS?!5i««a«>«»ii*a 


AliRAHASt    LINCOLN. 


S7 


I  c(>ntiiuictl  till  1  was  twciity-two.  At 
twcnty-onc  1  cainc  to  Illinois  and  passed 
the  first  year  in  Macon  County.  Then  I  got 
to  New  Salem,  at  that  time  in  Sangamon, 
now  in  Menard  County,  where  I  remained 
a  year  as  a  sort  of  clerk  in  a  store. 

"  Then  came  the  Black  I  lawk  war,  and  1 
was  elected  a  Captain  of  volunteers — a  suc- 
cess which  gave  mc  more  pleasure  than  any 
I  have  had  since.  I  went  the  campaign, 
was  elated  ;  ran  for  the  Legislature  t!ic 
same  year  (183J)  and  was  beaten,  the  only 
time  I  have  ever  been  beaten  by  the  people. 
The  next  and  three  succeeding  biennial 
elections  I  was  elected  to  the  Legislature, 
and  was  never  a  candidate  afterward. 

"  During  this  legislative  period  I  had 
studied  law,  and  removed  to  Springfield  to 
practice  it.  In  1846  I  was  elected  to  the 
Lower  House  of  Congress;  was  not  a  can- 
didate for  re-election.  From  1849  to  1854- 
inclusive,  I  practiced  the  law  more  assid- 
uously than  ever  before.  Always  a  Whig 
in  politics,  and  generally  on  the  Whig  elec- 
toral tickets,  making  active  canvasses,  I  was 
losing  interest  in  politics,  when  the  repeal 
of  the  Missouri  Compromise  roused  me 
again.  What  I  have  done  since  is  pretty 
well  known." 

The  early  residence  of  Lincoln  in  Indi- 
ana was  sixteen  miles  north  of  the  Ohio 
River,  on  Little  Pigeon  Creek,  one  and  a 
hall  miles  east  of  Gentryvillc,  within  the 
present  township  of  Carter.  Here  his 
mother  died  October  5,  18 18,  and  the  next 
year  his  father  married  Mrs.  Sally  (Bush) 
Johnston,  of  Elizabcthtown,  Kentucky.  She 
was  an  affectionate  foster-parent,  to  whom 
Abraham  was  indebted  for  his  first  encour- 
agement to  study.  He  became  an  eager 
reader,  and  the  few  books  owned  in  the 
vicinity  were  many  times  perused.  He 
worked  frequently  for  the  neighbors  as  a 
farm  laborer;  was  for  some  time  clerk  in  a 
store  at  Gentry ville;  and  became  famous 
throughout   that    region    for   his   athletic 


iSa^B? 


powers,  his  fondness  for  argument,  his  in- 
exhaustible fund  of  humcrous  anecdote,  as 
well  as  for  mock  oratory  and  the  composi- 
tion of  rude  satirical  verses.  In  1S28  he 
made  a  trading  voyage  to  New  Orleans  as 
"bow-hand"  on  a  flatboat;  removed  to 
Illinois  in  1830;  helped  his  father  build  a 
log  house  and  clear  a  farm  on  the  north 
fork  of  Sangamon  River,  ten  miles  west  of 
Decatur,  and  was  for  some  time  employed 
in  splitting  rails  for  the  fences — a  fact  which 
was  prominently  brought  forward  for  a 
political  purpose  thirty  years  later. 

In  the  spring  of  1851  he,  with  two  of  his 
relatives,  was  hired  to  build  a  flatboat  on 
the  Sangamon  River  and  navigate  it  to 
New  Orleans.  The  boat  "  stuck  "  on  a 
mill-dam,  and  was  got  off  with  great  labor 
through  an  ingenious  mechanical  device 
which  some  years  later  led  to  Lincoln's 
taking  out  a  patent  lor  "an  improved 
method  for  lifting  vessels  over  shoals." 
This  voyage  was  memorable  for  another 
reason — the  sight  of  slaves  chained,  mal- 
treated and  flogged  at  New  Orleans  was 
the  origin  of  his  deep  convictions  upon  the 
slavery  question. 

Returning  from  this  voyage  he  became  a 
resident  for  several  3'cars  at  New  Salem,  a 
recently  settled  village  on  the  Sangamon, 
where  he  was  successive!}'  a  clerk,  grocer, 
surve3or  and  postmaster,  and  acted  as  pilot 
to  the  first  steamboat  that  ascended  the 
Sangamon.  Here  he  studied  law,  inter- 
ested himself  in  local  politics  after  his 
leturn  from  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and 
became  known  as  an  effective  "stump- 
speaker."  The  subject  of  his  first  political 
speech  was  the  improvement  of  the  channel 
of  the  Sangamon,  and  the  chief  ground  on 
which  he  announced  himself  (1S32)  a  candi- 
date for  the  Legislature  was  his  advocacy 
(if  this  popular  measure,  on  which  subject 
his  practical  experience  made  him  the  high- 
est authority. 

Elected  to  the  Legislature  in   1834  as  a 


°M»BI«'M' 


pj;es/ DENTS   Of   the    Vxited  states. 


"  Henry  Clay  Wliig,"  he  rapidly  acquired 
that  command  of  language  and  that  homely 
but  forcible  rhetoric  which,  added  to  his 
intimate  knowledge  of  the  people  from 
wJiich  he  sprang,  made  him  more  than  a 
match  in  debate  for  his  few  well-educated 
opponents. 

Admitted  to  the  bar  in  1837  he  soon 
established  himself  at  Springfield,  where 
the  State  capital  was  located  in  1839, 
largely  through  his  influence;  became  a 
successful  pleader  in  the  State,  Circuit  and 
District  Courts  ;  married  in  1842  a  lady  be- 
longing to  a  prominent  family  in  Lexington, 
Kentucky ;  took  an  active  part  in  the  Pres- 
idential campaigns  of  1840  and  18.^  as 
candidate  for  elector  on  the  Harrison  and 
Clay  tickets,  and  in  1846  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  flouse  of  Representatives 
over  the  celebrated  Peter  Cartwright. 
During  his  single  term  in  Congress  he  did 
not  attain  any  prominence. 

He  voted  for  the  reception  of  anti-slavery 
petitions  for  the  abolition  of  the  slave  trade 
in  the  District  of  Columbia  and  for  the 
Wilmot  proviso;  but  was  chiefi}'  remem- 
bered for  the  stand  he  took  against  the 
Mexican  war.  For  several  years  there- 
after he  took  comparatively  little  interest 
in  politics,  but  gained  a  leading  position  at 
the  Springfield  bar.  Two  or  three  non- 
political  lectures  and  an  eulogy  on  Henry 
Clay  (1852)  added  nothing  to  his  reputation. 

In  1854  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri 
Compromise  by  the  Kansas-Nebraska  act 
aroused  Lincoln  from  his  indifference,  and 
in  attacking  that  measure  he  had  the  im- 
mense advantage  of  knowing  perfectly  well 
the  motives  and  the  record  of  its  author, 
Stephen  A.  Douglas,  of  Illinois,  then  popu- 
larly designated  as  the  "  Little  Giant."  The 
latter  came  to  Springfield  in  October,  1854, 
on  the  occasion  of  the  State  Fair,  to  vindi- 
cate his  policy  in  the  Senate,  and  the  "  Anti- 
Nebraska"  Whigs,  remembering  that  Lin- 
coln had  often  measured  his  strength  with 


Douglas  in  the  Illinois  Legislature  and  be- 
fore the  Springfield  Courts,  engaged  him 
to  improvise  a  reply.  This  speech,  in  the 
opinion  of  those  who  hcaid  it,  was  one  of 
the  greatest  efforts  of  Lincoln's  life  ;  cer- 
tainly the  most  effective  in  his  whole  career. 
It  took  the  audience  by  storm,  and  from 
that  moment  it  was  felt  that  Douglas  had 
met  his  match.  Lincoln  was  accordingly 
selected  as  the  Anti-Nebraska  candidate  for 
the  United  States  Senate  in  place  of  General 
Shields,  whose  term  expired  March  4,  1855, 
and  led  to  several  ballots;  but  Trumbull 
was  ultimately  chosen. 

The  second  conflict  on  the  soil  of  Kan- 
sas, which  Lincoln  had  predicted,  soon  be- 
gan. The  result  was  the  disruption  of  the 
Whig  and  the  formation  of  the  Republican 
party.  At  the  Bloomington  State  Conven- 
tion in  1856,  where  the  new  party  first 
assumed  form  in  Illinois,  Lincoln  made  an 
impressive  address,  in  which  for  the  first 
time  he  took  distinctive  ground  against 
slaver_v  in  itself. 

At  the  National  Republican  Convention 
at  Philadelphia,  June  17,  after  the  nomi- 
nation of  Fremont,  Lincoln  was  put  for- 
ward by  the  Illinois  delegation  for  the 
Vice-Presidency,  and  received  on  the  first 
ballot  no  votes  against  259  for  William  L. 
Dayton.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the 
canvass,  being  on  the  electoral  ticket. 

In  1858  Lincoln  was  unanimously  nomi- 
nated by  the  Republican  State  Convention 
as  its  candidate  for  the  United  States  Senate 
in  place  of  Douglas,  and  in  his  speech  of 
acceptance  used  the  celebrated  illustration 
of  a  "house  divided  against  itself "  on  the 
slavery  question,  which  was,  perhaps,  the 
cause  of  his  defeat.  The  great  debate  car- 
ried on  at  all  the  principal  towns  of  Illinois 
between  Lincoln  and  Douglas  as  rival  Sena- 
torial candidates  resulted  at  the  time  in  the 
election  of  the  latter ;  but  being  widely  cir- 
culated as  a  campaign  document,  it  fixed 
the    attention   of    the    country    upon    the 


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former,  as  the  clearest  and  most  convinc- 
ing exponent  of  Republican  doctrine. 

Early  in  1859  he  began  to  be  named  in 
Illinois  as  a  suitable  Republican  candidate 
for  the  Presidential  campaign  of  the  ensu- 
ing 3'ear,  and  a  political  address  delivered 
at  the  Cooper  Institute,  New  York,  Febru- 
ary 27,  i860,  followed  b}'  similar  speeches 
at  New  Haven,  Hartford  and  elsewhere  in 
New  England,  first  made  him  known  to  the 
Eastern  States  in  the  light  by  which  he  had 
long  been  regarded  at  home.  By  the  Re- 
publican State  Convention,  which  met  at 
Decatur,  Illinois,  May  9  and  10,  Lincoln 
was  unanimously  endorsed  for  the  Presi- 
dency. It  was  on  this  occasion  that  two 
rails,  said  to  have  been  split  by  his  hands 
thirty  years  before,  were  brought  into  the 
convention,  and  the  incident  contributed 
much  to  his  popularit)-.  The  National 
Republican  Convention  at  Chicago,  after 
spirited  efforts  made  in  favor  of  Seward, 
Chase  and  Bates,  nominated  Lincoln  for 
the  Presidency,  with  Hannibal  Hamlin 
for  Vice-President,  at  the  same  time  adopt- 
ing a  vigorous  anti-slavery  platform. 

The  Democratic  party  having  been  dis- 
organized and  presenting  two  candidates, 
Douglas  and  Breckenridge,  and  the  rem- 
nant of  the  "American"  party  having  put 
forward  John  Bell,  of  Tennessee,  the  Re- 
jmblican  victory  was  an  easy  one,  Lincoln 
being  elected  November  6  by  a  large  plu- 
rality, comprehending  nearly  all  the  North- 
ern States,  but  none  of  the  Southern.  The 
secession  of  South  Carolina  and  the  Gulf 
States  was  the  immediate  result,  followed 
a  few  months  later  by  that  of  the  border 
slave  States  and  the  outbreak  of  the  great 
civil  war. 

The  life  of  Abraham  Lincoln  became 
thenceforth  merged  in  the  history  of  his 
country.  None  of  the  details  of  the  vast 
conflict  which  filled  the  remainder  of  Lin- 
coln's life  can  here  be  given.  Narrowly 
escaping  assassination    by   avoiding  Balti- 


more on  his  way  to  the  capital,  he  reached 
Washington  February  23,  and  was  inaugu- 
rated President  of  the  United  .States  March 
4,  1861. 

In  his  inaugural  address  he  said:  "  I  hold, 
that  in  contemplation  of  imiversal  law  and 
the  Constitution  the  Union  of  these  States  is 
perpetual.  Perpetuity  is  implied  if  not  ex- 
pressed in  the  fundamental  laws  of  all  na- 
tional governments.  It  is  safe  to  assert 
that  no  government  proper  ever  had  a  pro- 
vision in  its  organic  law  for  its  own  termi- 
nation. I  therefore  consider  that  in  view 
of  the  Constitution  and  the  laws,  the  Union 
is  unbroken,  and  to  the  extent  of  my  ability 
I  shall  take  care,  as  the  Constitution  en- 
joins upon  me,  that  the  laws  of  the  United 
States  be  extended  in  all  the  States.  In 
doing  this  there  need  be  no  bloodshed  or  vio- 
lence, and  there  shall  be  none  unless  it  be 
forced  upon  the  national  authority.  The 
power  conferred  to  me  will  be  used  to  hold, 
occupy  and  possess  the  property  and  places 
belonging  to  the  Government,  and  to  col- 
lect the  duties  and  imports,  but  beyond 
what  may  be  necessary  for  these  objects 
there  will  be  no  invasion,  no  using  of  force 
against  or  among  the  people  anywhere.  In 
your  hands,  my  dissatisfied  fcUow-countr}-- 
men,  is  the  momentous  issue  of  civil  war. 
The  Government  will  not  assail  you.  You 
can  have  no  conflict  without  being  ^-our- 
selves  the  aggressors.  You  have  no  oath 
registered  in  heaven  to  destroy  the  Gov- 
ernment, while  I  shall  have  the  most  sol- 
emn one  to  preserve,  protect  and  defend 
it." 

He  called  to  his  cabinet  his  principal 
rivals  for  the  Presidential  nomination  — 
Seward,  Chase,  Cameron  and  Bates;  se- 
cured the  co-operation  of  the  Union  Demo- 
crats, headed  by  Douglas ;  called  out  75,000 
militia  from  the  several  States  upon  the  fii  st 
tidings  of  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter, 
April  15;  proclaimed  a  blockade  of  the 
Southern  posts  April   19;  called  an  extra 


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session  of  CoiiL^rcss  for  July  4,  from  whicli  |  Johnson  assumed  tlic  Presidency,  and  active 

measures  were  taken  which  resulted  in  the 
death  of  Bootli  and  the  execution  of  iiis 
principal  accomplices. 

Tiie  funeral  of  I'residcnt  Lincoln  was 
conducted  with  unexampled  solemnity  and 
magnificence.  Impressive  services  were 
held  in  Washington,  after  which  the  sad 
procession  proceeded  over  the  same  route 
he  had  traveled  four  3'ears  before,  from 
Springfield  to  Washington.  In  Philadel- 
phia his  body  lay  in  state  in  Independence 
Hall,  in  which  he  had  declared  before  his 
first  inauguration  "  that  I  would  sooner  be 
assassinated  than  to  give  up  the  principles 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence."  He 
was  buried  at  Oak  Ridge  Cemetery,  near 
Springfield,  Illinois,  on  May  4,  where  a 
monument  emblematic  of  the  emancipation 
of  the  slaves  and  the  restoration  of  the 
Union  mark  his  resting  place. 

The  leaders  and  citizens  of  the  expiring 
Confederacy  expressed  genuine  indignation 
at  the  murder  of  a  generous  political  adver- 
sary. Foreign  nations  took  part  in  mourn- 
ing the  death  of  a  statesman  who  had  proved 
himself  a  true  representative  of  American 
nationality.  The  freedmen  of  the  South 
almost  worshiped  the  memory  of  their  de- 
liverer; and  the  general  sentiment  of  the 
great  Nation  he  had  saved  awarded  him  a 
place  in  its  affections,  second  only  to  that 
held  by  Washington. 

The  characteristics  of  Abraham  Lincoln 
have  been  familiarly  known  throughout  the 
civilized  world.  His  tall,  gaunt,  ungainly 
figure,  homely  countenance,  and  his  shrewd 
mother-wit,  shown  in  his  celebrated  con- 
versations overflowing  in  humorous  and 
pointed  anecdote,  combined  with  an  accu- 
rate, intuitive  appreciation  of  the  questions 
of  the  time,  are  recognized  as  forming  the 
best  tvpc  of  a  period  of  American  history 
now  rapidly  passing  away. 


he  asked  and  obtained  400,000  men  and 
§400,000,000  for  the  war;  placed  McClellan 
at  the  iiead  of  the  Federal  army  on  General 
Scott's  resignation,  October  31;  appointed 
Edwin  M.  Stanton  Secretary  of  War,  Jan- 
uary 14,  1S62,  and  September  22,  1862, 
issued  a  proclamation  declaring  the  free- 
dom of  all  slaves  in  the  States  and  parts  of 
States  then  in  rebellion  from  and  after 
January  i.  1.S63.  This  was  the  crowning 
act  of  Lincoln's  career — the  act  by  which 
he  will  be  chiefly  known  through  all  future 
time — and  it  decided  the  war. 

October  16, 1S63,  President  Lincoln  called 
for  300,000  volunteers  to  replace  those 
whose  term  of  enlistment  had  expired ; 
made  a  celebrated  and  touching,  though 
brief,  address  at  the  dedication  of  the 
Gettysburg  military  cemetery,  November 
19,  1863;  commissioned  Ulysses  S.  Grant 
Lieutenant-General  and  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States, 
March  9,  1864;  was  re-elected  President  in 
November  of  the  same  year,  by  a  large 
majority  over  General  McClellan,  with 
Andrew  Johnson,  of  Tennessee,  as  Vice- 
President;  delivered  a  very  remarkable  ad- 
dress at  his  second  inauguration,  March  4, 
1865;  visited  the  army  before  Richmond  the 
same  month;  entered  the  capital  of  the  Con- 
federacy the  day  after  its  fall,  and  upon  the 
surrender  of  General  Robert  E.  Lcc'g  army, 
April  9,  was  actively  engaged  in  devising 
generous  plans  for  the  reconstruction  of  the 
Union,  when,  on  the  evening  of  Good  Fri- 
day, A])ril  14,  he  was  shot  in  his  box  at 
Ford's  Theatre,  Washington,  b3'JohnWilkes 
B(X)th,  a  fanatical  actor,  and  expired  early 
on  the  following  morning,  April  15.  Al- 
most simultaneously  a  murderous  attack 
was  made  upon  William  II.  Seward,  Secre- 
tary of  State. 

At  noon  on  the   15th  of  April  Andrew 


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--S  .,  ,.;A.'^-     7;^'nNDRE\V  JOHNSON, 

tlie  scvciiteentli  Presi- 
dent (jf  the  U  n  i  te  d 
States,  iS65-'y,  was 
b  o  r  11  at  R  a  1  e  i  j^  h  , 
.x^, ...f^JtM  North  Carohna,' De- 
W^  j^^     ceiiiber  29,    1S08. 


His  fallicr died  when 
he  was  four  years  old,   and  in 
liis  eleventii   year   he    was   ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor.      lie  nev- 
er   attended    school,     and    did 
not  learn  to  read   until  late  in 
--..,,,         his    aiiprenticeshii),    when     he 
"^^'if^'C      suddenly  acquired  a  passion  for 
obtainini^  knowledge,  and  devoted 
all  his  spare  time  to  reatliiii;'. 

After  workiiiLj  two  years  as  a  jcjurney- 
man  tailor  at  Lauren's  Court-House,  South 
Carolina,  lie  removed,  in  1S26,  to  Green- 
ville, Teimessee,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  and  married.  Under  his  wife's  in-  j 
structioiis  he  made  rapid  progress  in  his 
education,  and  manifested  such  an  intelli- 
gent interest  in  local  ]iolitics  as  to  be 
elected  as  "  workingmeu's  candiilate  "  al- 
derman, in  1S2S,  and  ma\-or  in  1S30,  being 
twice  re-elected  to  each  office. 

During  this  period  he  cultiv'atcd   his  tal- 
ents as  a  public  speaker  liy  taking  part  in  a 


debating  society,  consisting  largely  of  stu- 
dents of  Greenville  College.  In  1S35,  and 
again  in  1839,  ''c  was  chosen  to  the  lower 
house  of  the  Legislature,  as  a  Democrat. 
In  1S41  he  was  elected  State  Senator,  and 
in  1843,  Representative  in  Congress,  being 
re-elected  four  successive  periods,  until 
1853,  when  he  was  cliosen  Governor  of 
Tennessee.  In  Congress  he  supported  tlie 
administrations  of  Tyler  and  Polk  in  their 
chief  measures,  especially  the  aiinexati(Hi 
of  Texas,  the  adjustment  of  the  Oregon 
boundary,  the  Mexican  war,  aiul  the  tariff 
of  1846. 

In  1855  Mr.  Johnson  was  reelected  Gov- 
ernor, and  in  1857  entered  the  United 
States  Senate,  where  he  was  conspicuous 
as  an  advocate  of  retrenchment  and  of  the 
Homestead  bill,  and  as  an  opponent  of  the 
Pacific  Railroatl.  He  was  su[)ported  by  the 
Tennessee  delegation  to  the  Democratic 
convention  in  i860  for  the  Presidential 
nomination,  and  lent  his  intluence  to  the 
Breckenridge  wing  of  ihatjiarty. 

When  the  election  ot  Lincoln  had 
brought  about  the  first  attempt  at  secession 
in  December,  1S60,  Johnson  took  in  the 
Senate  a  firm  attitude  for  the  Lhiion,  and 
in  May,  1S61,  on  returning  to  Tennessee, 
he  was  in  imminent  peril  of  suffering  from 


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popular  violence  for  his  loyalty  to  the  "  old  These  States  accordingly  claimed  reprcsen- 

Hag."     He  was  the  leader  of  tiie  Loyalists'  ,  tation  in  Congress  in  the  following  Dcceni- 

convention    of  East  Tennessee,  and  during  j  ber,  and  the  momentous  question  of  what 

the  following  winter  was  very  active  in  or-  :  shoidd  be  the  policy  of  the  victorious  Union 


ganizing  relief  for  the  destitute  loyal  refu- 
gees from  that  rcgicjn,  hisown  famil)' being 
among  those  compelled  to  leave. 

By  his  course  in  this  crisis  Johnson  came 
prominently  before  the  Northern  public, 
and  when  in  March,  1S62,  he  was  appointed- 


toward  its  late  armed  opjioncnts  was  forced 
upon  that  body. 

Two  considerations  impelled  the  Repub- 
lican majority  to  reject  the  policy  of  Picsi. 
dent  Johnson:  '  First,  an  apprehension  that 
the  chief  magistrate  intended  to  undo  the  re- 


bv  President  Lincoln  military  Governor  of  1  suits  of  the  war  in  regard  to  slavery;  and, sec- 
Tennessee,  with  the  rank  of  Brigadier-Gen-     ond,  the  sullen  attitude  of  the  South,  which 


eral,  he  increased  in  popularity  by  the  vig- 
orous and  successful  manner  in  which  he 
laboretl  to  restore  onier,  protect  Union 
men  and  punish  marauders.  On  the  ap- 
proach of  the  Presidential  campaign  of  1864, 
the  termination  of  the  war  being  plainly 
foreseen,  and  several  Southern  States  being 
partially  reconstructed,  it  was  felt  that  the 
Vice-Presidency  should  be  given  to  a  South- 
ern man  of  conspicuous  loyalt3%  and  Gov- 
ernor Johnson  was  elected  on  the  same 
platform  and  ticket  as  President  Lincoln; 
and  on  the  assassination  of  the  latter  suc- 
ceeded to  the  Presidency,  April  15,  1865. 
In  a  public  speech  two  days  later  he  said: 
"The  American  people  must  be  taught,  if 
they  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a 
crime  and  must  be  punished;  that  the  Gov- 
ernment will  not  always  bear  with  its  ene- 
mies; that  it  is  strong,  not  only  to  protect, 
but  to  punish.  In  our  peacefid  history 
treason  has  been  almost  unknown.  The 
people  must  understand  that  it  is  the  black- 
est of  crimes,  and  will  be  punished."  He 
then  added  the  ominous  sentence:  "  In  re- 
gard to  my  future  course,  I  make  no  prom- 
ises, no  pledges."  President  Johnson  re- 
tained the  cabinet  of  Lincoln,  and  exhibited 
considerable  severity  toward  traitors  in  his 
earlier  acts  and  speeches,  but  he  soon  inaug- 
urated a  policy  of  reconstruction,  proclaim- 
ing a  general  amnesty  to  the  late  Confeder- 
ates, and  successively  establishing  provis- 
ional Governments  in  the  Southern  States. 


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seemed  to  be  plotting  to  regain  the  policy 
which  arms  had  lost.  The  credentials  of  the 
Southern  members  elect  were  laid  on  the 
table,  a  civil  rights  bill  and  a  bill  extending 
the  sphere  of  the  Freedmen's  Bureau  were 
passed  over  the  executive  veto,  and  the  two 
highest  branches  of  the  Government  were 
soon  in  open  antagonism.  The  action  of 
Congress  was  characterized  by  the  Presi- 
dent as  a  "  new  rebellion."  In  July  the 
cabinet  was  reconstructed,  Messrs.  Randall, 
Stanbury  and  Browning  taking  the  places 
of  Messrs.  Denison,  Speed  and  Harlan,  antl 
an  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  by 
means  of  a  general  convention  in  Philadel- 
phia to  form  a  new  jjarty  on  the  basis  of  the 
administration  policy. 

In  an  excursion  to  Chicago  for  the  pui- 
pose  of  laying  a  corner-stone  of  the  monu- 
ment to  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  President 
Johnson,  accompanied  by  several  members 
of  the  cabinet,  passed  through  Philadelphia, 
New  York  and  Albany,  in  each  of  which 
cities,  and  in  other  places  along  the  route, 
he  made  speeches  justifying  and  explaining 
his  own  polic}',  and  violently  denouncing 
the  action  af  Congress. 

August  12,  1867,  President  Johnson  re- 
moved the  Secretary  of  War,  replacing 
him  by  General  Grant.  Secretar}- Stanton 
retired  under  protest,  based  upon  the  ten- 
ure-of-ofiice  act  which  had  been  passed  the 
preceding  March.  The  President  then  is- 
sued a  proclamation  declaring  the  insurrec- 


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ANDREW    JOHNSON. 


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tion  at  an  end,  and  that  "  peace,  order,  tran- 
quility anil  civil  authority  existed  in  and 
throughout  the  United  States."  Another 
proclamation  enjoined  obedience  to  the 
Constitution  and  the  laws,  and  an  aninesty 
was  published  September  7,  relieving  nearl)' 
all  the  participants  in  the  late  Rebellion 
from  the  disabilities  thereby  incurred,  on 
condition  of  taking  the  oath  to  support  the 
Constitution  and  the  laws. 

In  December  Congress  refused  to  confirm 
the  removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  who 
thereupon  resumed  the  exercise  of  his  of- 
fice; but  February  21,  1868,  President 
Johnson  again  attempted  to  remove  him, 
appointing  General  Lorenzo  Thomas  in  his 
place.  Stanton  refused  to  vacate  his  post, 
and  was  sustained  by  the  Senate. 

February  24  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives voted  to  impeach  the  President  for 
"  high  crime  and  misdemeanors,"  and  March 
5  presented  eleven  articles  of  impeachment 
on  the  ground  of  his  resistance  to  the  exe- 
cution of  the  acts  of  Congress,  alleging,  in 
addition  to  the  offense  lately  committed, 
his  public  expressions  of  contempt  for  Con- 
gress, in  "  certain  intemperate,  inflamma- 
tory and  scandalous  harangues"  pronounced 
in  August  and  September,  1866,  and  there- 
after declaring  that  the  Thirty-ninth  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States  was  not  a 
competent  legislative  body,  and  denying 
its  power  to  propose  Constitutional  amend- 
ments. March  23  the  impeachment  trial 
began,  the  President  appearing  by  counsel, 
and  resulted  in  acquittal,  the  vote  lacking 


one  of  the  two-thirds  vote  required  for 
conviction. 

The  remainder  of  President  Johnson's 
term  of  office  was  passed  without  any  such 
conflicts  as  might  liave  been  anticipated. 
He  failed  to  obtain  a  nomination  for  re- 
election by  the  Democratic  party,  thougii 
receiving  sixty-five  votes  on  the  first  ballot. 
July  4  and  December  25  new  proclamations 
of  pardon  to  the  participants  in  the  late 
Rebellion  were  issued,  but  were  of  little 
effect.  On  the  accession  of  General  Grant 
to  the  Presidency,  March  4,  1869,  Johnson 
returned  to  Greenville,  Tennessee.  Unsuc- 
cessful in  i87oandiS72  as  a  candidate  re- 
spectively for  United  States  Senator  and 
Representative,  he  was  finall}-  elected  to  the 
Senate  in  1S75,  and  took  his  seat  in  the  extra 
session  of  March,  in  which  his  speeches 
were  comparatively  temperate.  He  died 
July  31,  1875,  and  was  buried  at  Green- 
ville. 

President  Johnson's  administration  was  a 
peculiarly  unfortunate  one.  That  he  should 
so  soon  become  involved  in  bitter  feud  with 
the  Republican  majority  in  Congress  was 
certainly  a  surprising  and  deplorable  inci- 
dent; yet,  in  reviewing  the  circumstances 
after  a  lapse  of  so  many  years,  it  is  easy  to 
find  ample  room  for  a  charitable  judgment 
of  both  the  parties  in  the  heated  contro- 
versy, since  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  any 
President,  even  Lincoln  himself,  had  he 
lived,  must  have  sacrificed  a  large  portion 
of  his  popularity  in  carrying  out  any  pos- 
sible scheme  of  reconstruction. 


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LYSSES  SIMPSON 
GRANT,  the  eight- 
eenth President  of  the 
United  States,  i869-'77, 
wasborn  April  27,  1822, 
at  Point  Pleasant, 
Clermont  County, 
Ohio.  I  lis  father  ^\•as  of  Scotcli 
descent,  and  a  dealer  in  leather. 
At  tiie  age  of  seventeen  lie  en- 
tered the  Military  Academy  at 
West  I'oint,  and  four  years  later 
graihiated  twenty-first  in  a  class 
of  tliirty-nine,  receiving  the 
commission  of  Brevet  Second 
Lieutenant.  He  was  assigned 
to  the  Fourth  Infantry  and  re- 
mained in  the  army  eleven  years.  He  was 
engaged  in  every  battle  of  the  Mexican  war 
except  that  of  Buena  Vista,  and  received 
two  brevets  for  gallantry. 

1  n  I S48  Mr.  Grant  married  J ulia, daughter 
of  Frederick  Dent,  a  prominent  mercliantof 
St.  Louis,  and  in  1854,  iiaving  reached  the 
grade  of  Captain,  he  resigned  his  commis- 
sion in  the  army.  For  several  years  he  fol- 
lowed farming  near  St.  Louis,  but  unsuc- 
cessfully ;  and  in  i860  he  entered  the  leather 
trade  with  his  father  at  Galena,  Illinois. 

Wiien  the  civil  war  broke  out  in  1861, 
Grant  was  thirty-nine  years  of  age,  but  en- 
tirely unknown  to  public  men  and  without 


any  personal  acquaintance  with  greataffairs. 
President  Lincoln's  first  call  for  troops  was 
made  on  the  15th  of  April,  and  on  the  iQtli 
Grant  was  drilling  a  company  of  volunteers 
at  Galena.  He  also  offered  his  services  to 
the  Adjutant-General  of  the  army,  but  re- 
ceived no  reply.  The  Governor  of  Illinois, 
however,  employed  him  in  the  organization 
of  volunteer  troops,  and  at  the  end  of  five 
weeks  he  was  appointed  Colonel  of  tiie 
Twenty-first  Infantry.  He  took  command 
of  liis  regiment  in  Jime,  and  reported  first 
to  General  Pope  in  Missouri.  1 1  is  superior 
knowledge  of  military  life  ratiier  surprised 
his  superior  officers,  wiio  had  never  before 
even  lieard  of  iiim,  and  they  were  thus  led 
to  place  him  on  the  road  to  rapid  advance- 
ment. August  7  he  was  commissioned  a 
Brigadier-General  of  vokniteers,  the  ap- 
pointment iiaving  been  made  without  his 
knowledge.  He  had  been  unanimously 
recommended  by  tiie  Congressmen  from 
Illinois,  not  one  of  whom  had  been  his 
personal  acquaintance.  For  a  few  weeks 
he  was  occupied  in  watching  the  move- 
ments of  partisan  fcjrces  in  Missouri. 

September  i  lie  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  District  of  Southeast  Missouri,  with 
headquarters  at  Cairo,  and  on  the  6th,  with- 
out orders,  lie  seized  Paducah,  at  the  moutii 
of  the  Tennessee  River,  and  commanding 
the   navigation    both   of  that  stream  and  of 


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the  Oliid.  Tliis  stroke  secured  Kentucky 
to  tlic  Union;  for  tlie  State  Legislature, 
which  iiad  until  then  affected  to  be  neutral, 
at  once  declared  in  favor  of  the  Govern- 
ment. In  November  following,  according 
to  orders,  he  made  a  demonstration  about 
eiglitcen  miles  below  Cairo,  preventing  the 
crossing  of  hostile  troops  into  Missouri ; 
but  in  order  to  accomplish  this  purpose  he 
had  to  do  some  hghting,  and  that,  too,  with 
only  3,000  raw  recruits,  against  7,000  Con- 
federates. Grant  carried  off  two  pieces  of 
artillery  and  200  prisoners. 

After  repeated  applications  to  General 
Hallcck,  his  immediate  superior,  he  was 
allowed,  in  Februar)-,  1S62,  to  move  up  the 
Tennessee  River  against  Fort  Henry,  in 
conjunction  with  a  naval  force.  The  gun- 
boats silenced  the  fort,  and  Grant  immedi- 
ately made  preparations  to  attack  Fort 
Donelson,  about  twelve  miles  distant,  on 
the  Cumberland  River.  Without  waiting 
for  orders  he  moved  his  troops  there,  and 
with  15,000  men  began  tiie  siege.  The 
fort,  garrisoned  with  21,000  men,  was  a 
strong  one,  but  after  hard  fighting  on  three 
successive  days  Grant  forced  an  "  Uncon- 
ditional Surrender"  (an  alliteration  upon 
the  initials  of  his  name).  The  prize  he  capt- 
ured consisted  of  sixty-five  cannon,  17,600 
small  arms  and  14,623  soldiers.  About  4,- 
000  of  the  garrison  had  escaped  in  tiie  night, 
and  2,500  were  killed  or  wounded.  Grant's 
entire  loss  was  less  than  2,000.  This  was  the 
first  important  success  won  by  the  national 
troops  during  the  war,  and  its  strategic  rc- 
sidts  were  marked,  as  the  entire  States  of 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee  at  once  fell  into  the 
National  hands.  Our  hero  was  made  a 
Major-Gencral  of  Volunteers  and  placed  in 
command  of  the  District  of  West  Ten- 
nessee. 

In  March,  1S62,  lie  was  ordered  to  move 
up  the  Tennessee  River  toward  Corinth, 
where  the  Confederates  were  concentrat- 
ing a  large  army  ;    but  he  was  directed  not 


to  attack.  Mis  forces,  now  numbering  38,- 
000,  were  accordingly  encamped  near  Shi- 
loh,  or  Pittsburg  Landing,  to  await  the 
arrival  of  General  BucU  with  40,000  more; 
but  April  6  the  Confederates  came  out  from 
Corinth  50,000  strong  and  attacked  Grant 
violently,  hoping  to  overwhelm  him  before 
Buell  could  arrive  ;  5,000  of  his  troops  were 
beyond  supporting  distance,  so  that  he  was 
largely  outnumbered  and  forced  back  to  the 
river,  where,  however,  he  held  out  until 
dark,  when  the  head  of  Buell's  column 
came  upon  the  field.  The  next  day  the 
Confederates  were  driven  back  to  Corinth, 
nineteen  miles.  The  loss  was  heavy  on 
both  sides ;  Grant,  being  senior  in  rank  to 
Buell,  commanded  on  both  days.  Two 
days  afterward  Halleck  arrived  at  the  front 
and  assumed  command  of  the  army.  Grant 
remaining  at  the  head  of  the  right  wing  and 
the  reserve.  On  May  30  Corinth  was 
evacuated  by  the  Confederates.  In  July 
Halleck  was  made  General-in-Chief,  and 
Grant  succeeded  him  in  command  of  the 
Department  of  the  Tennessee.  September 
19  the  battle  of  luka  was  fought,  where, 
owing  to  Rosecrans's  fault,  only  an  incom- 
plete victory  was  obtained. 

Next,  Grant,  with  30,000  men,  moved 
down  into  Mississippi  and  threatened  Vicks- 
burg,  while  Sherman,  with  40,000  men,  was 
sent  by  way  of  the  river  to  attack  that  place 
in  front;  but,  owing  to  Colonel  Murph3''s 
surrendering  Holly  Springs  to  the  Con- 
federates, Grant  was  so  weakened  that  he 
had  to  retire  to  Corinth,  and  then  Sherman 
failed  to  sustain  his  intended  attack. 

In  January,  1863,  General  Grant  took 
command  in  person  of  all  the  troops  in  tiie 
Mississippi  Valley,  and  spent  several  months 
in  fruitless  attempts  to  compel  the  surrender 
or  evacuation  of  Vicksburg;  but  July  4, 
following,  the  place  surrendered,  with  31,- 
600  men  and  172  cannon,  and  the  Mississip[)i 
River  thus  fell  permanently  into  the  hands 
of  the  Government.      Grant  was    made  a 


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PliESIDENTS     OF     THE     UNITED     STATES. 


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Major-Gencral  in  the  regular  army,  and  in 
October  following  lie  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  tlie  Division  of  the  Mississippi. 
The  same  month  he  went  to  Chattanooga 
and  saved  the  Army  of  tiic  Cumberland 
from  starvation,  and  drove  Bragg  from  that 
part  of  the  country.  This  victory  over- 
threw the  last  important  hostile  force  west 
of  the  Alleghanies  and  opened  the  way  for 
the  National  armies  into  Georgia  and  Sher- 
man's march  to  tiie  sea. 

The  remarkable  series  of  successes  which 
Grant  had  now  achieved  pointed  him  out 
as  the  appropriate  leader  of  the  National 
armies,  and  accordingly,  in  February,  1864, 
the  rank  of  Lieutenant-General  was  created 
for  him  by  Congress,  and  on  March  17  he 
assumed  command  of  the  armies  of  the 
United  States.  Planning  the  grand  final 
campaign,  he  sent  Sherman  into  Georgia, 
Sigel  into  the  valley  of  Virginia,  and  Butler 
to  capture  Richmond,  while  he  fought  his 
own  way  from  the  Rapidan  to  the  James. 
The  costly  but  victorious  battles  of  the 
Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  North  Anna  and 
Cold  Harbor  were  fought,  more  for  the 
purpose  of  annihilating  Lee  than  to  capture 
any  particular  point.  In  June,  1864,  the 
siege  (jf  liichmond  was  begun.  Sherman, 
meanwhile,  was  marching  and  fighting  daily 
in  Georgia  and  steadily  advancing  toward 
Atlanta ;  but  Sigel  had  been  defeated  in  the 
valley  of  Virginia,  and  was  superseded  by 
Hunter.  Lee  sent  Early  to  thieaten  the  Na- 
tional capital ;  whereupon  Grant  gathered 
up  a  force  which  he  placed  under  Sheridan, 
and  that  commander  rapidly  drove  Early, 
in  a  succession  of  battles,  through  the  valley 
of  Virginia  and  destroyed  his  army  as  an 
organized  force.  The  siege  of  Richmond 
went  on,  and  Grant  made  numerous  attacks, 
but  was  only  partially  successful.  The 
people  of  the  North  grew  impatient,  and 
even  the  Government  advised  him  to 
abandon  the  attempt  to  take  Richmond  or 
crush  the  Confederacy  in  that  way ;  but  he 


never  wavered.  He  resolved  to  "  fight  it 
out  on  that  line,  if  it  took  all  summer." 

By  September  Sherman  had  made  his 
way  to  Atlanta,  and  Grant  then  sent  him 
on  his  famous  "  march  to  the  sea,"  a  route 
which  the  chief  had  designed  six  months 
before.  He  made  Sherman's  success  possi- 
ble, not  only  b)'  holding  Lee  in  front  of 
Richmond,  but  also  by  sending  reinforce- 
ments to  Thomas,  who  then  drew  off  and 
defeated  the  only  army  which  ci^uld  have 
confronted  Sherman.  Thus  the  latter  was 
left  unopposed,  and,  with  Thomas  and  Sheri- 
dan, was  used  in  tiie  furtherance  of  Grant's 
plans.  Each  executed  his  part  in  the  great 
design  and  contributed  his  share  to  the  re- 
sult at  which  Grant  was  aiming.  Sherman 
finally  reached  Savannah,  Schofield  beat 
the  enemy  at  Franklin,  Thomas  at  Nash- 
ville, and  Sheridan  wherever  he  met  him; 
and  all  tliis  while  General  Grant  was  hold- 
ing Lee,  with  the  principal  Confederate 
army,  near  Richmond,  as  it  were  chained 
and  helpless.  Then  Schofield  was  brought 
from  the  West,  and  Fort  Fisher  and  Wil- 
mington were  captured  on  the  sea-coast,  so 
as  to  afford  him  a  foothold  ;  from  here  he 
was  sent  into  the  interior  of  North  Caro- 
lina, and  Sherman  was  ordered  to  move 
northward  to  join  him.  When  all  this  was 
effected,  and  Sheridan  could  find  no  one  else 
to  fight  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  Grant 
brought  the  cavalry  leader  to  the  front  of 
Richmond,  and,  making  a  last  effort,  drove 
Lee  from  his  entrenchments  and  captured 
Richmond. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  final  campaign 
Lee  had  collected  73,000  fighting  men  in 
the  lines  at  Richmond,  besides  the  local 
militia  and  the  gunboat  crews,  amounting 
to  5,000  more.  Including  Sheridan's  force 
Grant  had  1 10,000  men  in  the  works  before 
Petersburg  and  Richmond.  Petersburg  fell 
on  the  2d  of  April,  and  Richmond  on  the 
3d,  and  Lee  fied  in  the  direction  of  Lynch- 
burg.     Grant    pursued    with    remorseless 


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enci"ij;-y,  onlv  sto])ping  to  strike  fresh  blows, 
and  Lee  at  last  found  himself  not  only  out- 
fouijlit  but  also  out-marched  and  out-gcn- 
craled.  Beini^  completely  surrounded,  he 
surrendered  on  the  Qlh  of  April,  1865,  at 
Appomattox  Court-House,  in  the  open  field, 
with  27,000  men,  all  that  remained  of  his 
army.  This  act  virtually  ended  the  war. 
Thus,  in  ten  days  Grant  had  captured 
Petersburg-  and  Richmond,  fought,  by  his 
subordinates,  the  battles  of  Five  Forks  and 
Sailor's  Creek,  besides  numerous  smaller 
ones,  captured  20,000  men  in  actual  battle, 
and  received  the  surrender  of  27,000  more 
at  Appomattox,  absolutely  annihilating  an 
army  of  70,000  soldiers. 

General  Grant  returned  at  once  to  Wash- 
ington to  superintend  the  disbandment  of 
the  armies,  but  this  pleasurable  work  was 
scarcely  begun  when  President  Lincoln  was 
assassinated.  It  had  doubtless  been  in- 
tended to  inflict  the  same  fate  upon  Grant ; 
but  he,  fortunately,  on  account  of  leaving 
Washington  early  in  the  evening,  declined 
an  invitation  to  accompany  the  President 
to  the  theater  where  the  murder  was  com- 
mitted. This  event  made  Andrew  Johnson 
President,  but  left  Grant  by  far  the  most 
conspicuous  figure  in  the  public  life  of  the 
countrv.  He  became  the  object  of  an  en- 
thusiasm greater  than  had  ever  been  known 
in  America.  Everv  possible  honor  was 
heaped  upon  him  ;  the  grade  of  General 
was  created  for  him  by  Congress;  houses 
were  presented  to  him  by  citizens;  towns 
were  illuminated  on  iiis  entrance  into  them  ; 
and,  to  cap  the  climax,  when  he  made  his 
tour  around  the  world,  "all  nations  did  him 
honor"  as  they  had  never  before  honored 
a  foreigner. 

The  General,  as  Commander-in-Chief, 
was  placed  in  an  embarrassing  position  by 
the  opposition  of  President  Johnson  to  the 
measures  of  Congress ;  but  he  directly  man- 
ifested his  characteristic  loyalty  by  obeying 
Congress  rather  than  the  disaffected  Presi- 


dent, although  for  a  short  time  he  had 
served  in  his  cabinet  as  Secretary  of  War. 

Of  course,  everybody  thought  of  General 
Grant  as  the  next  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  he  was  accordingly  elected  as 
such  in  1 868  "by  a  large  majority,"  and 
four  years  later  re-elected  by  a  much  larger 
majority — -the  most  overwhelming  ever 
given  by  the  people  of  this  country.  His  first 
administration  was  distinguished  by  a  ces- 
sation of  the  strifes  which  sprang  from  the 
war,  by  a  large  reduction  of  the  National 
debt,  and  by  a  settlement  of  the  difficulties 
with  England  which  had  grown  out  of  the 
depredations  committed  by  privateers  fit- 
ted out  in  England  during  the  war.  This 
last  settlement  was  made  by  the  famous 
"  Geneva  arbitration,"  which  saved  to  this 
Government  $1 5,000,000,  but,  more  than  all, 
prevented  a  war  with  England.  "Let  us 
have  peace,"  was  Grant's  motto.  And  this 
is  the  most  appropriate  place  to  remark 
that  above  all  Presidents  whom  this  Gov- 
ernment has  ever  had.  General  Grant  was 
the  most  non-partisan.  He  regarded  the 
Executive  office  as  purely  and  exclusively 
executive  of  the  laws  of  Congress,  irrespect- 
ive of  "  politics."  But  every  great  man 
has  jealous,  bitter  enemies,  a  fact  Grant 
was  well  aware  of. 

After  the  close  of  his  Presidency,  our 
General  made  his  famous  tour  around  the 
world,  already  referred  to,  and  soon  after- 
ward, in  company  with  Ferdinand  Ward, 
of  New  York  City,  he  engaged  in  banking 
and  stock  brokerage,  which  business  was 
made  disastrous  to  Grant,  as  well  as  to  him- 
self, by  his  rascality.  By  this  time  an  in- 
curable cancer  of  the  tongue  developed 
itself  in  the  person  of  the  afflicted  ex- 
President,  which  ended  his  unrequited  life 
July  23,  1885.  Thus  passed  awa)'  from 
earth's  turmoils  the  man,  the  General,  who 
was  as  truly  the  "  father  of  this  regenerated 
country"  as  was  Washington  the  father  of 
the  infant  nation. 


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102  PRESIDENTS     OF    THE     UNITED    STATES. 


11 


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^^^!^^^^§^.UTHERFORD  BIRCH- 
ARD  HAYES,  thenine- 
'  teenth  President  of 
the  United  States, 
i877-'Si,  was  born  in 
T^ V^_,'%3..  Delaware,  Ohio,  Oc- 
'i-'^.yr^  tober  4,  1822.  His 
ancestry  can  be  traced  as  far 
bacl{  as  12S0,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish 
chieftains  fighting  side  by  side 
with  Baliol,  William  Wallace 
and  Robert  Bruce.  Both  fami- 
lies belonged  to  the  nobility, 
owned  extensive  estates  and  had 
cvj^rLjl  a  large  following.  The  Hayes 
■^  family  had,  for  a  coat  of-arms,  a 
shield,  barred  and  surmounted  by  a  flying 
eagle.  There  was  a  circle  of  stars  about 
the  eagle  and  above  the  shield,  while  on  a 
scroll  underneath  the  shield  was  inscribed 
the  motto,  "  Recte."  Misfortune  overtaking 
tiie  family,  George  Ha3'es  left  Scotland  in 
1680,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Connecticut. 
He  was  an  industrious  worker  in  wood  and 
iron,  having  a  mechanical  genius  and  a  cul- 
tivated mind.  His  son  George  was  born 
in  Win'tivnr  and  remained  there  during  his 
lile. 

Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  married 
Sarah  Lee,  and    lived    in    Simsbur}',   Con- 


necticut. Ezekiel,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born 
in  1724,  and  was  a  manufacturer  of  scythes 
at  Bradford,  Connecticut.  Rutherford 
Hayes,  son  of  Ezekiel  and  grandfather  of 
President  Hayes,  was  born  in  New  Haven, 
in  August,  1756.  He  was  a  famous  black- 
smith and  tavern-keeper.  He  immigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  unknown  date,  settling  in 
Brattleboro  where  he  established  a  hotel. 
Here  his  son  Rutherford,  father  of  Presi- 
dent Hayes,  was  born.  In  September,  1813, 
he  married  Sophia  Birchard,  of  Wilming- 
ton, Vermont,  whose  ancestry  on  the  male 
side  is  traced  back  to  1635,  to  John  Birch- 
ard, one  of  the  principal  founders  of  Nor- 
wich. Both  of  her  grandfathers  were 
soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  of  a 
mechanical  turn,  and  could  mend  a  plow, 
knit  a  stocking,  or  do  almost  anything  that 
he  might  undertake.  He  was  prosperous 
in  business,  a  member  of  the  church  and 
active  in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of 
the  town.  After  the  close  of  the  war  of  1 8 1 2 
he  immigrated  to  Ohio,  and  purchased  a 
farm  near  the  present  town  of  Delaware. 
His  familv  then  consisted  of  In^-  wifp  aiid 
two  children,  flH^*  ^n  uipnan  girl  \v*^^°'^'  ^'^ 
had  adupttd. 

It  was  in  181 7  that  the  family  arrived  at 
Delaware.     Instead    of    settling    upon  his 


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our  Presidents  was  more  universally  ad- 
mired, reverenced  and  beloved  than  is  Mrs. 
Ha3'es,  and  no  one  has  done  more  than  she 
to  reflect  honor  upon  American  woman- 
iiood. 

In  1856  jVIr.  Hayes  was  nominated  to  the 
office  of  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  but  declined  to  accept  the  nomina- 
tion. Two  years  later  he  was  chosen  to  the 
office  of  City  Solicitor. 

In  1 861,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out, 
he  was  eager  to  take  up  arms  in  the  defense 
of  his  country.  His  military  life  was 
bright  and  illustrious.  June  7,  1861,  he 
was  appointed  Major  of  the  Twenty-third 
Ohio  Infantry.  In  July  the  regiment  was 
sent  to  Virginia.  October  15,  1861,  he  was 
made  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  his  regiment, 
and  in  August,  1862,  was  promoted  Colonel 
of  the  Sevent3'-ninth  Ohio  Regiment,  but 
refused  to  It  ive  his  old  comrades.  He  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  South  Mountain, 
and  suffered  severely,  being  unable  to  enter 
upon  active  duty  for  several  weeks.  No- 
vember 30,  1862,  he  rejoined  his  regiment  as 
its  Colonel,  having  been  promoted  Octo- 
ber 15. 

December  25,  1862,  he  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  Kanawha  division,  and  for 
meritorious  service  in  several  battles  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General.  He  was  also 
brcvetted  Major-General  for  distinguislicd 


services  in  1S64.  He  was  wounded  four 
times,  and  five  horses  were  shot  from 
under  him. 

Mr.  Hayes  was  first  a  Whig  in  politics, 
and  was  among  the  first  to  unite  with  the 
Free-Soil  and  Republican  parties.  In  1864 
he  was  elected  to  Congress  from  che  Sec- 
ond Ohio  District,  which  had  always  been 
Democratic,  receiving  a  majority  of  3,098. 
In  1 866  he  was  renominated  for  Congress 
and  was  a  second  time  elected.  In  1867  he 
was  elected  Governor  over  Allen  G.  Thur- 
man,  the  Democratic  candidate,  and  re- 
elected in  1869.  In  1874  Sardis  Birchard 
died,  leaving  his  large  estate  to  General 
Hayes. 

In  T876  he  was  nominated  for  the  Presi- 
dency. His  letter  of  acceptance  excited 
the  admiration  of  the  whole  country.  He 
resigned  the  office  of  Governor  and  retired 
to  his  home  in  Fremont  to  await  the  result 
of  the  canvass.  After  a  hard,  long  contest 
he  was  inaugurated  March  5,  1877.  His 
Presidency  was  characterized  by  compro- 
mises with  all  parties,  in  order  to  please  as 
many  as  possible.  The  close  of  his  Presi- 
dential term  in  1881  was  the  close  of  his 
public  life,  and  since  then  he  has  remained 
at  his  home  in  Fremont,  Ohio,  in  Jefferso- 
nian  retirement  frcMii  public  notice,  in  strik- 
ing contrast  with  most  others  of  the  world's 
notables. 


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JAMES    A.     GAR  FIELD. 


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^"^'AMES  A.  GARFIELD, 
twentieth  President  of 
the  United  States,  i88i, 
was  born  November  19, 
I  S3 1,  in  tlie  wild  woods 
o  f  Cuyahoga  Count}-, 
Oliif).  His  parents  were 
Abram  and  EUza  (Ballou) 
GarfieUi,  who  were  of  New 
England  ancestry.  T  ii  e 
senior  Garfield  was  an  in- 
dustrious farmer,  as  the 
rapid  improvements  which 
appeared  on  his  place  at- 
tested. The  residence  was 
the  familiar  pioneer  log  cabin, 
and  the  housch(jld  comprised  the  parents 
and  their  children — Mehetable,  Thomas, 
Marv  and  James  A.  In  May,  1833,  the 
father  died,  and  the  care  of-  the  house- 
hold consequentlv  devolved  u[ion  young 
Thomas,  to  whom  James  was  greatly  in- 
debted for  the  educational  and  other  ad- 
vantages he  enjoyed.  He  now  lives  in 
Michigan,  and  the  two  sisters  live  in  Sf)lon, 
Ohio,  near  their  birthplace. 

As  the  subject  of  our  sketch  grew  up,  he, 
too,  was  industrious,  both  in  mental  and 
phvsical  labor.  He  worked  upon  the  farm, 
or  at  carpentering,  or  chopped  wood,  or  at 
any  other  odd  job  that  would  aid  in  support 
of  the  family,  and  in  the  meantime  made  the 


most  of  his  books.  Ever  afterward  he  was 
never  ashamed  of  his  humble  origin,  nor  for- 
got the  friends  of  his  }'Outh.  The  poorest 
laborer  was  sure  of  his  sympath}',  and  he 
always  exhibited  the  character  of  a  modest 
gentleman. 

Until  he  was  about  sixteen  years  of  age, 
James's  highest  ambition  was  to  be  a  lake 
captain.  To  this  his  mother  was  strongl)' 
opposed,  but  she  finally  consented  to  his 
going  to  Cleveland  to  carry  out  his  long- 
cherished  design,  with  the  understanding, 
however,  that  he  should  try  to  obtain  some 
other  kind  of  emplf)3-ment.  He  walked  all 
the  way  to  Cleveland,  and  this  was  his  first 
visit  to  the  cit}'.  After  making  many  ap- 
plications for  work,  including  labor  on 
board  a  lake  vessel,  but  all  in  vain,  he 
finalU'  engaged  as  a  driver  for  his  cousin, 
Amos  Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsyl- 
vania Canal.  In  a  short  time,  however,  he 
quit  this  and  returned  home.  He  then  at- 
tended the  seminary  at  Chester  for  about 
three  years,  and  next  he  entered  Hiram  In- 
stitute, a  school  started  in  1850  by  the 
Disciples  of  Christ,  of  which  church  he  was 
a  member.  In  order  to  pay  his  way  he 
assumed  the  duties  of  janitor,  and  at  times 
taught  school.  He  soon  completed  the  cur- 
riculum there,  and  then  entered  Williams 
College,  at  which  he  graduated  in  1856, 
taking  one  of  the  highest  honors  of  his  class, 


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Afterward  he  returned  to  Hiram  as  Presi- 
dent. In  his  youthful  and  therefore  zealous 
piety,  he  exercised  his  talents  occasionally 
as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel.  He  was  a 
man  of  strong  moral  and  religious  convic- 
tions, and  as  soon  as  he  began  to  look  into 
politics,  he  saw  innumerable  points  that 
coidd  be  improved.  He  also  studied  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1859. 
November  11,  1858,  Mr.  Garfield  married 
Miss  Lucretia  Rudolph,  who  ever  after- 
ward proved  a  worthy  consort  in  all  the 
stages  of  her  husband's  career.  They  had 
seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living. 

It  was  in  1859  that  Garfield  made  his 
first  political  speeches,  in  Hiram  and  the 
neighboring  villages,  and  three  3'ears  later 
he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meetings, 
being  received  everywhere  with  popular 
favor.  He  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate 
this  3'ear,  taking  his  seat  in  Janiiar}',  i860. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion  in  1861,  Mr.  Garfield  resolved  to 
fight  as  he  had  talked,  and  accordingly  he 
enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag,  receiving 
his  commission  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Fortv-second  Regiment  of  the  Ohio  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  August  14,  that  year.  He 
was  immediately  thrown  into  active  service, 
and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in 
action  he  was  placed  in  command  of  four 
regiments  of  infantry  and  eight  companies 
of  cavalry,  charged  with  the  work  of  driv- 
ing the  Confederates,  headed  by  Humphrey 
Marshall,  from  his  native  State,  Kentucky. 
This  task  was  speedily  accomplished,  al- 
though against  great  odds.  On  account  of 
his  success.  President  Lincoln  commissioned 
him  Brigadier-General,  Januaiy  11,  1862; 
and,  as  he  had  been  the  youngest  man  in 
the  Ohio  Senate  two  3-ears  before,  so  now 
he  was  the  youngest  General  in  the  arm}'. 
He  was  with  General  Buell's  army  at  Shi- 
loh,  also  in  its  operations  around  Corinth 
and  its  march  through  Alabama.  Next,  he 
was  detailed  as  a  member  of  the  ereneral 


court-martial  for  the  trial  of  General  Fitz- 
John  Porter,  and  then  ordered  to  report  to 
General  Rosecians,  when  he  was  assigned 
to  the  position  of  Chief  of  Staff.  His  mili- 
tary history  closed  with  his  brilliant  ser- 
vices at  Chickamauga,  where  he  won  the 
stars  of  Major-General. 

In  the  fall  of  1S62,  without  any  effort  on 
his  part,  he  was  elected  as  a  Representative 
to  Congress,  from  that  section  of  Ohio 
which  had  been  represented  for  sixty  years 
mainly  by  two  men — Elisha  Whittlesey  and 
Joshua  R.  Giddings.  Again,  he  was  the 
youngest  member  of  that  body,  and  con- 
tinued there  by  successive  re-elections,  as 
Representative  or  Senator,  until  he  was 
elected  President  in  1880.  During  his  life 
in  Congress  he  compiled  and  published  by 
his  speeches,  there  and  elsewhere,  more 
information  on  the  issues  of  the  day,  espe- 
cially on  one  side,  than  an_v  other  member. 

June  8,  18S0,  at  the  National  Republican 
Convention  held  in  Chicago,  General  Gar- 
field was  nominated  for  the  Presidency,  in 
preference  to  the  old  war-horses,  Blaine 
and  Grant;  and  although  many  of  the  Re- 
publican party  felt  sore  over  the  failure  of 
their  respective,  heroes  to  obtain  the  nomi- 
nation, General  Garfield  was  elected  by  a 
fair  popular  majority.  He  was  duly  in- 
augurated, but  on  July  2  following,  before 
he  had  fairl}-  got  staited  in  his  administra- 
tion, he  was  fatally  shot  by  a  half-demented 
assassin.  After  ver}- painful  and  protracted 
suffering,  he  died  September  19,  18S1,  la- 
mented by  all  the  American  people.  Never 
before  in  the  history  of  this  country'  had 
anything  occurred  which  so  nearly  froze 
the  blood  of  the  Nation,  for  the  moment,  as 
the  awful  act  of  Guiteau,  the  murderer. 
He  was  dulv  tried,  convicted  and  put  to 
death  on  the  gallows. 

The  lamented  Garfield  was  succeeded  by 
the  Vice-President,  General  Arthur,  who 
seemed  to  endeavor  to  carry  out  the  policy 
inaugurated  by  his  predecessor. 


■|M-1M"»- 


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^MIESTER  ALLEN 
f,  ARTHUR,  the  twen- 
L:i^  ty-first  Chief  Execu- 
a  fa  tive  of  this  growing 
S|f3  republic,  iSSi-'5,  was 
born  in  Franklin 
County,  Vermont, 
October  5,  1830,  the  eldest  of  a 
family  of  two  sons  and  five 
P^yJi^'^  daughters.  His  father.  Rev. 
W.&1^  Dr.  William  Arthur,  a  Baptist 
clergyman,  immigrated  to  this 
country  from  County  Antrim, 
Ireland,  in  his  eighteenth  year, 
and  died  in  1875,  in  Newton- 
ville,  near  Alban\-,  New  York, 
aftei"  serving  many  years  as  a  successful 
minister.  Chester  A.  was  educated  at  that 
old,  conservative  institution,  Union  Col- 
lege, at  Schenectady,  New  York,  where  he 
excelled  in  all  his  studies.  He  graduated 
there,  with  honor,  and  then  struck  out  in 
life  for  himself  by  teaching  school  for  about 
two  vears  in  his  native  State. 

At  the  expiration  of  that  time  young 
Arthur,  with  S500  in  his  purse,  went  to  the 
city  of  New  York  and  entered  the  law  office 
of  ex-Judge  E.  D.  Culver  as  a  student.  In 
due  time  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  when 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  intimate 


friend  and  old  room-mate,  Henry  D.  Gar- 
diner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing  law 
at  some  point  in  the  West ;  but  after  spend- 
ing about  three  months  in  the  Westen, 
States,  in  search  of  an  eligible  place,  they 
returned  to  New  York  City,  leased  a  room, 
exhibited  a  sign  of  their  business  and  al- 
most immediately  enjoyed  a  paying  patron- 
age. 

At  this  stage  of  his  career  Mr.  Arthur's 
business  prospects  were  so  encouraging 
that  he  concluded  to  take  a  wife,  and  ac- 
cordingly he  married  the  daughter  of  Lieu- 
tenant Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Navy, 
who  had  been  lost  at  sea.  To  the  widow 
of  the  latter  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal, 
in  recognition  of  the  Lieutenant's  bravery 
during  the  occasion  in  which  he  lost  his 
life.  Mrs.  Artnur  died  shortly  before  her 
husband's  nomination  to  the  Vice-Presi- 
dency, leaving  two  children. 

Mr.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  celeb- 
rity as  an  attorne}'  in  the  famous  Lemmon 
suit,  which  was  brought  to  recover  posses- 
sion of  eight  slaves,  who  had  been  declared 
free  b}-  the  Superior  Court  of  New  York 
City.  The  noted  Charles  O'Conor,  who 
was  nominated  by  the  "  Straight  Demo- 
crats" in  1872  for  the  United  States  Presi- 
dency, was  retained  by  Jonathan  G.  Lem- 


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■  k"«5»  «  "^  ••  Wi*ii  "^M^ 


PRESIDENTS    OF    THE     UN /TED    STATES. 


mon,  of  Virginia,  to  recover  the  negroes, 
but  he  lost  the  suit.  In  this  case,  however, 
Mr.  Arthur  was  assisted  by  William  M. 
Evarts,  now  United  States  Senator.  Soon 
afterward,  in  1856,  a  respectable  colored 
woman  was  ejected  from  a  street  car  in 
New  York  City.  Mr.  Arthur  sued  the  car 
company  in  her  behalf  and  recovered  S500 
damages.  Immediately  afterward  all  the 
car  companies  in  the  city  issued  orders  to 
their  employes  to  admit  colored  persons 
upon  their  cars. 

Mr.  Arthur's  political  doctrines,  as  well 
as  his  practice  as  a  lawyer,  raised  him  to 
prominence  in  the  party  of  freedom ;  and 
accordingly  he  was  sent  as  a  delegate  to 
the  first  National  Republican  Convention. 
Soon  afterward  he  was  appointed  Judge 
Advocate  for  the  Second  Brigade  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  then  Engineer-in- 
Chief  on  Governor  Morgan's  staff.  In  1S61, 
the  first  year  of  the  war,  he  was  made  In- 
spector-General, and  next,  Quartermaster- 
General,  in  both  which  ofTices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government.  After 
the  close  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he 
resumed  the  practice  of  law,  forming  first  a 
partnership  with  Mr.  Ransom,  and  subse- 
quently adding  Mr.  Phelps  to  the  firm. 
Each  of  these  gentlemen  were  able  lawyers. 

November  21,  1872,  General  Arthur  was 
appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of  New 
York  by  President  Grant,  and  he  held  the 
ofifice  until  July  20,  1878. 

The  next  event  of  prominence  in  General 
Arthur's  career  was  his  nomination  to  the 
Vice-Presidency  of  the  United  States,  under 
the  influence  of  Roscoe  Conkling,  at  the 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at 
Chicago  in  June,  1880,  when  James  A.  Gar- 
field was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  ticket. 
Both  the  convention  and  the  campaign  that 
followed  were  noisy  and  exciting.  The 
friends  of  Grant,  constituting  nearly  half 


the  convention,  were  e.vceedingly  persist- 
ent, and  were  sorely  disappointed  over 
their  defeat.  At  the  head  of  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket  was  placed  a  very  strong  and 
popular  man  ;  yet  Garfield  and  Arthur  were 
elected  by  a  respectable  plurality  of  the 
popular  vote.  The  4th  of  March  following, 
these  gentlemen  were  accordingly  inaugu- 
rated ;  but  within  four  months  the  assassin's 
bullet  made  a  fatal  wound  in  the  person  of 
General  Garfield,  whose  life  terminated 
September  19,  1881,  when  General  Arthur, 
ex  officio,  was  obliged  to  take  the  chief 
reins  of  government.  Some  misgivings 
were  entertained  by  many  in  this  event,  as 
Mr.  Arthur  was  thought  to  represent  espe 
cially  the  Grant  and  Conkling  wing  of  the 
Republican  party  ;  but  President  Arthur 
had  both  the  ability  and  the  good  sense  to 
allay  all  fears,  and  he  gave  the  restless, 
critical  American  people  as  good  an  ad- 
ministration as  they  had  ever  been  blessed 
with.  Neither  selfishness  nor  low  parti- 
sanism  ever  characterized  any  feature  of 
his  public  service.  He  ever  maintained  a 
high  sense  of  every  individual  right  as  well 
as  of  the  Nation's  honor.  Indeed,  he  stood 
so  high  that  his  successor.  President  Cleve- 
land, though  of  opposing  politics,  expressed 
a  wish  in  his  inaugural  address  that  he 
could  only  satisfy  the  people  with  as  good 
an  administration. 

But  the  day  of  civil  service  reform  had 
come  in' so  far,  and  the  corresponding  re- 
action against  "third-termism"  had  en- 
croached so  far  even  upon  "second-term" 
service,  that  the  Republican  party  saw  fit 
in  1884  to  nominate  another  man  for  Presi- 
dent. Only  by  this  means  was  General 
Arthur's  tenure  of  office  closed  at  Wash- 
ingtun.  On  his  retirement  from  the  Presi- 
dency, ilarcli,  iNSy,  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law  at  iS'ew  York  City,  where  be 
died  KoveiTil.er  18,  ISSG. 


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i^a  «S«rfci"»*S.  C'H'«'M'?ii*»j»VS?'»«B«S»a  «i5«'in»S»ii»ii»iiIM 


r.llOVER     CLEVELAND. 


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""'"  "^^"^  ROVER  C  L  E  V  E  - 
LAND,  the  twenty- 
second  President  of  the 
United  States,  18S5— , 
was  born  in  Caldwell, 
Essex  County,  New 
Jersey,  March  iS, 
lW^*''^r^P\  ^^37-  The  house  in  which  he 
■A'Sz-Sixj'S'  was  born,  a  small  two-story 
wooden  building,  is  still  stand- 
ing. It  was  the  parsonage  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  of 
w  h  i  c  h  his  father,  Richard 
Cleveland,  at  the  time  was 
pastor.  The  family  is  of  New 
England  origin,  and  for  two  centuries  has 
contributed  to  the  professions  and  to  busi- 
ness, men  who  have  i-eilccted  honor  on  the 
name.  Aaron  Cleveland,  Grover  Cleve- 
land's great-great-grandfather,  was  born  in 
Massachusetts,  but  subsequently  moved  to 
Phila<icl[)hia,  where  he  became  an  intimate 
friend  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  at  whose 
house  he  died.  He  left  a  large  family  of 
children,  who  in  time  married  and  settled 
in  different  parts  of  New  England.  A 
grandson  was  one  of  the  small  American 
force  that  fought  the  British  at  Bvmker 
Hill.  He  served  with  gallantry  through- 
out the  Revolution  and  was  honorably 
discharged  at  its  close  as  a  Lieutenant  in 
the  Continental  army.  Another  grandson, 
William  Cleveland  (a  son  of  a  second  Aaron 


Cleveland,  who  was  distinguished  as  a 
writer  and  member  of  the  Connecticut 
Legislature)  was  Grover  Cleveland's  grand- 
father. William  Cleveland  became  a  silver- 
smith in  Norwich,  Connecticut.  He  ac- 
quired by  industry  some  property  and  sent 
his  son,  Richard  Cleveland,  the  father  of 
Grover  Cleveland,  to  Yale  College,  where 
he  graduated  in  1 824.  During  a  year  spent 
in  teaching  at  Baltimore,  i\Lar3-land,  after 
graduation,  he  met  and  fell  in  love  with  a 
Miss  Annie  Neale,  daughter  of  a  wealthy 
Baltimore  book  publisher,  of  Irish  birth. 
He  was  earning  his  own  way  in  the  world 
at  the  time  and  was  unable  to  marr}';  but 
in  three  years  he  completed  a  course  of 
preparation  for  the  ministry,  secured  a 
church  in  Windham,  Connecticut,  and 
married  Annie  Neale.  Subsequently  he 
moved  to  Portsmouth,  Virginia,  where  lie 
■preached  for  nearly  two  years,  when  lie 
was  summoned  t<3  Caldwell,  New  Jersey, 
where  was  born  Grover  Cleveland. 

When  he  was  three  years  old  the  family 
moyed  to  Fayetteville,  Onondaga  County, 
New  Vork.  Here  Grover  Cleveland  liyed 
until  he  was  fourteen  years  old,  the  rugged, 
healthful  life  of  a  country  boy.  His  frank, 
generous  manner  made  him  a  favorite 
among  his  companions,  and  their  respect 
was  won  by  the  good  qualities  in  the  germ 
which  his  manhood  developed.  He  at- 
tended the  district  school  of  the  villaire  and 


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was  for  a  short  time  at  the  academy.  His 
lather,  however,  believed  that  boys  should 
be  taught  to  labor  at  an  early  age,  and  be- 
fore he  had  completed  the  course  of  study 
at  the  academy  he  began  to  work  in  the 
village  store  at  S50  for  the  first  year,  and  the 
promise  of  $100  for  the  second  year.  His 
work  was  well  done  and  the  promised  in- 
crease of  pay  was  granted  the  second  year. 
Meanwhile  his  father  and  family  had 
moved  to  Clinton,  the  seat  of  Hamilton 
College,  where  his  father  acted  as  agent  to 
the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Home  Missions, 
preaching  in  the  churches  of  the  vicinity. 
Hither  Grover  came  at  his  father's  request 
shortly  after  the  beginning  of  his  second 
year  at  the  Fayetteville  store,  and  resumed 
his  studies  at  the  Clinton  Academy.  After 
three  years  spent  in  this  town,  the  Rev. 
Richard  Cleveland  was  called  to  the  vil- 
lage church  of  Holland  Patent.  He  had 
preached  here  only  a  month  when  he  was 
suddenly  stricken  down  and  died  without 
an  hour's  warning.  The  death  of  the  father 
left  the  family  in  straitened  circumstances, 
as  Richard  Cleveland  had  spent  all  his 
salary  of  $i,oop  per  year,  which  was  not 
required  for  the  necessary  expenses  of  liv- 
ing, upon  the  education  of  his  children,  of 
whom  there  were  nine,  Grover  being  the 
fifth.  Grover  was  hoping  to  enter  Hamil- 
t(jn  College,  but  the  death  of  his  father 
made  it  necessary  for  him  to  earn  his  own 
livelihood.  For  the  first  year  (i853-'4)  he 
actetl  as  assistant  teacher  and  bookkeeper  in 
the  Institution  for  the  Blind  in  New  York 
City,  of  which  the  late  Augustus  Schell  was 
for  many  years  the  patron.  In  the  winter 
of  1S54  he  returned  to  Holland  Patent 
where  the  generous  people  of  that  place, 
Fayetteville  and  Clinton,  had  purchased  a 
home  for  his  mother,  and  in  the  following 
spring,  borrowing  $25,  he  set  out  for  the 
West  to  earn  his  living. 

Reaching  Buffalo  he  paid  a  hasty  visit  to 
an   uncle,    Lewis  F.  Allen,  a    well-known 


stock  farmer,  living  at  Black  Rock,  a  few 
miles  distant.  He  communicated  his  plans 
to  Mr.  Allen,  who  discouraged  the  idea  of 
the  West,  and  finally  induced  the  enthusi- 
astic boy  of  seventeen  to  remain  with  him 
and  help  him  prepare  a  catalogue  of  blooded 
short-horn  cattle,  known  as  "  Allen's  Amer- 
ican Herd  Book,"  a  publication  familiar  to 
all  breeders  of  cattle.  In  August,  1855,  he 
entered  the  law  office  of  Rogers,  Bowen 
&  Rogers,  at  Buffalo,  and  after  serving  a 
few  months  without  pay,  was  paid  $4  a 
week — an  amount  barely  sufficient  to  meet 
the  necessarv  expenses  of  his  board  in  the 
family  of  a  fellow-student  in  Buffalo,  with 
whom  he  took  lodgings.  Life  at  this  time 
with  Grover  Cleveland  was  a  stern  battle, 
with  the  world.  He  took  his  breakfast  by 
candle-light  with  the  drovers,  and  went  at 
once  to  the  office  where  the  whole  day  was 
spent  in  work  and  study.  Usually  he  re- 
turned again  at  night  to  resume  reading 
which  had  been  interrupted  by  the  duties 
of  the  day.  Gradually  his  employers  came 
to  recognize  the  ability,  trustworthiness 
and  capacity  for  hard  work  in  their  young 
employe,  and  by  the  time  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  (1859)  ^^  stood  high  in  their  con- 
fidence. A  year  later  he  was  made  confi- 
dential and  managing  clerk,  and  in  the 
course  of  three  years  more  his  salary  had 
been  raised  to  $1,000.  In  1863  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  district  attorney  of  Erie 
County  by  the  district  attorney,  the  Hon. 
C.  C.  Torrance. 

Since  his  first  vote  had  been  cast  in  1858 
he  had  been  a  staunch  Democrat,  and  until 
he  was  chosen  Governor  he  always  made 
it  his  duty,  rain  or  shine,  to  stand  at  the 
polls  and  give  out  ballots  to  Democratic 
voters.  During  the  first  year  of  his  term 
as  assistant  district  attorney,  the  Democrats 
desired  especially  to  carry  the  Board  of  Su- 
pervisors. The  old  Second  Ward  in  which 
he  lived  was  Republican-  ordinarily  by  250 
majority,  but  at  the  urgent  request  of  the 


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party  Grover  Cleveland  consented  to  be 
the  Democratic  candidate  for  Supervisor, 
and  came  within  thirteen  votes  of  an  elec- 
tion. The  three  years  spent  in  the  district 
attorney's  office  were  devoted  to  assiduous 
labor  and  the  extension  of  his  professional 
attainments.  He  then  formed  a  law  part- 
nership with  the  late  Isaac  V.  Vanderpoel, 
ex-State  Treasurer,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Vanderpoel  &  Cleveland.  Here  the  bulk 
of  the  work  devolved  on  Cleveland's  shoul- 
ders, and  he  soon  won  a  good  standing  at 
the  bar  of  Erie  County.  In  1869  Mr. 
Cleveland  formed  a  partnership  with  ex- 
Senator  A.  P.  Laning  and  e.x-Assistant 
United  States  District  Attorney  Oscar  Fol- 
som,  luider  the  firm  name  of  Laning,  Cleve- 
land &  Folsom.  During  these  years  he 
began  to  earn  a  moderate  professional  in- 
come; but  the  larger  portion  of  it  was  sent 
to  his  mother  and  sisters  at  Holland  Patent 
to  whose  support  he  had  contributed  ever 
since  i860.  He  served  as  sheriff  of  Erie 
County,  i870-'4,  and  then  resumed  the 
practice  of  law,  associating  himself  with  the 
Hon.  Lymau  K.  Bass  and  Wilson  S.  Bissell. 


The  firm  was  strong  and  popular,  and  soon 
commanded  a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 
Ill  health  forced  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Bass 
in  1879,  and  the  firm  became  Cleveland  & 
Bissell.  In  1881  Mr.  George  J.  Sicard  was 
added  to  the  firm. 

In  the  autumn  election  of  1881  he  was 
elected  mayor  of  Buffalo  by  a  majority  of 
over  3,500 — the  largest  majority  ever  given 
a  candidate  for  mayor — and  the  Democratic 
city  ticket  was  successful,  although  the 
Republicans  carried  Buffalo  by  over  1,000 
majority  for  their  State  ticket.  Grover 
Cleveland's  administration  as  mayor  fully 
justified  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by 
the  people  of  Buffalo,  evidenced  by  the 
great  vote  he  received. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  met 
at  Syracuse,  September  22,  18S2,  and  nomi. 
nated  Grover  Cleveland  for  Governor 
on  the  third  ballot  and  Cleveland  was 
elected  by  192,000  majority.  In  the  fall  of 
1 884  he  was  elected  President  of  the  United 
States  by  about  1,000  popular  majcjrity, 
in  New  York  State,  and  he  was  accordingly 
inaugurated  the  4th  of  March  following. 


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HISTORY    OF    IXDIAXA. 


^■«^^1rrT  »T  TT -r¥    rT   ri^Tl'TI"n~rr  rr-T-w    n    rr  TT— TT-n^n^-n    n    ri    n    Il—fin    r¥    T»    Ki    ra    rKj'r.^.[y, 


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History  of  Indiana. 


PREHISTORIC    RACES. 


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^.%^,CIEXTISTS    liave    as- 
cribed   to    the    MoTiiid 
Builders  varied  origins, 
and  though  their  diver- 
gence of  o])inion  may  for 
a  time  seem  incompati- 
"'  '         hie  with  a  thorough  in- 
vestigation of  the  suliject,  and 
^^^  tend  to  a  confusion  of  ideas,  no 

*^'^tr^  doubt  whatever  can  exist  as  to 
the  comparative  accuracy  of 
conclusions  arrived  at  by  some 
of  them.  That  this  continent  is 
co-existent  with  tlie  world  of 
the  ancients  cannot  be  ques- 
tioned; the  results  of  all  scien- 
tific investigations,  down  to  the  present  time, 
combine  to  establish  the  fact  of  the  co-exist- 
ence of  the  two  continents  Historians  and 
learned  men  differ  as  to  the  origin  of  the  first 
iidiabitants  of  the  KcwWorhl;  the  general 
conclusions  arrived  at  are,  that  the  ancients 
came  from  the  east  by  way  of  Behring's 
Strait,  subsequent  to  the  confusion  of  tongues 
and  dispersion  of  the  inhabitants  at  the  time 
of  the  construction  of  tlie  Tower  of  Babel, 
1757  A.  .V.  The  ancient  mounds  and  earth- 
works scattered  over  the  entire  continent  tend 


'»«'««i''»mM|,WM»jM»M'J»i«Ti«»lui»»M»»i«»l,™»»l 


to  confirm  the  theory  that  the  Mound  Build- 
ers were  people  who  had  been  engaged  in 
raising  elevations  prior  to  their  advent  npon 
this  continent.  They  possessed  religions 
orders  corresponding,  in  external  sliow,  at 
least,  with  the  Essenes  or  Theraputs)  of  the 
pre-Christian  and  Christian  epochs,  and  to 
the  reformed  Theraputa',  or  monks,  of  the 
present. 

Every  memento  of  their  coming  and  their 
stay  wliich  has  descended  to  us  is  an  evidence 
of  their  civilized  condition. 

The  free  copper  found  within  the  tumuli, 
the  open  veins  of  the  Superior  and  Iron 
Mountain  copper  mines,  with  all  the  imple- 
ments of  ancient  mining,  such  as  ladders, 
levers,  chisels  and  hammer-heads,  discovered 
by  the  explorers  of  the  Northwest  and  tlie 
Mississip])i,  are  conclusive  i)roofs  that  these 
prehistoric  people  were  highly  civilized,  and 
that  many  flourishing  colonies  were  spread 
throughout  the  Mississijipi  Valley. 

Within  the  last  few  years  great  advances 
have  been  made  toward  the  discovery  of  an- 
tiquities, whether  pertaining  to  remains  of 
organic  or  inorganic  nature.  Together  with 
many  small  but  telling  relics  of  the  early 
inhabitants  of  the  country,  the  fossils  of  pre- 


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ni.sTOlO'    OF    INDIANA. 


historic  animals  liavo  licen  iineartlied  from 
end  to  end  of  this  continent,  many  of  ■\vliicli 
are  remains  of  enormous  animals  long  since 
extinct.  Mai\y  writers  who  have  devoted 
their  lives  to  the  investigation  of  the  origin 
of  the  ancient  inliabitants  of  this  continent, 
and  from  whence  they  came,  have  iixed  a 
period  of  a  second  immigration  a  few  centu- 
ries prior  to  the  Cliristian  era,  and,  unlike 
the  first  expeditions,  to  have  traversed  North- 
eastern Asia  to  its  Arctic  confines,  then  east 
to  I'ehring's  Stiait,  thus  reaching  the  Kew 
World  by  the  same  route  as  the  first  immi- 
grants, and,  after  many  years'  residence  in  the 
North,  puslicd  southward  and  commingled 
with  and  soon  acquired  the  characteristics  of 
the  descendants  of  the  first  colonists. 

The  Esquimaux  of  North  America,  the 
Samoieds  of  Asia  and  the  Laplanders  of  Eu- 
rope are  supjiosed  to  be  of  the  same  family; 
and  this  supposition  is  strengthened  by  the 
affinity  which  exists  in  tlieir  languages.  The 
researches  of  Humboldt  have  traced  the  Mex- 
icans to  the  vicinity  of  Behring's  Strait; 
whence  it  is  conjectured  that  they,  as  well  as 
the  Peruvians  and  other  tribes,  came  origi- 
nally from  Asia. 

Since  tliis  theory  is  accepted  by  most  anti- 
quarians, there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that 
from  the  discovery  of  wliat  may  be  termed 
an  overland  route  to  what  was  then  consid- 
ered an  eastern  extension  of  that  country, 
that  the  immigration  increased  annually  until 
the  new  continent  became  densely  populated. 
The  ruins  of  ancient  cities  discovered  in  Mex- 
ico and  South  America  prove  that  this  conti- 
nent was  densely  populated  by  a  civilized  peo- 
ple prior  to  the  Indian  or  tlie  Caucasian  races. 

The  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  and  indeed 
the  country  from  the  trap  rocks  of  the  Great 
Lakes  southeast  to  the  Gulf  and  southwest 
to  Mexico,  abound  in  monumental  evidences 
of  a  race  of  people  much  further  advanced 


in  civilization  than  the  ]\Iontezunuis  of  the 
sixteentli  century. 

The  remains  of  walls  and  fortifications 
found  in  Ohio  and  Lidiana,  the  cartli-works 
of  Vincennes  and  throughout  the  valley  of 
the  Wabash,  the  mounds  scattered  over  the 
several  Southern  States,  also  in  Illinois,  Min- 
nesota and  Wisconsin,  are  evidences  of  the 
advancement  of  the  people  of  that  day  toward 
a  comparative  knowledge  of  man  and  cosmol- 
ogy. At  the  mouth  of  Fourteen-mile  Creek, 
in  Clark  County,  Indiana,  there  stands  one  of 
these  old  monuments,  known  as  the  "  Stone 
Fort."  It  is  an  unmistakaljle  heir-luum  of  a 
gi-eat  and  ancient  people,  and  must  have 
formed  one  of  their  most  important  posts. 

In  Posey  County,  on  the  Wabash,  ten  miles 
from  its  junction  with  the  Oiiio  Iliver,  is 
another  remarkaljle  evidence  of  the  great 
numbers  once  inhabiting  tiuxt  country.  This 
is  known  as  the  "  Pone  Bank,"  on  account  of 
the  human  bones  continually  washed  out  from 
the  river  bank.  This  process  of  unearthing 
the  ancient  remains  has  been  going  on  since 
the  remembrance  of  the  earliest  white  settler, 
and  various  relics  of  artistic  wares  are  found 
in  that  portion  of  Indiana.  Another  great 
circular  earth-work  is  found  near  New  Wash- 
ington, and  a  stone  fort  near  the  village  of 
Deputy. 

Vigo,  Jasjicr,  Sullivan,  Switzerland  and 
Ohio  counties  can  boast  of  a  liberal  endow- 
ment of  works  of  antiquity,  and  the  entire 
State  of  Indiana  abounds  with  numerous  rel- 
ics of  the  handiwork  of  the  extinct  race. 
Many  of  the  ancient  and  curiously  devised 
implements  and  wares  are  to  be  seen  in  the 
State  ^Museum  at  Indianajiolis. 

Tiie  origin  of  the  red  men,  or  American 
Indians,  is  a  subject  which  interests  all  read- 
ers. It  is  a  favorite  with  the  ethnologist, 
even  as  it  is  one  of  dee])  concern  to  the  ordi- 
nary reader. 


)  raMaWjai "  ij»  mT  at  "Vfaa  '1i7>*»**j*' lu  *  ■^jB7'Ci^M'?tiH"£*al!G«*i05»*Ga!*iii5W?! 


i: 


lusroiiv  or  Indiana. 


Tlie  (liirtrL'iicc  ol'  djiiiiiou  cuiiccriiing  our 
alioriyiiials,  among  autlujrs  wlio  lia\'e  made  a 
protbinul  ptiuly  of  races,  is  botli  curious  and 
iuterestiug. 

Elumenbach  treats  tliein  as  a  distinct  vari- 
ety of  the  luiinaii  family.  l)v.  Latluun  ranks 
tliera  among  the  Monrrolidiv>.     Morton,  Nott 

DO  ' 

and  Glidden  claim  for  tlie  red  men  a  distinct 
origin. 

Dr.  Uobert  Brown,  our  latest  authority, 
gives  them  as  of  Asiatic  origin,  which  is  cer- 
tainly well  sustained  by  all  evidence  ■which 
has  thus  far  been  discovered  bearing  upon  the 
question. 

Dill'erences  arising  among  communities 
produced  dissensions,  which  tended  to  form 
factions  and  triljes,  which  culminated  in  wars 
and  gradual  descent  frona  a  state  of  civiliza- 
tion to  tliat  of  barbarism. 

The  art  of  hunting  not  only  supplied  the 
Indian  with  food,  but,  like  tliat  of  war,  M'as 
a  means  of  gratifying  his  love  of  distinction. 
The  male  children,  as  soon  as  they  acquired 
EiitHcient  age  and  strength,  were  furnished 
witli  a  liow  and  arrow,  and  taught  to  shoot 
birds  and  other  small  game. 

Their  general  councils  were  composed  of 
the  chiefs  and  old  men.  AVhen  in  council 
they  usually  sat  in  concentric  circles  around 
the  speaker,  and  each  individual,  notwith- 
standing the  liery  passions  that  raidded  within, 
]ireserved  an  exterior  as  immoval)le  as  if  cast 
in  bronze.  Laws  governing  their  councils 
were  as  strictly  enforced  and  observed  as  are 
those  of  similar  bodies  among  modern  civil- 
ized and  enlightened  races. 

The  dwellings  of  the  Indians  were  of  the 
simplest  and  rudest  character. 

The  dwellings  of  the  chiefs  were  some- 
times more  spacious,  and  constructed  with 
greater  care,  but  of  the  same  materials,  which 
were  generally  the  barks  of  trees. 

Though  jirincipally  depending  on  hunting 


for  food,  th(;y  also  cultixated  small  j)atches  of 
corn,  tlie  lalior  being  jierfornu'd  by  the  women, 
their  condition  being  little  better  than  sla\'es. 

KXl'LOKATIONS    ]iV    THE    WmTKS. 

The  State  of  Indiana  is  bounded  on  the 
east  by  the  meridian  line  which  forms  also 
the  western  boundary  of  Ohio,  extending  due 
north  from  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami 
liiver;  on  the  south  by  the  Ohio  Iliver,  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  to  the  mouth 
of  the  "Wabash;  on  the  west  by  a  line  drawn 
along  the  middle  of  the  "Wabash  liiver  from 
its  mouth  to  a  point  whore  a  due  north  line 
from  the  town  of  Yincennes  M'ould  last  touch 
the  shore  of  said  rivci',  and  thence  directly 
north  to  Lake  Michigan;  and  on  the  north 
by  said  lake  and  an  east  and  west  line  ten 
miles  north  of  the  extreme  south  end  of  the 
lake,  and  extending  to  its  intersection  with 
the  aforesaid  meridian,  the  west  boundary  of 
Ohio.  These  boundaries  include  an  area  of 
33,809  square  miles,  lying  between  37°  47' 
and  -11°  50'  north  latitude,  and  between  7° 
45'  and  11°  1'  west  longitude  from  "Wash- 
ington. 

After  the  discovery  of  America  by  Colum- 
bus, in  1492,  more  than  150  years  passed 
before  any  portion  of  the  territory  now  com- 
prised within  the  above  limits  was  explored 
by  Europeans.  Colonies  M'ere  established  by 
rival  European  powers  in  Florida,  A'irginia 
and  Nova  Scotia,  but  not  until  l()70-'72  did 
the  first  white  travelers  venture  as  far  into 
the  Northwest  as  Indiana  or  Lake  Michigan. 

These  explorers  were  Frenchmen  by  the 
names  of  Claude  Allouez  and  Claude  Dablon, 
who  probably  visited  that  portion  of  the  State 
north  of  the  Kankakee  liiver.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  M.  Joliet,  an  agent  of  the  French 
Colonial  Government,  accompanied  by  James 
Marquette,  a  Catholic  missionary,  made  an 
exploring  trij)  as  far  westward  as  the  Missis 


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sippi,  the  banks  of  wliicli  tliey  reached  June 
17,  1673. 

In  1082  La  Salle  explored  the  AVest,  but 
it  is  nut  known  that  he  entered  the  region 
now  embraced  within  the  State  of  Indiana, 
lie  took  formal  possession  of  all  the  Missis- 
sippi region  in  the  name  of  Louis,  King  of 
France,  and  called  the  country  Louisiana, 
which  included  what  is  now  the  State  of 
Indiana.  At  the  same  time  Spain  claimed 
all  the  country  in  the  region  of  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  thus  the  two  countries  became  com- 
petitors for  the  extension  of  domain,  and 
soon  caused  the  several  Indian  tribes  (who 
were  actually  in  possession  of  the  country) 
to  take  sides,  and  a  continual  state  of  warfare 
was  the  result.  The  Great  ]\Liami  Confed- 
eracy of  Indians,  the  Miamls  proper  (an- 
ciently the  Twightwees),  being  the  eastern 
and  most  powerful  tribe,  their  country  ex- 
tended from  the  Scioto  Eiver  west  to  the 
Illinois  Itiver.  These  Indians  were  frequently 
visited  by  fur  traders  and  missionaries  from 
both  Catholic  and  Protestant  creeds.  The 
Five  Nations,  so  called,  were  tribes  farther 
east,  and  not  connected  with  Indiana  history. 
The  first  settlement  made  by  the  white 
man  in  the  territory  of  the  present  State  of 
Indiana  Mas  on  the  bank  of  the  river  then 
J<nown  as  the  Ouabache,  the  name  given  it 
by  the  Frencli  explorers,  now  the  river 
AVaba^h.  Francis  Morgan  de  Vinsenne,  who 
served  in  a  military  regiment  (French)  in 
Canada  as  early  as  1720,  and  on  the  lakes  in 
1725,  first  made  his  advent  at  Vincennes, 
possibly  as  early  as  1732.  Ilecords  show 
hiin  there  January  5,  1735  He  was  killed 
in  a  war  with  the  Chickasaw  Indians  in  1736. 
The  town  which  he  founded  bore  his  name, 
Vinsenne,  until  17-1'J,  wiien  it  was  changed 
to  Vincennes. 

Post   Vincennes    was    certainly    occupied 
prior  to  the  date  given   by  Vinsenne,  as  a 


letter  from  Father  Marest,  dated  at  Kas- 
kaskia,  November  9,  1712,  reads  as  follows; 
"  The  French  have  established  a  fort  upon  tlie 
river  Wabash,  and  M'aiit  a  missionary,  and 
Father  Merinet  has  been  sent  to  them."  Mer- 
niet  was  therefore  the  first  preacher  of  Chris- 
tianity stationed  in  tliis  part  of  the  world. 
Vincennes  lias  ever  been  a  stronghold  of 
Catholicism.  Contemporaneous  with  the 
church  at  A^'inceniies  was  a  missionary  work 
among  the  Ouiatcnons,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  AVea  River,  which  was  of  but  short 
duration. 

NATIONAL    I'OLICIKS. 

The  wars  in  which  France  and  England 
were  engaged,  from  1080  to  1097,  retarded 
the  growth  of  the  colonies  of  those  nations 
in  North  America.  The  English,  jealous  of 
the  French,  resorted  to  all  available  means  to 
extend  their  dciinain  westward,  the  Frencli 
equally  active  in  pressing  their  claims  east- 
ward and  south.  Both  sides  succeeded  in 
securing  savage  allies,  and  for  many  years 
the  pioneer  settlers  were  harrassed  and  crnelly 
murdered  by  the  Indians  who  were  serving 
the  purposes  of  one  or  the  other  contending 
nations. 

France  continued  her  efibrt  to  connect 
Canada  with  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  by  a  chain 
of  trading-posts  and  colonies,  which  increased 
the  jealousy  of  England  and  laid  the  founda- 
tion for  the  French  and  Indian  war. 

This  war  was  terminated  in  1763  by  a 
treaty  at  Paris,  by  which  France  ceded  to 
Great  Britain  all  of  North  America  east  of 
the  Mississippi  except  New  Orleans  and  the 
island  on  -wliicli  it  is  situated. 

The  British  policy,  after  getting  entire 
control  of  the  Indiana  territory,  Mas  still 
unfavorable  to  its  growth  in  population.  In 
1765  the  total  number  of  French  families 
within  the  limits  of  the  Northwestern  Terri- 


HISTORY    OF    INDIANA. 


127 


toiy  did  not  exceed  GUO.  Tliese  were  in 
settlements  about  Detroit,  along  the  river 
AVabash,  and  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Char- 
tres  on  the  Mississijuii. 

Of  these  families,  eighty-five  resided  at 
Post  Vincennes,  fourteen  at  Fort  Ouiatenon, 
on  the  "Wabash,  and  ten  at  the  conHuence  of 
the  St.  Mary  and  St.  Joseph  rivers. 

The  colonial  policy  of  the  British  Govern- 
ment opposed  any  measures  which  might 
strengthen  settlements  in  the  interior  of  this 
country,  lest  they  become  self-supporting  and 
independent  of  the  mother  countr}'. 

Thomas  Jetierson,  the  shrewd  statesman 
and  then  Governor  of  Virginia,  saw  from  the 
iirst  that  actual  occupation  of  western  lands 
was  the  only  way  to  keep  them  out  of  the 
hands  of  foreigners  and  Indians. 

lie  accordingly  engaged  a  scientific  corps, 
and  sent  them  to  the  Mississippi  to  ascertain 
the  point  on  that  river  intersected  by  latitude 
30°  30',  the  southern  limit  of  the  State,  and 
to  measure  its  distance  to  the  Ohio.  lie 
entrusted  the  military  operations  in  that 
quarter  to  General  Clark,  with  instructions 
to  select  a  strong  position  near  the  point 
named,  and  erect  a  fort,  and  garrison  the  same, 
for  protecting  the  settlers,  and  to  extend  his 
conquests  northward  to  the  lakes.  Conform- 
ing to  instructions,  General  Clark  erected 
"Fort  Jefierson,"  on  the  Mississippi,  a  few 
miles  above  the  southern  limit. 

The  result  of  tliese  operations  was  the 
addition  to  ^'irglnia  of  the  vast  Northwestern 
Territiiry.  The  simple  fact  that  a  chain  of 
forts  was  established  by  tlio  Anierieans  in 
this  vast  region,  convinced  the  British  Com- 
missioners that  wo  had  entitled  ourselves  to 
the  land. 

During  this  time  other  minor  events  were 
transpiring  outside  the  territory  in  question, 
which  subsequently  promoted  the  early  set- 
tling of  portions  of  Indiana. 


On  February  11,  17S1,  a  wagoner  named 
Irvin  Ilinton  M'as  sent  from  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, to  Ilarrodsburg  for  a  load  of  provi- 
sions. 

Two  young  men,  Iiichard  Rue  and  George 
Ilolnian,  aged  respectively  nineteen  and  six- 
teen years,  accompanied  Ilinton  as  guards. 
"When  eight  miles  from  Louisville  they  were 
surprised  and  captured  by  the  renegade  white 
man,  Simon  Girty,  and  twelve  Indian  war- 
riors. They  were  marched  hurriedly  for 
three  days  through  deep  snow,  when  they 
reached  the  Indian  village  of  Wa-proc-ca- 
nat-ta.  Ilinton  was  burned  at  the  stake.  Hue 
and  Ilolman  were  adupted  in  the  tribe,  and 
remained  three  years,  when  Hue  made  his 
escape,  and  Ilolman,  about  the  same  time, 
was  ransomed  by  relatives  in  Kentucky.  The 
two  men  Mere  the  first  white  men  to  settle 
in  AVayne  County,  Indiana,  where  they  lived 
to  a  good  old  age,  and  died  at  their  homes 
two  miles  south  of  Ilichmoiul. 


EXPEDITIONS      OF 


c'(n.()\i;L 

CLAKK. 


GKoIiGE       ROGERS 


In  the  spring  of  177G  Colonel  George 
Rogers  Clark,  a  native  of  Virginia,  who 
resided  in  Kentucky  at  the  above  date,  con- 
ceived a  plan  of  opening  up  antl  more  rapidly 
settling  the  great  Korthwest.  That  portion 
of  tlie  West  called  Kentucky  was  occupied  by 
Henderson  &  Co.,  Avlio  pretended  to  own  the 
land,  and  held  it  at  a  high  price.  Colonel 
Clark  wished  to  test  the  validity  of  their 
claim,  and  adjust  the  government  of  tlio 
country  so  as  to  encourage  immigration.  Ho 
accordingly  called  a  meeting  of  the  citizens 
at  Ilarrodstown,  to  assemble  June  6,  1770, 
and  consider  the  claims  of  the  company,  and 
consult  with  reference  to  the  interest  of  the 
country. 

The  meeting  was  held  on  the  day  ap- 
pointed, and  delegates  elected  to  confer  with 


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12S  IIIsrOItY    OF    INDTAXA. 


»KHa.*u«MH«5«i"ri 


tlic  State  of  Virginia  as  to  tlic  propriety  of 
attaching  the  new  country  as  a  county  to 
that  State. 

Many  causes  prevented  a  consummation 
of  tliis  object  until  1778.  Virginia  was 
favorable  to  the  enterprise,  but  would  not 
take  action  as  a  State;  but  Governor  Henry 
and  a  few  other  Virginia  gentlemen  assisted 
Colonel  Clark  all  tliey  could.  Accordingly 
Clark  organized  his  expedition.  He  took  in 
stores  at  Pittsburg  and  "Wheeling,  and  pro- 
ceeded down  the  Ohio  to  the  "  falls,"  where 
he  constructed  some  light  fortifications. 

At  this  time  Post  Vineennes  comprised 
about  400  militia,  and  it  was  a  daring  under- 
taking for  Colonel  Clark,  witli  his  small  force, 
to  go  up  against  it  and  Kaskaskia,  as  he  had 
planned.  Some  of  his  men,  becoming  alarmed 
at  the  situation,  deserted  him. 

lie  conducted  himself  so  as  to  gain  the 
sympath}'  of  the  French,  and  through  them 
the  Indians  to  some  extent,  as  both  these 
people  wei-e  very  bitter  against  the  British, 
who  had  possession  of  the  lake  region. 

From  the  nature  of  the  situation  Clark 
concluded  to  tak^  Kaskaslda  first,  which  he 
did,  and  succeeded  by  kindness  in  winning 
them  to  Ills  standard.  It  was  difficult,  how- 
ever, for  him  to  induce  the  French  to  accept 
the  Continental  paper  in  payment  for  provi- 
sions. Colonel  Vigo,  a  Frenchman  who  had 
a  trading  establishment  there,  came  to  tlie 
rescue,  and  prevailed  upon  the  people  to  ac- 
cept the  paper.  Colonel  Vigo  sold  coffee  at 
?^1  a  pound,  and  other  necessaries  of  life  at 
an  equally  reasonable  price. 

Tlie  post  at  Vineennes,  defended  by  Fort 
Sackvilie,  was  tlie  next  aiul  all-important 
position  to  possess.  Fatlier  Gibault,  of  Kas- 
kaskia, who  also  liad  charge  of  the  church 
at  Vineennes,  being  friendly  to  the  Amer- 
icans, used  his  inllnence  with  the  peo]ile  of 
tlie  garrison,  and  won  them  to  Clark's  stand- 


ard. They  took  the  oatli  of  allegiance  to 
Virginia,  and  became  citizens  of  the  United 
States.  Colonel  Clark  liere  concluded  treaties 
with  the  several  Indian  tribes,  and  placed 
Captain  Leonard  Helm,  an  American,  iu 
command  of  Vineennes.  On  learning  the 
successful  termination  of  Clark's  expedition, 
the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia  declared 
all  the  settlers  west  of  the  Ohio  organized 
into  a  county  of  that  State,  to  be  known  as 
"  Illinois  '•  County;  but  before  the  provisions 
of  the  law  could  be  made  effective,  Henry 
Hamilton,  the  British  Lieutenant-Governor 
of  Detroit,  collected  an  army  of  thirty  regu- 
lars, fifty  Frcncli  volunteers  and  400  Indians, 
and  moved  upon  and  took  Post  Vineennes  in 
December,  1778.  Captain  Helm  and  a  man 
named  Henry  were  the  only  Americans  at 
the  fort,  tlie  only  members  of  the  garrison. 
Captain  Helm  was  taken  prisoner,  and  tlie 
French  disarmed. 

Colonel  Clark  was  at  Kaskaskia  wlien  he 
learned  of  the  capture  of  Vineennes,  ami  de- 
termined to  retake  the  place.  He  gathered 
together  what  force  he  could  (170  men),  and 
on  the  5th  of  February  started  from  Kas- 
kaskia, and  crossed  Wie  river  of  that  name. 
The  weather  was  wet,  and  the  lowlands  cov- 
ered with  water.  He  had  to  resort  to  shoot- 
ing such  game  as  chanced  to  be  found  to 
furnish  provisions,  and  use  all  the  ingenuity 
and  skill  he  possessed  to  nerve  his  little  force 
to  press  forward.  He  waded  tlie  water  and 
shared  all  the  hardships  and  privations  with 
his  men.  They  reached  the  Little  "Wabash 
on  the  13th.  The  river  was  overflowing  the 
lowlands  from  recent  rains.  Two  days  were 
here  consumed  in  crossing  the  stream.  The 
succeeding  days  tliey  inarched  through  water 
much  of  the  time,  reaching  the  Big  Waliash 
on  the  night  of  the  17th.  The  18tli  and 
19th  were  consumed  trying  to  cross  the  river. 
I-'imdly    canoes    were    constructed,   and    tlie 


i:^'i<^3^?^i^-j^!Si^iiP'?:j^mf!a^tiB:i:<^ii^sfSi^^ 


in  STORY    OF    INDIANA. 


129 


Hi 

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entire  force  crossed  the  main  stream,  but  to 
liiul  the  lowlamls  under  water  and '  consider- 
able ice  formed  from  recent  cold,  llis  men 
mutinied  and  refused  to  })rocced.  All  the 
persuasions  of  Clark  had  no  effect  upon  the 
lialf-starved,  and  half-frozen,  soldiers. 

In  one  comjjany  was  a  small  drummer  Ijoy, 
and  also  a  Sei-gcant  who  stood  six  feet  two 
inches  in  socks,  and  stout  and  athletic.  lie 
was  devoted  to  Clark.  The  (general  mounted 
the  little  drummer  on  the  slioidders  of  the 
Sergeant,  and  ordered  him  to  plnnye  into  the 
water,  half-frozen  as  it  was.  lie  did  so,  the 
little  boy  1)eating  the  charge  from  his  lofty 
position,  while  Clark,  sword  in  liaud,  fol- 
lowed them,  giving  the  command  as  he  threw 
aside  the  lloating  ice,  '•  Forward.''  The  effect 
was  electrical;  the  men  hoisted  their  gnns 
above  their  heads,  and  plunged  into  the  water 
and  followed  their  determined  leader.  On 
arriving  within  two  miles  of  the  fort,  General 
Clark  halted  liis  little  band,  and  sent  in  a 
letter  demanding  a  surrender,  to  which  he 
received  no  reply.  lie  ne.xt  ordered  Lieu- 
tenant Bayley  with  fourteen  men  to  advance 
ami  fire  on  the  fort,  while  the  main  body 
moved  in  another  direction  and  took  posses- 
sion of  the  strongest  jjortion  of  the  town. 
Clark  then  demanded  Hamilton's  surrender 
immediately  or  he  would  be  treated  as  a 
murderer.  Hamilton  made  reply,  iiidignantl}' 
refusing  to  surrender.  After  one  hour  more 
of  fighting,  Hamilton  proposed  a  truce  of 
three  days.  Clark's  reply  was,  that  nothing 
Would  l)e  accepted  but  an  unconditional  sur- 
render of  Hamilton  and  the  garrison.  In 
less  than  an  hour  Clark  dictated  the  terms  of 
surrender,  Februai-y  2-1:,  1779. 

Of  this  expedition,  of  its  results,  of  its 
importance,  as  well  as  of  the  skill  and  bravery 
of  those  engaged  in  it,  a  volume  would  not 
suffice  for  the  details. 

This  expedition    and    its    gigantic    results 


has  never  been  surpassed,  if  equalled,  in 
modern  times,  when  we  consider  that  by 
it  the  whole  territory  now  included  in  tlie 
three  great  States  of  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Michigan  was  added  to  tlie  Union,  and  so 
admitted  by  the  British  Commissioners  to 
the  treaty  of  peace  in  1783.  But  for  the 
results  of  this  expedition,  our  western  bound- 
ary would  have  Ijcen  the  Ohio  instead  of  the 
Mississippi.  When  we  consider  the  vast 
area  of  territory  embracing  2,000,000  people, 
the  human  mind  is  lost  in  the  contemplation 
of  its  eftects;  and  wo  can  but  wonder  that  a 
force  of  170  men,  the  whole  number  of  Clark's 
troops,  should  by  this  single  action  liave  pro- 
duced such  important  residts. 

General  Clark  reinstated  Captain  Helm  in 
command  of  Vincennes,  with  instructions  tu 
subdue  the  marauding  Indians,  which  he  did, 
and  soon  comparative  quiet  was  restored  on 
Indiana  soil. 

The  wliole  credit  of  this  conquest  belongs 
to  General  Clark  and  Colonel  I'rancis  Vigo. 
The  latter  was  a  Sardinian  by  birth.  He 
served  for  a  time  in  the  Spanish  army,  but 
left  the  army  and  engaged  in  trading  with  the 
Indians,  and  attained  to  great  popularity  and 
influence  among  them,  as  well  as  making 
considerable  money.  He  devoted  his  time, 
influence  aiid  means  in  aid  of  the  Clark 
expedition  and  the  cause  of  the  United  States. 

G"Vei:x:«7;nt  of  thk  northwest. 

Colonel  John  Todd,  Lieutenant  for  the 
Count}'  of  Illinois,  visited  Vincennes  and 
Kaskaskia  in  the  spring  of  1779,  and  organ- 
ized temporary  civil  government.  He  also 
proceeded  to  adjust  the  disputed  land  claim. 
With  this  view  he  organized  a  court  of  civil 
and  crimiiuil  jurisdiction  at  Vincennes.  This 
court  was  com]K>sed  of  several  magistrates, 
and  presided  over  by  Colonel  J.  M.  P.  Legras, 
who  was  then  commander  of  the  post. 


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130 


insTOIlY    OF    IN  1)1  AX  A. 


Tills  court,  from  precedent,  began  to  grant 
lands  to  the  French  and  American  inhabitants. 
Forty-eight  thousand  acr^G  had  been  disposed 
of  in  tills  manner  up  to  1787,  wlien  the  jjrac- 
tice  was  ]iroliibitcd  l)y  General  Ilarmar. 

In  the  fall  of  1780  La  Balma,  a  French- 
man, made  an  attempt  to  capture  the  British 
garrison  of  Detroit  by  leading  an  expedition 
against  it  from  Kaskaslcia. 

He  marched  with  his  small  force  to  the 
British  trading-post  at  the  head  of  the  !^[au- 
niee,  ■where  Fort  Wayne  now  stands,  plun- 
dered the  British  traders  and  Indians,  and 
retired.  While  in  camp  on  his  retreat,  he 
Avas  attacked  by  a  band  of  Mlamis;  a  number 
of  his  men  were  killed,  and  the  expedition 
was  ruined.  In  this  manner  war  continued 
between  the  Americans  and  their  enemies 
until  1783,  when  the  treaty  of  Paris  was 
tfoncdnded,  resulting  in  the  establishment  of 
the  independence  of  the  United  States. 

Up  to  this  time  the  Indiana  territory  be- 
longed by  conquest  to  the  State  of  Virginia. 

In  January,  1783,  the  General  Assembly 
of  that  State  resolved  to  cede  the  territory  to 
the  United  States.  The  proposition  made  by 
Virginia  was  accepted  by  the  United  States, 
and  tlie  transfer  confirmed  early  in  1784.  The 
conditions  of  the  transfer  of  the  territory 
1o  the  United  States  were,  that  the  State  of 
Virginia  should  be  reimbursed  for  all  expen- 
ditures incurred  in  exploring  and  protecting 
settlers  in  the  territory,  that  150,000  acres 
of  land  should  lie  granted  to  General  Clark 
and  his  band  of  soldiers,  who  conquered  the 
French  and  British  and  annexed  the  terri- 
tory to  Virginia. 

After  the  above  deed  of  cession  had  been 
accepted  by  Congress,  in  the  spring  of  1784, 
the  matter  of  the  future  government  of  the 
territory  was  referred  to  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  ^Messrs.  Jefferson,  of  Virginia; 
Chase,  of  Maryland;  and  Howell,  of  Khode 


Island;  which  committee,  among  other 
things,  reported  an  ordinance  prohibiting 
slavery  in  the  territory  after  1800,  but  this 
article  of  the  ordinance  was  rejected. 

The  ordinance  of  1787  has  an  interesting 
history.  Considerable  controversy  lias  been 
indulged  in  as  to  who  is  entitled  to  the  credit 
of  framing  it.  This  undoubtedly  belongs 
to  Nathan  Dane;  and  to  Rufus  King  and 
Timothy  Pickering  belongs  the  credit  for 
the  clause  prohibiting  slavery  contained  in  it. 

Mr.  Jeli'erson  had  vainly  tried  to  secure  a 
system  of  government  for  the  Northwestern 
Territory  excluding  slavery  therefrom.  The 
South  invariably  voted  him  down. 

In  July,  1787,  an  organizing  act  without 
the  slavery  clause  was  pending,  which  was 
supposed  would  secure  its  passage.  Congress 
was  in  session  in  New  "i'ork.  July  5  Ilev. 
Manasseh  Cutler,  of  Massachusetts,  came  to 
New  York  in  the  interest  of  some  land  spec- 
ulators in  the  Northwest  Territory.  He  was 
a  graduate  of  Yale;  had  taken  the  degrees  of 
the  three  learned  professions — medicine,  law 
and  divinity.  As  a  scientist,  in  America 
his  name  stood  second  only  to  that  of 
Franklin. 

He  was  a  courtly  gentleman  of  the  old 
style.  He  readily  ingratiated  himself  into 
the  confidence  of  Southern  leaders.  He 
wished  to  purchase  5,500,000  acres  of  land 
in  the  new  Territory.  Jefferson  and  his  ad- 
ministration desired  to  make  a  record  on  the 
reduction  of  the  public  debt,  and  this  was  a 
rare  opportunity.  Massachusetts  representa- 
tives could  not  vote  against  Cutler's  scheme, 
as  many  of  their  constituents  were  interested 
in  the  measure;  Southern  members  were 
already  committed.  Thus  Cutler  held  the 
key  to  the  situation,  and  dictated  terms, 
which  were  as  follows: 

1.  The  exclusion  of  slavery  from  the 
Territory  forever. 


V 


l«M»«M3;  W.-a  Wm  asi 


JBK»*'jJ™MJI»»t*j«"»*'M"M"l'"»i'i'^»l»Mn.»M»»l»»»ni8««iM|,l 


HISTORY    OF    INDIANA. 


li 
ii) 


■Ml' 


2.  Providing  oue-tliirty-sixth  of  all  tlic 
land   fur  public  schools. 

3.  ]]e  it  forever  remembered  that  this 
compact  declares  that  reliyioii,  morality  and 
knowledge  being  necessary  to  good  govern- 
ment and  the  happiness  of  mankind,  schools 
and  the  means  of  education  shall  always  be 
encouraged. 

Dr.  Cutler  planted  himself  on  this  plat- 
form, and  would  not  yield,  stating  that 
unless  they  could  procure  the  lands  under 
desirable  conditions  and  surroundings,  they 
did  not  want  it.  July  13,  1787,  the  bill 
became  a  law.  Thus  the  great  States  of 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  ^Michigan  and  "Wis- 
consin— a  vast  empire — were  consecrated  to 
freedom,  intelligence  and  morality. 

Octolier  5,  1787,  Congress  elected  General 
Arthur  St.  Clair  Governor  of  the  Kortli- 
wcbtcrn  Teri'itory.  lie  assumed  liis  otHcial 
duties  at  ^larietta,  and  at  once  proceeded  to 
treat  with  the  Indians,  and  organize  a  Terri- 
torial government.  lie  first  organized  a 
court  at  ^Marietta,  consisting  of  three  judges, 
Iiimself  being  president  of  the  court. 

The  Governor  with  the  judges  then  visited 
Kaskaskia,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  civil 
government,  having  previously  instructed  Ma- 
jor llaintramck,  at  Yincennes,  to  present  the 
policy  of  the  new  administration  to  the  sev- 
eral Indian  tribes,  and  ascertain  their  feelings 
in  regard  to  acquiescing  in  the  new  order  of 
things.  They  received  the  messenger  with 
ciiol  iudift'erence,  which,  when  reported  to  the 
(Governor,  convinced  him  that  nothing  short 
(if  military  force  would  command  compliance 
with  the  civil  law.  lie  at  once  proceeded  to 
Fort  Washington,  to  consult  with  General 
Ilarmar  as  to  future  action.  In  tlie  niean- 
time  he  intrusted  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Territory',  Winthrop  Sargent,  tlie  settlement 
of  the  disputed  land  claims,  who  found  it  an 
arduous  task,  and  in  liis  report  states  tliat 


lie  found  the  records  had  been  so  falsiiied. 
Vouchers  destroyed,  and  other  crookedness, 
as  to  make  it  impossible  to  get  at  a  just 
settlement,  which  proves  that  the  abuse  of 
public  trust  is  not  a  very  recent  discovery. 

The  (ieneral  Court  in  1790,  acting  Gov- 
ernor Sargent  presiding,  passed  stringent 
laws  prohibiting  the  sale  of  intoxicating  Vn.^- 
uoi's  to  Indians,  and  also  to  soldiers  within 
ten  miles  of  any  military  post;  also  prohib- 
iting any  games  of  chance  within  the  Terri- 
tory. 

"Winthrojj  Sargent's  administration  Avas 
highly  eulogized  by  the  citizens.  He  had 
succeeded  in  settling  the  disputed  land  ques- 
tion satisfactory  to  all  concerned,  had  estab- 
lished in  good  order  the  machinery  of  a  free, 
wise  and  good  government.  In  the  same  ad- 
dress ^lajor  Ilamtramck  also  received  a  fair 
share  of  praise  for  his  judicious  management 
of  public  affairs. 

The  consultation  of  Governor  St.  Clair  and 
General  Ilarmar,  at  Fort  "Washington,  ended 
in  deciding  to  j-aise  a  large  military  force 
and  thoroughly  chastise  the  Indians  about 
the  liead  of  the  "Wabash.  Accordingly  Vir- 
ginia and  Pennsylvania  were  called  upon  for 
troops,  and  1,800  men  were  mustered  at  Fort 
Steuben,  and,  M'itli  the  garrison  of  that  fort, 
joined  the  forces  at  Yincennes  under  Major 
Ilamtramck,  Avho  proceeded  up  the  "Wabash 
as  far  as  the  Yermillion  Piver,  destroying 
villages,  but  without  finding  an  enemy  to 
oppose  him. 

General  Ilarmar,  with  1,450  men,  marched 
from  Fort  "Washington  to  the  ^laumee,  and 
began  punishing  the  Indians,  but  with  little 
success.  The  expedition  marched  from  Fort 
AV'^ashington  September  30,  and  returned  to 
that  place  Kovember  4,  liaving  lost  during 
the  expedition  1S3  men  killed  and  thirty- 
one  wounded. 

General  Ilarinar's  defeat   alarmed  as  well 


'a-ja^^g^ 


i  ri'*i*«»"ar*r"«wiiT«».M'™xr.j,inj», 


132 


HISTORY    OF    ISUIAXA. 


as  aroused  the  ci':izeiis  in  the  frontier  counties 
of  Virginia.  They  reasoned  tliat  the  sav.- 
age.s'  success  would  invite  an  invasion  of 
frontier  Virginia. 

A  memorial  to  this  effect  was  presented 
before  the  State  General  Assembly.  This 
memorial  caused  the  Legislature  to  authorize 
the  Governor  to  use  such  moans  as  he  might 
deem  necessary  for  defensive  operations. 

The  Governor  called  upon  the  western 
counties  of  Virginia  for  militia;  at  the  same 
time  Charles  Scott  was  appointed  Brigadier- 
General  of  the  Kentucky  militia,  now  pre- 
paring for  defending  their  frontier. 

The  proceedings  of  the  Virginia  Legisla- 
ture reaching  Congress,  that  body  at  once 
constituted  a  board  of  Mar  consisting  of  five 
men.  March  9,  1791,  General  Knox,  Secre- 
tary of  "War,  wrote  to  General  Scott  recom- 
mending an  expedition  against  the  Lidians 
on  the  Wabash. 

General  Scott  moved  into  the  Lidian  set- 
tlements, reached  the  AVabash;  the  Lidians 
principally  fled  before  his  forces.  lie  de- 
stroyed many  villages,  killed  thirty-two  war- 
riors and  took  flfty-eight  prisoners;  the 
wretched  condition  of  his  horses  prevented 
further  pursuit. 

March  3,  1791,  Congress  invested  Govern- 
or St. Clair  with  the  command  of  3,000  troops, 
and  he  M-as  instructed  by  the  Secretary  of 
War  to  jiiarch  to  the  Miami  village  and  es- 
tablish a  strong  and  ]iermanent  military  post 
there.  The  Secretary  of  War  gave  him  strict 
orders,  that  after  establishing  a  permanent 
base  at  the  Miami  village,  he  seek  the  enemy 
Mith  all  his  available  force  and  make  them 
feel  the  eft'ects  of  the  superiority  of  the  wliites. 

Previous  to  marching  a  strong  force  to  the 
]\[iami  town,  Governor  St.  Clair,  June  25, 
1791,  authorized  General  Wilkinson,  with 
500  mounted  men,  to  move  against  the  Li- 
dians on    the  AVabash.     General  Wilkinson 


reported  the  results  of  this  expedition  as  fol- 
lows: "I  have  destroyed  the  chief  town  of 
the  Ouiatenon  nation,  and  have  made  prisoners 
of  the  sons  and  sisters  of  the  King;  I  have 
burned  a  Kiekapoo  village,  and  cut  down 
400  acres  of  corn  in  the  milk." 

KXI'KDITIOXS  OF  ST.  CLAIR  AND  WAYNE. 

The  Indians  had  been  seriously  damaged 
by  Ilarmar,  Scott  and  AVilkinson,  but  were 
far  from  subdued.  The  British  along  the 
Canada  frontier  gave  them  much  encourage- 
ment to  continue  the  warfare. 

In  Sej^tember,  1791,  St.  Clair  moved  from 
Fort  Washington  with  a  force  of  2,000  men 
and  a  number  of  pieces  of  artillery,  and  No- 
vember 3  lie  reached  the  headwaters  of  the 
Wabash,  where  Fort  Recovery  was  afterward 
erected,  and  here  the  army  camped,  consist- 
ing of  l,-400  effective  men;  on  the  morning 
of  November  4  the  army  advanced  and  en- 
gaged the  Indians  1,200  strong. 

The  Americans  were  disastrously  defeated, 
liaving  thirty-nine  oflicers  and  539  men 
killed  and  missing,  twenty-two  officers  and 
232  men  wounded.  Several  pieces  of  artil- 
lery and  all  their  provisions  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Indians;  estimated  loss  in  ])rop- 
erty,  $32,000. 

Although  no  particular  blame  was  attached 
to  Governor  St.  Clair  for  the  loss  in  his  ex- 
pedition, yet  he  resigned  the  office  of  Major- 
General,  and  was  succeeded  by  Anthony 
AVayne,  a  distinguished  officer  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war. 

General  Wayne  organized  his  forces  at 
Pittsburg,  and  in  October,  1793,  moved  west- 
ward from  tliat  point  at  the  head  of  an  army 
of  3,600  men. 

He  proposed  an  offensive  campaign.  The 
Indians,  instigated  by  the  British,  insisted 
that  the  Ohio  River  should  be  the  boundary 
between    their   hinds   and    the    lands    of   the 


^5M~«!l5?IS 


^i«7i-T»*jii«^2»ia«?r<r«»P0i  iOT^  2 


Wsa^-xPf3'>*a'^i^^m* 


i«if»^«i™iT!Gi:'!iiMS«H»i 


niSTORY    OF    IX DIANA. 


133 


United  States,  and  were  sure  tliey  cnukl 
maintain  that  line. 

General  Scott,  of  Kentucky,  joined  General 
Wayne  with  1,000  mounted  men.  Tliey 
erected  Fort  Defiance  at  the  mciuth  of  tlio 
Auglaize  Elver.  August  15  the  army 
moved  toward  the  British  fort,  near  the 
rapids  of  the  Mauinee,  wliere,  on  the  morn- 
ing of  August  20,  they  defeated  2,000 
Indians  and  British  almost  Avitliin  range  of 
the  guns  of  the  fort.  Aliout  UOO  American 
troops  were  actually  engaged.  The  Ameri- 
cans lost  thirty-three  killed  and  100  wound- 
ed, the  enemy's  loss  being  more  tlian  double. 
Wayne  remained  in  tliat  region  for  tliree 
days,  destroying  villages  and  crops,  then  re- 
turned to  Fort  Defiance,  destroying  every- 
tliing  pertaining  to  Indian  subsistence  for 
many  miles  on  each  side  of  liis  route. 

September  14,  179-1,  General  Wayne 
moved  his  army  in  the  direction  of  tiie  de- 
serted Jliami  villages  at  the  continence  of 
St.  Jdscpli's  an<l  St.  Mary's  rivers,  arriving 
October  17,  and  on  the  following  day  the 
site  of  Fort  Wayne  was  selected.  The  fort  was 
completed  Kovember  22,  and  garrisoned  by 
a  strong  detachmeiit  of  infantry  and  artillery 
commanded  by  Colonel  John  F.  Ilamtramck, 
who  gave  to  the  new  fort  the  name  of  Fort 
Wayne.  General  Wayne  soon  after  con- 
cluded a  treat}'  of  peace  witli  the  Indians  at 
(ireenville,  in  1705. 

ORGANIZATION    OF    INDIANA    TERRITORY. 

On  the  final  success  of  American  arms  and 
diplomacy  in  179G,  the  principal  town  within 
the  present  State  of  Indiana  was  Vincennes, 
which  comprised  fifty  houses,  presenting  a 
tlirifty  appearance.  Besides  Vincennes  there 
was  a  small  settlement  near  where  Law- 
reiiceburg  now  stands.  Tliere  were  several 
other  small  settlements  and  trading-posts  in 
the  present  limit's  of  Indiana,  and  the  num- 


ber of  ci\ili/.ed  inhabitants  in  the  Territory 
was  estimated  at  •1,875. 

The  Territory  of  Indiana  was  organized  by 
act  of  Congress,  May  7,  1800,  the  material 
features  of  the  ordinance  of  1787  remaining 
in  force,  and  the  inhabitants  were  invested 
with  all  the  rights  and  advantages  granted 
and  secured  by  that  ordinance. 

The  seat  of  government  was  fixed  at  Yin- 
cennes.  ^May  13,  ISOO,  William  Henry  Har- 
rison, a  native  of  Virginia,  was  appointed 
Governor,  and  John  Gibson,  of  Bennsylvania, 
Secretary  of  the  Territory;  soon  after  AVill- 
iam  Clark,  Henry  Vanderljurg  and  John 
Griffin  Avere  apjiointed  Territorial  Judges. 

Governor  Harrison  arrived  at  Vincennes 
January  10,  1801,  when  he  called  together 
the  Judges  of  the  Territory  to  pass  such  laws 
as  were  deemed  necessary  for  tlic  new  govern- 
ment.    This  session  began  ^larch  3, 1801. 

From  this  time  to  1810,  the  principal  sub- 
jects which  attracted  the  citizens  of  Indiana 
were  land  speculations,  tlie  (|uestion  of  Afri- 
can slavery,  and  the  hostile  views  and  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Shawnee  chief,  Tccumseh, 
and  his  brother,  the  Prophet. 

Up  to  this  time  the  Sixth  Article  of  the 
ordinance  of  1787,  prohibiting  slavery,  had 
been  somewhat  neglected,  and  many  French 
settlers  still  held  slaves;  many  slaves  M-ere 
removed  to  the  slave-holding  States.  A  ses- 
sion of  delegates,  elected  by  a  popular  vote, 
petitioned  Congress  to  revoke  the  Sixth  Ar- 
ticle of  the  ordinance  of  1787.  Congress 
failed  to  grant  this,  as  well  as  many  other 
similar  petitions.  Wlien  it  appeared  from  the 
resultof  a  popular  vote  in  the  Territoiy,that  a 
majority  of  138  were  in  favor  of  organizing  a 
General  Assemlily,  Governor  Harrison,  Sep- 
tember 11,  1801,  issued  a  proclamation,  and 
called  for  an  election  to  be  held  in  the  several 
counties  of  the  Territory,  January  3,  1805, 
to  choose  members  of  a  House  of  Bepresent- 


'^ 

W 

»v 

'■ii 

i 
I 


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'Ail 
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(ui 


ii 


iiis-ronr  op  india^a. 


i 


I 


I 


ativcs,  wlio  slioukl  meet  at  Yinceiines  Feb- 
ruary 1.  The  delegates  were  clectetl,  and 
assoinljlcd  at  tlic  ])lape  and  date  named,  and 
pci-t'ectcd  plans  for  Territorial  organization, 
and  selected  five  men  -wlio  sliould  constitute 
the  Legislative  Council  of  the  Territory. 

The  first  General  Assembly,  or  Legisla- 
ture, met  at  Yincenncs  July  29,  1805.  The 
members  constituting  this  body  were  Jesse 
13.  Thomas,  of  Dearltorn  County;  Davis 
Floyd,  of  Clark  County,  Eenjamin  Park 
and  John  Johnson,  of  Knox  County;  Shad- 
rach  Bond  and  AVilliain  Biggs,  of  St.  Clair 
County,  and  George  Fisher,  of  llandolph 
County. 

July  30  the  Governor  delivered  his  first 
message  to  the  Council  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. Benjamin  Park,  who  came  from 
jS'ew  Jersey  to  Lidiana  in  1801,  was  the  first 
delegate  elected  to  Congress. 

The  ^Vc!itel•n  Sun  was  the  first  newspaper 
pnblished  in  Indiana,  first  issued  at  Yin- 
connes  in  1803,  by  Elihu  Stout,  of  Kentucky, 
and  first  called  the  Luliana  Gazette,  and 
changed  to  the  Sun  July  4,  1801. 

The  total  population  of  Indiana  in  1810 
was  2-1,520.  There  were  83  grist-mills,  14 
saw-mills,  3  horse-mills,  18  tanneries,  28 
distilleries,  3  powder-mills,  1,256  looms, 
1,350  spinning  wheels.  Yaluc  of  woolen, 
cotton,  hemp  and  flaxen  cloths,  $159,052;  of 
cotton  and  woolen  sp\in  in  mills,  $150,000; 
of  nails,  30,000  pounds,  84,000;  of  leather, 
tanned,  $9,300;  of  distillery  products,  35,950 
gallons,  $1G,230 ;  of  gunpowder,  3, GOO  pounds, 
$1,800;  of  wine  from  grapes,  9G  barrels, 
$G,000,  and  50,000  pounds  of  maple  sugar. 
During  the  year  1810,  a  commission  was 
engaged  straightening  out  the  confused  con- 
dition of  land  titles.  In  making  their  report 
they,  as  did  the  previous  commissioners, 
made  complaints  of  frauds  and  abuses  by 
officials  connected  with  the  land  department. 


The  Territory  of  Indiana  was  divided  in 
1809,  when  the  Territory  of  Illinois  was 
erected,  to  comprise  all  that  part  of  Indiana 
Territory  west  of  the  Wabash  Piver,  anil  a 
direct  line  drawn  from  that  river  and  Yin- 
cenncs due  north  to  the  territorial  line  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Canada.  For 
the  first  half  century  from  the  settlement  of 
Yincennes  the  ])lace  grew  slowly. 

The  commandants  and  priests  governed 
with  almost  absolute  power;  the  whites  lived 
in  peace  with  the  Indians. 

The  necessaries  of  life  were  easily  pro- 
cured; there  was  nothing  to  stimulate  enei'gy 
or  progress.  In  such  a  state  of  society  there 
was  no  demand  for  learning  and  science;  few 
could  read,  and  still  fewer  could  write;  they 
were  void  of  public  spirit,  enterprise  or 
ingenuity. 

GOVERNOR    HARRISON    AND    THE    INDIANS. 

Immediately  after  the  organization  of  In- 
diana Territory,  Governor  Harrison  directed 
his  attention  to  settling  the  land  claims  of 
Indians.  He  entered  into  several  treaties 
with  the  Indians,  whereby,  at  the  close  of 
1805,  the  United  States  had  obtained  4G,000 
square  miles  of  territory. 

In  1807  the  Territorial  statutes  were  re- 
vised. Under  the  new  code,  the  crimes  of 
treason,  murder,  arson  and  horse-stealing 
were  made  punishable  liy  death;  burglary, 
robbery, hog-stealingaiul  bigamy  were  punish- 
able by  whipjiing,  fine  and  imprisonment. 

The  Governor,  in  his  message  to  the  Leg- 
islature in  180G,  expressed  himself  as  believ- 
ing the  peace  then  existing  between  the 
whites  and  the  Indians  was  permanent.  At 
the  same  time  he  alluded  to  the  probability 
of  a  disturbance  in  consecpience  of  enforce- 
ment of  law  as  applying  to  the  Indians. 

Although  treaties  with  the  Indians  defined 
boundary  lines,  the  whites   did   not  strictly 


oliserve  tlieiii.  They  trespassed  on  the  In- 
dian's reserved  rights,  and  tliusgave  liini  just 
grounds  for  his  continuous  complaints  from 
isOo  to  1810.  Tliis  agitated  feeling  of  the 
Indians  was  utilized  by  La\v-le-\vas-i-kaw,  a 
brother  of  Tecumscli,  of  the  Shawnee  tribe. 

lie  was  a  warrior  of  great  renown,  as  well 
as  an  orator,  and  had  an  uidimitcd  influence 
among  the  several  Indian  tribes. 

lie  used  all  means  to  concentrate  tlie  com- 
bined Indian  strength  to  annihilate  the 
whites.  Governor  Harrison,  realiijing  the 
progress  tliis  Prophet  was  making  toward 
opening  hostilities,  and  hoping  by  timely 
action  to  check  the  movement,  he,  early  in 
1808,  sent  a  speech  to  the  Shawnees  in 
which  lie  advised  the  people  against  being 
led  into  danger  and  destruction  by  the 
Prophet,  and  informed  them  that  warlike 
demonstrations  must  be  stopped. 

Governor  Harrison,  Tecumseh  and  the 
Prophet  held  several  meetings,  the  Governor 
charging  them  as  being  friends  of  the  British, 
they  denying  the  charge  and  protesting 
against  the  further  appropriation  of  their 
lands. 

Governor  Harrison,  in  direct  opposition  to 
their  protest,  continued  to  extinguish  Indian 
titles  to  lands. 

AVhilc  the  Indians  M-erc  combining  to  pre- 
vent any  further  transfer  of  lands  to  the 
whites,  the  Pritish  were  actively  preparing 
to  use  them  in  a  M"ar  against  the  Americans. 

Governor  Harrison,  anticipating  their  de- 
signs, invited  Tecumseh  to  a  council,  to  talk 
over  grievances  and  try  to  settle  all  ditt'er- 
ences  without  resort  to  arms. 

Accordingly,  August  12,  1810,  Tecumseh, 
M'ith  seventy  warriors,  marched  to  the  Gov- 
ernor's house,  where  several  days  were  spent 
without  any  satisfactory  settlement.  On  the 
20th,  Tecumseh  delivered  his  celebrated 
speech,  in  which  he  gave  the  Governor  the 


alternative  of  returning  their  lands  or  meet- 
ing them  in  battle.  In  his  message  to  the 
Legislature  of  1810,  the  ({overnor  reviewed 
the  dangerous  attitude  of  the  Indians  toward 
the  whites  as  expressed  by  Tecumseh.  In 
the  same  message  he  also  urged  the  establish- 
ment of  a  system  of  education. 

In  1811  the  Pritish  agent  for  Indian  af- 
fairs adopted  measures  calculated  to  secure 
the  Indians'  support  in  a  war  which  at  this 
time  seemed  inevitable. 

In  the  meantime  Govcrnoi'  Harrison  used 
all  available  means  to  counteract  the  Pritish 
influence,  as  well  as  that  of  Tecumseh  and  the 
Prophet,  M'ith  the  Indians,  but  without  suc- 
cess. 

The  threatening  storm  continued  to  gather, 
receiving  increased  force  from  various  causes, 
until  the  Governor,  seeing  war  was  tlie  last 
resort,  and  near  at  hand,  ordei-ed  Colonel 
Boyd's  regiment  to  move  to  A^incennes,  where 
a  military  organization  was  about  ready  to 
take  the  field. 

The  Ciovernor,  at  the  head  of  this  expedi- 
tion, marched  from  Vincenncs  September  21), 
and  encamped  October  3  near  where  Terre 
Haute  now  stands.  Here  they  comjileted  a 
fort  on  the  28th,  which  was  called  Fort  Har- 
rison. Tills  fort  M'as  garrisoned  with  a  small 
number  of  men  under  Lieutenant  ililler. 

Governor  Harrison,  with  the  nuiin  army, 
910  men,  marched  to  the  Prophet's  town  on 
the  29th,  where  a  conference  was  opened,  and 
the  Indians  plead  for  time  to  treat  for  peace; 
the  Governor  gave  them  until  the  following 
day,  and  retired  a  short  distanct  from  the 
town  and  encamped  for  the  night.  The  In- 
dians seemed  only  to  be  parleying  in  order  to 
gain  advantage,  and  on  the  morning  of  Nu- 
vember  7,  at  4  o'clock^  made  a  desperate 
charge  into  the  camp  of  the  Americans.  For 
a  few  moments  all  seemed  lost,  but  the  trocips 
soon  realizing  their  desperate  situation,  fought 


L'^ia  y  a» -_»  5ja- aia? « 


—  n«"'>J™fc»**.sw" 


i'*i^Hi«*ii^i*^ 


HISTORY    OF    INDIANA. 


with  a  determination  equal  to  savages.  Tlie 
Americans  soon  routed  their  savai^'e  assail- 
ants, and  tiius  ended  the  famous  battle  of 
Tippecanoe,  victoriously  to  the  wliites  and 
honorably  to  General  Harrison. 

The  Americans  lost  in  this  battle  thirty- 
seven  killed  and  twenty-tive  mortally  wound- 
ed, and  12G  wounded.  The  Indians  left 
thirty-eight  killed  on  the  field,  and  their  faith 
in  tlie  Prophet  was  in  a  measure  destroyed. 
November  8  General  Harrison  destroyed  the 
Prophet's  town,  and  reached  Yincennes  on 
the  ISth,  wliere  the  army  was  disbanded. 

The  battle  of  Tippecanoe  secured  peace 
but  for  a  short  time.  The  British  continued 
their  aggression  until  the  United  States  de- 
clared war  against  them.  Tecumseh  had  fled 
to  Canada,  and  now,  in  concert  with  the  Bi'it- 
ish,  began  inroads  upon  the  Americans. 
Events  of  minor  importance  m'C  pass  here. 

In  Se])tember,  1812,  Indians  assembled  in 
large  numbers  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  AVayne 
with  the  purpose  of  capturing  the  garrison. 
Chief  Logan,  of  the  Shawnee  tribe,  a  friend 
to  the  whites,  succeeded  in  entering  the  fort 
and  informing  the  little  garrison  that  General 
Harrison  was  coming  with  a  force  to  their 
relief,  which  nerved  them  to  resist  the  furious 
savage  assaults. 

September  C,  1812,  Harrison  moved  with 
liis  army  to  the  relief  of  Port  Wayne.  Sep- 
tember 1)  Harrison,  with  3,500  men,  camped 
near  tlie  fort,  expecting  a  battle  the  follow- 
ing day..  The  morning  of  the  10th  disclosed 
the  fact  that  the  enemy  had  learned  of  the 
strong  force  approaching  and  had  disappeared 
during  the  previous  night. 

Simultaneous  with  the  attack  on  Fort 
"Wayne  the  Indians  also  besieged  Port  Har- 
rison, tlien  commanded  by  Zuchariah  Taylor, 
and  succeeded  in  destroying  considerable 
pro])erty  and  getting  away  with  all  the  stock. 
About  the  same  time  tlie  Indians  massacred 


7W,iT»iKii 


the  inliaJjitaiits  at  the  settlement  of  Pidgeon 
Poost. 

The  war  now  being  thoroughly  inaugurated, 
lK)Stilities  continued  throughout  the  iS'orth- 
west  between  the  Americans  and  the  British 
and  Indians  combined.  Engagements  of 
greater  or  less  magnitude  were  of  almost 
daily  occurrence,  the  victory  alternating  in 
the  favor  of  one  or  the  other  ^jarty. 

The  Americans,  however, continued  to  hold 
the  territory  and  gradually  press  back  the 
enemy  and  diminish  his  numbers  as  well  as 
his  zeal. 

Thus  the  war  of  1812  was  waged  until  De- 
cember 24,  1811,  when  a  treaty  of  peace  was 
signed  by  England  and  the  United  States  at 
Ghent,  which  terminated  hostile  operations 
in  America  and  restored  to  the  Indiana  set- 
tlers peace  and  quiet,  and  opened  the  gates 
for  immigration  to  the  groat  and  growing 
State  of  Indiana  as  well  as  the  entire  North- 
west. 

CIVIL    M.vn'KRS. 

The  Legislature,  in  session  at  Yincennes 
February,  1813,  changed  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment from  Yincennes  to  Corydon.  The  same 
year  Thomas  Posey,  who  M'as  at  the  time 
Senator  in  Congress,  was  appointed  Governor 
of  Indiana  to  succeed  Governor  Harrison, 
who  was  then  commanding  the  army  in  the 
field.  The  Legislature  passed  several  laws 
necessary  for  the  welfare  of  the  settlement, 
and  General  Harrison  being  generally  suc- 
cessful in  forcing  the  Indians  back  from  the 
settlements,  hope  revived,  and  the  tide  of  im- 
migration began  again  to  flow.  The  total 
white  population  in  Indiana  in  1815  was  es- 
timated at  03,897. 

GENERAL    KEVIEW. 

Notwithstanding  the  many  rights  and 
privileges  bestowed  upon  the  people  of  the 
Nortliwestern  Territory  by  the  ordinance  of 


i 


i 


t».';sMfijv' 


ay.  3^!^jafjB^ 


?iHi??ja'?jti^ii'*»ii'^»<M*^''"ri'ya'='ii*il-*i 


lirslOUY    OF    INDIANA. 


?'ii*i:*  c'»f-  ?^B"»'^'»Li"^ 


i 


*i' 


IT^^T,  tlicy  WLTc  tar  t'n>m  t'lijnyin^  a  full 
i'unii  of  republican  ^ovcTiniiciit.  A  frcoliuld 
estate  of  500  acres  of  laml  was  a  necessary 
(|iialiticatioii  o  liecoinc  a  ineinber  of  tlie 
Loyislative  Coimcil.  JCach  iiicinber  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  was  required  to 
]iossesrt  200  acres  of  land;  no  man  could  cast 
a  \-ote  for  a  llepresentative  but  such  as  owned 
iifty  acres  of  land.  The  Governor  was  in- 
vested with  the  power  of  apjiointing  all  civil 
and  inilitia  officers,  judges,  clerks,  county 
treasurers,  county  surveyors,  justices,  etc. 
lie  Jiad  the  power  to  apportion  the  Ifepre- 
sentativcs  in  the  several  counties,  ;uid  to 
convene  and  adjourn  the  Legislature  at  his 
pleasure,  and  prevent  the  passage  of  any 
Territorial  law. 

In  1809  Congress  passed  an  act  empow- 
ering the  people  of  Indiana  to  elect  their 
Legislative  CouTicil  by  a  popular  vote;  and 
in  1811  Congress  a))olished  ])ro]>crty  qualifi- 
cation of  voters,  and  declared  that  every  'ivcc 
white  male  person  who  had  attained  to  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  paid  a  tax, 
should  exercise  the  right  of  franchise. 

The  Legislature  of  iSl-i  divided  the  Terri- 
tory into  three  judicial  circuits.  The  Gov- 
ernor was  empowered  to  appoint  judges  for 
the  same,  Avhose  compensation  should  be 
$700  per  annum. 

The  same  year  charters  were  granted  to 
two  banking  institutions,  the  Farmers'  and 
ilechanics'  Bank  of  Madison,  authorized  cap- 
ital s750,000,  and  the  Dank  of  Vincennes, 
8500,000. 

t)Kf;ANIZATI()X    OF    THK    STATE. 

The  last  Territorial  Legislature  convened 
at  Corydon,  in  December,  1815,  and  on  the 
llth  adopted  a  memorial  to  Congress,  pray- 
ing for  authority  to  adopt  a  Constitution 
and  State  Government.  Jlr.  Jennings,  their 
delegate  in  Congress,  iaid  the  matter  before 


that  body  on  the  2Sth;  and  April  10,  ISlC), 
the  I'resident  approved  the  bill  creating  the 
State  of  Indiana.  The  following  May  an 
election  was  held  for  a  Constitutional  Con- 
vention, which  met  at  Corydon  June  15  to 
29,  John  Jennings  i)residing,  and  William 
Hendricks  acting  as  secretary. 

The  people's  representatives  in  this  As- 
sembly were  an  able  body  of  men,  and  the 
Constitution  which  they  formed  f(jr  Indiana 
in  1816  was  not  inferior  to  any  of  the  State 
constitutions  which  were  existing  at  that 
time. 

The  first  State  election  was  held  the  first 
Monday  of  August,  181(5,  and  Jonathan  Jen- 
nings was  elected  Governor,  Christopher 
Harrison,  Lieutenant-Governor,  and  William 
Hendricks  was  elected  Representative  to 
Congress. 

The  first  State  (Tcncral  Assembly  began 
its  session  at  Corydon  November  4,  1816, 
John  Paul,  Chairman  of  the  Senate,  and  Isaac 
r>lackford.  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Rej^re- 
scntativcs. 

This  session  of  the  Legislature  elected 
James  Noble  and  Waller  Taylor  to  the  Sen- 
ate of  the  United  States;  Robert  A.  Kew, 
Secretary  of  State;  W.  II.  Lilley,  Auditor  of 
State,  and  Uaniel  C.  Lane,  State  Treasurer. 

The  close  of  the  war,  181-4,  was  followed 
by  a  rush  of  iinniigi-ants  to  the  new  State, 
and  in  1820  the  State  ha<l  more  than  doubled 
her  population,  having  at  this  time  117,178. 
The  period  of  1825-'30  was  a  prosperous 
time  for  the  young  State.  Immigration  con- 
tinued rapid,  the  crops  were  generally  good, 
and  the  hopes  of  the  peojile  raised  higher 
than  ever  before. 

In  1830  there  still  remained  two  tribes  of 
Indians  in  the  State  of  Indiana,  the  Miamis 
and  Pottawatomies,  who  were  much  opposed 
to  being  removed  to  new  territoiy.  This 
state  of  discontent  was  used  by  the  celebrated 


I 

<  ti- 
ll 


IIISTOny    OF    INDIANA. 


»5  ! 


in 


■warrior,  Elack  Ilawk,  who,  hoping  to  receive 
aid  from  tlie  discontented  trilier;,  invaded 
tlie  frontier  and  shmghtered  many  citizens. 
Others  lied  from  tlieir  lioines,  and  a  vast 
amonnt  of  property  was  destroyed,  Tiiis 
was  in  1832,  and  known  as  tlie  IJhick  Hawk 
war. 

Tiie  invaders  were  driven  away  with  severe 
pnnislinient,  and  wlien  those  who  liad  aban- 
doned their  homes  M'ero  assured  that  tlie 
^lianiis  and  Pottawatoniics  did  not  contem- 
plate joining  tlie  invaders,  they  returned  and 
again  resumed  their  peaceful  avocations. 

In  lS37-'38  all  the  Indians  were  removed 
from  Indiana  Avest  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
very  soon  land  speculations  assumed  large 
proportions  in  the  new  State,  and  many  ruses 
were  resorted  to  to  bull  and  bear  the  market. 
Among  other  means  taken  to  keep  out  specu- 
lators M-as  a  regular  Indian  scare  in  1S27. 

In  1814:  a  society  of  Germans,  under  Fred- 
erick Ilappe,  founded  a  settlement  on  the 
"Wabash,  fifty  miles  above  its  mouth,  and 
gave  to  the  place  the  name  of  Harmony.  In 
1825  the  town  and  a  large  quantity  of  land 
adjoining  was  purchased  by  Hobcrt  Owen, 
father  of  David  Dale  Owen,  State  Geologist, 
and  of  Robert  Dale  Owen,  of  later  notoriety, 
llobert  Owen  was  a  radical  philosopher,  from 
Scotland. 

INDIANA    IN    TIIE    MEXICAN    WAR. 

During  the  administration  of  Governor 
Whitcomb,  the  United  States  became  in- 
volved in  the  war  with  ]\Icxico,  and  Indiana 
was  prompt  in  furnishing  her  quota  of  vol- 
unteers. 

The  soldiers  of  Indiana  who  served  in  this 
war  were  five  regiments,  First,  Second, 
Third,  Fourth  and  Fifth.  Companies  of  the 
the  three  first-named  regiments  served  at 
times  with  Illinois,  New  York  and  South 
Carolina  troops,  under  General  Shields.    The 


other  regiments,  under  Colonels  Gorman  and 
Lane,  were  under  other  commanders. 

The  Fourth  liegiment  comprised  ten  com- 
panies; was  organized  at  Jcfl'ersonviUe,  by 
Captain  K.  C.  (Jatliii,  June  5,  1817,  and 
elected  Major  Willis  A.  Gorman,  of  the 
Third  Regiment,  Colonel;  Ebenezer  Dii 
mont,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  W.  McCoy, 
j\Iajor.  They  were  assigned  to  General  Lane's 
command,  and  the  Indiana  volunteers  made 
themselves  a  bright  record  in  all  the  engage- 
ments of  the  Mexican  war. 

INDIANA    IN    TlllO    WAU    KOIi    TIIE    UNION. 

The  fall  of  Fort  Sumter  was  a  signal  for  an 
uprising  of  the  people,  and  the  State  of  In- 
diana was  among  the  first  to  respond  to  the 
summons  of  patriotism,  and  register  itself  on 
the  national  roll  of  honor.  Fortunately  for  the 
State,  she  liad  a  Governor  at  the  time  whose 
patriotism  has  seldom  been  equaled  and 
never  excelled.  Governor  Oliver  P.  Morton, 
immediately  upon  receiving  the  news  of  the 
fall  of  Sumter,  telegraphed  President  Lin- 
coln, tendering  10,000  troops  in  the  name  oi 
Indiana  for  the  defense  of  tlie  Union. 

The  President  had  called  upon  the  several 
States  for  75,000  men;  Indiana's  quota  was 
4,683.  Governor  Morton  called  for  six  regi- 
ments April  16,  1861. 

Hon.  Lewis  Wallace,  of  Mexican  war  fame, 
was  appointed  Adjutant-General;  Colonel 
Thomas  Morris,  Quartermaster-General,  and 
Isaiah  Mansur,  of  Indianapolis,  Commissary- 
General.  Governor  IMortou  was  also  busy  ar- 
ranging the  finances  of  the  State,  so  as  to 
support  the  military  necessities,  and  to  his 
appeals  to  public  patriotism  he  received 
prompt  and  liberal  financial  aid  from  public- 
spirited  citizens  throughout  the  State.  On 
the  20th  of  April  Major  T.  J.  Wood  arrived 
from  Washington,  to  receive  the  troops  then 
organized,  and  Governor  Morton  telegraphed 


^■g^  fja*^'*.*:'"™*' »«*»»'*'«*»' """""'•''■''^l' 


lIIaTOUr    OF    INDIANA. 


hi 

'I 


i 


(Fi^-i 


the  President  that  he  could  phice  six  regi- 
ments of  infantry  at  the  disposal  uf  tlie  (iu\'- 
ernniciit;  failing  to  receive  a  reply,  the 
Legislature,  then  in  extra  session,  April  27, 
organized  six  new  regiments  for  three 
months  service,  and  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  the  first  six  regiments  were  already 
mustered  into  the  general  service,  were 
known  as  "The  First  Brigade  Indiana  A'^ol- 
iinteers,"  and  were  numbered  respectively: 
Sixth  Regiment,  Colonel  T.  T.  Crittenden; 
Seventh  Kcgiment,  Colonel  Ehenezer  Du- 
mont;  Eighth  Iiegiment,  Colonel  W.  P.  Een- 
ton;  Ninth  Iiegiment,  Colonel  It.  II.  ^lilroy; 
Tenth  Iiegiment,  Colonel  T.  T.  Peynolds; 
Eleventh  Regiment,  Colonel  Lewis  AVallace. 
The  idea  of  these  numbers  Mas  suggested 
from  the  f  ict  that  Indiana  was  represented 
in  the  Mexican  war  by  one  brigade  of  five 
regiments,  and  to  observe  consecutiveness 
the  regiments  comprised  in  the  iirst  division 
of  volunteers  were  thus  numbered,  and  the 
entire  force  placed  under  the  command  of 
Erigadier-General  T.  A.  Morris,  with  the 
following  staft":  John  Love,  Major;  Cyrus 
C.  Ilines,  Aid-de-camp,  and  J.  A.  Stein, 
Assistant  Adjutant-General.  They  rendered 
valuable  service  in  the  field,  returned  to  In- 
dianapolis July  29,  and  the  six  regiments, 
with  the  surplus  volunteers,  iiuw  formed  a 
division  of  seven  regiments.  All  organized 
for  three  years,  between  the  20th  of  August 
and  20tli  of  September,  with  the  exception 
of  the  Twelfth,  which  was  accc])ted  for  one 
year,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  John  M. 
Wallace,  and  reorgaiiized  ^lay,  18G2,  for 
three  years,  under  Colonel  "W.  II.  Link.  The 
Tliii'teenth  Regiment,  Colonel  Jeremiah  Sul- 
livan, was  mustered  into  service  in  ISCI, 
and  assigned  to  (ieneral  ]\IcClellan's  com- 
mand. 

The   Fourteenth    Regiment   organized    in 

1801,    for    one  year,   and    reorganized    soon 
11 


thereafter  for  three  years,  commanded  by 
Colonel  J\imball. 

The  Fifteenth  Regiment  organized  June 
14,  18G1,  at  La  Fayette,  under  Colonel  G.  D. 
AV^agner.  On  the  promotion  of  Colonel 
Wagner,  Lieutenant-Colonel  G.  A.  Wood  be- 
came Colonel  of  the  regiment  in  November, 
1802. 

The  Sixteenth  Regiment  organized,  under 
P.  A.  Ilackleman,  of  Richmond,  for  one 
year.  Colonel  Ilackleman  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  luka.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Thomas 
J.  Lucas  succeeded  to  the  command.  The 
regiment  was  discharged  in  Washington,  D. 
C,  in  May,  18G2;  reorganized  at  Indianapo- 
lis May  27,  18G2,  for  three  years,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  active  military  operations 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  Seventeenth  Regiment  was  organized 
at  Indianapolis  June  12,  1801,  under  Colonel 
Ilascall,  who  was  promoted  to  Brigadier- 
General  in  March,  18G2,  when  the  command 
devolved  on  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  T. 
Wilder. 

The  Eighteenth  Regiment  was  organized 
at  Indianapolis,  under  Colonel  Thomas  Pat- 
terson, August  10,  1801,  and  served  under 
General  Pope. 

The  Nineteenth  Regiment  organized  at 
Indianapolis  July  29,  1801,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  C<jlonel 
Solomon  ]\Ieriilith.  It  was  consolidated  with 
the  Twentieth  Regiment  Octol)er,  1864,  under 
Colonel  William  Orr,  formerly  its  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel. 

The  Twentieth  Regiment  organized  at  La 
Fayette,  for  three  years  service,  in  July,  1861, 
and  was  principally  engaged  along  the  coast. 

The  Twenty-first  Regiment  was  organized, 
under  Colonel  I.  ^\ .  McMillan,  July  24, 1861. 
This  was  the  first  regiment  to  enter  New  Or- 
leans, and  made  itself  a  lasting  name  by  its 
various  valuable  services. 


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Tlic  Twenty-second  ]iegiineiit,  uiiiler  Va<\- 
oncl  Jeil".  C.  iJiivis,  joined  (ieneral  Fremont's 
('orj)S,  !it  St.  Louis,  on  tlie  ITtli  of  August, 
ISOl,  and  performed  f^allant  deeds  under  (len- 
cral  Slierman  in  the  South. 

Tlie  Twenty-third  Battalion  was  organized, 
under  Cohinel  W.  L.  Sanderson,  at  jVew  Al- 
bany, July  29,  18G1.  From  its  unfortunate 
marine  experiences  before  Fort  Henry  to 
Bentonville  it  won  unusual  honors. 

Tlie  Twenty-fourth  Battalion  was  organ- 
ized, under  Colonel  Alvin  V.  Ilovey,  at  Viii- 
cennes,  July  31,  1S61,  and  assigned  to 
Fremont's  command. 

The  Twenty-fiftli  Jlegiment  was  organized 
lit  Evansville,  for  three  years,  under  Colonel 
J.  C.  Veach,  August  26,  1801,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  eighteen  battles  during  its  term. 

The  Twenty-sixth  Battalion  was  organized 
at  Indianapolis,  under  W.  M.AVheatlcy,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1861,  and  served  under  Fremont, 
Grant,  Heron  and  Smith. 

The  Twenty-seventh  llegiment,  under  Col- 
onel Silas  Colgrove,  joined  (ieneral  Banks 
September  15,  1801,  and  was  with  General 
Sherman  on  the  famous  march  to  the  sea. 

The  Twenty-eighth  Ilegiment,  or  First 
Cavalry,  was  organized  at  Evansville  August 
20,  1861,  under  Colonel  Conrad  Baker,  and 
performed  good  service  in  the  Virginias. 

The  Twenty-ninth  Battalion,  of  La  Porte, 
under  Colonel  J.  F.  Miller,  was  organized  in 
October,  1801,  and  was  under  IlousBeau, 
McCook,  llosecrans  and  others.  Colonel 
^liller  was  promoted  to  the  raidv  of  Ih-ig- 
adier-General,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  D.  il. 
Dunn  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the 
regiment. 

The  Thirtieth  Ilegiment,  of  Fort  "Wayne, 
under  Colonel  Silas  S.  Bass,  joined  General 
Kousseau  October  9,  1861.  The  Colonel  re- 
ceived a  mortal  wound  at  Shiloh,  and  died 
a  few  days  after.     Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  B. 


Dodge    succeeded    to    the    command    of    the 
regiment. 

Tlie  Thirty-first  liegiment  organized  at 
Terrc  Haute,  under  Colonel  Charles  Cruft,  in 
September,  1801,  and  served  in  Kentucky 
and  the  South. 

The  Thirty-second  liegin.ent  of  German 
Infantry,  under  Colonel  August  Willich,  or- 
ganized at  Indianapolis  August  24,  ISOl,  and 
served  with  distinction.  Colonel  Willich  was 
promoted  to  Brigadier-General,  and  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Henry  A^on  Trebra  succeeded  to 
the  command  of  the  regiment. 

Tlie  Tliirty-thiixl  liegiment,  of  Indianapo- 
lis,was  organized,  under  Colonel  John  Coburn, 
September  16,  1801,  and  won  a  series  of  dis- 
tinctions throughout  the  war. 

The  Thirty-fourth  Battalion  organized  at 
Anderson,  under  Colonel  Ashbury  Steele, 
September  10, 1801,  and  gained  a  lasting  rep- 
utation for  gallantry  during  the  war. 

The  Tliirty-fifth,  or  First  Irish  Kegiment, 
organized  at  Indianapolis,  under  Colonel  John 
C.^Walker,  December  11,  1801.  On  the  22d 
of  ^lay,  1802,  it  was  joined  by  the  Sixty- 
first,  or  Second  Irish  Regiment,  when  Colonel 
Mullen  became  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Thirty-fifth,  and  soon  after  its  Colonel. 

The  Thirty-sixth  Regiment  was  organized, 
under  Colonel  "William  Grose,  at  Richmond, 
September  10,  1801,  and  assigned  to  the  army 
of  the  Oiiio. 

TheThirty-seventli  Battalion  was  organized 
at  Lawrenceburg,  September  18,  1801,  Col- 
onel George  "W".  Ilazzard  commanding,  and 
was  with  General  Sherman  to  the  sea. 

The  Thirty-eighth  Regiment  was  organized 
at  New  Albany,  under  Colonel  Benjamin  V. 
Scribner,  September  18,  1801. 

The  Thirty-ninth  Regiment,  or  I^ghth 
Cavalry,  was  organized  as  an  infantry 
regiment,  under  Colonel  T.  J.  Harrison, 
at    Indianapolis,    August     28,     1801.      In 


JIISTUUY    OF    INI)IA.\A. 


18G3  it  was  reorganized  as  a  cavalry  reg- 
iment. 

Tlie  Fortieth  Regiment  was  organized  at 
La  Fayette,  under  Colonel  AV.  C.  AVilson, 
December  30,  18G1,  and  subsequently  com- 
mauded  by  Colouel  J.  AV.  Blake,  and  again 
by  Colonel  Henry  Leaming,  and  saw  service 
with  Ihiell's  ai'uiy. 

The  Forty-first  Regiment,  or  Second  Cav- 
alry, the  first  comjjletc  regiment  of  horse 
raised  in  the  State,  was  organized  at  Indian- 
apulis,  under  Colonel  Jolm  A.  Cridgland, 
September  3,  ISl^il;  was  with  Cieneral  Sher- 
uian  through  (icorfria,  and  with  General 
AVilson  in  Alabama. 

The  Forty-second  Regiment  was  organized 
at  Evansville,  under  Colonel  J.  G.  Jones, 
C)ctober  9,  1861,  and  participated  in  the 
Sherman  campaign. 

The  Forty-third  Battalion  was  organized  at 
Tei-re  Haute,  under  Colonel  George  K.  Steele, 
September  27,  ISfll,  and  assigned  to  Pope's 
army;  was  the  first  regiment  to  enter  Mem- 
])liis,  and  was  with  Commodore  Foote  at  tlic 
reduction  of  Fort  Pillow. 

The  Forty-fourth  Regiment  was  organized 
at  Fort  AVayne,  under  Colonel  Hugh  B. 
Reed,  October  24,  1801,  and  attaclied  to 
General  Cruft's  Brigade. 

The  Fort3'-fifth,  or  Third  Cavalry,  was  at 
dilTerent  periods,  18ni-'C2,  under  Colonel 
Scott  Carter  and  George  II.  Chapman. 

The  Forty-sixth  Regiment  organized  at 
Logansport,  under  Colonel  Graham  1\'.  Fitch, 
in  February,  18G2,  and  M-as  assigned  to  Gen- 
eral Pope's  army,  and  served  under  Generals 
Sherman,  Grant  and  others. 

Tlie  Forty-seventh  Regiment  was  organized 
at  Anderson,  under  Colonel  I.  R.  Slack,  early 
in  October,  1802,  and  was  assigned  to  Gen- 
eral Buell's  army,  thence  to  General  Pope's. 
In  December,  1804,  Colonel  Slack  was 
promoted  to  Brigadier-General,  and  Colonel 


J.  A.  McLaughton  succeeded  to  the  coinmand 
of  tlie  regiment. 

The  Forty-eighth  Regiment  was  organized 
at  Goshen,  under  Colonel  Korman  Eddy, 
December,  6  18G1,  and  made  itself  a  bright 
name  at  the  battle  of  Corinth. 

The  Forty-nintJi  Regiment  organized  at 
Jefl'ersonville,  under  Colonel  J.  AV.  Ray, 
jN'ovember  21,  1801,  and  first  saw  active  ser- 
vice in  Kentucky. 

The  Fiftieth  Regiment,  under  Colonel 
Cyrus  L.  Dunham,  was  organized  at  Sey- 
mour in  September,  1801,  and  entered  tiie 
service  in  Kentucky. 

The  Fifty-first  Regiment,  under  Colonel 
Aljel  D.  Streight,  was  organized  at  Indian- 
apolis December  14,  1801,  and  immediately 
began  service  with  (General  Buell. 

The  Fifty-second  Regiment  was  partially 
raised  at  Rushvillc,  and  completed  at  Indian- 
ajiolis  by  consolidating  with  the  Railway 
Brigade,  or  Fifty-sixth  Regiment,  February 
2,  1SG2,  and  served  in  the  several  campaigns 
in  the  South. 

The  Fitty-third  Battalion  was  raised  at 
New  Albany,  with  the  addition  of  recruits 
from  Rockport,  and  made  itself  an  endurable 
name  under  Colonel  AA'^.  Q.  Gresham. 

The  Fifty-fourth  Regiment  organized  at 
Indianapolis,  under  Colonel  D.  J.  Rose,  for 
three  months,  June  10,  18tj2,  and  was  assigned 
to  GeJieral  Kirby  Smith's  command. 

The  Fifty-fifth  Regiment  organized  for 
three  months,  under  Colonel  J.  R.  ^lahon, 
June  10,  1802. 

The  Fifty-sixth  Regiment,  referred  to  in 
the  sketch  of  the  Fifty-second,  was  designed 
to  be  composed  of  railroad  men,  under  Col- 
onel J.  M.  Smith,  but  owing  to  many  railroad 
men  having  joined  other  commands.  Colonel 
Smith's  volunteers  were  incorporated  with 
the  Fifty-second,  and  this  number  left  blank 
in  the  army  list.  -^ 


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The  Fifty-seventh  Etittalioii  was  organized 
by  two  ministers  of  the  gospel,  the  IJev.  I.  W. 
T.  McMullen  and  Rev.  F.  A.  Hardin,  of 
liiflinioiid,  Indiana,  Novenihur  IS,  l.SOl, 
Colonel  Mc]\[ulien  conunaiuling.  The  regi- 
ment was  severally  commanded  by  Colonels 
Cyrns  C.  llaynes,  G.  W.  Leonard,  Willis 
Blanch  and  John  S.  McGrath. 

The  Fifty-eighth  Iteginient  was  organized 
at  Princeton,  under  Colonel  Henry  M.  Carr, 
in  October,  18G1,  and  assigned  to  General 
Buell's  command. 

The  Fifty-ninth  Battalion  was  organized 
under  Colonel  Jesse  I.  Alexander,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1862,  and  assigned  to  CJeneral  Pope's 
command. 

The  Sixtieth  Regiment  was  partially  or- 
ganized at  Evansville,  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  llichard  Owen,  in  Kovembei',  IBlll, 
and  perfected  its  organization  at  Camp  !Mor- 
ton  in  March,  1862,  and  immediately  entered 
the  service  in  Kentucky. 

The  Sixty-first  Regiment  was  partially 
organized  in  December,  18(')1,  under  Colonel 
B.  F.  ^lullen.  Li  May,  1862,  it  was  incor- 
porated with  the  Tliirty-hfth  Regiment. 

The  Sixty-second  Regiment,  raised  under 
Colonel  "William  Jones,  of  Rockport,  was 
consolidated  with  the  Fifty -third  Regi- 
ment. 

The  Sixty-third  Regiment,  of  Covington, 
under  Colonel  James  McManomy,  was  par- 
tially raised  in  December,  1861,  and  im- 
mediately entered  upon  active  duty.  Its 
organization  was  completed  at  Indianapolis, 
February,  1862,  by  six  new  eomi)anies. 

The  Sixty-fourth  Regiment  was  organized 
as  an  artillery  corj>s.  The  War  Department 
prohibiting  consolidating  batteries,  put  a  stop 
to  the  movement.  Snbsecjnently  an  infantry 
regiment  bearing  the  same  number  was 
raised. 

The  Sixty-fifth  Regiment,  xuider  Colonel 


J.  W.  Foster,  completed  its  organization  at 
Evansville,  August,  1862. 

The  Sixty-sixth  Regiment  organized  at 
New  Albany,  under  Colonel  Roger  ^lartin, 
August  10,  18()2,  and  entered  the  service 
immetliately  in  Kentucky. 

The  Sixty-se\enth  Regiment  was  organ- 
ized in  the  Third  Congressional  District, 
under  Colonel  Fi-ank  Emerson,  and  reported 
for  service  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  in  Au- 
gust, 1862. 

The  Sixty-eighth  Regiment  organized  at 
Cfrecnburg,  under  Major  Benjamin  C.  Shaw, 
and  entered  the  service  August  19,  1862, 
under  Colonel  Edward  A.  Kinjx,  M'ith  Major 
Shaw  as  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

The  Sixty-ninth  Regiment  was  orgainzed 
at  Richmond,  under  Colonel  A.Bickle;  were 
taken  prisoners  at  Richmond,  Kentucky; 
when  exchanged  they  reorganized  in  1862, 
Colonel  T.  AV.  Bennett  commanding. 

The  Seventieth  Regiment  was  organized 
at  Indianapolis,  August  12,  1862,  niuler 
Colonel  B.  Harrison,  and  at  oTice  nuirched  to 
the  front  in  Kentucky. 

The  Seventy-first,  or  Sixth  Cavalr}^  was 
an  luifortnnato  regiment,  organized  at  Terre 
Haute,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Melville  D. 
Topping,  August  18,  1862.  At  the  battle 
near  Richmond,  Kentucky,  Colonel  Topping 
and  ]\Iajor  Conklin,  togetlier  Muth  213  men, 
were  killed;  317  taken  prisoners;  only  225 
escaped.  The  regiment  was  reorganized  un- 
der Colonel  I.  liittle,  ami  M'as  captured  by 
the  Confederate  (ieneral  Morgan  on  tlie  28tii 
of  Decemiier,  same  year. 

The  Seventy-second  Regiment  organized 
at  La  Fayette,  under  Colonel  Miller,  August 
17, 1862,  and  entered  the  service  in  Kentucky. 

The  Seventy-third  Regiment,  under  Colo- 
nel Gilbert  Hathaway,  was  organized  at 
South  Bond,  August  16,  1862,  and  saw  ser- 
vice under  (ienerals  Rosecrans  and  Graneer. 


Tlie  Suventy-foiu'th  liegiinent  was  par- 
tially organ izL'd  at  Fort  Wayne,  and  coin- 
jileted  at  Indianapolis,  Augnst  22,  1802,  and 
repaired  to  Kentucky,  under  coniniand  of 
Colonel  Charles  W.  Chapman. 

Tlie  Seventy-fifth  Ilegiinent  was  organized 
within  the  Eleventh  Congressional  District, 
and  inarched  to  the  frcmt,  under  Colonel  I. 
W.  Petit,  August  21,  1S(;2. 

The  Seventy-sixth  liattalion  was  organized 
for  thirty  days'  service  in  July,  1SG2,  under 
Colonel  James  Gavin,  of  jVewhnrg. 

The  Seventy-seventh,  or  Fourth  Cavalry, 
was  organized  at  Indianapolis,  August,  18r)2, 
under  Colonel  Isaac  1'.  (Tray,  and  carved  its 
way  to  fame  in  over  twenty  battle-fields. 

The  Seventy-ninth  Kegiment  organized  at 
Indianapolis,  under  Colonel  Fred..  Knefler, 
September  2,  18G2,  and  performed  gallant 
service  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  Eightieth  Ilegiment  M-as  organized 
within  the  First  Congressional  District,  un- 
der Colonel  C.  Denby,  August  8,  18G2,  and 
left  Indianapolis  immediately  for  the  front. 

The  Eighty-first  Ilegiment,  under  Colonel 
W.  \\^.  Caldwell,  organized  at  New  Albany, 
August  2'J,  1802,  and  was  assigned  to  (len- 
eral  IJuell's  comiuaud. 

The  iMglity-second  Ilegiineut,  under  Colo- 
nel j\[(irtou  C.  Hunter,  organized  at  Madison, 
August  30,  18G2,  and  immediately  moved  to 
the  tVciiit. 

The  Eighty-third  Regiment,  under  Colo- 
nel lien.  J.  Spooner,  organized  at  l^awrence- 
burg,  Septembei',  18(12,  and  began  duty  on 
the  ^lississijipi. 

The  Eighty-fourth  Itcgiment  organized  at 
Tlichnuind,  Indiana,  September  8, 18G2,  Colo- 
nel Nelson  Truskr  commanding,  and  entered 
the  field  in  Kentucky. 

The  Eighty-fifth  liegimei\t  oi-ganized  under 
Colonel  John  P.  P.ayard,  at  Terre  Haute, 
September   2,  18G2    and   with   Cdburn's  liri- 


gado  surrendered  to  the  rcliel  General  For- 
rest in  March,  18G3. 

The  Eiglity-sixth  Regiment  left  LaFa3'ette 
lor  Kentucky  under  Colonel  Orville  S.  Ilaru- 
ilton  August  2G,  18G2. 

The  Eighty-seventh  Ilegiment  organized 
at  South  Bend,  under  Colonels  Kline  G. 
Sherlock  and  N.  Gleason,  and  left  Indianap- 
oplis  for  the  front  August  31,  18G2,  and  was 
with  General  Sherman  through  Georgia. 

The  Eighty-eighth  Regiment  organized 
within  the  Fourth  Congressional  District, 
under  Colonel  George  Ilumjihrey,  and  moved 
to  the  front  August  29,  18C2,  and  M-as  pres- 
ent with  General  Shernuiu  at  the  surrender 
of  General  Johnston's  army. 

The  Eighty-ninth  Regiment  organized 
within  the  Eleven tli  Congressional  District, 
under  Charles  D.  ]\Iurray,  August  28,  1SG2. 

The  Ninetieth  Regiment,  or  Fifth  Cavalry, 
organized  at  Indianapolis,  under  Colonel 
Felix  W.  Graham,  August  to  November, 
1SG2,  assembled  at  Louisville  in  March,  18G3, 
and  participated  in  twenty-two  engagements 
during  its  term  of  service. 

The  Ninety-first  P.attalion,  under  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel John  ]\Iehringcr,  organized  in 
October,  1802,  at  Evansville,  and  proceeded 
at  once  to  the  front. 

The  Ninety-second  Regiment  failed  to  or- 
ganize. 

The  Ninety-third  Regiment,  under  Col- 
onel Dc  A\'itt  C.  Thomas,  organized  at  ]\Iail- 
isou  October  20,  1802,  and  joined  General 
Shernum's  command. 

The  Ninety-iburth  and  Ninety-fifth  Regi- 
ments were  only  partially  raised,  and  the 
ctimpanies  were  incorporated  with  other  rccri- 
ments. 

The  Ninety-sixth  Regiment  could  bring 
together  but  thi'ce  ci^impanies,  which  were  in- 
coijiorated  with  the  Ninety-tiintli  at  South 
Peiul,  and  the  number  loft  blank. 


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IIISTORt    OF    ly  1)1  AX  A. 


Tlie  Xincty-sevcutli  liegiment  orgiinizcil 
at  Terra  Haute,  under  Colonel  llobert  ¥.  Cat- 
terson,  Septenilier  20,  1801,  ami  took  position 
at  the  front  near  ileni])liis. 

Tlie  Kinety-eiglith  licgiment  failed  to  or- 
ganize, and  the  two  companies  raised  were 
consolidated  with  the  One  Ilnndredth  liegi- 
meiit  at  Fort  Wayne. 

The  Ninety-ninth  Battalion  organized  in 
the  Ninth  Congressional  District,  under  Col- 
onel Alex.  Fawler,  October  21,  1SG2,  and 
operated  with  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps. 

The  One  Hundredth  Heginient  organized 
at  Fort  Wayne,  under  Colonel  Sanford  J. 
Stoughton,  and  joined  the  army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee November  20,  1802. 

T!ie  One  Hundred  and  First  Ilegiment 
was  organized  at  Wabash,  under  Colonel 
"William  Garver,  September  7, 1802,  and  im- 
mediately liegan  active  duty  in  Kentucky. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Second  Ilegiment 
organized, under  Colonel  Benjamin  F. Crregry, 
at  Iiulianapolis,  early  in  July,  ISOl. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Third  Ilegiment 
comprised  seven  companies  from  the  counties 
of  Hendricks,  Jlariou  and  AVayne,  under  Col- 
onel Lawrence  S.  Shulcr. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Begiment 
was  recruited  from  members  of  the  Legion 
of  Decatur,  La  Fayette,  Madison,  Clarion  and 
Hush  counties,  under  Colonel  James  Gavin. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Begiment  was 
formed  from  the  Legion  and  ilinute  ^len, 
furni^^hed  by  Hancock,  Union,  Bandolph, 
Putnam,  Wayne,  Clinton  and  IMadison  coun- 
ties, under  Colonel  Sherlock. 

The  One  Hundi'ed  and  Sixth  Begiment, 
under  ('olonel  Isaac  P.  (iray,  was  organized 
from  the  c<junties  of  Wayne,  Bandolph,  Han- 
cock, Howard  and  Marion. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Seventh  Begiment 
was  organized  in  Indianapolis,  ainder  Colonel 
De  AVitt  C.  Buggs. 


The  One  Hundred  and  Ei<j-hth  Bcfiiment, 
under  Colonel  AN"^.  C.  AVilson,  was  formed  from 
the  counties  of  Tippecanoe,  Hancock,  Car- 
roll, Montgomery  au<l  AVayne. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Ninth  Begiment, 
under  Colonel  J.  B.  Alahon,  was  composed  of 
companies  from  La  Porte,  Hamilton,  i^liami 
and  Bandolph  counties,  Indiana,  and  from 
Coles  County,  Illinois. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Ilegiment 
was  composed  of  comjjanies  from  the  counties 
of  Henry,  Madison,  Delaware,  Cass  and  Alon- 
roe;  this  regiment  was  not  called  into  the  field. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Eleventh  Begiment, 
from  Montgomery,  La  Fayette,  Bush,  iliami, 
Monroe, ■  Delaware  and  Hamilton  counties, 
under  Colonel  Bobert  Canover,  M'as  not  called 
out. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Begiment, 
under  Colonel  Hiram  F.  Brax,  was  formed 
from  the  C(junties  of  Lawrence,  AVashington, 
Alonroc  and  Orange. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Thirteenth  Begi- 
ment, from  tlie  counties  of  Daviess,  Martin, 
AVashington  and  Alouroe,  was  commanded  by 
Colonel  George  AV.  Burge. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Begi- 
ment, under  Colonel  Lambertson,  was  wholly 
organized  in  Johnson  County. 

These  twelve  last-named  regiments  were 
organized  to  meet  an  emergency,  caused  by 
the  invasion  of  Indiana  by  the  rebel  General 
John  Morgan,  and  disbanded  when  lie  was 
captured. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  Begiment, 
under  Colonel  J.  B.  ilahou,  was  organized  at 
Indiaiuipolis  August  17,  1803. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Begiment, 
under  Colonel  Charles  AVise,  organized  Au- 
gust, 1803,  and  served  in  Kentncky. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Begi- 
ment, under  Colonel  Thomas  J.  Brady,  or- 
ganized at  Indianajiolis  September  17,  1803. 


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IllSTOin"    OF    IXDIAXA. 


145 


Tlie  One  Hundred  and  Eigliteenth  llegi- 
ment,  under  Colonel  George  "W.  Jackson, 
ori^anized  September  3,  1SG3. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth  Ilei^i- 
inent,  or  Seventh  Cavalry,  was  organized, 
under  Colonel  John  P.  C.  Shanks,  in  ( )ctoljcr, 
ISt'iS;  made  an  ciulurahle  name  on  many 
tielils  of  battle.  .Many  of  this  regiment  lost 
Iheir  lives  on   the  ill-fated  steamer  Sultana. 

The  One  Hundred  aiul  Twentieth  Kegi- 
ment  was  organized  in  April,  ISO-i,  and 
formed  a  portion  of  Brigadier-General  Ho- 
ver's command. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Tweuty-tirst  liegi- 
ment,  or  Ninth  Cavalry,  was  organized  at 
Indianapolis,  under  Colonel  Cieorge  W.Jack- 
son; this  regiment  also  lost  a  number  of  men 
on  the  steamer  Sultana. 

The  One  Hundi-ed  and  Twenty-second 
llegiment  failing  to  organize,  this  number 
became  lilank. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twent3'-third  Ilcgi- 
ment,  uiuler  Colonel  John  C.  ]\[c(^uiston, 
perfected  an  organization  in  IMarch,  iSG-i, 
and  did  good  service. 

The  (Jne  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth 
Regiment,  under  Colonel  James  Burgess, 
organized  at  Iliclimond  !March  10,  18G4r,  and 
served  under  (rcneral  Slierman. 

The  One  IHindred  and  Twenty-fifth  Regi- 
ment, or  Tenth  Cavalry,  under  ("olonel  T.  J\I. 
Pace,  completed  its  organization  at  Columbus, 
May,  18(]3,  and  immediately  moved  to  the 
front.  This  regiment  lost  a  number  of  men 
on  the  steamer  Sultana. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Regi- 
ment, or  Eleventh  Cavalry,  organized  at 
Iiulianapolis,  under  Colonel  linbcrt  R.  Stew- 
art, in  March,  ISlii,  and  entered  the  field  in 
Tennessee. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Seventh 
Regiment,  or  Twelfth  Cavalry,  under  Colonel 
Edward  Anderson,  organized   at  Kendallville 

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in  April,  ISGi,  and  ser\'ed  in  Georgia  and 
Alabama. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-eighth 
Regiment  organized  at  ]\[ichigan  City,  under 
Colonel  R.  P.  De  Hart,  March  18,  1864,  and 
served  under  General  Sherman  in  his  famous 
cam]iaign. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Reo-i- 
ment  organized  at  Michigan  City,  under  Col- 
onel Charles  Case,  in  April,  1804,  and  shared 
in  the  fortunes  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-eighth. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Regiment 
organized  at  Kokomo,  uiuler  Colonel  C.  S. 
Parish,  Marcli  12,  1SG4,  and  served  with  the 
Twenty-third  Army  Corps. 

The  One  Hundi-ed  and  Thirty-first  Regi- 
ment, or  Thirteenth  Cavalry,  nujved  from 
Indianapolis  to  the  front,  under  Colonel  CJ. 
]\[.  L.  Johnson,  April  30,  1SG4. 

April,  1SG4,  Governor  ]\[orton  called  for 
volunteers  to  serve  one  lumdred  days.  In 
response  to  this  call: 

The  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second  Regi- 
ment, under  Colonel  S.  C.  Vance,  moved 
from  Indianapolis  to  tlie  front  jilay  18,  18G4. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Regi- 
ment moved  from  Richmond  to  the  front 
]\ray  17,  18()4,  under  Colonel  R.  N.  Hudson. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fourth  Regi- 
ment, under  Colonel  James  CJaviu,  moved 
from  Indianayiolis  to  the  front  May  2d,  18G4. 

The  One  Iluiulred  and  Thirty-fifth  liegi- 
mcTit,  composed  of  companies  from  IJedford, 
Noblesville  and  Goshen,  and  seven  companies 
from  the  First  Congressional  District,  entered 
the  field,  under  Colonel  "\V.  C.  Wilson,  May 
25,  18G4. 

The  One  Hundred  aiul  Thirty-sixth  Regi- 
ment, from  the  First  Congressional  District, 
nu^ved  to  the  front,  under  Colonel  J.  AV. 
Foster,  ]\ray  24,  1SG4. 

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HISTORY    OF    TX DIANA. 


llei^ninunt,   under    Colonel    E.   J.   IloLiuson, 
moved  to  the  front  May  28,  ISfji. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-eighth  Regi- 
ment perfected  its  organization  at  Indian- 
apolis, under  Colonel  J.  11.  Shannon,  ]\[ay 
27,  1SG4,  and  marched  immediately  to  tlie 
front. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-ninth  Regi- 
ment was  composed  of  companies  from  various 
counties,  and  entered  the  field,  under  Colonel 
George  Ilumphre}',  in  June,  1804. 

All  these  regiments  gained  distinction  on 
many  fields  of  battle. 

Under  the  President's  call  of  1804: 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fortieth  Regiment, 
under  Colonel  Thomas  J.  Rrady,  proceeded 
to  the  South  Xovember  10,  1801. 
•  The  One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Regi- 
ment failing  to  organize,  its  few  companies 
were  incorporated  in  Colonel  Brady's  com- 
mand. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Forty-second  Regi- 
ment moved  to  the  front  from  Fort  Wayne, 
under  Colonel  I.  ^[.  Comparet,  in  November, 
1801. 

The  One  Hundred  aud  Forty-third  Regi- 
ment reported  at  JS'ashville,  under  Colonel  J. 
T.  Grill,  February  21,  1805. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fourtli  Regi- 
ment, under  Colonel  G.  "W.  Riddle,  reported 
at  Harj)cr's  Ferry  in  IMarch,  180o. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fifth  Regi- 
ment, from  Indianapolis,  under  Colonel  W. 
A.  Adams,  joined  General  Steadman  at  Chat- 
tanooga, February  23,1805. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Forty-sixth  Regi- 
ment, under  Colonel  M.  C.  Welch,  left  In- 
dianapolis ]\Iarcli  11,  1805,  for  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh  Reg- 
ment,  under  Colonel  JMilton  Peden,  moved 
from  Indianapolis  to  the  front  ]\Iarch  13, 
1805. 


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The  One  Hundred  and  Forty-eiglith  Regi- 
ment, under  Colonel  N.  II.  Ruckle,  left  the 
State  Capital  for  Nashville  February  28, 1805. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth  Regi- 
ment left  Indianapolis  for  Tennessee,  under 
Colonel  W.  II.  Fairbanks,  March  3,  1805. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Regiment, 
under  Colonel  M.  E.  Taylor,  reported  for 
duty  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  March  17, 
1805. 

The  One  Hundred  aud  Fifty-first  Regi- 
ment arrived  at  Nashville,  under  Colonel  J. 
Ilealy,  March  9,  1805. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Regi- 
ment organized  at  Indianapolis,  under  Col- 
onel W  W  Griswold,  and  left  for  Harper's 
Ferry  March   IS,  1805. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-third  Regi- 
ment organized  at  Indianapolis,  under  Col- 
onel O.  II.  P.  Carey,  and  reported  immedi- 
ately at  Louisville  for  duty. 

The  One  Hundred  aud  Fifty-fourth  Regi- 
ment left  Indianapolis  for  AVest  Virginia, 
under  Major  Simpson,  April  28,  1805. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  Regi- 
ment,  recruited  throughout  the  State,  were 
assigned  to  the  Ninth  Army  Corps  in  April, 
1805. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-sixth  Bat- 
talion, under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Chaides  ^I. 
Smith,  moved  for  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
April  27,  1805. 

All  these  regiments  made  a  fine  record  in 
the  field. 

The  Twenty-eighth  Regiment  of  Colored 
Troops  was  recruited  throughout  the  State  of 
Indiana,  and  jjlaced  under  command  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Charles  S.  Russell,  who  was 
subsequently  Colonel  of  the  regiment.  The 
regiment  lost  heavily  at  the  "Crater,"  Peters- 
burg, but  Mas  recruited,  and  continued  to  do 
good  service. 

The  First  Battery  was  organized  at  Evans- 


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IIISTOUY    OF    I y DIANA. 


141 


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villc,  under  Captain  ^lartin  Klauss,  August 
16,  ISOl,  and  immediately  joined  General 
Fi'enmnt's  army;  in  ISO-i  Lawrence  Jacoljy 
was  promoted  to  the  cajitainey  of  the  battery. 

The  Second  Jjattcry,  under  Captain  D.  G. 
Itahli,  was  organized  at  Indianapolis  August 
"J,  18G1.   This  battery  saw  service  in  the  "West. 

The  Third  Battery,  under  Captain  W.  "\V. 
Fryberger,  organized  at  Connersville  August 
24,  ISGl,  and  immediately  joined  Fremont's 
command. 

The  Fourth  Battery  recruited  in  La  Porte, 
Porter  and  Lake  counties,  and  reported  to 
General  Ihiell  early  in  ISOl.  It  was  first 
commanded  by  Captain  A.  K.  Bnsh,  and  re- 
organized in  October,  ISG-t,  under  Captain 
B.  F.  Johnson. 

The  Fifth  Battery  was  furnished  by  La 
Porte,  Allen,  Whitley  and  Noble  counties, 
commanded  by  Captain  Peter  Simonson,  re- 
ported at  Louisville  November  29,  ISGl; 
during  its  term  it  participated  in  twenty  bat- 
tles. 

The  Sixth  Battery,  amder  Captain  Fred- 
erick Behr,  left  Evansville  for  the  front  Octo- 
ber 2,  ISGl. 

The  Seventh  Battery  was  organized  from 
various  towns:  first  under  Captain  Samuel  J. 
Harris;  succeeded  by  G.  11.  Shallow  and  O. 
II.  Morgan. 

The  Eighth  Battery,  under  Captain  G.  T. 
Cochran,  arrived  at  the  front  February  2G, 
18tj2,  and  entered  upon  its  real  duties  at 
Corinth. 

The  Ninth  Battery,  under  Captain  N.  S. 
Thompson,  organized  at  Indianapolis  in  Jan- 
uary, 1862,  and  began  active  duty  at  Shiloh 
in  January,  18G5;  it  lost  fifty-eight  men  by 
the  explosion  ot  a  steamer  above  Paducah. 

The  Tenth  Battery,  under  Captain  Jerome 
B.  Cox,  left  Lafayette,  for  duty  in  Kentuck}', 
in  January,  18G1. 

The  Eleventh  Battery  organized  at  La  Fay- 


ette, and  left  Indianapolis  for  the  front,  under 
Captain  Arnold  Sutermeister,  December  17, 
18G1;  opened  fire  at  Shiloh. 

The  Twelftli  Battery,  from  Jeffersonville, 
perfected  organization  at  Indianapolis,  under 
Captain  G.  W.  Sterling;  reached  Nashville 
in  ^larch,  1862.  Captain  Sterling  resigned 
in  April,  and  was  succeeded  by  Captain  James 
E.  "White,  and  ho  by  James  A.  Dunwoody. 

The  Thirteenth  Battery,  under  Captain 
Sewell  Conlson,  organized  at  Indianapolis 
during  the  winter  of  18G1,  and  proceeded  to 
the  front  in  February,  18G2. 

The  Fourteenth  Battery,  under  Captain  ^f. 
11.  Kidd,  left  Indianapolis  April  11,  18G2, 
entering  the  field  in  Kentucky. 

The  Fifteenth  I'attery,  under  Captain  I. 
C.  II.  Von  Schlin,  left  Indianapolis  for  the 
front  in  July,  1SG3.  The  same  year  it  was 
surrendered  with  the  garrison  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  reorganized  at  Indianapolis,  and  again 
appeared  in  the  field  in  JIarch,  1862. 

The  Sixteenth  Battery  under  Captain 
Charles  A.  Naylor,  left  La  Fayette  for  the 
front  in  June,  1862,  and  joined  Pope's  com- 
mand. 

The  Seventeenth  Battery  organized  at  In- 
dianapolis, under  Captain  Milton  L.  Miner, 
May20, 1SG2;  participated  in  the  Gettysburg- 
battle,  and  later  in  all  the  engagements  in 
the  Shenandoah  Yalley. 

The  Eighteenth  Battery,  under  Captain 
Eli  Lilly,  moved  to  the  front  in  August, 
1SG2,  and  joined  General  Ilosecrans'  army. 

The  Nineteenth  Battery,  under  Captain  S. 
J.  Harris,  left  Indianapolis  for  Kentucky  in 
August,  1862,  and  performed  active  service 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  Twentieth  Battery,  under  Captain 
Frank  A.  Pose,  left  the  State  capital  for 
the  front  in  December,  18G2.  Captain  Pose 
resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  Captain 
Osborn. 


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itisTonr  OF  invianA. 


The  Twenty-first  Lattery,  under  Captain 
W.  W.  Andrew,  left  the  State  capital  for 
Covini^ton,  Kentucky,  in  September,  18C2. 

The  Twenty-second  Eattery  moved  from 
Indianapolis  to  the  front,  under  Captain  B. 
F.  Denning,  December  15,  1802,  and  threw 
its  first  shot  into  Atlanta,  where  Captain 
Denning  was  killed. 

The  Twenty-third  Battery,  uiidcr  Captain 
I.  11.  !Myers,  took  a  position  at  the  front  in 

isn2. 

Tlie  Twenty-fourth  Battery,  under  Captain 
J.  A.  Simnis,  moved  from  Indianapolis  to  the 
front  in  M.irch,  18G3,  and  joined  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee. 

The  Twenty-fil'th  Battery,  under  Captain 
Frederick  C.  Sturm,  reported  at  Xashville  in 
December,  18G4. 

The  Twenty-sixth,  or  "  "Wilder's  Battery," 
was  recrui'^ed  at  Greensburg  in  May,  ISGl, 
and  became  Company  "  X  "  of  the  Seven- 
teenth Infantry,  with  Captain  Wilder  as  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel. Subsequently  it  was  converted 
into  the  "  First  Indejiendent  Battery,"  and 
became  known  as  "  liigb3'"s  Battery." 

The  total  number  of  battles  in  which  the 
soldiers  of  Indiana  were  engaged  for  the 
maintenance  of  tlie  Union  was  308. 

The  part  which  Indiana  jierformed  in  the 
war  tu  maintain  the  union  of  the  States  is 
one  of  which  the  citizens  of  the  State  may 
well  be  ])roud.  In  the  number  of  troops 
furnished,  and  in  the  amount  of  contribu- 
tions rendered,  Indiana,  in  proportion  to 
wealtli  and  population,  stands  equal  to  any 
of  lier  sister  States. 

Tiio  State  records  show  that  200,000  men 
entered  the  army;  50,000  were  organized  to 
defend  the  State  at  home;  that  the  number 
of  military  commissions  issued  to  Iniliana 
soldiers  was  17,114,  making  a  total  of  2G7,- 
114  men  engaged  in  military  affairs  during 
the  war  for  the  Union. 


FINANCIAL. 

In  November,  1821,  Governor  Jennings 
convened  the  Legislature  in  extra  session,  to 
provide  for  the  payment  of  interest  and  a 
part  of  the  principal  of  the  public  debt, 
amounting  to  >;20,000.  The  state  of  the 
public  debt  was  indeed  embarrassing,  as  the 
l)onds  executed  in  its  behalf  had  been  as- 
signed. 

This  state  of  aflairs  had  been  Ijrought 
about  in  part  by  mismanagement  of  the 
State  bank,  and  by  speculators.  From  ISKi 
to  1821  the  people  had  largely  engaged 
in  fictitious  speculations.  jS'umerous  baid<s, 
with  fictitious  capital,  were  estaldished;  im- 
mense issues  of  paper  Mere  made,  and  the 
circulating  medium  of  the  country  was 
increased  four-fold  in  the  course  of  three 
years. 

This  inflation  produced  the  consequences 
which  always  follow  such  a  scheme.  Conse- 
quently the  year  1821  was  one  of  great 
financial  panic. 

In  1822  the  new  Governor,  "William  Hen- 
dricks, took  a  liopefnl  view  of  the  situation. 
In  consequence  of  good  cro]«  and  the  grow- 
ing immigration,  everything  seemed  more 
promising. 

In  1822-'23  the  surplus  money  was  prin- 
cipally invested  in  home  manufactures,  M'hich 
gave  new  impetus  to  the  new  State.  Xoah 
Xoble  was  Governor  of  the  State  from  1831 
to  1837,  commencing  his  duties  amid  peculiar 
embarrassments.  The  crops  of  1832  were 
short.  Asiatic  cholera  came  sweeping  along 
the  Ohio  and  into  the  interior  of  the  State,  antl 
the  Black  Hawk  war  raged  in  the  Northwest. 
All  these  at  once,  and  yet  the  work  ot 
internal  imj)rovenients  was  actually  begun. 

The  State  bank  of  Indiana  M'as  established 
January  28,  1834.  The  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, by  its  own  terms,  ceased  to  be  a  law 
January  1,  1857.    i\.t  the  time  of  organization 


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the  outstanding  circulation  was  .si,20S,7"2o, 
with  a  debt,  duo  principally  from  citizens  of 

the  State,  of  !st;,o;i.j,;u;s. 

The  State's  interest  in  the  hank  was  pro- 
cured by  issue  of  State  hontls,  the  last  of 
which  was  payable  in  iSiSf!,  the  State  thus 
placing  as  capital  in  the  bank  si, 390,000. 

The  nominal  ])rofits  of  tlie  bank  were 
S2,7S0,004:.  This  constituted  a  sinking  fund 
for  the  payment  of  the  public  debt,  the  e\- 
]>cnses  of  tiie  Commissioners,  and  for  the 
cause  of  common  schools. 

In  ISiiG  the  State  l)ank  was  doing  ijood 
service;  agricultural  products  were  abundant, 
and  markets  were  good. 

In  184:3  the  State  was  suffering  from  over 
banking,  inflation  of  the  currency  and  decep- 
tive speculation. 

Governor  "Whitcomb,  lS43-'4-'J,  succeeded 
well  in  nniintaining  the  credit  of  the  State 
and  elfecting  a  coniproniise  with  its  creditors, 
by  which  the  State  public  works  passed  from 
the  hands  of  the  State  to  the  creditors. 

In  ISdl  a  general  l)ankiiig  law  was  adopted, 
which  again  revived  speculation  and  inllation, 
whicli  culminated  in  much  dannige.  In  1857 
the  charter  of  the  State  hank  expired,  and 
the  large  gains  of  tlie  State  in  that  institu- 
tion were  directed  to  the  iiromotion  of  com- 
mon school  education. 

October  81,  1870,  found  the  State  in  a 
very  prosperous  condition;  there  was  a  sur- 
plus in  the  treasury  of  $373,249.  The  re- 
ceipts of  the  year  amounted  to  s3,G0i3,G39, 
atul  the  disbursements  to  s2, 943,1)00,  leaving 
a  balance  of  $1,035,288.  The  total  debt  of 
the  State  in  November,  1871,  was  $3,937,821. 

Indiana  is  making  ra])id  ])rogress  in  the 
vai-io\is  manuficturlng  industries.  She  has 
one  of  the  largest  wagon  ami  carriage  manu- 
factories in  the  world,  and  nearly  lier  entire 
wheat  product  is  manufactured  into  flour 
within    the   State.      In    1880  the  population 


was  1.978,301,  and  the  true  valuation  of 
l)roperty  in  the  State  for  1880  was  $1,584,- 
750,802. 

INTICR.NAI.    IMI'KOVKMKNTS. 

This  subject  began  to  be  agitated  as  early 
as  l>il8,  and  continued  to  increase  in  favor 
until  1830,  wlien  the  ])eople  became  much 
excited  over  the  rpiestion  of  railroads. 

In  1832  the  work  of  internal  improvements 
fairly  commenced.  Public  roads  and  canals 
were  begun  during  this  year,  the  Wabash  and 
Erie  Canal  being  the  largest  undertaking. 

During  the  year  1835  ])nblic  impi-ovements 
were  pushed  vigoi'ously.  Thirty-two  miles 
of  the  AVabash  and  Erie  Canal  were  completed 
this  year. 

During  1836  many  other  projected  works 
were  started,  and  in  1837,  when  Governor 
Wallace  took  the  executive  chair,  he  found  a 
reaction  among  the  peojjle  in  regard  to  the 
gigantic  jilans  for  public  impro\'emeiits.  The 
people  feared  a  State  debt  was  being  incurred 
from  which  they  could  never  be  extricated. 

The  State  had  borrowed  $3,827,000  for 
internal  improvements,  of  which  $1,327,000 
was  for  the  Wabash  and  Erie  Canal,  the  re- 
mainder for  other  works. 

The  State  had  aniuudly  to  pay  $200,000 
interest  on  the  public  debt,  and  the  revenue 
derived  which  could  be  thus  ajiplied  amounted 
to  only  $45,000  in  1838. 

In  1839  all  work  ceased  on  these  improve- 
ments, witii  one  or  two  exceptions,  and  the 
contracts  MX're  surrendered  to  the  State,  in 
consequence  of  an  act  of  the  Legislature  pro- 
viding for  the  compensation  of  contractors 
by  the  issue  of  treasury  notes. 

In  1840  the  system  of  iinj)rovements  em- 
braced ten  difi'erent  works,  the  most  impor- 
tant of  which  was  the  Wabash  and  Erie 
Canal.  The  aggregate  length  of  the  lines 
embraced    in    this   system    was   1,289  miles, 


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150 


in  STORY    OF    INDIAXA. 


ami   of  tliis  only  1  U)   luiles  liaJ  been  com- 
pleted. 

In  1840  the  State  debt  amounted  to  818,- 
■Ifi'JjllG;  lier  resources  for  payment  were 
sncii  as  to  place  lier  in  an  unfavorable  liglit 
before  the  world,  but  bo  it  recorded  to  Iier 
credit,  she  did  not  repudiate,  as  some  other 
States  of  the  Union  liave  done.  In  1850,  the 
State  having  abandoned  public  improve- 
ments, private  capital  and  enterprise  pushed 
forward  public  work,  and  although  the  canal 
lias  served  its  day  and  age,  and  served  it  well, 
yet  Indiana  has  one  of  the  tinest  systems  of 
water-ways  of  any  State  in  the  Union,  and 
her  railroad  facilities  compare  favorably  with 
the  majority  of  States,  and  far  in  advance  of 
many  ot  her  elder  sisters  in  the  family  of 
States.  In  1884  there  were  5,521  miles  of 
railroad  in  operation  in  the  State,  and  new 
roads  being  built  and  projected  where  the 
demand  justified. 


In  1809  the  development  of  mineral  re- 
sources in  the  State  attracted  considerable 
attention.  Near  Brooklyn,  twenty  miles  from 
Indianapolis,  is  a  tine  sandstone  formation, 
yielding  an  unlimited  quantity  of  the  best 
building  material.  The  limestone  formation 
at  and  surrounding  Gosport  is  of  great  va- 
riety, including  some  of  the  best  building 
stone  in  the  world. 

^leu  of  enterprise  worked  hard  and  long 
to  induce  the  State  to  liave  a  survey  made  to 
determine  the  quality  and  extent  of  the  min- 
eral resources  of  the  State. 

In  1SG9  Professor  Edward  T.  Cox  was  ap- 
pointed State  Geologist,  to  whom  the  citizens 
of  Indiana  are  indebted  for  the  exhaustive 
report  on  minerals,  and  the  agricultural  as 
well  as  manufacturing  resources  of  the  State. 

The  coal  measures,  says  Professor  Cox, 
cover  an  area  of  (),500  square  miles,  in  the 


southwestern  part  of  the  State,  and  extend 
from  Warren  County  on  the  north  to  the 
Ohio  Iliver  on  the  south,  a  distance  of  150 
miles,  comprising  the  counties  of  Warren, 
Fountain,  Parke,  Vermillion,  Vigo,  Clay, 
Sullivan,  Greene,  Knox,  Daviess,  ]\[artin, 
Gibson,  Pike,  Dubois,  Vanderburg,  War- 
wick, Spencer,  Perry  and  a  portion  of  Craw- 
ford, Monroe,  Putnam  and  ^Montgomery. 

This  coal  is  all  bituminous,  but  is  divis- 
al)le  into  three  well-marked  varieties;  cak- 
ing coal,  non-caking  coal,  or  block  coal,  and 
cannel  coal.  The  total  depth  of  the  seams 
or  measures  is  from  GOO  to  800  feet.  The 
caking  coal  is  in  the  western  portion  of  the 
area  described,  ranging  from  three  to  eleven 
feet  ill  thickness.  Tlie  block  coal  prevails  in 
the  eastern  pait  of  the  field,  and  has  an  area 
of  450  square  miles;  this  coal  is  excellent  in 
its  raw  state  for  making  pig-iron. 

The  great  Indiana  coal  field  is  within  150 
miles  of  Chicago  or  Michigan  City  by  rail- 
road, from  which  ports  the  valuable  Superior 
iron  ores  are  loaded  from  vessels  that  run 
direct  from  the  ore  banks. 

Of  the  caunel  coal,  one  of  the  tiiiest  seams 
to  be  found  in  the  country  is  in  Daviess 
County,  this  State.  Here  it  is  three  and  a 
half  feet  thick,  underlaid  by  one  and  a  half 
feet  of  block  caking  coal.  Cannel  coal  is  also 
found  in  great  abundance  in  Perry,  Greene, 
Parke  and  Fountain  counties. 

Numerous  deposits  of  bog-iron  ore  are 
found  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  and 
clay  iron-stones  and  impure  carbonates  are 
found  scattered  in  the  vicinity  of  the  coal 
field.  In  some  places  the  deposits  are  of 
considerable  commercial  value.  An  abund- 
ance of  excellent  lime  is  also  found  in  Indi- 
ana, especially  in  Huntington  County,  where 
it  is  manufactured  extensively. 

In  1884  the  number  of  bushels  of  lime 
burned   in  the  State   were  1,244,508;   lime- 


'»^.-i.»^^a»^^»'«l'«g^-' 


ai^W^i^^-J'i^'.ii^jiij^'niri^^ir'^.' 


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■,iji„»^iiii^«r^»^j(,^j,«'^ii_,» 


lIISTOUy    OF    lyDTANA. 


stone  quarried  for  Imildiiirr  purposes,  0,012,- 
110  cubic  I'eet;  cuuieiit  made,  3(12,014: 
bushelff;  saudstone  quarried,  708,376  cubic 
feet;  gravel  sold,  502,115  tims;  coal  mined, 
1,722,()N'J  tons;  value  tif  mineral  ])roducts  in 
the  State  for  the  year  1884,  !?2,500,OOO; 
value  of  manufactured  products  same  year, 
Sl'13,851,872;  of  agricultural  products, 
S;155,OS5,GG3.  Total  value  of  products  in 
the  State  for  the  year  1SS4,  .s321, 437,535. 

ACJKICULTUKAL. 

In  1852  the  Legislature  authorized  the 
organization  of  county  and  district  agricult- 
ural societies,  and  also  established  a  State 
Uoard  of  Agriculture,  and  made  suitable  pro- 
visions for  maintaining  the  same,  the  hold- 
ing of  State  fairs,  etc. 

In  1873  suitable  buildings  were  erected  at 
Indianapolis,  for  a  State  exposition,  which 
was  formally  opened  September  10,  of  that 
year.  The  exhibits  there  displa^'ed  showed 
that  Indiana  was  not  behind  her  sister  States 
in  agriculture  as  well  as  in  many  other  in- 
dustrial branches. 

As  stated  elsewliere  in  this  work,  the  value 
of  agricultural  products  in  the  State  for  the 
year  1884  amounted  to  !?155,085,663. 

In  1842  Henry  AVard  Beeclier  resided  in 
Indianapolis,  and  exercised  a  power  for  good 
aside  from  his  ministerial  work.  lie  edited 
the  Indiana  Fanner  and  Gardener,  and 
through  that  medium  wielded  an  influence 
toward  organizing  a  society,  which  was  ac- 
complislicd  that  year.  Among  Ilev.  I]eech- 
cr's  co-laborers  were  Judge  Coburn,  Aaron 
Aldridge,  James  Sigarson,  I).  Y.  Cullcy, 
lieubcn  Ragan,  Stephen  Hampton,  Cornelius 
Katliff,  Joshua  Lindley,  Abncr  Pope  and 
many  others.  The  society  gave  great  en- 
couragement to  the  introduction  of  new  va- 
rieties of  fruit,  but  the  sudden  appearance  of 
noxious  insects,  and  the  waiit  of  shijiping 


facilities,  seriously  lield  in  check  the  advance 
of  horticulture  in  accordance  with  the  desires 
of  its  leaders. 

In  1800  there  was  organized  at  Indianap 
olis  the  Indiana  I'umolDgical  Society,  with 
lieuben  Ilagan  as  President,  and  William  II. 
Loomis  as  Secretary. 

From  this  date  interest  began  to  expand, 
but,  owing  to  the  war,  but  little  was  done, 
and  in  Januai-y,  1804,  the  title  of  the  society 
was  changed  to  tliat  of  the  Indiana  Horticult- 
ural  Society. 

The  report  of  the  society  for  1868  shows 
for  the  first  time  a  balance  in  the  treasury  of 
S61.55. 

The  society  has  had  a  steady  growth,  and 
produced  grand  results  throughout  the  State, 
the  product  of  apples  alone  in  the  State  for 
the  year  1884  being  4,181,147  bushels. 

EDUCATION. 

The  subject  of  education  is  the  all-impor- 
tant subject  to  any  and  all  communities, 
and  the  early  settlers  of  Indiana  builded 
greater  than  they  then  knew,  when  they  laid 
the  foundation  for  future  growth  of  the  edu- 
cational facilities  in  the  State. 

To  detail  the  educational  resources,  its  ac- 
complishments from  its  incijiiency  to  the 
present  date,  would  require  a  number  of 
large  volumes;  but  as  space  in  this. work  will 
not  permit,  and  as  the  people  have  access  to 
annual  State  reports  of  the  school  system  in 
detail,  we  will  here  give  only  the  leading 
features  and  enormous  growth,  as  well  as 
flourishing  condition  of  Indiana's  scliool  sys- 
tem to  the  present  time. 

The  free-school  system  was  fully  established 
in  1852,  which  has  resulted  in  ])lacing  Indi- 
ana in  the  lead  of  this  great  nation  in  ed- 
ucational progress.  In  1854  the  available 
common  school  fund  consisted  of  the  congres- 
sional  township  fund,   the  surjilus   revenue 


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niSTOHY    OF    INDIANA. 


im ••!•»■'••■  WaPt  •■»•'■«■•■■«?'  | 


fiiiul,  the  siiliiic  fund,  the  hunk  tax  t'liiul  anil 
niiscelhincdus  f'nn<l,  Jiniunntiiii,'  in  all  to 
s2,4()O,(i0(). 

This  amount  w;is  incr(>as(!(l  fVimi  various 
sources,  ami  entrusted  to  tho  caru  of  the  sev- 
eral counties  of  tho  State,  and  hy  thcni  loaned 
to  citizens  of  the  county  in  sums  not  exceed- 
ing !?ilOn,  secured  hy  real  estate. 

h\  1880  the  available  school  fund  <leri\-(Ml 
from  all  sources  amounted   to  )?8,!J7  l,4-")rj.55. 

h\  1884  there  were  in  the  State  children 
of  school  a,i,'e,  722,840.  Numher  of  Mdiite 
children  in  attendance  at  scIkjoI  during  the 
year,  4G1, 831;  numher  of  colored  children  in 
school  during  the  year,  7,285;  total  attend- 
ance, 409,11(5;  numher  of  teachers  cm])loyed, 
1;3,015,  of  ■whom  145  were  colored. 

And  lastly  wc  arc  pleased  to  say  that  Tn- 
dinna  lias  a  larj^er  school  fund  than  any  other 
State  in  the  Union.  The  citizens  may  well 
be  ])roud  of  their  system  of  schools,  as  well  as 
the  judicious  manaj^'ement  of  its  funds,  which 
have  been  steadily  increased,  notwithstand- 
ing the  rapid  increase  of  population,  which 
Inxs  demandeu  an  increased  expendituic  in 
various  ways,  which  have  all  been  proni[)tly 
met,  and  the  edncationid  facilities  steadily 
enlarged  where  any  advancement  could  be 
made. 

In  1802  Congress  granted  lands  and  a 
charter  to  the  peojile  residing  at  Vincennes, 
for  the  erection  and  maintenance  of  a  semi- 
nary of  learning;  and  iive  years  thereafter  an 
act  incorporating  the  Vincennes  Utiiversity 
asked  the  Lcgislatui'C  to  appoint  a  I5oar<l  of 
Trustees  and  empower  them  to  sell  a  town- 
ship of  land  in  (libson  County,  granted  by 
(/Ongress  for  the  b(nielit  of  the  university. 
The  sale  of  the  land  was  slow  and  the  ])rii- 
ceeds  small;  the  members  of  IIk;  board  were 
a])atlictic,  and  failing  to  meet,  the  institution 
fell  out  of  existence  and  out  of  memory. 

In   1820   the  State  J-egislature  j.assed   an 


act  for  a  State  University.  I'loomington 
was  selected  as  the  site  for  locating  the  insti- 
tution. The  buildings  were  completed  and 
the  institution  formally  openeil  in  1825. 
The  name  was  changed  to  that  of  the  "  In- 
diana Academy,"  ami  subsequently,  in  1S2S, 
to  the  "  Indiana  Colleger"  'i'lic;  institution 
]>rospered  until  18.>t,  when  it  was  destroyed 
by  lire,  and  y,00()  volumes,  with  all  the 
apparatus,  were  consumed.  The  new  col- 
lege, with  its  additions,  was  completed  in 
1878,  and  the  routine  of  studies  continued. 

The  university  may  now  be  considered 
on  a  fixed  basis,  carrying  out  the  intention 
of  the  jiresident,  who  aimed  at  scholarship 
ratliei'  than  numbers.  The  university  re- 
ceives from  the  State  annually  ;i;15,000,  and 
promises,  with  the  aid  of  other  public  grants 
and  private  donations,  to  vie  with  any  other 
State  university  within  the  republic. 

In  1802  Congress  j)assed  an  act  granting 
to  each  State  for  college  purposes  public 
lands  to  the  amount  of  ;iO,000  acres  for  each 
Senator  and  Representative  in  Congress.  In- 
diana having  in  ('ongress  at  that  time  thir- 
teen members,  became  entitled  to  3'J0,000 
acres;  but  as  there  was  no  Congress  land  in 
the  State  at  that  time,  scrip  was  instituted, 
under  the  conditions  that  the  sum  of  the; 
]>ro(!eeds  of  the  lands  should  be  invested  in 
(lovernment  stocks,  or  other  eijually  safe 
investment,  drawing  not  less  than  iive  ])er 
centum  on  the  par  value  of  said  stock, 
the  })rincipal  to  stand  undiminished.  The 
institution  to  be  thus  founded  was  to  ti'ach 
agricultural  and  tin;  mechanical  ai'ts  as  its 
leading  features.  It  was  further  prosided 
by  (!ongrcs8  that  should  the  principal  of  the 
fund  be  diminished  in  any  way,  it  should  be 
ic|ihict'<l  by  the  State  to  whicli  it  belongs, 
so  that  the  capital  of  the  fund  shall  remain 
forever  undiminished;  and  further,  that  in 
ordci-   to  a\'ail   themselves   of  the  benetits  of 


'.'I 


, ii 


,»^i.^»^nr«M---i.»»'" 


HISTORY    OF    INDIANA. 


this  net,  Status  must  comply  with  the  pro- 
visos of  the  act  within  live  years  after  it 
Ijecamc  a  hiw,  \i/,.,  to  erect  suitable  buildings 
for  such  school. 

March,  iSlio,  the  I>egislature  accepted  of 
the  national  gift,  and  appointed  a  board 
of  trustees  to  sell  the  land.  The  amount 
realized  from  land  sales  was  $212,238.50, 
which  sum  was  increased  to  8^00,000. 

ilay,  ISfiO,  John  Purdue,  of  La  Fayette, 
offered  sl5U,000,  and  Tijipecanoe  County 
$50,000  more,  and  the  title  of  the  institu- 
tion was  established — "Purdue  University." 

Donations  were  also  made  by  the  Pattle 
Ground  Institute,  and  the  Institute  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  chni-ch. 

The  building  was  located  on  a  100-acre 
tract,  near  Chauncey,  wliich  Purdue  gave  in 
addition  to  liis  magnificent  donation,  and  to 
which  eighty-si.x  and  one  half  acres  more 
have  since  been  added.  The  university  was 
formally  opened  March,  1874,  and  has  made 
rapid  advances  to  the  present  time. 

The  Indiana  State  Xormal  School  was 
founded  at  Terre  Haute  in  1870,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  act  of  the  Legislature  of  that 
year. 

Tlie  principal  design  of  this  institution  was 
to  prepare  thorough  and  competent  teachers 
for  teaching  the  schools  of  the  State,  and  the 
anticipations  of  its  founders  have  been  fully 
realized,  as  proven  by  the  able  corps  of 
teachers  annually  graduating  from  the  insti- 
tution, and  entering  npon  their  responsible 
missions  in  Indiana,  as  well  as  other  States 
of  the  Union. 

The  Northern  Indiana  Normal  School  and 
Business  Institute,  at  A'alparaiso,  was  organ- 
ized in  September,  1873.  The  school  occu- 
pied the  building  known  as  the  Valparaiso 
^lale  and  Female  College  building.  This 
institution  has  had  a  wonderful  growth;  tlie 
first  year's  attendance   was    thirty-five.     At 


|'ai^T*'-'»^.n»--M^»„T..«..^:^Bi„B»TK. 


this  time  every  State  in  the  Union  is  repre- 
sented, the  number  enrolled  being  over  3,000. 
All  branches  necessary  to  (pudify  students  for 
teaching,  or  engaging  in  any  line  of  busi- 
ness, are  tautrht.  The  (Commercial  Colle;re 
connected  with  the  school  is  of  itself  a  great 
institution. 

In  addition  to  tin;  public  schools  and  State 
institutions  there  are  a  numlier  ot  denomi- 
national and  private  schools,  some  of  which 
liave  a  national  as  well  as  a  local  reputa- 
tion. 

Notre  Dame  University,  near  South  Pend, 
is  the  most  noted  Catludic  institution  in  the 
United  States.  It  was  foumled  by  Father 
Sorin,  in  1812.  It  has  a  bell  weighing 
13,000  pounds,  the  largest  in  the  United 
States,  and  one  of  the  finest  in  the  world. 

The  Indiana  Asbury  University,  at  Green- 
castle,  ^lethodist,  was  founded  in  1835. 

Howard  College,  not  denominational,  is 
located  at  Kokoino;  founded  in  1809. 

Union  Christian  College,  Christian,  at 
Meroni,  was  organized  in  1858. 

Moore's  Hill  College,  Metliodist,  at  Moore's 
Hill,  was  foimded  in  185-1. 

Earlham  College,  at  Pichmond,  under 
the  mainigement  of  the  Orthodox  Friends, 
was  founded  in  1859. 

Wabash  College,  at  Crawfordsville,  under 
Presbyterian  management,  was  founded  in 
1834. 

Concordia  College,  Lutheran,  at  Fort 
"Wayne,  was  founded  in  1850. 

Hanover  College,  Presbyterian,  was  iuund- 
ed  at  Hanover  in  1833. 

Hartsville  University,  United  Prethren, 
was  founded  at  Hartsville  in  1854. 

Northwestern  Christian  University,  Dis- 
ciples, is  located  at  Irvinton;  organized  i:i 
1854. 

All  these  institutions  arc  in  a  flourishing 
condition. 


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nisTony  of  Indiana. 


BE.NEVOLKNT  AM)  I'li.NAL  IX.'-TITUIIO.NS. 

Ijy  tlie  yt'iir  1830  tlie  inHux  of  paupers 
and  invalid  ])ersons  was  su  lijreat  as  todoiniind 
li'i^islatioii  tt'iidiny  tu  ]iiake  iirnvisioiis  for 
tlio  care  of  fucIi  ])ei-sons.  Thu  J^ei;islature 
was  at  lirst  slow  to  ai-t  on  the  matter.  At 
tlie  present  time,  however,  there  is  no  State 
ill  the  Union  which  can  hoast  a  better  system 
of  benevolent  institutions. 

In  behalf  of  the  blind,  the  first  elfort  was 
made  by  James  M.  Hay  in  18-fG.  Tiiroiii^h 
liis  efl'orts  "William  II.  Clmrchman  came 
from  Xentucky  with  blind  pupils,  and  gave 
exhibitions  in  Jlr.  IJeecher's  church  in  Indi- 
anapolis. These  entertainments  were  attended 
by  members  of  the  Legislature,  and  had  the 
desired  effect.  That  body  passed  an  act  for 
founding  an  institution  for  the  blind  in  1847. 
The  buildings  occupy  a  space  of  eight  acres 
at  the  State  capital,  and  is  now  in  a  tlourish- 
ing  condition. 

The  first  to  awaken  an  interest  in  the  State 
for  the  deaf  and  dumb  was  AVilliam  AVillard, 
himself  a  mute,  who  visited  Indianapolis  in 
1S43.  He  opened  a  school  for  mutes  on  his 
own  account  with  sixteen  pupils.  The  next 
year  the  Legislature  a<lopted  this  school  as  a 
a  State  institution,  and  appointed  a  board  of 
trustees  for  its  management.  The  present 
buildings  were  completed  in  1850,  situated 
east  of  the  city  of  Indianapolis.  The  grounds 
comprise  105  acres,  devoted  to  pleasure 
grounds,  agriculture,  fruits,  vegetables,  flowers 
and  pasture. 

The  question  in  regard  to  taking  action  in 
the  matter  of  providing  for  the  care  of  the 
insane,  began  to  be  agitated  in  1832-'33.  No 
definite  action  was  taken,  however,  until  18-14, 
when  a  tax  was  levied,  and  in  1815  a  com- 
mission was  appointed  to  obtain  a  site  for  a 
building.  Said  commission  selected  I^Ionnt 
Jaclvson,  near  the  State  capitol. 

The    Lejrislature    of   1810    instructed    the 


commission  to  proceed  to  construct  a  suitalile 
building.  Accordingly,  in  1847,  the  central 
building  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  S75,000. 

Other  buildings  have  been  erected  from 
time  to  time,  as  needed  to  accommodtite  the 
increased  demand,  and  at  the  present  time 
Indiana  has  an  institution  for  the  insane 
equal  to  any  in  the  AVest. 

The  State  hospital  not  aflbrding  snfHcient 
accommodations  for  her  insane,  March  7, 
1883,  an  act  providing  for  the  location  and 
erection  of  "Additional  Hospitals  for  the 
Insane  "  was  passed  by  the  Legislature,  and 
Marcii  21  commissioners  were  appointed. 
After  careful  consideration  three  sites  were 
located,  one  at  Evansville,  one  at  Logansport 
and  one  at  Kichmond,  called  respectively  the 
Southern,  Northern  and  Eastern  hospitals. 
The  Southern  Indiana  Hospital  for  Insane  is 
located  four  miles  east  of  Evansville,  and  is 
built  on  the  corridor  ])lan.  The  buildings 
are  situated  near  the  center  of  the  hospital 
domain,  which  consists  of  100  acres  of  highly 
improved  land.  The  structure  proper  con- 
sists of  a  central  oblong  block,  which  is  prac- 
tically the  vestibule  of  the  entire  hospital. 
From  the  first  floor  and  the  two  galleries 
above,  entrance  is  had  into  the  four  lateral 
wings.  The  total  capacity  is  162  patients. 
This  building  has  been  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$301,887.49. 

The  Northern  Indiana  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  is  located  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of 
Logansport,  on  a  tract  of  land  including  281 
acres,  lying  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Wabash 
Iiiver,  and  is  built  on  the  pavilion  plan.  At 
the  center  of  the  ridge,  in  the  maple  grove,  is 
situated  the  administration  house.  This  is 
flanked  on  each  side  by  fi\e  pavilions,  ar- 
ranged in  a  straight  line,  which  are  intended 
and  designed  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
sick  and  infirm.  On  either  side  of  the  above 
named  group,  205    feet    distant,  are   located 


iPm  ■■«■  W^^fSHmPjit  *  id^<EwHB?i 


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IIISTOUY    OF    IX DIANA. 


two  pavilions,  alike  in  every  particular,  in- 
tended for  quiet  jxitients.  Tlii.s  hospital  has 
a  capacity  for  312  patients,  and  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  i?-l:17A)!:i2.98. 

The  Eastern  Indiana  Hospital  for  the  In- 
sane is  located  on  a  tract  of  300  acres,  two 
miles  west  of  Ilicliinond,  and  is  constructed 
on  the  cottage  plan.  The  buildings,  seven- 
teen in  nu\nlier,  are  arranged  in  and  around 
three  sides  of  a  quadrani^k',  1,000  feet  loni,^, 
by  700  feet  broad,  near  the  center  of  the 
farm,  the  third,  i>r  northern  side,  Ijcing  closed 
in  by  a  grove.  Tiie  southern  front  contains 
the  administration  house;  the  eastern  front, 
five  houses  for  female  patients,  and  the  west- 
ern front,  similar  houses  for  male  jiatients. 
This  hospital  lias  a  capacity  of  443  patients, 
and  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  .$409,81)7.88. 

The  first  penal  institution  established  in 
the  State,  known  as  the  State  Prisijn  South, 
is  located  at  Jetl'ersonville.  It  was  estab- 
lished in  1821,  and  was  the  only  prison  un- 
til 1859.  Before  this  prison  was  established, 
it  was  customary  to  resort  to  the  old-time 
punishment  of  the  whipping-post.  I'Vir  a 
time  the  prisoners  were  hired  to  contractors; 
later,  they  were  employed  constructing  new 
prison  buildings,  which  stand  on  sixteen 
acres  of  ground.  From  1857  to  1871,  they 
were  employed  manutacturing  wagons  and 
farm  imiilements.  In  1871  the  Southwestern 
Car  Company  leased  of  the  State  all  convicts 
capable  of  ])erforming  laljor  pertaining  to  the 
manufacture  of  cars.  This  business  ceased  to 
be  profitable  to  the  company  in  1873,  and  in 
187(5  all  the  convicts  were  again  idle. 

In  1859  the  Legislature  passed  an  act 
authorizing  the  construction  of  a  State 
prison  in  the  north  part  of  the  State,  and  aji- 
propriated  $50,000  for  that  pur])Ose:  Michi- 
gan City,  on  Lake  Michigan,  was  the  site 
selected,  and  a  large  number  of  convicts  from 
the  prison  South,  were  moved  to  that  point 


and  began  the  work  which  has  produced  one 
of  the  best  prisons  in  the  country.  It  diifers 
widely  from  the  Southern,  in  so  much  as  its 
sanitary  condition  has  been  above  the  average 
of  similar  institutions. 

The  prison  reform  agitation,  which  in  this 
State  attained  telling  proportions  in  1809, 
caused  a  legislative  measure  to  be  brought 
forward  which  would  have  a  tendency  to 
ameliorate  the  condition  of  female  convicts. 

The  Legislature  of  1873  voted  850,000 
for  the  erection  of  suitable  buildings,  which 
was  carried  into  effect,  and  the  building  de- 
clared ready  in  September,  1873,  located  at 
the  State  capital,  and  known  as  the  Indiana 
lieformatory  Institution  for  Women  and 
Girls.  To  this  institution  all  female  con- 
victs in  other  prisons  in  tlie  State  were  im- 
mediately removed,  and  the  institution  is 
one  of  the  most  commendable  for  good  re- 
sults to  be  found  in  any  State. 

In  1807  the  Legislature  appropriated  $50,- 
000,  for  the  purpose  of  founding  an  institu- 
tion for  the  correction  and  reformation  of 
juvenile  oU'endcrs.  A  Hoard  of  Control  was 
aj)pointed  b}'  the  (rosernor,  mIio  assembled 
in  Indianapolis,  April  3,  1807,  and  elected 
Charles  F.  Coffin  as  President.  Governor 
Baker  selected  the  site,  fourteen  miles  from 
Indianapolis,  near  Plainfield,  where  a  fertile 
farm" of  225  acres  was  purchased. 

January  1,  1808,  a  few  buildings  were 
ready  to  receive  occupants;  the  main  build- 
ing was  completed  in  1809.  Everything  is 
constructed  upon  modern  principles,  and 
with  a  view  to  health  and  comfort.  The  in- 
stitution is  in  a  prosperous  condition,  and 
the  good  effects  of  the  training  received  there 
by  the  young  well  repays  the  tax-payers,  in 
the  way  of  improving  society  and  elevating 
the  minds  of  those  who  would  otherwise  be 
wrecked  on  life's  stream  before  attaining  to 
years  of  nuiturity. 


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Prominent  Men  of  Indiana. 


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'rj=?^''-'^''-*  ■''■-^•'''^  ''►-•  ''^'-^  ■'<i^''t>  (^^^j^^Jj  x^)<:^,^■^'^.^'^WJ4^^^^,^'4'v;:^^^':^^-T^^^^^ 


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;^;h,IVER  PEP.r.Y  MOK- 
T(  *X,  tlio  AV;ir  Governor 
(if  Iiuliiuia,  niid  one  of 
/Tj  tlie  most  eniiiieiit  Unitc<l 
-..yl'S  Status  Senators,  was  born 
■i_-CO  in  Salislinry,  AVayne 
County,  this  State,  August  -i, 
1S2I5.  The  name,  whicli  is  of 
Knylisli  oriifin,  \vas  (irii;-inally 
Throfkmorton.  Wiicn  young  Oli- 
ver lieeamo  a  lad  he  attended  the 
aeademy  of  ]*rofessor  lloshoiir  at 
Centrcville,  in  liis  native  county, 
hut  could  not  continue  lony  there, 
as  the  I'amily  was  too  poor  to  defray  liis 
expenses.  At  the  ago  of  tifteen,  therefore, 
he  was  placed  with  an  older  brother  to  learn 
the  liatter's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  four 
years.  I )etermiuin;^  then  to  enter  the  pro- 
fession of  law,  he  began  to  i|ualit'y  himself  hy 
attending  tlie  iliami  University,  in  1S43, 
where  ho  remained  two  years.  IJeturniui;  to 
Centrcville,  he  entered  the  study  of  law 
with  the  late  Judge  Newman.  Succeeding 
well,  he  soon  secured  for  himself  an  inde- 
]iendent  pi'actice,agood  clientai^fe,  and  rapidly 
ruse  to  pi-iiminence.  In  1S,")2  he  was  ekx'ted 
circuit  judge;  but  at  the  end  of  a  year  he 
resigned,  preferring  to  practice  as  an  advocate. 
TJ]-)  to  1S54  j\[r.  ^lurton  was  a  Democrat 
in  his  party  prcferonces;  but  the  repeal  of 
the    ^lissouri    Compromise    caused    him    to 


it?*.55i»«*«  «J«  a/SM 


secede,  an<l  join  tlie  incoming  Republican 
party,  in  which  he  became  a  leader  from  its 
beginning.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Pitts- 
burg Convention  in  185(],  where  he  so  ex- 
hibited his  abilities  that  at  the  next  Itcpub- 
lican  State  Convention  he  was  nominated  for 
(Governor  against  Ashbel  P.  AVillard,  the 
Democratic  nominee.  His  Jiarty  being  still 
young  and  in  the  minority,  was  defeated; 
but  !Mr.  ]\[orton  came  out  of  the  contest  with 
greatly  increased    notoriety    and  popularity. 

In  1800  Judge  Jlorton  received  the  nomi- 
nation for  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Indiana, 
on  the  ticket  with  Henry  S.  Lane,  and  they 
were  elected;  but  only  two  days  after  their 
inauguration  (lovernor  Lane  was  electe<l  to 
the  United  States  Senate,  and  ^h:  Morton 
became  (iovernor.  It  was  while  lilling  this 
position  that  he  did  his  best  public  work, 
and  created  tor  himself  a  fame  as  lasting  as 
the  State  itself.  He  opposed  all  compromise 
with  the  Ilebellion,  and  when  the  Legislature 
passed  a  joint  resolution  providing  for  the 
aj)]iointment  of  peace  commissioners,  he 
selected  men  who  were  publicly  known  to 
lie  ojiposed  to  an}'  compi'omise. 

During  tlie  dark  and  tedious  days  of  the 
war,  iu  iMil,  (nivernor  ]\Iortou  defeated  Jo- 
sepih  !■].  AIcDonald,  in  the  race  for  Crovernor, 
by  a -majority  of  20,8s3  votes.  The  next 
summer  he  liad  a  stroke  of  ])artial  paralysis, 
from   which  he  never   fully  recovered.     The 


^M^M„.M„ 


aJMaMJg^^MWJ^M^a-araiffMiniL^^^  Jai^a»--^*..xi^M„»i! 


»"ai»t.i»ii2M,aM»,mif^ni„»^, 


'r«>*.^wi>*««i 


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tttt 

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ii 


(It 


(liseasu  so  artVcted  tlic  lower  part  of  liis  body 
and  liis  linilis,  that  lie  was  never  afterward 
ulile  to  wallc  without  tlic  assistance  of  canes; 
but  otherwise  he   enjoyed  a  hiirli  dei^ree  of 
])hysical    and    mental    vigor.      In   December 
following  he  made  a  voyage  to  Europe,  M'here 
he  consulted  eminent  physicians  and  received 
medical    treatment,  but   tudy  ])artially  recov- 
ered.    In    ilarch,  l^ljli,  he    returned  to  the 
executive  chair  to   resume  his  otlicial  duties. 
In  January,  1807,  (iovernor   ilorton  was 
elected    to    the   United    States   Senate,  being 
succeeded  in  his  State  duties  by  Lieutenant- 
(lovernor  liaker.      In    1S73   Senator   Morton 
was  re-elected,  and  he  continued  a  member 
of  that  body  while  lie  lived.     In  that  position 
!Mr.  ilorton  ranked  among  the  ablest  states- 
men, was  one  of  the  four  or  five  chiefs  of  his 
party,  and,  being  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
on   Privileges  and  l-^lections,  he  did  more  in 
determining  the  polic}'  of  the  Senate  and  of 
the  Republican  party  than  any  other  member 
of  the  Senate.      It  was  during  this  period  that 
the  numy  vexed  (piestions  of  the  reconstruc- 
tion period  came  up,  and  with  reference  to  all 
of    them   lie  favored   railical    and   repressive 
measures  in  dealing  with  the  rebellious  States. 
In   the    spring    of  1877   Senator  Morton 
went   to  Oregon  as  Chairman    of  a  Senate 
Committee  to  investigate  the  election  of  Sen- 
ator (xrover,  of  that  State,  and  while  there  he 
lielivercd,  at  Salem,  the  last  political  speech 
of  his  life.      During  his   return,  by  way  of 
San  Francisco,  he  suifered   another  jiaralytic 
stroke,  and  he  was  brought  East  on  a  special 
car,  taken  to  the  residence  of   his  mother-in- 
law,  'Slvs.  r>urbanks,  at  Ilichmond,  this  State, 
aiul  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  there, 
(lying  November  1,  1877.     The  death  of  no 
man,  with  the  exception  of  that  of  President 
Lincoln,  ever  created  so  much  grief  in  Indi- 
ana   as    did    that  of   Senator   l\rorton.     The 
lamentation,  indeed,  was  national.    The  Presi- 


dent of  the  United  States  directed  the  flags 
on  public  liuildings  to  be  placed  at  half-mast, 
and  also  that  the  Government  departments 
be  closed  on  the  day  of  the  funeral.  The  re- 
mains of  the  great  statesman  were  interred 
at  the  spot  in  Crown  Hill  Cemetery  where 
he  stood  on  Soldiers'  Decoration  Day,  in 
May,  1870,  when  he  delivered  a  great  speech 
to  a  large  assemblage.  Never  before  did  so 
many  distinguished  men  attend  the  funeral 
of  a  citizen  of  Indiana. 

Personally,  Senator  Morton  was  character- 
ized by  great  tenacity  of  jnirpose  and  shrewd 
foresight.  Talking  his  aim,  he  ceased  not 
until  he  attained  it,  without  compromise  and 
without  conciliation,  if  not  by  the  means  lirst 
adopted,  then  by  another.  As  Governor  of 
Indiana  he  exhibited  wonderful  energy,  tact 
and  forethought.  He  distanced  all  other 
Governors  in  putting  troops  in  the  field,  and 
he  also  excelled  them  all  in  providing  for  their 
wants  while  there.  His  State  pride  was  in- 
tense, and  in  respect  to  the  general  character 
of  the  people  of  his  State  he  brought  Indiana 
"out  of  the  wilderness"  to  the  front,  since 
which  time  the  Iloosier  State  has  been  more 
favorably  known.  In  the  great  civil  war 
which  tried  the  mettle  and  jiatriotism  of  the 
people,  Indiana  came  to  the  front  under  his 
guidance,  yea,  to  the  forefront  of  the  line. 
As  a  legislator,  he  originated  and  accom- 
plished much,  being  naturally,  as  well  as  by 
self-disci]iline,  the  most  aggressive,  bold  and 
clear-headed  Pepublican  politician  of  his 
time.  He  was  alsii  well  versed  in  the  sciences, 
especially  geology;  and  even  in  theology  he 
knew  more  than  many  whose  province  it  is 
to  teach  it,  although  he  was  not  a  member  of 
any  church. 

A  statue  of  Senator  Morton  is  placed  in 
one  of  the  public  jiarks  at  Indianapolis  by 
the  contributions  of  a  grateful  common- 
wealth. 


>^ 


'Si'~ 


,,»*i^!Sn«l!«w.-G;'v 


4 


•^r  (^    'V«-^VA_(3(/V'uc^^ 


3^ 


TliuMAH    A.   HENDRICKS. 


-1--  tt'_■l••_-.?^^-_^l-_rf^  __-J-_^s!C-^  '^t^^-^^l^O  •J-_??!_^k1^_  rf^  . 


.t|....~:.=.=.....^:^ ,,^,,^......„,„. -»^n-rp||^- 

-^^11    THOMAS  A.  HENDRICKS.    |i^^- 


T^i.w.»iBM»aii.io.a;::*fr7P^ 


105 


tih_.l-_«^  ilF^'^^^^ 


.vfllOMAS    ANDREWS 
HENDRICKS,  elected 
A'ice-Pi'esiilent   of  tlie 
United  Stutos  iu  1884, 
was  Lorn  in  ^luskin^f- 
uin  C'ii\iiity,  Oliio,  near 
tlie  city  of  Ziinosville,  Septcm- 
liLT    7,    ISI'J.     Tlie  foilowinj,' 
S]irinij;   tlie    family    moved    to 
AradiftOi),    this     State,    and    in 
ls22  to  SliflKy  Cdinity,  \vliere 
Vo    tlicy   opened    np  a  farm   in  a 
)arscly  settled  region  near  tlie 
center  of  tlie  county.      It  was 
sC^  \I '\^     lierc  that  Thomas  j^rew  to  man- 
hood.   After  the  completion  of 
ills  education  at  Hanover  College  ho  studied 
aw  ill  the  otttce  of  his  uncle,  Judi^e  Thomson, 
at  Chambershurg-,  Pennsyh'ania,  ami  in 
time  was  admitted  t.i  the  har. 

Ill  1S48  he  w.is  elected  to  the  Legislature; 
in  1850,  to  the  convention  which  framed  the 
present  Constitution  of  the  State,  being  an 
active  participant  in  the  deliberations  of  that 
body;  in  1851  and  1852,  to  Congress;  in 
1855,  was    appointed    Commissioner  of   the 


General  Land  Office,  which  he  resigned  in 
185'J;  ISC.a-'OO,  United  States  Senator;  1872- 
'77,(;o\eriiur  of  Indiana;  and  tinally,  July  12, 
1881,  he  Mas  nominated  liy  tlie  Democratic 
National  Convention  at  Chicago  as  second  on 
the  ticket  ^vith  (irover  Clevehuul,  wliii-h  \vas 
successful  in  tli  >  ensuing  campaign;  but  a 
few  days  before  he  should  begin  to  serve  as 
Speaker  of  the  Senate,  November,  1885,  he 
suddenly  died  at  his  Ikjiuc  iu  Indianapolis. 

Going  back  for  ]iarticulars,  we  should  state 
that  in  1800  he  was  candidate  for  (iovernor 
of  Indiana  against  licniy  S.  Lane,  and  \vas 
defeated  by  U,7.",7  votes,  while  the  Ucpub- 
licaii  majority  of  the  State  on  the  national 
ticket  was  23,521,  showing  his  immense 
])0]nilarity.  Again,  in  1808,  Conrad  Baker 
defeated  him  by  1,101  votes,  when  Grant's 
majority  over  Seymour  in  the  State  was 
0,570,  and  this,  too,  after  he  had  so  bitterly 
opposed  the  policy  of  Lincoln's  administration, 
and  thereby  lost  from  his  constituency  many 
L^nion  sympathizers.  And  linally,  in  1872, 
his  majority  for  (iovernor  over  General 
Thomas  jM.  Brown  was  1,148;  the  same  year 
(xrant's  majority   in   the   State  over  Greeley 


4 


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fFi' 


was  22,924.  Governor  lleiulricks  M'as  tlie 
only  man  elected  on  his  ticket  that  year, 
excepting  Professor  Hopldns,  m-Iiu  \vas chosen 
to  a  non-political  office. 

Ill  187G  Governor  Hendricks  was  a  con- 
spicions  candidate  for  the  Presidency,  beini^ 
the  favorite  of  the  AVestern  Democracy;  but 
the  East  proved  too  powerful,  and  nominated 
Tilden,  giving  Hendricks  the  second  place  on 
the  national  ticket,  thereby  strengthening  it 
greatly  in  the  "West. 

During  the  intervals  of  official  life,  Mr. 
Hendricks  practiced  law  with  eminent  suc- 
cess, being  equally  at  home  before  court  or 
jury,  and  not  easily  disturbed  by  unforeseen 
turns  in  a  case.  He  had  no  specialty  as  an 
advocate,  being  alike  efficient  in  the  civil  and 
criminal  court,  and  in  all  kinds  and  forms  of 
actions.  AVlien  out  of  office  his  voice  was 
fre(piently  lieard  on  the  political  questions  of 
the  day.  Indiana  regarded  liim  "with  pi'ide, 
and  among  a  large  class  he  was  looked  upon 
as  the  leader  of  the  Democracy  of  the  "West. 
His  adherents  rallied  around  him  in  ISSQ, 
and  his  name  was  again  prominent  for  the 
Presidential  nomination,  and  might  have 
l)cen  carried  were  it  not  for  the  opjwsition  of 
the  friends  of  ]\rr.  I^fcDonald. 

As  his  views  on  governmental  affairs  were 
ci-itical,  definite  and  positive,  lie  had  many 
iiolitical  enemies,  but  none  of  them  have  ever 
(liarrred  him  with  malfeasance  in  office,  or 
incompetency  in  any  of  his  puldic  positions. 
He  was  a  man  of  convictions,  conservative, 
eloquent  in  public  address,  careful  of  his 
utterances,  and  exceedingly  earnest. 


^[r.  Hciulricks  lielongcd  to  a  family  noted 
in  the  hist(jiy  of  Indiana.  His  uncle,  AVill- 
iam  Hendricks,  was  secretary  of  the  conven- 
tion that  formed  the  iirst  Constitution  ot  the 
State;  was  Indiana's  first  Ilepresentative  in 
Congress,  lier  second  Governor,  aiul  for  two 
full  terms  represented  it  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  A  cousin,  John  Abram  Hen- 
dricks, fell  at  the  battle  of  Pea  Ilidge  while 
leading  liis  regiment  against  the  enemj';  and 
another  cousin,  Thomas  Hendricks,  was 
killed  in  the  Techc  country  while  serving  in 
the  Union  army.  ^Ir.  Ilendi'icks'  lather  was 
an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  he 
himself  was  baptized  and  brought  up  under 
the  auspices  of  that  denomination.  He  never 
joined  any  church  until  IStiT,  when  ho 
Ix'came  a  memljer  of  the  Protestant  Ejiis- 
copal  church,  retaining  his  Calvinistic  views. 
In  person  ^Ir.  Hendricks  was  live  feet  nine 
inches  high,  weighed  about  185  pounds;  his 
eyes  gray,  hair  of  a  sandy  hue,  nose  large 
and  iirominent,  complexion  fair  and  inclined 
to  freckle,  and  his  mouth  and  chin  were 
expressiv'e  of  determination  and  tenacity. 
He  wore  no  beard  except  a  little  near  the  ear. 
He  was  a  man  of  good  habits,  liealth  good, 
step  iirin  and  ])rompt,  and  voice  resonant  and 
steady. 

"After  his  nomination  for  the  Vice-Presi- 
dency he  took  an  active  part  in  the  campaign, 
delivering  a  number  of  powerful  addresses, 
and  while  waiting  for  his  term  of  official 
service  to  begin,  death  ended  his  days  and 
cast  an  indescribable  shade  of  gloom  over  his 
family.  State  and  nation. 


'. 


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SOIIUYLRR    COLFAX. 


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;L .  SCHUYLER  COLFAX.. 


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IX  li    LI.' 


'rc>!'i» 


^Hi'  <*:jt'^j^^"^ls • 


-vf  HIS  eminent  statesman 

was  bcirn  in  New  \'ork 

City,  :\[arcli  23,  18:23, 

tlie   (Mily   eon    of   liis 

wiilowL'il   inDtlier;  was 

taui^'-lit  in  the  coninion 

scliools  ot'  tlic  city,  linislieil  his 

edncation  at  a  liigli-scliool  on 

Crosby  street,  and  at  ten  years 

of  age  lie  liatl  received  all  the 

sfliool    training  lie   c\er   liad. 

^'i\  CiS}  ''^   After  clerking  in  a  store  for 

^P'lf/j-S    l,s^   three  years,  lie  removed  to  In- 

^'{^C-'^"^     iliana    with     liis    mother    an<l 

^  o\'S^     strpfather,  ]\[r.   JIathews,  set- 

^  '  tliiig    in    St.    Joseph   County. 

Here,  in   the    vilhigo  of    Xew    Carlisle,  the 

yontlt  sersod    four    j'ears    more   as  clerk  in 

a  store;  tiicii,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years, 

he   was   ap])ointed    deputy   county   auditor, 

and    to   fullill    his   duties  he  moved    to   the 

county  seat.  South  Bend,  wliere  lie  remained 

a  resident  until  his  death. 

Like  almost  every  "Western  citizen  of 
any  mental  activity,  yomig  Colfax  took 
a  practical  hold  of  jiolitical  matters  about 
as  soon  as  he  could  vote.  He  talked  and 
thought,  and  began  to  publish  liis  views, 
from  time  to  time,  in  the  local  uewspapcr  of 
the  place.     IHs  peculitir  faculty  of  dealing 


fairly,  and  at  the  same  time  pleasantly,  with 
men  of  all  sorts,  his  natui'al  sobriety  and 
common  sense,  anil  his  power  of  stating 
things  plainly  and  correctly,  made  him  a 
natural  newspaper  man.  He  was  employed 
during  several  sessions  of  the  Legislature,  to 
report  the  proceedings  of  the  Senate  for  the 
Lidianapolis  Journal,  and  in  this  position 
made  many  friends.  Li  1845  he  became 
proprietor  and  editor  of  the  St.  Joseph  Val- 
ley llc<j'(Stei',  the  S(Uith  Bend  iiewspapei', 
which  then  had  but  250  subscribers;  but 
the  youthful  editor  had  hope  and  energy,  and 
after  struggling  through  many  disappoint- 
ments, including  the  loss  of  his  ottice  by  fire, 
he  succeeded  in  making  a  comfortable  living 
out  of  the  enterprise. 

Mr-  Colfax  was  a  Whig  so  long  as  that 
party  existed.  In  1848  he  was  a  delegate  to 
the  convention  which  nominated  General 
Taylor  for  President,  and  was  one  of  the  sec- 
retai'ies  of  that  body.  The  next  year  he  was 
a  member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Con- 
vention, being  elected  thereto  from  a  Demo- 
cratic district.  Soon  afterward  he  was 
nominated  for  the  State  Senate,  but  declined 
because  he  could  not  be  sjiared  from  his  busi- 
ness. His  lirst  nomination  for  Congress  was 
in  1851,  but  was  beaten  by  200  votes,  which 
was  less  than   the  real  Democratic  majority 


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PROMINliNT    MEN    OF    INDIANA. 


ill  his  district.  Ilis  successful  competitor 
was  Dr.  Ciniliain  K.  Fitcli,  wlio,  along  \vi*'li 
AFr.  P>riglit,  liccunc  so  consjiicnuus  in  the 
suj)])ort  ol'  Ihichanaii.  In  1S52  lie  was  a 
ilclcg-atc  to  the  \\'iiiir  National  Convention 
tiiat  nominated  (leneral  Scott,  and  was  again 
secretary. 

Franklin  Pierce,  the  Deinoeratic  nominee, 
was  elected  President,  and  during  his  tei-m 
tlie  Whig  party  w;is  dissolved  upon  the  issue 
of  slavery,  and,  naturally  enough,  Mr.  Colfax 
drifted  in  with  the  party  of  freedom.  So  did 
the  people  of  his  Congressional  district;  for, 
after  having  given  their  Democratic  repre- 
sentative l,0()t)  majority  two  years  before, 
they  now  nominated  and  elected  Mr.  Colfax 
to  succeed  liiin  by  about  2,000  majority. 

Tiie  Congress  to  which  he  was  thus  elected 
is  noted  for  the  tedious  struggle  in  the  elec- 
tion of  a  Speaker  of  the  House,  resulting, 
Fehruary  2,  1850,  in  the  choice  of  N.  P. 
Panks.  Air.  Colfax,  who  was  second  in  the 
race  fur  the  Speakership,  exhibited  wonderful 
jiarlianientary  tact  in  staving  off  the  South- 
erners, wlio  at  tunes  seemed  on  the  point  ot 
success.  As  to  parties  at  this  time,  they 
were  considerably  broken  up,  comprising 
"  >Vnti-Nebraska"  (Tiepublican),  Democrats, 
Know-Nothings  and  nondescripts.  During 
this  and  the  succeeding  Congress,  to  which 
AFr.  Colfax  was  elected,  he  delivered  several 
telling  speeches,  some  of  which  were  printed 


almost  by  the  million  and  distributed  to 
the  voters  througliout  the  North.  These 
siieeches  were  full  of  solid  facts  and  figures 
with  reference  to  the  Pro-Slavery  party, 
especially  in  Kansas,  so  tliat,  by  a  sort  of 
play  upon  liis  name,  the  people  often  re- 
ferred to  him  as  "Cold-facts." 

In  1800  Mr.  Colfax  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress the  third  time,  and  in  1802  the  fourtii 
time.  In  December,  18G3,  lie  was  chosen 
Speaker  of  the  House,  which  j^osition  he  re- 
tained to  the  end  of  the  term  for  which 
Lincoln  and  Johnson  were  elected,  exhil>- 
iting  pre-eminent  parliamentary  skill  and 
an  obliging  disposition.  Equally  polite  to 
all,  lie  M-as  ever  a  gentleman  worthy  of  the 
highest  honor. 

The  favorable  notorict}'  gained  by  his 
"cold  facts"  against  slavery,  parliamentary 
ability,  his  power  of  debate,  and  his  suavity 
of  manner,  led  the  Pepublican  party  in  ISOS 
to  ])lace  liim  on  the  national  ticket,  second 
only  to  the  leading  soldier  of  the  Union, 
U.  S.  Grant.  Being  elected,  he  served  as 
President  of  the  Senate  with  characteristic 
ability  throughout  his  term.  Then,  retiring 
from  political  life,  he  devoted  the  remaining 
years  of  his  life  to  lectures  upon  miscella- 
neous topics;  and  it  was  during  a  lecturing 
tour  in  ^Minnesota  that  he  was  stricken  down 
with  liis  final  illness.  He  died  at  Maukato, 
that  State,  January  13,  1885. 


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JAMEH    D.    WILLIAMS.  iri 


pj^^^^'^^^^'^^.^'^^f^  ^^l^-r^g<*|S«(*r^r^;«i*r^t^ry^(^^^^  :k 


Mill    ^JAMES   D.  WILLIAMS.^   § 


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'<t^y 


ETil']  -we  have  present- 
ed a  praptical  illnstra- 
^  tioii  of  tlie  type  of  man 
])i-oiluced  by  a  young 
and  vigorons  rcpul)lic, 
m^  wliicli  had,  but  a  few 
years      precedlno-      li'- 


i;VH^v>7  ^''■'^1')  asserted,  witli  justice,  and 
5'^>.V!v^  successfully  maintained,  her  claim 
S^7ip^  to  assume  lier  riglitful  position  as 
^  XOV  one  of  the  nations  of  the  earth. 
''  U„  James  D.Williams  was  born  in 

T'ickaway  County,  Ohio,  January 
8,  1S08,  soon  after  that  State  liad 
assumed  ^  her  ^ilace  among  that 
galaxy  of  stars  destined  to  liecome  the  great- 
est nation  in  the  worhl. 

In  childliofid  he  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Knox  County,  Indiana,  where  he  received 
a  common-school  education,  and  grew  to 
manhood  a  tiller  of  the  soil. 

He  entered  the  theater  of  life  at  a  time 
when  the  stage  scenery  Avas  of  the  most 
gigantic  grandeur  ever  beheld  by  the  eye  of 
man.  Nature  in  her  stujiCTidous  splendor 
was  around  and  about  the  young  actor,  and 
he  readily  imbibed  the  spirit  of  liis  sur- 
roundings, and  was  filled  with  enthnsiastic 
ho]ie  for  the  future  greatness  of  the  vast  and 
beautiful  country,  which  Ijut  awaited  the  call 
of  the  Inisbandman   to   answer   in   bountiful 


harvests  to  his  many  demands.  "With  yonncr 
AVilliams  the  grandeur  of  the  scene  lilled  his 
suul  with  a  hopeful  determination  to  act 
well  his  part  in  the  great  drama  before  him, 
as  the  reader  will  iind  while  following  iiim 
down  life's  pathway. 

AV'hen  lie  attained  to  manhood  lie  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock-raisino-,  and 
became  widely  known  as  a  practical  and  suc- 
cessful Indiana  f^inner. 

lie  had  closely  observed  the  passing  events 
in  the  clash  and  conflict  of  political  parties, 
and  his  fellow  citizens  saw  in  him  the  qual- 
itied  elements  of  a  representative  man,  and 
he  was  frerpiently  elected  as  a  Democrat  to 
represent  his  county  in  the  Lower  House  of 
the  Legislature,  where  lie  discharged  the 
duties  devolving  upon  him  with  marked 
ability  and  even  beyond  the  e.xpectatitms  of 
his  constituents.  The  sagacity  and  ability 
with  which  he  dealt  M'ith  ]iublic  measures 
in  the  Lower  House  opened  the  avenue  to 
higher  honors  and  more  weighty  responsi- 
bilities. 

In  1859  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate, 
where  he  continuously  served  liis  constitu- 
ency until  18G7,  maintaining  the  reputation 
he  had  gained  in  the  Lower  House  for  ability 
and  the  faithful  performance  of  duty,  and 
still  developing  a  capacity  for  a  wider  Held 
of  operations. 


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PWMTNEyT    MEN    OF    INDTANA. 


IH^ 


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(Ill) 
Mi 


■  \i 


lie  was  not  pLTmittL'd  to  long  live  in  the 
liome  life  which  he  so  niuch  enjoyctl.  The 
alile  and  lUithful  manner  in  which  lie  had 
ditfpluirged  his  duties  as  a  public  servant,  his 
common  sense  and  social  manner,  made  him 
tViends  even  among  his  political  opponents. 
lie  hore  honors  conferred  upon  hiui  noLly 
but  meekly,  never  ceasing  to  gratefully  re- 
member those  to  whom  gratitude  was  due  for 
the  positions  of  honor  and  trust  to  which 
tliey  had  called  liim. 

lie  was  destined  to  spend  his  life  as  a 
public  servant.  His  fellow  citizens  again 
elected  him  to  the  State  Senate  in  1871,  and 
in  1S74  he  was  again  cruwned  witli  higher 
honors,  and  was  elected  tt)  represent  his  dis- 
trict iu  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
wiiere  he  displayed  the  same  ability  in  deal- 
ing with  public  (questions  that  he  had  in  the 
legislative  body  of  his  State.  During  his 
ti'rm  in  Congress  lie  served  in  the  impor- 
tant position  of  chairman  of  the  Committee 
on   Public  Accounts. 

lie  was  a  ])romiiient  and  leading  member 
of  the  Indiana  State  I>oard  of  Agriculture  for 
seventeen  years,  and  served  as  its  president 
for  three  years.  No  one  citizen  of  Indiana 
was  more  deeply  interested  and  active  in  de- 
veloping and  promoting  the  agricultural  and 
(itliei-  industrial  resources  of  his  State  than 
he.  <  )iie  leading  feature  of  his  ambition  was 
to  be  in  the  front  rank  of  progress,  and  to 
place  his  State  on  a  plane  with  the  sister 
States  of  the  prosjjerous  Union.  He  was 
eipially  active  in  tlie  educational  interest  of  his 
fellow  citizens,  and  advocated  facilities  for 
diil'using  knowledge  among  the  masses,  plac- 
ing an  education  witliin  the  reach  of  children 
of  the  most  humble  citizen. 

lie  gathered  liaj)pliiess  while  promoting 
the  weltare  of  others,  and  step  by  step,  year 
by  year,  his  friends  increased  in  numbers 
and  warmed    in   devotion    to    their   trusted, 


faithful  and  grateful  servant.  lie  was  rapid- 
ly growing  iu  State  popularity,  as  lie  had 
long  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  his  own  county 
and  district,  and  in  his  quiet,  unassuming 
way  was  building  larger  than  he  knew.  His 
plain  manner  of  dress,  commonly  "  blue 
jeans,"  caused  him  to  become  widely  known 
by  the  sobriquet  of  "  Blue  Jeans,"  of  which 
his  admirers  were  as  proud  as  were  those  of 
"  Old  Hickory  "  as  apjdied  to  Andrew  Jack- 
son, or  "  liough  and  lieady  "  as  applied  to 
General  Zachariah  Taylor. 

The  civil  war  liad  made  fearful  inroads  in 
party  lines;  the  public  questions  to  be  set- 
tled immediately  following  the  close  of  the 
war  involved"  problems  which  many  leading 
men,  who  had  previously  acted  witli  the 
Democratic  party,  could  not  solve  satisfacto- 
rily to  themselves  from  a  Democratic  stand- 
point; hence  they  cast  their  fortunes  with 
the  popular  party,  the  llepublican. 

The  Democratic  party  had  been  impatient- 
ly but  energetically  seeking  State  supremacy. 
James  D.  Williams,  so  far  as  tried,  had  led 
the  column  to  success,  why  not  make  him 
their  Moses  to  lead  them  to  possess  the 
promised  land,  State  Supremacy? 

The  centennial  anniversary  of  American 
independence,  187G,  seemed  to  them  the  auspi- 
cious period  to  marshal  their  forces  under  an 
indomitable  leader  and  go  forth  to  conquer. 

They  accordingly  in  that  year  nominated 
the  Hon.  James  D.  AVilliains  for  Governor, 
and  the  Republicans  nominated  General  Ben- 
jamin Harrison,  a  military  hero  and  a  lineal 
descendant  of  General  AV.  II.  Harrison.  The 
contest  will  stand  in  history  as  the  most  ex- 
citing campaign  in  the  political  liistory  of 
the  United  States,  and  resulted  in  the  elec- 
tion of  the  Democratic  leader.  His  services 
as  Governor  of  the  State  were  characteristic 
of  his  j^ast  public  life.  He  died,  full  of  hoii- 
ors.  on  November  20,  1880. 


"^^m'^m^^tx^^^m' 


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IS* 


^  ROBERT  DALE  OWEN,  K 


-*'()( )KING  outsule  of  the 


w>»|^ii!r'A,     rL';iliii  of  statesmen,  -we 

,.„)|;|l,^^gte,!,  iiciit  citizen  oflndi- 
V-s^ia-^O.^^^^  ana  nnt  now  living 
'  '  '^  '■  ^^^  was  the  learned 
Scotchman  named  at  the  head  of 
this  sketch.  Tlohert  Owen,  liis 
father,  was  a  great  tlieorist  in 
social  and  religimis  reforms.  lie 
was  born  in  Newtown,  ^lontgom- 
ervshire.  North  A\''ales,  ]\rarch  14, 
1771,  wliere  he  died  November 
19,  18uS. 

lie  (the  father)  entered  upon  a 
commercial  life  at  an  early  age,  and  subse- 
(pieiitly  engaged  in  the  cotton  manufacture 
at  New  Lanark,  Scotland,  where  lie  introduced 
important  reftirms,  having  for  their  object 
tlie  improvement  of  the  condition  ui'  tlie 
laborers  in  hisemj^loy,  afterward  he  directed 
liis  attention  to  social  questions  on  a  broader 
scale,  publishing  in  1812  '•  New  Views  of 
Society,  or  Essays  ujion  the  l''ormation  of  the 
Human  Character,"  and  subseijuently  the 
"  Book  of  the  New  Moral  World,"  in  whicli 
he    advocated  doctrines    of  human   equality 


and  the  abolition  of  class  distinctions.  Hav- 
ing W(.in  a  hu'ge  fortune  in  his  business,  he 
■\vas  able  to  gi\  e  his  views  a  wide  circulation, 
and  his  folbjwers  became  numerous;  but, 
being  outs])okcii  against  many  of  the  gen- 
erally received  theidogical  dugmas  of  the 
time,  a  /.eahius  op|Hi^ition  was  also  aroused 
against  liim.  After  the  death  of  his  jjatron, 
the  Duke  of  Kent,  he  emigrated  to  this 
country,  in  1S2.!,  and  at  his  own  expense 
founded  the  celebrated  communistic  soeietv 
at  New  Harmony,  this  State.  The  scheme 
proving  a  failure  he  returned  to  England, 
where  lie  tried  several  similar  experiments 
with  the  same  result;  but  in  spite  of  all  his 
failures  he  was  universally  esteemed  for  his 
integrity  and  benevolence.  His  later  years 
were  spent  in  efforts  to  promote  a  i-eligiou  of 
reason,  and  to  improve  the  condition  of  tlie 
working  classes. 

His  eldest  sou,  the  subject  of  this  biograjihi- 
cal  sketch,  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland, 
November  7,  1801;  was  educated  at  Eelleiis- 
berg's  College,  near  TJerne,  Switzerland;  came 
with  liis  father  to  the  United  States  in  1823, 
and  assisted  him  in  his  efforts  to  found  the 
colony  of  New  Harmony.     On  the  failure  of 


m        I 


v.I»iB.,«^ 


'^PVJir^M^-|tfJl.^Ta„»»Ill!<ii«>."«»ng^« 


Mi 
ill 

I 


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i*»««»Mij  fJ7i^iti:»»^.i  ^i^i 


178 


VKOMINENT    MEN    OF    INDIANA. 


tliiit  experiiiieiit  lie  visituil  Fniiico  and  Eng- 
liiiul,  but  returned  tu  this  country  in  1827 
and  bcciunc  a  citizen.  In  1828,  in  partner- 
sliip  witli  Miss  Frances  AVriglit,  lie  founded 
"Tlie  Free  En(|uirer,"  a  weekly  journal  do- 
voted  to  Socialistic  ideas,  and  to  0])position  to 
the  supernatural  origin  and  claims  of  Chris- 
tianity. The  paper  was  discontinued  after 
aTi  existence  of  three  yeai's.  In  1832  he 
married  Mary  Jane  lloLinson,  of  New  York, 
who  died  in  1871.  After  marriage  he  settled 
again  in  New  Harmony,  where  for  three  suc- 
cessive years  (1835-'38)  lie  was  elected  a  mem- 
lier  of  the  Legislature.  It  was  through  his 
iiitluence  that  one-half  of  the  surplus  revenue 
of  the  United  States  ajipropriated  to  the 
State  of  Indiana  was  devoted  to  the  support 
of  public  schools.  From  1843  to  1847  he 
represented  the  First  District  of  Indiana  in 
Congress,  acting  with  the  Democratic  party; 
took  an  active  paat  in  the  settlement  of  the 
northwestern  boundary  question,  serving  as 
a  member  of  the  committee  of  conference  on 
that  subject,  and  introduced  the  bill  organ- 
izing the  Smithsonian  Institute,  and  served 
for  a  time  as  one  of  the  regents.  In  1850  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Indiana  Constitutional 
Convention,  in  which  lie  took  a  prominent 
part.  It  was  through  his  efforts  that  Indiana 
conferred  independent  property  rights  upon 
women.  In  1853  he  went  to  Naples,  Italy, 
as  United  States  Charcje  (VAifaircs,  and  from 
1855  to  1858  he  hold  the  position  of  Min- 
ister. 

In  18(j0,  in  the  New  York  Trihime,  ho 
discussed  the  subject  of  divorce  with  Horace 
Cireeley,  and  a  pamphlet  edition  of  the  con- 
troversy afterward  obtained  a  wide  circula- 
tion. 

After  the  breaking  out  of  the  Hebellion, 
Mr.  Owen  was  a  warm  champion  of  the 
policy  of  emancipation,  and  the  letters  which 
he  addressed  to  members  of  the  cabinet  and 


the  President  on  that  subject  were  widely 
disseminateil.  When  the  proposition  was 
made  by  certain  inlluential  })oliticians  to 
reconstruct  the  Union  with  New  Fngland 
"left  out  in  the  cold,"  j\[r  Owen  addressed 
a  letter  to  tlie  people  of  Indiana  exposing 
the  dangerous  character  of  the  scheme, 
which  the  Union  Leagues  of  New  York 
and  Fhiladelphia  published  and  circulated 
extensively.  In  18G2  he  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Comniisson  on  Ordnance  Stores, 
and  in  18G3  was  Chairman  of  the  American 
Freedmeu's  Commission,  which  rendered  val- 
uable service  to  the  country. 

^Ir.  Owen  was  a  prominent  Spiritualist  in 
liis  philosophical  views,  and  jjublished  sev- 
eral remarkable  works  inculcating  them. 
His  mind,  in  his  later  years,  beginning  to 
totter,  he  was  often  too  credulous.  He  also 
published  many  other  works,  mostly  of  a 
jxditical  nature.  To  enumerate:  he  pub- 
lished at  Glasgow,  in  1824,  "  Outlines  of 
System  of  Education  at  New  Lanark;"  at  New 
York,  in  1831,  "Moral  Physiology;"  the 
next  year, "Discussion  with  Origen  Pachelor 
on  the  Personality  of  God  and  the  Authentici- 
ty of  the  Bible;"  and  subsequently,  "Pocahon- 
tas," an  historical  drama;  "Hints  on  Public 
Architecture,"  illustrated;  "Footfalls  on  the 
Poundary  of  Another  World,"  probably  liis 
most  wonderful  work;  "Tiie  Wrong  of  Slav- 
ery, and  the  Eight  of  Freedom;"  "Beyond 
the  P>reakers,"  a  novel;  "The  Debatable 
Land  between  this  AVorld  and  the  Next," 
and  "Threading  My  Way,"  an  autobiography. 

The  giant  intellect  of  Mr.  Owen  being 
linked  to  a  large  and  tender  heart,  his  sym- 
pathies were  constantly  rasped  by  witnessing 
the  boundless  but  apparently  needless  amount 
of  sull'ering  in  the  world,  and  chafed  by 
the  opposition  of  conservatism  to  all  efforts 
at  alleviation,  so  that  in  old  age  he  was  liter- 
ally worn  out.     He  died  at  an  advanced  age. 


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Tfes^i;J^li^t'-^liU't!^t^t5V5(i>«^^i^^ 


UN    one   lirief   gene- 

I'iition    a   duiise    and 

nnl>roken  wilderness 

has  been  transformed 

into  a  cultivated   re- 

Q-j/iciis    1  ••;,?  \     \  ijion     of     thrift    and 

■^V''?^  iirosiieritv,     hy     tlie 

f*At'''<^A.    untirinir  zeal   and   energy  of  an  en- 
^^CX:^  ,,    '         . 

^^•^^y^    terprising    people.      Tlie    trails     of 

EwA,^    hunters    and    U-apjiers    have    given 

4SM^      ]ihice    to    railroads    and     thorough- 

iSkRc^r'    fares  for  veliicles  of   every  deserip- 

''^^^     tion;   the  cabins  and  garden  patches 

Q  of  the  ])ioneers  have  been  succeeded 
by  comfortable  houses  and  broad 
lields  of  waving  grain,  with  school-houses, 
clinrches,  mills,  postotiices  and  other  institu- 
tions of  eonvenience  tor  each  community. 
Add  to  these  a  city  of  2.000  inhabitants  and 
numerous  thriving  villages,  with  e.\tensi\c 
business  and  manufacturing  interests,  and 
tlie  result  is  a  work  of  wliiidi  all  concerned 
nuiy  well   lie  prouil. 

The  record  of  this  marvelous  change  is 
histoi-y,  and  the  most  important  that  can 
be  written.  For  sixty  years  the  people  df 
Adams  County  have  been  making  a  hibtory, 


that  fiir  thrilling  iiitei-est,  grand  ju'aotical 
results,  and  lessons  that  may  be  ]ierused 
with  profit  Ijy  citizens  of  other  regi<in.^,  will 
compare  lavorably  with  the  narrative  of  the 
history  nf  any  county  in  the  great  North- 
west; and.  Considering  the  extent  of  teri-itury 
involved,  it  is  as  worthy  of  the  jien  nf  a 
ISancroft  as  even  the  stury  of  luir  glorious 
liepublic. 

AVliile  our  venerable  ancestoi's   may  liave 
said  and  believed 

"  No  peut-up  Ulicii  contracls  our  powers, 
For  tlje  wliole  boiimiless  cuiiliaent  is  ours," 

they  were,  nevertfieless,  for  a  long  time  con- 
tent to  occupy  and  possess  a  very  small 
corner  of  it;  and  the  great  A\'"est  was  not 
opened  to  industry  and  civilization  until  a 
variety  of  causes  had  combined  to  form,  as 
it  were,  a  great  heart,  whose  animating 
principlr  was  ini])r()vemcnt,  whose  impulses 
annually  sent  forward  armies  of  noble  men 
and  women,  and  whose  ])ulse  is  now  felt 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
best  country  the  sun  ever  shone  upon — from 
the  ]Mneries  of  !Maine  to  the  vineyards  of 
Califiirnia,  and  tVcmi  the  sugar-canes  of  Loui- 
siana to  the  wheat  fields  of  Minnesota.    Long 


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IILSTOUY    Of    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


may  this   lieart   heat   ami    piisli   foruavd    its 
avtLTics  ami  veins  of  cuininerce. 

Not  iiiiire  iVuin  choice  than  from  enforced 
necessity  did  the  old  pioneers  bid  farewell  to 
the  plaj-groiiml  of  their  childhootl  and  the 
rrraves  of  their  fathers.  One  generation  alter 
another  had  worn  themselves  ont  in  tJie  ser- 
vice of  their  avaricious  landlords.  From  the 
first  Hashes  of  daylight  in  the  morning,  until 
the  last  glimmer  of  the  setting  sun,  they  had 
toiled  unceasingly  on,  from  father  to  son, 
carrying  home  each  day  upon  their  aching 
shoulders  the  precious  proceeds  of  their  daily 
labor.  Money  and  pride  and  power  were 
handed  down  in  the  line  of  succession  from 
the  rich  father  to  his  son,  while  unceasing 
work  and  continuous  poverty  and  everlasting 
obscurity  wei-e  the  heritage  of  the  working 
man  and  his  children. 

Their  society  was  graded  and  degraded. 
It  was  not  manners,  nor  industry,  nor  educa- 
tion, nor  qualities  of  the  head  and  heart  that 
established  the  grade.  It  was  money  and 
jewels,  and  silk  and  satin,  and  broadcloth  and 
imperious  pride  that  triumphed  over  honest 
poverty  and  trampled  the  poor  man  and  his 
children  under  the  iron  heel.  The  children 
of  the  rich  and  poor  were  not  permitted  to 
mingle  with  and  to  love  each  other.  Court- 
ship was  more  the  work  of  the  parents  than 
of  the  sons  and  daughters.  The  golden  calf 
was  the  key  to  mati'imony.  To  perpetuate  a 
self-constituted  aristocracy,  without  power  of 
brain,  or  the  rich  blood  of  royalty,  purse  was 
united  to  purse,  and  cousin  with  cousin,  in 
bonds  of  matriuKjiiy,  until  the  virus  boiling 
in  their  blood  was  transmitted  by  the  law  of 
inheritance  from  one  generation  to  another, 
and  until  nerves  powerless  and  manhood 
dwarfed  were  on  exhibition  everywhere,  and 
everywhere  abhorred.  For  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  the  poor  man  to  remain  there, 
was  to  forever  follow  as  our  fathers  had   fol- 


lowed, and  nevei'  to  lead;  to  submit,  but 
never  to  rule;  to  obey,  but  never  to  cum- 
mand. 

Without  money  or  prestige,  or  iuHuential 
friends,  the  ])ioneers  drifted  along  one  by 
one,  from  State  to  State,  until  in  Indiana — 
the  garden  of  tiie  Union — they  have  found 
inviting  homes  for  each,  and  room  for  a 
To  secure  and  adorn  these  homes  more  than 
ordinary  ambition  was  recjuired,  greater  than 
ordinary  endurance  demanded,  and  unflinch- 
ing determination  was,  by  the  force  of  neces- 
sity, written  over  every  l)row.  It  was  not 
pomp,  or  parade,  or  glittering  show  that  the 
pioneers  were  after.  They  sought  for  homes 
which  they  could  call  their  own,  homes  for 
themselves  and  homes  for  their  children. 
How  well  they  have  succeeded  after  a  struggle 
of  many  years  against  the  adverse  tides,  let 
the  records  and  ta.\-gatlierers  testify;  let 
the  broad  cultivated  flelds  and  fruit-bearing 
orchards,  the  flocks  and  the  herds,  the  pala- 
tial residences,  the  places  of  business,  the 
spacious  halls,  the  clattering  car-wheels  and 
ponderous  engines  all  testify. 

There  was  a  time  when  pioneers  waded 
through  deep  snows,  across  bridgeless  rivers, 
and  through  bottomless  sloughs,  a  score  of 
miles  to  mill  or  market,  and  when  more  time 
was  required  to  reach  and  return  from  mai-ket 
than  is  now  requiretl  to  cross  the  continent, 
or  traverse  the  Atlantic.  The.se  were  the 
times  when  our  palaces  were  constructed  of 
logs  and  covered  with  "shakes"  riven  from 
the  forest  trees.  These  were  the  times  when 
our  children  were  stowed  away  for  the  night 
in  the  low,  dark  attics,  among  the  horns  of 
the  elk  and  the  deer,  and  where  through  the 
chinks  in  the  "shakes"  they  could  count 
the  twinkling  stars.  These  were  the  times 
when  our  chairs  and  our  bedsteads  were 
hewn  from  the  forest  trees,  and  tables  and 
bureatis  constructed  from  the  bo.xes  in  which 


^»w^■-.-^■Y'•'T■-•«-^''«|»'^l|^"«"«~|■-"«»^«*"■«"-l»°5-i»*^i»-«M^li«^ 


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INTUoDUCroHY. 


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their  goods  were  brought.  These  were  the 
times  when  the  working  man  hibored  six  and 
sometimes  seven  days  in  the  \veek,  and  all 
the  hours  there  were  in  a  day  from  sunrise  to 
sunset. 

Whether  all  succeeded  in  what  they  under- 
took is  nut  a  question  to  be  asked  now.  The 
proof  that  as  a  body  they  did  succeed,  is  all 
around  us.  Many  individuals  were  perhaps 
disa]i]ioiuted.  Fortunes  and  misfortunes  be- 
long to  the  human  race.  Not  every  man  can 
have  a  school-house  on  the  corner  of  his 
farm;  not  every  man  can  have  a  liridge  over 
the  stream  that  flows  by  his  dwelling;  not 
every  man  can  have  a  railroad  depot  on  the 
borders  of  his  plantation,  or  a  city  in  its  cen- 
ter; and  while  these  things  are  desirable  in 
some  respects,  their  advantages  are  often- 
times outweighed  by  the  almost  perpetual 
presence  of  the  foreign  beggar,  the  dreaded 
tramj),  the  fear  of  tire  and  conflagration,  and 
the  insecurity  from  the  presence  of  the  mid- 
night burglar,  and  the  bold,  bad  men  and 
women  who  lurk  in  ambush  and  infest  the 
villages.  The  good  things  of  this  earth  are 
not  all  to  be  found  in  any  one  place;  but  if 
more  is  to  be  found  in  one  than  another, 
that  place  is  in  oiir  rural  retreats,  our  quiet 
homes  outside  of  the  clamor  and  turmoil  of 
city  life. 

In  viewing  the  blessings  which  surround 
us,  then,  we  should  reverence  those  who  have 
made  them  possible,  and  ever  fondly  cherish 
in  memory  the  sturdy  old  pioneer  and  his 
log  cabin. 

Let  us  turn  our  eyes  and  thoughts  back  to 
the  log  cabin  days  of  a  quarter  of  a  century 
ago,  aiul  contrast  those  homes  with  the  com- 
fortaLle  dwellings  of  to-day.  Before  us  stands 
the  old  log  cabin.  Let  us  enter.  Listinct- 
ively  the  liead  is  uncovered  in  token  of  rever- 
ence to  this  relic  of  ancestral  beginnings, 
early  struggles  and   fitu^l   triumphs.     To  the 


left  is  the  deep,  wide  tire-place,  in  whose 
commodious  space  a  group  of  children  may 
sit  by  the  lire,  and  up  through  the  chimney 
may  count  the  stars,  while  ghostly  stories  ot 
witches  and  giants,  and  still  more  thrilling 
stories  of  Indians  and  wild  beasts,  are  whis- 
peringly  told  and  shudderingly  heard.  On 
the  great  crane  hang  the  old  tea-kettle  and 
the  great  iron  pot.  The  huge  shovel  and 
tongs  stand  sentinel  in  either  corner,  while 
the  great  andirons  patiently  wait  for  the  huge 
back-log.  Over  tlie  fire-place  hangs  the 
trusty  rifle.  To  the  right  of  the  fire-place 
stands  the  spinning-wheel,  while  in  the  fur- 
ther end  of  the  room  is  seen  the  old-fashioned 
loom.  Strings  of  drying  apples  and  poles  of 
drying  pumpkins  are  overhead.  Opposite 
the  door  in  which  you  enter  stands  a  huge 
deal  table;  by  its  side  the  dresser,  whose 
pewter  plates  and  "shining  delf"  catch  and 
reflect  the  lire-place  flames  as  shields  of 
armies  do  the  sunshine.  From  the  corner  of 
its  shelves  coyly  peep  out  the  relics  of  former 
china.  In  a  curtained  corner  and  hid  from 
casual  sight  we  find  the  mother's  bed,  and 
under  it  the  trundle-bed,  while  near  them  a 
laddei-  indicates  the  loft  where  the  older  chil- 
dren sleep.  To  the  left  of  the  fire-place  and 
in  the  corner  opposite  the  spinning-wheel  is 
the  mnther's  work-stand.  Upon  it  lies  the 
JJible,  evidently  much  used,  its  family  record 
telling  of  parents  and  friends  a  long  way  off, 
and  telling,  too,  of  children 

"  SciittereJ  like  roses  in  blooui, 
Some  at  the  bridal,  some  at  the  tomb." 

Her  spectacles,  as  if  but  just  used,  are  in- 
serted between  the  leaves  of  her  Bible,  and 
tell  of  her  purpose  to  return  to  its  comforts 
when  cares  permit  and  duty  is  done.  A 
stool,  a  bench,  well-notched  and  whittled  and 
carved,  and  a  few  chairs,  complete  the  furni- 
ture of  the  room,  and  all  stand  on  a  coarse 
but  well-scoured  floor. 


-^  -iA--m' 


'"^'■^-■'-  ^■-  ^-i^  ■ 


-nr-iTar,r*ft.n.ir^t:;'^.<. , ". 


,^      •£■■■»  ..V^' ,7.' 


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*"«a^' !»^u 


IlISTOUY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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\.v\  IKS  tor  ;i  iiioinoiit  watcli  tlio  city  visitors 
to  tlli^  luiinlilc  caliiii.  The  city  bride,  imio- 
cciit  lint  tliou^litless,  aiul  i(j;iii)r:Lnt  of  ialxjr 
and  care,  ask.s  iier  city-lired  liusliaud,  "Pray, 
■what  savages  set  tliis  up  T'  Honestly  con- 
fessing his  ignciranee,  he  replies,  "  I  do  iu)t 
know."'  lint  see  the  ]iair  upon  whom  age 
sits  "frosty,  luit  kindly.''  l''irst,  us  they 
enter,  they  give  a  rajiid  glance  about  the  i 
cabin  home,  and  then  a  mutual  glance  of  eye 
to  eye.  Why  do  tears  start  and  till  their 
eves  ?  AVliy  do  lips  (piiver  i  There  are  many 
who  know  \vhy,  but  who  that  has  not  learned 
in  the  school  of  exjiei'icnce  the  full  meaning 
of  all  these  symbols  of  trials  and  ])rivations, 
of  loneliness  and  danger,  can  comprehend 
the  story  that  they  tell  to  the  iiioneer  ?  With- 
in this  chinked  and  mud-daulied  cabin  we 
read  the  first  pages  of  our  history,  and  as  we 
retire  through  its  low  door-way,  and  note  the 
heavy-battened  door,  its  wooden  hinges  and 
its  welcoming  latch-string,  is  it  strange  that 
the  scenes  without  sliould  seem  to  be  but  a 
dream  'i  l!ut  the  cabin  and  the  palace,  stand- 
ing side  by  side  in  vivid  contrast,  tell  their 
own  story  of  tins'  people's  progress.  They 
are  a  history  and  a  prophecy  in  one. 

TulMliK.Vl'llY,  CI.niATK,   KTC. 

Adams  (bounty  is  situated  between  40°  30' 
and  -41°  north  latitude.  The  eightii  meri- 
diati  of  longitude  west  from  Washington 
]>asses  through  it.  Its  political  boundaries 
are:  Allen  CJounty,  north;  Van  Wert  and 
Mercer  counties,  Ohio,  east;  Jay,  south,  and 
Wells,  west.  It  is  twenty-four  miles  in 
length  and  fourteen  in  breadth,  and  conse- 
quently contains  331)  square  miles.  It  has 
twelve  townshi])S,  viz. :  Union,  I'oot,  Preble, 
Kirkland,  Wasliington,  St.  Mary's,  Blue 
Creek,  IMonroe,  Frencli,  Hartford,  Wabash 
and  Jefferson.  The  surface  is  nearly  level  or 
gently   undulating,    e.xcej)t    near    the    rivers. 


whei-e  it  is  slightly  brcdvcn.  I'lie  controlling 
topographical  feature  is  its  numerous  streams, 
of  whicli  the  St.  .Mary's  and  AVabash  Rivers 
are  the  most  iinportant.  They  present  sev- 
eral striking  coincidences.  Each,  measui'ed 
by  its  wiiulings,  traverses  the  county  for 
about  twenty-live  miles;  is  nearly  150  fet^t 
wide;  intersects  four  townships,  aiul  tiuws 
from  southeast  to  northwest.  The  A\'abash, 
within  the  county,  receives  the  waters  of  si.\- 
teen  and  the  St.  IMary's  of  twenty-two  alflu- 
ents  that  are  worthy  of  being  engraved  on  a 
map.  The  Wabash  rises  in  Ohio,  passes 
through  the  southern  part  of  this  county,  and 
after  intersecting  the  State  line  forms  for  a 
long  distance  its  western  boundary.  Its 
waters  are  discharged  into  the  Ohio,  and  car- 
ried by  the  ^lississippi,  the  great  artery  of 
the  continent,  into  the  Gulf  of  ^lexico.  The 
St.  Mary's  rises  in  Ohio,  flows  through  the 
northern  part  of  Adams  Count}',  and  termi- 
nates at  Fort  Wayne,  where  its  union  with 
the  St.  Joe  forms  the  Maumee,  wliose  waters 
are  finally  discharged  through  the  noble  St. 
Lawreiice  into  the  gulf  of  the  same  name. 
How  opposite  the  destinations  of  different 
portions  of  the  rainfall  of  Adams  County  ! 
In  Jefferson  and  Wabash  Townships  branches 
of  these  two  principal  streams  are  very  nar- 
rowly separated,  and  there  we  find  the  water- 
shed from  which  the  waters  run  both  into  the 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  ]\Ie.\ico. 

The  St.  Mary's  was  formerly  navigated  by 
flat-boats,  and  all  the  considerable  streams 
teemed  with  fish.  This  means  of  transpor- 
tation was  taken  away,  and  tiiis  supply  of 
healthfid,  delicious  food  diminished  by  the 
building  of  mill-dams  across  our  creeks  and 
rivers.  In  the  bed  of  the  Wabash,  near 
Buena  Vista,  is  found  an  abundance  of  fine 
limestone  for  building  purposes.  The  strata 
runs  out  two  miles  south  of  the  Wabash. 

The  land  groaned   under   the  thick  prime- 


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v;il  forest  by  wliicli  it  w:is  well  iiigli  covered. 
Almost  ever}'  kiTid  of  trees  iiulii;-eiious  to  such 
a  climate  and  soil  was  here  in  pi-ofiision-- 
beech,  oak,  ash,  hickory,  walnut  and  elm  of 
royal  dimensions  were  thickly  set  among  the 
monarchs  of  many  other  species.  Close  un- 
dergrowth, made  almost  impenetrable  by  its 
interlaced  branches,  covered  no  inconsider- 
able portion  of  the  ground.  Such  a  wilder- 
ness was  tlie  tit  home  of  the  animals  which 
inhabited  it — the  squirrel,  opossum,  porcu- 
pine, raccoon,  deer,  fox,  wolf,  wildcat  and 
bear.  The  work  of  changing  such  a  forest 
into  pleasant  fields,  gardens  and  orchards 
must  have  appalled  the  stoutest  heart.  The 
Soil,  in  fertility,  was  all  that  could  have  been 
wished,  but  often  rather  tenacious  and  too 
retentive  of  water.  It  was  best  adapted  to 
corn  and  gra.ss.  From  the  best  information 
accessible  we  conclude  that  tlie  climate  lias 
not  lieen  greatly  changed  by  the  work  of  the 
woodman's  ax.  It  is  true  that,  in  some  in- 
stances, in  the  days  of  the  pioneers,  cattle 
subsisted  entirely  on  browse  and  grass,  which 
remained  green  dui'ing  the  winter,  but  veire- 
tation  through  the  summer  was  luxuriant, 
and  the  grass  near  the  earth  was  slieltered  by 
that  which  overtopped  it,  while  all  below  was 
protected  by  the  tall  forest  trees. 

But  the  facts  adduced  can  not  be  relied  on 
to  infallibly  convey  to  the  mind  a  very  defi- 
nite idea  of  the  tem])erature  of  the  atmos- 
phere. Exact  knowledge  could  only  be  had 
from  a  record  of  the  variations  of  the  mercu- 
rial column,  and,  as  no  such  record  seems  to 
have  been  kept  by  any  of  the  very  early  set- 
tlers, we  are  left  to  judge  from  circum- 
stances of  a  very  equivocal  nature.  The 
winds  of  this  region  are  variable,  but  those 
from  the  soutiiwest  prevail,  and  bear  with 
them  much  of  the  warmth  and  moisture  ac- 
cumulated near  the  tropics.  Ileat  and  moist- 
ure arc  the  atmospheric  conditions  favorable 

i"''«.-'.it'U'. 


to  vegetation,  an<l  when  to  tliese  is  added  a 
fertile  soil,  a  combination  of  rare  kindness 
to  vegetable  life  is  the  result.  Tlie  yearly 
rainfall  averages  forty  inches,  and  the  mean 
summer  temperature  of  this  section  of  the 
countr}'  is  fifty  degrees.  In  such  a  soil  and 
climate  both  orchard  and  .small  fruits,  with 
proper  attention,  it  would  seem,  could  not 
but  do  well,  and  this  has  proven  true,  excejit, 
jiorhaps,  with  cherries  and  peaches.  For 
these  our  winters  are  either  too  severe  or 
changeable.  All  the  cereals  of  the  Xorthern 
and  Middle  States  are  successfully  cultivated. 
Especially  is  this  true  of  corn,  which  seldom 
fails,  and  frequently  yields  an  immense  crop. 
I'ut  it  is  fur  the  raising  of  grass  and  rearing 
of  stock  that  the  farmer  may  receive  the 
richest  compensation.  The  soil  and  climate 
are  higlily  favorable  to  the  growth  of  the 
various  grasses,  and  the  average  amount  per 
acre  that  might  be  grown,  if  accurately  as- 
certained, would,  no  doubt,  surpass  belief. 
These  remarks  are  confirmed  by  the  testimony 
of  the  most  successful  farmers  of  the  county. 
In  any  country  of  abundant  rainfall,  rather 
high  temperature,  numerous  turbid  and 
slowly  running  streams,  rank  and  decaying 
vegetation,  the  atmosphere  must  be  loaded 
with  miasma.  Such  was  the  case  here,  and 
many  of  the  early  settlers  fell  victims  of  the 
diseases  thereby  engendered.  Ague,  an  epi- 
demic whose  unwelcome  visitations  were  the 
prolific  cause  of  suffering,  is  not  yet  entirely 
unknown.  As  the  ax  did  its  work  the  rays 
of  the  sun  fell  on  the  ground  and  it  became 
dry.  As  tree  after  tree  fell,  and  the  thick 
green  canopy  covering  large  areas  was  re- 
moved, the  winds  did  their  work,  and  the 
primal  cause  of  fever  and  ague  was  removed. 
Milksickness,  one  of  the  most  jieculiar  and 
malignant  diseases  with  which  the  medical 
faculty  have  to  deal,  formerly  occurred  in 
c<,'rtain  pai'ts  of  the  county. 


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niaTOUY    UK    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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li'^Early  and  Civil  History.K^ ;' I 


'ONGRESS,  in  1787, 
created  tlie  historic 
"Northwest  Territory," 
including  the  present 
State  of  Indiana.  Gen- 
eral Arthur  St.  Clair 
'''^  M'as  elected  by  Congress 

^#?^^  Governor  of  the  Territory.  The 
id-.Vjai  Indians  at  this  time  deserved 
severe  chastisement,  but  both 
Generals  Ilarmar  and  St.  Clair, 
in  their  attempts  to  administer 
it,  suti'ered  disastrous  defeat,  and 
General  AVayne,  the  "  Mad  An^ 
tliony  "  of  the  Kevolution,  was 
a])pointed  to  perform  that  work.  The  task 
was  an  arduous  one,  and  the  time  from  1792 
until  late  in  179-4  was  spent  in  preparing  the 
army  for  effective  action. 

In  August,  1794,  AVayne's  army  passed 
through  what  is  now  Adams  County,  but  was 
then  a  dense  wilderness.  Every  old  settler 
is  acquainted  with  the  "  Wayne  trail."  It 
is  the  ancient  landmark  of  the  county,  and 
its  permanence  was  caused  by  the  slow  and 
laborious  ailvance  of  the  army,  which  was 
necessitated  by  the  vigilance  of  the  Indians. 
The  army  generally  halted  and  pitched-  tlieir 
tents  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  and, 


i|^- 


the  ground  of  the  encampment  being  previous- 
ly marked  out  by  the  surveyor,  each  company 
fortitied  in  front  of  its  position,  by  cutting 
down  trees  and  erecting  a  breastwork,  so  that 
by  dark  a  complete  fortification  inclosed  the 
camp.  The  army  entered  the  county  at  a 
point  very  little  north  of  where  the  St.  Mary's 
River  passes  from  Ohio  into  Indiana,  fol- 
lowed a  northwesterly  course  through  the 
southwest  part  of  Union  Township,  and 
emerged  from  the  county  somewhere  nearly 
equi-distaiit  from  the  northwest  corner  of 
Union  Township  and  the  point  where  the 
Cincinnati,  Richmond  &  Fort  Wayne  (Grand 
Rapids  &  Indiana)  Railroad  passes  into  Allen 
County. 

In  1800  Indiana  was  made  a  Territory,  and 
a  Territorial  government  organized,  and  in 
1816  it  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a 
State.  Wayne,  Franklin,  Dearborn,  Switzer- 
land, Jefferson,  Clark, AVashington,  Harrison, 
Knox,  Gibson,  Posey,  AVarrick  and  Perry 
were  the  counties  of  Indiana  at  the  time  of 
its  admission  into  the  Union.  Out  of  the 
territory  which  then  formed  Knox  thirty 
counties  have  since  been  formed,  of  which 
Adams  is  one. 

Randolph  County,  when  organized,  includ- 
ed Allen    within  its  limits,   and   when   Allen 


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EAULY    AND    CIVIL    IIISTURY. 


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was    ui-ffauizeil,     in     lS'23,    Adams    (Vuinty 
IbriiiL'd  a  part  of  it. 

Tiie  second  road,  or  rather  trail,  in  the 
county  was  made  some  time  after  Wayne's 
march,  and  prior  to  1.S18.  It  connected  Fort 
AVayne  and  Fort  Recovery,  and  angled 
througli  the  county  from  northwest  to  south- 
east, passing  over  the  present  site  of  Decatur, 
^[ililary  supplies  were  transported  over  the 
trail,  and  some  time  before  1818  a  camp  was 
established  and  about  an  acre  cleared  at  the 
springs  in  lioot  Township,  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  "  old  Ileynolds  farm."  Wayne 
County  was  settled  in  1805,  and  in  1819  the 
settlers  at  Richmond,  who  belonged  to  the 
society  known  as  Friends,  cut  out  a  road 
from  AViiichester,  Randolph  County,  to  tlie 
military  road  just  described.  This  road  was 
known  as  the  "  Quaker  Trail,"  and  it  struck 
the  military  road  in  this  county  near  the 
mouth  of  Yellow  Creek. 

In  the  year  1819  smoke  curled  above  the 
first  cabin  ever  erected  in  Adams  County.  It 
was  situated  at  the  head  of  Tliompson's 
Prairie,  in  what  is  now  Blue  Creek  Township. 
The  honor  of  building  it,  of  doing  the  tirst 
clearing,  and  of  being  the  first  actual  settler 
in  the  county,  belongs  to  Henry  Lowe.  In 
the  year  1820  liobert  Douglas,  finding  about 
one  acre  of  cleared  land  at  the  springs  on  the 
Reynolds  farm,  where  was  situated  the  mili- 
tary camp,  cleared  a  few  acres  of  land  and 
built  the  second  cabin  in  the  county.  He 
raised  a  crop  of  corn  during  the  summer  of 
18~0,  after  which  he  left  the  place  and  went 
to  Fort  Wayne,  which  was  then  a  small  vil- 
lage. From  Fort  Wayne  he  moved  to  Peru, 
where  he  died  many  years  ago.  It  was  in 
1820,  too,  that  Henry  Lowe's  place  at  the 
head  of  the  prairie  was  taken  by  William 
Robinson,  who  in  that  year  became  an  in- 
liabitant  of  the  county.  He  lived  on  the 
place  for  about  two  years,  when  he  moved  to 


Fort  AVaync.  ]>uwe  returned  to  Ohio,  where 
he  lived  to  an  advanced  age.  Robinson's 
place  was  taken  by  a  Mr.  Thompson,  for 
wliom  the  prairie  was  named. 

The  next  settler  was  Mr.  Ayers,  who,  in 
1821,  settled  on  the  "  Wayne  trace  "  where  it 
crossed  Twenty-four  ilile  (Jreek.  The  place 
is  now  known  as  the  old  Acker  farm,  and  is 
situated  in  St.  Mary's  Township.  Mr.  Ayers 
was  an  Englishman,  and  is  said  to  have  been 
a  deserter  from  the  King's  service.  Trav- 
elers were  occasionally  furnished  lodging  and 
meals  at  J\Ir.  Ayer's;  hence  he  is  called  the 
lirst  landlord  of  the  county.  Mr.  Green  also 
settled  in  the  county  in  the  same  year  that 
ilr.  Ayers  died.  He  located  near  the  St. 
Mary's  River,  not  far  from  Mr.  Ayers. 

These  are  all  the  settlers  that  are  known 
to  have  located  in  the  county  before  1826. 
Think  of  it — in  that  year  there  were  four  log 
cabins  in  336  square  miles  of  territory.  In 
1822-'23  the  lands  now  comprised  witliin  the 
limits  of  this  county  were  surveyed  into  sec- 
tions. This  was  the  original  Government 
survey,  and  was  maile  by  .Messrs.  AVorthing- 
ton  and  Riley,  who,  during  the  survey, 
camped  in  the  wooils  and  had  their  provisions 
carried  to  them  on  pack  horses.  In  1820 
Captain  James  Riley  commenced  his  settle- 
ment at  AVillshire,  Oiiio,  near  the  State  line. 
During  the  years  1822,  1823  and  1824  the 
settlement  of  which  AVillshire  was  the 
nucleus  spread  over  to  very  nearly  the  State 
line. 

In  1824  the  first  land  entry  in  the  county 
was  made  by  Benjamin  Ivercliaville,  immedi- 
ately above  the  Rivare  Reservation,  and  com- 
prised five  acres  and  some  hundredths.  The 
next  was  made  on  the  15th  day  of  December, 
1824,  by  Benjamin  Bentley,  and  comprised 
part  of  what  is  now  known  as  the  Reynolds 
farm,  including  the  improvements  made  bj' 
Douglas.    The  next  was  made  by  John  Ross, 


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December  20,  1S29,  at  the  mouth  of  Blue 
Creek,  and  the  two  t'ollowiiig  entries  in  order 
were  those  of  Jolin  Keynolds,  in  1S31,  and 
Jerry  Hoe,  early  in  1832.  From  the  last 
mentioned  date  till  1838  there  was  a  rush  of 
land  hunters,  by  which  time  the  lands  were 
almost  entirely  taken  n]>.  Mr.  Bentley,  who 
entered  tlie  second  piece  of  land,  was  one  of 
t!ie(Tovernnipnt  surveyors  workingforWorth- 
ington;  and  after  entering  the  land  he  re- 
turned to  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  his  home,  where 
he  sold  it  to  Jolm  Jleynolds,  who  afterward 
located  on  it.  ^Ir.  llcynolds'  residence  was 
on  the  old  "  Quaker  trace,"  which  was  very 
much  traveled  for  a  number  of  years.  ]Iis 
house  consequently  became  a  common  stopping 
place  for  the  weary  traveler.  Mr.  Reynolds 
was  a  man  of  kind  heart,  excellent  character 
and  great  enterprise.  He  became  extensively 
known;  took  a  jirominent  part  in  the  organ- 
ization of  the  county,  and  died  in  Decatur  in 
the  year  1S44. 

Mr.  Ross  outlived  the  most  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  county,  dying  since  the  late 
war  cin  the  same  land  he  purcliased  so  long 
before.  In  the  year  1833  Mr.  Rugg  and 
others  applied  to  the  Board  of  Commissioners 
of  Allen  County,  of  which  Adams  then 
formed  a  part,  to  have  a  new  township  or- 
ganized up  the  St.  Mary's  River.  Their 
]ietition  was  granted,  and  the  honor  of  nam- 
ing the  township  conferred  upon  Mr.  Rugg. 
The  township  was  called  Root,  and  the  name 
originated  in  this  manner,  as  related  by  j\Ir. 
Rugg:  While  they  were  transacting  some 
business  one  of  the  party  read  from  a  news- 
paper an  account  of  the  celebration  of  the 
completion  of  the  great  internal  improvement 
in  New  York  known  as  tlie  Erie  Canal.  In 
the  account  Governor  Root  was  represented 
as  being  called  on  for  a  toast;  he  arose  and 
said:  "The  military  of  the  country — may 
they  never  want,"  and    then   stammered   and 


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well  nigh  broke  down,  when  DeWitt  Clinton, 
standing  near  liy,  observing  his  dilemma, 
said,  in  an  undertone,  "and  may  they  never 
be  wanted."  Governor  Root,  catching  it  up, 
repeated,  "  and  may  they  never  be  wanted," 
which  brought  down  rounds  of  applause. 

The  township,  at  the  close  of  the  reading, 
was  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  gathering 
named  "  Root."  Soon  after  the  organization 
of  the  township  the  tirst  election  ever  held 
in  the  county  took  place  at  the  house  of  Jere- 
miah Roe  for  the  selection  of  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  Esaias  Dailey  and  Samuel  L.  Rugg 
were  candidates,  received  a  tie  vote,  and 
reached  a  decision  in  favor  of  Mr.  Rugg,  by 
lot.  Mr.  Rugg  thus  became  the  first  justice 
of  the  peace  in  the  county. 

In  1833  the  old  Winchester  road,  leading 
from  Winchester  to  F'ort  Wayne,  was  laid  out 
and  opened. 

Mr.  Thompson,  of  Thompson's  prairie, 
died  about  1831,  and  was  buried  at  his  former 
home,  Greenville,  Ohio.  Ilis  widow  after- 
ward married  a  man  named  Baze,  but  before 
that  lier  brothers,  Daniel  and  David  ^[iller, 
came  West  to  stay  with  her.  A  year  later 
Daniel  Miller  married  a  Miss  Blossom,  of 
Willshire.  About  tlie  same  time  David  was 
married,  and  settled  near  by.  These  three 
were  the  only  families  in  the  south  half  of  the 
county  until  1834. 

John  Simison  moved  from  the  East  and 
settled  at  Ft.  Recovery  in  1818.  lie  was 
one  of  the  earliest  and  most  energetic  settlers 
at  tliat  military  post.  He  died  in  a  few  years, 
and  Robert  Simison,  his  son,  with  the  remain- 
der of  the  family,  removed  from  Recovery  to 
Greenville.  In  1829  Robert  returned  to  Ft. 
Recovery.  He  went  froju  there  to  Wabash 
Township,  with  Peter  Studabaker,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1833.  There  was  not  a  settler  in  tiie 
township,  and  no  roads,  only  as  they  were 
cut  out  by  settlers  going    to    their   entries 


[H5*'»"««i«MT"«i"^B»»lS'«^«in^i«»n»aia" 


TLm^m'^tA  -"«'"«*>•''*«•«.■»! 


EARLY    AND    CIVIL    HISTORY. 


Tlic  company  were  two  days  making  tlie  trip. 
The}'  crossuil  at  the  conlliR'nee  of  tlie  Liinher- 
lost  and  Loljjolly.  Upon  arriving  at  the  end 
of  tiieir  journey  they  set  about  making  a 
caliiu;  Koliei't  cut  tlie  logs,  and  his  younger 
brother  Irwin  and  John  iMcDowell  laid  them 
up,  and  Studabaker  hauled  them. 

It  was  in  this  year  that  the  great  shower  of 
meteors  or"  shooting  stars  "'  put  in  an  appear- 
ance. Countless  multitudes  pci-forined  cy- 
cles in  the  firmament.  From  11  till  4 
o'clock  in  the  UK^rning  the  pyroteciinical 
display  continued.  Their  evolutions  were 
witnessed  with  awe  ami  astonishment  by  the 
entire  party. 

After  the  cabin  was  erected,  Mr.  Studabaker 
returned  for  his  family,  inteutling  to  return 
in  a  few  days.  High  water  came  on  sudden- 
ly, and  he  was  obliged  to  defer  removing 
until  the  freshets  were  over,  so  Kobert  was 
left  alone  in  the  cabin  until  spring  opened, 
when  Stuilabaker  came  in  with  his  family. 

liobert  was  engaged  all  those  long  winter 
months  in  splitting  rails,  cutting  wood  and 
clearing  the  land.  lie  also  put  in  a  share  of 
the  time  hunting.  After  Studabaker's  return 
liobert  went  back  to  Oliio  to  work.  In 
Xo\ember,  1830,  he  married,  and  went  back 
again  to  Studabaker's,  in  AVabash  Township, 
wliei-e  he  remained  until  he  erected  a  cabin 
on  his  entry  in  Hartford  Township.  Siinison 
went  to  Work  as  soon  as  spring  opened  and 
cleared  about  three  acres  and  put  it  in  corn. 
The  spring  following  he  set  out  an  orchard 
in   this  clearing. 

No  mills  were  in  the  country  nearer  than 
Winchester  or  Ilichmond,  and  to  go  to  mill 
then  was  far  more  tedious  than  a  trip  now  to 
thq  I'acitic  coast.  I'ears  were  plenty  and 
troublesome;  they  cleared  the  hog- pens  of 
many  a  line  porker,  and  many  a  settler  was 
robbed  by  bruin  of  his  supplies  of  winter  pork. 
Jlr.  Simison  has  told  of  a  laughable  encounter 


with  one  of  them.  He  had  iiorrowed  a 
neighbor's  horses,  ami  was  returning  from 
taking  them  home.  Upon  arriving  near  his 
own  clearing,  he  came  ujion  several  of  his 
hogs  bearing  toward  liim,  squealing  and 
grunting  their  disapproval,  while  a  large  bear 
followed  close  l)eliind  on  a  loping  gallop. 
He  was  so  close  upon  one  of  them  that  he 
would  reach  out  with  both  paws  to  take  it  in. 
Upon  coming  up  with  Simison,  the  bear 
halted.  ]\[r.  Simison  was  stantliug  on  the 
end  ot  a  log,  perfectly  quiet.  Old  hunters 
say  that  a  bear  will  seldom  attack  a  man  in 
such  a  position,  ifr.  Simison' afterward  had 
many  a  laugh  at  the  ridiculoiis  expression  on 
that  bear's  countenance.  He  looked  tirst  at 
Simison,  then  after  the  retreating  porkers, 
and  finally  struck  off  toward  the  river.  Simi- 
son ran  to  his  house  and  got  his  gun  to  give 
chase.  He  went  back  and  followed  the  trail 
to  the  river,  Just  in  time  to  be  too  late. 
Bruin  had  swam  the  Wabash,  and  was  hjping 
off  to  try  and  get  a  dinner  from  some  other 
settler's  liogs. 

Wolves  were  very  numerous,  and  were 
more  troublesome,  if  anything,  than  bears. 
They  attacked  the  hogs  and  sheep,  and  some- 
times, though  rarely,  man.  Frequent  hunts 
were  planned  and  e.xecuted  to  rid  the  country 
of  them.  The  plan  adopted  was,  after  giving 
all  the  settlers  notice  of  a  "  wolf-hnnt,"  to 
take  in  a  large  scope  of  woodland  where  the 
wolves  were  most  numei-ous,  and  from  four 
sides  close  in.  Whenever  a  wolf  came  in 
sight  soine  one  was  sure  to  shoot  it.  Bounty 
was  paid  by  the  county  for  wolf-scalps. 

"Limberlost"  is  now  notliing  more  than  a 
large  ditch;  but  when  the  freshets  occur  it 
overreaches  its  banks  and  floods  everything. 
Time  was  when  it  contained  water  the  year 
around  and  was  a  formidable  stream.  It 
received  its  name  in  this  wise:  A  boy  of 
about  fifteen   living  near  Fort   Recovery  had 


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HISTOHY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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aequireil  the  iiiune  of  "Limber  Jim,"  because 
of  his  suppleness,  iiiul  finally  this  was  short- 
eneil  to  "  l.iinlier." 

The  boy  was  out  in  the  woods  one  day,  and 
M'as  lost  for  a  time.  A  man  on  horseback 
saw  him  and  called  to  him.  "Limber" 
thought  it  was  an  Indian,  and  took  to  his 
heels.  The  mounted  man  finally  ran  him 
down,  and  brought  him  to  his  friends.  After- 
M'ard,  when  coming  to  the  creek,  some  one 
asked  what  it  should  be  named,  and  "  Lim- 
ber's" vanity  caused  him  to  suggest  "Limber- 
lost,"  which  was  chosen. 

Colonel  AVilliain  Vance  came  in  tlie  spring 
of  1835,  and  settled  on  section  18,  AVabash 
Township.  He  was  prominent  in  tlie  early 
history  of  the  cunnt\%  and  served  three  terms 
in  the  General  Assembly,  representing  at 
the  same  time  the  counties  of  Adams,  Wells, 
Huntington,  Jay  and  Blackford.  He  was  in 
politics  a  Whig.  His  home  was  always  open 
to  settlers,  and  his  hospitality  and  friendli- 
ness to  all  are  well  remembered.  Colonel 
Vance  died  in  1848.  The  first  death  in  the 
south  half  of  the  county  was  that  of  a  child 
of  Colonel  Vance,  in  the  spring  of  1835,  very 
soon  after  the  family  came  to  the  county.  A 
coftin  was  made  of  clapboards,  as  of  course 
no  plaid<s  were  within  a  day's  journey. 

Samuel  Simison  came  at  the  same  time 
with  Vance,  and  lived  in  LLirtford  Township 
until  after  the  civil  war.  The  families  of 
Studabaker,  Simison  and  Vance  were  the  only 
ones  within  eight  miles  at  first. 

In  1838  Mr.  French  settled  in  the  town- 
ship which  was  named  after  him. 

In  the  early  settling  of  AVabash  and  Hart- 
ford townships  many  beaver  dams  were  found, 
and  some  few  can  yet  be  seen.  ^lany  years 
prior  to  the  settling  in  Indiana,  the  French 
traders  and  trappers  of  Canada  passed  through 
those  townships,  depopulating  them  of  the 
industrious    animals   just  referred   to.     The 


"  Loblolly,"  so  called  from  its  jjcculiar  form, 
was  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  continua- 
tion of  beaver  dams.  The  entire  region,  in 
an  early  day,  must  have  been  rich  in  its  prod- 
ucts of  fur  from  the  beaver  and  otter. 

Joseph  JMartin  and  John  Deffinbaugh 
started  from  Piqua  for  Adams  County  in 
1837.  They  arrived  in  AVabash,  or  what  is 
now  Hartford  Township,  in  a  few  weeks,  and 
began  looking  around  for  a  location.  Each 
of  them  found  entries  to  suit  near  the  Wabash 
River,  and  started  for  Fort  Wayne  on  horse- 
back, where  they  entered  land  and  then 
returned  homeward.  They  went  from  Fort 
AVayne  down  the  Maumee  River,  by  way  of 
the  old  Indian  trace,  as  far  as  to  the  con- 
fluence of  the  Auglaize,  up  that  stream  to 
Fort  Findlay,  in  Hancock  County,  Ohio. 
From  there  they  went  to  Upper  Sandusky, 
then  an  Indian  town  inhabited  by  the  AVyan- 
dottes.  Garrett,  a  white  man,  had  married 
an  Indian  girl,  and  kept  tavern  at  that  place. 

They  started  for  their  new  homes  Septem- 
ber 13.  Six  liorses  and  two  wagons  drew 
their  families  and  household  afl'airs.  Two 
hands  were  hired,  and  the  road  was  cut  out 
as  they  went.  They  were  thirteen  days  on 
the  road. 

Much  difficulty  was  incurred  by  the  settlers 
in  entering  the  south  part  of  tlie  county  by 
high  water  and  consequent  non-fordable 
streams.  The  most  common  way  of  getting 
over  these  was  to  build  a  sort  of  a  pontoon 
bridge.  A  tree  was  selected  near  the  bank 
and  felled  so  that  it  reached  the  opposite 
shore.  Another  was  placed  near,  also  cross- 
ing the  stream.  The  two  were  covered  with 
puncheons  and  pinned.  It  was,  when  com- 
pleted, quite  a  substantial  bridge,  and  many 
of  these  built  for  temporary  use  lasted  for 
years.  Accidents  sometimes  happened  in 
crossing  them  when  the  water  was  high. 
David  Studabaker  relates  an  instance  wherein 


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EAHI.Y    AND    CIVIL    HISTORY. 


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a  boy  was  (Irowmnl.  The  f'atlier  ami  son  had 
been  to  mill.  It  todk  IVuni  four  to  six  days 
to  make  a  trip  of  this  kind.  The  streams 
raised  while  they  wei'e  gone.  Upon  their 
return  the  little  Liniberlost  ot"  a  day  previous 
was  a  raging  stream,  carryinj^  on  its  bosom 
trees,  1ol;s  and  all  manner  of  debris.  To 
reach  the  lirid;xe  they  were  obliged  to  swim 
their  horses,  which  was  exceedingly'  danger- 
cms.  Nevertheless  they  tried  it.  The  father 
led  out  and  the  boy  followed.  "When  the 
father  had  reached  the  center  of  the  stream 
he  heard  the  boy  scream,  and  turned  around 
just  in  time  to  see  botli  him  and  the  horse 
disappear.  Powerless  to  assist  his  son,  it 
was  with  ditticulty  that  he  saved  himself. 
He  went  to  the  residence  of  Peter  Studabaker. 
The  settlers  turned  (jut  in  search,  and  after 
the  waters  had  subsided  they  succeeded  in 
finding  the  body.  This  accident  occurred  on 
the  morning  of  July  -i,  1834. 

AVhen  JMartin  and  Detlinliaugh  arrived  at 
tlieir  entries  they  built  a  double  half-faced 
camp,  and  lived  there  until  the}'  completed 
their  cabins.  ]\Iartin  put  on  a  little  style  in 
building  his,  and  actually  built  the  mud-and- 
stick  chimney  above  the  roof.  Such  a  thing 
was  nnheard  of  in  the  community,  the  early 
settlers  seldom  building  them  higher  than 
six  feet.  Studabaker,  A'ance  and  the  others 
who  had  assisted  in  the  raising,  when  they 
saw  it  declared  he  must  set  up  the  corn  juice 
for  so  much  style. 

^lartin  was  the  first  justice  elected  in  the 
township.  lie  had  but  little  business  to  at- 
tend, yet  occasionally  some  administration  of 
the  law  was  required.  Thomas  AVatson,  an 
Englishman,  was  the  first  constable.  Al'ter  a 
civil  action  at  one  time,  it  became  necessary 
to  issue  a  writ  of  execution,  and  Watson  was 
ordered  to  levy  on  any  proj)erty  he  could  get 
liis  hands  u])on.  According  to  these  instruc- 
tions he  went  to   the  house  and  foimd  no  one 


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at  home,  except  the  "old  woman,"  but  she 
was  C(]\ial  to  the  emergency.  \Vhen  he 
stated  his  business  she  went  for  him  with 
the  poker  and  drove  him  out.  He  went 
back  and  told  the  'stpiire  that  "The  hold 
woman  bate  me  with  ha  pokiii'  stick!"  The 
'squire  explained  that  he  must  get  ]iroperty, 
and  with  many  misgivings  the  dUI  English- 
man went  back.  He  went  in  the  house  and 
grabbed  the  clock,  and  succeeded  in  getting 
away  with  it,  by  using  it  as  a  defense, 
though  not  without  several  sound  whacks  by 
a  broom-stick  in  the  hands  of  the  irate 
woman.  He  resigned  forthwith,  and  no 
amount  of  persuasion  would  induce  him  to 
continue  in  oHice.  The  "  pokin' stick  "  was 
too  much  for  his  love  of  office. 

A  number  of  settlers  inoveil  in  about  the 
same  time  with 'S(|uire  ^lartin.  Glendenning 
and  AVatson  removed  from  Clarke  County, 
Ohio,  and  settled  in  the  south  part  of  the 
county  near  the  Waliash.  Kunjon  and  Peter 
Kiser  came  in  about  this  time.  The  south 
part  of  the  county  was  settled  very  slowly, 
and  mostly  by  immigrants  from  Ohio. 

Charles  Hacknian  came  to  Preble  Town- 
ship in  1847,  and  built  a  log  liut  on  the  river, 
and  kept  a  store,  with  a  small  stock  of  goods. 
John  K.  Evans  moved  from  Xew  York  to 
Shane's  prairie,  afterward  Shanesville,  in 
1826.  He  lived  there  three  years  and  moved 
to  Root  Township,  about  a  mile  north  of  the 
present  site  of  Monmouth.  Here  he  entered 
from  that  time  on  nearly  1,000  acres  of  land. 
Evans  figui-ed  prominently  in  the  settlement 
and  organization  of  Adams  County,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  judges.  He  removed  to  Eoi't 
Wayne  about  1S52,  and  died  in  1874,  at  an 
advanced  age.  Robinson,  Daugherty,  Gors- 
line,  Fonner,  Pillars,  Rice,  Glass  and  Lewis 
became  residents  at  nearly  the  same  time. 

Samuel  S.  Rugg,  than  whom  none  of  the 
first  settlers  became  better  known,   and  who 


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HISTunV     oh'    ADAMS     VOl/XTy 


is  frequently  inentioiied  on  tlic  (ollowiiig 
pages  ill  connection  with  the  early  liistoiT 
of  tlie  comity,  \v;is  at  one  time  a  machinist 
ill  Cincinnati.  ^V  man  who  possessed  some 
means  suirgested  a  partnershiji  in  putting 
tip  a  mill  in  this  new  country.  Mr.  Kugg 
accordingly  came  on,  meeting  with  much 
difficulty  in  traveling  to  the  St.  ilary's 
Kiver,  at  the  present  site  of  Decatur,  where 
he  was  told  was  a  good  power  for  a  mill. 
When  he  arrived,  lie  found  that  while  there 
was  a  good  enough  site,  there  was  no  demand 
whatever  for  a  mill,  there  not  being  a 
l)ushel  of  grain  to  grind  in  the  whole  country 
around  for  twenty  miles.  jMr.  Tlngg  decided 
to  remain  and  grow  up  with  the  county,  and 
wrote  to  his  partner  suggesting  a  postpone- 
ment of  tlieir  mill  project.  A  year  or  so 
later  they  gave  up  the  idea  entirely,  and 
the  machinery  that  was  to  be  used  was  put 
into  a  mill  in  Huntington  County.  Mr.  Ruirg 
was  the  tirst  county  clerk,  and  held  the  office 
for  a  great  many  years.  In  ls.j4  he  was 
elected  joint  Senator  for  Allen  and  Adams 
counties,  and  a  year  later  he  removed  to  Fort 
"Wayne.  In  1858  be  was  elected  superintend- 
ent of  public  instruction.  He  died  at  Kash- 
ville,  Tennessee,  about  1872,  and  is  buried  at 
Decatur. 

The  oldest  living  settlers  of  the  county  are: 
Kzra  Liste,  tirst  of  Root  and  now  of  Wash- 
ington Township;  Mrs.  Rachel  Mann,  who 
lives  in  Decatur,  but  spent  her  early  life  in 
Koot  Township;  David  Studabaker,  formerly 
of  Wabash  Township,  but  for  thirtV-tive  years 
a  resident  of  Decatur,  and  Robert  Simison, 
who  still  lives  in  Wabash  Township. 

A  little  anecdote,  illustrative  of  some  of 
tlie  features  of  jiioneer  life,  is  as  follows,  and 
relates  to  one  of  the  very  tirst  causes  ever 
brought  to  trial  in  this  county: 

Joel  lloe  and  Jehu  S.  Rhea  fell  out  with 
eacii  other  at  a  raising.     Roe  said  to  Rhea, 


in  the  course  of  the  dispute,  "D — n  you, 
1  never  stole  saw-logs  !"  Rhea  sued  Roe  for 
slander.  The  latter  justified,  and  upon  trial 
])roved  tliat  Rhea,  wliile  the  land  on  wliich 
Decatur  stands  still  belonged  to  the  Govern- 
ment, had  cut  logs  and  rafted  them  to  Ft. 
AVayne,  where  he  sold  them.  Roe  was  beaten, 
liowever,  because  the  act  proven  was  trespass, 
and  not  larceny.  The  jury  gave  Rhea  one 
cent  damages. 

The  town  of  Mtminouth,  in  Root  Town- 
ship, was  the  first  in  the  county.  James 
Lewis,  a  colored  man,  figures  prominently  in 
its  earliest  and  ])alinier  days.  lie  owned  a 
mill  for  cracking  corn,  among  the  first  mills 
of  the  kind  in  the  county.  lie  was  vcrv 
obliging,  and  would  let  the  settlers  have  corn 
and  meal  upon  their  promise  to  pay,  wlien  he 
had  to  buy  himself.  Decatur  was  laid  off  in 
1830.  Ale.xander,  I^utl'alo  and  Geneva  were 
laid  out  in  18,58.  .lamestown,  near  Iviser's 
farm,  was  laid  out  August  10,  1838,  bv 
James  riiillips  and  Wesley  Eeauchamj). 
Pleasant  JMills  was  laid  out  by  E.  A.  Godard; 
Buena  "\'ista  by  Robert  Simison,  in  1857; 
Salem,  in  Blue  Creek  Township,  by  George 
W.  Sypliers;  Berne,  in  1872,  by  Abraham 
Schumann  and  Jcdin  llilty;  AVilliams,  in 
Root  Township,  in  1871,  by  David  Crabbs 
and  B.  J.  Rice;  Ceylon,  in  1873,  by  Dr.  D. 
B.  Snow  and  P.  N.  Collins.  The  town  of 
Ilamlin,  which  was  laid  out  near  the  Reynolds 
farm,  was  never  recorded,  and  as  it  was  laid 
out  to  secure  the  county  seat,  it  was  vacated 
upon  its  being  located  at  Decatur.  James- 
town was  also  vacated. 

Peter  Studabaker,  C'olonel  Vance,  Ormian 
Perrine,  Samuel  Simison  and  Reed  Risby, 
in  Wabash  Township,  built  the  first  school- 
house  in  the  county. 

Slowly  the  sunshine  of  civilization  began 
to  shed  its  genial  rays  over  the  once  secluded 
wilderness,  and   the  forest  toppled  and  dis- 


yrmHM»  ■a"«fii5*'ia?a*iaeiffii:!Sn; 


MAltl.Y    AND    CIVIL    HISTORY. 


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appeared,  and  siiiiliiiij  fields,  covered  with 
Nviniiig  grain  or  t'eediiiy  herds,  begun  to 
mark  the  settler's  home.  Day  after  day  the 
liiigc  canvas-covered  wagons  thronged  the 
newly-cut  roads,  di'awn  by  heavy  teams  of 
oxen.  The  hardy  emigrants  were  pushing 
on  toward  the  great  unsettled  "West,  dream- 
ing as  they  went  of  new-fonnd  wealth,  fame, 
a  name  and  a  liome  in  the  land  where  once 
the  poor  Indian  chanted  tlie  death  song 
around  the  funeral  pile  of  the  intruding 
explorer.  From  1S32  to  1838  there  was  a 
steady  stream  t)f  emigration,  and  at  the  latter 
date  nearly  all  the  really  good  land  was  taken 
up.  About  this  time  the  first  brick-kiln  was 
put  up  and  burned  somewhere  in  the  vicinit}' 
of  Monnionth.  This  was  a  great  convenience 
to  the  settlers,  and  it  enabled  them  to  do 
awa}-  with  the  mud  and  stick  chimneys  and 
put  up  subbtantial  brick  ones  instead. 


The  first  matter  of  record  in  the  court- 
house at  Decatur  is  that  pertaining  to  the 
first  meeting  of  the  county  commissioners, 
lield  Mav  9,  1836,  and  reads  as  follows: 

"After  the  passage  of  the  act  organizing 
the  county  of  Adams,  which  was  approved 
January  23,  1836,  the  Governor,  in  con- 
formity to  law,  issued  a  writ  of  election  for 
the  election  of  the  necessary  county  officers 
on  the  first  Monday  in  April,  1836,  at  which 
time  Jehu  S.  Tfhea,  Samuel  Smith  and  AVill- 
iam  Heath,  Sr.,  were  elected  county  commis- 
sioners in  and  for  said  county. 

"Present,  Jehu  S.  Rhea,  who  presented  his 
certificate  of  office  from  the  sheriff  of  Adams 
County  that  he  was  elected  county  commis- 
sioner for  the  term  of  two  years  from  the 
first  ilonday  in  August  next;  present  also 
Samuel  Smith,  who  presented  his  certificate 
of  office  from  under  the  hand  of  the  sheriff 
of  the  county,  certifying  that   he  was  duly 


»iiH«?ja»it.*=«.^-tt"iu«.«?Ui»t«» 


elected  countycominissioner  of  Adams  County 
for  the  term  of  one  year  from  the  first 
Jlonday  in  August  ne.xt.  And  by  an 
indorsement  on  the  back  of  each  of  the  said 
certificates  it  appears  that  each  of  the  said 
commissioners  has  taken  the  oath  of  office 
prescribed  by  law,  and  they  therefore  took 
their  seats  as  a  T>oard  of  Commissioners  for 
the  count}'  of  Adams,  in  conformity  to  law. 

"Present,  also,  Samuel  L.  Pugg,  Clerk, 
and  David  McKnight,  Sheriff;  and  the  Board 
therefore  proceeded  to  business. 

"  Thomas  Ruble,  Esq.,  made  a  report  on 
oath  of  the  fines  imposed  by  him  since  the 
organization  of  the  county,  which  amounted 
to  five  dollars. 

"  Ordered  that  David  ]\[cKniglit  be  al- 
lowed the  sum  of  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents 
for  advertising  in  the  Port  Wayne  St-ntii'el 
the  act  oi'ganizing  the  county  of  Adams. 

"Orderetl,  that  John  K.  Evans  be  appoint- 
ed Seminary  ti'ustee  until  the  first  Monday  in 
ilay,  1N37,  and  that  he  give  bond  and  secur- 
ity in  the  sum  of  s25  for  the  performance  of 
his  duties  in  said  office. 

"  Ordered,  that  Joshua  Major  be  appointed 
constable  in  St.  Mary's  Township  until  the 
first  Monday  in  April  next,  and  that  he  ap- 
pear and  give  security  according  to  law. 

"The  Board  adjourned  till  to-morrow  at 
nine  o'clock. 

"  Jkuu  S.  Phea, 

President, 
"  Samup:l  L.  Rugg, 

Clerk:' 

The  second  daj''s  ])roceedings  were  as  fol- 
lows: 

"Ordered,  that  Jeremiah  Roe  be  appointed 
treasurer  of  Adams  County  until  February 
next,  and  that  he  be  summoned  to  appear  and 
give  bond  and  security  for  the  acceptance  of 
the  Board  for  the  performance  of  the  duties 
of  his  office. 


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riL'£:::5^!?M*r/2?»ia'"o*"iE»*R*  o'?"Hni?!G» '^•^^^ 


HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


"  Ordered,  tliat  David  McTvnight  be  ap- 
]>ointed  assessor,  to  serve  as  such  until  tlie 
first  ^Monday  in  January,  1837,  and  that  he 
give  bond  and  security  fur  the  performance 
of  tlie  duties  of  liis  otHce. 

"  Ordered,  that  Jolm  K.  Evans  be  appoint- 
ed collector  for  the  State  and  county  revenues 
for  one  year  from  the  first  JVIcjnday  in  May, 
1836,  and  tliat  he  be  summoned  to  appear 
and  give  bond  and  qualify  according  to  law. 

"  Ordered,  that  the  county  be  divided  into 
three  commissioners'  districts,  as  follows,  to- 
wit:  All  that  part  of  the  county  which  is 
north  of  the  township  line  dividing  towns  27 
and  28,  north,  shall  form  Commissioners' 
District  No.  1.  And  all  that  part  of  the 
county  which  is  north  of  the  township  line 
dividing  towns  20  and  27  nortli,  and  south 
of  the  first  mentioned  line  shall  form  Com- 
missioners' District  No.  2.  And  all  that 
part  of  the  county  which  is  south  of  the  line 
dividing  townships  26  and  and  27  shall  form 
Commissioners'  District  No.  3.  [District 
No.  1  thus  included  the  ]iresent  townships 
of  Union,  Root  and  l^eble;  No.  2  those  of 
Kirkland,  Washington  and  St.  Clary's;  and 
No.  3  those  of  Jilue  Creek,  JMonroe,  French, 
Hartford,  Wabash  and  Jefferson.  The  county 
had  been  previously  organized  into  two  civil 
townships.  Root  included  tlie  northern  quai-- 
ter  of  the  couTity,  and  St.  Mary's  the  three 
quarters  lying  south.] 

"  Ordered  that  Root  Townsliip  be  divided 
into  two  road  districts,  to-wit:  All  of  the 
township  on  the  east  side  of  the  St.  Clary's 
river  shall  form  Road  District  No.  1,  and 
Jonathan  Roe  is  hereby  .appointed  road  su- 
pervisor in  said  district;  and  all  west  of  said 
river  shall  form  District  No.  2,  and  William 
Ball  is  hereby  appointed  supervisor  of  roads 
in  said  district. 

•'  Ordered,  that  St.  Mary's  Township  be 
divided  into  two  road  districts,  to-wit:     All 


that  part  of  the  township  which  lies  east  of 
the  St.  Mary's  River  shall  form  District  No. 
1,  and  Esaias  Dailcy  is  hereby  appointed  su- 
pervisor of  roads  Iti  said  district;  and  all  that 
part  of  the  township  which  lies  on  the  west 
side  of  the  St.  JMary's  and  east  of  the  north 
and  south  center  line  of  Adams  County  shall 
form  District  No.  2,  and  Thomas  Ruble  is 
hereby  appointed  supervisor  of  roads  in  said 
district. 

"  Ordered,  that  Enos  W.  Butler  be  and  he 
is  hereby  appointed  inspector  of  elections 
in  Root  Township  until  the  first  I^Ionday  in 
March,  1837. 

"  Ordered,  that  Thomas  Ruble  be  and  he  is 
hereby  appointed  inspector  of  elections  in 
St.  ^Mary's  Township  until  the  first  ]\Ionday 
in  March,  1N37. 

"  Ordered,  that  William  Heath,  Sr.,  and 
Eli  Zimmerman  be  appointed  overseers  of  the 
poor  in  St.  Mary's  Township  )intil  the  first 
!N[ojiday  in  April,  1n37. 

"  Oi'dered,  that  Yachel  Ball  and  John  AV. 
Wise  be  appointed  overseers  of  the  poor  in 
Root  Township  until  the  first  Monday  in 
April,  1837. 

"  Ordered,  tliat  Jonas  Pence  and  Bail  W. 
Butler  be  appointed  fence  viewers  till  the 
first  i\ronday  in  April,  1837,  in  Root  Town- 
ship. 

"  Ordered,  that  Joel  Roe  and  Zachariah 
Smith,  Jr.,  be  appointed  fence  viewers  in  St. 
ilary's  Township  until  the  first  ilonday  in 
April,  1837. 

"Ordered,  that  the  following  named  men 
are  to  be  grand  jurors  for  the  fall  term  of  the 
Adams  Circuit  Court,  1836:  Joel  Roe,  John 
Ross,  Sr.,  ]\Iichael  Roe,  Bail  W.  Butler, 
William  Heath,  Sr.,  Jonas  Pence,  Robert 
Smith,  Jehu  S.  Rhea,  Benjamin  F.  Gorsline, 
Samuel  Smith,  William  Ball,  William 
Thatcher,  AVilliara  Biram,  John  Catterlin, 
Jonathan   Roe,  Eli   Zimmerman,  James  Ball 


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KifTi^w'-ii^BS^  »ffi-m  •^ia?^ii!'ia?^i^''OE*iJL"jii>?'-^  ^ 


KAllLY    AND    CIVIL    IIISTOHY. 


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iuul  AIji-uIkuu  KlitVits  (cii;-litL'fn  in  ;ill).  I'ctit 
jiii-ui>:  .liilm  W.  Wi^e, 'J'lionuis  Uulile,  .lulin 
AV.  (Jooley,  Joseph  Wise,  Joseph  Thiiteiier, 
Peter  Stiidabalier,  Eiios  W.  1  hitler,  \Villi;iin 
^lajor,  Otlia  Ciaiidy,  JiUiies  11.  l!:ili,  Ivsaias 
J)aileY,  Jaeoli  Fitsiiiiinuiis,  N^aciiel  Uall, 
Ji)sluia  ^[ajtir,  Joseph  Troutner,  George  Wi- 
iner,  lleniaiiiiii  1'".  niossoin,  Job  Wolt", 
Jo.^eph  Hill,  Jaeoh  Kii-huid.  Fliilii)  Kver- 
inaii,  I)aniel  liall,  'ilieroii  Harper  and  Zaeha- 
riali  Smith   (twentj-tbui')." 

The  above  were  all  the  jiroceedings  of  the 
tir?t  session.  May  1^,  luUowiiig,  a  special 
session  was  held  to  receive  the  report  of  the 
commissioners  appointed  to  locate  the  county 
seat.  Some  minor  business  was  transacted. 
Enos  AV.  Ibitler  was  ap])oiuted  county  agent 
for  one  year,  under  ,s3,()()l)  bonds.  The  re- 
port of  the  locatini;  commissioners  is  of  threat 
histoi'ical  interest,  and   is   here  i^^iven  in  full: 

•' Jlidj  IG.  The  connnissi(jners  apjxiinted 
to  locate  the  county  seat  c)f  the  county  of 
^Vdams  agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  an  act 
of  the  (leneral  Assembly  of  the  State  (.)f  In- 
diana, approved  January  23,  1S3(3,  met  at 
the  house  of  John  lieynolds,  in  said  county, 
l^resent,  AVilliam  Stewart,  Joseph  II.  Mc- 
i[aken,  Robert  Hood  and  AVilliani  (1.  John- 
son; who,  being  duly  sworn  according  to  law 
proceeded  to  examine  the  different  sites 
offered  for  the  county  seat  of  said  county,  and 
after  examining  four  sites  presented  for  the 
County  seat,  to  wit,  the  sites  of  Thomas  John- 
son, n.  L.  Britton  A:  Henry  Work,  Joseph 
^lorgan  A:  Thomas  Pricliard  and  Samuel  I,. 
Itugg,  the  commissioners  returned  to  tlu; 
house  of  John  Reynolds,  as  aforesaid,  and 
adjourned  until  to-morrow  morning. 

'■'^laij  17.  The  commissioners  aforesaid 
now  proceeded  as  far  toward  the  center  of 
said  county  as  they  deemed  e.xpedient,  and 
found  it  impracticable  to  estaldish  the  county 
seat  of  said  county  at  the  center;  and  after 


retui-ning  to  the  house  of  John  Reynolds 
aforesaid  oi'ij;ani/.ed  themselves  by  appointing 
A\'illiam  Stewart,  I'lesident,  and  Robert 
Hootl,  Secretary,  and  thereupon  notified  the 
projirietors  of  town  sites  to  hand  in  their  pro- 
posals, whereupon  Thomas  Johnson  handed 
in  his  proposals  marked  "A;"  R.  L.  Britton 
it  Henry  Work  handed  in  their  proposals 
marked  "B;"  Samuel  L.  Rugg  handed  in  his 
proposals  marked  "C!;''  and  Josepli  ]\I(irgaii 
I'c  Thomas  I'l-ichard  handed  in  their  propos- 
als marked  "!);"  and  the  coujuiissioners  ad- 
iourned  until  to-morrow  morning. 

'■^  May  IS.  The  commissioners  aforesaid 
met  jHirsuant  to  adjournment;  present,  the 
same  members  as  yesterday.  There  being 
no  further  sites  offeretl  orjiroposals  made,  the 
commissioners  aforesaid,  after  due  delibera- 
tion, do  select  the  site  offered  by  Thomas 
Johnson  as  the  most  suitable,  and  thereupon 
permanently  lix  and  establish  the  county  seat 
of  the  county  of  Adams  on  the  said  site,  be- 
ing part  of  the  northeast  (piarter  of  section  3, 
township  27  north,  of  range  14  east,  and 
thereupon  proceeded  to  the  aforesaid  town 
site  and  marked  a  white  oak  tree  about  two 
feet  in  diameter  with  two  blazes  on  four  sides, 
on  each  of  which  the  commissioners  individu- 
ally subscribed  his  name;  which  tree  is  to  be 
within  the  said  town  site. 

"And  the  commissioners  adjourned  with- 
out day. 

"  William  Stewart, 
"  JosEi'ii  II.  McMakkn, 
"  William  G.  Johnson, 
•'  RoBKKT  Hood." 

The  site  then  chosen  is  that  on  which  the 
Ijusiness  part  of  Decatur  now  stands,  and 
the  wisdom  of  the  selection  has  never  been 
seriously  questioned.  The  center  of  the 
county,  which  is  in  other  counties  usually 
thought   most   desirable    for    the   permanent 


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JflsroUr    OF    AVAMS    CUUNTY 


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loi'iiticpii  of  tlie  seat  tit'  justice,  n\;is  in  tlie 
ca.-c  (.it'  Aihiiiis  (i\it  tit'  tliu  ij\iO:^ti()ii.  'I'lie 
land  in  that  vicinity  is  vci-y  flat,  and  at  that 
time,  more  than  a  half  a  century  ago,  it  was 
covereil  with  standing  water  much  of  the 
time.  Tlie  little  village  of  ^lonroe  is  now  at 
nearly  the  geographical  center,  and  is  a  station 
on  the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  Railroad, 
but  has  no  hopes  of  ever  being  the  county 
seat.  Decatur  has  two  east  ami  west  roads, 
and  will  soon  have  more  raili'oads,  so  it  is 
secure  in  the  being  for  all  time  the  cajiital  of 
Adams  County.  Had  the  first  railroad  east 
and  west  through  the  county  crossed  the 
(■iraiul  Rapids  A:  Indiana  at  Monroe,  the 
case  might  be  difi'erent. 

The  county  secured  very  favoralile  terms 
when  it  selected  Thomas  Johnson's  land  for 
a  county  seat.  Mr.  Johnson  gave  his  notes 
for  s3,100  to  the  county;  $500  payable  in 
one  year,  and  the  remainder  in  three  years. 
He  also  donated  four  lots  for  churches,  speci- 
fyiiig  the  Presbyterian,  Catholic,  Methodist 
and  Baptist  denominations,  half  an  acre  for  a 
public  square,  one  acre  for  a  county  seminary, 
and  land  for  a  cemetery.  Finally  he  paid 
the  expenses  of  the  locating  commissioners, 
and  furnished  a  building  for  holding  court 
and  transacting  county  business  until  the 
erection  of  a  court-house.  Jehu  S.  Rhea 
donated  to  the  county  twenty  acres  off  the 
west  end  of  an  eighty-acre  lot  on  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  2,  and  Samuel  L. 
RugfT  donated  ten  acres  adjoining  Mr.  John- 
son's land. 

At  the  session  of  the  Board  held  June  20, 
1836,  Jeremiah  Roe  resigned  as  county 
treasurer,  and  John  Reynolds  was  designated 
to  till  the  vacanc}'.  Joseph  Wise  and  J(jhn 
AV.  Coole}'  were  appointed  constables  for 
Root  Township.  Waliasli  Township  was 
created  out  of  the  territory  in  the  south  tier 
of  townships,  and  half  of  the  next  tier  north. 


This  was  the  thii'd  township  in  the  county. 
The  first  election  was  ap]iointed  for  the  lirst 
^lontlay  in  August  following,  and  i)avid 
Studabaker  was  named  as  inspector  of  elec- 
tions. At  that  election  a  supervisor,  con- 
stable, two  overseers  of  the  poor  and  two 
fence  viewers  were  chosen. 

SheriffDavid  ilcKnightwas  allowed  $8.87^ 
for  making  the  first  assessment  of  property 
in  Adams  County,  and  the  tax  levy  for  county 
purposes  was  fixed  at  one-half  of  1  per  cent. 
The  clerk  was  directed  to  advertise  for  pro- 
posals for  building  a  county  jail,  to  be  com- 
pleted by  July  1,  1837. 

At  the  September  session  John  Reynolds 
was  allowed  $12  for  the  nse  of  his  house  up 
to  date  for  commissioners'  meetings  and  elec- 
tions. Esaias  Dailey  was  appointed  county 
road  commissioner  under  the  provisions  of 
aTi  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  which  had 
appropriated  to  counties  a  portion  of  what 
was  known  as  the  "  three  per  cent,  fund." 
The  sum  of  $600  was  appropriated  for  the 
State  road  "  leading  from  the  State  line  to 
the  Allen  County  line  on  the  west  side  of  the 
St.  ]\Iary's  River,"  and  §400  for  the  State 
road  "leading  from  the  State  line  near  AVill- 
shire  to  the  Allen  County  line  on  the  east 
side  of  the  St.  IMary's"  These  were  the  lirst 
expenditures  in  Adams  County  on  account  of 
roads.  The  roads  referred  to  are  still  in  use, 
and  are  among  the  leading  thoroughfares  of 
the  county.  They  run  northwest  and  south- 
east, nearly  parallel,  with  the  river  between 
them.  The  road  on  the  east  side  had  been 
cut  previous  to  this  appropriation,  and  only 
needed  to  be  put  in  repair  and  supplied  with 
bridges. 

The  Board  fixed  the  following  modest  scale 
of  licenses:  For  taverns  and  grocei'ies,  $10 
each;  for  merchants,  $10  for  the  first  $3,000 
capital  employed,  and  in  proportion  for 
larger  amounts;  for  vending  wooden  clocks, 


^icT^gj  «nii  n.  „-Wip»i,T  iTgirj.jasn  .ft 


^1 


KAULY    A\D    CIVIL    IIISTOUY. 


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S."j.  .rallies  M.  AVilsiiii  rocL'ived  tlie  lirot 
licL•n^5u  t(i  t>v]\  ••spirituous  ami  stroiiir  liquors 
ami  tbrt-iyii  ami  domestic  ijroceries.'" 

Tiiu  tir.^t  uiarriaiije  licensu  was  issued  by 
the  clcrl;  of  the  court  tn  Jose])li  Troutner 
anil  Sarah  ^\'eilner.  'i'hey  were  married 
July  3  liy  Thomas  liuble,  justice  of  the  peace. 
Another  licen.^c  was  issued  the  2d  of  August 
to  I'iiilip  Evermore  and  Lydia  Liste.  They 
were  married  August  4  by  E.  W.  Butler. 
The  first  civil  action  ever  tried  in  the  coiirts 
of  Adams  County  was  D.  F.  Ijlossom  /',v. 
I'^^aias  Dailey. 

At  tlie  January  (1837)  session  of  the  Hoard 
tlie  fullowino;  jnmrs  were  drawn  for  the  sprino; 
term  of  court:  Grand  jurors — ^Vbrahani 
Eli  frits,  Geori^e  Aii'ue,  Jose]3li  Wise,  ^larvin 
(iorsline,  James  Niblick,  Daniel  Stevenson, 
Jobliua  Majt)r,  Levi  fiussell,  Zacliariali  Smith, 
Sr.,  Jacob  Enrrland,  James  ^I.  Fuller,  Uuel 
Iiislej-,  Thomas  IJuble,  Theron  Harper,  Will- 
iam Heath,  Jr.,  William  ]jall,  Hobert  Simison 
and  Jonathan  Lewis.  Petit  jurors — iliehael 
lioe,  Eli  Zimmerman,  Robert  Niblick,  Bos- 
ton Rock,  ^[ichael  Kock,  William  ilajor, 
George  llopj^le,  George  Weimer,  Jeremiah 
Andrews,  Daniel  Ball,  Samuel  Smith,  Abner 
Fuller,  Joel  Boe,  David  !McKnight,  William 
Boram,  Aaron  Archer,  Bail  W.  Butler,  Jau)es 
M.  Wilson,  James  Burdick,  Peter  Studabaker, 
Jonathan  Boe,  Robert  D.  Tisdale,  John  W. 
Wise  and  Alexander  Smith. 

The  first  year's  receipts  and  expenditures 
of  Adams  County  footed  up  as  follows: 

Tax  in  the  hands  of  collector,  8107.22; 
grocery  license,  slO;  total  receipts,  $117.22; 
sernces  and  contingent  expenses,  $157.44; 
bo(jks  and  stationery,  !?(j7.43'^;  jury  fees,  s45; 
total  expenditures,  s272.27J^.  From  tliis  it 
appears  that  the  balance  against  the  county 
at  the  end  of  the  tir^t  year  was  Sl.lo.OS^ — a 
small  amount  in  these  days,  but  larger  then, 
jn  proportion  to  the  revenue  of  the  county. 


^ ,., 


In  February,  1837,  Esaias  Dailey  was 
given  a  license  to  vend  li(jU'irs  am]  grocoi'ies. 

It  cost  Sll.Sn  to  assess  the  county  in 
1837,  James  M.  Willson  being  allowed  that 
amount.  The  tax  levy  for  county  purposes 
was  fixed  at  one-third  of  1  per  cent,  and 
the  poll  tax  at  75  cents  per  cajjita.  For 
State  purposes  the  levy  was  20  cents  on 
each  luindrcd  tlollars,  and  50  cents  per 
capita. 

The  county  jail  w-as  completed  in  Jnly, 
1837,  according  to  contract,  and  accepted  by 
the  commissioners.  The  contractors  were 
J)avid  McKnight  and  William  Lewis,  and 
they  were  paid  $650,  out  of  the  mone}' 
donated  to  the  county  at  the  time  of  the 
location  of  the  county  seat. 

At  the  .^Lu•cll  sessicni,  1838,  three  new 
townships  were  created,  and  elections  ap- 
pointed for  the  first  Mondaj'  in  April  follow- 
ing, for  the  choice  of  a  justice  of  the  peace,  a 
constable,  an  inspector  of  elections,  one  or 
two  supervisors  of  roads,  two  overseers  of  the 
]ioor  and  two  fence  \  iewers  in  each  township. 
Township  26  north,  range  15  east,  was 
designated  by  the  name  of  Blue  Creek.  First 
election  was  held  at  the  house  of  Samuel 
Flagg,  and  Pliny  Flagg  was  inspector  of 
elections.  Township  25  north,  range  15  east 
(the  southeast  corner  of  the  county),  was 
named  Jefferson,  and  two  tiers  of  sections  on 
the  west  were  attached  temporarily.  The}' 
were  afterwai-d  restored  to  Wabash.  Robert 
AVebster  was  inspector  of  elections  at  the 
organization  of  Jeil'erson.  Township  27 
north,  range  14  east,  was  organized  as  Wash- 
ington, the  first  insjiector  of  elections  being 
Jacob  Ilnfi'er.  That  ]iart  of  section  34, 
township  28  north,  rangi'  14  east,  which  lies 
west  of  St.  JMary's  River,  ami  which  includes 
a  ])art  of  the  town  nf  1 'eratiii',  Ma>  also 
attached  to  Washington  'J'uwnship,  of  which 
it  has  always  formed   a   part.      Preble  Town- 


iriT-i  — 1. -«"»■=  ai''t,.°L 


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IllsrOUV    OF    ADAM.'i    COUNTY. 


sliip  (2S  iiortli,  raiifjc  1;5  cast]  was  soon 
iiftei'wunl    or^atiizL'il. 

Ill  , run  nary,  IS;)'.),  tlie  I'oaril  of  Coiniiiis- 
sioiiers  adoptud  a  seal,  wliicli  liad  been 
purcliased  by  tlie  clerk.  Tlie  official  descrip- 
tion of  it  was:  "It  is  of  brass,  five-eightlis 
of  an  inch  thick  and  circular  in  ojiposite 
dimensions,  one  inch  and  thrce-qnarters  in 
diameter.  Witliin  the  periphery  are  first 
one  heavy  and  one  light  circnlar  lines,  within 
which  lines  are  the  words  '  Adams  Board  of 
County  C'iimmissi(jners,  Indiana;'  next  to 
which  words  is  a  heavy  circnlar  line,  then  a 
broad  ornamental  circnlar  line,  then  iinother 
heavy  plain  line,  within  which  is  the  tigiire 
of  a  Dni'ham  short-horned  cow,  represented 
standing  with  her  head  to  the  right  hand  on 
the  seal."  This  seal  was  used  until  consider- 
ably worn,  an<l  then  the  one  now  in  use  was 
obtained,  which  is  of  substantially,  though 
not  exactly,  the  same  design. 

At  the  !May  session,  183'J,  French  Town- 
ship was  organized,  composeil  of  township  2G 
north,  range  13  east,  and  an  additional  tier 
of  >ections  on  tlie  south.  The  tii'st  election 
was  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Sheldon,  and 
Joseph  French  was  inspector  of  elections. 

It  was  at  this  session  that  the  construction 
of  the  first  court-iiouse  of  Adams  County  was 
ordered.     The  record  reads: 

•'Ordered,  that  John  Reynolds  and  Samuel 
L.  Rugg  be  authorized  to  build  a  court-house 
on  lot  No.  9-1  in  the  town  of  Decatur,  which 
shall  be  a  framed  liouse  built  of  good  material, 
and  thirty  feet  by  forty  feet  in  size,  and  two 
stories  high;  the  lower  story  or  room  to  be 
let't   whole,   without  any   partitions,  and  the 


niiper  story  or  room  divided  into  rooms  to 
accc^nimoilate  tlie  grand  and  ])etit  juries,  antl 
that  tlu^y  convey  the  said  lot  to  the  county 
i)y  its  proper  agent,  for  which  lot  they  shall 
be  allowed  the  sum  of  850,  the  cost  of  which, 
together  with  the  costs  of  building  the  said 
house,  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  donation  soon 
to  beconje  due  from  the  said  John  ReynoKls 
and  Samuel  L.  Rugg.  The  e.Kpenses  of  build- 
ing the  said  house  shall  be  adjusted  and 
agreed  on  by  the  county  agent  with  tlie, said 
contractors,  and  the  said  county  agent  shall 
e.xercise  a  kind  of  superintendence  over  the 
completion  of  the  said  building  and  adjust 
the  costs  of  the  said  building  with  the  said 
builders  in  a  fair  and  equable  manner,  and 
that  tlie  said  building  shall  be  completed  by 
the  October  term  of  the  Adams  CMrcuit  Court, 
if  possible.  Tbe  weather  boarding  on  the 
two  sides  next  to  the  streets  shall  be 
planed." 

In  March,  184-0,  township  26  north,  range 
14  east,  was  set  ofl'  and  oi'ganized  as  Monroe. 
The  first  election  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Henry  ilartz,  who  was  inspector  of  elections. 
In  September  following  township  28  north, 
ranee  15  east,  was  set  off  and  organized  as 
Union.  Benjamin  ]\Iiddleton  was  inspector 
of  the  first  election,  which  was  held  at  the 
house  of  David  Hinge.  A  year  or  two  later 
Hartford  and  Kirkland  Townships  (25  and 
27  north,  range  13  east)  were  organized,  thus 
completing  the  list  of  twelve  townships 
which  still  compose  Adams  County.  There 
have  been  no  changes  of  names,  and  few  of 
boundary  lines,  in  the  half  century  that  has 
since  elapsed. 


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PIONEER     LIFE.      « 


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'>TI1E  early  settlers  of  In- 
diana mostly  came  from 
older   States,  as    Penn- 
s^'lvania,  Kentucky  and 
and     Virginia,     where 
tlieir    prospects     for 
even  a  competency  were 
very  poor.     They  found  those 
States  good — to  emigrate  from. 
Their  entire  stock  of  furniture, 
I        implements  and  family  ueces- 
t,r^   sities  Nvere  easily  stored  in  one 
wagon,   and  sometimes  a  cart 
•S.     was  their  only  vehicle. 

THE  LOG  CABIN. 

After  arriving  and  selecting  a  suitable  lo- 
cation, the  next  thing  to  do  was  to  build  a 
log  cabin,  a  descrip)tion  of  which  may  be  in- 
teresting to  many  of  our  younger  readers,  as 
in  some  sections  these  old-time  structures  are 
no  mure  to  be  seen.  Trees  of  uniform  size 
were  chosen  and  cut  into  logs  of  the  desired 
length,  generally  twelve  to  fifteen  feet,  and 
hauled    to   the   spot  selected   for   the    future 


dwelling.  On  an  appointed  day  the  few 
neighbors  who  were  available  would  assemble 
and  have  a  "  house-raising."  Each  end  of 
every  log  was  saddled  and  notched  so  that 
they  would  lie  as  close  down  as  possible;  the 
next  day  the  proprietor  would  proceed  to 
•'  chink  and  daub"  the  cabin,  to  keep  out  the 
rain,  wind  and  cold.  The  house  had  to  be 
re-daubed  every  fall,  as  the  rains  of  the  in- 
tervening time  would  wash  out  a  great  part 
of  the  mortar.  The  usual  height  of  the 
house  was  seven  or  eight  feet.  The  gables 
were  formed  by  shortening  the  logs  gradu- 
ally at  each  end  of  the  building  near  the  top. 
The  roof  was  made  by  laying  very  straight 
small  logs  or  stout  poles  suitable  distances 
apart,  generally  about  two  and  a  half  feet, 
from  gable  to  gable,  and  on  these  poles  were 
laid  the  ''  clapboards  "  after  the  manner  of 
shingling,  showing  about  two  and  a  half  feet 
to  the  weather.  These  clapboards  were  fast- 
ened to  their  place  by  ••  weight  poles,"  cor- 
responding in  place  with  the  joists  just 
described,  and  tliese  again  were  held  in  their 
place  by    "runs"   or   '-knees,"    which   were 


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JIISTOUr    OF    AD.LMS    COUNTY. 


cliimks  of  wood  about  eigliteen  or  twenty 
inches  long,  fitted  lietweeii  tliem  near  the 
ends.  Chij)l)oards  were  made  tVom  tlie  nicest 
oaks  in  tlie  vicinity,  by  cliopping  or  sawing 
them  into  four-foot  lilocks  and  riving  these 
with  a  frow,  which  was  a  simple  blade  fixed 
at  riglit  angles  to  its  liandle.  This  was 
driven  into  the  blocks  of  wood  by  a  mallet. 
As  the  frow  was  wrenched  down  through  tiie 
wood,  the  latter  was  turned  alternately  over 
from  side  to  side,  one  end  being  lield  by  a 
forked  piece  of  timber. 

The  chimney  to  the  AVestern  pioneer's 
cabin  was  made  by  leaving  in  the  original 
building  a  large  open  place  in  one  wall,  or 
by  cutting  one  after  the  structure  was  up, 
and  l)y  building  on  the  outside,  from  the 
ground  up.  a  stone  column,  or  a  column  of 
sticks  and  mud,  the  sticks  being  laid  up  cob- 
house  fashion.  Tlie  fire-place  thus  made  was 
often  large  enough  to  receive  fire-wood  six  to 
eight  feet  long.  Sometimes  this  wood,  es- 
pecially the  "  back-log,''  would  be  nearly  as 
large  as  a  saw-lug.  The  more  rapidly  the 
jiioneer  could  burn  up  the  wood  in  his  vicin- 
ity the  sooner  lie  had  his  little  farm  cleared 
and  ready  for  cultivation.  For  a  window,  a 
]iiece  about  two  feet  long  was  cut  out  of  one 
of  the  wall  logs  and  the  hole  closed,  some- 
times by  glass,  but  generally  M-ith  greased 
]iaper.  Even  greased  deer-hide  was  some- 
times used.  A  door-way  was  cut  through 
one  of  the  walls  if  a  saw  was  to  be  had; 
otherwise  the  door  would  be  left  by  shortened 
logs  in  the  original  building.  The  door  was 
made  by  pinning  clapboards  to  two  or  three 
wood  bars,  and  was  hung  upon  wooden 
hinges.  A  wooden  latch,  with  catcli,  tlien 
finished  the  door,  and  the  latch  was  raised 
by  any  one  on  the  outside  by  pulling  a 
leather  string.  For  security  at  night  this 
latch-string  was  drawn  in;  but  for  friends 
and     neighbors,     and     even     strangers,     the 


"  latch-strinc  was  alwavs  liancrincr  out,"  as  a 
welcome.  In  the  interinr.  over  the  fire-])lace, 
would  be  a  shelf,  called  "  the  mantel,"'  on 
which  stood  tlie  candlestick  or  lam]),  some 
cooking  and  table-ware,  possibly  an  old  clock, 
and  other  articles;  in  the  fire-place  would  be 
the  crane,  sometimes  of  iron,  sometimes  of 
wood;  on  it  the  j)Ots  were  hung  for  cooking; 
over  the  door,  in  forked  cleats,  hung  the  ever 
trustful  rifle  and  powder-horn;  in  one  corner 
stood  the  larger  bed  for  tlie  "  old  folks,"  and 
under  it  the  trundle-bed  fur  the  children;  in 
anotlier  stood  the  okl-fashioned  s]iinning- 
wheel,  with  a  smaller  one  by  its  side;  in 
anotlier  the  heavy  taljle,  the  only  table,  of 
course,  there  was  in  the  house;  in  the  re- 
maining corner  was  a  rude  cupboard  holding 
the  table-ware,  which  consisted  of  a  few  cups 
and  saucers  and  blue-edged  plates,  standing 
singly  on  their  edges  against  the  back,  to 
make  the  display  of  table  furniture  more 
conspicuous,  while  around  the  room  wei-e 
scattered  a  few  splint-bottomed  or  AVindsor 
chairs  and  two  or  three  stools. 

These  simple  cabins  were  inhabited  by  a 
kind  and  true-hearted  people.  They  were 
strangers  to  mock  modesty,  and  the  traveler, 
seeking  lodgings  for  the  night,  or  desirous  of 
spending  a  few  daj's  in  the  community,  if 
willing  to  accept  the  rude  offering,  was  al- 
ways welcome,  although  how  they  were  dis- 
posed of  at  night  the  reader  might  not  easily 
imagine;  for,  as  described,  a  single  room  was 
made  to  answer  for  kitchen,  dining-room, 
sitting-rooin,  bed-room  and  parlor,  and  many 
families  consisted  .of  six  or  eiglit  members. 

SLEEPING  ACCOMMODATIONS. 

The  bed  was  very  often  made  byfixing  a  post 
in  the  floor  about  six  feet  from    one  wall  and 
four  feet  from  the  adjoining  wall,  and  fasten- 
ing a  stick  to  this  post  about  two  feet  above 
i  the  floor,  on   each   of  two   sides,  so  that  the 


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PlONKEi:     LIFE. 


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otiicv  end  of  oat'li  of  tlie  two  stiflis  could  be 
fai^tcned  in  tliu  ojijiositc  wall;  cliiptiOiii'ds 
were  laid  across  these,  and  thus  tlie  bed  was 
made  complete,  (xuests  were  yiveii  this  bed, 
while  the  family  disposed  of  themselves  in 
another  corner  of  the  room,  or  in  the  "loft." 
When  several  yiiests  were  on  hand  at  once, 
they  were  sometimes  kept  over  night  in  the 
following  manner:  A^'hen  bed-time  came 
the  men  were  re(jnested  to  step  out  of  doors 
while  the  women  spread  out  a  broad  bed  upon 
the  middle  floor,  and  put  tliemselves  to  bed 
in  the  center;  the  signal  was  given  and  the 
men  came  in,  and  each  liusband  took  his 
place  in  bed  ue.xt  his  own  wife,  and  the  sin- 
gle men  outside  them  again.  They  were 
generally  so  crowded  that  they  liad  to  lie 
"  bpoon  "  fashion,  and  when  anyone  wished 
to  turn  over  lie  would  say  "  Spoon,''  and  the 
whole  comjtany  of  sleepers  would  turn  over 
at  once.  This  was  the  only  way  they  conkl 
all  kec])  in  bed. 

COOKING. 

To  \^-itness  the  various  processes  of  cooking 
ill  those  days  would  alike  surprise  and  amuse 
those  who  have  grown  up  since  cooking- 
stoves  and  ranges  came  into  use.  Kettles 
were  hung  over  the  large  fire,  suspended 
with  pot-hooks,  iron  or  wooden,  on  the  crane, 
or  on  poles,  one  end  of  which  would  rest 
upon  a  chair.  The  long-liandlcd  frying-pan 
was  used  for  cooking  meat.  It  was  either 
held  over  the  blaze  by  liand  or  set  down  upon 
coals  drawn  out  upon  the  hearth.  This  pan 
was  also  used  for  baking  pan-cakes,  also  called 
"flap-jacks,"  "batter-cakes,"  etc.  A  better 
article  for  this,  however,  was  the  cast-iron 
spider  or  Dutch  skillet.  The  best  thing  for 
baking  bread  tlupse  days,  and  possibly  even 
yet  in  these  latter  days,  was  the  flat-bottomed 
bake-kettle,  of  greater  depth,  with  closely- 
titting  cast-iron  cover,  and  commonly  known 
as  the  "Dutch  oven."     AVith  coals  over  and 


fl^' 


under  it,  bread  and  biscuit  would  quickly 
and  nicely  bake.  Tui'key  and  spare-ribs  were 
sometJmes  roasted  before  the  fire,  suspended 
by  a  string,  a  dish  being  placed  underneath 
to  catch  the  drippings. 

Hominy  and  samp  were  very  much  used. 
The  hominy,  however,  was  generally  hulled 
corn — boiled  corn  from  which  the  hull,  or 
bran,  had  been  taken  by  hot  lye;  hence  some- 
times called  "  lye  hominy."  True  hominy 
and  samp  were  made  of  pounded  corn.  A 
popular  method  of  making  this,  as  well  as 
real  meal  for  bread,  was  to  cut  out  or  burn  a 
large  hole  in  the  top  of  a  huge  stump,  in  the 
shape  of  a  mortar,  and  pounding  the  corn  in 
this  by  a  maul  or  beetle  sus]iended  on  the 
end  of  a  swing-pole,  like  a  well-sweep.  This 
and  the  well-sweep  consisted  of  a  pole  twenty 
to  thirty  feet  long,  fixed  in  an  upright  fork 
so  that  it  coukl  be  worked  "  teeter"  fashion. 
It  was  a  I'apid  and  simjile  way  of  drawing 
water.  When  the  samp  was  sufficiently 
pounded  it  was  taken  out,  the  bran  floated 
oft',  and  the  delicious  grain  boiled  like  rice. 

The  chief  articles  of  diet  in  early  days 
were  corn  bread,  homing',  or  samp,  venison, 
pork,  lioney,  beans,  pumpkin  (dried  pumpkin 
for  more  than  half  the  year),  turkey,  prairie 
chicken,  scj^uirrel  and  some  other  game,  with 
a  few  additional  vegetables  a  portion  of  the 
year.  AVIieat  bread,  tea,  coft'ee  and  fruit 
were  luxuries  not  to  be  indulged  in  except 
on  special  occasions,  as  when  visitors  were 
present. 

women's   work. 

I5esides  cooking  in  the  manner  described, 
the  women  had  many  other  arduous  duties 
to  perform,  one  of  the  chief  of  which  was 
spinning.  The  "big  wheel"  was  used  for 
spiiming  yarn,  and  the  "little  wheel"  for 
spinning  flax.  These  stringed  instruments 
furnished  the  principal  inusic  of  the  family, 
and  wei'e  operated  by  our  mothers  and  granil- 


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JII^TOnr    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


inotliers  witli  great  skill,  uttained  without 
peeiiiiiary  expense  and  with  far  less  practice 
than  is  necessary  for  the  girls  of  our  period 
to  ac(|nire  a  skillful  use  of  their  costly  and 
elej;-ant  instrumcuts.  lint  those  wheels,  in- 
dispensable a  few  years  ayo,  are  all  now 
su]ierseded  hy  the  mi^^lity  factories  wliich 
overspread  the  country,  furnishing  cloth  of 
all  kinds  at  an  expense  ten  times  less  than 
would   be  incurred  now  by  the  old  system. 

The  loom  was  not  less  necessary  than  the 
wheel,  though  the}'  were  not  needed  in  so 
gi'eat  iiunibers.  Xot  every  house  had  a  loom; 
one  hionj  hail  a  capacity  for  the  needs  of  sev- 
eral families.  Settlers  having  succeeded  in 
spite  of  the  wolves  in  raising  sheep,  com- 
menced the  manufacture  of  woolen  cloth; 
wool  was  carded  and  made  into  I'olls  by  hand 
cai'ds,  and  the  rolls  were  spun  on  the  "  big 
wheel."  AVe  still  occasionally  find  in  the 
houses  of  old  settlers  a  wheel  of  this  kind, 
sometimes  used  for  spinning  and  twisting 
stocking  yarn.  They  are  turned  with  the 
hand,  and  with  such  velocity  that  it  will  I'lin 
itself  while  the  nimble  worker,  by  her  back- 
ward step,  draws  ont  and  twists  her  thread 
nearly  the  whole  length  of  the  cabin.  A 
common  article  woven  on  the  loom  was 
liiise}',  or  linsey-woolsey,  the  chain  being 
linen  and  the  filling  woolen.  This  cloth  was 
used  for  dresses  for  the  women  and  girls. 
Nearly  all  the  cloths  worn  by  the  men  were 
also  home-made;  rarely  was  a  farmer  or  his 
son  seen  in  a  coat  made  of  any  other.  If, 
occasionally,  a  young  nnm  appeared  in  a  suit 
of  "  boughten  "  clothes,  he  was  susjiected  of 
having  gotten  it  for  a  particular  occasion, 
which  occurs  in  the  life  of  nearly  every 
young  man. 


'P. 


DRKSS    AND     MANNERS. 


The  dress,   habits,  etc.,  of  a  ])eople  throw 
so    much    light    upon    their    conditions   and 


limitations,  that  in  order  better  to  show  the 
circumstances  surrounding  the  peojtle  of  the 
State,  we  will  gi\e  a  short  exposition  of  the 
manner  of  life  of  our  Indiana  people  at  dif- 
ferent e])Ochs.  The  Indians  themselves  are 
credited  by  Charlevoix  with  being  "  very 
laborious" — raising  jKiulti'y,  spinning  the 
wool  of  the  buffalo,  and  manufacturing  gar- 
ments therefrom.  These  must  have  been, 
ho\vever,  more  than  usually  fa\-orable  re])re- 
sentatives  of  their  race. 

"  The  working  and  voyaging  dress  of  the 
French  masses,"  says  Ke^molds,  '•  was  simple 
and  primitive.  The  French  were  like  the 
lilies  of  the  valley  [the  Old  Ranger  was  not 
always  exact  in  his  quotations] — they  neither 
spun  nor  wove  any  of  their  clothing,  but  pur- 
chased it  from  the  mei'chants.  The  white 
blanket  coat,  kimwn  as  the  otpot,  was  the 
universal  and  eternal  coat  for  the  winter  with 
the  masses.  A  cape  was  made  of  it  that 
could  be  raised  over  the  head  in  cold 
weather. 

"  In  the  house,  and  in  good  weather,  it 
hung  behind,  a  cape  to  the  blanket  coat. 
The  reason  that  I  know  these  coats  so  well  is 
that  I  have  worn  many  in  my  youth,  and  a 
working  man  never  wore  a  better  garment. 
Dressed  deer  skins  and  blue  cloth  were  worn 
commonly  in  the  winter  for  pantaloons.  The 
blue  handkerchief  and  the  deer-skin  mocca- 
sins covered  the  head  and  feet  generally  of 
the  French  Creoles.  In  1800  scarcely  a  man 
thought  himself  clothed  unless  he  had  a  belt 
tied  round  his  bhinket  coat,  and  on  one  side 
was  hung  the  dressed  skin  of  a  pole-cat  filled 
with  tobacco,  pipe,  flint  and  steel.  On  the 
other  side  was  fastened,  under  the  belt,  the 
butcher  knife.  A  Creole  in  this  dress  felt 
like  Tam  O'Shanter  tilled  with  usquebaugh; 
he  could  face  the  devil.  Checked  calico 
shirts  were  then  common,  but  in  the  winter 
flannel  was  frequently  worn.      In  the  summer 


»s^iiGrc^'-'»^?^5'SPr-'»rf-iS!*a?eD?«si**z-  *»:? 


PIONEER    LIFE. 


^'Ji 


-,v. 

i 


-'la- 


the hiboriiig  int'ii  anil  the  voyngers  often  took  I 
their  sliirts  oti'  in  iiard  work  ami  hot  weatiier,  i 
and  turned  out  tlie  naked  iiaek  to  tlie  air  and  \ 
sun." 

"  Amotii,'  tlie  Americans,"  he  atlds,  "  lioine- 
made  wool  liats  were  the  common  wear.  Fur 
hats  were  not  common,  and  scarcely  a  boot 
was  seen.  The  covei'inc:  of  the  feet  in  winter 
was  chietly  moccasins  made  of  deer-skins  and 
shoe-packs  of  tanned  leather.  Some  wore 
shoes,  hut  not  common  in  very  early  times. 
In  the  summer  the  greater  portion  of  the 
young  people,  male  and  female,  and  many  of 
the  old,  went  barefoot.  The  substantial  and 
univei'sal  outside  wear  was  the  blue  linsey 
hunting;  shirt.  This  is  an  excellent  garment, 
and  I  have  never  felt  so  happy  and  healthy 
since  I  laid  it  oti'.  It  is  made  of  wide  sleeves, 
open  before,  with  ample  size  so  as  to  envelop 
the  body  almost  twice  around.  Sometimes 
it  had  a  large  cape,  which  answers  well  to 
save  the  shoulders  from  the  rain.  A  belt  is 
mostly  used  to  keep  the  garment  close  around 
the  person,  and,  Tievertheless,  there  is  nothing 
tight  about  it  to  hamper  the  body.  It  is 
often  fringed,  and  at  times  the  fringe  is  com- 
posed of  red  and  other  gay  colors.  The  belt, 
frequently,  is  sewetl  to  the  hunting  shirt. 
The  vest  was  mostly  made  of  striped  linsey. 
The  ctdors  were  made  often  with  alum,  cop- 
peras and  madder,  boiled  with  the  bark  of 
trees,  in  such  a  manner  and  proportions  as 
the  old  ladies  prescribed.  The  pantaloons  of 
the  masses  were  generally  made  of  deer-skin 
and  linsey.  Coarse  blue  cloth  was  sometimes 
made  into  ])antaloons. 

•'  Linse}',  neat  and  tine,  manufactured  at 
home,  composed  generally  the  outside  gar- 
ments of  the  females  as  well  as  the  males. 
The  ladies  had  linsey  colored  and  woven  to 
suit  their  fancy.  A  bonnet,  composed  of 
calico,  or  some  gay  goods,  was  worn  on  the 
head  when  they  were  in  the  open   air.     Jew- 


elry on  the  pioneer  ladies  was  uncunimon;  a 
gold  i-ino;  was  an   ornament   not   often   seen." 

In  1N20  a  change  of  dress  began  to  take 
place,  and  before  1830,  accconling  to  Ford, 
most  of  the  pioneer  costume  had  disappeared. 
'•  The  blue  linsey  hunting-shirt,  with  red  or 
white  fringe,  had  given  place  to  the  cloth  coat, 
[.leans  would  be  more  like  the  fact.]  The 
raccoon  cap,  with  the  tail  of  the  animal 
dangling  down  behind,  had  been  thrown  aside 
for  hilts  of  wool  or  fur.  Boots  and  shoes 
had  supplied  the  deer-skin  moccasins;  and 
the  leather  breeches,  strajiped  tight  around 
the  ankle,  had  disappeared  before  unmen- 
tionables of  a  more  modern  material.  The 
female  sex  had  made  still  greater  progress  in 
dress.  The  old  sort  of  cotton  or  woolen 
frocks,  spun,  W()ven  and  made  with  their 
own  fair  hands,  and  striped  and  cross-barred 
with  blue  dye  and  Turkey  red,  had  given 
])lace  to  gowns  of  silk  and  calicn.  The  feet, 
before  in  a  state  of  nudity,  now  charmed  in 
shoes  of  calf-skin  or  slippers  of  kid;  and  the 
head,  formerly  unboimeted,  but  covered  with 
a  cotton  handkerchief,  now  displayed  the 
charms  of  the  female  face  nndei-  maiiy  forms 
of  bonnets  of  straw,  silk  and  Leghorn.  The 
young  ladies,  instead  of  walking  a  mile  or 
two  to  church  on  Sunday,  carrying  their 
shoes  and  stockings  in  their  hands  until 
within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  place  of  wor- 
ship, as  formerly,  now  came  forth  arrayed 
complete  in  all  the  pride  of  dress,  mounted 
on  tine  horses  and  attended  Ij^-  their  male 
admirers." 

The  last  half  century  has  doubtless  wit- 
nessed changes  quite  as  great  as  those  set 
forth  by  our  Illinois  historian.  The  chronicler 
of  to-day,  looking  back  to  the  golden  days  of 
1830  to  1810,  and  comparing  them  with  the 
present,  must  be  struck  with  the  tendencj'  of 
an  almost  monotonous  uniformity  in  dress 
and  manners  that  comes  from  the  easy  inter- 


:S; 


'31 

% 


i 

I 


•u  ^ai  ~  « ""  ic  ~  Ki  Tk  ^^  ■ 


?m!*ii?i!?ar  E'^'i  ? 


4i«'i«*BJ!' 


=ii— at— jTij 


ita'. 


IS! 


ft, J 


IIISTORT    OV    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


communication  aftbrded  by  steamer,  railway, 
telegia])li  and  newspaper.  Home  maiiu- 
t'lictiires  iiave  been  driven  from  tbe  liouse- 
hold  by  tbe  lowei'-prieed  fabrics  of  distant 
mills.  The  Kentucky  jeans,  and  the  cop- 
peras-colored clothing  of  home  manufacture, 
so  familiar  a  few  years  ago,  having  given 
place  to  tbe  cassimeres  and  cloths  of  noted 
fatories.  The  ready-made  clothing  stores, 
like  a  touch  of  nature,  made  the  whole  world 
kin,  and  may  drajjC  the  charcoal  man  in  a 
dress-coat  and  a  stovepipe  hat.  The  prints 
and  silks  of  England  and  France  give  a 
variety  of  choice  and  an  assortment  of  colors 
and  shades  such  as  the  pioneer  women  could 
liardly  have  dreamed  of.  Godey  and  Dem- 
orest  and  Harper's  Bazar  are  fo\ind  in  our 
modern  farm-houses,  and  the  latest  fashions 
of  Paris  are  not  uncommon. 

FAMILY    WORSHIP. 

The  ilethodists  were  generally  first  on  the 
ground  in  pioneer  settlements,  and  at  that 
early  da\'  they  seemed  more  demonstrative  in 
their  devotions  than  at  the  present  time.  In 
those  days,  too,  pulpit  oratory  was  generally 
more  eloquent  and  effective,  while  the  gram- 
matical dress  and  other  "worldly"  accom- 
plishments were  not  so  assiduously  cultivated 
as  at  jiresent.  But  in  the  manner  of  conduct- 
ing public  worship  there  has  probably  not 
been  so  much  change  as  in  that  of  family 
worship,  or  "  family  prayers,"  as  it  w-as  often 
called.  We  had  then  most  em])haticall3'  an 
American  edition  of  that  pious  old  Scotch 
practice  so  eloquently  described  in  Burns' 
'•  Cotter's  Saturday  Night:" 

The  cheerfu'  supper  done,  wi'  serious  face 
They  round  the  ingle  formed  a  circle  wide; 

The  sire  turns  o'er,  wi'  patriarchal  grace, 
The  big  lia'  Bible,  ance  his  father's  pride; 

His  bonnet  reverently  is  laid  aside, 

llis  lyrat  haifots  wearing  thin  and  bare; 

Those  strains  that  once  did  sweet  in  Ziou  glide; 


He  wales  a  portion  with  judicious  care, 

And  "let  us  worship  God,"  he  says  with  solemn  air. 

They  chant  their  artless  notes  in  simple  guiso; 

They  tune  Iheir  h»-urts — by  far  the  noblest  aim; 
Perhaps"  Dundee's"  wild  warbling  measures  rise, 

Or  plaintive  "  JIartyrs,"  worthy  of  the  name; 
Or  noble  "  Elgin  "  beats  the  heavenward  flame, — 

The  sweetest  far  of  Scotia's  hallowed  lays. 
Compared  with  these,  Italian  trills  are  tame; 

The  tickled  ear  no  heartfelt  raptures  raise: 

Nae  unison  hae  they  with  our  Creator's  praise. 

The  priest-like  father  reads  the  sacred  page, — 
How  Abraham  was  the  friend  of  God  on  high,  etc. 

Then  kneeling  down,  to  heaven's  Eternal  King 

The  saint,  the  father  and  the  husband  prays; 
Hope  "springs  e.xulting  on  triumphant  wings," 

That  thus  they  all  shall  meet  in  future  days; 
There  ever  bask  in  uncreated  rays, 

No  more  to  sigh  or  shed  the  bitter  tear. 
Together  hymning  their  Creator's  praise. 

In  such  society,  yet  still  more  dear, 

While  circling  time  moves  round  in  an  eternal  sphere. 

Once  or  twice  a  day,  in  the  morning  just 
before  breakfast,  or  in  the  evening  just  before 
retiring  to  rest,  the  head  of  the  family  would 
call  those  around  him  toorder,  read  a  chapter 
in  the  Bible,  announce  the  hymn  and  tune  by 
commencing  to  sing  it,  when  all  would  join; 
then  he  would  deliver  a  most  fervent  prayer. 
If  a  pious  guest  was  present  he  would  be 
called  on  to  take  the  lead  in  all  the  exercises 
of  the  evening;  and  if  in  those  days  a  person 
who  prayed  in  the  family  or  in  public  did  not 
pray  as  if  it  were  his  very  last  on  earth,  his 
piety  was  thought  to  be  defective. 

The  familiar  tunes  of  that  day  are  remem- 
bered by  the  surviving  old  settlers  as  being 
more  S])iritual  and  inspiring  than  those  of  the 
present  day,  sucli  as  Bourbon,  Consolation, 
China,  Canaan,  Conqtiering  Soldier,  Conde- 
scension, Devotion,  Davis,  Fiducia,  Funeral 
Thought,  Florida,  Golden  Hill,  Greenfields, 
Cranges,  Idumea,  Imandra,  Kentucky,  Lenox, 
Leander,  Mear,  New  Orleans,  Northfield, 
New  Salem,  New  Durham,  Olney,  Primrose, 
Pisgali,    Pleyel's  Tlymn,    Rockbridge,  Pock- 


'■'"»"»<.yB?M^Mjai^a>Mg!jty»'^ny»'>w'->^='^?g^:'.iyiiyM^w»jf^ 


;rj; 

.1! 
\ 


ia; 


11 


:^?Sia»?3r>*m»'M'^ii*w™i^iW]iiBiar53?:i,Ti»j^»rSMfE4 


I 

I; 


PIONEER     LIFE. 


I 

■■ 
I' 
k 

ii 
I 

I 
il 

i 


I 


iii:;lKim,  lieHcclioii,  Siippliciitioii,  Siilvjitioii, 
St.  Tlioinas,  Salom,  Ttinlur  Tliouglit,  Wiiid- 
lumi,  (Ti-et'iiville,  etc.,  as  they  are  named  in 
the  "^[issoiiri  Harmony." 

Members  of  otlier  orthodox  denominations 
also  had  their  family  prayers  in  which,  how- 
evei',  the  phraseology  of  the  jirayer  was  some- 
what different  and  tlie  voice  not  so  loud  as 
chai-aeterized  the  real  Methodists,  United 
Urethren,  etc. 

nOSlMT.\LITY. 

The  traveler  always  found  a  welcome  at  the 
pioneer's  cabin.  It  was  never  full.  Although 
there  might  be  already  a  guest  for  every 
puncheon,  thei'e  was  still  "room  for  one 
more,"  and  a  wider  circle  would  be  made  for 
the  new-comer  at  the  log  tire.  If  the  stranger 
was  in  search  of  land,  he  was  doubly  welcome, 
and  his  host  would  volunteer  to  show  him  all 
the  "  tirst-rate  claims  in  this  neck  of  the 
woods,"  going  with  him  for  days,  showing  the 
corners  and  advantages  of  ever}'  "Congress 
ti-act  "  within  a  dozen  miles  of  his  own  cabin. 

To  his  neighbors  the  pioneer  was  equally' 
liberal.  If  a  deer  was  killed,  the  choicest 
bits  were  sent  to  his  nearest  neighbor,  a  half- 
dozen  miles  away,  per]uij)S.  When  a  "  shoat  " 
was  butchered  the  same  custom  prevailed.  If 
a  new  comer  came  in  too  late  for  "cropping" 
the  neighbors  would  su])ply  his  table  withjust 
the  same  luxuries  they  themselves  enjoyed,  and 
in  as  liberal  cpiaiitity,  until  a  crop  could  be 
raised.  When  a  new-comer  had  located  his 
claim,  the  neighbors  for  miles  around  would 
assemble  at  the  site  of  the  new-comer's  pro- 
posed cabin  and  aid  him  in  "gittin"'  it  up. 
One  party  with  axes  would  cut  down  the 
trees  and  hew  the  logs;  another  with  teams 
would  hall  the  logs  to  the  ground;  another 
party  would  "raise"  the  cal)in;  while  several 
of  the  old  men  wuuld  "  rive  the  clapboards" 
for  the  roof.  I'.y  night  the  little  forest 
domicil  would  be  up  and  ready  for  a  "  house- 


p....... 


m-'m.-'jiitu 


r  !r^\^B -^a  ?<  iiy  ■"  i  ^i? 


warming,"  which  was  tlie  dedicatory  occupa- 
tion of  tlie  house,  when  music  and  dancing 
and  festivity  would  be  enjoyed  at  full  height. 
The  next  day  the  new-comer  would  be  as 
well  situated  as  his  neighbors. 

An  instance  of  ])rimitive  hospitable  man- 
ners will  be  in  place  here.  A  traveling 
^lethodist  preacher  ari'ived  in  a  distant 
neighborhood  to  lill  an  ajipointment.  The 
house  whei'e  services  were  to  be  held  did  not 
belong  to  a  church  member,  but  no  matter 
for  that.  Boards  were  raked  up  from  all  quar- 
ters with  which  to  make  temporary  seats,  one 
of  the  neighbors  volunteering  to  lead  oft'  in 
the  work,  while  the  man  of  the  house,  with 
the  faithful  ritle  on  his  shoulder,  sallied  forth 
in  quest  of  meat,  for  this  truly  was  a  "ground- 
hog "  case,  the  preacher  coming  and  no  meat 
iu  the  house.  The  host  ceased  not  to  chase 
until  he  found  the  meat,  in  the  shape  of  a 
deer;  returning  he  sent  a  boy  out  after  it, 
with  directions  on  what  "  ])int  "  to  find  it. 
After  services,  which  had  been  listened  to 
with  rapt  attention  by  all  the  audience,  mine 
host  said  to  his  wife,  "  Old  woman,  I  reckon 
this  'ere  preacher  is  pretty  hungry  and  you 
must  get  him  a  bite  to  eat."  "  What  shall  I 
git  him?"  asked  tiie  wife,  who  had  not  seen 
the  deer;  "  thar's  nuthin'  in  the  house  to  eat." 
"  Why,  look  thar,"  returned  he;  "thar's  a  deer, 
and  thar's  plenty  of  corn  in  the  field;  you  git 
some  corn  and  grate  it  while  I  skin  the  deer, 
and  we'll  have  a  good  supper  for  him."  It 
is  needless  to  add  that  venison  and  corn  bread 
made  a  supper  lit  for  any  pioneer  preacher, 
and  was  tliankfullv  eaten. 


In  pioneer  times  the  transactions  of  com- 
merce were  generally  carried  on  by  neighbor- 
hood exchanges.  Now  and  then  a  farmer 
would  load  a  flat-boat  with  beeswax,  honey, 
tallow  and  peltries,  with  perhaps  a  few  bushels 


% 
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.fit 


:9' 

A- 

I 


HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY 


I 
I 

i 
pi 


of  wheat  or  corn  or  a  few  hundred  chipboards, 
and  float  down  the  rivers  into  the  Ohio  and 
tiience  to  iSew  Orleans,  where  lie  would 
exchange  his  produce  for  siilistantiuls  in  the 
siiape  of  groceries  and  a  little  ready  inonej', 
with  which  he  would  return  by  some 
one  of  the  two  or  three  steamboats  then 
running.  Betimes  there  appeared  at  the 
best  steamboat  landings  a  number  of  "middle 
men"  engaged  in  the  "commission  and  for- 
warding "  business,  buying  up  the  farmers' 
produce  and  the  ti'ophies  of  the  chase  and  the 
trap,  and  sending  them  to  the  various  distant 
markets.  Their  winter's  accumulations 
would  be  shijjped  in  the  spring,  and  the 
manufactured  goods  of  the  far  East  or  distant 
South  would  come  back  in  return;  and  in  all 
tliese  transactions  scarcely  any  money  was 
seen  or  used.  Goods  were  sold  on  a  year's 
time  to  the  farmers,  and  payment  made  from 
the  proceeds  of  the  ensuing  crops.  AVhen 
the  crops  were  sold  and  the  merchant  satisfied, 
the  surplus  was  paid  out  in  orders  on  the 
store  to  laboring  men  and  to  satisfy  other 
creditors.  When  a  day's  work  was  done  by  a 
working  man,  his  employer  would  ask,  '•  AVell, 
what  store  do  you  want  your  order  on?"  The 
answer  being  given,  the  order  was  written 
and  aiways  cheerfully  acce])ted. 


!^^oney  was  an  article  little  known  and  sel- 
dom seen  among  the  earlier  settlers.  Indeed, 
they  had  but  little  use  for  it,  as  the}'  could 
transact  all  their  business  about  as  well  with- 
out it,  on  the  "  barter  "  system,  ^'herein  great 
ingenuity  was  sometimes  displayed.  AVhen 
it  failed  it  any  instance,  long  credits  contrib- 
uted to  the  convenience  of  the  citizens. 
Jiut  for  ta.xes  and  postage  neither  the  barter 
nor  the  credit  system  would  answer,  and 
often  letters  were  suffered  to  remain  a  long 
time  in   the  postoffice  for  the  want  of  the  25 


cents  demanded  by  the  Government.  AVith 
all  this  high  price  on  postage,  by  the  way, 
the  letter  had  not  been  Ijronght  500  miles  in 
a  day  or  two,  as  is  the  case  nowadays,  but  had 
probably  been  weeks  on  the  route,  and  the 
mail  was  delivered  at  the  pioneer's  postofKce, 
several  miles  distant  from  his  residence,  only 
once  in  a  week  or  two.  All  the  mail  would 
be  carried  by  a  lone  horseman.  Instances 
are  related  illustrating  how  misrepresentation 
would  be  resorted  to  in  order  to  elicit  the 
sympathies  of  some  one  M'ho  was  known  to 
have  "  two  bits  "  (25  cents)  of  money  with 
him,  and  procure  the  required  Govei'nmental 
fee  for  a  letter. 

Peltries  came  nearer  being  money  than 
anything  else,  as  it  came  to  be  custom  to 
estimate  the  value  of  everything  in  peltries. 
Such  an  article  was  worth  so  many  peltries. 
Even  some  tax  collectors  and  postmasters 
were  known  to  take  peltries  and  exchange 
them  for  the  money  required  by  the  Govern- 
ment. 

AA'^hen  the  first  settlers  first  came  into  the 
wilderness  they  generally  supposed  that  their 
hard  struggle  would  be  principally  over  after 
the  first  year;  but  alas!  they  often  looked  for 
"easier  times  next  year"  for  many  years 
before  realizing  them,  and  then  they  came  in 
so  slily  as  to  be  almost  imperceptible.  The 
sturdy  pioneer  thus  learned  to  bear  hardships, 
privation  and  hard  living,  as  good  soldiers  do. 
As  the  facilties  for  making  money  were  not 
great,  they  lived  pretty  well  satisfied  in  an 
atmosphere  of  good,  social,  friendly  feeling, 
and  thought  themselves  as  good  as  those  they 
had  left  behind  in  the  East.  But  among  the 
early  settlers  who  came  to  this  State  were 
many  who,  accustomed  to  the  advantages  of 
an  older  civilization,  to  churches,  schools  and 
society,  became  speedily  home-sick  and  dis- 
satisfied. They  would  remain  perhaps  one 
Slimmer,  or  at  most   two,  then,  selling  wliat- 


a^Tii,,vi 


•  ■■vM'-«».^»'M«tJ»i.r"2^T«l"»"'«»-M'"MM„  a 


i 


,:«i;y,?Kr,5^S:»^mSTn;^c---^i^.:^^-,irit.-^ai.«r,,-»r^w„»»a^ 


PIONEElt     LIFE. 


i»'m]?iiL"i.'-«'»«»it:'»'iiii»«iL"'«' 


■-sr^-jt-jD"a.' 


ii 
II 


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is: 


Hit' 


ever  cliiiin  with  its  iiii]ir<)Vt'inoiitfi  they  liad 
made,  woiilil  leturii  to  the  cikler  States, 
spreading  repurts  t)t'  the  lianlsliips  endured 
by  the  settlers  liere  and  tiie  disadvantages 
wliich  tliey  had  found,  or  imagined  they  had 
found  in  the  country.  These  weaklings  were 
not  an  unmitigated  curse.  The  slight  im- 
provements they  had  nnide  were  sold  to  men 
of  sterner  stuff,  who  were  the  sooner  able  to 
surround  tliemselves  with  tiie  necessities  of 
life,  while  their  unfavorable  report  deterred 
other  weaklings  friiui  coming.  The  men  who 
stayed,  who  were  willing  to  endure  privations, 
belonged  to  a  ditfereiit  guild;  they  were 
heroes  every  one, — men  to  whom  hardships 
were  things  to  be  overcome,  and  present 
privations  things  to  be  endured  for  the  sake 
of  posterity,  and  they  never  shrank  from  this 
duty.  It  is  to  these  hardy  jiioneers  who 
could  endure  that  we  to-day  owe  the  wonder- 
ful improvement  we  have  made  and  the 
development,  almost  miraculous,  that  has 
brought  our  State  in  the  past  si.xty  years 
from  a  wilderness  to  the  front  raid-c  among 
the  States  of  this  wreat  nation. 


Xot  the  least  of  the  liardships  of  the  ])io- 
neers  was  the  procuring  of  bread.  The  first 
settlers  must  be  supplied  at  least  one  year 
from  other  sources  than  their  own  lands;  but 
the  first  crops,  however  abundant,  gave  only 
partial  relief,  there  being  no  mills  to  grind 
the  grain.  Hence  the  necessity  of  grinding 
by  hand-power,  and  many  families  were 
poorly  provided  with  means  for  doing  this. 
Another  way  was  to  grate  the  corn.  A  grater 
was  made  from  a  piece  of  tin,  sometimes 
taken  from  an  old,  worn-out  tin  bucket  or 
other  vessel.  It  was  thickly  perforated,  bent 
into  a  semi-circular  form,  rough  side  upward, 
on  a  board.     The  corn  was  taken  in   the  ear, 


aiul  gi-ated  before  it  g<it  dry  and  hard.    Corn, 
h(>we\er,  was  eaten  in  various  ways. 

Soon  after  the  country  became  more  gen- 
erally settled,  enterprising  men  were  ready 
to  embark  in  the  milling  business.  Sites 
along  the  streams  were  selected  for  water- 
])Ower.  A  person  looking  for  a  mill-site 
would  follow  up  and  down  the  stream  for  a 
desired  location,  and  when  found  he  would 
go  before  the  authorities  and  secure  a  writ  of 
ad  qitvd  damiLUin.  This  would  enable  the 
miller  to  have  the  adjoining  land  officially 
examined,  and  the  amount  of  damage  by 
making  a  dam  was  named,  ilills  being  so 
great  a  public  necessity,  they  were  permitted 
to  be  located  upon  any  person's  land  where 
the  miller  thought  the  site  desirable. 

AOKICULTlIiAI.  IMI'I.KMENTS. 

The  agricultural  implements  used  by  the 
tirst  farmers  in  this  State  would  in  this  age 
of  improvement  be  great  curiosities.  The 
]dow  used  was  called  the  "  Ijar-share  "  plow; 
the  iron  point  consisted  of  a  bar  of  iron 
about  two  feet  long,  and  a  broad  share  of  iron 
welded  to  it.  At  the  extreme  point  was  a 
coulter  that  passed  through  a  beam  si.x  or 
seven  feet  h>ng,  to  which  were  attached 
handles  of  corresponding  length.  The  mold- 
board  was  a  wooden  one  split  out  of  winding 
timber,  or  hewed  into  a  winding  shape,  in 
order  to  turn  the  soil  over.  Sown  seed  was 
brushed  in  by  dragging  over  the  ground  a 
sapling  with  a  bushy  top.  In  harvesting  the 
change  is  most  striking.  Instead  of  the 
reapers  and  mowers  of  to-day,  the  sickle  and 
cradle  were  used.  The  grain  was  threslied 
with  a  tlail,  or  trodden  out  by  horses  or  oxen. 

UtiG   KILLING. 

Ilogs  were  always  dressed  before  they 
were  taken  to  market.  The  farmer,  if  fore- 
handed, would    call    in    his    neighbors  some 


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IIISTOHY    OF    ADAMii    VOUyTY. 


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liriglit  fall  or  wintur  niDrniim-  to  help  "  kill 
lioys."'  Iininense  kettles  of  water  were  lieated  ; 
a  sled  or  two,  covereil  ^^•itll  loose  hoards  or 
])lank,  constituted  tiie  [ilatforiii  on  which  the 
hog  was  cleaned,  and  was  j)laced  near  an 
inclined  hogshead  in  which  tlie  scalding  was 
done;  a  quilt  was  thrown  over  the  top  of  the 
latter  to  retain  the  heat;  froin  a  crotch  of 
some  convenient  tree  a  projecting  pole  was 
rigged  to  hold  the  animals  for  ilisemboweling 
and  thorough  cleaning.  When  everything 
was  arranged,  the  best  shot  of  the  neighbor- 
hood loaded  his  rilic,  and  the  work  of  killing 
was  commenced.  It  was  considered  a  dis- 
grace to  make  a  hog  "  scjueal  "  by  bad  shoot- 
ing or  by  a  "  shoulder-stick,"  that  is,  running 
the  point  of  the  butcher-knife  into  the 
shoulder  instead  of  the  cavity  of  the  beast. 
As  each  hog  fell,  the  "sticker"'  mounted  him 
and  plunged  the  butcher-knife,  long  and  well 
sharpened,  into  his  throat;  two  ])ersons 
would  then  catch  him  by  the  hind  legs,  draw 
liim  up  to  the  scalding  tub,  which  had  just 
been  tilled  with  boiling-hot  water  with  a 
shovelful  of  good  green  wood  ashes  thrown 
in;  in  this  the  carcass  was  plunged  and 
moved  around  a  minute  or  so,  that  is,  until 
the  hair  would  slip  off  easily,  then  placed  on 
the  jilatform,  where  the  cleaners  would  pitch 
into  him  with  all  their  might  and  clean  him 
as  quickly  as  possible,  with  knives  and  other 
sharp-edged  implements;  then  two  stout 
fellows  would  take  him  up  between  them, 
and  a  third  man  to  manage  the  "  gambrel " 
(which  was  a  stout  stick  about  two  feet  long, 
sharpened  at  both  ends,  to  be  inserted  between 
the  muscles  of  the  hind  legs  at  or  near  the 
iiock  joint),  the  animal  would  be  elevated  to 
the  pole,  where  the  work  of  cleaning  was 
finished. 

After  the  slaughter  was  over  and  the  hogs 
had  had  time  t(j  cool,  such  as  were  intended 
for  domestic  use  were  cut  up,  the  lard  "  tried  " 


out  by  the  women  of  the  household,  and  the 
surplus  liogs  taken  to  market,  while  the 
weather  was  cold,  if  possible.  In  those  days 
almost  every  merchant  had,  at  the  rear  end 
of  his  place  of  business,  or  at  some  conven- 
ient building,  a  "  pork-house,"  and  would 
buy  the  pork  of  his  customers  and  of  such 
others  as  would  sell  to  him,  and  cut  it  for 
the  market.  This  gave  employment  to  a 
large  number  of  hands  in  every  village,  who 
would  cut  and  pack  pork  all  winter.  The 
hauling  of  all  this  to  the  river  would  also 
gi\e  employment  to  a  large  number  of  teams, 
and  the  manulacture  of  pork  barrels  would 
keep  many  coopers  employed. 

Allowing  for  the  difference  of  currency  and 
manner  of  marketing,  the  price  of  pork  was 
not  so  high  in  those  da3's  as  at  present. 
Kow,  while  calico  and  muslin  are  10  cents  a 
yard,  and  pork  2  to  4  cents  a  pound,  tlien, 
while  calico  and  muslin  were  25  cents  a  yard, 
pork  was  1  to  2  cents  a  pcjund.  AVhen,  as 
the  country  grew  older  and  communications 
easier  between  the  seaboard  and  the  great 
West,  prices  went  up  to  2A  and  3  cents  a 
pound,  the  farmers  thought  they  would 
always  be  content  to  raise  pork  at  such  a 
price;  but  times  have  changed,  even  con- 
trary to  the  current-cy. 

There  was  one  feature  in  this  method  of 
marketing  pork  that  made  the  country  a 
paradise  for  the  poor  man  in  the  winter  time. 
Spare-ribs,  tenderloins,  pigs'  lieads  and  pigs' 
feet  were  not  considered  of  any  value,  and 
were  freely  given  to  all  who  could  use  them. 
If  a  barrel  was  taken  to  an}'  pork-liouse  and 
salt  furnislied,  the  barrel  would  be  filled  and 
salted  down  with  tenderloins  and  spare-ribs 
gratuitously.  So  great  in  many  cases  was 
the  quantit}'  of  spare-ribs,  etc.,  to  be  disposed 
of,  that  the}' would  be  hauled  away  in  wagon- 
loads  and  dumped  in  the  woods  out  of  town. 

In  those  early  times  much  wheat  was  mar- 


I 

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I'WNEEll    LIFE. 


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ketcd  at  2.")  to  TjO  cents  ii  Imslii'l,  oats  tlic 
saiiiL'  or  Ifsj,  ami  corn  10  ix'iits  a  Inihlnjl.  A 
1^10(1  young  milch  cow  coiiUl  hu  lioiii^lit  for 
-S5  to  SlO,  and  that  payaMe  in  work. 

Those  might  truly  be  culled  "close  times," 
yet  the  citizens  of  the  country  were  accoin- 
inodatini!;,  and  but  verj'  little  suffering  for 
the  actual  nece^sities  of  life  was  ever  known 
to  exist. 

I'iiAiiiii:   i-iKi:s. 

Fires,  set  out  by  Indians  or  settlers,  some- 
times pui'|>ot;ely  and  sometimes  jiermitted 
through  carelessness,  woukl  visit  the  prairies 
every  autumn,  ami  sometimes  the  forests, 
either  in  autumn  or  spring,  and  settlers  could 
not  always  succeed  in  defending  themselves 
against  the  destroying  element.  Many  in- 
teresting incidents  are  related.  Often  a  lire 
was  started  to  liewilder  game,  or  to  bare  a 
piece  of  ground  for  the  earl}-  grazing  of  stcick 
the  ensuing  spring,  and  it  would  get  away 
under  a  wind,  and  soon  be  beyond  control. 
A'^ioleiit  winds  would  often  arise  and  drive 
tlie  flames  with  such  'I'apidity  that  I'iders  on 
the  fleetest  steeds  could  scarcely  escape.  (Jn 
the  approach  of  a  jM'airie  tii'e  the  farmer 
would  immediately  set  about  "cutting  otf 
supplies''  for  the  devouring  enemy  by  a 
"  back  fire."  Thus,  by  stai-ting  a  small  fire 
near  the  bare  ground  about  liis  premises,  and 
kee[>ing  it  under  control  ne.xt  his  property, 
he  would  burn  oft'  a  strij)  around  liiiu  and 
]M-e\ent  the  attack  of  the  on-coming  flames. 
A  few  furrows  or  a  ditch  around  the  farm 
constituted  a  helj)  in  the  work  of  protection. 

An  original  prairie  of  tall  and  exuberant 
grass  on  tire,  especially  at  night,  was  a 
magnificent  S[)ectacle,  enjoyed  only  by  the 
pioneer.  Here  is  an  instance  where  the 
frontiersman,  proverbially  tieprived  of  the. 
sights  and  pleasures  of  an  old  community,  is 
pri\ileged  far  beyond  the  people  of  the 
present    day    in     this    country.     One    could 


scarcely  tire  of  beholding  the  scene,  as  its 
awe-inspiring  t'caturt.'s  scemcii  constantly  to 
increase,  and  tiie  whole  panorama  unceas- 
ingly changed  like  tiie  dissolving  views  of  a 
magic  lantern,  or  like  the  aurora  borealis. 
Language  cannot  convey,  words  cannot  ex- 
press, the  faintest  idea  of  the  splendor  and 
grandeur  of  such  a  contiagi'ation  at  night. 
It  was  as  if  the  pale  queen  of  night,  disdain- 
ing to  take  her  accustomed  place  in  the 
heavens,  had  dispatched  myriads  upon  myr- 
iads of  messengers  to  light  their  torches  at 
tlie  altar  of  the  setting  sun  until  all  had 
riashed  into  one  long  and  continuous  blaze. 

The  following  graphic  description  of  ])rai- 
rie  fires  was  written  by  a  traveler  through 
this  region  in  1S4'J: 

"Soon  the  fires  began  to  kindle  wider  and 
rise  higher  from  the  long  grass;  the  gentle 
breeze  increased  to  stronger  currents,  and 
soon  fanned  the  small,  fiickering  blaze  into 
fierce  toi-rent  flames,  which  curled  up  and 
leaped  along  in  resistless  s]jlendor;  anil  like 
quickly  raising  the  dark  curtain  from  the 
luminous  stage,  the  scenes  before  mc  were 
suddenly  changed,  as  if  by  the  magician's 
wand,  into  one  boundless  amphitheatre 
blazing  from  the  earth  to  heaven  and  sweep- 
ing tlie  horizon  round, — columns  of  lurid 
flames  sportively  mounting  up  to  the  zenith, 
and  dark  clouds  of  crimson  smoke  curling 
away  and  aloft  till  tliey  nearly  obscured  stars 
and  moon,  while  the  rushing,  crashing  sounds, 
like  roaring  cataracts  mingled  witli  distant 
tliunders,  were  almost  deafening;  danger, 
death,  glared  all  around;  it  screamed  for 
victims;  yet,  notwithstanding  the  imminent 
peril  of  prairie  fires,  one  is  loth,  irresolute, 
almost  unable  to  withdraw  or  seek  refuge." 

WILD   nous. 

AYhen  the  earliest  pioneer  readied  this 
Western  wilderness,  game  was  his  principal 


; 
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fodil  until  111'  liad  coiujuorod  ;i  farm  from  tlio 
fi_iri'St(ir  ])rairie-- -rarely,  tlifii,  from  tlio  latter. 
As  the  country  settleti  game  grew  scarce,  and 
by  1850  lie  who  would  live  by  his  riile  would 
have  had  but  a  precarious  subsistence  had  it 
not  been  for  "wild  liogs.-'  These  animals, 
left  by  liome-sick  immi<rrants,  wlioni  the 
chills  or  fever  and  ague  had  driven  out,  had 
sti'ayed  into  the  woods,  and  began  to  multi- 
ply in  a  wild  state.  The  woods  each  fall  were 
full  of  acorns,  walnuts  and  hazelnuts,  and  on 
these  liogs  would  grow  fat  and  multiply  at  a 
wonderful  rate  in  the  bottoms  and  along  the 
bluffs.  The  second  and  third  imniigration 
to  the  country  found  tliese  wild  hogs  an  un- 
failing Source  of  meat  supply  up  to  that 
period  when  they  had  in  the  townships  con- 
tiguous to  the  river  become  so  numerous  as 
to  be  an  e\il,  breaking  in  herds  into  the 
farmer's  corn-fields  or  tolling  their  domestic 
swine  into  their  retreats,  where  they  too  be- 
came in  a  season  as  wild  as  those  in  the 
woods.  In  1838  or  1839,  in  a  certain  town- 
ship, a  meeting  was  called  of  citizens  of  the 
township  to  take  steps  to  get  rid  of  wild 
hogs.  At  this  meeting,  wliicli  was  held  in 
the  spring,  the  people  of  the  township  were 
notified  to  turn  out  enmasse  on  a  certain  day 
and  engage  in  the  work  of  catching,  trimming 
and  branding  wild  hogs,  which  were  to  be 
turned  loose,  and  the  ne.xt  winter  were  to  be 
hunted  and  killed  by  the  people  of  the  town- 
ship, the  meat  to  be  divided  jyro  rata  among 
the  citizens  of  the  township.  This  plan  was 
fully  carried  into  etlect,  two  or  three  days 
being  spent  in  the  exciting  work  in  tlie 
spring. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  ensuing  winter  the 
settlers  again  turned  out,  supplied  at  conven- 
ient points  in  the  bottom  with  large  kettles 
and  barrels  for  scalding,  and  while  the  hunt- 
ers were  engaged  in  killing,  others  with 
horses  dragged   the  carcasses  to  the  scalding 


platforms,  where  they  were  dressed;  and  when 
all  that  coulil  be  were  killed  and  dressed  a 
division  was  made,  every  farmer  getting 
more  meat  than  enough  for  his  winter's  sup- 
ply. Like  energetic  measures  were  resorted 
to  in  other  townships,  so  that  in  two  or  three 
years  the  l)reed  of  wild   liogs  became  extinct. 


NATIVE  ANIMALS. 


The  principal  wild  animals  found  in  the 
State  by  the  early  settlers  were  the  deer,  wolf, 
bear,  wild-cat,  fox,  otter,  raccoon,  generally 
called  "  coon,"  woodchuck,  or  ground  hog, 
skunk,  mink,  weasel,  muskrat,  opossum,  rab- 
bit and  S(|uirrel;  and  the  principal  feathered 
game  were  tlie  quail,  prairie  chicken  and  wild 
turkey.  Hawks,  turkey  buzzards,  crows,  black- 
birds, were  also  very  abundant.  Several  of 
these  animals  furnished  meat  for  the  settlers; 
but  their  principal  meat  did  not  long  consist 
of  game;  ])ork  and  ]joultry  were  raised  in 
abundance.  The  wolf  was  the  most  trouble- 
some animal,  it  being  the  common  enemy 
of  the  sheep,  and  sometimes  attacking  other 
domestic  animals,  and  even  human  beings. 
But  their  hideous  bowlings  at  night  were  so 
constant  and  terrifying  that  they  almost 
seemed  to  do  more  mischief  by  that  annoy- 
ance than  by  direct  attack.  They  would  keep 
everybody  and  every  animal  about  the  farm- 
house awake  and  frightened,  and  set  all  the 
dous  in  the  neighborhood  to  barking.  As 
one  man  described  it:  "Suppose  six  boys, 
having  six  dogs  tied,  whipped  them  all  at  the 
same  time,  and  you  would  hear  such  music 
as  two  wolves  would  make." 

To  effect  the  destruction  of  tliese  animals 
the  county  authorities  offered  a  bounty  for 
their  scalps;  and,  besides,  big  hunts  were 
. common. 

WOLF    HDNTS. 

In  early  days  more  mischief  was  done  by 
wolves  than  by  any  other  wild  animal,  and  no 


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M  PIONKEIi    LIFE. 


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small  part  of  their  iniscliiot'cDiisisteil  in  their 
iilmost  constant  barkiiiy  at  nii;iit,  wliicii 
always  seemed  so  meiiaciiiij;  ami  iViifhtt'iil  to 
the  settlers.  Like  inosfjuitos,  the  noise  they 
made  appeared  to  ))e  about  as  dreatlfiil  as  the 
real  depradations  they  committed.  The  most 
eft'ectiial,  as  well  as  the  most  excitinj;  method 
ot'  ridding  the  cixmtry  of  these  hateful  jiests 
was  that  known  as  the  "circular  wolf  hunt," 
by  which  all  the  men  and  boys  would  turn 
out  on  an  appointed  day,  in  a  kind  of  circle 
com])rising  many  scpuire  niilcs  (if  territoiy, 
wifli  hui-BCS  and  do^-s,  and  then  close  up  to- 
ward the  center  of  their  lield  of  operation, 
gathering  not  only  wolves,  but  also  deer 
ami  nniny  smaller  "  varmint."  Five,  ten  or 
more  wolves  by  this  means  would  sometimes 
be  killed  in  a  single  day.  The  men  would  be 
organized  with  as  miicli  system  as  a  little 
army,  e\ery  oiic  being  well  jiosted  in  the 
meaning  of  every  signal  ami  the  ajiplication 
of  every  rule.  Guns  were  scarcely  ever 
alK>wed  to  be  bi-ought  on  sucli  occasions, 
as  their  use  would  be  unavoidably  danger- 
ous. The  dogs  were  depended  on  for  the 
final  slaughter.  The  dogs,  by  the  way,  had 
all  to  be  held  in  check  by  a  cord  in  the 
hands  of  their  keepers  until  the  final  signal 
was  given  to  let  them  loose,  when  away  they 
would  go  to  the  center  of  battle,  and  a  more 
exciting  scene  would  follow  than  can  be  easily 
described. 

np:K    HUNTING. 

This  wild  j-ecreation  was  a  jieculiar  one, 
and  many  sturdy  back-woodsmen  gloried  in 
excelling  in  this  art.  He  would  carefully 
watch  a  bee  as  it  filled  itself  with  the  sweet 
product  of  some  flower  or  leaf-buii,  and  notice 
particularly  the  direction  taken  by  it  as  it 
struck  a  '-bee-line"  for  its  home,  which  when 
found  would  be  generally  high  up  in  the 
hollow  of  a  tree.     The  tree  would  be  marked, 


and  in  September  a  party  would  go  and  cut 
down  the  tree  and  captiiie  the  honey  as 
quickly  as  they  could  before  it  wasted  away 
through  the  broken  walls  in  which  it  hai 
been  so  carefully  stowed  away  by  the  little 
busy  bee.  Several  gallons  would  often  lie 
thus  taken  from  a  single  tree,  and  by  a  very 
little  work,  and  ploasunt  at  that,  the  early 
settlers  could  keep  themselves  in  honey  the 
year  round.  IJy  the  time  the  honey  was  a 
year  old,  or  bef(jre,  it  would  tiii-n  white  and 
granulate,  yet  be  as  good  and  healthful  as 
when  fresli.  This  was  It}'  some  called  ••  can- 
did "  honey. 

In  some  districts,  the  resorts  of  bees  would 
be  so  plentiful  that  all  the  available  hol- 
low trees  wouhl  be  occupied  and  many  colo- 
nies of  bees  would  be  found  at  work  in 
crevices  in  the  rock  and  lioles  in  tlie  gnnind. 
A  considerable  (piantity  of  honey  lias  even 
been  taken  from  such  places. 


In  pioneer  times  snakes  were  numerous, 
such  as  the  rattlesnake,  viper,  adder,  blond 
snake  and  many  varieties  of  large  blue  and 
green  snakes,  milk  snake,  garter  and  water 
snakes,  black  snakes,  etc.,  etc.  If,  on  meet- 
ing one  of  these,  you  would  retreat,  they 
would  chase  you  very  fiercely;  but  if  you 
would  turn  and  give  them  battle,  they  would 
immediately  crawd  away  with  all  possible 
speed,  hide  in  the  grass  and  weeds,  and  wait 
for  a  ''  greener  "  customer.  These  really 
harmless  snakes  served  to  put  people  on  their 
(Miaril  ai;;unst  the  nuire  dangerous  and  ven- 
omous  kinds. 

It  was  the  practice  of  some  sections  of  the 
country  to  turn  out  in  companies,  with 
spades,  mattocks  and  crow-bars,  attack  the 
principal  snake  dens  and  slay  large  numbers 
of  them.  In  early  spring  the  snakes  were 
somewhat  torpid  and  easily  captured.    Scores 


(a 


•a 

V 

$ 


•i 

I 

'A 


i'^«*»«*^=al«c«*''^.»! 


ks:^ai}»}k^iilK^^ii^th'n^^^^^'si^i 


UI8T0UY    OF    ADAMti    COUNTY 


l 


ol'  nittlesriiikes  were  eoiiietiiiiL's  tVigliteiied 
out  of  a  single  ileu,  which,  ;is  soon  as  they 
showed  their  heads  tluough  the  crevices  of 
the  rocks,  were  dispatched,  and  left  to  be  de- 
voured by  the  numerous  wild  liogs  of  that 
day.  Some  of  the  fattest  of  these  snakes 
were  taken  to  the  house  and  oil  extracted 
from  them,  and  their  glittering  skins  were 
saved  as  specifics  for  rheumatism. 

Another  method  was  to  so  fix  a  heavy  stick 
over  the  door  of  their  dens,  with  a  long 
grape-vine  attached,  that  one  at  a  distance 
could  plug  the  entrance  to  the  den  when  the 
snakes  were  all  out  sunning  themselves. 
Then  a  large  company  of  the  citizens,  on 
hand  by  apjjointment,  could  kill  scores  of  the 
reptiles  in  a  few  minutes. 


One  of  tlie  greatest  obstacles  in  the  early 
settlement  and  prosperity  of  this  State  was 
the  "  chills  and  fever,"  "  fever  and  ague,"  or 
"  shakes,"  as  it  was  variously  called.  It  was 
a  terror  to  new  comers;  in  the  fall  of  the 
year  almost  everybody  was  attlicted  with  it. 
It  was  no  respecter  of  persons;  everybody 
looked  pale  and  sallow  as  though  lie  were 
Irost-bitten.  It  was  not  contagious,  but  de- 
rived from  impure  water  and  air,  which  are 
always  developed  in  the  opening  of  a  new 
country  of  rank  soil  like  that  of  the  North- 
west. The  impurities  continue  to  be  ab- 
sorbed from  day  to  day,  and  from  week  to 
week,  until  the  whole  body  corporate  became 
saturated  with  it  as  with  electricity,  and  then 
the  shock  came;  and  the  shock  was  a  regular 
shake,  with  a  fixed  beginning  and  ending, 
coming  on  in  some  cases  each  day,  but  gen- 
erally on  alternate  days,  with  a  regularity 
that  was  surprising.  After  the  shake  came 
the  fever,  and  this  "  last  estate  was  worse 
than  the  first."     It  was  a  burninsr  hot  fever 


and  lasted  for  hours.  When  you  had  the 
chill  you  couldn't  get  warm,  and  when  you 
had  the  fever  you  couldn't  get  cool.  It  was 
exceedingly  awkward  in  this  respect;  indeed 
it  was.  Xor  would  it  stop  for  any  sort  of 
contingency;  not  even  a  wedding  in  the  fam- 
ily would  stop  it.  It  was  imperative  and 
tyrannical.  When  the  appointed  time  came 
around,  everything  else  had  to  be  stopped  to 
attend  to  its  demands.  It  didn't  even  have 
any  Sundays  or  holidays;  after  the  fever 
went  down  you  still  didn't  feel  much  better. 
Vou  felt  as  though  you  had  gone  through 
some  sort  of  collision,  threshing-machine  or 
jarring-machine,  and  came  out  not  killed, 
but  next  thing  to  it.  You  felt  weak,  as 
though  you  had  run  too  far  after  something, 
and  then  didn't  catch  it.  You  felt  languid, 
stupid  and  sore,  and  was  down  in  the  mouth 
and  heel  and  partially  raveled  out.  Your 
back  was  out  of  fix,  your  head  ached  and  your 
appetite  crazy.  Your  eyes  had  too  much 
white  in  them,  your  ears,  especially  after 
taking  quinine,  had  too  much  roar  iu  them, 
and  your  whole  body  and  soul  were  woe-be- 
gone,  disconsolate,  sad,  poor  and  good  for 
nothing.  You  didn't  think  much  of  your- 
self, and  didn't  believe  that  other  people  did 
either;  and  you  didn't  care.  You  didn't 
quite  make  up  your  mind  to  commit  suicide, 
but  sometimes  wished  some  accident  would 
happen  to  knock  either  the  malady  or  your- 
self out  of  existence.  You  imagined  that 
even  the  dogs  looked  at  you  with  a  kind  of 
self-complacency.  You  thought  the  sun  had 
a  kind  of  sickly  shine  about  it. 

About  this  time  you  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  you  would  not  accept  the  whole  State  of 
Indiana  as  a  gift;  and  if  you  had  the  strength 
and  means,  you  picked  up  Hannah  and  the 
baby,  and  your  traps,  and  went  back  "  yander  " 
to  "  Old  Virginny,"  the  "  Jarseys,"  Maryland 
or  "  Pennsylvany." 


t 


I  .»«^w^iiT*MMii.f'«i>»'jiS-j«»firoi,-s-»,"«Wj,-ir, 


»"•?  a»'ji«m»jr^[ai?GH'^i??ffl5LHi!E 


il 


I 
I 

I 

% 

'r> 
'» 

I 

M 


IP- 

I 

k 


if,; 


ir».' 


!^: 

'l8, 
'IS  J 


"  Anil  lo-il;i}'  the  swallows  flitting 

Round  my  cabin  see  nie  sittiuj^ 

Jlooilily  within  the  sunshine, 
Just  insiile  my  silent  door, 

Wailing  for  the  '  ager,'  >eeniing 

Like  a  man  lorever  dreaming; 

And  the  sunlight  on  me  streaming 
Throws  no  shadow  on  the  floor; 

For  1  am  too  thin  and  sallow 

To  maUe  shadows  on  the  floor — 

Xary  shadow  any  more  !  " 

Tlie  above  is  not  a  mere  ])icttire  of  the 
iinai^iuiitioii.  It  is  simply  recounting  in 
ijiiaint  phrase  wliat  actually  occurred  in 
thousands  of  cases.  "Whole  families  would 
sometimes  be  sick  at  one  time  and  not  one 
member  scarcely  able  to  wait  upon  another. 
Labor  or  exercise  always  aggravated  the 
malady,  and  it  took  General  Laziness  a  long 
time  to  thrash  the  enemy  out.  And  those 
were  the  days  for  swallowing  all  sorts  of 
roots  and  "yarbs,"  and  whisky,  etc.,  with 
sotne  faint  hope  of  relief.  And  finally,  when 
the  case  wore  out,  the  last  remedy  taken  got 
the  credit  of  the  cure. 

EDUCATION. 

Thotigh  struggling  through  the  pressure  of 
poverty  and  privation,  the  early  settlers 
planted  among  them  the  school-house  at  the 
earliest  practical  period.  So  iinportant  an 
object  as  the  education  of  their  children 
they  did  not  defer  until  they  could  build 
more  comely  and  convenient  houses.  They 
were  for  a  time  content  with  such  as  corre- 
sponded with  their  rude  dwellings,  but  soon 
better  buildings  and  accoinmoilations  were 
provided.  As  may  readily  be  sujiposed,  the 
accommodations  of  the  earliest  schools  were 
not  good.  Sometimes  school  was  taught  in  a 
room  of  a  large  or  double  log  cabin,  but 
oftener  in  a  log  house  built  for  the  purpose. 
Stoves  and  such  heating  apparatus  as  are  now 
in  tise  were  then  unknown.  A  mud-and- 
stick    chimney   in  one  end  of  the    building. 


with  earthen  heartli  and  a  fireplace  wide  and 
deep  enough  to  receive  a  four  to  six-foot 
back-log,  and  smaller  wood  to  inatcli,  served 
for  warming  purposes  in  ■winter  and  a  kind 
of  conservatory  in  summer.  For  windows, 
part  of  a  log  was  cut  out  in  two  sides  of  the 
building,  and  maybe  a  few  lights  of  eight 
by  ten  glass  set  in,  or  the  aperture  might  be 
covered  over  with  greased  pajier.  Writing 
desks  consisted  of  heavy  oak  plank  or  a 
hewed  slab  hiid  upon  wooden  pins  driven 
into  the  wall.  The  four-legged  slab  benches 
were  in  front  of  these,  and  tlie  pupils  when 
not  writing  would  sit  with  their  backs  against 
the  front  sharp  edge  of  tiie  writing-desks. 
The  floor  was  also  made  out  of  these  slabs,  or 
'•  puncheons,"  laid  upon  log  sleepers.  Every- 
thing was  rude  and  plain;  but  many  of 
America's  greatest  men  have  gone  out  from 
■just  such  school-houses  to  grai)ple  witli  the 
world  and  make  names  for  themselves  and 
reflect  honor  upon  their  country.  Among 
these  we  can  name  Abraham  Lincoln,  our 
martyred  President,  one  of  the  noblest  men 
known  to  the  world's  history.  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  one  of  the  greatest  statesmen  of  the 
age,  began  his  career  in  Illiiujis  teaching  in 
one  of  these  primitive  school-houses.  Joseph 
A.  Wright  and  several  others  of  Indiana's 
great  statesmen  have  also  graduated  from  the 
log  school-house  into  political  eminence.  So 
with  many  ot  her  most  eloqtient  and  erticient 
preachers. 

Imagine  such  a  liouse  with  the  children 
seated  around,  and  the  teacher  seated  on  one 
cud  of  a  bench,  with  no  more  desk  at  his 
hand  than  any  other  pupil  has,  and  you  have 
in  view  the  whole  scene.  The  "  school- 
master" has  called  "IJooks!  books!  "at  the 
door,  and  the  "scholars"  have  just  run  in 
almost  out  of  breath  from  vigorous  play, 
have  taken  their  seats,  and  are  for  the  moment 
'•  saying  over  their  lessons "   to    themselves 


'■f.> 

'h> 

>\\ 
'■: 

•V 

i 

•  »>» 

'V 

,  »• 

,K< 

'  i{ 

'V 


"w'T'a-iB.' 


.•^^  .^■I'rW'sr^T'ri^r^iW^yr^ia^n^:,;^-;^^ 


nisrunr  of  a/jams   county. 


*  i- 


tin' 


I 


witli  nil  tlu'ir  iiiiijrlit,  tJKit  is,  in  as  Uiiul  a 
whisper  as  possihk'.  A\'liilc  they  arc  tliiis 
eiigai^eil  the  teaclier  is  perhaps  sharpening  a 
tew  (|iiill  pens  for  the  pupils,  for  no  other 
kind  of  writing  pen  liad  been  thought  of  as 
yet.  In  a  few  minutes  he  calls  up  an  urchin 
to  say  his  a  1)  c's;  the  little  hoy  stands  beside 
tlie  teacher,  perhaps  partially  leaning  \ipon 
liis  lap;  the  teacher  with  iiis  pen-knife  points 
to  the  letter  and  asks  what  it  is;  the  little 
fellow  remains  silent,  for  he  does  not  know 
what  to  say;  ''A,"  says  the  teacher;  the  boy 
echoes  ">V;"  the  teacher  points  to  the  next 
and  asks  what  it  is;  the  boy  is  silent  again; 
"  E,"  says  the  teacher;  "  13,"  echoes  the  little 
urchin;  and  so  it  goes  through  the  exercise, 
at  the  conclusion  of  which  the  teacher  tells 
the  little  'Olajor"  to  go  back  to  his  seat  and 
study  his  letters,  and  when  he  comes  to  a 
letter  he  doesn't  know,  to  come  to  him  and 
he  will  toll  him.  He  obediently  goes  to  his 
seat,  looks  on  liis  book  a  little  while,  and  then 
goes  trudging  across  the  puncheon  floor  again 
in  his  bare  feet,  to  the  teacher,  and  points  to 
a  letter,  probably  outside  of  his  lesson,  and 
asks  what  it  is.  -The  teacher  kindly  tells 
him  that  that  is  not  in  his  lesson,  that  he 
need  not  study  that  or  look  at  it  now;  he  will 
come  to  that  some  other  da}',  and  then  he 
will  learn  what  it  is.  The  simple-minded 
little  fellow  then  trudges,  smilingly,  as  he 
catches  the  eye  of'  some  one,  back  to  his  seat 
again.  l!ut  why  he  smiled  he  has  no  delinite 
idea. 

To  pi'event  wearing  the  books  out  at  the 
lower  corner,  every  pupil  was  expected  to 
keep  a  "thumb-paper"  under  his  thumb  as 
he  holds  the  book;  even  then  tlie  books  weie 
soiled  and  worn  out  at  this  place  in  a  few 
weeks,  so  that  a  part  of  many  lessons  were 
gone.  Consequently  the  request  was  often 
made,  "  Master,  may  I  borrow  Jimmy's  book 
to  get  my  lesson  in*  mine  liaint  in  my  book; 


it's  tore  out."  It  was  also  customary  to  use 
book-[)ointers,  to  jxjinL  out  tlie  letti'i\s  or 
woi'ds  in  study  as  well  as  in  I'ecitation.  The 
black  stem  of  the  maiden-hair  fern  was  a 
very  popular  material  from  which  ]K)i liters 
were  made. 

The  a-b-ab  scholars  through  with,  perhaps 
the  second  or  third  reader  class  would  be' 
called,  M-ho  would  .stand  in  a  row  in  front  of 
the  teacher,  "  toeing  the  mark,"  which  was 
actually  a  chalk  or  charcoal  mark  drawn  on 
the  tloor,  and  commencing  at  one  end  of  the 
class,  one  would  read  the  first  "  verse,"  the 
next  the  second,  and  so  on  around,  taking  the 
paragraphs  in  the  order  as  they  occur  in  the 
book.  Whenever  a  pupil  hesitated  at  a  word 
the  teacher  would  pronounce  it  for  liim.  And 
this  was  all  there  was  of  the  reading  exercise. 

Those  studying  arithmetic  were  but  little 
classified,  and  they  were  therefore  generally 
called  forward  singly  and  interviewed,  or  the 
teacher  simply  visited  them  at  their  seats.  A 
lesson  containing  several  '' sums  "  woidd  be 
given  for  the  next  day.  Whenever  the  learner 
came  to  a  sum  he  eonldn't  do  he  would  go  t(j 
the  teacher  with  it,  who  would  willingly  and 
patiently,  if  he  had  time,  do  it  for  him. 

In  geography  no  wall  maps  were  used,  no 
drawing  recj^uired,  and  the  studying  and  reci- 
tation compi'ised  only  the  committing  to 
memor}',  or  "getting  by  heart,"  as  it  was 
called,  the  names  antl  locality  of  places.  The 
recitation  proceeded  like  this:  Teacher — 
"  Where  is  Norfolk?  "  Pupil — "  In  the  south- 
eastern part  of  Virginia."  Teacher — "  What 
bay  is  between  Maryland  and  Virginia?" 
Pupil — "  Chesapeake." 

When  the  hour  for  writing  arrived  the  time 
was  announced  by  the  master,  and  every 
pupil  practicing  this  art  would  turn  his  feet 
over  to  the  back  of  his  seat,  thus  throwing 
them  under  the  writing  desk  already  de- 
scribed, and  proceeded  to  "  follow  copy,"  which 


! 


i 
I 

ii: 

w 

I 

M 

:?1 


:»i. 


aUfl^ ;;;  ^^'^.^M^-'.t.'yjTP  Mr^^t^"P 


' .1  "iT.Hffl "."J -.a^r.  -; ^ " ••  '^jm^^M^a^ 


arcjO  K  "^f^is .. 


<r-«j«H'*^'?«'*i55«^"^i^v^:'iro-"£'ii:nniw'j^ 


Fjj5'-£a5:raJ'ai5 


»«]J 


I 


Mi 
f 


I 

I 

i; 

k 

k 

If. 

k 

(Li? 

'k 


PIONEER    LIFE. 


was  invarialily  set  by  the  teacher,  not  liy  i-iile, 
but  by  us  nice  a  stroke  of  the  j)en  as  hecuiihl 
make.  Tlie  tirst  copies  for  each  j^iipil  woiikl 
be  letters,  and  the  second  kind  and  last  con- 
sisted of  maxims.  lUue  ink  on  white  paper, 
or  black  ink  on  blue  ])aper,  were  common; 
and  sometimes  a  pupil  would  be   so  unfortu- 


when  a  pujiil  spelled  a  word  correctly,  which 
had  been  nihssed  by  one  or  more,  he  would 
"go  up  "  and  take  his  station  above  all  that 
had  missed  the  woi'd;  this  was  called  >'  turn- 
ing them  down."  ,Vt  the  conclusion  of  the 
recitation,  the  head  pupil  would  go  to  the 
foot,  to  have  another  opportunity  of  turning 


nate  as  to  be   compelled    to  use    blue  ink  on  |  them   all   down.     Tlie   class  would    number, 

blue  paper;  and  a  "blue"  time  he  had  of  it.  and    before    taking   their    seats     the  teacher 

.Vbuut   half  past    ten    o'clock    the    master  I  would  sav,   "  School's  dismissed,"  which   was 

i 

would    announce,     "  School    may    go    out;  "  the  signal    for    every    child    rushing   for  his 


which  meant  "little   play-time,"  in  the  chil- 
dren's parlance,   called   nowadays,    recess    or 


dinner,  and  having  the  "  big  play-time." 
The  same  jjrocess  of  spelling  would  also  be 


intermission.     Often  the  practice  was  to  have  I  gone  through  with  in  the  afternoon  just    be- 
fore dismissing  the  school  for  the  day. 

The  chief  text-books  in  which  the  "  schol- 
ars" got  their  lessons  were  "Webster's  or  some 


the  boys  and  girls  go  out  separately,  in  which 
case  the  teacher  would  first  say,  "  The  girls 
may  go  out,"  and    after  they  had   been   out 


similar  privilege  in  the  same  way.  In  call- 
ing the  children  in  from  the  ]jlay-ground,  the 
teacher  would  invariably  stand  near  the  door 
of  the  school-house  and  call  out  "Books! 
books!"  IJetween  jilay-times  the  request, 
"Teacher,  may  I  go  out?"  was  often  iter- 
ated to  the  annoyance  of  the  teacher  and  the 
disturbance  of  the  school. 


about  ten   minutes   the  boys   were  allowed  a  i  otlier  elementary  spelling-book,  an  arithmetic, 

maylie  I'ike's,  Dilworth's,  Daboll's,  Smiley's 
or  Adams',  McGuffey's  or  the  old  English 
reader,  and  Roswell  C.  Smith's  geography 
and  atlas.  Very  few  at  the  earliest  day,  how- 
ever, got  so  far  along  as  to  study  geography. 
Now-a-days,  in  contrast  with  the  above,  look 
at  the  •'  ographies  "  and  "  ologies  !"  Gram- 
mar and  composition  were  scarcely  thonght 
At    about    half    past    eleven    o'clock     the  |  of  until    Indiana  was  a  quarter  of  a  century 

old.  ami  they  were  introduced  in  such  a  way 
that  their  utility  was  always  questioned. 
First,  old  Murra3-'s  then  Kirkham's  grammar 
were  the  text-books  on  this  subject.  "  Book 
I'arnin',"  instead  of  practical  oral  instruc- 
tion, was  the  only  thing  supposed  to  be  at- 
tained in  the  primitive  log  school-liouse  days. 
But  writing  was  generally  taught  with  fair 
diligence. 

"  PAST    THE    1'10TLKE.S." 

This  phrase  had  its  origin  in  the  practice 
of  pioneer  schools  which  useil  AVebster's  Ele- 
mentary Spelling- Hook.  Toward  the  back 
part  of  that  time-honored  text-book  was  a 
series  of  seven  or  eight  pictures,  illustratino- 
morals,  and    after    these    again    were    a  few 


teacher  would  announce,  "  Scholars  may  now 
get  their  spelling  lessons,"  and  they  would 
all  pitch  in  with  their  characteristic  loud 
whisper  and  "say  over"  their  lessons  with 
that  vigor  which  characterizes  the  movements 
of  those  who  have  first  learned  that  the  din- 
ner hour  and  "  big  play-time  "  is  near  at  hand. 
A  few  minutes  before  twelve  the  "little 
spelling-class"  would  recite,  then  the  "  big 
sjielling-class."  Tlie  latter  would  comprise 
the  larger  scholars  and  the  major  jiart  of  the 
school.  The  classes  would  stand  in  a  row, 
eitlier  toeing  the  mark  in  the  midst  of  the 
floor,  or  straggling  along  next  an  unoccupied 
portion  of  the  wall.  ()ne  end  of  the  class 
was  the  "head,"  the  other    the    "foot,"    and 


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HISTORY    OP    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


inoro  spflliiig  exorcises  of  ;i  peculiar  l<iiul. 
AViieu  ii  scholar  got  over  into  these  he  was 
said  to  be  "  past  the  pictures,"  and  was  looked 
up  to  as  being  smarter  and  more  learned  than 
most  otlier  people  ever  hoped  to  be.  Hence 
the  a]iplication  of  tliis  phrase  came  to  be  ex- 
tended to  other  altairs  in  life,  especially  uliere 
scholarshiji  was  involved. 


Sl'ELI.INU-SCHOOLS. 


The  chief  public  evening  entertainment 
for  the  tirst  tliirty  or  forty  years  of  Indiaiia's 
existence  was  the  celebrated  "spelling-school." 
Both  young  people  and  old  looked  forward 
to  the  next  spelling-school  with  as  much  an- 
ticipation and  anxiety  as  we  now-a-days  look 
forward  to  a  general  Fourth  of  July  celebra- 
tion; and  when  the  time  arrived  the  whole 
neiglib()rhood,  yea,  and  sometimes  several 
neighborhoods,  woidd  tiock  together  to  the 
scene  of  academical  combat,  where  the  ex- 
citement was  often  more  intense  than  had 
been  expected.  It  was  far  better,  of  course, 
when  there  was  good  sleighing;  then  the 
young  folks  would  turn  out  in  high  glee  and 
be  fairly  beside  themselves.  The  jollity  is 
scarcely  eijualed  at  the  present  day  by  any- 
thing in  vogiie. 

When  the  appointed  hour  arrived,  the 
usual  plan  of  commencing  battle  was  for  two 
of  the  young  people  who  might  agree  to  play 
against  each  other,  or  wlio  might  be  selected 
to  do  so  by  the  school-teacher  of  the  neigli- 
borhood,  to  "  choose  sides,"  that  is,  each  con- 
testant, or  "  captain,"  as  lie  was  generally 
called,  would  choose  the  best  sjjeller  from  the 
assembled  crowd.  Each  one  choosing  alter- 
nately, the  ultimate  strength  of  the  respective 
parties  would  be  about  equal.  Wlien  all  were 
chosen  that  could  be  made  to  serve,  each  side 
would  "  number,"  so  as  to  ascertain  whether 
amid  the  confusion  one  captain  had  more 
spellers  than  the  other.    In  case  he  had,  some 


compromise  would  be  made  by  the  aid  of  the 
teacher,  the  master  of  ceremonies,  and  then 
the  plan  of  conducting  the  campaign,  or 
counting  the  misspelled  words,  would  be  can- 
vassed for  a  moment  by  the  captains,  some- 
times by  the  aid  of  tlie  teaclier  and  others. 
There  were  many  ways  of  conducting  the  con- 
test and  keeping  tally.  Every  section  of  the 
country  had  several  favorite  methods,  and  all 
or  most  of  these  were  difl'erent  from  what 
other  commimities  had.  At  one  time  they 
would  commence  spelling  at  the  head,  at 
another  time  at  the  foot;  at  one  time  they 
Would  "  spell  across,"  that  is,  the  first  on  one 
side  would  spell  the  first  word,  then  the  first 
on  the  other  side;  next  the  second  in  the  line 
on  each  side,  alternately,  down  to  the  other 
end  of  each  line.  The  question  who  would 
spell  the  first  word  was  determined  by  the 
captains  guessing  what  page  the  teacher 
would  have  before  liim  in  a  partially  opened 
book  at  a  distance;  the  captain  guessing  the 
nearest  would  spell  the  first  word  pronounced. 
AVhen  a'  word  was  missed,  it  would  be  re- 
pronounced,  or  passed  along  without  re-pro- 
nouncing (as  some  teachers  strictly  followed 
the  rule  never  to  re-pronounce  a  word),  until 
it  was  spelled  correctly.  If  a  speller  on  the 
opposite  side  finally  spelled  the  missed  word 
correctly,  it  was  counted  a  gain  of  one  to  that 
side;  if  the  word  was  finally  corrected  by 
some  speller  on  the  same  side  on  which  it 
was  originated  as  a  missed  word,  it  was 
"  saved,"  and  no  tally  mark  was  made. 

Another  popular  method  was  to  commence 
at  one  end  of  the  line  of  spellers  and  go 
directly  around,  and  the  missed  words  caught 
up  quickly  and  corrected  by  "  word-catchers," 
appointed  by  the  captains  from  among  their 
best  spellers.  These  word-catchers  would  at- 
tempt to  correct  all  the  words  missed  on  his 
opponent's  side,  and  failing  to  do  this,  the 
catcher  on  the  other  side  would  catch  him  up 


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PIONEER    LIFE. 


M'itli  a  peculiar  zest,  and  tlicn  there  was 
fun. 

Still  auotlier  very  interesting,  though  some- 
what disorderly,  method  was  this:  Each 
word-catcher  would  go  to  the  foot  of  the  ad- 
versary's line,  and  every  time  he  "  catched" 
a  word  he  would  go  up  one,  thus  "  turning 
them  down''  in  regular  spelling-class  style. 
AVlien  one  catcher  in  this  way  turned  all 
down  in  the  opposing  side,  his  own  party 
was  victorious  by  as  many  as  the  opposing 
catcher  was  behind.  This  method  required 
no  slate  or  blackboard  tally  to  be  kept. 

One  turn,  by  cither  of  the  foregoing  or 
other  methods,  would  occupy  forty  minutes 
to  an  liour,  and  i)y  this  time  an  intermission 
or  recess  was  had,  when  the  buzzing,  crack- 
ling and  hurrahing  that  ensued  for  ten  or 
tifteen  minutes  were  beyond  description. 

Coming  to  order  again,  the  next  style  of 
battle  to  be  illustrated  was  to  "spell  down," 
by  wliich  process  it  was  ascertained  who 
M-ere  the  best  spellers  and  could  continue 
standing  as  a  soldier  the  longest.  But  ver}' 
often  good  spellers  would  inadvertently  miss 
a  word  in  an  early  stage  of  the  contest  and 
would  have  to  sit  down  humiliated,  while  a 
comparatively  poor  speller  would  often  stand 
till  nearly  or  quite  the  last,  amid  the  clieers 
of  the  assemblage.  Sometimes  the  two  par- 
ties first  "chosen  up"  in  the  evening  would 
re-take  their  places  after  recess,  so  that  by 
the  "  spelling-down  "  process  there  would 
virtually  be  another  race,  in  another  form; 
sometimes  there  would  be  a  new  "choosing- 
up  "  for  the  "  spelling-down  "  contest;  and 
sometimes  tlie  spelling-down  would  be  con- 
ducted without  any  party  lines  being  made. 
It  would  occasionally  happen  that  two  or 
three  very  good  si)ellers  would  retain  the 
floor  so  long  that  the  exercise  would  become 
monotonous,  when  a  few  outlandish  words 
like  "  chevaux-de-frise,"  "Ompom])anoosuc  " 


or  "  Baugh-naugh-claugh-ber,"  as  they  used 
to  spell  it  sometimes,  would  create  a  little 
ripple  of  excitement  to  close  with.  Some- 
times these  words  would  decide  the  contest, 
but  generally  when  two  or  three  good  spellers 
kept  the  floor  until  the  exercise  became  mon- 
otonous, the  teacher  would  declare  the  race 
closed  and  the  standing  spellers  acquitted 
with  a  "  drawn  game." 

The  audience  dismissed,  the  next  thing  was 
to  "  go  home,"  very  often  by  a  round-about 
way,  "  a-sleighing  with  the  girls,"  which,  of 
course,  was  with  many  the  most  interesting 
part  of  the  evening's  performances,  some- 
times, however,  too  rough  to  be  commended, 
as  the  boj's  were  often  inclined  to  be  some- 
what rowdy  ish. 


SINOING-SCIIOOL. 


Next  to  the  night  spelling-school  the  sing- 
ing-school was  an  occasion  of  much  j(j!lity, 
wherein  it  was  difficult  for  the  average  sing- 
ing-master to  preserve  order,  as  many  went 
more  for  fun  than  for  music.  This  species 
of  evening  entertainment,  in  its  introduction 
to  the  "West,  was  later  than  the  spelling- 
school,  and  served,  as  it  were,  as  the  second 
step  toward  the  more  modern  civilization. 
Good  sleighing  weather  was  of  course  almost 
a  necessity  for  the  success  of  these  schools, 
but  how  many  of  them  have  been  prevented 
by  mud  and  rain!  Perhaps  a  greater  part  of 
the  time  from  November  to  April  the  roads 
would  be  muddy  and  often  half-frozen,  which 
would  have  a  very  dampening  and  freezing 
effect  upon  the  souls,  as  well  as  the  bodies  of 
the  young  people  who  longed  for  a  good  time 
on  such  occasions. 

The  old-time  method  of  conducting  sing- 
ing-scliool  was  also  somewhat  different  from 
that  of  modern  times.  It  was  more  plodding 
and  heavy,  the  attention  being  kept  upon  the 
simplest    rudiments,    as    the    names    of    the 


?  .uStaiHtittiLM  ■?;  b!*2 


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notes  on  the  statl',  and  tlioir  piti-li,  :uul  boat- 
ing time,  while  comparatively  little  attention 
was  givLMi  to  expression  and  light,  gleeful 
music.  The  very  earliest  scale  introduced  in 
the  West  was  from  the  South,  and  the  notes, 
from  their  peculiar,  shape,  were  denominated 
'•patent"  or  "  buckwheat"  notes.  They  were 
four,  of  which  the  round  one  was  called  sol, 
t!ie  square  one  h/,  the  ti'ianyular  one  _/</,  and 
the  "diamond-shaped"  one  //;/,  ])r(inounced 
me,  and  the  diatonic  scalf,  or  -'gamut"  as  it 
\vas  called  then,  rau  thus:  y*/,  sol,  lu^fa,  sol, 
hi,  mi,  fi(.  The  part  of  a  tune  nowadays 
called  "treble,"  or  "sojirano,"  was  then  called 
"tenor;"  the  part  now  called  "tenor"  was 
called  "  treble,"  and  wliat  is  now  "  alto  "  was 
then  "  counter,"  and  when  sung  according  to 
the  oldest  rule,  was  sung  by  a  female  an 
octave  higher  than  marked,  and  still  on  the 
"chest  I'egister."  The  "old"  "Missouri 
Ilarmonv "  and  Mason's  "  Sacred  Harp  " 
were  the  i)rinci])al  books  used  with  this  style 
of  musical  notation. 

In  1850  the  "  roundpuote  "  system  began 
to  "  ctune  around,"  being  introduced  by  the 
Yankee  singing-master.  The  scale  was  do, 
re,  mi,  fa,  sol,  la,  si,  do;  and  for  many  years 
thereafter  there  was  much  more  do-re-mi-ing 
than  is  practiced  at  the  present  day,  ;vhen  a 
musical  instrument  is  always  under  the  hand. 
The  "Carmina  Sacra"  was  the  pioneer  round- 
note  book,  in  which  the  tunes  partook  more 
of  German  or  Puritan  chai'acter,  and  was 
generally  regai'ded  by  the  old  folks  as  being 
far  more  spii'itless  than  the  old  "  Pisgah," 
"  Fiducia,"  "Tender  Thought,"  "]\'ew  Dur- 
luun,"  "Windsor,"  "  ^[ount  Zion,  "Devo- 
tion," etc.,  of  the  okl  "  Missouri  Harmony" 
and  tradition. 

GUAKDINO  AGAINST  INDIANS. 

Tiie  fashion  of  carrying  fii-e-arms  was 
made   necessary   by    the   presence   of  roving 


banils  of  Indians,  most  of  whom  were  osten- 
sibly friendly,  but,  like  Indians  in  all  times, 
treacherous  and  unreliable.  An  Indian  war 
was  at  any  time  probable,  and  all  the  old 
settlers  still  retain  vivid  recollections  of  In- 
dian massacres,  murders,  plunder,  and  fright- 
ful rumors  of  intended  raids.  While  target 
practice  was  much  indulgeil  in  as  an  amuse- 
ment, it  was  also  necessary  at  times  to  carry 
their  guns  with  them  to  their  daily  field 
work. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  painstaking  which 
characterized  pioneer  life,  we  quote  the  fol- 
lowing from  Zebulon  Collings,  who  lived 
about  six  miles  from  the  scene  of  massacre 
in  the  Pigeon  lloost  settlement:  ''The 
manner  in  which  I  used  to  work  in  those 
perilous  times  was  as  follows:  On  all  occa- 
sions I  carried  my  rifle,  tomahawk  and  butcher- 
knife,  with  a  loaded  pistol  in  my  l)elt.  When 
1  went  to  plow  I  hiid  my  gun  on  the  plowed 
ground,  ami  stuck  \ip  a  stick  by  it  for  a 
mark,  so  that  I  could  get  it  quick  in  case  it 
was  wanted.  I  had  two  gnod  dogs;  I  took 
one  into  the  house,  leaving  the  other  (jut. 
The  one  outside  was  expected  to  give  the 
alarm,  which  would  cause  the  one  inside  to 
bark,  by  which  I  would  be  awakened,  having 
my  arms  always  loaded.  I  kept  my  horse  in 
a  stable  close  to  the  house,  having  a  port- 
hole so  that  I  could  shoot  to  the  stable  door. 
During  two  yeai's  I  never  went  from  home 
with  any  certainty  (jf  returning,  not  knowing 
the  minute  I  might  receive  a  ball  from  an 
unknown  hand." 

THE  BRIGHT  SIDE. 

The  history  of  pioneer  life  generally  pre- 
sents the  dark  side  of  the  picture;  but  the 
toils  and  privations  of  the  early  settlers  were 
not  a  series  of  unmitigated  sufferings.  No, 
for  while  the  fathers  and  mothers  toiled  hard, 
they   were   not  averse   to   a  little  relaxation, 


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PIONEER    LIFE. 


iuul  li;ul  tlieir  seasons  of  I'uii  and  enjoyment. 
Tliey  contrived  to  do  sonietliini^  to  lu'eak  the 
niunotony  of  tlieir  daily  life  and  furnish  them 
a  good  hearty  langli.  ^Vniong  the  more 
general  forms  of  amusements  were  the 
"  (jiiilting-iiee,"  "  corn-husking,"  "apple-par- 
ing," ••  log-rolling,"  and  >•  house-raising." 
Our  young  readers  will  doubtless  be  inter- 
ested in  a  description  of  these  forms  of 
amusement,  when  labor  was  made  to  atl'ord 
fun  and  enjoyment  to  all  participating.  The 
"  quilting-bee,"  as  its  mime  implies,  was 
when  the  industrious  qualities  of  tlie  busy 
little  insect  that  '•  imjiroves  each  shining 
liour  "  were  exemplified  in  the  manufacture 
of  quilts  for  the  household.  In  the  after- 
noon ladies  for  miles  around  gathered  at  an 
appointed  place,  and  wiiile  their  tongues 
would  not  cease  to  play,  the  hands  were  as 
busily  engaged  in  making  the  quilt;  and 
desire  was  always  manifested  to  get  it  out  as 
(piickly  as  possible,  for  then  tlie  fun  would 
begin.  In  the  evening  the  gentlemen  came, 
and  the  hours  would  then  pass  swiftly  by  in 
jjlaying  games  or  dancing.  "  Corn-huskings  " 
were  when  both  sexes  united  in  the  work. 
They  usually  assembled  in  a  large  barn,  which 
was  arranged  for  the  occasion;  and  when 
each  gentleman  had  selected  a  lady  partner 
the  husking  began.  When  a  lady  found  a 
red  ear  she  was  entitled  to  a  kiss  from  every 
gentleman  present;  when  a  gentleman  found 
one  he  was  allowed  to  kiss  every  lady  present. 
After  the  corn  was  all  husked  a  good  supper 
was  served;  then  the  "old  folks"  would 
leave,  and  the  remainder  of  the  evening  was 
spent  in  the  dance  and  in  having  a  general 
good  time.  The  recreation  atl'orded  to  the 
young  peojile  on  the  annual  recuri'ence  of 
these  festive  occasions  was  as  highly  enjoyed, 
and  quite  as  innocent,  as  the  amusements  of 
the  ].)resent  boasted  age  of  refinement  and 
culture. 


The  amusements  of  the  ])ioneers  were 
]ieculiar  to  themselves.  Saturday  afternoon 
was  a  holiday  in  which  no  man  was  expected 
to  work.  \  load  of  produce  might  be  taken 
to  "  town  "  for  sale  or  tratKc  without  violence 
to  custom,  but  no  more  serious  labor  could 
be  tolerateii.  When  on  Saturday  afternoon 
the  town  was  reached,  "  fun  commenced." 
Had  two  neighbors  business  to  transact,  here 
it  was  done.  Horses  were  "  swapped,"  ditti- 
culties  settled,  and  free  tights  indulged  in. 
nine  and  red  ribbons  were  not  worn  in  those 
days,  and  whisky  was  as  free  as  water;  12A 
cents  would  buy  a  quart,  and  35  or  40  cents 
a  gallon,  and  at  such  prices  enormous  quan- 
tities were  consumed.  (4o  to  any  town  in 
the  county  and  ask  the  tirst  pioneer  you 
meet,  and  he  would  tell  you  of  notable  Satur- 
day afternoon  fights,  either  of  wliicli  to-dav 
would  fill  a  column  of  the  Police  jVews,  with 
elaborate  engravings  to  match. 

Mr.  Sanford  C.  Cox  quaintly  describes 
some  of  the  hapjjv  features  of  frontier  life  in 
this  manner: 

We  cleared  land,  rolled  logs,  burned  brush, 
blazed  out  paths  from  one  neighbor's  cabin 
to  another  and  from  one  settlement  to  an- 
other, made  and  used  hand-mills  and  hominy 
mortars,  hunted  deer,  turkey,  otter  and  rac- 
coons, caught  lish,  dug  ginseng,  hunted  bees 
and  tiie  like,  and — lived  on  the  fat  of  the 
land.  We  read  of  a  land  of  "  corn  and 
wine,"  and  another  "  flowing  with  milk  and 
honey;"  but  I  rather  think,  in  a  temporal 
point  of  view,  taking  into  account  the  rich- 
ness of  the  soil,  timber,  stone,  wikl  game  and 
otlier  advantages,  that  the  Sugar  Creek  coun- 
try would  come  up  to  any  of  tliem,  if  not 
surpass  them. 

I  once  cut  cord-wood,  continues  ^[r.  Cox, 
at  31^  cents  per  cord,  and  walked  a  mile  and 
a  half  night  and  morning,  where  the  flrst 
frame  college  was    built   northwest  of  town 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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(Cniwfonlsville).  Prof.  Curry,  the  lawyer, 
would  sometimes  come  down  and  help  fur  an 
hour  or  two  at  a  time,  by  way  of  amusement, 
as  there  was  little  or  no  law^  business  in  the 
town  or  country  at  that  time.  Header,  what 
would  yoTi  think  of  going  six  to  eight  miles 
to  help  roll  logs  or  raise  a  cabin  ?  or  ten  to 
thirteen  miles  to  mill,  and  wait  three  or  four 
days  and  nights  for  your  grist?  as  many  had 
to  do  in  the  first  settlement  of  this  country. 
Such  things  were  of  frequent  occurrence 
then,  and  there  was  hut  little  grumbling 
about  it.  It  was  a  grand  sight  to  see  the  log 
heaps  and  brush  piles  burning  in  the  night 
on  a  clearing  of  ten  or  fifteen  acres.  A 
Democratic  torch-light  procession,  or  a  mid- 
night march  uf  the  Sons  of  Malta  with  their 
grand  Gyasticutus  in  the  center  bearing  the 
grand  jewel  of  the  order,  would  be  nowhere 
in  comparison  with  the  log  heaps  and  brush 
piles  in  a  blaze. 

But  it  may  be  asked,  Had  you  any  social 
amusements,  or  manly  pastimes,  to  recreate 
and  enliven  the  dwellers  in  the  wilderness  ? 
We  had.  In  the  social  line  we  had  our 
meetings  and  our  singing-schools,  sugar  boil- 
ings and  weddings,  which  was  as  good  as 
ever  came  off  in  any  country,  new  or  old; 
and  if  our  youngsters  did  not  "  trip  the 
light  fantastic  toe"  under  a  professor  of  the 
Terpsichorean  art  or  expert  French  dancing- 
master,  they  had  many  a  good  "  hoe-down  " 
on  jiuncheon  floors,  and  were  not  annoyed  by 
bad  whisky.  And  as  for  manly  sports,  re- 
quiring mettle  and  muscle,  there  were  lots  of 
wild  hogs  ruiming  in  the  cat-tail  swamps  on 
Lye  Creek  and  ]\Iill  Creek,  and  among  them 
many  large  boars  that  Ossian's  heroes  and 
Homer's  model  soldiers,  such  as  Achilles, 
Hector  and  Ajax,  would  have  delighted  to 
give  chase  to.  The  boys  and  men  of  those 
days  had  quite  as  much  sport,  and  made 
more  money  and  health  b}'  their  hunting  ex- 


cursions than  our  city  gents  now-a-days  play- 
ing chess  by  telegraph  where  the  players  are 
more  than  seventy  miles  apart. 

WHAT    THE    I'lONEEES    HAVE    DONE. 

Indiana  is  a  grand  State,  in  many  respects 
second  to  none  in  the  Union,  and  in  almost 
everything  that  goes  to  make  a  live,  prosper- 
ous community,  not  far  behind  the  best.  Be- 
neath her  fertile  soil  is  coal  enough  to  supply 
the  State  for  generations;  her  harvests  are 
bountiful;  she  has  a  medium  climate,  and 
many  other  things,  that  make  her  people 
contented,  prosperous  and  happy;  but  she 
owes  much  to  those  who  opened  up  these 
avenues  that  have  led  to  her  present  condi- 
tion and  happy  surroundings.  Unremittino- 
toil  and  labor  have  driven  off  the  sickly 
miasmas  that  brooded  over  swampy  prairies. 
Energy  and  perseverance  have  peopled  every 
section  of  her  wild  lands,  and  changed  them 
from  wastes  and  deserts  to  gardens  of  beauty 
and  profit.  AVhere  but  a  few  years  ago  the 
barking  wolves  made  the  night  hideous  with 
their  wild  shrieks  and  howls,  now  is  heard 
only  the  lowing  and  bleating  of  domestic 
animals.  Only  a  half  century  ago  the  wild 
wdioop  of  the  Indian  rent  the  air  where  now 
are  heard  the  eiigine  and  rumbling  trains  of 
cars,  bearing  away  to  markets  the  products  of 
our  labor  and  soil.  Then  the  savage  built 
liis  rude  huts  on  the  spot  where  now  rise  the 
dwellings  and  school-houses  and  church  spires 
of  civilized  life.  How  great  the  transforma- 
tion !  This  change  has  been  brought  about 
by  the  incessant  toil  and  aggregated  labor  of 
thousands  of  tired  hands  and  anxious  hearts, 
and  the  noble  aspirations  of  such  men  and 
women  as  make  any  country  great.  "What 
will  another  half  century  accomplish  ?  There 
are  few,  very  few,  of  these  old  pioneers  yet 
lingering  on  the  shores  of  time  as  connecting 
links  of   the    past  with   the   present.     "What 


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PIONEER     LIFE. 


must  their  thoughts  be  as  with  dim  eyes  tliey 
view  the  scenes  that  surroiiiid  tlieiii  ?  ^Ve 
often  liear  people  talk  al)oiit  the  old  fogy 
ideas  and  fogy  ways,  and  want  of  enterprise 
on  the  part  of  the  old  men  who  have  gone 
through  the  experiences  of  pioneer  life. 
Sometimes,  perhaps,  sucli  remarks  are  just, 
but  considering  the  experiences,  education 
and  entire  life  of  such  men,  such  remarks 
are  better  unsaid.  They  have  had  their 
trials,  misfortunes,  hardships  and  adventures, 
and  shall  we  now,  as  they  are  passing  far 
down  the  western  declivity  of  life,  and  many 
of  them  gone,  point  to  them  the  finger  of 
derision  and  laugh  and  sneer  at  the  sim- 
plicity of  their  ways  ?  Let  us  rather  cheer 
them  up,  revere  and  respect  them,  for  be- 
neath those  rough  exteriors  beat  hearts  as 
noble  as  ever  throbbed  in  the  human  breast. 
These  veterans  have  been  compelled  to  live 
for  weeks  upon  hominy  and,  if  bread  at  all, 
it  was  bread  made  from  corn  ground  in  hand- 
mills,  or  pounded  up  with  mortars.  Their 
children  have  been  destitute  of  shoes  during 
the  winter;  their  families  had  no  clothing 
except  what  was  carded,  spun,  wove  and  made 
into  garments  by  their  own  hands;  schools 
they  had  none;  churches  they  had  none; 
afflicted  with  sickness  incident  to  all  new 
countries,  sometimes  the  entire  family  at 
once;  luxuries  of  life  they  had  none;  the 
auxiliaries,  improvements,  inventions  and 
labor-saving  machinery  of  to-day  they  had 
not;  and  what  they  possessed  they  obtained 
by  the  hardest  of  labor  and  individual  exer- 
tions, yet  they  bore  these  hardships  and  pri- 
vations without  murmuring,  hoping  for  better 
times  to  come,  and  often,  too,  with  but  little 
prospect  of  realization. 

As  before  mentioned,  the  changes  written 
on  every  hand  are  most  wonderful.  It  has 
been  but  three-score  years  since  the  white 
man    beu;an   to  exercise  dominion    over  this 


region,  first  the  home  of  the  red  men,  yet  the 
visitor  of  to-day,  ignorant  of  the  past  of  the 
country,  could  scarcely  be  made  to  realize 
that  within  these  years  there  has  grown  up  a 
population  of  2,000,000  people,  who  in  all 
the  accomplishments  of  life  are  as  far  ad- 
vanced as  are  the  inliabitante  of  the  older 
States.  Schools,  churches,  colleges,  palatial 
dwellings,  beautiful  grounds,  large,  well- 
cultivated  and  ])roductive  tarms,  as  well  as 
cities,  towns  and  liusy  manufactories,  have 
grown  up,  and  occupy  the  hunting  grounds 
and  camping  places  of  the  Indians,  and  in 
every  direction  there  are  evidences  of  wealth, 
comfort  and  luxury.  There  is  but  little  left 
of  the  old  landmarks.  Advanced  civilization 
and  the  progressive  demands  of  revolving 
years  have  obliterated  all  traces  of  Indian 
occupancy,  until  they  are  only  remembered 
in  name. 

In  closing  this  section  we  again  would 
impress  upon  the  minds  of  our  readers  the 
fact  that  they  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  those 
who  pioneered  this  State,  which  can  be  but 
partially  repaid.  Never  grow  unmindful  of 
the  peril  and  adventure,  fortitude,  self-sacrifice 
and  heroic  devotion  so  prominently  displayed 
in  their  lives.  As  time  sweeps  on  in  its 
ceaseless  flight,  may  the  cherished  memories 
of  them  lose  none  of  their  greenness,  but  may 
the  future  generations  alike  cherish  and  per- 
petuate them  with  a  just  devotion  to  grati- 
tude. 

MILrrARY    DRILL. 

In  the  days  of  muster  and  military  drill,  so 
well  known  throughout  thecountry,a  specimen 
of  pioneer  work  was  done  on  the  South  Wea 
prairie,  as  follows,  according  to  Mr.  S.  C. 
Cox: 

The  Captain  was  a  etout-built,  muscular 
man,  who  stood  six  feet  four  in  his  boots,  and 
weighed  over  200  pounds;  when  dressed  in 
his    uniform,   a  blue  hunting-shirt    fastened 


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UISTOUY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTy. 


with  a  wide  red  snsli,  witli  epaulettes  on  each 
slioulder,  liis  larije  swoi-d  fastened  hy  liis 
side,  and  tall  jiliiine  waving  in  the  wind,  he 
looked  like  another  William  Wallace,  or 
Roderick  Uhu,  unsheathing  liis  claymore  in 
defense  of  his  country,  liis  company  consisted 
of  about  seventy  men,  who  had  reluctantly 
turned  out  to  muster  to  avoid  paj'ing  a  line; 
some  with  guns,  some  with  sticks,  and  others 
carrying  corn-stalks.  The  Captain,  who  had 
but  recently  been  elected,  understood  his 
business  better  tlian  his  men  supposed  he 
did. 

He  intended  to  give  them  a  thorough 
drilling,  and  show  them  that  he  understood 
the  maneuvers  of  the  military  art  as  well  as 
he  ilid  fanning  and  fox  hunting,  the  latter  of 
which  was  one  of  his  favorite  amusements. 
After  forming  a  hollow  square,  marching  and 
countermarching,  and  putting  them  through 
several  other  evolutions,  according  to  Scott's 
tactics,  he  commanded  his  men  to  "  form  a 
line."  They  partially  complied,  but  the  line 
was  crooked.  lie  took  his  sword  and  passed 
it  along  in  front  of  his  men,  straightening 
the  line.  By  the  time  he  jiassed  from  one 
end  of  the  line  to  the  other,  on  casting  his 
eye  back,  he  discovered  that  the  line  presented 
a  zig-zag  and  unmilitary  appearance.  Some 
of  the  men  were  leaning  on  their  guns,  some 
on  their  sticks  a  yard  in  advance  of  the  line, 
and  others  as  far  in  the  rear.  The  Captain's 
dander  arose;  he  threw  his  cocked  hat, 
feather  and  all,  on  the  ground,  took  off  his 
red  sash  and  hunting-shirt,  and  threw  them, 
with  his  sword,  upon  his  hat;  he  then  rolled 
up  his  sleeves  and  shouted  witli  the  voice  of  a 
stentor,  '•  Gentlemen,  form  a  line  and  keej) 
it,  or  I'll  thrash  the  whole  company."  In- 
stantly the  whole  line  was  straight  as  an  arrow. 
Tlie  Captain  was  satisfied,  put  on  his  clotlies 
again,  and  never  had  any  more  trouble  in 
drilling  his  company. 


JACK,   "Tin;    IMlIl.oSOI'HEK    OF    TIIK  NINKTKKNTIl 
CENTUin." 

In  early  days  in  this  State,  before  books 
and  newspapers  were  introduced,  a  few  law- 
yers were  at  a  certain  place  in  the  habit  of 
playing  cards,  and  sometimes  drinking  a 
little  too  much  whisky.  During  the  session 
of  a  certain  court,  a  man  named  John  Steven- 
son, but  who  was  named  "  Jack,"  and  who 
styled  himself  the  "  philosopher  of  the  lOtli 
century,"  found  out  where  these  genteel 
sportsmen  met  of  evenings  to  peruse  the 
"history  of  the  four  kings."  He  went  to 
the  door  and  knocked  for  admission;  to  the 
question,  "Who  is  there?"  he  answered, 
"Jack."  The  in.siders  hesitated;  he  knocked 
and  thumped  im]iortunately;  at  length  a 
voice  from  within  said,  "(4o  away.  Jack;  we 
have  already  four  'Jacks  '  in  our  game,  and 
we  will  not  consent  to  have  a  'cold  one' 
wrung  in  on  us." 

Indignant  at  this  rebuff  from  gentlemen 
from  whom  he  had  expected  kinder  treat- 
ment, he  left,  muttering  vengeance,  which 
excited  no  alarm  in  the  minds  of  the  players. 
At  iirst  he  started  away  to  walk  off  his 
passion,  but  the  longer  he  walked  the  madder 
he  got,  and  finally  he  concluded  tliat  he 
wo\ild  not  "  pass  "  while  he  held  or  might 
hold  so  many  trumps  in  his  hands,  but  he 
would  return  and  play  a  strong  hand  with 
them.  Accordingly  lie  gathej-ed  his  arms 
full  of  stones  a  little  larger  than  David  gath- 
ered to  throw  at  (loliath,  and  when  he  came 
near  enough  he  threw  a  volley  of  them  in 
through  the  window  into  the  room  where 
they  were  playing,  extinguishing  their  lights, 
and  routing  the  whole  band  with  the  utmost 
trepidation  into  the  street,  in  search  of  their 
curious  assailant.  Jack  stood  his  ground  and 
told  them  that  that  was  a  mere  foretaste  of 
what  they  might  expect  if  they  molested 
him  in  the  least. 


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PIONEER    LIFE. 


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Next  (inv  the  pnpiiarioiis  , Facie  was  arrested 
ti)  answer  an  iinlietnient  for  malieicHis  inis- 
cliief;  and  t'ailin;^  to  i;-ive  bail,  was  lodged  in 
jail.  His  prosecutors  langhed  through  the 
grates  of  the  prison  as  they  passed.  ^lean- 
wliile  Jack  ''  nursed  his  wrath  to  keep  it 
warm,"  and  indicted  a  speech  in  his  own  de- 
fense. In  due  time  he  was  taken  before  the 
court,  the  indictnieiit  was  read,  and  he  was 
asked  what  lie  pleaded  to  the  indictment. 
"  Not  guilty,"  he  answered  in  a  dee]),  earnest 
tone.  "  Have  you  counsel  engaged  to  defend 
you,  ]\[r.  Ste\-enson?"  inijuired  the  judge. 
"  No;  please  your  honor;  1  desire  none;  with 
your  permission  I  will  speak  for  myself. 
"  Very  well,"  said  the  judge.  A  titter  ran 
through  the  crowd.  After  the  prosecuting 
attorney  had  gone  through  with  the  evidence 
and  his  opening  remarks  in  the  case,  the 
prisoner  arose  and  said,  "•  It  is  a  lamentable 
fact  well  known  to  the  court  and  jury  and  to 
all  who  hear  me,  that  our  county  seat  has  for 
maiiv  rears  buen  iid'esteil  and  disgraced,  es- 
pecially durinij  court  time,  with  a  knot  of 
drunken,  carousing  gamblers,  whose  JJaccha- 
nalian  revels  and  midnight  orgies  disturb  the 
quiet  and  pollute  the  morals  of  our  town. 
Shall  these  nuisances  longer  remain  in  our 
uiiil&t,  to  debauch  society  and  lead  our  young 
men  to  destruction!'  Fidly  impressed  with  a 
sense  of  their  turpitude,  and  my  duty  as  a 
good  citizen  to  the  community  in  which  I  live, 
I  resolved  to  'aliate  the  nuisance,'  which,  ac- 
cording to  the  doctrine  of  the  common  law, 
with  which  your  honor  is  familiar,  I  or  any 
other  citizen  had  a  right  to  do.  I  have  often 
listened  with  ])leasure  to  the  charges  your 
honor  gave  the  grand  jury  to  ferret  out  crime 
an(.l  all  manner  of  gaming  in  ourcommunity. 
I  saw  1  iuid  it  in  my  power  to  ferret  out 
these  fellows  with  a  volley  of  stones,  and  save 
the  county  the  cost  of  tinding  and  trying  a 
half   a    dozen     indictments.     Judge,    I    did 


'  abate  tlic   nuisance,'   and  consider  it  one  of 
the  most    meritoi'ious  acts  of  my  life." 

The  prosecutor  made  no  reply.  The  judge 
and  lawyers  looked  at  each  other  with  a  sig- 
nificant ghince.  A  nolle  prosequi  was  en- 
tered, Jack  was  acquitted  and  was  ever  after- 
ward considered  '•  trump." — Settlement  </f 
the  Wuhush   Villi eif. 

"  TOO  FL'I.L  FOK  UTTEH.\N'CE." 

The  early  years  of  Indiana  atlbrd  to  the 
enquirer  a  rare  op])ortunity  to  obtain  a 
glimpse  of  the  ])olitical  and  even  social  rela- 
i  tion  of  the  Indianians  of  the  olden  time  to 
1  the  n\oderns.  As  is  customary  in  all  new 
countries  there  was  to  be  found,  within  the 
limits  of  the  new  State,  a  hajjpy  ]>eople,  far 
removed  from  all  those  influences  which  tend 
to  interfere  with  the  public  morals;  they  pos- 
sessed the  courage  and  the  gait  of  freeborn 
men,  took  an  especial  interest  in  the  political 
qiiestio!is  att'ecting  their  State,  anil  often, 
j  when  met  under  the  village  shade  ti'ees  to 
discuss  sincerely,  and  lUKjstentatiously,  some 
mattei'S  of  local  iniiiortance,  accompanied  the 
subject  before  their  little  convention  with 
song  and  jest,  and  even  the  cup  which  cheers 
but  not  inebriates.  The  election  of  militia 
officers  for  the  P.lack  Creek  Uegiment  may  be 
taken  for  exam]jle.  The  village  school  boys 
prowled  at  large,  for  on  tlie  day  previous  the 
teacher  expressed  his  intention  of  attending 
the  meeting  of  electors,  and  of  aiding  in 
building  up  a  military  com]>any  worthy  of 
his  own  importance,  and  the  reputation  of  the 
few  villagers.  The  industrious  matrons  and 
maids — bless  their  souls — -donned  the  habili- 
ments of  fashion,  and  as  they  arrivetl  at  the 
meeting  gi'ound,  ornamented  the  scene  for 
which  nature  in  its  untouched  simplicity 
did  so  much. 

Now  arrived  the  moment  when  the  business 
should  be  entered  on.     With  a  jjood  deal  of 


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HItiTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY 


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■■Til 


urging  the  ancient  Elward  Tomldiis  took 
the  chair,  aiid  with  a  ponipou.s  air,  wlierein 
was  concentrated  a  conscionsiiess  of  liis  own 
importance,  demanded  the  gentlemen  entrust- 
ed witli  resohitions  to  open  the  proceedings. 
By  tliis  time  a  respected  elector  brought  for- 
ward a  jar  and  an  uncommonly  hirge  tin 
cup.  These  articles  proved  objects  of  very 
serious  attention,  and  when  the  chairman  re- 
peated his  demand,  the  same  humane  elector 
tilled  the  cup  to  the  brim,  passed  it  to  the  ven- 
erable president  and  bade  him  drink  deep  to 
the  prosperity  of  Indiana,  of  Black  Creek, 
and  of  the  regiment  about  to  be  formed.  The 
secretary  was  treated  similarly,  and  then  a 
drink  all  around  the  thirty  electors  and  their 
friends.  This  cerenaony  completed,  the  mil- 
itary subject  melted  into  nothingness  before 
the  great  question,  then  agitating  the  people, 
viz,  "Should  the  State  of  Indiana  accept  the 
grant  of  land  donated  by  Congress  for  the 
construction  of  the  Wabash  and  Erie  Canal, 
from  Lake  Erie  to  the  mouth  of  the  Tippe- 
canoe River  f"  A  son  of  Esculapius,  one  Dr. 
Stone,  protested  so  vehemently  against  enter- 
taining even  an  idea  of  accepting  the  grant, 
that  the  parties  favorable  to  the  question  felt 
themselves  to  be  treading  on  tottering 
grounds.  Stone's  logic  was  to  the  point,  uncon- 
querable; but  his  enemies  did  not  surrender 
hope;  they  looked  at  one  another,  then  at  the 
young  school-teacher,  whom  they  ultimately 
selected  as  their  orator  and  defender.  The 
meeting  adjourned  for  an  hour,  after  which 
the  youthful  teacher  of  the  young  ideas  as- 
cended the  rostrum.  His  own  story  of  his 
emotions  and  efforts  may  be  acceptable.  lie 
says: 

"  I  was  sorry  they  called  upon  me,  for  I 
felt  about  '  half  seas  over'  from  the  free  and 
frequent  use  of  the  tin  cup.  I  was  puzzled 
to  know  what  to  do.  To  decline  would 
injure  me  in  the  estimation  of  the  neigbor- 


hood,  who  were  strongly  in  favor  of  the 
grant;  and,  on  the  otliei'  hand,  if  I  attempted 
to  speak,  and  failed  from  intoxication,  it  would 
ruin  me  with  my  patrons.  Soon  a  fence-rail 
was  slipped  into  the  worn  fence  near  by,  and 
a  wash-tub,  turned  bottom  upward,  placed 
upon  it  and  on  the  neighboring  rails,  about 
tive  feet  from  the  ground,  as  a  rostrum  for 
me  to  speak  from.  Two  or  three  men  seized 
hold  of  me  and  placed  me  upon  the  stand, 
amidst  the  vociferous  shouts  of  the  friends  of 
the  canal,  which  were  none  tlie  less  loud  on 
account  of  the  frequent  circulation  of  the  tin 
and  jug.  I  could  scarcely  preserve  my  equi- 
librium, but  there  I  was  on  the  tub  for  the 
purposeof  answering  and  exposing  thedoctor's 
sophistries,  and  an  an.xious  auditory  waiting 
for  me  to  exterminate  him.  But  strange  to 
say,  my  lips  refused  utterance.  I  saw  'men 
as  trees,  walking,'  and  after  a  long,  and  to 
me,  painful  pause,  I  smote  m}'  hand  upon 
my  breast,  and  said,  'I  feel  to  full  for  utter- 
ance.' (I  meant  of  whisky,  they  thought  of 
righteous  indignation  at  the  doctor's  efi'ront- 
ery  in  opposing  the  measure  under  consider- 
ation). The  ruse  worked  like  a  charm.  Tiie 
crowd  shouted:  'Let  him  have  it.'  I  raised 
my  finger  and  pointed  a  moment  steadily  at 
the  doctor.  The  audience  shouted,  'Hit  him 
again.'  Thus  encouraged,  I  attempted  the 
first  speech  I  ever  attempted  to  make;  and 
after  I  got  my  mouth  to  go  off  (and  a  part  of 
the  whisky — in  perspiration)  I  had  no  trouble 
whatever,  and  the  liquor  dispelled  my  native 
timidit}',  that  otherwise  might  have  embar- 
rassed me.  I  occupied  the  tub  about  twenty- 
tive  minutes.  The  doctor,  boiling  over  with 
indignation  and  speech,  mounted  tlie  tub  and 
harangued  us  for  thirty  minutes.  The  'young 
school-master' was  again  called  for,  and  another 
speech  from  him  of  about  twenty  minutes 
closed  the  debate.  A  vice  voce  vote  of  the 
company  was  taken,  which  resulted  in  twenty- 


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k^i^Oi^i.  ■Si'"  i:'*«*r^*'.-«  »i£*'bi*  «!-*•  a  •.fiW^  w> 


PIONEEH    LIFE. 


six  for  the  yr;\iit  and  tour  aj^iiinst  it.  .My 
two  t'rioiuls  wure  I'lceteil  captain  ami  lieuten- 
ant, and  I  am  back  at  my  boarding-lioiise, 
ready  for  supper,  with  a  sight  headache. 
Strange  as  it  may  appear,  none  of  them  dis- 
covered that  I  was  intoxicated.  Lucky  for  me 
they  did   not,  or  I  would  doubtless  lose  my 


school.  I  now  here  promise  myself,  on  this 
leaf  v(  my  thiy-book,  that  /  will  not  drink 
Iti^uor  ayuin,  except  (jiccn  as  a  medical  pre- 
scription." 

It  is  possible  that  the  foregoing  incident 
was  tlie  origin  of  the  double  entendre,  "Too 
full  for  utterance." 


^M^ji^m>itfi^jr*rjs.  ^fJ 


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;'s=  UK  jiolitical  liistory  of 
Aduins  County  is  almost 
1^"  inouotonoiisly  s  i  m  ji  1  e  . 
'Q,  Ever  since  iJSjO,  and  gen- 
-^ksj,  erally  since  its  organ- 
t-^  ization,  in  1836,  tlie 
I  ^Sr^  county  lius  ijeen  carried  by  the 
'f'P-  Democrats.  At  eacli  election, 
ph"^  there  tore,  the  question  as  to  the 
i)\  v»  result  is  not  "what"  and  "  wlio," 
hut  "  how  much."  (ieorji-e  A. 
Dent,  an  early  auditor,  was  a 
,'S^  ^Vliig,  and  occasionally  some 
minor  otlice  has  been  tilled  by 
some  other  than  a  Democrat;  but 
this  can  be  explained  by  personal  reat^ons. 
During  the  first  few  years  after  the  county 
was  organized  there  were  no  rigid  party 
attiliations,  no  machine  conventions  under  the 
iron  rule  of  '■  bosses,"  and  no  disciplinary 
caucuses,  whose  decrees  must  be  followed, 
under  penalty  of  being  read  out  of  the  party. 
Candidates  for  local  offices  were  run  almost 
entirely  on  i)ersonal  ])opularity.  ]\[ajorities 
were  accordingly  variable,  though  as  a  rule 
small,  because  the  total  vote  of  the  county 
was  small.  JJut  forty-nine  votes  were  cast  at 
the  general  election  of  183(5.  Party  lines 
beican  to   be  drawn  closer   durino   the  latter 


part  of  the  decade  before  1850,  and  by  the 
latter  year  the  usual  Denjoci-atic  majority 
was  nearly  '200,  in  a  total  vote  of  between 
800  and  900.  From  is.lli  to  1873,  when  the 
"'Grange"  or  "Anti-Monopoly  "  movement 
began  to  play  .-nine  part  in  politics,  the 
Democratic  votes  were  to  the  IJepublicaii 
about  as  two  to  one,  in  number.  During  the 
last  thirteen  years  the  Republican  vote  has 
been  rather  less  than  one-third  of  the  whole, 
and  the  Deniocratic  majorities  liave  readied 
very  large  figures.  For  example,  the  vote  at 
the  last  presidential  election  was:  Cleveland, 
2,649;  Elaine,  1,148;  St.  John,  35;  Butler, 
24;  Cleveland's  ]ilurality,  1,501;  majority 
ovei'  all,  1,442.  The  majorities  for  county 
officers  have  as  a  rule  been  much  lower  than 
those  on  State  and  national  tickets.  The 
Green1)ack  and  Prohibition  parties  have  a 
vei-y  small  following  in  the  county. 

Jjelow  is  given  a  summary  containing  the 
political  tendencies  of  the  several  townships 
in  the  county,  and  the  majorities  at  the  dif- 
ferent presidential  elections  (except  1844, 
1852  and  1850,  the  returns  for  which  years 
are  missing). 

Blue  Creek  is  moderately  safe  for  the 
Democratic  ticket,  having  failed  but  two 
presidential   elections.      Majorities — 1840,    3 


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POLITICAL    AND    OFFICIAL. 


'k. 
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(Whiji);  18-iS,  13;  ISHO,  l-l-;  1^(54,  2-1; 
IMW,  u;  1M72,  ii  (lii'|)ul.lif;m);  1S7(),  24; 
1S«0,  16;  18.S-4,  22. 

Freiicli  gave  3  innjority  t'oi-  Harrison  in 
1840,  but  has  since  been  overwhelmingly 
Ueinocrutic.  The  Re])ubliciins  niiinber  scarce- 
ly one-sixth  of  the  total  vote.  jMajorities — 
1840,  3  (Whig);  1848,  30;  1860,  12;  1864, 
78  (there  were  but  3  Kepnblioaii  votes  that 
year);  1808,64;  1872,14;  1876,  104;  1880, 
101;  1884,111. 

Hartford  is  very  strongly  Democratic.  The 
la'piililicans  !ia\e  but  one-i'uurth  the  total 
vote,  and  have  never  cai'ried  the  township. 
Majorities— 1840,  10;  1848,  2;  1860,  23; 
1804,67;  1868,  58;  1872,  31;  1876,  105; 
1880,  102;  1884,  122. 

Jefferson  is  two-thirds  Democratic.  JMa- 
jorities—1840,  11;  1848,  2  (Whig);  I860, 
I'J;  1864,  41;  1868,  29;  1872,  28;  1876, 
50;  1880,  51;  1884,  60. 

Kirkland  is  three-fourths,  or  more.  Demo- 
cratic. Majorities  — 1848,  10;  1800,  18; 
1864,  62;  1868,  63;  1872,  57;  1876,  79; 
1880,  109;  1884,  98. 

About  onc-tiftli  of  the  votes  polled  in  Mon- 
roe are  Republican,  and  the  Democrats  are 
always  sure  of  a  majority.  JMajorities — 1848, 
20;  1860,  27;  1864,  45;  1868,  50;  1872, 
28;  1876,  129;  1880,  137;  1884,  209. 

In  Preble  Township  a  Republican  is  looked 
upon  as  a  natural  curiosity.  The  Democratic 
majority  is  almost  as  large  as  the  total  vote. 
Majorities— 1848,  49;  i860,  112;  1864, 129; 
1868,  164;  1872,  141;  1876,  174;  1880, 
185;  1884,  200. 

Root  waslirst  AVhig,  then  Rejniblican,  anil 
since  the  war  has  been  Democratic  by  increas- 
ing majorities,  until  now  the  Democrats  are 
nearly  twice  as  numerous  as  the  Republicans. 
Majorities— 1840,  19  (Whig);  1848,  20 
(Wliig);  1860,  20  (Republican);  1864,  2 
(Republican);  1808,   18  (Democratic);  1872, 


^ 


^v,f.mi~\irifVi. 


2  (Democratic);  1S76.  82  (Democratic); 
1880,  77  (Democratic);  1884,  89  (Demo- 
cratic). 

St.  Mar3''s  was  Whig  in  the  early  days,  and 
is  now  Republican  by  very  substantial  figures. 
Majorities— 1840,  1;  1848,  30;  1860,  51; 
1864,  30;  1868,  43;  1872,  43;  1876,  47; 
1880,  44;  18S4,  57. 

Union  has  been  Democratic  by  increasing 
figures  for  thirty  years.  Majorities — 1848, 
7^  (Whig);  1800,  5;  1864,  23;  1868,  24; 
1872,  17;  1876,  28;  1880,  44;  1884,  63. 

AVabash  is  very  strongly  Democratic. 
Majorities— 1840,4  (Whig);  1848,  37;  1860, 
2;  1864,  82;  1868,  74;  1872,  35;  1876,  115; 
1880,  114;  1884,  130. 

AVashington,  which  includes  the  city  of 
Decatur,  is  the  source  of  a  good  share  of  the 
Democratic  strength  the  election  returns 
from  Adams  (bounty  show  every  two  years. 
Majorities— 1840,  11;  1848,29;  1860,  92; 
1864,  146;  1868,  200;  1872, 324; 1870,  332; 
1880,  358; 1884,  500. 

OFFICIAL    KEGISTKE. 

Below  arc  given  the  successive  incumbents 
of  the  several  county  olfices  since  the  organ- 
ization of  Adams  County,  in  1836. 

COMMISSIONKRS. 

Jehu  S.  Rhea,  Samuel  Smith  and  AA^'illiam 
Heath,  1836  (May  to  September);  Jehu  S. 
Rhea,  Philip  Everman  and  Samuel  Smith, 
1836;  Jehu  S.  Rhea,  Philip  Everman  and 
AVilliam  Heath,  1837;  Philip  Everman, 
AVilliam  Heath  and  I.  D.  Simison,  1838; 
George  A.  Dent,  E.  Dailey  and  I.  D.  Simi- 
son, 1839;  George  A.  Dent,  E.  Dailey  and 
AVilliam  Vance,  1840;  George  A.  Dent,  J 3.  J. 
Dritson  and  AVilliam  Vance,  1841;  John  Len- 
hart,  B.  J.  Britson  and  AVilliam  A''anee,  1842; 
John  Lcnhart,  James  Coffee  and  A\'"illiain 
Vance,   1843;    John  Lenhart,  James  Coffee 


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and  Joliii  ^[cO.)nuell,  IS-U;  (iooriiv  ( 'askoy, 
James  Cott'ee  anil  Jolin  .Mf(  "(uukjII,  ISiu; 
Ge(:irge  (.^^^kev.  Oeur^e  lli'atli  and  John 
^[cllonnt'll,  184(1;  (ieoi'fre  ("aski-y,  (ieorge 
Heath  and  Isaac  WheekT,  1847;  Andrew 
Dohevty,  (ieoi'go  Heath  and  Isaac  Wheeler, 
1848;  AndreM-  JJoherty,  M.  V.  Burkliead  and 
Isaac  Wheeler,  1849;  Andrew  Doherty,  M. 
l'\  Uiirkhead  and  Charles  Nelson,  1850; 
(ieorge  D.  Ilackett,  ]\I.  F.  IJurkhead  and 
("liarles  Nelson,  1851-'52;  Geor_£,'-e  L).  Ilackett, 
;M.  F.  Burkhead  and  Jonathan  Kelley,  1S53; 
Conrad  lieiidv'ini;',  ^\.  F.  Burkhead  anil  Jona- 
than Kelley,  1854;  Conrad  Beiidiini^,  Joseph 
Ii.  ^liller  and  Jonathan  Kelley,  1S55;  Conrad 
Keinking,  Joseph  U.  ]\Iiller  and  David  Aber, 
iSolJ;  Josiah  Crawford,  Joseph  Ii.  ]\Iillerand 
David  A  her,  1857-'58;  Josiah  Crawford, 
.losejjh  K.  Jliller  and  Conrad  lieinking, 
185<J-'0U;  Josiah  Crawford,  M.  F.  B>urklu-ad 
and  Conrad  IJeinking,  1861-'l)B;  Josiah 
Crawford,  JaciJ)  Sartf  and  Conrad  lieinking, 
18G4-'07;  Josiah  Crawford,  .lacob  Sartf  and 
Gcoi'ge  Lnckey,  ISBS-'LJO;  George  Lnckey, 
George  Fraidv  and  Josiah  Crawford,  1870-'74; 
Joseph  Spuller,  George  Frank  and  Benjamin 
Ilunyon,  1875;  Joseph  Spuller, Daniel  AVeidy 
and  llenjamin  Runyon,  187U-'79;  Mr.  Spuller 
died,  and  in  ^larch,  1880,  Jolin  Bupright 
was  appointed;  John  Bnpright,  Daniel 
Weldy  and  Lcander  Dunbar,  1SS0-'81;  John 
Iiupriglit,  Jacob  Yager  and  Leander  Dunbar, 
l8S2-'85;  Air.  Bnpright  resigned  in  June, 
188(3,  and  Henry  W.  Fuelling  was  appointed. 
Henry  W.  Fuelling  (from  Fir.st  District, 
term  ex])ires  in  l8'J0),  Jacob  Yager  (from 
SecoTid  District,  term  expires  in  1888)  and 
George  Pontiiis  (from  Third  District,  term 
expires  in  1889),  188G. 

AUlUToliS. 

George  A.  Dent,  1841-'45;  William  Trout, 
1845-50;  John  ilcConnell,  1850-'59;  AVill- 


iam  G.  Spencer,  1859-'r)7;  Seymour  Worden, 
lN07--'75;  Godfrey  Christen,  1n75  ■S;j;  Lewis 
C.  Miller,  1S83. 

t'l.KKKS. 

Samuel  L.  Itugg,  183G-'54;  S.  S.  Alickle, 
1854-'55;  JamesB.  Simcoke,  1855-'63;  .lohn 
McConnell,  1863-'67;  A.  Judson  Hill,  1867- 
'75;  Byron  II.  Dent,  1875-'79;  Norval  B.laek- 
burn,  1879-83;  John  D.  Hale,  1883. 

I{EL'0]:nKKS. 

Samuel  L.  Bugg,  1841-'48;  Oliver  T. 
Hart,  lS48-'58;  Vvilliam  J.  Adelspurger, 
1858-'06;  Martin  Y.  B.  Simcoke,  18G6-'70; 
John  J.  Chubb,  1870-74;  John  Schurger, 
1874-82;  Abraham  .McW.  Bollman,  18S2. 

TKEASUKKItS. 

Jeremiah  Boe,  183G;  John  Beynolds, 
183G-'41;  James  Crabs,  1841-'47;  S.  S. 
Mickle,  1847-'48;  James  B.  Simcoke,  1848- 
'52;  John  Crawford,  1852- '56;  David  Show- 
ers, 185G-'G0;  Charles  L.  Schirmeyer,  18G0- 
'64;  Jesse  Niblick,  18G4-"68;  John  Meibers, 
18G8-'72;  John  Dirksou,  1872-'7G;  Anthony 
Holthouse,  1876-'80;  Robert  D.  Patterson, 
1880-'84;  Andrew  Gottsclialk,  1884. 

SHEKIFFS. 

David  McKnight,  1836;  Zachariah  Smith, 
183G-'40;  Alvin  Bandall,  1840-'-42;  Alex- 
ander Fleming,  1842-'4:6;  James  B.  Simcoke, 
1840-'-18;  John  N.  Little,  1848-'50;  David 
AIcDonald,  l850-'54;  Jacob  King,  1854-56; 
David  McDonald,  1856-'58;  George  Frank, 
1858-'62;  Jacob  Stults,  1862-'6G;  James 
Stoops,  Jr.,  1866-'70;  David  King,  1870-'74; 
E.  Philison  Stoops,  1874-'78;  Henry  Krick, 
1878-'82;  Michael  McGntf,  1882-'8G;  Perry 
A.  Lewton,  1886. 

UKl'RKSKNTATIVES. 

William  Yance,1836-'40;  Morrison  Union, 
1840-'41;    Bobert    D.    Tisdale,     1841--42; 


J' 

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•  »r^aiiirtgii'*i^g»gn^Jia"-ai^aM«»^tgiT«»M»M"tM'»»^»>iir'«« 


POLITIUAL    AND    OFFICIAL. 


•ii\ 


KHhIkiK.  INinvt,  IS  1-2  -Vl;!;  Samuel  S.  :\ncklo, 
lSi;J-"4t;  i;..lM.|t  lliiey,  ]n41-'-45;  Suimiel 
«.  Mickle,  1.S15-'-Kj;  .lulni  J)<i:un,  18-tr,-'-i7; 
iJavid  McDuiiakl,  1847-'48;  Samuel  Decker, 
184S-'4'J;  Samuel  S.  :Mickle,  184'J-'5U;  Ihir- 
kett  :M.  Elkius,  1850-'51;  John  Crawt'ord, 
1851-52;  William  <i.  Speiifcr,  lS52-'54; 
J)avi(l  Studabaker,  185."J-'58;  Jdiiathau  Kel- 
k-v,  ls5'J-');0:  I'liiK.meii  X.  Collins,  18lil- 
■)ii;;  James  U.  IViho,  lMi7 -'7U;  (ic-or^u'C 
:\Iri>uwoll,lS71-'72;  Jdliii  Me(^oiiiiell,1873- 
'74;  Aui^Mistus  N.  Martin,  l>s75-"7i):  David 
.1.  Spencer,  1877-'78;  Joseph  L.  Dailey, 
1S7'J-"S0;  David  RKainand  1  )avid  Y.  iJakcr, 
1881-82;  Levi  Mock  and  David  Kiev,  1883- 
'84;  ])avid  Eiey  and  Samuel  T.  JNEcXiovne^*, 
l8S5-'8t;;  I'llisha  Pierce  and  Samuel  S. 
Selvev.  1887. 

ASSiirlATK  JUDGES. 

William  El/.ey  and  T.  Hooper,  1838-42; 
John  Iv.  Evans  and  Ezekiel  iroo])cr,  1842- 
'4't;  ^Villiam  Stockham  and  E.  A.  IJunner, 
184U-'51.      Olliee  aliolishcd. 

SCHOOL  CO.M.MISSIONKRS. 

15.  I'\  IMossoin,  1837-'-3y;  Ezekiel  Hooper, 
lS3y-'43;  Ed.  G.  Coxen,  1843-'4G;  John 
Little.  1846-'48;  James  IL  Brown,  1848-51. 
OtKce  abolishetl. 

COU NTY  SUPERINl ENDKNTS. 

Daniel  D.  Heller,  1873-'74;  William  N. 
Walters,  l874-'7y;  G.  W.  A.  Luckey,  1879- 
":i-6\  John  Y.  Snow,  1883. 

ASSESSORS. 

David  McKnight,  1836-37;  Robert  D. 
Tisdale,  1838-'40;    Zachariah   Smith,  1840- 


'43;  James  I'atter^on,  1S43  '44;  John(Jrim, 
1844-'4(;;  ^Villiam  X'anee,  IMti-'lS;  (Jeorgo 
Fi'ank,  1848-'50;  Samuel  Eiey,  1850.  OHice 
abolifilied. 

LAND  Al'l'UAISEKS. 

George  Frank,  18fi3-'G9;  Andrew  Bai'kley, 
18G9-'75;  Ferdinand  Ueinking,  1875-"7G. 
Office  abolished. 

I'KoliATE  .IL'DGES. 

Jacob  Barks,  lS37-'39;  James  Crabs, 
1839-'40;  Robert  D.  Tisdale,  1840-'41; 
Josepli  Martin,  1841-'42;  Alvin  Randall, 
1842-'49;  David  Showers,  1849-'51.  Olliee 
abolished. 

SUK\KV()KS. 

Philemon  N.  Collins,  1852-'58;  E.  ^\L 
Reed,  1858-'59;  H.  Hart,  1859-'G0;  Chris- 
tian F.  Stautier,  18G0-'GS;  Clay  Peterson, 
lSG8-'70;  Harry  B.  Knotf,  187U-'72;  Gabriel 
F.  Kintz,  1874-'82;  James  T.  Simcoke,  1882- 
'm;  John  W.  Tyndall,  188G. 

COUONEKS. 

Jonas  Pence,  183G-'37;  John  W.  Cooley, 
1837-'3S;  Enos  ^l.  Butter,  1838-'39;  Dan. 
AV^inner,  1839-40;  James  Niblick,  1840-'44; 
AVilliain  M.  Elzey,  1S44-'4G;  Jacoij  King, 
184G-'48;  Jesse  Niblick,  1848-'50;  Thomas 
AV.  Andrews,  lS50-'52;  Charles  Gorsline, 
1852-'53;  Levi  Ewing,  1853-'54;  Cornelius 
B.  Lamasters,  1854-'56;  Levi  Ewing,  1856- 
'59;  J.  King,  Jr.,  1859-'60;  D.  D.  Bernhart, 
1860-'68;  AVilliam  D.  Baker,  1868-'70; 
John  E.  Smith,  1870-'74;  Samuel  C.  Boll- 
man,  1874-'76;   John  E.  Smith,  1876-'78; 

,  A.    B.    Tullis,    1878-'80;    John    E.    Smith. 

I  1880-'86;  Charles  Jelletf,  1886. 


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insTOHY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY 


^i''&«    ....  . 


The  Civil  War.  :'i 

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II     It    IV  II     IJ     tX    11     tJLH_U^Ll-.lX-XJ,AJ    AX  XX,£J_1X  Jl.   tJ-^ .         . 


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^^^"  --"/ftliOUT  daybreak  on  the 
ip  12tli  of  jVpril,  1801,  tlie 
ItiPiii  stillness  of  Charleston 
la  ^     Bay    was    disturbed    by 


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ay  was  aistnrbed  by 
the  firing  of  a  large 
mortar  and  the  shriek 
M^  of  a  shell  as  it  rushed 
throngh  the  air.  The  shell  burst 
over  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  war  of 
the  great  Rebellion  was  begun. 
In  the  North  the  hope  had 
^^  been  tenaciously  clung  to  that  the 
])eace  of  the  country  was  not  to 
"^^^^^  be  disturbed.  This  dream  was 
rudely  broken  by  the  siege  of 
Fort  Sumter.  The  North  awakened  sud- 
denly to  the  awful  certainty  that  civil  war 
was  begun.  There  was  a  deep  i'eeling  of  in- 
dignation at  the  traitors  who  were  willing  to 
ruin  the  country  that  slavery  might  be  secure. 
There  was  a  full  appreciation  of  the  danger, 
and  an  instant  universal  determination  that, 
iit  whatever  cost,  the  national  life  must  be 
jireserved.  Personal  sacrifice  was  uncon- 
sidered; individual  interests  were  merged  in 
the  general  good.  Political  difference,  ordi- 
narily so  bitter,  was  for  the  time  almost 
effaced.     Nothing    was   of    interest    but  the 


question  how  this  audacious  rebellion  was  to 
be  suppressed  and  the  American  nation  up- 
held ill  tlie  great  place  which  it  claimed 
among  men. 

Two  daj's  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter, 
Mr.  Lincoln  intimated  by  proclamation  the 
dishonor  done  to  the  laws  of  the  United 
States,  and  called  out  the  militia  to  the  ex- 
tent of  75,00U  men.  The  free  States  re- 
sponded enthusiastically  to  the  call.  So 
prompt  was  their  action  that  on  the  very 
next  day  several  companies  arrived  in  Wash- 
ington. Flushed  by  their  easily-won  victory, 
the  Southrons  talked  boastfully  of  seizing 
the  capital.  In  a  very  short  time  there  were 
50,000  loyal  men  ready  to  prevent  that,  and 
the  safety  of  AVashington  was  secured. 

The  North  pushed  forward  with  boundless 
energy  her  warlike  preparations.  Rich  men 
offered  money  with  so  much  liberalit}'  that 
in  a  few  days  nearly  $25,000,000  had  been 
contributed.  The  school-teachers  of  Boston 
dedicated  fixed  proportions  of  their  incomes 
to  the  support  of  the  Government  while  the 
war  should  last.  All  over  the  country  the 
excited  people  gathered  themselves  into 
crowded  meetings  and  breathed  forth  in 
fervid     resolutions    their    determinations    to 


!«." M."" M  r  •:»*■  "jM  - m  - B.ia«a«., «^M a'« " M"'iVyi-^'«<^iiH.ai-5«H^ 


'C;i?'a?"ii*k««^«ja^«5i¥ffl«i^^-«B'>B--^»'«"'-^ii-i^m»«^^ 


rilE    CIVIL     WAU. 


Rneiul  I'ortiinc  and  life  in  defense  of  the 
I'uion.  N'olunteer  eoiiipanics  were  rapidly 
foi'Hied.  In  the  cities  hidies  hegan  to  organ- 
ize themselves  for  the  relief  of  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers.  It  had  lieen  fahlcd  that 
the  ]S"ortli  would  not  tight.  "With  a  fiery 
promptitude  unknown  before  in  modern  his- 
tory, tlie  ]ieo])le  sprang  to  arms. 

Adams  County  had  at  this  time  little  over 
9,000  inhabitants.  With  a  population  mainly 
devuted  to  agriculture,  who  knew  nothing  of 
war  except  by  luster}'  or  tradition,  it  could 
hardly  be  expected  that  a  warlike  spirit 
would  soon  disturb  the  peaceful  population. 
But  we  know  little  of  the  tire  that  slumbers 
in  quiet  breasts  until  occasion  calls  it  forth. 
Immediately  alter  the  news  was  Hashed 
through  this  country  that  civil  war  was 
begun,  public  excitement  ran  so  high  that  it 
coidd  no  longer  confine  itself  to  promiscuous 
expression  about  the  street  corners,  and  peo- 
ple held  informal  and  formal  meetings  in  the 
city  halls  and  country  school-houses  every- 
where. 

A  number  of  volunteers  at  once  proceeded 
to  Kichmond,  Indianapolis,  and  other  cen- 
ters, there  to  enlist  in  various  regiments  and 
coinjianies.  For  these  Adams  County  never 
received  credit.  It  was  four  or  five  months 
after  the  beginning  of  tlie  war  before  a  full 
company  was  raised  in  this  county.  The 
people  kept  up  their  contributions  of  their 
best  young  men  as  long  as  the  (Tovernment 
called  for  recruits,  and  from  first  to  last  not 
less  than  700  soldiers  were  furnished  from 
this  one  little  county.  The  draft  was  put  in 
force  but  once — in  October,  18G2-,  then  37 
men  were  drawn  from  these  townships: 
I'reble,  13;  Kirkland,  3;  French,  13;  Hart- 
ford. S.  The  county  about  this  same  time 
ofi'ercd  SlOO  bounty  to  each  volunteer,  and 
S5  a  month  to  the  wife  of  each,  together  with 
Si   a    month  for    each  child    under  fourteen 


years  of  age.  In  January,  ls(15,  under  the 
last  call  of  President  Fincoln,  when  another 
draft  was  threatened,  the  lioard  of  Commis- 
sioners, under  authority  of  a  favorable  vote 
fiom  the  ])eo])le  at  a  special  election,  ottered 
a  bounty  of  i>300  to  each  volunteer.  The 
county  thus  paid  out  about  $50,000  for  boun- 
ties, and  $18,359.44  for  families  as  relief, 
ilost  of  the  townships  gave  bounties  at  one 
time  or  another,  to  fill  their  quota.  The  re- 
ported amounts  M'ere:  Union,  $2,000;  Root, 
$2,200;  Preble,  $1,800;  Kirkland,  $400; 
Washington,  $1,600;  Blue  Creek,  $1,800; 
]\[onroe,  $400;  Hartford,  $2,200;  Wabash, 
$1,400;  Jeft'erson,  $400.  In  all,  by  county 
and  townships,  there  was  expended  the  hand- 
some sum  of  $82,894.44. 

FOKTV-SEVENTU  KEGIMIONT. 

The  first  volunteers  from  Adams  County 
did  not  go  in  a  body,  but  went  to  Fort 
Wayne,  Indianapolis,  and  other  places,  to  en- 
list in  companies  which  were  credited  to 
other  counties.  Early  in  the  autumn  of  1861, 
however,  a  full  company  was  raised,  which 
became  Company  C  of  the  Forty-sixth  Indi- 
ana Volunteer  Infantry.  As  originally  or- 
ganized, Esaias  Dailey  was  Captain,  Byron  II. 
Dent,  First  Lieutenant,  and  Henry  C.  Wei- 
mer,  Second  Lieutenant.  Samuel  S.  Mickle 
was  Major  of  the  regiment,  but  resigned 
April  12,  1862.  Captain  Uailey  resigned 
Fejruary  5,  1862,  and  Dent  was  promoted  to 
his  place,  while  Austin  Crabbs  became  First 
Lieutenant.  Lieutenant  Weimer  died  at 
Bardstown,  Kentucky,  February  18,  1862, 
and  Calvin  1).  Hart  succeeded  him.  April 
12,  1862,  Captain  Dent  resigned,  and  Lieu- 
tenant Crabbs  received  another  promotion. 
He  was  Captain  until  December  81,  1864, 
when,  his  term  having  expired,  he  was  mus- 
tered out.  Horatio  C  V.  Jennings  became 
First   Lieutenant   when    Austin    Crabbs   was 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


])niiiioted,  iiiul  served  till  tliu  expinition  of 
Ills  term.  ]jieuteii;uit  I  lurt  resiguetl  October 
IS,  I.SIVJ,  iuiil  next  diiy  William  A.  Diiiley 
was  given  his  s]Ki\iKler-striij)s.  lie  resigned 
October  28,  ISti-i.  Ira  A.  Jjlussom  was  First 
Lieutenant  from  January  1,  18(35,  and  Cap- 
tain from  ^lareli  1  followinir,  John  T.  AVei- 
uier  becoming  then  First  JJeutenant.  The 
company  had  originally  ninety-eight  enlisted 
men,  and  to  these  were  added,  at  different 
times,  23  recruits,  making:;  121. 

Tlie  Furty-seventh  liegiment  was  organ- 
ized at  Anderson,  on  the  10th  of  (October, 
1SG2,  with  James  R.  Slack  as  Colonel,  the 
rci^iment  being  composed  of  companies  raised 
in  the  Eleventh  Congressional  District.  On 
the  13th  of  December  it  left  Indianapolis  for 
Kentucky  and  reached  ISardstown  on  the 
21st,  where  it  was  assigned  to  General  AVood's 
brigade  (jf  IlueH's  army.  From  thence  it 
moved  to  Camp  AVickliti'e,  arriving  there  on 
the  81st  of  December,  anil  remained  there 
until  the  11th  of  February,  18(32,  when  it 
mai-ched  t(i  West  I'oint,  at  the  mouth  of  Salt 
River,  and  there  took  transports  for  Com- 
merce, Missouri.  Arriving  there  on  the  24th 
of  l'\'l)ruary,  it  was  assigned  to  General  Pope's 
army.  ii^iiJ  marched  at  once  to  jS'ew  j\radrid, 
and  there  engaged  the  enemy,  being  the  first 
regiment  to  enter  Fort  Thompson.  iMoving 
to  Kiddle's  Point  it  participated  in  the  en- 
gagement at  that  place  between  the  shore 
batteries  ami  rebel  gunboats.  From  thence 
it  moved  to  Tiptonville,  Tennessee,  where  it 
remained  for  nearly  two  months. 

After  the  capture  of  Fort  Pillow  the  regi- 
ment was  trans])orted  to  Memphis,  reaching 
that  place  on  the  80th  of  June,  and  remain- 
ing there  during  the  following  month,  Colo- 
nel Slack  being  in  command  of  the  post. 
On  the  11th  of  August  it  had  a  skirmish 
with  the  enemy  at  llrown's  plantation,  Mis- 
sissippi,   losing   a   few    men    in    killed     and 


wounded.  ^VFoving  to  irdena,  Ai'kaiisas,  the 
regiment  remained  there  until  jVfarch,  1808, 
when  it  took  part  in  (ienend  Quinby's  ex- 
pedition to  Yazoo  Pass.  Peturning  fi'um 
this  expedition  it  joined  General  Grant's 
army  and  moved  with  it  to  the  rear  of  Vicks- 
burg,  engaging  in  the  battles  and  skirmishes 
of  that  campaign.  In  the  battle  of  Cham- 
pion Hills,  on  the  lOtli  of  ^Fay,  it  lost  1-43  in 
killed  and  wounded,  (joing  iiUo  the  trenches 
near  the  enemy's  works  at  Vicksburg,  it  re- 
mained in  them  until  the  surrender  on  the 
4tli  of  July,  being  almost  constantly  engaged 
in  the  siege.  After  this  it  marched  to  Jack- 
son with  Sherman's  expedition,  and  took  part 
in  the  engagement  at  that  jilace. 

Returning  to  Vicksburg  it  took  transports 
for  ]Vew  Orleans  in  August,  from  wlience  it 
moved  to  Berwick  Bay.  While  in  this  por- 
tion of  Louisiana,  the  Fort\--seventh  partici- 
pated in  Jjaidis' expedition  through  the  Teche 
country,  engaging  the  enemy  at  Grand  Co- 
teau.  It  then  moved  to  New  Iberia,  and 
while  there  in  December,  1868,  tlie  regiment 
re-enlisted  and  left  Algiers  on  the  9th  of 
F'ebruar}',  1S()4,  for  home  on  veteran  furlough, 
reaching  Indianapolis  on  the  18th,  with  416 
veterans.  On  tlie  19th  it  was  present  at  a 
public  reception  given  to  the  veterans  of  the 
Twenty-first  and  Forty-seventh  regiments  at 
^Metropolitan  Hall  in  that  city,  on  which  oc- 
casion addresses  were  made  by  Governor  ilor- 
ton,  C'olonel  Slack  and  others. 

Upon  its  return  to  the  field  the  regiment 
moved  with  Bank's  army  up  Red  River  in 
the  spring  of  1864,  engaging  in  the  marches, 
battles  and  retreats  of  that  unfortunate  cam- 
paign. On  the  28th  of  July  it  engaged  the 
enemy  at  Atchafalaya  Bayou,  Louisiana,  los- 
ing several  wounded.  The  regiment  was  tlien 
stationed  at  Morganza,  at  wliich  post  it  re- 
mained on  duty  for  some  time.  On  the  31st 
of  December,  1864,  Colonel  James  R.  Slack 


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wascoimnissidiR'il  a  r>riM-a(lifr-Gener:il,\v!iere-  commissioned 
iiliou  ,Iulin  A.  Mcl-aiiglilin  was  j)Vom()tud  |  gcoii). 
(\ilciiiel  of  tlic  rcgiinent.  In  I'V'liruary,  lSl55, 
it  was  transportL'il  to  J)aupliin  Island,  Ala- 
bama, near  ^Toliile,  and  in  C'aid)y's  campaign 
against  that  city  the  Forty-seventh  took  an 
active  part.  After  the  I'all  of  ]Mobile  it 
ino\cd  to  Shrevejxirt,  I.onisiana,  with  Gen- 
eral llcrron  to  receive  the  snrrender  of 
General  I'rice  and  the  army  of  the  Traus- 
]\Iississi]>pi  Department.  At  this  ])lace  the 
regiment  remained  until  the  23d  of  October, 
IfSf'io,  when  it  was  mustered  ont  of  service. 
Ileaching  Indianapolis  with  530  men  and  32 
otHcers,  it  was  present  on  the  1st  of  No- 
vember at  a  reception  given  to  the  regiment 
in  tlie  capitol  grounds,  and  was  addressed  by 
Governor  ilorton,  General  Slack  and  Colo- 
nels ]\[ilton  S.  Kobinson  and  JoIiti  A.  Mc- 
Laughlin. Tlic  next  day  the  regiment  was 
finally  discharged. 

EKUITV-NINTM     KKOIStKNT. 

In  the  summer  of  18r)2,  in  response  to 
the  calls  made  by  President  Lincoln  upon 
the  loyal  North,  Adams  County  furnished 
three  entire  companies,  in  all  about  325 
men,  for  the  Eighty-ninth  Indiana  Volun- 
teers, the  Colonel  of  which  was  CJharles  I). 
!Muri'ay,  of  Kokomo.  On  the  regimental 
staif  there  were  from  this  county:  I'yron  IL 
Dent,  Adjutant  from  August  30,  18G2.  till 
he  resigned,  July  G,  18G4:  Barnabas  Collins, 
Quartermaster  from  Aiigust  IG,  18G2,  till  he 
resio-neii  October  29  followinj^;  Jacob  M. 
Crabbs,  Quartermaster  from  November  8, 
1804,  till  the  muster  out  of  the  regiment; 
Enos  "W.  Erick,  Ciiaplain  from  August  9, 
1862,  till  his  resiguatioti,  July  22,  1863; 
and  John  P.  Porter,  Assistant  Surgeon  from 
August  29,  1S62,  till  killed  by  guerrillas, 
November  1,  1804,  (he  had  ])reviously  been 


lut    not    mustered,    as    Sur- 


The  tii'st  Captain  of  Comjiany  II  was  Eiu>s 
W.  Erick,  who  became  Chaplain  of  the  regi- 
ment njKjii  the  organization  of  the  latter, 
and  Adoniram  J.  Hill  was  promoted  from 
Eirst  Lieutenant  to  Captain.  At  the  same 
time  James  TI.  I'rowning  was  promoted  from 
Second  to  Eirst  Lieutenant,  his  place  being 
filled  from  the  ranks  by  ]\[artin  Y.  B.  Spen- 
cer. Captain  Hill  was  mustered  out  January 
9, 1865,  and  Robert  D.  Patterson  commanded 
the  company  during  the  remainder  of  the 
war.  Lieutenant  Browning  resigned  Ecbru- 
ary  9,  1865,  and  AVilliam  A.  Wisner  (Second 
Lieutenant  from  ilay  1, 1864),  was  promoted. 
Li  the  grade  of  Second  Lieutenant,  Spencer 
resigned  January  16,  1863,  and  AVilliam  ]\fc- 
Dermott  succeeded  him  until  September  18 
following.  He  then  resigned,  and  the  ])0si- 
tion  was  vacant  until  AVilliani  A.  Wisuer 
was  given  his  bar. 

There  were  fewer  changes  in  Company  1. 
The  (Japtains  were:  Henry  Banta,  commis- 
sioned August  14,  1862,  resigned  Januarj- 
28,  1863;  Peter  Litzel,  commissioned  Janu- 
ary 29,  1863,  dismissed  January  10,  1865; 
and  John  J.  Chubb,  from  the  latter  date  un- 
til the  liiud  muster  out.  The  First  Lieuten- 
ants were:  Peter  Litzel,  from  August  14, 
1862,  to  January  29,  1863  (promoted  Cap- 
tain); John  J.  Chubb,  from  the  latter  date  to 
January  10,  1865  (promoted  Captain);  and 
John  Blood  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Chubb 
had  been  Second  Lieutenant  from  the  organ- 
ization of  the  company  until  promoted,  and 
was  followed  in  tliat  rank  by  Blood,  who  was 
also  afterward  promoted. 

Edwin  S.  Metzger  was  Captain  and  Henry 
McLean  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  K 
during  the  whole  time  of  service.  James 
Stoops,  Jr.,  was  Second  Lieutenant,  but  re- 
signed June   3,  1863,  and    was  followed  by 


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in  STORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


Henry  II.  Hart,  who  ditnl  Au^nist  22,  1S(U, 
of  wuiiiids  received  in  action. 

The  companies  composing  the  Eighty- 
nintli  Regiment  were  recruited  in  the  Elev- 
entli  Congressional  District,  rendezvoused  at 
Waliash,  and  organized  at  Indianapolis.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  into  service  on  the 
2Sth  of  August,  18G2,  with  Charles  D.  ilur- 
i-ay  as  Colonel.  Proceeding  to  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  in  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Harvey  Craven,  the  regiment  ^vas  on  the  2d 
of  September  sent  to  Munfordville  to  rein- 
force the  garrison  at  that  place,  In  the 
attack  made  upon  tiie  phice  b}'  the  advance 
of  JJragg's  invading  army,  under  General 
Chalmers,  it  bore  an  honorable  part,  losing 
two  killed,  fifteen  wounded  and  one  missing. 
After  a  long  and  stubborn  resistance  the 
garrison  was  comjielled  to  surrender  to  vastly 
superior  numbers  on  the  16th  of  September, 
and  on  the  ne.\t  day  the  captured  officers  and 
men  were  paroled  and  marched  within  Gen- 
eral Euell's  lines,  from  whence  they  pro- 
ceeded to  Brandenburg,  on  the  Ohio  River, 
and  thence  to  Jeffersonville,  reaching  there 
on  the  30th  of  September. 

After  a  furlough  to  their  homes  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  regiment  reassembled  at 
Indianapolis  on  the  27th  of  October.  The 
order  for  their  exchange  being  received  the 
regiment,  on  the  5th  of  December,  proceeded 
to  Meni])his,  arriving  there  on  the  8th  of 
December.  It  was  at  once  assigned  to  tlie 
brigade  of  General  llurliridge  in  the  division 
of  General  A.  J.  Smith,  and  on  the  21st  of 
December  was  placed  on  duty  at  Fort  Picker- 
ing, near  Mem])liis,  where  it  remained,  doing 
guard  and  fatigue  duty  until  the  18th 
of  October,  1863.  It  was  then  transferred 
to  the  city  of  Jlemphis,  where  it  was  engaged 
on  picket  duty  until  the  26th  of  January, 
1864.  During  this  time,  however,  the  regi- 
ment marched  on  an  expedition  to  Hernando, 


]\rississi]ipi,  leaving  on  the  16th  of  August, 
18(i3,  ami  returning  on  the  20th.  A  detach- 
ment of  200  men,  under  command  of  jNlajor 
Henry,  also  left  JMcmphis  on  the  24th  of 
December,  1863,  skirmished  with  the  rear  of 
General  Forrest's  command  at  Lafayette  on 
the  25th,  marched  in  pursuit  to  Coldwater, 
and  returned  on  the  31st  uf  December. 

On  the  20th  of  January,  1864,  the  Eighty- 
ninth  left  ilemphis  on  transports  with  the 
First  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Sixteenth 
Corps,  of  Sherman's  command,  for  Vicksburg, 
reaching  there  on  the  31st  of  January.  From 
this  point  it  moved  on  the  ^Meridian  Raid, 
marching  through  Jackson,  Ilillsboro  and 
other  towns,  and  arriving  at  Jferidian  on  the 
14th  of  February,  after  having  skirmished 
with  the  enemy  at  Quan's  Hill  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  Meridian  without  casualty  to  the 
regiment.  After  tearing  up  the  Mobile  A: 
Ohio  Railroad  track  in  that  vicinity,  it  ])ro- 
ceedcd  to  Marion,  where  it  went  into  camp 
and  remained  until  the  20th,  waiting  the 
expected  arrival  of  the  cavalry  force  under 
General  W.  S.  Smith,  by  land,  from  Memphis. 
It  then  broke  camp  and  marched  by  way  of 
Canton  for  Vicksburg,  reaching  there  on  the 
4th  of  March.  The  regiment  lost,  during 
the  expedition,  one  killed,  one  wounded  and 
captured  and  three  missing. 

The  Eighty-ninth  left  Vicksburg  on  the 
10th  of  j\Iarch,  with  General  A.  J.  Smith's 
command,  on  steamers,  for  the  mouth  of  Red 
River,  reaching  Semmesport  on  Atchatalaya 
Bayou  on  the  12th,  and  on  the  next  day 
started  for  Fort  De  Russey.  Here  it  joined 
in  the  assault  on  that  fort,  which  was  cap- 
tured on  the  14th,  the  regiment  sustaining  a 
loss  of  one  killed  and  nine  wounded.  Resting 
at  the  fort  during  the  next  day,  and  embark- 
ing on  that  night,  it  moved  up  the  river  and 
arrived  at  Alexandria  on  the  16th.  On  the 
21st    the    regiment    moved     with  -General 


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grower's  coinnuuul  tu  llendersoii's  Hill,  and 
there  ]>articipatud  in  the  capture  uf  270  rebels 
and  four  pieces  of  artillery.  lieturniiig  to 
Alexandria  it  remained  there  until  ]'.anks' 
army  came  up,  wlien  it  moved  with  the  united 
armies  to  Grand  Ecore,  wliicli  place  was 
reached  on  the  3d  of  April.  Ilemaining 
there  in  cam]i  until  the  7tli,  it  again  moved 
with  the  lialance  of  General  A.  J.  Smith's 
command.  On  the  9th  it  rested  in  line  of 
battle  awaiting  the  approach  of  the  rebel 
army  under  Geneial  Itichard  Taylor,  then 
in  pursuit  of  the  Thirteenth  and  oS'ineteenth 
Army  Corps,  which  he  had,  the  day  before, 
inet  and  defeated  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads.  In 
the  battle  of  Pleasant  Hill,  wliicli  was  fought 
by  A.  J.  Smith's  command  on  the  9th,  the 
Eighty-ninth  bore  a  conspicuous  part,  losing 
seven  killed  and  forty-seven  wounded,  making 
a  total  loss  of  fifty-four. 

On  the  lOtli  of  A])ril  the  regiment  fell 
back  toward  (-irand  Ecore,  arriving  there  on 
the  14th,  where  it  remained  until  the  20th 
awaiting  the  return  of  the  gunboats  and 
transports.  It  then  marched  to  Nachitoches, 
and  there  lay  in  the  line  of  battle  until  the 
Army  of  the  Gulf  marched  by,  and  then, 
from  day  to  day,  engaged  in  covering  the 
retreat  of  that  army  to  Alexandria,  which 
place  was  reached  on  the  26th  of  A]iril. 
From  thence,  on  the  1st  of  May,  it  marched 
to  Hayou  lioljcrts,  Governor  Moore's  ]>lanta- 
tion  and  Bayou  La  Moore,  all  within  a  few 
miles  of  Alexandria.  On  the  7th  of  May 
the  regiment  met  the  enemy  at  Bayou  La 
^luore,  and  after  a  sharp  engagement  charged 
and  repulsed  him,  with  a  loss  to  the  Eighty- 
ninth  of  four  killed  and  eleven  wounded; 
total,  fifteen. 

The  dam  to  raise  Bed  Biver  at  the  falls  at 
Alexandria  having  been  completed  so  as  to 
allow  the  transports  to  pass  below,  the  com- 
mand of  General   A.  J.   Smith    resumed   its 


march  toward  the  ilississifjpi,  the  Eighty- 
ninth  leaving  Moore's  plantation  on  the  14th 
of  iMay,  and  reaching  Yellow  Bayou,  three 
miles  from  Semmesport,  on  the  Atchafalaya, 
on  the  17th.  During  this  marcli  it  engaged 
the  enemy  on  the  prairie,  near  Marksville, 
on  the  16th,  with  but  little  loss  on  either 
side,  the  enemy  retreating  at  the  opening  of 
the  engagement.  On  the  18th  the  regiment 
recrossed  the  Yellow  Bayou,  and  with  other 
troops  marched  up  Bayou  De  Glaise  to  Smitli 
6c  Norwood's  plantation,  and  there  had  a 
severe  contest  with  the  enemy  under  com- 
mand of  General  Poligniac,  who  was  repulsed 
with  great  slaughter.  The  regiment  lost 
eight  killed  and  forty-live  wounded;  total, 
lifty-three.  On  the  19th  of  May  the  regi- 
ment reached  Red  River  Landing  on  the 
]\Iississippi,  and  embarked  the  same  evening 
for  A'^icksl)urg,  which  place  was  reached  on 
the  24th  of  May.  During  the  Red  River 
expedition  the  regiment  was  commanded  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Hervey  Craven. 

The  Eightv-ninth  remained  in  the  vicinity 
of  Vicksburg  until  the  4th  of  June,  when 
it  embarked  for  Memphis,  arriving  there  on 
the  9th,  and  leaving  there  on  the  23d  for 
Collierville.  From  there  it  marched  as  escort 
to  a  wagon  train  to  Moscow,  and  then  moved 
to  Lagrange,  Tennessee.  Here  it  remained 
until  the  5th  of  July,  and  then  marched  to 
Pontotoc,  Mississippi,  reaching  there  on  the 
11th.  From  thence  it  moved  to  Harrisburg, 
near  Tupelo,  where,  on  the  14th  of  July,  it 
participated  in  the  battle  with  the  rebel 
troops  under  Generals  S.  D.  Lee  and  Forrest, 
called  the  battle  of  Tupelo.  The  regiment 
in  this  engagement  lost  one  killed  and  twelve 
wounded. 

Returning  from  this  expedition  the  Eighty- 
ninth  reached  Memphis  on  the  23d  of  July, 
where  it  rested  until  the  8th  of  August.  It 
then    marched    with    General   A.  J.    Smith's 


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lIISTUnr    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


I 


I: 


coiniiiiiiul  to  look  iif'tor  <iein'i-;il  Korix'st  in 
Nortlicrn  J\lississi])pi,  passing  tlirongh  Holly 
8prini;s  to  Oxtonl,  where  news  was  received 
tliat  Fori'est  had  entered  Memphis.  The 
command  was  at  once  marched  back  to  ileni- 
phis,  arriving  there  on  the  3()th  of  August, 
where  it  lay  in  camp  until  the  8th  of  Sep- 
tember. At  that  date  the  regiment  proceeded 
on  steamers  up  the  Mississippi,  landing  at 
Jefferson  I^arracks,  ^Missouri,  on  the  19th  of 
September.  From  there  it  made  a  brief 
expedition  to  De  Soto,  returning  on  the  1st  of 
Octol)er.  On  the  following  day  the  regiment 
started  with  General  A.  J.  Smith's  command 
in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  General  Price,  then 
invading  Missouri.  It  marched  into  the 
interior  of  the  State,  passing  through  the 
towns  bordering  the  jVIissouri  River  to  Inde- 
pendence, and  from  thence  to  O.xford,  Kansas. 
From  there  it  moved  to  Ilarrisonville,  Mis- 
souri, where  the  pursuit  was  abandoned,  after 
which  the  regiment  marched  to  St.  Lonis, 
going  by  way  of  Lone  Jack,  Lexington, 
Glasgow, Columbia,AVarrenton  and  St.  Charles. 
During  the  expedition  it  marched  720  miles, 
nearly  all  of  whicli  was  on  foot.  The  regi- 
ment was  not  in  any  engagement  during  the 
march,  but  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  Major 
Henry,  Assistant  Surgeon  Porter  and  Quar- 
termaster Ashley,  \vho  were  murdered  by 
guerrillas  on  the  1st  of  ^Siovember  at  Green- 
ton,  ten  miles  south  of  Lexington. 

The  Eighty-ninth  remained  with  General 
Smith's  command  at  St.  Louis  until  the  25th 
of  November,  when  it  proceeded  by  steamer 
to  Kashville,  Tennessee,  reaching  there  on 
the  30th.  Here  it  went  into  camp,  and  on 
the  15th  and  16th  of  December  participated 
in  the  battle  near  that  place.  On  the  first 
day  of  the  engagement  the  regimeut  suffered 
no  loss,  but  on  the  second,  when  it  was  con- 
spicuously engaged,  it  lost  two  killed  and 
tiftcen  wounded.     On   the   17th   it  started   in 


pursuit  of  Hood's  army,  and  arrived  at  Olil"- 
ton,  on  the  Tennessee  Kiver,  on  the  1st  of 
January,  18^)5,  from  whence  it  proceeded  on 
transports  to  Eastport,  Mississippi.  Here  it 
remained  until  the  9th  of  February,  when  it 
proceeded  by  steamer  to  Vicksburg,  and 
thence  to  New  Orleans,  arriving  there  on  the 
21st  of  February. 

From  New  Orleans  the  regiment  moved 
on  transports  to  Dauphin  Island,  near  Moltile, 
reaching  there  on  the  .Sth  of  March.  On  the 
19th  it  moved  up  ilobile  Pay  by  steamer  to 
the  mouth  of  F'ish  River,  and  thence  up  Fish 
River  to  Don's  Mills,  where  it  disembarked 
and  remained  till  the  25th  of  March.  It 
then  marched  to  a  point  between  Spanish 
F^ort  and  Blakely,  wliere  it  lay,  participating 
in  the  siege  until  the  rebel  fortitications 
were  taken.  The  regiment  lost  during  the 
siege  two  killed  and  eight  wounded.  On  the 
13th  of  April  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps, 
under  command  of  General  A.  J.  Smith, 
marched  for  Montgomery,  Alabama,  arriving 
there  on  the  27th  of  April.  Here  the  regi- 
ment lay  in  camp,  doing  some  picket  duty, 
until  the  1st  of  June,  when  it  marched  to 
Providence,  on  the  Alabama  River,  and  there 
took  transports  to  ^lobile,  where  it  did  patrol 
and  guard  duty  until  the  19th  of  July,  1865, 
when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service.  Pro- 
ceeding homeward,  it  reached  Indianapolis  on 
the  4th  of  August,  where,  after  being  publicly 
received  by  Oiovernor  Morton  in  the  State 
House  grove,  it  was  finally  discharged. 

The  remaining  recruits  of  the  Eighty-ninth 
were  transferred  to  the  Fifty-second  Indiana, 
and  continued  to  serve  with  that  organization 
until  the  10th  of  September,  1865,  when  they 
were  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

During  its  term  of  service  the  Eighty- 
ninth  suffered  losses  as  follows:  31  killed, 
167  wounded  and  4  missing,  making  a  total 
loss  of  202.      It  nuirched  2,363  miles  on  fo.it. 


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traveled  by  steamer  7,112  miles,  ami  by  rail 
1,232  mile?,  making  the  total  distance  trav- 
eled 10,707   miles. 

KI.l;VKNTII   CAVALKV    (oNK    IlUNDUEn  AND  TWEN- 
TY-SIXTH kkgi.mknt). 

In  the  aiitiiiiin  of  18f)8  a  number  of  men 
were  raised  in  Adams  Cuiinty  for  the  Eleventh 
Cavalry,  and  became  part  of  Company  C. 
James  C.  AVilsoii,  from  this  county,  was 
Second  Lieutenant,  lie  so(.)n  aftci-ward  be- 
came a  Captain  in  the  Thirteenth  Cavalr}'. 
^S'oi'val  Blackburn,  the  jiresent  postmaster  at 
Decatur,  and  editor  of  the  Deinocrut,  was 
Second  Lieutenant  from  iLirch  1,  1864, 
First  Lieutenant  from  August  1,  1861,  and 
Captain  from  June  1,  1865. 

The  Eleventh  Cavah^ — One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-si.xth  Regiment  of  Indiana  Volun- 
teei's — was  recruited  under  the  call  of  Septem- 
ber 1-4,  1863,  tlie  several  companies  being 
raised  and  organized  during  the  fall  and 
M'inter  of  1863.  On  the  1st  of  March,  1864, 
the  regimental  organization  was  perfected  at 
Indianapolis,  and  the  command  given  to 
Robert  R.  Stewart,  wdio  was  taken  from  the 
Second  Cavalry,  in  which  organization  he 
held  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  pro- 
moted Colonel  of  the  Eleventh  Cavalry.  On 
tiie  1st  of  May  the  regiment  left  the  general 
camp  of  rendezvous  at  Indianapolis,  and 
moved  thence,  by  rail,  to  Kasliville,  Tennes- 
see, but  a  small  portion  of  the  regiment  being 
mounted.  Arriving  there  on  the  7th  of  May, 
it  went  into  campof  instruction, and  remained 
therein  until  the  1st  of  June.  It  then 
marched  into  ^'orthern  Alabama,  and  was 
placed  on  duty  along  the  line  of  the  Memphis 
and  Charleston  Railroad,  with  headquarters 
at  Larkinsville,  Alabama.  The  regiment  was 
kept  on  this  duty  until  tlie  16th  of  October, 
when  it  marched  back  to  Nashville,  where  it 
wa.s  mounted  and  sent   to  the  front. 


In  the  campaign  in  front  of  Xasliville,  in 
November  and  JJecember,  the  Eleventh 
Cavalry  was  actively  engaged,  and,  after  the 
defeat  of  Hood's  forces,  joined  in  tlie  j)urs)iit, 
going  as  far  as  (iruvelly  Springs,  Alabama, 
arriving  there  on  the  7tli  of  January,  1865. 
It  was  then  dismounted  and  jilaced  on  duty 
in  that  vicinity  until  the  7th  of  February, 
when  it  crosseil  the  Tennessee  River  to  East- 
port,  ^[ississii)pi,  and  there  I'enuiined  until 
the  12th  of  yWy. 

In  obedience  to  orders  to  report  to  J\Iajor- 
General  Dodge  at  St.  Louis,  tlie  regiment 
then  enabarked  on  steamers  and  proceeded  to 
that  city,  arriving  there  on  the  17th.  After 
being  I'e-niounted  it  inarched  to  Rolla,  ]\Iis- 
souri,  arriving  there  on  the  '26th  of  June  and 
reporting  to  Colonel  jMorell,  comnumding 
that  district.  From  Rolla  the  regiment 
moved  to  Fort  Kiley,  Kansas,  arriving  there 
on  the  8th  of  July.  From  there  it  moved  to 
Council  Griive,  Kansas,  and  was  stationed 
along  the  Santa  Fe  route  across  the  plans, 
with  headquarters  at  Cottonwooil  Crossing. 
The  Eleventh  ( 'avalry  was  continued  on  this 
duty  until  the  lot  of  September,  when  it  was 
ordered  to  march  to  l'\>rt  Lea\enworth,  wlie:*e 
it  arrived  on  the  11th.  On  the  19th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1865,  tlie  I'egiment  was  mustered  out 
at  that  place  in  compliance  with  telegram 
orders  received  from  the  General  command- 
ing the  I)epartnient  of  Missouri. 

On  the  26tli  of  September  the  regiment 
reached  Indiaiuipolis  with  thirty  oflicers  and 
579  men,  under  command  of  Colonel  Abrain 
Sharra,  for  final  discharge  and  j^ayment.  On 
the  28th  of  September,  after  i)artaking  of  a 
sumptuous  dinner  at  the  Soldier's  Home,  the 
Eleventli  Cavalry  marched  to  the  State  House, 
wdiere  it  was  publicly  welcomed  b^'  speeclies 
from  General  Manstield,  Colonel  Stewart  and 
Surgeon  Read,  to  which  responses  wei'e  made 
by    Colonel     Sharra,     Majors     Crowiler    am! 


:,«?»."' .•"•«t>Mi«:!?i.'"«T?i*»«ji-j!:-»?ai?' 


^■r.»»i'»^^.a"M»^.."j"»"»»ii»i«'1'rM"jiy»^'By»yj»g-M"»g«Lg 


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UISTORT    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


.is* 


11 


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.1..... 


Sliowalter,  and  Chaplain  IJarnliart.  After  tlie 
reception  the  regiment  was  marched  out  to 
Camp  Carrington,  where  tlie  men  and  officers 
were  paid  and  discharged  from  tlie  service  of 
the  United  States. 

THIRTEENTH       CAVALRY      (oNE      HUNDRED      AND 
THIRTY-FIRST    REGIMENt). 

A  large  part  of  Company  G,  in  this  regi- 
ment, was  composed  of  men  enlisted  in 
xVdams  County  in  the  winter  of  1864.  James 
C.  AVilson,  previously  Second  Lieutenant  of 
the  Adams  County  company  in  the  Eleventh 
Cavalry,  was  Captain  of  this  company  during 
1864.  William  l^attenberg,  Andrew  J. 
Simcoke  and  Kobert  T.  Peterson  were  given 
Lieutenants'  commissions  during  1865,  I)ut 
mustered  out  before  taking  the  rank  thus 
earned. 

Tlie  Thirteenth  Cavalry,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-first  Regiment,  M-as  the  last  cavalry 
organization  raised  in  tlie  State.  Ilecruiting 
for  the  companies  composing  the  regiment 
was  commenced  in  September,  1863,  and 
continued  during  the  tall  and  winter  of  that 
year.  On  the  29th  of  April,  1864,  the  organi- 
zation of  the  regiment  was  completed  by  its 
muster  into  service,  with  Gilbert  M.  L.  -fohn- 
son  as  Colonel.  On  the  30th  of  the  same 
month  it  left  Indianapolis,  dismounted  and 
with  infantry  arms  and  accoutrements,  for 
Nashville, Tennessee.  The  I'egiment  remained 
in  camp  of  instruction  at  that  place  until  the 
3l8t  of  ^[ay,  when  it  was  ordered  to  ILunts- 
ville,  Alabama,  for  the  purpose  of  garrison- 
ing that  post.  During  the  stay  of  the 
command  at  that  place  it  was  engaged  in 
several  skirmishes  witli  prowling  bands  of 
rebel  cavalry,  and  on  the  1st  of  October  held 
the  place  against  the  entire  command  of  the 
rebel  General  Buford. 

( )n  the   Kith  of  October,  companies  A,  (', 


J),  F,  II  and  I,  under  command  of  Colonel 
Johnson,  proceeded  to  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
for  the  purpose  of  drawing  horses  and  eijuip- 
ments  for  the  entire  command.  Upon  their 
arrival  there  the  companies  were  ordered  to 
Paducah,  under  command  of  Major  Moore, 
to  assist  in  repelling  an  attack  of  General 
Forrest.  Leaving  Paducah  on  the  1st  of 
November,  they  returned  to  Louisville,  where 
the  object  of  their  mission  was  completed, 
and  tlie  line  of  march  was  taken  up  for  Nash- 
ville, at  which  point  the  remaining  companies 
from  lluntsville  reported  to  regimental  head- 
quarters. On  the  30th  of  November,  com- 
panies A,  C,  D,  F,  II  and  I,  fully  mounted 
and  equipped,  under  command  of  Colonel 
Johnson,  ])roceeded  to  Lavergne,  under  orders 
from  General  Thomas,  to  watch  the  move- 
ments of  Hood's  army,  then  advancing  on 
]\'ashville.  These  companies  being  cut  off 
from  the  line  of  retreat,  retired,  in  obedience 
to  orders  from  General  AV'^ilson,  upon  Mur- 
freesboro,  reporting  to  General  liousseau, 
under  whose  direction  they  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Overall's  Creek,  AVilkinson's 
Pike,  and  twelve  dift'erent  skirmishes  with 
the  enemy,  with  a  loss  of  sixty-tive  men 
killed  and  wounded,  and  two  men  missing, 
from  an  aggregate  present  for  duty  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty-five.  During  the  same 
period  companies  B,  E,  G,  K,  L  and  M,  left 
at  Nashville,  under  command  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Pepper,  participated,  dismounted,  in 
the  battle  of  Nashville  on  the  loth  and  16th 
of  December,  immediately  after  which  they 
were  joined  by  the  other  six  companies  from 
Murfreesboro.  xVfter  effecting  an  exchange 
of  .arms  and  procuring  an  entire  re-mount, 
the  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Second 
Brigade,  Seventh  Division  of  the  Cavalry 
Corps  of  the  Military  Division  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, Colonel  Jolmson  commanding  the 
brigade. 


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On  the  llth  of  February,  ISOo,  the  Tliir- 
teeutli  Cavuh-y  einharked  on  transports  for 
Kew  Orleans,  but  diseuibarked  at  Vicksburj^, 
under  orders  of  General  Caiiby,  to  prepare 
for  a  raid  on  the  ^lobile  6z  Ohio  IJailroad. 
These  orders  being  countermanded,  tlie  regi- 
ment left  \'ick»burg  on  transports,  on  tlie 
Gth  uf  ^[areh,  for  its  original  destination, 
and  on  arriving  at  New  Orleans,  re-einbarked 
for  NavyCove,  j\[obile  Bay,  where  it  reported 
to  General  Canby,  and  assisted  in  the  opera- 
tions against  the  forts  and  defenses  of  Mo- 
bile. It  was  also  engaged  in  running  a 
courier  line  to  Florida,  connecting  with  Gen- 
eral Asboth.  After  the  fall  of  ^[obile,  under 
command  of  General  Grierson,  the  regiment 
was  placed  in  condition  for  a  long  march, 
and  on  the  17th  of  >Vpril  started  on  a  raid  of 


some  800  miles  througli  the  States  of  Ala- 
bama, Georgia  and  Mississipjn,  ari'iving  at 
Columbus,  in  the  latter  State,  on  the  2"Jd  of 
May.  Thence  it  proceeded  to  ilacon,  Mis- 
sissippi, garrisoning  that  point  and  the  line 
of  railroad,  sixty  miles  in  extent,  and  taking 
possession  of  immense  quantities  of  cap- 
tured commissary,  quartermaster  and  ord- 
nance stores  and  ordnance.  On  the  Gth  of 
June  the  regiment  returned  to  Columbus, 
Mississippi,  and  remained  there  until  orders 
were  received  for  muster  out,  when  it  pro- 
ceeded to  Vicksburg,  where  it  was  mustered 
out  of  service  on  the  18th  of  November, 
1865.  Proceeding  homeward,  it  reached  In- 
dianapolis on  tlie  25th  of  November,  with 
twenty-tiiree  officers  and  633  men  for  iinal 
discluirge. 


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^■^r?^N    the    devclopinent  of 

X'l'-i^p        modern    civilization 

^-;  "^  f^,.,:,#    there  is  no  more  jio- 

1 1'-    'fi^        tent    factor    than    tlie 

r''?^3i,      newspjiiier,      and,      at 

■^'"  tiie  same  time,   there 

has    been    no    greater 


progress    in     anything    for    fifty 
years     past    tiiau     in     American 
journalism.     Fifty  years  ago    the 
■^\Vvu   conntry  had  few  newspapers   that 
^^^l/^    conld  be  considered  paying  prop- 
>l-i*^      erty.     The  metropolitan  journals 
M^j'        devoted  about  as    much   space  to 
^         foreign  as  to  domestic  news, while 
Country  weeklies  seemed  to  consid- 
er that  which  happened  at  home  as  of  no  im- 
portance whatever,  and    imitated   the  hirger 
papers  in  style  and  contents.     The  telegraph 
and   railroads,  assisted    by    that   enterprising 
spirit  which    is   inse]iarablj'    connected   with 
successful     journalistic    management,     have 
wrought  most  gratifying  results.    Local  news 
lias  become  the  main  feature  of  weekly  coun- 
try news]>apers,  and  all  journals  of  the  better 
class  are  foremost  in  advanciiiir  the   best  in- 


terests of  the  localities  from  which  their  suj)- 
port  comes. 

In  Adams  County  journalism  has  kept 
pace  in  the  march  of  iiiijirovenient  with 
otlier  professions  and  industries.  Tlie  wide 
circulation  of  these  papers  at  present  pub- 
lished, and  the  large  number  of  outside 
papiers  that  are  taken  here,  afford  the  best 
possible  evidence  that  the  people  are  intelli- 
gent, enterprising  and  progressive.  In  De- 
catur alone  150  copies  of  outside  daily  papers 
are  distributed  every  day  by  the  newsdealer, 
and  many  come  by  mail  direct  to  subscribers. 

Altliough  many  able  writers  have  been 
employed  upon  the  county  press  in  former 
years,  without  disparagement  to  any  of  them 
it  can  be  safely  asserted,  that  the  journals  of 
the  county,  taken  as  a  whole,  were  never 
better  conducted  than  at  present.  The  ed- 
itors are  gentlemen  who  understand  their 
business  thoroughly,  and  do  their  utmost  to 
give  their  jiatrons  good,  clean,  reliable  news- 
papers. 

DECATUR  GAZETTE. 

The  Gazette  was  the  first  newspaper  in 
Adams  County,  and  was   started    in    IS-IS   or 


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1849,  with  Josliua  liundall  us  ])i'opriL'tor  iiiul 
James  11.  Smith  as  eilitur.  It  was  in  pi.ilitics 
a  Whig  slieet,  and  li\t'<l  a  little  ovlt  two 
yeai's,  wlu-n  it  siisnendeil,  slun-tly  after  some 
of  Smith's  personal  enemies  gave  him  a  coat 
of  tar.     The  next  jiaper  was  the 

.\n.\MS  COUNTY  nEMfJf'R.VT. 

It  ap])eared  first  in  1S51  or  1852,  and  was 
edited  and  publisiied  liy  James  1!.  Simcoke 
until  its  suspension  after  tlie  campaign  of 
18(J(),  in  whieli  year  it  was  devoted  to  the 
interests  of  John  C.  lireckiiiridge  as  a  presi- 
dential candidate.  It  was  a  Democratic 
paper,  but  its  friends  had  left  it  soon  after 
the  establishment  of  the  Juujle,  m  1S57,  so 
that  the  Deiiiocrat  was  forced  to  give  up  a 
losing  game  and  :;uspend. 

DEOATDI:     KAOI.K. 

The  Eatjle  was  founded  in  February,  1857, 
by  II.  ]..  Phillips,  wlio  afterward  received 
William  G.  Spencer  into  partnership.  In 
1859  they  sold  the  concern  to  A.  J.  Hill, who 
published  the  pa])er  for  iiftecn  years.  Joseph 
McGonagle  bought  it  in  Xo\'ember,  1874, 
and  changed  the  name  to  the 

DKCATUll   DEMOCRAT, 

under  which  title  it  lias  since  been  published, 
ilr.  ^IcGonagle  ceased  to  be  proprietor  in 
1879,  selling  to  S.  Pay  Williams.  In  Au- 
gust, 1881,  A.  J.  Hill  again  bought  the 
paper  and  conducted  it  two  years.  Messrs. 
Roth  i^'  Cumniings  then  published  the  J)cin- 
ovrut  under  their  names  for  a  ^aw  months. 
In  ^.'ovember,  1883,  jS'orval  Blackburn  juir- 
chased  Mr.  Cummings'  interest,  and  in 
February  following  that  of  !Mr.  Roth.  Origin- 
ally a  si.x-column  folio,  the  Democrat  has 
undergone  several  changes  in  size  and  is  now 
a    nine-column    folio.       It    is    published    on 


Fridays,  at  §1.50  a  year,  and  enjoys  a  very 
fine  patronage  from  Adams  and  surrounding 
counties. 


VolNli    AMKIMI'A. 


A  paper  by  this  brisk  title  was  startetl  at 
Decatur  in  1858,  and  discontinued  the  year 
following.  T.  J.  Tolau  was  proja-ietor  and 
James  Smith,  eilitor.  The  jiaperwas  Repub- 
lican in  politics. 


m - .--,-., 


DECATUli    UEKALI). 

This  was  a  Democratic  paper,  established 
in  1873  by  James  R.  liobo  and  Seymour 
AVorden,   and   suspended   the  following  year. 

DECATUi:    JOUKNAL. 

The  first  number  of  the  Decatur  Journal, 
the  exponent  of  Republican  jU'inciples  in 
Adams  County,  was  iasued  Sejitember  27, 
1879,  with  I),  (i.  M.  Trout  as  editor  and 
George  S.  Staunton,  publisher.  Air.  Staunton 
remained  with  the  Journal  about  one  year 
disposing  of  his  interest  to  E.  A.  Philliiis. 
In  February,  1881,  15.  W.  Sholty  purchased 
A[r.  Trout's  interest,  and  for  two  years  Sholty 
A:  Phillips  conducted  the  publication,  thev 
disposing  of  the  paper  to  Shafler  Peterson 
and  E.  13.  Mofiit.  In  1885  Air.  Sholty  re- 
purchased Mr.  Peterson's  inteivst  and  the 
publication  continued  under  the  management 
of  Sholty  eV'  Alottit  until  ilarch,  1887,  when 
E.  A.  Ilofl'man  became  editor  and  proprietor 
by  purchase  from  Alessrs.  Sholty  &  Moffit. 
The  Jounial  was  originally  a  seven-column 
folio,  and  during  A[r.  Siiolty's  numagement 
was  enlarged  to  eight  columns.  It  ajjpears 
every  Fridiiy,  at  Si. 50  a  year,  and  has  a  cir- 
culation of  about  800. 

GENEVA    UERALD. 

The  Geneva  Ilerahl  was  established  in 
1881,  the  first  issue   being  dated  September 


t  i=i!«w"»'m>^  ■L'^.n^j  J 


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lIISTOliY    OF    ADAMti    COUNTY. 


1 


20,  under  the  name  of  Geneva  Neios,  by  J  ohn 
E.  (.'ulley.  In  j)olitics  it  was  imlependent. 
In  the  hitter  part  of  October,  1883,  J[r.  Cul- 
ley  sold  to  11.  S.  Thomas,  who  gave  the  paper 
its  present  name,  its  first  issue  being  No- 
vember 8,  1883.  The  Herald  is  still  inde- 
pendent   in    political    sentiment.     It    is    an 


ardent  su])portcr  of  prohibition.      Its  circula- 
tion is  about  400. 


OKNKVA    KNTERPRISE. 


Ed.  Phillips  started  the  Enterprise  in 
1885,  and  suspended  the  same  in  the  latter 
part  of  1886.     It  was  a  five-column  quarto. 


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PHOFKSSIONAI.. 


^^»^:5^,^^^^:i^i^ 


-^  PROFESSIONAL.  ^ 


■iangarai^Ba»ulQB^msESHB^nsaEai 


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THE    LEGAL    PROFESSION. 


■^i>y^M^.r  *: Fl  :< )  l-TSSION  uhidi  ever 
attracts  ;i  certain  percen- 
.yV-4    tage    of    our     Ijriglitest 
•>     minds  into   its  ranks  is 
tliat   of    the    law.      It 
c/|»  i/^-F"  o:ia.pZ^-t^  -jt-    is    now    rather    more 
'  ^"'^^r  '^'       erowded  than  the  other 

~|''v\§^^^    avocations,  but  this  is  in   itself  a 


Jl 


proof  of  the  advantages  it  offers. 
Of  late  years  it  has  become  cu- 
riously Common  for  people  to 
-"SJf^^  disparage  lawyers,  applying  ever}- 
^^^  sort  of  epithet,  and  makinir  them 
"^^I  the  excuses  fur  hundi'etls  of  jokes 
and  sturies;  yet  these  same  citizens  who  jiro- 
fess  to  have  a  C(jiitempt  fur  lawyers  will,  when 
in  any  kind  of  ditKcult}',  run  promptly  to  one 
of  the  profession,  place  themselves  and  their 
property  entirely  in  his  guidance,  and  eagerly 
follow  his  suggestions  in  tlie  weightiest  alfairs. 
Adams,  having  always  been  a  small  county, 
has  never  possessed  a  large  botly  of  attorneys, 
and  those  wiio  have  practiced  here  have  fur- 
nished from  their  number  few  wlio  would  be 
considered  brilliant  in  a  large  city;  yet  they 
have  been  as  a  rule  able,  well-read,  conscien- 
tious anil  painstaking   men,   and   at  the  j)res- 

17 


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cnt  time,  as  well  as  in  the  past,  the  county 
may  be  truthfully  considered  surprisingly 
free  from  '•  sliystci-s."  <)ne  testimony  to 
tlieir  ability  is  the  fact  that  att(n-neys  are 
seldom  imported  fi'om  other  counties  to  at- 
tend to  important  cases.  During  the  early 
years  of  the  county's  history,  lawyers  fre- 
quently came  from  Fort  ^Vayne,  and  later 
from  Jjlnti'ton  antl  Portland,  but  this  now 
happens  less  often. 

Ijeatty  McClellan  came  to  Decatur  in  1840, 
from  Greene  County,  Ohio,  remained  a  few 
months,  and  removed  to  Winchester,  Ran- 
dolph County.  He  taught  school  here,  and 
also  took  wliat  legal  business  he  could  find; 
hence  he  may  be  called  the  first  resident 
attorney  of  Decatur.  Jle  afterward  became 
a  very  able  lawyer,  and  when  last  heard  from 
he  was  leading  a  retired  life  at  Columbus,  in 
Bartholomew  County. 

William    II.   Bufrh   and    William    Carson 

came  to  Decatur  in  iS-tS,  and  left  in  1S51.         t_t 

Buirh  was  from  Ohio,  and  went  from  here  to         ;[* 

AYisconsin.      He  was  a  AViiig,  and  while  here         'J( 

'-  «ii 

was  a  camlidate  for  Representative,  and   also         i*-. 

clerk.      (!arsun  was  from  ]""t.  ^\'ayne,  whither         'Ja 

he  returned  from  this  phiee,  and  where  he  is         'J 

-.-^^--J^ 


^Ifm^:*  t'M  *J^It  *s 


i*  iL*?!iy'  ia>!tt" 


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llISTOUy    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY 


still  ill  tlie  priiftice  of  tin;  luw.  Ilu  was, 
wliile  here,  a  candidate  tor  Ueprescntative  oil 
tlie  W'liig  ticket,  Init  afterward  alliliated  witii 
the  Democratic  ])arty. 

AV^.  Ct.  Spencer  practiced  law  from  1849  to 
ISCO,  and  then  was  elected  comity  auditor. 
Since  his  two  otKcial  terms  of  four  years  each 
he  has  been  a  liardware  merchant  of  Decatur, 
lie  has  always  been  a  Democrat. 

David  Stiidabaker  studied  law  with  Jud^e 
Jacob  IJaynes,  of  l\irtlaii(l,  and  in  June, 
1S52,  chose  Decatur  as  his  first  location  for 
the  pursuit  of  his  pi'ofession.  lie  practiced 
continuously  foi'  thirty-one  years  (longer  tlian 
any  other  attorney  ever  in  Adams  County), 
and  since  1SS3  has  given  his  attention  to 
baid<ing.      He  is  politically'  a  Democrat. 

James  K.  Uobo  studied  with  ^Ir.  Stnda- 
baker  in  1S.")S-'5'J,  and  commenced  tlie  prac- 
tice in  18G().  He  devoted  himself  to  it 
continuousl}'  until  November,  1877,  when  he 
took  the  office  of  circuit  judge,  to  which  he 
had  been  elected  in  1876.  He  is  now  serving 
liis  second  term  of  six  years.  Judge  J)obo 
is  politically  a  Democrat,  lie  has  been  two 
terms  in  tlie  House  at  Indianapolis,  and  one 
in  tlie  Senate. 

The  oldest  attorney  now  regularly  devoted 
to  the  profession  is  Robert  S.  Peterson,  who 
read  law  with  Mr.  Studaliaker.  The  other 
resident  practitioners  are  John  T.  France, 
Daniel  D.  Heller,  E.  A.  Huifiiian,  Paul  G. 
Hooper,  J.  T.  JMerr^-nian,  I-llias  G.  Coverdale, 
Jay  Dorwin,  John  T.  Bailey,  Judson  AV. 
Teeple,  Clark  J.  Lutz,  L.  C.  Devoss,  J.  F. 
Mann,  J.  E.  Thomas,  Philip  L.  Andrews  and 
J.  Fred  France.  Xi  Geneva,  in  the  south 
])art  of  the  county,  are  P.  P.  Manley  and 
William  Drew. 

THE   MEDICAL    PROFESSION. 
There  is  no  calling  requiring  higher  quali- 
fications or  involving  greater  responsibilities 
on  the  part  of  its  followers  than  that  of  medi- 


cine. These  reijuircments  are  none  too  highly 
compensated,  es|iecially  in  a  new  country. 
As  humanity  is  everywhere  physically  imper- 
fect, the  first  settlers  of  the  county  had  not 
been  here  very  long,  or  become  very  numer- 
ous, before  the  doctor  was  needed,  to  look 
after  the  "chills  and  fever,"  or  some  other 
ailment.  In  those  days,  when  people  were 
poor  and  money  was  scarce,  inucli  of  the 
physician's  work  was  pure  benevolence,  iii- 
\-olving  long  trips  through  a  sparsely-settled 
country,  at  inclement  seasons  iind  fbi-  uncer- 
tain remuneration. 

The  first  physician  resident  at  Decatur  was 
named  AVilliams.  He  came  in  1887  or  1838 
from  Ohio,  and  after  fi\'e  or  six  years  moved 
to  ^Vill^hire,  ()lii(j.  ^\'illiaiii  Trout  caine  in 
1840  from  Pennsylvania,  and  ]ii'acticed  until 
his  death  in  1885,  iViity-five  years  after  he 
settled.  Pomero}'  Porter  came  early  in  the 
"forties,"  and  was  killed  while  in  the  ami}', 
during  the  civil  war.  William  Moore  was 
an  early  physician.  He  remained  until  a 
few  3'ears  ago,  when  he  went  to  Iowa.  He 
is  now  at  Plufftoii,  Ohio.  Drs.  Little  and 
Cliamper  were  here  in  an  early  day,  and  died 
at  Decatur.  Among  the  jJiysicians  best  re- 
membered in  the  county  were  the  I*ierces, 
three  in  number.  John  Pierce  came  from 
AV^illshire,  Ohio,  about  1850,  and  returned  to 
that  place,  where  he  is  still  in  practice,  about 
twenty  years  ago.  Jacob  Pierce  was  here 
eicrht  or  ten  \'ears,  and  died  before  the  war. 
Thomas  Pierce  practiced  a  few  years  at  De- 
catur, moved  away,  and  is  now  dead.  The 
present  physicians  of  Decatur  are:  T.  T.  Dor- 
win,  D.  G.  M.  Trout,  Jonas  Coverdale,  P.  R. 
Freeman,  C.  A.  JellefF,  J.  S.  Boyers,  J.  S. 
Mann  (llom.),  P.  B.  Thomas  and  II.  S.  Cos- 
tello.  At  Geneva,  II.  M.  -Vsj)y,  James  Brels- 
ford  and  S.  G.  Ralston  are  all  practicing 
physicians.  AV.  Broadwell  has  the  field  to 
himself  at  Periie. 


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BY  J.  F.  SNOW,  COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENT. 


?'"'<r^* v^*^  1 1 1'^  pioneers  of  Adams 
"^'tfil     County   were  a  moral, 
industrious    and   relig-- 
ious  people.    They  liad 
great    respect    for    law 
and  order  tlioiigii  their 
educational  advantages 
were  limited.      It  mattered  not 
what  their  religious  differences 
were,   there    was    a    common 
agreement  in  regard  to  the  re- 
VO    (juirements  of  their  children  at 
f^^'.'V^  Jj^"   home    and    at    school.     They 
t-,^><^v$^     were  educated  to  observe  trood 


■Q^  vVS^     I'-^hits,   polite  manners  and   to 
^  "  maintain     their    honor;    men, 

]iati(jns,  and  even  school-boys  believe  as  they 
are  educated.  The  ])ioneer  was  educated  to 
believe  that  the  pugilistic  encounters  were 
often  necessary  to  maintain  his  honor.  The 
pioneer  teacher  was  not  an  exception  to  tiie 
rule,  and  resorted  to  frctpient  apjilieations  of 
the  rod  to  appease  his  wrath  and  vindicate 
his  honor.'    In  many   of  the   pioneer  schools 


wei'c  sown  the  seeds  of  education  that  ha\e 
since  grown  to  ripe  IVuit.  Xuml)ers  of  our 
solid  citizens  relate  their  experience  as 
school-boys  and  credit  the  great  inconven- 
iences to  which  they  were  suljject  as  useful 
assistants  in  their  preparation  for  life's  school. 

KIKST     SCHOOL-HOUSES. 

The  early  settlers  were  surrounded  by  many 
inconveniences  that  nothing  but  a  develop- 
ment of  the  country  could  overcome.  Their 
lands  were  covered  with  heavy  forests;  mar- 
kets were  distant;  roads  and  bridges  were 
unknown  and  the  country  was  sparsely  set- 
tled. As  time  was  required  to  overcome 
these  hindrances  it  was  not  until  about  1839 
that  the  tirst  school-house  was  erected  in 
Adams  County.  It  was  located  on  section  20, 
Root  Township,  and  is  said  to  have  been 
built  of  hewn  logs;  it  had  a  ]iuncheon  floor, 
and  a  huge  clay  chimney  and  tire-place.  The 
clapboard  door  swung  on  wooden  lunges,  and 
greased  paper  was  used  as  a  substitute  for 
glass    in    the   windows.     1'lie  school  enjoyed 


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HISTUllY    OF    ADAAfS    COUNTY. 


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iui  ubniidaiicc  of  fresli  iiir,  as  the  vcntil;ition 
was  iiiiniR'stionalily  gooil.  Tlir  iiiiRT  walls 
were  proviiled  witli  wikkIcii  |iiiis  ujkhi  wliicli 
hats  aiiu  iliuner  nails  were  lnmg.  Tliu  suh- 
stantial  backless  seats  eompleteil  tlie  outtit 
of  school  furnitni-e.  Perha])s  near  the  same 
date  the  second  school-house  in  Adams 
County  was  built  near  the  center  of  section 
20,  Wabash  ToM'nship.  It  was  built  in  ac- 
cordance with  tlie  specifications  given  in  the 
school  law  of  lIS2-lr,  and  was  similar  in  the 
main  to  the  one  previously  built  in  Hoot 
Township.  About  the  same  date,  1S39,  De- 
catur claims  honcirs  in  the  same  direction, 
her  tirst  sc]Kn.)l-housu  bein^  a  hewed  log 
liuiisc  of  lawful  dimensions.  J'robalily  the 
last  log  school-house  erected  in  the  county 
stands  in  the  southeast  corner  of  section  2, 
Kirkland  Townshij).  It  is  yet  in  rpiite  a 
fair  state  of  preservation,  and  is  used  as  a 
dwelling  house  by  one  of  the  citizens  of 
Peterson.  The  number  of  school  districts 
did  not  rapidly  increase,  and  when  State  Su- 
perintendent Larrabee  asked  for  a  statistical 
report  from  the  county  school  commissioner 
in  1S52,  lie  ascertained  that  there  were  but 
seven  school-houses  within  the  limits  vt' 
Adams  t'ouiity.  In  1S73  the  hist  log  school- 
house  gave  place  to  a  commodious  brick. 
The  old  rickety  rough  bench  without  a  back 
has  yielded  its  place  to  the  improved  modern 
folding  seat.  The  days  of  the  log  school- 
house  and  puncheon  seat  have  passed  away, 
and  but  few  of  the  sturdy  pioneer  school- 
boys are  left  to  relate  their  history.  Most 
of  the  schools  in  this  county  are  fairly  pro- 
vided with  educational  appliances  and  appa- 
ratus. The  new  Constitution  of  1851  made 
provisions  for  the  establishment  of  a  gen- 
eral and  uniform  system  of  common  schools 
wherein  tuition  shall  be  without  charge  and 
open  to  all.  The  school  law  made  in  the 
following    year    was    (piite   liberal,  and    was 


founded  upon  the  principle  that  the  property 
of  the  State  shoukl  educate  the  children  of 
the  State.  Provisions  were  made  by  which 
free  libraries  were  established  in  each  tu\\n- 
t-hi[);  these  libraries  at  the  present  time  con- 
tain about  2,000  volumes,  liut  they  are  but 
little  used  and  may  be  considered  wortldess 
as  educational  assistants.  Trustees  were  em- 
powered to  build  school-houses  inde])endent 
of  the  vote  of  any  particular  district  and  pay 
their  teachers  in  cash. 

This  was  an  era  of  prosperity'  and  hence- 
f(jrlh  the  schools  steadily  prospered  and 
increased  in  usefulness. 

The  lirst  brick  school-house  in  Adams 
County  was  eri.'cted  in  1S78,  and  is  known  as 
the  Dent  School,  in  Poot  Township.  At  tlie 
]ir('sent  time  there  are  thirty  brick  school 
buildings  within  the  count}',  and  are  distrib- 
uted as  follows:  Pine  Creek  Township, 
six;  Root  Township,  five;  Washington  Town- 
ship, four;  St.  ilary's  and]\Ionroe  Townships, 
three  each;  Preble,  Kirkland  and  Pi-ench 
Townships,  two  each;  Union  Township, 
Geneva  and  Decatur,  one  each.  The  remain- 
ing si.\ty-four  buildings  are  frame,  live  of 
which  will  likely  be  supplanted  the  coming 
year  by  substantial  brick  buildings.  The 
total  estimated  value  of  school  property 
within  the  county  in  1885-'8G  was  §94,1375, 
which  includes  school  a])paratus  to  the  amount 
of  $4,975.  The  estimated  value  of  the 
Geneva  buildiug  is  §4,000.  The  Union 
School  Puilding  of  Decatur  is  valued  at 
§10,000. 

TE.\CHKRS,  EXAMINATIONS,  ETC. 

It  is  not  an  easy  matter  to  determine  who 
taught  the  first  school  in  Adams  County,  for 
several  persons  began  about  the  same  time, 
and  this  before  any  regular  school  buildings 
were  erected.  James  Smith  is  said  to  have 
been  the  lirst  to  honor  the  leiJ-allv  authorized 


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EDUCATIONAL. 


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])L'(l;i;;-<ii;iiMl  cliair  in  this  fuiiiity.  I^iil  little 
Ciiii  1)0  asL'L'rtaiiiL'd  ut'  him  u.\i-cpt  that  his 
stay  in  these  '-hack  woods"  was  of  short 
duration,  lie  tauyht  the  first  sehool  in  the 
huildiny  located  in  Hoot  Township  as  ahove 
descrihed.  Jle  taught  early  and  late,  shook 
with  the  ague  and  fought  mosquitos  in  true 
pioucer  style.  'Tis  true  the  pioneer  teacher 
had  many  inconveniences  with  M-hich  to 
contencl  and  many  privations  to  endure,  but 
he  was  ever  exempt  from  virtue  from  morn- 
ing till  night  in  an  attempt  to  answer  lists  of 
questions  to  test  his  special  fitness  to  teach 
in  the  public  schools.  This  important  matter 
was  carefully  weighed  by  the  three  township 
trustees  until  1837, when  the  law  was  changed 
and  three  school  commissioners  were  ap- 
pointed to  en(|uire  into  the  natural  and 
acq\iired  iibilities  of  applicants  and  license 
those  considered  competent.  The  qualifica- 
tions of  a])jilicants  were  tested  on  reading, 
writing  and  ciphering,  or  arithmetic;  and  in 
later  years  spelling  was  considered  as  an 
accomplishment  worthy  of  particular  mention. 
Books  were  scarce  and  the  teacher  who  could 
j^roduce  the  best  "ciphering  book"  of  his 
own  construction  and  write  a  fair  hand  was 
always  in  demand.  The  educational  pulse 
grew  stronger  as  the  county  developed,  and 
from  185~,  under  the  new  school  law,  the 
number  of  school  districts  rapidly  increased. 
Eight  years  later,  in  1860,  teachers  were 
gratilied  to  learn  that  they  could  find  cmjiloy- 
ment  in  the  school-room  for  from  ten  to 
twelve  weeks  within  the  year  at  a  cash  salary 
of  from  si. 40  to  .$1.50  a  day.  Quite  a  sensa- 
tion was  proiluced  in  the  pedagogical 
fraternity  when  the  Legislature  of  18G5 
passed  the  act  requiring  applicants  to  pass 
written  examinations,  and  to  pass  on  two 
additional  branches:  physiology  and  history 
of  the  United  States.  At  this  time  tliosc 
applicants    who    evinced   the    special    fitness 


were  scarce,  an<l  many  trustees  had  ditlieulty 
in  procuring  the  recpiired  teachers  for  their 
schools.  The  new  rcfjime  met  with  deter- 
mined opposition  by  the  old  teachers,  but  the 
younger  ones  and  new  asjiirants  to  jiedagogi- 
cal  honors  packed  their  grip-sacks  and  stiirted 
in  the  direction  of  the  Liber  College,  near 
Portland,  Jay  County,  Indiana,  or  the  JMeth- 
odist  Episcopal  College  at  Ft.  Wayne,  Indiana, 
in  order  to  prepare  in  the  new  and  objection- 
able branches.  This  gave  a  temporary  boom 
to  those  institutions,  and  Liber  College 
esi)ccial!y  saw  her  most  prosperous  days. 
The  same  Legislature  abolished  the  school 
commissioner's  office  and  instituted  the 
county  school  e.xaminer  in  its  stead.  Tlie 
examiner  held  fast  to  the  re(piirements  of  the 
law,  and  many  who  wouM  not  comply  with 
the  demands  of  the  times  wearied  by  the 
wayside  and  fell  from   the  pedagogical  ranks. 

Since  1850  the  German  clement  has  rap- 
idly' increased  in  several  parts  of  Adams 
County;  especially  so  in  Hoot,  Preble,  French, 
Jlai'tford  and  AValjash  townships.  The  early 
school  laws  made  no  provisions  for  German 
to  be  taught  in  English  schools  until  1869, 
when  an  act  was  passed  permitting  German 
to  be  taught  as  a  branch  in  any  public  scdiool 
in  the  State  where  a  desire  of  the  same  was 
set  forth  in  a  petition  to  the  township  trustee 
by  the  parents  or  representatives  of  twenty- 
five  or  more  school  children.  At  the  present 
time  there  arc  twelve  schools  within  the 
count}'  in  which  German  is  taught  as  a 
branch,  and  seventy  in  which  German  chil- 
dren are  pupils. 

Nearly  all  of  the  older  German  pupils  can 
read  and  talk  the  English  language.  Until 
1873  there  was  no  uniformity  in  the  lists  of 
questions  used  by  county  examiners  of  the 
various  counties,  in  the  examination  of  ap- 
plicants for  teacher's  license.  Each  examiner 
made  his  own  list  of  examination  questions; 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


lieiice  tliey  were  light  in  some  counties  and 
severe  in  others. 

In  1S73  tlie  State  Boiird  of  Etlnc.fition  be- 
•jan  tlie  publication  of  uniform  lists  of  ques- 
tions for  the  examination  of  teachers  in  the 
various  counties  of  the  State.  County  ex- 
aminers issued  licenses  to  successful  appli- 
cants for  six  months,  twelve  months,  eighteen 
months  and  twenty-four  months.  A  general 
average  of  65  per  cent  and  not  falling  below 
55  per  cent  entitled  the  applicant  to  a  fourth 
grade  certificate  or  license;  a  general  aver- 
age of  75  per  cent  entitled  the  applicant  to 
a  third  grade  license;  a  general  average  of 
85  per  cent  entitled  the  applicant  to  a  second 
grade  license;  a  general  average  of  95  enti- 
tled the  applicant  to  a  tirst  grade  license. 

The  new  arrangement  was  met  by  strong 
op])osition,  Imt  it  prevailed  and  caused  many 
of  the  time-honored  pedagogues  to  leave  the 
ranks  never  more  to  return;  others  still  clung 
with  a  death  grip  to  their  six  months'  license, 
renewing  it  semi-annually  until  June,  1SS3, 
when  an  act,  of  the  same  year,  came  into 
effect,  aiiolishing  the  eighteen  months'  license 
and  creating  the  thirty-six  months'  license, 
and  making  the  six  months'  license  a  trial 
license  issuable  but  once  to  any  applicant  in 
any  county.  Again  the  number  of  the  weak- 
er members  was  reduced.  .Vt  the  Superin- 
tendents' Convention  in  Indianapolis  June, 
1HS3,  it  was  agreed  upon  by  resolution  that 
the  success  of  teachers  should  be  weighed  in 
granting  licenses,  and  the  success  of  teachers 
has  since  been  graded  and  marked  upon  their 
certificates  at  examination.  The  same  con- 
vention placed  the  standard  of  grading  the 
various  licenses  as  follows:  Fourth  grade, 
general  average  of  70  per  cent;  third  grade, 
general  average  of  80  per  cent;  second  grade, 
general  average  of  00  per  cent;  first  grade, 
general  average  of  95  per  cent;  and  not 
falling   below    60   per   cent    in    the    lowest 


branch  for  a  fourth  grade  license,  nor  lie- 
low  80  per  cent  in  the  lowest  branch  for 
a  first  grade  license.  In  November,  1881, 
the  general  average  recpiired  to  pro- 
cure a  fourth  or  third  grade  license  was 
raised  5  per  cent,  making  the  standard  at 
the  present  time  75  per  cent  for  fourth  grade 
and  85  per  cent  for  third  grade.  At  the 
May  meeting  of  1886  the  State  Board  of 
Education  made  an  order  that  after  Decem- 
ber, 1886,  all  applicants  shall  furnish  a  writ- 
ten review  or  essay  of  not  less  than  600 
words  upon  one  of  the  following  subjects: 
Tale  of  Two  Cities,  David  Copperfield,  Ivan- 
hoe,  Heart  of  JMidlothian,  Henry  Esmond, 
The  Spy,  The  Pilot,  The  Scarlet  Letter,  The 
Sketch  Book,  Knickerbocker's  History  of 
Kew  York,  The  Happy  Boy,  Poems  of  Long- 
fellow, Poems  of  Bryant,  Poems  of  AVhittier, 
and  I'oems  of  Lowell.  Applicants  are  re- 
quired to  place  their  signatui'es  to  a  state- 
ment that  the  production  is  their  own  original 
work  and  in  their  own  handwriting;  this 
]iroduction  is  to  be  graded  the  same  as  other 
bi'anches  upon  which  applicants  are  exam- 
ined. At  present  the  various  grades  of 
teachers'  licenses  are  represented  in  Adams 
County  as  follows: 

There  are  three  teachers  holding  fourth 
grade  or  six  months'  licenses;  there  are  forty- 
two  holding  third  grade  or  twelve  months' 
licenses;  there  are  forty-one  holding  second 
grade  or  twenty-four  months'  licenses;  and 
there  are  twenty-three  holding  first  grade  or 
thirty-six  months' licenses.  As  yet  there  are  no 
teachers  in  the  county  holding  State  licenses. 

SCnuOL  BOOKS,  COUKSE  OF  STUDY,  ETC. 

The  public  schools  previous  to  1853  were 
not  provided  with  any  uniform  series  of 
school  text-books,  but  each  pupil  used  as  a 
text-book  what  he  happened  to  have  at  hand. 
The  New  Testament  met  with  much  favor  as 


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a  reading  hook,  and  was  iiscil  in  many  schools. 
In  185,5  tlie  State  antliorities  made  an  attempt 
to  secure  nnit'urmity  of  hooks  under  the  recent 
statute  providing; tbrsucli  nnit'ormity.  Among 
tlie  hooks  mamit'actnred  tor  school  use  were 
Webster's  Spelling  Hook,  j\[urray's  Headers 
and  Grammar,  and  Pike's  Arithmetic;  later, 
The  Eiementai'Y  Spelling  l^ook,  Kirkhani's 
Grammar,  3Iorse's  Geographies,  Hay's  Arith- 
metics and  tiie  Eclectic  lieaders.  Until 
1S78  there  was  but  little  effort  made  to 
classify  or  grade  the  district  schools.  At 
tills  time  apjieared  the  first  regular  course  of 
study  for  the  district  schools  of  Adams 
County.  Its  introduction  was  of  natural 
consc(pience  very  slow,  as  many  pupils  could 
be  induced  to  tid^e  only  those  branches  for 
which  he  had  a  particular  taste.  The  patrons 
also  ol>jected  to  having  their  sons  study  any 
branch  that  they  could  not  directly  ajjply  to 
evei'v  day  business  life.  Arithmetic  and 
spelling  were  made  hobbies,  and  the  test  of 
a  pupil's  ability  as  a  scholar  was  to  "spell 
down  "  all  the  schools  in  the  vicinity,  and 
''work  all  the  suins"  in  his  arithmetic. 
The  district  school  course  has  been  modified 
from  time  to  time  to  meet  the  demands  of 
the  schools.  In  this  county  there  is  also  a 
graded  school  course,  which  comjirises  a 
number  of  the  hicrher  brandies  in  addition  to 
those  found  in  tlie  district  school  course. 

COUNTY  GRADUATES. 

The  subject  of  graduation  from  the  district 
schools  was  under  discussion  by  the  promi- 
nent edueatoi's  of  the  State  for  a  number  of 
years  previous  to  1S88,  at  which  time  the 
plan  was  put  upon  a  working  basis.  Tlie 
first  examinations  held  for  coiinty  diploma 
applicants  were  held  in  1883.  Applicants 
were  recpiired  to  pass  a  creditable  examina- 
tion in  the  eight  common  school  branches. 
As   a  result  of  the    first  examination    there 


were  twenty-one  successful  applicants.  The 
examinations  have  been  hclil  annually  ever 
since  the  plan  was  perfected,  and  at  the 
present  time,  February,  1887,  there  are  107 
graduates  from  the  district  schools  of  this 
county,  forty-six  of  whom  have  since  become 
teachers  in  the  public  schools.  Since  the 
spring  of  1885  interesting  commencement 
exercises  ha\e  been  given  by  the  graduates 
at  Geneva,  Linn  Gro\e  and  Pleasant  Mills. 
The  graded  schools  of  the  county,  since  1883, 
have  annually  furnished  county  graduates. 

SCHOOL  TERM  AND  GRADED  .SCHOOLS. 

In  the  pioneer  schools  the  term  was  neces- 
sarily short,  and  as  late  as  1860  the  term 
seldom  exceeded  ten  or  twelve  weeks  in 
duration.  As  the  school  advantages  multi- 
plied the  term  was  increased  until  the  pres- 
ent time,  at  which  the  average  length  of  the 
school  term  in  this  county  is  about  six  and  a 
half  months  annually.  The  average  wages 
of  teachers  for  winter  sessions  is  about  $1.75 
per  day.  The  fall  or  spring  session  is  about 
.*1.15  per  day.  A  majority  of  the  spring  or 
fall  terms  are  taught  by  beginners  and  by 
ladj'  teachers. 

There  are  now  six  graded  schools  within 
Adams  Oouiity,  including  the  city  schools  of 
Decatur.  The  first  school  of  more  than  one 
department  was  the  Decatur  school,  which 
was  orgaiiized  in  185-4  in  the  third  school 
building  for  Decatur,  and  known  as  the 
"  High  School  Building."  At  the  beginning 
of  this  school  there  were  three  teachers 
cinjiloyed,  but  we  are  unable  to  learn  their 
names.  The  first  attem])t  to  arrange  the 
school  with  regard  to  classification  or  gradu- 
ation was  in  1H12.  Thomas  Wright  was  the 
principal  at  that  time,  and  met  with  strong 
ojiposition  in  the  attempt  to  accomplish 
his  object;  hence  it  was  not  until  1878, 
under   the   management  of   S.   G.   Hastings, 


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U I  STOUT    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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tliat  the  sclioul  was  tlmriinglily  m'iided.  In 
18S1,  under  tlic  inaiia<i;Ginciit  ut'  1  )r.  Hastings, 
it  ^^ent  forth  seven  graduates  as  its  first  class. 
In  1S82  tiie  sclioul  was  commissioned  by  the 
State  Jioard  of  ICducaticm  as  a  liigli  school, 
and  its  graduates  invited  to  enter  the  State 
educational  institutions  witlujut  farther  ex- 
amiiuition.  Since  187S  it  has  been  under 
the  management  of  S.  G.  Hastings,  C.  G. 
"White  and  G.  AV.  A.  Luckey,  the  present 
sujierintendent. 

The  suho(jl  has  graduated  thirty-eight 
pu])ils  in  the  last  six  years,  in  the  regular 
course.  In  1S85  a  post  graduate  course  wa3 
establislied,  wliich  was  completed  the  next 
year  by  live  of  the  regular  gi-aduates.  Of 
the  thirty-eight  graduates  there  are  seventeen 
who  became  teachers,  ten  of  whom  have 
taught  in  the  primary  tlepartments  of  the 
city  schools.  Tlie  school  is  composed  of  ten 
dejiartments,  and  has  an  attendance  of  about 
460  pupils.  Tlie  j^ast  year,  by  the  jiupils' 
entertainments,  to  which  a  small  admission 
fee  was  charged,  a  library  of  about  100 
volumes  has  been  secured.  This  is  in  good 
demand,  and  is  nuicli  used  by  the  pupils  of 
the  school.  The  present  school  building  was 
erected  in  1885,  at  a  cost  of  about  .sl.j,000. 
The  Geneva  schools  were  graded  about  1873, 
the  old  Methodist  Episcopal  church  building 
being    used   for  one  division   of   the  school. 

]\Ir. Walker  was  the  first  principal.     In 

1S7!)  the  Geneva  corporation  erected  a  com- 
modious four-roomed  brick  school  building, 
at  a  cost  of  about  !?4:,000.  1.  O.  Jones 
was  chosen  as  ];rincipal.  The  school  was 
tlioroughly  classified  and  graded.  Mr.  Jones 
was  followed  in  turn  by  W.  0.  Ladd,  J.  F. 
Snow,  L.  W.  A.  Luckey,  G.  AV.  Peterson,  and 
Vi.  A.  Aspy,  the  present  princijial.  Tliis 
school  has  furnished  a  number  of  graduates 
from  the  district  school  course.  ,  It  employs 
four  teachers,  part  of  whom   were  graduated 


from  the  scho(d.  The  other  four  grade<l 
schools  in  this  county  and  the  dates  of  their 
organization  are  as  follows:  The  Linn  (irove 
school  is  located  at  IJuena  A'ista,  in  Hartford 
Township.  It  was  organized  in  1877,  with 
G.  AV.  ^V.  Luckey  as  principal.  The  principals 
who  followed  him  are  L.  AV.  A.  Luckey,  F.  F. 
Mendenall,  G.  AV.  Musser,  and  Geo.  AV.  Jiolds, 
the  present  principal.  The  Monmouth  graded 
school  is  situated  at  Monmouth,  Root  Town- 
ship, and  was  organized  in  1S78,  with  Kay 
Berg  as  principal.  The  jirincijials  who  fol- 
lowed him  are  J.  II.  AValters,  F.  V.  Ilocker, 
and  G.  II.  Laugliery,  the  present  princi])al. 
The  Pleasant  ]\Iills  graded  school  is  situated 
at  Pleasant  ^lills,  St.  ^Mary's  Township,  and 
was  organized  in  1879,  with  G.  AV.  Peterson 
as  its  principal.  The  principals  who  followed 
him  are  11.  AV".  Kirby,  K.  K.  Erwin,  and 
Charles  Dailey,  the  pi-esent  jjrincipal.  Tlie 
Ceylon  graded  school  is  located  at  Ceylon,  in 
AVabashTownshij).  It  was  organized  in  1884, 
with  AV.  A.  Aspy  as  principal.  Its  present 
principal  is  S.  McD.  Snow.  LTnder  the  man- 
agement of  the  present  principal  a  school 
library  of  fifty  or  sixty  volumes  was  placed 
in  the  school,  and  is  much  used  by  the  more 
advanced  pupils. 

The  graded  schools  at  Ceylon,  Moninoutli 
and  Pleasant  Alills  each  support  good  literary 
societies,  in  the  exercises  of  which  a  majority 
of  the  pupils  pai'ticipate.  The  people  near 
these  schools  fully  appreciate  their  benefits, 
and  the  near  future  will  add  to  the  number 
of  townships  possessing  them. 

TAKOCniAL   scnooLS. 

AVithin  the  county  there  are  several  paroch- 
ial schools.  Some  of  these  may  be  found  in 
Union,  Hoot  and  Preble  townships,  and  the 
city  of  Decatur.  The  Lutherans  began  their 
schools  with  their  church  organizations  in 
Preble  Township,   about   1840.     At   present 


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EDUCATIONAL. 


their  schools  continue  in  session  three  days 
witiiin  tiic  week,  and  are  taiigiit  hy  tlie  min- 
ister in  ciiarj^e.  The  I>iitlierau  organizations 
(.>\vn  three  I'ranie  sciiool  Imildings  in  the 
townships  iieretot'ore  named,  and  send  tlieir 
cliildren  to  suliool  until  they  are  about  four- 
teen years  of  age.  A  majority  of  the  pujjiis 
of  tliese  seliools  also  attend  the  district  puhlic 
schools  iluring  a  part  of  their  sessions. 

The  Catholic  schools  of  ])ecatur  are  con- 
ducted in  a  neat,  substantial,  two-story  brick 
bniUiing,  which  is  worth  perhaps  !i;5,0U0. 
These  schools  are  supported  by  the  denomi- 
national congregation.  The  school,  which  is 
taught  by  tlie  Sisters,  continues  about  nine 
months  of  the  year,  and  has  an  attendance  of 
about  225  pupils.  But  few  of  the  Catholic 
pupils  attend  the  public  schools  in  Decatur. 

RKADIXG    CIUCLK    AND    INSrrm'KS. 

In  1882  tlie  teachers  of  Root  Township 
organized  a  "Shakespearean  Club,"  for  the 
purjiose  of  amusement  anil  mental  improve- 
ment. The  i)roject  was  a  success,  and  con- 
tinned  with  gtiod  results  for  several  years. 

In  1884  tlie  Indiana  State  Reading  Circle 
M-as  organized,  and  about  forty  teachers  of 
the  county  secured  the  necessary  books  and 
began  the  work  for  which  the  course  pro- 
vided. It  was  not  closely  followed,  though 
several  of  the  works  were  lengtliily  discussed 
in  the  township  institutes.  A  great  number 
of  our  teachers  could  tind  no  time  to  pursue 
the  course  as  laid  down  by  the  managers,  and 
the  work  was  finally  abandoned  by  most  of 
them. 

When  !^[r.  Smith  began  to  wield  the  birch 
in  Adams  County  teachers'  associations,  read- 
ing circles  and  teachers'  institutes  were  but 
little  thought  of,  or  unknown.  ]5ut  as  educa- 
tion took  no  backward  stejis  teachers  began 
the  discussion  of  topics  pertaining  to  their 
work  and   the   lirst   teachers'    association,  of 


whicii  there  is  any  accessible  record,  was 
called  by  S.  C.  iJollman,  county  examiner  of 
Adams  County,  IJeceniber,  lK(j().  The  asso- 
ciation met  at  Decatur  within  holiday  week 
and  occupied  one  of  the  church  buildings 
during  its  sessions. 

There  was  an  attendance  of  about  forty 
teachers  and  the  programme  was  maile  as  it 
was  used.  This  was  the  tirst  of  what  has 
since  grown  into  our  County  Teachers'  Insti- 
tute. Though  the  teachers'  associations  be- 
came of  annual  occurrence  we  fail  to  find  a 
continuous  record  of  them  until  1878.  The 
tirst  township  institute  was  held  in  District 
No.  5,  Monroe  Township,  October  27,  1873, 
by  D.  D.  Heller,  county  superintendent.  The 
various  townships  have  held  from  three  to 
six  institutes  annually  since  the  time  within 
named.  By  them  many  young  teachers  have 
received  much  valuable  instruction  and 
assistance.  The  more  recent  county  insti- 
tutes have  been  well  attended;  the  attend- 
ance for  the  term  amounting  to  from  125  to 
150  teachers.  Foreign  instructors  are  secured 
and  a  live  days'  session  is  annually  held  in 
the  month  of  August  or  September,  that  the 
teachers  may  have  the  benetit  of  the  instruc- 
tion before  tlie  beginning  of  tlieir  fall  or 
winter  terms  of  school. 

COUNTY  BOARD  OK  KDDCATION. 

The  county  board  of  education  was  estab- 
lished by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  in  1877. 
It  is  composed  of  the  township  trustees,  the 
president  of  the  school  board  of  eacii  incor- 
porated city  or  town  within  the  county,  and 
the  county  superintendent  of  schools.  It  meets 
semi-annually,  on  the  first  days  of  May  and 
September,  to  adopt  te.xt-books  for  the  use  of 
the  schools  and  to  consider  the  general  wants 
and  needs  of  the  public  schot)ls  of  the  county, 
and  devise  means  for  their  most  judicious 
management.     The   present   county  board  of 


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IITSTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


cduciitioii  is  cuiuposi'd  of  tlu'  tVilK>\viii<r  ikimuhI 
ineml)ers: 

¥.  F.  Freeh,  L.  AV.  Lewton,  Lewis  Truclite, 
David  Steele,  William  Blackburn,  J.  C. 
Cowan,  Henry  !Myers,  C  W.  Hocker,  Samuel 
Hoeker,  Lemuel  O.  IJears,  AL  M.  Tlerr,  Sam- 
uel Fettei'S,  Anson  Iloll,  Gotlf'rey  Christen 
and  J.  S.  Snow. 

SCnOOL  KXAMINEKS  AND  SUPERINTENDENTS. 

Until  1837  the  township  trustees  had 
charge  of  the  examination  of  the  puhlic 
school  teachers.  They  were  relieved  of  this 
duty  by  the  a]>pointment  of  three  school  ex- 
aminers. In  1805  the  law  was  again  changed 
and  a  single  examiner  was  appointed.  Among 
those  wlio  held  the  positions  previous  to  the 
change  to  a  single  occupant  were  Josiah  Ran- 
dall, W.  Calderwood,  J.  IL  Kevins,  Jaines 
Brown,  J.  D.  Nutman,  J.  P.  Porter,  Josiah 
Crawford,  David  Studabaker  and  J.  R.  Bobo. 
In  1805  S.  C.  Bollman  was  chosen  school  ex- 
aminer, and  held  the  position   for  a  number 


of  years.  lie  was  followed  by  D.  0.  Heller, 
who  afterward,  in  1873,  became  the  first 
county  su])erinten(ient  of  scliools  in  Adams 
County.  He  resigned  in  1874  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  AVilliam  JM.  AValter,  who  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1879  by  (t.  W.  A.  Luckey,  who 
served  four  years.  In  1883  he  was  succeeded 
by  J.  F.  Snow,  who  is  the  present  incumbent 
of  the  ofKce.  In  regard  to  thoroughness, 
methods  of  instruction,  discipline  and  man- 
agement we  will  let  otliers  judge  and  s])eak. 
Adams  Ccninty  was  the  former  Iiome  of 
State  Superintendent  Samuel  L.  Pugg.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  influen- 
tial citizens  of  the  county  at  an  early  day  and 
held  various  county  offices  for  nearly  twenty 
years.  In  1858  he  was  elected  by  the  Demo- 
cratic party  to  the  State  Superintendency  of 
Indiana.  His  ability  as  a  linancier  and  or- 
ganizer rendered  his  services  valuable  to  the 
State.  Ilis  remains  now  rest  in  the  city 
cemetery,  but  his  memory  is  ever  fresh  to  the 
friends  of  education  in  Indiana  and  especially 
to  those  of  Adams  County. 


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MISCELLANEOUS.  255 


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AGRICULTURAL. 


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1 9-  II E  best  prosperity  a  coun- 
ty can  liave  is  agricult- 
>iral.  ]\[:inutactures  and 
mineral  resources  are  tle- 
^...^■'^^  girable,  but  where  they 
■^  are  the  main  depend- 
^•'■^  encc  there  will  invariably  be  a 
iT^  poor,  ignorant,  unenterprising 
^i^  class  of  citizens  controlled  by  a 
v,^^  lew  cajjitalists.  Here  in  Adams 
*J^  County  ]>roi)erty  is  quite  eveidy 
distriltuted,  with  the  exception 
of  a  few  large  land  owners;  all 
are  comfortably  situated,  and  all 
enjoy  educational  and  social  ad- 
vantages. Adams  is  destined  to  remain  an 
agricidtural  county,  and  it  is  best  so.  As  a 
farming  region  it  ranks  among  the  best  in 
the  State.  Possessing  tlie  advantages  of  a 
good  climate,  a  soil  of  inexhaustible  fertility, 
close  proximity  to  the  markets  of  Ft.  Wayne, 
Toledo  and  other  cities,  and  excellent  railroad 
facilities,  the  county  has  already  attained  a 
degree  of  agricultural  development  such  as 
is  seldom  found   in   a  country  comparatively 


ife  "^ 


new.  Its  wealth  and  prosperity  are  steadily 
and  rapidly  increasing.  AVhen  we  consider 
that  but  two  generations  ago  the  red  men 
were  the  owners  of  this  region  wliich  now 
supports  one  of  the  most  flourishing  com- 
munities in  the  United  States,  we  may  well 
be  astonished  at  the  wonderful  results  which 
time  and  an  intelligent  industry  have  wrought. 
In  many  sections  of  our  country,  lands  whicli 
have  been  occupied  by  white  inhaliitants  as 
long,  exhibit  not  one-half  of  the  imjirove- 
ments  and  substantial  evidences  of  real  pros- 
perity that  Adams  County  can  show.  Nature 
did  much  for  this  region,  and  a  thrifty  and 
progressive  people  have  admirably  co-ope- 
rated with  her  eii'orts.  Farms,  buildings  and 
improvements  of  every  kind  are  of  unusual 
excellence  in  this  county.  Numerous  towns 
and  villages  scattered  over  the  county  furnish 
abundant  and  convenient  trading  points  and 
home  markets,  wliile  unexcelled  educational 
and  religious  privileges  combine  to  render 
the  lot  of  the  Adams  Countj'  farmer  a  most 
fortunate  one. 

From    the    latest    printed    volume    of  the 


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HISTORY    OP    ADAMS    COUNT Y. 


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'>  Uiu'OiUi  of  Statistics  "  for  1884,  the  follow- 
ing leading  facts  arc  taken  with  reference  to 
Adams  Connty.  An  area  equal  to  about 
one  congressional  township,  or,  to  be  exact, 
',22,755  acres,  was  planted  to  wheat,  and  the 
production  was  2tj'J,o27  bushels,  or  about 
twelve  per  acre.  An  even  larger  area,  2-1,235 
acres,  was  planted  to  corn,  producing  755,530 
bushels,  or  over  thirty  pei-  acre.  (Jats  were 
raised  on  10,284  acres,  and  the  yield  was 
386,596  bushels,  or  nearly  forty  per  acre. 
Kearly  50,000  bushels  of  Irish  potatoes  were 
grown.  The  acreage  in  timothy  was  15,467; 
tons  of  product,  27,840;  acreage  in  clover, 
9,091;  tons  of  product,  15,911.  The  timber 
acreage,  which  once  included  all  the  connty, 
is  reduced  to  70,091.  Ab.nit  2,000  acres  of 
this  is  cleared  ainiually.  Over  12,000  acres 
of  plowed  land  was  rejjorted  idle,  and  nearly 
5,000  acres  as  covered  with  blue  and  other 
wild  grasses. 

Not  less  signiticant  are  some  of  tlie  figures 
as  to  live  stoclc.  There  are  in  the  county 
4,979  horses,  106  mules,  19,898  stock  hogs, 
20,200  fatted  hogs  (weighing  3,082,997 
])ounds),  13,457  sheep  and  5,()91  lambs.  The 
wool  clip  was  57,480  pounds. 

The  immense  cpiantity  of  1,710,077  gal- 
lons of  milk,  394,121  pounds  of  butler,  and 
87,715  pounds  of  cheese,  afford  some  idea  of 
the  dairy  interests  of  the  county. 

The  first  agricultural  society  in  the  county 
was  organized  in  1853,  witii  these  ofiicers: 
S.  S.  Mickle,  President;  George  A.  Dent, 
Vice-President;  D.  Studabaker,  Secretary; 
John  McConnell,  Treasurer;  D.  Irwin,  C.  S. 
Dorwin,  J.  Crabs,  S.  Steele,  A.  Scales,  li. 
"Winnings,  L.  ilatta.x,  L.  French,  J.  Martin, 
J.  Crawford,  T.  Loofborow  and  A.  Summers. 
The  society  was  reorganized  in  1875,  with 
Emanuel  "Woods,  President,  and  John  W. 
Kout,  Treasurer.  Thirty  acres  of  ground 
was    leased    from    the    county,  and    suitable 


buihlings  erected.  The  society  did  not  pros- 
per financially,  and  finally  suspended.  The 
fairs  of  1885  and  188(j  were  held  by  private 
enterjjrise. 

RAILROADS. 

Rapid  development  of  a  new  country  is 
only  possii)le  through  a  system  of  railroads, 
affording  speedy,  regular,  safe  and  economical 
transportation.  To  fully  open  up  a  district 
like  Ohio,  Indiana  or  Kentucky,  a  whole  gen- 
eration must  pass  away  amid  the  slowly 
improving  conditions  of  pioneer  life.  A'ow, 
by  the  aid  of  railroads,  the  vast  Territory  of 
Dakota  has  within  a  few  years  received  a  half 
a  million  of  inhabitants,  and  is  ready  to  be 
converted  into  two  new  States — stars  Xos. 
39  and  40  in  our  Federal  constellation.  I^y 
the  same  agency  Asia,  Australia,  South 
America  and  .Vfrica  are  being  rapidly  civil- 
ized and  developed.  In  short,  the  known 
world  is  being  wonderfully  enlarged.  But 
for  the  iron  horse,  Africa  must  remain  the 
"  dark  continent  "  for  countless  generations. 
In  view  of  present  developments,  it  is  to  be 
the  land  of  promise  for  emigrants  in  the 
twentieth  century. 

It  was  more  than  a  third  of  a  century  after 
Adams  County  was  organized,  and  a  half  a 
century  after  the  first  settlement,  before  iron 
rails  were  laid  in  the  county. 

Grand  li<ij)iih  tt  Indiana. — The  Cincin- 
nati, Kichmond  &  Ft.  Wa3'ne  Railroad  was 
orginally  proposed  through  Elufi'ton;  but 
after  tlie  Muncie  road  was  built  through 
"Wells  County,  the  line  was  so  changed  that 
the  first  mentioned  road  came  to  Decatur, 
and  thence  south  through  Portland  and  Rich- 
mond to  Ft.  "Wayne.  The  work  of  construc- 
tion through  Adams  County  was  performed 
in  1871.  The  county  subscribed  for  $150,000 
worth  of  stock,  raising  the  money  by  tax, 
partly  before  the  building  and  the  remainder 


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after.  Tlie  stock  is  still  in  the  comity's  liaiiils, 
ami  is  worthless,  Init  it  is  the  general  opinion, 
nevertlielesSjthat  the  money  was  well  invested, 
as  it  brouii^ht  ajrooil  railroail  to  a  county  that 
might  have  had  Tione,  else.  "I'lie  road  is 
operated  by  the  (irand  Rapids  A:  Indiana 
Ilailroad  C(;m|iany,  which,  together  with  the 
Cincinnati,  Hamilton  tt  Dayton,  and  the 
Pennsylvania  Jlailroad  Companies,  jointly 
guarantee  the  interest  (jn  the  bonds.  For 
some  years  the  net  earnings  have  not  met  the 
fixed  charges,  and  the  deficit  has  l)een  made 
up  by  the  guaranteeing  companies.  The 
road  is  kept  in  excellent  condition,  and  the 
train  service  is  very  etticient.  Every  ]iart  of 
the  county  is  within  seven  miles  of  the  rail- 
road. 

The  mileage  of  main  track  in  the  county  is 
2i.(il,  assessed  at  Sl-,5(H)  per  mile,  or  §110,- 
745.  There  ai-e  "2.93  miles  of  side  track, 
assessed  at  >!2,50O  per  mile,  or  .S7,32i3.  The 
rolling  stock  is  assessed  at  s500  a  mile,  or 
Sl2,30o.  The  improvements  (depots,  etc.) 
are  assessed  at  !i;2,U75,  making  the  total 
assessed  value  of  the  road  in  Adams  County 
§132,450.  It  crosses  -  Kout,  Washington, 
Jlonroe  and  Wabash  townships,  and  has  the 
stations  of  .Monmouth,  Decatur,  ]\Itinroe, 
lierne  and  Geneva. 

Toledo^  St.  Luuis  cfc  Kansas  City.- — A 
narrow-gauge  railroad  was  built  through  this 
county  in  1S78,  in  an  east  and  west  direction, 
under  the  name  of  the  Del])lios,  Ulull'ton  tV; 
Kokomo  liailroad.  It  was  afterward  con- 
solidated witli  other  lines  under  the  name  of 
the  Toledo,  Frankfort  &  Eurlington,  and 
later  with  still  other  short  roads,  forming  the 
Toledo,  Cincinnati  isc  St.  Louis,  a  continous 
uarrow-gauge  railroad  from  Toledo  to  tlie 
Mississippi  River.  The  road  did  not  ]iay, 
and  was  purchased  in  1880  by  a  reoi'ganized 
company,  and  renamed  the  Toledo,  St.  Louis 
&  Kansas   City.      It   is   to   be    widened   to  a 


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standard  gauge  road  this  season  (1887).  Tlie 
townships  interested,  and  individuals  in  the 
county,  gave  §45,000  to  aid  in  the  construc- 
tion of  this  road.  It  crosses  Ivirkland.  Root, 
AVashington  an<l  St.  Mary's  townships.  The 
assessment  is  as  follows:  Iti.SO  miles  of 
main  track  at  s2,000  a  mile,  §83,000;  .42 
miles  of  side  track,  at  §1,000,  §420;  rolling 
stock  at  §000  a  mile,  §10,080;  improvements 
on  right  of  way,  §275;  total,  §44.375. 

Vhiea(jo  cL'  Atlantic. — This  was  built 
through  the  county  in  1881  and  1882,  and 
received  about  §35,000  from  the  townships 
crossed,  as  aid.  It  is  a  very  straight  road 
from  Chicago  to  ]\hirion  (Ohio),  and  is 
intimately  related  to  the  Erie  Railway.  It 
was  built  chiefly  for  through  business.  It 
crosses  Preble,  Rout,  Wasliington  and  L'^niou 
townships  in  an  east  and  west  direction. 
The  assessment  is  as  follows:  14.38  miles  of 
main  track  at  §8,000,  §115,040;  2  miles 
of  side  track  at  §2,000,  §4,000;  rolling  stock 
at  §2,500,  §35,050;  imjirovement  on  right 
of  way,  §820;  total,  §155,810. 

There  are  altogether  in  Adams  County 
55.79  miles  of  main  track,  assessed  at  §259,- 
385;  5.35  miles  of  side  track,  assessed  at 
§11,745;  rolling  stock,  assessed  at  §58,835; 
improvements  on  rigiit  df  way  valued  at 
§3,170,  or,  in  all,  an  assessed  valuation  of 
§332,035. 

PUBLIC     BUILDINGS. 

In  the  part  of  this  history  devoted  to  the 
early  years  of  the  county  mention  is  made 
of  the  first  court-house.  Tliis  stood  on  the 
corner  where  A.  R.  Cell  now  lives,  opposite 
the  Miesse  House,  and  has  recently  been 
moved  to  First  street,  where  it  is  used  as  a 
store-room  fV)r  the  weiolen  mill.  It  was  used 
only  for  holding  court,  and  the  county  sold 
it  aftei'  the  present  court-house  was  erected. 
In  1849  two  small  brick  buildings,  one  story 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAJIS    COUNTY. 


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in  height,  were  erected  in  tlie  iiortliejist  and 
soutlieast  edi'nei'S  of  the  sijnaiT.  In  tlie 
turnuT  were  the  clerk's  and  recorder's  olKces, 
and  in  the  hitter  the  treasui'er's  and  auditor's. 

The  present  tine  court-liouse  was  bnilt  in 
1S73.  The  contract  price  was  about  8S(),0()0, 
but  tlie  ultimate  exjienditure  was  somewhat 
more.  It  is  a  beautiful  and  comtnodious 
structure  of  Philadeliihia  ]ire.-;sed  brick,  liei'ea 
sandstone  and  iron,  with  hall  tioors  of  marble. 
It  is  fire-proof,  and  its  court-room  is  beau- 
tifully frescoed  and  painted.  The  building 
is  two  stories  high,  with  a  mansard  roof  70  .\ 
120  feet  in  dimensions,  with  a  tower  nearly 
1()0  feet  high  from  the  basement. 

The  first  jail  was  a  log  structure,  and  stood 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  square.  It 
was  used  until  IST'.I,  and  then  was  accident- 
all}'  destroyed  by  lii-e.  The  new  brick  jail 
on  ^larket  street  was  completed  in  ISSfi  at  a 
cost  of  S25,000.  It  contains  fourteen  cells, 
and  has  a  residence  for  the  sheriff. 

In  1875  the  county  purchased  a  farm  of 
200  acres  two  and  one-half  miles  southeast 
of  l)ecatur,  on  section  13,  AVashington 
Township,  for  a  poor  farm.  The  considera- 
tion was  S10,000.  The  residence  already  on 
the  place  has  since  been  used  by  the  su])er- 
intendent  as  a  residence.  A  temporar}' 
frame  building  was  put  up  at  a  cost  of  s2,000 
to  shelter  the  county  charges.  A  more  per- 
manent building  is  contemplated,  and  will 
doubtless  be  built  in  a  few  j-ears.  W.  H.  II. 
France  is  in  charge  as  superintendent,  and 
lias  lield  that  position  for  the  past  four  years. 


There  are  from  twenty-live  to  thirty  ])ersons 
usually  kt;pt  at  the  farm,  which  is  nearly 
self-sustaining. 

STATISTICS. 

The  larger  number  of  immigrants  to  Adams 
County  came  between  lS50and  1860,  though 
the  county  was  well  settled  in  comjiari.-ion 
with  the  surrounding  counties  by  the  former 
date.  The  population  in  18(50  was  9,252;  in 
1870,  11,382;  in  1880,  15,385.  The  popu- 
lation by  townships  in  the  latter  census  year 
was  as  follows:  IJlue  Creek,  931;  French, 
1,032;  Hartford,  1,103;  Jefferson,  G48; 
Kirkland,  793;  Monroe,  1,531;  Preble,  997; 
Koot,  1,270;  .St.  Ifary's,  979;  Union,  912; 
Wabash,  1,991  (including  Geneva  villacre, 
•467);  AVashington,  3.159  (including  Decatur 
town,  1,905). 

The  native-born  population  in  1880  was 
13,948,  of  which  Tunnber  9,418  were  born  in 
Indiana,  3,442  in  Ohio,  584  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, 89  in  New  York,  44  in  Illinois  and  22 
in  Kentucky.  The  foreign-born  population 
was  1,401,  of  which  757  were  born  in  Ger- 
many. This  gives  but  an  insufficient  idea  of 
the  Teutonic  ju-oportion  of  Adams  C'ounty's 
population,  which  is  probably  more  than  one- 
half. 

The  assessment  for  1886  foots  up  as  fol- 
lows; Acres  of  land,  212,203.30;  value, 
82,201,685;  value  of  improvements,  $766,- 
818;  value  of  lots,  §176,050;  value  of  im- 
provements, $269,900;  value  of  personalty, 
$1,477,754;  number  of  polls,  3,112;  total 
valuation  of  taxable  property,  $4,892,207. 


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^^M;('ATU1;,  the  Oiipital   of 
.Vdaius     Cuinitv,    is 
now     over     a     lialt' 
century  old.       It  is 
eituateil   on    tlie  St. 
^Tary's     Kiver,     on     tlie 
ii^J  f-5iti   noi-tli    lino   of  Waehiiigton  Towii- 
s?;i'lll^  ship,  and   six  miles  nortli  ol  the 
i&ll^fe  geogra] lineal  center  of  the  county. 
'^'iPv     Tliouirli     formally    laid     out     and 
^]i*J    named  (in  honor  of  the  well-known 
^j'i^    naval  hero)    in   183G,  it   was  some 
"^■ifi^    years  later  before  it  was  even  much 
^i'^       of  a    village.     Previous    to    183'J 
there  were  but  three   cabins   and  two   unfur- 
nished   frames   here.     The    residents    in   the 
spring  of  1838  were  Samuel  L.  Kuyg,  James 
Crabs,  Jacob  Ilufi'er,  Fittick  and  Closs.    Dur- 
ing  the  decade  from  1840  to  1850  the  pojui- 
jation  slowly  increased  to  about  250. 

The  ])opular  election  for  trustees  and  otlier 
officers  to  organize  the  town  of  Decatnr  oc- 
curred the  last  day  of  the  year  1853.  Jacob 
King,  David  Ilnmbert  and  AVilliani  G.  Spen- 
cer were  inspectors  of  election,  and  si.vty-six 
votes  were  cast,  resulting  in  the  choice  of  the 
following  trustees:     District   No.   1,  James 


Crabs;  District  No.  2,  James  Stoops;  District 
No.  3,  Thomas  J.  Pearce;  District  No.  4, 
Jacob  Crabs;  District  No.  5,  Parker  L.  "Wise. 
"William  G.  Spencer  was  chosen  clerk  and 
also  treasurer;  and  Hamilton  J.  "\7ise  was 
elected  marshal  and  assessor.  In  May  fol- 
lowing the  tlrst  regular  election  was  held,  and 
the  ollicers  elected  were:  Trustees,  J.  D. 
Nultman,  Simon  Friberger,  James  Stoops, 
David  McDonald  and  Jacob  Bodle;  Treasur- 
er, A.  Bollinaii;  Clerk  and  Assessor, AVilliam 
G.  Spencer;    Marshal,  A.  Bollinan. 

Decatur  remained  under  a  town  organiza- 
tion for  twenty-nine  years,  the  population 
increasing  at  about  the  same  ratio  each  dec- 
ade. By  1860  there  were  500  inhabitants; 
by  1870,  1,000;  and  in  1880,  the  last  census 
year,  the  enumeration  footed  up  1,905.  The 
construction  of  the  Cincinnati,  Richmond 
ik  Ft.  AVayne  Railroad  in  1871  fixed  Decatur 
as  the  county  seat,  so  that  the  present  sub- 
stantial court-house  was  built  soon  after,  and 
raised  the  place  to  the  dignity  of  an  impor- 
tant town.  The  building  of  the  narrow  guage 
road  in  1878,  and  the  Chicago  &:  Atlantic  in 
1881  and  1882  added  greatly  to  the  prospects 
of  the  growing  county   seat,  which   now   has 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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an  assured  future,  as  a  residence,  liusiiiess 
and  iiKUHifactiii'iui^  town.  'J'he  |]iij)ulatinn  in 
1887  is  undoubtedly  a,()0().  One,  and  possi- 
bly two  new  railroads  will  be  built  tlirouy;]! 
])ecatur  in  the  near  future. 

DECATUK  A  CITY. 

Having  grown  too  populous  to  be  satisfied 
with  the  old  town  jj;overninent,  Decatur  M'as 
incorporated  as  a  city  September  5,  1882. 
Tlic  officers  elected  and  appointed  for  that 
year  and  eacli  year  since  liavc  l)cen: 

188-2-'83.— ]\[ayor,  J.T.  Merryman ;  Clerk, 
L.  J.  (last;  Treasurer,  11.  II.  Breinerkainp; 
Marshal,  Ilobert  j\Ialoney;  Street  Commis- 
sioner, J.  T.  Arclibold;  Attorney,  E.  A. 
Ilntfnian;  Engineer,  J.  T.  Simcoke.  Council: 
iMi'st  AVard,  D.  ().  Jackson  and  G.  W.  Pat- 
terson; Sei-(aid  "Ward,  J.  II.  Vogelwede  and 
Sol.  Linn;  Third  AVard,  \V.  V.  ]\[oon  and 
Jesse  Xililick. 

lSSn-'84.-^-:\Iayor,  1].  II.  Dent;  Clerk,  L. 
J,  Oast;  ilarshal,  Robert  Maloney;  Treas- 
urer, II.  II.  I>remerkanij);  Street  Commis- 
sioner, J.  T.  Archbold;  Attorney,  E.  A. 
Huffman;  Engineer,  J.  T.  Simcoke.  Council: 
First  AVard,  G.  W.  Patterson  and  I).  O. 
Jackson;  Second  Ward,  II.  C.  Stetler  and  J. 
H.  A^ogelwede;  Third  AVard,  S.  Spangler  and 
Jesse  !Xiblick. 

1884:-'85. — Same  officers  as  previous  year. 
Council:  First  AVard,  G.  W.  J'atterson  and 
D.  O.  Jackson;  Second  Ward,  Henry  Eiting 
and  J.  II.  Vogelwedc;  Third  Ward,  S.  Span- 
gler and  Jesse  jS'iblick. 

188d-'86.— Mayor,  D.  D.  Heller;  Clerk, 
J.  C.  Patterson;  Treasurer,  II.  II.  Bremer- 
kamp;  Marshal,  Robert  ilaloney;  Attorney, 
A.  Iluffnian;  Engineer,  J.T.  Simcoke.  Coun- 
cil: P''irst  Ward,  Henry  Krick  and  G.  W. 
Patterson;  Second  AVard,  II.  Stetler  and 
Henry  Eiting;  Third  Ward,  Jesse  iXiblick 
and  S.  Spangler. 


ISSC) -'87.—  Same  officers  as  previous  yeai-, 
except  that  .1.  W.  Tyndall  succeeded  .1.  T. 
Simcoke  as  engineer  in  Deceudiei',  188(5. 
Council:  First  Ward,  AV.  S.  Congleton  (suc- 
ceeded by  A.  L.  Do  Yilbiss,  October  20, 
1886,)  and  Henry  Krick;  Second  AVard, 
James  II.  Stone  and  II.  Stetler;  Third  AVard, 
S.  Spangler  and  Jesse  Xiblick. 

KIKK  AND  FIKE  I'UOTECTIUN. 

Decatur  has  had  but  one  serious  conflagra- 
tion. This  occurred  in  1882,  and  resulted  in 
the  loss  of  the  entire  row  of  wooden  buildings 
on  the  east  side  of  Second  street,  between 
Monroe  and  Madison.  The  business  part  of 
town  is  now  built  np  solidly  of  brick,  greatly 
reducing  the  danger  from  fire.  The  fire  de- 
partment completed  its  present  organization 
in  1885.  It  includes  a  hand-engine,  hose- 
cart,  with  800  feet  of  hose,  and  a  hook-and- 
ladder  truck,  each  manned  by  a  volunteer 
company.  James  Hurst  is  chief  of  the  de- 
partment. 

BANKS. 

The  first  bank  in  Dec:itnr  was  started  by 
Joseph  D.  Nutman,  in  1857.  Three  years 
later  it  was  moved  to  Ft.  AVayne.  In  July, 
1871,  Mr.  Nutman  and  Jesse  Xiblick  estab- 
lished the  Adams  County  Bank,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Niblick  &  Nutman.  Four 
months  later  Robert  Allison  and  David 
Studabaker  were  admitted  as  partners,  and 
the  style  of  the  firm  became  Niblick,  Nutman 
&  Co.  ]\Ir.  Nutman  I'etired  a  few  months 
later,  and  the  firm  was  then  Niblick,  Studa- 
baker &  Co. 

In  August,  1874,  tlie  Adams  County  Bank 
was  organized  under  the  State  law,  with  a 
capital  of  !?50,000.  This  was  increased  in 
1882  to  ^75,000.  David  Studabaker  is  Presi- 
dent; Jesse  Niblick,  A^ice- President;  AVilliam 
II.  Niblick,  Cashier;  Edward  Eiiinger,  As- 
sistant Cashier.     The  directors  are:    Robert 


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r,.  Allison,  Jfsso  A'ihlick,  John  Crawford, 
"W^illiaiii  Ci.  ypfuoer,  Ilcni'y  Delks,  John 
^leiher^  and  David  Stiulaliakor.  The  hank 
occupies  (juartci'i  in  a  snhstantial  hrick  htiild- 
iiif^  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Second  and 
Monroe  sti-et'ts,  hnilt  in  1>)7G. 

The  ('itizens'  ilank  was  organized  in  1872, 
by  John  ^\'.  licjut  and  others,  and  ceased  to 
do  htisiness  in  1^17. 

The  Decatur  National  l!a!d<  was  incor- 
porated ^Vniriist  15,  1S83,  with  a  capital  of 
!?50,UOO.  It  now  has  a  surplus  of  s5,000. 
T.  T.  i)orwin  is  President;  i*.  \V.  Smith, 
^'icc-l'residcnt;  11.  C)berweg;ncr,  Cashier; 
li.  I'.  Dorwin,  Assistant  Cashier.  The  direc- 
tors are:  T.  T.  Dorwin,  John  D.  Hale,  R.  S. 
J'eterson,  Henry  Derkes,  Jolin  Dirkson,  B. 
^y.  Sholty  an<l  P.  W.  Sinitli. 

MAXIKAC'TUKKS. 

Decatur  has  already  attracted  a  number  of 
these  desirable  aids  to  prosperity  and  popula- 
tion. Amoiii,''  them  are  the  Eagle  JMaiiu- 
factiiriiiL^  Conipany,  ^\•in(]-mills  and  road- 
scrajier?-;  ^lyer  lirothers,  woolen  mills;  J.  .S. 
Hart,  I^atterson  i*c  Pillars,  and  Bremerkamp 
ik  Vancanip,  grist-mills;  Ilobinson  ik  Gillig, 
P.  W.  Smith  ik  Co.,  JIainmel  vfc  AVilcox,  and 
Johnson  Brothers,  saw-mills;  Johnson  Brotli- 
ers  and  G.  Christen,  planing  mills;  M.  Buhler, 
flax  mill;  Hart  it  Egg,  foundry;  Henry  Krick, 
brick;  Elick  ilt  Boyd,  tile;  Heni-y  flayer, 
brewery;  1\  C.  Clever  A:  Co.  and  Hite  ik 
Adams,  slack  barrels.  • 

IJUSINLSS    I>IKK(  ToliV. 

The  firms  doing  business  in  Decatur  in 
February,  1887,  are  (exclusive  of  ])rofcssional 
men)  as  follows: 

Adams  ('ounty  i)ank;  L.  Auth,  jewelry; 
Barkley  it  Steele,  meat  market;  Jieery  lii'oth- 
ers,  livery;  A.  11.  JJell,  livery;  G.  Jierling, 
produce;    Norval   Blackburn,  proprietor  De- 


catur  DciDvrat ;  J.  S.  Bowers,  hardwai-e  and 
machinery;  11.  II.  Brake,  saloon;  Bremer- 
kamp it  \'ancani]i,  gri,-.t-nnll;  J.  H.  Bremer- 
kamp, saloon;  M.  llremerkainn,  dry  goods; 
John  lirock,  tin  and  lianlwarc;  Brown  iV; 
Colfee,  saloon ;  M.  lluhler,  llax  mill;  A.  T. 
Burge,  barber;  A'.  Burns,  hai-ness;  Pujhnell 
k  Cook,  l)lacksmiths;  P.  C.  Clever  ik  (^o., 
slack  barrels;  Jacoii  Clo.-s  iV  Sou,  jewelr^y; 
]\rary  ('loss,  millinery;  ^I.  Colchen,  baker}"; 
L.  A.  Contcr,  boots  ami  shoes;  Christen  & 
(ioodsell,  lumber;  (4.  Christen,  planing  mill; 
Decatur  National  Bank;  Dono\an  it  ('(jU'ee, 
grocery;  Dorwin  A:  Holthouse,  drugs;  C.  T. 
Dorwin,  photographer;  Dr. Marshall  ^Medicine 
Co.,  medicines;  Eagle  ^lanulactnring  Co., 
wind-mills  and  road-scrapers;  James  Edding- 
ton,  grocery;  John  Eiting,  dry  goods;  Elick 
i>i  lioyd,  tile  factory;  J.  E.  Elloworth,  wagons 
and  can-iages;  M.  S.  Elzey,  jewelry ;  Kvert  ic 
Jloo]),  grocery;  E.  Foi-bing,  saloon ;  Fritzin- 
ger  ic  Kirscli,  lumber;  J.  S.  Ga^jiei-,  saloon; 
Glass  tV'  Alagley,  hardwai-c  and  machinery; 
HammeliV  Wilcox,  saw-mill ;  Hart  A-  Egg, 
foundry;  Hart  iV  Ei'ance,  saloon;  J.  S.  Hart, 
mill;  Hite  i^;  Adams,  slack  barrels;  A.  Holt- 
house,  boots  and  shoes;  AV.  Y.  Hubbai'tl,  pho- 
tographer; AV.  S.  Hughes,  marble;  (J.  AV. 
Hidl,  dry  goods;  F.  Johns,  saloon;  Johnson 
lirothers,  saw  and  planing  mill;  John  King, 
wagons  and  carriages;  J.  AV.  Kleinheinz, 
saloon;  Henry  Krick,  brick;  Henry  Lang, 
saloon;  John  Lose,  barber;  Mann  iz  Burk- 
head,  grocery;  Jacob  Martin,  bakery;  Henry 
Mayer,  brewery;  I.  J.  iliesse,  ^liesse  House; 
Ailam  ^liller,  saloon;  Miller  Brothers,  bar- 
bers; J.  A.  Mills,  grocery;  E.  I).  ISIotlett, 
proj)rictor  Decatur  ./(;«/•«(//',•  ^lyer  lirothers, 
woolen  mill;  AV.  II.  jVachtrieb  A:  Bro.,  drugs; 
Niblick,  Crawford  iV:  Sons,  dry  goods  and 
clotliing;  Pattel•s^)n  tV  Pillars,  grist-Tnill; 
Pease  A:  Colchen,  bakery  ami  restaurant; 
J.   W.   Place,  bakery;    A.  K.   Pierce,  drugs; 


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B.  Allison,  .h-ssc  Ts'ibliek,  Jdliii  Oniwl'ord, 
AVilliiuii  G.  Spencer,  Henry  Delks,  John 
]\Ieiliei-.-;  iind  Diiviil  Stiidalmker.  The  hunk 
occiipieri  (juartei-s  in  a  snhotantiul  hrick  buiUl- 
iiif^  on  the  northwest  eoiMier  (if  Second  and 
Monroe  t-trei't--.  huilt  in  ISTIJ. 

Tlie  ('itl/.eiis"  i;aid<  was  ori;:inized  in  1872. 
by  John  A\'.  Ucjut  and  others,  and  ceased  to 
do  business  in  I'^TT. 

The  Deeatnr  National  ]'aiik  was  incor- 
])orated  .Vuiriist  15,  1883,  with  a  capital  of 
;?5(I,UOO.  It  now  has  a  surplus  of  S5,000. 
T.  T.  Jtorwin  is  President;  P.  ^V .  Smith, 
A^ice-President;  II.  Oberwegner,  Cashier; 
II.  P.  Dorwin,  Assistant  Cashier.  The  direc- 
tors are:  T.  T.  Dorwin,  John  J).  Hale,  U.  S. 
l^eterson,  Henry  Derkes,  .lohn  l)irkson,  B. 
^\'.  Sholty  and  P.  AV.  Smith. 

MAM  FACTUUKS. 

Decatur  lias  already  attracted  a  number  of 
these  desirable  aids  to  ])rosperity  and  pcipula- 
tion.  Among  thein  are  the  Eagle  JMaiiu- 
factnring  Company,  ^^■ind-mills  and  road- 
6cra])ers;  !Myer  Prothers,  woolen  mills;  J.  S. 
Hart,  Patterson  i\:  Pillars,  and  Brenierkamp 
6c  Vancamp,  grist-mills;  liobinson  &  Gillig, 
P.  W.  Smith  it  Co.,  Hammel  &  AVilcox,  and 
Jolitisoii  Brothers,  saw-mills;  Johnson  Broth- 
ers and  G. Christen,  planing  mills;  JI.  Bnhler, 
flax  mill;  Hart&  Egg,  foundry;  Henry  Krick, 
brick;  Elick  I'c  Jjoyd,  tile;  Henry  ilayer, 
brewery;  P.  C.  Clever  A:  Co.  and  IHte  & 
Adams,  slack  barrels. 

nUSINESS    DIKKCTiitiV. 

The  firms  doing  l)iisiiiess  in  Decatur  in 
FebnK\ry,  1S87,  are  (exclusive  of  ])roiessi(inal 
men)  as  follows: 

Adams  County  JSank;  Ti.  Auth,  jewelry; 
Barkley  it  Steele,  meat  mai-ket;  Beery  Broth- 
ers, livery;  A.  K.  Jiell,  livery;  G.  Barling, 
produce;    ISorval   IMackburn,  proprietor  De- 


catur DctiHicrat ,•  J.  S.  Bowers,  harilware  and 
machinery;  H.  H.  lirake,  saloon;  Brenier- 
kamp ik  A'ancamji,  grist-mill;  J.  IF.  Breiner- 
kamp,  saloon;  M.  Bremerkamj),  dry  goods; 
John  I'rock,  tin  and  hardware;  J]rown  t*c 
Coifee,  saloon ;  ]\I.  Buhler,  llax  mill;  A.  T. 
]5urge,  barber;  IS'.  Burns,  harness;  Biishnell 
6c  Cook,  blacksmiths;  P.  C.  Clever  iV  Co., 
shick  barrels;  Jacob  Closs  iV  Son,  jewelry; 
Jfary  ('loss,  millinery;  M.  Colchen,  baker}'; 
L.  A.  Confer,  boots  and  shoes;  Christen  & 
(loodsell,  lumber;  G.  Christen,  jdaning  mill; 
Decatur  National  P)ank;  Donovan  A:  (Police, 
grocery;  Dorwin  6c  Holthouse,  drugs;  C.  T. 
L)orwin,  idiotographer;  I)r.]\Iarshall  ]\Iedicine 
Co.,  medicines;  Eagle  ^Manufacturing  Co., 
wind-mills  and  road-scrapers;  James  Edding- 
ton,  grocery;  ifohn  Eiting,  dry  goods;  Elick 
iV'  Pioyd,  tile  factory:  J.  E.  Ellsworth,  wagmib 
and  carriages;  .M.  S.  Elzey.  jewelry;  Evert  6c 
Itoop,  grocery;  E.  Forbing,  saloon;  Fritzin- 
ger  t*c  ivirsch,  lumber;  J.  S.  (iaspei-,  saloon; 
Glass  6c  Magley,  hardware  and  machinery; 
Hammel  A:  Wilcox,  saw-mill ;  Hart  it  Egg, 
foundry;  Hart  A:  France,  saloon;  J.  S.  Hart, 
mill;  Hite  6c  Adams,  slack  barrels;  A.  Holt- 
house,  boots  and  shoes;  AV.  V.  Hubbarti,  pho- 
tographer; AV.  S.  Hughes,  marble;  (J.  W. 
Hull,  dry  goods;  V.  Johns,  s;iloon;  Johnson 
Brothers,  saw  and  planing  mill;  John  King, 
waffons  and  carriacres;  J.  W.  Kleinheinz, 
saloon;  Henry  Krick,  brick;  Henry  Lang, 
saloon;  John  Lose,  barber;  Alann  A:  Burk- 
head,  grocery;  Jacob  ALirtin,  bakery;  Henry 
Mayer,  brewery;  I.  J.  ^liesse,  !Miesse  House; 
^Vdam  Miller,  saloon;  Miller  Ijrothers,  bar- 
bers; J.  A.  JHlls,  grocery;  E.  D.  ]\[otiett, 
proprietDr  Decatur  ./c^m/v^'c/,"  ^^yer  ]!rothers, 
woolen  mill;  AV.  H.  Nachtrieb  it  liro.,  drugs; 
Niblick,  Crawford  A'  Sons,  dry  goods  and 
clothing;  Patterson  A:  Pillai-s,  grist-TJiill; 
Pease  A:  Colchen,  bakery  and  restaurant; 
J.  AV.  Place,  bakery;    A.  K.   Pierce,  drugs; 


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lIlSTonr    iih'    ADAMS    COUNTY 


II.  S.  I'lirtc'i-,  liiiniet-s;  A. 
^;iliiciii;  K;iiliiii;iV  Iiicc,  livvi'v 
(iilliij;,  saw-mill;  I.  Ko>eiitliall,  clotliinu-; 
lk0.ss  iV'  KluL',  Macksinithri;  AiiL,nist  Sciilcgcl, 
biacksiuith;  i ).  Selile^a'l,  tiusniitli;  F.  Sliattur 
iSi  Bro.,  hanhvaiv  iiiid  iinpleinents;  D.  Sliow- 
oi'S,  Em])ire  House;  SmitL  ik,  Jiryson,  meat 
market;  P.  W.  Smitli  tV:  Co.,  saM'-inill;  W. 
(t.  Spencer  A:  Ero.,  liard ware;  Sprang  ik  True, 
dry  <;oods;  Stone  A  ^langold,  liardware;  J5. 
J.  Tervicr,  liardware;  I).  ('.  'l'own.seiui,  Eiirt 
House;  Tyrrell  iV:  ]\roritz,  blacksmiths;  J.  II. 
A'ogelwede,  boots  and  shoes;  J.  W.  Vogel- 
wede,  saloon;  Yore  A:  (,V>.\,  notions;  AVeber 
A:  I'uinbcrii-,  livery;  John  "Weltly,  grocery; 
Henry  Winnes,  boots  and  shoes;  "Woodward 
A:  Auten,  t'nrnitnre;  L.  Yager,  furniture;  Eli 
Zimmerman,  saloon. 


Decatur  had  a  small  district  school-liouse 
until  1>^54,  in  which  year  a  two-story  frame 
buililiuLj  was  put  up  at  a  cost  of  S3,()00.  It 
was  40  X  W  feet  in  size,  and  contained  six 
rooms.  It  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present 
brick  school-house,  and  after  it  finished  its 
usefulness  as  a  school  building  in  1886,  it 
was  scild  to  Henry  Krick  and  moved  upon 
Second  street,  where  it  now  stands  unused. 
In  ISSO,  when  this  buildiiif^  had  become 
uncomfortably  crowded,  a  small  one-story 
frame  house  was  built  on  the  same  lot  for  the 
primary  pupils.  This  building  yet  stands 
where  it  was  put  up.  The  present  model 
school-house  is  two  stories  in  height,  contains 
eii^ht  rooms,  is  heated  by  furnace  (Smead  6c 
Co.,  of  Toledo),  and  was  completed  July  1, 
1S86,  at  a  cost  of  !?15,0U().  It  is  all  paid 
for,  and  there  are  no  bonds  to  pay  interest  on. 

The  course  oi'  study  now  in  use  was  adopted 
in  In7U,  when  Dr.  S.  (\.  Hastings  was  prin- 
cipal. He  held  that  position  three  years. 
C.  G.  White  was  then  in  charge  for  two  years. 


Rademacher,  and  CJ.  \\  .  A.  Luckey  lias  now  been  principal 
liobinsuii  A'  for  three  years.  The  other  teachi'rs  for  ISSll- 
'S7  arc-  Mrs.  Ilertlia  "Si.  Luckey,  Mattie  A. 
AVolf,  llellena  Parrot,  Lucy  Yail,  Mrs.  Pelle 
Fristoe,  Edith  Peynolds,  Kate  Jackson,  Hiidc 
Miller  and  Xettie  Moses. 

The  persons  of  school  age  in  the  district 
in  1885-'8C  were  in  number,  79C;  enrolled  in 
school.  521;  boys,  250;  girls,  265;  average 
number  belongintr,  3!J6.3;  average  daily 
attendance,  372.6;  average  number  of  pupils 
belonging  to  each  teacher,  41.  The  teachers' 
pay-roll  amounts  to  ,"^3,216  a  year,  and  the 
total  expenditures  for  school  jiurposes  fall  a 
little  below  s4,0()0. 

The  high  school  has  a  three  years'  course, 
fitting  pupils  either  for  college  or  fur  the 
'•  school  of  life."  There  is  also  a  one  year 
post-graduate  course  foi'  the  training  of  those 
who  contemplate  teaching.  The  graduates 
from  the  high  school  now  numbei'  thirty- 
eight.     They  are: 

1881. — Ilufus  Allison,  Carrie  Plackburn, 
Fannie  Dorwin,  Anna  Fitzgerald,  Kate  Num- 
bers, Emily  Numbers  and  ]\Iaggie  Studa- 
baker. 

1882. — Page  Plackburn,  Manasseh  Gerard, 
Kate  Jackson,  Dink  Miller,  Flo  AVoods, 
Frank  Metts  and  Jolin  K.  McConnehey. 

1883. — Lizzie  Brake,  ]\Ielissa  ircConnehey, 
George  Brock,  Dick  Dorwin,  Craig  Miller  and 
Manasseh  Gerard. 

1884. — Elmer  Richmond  and  Iila  France. 
•  1885. — Etta  Chubb,  Nettie  Moses,  Edith 
lieynolds  and  Chrissie  AVymer. 

1886.  —  Alatie  Auten,  Kittie  Christen, 
Mary  Heller,  Emma  Jackson,  Lizzie  Jackson, 
Ilattie  King,  Cora  Morrow,  Jennie  Patterson, 
Gi'ace  liey nolds,  Yic  Stone,  Ilattie  AVilson 
and  Homer  !Moses. 

The  present  school  board  includes:  G. 
Christen,  President;  "\V.  G.  Spencer,  Secre- 
tary, and  John  Crawford,  Treasurer. 


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C'Ml'l!('HI':S. 

A7.  jVari/\<<  VathoVie  Vhxtrch.-Aw  tlic 
year  of  our  l.unl  1N87,  Henry  Hirkus,  Henry 
]\[initer,  .lusi'pli  Sniitli,  Aiitlurny  Ivnlmi'  ;uul  ; 
]jei'nard  Hdltliaus  arrival  at  Decatur,  \vlien 
tlie  town  ha'l  lieeii  laid  out  liut  one  year 
before,  in  l^o'I,  liy  ISauniel  L.  Ituggs,  JdIui 
rieynolds,  ami  .Idsejjli  .lcllln^(ln.  At  their 
ai'rival,  there  were  but  few  houses,  those  ol 
Jacob  Iluri'er,  Kug^s,  Reynolds,  '\"ei!ei'  and 
James  jSTiblick. 

In  tlie  tbllowini^  year,  1S38,  caine  (Jeorge 
Fitticli,  John  Jliiilcr,  (TCorge  Spnller,  Tinio- 
tliy  Coffee,  Daniel  Oofi'ee,  Joliii  CIoss  and 
Ileiiry  AVill.  In  tlie  spring  of  183S  the  first 
mass  WHS  said  in  (-ieorge  Fittich's  house  by 
Father  ]\[ue]ler.  In  the  following  year,  1839, 
]\rathias  ]\[uller  came  here.  \\\  the  following 
year,  18-iO,  arri\ed  liere  Henry  lleidemann 
and  Heni-y  (4rutzl<amp.  In  1841  John  Mei- 
bers'  family  came  liere.  Tiie  second  priest  of 
St.  .Mary's  congregation  was  Father  Ilamion. 
The  tirst  Catlmlics  baptized  at  Decatur  were 
]\Iinnie  Ilolthaus,  afterward  wife  of  Conrad 
Brake,  ami  ^lary  Closs,  now  wife  of  Peter 
Ilolthans.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of 
Timothy  Coffee  and  Margreth  Miiller,  by 
Father  Ilamion,  on  the  10th  of  January", 
ISll.  The  third  priest  was  Father  Josepli 
IJudolph.  He  took  up  a  subscription  for  a 
church,  and  was  assisted  by  Timotliy  Coffee, 
who  collected  s75,  and  by  John  Closs  and 
Anthony  Kohne,  who  collected  s200  at  Cin- 
cinnati. The  beginning  of  the  new  church  was 
nnule  by  the  Spullers,  who  brought  with  oxen, 
through  the  then  deep  mud,  the  heavy  tim- 
ber for  the  first  church. 

Tlie  fourth  priest  here  M'as  Father  iloncina, 
and  the  lifth  was  Father  Faller.  In  the  year 
1842  the  graveyard  in  the  south  part  of  the 
town  was  bought.  Father  Faller  began  to 
build  the  old  cliureh  in  184G.  Before  tliis 
time  mass  was  said  in  Fittich's  house,  in  the 


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Closs  tavern,  and  in  the  cdd  conrt-liouse. 
During  this  time  l'"atlicr  J.  IJenoit  came  here 
to  say  mass  and  to  jjreach  in  Ihiglisli  and  in 
French,  and  tend  to  nek  calls.  In  1847  the 
old  frame  church  was  plastei'ed.  Father  Faller 
also  bought  the  tirst  bell  at  Cincinnati  for 
!^00,  which  bell  liati  to  be  shippeil  hy  c.mal  to 
Fort  ^Vaync.  During  Fallicr  I'aller's  time 
were  bought  three  inuri-  int.-,  .■,(»  the  church 
ground  consists  of  six  lots.  The  si.xtli  priest 
here  was  Potter  15.  II.  Schnltes.  He  was  the 
tirst  priest  stationed  liei'e,  and  he  built  in 
1852  the  old  priest's  house.  Father  Schnltes 
stayed  here  till  August,  185G. 

From  August,  185G,  till  June,  1857,  Father 
Faller  and  Father  lindolph  paid  visits  to  St. 
]\Iary's  congregation.  Frmn  June,  1857, 
lather  Lebastion  (-iontez,  C.  P.  P.  S.,  was 
priest  here  until  ^lay,  1n5S.  ^Vfter  him,  in 
the  year  1858,  came  Father  L.  Schneider,  who 
remained  here  but  a  ii^w  nionths.  In  1858, 
in  July,  came  Father  Jacob  (ireyer,  who 
remained  here  until  September,  lSl)2.  Pre- 
vious to  this  there  were  two  missions  held: 
the  liist  one  in  1857,  by  Father  Andrew 
Kunkler,  C.  P.  P.  S. ;  the  second  by  Father 
F.  X.  Wenninger,  S.  J.,  in  1859.  After 
Father  ]\Ieyers,  there  being  no  stationary 
priest  here,  Father  Ileikmann  t'rom  St.  llary's 
Church,  Fort  Wayne,  came  here  off  and  on  to 
say  mass.  In  the  year  18t)5,  in  January, 
Father  Julius  Becks  came,  who  remained  one 
year.  After  him  the  congregation  was  an 
orphan  for  one  year,  until  in  1865,  in  the 
fall  of  the  year,  Father  John  Wemhoff  came, 
who  remained  here  until  September,  1872. 
He  took  up  a  subscription  for  the  present 
brick  church,  and  had  the  foundation  laid. 

In  the  year  1872,  in  September,  Father 
Weinlioff"  was  succeeded  by  Father  S.  A'^on 
Schweiller,  who  had  the  new  brick  church 
built  and  finished.  Father  Von  Schwedler 
remained  until   February,  1877,  and  was  sue- 


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cccdeJ  l>y  l'';itlier  .1.  Niisliauin,  wlio  rciiiuiiicd 
liere  until  July,  1880,  wliuii  hu  was  succ-cedoil 
l)y  Father  II.  Tlico.  AVilkeii,  who  iu  the  same 
year,  18S0,  began  the  new  brick  school-houde, 
which  was  finished  in  1881.  lie  also  built 
in  1885  a  new  parsonage.  lie  is  at  present 
tlie  residing  priest  at  Decatur. 

The  St.  Mary's  congregation,  being  now 
forty-nine  years  old,  has  grown  from  a  small 
beginning  into  a  large  congregation,  consist- 
ing at  ])resent  of  200  families  and  over  1,000 
souls.  It  also  has  a  good  church  pi'uperty  in 
a  good  large  brick  church,  a  good  brick 
school-house  with  four  rooms,  and  new  brick 
pai'Soiiage  (at  present  the  best  in  the  diocese 
of  Fort  Wayne).  All  the  buildings  has'e  cost 
about  $50,000.  This  congregation  will  next 
year,  1888,  celebrate  the  jubilee  of  her  lifth 
anniversary. 

2fvthoJi-it  Kplscopal  Church. — The  first 
Methodist  class  was  organized  at  Decatur  in 
1838,  and  Kev.  Hall  conducted  the  first  relig- 
ious services.  After  him  the  circuit  travel- 
ers who  came  here  wei'e  llevs.  Black,  Jesse 
Sparks,  Dean,  G.  W.  Boyd,  Tillotson,  Forbes, 
Ilahn,  Doiiglas,  Alguire  and  Clai'k.  In 
1851,  under  Mr.  Ilahn's  iniluence,  a  frame 
church  was  built  at  the  corner  of  First  and 
Jackson  streets,  costing  $600.  Soon  after, 
Decatur  w^as  made  a  charge.  The  pastors 
since  liave  been  Revs.  J.  J.  Elrod,  S.  0. 
Swazzie,  C.  W.  Camp,  I.  S.  Sellers,  W.  T. 
Smith,  E.  S.  Preston,  C.  Disbro,  N.  D. 
Shackleford,  C.  U.  Wilkinson,  Y.  A.  Robinson, 
R.  D.  Spellman,  W.  E.  McCarty,  George 
Adams,  J.  J].  Cams,  IM.  S.  Metts,  M.  A. 
Teague,  J.  Greer  and  Thomas  Stabler.  The 
church  has  now  about  200  members  in  full 
standing.  A  handsome  new  brick  church 
was  built  in  1881  and  '82,  at  the  corner  of 
Monroe  and  Fifth  streets.  The  contract 
price  was  $10,000,  but  the  actual  cost  was 
neai-ly  $1-1,000.     It  is   heated   by  a  furnace. 


and  has  an  auditorium  fifty  feet  scpiarc, 
besiiies  other  rooms  for  Sunday-school,  etc. 
James  T.  Merryman  is  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school,  which  has  a  membership  of 
300,  and  an  average  attendance  of  175. 

Presbyterian  Church. — This  church  was 
organized  September  19,  1840,  b3'  Rev.  Isaac 
A.  Ogden,  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of 
]\Iiami,  and  by  order  of  that  Presbytery,  upon 
the  petition  of  several  persons  residing  in 
the  village  of  Decatur  and  its  vicinity.  The 
organization  was  effected  iu  the  court-house, 
and  the  following  thirteen  became  the  first 
members:  Samuel  A.  Patterson,  Julia  A. 
Patterson,  Samuel  Allen,  Harriet  Allen, 
David  Allen  and  wife,  William  .Vllen, 
George  Caskey,  Elizabeth  Caskey,  Mary 
Watkins,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  Patterson,  ^Irs. 
Rebecca  Rice  and  Adam  Showers.  Samuel 
A.  Patterson  and  David  Allen  were  elected 
and  ordained  ruling  elders. 

In  1836,  four  years  before  the  organiza- 
tion of  this  church,  Samuel  Johnson  offered 
to  give  a  lot  to  each  of  the  four  religions 
denominations  as  one  of  the  inducements  to 
the  commissioners  to  make  Decatur  the 
county  seat.  The  lot  given  to  the  Presbyte- 
rians, located  on  Fourth  street,  was  afterward 
sold,  and  out-lot  No.  0  purchased.  July  1, 
18-l-i,  the  congregation  held  a  meeting  and 
appointed  a  committee  to  draft  a  plan  and 
estimate  the  cost  of  a  church  building.  De- 
cember 27,  1845,  this  committee  reported  in 
favor  of  a  church  30x40  feet  in  size,  to  cost 
$800.  This  plan  was  adopted,  but  nothing 
was  done  in  consequence.  In  1850  the  soci- 
ety decided  to  build  a  church  40x60,  and  the 
year  following  they  bought  of  Samuel  L. 
Rugg  two  lots  (Nos.  329  and  330),  for  $35. 
On  one  of  these  the  first  house  of  worship 
was  built,  and  on  the  same  site  the  present 
one  stands. 

The  church  enjoyed    very  little  preaching 


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tliiriiiy  Uic  iirtt  two  years,  llev.  .1.  Kiiss 
proaclifd  lor  six  months  of  tlu'  time.  The 
iirst  ]iaslor  tlie  clinrch  ever  liad  was  Ilev. 
Joiiii  II.  Neviiis,  who  was  born  in  New 
Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  of  German  descent, 
lie  was  educated  at  Miami  University,  0.\- 
ford,  Ohio,  and  in  July,  1841,  soon  after  lie 
had  completed  his  studies  for  the  ministry, 
he  visited  the  church  at  Decatur  while  on  a 
missionary  tour  under  the  direction  of  the 
!Miami  Presbytery,  within  the  bounds  of 
which  this  church  was  located  at  that  time. 
Soon  after,  Mr.  Nevius  was  called  to  the  pas- 
torate, at  a  salary  of  8175.  lie  remained 
thirteen  years.  Services  during  those  times 
were  generally  held  in  the  court-honse. 

The  first  church  was  completed  early  in 
1854,  and  on  Felirnary  6  of  that  year  all  tlie 
pews  (e.xcejit  one  reserved  for  the  pastor)  were 
sold  at  auction.  The  highest  price  paid  for 
a  pew  was  s2G,  and  the  amount  received  for 
pews  was  S7U(5.25.  The  sale  was  not  for  one 
year,  but  for  as  long  as  the  church  should 
stand. 

This  was  not  as  long  as  expected, 
liowever,  for  Xoveniber  17,  1802,  the  build- 
ing was  Consumed  by  a  lire,  which  was  die- 
covered  during  the  holding  of  a  communion 
service.  A  neat  and  comfortable  brick  church 
was  then  built  at  a  cost  of  §4,000. 

After  Mr.  Kevins  left,  tlie  church  was 
witliout  regular  ])reacliing  until  1856,  when 
Eev.  llobert  IMitchell  and  Ilev.  Mr.  McCor- 
mick  came  successively  for  a  short  time. 
Rev.  Donaldson,  of  Ossian,  and  Rev.  Lowry, 
of  Fort  Wayne,  preached  occasionally  until 
(October  19,  1859,  when  J.  A.  Mclntyre,  a 
licentiate  of  Allegheny  Presbytery,  was  called 
to  the  pastorate.  lie  resigned  May  9,  1861, 
and  the  church  was  then  supplied  by  Rev. 
Thomas  Elcock  until  June,  1866.  Rev.  A. 
E.  Lowes  began  his  labors  here  May  1, 1807, 
and    ended    them    October  5,    1868.     P^-om 


February,  1870,  to  October,  1871,  Rev.  R. 
A.  Chirran,  D.  I).,  preached,  liev.  Norman 
Jones  was  called  to  the  j)astorate  in  Februai'y, 
1872,  and  remained  until  the  autumn  ot 
1877.  Rev.  C.  A.  Kanouse  came  from  Craw- 
fordsvillc  in  December,  1877,  and  left  in  the 
spring  of  1882.  Rev.  A.  J.  Reynolds  was 
here  from  September,  1882,  to  (October, 
1886,  and  is  now  at  Albion,  Indiana.  Rev.  1. 
T.  Holt,  the  present  pastor,  came  from  Union 
City,  Indiana,  in  December,  1886. 

During  Mr.  Jones'  jiastoratc  a  $1,400  par- 
sonage was  built,  and  $300  expended  on  the 
interior  of  the  church.  In  1884  the  latter 
was  again  refitted.  The  elders  of  the  church 
are  Samuel  IMoses,  D.  O.  Jackson,  Ed.  S. 
Moses  and  Charles  True;  trustees,  Robert 
Patterson,  Thomas  True  and  James  McGon- 
agle.  J.  F.  i\Iann  is  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school. 

Jiaptist  (Jhurch. — The  Raptists  were  organ- 
ized for  many  years  before  the  war,  Init  had 
no  house  of  worship,  and  finally  became  dor- 
mant. In  the  summer  of  18^4  the  society 
was  reorganized  with  eighteen  members. 
Revs.  "Willard  and  D.  B.  Record  have  been 
the  pastors  of  the  church.  The  last  named 
commenced  his  work  here  in  1886.  A  brick 
house  of  worship  was  commenced  in  1886, 
and  when  completed  will  cost  not  far  from 
$3,000.  Meetings  are  now  held  in  a  hall 
opposite  the  court-house.  J.  il.  Archbold, 
A.  R.  AVolf  and  L.  R.  Blossom  are  trustees, 
and  Sylvester  AVolf  is  deacon.  A.  R.  AVolf 
is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 

Evunijel'icdl  Association.  -The  first  preach- 
ing in  this  county  by  a  minister  of  this  de- 
nomination was  in  1847.  For  a  number  of 
years  all  services  were  in  the  German  lan- 
guage, then  both  languages  were  used,  and 
now  English  is  always  used.  The  member- 
shi])  in  the  county  is  now  300,  and  five 
churches  are  supported — one  in  Preble  Town- 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


ship,  twi>   ill   Union,  one   in   St.   Mary's,  and 
ime  in  the  city  of  JJecatnr. 

I'he  jirst  preaching  in  the  hitter  phiec  was 
liy  Ilev.  S.  S.  Comlo,  in  187 1,  iu  tlie  okl 
court-house.  A  churcii  was  organized  in 
1872,  and  a  liouse  of  worship  huilt  in  1873, 
at  a  cost  of  82,500.  It  is  a  wliite  frame 
structure,  and  stands  on  Wincliester  street. 
The  pastors  have  been:  Ilev.  George  Frehafer, 
1872-74 ;  llev.  John  15aughnian,  187-4-'75; 
Iwcv.  Jaincs  Wales,  1875-'7r);  Tlev.  Joseph 
Fisher,  1876-'78;  Kev.  L.  Launer,  1S7S-'7'J; 
Eev.  Dill,  1879-'8();  llev.  I.  B.  Fisher, 
18S0-'8l;  llev.  J.  M.  Dustman,  1881-'84; 
Kev.  A.  R.  Shafer,  18S4-'S(j;  P.ev.  J.  E. 
Stoops,  1S8G.  A  parsonage  was  built  \i\ 
1883,  just  south  of  the  church,  at  a  cost  of 
$^800.  The  association  has  a  membership  of 
just  100.  A.  Gottschalk  is  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-school,  which  has  a  member- 
ship of  about  150.  The  trustees  of  the 
church  are  S.  Linn,  Israel  Engle  and  John 
C.  CViok.  The  class  leaders  are  John  C.  Cook 
and  John  McConnehey.  Tiie  stewards  are 
David  Foreman  and  James  Barkley. 

The-  Christian  Clmrch  was  organized  in 
1882,  with  about  thirty  members,  and  soon 
after  purchased  the  frame  building  formerly 
usetl  by  the  Methodists.  They  paid  $700 
for  it,  and  expended  §400  in  repairing  and 
remodeling  the  same.  Kev.  JI.  M.  Gleason 
and  Itcv.  M.  L.  Elaney  have  served  as  ])as- 
tors  of  the  church,  which  has  been  without 
regular  services  for  the  past  two  years.  Steps 
are  now  being  taken  to  secure  a  pastor.  The 
clnircli  has  now  some  sixty  members.  W. 
W.  Harris  is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  which  has  perhaps  sixty  attendants. 
T.  P.  Harris  and  F.  T.  Gilpin  are  elders; 
Harvey  Segur  and  W.  W.  Harris,  deauons; 
T.  r.  Harris,  John  T.  l!ailey  and  E.  N.  Tyr- 
rell, trustees. 

Tlie  German  Reformed  C/iu)ch  was  organ- 


ized here  about  ISlH,  and  soon  after  built  a 
liouse  of  worship.  The  membership  is  about 
thirty.  Rev.  Henry  \'itz,  tiie  present  pastor, 
came  in  Se])tember.  1885. 

Luthcraib  CliurcJi. — The  Lntlierans  have 
effected  an  organization,  but  have  no  build- 
ing yet. 

soci?:ties. 

Decatur  Lodye,  Xo.  571,  A.  F.  <k  A.  J/., 
was  chartered  ilay  27,  1884,  with  ilonas  S. 
Coverdale  as  "W'orshipful  ]\Iaster;  John  D. 
Hale  as  Senior  Warden,  and  Benjamin  AV. 
Sholty  as  Junior  Warden.  It  was  organized 
under  dispensation  June  9,  1883,  with  the 
same  ofttcers  as  under  the  charter,  except  that 
Robert  S.  Peterson  was  senior  warden  in- 
stead of  Mr.  Hale.  Tiie  officers  for  1887 
are:  Jonas  S.  Coverdale,  Worshipful  blaster; 
John  D.  Hale,  Senior  AVarden;  Alfred  R. 
Pierce,  Junior  Warden;  G.  (^Ihristen,  Secre- 
tary; R.  B.  Allison,  Treasurer;  P.  C.  Clever, 
Senior  Deacon;  J.  T.  Merryinan,  Junior  Dea- 
con; Levi  Barkley,  Tyler.  The  lodge  has  a 
membership  of  twenty-six,  and  meets  on 
Tuesday  evening  on  or  before  each  full  moon. 
It  has  a  long  lease  of  a  hall  over  T.  T.  Dor- 
W'in's  drug  store.  This  lodge  is  a  reorgani- 
zation of  Decatur  Lodge,  -Xo.  254,  which 
was  organized  before  the  war,  and  surren- 
dered its  charter  in  May,  1882. 

St.  Marifs  Lodge,  No.  167,  I.  0.  0.  F., 
was  organized  September  1,  1859,  with  six 
members — W.  G.  Spencer,  David  Studabaker, 
Thomas  J.  Pierce,  Dan.  Miller,  Timothy  J. 
Matheiiy  and  John  ilcConnehey.  The  first 
officers  were  :  Tliomas  J.  Pierce,  Noble 
Grand;  Dan.  Miller,  Vice-Grand;  W.  G. 
Spencer,  Secretary  ;  John  McConnehey, 
Ti'casurer.  The  officers  at  the  present  writ- 
ing are:  James  F.  Mann,  Noble  Grand; 
Victors.  Reed,  Vice-Grand;  George  AV.  A. 
Luckey,  Secretary;  Lewis  C.  Miller,  Perma- 
nent Secretary;  James  T.   Merry  man,  Treas- 


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DECATUU. 


iirer;  AV.  (4.  Spt'ia'cr,  GoiltVi-y  Oliristcii  iuid 
r\  J.  Gillig,  Trustees.  A[r.  Spencer  liasl)eeii 
ii  trustee  eviU'  since  tlio  organization  of  tlie 
lodge.  Tiie  lotlge  meets  every  ]\Iondaj  even- 
int(,  lias  a  meinljcrsliip  of  100,  and  is  worth 
abunt  $lt»,000.  It  owns  tiie  three-story  brick, 
26  X  liJ2,  at  tlie  southwest  corner  of  Second 
ami  ^lonroe  streets. 

J\\'atur  Jl  iiciniij)iiunt,  No.  US,  I.  ().  O.F., 
was  organized  under  dis]icnsatioii  October  17, 
1875,  the  first  mcniljers  being  William  G. 
Spencer, AV.  P.  :Nroun,  A.J.  Hill,  15.  JI.  Dent, 
Henry  AVinnes,  Jtietrich  Reidcr,  Jeremiah 
Archbuh!,  Jesse  lUitler,  D.  ().  Jackson,  D.  J. 
Spencer  and  ]•'.  J.  Gillig.  The  first  otHcers 
were:  AV.  G.  Spencer,  Chief  Priest;  15.  II. 
Dent,  Senior  AVarden;  J.  Archbcdd,  High 
Priest;  A.  .1.  Hill,  Scribe;  Ilenr^'  AVinnes, 
Treasurer,  and  J.  P.  Aloon,  Junior  AVarden. 
The  olHcers  at  this  writing  are:  James  F. 
!Mann,  Chiet  Priest;  Daniel  Sprang,  Senior 
AVarden;  Jacob  I'ldiler,  High  Priest;  Joseph 
E.  Thomas,  Junior  AVarden;  John  E.  Smith, 
Treasurer.  The  encampment  meets  the  first 
and  third  Friday  evenings  of  each  month.  It 
has  $800  worth  of  proj)erty  and  forty-three 
members. 

OVive  Lodge,  Rehehih  Degree,  was  char- 
tered June  24,  1872,  the  first  metnbers  being 
Jlrs.  Mary  E.  Spencer,  Mrs.  Mary  Simcoke, 
Airs.  Harriet  Studabaker,  Airs.  Catlierine 
Gillette,  Airs.  Sophie  Eeider,  Airs.  A^ictoria 
Hill,  AV.  G.  Spencer,  Dan.  Aliller,  F.  J.  Gil- 
lig,  David  Studabaker  and  G.  Reider.  The 
lodge  meets  the  first  and  third  AVedncsdays 
of  each  montli. 

Ktlioitga  Lodge,  No.  G5,  K.  1\,  was  in- 
stituted August  7,  1875,  with  twenty-eight 
members  and  the  tbllowing  otficers:  B.  S. 
Thompson,  Vice-Chancellor;  P.  A,  Curran, 
Prelate;  AV.  AV.  A'an  Ness,  Past  Chancellor; 


AV.  AI.AValters,  Keeiicr  of  P.^cords  and  Seals; 
J.  P.  (Juinn,  Alaster  of  IvKchequer;  L.  D. 
Plielps,  Master  of  Finance;  C.  T.  Dorwin, 
Alaster  at  Arms;  Fred  Shaffer,  Inside  (iuard; 
Geoi-ge  Alorgret,  Outside  Guard.  Tiie  pres- 
ent otficers  are:  John  T.  France,  Past  Chan- 
cellor; P.  R.  Albers,  Chancellor  Commander; 
Geoge  D.  Shigley,  Vice-Cliancellor;  David 
Ilunsicker,  Prelate;  P.  K.  Erwin,  Keeper  of 
Records  and  Seals;  J.  AV.  Place,  Alaster  of 
Exchcfpier:  August  Schlegel,  Alaster  of  Fi- 
nance; James  Ilurst,  Alaster  at  Arms.  Tiie 
lodge  has  about  fifty  members,  and  meets 
every  Thursday  evening  in  its  hall  in  Derkes' 
building. 

tSniii  Henri/  I'ost,  No.  Go,  G.  A.  Ii.  was 
mustered  Alay  12,  1882,  with  thirty  mem- 
bers, and  the  following  otHcers  were  elected: 
Henry  Hart,  Commander  ;  D.  Layman, 
Senior  A'"ice-Commander;  I>.  AV.  Sholty, 
Junior  Vice-Commander;  John  P.  Quinn, 
Officer  of  the  Day;  J.  S.  AIcLeod,  Officer  of 
the  Guard;  L.  A.  Counter,  Quartermaster; 
AV.  Kern,  Chaplain;  R.  J.  Freeman,  Surgeon; 
A.  ('.  Gregory,  Adjutant.  Tlie  otficers  for 
the  year  18S7  are:  Henry  Hart,  Com- 
mander; Alichacl  J.  AVitzberger,  Senior 
A''ice-Commander  ;  Ezra  Cutting,  Junior 
A''ice-Commander;  R.  A.  Drummond,  Quar- 
terma.-ter;  John  D.  Hale,  Adjutant;  D.  Lay- 
man, Chaplain;  D.  K.  Sliackley,  Officer  of 
the  Day;  A.  J.  Teeplc,  Ofiicer  of  the  Guard; 
A.  J.  Holloway,  Sui-geoii.  The  post  has 
mustered  in  all  129  comrades,  of  whom  100 
are  now  in  good  standing.  It  meets  the  first 
and  third  Satunlays  of  each  month. 

T/ie  Wo/iiaii^s  Relief  Corps,  auxiliary  to 
the  post,  was  mustered  October  5,  1886,  with 
twenty-eight  members.  It  meets  the  first 
an<l  third  Friday  of  each  month.  Mrs.  Lou 
KeniUHly  is  president. 


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HlSTOltY    OF    ADAMS    VUUNTY. 


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^     ^"V^IX-iX-iJ^G-ES 


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GENEVA. 


'  I  Is  rVA,  the  second  place 
■*^     111  population  in  Adams 
CoimtY,  is  in  Wabash 
Townshiji.     The  origi- 
n  d  town  site  was  called 
"  Vlexandria"  by   Al- 
es ander  Hill,  the  pro 
prietor,  about  1843.     Some  tive 
years    later    David    Studabaker 


j^"?^'^      platted  an  addition  adjoining  on 
'"'^^m¥i^     the  north.    The  name  "  IJuffalo  " 


was  then  adopted  and  retained 
until  the  building  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati, Richmond  it  Fort  Wayne 
(Grand  Ilapids  i^c  Indiana)  liail- 
road  in  1871.  Judge  Studabaker  then  ex- 
tended his  addition  to  the  north  by  purchase; 
tlie  Ijutcher  heirs  also  platted  an  addition, 
and  when  the  railroad  company  established 
a  station  and  named  it  Geneva,  that  became 
the  name  of  the  village.  It  is  said  that  the 
greater  jjart  of  the  land  now  covered  by  the 
village  formerly  belonged  to  L>r.  Snow  and 
1'.  iM.  Collins,  and  cost  them  $9  un  acre. 
Judge  Studabaker  paid  them  ^20  an  acre. 

(ieneva    was    incorporated    by   act    of  the 
Legislature,  and    the    charter    election    held 


January  27,  1874,  when  the  otticials  chosen 
were:  IL  Todd,  John  D.  Hale  and  K.  P. 
Ileaton,  Trustees,  of  whom  R.  Todd  was 
President;  John  Q.  Anderson,  Clerk;  Charles 
D.  Porter,  Treasurer.  The  othcers  at  this 
writing  are:  Xathan  Shephard,  W.  JI.  II. 
Beers  and  M.  J.  Gottschalk,  Trustees;  A.  G. 
Briggs,  Clerk;  John  C.  Hale,  Treasurer. 
The  population  of  Geneva  is  about  500. 

The  postoftice  was  originally  established 
under  the  name  of  •»  Limljerlost,"  so  called 
from  the  stream  of  that  name,  and  afterward 
named  Geneva  when  the  village  was  re- 
named. The  first  postmaster  was  Jacob 
Conkle,and  his  successors  have  been:  R.Todd, 
AV.  W.  Roberts,  W.  II.  Fought  and  Samuel 
F.  I]iteman,the  present  incumbent.  Geneva 
became  a  money -order  office  in  August,  1880. 
The  tirst  order  issued  was  August  2,  1880, 
and  the  first  paid  was  August  21,  1880. 

Geneva  has  had  a  newspaper  for  the  past 
six  years,  and  part  of  the  time  two  papers. 

liUSINESS  niKlCCTOKY. 

Tlic  lirms  doing  business  in  Geneva  in 
February,  1887,  are: 

II.  ]M.  Aspy,  druggist  and  physician;  Will 


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VII.IAGA'S. 


Hair,  jewelry;  Charles  II.  Jicll,  grocery; 
LawreiK'O  liitoler,  luiriiess;  S.  F.  Jiiteiiian, 
j)ostotiice;  James  IJrelstbrd,  physician;  A. 
G.  Briggs,  hardware;  J.  G.  J]urk,  livery; 
Jesse  Carey,  hardware;  A.  Cnlley  it  Sons, 
sewing  machines;  David  Dillinger,  black- 
einith;  AViliiam  Drew,  attui-ney;  Will  l'\ 
Fought,  stoves  and  tiii\\:ire;  S.  Frank,  dry 
goods;  Garrison  A:  Drew,  t'nriiiture;  Gotts- 
chalk  »fe  Shoemaker,  dry  goods  and  clothing; 
John  C.  Hale,  general  store;  W.  11.  Harper, 
hotel;  Chris.  Ilaviland,  meat  market;  M.  F. 
llcaston,  hotel;  S.  W.  Ilill  »t  JJro.,  grain; 
Kelley  Bros.,  agricultural  implements;  F.  K. 
Kinney,  saloon;  F.  B.  Manley,  attorney; 
Adam  A.  Mason,  grocery;  AV.  S.  Meeks, 
saw-mill;  Feecher  Jleibers,  saloon;  Isaac 
Kelson,  poultry;  David  Folm,  shoemaker; 
Charles  D.  Furter,  drugs;  E.  C.  Fyle,  gen- 
eral store;  S.  G.  lialston,  physician;  Alex- 
antler  Uoliinson,  saloon;  A.  O.  Iloll,  barber; 
J.  F.  Sclicei-,  saw-mill;  Sutton  Sz  Striggle, 
blacksmitliy  and  agricultural  implements; 
n.  S.  Thomas,  proprietor  Geneva  Herald ; 
Watson  k,  McWhinney,  general  store;  Wat- 
son &  Meeks,  grocery. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  iirst  school  in  this  part  of  Wabash 
Township  was  kept  by  F.  Todd  in  a  log 
school-house  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 20.  The  school-house  used  in  the  vil- 
lage tor  many  years  was  a  frame  building. 
This  being  too  small,  in  l>^7^i  the  present 
commodious  brick  house  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
i;3,500.  There  are  four  rooms,  and  four 
teachers  are  employed.  Those  for  the  cur- 
rent year  are:  W.  A.  Aspy,  FUa  Snow,  Lulu 
Meeks  and  Ella  Friggs.  The  principals  have 
been,  in  succession:  John  II.  liuuyon,  T.  S. 
Walter,  George  AV.  liurk,  S.  AV.  Skeels,  AV. 
M.  Feed,  John   AV.  AValker,  J.   T.   Smith,  J. 


O.  Jones,  W.  C.   Ladd,    Leonard    Luckcy,   S. 
Feterson  antl  \\ .  A.  Aspy. 

cnuucuES. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  (tc- 
neva  was  organized  about  1840.  The  Iirst 
services  were  at  the  house  of  AVilliam  Shep- 
hard,  Sr.,  and  the  '>  Shephard  class  "  includ- 
ed AVilliam  Shephard  and  wife,  Samuel 
Linton  and  wife,  Henry  Judy  and  wife,  Mr. 
Felt  and  wife,  and  AVilliam  McIIugh  and 
wife.  llev.  G.  AV.  Bowers  was  the  first 
minister.  Other  pastors  were:  Ilevs.  G.  AV. 
Bowers,  AVilliam  Anderson,  Fenser,  F.  F. 
Bowman,  Al)iah  Kerwood,  Henry  F>radley, 
AVilliam  Lash,  C.  E.  Disbro,  M.  A.  Teague, 
N.  T.  Feddycord,  AVilliam  Roberts,  and  W. 
T.  Smith.  Services  were  held  in  neighbor- 
ing houses  until  1856,  when  this  class  was 
divided.  A  part  went  south  into  Jay  County, 
and  a  part  to  Fuii'alo,  where  a  hewed-log 
church  was  erected.  Services  were  held  here 
until  1877,  when  the  present  house  of  wor- 
ship was  erected.  It  was  dedicated  in  June 
of  that  year.  The  trustees  were  Joseph 
Anderson,  D.  B.  Linton  and  John  D.  Hale. 
The  church  was  begun  under  liev.  Jacob 
ILicklin.  His  successors  have  been:  lievs. 
J.  M.  Hush,  D.  Sawyer,  D.  F.  Stright,  AVhit- 
ford  and  N.  Brandenbury.  The  present 
membership  is  about  100.  The  tirst  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school  was  II.  S. 
Judy;  the  present  one  is  L.  AV.  AVatson. 
The  membership  is  about  100. 

United  Brethren  Church. — The  first  ser- 
vices of  this  denomination  were  lield  in  the 
old  log  church  in  1873,  by  Rev.  l-ieeber,  and 
an  organization  was  effected  two  years  later, 
with  perhaps  ten  members.  G.  AV.  Fyle  and 
wife  were  the  first  belonging  to  the  denomi- 
nation to  settle  in  Geneva.  The  church  has 
now  seventy-five  members,  and  has  a  house 
of  worship,  built  in  1881  at  a  cost  of  !?1,700. 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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rjev.  Williiiin  ICarrilcdfV.  of  ]\[ercer  County, 
Oliiu,  is  tlie  p;ibtur.  'i'lie  Siinday-scliool  was 
oi'gaiiized  in  18S2.  The  lirst  siipcriutundeiit 
was  Adam  l>ale.  JTc  was  succeeded  byG.  W. 
I'yle,  who  held  the  pusition  until  November 
1,  1886,  when  A.  J.  Judy  was  elected.  Tlio 
average  attendance  is  about  eighty. 


John  P.  Porter  Post,  No.  83,  G.  A.  R., 
was  inustereil  July  ~i,  1882,  by  Colonel  R.  S. 
llobertson,  mustering  officer.  The  first  mem- 
bers were  Lafayette  liape,  J.  il.  llolloway, 
J.  P.  Scheer,  i\.  W.  11.  Riley,  A.  J.  Judy, 
John  D.  Hale,  S.  G.  Ralston,"  John  C.  Hale, 
George  W.  Cookerly,  AVill.  II.  Fought,  Adain 
Culley,  J.  T.  Young,  AVilliam  Drew,  W.  R. 
ileeks,  Socrates  Cook  and  William  Bair. 
The  first  officers  were:  J.  M.  Ilolloway, 
Commander;  Will.  11.  Fought,  Senior  Vice- 
Commander;  Lafayette  Rape,  Junior  Vice- 
Commander;  John  C.  Hale,  Adjutant;  S.  G. 
Ralston,  Surgeon;  W.  R.  JMeeks,  Chaplain; 
(4.  W.  II.  Riley,  Otticer  of  the  Day;  William 
Drew,  Officer  of  the  Guard;  A.  J.  Judy, 
Quartermaster;  J.  P.  Scheer,  Quartermaster 
Sergeant;  John  D.  Hale,  Sergeant-JMajor. 
In  188-1  William  11.  Fought  was  com- 
mander; in  1885,  John  Ilalloway,  and  in 
188(5,  Michael  O'llarra.  The  officers  in  1887 
are:  John  R.  Scheer,  Commander;  John  M. 
Sullivan,  Senior  Vice-Commander;  I.  ]V. 
Vealey,  Junior  Vice-Commander;  J.  !Mc- 
Dowell,  Sui'geon;  S.  F.  Riteinan,  Chajihiin; 
AVill.  II.  Fought,  Adjutant;  John  C.  Hale, 
Quartermaster;  Lafayette  Rape,  Officer  of  the 
Day;  Aaron  Rricker,  Ofiicer  of  the  Guard; 
W.  R.  Meeks,  Sergeant- ]\Iajor;  J.  T.  Young, 
(Quartermaster-Sergeant.  The  post  has  mus- 
tered 124  members,  of  whom  90  are  now  in 
good  standing.  The  deaths  have  been:  Jona- 
than Cain,  October  1,  1885;  Chris.  D.  Thar]), 
March  14,  1886;    Isaac  M.  ]\IcClellan,  April 


5,  1886;  John  Rolenbaucher,  December  21, 
1886.  The  post  mei'ts  the  second  and  fourth 
Wednesdays  of  eacli  month,  at  (iraiid  Army 
Hall. 

McP/ierson  Camp,  No.  11,  S.  of  Y.,  M-as 
organized  May  8,  1884,  with  sixteen  mem- 
bers— Joseph  AYagner,  Gus.  Wagner,  Joe  W. 
Hendricks,  C.  E.  Lyons,  Allen  Sholtz,  W.  E. 
Ihickingham,  Charles  Rohn,  Dan.  P.  Eolds, 
I.  X.  Ilavelin,  Thomas  Drew,  William  Har- 
ris, W.  A.  Lyon,  J.  A.  Lyon,  A.  L.  Coolman, 
John  Iliff  and  Atria  Ruckinghain.  Charles 
Rohn  was  elected  captain  for  the  first  term. 
For  the  second  term  Charles  D.  Porter  was 
elected.  He  was  re-elected  for  the  year  1886, 
but  resigned,  ami  Joseph  A.  Hendricks, 
the  present  captain,  was  elected.  The  camp 
has  forty  members,  and  meets  every  Tuesday 
evening  in  G.  A.  R.  Hall.  It  has  encoun- 
tered many  difficulties,  but  is  now  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition. 

BERNE. 

-The  village  of  Perne  was  platted  August 
15,  1871,  by  Abraham  Lehman  and  John 
Hilty.  Additions  have  been  made  as  follows: 
]\[arch  13,  1873,  by  John  Hilty  and  Chris. 
Lischty;  November  1,  1875,  by  A.  C.  Leh- 
man; September  15,  187*J,  by  John  Hilty; 
September,  1880,  by  John  Hilty;  October  3, 
1881,  by  John  Hilty;  August  7,  1882,  by 
John  A.  Sprunger;  February  22,  1883,  by 
Chris.  Peer;  March  20,  1883,  by  John  A. 
Sprunger;  "SUxy  25,  1885,  by  John  A.  Sprun- 
ger; October  31,  1885,  by  A.  C.  Lehman; 
December,  1885,  by  Daniel  Welty. 

The  first  building  erected  on  the  village 
site  was  a  frame  store-room,  built  by  Thomas 
Harris,  in  August,  1871.  It  is  now  used  by 
J.  P.  Atz  as  a  harness  shop.  Mr.  Harris 
kept  a  general  stock  of  merchandise  for  a 
year  or  so,  and  then  sold  to  J.  J.  Hirschy  & 
Co.     Perne  is  now  a  prosperous  village,  the 


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VILLAGES. 


271 


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credit  for  wliicli  is  lari;oly  due  to  John  A. 
Sprunger.  It  is  in  tlic  inid.st  of  a  large  Meii- 
nonite  coiinininity,  and  many  of  tliosc  people 
were  opposed  to  having  any  town  at  all,  on 
acconnt  of  the  moral  corruption  supposed  to 
pervade  all  centers  of  population.  In  the 
autumn  of  ISSO  a  census  was  taken,  showing 
a  population  in  I'erne  of  3-11.  Steps  are  now 
being  taken  toward  incorporation,  for  which, 
at  a  recent  election,  lifty-throe  votes  were 
cast,  to  twenty-tivc  against.  Tiie  lioard  of 
Commissioners  are  now  to  act  in  the  matter. 

The  postotHce  of  Berne  was  estaldished  in 
1S72,  witJi  Philip  Sheets  as  postmaster.  His 
successors  have  been  Andrew  Gottschalk, 
AVilliam  Sheets,  Joel  Welty  and  Harvey  Ilar- 
rutf,  the  present  incumbent.  Berne  was 
made  a  money-order  office  July  10,  1^83. 
The  first  order  was  issued  to  Adolph  Ilutt'er, 
the  same  day,  in  favor  of  L.  Brames  i^'  Co., 
Fort  AVayne.  Tiie  first  order  paid  was  Au- 
gust 8,  1SS3,  to  James  Young,  issued  from 
Troy,  Ohio. 

The  Iloosicr  Holler  Mills  Company  have 
a  good  fiouring  mill,  built  in  the  summer  of 
18S1:,  by  a  joint  stock  company  consisting  of 
A.  A.  Sprunger,  Jeli".  Lehman,  Levi  Moses, 
D.  C.  Neuenschwander,  Abraham  Sprunger 
and  Samuel  Lehman.  The  company  bought 
the  grain  elevator,  which  they  now  operate. 
Tliey  also  deal  in  lumber.  The  capital  stock 
of  the  company  is  $25,000.  The  mill  has  a 
capacity  of  seventy-five  barrels  per  day,  has 
run  continuously  since  it  was  built,  and  has 
been   a    profitable   investment  for  its  owners. 

The  Eagle  House  was  built  during  the 
summer  of  1882,  and  opened  August  9,  by  a 
stock  company  consisting  of  John  A.  Sprun- 
ger, Jctf.  Lehman,  D.  S.  Witteverand  Aaron 
Neuenschwander.  My.  Wittmer  became 
lanillord,  and  after  running  the  house  a  few 
months  bought  the  share  of  Mi'.  Lehman, 
thei'eby   securing  a   half   interest,   which   he 


still  owns,  the  other  half  being  owned  by 
.lohn  A.  Sprunger.  It  is  a  first-class  hotel, 
andcost  s3,000. 

ISUSINKSS    DIKKCTOKY. 

The  firms  doing  business  at  Berne  in  Feb- 
ruary,  1887,  are: 

Allison,  Morrow  <k  Co.,  general  store;  Eu- 
gene Aschleman,  saloon;  Jacob  Atz,  saddler; 
Kerne  Manufacturing  Company,  saw-mill; 
l^avid  I lixler,  jeweler;  M.  Boiler,  tinner;  Ja- 
cob lirannenian,  saloon;  ^V.  Broadwell,  pliy- 
sician;  P>rown  Sc  Koenig,  blacksmiths; 
Edward  Dro,  meat  market;  Joseph  Giauque, 
grocer;  J.  P.  Ilabcgger  &  Co.,  hardware; 
Harvey  Ilarrufl",  postmaster;  Abram  Ilocker, 
blacksmith;  Fred.  Ilofer,  barber;  Hoosier 
Holler  Milling  Co.,  fiour  mill,  elevator  and 
lumber  yard;  Hoffman  Sc  Gottschalk,  drugs; 
Lehman  A:  j\Iuszbaum,  meat  market;  Fred. 
Meistcr,  tinnei-;  Alendenhall,  Ilarrufl' tt  Co., 
drugs;  Frank  jMonosmith,  station  agent;  C. 
D.  Sheets,  groceries  and  drugs;  Philip  Shug, 
agricultural  implements;  Sprunger,  Lehman 
iV:  Co.,  general  store;  Philip  Sprunger,  archi- 
tect and  builder;  John  AVagner,  boots  and 
shoes;  Jacob  Wegmueller,  saloon;  AVeltv  & 
Sprunger,  Mennonite  Publishing  House; 
Charles  Wilson,  saloon ;  AVittever  Sz  Yoder, 
livery  and  feed  stal>le;  D.  S.  AVittever,  Eagle 
Hotel. 

The  Mennonite  church  liere  is  a  frame 
building,  six  years  old,  and  cost  $2,000.  It 
was  enlarged  in  1880.  The  membership  is 
about  300.  Ilev.  S.  F.  Sprunger,  the  pastor, 
has  been  in  this  vicinity  nearly  twenty  years, 
and  built  the  church.  The  Mennonite  Pub- 
lishing House  issue  the  Bu7idesbote  (a  church 
weekly)  and  the  Kiadcthute  (a  Sunday-school 
paper)  for  the  general  conference.  1.  A. 
Sommer  is  editor.  A  church  almanac,  hymn 
books  and  a  Bible  histor}'  are  also  published. 
The    printing    is    done    in    Chicago   and   the 


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IIISrORT    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


biiuling  in  Fort  Wayne.  The  Evangelical 
Association  has  had  a  class  here  for  four  )'ears, 
but  have  no  house  of  worship.  Its  member- 
ship is  about  twenty,  llcv.  Stoops,  of  Deca- 
tur, conducts  services  every  two  weeks.  The 
Uerne  Alaeszigkeitsverein,  or  Temperance  So- 
ciety,- has  over  eighty  members  and  meets 
every  two  weeks.  D.  C.  Sprunger  is  presi- 
dent and  F.  G.  Eichcnbergei-,  secretary. 

MONROE. 

Monroe  is  a  station  on  the  Grand  Rapids 
it  Indiana  Kailroad,  near  the  south  line  of 
]Monroe  Township,  and  is  almost  at  tlie 
geographical  center  of  tiie  county.  If  the  sur- 
rounding country  had  possessed  more  favora- 
ble tojHigraphical  features  the  county  seat 
would  have  been  located  here  instead  of  at 
Decatur.  It  is  exceedingly  flat,  however, 
and  the  first  settlers  found  it  very  unattract- 
ive. It  has  ninety-seven  inhabitants,  accord- 
ing  to  the    latest  census.     There   are  three 


general  stores,  one  drug  store,  two  saloons, 
two  blacksmith  shops,  two  saw-mills,  one 
hub  factory,  one  tile  factory  and  two  board- 
ing-houses. A  graded-school  building  is  in 
process  of  erection.  The  first  postmaster  was 
George  Roup;  the  present  one  is  J.  "W.  Hen- 
dricks. The  Methodist  Episcopal  people  or- 
ganized a  class  in  1870,  and  the  following 
year  they  built  a  frame  house  of  worshij). 
Rev.  Hosea  AValpert  was  the  first  minister. 
Rev.  Joseph  Cook  is  the  present  pastor. 
Jesse  Essex  is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  which  has  an  average  attendance  of 
100. 

OTUER    VILLAGES. 

Monmouth,  in  Root  Township,  has  seventy- 
nine  inhabitants,  and  its  glory  is  chiefly  past. 
Something  of  its  history  has  already  been 
given.  Pleasant  ilills,  in  St.  Mary's  Town- 
ship, has  135  iidiabitants;  Ceylon,  in  Wabash 
Township,  125;  Salem,  in  Blue  Creek,  sixty- 
one;  Williams,  in  Root,  twenty. 


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T?|^.()N.  DAVID  STUDABAKER,  prcsi- 
SjnA  tlent  of  the  Ailutns  Comity  Hank,  of  De- 
'^.'-L  catui',  ami  a  iiroiiiiiioiit  and  influential 
citizen  of  Adams  County,  was  born  at  Fort 
lieeovery,  f)liio,  the  date  of  his  birth  being 
Auj;iist  12,  \H'1~.  At  the  age  of  seven  years 
he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  they  settling  in  Wabash  Township, 
where  he  was  reared  to  tlie  avocation  of  a 
fanner.  His  father  died  when  he  was  bnt 
thirteen  years  of  age,  and  being  the  eldest 
child,  he  aided  in  the  maintenance  of  his 
mother  and  family,  lie  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  district  schools,  which  ho 
attended  during  the  winter  months,  being  a 
pupil  in  the  tii-st  school  taught  in  AVells 
County,  Indiana.  It  was  a  subscription 
school  taught  by  an  Irishman,  and  held  in  a 
primitive  log  cabin,  built  with  puncheon 
floor;  a  log  cut  out  and  the  aperture  covered 
with  greased  paper,  served  as  a  window,  and 
the  seats  were  made  of  logs.  Mr.  Studabaker 
attended  the  liigh  school  near  Greenville, 
Ohio,  one  term,  after  which  he  attended  the 
Jay  County  Seminary,  at  Portland,  Indiana, 
one  and  a  half  years,  and  in  the  meantime 
taught  in  the  district  scliools  of  Adams  and 
AVells  counties.    He  continued  to  teach  school 


;j||;  n  v.ii:^  LUMiiLiv:?.      ii 


until  the  spring  of  1S51,  wiien  lie  began  read- 
ing law  in  the  ofHce  of  Hon.  Jacob  il.  llaynes 
at  J'ortland,  Indiana.  In  June,  1852,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  the  same  place,  Hon. 
Jei'emiah  Smith  presiding,  and  during  the 
same  month  lie  settled  in  Decatur,  where  he 
began  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession. 
He  was  married  at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana, 
October  26,  1S54,  to  iliss  Harriet  Evans,  a 
daughter  of  Hon.  John  Iv.  Evans.  She  was 
born  at  Shane's  Crossing,  Ohio,  and  in  1835 
came  with  her  parents  to  Adams  County,  In- 
diana, and  received  her  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  her  neighborhood,  and  at  the 
Methodist  Female  (College  at  Fort  Wayne. 
]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Studabaker  have  Ave  children 
living — Mary  J.,  wife  of  John  Xiblick,  a 
merchant  of  Decatur;  Lizzie  E.,  wife  of  A. 
B.  ]\[orrison,  a  merchant  and  banker  of  Eck- 
mansville,  Ohio;  Ilattie,  at  home;  Maggie, 
wife  of  AVilliam  J.  Vesey,  an  attorney  of 
Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  and  David,  Jr.,  a 
student  of  the  grammar  school  at  Lima,  In- 
diana. One  son,  John  E.,  died  at  Decatur  in 
May,  1809,  aged  eleven  years.  ^Ir.  Studa- 
baker practiced  law  at  Decatur  until  1883,  a 
pei'iod  of  thirty-one  years,  ami  during  this 
time  was  associated   a  number  of  years  with 


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James  U.  I]ol)0  uiiil  ilolm  I*,  tiuiim,  Imtli  i)t" 
whom  were  I'uniierly  stiuleiitK  in  liis  ollice. 
In  connection  witli  his  hiw  pructicc,  he  at  an 
early  day  beyan  dealing  in  real  estate,  which 
lie  has  continued  until  quite  recently.  In 
1852  lie  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  for 
the  district  comprising  Adams  ami  Allen 
coimties,  serving  as  such  two  years,  and  in 
1854:  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature  to  represent  Adams  C'onuty  in 
the  lower  house,  and  was  re-elected  in  1850. 
In  1S5S  he  was  elected  State  Senator  by  the 
district  comprising  Adams,  Jay  and  Wells 
counties.  In  1868  he  was  elected  judge  of 
the  common  pleas  court  for  the  district  com- 
])rising  Adams,  Allen,  Huntington  ami  Wells 
counties.  In  18G9  he  was  identified  with  the 
building  of  the  Richmond  A  Foi-t  AVayne 
IJailroad,  and  was  elected  one  of  its  directors, 
which  position  he  still  holds.  In  1871  he 
became  a  stockholder  in  the  Adams  County 
Uank,  which  was  conducted  as  a  private  bank 
until  1871.  It  was  then  incorporated  under 
the  State  law,  and  J\Ir.  Stuiiabaker  was  chosen 
one  of  its  directors,  and  also  vice-president, 
and  in  1883  was  appointed  its  president, 
which  position  he  has  since  filled.  Politically 
Mr.  Studabaker  atfiliates  with  the  Democratic 
party.  He  is  numbered  among  the  active 
and  ]niblic-spirited  citizens  of  Decatur,  and 
is  always  interested  in  any  enterprise  calcu- 
lated to  be  of  benefit  to  his  town  or  county. 


fAMES  THOMAS  iMEPJlY^MAN,  attor- 
ney, a  member  of  the  firm  of  France  & 
"1^  Merryman,  Decatur,  Indiana,  was  born 
in  Washington  Township,  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  October  1,  1851,  a  son  of  Charles 
AVesley  and  ]\Iary  Ann  (Archbold)  J[erryman. 
His  father  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County, 
Ohio,  July  2,  1827,  a  son  of  Zachariah  and 


'I------ 1- 


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KHjiHta!*jiL-£a* 


]\[ary  Merryman,  of  Knglish-Scotch  extrac- 
tion, lie  obtained  a  guod  common-school 
education  by  his  own  efforts,  having  been 
left  an  orphan  before  the  age  of  ten  years. 
He  came  to  Indiana  in  183G,  when  he  ob- 
tained employment,  and  when  not  at  work 
devoted  his  time  to  study  until  twenty  years 
of  age,  when  he  began  teaching  school,  which 
he  continued  until  August,  1862,  when  he 
enlisted  in  the  defense  of  his  country  and  was 
assigned  to  Company  II,  Eighty-ninth  Indi- 
ana Infantry.  He  served  nearly  three  years, 
when  he  was  discharged  at  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee, the  war  being  ended.  He  participated 
in  many  severe  engagements,  among  the  more 
important  being  those  at  I'ull  Kun,  Chicka- 
niauga  and  Naslnille.  After  his  discharge 
he  returned  to  Adams  County  and  engaged 
in  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
February  5,  1S70.  In  polities  he  was  a 
Republican.  lie  was  married  October  18, 
1818,  to  ]\Iary  Ann  Archbold,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  daughter  of  James  L.  and  ]\Ialiiida 
Archbold,  of  Irish  and  German  descent,  who 
came  to  Adams  County  in  1836.  To  them 
were  born  six  children,  but  four  of  whom  are 
living — Jonathan  and  Zachariah,  farmers  of 
AVashington  Township;  Susie  and  James  T. 
A  daughter,  Eliza  J.,  died  in  July,  1878, 
aged  twenty-six  years,  and  a  son,  Henry  li., 
died  June  5,  1S84,  a  few  days  before  he 
would  have  graduated  from  the  Normal 
School  at  A^'alparaiso,  Indiana.  The  mother 
still  lives  in  Adams  County,  making  her 
home  with  her  children.  She  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
since  her  girlhood,  her  husband  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  same  church.  Jaines  Thomas 
ilerryman  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Decatur,  and  when  sixteen  years  old  began 
teaching,  following  that  vocation  during  the 
winter  until  manhood.  In  1876  he  was 
de])utized  clerk  of  Adams  Circuit    Court,  by 


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nWGHAl'UlCAL    SKKTCIIES. 


J'vron  II.  Dent,  ;iii<l  also  served  under  liis 
sncoessor,  Henry  Krick,  until  ISSO,  when  he 
was  eni]>lovi'd  ;if^  clerk  in  the  Adams  C.'onnty 
ISauk.  In  the  nieaiitinie  he  devnted  his 
leisure  time  to  the  study  of  law,  and  was 
ailmitted  to  the  liar  at  Deeatur  in  liSSl.  In 
1S82  he  was  eleeted  the  iii-st  mayor  of  Decatur 
and  served  one  term.  In  JannaiT,  1S83,  he 
lircame  associated  with  Jnhn  S.  {''ranee  in  the 
]i]-actice  of  his  ]ii-(d'c.-<iiiii.  J\[r.  Alerryman  is 
a  niemher  of  St.  Clary's  Lotln'e,  Ko.  107,  and 
Decatur  Eiicani])nient,  ^'o.  13S,  I.  O.  O.  l'\, 
and  lias  received  all  the  hono."s  of  both.  lie 
lias  heen  a  representative  to  the  grand  lodp;e 
and  also  to  tiie  grand  encampment  of  the 
State  of  Indiana.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Deeatur  Lodge,  Xo.  511,  A.  F.  it  A.  M.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  lie  was  married 
August  29,  1878,  to  .Miss  Louisa  P.  xVlbers, 
a  native  of  "SVillshire,  Ohio,  daughter  of 
August  L.  and  ICve  C.  Albers.  She  was 
reared  in  Ailanis  County,  and  educated  in  the 
Decatur  schools.  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Merryinan 
have  had  three  children — Matie  June,  lona 
Dale  and  Charles  August.  loiia  tlied  Sep- 
tembei'  15,  ISSi,  aged  three  years.  Mr.  and 
ilrs.  Merryman  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  churcli. 


fOHN  KUMUEKS,  deceased,  formerly  of 
Hoot  Township,  was  born  in  Fayette 
".c  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1826,  and 
when  a  boy  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Ful- 
ton County,  Ohio,  thence  to  AVayne  County, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  where  he  was 
married  January  31,  1848,  to  Miss  ]\Iary 
Jane  Yociun,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  County 
July  4,  1827,  where  she  was  reared,  educated 
and  married.  In  1851  they  removed  to  De- 
catur, this  State,  where  they  lived  two 
months.    The  family  consisted  of  parents  sind 


one  child,  .Myrtilla  Jane,  wdio  was  born  in 
Wayne  County  June  12,  1850,  and  is  now  a 
teacher.  Elmore  L.  was  born  January  10, 
1853,  in  ^loiimouth,  in  tiie  liouse  where  the 
father  first  .settled,  and  where  the  widowed 
mother  is  now  living.  The  father  was  a 
mason  by  trade,  which  he  fcdiowcd  during 
the  summer,  and  wiu-ked  at  shiiemaking  dur- 
iui^-  the  winti'r.  His  parents  were  John  and 
iVaticy  (Linton)  JS'umber^,  both  of  whom  died 
in  Wayne  County,  (Jliio.  The  mother  died 
in  the  summer  of  1880,  aged  ninety  years. 
John  K umbers,  our  subject,  died  November 
18,  1854,  of  typhoid  fever,  and  is  buried  in 
Monmouth  cemetery,  i^frs.  Numbers'  ]iar- 
ents  were  Abraham  and  Mai-y  (Hoffman) 
Yocum.  The  father  was  born  in  Lancaster 
County,  Pennsylvania,  December  15,  1790, 
and  died  ilareh  8,  ls72,  at  the  house  of  ^Irs. 
Numbers.  The  mother  was  also  born  in 
Lancaster  County,  July  4,  1796.  After  the 
death  of  her  husband  she  made  her  home 
with  Mrs.  Numbers,  and  died  June  20,1881. 
The  parents  were  reared  and  married  in  Penn- 
svlvania,  removed  to  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
thence  to  this  county  in  1851.  They  had 
six  children — John,  Kebecca  (deceased),  Mary 
Jane,  Martha,  who  lives  in  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  Anes,  living  in  Chicago,  and  Eliza- 
beth. Both  ]\rr.  and  Jlrs.  Yocum  were  of 
German  descent.  Mrs.  Numbers'  grandpar- 
ents, Henry  and  ]\[artha  Hoffman,  were  born 
in  Germany.  Elmore  L.  Numbers  was  reared 
and  educated  in  the  schools  of  Monmouth, 
and  commenced  teaching  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years.  He  has  since  followed  that 
occupation  during  the  winter  seasons.  He 
was  married  ]\Iarch  28,  1870,  to  Jlary  S. 
Vaughan,  who  was  born  in  Allen  County, 
this  State,  May  24,  1858,  daughter  of  Joel 
and  Nancy  (Coverdale)  Yaughan,  natives  of 
Ohio.  The  father  died  in  Jul}-,  1876,  aged 
forty-eight   years;    the   mother    is    living  in 


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iiisrony   of  adams   voumy 


Jllite  Crcfk  Township.  i'lii'Y  li''^vc  '"i"'!'  <'liil- 
drcii — W.  Knv,  Niun-y  J.,  Lintoii  V.  and 
Etliol   D. 


Tn^iAVID  i;.  LIXTOX,  :in  active  and  eii- 
1j  ".j\  turprising  fanner  of  AValiasli  Township, 
"^    residing   on    section    33,   was   born    in 

AVabash  Tuwnsliip,    ^Vdains  County,  Indiana,  | 

I '  "  '  j 

]\rarcli  18,  lS4r2,  son  of  Sanniel  and  Alargart  ! 
'  I 

(\\'alker)  Linton.      lie   grew  to    niaidi<jod   on 

tlie  home  farm,  receiving  his  education  in  tlie  j 
eommon  schools  of  liis    native    county.      Mr.  \ 
Linton  engaged  in  farming  on  tiichome  farm  I 
in  W'abasli   Townsliip    until    February,  1865,  [ 
wlien  he  enlisted   in   Company  E,  One  Ilun-  ; 
drcd  and  Fifty-third   Indiana   Infantry,  serv-  I 
ing   until    the   following  July,  when   lie  was  | 
taken  sick  with  measles,  and  received  his  dis- 
charge,  when    he  returnetl    to    his   home   in 
"Wabash    Township.      lie    was   first    married 
Janiuuy  9,  ISHD,  to    Aliss    .Margaret   O'llar- 
row,  who  was  born    in    (Tallin   County,  Ohio, 
and  to  this   union   was   born    one   child,  who 
died   in    childhood;     Mrs.  Linton   died    Sep- 
tember   14,  1869,  and  August  24,  1876,  lie 
was  again  married,  to  Mrs.  Amy  T.  "Wheeler, 
a    native    of  Guernsey    County,    Ohio,   born 
8eptcnd)er  2(!,  1842,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Temperance  Tedcrick.     One  child  has  been 
boiMi  to    bless   this   union — Iretta  Pearl,  who 
was    born   July    12,  1877.     ]\Irs.  Linton   was 
lirst   married   January    31,  18G3,  to  Zeadock 
^I.  Wheeler,  a  native  of  .lay  County,  Indiana, 
and  to  this  union  were  born  three  children — 
James  L.,(ieorge  II.  (deceased)  and  A[erton  D. 
(deceased).    ]\[r.  Wheeler  died  September  13, 
1873.      ilr.   Linton  settled   on  the  farm  in 
AVabash  ToNvnship  after  his   marriage,  ^vllere 
he  has  since  resided,  engaged  in   agricultural 
pursuits.      His  farm   contains   sixty  acres  of 
choice  land,  all  well  improved  and  under  tine 


cnltivatiun.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Linton  ai'e  jiromi- 
neiit  members  of  the  ]\[etliodist  LpisCopal 
church.  In  jjolitics  ]Mr.  Linton  is  a  Kepubli- 
can,  and  since  coming  to  the  county  has 
lield  several  local  offices.  lie  is  a  comrade 
of  John  P.  Porter  Post,  No.  88,  G.  A.  Tl. 


ILLIAM    II.    II.    FRANCE,  super- 

^  ,.  ,,,  intendent  of  the  Adams  County  in- 
i'~{)^w"-)  lirmary,  was  born  in  Vermont  July 
29,  1841,  son  of  Frederick  and  Alice  France, 
the  former  also  a  nati\'e  of  A'ermont  and  now 
deceased,  and  the  latter  a  native  of  Vermont. 
In  1847  the  parents  emigrated  to  Licking 
County,  Oliio,  where  they  lived  until  1853, 
then  came  to  Adams  County.  They  were 
the  parents  of  six  children,  live  of  whom  are 
living — Charles  ^L,  attorney  at  law,  living 
in  liluffton;  Philemon  T.,  of  A'an  AVert 
County,  Ohio;  Afartha  P.,  of  AVillshire, 
Ohio;  Mary  M.,  al.<o  of  AVillshire,  and  AVill- 
iam  II.  II.  The  mother  has  made  her  home 
in  Adams  County  since  the  death  of  the 
father.  Air.  France  has  always  been  engaged 
in  farming  from  his  boyhood.  He  received 
a  rudimentary  education  in  the  early  district 
schools.  He  \yas  married  August  20,  lb6U, 
to  ^liss  Pliebe  Al.  ]\Iattliewaon,  a  native  of 
this  county,  and  a  daugliter  of  Joshua  ami 
Almira  Alatthewson,  who  were  born  in  New 
England,  and  were  early  settlers  of  Adams 
County-.  The  father  purchased  a  farm  in 
St.  Alary's  Township,  and  entered  forty  acres 
from  the  Government.  Air.  and  Mrs.  France 
have  had  four  children — Edwin  AV. ;  Alice 
A.,  wife  of  Jeremiah  Archer;  Charles  ^I. 
and  Osa  ]\I.  Jlr.  France  was  a  resident  of 
St.  ]\rary's  Township  until  1883,  then  re- 
moved to  his  jiresent  home  in  AVashington 
Township.  He  served  as  constable  in  St. 
Alary's  Township,  and  as  justice  of  the  peace 


!'.! 


I 


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■ia_^'_u, 


-jiHiii^HHiriHm^ji 


^»^mVm^S* 


as™ja^«f"j«i^  ra" 


HKJOHA  I'll  I  C'.-l  1.    SKKTCHKS. 


m 


eleven  years.  In  1SS3  lie  was  appoiiiteJ 
suinTiiitendcnt  of  the  Adams  County  In- 
lirniary  for  ^i\  yeai's.  He  (jwiis  a  farm  v\' 
eighty  acres  in  A\'asliington  To\vn>lii[).  Po- 
litically lie  is  a  I  lemoerat,  and  is  al^o  a  mem- 
ber of  St.  Mary's  I.od-e.  No.  Km,  I.  O.  O.  V. 


Ij-^.IJIA]\[  L.  CiJ.ADDKN,  farmer,  section 
|[|;)\  7,  Union  Township,  owns  1(J0  acres  of 
"S-i  hmtl  on  the  southwest  half  of  tlie  section. 
He  was  horn  in  Jellerson  County,  Ohio,  ten 
miles  west  of  Steuhenville,  August  31,  182~, 
and  when  four  years  of  aijc  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  .Vshlaiid  Clonnty,  where  he  ^rew 
to  manluiod,  siiending  his  time  on  his  father's 
farm.  His  parents  were  James  and  Hannah 
(Dickey)  Gladden.  The  father  was  horn  in 
Jefferson  County, and  died  in  -\shland  County 
during  the  war,  ai;ed  about  si.xty  years.  The 
mother  was  also  born  in  .letfcrson  County, 
and  dieil  there  when  her  bon  Hiram  was  two 
years  okl.  He  was  I'cared  by  a  step-mother, 
M'ho  i-esides  on  the  homestead  in  Ashland 
(bounty.  Hii'ain  was  the  toiirth  of  live  chil- 
dren--Absalom  died  in  infancy;  Harriet, 
resides  in  Macon  City,  and  is  the  wife  of 
Samuel  Black;  Elizabeth  married  Adamson 
Tannehill,  and  died  in  J3efiance  County,  Ohio; 
Drusilla  married  Sriles  Winters.  The  second 
wife  had  twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  are 
living — Hannah,  llachel,  Caroline,  Lovina, 
^[artlia,  Joseph,  Louisa,  Emma  and  Leroy. 
The  deceased  ai-e — Madison,  Margaret  and 
Emeline.  IHram  was  marrie<l  February  27, 
1^51,  to  iHss  Elinira  Snyder,  wlio  was  born 
in  A\'asliington  County,  J\'iinsylvania,  Au- 
gust 20,  1S2'J,  and  when  a  child  went  with 
her  jKirents  to  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  where 
she  was  reared  and  married.  Her  parents 
were  Samuel  and  ]\rary  (House)  Snyder. 
The    fatlier   was   born    in    Pennsylvania,  and 


died  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  aged  about 
seventy  years.  The  mother  was  born  in 
AVa-^liinirtoii  ("oiiiity,  same  State,  ami  also 
ilie<l  in  .\,-hland  County  at  an  ad\-anced  age. 
There  were  five  daughters  and  cjiie  son  in  her 
father's  family— -Catherine,  Sarah,  Elmira, 
Henry,  ]\Iary  .\.  and  Eliza;  all  are  living 
except  Henry.  Mr.  and  .Mi.-,  (i  hidden  have 
one  child  -d'^lvaretta  .1,,  boi'ii  December  19, 
l^Su,  in  Union  Township,  where  she  was 
reared  and  mai-ried  December  17,  1874,  to 
"William  Isl.  Scott,  who  was  born  in  Defiance 
County,  Ohio,  September  1,  1850.  He  died 
January  1,  1878,  leaving  one  cliild,  Ota  May, 
born  I'Y'bruary  25,  1877.  'Mr.  Scott  was  the 
son  of  ilatliew  and  Sarali  A.  (^finear)  Scott. 
The  grandfather  of  ]\Ir.  Gladden,  Josejih 
Gladden, was bornin  I'ennsylvania, and  died  in 
Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  liaving  been  married 
three  times.  His  maternal  grandparents 
were  born  in  Ireland.  The  Snyders  are  of 
German  ancestry,  and  the  (Jladdens  of  Eng- 
lish, Scotch  and  Irish.  Mathew  Scott  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  December  18, 
1823,  and  lived  with  his  father  until  1841:, 
when  he  went  to  York  ( 'ounty,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  married  Sarah  A.  Minear,  who  was 
born  in  said  State  and  county  August  28, 
1826.  In  1850  they  settled  in  Defiance 
County,  Ohio,  two  miles  north  of  Hicksville, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
April  17,  187-1. 


,;'r^E()H(;E  W.  ARCITBOLD  was  born  in 
liryj'  Tuscarawas  C(junty,  Ohio,  November  7, 
'4^^  1837,  son  of  -lolin  A.  and  Elizabetii 
(Gibson)  Archbold,  of  Irish  ;,iicestry.  His 
brothers  were  J<jsepli,  William  and  Thomas, 
the  latter  of  whom  survives.  His  sisters 
were  Letta  Ann,  Sarah.  Fannie  and  Rebecca, 
Kebeeca  and    Fannie  surviving.      His  father 


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was  Ikiimi  in  IHOIK  in  tlie  Stiito  of  Ohio,  juid 
tlio  mother  in  ISO!)  als(.i,  in  the  State  of  Vir- 
f^inia.  His  mother's  ln'otliers  were  (Teori;-u, 
William  anil  Hugh;  hoi' si.stoi-s  were  ]\Iary, 
Jane,  Susan,  Catherine  ami  Isahelhi.  His 
i;raiiilfather,  I'atriek  Arehbold,  emigrated 
from  Peiinsylviuiia  to  Ohio,  tlieiice  to  Wells 
County,  this  State,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  liis  days.  His  maternal  graml- 
father,  (!e(n-i;e  ^V.  (iilisoii,  removed  from 
Pennsylvania  to  A^irginia,  thence  to  Ohio, 
where  he  died  about  the  year  1855.  His 
T)aternal  grandfather  served  in  the  war  of 
IS  12,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge  and  a 
land-warrant  from  the  (Joverninent.  His 
grandfather  (Tibson  owned  200  acres  of  land. 
]Hs  ancestors  were  all  farmers.  Mr.  Arch- 
liold  came  to  Adams  County  in  the  year 
iSol,  and  engaged  in  farming  with  his  father, 
who  owned  120  acres  of  land,  which  the  heirs 
now  own.  JJesides  tlie  homestead  farm,  the 
father  gave  his  son  Thomas  fort}'  acres,  Will- 
iam forty  acres,  and  James  twenty-six  and 
two-thirds  acres,  the  last  tract  being  situated 
in  A\'ells  County.  The  father  had  been  a 
member  oi'  the  Presbyterian  church  a  great 
many  years  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  December  23, 1885.  He  was  an  in- 
telligent, public-spirited  man.  Jle  held  the 
oiKce  of  justice  of  the  peace  in  Preble  Town- 
ship about  twenty  years;  served  as  adminis- 
trator and  guardian;  held  ofhcial  positions 
in  Ohio;  aided  by  contributions  and  other- 
wise in  the  erection  of  various  churches,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death  had  made  a  request 
that  SlOO  be  paid  toward  the  building  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  Jelf'ersoii  Townsliip, 
Wells  County,  this  State.  lie  left  his  wife 
comfortably  situated  in  a  pleasant  home  in 
Decatur,  of  which  she  holds  a  life  lease.  She 
has  been  a  kind  and  ati'ectionate  wife  and 
mother,  and  has  l)een  a  consistent  member  of 
the     Presbyterian    church    for    many    years. 


{•Jcorge  coinmeiu'ed  teaching  school  when 
quite  young,  which  profession  he  pursued 
until  after  his  marriage.  Tins  occurred  Feb- 
ruaiT  10,  ls(;0,  with  IMiss  .Martha  Ruf:,ell, 
who  ilied  ,111110  19,  187*).  She  was  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  died  in  that  faith.  ^Irs.  Archbold's 
father  was  Levi  Russell,  and  her  mother  was 
Ibrmerly  Melinda  Andrews,  who  died  before 
Afartha's  marriage.  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Archbokl 
had  eight  children — Elizabeth,  born  January 
8,  18(31;  Melinda,  born  June  30,  1862;  Eva- 
line,  born  July  12, 1804;  Enos  A\'.,  born  July 
14, 1866,  died  January  12, 1871;  Mary  Stella, 
born  May  10,  1870,  died  February  10,  1S71; 
Levi,  born  ilay  23,  1872,  died  December  17, 
1874;  Edna  E.,  born  J  uly  31, 1875,  ilied  June 
7.1870.  Elizabeth  and  Harvey  llessler  were 
married  July  3,  1884,  and  they  have  one 
cliild — Mary  Christina;  ]\Ielinda  and  Adolpli 
Ilart  were  married  September  2,  1880,  and 
they  have  two  children  —  iJlanche  and  jjertha; 
Evalineaud  David  Archer  were  married  June 
8,  1882,  and  they  have  had  two  children  — 
Harvey,  deceased,  and  Susan.  November  21, 
1878,  Mr.  Archbold  was  married  to  (.'liristina 
Meibers,  and  they  liave  had  one  child  — 
Charles  L.,  born  March  9,  1880.  Mrs.  Arch- 
bold's parents,  John  and  Catherine  (Heider- 
maii)  Jleibers,  were  born  in  Germany.  Her 
father  immigrated  to  Cincinnati,  (Jhio,  thence 
to  Decatur,  where  he  embarked  in  the  mer- 
cantile trade,  which  he  carried  on  successfully- 
many  years.  He  served  two  terms  as  treas- 
urer of  Adams  County.  He  is  now  retired 
from  active  business,  and  has  the  satisfaction 
of  knowing  that  he  shares  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  all  his  neighbors  and  friends.  He 
is  an  extensive  property-owner,  and  a  devout 
member  of  the  Catholic  denomination,  to 
which  church  his  family  also  belong.  ^Ir. 
Archbold's  brothers  are  Thomas,  William, 
James,  John  and  Ezra;    his  sisters  are   Mar- 


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IIIOGRAI'HICAL    SKETUUES. 


giiret,  .Muiy  .lune,  l>eliecc;i  Ann,  Siirali,  Catli- 
ci'ine  anil  .Martha.  Ilu  i-eimivcal  tVuni  JJcfatiir 
to  I'lcasaiit  Mills  in  IS^U,  at  wiiieh  villao;c 
lie  was  appointed  jiostmaster  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  President  Hayes.  Tliat  same 
year  he  was  also  a]i]iointcd  station  agent  of 
the  'J\  J).  tV  I!.  Kiulroad,  now  known  as  the 
Toletlo,  St.  Louis  A;  Kansas  City  llailroad, 
at  I'ieasaiit  jMills.  lie  retained  that  otHce 
seven  years,  daring  wlncli  time  ]ie  was  agent 
of  the  American  and  United  States  express 
companies,  lie  retained  the  office  of  post- 
master until  the  election  of  President  Gar- 
field, and  in  1S85  was  appointed  to  that  office 
under  President  (Meveland,  which  position  lie 
still  holds.  He  commenced  life  with  little  or 
no  capital,  and  despite  surrounding  circum- 
stances, which  Ijy  no  means  have  alwaj-s  been 
favorable,  he  has  overcome  all  indelitedness 
and  opposition.  lie  possesses  a  large  stock 
of  general  merchandise,  anil  has  a  rich  and 
comfortable  home  at  Pleasant  Mills,  besides 
his  family  residence  at  Decatur,  lie  is  a 
member  of  Decatur  Lodge,  is'o.  KJT,  I.  0. 
().  1'".,  and  an  accepted  candidate  of  the 
encampment. 


M'FUS  K.  ALL18UN,  a  member  of  tlie 
u  general  mercantile  firm  of  Allison,  Mor- 
^!i  row  6c  Co.,  of  Berne,  is  a  native  of 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  born  in  Linii  Grove, 
September  7,  18lj3,  a  son  of  Robert  B.  Alli- 
son. He  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native 
county,  and  received  good  educational  advan- 
tages, and  in  18S1  graduated  from  the  Deca- 
tur High  School.  After  leaving  school  he 
came  to  lierneand  took  charge  of  his  father's 
interest  in  his  store,  the  iirm  being  II.  B. 
Allison  &  Co.,  and  January  7,  1887,  he  came 
into  possession  of  his  father's  interest,  the 
Iirm   being  now  carried   on    under   the  name 


of  Allison,  ]\Iorrow  iS:  Co.,  this  being  con- 
sidered the  leading  mercantile  business  in 
Berne.  Mr.  Allison  was  united  in  marriage, 
Septendier  7,  18S0,  to  Miss  ^'iola  Poster, 
who  was  born  March  16,  18G4,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  Foster,  who  is  engaged 
in  farming  and  is  a  prominent  stock  dealer 
in  St.  Mary's  Townshi]),  Adams  County,  lii- 
diaiui. 


^I^AMUEL  MAUKER,  engaged  in  fann- 
1v^'  ing  on  section  18,  Jefferson  Townshi]), 
'^^'  where  he  has  forty  acres  of  choice  land, 
was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  November 
2,  1828,  a  son  of  Daniel  Maurer.  When  he 
was  five  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  San- 
dusky County,  Ohio,  and  there  he  grew  to 
manhood,  receiving  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  that  county.  lie  served  an 
apprenticeship  of  three  3'ears  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  which  he  followed  for  several 
years.  lie  enlisted  in  the  late  war  Novem- 
ber 15,  1861,  in  Company  B,  Seventy-second 
Ohio  Infantry,  serving  until  February,  1863. 
He  was  at  the  battle  of  Pittsburgh  Landing, 
where  he  received  three  slight  wounds.  He 
contracted  rheumatism  wdiile  in  the  army, 
and  now  draws  a  pension.  After  his  dis- 
charge he  returned  to  Sandusky  County,  and 
April  13,  1884,  he  came  to  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  and  settled  on  his  present  farm, 
which  he  had  purchased  two  years  before 
coming  to  this  county.  He  has  been  four 
times  married.  His  first  wife  was  F^lizabeth 
llenricks,  a  native  of  Sandusky  County,  Ohio, 
born  August  27,  1831.  She  died  February 
24,  1856,  leaving  two  children — Salome  and 
Rebecca.  Mr.  JMaurer  was  again  married 
May  22,  1858,  to  Miss  Margaret  Blyth,  who 
died  in  1860.  He  then  married  Miss  Susan- 
nah   Vaiitze,  a   native    of    Ohio,    who    died 


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IHSTOHT    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


IVIiiruli  'J,  18G7,  aged  tweiity-tlii-cu  years  und 
live  iiioiitlis.  Two  sons  were  \)uvn  to  tliis 
iiiiioii — (ieorge  1!.  i\[cClellaii,  and  William 
T.  ISliennaii.  Mr.  _Maiirer  was  mari'ied  the 
loiu-th  time  -Inly  2'5,  ISGT,  to  j\[rs.  Ami 
(Biirket)  Reiser,  wlio  was  born  July  19, 1832, 
ill  Perry  ('oiinty,  Ohio,  ami  to  this  union 
have  lieen  horn  tour  children — Phel)e  E., 
Sarah  A.,  ]\[ary  C.  and  Emma  iS.  Mrs. 
]Manrer  was  first  inarrieil  to  Joseph  Selser,  a 
nati\-e  of  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  his  |)arents 
being  early  settlers  of  that  coimty,  and  were 
of  (ierinan  descent,  lie  died  in  Sandusky 
County.  ]]y  her  tirst  marriage  Mrs.  Maurer 
had  three  children — William  E.,  Josepli  and 
Nettie  J.  Both  ^fr.  and  Mrs.  Maurer  are  of 
German  descent,  and  can  speak  the  C-rerman 
laniTuaij-e. 


|0|AMUEL  LINTON,  deceased,  one  of  the 
"Vi^v^  old  and  honored  pioneers  of  Adams 
^J:"  County,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  the  ilate 
of  his  birth  being  November  16,  1807,  his 
father  lieing  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
his  mother  born  in  tlie  State  of  Vii'ginia. 
lie  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Darke  County, 
Ohit),  where  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits 
till  18I5S.  He  was  married  September  8, 
iSiJl,  to  Margaret  W^alker,  who  was  born  in 
what  is  now  Kanawha  County,  West  Vir- 
ginia, September  20,  1815,  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Hannah  (Kincaid)  Walker,  the 
father  born  in  Greenbrier  County,  Virginia. 
Her  parents  were  united  in  marriage  in 
Greenbrier  County,  and  removed  to  Darke 
County,  Ohio,  being  among  the  early  settlers 
of  that  vicinity.  In  1850  they  removed  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  where  they  died  in 
the  year  1871.  They  were  the  parents  of 
twelve  children — two  of  whom  died  in  child- 
hood.    To   Mr.   and    Mrs.  Linton   were  born 


eleven  children — Hannah  ]\[.  (deceased),  Jane 
U.,  James  W.,  AV'iUiam  A.,  David  IL,  Eliza- 
iieth  T.  (deceased),  Samuel  11.  (deceased), 
John  P.  (deceased),  Mary  E.  (deceased),  flo- 
seph  II.  and  Sarah  M.  In  November,  1838, 
Mr.  Linton  came  with  his  family  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  and  entered  120  acres  of 
land  on  section  33,  Wabash  Township,  where 
he  resided  till  iiis  death  with  the  exception 
of  a  short  time  spent  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Geneva.  He  came  to  Adams  County 
with  limited  means,  but  liy  his  persevering 
industry  and  indomitable  will  he  succeeded 
in  his  farming  operations,  and  left  liis  widow, 
who  still  occupies  the  old  homestead,  in  com- 
fortable circumstances.  He  died  October  2-1, 
1871,  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  for  thirty-two  years, 
and  a  class  leader  for  twenty  years.  Mrs. 
Linton  is  also  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
li!pisco])al  church. 


r^i  D.  ]\IOEEETT,  proprietor  and  editor 
Xrrji  of  the  Decatur  Journal,  was  born  in 
■^ij^t®  Fostoria,  Ohio,  August  7,  1852.  His 
father  removed  with  his  family  to  Wood 
County,  Ohio,  in  1800,  and  there  Mr.  Mof- 
fett  ])assed  his  early  life,  and  lived  until  he 
came  to  Indiana.  He  received  a  thorough 
grounding  in  English  education  in  tlie  pub- 
lic schools  and  also  at  Republic,  Ohio,  in  the 
normal  school.  Beginning  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen, he  taught  school  during  the  usual 
school  months  for  eight  years.  In  1878  he 
established  a  paper  at  Weston,  Ohio,  which 
he  published  six  years.  In  1884  he  came  to 
Decatur  and  bought  the  Journal,  as  above 
stated.  ]Mr.  Moffett  is  a  Tnember  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Lodge.  He  was  married  in  1878  to 
Miss  May  Phillips,  of  Millgrove,    Ohio,  and 


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BIOGIIAPIIICAL    SKETCH  ICS. 


i!S.-) 


tliey    lia\X'     lour     cliiklreii — ]'\xiiclioii,     Paul, 
^[ark  ami  .laniL'S. 


\()I;KIJT  IvUXE,  tiiriner,  resides  on  sec- 
;  tioii  14,  Uuot  Tiiwiishi]),  wliere  hu  owns 
"^-i^  120  aures  of  lanil.  lie  was  bom  Feh- 
ruarv  20,  183(3,  in  Tuscarawas  (ounty,  Oliio, 
anil  in  the  tail  of  1S3.S  was  broncrht  to  tliis 
county  by  lii>'  ]iai'ents,  who  settled  n])on  the 
farm  now  owned  and  occupied  liy  liiinself. 
His  fatiier  resides  with  liim.  Xo  improve- 
ments had  been  made  up<jn  tlie  phice.  A 
log  cabin  had  l)een  erected,  in  the  usual 
primitive  style,  ]>uncheon  floors  and  doors, 
clapboard  roof,  etc.  In  tliis  cabin  the  father 
lived  about  two  years,  when  lie  built  a  hewed 
log  Imuse.  which  is  still  standing  and  is  used 
as  a  summer  kitchen.  The  Piqua  road  and 
the  AVayne  trail  wei'e  all  the  roads  in  the 
neii^hborhood.  Ilobert  was  only  two  and  a 
half  years  old  when  brought  to  this  county, 
and  here  he  has  been  reared  to  manhood,  and 
here  he  was  married.  His  lather,  Jacob 
.Kline,  was  liorn  in  Somerset  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, January  12,  ISOO,  and  wlien  he  was 
eleven  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to 
^Vayne  Townsliip,  Tuscarawas  County.  ()liio, 
where  he  was  reared  to  manhood.  In  1883 
he  went  to  Faj'ette  County,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  married  Barbara  lioliinson,  who  was 
l)orn  in  that  county  in  1807.  Mrs.  Kline 
tlied  in  Adams  Count}',  this  State,  June  30, 
1873,  and  is  buried  in  Alpha  cemetery.  She 
was  a  noble  Christian  woman,  and  in  her 
deatli  the  communit}'  suffered  a  great  loss. 
Her  kind  and  afiectionate  disposition  won  for 
her  the  love  antl  esteem  of  all  who  were  so 
fortunate  as  to  make  her  acquaintance.  There 
were  seven  children  in  the  father's  family, 
live  of  whom  are  living.  Two  daughters  died 
iti  childhood.     The    father    is   livinir  on    the 


old  homestead.  lie  says  the  first  winter  he 
came  hei'e  he  could  not  lose  sight  of  his 
cabin  without  getting  lost.  The  second  year 
he  killed  a  good  many  deer  and  wild  game. 
The  family  were  never  without  corn  bread, 
but  they  had  no  wheat  bread  until  the  second 
year,  when  he  raised  six  acres  of  wheat.  The 
father  entered  120  acres  of  land  from  tlic 
(Tovernment,  but  he  had  only  money  enough 
to  ]iay  for  eighty  acres;  Joseph  Lewis,  an  old 
neighboi',  lent  him  money  to  pay  for  the  ad- 
ditional forty.  Although  the  Piqua  Poad 
was  the  only  road  in  the  county  at  that  time, 
it  was  so  cut  up  by  ruts  as  to  be  alnnjst  im- 
passable. Mr.  Kline,  Sr.,  helped  to  cut  niost 
of  the  roads  in  the  vicinity.  The  family  en- 
dured all  the  hardships  and  privations  inci- 
dent to  pioneer  life,  and  have  witnessed  all 
tlie  changes  that  have  taken  place  in  this  now 
prosperous  country.  The  children  were — 
Catiierine,  who  died  at  an  early  age;  Robert, 
John,  AVilliam,  (Tcorge,  Jonas  and  Sarah, 
twins;  Sarah  died  when  but  a  few  weeks  old. 
March  9.  1856,  Robert  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  iliss  Eliza  J.  Mumma,  who  was 
Ijorn  in  Tuscarawas  County,  (Jhio,  October  4, 
1835,  and  came  to  this  county  with  her  parents, 
John  and  Catherine  (Snyder)  !Mumma,  after 
she  I'eached  maturity.  Her  father  was  l>oru 
in  AVestmoreland  County,  IVnnsylvania,  and 
died  in  Adams  County  in  1878,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight  years,  eight  months  and  nine  days. 
lie  is  buried  in  Pleasant  Valley  cemetery. 
The  mother  still  survives,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
ent3'-si.\  3'ears,  and  lives  with  her  son,  Solo- 
mon Mumina.  JVIr.  and  Mrs.  Kline  have  two 
children.  The  ehlest  died  at  a  very  early  age. 
Sarah  Ellen,  boi'n  .lune  10,  1859,  is  now  the 
wife  of  I'^ranklin  lirokaw,  and  has  one  child — 
Vesta  Albert,  born  December  2(5,  1884. 
They  are  living  with  Mr.  Kline.  Mr. 
Kline's  graiulfather,  Jonas  Kline,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  neai'lv  one  hundred 


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28G 


JI /STORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


years  old  at  liis  dentil.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
tile  Uevoliitioiiary  war.  His  irraiidinother 
Kline  weiirhed  over  300  poiiiuls,  and  died  at 
the  aire  of  one  Iniiulred  rears. 


AXIEL  K.  SHAOlvLEY,  fanner,  owns 
forty  acres  of  land  on  section  19,  Union 
Township.  He  was  i)orn  in  the  town 
of  Alfred,  York  County,  Maine,  Alarcli  2"2, 
1S43,  and  when  nine  years  of  age  came  with 
liis  parents,  Joseph  and  Louisa  (Emmons) 
Shackley,  to  Adams  County,  who  settled  on 
the  farm  wei'e  his  brother  Howard  now  lives. 
Both  parents  were  born  in  York  County  and 
both  are  deceased.  Daniel  lived  at  home 
until  1S(j1,  theii  went  to  I'oston,  Jlassachu- 
setts,  where  he  engaged  in  teaming  for  his 
brother,  I'hineas  Shackley  (now  deceased), 
witli  wlunu  he  remained  until  August  18, 
1S0".3,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Fifth  IJattery 
Light  Artillery  of  JTassachusetts  under  Cap- 
tain Charles  E.  Philli])S.  His  first  service 
was  at  Fort  Corcoran,  Virginia,  and  from 
there  the  Captain  marched  his  comjiany  to 
Antietam.  ilaryland,  although  the  battle  had 
been  fought  before  their  ari'ival.  He  and 
four  other  recruits,  one  of  wliom  was  his 
brother  Jonas,  who  now  lives  in  (Juincy, 
Massachusetts,  joined  the  battery  and  followed 
the  x\riny  of  the  Potomac.  He  was  wounded 
at  Gettysburg,  July  8,  1863,  in  the  right 
lower  arm  below  the  elbow,  the  wound  fract- 
nring  the  bone.  He  went  to  llaltimore, 
thence  to  Philadelphia,  ami  remained  at  Chest- 
nut Hill  Hospital  five  months.  A  part  of 
this  time  he  suffered  from  lung  troubles. 
Erora  this  hospital  he  went  to  convalescent 
camp,  at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  and  remained 
five  weeks,  when  he  was  discharged  on  sur- 
geon's certificate  of  disability,  January  8, 
180-1.     He  then  returned  to  Boston,  Massa- 


ritt^-xnis^y^ 


chusetts,  and  engaged  in  teaming  for  diti'erent 
persons  until  18(J'J.  In  1S(!G  lie  was  nuirried 
to  ^^ss  Margaret  C'onnor,  who  was  l)orn  in 
Chelsea,  Massachusetts,  and  was  about  the 
ago  of  her  husband.  Tiiey  had  si.x  children 
— Joseph,  jMary  C,  wlio  died  at  tiie  age  of 
eleven  years;  William;  Martha,  who  died  at 
tJie  age  of  six  years;  Charles  and  Ellis  G. 
He  came  back  to  Indiana  in  1881  and  com- 
menced farming.  November  0,  18S4,  ^Ir. 
Shackley  was  married  to  ^Miss  Emily  C. 
Mumma,  who  was  born  in  Tuscarawas 
County,  Ohio,  February  '29,  1844,  and  was 
about  seven  years  old  wlien  her  parents 
Ijrought  her  to  tliis  county.  Her  father, 
John  ilumma,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
January  7,  1810,  died  in  September,  1877, 
and  is  buried  in  Pleasant  Valley  cemetery. 
The  mother,  Catherine  (Snyder)  ^luinma, 
was  born  in  Maryland,  ^Tarch  25,  1811,  an<l 
is  now  living  with  her  son,  Solomon  J. 
^luiuma,  of  Boot  Township.  There  were 
four  children  in  their  family — Solomon  J., 
Eliza  J.,  wife  of  Bobert  Kline;  Nancy  E., 
wife  of  "William  Kline,  and  Mrs.  Shackley 
wlio  is  the  youngest.  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Shackley 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
and  in  politics  Mr.  Shackley  was  formerly  a 
Democrat, but  now  a  Bepublican. 


Tl^ZRA  LISTER,  of  Washington  Town- 
tp',  ship,  is  one  of  the  oldest  living  pioneers 
^^  of  Adams  County.  He  -was  born  in 
Ross  County,  Ohio,  January  15,  1825,  son  of 
Joshua  and  Lydia  Lister,  natives  of  ilaryland. 
The  father's  ancestors  were  of  German  origin 
and  the  mother's  of  Irish.  In  1828  the  fam- 
ly  immigrated  to  Adams  County,  settling  two 
and  a  half  miles  north  of  Decatur,  where  they 
lived  until  1830,  then  removed  to  (^arroU 
County,   Indiana,   where   the    father  died   in 


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'^TCiiTW^liraS^Kni-Bri,  *itqwa:i««i^Sl 


BIOORAPHIGAL    SKETCHES. 


I 


II 
IS 

I 


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ii 


SejiteiDlior,  1S31.  One  year  later  tlic  family 
retiiriR'il  to  Adams  C'oiiiitv,  where  our  sub- 
ject was  rearetl  to  the  scenes  of  pioneer  life. 
The  county  at  that  time  contained  hut  i'^tw 
familes.  He  receiveil  a  rudimentary  educa- 
tion in  the  early  pioneer  sciiools,  and  has 
been  a  life-long  farmer,  enduring  all  the 
trials,  hardshijis  and  privations  of  the  early 
pioiieei'.  lie  was  marrieil  December  21, 
ISiS,  to  Eliza  J.  Ball,  a  native  of  Indiana, 
and  they  had  three  cliildren — Sarah  E., 
wife  of  James  Jr.  Patterson,  of  Logansport, 
Indiana;  Racliel  S.,  wife  of  John  AVoods, 
also  of  Logansport.  One  child  is  deceased. 
Mr.  Lister  has  been  four  times  married.  Jlis 
present  wife  has  one  son,  Thomas  T.  lie  has 
been  a  resident  of  Washington  Township  for 
many  years,  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  an 
honest,  representative  pioneer. 


;VXIEL  AVELDY,  an  extensive  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  of  Kirkland  Township, 
wjiere  he  resides  on  section  1,  is  a 
native  of  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  now  Hock- 
ing County,  born  near  Lancaster  October  3, 
1S2"2,  a  son  of  I'eter  and  Susanna  (Ilnddle) 
AVeldy.  The  father  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land County,  Pennsylvania,  his  ancestors 
coming  from  Switzerland,  and  the  mother 
was  born  in  Shenandoah  County,  Virginia,  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  Huddle,  who  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  the  Pevohition.  Both 
IMr.  and  ilrs.  AVeldy  came  with  their  parents 
to  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  their  parentsdying 
in  that  county.  They  were  married  in  Fair- 
field County  a  short  time  before  becoming  of 
age,  and  to  thetn  were  born  fourteen  cliildren. 
The  mother  died  in  lf^37,  aged  about  thirty- 
eight  years.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Brethren  in  Christ  cluirch.  Jfr.  AVeldy  was 
again    married    to     Mrs.    Catherine    (Grim) 


Sheets.  .Mr.  AVeldy  was  reared  a  farinei', 
which  he  made  the  pi'incipal  avocation  of  his 
life,  lie  was  Itorn  in  1795,  and  died  in 
1807.  ])aniel  AVeldj',  whose  name  iieads 
this  sketch,  was,  like  his  father,  reared  to  the 
avocation  of  a  farmer,  and  in  his  youtli  re- 
ceived but  limited  educational  advantages. 
lie  remained  at  home  till  liftten  years  of  age, 
when  his  mother  died,  and  lie  was  then  prac- 
tically thrown  upon  liis  own  resources.  He 
rented  land  from  his  uncle  and  raised  and 
bought  tobacco,  which  he  shipped  to  Pitts- 
burgh, and  the  first  sl,200  he  made  he  lost 
in  tobacco  in  the  Pittsburgh  fire  in  1S4-1. 
lie  came  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in  the 
fall  of  1845,  and  the  following  spring  bought 
the  farm  where  he  has  since  lived,  whicli  then 
contained  eighty  acres.  There  was  on  his 
land  a  rude  log  cabin,  IG  x  18  feet,  with 
puncheon  floor  and  mud  chimney,  in  which 
he  lived  about  eight  j-ears,  when  he  erected 
a  frame  house  and  frame  barn.  He  occupied 
his  frame  dwelling  until  1870,  when  he 
erected  his  present  fine  brick  residence  at  a 
cost  of  about  !?4,0U0.  ]\[r.  Weldy  lias  been 
twice  married.  He  was  married  October  13, 
1840,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Beery,  who  was 
born  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  Feljruary  27, 
1823,  and  to  this  union  were  born  eleven 
children — Christian  ^\,  Setli  AV.,  AVilliam 
B.,  Barbara  S.,  Abraham  (deceased),  Sarah  A., 
Mary  E.,  liachel,  Ellen,  Daniel,  Jr.,  and  Eli 
(deceased).  Mrs.  AVeldy  died  December  8, 
1879,  and  ^\v.  AVeldj-  was  again  married 
August  22,  1880,  to  Mrs.  Hester  (Blosser) 
Beery,  a  native  of  Fayette  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, born  April  8,  1820.  ilrs.  AVeldy  was 
brought  to  Fairtield  County,  Ohio,  by  her 
parents  when  she  was  about  ten  years  old. 
She  was  first  married  in  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio,  to  Eli  Beery,  who  was  born  in  that 
county  June  27,  1818.  To  this  union  were 
born    fourteen    childi'en — JLelinda,    Barbara, 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    CoUXTY. 


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^rury  W.,  MiU'tin,  JiL'iiben,  Sarali,  Christian, 
John  and  iMartha  (twins),  Franklin,  .lonas, 
Daniel  ^\'.,  Lncinila  and  William  .1.  Mr. 
I'eery  came  to  Adams  Connty,  Indiana,  with 
^Ir.  Wekly,  and  settled  on  section  6,  Wash- 
ington Townslii]i,  his  iiO  acre  farm  lying  in 
AVashington  and  Ivirkland  townships,  where 
lie  resided  till  his  death,  January  27,  1880. 
lie  was  one  of  the  leading  farmers  in  his 
township,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in 
public  atfaii's.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
lirethren  in  Chi'ist  church,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
AVeldy  beini^  members  of  the  same  church. 
Mr.  AVeldy,  the  subject  of  tliis  sketcli,  began 
life  a  poor  boy,  but  by  his  persevering  in- 
dustry and  indomitable  perseverance  he  has 
become  one  of  the  wealthy  citizens  of  Adams 
County.  He  owned  at  one  time  over  'JOO 
acres  of  land,  the  most  of  which  he  has 
given  to  liis  children,  but  still  retains  420 
acres  (.>f  choice  land  on  which  lie  resides. 
!Mr.  AVeldy  is  also  a  shareholder  in  the  De- 
catur National  Bank,  lie  has  been  itlentified 
with  the  f^rowth  and  development  of  Adams 
County  from  its  earliest  years,  and  has  wit- 
nessed the  wilderness  change  into  well-culti- 
vated fields  and  thrivinnj  villages.  In  politics 
lie  was  formerly  a  Whig,  casting  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Ilenry  Clay,  and  on  the 
organization  of  the  Republicans  he  voted  for 
Abruliam  Lincoln  in  l^tJO  and  1864,  since 
which  time  lie  lias  cast  liis  suffrage  with  the 
Democratic  party.  lie  served  as  township 
trustee  nine  consecutive  years,  and  hekl  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  eleven  years, 
wlien  he  was  again  elected  to  the  office  of 
township  trustee,  wlien  he  served  six  con- 
secutive years.  He  was  then,  in  1876,  elected 
on  the  Democratic  ticket  connty  commis- 
sioner, which  office  he  filled  acceptabl}'  for 
six  years.  Mr.  AVeldy  understands  (Tcrinan, 
and  has  been  frequently  engaged  as  inter- 
preter  by  the   courts.     The    brick  of  which 


Afr.  Weldy's  residence  is  l)uilt  was  biirned 
ou  his  own  farm.  Mr.  W'eldy  is  a  member 
of  the  Odd  I'tdlows  order,  belonging  to  St. 
^^^ary's  l^odge.  No.  167,  at  Decatur,  Indiana. 


OIIN  E.  AND  MONROE  ROSE,  man- 
agers of  the  drug  and  grocery  business  of 
Hoffmann  it  Gottschalk,  at  Heme,  are 
natives  of  AVells  (bounty,  Indiana,  born  in 
Nottingham  Townshij);  the  former  Alarch 
1,  1S5M,  and  the  latter  January  20,  1861,  and 
are  sons  of  Petei'  and  Mary  (Gottschalkj 
Rose.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. He  enlisted  in  Wells  County  during 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  went  South,  and 
died  in  a  hosjiital  at  Nashville, Tennessee.  Tiie 
mother  was  a  native  of  Wurteinberg,  Ger- 
many, coming  to  America  with  her  parents 
when  but  three  years  old,  they  settling  in 
AN^ells  County,  Indiana,  in  an  early  day.  The 
parents  were  married  in  Wells  County,  and 
to  them  were  born  five  children,  all  eons  but 
the  youngest  child.  They  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Adams  County,  coining  here 
when  it  was  quite  new,  the  land  on  which 
tliey  settled  being  covered  with  a  heavy 
growth  of  timber.  Here  the  father  erected 
a  humble  log  cabin  with  puncheon  floor  and 
cla])board  roof.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Evangelical  church.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
jects still  resides  on  the  old  homestead. 
After  her  husband's  death  she  subsequently 
mairied  John  Shigley,  one  of  the  prominent 
farmers  of  Nottingham  Township,  wiio  had 
been  previously  married  and  had  a  family  of 
several  children.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shigley 
are  church  members,  the  former  being  a 
Dunkard,  and  the  latter  a  member  of  the 
Evangelical  Association.  The  brothers  whose 
names  head  this  sketch  were  reared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  on   their    father's  farm,  and 


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BIOGIiAI'HICA  L    SKETCHES. 


received  their  ei.hio:itU)ii  in  tlie  (Mumnon 
selidols  of  their  iieiirhhdi-liood.  At  tlie  ai;-e 
of  nineteen  ye'iirs  John  K.  l)ej;;ui  working  for 
hiiiiselt',  tinilin;^  eni]ilo3'nient  anion;^  the 
neighljoring  farmers  until  September  8, 1879, 
when  he  entered  tlie  store  of  lIoiTmau  it 
Gottschalk.  He  was  married  April  4, 188G, 
to  Miss  Lizzie  I'ebont,  who  was  born  in 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  January  16,  1868. 
In  January,  1882,  ^Monroe  Hose  engaged  in 
his  present  occupation  in  the  store  of  Hoff- 
man i\:  Gottschulk.  This  firm  was  estaltlished 
in  1873,  their  building  being  owned  by  Mr. 
llotfiiian.  They  carry  a  well-selected  stock 
valued  at  about  ^5,000,  and  do  an  extensive 
tratle. 


im.NDRKW  J.  JU'HL),  of  Wabash  Town- 
;;("\-  ship,  where  he  is  engaged  in  farming 
X';~-  on  section  33,  is  a  native  of  Fairfield 
County,  ()hio,  the  date  of  his  birth  being 
February  24,  1834.  Ilis  parents,  Thomas 
and  JMary  (Bowers)  Byrd,  were  natives  of  the 
State  of  Virginia.  They  removed  to  Fairfield 
County,  (Jhio,  about  1818,  being  among  the 
first  settlers  of  that  county.  In  1858  they 
settled  in  Jay  County,  Indiana,  remaining 
there  until  1864,  when  thoy  came  with  their 
family  to  Adams  County,  locating  on  the 
farm  whicli  is  now  occupied  by  the  subject 
of  tliis  sketch.  Here  both  died,  the  mother 
inl868,  in  her  sixty-sixth  year,  and  the  father 
in  1878,  aged  seventy-eight  years.  The 
father  was  a  miller  by  trade,  but  after  coming 
to  Adams  County  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits. 15oth  were  members  of  the  Protestant 
Methodist  church  at  the  time  of  their  death, 
but  in  early  life  belonged  to  the  United 
Brethren  church.  ,Vndrew  J.,  our  subject, 
grew  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm  in 
Adams  County,  receiving  but   limited  educa- 


tional advantages.  He  has  always  followed 
the  avocation  of  a  fanner,  and  since  fifteen 
years  of  age  he  has  run  a  threshing  machine 
with  tlie  exception  of  a  few  falls.  He  re- 
inained  at  home  until  thirty-two  years  of  age, 
when  he  was  married  to  Caroline  Lelir.  She 
was  born  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  Febru- 
ary 21,  1847,  coming  to  Indiana  with  her 
parents  when  young.  To  this  union  were 
born  four  children — Mary  Etta,  Knfus  ]\r., 
James  Wilkinson  and  Susan  A.  E.  ^Mrs.  Byrd 
died  May  18,  1875.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  church.  ^Ir.  Byrd  is  a 
member  of  the  same  denomination.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Oemocrat,  and  has  filled  the  office 
of  assessor  of  his  township  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  His  farm 
contains  forty  acres  of  land,  which  is  well  im- 
]U'oved  and  under  good  cultivation. 


T^HAMON  HEDINGTOX,  farmer  and 
%  Yji  stock-dealer,  residing  on  section  32,  Blue 
^^5^  Creek  Township,  is  a  native  of  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  born  in  Monroe  Township, 
April  2,  1846,  a  son  of  I^abon  Hedington. 
He  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  in 
Monroe  Township,  his  youth  being  spent  in 
assisting  his  father  with  the  work  of  the  farm 
and  in  attending  the  schools  of  his  district, 
where  he  obtained  a  common-school  educa- 
tion. He  was  married  August  1,  1867,  to 
]\[ary  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  July  2, 1848,  a  daughter  of  Morgan 
Smith,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county, 
who  is  now  deceased.  They  are  the  parents 
of  six  children,  whose  names  are — Carrie, 
Thomas,  Paifus,  Harry,  Lucy  and  Homer. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hedington  settled  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  which  con- 
tains seventy-two  acres  of  choice  land.  He 
has  been    engaged    in    buying   and   shipping 


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HI6T0nr    OP    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


stock  (or  ten  years,  buyiiii;'  tlie  tirst  car-loii(i 
that  was  shijiped  tVoni  lieriic,  lor  David 
Crahlis.  J'oliticallv  Mr.  Ik'diiii^'toii  atiiliates 
with  the  Democratic  party,  lie  was  a  can- 
didate for  slici-itl'  in  1S77,  and  caine  within 
lil'ty-four  votes  of  heing  nominated.  He  is 
an  active,  public-spirited  citizen,  and  in  all 
enterprises  for  the  advancement  of  his  town- 
ship or  county  he  takes  an  active  interest. 


# 


fOHN  J)EA.M  JIALE,  clerk  of  the  circuit 
court  of  Adams  County,  was  born  in 
J51uifton,  AVells  County,  Indiana,  De- 
cember 27,  1842.  He  lived  in  his  luitive 
place  till  fourteen  years  of  age,  when  his 
parents  removeil  to  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of 
lUutfton.  He  remained  on  the  farm  till 
attaining  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  receiving 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Bluff- 
ton  and  vicinity.  August  15,  18G2,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  I),  One  Hundred  and  First 
Indiana  Infantry',  under  Captain  Peter  Studa- 
baker,  his  regiment  being  assigned  first  to 
Tyrrell's  Brigade,  Jackson's  Division,  Army 
of  the  (3hio,  afterward  to  the  Second  Brigade, 
Third  Division  of  the  Fourteenth  Army 
Corps,  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  On  the 
organization  of  his  company  he  was  chosen 
Corporal.  He  participated  in  all  the  battles 
of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  until  No- 
vember 25,  1863,  when  he  was  severely 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  ^[issionary  Kidge, 
the  ball  passing  through  his  left  side  and 
perforating  his  left  lung.  He  lay  on  the  tield 
on  the  summit  of  the  ridge,  about  one-fourth 
of  a  mile  north  from  Bragg's  headquarters, 
from  4  1'.  M.  until  about  9  p.  m.,  when  lie  was 
found  by  comrades  who  were  searching  for 
the  dead  and  wounded.  He  was  then  taken 
to  the  hospital  at  Chattanooga,  where  he  lay 
unconscious  for   weeks,  and    remained    there 


until  al;out  l'"fhrnai-y  1.  It  having  been  re- 
ported that  lie  Wat.  dead,  his  father  went  to 
Chattanooga,  expecting  to  take  the  remains 
home,  and  then  remained  and  nursed  him  in 
the  hospital  from  January  15  until  February 
1,  when  he  received  a  si.xty  days'  furlough. 
After  sufficiently  recovering  from  his  wound 
he  rejoined  his  regimant  at  Marietta,  Geor- 
gia, when  he  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Teach 
Tree  Creek,  siege  of  Atlanta,  battle  of  Jones- 
boro,  was  with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the 
sea  and  through  the  Carolinas,  and  also  at 
the  battle  of  Bentonville,  and  was  at  the 
grand  review  at  AVashington,  D.  (J.,  at  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  received  an  honorable 
discharge  at  Indianapolis,  June  24,  1805,  by 
general  order  of  the  AVar  Department  and 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  then  returned  to 
his  father's  farm  in  AVells  County,  where  he 
worked  during  the  summers,  and  in  the  win- 
ter months  taught  school,  until  October, 
1867,  when  he  engaged  in  business  at  Bluff- 
ton.  He  was  married  September  8,  1869,  at 
Camden,  Schuyler  County,  Illinois,  to  Miss 
Caroline  Holmes,  who  was  born  in  Hartford 
Township,  xVdams  County.  In  her  sixth 
year  she  removed  with  her  parents  to  Wells 
County,  Indiana,  and  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage was  a  teacher  at  Camden,  Schuyler 
County,  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hale  are 
the  parents  of  four  children — Ethelyn,  Olive 
Leone,  Sarah  Blanch  and  Genevieve,  all 
living  at  home.  In  1868  ^Mr.  Hale  engaged 
in  the  dry  goods  business  at  Bluffton,  in 
company  with  A.  Deam,  with  wliom  he  was 
associated  under  the  firm  name  of  A.  Deani 
ife  Co.,  until  January,  1872,  when  he  removed 
to  Geneva,  Adams  County,  and  formed  a 
partnership  with  his  brother,  S.  W.  Hale, 
with  whom  he  has  since  been  associated  in 
the  grain  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
S.  W.  Hale  A:  Brother.  ]\[arch  1,  1872,  he 
was  appointed  the  first  agent  at  Geneva,  and 


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served  as  ^tatidii  ami  ('X|)rcss  a;;c'iit  until 
^lav  1,  iNTti,  wlii/ii  lie  re-.i;^-iieil  his  jiusitiini 
in  favor  of  his  brother,  S.  W.  JIale.  In  1SS2 
he  was  eleeteil  elerk  of  the  circnit  conrt, 
being  re-eleeteil  to  the  same  otKee  in  ISSG. 
lie  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Geneva,  and 
to  his  eH'.irts  it  owes  mncli  of  its  present 
prosjiei'itv.  lloth  ]\rr.  and  ^Mrs.  Hale  are 
active  uien:hei-s  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
chiireh  at  Heeatiir.  .Mr.  Hale  is  a  son  <.if 
Uowen  and  .Mary  Ann  (Deani)  Hale,  who 
■were  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  ^Vells 
Ooiinty,  Indiana. 


7|^IIPJSTLVN  V.  IJLAKKV,  a  farmer 
*illfi  residing  on  section  '^1,  Knion  Township, 
"iyi.  owns  400  acres  of  land  in  Adams 
County.  He  came  to  the  county  November 
27,  1840,  with  his  ])ai-eiits,  who  settled  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  our  sul)ject.  His  father, 
John  II.  I.lakev.  was  boi'ii  in  Prussia,  No- 
vember ;3,  17;J7,  and  died  :\rarc,li  8,  1SS3. 
The  mother,  Christina  (Schwei'l  Plakey,  was 
also  born  in  J'rnssia,  May  11,  179S.  She 
died  'Mavdi.  6.  ISUO.  In  1S85  the  mother 
came  to  ^Vmerica  witii  six  children,  the  father 
having  jireceded  them  in  the  I'all  of  1S34. 
They  landed  in  lialtimore,  and  went  directly 
to  AV^cst  Virginia,  where  they  met  the  father, 
who  was  working  by  the  month  among  the 
farmers.  Here  the  family  lived  two  years, 
then  removed  to  Cincinnati,  where  they  lived 
three  and  a  half  years,  where  both  old  and 
young  members  of  the  family  worked  at  any- 
thing they  could  find  to  do.  In  the  fall  of 
183S  the  father  came  to  Adams  Count)',  and 
after  looking  around,  borrowed  some  purchase 
money  from  a  friend  and  entered  the  north- 
west (juarter  of  section  21,  Union  Township. 
Returning  to  Cincinnati,  he  remained  there 
until  the  fall  of  1S4U,  when,  with  one   horse 


and  an  ox  team,  accom]>anied  by  his  family, 
he  started  to  make  a  pt'iiiianent  home  in 
Adams  County.  The  roads  were  so  m\uldy, 
and  utterly  impassalde,  that  they  were 
obliged  to  lea\e  a  portion  of  theii-  household 
goods  at  New  itremen,  Ohio.  They  inij)ro- 
vised  a  cart  upon  which  they  ]iai'];cd  the 
most  necessary  articles,  and  again  started  for 
their  Indiana  home,  the  mother  and  children 
walking.  In  this  way  they  made  about  live 
miles  a  day, camping  out  at  night,  and  landed 
in  their  new  home  the  27th  day  of  November. 
They  cut  two  crotchet  poles,  set  them  on  the 
ground,  connected  thein  with  a  pole,  and 
stretched  the  wagon  cover  over  it.  In  this 
way  they  lived  until  they  could  construct  a 
rough  log  house,  moving  iuto  it  the  24th  day 
of  the  following  December,  witliont  roof  or 
Hoor.  They  lived  in  this  house  until  1>S52, 
when  they  built  the  house  that  Christian  now 
occupies.  They  came  to  the  county  with 
oidy  a  few  dollars,  and,  as  has  been  stated,  in 
debt  for  a  portion  of  the  purchase  money  of 
the  land  first  entered.  Christian  found  work 
on  the  Maumee  and  Erie  Canal,  where  he  in 
part  supported  the  family  and  assisted  in 
paying  the  borrowed  money.  ^Ir.  Blakey  was 
born  in  Prussia,  ^fay  7,  1S21,  and  was  four- 
teen years  old  when  his  parents  came  to 
America.  He  was  married  in  1849  to  Miss 
Louisa  Falsing,  who  was  also  born  in  Prussia, 
in  1833.  She  came  to  America  in  1842,  with 
her  parents,  Frederick  and  Louisa  Falsing, 
who  settled  in  Preble  Township,  this  county. 
Mrs.  Blakey  died  in  1856,  and  in  1858  ilr. 
Blakey  married  ilary  A.  Hupp,  who  was 
born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  in  1833, 
daughter  of  George  and  Amanda  liujip.  By 
the  first  marriage  there  were  three  childi-en 
— ]Mary,  Sophia  and  John  II.  B}'  the  second 
marriage  wei-e  ten  children,  eight  of  whom 
are  living — Eliza,  Charles,  Frederick,  Martin, 
Theodore,  Edward,   Matilda  and  Otto.     The 


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IILiTURY    OF    ADAMS    COVNTV. 


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dot'Oiisod  aro- -Christian   luiil  Cliristiiie,  wlio 
died  in  iiifaucv- 


fEirU  SMITH  was  born  in  St.  Mary's 
Townsliili.  this  county,  October  12, 1838. 
-Ti  Ills  i'atlier,  luibert  Smith,  was  liorn  in 
Ohio  in  181(1.  His  nidthor,  ^Fary  (liay) 
Smith,  was  a  nati\e  of  Pennsylvania.  His 
paternal  gi'andparents,  Alexander  and  ]\[ar-  i 
garet  (]Moek)  Smitli,  were  natives  of  Xiv-  j 
ginia.  The  grandfather  removed  to  St.  ]\Iary's  [ 
Township  in  the  fall  of  18.32  and  entered 
GIO  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  removed  his 
family  the  following  spring.  His  son  Hubert 
was  married  soon  after  and  settled  npon  140 
acres,  a  gift  from  his  father.  The  land  was 
nnimpi'oved,  bnt  soon  a  log  honse  with 
clapboard  roof  and  the  conventional  puiicli- 
e^m  Hoor  was  iinislied.  and  thns  comfortably 
situated,  the  parents  of  onr  subject  began 
their  home  life.  Acre  after  acre  was  cleared 
iA'       and  injprovements   were  made   until  the  for- 


est was  converted  into  a  valuable  and  pro 
ductive  homestead.  -  Jehu's  mother  died  here 
in  October,  18GG.  The  parents  had  si.x  sons 
— Ale.xandei-,  Jehu,  Samuel,  Archibald,  Rob- 
ert and  William.  They  also  had  one  daugh- 
ter— Nancy  Jane.  After  the  death  of  his 
wife,  Kobert  moved  upon  a  sixty-acre  tract 
south  of  the  St.  ;^^ary's  liiver.  In  1879  the 
father  died,  and  his  son  William  inherited 
the  farm.  The  father  was  of  Dutch  ancestry 
and  the  mother  of  Irish.  They  were  pioneers 
in  the  township,  and  were  land-owners. 
Jehu  and  ^lary  Ann  Peterson  were  united  in 
marriage  April  19,  18(17.  Mrs.  Smith  was 
born  July  26,  1848.  Iler  father,  who  is  still 
an  active  citizen  of  St.  Mary's  Township,  is 
J.  W.  Peterson,  and  Mas  bern  ]\Iarch  29, 
isiy.  :\tr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  had  five 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living — Louisa  G., 


born  i'"ebrnary  22,  18()8;  Sylvester,  Ixjrii 
November  13,  1S72;  Kobert  F.,  born  Janii- 
ary  8,  187.");  J. dm  W.,  bcrn  February  28, 
1879.  Mrs.  Smith's  mother  was  formerly 
Hannah  Smith,  who  was  born  November  20, 
1821,  and  died  July  1,1857.  Her  paternal 
grandfather  was  AVilliam  Peterson,  and  her 
grandinotlier  was  June  White,  born  January 
1,  1800.  ■John  rented  a  fai-m  of  his  aunt, 
upon  which  he  lived  about  two  years.  He 
then  moved  upon  his  present  farm,  consisting 
of  sixty  acres,  lying  sontli  of  St.  Clary's 
River.  There  were  only  ten  acres  cleared, 
and  a  log  cabin  and  log  stable  had  been  built. 
He  now  resides  in  a  neat  and  commodious 
frame  dwelling,  and  the  farm  has  fifty  acres 
cleared;  it  is  conceded  to  be  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  the  townshi]).  Jehu's  father  had 
one  lirother,  Samuel  Smith,  who  married 
Nancy  Ray,  and  is  now  deceased.  He  had 
eight  sisters,  two  of  whom  are  living — 
L(juisa  and  ]\Iargaret.  His  mother's  living 
brothers  are — Putbert,  Archibald,  Elias  and 
Smith.  Her  sisters  are — Elsie,  Elizabeth  and 
Jane.  J.  W.  Peterson  has  six  brothers 
living — David,  Isaac,  James,  Jacob,  Lafay- 
ette and  Cyrus;  Henry  is  deceased,  dying  in 
the  United  States  service  during  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion.  His  sisters  were- — Hannah, 
Laura  Jane,  Mary  Ann,  Isabella  and  Eliza- 
beth, the  latter  of  whom  is  deceased.  Alex- 
ander Smith  was  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
received  an  honorable  discharge  and  a  land- 
warrant.  His  wife  received  a  pension.  Mrs. 
Smith's  brothers  were — Henry  Clay,  Robert 
S.,  Sylvester  W.  Two  of  the  brothers  served 
in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  Henry  Clay  in 
Company  I,  Eighty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry, 
and  Robert  S.  served  in  the  Thirteenth  Cav- 
alry. Our  subject  had  four  brothers  who  gave 
honorable  service  to  their  country  during 
the  war — Samuel,  who  died  during  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg,    was   a   member   of  the  Forty- 


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BIOGRA PIUCA  L    HKt:raHE>i. 


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seventli  Imliana  Int'atitry ;  i;<il)ei-t,  wIk.i  was  a 
iiieiiiber  tit'  tlie  li^levuiitli  Indiana  Cavalry, 
died  wliile  in  tlif  service;  Areliiliald,  wlui 
was  a  nieiiilier  ot'  tlie  Thirteenth  Int'antrv, 
was  ca])tnred  at  Aiitietaiii  and  died  in 
prison.  William  was  also  a  suldier  t'oi-  the 
Uniiin.  di  liu  first  enlisted  in  (Jonij)any  1, 
Eighty-ninth  Indiana  Inl'antJ-y.  Captain  I'aii- 
ta  heing  his  tiivt  (•(uninandei-,  and  Murray 
being  his  ( 'uluiiel.  .\t'tei-  being  innstered  in 
lit  Wabash,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  In- 
dianapolis, thence  to  Louisville,  thence  to 
]\[nnlbrdville,  Kentucky,  where  the  entire 
command  was  captured,  September,  18G3,  by 
General  Bragg,  then  commanding  tlie  Con- 
t'eilerate  forces.  The  regiment  was  paroled 
the  tullowing  day  and  ordered  to  Indianapo- 
lis, where  Jehu  received  a  f'urlougli  of  twenty 
days.  When  he  retained  lie  was  transferred 
to  Company  I),  Eleventh  United  States  Ileg- 
iilars,  Captain  ('hipnian,  and  Colonel  Jones. 
Jehu  was  ordered  to  report  at  the  head- 
quarters of  the  I'^leventh,  which  was  at  l>os- 
ftj  ton,  ^Massachusetts.  In  April,  1SG3,  tlie 
[^^  regiment,  under  IJiiniside,  who  was  thou  in 
lii  conunanil  of  tlie  Army  of  the  Eotomac,  uii- 
\i;  dertook  to  cross  the  Ilap|ialiannock  Iliver, 
which  etibrt  ju'oved  unsuccessful,  the  artil- 
lery being  swamped  in  tliemu<l.  (reneral  Lee 
took  great  jniius  to  inform  his  followers  of 
this  incideut  by  putting  up  sign-boards  on 
trees  which  read,  "  liuniside's  army  is  stuck 
in  the  inud."  The  artillery,  however,  was 
Boon  taken  out  of  the  iiiud,  by  the  boys,  and 
General  I'uriiside  being  relieved,  General 
Hooker  took  coininand  in  May,  1S63.  lie 
then  crossed  the  river,  takiny  first  his  cav- 
airy,  next  his  infantry,  and  lastly  his  artillery, 
and  attacked  General  Lee,  who  showed  great 
resistance;  but  after  two  days  of  desperate 
and  bloody  contest,  the  rebels  were  forced  to 
retreat;  then  began  the  historical  pursuit  of 
"  Hooker   after    Lee,"  throut'h   ^Maryland   to 


-"»WTJ«  ^  "  .J»  .."^PJ 


Pennsylvania,  where  Lee  made  the  famous 
stand  July  1,  ISC.H,  at  Gettysburg,  with  his 
entire  army.  In  tins,  the  greatest  battle 
t'ought  during  the  war,  Jehu  participated 
with  his  regiment,  tightingcontinuously  un- 
til the  third  day,  when  Lee  reti'eated.  Jlr. 
Smith's  regiment  entered  the  tight  with  CiOO 
men,  out  of  which  300  were  killeil  and  many 
others  wounded.  It  had  inaile  a  forced  inarch 
of  si.xty  miles,  marching  the  entire  night  and 
during  the  following  day  just  previous  to  the 
battle,  and  on  the  eve "  of  July  2,  at  -t 
o'clock,  entered  the  engagement.  Alter  this 
memorable  battle  the  Eleventh  liegulars 
crossed  the  Potomac  River  into  A^irginia, 
July  10,  1SG3,  when  .Mr.  Smith  was  taken 
sick  and  was  sent  to  Washimi-tnu,  where  he 
remained  about  two  months.  From  there  he 
was  sent  to  Fort  Independence,  ]\Iassachu- 
setts,  to  the  headquarters  of  the  Eleventh,  and 
remained  there  until  ]May  2,  18(14,  when  he 
was  discharged  for  honorable,  faithful  service. 
His  family  has  a  good  army  record,  from  the 
war  of  1812  to  the  war  of  the  Keliellion.  He 
is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Willshire  Post, 
Xo.  351,  G.  A.  II. 


PRAYTON  M.  AYERS,  an  old  settler  of 
.\.dains  County,  was  born  in  ]\Iadison 
--4,^  County,  New  York,  December  28,  1815, 
son  of  John  W.  and  Catherine  Ayers,  the 
former  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  the  latter 
of  ^lassachusetts.  Mr.  xVyers'  father  was  a 
surgeon  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  parents 
emigrated  to  AVarren  County,  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  lived  several  years,  then  removed 
to  Relinont  County,  Ohio,  where  his  fatlier 
practiced  medicine  about  twenty  years,  after 
wliicli  he  removed  to  Medina  County,  Ohio, 
and  there  died.  Wy.  Ayers'  parents  had  si.x 
children,  of  whom  two  are  living — Mary  J. 


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HISTORT    OF    Al)A3fS    aOUNTY. 


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iiiid  Draytcin  M.  Ho  reci'ivod  a  coiniiKm- 
SL'hool  education,  and  his  curly  lil'c  was  .-'])ont 
in  various  occupations,  lie  was  married  in 
Kicidaiid  Oounty,  Ohio,  Keljruary  0,  1843,  to 
Elizabeth  Z.  Crabs,  born  AFarcli  30,  1^523,  in 
that  county.  They  liad  ten  cliildren,ot'  wlioin 
six  survive — Nathan,  l*cri-y,  AValtcr,  Ida, 
wife  of  Samuel  Teeple,  Albert  and  ^lelvin. 
In  1853  our  sul)ject,  with  his  fainily,  iinini- 
i^rated  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  settling  in 
Washington  Township,  where  they  have  seen 
much  of  pioneer  life.  His  wife  died  January 
2,  1878.  She  was  a  kind  and  loving  wife 
and  mother,  and  is  greatly  missed-  by  tiie 
surviving  members  of  her  family.  Mr.  Ayers 
is  a  member  of  the  P.aptist  church,  and  for 
several  years  has  officiated  as  deacon.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Prohibitionist.  He  owns  200 
acres  of  excellent  land,  and  has  been  a  suc- 
cessful farmer.  All  he  has  he  has  earned  b}' 
honest  industry  and  good  management.  In 
his  younger  years  he  worked  at  the  cabinet 
maker's  trade  for  some  years. 


.1?|0KVAL  BLACKBURN,  publisher  of 
°llw/'  ^'"^  -Democrat,  is  a  son  of  Thomas  K. 
'^^'is  and  Anna  Blackburn,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  were  married  there,  removed 
to  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  in  1833,  to  Stark 
County,  same  State,  in  1849,  and  in  1850  to 
Indiana,  settling  in  Adams  County.  They 
resided  here,  en;ra2ed  in  farminLr,  until  18(55, 
since  when  they  have  lived  on  a  farm  in 
Newton  Count}',  this  State.  They  reared  a 
large  family;  Nerval  was  the  fifth  child,  and 
is  the  third  of  those  now  living.  He  was 
born  January  16,  1843,  and  lived  with  his 
parents  on  the  farm  until  twenty  years  old, 
receiving  a  common-school  education.  In 
September,  1803,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
Company  C,  Eleventh  Cavalry,  One  Hundred 


and  Twenty-sixth  IJeginiont  Indiana  Volun- 
teers, and  he  was  afterward  ])romoted  suc- 
cessively to  Second  Lieutenant,  First  Lieuten- 
ant and  Captain.  He  was  mustered  out  Sep- 
temljer  ID,  lS('i5.  During  tiie  next  nine 
years  he  was  successively  engaged  in  several 
pursuits  in  Adams  County.  In  Uecember. 
1874,  he  was  ap]ioiiited  deputy  sheriff,  which 
office  lie  filled  for  four  years.  In  1878  he 
was  elected  clerk  of  the  court,  which  office 
he  entered  November  1,  1879,  and  vacated 
November  1,  1883.  A  few  weeks  after  the 
latter  date  he  bought  a  half  interest  in  the 
Democrat,  and  in  February  following  he  be- 
came sole  proprietor.  May  14,  1885,  he  was 
appointed  postmaster  of  Decatur,  and  between 
the  postoffice  and  the  conduct  of  the  official 
newspaper  of  .\dams  County,  Mr.  Blackburn 
is  a  very  busy  man.  His  long  service  as  a 
public  official  has  made  him  universally 
known  in  the  county,  and  he  is  alw.ays  spoken 
of  as  a  liberal,  popular  citizen.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Mr.  Black- 
burn was  united  in  marriage  August  21, 
1869,  with  Sarah  J.  Stoops,  daughter  of 
James  Stoops,  of  Decatur.  They  have  been 
given  four  children;  of  these,  two,  Nellie 
and  Hattie,  arc  living. 


i^ 


"\V.  PRITDEN,  a  prosperous  agricult- 
■j^Y  urist  of  Adams  County,  engaged  in 
*^^t  ®  farming  and  stock-raising  on  section 
29,  Blue  Creek  Township,  was  born  in  Shelby 
County,  Ohio,  October  29,  1834,  a  son  of 
Peter  and  Christiana  (Amos)  Pruden,  the 
father  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  the  mother 
of  Kentucky,  and  of  English  and  German 
descent.  He  was  reared  to  the  avocation  of 
a  farmer,  which  he  has  made  his  life-work. 
He  was  married  near  Piqua,  Miami   County, 


riij 


V 

m 


I 

i 


,  /;,  ht<:ilt^i 




Ill 


JUOGRA  PHICAL    SKKTCHKS. 


I 


ill' 


Ohio,  I'Vliniai-y  12,  ISCl,  to  ^Fiss  :\IimTva 
S.  l''i'ost,  wliii  \va?!  Imm-ii  ill  that  coiintv  in 
1^40,  ami  was  a  daugliter  of  Ebetiezer  and 
Xancy  (^^r•  Reynolds)  I-'rost.  Of  tliu  ei_<,dil 
cliildren  born  to  tlii>  niiion  seven  are  living — 
"William  ('.  mai-ricd  I''aiiiiy  A.  Kitchen,  of 
]'i(jiia,  <)iiio;  {■'rost,  Nannie  A.,  tieoi-ge  II., 
James,  Clara  A.  and  Alfred.  Mr.  I'riulen 
enlisted  in  the  war  of  the  Reliellion  in  16G2, 


I'lastern  Indiana.  I  le  was  a  re>i(U'nt  of  .\dams 
Connty  ovei-  forty-two  years,  and  died  on  the 
homestead,  in  Hartford  To\viislii]>,  in  August, 
1S81,  aged  seventy  years.  He  w;is  a  member 
of  no  ehnrcli,  and  althongh  iiiHuential  in 
public  circles  was  no  aspirant  for  olKce,  the 
oidy  one  lie  ever  held  being  town-hip  trus- 
tee. Tlie  mother  of  Lewis  Cass  jliiler  was 
a  native  of  Irel.-ind,  but    was  brought    by  her 


third  Illinois  Infantry.  He  participated  in 
the  two  battles  of  Dotinelson,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  lie  then 
went  to  ("hicago,  Illinois,  and  from  there 
returned  to  his  home  in  ()hio.  In  1S72  he 
came  with  his  family  to  ^Vdums  ("ounty,  In- 
diana, and  settled  where  he  has  since  resided 
in  lilue  Creek  Township.  lie  purchased  200 
acres  of  uncultivated  land  here,  which  he  has 
converted  into  a  tine  farm,  and  is  classed 
among  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  his  town- 
ship, lie  had  l)nt  8300  when  he  left  the 
army,  and  from  this  small  beginning  he  has 
acquired  his  present  fine  ])roperty,  the  result 
of  ]iersevei'ing  energy  and  good  management. 


d   was    assigned    to    ('ompanv    V,    Eighty-     parents  to  America  when  twoyears  of  age,  and 

was  reared  in  "Westmoreland  County,  Penn- 
sylvania. She  was  married  to  Mr.  ]\Iiller 
aliout  1836,  in  Darke  County,  Ohio,  where 
her  ]iarents  had  remove<l  a  few  years  before. 
She  survives  her  husband,  and  is  now  living 
with  a  daughter  in  Hartford  Township.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  ^Ii-. 
!Nriller  was  reared  on  the  homestead  in  Hart- 
ford Townslii]).  where,  when  not  in  school,  he 
assisted  in  the  woi'k  of  the  farm.  He  was 
educated  in  tlie  schools  of  Adams  County, 
and  when  nineteen  years  of  age  began  teach- 
ing in  the  district  schools.  He  taught  eight 
winters,  devoting  his  summers  to  farming. 
In  the  meantime  he  was  married,  and  settled 
on  a  farm  in  liis  native  township,  which  con- 
tinued his  home  until  1883,  when,  having 
been  elected  county  auditor,  he  removed  to 
Decatur  to  assume  the  duties  of  his  office. 
He  has  proved  an  efficient  and  trustworthy 
officer,  and  is  popular  with  his  constituents. 
Reared  in  the  Democratic  school  of  politics, 
he  lias  always  been  allied  with  that  party, 
and  is  a  staunch  advocate  of  its  principles. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Adams  County  Dem- 
ocratic Central  Committee.  He  served  Hart- 
ford Townshi]!  as  trustee  twti  terms  of  two 
years  each.  He  is  a  member  of  no  religious 
denomination,  but  is  an  attendant  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member. 
He  is  a  nienil)er  of  St.  Clary's  Lodge,  No. 
ir;7,  I.  ().  O.  F.  Mr.  ^Miller  was  married 
September  14,   1871,  at  Hhitfton,  Indiana,  to 


EWIS  CASS  MILLER,  auditor  of  Adams 
County,  is  one  of  the  prominent  citizens 
of  the  county,  and  one  of  her  most 
])opular  native-born  children.  lie  was  born 
in  Hartford  Township,  Eebruar\-  19,  1846,  a 
son  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Dougherty) 
.Miller.  His  father  was  an  ardent  supporter  of 
Democracy,  and  named  his  son  in  honor  of  the 
statesman  and  Democratic  candidate  for  the 
presidency,  Lewis  Cass.  He  was  a  nati\e  of 
Ohio,  of  (ierman  ancestry.  When  a  young 
man  he  entered  (Tovernmcnt  land  in  Adams 
(,'ounty,  and  in  1830  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  liis  newly  entered  land  and  went  bravely 
to  work  to  make  a  home  in  the  wilderness  of 


i 

il 

n 

■4. 


I 


.HI* 


I 

'It' 


^liss  Nancy  A.  Russell,  a  daiinjhter  oi'  one  of 
the  prominent  citizens  of  AVells  County. 
Tiiey  have  lour  ciiililren  — llui;;li,  Edinond, 
(irace  and  Arthur. 


f 


|I)OXIUAM  JUDSOX  HILL  was  horn 
•)fcV';  in  Herkimer,  Herkimer  County,  New 
*-^,~^  York,  October  'J,  1832.  His  education 
was  obtained  in  the  common  and  select  schools 
and  com|iieted  by  an  acailemic  course  at  Lit- 
tle Falls,  New  York.  Li  the  winter  of 
1S4:>> -'49  he  emigrated  with  his  father  and 
family  tu  Virginia,  settling  in  the  Shenan- 
doah ^'a]le\',  near  Front  Royal,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  attained  his  majority.  In 
the  fall  of  1852  he  came  to  Indiana  and  set- 
tled in  Adams  County,  which  has  since  been 
liis  home.  In  the  spring  of  1859  he  pur- 
chased a  half  interest  in  the  Decatur  £a(//e, 
and  a  little  later  the  entire  interest  in  the 
paper,  which  he  conducted  until  the  fall  of 
18G2,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Eighty-ninth 
Indiana  Volnnteers  and  was  elected  Captain 
of  Comjiany  II.  He  took  witli  him  the  en- 
tire force  of  the  office,  including  '-tiie  devil" 
for  a  drummer  boy.  He  continued  in  com- 
mand of  the  company  until  the  fall  of  ISGl, 
when  his  health  failed;  and  he  returned  home 
in  January,  iSfJu.  -V  draft  was  pending  in 
the  county  at  the  time,  which  was  soon  wiped 
out  by  the  enlistment  of  some  sixty  volnn- 
teers by  his  personal  exertion,  which  tilled 
all  demands  made  by  the  President  for  troops 
during  the  war.  After  this  he  resumed  his 
old  position  on  the  Eagle,  the  office  having 
been  rented  during  ins  absence  in  the  army. 
^Vt  the  solicitaticju  of  John  j\[cConnell,  then 
clerk  of  the  Adams  Circuit  Court,  he  was 
made  his  deputy  in  the  b]>ring  of  1865,  and 
at  the  October  election,  1857,  was  elected  Mr. 
AlcConuell's  successor.      Four  years  after   he 


was  re-elected,  thus  serving  two  terms.  His 
iirst  presidential  vote  was  cast  fur  James 
Buchanan,  and  lie  has  always  been  active  in 
the  interests  of  tlic  Democratic  party,  having 
been  chairman  of  its  central  committee  for 
some  ten  years.  In  the  fall  of  187-1  he  dis- 
posed of  his  interest  in  the  Eatjle  to  Joseph 
^IcOonagle  and  opened  a  notion  store.  In 
August,  1881,  he  re-purchased  the  Eagle 
(nieanwliile  changed  to  the  Democrat)  of  S. 
Hay  Williams,  and  conducted  it  two  years, 
when  it  was  sold  to  Roth  &  Cummings. 
Since  that  time  ill  health,  the  result  of  ex- 
posure in  the  army,  has  kept  liim  from  any 
active  business  pursuits. 


.if^^EORGE  PONTIUS,  one  of  the  pros- 
ifUyjf  perous  farmers  of  Hartford  Township, 
=^1-  residing  on  section  2G,  was  born  in 
Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  February  23,  1827, 
a  sou  of  John  and  Julia  A.  (Critz)  Pontius, 
who  were  natives  of  the  sjime  county  as  our 
subject,  theii'  parents  being  of  Pennsylvania 
origin.  They  immigrated  to  Adams  County-, 
Indiana,  in  1854,  settling  in  Hartford  Tovvn- 
sliiii,  on  section  25,  wliere  they  lived  till  theii- 
death,  the  mother  dying  ilarch  1,  and  the 
father  March  31,  1859,  aged  respectively 
lifty-four  and  fifty-three  years.  They  were 
of  German  descent.  I'oth  were  consistent 
members  of  the  ^lethodist  Episcoj)al  church. 
The  father  was  a  staunch  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, and  during  his  life  held  many  local 
offices  of  trust  and  responsibility.  His 
fatlier,  George  Pontius,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812.  He  died  in  Pickaway  County, 
Ohio.  George  Pontius,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the  liome 
farm,  and  in  his  youth  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  neighborhood,  where  he  re- 
ceived but  a  limited  education,  but  later  in 


^Tir^wr^ia»^g^»^n»jBii^»Mg^»j"ra»M"MJ 


nwauAi'ii  1 CA  L  s  k  e  tcii  es. 


2!I'J 


lite  received  u  i^ooil  ])ractic;il  ediieaticm,  wliieli 
lias  well  tilted  liiiii  I'ur  tin'  duties  of  lite,  lie 
remained  at  liDine  till  his  inai-riage,  Ma}-  13, 
1850,  to  ^Ii.<s  Emily  Shoemaker,  who  was 
horn  in  Fairticld  County,  Ohio,  January  1~, 
1S32,  a  daii^diter  of  J)auiel  Shoemaker,  a 
native  of  I'fnn^ylvaiiia,  and  an  eai'ly  settler 
of  Fairfield  ('nunty.  Mr.  SluxMnalii-r  (■;ime 
with  his  family  to  Indiana  almut  1S55,  lirst 
settling  in  Hartford  Township,  Adams  County, 
and  two  yeais  later  removed  to  Xewville, 
now  Vera  Cruz,  in  Wells  County,  where  lie 
hoiiirht  a  farm  and  saw  and  gi'ist-mill,  ope- 
rating the  mill,  in  eonnection  with  his  farm- 
ing pursuits,  until  his  death  in  1857.  lie 
was  twiee  m  irried,  his  first  wife  being  So})hia 
!Marks,  a  native  of  Piekaway  County.  Ohio, 
by  whom  he  lia<l  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
She  dieil  in  February,  1832.  She  was  a 
niemluM-  of  the  (iernian  Lutheran  eliurch. 
For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Shoemaker  married 
Elizabeth  P>aker,  and  to  this  union  were  born 
five  sons  and  two  daughters.  She  died  Sep- 
tember 28,  18s5,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-three  years.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  (ierman  Ileformed  churtdi.  To  ^[r.  and 
!^^rs.  Pontius  have  been  born  ten  ehildren — 
]\rary  Jane  (deceased),  Daniel,  Sylvester,  Clin- 
ton, Albert,  Edward,  Charles,  Osaetta,  George 
F.  and  John.  After  his  marriage,  in  1850, 
Jlr.  Pontius  came  to  Adams  County,  Indiana, 
and  settled  on  land  given  liiin  by  his  father, 
located  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
21),  llartt'ord  Township,  which  was  then 
nnimproved  and  covered  over  with  a  heavy 
growth  of  timber.  His  first  house  here  was 
made  of  hewed  logs,  18  x  28  feet  in  size,  and 
in  this  house  he  lived  till  1871,  wdien  lie 
built  his  present  large  and  commodious  resi- 
dence. It  is  built  of  brick  and  cost  $?J:,000, 
and  is  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  this 
part  of  the  township.  His  farm  buildings 
for  his  stock  are  also  noticeablv  good.      He 


has  a  line  frame  barn  45  .\  108  feet,  erected 
in  1873  at  a  cost  of  !?3,000,  and  from  a  small 
beginning  he  has  accumulated  a  large  prop- 
erty, owning  yet  2-40  acres  after  giving  liber- 
ally|tohisehildren.  lie  has  experienced  many 
of  the  hardships  and  privations  incidentto  pio- 
neer life,  coming  to  Hartford  Township  among 
the  early  .settlers,  where  he  worked  hard  at 
chopping  Wood  and  c  earing  land  for  50  cents  a 
day,  his  T)resent  jjrusperoiis  condition  having 
been  gaint'd  by  persevering  industry  and  good 
management.  In  politics,  like  his  father, 
he  atKliates  with  the  I)emoeratic  party.  In 
November,  188G,  he  was  elected  commis- 
sioner of  the  Third  Congressional  District  of 
Adams  County,  receiving  a  total  of  2,012 
votes,  a  majority  of  748  votes  over  the  Pe- 
jniblican  nominee.  J'oth  IMi-.  and  ^Irs. 
Pontius  are  members  of  the  J\lethodist  Epis- 
copal church.  Their  jwstolHce  is  Geneva, 
Indiana. 


^risrT  FPED.  PYLE,  a  popular  and  suc- 
'\:i\  \\'  eessful  teacher,  residing  at  Geneva, 
[■^yT^Tj  ®  is  the  eldest  son  of  Andrew  J.  and 
Mary  A.  Pyle,  who  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Wabash  Township,  and  was  born 
November  22,  1858.  He  remained  at  home 
with  his  parents  till  attaining  his  majority, 
receiving  in  his  youth  the  benefits  of  the 
common  schools  of  Adams  County.  In  1879- 
'80  he  attended  the  Northern  Indiana  Nor- 
mal School  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana,  after 
which  he  engaged  in  teaching,  which  he  fol- 
lowed till  1883.  He  then  entered  the  Eastern 
Normal  School  at  Portland,  in  Jay  County, 
o-raduatiniT  from  that  institution  in  1884, 
since  which  he  lias  been  engaged  in  teaching 
school  during  the  winter  term,  and  reading 
law  under  the  preceptorship  of  AVilliain 
Drew  at  Geneva,  and   at  present  is   teaching 


t 


>% 
% 

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;| 

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».--Ci,M,^iil 


^^> 


"J3-K-»|" 


iiisroiiv   Oh'  ADAMS   voi'yrr. 


ir^«?i[?»H!*kfrni^^  .-^'-i»iaHnHi 


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t 


if  ■ 
1^ 


ill  I  )istrii't  'J,  Waliash  Tiiwiisliip.  Novciiilier 
1,  ISSy,  lie  was  united  in  iiiarriafre  to  Miss 
Clara  Vcley,  a  nati\e  of  I  )f  ivalli  Cduntv, 
liiiliana,  Imni  ()et.)i)er  27,  IM'.?.  Tliuy  have 
an  infant  bun,  lidrii  April  )l'J.,  18S7. 


)EV.  FREDERICK  BEKG,  pastor 
'  of  the  (lerniaii  Lutheran  church  in 
'^x^  Rout  Townsliip,  was  hunt  in  Logan.s- 
poit,  Indiana,  Marcli  "20,  185G,  wliere  he  re- 
mained until  fourteen  years  uf  age,  then  went 
to  Concordia  Colle^'e,  at  Fort  ^\'ayiie,  i.q-adu- 
atini;  ill  1^75.  Jletlien  went  to  Concordia 
Seminary,  at  St.  i^ouis,  .Aiissouri,  j^radiiating 
there  in  1>S7S.  He  then  became  a  missionary 
to  the  colored  people  at  Little  Kock,  Arkan- 
sas, wliere  lie  organized  the  first  Lutheran 
ehurcli  for  colored  people  in  tlie  United 
States,  lie  remained  there  until  he  came  to 
his  present  pastorate.  The  membership  is 
seventy-live  active,  voting  members,  and  379 
souls  in  the  congregation,  with  235  commun- 
icants. In  I)ecatur  he  has  an  organized 
congregation  with  eight  voting  members,  lif- 
teen  coiumuiiicaiits  and  twenty-four  members 
of  the  Congregation.  The  schools  number 
sixty-live  pujiils.  In  this  school  all  the  com- 
mon branches  are  taught,  and  by  rule  of  the 
church  pupils  are  obliged  to  attend  until 
fourteen  years  of  age.  They  are  then  con- 
tinned  as  communicants,  and  the  males  at 
twenty-one  become  voting  members.  Tlie 
parents  of  ^Ir.  Berg  were  born  in  Prussia, 
Germany.  The  father  came  to  America  in 
1853  or  1854  and  settled  in  Logansport,  In- 
diana, where  he  died  October  23,  185G,  aged 
twenty-eight  years.  The  niother  is  still  liv- 
ing in  Logansport  with  a  half-sister,  ^Irs. 
.\ngusta  Smith.  Mr.  I>erg  was  married  .Inly 
10,  1S79,  to  Miss  Augusta  Jox,  who  was 
)orn    in  Jackson  County,  Wisconsin,  August 


10,  1859,  where  she  lived  until  live  years 
of  age.  She  then  remo\ed  with  her  parents 
to  Logansj)ort,  where  her  father  has  since 
resided,  as  pastor  u\'  the  Cierinan  Lutheran 
chiirch.  Roth  her  parents  were  born  in  (ier- 
maiiy.  They  were  married  in  this  country. 
The  father  was  educated  at  Fort  Wayne  Sem- 
inary. The  history  of  the  Lutheran  ciiurcli 
in  this  place  is  as  follows:  There  were  two 
men,  named  Clamor  Fuelling  and  iJietrich 
Gerke,  who,  in  1S4-1,  sold  five  acres  each  to 
the  congregation  for  church  purposes,  about 
three-eighths  of  a  mile  southeast  of  the  ])ies- 
ent  site  of  the  beautiful  Lutheran  chui-cli, 
consideration  s30.  Gn  this  site  they  erected 
a  log  cliurcli  in  which  there  was  a  parochial 
school.  The  first  missionary  in  this  locality 
was  Frederick  AVyneken,  who  ]jreached  in 
barns.  The  next  was  liev.  Ivnape,  who  re- 
sided in  Preble  Township.  In  the  meantime 
there  was  a  school  taught  by  Messrs.  Schlat- 
ermiind,  G.  II.  Jaebker  and  Rennicke.  !Mr. 
Jaebker  afterward  became  tlie  pastor  of  the 
Preble  Township  Lutheran  church.  The  log 
church  was  built  in  1S41.  The  church  was 
regularly  organized  in  1M3,  and  had  a  deacon 
by  the  name  of  Frederick  Christianer,  and 
also  owned  property.  F.  Ilussman  succeeded 
Pev.  Ivnape,  who,  in  turn,  was  succeeded  by 
Andrew  Fritze,  who  had  charge  of  this  con- 
gregation twenty-eight  years,  and  lived  in 
the  present  parsonage  twenty-three  years. 
Fie  died  here  March  28, 1877.  He  was  born 
in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  October  11,  181G. 
lie  came  to  America  a  single  man,  and  was 
educated  at  F'ort  AVayne,  at  the  Lutheran 
Seminary.  The  second  church  (frame  l)nild- 
ing)  was  built  in  1851,  and  is  now  used  for 
school  jHirposes.  It  was  built  during  the 
ministry  of  Pev.  Fritze,  who  was  succeeded 
by  Theodore  Ilahn,  who  came  here  in  1877 
and  remained  until  the  summer  of  18S1. 
During    his    ministry,   in    1879,   the   present 


pgi,  la  »^»k^'»fr»r^i«  °i  *sr 


;r. 


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.■■.■.■rjM:ii;wiiifjiTw-wi.Tg-|a^i.::M,M^»;^Mrws»ini-."^»J»' 


'pi' 

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lUUaRAFHlCAL    SK  KTCIIES. 


brick  clmrcli  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  over 
,s(j,()()0.  It  is  -tli  x  72  feet  in  size,  iiiul  tlie 
jj^roiind  consists  of  the  ten  acres  previously 
mentioned.  The  church  lias  an  organ,  a  bell 
and  a  beautiftd  cemetery.  The  ])reseiit  pas- 
tor, Ifev.  Frederick  ISerg,  came  to  this  field 
in  >i\>veinl)er,  ISSl. 

— — :^►^"^^«^— — 


K0IJ(4E  FRAXK,  a  farmer  of  Washing- 
ton Township,  was  born  in  Northnmber- 
^Tv-  land  ("oniity,  i^nnsylvania,  November 
7,  1S15,  SDU  (if  I'eter  and  Magdalena  Frank, 
Tiatives  also  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  German 
ance.-try.  When  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
ernigiated  with  his  parents  to  Darke  County, 
Ohio,  and  there  they  resided  five  years.  He 
received  a  rudimentary  education  in  the  dis- 
trict scluiids,  and  being  a  great  reader,  has 
liecome  a  well-informed  man  on  the  general 
topics  of  the  day.  In  1838  he  came  to  Adams 
County,  and  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Blue  Creek  Townshi]),  whei'e  he  settled  in  a 
loo-  cabin  and  lived  nineteen  years.  He  has 
experienced  all  tlie  hardships  of  pioneer  life. 
His  family  subsisted  on  wild  ganie  for  their 
(jJ  meat  many  years.  He  subsequently  removed 
«;.  to  Washington  Township.  He  was  married 
September  29,  1839,  in  Adams  County,  to 
iS'ancy  Sackett,  born  August  14,  1823,  in 
(-Jreeiie  (bounty,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Isaliel  Sackett,  natives  of  Ohio.  Her 
parents  came  to  xVdams  County  in  the  fall  of 
1837,  settling  in  JMue  Creek  Townshij),  and 
were  among  the  early  pioneers.  Mr.  and 
!Mrs.  Frank  have  liad  seven  children,  three  ot 
whom  survive — Peter,  Samuel,  and  Elezan, 
wife  of  Joel  Roe,  St.  Mary's  Townshiji.  Mr. 
P'rauk  in  an  early  day  served  as  clerk  of  Blue 
Ci-eek  Township,  also  as  justice  of  the  peace 
for  several  years.  In  1848  he  was  elected 
county  assessor.      At    that   time    there    were 


no  township  assessors.  In  1858  he  was 
elected  sheritl',  served  one  term  and  was  re- 
elected. He  was  subsequently  appointed  to 
till  a  vacancy  in  the  board  of  county  com- 
missioners, and  after  his  a])pointment  expired 
he  was  elected  to  that  office.  He  was  serving 
the  county  when  the  court-house  was  built, 
and  was  one  of  its  strongest  advocates.  It 
was  built  largely  through  his  intlueuce.  He 
owns  a  good  farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section 
14,  in  good  cultivation.  AVhen  lie  first  came 
to  this  county  he  had  only  six  dollars  in  cash 
and  the  clothes  he  wore  on  his  back.  The 
remainder  of  his  possessions  was  done  u]>  in 
a  "cotton  trunk."  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  at  Decatur,  and  in  polities 
is  a  Democrat. 


^mBRAHA.M  ]\IcWILLIAM  BOLLMAN, 
jiWv-  recorder  of  Adams  County,  Indiana,  was 
"s^jr?  Imrn  near  Dalton,  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
March  (),  1845.  His  father,  Abraham  Boll- 
man,  was  a  native  of  ]?edfbrd  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, of  German  parentage,  and  when  a 
young  man  left  his  native  State  and  located 
in  AVayne  County,  Ohio,  where  in  1829  he 
married  Cliristiann  Cook,  a  native  of  Ohio. 
In  1852  he  came  to  Adams  (Jounty,  Indiana, 
and  was  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  at 
Decatur  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
August,  1873,  aged  nearly  seventy-three 
years.  He  was  in  politics  a  Democrat,  and 
during  Buchanan's  administration  served  as 
postmaster  at  Decatur.  He  also  held  the 
ottices  of  trustee  and  treasurer  of  Decatur 
several  terms.  His  widow  survived  him 
until  June  7,  1885,  being  at  her  death  nearly 
seventy-live  years  old.  They  were  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  for  a  number  of 
years.  They  had  a  family  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  save  one  lived  till  maturity. 


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JIItiTOIiV    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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and  eight  are  still  living,  lour  in  Adams 
County,  two  in  ^liaiui  ('ounty,  one  in  Jay 
County,  Indiana,  and  one  in  lieno  ('ounty, 
Kansas.  A.  ^IcW.  Bolltnan  accompanied  liis 
parents  to  iUlams  County  in  1852,  and  was 
liere  reared,  receiving  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Decatur.  When  seventeen  years 
old  he  began  teacliing,  and  taught  three  win- 
ter terms  in  Adams,  and  seven  in  !Miami 
County,  Indiana.  In  April,  1S73,  he  was 
deputized  county  recorder  by  Captain  J.  J. 
Clmbb,  and  again  by  Jiis  successor,  John 
Schuj'ger,  holding  the  jiosition  six  years.  In 
July,  lS7il,  he  was  appointed  deputy  circuit 
clerk  by  1>.  JI.  Dent,  and  in  1S81  by  Captain 
Morval  Illackburn,  serving  over  tour  years. 
In  October,  18S2.  he  was  elected  county  I'c- 
cordcr,  assuming  the  duties  ot"  his  office  in 
1883,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  ottice  in 
Xovember,  18S6.  In  1873  he  made  the  first 
abstract  of  title  of  Adams  County,  and  in 
187G-'77  made  the  first  complete  abstract  of 
records  and  titles  of  the  county,  and  at  pres- 
ent is  at  work  on  a  condensed  index  of  all 
the  titles  in  the  county.  Jlr.  Bollman  was 
married  October  22,  1874,  at  Bunker  Hill, 
Indiana,  to  Elsie  E.  Keegan,  a  native  of 
iS'atick,  Massachusetts,  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Bridget  (Killiam)  Keegan,  natives  of  Ireland. 
They  have  four  children  —  Jennie,  Arthur 
]\Ic\V.,  Frances  L.  and  ^laggie.  ^Mrs.  Boll- 
man  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


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^^NDREW  J.  PYLE,  one  of  the  old  pio- 
jjM'j  neers  of  Adams  County,  Indiana,  resid- 
^j^  ing  on  section  34r,  AVabash  Township, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  March 
8,  1829,  a  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  Ann  (Les- 
lie) Pyle.  His  father  was  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey and  was  ofETicish  descent,  his  ancestors 


coining  to  jVmei-ica  with  AViUiam  Penn.  The 
motlier  was  also  born  in  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, living  there  till  after  her  marriage.  The}' 
removed  to  AVayne  County,  ( )hio,  about  1831, 
and  in  1837  came  to  Jay  County,  Indiana, 
and  settled  in  Wabash  Townshij),  where  the 
father  entered  land,  which  he  sold  in  1850. 
He  then  purchased  300  acres  of  land  in 
Wabash  Township,  Adams  County,  on  which 
he  resided  until  1860.  In  that  year  he  sold 
his  Adams  County  property  and  removed  to 
Itock  Creek  Township,  Wells  County,  Indi- 
ana, where  both  parents  died,  the  father  in 
1865,  aged  sixty-live  years,  and  the  mother  in 
1871,  aged  sixty-eight  years.  They  had  a 
family  of  six  children,  four  sons  and  two 
daughters.  They  were  membei's  of  the  J\Ieth- 
odist  Episcopal  church.  The  father  was  a 
carpenter  and  mill-wright  by  trade,  at  which 
he  worked  in  connection  with  his  farming- 
pursuits.  Politically  he  was  first  a  Democrat, 
afterward  an  old-line  Whig,  and  subsequent- 
ly affiliated  with  the  Kepublicau  party. 
Andrew  Jackson  Pyle,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  receiving 
but  limited  educational  advantages.  He 
learned  the  carjjenter's  trade  from  his  father, 
whicli  he  followed  till  thirty  years  of  age,  and 
superintended  the  erection  of  Liber  College, 
in  Jay  (bounty,  Indiana.  After  giving  up  his 
trade  he  engaged  in  farming  and  dealing  in 
stock,  which  he  still  follows.  For  a  time  he 
followed  mercantile  pursuits  at  Jay  City. 
August  19,  1855,  he  was  married  to  Mary  A. 
Sivbry,  a  native  of  Fairfield  County,  Ohio, 
born  February  25, 1837,  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Mary  A.  (Kraner)  Sivbry,  natives  of 
Maryland,  her  mother  born  in  1803.  Her 
parents  were  married  in  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio,  remaining  there  till  1839,  when  they 
came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Bear  Creek 
Township,  Jay  Coimty,  residing  there  till 
their    death,    the    father    dying    April     29 


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BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCnKS. 


18()(!,  aivcd  sixty-six  ycnrs,  and  tlic  mother 
Jiimiary  'JO,  lS7;i.  Tlii-y  inici  a  family  nt'six 
children,  four  sons  and  two  dangliti'i-s.  Mr. 
iSivl)ry  \vas  a  ministorin  the  United  lirethren 
church,  and  traveled  as  a  circuit  preacher  for 
several  years,  lie  was  of  Irish  descent.  ^Ir. 
and  Mrs.  I'ylc  are  the  parents  of  live  children 
— Martha  A.,  horn  .hine  .S,  1856,  died  Decem- 
ber 1-4,  IS.")!!;  AVilliain  F.,  born  November  22, 
1858;  Harvey  E.,  born  September  8,  18(31; 
Jenette,  born  March  29,  1867;  and  Clara  S., 
l)orn  August  20,  1877.  Mr.  Pyle  has  pros- 
pered in  his  agricultural  pursuits,  and  has  now 
a  farm  of  1S5  acres,  120  being  under  excellent 
cultivation,  with  a  good  comfortable  residence 
and  farm  liuildings  for  his  stock.  In  politics 
lie  is  a  Republican  with  Prohibition  senti- 
ments. ]\[r.  Pyle  remembers  of  riding  on 
the  first  railway  cars,  from  Philadelphia  to 
J'loomington,  Pennsylvania,  in  1833,  tiie  cars 
being  drawn  by  liorses.  He  is  said  to  have 
killeil  the  largest  deer  killed  in  day  County, 
Indiana,  using  an  old  tiint-lock  musket 
W'liich  had  been  carried  by  his  uncle  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Jlis  grandfather  was  a 
soldier  in  the  same  war.  Both  !Mr.  and  j\Irs. 
Pyle  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church. 


r£^  A]\IUEL  L.  liUGCi  was  an  early  settler 
Kc^  of  A<lams  County.  He  was  born  in 
V-"  Oneida  Connty,  New  York,  August  28, 
1805,  where  lie  passed  his  early  life.  lie 
prepared  himself  for  college  at  Waterville,  in 
liis  native  connty,  but  his  father  dying  about 
this  time  he  was  obliged  to  modify  his  plans. 
It  became  necessary  for  him  to  make  his  own 
living,  and,  being  a  natural  mechanic,  he  ob- 
tained emjiloyment  in  a  blacksmith  shop,  in 
his  native  village.  Jlere  he  worked  and 
studied,   and   developed    into   a    man   of  rare 


business  capacity,  which  was  recognized  by 
his  emjiloyers.  In  1S25  the  lu'ie  ( 'anal  was 
opened,  and  there  was  an  immense  immigra- 
tion wostwaril.  During  this  year  he  went  to 
Cincinnati, wdiere  he  was  employed  in  a  large 
cotton-thread  factory.  lie  was  a  thorough 
machinist,  a  good  salesman  and  a  skillful  ac- 
countant. In  1832  he  left  the  factory  and 
came  to  Indiana,  wdiere  he  entered  a  tract  of 
land  in  Allen  County,  near  the  old  fort,  and 
commenced  at  once  to  improve  his  land.  In 
183t)  he  petitioned  to  the  General  Assembly 
for  a  new  county.  Adams  County  was  then 
set  off  and  organized,  Decatur  being  chosen 
as  the  county  seat.  He  was  elected  the  first 
connty  clerk  and  recorder,  and  held  the  ofHce 
eighteen  years.  The  office  of  recorder  was  soon 
after  separated  from  that  of  county  clerk,  ^fr. 
Rugg  was  popular  in  the  county,  being  known 
as  a  man  of  honesty,  generosity  and  public 
spirit.  In  1854  he  was  nominated  by  the 
Democratic  piirty  for  State  Senator,  and  was 
elected.  He  filled  the  position  with  great 
satisfaction  to  his  constituents.  In  1858  he 
was  nominated  for  the  office  of  superintend- 
ent of  public  instruction,  and  was  elected  by 
a  large  majority.  He  entered  npon  the 
duties  of  his  office  in  February,  1859,  on 
the  retirement  of  Dr.  Larrabee.  Jlr.  Rugg 
was  the  third  supei-inteiKlcnt  of  the  State. 
At  this  time  the  school  monies  were  dis- 
tributed among  the  different  counties,  and 
the  officers  had  made  proper  returns  to  the 
State.  Every  county  had  been  provided  for 
but  his  own.  ]\Ir.  Rugg  recovered  for  the 
use  of  the  jiublic  schools  $750,000,  which 
placed  thein  on  a  good  footing.  In  1860  he 
was  defeated  by  Mr.  Jliles  Fletcher,  who  died 
before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office. 
Another  election  was  ordered,  and  Mr.  Rugg 
was  elected,  serving  until  1864.  He  died  at 
Nashville  March  28,  1871,  and  his  remains 
were  brought  back   to   his   old   home   at  De- 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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iiitcrineiit.  ^\s  a  [luljlic  man  ^Ir. 
Itiigg  was  tlie  pi'iiiiiDter  (if  the  l\)rt  Wayne 
iSc  Uiclmionil  Uailroaii,  ami  the  orii;aiii/.er  of 
the  Foj't  ^\'avIle  i\:  Uecatur  I'laiik-road  Coiii- 
jKUiy.  I  lu  exhau.stcd  all  ul' his  own  resources 
in  tiie  construction  of  the  two  roads,  and  he 
was  left  in  very  poor  circunistauces.  lie  was 
a  kind  husband  and  father,  a  devoted  friend, 
and  left  behind  him  a  hu'i^e  circle  of  friends 
to  mourn  his  loss.  The  first  land  he  entered 
in  Indiana  was  une-half  mile  north  of  De- 
catur, now  known  as  the  Tonallie  farm.  ^Ir. 
liujig  lived  on  this  farm  when  Adams  County 
was  sot  oil'  from  Allen  County.  He  was 
lirst  married  in  ('incinnati,  living  with  his 
wife  only  a  few  years,  when  she  died,  leaving 
a  young  child  that  soon  followed  its  mother. 
It  was  after  this  that  Mr.  Kugg  resolved  to 
come  to  the  wilds  of  Indiana.  lie  went  to 
Piqua,  Uhio,  by  canal,  and  bought  an  ox 
team,  loading  liis  eftects  on  a  stone-boat  made 
of  planks.  It  was  very  muddy  and  the  boat 
woidd  slide  c)\er  the  mud;  in  this,  way  he 
came  to  the  farm,  lie  was  again  married  to 
Miss  ISusan  I5all,  wlio  died  leaving  four  chil- 
dren— J.  Kirkland,  _  Dewitt  Clinton,  Julius 
anil  Cornelia.  .VU  are  living.  His  third 
wife,  whom  he  married  June  8,  18-47,  was 
Catherine  ISiggs,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania January  22,  1822,  and  died  August  7, 
1853,  leaving  three  children — Jay;  Jessie, 
born  April  3,  1851,  and  died  October  12, 
1853,  and  Indiana,  who  was  born  ^\.ugust  2, 
1853,  and  died  in  eleven  days.  The  father 
was  formerly  a  Methodist,  but  in  later  life 
was  a  Presbyterian.  Tlie  mother  was  also  a 
!Methodist.  ]\Ir.  Kugg  owned  and  platted 
Decatur,  then  afterward  sold  the  north  part 
to  Mr.  Reynolds.  He  donated  a  lot  to  the 
Methodist,  Presbyterian,  Catholic,  Baptist 
and  German  Reformed  churches,  and  also 
donated  the  public  squai-e  on  which  the  coui-t- 
house  was  Iniilt.      He  set  apart  live  acres  for 


a  park,  and  gave  the  lair  grounds.  Ax  one 
time  he  engaged  in  the  agricultural  imple- 
ment business,  but  it  failed.  He  was  more 
successful  in   cotton  irrowiuir. 


iP^  AMUEL  WELDY,  farmer,  section  22, 
tfS^l  Kirkland  Township,  was  born  Septem- 
^^  ber  29,  1818,  in  Eairtield  County,  Uhio, 
the  eldest  child  of  Peter  and  Susannah  Weldy. 
lie  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  in 
bis  native  county,  receiving  such  education  as 
the  district  schools  of  that  early  day  afforded. 
He  was  first  married  October  20,  1842,  to 
JMartha  ivenneiiy,  who  was  born  in  Faii'tield 
County,  Ohio,  April  3,  1823,  but  reared  till 
her  mai'riage  in  Perry  County,  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Sarah  (Henry)  Kennedy,  who 
were  of  Irish  and  German  descent  respective- 
ly. Her  parents  died  in  Perry  C(junty. 
They  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Tliey  had  a  family  of  eight  children, 
four  sons  and  four  daughters.  To  ilr.  and 
Mrs.  Weldy  were  born  seven  children — Ra- 
chel E.  (deceased),  Peter  II.,  William  T. 
(deceased),  Joseph  P.,  Sarah  C,  Myron 
(deceased),  Peter  H.  (deceased).  After  bis 
marriage  ilr.  Weldy  rented  his  father's  farm, 
w'hich  be  farmed  for  ten  years.  lie  came  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  in  October,  1857, 
and  settled  on  section  1,  Kirkland  Township, 
wliich  he  subsequently  sold,  and  removed  to 
section  12.  In  the  fall  of  1867  be  settled  on 
his  present  farm,  which  contains  eighty  acres 
of  choice  land.  AVhen  he  settled  on  this 
farm  about  sixteen  acres  had  been  cleared 
and  a  small  log  cabin  built.  He  has  his 
entire  farm  now  under  line  cultivation,  with  a 
good  residence  and  comfortable  farm  build- 
ings. He  was  a  Union  man  during  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion,  and  was  enrolling  oflicer  of 
his  township.      He  was  bereaved  by  the  death 


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»I»™Ii"»ra  ••i(*»H*'.i?*~;«5»** 


B  JOG  HA  ririCAL    SKKTCIIES. 


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ofliis  wife  July  2S,  18S3,  iiiul  July  5,  1884, 
he  was  niraiu  married,  to  Mrs.  Susannah 
ilillii^en.  Mr.  ^Vel(ly  takes  an  active  inter- 
est in  any  enterprises  wliicii  he  deems  tor  the 
advancement  of  his  township  or  county,  and 
has  filled  acceptably  several  local  othces.  In 
politics  he  is  a  staunch  Kepuhlican. 


ICMAKL  N.  KIJ.VNER,  deceased, 
was  born  in  Fairfield  County.  Ohio, 
'K;i?^  Xovember  ~6.  lN()9,  a  son  of  John 
^I.  and  Susauiiali  (^Vise)  Kraner,  natives  of 
]\Iarvland,  the  father  born  near  Baltimore. 
Kis  parents  subsequently  settleil  in  Fairfield 
County,  Ohio,  where  they  made  their  hotne 
till  death.  Tlie  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
^fichael  Kraner,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
wliei-e  he  lived  for  several  years  after  his  mar- 
riage. His  wife  died  in  that  country,  after 
which  he  immigrated  with  his  four  cliildren 
to  America.  He  died  in  Fairfield  County, 
(Jliio.  r.y  trade  he  was  a  carpenter.  ALichael 
N.,  our  subject,  was  al)Out  seven  years  old 
when  lie  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Fair- 
field County,  and  there  he  was  reared  to 
manhood  on  the  home  farm,  lie  was  mar- 
ried June  11,  1829,  to  Catherine  Minehart, 
who  was  born  in  JHflli!!  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, September  22,  ISO'J,  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Catherine  (Roads)  Mineliart,  the 
father  born  in  York  County,  Pennsylvania, 
December  11,  1777,  and  the  mother  being  a 
native  of  the  same  State  and  of  German 
descent.  Her  parents  had  a  family  of  si.K 
children,  one  son  and  five  daughters.  Her 
fatiier  was  but  a  child  wlien  lie  was  taken  by 
his  parents  to  ^Htllin  County,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  reared.  His  pai'ents  were  resi- 
dents of  Fairfield  ('ounty,  Ohio,  at  the  time 
of  their  death.  Seven  children  have  been 
born    to   ]\[r.    and    Mrs.    Kraner — Saluda  J., 


!l. 


Delilah,  Hiram,  Klender  (deceased),  Ann  C, 
]\Iar_y  V,.  and  .John  O.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Kraner  followed  farming  in  Hancock 
County,  Ohio,  and  in  1860  came  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  arriving  here  December  25. 
Here  he  jnirchased  a  large  tract  of  land  and 
erected  the  first  portable  saw-mill  in  the 
vicinity.  He  died  on  the  homestead  farm, 
in  Wabash  Township,  May  14,  1882.  He 
was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church.  He  was  a  man  of  strict  in- 
tegrity and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings, 
and  was  a  man  much  respected  throughout 
the  community  where  lie  resided.  His  widow 
is  now  livinir  at  Geneva,  Indiana. 


/fTOHX  ]McCUNE,  deceased,  who  was  one 

f;  of  the  early  settlers  of  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  was  born  in  Holmes  County, 
Ohio,  December  23,  1813.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood in  Kentucky,  and  received  a  fair  com- 
mon-school education.  He  came  with  liis 
father's  family  to  Indiana,  they  settling  in 
Kush  County.  He  was  married  in  UusJi 
County  to  !Mary  Aspey,  who  was  born  in  that 
county  September  11,  1813,  a  danghter  of 
Lawrence  Aspey, Sr.  Twelve  children  were  born 
to  this  union,  five  sons  and  seven  daughters. 
After  his  marriage  ilr.  JMcCune  located  in 
I'^iyette  County,  Indiana,  and  from  there  he 
removed  to  Hancock  County.  He  subse- 
quently returned  to  Fayette  County,  and  in 
1845  came  to  Adams  County,  and  settled  on 
section  27  of  Monroe  Township  on  land 
which  had  been  entered  for  him  by  his  father- 
in-law.  His  land  was  heavily  covered  with 
timber  when  he  settled  on  it, and  he  imTnedi- 
ately  began  clearing  and  improving  the  place. 
He  built  a  hewed-log  house  one  and  a  half 
stories  high,  covered  with  clapboards,  and 
afterward    built   a   more  commodious    frame 


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HISTORY    OP    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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rc'sitlencc,  in  wliicli  lie  resiilud  until  his  do;itli 
!\oveiiiber  24,  ls73,  hi»  wile  surviving,'  until 
August  23,  1S74.  JJoth  were  worthy  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church.  Politically 
Mr.  ]\IcCuiie  was  formerly  a  ^\  hig,  hnt  later 
attiliated  with  the  Kepnblican  party.  He  was 
active  in  all  enterprises  which  had  for  their 
object  the  advancement  of  liis  township  or 
county,  and  served  faithfully  as  township 
trustee  and  constable.  In  the  early  days  of 
the  county  he  was  considered  quite  a  luinter. 
.Vt  one  time  he  shot  three  deer  from  his  noi'th 
M'indow.  He  was  successful  in  his  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
liad  1()0  acres  of  choice  land. 


^AY  RUG  CI,  farmer,  section  26,  Eoot 
"jv  Township,  was  born  in  Decatur,  this 
^^  county,  April  4,  184S.  He  lived  in  his 
native  town  until  185S,  then  removed  to  Fort 
AVayne,  where  his  father,  Samuel  Kugg,  was 
elected  State  Superintendent  of  Public  In- 
struction. The  family  then  removed  to  In- 
dianapolis, where  they  lived  four  years. 
During  the  late  war  he  enlisted  in  Compan}' 
C,  Seventeenth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  served 
three  years,  or  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
lie  was  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  ^lis- 
sionary  Pidge  and  all  the  battles  and  skir- 
mishes of  his  regiment.  They  went  to  Atlanta, 
but  returned  to  Xashville,  under  General 
Thomas,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Fraidilin. 
lie  was  discharged  in  February,  1864;  but 
when  General  Morgan  made  his  raid  he  en- 
listed in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-second 
Indiana  for  100  days.  After  his  discharge 
he  lived  a  short  time  in  F^ort  AVayne,  when 
the  family  removed  to  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
on  account  of  his  father's  ])ulmonary  diffi- 
culties. The}'  lived  there  three  years,  ■when 
the    tather    went     to    Huntsville,    Alabama. 


Our  subject  was  then  running  an  enjjine  on 
the  .Memphis  ^-  Charleston  liailroad.  He 
followed  that  occupation  nine  years.  He 
was  married  June  26,  1876,  to  Mrs. 
Catherine  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Clarke 
County,  Ohio,  October  26,  1836,  and  when 
she  was  five  years  old  the  family  removed 
to  this  county,  settling  in  Washington  Town- 
ship, where  she  was  mostly  reared.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Virginia.  Her  father 
was  l)orn  in  Rockingham  County  in  1811, 
whore  he  was  reared  atid  educated.  He  was 
married  in  Clarke  County,  Ohio.  He  died 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Wabash  Township 
August  26,  1874.  The  mother  was  four  and 
a  half  years  older  than  the  father,  and  died 
on  the  home  farm  April  16,  1872,  and  is 
buried  in  the  Crawford  cemetery.  Mrs.  Jtusjg 
was  the  oldest  of  eight  children.  She  has 
two  brothers  living  in  Wabash  Township, 
and  one  brother  in  Washington  Township. 
A  sister  lives  in  Florida.  Mr.  and  ]\[rs. 
Pugg  have  one  child — Gertrude,  who  was 
born  June  9,  1878. 


7j,.^  fri<:derick  avillia^i  plakey, 

farmer,  resides  on  section  20,  Union 
Township,  where  he  owns  320  acres 
of  land.  He  also  owns  160  acres  on  section 
17,  making  a  total  of  480  acres.  He  was 
born  in  Prussia  November  30,  1825,  aiid 
came  with  his  parents  to  Amei-ica  when  ten 
years  of  age.  He  was  married  in  December, 
1854,  to  Miss  Mary  Pevalheimer,  who  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  December,  1833. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blakey  have  nine  living  chil- 
dren— AVilliam,  Louisa,  Caroline,  Christine, 
Edward,  Helena,  ilary,  Sophia  and  Fierman. 
Caroline  is  deceased.  His  father's  family 
consisted  of  seven  children — Christian,  F'red- 
erick,  who   died    in    Germany    at  the  age  of 


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BIOGRAPUIGAL    SKETCHES. 


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one  and  ii  lialf  V(.'ar>;  I'"recliTick,  our  subject; 
Cliristiiio,  Sophia,  Mary.  amJ  Aniulia,  who 
was  born  and  died  in  Cincinnati,  being  about 
two  years  old  at  death.  Owv  subject  was  not 
much  of  a  liunter  in  an  early  day,  but  iiis 
brotlier  Cliristian  was  a  very  skilH'ul  liunter, 
and  turkeys  were  so  thick  that  he  could  not 
shoot  without  hitting  one.  Frederick  lived 
in  the  same  house  with  his  brother  Christian 
until  1870,  at  which  time  they  separated. 
In  1S50  the  brothers  embarked  in  the  mer- 
cantile trade,  and  also  conducted  an  ashery 
under  the  tirm  name  of  John  II.  Blakey.  In 
1880  they  commence<l  the  tile  business,  and 
two  years  later  abandoned  the  mercantile 
trade.  They  have  been  very  successful  in 
the  inanufacture  of  tile.  They  burn  eight 
kilns  per  year,  each  kiln  containing  about 
l,2(t0  rods,  including  all  sizes,  from  two  to 
eig-ht  inches.  The  Blakey  family  were  tlie 
second  who  settled  in  Union  Township, 
Daniel  llines  beincr  the  oldest  livinjr  settler. 
The  Township  was  organized  in  1841,  the 
tirst  election  taking  place  at  the  house  of 
John  r.lakey,  there  being  eight  votes  cast. 


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.IUA]\I  KKANEU,  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  Wabash  Township,  I'esiding  on  sec- 
^<(|  tion  33,  was  born  in  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio,  November  14,  183'),  a  son  of  ^lichael 
N.  Kraner,  an  old  pioneer  of  Adams  County, 
lie  was  reared  to  the  avocation  of  a  fanner, 
which  lie  has  followed  the  greater  part  of  his 
life,  and  in  his  youth  attended  the  district 
schools  of  Hancock  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
obtained  a  limited  education.  His  father 
owned  the  first  portable  saw-inill  in  Adams 
County,  Indiana.  He  subsequently  sold  a 
half  interest  in  the  mill,  which  was  moved 
to  Decatur,  our  subject  being  engaged  in 
running   it  at   that   place  some    three   years. 


He  also  learned  the  carjjcnter's  trade,  which 
he  followed  but  a  short  time.  Felji-uary  1, 
1S(J2,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  .Miss 
Sarah  E.  ^lays,  a  native  of  Virginia,  born 
Ajiril  28,  1815,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
ten  children — Mary  C,  Charles  W.,  Minerva 
J.,  Laura  E.  (^deceased),  Delpha  E.,  Ann  J., 
John  AV.,  Luda  A.,  Clara  E.  and  Hiram  C. 
Mr.  Kraner  settled  on  his  present  farm  in 
November,  1873,  which  contains  1(50  acres 
of  well-cultivated  land  with  comfortable  resi- 
dence and  good  farm  buildings,  besides  which 
he  owns  eighty  acres  in  Jay  County.  In  pcdi- 
tics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  at  Decatur. 


^EXRY  II.  .MYERS,  of  Washington 
iril)  Township,  was  born  in  Wayne  County, 
^ii  Ohio,  April  IS,  18-43,  son  of  Frederick 
and  Christina  .Myers,  natives  of  Germany. 
They  immigrated  to  America  in  the  fall  of 
1830,  and  lived  in  Pennsylvania  several  years, 
then  removed  to  Wayne  County,  Ohio; 
thence  to  Adams  County,  this  State,  in  the 
fall  of  1851,  being  among  the  first  settleis 
of  Washington  Township.  The  parents  re- 
mained in  this  county  until  their  decease, 
the  father's  death  occurring  February  2G, 
1859,  and  the  mother's  December  5,  1879. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  si.x  of 
whom  survive — Frederick,  AVilliam  J.,  Henry 
H.,  David  L.,  Daniel  AV.  and  James  M.  The 
father  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
that  churcli  in  Decatur.  He  was  an  honest, 
hard-working  pioneer,  and  at  his  death  left 
quite  a  large  estate.  Henry  H.  Myers  was 
reared  to  manhood  in  this  county,  and  edu- 
cated in  the  district  schools.  He  was  mar- 
ried October  1(5,  1870,  to  Elizabeth  C.  Baker, 
and  to  this   union  were    born    six   children 


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Charles  C,  Jolin  T.,  Uicliurd  1).,  AVade  II., 
Doi'sey  ] ).  and  Jetiiiie  E.  F.  In  Anynst, 
18()"i,  Mr.  ,M3-ers  cidisted  in  (Junijiany  II, 
Ei^lity-nintli  Indiana  Inlantrj,  as  a  private, 
but  was  appointed  Color-Serij;eant  of  liis  regi- 
ment. His  regiment  Ijecame  a  part  of  the 
Si.xteentli  Army  Corps  of  Sherman's  army, 
and  participated  in  tlie  battle  of  Munford- 
ville,  siege  of  Vicksbnrg,  was  in  the  lied 
Kiver  expedition,  and  took  jiart  in  the  prin- 
cipal battles  on  the  Mississippi  Eiver.  At 
the  battle  of  Yellow  Bayou,  Louisiana,  he 
wa.s  wounded  in  the  left  leg  just  below  the 
knee,  and  was  for  several  months  in  the  hos- 
pital at  JeflersDii  Barracks,  Jlissouri.  He 
then  entered  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  and 
remained  until  his  discharge  in  the  fall  of 
1865.  lie  returned  home  to  Adams  County, 
and  has  been  a  resident  here  ever  since.  lie 
has  served  as  ditch  commissioner  for  five 
years;  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  society  at  Decatur,  and  of 
the  (t.  a.  R.  post.  ilrs.  Myers'  parents, 
John  T.  and  ilargaret  Baker,  were  earlj'  set- 
tlers of  Adams  County. 


-'I^IIRISTOPIIER  F.  MYERS,  of  Wash- 
ilvK  ington  Township,  is  a  native  of  (Tcr- 
^^i  many,  born  ^lay  22,  1829,  sou  of 
Frederick  and  Christina  M3'ers,  of  wiioni 
mention  is  made  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in 
1830,  and  to  Adams  County  in  1851.  He 
was  reared  principally  in  Ohio,  and  received 
a  rudimentary  education  in  a  district  school. 
He  early  learned  the  tanner's  trade,  which  he 
followed  nearly  thirty  years,  and  for  about 
three  years  was  in  business  for  hitnself  in 
AVells  County,  this  State.  He  has  been  twice 
married.  His  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Glancy, 
and  they  had   one  child,  Sarah.      His   second 


wife  was  ]\Iary  L.  Karnal,  and  to  tliis  union 
have  been  born  six  children  —  Rebecca,  flohn 
AV.,  Charles  M.,  Simon,  Amanda  ,1.  and  Mary 
E.  Mr.  flyers  owns  twenty  acres  of  good 
land,  which  is  well  cultivated.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church,  and  has  officiated 
as  an  ordained  elder  four  years.  Politically 
he  is  a  Prohibitionist. 


rOHX   SCHURGER  was  born  in  Seneca 


^  (jeorge  A.  and  Margaret  (Rab)  Schurger, 
natives  of  Bavaria.  He  was  the  second  of 
nine  children,  but  five  of  whom  are  living, 
two  sons  and  three  daughters — John;  Agnes, 
wife  of  Henry  Lang,  of  Adains  County, 
George,  a  telegraph  operator  at  Creston,  Ohio, 
and  Catherine  and  Alary,  sisters  of  grace  at 
St.  Mary's  Catholiclnstitute  in  Vigo  County, 
Indiana.  AVhen  our  subject  was  but  thirteen 
years  old  his  father  was  taken  sick,  and  the 
family  being  in  indigent  circumstances  and 
he  being  the  eldest  son,  he  was  obliged  to  as- 
sist his  mother  in  their  maintenance.  His 
father  died  in  1852.  He  remained  on  the 
farm  with  his  mother  until  twenty-one  years 
of  age.  He  was  deprived  of  all  educational 
advantages,  his  only  schooling  being  forty-two 
days  at  an  English  and  twenty-two  days  at  a 
German  school.  He,  however,  by  private 
study  acquired  a  fair  business  education,  ap- 
plying himself,  as  he  says,  "  while  others 
slei)t."  In  1861  he  came  to  Adams  County 
and  bought  land  in  St.  Mary's  Township, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  the  spring 
of  1866,  when  he  sold  his  farm  and  went  to 
Root  Township,  near  Decatur,  where  in  con- 
nection with  farming  he  engaged  in  butcher- 
ing. In  November,  1874,  he  was  elected 
recorder  of  Adams  County  and  was  re- 
electeil  in  1!S78,  bedding  the  office  eight  years. 


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BIOOHAFHICAL    SKKIVHES. 


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In  iiulitics  Mr.  Scliiii-ijci-  is  ;i  I  )rini)('i-;U. 
yince  leuving  tlic  i-c(.Miik'i'"s  oll'u'u  liu  has  liet'ii 
enijMgeil  iii  tracing  and  writinj;;  up  abbtracts, 
titles  to  jH'iijierty,  vU\  ^[i'.  Seluirirer  was 
married  April  2'J,  ls02,  to  A^'atha  Fisher,  a 
native  of  1  laden,  Germany,  who  came  with 
her  ]Kii-t  iits,  S.  and  Theresa  Fisher,  to  Amer- 
ica \\licn  >lie  'A'as  eiijht  years  nld.  To  tliem 
have  lieen  hum  ten  ehiklren,  ei^'l  t  ot'  whoin 
are  livini;  (atherine,  Kosa,  .Vlbert,  Lena, 
Anthony,  Christina,  Louisa  and  Frederick.  ] 
Bridget  died  ai'ed  six  weeks  :ind  Andrew  | 
aged  two  years.  Mv.  Schui'ger  and  liis  fam- 
ily are  memljers  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic 
clmrch.  lie  has  been  treasurer  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  St.  Joseph's  school,  which  is 
under  the  auspices  of  St.  Mary's  church.  ^Tr. 
Schurger's  mothei'  died  at  his  residence  No- 
vember 3,  l^Sl),  aged  eighty-four  years. 


fXMES  AVALKEIl  LLXTON,  general 
I'armer,  ie>iding  on  sectitin  18,  Jeti'er- 
".c  son  Townshi]),  is  a  native  of  Darke 
County,  Ohio,  born  September  17,  1S3G,  a 
sou  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  (^\'alker)  Linton, 
old  settlers  of  Adams  County.  He  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Adams  Couiitj'  in 
183s,  and  here  he  grew  to  manhood,  receiv- 
ing his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
his  neighborhood.  lie  remained  on  the  home 
farm  with  his  parents  nntil  his  marriage  J)e- 
ceniber  20,  1858,  to  iliss  Mary  Ann  Wheeler. 
She  was  born  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio, 
September  21,  1S3G,  a  daughter  of  Amos  and 
llebecca  (Hedge)  Wheeler.  Iler  father  was 
a  native  of  Fennsylvania.  lie  came  to  Indi- 
ana when  a  young  man,  and  helped  clear  the 
land  wdiere  Indianajiolis  now  stands.  He 
suljse(piently  went  to  (^hio,  where  he  was 
married.  Jle  came  to  ^Vdams  County,  Indi- 
ana, with  his  family  and   settled    in    ^\'abash 


eJ^!r^  MM>-'rTi!"i«^<^"'''^'-°"^^"^^"°'"*'"°'^''^^*'--'^°* 


Township  in  iS'.V.i,  cnti-ring  land  on  section 
30,  on  which  he  lived  till  his  death.  lie 
died  in  the  spring  of  IsTT,  aged  al)out  eifhtv- 
tive  years.  His  wife  died  in  tlic  fall  of  ISTG, 
aged  seventy-tive  years.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children,  ti\e  .-ons  and  four 
daughters.  Eight  children  have  been  bcjrn 
to  ilr.  and  IMi's.  Lint<:>n — llebecca  .L,  born 
February  3,  18()1,  died  October  3,  1807; 
Charles  Sylvester,  boi'ii  l''ebi-uai-v  2i,  1803; 
Samuel  U.,  boi'n  ^farcli  IS,  I^IJO;  ]\Iary  E., 
born  January  18,  ISflS;  John  W.,  born  A])ril 
2,  1870;  James  E.,  born  March  24,  1S72; 
Amos  W.,  born  December  13,  1873,  and  Jo- 
seph M.,  born  June  29,  1878.  ilr.  Linton 
enlisted  in  the  late  war  Febi-uar}-  11,  I'SOo, 
and  was  assigned  to  Company  E,  One  Hun- 
dred and  F'ifty-third  Indiana  Infantry.  He 
was  taken  sick  with  measles  at  C^amp  Car- 
ringtou,  at  Indianapolis,  and  was  discharged 
there  May  23,  1805.  After  his  marriage 
^Ir.  Linton  engaged  in  farming  on  section  33, 
NN'^abasli  Township.  Since  that  time  he  has 
owneil  and  lived  on  several  different  farms, 
and  in  1881  purchased  the  farm  in  Jefferson 
where  he  now  resides,  where  he  has  seventy- 
two  acres  of  choice  land.  ^Ir.  Linton  is  a 
niemlier  of  the  Oerman  Baptist  church.  In 
politics  he  was  formerly  a  Kepublican,  but  is 
now  a  Prohibitionist,  and  has  held  several 
local  ottices  with  credit  to  himself  and  satis- 
faction to  his  constituents. 


jEXJAMIX  MARTIN,  farmer,  section 
j  30,  Union  Townshi]i,  was  born  in  Frank- 
lin County,  Pennsylvania,  in  December, 
1812.  In  1835  he  removed  to  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  wi til  his  wife  and  two  children,  where  he 
liveil  until  1842,  then  removed  to  Union 
Township,  Adams  County,  this  State,  and 
settled    upon    the  farm    he   now  owns.      He 


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310 


HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COLWrY. 


came  witli  wife  and  four  children,  one  child 
liaving  died  in  Stark  County,  lie  came  with 
wagon  and  two  yoke  of  oxen,  and  cut  liis  own 
road  a  part  of  the  way  from  Decatur.  While 
building  his  log  lioiise  he  lived  witii  a  man 
named  Peter  Sickafoose.  His  cabin  was  one 
and  a  half  stories  in  height,  20  x  24  feet, 
with  puncheon  tloor.  He  lived  in  that  house 
until  1S()2.  when  lie  huilt  liis  present  frame 
house.  Mrs.  Martin  died  JSIarch  23,  185+, 
leaving  twelve  children,  three  of  whom  have 
died  since  her  death.  One  died  in  Peimsyl- 
vania,  and  one  in  Stark  County,  Ohio.  Mary 
C.  died  in  Pennsylvania  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
ntonths;  Thomas  died  in  this  county,  aged 
about  twenty-two  years;  Penjamin  Franklin 
was  hum  in  Xnvember,  1835,  and  died  in 
this  county;  Peter,  born  July  6,  1837,  died 
November"  7,  1837;  .Tolm,  born  May  22, 
1839;  Catherine,  born  May  13, 1841;  liaman 
M.,  born  November  29,  1842;  Margaretta, 
born  February  23,  1845:  Sarah,  born  April 
17,  1847;  William  IP,  born  April  10,  1849; 
Amelia,  born  December  20,  1850;  George 
W.,  born  February  22,  1852,  died  August  7, 
1853.  December -2,  1873,  ]\Ir.  Martin  was 
married  to  Caroline  Courtney,  widow  of  AVill- 
iain  Courtney,  and  daughter  of  John  and 
Sarali  (Parks)  Leach.  Her  father  died  in 
Trumbull  County,  Ohio,  when  she  was  about 
ten  years  old.  Her  parents  came  from  New 
Jersey  t(j  Ohio,  settling  in  Trumbull  County. 
The  mother  died  in  Greenville,  Ohio,  in 
1876,  aged  eiglity-nine  years.  ]\[rs.  Martin 
was  born  in  Trumbull  County,  April  6, 1822, 
and  was  reared  and  educated  in  that  county. 
She  lived  in  Trumbull  County  some  time 
after  lier  first  marriage,  and  they  removed  to 
Allen  County,  this  State,  where  the  husband 
died,  leaving  four  cliildren,  three  of  wliom 
are  living — Margaret,  born  ]\[ay  29,  1844, 
now  the  wife  of  James  Leach;  Sarah  P.,  born 
December  22,  1845,  died    in    1881,  leaving 


three  children;  Mary  A.,  born  September  22, 
1847,  wife  of  Jacob  Shnll;  William  H.,  born 
October  28,  1852.  The  Martins  and  Leaches 
are  of  Fnglish  ancesti'y;  Mrs.  Martin's  tirst 
husband  was  of  German  ancestry. 


fAMES  T.  YOUNG,  engaged  in  farming 
on  section  29,  AVabasli  Township,  where 
«fc  he  has  thirty  acres  of  choice  land  under 
a  tine  state  of  cultivation,  was  born  in  Miami 
Count}',  Oliio,  April  9,  1847,  his  parents, 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Thompson)  Young, 
being  natives  of  the  same  State,  and  of  Scotch 
and  German  descent  respectively.  Their  ances- 
tors were  soldiers  in  the  war  of  the  Pevolution. 
AVlien  our  subject  was  but  a  month  old  his 
mother  died,  and  at  the  age  of  seven  years  lie 
was  left  an  orphan  by  the  death  of  his  father. 
After  his  father's  death  he  lived  at  different 
places  until  February  16,  1864,  when  he 
enlisted  in  Company  G,  Eighth  Ohio  Cavalry, 
and  was  with  Hunter  under  Sheridan  in  the 
Eighth  Army  Corps,  cavalry  division.  He 
participated  in  the  second  battle  at  Lexington, 
the  battles  of  Charlotteville,  Linchburgli,  and 
Liberty,  wiiere  he  was  wounded,  and  taken 
prisoner  June  19,  1864.  He  was  then  sent 
to  Anderson ville,  where  he  was  imprisoned 
until  November  20,  1864,  when  he  was 
paroled,  returning  home  for  thirty  days.  He 
was  then  exchanged  and  rejoined  his  company 
at  AVeston,  West  Virginia,  receiving  his  final 
discharge  July  81,  1865,  the  war  being  over. 
After  receiving  his  discharge  he  returned  to 
his  home  in  Miami  County,  Ohio,  and  later 
went  to  Darke  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
married  May  5,  1868,  to  Miss  Lucretia  Eng- 
lish, who  was  a  native  of  that  county,  born 
August  4,  1850,  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Lucretia  (Russell)  English.  Her  father  was 
born   in  County  Antrim,   Ireland,  November 


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26,  ISll,  ami  witli  liis  puiviits.  Williutii  and 
Elizaliutli  (^  Davidson)  iMiglisli,  ciiiiic  to 
Amei-iiM  in  May,  IM'2,  iaiuliiig  at  Cliarlest(ji), 
Soutli  ("ai-olina.  Tlu'y  iirst  settled  in  Ten- 
nessee ill  1818,  and  moved  to  AVarren  County, 
Oliio,  where  his  mother  died.  lie  then 
with  hi>  tatlier.  two  brothers  and  two  sisters 
removed  to  I)arl^e  rounty  in  1S23,  and 
located  on  a  farm  (jf  llDi  acres  all  in  timber. 
In  18;J2  his  father,  William  Kni^lish,  built 
the  finest  farm  liouse  then  in  the  county,  and 
lived  in  it  until  his  death,  February  23, 
ISotJ.  dames  KuLcH^h  then  became  possessor 
of  the  farm,  and  in  1S8U  built  another  house, 
which  is  now  the  finest  farm  house  in  the 
County,  in  which  he  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  November  4,  18S0.  15oth 
houses  are  now  owned  by  the  widow  and  their 
seven  heirs.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Young, 
Lucretia  Russell,  was  liorn  in  Cirant  County, 
South  Carolina,  in  1812,  and  with  her  parents, 
William  and  Annie  IJussell,  moved  to  Pi(jua, 
Ohi(_i,  and  thence  to  Darke  County,  where 
she  was  married  to  James  English,  in  1830. 
They  were  members  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian cluirch.  ]Mr.  Engiish  was  very  much 
op])osed  to  slavery  and  was  a  strong  Republi- 
can. He  was  a  constant  reader  of  the  Bible 
and  of  liis  local  paper  from  its  first  issue 
until  the  time  of  his  deatli.  Mr.  and  ^Irs. 
Youncr  are  the  parents  of  three  children — 
Samuel  Ottwell,  Warren  W.  and  Martha  D. 
Just  after  the  war  Mr.  Young  spent  a  year 
traveling  in  Iowa  and  Ivansas.  After  his 
marriage  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
tile  in  Darke  County,  and  subserviently 
engaged  in  tlie  same  business  in  Jay  County, 
Indiana.  He  came  with  his  family  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  in  1875,  locating  at  Geneva, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
tile  from  1878  until  1884.  lie  then  sold 
out  his  tile  factory,  and  has  since  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  on   his  present  farm   in 


AVabash  Township.  In  jiolitics  lie  casts  his 
suilrage  with  the  Republican  party.  lie 
draws  a  jiension  from  tin-  (uivernment  for 
his  services  during  the  war  of  tlir  Reliellion. 
lie  is  a  chai'ter  member  of  John  P.  Porter 
Post,  \o.  83,  (r.  A.  II.  ^Irs.  Young  is  also 
a  charter  member  of  the  "Woman's  Relief 
Coi'ps,  auxiliary  to  Porter  Post. 


,,,'ANIEL  DAVID  HELLER,  attorney  at 
thni  law,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Heller  Oc 

W  Hooper,  Decatur,  Indiana,  was  born  in 
Harrison  County,  Ohio,  :\tarch  29,  1831),  a 
son  of  Henry  I!,  and  !Mary  A.  (Weyandt) 
Heller,  natives  of  (ireene  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania. His  ])arents  were  married  in  Harri- 
son County,  <  Hiio,  where  they  made  a  jier- 
manent  residence.  The  mother  died  in  Alay, 
1874,  aged  tifty-seven  years,  and  the  father 
in  September,  18S1,  aged  sixty-four  years. 
D.  1).  Heller  was  reared  on  a  farm,  I'Cceiving 
his  education  in  the  New  Hagerstown 
Academy,  Carroll  County,  Ohio.  When 
twenty  years  of  age  he  began  teaching  school 
and  taught  several  winter  terms,  and  during 
the  summer  read  law  with  Stambaugh  A: 
Partleson,  of  Xew  Philadelphia,  Ohio.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Carrollton,  Ohio, 
in  18(13,  and  in  August  of  the  same  year 
located  at  Millersburg,  wdiere  he  practiced 
until  March,  1807,  when  he  removed  to  De- 
catur, Indiana.  He  has  been  connected  with 
several  firms  in  the  city,  and  March  30,  18S1, 
became  associated  with  Paul  C  Hooper, 
forming  the  ])resent  firm  of  Heller  it  Hooper. 
In  1872  Mr.  Heller  was  appointed  county 
school  examiner,  and  in  1873,  when  the  new 
law  creating  the  office  of  county  superin- 
tendent went  into  effect,  he  was  the  lirst  to 
hold  that  olllce  in  ,\.dams  County,  resigning 
after  a  service  of  eighteen  months.      In  May, 


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18S5,  lie  \v:is  elected  mayor  of  Decatur  for  a 
term  of  two  years,  ^fr.  Heller  was  married 
July  15,  ISG'J,  to  Anna  .1.  C'orbus,  a  native 
of  Millersbui-tr,  Ohio,  daui^liter  of  John  and 
j\[ary  (Armstrong-)  (lorhus,  who  before  her 
marriage  was  a  teacher  in  the  graded  school 
of  her  native  city.  ilr.  and  Mrs.  llellei- 
have  four  children — JMary  C).,  a  graduate, 
with  the  hoiKirs  of  her  class,  of  the  Decatur 
High  School;  -lohn  II.,  Henry  J5.  and  Bertha 
V.  ^Irs.  Heller  is  a  member  of  the  ]\rethodist 
Episcopal  cluuvh.  In  politics  Jlr.  Heller  is 
a  Democrat. 


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'■%  ■T'lT:^^^^'^'^'^^  ^^-  I^^*^'^'''  I'-ii'iner,  section 
i*Ji  VU/mA  ^^1  Uoot  Township,  is  the  owner  of 
i?gi        l-'S/^    285  acres    of    land,  aportion    of    it 


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lying  in  AVashington  Township  and  a  portion 
in  lioot.  He  came  to  this  State  in  1835, 
with  an  older  brother,  IJenjamin,  and  they 
went  to  work  in  tlie  woods,  on  some  hind 
their  father  had  entered  from  the  Govern- 
ment the  previous  spring.  This  land  was 
entered  oti  section  14,  Iioot  Township.  They 
iirst  built  a  log  cabin,  one  story  high,  witli 
puncheon  floor,  clapboard  roof,  and  an  old- 
fashion  wooden  chimney,  with  the  back  and 
jams  of  mud.  They  boarded  with  a  brother- 
in-law,  Benjamin  Fillers,  wlio  settled  here 
the  previous  year.  They  took  their  dinners 
with  them  in  a  basket,  and  would  return  at 
night  for  sujiper  and  lodging.     They  lived  in 


this  way  until  the  rest  of  the  family  came  in 

the  spring  of  1836.     There  were  si.\  children 

with    the    parents,    and    three    already   Jiei-e, 

making  a  total  of  nine  children.      In  a  few 

years  the  fathei'  built  a  better  log  house.      It 

''e-      was  a  story  and  a  half  in  height  and  built  of 

'  *'       hewed   logs.      Here  the  father  died    in  1848. 

'f"  . 

'<il|(       He  was  born  in  Loudoun  County,  Virginia,  in 

'i*'      1789,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 

I 


He  was  mari-ied  in  his  native  State,  and  four 
of  his  children  were  bo)-n  there.  In  1827 
the  father  and  family  removed  to  Stark,  now 
Carroll  County,  living  there  until  they  came 
to  Adams  County,  where  they  ])asjed  the 
remainder  of  their  days.  Their  MU)ther  was 
boi'n  in  Culpeper  County,  Virginia,  in  1793, 
and  died  in  ls54,  at  the  age  of  si.Kty-one 
years.  William  P.,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Culpeper  County,  Virginia,  January  1,  1820. 
lie  remained  at  home  until  lie  was  of  age, 
then  went  to  work  for  himself,  doing  any- 
thing he  could  find  to  do,  principally  clearing 
land,  splitting  rails  and  chopping  cord-wood, 
until  he  earned  money  enough  to  enable  him 
to  enter  forty  acres  of  land.  lie  worked  for 
Mr.  George  A.  Dent  for  .sll  a  month  until 
he  could  pa}'  for  it.  He  then  built  his 
shanty,  cleared  his  land,  married  a  wife  and 
borrowed  the  mone}'  to  pay  the  preacher  for 
performing  the  marriage  ceremony.  He 
moved  into  his  shanty,  and  was  at  a  great 
loss  to  know  how  he  could  repay  that  bor- 
rowed money.  He  finally  went  eight  miles 
away  from  home  and  worked  half  a  month, 
splitting  rails,  to  get  ^5  to  pay  back. 
The  following  June  he  went  to  Fort  "Wayne 
and  received  !?1  per  day  and  niglit  for 
burning  brick  in  a  kiln.  He  did  not  sleep 
day  or  night  until  that  kiln  was  burnt.  He 
at  last  fell  asleep  while  walking.  When  he 
went  to  housekeeping  his  household  goods 
consisted  of  the  following  articles:  three 
knives,  three  forks,  si.\  cups  and  saucers,  six 
plates  and  two  tin  cuj)S.  Their  bedstead  was 
nnule  of  poles  and  lugs,  and  the  bed  rope  was 
made  of  bark.  He  was  married  in  March, 
1843,  to  Frances  Rabbit,  who  was  born  in 
Virginia  in  1823.  When  she  was  nine  years 
old  her  parents  removed  to  Carroll  County, 
Ohio,  and  in  1837  they  all  came  to  Allen 
County,  Indiana.  Her  parents  were  Joseph 
and    Hannah    (Black)    Kabbit,    the    former  a 


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native  of  .Marylaml  ami  tlie  latter  of  Vir- 
ginia. The  father  died  in  this  cmuity  at  the 
ai(e  of  seventy-one  VL'aro,  ami  the  mother 
died  the  same  year.  Mr.  liice's  grandfather, 
Jesse  Rice,  died  in  Virginia;  lie  has  no 
knowledge  of  his  grandmother  Rice.  His 
jjarents'  names  \v(;re  Sampson  and  Elizabeth 
C.  (Thomjison)  Rice,  lioth  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, ^fr.  and  Mr^.  Rice  have  had  nine 
children — Elizahetli  II.,  Mary  C,  Joseph  M., 
Sarah  A.,  William  !■'.,  Xancy  J.,  Samantha 
l'\,  James  15.,  and  Charles  (i.,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  nine  years,  four  months  and  si.\- 
teen  days. 


■ILLIAM  DREAV,  attorney  at  law, 
T'V/' >/'  t^eneva,  was  born  in  Tioga  County, 
l"^:):^^)  Pennsylvania,  July  5,  1833.  His 
father,  Rufus  11.,  was  born  in  !Maine,  and  his 
mother,  ^lary  A.  (Buck)  Drew,  in  ]S'ew  York. 
They  were  married  in  Tioga  County,  and 
engaged  in  farming,  and  later  removed  to 
Steuben  (.'onnty,  2^ew  York,  where  they  still 
reside.  They  reared  a  family  of  six  children, 
AVilliam  being  the  second  child.  He  re- 
mained at  home  on  the  farm  until  nineteen 
years  of  age,  and  received  an  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  New  York  and  at  Union 
Academy  at  Knoxville,  Pennsylvania.  He 
then  came  to  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
clerking  in  Pickaway  and  Fayette  counties 
until  the  summer  of  1855,  then  went  to 
Randolph  County,  Indiana,  and  followed 
school  teaching.  He  %vas  elected  to  the 
othce  of  justice  of  the  ])eace,  which  otlice  he 
held  twelve  years.  August  13,  18G2,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  E,  Eighty-fourth  Indi- 
ana Infantry,  and  served  until  August,  18G3, 
when  he  was  discharged  by  reason  of  disabil- 
ity, having  contracted  a  disease,  for  which  he 
now  draws  a  jiension.      He  returned  to   Ran- 


dolph County,  and  resumed  teaching,  and 
was  also  re-elected  to  his  former  otHce  of 
justice  of  the  peace.  While  engaged  in 
these  duties  he  devoted  his  spare  time  to  the 
study  of  the  law,  passed  a  successful  exami- 
nation, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1809. 
He  at  once  engaged  in  the  ])ractice  of  his 
jirofession  at  Ridgeville,  where  lie  remained 
until  the  s])ring  of  Ls7(),  then  came  to  Geneva, 
Adams  County,  where  he  ha.-5  since  resided. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
in  this  county  live  and  a  half  years  and  served 
one  term  as  trustee  for  the  town  of  Creneva. 
j\Ir.  Drew  was  married  at  Deerfield,  Randolph 
County,  November  23, 1856,  to  Miss  Rebecca 
A.  Vorhis,  a  native  of  Hunterdon  County, 
Xew  Jersey,  born  April  2,  1835.  Ry  this 
union  they  have  six  children — Annie,  Jessie, 
Thomas,  Willard,  Charlotte  and  Charles  Y. 
Mr.  Drew  is  a  charter  member  of  John  P. 
Porter  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  is  also  a  member 
of  the  i\lasonic  fraternity. 


^OlIX  ARCHBCLD,  who  was  one  of  the 
I  old  and  honored  pioneers  of  Adams 
County,  now  deceased,  was  born  in  Har- 
rison County,  Ohio,  February  11,  1809. 
AVhen  a  boy  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to 
Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
reared  to  manhood,  and  was  married  April 
17,  1839,  to  Elizabeth  Gibson.  To  them 
were  born  eleven  children — Margaret,  Thomas, 
]\[ary  J.,  Rebecca,  George  W.,  William  G., 
James  M.,  Sarah  C,  Jiartlia  F.,  John  M. 
and  Ezi-a  R.  Reside  their  own  family  they 
reared  a  grandchild  named  Martin  Archbold. 
In  1851  they  moved  to  A\'ells  County, 
Indiana,  settling  in  Jefferson  Township.  On 
coming  to  Indiana  Mr.  Archbold  bought  205 
acres  of  land  in  Preble  Township,  Adams 
County,  and  until  he  had  cleared  a  part  of  his 


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laml  iiiui  erected  a  loi;  cabin,  liis  I'ainily  lived 
in  Weils  C'umity  for  ;t  tew  iiioiiths.  lie  then 
removed  witli  liis  liiniilyto  Prelde  Tu\vnshi]>, 
in  which  lie  matle  liis  home  until  Febrnary 
3,  1885.  He  then  rented  his  tarm  on  which 
lie  had  lived  so  many  years,  and  came  to 
Decatur,  where  he  died  December  23,  1885, 
his  death  being  a  source  i.it'  universal  regret. 
He  was  an  active  and  enterprising  citizen  of 
Adams  County,  and  for  sixteen  years  held  the 
ofKce  of  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  a  strong 
temperance  advocate.  His  widow  is  still 
living  in  I)ecatur.  She  was  born  November 
30,  1808,  in  Brooks  County,  Virginia,  where 
slie  remained  till  nine  years  of  age.  She 
then  removed  with  her  parents  to  Tuscarawas 
County,  where  she  lived  till  after  her  mar- 
riage. Ezra  I).  Archbold,  the  youngest  son 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  Archbold,  was  born 
December  IG,  1851,  in  Preble  Township, 
Adams  County,  where  he  was  reared.  In  his 
boyhood  he  attended  the  scliools  of  his 
district,  and  completed  his  education  at  the 
Decatur  High  ydiool.  He  subsequently 
engaged  in  teaching  school  and  taught  eleven 
terms  in  his  own  school  district.  January 
29, 1874,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sidney 
F.  Lipes,  who  was  born  July  4,  1855,  in 
^Marion  Township,  Allen  County,  Indiana, 
where  slie  was  reai-ed  and  married.  Her 
parents,  David  D.  and  ilary  J.  (Somers) 
Lipes,  were  natives  of  the  State  of  Virginia, 
and  when  quite  young  were  taken  by  their 
resj)ective  parents,  to  Allen  County,  Indiana, 
where  they  were  married.  Nine  children 
were  born  to  them — Lydia  L.,  Sarah  E. 
(deceased),  Sidney  F.,  JMary  A.  (deceased), 
John  C.  (deceased),  Emma  U.,  Ulysses  Grant, 
Eva  A.  and  Jennie  L.  Mr.  and  JMrs.  Arch- 
bold are  the  parents  of  Hve  children — Cheliis 
11.,  born  March  4,  1875;  Jforris  J.,  born 
:May  14,  1877;  Dayton  V.,  born  July  22, 
1879;    Eva  E.,  born    March    13,  1882,  and 


John  1).,  born  Eebrnary  11,  1886.  In  ])olitic8, 
like  his  fatiier,  iAfr.  Arcblxdd  atliliates  witii 
the  Democratic  party. 

'PliEORGE  IIEmUAKGER,  general  farm- 
wl?  *^'''  section  31,  Jetferson  Township,  Ad- 
^W^  ams  County,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
born  November  26,  1828,  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Louisa  (Nei)  Heimbarger.  AVhen  he  was 
seven  years  old  his  parents  immigrated  with 
their  family  to  America,  settling  in  Fairfield 
County,  Ohio,  where  they  lived  till  their 
death,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  They 
were  members  of  the  Allbriglit  church. 
They  had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  nine 
sons  and  three  daughters.  George,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  grew  to  manhood  in  Fair- 
field County,  Ohio,  receiving  a  limited 
education,  attending  school  only  three  months, 
he  being  obliged  from  an  early  age  to  assist 
his  father  on  the  farm.  When  lie  was  old 
enough  to  work  out  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  brick.  He  finally  purchased  a 
small  farm  and  engaged  in  farming  for  him- 
self. This  farm  he  subsequently  sold  and 
with  the  proceeds  purchased  the  farm  where 
his  widow  now  lives.  He  met  with  excel- 
lent success  in  his  farming  operations,  and 
to  his  original  purchase  of  240  acres  he  was 
enabled  to  add  till  his  farm  contained  480 
acres  of  well-improved  land,  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  he  having  resided  on  the 
same  farm  from  1805  until  his  death,  ilr. 
Heimbarger  was  twice  married.  He  was 
first  married  in  1849  to  Mary  Baler,  who 
was  born  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  by  whom 
he  had  three  children  —  Isaac,  Lewis  and 
George  A.,  the  two  latter  deceased.  Mrs. 
Heimbarger  died  in  1809,  and  January  24, 
1801,  iMr.  Heimbarger  married  Louisa  Law- 
rence, born  in  Fickaway  County,  Ohio,  Feb- 


k 


BIOURA FHIUA  L    ."^ KETCHES. 


niary  2G,  1830,  and  to  tliis  iiiiioii  were  born 
six  chilJren — Levi  (deceiised),  ]Niary,  Cinde, 
Aaron  and  Andrew  (twins),  and  Jacob.  Mr. 
Jleimbai-yer,  as  i»  also  his  M'il'e,  was  a  inein- 
l)er  of  tlie  United  iirethren  church.  Mr. 
lleinibar-er  died  .\[areli  25,  1S87. 


T^AVID  STEELE,  residing  in  Kirkland 
\\ln  Townsliip,  wiiere  he  is  engaged  in  gen- 
v:;>=  eral  farming,  was  born  in  Kirkhind 
Township,  Adanis  County,  ISoveniber  C, 
1840,  a  son  of  Samuel  Steele,  who  was  one 
of  the  old  pioneers  of  Adams  County.  lie 
grew  to  maniiood  on  his  father's  farm,  and 
received  a  limited  education  in  the  public 
schools,  wliich  he  improved  by  private  study 
at  home.  In  August,  18G2,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  I,  Eighty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry, 
serving  his  country  until  July  22,  1865, 
when  lie  was  discharged  at  Jetierson  Bar- 
i-acks,  3Iissouri.  He  jiarticipated  in  a  num- 
ber of  liattles  and  skirmishes,  including  the 
battle  of  Munfordville  and  the  lied  River 
expedition.  On  receiving  his  discharge  he 
returned  to  his  home  in  Adams  County, 
and  resumed  farming.  He  was  subsecpiently 
engaged  in  the  saw-milling  business  near 
Decacur  about  eleven  months.  December 
24,  1868,  he  was  married  to  Jlrs.  ]\Iary  E. 
(llixoii)  Cilliam,  born  in  Guernsey  County, 
Ohio,  in  .Inly,  1844.  To  this  union  were 
born  nine  children — AVillard  S.,  born  De- 
cember 3,  186'J;  Ethel  A.,  born  :\ray  18, 
1871,  died  February  10,  1880;  Lauretta  E., 
born  December  16,  1872;  Millard  N.,  born 
February  13, 1874;  Charles  F.,  born  October 
14,  1875;  Cinderella  M.,  born  JMarch  24, 
1877;  Lewis  V.,  born  October  IS,  1879; 
A\''alter  E.,  Ijorn  November  14,  1882,  and 
Bessie  B.,  born  June  23,  1884.  ]\[rs.  Steele 
was  formerly  married  in  Kirkland  Township, 


Adams  County,  to  John  (iilliam,  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  and  to  them  were  born  one 
daughter  named  Saraii  S.  ?,Ir.  Gilliam  was 
a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  enlisting  after  his 
marriage,  in  Com[)any  H,  L^ighty-ninth  In- 
diana Infantry'.  He  went  south  with  his 
regiment  and  participated  in  several  battles, 
when  he  was  ta]-;en  tick  and  returned  to  "liis 
home,  dying  in  18(15.  ^Ir.  Steele  has  resided 
on  his  jjresentfarm  bince  his  marriage,  where 
he  has  102  acres,  and  has  always  been  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  has  also  been  con- 
nected witii  the  saw-mill  at  Peterson  for 
twelve  years.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  ilary's 
Lodge,  No.  167,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  at  Decatur.  He 
is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  trustee  of 
Kirkland  Townshii). 


;EOBGE  W.  HAEFLING,  farmer, "Wash- 
f  ington   Township,  was   born    in  Seneca 


^C^  County,  Ohio,  December  17,  1839,  son 
of  Balthas  and  ilargaret  Ilaetling,  natives 
of  Bavaria,  Germany.  In  1833  his  parents 
emigrated  to  America,  landing  at  Philadel- 
phia, and  resided  in  Pennsylvania  until  1837, 
then  removed  to  Seneca  County,  Ohio.  They 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  that  county, 
and  the  parents  remained  there  until  their 
decease.  They  had  eleven  children  born  to 
them,  nine  of  whom  survive — Peter,  Adam, 
Leonard,  John,  Joseph,  George,  Frances, 
!^[ichael  and  Maria.  Our  subject  was  reared 
among  the  pioneer  scenes  of  Seneca  County, 
and  experienced  the  usual  hardships  of  the 
early  settler.  He  was  married  May  15, 1866, 
to  Miss  j^Iargaret  Kintz,  who  was  born  in 
"Westmoreland  County,  Pennsylvania,  April 
3,  1842,  daughter  of  Peter  and  ]\[ary  Kintz, 
the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
latter  of  Maryland.  They  were  early  settleis 
of  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  having  located  there 


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a'?'H'«ia'H5'S?fiJ?--a«'li™S-»':£F5 


in  STORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


al>()iit  the  yc;ir  IS-M.  Tliey  wf'i'ti  tlie  parents 
of  nine  cliildrcn,  cii;lit  of  avIiohi  are  livini( — 
Andrew,  Peter,  (iahriel.  Amanda,  ^latilda, 
Eli/.abetli,  ,^[ari^■a|■et  and  .losepliine.  Tlie 
luotlier  is  deceased,  ^[r.  and  Mrs.  Ilaefling 
have  had  si.x  cliilJreii,  of  whom  five  are  liv- 
ing— James  P.,  Peter  K.,  Edward  U.,  Thomas 
T.  and  JJaniel  ^[.  Georye  C.  is  deceased. 
^\y.  and  ^Irs.  Ilaeflinn-  are  members  of  tlie 
lioman  Catliolie  cljurch,  ;ind  in  ])olitics  Mr. 
llaetlinji;  is  a  Democrat.  Jle  came  to  Adams 
County  in  lS(i9.  living  seven  years  in  St. 
Clary's  Township,  then  came  to  his  present 
farm  on  section  12,  ^\"ashington  Township. 
AVhile  in  St.  ]\[ary's  Tuwnshi]:)  lie  served  as 
supcrvisoi-  fmir  years. 


;s 


-if^^AMUEL  STEELE  (deceased),  who  was 
f^>^i  one  of  the  old  and  jirominent  pioneers 
'^-  of  Adams  County,  \vas  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  subsequently  removed  to  ()liio 
with  his  ])arents,  they  locating  near  Wooster. 
lie  was  married  in  Ohio,  to  Miss  Susannah 
AV'^orlcy,  who  was  a  native  of  that  State,  and 
of  Scotch  descent,  ]\[r.  Steele  being  tif  Crer- 
man  origin.  To  this  union  were  born  nine 
children,  six  suns  and  three  daughters.  In 
March,  1S38,  Mr.  Steele  settled  in  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  on  section  9,  Kirklaiid 
Township,  where  he  lived  till  his  death,  which 
occurred  about  the  year  1858.  "When  he  first 
settled  in  the  county  everything  was  in  a 
state  of  nature,  and  here  he  and  his  family 
experienced  many  of  the  hardships  and  priva- 
tions incident  to  pioneer  life.  His  first  dwell- 
ing was  a  rude  log  cabin  which  lie  erected, 
with  puncheon  fioor  and  clapboard  roof.  Mr. 
Steele  took  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  his 
township,  and  was  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  under  the  old  organization,  besides 
holding  other  local  oftices.      During  his  life 


he  was  much  interested  in  agriculture  and 
fruit-growing,  ami  was  cuie  of  the  princijial 
actors  at  the  liist  agricultural  fair  lield  in 
Adams  County.  Politically  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat. Peligiously  he  was  a  Presbyterian  till 
his  death. 


fAMES  JIoCU^'E,  a  prominent  agricult- 
urist of  Adams  County,  residing  on 
^-,^  section  26,  Monroe  Township,  was  born 
in  Rush  County,  Indiana,  the  date  of  his 
birth  being  August  8,  IS-IO,  a  son  of  Julin 
jMcCune.  AVhen  five  years  old  he  was 
brouglit  by  his  parents  to  Monroe  Township, 
Adams  County,  and  here  he  grew  to  man- 
hood, being  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits 
on  the  home  farm,  and  receiving  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  his  neighboi'- 
hood.  He  remained  at  home  till  attainincr 
the  age  of  nineteen  years,  when  he  went  to 
liusli  Ciuint.y  and  S])eiit  a  year  working  at 
the  carpenter's  trade.  He  then  returned  to 
Adams  County,  and  engaged  in  farming. 
March  7,  ISGO,  he  married  Miss  Emeline 
I'aker,  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  Shelby 
County  May  25,  1838,  a  daughter  of  Jesse 
and  Lydia  (Vance)  Baker,  natives  of  Kentucky 
and  Ohio  respectively,  the  former  born  in 
1800,  and  the  latter  in  1811.  The  jiarents 
of  Mrs.  3IeCune  wei-e  married  in  Shelby 
County,  Indiana,  removing  thence  to  liush 
County,  and  when  she  was  a  child  they  moved 
to  Iowa  and  lived  in  Des  Moines  County 
about  seven  years.  They  then  returned  to 
Indiana,  locating  in  Hancock  County,  and 
later  went  to  Wayne  Count}',  Iowa.  In  1858 
they  came  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  set- 
tling in  Monroe  Township.  In  1880  they 
went  to  Missouri,  returning  to  Adams  County 
two  years  later,  where  the  father  died  in  the 
fall  of  1883.     The    mother   is    now    makino- 


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ii^?2iH!i"*ii!S-.*a*¥i£?»lijw™S^5;^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SK ETCHES. 


317 


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lier  Iioinc  witli  ;i  iluiglitcr  at  ]\r()in-oe.  Adams 
(\iniitv.  Tliey  wore  tlio  jiareiUs  of  seven 
cliilili-eii,  tour  sons  ami  tliree  daughters. 
After  their  inarriaye  -Mr.  and  Mrs.  ]\lcCnne 
settled  on  tlie  farm  where  they  now  reside, 
which  contains  eiglity  acres  of  choice  land 
under  a  tine  state  of  cultivation.  Auj^ust  14, 
18(32,  ^rr.  ,McCune  enlisted  in  Company  I, 
Eight^'-ninth  Indiana  Infantry,  serving  until 
July  22,  18()5.  Jle  was  taken  prisoner  at 
the  battle  of  ..Munfordville,  ]ventucky,  was 
paroled  and  sent  home,  and  afterward  ex- 
changed. He  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Camp 
Morton,  Indiana,  and  afterward  participated 
in  the  engagements  at  Big  Blue,  ^Missouri, 
Pleasant  Hill,  Louisiana,  Tupelo,  ^Mississippi, 
-  the  two  days  fight  at  Nashyille,  Tennessee, 
and  l''iirt  Hhikely,  beside  other  battles  and 
skirmishes.  He  received  a  gunshot  wound 
in  the  left  arm,  and  now  draws  a  pension. 
After  his  discharge  he  returned  to  his  lioine 
in  .Vdams  County,  where  he  has  followed 
farming.  He  is  (piite  a  traveler,  and  lias 
visited  the  States  of  Illinois,  Iowa,  Nebraska, 
Kansas  and  ^[issouri.  In  politics  ilr.  j\Ic- 
Cune  is  a  Republican,  and  although  liis  party 
is  largely  in  the  minority  in  the  count}',  he 
has  held  several  local  otiices,  including  the 
ottice  of  justice  of  the  peace,  which  i)osition 
he  resigned  December  25,  188(5.  He  is  a 
member  of  Decatur  Lodge,  Xo.  571,  A.  F.  A; 
A.  ^I.,  and    is   also   a    comrade   of    Jolm    P. 


Porter   Post,  Ko.  83,  G.  A. 
Adams  County,  Indiana. 


R.,  at   Geneva, 


r^ENKY  Ml'EKS,  one  of  the  self-made 


jgj        fl^l   "^'■'"    °^    Blue    Creek    Township,    is    a 
M        "^i   native  of  Hanover,  Germany,  born  De- 
cember 2-1,  1838,  a   son  of  Jacob  and    Mar- 
garet  Myers.     He  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
nati\e  country,  being  reared  to  the  avocation 


of  a  farmer,  and  in  his  youth  I'cceived  fair 
educationid  advantages.  In  the  fall  of  l>>5i 
he  immigrated  to  America,  landing  at  New 
York  City,  where  he  remained  about  one  and 
a  half  years.  .Vfter  spending  some  time  in 
Oliio,  he,  in  185S,  came  to  Adams  (Jounty, 
Indiana,  and  for  five  years  operated  a  grist- 
mill at  Pleasant  Mills.  In  .March,  18G0,  he 
was  married  to  ^[iss  Barbara  Schrank,  and  of 
the  ten  children  born  to  this  union  eight  still 
survive — Emma,  John,  Lewis,  JMaggie,  Lena, 
Ella,  Frederick  and  George.  In  the  fall  of 
1865  Mr.  -Myers  settled  on  his  present  farm 
on  section  29,  Blue  (''reek  Township,  which 
at  that  time  was  almost  entirely  unimproved. 
Ilis  farm  now  contains  120  acres  of  well- 
cultivated  land,  wliich  he  has  acquired  by 
years  of  toil  and  persevering  industry.  i[r. 
Myers  is  one  of  the  active  and  p\d)lic-sj)irited 
citizens  of  Blue  Creek  Township,  and  is 
always  interested  in  any  enterprise  which  has 
for  its  object  the  advancement  of  his  town- 
ship or  county.  He  has  served  several  years 
as  school  director,  and  in  the  spring  of  188(5 
he  was  elected  to  the  ottice  of  township 
trustee  to  serve  one  term  of  two  years.  In 
his  religious  faith  Mr.  Jlyers  is  a  Lutheran. 
In  politics  he  afHliates  with  the  Democratic 
party. 

Tj^ANSON  8MITH  THOMAS,  son  of 
Sf^u  Aaron  and  Hannah  Thomas,  was  born 
"^SAb  in  Cape  May  County,  New  Jersey,  JNFay 
10,  1823.  When  he  was  about  ten  years  of 
age  his  motlier  died,  and  he  went  to  work  on 
a  farm.  When  about  twelve  years  of  age  he 
became  a  sailoi',  and  followed  that  occupation 
for  nine  years,  serving  in  every  position  on 
ship-board  from  "  cabin  boy  "  to  "  first  mate" 
of  a  coasting  vessel.  Came  to  Ohio  in  184:(); 
was  married  to  JMaria  Royal,  daughter  of 
Mark  Koyal,  in   Crawford  County,    Pennsyl- 


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■^B 


llISTUIir    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


viuiia,  in  April,  ISJ^O,  wlio  lived  but  a  tew 
years  after  her  mai'riage.  She  was  the  mother 
of  two  children,  but  both  died  in  infancy. 
August  6,  1854,  Vir.  Thomas  was  married 
to  Martha  .Jane  i'ennett,  d:iughter  of  Jacob 
Bennett.  She  died  November  29,  1S86,  in 
Geneva,  Indiana,  and  was  the  mother  of  five 
children — three  had  preceded  her  to  the  bet- 
ter land.  The  living  are  William  A.  and 
Ly<lia  M.  Soon  after  SEr.  Thomas  came  to 
Ohio  he  engaged  himself  to  one  George  Lud- 
low, nearCincinnati,  Ohio, and  served  two  years 
as  an  apprentice  to  the  house-carpenter  and 
joiner's  trade.  He  was  converted  and  joined 
the  churcli  of  the  United  J5rethren  in  ("hrist 
when  in  the  thirty-first  year  of  his  age.  May 
24,  185(3,  he  received  a  quarterly  conference 
license  to  preach  the  gospel.  September  14, 
1857,  he  received  an  annual  conference  license 
to  preach,  and  became  a  member  of  the  Au- 
glaize annual  conference,  United  Brethren 
churcli.  Having  passed  favorable  e.xaniina- 
tions  of  the  three  years'  course  of  study,  lie 
was  ordained  an  elder  in  said  church,  Au- 
gust 25,  1860,  by  Bishop  Edwards,  and  at 
this  writing  still  remains  a  minister  in  good 
standing  in  said  conference  and  church,  and 
has  been  present  at  every  conference  session 
but  one  during  the  past  thirty  years,  llis 
first  circuit  contained  seventeen  preaching 
places,  located  in  Tlandolph,  Jay,  AVells  and 
Blackford  counties,  in  Indiana.  There  were 
no  railroads,  no  pikes,  and  but  few  bridges 
across  the  rivers  in  these  counties  at  that 
time.  He  has  served  in  every  office  in  the 
church  from  class-leader  to  presiding  elder — 
in  the  latter  office  a  number  of  years.  For  a 
number  of  years,  on  account  of  swimming  the 
Salamonie  Biver  in  the  month  of  January,  he 
was  afHicted  with  throat  disease,  which  forced 
him  to  leave  the  active  ministerial  work  in 
1879.  In  March  of  that  year  he  bought  a 
half  interest  in  the   Delphos  (Ohio)  Countnt 


printing  office,  and  became  associate  editor  of 
that  paper.  The  business  was  conducted  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Walknp  &  Thomas.  In 
July,  1880,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  Cour- 
ant  to  his  partner,  E.  B.  AV^alkup,  and  in  Au- 
gust of  the  same  year  he  commenced  the 
publication  of  the  Willshire  (Ohio)  Inde- 
jiendent,  buying  everything  new,  being  tlie 
tirst  one  to  put  a  newspaper  press  in  that 
town.  During  the  "second  amendment" 
campaign  in  1883  he  advocated  the  measure 
so  strongly  that  they  starved  him  out,  and 
inducements  being  oU'ered  at  Geneva,  Indi- 
ana, he  moved  his  presses  to  that  town,  and 
November  8,  1883,  he  published  Volume  I, 
No.  1,  of  the  Geneva  Independent,  a  seven- 
column  folio.  Ilis  health  improving,  he 
suspended  the  paper,  sold  his  presses  to  C. 
E.  Detter,  to  be  taken  back  to  Willshire,  and 
for  two  years  served  the  people  on  Geneva 
charge  of  the  United  Brethren  church  as  pas- 
tor. June,  1886,  he  bought  a  new  newspaper 
and  job  outfit,  and  resumed  the  publication 
of  the  paper,  but  reduced  it  to  a  six-column 
folio  and  called  it  the  Herald,  which  has  at 
this  time  an  increasing  patronage.  lie  is 
now  in  the  sixty-fourth  j'ear  of  his  age,  and 
having  again  retired  from  the  active  minis- 
try, he  expects  to  devote  the  remainder  of 
his  days  to  the  newspaper  business.  Ilis 
family,  if  they  were  all  together,  would  num- 
ber ten,  but  only  three  remain. 


AUL  GRANVILLE  HOOPER,  junior 
member  of  the  law   firm   of  Heller  & 


Hooper,  of  Decatur,  is  a  native  of  Adams 
Gounty,  Indiana,  born  in  Root  Township, 
November  24,  1857,  the  only  son  of  Ezekiel 
and  Almira  11.  (Gosline)  Hooper.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Maryland,  born  of  English 
parents   in    1790.      He  was   reared   a  farmer, 


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BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


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wliicli  ;i\o(';itii)n  lu'  t'dllciwed  tlirouirli  lite. 
]k'  \v;is  u  solilici-  in  tlii'  war  of  IM'J.  Uu 
came  to  the  part  of  Allen  County  that  is  now 
a  part  of  Adams  County  in  llS3-i,  and  settled 
in  Koot  Towiisliip,  where  he  entered  a  tract 
of  Government  land,  which  he  improved  from 
its  wild  state,  livirig  here  until  his  death  in 
1871  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one  years. 
As  one  of  the  pioneers  who  took  part  in 
organizing  Adams  County  in  1842  he  was 
commissioned  one  of  the  associate  judges  of 
the  Common  I'leas  Court  of  the  county.  In 
polities  he  was  originally  a  Whig,  but  later 
affiliated  with  the  llepublican  party.  For 
many  years  he  was  a  member  of  tlie  Mon- 
mouth Episcopal  Methodist  church,  and  a 
liberal  contributor  of  his  means  to  all  worthy 
enterpi'ice.^.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was 
a  native  of  Athens  County,  Ohio,  and  of 
French  origin,  and  was  reared  in  her  native 
county  near  Albany'.  She  was  tirst  mari'ied 
to  Townsend  G.  IJobo,  who  died  at  Crown 
Point,  Indiana,  in  1853.  Ilis  widow  came 
to  Adams  County  the  same  year,  where  she 
married  .Mr.  Hooper  in  1857.  She  is  still 
living,  making  her  home  in  Decatur.  Paul 
G.  Hooper,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
receiveil  a  fair  education  in  his  youth  at  the 
schools  of  Monmouth  and  Decatur,  and  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  began  teaching  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Adams  County.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen  years  he  began  reading  law  in 
the  office  of  his  half-brother,  Hon.  James  II. 
Bobo,  of  Decatur.  In  1879  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  Decatur,  and  during  the  same 
year  he  was  one  of  the  proprietors  and  editors 
of  the^Wa?/(6'  Vouiity  Union. -aw  independent 
pajier  published  at  Decatur.  December  25, 
lS7y,  he  was  married  at  Hoagland,  Indiana, 
to  Charity  E.  Ilarrod,  a  daughter  of  Morgan 
and  Samantha  (^Beem)  Harrod.  She  was  born 
and  reared  in  Allen  County,  Indiana,  and 
educated  at  the  ^Metiiodist  Episcopal  College 


at  Fort  AVayne.  She  i.-.  a  member  ol'  the 
Jlethodist  lipiscopal  chr.rch.  After  severing 
his  connection  with  the  Union  Mr.  Hooper 
formed  a  partnersliip  with  John  T.  France,  of 
Decatur,  with  whom  he  was  associated  in  the 
practice  of  law  until  1881,  when  retiring 
from  the  firm  he  becaine  associated  with  D. 
D.  Heller,  thus  forming  the  present  law  firm 
of  Heller  »fc  Hooper.  In  politics  ]\Ir.  Hooper 
is  ;P  Kepublican.  He  is  a  member  of  Keki- 
ouga  Lodge,  No.  fio,  K.  of  P.,  of  Decatur. 


fOHN  A.  Sl'RUXGEPt,  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Sprunger  it  Lehman,  of 
Berne,  Adams  County,  Indiana,  is  a 
native  of  Canton  Heme,  Switzerland,  born 
August  12,  1853,  a  son  of  Abraham  B.  and 
Elizabeth  (Curcher)  Sprunger.  In  1855  he 
was  brought  to  America  by  his  parents,  who, 
after  remaining  in  Ohio  three  months,  settled 
on  section  32,  ]\Ionroe  Township,  Adams 
County,  and  there  our  subject  grew  to  man- 
hood on  his  father's  farm,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  German  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood. When  twenty  years  old  he  bought 
his  time  of  his  fatlier,  giving  his  note  for 
SlOO.  He  then  engaged  in  saw  milling  and 
running  a  threshing  machine,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  1875,  when  he  began  dealing  in 
hardware  and  machinery  at  Berne.  In  1876 
he  engaged  in  general  building,  and  the  same 
year  erected  the  grain  elevator  and  several 
dwelling  houses  at  Berne.  I)>iringl878  and 
'79  he  was  engaged  in  dealing  in  and  ship- 
ping stock.  In  1879  he  becaine  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Sprunger,  Lehman  it  Co.,  of 
which  he  is  manager.  He  erected  the  flour 
mills  in  1884.  In  1883  he  built  his  line 
residence  at  Berne  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  Dur- 
incr  1884  and  '85  he  erected  twelve  dwelling 
houses,  and   also   built  the  Champion  Block 


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nisrORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


in  ^\■]lic•ll  his  firm  does  hiisiness,  and  in  lfsS3 
lie  bnilt  tlie  Eagle  House.  ^Ir.  Sprnnger 
was  united  in  marriage  February  17,  1880, 
to  iliss  Katie  Sprnnger,  a  native  of  Wabash 
Township,  Adams  County,  Indiana,  born 
September  5,  1859,  a  daughter  of  Christian 
V.  Sprunger.  Two  children  liave  been  born 
to  this  union — Ilillegnnda,  and  Edmona  (de- 
ceased), ^[r.  Spi'unger  may  be  classed  among 
the  seif-niatie  men  of  the  county,  having 
commenced  life  for  himself  a  poor  boy. 
,\lthough  a  Comparatively  young  man  he  has 
accumulated  a  com]ietence,  which  he  has 
gained  by  persevering  industry,  and  strict 
attention  to  any  business  in  which  he  has 
l)een  engaged,  and  is  now  considered  one  of 
the  substantial  men  of  the  county.  He  is  an 
active  and  public  spirited  citizen,  and  perhaps 
no  man  in  the  county  has  done  more  toward 
liuilding  up  the  town  of  Berne  than  he.  lie 
is  a  member  of  the  Mennonite  church,  and 
is  a  teacher  in  the  Sabbath-school. 


sON.  JA:\[ES  ROLLIN  BOP.O,  an  act- 
ive and  enterprising  citizen  of  Decatur, 
■^\^  who  is  prominently  identified  with  the 
bar  of  Adams  County,  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Athens,  Atiiens  County,  Ohio,  June  4, 
1839.  His  parents,  Townshend  GarnierBobo 
and  Haiina  Almira  ((iorslene)  I'obo,  liaving 
been  born  in  the  same  State.  In  1851  tlie 
family  moved  to  Crown  Point,  Lake  County, 
Indiana,  where  the  father  died  in  1853,  leav- 
his  widow  and  live  children,  Anna  Maria, 
James  Ilollin,  Caroline  A.,  Helen  M.  and 
Almira  T.,  all  of  whom  are  now  married  and 
living  in  Indiana.  In  1851  the  family  re- 
moved from  Lake  County  to  Adams  County, 
where  tliey,  e.xcept  Caroline  and  Maria,  have 
since  resided.  James  H.  Bobo  received  a 
fair  common-school  education   in   his  youth, 


attending  the  school  at  Crown  Point  for  three 
school  years  between  1851  and  1851,  when 
he  accompanied  liis  family  to  Adams  County. 
From  1851  until  1857  he  worked  as  a  farm 
laborer  during  the  summer  months  and  in 
the  winter  attended  the  district  schools,  and 
in  the  winter  of  1857  he  taught  in  the  dis- 
trict whcie  he  had  formerly  attended  as  a 
pupil.  In  1858  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  with  Judge  David  Studabaker,  of  Deca- 
tur, who  was  an  able,  kind  and  appreciative 
preceptor,  and  being  a  zealous  student  he 
made  ra2:>id  progress  in  his  studies.  During 
the  years  1858-'59  and  'GO  he  studied  law 
and  attended  school  at  Dccatiir,  and  part  of 
this  time  taught  in  the  public  schools  of  this 
place,  at  the  same  time  pursuing  his  law 
studies,  and  August  8,  ISGO,  he  was  admitted 
in  the  Adams  Circuit  Court  to  practice  law. 
September  22,  1861,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  ISIiss  Almira  Cayton,  daughter  of 
William  and  Maria  Cayton.  They  are  the 
parents  of  eleven  children — ]\Irs.  Minnie  E. 
Eson,  living  in  Kingman,  Kansas;  Howard 
C.  Bobo,  deceased;  Ivollin  T.,  Jessie  P.,  Ger- 
trude II.  F.,  Helen  E.,  I'jenjamin  E.,  Bere- 
nice E.,  Eugene  I.,  Erin  and  James  W.  In 
September,  1862,  the  board  of  commissioners 
of  Adams  County  appointed  Judge  Bobo 
superintendent  of  the  public  schools,  which 
position  he  filled  until  September,  1866.  At 
the  October  election  of  1866  he  was  elected 
to  represent  Adams  County  in  the  Indiana 
State  Legislature,  and  in  1868  he  was  elected 
to  represent  Adams  and  "Wells  counties  in 
the  State  Legislature,  and  in  1870  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate  from  the  district 
eomjiosed  of  xVdams,  Wells  and  Allen  coun- 
ties. At  the  e.\piration  of  his  Senatorial 
term  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Decatur,  and 
lias  since  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  the 
practice  of  law,  establishing  a  large  and 
lucrative  practice.     In    1876   he  was  elected 


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DIOaRAl'UlVAL    tiKETGlIES. 


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Ju(lp;o  of  tlic  T\vciit_v-si\tli  .rmlicial  Circuit, 
and  was  re-elt'cted  to  tlie  same  ofHre  in  lf^S2. 
In  every  enterprise  of  jirogress  ami  improve- 
ment in  liis  locality  .Jiul^-e  V>oho  has  given 
his  aid  and  encouragement,  and  as  a  citizen 
he  is  highly  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 
We  trust  there  are  yet  before  him  many  years 
of  labor  anil   usefulness. 

IS    •     ^     i 

:T^T.ILL1AM  DAXIEL  DRUMMOND, 
"lii/'VIl  suiierintendent  of  the  lumber  yard 
l^^jfer^  of  Goodsell  A:  Christen,  at  Decatur, 
is  a  native  of  Adams  Count}',  Indiana,  born 
in  Root  Township,  November  23,  184:3.  His 
parents,  Robert  and  Mary  (Rains')  Drnm- 
mond,  were  natives  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  Ohio,  respectively,  the  mother 
bciuij  of  (Tcrnnui  and  Scotch  ancestry.  The 
father  was  reared  in  Ohio  and  came  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  in  183(),  locating  on  a  farm 
in  Root  Township,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death  in  1874,  at  the  age  of  si.\ty-fonr  years, 
lie  was  a  member  of  the  ^lethodist  Episcopal 
church.  His  widow  still  survives,  and  is  living 
on  their  old  homestead  in  Root  Township,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  W.  D.  Drum- 
mond,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  to 
the  avocation  of  a  farmer  on  his  father's  farm 
in  Root  Township,  receiving  in  his  youtli  a 
common-school  education.  AVhen  fourteen 
years  old,  though  yet  making  his  home  with 
liis  parents,  he  began  working  for  himself, 
being  employed  by  the  neighboring  farmers. 
AVhen  eighteen  years  old,  in  November, 
1S(V2,  he  eidisted  as  a  private  in  Company  I, 
Eiglity-ninth  Indiana  Infantry,  to  serve  three 
years  or  during  the  war.  He  participated 
in  many  engagements,  including  the  battles 
of  Munfordville,  Kentucky,  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee, and  Fort  De  Russy,  Yellow  P>ayou, 
Pleasant  Hill  and   Markville  Prairie,  Louisi- 


ana, and  'i^ipclo,  !M ississip])i.  He  served 
until  July,  18G5,  when  lie  was  discharged  at 
Fort  Hlakely,  near  Mobile,  Alabama,  at  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  then  returned  to  Adams 
County,  and  November  1,  1866,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  iliss  Alartha  Bevard,  who  was  for- 
merly of  Grant  County,  Indiana.  They  are 
the  parents  of  two  children — Ulysses  S.  and 
Robert  Clinton.  In  1871  Mr.  Drummond 
removed  to  Decatur,  and  was  variously  em- 
plo3'ed  until  1881,  when  he  accepted  the 
position  of  superintendent  of  the  lumber 
yard  of  Goodsell  A:  (Christen,  which  he  has 
since  tilled  to  the  entire  satisfastion  of  his 
employers.  In  politics  Mr.  Drummond  affil- 
iates with  the  Democratic  party. 


.'if^EORGE  CLINE,  farmer,  section  86, 
IjUjp  Root  Township,  is  the  owner  of  135 
^i  acres  of  land.  He  came  to  Adams 
County  in  the  fall  of  1840,  with  his  old 
neighbors,  the  Kings.  He  engaged  in  farm 
work,  taking  contracts,  and  one  summer  he 
worked  in  Fort  Wayne  in  a  boat  yard  to  run 
on  tlie  canal.  While  in  Ohio  he  worked  at 
the  carpenter's  trade,  and  followed  tlie  same 
trade  to  some  extent  in  this  county.  The 
second  year  he  was  liere  he  bought  forty 
acres  of  land,  having  earned  enough  to  make 
the  first  payment.  After  working  along 
awhile  longer  he  was  able  to  buy  twenty-five 
acres  more.  He  sold  this  farm  and  bought 
eighty-three  acres  where  he  now  lives,  and 
soon  afterward  bought  twenty  acres  more. 
He  has  continued  to  add  to  this  land  until 
he  now  has  137  acres.  He  came  here  witli  a 
three-year  old  colt,  a  rifle  and  an  ax.  Money 
was  very  scarce.  He  sold  his  colt  for  §60, 
bought  him  some  clothes,  and  the  following 
fall  made  a  visit  to  his  parents  in  Ohio.  The 
latter,  Jonas  and   Elizabeth  Cline,   were  na~ 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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tives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  were  probably 
born  in  Somerset  County.  The  mother  died 
when  George  was  between  two  and  three 
years  old.  She  died  in  Tuscarawas  County, 
Ohio,  in  the  winter  of  1820.  Tiie  father 
died  before  tlio  war,  probably  in  1859  or 
1860,  and  was  eighty-two  years  of  age.  lie 
died  in  St.  Joseph  County,  Indiana.  George 
was  married  in  June,  ISi-i,  to  Miss  Marga- 
ret Crosier,  who  was  born  in  Northern  Ohio, 
and  who  was  a  little  younger  than  her  hus- 
band. She  died  in  July,  1845,  leaving  no 
children.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Crosier.  August  9,  1846,  Mr.  Cline  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  McConnehey,  who  was 
born  in  Tuscarawas  Count}',  Ohio,  September 
7,  1825,  and  died  :\[ay  7,  1871.  She  is 
buried  at  Alpha  cemetery.  Her  parents 
were  William  and  Catherine  (Clever)  ]\IcCon- 
nehey,  natives  of  Pennsj'lvania,  the  father  of 
Irish  ancestry  and  the  mother  of  German 
origin.  The  father  died  in  1851,  and  the 
mother  in  1876.  Both  died  in  this  county 
and  are  buried  in  Alpha  cemetery.  j\Irs. 
Cline  left  four  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living — Sarah  C,  born  July  17,  1850,  wife 
of  A.  R.  AVolf;  Mary  A.,  born  November 
30,  1852,  wife  of  William  Spuler;  Barbara 
A.,  born  November  23,  1854,  died  February 
5,  1887,  and  is  buried  in  Alpha  cemetery; 
(leorge  ]'.,  born  August  13,  1858,  died  June 
5,  1877.  August  12,  1877,  .Mr.  Cline  was 
married  to  Rebecca  Van  Buskirk,  widow  of 
James  Van  Buskirk,  who  came  to  this  count}' 
from  Ohio.  She  was  first  married  to  Green- 
bury  Baxter,  who  died  leaving  seven  idiil- 
dren,  only  four  of  whom  are  living.  By  her 
second  marriage  there  were  two  children;  one 
living.  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Cline  are  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  church,  and  Mr.  Cline 
is  a  Republican.  Ilis  grandfather  Cline  was 
American  born.  His  grandmother  Cline  died 
at  the  age   of  over  one  hundred  years,      ifrs. 


Cline  was  born  in  Carroll  County,  Ohio, 
Mai-ch  22,  1825.  She  came  to  this  county 
with  her  jjarents  when  she  was  about  ten 
years  of  age.  Tliey  settled  near  Monmouth, 
Root  Township,  being  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Adams  County.  Her  parents  were 
William  and  Mary  (Baxter)  Fillers.  Her 
father  died  in  Root  Township  in  1863,  and 
the  mother  died  before  the  war.  Both  are 
buried  in  Aljiha  cemetery. 


^ENRY  DERKES,  one  of  the  old  and 
\{ihi  lionored  pioneers  of  Adams  County,  is  a 
^£11  native  of  Hanover,  Prussia,  born  30th 
of  October,  1808.  lie  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  country,  being  reared  to  the  avoca- 
tion of  a  farmer,  which  he  has  followed  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
years  he  with  Antoin  Kohan  sailed  for  Ameri- 
ca, landing  in  New  York  City  May  4,  1835. 
He  remained  in  New  York  two  years,  work- 
ing in  a  sugar  retinery,  and  subsequently 
went  to  Boston,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
found  employment  until  February,  1837.  He 
was  married  in  February,  1837,  to  Miss 
AVilhelmina  Kohne,  who  was  born  in  Han- 
over, Prussia,  and  shortly  after  his  marriage 
he  started  with  his  wife  for  Chicago,  Illinois, 
but  the  steamer  in  which  they  took  passage 
becoming  impeded  by  ice  after  leaving  Butfa- 
lo,  they  were  obliged  to  return  to  the  latter 
place.  They  then  traveled  from  Buffalo  to 
Toledo,  Ohio,  by  team,  thence  by  boat  up  the 
ilaumee  River  to  Fort  Wayne,  where  he 
heard  of  the  vacant  lands  in  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  whence  he  proceeded  after  a  few 
weeks  rest.  Here  he  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  near  the  present  site  of  Decatur,  which 
he  improved  and  cultivated,  living  on  this 
farm  till  1851.  He  then  became  a  resident 
of  Decatur   aTid   began   speculating  in   lands 


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BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


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and  lots,  anil  iluriiii^  liis  residence  at  this 
place  built  several  business  houses  and  resi- 
dences, many  of  which  lie  still  owns,  renting 
them  out  to  tenants.  Mr.  I^erkes  lias  gained 
an  enviable  reputation,  by  strict  integrity 
and  honorable  dealings,  being  trusted  by  all 
who  know  him,  and  in  any  public  enterprise 
lie  takes  an  active  interest  in  helpincr  the 
good  citizens  of  his  county.  !Mrs.  Uerkes 
died  in  Decatur,  August  2,  1882,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-three  years.  She  was  a  life-long 
Catholic,  and  at  the  time  of  her  death  was  a 
member  of  St.  Mary's  Church  at  Decatur. 
Mr.  Derkes  was  reared  in  the  Lutheran  faitli, 
but  in  1844,  through  the  influence  of  Mr. 
Kohan,  who  was  a  life-long  friend,  united 
with  the  Roman  Catholic  church  at  Decatur, 
of  which  he  is  still  a  worthy  member. 


^I^IIAIILES  DORWIN  PORTER,  drug- 
"\Ui-^.  ffisti  Geneva,  was  born  in  Decatur,  this 
^*^  county,  April  8,  1850,  tlie  eldest  son  of 
Dr.  Jolin  Pomeroy  Porter.  He  remained  at 
liome  and  attended  tlie  common  school  until 
sixteen  years  of  age,  tlien  engaged  in  the 
drug  trade  at  Fort  Wayne,  remaining  in  the 
business  a  few  months,  and  removed  to  De- 
catur, where  he  remained  until  1872.  He 
then  came  to  Geneva  and  established  the  first 
drug  store  in  the  ])lace.  He  started  with 
limited  means,  but  by  good  management  and 
economy  he  is  aijle  to  carry  a  stock  of  !?6,000. 
Mr.  Porter  is  a  staunch  Republican,  and  has 
been  a  member  of  the  county  central  commit- 
tee six  years;  has  also  served  as  treasurer  of 
Geneva  three  years;  is  a  member  of  the  Ma,- 
sonic  order,  and  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans, 
being  a  member  of  McPlierson  Camp,  No. 
11,  Geneva,  the  G.  A.  R.  post  being  named 
for  his  father,  who  was  killed  in  the  war. 
ilr.  Porter    was    married    April  21,  1886,  to 


Geneva  Stratton,  a  daughter  of  Mark  and 
Mary  Stratton,  of  Wabash,  Indiana.  She 
was  born  on  a  farm  near  Nortli  Manchester, 
in  August,  1863;  is  a  member  of  the  .Metli- 
udist  Episcopal  church. 

rf^Ll  ZIMMERMAN,  one  of  the  prosper- 
"ipi  °"®  ^'"^  enterprising  agriculturists  of 
"^i  Washington  Township,  is  a  native  of 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  born  October  23, 
1842,  a  son  of  Eli  and  Polly  Zimmerman, 
the  father  born  near  Harper's  Perry,  ^lary- 
land,  and  the  mother  a  native  of  Fayette 
County,  Ohio.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  and  of  this  number  five  are 
living — Nancy,  Jane,  Polly,  Eli  and  Eliza- 
beth. The  father  was  one  of  the  early  pio- 
jieers  of  AVashington  Township,  settling  on 
section  2,  where  he  entered  a  section  of  land 
on  which  he  first  erected  a  log  cabin,  and  the 
first  season  raised  four  acres  of  corn.  Year 
by  year  he,  by  persevering  industry,  cleared 
his  land  until  400  acres  had  been  cleared  and 
improved.  He  then  removed  to  Decatur, 
settling  on  the  St.  ]Mary's  River  when  there 
were  but  three  log  houses  in  Decatui-,  and 
liere  he  made  his  liome  until  his  death,  wliicli 
occurred  October  29,  1878,  his  wife  dying 
March  24,  1871.  In  his  death  Adams  County 
lost  one  of  her  oldest  pioneers  and  a  most 
respected  citizen.  He  had,  like  all  pioneers, 
to  undergo  many  hardships  and  privations, 
but  he  lived  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  years 
of  toil,  and  liy  his  honorable  dealings  and 
strict  integrity  he  gained  the  confidence  of 
the  entire  community.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity.  In  his  religious 
faith  he  was  a  Presbyterian.  Eli  Zimmer- 
man, whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
reared  amid  pioneer  scenes  on  liis  father's 
farm  in  AVashington  Township.     His   educa- 


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326 


imsTonr  of  adams   county. 


tional  advantages  were  very  limited,  his  youth 
being  spent  in  working  on  tlie  farm.  A,s  a 
farmer  ho  lias  met  witli  excellent  sncccss, 
having  accnniulated  his  present  fine  property 
in  AVashiiigton  Township,  which  consists  of 
ahont  U;35  acres  of  choice  land.  Jannary  7, 
1S67,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  ]\Iiss  ISTe- 
linda  Drayer,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  (Jf 
the  three  children  l)orn  to  iMr.  and  ]Mrs.  Zim- 
merman two  are  living — Isaac  W.  and  George 
AV.  In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Zimmer- 
man is  a  Democrat. 


.•;f^YLYAXUS  WOOD,  section  22,  Bine 
K§)1l  Creek  Township,  is  a  native  of  Harri- 
"^^  son  County,  Ohio,  born  August  22, 
1825,  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Esther  Wood. 
He  was  reared  to  manhood  in  liis  native 
county,  receiving  but  limited  educational  ad- 
vantages, as  at  that  time  there  were  no  free 
schools,  and  his  father  being  a  poor  man 
could  not  afford  him  the  advantages  he  de- 
sired. After  reaching  manhood  he  deter- 
mined to  try  his  fortunes  in  a  new  country, 
and  accordingly  came  to  Adams  County,  In- 
diana, and  settled  on  a  tract  of  heavily-tim- 
bered land.  This  he  has  by  hard  work  and 
perseverance  improved,  and  now  has  one  of 
the  best  farms  in  the  township,  his  home- 
stead containing  119  acres  of  land,  and  his 
residence  and  farm  l)uildings  being  commo- 
dious and  convenient.  He  is  a  representa- 
tive man  of  the  township,  and  lias  served 
efficiently  in  several  official  positions  of  trust 
and  responsibility.  In  politics  he  is  a  Ile- 
publican.  lie  was  married  November  26, 
1840,  to  Sarah  AVarford,  and  to  them  were 
born  five  children;  but  three  are  living — 
Adonirain  J.,  Elizabeth  J.  and  Mary  E.  His 
wife  died,  and  in  April,  1S61,  he  married 
Eva  A.  Deaver,  widow  of  George   Deaver, 


and  daughter  of  William  and  ]\Iary  A.  Bryan. 
They  have  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living — Adolphus  ^I.,  Joseph  M.,  George  K., 
Charles  i\r.  and  Harvey  V.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs. 
Wood  arc  members  of  the  Baptist  chui-ch. 


.'^m^,i^'. 


OIIX  CLEM,  farmer,  section  4,  Union 
Township,  was  born  in  ]\Ionroe  Town- 
ship, Allen  County,  Indiana,  July  13, 
1819.  He  was  reared  on  his  lather's  farm, 
and  has  always  been  a  farmer.  His  father, 
Noah  Clem,  was  born  in  the  Shenandoah 
A'"alley,  A''irginia,  September  27,  1809,  where 
he  was  reared  and  married.  Soon  after  his 
marriage  he  removed  to  Champaign  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  rented  a  farm.  He  also 
worked  at  the  shoemaker's  trade.  He  came 
to  Allen  County,  this  State,  in  1810,  with 
wife  and  five  children,  and  settled  on  section 
33,  Monroe  Township,  where  he  is  still  living. 
He  entered  the  land  in  the  fall  of  1839,  put 
up  a  log  cabin  and  returned  for  his  family, 
who  came  the  following  spring.  He  has  seen 
the  country  grow  from  a  wilderness  to  a  cul- 
tivated, flourishing  county.  There  was  a 
bounty  on  wolves  in  Allen  County.  Noah 
Clem  caught  one  in  Adams  County,  but  dare 
not  kill  it  in  that  county.  So  he  dragged  it 
to  liis  home  in  Allen  County  alive  and  killed 
him  so  that  he  could  get  his  bounty.  John's 
mother,  Mary  ]\I.  (Itidenour)  Clem,  was  born 
in  Shenandoah  County,  Virginia,  August  18, 
1813,  where  she  was  reared  and  married. 
She  died  September  27,  1885,  leaving  her 
husband  and  eleven  children,  two  having  died 
previously — Alfred  died  in  Monroe  Township, 
in  childhood;  Ilenjaniin;  Alary,  wife  of  Elias 
Barkley;  Margaret,  wife  of  Eli  Need;  Nancy, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Kodney  Graham; 
Jacob,  living  in  Oregon;  Susanna,  wife  of 
Simon  Baker;   Noah   who  died  at  the   age  of 


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lUOGRA  PIirCAL    SKETCIIEti. 


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six  yi'iirs;  l^lizalu'th,  wife  ot'  .lo.-cpli  Murttui; 
.lolili,  our  sulijcrt;  Isabella,  keepiiii;-  liolieu 
foi'  her  lather;  J(j;e])h  and  .Jusliua.  John 
was  married  Xt)veinber  18,  ISTiJ,  to  Miss 
Minnie  A.  Taygart,  who  was  born  in  Wauke- 
^an,  Illinois,  April  "22,  1^53,  and  when  fifteen 
years  of  age  went  to  Van  AV^ert  C'oiinty,  Ohio, 
with  her  parents,  where  she  taught  school 
several  terms.  Jler  father,  AV'illiam  M. 
Taggart,  Mas  born  in  >.'ewark,  Lieking  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  December  21),  1819,  where  he  was 
reared,  and  was  married  in  liichland  County, 
same  State,  to  ]\IaiT  A.  Brown,  ^November  1, 
18-42.  Four  years  later  they  removed  to 
AVaukegan,  Illinois,  where  they  lived  until 
1808,  thence  to  A'an  Wert  County,  Ohio, 
and  is  still  living  on  the  land  lie  entered 
from  the  (4overnment  before  removing  to 
Illinois.  Tlie  mother  was  born  in  Carlisle, 
Pennsylvania,  January  9,  1821,  where  she 
lived  until  eight  or  nine  years  old,  when  her 
own  father  tiled.  She  taught  scliool  in  Ilich- 
land  County  several  years,  and  was  then 
married.  'J'here  were  six  children  in  the 
father's  family — Adaline  13.,  wife  of  Jerry 
Swigert;  Sarah  E.,  a  school  teacher;  Ellen  II., 
widow  of  Charles  Iloeken ;  George  B. ;  Minnie 
A.,  wife  of  our  subject,  and  William  E., 
living  in  ]\[issoari.  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Clem  have 
two  children — Alice  I.,  born  April  4-,  1877, and 
Inez  Cr.,  born  April  17,  1880.  Mr.  Clem  was 
elected  assessor  of  Monroe  Township  in  the 
spring  of  1875.  j\[r.  Clem's  paternal  grand- 
father, David  Clem,  was  born  in  FowelTs 
Fort,  Shenandoah  County,  Virginia,  a  son  of 
Zetric  Clem,  who  came  from  Germany  when 
a  boy,  and  made  his  home  in  Virginia.  His 
maternal  grandfather  was  Adam  Kideuoui', 
also  a  native  of  Virginia,  a  son  of  Adam 
Ridenour.  Mrs.  Clem's  paternal  grandparents 
were  Jonathan  and  Elizabeth  (AIoody)Taggart. 
The  former  was  a  native  of  Winchester, 
Virginia,  a  son  of  Francis  Taggart,  who  came 


to  America  tVcim  the  luu'tb  of  Ireland  ]irior 
to  the  Bevolution.  The  latter  was  a  native 
of  Bowling  Green,  Licking  County,  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  ^fai-y  (Stadden) 
Moody,  natives  of  Fennsylvania.  Her  ma- 
ternal grandparents  were  Thompson  and 
Sarah  (Alspaugh)  Brown,  the  former  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  and  the  latter  a  native  of  Cum- 
berland Count}',  Pennsylvania,  a  daughter  of 
Geoi'ge  and  ^Vlarie  (Keller)  Alspaugh,  natives 
of  Germany,  the  father  of  liaden  and  the 
mother  of  Westphalia,  coming  to  America  in 
their  youth.  George  Alspaugh  served  as  a 
soldier  through  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 


-T^i^EWIS  ]\[ATTAX,  deceased,  who  was 
wk  ""®  °^'  '^''^  early  pioneers  of  Adams 
"iK-  County,  was  born  in  Greene  County, 
Pennsylvania,  January  22,  1811,  a  son  of 
John  Mattax,  Sr.,  who  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey.  The  parents  were  married  in  Xew 
Jersey,  and  afterward  removed  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, settling  in  Greene  County,  wliere  tiiey 
lived  till  their  death.  Lewis  Mattax  grew  to 
manhood  on  a  farm  in  his  native  county,  re- 
ceiving as  good  an  education  as  could  be  ob- 
tained in  the  schools  of  that  early  day.  On 
attaining  his  majority  he  went  to  Knox 
County,  Ohio,  and  opened  a  cooper  shop  at 
Martinsburgh,  where  he  followed  that  trade 
till  he  came  to  .\dams  County,  Indiana,  in 
the  fall  of  1840.  He  entered  200  acres  ot 
land  in  Monroe  Township,  settling  on  section 
26.  He  came  to  the  county  by  team,  and 
lived  in  a  tent  made  of  his  wagon  cover  while 
his  log  cabin  was  being  built.  Fie  lived  with 
j  his  family  several  years  in  this  pioneer  cabin, 
I  when  he  built  a  more  commodious  frame 
j  house.  In  the  first  years  of  their  residence 
in  the  county  the  family  passed  through 
1  many  of  the  hardships  and  pri\ations  which 


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usually  fall  to  the  lot  of  a  pioneer.  Game  of 
various  kinds  was  in  abundance,  and  was 
about  the  only  meat  that  could  be  obtained 
by  tiie  first  settlers,  ilr.  Mattax  took  an 
active  interest  in  the  ])ublic  affairs  of  his 
township,  and  for  several  years  served  effi- 
ciently as  justice  of  the  peace.  Jle  was  also 
postmaster  for  several  years,  the  postoffice 
being  kept  at  his  house.  In  politics  he 
affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party.  lie 
was  also  agent  for  the  swamp  lands  of  his 
county,  and  took  charge  of  the  ditching  for 
sevei'al  years.  He  was  a  man  of  much  nat- 
ural ability,  and  could  turn  his  hand  to 
almost  anything.  Mr.  Mattax  was  married 
August  28,  1835,  to  Anna  Stephenson,  who 
was  born  in  Knox  County,  Ohio,  July  24, 
1S15,  and  to  them  were  born  live  children — 
Laban,  AVilliam  Lee,  Davidson,  Mary  E.  and 
liuth,  the  latter  now  deceased.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  ilattax  were  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  of  which  he  was  an  elder, 
and  was  also  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath- 
school. 


■^ETER  B.  MANLEY,  an  attorney  at  law  at 
\i   Geneva,  is  a  native  of  Jay  County,  Indi- 


*^  ana,  born  August  -t,  1854,  a  son  of  Jere- 
miah L.  and  Mary  A.  (Beckler)  Mauley.  lie 
received  his  education  in  the  common  schools, 
and  also  attended  Liber  College,  near  Port- 
land, in  liis  native  county.  lie  studied  law 
with  his  father  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
at  Decatur,  Indiana,  in  1879,  Judge  Bobo 
presiding.  After  this  event  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  his  father,  under  the  firm 
name  of  ilanley  ifc  Son.  This  partnership 
continued  until  the  death  of  the  father,  and 
our  subject  took  charge  of  the  business 
and  has  since  conducted  it  alone.  Mr.  Man- 
ley  is  a  Republican   in  politics,  has  held  the 


office  of  village  clerk,  and  was  a  candidate  for 
prosecuting  attorney  for  the  Twenty-sixth 
Judicial  District,  and  though  the  district  was 
largely  Democratic,  and  he  made  no  effort 
whatever  to  secure  liis  own  election,  he  re- 
duced the  majority  of  his  opponent  several 
hundred.  lie  was  married  June  17,  1880, 
to  Miss  Dora  McKaig,  who  was  born  in 
March,  1858,  in  ^Mercer  County,  Ohio,  and 
died  in  1884.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Jlethodist  Episco])al  church. 


,^AMUEL  FETTERS,  farmer,  Jefferson 
''(^^  Township,  was  born  in  Stark  County, 
'^  Ohio,  May  24,  1847,  a  son  of  John  AV. 
and  Elizabeth  (Gross)  Fetters.  In  his  third 
year  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  where  he  \vas  reared  to 
manhood  on  the  home  farm  in  Jefferson  Town- 
ship. March  23,  1865,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany E,  One  Hundred  and  P^iftj'-tifth  Indiana 
Infantry,  and  was  discharged  at  Dover,  Dela- 
ware, August  24,  1865,  when  he  returned  to 
his  home  in  Adams  County.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  July  30,  1871,  to  Miss  Luvina 
Woodward,  who  was  born  in  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  March  3,  1855,  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Lucinda  (Rash)  Woodward,  who 
were  also  natives  of  the  same  State.  They 
came  to  Adams  County.  Indiana,  in  1863, 
where  the  father  still  lives.  The  mother 
died  in  Jefferson  Township  in  Feljruary, 
1877.  They  had  a  family  of  eleven  children, 
six  sons  and  five  daughters.  The  following 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  !Mrs. 
Fetters — Frank  R.,  Charles  M.,  James  F., 
Harry  H.  and  Emma  C.  Mr.  Fetters  has 
always  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  and  is 
a  thorough,  practical  farmer.  He  settled  on 
his  present  farm  in  the  fall  of  1874,  which 
contains  eighty  acres  of  choice  land  under  a 


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JJJOOJtAl'HIOAL    SKETCHES. 


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iiiie  stiitt!  of  cultivation.  In  politics  .Nfr. 
Fetters  is  a  Democrat.  lie  has  served  eight 
years  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  first  term  as  township  trustee,  having 
been  elected  to  that  ofiice  in  the  spring  of 
188(').  Tie  is  a  comrade  of  John  P.  Porter 
Post,  No,  S:i,  G.  A.  K.  John  \\.  Fetter,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Stark 
County,  Oliio,  Imrn  ^Marcli  14,  1818,  a  son  of 
Philip  Fetters,  who  was  born  in  Huntingdon 
County,  Pennsylvania,  of  German  descent, 
and  died  in  Ohio.  John  AV.  Fetters  grew  to 
manhood  in  Stark  County,  and  was  there 
married,  in  1840,  to  Flizaheth  (iross,  a  na- 
tive of  ?^ew  York  City,  her  parents  being 
natives  of  Germany.  To  this  union  were 
born  seven  chiklren,  four  sons  and  three 
daughters.  The  parents  were  members  of  the 
Luther:ui  church.  The  father  exchanged 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Stark  Count}'  for 
three  eighty-acre  tracts  in  Adams  Count}', 
Indiana,  locating  here  in  the  fall  of  ISiO, 
and  made  his  home  on  section  21,  Jefferson 
Township,  till  his  death,  lie  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  his  farming  operations,  and  added 
to  his  land  till  he  had  almost  400  acres.  In 
politics  lie  was  a  staunch  Democrat.  lie  took 
an  active  interest  in  public  aft'airs,  and  held 
the  oftice  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  period 
of  twenty-four  years,  and  also  served  as  town- 
ship clerk  during  the  old  township  organiza- 
tion, and  was  a  prominent  citizen. 


/TTEREMIAII  L.  MAXLEY,  deceased,  was 


# 


born   in   ]\lnskingum  Cotinty,  Ohio,  No- 


^  vember  15,  1826,  son  of  Pobert  and 
Margaret  (Lasure)  !Manley,  early  settlers  of 
that  county,  where  they  lived  until  their  de- 
cease. He  remained  at  home  during  his 
youth,  attending  the  common  school,  and 
also  attended  school  at   Zanesville,  Ohio,  and 


studied  law  there,  lie  married  Mary  A. 
IJeckler,  September  2,  1.S4U,  a  native  of 
Atiiens  County,  Ohio,  after  which  he  moved 
to  Jay  County,  Indiana,  where  lie  ])racticed 
law,  coining  to  this  connty  in  1874,  and 
opened  an  othce  at  Geneva,  where  he  prac- 
ticed until  his  death,  December  0,  ISSO.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Ilepublican,  and  held  the 
otiice  of  justice  of  the  peace,  besides  other 
local  offices.  He  was  a  member  of  the  village 
school  board,  and  was  formerly  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  church,  Imt  afterward 
united  with  the  ilethodist  Episcopal  church. 
Mr.  and  Mi-s.  ^Manley  were  the  parents  of 
eight  children— Delilah  B.,  Robert  J.  G., 
Peter  B.,  John  C.  F.,  Benjamin  F.,  Maude 
M.,  Thomas  B.  and  Jennie  F.  Mrs.  ilanley 
married  a  second  time,  and  resides  in  "Wood 
County,  Ohio.  Mr.  !Manley  was  a  man  of 
strong  temperance  principles,  was  opposed  to 
secret  societies,  was  an  active  member  of  the 
cliurch,  and  was  generally  successful  in  his 
practice — a  good  reasoner  and  a  forcible 
speaker. 


j^AMUEL  S.  STEELE,  a  Tnember  of  the 
tS^i  ^'"^  ^'  Steele  &  Lenhart,  proprietors  of 
■•^i-'  the  saw  and  planing  mill  at  Peterson, 
Adams  County,  was  born  in  Kirkland  Town- 
ship, Adams  County,  Indiana,  January  25, 
185G,  the  j'oungest  son  of  Samuel  Steele, 
who  is  now  deceased.  He  grew  to  manhood 
in  his  native  county,  receiving  a  common- 
school  education  in  the  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood, lie  remained  at  home  with  his 
parents  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  being 
reared  to  the  avocation  of  a  farmer,  wlien  he 
begiin  working  for  neighboring  farmers  by 
the  month.  In  1870  he  engaged  in  his 
present  business  with  his  brotlier  David,  the 
latter  being   succeeded    by  Mr.  Lenhart,  the 


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fflSTOnr    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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present  member  of  the  firm  of  Steele  &  Leii- 
h;ut.  ^Ir.  Steele  Mas  married  ]\Iarc'h  15, 
ISTU,  to  ^lins  Sarah  .1.  iCriek,  who  was  born 
in  .\(lanis  County,  Indiana,  in  l.S()l.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sti'ule  liave  had  live  children — 
Harry  K.  and  Harvey  K.  (twins),  horn  in 
January,  18>iO;  Lana  M.,  born  August  2, 
18S1;  Ida  A.,  born  September  4,  188-1:,  and 
]\I.  E.,  born  February  21,  18S7.  JJesides  his 
mill  property,  ^[r.  Steele  owns  about  eighteen 
acres  of  tine  land  in  Teterson,  where  he  re- 
sides, and  his  comfortable  and  commodious 
residence,  which  was  erected  in  the  summer 
of  1886,  at  a  cost  of  §1,200.  i\[r.  Steele  is 
a  member  of  the  Odd  l''ellows  order,  belong- 
ing to  St.  ilary's  Lodge,  >.'o.  1G7,  I.  O.  (J.  R, 
at  Decatur. 


fOSP:Pn  PAllENT,  a  farmer  of  Wash- 
ington Township,  was  born  in  the 
<i  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  October 
11,  1811,  son  of  Paul  and  Angeline  Parent, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  Lower  Canada, 
and  of  French  ancestry.  They  had  seven 
children.  si.\  of  whom  are  living — .Joseph, 
Cillert,  Matilda,  JMilitime,  Paul  and  J\Iary 
L.  The  mother  died  August  9,  1859,  and 
the  father  November  5,  18S0.  lie  was  reared 
on  a  farm  in  his  native  country,  and  educated 
in  the  early  schools  of  his  time.  June  22, 
1870,  he  was  married  to  Pha^be  A.  Troutner, 
born  in  Allen  County,  Indiana,  January  4-, 
1854,  daughter  of  John  and  Frances  Trout- 
ner, the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  latter  of  Ohio.  The  father  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  a  pioneer  of  Allen 
County,  this  State,  lie  used  to  carry  the 
mail  over  the  Government  trails  between  De- 
fiance, Ohio,  and  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  lie 
died  March  14,  1870,  in  his  seventy-ninth 
year.     To    Mr.  and    Mrs.  Parent  have  been 


born  seven  children— Joseph  A.,  born  De- 
cember 21,  1871;  William  II.,  born  October 
lit,  1S73;  Priscilla,  born  March  30,  1870; 
Mary  A.,  born  .\ugust  2('),  1878;  Eddie  E., 
born  July  20,  1882;  A'ivena  M.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1885,  and  Francis  T.,  born  March 
30,  1887.  J\lr.  Parent  came  to  this  county 
in  1.S70,  and  in  1873  was  naturalized.  He 
owns  a  good  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and  is  a 
successful  farmer.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church,  and  in  ])olitics  a  Democrat. 


OIIN  HENRY  LANKENAU,  a  school 
teacher  in  District  No.  1,  Preble  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
September  19,  1842,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1844  came  to  America  with  his  parent.s,  who 
came  via  New  Orleans,  and  landed  in  Fort 
Wayne,  Indiana,  in  August  of  that  year. 
Our  subject  was  reared  there  until  he  was 
nineteen  years  of  age,  then  enlisted  as  a 
soldier  in  the  army,  becoming  a  member  of 
Company  D,  Fifth  Indiana  Cavalry.  He 
tirst  served  in  Kentucky  under  General  Judah, 
and  their  tirst  hard  work  was  in  the  Morgan 
raid,  lie  was  captured  during  the  Stone- 
man  raid  through  Georgia  August  30,  1804, 
and  taken  to  Anderson ville,  where  heremained 
until  he  was  removed  to  Millen,  Georgia. 
Thence  he,  with  others,  was  removed  to 
Florence,  South  Carolina,  thence  to  Wil- 
mington, North  Carolina,  where  he  was 
turned  over  to  our  forces.  He  was  then  sent 
to  Camp  Chase,  and  discharged  at  Columbus, 
Ohio.  He  then  returned  to  Fort  Wayne, 
where  he  remained  until  1875,  a  part  of  the 
time  employed  as  a  type-setter  in  a  newspaper 
otKce.  In  1875  he  went  to  Van  Wert  County, 
Ohio,  and  taught  school  for  several  terms, 
then  came  to  his  present  poaition  as  teacher 
in  the  common  and  church  school  of  the  St. 


ii 


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4 


•«"UI""«'" 


niOORAPHICAJ.    SKETCHES. 


Jolm's  German  Liitlieraii  Clnircli.  lie  was 
married  July  IS,  ISIIT,  to  Mit.s  ('atlierine 
Sliiimin,  wliii  was  Imi-n  in  \'an  Wert  ('miiity, 
Oliiu,  .Inly  ;il,  1S44.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lanku- 
iiau  liave  ten  childreir— Fi-ank,  Ada,  Clara, 
Louisa,  I''lora,  AuL:ust,  Ailolnh  and  Oscar 
(twins).  Alma  ami  ]']nnii.  Mr.  Lankcnau's 
parents  were  l'"i-aijk  and  ( 'atlierine  (  Meislalin) 
Laid<enau,  who  were  natives  of  (ierniany. 
The  father  was  born  in  lIano\ei'  January  5, 
1818,  and  came  to  Anieiiea  in  IMl.  He 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  lie  died  August 
15,  1880,  and  is  buried  at  Fort  Wayne.  His 
mother  was  born  in  llanovei'  October  30, 
1821,  and  is  living  in  Fort  AVayne  with  lier 
youngest  unmarried  son. 


fOIIN  FLETCHER  SNOW,  superinten- 
dent of  the  public  scliools  of  Adams 
"IK.  County,  and  an  active  and  pul)lic-spir- 
ited  citizen  of  Decatur,  was  born  in  Portland, 
Jay  County,  Indiana,  the  date  of  his  birth 
being  June  17,  1854.  In  the  springof  I860 
he  was  brought  to  Adams  County  by  his 
parents,  they  settling  on  a  farm  in  Wabash 
Township,  on  which  the  village  of  ( 'eylon  was 
subsequently  platted.  Weve  he  was  reared, 
receiving  his  elementary  education  in  the 
district  schools,  later  attending  the  Tlidge- 
ville  College  in  Randolph  County,  Indiana. 
On  attaining  his  maj\)rity  he  began  teaching 
school,  and  followed  the  teacher's  profession 
in  Adams  ('ountv,  Luliana,  for  eight  years. 
August  25,  1881,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  ifiss  Sadie  Alice  Iloskinson,  who  was 
born  near  >,'ewark,  in  Licking  County,  Ohio, 
a  daughter  of  Andrew  J.  and  INIary  (Foster) 
Iloskinson,  the  father  of  Irish,  and  the  mother 
of  English  ancestry.  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Snow 
are  the  ])arents  of  one  son,  named  Edwin 
Earl.      In  June,  1883,  Mr.  Snow  was  elected 


by  the  township  trustees  of  A<lams  County, 
suiierintendent  of  the  public  scliools,  being 
ri!-elected  to  the  same  ollice  in  1^85  tor  a 
term  of  two  yeai-s,  and  is  .serving  with  credit 
to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents. 
Politically  he  atliliates  with  the  l)einocratic 
]iarty.  His  fatlier,  Harton  1!.  Snow,  was  a 
native  of  Westmoreland  (^ninty,  i'l'iinsyl- 
vania,  and  of  Ijigli^h  parentage.  A\'iien  a 
young  man  he  went  to  ()liio,  and  in  1837 
removed  to  Jay  County,  Indiana,  where  he 
began  to  educate  himself,  woi-king  to  obtain 
the  means  to  defray  his  expenses.  In  18-43 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office 
of  Dr.  ^lilligan,  of  Portland,  Indiana,  and 
in  1854  graduated  from  the  Louisville  !Meili- 
cal  College  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  after 
taking  a  tlRirougli  course  of  lectures.  In 
1852  he  was  married  to  Rebecca  Ilanjiah 
McDonalil,  who  was  liorn  in  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  and  was  of  Scotch-Irish  ances- 
try. She  came  to  Adams  County  with  her 
parents,  they  settling  in  Decatur,  lier  father 
afterward  being  elected  to  the  office  of  county 
sheriff.  She  died  on  the  homestead  in  AVa- 
bash  Township  in  1873,  she  having  been  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episciipal  church 
the  greater  part  of  her  life.  Of  the  nine 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barton  Snow, 
only  five  are  living — Solan  McD.,  principal 
of  the  schools  at  Ceylon;  Ella,  teaching  in 
the  school  at  Geneva;  Addie  and  Loretta, 
teaching  in  other  districts  of  Adams  County, 
and  John  Fletcher,  whose  name  lieads  this 
eketch.  After  his  graduation  Dr.  Snow  prac- 
ticed medicine  at  New  Corydon,  Indiana,  for 
several  years,  when  he  returned  to  Portland 
and  succeeded  his  preceptor,  practicing  there 
until  1860.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Wabash 
Townsliip.  Adams  County,  Indiana,  and 
platted  the  village  of  Ceylon,  where  he  prac- 
ticed ten  years,  when  he  abandoned  his  pro- 
fession.     He  then  engaged   in    farming  and 


B«»^«igTMM»K"M«.a»»»»it.«'.^>*««'W'»«i^ie!gji'?«'qa:*<».'Km^M^a^^'^! 


r*H^i.''^'«H^^i:i'«u"^.«n«ii"<K'''ii*r.»L;'»i"««^Li^'ti'*k"«";«i^^ 


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UltiTUUY    OF    AIJMIS    COUNT  1' 


ii 


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dealing  in  luinl)er  on  an  extensive  seale, 
whicli  he  tblloweil  till  iiis  tleath,  December 
3,  1S75.  In  ISCii;  he  was  tlie  Democratic 
nominee  tor  ('(ini^ressman  in  the  l''levcntli 
Coni^ressiunal  District,  Imt  was  deteated,  the 
district  being  strongly  Jiepublican.  He  was 
ii  man  widely  known  throughout  this  section 
of  the  county,  and  few  local  men  possessed 
llie  contidence  ami  respect  of  the  public  to  a 
greater  extent  than  he. 


,^()IIX  W.  KLEY,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
"Si'      Monroe  Township,    residinjj   on    section 

Oil,  1  '  o 

^^  27,  was  born  in  Knox  County,  Ohio,  of 
(Tcrnian  descent,  the  date  of  his  birth  being 
October  17,  ISS'J.  "Wiien  four  yearo  old  he 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Adams  County, 
and  here  he  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  sucli 
educational  ad  vantages  as  the  common  schools 
of  that  day  atibrded.  lie  was  reared  a  farmer, 
and  has  fallowed  that  avocation  through  life. 
He  settled  on  hin  present  farm  in  Monroe 
Township  in  1S71,  where  lie  has  109  acres 
of  valuable  land,  with  good  improvements. 
February  24,  1871,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  ifary  Ellen  Mattax,  who  was  born  in 
^lonroe  Township,  Adams  County,  January 
■4,  1813,  a  daughter  of  Lewis  JIattax,  wlio 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Adams  County. 
The}'  are  the  parents  of  two  children — Lewis 
:\I.,  born  January  7,  1872,  and  William  W., 
born  January  12,  1874.  Ijoth  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Eley  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  church. 
Samuel  Eley,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Adams  County,  coming 
here  in  the  year  1843,  when  he  settled  on 
section  23,  ^[onroe  Township.  He  live<l  on 
this  laud  several  years,  when  he  returned  to 
Ohio,  returning  a  short  time  later  to  Adams 
County,     locating    at    Decatur.      He    subse- 


(piently  lived  in  Line  Creek  Township,  re- 
maining in  the  county  until  1877,  when  he 
went  to  AVliitle}'  County,  and  died  in  that 
ctjunty  Xovember  3,  18Stj.  He  was  a  native 
of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  (ireene 
County  in  1818.  He  was  four  times  mar- 
ried, and  by  iiis  first  wife,  Susannah  Stopher, 
had  four  chihlren,  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, lly  his  second  wife  lie  had  two  ciiil- 
dren.  Three  children  were  born  to  his  third 
niarriacre,  and  by  his  last  marriage  he  liad  no 
children.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  his 
day  in  township  and  county  affairs,  and  for 
several  years  served  as  township  trustee,  and 
for  four  years  served  as  county  assessor.  In 
politics  he  is  a  staunch  Democi'at.  He  was 
a  worthy  inembei' of  the  ilethodist  Ejiiscopal 
church. 


JTaAWSOX  LIXHARD,  farmer.  Root 
1  r/f  Township,  was  born  in  Tuscarawas 
'^  County,  Ohio,  March  18, 1820.  He  came 
to  this  county  with  his  jjarents  and  nine 
other  children  in  the  fall  of  183'J.  The  fam- 
ily settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  Jay  Rugg,  which  was  then  in  its 
wild  state.  There  were  no  imjirovements  on 
the  place,  and  the  family  camped  out  two 
weeks  beside  a  large  oak  log  while  a  cabin 
was  being  built.  It  was  made  of  round  logs 
and  scotched  down  on  the  inside,  a  puncheon 
floor,  clai)board  roof  and  a  mud  fire-place. 
They  lived  in  this  house  a  few  years,  when 
the  father  built  the  liouse  that  is  now  stand- 
ing on  the  place.  After  occupying  it  several 
years,  the  father  sold,  and  bought  the  farm 
now  owned  by  widow  Dailey,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years  and  two  months. 
lie  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, February  24,  1797,  and  died  May 
18,  1877.     A  portion  of  his  youth  was  jtassed 


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,^ai.  j^»  Jj^ta  Si-'fjl 


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"«^?'ia»«»»j^i«  ■  «iC"  iiMii»5ii  • 


BIUOHAI'IIICA  I.    .•iKKTClIK.S. 


ill  his  native  county,  ami  a  jimtion  in  Tiirt- 
carawas  Oounty,  Oliin,  wlieic  lie  was  nian-ied 
and  where  nine  children  were  liDrn  to  tlieni. 
One  cliild  was  lioru  in  Adams  ('oiinty.  Our 
subject  was  the  ol(k'st  child,  and  all  are  liv- 
injj  except  John.  The  other  children  arc  — 
Sarah,  Peter,  Catherine,  Mary  and  Elizabeth 
(twins),  Joseph,  Ann  and  \V'illiain.  The 
mother  was  born  in  Maryland  Sejiteinbcr  22 
1801,  and  died  .May  2t),  1n73,  ai^^ed  seventy- 
two  years.  Iiotli  parents  are  buried  in  Alj)lia 
cemetery.  J^awson  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  father's  district,  and  his 
occupation  Inis  always  been  tanning,  lie  re- 
mained at  home  until  he  was  twenty-four  years 
of  age;  then  commenced  to  work  for  himself, 
working  by  the  day,  month  or  job,  just  as  he 
could  hiid  the  work  to  do.  until  lie  was  mar- 
ried. His  wife,  wlioinhe  married  ^lay  3, 1847, 
was  Miss  Lois  Erown,  who  was  born  in  JTedina 
Countv,  Ohio,  ]\[arch  10, 1S30,  and  when  she 
was  tive  years  old  her  mother  brought  her 
to  this  County,  llcr  father  died  in  Medina 
County,  and  her  mother  is  still  living  in 
liOOt  Township  with  ]\Irs.  JJnhard.  Jler 
father,  Josi.ih  ]]rown,  was  born  in  liroome 
County,  New  York,  and  was  aged  about  tifty- 
two  years  ■  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Tlie 
mother,  Sarah  (AVarner)  Brown,  was  born  in 
Greene  County,  Xew  York,  May  9,  1811, 
where  she  was  reared  and  married.  Soon  af- 
ter her  marriage,  she  and  her  husband  emi- 
grated to  .Medina  County,  Ohio,  and  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  that  county.  ]\[r. 
Brown  opened  a  farm  there.  ]\[rs.  Linhard's 
paternal  grandparents  were  Josiah  and  ^Vbi- 
gail  (Porter)  Brown.  Her  maternal  grand- 
father, Abijah  Warner,  was  born  in 
Connecticut,  and  died  in  Koot  Township,  this 
county,  ilr.  Linhard's  parents  were  John 
and  Ilebecca  (^Burl)  Linhard.  Mr.  and  ilrs. 
Linhard  have  seven  children — John  H., 
Samantha  A.,  Mary    E.,   Sanford  P.,  Lawson 


C,   Marcus   IS',    and    Artie  E.      ]\rr.  Linhard 
votes   the  Pepublican  ticket. 


TSAAC  JJ.  BOOHER,  a  progressive  farmer, 
J  living  on  section  10,  Jell'erson  Township, 
~  .Vdanis  ('i)iintv,  was  b(ini  in  Dayton, 
Moiitgiiniery  County,  ( »hio.  ( )ctober  23, 18-41, 
a  Son  of  Daniel  and  Anna  (Clark)  Boolier, 
who  were  also  natives  of  Montgomery  County, 
and  of  Ereiich  descent.  The  father  was  a 
fanner  by  occupation.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, his  iii'st  wife  dying  October  26,  1841, 
leaving  three  children.  J''or  his  second  wife 
he  married  Catherine  Sears,  and  to  this  union 
four  children  were  born,  two  sons  and  two 
daucrhters.  Isaac  D.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  on 
his  father's  farm,  I'eceiving  a  common-school 
education.  He  was  married  in  Ohio  to  Aliss 
Catherine  Heinz,  a  native  of  liavaria,  (Ter- 
many,  born  February  4,  1841.  She  came 
with  her  parents  to  America  when  nine  years 
olil,  they  settling  in  Montgomery  County, 
Ohio,  where  she  lived  till  after  her  marriage. 
Eight  children  have  been  born  to  ^[r.  and 
ilrs.  Boolier — Anna  M.  (deceased),  Jacob  D., 
"William  E.,  Alvina  (X,  Emma  E.,  Ida  C, 
Sarah  A.  and  Charles  (deceased).  Mr.  Boolier 
followed  farming  in  Montgomery  County 
until  the  fall  of  1874,  wlien  he  bought  his 
present  farm  in  Jefferson  Township,  to  which 
he  then  removed  with  his  family,  his  farm 
containing  120  acres  of  well-improved  and 
well-cultivated  land.  In  polities  Mr.  Boolier 
is  a  Democrat,  and  since  coming  to  Jefierson 
Township  has  held  the  office  of  justice  of  tlie 
peace.  Mrs.  Booher  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  Their  son,  Jacob  D.,  was 
born  in  Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  August 
20,  1869,  but  was  reared  from  boyhood  in 
Adams  County,  where  he  received  his  educa- 


Mieisi.**a'*a!5!»?ja!?'ii?'i»!** 


ia'^vi^Va^t 


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i,.M-.'»^.7i»«'«J  •.«"«•  . 


i*riiaii«^y»iiL^«„*i.-u, 


■«-'•■■  ii»^ii"ir»'ii". 


:i:!4 


llISTOItY    (IF    ADAMS    CUL'NTY. 


tiuii  in  tlic  coinmoii  scliduls.  Miiy  1,  1886, 
lie  received  a  (lijilcnna  tVoiti  County  ynpcrin- 
tenilent  Simw.  lie  lias  already  taui^lit  a  suli- 
Serijition  >elMiol  in  liis  district,  luit  is  not  yet 
old  enouijh  to  teach,  accordiiii^  to  tlie  laws  of 
the  State. 


fOIIX  J.  WATSON,  of  the  firm  of  Wat- 
son A:  Mac  Whinney,  dealers  in  general 
'  ^,  inerclumdise,  and  shippers  of  railroad 
ties,  staves,  etc.,  was  born  in  llamilton, 
Canada,  February  3,  184:4,  son  of  Richard  K. 
and  ^[ary  A.  (McCarty)  Watson,  the  foriner  a 
native  of  England  and  the  latter  of  Ireland. 
They  came  with  their  parents  to  Canada 
when  yiMing,  where  they  were  married.  The 
father  was  an  architect  anil  carpenter,  and 
while  at  work  on  the  cornice  of  a  church 
building  in  London,  Canada,  he  sustained 
injuries  from  the  effects  of  which  lie  died  one 
year  later.  The  family  remained  there  until 
John  J.  was  twelve  years  old,  when  the  mother 
came  with  her  family  to  St.  ^Mary's,  Auglaize 
County,  Ohio,  where  they  remained  four 
years,  thence  to  AVapakoneta,  in  the  same 
county.  Our  subject  enlisted  September  26, 
18(51,  in  Company  C,  Fifty-seventh  Ohio 
Infantry,  and  served  until  October  28,  18(J4-. 
After  his  discharge  he  was  employed  in  the 
Quartermaster's  department  at  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  remaining  until  about  the  1st  of 
Feliruary,  1865.  lie  raised  a  company  in 
Auglaize  County,  then  returned  to  Columbus 
and  assigned  his  men  to  the  One  Hundred 
and  Eighty-fit'tli  Ohio  Infantry,  and  re-en- 
listed as  Sergeant,  serving  until  October  28, 
1865.  lie  was  discharged  by  general  order, 
it  being  the  close  of  the  war.  IMr.  A\''atson 
returned  to  his  home  in  Ohio  and  learned  the 
cooper's  trade,  which  he  followed  until  1871, 
then    came    to    Ceylon,    Wabash    Township, 


l)iiilt  a  shop  and  eni;aged  in  coopering.  In 
IS?''  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business. 
His  first  st(iid<  of  goods  amounted  to  s205, 
opening  ujt  in  bis  cnojirr  simp.  1 1  is  bn^illess 
increasi'd  so  rapidly  that  he  was  soon  com- 
]jelled  to  rent  a  larger  business  room,  and 
afterward  bought  the  building.  One  year 
later  he  purchased  a  still  larger  building,  the 
first  one  purchased  being  insufficient  to  con- 
tain goods  to  supply  his  customers.  He 
remained  in  the  last  building  until  18S2,  when 
he  sold  out  his  stock  and  buildings,  and  went 
to  Celina,  fiercer  County,  Ohio,  aiul  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  trade  there.  He  lived 
there  one  year,  then  went  to  Spencerville, 
same  State,  I'emaining  but  a  short  time,  then 
returned  to  Adams  County  in  June,  1885;  and 
established  his  present  business  in  (ieneva. 
He  isa  member  of  John  P.  Porter  Post,  \o.85, 
(t.  a.  R.  He  was  married  ilaicli  22,  1871, 
to  Ella  (t.  Jackson,  born  September  7,  1852, 
at  ilount  Vernon,  Ohio.  Her  father  has 
been  a  prominent  attorney  of  Auglaize 
County,  Ohio,  for  thirty  years;  he  still  resides 
there.  Mr.  and  ^frs.  AVatson  have  four  chil- 
dren— Eltie  K.,  Susie  A.,  Charles  P.  and 
Gracie  1^. 


m 


USTIN  C.  .MANN,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Lorain  ('ounty,  Ohio,  in  1821,  a  son 
of  Enos  and  Sarah  Mann,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Alassachusetts.  They  settled 
in  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in  1836,  where 
our  subject  grew  to  manhood.  He  was  mar- 
ried August  22,  1816,  to  a  Mrs.  Reynolds, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  Vacliel  H.  and  Sarah 
(Henry)  I'all,  pioneers  of  Adams  County,  who 
came  from  Virginia,  and  were  of  English 
ancestry.  ^Irs.  iLann  was  born  in  I)ela\vare 
County,  Ohio,  April  U,  1818,  and  was  brought 
by  her  parents  to  Adams  County  when   tliir- 


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teen  ycnrs  of  ajjje.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
slie  was  mairitMl  to  John  lioyiiolds,  wlio  died 
on  tlioir  farm  in  lioot  Townsiii]!  in  1843,  and 
by  him  bhe  liad  foiu-  sons  and  two  daughters, 
all  of  whom  yet  .survive,  and  are  living  in 
Neliraska  and  Indiana.  Eight  children  liave 
been  burn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  j\[ann  —  Mrs. 
Eliza  Knoff,  of  AV<M,d  County,  Ohio;  Mrs. 
Mary  Woodward,  of  LoL,'ans])ort,  Indiana;  I 
Vachel  l'\,  of  I)ecatur;  Mrs.  ("ornelia  Elzey,  I 
of  Deeatiir;  .losejjh  Iv.,  of  Uecatur;  Justin 
E.,  of  ^[eade  (Jenter,  Kansas:  Ida  ilay,  and 
Jesse  E..  a  physician  of  Decatur.  After  his 
marriage  -Mr.  Mann  settled  on  a  farm  that  is 
now  within  the  corporate  limits  of  Decatur. 
In  1858  he  removed  to  a  farm  in  AVashington 
Township,  adjoining  Decatur,  wlicre  he  died 
in  the  spring  of  1884.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  ^Fethodist  Episcofial  church  for  many 
years,  and  one  of  the  old  and  respected  citi- 
zens of  the  county.  Mrs.  ]\Iann,  who  still 
snr\ivcs  him,  is  a  resident  of  Decatui'.  She 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


fX  EAVIS  EDWARDS,  one  of  the  self-made 
-'ff  men  of  Adams  County,  enga^'ed  in  tarni- 
"^^  ingon  section  15, 1'due  Creek  Township, 
is  a  native  of  Fayette  County,  Pennsylvania, 
born  April  2,  1815,  a  sou  of  Isaac  and  Eliza- 
beth (Traer)  Edwards,  natives  of  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  the  father  of  Welsh  and  the 
mother  of  English  descent.  <  )ur  subject's 
educational  ailvautages  were  limited  to  the 
rude  log  cabin  subscription  schools  of  that 
early  day.  lie  was  reared  to  the  avocation 
of  a  farmer,  which  he  has  made  the  principal 
avocation  of  his  life.  He  was  engaged  in 
making  funning  mills  for  three  years.  In 
1822  he  was  brought  to  Jefferson  County, 
Ohio,  by  his   mother,  remaining  tliere  two 


and  a  half  years.  The  family  then  removed 
to  Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  and  there  our 
subject  grew  to  nnmhood,  I'emaining  on  the 
same  farm  in  that  county  foi-  forty  years. 
lie  was  married  in  Guernsey  County  in  1888, 
to  Elizabeth  "Wilson,  who  was  burn  in  that 
county  Eel)ruary  27,  18 19,  a  ihuigbter  of 
Jesse  and  llachel  (Ifeed)  ^Vilson,  who  wei-e  of 
Irish  and  Welsh  descent.  To  this  union 
were  born  the  following  children — liacliel  E., 
born  in  1839,  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Hastings; 
ilartha,  born  in  May,  1842,  died  September 
25,  1872;  Elizabeth  M.,  born  April  4,  1845, 
died  January  17,  1886;  Hannali  H.,  wife  of 
"William  Nutt,  was  born  in  1847;  "William, 
born  in  1850;  Mary  C.,  born  in  1853,  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  J\Ierrinian;  Samantha,  wife  of 
IMartin  Suhm,  was  liorn  in  1856;  Lewis  K., 
born  October  15,  1858,  and  Horace  G.,  born 
in  1863.  In  1865  Mr.  Edwards  came  with 
his  family  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  and 
has  since  been  a  resident  of  the  county.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for 
a  period  of  nineteen  years,  and  has  also  served 
as  township  trustee  and  school  director.  In 
politics  he  is  Republican  and  Independent,  vot- 
ing for  the  man  whom  he  considers  best  fitted 
for  office.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  church,  and  his  mother 
in  her  relitrious  faith  was  a  (Quaker. 


fESSE  ELSWORTIl  MANN,  M.  D.,  oc- 
ulist and  aurist,  was  born  in  Decatur, 
,^  Adams  County,  Indiana,  August  18, 
1863,  a  son  of  the  late  Justin  C.  Mann.  He 
was  reared  and  educated  at  Decatur,  attend- 
ing the  schools  of  his  native  city  until  1879. 
In  that  year  he  was  obliged  to  leave  school 
on  account  of  failing  health,  when  he  took 
charge  of  his  father's  farm  near  Decatur,  re- 
maining   there    two    years.     In    the    fall    of 


ro^....^^„>t. 


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llISTOUr    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


'«l~Ei"M» 


18S1  he  begun  the  study  of  iiiediciiie  uiuler 
tlie  preceptorflup  uf  S.  (i.  lliistiiii;!;,  A.  ^M., 
uM.  J).,  at  Doeiitiir.  In  18S2  lie  took  u  6j)ecial 
couitie  of  lectures  on  iinatoiny  at  the  medical 
college  at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  and  in  the 
fall  t>f  the  same  year  he  entei'ed  Hahnemann 
]\Iedical  College,  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  from 
which  institution  he  graduated  with  the  de- 
gree of  M.  I).,  February  22,  1884,  after 
taking  two  full  and  one  exti'a  course  of  lec- 
tures. Immediately  after  his  graduation  he 
began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Decatur, 
being  associated  with  Dr.  J'h.  D.  Paul,  of 
Chicago,  and  makes  professional  visits  to 
various  places  in  Indiana.  Dr.  Mann  was 
united  in  marriage,  at  Chicago,  April  28, 
188"),  to  Miss  Xettie  J.  Ilolden,  of  Topeka, 
Kansas,  a  daughter  of  Edwin  C.  and  Mary 
L.  (Iiichardson)  Ilolden.  Mrs.  Mann  was 
born  in  Butlalo,  New  York,  but  was  reared 
principally  in  Minnesota  and  Iowa,  living 
longer  at  Sioux  City,  Iowa.  She  graduated 
from  tlie  high  scjiool  of  Topeka,  Kansas,  in 
the  class  of  1882,  and  subsequently  took  a 
course  in  medicine  at  the  Hahnemann  Medi- 
cal College,  and  graduated  as  M.  D.  in  the 
class  of  1885. 


E0K(;K  a.  I'.UNNEK  is  a  native  of 
'.  Pennsylvania,  born  near  Uniontown, 
:^t  Fayette  (Jounty,  October  16,  1841,  a 
son  of  Enoch  and  Eliza  (Archbold)  Eunner. 
Ilis  great-grandparents,  John  and  Margaret 
Bunner,  came  to  the  United  States,  the  for- 
mer from  Germany  and  the  latter  from  Ire- 
land, and  settled  in  ilonongalia  County, 
Virginia.  His  grandparents  were  John  and 
Sarah  (Carl)  Banner,  natives  of  Virginia, 
the  latter  of  Irish  descent.  Their  son,  the 
father  of  o\ir  subject,  was  born  in  Virginia 
March  28, 1806,  and  December  6, 1836,  mar- 


ried l']liza  Jane  Archbold.     Their  family  con- 
sisted   of   seven    children — Eugenius,    born 
ISeptember   30,   1.S37;  James  AVilliam,  born 
November  28, 1S3;»,  died  I  )ecember  22, 1840; 
George   iVlexander,  born    October   16,   1S41; 
Sarah  Frances,   born  April  'J,  1844,   now   the 
wife   of  J.    I>.   Needham,  of  Lamar,   Barber 
County,    ^[issouri;     Mary     Catherine,    V>orn 
March   31,1847,  marrie.l    AV.  H.    lieal,   and 
died  March  22,  1882;  John    Kandolph,   born 
April    2,    1850,    died    November   23,   1854; 
Enoch  Edgar,  born   I'ebruary  23,  1854,  died 
September  19,  18(50.     "When  George  I'unner 
was  three  years  of  age  his  parents   moved   to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  and    settled   in   St. 
Mary's  Township,  on  a  tract  of   school  land. 
They  built  a  frame  house,  wliich  at  that  time 
was   the  best   in    the    neighborhood,  and   by 
hard  work  acre  by  acre  was  cleared  until  tlie 
entire     farm    was     under    good    cultivation. 
George    Bunner    remained    with    his    father 
until  his  marriage,  when  he  settled  on  a  farm 
of  thirty-three   acres  which   he  had    bought 
with  money  earned  in  the   school-room.      He 
lived  on    this  farm  four  years  and   then  sold 
it  and  bought  one  of  his  father-in-law,  where 
he  lived  six  years.     This  farm  he  improved, 
and  after  selling  it  bought  the   homestead  of 
his  father,  which  he  sold  four  years  later  to 
the  Chicago  &  Atlantic  Railroad   Company 
for  !i^4,518,  and  bought  a  fine  farm  of  eighty 
acres  joining  the  town  of  Rivai'e.      His  resi- 
dence is  a  neat  and  commodious  brick  building 
and  his  other  improvements  are  comfortable 
and  convenient.      He  also  owns  a  house  and 
lot  in  the  village  of  Pivare.     At  present  he 
is  conducting  a  grocery  and   provision   busi- 
ness in  Rivare,  and  is  also  postmaster.     His 
father,  who   now  lives  with  him,  has  been  an 
active  citizen  of  the  county.      He  served  two 
terms  as  township  trustee,  and  has  been  cir- 
cuit judge  of  the  county.      He  has  lived  an 
honest,  upright  life,  and  has  since  his  youth 


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l)eeii  a  meiiilier  ot"  tlie  ]\retliodist  Kpiseo])al 
clnircli,  in  wliioli  liu  has  lor  twenty  years  lieeii 
a  trustee.  Jlr.  JJiimier  was  married  A])ril  21, 
ISOS,  to  l*li<i'he  Wade,  a  native  of  St.  Mary's 
Towiisliip,  liorn  ^lareli  (J,  1848,  a  daughter 
of  Geoi-ge  and  llannah  illaid';)  AVade.  Her 
fatlier  was  horn  Deceniher  'J,  1819,  and  died 
Se]itenilier  10,  1^7ii.  Her  jiaternal  grand- 
parents, ^\'illiani  and  Mancy  Wade,  were  of 
AVelcli  and  Englisli  ancestry,  and  her  mater- 
nal grandpai-ents,  John  and  Ilehecca  (Apple) 
Hank,  were  Germans.  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  George 
IJuiiner  have  lour  children — Enoch  Alexan- 
der, liorn  Novemher  14,  18G9;  AVilliam 
Henry,  born  January  31,  1872;  Lucy  Bealle, 
born  September  21,  1877,  and  Harry  Sclirock, 
born  J[ay  2,  1880.  In  politics,  like  his 
father,  Mr.  Jjunner  is  a  Democrat,  and  he 
and  bis  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 


OIIN  ('HKISTE\,Sr.,  farmer, ownsforty 
acres  of  land  on  section  10,  and  eighty 
c  acres  on  section  15,  Koot  Township, 
making  a  total  of  120  acres.  He  was  born  in 
Canton  J'erne,  Switzerland,  August  9,  1812. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  but  later  in  life  car- 
ried on  a  bakery.  He  was  married  July  17, 
1835,  to  iliss  Elizabeth  Schaad,  who  was  born 
January  17,  1814,  in  ("anton  Heme.  The 
family  came  to  Ainei-ica  in  1850,  landing 
in  New  York,  coming  thence  to  Adams 
County,  and  settling  on  the  farm  they  now 
occupy  and  own.  The  land  was  partly  im- 
))roved.  A  log  cabin  and  a  log  stable  had 
been  built,  and  about  fifteen  acres  had  been 
cleared.  The  family  lived  in  that  one  room 
for  nine  years,  when  the  father  built  an  ad- 
dition of  logs,  giving  them  two  rooms  on  the 
ground  floor,  besides  an  upper  room,  it  being 
a  one  and  a  half  story  house.     The  logs  were 


hewed,  both  for  the  addition  and  the  original 
liou>c.  'J'be  prcj^ent  line  brici^  ho\lse  was 
built  in  1875,  an(J  it  is  as  goo<l  a  bouse  as 
there  is  in  the  townsiiip.  His  nice  frame 
barn  was  built  about  18(39.  ^^r.  Christen's 
parents  were  John  and  lilizabeth  (Segerzerj 
Christen,  who  were  born  in  Switzerland,  and 
])assed  their  lives  there.  Mrs.  Christen's 
parents,  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Christen) 
Schaad,  were  both  born  in  Switzerland,  and 
died  in  the  canton  of  Berne.  Mr.  and  ^Irs. 
Christen  have  had  twelve  children,  eight  of 
whom  are  living — Godfrey,  born  November 
21,  1830;  Eliza,  born  January  5, 1839;  John 
A.,  born  iS'ovember  23,  1840;  Mary  A.,  born 
Jlay  8,  1843;  .Folin,  born  October  5,  1844; 
William,  born  August  2,  1840;  John  K.,  born 
November  7,  1849;  Anna  C,  l)orn  April  20, 
1855.  All  exce]it  the  la-t  named  were  born  in 
Switzerland.  The  deceased  are — John,  born 
xsovember  10, 1835,  and  died  at  the  age  of  nine 
weeks;  Mary  A.,  born  March  22, 1842,  died  at 
about  the  age  of  two  months;  lloijcrt,  born  in 
ilarcli,  1848,  died  at  the  age  of  six  weeks; 
Edward,  born  in  1852,  died  at  about  the  age 
of  five  months;  Emily,  born  October  7,  1837, 
died  when  one  year  old.  Mr.  Christen  had 
two  sons  in  the  army,  Godfrey  and  Albright. 
Godfrey  served  in  the  Eorty-seventh  Infantry, 
and  .\lbright  in  the  Eighty-ninth.  The  for- 
mer was  promoted  to  C-aptain  while  in  the 
service.  Mr.  Cliristcn  has  served  as  town- 
ship trustee  for  ten  years.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  and  belongs  to  the  (-lerman  Ue- 
fornied  cliurcli. 


fOHN  E.  CULLY,  founder  of  the  Geneva" 
Herald,  and  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
-,<,  A.  Cully  &  Son,  was  born  in  Mercer 
County,  Ohio,  October  30, 1807,  son  of  Adam 
Cully,  before   mentioned.      He    attemled   the 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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liigh  t-cliool  iit  (u'iiova,also  tlie  I'latitiTii  Iiuliaiia 
Ni)riiial  Sclioul  two  tcniLs.  Ho  liecaiiie  his 
father's  partner  iti  business  in  the  spring  ol" 
18N-1-.  and  is  at  present  teaeliing  seiiuol  in 
])istrict  No.  3,  Hartford  Township,  Adains 
County,  Indiatia. 


tvDAM  CULI.Y,  iHeml)er  of  the  firm  of 
:■  A.  Cully  ifc  Son,  dealers  in  agricultural 
■^.jPS^  iin])!enients,  was  born  in  Crawford 
County,  Ohio,  October  16,  1842,  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Lyons)  Cully,  tlie  former 
a  native  of  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania. 
He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Crawford 
County,  Ohio,  in  aii  early  day.  His  grand- 
father, Thomas  Cully,  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
born  near  Dublin,  and  came  to  America  soon 
after  the  war  of  1812,  settling  in  Lancaster 
County,  Pennsylvania,  wliere  he  lived  until 
ills  death.  They  had  only  one  child — the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  ^fr.  Cully  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  eighteen  years;  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  Adam  Cully  was  reared 
on  his  father's  faiTn,  and  received  a  common 
school  education,  lie  remained  at  liome  un- 
til August,  1802,  when  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
])any  E,  Forty-sixth  Ohio  Infantry,  serving 
until  the  1st  day  of  June,  1865,  when  he  was 
discharged  by  reason  of  expiration  of  term 
of  service,  lie  joined  the  Fifteenth  Army 
Corps  and  served  under  Logan.  lie  was  in  a 
number  of  battles  and  skirmishes,  the  more 
important  being  A'^icksburg,  Jackson,  ^lission 
Ividge,  Atlanta,  Dal  ton,  Snake  Creek  Gap, 
Alton,  Dallas,  New  Hope  Church,  Noonday 
Creek,  Little  and  Big  Kenesaw  JMountains, 
Savannah,  Chattahoocliie,  Ezra  Chapel,  Jones- 
boro,  Lovejoy,  Griswoldsville,  Bentonville, 
and  was  in  Sherman's  marcli  to  the  sea.  He 
was  also  at  the  grand  review  at  Washington. 
He    received  a  gunshot    wound   in    the  left 

KB,aBU-,ieua^Bi^o>i^'i>a^tt.:K_.is^n~ai,.«B|K_-a,-i: 


arm  at  Kenesaw  jMountain,  and  was  ])resent 
at  Chattahoocliie  July  2~,  when  McPherson 
was  killed.  At  Atlanta,  July  ~!8,  they  captured 
the  rebel  colors,  the  Seventieth  and  Forty- 
sixth  Ohio  regiments  being  among  the  front 
ranks.  Before  his  term  of  service  e.\pired 
he  was  promoted  to  Corporal.  On  receiving 
liis  discharge  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
Ohio,  and  was  engaged  in  the  stock  business 
three  years,  then  followed  farming  awhile. 
In  18 —  he  removed  to  Marshall  County,  In- 
diana, and  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade,  and 
in  November,  187i,  he  came  to  Geneva, 
Adams  County,  and  followed  the  same  busi- 
ness until  1879,  when  he  engaged  in  his 
present  business,  with  J.  D.  Hale  as  partner. 
In  1882  he  purchased  )iis  partner's  interest 
and  conducted  it  alone  until  ^larch,  1SS4, 
when  his  son  became  associated  with  him. 
Mr.  Cully  married  Elizabeth  Ilarrod,  a  native 
of  Hardin  County,  Ohio.  Mr.  Cully  has 
been  unfortunate  in  business  on  account  of 
trusting  many  wlio  have  iu>t  paid  him.  He 
tliought  all  others  were  as  honorable  in  deal- 
ing as  himself.  His  advice  to  his  fellow 
merchants  is  to  be  on  the  lookout,  as  they 
had  better  have  their  goods  on  their  shelves 
than  bad  accounts  and  notes.  Mr.  Cull}-  is 
perfectly  honorable,  always  keeping  his  word 
to  the  letter  in  every  business  deal. 


[>iARIv  MILLS  McCONNELL,  deputy 
sheriff  of  Adams  County,  is  a  native 
^fi?^  of  Adams  County,  Indiana,  born  in 
Monroe  Township  April  23.  1846,  eldest  son 
of  Hon.  John  and  Lucinda  (McDermeit) 
]\IcConnell,  who  were  old  settlers  of 
Adams  County,  the  father  coming  here  in 
1840,  and  the  mother  in  1838.  .Mark  M., 
our  subject,  from  his  fourth  year  was  reared 
at  Decatur,  and   was   educated  at  the  schools 


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BIOOUAI'HIGAL    SKKTVIIKS. 


of  Decatur  and  at  the  Veriniiliun  Institute 
at  Ilaysville,  Oliiu.  On  becoming  of  age  lie 
studied  dentistry  atSoutli  IJend,  Indiana,  and 
afterward  practiced  at  Decatur  for  two  years. 
Dentistry  not  agreeing  witli  his  health,  he 
abandoned  it  in  1S70,  after  which  he  was 
employed  as  brakesman  on  the  Pittsburgh, 
Fort  Wayne  it  Chicago  Railroad  until  1871. 
lie  then  followed  farming  in  Adams  and 
Allen  counties  until  1877,  when  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  wagons  and  car- 
riages until  1882.  In  that  year  he  was  made 
deputy  sherirt'  by  Sheriff  ^lichael  McGriff, 
and  also  lield  the  same  position  under  his 
successor,  Perry  A.  Lewton,  who  was  elected 
sheriff  in  1880.  In  politics  ]\Ir.  McC'onnell 
affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  has 
been  twice  married.  He  was  first  married 
to  Miss  Samantha  J.  Grim,  at  Decatur,  Sep- 
tember 6,  18t)8,  who  died  at  Fort  Wayne  in 
1871,  leaving  one  child,  ^Maggie,  who  is  a 
student  at  the  Decatur  High  School.  Mr. 
McConnell  was  married  a  second  time  at  De- 
catur, December  29,  1872,  to  Miss  Rachel 
Elzey,  whose  parents,  Elislia  and  Comfort  A. 
(Wliitehurst)  Elzey,  were  pioneers  of  Adams 
County.  ]\Ir.  ilcConnell  is  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  Kekionga  Eodge,  No.  Ho,  K.  of  P.,  of 
Decatur,  of  which  he  has  passed  all  the 
chairs,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  the  State  of  Indiana.  John  ]\IcConnel!,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Putler 
County,  Ohio,  January  20,  1819,  of  Irish 
parentage.  He  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of 
three  children,  and  his  father  dying  when  he 
was  six  years  old,  the  care  of  his  mother  and 
a  sister  devolved  on  him,  tlie  youngest  sister 
dying  in  infancy.  He  was  early  in  life  in- 
ured to  hard  work,  beginning  at  the  age  of 
ten  years  to  drive  oxen  on  a  brick  yard,  for 
which  he  received  the  small  sum  of  6^  cents 
a  day.  AVhen  seventeen  years  old  he  worked 
at  the  blacksmith's  trade   for    Henry    Dillon 


for  $3  per  month.  Aftei>  coining  to  Adams 
County  he  obtained  a  farm  of  160  acres,  a 
part  of  which  he  entered,  an<l  purchased  the 
remainder.  He  was  married  July  10,  1845, 
to  I^ucinda  !McDermeit,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  is  still  living,  making  her  home 
in  Root  Township,  near  ilonmouth.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children.  In  his  po- 
litical views  the  father  was  a  staunch  Demo- 
crat. He  was  a  |)rominent  and  influential 
man  in  Adams  County,  and  held  many  pub- 
lic oflices.  He  served  three  years  as  county 
commissioner,  and  for  nine  years  was  county 
auditor,  and  was  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  for 
four  years.  In  1872  he  was  elected  to  the 
Indiana  State  Legislature,  and  served  with 
satisfaction  to  his  constituents  during  the 
special  session  of  1872  and  the  regular  ses- 
sion of  1873. 


JOSEPH  T.  JOHNSON,  an  old  settler  of 
^ii  Adams  County,  M'as  born  in  Tuscarawas 
^  County,  Ohio,  August  7,  1834,  a  son  of 
James  and  Eliza  Johnson,  the  former  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  now  deceased,  and  the 
latter  a  native  of  ]Montgomery  County,  Mary- 
land. The  parents  came  to  Adams  County 
in  1837,  settling  on  section  19,  "Washington 
Township,  where  the  father  entered  160  acres 
of  land,  having  paid  the  Government  81  per 
acre.  .  lie  first  built  his  log  cabin,  then  com- 
menced to  clear  his  land.  His  flrst  crop 
was  Ave  acres  of  corn,  and  the  next  year  he 
raised  some  wheat.  Later  he  removed  to 
section  14,  Washington  Township,  which  is 
the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son  J.  T.  John- 
son. He  endured  many  trials  and  hardships, 
and  for  many  years  was  obliged  to  go  to  Fort 
AVayne  to  do  his  marketing.  He  also  had  to 
go  to  that  point  for  his  bread  stuffs.  With 
mature  years  came  prosperity,  and  he  became 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNT i 


widely  known  and  universally  respected.  Tie 
was  a  nieinbur  of  the  ^Ietliodi>t  Episcojial 
chiircii,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  that  church 
in  this  comity.  JJefore  a  clinrcli  building 
was  erected  his  home  was  frequently  used  for 
services.  He  always  took  great  pains  to 
accoininodate  the  itinerant  minister.  His 
demise  occurred  in  October,  1853.  The 
parents  had  five  children,  of  whom  two  are 
living — Joscjih  T.  and  Leonard  AV.  Our 
subject  was  reared  to  manhood  in  this  county, 
and  assisted  his  father  in  clearing  the  farm, 
lie  was  married  May  18,  1858,  to  Miss 
Minerva  lieyiiolds,  born  August  15,  1840,  in 
this  county,  daughter  of  -lohii  and  Rachel 
Ileynolds,  the  former  now  deceased.  Her 
•[larents  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  this 
county,  locating  on  section  2fi,  Root  Town- 
ship, in  September,  1827.  'Sir.  and  !Mrs. 
Johnson  have  had  ten  chiklren — "Willis  M., 
Rachel  E.,  FlorcTice  A.,  Eliza  J.,  Edwin  J., 
Sarah  E.,  Charles  AV.,  Rosa  A.,  Edna  E.  and 
Cora  i[.  Jlr.  Johnson  owns  a  good  farm  of 
100  acres  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 


^:^T;1LLIAM   ERWIN,    farmer    and  ex- 
vA/;\m    teacher, section  21,  Union  Township, 

r^-;/?H  was  born  in  that  township  April  7, 
1858.  lie  has  been  reared  in  this  county  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  ; 
father's  district,  and  the  normal  school  of  , 
Adams  County.  lie  has  also  taught  sixteen 
months  in  the  common  schools  of  his  town- 
ship and  eleven  and  one-half  months  in  the 
district  where  he  now  resides.  His  father, 
David  Erwin,  was  born  in  Trumbull  County, 
Ohio,  August  15,  1817,  and  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Guernsey  and  Clarke  counties. 
Soon  after  his  first  marriage  he  came  to  this 
county   and    entered  forty   acres  of   land  on 


section  9,  from  the  Government.  In  the  fall 
of  1839  he  built  his  round-log  cabin,  lGx20 
feet,  and  one  story  in  height.  Ife  was  first 
married  in  Ohio,  to  Miss  Mary  Mc(,'rnm, 
who  was  born  in  that  State.  She  died  in 
1855,  leaving  one  child — Joseph  T.,  who  died 
July  I'J,  1886,  of  consntnption.  He  left  a 
wife  and  one  daughter,  nineteen  years  of  age. 
ilay  22,  1850,  the  father  married  Mary  E. 
Need,  who  was  born  in  Carroll  County,  Ohio, 
October  4,  1836.  AVJien  a  young  girl  her 
parents  brought  her  to  Union  Township,  this 
county,  where  she  was  married.  She  died 
June  23,  1880.  The  father's  family  was  the 
second  family  in  Union  Township.  He 
served  as  a  teamster  in  the  Seminole  war  in 
Florida,  going  with  a  drove  of  mules.  While 
tliere  he  drove  team  for  several  months  for 
the  army,  although  he  was  not  an  enlisted 
man.  r.oth  father  and  mother  were  members 
of  the  ilethodist  church,  and  died  in  the 
Christian  faith.  The  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, William  Erwin,  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land County,  Pennsylvania,  January  3,  1788, 
and  died  July  13,  1845,  in  Allen  County, 
Indiana.  The  grandmother  Erwin  died 
April  7,  1856,  before  our  subject  was  born, 
and  he  has  no  knowledge  of  her  birth,  but 
she  also  died  in  Allen  County.  His  maternal 
grandfather,  Solomon  Need,  died  in  Union 
Township,  this  county,  and  his  grandmother, 
Catherine  Need,  died  in  Allen  County.  Roth 
are  buried  in  Clark's  Chapel  cemetery. 
William  Erwin,  our  subject,  was  married 
December  23,  1879,  to  Miss  Sylvia  Stahr, 
who  was  born  in  Hancock  County,  Ohio, 
September  5,  1859,  and  when  she  was  a 
child  her  parents  brought  her  to  Adams 
County  and  settled  on  section  21,  whero.  her 
father  has  lived  ever  since  his  arrival.  The 
father,  Frederick  Stahr,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, September  8,  1832,  and  came  to 
America    when    eighteen  years  old,   settling 


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DIOGRAPJIICAL    SKKTCIIKS. 


iii'iir  Akron,  Ohio.  From  tliere  lio  went  to 
Iliiiicock  ('oimty,  aiul  in  18()2  Ciiinu  to  this 
count}'.  Tlie  mother,  Eve  (Swartz)  Stulir, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  iJcceniber  31, 
1835,  and  when  a  child  was  brought  by  her 
parents  to  Hancock  County,  Ohio,  where  she 
was  married.  Tiiere  are  three  children  in 
their  family,  of  wliom  Mrs.  Erwin  is  the 
oldest,  and  tiie  only  one  living.  The  parents 
are  living,  and  their  farm  joins  that  of  our 
subject.  There  were  ten  children  in  the 
family  of  Mr.  Erwin's  father,  eight  of  whom 
are  living,  and  AVilliam  is  the  oldest.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Erwin  have  had  two  children — 
"Williatn  Edwin,  born  February  3,  1882,  and 
Arthur  Frederick,  born  October  1,  1884,  died 
May  IS,  1886.  Mr.  Erwin  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  lioth  are  members  of  the  Evan- 
ffeiical  AssoiMution. 


;:yriDAM  a.  mason, 

;>Yj    was    born    in    Fairti 


rocer  at  Geneva, 
i  i^'As  "'^°  '"-""  '"  i""  field  County,  Ohio, 
April  22,  1839.  His  father,  Joseph 
Mason,  was  a  native  of  ifaryland,  and  the 
mother  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
went  to  Ohio  with  their  parents,  wliere  they 
were  married.  The  father  was  a  tanner  by 
trade,  which  he  followed  in  Ohio  until  18-47, 
wiien  he  removed  with  his  family  to  .lay 
County,  this  State,  settling  on  a  farm  on 
section  34,  J'ear  Creek  Township.  Jle  re- 
mained there  about  nine  years.  His  wife, 
formerly  Sarah  Jvonkie,  died  in  Wabash 
Township,  Adams  County,  in  February,  185'J. 
The  father  afterward  re-inarried  and  went  to 
Ohio,  where  he  died  in  the  S])ring  of  1867. 
They  had  fourteen  children,  Adam  being  tlie 
fifth  child.  He  remained  at  home  until 
after  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  and  August  8,  1861,  enlisted  in 
Company  C,  Thirty-ninth   Indiana   Infantry, 


and  veteranized  into  the  iMghth  Cavalry  in 
iMarch,  1863.  He  i)artici|)ated  in  all  the 
battles  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea;  was  at  the 
surrender  of  Joiinston  at  Raleigh,  North 
Carolina,  where  he  was  thrown  from  a  horse 
and  sustained  injuries  from  the  etlects  of 
which  he  draws  a  pension  of  $2  a  month; 
he  also  received  a  gunshot  wound.  He  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service  at  Lexington,  North  Caro- 
lina. Upon  receiving  his  dischai-go  lie  re- 
turned to  Adams  County  and  engaged  in 
farming,  which  he  followed  until  September, 
1882,  when  he  etnbarked  in  the  grocery  trade 
at  Geneva,  which  occupation  he  still  follows. 
Mr.  Mason  is  a  member  of  the  John  P.  Por- 
ter Post,  No.  83,  G.  A.  R.  He  has  been 
married  three  times.  His  first  wife  was 
Mary  Jane  Ruble,  whom  he  married  in  1863, 
and  who  died  March  13,  1869.  His  second 
wife,  whom  he  married  July  21,  1871,  was 
Sarah  E.  Ikolim,  who  died  January  1,  1882. 
To  this  union  six  children  were  born — Will- 
iam Arthur,  Jessie  Siloam,  Fi-ederick  M., 
Harry  Carlton,  Nellie  and  ]\[amie,  deceased. 
Mr.  Mason  was  married  Januarj-,  1883,  to 
Hester  H.  Iloudasetel,  and  to  this  union 
have  been  bt)rn  three  children — James  E., 
Earle  and  Georgia  Estella.  .Mr.  and  ilrs. 
Mason  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church. 


fOHN  ROBERT  CHRISTEN,  deputy 
auditor  of  Adams  County,  Indiana,  is  a 
-'i  native  of  Switzerland,  born  in  Canton 
Berne,  near  the  City  of  Berne,  December  7, 
1849.  AVhen  an  infant  he  was  brought  to 
the  United  States  by  liis  parents,  John  and 
Elizabeth  Christen,  they  locating  in  Root 
Township,  Adams  Count}',  Indiana,  and  there 
our  subject  grew  to  manhood.     His  fatlier 


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lUSTUUY    UF    ADAMS    COUNT V. 


beinj^  a  farmer,  he  was  reared  to  tlie  same 
iivoeatiun.  He  recuiveil  a  iijood  commoii- 
sclioul  education  in  tlie  schools  of  his  neigli- 
lioriiood,  and  on  attaining  tlie  age  of  twenty 
years  lie  began  teaching  in  the  schools  of 
.Vdams  County,  whicli  he  followed  six  or 
seven  winter  terms,  and  tlnring  the  siunmer 
worked  on  his  father's  homestead,  being  thus 
engaged  until  IST'J.  xMay  8,  1879,  he  was 
married  near  I'ecatur  to  iliss  Edith  M.  Fon- 
ner,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Root  Town- 
ship, her  parents,  John  A.  and  Elizabeth 
(Pillers)  Former,  being  pioneers  of  Adams 
(!ounty.  Two  children  iiave  been  born  to 
this  rinion,  whose  names  are — Otto  Guy, 
born  February  29,  188U,  and  Frederick  Allen, 
born  March  24,  1884.  In  June,  1879,  Mr. 
Christen  was  made  deputy  auditor  under  his 
brother  Godfrey  Christen,  and  was  appointed 
deputy  auditor  by  his  successor,  Lewis  C. 
^liller,  in  LSSli,  which  position  he  has  tilled 
for  the  past  eight  years.  Mr.  Christen  was 
reared  in  the  faith  of  the  German  Reform 
church,  but  now  attends  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  at  Decatur,  of  which  his  wife  is 
a  member. 


ARXEY  JOHN  TERVEER,  hardware 
|f\;  merchant,  and  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
'^^  zens  of  Decatur,  is  a  native  of  Germany, 
born  in  Ashendorf,  Hanover,  the  date  of  his 
birth  being  July  11,  1843,  a  son  of  I'urgart 
and  JIary  (Kramer)  Terveer.  The  lather 
was  a  merchant  of  Ashendorf,  and  was  also 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  and 
woolen  goods.  He  died  in  his  native  place, 
Ashendorf,  in  1868.  The  mother  was  also  a 
native  of  Asheridorf,  where  she  died  in  1844. 
])Oth  were  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church.  The  mother's  father  and  ancestors 
were  prominent  distillers  of  Hanover.     Our 


subject  was  reared  to  mercantile  pursuits, 
and  was  also  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
calicoes  in  his  native  city.  He  received  an 
academic  education,  anil  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years  he  entered  his  father's  store  as  a  clerk. 
When  eighteen  years  old  he  began  traveling  as 
a  salesman  for  liis  father,  which  he  followed 
for  five  years,  through  Hanover  and  Prussia. 
From  1866  until  1S69  he  was  engaged  in 
the  same  business  at  Munster,  Prussia,  and 
in  the  S]jring  of  the  latter  year  he  came  to 
America,  landing  at  Castle  Garden,  New 
York,  April  1.  From  there  he  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  where  he  worked  in  a  dye 
house  until  the  following  fall,  when  he  re- 
moved to  La  Fayette,  Indiana,  and  was  there 
employed  as  foreman  of  the  woolen  mill  of 
Dagget,  Sample  A:  Co.,  for  three  years.  He 
then  traveled  for  the  same  firm,  and  in  the 
meantime  he  settled  at  Decatur,  Indiana, 
where  in  1874  he  became  associated  with 
James  Stone  in  the  hardware  business,  which 
was  carried  on  under  the  jirm  name  of  Stone 
it  Terveer  until  1879,  when  Mr.  Terveer 
purchased  his  partner's  interest,  and  a  short 
time  after  he  admitted  John  S.  Bowers  as  a 
partner.  The  firm  of  Terveer  it  Rowers 
continued  until  1881,  since  which  time  !Mr. 
Terveer  has  conducted  the  business  alone. 
May  7.  1872,  Mr.  Terveer  was  married  in  St. 
jMary's  Catholic  Church  at  Decatur,  Ijy 
Father  AVemhotf,  to  Miss  Mary  Brandeweda, 
a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Kohn) 
Brandeweda,  both  now  deceased.  Her  father 
was  a  Government  officer  in  Hanover.  She 
is  a  native  of  Allhausen,  Hanover,  Germany, 
and  when  very  young  was  taken  by  lier  par- 
ents to  Meppen,  Hanover,  where  she  was 
reared  and  educated,  coming  to  America  in 
1869.  Eight  children  have  been  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Terveer,  five  still  living — Minnie, 
Mar3',  Anna,  Clara  and  Emma.  Henry  died 
August   16,    1877,    aged    four   years;    Josie 


i^l 


«-iii.=»?'j«"*«'?ja'"ji"?«»«i*»¥j«?'j»?»i?ii.»«ji_'a«»j»'?m««i«-M^«L«»««^¥««BL^ 


eMjiw„a„ia 


!B««!^5i 


jL, -,-,... ■ ....  .-, . 


BKHIUA  van  M  /.    N  KKTrllKS. 


died  October  21,  18S  t,  at  tliu  iif?e  of  five  j 
years,  aiul  l.aiinix  ilied  J)eeemlicr  1,  1SS(),  j 
six  years  did.  liotli  Mr.  and  Mrt^.  Terveer  j 
were  reared  in  the  Kohkui  Catliidi*  taitli, 
and  are  lunv  nieniKers  id'  St.  ]\Iary"s  Chiircli 
at  Deeatni-.  In  dune,  l^sl,  Mv.  Terveer 
retui'ned  tn  liis  nathe  country,  and  made  a 
tour  tlir()UL;-li  I'rnssia,  Hanover  and  J*]ngland, 
returniu:;  to  jVmei'ica  three  inontlis  hiter. 
AlthoUirh  ^fr.  'l'er\eei'  came  to  America  in 
limited  circumstances,  lie  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  business,  owini^  to  his  industrious 
liabits  and  persevering  cneri^y.  In  1882  he 
pui'chased  his  business  house,  which  is  one 
of  the  best  in  Decatur,  and  has  cost  him 
8~,000,  and  in  1885  he  erected  his  present 
substantial  brick  residence.  In  connection 
with  his  extensive  hardware  business,  he 
also  deals  in  ai;iicnltural  iinplements  on  a 
large  scale,  and  by  his  fair  and  lioiiorablo 
dealings  he  lias  gained  the  conlidence  and 
respect  of  all  who  know  him. 


WID  M.  KEKR,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  .Vdams  County,  engaged  in  fanning 
on  section  23,  !Monroe  Townsliip,  was 
born  in  Cumberland  County,  Pennsylvania, 
January  24,  1824:.  His  parents,  .lames  \V. 
and  Rosamia  (]\[cLelland)  Kerr,  were  also 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  Scotch  ex- 
traction, the  father  born  April  20,  1797,  and 
the  mother  born  October  12,  1801.  They 
were  married  June  21,  1821,  and  to  them 
were  born  eleven  children,  six  sons  and  tivo 
daughters.  The  father  was  a  shoemaker  by 
trade,  lie  died  in  Indiana  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  184G,  and  the  mother  died  in  the 
fall  of  1804  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
David  M.  Kerr,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
went  to  Indiana  County,  Pennsylvania,  when 


eighteen  years  ohl,  and  there  followed  the 
carpenter's  trade  until  1850,  since  which  time 
he  h;is  been  engaged  ])rincipally  in  farming, 
lie  was  married  November  14,  1851,  to 
Nancy  Robinson,  who  was  burn  in  Perry 
County,  Pennsylvania,  .January  22,  1831, 
going  with  her  ])arents  to  Crawford  County, 
()hio,  when  young,  wdiere  she  li\-ed  until  her 
marriage.  Of  the  seven  children  born  to  ]\Ir. 
anil  Jlrs.  KeiT  foui-  ai'e  living — John  N., 
William  ]\[.,  Robei't  I!,  and  Irvin.  ilr.  Kerr 
has  given  his  children  good  educational  ad- 
vantages, and  at  the  ]>resent  time  three  are 
engaged  in  teaching  school  in  ilonroe  Town- 
ship, ilr.  Kerr  was  a  soldier  in  the  late 
war,  enlisting  in  Company  E,  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-fifth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  was  in 
the  Fourteenth  Army  Corps.  He  received  a 
gun-shot  wound  in  his  leg  September  20, 
18(i3,  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  which 
caused  hi-  final  discharge  February  17,1864. 
He  then  returned  to  his  home  in  Crawford 
County,  Ohio,  and  in  1805  came  to  ,Vdams 
County,  Indiana,  settling  on  his  farm  in 
^lonroe  Township  in  November  of  that  year, 
where  he  has  since  followed  general  farming. 
His  first  jiurchase  was  forty  acres  wdiich  was 
heavily  covered  with  timber.  His  farm  now 
contains  eighty  acres  of  well-improved  land, 
which  is  under  good  cultivation.  In  politics 
]\Ir.  Kerr  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  held  local 
offices.  He  is  a  comraile  of  John  P.  Porter 
Post,  O.  A.  R.,  at  Geneva.  Roth  ilr.  and 
Mrs.  Kerr  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church. 


,fjr-^NDREW  G.  BRIGGS,  hardware  mer- 
iirvV  chant,  Geneva,  is  a  native  of  Hancock 
^— -  County,  Ohio,  born  January  31,  1860. 
His  father,  William  11.  Rriggs,  came  with 
his  family  to  Waliash  Township,  this  county, 
in  the  spring  of    1871.      He  received  a  com- 


'ur, 
I" 


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tut 

'if' 

/fci; 


?«-*«■?-«• 


« »»i.  "bn^^  ai'-'^T-'iU  --t  »<  *!aM*  «fM;*'iiM*J?a  10a  »  i^M  *i»  .-^u  *_"=  v.  'Jfiil?  jT-? 


.  ••«>?»  fi»  *'«  ^  M  *  uo "  »  "m  ■'«i*?ii ! 


J.'»iW«?!u"  iT**"?*  •»"-•"*  i.  >■ 


'••".i'l'ra  **»•>*« 


k*-iii'''»»**ilf'««?r«i*!iil 


nrsTonr  uf  adams   cuuiyrr. 


nioii-sclioul  education,  and  wlioii  lit'teen  years 
of  age  went  to  clerking  in  the  dry  goods 
house  of  E.  C.  Kern,  where  he  remained  un- 
til 1!S7*J.  lie  then  went  to  Celina,  Ohio,  and 
clerked  in  a  hoot  and  shoe  and  grocery  store, 
renuiining  until  February,  18S2,  then  came 
to  Geneva  and  jiuri-hased  the  liardware  stock 
of  Cxcorge  A\'.  ])onart,  in  ls82,  whicdi  busi- 
ness he  still  fcilliiws.  Mr.  liriiriJfs  was  mar- 
ried November  27,  1^83,  to  ]\[iss  ilargaret 
ri.  Day,  a  luitive  of  Celina,  Ohio,  born  Octo- 
ber S,  ISGi.  Her  father,  James  Day,  is  a 
prominent  attorney  and  common  pleas  judge. 
He  was  born  in  Hancock  County  February 
10,  184:0.  Ilis  wife  was  formerly  Fannie  M. 
yniall,  born  in  Ilayesville,  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  December  20,  1841!.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  ^Tethodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  [3ay  have  four  cliildren — Mvs.  Briggs, 
Annie  L.,  Elizabetii  S.  and  Edna. 


SOIIN  A.  FONXER,  farmer,  sections  27 
and  28,  Root  Township,  owns  210  acres 
-  :.  of  land  in  one  body.  lie  came  to  this 
county  in  1841,  with  his  parents,  two  broth- 
ers and  five  sisters,  and  one  sister  was  born 
after  coming.  They  settled  in  the  woods, 
which  were  full  of  game  of  all  kinds,  and 
the  river  was  full  of  fish.  The  first  scliotd 
]\[r.  Fonner  attendetl  in  this  county  was  held 
in  a  blacksmith  shop.  It  was  built  of  round 
logs  and  stood  at  ^Nronmouth.  The  shop  was 
filled  with  puncheon  seats,  and  writing-desks 
were  put  around  the  wall.  ^Ir.  Fonnei" 
thinks  there  was  no  floor  in  the  house  either 
before  or  after  it  was  converted  into  a  school- 
house.  This  was  his  first  introduction  to  an 
Indiana  school-room.  It  was  a  subscription 
school.  ]\[r.  Fiinner  was  born  in  (-ireene 
County,  Penn^yh-ania,  September  11,  1S2G. 
He  lived  in  his  native  county  until  he  was  six 


;iU,-«:7,7a>_ 


years  of  age,  when  his  family  removed  to 
Athens  County,  Ohio,  settling  upon  an  im- 
proved farm,  which  belonged  to  the  Ohio 
University,  which  his  father  bought.  Wiien 
he  was  fourteen  years  ohl  his  father  sold  the 
land,  leaving  it  in  the  fall  of  1840.  The 
father  would  not  leave  the  State  until  he  had 
voted  for  (leneral  Harrison  fi)r  President. 
He  had  tbrmerly  been  a  Democrat,  but  hav- 
ing been  a  soldier  under  General  Harrison  he 
wished  to  vote  for  him  for  President,  and  lie 
was  a  Whig  ever  after.  The  family  spent 
the  winter  in  Troy,  iliami  County,  where 
corn  was  12J  cents  a  bushel.  Provisions 
both  for  man  and  beast  were  very  cheap. 
But  when  they  came  to  Indiana  they  found 
corn  was  from  75  cents  to  §1.00  per  biisiiel. 
They  had  five  horses  and  several  cows  and 
young  cattle,  and  they  spent  the  winter,  pre- 
vious to  coining  here,  in  ( )liio,  because  they 
could  winter  their  stock  so  much  cheaper  in 
that  State.  Mr.  Fonner's  parents  were  John 
and  ^lary  (Crouse)  Fonner.  The  father  was 
born  in  New  Jersey  in  1788,  and  died  in 
September,  1852.  The  mother  was  born  in 
Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1799, 
and  died  in  1854.  JJotli  were  members  of 
the  JMethodist  Episcopal  church.  The  father 
is  buried  in  Alpha  cemetery  and  the  mother 
in  Monmouth  cemetery.  The  mother  was  a 
noble  Christian  woman,  and  had  a  great  love 
for  her  family.  Her  education  was  superior 
for  that  day,  and  she  was  a  teacher  by  pro- 
fession. ^Ir.  Fonner,  our  subject,  was  mar- 
ried January  9,  1856,  to  iliss  Elizabeth 
Pillars,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Adams 
County.  Her  father,  Benjamin  Pillers,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1816,  and  lier 
mother,  Sarah  A.  (Rice)  Pillers,  in  Culpep- 
er  County,  Virginia,  May  27,  1815.  Her 
family  came  here  in  1n39  and  settled  in 
Root  Township,  on  section  14,  which  was 
then   a  wilderness.     The  farm  is  now  owned 


i 


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i 


IGi^ioWt'"  HJ^  «i**-^'!  m  Ka»'Bi™«  ""iJ  •*  •s'^  i  *^m  "^^  ki  »^i«»fii  "itl^ja?**"  m^m^'^^  ■■  i 


lilOllltAl'lIlVA  L    SKETCHKH. 


<rd^ 


i; 


!S? 


by  F.  Kukelliain.  T!ic  f'atlier  built  a  saw- 
iiiill  oil  the  stream  calk'il  "  Si'veiiteeu-^rile-  [ 
Ci'celc,'"  which  ran  thiMiiLch  liis  I'arm.  There  \ 
was  an  imliaii  trail  tlinuii;ii  tlie  farm,  and 
the  nearest  neighbor  was  Jonas  Pence,  on 
the  t'ann  imw  owiied  and  occupied  by  the 
sulijeet  lit'  this  sketeli.  They  had  to  ^o  to 
Fort  A\'ayne  tVir  their  inillinjj.  There  were 
iive  children  in  her  father's  family,  and  all 
are  liviiii^-  l/iit  oiu',  Nancy  Heartless,  who 
died  in  luiut  Township  a  short  time  since. 
The  others  all  live  in  the  same  township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fonner  have  live  children — 
Edith  ilay,  born  September  IS,  1858,  wife  of 
J.  liobert  Christen;  Sarah  A.,  born  Febrn- 
ary  12,  1802,  wife  uf  A.  J.  Smith;  Mary  X., 
born  July  27,  IStil,  liviuij  at  home;  Nellie 
E..  born  December  7,  18GG;  .lohn  IF,  born 
July  10,  1872.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fonuer  are 
members  of  the  ^lethodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  ^Ir.  Fonner  votes  the  Republican  ticket. 
Ilis  irrandfather,  John  Fonner,  was  probably 
born  in  New  Jersey,  and  died  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, lie  has  no  knowledge  of  his  crrand- 
inother  Fonner.  Ills  maternal  grandfather, 
John  ("rouse,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
died  in  Missouri,  lie  knows  nothing  of  his 
maternal  grandmother.  Mrs.  Fonner's  grand- 
father, AVilliam  Fillers,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  died  in  this  county.  Her 
grandmother,  Mary  (Baxter)  Fillers,  died  in 
this  c<ninty,  and  both  are  buried  in  Alpha 
cemetery. 


fOllN  AVOY,  farmer,  resides  on  section 
22,  Root  Township,  where  he  owns  120 
-,<,  acres  of  land.  He  came  to  this  county 
in  the  spring  of  1851  and  settled  upon  the 
farm  lie  now  owns  and  occupies.  There  were 
eighteen  acres  underbrnshed  and  a  log  cabin 
had  been  built.    It  was  18  .\  20,  and  it  is  still 


!!M'?ai'^ja?. 


standing,  being  used  for  a  stable.  He  lived 
in  this  caijin  until  1^5^,  when  he  built  his 
present  frame  hon>e.  Mr.  \\'ov  was  born  in 
Carroll  County,  ( )liio,  .\j,ril  13,  1«29.  His 
father  died  when  he  was  a  babe,  and  he  lived 
at  home  with  his  mother  until  his  marriage. 
Ilis  father,  George  Woy,  was  born  in  Somer- 
set County,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  1830, 
aged  between  fifty  and  si.xty  years.  His 
mother,  Catherine  (l''redline)  AVoy,  was  also 
born  in  Somerset  Count}',  and  was  married 
in  that  State.  They  removed  to  Carroll 
County,  Ohio,  after  live  of  their  children  were 
born.  They  settled  in  the  wilderness  and 
were  amcjng  the  pioneers  of  that  county.  The 
mother  died  on  the  farm  where  they  first 
located  in  1871,  in  her  eight3'-sixth  year. 
I>oth  are  buried  in  the  Emanuel  Church 
ceTiietery.  They  were  members  of  tiie  Lu- 
theran church.  The  father  died  from  the 
accidental  discharge  of  his  gun.  John  was 
married  November  29,  1819,  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Worley,  who  was  born  in  Carroll  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  where  she  was  reared  and  educated. 
She  died  July  5,  1859,  leaving  one  child — 
Silas  Luther,  who  was  born  September  19, 
1851,  and  died  in  18G0.  Both  are  buried  in 
ilonmouth  cemetery.  March  15,  I860,  ]\Ir. 
Woy  inorried  Hannah  Dunlap,  nee  Bonbrake, 
who  was  born  in  Carroll  County,  Ohio,  in 
1836.  where  she  lived  until  her  first  marriage 
with  AVilliam  Dunlap.  They  went  to  Hardin 
County  to  live,  where  Mr.  Dunlap  died. 
They  had  one  child  that  died  in  early  infancy. 
IMrs.  Woy  was  a  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Sarah  (Bowman)  Bonbrake,  who  were  natives 
of  Pennsjdvania.  The  fatlier  died  October  12, 
1878,  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  aged  seventy- 
three  years,  eight  months  and  twenty-nine 
days.  The  mother  is  still  living  in  Stark 
County  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  Her 
grandfather,  Daniel  Bonbrake,  was  probably 
born    in   Pennsylvania,  and  he  died  in  Hunt- 


,WMM^"Ma«»-.,W^,7W^ 


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:i4S  HISTORY    OF    ADAAfS    COUNTY. 


1 


ini^ton  Count}',  Iiidiaiia.  Ilur  i^riuidinotlier, 
yurali  (Tt'ili'ow)  llDulnake,  was  also  bora  in 
Pennsylvania  anil  died  in  Huntington  County. 
Her  maternal  gran<lparents,  Jacol)  and  Han- 
nah llownian,  were  natives  ol'  Pennsylvania, 
and  died  in  Stark  Cuuiity,  Ohio.  They  were 
probably  of  (iernian  oi'iyin.  Mr.  Woy  lias 
served  as  townshi[)  trustee  two  terms,  and  is 
now  serving  as  jury  commissioner. 


^EONARD  W.  JOITXSOX,  of  AVash- 
(•  in<^ton  Township,  was  born  in  Tuscara- 
was Count}',  Ohio,  August  5,  1S3(),  and 
canie  to  Adams  County  with  his  pai'ents, 
James  and  Eliza  Johnson,  in  1S37.  He  was 
reared  and  educated  in  this  county,  and  en- 
dured all  the  hardships  and  privations  inci- 
dent t(j  pioneer  life.  In  August,  1S62,  he 
eiilisted  in  Company  IT,  Eighty-ninth  Indiana 
Infantry,  which  was  attached  to  the  Six- 
teenth Army  Corps  in  theariny  of  the  AVest. 
lie  participated  in  the  battles  of  Fort  De- 
rusa.  Yellow  Payou,  I>a3'ou  de  (ilaze.  Bunker 
Hill,  Tupelo,  Lafayette,  Xashville,  Fort 
Plalcely  and  others  of  minor  importance.  He 
was  hoiujrably  discharged  in  the  fall  of  1865 
and  returned  to  Adams  Connt}',  where  he  has 
since  been  a  resident.  He  was  married  Oc- 
tober 23,  1860,  to  Miss  Priscilla  Wisner,  a 
native  of  tliis  county,  born  September  23, 
1S46,  and  daughter  of  David  and  Lydia 
AVisner,  who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of 
Adams  County.  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Johnson  have 
had  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living — 
James  ^I.,  Martha  J.,  Lena  L.,  Florence  A. 
and  A'"erna  M.  ilr.  Johnson  owns  a  good 
farm  of  seventy  acres,  and  is  a  successful 
fanner.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat,  and 
religiously  a  member  of  the  Christian  Union 
church.  Ilis  mother  is  living,  and  is  in  her 
eighty-eighth  year.     Mrs.  Johnson's    father. 


David  AVisner,  was  twice  married.  His  first 
wife.  Alary  Procjks,  at  her  death  lett  four 
children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  In 
1838  he  left  his  native  State,  Pennsylvania, 
and  came  to  Indiana,  and  in  1839  married 
Lydia  ^Mlen,  a  native  of  (.)hio.  To  them 
were  born  six  children,  four  sons  and  two 
daughtei's.  The  father  died  in  1868,  aged 
seventy-three  years.  \Vhon  he  came  to  Adams 
County  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  two 
and  a  half  miles  south  of  Decatur.  The 
nearest  mill  at  that  time  was  at  Fort  AVayne, 
and  the  motlier  was  often  obliged  to  grind 
buckwheat  in  the  coft'ee-mill  with  which  to 
make  bread  for  the  family. 


rf^ALEX  CLEXDENEX,  one  of  the  pros- 
"^iV^j  P^'''""®  farmers  of  Hartford  Township, 
s;:"  a  son  of  James  and  _Mehitable  (Fox) 
Clendenen,  was  born  in  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  March  9, 
1833.  In  1837  he  was  brought  by  his  par- 
ents to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  where  he 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  on  section 
25,  Hartford  Township,  receivijig  a  common- 
school  education.  On  ari'iving  at  maidiood 
he  engaged  in  farming  for  himself,  which 
he  has  since  followed.  He  was  married  in 
August,  1857,  to  ^liss  Elizabeth  Pontius,  a 
native  of  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  who  died 
in  June,  1858,  leaving  one  child — Lavinia. 
^Irs.  Clendenen  was  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church.  !Mr.  Clendenen  was 
again  married  October  1,  1861,  to  Miss  Elsie 
Proutty,  who  was  born  in  Morrow  County, 
Ohio,  -March  9,  1836,  a  daughter  of  Stej)hen 
and  Mary  (Barium)  Proutty.  To  this  union 
have  been  born  the  following  children — AA'^ill- 
iam  F.  (deceased),  Sarah  J.  and  John  R.  Mrs. 
Clendenen's  parents  are  natives  of  Xew  A'ork 
and  Maryland  respectively.     They  were  mar- 


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ried  ill  Oliio.  simi  in  iSlS  si'ttled  in  Wells 
('oiinty,  Indiana,  wIilto  hotli  died.  Tlie 
father  was  a  fanner  l>y  iK'eu|)ati(.in,  and  for 
several  years  \\a^  al>(i  in  the  ministry.  ISoth 
were  ennsistent  ineinhers  nf  the  IJaptist 
chureli.  To  tliein  were  iiotn  ten  children, 
six  sons  and  four  daiigliters.  Jlr.  Ciendeneii 
lias  met  w  ith  excellent  siieeess  in  his  <^eneral 
farinino;,  and  now  has  a  tine  farm  eontaiiiiiig 
'2('>0  acres,  l.jit  acres  lieinir  under  a  hiijli  state 
of  cultivation.  He  has  a  coinfjrtaltle  and 
coniinodious  frame  residence,  which  was 
erected  in  1S74:  at  a  cost  uf  !ivl,S()0,  ami  <(ood 
farm  IniildiiiffS,  the  entire  surroundings  o^ 
his  farm  proving  the  owner  to  be  a  thorough, 
practical  firmer. 


T^ATIIANIEL  P.  TIEASTON  was  bom 
"■'\  j  in  Kandolph  County,  Indiana,  ifay  14, 
*~  L  18-2.J.  His  fither,  David  Heaston,  was 
a  native  of  ^'irginia,  born  in  1793.  His  grand- 
father, John  Ileastoii,  was  born  near  Frank- 
fort, Uerinany,  and  immigrated  to  the  United 
States  about  the  time  of  the  llevolntionary 
war.  He  first  settled  in  Philadelphia,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade.  He  re- 
ceived Continental  money  for  liis  goods  to 
such  an  extent  as  to  cause  his  failure.  From 
there  he  went  to  Rockingham  County,  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  followed  school  teaching.  In 
1803  he  removed  to  Butler  County,  Ohio, 
residing  there  about  four  years,  then  settled 
near  Dayton,  where  he  followed  school  teach- 
ing until  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he 
was  about  eighty  years  of  age.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  (lerniany  and  his  wife  died  in  Phila- 
delphia. They  had  live  children,  three  girls 
and  two  boys.  He  married  a  second  time, 
and  they  had  si.x  children,  four  boys  and  two 
girls.  David  Ileaston  was  a  sou  of  the  sec- 
ond  marriage.     He  catne  with  his  parents  to 


Ohio  in  1803,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  in 
Ilaniiiton  and  Moiitgonieiy  counties,  and  re- 
ceived a  limited  education  in  the  common 
schools.  He  was  married  at  Dayton,  in  1817, 
to  Catherine  J'resscI,  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, who  came  with  her  parents  to  ( )hio  and 
settled  near  Dayton.  She  wa>  born  in  17'J4. 
They  removed  to  Kandolph  Coiinry,  Indiana, 
in  181'J,  and  were  among  the  earliest  settlers 
in  that  ]iart  of  the  county.  They  lived  there 
until  their  demise,  the  father  dying  Decem- 
ber 18,  1805,  and  the  mother  in  1870.  They 
had  accumulated  quite  a  property,  being  the 
owners  of  000  acres  of  laml.  The  mother 
was  a  member  of  the  Dunkartl  church.  The 
parents  reared  three  children,  onr  subject  be- 
ing the  second  child.  He  was  i-eared  on  a 
farm  in  Randolph  County,  and  received  an 
elementary  education  in  the  common  schools. 
He  also  attended  the  seminary  at  Cambridge 
City,  "Wayne  County,  and  at  "Winchester  in 
liaiidolph  County.  He  remained  at  home 
on  the  farm  until  1818,  when  he  joined  the 
encrineer's  corps,  and  helped  to  survey  the 
route  for  the  I5ee  Line  Railroad,  from  Iii- 
dianap<ilis  to  Union  City,  consuming  four 
years  of  time.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
promoted  to  the  i)osition  of  lirst  assistant 
civil  engineer,  which  position  he  occupied  when 
the  road  was  completed  in  December,  1852. 
He  then  resumed  farming  and  dealing  in 
stock.  In  1800,  he,  with  others,  erected  the 
City  Flouring  Mills,  at  Winchester,  and  in  four 
years  sold  out  his  interest  and  came  to 
Geneva,  where  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness, ill  connection  with  surveying,  an  occu- 
pation he  still  follows.  Mr.  Heaston  was 
married  February  19,  1857,  to  Sarah  J.  Piil- 
len,  born  near  Liberty,  in  Union  County, 
this  State,  June  8,  1837.  Her  parents,  David 
and  Martha  (Williams)  Pullen,  were  natives 
of  Virginia,  and  emigrated  to  Union  County, 
Indiana,     in  an   early  day,     wdiere  they  fol- 


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insTOUY    OF    .iJ)J.)/S    COUM'Y. 


lowed  farinin;,',  and  lived  there  until  their 
decease,  the  lather  dyiiii;-  Deeeniher  lU,  InTS, 
ai,^ed  sescntv-iiiiie  yeai's,  and  the  Miotiiei' 
Februarv  -t,  I'^'^l,  a^ed  eii,dity  yeai's.  Tlicy 
were  the  jjareuts  of  twelve  children.  Mr.  iind 
ilrd.  Ileaston  have  had  four  children — .Joseph 
^Villard.  l)orn  Xoveniber  11,  1857;  Clara 
Idelle,  horn  Xoveniber  10.  18G1;  Martha 
Olive,  born  Jannary  17,  1S(J7;  Charles  David, 
born  Anj^nist  5,  187-1.  died  A]jril  1,  ls83.  Mr. 
lleaston  has  been  a  niendier  of  the  ^lasoiiic 
order  since  1851),  l)eeomiiig  a  member  of 
Winchester  Lodire,  X(i.  SH,  A.  V.  A:  A.  M., 
of  which  he  is  still  a  member.  I'dlitically 
he  is  a  stannch  l)einocrat,  and  an  active 
worker  in  his  party.  He  was  a  delegate  to 
the  Democratic  Xational  Convention  in  Xew 
York  City,  held  .Inly  4,  18G8,  which  placed 
Governor  Seymour  in  nominatu:in  for  the 
Presidency.  Ife  also  takes  a  gi-eat  interest 
in  local  all'airs  and  pid)lic  improvements. 


01 IX  YOUXG  was  born  in  the  State 
ot  Pennsylvania  in  1828,  and  died  in 
Blue  Creek  Township,  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  June  13,  187-I-.  He  was  a  son  of 
J^eter  and  ilargaret  (Gilbert)  Young,  wlio 
were  of  German  descent.  His  father  being  a 
farmer  he  was  reared  to  the  same  avocation, 
which  he  followed  through  life,  liis  youth 
being  spent  in  his  native  State,  in  assisting 
with  the  farm  work  an<l  attending  tiie schools 
of  that  early  ilay,  where  he  received  but 
limited  educational  advantages.  lu  1852  he 
went  to  California,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
mining  for  six  years.  lie  was  united  in 
marriage  in  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in  1860, 
to  iliss  Catherine  Kitsler,  a  daughter  of 
Xathan  and  Christena  (Everett)  Kitsler, 
natives  of  Columhia  County,  Pennsylvania. 
Of  the  seven  children  born  to  this  union  six 


are  living-  I.ucy  is  the  wife  of  F.  A.  Fry,  of 
llliimi^;  .Matlic;  A  iistiii,  attemliiig  school  at 
N'alparaiso;  l''i'anccs  K.,  ClianiH'y  M,  and 
Agnes  K.  .\  daughter,  Addie,  died  dune  12, 
1S8G,  eight  days  before  her  twentieth  birth- 
day. She  was  much  beloved  by  iier  com- 
panions, and  left  many  friends  to  mourn  her 
untimely  death.  ^Ir.  Young  bought  120 
aci-es  ui  land  in  Tllue  Creek  Township,  \vhen 
he  first  came  to  Adams  County,  and  to  this 
he  added  until  he  had  accumulated  a  line 
property  consisting  of  200  acres,  which  is 
still  occupietl  by  his  widow.  The  fai-m  is 
carried  on  by  her  sous  with  the  assistance  of 
hired  help,  and  is  under  a  fine  state  of  culti- 
vation. I'eside  the  home  farm  the  widow 
owns  an  additional  two  acres  of  land.  In 
politics  Mr.  Young  affiliated  with  the  Demo-" 
cratic  party,  lie  was  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  order.  Mrs.  '\  oungand  her  ciiildren, 
with  the  exce]iti()n  oi'  the  youngest  child,  are 
members  of  the  ^lethodist  Episcojial  church. 
Their  postotHce  is  AVillshire,  Ohio.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Young  were  pioneers  of 
Adams  County.  Both  are  now  deceased,  her 
father  dying  in  1872,  and  her  mother  in 
August,  1885. 


fOSEPII  CPvOZIER,  farmer,  section  15, 
Union  Township,  came  to  this  county  in 
-.^  October,  18-41,  and  first  settled  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Elijah  Krick.  lie  lived 
on  that  farm  two  years,  then  entered  his 
present  farm  from  the  Government,  and  has 
occupied  it  since  that  time.  It  was  then  in 
a  perfectly  wild  state.  He  built  his  log  cabin 
which  stood  on  the  site  of  iiis  present  barn, 
ilr.  Crozier  was  born  in  Dauphin  County, 
Pennsylvania,  October  5,  1816,  and  when  lie 
was  a  child  was  taken  by  his  parents  to 
Perry  County,  same  State,  where  he  grew  to 


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inanliood.  He  was  iiiaiTieil  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  May  19, 1S;!'J,  to  Miss  Cliristina  Haver, 
wild  was  liiirn  in  tiiat  cunuty  Si'|]ti'nitiiT  11, 
iS'iL.  Al'tcr  tiicir  mai-ria^u  they  ii\cd  in 
Stark  (\>nnty  nntil  tlifii-  i-cino\'al  to  this 
county.  Mis.  C'rozier  dieil  .Inne  10,  1858, 
leavingM'Vrn  i-liihiren — Samuel,  horn  Deccni- 
her  4,  1S12;  (ieoi-e,  h,,rn  Fel)rnary  10,  ISlo; 
Elias,  hurn  .March  10,  iNlO;  James,  horn 
Septeinher  2,  1M8;  Joseph,  born  July  7, 
1S50;  AVilliam.  born  February  15,  1852,  and 
Sarah  Jane,  born  Februai-y  10,  185(5.  Samuel 
died  in  liospitul,  wliile  in  the  army,  in  New 
Orleans,  in  February,  1805,  being  a  member 
of  tJie  Forty-seventJi  Indiana  Infantry. 
George  died  at  liome.  Elias  also  died  at 
home  February  22,  1^73.  "William  Henry 
and  l-^lizabeth  died  in  infancy.  August  10, 
185S,  Mr.  Croxier  \vas  married  to  Anna  Trim- 
ble, who  was  born  in  C'rawford  (bounty,  Oliio, 
August  27,  1820,  where  she  passed  her  cliild- 
hood.  She  removed  with  lier  mother  to  A'au 
AVert  (^ouuty,  where  tlie  latter  died  February 
15,  1873,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years. 
She  was  born  in  iluskingum  County  in  1796. 
The  father  died  in  Crawford  County,  when 
^Mrs.  (rtp/ier  was  quite  young,  aged  over 
seventy  years.  There  were  eight  children  in 
her  father's  family,  Mrs.  Cro/.ier  being  the 
third  child;  only  twu  of  the  children  are 
living — Mrs.  Ensworth,  of  Union  Township, 
and  .Mrs.  Crozier.  Mr.  Crozier's  parents 
were  Samuel  I.  and  ^ilarj'  (Lear)  Crozier. 
The  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1786 
anil  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  died  in 
Allen  County,  Iiuliaiui,  in  July,  1872,  and  is 
buried  near  Mapleton.  He  was  a  blacksmith 
by  trade,  and  followed  blacksmithing  most 
of  his  life.  The  mother  was  born  in  Dauphin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  Allen 
County,  this  State,  about  1857,  aged  si.xt}- 
years.  Jlr.  Crozier  and  his  present  wife 
have     had    no    children.       His     grandfather 


Crozier  was  born  in  Ireland,  came  to  America 
and  settled  on  the  Susquehanna  River  in 
Pennsylvania.  He  died  in  that  State.  The 
I.ears  were  of  ( iernian  aiii(~try.  .M  i".  <  'rozier's 
grandjiarents,  Hugh  and  .Mary  Ti'iinble,  died 
in  Crawford  County,  Ohio.  They  were  of 
Irish  descent.  ]\Ir.  Crozier  was  the  oldest  of 
eight  eliildi'en  in  his  father's  family. 


•nD'^VIN  WILDER,  of  Monmouth,  came 
\r.'  to  this  C(junty  with  his  mother  and  two 
"^-  brothers,  settling  on  a  new  farm  about 
a  mile  noi-tli  of  ]\Ionmouth.  This  was  the 
spring  of  1845.  There  was  a  log  cabin  and 
a  loij  stable  on  the  ]ilaee,  which  they  jnir- 
chased  of  William  Itandall.  The  first  forty 
acres  was  bought  of  Judge  l^vans,  and  on 
this  i)iece  of  land  they  eleai-ed  twenty  or 
thirty  acres  before  building.  The  three 
brothers  went  to  work,  and  in  a  year  and  a 
half  earned  money  enough  to  pay  for  tiie 
forty  acres.  In  the  meantime  they  lived  in 
a  house  rented  of  Judge  Evans.  A  few 
months  later  the  brothers  bought  another 
forty  acres.  They  bought  120  acres  of 
Roljert  Evans,  and  a  few  years  afterward 
another  forty,  which  nnide  24:0  acres.  The 
oldest  brother,  Alvin,  took  eighty  acres,  and 
the  twins,  Edwin  and  Edmond,  kept  their 
interests  together,  and  are  still  together. 
The  eldest  brother  was  born  February  16, 
1820,  and  died  January  3,  1878.  Edwin  and 
Edmond  were  born  July  16,  1826,  in(7enesee 
County,  New  York,  where  they  lived  until 
they  were  ten  years  of  age.  Their  father 
died  there  in  1827,  aged  about  forty-five 
years.  The  parents,  Chauncy  and  Sarah 
(Davis)  Wilder,  were  born  in  Springfield,  Mas- 
sachusetts. The  father  was  born  January  12, 
1780,  and  the  mother  July  20,  17S4,  and 
died    August    17,  1855,   in    Root    Township, 


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■«k*.j"ii^M«?'«i'?it"i»r»«i»"»*i?r!i«Bi»7|iar^-i5i53C 


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tliis  C(_)iiiity.  Tlio  tutlior  is  huricc 
fiiiilriu,  (icnesce  Counlv,  Ni'W  ^  ork.  ami  tho 
inotlitM'  ill  ^loiiiiioutli  c-L-iriL-tery,  tliis  county. 
Jildwiii  was  iiian-icil  Octolifr  20,  1S5(J,  to 
.Miss  ^[ary  Berckley,  who  was  horn  in  Ohio, 
and  died  in  Koot  Township  in  the  tall  of 
1803,  leaving  three  children-  —Sarah  E.,  born 
August  22,  1857;  Harriet,  born  March  2'J, 
185'J,  and  Chauncy  C,  born  January  5, 1801. 
December  (5,  iSOo,  ^Ir.  Wikler  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  Thom])son,  ^\•ho  was  born  in 
Summit  County,  Ohio,  .laiiuary  3,  183'J, 
where  she  lise<l  until  eleven  years  of  age, 
when  the  family  removed  to  Allegan  County, 
ilichigan,  where  t-he  was  reared  and  uuirried. 
ller  fatiier,  James  Thompson,  was  born  Au- 
gu6t  0,  1811,  in  Vermont,  and  in  early  life 
removed  to  Worcester,  JTassachusetts.  He 
was  married  in  Cambridge,  \'ormont,  to  i[iss 
Hannah  Lord.  There  were  five  children  in 
lier  father's  family — Stephen,  Sarali,  (ieorge, 
Otis  and  Mrs.  Wilder.  All  are  living  but 
(Jtis,  who  \vas  the  youngest  of  the  family. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wikler  have  no  children.  His 
grandfather,  Hiram  Wikler,  and  his  grand- 
mother AVilder,  were  born  and  died  in 
Springfield,  Massachusetts.  His  maternal 
grandparents  were  of  English  descent,  ilrs. 
Wilder's  grandparents,  James  and  Mary 
(I)winnell)  Thompson,  died  in  Oshkosh, 
Wisconsin.  Jler  maternal  grandfather,  lieu- 
ben  Lord,  was  born  in  ]\[assachusetts,  and 
died  ill  Cambridge,  A'^erinoiit.  Her  maternal 
grandmother,  Martha  (Divoll)  Lord,  was 
born  February  21,  1779,  and  died  in  June, 
1818.  Mr.  Wilder  voted  tlie  Republican 
ticket  until  the  last  two  elections,  when  he 
voted  the  Prohibition  ticket.  He  died  on 
the  homestead  in  Root  Township  February 
27,  1887.  His  oklest  brother,  Dwiglit,  re- 
moved to  Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  married,  and  where  he  died  at 
the  age  of  tifty-fonr  years,  leaving  a  wife  and 


bHtiHM'?iH«*«»>?i»H«iHn! 


three  sons.  I''Ji/,a  niai-ried,  in  (lenesee  County, 
a  man  nanu'(l  Samurl  Holmes,  who  moved  to 
]\[ichigaii.  Harriet  mai-ried,  in  (Jenesee 
County,  a  man  named  David  Davis,  whcj 
also  moved  to  Micliigan.  ilary  married 
William  Garrett,  and  removed  to  Huntingdon 
County,  Pennsylvania,  thence  to  Van  AVert, 
Ohio;  thence  to  St.  ]\[ary's,  Ohio,  where  she 
died,  leaving  lier  liusband  and  nine  children. 
Laura  married  Samuel  De  Witt  in  Hunting- 
don County,  Pennsylvania,  and  moved  to 
Lesvistoii,  same  State,  where  her  husband 
died.  Laura  then  removed  to  .Vdams  County; 
thence  to  Wheatland,  .Missouri,  where  she 
lived  with  a  married  daughter,  and  where 
she  passed  the  remainder  of  her  days. 


^^fjLTON  LOVEJOY  DkVILBISS, 
;'/v\i  ^  *•  ^''  ^^  I*Gt'atur,  is  a  native  of  Indi- 
■^i""  ana,  born  near  Spencerville,  DeKalb 
(.'ounty,  a  son  of  Alexander  De  Vilbiss,  wlio 
was  born  in  Frederick  County,  ]\Lirylaiid, 
August  8, 1810,  and  died  in  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana,  January  19,  1801,  aged  forty-three 
years.  In  his  early  boyhood  the  father  of 
our  subject  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Licking  County,  Ohio,  where  for  a  time  he 
lived  in  Alexandria.  After  his  father's  death 
he  was  a])prenticed  to  learn  the  tanner's  trade, 
wliich  not  agi'eeing  with  him,  he  obtained 
liis  release  and  went  to  Tiffin,  Ohio,  and  for 
a  time  worked  at  cabinet-making,  when  lie 
returned  to  Ak'xandria  and  worked  on  liis 
mother's  farm.  January  27,  1839,  he  was 
married  to  Lydia  M.  Clogston,  who  was  born 
in  Cliarleston,  Virginia,  now  the  capital  of 
A\^est  Virginia,  November  4,  1821,  and  to 
them  were  born  eight  children,  of  whom 
Alton  L.  was  tire  seventh  child.  In  June, 
1813,  the  father  removed  with  his  family  to 
Michigan,  and  the  same  year  came   to   Indi- 


i>?ia  *la?ji:«  a  iT.  i^  a'•^.»  ■*fl'd^  Il^j:- «"'^ 


niOGHAl'lIlCAL    ;SKETVUKS. 


'V 


i 


JUKI,  li)catiii:^  im  a  t'arin  in  tlie  \icinity  nt' 
Speiiccrvilk',  wliero,  in  cuiiiiecticjii  witli  t'ai'jii- 
inn;,  lie  was  i-iii^a^-t'il  in  tiio  nianut'acture  ot 
I'aiinini^-niills  until  his  death.  In  his  youth 
lie  was  a  niemlier  of  the  Ah'tlKidist  Episco- 
pal churcli.  In  L^.jy  he  joineii  the  United 
Brethren  cluiitdi,  and  soon  alter  was  licensed 
to  jireach  tlie  gijspel,  of  which  he  was  an 
earnest  defender,  lie  was  a  devout  Christian 
and  was  always  charitahle  toward  the  unfor- 
tunate, and  ever  ready  to  help  the  poor  and 
needy.  He  was  strictly  temperate  in  his 
habits.  ]\Irs.  iJe  Villii-s  still  survives  liei- 
hushand,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Fort 
"Wayne.  Alton  L.  De  Vilhiss,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  near  Spencerville  Sep- 
tember S,  ISoo.  He  began  to  do  for  himself 
at  the  aye  of  thirteen  years,  working  on 
farms  during  the  summer  months,  and  at- 
tending school  in  the  winter  until  he  was 
fifteen  years  old.  lie  then  began  working 
at  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed 
tilt  reaching;-  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  when 
he  l)cgan  the  study  of  dentistry  at  Fort 
AVayrie  in  the  dental  rooms  of  II.  V,.  Sites, 
with  whom  he  practiced  and  studied  for  over 
two  years.  May  11,  1877,  he  came  to  De- 
catur, Adams  County,  where  he  has  since 
been  engaged  in  the  practice  oi'  dentistry, 
and  in  his  chosen  profession  has  been  very 
successful,  and  has  gained  the  confidence  of 
all  who  know  him.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Dental  Association  of  Indiana.  He  was  mar- 
ried near  Monmouth,  Adams  County,  Sep- 
temlier  9,  1879,  to  Miss  Florence  Lizzie 
Knnkel,  who  was  born  December  20,  18G1, 
and  reared  in  Adams  County,  and  educated 
in  the  schools  of  Decatur.  They  are  the 
parents  of  one  cjiild — Fannie,  who  was  born 
at  Decatur  .Inly  23,  1880.  Mr.  De  Vilbiss 
was  elected  councilman  from  the  First  Ward 
in  Decatur  in  ISSG,  which  office  he  still 
holds.     He  is  a  worthy  member  of  St.  Mary's 


Lodge,  No.  lCi7,  Decatur,  and  Decatur 
Fncampmcnt,  A'o.  lljs.  I.  ().  ().  F.  He  waa 
one  of  the  originators  and  is  a  director  in  the 
l)ecatui-  Cemetery  Association,  and  is  also 
stockholder  and  director  in  the  Eagle  Manu- 
facturing Company  of  Decatur.  Mrs.  DeVil- 
j  biss  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
church.  Her  parents,  Samuel  D.  and  Mar- 
tha (Dorwin)  Kunkel,  were  formerly  from 
Ohio,  coming  thence  to  Adams  County,  In- 
diana, in  an  early  day,  when  they  locatefl  on 
a  farm  near  Decatur. 


^^^EZIN  TODD,  deceased,  was  one  of  the 
1  P\^  ^'"'^y  settlers  of  Wabash  Township,  and 
^*4:\  was  bom  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio, 
June  24,  1818.  He  was  reared  in  Ohio, 
and  received  a  good  education.  He  followed 
teaching  when  young,  and  came  to  Adams 
County  in  1837  with  Isaac  Wheeler,  for 
wdiom  he  cleared  laud  two  years.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  IJitler,  who  was  born  in  >\orthum- 
berland  County,  rennsylvania,  February  22, 
182-t.  Her  parents,  Samuel  and  ilary 
(White)  Bitler,  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  of  (4erman  ancestry.  They  re- 
moved to  Ohio  about  1833,  settling  near 
Lancaster,  where  the  mother  died.  The 
father  again  married  and  went  to  Jlissouri, 
where  he  also  died.  Mr.  Todd  entered  IfiO 
acres  of  land  in  what  is  7iow  Monroe  Town- 
ship, and  followed  school-teacliing  in  connec- 
tion with  farming.  He  remained  on  this 
place  about  seven  years,  then  sold  out  and 
came  to  Buffalo,  now  Geneva,  and  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  trade,  being  one  of  the  first 
to  open  a  store  in  the  ]ilaee.  He  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  of  Buffalo,  succeeding 
Jacob  Conkle,  who  was  the  first  postmaster. 
He  held  the  office  until  1870,  when  he  gave 
uj)  his  business  aiul  went  to  fanning,  follow- 


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IIISTUHY    OK    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


ing  tliiit  oPfii]>;iti<)ii  until  liis  doiilli,  wliieli 
occurred  Feliruiiry  17,  1S75.  lie  was  a 
iiieiuber  of  the  Metliodist  Episcopal  church, 
^fr.  and  Mrs.  Todd  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children — xMary  J.,  Sarah  A.  (deceased), 
Maria  II.,  Hannah  M.  (deceased),  Emma  J., 
Martha  E.,  .lohn  AV.  and  (leorge  B.  (de- 
ceased I.  After  her  lint^ljand's  death,  !Mrs. 
Todd  inarrietl  John  F.  McLellan,  who  was  a 
shoemaker  hy  trade,  and  a  native  of  Ohio. 
He  served  as  treasurer  ami  also  as  sheritf  of 
Hamilton  County,  Indiana,  lie  served  thi'ee 
years  in  the  late  war  as  Captain,  and  after  it 
closed  engaged  in  the  milling  business  in 
Hamilton  County,  Indiana.  He  lived  but 
two  years  after  their  marriage.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Lellan again  married,  October  13,  1880,  her 
third  husband  being  J\lr.  Tharp,  who  was 
born  in  Cayuga  County,  New  York,  Febru- 
aiy  11,  1811.  He  went  with  his  parents  to 
Ohio,  who  settled  near  Chillicothe,  wliere  he 
was  married.  He  was  engaged  in  building 
vessels  at  Cincinnati,  and  from  there  went  to 
Kentucky,  where  he  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar.  He  enlisted  as  a  private 
in  the  Thirty-fourth  Kentucky  Infantry,  and 
was  afterward  promoted  to  liegimental  Quar- 
termaster, holding  this  position  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  having  served  tliree  years. 
He  also  had  two  sons  who  served  in  the  war. 
Siion  after  his  discharge  lie  came  to  Hunting- 
ton County,  this  State,  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  From  there  he 
removed  to  New  Corydon,  Jay  County,  where 
he  resumed  his  practice.  His  first  wife  died 
there,  leaving  a  taniily  of  si.\  children.  After 
lier  death  he  came  to  Geneva,  where  he  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  his  profession,  which 
he  followed  until  his  death,  March  li,  1S8G. 
Mr.  Tharp  was  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
fraternity  for  many  years.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  John  P.  Porter  Post,  No.  83,  G. 
A.  K.      Mrs.  Tharp  is  still    living  at  Geneva. 


She  is  line  of  the  oldest,  if  nni  the  oldest 
settler  in  this  section.  She  well  remembers 
the  hardships  endured  by  the  early  settler. 
Neighbors  were  miles  apart,  no  roads,  no 
mills,  and  no  jjostotiice.  Mr.  Todd  taught 
the  first  school  in  the  township,  ilr.  Tharp 
was  a  minister  in  the  Protestant  ^lethodist 
church,  and  Mrs.  Tharp  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  P^piscopal  cluircli. 


fOHN  CHKISTEN,  Jr.,  farmer,  Root 
Township,  owns  forty  acres  of  land  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  16.  He 
was  born  in  Canton  Berne,  Switzerland,  Octo- 
ber 5,  184-4,  and  when  he  was  si.x  years  of 
age  came  to  America  with  his  parents  and 
seven  other  children,  landing  in  New  York 
in  July,  1850.  They  then  came  to  Adams 
County  and  settled  in  Hoot  Township,  where 
the  parents  are  still  living.  John  was  reared 
in  KootTownship,  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  He  commenced  teaching  in  the 
winter  of  1871,  and  taught  fourteen  winter 
schools.  In  1885  he  was  obliged  to  give 
up  teaching,  as  his  health  was  becoming 
impaired.  His  parents,  John  and  Elizabeth 
Christen,  were  born  in  Switzerland,  the 
father  August  7,  1812.  The  mother  is  a 
few  years  younger.  The  father  was  a  baker 
by  trade,  but  has  followed  farming  since 
coming  to  America.  Our  subject  was 
married  July  22,  1870,  to  Miss  Catherine 
Magley,  who  was  born  in  Pioot  Township, 
Adams  County,  December  25,  1850.  Her 
parents  were  Christian  and  Alary  Magley, 
who  were  born  in  Switzerland  and  came  to 
America,  settling  in  Licking  County,  Ohio, 
thence  to  this  county  previous  to  IbSO.  The 
father  died  in  August,  1861,  aged  thirty- 
nine  years,  and  is  buried  in  Root  Township. 
Mr.  and   Mrs.   Christen   have  si.\  children — 


,L, 


!     ) 


iv^i-?£&'»Mi°s»u^*«  «ii*i.¥ir<fir*wi*iiK^^  *r«  »Jij*ir:«i«r«?s?:i5??",i6M-.i»*i» 


BIOORAPHIGAL    .^KETCHES. 


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Edward  S.,  born  Docciubcr  13,  1871;  Arthur 
A.,  horn  Octoljer  12,  1S73;  MitDiie  (\,  horn 
Octoher  14,  1S75;  Henry  W.,  horn  Novein- 
her  25,  1S77;  Wilhurt  ('.,  horn  January  21, 
1S84:,  and  Uayniond  1).,  horn  Septemljer  lU, 
18S5.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  (Mii'isten  are  nienibers 
of  tlie  Lntheran  ehurcli,  and  in  politics  Mr. 
C'hri.sten  is  a  Demoerat.  In  the  sjiriiig  of 
1886  lie  was  elected  assessor  for  four  years. 
]\[rs.  Christen's  grandfather,  .Jacoh  Sliarer, 
was  horn  in  Switzerland,  and  died  in  Licking 
County,  Oliio.  Her  grandmother,  l\[ary 
Sharer,  was  also  horn  in  Switzerland,  and 
died  in  Root  Township.  At  the  time  Jlr. 
Sharer  settled  in  Adams  County,  game  was 
very  plenty,  he  having  shot  more  deer  than 
any  other  man  in  that  jiart  of  the  county, 
and  at  one  time  killing  two  at  one  shot,  and 
often  shooting  s(piirrels  and  other  game  from 
his  cahin  window,  ller  grandmother,  Jfrs. 
IMagley,  on  her  father's  side,  died  in  New 
York  soon  after  the}'  landed,  and  Air.  llagley, 
her  grandfather,  died  in  Licking,  Ohio. 


fACOB  YAGER,  was  born  in  Huron 
County,  Oiiio,  September  20,  1837.  His 
T^.  ])arents,  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Wysnp) 
Yager,  came  to  Adams  (Jounty  in  July,  1838. 
His  grandfather,  John  Yager,  came  from 
Germany  when  seven  years  of  age  and  settled 
in  Pennsylvania.  The  grandmother  Yager 
])robably  came  from  the  old  country.  His 
ancestors  on  both  sides  were  of  the  Protestant 
faith,  and  were  generally  farmers.  About 
the  year  1834  tlie  grandfather  came  to  this 
county  and  entered  two  sections  of  land, 
which  he  divided  with  his  children,  who 
were  nine  in  number,  six  sons  and  three 
daughters — Francis,  Henry,  Peter,  Samuel, 
Jacob,  Sarah,  Polly  and  Catherine.  The 
parents    were   married    in    Ohio,  and    began 


I  their  home  lite  in  the  forest  of  I'reble  Town- 
I  ship,    Indiana.     The  laml    had   no    improve- 
j  ments    whatever.      \Volves,   hears,  etc.,  were 
I  uncomfortalily    plenty,   and    deer,   and    other 
j  wild  game,  had   been   almost  entirely   undis- 
!  turbed.     The  tract  of  100  acres  which  Jacob's 
}  father  received  cost  about  Sl25  at  this  time. 
I  The  family   went   to   work    with   a   will;   tree 
j  after  tree  was  felled   ainl    acre   after  acre   was 
cleared    until     this    \n\.v\  of    the     wilderness 
j  became  a  productive   farm,  and   the  old   log 
cabin,  with   its   puncheon   tloor,  after    many 
years  of  faithful   service    was   supplanted   by 
modern  buildings.     When  the  parents  came 
to  this  county   there  were  very  few  settlers. 
There  was  no  county   seat,  and    papers  and 
deeds    were    recorded  at  Fort  Wayne.     Mr. 
Yager's    parents    had     five     children — John, 
Jacolj,  George,  Sarah  and  Polly  Ann;  Jacob, 
Sarah  and  George  are  living.      After  remain- 
ing on   the   homestead    until   he  was  twenty- 
five  years  of  age,  aiding  in  the  improvement 
and  cultivation  of  the  farm,  .lacob  Yager  and 
Mary  Jane  Archibald  were  united  in  marriage 
October    24,    1861.     They    began    domestic 
life    in    Preble    Township,    settling    upon    a 
forty-acre    tract  which  Jacob  received  from 
his  father.     The  land    was  partially  cleared, 
but  had  no  buildings  or  other  improvements. 
After   three  or  four  years  forty  acres  more 
were  added  to  the  original  tract,  and  a  frame 
barn    and    a    liewed-log    house    were    built. 
Tliey  lived  on   this  place  eleven  years,  then 
removed  to  Decatur,  where  they  resided  two 
and  a  half  years,    then  moved   to  St.  Mai-y's 
Townshiji  upon  a  beautiful  tract  of  land,  com- 
prising l'J7  acres,  situated  about  three  quar- 
ters of  a  mile   from   Pleasant  Mills   Village. 
It  is  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  township, 
having  150  acres  of  imjiroved  land,  and  being 
well    watered    by    two   creeks,    or    branches, 
which  renders  it  valuable  as  a  stock  farm   as 
well    as    for    agricultural     purposes.       ilrs. 


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Ysiger  was  horn  ^Vii^iist  1(5,  1X40,  diiiigliter 
(jf  Tliuniiis  and  J'lielie  (N'aleiitiiiu)  Arcliibalil, 
wIhi  wure  prtiliaM y  natives  of  Oliio  and  of 
Irisli  ancestry.  In  a  very  early  day  her 
])aternal  grand]iarents  removed  to  tlie  Terri- 
tory of  Indiana  and  entered  160  acres  of 
hind  in  Weils  County,  where  they  lived  until 
their  death.  Her  parents  removed  to  the 
same  county,  prohably  in  the  year  18-t8, 
wliere  the  father  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land.  Her  ancestors  were  all  Protestants, 
and  one  of  her  uncles,  John  Nevett,  was  a 
minister.  Her  great-grandfather  served  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  her  mother's  brother, 
AVilliiim  Valentine,  served  in  the  war  with 
^Mexico,  during  whicli  he  received  an  injury. 
Jacc^b  Yager  ai\d  liis  brother  John  were 
Soldiers  in  the  late  war,  John  serving  in 
Company  C,  Thirteenth  Indiana  Cavalry,  and 
Jacob  being  a  member  of  Company  D,  Fifty- 
tirst  Indiana  Infantrj'.  Jacob  was  mustered 
into  the  service  at  Indianapolis  in  1863,  from 
which  point  his  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Nashville,  thence  to  Pulaski,  where  the 
regiment  was  attacked  by  the  rebel  Ueneral 
Hood,  about  the  first  of  December,  1864,  and 
was  forced  to  retreat,  having  only  about  half 
the  force  of  the  enemy.  On  this  retreat 
many  very  bloody  and  liotly  contested  battles 
were  fought — Spring  Hill,  Columbia,  and 
otliers,  until  finally  tlie  historical  stand  was 
made  at  Nashville  between  Generals  Thomas 
and  Ilood.  Here  every  precaution  was  taken 
and  every  arrangement  made  for  the  desperate 
encounter  soon  to  be  made.  The  breast- 
works of  the  rebels  and  the  federals  were  in 
close  proximity,  an<l  the  men  could  converse 
with  one  another,  l^fany  little  trades  were 
made  by  the  pickets  on  both  sides.  The 
crisis  finally  came  on  the  15th  of  December, 
1864,  and  on  the  16th  the  battle  had  its  full 
force.  Jlr.  Yager's  regiment  was  engaged 
almost  the  entire  day,  during  which  time  he 


was  wounded  in  the  ear.  This  produced 
paralysis  of  the  jaw.  After  about  six  months 
the  ball  was  extracted.  On  the  evening  of 
thiit  dreadfid  day  the  regiment,  which  in  the 
moi'ning  had  answered  to  900  names,  could 
muster  only  aijout  300  names,  the  remainder 
having  been  sacrificed  in  battle.  The  dead 
were  literally  strewn  over  the  grounil  and  the 
scene  of  death  was  all  that  the  imagination 
can  picture.  Mr.  Yager  was  taken  to  the 
field  hospital,  thence  to  Nashville,  thence  to 
Jefferson  Hospital,  Indiana,  and  August  26, 
1865,  lie  received  an  honorable  discharge  for 
faithful  and  patriotic  service.  ^Vllen  he 
arrived  home  he  continued  the  occupation 
of  farmii]g,  which  he  has  continueil  to  the 
present  time.  He  has  been  honored  with 
various  official  positions,  viz.,  constable, 
assessor  of  Preble  Township  six  years,  city 
marshal  of  Decatur,  has  also  been  guardian, 
and  at  present  is  commissioner  of  Adams 
County,  serving  his  second  term.  His  father 
died  June  16,  1886,  and  his  mother  January 
6,  1887,  at  the  residence  of  lier  son  Jacob, 
aged  seventy-three  years,  eleven  months  and 
five  days.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  a  great  many  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Yager  have  had  five  children — Ida  May,  born 
September  8,  1876,  died  JMarch  1,  1880; 
Charles  William,  born  Angust  5,  1866; 
Margaret  Jane,  born  January  16, 1863;  Lydia 
Adaline,  born  November  2(5,  186*5;  Phebe 
Viola,  born  October  20,  1872. 


m 


rHEODORE     DEFFENPAUGII,     de- 


^i  j;fc  ceased,  was  an  early  settler  of  Adams 
^r'J  County,  born  in  Cumberland  Count}', 
Maryland,  September  20, 1826.  His  parents, 
John  and  Eleanor  (Martin)  Deffenbaugli, 
were  also  natives  of  ilaryland,  and  emigrated 
to  Ohio;   thence  to  Adams  County  about  the 


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BIOORAPHIGAL    HKETCUKS. 


year  1838,  settliiif:,'  in  Ilarttord  Tuwiiship,  I 
wliere  they  liveJ  until  their  death,  the  father 
(iyinir  in  1850,  and  the  niutlier  tive  years 
hiter.  i'lioy  liad  tive  chihlren,  and  were 
ineuiliers  of  tlie  ^[ethodist  Episcopal  ehurcli. 
Tiieodore  was  the  eldest  child.  He  remained 
at  home  nntil  he  reached  his  majority  and 
received  a  fjood  edncation.  lie  was  married 
July  29,  1852,  and  for  some  time  engaged  in 
school  teaching.  Jfrs.  Deti'enltangh  was 
formerly  Keziah  Clendennin,  l)orn  in  Fair- 
field County,  Ohio,  August  8,  1835.  Her 
parents,  James  and  ilehitable  (Fox)  Clen- 
dennin, were  natives  of  J'ennsylvania.  They 
removed  to  Fairfield,  Ohio;  thence  to  this 
county,  settling  in  Hartford  Township,  where 
the  father  died  in  March,  l^^M.  The  mother 
is  still  living.  They  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children,  ilr.  and  ^Irs.  Deti'enbaugh 
had  si.\  children,  and  were  members  of  the 
Baptist  churcii.  ^\y.  Deffenbangh  was  a 
soldier  in  the  late  war,  being  a  member  of 
Company  II,  Fiftieth  Indiana  Infantry,  and 
participated  in  several  battles,  Nashville 
being  the  last.  He  died  of  small-jio.x  Jan- 
uary 25,  ISGo.  Mrs.  Deffenbaugh  was  again 
married  to  .lesse  Carey  November  6,  1880, 
and  resides  in  the  village  of  (ieneva. 

4'^-\NDKEW  GOTTSCHALK,  treasurer  of 
tfr/\j  ^■^'^^"'''  County,  is  a  native  of  Indiana, 
-^i^  born  in  Nottingham  Townsliip,  Wells 
County,  November  13, 1850.  He  was  reared 
to  the  avocation  of  a  farmer,  and  was  educated 
in  the  district  and  private  schools  of  his  na- 
tive county,  remaining  on  his  father's  farm 
till  reaching  the  age  of  twenty  years.  He 
then  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Notting- 
liam  Township,  which  he  continued  till  1872, 
a  period  of  two  years.  In  ^lay,  1872,  he 
came  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  engaged 


in  the  drug  business  at  Linn  Grove.  In 
November  of  the  same  year  he  removed  to 
Uerne,  Adams  County,  where  lie  has  since 
been  associated  with  Peter  llott'man  in  the 
drug  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Ilotl- 
man  &  Gottschalk.  During  this  time,  from 
1877  till  1883,  he  was  postmaster  at  Berne, 
and  from  1880  till  1882  he  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  serving  with  honor  to 
himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents. 
May  9,  1875,  he  was  married  at  Botkins, 
Shelby  County,  Ohio,  to  ^fiss  Laura  Sheets, 
a  daughter  of  Philip  and  Cornelia  (ifonger) 
Sheets,  who  were  natives  of  Germany.  Four 
children  have  been  born  to  this  union,  three 
of  whom  are  living — Cora  B.,  Thurman  and 
Wilda  ]\[.  Oliver  E.,  their  second  child, 
died  at  ]5erne  May  15,  1883,  aged  over  four 
years.  Mr.  Gottschalk  was  elected  treasurer 
of  Adams  County  in  the  fall  of  188-1  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  and  in  September,  1885, 
came  to  Decatur  to  assume  the  duties  of  that 
office,  being  re-elected  to  the  same  oflice  in 
the  tall  of  1886,  in  which  he  is  serving  to  the 
best  interests  of  his  county.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Adams  County  Democratic  Central 
Committee  two  years,  from  1882  until  1881:, 
and  in  1884  was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic 
State  Convention  held  at  Indianapolis.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gottschalk  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Association,  of  which  he  has  been 
superintendent  of  the  Sabijath-scliool  for  the 
past  five  years.  The  parents  of  our  subject, 
Jacob  and  Christina  (Fox)  Gottschalk,  were 
natives  of  Wittemberg,  Germany,  where  they 
were  reared  and  married.  They  immigrated 
to  America  in  184:5,  first  locating  in  Mont- 
gomery County,  Ohio,  removing  shortlj'  after 
to  Wells  County,  Indiana,  where  the  fiither 
followed  farming  till  his  death 
January  26,  18(i7.  The  m 
the  homestead  in  Nottingham  Township, 
Wells  County,  in  1855.      Both  were  consistent 


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llISrORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


1^ 


1 


inc'inl)ers  ut'  the  Evaiii^elical  ^Vs^sociiition. 
Tliey  wei'e  the  pan-nts  of  niiie  cliildren, 
eiijht  of  wlioiii  »till  survive,  residing  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  State  of  Indiana. 


i  EWIS  AV.  LEWTON ,  farmer,  sections  17 
i|ry?  :ind  20,  Hout  Townsliip,  was  born  in 
■fe;?^  Adams  County,  Indiana,  Xovember  12, 
184:1.  Wlien  he  was  cpiite  young  liis  parents 
moved  to  Adams  County,  locating  in  Decatur, 
where  tlie  fatlier  died  in  December,  1845. 
Tlie  latter  was  born  April  1(1,  1815,  and  was 
married  March  2,  1837.  lie  was  a  son  of 
Terry  and  ]\Iary  (Le  .Masters)  Lewton,  tlie 
former  a  native  of  Carroll  County,  Ohio,  and 
when  a  young  man  came  to  Adatns  County, 
Indiana.  He  was  married  in  Adams  County. 
The  mother  was  born  in  Carroll  County, Ohio, 
April  11,  1816.  Her  parents  were  John  and 
Kancy  (Baxter]  Le  !M asters,  both  of  whom 
died  in  IJoot  Township,  ilr.  Lewton's  grand- 
mother died  January  9,  186-4,  iier  husband 
liaving  died  previously.  ^Ir.  Lewton  was 
reared  in  Decatur  and  Root  townships. 
After  his  father's  deatli  the  family  removed 
to  a  farm.  Tlie  mother  afterward  married 
Zedekiah  Brown.  There  were  three  children 
in  tlie  family  of  Mr.  Lewton's  father — Nancy 
E.,  born  February  10,  1838,  died  at  the  age 
of  thirteen  years;  Lewis,  and  Perry  A.,  born 
March  12,  1845.  All  were  born  in  Adams 
County.  There  was  one  half  brother — James 
B.,  born  September  22,  1852,  and  died  April 
16,  1853.  Our  subject  was  married  Novem- 
ber 24,  1867,  to  Miss  Sarali  J.  Robison, 
who  was  born  in  Adams  County,  and  died 
August  15,  1870,  leaving  two  children — 
Mary  E.,  born  August  20,  1868,  and  Lewis 
C,  born  December  6,  1869.  January  3, 
1872,  !Mr.  Lewton  was  married  to  Miss  ^lary 
Vj.    Robison,    a    sister    of     liis    foi'mer    wife. 


Iler  parents  were  James  and  Elizabeth  (Dou- 
den)  Rohison.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewton  have 
had  six  children — Carrie  D.,  born  January 
14:,  1873;  Amos  J.,  born  January  17,  1875; 
Ada  M.,  born  June  15,  1877;  Ilattie,  born 
June  27,1879,  died  August  27,  1880;  Edgar 
W.,  born  May  8,  1882,  and  Daisy,  born  Oc- 
tober 9,  1884-.  Politically  Mr.  Lewton  is  a 
Democrat.  He  was  elected  township  trustee 
in  1884:,  and  re-elected  in  1886.  Ilis  grand- 
father, Jacob  Lewton,  was  born  in  Maryland, 
and  died  in  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-five  years.  He  was  twice 
married,  and  the  father  of  fifteen  children. 
During  the  late  war  Mr.  Lewton  enlisted  in 
Company  K,  Eighty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry, 
and  served  three  years.  He  enlisted  August 
28,  1862,  and  was  mustered  out  July  19, 
1865,  at  Mobile,  Alabama.  His  first  battle 
was  at  Munfordville,  and  was  there  taken 
prisoner  September  17,  and  was  paroled  the 
same  day  and  went  to  Indianapolis,  lie 
returned  home  and  remained  until  exchanged. 
His  regiment  was  in  General  Bank's  Red 
River  expedition,  under  the  command  of 
General  A.  J.  Smith,  Division  Commander. 


;^^ORXELIUS    TRENTON    DORWIN, 

jife  ])liotographer,  of  Decatur,  is  a  native 
'^  of  Adams  County,  Indiana,  born  at 
Monmouth,  March  27,  1848.  His  father, 
Calvin  S.  Dorwin,  was  a  native  of  Vermont, 
a  son  of  Ziba  and  Anna  (Stackhouse)  Dor- 
win,  and  of  English  descent.  Cornelius 
Dorwin  was  eight  years  old  when  his  father 
died.  .His  mother  subsequently  married 
James  Spencer,  and  removed  to  Decatur. 
Our  subject  was  reared  at  Decatur,  receiving 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  city. 
AV^hen  fourteen  years  old  he  began  to  learn 
harness-making  with    1.  J.  Miesse,  which   he 


ir 


ii^ 


niOORAPinCAL    SKKTCUKS. 


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Si 


lollowed  until  seventeen  years  of  age.  lie 
then  went  to  Crawtorilsville,  Indiana,  where 
he  commenced  to  learn  photography  with  A. 
F.  ^\'ise,  remaining  with  him  until  he  readied 
the  age  of  nineteen  years.  In  February, 
1S67,  he  enlisted  in  the  United  States  Regu- 
lar Arnn',  and  was  assigned  to  Company  F, 
Twenty-tirst  United  States  Infantry,  and  was 
stationed  at  Fortress  Monroe,  at  Old  Point 
Comfort,  A'^irginia,  a  part  of  the  duty  of  his 
company  being  to  guard  Jetf.  Davis,  who 
was  at  that  time  a  prisoner  at  that  place.  In 
1869  his  regiment  was  ordered  to  the  Pacific 
coast,  and  was  transported  by  tlie  Union  and 
Central  Pacific  Pailway  Companies  on  the 
second  train  from  east  to  west  on  that  route. 
He  was  present  at  the  laying  of  the  last  rail 
on  ihat  road,  and  saw  the  golden  spike  driven 
in  by  a  silver  hammer.  His  regiment  was 
stationed  at  Fort  Goodwin,  Arizona  Terri- 
tory, until  1870,  to  look  after  the  Apache 
Indians,  when  his  term  of  service  expiring, 
he  was  discharged  February  4  of  that  year. 
'  He  then  returned  to  Decatur,  AdamsCounty, 
and  soon  after  went  to  Montgomery  County, 
Indiana,  and  opened  a  photograph  gallery  at 
AVaveland,  which  he  carried  on  until  1872. 
In  that  year  he  went  to  Edgar  County,  Illi- 
nois, locating  at  Kansas,  wliere  he  remained 
until  the  fall  of  1874:,  when  he  returned  to 
Decatur,  Adams  County,  and  has  since  been 
engaged'  in  the  photograph  business.  In 
188(3  he  began  quarrying  stone,  burning  lime 
and  dealing  generally  in  that  business,  and  at 
the  same  time  continuing  his  photograph 
business.  January  18,  1876,  Mr.  Dorwin 
was  married  at  Decatur  to  Miss  ]\Iaggie  J. 
Mc(iouagle,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Eliza- 
beth (Crawford)  McCxonagle,  of  Ohio.  They 
are  the  parents  of  three  children  —  Otis 
Joseph,  Kate  Elizabeth  and  Eva.  lioth  ]\Ir. 
and  ]\[rs.  Dorwin  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
tei'ian  church  at  Decatur.      He  is  a  member 


of  Kekionga  Lodge,  JSo.  (J5,  K.  of  P.,  in 
which  he  has  passed  all  the  chairs,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of 
Indiana. 


.TXABEX    HEDIX'GTON,   deceased,   who 

'i  >y?  was  one  of  the  old  and  honored  pioneers 
^F^  of  Adams  County,  was  born  in  Kno.x 
County,  Ohio,  January  6,  1822.  His  parents 
died  when  lie  was  a  child,  and  from  an  early 
age  he  was  thrown  on  his  own  resources  and 
worked  at  whatever  he  could  rind  to  do.  He 
was  married  in  Van  AVert  County,  Ohio,  in 
1840,  to  Sarah  Daniels,  who  was  born  in 
Knox  County  in  1821,  a  daughter  of  Pobert 
and  Susannah  (Osenbeaugh)  Daniels,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  German  descent. 
The  parents  of  ]\Irs.  lledington  were  mar- 
ried in  Knox  County,  and  to  them  were  born 
eleven  children.  They  came  to  Adams  County 
in  the  spring  of  1839,  and  after  living  a  short 
time  in  Monroe  Township,  went  to  Michigan, 
where  the  mother  died  about  1860,  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  church.  She  was  born  in 
the  State  of  Ohio,  October  16,  1802.  After 
his  wife's  death  jSIr.  Daniels  returned  to  In- 
diana and  lived  with  his  children.  He  died 
in  White  County  in  April,  1871.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  lledington  were  born  thirteen 
children,  of  whom  eight  still  survive — Sam- 
uel, Lhamon,  ilaria,  Isabell,  Julia  Ann,  Mi- 
nerva, George  15.  and  Arminda.  Henry  M., 
their  second  son,  enlisted  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion  when  eighteen  years  of  age,  and 
served  three  years.  He  was  wounded  twice. 
After  his  return  home  he  was  married,  and 
had  a  family  of  three  children,  two  of  whom 
survive  him.  Mr.  lledington  came  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  wliere  he  lived  two  years, 
and  then  settled  in  Van  Wert  County, 'seven 
miles  from    Monroe    Township,   as   early   as 


;i»T«i™a," 


"i»""HI.~£«" 


HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


184:1,  in  wliicli  v'^n'  lit;  settled  in  iSfimi'de 
To\vii8liip.  Ill  1^43  lie  settled  un  section  '-4 
of  ^loiirue  Towiisliip,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
iniiiiidcr  of  his  life.  His  first  pnrciiase  was 
foi'ty  acres,  on  which  a  log  cabin  had  been 
built,  lie  afterward  built  a  hewed  log  house, 
in  which  his  faniily  lived  until  1860,  when 
he  erected  a  comfortable  frame  residence,  in 
which  his  wife  and  three  children  still  reside, 
lie  followed  stock-raising  in  connection  with 
his  general  farmincr,  and  in  all  was  very  suc- 
cessful, and  was  enabled  to  add  to  his  origi- 
nal purchase  until  he  OM'iied  500  acres  besides 
what  lie  had  gi\en  to  his  children.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  staunch  Democrat,  casting  his 
tirst  Presidential  vote  for  James  K.  Polk, 
lie  was  a  kind  and  loving  husband  and 
father,  and  was  much  respected  throughout 
the  neighborhood  where  he  had  lived  for  so 
many  years,  and  his  death  caused  universal 
regret  to  his  friends  and  sorrow  to  his  family. 


^-m^'J^KE^^'  J-  JUDAY,  an  early  settler 
UT/Vi  '^^  Geneva,  was  born  on  the  old  liome- 
^si3^  stead  in  Wabash  County,  November  12, 
1841,  son  of  Henry  S.  Juday.  He  was  reared 
to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and  ob- 
tained his  education  in  the  district  schools, 
lie  remained  at  home  until  the  breaking  out 
of  the  civil  war,  then  enlisted  at  Hlufl'ton, 
September  11),  1861,  in  Comyjany  A,  Forty- 
seventh  Indiana  Infantry,  serving  until  Oc- 
tober 28,  1864.  lie  participated  in  the 
battles  of  New  Madrid,  ^lissouri,  Riddle's 
Point,  Fort  Pillow,  Port  Gibson,  Mississippi, 
Cliampion  Hills,  May  16,  1863,  at  which 
place  he  was  severely  wounded  in  the  arm 
and  sent  to  hospital.  After  liis  recovery  he 
was  transferred  to  the  A'^etei-an  Reserve  Corps, 
and  remained  in  the  service  until  his  dis 
charge.     He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Champion 


Hills,  and  jiaroled  .lune  6,  1863;  he  was  af- 
terward exchanged.  He  now  draws  a  pen- 
sion of  $30  a  month  for  iiis  injuries.  Upon 
receiving  his  liiial  discharge  he  returned  to 
Adams  County,  and  followed  farming  until 
1872,  and  settled  in  Geneva  tlie  following 
Jlarcli,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery 
trade  nine  years.  He  was  one  of  tlie  first 
grocers  in  (ieneva.  In  1881  he  sold  out  and 
went  into  a  general  store  with  G.  W.  Donart. 
After  a  few  months  he  purchased  his  part- 
ner's interest  and  conducted  the  business 
alone  for  three  years.  He  then  sold  out  his 
stock  to  Sol  Keister,  since  which  time  lie  has 
given  his  attention  to  fanning  in  a  small  way. 
^Ir.  Juda}'  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He 
has  served  as  president  of  the  school  board 
four  years,  and  is  a  member  of  the  John  P. 
Porter  Post,  No.  83,  G.  A.  R.  Mr.  Juday 
has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Amanda  Nelson,  whom  he  married  January 
18,  1864,  a  daughter  of  Elias  Nelson.  She 
was  born  in  Adams  County,  and  died  July  4, 
1865.  January  28,  1870,  he  was  married  to 
Ellen  M.  McColliiin,  a  native  of  Jay  County, 
this  State.  AVhen  she  was  two  years  of  age 
her  parents  removed  to  Fillmore  County, 
JSlinnesota.  Her  father,  Daniel  McCoUum, 
was  an  old  settler  of  Jay  County.  The  mother 
died  in  IMinnesota  and  the  father  in  Geneva. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  ilrs. 
-Juday  has  had  four  children,  two  now  living 
—Otis  O.  and  Alta  C.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Juday 
are  inembcis  t)f  the  United  Brethren  churcli. 
Henry  S.  .Juday,  deceased,  father  of  the 
preceding,  was  an  early  settler  of  Adams 
County.  He  resided  on  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  28,  Wabash  Township.  He  was 
born  in  Virginia  in  1808,  and  removed  to 
Darke  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  married. 
His  father  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia,  re- 
moved to  Preble  County,  Ohio,  and  died  in 
1867  in  Darke  County,  at  the  age  of  one  liun- 


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dred  vears,  one  iiimitli  and  twcnty-sevi'ii  days. 
IJis  wife  died  many  years  previDiis.  Henry 
S.  was  inarric<l  tn  Anna  [.andis,  who  was 
burn  in  Kanawlia  ('(ninty,  X'irgiina,  in 
181(i.  Her  parents  rennived  to  Darke 
County,  where  they  jiassed  the  I'enniinder  of 
their  (hiys.  ()ni-  snhjeet  came  to  Adams 
County  in  1S)J()  or  1837,  and  resided  on  his 
farm  until  1^04,  wlieii  lie  removed  to  Fulton 
County,  Illinois,  where  he  died  in  1SG7.  In 
polities  lie  was  I'ormei'ly  a  \\'hig,  hut  joined 
the  Kepublican  Jiarty  after  its  organization. 
lie  was  a  staunch  worker,  aiid-lield  tlie  ofHce 
of  justice  of  tlie  peace  for  inany  years.  Mr. 
ami  ^Ii's.  Juday  wei'e  nieitibers  of  the  ileth- 
odist  Episcopal  churcli  until  1864;  but  owing 
to  the  fact  that  there  was  no  church  of  that 
denomination,  they  united  with  the  United 
Brethren  church.  They  had  eight  children, 
four  sons  and  fo\ir  dauifhters. 


^^A]\[KS  NIIJLICK,  deceased,  was  one  of 
J-V ;  the  old  and  honored  pioneers  of  Adams 
^^  County,  settling  on  section  (5,  Washing- 
ton Township,  in  the  fall  of  1S34,  and  is  said 
to  have  been  the  ninth  settler  in  the  county. 
He  sidiseqnently  sold  his  farm  in  Washing- 
ton Township,  and  removed  to  Decatur,  where 
lie  resided  two  yeai's.  He  then  went  to  !Mis- 
souri,  where  he  lived  till  his  death  in  the  fall 
of  180'J.  Mr.  Xiblick  was  a  native  of  County 
Arnnigh,  Ireland,  born  in  the  year  1801.  lie 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  America  when 
two  years  of  age,  they  settling  in  New  York 
.State,  where  they  lived  several  years,  remov- 
ing thence  to  C)liio,  where  the  father  followed 
agriculttiral  pursuits.  Jaines  Niblick,  our 
subject,  learned  the  cooper's  trade,  which  he 
followed  a  number  of  years,  and  for  ten  years 
alter  coming  to  Adams  County  was  the  only 
cooper  in  the  county.      lie  was  twice  married. 


liis  first  wife  being  Anna  Carter,  by  wliom 
he  liad  eigiit  children,  five  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Her  fatlier  was  at  one  time  a 
slave-holder,  but  afterwar<l  freed  his  slaves. 
For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Nibli(d>  married  Sa- 
rah A.  Hall,  who  died  in  the  fall  of  1880. 
l']ight  children  were  l)oi'n  to  this  union,  one 
son  and  se\eii  daughtei's.  ^[r.  Xibliek  was 
numbered  among  tlie  enter])rising  and  pub- 
lic-spirited citizens  of  liis  county,  and  always 
took  an  active  interest  in  any  enterprise  which 
he  deemed  for  the  public  welfare.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and 
was  much  resjiected   by  all  who  knew  him. 


-'^j,''"-*.L"^ 

ANIEL  P.  BOLDS,  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man  of  Geneva,  was  boin  in  Hart- 
ford Township,  Adams  County,  Iniliana, 
October  9,  1857,  son  of  Alexander  Bolds. 
He  remained  at  home  until  he  became  of 
age,  and  I'eceived  a  common-school  educa- 
tion. After  reaching  liis  majority  he  fol- 
lowed farming  until  the  winter  of  1882,  when 
he  removed  to  (Teiieva  and  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  trade,  which  he  followed  until  the 
spring  of  1886,  then  sold  out  and  went  to 
Kansas,  where  he  purchased  640  acres  of 
land  in  Ford  and  Finney  counties.  He  owns 
jiroperty  in  Geneva,  where  he  still  i-esides, 
and  a  farm  within  one  mile  of  Geneva.  He 
was  married  September  26, 1879,  to  Josephine 
Dett'enbaugh,  a  native  of  Hartford  Township, 
daughter  of  Theodoi-e  Deflenbaugh.  She  was 
born  December  26,  1862.  They  jiave  two 
children — Forest,  born  July  24,  1880,  and 
F^rnest,  born  November  16,  1882.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Bolds  is  a  Democrat.  In  1880  lie 
was  elected  constable  of  Hartford  Townshij), 
and  served  two  years,  and  after  his  removal 
to  Geneva  in  1884  was  elected  councilman  of 
the  First  Ward,  and  was  appointed  president 


I  ■ »»«..»»  9  M«  •?lSl'?BiHi«ii» 


.  Ifji'^^iiBmt^tmHjt^fsi^m^  «wiH 


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■^H. 


lit) 


lUtiTony    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY 


of  tlic  Town  T^i.'inl,  nt>r\iii;^  two  ye;ir.-;.  He 
is  ;i  ineiiiln'r  of  tin-  Smis  of  \'ftf]'aiis,  .Joliii 
V.  Porter  Ciiiiij),  A'o.  11,  Division  of  Iiicliaiia, 
and  has  held  tlie  offices  of  lirst  lieutenant 
and  qnai'tennaster. 


imLEXAXDKIi    ISOLDS,  farmer,  section 
d/vU    '~*^'    "'"'t'oi"'^l    Township,   was   born    in 


■=?:•"  MedinaC'onnty,  Ohio,  August  2-2,1830, 
son  of  Philander  and  Clarissa  (Doris)  Pulds, 
also  natives  of  Ohio,  and  of  English  ancestry. 
'J'liey  were  mari'ied  in  Ohio,  where  the  father 
engaged  in  fanning.  They  came  to  Adams 
County  in  ISSH,  and  settled  in  what  was  then 
Alexander,  in  Wabash  Township.  They  re- 
mained here  several  years,  then  returned  to 
Ohio,  where  the  mother  died.  The  father 
started  to  \isit  a  son  in  ilichigan,  and  was 
never  heard  from  afterward.  They  had  two 
sons  and  three  daughters.  The  mother  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  in  Indiana  and 
Ohio,  and  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion. He  has  always  been  engaged  in  agri- 
culture. He  settled  permanently  in  Adams 
County  in  1856,  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
rc'iides.  In  September,  1862,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  II,  Fifty-first  Indiana  Infantry,  and 
served  until  June  12,  1865.  Ilis  regiment 
was  attached  to  the  Fourth  Army  Corps, 
under  General  Thomas.  He  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Franklin,  Columbia,  Pulaski 
and  Nashville,  where  he  was  severely  wounded, 
losing  his  arm  by  a  gun-shot  wound,  for  which 
he  receives  a  pension  of  S40  a  month.  After 
this  he  returned  to  his  liome  in  Adams  Coun- 
ty, where  he  has  since  resided.  Politically 
]\Ir.  Bolds  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  held  the 
otHce  of  township  treasurer.  He  was  married 
August  14,  1S5(),  to  Lehr  Pontius,  born  in 
Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  June  3, 1835,  daugh- 


tei-  of  Jdliii  I'dutins,  also  a  native  of  Pick- 
away Cuunty.  .Mrs.  Molds  is  a  mendjer  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  ]\[r.  and 
]\Irs.  Polds  are  the  parents  of  four  children — 
Daniel  P.,  (4eorge  "\V.,  Pnffina  ]\r.  and  Otta. 
Jlr.  I'olds  owns  200  acres  of  land,  and  is  en- 
gaged in  ireneral  farmiiiL'. 


fOIIlOD  DA  ILEY,  deceased,  was  a  farm- 
er, residing  on  section  34,  Root  Town- 
ship, wliere  he  owned  297  acres  of  land. 
He  was  born  in  St.  Mary's  Townshij),  Adams 
County,  September  21,  1842,  where  he  was 
reai'ed  on  his  father's  farm.  He  remained  at 
home  until  his  marriage,  which  event  occurred 
February  13,  1868,  to  iliss  Ilosanna  Mills, 
who  was  born  in  Van  "Wert  County,  Ohio, 
September  28,  1848,  where  she  was  reared 
and  married.  Ilei-  parents  were  Ilalsted  and 
j\Iai'y  (Pearson)  ilills.  Her  father  was  born 
in  New  Jersey,  April  4,  1812,  and  when  he 
was  very  young  his  parents  removed  to  ^liami 
County,  Ohio.  Soon  after  his  marriage  he 
removed  to  Van  Wert  County,  where  he  died 
November  11,  1885.  Her  motiier  was  born 
in  Aliami  County  November  29,  1822,  iind 
died  October  6,  1877,  in  Van  AVert  County. 
]\Ir.  Dailey's  father,  James  Dailey,  was  born 
in  Athens  County,  Ohio,  September  18, 1816, 
and  died  in  St.  Mary's  Township,  this  county, 
in  1863.  His  mother,  Mary  (Johnson)  Dailey, 
was  born  in  West  Virginia  September  22, 
1823,  and  died  December  3,  1885.  Mr. 
Dailey  died  February  5,  1886,  and  is  buried 
at  Mount  Tabor  cemetery,  St.  ilary's  Town- 
ship. He  left  three  children — Anna,  born 
May  25, 1869,  in  St.  Mary's  Township;  Mary, 
born  September  18,  1874,  and  Jesse  Davis, 
born  June  5,  1882.  Politically  Mr.  Dailey 
was  a  Republican.  !Mrs.  Dailey  is  a  member 
of    tlie    Methodist   Episcopal    church.      Mr. 


BlOUllAPHWAL    SKKTVHES. 


Dailey'ri  griimlfatlier  Dailey  was  born  in  Ire- 
land.     His   i^raiiiliiiotlHT,    Mary   Dailey,  was 

licirn  ill  \\'alcs.  His  n^rrat-i^i'amltatliLT  Dailey 
was  !i  iiativT  of  Irrlaihl.  Hi.--  iiiatei-nal  j^Taiul- 
t'ather,  Kiiucli  i'uar.-ini,  anil  his  graiiilmotlier, 
IkOsiiKi  (McC'lure)  rt'arson,  die!  in  ^liami 
('uiiiity,  ( )liiii,  the  latter  in  ISStJ,  aged  eii^dity- 
oight  year^.  .Mr?-.  i)ailey"s  n;randtather,  Will- 
iam .Mills,  \va>  a  native  (it"  New  Jersey,  and 
died  in  Miami  County,  ( )hi(i.  Her  grand- 
mother, Elizabeth  ((Jlark)  Mills,  died  in 
Miami  Connty  when  .Mrs.  Daih^y's  father 
was  eighteen  years  of  age.  Her  maternal 
grandfather,  Joseph  Julinson,  and  her  grand- 
mother, ]\[ary  (Davis")  Jolmson,  died  in  Van 
AVert  Coiintv,  Ohio. 


OliEIlT  K7AXS,  farmer,  sections  20 
\y?(  and  21,  lioot  Townshi]i,  owns  225  acres 
^^\  of  land,  more  than  lialf  of  it  being  un- 
der cultivation.  He  came  to  this  county  with 
his  parents  in  1832.  There  were  the  parents 
and  three  other  children.  The  father  came 
before  them,  in  company  with  two  or  three 
others  whom  he  liii-ed  to  cut  away  and  clear 
nine  acres  of  the  land,  and  put  in  corn  and 
potatoes.  He  then  returned  to  fiercer  County 
for  his  family  and  moved  tbem  to  the  farm. 
They  made  a  comf()rtal)le  jilace  for  camping 
out  while  their  cabin  was  being  built.  The 
cabin  was  made  of  round  logs,  scotched  down 
on  the  outside,  a  bedquilt  for  a  door,  and  no 
tioor.  The  father  liired  some  men  in  Ohio 
to  build  him  a  hewed-log  house.  It  was  two 
stories  in  height  and  was  built  by  Ebcnezer 
Ooddard.  It  was  commenced  soon  after  the 
family  arrived,  and  was  tinished  in  a  few 
weeks.  The  family  then  moved  into  it,  and 
the  first  one  was  converted  into  a  stable.  The 
one  made  of  hewed  logs  is  still  standing 
and  is  in   a  good   state  of  preservation.   Mr. 


Evans'  parents  were  John  K.  and  Margaret 
(Wise)  Evans.  The  fatlitr  was  born  in  Mont- 
iromery  Count}',  New  Vurk,  .November  1(), 
IT'Ju.  He  moved  to  Cuhimbii^,  Ohio,  in 
181(3,  where  be  remaineil  a  year,  tlien  in  1817 
removed  to  Dayton,  and  in  1822  to  Shane's 
Crossing,  thence  to  Allen,  now  .\ilains 
Count}',  this  State.  He  wa^  the  first  and  last 
associate  judge  of  Adams  Co\inty.  In  the 
sjiring  of  1^50  lie  mo\ed  to  I'ort  "Wayne, 
where  lie  died  Eebruary  22,  1^74.  lie  was 
very  successful  during  life  and  amassed  quite 
a  fortune.  When  he  was  twenty  years  old 
he  bought  one  year  of  his  time  of  his  father, 
and  went  among  the  farmers  and  worked  by 
tiie  month  until  lie  earned  money  enough  to 
buy  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Mercer  (bounty, 
Ohio.  This  was  his  beginning.  He  died 
leaving  an  estate  valued  at  s2()0,UOO.  He 
was  twice  married.  J>y  his  first  marriage 
were  five  cbildi-en,  three  of  whom  are  living 
—  Robert,  Elizabeth  and  Harriet.  By  liis 
second  marriage  were  four  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living.  Our  subject  was  married 
September  3,  1848,  to  ]Miss  Elizabeth  Sparks, 
who  was  born  in  Dearborn  County,  tliis 
State,  July  7,  182S.  When  she  was  a  child 
the  family  removed  to  Tippecanoe  County, 
settling  on  a  farm,  and  in  a  few  years  came 
to  Adams  County.  Her  father  was  a  Meth- 
odist minister,  and  had  charge  of  the  Decatur 
circuit  for  two  years.  He  then  went  to  De 
Kalb  County  and  had  charge  of  that  circuit 
two  years.  He  is  now  living  at  Kewanna, 
Eulton  County,  Indiana,  and  is  eighty  years 
of  age.  He  was  born  in  Ohio  January  11, 
1806.  The  mother  was  born  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  November'  11,  1805.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Evans  have  had  eleven  children — Cyn- 
thia A.,  born  August  9,  1845,  died  at  tiie  age 
of  five  months;  Harriet  J.,  born  December 
10,  1848;  Jemima  E.,  born  August  7,  1851; 
Robert  M.,  born  November  3,  1858,  died  in 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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early  intancv;  Jesse  F.,  Ixini  July  5,  ISoli; 
J'jiinia  J.,  boiii  March  '.l\,  1S5'J,  died  Sej)- 
teiiiber  8,  1SS-1-;  Ji.>liii  K.,  burn  September 
11,  ISfil;  Ida  K.,  bum  October  M,  18G5; 
Jereiniali  C,  burn  Octuber  20,  18(59;  Thomas 
E.,  born  Jidy  2iJ,  1872;  an  infant  unnamed 
died  very  youny.  In  jiolitics  !Mr.  Evans  is  a 
IJepublicaii,  and  lie  and  his  wile  are  members 
of  the  ^lethodist  church.  His  grandfather, 
Iiobert  Evans,  was  boiMi  in  ^fa^sachusetts, 
and  died  in  lioot  Townshi]),  this  county,  in 
1845,  aged  seventy-seven  years,  lie  came 
from  New  York  to  Adams  Count}',  and  died 
at  the  home  of  Robert's  father.  His  mater- 
nal grandfather,  John  AVise,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, and  came  to  America  when  a  cliild. 
lie  died  near  Richmond,  Indiana.  His  grand- 
mother, Sarali  (Sowders)  Wise,  died  in  Ohio, 
near  Pitjna.  She  was  American  born.  ]\Irs. 
Evans'  grandfather,  Jesse  Sparks,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio.  Her  maternal  grandparents, 
Stephen  and  Esther  (Reck)  Thorn,  died  in 
Tippecanoe  County.  Her  jiarents  were'.iesse 
and  Jemima  (Thorn)  Sparks. 


fOIIN  M.  IIOLLAAVAY,  undertaker  at 
Geneva,  was  born  in  Darke  County,  Ohio, 
"c  August  IG,  1834,  son  of  John  D.  Holla- 
way,  who  was  born  in  AVashington  County, 
Pennsylvania,  January  21,  1794.  His  motlier, 
Catherine  (Mill)  IloUaway,  was  born  in  Red- 
ford  County,  Pennsylvania,  February  4, 1795. 
Tlie  father  of  John  D.  was  Samuel  Ilollaway, 
born  in  England  in  175G.  He  and  a  brother 
came  to  America,  he  as  a  soldier  in  tlie  Con- 
tinental army,  and  his  brother  a  soldier  in 
the  Rritish  army.  After  the  war  Samuel 
settled  in  Washini^ton  County,  Pennsylvania, 
where  lie  married  and  following  farnung. 
In  1804  .he  removed  to  Wai-ren  County, 
Ohio,  near  Lebanon,  settling  on  a  farm.     In 


1818  he  jiiined  tlie  Shakers,  with  whom 
he  remaineti  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  185G,  at  the  age  of  a  hundred  years.  He 
reai'ed  a  family  of  four  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, John  1).  being  next  to  the  youngest. 
The  latter  enlisted  in  April,  1811,  and  served 
one  year  under  General  Harrison.  He  was 
at  the  siege  of  Fort  ]\Ieigs,  under  Major  Cor- 
coran, and  was  wounded  by  a  musket  ball  in 
the  right  thigh.  Soon  after  his  discharge 
he  was  married,  in  April,  1817,  near  Troy, 
Miami  County,  Ohio.  He  was  a  hatter  by 
trade,  but  after  his  marriage  followed  farm- 
ing. He  removed  to  Darke  County,  Oliio, 
on  Stillwater,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
September,  1860.  The  mother  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1872.  They  had  eleven  children,  four 
sons  and  seven  daughters,  our  suljject  being 
the  youngest.  The  entire  family  were 
members  of  the  Disciple  cliurch  except  Joiin. 
]\Ir.  Ilollaway  was  a  life-long  Democrat,  but 
he  voted  for  liis  old  commander,  Cieneral 
Harrison,  for  Pi'esiilent  in  1840.  Jolm  _M., 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of 
age,  then  went  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade, 
serving  two  years'  apprenticeship.  He  then 
traveled  until  he  was  twenty-tive  years  old, 
visiting  many  of  the  Western  States  and 
Territories,  Minnesota,  "Wisconsin,  Iowa, 
Missouri,  Kansas,  Indian  Territory,  and 
back  to  his  home.  He  was  married  xVugust 
12,  1859,  to  Zilplia  A.  Lukes,  born  in  ]\Iiami 
County,  Ohio,  June  8, 1836,  and  then  worked 
at  his  trade  one  year.  After  this  he  followed 
farming  until  1861,  wiien  he  enlisted,  April 
17,  in  Company  C,  Eleventh  Ohio  Infantry, 
in  the  three  months  call.  He  served  until 
August  27,  1861,  and  afterward  received  a 
commission  from  Governor  Tod,  as  First 
Lieutenant  of  Company  E,  Forty-fifth  Ohio 
Infantry,  serving  until  December  28,  1863, 
when  he  resigned   and    returned   home.      He 


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BIOORAPIITOAL    SKETCHES. 


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iii^tiiii  enlisted  us  ii  jiriviitc  in  the  Kiiriitli  Oliio 
llattcry,  ).ii;-lit  Artillfry,  mid  rciri;iiiieil  until 
the  close  cd'  tlie  war.  He  ua6  discharged 
Aiignst  10,  181)5,  at  Vii'kshnrg,  ]\rississi]ii)i. 
lie  participated  in  tlie  hattle  of  I'erryville, 
siege  of  Know  i lie,  and  ^e\ei-al  other  battles 
and  skirnii-iies.  After  his  discharge  he  re- 
turned to  I)arke  County,  ()hio,  and  soon 
after  was  electt-d  jn.~tiee  of  tin,'  peace,  which 
otHce  he  resigned  and  removed  to  Hidireville, 
Ilandi)lph  County,  this  State.  In  January, 
1872,  he  removed  to  Ceylon,  this  county, 
thence  to  Geneva  in  1874,  which  is  his  present 
home.  lie  worked  at  his  trade  until  Febru- 
ary, 1884,  when  he  engaged  in  the  under- 
taking business,  and  follows  that  e.Yclusively. 
JMr.  Ilollaway  is  a  Kepnblican  in  politics,  and 
is  a  member  of  .John  P.  Porter  Post,  Xo.  83, 
G.  A.  P.,  being  a  charter  member.  He  has 
served  three  terms  as  commander,  ilrs. 
Ilollaway  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Mr.  and  ^Mrs.  Ilollaway 
are  the  p;ii'ents  of  six  children — Hamlin  M., 
Ida  M.,  Irena,  Olla  (deceased),  Emma  and 
Goldie,  also  deceased.  They  have  an  adopted 
daughtei-,  ]\Iamie  lluckman. 


ENNISON  TIXKIIAM,  an  old  settler 
Ijl  of  Blue  Creek  Township,  was  born  in 
'^  A^ermont,  September  28,  1814,  a  son  of 
Isaac  and  Synthia  Tinkham,  natives  of  A'^er- 
mont.  In  his  infancy  his  parents  moved  to 
Franklin  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared, 
receiving  good  educational  advantages,  and 
in  the  winter  of  1837  accompanied  his  father 
to  Adams  Count}',  settling  in  iJlue  Creek 
Township,  where  they  improved  a  tract  of 
heavily-timbered  land.  He  has  been  success- 
ful, his  labors  heing  rewarded  by  a  com- 
petency for  his  declining  years.  He  owns 
180  acres  of  choice  land,  and   has  one  of  the 


pleasantest  homes  in  tlic  township.  He  is 
one  of  the  oldest  li\ing  pioneei's  of  the  coun- 
ty, and  rejoices  to  see  the  imjjrovements  that 
have  taken  place  in  the  last  half  century,  feel- 
ing a  sense  of  pleasure  in  the  thought  that 
he  has  been  instrumental  in  advancing  this 
improvement.  Mr.  Tinkham  was  mari'ied 
January  25,  1844,  to  Margaret  oeoies,  a 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  llanmih  Scoles, 
early  settlers  of  ^Vdanis  County.  To  them 
were  born  ten  children,  but  six  of  whom  are 
living — Lorenzo,  William  T.,  Francis  iM., 
Sylvester  C,  Kebecca  and  Elizabeth,  ilrs. 
Tinkham  died  September  18,  1885,  leaving 
a  large  circle  of  friends  to  mourn  her  loss. 
She  was  an  earnest  Christian,  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Tink- 
ham is  also  a  member  of  the  [Methodist 
church.     In  ]iolitics  he  is  a  Democrat. 


fOIIN  G.  SHEETS,  farmer,  resides  on 
section  10,  Union  Township,  where  he 
'■.<,  owns  seventy-two  acres  of  land.  He  was 
born  in  Harrison,  Van  AVert  County,  Ohio, 
December  6,  1853,  and  was  reai-ed  and  edu- 
cated in  liis  father's  district.  His  parents 
were  Jahue  and  Susanna  (Pummel)  Sheets, 
and  were  born  in  ('olumbiana  County,  Ohio. 
Poth  are  living  on  the  old  homestead  where 
thev  first  settled,  the  father  having  entered 
the  land  from  the  (lovernment.  The  farm 
consists  of  164  acres  in  Ohio,  and  sixty-four 
in  Union  Township,  this  county.     April  20, 

1882,  our  subject  was  married  to  Emma  D. 
Pailey,  who  was  born  in  Union  Township 
January  18,  1863,  and  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  her  native  county.  Her  father,  Na- 
thaniel Bailey,  was  born  in  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  August  8,   1818,  died    November  12, 

1883,  and  is  buried  in  Clark's  Chapel  ceme- 
tery. The  mother, Catherinc(Harvoiit)  Bailey, 


^•■n-.u^*** 


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ri«iM"«W*iO"ii«ai^;;i?'L>'frj»5Mii«^'»is']«Ci^^ 


JiraTOUY    OF    ADAMU    VOUNTY. 


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was  lioni  in  .\^lllanll  ('oiiiify,  ■Iiimiarv  IS, 
1S20.  'riiu  [laiviits  were  inaiTii.'(l  in  that 
county,  and  camu  to  Adams  ('ounty,  this 
State,  witli  tliree  cliildrcn.  After  tlieir  set- 
tleniciit  in  tliis  connty  eight  more  cliildren 
were  born.  Six  of  their  eleven  children  are 
living — three  in  Union Townshij), one  in  Allen 
County,  one  in  Ivoscinsko  County,  and  one  in 
Illinois.  .Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Sheets  have  had 
two  children — Oliver  Otto,  born  October  26, 
1SS:5,  died  August  8,  1884;  Mary  Aletha, 
born  September  14-,  1885.  The  Sheets  are  of 
Ciernian  ance.~trv.  His  grandfather,  (-Jeorgo 
]hiininel,  died  in  Ilarriton  Township,  Van 
AVert  C<jnntv,  ( )liio. 


RANCIS  JOSEPH  (4ILLIG,  a  pioneer 
•trs  of  .Vdams  Countv,  was  born  Kulsheim, 
^^'  na<leii,  (Termany,  December  11,  1818. 
AVhen  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age  lie  began 
to  learn  the  shoemaker's  trade,  serving  an 
apprenticeship  in  his  native  city.  In  1834 
he  came  to  America,  landing  in  jSTew  York 
(Mty  July  4.  He  worked  at  his  trade  in  New- 
ark, New  Jerse}',  Sajidusk}-,  Ohio,  IhiflaJo, 
iS'ew  York,  and  again  in  Sandusky,  until  Oc- 
tober 7,  1838,  when  he  came  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana.  There  being  but  three 
houses  in  Decatur,  he  rented  a  log  house 
across  the  river  and  east  of  the  town,  in  which 
he  lived  until  spring.  In  .Vugust,  183'J,  he 
moved  to  Fort  AVayne,  but  in  the  spring  of 
1841  he  returned  to  Atlams  Countv,  and 
located  in  Union  Township,  entering  120 
acres  of  land  from  the  (iovernment.  This 
land  he  cleared  and  improved  and  made  his 
liome  fifteen  years.  lie  then  sold  liis  farm 
and  subsequently  bought  another  in  "Wash- 
ington Township,  on  which  he  lived  until 
18G'J,  when  he  sold  his  farm  and  moved  to 
I>ecatur,  and  lias  since  lived  retired  from  act- 


ive business.  January  1,  1838,  :\Ir.  (iillig 
was  married  in  Sandti>ky,  Ohio,  to  Teressa 
Sj)uwler,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  born  Jan- 
uary 26,  1817,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary 
(Kellei')  Spuwler,  who  came  to  America  in 
1833.  ]Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gillig  have  iiad  eight 
children;  but  two  are  living — Amos,  a  lum- 
ber manufacturer  of  Decatur,  and  Julia,  wife 
of  Sylvester  Spangler,  a  contractor  and 
builder.  Leo  died  in  Virginia  City,  Nevada, 
Decemfier  27, 1868,  aged  twenty-seven  years; 
Simon  died  ]\Iay  15,  1869,  aged  twenty-two 
years,  while  a  student  at  the  mercantile  col- 
lege at  Pouglikeepsie,  New  York;  Mary  died 
December  14,  1852,  aged  five  years,  and 
three  died  in  intancy.  In  politics  ]\[r.  Gil- 
lig is  a  Prohibitionist.  Ke  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
The  parents  of  Mr.'  Gillig,  Lawrence  and 
Francisca  (Kolhler)  Gillig,  died  in  their  na- 
tive country,  the  father  in  1848,  atred  sixty 
years,  and  the  mother  in  1872,  aged  eighty- 
two  years.  They  were  both  reared  in  the 
faith  of  the  Catholic  church. 


fOIIN  ROIHSON,  a  progressive  farmer 
of  Adams  Coiinty,  residing  on  section  26, 
-.1  ilonroe  Townshij),  is  a  native  of  Peri-y 
County,  Pennsylvania,  the  date  of  his  birth 
being  September  1,  1835.  His  parents, 
John  M.  and  Jane  (Baxter)  Rohison,  were 
also  natives  of  the  same  State,  and  of  Scotch 
descent,  and  to  them  were  born  nine  children, 
three  sons  and  si.\  daughters.  They  immi- 
grated to  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  in  1837, 
and  there  engaged  in  farming.  The  mother 
died  about  the  year  1859,  aged  sixty-two 
years,  and  the  father  died  in  Van  AVert 
County,  Ohio,  in  1872,  aged  seventy-six 
years.  Both  were  membei'S  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church.     John   Kobison,   the  subject  of 


.■JBC^K™^i>^ja:}^m^a&a!'?:n:^ 


ijjo^i^jaS'iu 


*Q:»«i»!?ia*i»^KVa«jn 


'«i5?n»ja!;j«! 


E53Giiya^B?'S*Jj.'"«»*'"M*Jt»'?««^^»??ai?^  •«? 


lUOGltAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


3G9 


tins  sketch,  wiis  tho  youngest  cliilil  of  Lis 
I'atlier's  tainily.  lie  was  reaied  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  in  Crawford  Comity,  and  received 
liis  education  in  tlie  common  schools.  lie 
was  unitcil  in  mari'iai^'e  j\rurcli  31,  1857,  to 
iliss  Sarali  E.  Kt'rr,  wlio  was  born  in  Perry 
County,  Pennsylvania,  Aucrust  30,  1835,  a 
daughter  of  James  W.  and  llosanna  (JTcLel- 
land)  Kerr.  Of  the  nine  children  born  to 
this  union  seven  are  yet  living — Jane  R., 
Alva  B.,  William  E.,  John  .M.,  Martha  A., 
Orrin  M.  and  Esther  D.  After  his  marriage 
]\[r.  Robison  engaged  in  farming  in  Ohio, 
remaining  in  that  State  until  iVpril,  1805, 
when  he  came  to  Adams  County,  Indiana, 
and  bought  the  farin  in  ^lonroe  Township, 
where  he  has  since  followed  general  farming. 
His  farm  contains  eighty  acres  of  choice  land, 
and  its  entire  surroundings  show  the  owner 
to  be  a  thorough,  practical  farmer. 


^ESSE  MYERS,  of  Washin-ton  Townshii), 
"l^-V  was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio, 
-^  September  1,  1814,  son  of  David  and 
Catherine  Myers,  natives  of  Virginia  and 
early  settlers  of  Columbiana  County.  AVhen 
he  ■was  about  fourteen  years  of  age  he  went 
witli  his  parents  to  Stark  County,  antl  fonr 
years  later  to  Carroll  County.  He  was 
raised  among  the  ])ianeers  and  educated  in 
the  early  district  schools.  In  1837  ho  came 
to  Allen  CJoiint}',  this  State,  prior  to  its 
organization  into  a  county,  and  again  endured 
the  hardships  of  pioneer  life.  He  was  married 
]\[ay  28,  1838,  to  ]\[ary  .Alick,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  eight  children,  four  of 
wjiom  are  living — Cordelia,  >Vndrew,  Anna 
and  David.  Mrs.  Myers  died  in  1855.  One 
year  later  Mr.  .Myers  came  to  Adams  County, 
remaining  a  short  time  at  Monmouth.  He 
removed  to  AVasiiington  Township  in  the  fall 


of  1883.     lie  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
a  member  of  the  United  lirethrcn  church. 


fOMATIIAN  BOWER,  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  Kirkland  Township, 
-vi  residing  on  section  10,  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  born  in  liei'ks  County  Febru- 
ary 12,  1827,  a  son  of  Simon  aiid  Aima 
(Ramei)  Bower,  who  were  also  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  of  German  descent.  They 
subsequently  immigrated  to  Eairtield  County, 
Oliio,  where  they  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits till  death.  Botii  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  church.  Their  family  consisted  of 
fourteen  children,  four  sons  and  ten  daugli- 
ters.  Jonathan  Bower,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  reared  tn  the  avocation  of  a  farm- 
er, which  he  lunl  made  his  life-woi'k.  He 
remained  on  the  home  farm  till  his  mar- 
riage, January  13,  1850,  to  Lydia  Spade,  a 
native  of  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  born  De- 
cember 23,  1831.  Iler  parents,  Henry  and 
Rosanna  (Alsbough)  Spade,  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  re- 
spectively, the  father  born  in  1800  and  the 
mother  in  1807,  both  being  of  German  ori- 
gin. In  his  religious  faith  the  father  was  a 
Lutheran,  the  mother  being  a  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  church.  The  father  was 
a  farmer  all  his  life.  He  died  in  April,  1842. 
He  was  twice  married,  having  one  child  by 
his  lirst  marriage.  His  second  wife  was 
Rosanna  Alsbough,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife, 
and  to  this  marriage  were  born  eight  chil- 
dren, tliree  sons  and  live  daughters.  ^Mrs. 
Spade  is  also  deceased,  lier  death  taking  place 
April  G,  1885.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bower  have 
had  twelve  children  born  to  them — Henry 
T.,  Mary  A.  (deceased),  ^Margaret  E.  (de- 
ceased), Sarah  J.  (deceased),  Laura  A.,  Ros- 
anna,   Simon    J.,    Josephine    I.,   Charles  W. 


■I 

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='u*u">=s»i"i«<i«>«nLiaSff'i«^*« 


lIlsroHY     OF    AI>A3fS    COUNTY. 


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((lucrasi'il),  I'lniimi  Iv,  Ilattic  1!.  (ilfceiiscil) 
ami  (le(iri,'-('  I!.  At'tcr  liis  inari-iai;(.'  Mr. 
Ijower  uiii;agt'(l  in  farming  for  himself.  In 
18G1  lie  came  to  Adams  County  and  located 
on  the  farm  where  he  now  I'esidcs,  he  having 
]Uircliased  the  land  five  years  before  coming 
to  tlie  count}'.  His  farm  was  tlien  lieavily 
covered  witli  timber,  ami  his  first  I'esidence 
ill  the  county  was  l)uilt  of  lo^^rs,  as  well  as  his 
farm  buildiiiirs.  lie  now  has  ICiO  acres  of 
line  land,  se\'enty  acres  under  cultivation,  a 
comtortahle  and  commodious  residence,  aTid 
good  out-buildings  tor  the  accommodation  of 
his  stock.  ]Mi'.  and  Mrs.  l!ower  are  mem- 
bers of  tlie  Lutheran  church.  In  politics 
!Mr.  Bower  is  a  Democrat,  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  politics  of  his  county.  He  has 
held  the  ottice  of  assessor,  and  was  township 
trustee  almost  five  years. 


fACOi;  lUIIILKR,  dealer  in  lime,  hair, 
cement  and  jiltister  of  paris,  also  tlour 
,^  and  feed  exchange,  at  Decatur,  was  born 
in  Canton  Berne,  Switzerland,  February  25, 
1825.  Jle  learned  the  stone  mason's  trade 
when  a  young  man,  and  ti-aveled  as  a  jour- 
neyman mason  in  his  native  country  for  thi'ee 
years.  In  1847  he  came  to  America,  landing 
at  New  York  June  26,  and  from  there  went 
to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  until  IS-IS.  lie  then  went  to  Licking 
County,  Ohio,  and  there  worked  at  his  trade 
until  coming  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in 
1849,  where  he  has  since  resided  at  Decatur, 
with  the  excejition  of  five  years  spent  in 
Wabash  County.  He  followed  contracting 
after  settling  in  Adams  County,  and  in  1875 
began  dealing  in  lime  and  building  material, 
in  which  he  is  still  engaged.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  at  Decatur,  June  3,  1851,  to 
Rose    Ann   Chronister,  born   in   Cumberland 


County,  Pennsylvania,  a  daugliter  of  Henry 
and  l''.lizab(Mli  (I  Idem)  ( 'lironi>ter,  who  were 
iKitives  of  I'ennsylvaina  and  of  German 
descent.  They  came  to  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  in  1847,  when  Mi'S.  Biihler  was 
about  sixteen  years  of  age,"  and  located  on  a 
farm  in  Union  Township,  where  the  father 
died  in  1859,  aged  sixty-four  years.  The 
mother  died  at  Decatur  in  1SS4  at  the  age  of 
seventy-nine  years.  Both  were  memljers  of 
the  Lutheran  cliurcli.  Light  children  have 
been  born  to  Mi',  and  ^Irs.  Biihler,  of  whom 
six  are  living — Emanuel,  Samuel,  Jacob  B., 
.Vlbert,  John  and  Chester,  all  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Albert,  who  is  in  Nebraska,  being 
residents  of  Decatur.  Those  deceased  are — 
David  A.,  who  died  August  4,  1854,  aged  one 
year,  and  Henry  C,  who  died  ^lay  3,  1SG2, 
aged  six  years.  ]\Ir.  Biihler  is  a  member  of 
St  Mary's  Lodge,  No.  107,  I.  O.  O.  F.  In 
politics  he  affiliates  with  the  Democratic 
party.  He  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Evan- 
gelical church  at  Decatur,  and  for  three  years 
he  has  served  as  steward  of  his  church. 


^mLBERT   IIUSER,   proprietor  of  a  saw- 
lfk\'    mill   at    Preble    Station,    was    born    in 


^t—  AVabash  Township,  this  county,  Janu- 
ary IG,  1S59.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
when  fourteen  years  of  age  he  left  home  and 
hired  out  to  work  on  a  farm  until  he  was 
twenty-one  years  old.  He  then  purchased  a 
saw-inill  at  Friedheiin,  Preble  Township,  and 
still  owns  it.  In  Marcli,  1885,  he  bought 
the  mill  he  is  operating  at  the  present  time, 
and  manufactures  from  6,000  to  7,000  feet  of 
lumber  per  day,  and  at  Friedheiin,  5,000  feet 
per  day.  Mr.  Iluser's  parents  are  George 
and  ]\Iary  (Shnler)  Huser,  who  were  born  in 
Germany.  They  now  live  at  I^-iedheim. 
The  father  came  to   America  alone,  when  a 


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BIUUliA  I  '11 W  A  L    a  KETCHES. 


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m. 


yoiinL;  iniiii,  settliiii,'  in  ] 'ciiiisyKaiiia,  wlicre 
lie  WHS  niarricil.  IIo  cmiiil'  to  Ailiiiii;-  (Vmiity 
with  wile  and  tlii'uc  cliililren,  ami  since  iiis 
settlement  iiere  five  ciiiliireii  have  been  boi'n. 
JMr.  ITuser  was  married  OctoixT  31,  1882,  to 
Miss  Louisa  l>iiuck,  wlio  was  born  at  Fried- 
lieiin  Ang'ust  25, 1801.  Tliey  have  one  child 
—Paulina,  born  Auf^'ust  28,  1883.  Mrs. 
Iluser  is  a  daiifjhter  of  Uicdrich  and  !Mary 
(Werf'elmaiil  liuuck. 


yf^AVlJ)  MYERS,  a  son  of  Jesse  Myers, 
Ij'  :;/j  was  born  in  Allen  County,  this  State, 
^^  September  K),  1851.  In  earl}'  youth 
he  learnetl  the  warron-maker's  trade,  which 
he  followed  about  six  years,  spending  about 
two  and  a  half  years  in  ^[ichiganand  Kansas, 
lie  was  married  October  liJ,  1870,  to  ^liss 
Mary  J.  Di'age.  Of  their  three  children, 
two  are  living — Harvey  E.  and  Nellie  E. 
November  27,  1885,  lie  married  Minerva 
Crunister,  and  they  have  one  child — I^Iinerva 
M.  Mr.  Myers  owns  eighty  acres  of  e.xcelient 
laud,  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  Politi- 
cally he  alHliates  with  the  Pepubliean  ])arty. 


'REDEKICK  J.  MAC  AVIIINNEY,  a 
,Vp4  square  timber  merchant,  of  Geneva,  was 
^^'  born  at  St.  Thomas,  Elgin  County,  Can- 
ada, Province  of  Ontario,  September  9,  185t). 
Ills  parents  were  natives  of  Ireland,  and  immi- 
grated to  Canada,  where  they  were  married, 
and  remained  there  until  their  deatii.  The 
father  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  and  was  the 
owner  of  a  tannery  and  boot  and  shoe  store, 
lie  died  in  IbGfi,  aged  forty-six  years.  They 
had  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. Frederick  J.  attended  the  common 
schools  until   thirteen   years   of  age,   ami  re- 


niaincd  at,  home  until  eighteen  years  old, 
then  went  U<  work  lor  a  ship  timber  lirm. 
He  afterward  worked  at  the  same  business  in 
Michigan,  (Jhio  and  Indiana,  and  still  follows 
it  as  his  principal  occupation.  He  resided  in 
Celina,  Ohio,  four  years  previous  to  coming 
to  Geneva  in  1883.  He  entered  into  part- 
nership with  Mr.  J.  J.  AVatson,  which 
partnership  still  continues.  He  was  married 
at  Ceylon,  "Wabash  Township,  November  22, 
1884,  to  Miss  Nettie  Ellsworth.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mac  AVhinney  have  one  child — Pertlia 
E.,  born  January  2-1. 188G.  ]\Ir.  Mac  AVliin- 
ney  is  a  membei-  of  Decatur  Lodge,  No.  571, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  having  united  witli  the  order 
at  Sarnia,  Canada,  about  1880,  at  which  time 
he  became  a  member  of  Victoria  Lodge,  No. 
56.  While  a  resident  of  Ceylon  he  held  the 
ottice  of  postmaster,  receiving  his  ap]ioint- 
ment  under  President  Artluir's  administra- 
tion. He  served  until  he  resigned,  after  the 
cliange  in  the  administration. 

,T;i  FAN  I  )ER  DUNBAR,  the  present  county 
/  '■/?  Commissioner  of  Adams  County,  was 
■^^^  born  in  French  Township,  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  September  G,  1850,  a  son  of 
Lucian  and  Philena  (French)  Dunbar,  the 
father  a  native  of  New  York  and  of  English 
ancestry,  and  the  mother  of  Scotch-Irisli  an- 
cestry. Her  father,  Joseph  French,  was  one 
of  the  old  pioneers  of  Adams  County,  and 
the  first  settler  of  French  Township,  wliich 
township  was  named  in  hoiiorof  him.  Lean- 
der  Dunbar,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  remaining  on 
the  iiome  farm,  in  French  Township,  until 
eighteen  years  of  age.  He  then  went  to 
Walworth  County,  Wisconsin,  where  he  re- 
mained a  year,  then  returned  to  Adams 
County,  and  engaged   in    the  manufacture  of 


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II I  STORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


wa^'Oiis  iiiid  fun-iiii^es  at  Itia'iia  N'i.sta,  in 
llarttbrd  Township,  wliicli  lie  has  since  tbl- 
luwed  witli  snccess.  lie  is  tlic  patentee  of 
tiie  celebrated  l^xcelsior  lioad  Curt,  tor  wiiich 
lie  received  a  patent  in  April,  1SS(5.  J[r. 
l)unl)ar  was  married  at  I'uena  Vista  in  Feb- 
rnary,  1S75,  to  ]\liss  ^lary  ]\[esliliarger,  wlio 
was  lioni  in  .\ilains  Connty,  of  German  par- 
ents, her  father,  Jacob  I\Ieshbarger,  being 
a  pioneer  of  the  connty.  Three  cliildren 
have  been  born  to  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Dunbar — 
Minnie,  Carrie  and  ^[erlin.  In  politics  Mr. 
Dunbar  affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party. 
In  1S7G  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Hartford  Township,  serving  as  such  two  years, 
when  he  resigned.  In  1878  he  was  ap- 
pointed county  commissioner  to  till  a  vacancy 
caused  by  the  death  of  Benjamin  Rnnyan, 
and  has  since  helil  that  office  by  re-election, 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 
Mrs.  Dunbar  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
church  of  Linn  (irove. 


I 


'ILLIAM  ir.  II.  BEARS,  mason  and 
member  of  the  village  board,  (-Jeneva, 
fey^  was  born  in  Jackson  County,  Ohio, 
September  19,  183'J,  son  of  Lyman  Bears,  an 
old  settler  of  Nottingham  Township.  Will- 
iam came  with  his  parents  to  AVells  County 
when  one  year  old,  where  he  was  reared  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  received  a  common 
school  education.  lie  remained  at  home  un- 
til nineteen  years  of  age,  then  went  for  him- 
self, working  at  anything  he  could  find  to  do. 
lie  was  married  April  8,  1868,  to  Eliza  A. 
Reitf,  who  was  born  in  Pickaway  County, 
Ohio,  July  17,  1838,  daughter  of  John  K. 
Keitf,  deceased.  Mr.  Bears  remained  in 
Wells  County  until  1881,  then  removed  to 
(-icneva,  wlicre  he  still  resides,  and  where  he 
has  followed  his  trade,  with  the  exception  ot 


!  i^  «!!Jai?»i«ji?»i>' li^  M^a  •  i»i»ii"  «  ? 


two  years,  wliiMi  he  served  as  village  mar- 
shal. .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bears  are  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  church.  Their  cliildren 
are — John  W.,  born  April  20,  1859;  Jen- 
nettaP.,  born  September  24,  1860;  Mary  A., 
born  October  23,  1862,  died  May  17,1868; 
Lyman  U.  G.,  born  November  '28,  1864; 
Henrietta,  born  February  18, 1867;  Sarah  C., 
born  August  31,  1869;  Eliza  M.,  born  Sep- 
tembej;  8,  1873;  Jesse  M.,  born  March  3, 
1880,  and  an  infant   unnamed,  deceased. 


►T«J- 


"^7j|  and  carriages,  Decatur,  Indiana,  was  born 
^^  near  Shanesville,  Ohio,  November  22, 
1838,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Gotf) 
King,  the  former  of  German  and  the  latter 
of  Scotch  descent.  In  1842  Jacob  King 
moved  to  Decatur,  Indiana,  being  the  first 
blacksmith  to  locate  permanently  in  the  town, 
lie  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  until  1871, 
.when  lie  retired  on  account  of  old  age.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  lie  served  as 
marshal  of  Decatur,  coiistalde  of  Washington 
Township  and  sheriff  of  Adams  County,  lie 
is  still  living  in  Decatur,  aged  seventy-seven 
years.  The  mother  died  in  1853,  aged  thirty- 
eight  years.  From  the  age  of  four  years 
John  King  was  reared  in  Decatur,  and  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools.  When  seven- 
teen years  of  age  he  began  to  learn  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  and  in  1861  became  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  and  brother  David,  the 
linn  being  known  as  Jacob  King  &  Sons. 
In  1862  he  and  his  brother  formed  a  part- 
nership under  the  Hrin  name  of  J.  &  D.  King, 
which  continued  until  August  of  the  same 
year,  when  his  brother  enlisted  in  the  defense 
of  his  country;  but  in  1865,  on  his  return 
from  tlie  army,  the  partnership  was  again 
formed  and   continued    until  1868,  when  our 


9 
I 
I 
I 
I 
I 

I 
i 
I 
I 
I 


rOIIN    KING,  manufacturer   of  wagons        \\ 


-  a."i  s^i^Ii*"--"*-" 


i,'i»«*H.*ij"»l?ii?'iii'?ii?»i^'.*5ii 


ii.i>l? 


fi'ii'^ii)?!u*i*?t''»^'a*iii.S?»L'i  j^ij/fii 


.'ii?ti?^i.i*»4**ii?»iL^i»5^?'U'»iii??irvr«iii«t.>'i?i< 


BIOORAPUICAL    SKETCHES. 


373 


sulijcc't  withdrew  from  the  firm  and  hci'iime 
estal)libiieil  in  iiis  present  Ijusiness.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1885,  lie  added  to  liis  otlier  Imsiness 
that  of  harness-malciiig,  J.  J.  Glutting  be- 
coming associated  with  him  in  that  branch 
as  Jviny  A:  (Tlutting.  In  politics  Mr. 
Kinu;  is  a  I)emoci'at.  From  18G6  till  18G8 
he  served  as  conncilman  of  the  vilhige  of 
Decatur,  ami  in  IsyO  was  elected  trustee 
of  AVashingtou  Township,  holding  the  latter 
office  by  re-election  until  18i85.  lie  is  a 
member  of  the  ^Masonic  and  Knights  of 
I'ythias  orders.  lie  was  married  November 
21,  18G1,  to  Catherine  E.  Eganson,  a  native 
of  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  daughter  of  Joseph 
L.  and  JIary  E.  (ymith)  Eyanson.  They  have 
had  three  chililren,  but  one  of  whom  is  liv- 
ing— Charles  ^I ;  Artie  died  February  5, 
1SG3,  aged  one  year,  and  Mary  Ellen  Decem- 
ber 29,  1870,  aged  eight  years.  .Mrs.  King 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 


fOSEPlI  E.  MANN,  farmer,  section  19, 
Hoot  Township,  owns  152  acres  of  land 
-.^  on  sections  19  and  30.  lie  was  born  in 
Preble  Townsliip  December  13,  1846,  where 
he  lived  until  he  was  twenty-six  years  of  age, 
when  he  came  to  his  present  farm.  His  edu- 
cation was  limited  to  the  common  schools 
of  his  father's  district.  His  father,  Joseph 
Mann,  was  born  in  Elyria,  Ohio,  September 
2G,  1811,  and  when  a  child  his  parents  re- 
•  moved  to  Lorain  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
lived  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  the 
family  removed  to  Prel)le  Township,  upon  a 
piece  of  wild  land.  They  came  to  this  county 
in  1829  or  1830,  and  were  among  the  first  in 
the  township.  The  father  took  up  160  acres 
of  land,  and  here  the  grandfather  lived  for  a 
few  years,  then  moved  a  iew  miles  south, 
where    he   died    in    1853.     The    step-grand- 


mother died  iu  Decatur  in  May,  1  SSI,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-live  years.  1\\y.  J\Iaiin'B  own 
grandmother  was  killed  in  Lorain  County  by 
a  stub  falling  upon  her  while  assisting  her 
husband  in  clearing  some  land.  His  mother, 
Sarah  J.  (MeAVhorter)  IMann,  was  born  near 
Sandusky,  Ohio.  When  the  was  twelve  or 
fourteen  years  of  age  her  ])arents  brought  her 
to  lioot  Township,  where  she  was  married. 
There  were  seven  children,  six  daughters  and 
one  son — Clements  died  when  a  child  in 
Preble  Townsliip,  and  was  buried  at  the 
Mann  cemetery;  Diana,  widow  of  Charles 
Ply;  Joseph  E.,  Rachel,  wife  of  August 
Streib;  Caroline,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four 
years;  Susanna,  wife  of  AVilliam  Nahrwold; 
Delila,  wife  of  Albert  1  hitler.  Joseph  E. 
was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  has  always  been  a 
farmer.  He  is  now  engaged  in  handling  and 
feeding  stock  in  connection  with  farming. 
He  was  married  May  29,  ISTO,  to  Miss 
Louisa  C.  Kiess,  who  was  born  in  Liverpool, 
Medina  County,  Ohio,  July  17,  1851.  She 
came  with  her  parents  to  Adams  County  when 
she  was  seventeen  yeai's  of  age,  the  family 
settling  in  Preble  Township.  Her  parents, 
John  and  Louisa  (l>etz)  Kiess,  are  still  living 
on  that  farm.  They  were  born  in  Wurteni- 
burg,  Germany.  The  father  was  only  six 
years  old  when  he  came  to  America,  but  the 
mother  was  eighteen.  They  were  married 
in  Liverpool,  Ohio.  Her  grandparents,  Fred- 
erick and  Margaret  (Wolf)  Kiess,  both  died 
in  Liverpool.  Her  maternal  grandparents, 
Frederick  and  Catherine  (Spieth)  Petz,  were 
born  in  Germany;  the  former  died  in  Medina 
County,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  died  in  the  old 
country.  J\Ir.  and  Mrs.  ilann  have  seven 
children — Izora  J.,  born  February  1-1,  1871; 
John  E.,  born  September  10,  1872;  Harlow 
W.,  born  January  2,  1871;  Susanna  L.,  born 
September  21,  1875;  Ethel  S.,  born  January 
15,  1878;  Nettie  S.,  born   May  8,  1880,  and 


f^tl  si'Ji»;tiJ!f  j:JliHiii:2l: 


«-il3ti-i>/.'^^  .-:a,ia:«-,-^..jB. 


HISTORY    OP    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


't'' 
\l^'^ 


Ivobert  J.,  burn  Miirdi  1, 188-i.  Mr.  ]\l!iiiii'6 
graiulthtlier,  Uobert  MeWhorter,  died  in  Itout 
Tuwnsliip  in  iS-iU.  His  grandniother,  Diana 
■SleWlKirter,  died  I'Vltruary  "20,  1872,  at  the 
ai;e  ol'  .-evcnty-nine  year.-.  I'ulitically  Mr. 
^lann  is  a  Democrat.  He  and  ids  wife  are 
members  of  tiie  iletbodist  Episcopal  churcli. 


§()1L\  JULVNDYBKKUY,  an  early  settler 
of  Washington  Township,  was  born  in 
_  Carroll  Connty,  Oliio,  July  23,  1.S38, 
son  of  Abraham  and  Sarah  l!ruiidyl)erry,  also 
natives  of  Carroll  County,  In  iS-i-t  he  came 
to  Adams  Connty  with  his  parents,  who  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  ilonroe  Townsliip, 
and  endured  the  usual  toils  and  privations. 
Both  parents  died  in  1877.  Of  tJieir  ten 
children,  nine  are  living — Isaac,  Maria, 
Peggy  A.,  Je.sse,  Alexander,  John,  Abraham, 
Sarah  J.,  Tabitha  and  ]']zra,  the  latter  being 
deceased.  Mr.  Jirandyberry  has  been  reared 
in  this  county,  a  life-long  farmer,  receiving  a 
rudimentary  education  in  tlie  early  pioneer 
schools.  He  was  mairied  ^[arch  3,  1857,  to 
]Miss  Harriet  Smith,  who  was  born  October 
18,  1832,  daughter  of  Jose])h  U.  and  Lydia 
Smith,  the  latter  of  wlioni  is  deceased.  She 
was  born  in  Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  and 
came  to  Adams  County  with  her  parents  in 
1841,  settling  in  "Washington  Township. 
They  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the 
township.  Of  their  eleven  children,  ten  are 
living — Anna  M.,  Mary  S.,  Sarah  L.,  Samuel, 
Simon,  Simeon,  Joseph,  Ellen,  Orpha,  Hattie 
and  Victoria,  who  is  deceased.  Anna  M.  is 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Gass,  of  AVashingtou 
Township;  Mary  S.  married  Thomas  JJuck- 
master,  of  Decatur;  Sarah  L.  married  Frank 
Froat,  of  Washington  Township.  Mr.  Brandy- 
berry  settled  upon  his  present  farm  on  section 
25,  Washington  Township,  about  1807.     He 


owns  120  acres  of  good  hind  that  i^  well  cul- 
tivated. In  Augu^t,  18(52,  he  enlisted  in 
Com]iany  U,  Eighty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry, 
and  became  attached  to  the  army  of  the  West, 
lie  was  in  the  battle  of  Munfordvilie,  where 
he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Confederate 
forces,  and  immediately  ])aroled.  He  then 
came  iiome  on  furlough,  and  shortly  after 
returned  to  his  regiment,  serving  about  fifteen 
months.  He  was  discharged  in  February, 
1863,  and  re-eidisted  in  the  winter  of  1805, 
in  Company  F,  One  Ilundreil  and  Forty- 
seventh  Indiana  Infantry,  having  been  com- 
missioned Second  Lieutenant.  He  continued 
in  the  service  about  four  months,  when  the 
war  closed,  and  he  was  discharged  in  ^lay, 
1865.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  244:, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Decatur,  belongs  to  the 
Christian  Union  church,  being  one  of  the 
trustees  of  that  ciuirch,  and  in  politics  is  a 
IJepublican. 

r^ICIIAEL]\IcGrJFF,slieriti'of  A.lams 
County,  Indiana,  was  born  in  Darke 
County,  Ohio,  November  14,  1848, 
a  son  of  John  and  Martha  (Bannois)  ]\Ie(-irili", 
also  natives  of  Darke  County,  the  father  of 
Irish  and  the  mother  of  English  parentage. 
John  ^IcGi'ift'  is  a  twin  brother  of  Richard 
McGrift",  of  IJandolpli  County,  Indiana.  He 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-dealing  in 
his  native  county  until  1871,  when  he  came 
to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  now  lives 
with  his  son  Jlichael.  He  is  a  Democrat  in 
political  faith,  casting  his  first  vote  for 
Andrew  Jackson.  His  wife  died  in  Darke 
County  in  1850,  aged  thirty  years.  They 
had  two  sons — Michael,  and  Simon,  a  dealer 
in  live-stock  at  Selma,  Ohio,  ilichael  ilc- 
Grifl'  was  reared  on  a  farm,  remaining  there 
until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he    began 


■  im^jiiy'a.~»f^i''u™ 


,;'^m^m.  "a, 


i^a.»:ui«  i.^  i  »'.«?  I«  " 


t>'««l»«J»'-'o.»li« 


If  i»  ?  « i'!'i«?'ji  ■*•  »i  ? 


•jkHxs *j-<'»ii*ii»*"'ui  ?«stf>-  =ija  r.?»i  V  i ?:"j  i«i:il i?rj.-i'-oi»'?i»"-*  i'»-'»i» «>Ti"i "M*-ij*ii} JJi ??'iiiTi.'Wi"ji sfa^*«gJifc°'agML*'J ) 


niOGRAPUICAL    SKETGUES. 


'4', 


ifi' 


teacliiiig  sellout,  wliioli  he  followed  two  years. 
Ill  iSdS  he  went  to  I'Urt  IJeeovcry,  Ohio,  iiiul 
with  his  brother  dealt  in  live-stock  until  1S71, 
wlien  he  came  to  Adams  Cuiiiity,  and  tirst 
located  at  (Jeneva,  where  he  was  eii^aireil  in 
the  grocery  business  until  18S().  In  18^2 
Mr.  McGriff  was  elected  sheriff  of  Adams 
County,  and  was  re-elected  in  ISS-i.  j\[arcli 
5,  1875,  he  married  Mrs.  Lizzie  (Darr)  AVall, 
a  native  of  Jay  County,  Indiana. 


'ILLIA:M  p.  ]\[ALL0XEE,  fanner, 
\)^  section  I'J,  Uoot  Township,  was  born 
l-^^/TT:  in  Miirro\v  Cinuit}-,  Ohio,  August  30. 
183'J,  and  when  he  was  eleven  years  of  age 
his  father's  family  came  to  Indiana,  settling 
on  the  farm  now  owned  and  occujiied  by 
AVilliam.  'Die  father  purchased  this  farm,  and 
after  a  \'t:w  years  traded  it  \\>t  another  farm, 
and  "William  afterward  bought  it,  and  now 
occu])ies  it.  lie  bought  it  in  1864  while  lie 
M'as  in  the  army,  or  rather,  gave  his  father  a 
power  of  attorney  to  buy  it  for  him.  He 
enlisted  August  8,  1802,  in  Company  If, 
Eighty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  in 
the  service  three  years.  His  tirst  engagement 
was  at  Munfurdville,  Kentucky,  where  his 
regiment  was  captured,  with  the  rest  of  the 
Ihiion  army,  which  amounted  to  about  4,000 
men.  Tliey  were  paroled  and  went  home  on 
thirty  days  furlough,  and  were  soon  exchanged 
and  ordered  back.  The}'  went  to  ileniphis, 
serving  under  General  Sherman  on  his  raid 
to  ileridiau,  ]\Iississippi,  then  returned  to 
]\Iemphis,  going  thence  to  assist  I'anks  in  his 
lied  River  expedition;  thence  to  Memphis 
again,  and  went  on  an  expedition  to  Tujielo, 
!Mississi])pi;  thence  to  St.  Louis  to  drive  back 
General  Price;  thence  to  Xashville,  where  the 
regiment  was  under  (-leneral  Thomas;  thence 
to  Eastport,  Tennessee,  where  they  wintered; 


'*«•.»"  t^'  m  "--^  i« 


'e,"JI?'jn'ft;l'?«'' 


thence  to  New  Orleans,  and  to  ]\[obile,  Ala- 
bama, assisting  in  the  capture  of  that  city. 
Mr.  j\[allonee  was  mustered  out  at  Mobile, 
and  paid  olf  at  Indianapolis.  He  was  married 
October  22,  18(;5,  to  ]\[iss  Kachel  Archibald, 
who  was  liorn  in  ,Vdams  County  April  6, 
1841,  and  was  i-eared  in  Root  Township. 
Her  parents  were  Thomas  and  Melinda 
(Andrews)  Archibald,  the  former  born  in 
1800,  died  in  Kovember,  1871;  the  latter 
born  in  1803,  died  in  Eebruary,  1873.  Her 
grandmother,  Melinda  (Cecil)  Andrews,  died 
in  Root  Township,  this  county,  wdiile  living 
with  one  of  her  daughters.  Her  gi'andfather, 
Jonathan  Andrews,  died  in  ]\Iaryland.  Mr. 
irallonee's  father,  James  ^lalluiiee,  was  born 
in  Bedford  County,  Pennsylvania,  Octoijer 
20,  1814,  and  when  a  young  man  removed  to 
Morrow  County,  Ohio,  where  be  was  married. 
He  came  to  this  county  April  17,  1850, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  The  mother, 
^largaret  (Pittman)  ilallonee,  was  born  in 
]\Iorrow  County,  Ohio,  February  8,  1817, 
and  was  reared  in  her  native  place.  She  died 
June  17,  188(5,  and  is  buried  in  Peynolds' 
cemetery.  His  grandfather,  James  ISIallonee, 
died  in  Pennsylvania,  when  his  son  , lames 
was  a  boy.  The  grandinotheT,  Delilah  (Cul- 
lison)  ilallonee,  died  in  this  county,  and  is 
buried  in  Reynolds'  cemetery.  His  maternal 
grandfatlier,  P)enjamin  Pittman,  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  4)arke  County, 
Indiana.  His  grandmother  Pittman  died 
when  her  daughter  ilargaret  was  young. 
The  grandfather  Pittman  was  three  times 
married,  and  was  living  with  his  third  wife 
at  death.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Malionee  have  had 
seven  children — Maggie  ^L,  born  May  30, 
1809;  Ida,  born  March  15,  1872;  Ada,  Sep- 
tember 13,  1877;  Ettie,  September  27,  1881; 
Dallas,  born  October  24,  1800,  died  August 
28,  1868;  Luella,  born  January  9,  1875,  died 
December  8,  1870;  Emerson,  born  December 


^u  »:•**»"«*'*»» 


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'ii  =?  m'?*!  Mi^Gi™  H? 


ii"'M«i.~S"S;»i«'»iiVli«^?ni3*iS 


TLI 


HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


r, 

'ill 

4 


.J" 

li 


i 


2,  ISTil,  (lied  September  11,  ISSO.  Politi- 
cally Mr.  .Malldiiee  is  a  Repnlilicaii,  and  he 
iiiid  his  wife  ai'e  memhers  of  the  Methodist 
Kpiseoj)al  church. 


/ffACOB  STULTS,  farmer,  section  31, 
"!|^'[  Union  Township,  came  to  this  county  in 
J?C  1842,  settling  on  section  25,  AVashington 
Township.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  ]jar- 
ents,  brothers  and  sisters.  An  older  sister 
had  preceded  them  and  settled  in  Van  "Wert. 
She  is  now  in  Longmont,  Colorado.  James 
II.,  a  brother,  also  lives  in  Longmont,  near 
the  sister.  The  youngest  brother,  Samuel  F., 
is  living  in  Guthrie  Countj',  Iowa,  and  is 
president  of  the  Exchange  Bank  at  !Menlo. 
Catlierine,  wife  of  Jesse  Erandebery,  resides 
in  Washington  Township.  The  parents  were 
John  and  Polly  (Sprinkle)  Stults.  The  father 
was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Pennsylva- 
nia, in  1801,  and  when  he  was  one  year  old  his 
parents  removed  to  Highland  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  reai'ed  and  married.  In  1836 
the  family  removed  to  Fayette  County, 
where  they  lived  until  their  removal  to  this 
county.  The  -father  died  in  Washington 
Township  in  Octolier,  1845,  and  is  buried  at 
Pleasant  Mills,  St.  Mary's  Township.  The 
nujther  was  born  in  Rockingham  County, 
Virginia,  in  1789,  being  twelve  years  older 
than  the  father.  She  went  to  Highland 
County,  Ohio,  with  her  mother  when  a  young 
woman,  her  father  havingdied  in  Rockingham 
County.  Her  mother  died  in  April,  1805, 
and  is  buried  beside  the  father.  Tiie  latter 
was  a  school-teacher  by  occupation,  having 
taught  twenty-one  years  and  nine  months. 
The  mother  was  a  Christian  woman,  doing 
good  to  all  with  whom  she  associated.  Jacob 
Stults,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
probably    born    in    Pennsylvania,    and    died 


about  the  year  1850  in  Highland  County, 
Ohio.  The  grandmother,  (_'atherine  Stults, 
was  also  born  in  Pennsylvania,  anil  dietl  in 
Highland  County,  on  the  old  farm.  His 
maternal  grandfather  died  in  Virginia  and 
the  maternal  grandmother  died  in  Highland 
County.  His  great-grandfather  Stults  was  un- 
doubtedly born  in  Gernniny.  Jacob,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Highland 
County  December  24,  1826.  When  the 
family  came  to  this  county  they  settled  upon 
a  ]>iece  of  land  purchased  of  John  Archer,  in 
Fayette  County,  Ohio.  They  came  here  in 
September,  and  camped  out  until  the  cabin 
was  built.  It  was  a  round-log  cabin,  and  in 
this  little  dwelling  all  the  children  were 
reared  to  maturity,  and  here  the  fatlier  died. 
Our  subject  was  married  June  1,  1852,  to 
Lucinda  Sheneman,  who  was  born  in  Waj'ne 
County,  Ohio,  and  died  in  April,  1865,  leav- 
ing four  children — Catherine  V.,  John  D., 
Wesley  H.  and  James  D.,  all  of  whom  are 
living.  Mrs.  Stults  was  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Catherine  Sheweman,  the  former  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of 
Germany.  Both  parents  died  in  Branch 
County,  Michigan.  In  November,  1865, 
Mr.  Stults  was  married  to  ]\rary  Frank,  who 
was  born  in  Atlams  County,  Indiana,  in 
1845,  and  died  in  1S82,  leaving  one  child — 
Alvali  Lee,  born  July  18,  18G8,  wlio  is  at 
home  with  his  father.  June  23,  1885,  Mr. 
Stults  married  !Mrs.  Mary  J.  Woodward,  nee 
McConnehey,  who  had  three  living  children 
by  a  former  marriage.  They  were  Lewis  E., 
Nolan  D.  and  Nellie  L.  Mrs  Stults  was  born 
in  Adams  County  in  1856,  and  has  always 
resided  here  with  the  exception  of  three  years 
spent  in  Kansas.  Her  grandfather,  John  Mc- 
Connehey, was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  died 
in  Hoot  Township.  Her  grandmother,  Cath- 
erine McConnehey,  was  also  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, •  and   died    on    the    old    homestead 


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BIOORAPHIGAL    SKETCHES. 


wliere  tlie  t'atlier  died.  Her  inotlier  was  tbr- 
luerly  Jfary  Ilackett,  and  was  born  in  Ohio. 
Siie  came  to  Adams  County,  wlicre  she  was 
married,  and  died  in  April,  1877,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-eiglit  years.  She  was  a  scliool-teacher 
by  prot'ession.  ^Tr.  Stnlts  was  elected  sheriff 
in  18G2,  and  served  tour  years,  and  has  held 
several  towii.-hip  otiices,  lie  is  engaged 
with  F.  M.  IJergcr  in  buying  and  shipping 
horses.  They  shippeil  nineteen  carloads, 
eighteen  of  them  being  shipped  from  Cory- 
don,  Wayne  (\Minty,  and  one  from  Van  Wert, 
and  have  shipped  7S8  horses  np  to  date. 


§11.  ALEXANDER  PORTER,  deceased, 
who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  physicians 
(_>f  Adams  County,  was  born  in  AVcst- 
moreland  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year 
1S05.  lie  grew  to  manhood  in  that  county, 
receiving  as  good  an  education  as  the  schools 
of  that  earl}'  day  afi'orded.  AVlien  a  young 
man  he  went  to  Ohio  and  engaged  in  tlie 
practice  of  medicine  at  Mansfield,  and  after- 
ward practiced  in  various  parts  of  the  State. 
lie  was  married  in  Ohio  in  1829,  to  Jliss 
Sarah  Pomeroy,  who  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1812,  and  to 
this  union  were  born  nine  children,  three  sons 
and  six  daughters.  Dr.  Porter  came  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  October  5,  1847,  and 
opened  an  ottice  at  Decatur  and  followed  his 
chosen  profession  until  his  death,  whicli 
occurred  in  October,  1860.  lie  engaged  in 
the  drug  trade  in  1850,  which  he  followed 
several  years,  when  he  sold  out  on  account  of 
fiiiling  health.  His  drug  business  has  since 
clianged  hands  a  number  of  times, and  is  now 
carried  on  under  the  firm  name  of  Dorwin  & 
llolthouse.  The  tloctor  made  his  home  in 
Adams  County  from  1847  until  his  death, 
with    the    exception   of    two  years   spent   in 

?«''?«  ■•iV»«'=!J  »M»i~»*?«  »'il5J»~^^^ 


Ohio,  and  during  his  residence  built  up  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice,  and  gained  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  all  wlio  knew  him. 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Porter  were  of  Irish  and  Eng- 
lish origin  respectively.  Roth  were  worthy 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  cliurch. 


,^^PRAIIA:\I  railing,  a  farmer  of 
iifMi  Washin^rton  Township,  was  liorn  in 
^r---  Cumberland  Count}',  Pennsylvania, 
December  12,  1831,  son  of  Jacob  and  Eliza- 
beth Railing,  also  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
wlio  reared  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are 
living — Joseph,  Daniel,  Jacob  and  Abraham, 
lie  spent  his  early  life  in  his  native  State, 
and  when  in  his  seventeenth  year  came  to 
Crawford  County,  t)liio,  with  his  mother  and 
other  members  of  the  family,  his  father  hav- 
ing died  when  he  was  nine  years  of  age.  He 
resided  in  Crawford  County  about  five  years, 
and  in  1853  came  to  Adams  County,  where 
he  purcliased  eighty  acres  of  land,  in  company 
with  ills  brother,  in  Root  Township.  It  was 
mostly  woods,  and  he  and  his  brother  Daniel 
went  to  work  to  clear  it.  After  a  residence 
of  twenty-two  years  in  Root  Townshi]i,  he 
removed  to  Washington  Township,  settling 
on  section  24,  again  in  the  woods,  lie  ijuilt 
a  plank  house,  anil  after  living  there  seven 
years,  had  forty-seven  acres  cleared.  In  the 
spring  of  1883  he  removed  to  his  present 
farm  on  section  25,  Washington  Township, 
where  he  owns  140  acres  of  land,  ninety-two 
of  wliich  are  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 
He  was  married  October  20,  1857,  to  ^liss 
Martha  J.  Gesinger,  a  native  of  this  county, 
and  daugliterof  Samuel  and  Rachel  Gesinger, 
early  settlers  of  Adams  County;  the  mother 
is  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Railing  liave  si.x 
children — Elizabeth  A.,  Jacob  S.,  Ulysses  S., 
Salome    E.    and    i\Iillie    T.      j\Ir.    and    Mrs. 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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liuiliiig  belong  to  the  Evangelical  Association, 
and  are  respectecl  uienibors  of  society.  Afrs. 
Kailing's  parents  had  eleven  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  living — David,  Hnsan,  Raciiel 
A.,  Sarah  E.,  Porter,  .lohn.  Her  father 
entered  eiglityacrcsof  land  in  Hoot  Township. 
.Mr.  Itailing  is  a  liepuhlican  in  politics. 


fOIIN  FRANK,  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising  on  section  33,  Dlue  Creek 
Township,  was  born  in  Darke  County, 
Ohio,  February  11,  1840,  a  son  of  Jose])h  and 
Nancy  Frank,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  of  (lennan  descent.  They  were 
the  parents  of  iive  children,  four  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity,  and  at  the  present  writing 
onh'  two  are  living.  Jolm  Frank  grew  to 
manhood  in  Adams  County,  Indiana,  his 
youth  being  spent  in  assisting  his  father  with 
the  work  of  the  farm  and  in  attending  the 
district  scliools,  where  lie  obtained  but  a  lim- 
ited education,  lie  was  married  in  Van 
AVert  County,  Ohio,  November  3,  1807,  to 
li[r6.  Sarah  Robison,  who  was  born  in  Lick- 
ing County,  Ohio,  January  2,  1837,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Charlotta  Chilcoate.  Four 
of  the  five  children  bi.irn  to  this  union  are 
living— Samuel  L.,  James  C,  Laura  C.  and 
David  ]\L  Jesse  W.  is  deceased.  By  her 
marriage  with  Robert  Robison  ^Irs.  Frank 
had  two  children,  named  Charlotta  and  Mil- 
lard, both  of  whom  are  deceased.  ]\Ir.  Frank 
has  lived  in  Adams  County  since  two  years 
of  age.  lie  began  life  for  himself  in  limited 
circumstances,  but  through  a  persevering  en- 
ergy combined  with  good  management  he  has 
met  with  success  in  his  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  is  now  the  owner  of  eighty-four  acres  of 
choice  land  on  section  33,  F>lne  Creek  Town- 
shi]),  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  In 
])olitics    Mr.    Frank    is    a    Democrat.      Mrs. 


Frank  is  a  member  of  the  JMethodist  Episco- 
jial  church.  Roth  are  respected  citizens  of 
the  community  in  which  they  reside.  Their 
postofficc  is  Rerne,  Indiana. 

**"•    "  '*  "*** 

fOIIN  IIISEY,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Jefferson  Township,  was  born  in  Slien- 
~-,^  andoah  County,  A^irginia,  August  17, 
1820,  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Sarah  (Smoots) 
Ilisey,  who  were  natives  of  the  same  State, 
and  of  German  descent.  About  the  year 
1824  the  father  settled  with  liis  family  in 
Licking  County,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  on  the 
same  farm  till  his  death.  The  mother  also 
died  in  Ohio.  They  were  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  four  sons  and  seven  daugh- 
ters. John  Ilisey,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  four  years  old  when  he  was  brought  by 
his  parents  to  Licking  County,  and  there  he 
grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  receiv- 
ing a  common-school  education.  Ilis  father 
was  a  millwright,  and  he  worked  at  that 
trade  for  sevei'al  months.  After  becom- 
ing of  age  he  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  which  he  followed  about  seven 
years.  He  was  married  '  in  1845,  to  ^liss 
Sarah  Parr,  who  was  Injrn  in  Ireland.  To 
this  union  one  child  was  born,  a  daughter, 
^largaret,  who  is  now  deceased.  .Mrs.  Ilisey 
died  in  1846,  and  September  1,  1853,  Mr. 
Ilisey  was  again  married  to  Miss  Rarbara  E. 
Snyder,  a  native  of  Licking  County,  Oliio, 
born  January  13,  1834.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  where  they 
were  married,  and  in  1833  settled  in  Licking 
County,  where  the  father  still  resides.  Tlie 
mother  is  deceased.  They  were  of  German 
origin.  They  had  born  to  them  nine  chil- 
dren, six  sons  and  thi-ee  daughters.  Mr.  and 
-^[rs.  Ilisey  are  the  parents  of  live  children — 
Sarah,   Franklin,   Alice,    Dora  and   Alary   E. 


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/)•  /  Oa  II A  PII  re  A  L    SKETCH  Est. 


Ill    DefeiiiUcr,    1^53,    .Mr.     Ili^ey     fiune   to!  tlie  elilo^t  of  the  family,    bum    January  29, 

Adams   ('ouiity,    Indiana,   and  .-cttled  on   the  |  1S37,    is    tliu    \vi<lu\v    of    lit-v.    ^Villianl    A. 

farm  where  lie  now  resides,  whiehhe  had  eii-  \  Fisher,  and   lives  in   Itoot  TuWHshij).      John, 

tered  Septemher  17,    ISol,    at  that  time  eon-  \  who  was  bom  January  0,  1S3U,  died  January 


sisting  of  3~()  acres  of  heavily  tiniborcil  land. 
Ilis  first  dwelling  was  a  hewedJog  house, 
1S,\24  feet  in  bi/.e,  in  which  his  family  re- 
sided fill  iheir  present  eunimudious  and  sub- 
stantial Irame  re^iden(•e  was  built.  When 
he  first  settleil  in  the  county,  tiie  .-^urround- 
ini;  country  was  in  a  state  of  miture;  then 
wild  animals  roamed  through  the  forests,  and 
the  howling  of  wolves  was  frequently  heard. 


11,  iSuC),  His  father,  Daniel  .Mallonee,  was 
born  in  Maryhind  April  27,  ISO-i,  and  when 
a  boy  moved  to  Pennsylvania  with  his  par- 
ents, where  they  remained  until  1832,  and 
then  moved  to  Morniw  ( 'oiinty,  Ohio.  His 
father,  James  ^^alloIlee,  died  there  in  1837. 
I.)aiiiel  Alallonee  was  married  in  Ivnox  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  October  10,  ls3-i,  to  Mary  Dehart, 
wdio   was   born  April   !J,  1816.     They  joined 


]\Ir.  and   .Mrs.  llisey  have  experienced  many  !  the    ]\Iethodist    Episcopal    cluireh    in    183G. 

They  moved  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in 
April,  1852,  where  the  father  died  March  27, 
1874,  and  was  buried  in  the  lieynolds  ceme- 
tery.     A  week  previous  to  his  death  he  was 


of  the  hardships  and  privations  incident  to 
pioneer  life,  but  are  now  living  in  comforta- 
ble circumstances.  They  have  witnessed  the 
manv  changes  that  have  taken  place  during 


the  pa»t  thirty  years,  seeing  the  country  j  permitted  to  look  into  heaven  by  a  vision 
change  tVum  a  wilderness  into  well  cultivated  1  that  lasted  severalhours.  Ilesaw  the  pro])hets; 
farms,  and  pnisjiei-ons  towns  and  villages,  j  he  spoke  of  St.  Jolin,  wdio  he  longed  the  most 
Their  home  farm  now  contains  ItiO  acres  of  '  to  see.  lie  said  he  looked  much  younger 
choice  land,  the  remainder  having  been  given  '  than  he  exjiected.  He  saw  his  mother,  who 
to  their  children.  Mr.  Ilisey  has  always  i  was  shouting  to  see  him  coming.  He  saw 
taken  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  I  his  son  John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven- 
township.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of!  teen.  Ilesaw  many  of  his  neighbors  whom 
the  town  board  under  the  old  organization,  I  he  did  not  expect  to  see,  and  some  were  not 
and  also  as  trustee  under  the  new  organiza-  there  that  he  expected  to  see.  lie  had  no 
tion,  and  for  several  years  held  the  otKce  of  desire  to  live  longer.  He  said  there  was 
justice  of  the  peace.  Politically  he  is  a  I)em-  i  nothing  in  this  world  to  live  for,  since  he  had 
ocrat,  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for  looked  upon  that  beautiful  country.  The 
James  K.  Polk.     In  his  religious  views  he  is     niother,    .^[ary    (Dehart)    ]\Iallonee,    is    now 


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a  Deist. 


HOMAS    \y.    :\[ALLONEE,  a  farmer 
residing   on    the    northwest   comer   of 


n  'f 

^J  section .29,  Root  Township,  is  a  native 
of  ^[orrow  County,  Ohio,  born  September 
13,  1812.  In  April,  1852,  when  he  was  past 
nine  years  of  age,  he  came  with  his  parents 
and  two  other  children  to  this  county.    Sarah, 


livintr  w'ith  her  son.  Grandfather  Dehart 
died  in  Knox  County  in  February,  1887. 
Grandmother  Dehart  died  in  AVilliamsCounty, 
Ohio,  in  1874.  Thomas  W.  ifallonee  was 
married  November  25, 18G(),  to  Miss  Susanna 
Baker,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Catharine  (Ilower)  Baker,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  Iler  niother  died  in  18tJ4, 
and  her  father  is  living  in  this  township. 
Mrs.  ilallonee  died  January  17, 1872,  leaving 
one  child — Emory  Allen,  born  November  21, 


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382 


HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


IStM.  Xovoinbcr  14,  1872,  Ur.  Miilloiiec 
WHS  luanifd  to  Miss  Sanili  E.  Ivimscy,  who 
Wiis  born  in  Ijliie  ('ivuk  Township  i[:u-cli  24, 
1845,  tlie  dau^^liter  of  AVilliain  and  Niincy 
(Dill)  Kinisev.  Jlr.  and  l\Irs.  Afallonee  liave 
one  child — Ellis  Emerson,  born  October  22, 
1878.  ]\[rs.  T.  ^V.  Mallonee's  great-grand- 
fatlier  Ivinisey  came  from  England  with  one 
child,  named  John,  who  was  married  in  New- 
Jersey  to  Mi^s  Lida  liolen,  and  moved  to 
Carroll  Cunnty,  Ohio,  in  1820,  and  from  there 
to  Allen  Connty,  Indiana,  in  1838,  with  a 
family  of  ten  children — Thomas,  Barbara, 
"William  L.,  Eliza,  Joseph  C,  ]\Iary,  Jolin, 
Catharine,  Reuben  and  Jane.  Her  gi'and- 
father  died  in  the  fall  of  1843,  and  lier  grand- 
mother in  the  spring  of  1842.  Iler  maternal 
grandfather,  "William  G.  Dill,  was  a  son  of 
Benjamin  and  Xancy  Dill,  and  was  born  in 
Dehxware  September  11,  1787.  His  parents 
moved  to  Philadelphia,  where  they  died. 
"William  G.  Dill  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  Cincinnati,  a  carpenter  bytrade,  and  built 
some  of  tlie  first  houses  in  the  city.  From 
there  he  moved  to  Greene  County,  Ohio,  and 
thence  to  I'.hie  Creek  Township,  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  in  1838,  where  he  died 
January  27,  1857.  He  was  married  March 
30,  1809,  to  Miss  Sarah  Hatfield,  a  daughter 
of  AVilliam  and  Agnes  Hatfield,  who  was 
born  October  27,  1787.  They  had  six  chil- 
dren—  Benjamin,  Jcdm,  Edward,  Eobert, 
Nancy  and  ]Mary.  Nancy,  the  mother  of 
Mrs.  Mallonee,  and  wife  of  AVilliam  L.  Kiin- 
sey,  had  eight  children — John  Edward,  born 
May  19,  1843;  Sarah  Ellen,  born  March  24, 
1845;  AVilliain  T.,  born  September  7,  1840, 
married  !Miss  Emma  AVoodford,  November 
29,  1877;  Robert  Nelson,  born  June  15, 
1848;  Joseph,  born  July  25,  1851,  died 
Auo-ust  3,  187(5;  ]\[ary  Elizabetli,  born  Octo- 
ber 5,1853;  Nancy  Barbara,  born  September 
24,  1857,  married   Philip  Baker,  November 


29,  1877;  P.achel  Emma,  born  August  19, 
1859.  Her  father  died  January  17,  1871, 
and  her  mother  November  13,  1877.  Mr. 
and  J\lrs.  T.  W.  Mallonee  are  both  members 
of  the  Methodist  Ejiiscopal  church,  and  in 
politics  JMr.  Mallonee  is  a  Rei)ublican.  Au- 
gust 9,  18G2,  he  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
Eighty-nintli  Indiana  Infantry,  under  Captain 
Enos  AV.  Erie,  afterward  promoted  to  Chap- 
tain  of  regiment,  and  A.  J.  Hill  was  pro- 
moted to  Captain.  He  resigned,  and  R.  D. 
Patterson  was  made  Captain  and  served  until 
the  regiiTient  was  discharged,  August  8, 
18G5.  Afr.  Mallonee  then  returned  home, 
and  has  since  followed  farming.  He  built 
his  present  brick  iiouse  in  the  spring  and 
summer  of  1885,  at  a  cost  of  s2,000.  His 
frame  barn  was  erected  in  the  spring  of  1880. 
He  lias  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  his 
part  of  the  township. 


'OHN  STEELE,  farmer,  also  a  carpenter, 
AVashington  Townshi]>,  was  born  in  Ash- 
land County,  Ohio,  July  21,  1838,  son 
of  George  and  ]\Iargaret  Steele,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  the  former  of  whom  is  de- 
ceased. In  1848  he  came  to  Adams  County 
with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Kirkland 
Township,  where  his  father  entered  120  acres 
of  land.  Not  a  stick  had  been  cut  on  the 
place.  They  endured  many  hardships,  such 
as  are  common  to  the  pioneer.  The  father 
was  born  in  1799,  and  died  Alarch  22,  1883. 
His  wife  survives  him  and  is  now  in  her 
eighty-third  year.  The  parents  had  twelve 
children,  nine  of  whom  are  living — Joseph, 
AVashington,  Henry,  Samuel,  Rebecca  A., 
Caroline,  Sarah  A.,  Barbara  A.  and  John. 
The  father  served  several  years  as  township 
treasurer,  and  was  universally  respected.  Our 
subject  was  reared  to  manhood  in  this  county 


k»=^^fciH«  !!?fli»«  "Jtl 


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iaii^'S^ci^i(*'-*<^-a-*ii}'ii^''A*'n^it}^iy>uȣ>^K 


BIOORAPUICAL    SKEIVHES. 


and  received  a  riuliiiieiitarv  education  in  the 
early  jiioneei'  scliiuils.  .Vni^'iist  l-t,  18(J2,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  T,  lui^dity-nintli  Indiana 
Infantry,  and  participated  in  the  liattlu  ot 
!Mnnt'(irdviIle,  tiie  Meridian  expedition,  the 
Iwed  River  expedition,  Fort  Dernsa,  Pleasant 
Hill,  r.ayon  hi  More,  Yellow  Bayou,  Tupelo, 
and  se\eral  othei's.  11  is  last  light  was  at 
JS'ashville  and  the  siej^e  of  Fort  I'lakely.  lie 
was  taken  prisoner  at  ^lunfordville,  and 
paroled  soon  after  and  properly  exchanged  in 
due  time.  He  was  hoiiorahly  discharged 
August  9,  18C5,  and  returned  to  his  home  in 
Adams  County,  lie  was  married  January 
18,  Isr.O,  to  iliss  Christiana  Smith,  daughter 
of  Jesse  and  Eliza  Smitli,  early  settlei's  of 
Kirkland  Township.  ^Ir.  and  ]\rrs.  Steele 
ha\'e  five  chiMren- -llervey  S.,  Carrie  M., 
Ella  M.,  Lanra  A.  and  Annie  C.  ^Nlr.  Steele 
is  a  memher  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  in  ])olitics  is  a  Democrat. 


TSAAC  IIEIMBARGEK,  farmer,  section 
{1  '11,  AVabash  Township,  is  a  resident  of 
T-T  (ieneva.  He  was  born  in  Fairtield  County, 
Ohio,  October  25,  1851,  son  of  George 
Ileimbarger,  a  resident  of  Jefferson  Town- 
ship, this  county,  having  settled  there  in 
1SG5.  Isaac  was  reared  on  the  home  farm, 
and  received  a  common-school  education. 
When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  worked  out 
for  farmers  one  year,  then  came  to  Geneva 
and  learned  photography,  but  owing  to  his 
health  failing,  was  obliged  to  give  that  up. 
lie  traveled  two  years  in  the  West,  visiting 
Wyoming,  Colorado,  >\ebraska,  Iowa  and 
Illinois.  Upon  ivturning  to  this  county,  he 
again  engaged  in  photography,  and  after 
eighteen  months  had  to  abandon  it,  and  went 
to  farming.      lie    now  owns  a  farm  of  eighty 


acres, one  and  a  half  miles  northeast  of  Geneva, 
in  Wabash  Towubhij),  section  27,  township  25, 
range  14.  lie  was  mari'ied  Setjtember  15, 
1875,  to  Martha  Ella  Todd,  boiii  in  t4eneva 
Decendicr  Itj,  185il,  daughter  <if  llezin  Totld. 
Air.  and  ^Irs.  Ileimbarger  lia\e  h.'id  four 
children — ityrtie  ]\I.,  deceased;  Mary  C, 
living;  Georgia   AV.  and  ChrisieC'.,  deceased. 


ROBERT  11.  STEPHENSON,  farmer, 
"V  section  3,  Union  Township,  was  born  in 
*^\  Clinton  County,  ()hio,  August  14, 1831. 
He  grew  to  manlb  od  in  his  nati\'e  county, 
then  removed  to  Warren  County,  same  State, 
where  he  engaged  in  fai'ming.  February  1, 
1860,  he  was  married  in  that  county,  to^Iiss 
Jennette  Stewart,  who  was  born  in  tlie  low- 
lands of  Scotland,  November  19,  1834. 
When  she  was  twenty-one  years  old  she  came 
to  America  wTth  her  ptarents,  who  settled  in 
Warren  County,  Ohio.  The  father,  William 
Stewart,  was  born  in  Selkirkshire,  Scotland, 
June  11,  1808.  He  was  brought  up  a  shep- 
herd. He  came  to  America  in  1856  with 
four  children,  one  having  preceded  them,  and 
another  left  behind  in  Scotland,  but  after- 
ward followed  them  to  America.  The  father 
died  November  12,  1882.  There  Mere  seven 
children  in  all — Agnes,  wife  of  William  Tait, 
living  in  Hartford  City,  Indiana;  Robert, 
living  in  Warren  County,  Ohio;  Jennette, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Stephenson; 
Elizabeth,  who  died  in  Warren  County,  leav- 
ing a  husband  and  six  children;  Mai-y,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  nine  years  in  F^ast  Lothing, 
Scotland;  Helen,  wife  of  Fredeiick  F'isher- 
hack,  living  in  Hartford  City,  Indiana,  and 
James,  living  in  Butler  County,  Ohio.  The 
mother,  Agnes  (F^owler)  Stewart,  died  in 
1870,  and  was  about  two  years  younger  than 


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IIISTORT    0?'    AJKIM.S    COUNTY. 


lu.T  liusliimd.  l>otli  ]);n-eiits  were  inembers 
ol'  tlie  J'resliyteriuii  i-hiiruli,  aiul  <liiHl  in  tlie 
]iope  of  blessed  iimiiortality.  Mi'.  Steplieii- 
sliii's  parents  were  .Idliii  AV.  and  Nancy 
(^Ralston)  Steplienson.  Tlie  fatlier  was  born 
in  ]\[elrose,  Scdtland,  in  1780,  where  he  grew 
to  nianhuod.  AVheii  twenty-live  years  of  age 
he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  AVarren 
County,  Ohio.  I'onrsons  and  four  tlani;-hters 
accoinjianied  their  parents  to  this  Country. 
The  fatlier  died  at  Blanehester,  Clinton 
Count}',  Ohio,  in  1852,  aged  seventy-six  3'ears. 
The  mother  was  born  in  Warren  County  in 
17'JS,  and  died  in  lilanchester,  aged  about 
seventy-four  years.  Of  their  children,  Jolin 
and  A\^illiam  are  livino;  in  Bhinehester,  Ohio, 
ami  Martha  E.  is  keeping  hou.se  for  them; 
Uobcrt  U.,  of  Union  Township;  David  K. 
died  in  hospital  at  Covington,  Kentuck}', 
during  the  war;  Nancy,  wife  of  Thomas  Tay- 
lor, li\es  in  Farina,  Fayette  County,  Illinois; 
J\lary  ilied  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  in  J31an- 
chester,  Ohio.  ATr.  and  ]\[rs.  Stephenson  1 
have  had  seven  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living— John,  born  November  -4,  1800,  lives 
in  A'an  AVert  County,  Ohio;  William,  born 
October  17,  1802,  also  lives  in  Van  Wert 
County;  Nancy  E.,  born  April  4,  18(50;  i[ary 
E.,  i)oiii  (Jctober  17,  18(!S;  an  infant  nn- 
named,  born  May  i,  1870,  died  May  5,  1870; 
Jennette,  born  October  25,  1872,  and  Anna 
L.,  born  March  18,  1875.  ^Ir.  Stei)henson's 
grandfather,  John  Stephenson,  was  born  in 
Scotland,  and  died  in  Clinton  County,  Ohio, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  His  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  Andrew  lialston,  was  born 
in  Scotland,  and  died  in  Warren  County, 
Ohio.  His  grandmother  Ralston  also  died 
in  AVarren  County,  and  was  said  to  be  a  rela- 
tive of  President  IJuchanan.  ]\Ii-s.  Stephen- 
son's grandparents,  Robert  and  Janette 
(Anderson)  Stewart,  died  in  Scotland.  Her 
maternal    grandparents,     John     and     Agnes 


(Jiower..*)  h'owler,  also  died    in  Scotland,  near 
Melrose. 


■T^OAII  (tL.\SS,  senior  nicmlier  of  tlie 
■\\  ■'  tirni  of  (ilass  i\:  ilagley,  of  Decatur, 
■^^L  dealers  in  hartlware  and  agricultural 
im])leinents,  was  born  near  Midtlletown, 
AV^ashington  County,  Rennsylvania,  the  date 
of  his  birth  being  May  'J,  1818.  AVhen  he 
was  an  infant  liis  lather,  James  Glass,  died. 
He  lived  with  his  mother  till  twelve  years  of 
age,  when  he  went  10  live  with  his  grandfather, 
John  Gessinger,  to  Richland  County,  Ohio. 
From  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  has  earned 
his  own  living,  and  by  his  own  efforts  has,  from 
a  poor  boy,  become  one  of  tlie  well-to-do  citi- 
zens of  Adams  County.  His  educational 
advantages  were  very  limited,  attending 
school  only  till  eleven  years  old,  but  by  ob- 
servation and  experience  he  acquired  a  good 
practical  education.  He  is  a  great  reader, 
and  has  subscribed  for  the  New  York  Tribune 
for  a  period  of  thirty-six  years.  AVhen  nine- 
teen years  old,  in  1837,  he  came  with  his 
grandfather  to  Adams  County,  where  lie 
worked  a  Tiumber  of  years  as  a  farm  iiand. 
In  18-46  lie  entered  an  eighty-acre  tract  of 
lanil  in  Union  Township,  which  lie  improved, 
residing  on  it  till  lie  sold  it  in  18()5.  The 
same  year  he  bought  a  farm  in  Root  Town- 
ship, where  he  followed  farming  xiiitil  ISSl. 
He  then  came  to  Decatur  and  began  deal- 
ing in  fanning  implements,  and  in  January, 
1886,  J.  J.  Magley  became  associated  with 
him,  when  tlie  present  firm  of  Glass  it  ilag- 
ley  was  formed.  In  18S5  Mr.  Glass  erected 
the  tine  brick  business  house  which  the  lirni 
occupies.  Mr.  Glass  has  been  twice  married. 
He  was  first  married  in  Root  Township,  to 
Sarah  Barron,  who  died  in  1805,  leaving  four 
children — Mary  Ann,  wife  of  David  Murphy, 


I 


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Jl/Ut;l!AI'irJ(JA/.    .'^Kh'TClJ /•:.<:. 


;i  fai'iuer  of  Union  Townsliip;  Snsiin,  wife  of 
George  Helm,  a  farmei'  of  Elk  County,  Kan- 
sas; Nancy,  wife  of  George  iJutchcr,  of  Jvoot 
Townsliij),  and  Kllen,  wife  of  David  Gessing- 
er,  a  tanner  of  Hoot  Township.  Their  only 
son,  George  AV.,  was  killed  at  the  battle  ot 
Yicksbmg  when  eighteen  years  of  age.  For 
liis  second  wife  JIi'.  Glass  married  Mrs.  Susan 
I'ailing,  April  15,  ISfifi,  and  to  this  union 
has  been  boi'n  one  child,  a  ilaiighter,  named 
!Martlia  I).  In  his  political  views  ^[r.  (ilass 
is  a  Tiepublican.  In  1855  he  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  foi-  Union  Township,  and 
held  that  otKce  for  eight  years.  During  the 
late  war  he  served  three  years  as  I'rovost- 
]\Iarshal,  his   services   ending  with   the    war. 


|"jrr,NSOX  ().  A.  IIOLL,  tonsorial  artist, 
iVm^  Geneva,  was  born  in  Darke  County, 
'^}-'^  (Jhio,  Januai-y  l-i,  1851,  son  of  Orrin 
and  Susan  (I'dtetn'aii)  lloll,  the  former  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Tiiey  now  reside  in  Defiance  County, 
Ohio.  Our  subject  remained  at  home  until 
thirteen  years  of  age,  then  went  to  learn  the 
plasterer's  trade,  which  he  followed  about  six 
years.  lie  learned  the  barber's  trade  at 
Union  City,  Indiana,  then  removed  to 
Ciene\a,  where  he  opened  a  slio|).  He  was 
married  Ajiril  ~,  187~,  to  Samantha  Iliggins, 
a  native  of  Jay  County,  and  they  have  one 
child — Louroy. 


fAMES  CLENDENEN,  deceased,  who 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Adams  Coun- 
-,c  ty,  was  ijorn  in  AVestmorehuui  County, 
Pennsvlvania,  his  father,  .Vndrew  Clendenen, 
being  a  native  of  Ireland.  lie  came  to 
America  in  his  youth  and  settled  in  Pennsyl- 


vania, where  he  was  married.  Tiiey  removed 
to  Kairtield  County,  Ohio,  when  our  subject 
was  ten  years  old,  living  there  till  their  death. 
They  liad  a  family  of  seven  children,  five  sons 
and  two  daughters.  In  their  religious  views 
tliey  were  Presbyterians.  James  Clendenen 
grew  to  manhood  in  Fairfield  C!ounty,  and 
there  learned  the  tanner's  trade,  at  which  lie 
\vorked  till  he  came  to  Adams  County,  Indi- 
ana, in  October,  1837.  He  was  married  in 
Fairfield  County,  to  Aliss  ileliitable  Fox,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  her  ])arents  being 
natives  of  the  same  State,  ami  of  Gei'man 
descent.  Of  the  eiglit  children  born  to  Mr. 
and  !Mrs.  Clendenen  only  four  are  living — 
Salem,  Keziah,  Jane  and  Jemima.  On  com- 
ing to  Adams  County  Mi'.  Clendenen  settled 
on  section  "25  of  Hartford  Township,  where 
he  made  his  home  till  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1SG7,  at  tlie  age  of  sixty-two  years. 
His  widow  still  sui'vives,  and  is  n(.)W  living 
in  AVells  County,  Indiana.  She  is  a  consist- 
ent member  of  the  Christian  church.  ]\Ir. 
Clendenen  was  also  a  member  of  the  same 
denomination. 

fOIIN  A.  MARTIN,  deceased,  formerly 
a  prominent  business  man  of  (-ieneva, 
--,<.  was  born  in  Adams  County,  Hartford 
Township,  Api-il  30,  ISl'J.  He  remained  at 
home  during  his  early  life,  and  received  a 
good  common-school  education.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  years  he  went  to  work  for  him- 
self. February  17,  1874,  he  was  married  to 
Elizal)eth  Baker,  who  was  born  in  Clear  Creek 
Township,  Fairfiekl  County,  Ohio,  Aiigust  4, 
1S4S,  and  a  daughter  of  Abraham  S.  Baker, 
!  deceased,  wlio  was  an  early  settler  of  Ilarri- 
!  son  Township.  She  was  four  yeai-s  old  wlien 
her   parents   came    to  AVells  ('oiinty.     After 


i 


V*.*°T^.^fi!:'^?^?^^*.'r?^"*'y™^^'^^ 


HltiTORY    OF    .\Ii.\MS    COUNrr. 


iiiul  stock-raisiii!^  until  JHiiuarv  28,  ISSl, 
when  he  removed  to  (iencva  anil  entcrctl  the 
mereantilc  husiness  in  conipan}'  with  AV.  W. 
Ivohci-ts.  This  partnership  continned  until 
tlie  deatli  of  Mr.  ]\[artin,  whicli  occurred  Au- 
gust 28,  1885.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  h:  d 
tour  children — Etlie  A.,  Luther,  Minnie  (de- 
ceasedj  and  Josephus. 


■^OHEKT  NIIjLICK,  a  prominent  farmer 
<il'  Kirhland  Township,  Adams  County, 
was  horn  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio, 
Fehi'uary  10,  l's2-4,  a  son  of  James  Niblick. 
lie  was  reared  to  the  avocation  of  a  farmer, 
receiving  such  education  as  could  be  ob- 
tained in  the  schools  of  that  day.  lie  was 
brought  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  when 
eleven  years  old,  but  after  the  death  of  his 
mother  returned  to  Ohio.  He  was  married 
in  Kirkland  Township,  Adams  County,  April 
I'J,  184'J,  to  Catherine  II.  Ilartman,  who  was 
born  in  Westmoi'eland  County,  Pennsvlvania, 
March  22,  1830,  her  parents,  Philip  and 
Susannah  (Iless)  Ilartman,  being  natives  of 
Pennsyhania.  They  immigrated  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  in  1840,  and  settled  in 
Kirkland  Township,  where  they  lived  till 
their  deatli.  ]Mr.  Ilartman  was  twice  mar- 
ried and  had  three  chiUlren  by  his  first  mar- 
riage. L>3'  his  marriage  with  Susaniuih  Hess 
he  had  eight  children.  Poth  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ilartman  are  members  of  the  Dunkard  church. 
Immediately  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Niblick 
settled  on  his  present  farm  in  Kirkland  Town- 
ship, which  at  that  time  was  in  a  wild  state, 
heavily  covered  with  timber.  Their  first 
house  was  a  log  cabin,  built  in  the  most 
primitive  style,  greased  paper  being  a  substi- 
tute for  windows,  and  in  this  humble  cabin 
the  family  lived  eleven  years,  when  the  line 
biick   residence   whicli  they  now  occu])y  was 


erected,  the  brick  and  lime  used  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  house  lieing  burned  on  their  farm. 
After  giving  land  to  his  children  Mr.  Niblick 
still  has  2()5  acres  where  he  resides,  and  is 
considered  one  of  the  jirosperous  farmers  of 
his  townshij).  lie  was  a  member  of  Com- 
pany I'',  Twelfth  Indiana  Infantry,  enlisting 
in  the  service  of  his  country  in  18G5.  He 
was  with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea, 
and  pai'ticipated  in  the  grand  review  at  AVash- 
ington.  He  now  draws  a  pension  for  dis- 
ability, contracted  while  in  the  service.  He 
is  a  comrade  of  Post  No.  69,  G.  A.  P.,  at 
Decatur.  Mr.  Niblick  has  held  several  local 
offices.  His  wife  is  at  present  postmistress 
at  Gath,  the  office  being  kept  at  their  resi- 
dence. For  many  years  after  coming  to 
.\danis  County  Mr.  Xildick  was  the  only 
liepublican  in  his  township,  and  at  Lincoln's 
last  election  only  five  votes  were  cast  in  the 
township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Niblick  have 
been  born  ten  children — James  T.,  Susannah, 
Jlary  E.  (deceased),  Charles  P.,  ^Margaret  P., 
George  AV.,  AVilliam  J.  (deceased),  Jennie, 
Harvey  P.  and  Anna  Pell.  ilrs.  Niblick  is 
a  member  of  the  United  Prethren  church. 
Mr.  Niblick  is  a  member  of  tlie  Odd  Fellows 
order,  belonging  to  the  St.  ilary's  Lodge  at 
Decatur. 


^/ff  OHN  C.  COWEN  was  born  in  St.  ilary's 
''^.\  I  Township,  Adams  County,  Indiaiui,  Jan- 
'ii  uar}'  C,  1853,  a  son  of  Stephen  P.  and 
Elizabeth  (^liller)  Cowen,  the  father  born  in 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  in  August,  1810, 
and  the  mother  a  native  of  Cumberland 
(^ounty,  Pennsylvania,  born  February  10, 
1820.  The  parents  were  married  in  AVayne 
Ccjimty,  Ohio,  about  1837,  and  to  them  were 
born  the  following  children — Hugh  Quimby, 
ICzra  II.,   .lames    AV.,  John  C.   (our   subject), 


t  p!  i^a»ir"ii»'^"ii« 


■j^m^mi^a 


'^■»"J*-'^-«^-i»HWii^,^»^W^T 


«fc.»»«>«a«»j«if>«i?S«'ii"i"S*ii"«™i«'i^i«?«'^«' 


"«■«•.■■■-» 


y,7  OGJiA  I  'III  UA  L    SKKTVIIEH. 


Eddie  ]\[.,  IJarton  AV.,  Eunice,  Mary  E.  and 
Lucy  C.  Tiie  jiarents  of  our  suiijeet  came 
witli  tlieir  t'aniilj'  to  .Vilains  County,  Indiana, 
in  IS-iO,  tlie  grandf'atiier  Coweii  and  wife 
coming  at  tiic  same  time,  and  located  on 
farms  which  were  entirely  nnimpro\cd,  but 
they  went  tn  work  with  tlie  same  determined 
will  that  characterized  the  people  of  that 
early  day,  and  by  ])atienttoil  and  presevering 
enei'gy  they  cleared  the  forest,  and  brought 
their  land  under  fine  cultivation.  The  old 
log  cabin  in  which  the  grandparents  lived  till 
their  death  was  left  standing  till  within  the 
last  few  years.  The  father  began  life  in  this 
county  in  a  rude  log  cabin  with  puncheon 
floor  and  stick  and  clay  chimney,  but  after  a 
few  years  his  humble  cabin  was  replaced  by 
a  hewed -log  house.  The  father  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  school-teachers  of  xVdams  County, 
and  was  a  prominent  and  respected  citizen. 
He  died  in  St.  ]\Iary's  Township,  October  13. 
ISti.  His  parents,  John  and  Edith  (I'ogers) 
Cowen,  were  natives  of  Ireland,  but  settled  in 
America  in  an  early  day.  !Mrs.  Cowen,  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  was  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Ilebecca  (Grimm)  Miller,  and  is  of 
English  origin.  She  is  still  living  at  the  age 
of  sixty-seven  years.  She  is  an  earnest  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church.  ^Mr.  Cowen 
was  also  a  member  of  the  same  church  until 
his  death.  Two  of  their  sons,  Hugh  Quiinby 
and  Ezra  II.,  were  soldiers  in  the  war  of  the 
IJebellion,  both  being  members  of  the  Eighty- 
ninth  Indiana  Infantry,  the  former  being 
Color  liearer.  Hugh  was  killed  at  the 
engagement  at  Eort  IJlakely,  Alaiiama,  April 
9,  1805,  and  Ezra  was  capjtured  by  the  Con-  | 
federate  (Jeneral  I^ragg,  at  ]Munfordville, 
Kentucky,  but  soon  after  returned  to  active 
service,  and  received  an  honorable  discharge  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  John  C.  Cowen,  whose 
name  lica<ls  this  sketch,  was  reared  in  his 
native  county,  where  he  receiveil  a  fair  com- 


mon school  education,  and  for  ten  years  he 
haslbllowed  the  teacher's  profession.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  to  l\n8s  Amy  Daily,  M'ho 
was  boi-n  ]\r!irch  I'J,  1851,  a  daughter  of  James 
and  !Mary  (Johnson)  Daily.  To  them  have 
been  born  four  children — James  C.,  born 
December  28,  1878;  Hugh  Earl,  born  April 
IG,  1880;  Harry  Elaine,  born  .May  22,  1885, 
and  AVilma  Myrtle,  born  Eebruary  22,  187G. 
^fr.  Cowen  and  his  family  are  comfortably 
situated  on  a  fine  farm  of  160  acres  lying  one 
mile  from  the  village  of  Pleasant  ^[ills.  He 
is  a  thorough,  practical  fariner,  and  has  147 
acres  of  his  land  nnder  excellent  cultivation. 
He  is  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Pleasant 
Mills  Elouring  ^lills,  which  in  an  early  day 
was  the  largest  mill  in  the  Northwest.  He  is 
at  present  serving  his  second  term  of  town- 
ship trustee,  which  office  he  fills  to  the  satis- 
faction of  his  constituents.  James  Dail}', 
the  father  of  Jlrs.  Cowen,  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia in  1815.  His  parents  subsequently' 
settled  in  ]Meigs  County,  Ohio,  where  they 
died.  Mr.  Daily  was  married  in  1840  to 
^lary  Johnson,  who  was  born  in  Harrison 
County,  Ohio,  in  1822,  and  to  them  were 
born  five  sons  and  seven  daughters — Nimrod, 
Davis,  Joseph,  Isaiah,  James,  ^Mary,  Amy, 
Emily,  Maggie,  Samantha,  Pebecca  and 
Almina,  the  last  two  being  deceased.  .Mrs. 
Cowen's  grandfather,  Joseph  Johnson,  was  an 
early  settler  of  Ohio,  and  helped  to  lay  out 
the  town  of  Van  A\'"ert  in  that  State.  Her 
mother  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  also  held  a  membership  in  the 
ifranee.  Three  of  her  brothers  and  three 
sisters  followed  the  teacher's  profession.  Mr. 
Daily  immigrated  from  Ohio  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  and  settled  on  an  eighty- 
acre  tract  in  St.  ^Slary's  Townshi])  which  he 
had  previously  purchased,  paying  for  the 
same  by  chopping  wood.  Pefore  his  marriage 
he  had  made  a  tri|>  to  Wasiiiiigton  Township 


■1*  •  V^m  ■>  a'''>a™^tl 


i 


»iryi«iil^^i"»  *''^*  *>™  *"j»"  *>'"  «*'•»~■*«™**f^?^^^* 


i"ii^  i^S"a^«K 


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til) 

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lilt 


lIltiTOUr    OF    AJiAMS    COUNTY. 


i 


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and  entered  IGO  iicres  of  land,  l.iit  liavinjj,- 
found  that  milk  sicknuss  was  very  pruvakMit 
in  that  townslii]!  In'  aljanduncd  the  idea  ot 
making  liis  home  there,  so  on  coming  to  tlie 
county  he  settled  in  St.  ilary's  Township,  as 
before  mentioned.  By  untiring  industry  and 
good  management  he  added  to  his  eighty 
acres  until  lie  had  (UO  acres,  which  he  iin- 
jjrovcd  and  brought  under  tine  cultivation, 
making  his  farm  one  of  the  best  to  be  found 
in  the  townshi]),  where  he  was  an  honored  and 
respected  citizen. 


f\VOV>  JOHN  jMAGLEY,  a  member  of 
the  hardware  and  implement  firm  of 
^,<.  Glass  iV  Magley,  was  born  near  Mon- 
mouth, Pvoot  Township,  Adams  County,  Indi- 
aiui,  September  17,  1852.  He  remained  on 
the  home  farm  until  twenty  years  of  age, 
wlien,  having  obtained  a  good  education,  he 
bean  teaching  in  his  native  county,  and 
taught  ten  years  in  the  townships  of  Root, 
Preble  and  Ivirkland.  In  1882  he  was  ap- 
pointed station  agent  at  Ivirkland  for  the 
Chicago  A:  Atlantic  llailroad  Company,  and 
at  the  same  time  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  and  in  manufacturing  tile,  which  he 
continued  until  February,  1886,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Decatur  and  became  associated 
■with  Xoah  Class  in  the  hardware  and  agri- 
cultural implement  business.  Mr.  Magley 
was  nnirried  March  30,  1880,  to  Harriet 
AVilder,  a  daughter  of  Edwin  Wilder,  early 
settlers  of  Adams  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Magley  have  two  children — Jessie  Ethel  and 
Chauncy  Edwin.  They  are  members  of  the 
English  Lutheran  church  at  Concord,  Hoot 
Township.  Mv.  Magley's  fatlier,  Christian 
Magley,  was  a  native  of  Switzerland,  who 
settled  in  Adams  County  in  1847,  and  died 
on  his  farm  in  Root  Township  in  1800.     liis 


mother,  ]\[ary  (Scharer)  ]\[agley,  was  also  a 
native  of  Switzerland,  coming  to  America  in 
her  girlhood,  and  was  married  in  Licking 
County,  Ohio.  She  is  still  living,  making 
her  home  with  her  son  Jacob.  Si.x  of  her 
eight  children  are  living,  all  but  one  in 
Adams  County.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
German  lleform  church,  as  was  also  her 
husband. 


fAMES  C.  WILSOX,  deceased,  who   was 
an  early  settler  of  Adams  County,  and  a 
much-respected  citizen,  was   a   native  ot 
Ireland,  born  in  the  year  1823.      When  four 
years  of  age  he  was   brought   by   liis    parents 
to   America,   they  settling    in  Westmoreland 
County,  Pennsylvania,  where    he   was   reared 
and  educated,  and   there  learned    the  carpen- 
ter's trade.      He  came  to  Adams  County,  In- 
diana, in  184:3,  where   he  followed   his   trade, 
and  being  an  excellent  workman  he  met  with 
good    success.      December  29,  18-18,    he  was 
married   to    Miss    Elizabeth    J.   Porter,  who 
was   born   in    Pichland    County,    Ohio,   Feb- 
ruary 21,  1831,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Alexander 
Porter,  one  of  the  old  and   honored   pioneers 
of  Adams  County.    Seven  children  were  born 
to    J\[r.    and    Mrs.    Wilson — James    A.    (de- 
ceased),   Emma    E.,    William  W.,    ]\[ary    L., 
Lillie  P..,  James  C.  and   Ilattie  S.     Mr.  AVil- 
son  served  through   the  Mexican  Mar,  enlist- 
ing at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  going  thence  to 
Mexico,  and  after  the  war  returned  to  Adams 
County.     He  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion,  enlisting  in  ilarch,  18G4,  and 
was  assigned   to  Company  G,  Thirteenth  In- 
diana Cavalry.      He  served   till   the  close  of 
the  war,  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Kash- 
ville,  Tennessee.     While  in  the  army  he  con- 
tracted   a   disease    which    caused     his   death 
November  29,  18G6.     His  widow  now  draws 
a  ].ension   from   the  Government.      She  still 


I  f_^m:^  ,.V,M  ^»  i,l^k.»i^nii^I'^^J^ jl'^f  rf»^^ 


niKa^TT*  to^.-«*Br*iP'(ii*'Ja"*  ji*?J^in  4ii*?ja 


iiioniiA  I'UiCA  I.   SK hrn  'it  hs. 


makes  lier  Imine  at  Decatur,  wliere  slio  is 
esteemed  tor  liei'  many  virtues,  ami  resj)ceteil 
])\  all  wild  kmiw  licr.  .Ml'.  AVilsuii  uiiiteii  in 
an  early  ilay  witli  flie  I'reshyterian  elmreli, 
of  wliieli  he  was  an  eliler.  lie  at'terwanl 
joined  tiie  Methodist  Episcopal  cliurcli,  and 
was  ordained  to  preach,  his  work  in  tlie  min- 
istry being  principally  at  Decatur  and  vicin- 
ity. ]\[rs.  Wilson  is  an  earnest  inemher  of 
Jj)  the  Methodist  Episco]ial  churcli.  ^Ir.  "\Vil- 
,  son  M'as  a  member  of  tlic  Masonic  order,  an 
(  organization  in  which  he  toolc  an  active  in- 
^  terest.  lie  w:\s  a  mail  of  strict  integrity, 
1  and  lionoralile  in  all  liis  dealings,  and  enjoyed 
I  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  entire  ccnn- 
t       munity. 


Jf^  EX  J  A  .M  IN  PEN  D].ETON  RICE, 
^  -/s  dealer  in  bnilding  stone  and  lime,  and 
'1-'  proprietor  of  Rice's  stone  quarry,  near 
Decatur,  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  Root 
Township,  Adams  ("onnty,  August  20,  184:8, 
a  son  of  IJenjamin  and  ^lary  (Pillars)  Rice, 
the  former  a  native  of  Virginia,  of  Scotch  de- 
scent, and  the  mother  of  Ohio,  of  p^nglish 
ancestry.  His  parents  came  from  Carroll 
County,  Ohio,  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in 
1837,  and  settled  in  Root  Townsliip,  where 
they  still  live.  They  are  memliers  of  Alpha 
]\Iethodist  Episcopal  chapel.  Penjamin  P. 
Rice  remained  on  the  home  farm  until  man- 
hood, receiving  the  advantages  of  the  country 
schools,  lie  engaged  in  farming  two  or  three 
years  after  attaining  his  mapu'ity,  and  in 
1871  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber, 
having  purchased  an  interest  in  a  saw-mill  at 
Decatur,  which  he  continued  until  1873, 
when,  until  1876,  he  was  variously  employed. 
He  then  engaged  in  stone  (juarrying  near  De- 
catur, subsequently  adding  to  his  other  busi- 
ness that  of  dealinir  in  bnildinir  material  and 


lime.  In  l''cbi-uary,  18(iS,  he  was  mariMed  at 
Moni'oe\  ille,  Allen  (Jonnty,  Indiana,  to  Eliz- 
abeth Hart,  :i  daughter  of  .lacob  and  Eliza- 
beth (Ivrick)  Hart,  now  of  Decatur.  Mr.  and 
.Mrs.  Kice  have  five  children — Harvey  Dcl- 
]ihos,  David  dames,  Rosa  Elnora,  Mary  and 
Planch. 

fESSE  AVILLIA:\IS,  farmer,  owns  101 
acres  of  land  on  sections  28  and  29,  Root 
-,^  Township.  He  came  to  this  count}-  in 
1847,  settling  in  Root  Township.  He  was 
born  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pennsylva- 
nia, March  3,  1832,  and  was  fifteen  or  six- 
teen years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to 
this  county.  He  remained  with  his  father 
three  years  longer,  when  he  went  to  Holmes 
County,  Ohio.  His  father's  family  removed 
to  that  county  -when  Jesse  was  two  years  old, 
and  remained  there  until  they  came  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana.  The  father  died 
in  1872,  in  Richland  County,  Wisconsin, 
aged  about  sixty-eight  years.  lie  was  of 
English  ancestry.  The  mother,  Catherine 
(King)  Williams,  was  of  German  descent. 
Our  subject  was  married  March  29,  1857,  to 
Miss  Alice  Ruckman,  who  was  born  in 
Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  June  16,  1838, 
and  when  she  was  seven  years  of  age  lier 
parents  removed  to  Ashland  County,  where 
she  lived  until  she  reached  maturity.  Slie 
was  married  to  Mr.  Williams  wliile  on  a  visit 
to  a  sister,  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Long.  Her  father, 
Watson  Ruckman,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
died  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  where  lie 
went  when  a  young  man,  and  taught  school 
there;  he  was  also  married  in  that  county. 
His  death  occurred  in  1859,  aged  about  sixty 
years.  Her  mother  was  Hannah  (Rowler) 
Ruckman.  Poth  pai-ents  were  consistent 
members  of  the  Methodist  Epist'opal  church. 


iaLt^  j*vL"*  jsfiii'.ij  ■Htc 


■fr,'i^,t-i.,^.i 


riSJCii:tSi'^it' 


tiLrii.-  i  •■-■ii  JllSieilEi? 


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F.V^JO?^*iT'S%?«i*^V^!^*w"i'»GP^M'f£?^S«*Ci*£I»*i?^^ 


a 


IIISTOIIY    OP    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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Pi 


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i[r.  iiiid  j\Irs.  "Williiiins  have  hud  six  diildren 
—William  W.,  boni  February  1,  1802,  lives 
ill  Decatur;  Delia  B.,  born  August  14, 1865, 
is  the  wife  of  Ijeiijaiiiiii  V.  Butler;  Loretta 
A.,  born  May  18,  1868,  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam E.  Butler;  AVatsou  E.,  the  oldest  child, 
died  ill  September,  1S71,  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen years;  JMary  E.,  wife  of  Victor  V.  Reed, 
died  in  August,  1880,  aged  twenty  years, 
ele\en  inoiitlisand  nineteen  days;  Jessie  Dal- 
las, born  July  20,  1874,  and  died  January  7, 
1875;  she  left  two  children;  Jesse  II.  died 
in  1875,  aged  six  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Will- 
iams commenced  housekeeping  atMoninontli. 
Ail  their  household  goods  were  placed  in  a 
one-horse  wagon,  ilr.  Williams  worked  out 
a  week  after  liis  marriage  and  earned  s3 
with  which  to  purchase  supplies.  It  was  in 
the  time  of  wild-cat  currency,  and  each  dol- 
lar would  buy  only  ninety  cents  worth.  Poli- 
tically Mr.  Williams  is  a  Republican.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 


.X|AFAYETTE  RAPE,  farmer,  residing  on 
\  '-'fi  section  23,  AVabash  Township, •^vas  born 
-i-r-  in  Darke  County,  Ohio,  I'ebruary  7, 
1845.  His  father,  Lewis  Rape,  was  born  in 
Yirginiii,  in  the  Shenandoah  Yalley,  in  1790. 
His  father,  Jacob  Rape,  was  born  in  the 
northern  part  of  France,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica as  a  soldier  under  ^[arqnis  de  Lafayette, 
serving  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  After 
the  war  he  settled  in  Virginia  and  went  to 
farming.  He  married  a  widow,  Mrs.  Catlie- 
rine  Howels,  who  died,  leaving  four  cliildren, 
three  sons  and  one  daughter.  He  removed  to 
Ohio  about  1808,  and  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Preble  County.  He  remained  in 
that  county  nntil  his  death,  which  occurred 
October  20,  1881.     He  was  a  member  of  tlie 


Presbyterian  church.  Lewis  Rape  was 
married  in  Preble  County,  Ohio,  July  2, 
1835,  to  Miss  Maria  Cummings,  wdio  was 
born  in  New  Jersey  in  1808,  and  went  to 
Ohio  with  her  parents  in  1818.  Her  father, 
William  Cuininings,  was  horn  in  New  York 
State,  and  was  also  an  early  settler  of  Preble 
Ciiunty.  He  was  a  descendant  of  the  Old 
Dutch  families  of  New  York.  The  mother 
was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  They  had  five 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living — Lafayette 
and  Charlotte  S.  Tlie  father  was  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  The  mother 
was  formerly  a  Presbyterian,  but  afterward 
became  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
cliurch.  The  subject  of  tliis  sketch  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  September 
14,  1861,  enlisted  in  Company  G,  Forty- 
fourth  Ohio  Infantry,  serving  in  West  Vir- 
ginia, lie  participated  in  several  small 
engagements;  was  severely  wounded  near  the 
Falls  of  Kanawha,  in  Virginia,  and  after 
leaving  the  hospital,  returned  to  his  company. 
He  remained  with  thein  nntil  March,  1863, 
when,  owing  to  the  effects  of  his  wound,  he 
was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, and  served  as  clerk  in  the  hospital 
during  that  summer.  In  October,  1863,  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps, 
being  on  duty  at  Detroit,  Jackson  and  Grand 
Rapids,  Jlichigan.  He  received  his  iinal 
discharge  at  Detroit,  Michigan,  October  14, 
1864.  He  now  draws  a  pension.  Upon 
receiving  his  discharge  Mr.  Rape  returned  to 
his  home  in  Ohio,  where  he  remained  one 
year,  and  spent  the  next  year  in  traveling  in 
the  West.  He  visited  Iowa,  ^Minnesota  and 
AYisconsin,  after  which  he  returned  home 
and  engaged  in  fjirming.  He  sold  the  old 
farm  in  1872,  and  came,  accompanied  by  his 
mother,  to  Adams  County,  arriving  at  his 
present  home  December  1,  1872.  His  farm 
contains   238    acres,  120  of  which  are  under 


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'SKii!«'«^?«MiilS^iiBJcWi?Ei4'ii:«iWi«n«ii51il 


II  ^ 


DIOORAPIIICAL    SKETQUE8. 


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In 


cultivation  iuid  ISO  are  fenced.  In  addition 
to  attendiiiu;  to  liis  tana  lie  is  enga^^'cd  in 
sellingagrienlturalinipleiiieiits  and  nKiehiiiery 
in  tlie  town  of  Geneva,  lie  was  nKiiried  in 
Augnst,  1875,  to  Sarah  E.  Bnckly,  wlio  was 
born  in  Slielby  County,  Ohio,  February  17, 
1857.  They  have  liad  six  children — Lewis 
E.,  Perry  D.  (deceased)  Uenjauiin  F.  "\V., 
Nelly,  Jesse  C.  and  Elmer  F.  ^Ir.  Rape 
takes  an  active  interest  in  public  atiairs.  He 
lield  the  office  of  township  clerk,  in  Ohio, 
which  he  resigned  to  come  to  Indiana.  In 
1878  he  was  elected  trustee  of  Wabash  Town- 
ship and  served  three  terms.  In  politics  he 
is  a  liepublican,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  liepublican  Central  Committee  about 
one  yeai'.  lie  is  a  member  of  John  P.  Porter 
Post,  No.  88,  G.  A.  E. 


/f^EOPGE  SIIAFER,  farmer,  section  5, 
I'i'rfr.  Union  Township,  was  born  in  Crawford 
V^  County,  Ohio,  October  17,  1813,  where 
he  was  reared  to  manhood  and  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  father's  district. 
August  18, 1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  U, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Ohio  In- 
fantry, under  AVilliam  T.  AVilson,  and  joined 
the  AVest  Virginia  Division  at  AVinchester, 
\inder  Colonel  Milroy,  afterward  under  Gen- 
eral Sigel,  and  still  later  under  General  Hun- 
ter, and  tinally  under  General  Sheridan.  The 
regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Eighth  Army 
Corps.  September  3,  1864,  lie  was  wounded 
by  a  minie  ball  in  the  upper  right  arm,  the 
bone  being  shattered  and  the  arm  unjointed. 
Almost  the  same  instant  a  minie  ball  passed 
through  both  thighs,  entering  above  the  left 
knee,  passing  out  about  si.x  inches  above  the 
knee,  then  passing  through  the  right  thigh. 
He  lay  upon  the  battle-field  from  Saturday 
evening  until  the  following  Monday  evening, 


forty-eight  hours.  The  rebels  had  possession 
of  the  held,  and  on  Alonday  evening  he  was 
taken  to  tlie  hospital  at  Wincliester.  Here 
his  arm  was  amputated  by  his  own  regi- 
mental surgeon,  who  was  in  charge  of  the 
Union  hospital  of  that  place,  lie  was  de- 
tailed to  take  charge  when  our  forces  re- 
treated. Mr.  Shafer  was  then  taken  to  the 
general  hospital  at  Frederick,  Maryland,  after 
being  in  hospital  at  AVinchester  about  six 
weeks.  He  remained  at  Frederick  until  his 
discharge  in  -lanuary,  1865,  then  returned  to 
Crawford  County,  Ohio,  but  was  able  to  do 
nothing  for  a  year  after  his  return.  lie  then 
went  to  work  on  his  father's  farm,  and  re- 
mained there  until  his  marriage,  which 
occurred  February  25,  1868,  to  Sarah  E. 
AVert,  who  was  Ijorn  i-n  Crawford  County 
June  6, 1843.  After  his  marriage  ]\lr.  Shafer 
bought  a  house  and  lot  in  Liberty  Township, 
where  he  lived  three  years,  then  sold  and  re- 
moved to  his  father's  home,  taking  charge  of 
his  father's  farm  eighteen  months.  In  the 
spring  of  1874  he  purchased  forty  acres  of 
land  in  Sandusky  County,^  Ohio,  and  lived 
there  eight  years.  He  then  sold  and  bought 
eighty  acres  where  he  now  lives,  the  family 
coming  in  April,  1882.  His  parents  were 
Philiji  and  Mary  ilagdalene  (Lebo)  Shafer. 
The  father  was  born  in  Dauphin  County, 
Pennsylvania,  May  3,  1805;  was  reared  aiid 
married  in  that  county,  and  soon  after  mar- 
riage remo\'ed  to  Crawford  County,  Ohio, 
which  was  in  1834.  He  settled  upon  a  new 
farm  among  tlie  pioneers  of  the  county.  He 
entered  eighty  acres  from  the  Government 
in  Lykins  Township,  improved  it  and  lived 
upon  it  until  1845,  when  he  sold  and  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  wliere  he  rented  land  for 
eighteen  months,  then  returned  to  Crawford 
County  and  rented  laml  a  few  years,  and 
finally  bought  a  small  farm  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  days.   His  death  occurred 


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IIISTOUY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


July  2, 1S83.  The  mother  was  bom  in  Daii- 
])hiii  County,  Pennsylvuniii,  ()ctol)er  1,  1803, 
and  died  October  2, 1873,  in  Crawford  Coun- 
ty, Oliio.  Both  are  buried  near  the  old  home- 
stead, in  lioopcemetei-y.  Tiiey  were  members 
of  llie  Lutheran  cluirch,  and  exemplified  their 
religion  in  their  daily  life.  They  reared  a 
family  of  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  were 
living  at  the  time  of  the  father's  death.  John 
was  in  the  army,  and  was  supposed  to  have 
been  killed  at  High  Bridge  a  day  or  two  be- 
t'ore  tlie  surrender  of  Lee,  never  having  since 
been  heard  from.  He  was  a  member  of 
Company  II,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third 
Ohio  Infantry.  George,  our  subject,  was  the 
youngest  son,  but  there  was  a  daughter 
younger.  Mrs.  Shafer  was  a  daughter  of 
Adam  and  Mary  (McManus)  AVert.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Cumberland  Coimty,  Penn- 
sylvania, June  5,  1817,  and  when  he  was 
nine  years  of  age  removed  to  Crawford 
County,  Ohio,  with  his  parents,  where  he 
lived  until  his  deatli,  which  occurred  Decem- 
ber 6,  1881.  The  mother  was  born  in  Craw- 
ford County,  January  13,  1822,  and  is  living 
upon  the  homestead  wliere  the  father  died. 
They  had  eleven  children,  nijie  of  whom  are 
living.  ]\[rs.  Shafer  was  the  second  child, 
having  an  older  brother,  William  Henry,  who 
is  living  in  Ottawa,  Putnam  County,  Ohio. 
He  was  formerly  an  artist.  ^Mr.  and  ^Irs. 
Shafer  have  had  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living — Mary  A.,  born  November  1-4, 
1868;  Ptosa  E.,  born  July  27,  1871;  John 
W.,  born  June  20,  1873;  Franklin  J.,  born 
January  18,  1875,  died  in  the  fall  of  1882, 
aged  seven  years;  William  W.,  born  October 
4,  1878;  Chai'les  E.,  born  February  23, 
1885.  Mrs.  Siiafer's  grandfather,  Joseph 
Wert,  and  her  grandmother,  Barbara  (Kitch) 
Wert,  were  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  died 
in  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  the  former,  who 
had  been  blind  twenty  years,  at  the  age  of 


seventy-nine  years,  and  the  latter  aged  nearly 
seventy-eight  years.  Her  maternal  grand- 
father, James  JMc.Manus,  died  near  Fremont, 
Ohio.  Her  grandmother,  Sarah  (Walter) 
Mc^[anus,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
died  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio.  Some  of 
her  ancestors  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Mr.  Shafer  served  as  assessor  in  Ohio 
for  three  terms.  The  Shafers  and  Lebos  are 
of  German  aneesti-y. 


'mOWARD  AV.  THOMPSON,  a  farmer  of 
f-l^.'      ,  ^  ' 

W^ili)  ^^'"•^li'iigto'i  Township,  was  born  in 
mi  Carroll  County,  Ohio,  February  -4,  1837, 
son  of  Gabriel  D.  and  Elizabeth  Thompson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Hartford  County, 
Maryland,  and  the  latter  of  Otsego  County, 
New  York.  They  were  pioneers  of  Carroll 
County,  and  had  born  to  them  eiglit  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  living — Gilbert,  Lydia  A., 
Antoinette,  Howard  W.,  Harvey  L.,  Basheba, 
Sarah  A.  and  Joseph  AV.,  the  latter  being 
deceased.  The  mother  died  in  x\ugust,  1868. 
The  father  survived  until  March,  1874. 
Harvey  L.  served  as  treasurer  of  Harrison 
County,  Ohio,  six  years.  Our  subject  was 
reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  and 
received  a  common-school  education.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  began  to  learn  the  black- 
smith's trade,  which  he  followed  five  years. 
The  greater  portion  of  his  life  has  been 
spent  in  farming.  He  was  married  April  9, 
1865,  to  Miss  Catherine  Kirby,  born  in 
Carroll  County,  Ohio,  March  21,  1844,  and 
daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Elizabeth  Ivirby, 
who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  early 
settlers  of  Carroll  County.  Islr.  and  Mrs. 
Thompson  have  had  live  children — Lizzie  M., 
born  May  2,  1867;  Frances  E.,  born  January 
15,  1869;  Cranston  A.,  born  September  17, 
1871;    Ida  M.,    born    June    27,    1879;    and 


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Ephraiin  K.,  born  Deceinlier  2o,  INM.  ilr. 
'J  liuiupson  eaine  to  Adams  rouiity  witli  his 
family  in  the  spring  of  1868,  and  has  since 
been  a  resident  of  AVashington  Townsiiip. 
lie  settled  npon  his  present  farm  on  section 
31,  which  was  then  in  its  primitive  state, and 
has  100  acres  of  land.  lie  is  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  lodge,  and  in  polities  a 
Democrat.  He  is  a  self-made  man,  and 
obtained  what  he  has  by  industry  and  good 
manattemcnt. 


l^jEV.  lIEiniAN  THEODORE  WIL- 
WX.  KEN,  rector  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic 
^•^  Cluirch,  Decatur,  Indiana,  was  born  in 
the  villacje  of  Soegel,  Kingdom  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  October  19,  1S41,  a  son  of  Bene- 
dict and  Thecla  (Volmaring)  Wilken.  In 
18(30  his  parents  came  to  America  and  lo- 
cated in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  wliere  his  fatlier 
died  JIarch  5,  ISGl.  He  being  the  only  son, 
the  care  and  snpjiort  of  his  mother  devolved 
on  him,  and  although  not  seventeen  years 
old,  he  went  bravely  to  work  to  fulfill  his 
trust.  He  was  for  a  time  employed  in  a 
chair  factory  in  Cincinnati,  and  in  18G4  was 
employed  as  Government  cari)enter  at  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee.  In  the  latter  part  of  1864 
he  entered  the  Jesuit  College  at  Cincinnati, 
with  the  intention  of  preparing  himself  for 
the  priesthood,  and  graduated  in  1869.  He 
then  attended  the  Theological  Seminary  of 
Mount  St.  Mary's,  and  November  9,  1872, 
was  ordained  priest.  After  his  ordination  he 
went  to  Fort  AVayne,  Indiana,  where  he  was 
assigned  to  the  pastorate  of  St.  Patrick's 
Chnrcli  at  Areola,  Allen  County,  where  he 
remained  until  July,  1880,  when  he  was 
transferred  to  Decatur  and  placed  in  charge 
of  St.  Mary's  parish.  He  is  an  earnest,  inde- 
fatigable   worker,    a    good   speaker,   and    St. 


Afary's  is  steadily  advancing  in  interest  and 
growing  in  meinbershi})  under  his  super- 
vision. 


?!i=?S  AZIL  HENDRICKS,  an  early  settler  of 
'1  Washington  Tuwiiship,  resides  on  sec- 


"^  tion  33.  He  was  born  in  Harrison 
County,  Ohio,  September  1,  1818,  son  of 
John  and  Susannah  Hendricks,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  settled  in  Harrison  Coun- 
ty in  the  year  1806,  and  were  among  the  first 
settlers  of  that  county.  The  father  died 
February  21,  1848,  and  the  mother  March 
1,  1850.  Of  ten  children  born  to  the  pai'ents 
three  are  living  —  Charlotte,  ]\Iatilda  and 
Razil.  Our  subject  passed  his  early  life  in 
his  native  county,  and  received  a  rudimentary 
education  in  the  early  subscription  schools. 
He  was  married  in  Ohio,  in  Alareli,  1841,  to 
Miss  Catherine  Cutchall,  of  Harrison  County, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  five  children 
— Oliver  T.,  Jane,  John,  Adaline,  now  ]\Irs. 
Dr.  V.  C.  Simcope,  and  Jacob  D.  ilrs.  Hen- 
dricks died  July  30,  1856,  and  October  31, 
1856,  ilr.  Hendricks  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Hower,  widow  of  Henry  Ilower,  of 
Adams  County,  and  daughter  of  David  and 
Rebecca  ColFman,  who  M-ere  among  the  pio- 
neers of  this  county.  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Hen- 
dricks have  had  five  children — Harriet  ]\I., 
wife  of  Lacey  Sells;  David  M.,  James  A., 
Minnie  B.  and  Ella  M.  In  1848  Mr.  Hen- 
dricks immigrated  with  his  family  to  Adams 
County,  coming  with  a  team  and  wagon  con- 
taining the  family  and  the  household  goods. 
Mr.  Hendricks  entered  360  acres  of  land, 
which  is  his  present  home,  built  him  a  log 
cabin  and  commenced  to  clear  his  land  in 
true  pioneer  style.  After  a  few  years  he 
built  a  better  house  and  other  commodious 
farm    buildings.     He    now  has   280  acres  of 


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IIISTDUY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


good  land.  Jliinself  and  wife  arc  iiieuibcrs 
of  tlie  Mftliodist  Episcopal  clmrcli,  and  he  is 
ac'tiny  as  trustee  of  that  church.  He  is  a 
ineuilier  of  the  Odtl  Fellows  fraternity,  and 
in  jiolitics  a  Democrat. 


7t^/^>jAKK  ASPY,  deceased,  a  pioneer  of 
>Ja\Mi  Waliasli  Township,  this  county,  set- 
~-.,;i-r^  tied  here  in  1S4S.  He  was  a  native 
of  Rush  County,  this  State,  born  October  17, 
1S23.  Jlis  father,  Lawrence  Asjiy,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  ronioxed  to  Ohio,  thence 
to  Indiana,  settling  in  Knsh  County  in  an 
early  day.  lie  removed  to  Adams  County, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  in  A\'abash  Township, 
where  he  remained  until  his  decease.  lie 
was  twice  married;  first  to  Jane  Morgan, 
whom  he  married  in  Rush  County.  Her 
father,  Jonathan  ^Morgan,  was  one  of  the  lirst 
settlers  of  Rush  County.  P>y  the  first  mar- 
riage there  were  seven  children.  His  wife 
dying,  Mr..Aspy  married  Jane  Jones,  who 
survived  her  husband,  and  after  iiis  death  she 
went  to  tlie  western  part  of  the  State,  where 
she,  too,  died.  Mark,  the  subject  of  this  no- 
tice, was  raised  on  his  father's  farm,  and  re- 
ceived a  good  common-school  education.  He 
remained  at  home  until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority, lie  was  married  December  15,  18i4, 
to  Elsie  Ann  Short,  a  native  of  Jackson 
County,  Virginia.  Her  father,  Lamlin  Short, 
•  immigrated  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Rush 
County  in  1824,  and  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  that  county.  Her  motlier  was  also 
a  native  of  Virginia.  Iler  maiden  name  was 
Nancy  Goble.  Mr.  Aspy,  wife  and  two  chil- 
dren came  to  this  county  in  1848,  where  the 
father  died  on  the  old  homestead  July  27, 
1885.  They  had  a  family  of  seven  children 
— Elizabeth,  born  October  8,  1845,  died  Oc- 
tober 12,  1851;   Benjamin  F.,  born  March  19, 


1847;  :\rary  J.,  Imrn  June  15,  1849;  Hiram 
M.,  born  December  23,  iSoO;  Josiah  L.,  born 
September  5,  1852;  Sarah  A.,  born  ^Iarch8, 
1854;  AViUiam  A.,  born  April  0,  1858.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Aspy  united  with  the  Disciple 
church,  previous  to  their  marriage.  Mr. 
Aspy  was  formerly  a  AVhig,  but  united  with 
the  Rei)ublican  party  upon  its  organization. 
He  held  the  ofKce  of  justice  of  the  peace  of 
his  township  for  eight  years;  was  also  town- 
sliip  treasurer  and  township  trustee  six  years. 
He  was  well  liked  by  his  neighbors  and 
friends,  and  his  death  was  lamented  by  the 
whole  community.  At  the  time  he  settled 
in  the  township  the  country  was  new  and  his 
farm  was  covered  with  heavy  timber.  Game 
was  plenty,  and  ]\[rs.  Aspy  remembers  seeing 
deer  pass  the  house  while  sitting  in  her  door. 


l^AULUS   RIES,    of    Preble    Township, 
'"fl^   teacher  of  the  Lutheran  Zion's  Church, 


t 


was  born  in  Switzerland,  in  Canton 
Glarns,  near  Linthal,  June  28,  184G.  At  the 
age  of  four  years,  his  lather  died,  and  two 
years  later  he  came  to  America  with  his 
mother,  one  brother  and  three  sisters.  His 
mother,  Christiana  (Martz)  Ries,  settled  in 
De  Kalb  County,  three  miles  northwest  of 
Fairfield  Centre.  Here  our  subject  was  reared 
until  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  then  en- 
tered the  Evangelical  Lutheran  school  at  Fort 
Wayne,  and  one  year  later  went  to  Addison, 
Du  Page  County,  Illinois,  wliere  he  attended 
school  three  years,  graduating  in  1867.  His 
fii'st  school  was  at  W^'andotte,  Wayne  County, 
Michigan,  where  he  remained  ten  months, 
then  went  to  St.  Clair,  same  State,  where  he 
taught  school  seven  years.  From  there  he 
went  to  Kendallville,  Noble  County,  Indiana, 
and  was  there  three  years;  thence  to  Fort 
AVayne,    Indiana,    for    two    years;   thence  to 


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BIOORAPHIGAL    SKETGUES. 


395 


Frietllieiin,  this  coiiiity,  in  18S0,  wliere  he  is 
still  teaching.  ]\Iarch  29,  1808,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Jliss  Sophia  Classen,  who  was  horn 
in  Mecklenburg,  Germany,  October  3,  1849, 
and  when  seven  years  of  a^jje  came  to  America 
with  her  parents.  Christian  and  J\Iary  (J\!ar- 
tin)  Classen,  who  are  still  liviiif^  near  Wyan- 
dotte, ^licliigan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hies  had  nine 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  living — Paul, 
Frederick,  j^fary,  Anna,  Henry,  lleritiann 
and  Gustav  (twins),  and  Charles.  John,  the 
first  child,  died  at  the  age  of  three  inontlis. 
After  the  ministers  ceased  to  teach  where  ilr. 
Hies  now  teaches,  the  ne.vt  teacher  was 
Kirsch,  who  taught  nearly  twenty-five  years 
at  Friedlieim,  then  removed  to  Cowling,  AVa- 
bash  County,  Illinois,  and  is  now  teaching 
near  AVorden,  Illinois. 


HA  CARPENTER,  one  of  the  old  pioneers 
of  Adams  County,  was  born  in  Portage 
County,  Ohio,  August  12,  1825,  a  son  of 
Piiilander  and  Esther  (IJeech)  Carpenter,  and 
of  English  and  Irish  nationality.  They  were 
the  jiarents  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters 
— Aaron,  William,  Ira,  Lutlicr,  Esther  and 
Lucinda.  Ira  grew  to  manhood  on  his 
lather's  farm,  being  reared  to  the  avocation 
of  a  farmer.  He  M-eiit  to  Jlarion  County, 
01) io,  and  from  there  came  to  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  in  1842,  settling  in  Union  Township, 
on  a  tract  of  IGO  acres,  M-here  he  erected  a 
log  cabin.  This  land  had  been  previously 
entered  by  his  father,  who  afterward  returned 
to  Ohio.  lie  was  united  in  marriage  June 
27,  1844,  to  ]\[artlia  Ann  Teeple.  lie  con- 
tinued to  reside  on  his  farm  in  Union  Town- 
ship about  ten  years  after  his  marriage,  when 
he  removed  to  St.  Mary's  Township,  where 
his  wife  died  November  10,  1861.  lie  was 
again  married  JFay  18,  1802,  to   Sarah  Cath- 


erine Debolt,  and  of  the  four  children  born 
to  this  union  only  two  ai'e  living — Annetta 
Florence,  born  August  20,  1800,  and  Sey- 
mour II., born  May  17, 1871.  Ira  McClelland 
was  born  Jnly  7,  1803,  and  died  July  18, 
1863,  and  Sarah  Catherine,  who  was  born 
November  17,  1864,  died  December  5,  1804. 
]\[rs.  Carpenter  is  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Elizabeth  (Poundstone)  Debolt,  who  came  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  fi'oni  Licking  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  about  thirty-three  years  ago  and 
settled  in  St.  Mary's  Township.  They  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  children — John, 
Marion,  Abraham,  George,  Isaac,  L)avid, 
Amanda  and  Sarah  Catherine.  Mr.  and  ^Irs. 
Carpenter  are  comfortably  settled  on  their 
farm  in  St.  Mary's  Township,  in  a  neat  anil 
commodious  farm  dwelling,  their  faj'm  bein" 
one  of  the  best  in  the  township.  When  ]\Ir. 
Carpenter  first  settled  on  liis  farm  it  was  en- 
tirely unimproved,  and  heavily  covered  with 
timber,  but  by  patient  toil  he  has  cleared 
acre  by  acre  until  the  forest  was  changed  into 
a  very  well  improved  and  productive  farm. 
The  nearest  voting  precinct  when  he  settled 
in  the  county  was  Decatur,  but  after  a  few 
years  Union  Township  was  organized  and  the 
entire  county  was  laid  out  into  townships. 
There  were  no  improved  roads  in  the  county, 
and  it  was  a  common  occurrence  for  the 
early  settlers  to  go  as  far  as  two  or  three 
miles  to  work  out  land  tax.  Jlr.  Carpenter 
was  elected  supervisor,  and  assisted  in  open- 
ing out  two  miles  of  the  road  to  Pleasant 
Mills,  then  called  the  Mill  road,  and  also  as- 
sisted in  opening  up  a  part  of  what  was  then 
called  the  Decatur  road.  Wild  animals  were 
numerous  in  that  early  day,  and  sheep  had 
to  be  secured  in  pens  to  protect  them  from 
the  wolves.  Flax  and  wool  were  manufac- 
tured into  cloth  by  the  thrifty  housewife, 
wiiich  was  made  into  clothes  for  both  male 
and  female.     Trading  and   milling  was  done 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


I 


at  Fort  AV:i\iie,  tweiity-iiiiK'  miles  distant. 
Salt  sold  at  s3  a  lian-i'l.  1  logs,  wlieii  dressed, 
were  sold  at  the  same  trading  ])oint  tur  2 
cents  a  pound,  which  tlie  early  settler  con- 
sidered a  good  price.  ]\Ir.  Cari)enter  carried 
the  mail  for  three  months  from  Fort  Wayne 
to  Cold  AVater,  Alichigan,  a  distance  of  sev- 
enty-one miles,  receiving  for  his  services  §0 
a  month.  All  the  harvesting  was  done  by 
hand,  the  price  jjaid  being  50  cents  a  day,  or 
if  the  laborer  preferred  he  could  have  instead 
a  bushel  of  wheat  for  his  day's  labor.  JMany 
were  thehardsliips  and  privations  experienced 
liy  Ira  Carpenter  and  his  family,  but  they 
have  lived  to  see  the  country  covered  with 
well  cultivated  fields  and  thriving  villages, 
and  are  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of  their  years 
of  toil  and  industry,  surrounded  with  all  the 
necessary  comforts  of  life,  and  are  well  re- 
spected among  the  citizens  of  the  county 
whei'e  they  have  spent  so  many  years. 


ILAIIK  J.  LUTZ,  attorney-at-law,  Deca- 
IvE  ''"'''  Indiana,  was  born  ^March  14,  1862, 
^1  at  AVilliamsport,  Allen  County,  Indi- 
ana. At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  lie  engaged 
in  the  drug  and  general  mercantile  business 
in  AVilliamsport,  Indiana,  with  his  brother, 
.lacob  S.  Lntz,  under  the  lirm  name  of  Lutz 
I'ros.,  in  which  business  he  continued  until 
1882,  wlien  he  removed  to  Decatur  and  en- 
tered tlie  high  school.  In  1883  he  engaged 
in  the  real  estate  business  with  J.  F.  France 
under  the  firm  name  of  France  &  Lutz,  and  in 
1884  the  firm  was  dissolved  and  he  entered 
the  law  office  of  France  &,  Merryman  as  a 
student.  Early  in  1885  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  but  continued  as  a  student  until  Jan- 
nary,  1886,  when  he  commenced  the  practice 
of  law.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  On  the 
14th  day  of  October,  1886,  he  was  united  in 


mai-riage  with  Miss  Anna  il.  Lewis,  of  Deca- 
tur, Indiana,  who  was  born  in  Zaiiesville,Ohio, 
September  22,  1S()2.  In  1S7'J  she  removed  to 
Decatur  anil  resided  with  her  grandparents, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  McGonagle.  In  187'J 
and  1880  she  attended  the  conservatory  of 
music  at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  and  in  1883 
and  1884  she  received  instructions  in  music 
from  Professor  Emil  Leibling,  of  C'hicago. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Ohio,  and  lier 
father.  Dr.  J.  V.  Lewis,  is  now  a  practicing 
pliysician  of  liiclimond,  Indiana.  The  par- 
ents of  Mr.  Lutz  were  born  in  Stark  County, 
( »hio,  and  removed  to  Allen  County,  Indi- 
ana, near  AVilliamsport,  in  1852,  where  tiiey 
now  reside.  !Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lutz  are  members 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Decatur. 


^f^IIAPLES  BPOCK,  f\irmer,  resides  on 
AJm  section  25,  Poot  Townsliip,  where  lie 
H:yri  owns  forty  acres  of  land;  he  also  owns 
twenty-six  acres  on  section  24.  He  is  a  son 
of  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Swartz)  Brock. 
The  father  was  born  in  Germany  in  17S0, 
and  tlie  mother  was  born  in  1789,  in  the 
same  country,  where  she  died  in  1883,  leaving 
three  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  year  fol- 
lowing the  father  took  his  five  children  and 
came  to  America,  settling  in  ]\Ias5illon,  Stark 
County,  Oliio,  where  he  and  his  eldest  son, 
Jacob,  went  to  work  in  Charles  Skinner's 
woolen  factory.  One  year  later  the  father 
died,  aged  fifty-five  years.  Jacob  kept  the 
family  together  for  a  year  and  a  half,  and  was 
then  advised  by  Mr.  Skinner  to  sejiarate 
them.  Charles,  our  subject,  went  to  live 
with  W.  A.  Reed,  where  he  was  reared  until 
about  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  old,  wlien  he 
went  to  live  with  his  brother-in-law,  where 
he  remained  until  seventeen  years  of  age, 
then  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years 


»"M*^™— "m'^m™  j»^«r'»i»"'S*'M  »»«»»■»  ™»^«i»M»Mn{ 


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JlKiaHAl'J/lCA  1.    S  KKTiJlim. 


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iit  the  carpenter's  trade,  witli  Levi  .Snyder. 
He  lias  followed  this  trade  ever  since,  witli 
the  exceiition  of  four  years  spent  in  Califor- 
ina,  wheiv  he  was  engaged  in  mining.  He 
went  with  .i^3S()  ami  returned  witii  ><330. 
lie  went  haelv  to  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  where 
lie  remained  five  years,  tlien  came  to  his 
])resent  farm,  whicli  he  liad  purchased  pi-e- 
vious  to  Icaxiii:^'-  ()hio.  The  land  was  wild, 
and  he  lived  in  a  rented  house  a  few  weeks 
wliile  he  built  his  heweil-loij;  house.  He  lived 
in  his  log  cahin  until  l.S7(),  when  he  built  a 
■fine  frame  house.  He  worked  at  his  trade 
and  hired  men  to  clear  his  land.  He  has 
built  many  of  the  houses  in  his  neighborhood 
and  township.  ^Ir.  J'rock  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, June  2, 1825,  and  was  only  eight  years 
old  when  he  came  with  his  father  to  .Vmeriea. 
He  was  married  April  20,  1^51-,  to  Jliss 
Nancy  Culliertson,  who  was  born  in  Wayne 
County.  Ohio,  April  2S,  1823.  She  was 
rearetl  within  iive  miles  of  AVooster.  Five 
years  after  tlieir  man-iage  they  came  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana.  Mrs.  I Irock's  father, 
Thomas  Culbertson,  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land County,  Pennsylvania,  April  21,  1790, 
where  he  was  reared  and  married.  After  the 
war  of  1812  he  removed  to  AVayne  C'ounty, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  an  early  pioneer.  There 
were  no  roads,  nothing  but  Indian  trails. 
Mr.  Culbertson  was  the  first  clerk  of  the  first 
election  held  in  Plain  Township,  AV^ayne 
County,  lie  died  in  Sejitembei',  1879,  within 
live  miles  of  the  place  where  he  opened  his 
new  farm  in  AVayne  County.  He  was  a  pen- 
sioner of  the  war  of  1812.  Mrs.  Brock's 
mother,  Margaret  (Cahill)  Culbertson,  was 
also  born  in  AVestmoreland  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, January  21,  1794,  and  died  Septemlier 
14,  1869  She  united  with  the  Presbyterian 
church  when  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  died 
in  the  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality.  ^Mr. 
and  Mrs.  P)rock  have  had  two  children — Mary 


]\I.,  born  February  1,  1855,  was  married  Oc- 
tober 30,  1879,  to  Albert  J.  Bailey;  Jennie 
E.,  born  January  20,  1S58,  died  December 
19,  1NS5,  and  is  buried  in  Alpha  cemeter}'. 
She  was  a  devoted  Christian,  ha\ing  united 
with  the  ISIethodist  Ejiiscopal  church  when 
nineteen  years  old.  She  conimenci'd  teach- 
ing when  seventeen  years  old.  and  taught 
summers  and  attended  school  <luring  the 
winter.  More  recently  siie  taught  both  sum- 
mer and  winter.  She  was  a  favorite  with  old 
and  young,  and  all  loved  her  for  hei'  many 
lovel}'  (jualities  of  mind  and  heart.  ]\Ir. 
Brock's  mother  had  two  brothers,  Phillip  and 
John,  who  were  born  in  Germany.  They 
went  to  South  America,  and  being  bakers  by 
trade,  became  very  wealthy  and  owned  slaves. 
!Mrs.  Brock's  grandfather,  Alexander  Culbert- 
son, was  born  in  AVestmoi'eland  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  died  about  1833,  in  AVayne 
County,  Ohio.  He  was  a  IJevolntionary  sol- 
dier. Her  grandmothei',  Butli  (I'rice)  Cul- 
bertson, \vas  boi'n  on  the  ocean,  of  Ii'ish 
parents,  and  died  in  AVayne  County.  Her 
maternal  grandfather,  Abraham  Cahill,  was 
married  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  drowned 
in  AVooster,  while  assisting  emigrants  across 
the  river.  Her  grandmother,  Xancy  (Wal- 
lace) Cahill,  was  probably  born  in  AVest- 
moreland County.  She  died  in  Pichland 
County,  Ohio,  at  a  ripe  old  age. 


'psIRA:\[  M.  ASPA',  physician  and  drug- 
tR)l  S'**-'  Geneva,  was  born  in  AVabash 
"^ii  Township,  this  county,  December  23, 
1850,  son  of  Mark  and  Elsa  Aspy,  early  set- 
tlers of  Adams  County.  He  remained  on 
the  farm  until  he  became  of  age,  attending 
the  common  schools,  and  also  attending  Liber 
College  in  Jay  County,  two  years,  after  which 
he   engaged    in    the   study  of  medicine,  and 


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ciiiiiineiifecl  jiractico  in  (!onev:i  in  1875,  wliicli 
profession  lie  still  rollows.  He  received  his 
iiiediciil  education  at  itiaini  Medical  College, 
Cincinnati,  in  the  -winters  of  1874-'75-'7C, 
of  the  allupatliie  sc1io(j1.  He  engaged  in  the 
drng  business  in  1SS5.  Dr.  Aspy  was  niai"- 
ried  October  28,  lS7'J,  to  Klizabeth  P.  Burk, 
a  native  of  Jay  County,  born  October  25, 
1856,  daughter  of  'Williani  IJurk,  an  old  set- 
tler of  Jay  County;  he  afterward  lived  in 
Adams  County  about  twenty  years,  and  now 
lives  just  across  the  line  in  Jay  County.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Asj)y  have  one  child — Ivy  IJlanch, 
born  Julv  7,  lSS-2. 


ILLIA:\r  HALL,  engaged  in  farming 
iji  on  section  23,  Hartford  Townshijt, 
("cyST^  where  he  has  eighty  acres  of  choice 
land,  is  a  native  of  Perry  County,  Ohio, 
born  IMay  16,  181:3,  his  parents,  Samuel  and 
ilargaret  (Brown)  Hall,  being  natives  of  the 
same  State,  the  father  born  ]\hircli  10,  1805, 
and  the  mother  February  10,  ISIO.  They 
M'ci'e  married  in  Ohio,  April  18,  1828,  and  to 
this  union  were  born  seven  children,  four 
sons  an<.l  three  daughters.  They  came  with 
their  family  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in 
1814,  and  settled  on  section  15,  Hartford 
Township,  where  they  lived  till  their  deatli, 
the  father  dying  January  9,  1815,  and  the 
mother  April  26,  1862.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  old-school  Baptist  church.  The 
father  was  a  carpenter,  which  avocation  he 
followed,  in  connection  with  his  farming 
operations,  until  his  death.  The  Hall  family 
is  of  English  and  German  descent.  William 
Ilall,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  reared 
to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  in  Adams 
County,  receiving  such  education  as  could 
bo  obtained  in  the  district  schools  of  that  day. 
During  the  late  war  he  enlisted  in  Compjany 


]\r,  Twenty-eighth  Lidiana  Infantry,  and  af- 
ter serving  his  country  three  months  was 
dischargeil  on  account  of  sickness.  After 
leaving  the  army  he  went  to  Illinois,  where 
he  spent  two  years,  when  he  returned  to 
Adams  (joiint}',  Indiana.  He  was  married 
June  13,  ISOi),  to  -Mrs.  ^Melissa  (French) 
Ilall,  widow  of  Nathan  Ilall,  who  was  born 
in  French  Township,  Adams  County,  Indiana, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Beach) 
French,  the  father  born  in  Elaine,  ^larch  19, 
1794,  and  the  mother  born  in  Mai-yland, 
February  14,  ISOl.  :\Ir.  and  .Mrs.  Hall  are 
the  parents  of  three  children — Kachel,  wife 
of  Benjamin  Bunion;  Sarah  E.  and  Chester 
F.  Mrs.  Hall  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church.  Joseph  Fi'ench,  her  father,  was  one 
of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Adams  County,  and 
a  prominent  citizen  of  French  Township, 
which  was  named  in  his  honor.  He  is  a  de- 
scendant of  the  French  family  of  Ii'eland. 
He  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat,  and  was  elected  on  the 
Democrat  ticket  sheritf  of  Adams  County. 
He  was  married  in  Ohio  to  Eliza  Beach,  and 
to  this  union  were  born  ten  children,  five 
still  living — Philema,  Joel,  William,  John, 
Minerva,  Melissa,  Alonzo,  Sylvia,  Jane 
and  Edgar.  ]\Ir.  French  died  in  Frencli 
Township.  October  17,  1842,  his  wife  dying 
in  1858,  aged  fifty-seven  years.  In  their  re- 
ligious views  they  were  Baptists. 


fOIlX  WILSON  TYNDALL,  surveyor  of 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  is  a  native  of 
this  county,  born  in  Blue  Creek  Town- 
ship, October  30,  1861,  a  son  of  John  C.  and 
Rachael  (Wagers)  Tyndall,  natives  of  Oliio, 
the  father  of  Welsh  and  the  mother  of  Ger- 
man-Irish descent.  Ilis  paternal  ancestors 
came    to    America    prior  to  the  war  of   the 


iiToaiiAi'inaAL  skktciies. 


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Itevoltitioii  ami  Wfi-e  pniiniiifnt  in  tliu  early 
days  of  American  history,  .luljii  ('.  Tymlall 
was  reared  a  fanner,  and  in  1N."J0  located  in 
vVdams  County,  Indiana,  lieiii^  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  IJhie  Creek  Towusliip.  lie 
improved  a  farm,  and  in  the  earlier  days  of 
the  county  taught  abo\it  twelve  terms  of 
school  during  the  winter.  In  ISGl  he 
enlisted  in  the  defense  of  the  Union,  and  was 
assigned  to  (!oinpany  I,  Forty-seventh  Indi- 
ana Regiment,  and  served  nearly  two  years, 
wlien  he  was  discharged  for  disability.  He 
never  recovei-ed  his  former  health,  and  ins 
death  which  occurred  -fuly  2,  1SS5,  was  the 
result  of  sickness  contracted  in  the  army. 
Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  was 
a  prominent  citizen  of  his  township,  and 
served  several  terms  as  assessor,  and  twelve 
years  as  justice  of  the  peace.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  died  in  18(J5,  when  he  was  but 
four  years  of  age.  J.  \\  .  Tyndall  was  reared 
in  Blue  C^reek  Township,  where  he  received 
the  rudiments  of  his  education.  AVheii  six- 
teen years  old  he  began  teaeliing,  and  when 
seventeen  bought  his  time  of  his  father,  pay- 
ing him  iJlOU  a  year  until  he  was  twenty-one. 
In  1882  he  entered  the  college  proper  at 
Valparaiso,  and  graduated  from  the  commer- 
cial, scientific  and  classical  departments, 
completing  the  latter  with  the  class  of  1885. 
He  is  self-educated,  earning  the  money  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  his  college  course  by 
teaching.  Upon  leaving  school  it  was  liis 
intention  to  go  to  Kansas  and  engage  in 
teaching,  a  vocation  for  which  he  is  so  emi- 
nently titled,  but  the  death  of  his  father 
obliged  him  to  remain  in  Adams  County  to 
settle  up  the  estate,  and  in  March,  188G,  he 
was  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic  party  for 
county  surveyor,  to  which  office  he  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority  the  following 
November.  Mr.  Tyndall  is  a  young  man  of 
fine  ability,  and  his  prospects  for  future  use- 


fulness are  promising.  His  career  thus  far 
ha.-,  been  marked  with  success,  and  he  is  well 
titted  to  assume  any  duties  the  future  may 
liave  in  store  for  him. 


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rOIIN  p.  PORTEP,  M.  D.,  deceased,  who        'A\ 


J  '  was  one  of  the  foremost  practitioners  of 
^  his  day  in  Adams  County,  was  born  in 
Mansfield,  Ohio,  in  1823,  a  son  of  Dr.  Alex- 
ander and  Sarah  (Pomeroy)  Porter,  early 
settlers  of  Adams  County.  His  eai'ly  educa- 
tion was  received  in  the  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borliood,  and  at  the  high  schocd  at  Dalton, 
Ohio.  He  followed  the  avocation  of  a  teacher 
lor  several  years,  commencing  at  tlie  age  of 
seventeen  yeai-s.  He  began  reading  medicine 
under  the  preceptorship  of  his  fatiier,  and 
later  attended  Rush  ^Medical  College  of 
Ciiicago,  Illinois,  graduating  from  that  insti- 
tution. He  was  niari'ied  in  In.jO  to  ]\Iiss 
Elizabeth  Dorwin,  a  native  of  ^lanstield, 
(Jhio.  Three  children  were  born  to  this 
union — Charles  D.,  ^liles  F.  (a  practicing 
pliysician  of  Fort  AVayne,  Indiana),  and 
Jennie  (deceased).  Dr.  Porter  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  at  Decatur,  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  which  he  followed  until 
18G2,  when  he  was  commissioned  First  Sur- 
geon of  the  Eighty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry 
and  went  South  with  his  regiment.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Alunfordville,  Kentucky, 
and  returned  home  on  parol-  He  was  after- 
ward exchanged  and  joined  his  regiment,  and 
November  1,  18Gi,  he  was  shot  and  killed  by 
bushwhackers,  near  Lexington,  Missouri. 
During  his  military  service  Dr.  Porter 
attended  the  sick  and  wounded  and  is  yet 
remembered  by  his  comrades  for  liis  many 
good  qualities  and  kindness  to  all,  and  they 
have  perpetuated  his  memory  in  the  name  of 
the  Gram!  Army  post  at  Geneva.     He  was  a 


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HISTORY    OF    ADA.lfS    COUNTY. 


I 


ti-iie  Union  man,  .uul  in  politics  was  a  strong 
liepiibliean.  (icnial  in  tumperanient,  cliari- 
table  toward  tlie  nnt'ortnnate,  active  in  tlie 
support  of  evLMy  movement  calculated  to 
])romote  the  public  welt'arc,  lie  was  a  man 
who  took  a  tn'ominent  position  in  the  com- 
munity in  whitdi  he  lived,  and  gained  the 
confidence  of  all  who  knew  him.  lie  was 
unusually  skilled  in  the  knowledge  of  his 
profession,  and  while  at  iJecatur  established  a 
large  practice,  lie  was  a  member  of  both 
the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  orders.  Mrs. 
Porter  is  also  tleceased,  her  death  taking 
jilace  in  ()cti)l)er,  iSS-t.  Both  the  doctor 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian chui'ch. 


TILLIA:*!   a.   ASPY,  principal  of  the 


,,^^ ,  __  ^. 

l-^;>^7^j  Township,  this  county,  April  6,  185S, 
son  of  J\Iark  Aspy,  deceased,  lie  was  reared 
on  a  farm  and  attended  the  common  schools 
of  ids  neighborhood.  When  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  he  attended  the  Northern 
Indiana  Normal  School  at  Valparaiso,  gradu- 
ating in  the  scientific  and  the  teachers' course 
in  l.S!S3.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  school  teaching,  and  is  now  teaching 
his  second  term  in  (Geneva,  lie  owns  a  farm 
in  the  township,  and  a  fine  residence  with 
several  lots  in  town,  lie  is  the  youngest  of 
a  family  of  eight  children,  lie  is  a  very 
worthy  young. man  and  a  popular  teacher, 
lie  is  a  member  of  the   Disciple  chui'ch. 


fAPTAlN     IIAPJIY.   ^y.    KIRRY,    a 
brother  of  Mrs.  Thompson,  was  born  at 
V^  Lamartine,   Cari'oll   County,  Ohio,    De- 
cember  18,  1845.     Entered  Harlem  Springs 


College  in  IsHO.  In  1801  enlisted  in  the 
Eiifhtieth  Ohio  Rceiinent,  served  through 
the  war  under  (Trant  and  Sherman  and  rose 
to  Captain.  In  18()5  he  entered  tlie  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan,  and  remained  until  iiis 
senior  3'ear,  when  he  accepted  the  position  of 
Professor  of  Mathematics  in  Harlem  Springs 
College;  studied  law  under  Judge  Tri])]i,  of 
Carrollton,  Ohio,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1880,  never  settled  down  to  ])ractice,  but  has 
handled  many  intricate  cases  successfully. 
In  1882  he  came  to  Willshire,  Ohio,  to  nurse 
his  brother  with  small-pox;  after  which  was 
principal  of  schools  at  Pleasant  Mills,  Indi- 
ana, for  three  years,  and  has  since  made  Ins 
home  in  Adams  County.  He  served  one 
term  as  deputy  county  surveyor.  He  has 
contributed  to  the  leading  journals  of  the 
country,  and  is  at  present  arranging  to  pub- 
lish a  volume  of  his  own  poems. 


;^0BEIIT  BUPNS  ALLISON,  a  retired 
;tCj  banker  and  business  man  of  Decatur, 
*°5-'i\  was  born  in  Wajnesburg,  Pennsylvania, 
June  19,  1833.  His  father,  John  Allison, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  of  Scotch-Irish 
extraction,  and  by  avocation  a  merchant.  He 
died  at  Browns\'ille,  wliere  he  was  in  busi- 
ness in  1^3U.  His  mother  (nee  ]Mary  Craw- 
ford) was  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  of  Scotch  ancestry.  After  the  death  of 
her  husband,  in  1839,  she  moved  back  to 
AVaynesburg,  Pennsylvania,  wliere  she  lived 
until  184:8,  when  she  came  with  lier  family 
to  Decatur,  Indiana,  where  she  died  in  1878. 
She  was  the  motliei"  of  tour  children — Rob- 
ert B.,  Jane  A.  Crabb,  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  and 
two  who  died  in  infancy.  Robert  was  reared 
in  the  mercantile  business,  being  employed 
as  clerk  in  Waynesburg  when  oidy  ten  years 
old.       He    was    educated     in    the    subscrip- 


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BIOGRA  PlIICAL    SKETCHES. 


lion  si'liOdls  uiul  tlio  A\';iyiK'sl)Uri;  ('ullci^c. 
lie  todk  a  i'omiiicrci!il  cdiii'sc  ;it  tlie  Iron 
City  Coiniiiercial  College,  at  Pittsburg, 
wlien  he  came  to  Decatur  with  his  mother 
at  the  age  of  fourteen.  lie  was  em- 
jjloj-ed  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  J.  &  P. 
Crahh,  and  clerked  and  attended  scliool  until 
]\rarch.  1859,  when  he  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  at  liuena  Vista,  Adams  Coun- 
ty, being  associated  with  J.  A:  P.  Crabb,  as 
Crabb  it  Allison.  In  ISlU  he  became  the 
successor  of  the  firm,  by  i)urchase,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  business  there  until  1878,  al- 
though in  1872  he  became  a  resident  of 
Decatur,  the  business  in  Buena  Vista  being 
under  the  management  of  Eugene  ilorrow, 
who  finally  succeeded  him  there.  In  1872 
Mr.  Allison  associated  himself  with  Jesse 
^'iblick,  David  Studabaker  and  J.  D.  Xnt- 
inan  as  private  bankers,  and  did  a  banking  bus- 
iness at  Decatur  tinder  tlic  name  of  the  Adanjs 
Ciiunty  I'ank,  which  was  afterward  organized 
under  the  State  laws,  when  he  was  chosen  to 
fill  the  j)osition  of  cashier,  and  afterward  be- 
came its  president.  In  1888,  on  account  of 
failing  health  caused  by  too  close  attention  to 
business,  he  was  obliged  to  resign  the  presi- 
dency of  the  bank  and  retire  from  business. 
Politically  he  is  a  Republican.  August  18, 
185'J,  he  was  married  at  Pnena  Vista  to  Miss 
Catherine  \^xnce,  daughter  of  the  late  A\^ill-  1 
iani  and  Sarah  Vance.  They  have  three  chil-  j 
(Iren  living — Jessie  0.  Townsend,  wife  of  the 
])roprietor  of  the  boat  house,  Decatur;  Rufus  i 
Iv.,  a  merchant  of  Berne,  Adams  County,  and 
Mai-y  v.,  still  at  home.  Tiiej'  lost  one  by 
death,  Frank  C,  who  died  at  Decatur,  ?so- 
vember  4,  1874,  aged  nearly  four  years.  Mr.  '■ 
Allison  is  a  very  prominent  Free  Mason  and  j 
(Jdd  Fellow.  In  Odd  Fellowship  he  is  a  j 
member  of  the  lodge  and  encainiiment  of  ! 
Decatur.  He  is  a  Thirty-second  Degree  t 
Mason,  an<l  is  a  member  of    Decatur  Lodge,  | 


Xo.'  571;  Fort  Wayne  Chai)trr,  No.  lit;  Fort 
Wayne  Council,  Xo.  4;  l''ort  Wayne  Coni- 
mandery,  Xo.  4,  and  the  Consistory  of  tiie 
State  of  Indiana,  at  Indianapolis. 


;^0N.  JOIIX  THOMAS  FKAXCK,senior 
X^Qm  member  of  the  law  firm  of  France  it 
■^'i  ilerryman,  Decatur,  Indiana,  is  a  prom- 
inent young  attorney  of  Adams  County.  lie 
is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Delaware,  Dela- 
ware County,  Ohio,  Decemlier  5,  1853.  He 
is  the  eldest  of  two  sons  of  Charles  ^I.  and 
^liranda(Thomas)  France.  CJharles  M.  France 
was  a  native  of  Vermont,  of  Scotch  and 
English  parentage.  "When  a  child  his  parents 
moved  to  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared.  In 
1851,  when  a  young  man,  he  came  to  Indiana 
and  located  in  Adams  County,  wliere  he  fol- 
lowed farming  until  18()7,  wiien,  having  in 
the  meantime  read  law,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  in  18G8  located  at  Decatur  and 
began  his  practice.  In  the  spring  of  1879 
he  moved  to  Bluffton,  AYells  County,  where 
he  still  lives.  lie  was  married  in  1852  to 
iHranda  Thomas,  a  native  of  AVhitley County, 
Indiana,  who  died  in  1857.  John  Thomas 
France  was  reared  in  Adams  County,  and 
was  here  educated,  graduating  from  the  high 
school  at  ])ecatur  in  the  class  of  1873.  In 
the  winter  of  lS73-'74  he  taught  his  first 
and  only  term  of  school,  in  Blue  Creek  Town- 
ship. In  the  spring  of  1874  he  began  to 
read  law  in  the  office  of  France  it  ^liller,  his 
father  being  the  senior  partner.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  at  Decatur  in  1875,  and  at 
once  began  to  practice,  becoming  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  France  A:  Miller,  changing  the 
name  to  I'^rance,  ^Miller  &  France.  This  co- 
])artnersliip  existed  a  year,  when  in  1876,  Mr. 
stiller  withdrawing,  the  firm  was  changed  to 
France  A:  Son.      In  1^79  his  father  moved  to 


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jriSTO/iY    OF    AVAM.S    COUNTY. 


IJluH'ton,  and  since  tliat  time  he  lias  liccn 
iissociatetl  witli  iliti'ercnt  parties,  and  in  Jann- 
aiT,  18^;5,  witli   J.  'W  ^rerrynnni,  t'ofined   the 


piv.-ent    lirni    nt'    l'"i' 


A;    ^reri'viiKUi.      Ti 


jjoiities  Jfr.  France  lias  always  been  identiiied 
with  the  Democratic  party.  During  187G 
and  1877  he  was  deputy  prosecuting  attorney 
of  Adams  County,  under  Joshua  Jiishop,  of 
Jay  County.  In  the  fall  of  1878  he  was 
elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  the  Twenty- 
si.xtli  Judicial  Circuit,  comprising  the  coun- 
ties of  Adams,  -la}-  and  AV'ells,  and  was 
re-elected  in  ISSO,  filling  the  office  four 
years.  During  his  service  as  prosecuting 
attorney  he  tried  several  murder  cases,  tiie 
most  important  being  the  Richards-Backester 
murder.  Since  1875  he  has  taken  an  active 
]iart  in  politics,  and  in  1880  was  elected 
chairman  of  the  Adams  County  Democratic 
Central  Committee,  an  office  he  has  held  to 
the  present  time.  He  is  a  member  of  Knights 
of  Pythias,  Kekionga  Lodge,  No.  65,  and  has 
passed  all  tlie  chairs  and  has  represented  his 
lodge  twice  in  the  grand  lodge  of  the  State. 
He  was  married  October  19,  1876,  to  ]\[is8 
Isabella  Corbin,  daughter  of  Elijah  and 
Pha?be  (Ullery)  Corliin,  natives  of  Virginia, 
■who  came  to  Indiana  in  1846.  Mrs.  France 
was  born  in  ]\Iarion  County,  Indiana,  June  2, 
1855,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
AVinchester,  Eandolph  County.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  France  have  been  born  tliree  cliildren — 
(.'arl  ().,  born  December  12,  1877;  Richard 
11.,  April  6,  1879,  and  Herbert  P..,  March  6, 
1881. 


;T:ESLEY  H.  STULTS,  farmer,  resides 
1'iVk\u  on  section  30,  Union  Township, 
[-cjPrj  where  he  owns  forty  acres  of  land. 
He  was  born  in  AVashington  Township,  this 
county,  October  18,  1858,  and  has  been  reared 


and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
iVdams  Comity.  His  parents  were  Jacob  and 
Luciiida  (Shciiueinan)  Stults.  AVesley  H. 
Stults"  was  married  September  23,  1SS4,  to 
iliss  Elizabeth  Heiptley,  who  was  born  in 
Crawford  County,  Ohio,  April  16,  1868,  and 
when  fourteen  years  of  age  came  with  her 
father's  famil}-  to  Adams  Count}',  her  parents 
settling  in  Root  Township.  \lcr  father,  Ru- 
dolph Heiptlej',  was  born  in  Switzerland  and 
came  to  ^Vmerica  aftei-  i-eachinghis  majority, 
settling  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  mai-riud.  He  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade  in  Seneca  County,  and  followed  his  trade 
while  lie  lived.  He  died  in  Crawford  County, 
September  23,  1876,  leaving  a  wife  and  one 
child,  the  latter  being  the  wife  of  W.  H. 
Stults,  our  subject.  The  mother  was  liorn  in 
Philadelphia,  Alarch  23,  1815,  and  when  two 
years  of  age  her  parents  brought  her  to 
Seneca  Count}',  Ohio,  where  she  grew  to 
womanhood  and  was  married.  After  her 
husband's  death  she  was  again  married,  Sep- 
tember 12,  1882,  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio, 
to  William  Wetter,  who  was  born  in  Switz- 
erland. After  their  marriage  they  came  at 
once  to  Adams  County  and  purchased  the 
farm  upon  which  they  now  reside. 


fOHX  W.  HENDRICKS,  general  mer- 
chant, and  the  present  etKcient  postmas- 
'-;<.  ter  of  ]\Ionroe,  is  a  native  (jf  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  born  July  26,  1851,  a  son 
of  Basil  Hendricks.  He  grew  to  manhood 
on  the  home  farm,  being  reareil  to  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  and  i-eceiving  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  the  county.  When 
twenty-one  years  of  age  lie  began  clerking  in 
his  father's  store,  which  he  followed  about 
five  years,  when  he  purchased  an  interest  in 
the  business.     Three    years  later   he  became 


if  i 
lit  i 


( ^■■-^lA^u^iJ^m'^ji-^Zi'^^J^i^^f^^oi'ijkk^* 


■ri»., .  lOijisri,  ai»J«  i«l,-ur, 


»•■«?•  .-«*'i»'"»i 


>«."i»'fit"« 


•^ji^"r»'*i^«¥M  ""M^i!?  M»M*'tt*ii"iii"H^"«"  ■!'■■"'«  ■'"■■I'^i?'?*''"" 


JUOGRAPIIICAL    HKETCHEH. 


associated  witli]\rr.  Ilocker,  and  \i-as  eii<;age(l 
ill  the  mercantile  business  under  tlie  firm 
name  of  ITendricks  ifc;  irocker  until  the  fall 
of  1882,  when  he  purchased  his  partner's  in- 
terest, and  has  since  conducted  the  business 
alone.  He  carries  a  stock  of  goods  valued  at 
about!?2,5()0,  and  his  annual  business  amounts 
to  about  $12,000.  Besides  carrying  on  his 
mercantile  trade,  ^[r.  Hendricks  is  engaged  in 
buying  and  shipping  lumber,  in  which  he 
has  tlone  an  extensive  business.  For  fifteen 
years  he  was  exclusively  engaged  in  this 
business,  shipping  most  of  his  timber  to  Fort 
AVayne.  During  the  year  187(3  he  shipped 
100  carloads  of  timber.  Mr.  Hendricks  was 
married  November  18,  1870,  to  iCiss  Esther 
L.  AValton,  who  was  born  in  Monroe  Town- 
ship, Adams  County,  Indiana,  June  28,  lSo8, 
and  to  them  one  child  has  been  born,  a 
daughter,  Maud  M.,  November  16,  1879. 
Mrs.  Hendricks  is  a  member  of  the  ]\retliodist 
Episcopal  church.  In  politics  Mr.  Hendricks 
is  a  staunch  Democrat.  He  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  ilonroe,  March  11, 1875,  which 
position  he  filled  until  1881,  and  August  21, 
1885,  he  was  again  appointed  to  the  same 
otHce,  which  he  has  since  filled  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 


I^^.OWAFJ)  AV.  SHACKLEY,  farmer,  sec- 
lip!^  tion  24,- luiut  Township,  came  to  tliis 
^.'i-  county  in  October,  1851,  when  he  was 
less  than  three  years  old,  witli  liis  parents 
and  four  other  children,  and  settled  upon  the 
farm  now  owned  by  our  subject.  There  was 
a  small  clearing,  and  a  dilapidated  log  cabin 
on  the  i^lace.  The  house  had  an  old-fashioned 
chimney  that  had  been  torn  out,  and  an  ox 
team  could  easily  have  been  driven  through 
the  aperture.  The  family  livfd  in  that 
house  four  years,  then  the   father  built  the 


present  house.  ]\[r.  Shackley's  father,  Joseph 
Shackley,  was  born  in  York,  ]\Iaine,  January 
12,  17'J2,  where  he  was  i-eared  and  married, 
and  lived  until  he  immigrated  to  Indiana, 
settling  in  Adams  County,  where  he  died 
September  14,  1875,  aged  eighty-three  years. 
He  was  a  conscientious  and  upright  man,  and 
lamented  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Metliotiist  church.  He  had  a 
great  antipathy  to  horses,  and  would  seldom 
drive  or  ride  one.  He  commenced  life  with 
nothing,  but  being  industrious  and  economi- 
cal, he  left  an  estate  worth  S7,00().  His  first 
wife  was  Miss  Taylor,  who  died  after  being 
married  six  years.  His  second  wife  was 
Louisa  R,  Emmonds.  They  had  ten  children 
— Phineas  C.,  Louisa  J.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  fourteen  years,  Jonas,  George,  Hiram  "\V., 
who  died  when  a  few  weeks  old,  Hiram 
"Whitehouse,  Warren  U.,  Daniel  K.,  Louisa  J. 
and  Howard  "\Y.  The  latter  was  born  in 
York  County,  ]\Iaine,  December  1-1,  1848. 
He  came  here  with  his  jiarents,  and  Adams 
County  has  always  been  his  home  since.  His 
mother  was  also  a  native  of  York  County, 
iEaine,  born  ]May  29,  1806,  where  she  grew 
to  maturity.  She  was  a  very  industi'ious 
women  and  a  great  weaver.  She  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church,  and  she  was  a 
devoted  Christian.  Her  death  cast  a  gloom 
over  the  entire  community.  Our  subject 
was  married  April  10, 1870,  to  Miss  Samantha 
E.  Kei-n,  who  was  l)orM  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  May  U,  1S49.  When  she  was  four 
years  olil  she  came  to  Adams  County,  with 
her  parents,  Samuel  and  Sophia  (Knop)  Kern, 
who  settled  in  St.  Mary's  Township,  four 
miles  east  of  Decatur,  where  she  lived  until 
her  marriage.  Her  father  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland County,  Pennsylvania,  April  24, 
1810,  where  he  was  reared  and  nuirried.  He 
afterward  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  livud 
until  he  came  to   this   count}'.     He  died  on 


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the  f'uriii  ill  St.  Mary's  Townslii]),  A]ii-il  H. 
1875,  iuul  is  l)Ui-iud  in  Salem  ctiiit'tiTy.  He 
was  a  warTdii-inaker  liy  trade,  Imt  in  later 
lite  IuHuwhmI  farm  i  !}!;■.  lie  and  his  \vife 
were  botli  members  of  the  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation. The  mother  was  born  in  Lancaster 
rounty,  Pennsylvania.  August  27,  1809. 
Her  parents  were  married  IS'oveniber  10, 
lS;5f),  and  had  a  family  often  children,  six  of 
whom  are  living-  -Henry  C,  John  AV.  (de- 
ceased), ]\rary  C  die<l  at  the  age  of  eight 
yeai's,  Elizabeth  (deceased),  ^largaret  A.  and 
Levi  (twins),  Emerson,  Afrs.  Shackley,  Naomi 
li.  and  AVil.-on  C.  Levi  died  at  the  age  of 
six  months.  Mr.  and  ilrs.  Shackley  liave 
had  eight  children — Nettie,  born  April  3, 
1S71;  EtHe,  born  June  2,  187-1:;  Samwel  K., 
born  November  14,  1877;  Jennie,  boi'ii 
^[arcli  4,  1S8U,  a  twin  of  Josepli  W.,  who 
died  at  tlie  age  of  three  months;  I'ertha  M., 
born  June  2'J,  1882;  Lillie  B.,  born  "May  25, 
1885;  Warren  1!.,  born  September  20,  1872, 
died  January  7,  1877.  Mrs.  Shackley's 
grandfather,  Henry  Kern,  died  in  AVayne 
County,  Ohio.  Her  grandfather,  Christian 
Kno]i,  died  in  St.  Clary's  Township,  tliis 
county.  Her  maternal  great-grandparents 
■were  Joel  and  JMargaret  (IJnfanderver)  Car- 
jientei',  her  grandmother's  maiden  name 
being  Catherine  Carpenter. 


[DWAIID  McLEOD  has  been  a  resident 


°Wly  ^*'  Adams  County,  since  184(5.  Six 
"^c^^  months  prior  he  resided  in  Fort  Wayne. 
His  parents,  John  and  Eliza  (Ingeis)  McLeod, 
were  of  Scotch  and  English  ancestry.  His 
grandfather,  George  Ingels,  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  under  General  AVashing- 
ton.  Jlr.  ]\[cLeod  was  born  in  Philadeliihia, 
Peimsylvania,  April  24,  1813.  In  1810  his 
]iarents,  with  their  family  of  seven   children. 


removed  to  Kentucky,  thence  to  Delawai'c 
County,  Ohio,  in  IM.S.  The  family  con- 
sisted of  tliirteen  children,  eleven  daughters 
and  two  .sons,  ;ill  of  whom  grew  to  maturity, 
and  three  have  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
dings. In  the  fall  of  1846  our  subject  came 
to  Adams  County,  and  two  years  later  pur- 
chased his  present  farm  in  St.  Mary's  Town- 
ship. This  farm  then  consisted  of  158.04 
acres,  and  was  covered  with  forest  and  totally 
unimpi'oved.  To  this  place  came  our  subject, 
his  wit'e  and  six  cliikhen.  AFrs.  McLeod  was 
formerly  Eliza  liose,  daughter  of  Heacon 
Isaac  Pose,  of  Dutch  descent,  and  Anna 
(Young)  Hose,  wlio  came  from  the  State  of 
New  York.  They  were  married  in  April, 
18)55,  in  Harlan  Township,  Delaware  County, 
Ohio.  In  1SS5  .Mrs.  Eliza  .McLeod  died, 
liaving  celebrated  their  golden  wedding  and 
having  lived  a  useful  and  Christian  life.  Of 
the  seven  children  liorn  to  this  couple,  three 
sons  and  four  daughters,  live  are  living — 
Susan  I.  Jackson  li\es  in  St.  JIary's  Town- 
ship; Anna  P.  Latl'inan  died  in  Kansas; 
Isaac  R.  lives  in  Del  Norte,  Colorado;  A)i- 
genora  I!.  Eicher  lives  in  AVar^aw,  Indiana; 
John  S.  resides  in  Pleasant  Mills,  St.  Mary's 
Township;  Edward  J.  died  in  1803;  Eliza 
K.  j\I.  Fristoe  resides  in  Decatur;  Isaac  and 
John  S.  served  in  the  Union  army  <]uring 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  the  former  serving 
over  three  years  and  the  latter  over  four 
years.  'Mr.  McLeod  served  two  terms  as 
townshi])  trustee,  and  has  proved  himself  to 
be  a  useful,  public-spirited  citizen.  l!y  con- 
tribution and  otherwise  he  assisted  in  build- 
ing three  churches  in  Decatur  and  two  in 
Pleasant  Mills.  Since  1832  he  has  been  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Missionary  Paptist 
cliurch.  In  December,  1885,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Diadema  Davis,  of  Troy, 
Ohio,  at  AVillsliire,  A^'an  AVert  County,  Ohio, 
by    Rev.  AVillard,  of  the   P>a])tist    denomina- 


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BIOGRAl'JIICAL    HKKrCUEH. 


tion.  Mrs.  McLeod  had  five  children  b\-  a 
former  marriage,  all  of  whom  grew  to  iiia- 
liirity,  and  tiiree  of  whom  are  married.  Slie 
united  witli  the  l>aptist  chnreh  in  lier  scven- 
teentii  year,  at  Troy,  Ohio,  and  still  holds  an 
honored  meinbcrsliip  in  that  clinrch.  I\[r. 
and  !Mrs.  RicLeod  are  pleasantly  situated  on 
the  old  farm,  which,  by  dint  of  industry  and 
])aticnce,  has  been  converted  from  a  wilder- 
ness to  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  St.  J^fary's 
Township. 

fAMES  W.  T'.ARR,  teacher,  was  born  in 
Shenandoah  County,  A'irginia,  Jlarch 
27,  1834.  His  parents,  Stephen  and 
Rachel  (Hester)  Barr,  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, where  the  lather  died  in  1858.  lie 
was  a  blacksmith  liy  trade.  The  mother 
came  North  during  the  war,  and  died  in 
^[ichigan  in  1882.  They  had  six  children, 
three  daughters  and  three  sons.  The  family 
are  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  James  A\'.  was 
educated  at  Woodstock  Academy,  Shenan- 
doah County,  Virginia,  and  has  now  taught 
school  thirty-four  years.  He  went  to  Dela- 
ware County,  Ohio,  in  June,  18(31,  where  he 
taught  school  the  next  nine  years.  In  1870 
he  went  to  Southwestern  Jlissonri,  where  he 
taught  school,  thence  to  Indian  Territory, 
teaching  live  years,  thence  to  Rush  County, 
Indiana,  four  years,  thence  to  his  present 
home.  He  was  married  September  27, 1860, 
to  Rebecca  A.  Bader,  who  was  born  in  Shen- 
andoah County,  Virginia,  Januar}'  9,  1841. 
They  have  iiad  seven  children — Rosa,  de- 
ceased, "William  F.,  Carrie  M.,  Stanley  B., 
Cora  Grace,  Charles  S.  and  Ida  P.,  deceased. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barr  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  Mr.  Barr  was  living  in  the 
South  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion, 
and    was  one  of  the   many  Union  men  who 


were  opposed  to  the  war.  He  was  forced 
into  the  Confederate  service,  but  came  North 
the  first  opportunity  after  the  beginning  of 
hostilities.  He  now  resides  on  section  25, 
Wabash  Township,  and  followed  farming  in 
connection  with  teaching.  He  united  with 
the  church  about  185(5,  and  having  a  call  to 
preach,  followed  that  calling  ten  years.  He 
was  finally  obliged  to  retire  from  the  ininis- 
try  on  account  of  his  health.  He  left  his 
wife  in  Virginia,  in  June,  1861,  while  he 
came  North.  In  December  .Mrs.  Barr  started 
North,  in  company  with  another  family,  and 
they  were  carried  from  one  j)lace  to  another 
by  Union  people  until  tliey  reached  the 
Union  lines.  They  were  held  as  prisoners 
ten  days  by  the  Confederates  and  then  dis- 
charged. Mrs.  Barr  reached  her  husband  in 
Delaware  County,  Ohio,  Jainiary  5,  1802. 


fTAMES  NEWTON  FRISTOE,  a  prom- 
"^Vij !  inent  citizen  of  Decatur,  was  born  in 
^  Licking  County,  Ohio,  the  date  of  his 
birth  being  September  2-1, 1851.  His  parents, 
William  H.  and  Nancy  (Laughrey)  Fristoe, 
are  natives  of  Virginia  and  Ohio  respectively, 
tlie  father  being  of  English  and  Scotch  origin, 
and  the  mother  of  German  and  Irish  ances- 
try. The  father  was  eight  years  old  when  his 
parents  settled  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  and 
there  he  was  reared  to  the  avocation  of  a 
farmer,  which  he  has  made  his  life-work.  In 
18()5  he  left  Licking  County  for  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  St. 
Mary's  Township,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  iiome.  The  mother  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church  at  Pleasant  Mills.  They  have 
two  sons — Henry  Albert,  who  is  railway 
postal  clerk,  and  James  N.,  subject  of  this 
sketch.  James  N.  Fristoe  was  fourteen  j'ears 
old  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Adams 


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County,  and  was  reared  to  manliood  on  his 
I'atliei-'s  farm  near  Pleasant  ^[ills,  iu  St. 
Mary's  Township.  Ifc  received  a  fair  coni- 
inon-scliool  cihioation,  and  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enteen years  began  teaching  school,  which  he 
followed  for  eleven  years  during  tiie  winter 
terms  in  Adams  anil  .Vllen  comities,  Indiana, 
and  in  Licking  and  Shelby  counties,  Ohio, 
and  during  tlie  summer  seasons  worked  on 
his  father's  farm  in  St.  Mary's  Township. 
October  21,  1877,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
at  Pleasant  Mills  to  Miss  p]liza  K.  j\[cLeod, 
who  is  of  Scotch  origin.  She  was  born  and 
reared  near  Pleasant  Mills,  and  was  educated 
in  the  district  schools  of  that  neigborhood 
and  at  the  high  school  at  Warsaw,  Indiana. 
Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Fristoe  are  the  parents  of  two 
children — Karl  De  Lang  and  True  Rockey. 
In  July,  1S79,  Mr.  Fristoe  was  appointed 
deputv  treasurer  by  Anthony  Ilolthouse,  the 
treas\u-er  of  Adams  County,  and  lias  since 
belli  that  position.  In  his  jiolitieal  views  he 
atliliates  with   the  Democratic  party. 


rOIlN"  11.  FUELLING,  a  farmer  of  Ptoot 
Townshi]),  owns  land  on  sections  1,3,  4, 
10  and  11,  also  on  section  15,  Jefferson 
Townshi}).  lie  has  (iOG  acres  in  all.  He 
was  born  iu  Hanover,  Germany,  May  7,  1820, 
and  when  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  America.  They 
first  lived  in  Fort  Wayne  sL\  months,  then 
came  to  Adams  County  and  settled  upon  the 
place  where  John  II.  now  resides.  There 
were  five  children  in  the  family,  of  whom  our 
subject  was  the  oldest — Frederick  died  in 
1809,  aged  fort3'-six  years,  leaving  a  wife  and 
live  children;  Engle,  wife  of  Jacob  I5erger, 
was  born  in  1820,  and  is  living  in  Hoot 
Township ;  Fredericka  married  Charles 
Frincker,  a  preaclier   in   Baltimore,  and  died 


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at  Indianapolis  at  twenty-six  3ears  of  age, 
leaving  two  children;  Jlr.  Frincker  again 
married,  and  is  still  living  in  Paltimore; 
Henry  1).  is  commissioner  of  Adams  County, 
and  lesides  in  Hoot  Township,  on  section  4. 
Ilis  parents  were  Clawer  and  Anna  Mary 
(Thomas)  Fuelling.  The  father  was  born  in 
Hanover,  Germany,  May  7, 1792,  and  brought 
his  family  to  America  in  1S3G.  A  sister  of 
j\Irs.  Fuelling  came  with  them,  Engel 
Thomas.  She  was  an  invalid,  and  died  in 
j^ew  York  City  soon  after  huiding.  The 
farm  upon  wliich  they  settled  was  entirely 
new,  and  they  were  obliged  to  cut  their  own 
road  from  IMonmouth  to  tlie  farm.  There 
was  a  small  clearing  round  a  pond,  that  was 
called  the  Seventeen-mile  Pond,  where  it  was 
possible  to  water  their  stock.  The  father 
entered  120  acres  of  land  from  the  Govern- 
ment, at  Fort  AVayne,  and  commenced  to 
make  a  home.  The  family  stopped  with 
John  W.  Wise  while  the  cabin  was  being 
built.  Their  neai-est  neighbor  was  Mr.  AVise, 
and  they  had  no  neighbors  north  of  them, 
but  soon  after  their  arrival  immigrants  began 
to  come  in.  A  Lutheran  missionary  used 
frequently  to  stop  with  the  family.  He  was 
from  Germany,  and  his  name  was  Frederick 
Wienicken.  He  died  in  Los  Angeles,  Cali- 
fornia. About  1S41  the  father  built  a 
hewed-log  house,  two  stories  in  height,  which 
is  still  standing,  and  is  a  part  of  the  present 
house,  having  been  made  over  several  times. 
The  father  died  in  Root  Township  December 
6,  1854,  and  is  buried  in  the  Lutheran  cem- 
etery. The  mother  died  July  3,  1807,  and 
is  buried  beside  the  father.  Mr.  Fiielling 
was  married  August  27,  1842,  to  Miss  Han- 
nah il.  Reinhart,  who  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany.  Marcli  25,  1820,  and  when  a  j'oung 
lady  came  to  .Vinerica  with  her  grandparents, 
wlio  settled  in  Preble  Township.  Her  mother 
died  in  Germany,  and  she  was  reared  liy  her 


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BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCUES. 


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gruiulpurents.  j\[rs.  Fuelling  died  June  20, 
1S7S,  and  is  buried  in  the  Lutheran  cemetery. 
There  are  ten  living  children  and  one  de- 
ceased— J]liza,  born  April  23,  1848,  died  at 
the  age  of  iifteen  years;  j\[.  Engel,  born 
April  15,  1844;  II.  (Mawer,  born  January 
30,  184();  F.  Eniniillie,  liorn  Deeendier  13, 
1848;  Frederick,  born  May  17,  1851;  E. 
Sophia,  born  September  14,  1852;  II.  Jacob, 
born  May  29,  1854;  J.  Henry,  born  Septem- 
ber 24, 1856;  C.  M.  Lissetta,  born  September 
28,  1858;  Charles  F.,  burn  July  15,  18G0, 
and  II.  JIartin,  born  .May  31,  18G2.  All 
wei'e  born  in  Hoot  Township.  ^Martin  is 
engaged  in  missionary  work  at  St.  Thomas, 
Dakota.  Mr.  Ftielling's  paternal  and  mater- 
nal grandparents  were  all  born  and  all  died 
in  Germany.  When  his  father  first  came  to 
Fort  Wayne  he  had  ,s250  in  money.  As  soon 
as  the  family  was  settled  he  went  to  work  on 
the  Maumee  Canal,  and  the  following  fall 
John  II.  and  Frederick  also  went  to  work  on 
the  canal  to  earn  money  to  buy  provisions. 
The  father  was  once  drafted  into  Napoleon's 
army,  Init  was  afterward  rejected.  John  II. 
lias  the  mill-stones  that  were  used  in  the  first 
grist-mill  of  this  count}'. 


i^.EItMAN  BOSSE,  an  old  and  respected 
f  R'f)  *-'''^''^6n  of  Decatur,  Adams  County,  was 
■S-'i  born  in  Eersenbriick,  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, February  15,  1817,  where  he  was 
reared  to  maidiood.  He  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  when  a  young  man,  which  lie  fol- 
lowed at  his  birthplace  and  at  otlier  places  in 
Germany  until  1844.  He  was  married  at 
Bersenbrtick,  in  1843,  to  Miss  Margaret 
Ilolthouse,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born 
four  children  —  Catherine,  wife  of  Lewis 
Conter;  Frank,  ]\[ary  and  "Willie,  all  resi- 
dents   of   Decatur,  and    all    members  of   St. 


.Mary's  Catholic  Chunjli.  Mr.  lio.sse  immi- 
grated to  America  with  his  wit'e  in  1844,  and 
tirst  located  at  Cineiiinati,  Ohio,  where  he 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  until  1840. 
He  then  came  to  Decatur,  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  and  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building,  which  he  followed  until  18G9,when 
he  carried  on  a  grocery  and  saloon  until  1873. 
He  was  then  variously  engaged  until  1881, 
and  in  that  year  he  graded  two  miles  of  the 
Chicago  ifc  Atlantic  Railroad  by  contract, 
after  which  he  retired  from  active  business 
life,  and  is  now  taking  that  rest  which  is  the 
reward  of  years  of  ]jersevering  toil  and  in- 
dustry. He  has  been  a  resident  of  Decatur 
since  1849,  and  has  lived  to  see  the  surround- 
ing country  change  from  a  state  of  nature 
into  thriving  towns  and  well-cultivated  farms, 
and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
development  of  his  county. 


-rtp^^Wj-" 


rf^^rORY  MAY,  farmer,  section  4,  Union 
'|r"jL    Township,  was  born   in   that   township 

'^'^  April  23,  1850.  He  has  been  reared 
in  his  native  county  and  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  His  father,  AVilliam  ilay, 
was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  July  24, 
1817,  where  he  was  reared  and  lived  until 
his  marriage.  lie  came  to  this  county  in 
August,  184G,  with  wife  and  two  children, 
iloses  died  of  typhoid  fever  February  22, 
1863,  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  aged  nineteen 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  Company  I, 
Eighty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry.  Abaline  is 
the  wife  of  John  Johnson,  and  is  living  in 
Decatur,  this  county.  The  children  born  in 
this  county  are — Emory,  Jonathan  C,  who 
died  in  infancy;  William  Charles,  Louisa, 
wife  of  James  Crozier;  Isaiah,  living  in  Van 
Wert  County,  Ohio;  Oliver,  a  resident  of 
Fort  AV^aj'ne,  and  Permelia,  at  home.     Our 


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suljjcft  was  married  I )cct'inl)er  21,  1873,  to  I 
Miss  .Mary  Jleatli,  who  was  born  in  A'an  | 
AVert  ('ouiit^-,  ( )liio,  April  19, 1853,  daiigliter 
of  Mi-njaHiiii  and  Harriet  (Pliiniiner)  Heath. 
Her  father  was  beirn  in  Harrison  Coui)ty, 
Ohio,  antl  died  >i'ovemher  11,  1878,  aged 
about  sixty-two  years.  Her  mother  was  born 
in  Penn.syh'ania  and  died  April  G,  18(59,  aged 
forty-three  years.  There  were  seven  children 
in  her  father's  family — ilaria,  John,  David, 
J\lary,  Jane,  Anna  and  Amanda.  Maria  and 
David  are  deceased.  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Jlay  liave 
liad  live  children,  four  of  wlioni  are  living — 
Francis,  born  Feliruary  9,  1876;  Lorenzo, 
born  September  1,  1878;  Eva  V.,  born  De- 
cember 29,  1881.  and  Sophia  Elsie,  born 
Aiigust  19,  18s4.  .\n  infant,  unnamed,  is 
deceased. 

^fW'ACOB  SPADE,  farmer,  and  also  engaged 

fin  the  saw-inillinir  business,  was  born  in 
Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  August  16, 
1840,  a  son  of  Henry  and  llosanna  (Alspach) 
Sjiade,  who  were  natives  of  Peimsylvania  and 
Ohio  respectively,  the  father  born  in  1800, 
and  the  mother  born  in  the  year  1807.  Tlie 
father  was  twice  married  and  had  one  child 
by  his  first  marriage.  Seven  children  were 
born  to  his  second  marriage,  of  whom  si.x 
survive,  our  subject  being  the  youngest  child. 
In  his  religious  faith  the  father  was  a  Lu- 
theraii,  and  the  mother  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Reformed  church.  The  former  died 
in  1842,  his  widow  surviving  until  April, 
1885.  Jacob  Spade,  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch,  grew  to  maidiood  in  I'ickaway  Coun- 
ty, receiving  a  common-school  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  neighborhood.  At  the  age 
of  thirteen  years  he  began  learning  the  car- 
penter's trade,  at  which  he  served  an  appren- 
ticeship of  three  years,  working  at   his  trade 


till  attaining  the  age  of  twenty-three  years. 
In  June,  1.S62,  he  came  to  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  and  purchased  the  farm  wliere  he 
has  since  resided,  in  Kirkland  'i'ownship, 
which  contains  120  acres  of  well-improved 
land.  October  15,  1863,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  A.  Kiser,  who  was  born  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  June  20, 1841,  and  to  tliis  union 
were  born  twelve  cliildren — Clara  E.,  ]\[ary 
A.,  William  C,  Edwin  C.  (deceased),  Frank 
W.,  Charles  C,  Kalph  R.,  Cora  ]\I.,  Jennie 
L.,  James  A.  G.,  Hattie  P.,  and  an  infant  un- 
named. ^Mr.  Spade  enlisted  in  the  late  war 
December  12,  1864,  and  \vas  assigned  to 
Company  E,  Twelfth  Indiana  Infantry,  serv- 
ing until  July  17,  186.").  He  was  with  Sher- 
man in  North  Carolina,  and  at  the  grand 
review  at  Washington,  receiving  his  final 
discharge  at  Indianapolis,  when  he  returned 
to  his  home  in  Adams  Ccmnty,  and  resumed 
farming.  In  1879  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Mr.  Arnold  in  the  saw-milling  business, 
thus  forming  the  present  firm  of  S])ade  & 
Arnold.  ]\Ir.  Spade  is  a  member  of  Sam 
Henry  Post,  No.  63,  G.  A.  R. 

■■■  ..^.:ii:.'"i.  .  

fOIIN  WILLIAil  POSSE,  druggist,  and 
compounder  of  Marshall's  proprietary 
medicines,  successor  to  the  Marshall 
Medicine  Company  of  Decatur,  was  born  in 
Decatur,  Ailams  County,  Indiana,  October  5, 
1858,  his  parents,  Herman  and  Margaret 
(Ilolthouse)  Posse,  being  natives  of  Germany. 
John  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Decatur,  and 
educated  in  the  schools  of  that  city,  and  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years  began  teaching 
school  in  Adams  County.  In  1S76  he 
entered  the  drug  store  of  Dorwiii  ct  Holt- 
house,  of  Decatur,  remaining  with  that  firm 
as  clerk  until  1882,  when  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Marshall  Medicine  Company.      He 


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B I  OCR  A  PlIIGA  L    SKETVHKS. 


siilifioqiiciitly  ])iii'cliascMl  the  iutL'rest  of  tlie 
c<irii])iiny,  uf  wliicli  he  is  now  sole  pro[)rictor, 
1111(1  by  iiis  1^00(1  business  inaiiufjeinent  and 
strict  attention  to  his  business,  he  has  suc- 
ceeded in  establishing  a  jz:ood  trade.  Ifis 
medicines  now  find  a  market  in  eleven  States, 
where  he  sells  to  only  wholesale  dealers.  Mr. 
I'osse  is  a  member  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic 
Church  at  Decatur,  and  for  two  years  has  held 
his  position  of  president  of  the  Catholic 
Young  Men's  Society.  Mr.  Bosse  is  num- 
bered among  the  public-spirited  and  enter- 
prising young  men  of  Decatur,  and  by  his 
upright  and  honorable  dealings  he  has  gained 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who  know 
him. 

fATIIAX  P,.  SIIEPIIEDJ),  laborer, 
Geneva,  was  born  in  Wabash  Township, 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  June  3,  1852, 
a  son  of  Edward  and  Lucy  A.  (Buckingham) 
Shepherd.  lie  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
nati.ve  county,  being  reareti  to  the  avocation 
of  a  farmer,  and  receiving  in  his  youth  a  fair 
common-school  education.  In  1S71  he  began 
working  in  a  stave  factory  at  Ijlnff'ton,  and 
since  then  has  been  engaged  at  various  occu- 
pations. In  1877  he  entered  the  employ  of 
S.  AV.  Hale  A:  Brother,  remaining  with  that 
firm  to  the  jjresent  time.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  October  20,  1879,  to  Sarah  E.  Con- 
nor, who  was  born  in  Jay  County,  Indiana, 
June  15,  185G,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Catherine  (Farbee)  Connor,  who  were  natives 
of  Ohio  and  early  settlers  of  Jay  Count}', 
Indiana.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Shepherd 
is  a  Republican.  He  is  at  present  a  member 
of  the  village  board.  His  father,  Edward 
Shepherd,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in 
Franklin  County  July  5,  1826,  his  parents, 
William    and  Olivia  P.  (Emery)    Shepherd, 


being  natives  of  Virginia,  the  former  born 
August  18,  1788,  and  the  latter  August  10, 
1788.  Edward  Shepherd  was  married  in 
Wabash  Township  April  23,  1847,  to  Lucy 
A.  Buckingham,  a  native  of  ^Maryland,  born 
May  25,  182(3,  a  daughter  of  Nathan  and 
Frissell  (Michael)  Buckingham,  and  to  this 
union  were  born  nine  children — William  E., 
born  ilarcli  7,  18-19;  ]\Iargaret  E.,  born 
December  29,  1850;  Nathan  B.,  subject  of 
this  sketch;  ^lartha  A.,  born  August  17, 
ISSi;  Pyreny  J.,  born  ]\rarch  17,  1850,  died 
September  2,  1881;  Alfred  A.,  born  January 
10,  1858,  died  November  7,  1877;  John  H., 
born  August  5,  1800,  died  November  11, 
1866;  i\Iorton  G.,  born  February  3,  1803, 
and  Emma,  born  September  18,  1805,  died 
January  17,  1878.  Edward  Shepherd  was 
I'eared  to  the  avocation  of  a  farmer  and  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits  through  life.  He 
came  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  when  about 
twelve  years  of  age,  and  made  his  home  in 
AVabash  Township  till  his  death,  December 
11-,  1806.  His  widow  is  still  living  in 
Wabash  Township.  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  churcli, 
their  parents  being  members  of  the  same 
churcli.  The  paternal  grandparents  of  our 
subject,  William  and  Olivia  P.  Shepherd 
were  married  in  Virginia  July  14, 1809,  and 
of  the  eight  children  born  to  them  all  are 
deceased.  The}'  removed  to  Franklin  County, 
Ohio,  in  an  early  day,  being  among  the  first 
settlers.  They  immigrated  to  Indiana  about 
the  year  1838,  settling  on  section  30,  Wabash 
Township,  Adams  County,  where  the  father 
en tered  some  1,200  or  1,400  acres  of  land,  livinw 
there  till  his  death,  which  occurred  June  17, 
1862.  His  wife  died  April  25,  1856.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  at 
the  siege  of  Fort  Meigs  and  also  at  the  siege 
of  Toledo,  beside  other  engagements.  The 
maternal    grandparents   were  natives  of  tlie 


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UI8T0RY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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t^tate  of  A[:u'yl!iiid.  Tln'v  imiiiignitod  to 
Fairfield  County,  Oliio,  wheru  they  resided 
seven  years,  removing  thence  to  Indiana, 
locating  in  Jay  County,  where  Mr.  Eucicing- 
hani  died  J>ine  6,  1852,  liis  widow  Burviving 
him  until  1808.  They  were  the  jiarents  of  a 
large  family.  Botli  were  inemhers  of  the 
]\Icthoiii.-t  I'^piscopal  church. 


|'T^NDKI<:W  J.  FOREMAN,  a  successful 
)*,\l'\>  atrriculturist  of  Blue  Creek  Township, 
fe.if^  where  he  resides  on  section  33,  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Butler  County,  Jlay 
9,  1830.  His  parents,  Henry  II.  and  Mary 
M.  Foreman,  were  natives  of  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania.  They  settled  in  Blue  Creek 
Township,  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in  1853, 
where  they  resided  until  death.  Thirteen 
children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  seven 
still  survive — Elizabeth,  Jaines,  George,  An- 
drew J.,  Samuel,  A\^illiam  and  IMary.  The 
lather  was  one  of  the  representative  pioneers 
of  Adams  County,  having  settled  in  the  woods 
of  Blue  Creek  Township,  where  he  endured 
many  hardships  and  privations.  lie  began 
life  a  poor  man,  but  owing  to  his  habits  of 
industry  and  economy  he  met  with  siiccess, 
and  was  numbered  among  the  enterprising 
farmers  and  respected  citizens  of  his  town- 
ship, lie  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  Andrew  J.  Foreman,  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch,  grew  to  manhood 
in  his  native  county,  being  reared  amid  pio- 
neer scenes,  and  receiving  such  educational 
advantages  as  were  common  to  farmer  boys 
of  that  day.  He  came  to  Adams  County 
after  reaching  his  majority,  settling  with  his 
parents  in   Blue   Creek    Townshi]).      He  was 


united  in  marriage  <  )ct(il)er  11,  1801,  to  Miss 
Nancy  MciMhaney,  wlu)  was  horn  in  Ohio, 
but  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  was  living  in 
Adams  County.  To  this  union  were  born 
seven  children — Sarah  E.,  deceased;  Mary 
E.,  wife  of  John  N.  Smitley;  Samantha  J., 
wife  of  "William  II.  Agler;  John  AV.,  Henry 
H.,  "William  L.  and  Ida  M.  ]\Ir.  Foreman 
settled  on  his  present  farm  in  1801,  where 
his  wife  died  December  14,  1875,  leaving  a 
family  and  a  host  of  friends  to  mourn  her 
loss.  ]\Ir.  Foreman  has  met  with  success  in 
liis  farming  operations,  having  commenced 
life  for  liimself  without  means,  and  has  now 
one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Adams  County, 
his  farm  containing  120  acres  of  well-im- 
proved and  highly  cultivated  land.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  F^oreman  affiliates  with 
the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  ]\Ietliodist  F^piscopal  church. 


fllARLES  T.  RAINIER,  M.  D.,  an  ac- 
tive and  public-spirited  citizen  of  ifon- 
'^J^  roe,  Adams  County,  is  a  native  of  Ocean 
County,  New  Jersey,  born  October  28,  1842, 
a  son  of  Aaron  B.  and  Esther  T.  (Pratt) 
Rainier,  natives  of  New  Jersey  and  Maryland 
respectively,  the  father  born  November  C, 
1805,  of  FVench  descent,  and  the  mother 
born  May  8,  1804.  They  were  married  in 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  March  17,  1828, 
and  to  them  were  born  eight  sons  and  two 
daughters,  our  subject  being  the  ninth  child. 
Early  in  life  the  father  learned  the  cabinet- 
maker's trade  in  New  York  City.  After  his 
marriage  he  settled  at  Columbus,  New  Jer- 
sey, where  he  experienced  religion  and 
entered  the  ministry,  uniting  with  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church.  In  1844  he  emi- 
grated with  his  family  to  Franklin  County, 
Indiana,  and   worked   at    his   trade  at  ileta- 


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niOGUM'lIIUAL    HKETUIIKS. 


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mora,  lie  entered  tlie  Soutlicrn  Indiana 
Conference  when  he  lirst  came  to  the  State. 
He  afterward  left  Franklin  County  for  Madi- 
son County,  where  he  fulliiwe(i  fanninir  for 
three  years,  when  lie  entered  the  Kortliern 
Indiana  Confei'enco,  of  which  he  was  a  mem- 
ber until  his  death,  November  6, 1S7S.  After 
disposing  of  his  farm  he  spent  three  years  on 
the  Jliddletowu  Circuit,  after  M-hich  he  re- 
turned with  his  family  to  Philadelphia  and 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade,  which  he 
continued  about  three  years.  lie  then  re- 
turned to  Middlctown  and  re-entered  the 
ministry,  and  while  there  Mas  a  presiding  elder 
of  the  Northern  Indiana  Conference.  He 
afterward  removed  to  liichwood,  Delaware 
County,  Indiana,  where  his  wife  died  August 
3,  ISfil.  He  afterward  traveled  over  many 
of  the  counties  in  the  nortliern  and  central 
part  of  Indiana,  being  one  of  the  circuit- 
riders  of  that  day,  and  would  frequently  be 
gone  several  weeks  at  a  time.  He  died  at 
the  home  of  his  son  at  ^Monroe,  Adams  County. 
Charles  T.  Rainier,  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch,  came  with  his  parents  to  Indiana 
when  about  two  years  of  age.  He  remained 
at  home  with  his  parents  until  July  18,  1862, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  neighborhood.  He  then  enlisted  iu 
Company  IJ,  Si.xty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry, 
and  was  with  the  Thirteenth  Army  Corps. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  of  IJichmond, 
Kentucky,  Arkansas  Post,  and  siege  cd'  Vicks- 
burg,  besides  other  battles  and  skirmishes. 
He  served  until  (October,  18G4,  when  he  was 
discharged  for  disability  contracted  in  the 
army.  He  now  draws  a  pension.  After  his 
discharge  lie  returned  to  his  father's  house  in 
Grant  County,  Indiana,  and  for  three  years 
following  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  school 
during  the  winter  terms,  and  reading  medi- 
cine in  the  summer  months.  He  then  began 
the   practice  of   medicine  at  West    Liberty, 


Jay  County,  Indiana,  but  after  a  time,  his 
health  failing  him,  he  was  obliged  to  give  up 
his  practice,  after  which  he  ^^•ent  to  Allegan 
County,  Michigan,  and  attended  a  course  of 
lectures  in  the  medical  department  of  the 
Michigan  State  University.  After  remaining 
there  a  year  and  a  half  he  came  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  in  September,  18G9,  and 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Salem. 
He  remained  there  two  years,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Monroe,  Monroe  Townsiiip,  wiiere 
lie  ibllowed  his  clKjsen  jirofession.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers,  and  he  erected  the 
tirst  building  on  the  present  site  of  ]\[onroe. 
The  Monroe  postoitice  was  established- mainly 
tlirough  his  influence,  and  he  was  appointed 
its  first  postmaster,  wliich  office  he  resigned 
shortly  afterward.  He  remained  at  ]\Ionroe 
until  about  1878,  when  he  removed  to  ^lar- 
sliall  County,  and  was  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  there  for  six  years.  He 
then  returned  to  ^lonroe,  where  he  still  re- 
sides, but  is  living  retired  from  the  active 
duties  of  life,  luaing  given  up  his  practice 
on  account  of  his  health.  The  doctor  was 
married  October  27,  18CG,  to  Nancy  J.  Gil- 
pen,  who  was  born  in  Blue  Creek  Township, 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  iMay  20,  1850,  a 
daughter  of  Washington  and  ]\Iary  (Brokaw) 
Gilpen,  natives  of  Ohio,  the  father  born  in 
Pennsylvania  County,  February  1,  1828,  and 
the  mother  born  in  Belmont  County  in  De- 
cember, 1828.  They  were  married  in  Tusca- 
rawas County,  Ohio,  in  1848,  and  in  1849 
came  to  Adams  County,  settling  in  Blue 
Creek  Township,  where  the  mother  died  No- 
vember 30,  1880.  Both  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  for  many 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  yet  living.  Six 
children  have  been  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
liainier — ^Vlice  L.,  AV"illis  B.  (deceased),  Mary 
A.,  Washington  E.,  Lulu   B.  and   Charles  L. 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


:t= 


Tlic  doctor  ami  Iiis  wife  iii'c  mcinlicrs  of  tlio 
]MctlRHli.st  Kj)iscopal  churcli,  in  wliicli  lie  has 
served  as  trustee,  and  was  also  recording 
steward  of  tlie  ^Fonroe  Circuit,  lie  is  a 
member  of  Sum.  Henry  Post,  No.  'J3,  (J.  A. 
11.,  at  Decfltur. 


AV.  GALL^rEYER,  farmer,  resides  on 
Sri  section  9,  Preble  Township,  wliere  he 
*1j^  ®  owns  eighty  acres  of  lanti;  he  also 
owns  twenty  acres  on  the  line  adjoining  the 
eighty,  lie  was  born  in  Westphalia,  Ger- 
many, October  4,  1S3"2,  where  he  lived  until 
184:5,  when  his  parents  (mother  and  step- 
father) and  fiinr  sisters  came  to  America, 
settling  in  Preble  Towii.siiip,  where  the  step- 
father still  resides.  His  father  died  in  Ger- 
many when  F.  AV.  was  eight  years  old.  The 
mother  then  married  Conrad  Sclieiiman. 
She  died  in  November,  1875,  leaving  si.x 
children,  although  she  had  had  nine  children. 
His  own  father  was  born  in  1800  aiul  died  in 
1810.  The  step-father  was  also  born  in  1800. 
The  family  took  a  sailing  vessel  at  l]remen, 
and  were  on  the  ocean  thirteen  weeks,  land- 
ing in  Xew  York  City.  Our  subject  was 
educate<l  jvartly  in  (iermany  and  partly  in 
Preble  Township,  lie  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's ti-ade  in  tliis  country,  which  he  followed 
about  eight  years.  In  1858  he  went  to  Ger- 
many to  visit  liis  friends  and  to  secure  the 
inheritance  which  his  father  left  at  death. 
AVhile  there  he  was  married,  in  November, 
1858,  to  jNIiss  AYilhelmina  I'oese,  who  was 
born  in  AYestphalia,  German}',  in  1811,  and 
was  reared  and  married  there.  They  came  to 
America  soon  after  their  marriage  and  set- 
tled upon  their  present  farm,  commencing 
domestic  life  in  a  hewed-log  cabin  in  the 
woods.  He  cleared  up  his  farm,  which  is 
now    mostly    improved.     Mrs.     tialliiieyer's 


]>arents  were  I'redricka  and  C'oni'ad  Poese. 
Her  father  dieil  in  (ierniany.  Her  mother 
came  to  America  in  185'J,  with  three  chil- 
dren, and  three  had  preceded  her  to  this 
country.  She  is  living  with  her  son  AVill- 
iam.  ]\Ir.  and  ]\Irs.  Gallme3-er  liave  had  fif- 
teen children,  ten  of  whom  are  living,  and 
all  are  single  e.xcept  the  eldest.  Their  names 
are — Conrad,  AYilhelmina,  Eliza.  Ernest, 
AYilliam,  Edward,  Fredrick,  Martin, Christian 
and  Anna.  The  deceased  are — Frederick, 
Louisa,  Mary,  ^Yilliam  and  AYilhelmina. 
]\Ir.  Gallmeyer  was  elected  township  trustee 
in  18G8,  and  served  until  1878,  when  he  had 
an  interregnum  of  four  years,  then  served 
four  years  more.  He  served  four  years  as 
justice  of  the  peace,  two  years  as  assessor 
and  two  j'ears  as  constal)le.  In  the  fall  of 
1864  lie  enlisted  in  Company  IJ,  Fifty-first 
Indiana  Infantry',  and  was  discharged  in  Au- 
gust, 18(j5.  He  was  in  several  skirmishes, 
but  no  regular  fought  battle.  Since  his  dis- 
charge he  has  followed  farming. 


^^YLVESTEIl  SPANGLER,  contractor 
"lO^i  and  builder,  and  an  active  and  enter- 
kT^'  prising  citizen  of  Decatur,  is  a  native 
of  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  born  near  Mi\gsil- 
lon,  February  19,  1842,  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Dorothy  (Keese)  Spangler.  AYhen  an  infant, 
in  1843,  his  parents  came  to  vVdams  County, 
Indiana,  and  here  he  was  reared  to  the  avoca- 
tion of  a  farmer  on  his  father's  farm.  On 
reaching  manhood  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  at  Fort  AYayne.  In  the  fall  of  1863  he 
enlisted  in  the  Union  Armj'  as  a  private  in 
Company  I,  Fifty-first  Indiana  Infantry,  to 
serve  one  year.  He  served  his  country  thir- 
teen months,  when  he  was  discharged  at  New 
Orleans.  He  participated  in  the  engagements 
at    Fraidilin    and    Nashville    beside     several 


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skirinislies,  :ui<l  (hiring  liis  term  of  service 
was  luit  oirdnty  a  ilav  on  account  of  sickness 
or  wiinmls.  At'tcr  his  (liscliar^c  he  I'ctiirncil 
to  Adams  Connty  ami  \vorkc(l  at  car]ientei'in<i; 
at  iJecatur  and  \icinitv.  lie  was  married  at 
Decatur  in  1SG5,  to  Julia  (iillig,  daughter  of 
Francis  J.  and  Tliere&a  (S])uler)  Gillig.  She 
was  horn,  reared  and  educated  at  Decatur, 
and  hetore  her  marriage  taught  school  in 
Adams  County.  Mr.  ami  ^Irs.  Spangler  are 
the  parents  of  two  chililren  -Ella  and  J)ella, 
both  of  whom  are  students  at  the  Decatur 
High  School.  In  iMtS  Mr.  Spangler  engaged 
in  contractint;  and  liuililinf,  which  he  has 
since  followed,  and  has  erected  many  of  the 
brick  business  blocks  on  Main  street,  beside 
many  of  the  substantial  residences  at  Decatur. 
In  politics  !Mr.  Spangler  is  a  Democrat.  lie 
served  four  years  as  village  trustee  of  Decatur, 
and  since  its  organization  as  a  city  he  has 
been  councilman  five  years.  He  is  a  comrade 
of  Sam  Henry  Post,  No.  63,  (I.  A.  K.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  ^Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Decatur.  ilichael 
Spangler,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Ohio,  born  Januai'v  12,  lSl'2,  and 
was  of  (ierman  descent.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  avocation,  and  on  coming  to  Adams 
County  he  settled  on  a  tract  of  wild  land  in 
Preble  Township, which  he  improvetl  and  lived 
on  about  twenty-four  years.  He  then  sold 
liis  land  in  Preble  Township  and  removed  to 
a  farm  in  Allen  County  near  "Williamsport, 
where  he  died  September  8,  1877.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Stuttgart, 
Germany,  February  IC,  ISll.  AVhen  twelve 
years  of  age  she  was  brought  by  her  parents 
to  America,  they  locating  at  Liverpool,  Ohio, 
where  slie  lived  till  her  marriage.  She  died 
on  the  farm  near  AVilliamsport,  ^Vllen  County, 
October  3,  1800.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Evangelical  church.  ]Mr.  Sjiangler  was  a 
member    of    the    United    IJrethren     church. 


,R~«,jai 


."il>»»">»U 


iMght  of  the  ten  childi-en  born  to  them  grew 
to  matui'ity,  of  whom  seven  are  yet  living, 
one  living  in  Xebraska,  and  the  lemaining 
six  beinic  residents  of  Indiana. 


^j^'^MOS  GULICK,  one  of  the  ..Id  and  re- 
k(^V  spected  pioneers  of  Adams  County,  is 
■^i?^  a  native  of  New  Ilamyishire  County, 
Virginia,  born  in  the  year  1^2-1-,  a  son  of 
Elisha  and  Elizabeth  Gulick,  the  father  born 
June  29,  1781,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  and 
the  mother  born  January  22,  1787,  of  Ger- 
man oriifin.  His  first  ancestors  on  comincr 
to  America  settled  in  the  State  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  later  removed  to  Loudoun  County, 
Virginia,  thence  to  Hamjishire  County', of  the 
same  State,  in  17U1.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  a  soldier  in  the  Itevolutionary 
war,  enlisting  when  seventeen  years  of  age. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  drafted  in  the 
war  of  1812,  but  the  war  being  then  about 
over,  he  did  not  render  any  service.  He  was 
married  in  Hampshire  County  to  Elizabeth 
Shaffer,  and  to  them  were  born  eleven  chil- 
dren— Mary,  born  Decembei-  18,  1800,  died 
September  20,  1820;  John,  born  November 
29, 1808,  married  Ellen  Shepherd;  Elizabeth, 
born  November  2,  1810,  married  "William 
Shrock;  Hannah,  born  September  8,  1812, 
married  Ardalis  Carter;  Evalina,  born  No- 
vember 14,  181-1,  married  David  Major,  and 
died  August  19,  1815;  Sarah,  born  March 
10,  1817,"died  June  13,  1820;  Harriet,  born 
October  i,  1819,  married  Joshua  Major; 
Elisha,  born  January  10,  1822,  married  Ma- 
hala  Archabold;  Amos,  born  February  29, 
1824,  the  subject  of  this  .sketch;  Anna,  born 
April  9,  1820,  died  September  9,  1845,  and 
Catherine,  born  May  24,  1828,  married  Dan- 
iel Lee.  In  1830  the  parents  removed  to 
Fraiddin  County,  Ohio,  wlierc  two  daughters, 


•mMa  "11 


i] 


Mi 


'•3: 


Elizabeth  and  Ilaiinali.  had  preceded  tliem. 
Both  parents  are  deceased,  the  fatlier  dyiiij; 
May  30,  1879,  and  the  niotlier  April  22, 
1858.  Amos  Gulick,  our  subject,  was  mar- 
ried January  1,  1840,  to  Elizabeth  Acker, 
who  was  born  September  4,  1828,  her  ante- 
cedents being  Dutch  on  her  father's  side,  and 
Yankee  on  her  mother's  side.  Of  the  seven 
children  born  to  this  union  only  four  are  liv- 
ing— Samuel,  born  ]\Iay  7,  1848,  married 
Emma  Baxter,  May  1,  1871;  liosetta,  born 
March  3, 1855,  married  William  Teeple,  De- 
cember 16,  1877;  Iva  Ann,  born  April  15, 
1864,  and  Amos  AVilson,  born  December  25, 
1860,  are  living  at  home.  Catherine  Eliza- 
beth was  born  November  11,  1846,  married 
Joseph  Smith,  February  18,  1866,  and  died 
October  31,  1874;  Eldora,  born  December 
21,  1858,  and  died  April  30,  1866,  and 
James  "William,  born  September  13,  1850, 
died  July  21,  1857.  Six  years  previous  to 
his  marriage  Mr.  Gulick  visited  St.  Mary's 
Townsliip,  Adams  County,  where  he  had  a 
deed  of  fifty-two  acres  of  wild  land,  his  wife 
also  owning  forty  acres.  He  disposed  of  his 
land  and  he  and  his  wife  settled  on  her  fort}-- 
acre  tract,  on  which  he  cut  the  first  tree,  and 
improved  itfrom  its  wild  state,  changing  it  into 
productive  fields.  lie  resided  on  this  farm 
about  eighteen  years,  w^lien  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  his  present  homestead,  which 
consists  of  188  acres  of  choice  land,  located 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  north  of  St. 
Mary's  liiver  near  the  village  of  Pleasant 
Mills.  Mr.  Gulick  and  family  have  experi- 
enced many  of  tlie  hardsliips  and  privations, 
as  well  as  the  pleasures  of  pioneer  life,  com- 
ing to  the  county  when  settlers  were  few  and 
wild  animals  numerous.  Game  was  then  in 
abundance.  Their  grist  was  taken  cither  to 
"Willshire  ur  Fort  Wayne,  some  twenty-six 
miles  distant,  and  occasionally  corn  was 
ground  by  hand.     Buckwheat  was  fre(juently 


ground  in  tlie  same  manner,  and  a  half  bushel 
ground  in  a  hand-mill  was  considered  a  good 
day's  work.  Occasionally  a  tin  punched  full 
of  holes,  so  that  one  surface  would  be  very 
rough,  would  be  used  to  grate  the  corn  by 
hand.  Log-rolling  and  house-raising  were 
frequent  occurrences  among  the  early  settlers, 
and  everybody  considered  it  not  only  a  dutj' 
but  a  pleasure  to  attend  these  gatherings. 
Sociability  and  hospitality  were  everywhere 
to  be  found,  and  although  deprived  of  many 
of  the  so-called  modern  conveniences,  there 
were  nevertheless  many  pleasant  features  to 
the  pioneer's  life.  Mr.  Gulick  and  all  but 
two  members  of  his  family  are  members  of 
the  old  school  Baptist  church,  and  higlily  re- 
spected members  of   society. 


fOIIN  McCOXKELL,  deceased,  was  born 
in  I'utler  County,  Ohio,  January-  20, 
1819,  where  he  lived  until  ten  years  of 
ao'e,  when  liis  mother  removed  to  Darke 
County,  his  father  having  died  a  few  years 
previous  to  their  removal.  His  mother  hired 
liim  out  to  drive  oxen  on  a  brick  yard,  tnr 
OV  cents  a  day,  in  order  to  teach  him  habits 
of  industry.  His  parents  were  Jesse  and 
Eliza  (Mills)  McConnell.  His  father,  Jesse 
McConnell,  was  born  in  the  County  Antrim, 
Ireland,  removing  to  Butler  County,  Ohio, 
in  1817.  He  died  in  1825,  leaving  a  wife  and 
three  children,  of  whom  John  was  the  oldest. 
One  child  died  in  infancy,  and  Sarah,  the 
other  child,  married  Samuel  Davis,  and  died 
in  June,  1884.  The  mother  was  born  in 
Pennsj'lvania  in  1793,  and  was  taken  by  her 
parents  to  Ohio  in  1802,  where  she  lived  un- 
til her  marriage.  She  was  three  times  mar- 
ried and  outlived  all  her  husbands.  She  died 
at  Troy,  Ohio,  IMarch  9,  1S72,  aged  seventy- 
nine  years.    John,   the  subject  of  this  sketch, 


JlK- 


if 


f 


ZpO^.B^jm  yjit  .r  »^ 


i 

E 

i 


B  ■»»'«■»»■'»»'■■»■  a«»-»»"J» 


BIOOIiAPIIICAL    SKETCHES. 


!) 


drove  oxen  on  a  brick  yard  two  summers, 
then  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  of  Henry 
Dillon,  commencing  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years,  at  $3  per  month.  He  served  three 
years,  having  been  bound  out  by  his  motlier. 
While  he  was  learning  his  trade  his  mother 
again  married  and  was  again  a  widow.  John 
returned  home  to  assist  his  mother,  and  did 
not  complete  his  trade.  He  came  to  Monroe 
Township,  this  county,  and  settled  on  Thomp- 
son's prairie  in  1840.  He  secured  160  acres 
of  land,  part  by  entry  and  part  by  purchase. 
July  10,  1845,  he  was  married  to  Lucinda 
McDermeit,  born  in  Fayette  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, September  28, 1822,  and  was  reared 
in  Greene  County,  that  State.  She  came  to 
Jfonroe  Township,  Adams  County,  in  1838, 
where  she  lived  until  lier  marriage.  They 
lived  in  that  township  until  1850,  then  moved 
to  Decatur,  Mr.  McConnell  having  been 
elected  auditor  the  fall  before.  He  served  in 
that  capacity  nine  years.  He  had  previ- 
ously served  as  county  commissioner  three 
years,  from  1844  to  1847,  and  as  clerk  of  the 
court  four  years.  lie  was  a  township  trus- 
tee at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
January  28,  1875.  He  died  of  typhoid  pneu- 
monia. He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  in 
the  fall  of  1872,  and  served  in  the  special  and 
regular  sessions  with  satisfaction  to  his  con- 
stituents. He  was  a  self-made  man,  having 
received  but  three  months'  schooling.  He 
was  a  man  that  was  loj'al  to  his  convictions, 
true  to  his  family  and  faithful  to  the  Demo- 
cratic l)arty.  He  was  buried  at  Decatur,  un- 
der the  rituals  of  the  Odd  Fellows.  He  left 
an  untarnished  name  and  an  unspotted  char- 
acter as  a  legacy  to  his  children,  ilr.  and 
Mrs.  McConnell  had  six  children — ilark  M., 
born  April  23,  184(5;  JMargarct  ]\I.,  born  Au- 
gust 8,  1847,  married  John  Blood,  and  died 
July  28,  1880;  Joseph  L.,  born  February  13, 
1849;  George    W.,    born    June    24,    1851; 


Mary,  born  December  8,  1854,  died  August 
24,  1855;  Frank,  born  January  29,  1859,  is 
living  at  home  with  his  mother. 


|HILEMON  N.  COLLINS,  deccasi'd,  who 
f»  was  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of 
"^  Adams  County,  was  born  in  Richland 
County,  Ohio,  November  20,  1820,  a  son  of 
Zenas  and  Catherine  (Sites)  Collins.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the 
mother  was  born  in  ilaryland.  They  subse- 
quently went  to  Missouri,  wiiere  both  died. 
Philemon  grew  to  manhood  in  Ohio,  receiv- 
ing an  academic  education.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  he  commenced  teaching 
school,  which  he  followed  for  7iine  terms. 
His  father  gave  him  eighty  acres  of  land 
located  on  section  20,  Wabash  Township, 
Adams  County,  which  ho  began  improving 
in  1844.  He  was  married  March  9,  1848,  to 
Miss  Eliza  J.  McDonald,  who  was  born  in 
Allegheny  County,  Pennsylvania,  November 
10,  1826,  her  parents,  A.  P.  and  Jane 
(Matchet)  McDonald,  being  natives  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1831  the  parents 
of  Mrs.  Collins  removed  to  Columbiana 
C'ounty,  Ohio,  and  later  removed  to  Hamil- 
ton County,  Ohio.  In  1845  they  located  in 
Wayne  County,  Indiana,  and  three  years 
following  came  to  Adams  County,  settling  in 
Wabash  Township.  In  the  fall  of  1855  they 
came  to  Lagrange  County,  where  the  father 
died  in  the  fall  of  1875.  He  had  been  twice 
married.  His  first  wife,  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Collins,  died  in  1834,  and  by  her  he  had  six 
children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  ilr. 
McDonald  was  again  married  in  1836  to 
Elizabeth  J.  Angiemyer,  and  to  this  union 
were  born  thirteen  children.  The  father  was 
a  shoemaker  by  trade,  which  he  followed  in 
connection  with  farming.     He  was  a  member 


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»H«7^iL!»»*i»"-«»i5fl 


jrrsToin'   of  ada.us   county. 


of  tlie  rresbytcrian  cliiirc'li.  Tu  Mr.  iuul 
!N[rs.  Collins  ulfven  children  were  born,  and 
of  tliis  number  only  one  is  living,  a  d;uii:;hter 
named  (ienevn  15.,  who  i.s  now  the  wife  of  \.. 
C.  Me.ssner.  After  this  marriai^e  ilr.  (JoUins 
cnu;!iged  in  larminj^.  lie  was  engaged  as  civil 
engineer  and  county  surveyor  for  nine  years, 
lie  was  station  agent  at  ('e3'lon,  Adams 
County,  for  five  years,  lie  and  B.  15.  Snow 
were  proju'ietors  of  the  town  site  of  Ce^'loii,  a 
part  of  the  town  being  located  on  ])art  of  his 
land.  lie  also  represented  his  county  in  the 
Legislature  for  three  terms,  serving  with 
credit  to  himself  and  to  the  best  interests  of 
the  county,  lie  was  very  successful  in  his 
farming  operations  and  at  his  death  left  about 
fiOO  acres,  -400  acres  being  in  one  bodj',  his 
original  purchase  being  eighty  acres.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  the  political  afi'airs  of 
his  county,  being  ibrmerly  a  Whig,  but  later 
atliliated  with  the  Democratic  party.  During 
his  residence  in  the  county  he  won  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him,  and 
his  death,  which  occurred  October  31,  187S, 
was  a  source  of  universal  regret.  His  widow 
still  resides  at  Ceylon.  She  united  with  the 
Christian  church  May  14,  1876,  and  April  5, 
1885,  she  became  a  member  of  the  Jlethodist 
Episcopal  church. 


llf^ENRY  P.  MERRIMAN,  of  Monroe, 
%0}\  and  justice  of  the  ])eace  of  IMonroe 
"41  Townshi]!,  was  born  in  Blue  Creek 
Township,  Adams  County,  Indiana,  Septem- 
ber 28,  1853,  a  son  of  John  and  ilary  Jane 
(Ray)  Merriman,  natives  of  Steubenville, 
Ohio,  tlie  fatiier  born  July  17,  1816,  and  the 
mother  February  25,  1828.  The  father  had 
been  twice  married,  tlie  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject being  his  second  wife,  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children,  seven  sons  and  one  daughter. 


By  his  lirst  marriage  he  had  two  children, 
both  now  deceased.  I'or  many  years  the 
father  i-an  a  distillery  at  Steubenville.  He 
came  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in  1848, 
and  entered  land  on  section  7  of  Blue  Creek 
Township,  wliere  he  resided  until  his  death 
January  7,  1879.  He  was  a  ])rominent  man 
in  his  township,  of  which  he  was  trustee,  and 
for  twelve  years  iield  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace.  ]\Irs.  ^lerriman  is  now  living  at 
Salem,  Bine  Creek  Township.  She  belongs 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  Mr.  iEer- 
riman  having  been  a  member  of  the  same 
church  till  his  death.  Henry  P.  Merriman, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  .'-eared  on  the 
home  farm,  receiving  a  fair  common-school 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  neighliorhood. 
When  nineteen  yeai's  old  he  taught  school 
for  two  terms,  after  which  he  was  engaged  in 
farming  until  1878.  He  was  married  Janu- 
ary 27,  1876,  to  iiary  C.  Edwards,  a  native 
of  Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  born  March  6, 
1853.  Her  parents,  Lewis  and  Elizabeth 
(Wilson)  Edwards,  were  natives  of  Ohio. 
Tliey  came  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in 
18G5,  and  settled  in  Blue  Creek  Township, 
where  they  still  reside,  engaged  in  farming, 
lioth  are  members  of  tlie  United  Brethren 
church.  They  are  the  parents  of  ten  children, 
three  sons  and  seven  daughters.  To  iMr.  and 
!Mrs.  Merriman  have  been  born  five  children 
— Leonard  L.,  Dora  L.,  Ann  I.,  Gertrude  C. 
and  Margaret  M.  In  1878  Mr.  Merriman 
came  to  i\lonroe,  Adams  County,  and  was 
engaged  in  railroading  for  eighteen  months. 
He  then  entered  the  general  mercantile 
establishment  of  Ilocker  &  Hendricks,  where 
he  was  em})loyed  as  clerk  until  the  firm  dis- 
solved partnership.  He  then  formed  a  part- 
nership with  ilr.  Hocker,  with  whom  he  was 
associated  in  the  mercantile  business  until 
January,  18S6,  when  owing  to  his  intlainma- 
tory  rheumatism  he  disposed  of  his  interest 


Mi' 


ill  the  Inisiiicss  to  Mr.  llockei',  and  visited 
ICiiiisas  Hot  S|)riii<(S  in  Ari<:iiisas,  returiiing 
to  ^[oiiroe  Jul}'  I'J  of  the  same  year.  In 
18S1  lie  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  elected  in  1S82,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1SS6  was  re-elected,  and  as  far  as  his  health 
will  peniiit  devotes  liis  time  to  his  office, 
lioth  ]\lr.  and  Jlrs.  Merriman  ai-e  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcojial  church.  ^Ir. 
JMerriman  is  a  member  of  St.  Mary's  Lodi^^e, 
No.  lt)7,  I.  0.  ( ).  l'\,  of  Decatur,  having 
ioincd  that  lodge  September  7,  1885. 


^EXJAMIX  nOUK,  farmer,  resides  on 
'\  section  5,  Root  Township,  where  he 
owns  IGO  acres  of  land.  He  also  owns 
147  acres  elsewhere,  making  307  acres  in  all. 
\Ig  came  to  this  county  in  1843,  and  settled 
on  the  same  farm  where  he  now  lives.  He 
hired  ten  acres  cut,  and  built  his  log  cabin, 
in  which  he  lived  until  he  built  his  present 
house,  the  front  of  the  log  house  being  a 
part  of  the  new  one.  ilr.  llouk  was  born 
in  Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  May  28, 
1821,  and  when  lie  was  fourteen  years  of  age 
liis  ])arents  removed  to  Stark  County,  Ohio, 
wliere  they  lived  twenty  years.  lie  was 
married  November  20.  1840,  to  }^Iiss  Sarah 
Mock,  who  was  boi'ii  in  Stark  County,  Ohio, 
June  1,  ls25,  and  was  reared  principally  in 
Stark  Ciiunly.  Her  father,  Samuel  Mock, 
was  born  in  Hacerstown,  Maryland,  June  6, 
1787,  and  removed  to  Stark  County  in  1819. 
He  died  February  10, 1871.  He  experienced 
religion  in  an  early  day  and  e.xeniplihed  it 
during  a  long  life.  The  mother,  Rachel  S. 
((ieisaman)  ilock,  was  born  in  (Uimberlaud 
Cdiinty,  Pennsylvania,  where  she  was  reared 
and  married.  Soon  after  her  marriage  slie 
removed  to  Stark  County,  where  she  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy-three  years.      Jlr.  Honk's 


fathei',  Samuel  Iloiik,  was  born  in  Dauphin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1775,  and  died  in 
Lebanon  County  in  1830,  aged  fifty-five 
years.  His  mother,  Catherine  (Spreeher) 
Houk,  was  also  born  in  Dauphin  County, 
in  1781,  and  died  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  in 
1867,  aged  eighty-si.x  years.  Poth  parents 
had  been  members  of  tlie  Lutheran  church 
for  many  years.  ^Ir.  and  ]Mr#.  Houk  e.xpe- 
rieiiceil  all  the  trials  and  privations  of  pio- 
neer life.  They  have  had  four  children — 
j\[artha  Alice,  born  Januarj'  2ti,  1851,  died 
at  the  acre  of  two  months;  Addison  N.,  born 
August  22,  1857;  John  C,  born  May  30, 
1850;  Ida  Belle,  born  A])ril  15,  18G3,  is  the 
wife  of  AVilliam  Yousc.  Mr.  Honk's  grand- 
parents, Phillip  and  Catherine  Houk,  M'cre 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  that 
State.  Mrs.  Ilouk's  grandfather,  Peter  ^Mock, 
was  born  in  (iermany  and  died  in  Maryland. 
Iler  maternal  grandfather  died  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. 


^mUGUSTUS  SCHLEGEL,  blacksmith  and 
j'(^\;  horse-shoer,  Decatur,  Indiana,  was  born 
"^'•J^  in  lierks  County,  Pennsylvania,  March 
4,  1850,  a  son  of  Peneville  and  Ella  Amanda 
(Welder)  Schlegel,  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
of  German  parentage.  In  18(52,  when  twelve 
years  of  age,  he  aee(jinpanie<l  liis  jiarents  to 
Adams  County,  Imliana,  and  has  since  lived 
in  Decatur.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
began  working  for  his  father,  who  was  a 
blacksmith,  and  for  seven  years  worked  in 
the  same  shop.  In  1873  he  opened  a  shop 
of  his  own,  and  soon  after  became  associated 
with  Collins  Bnshuell,  the  firm  of  Dushnell 
it  Schlegel  doing  business  until  1885,  lie 
having  been  alone  since  then.  He  is  the 
champion  horse-shoer  in  the  State,  his  aver- 
age being  1G3  shoes  in  eleven  hours  in  a  re- 


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lllSTOUY    Ob'    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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cent  contrst,  doiii^  all  the  wdi-k,  drisinj;, 
cliiK-hini,'  and  lini^liin:,'.  Mr.  Sc1i1(';;l'1  was 
niarriid  ."\Iarcli  3,  JS7"),  tti  Mary  Isabell 
(irini,  a  daiii^ditor  (it  .Idsi'iili  anil  ]\[ai'3'  (l^lsev) 
tii-ini,  old  .suttlurs  ot  Adams  County.  .Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Schlegel  have  two  children — Law'- 
reiice  Columbia  and  Cora  Pearl.  Jlr.  Selile- 
j^el  is  a  niCMiber  of  Kekionga  Lodge,  No.  Gu, 

K.  of  r. 


'■4  EWIS  LUXG,  one  of  tlic  prominent  cit- 
'/f{  izens  of  Adams  ('ouuty,  engaged  in 
"^^  farming  on  section  10,  Wabash  Town- 
ship, is  a  nati\-e  of  Indiana,  born  in  Union 
County  in  iNIJl,  his  parents,  Robert  ami 
J[ary  (Kyle)  Long,  being  nati\-cs  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  the  father  born  in 
1787,  and  the  mother  in  1790.  The  paternal 
grandparents  of  our  subject  settled  in  Ohio 
about  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury, antl  in  181()  immigrated  to  Union  Coun- 
ty, Lidiaiia,  settling  in  LTiiiou  Township, 
where  the  father  died  July  8,  1855.  The 
mother  died  iu  Ohio,  February  3,  1871. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  si.\ 
sons  and  four  daughters.  They  were  mein- 
bers  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  The  father 
followed  the  cabinet-maker's  trade  in  early 
life,  but  later  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, entering  100  acres  of  land  in  Union 
County.  The  family  was  of  Scotch-L-ish 
origin.  Lewis  Long,  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch,  grew  to  manhood  in  Union  County, 
remaining  on  the  home  farm  till  attaining 
the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  and  in  his  youth 
received  a  common-school  education.  On 
leaving  the  home  farm  lie  began  ^yorking  at 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  till 
October,  1862,  when  he  settled  on  iiis  present 
farm,  which  had  been  previously  purchased 
by  his  father.     May  29,  1802,  he  was  united 


in  marriage  to  ^^iss  l\rary  Plair,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  born  in  IS-ll,  coming  to  America 
with  a  lirotlier  and  sifter.  Light  children 
have  been  burn  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lung- 
Charles  (deceased),  (ieorge,  William,  Lva, 
llussell,  Leonitias,  Daisy  and  Leila.  Mr. 
Long  is  a  thorough,  practical  farmer,  and  by 
liis  good  management  he  has  accumulated 
his  present  fine  farm,  which  consists  of  222 
acres  of  valuable  land.  Li  politics  he  athli- 
ates  with  the  Democratic  party,  lie  is  at 
piesent  serving  as  justice  of  the  peace,  which 
ofiice  he  has  tilled  acceptably  since  October, 
1880. 


T^IIILLIP  IIKXDKICKS,  farmer,  section 
\.^^:  27,  \Vashington  Townshiji,  was  born  in 
^  Harrison  County,  (Jhio,  April  8,  1839, 
son  of  Emanuel  and  Eliza  Hendricks,  the 
former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the 
latter  of  Ohio.  The  parents  were  eai'ly  set- 
tlers of  Harrison  County,  where  they  passed 
the  later  years  of  their  life.  The  father  had 
been  twice  married,  and  had  twelve  children, 
of  whom  the  following  survive — Susanna, 
Eli,  Phillip,  Martha,  Alfred,  Jonas  and  Putli. 
]Mr.  Hendricks  passed  his  early  life  in  Ohio, 
and  received  a  common-school  education.  In 
August,  lb02,  he  enlisted  in  Company  A, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Ohio  Infan- 
try, and  became  a  part  of  the  army  operating 
in  Virginia,  Maryland  and  the  Shenandoah 
Valley.  He  was  honorably  discharged  in 
September,  1863,  and  returned  home.  He 
was  married  April  22,  1862,  to  Susan  Man- 
beck,  born  February  18,  1845,  in  Carroll 
County,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Mar- 
garet Manbeck,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
early  settlers  of  Carroll  County.  Of  their 
nine  children,  eight  survive — William  I)., 
Emanuel  N..  Lawrence   ^\.,   Laura   E.,    Lucy 


ip«»EruiB> 


Ma^o,^^«a»Wr'».^Trii«^«r„». 


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JUOGliAl'J/WAL    SKUTCUEfS. 


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A.  ]\[.,  ]\[urtie  Y.,  Ichi  ^[.  and  Grover  C.  T. 
Artie  is  deceased.  Mr.  lleiulrick.s  removed 
from  Oliio  to  Adams  {'ounty  in  I'^^C-l-,  locat- 
ing upon  his  present  farm  in  Wasliington 
Townsliip.  lie  owns  lo5  aci'es  of  well-im- 
proved land,  lie  is  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  atHliates  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
chnrch;  is  also  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
post  at  Decatur.  lie  has  been  a  successful 
farmer,  and  is  universally  respected  in  his 
communitj'. 


^mUGUSTUS  GKOllGE  IIOLLOWAY, 
'i/vV  -^^"  ^->  -I'^^catur,  Indiana,  was  born  in 
~~-  ilarion,  ]\Iarion  County,  Ohio,  August 
21,  1829,  a  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Gooding)  IloUoway,  his  father  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  his  mother  of  New  York, 
both  being  of  English  ancestry.  His  father 
was  an  eminent  physician  uf  Marion,  where 
he  practiced  about  fifty  years,  locating  there 
in  1820.  lie  died  in  1874,  aged  eighty-four 
years,  his  wife  dying  at  the  age  of  eighty-tive 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
di'cn,  six  of  whom  lived  till  maturity,  our 
subject  lieing  the  fifth.  A.  G.  IloUoway  was 
reared  in  ^Marion,  Ohio,  where  he  had  good  ed- 
ucational advantages,  and  when  si.xteen  years 
of  age  began  to  teach  school.  When  eighteen 
years  old  he  learned  the  printer's  trade,  and 
then  taught  and  worked  at  his  trade  alter- 
nately, until  twenty-four  years  old,  when, 
having  determined  to  enter  the  medical  pro- 
fession, he  began  the  study  of  medicine  in 
the  otlice  of  Dr.  J.  0.  Norton,  at  Marion, 
witli  whom  he  remained  about  two  years, 
wiien.  Dr.  Norton  dying,  he  continued  his 
studies  with  Dr.  Uobert  L.  .Sweeney.  He 
took  a  Course  of  lectures  at  the  Cleveland 
Medical  College,  and  began  his  practice  in 
1851,  which  he  continued  at  dilferent  j)oints 


in  Ohio  until  1861,  when  he  was  e.xamined 
by  the  State  Hoard  of  ^Sledical  Examiners 
and  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Ohio  Infantry,  and 
served  until  the  discharge  of  the  regiment 
the  following  fall.  In  the  spring  of  1865 
he  volunteered  as  a  private  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Ninety-seventh  Ohio  Infantry,  but 
was  appointed  acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  and 
served  as  such  until  his  regiment  was  dis- 
charged at  the  close  of  the  war.  After  the 
war  he  practiced  in  different  localities  in 
Ohio  and  Indiana  until  1877,  when  he  located 
at  Decatur.  In  1882  he  took  a  course  of 
lectures  at  the  ('hicago  Medical  College.  He 
was  married  in  1855  to  Miss  M.  Louise  Ken- 
nedy, daughter  of  John  and  Maria  (Larimer) 
Kennedy.  She  is  also  a  physician,  and  in 
the  winter  of  18S5-'.80  took  a  course  of  lec- 
tures at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons, Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  in  the  winter  of 
188G-'87  graduated  at  the  Indiana  Medical 
College  at  Indianapolis.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  IIol- 
loway  have  three  children — Addie,  wife  of 
Charles  Iloxie,  of  Toledo,  Ohio;  George,  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio;  and  Bertha,  wife  of  Willard 
E.  Winch,  of  the  firm  of  Winch  ik  Sons,  of 
Fort  AVayne,  Indiana.  ]\Irs.  IloUoway  is  a 
member  of  the  Discijdes  church,  and  is  an 
earnest  worker  in  her  church  and  for  tlie 
temperance  cause.  Di-.  Holloway  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Sam  Henry  Post,  No.  63,  G.  A.  II. 

Ij^^ESTER  A.  WINANS  was  born  in  llar- 
flllji  rison  County,  Ohio,  October  31,  1837. 
T^  Her  parents  were  Samuel  and  ]\Iargaret 
(Beeniau)  Ileaviline,  the  former  a  native  of 
New  York,  and  the  latter  of  Maryland.  Her 
paternal  grandparents  were  Samuel  and  Mary 
(Layport)  Ileaviline.  Her  maternal  graiid- 
paients  were  jMoses  and  Sarah  ( Poland  |  Bee- 


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inaii.  Ill  ISol  liiT  ])an'iits  iimrnVrated  to 
this  county,  locatiiii;-  in  Jiluu  Creek  Town- 
ship, where  lier  lather  imreiiaseil  forty  acres 
of  huui,  whicli  was  entirely  uncnltivateil,  hut 
there  were  iihout  ten  acres  partially  cleareil. 
At  this  time  the  family  consisted  of  ])areiits 
aiul  ten  children,  all  of  whom  were  living — 
Cliristina  J.,  born  Angnst  10,1828;  James 
I.,  horn  May  30,  1831;  Enoch  J.,  born  Oc- 
tober 20,  1833;  Joseph,  born  December  12, 
1835;  Hester  A.,  born  October  81,  1837; 
Sarah  E.,  born  July  20,  1840;  Mary  M.,  born 
November  13,  184:2;  llebecca  J.,  born  Janu- 
ary 15,  184G;  Samuel  O.  D.,  born  January 
31,  181-9,  and  Lintha  L.,  born  March  30, 
1851.  August  27,  1863,  Hester  Ileaviline 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Richard  AVin- 
ans,  who  was  a  descendant  of  one  of  the 
oklest  and  most  honorable  of  the  pioneer 
families  in  St.  Mary's  Township.  His  father, 
J'enjamin  B.Winans,  came  from  ^liami  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  to  St.  Mary's  Towntliip  in  the  fall  of 
183(),  bringing  a  load  of  gootls  and  entering 
his  land.  He  left  two  sons,  one  daughter 
and  one  son-in-law  in  the  new  home,  then 
returned  to  Ohio.  In  Eebruary,  the  folkiw- 
ing  year,  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Indiana, 
bringing  his  movable  goods,  the  remainder  of 
his  family  and  his  stock.  Tims  e(]uipped, 
the  father  of  liichard  AVinans  began  the  de- 
velopment of  this  wild  tract  of  land,  consist- 
ing of  2-44. (55  acres.  A  little  cabin,  IC  x  16 
feet,  was  all  the  room  the  family  of  fourteen 
children  liad  to  live  in.  AVhen  beds  were 
sjiread  upon  the  floor  the  entire  space  was 
occupied,  and  great  fears  were  entertained 
lest  the  bedding  sliould  take  fire.  At  this 
time  matches  were  unknown,  and  the  pioneer 
depended  upon  the  stump  or  log  heap  to  keep 
him  sujiplied  with  tliat  essential  article. 
Sometimes  tiint  was  used  to  start  the  tire; 
and  in  cases  of  emergency  the  early  settler 
wuuld  go  to  tlie  nearest  neinhbor,  ])erha]is  two 


or  three  miles  away,  and  borrow  tire.  Thou- 
sands of  ways  weie  impn>\ised  by  the  pioneer. 
The  milk,  which  was  kept  until  in  j)roper 
condition,  would  be  contined  in  a  vessel  and 
placed  in  a  wagon,  and  as  the  emigrant  pur- 
sued his  h)nely  journey  over  rough  and 
almost  impassable  roads,  the  jostling  and 
shaking  wagon  wo\ild  churn  the  butter;  and 
at  the  next  camping  place  the  delighted  fam- 
ily would  regale  themselves  on  hot  pone,  fresh 
butter  and  roast  venison.  liichard  and 
Hester  A\^inans  moved  upon  a  farm  of  160 
acres,  one  mile  west  of  the  village  of  Pleasant 
^lills,  whicli  ^Ir.  AVinans  owned  previous  to 
his  mai'riage.  A  commodious  frame  dwell- 
ing was  erected  and  other  improvements 
were  made;  altliougli  obliged  to  pay  over 
s3,000  bail  bonds,  he  nevertheless  left  a 
handsome  ])roperty  to  his  wife  and  children 
at  his  death,  which  occurred  October  5, 1885. 
Mr.  AVinans  served  the  people  in  many  ca- 
pacities— constable,  deputy  sheriff,  admin- 
istrator and  guardian,  being  at  one  time 
guardian  of  twenty-eight  wards.  He  served 
as  township  trustee  two  terms,  and  was  a 
liberal  contributor  to  educational  and  relig- 
ious enterprises.  AVhen  there  was  need  the 
hand  of  Richard  Winans  was  always  extended, 
and  never  empty.  He  was  an  expert  nie- 
clianic,  being  a  mason  by  occupation  as  well 
as  a  farmer.  He  was  a  devoted  member  of 
the  ]\Iasonic  fraternity,  and  was  buried  with 
all  the  rites  and  sacred  honors  of  tliis  insti- 
tution. Seven  children  were  left,  as  follows — 
Samuel  A.,  born  February  24,  1849;  Jasper 
IL,  born  December  14,  1851;  Sarah  I.,  born 
December  14,  1854;  Joseph  D.,  born  Janu- 
ary 27,  1858;  Charles  S.,  born  February  22, 
1S62;  Ira  F.,  born  June  6, 1864,  and  AVilliain 
IL,  born  November  17, '  1865.  Charles  S. 
served  five  years  in  tiie  regular  army,  hav- 
ing enlisted  September  27,  1881,  and  being 
mustered  out  September  27,  1886.      He  was 


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BlOanM'lHGAL    SKETCIIKS. 


jiroinott'il  to  t!ie  i-iinl<  nf  ('cir|Miral  for  im-r- 
itorioiis  t-L'r\'ice.  His  was  the  I''irst  Kegimeiit, 
("oinpaiiy  I,  United  States  Inlanti-y.  Jasper 
II.  is  a  iiiinister  t>t'  the  ISaptist  cluircli  at 
Warsaw,  Indiana,  having  been  ordained  in 
1878.  The  chiltli-en  ha\e  ail  acquired  a  lib- 
eral education,  two  of  wlioni  arc  teachers. 
Jlrs.  AVinans  taught  several  terms  previous  to 
her  marriage.  She  is  a  memljer  of  the  ilis- 
sionary  JJaptist  church,  and  is  very  comforta- 
lijy  situated  in  the  old  homestead.  Ilcr  son, 
Ira  F.,  and  his  wife,  Geneva  ("owcns,  make 
tiieir  home  with  lier.  Tlie  (.'owens  lielong  to 
the  honored  and  respected  pioneer  families. 


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:ILLIAM  CONP.AI),  farmer,  sections 
1)  and  15,  owns  175  acres  of  land. 
"SjiS^  lie  was  horn  in  FortAVayne,  Indiana, 
iJecendier  1'2,  1836,  and  wlien  lie  was  six 
montlis  old  his  jiarents  removed  to  Preble 
Townsliiji,  settling  on  section  15,  wliere  the 
father,  George  Conrad,  commenced  to  make 
a  home  in  the  woods,  having  entered  his  land 
from  the  Government.  He  built  his  cabin 
of  hewed  logs,  which  the  family  occupied 
for  twenty-tive  years.  He  then  l)uiit  a  frame 
house,  where  he  lived  until  his  deatli,  wliicii 
occurred  ]\Iarch  4,  1873.  He  was  born  in 
Saxony,  Gerinany,  in  1806,  where  he  was 
reared  and  married.  The  mother,  Fredricka 
(Kunager)  Conrad,  was  also  born  in  Saxony 
in  1814,  and  is  living  on  the  old  homestead 
■\vitii  tiie  youngest  son.  She  has  had  four- 
teen children — William,  Caroline,  Frederick, 
Louisa,  Ciiarlcs,  George,  ^linnie,  Rosalie, 
Christian  and  Henry.  Four  died  unnamed. 
Eight  are  living.  The  father  was  a  butcher 
by  trade,  and  followed  it  in  Germany,  but 
never  in  America,    William  was  reared,  edu- 


J>ley,  who  was  born  in  ( )bargrinistad,  Weimar, 
Saxony,  (Germany,  Octobur  '20,  1841,  and 
came  to  America  when  nearly  twelve  years 
of  aire,  her  jiarents,  Adam  and  Posina 
(Sieverd)  J>lcy,  settling  upon  the  farm  in 
Treble  Township  where  they  now  reside.  In 
her  father's  family  were  ten  children,  nine  of 
whom  are  living.  Charles,  the  eldest,  died 
Jlay  10,  1886,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  Mrs. 
Conrad  is  the  fourth  child.  Mr.  IJley  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  and  followed  it  both  in 
America  and  Germany.  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Con- 
rad have  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living — Frederick,  born  February  8,  1863; 
Charles,  born  October  2, 1864,  died  February 
15,  1879  (his  death  was  caused  by  falling 
from  a  barn  and  breaking  his  neck);  William 
D.,  born  April  30,  186(5;  Louis,  born  De- 
cember 10,  1867;  Augustus,  born  May  13, 
1809;  Ernest,  born  September  18,  1870. 
Elizabeth,  an  adopted  child,  was  born  Octo- 
ber 8,  1869.  Mrs.  Conrad's  grandparents 
were  born  in  Germany,  and  also  died  there, 
ilr.  Conrad's  grandfather  Conrad  kept  a 
hotel  in  Germany.  Loth  grandparents  died 
in  Germany. 

^mBUAIIAM  EAAVLEY,  a  prosperous 
^M';  and  enterprising  agriculturist  of  Adams 
^}p^  County,  engaged  in  farming  and  deal- 
ing in  stock  on  section  15,  AVabash  Township, 
is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Clarke  County, 
January  15,  1838,  the  eldest  son  of  Tilmon 
and  Elizabeth  Rawley,  who  were  natives  of 
Virginia  and  Ohio  respectively.  AVhen  an 
infant  lie  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  there  lie  grew 
to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  on  section 
12,    AVabash    Township,     his    youth     being 


catod     and     married     in     Preble    Township.  ;  spent  in  assisting  on  the  farm  and   attending 
March  16,   1862,  he    married    Aliss    Minnie  |  the    common    schools    of   his    neighiiorhood. 


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U I  STORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


wliiM'O  lie  o1)tiiiiK'<I  a  fair  cunmioii-scliool  cilii- 
catiiiii.  He  was  iiiiiled  in  niari'iage  Iv'oveiii- 
lier  lil,  18(;i,  tu  .Miris  Mary  J.  Crawford,  who 
\\a?  lidiH  ill  Waliasli  Tuwnsliip,  Adams 
County,  -lainiaiy  1,  1^11,  a  dauyliter  uf 
.lo^iali  Crawford  of  Adams  County.  Five 
eliildren  liave  liceii  born  to  Air.  and  Afrs. 
Kawley — Mary  M,  deceased;  Edna,  wife  of 
William  A.  Pickett;  EtHe  i[.,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Earlow;  Kosaniia  C,  deceased,  and  Jessie 
A.,  deceased.  ^Irs.  Eawley  died  December 
10,  1S81.  .^^r.  Ilawley  lias  met  with  good 
success  in  his  agricultural  pursuits,  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  in  Wabasii 
Township,  containing  about  144  acres  of 
choice  land  under  a  tine  state  of  cultivation. 
He  is  an  acti\e  and  public-spirited  citizen, 
and  takes  an  active  interest  in  any  enterprise 
which  he  deems  for  the  advancement  of  his 
township  or  county. 

;-|^IIUiyTlAM  AV.  IIOCKEII,  a  promi- 
*Ak\  nent  business  man  of  the  village  of 
^^  Monroe,  and  the  present  trustee  of 
ih>nroe  Townsliip,  is  a  native  of  Indiana, 
born  in  Decatur  Count}',  January  5,  1851, 
the  fonrtli  sou  of  Stephen  and  Susannah 
(AVetier)  I  locker,  natives  of  Switzerland,  the 
father  born  in  1812,  and  the  mother  in  1819. 
AVhile  in  his  teens  the  father  immigrated  to 
America,  and  first  located  in  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio.  lie  afterward  went  to  Stark 
County,  Ohio.  About  1850  he  removed  to 
Decatur  County,  Indiana,  and  in  1851  re- 
turned to  Stark  County,  Ohio.  In  the  spring 
of  1804  lie  returned  to  Adams  County,  Indi- 
ana, and  engaged  in  fanning  in  Erench  Town- 
ship. He  was  married  in  ColumbiaTia  County, 
Ohio,  anil  was  the  fatlier  of  eight  sons  and 
one  daughter.  ]\Ir.  and  Jlrs.  Ilocker  were 
formerly'    Lutherans,    but    afterwaril     united 


with  the  Albright  church.  Mr.  Ilocker  died 
in  1872,  and  the  mother  now  resides  at  New- 
ville,  in  Wells  County,  Indiana.  Christian 
AV.  Ilocker,  whose  name  lieads  this  sketch, 
came  with  his  parents  to  Adams  County  when 
twelve  years  old,  where  he  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm,  receiving  his  education  in  tlie 
common  schools  of  the  county.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years  he  engaged  in  the  saw- 
mill and  hiiiiber  business,  which  he  has  since 
followed  with  success,  although  he  started 
with  barely  enough  to  pay  for  the  freight, 
running  in  debt  for  the  price  of  the  mill.  In 
1880  he  engajied  in  the  mercantile  bu&iness 
in  Monroe,  in  company  with  John  AV.  Hen- 
dricks, under  the  lirm  name  of  Hendricks  it 
Ilocker,  until  the  fall  of  1883,  when  the 
partnership  was  dissolved.  Mr.  Ilocker  then 
became  associated  with  Henry  P.  Merryman, 
the  firm  of  Ilocker  A:  AEerryman  continuing 
in  business  until  the  spring  of  188(3,  when 
Mr.  Ilocker  purchased  his  partner's  interest, 
and  was  then  associated  with  his  brother, 
Franklin  1*.  Ilocker,  until  the  fall  of  the  same 
year,  since  which  he  has  conducted  the  busi- 
ness alone.  He  is  also  engaged  in  fanning, 
and  has  a  tine  farm  of  IGO  acres  in  Alonroe 
Township,  ilr.  Ilocker  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried. He  was  first  married  February  10, 
1871,  to  Lucinda  A.  Eell,  who  died  February 
28,  1872,  leaving  one  child— AHola  15.  He 
was  again  married  January  10, 1876,  to  Mary 
I.  Ilofer,  who  was  born  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  February  25,  1856,  a  daughter  of 
]\Iichael  Ilofer,  a  former  resident  of  Kerne, 
Adams  County,  coming  to  this  county  in 
1856.  He  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  and  now  re- 
sides at  Fall  City,  Nebraska.  Two  children 
have  been  born  to  Air.  and  Mrs.  Ilocker — 
Bessie  L.  and  Gertrude  E.  Airs.  Ilocker  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr. 
Ilocker  has  been  successful  in  his  business 
enterprises.      In    1886    he    erected     his    fine 


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rc'.sidtMu'e  ;it  ^rmirdt',  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  and 
also  L'ivctuil  a  coimiioilious  l)n»inc'.ss  house, 
wliicli  on  tlie  niorniiiir  ot'  .March  30,  1887, 
was  entirely  destroyed  by  fire,  including  the 
total  loss  of  stock,  amounting  t(j  ahout 
$4,000,  no  insurance.  Although  a  serious 
blow  financially,  tlirougli  the  influence  of  his 
many  friends  he  is  again  building  a  new 
block,  and  will  be  actively  engaged  serving 
liis  trade  within  si.x  weeks  of  time  of  fire. 
The  entire  community  wishes  him  success. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  lie  takes  an 
active  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  has  held 
several  local  ollices.  lie  was  elected  to  his 
])resent  oflice  in  18SI:,  and  re-elected  in 
188(5. 


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vENnVI).  FUELLING,  farmer,  resides 


(^■h  on  section  4,  Hoot  Township,  where  he 
*s^.*^  owns  200  acres  of  land.  lie  came  to 
this  county  in  April,  1837,  the  family  settling 
on  the  farm  where  his  brother , John  is  living. 
He  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  August 
1-1,  1833,  and  in  the  fall  of  1836  the  family 
came  to  America,  spending  the  first  winter 
in  Fort  AVayne.  His  parents  wei'e  Clanor 
and  .Vnna  ]\Iary  (Thomas)  Fuelling.  He  was 
educated  in  a  private  school  of  the  neighbor- 
hood and  spent  three  months  in  school  at 
Fort  Wayne.  He  was  married  June  5,1856, 
to  Jliss. Sophia  F.  Hoppe,  who  was  born  in 
I'russia,  near  Mindcn,  April  24,  1838,  and 
when  thirteen  years  of  age  she  came  with  her 
parents  and  seven  other  children  to  America, 
the  family  settling  in  Preble  Township, 
where  she  was  reared  and  married.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Sophia  (Dammeicr)  Hoppe, 
who  was  born  near  JMinden,  January  24, 1805. 
She  remembers  when  the  French  army  passed 
through  Mindeii.  Her  lirother  was  forced 
into  the  French  army   and   went  to  Moscow, 


but  nevir  ri'tuiiied.  ller  father  died  in 
1S37,  in  FrcMc  'i'own.sliip,  aged  about  fifty- 
three  years.  ^Irs.  Fuelling  died  December 
111,  1881.  Mr.  and  Airs.  Fuelling  bad 
ten  children  —  Ernest  J.,  born  Alarch  28, 
1857,  died  at  Ilarvel,  Alontgomery  County, 
Illinois,  August  23,  1886;  was  jiastor  of  the 
Lutheran  church  at  that  place.  He  had  been 
married,  bnt  his  wife  had  died  one  year  pre- 
vious. Henry  F.  W.,  born  November  23, 
1858;  Maria  L.  S.,  born  November  4,  1860, 
wife  of  Conrad  Selkitig;  Lisette  AV.  C,  born 
Feliruary  26,  1862;  JIary  E.,  born  December 
25,  1863;  Caroline  A.,  born  February  12, 
1866;  Harmon  F.,  born  January  14,  1868; 
Emma  A.,  liorn  Aj)ril  18,  1870;  Jacob  II., 
born  December  10,  1872;  Clanor  A.,  born 
January  24,  1875,  and  Lewis  F.,  born  Octo- 
ber 2,  1870.  Air.  Fuelling  has  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace  four  years.  In  the 
spring  of  1886  he  was  appointed  county  com- 
missioner to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the 
resignation  of  John  Rupright,  and  in  tlie  fall 
of  that  year  he  was  elected  to  the  ottice. 


Cii 


ACOl]  D.  HENDRICKS,  a  farmer  of 
Wasliington  Township,  was  born  in  this 
C(junty  August  26,  1854,  son  of  IJazil 
Hendricks,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Adams 
County.  His  life  has  been  spent  in  this 
county, and  his  education  was  obtained  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  father's  district.  In 
1876  he  and  his  father  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile trade  at  Alonroe,  the  partnership 
e.xisting  about  two  years.  He  then  formed  a 
partnership  with  V.  R.  Simcoke,  which  con- 
tinued about  one  year,  when  he  sold  out  to 
his  partner  and  began  farming  on  section  33. 
He  was  married  June  8,  1876,  to  Mary  A. 
ATartz,  born  in  Adams  County,  Alarch  25, 
1857,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Susan  Alartz,  of 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


Monroe  Towiiship,  wlio  wuro  pioneers  of  tliis 
county.  The}'  ha\e  Jive  eliildren — llarry  E.,  ; 
born  Auiru.st  7,  1877;  Elta  1'.,  born  ]\'oveni- 
ber  20,  1S7'J;  Au-ust  (;.,  born  JMarch  t), 
1882;  Clara  V.,  born  June  5,  1884,  and 
i'loi'unce,  born  8e])teniber  21,  18SG.  Jacob 
and  Susan  ]\rartz  had  eleven  children,  ten  of 
whom  survive — William  II.,  John  T.,  Samuel 
J.,  George  A\'".,  Jacob  li.,  Josepli  I).,  James  W., 
Nathan  F.,  :\[ary  A.  and  Martlia  E.  Mr. 
Hendricks  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 


fOHN  HENRY  EIIEMERKAMP,  pro- 
prietor of  the  St.  Joe  Saloon  at  Decatur, 
-■,<,  was  born  at  Decatur,  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  September  21),  1S53,  a  son  of  Har- 
mon Henry  and  Mary  Elizabeth  (Ileideman) 
Bremui-kamp.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Hanover,  Germany,  where  he  remained  until 
he  reached  manhood.  He  then  immigrated 
to  America  and  located  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
where  he  worked  at  the  tailor's  trade  until 
1S52.  That  same  year  he  came  to  Decatur, 
Indiana,  where  lie  was  soon  afterward  mar- 
ried. Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  St.  jNIary's  Catliolic  Cliui'ch,  of  Decatur. 
Both  are  now  deceased,  the  father  dying  in 
1854,  and  the  mother  in  1875.  Tiiey  were 
the  parents  of  four  children — Mrs.  Catherine 
Lampe,  of  Newjiort,  Kentucky;  Joseph,  late 
of  the  United  States  Army;  'Louif^a  (de- 
ceased), and  ,]ohn  Henry,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Tlie  latter  was  reared  and  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Decatur.  At  tlie 
age  of  fifteen  he  began  to  learn  the  shoe- 
maker's trade  at  Decatur,  at  which  he  worked 
two  years.  He  then  went  to  Newport,  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  worked  in  the  stone  and 
marble  shop  of  Joseph  Lampe,  his  brother- 
in-law,  during  the  summer,  and  at  shoe- 
making    in   the  winter   months,   being    thus 


employed  until  1873.  In  that  year  he  re- 
turned to  Decatur,  where  he  found  employ- 
ment in  the  marble  shops  of  II.  Cannover 
and  liarney  Wemhoif  \intil  lN7fj.  l''rom 
187G  until  1880  he  tended  bar  in  a  saloon  in 
Decatur,  when  lie  engaged  in  the  saloon 
business  on  his  own  account  until  1883. 
February  1,  1883,  he  was  married  at  Decatur 
to  iliss  Josephine  Eiting,  a  native  of  Min- 
ster, Auglaize  County,  Ohio,  born  November 
15,  1803,  a  daugliter  of  John  and  Gertrude 
(Rehe)  Eiting,  former  residents  of  Decatur, 
now  living  in  Jliuster,  Ohio.  Two  children 
have  been  born  to  ^Ir.  and  Jlrs.  Brenier- 
kamp,  named  Mary  Gertrude,  born  Decem- 
ber 1),  1883,  and  John  Lawrence  Herbert, 
born  September  12,  1885.  In  1883  ]\[r. 
Bremerkamp  became  associated  with  his 
father-in-law,  John  Eiting,  in  the  dry  gooils, 
clothing  and  grocery  business,  which  they 
carried  on  under  the  lirm  name  of  Eiting  it 
Co.  until  1884,  when  Mr.  Bremerkamp  re- 
tired from  the  tirm  and  opened  iiis  present 
saloon.  Jlr.  and  ]\Irs.  Bremerkam])  are 
members  of  St.  Clary's  Catholic  Chui'ch  at 
Decatur. 


^^r^i^Jr- 


y^ASPER  N.  LANGE,  junior  member  of 
*!fe  the  mercantile  firm  of  John  Eiting  ^ 
'^i  Co.,  at  Decatur,  was  born  at  Minster, 
Ohio,  the  date  of  liis  birth  being  xVugust  18, 
1850.  His  parents,  Bernard  and  Clara 
(Driehaus)  Lange,  were  natives  of  Hanover, 
Germany.  They  came  to  America  with  their 
respective  parents  when  quite  young,  the 
father's  family  locating  at  ]\Iinster,  Oiiio. 
Both  are  now  deceased,  the  mother  dying  at 
Danville,  Arkansas, in  1807,  aged  about  thirty- 
two  years,  and  the  father  dying  at  St.  Mary's, 
Ohio,  in  December,  1873,  aged  about  forty- 
three    years.      In    their    religious   faith   they 


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lUOanM'lIICAL    HKKTCHES. 


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wcro  Koiuaii  Cjitliolies.  Casper  N.  L:iiijj;e, 
whose  iKunc  heads  this  sketch,  lived  at  Min- 
ster until  his  eleventh  year,  when  he  went 
with  liis  jvirents  to  i)an\ille,  Arkansas.  Two 
years  hiter  he  went  to  J,()nis\ille,  Kentuclcy, 
with  his  father,  liis  mother  haviny  died,  and 
from  there  they  went  to  iSt.  Mary's,  Ohio. 
In  1871,  when  fifteen  years  of  age,  lie  began 
clerking  in  the  store  of  I'.  AVendeln  i  Son 
.it  St.  ]\rarj's,  where  lie  was  employed  nntil 
1877.  lie  then  came  to  Decatnr,  Adams 
Count}',  Imliana,  and  clerked  for  the  linn  of 
Eiting  A:  iMineking  for  three  yc-'ars,  and  in 
1880  he  fnrnie(l  a  ])artnershi]i  with  .lolm 
Eiting,  thus  forming  the  pi'esent  mercantile 
firm  of  Jolui  Eiting  A:  C'o.  In  the  summer 
of  1881  he  was  married  at  Minster,  Ohio,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Eiting,  her  iiarents,  John  and 
Gertrude  (Rehe)  Eiting,  being  residents  of 
!I\Iiuster,  but  formerly  lived  in  Decatur,  Indi- 
ana. Two  da\ightcrs,  Luetta  and  Chira,  have 
been  born  to  this  union.  I'oth  ilr.  and  Mrs. 
Lange  are  members  of  St.  Mary's  Roman 
Catholic  Church  at  Decatur. 


^ETER  IIOLTIIOUSE  was  born  in  De- 
\\\^;  catur,  Adams  County,  Indiana,  the  date 
-^-^  of  his  birth  being  October  25,  1841, 
and  was  tlie  second  white  child  born  in  Wash- 
ington Townsliip.  lie  was  reared  a  farmer, 
remaining  on  his  father's  farm  until  reaching 
maturity,  and  was  educated  in  both  the  Eng- 
lish and  German  laniruages  in  the  schools  of 
Decatur,  .\fter  his  father's  death  he  was 
made  administrator  of  his  estate,  wliich  lie 
subsequently  purchased  from  the  heirs.  In 
1872  he  rented  his  farm  and  removed  to  De- 
catur, where  lie  has  since  been  employed 
clerking  for  the  mercantile  establishment  of 
Niblick,  Crawford  A;  Sons.  lie  was  mari'ied 
in  St.  ]\Iai'y's  Catholic  Church  at  Decatur,  by 


Ilcv.  Fatiier  Von  Siicdlcr,  November  o,  1871, 
to  Miss  Mary  Closs.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Catherine  (Langdorfei')  Closs,  and 
was  the  first  white  female  child  born  in  De- 
catur. Tiirce  children  liavc  been  born  to 
3Ir.  and  Mrs.  Ilolthousc  —  Gertrude,  Lena 
and  Anthou}'  Bernard.  j\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Holt- 
house  are  members  of  St.  ]\[ary's  Catholic 
Church  at  Decatur.  The  parents  of  ilr.  Ilolt- 
house,  John  Hernard  and  Catlieriiie  (Mesker) 
Ilolthouse,  were  natives  of  Hanover,  Ger- 
many. They  immigrated  to  America  before 
their  marriage,  both  coming  to  this  country 
in  the  year  183G.  The  father  landed  at  New 
York  in  May,  183fi,  remaining  there  until 
the  fall  of  the  same  year,  when  he  came  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  located  on  land 
in  Washington  Townshi]i,  near  Decatur.  He 
was  married  at  Eoi't  AVayne  in  1837,  and  to 
the  parents  were  born  six  children.  The 
mother  died  in  AVashington  Townshi]),  in 
February,  18G9,  aged  lifty-six  years.  The 
father  improved  two  fai'ms  in  Washington 
Township,  and  died  there,  in  1871,  at  the  age 
of  sixty  years.  The  parents  of  our  subject 
were  among  the  original  members  of  St. 
Mary's  Catholic  Church  at  Decatur,  and  were 
numbered  among  the  respected  citizens  of 
Washington  Towtiship. 


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OIIN  G.ADLER,  undertaker  and  cabinet 
'  maker,  Pjiiena  Vista,  .Vdains  County, 
Wi  was  born  in  Konigsburg,  Saxe  Weimar, 
Germany,  the  date  of  his  birtii  being  June  1, 
1849,  a  son  of  Andrew  Adler.  He  came 
with  his  father's  family  to  America  in  ^lay, 
1851,  they  locating  in  Baltimore,  Mar^'land, 
where  they  resided  till  18G4.  In  the  fall  of 
that  year  the  father  removed  with  his  family 
to  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  where  he  has  since 
resided.     AVhile  liviuir  at  Baltimore  our  sub- 


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IIISTOUY    OF    AI>A.n,H    COUNTY. 


j(.'ct  learned  the  trunk  maker's  traile,  wliieli  lie 
tVilloweil  in  Baltimore  during  the  war.  He 
grew  to  manhood  in  Kort  Wayne,  goini^  tliere 
with  his  parents  in  iSli-i.  He  learned  his 
trade  ol' his  father,  who  was  a  cabinet  maker, 
which  avocation  he  still  follows  in  Fort 
"Wayne.  John  (i.  Adler  worked  at  cabinet 
making  at  Fort  AVayne  until  he  came  to 
liuena  \'ista,  Indiana,  February  1,  1877, 
when  he  engaged  in  his  present  business,  and 
has  since  established  a  good  trade.  The  fine 
I'esidence  of  Peter  Hoffman  was  tinished  by 
him.  (October  22,  1S71,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  l>arl)ara  Hooser,  who  was  born 
November  21,  1847,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
aiul  a  daughter  of  Jlichael  Hooser,  an  old 
settler  of  Adams  C!oiinty.  To  ilr.  and  JFrs. 
Adler  have  l)een  born  seven  children, of  whom 
four  are  living — George  A.,  Annie,  Henry 
and  Lena  (twins).  Charles,  the  first  born, 
and  two  infants  unnamed,  the  second  and 
youngest  child,  are  deceased.  In  his  religious 
belief  Mr.  Adler  is  a  Lutlieran,  though  not  a 
member  of  any  church.  He  joined  the  Odd 
Fellows  order  in  1871,  and  is  a  member  of 
Concord  Lodge,  No.  228,  of  Fort  AVayne, 
Lidiana. 


^Tf'^T.  ILLL\.M  PEEL,  a  progressive  farmer 
w/ \]|  "-"^    Wabash   Township,    residing    on 

l'='Sy:v^  section  11,  was  born  in  Madison 
County,  Ohio,  April  11,  1838,  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Cillicia  (Hall)  Peel,  the  father  a 
native  of  Virginia,  born  July  10,  1814,  and 
the  motlier  born  in  Madison  County,  Ohio, 
August  25,  1815.  They  were  married  in 
Seneca  County,  Ohio,  July  6,  1835,  and  to 
this  union  were  born  three  cliildren.  The 
father  died  ]\[arch  24,  1842,  and  March  30, 
1845,  his  widow  married  Richard  Coltrel, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1813,  and   like  her 


former  husband  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
Three  children  were  born  to  this  union.  He 
died  October  HI,  1851,  and  the  mother  of  our 
subject  was  again  united  in  marriage  January 
5,  185G,  to  John  (Joclirun,a  native  of  Frank- 
lin County,  Ohio,  born  November  21,  1818. 
]\rr.  Cochrun  grew  to  maidiood  in  Allen 
County,  being  reared  to  the  avocation  of  a 
farmer.  He  was  u  soldier  in  the  war  of  the 
liebellion,  enlisting  August  7,  1862,  in  Com- 
pany K,  Ts'inety-tifth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  par- 
ticipated in  several  battles.  He  was  taken 
sick  while  in  the  service,  and  sent  to  Boyd 
IIos]>ital  at  Chickasaw,  where  he  died  June 
30,  18(J3.  His  widow  is  still  living,  and  is 
now  a  resident  of  Adams  County.  She  had 
one  child  by  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Cochrun. 
She  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Protestant  church  for  fifty-five  years.  Will- 
iam Peel,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  State,  being 
reared  in  Madison  and  Union  counties.  He 
received  but  limited  educational  advantages 
in  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  but  by 
private  study  he  educated  himself.  After 
his  father's  death  lie  worked  at  what  he  could 
find  to  do,  and  thus  helped  to  support  the 
family.  He  was  married  in  Franklin  County, 
Ohio,  September  2,  1858,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
]\I.  Seedes,  who  was  born  in  Franklin  County, 
Ohio,  August  7,  1840,  a  daughter  of  James 
and  Rebecca  (AUtchell)  Seedes,  who 'were 
natives  of  the  same  county.  Her  parents 
emigrated  to  Clark  County,  Illinois,  in  1847, 
the  father  ilying  there  in  1847.  The  mother 
was  again  married  in  1852  to  Michael  Stock- 
well,  by  whom  she  had  one  son — Benjamin 
F.  P>y  her  first  marriage  she  had  five  chil- 
dren— Elizabeth,  iiary  A.,  Julia,  Rebecca 
and  Priscilla.  AVhile  on  their  way  to  Jasper 
County,  Iowa,  the  mother  was  taken  sick, 
and  died  in  Christian  County  in  May,  1854. 
To    Mr.  and    Mrs.   Peel   have  been   born  ten 


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BIOGRA 1  'II IC.  1  i    SKETCHES. 


children — C'illieia  IJ.,  wit'o  of  J'ctor  Eicher; 
Joseph  M.,  .Viiiiic,  John  .M.,  llaninih  I., 
Lessey  S.,  AVilliaiu  S.,  I'.ertlia  M.,  Kitty  :\[. 
ami  Celciiii  I*.  After  marriage  J\Ir.  Peel 
engaged  in  fanning,  whit'h  he  foUoM'cd  in 
Ohio  until  1867,  with  the  exception  of  the 
time  spent  in  the  ser\-iee  of  his  country,  lie 
enlisted  February  IG,  18(55,  in  Company  C, 
One  Hundred  and  iS^inety-second  Ohio  In- 
fantry, and  was  sent  to  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tonuic,  under  General  Hancock.  lie  was 
taken  sick  with  measles  and  sent  to  tlie  hos- 
jiital  at  Harper's  Ferry.  lie  returned  home 
on  sick  furlough,  and  was  there  when  the 
war  closed,  lie  received  his  linal  discharge 
September  8,  I8G5.  In  18(57  Mr.  Peel  re- 
moved to  AVaba.sh  Township,  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  whore  a  part  of  his  family  had  pre- 
viously removed,  and  in  April  purchased  his 
present  farm,  which  was  then  in  its  natural 
state,  covered  with  timber.  Here  he  built  a 
log  house,  in  which  he  and  his  family  resided 
until  the  summer  of  1886,  when  his  present 
commodious  brick  residence  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $1,400.  A[r.  Feel  began  life  entirely 
without  capital,  but  by  years  of  toil  and  per- 
severing energy  he  has  accunndated  his  line 
farm  of  KjO  acres,  which  is  under  excellent 
cultivation,  and  a  comfortaljle  home,  as  well 
as  gained  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the 
entire  community.  Both  ilr.  and  ]\Irs.  Feel 
are  members  of  the  Protestant  ]\Iethodist 
church. 


?/^AMUEL  S.  WAGONEP,  dealer  in 
'^^.  groceries  and  confectionery,  and  retail 
^5?^  liquor  dealer  at  Monroe,  was  born  in 
Monroe  Township,  Adams  County,  Indiana, 
October  8,  1854,  a  son  of  Nicholas  Wagoner. 
His  father  being  a  farmer,  lie  was  reared  to 
the  same  avocation,  receiving  in  his  youth  a 


common-school  education.  He  remained  at 
home  until  his  marriage,  December  24,  1874, 
to  Sarah  A.  Faker,  who  was  born  near  "Woos- 
ter,  Ohio,  September  10,  1853.  Of  the  two 
children  born  to  tliis  union  one  is  living — 
Blanche  ilay,  who  was  born  May  9,  1881. 
,\fterhis  marriage,  Mr.  Wagoner  engaged  in 
farming  on  Iiis  own  account,  settling  on  land 
heavily  covered  with  timber.  He  cleared 
thirty  acres  of  his  land,  on  which  lie  resided 
until  May  5,  1881,  when  he  sold  his  personal 
property,  and  November  14  of  the  same  year 
came  to  Monroe  and  began  dealing  in  drugs 
and  groceries.  He  continued  in  this  business 
two  years,  wlien  he  established  his  present 
business,  ilr.  Wagoner  has  been  aflected 
with  curvature  of  the  spine  at  different  pe- 
riods since  1876,  the  disease  originating  from 
liver  complaint.  He  lias  been  attended  by 
eminent  physicians  in  different  parts  of  the 
State.  In  the  fall  of  1885  he  went  to  Mount 
Clemens  Mineral  Springs,  Michigan,  and  af- 
ter his  return  consulted  Dr.  Greenwalt,  of 
Fort  Wayne,  and  by  his  instructions,  went  to 
Chicago,  Illinois,  where  he  had  appliances 
made  to  aid  in  the  treatment  of  the  disease. 
He  was  afterward  treated  by  Dr.  C.  A.  Jaleff, 
of  Decatur,  remaining  under  his  care  until 
December  8,  188G.  He  has  great  confidence 
in  the  skill  of  Dr.  Jaleff,  as  he  considers 
his  life  was  saved  by  his  treatment.  He 
then  entered  the  National  Surgical  Institute, 
of  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  where  he  has  already 
been  much  benefitted  by  their  treatment. 
AVhile  he  has  had  his  family  to  support  he 
has  also  spent  large  sums  for  doctor's  bills, 
and  he  believes  the  $500  spent  at  this  institu- 
tion at  Indianapolis  has  been  of  more  benefit 
to  him  than  the  $1,800  previously  spent  for 
doctor's  treatment  and  patent  medicines,  and 
now  thinks  his  cure  is  permanent.  Mr. 
AVagoner  is  an  enterprising  citizen,  and  is 
always  interested  in   any   undertaking  which 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


lias   I'or  its    object    tlic    advaneeinent    of  his 
townsliip  or  county. 


JCirOLAS  WAGONER,  one  of  the 
1  'fl  prouiiiiunt  farmors  of  ]\Ioiiroe  Town- 
^t  sliip,  residing  on  section  9,  is  a  native 
of  France,  horn  July  2s,  1830,  a  son  of  John 
2s.  AVai^oiicr,  who  was  also  a  native  of  France. 
In  1831  he  was  liroiight  ijy  liis  parents  to 
America,  tliey  settling  in  Fairfield  Connty, 
Ohio,  where  the  father  bought  a  farm  and 
there  followed  farniin:^  until  18-13.  The 
family  then  removed  to  Adams  County,  In- 
diana, and  located  in  "Washington  Townsliij), 
where  both  parents  died.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Koman  Catliolic  church.  They 
were  the  parents  of  five  cliildren,  four  sons 
and  one  daughter.  Nicholas  Wagoner,  our 
subject,  received  but  limited  educational  ad- 
vantages, attending  the  common  schools  of 
Fairfield  County  tor  a  short  time.  He  grew 
to  manhood  in  Adams  Connty,  Indiana,  being 
reared  to  the  avocation  of  a  farmer,  wliich  lie 
has  always  followed.  lie  was  married  Jan- 
nary  20,  1848,  to  ]\[iss  Mary  Everhart,  who 
was  born  in  Harrison  Connty,  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 20,  1831,  a  daughter  of  John  Everhart, 
and  of  the  ten  children  born  to  this  union 
seven  are  living — John,  Samuel  S.,  ]\rar\'  J., 
Ira,  Eli,  Arminda  !>.  and  Ettie.  In  March, 
1818,  ^[r.  AVagoner  settled  on  his  present 
farm,  the  land  having  been  entered  from  the 
(lovertimcnt  by  his  wife's  father  at  $1.25  per 
acre.  When  he  came  to  the  county  the  land 
was  heavily  covered  with  timber,  and  but  few 
roads  had  been  made.  (-Jame  of  various 
kinds  was  in  abundance,  and  wolves  M'ere 
frequently  seen  in  the  3'ard  of  the  old  pio- 
Ticer.  Mr.  Wagoner  erected  a  log  cabin 
18x22  feet,  with  puncheon  floor  and  clap- 
buard  roof,  iti  which  he  lived  until  he  erected 


;  *  ii»iH^^  "^iK* 


his  present  frame  residence  in  June,  18r)5. 
lie  has  by  persevering  industi-y  cleared  and 
imin-uvcd  his  land,  and  has  ailded  to  his  orig- 
inal tract  till  he  owned  about  500  acres,  all 
of  whicli  he  has  given  to  his  children  except 
'  the  home  farm,  which  contains  ICO  acres.  In 
June,  1883,  he  erected  a  large  barn,  which  is 
one  of  the  finest  in  the  township.  His  log 
barn,  which  is  still  standing,  has  been  used 
about  thirty-six  years.  Mrs.  Wagoner  is  a 
member  of  the  United  I'rethren  church. 


fACOI!  I50ERGER,  farmer,  sections  10 
and  14,  owns  120  acres  of  land  in  Root 
-,vc  Township,  and  eighty  acres  in  Madison 
Township,  Allen  County,  on  section  34,  mak- 
ing 200  acres  in  all.  He  was  born  in  Prussia, 
Germany,  January  28,  1817,  and  came  to 
America  in  1841.  His  parents,  three  broth- 
ers and  one  sister  had  preceded  him  to  this 
country,  he  being  left  behind  in  the  German 
army,  where  he  served  two  years.  He  left 
the  Prussian  army  and  came  to  Fort  Wayne 
to  find  his  family,  but  his  mother  had  died 
before  his  arrival.  He  went  to  Allen  County, 
where  he  lived  twenty-two  years,  working  at 
the  carpenter's  trade.  He  was  married  in 
that  county  November  6,  1845,  to  !^[iss  En- 
gel  Fuelling,  and  November  23,  1863,  they 
came  to  this  county.  Jacob's  father,  Jacob 
I'oerger,  was  born  in  Germany,  ^lay  12,  1788, 
where  he  was  reared  and  married,  and  where 
all  his  children  were  born — William,  Ru- 
dolph, Jacob,  Harmon,  M'ho  died  in  1849,  at 
Fort  Wayne,  aged  thirty  years,  leaving  a  wife 
and  one  child,  Sophia,  who  lives  in  Noble 
County,  near  Wolf  Lake;  Eberhart,  who  died 
in  Germany,  aged  eight  or  nine  years.  All 
but  two  are  living.  The  fatlier  died  in  18(53, 
at  Fort  Wayne.  The  mother,  Anini  C.  (lUil- 
ler)    Roerger,  was    born    in   the  same   house 


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IIKHIHAI'IIIVAI.    SKETCHES. 


:  ti',i».>,r««iY'*i,«rJ 


wIrt"?  ,I:u'(i1)  \\a.-  Ijui'ii,  in  CiLTinany.  She  died 
;U  Fort  AVayne,  in  l^.'iS.  .Mrs.  J!oer^er  was 
the  ilaui^litei-  of  Claiuir  and  Mary  ("rhiuiias) 
Fucllini;.  ^^^.  and  Mrs.  iloei-;,'er  have  liad 
nine  eliihlren — Amelia,  Fivdurick,  Fisette, 
Lonis,  C'harles,  Otto,  Louisa  and  Jacob;  X\\- 
<rnPt  died  in  Octuher,  1S56,  aged  seven 
months.  Mi'.  P)oerger's  grandl'atlier,  Herman 
Foerj,aM-,  died  at  tlie  age  of  nearly  eiglity-two 
years.  Ilir^  matei-nal  i:randfatlier,  narinon 
Biilier, was  hmn  inCiermany  and  died  in  that 
country. 


i'^LI  KEFEIl,  a  successful  farmer  of  Kirk- 
Yrrjv  hind  Township,  residing  on  section  16, 
"^i^i  was  horn  in  Fairfield  ('ounty,  Ohio,  the 
date  of  his  hirth  being  June  1,  iSi'J.  His 
]iarents,  Henry  and  Nancy  (Bibler)  lleber, 
were  natives  of  Hanover,  Germany,  and  fair- 
Held  County,  Ohio,  respectively.  They  came 
with  their  famil}'  to  Adams  County,  Indiana, 
in  1853,  and  settled  in  Xirklaud  Township, 
where  they  lived  till  their  death.  F)oth  were 
members  of  the  CTerman  Ueforined  church. 
They  were  the  parents  of  live  childi'en,  of 
whom  only  two  are  now  li\'iiig.  Fli  Kelicr, 
the  suliiect  of  this  sketch,  grew  to  manhood 
in  Aiianis  County,  coming  hei'e  with  his  jiar- 
ents  when  a  child  of  about  four  years,  and 
here  he  was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
He  left  his  luune  at  the  age  of  twenty  years, 
when  he  began  working  by  the  mouth  as  a 
farm  laborer.  October  13,  1872,  lie  was 
married  to  Miss  Leah  lloifman,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  born  in  Schuylkill  County, 
]\[ay  14:,  l>i52.  Si.K  children  have  been  born 
to  ^[r.  and  Mrs.  Keljer — Lewis  E.,  Carrie  j\L, 
Charles  H.  and  Iva  A.,  and  two  who  are  de- 
ceased. In  ls72  he  bought  his  farm  in  Kirk- 
land  Townslup,  on  which  he  has  resided  since 
1S73,  where  he  has  102  acres  of  choice  land. 


j'»e;:iT»'ir»  i;V, 


In  politics  lie  is  a  JJemocrat.     He  has  iilled 
several   local   oliices  acceptably  since  coming 


to    Kirkhunl   Townsh 
much  respected. 


a  citizen    i.- 


'^^ILMON  RAWLF:V,  deceased,  who  was 
\'^  i.f  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Adams,  and 
V^  a  inuch-respei'ted  citizen  of  Wabash 
Town^hi]),  was  born  in  Ikockinghani  County, 
Virginia,  in  October,  1812,  his  parents  being 
natives  of  the  same  State.  JHs  father  being  a 
farmer  he  was  reared  to  the  same  avocation, 
and  received  such  education  as  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  of  that  early  day  afforded.  When 
a  young  man  he  went  to  Clarke  County,  Oliio, 
where  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  (Harsh) 
Cargee,  who  was  born  in  ( 'larke  County, 
Ohio.  Eight  chihlreu  were  born  to  this  union, 
six  sons  and  two  daughters.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  liawley  farmed  on  rented  land,  and 
later  engaged  in  tlie  mercantile  business,  hut 
on  account  of  failing  health  he  was  obliged 
to  give  it  up.  He  then  entered  IGO  acres  of 
land  in  Adams  County,  Indiana,  on  section 
12,  AVabash  Township,  on  which  he  lived 
three  years,  when  he  returned  to  Ohio  and 
engaged  in  farming  there  about  five  years. 
He  then,  in  1838,  returned  to  liis  farm  in 
Adams  County,  to  wdiich  lie  added  from  time 
to  time  until  he  had  830  acres,  a  part  of  which 
was  divided  among  his  children  before  his 
death.  He  commenced  life  entirely  without 
means,  his  sole  wealth  when  he  landed  in 
Clarke  County  being  a  10  cent  piece.  lie 
immediately  found  work  on  the  farm  of  his 
future  father-in-law,  and  by  persevering  in- 
dustry and  strict  economy  he  became  one  of 
the  prosperous  citizens  of  AVabash  Township. 
In  politics  Mr.  Ilawley  was  a  Iiepublican. 
lie  took  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his 
township,  and  served  accejitably  as  supervis- 


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lIISTUliY    Oh'    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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or  and  to\viisl\ii>  triistoc.  lie  was  a  man  i)f 
strict  iiitogi'ity,  and  lidnoralik'  in  all  liis  dual- 
iniTf!,  and  at  liis  dcatli  left  many  tViciids  to 
mourn  liis  loss. 


SOIIN  .TUDD,  farmer,  section  21,  Preble 
Township,  was  liorn  in  Shenandoah  (now 
'--c  I'l'K*-)  (bounty,  Vir<;;inia,  Septeinhei'  2, 
ISOo.  When  ten  years  old  he  went  witli  his 
parents  to  Stark  County,  Ohio,  where  the 
father  honglit  eighty  acres  of  land.  There 
were  two  other  childi'en  liesides  John,  lie 
^vas  reared  in  Stark  County,  and  lived  there 
three  years  after  his  marriage,  lie  settle() 
npon  his  present  firm  in  I'rehle  Township  in 
^[ay,  iN-ilt,  having  ])urchased  lliO  acres  of 
land  of  l)avi(l  Miller.  The  land  was  perfectly 
wild  at  that  time.  He  built  his  log  cabin, 
assisted  by  his  two  brothers-in-law  and  a 
consin,  who*  came  with  him  to  this  county. 
The  names  of  the  former  were  "William  and 
Isaac  Double,  and  of  tlie  latter,  ./Vbraham 
Summers.  His  father,  AVilliam  Judd,  was 
born  near  Port  Pepnblic,  Virginia,  where  lie 
■was  reared  and  married.  He  died  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  lie 
served  in  the  war  of  1812.  The  mother, 
Nancy  (Gander)  Judd,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  reared  and  married  in  Vir- 
ginia, where  she  died  when  her  son  John  was 
about  a  week  old.  In  the  father's  family 
were  ten  cliildreii,  of  wiioni  John  was  the 
oldest  and  the  oidy  child  of  the  father's  first 
marriage.  His  second  wife  was  Nancy 
Welch,  and  they  liud  nine  children.  April 
12,  1836,  our  subject  was  married  to 
^liss  Anna  ]M.  Double,  who  was  born  in 
Westmoreland  County,  Pennsylvania,  April 
14,  181(5,  and  when  a  child  was  taken  by  her 
parents  to  Stark  County,  Ohio,  where  she 
was  reared  and   married.      Her  parents  were 


Jacob  and  Winifred  (Masters)  Double.  Her 
fuller  was  boi-n  in  (lermany  and  settled  in 
Pennsylvania  when  he  tii'st  came  from  the 
old  counti'y.  'I'hey  had  nine  chihli'en,  four 
of  whom  were  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  live 
in  Stark  County.  They  removed  to  Wells 
County,  this  State,  in  IS-tl,  and  both  parents 
died  in  Jefferson  Township,  that  county,  the 
mother  bein<T  past  eiglity  years  old,  and  the 
father  still  okler.  The  mother  was  born  in 
England.  The  Judds  are  of  Encrlish  ances- 
try. .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judd  have  had  ten  chil- 
dren, si.K  of  whom  are  living — Ellen,  born 
I'Vbruary  13,  1837;  Isabella,  born  January 
22, 1830,  died  September  11,  1850;  AVilliam, 
born  February  17,  1841,  died  JMay  21,  1850; 
Geoi-ge,  born  January  7,  1843;  Ezkiali,  l)orii 
May  26,  1857;  Isaac,  born  Decem1)er  10, 
1848;  Jacob,  born  February  27,  1851,  died 
September  12,  1857;  Mary  A.,  born  August 
2,  1854;  Daniel  W.,  born  March  24,  1857, 
died  August  24,  1857;  Henry  F.,  born  Jan- 
uary 18,  1860.  Politically  Mr.  Judd  is  a 
Democrat,  and  religiously  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  In  Alay,  187'J,  he 
was  injured  by  the  falling  of  a  tree,  two  ribs 
being  broken,  also  the  right  leg. 


ILLIAAI  A.  AVISNEIl,  a  farmer  of 
,,,  ,M  Washington  Township,  was  born  in 
\-^^  Adams  County  September  4,  1840, 
son  of  David  and  Lydia  Wisner,  the  former 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of 
Ohio.  His  parents  immigrated  to  Adams 
County  about  the  year  1836,  settling  in 
AVashington  Township,  upon  the  fixrm  known 
as  the  Coffee  farm,  on  section  14.  The  father 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land,  all  timber.  Pre- 
vious to  moving  into  his  own  locr  cabin,  he 
lived  for  a  short  time  in  a  log  house  situated 
wliere  Decatur  now   stands.      His    first   crop 


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Avas  five  acros  of  ciirn,  wliicli  lio  cultivateil 
with  a  jfriiljijiug  imu,  ho  liaving  sold  tlic  oxcii 
lie  ln'oiiglit  witli  iiim  to  tiie  comity,  to  secure 
the  necessaries  of  lit'e.  lie  endured  the  usual 
privations  and  trials  (if  the  jiioiieei',  heing 
oblii^jed  to  go  to  Fort  Wayne  with  a  yoke  of 
cattle  over  trails  in  order  to  get  his  milling 
done.  The  meat  consumed  in  the  family  was 
principullv  wild  g;ime,  which  was  abundant. 
lie  died  September  21),  lSi!8,  respeeteti  by 
all  who  knew  him.  His  wife,  who  still  sur- 
vives, resides  in  Wells  County,  and  js  in  her 
seventy-second  year.  Of  their  ten  children, 
seven  are  living — Thomas,  AVilliam  A.,  Mar- 
garet J.,  Priscilla,  David  F.,  Aaron  AV.  and 
James  A.  Previous  to  the  war  the  father 
was  a  AVhig,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been 
a  Iiepublican.  lie  was  a  wtirthy  and  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
AVilliam  A.  AVisner  has  nearly  always  lived 
in  his  native  county,  and  his  time  has  been 
occupied  in  working  at  the  carj^entor's  and 
cabinet-maker's  trades,  and  in  farming.  lu 
April,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  F, 
Twelfth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  army  of  West  Vi^rginia,  under  General 
McClellaji.  He  participated  in  the  first  bat- 
tle of  Pull  Run,  Winchester,  Antietain,  and 
several  others  of  less  importance.  lu  July, 
1S02,  he  was  discharged  and  almost  imme- 
diately re-enlisted  in  Company  II,  Eighty- 
ninth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  assigned  to 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  Sixteenth  Army 
Corps.  He  partici])ated  in  the  lied  Piver 
expedition,  being  thirty-three  days  under 
lire,  Foi't  Dalhousic,  Tupelo,  Fort  Spanisli, 
Fort  Plakely  and  several  others.  During 
the  second  enlistment  he  was  commissioned 
Second  Lieutenant,  May  1,  1864,  and  served 
in  that  capacity  until  Februai-y  15,  1865, 
then  being  commissioned  First  Lieutenant, 
served  in  .that  capacity  until  July  19,1865, 
being   then    honorably  discharged    from    the 


ii'^-»~»i.»-"^T„»ii»«^ai* 


service  of  the  United  States  Army.  He  was 
married  i'ebruary  4,  180-1,  to  Mrs.  Adaline 
Boothe,  born  June  28,  1843,  in  this  county, 
and  daughter  of  Grcenberry  and  Lucinda  Le- 
inasters,  who  settled  in  Poot  Township,  this 
county,  about  the  year  1834,  and  were  among 
the  first  settlers  of  the  townshi]3.  ]Mr.  and 
Mrs.  AVisner  have  had  three  children — Mag- 
gie, Lydia  K.  and  AViiliam  T.  Py  her  first 
marriage  with  JohnPoothe  JMrs.  AV^isner  had 
one  child — Edward  B.  For  about  six  years 
after  his  marriage  ]\Ir.  AVisner  resided  in  In- 
dianapolis and  vicinity,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  Adams  County,  making  this  his 
home  ever  since.  He  owns  forty  acres  of 
land  and  has  been  fairly  successful  as  a  I'armer. 
They  are  members  of  the  ^Methodist  Episco- 
]ial  church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 


fOSEPII  FOREMAN,  one  of  the  old  and 
honored  pioneers  of  Adams  County, 
-,v^  who  is  now  deceased,  was  born  in  Fayette 
County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1817.  He  was 
taken  to  Butler  County,  Ohio,  when  four 
years  old,  and  lived  there  until  1849,  and 
from  that  time  until  his  death  lived  in  Indi- 
ana. He  was  married  in  Henry  County,  In- 
diana,.in  1850,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Crandall, 
who  was. born  in  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  and 
brought  to  Indiana  when  quite  a  small  girl. 
To  them  were  born  eleven  children,  and  of 
these  nine  are  yet  living — Elsie  A.,  Amos, 
Robert  L.,  Sarah  M.,  James  M.,  Frank,  Sey- 
mour, Edward  L.  and  AVebster.  Mr.  Fore- 
man came  with  his  family  to  Adams  County 
in  1857,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1884.  His  wife 
passed  away  two  years  later,  in  1886.  ]\Ir. 
Foreman  started  in  life  a  poor  boy,  but  by 
hard  work  and  strict  economy,  combined  with 
good  business   management,  he  prospered   in 


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irisTonr  of  ada.us   county. 


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all  his  enterprises,  and  at  his  tleath  left  for 
his  family  an  estate  of  702  acres,  all  of  which 
he  aO(|uiretl  li_v  fair  and  hunoralile  dealings. 
His  sun,  James  M.,  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  in  J31ne  Creek  Township,  and  lias  always 
followed  agricultnral  pnrsuits.  lie  has  pni'- 
chased  100  acres  of  the  homestead  which  he 
occupies,  and  his  fai-tn,  which  is  under  thor- 
ough cultivation,  shows  him  to  lie  a  thorough, 
practical  farmer.  ]\Iav  '20,  1886,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  ^Miss  Miranda  Eehout, 
a  natis-e  of  Adams  County,  born  in  the  year 
18(5().  They  belong  tu  no  church.  Mr. 
Foreman  aliiliates  with  the  Democratic  party. 


T^OEEIITA.  DItUMMOND,  farmer  and 
M  ^°  cabinet  maker,  section  24,  lioot  Town- 
^Sti.^  ship,  was  born  in  this  county,  Decem- 
ber 9,  18-11,  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  father's  district.  _IIe  lived  with 
his  parents  on  the  old  homestead  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  civil  M-ar,  ^\•hen  he 
enlisted,  in  -luh',  18(52,  in  Company  I,  Eighty- 
ninth  Indiana  Infantry,  Captain  Henry  Jianta, 
and  served  witli  his  compaiiv  until  January 
28,  1S()3,  when  Peter  Lil^el,  the  First  Lieu- 
tenant, became  Captain.  He  then  served 
until  ilay,  1805,  when  John  J.  Chubb  was 
promoted  to  Captain,  he  iieing  the  Jast  Cap- 
tain of  the  company.  Tiie  iirst  Colonel  of 
the  regiment  was  Charles  D.  Murray.  He 
was  only  the  Colonel  of  the  regiment,  but  he 
served  in  a  higher  capacity  during  the  life  of 
the  recriment.  Mr.  Drnmmond  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Pleasant  Hill,  Louisiana,  April 
y,  1804,  llie  regiment  being  under  the  com- 
mand of  C.  D.  ilurray,  of  A.  ,1.  Smith's  com- 
mand. He  was  woundeil  by  a  minie  ball, 
Aj.ril  9,  1804,  in  the  right  foot.  He  went 
to  the  hospital  at  Ciraiid  Lcore,  Louisiana, 
where    the    liinl)    was  amputated   below    the 


knee.  The  ball  struck  the  inside  of  tlie  right 
fnot  and  passed  through,  breaking  the  bones 
of  the  foot.  ^Ir.  Drummond  remained  at  this 
hospital  but  a  short  time,  when  he  was  sent 
to  tlie  United  States  barracks  hospital  at  New 
Orleans,  remaining  there  two  weeks,  then 
came  up  the  Alississippi  Uiver  in  a  hospital 
boat  to  Memphis,  and  there  remained  several 
weeks,  and  had  the  sniall-pox,  that  dread 
scourge  breaking  out  on  the  boat  while 
coming  up  the  river.  From  Memphis  he 
was  transferred  to  St.  Louis  hospital,  at 
Jetterson  barracks,  and  was  discharged  April 
30,  18G5,  when  ho  came  home  to  Adams 
County,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was 
married  November  13,  isOl),  to  ]\[iss  Huldah 
J.  Allen,  who  was  born  on  the  farm  where 
Howard  Shackley  now  lives.  When  she  was 
seven  years  old  her  parents  i-emovcd  to 
■\Vlutley  County,  this  State,  where  they  lived 
four  years,  then  came  to  Koot  Township. 
Her  parents  were  John  and  Adeline  (Pierson) 
Allen.  Her  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
February  4,  1815,  and  died  in  Fulton, 
Indiana,  November  5,  1881.  He  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  and  followed  both  farm- 
ing and  blacksmithing.  Her  mother  was 
born  in  Ohio,  March  1,  1819,  where  she  was 
reared  and  married.  She  died  in  "Whitley 
County,  this  State,  May  20,  1859.  Of  their 
si.\  chililren,  only  two  are  living — Mrs. 
Drumnion<l,  and  Samuel  M.,  who  lives  in 
F'ulton,  this  State.  Mrs.  Drummond  was 
born  in  Pout  Township,  this  county,  ilarch 
15,  1843.  Both  parents  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  in  early  life,  but 
later  were  members  of  the  Methodist  and 
United  Brethren  churches.  At  death  the 
father  was  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
chnreli  and  the  mother  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  At  the  time  her  parents  settled  in 
Adams  County  there  were  but  few  settlers 
and    times    were    hard.     Their    niilling    was 


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P.KHinA  I'lllCA  L    SKKTCIIHS. 


(Inlic  ;it   I'"(i|-t    WayiK 
were      plenty.        Mr 


1  >t't'f,  ;iliil  v\v\\  l)(';irt;, 
I  )iiiinin(iii(l\  Ihtlier, 
Jiobert  Druminoiid  was  Ikjiii  on  Chestnut 
street,  Pliiladelpliia,  in  ISOS.  AVlien  he  was 
quite  young  his  parents  removed  to  lioss 
County,  Ohio,  where  lie  was  reared  and 
inarried.  lie  lived  in  that  county  until  two 
children  were  born,  then  came  to  Adams 
County  and  settled  on  a  part  of  the  farm  now 
owned  by  the  son,  llobert  A.  They  came  to 
the  county  September  12,  1838.  The  father 
entered  eighty  acres  of  land  from  the  Govern- 
nient,  for  which  he  paid  $1.25  ])er  acre. 
"When  the  family  came  there  were  no  roads, 
only  the  underbrush  was  cut  out.  They 
came  with  a  one-horse  wagon,  bringing  wife, 
two  children,  and  all  their  worldly  possessions. 
They  had  all  the  trials  and  discouragements 
of  pioneer  life.  The  father  had  just  nione)' 
enoufh  to  make  the  first  payment  on  the 
place,  and  had  to  go  to  work  among  the  older 
settlers  to  get  sup])lies  for  his  family,  depend- 
ing in  a  great  measure  on  the  game  in  the 
woods  for  a  living.  His  mother,  Mary  (liains) 
Drummond,  was  born  in  Iloss  Count}',  Ohio, 
January  15,  1817.  She  is  still  living  on  the 
old  homestead  with  her  sun  John.  Mr. 
Drummond's  grandfather,  llobert  Drum- 
mond, was  born  in  Scotland  and  died  in  Ross 
County,  Oliio.  His  grandmother,  Elizabeth 
(Case)  Drummond,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania. 
His  maternal  grandfather,  Isaac  Ilains,  was 
born  in  North  Carolina,  and  came  to  Ross 
County,  where  he  died  January  1,  1842.  His 
grandmother,  Susan  (Gregg)  Rains,  was  prob- 
ably born  in  j\"orth  Carolina,  and  came  to 
Ross  County  with  her  jiarents.  She  died  in 
1827,  aged  tliirty-two  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Drummond  are  members  of  the  United 
Rrethren  church,  and  in  ])olitics  ]\Ir.  Drum- 
mond is  a  Re])ub:ican.  Mrs.  Drummond's 
grandfather,  Samuel  Allen,  was  born  in  I^ng- 
land,  and  brought    to    America  when  a  babe, 


his  ])arents  settling  in  l'enn.=ylvania.  He 
died  in  Koot  'iViwnship,  this  county,  in  l^.jl, 
aged  al)out  seventy  years.  Her  grandmother, 
^[argaret  (Scott)  Allen,  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent.  She  died  in  Washington  Township, 
in  1804,  past  seventy  years  of  age.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Drummond  have  only  one  living  child 
— JIary  Adeline,  born  October  14,  1870. 
Two  sons  are  deceased — John  N.,  born  No- 
vember 9,  1872,  died  November  25,  1873. 
Robert  Aaron,  born  October  23,  1874,  died 
March  31,  1S75.  Both  are  buried  in  Union 
Chapel  cemetery  at  United  Brethren  church. 


§AN1EL  P.  TEETER,  a  prosperous  agri- 
cultui-ist  of  Wabash  Townshi]),  residing 
^,;;,j  on  section  1,  was  born  in  Bedford 
County,  Pennsylvania,  June  2,  1819,  a  son  of 
Abraham  and  Hannah  (Paul)  Teeter,  who 
were  also  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  born  re- 
spectively in  Lancaster  and  Chester  counties. 
The  Teeter  family  are  of  GermaTi  descent, 
the  name  being  originally  Deitrick,  after- 
ward changed  to  Deeter,  and  subsequently  to 
Teeter.  The  parents  of  our  subject  emi- 
grated to  Bedford  County,  Pennsylvania,  in 
an  early  day,  being  among  the  first  settlers 
of  that  county,  where  the  father  lived  till  his 
death,  ilarch  10,  1837,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
five  years.  In  1839  the  mother  removed  to 
Randolph  County,  Indiana,  where  she  spent 
the  remainder  of  her  life.  The  father  was  a 
tanner  by  trade,  but  in  later  life  engaged  in 
farming.  His  family  consisted  of  twelve 
children,  six  sons  and  six  daughters.  Daniel 
P.  Teeter,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  grew  to 
manhood  on  the  home  farm,  receiving  but  a 
limited  education  in  the  schools  of  that  early 
day.  Being  the  eldest  son  at  home  after  liis 
father's  death,  the  care  of  the  t'amily  devolved 
mainly  on   him,   he    remaining   at    home   till 


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r«?"»r^j»?^) 


HlSTOliY    OF    MhXMS    COUNTY. 


October  9,  IS-IG,  wlien  lie  wiis  inan-ied  to 
Miss  ^Farv  Sti'ait,  who  was  lnn-n  in  I'erry 
Cuiuitv,  Oliid,  September  14,  1827,  a  daugli- 
ter  (if  Jaeob  and  I.ettia  (liailey)  Strait,  the 
lather  liurii  in  Perry  County,  Oiiio,  and  the 
motlier  in  ]!edtbi(l  County,  Pennsylvania. 
They  removed  to  Darke  County,  Ohio,  when 
.Mrs.  Teeter  was  a  child,  lieing  one  of  tlie 
iirst  families  to  settle  there.  The  father  died 
in  1877,  aged  about  seventy-seven  years,  the 
mother  surviving  until  July  11,  1885,  -when 
she  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve 
children,  three  sons  and  lune  daugliters. 
Twelve  children  have  been  born  to  ]\Ir.  and 
j\[rs.  Teeter,  of  whom  only  seven  are  living 
— Calvin,  Susie  E.,  Isaac  N.,  John  F.,  Han- 
nah L.,  David  M.  and  Samuel  L.  After  bis 
marriage  ^Iv.  Teeter  engaged  in  farming  in 
Darke  County,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  till 
April,  1870,  wdien  lie  removed  to  the  farm 
in  Adams  County,  wliere  lie  still  resides, 
which  bad  been  purchased  by  him  prior  to 
liis  settlement  there.  lie  has  met  with  good 
success  in  his  farming  operations,  and  is  now 
the  owner  of  275  acres  of  clioice  land,  all  in 
one  body,  lint  located  in  Wabash  and  ^Monroe 
townshijis.  In  his  jiolitical  views  !Mr. Teeter 
was  originally  a  Whig,  but  now  atiiliates  with 
the  Iiepul.ilican  party. 


I^ALBEKT  p.  FORD,  engaged  in  farming 
)/;/\^  on  section  11,  Wabash  Township,  was 
^^  born  in  Fairfield  County,  Oliio,  June  8, 
1842,  bis  parents,  John  AV.  and  Martha 
(Minehart)  F^ord,  being  born,  reared  and 
married  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  The  father 
came  to  Indiana  with  his  family  in  1855, 
settling  in  Randolph  County,  wliere  the 
mother  died  in  1862.  In  1862  the  father 
went    to    Edgar  County,    Illinois,   where    lie 


lived  till  his  death  in  1882.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  children.  Alljcrt  P.  Ford, 
whose  name  lieads  this  sketch,  was  reared  to 
iiianli<iod  on  his  father's  farm,  remaining 
with  his  parents  till  attaining  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years,  when  he  came  to  Adams 
C^ounty  and  bought  a  farm,  which  be  sold 
soon  after,  and  later  purchased  land  in  ]\[er- 
cer  County,  Ohio.  lie  was  married  in  iler- 
cer  County  yVpril  2,  IsfiS,  to  Miss  Sarali  Ann 
Lehman,  who  was  born  in  Perry  County, 
C)liio,  November  8,  1816.  Five  of  the  nine 
children  born  to  this  union  are  yet  living — 
Charles  P.,  William  Perry,  Julia  M.,  Enos 
Melvin  and  IMinnieV.  Mr.  F^ord  came  with 
his  family  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in  the 
year  1869,  settling  on  his  farm,  where  be  has 
since  been  engaged  in  agricultui'al  pursuits, 
where  he  has  eighty  acres  of  well-iniprovcd 
and  cultivated  land. 


fOSEPIl  PRESTOX  AVELDY,  dealer  in 
poultry,  eggs,  butter,  etc.,  was  born  near 
-,^  Logan,  Hocking  County,  Ohio,  April  28, 
1847.  His  parents,  Samuel  and  ]\Iartlia 
(Kennedy)  AVeldy,  were  also  natives  of  Ohio, 
his  father  of  Swiss  and  his  mother  (if  Irish 
ancestry.  In  1857  they  came  to  .Vdams 
County,  Indiana,  and  located  on  a  farm  in 
Kirkland  Township,  where  they  still  li\e. 
They  are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  but 
two  of  whom  are  living — Joseph  P.  and  Sai-ah 
Catherine,  wife  of  James  Snyder,  of  Kirklaml 
Township.  The  mother  is  a  member  of  the 
Prethren  in  Christ  church.  F^rom  his  tenth 
year  Mr.  AVeldy  was  reared  in  Kirkland 
Township  on  a  farm,  receiving  the  advantages 
of  the  common  district  schools.  F^rom  1868 
until  1882  he  was  variously  employed  with 
varied  success,  but  in  the  latter  year  em- 
barked  in  his  jiresent  business.      In  addition 


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to  snpph'in;^  the  wants  of  the  piihlic  in  his 
line  lie  bin-s  lari^e  quantities  of  hiitter  and 
oj^gs  from  tlio  farmers,  wliicii  lie  ships  to  the 
large  cities.  He  \vas  married  ^Farch  'J,  1881, 
to  iliss  ^fai-y  Jane  JJarnett,  daughter  of 
Uenry  and  .Fane  (Ilaveriield)  Earnett,  both 
now  deceasecl.  They  lia\-e  tliree  children — 
"Wanda  Diura,  Fannie  Ar\'illa  and  Samuel. 


ILLIA:\r  JACKSON  is  a  native  of 
7|  (^hio,  horn  in  A\^iyne  (now  Ashland) 
I'^^s^-I  County,  January  1(),  1823,  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Emma  (Iloch)  Jackson,  natives 
of  lierks  County,  Pennsylvania,  of  English 
and  (iernian  descent.  His  jjarents  were  mar- 
rieil  in  tlieir  native  State,  and  in  182"2  !noved 
to  (Jhio.  They  had  a  family  of  twelve  chiU 
dren — Jacob,  AVilliam,  Isaac,  Peter,  Ileniy, 
Andrew,  Daniel,  Catherine,  Elizabeth,  JIary, 
Sarah  and  Nannie.  AVilliam  remained  with 
his  parents  until  twenty-three  years  of  arre. 
AVhen  twenty. one  years  of  age  he  started  in 
life  for  himself,  with  the  determimition  to 
live  honestly  and  keeji  even  with  the  world. 
One  of  his  first  efforts  was  to  purchase  eighty 
ai'res  of  land  in  Adams  C'uunty,  Indiana,  of 
his  father.  iJecember  30,  184t!,  he  married 
Esther  E.  A.  Spangler,  who  was  born  in 
Febrmiry,  1S2S,  a  daughter  of  Jonas  Spang- 
ler. Three  years  latei',  in  184'),  they  moved 
to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  wJiere  he  bought 
another  eighty-acre  tract,  adjoining  the  one 
he  already  owned.  At  that  time  there  had 
been  very  little  improvement  made  in  his 
part  of  the  county.  There  were  no  public 
roads,  the  higliway  that  now  runs  east  and 
west  on  tlie  south  side  of  his  farm  being  cut 
out  in  1851  by  i\Ir.  Jackson  and  four  others, 
and  all  without  remuneration.  lie  has  always 
been  a  public-spirited  man,  liberal  with  both 
his  time  and  money,  and  none  of  the  old  set- 


tlers are  held  in  higher  esteem  than  he.  lie 
has  been  a  hard-working  man,  and  by  good 
management  and  diligence  has  secured  for 
himself  and  family  a  competence.  He  now 
has  539  acres  of  unincumbered  land,  all 
under  cultivation,  his  t'arm  Ijeing  one  of  the 
best  in  his  township,  lie  has  always  been  a 
temperate  man,  the  only  times  he  was  ever 
intoxicated  Ijeing  once  wiien  a  child,  when  he 
was  given  whisky  in  the  harvest  field,  and 
anotlier  time  by  driiddng  cider.  Mrs.  Jack- 
son died  August  2,  1885.  She  was  an  esti- 
mable Christian  woman,  and  a  true  helpmeet 
to  her  husband.  They  had  a  family  of  seven 
children  born  to  them,  three  sons  and  four 
daughters — Sophia,  l)orn  November  22, 1847, 
was  married  in  18GS  to  Ervin  Carter;  Sarah 
Ann  married  Philip  Koose,  in  1875,  and  died 
November  24,  1877,  the  youngest  of  her  two 
children  dying  three  days  before;  Ilenrj', 
born  May  20,  1854,  was  married  in  1875  to 
M.  Strickler;  An(h-ew,  born  April  22,  185(3, 
was  married  February  25,  1877,  to  Nancj'  J. 
Bay;  Mary  Miranda,  born  July  17,  1861; 
Daniel,  born  March  12,  1863;  Irena,  born 
January  28,  1S(')7. 


I^YLVESTERAVOLF,  farmer,  section  12, 
V^^j  Hoot  Township,  Adams  (.'ounty,  was 
'^  born  September  24,  1817,  and  wiien  a 
year  and  a  half  old  was  taken  by  his  parents 
to  Richland  County,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood,  and  where  he  was  married  Septem- 
ber 8,  1843,  to  Hannah  Gladden.  She  was 
born  in  Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  and  when  six 
months  old  her  parents  brought  her  to  Rich- 
land County,  where  she  grew  to  maturity. 
Her  parents  were  James  and  Jemima  (Jen- 
nings) Gladden.  Ilei'  father  was  born  in 
Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  in  1795,  and  her 
mother  in  Jefferson   County,   Ohio,    in  1810. 


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Jt/sTonv   or  a/>a.us   county. 


Tlic)'  wci'e  rciirod  at  their  l)irth])l;icc.  Slie 
iii;iri-ie<l  James  <  ihulileii,  wlio  had  Use  chil- 
dren. Mr.  and  .Mrs.  (iladdeii  liad  twelve 
cliildreii,  (if  whom  Mrs.  Wull'  was  tlie  ohlest. 
Eiglit  ut'  the  cduJdi-en  are  li\ini;,  and  tiic 
mutlier  died  March  10,  1887,  in  Asliland 
County,  Ohio,  M'here  tlie  father  died  ifay, 
1803.  ^Ir.  Wolf  was  the  son  of  Isaac  and 
Kancy  (ISinali)  AVolf.  Tiie  father  was  born  in 
I'.eaver  County,  Pennsyl\:iiiia,  April  30,  1781>, 
where  he  was  i-eared  and  married,  and  where 
three  children  were  lH.)rn.  They  removed  to 
Richland,  Ohio,  in  iSl'J,  where  the  father 
died  in  l>iiU,  at  the  age  of  tifty-one  years. 
He  served  in  the  war  of  lbl2  inne  months, 
for  which  his  wife  received  a  pension  after 
his  death.  The  mother  was  born  February 
20,  ITLHj,  also  in  Leaver  County,  Pennsylva- 
nia, where  she  was  reared.  She  died  in  Asli- 
land County,  Ohio,  January  t),  187U,  aged 
eighty-one  years.  After  the  marriau-e  of  Mr. 
AVolf  he  lived  in  Ashland  County  until  1852, 
wiien  he  came  \vith  his  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren and  settled  upon  his  present  farm  in 
Hoot  Township.  Kot  a  stick  had  been  cut 
on  the  place  nor  a  house  built.  They  stopped 
with  Hiram  Gladden  until  a  cabin  could  be 
built,  into  which  they  moved  and  commenced 
to  make  a  home.  lie  lived  in  this  round-log 
house,  by  adding  a  frame  apartment,  until  he 
built  his  present  house  in  1871.  He  now  has 
a  good  house  and  barn,  and  other  farm  build- 
ings. ]\Ii-.  and  Mrs.  AVolf  have  nine  children 
— Margaret  C.,  liorn  August  S),  1843;  Sarah 
J.,  born  March  25,  181();  Adamson  11.,  born 
December  0,  184:7;  Isaac  O.,  born  January 
4,  1850,  died  September  8  of  the  same  year; 
Oliver  C,  born  August  7,  1851;  Martha  E., 
born  April  23,  1854;  Laura  A.  E.,  born  Oc- 
tober 15,  1S5S;  Ida  I.,  born  May  3,  1862; 
]\Iary  E.,  born  April  20,  1804.  The  five  old- 
est were  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  and 
the  others  in  Root  Township,  Adams  County, 


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Indiana.  ]\[r.  AVolf  has  served  as  school 
director  for  many  years.  In  his  father's  fam- 
ily wei-e  ten  children,  of  whom  our  subject 
was  the  third  child.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, John  Wolf,  was  a  native  of  (ieriuany, 
and  died  in  Leaver  County,  Pennsylvania. 
His  paternal  grandmother,  Christena  (Cuy) 
Wolf,  was  a  luitive  of  Holland,  and  was  twice 
married,  being  a  widow  (^Ii's.  flyers)  with 
two  children  when  she  married  ^Mr.  Wolf. 
Ly  her  second  marriage  she  had  seven  chil- 
dren, Isaac  being  tme  of  the  younger.  His 
maternal  grandparents  died  in  Southern  In- 
diana. 


T^^ICHAIID  KENNEY  EPAVIK,  attor- 
y K\ ^  ney-at-law,  Decatur,  Indiana,  is  a  lui- 
*°^\  tive  of  Adams  County,  born  in  Union 
Township,  July  11,  18(30.  lie  is  the  second 
of  six  sons  and  one  of  ten  children  of  David 
and  Mary  Ellen  (Need)  Erwin,  natives  of 
Ohio,  tlie  father  of  Scotch-Irish  and  the 
mother  of  Irish  descent,  llichard  was  reared 
a  farmer,  renuiining  at  home  until  nineteen 
years  of  age,  when  having  recei\ed  a  good 
education,  attending  the  district  schools  sup- 
plemented by  one  term  at  the  Port  Wayne 
]\Iethodist  Episcopal  College,  Port  Wayne, 
he  engaged  in  teaching,  and  followed  that 
vocation  a  short  time  in  Allen  County  and 
si.x  years  in  Adams  County,  still,  however, 
spending  the  summer  months  on  the  farm. 
In  1884  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace, 
but  resigned  his  office  after  serving  one  year. 
In  188G  he  began  the  study  of  law  in  the 
ottice  of  Prance  A:  iMerrynum,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  at  Decatur  in  the  spring  of 
1887,  and  at  once  engaged  in  practice  at  De- 
catur. He  is  a  member  ot  Kekiouga  Lodge, 
No.  65,  K.  of  P.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat.     He  was  married  January  17,  1883,  to 


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Liiella  AVass,  of  Moiirocvillc,  Inditiiia,  daujrh- 
tur  of  AV.  I.  1!.  and  Lizziu  (rottotl')  Was.<. 
Tlioy  liavc  two  cliildrcn — Harry  (-^col•^■u  and 
Jfabcl. 


r^ILAS  WRIGHT  HALE,  senior  nicm- 
Iv^i  '*^'"  ^^  t^'*^  ^'"'^  ^^^-  W.  Hale  &  J5rotlier, 
''^  at  Geneva,  dealers  in  grain  and  produee, 
was  born  in  iJluffton,  Wells  (Junnty,  JndiaTia, 
September  18,  IHi-t,  the  second  in  a  family 
of  four  sons  of  Bowen  and  Mary  A.  (Deam) 
Hale.  His  fatlier  was  of  Scotch  and  liis 
mother  of  German  parentage.  He  was  reared 
at  Bluft'ton,  where  he  received  his  edncation  in 
the  counnon  and  high  schools,  and  graduated 
from  the  Bluffton  High  School  in  the  class  of 
186-1.  In  December,  18C4,  he  enlisted  in  the 
war  of  the  Kubellion  asa  private,  to  serve  three 
years,  and  was  assigned  to  Company  E,  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-third  Indiana  Infantry. 
He  was  discharged  at  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
at  the  close  of  the  war,  in  September,  18()5, 
when  he  returned  to  jjlufi'ton  and  entered 
the  store  of  A.  Deam  <fe  Co.  as  clerk,  being 
thus  employed  until  the  winter  of  1870. 
May  27,  186'J,  he  was  married  at  lUutl'ton 
to  Miss  Phoebe  C.  McFaddeii,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  McFadden,  who  were 
pioneers  of  Wells  County.  Mrs.  Hale  was 
born  in  Cosliocton  County,  Ohio,  but  was 
reared  from  childhood  in  IJlnti'ton,  and  is  a 
graduate  of  the  high  school  of  that  city, 
ilr.  and  Mrs.  Hale  have  three  children  living 
— William,  clerking  in  his  father's  ofhce, 
and  Fi-ank  and  Clara  attending  school.  In 
the  winter  of  1870  Mr.  Hale  became  associ- 
ated with  liis  brother,  John  D.,  dealing  in 
grain  and  produce,  under  the  firm  name  of  J. 
D.  Hale  tt  Brother,  until  1872,  when  they  re- 
moved from  Blulfton  to  (icneva,  Adams 
County,    where  they    continued    in  business 


until  1878.  From  1873  until  1878  he  was 
also  engaged  as  telegraph  ujierator  in  the 
office  of  the  Grand  Ilapids  A:  Indiana  Rail- 
way Company,  at  Geneva,  and  during  187(5 
—'77  he  was  station  agent  of  the  same  road  at 
Geneva.  In  1878  our  subject  retired  from 
the  firm  of  J.  D.  Hale  ^  Brother,  and  engaged 
in  the  same  business  at  Portland,  Jay  County, 
until  1883,  when  ho  returned  to  Geneva  and 
again  became  associated  with  his  brother, 
John  D.,  in  the  grain  and  produce  business, 
under  the  iirm  name  of  S.  W.  Hale  &  Broth- 
er. In  politics  Mr.  Hale  is  a  Democrat. 
From  1883  until  1886  he  served  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board  of  Geneva.  In  the  full  of 
1886  he  was  elected  State  Senator  by  the  dis- 
trict composed  of  Adams,  Jay  and  Blackford 
counties,  Indiana.  Both  Mr.  andMrs.  Hale 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 


fOIIN  W.  RAY,  a  pioneer  of  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  is  a  native  of  Cecil 
-i  County,  ^laryhind,  liorn  April  16, 1817, 
a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Deborah  Ray,  also 
natives  of  ilaryland.  When  he  was  si.\  years 
of  age  his  parents  moved  to  Jefferson  Coimty, 
Ohio,  and  ten  years  later  to  Harrison  County, 
the  same  State.  He  is  the  third  of  ten  chil- 
dren, but  two  beside  himself  now  living — 
Levi  and  Mary.  He  spent  his  youth  and 
early  manhood  in  Ohio,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1851  came  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  and 
settled  on  160  acres  of  timber  land,  in  Mon- 
roe Township.  He  erected  a  log  house,  and 
began  the  work  of  clearing,  and  by  hard  work 
made  of  his  land  one  of  the  finest  farms  in 
the  township.  He  lived  on  his  farm  nntil 
1884,  when  he  moved  to  the  village  of  Salem, 
where  he  now  lives.  Mr.  Ray  was  married 
October  27,  1812,  to   Jlercy    Smith,  a  native 


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lIItiTunY    OF    ADAM^    VOUNTY. 


of  .loU'erson  County,  Oliio,  ami  to  tlieiu  were 
boni  iiiiiu  cliililren — (':itliui'iiio,  wife  of  Jiald- 
'.viii  Clark;  ^lary,  wife  of  Josluiii  Day;  Levi 
AV.,  deceased;  .lames  11.,  of  Willsliire,  Oliio; 
r)a\-id  S.,  (if  .lay  County,  Indiaiua;  .Margaret, 
wife  of  I'inl^ney  (Til|jin,  of  Jay  County; 
]\Iartlia,  wife  of  l)a\-id  1'ricker;  Rosa,  wife 
of  David  Hendricks,  and  Lemuel,  of  Monroe, 
Imliana.  Mrs.  Hay  died  .lunnary  lit,  ISSO, 
hud  January  24,  1884,  ^[r.  Uay  married  Ke- 
hocea  Campbell,  widow  of  George  Campbell, 
and  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Etha  Gilpin, 
early  settlers  of  Adnins  County.  She  had 
seven  children  by  her  first  marriage — Atha 
A.,  wife  of  John  Jieatty;  Sarah  J.,  deceased; 
AVilliam,  George,  Elijah;  Cynthia,  wife  of 
Freeman  Miller,  and  lio.xana,  deceased.  Mr. 
Eay  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
churcli.      In  politics  he  is  a  Prohibitionist. 

^^'i^^^,,^ 

fOSEPlI  CLE^r,  farmer,  section  3,  Union 
Township,  was  born  in  Monroe  Town- 
ship, Allen  County,  Indiana,  January  29, 
1853,  where  he  M'as  reared  and  educated  in 
the  common  schools.  His  parents  are  Noah 
II.  and  ^Magdalene  (Kideiiour)  Clem.  lie 
M-as  married  (Jctober  25,  1876,  to  Miss  Jlary 
A.  I5aker,  who  was  born  in  liichland  County, 
Cliio,  May  29,  1855.  When  she  was  a  year 
and  a  half  old  her  parents  removed  to  Pauld- 
ing County,  where  she  was  reared  and  mar- 
ried. Her  ]iarents  were  Henry  and  Anna 
(Kurshner)  1  taker.  The  father  was  born  in 
Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  September 
2,  1818,  and  when  a  boy  removed  to  Pichhind 
C'ounty,  Ohio,  and  lived  there  until  after  liis 
marriage.  He  afterward  removed  to  Pauld- 
ing County,  where  he  still  resides.  The 
mother  was  l)orn  in  Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, 
.lanuary  15,  1822,  and  when  thirteen  years 
of   age   removed    to    Richland  County.     The 


parents  have  .six  living  children  and  five  de- 
ceased—  (Jswald  W .,  Samuel  L.,  Catherine 
^L,  Mary  A.,  Eliza  J.  and  Leonard  J.  The 
five  deceased  died  very  young,  the  oldest  one 
being  but  two  years  old.  Islr.  and  ^Irs.  Clem 
have  had  foiu'  children — Charles  A.,  born 
August  18,  1877,  died  when  two  weeks  old; 
]\Ielvin  A.,  Ijorn  iLay  13,  1880;  Harry,  born 
November  22,  1882,  and  (clarence  C,  born 
November  IG,  1885.  ]\Irs.  Clem's  grand- 
father. Christian  I'akcr,  died  in  Richland 
County,  Oiiio.  Her  grandmother,  ]\Iargarct 
(Kissell)  I'aker,  died  in  Paulding  County, 
same  State,  in  1881. 


^ENRY   MAPtTZ,  one  of  the  old  and  re- 
■IWI  ^P^c'^^'l  pioneers  of  Adams  County,  who 


■^ife  is  now  deceased,  was  born  in  Somerset 
Count}^  Pennsylvania,  March  26,  1792,  his 
parents  being  natives  of  Germ.any.  On  com- 
ing to  America  they  settled  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  lived  till  their  death.  The  father 
was  killed  while  assisting  to  raise  the  frame- 
work of  a  mill.  Henry  Martz,  our  subject, 
was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  was  first  mai-ried  to  Julia  A.  Tim- 
berly,  who  was  born  in  Frost-town,  Somerset 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  seven  children,  three  sons  and  fourdaugh- 
ters.  JMrs.  Martz  died  in  Pennsylvania  in  1824. 
In  1828  Mr.  Martz  went  with  his  children 
to  Ohio,  and  after  visiting  different  parts  of 
the  State,  located  in  Knox  County,  where  he 
was  married  to  Catherine  Lydick,  a  native  of 
Bedford  County,  Pennsylvania,  liorn  Novem- 
ber 10,  1807.  Her  parents  were  also  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  where  they  spent  their 
lives,  and  her  grandparents  came  from  Ger- 
many. Six  chihlren  were  born  to  this  union 
— Mrs.  Lydia  Wagoner,  George  11.,  Airs. 
Catherine    "Whitchcrbt,    Mrs.    Ellen   Swiger, 


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niOQRA rillOAL    SKKrCIIKS. 


J;uiics  Iv.  and  JMrs.  FriiiicfS  llartiiutt.  At'tt-r 
living  in  diticrent  parts  of  Oliiu  ^Ir.  Martz, 
ill  1S39,  came  with  his  family  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  and  settled  un  section  11, 
ilonioe  Township.  He  first  entered  forty 
acres,  and  afterward  ])urcliased  land  until  ho 
had  1-iU  acrer>.  The  surrounding  country 
was  then  new  and  covered  with  timlicr.  Tlie 
family  camped  out  three  days  and  nights  un- 
til .Mr.  i[artz,  assisted  hy  his  sons,  erected 
their  log  cahin,  in  which  they  lived  until 
their  hewed-log  house  was  erected,  in  1852. 
Here  the  parents  lived  till  their  death,  Mr. 
Martz  dying  :\Iay  20,  1S70,  and  Mrs.  ]\Iartz, 
Fehruary  3,  18S4.  ilr.  ]\[artz  was  a  promi- 
nent man  in  his  township,  and  took  an  active 
interest  in  all  pnhlic  alfairs.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Democrat,  and  voted  at  the  first  elec- 
tion held  in  Monroe  Township,  when  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  jieace.  He  held  that 
oflice  continuously  for  twenty-one  years  by 
re-election,  and  also  fills  other  local  offices, 
including  trustee  and  clerk,  lie  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  ]\Iaryland  militia  during  the  war 
of  1812,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of 
IJaltimore  Heights.  For  his  services  in  that 
war  he  received  two  land  warrants  for  IGO 
acres,  and  after  his  death  his  wife  received  a 
pension. 


^OlIN  MEIliEUS,  proprietor  of  the  Mei- 
M  '  bers  Opera  House,  and  general  insurance 
^^  agent  at  Decatur,  where  he  is  ranked 
among  the  leading  citizens,  is  a  native  of 
Germany,  born  in  the  I^ingdom  of  Hanover, 
January  (5,  1822.  In  his  seventeenth  year 
he  immigrated  to  America,  landing  at  Phila- 
delphia in  July,  1839,  and  a  few  days  later 
started  over  the  Allegheny  I^Iountains  for 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  whei'e  he  remained  two 
weeks.     He  then  went  to  Jlinster,  Ohio,  but 


not  being  able  to  find  employment  at  that 
place,  he  went  to  iSt.  Mary's,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  employed  for  one  year  on  the  reservoir 
then  being  constructed.  In  1810  he  went  to 
Salina,  Ohio,  and  found  emj)loyinent  on  the 
reservoir  then  being  constructed  at  that  place, 
remaining  there  until  1811.  In  the  spring 
of  the  same  year  he  came  to  Adams  County, 
arriving  at  Decatur  April  i,  where  he  was 
principally  engaged  in  farming  until  1815. 
lie  then  bought  property  in  Decatur,  and 
soon  after  purchased  the  mills,  which  became 
known  as  the  J\Ieibers  A:  Shearer  Saw-Mills, 
which  he  operated  until  1817.  In  that  year 
he  returned  to  Cinciimati,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  employed  as  clerk  in  a  wholesale  grocery 
until  June,  1819,  when  he  returned  to  De- 
catur. In  the  meantime  he  liad  disposed  of 
his  interest  in  the  mills,  and  on  his  return  to 
Decatur  engaged  in  contracting  and  building, 
which  he  followed  until  1858,  and  during 
this  time  he  had  again  invested  in  property 
in  Decatur.  In  1859  he  engaged  in  the 
grocery  and  dry  goods  business,  which  he 
followed  at  Decatur  until  18G<J,  when  he  sold 
out  his  business  and  became  associated  with 
AVilliam  G.  Spencer  in  the  hardware  busi- 
ness, this  partnership  existing  until  1808, 
when,  being  elected  treasurer  of  Adams 
County,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  hardware 
business  to  attend  to  the  duties  of  his  oftice. 
In  1870  he  was  re-elected  to  the  same  ofhcc, 
and  served  as  treasurer  two  terms  of  two 
years  each,  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  In  1871  he 
again  engaged  in  the  hardware  business, 
forming  a  partnershi])  with  James  II.  Stone, 
with  whom  he  was  associated  for  three  years 
under  the  firm  name  of  Jleibers  A:  Stone. 
On  retiring  from  the  firm  in  1874,  he  went 
to  Geneva,  Adams  County,  where  lie  was 
engaged  in  general  merchandising  for  two 
years,   and    from    187(5    until    1877    he    was 


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UlijTunr    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


associiitt'd  witli  liis  s()ii-iii-l;i\v,  Jusejili  II. 
Voglcweile,  ill  the  Ixmt  ami  slioe  liusiiiess, 
when  he  engaged  in  larinin:,'.  He  now  de- 
votes liis  attention  to  lii.s  insnrance  hnsiness, 
and  attending  to  his  ])rojierty.  In  1883  he 
erected  the  Meibcrs  lllock  and  Ojiera  House 
on  Second  street,  of  wliicli  he  is  still  proprie- 
tor. In  18G8  he  jnirchascd  liis  present  farm 
of  eighty  acres,  adjoining  Decatur,  a  part  of 
which  is  Tileilicrs'  atldition  to  Decat\ir.  Mr. 
aMciijers  was  marrieil  in  Februar}',  1843,  in 
the  Catholic  Cathedral  at  Fort  Wayne,  by 
Ucv.  Father  Kodidjih,  to  Miss  Catherine 
Ilidenian,  who  was  formerly  a  resident  of  St. 
INfarv's,  Ohio.  She  died  at  Decatur  in  185(3, 
leaving  i'our  children — Elizabeth,  now  the 
wife  of  Hencdict  Ilhl,  of  Toledo,  Ohio;  Chris- 
tine, now  the  wife  of  George  W,  Archbold,of 
Pleasant  Mills,  Adams  County;  ^lary,  now 
the  wife  of  Joseph  II.  A^oglewede,  of  Deca- 
tur, and  Henry  G.,  now  living  in  ]\Iicliigan. 
!Mr.  ]\[eibers  was  again  married  February  17, 
1859,  at  St.  Mary's  Catholic  Churcli  at  De- 
catur, by  Rev.  Feather  Meyers,  to  ^liss  ]\Iar- 
garet  Smith,  a  daughter  of  Ludwig  and 
Catherine  (Miller)  Smith,  of  Decatur,  They 
have  six  children  living — Kttic,  wife  of 
Joseph  Toiiellier,  of  Decatur;  John  AV.,  of 
Chicago,  and  Anna,  Charles,  llosa  and 
]\Iichael  still  at  home.  ]\Ir.  Meibers  com- 
menced life  with  a  capital  of  $600  given 
liiu^  by  his  father,  and  from  this  small  be- 
ginning he  has  by  his  persevering  industry 
and  excellent  business  management  accumu- 
lated a  large  and  valuable  property.  He  is 
one  of  tlie  public-spirited  men  of  Decatur, 
and  gives  liberally  of  his  means  toward  any 
enterprise  which  he  deems  of  benetit  to  his 
town  or  county,  and  by  his  fiiir  and  honora- 
ble dealings  and  genial  and  accommodating 
manners  he  has  made  many  friends,  and 
gained  the  contidence  and  respect  of  all  who 
know    him.      In    187-1    he    became    a    stock- 


holder in  the  Adams  County  I'aid^,  and  hoon 
after  was  clioseii  one  of  its  directors,  a  posi- 
tion he  still  holds.  Both  Mr.  and  ^\y&.  ^[ei- 
bers  and  their  children  are  members  of  St. 
Mary's  (^itholic  Church  at  Decatur. 

^-^T^IUiAHAM  .MAX(U)LD,  farmer,  resides 
li'vy  on  section  24-,  I'reble  Township,  where 
■^,"~'  he  owns  100  acres  of  laud.  He  came  to 
this  county  in  1S03,  with  wife  and  seven 
children,  settling n|)on  his  jiresent  farm,  which 
was  mostly  improvetl.  He  was  born  in 
Fairlield  County,  Oliio,  August  31, 1823,  and 
was  reared  in  his  Tiative  county.  He  was 
also  Tuarried  there,  August  13,  1844,  to  ]\Iary 
C.  Slabaugh,  who  was  born  in  Berks  County, 
Pennsylvania,  February  8,  1818.  She  re- 
mained at  her  birthplace  until  sixteen  years 
of  age,  when  the  family  removed  to  F^iirficld 
County,  Ohio.  Iler  parents  were  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  (Prussman)  Slabaugh,  both  natives 
of  Perks  County,  Pennsylvania.  The  father 
was  born  Septen:iber  20,  1796,  and  died  in 
Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  March  15, 1877.  The 
mother  was  born  in  1797,  and  died  in  Licking 
County,  Ohio,  May  1,  1870;  both  are  buried 
at  St.  Jacob's  Church.  Mr.  Mangold's  par- 
ents were  Frederick  and  Anna  (Gunzenhauser) 
Mangold,  natives  of  Switzerland.  They  came 
to  America,  bringing  one  child,  and  settled 
in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  where  the  father 
died,  aged  forty-five  years.  The  mother  died 
in  this  county,  in  1872,  supposed  to  be 
eighty-eight  years  old.  Mr.  and  j\Irs.  Man- 
gold have  had  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living — Jacob,  born  March  17,  1845; 
Noah,  born  April  22,  1853;  Sarah,  born 
March  12,  1855;'  ]\Iary  M.,  born  ISIay  25, 
1857;  William  Henry,  born  May  23,  18G0; 
Elizabeth  A.  died  in  1868,  aged  twenty  years 
and   two  months;   xVbraham   E.  died   May   5, 


'ft' 


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•■i¥^iS^i^'"nya^L:*f<i*^u<^Li»it'^ie'*^i'-'^*i^*li^ 


BIOGRAPUICAL    SKETCHES. 


1S7'J,  aged  twcnty-eiglit  years.  Mr.  Slan- 
gokl  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  the 
spring  of  ISiM,  and  served  three  terms,  and 
Mas  elected  tiie  tbnrtli,  but  resigned  before  the 
last  term  expired,  lie  is  a  nien:bcr  of  tlic 
liefornied  church,  and  in  ]iolitics  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat. 


,,)fg^EOrtGE  F.  COOlv,  engaged  in  general 
Iv'TT'  i"'ii""ii"g  on  section  13,  AVabash  Town- 
^W^  ship,  was  born  in  Wabash  Township, 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  the  date  of  his  birth 
being  June  30,  1842.  lie  grew  to  manhood 
in  his  native  township,  receiving  a  fair  com- 
mon-school education.  August  14,  1862,  he 
enlisted  in  the  war  of  the  liebellion,  and  was 
assigned  to  Companj' I,  Eiglity-ninth  Indiana 
Infantry,  his  i-egiment  forming  a  part  of  the 
Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  lie  participated  in 
the  battles  of  .Miinfordville,  Kentucky,  Fort 
de  Russy  and  I'leasant  Hills,  Louisiana, 
Tupelo,  ^Mississippi,  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
Fort  lllakely,  beside  other  battles  and  skir- 
mishes of  minor  imjjortance.  lie  served 
until  •Inly  I'J,  1805,  when  he  was  discharged 
at  Mobile,  Alabama,  when  he  returned  to  his 
home  in  "Wabiisli  Townshij).  He  was  married 
:March  28,  1809,  to  .Miss  Sarali  E.  llumple,  a 
native  of  Butler  County,  Ohio,  born  January 
18,  1842,  a  daughter  of  John  Rumple,  an 
early  settler  of  Jetl'erson  Township,  Adams 
(Jounty.  They  are  the  parents  of  seven 
children — James  S.,  Thomas  J.,  Daniel, 
William,  Stella,  l>ertha  and  George.  Mr. 
Cook  bought  his  farm  while  in  the  army, 
which  consists  of  i'orty  acres,  thirty  acres 
under  cultivation.  '  Mrs.  Cook  has  about  fifty- 
four  acres  located  in  Jeflerson  Township. 
John  Cook,  the  father  of  our  subject,  who  was 
one  of  the  ol<l  and  honored  pioneers  of  Adams 
County,  was  born  in   Trumble  County,  Ohio, 


January  28,  1814,  and  was  of  Scotch  origin, 
lie  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county, 
and  in  1834  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
J^ydia  IJaker,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
J  une  7,  1811,  of  (Tcrman  ancestry,  a  daughter 
of  George  F.  liaker,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812.  They  reared  a  family  of  six 
children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  ]\[rs.  John 
Cook  followed  agricultural  pursuits  in  Han- 
cock County,  Ohio.  In  1842  they  came  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  settled  on  sec- 
tion 23,  Wabash  Townshiji,  remaining  there 
until  the  fall  of  1S56.  They  then  removed 
to  Henderson  County,  Illitmis,  and  two  years 
later  returned  to  Adams  County  and  purchased 
a  farm  on  section  13,  Wabash  Township, 
where  they  made  their  home  till  theii-  death, 
the  father  dying  January  2,  1877,  and  the 
mother  February  2,  following.  Roth  were 
members  of  the  Protestant  jMethodist  church 
and  res])ected  inembers  of  society. 

I^IMEON  IIAIN,  farmer,  Washington 
Iv^  Township,  was  born  in  Ilavaria,  (ier- 
"^^  many,  Febriiary  17,  1837,  son  of  (ieorge 
and  Mary  Ilain.  He  lived  in  his  native 
country  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when 
he  immigrated  to  America,  landing  in  New 
York  City,  and  spent  about  six  years  in  Sara- 
toga County,  New  York.  In  the  fall  of  1860 
he  came  to  Adams  County,  and  for  fourteen 
months  was  employed  by  J.  D.  Nutman. 
Subsequently  he  was  for  some  time  engaged 
in  the  hack  business.  In  .Vpril,  1802,  he 
was  married  to  Anna  G.  Muegenburg,  who 
died  July  18,  1881.  Of  their  seven  children 
six  are  living — Charles,  Mary,  Minnie,  Lena, 
Simeon  and  Elizabeth.  ]\Ir.  Hain  was  mar- 
ried the  second  time  December  28,  1883,  to 
Mrs.  Louisa  Smith,  of  Adams  County,  for- 


iii?-.-«?U«ri/?i^-a?'«'^fc^j«?«:^4^M*«"ii"«»ii".t«j«!ii'«*»'iH:i*Gi^*li^ 


■m.***^  ■j'S  »ir-" »»?»«  »i  i 


UISTUIIY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


iiierly  of  Oliiu.  They  liuvc  one  child,  George, 
ilr.  Iliiiu  settled  upon  his  present  ftiriu  in 
the  spring  of  1800.  lie  comineiiced  with 
forty  acres  in  the  woods  and  now  owns  eighty 
aci'cs  of  excellent  land,  free  from  all  incum- 
brance, worth  ^75  an  acre,  lie  is  a  I)enio- 
crat  in  jiolitics.  lie  has  served  several  terms 
as  road  supervisor. 


^ 


AMKS  .M.  AKClIliOLl),  engaged  in 
fai'ming  on  section  (5,  St.  Mary's  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  Jefferson  Township, 
Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  December  27, 
1S4:1.  lie  remained  with  his  parents  in 
liis  native  county  until  1S51,  when  he 
came  witli  them  to  Indiana,  the  family 
lirst  locating  in  Jefferson  Township,  AVells 
County.  The  father  then  l)0Ught  205  acres 
in  Preble  Towiishij),  Adams  County,  the  sur- 
rounding country  at  that  time  being  in  a 
wild  state.  The  father  built  a  liewed-log 
house  on  his  land  in  Preble  Township,  in 
which  he  lived  two  years,  then  built  a  frame 
house,  which  he  occupied  until  1874,  when 
he  mc)\ed  to  Decatur,  where  he  died,  and  in 
which  his  son  is  still  living.  James  M. 
Archbold,  our  subject,  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Preble  Township.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  district 
schools,  which  he  completed  at  the  normal 
school  at  iliddletown,  Indiana,  where  he  s]>ent 
one  term.  After  completing  his  education 
he  taught  school  for  two  winter  terms,  lie 
was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  enlisting  Octo- 
ber 3,  1804,  in  Company  D,  Fifty-first  Indiana 
Infantry,  and  served  in  the  First  Prigade, 
Third  Division  and  Fourth  Army  Corps,  un- 
der General  Stanley.  He  joined  his  regi- 
ment and  company  at  iJridgcport,  Alabama, 
and  was  fir.-^t  engaged  at  Duck  River,  and 
also  took  part  in   the  engagements  at  Frank- 


lin and  Xasliville.  lie  was  taken  sick  with 
bilious  intermittent  fever,  and  was  sent  to 
hospital,  June  19,  18(J5,.and  after  his  dis- 
charge from  the  hospital  he  returned  home. 
JVovember  9, 1805,  he  was  nnited  in  marriage 
to  JMiss  JIary  C.  Summers,  who  was  born  in 
Preble  Township,  Allen  County,  Indiana, 
April  1,  1S49,  where  she  was  reared.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Mary  A. 
(Sheidcs)  Summers,  her  father  being  a  native 
of  Virginia,  born  near  Fredericksburg,  ^^lay 
22,  1813,  and  the  mother  born  in  1813,  also 
a  native  of  Virginia.  They  were  reared  and 
marrieil  in  Virginia,  and  to  them  were  born 
nine  children,  five  still  living,  Mrs.  Archlmld 
having  been  the  seventh  child.  They  came 
to  Adams  (Jounty  and  settled  in  Preble 
Township  in  1837,  where  they  were  among 
the  early  settlers.  They  ai'e  now  living  in 
Jefferson  Township,  Wells  County,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-four  years.  Three  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Archbold,  of  whom 
only  two  are  living — ilary  E.,  born  July  21, 
1873,  and  Ada  E.,  born  April  19, 1880.  Their 
only  son,  Allen,  was  born  October  21,  1870, 
and  died  October  20,  1872.  After  returning 
from  the  army  Mr.  Archbold  learned  the 
ti-ade  of  a  plasterer,  which  he  followed  for 
fifteen  years,  and  during  this  time  made  his 
home  in  Decatur  until  1875.  In  that  year 
he  removed  to  his  farm  in  St.  Mary's  Town- 
ship, where  lie  has  since  resided,  where  ho 
has  eighty  acres  of  choice  land,  most  of 
wdiich  is  under  fine  cultivation,  with  a  com- 
fortable home  and  good  farm  buildings.  Mr. 
Archbold  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
((Gibson)  Archbold,  his  father  being  a  native 
of  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  born  in  February, 
1809,  and  his  mother  born  in  Virginia,  in 
1808.  Eleven  children  were  born  to  them, 
all  of  whom  yet  survive,  James  M.  being  the 
seventh  child.  The  father  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's   trade,  but   never   followed   it,  being 


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BIOGRAPHICAL    SKKTCIIES. 


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ciigsigod  in  iigricultural  purfiuits  tlic  grcnter 
jiai't  of  liis  life.  lie  died  December  25,  1SS5. 
Jlis  widow  still  siir\i\es,  and  is  making  liei' 
liDme  in  Decatur,  Adams  Odunty,  Indiana. 
I'atrick  and  Kraucina  (McLain)  Arcliliold, 
the  grandparents  of  our  snliject,  were  born  in 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  were  of  Irish 
descent.  IJoth  died  in  Jefferson  Township, 
Wells  Count}',  Indiana,  the  grandfather  in 
the  year  1856.  He  was  with  General  Wayne 
when  lie  came  to  I'ort  Wayne.  Thomas 
Archbold,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, came  from  Ireland  about  the  time  of  the 
IJevolutionary  war.  lie  took  pai-t  in  that 
memorable  struggle,  and  was  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  P.randvwine. 


^■A.MES  K.  AIAIITZ,  engaged  in  farming 
^'A  and  stock-raising  in  Monroe  Township, 
".i  where  he  resides  on  section  15,  is  a  son 
of  Henry  Martz,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Adams  County,  Indiana.  He  was  born  on 
his  father's  homestead  in  ]\Ionroe  Township, 
Adams  County,  the  date  of  liis  birth  beiiig 
ilay  1,  1S46.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  township,  receiving  the  benefits  of  a 
common-school  education.  He  helped  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  ISBti,  when  lie  went 
to  Ohio,  and  for  two  years  was  engaged  in 
the  liimlier  business,  and  also  spent  two  years 
in  the  pineries  of  ]\Iichigan.  ilr.  JIartz  was 
united  in  marriage,  November  17,  1872,  to 
Rachel  A.  Ilahn,  who  was  born  August  22, 
1852,  a  daugliter  of  G.  W.  Ilahn,  who  settled 
in  Monroe  Township,  Adams  County,  in  an 
early  day.  Five  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  ]\Iartz— Ida  V.,  born  May  22, 
1874;  Lillie  F.,  born  August  23,  187G;  Mary 
J.,  born  May  23,  1879;  Daisy  D.,  born  De- 
cember 4,  1881,  and  AVel)stor  C,  born  De- 
ceml)er    10,    1884.      Immediately    after    iiis 


marriage  IMr.  "Martz  settled  on  liis  farm  on 
section  15,  Monroe  Township,  where  he  has 
since  resided,  his  farm  containing  ICO  acres 
of  land  under  good  cultivation.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat.  He  was  elected  by  his 
party  a  member  of  the  central  committee  in 
187(5,  serving  for  six  years   in  that  capacity. 


i^,ENRY  IIO:\IER  HART,  miller  at  the 
dfi?!))  City  Flouring  Mills,  Decatui-,  Indiana, 
^M  was  born  in  AVayne  Count}',  Oliio,  De- 
cember 25, 1846,  a  son  of  Jacob  S.  and  Elisa- 
beth (Krick)  Hart.  AV'hen  he  was  six  months 
old  his  parents  moved  to  Decatur,  Indiana, 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  In  1862, 
when  but  fifteen  years  of  age,  although  he 
was  often  taken  for  eighteen,  he  enlistcil  in 
the  defense  of -his  country  and  was  assigned 
as  musician  to  Company  I,  Eighty-ninth  In- 
diana InfaTitry,  and  was  promoted  to  Drum- 
Major  of  his  regiment.  He  was  discharged 
at  Mobile,  Alabama,  July  I'J,  1865.  He 
participated  in  the  engagements  at  Munfbrd- 
ville.  Fort  De  Russy,  Pleasant  Hill,  Yellow 
Bayou,  Marksville  Prairie,  Tupelo,  Nashville, 
^lobile,  and  numerous  skirmishes.  At  the 
battle  of  Munfordville  he  was  taken  prisoner 
and  was  in  the  Confederates'  hands  two  days, 
when  he  was  paroled,  and  was  exchanged  the 
following  December.  During  the  spring  of 
1863  his  regiment  was  stationed  at  Fort 
Pickering,  Tennessee,  and  while  there  he  M'as 
taken  sick  and  was  off  duty  about  ten  weeks. 
After  his  discharge  he  returned  to  Decatur 
and  worked  in  his  father's  flour-mill  until 
1874,  when  he  left  the  mill  for  a  year  and 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  From  1875 
till  1883  he  was  employed  in  the  mill,  and 
then  for  two  years  engaged  in  the  restaurant 
business  at  Columbus,  Indiana.  In  1885  he 
returned  to  Decatur  and  since  then  has  been 


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U I  STORY    OF    ADA.US    COUNTY. 


at  work  in  his  t';itliL'r"s  iiiili.  Dccfinlici'  14, 
J871,  lie  was  luai-i-ied  itt  iu'iidalh  ille,  Indi- 
ana, to  l''raid<ie  Hurt.  They  liave  two  cdiil- 
(h-en — Nellie  and  Jessie.  Mr.  Hart  is  a 
comrade  of  Sam  Henry  Post,  No.  03,  (t.  A.  II., 
of  which  he  is  the  present  commander. 


fACOlJ  COOK,  n;eneral  fanner,  section  13, 
Walmsh  Township,  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
-.c  born  in  Wayne  County,  ilay  10,  IsiO, 
a  son  of  .John  Cook.  He  was  hrouglitby  his 
parents  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  where  he 
was  reared  to  manhood  on  the  homestead 
farm  in  AVahash  Township,  where  he  now 
lives.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the 
liebcllion,  enlisting  August  14,  18G2,  in 
Company  I,  Eiglity-uinth  Indiana  Infantry, 
and  was  discharged  at  Mobile,  Alabama,  July 
19,  iSOo.  He  was  in  active  service  with  his 
regiment  except  while  in  the  hospital  at 
Jlemjihis,  Tennessee.  He  was  wounded 
while  in  the  service,  and  was  in  hospital  about 
si.K  months,  when  he  returned  to  his  regi- 
ment, reinaining  with  it  until  receiving  his 
linal  discharge  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
now  draws  a  pension  from  the  effects  of  his 
wounds.  After  the  war  he  returned  to  his 
home  in  AV abash  Township,  and  December 
8,  1S(>7,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Frances  Ab- 
iiet,  a  native  of  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  born 
November  8,  1843,  a  daughter  of  AV'^illiam 
and  ^laria  (Miller)  Abnet.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Shenandoah  County,  A'^irginia,  Febru- 
ary 12,  1808,  and  her  mother  was  a  native  of 
ilar^dand,  born  Afarch  21,  1817.  They  were 
married  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio,  Ahirch  5, 
1840,  and  in  1845  came  to  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  settling  in  Jeft'ersoii  Township. 
They  afterward  removed  to  section  1,  AVabash 
Township,  where  they  lived  till  their  death, 
the  father  dying  in    1853,  and  the  mother  in 


1*^55.  They  were  mcnibei's  of  the  Afethodist 
I'^pi.-icopal  cliunjli.  They  had  a  tamily  of  si.K 
children,  two  sons  anil  four  daughters.  To 
jMr.  and  ]\Irs.  Cook  have  been  born  seven 
children,  whose  names  arc  as  follows — Car- 
rie ]\I.,  John  AV^.,  Rosa  E.,  Mary  E.,  Jesse 
L.,  Joseph  AI.  and  Jacob  A.  Air.  and  Airs. 
Cook  are  members  of  the  Christian  church. 
Air.  Cook  has  eighty  acres  of  valual>le  land 
where  he  resides,  which  he  has  brought  un- 
dei'  a  high  state  of  cidtivation,  and  is  classeil 
among  the  respected  men  of  his  township. 


.'^aEA^  PAlHvLEY,  of  the  lirm  of  P.arkley 
■■I?  ik,  Steele,  l)ecatur,  Indiana,  was  born  in 
,-  AVayne  County,  Ohio,  August  19,  1838. 
AVMien  he  was  eleven  years  of  age  his  parents 
moved  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  in 
this  county  he  was  reared.  AVhen  he  was 
eighteen  years  old  his  father  died,  and  he  re- 
mained on  the  farm  assisting  his  mother 
until  of  ago.  In  1859  he  l)ecame  associated 
with  John  II.  Pender,  and  with  him  carried 
on  a  tannery  in  Union  Township  several 
years,  when  they  moved  to  j\Ionroeville, 
Allen  County.  In  1871  he  withdrew  from 
the  firm  and  returned  to  Adams  Count}',  and 
with  J.  II.  Steele  formed  the  present  firm  of 
Parkley  ik  Steele,  dealers  in  all  kinds  of 
fresh  and  salt  meats.  They  have  a  good 
trade,  having  one  of  the  best  markets  in  the 
city.  Air.  Parkley  was  married  November  (5, 
1805,  to  Alargaret  Jane  Phipps.  They  have 
seven  children — Lulu,  Minnie,  Nellie,  Tessa, 
Prenton,  AVillie  and  Franklin.  Mr.  Parkley 
is  a  member  of  Decatur  Lodge.  No.  571,  A. 
F.  it  A.  J\I.  Mrs.  Parkley  is  a  member  of 
the  United  Prethren  church.  A[r.  Parkley's 
parents,  Jacob  and  Harriet  (Dougherty) 
Parklc}',  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  of 
German  and    Irish  descent.      In  an  early  day 


^M«ji|j»j.y^giig«H^j^ 


lUOGllAl'lIiaAL    SKKTCIIES. 


tliov  moved  to  AVayne  (Vniiity,  Oliio,  imd 
theiict.'  ill  l^i'J  to  Ailaiiis  County,  Jiidiaiiu, 
locatiiiLC  (in  a  t'ann  in  I'ninii 'r(i\vii>lii]i,  where 
tlie  t'uniuT  diid  ill  IsTjC).  \\v  was  a  \Vlii<^ 
in  j)olities,  and  sersed  several  years  as  jtititiee 
ot"  the  peaee.  The  mother  died  in  1870. 
They  liad  a  family  of  ei;,dit  cliildren. 


.T:4T-:WIS  AXDliKAVS,  one  of  the  oldest 
'j\/f  settlers  of  "Washington  Township,  was 
^„-''  l>orn  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio, 
]\rarcli  1,  1S2<J,  son  ot  llazol  and  Martlia 
Andrews,  also  natives  of  Ohio.  Aliont  1837 
liis  parents  removed  to  this  county  and  set- 
tled in  AVashingioii  Township,  on  section  29. 
The  hiiid  was  then  in  its  orig-inal  state.  He 
lirst  built  his  loi;  caliin,  then  commenced  to 
clear  his  farm,  having  entered  eighty  acres, 
and  remained  there  until  ids  decease.  He 
was  the  father  of  ten  childi'en,  six  of  whom 
are  living  -Mary,  Thomas,  Perry,  l^miis, 
].ouisa  and  L(j\iiia.  He  was  universally  re- 
spected, and  in  his  demise  Adams  County 
lost  one  of  her  best  citizens.  Lewis  Andrews 
was  reared  in  Adams  County,  receiving  a 
very  liinited  education,  as  the  scliool  ad- 
vantages of  those  days  were  very  meager, 
lie  has  experienced  all  pliases  of  pioneei'  lite. 
He  used  to  pound  corn  to  make  bread,  the 
nearest  mill  being  at  I'ort  Wayne.  lie  was 
married  April  13,  1850,  to  ^liss  Jane  (juinn, 
born  May  30,  ls32,  in  Harrison  County, 
Ohio,  and  daughter  of  James  antl  iLachel 
Quinn,  natives  of  Ohio,  who  came  to  Adams 
County  in  1S53,  settling  in  AVashington 
Township,  where  they  remained  nntil  their 
decease.  ]\Ir.  and  ^Irs.  Andrews  have  had 
ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living — Jose, 
Martha,  Kachel,  Hazel  J.,  Inez,  Ilattie, 
James  AV.,  Addie  and  Osman  P.  Jlrs.  An- 
drews' parents  had  ten  children,  six  of  whom 


ai'e  living  —  Thomas,  David,  Jane,  Mary, 
James  and  Partoii  A\\  .Mr.  Andrews  owns  a 
good  farm  of  eighty  acres,  anil  resides  on 
section  2S.      Politically  he  is  a  Republican. 


.■;0  AMUEL  MOSES,  farmer,  resides  on  sec- 
"^(wil  '*""  ^^1  ^ioot Townshiji,  where  lie  owns 
'■~f^  100  acres  of  land.  He  came  to  Adams 
Cminty  with  wife  and  fnur  children,  settling 
south  of  Alpha  ^lethodist  Episcopal  Chnrcli, 
on  the  Seventeen-mile  Creek,  where  he  lived 
four  years,  then  sold  and  bought  forty  acres 
on  section  23,  where  he  lived  until  ]\rarch, 
1809.  The  following  summer  he  built  his 
present  frame  house.  The  farm  was  partially 
improved;  a  log  house  had  been  built  and 
about  forty  acres  cleared.  There  was  also  an 
old  log  stable  and  shed.  Mr.  Moses  was 
born  in  the  township  of  Shade,  Somerset 
County,  Pennsylvania,  Eebi'uary  21,  1825, 
and  was  seven  years  old  when  his  parents 
i-emoved  to  Carroll  County,  ()liio,  where  he 
grew  to  nninhood.  In  1853  he  left  that 
county  and  came  to  this  county.  He  was 
married  November  20,  18-45,  to  iliss  Eliza 
Hunter,  who  was  born  in  Allegheny  County, 
Pennsylvania,  in  182-1,  and  when  she  was 
quite  young  her  parents  removed  to  Carroll 
County,  Ohio,  where  she  grew  to  womanhood 
and  was  married.  Her  parents  were  James 
Hunter  and  Jane  Cochran.  The  father  was 
born  in  Ireland,  wdiere  he  was  reared  and 
married,  then  came  to  America  and  settled 
in  Allegheny  County,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  lived  until  his  removal  to  Carroll  County, 
Ohio.  There  were  ten  children  in  the  family, 
and  all  lived  to  maturity  and  were  married. 
Five  of  the  children  are  living  and  five 
deceased.  Thomas  died  in  180-1  after  his 
return  from  the  army,  and  was  between  sixty 
and  seventy  years  old.     James  and  Sarah  are 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


(k'ceascil.  ^[;ut  is  liviiiir  in  I  >ev;itiir  ami  is 
eighty-three  YL'ars  old.  Joliii  lives  in  Cairoll 
('Oiinty,  Ohiu.  >,'an<'y  dieil  in  1SS5,  aged 
seventy-seven  years.  Jane  died  in  ISliS  at 
an  athanced  a^^'e.  AVilliani  lives  in  Pitts- 
biu-f^,  Pennsylvania,  and  Georye,  in  Ashland 
County,  Ohio.  Kli/.a,  wile  of  i\[r.  Closes,  is 
the  yonnge.>t  of  the  family.  JFr.  !Moses' 
])ai'eHts  wci-e  ,101111  an<l  lleheeca  (Stoller) 
J\Ioses.  The  father  was  born  in  Somerset 
County,  Pennsylvania,  in  Oetoher,  1800,  and 
died  ^fay  10,  1S73,  in  Carroll  County,  Ohio. 
He  was  reared  in  Hoinei'set  County,  and  was 
married  thei'O  in  1S21.  In  1882  he  removed 
to  Carroll  County,  Ohio.  The  mother  was 
born  in  179U,  in  Somerset  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  she  was  reared  and  married. 
She  died  in  the  fall  of  18(58.  Jlotli  parents 
wei-e  memboi-s  of  the  Evangelieal  Lutheran 
eliurch,  and  lived  in  the  hope  of  a  blessed 
immortality.  They  were  the  ])arents  of  ten 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living — Samuel; 
.Mary  A.,  who  died  in  18o3,  in  Cai'roll  Count}', 
Ohio;  Jaeob,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Carroll  County;  Catherine,  who  <lied  in 
infancy;  AVilliam  AV.,  United  States  Express 
agent  at  Decatur,  this  county;  liebecca  Jl., 
wlio  was  drowned  in  her  father's  cellar  when 
quite  young;  John  S.,  who  died  of  consump- 
tion when  a  young  man;  .Martha  Jane,  who 
died  in  1845;  II.  S.,  a  hardware  merchant 
and  secretary  and  ti'easurer  of  the  Canton 
Car  Compan}-,  at  Canton,  Ohio,  and  Margaret 
A.,  who  lives  in  Hamilton  County,  Iowa, 
^[r.  anil  Mrs.  Moses  have  had  seven  children, 
five  of  whom  are  lix'ing — Rebecca  J.,  born 
August  20,  184G,  is  the  wife  of  A.  E.  Ferry, 
and  lives  in  Portland,  Indiana;  Sarah  died  in 
infancy;  John  S.,  born  January  27,  1851,  is 
living  at  home;  James  C,  a  twin  brother  of 
the  preceding;  Clarissa,  born  May  8,  1853, 
died  the  following  August;  Clarinda,  a  twin 
sister  of  the  preceiling,  is   the  wife  vi'  ^I.  1!. 


Knijiise,  and  li\'es  in  ^\llen  County,  this 
Stale;  Samuel  E.,  boi-n  April  22,  185tj,  lives 
in  Union  Township.  .John  S.  was  marrie<l 
Septenilier  23,  1875,  to  .Miss  Catherine  L. 
Ai'go,  who  was  born  in  Logan  County,  Oliio, 
December  3,  1817.  Jlr.  Moses'  grandfather, 
Jacob  Closes,  was  born  in  Eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  died  in  Somerset  County,  same 
State.  Ilis  grandmother  iToscs  also  died  in 
Somerset  County.  Their  ancestry  came  from 
Switzerland.  Ilis  maternal  grandfather, 
Samuel  Stotlar, also  died  in  Somerset  County, 
at  the  age  of  ninety-two  j'ears.  Grandfather 
Stotlar's  mother  and  ;i  younger  brother  were 
taken  jjrisoners  in  AVyoniing  Valle}',  Penn- 
sylvania, by  the  Indians,  and  lived  among 
them  seven  years,  when  they  were  exchanged. 
The  brother  was  seven  years  old  when  taken, 
and  died  one  j'ear  after  they  were  e.xchanged, 
and  the  great-grandmother  died  in  1820. 


Tr-^T-ILLIA:»l  E.  liEDING,  farmer,  sec- 
Vi/A/!')   '^•'J"  1"^'  Blue  Creek  Township,  is  a 

l^"^>3^]  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Guernsey 
County,  October  20,  1850,  a  son  of  Charles 
and  j\Iartha  Reding,  his  father  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  his  motherof  Ohio.  AVlien 
he  was  but  three  years  old  his  father  died  and 
his  mother  afterward  married  again,  and 
moved  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in  1857. 
lie  )'emained  with  liis  mother  until  sixteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  began  to  depend  upon 
his  own  exertions  for  a  maintenance,  and  was 
employed  as  a  farm  hand  for  several  years. 
In  1878  he  purchased  and  settled  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives.  He  owns  eighty  acres 
of  good  land,  and  is  meeting  with  success  in 
his  chosen  vocation.  He  is  energetic  and  in- 
dustrious, and  is  one  of  the  representative 
young  farmers  of  Rlue  Creek  Township.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  school  director  and  road 


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.sii|iL'rvisur,  .■^i.Tviiiu,-  witli  ^ilti^f;u'tillll  to  liis 
I'elluw-tuwnsmen.  In  jidlitica  lii'  is  a  Ki'pul)- 
liciiii.  ^Mr.  lieilini,''  was  iiiaiTicil  tu  .Nfary  E. 
Davis,  a  iKi  ivu  of  Oliin,  daii^'hter  of  William 
and  Nancy  Davis.  Tliry  liaxu  bad  three 
children — Francis  A.,  Ola  1).  ami  Dora  I?. 
The  latter  two  are  deceased.  i[r.  and  Mrs. 
lieding  arc  members  of  the  Baptist  church. 


fOIIN  CHRIST  STKINKU,  farmer,  re- 
siiling  on  section  13,  ^Vubash  Township, 
--,i  .Vdams  County,  is  a  native  of  Wurtem- 
bur-,  (iermany,  born  March  12,  1845.  His 
parents,  Jacob  and  liosa  (Steiner)  Steirier, 
were  also  natives  of  (iermany,  livintr  in  that 
Country  till  their  death.  Of  their  five  chil- 
dren only  two  are  living — John  C.  and  an 
older  son,  Jacob,  who  still  lives  in  Germany. 
John  (■.,  our  subject,  remained  at  home  till 
attaining  the  age  of  twent}'  j'Cars,  receiving  a 
couimoii-school  education  in  his  native  coun- 
try. 1  lo  came  to  America  in  1S(J5,  landing 
at  New  York  August  12.  After  staying  a 
sh(jrt  time  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  lie 
went  to  Cirant  County,  AVisconsin,  where  he 
worked  as  a  farm  laborer,  remaining  there 
until  1S08.  In  Xoveinber  of  tliat  year  he 
^yent  to  Delaware,  JJelaware  County,  Ohio, 
wliere  he  was  variously  employed,  his  last 
employment  in  that  city  being  in  a  foundry. 
.November  5,  1SG8,  he  was  mairied  in  Dela- 
ware County,  to  Miss  Paulina  Schrumm,  who 
^vas  born  in  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  June 
15,  1842,  a  daughter  of  Gottleib  and  llosa 
(Bauer)  Schrumm,  who  lived  in  their  native 
country,  Germany,  till  their  death.  They 
were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  eleven 
of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  ilrs.  Steiner 
came  to  America  in  ISIUJ,  and  lived  in  Dela- 
ware County,  Ohio,  until  after  her  marriage. 
Mr.  and  ili's.  Steiner  are  the  parents  of  two 


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children— Polly,  born  A])ril  0,  1S7(),  and 
Albert,  burn  June  20,  1S75.  In  January, 
1882,  i\[r.  Steiner  came  with  bis  family  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  bought  the 
farm  in  AVabash  Townshii)  wliere  he  lias 
since  made  liis  home,  which  contains  eighty 
acres  of  choice  land,  twenty-live  acres  i)eing 
under  fine  cultivation.  When  ^Ir.  Steiner 
landed  in  America  he  had  no  money,  and 
bori'owed  money  to  come  West.  By  perse- 
vering industry,  strict  economy  and  good 
management  he  has  acquired  his  ])resent 
home,  and  surrounded  his  family  with  all  the 
necessary  comforts  of  lil'e.  Both  Mr.  and 
ilrs.  Steiner  are  membei's  of  the  Lutheran 
church. 


/^ACOP.  P.  CPIST,  fanner,  AVashington 
''^'.i\  Township,  was  born  in  Mahoning  Coun- 
J^  ty,  Ohio,  January  3, 1831,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Sarah  Crist,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  In 
1845  he  came  to  this  county  with  his  parents, 
who  settled  on  section  I'l.  Washington  Town- 
ship, which  was  then  a  wilderness.  The 
father  died  in  August,  1847,  and  tlie  mother 
in  August,  1886.  Of  their  cliildren  skx  sur- 
vive— Jacob  P.,  Samuel  L.,  Elias,  Jonathan, 
George  and  Elizabeth.  Aftei-  the  death  of 
the  father  the  care  and  support  of  the  family 
devolved  mainl}'  upon  our  subject.  He  at- 
tended the  early  district  schools,  which  gave 
liim  only  a  rudimentary  education.  He  was 
married  January  15,  1857,  to  Xancy  A. 
Parish,  born  May  26,  1837,  in  Tuscarawas 
County,  Ohio,  and  when  fourteen  years  of 
age  caine  with  her  parents  to  tliis  county, 
where  she  was  reared  to  maturity.  Of  the 
five  children  born  to  ilr.  and  ]\Irs.  Crist 
three  survive — Addie  AL,  Emma  J.  and 
Tefrona  L.  !Mrs.  Crist's  parents  were  John 
and    Margaret    Parish,   and    they   were    tiie 


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HTSTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


])iu-ciits  of  eleven  cliiKli'cii,  of  whom  seven 
survive — Josliua,  Xaiicy  A.,  ^\Avy  .1.,  .losepli, 
Ahiier,  .lames  and  i\Iargaiet.  Mr.  Crist 
owns  133  acres  of  yood  land,  and  is  meeting 
with  fair  success.  Himself  and  wife  arc 
members  of  the  Protestant  _Metliodist  church, 
and  he  lias  served  as  stewanl  in  that  church. 
Politically  he  is  a  Democrat. 


SAMES  QUIXCY  ^1':PTU1s'E,  D.  D.  S., 
Decatur,  Indiana,  was  born  in  St.  ilary's 
"ic  Township,  this  county,  August  9,  1859, 
a  son  of  James  I.  and  Isabel  (Ph^gi;)  Nep- 
tune, his  father  a  native  of  Ohio,  of  (icrman 
and  Scotch  ancestry,  and  his  mother  of  ]\Iary- 
land,  of  English  descent.  Potli  were  brought 
in  childbood  by  their  parents  to  Adams 
County,  and  were  lierc  reared.  James  I. 
Neptune  has  lived  in  .Vdams  County  fifty 
years  with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent 
in  California  duriny  the  yuld  excitement, 
lie  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
serving  three  years,  lie  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  ilethodist  Episcopal  church 
at  AVillshire,  Ohio.  Our  subject  was  reared 
on  a  farm,  receiving  a  good  education  in  the 
common  scliools.  January  1,  1SS4,  he  began 
the  study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  C.  C.  Scott, 
at  Celina,  fiercer  County,  Ohio,  and  in  the 
winter  of  1881-'S5  attended  the  Ohio  College 
of  Dental  Surgery  at  Cincinnati,  and  again  in 
1S85-'8G,  graduating  as  D.  D.  S.,  in  March, 
ISSG.  In  June,  ISsG,  he  located  at  Decatur, 
and  has  since  been  in  the  practice  of  his  ])ro- 
fession  at  that  place,  lie  was  married  De- 
cember 7,  188G,  to  jMiss  Clara  Counterman, 
daughter  of  A.  M.  and  Aniui  E.  (Hollen- 
baugher)  Counterman,  of  AVillshire,  ( )hio. 
She  is  a  native  ot'  fiercer  County,  (Jhio,  and 
for  seven  years  ])rior  to  her  marriage  was  a 
prominent  teacher  in  tliep\iblic  schools.   Her 


parents    are    natives  of  Ohio,    her    father  of 
(lerman  and  Irish  and  her  mother  of  (ierman 

descent. 


OIIN  HENDRICKS,  farmer,  residing 
on  section  3,  ^lonroe  Township,  is  a  na- 
^  tive  of  Ohio,  born  in  Tuscarawas  County, 
June  2-t,  1S39,  a  son  of  Thomas  Hendricks. 
AVhen  he  was  nine  years  old,  in  the  fall  of 
1818,  his  parents  removed  with  their  family 
to  Van  IJuren  County,  Iowa,  remaining  there 
almost  ti\e  years.  In  the  spring  of  1853 
they  returned  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Henry 
County,  but  not  liking  the  country  they  left 
there  six  weeks  later  for  Adams  Count}-,  In- 
diana, where  they  arrived  in  June  of  the 
same  year.  Here  the  father  made  his  home 
for  a  ]ieriod  of  alnuist  thirt3'-four  years,  re- 
maining in  Adams  County  until  his  death. 
John  Hendricks,  our  subject,  was  foui'teen 
years  old  when  lie  came  with  his  parents  to 
Adams  County.  He  remained  at  liome  until 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  in  the  fall  of 
18(30  went  to  Ottawa  County,  Oliio,  where  he 
worked  in  a  saw-mill  until  the  fall  of  18G1. 
Returning  to  his  home  in  Adams  County,  lie 
worked  on  a  farm  during  the  summer,  and  in 
the  fall  went  on  a  visit  to  Harrison  County, 
Ohio.  In  the  spring  of  1862  he-commenced 
working  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he 
followed  until  harvest  time.  August  9,  18(J2, 
he  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  tlie  Re- 
bellion, and  was  assigned  to  Company  II, 
Eighty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry.  He  was  in 
all  the  battles  and  skirmishes  in  which  his 
regiment  participated;  among  which  juay  be 
mentioned  battle  of  Munfordville,  Kentucky, 
September  11-15,  1SG2;  on  the  march  to  tlie 
sea,  under  General  Sherman,  from  Eebruary 
2  until  March  1,  18G1;  Pleasant  Hill,  April 
9,  ISGl;   Rayon  Lamore,  May  7,  18G1;   Yel- 


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i'«»»iI™Hl'«i"j»"a»"«J'«i*i??ii?5BH« 


i?/0(-/  HA  Pill  UA  L    ,5  A' A'  TVIIES. 


]ii\v  liavDii,  Louisiana,  May  IS,  1S()4; 
Tiipelu,  ^[ississippi,  July  li,  1S(J4:;  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee,  Dcceiabor  15-lG,  ISG-t,  and 
siege  of  Mobile,  Alabama,  April  9, 18G4.  In 
October  and  November,  18Gi,  he  traveled 
about  700  miles  through  ]\Iissouri.  During 
his  tenn  of  service  he  ti'aveled  in  Kentucky, 
Tennessee,  JTississippi,  Louisiana,  Alabama, 
ILissouri  and  Arkansas.  He  traveled  on  foot 
with  his  regiment  2,303  miles;  by  steamer, 
7,132,  and  by  rail,  1,212  miles.  He  was 
with  General  Banks  on  his  Red  Rivci-  expe- 
dition. He  sei'ved  his  cuuntry  until  August 
y,  1SG5,  when  lie  received  an  Iionurable  ilis- 
charge,  returning  to  his  I'arni  in  Adams 
County.  The  same  fall  he  went  on  a  visit  to 
Harrison  County,  Ohio,  remaining  there  un- 
til February,  ISOG.  August  19,  18CG,  lie 
was  married  to  ^liss  ^largaret  E.  liay,  who 
was  born  in  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  July  7, 
1845,  a  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Eleanor 
Kay.  Her  parents  came  to  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  in  18-18,  and  lia\e  since  made  their 
home  here  with  the  exception  of  three  years 
spent  in  Ottawa  County,  Ohio.  ]\Ir.  and  ]\[rs. 
Hendricks  are  the  parents  of  four  children — 
Levi  X.,  James  V.,  George  A.  and  "William 
A.  !Mr.  Hendricks  is  still  engaj^ed  in  farm- 
ing,  and  is  the  owner  of  eighty  acres  of  choice 
huut  located  on  sections  3  and  10  of  Monroe 
Township.  He  is  a  comrade  of  Sam  Henry 
Tost,  No.  G3,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Decatur,  r.oth  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
E])iscopal  -church,  and  rcsjiected  citizens  of 
Monroe  Townsliip. 


jVTTr,  I].  DAUGIDIAN,  an  active  and  en- 
.'/mi  terprising  business  man  of  Blue  Creek 
'-:-.i.~®  Townshij),  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits at  Salem,  is  a  native  of  Iiichland  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  born  in  Lexington,  starch  20,  l8o5. 


He  is  a  son  of  AVilliam  and  Eli/.abL'th 
Baughman,  who  were  also  born  in  the  State 
of  Ohio,  and  of  (ierman  descent.  The  father 
has  been  a  successful  teacher  for  many  years. 
Our  subject  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  in  1867,  and  after 
residing  a  short  time  in  Decatur,  the  family 
removed  to  Salem,  where  A.  B.  was  i-eared  to 
manhood.  "When  a  young  man  he  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade,  which  he  followed  sev- 
eral years.  He  was  married  in  Adams 
County,  in  1881,  to  Miss  Rachel  Porter,  who 
was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  ^Marcli  29, 
1853,  a  daughter  of  "William  and  ]\[argaret 
Porter.  They  ai'e  the  jxirents  of  two  children, 
named  Lanta  Y.  and  Leroy  G.  In  18S1  ]\Ir. 
Ba>ighnuin  established  his  present  mercantile 
business  at  Salem,  and  carries  a  stock  con- 
sisting of  dry  goods,  groceries,  boots,  shoes 
and  notions  valued  at  about  sl5,000.  By  his 
genial  and  accommodating  manners,  and 
strict  attention  to  business,  he  has  succeeded 
in  building  up  a  good  trade,  and  has  gained 
the  respect  of  his  many  customers.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Baughiiian  atliliatcs  with  the  Demo- 
cratic ]iarty. 


rp^LIAS  CRIST,  a  fanner  of  AVashington 
'l^rj.  Township,  was  born  in  ALahoning  Coun- 
^v^  ty,  Ohio,  June  22,  183(i,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Sarah  Crist,  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  were  the  parents  of  eight  (diildi'en,  six 
of  whom  are  living — Jacob  P.,  Samuel  L., 
Elias,  Jonathan,  (ieorge  and  I'^lizabetli.  In 
the  fall  of  1845  he  came  to  this  county  with 
his  parents,  wlio  located  for  a  short  time  in 
Jvirkland  Township,  then  removed  to  AVash- 
ington  Township,  where  the  parents  passed 
the  remainder  of  their  days.  Elias  assisted 
largely  in  the  support  of  thj  family  after  the 
death  of  his  father.      He  was  reared  U>  man- 


*::■»»  t^iw-i"! 


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IIISTURY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY 


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luitiil  ill  this  I'liiiiitv,  ;iii(l  lias  liocn  ii  lifrldiii^ 
fariiuT.  1 1  is  riiiuMlidii  is  iiri'i'ssarily  iiiiiiti'd, 
as  liis  !i(lvaiita::es  wx-rc  poor.  He  lia<]  ail  tlio 
experient'es  of  pioiioer  life.  He  was  inarried 
October  27,  ISy'J,  to  Elizabeth  Duiiaphin, 
born  June  25,  1840,  in  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio,  and  daughter  of  David  and  Elizabetli 
Duiiaphin,  early  settlers  of  that  county.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Orist  have  had  six  children — Samuel 
I).,  Sarah  C,  .lulin  F.,  Ilattie  M.,  Charles  AV. 
and  Khner  F.;  the  latter  is  deceased.  Mr. 
Crist  is  a  I)emourat  in  politics,  and  lias  served 
as  assesscjr  and  constable  of  Washington 
Township.  Ha  is  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  fraternity  at  Decatur. 


rnOMAS  F.  irOLLINGSAVOFtT]!, 
lyi  farmer,  residing  on  section  13,  Wabasli 
-J  Township,  where  he  has  forty  acres  of 
clioice  land,  was  born  in  Kandolpli  County, 
Indiaiui,  jMarch  11,  l>i-tO,  a  son  of  Fiei-ce  and 
ilartha  (Jfassey)  Ilollingsworth,  natives  of 
South  Carolina  and  JS'ortli  Carolina  respect- 
ively. I'hey  were  married  in  Kortli  Carolina, 
and  subsequently  went  to  South  Carolina. 
Tliey  were  memljers  of  the  j\[ethodist  Epis- 
copal churcli,  the  father  being  a  ministei-  of 
that  den(nnination  for  nearly  fifty  years,  or 
until  his  death.  The  family  M'ere  of  English 
descent.  The  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  IIoll- 
ingsworth  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  serving  from  its  beginning  until  its 
close.  Her  father,  AVilliam  II.  Massey,  and 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  soldier 
during  the  war  of  1812.  lie  afterward  ac- 
cumulated a  large  property  in  Te.xas,  where 
he  was  extensively  engaged  in  stock-raising. 
His  death  occurred  about  1840  Pierce  Holl- 
ingsworth,  the  fatlier  of  our  subject,  immi- 
grated with  liis  family  to  Randolph  County, 
Indiana,  in   1819,  and  entered  IGO  acres  of 


land  smith  nf  Wiiichc.-tfr,  whei-e  the  parents 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  'i'he}' 
were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  eight 
sons  and  three  daughters.  Thomas  P.  HoU- 
ingsworth,  whose  name  heads  tliis  sketch, 
was  reared  on  his  father's  fiu'm  in  Randolph 
County,  receiving  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
September  26,  1861,  to  Miss  Sarah  Odell, 
wdio  died  May  10,  1S77,  leaving  six  children 
— AVilliam,  Ella,  Maggie,  Frank,  Oran  and 
Charles.  For  his  second  wife  !Mi-.  llullings- 
worth  married  Miss  Margaret  Mann,  a  native 
of  Randolph  County,  Indiana,  born  August 
18,  1851,  and  to  this  union  have  been  born 
six  children — AVilson,  James,  Delia,  Harlan, 
Xetta  and  Alice.  Mrs.  Ilollingsworth  is  a 
member  of  the  Disciple  church.  Mr.  Iloll- 
ingsworth was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion,  eidisting  at  the  first  cull  for  75,000 
volunteers,  and  was  assigned  to  Comjiany  E, 
Eighth  Indiana  Infantry.  He  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Rich  Arountain,  AVest  Vir- 
ginia, and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
service  he  returned  after  his  discharge  to  his 
home  in  Randolph  County.  In  1802  he  re- 
enlisted  in  Company  E.,  Sixty-ninth  Indiana 
Infantr}',  and  was  assigned  to  the  AVcstern 
Department,  Thirteenth  Army  Corps,  under 
General  Grant  the  greater  part  of  the  time. 
He  took  part  in  tlie  battle  at  Ricliniond, 
Kentucky,  where  he  was  taken  prisoner.  He 
was  paroled  and  returned  to  Camp  AVayne, 
Indiana,  where  he  reinaineil  until  exchanged 
about  two  months  later.  He  took  part  in 
the  siege  of  A^icksbiirg,  and  the  battle  of 
Arkansas  Post,  besides  other  battles  and 
skirmishes,  participating  in  eleven  hard- 
fought  battles.  At  Tliompson's  Hill,  Mis- 
sissippi, lie  sustained  injuries,  dislocating  his 
liip,  and  now  draws  a  pension.  A\'hile  in  the 
service  he  was  promoted  from  Sergeant  to 
Second    Lieutenant   of  his   company.      After 


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receiving  liis  (lisc'li:irp;e  lie  rctuniLMl  td  K;ui- 
rioliili  (\)iiiity  uiul  enL;;ii;t'ii  in  fanniiii;.  In 
I'Y'lirniiry,  ISTi,  lie  came  ti>  Adams  C'ount.y, 
and  after  Iniyinij;  two  farms  wliieli  lie  al'ter- 
■\vai\l  sold,  lie  i)oiii^lit  his  jiresent  farm,  to 
■which  he  remo\etl  in  Febniary,  188(5,  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  general  farming. 
Mr.  IJolliiigswortli  is  a  member  of  John  P. 
Porter  Post,  No.  83,  G.  A.  P.,  and  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  order. 


Tl^.ENRY  CIIPJSMAN,  farmer,  section  25, 

t  Wabash  Townshii),  Adams  County,  was 
born  in  Shenanduah  County,  Virginia, 
July  28,  18-i'J,  a  son  of  Adam  and  Cathci-ine 
(Ilottlc)  Chrisman.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  Germany,  where  lie  gi-ew  to  manhood,  and 
before  coming  to  America  was  twice  married, 
both  of  his  wives  dying  in  their  native  coun- 
try. P>y  his  tii'st  marriage  lie  had  two  chil- 
dren, and  to  his  second  marriage  was  born 
one  child.  On  arriving  in  America  the  father 
settled  in  Virginia,  where  he  was  married  to 
Catherine  llottle,  who  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. The}'  immigrated  to  Ohio,  about 
1853,  and  lived  in  Licking,  Franklin  and 
Delaware  counties.  In  the  fall  of  1801  they 
came  with  their  family  to  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  ami  after  living  in  Wabash  Town- 
ship for  a  time,  they  removed  to  Jay  County, 
where  tlie  father  ilied  a  short  time  afterward, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-one  yciirs,  his  death  taking 
place  in  18(55.  The  mother  then  returned  to 
A\'^abash  Township,  Adams  County,  and  ])ur- 
chased  the  farm  on  which  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  now  resides,  where  she  lived  till  her 
death  in  187-1,  at  tlie  age  of  lifty-three  years. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Disciple  chuich. 
The  father,  in  his  religious  views,  was  a 
I^utlicran.  l'«y  his  third  mai-riage  he  had  a 
family  of    ten    children.      Henry    Chrisman, 


whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was  reared  to 
agricultural  jnirsnits,  his  father  being  a 
farmer,  and  in  his  youth  receiveil  his  educa- 
tion in  the  comiuuii  scliools  of  his  neighbor- 
hood, lie  has  always  followed  farming  and 
now  has  fine  farm  in  Wabash  Township 
ccmtaining  eighty  acres  of  land,  forty  acres 
being  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  March  4,  1880,  to 
Miss  Anna  Dickerson,  who  was  born  in  Vin- 
ton County,  Ohio,  September  8,  1855,  a 
daughter  of  George  P.  and  Lucinda  (^Win- 
ters) Dickerson,  who  were  born  in  the  State 
of  Ohio,  but  are  now  residents  of  Wabash 
Township,  Adams  County,  Indiana.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Chrisman  are  the  parents  of  three 
children — Catherine  L.,  ]\Iinnie  and  Lulu. 
]\[rs.  Chrisman  is  a  member  of  the  Disciple 
church. 


5C|TEPriEN  HOFFMAN,  an  old  settler 
tS^)  "'"  -^'^''^"^s  County,  engaged  in  fanning 
^P  on  section  26,  Kirkland  Township,  is  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  Northamp- 
ton, now  Lehigh,  County,  P'ebruary  14, 1810, 
his  parents,  Peter  and  Julia  (Hoffman)  Hoff- 
man, being  born  in  the  same  State,  and  of 
German  descent.  The  father  died  in  his  na- 
tive State  in  October,  LS37,  aged  sixty-six 
years.  The  mother  afterward  removed  to 
Traml)ull  County,  Ohio,  where  she  died  in 
January,  1881,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
six  years.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children, 
three  sons  and  five  daughters.  Poth  parents 
were  members  of  the  German  lleformed 
church.  The  father  followed  the  avocation 
of  a  farmer  through  life.  The  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  William  Hoffman,  was  born 
in  Paden,  Germany,  in  1752,  and  when  four 
years  of  age  was  brought  to  ^Viuerica  by  his 
parents,   who   settled    in    Pennsylvania.      He 


l5i^.,. 


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!•»."«■"»' 


■j»_*ij^«i  la  jii 


•i'««iTS"'i»^^«i«'ii"M»!i»inK«"««r»iL»«s*i 


JiiaTonr  of  auam;^  county. 


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was  iiiari'ie(l  to  I'^lizalietli  ClerlaT,  a  native  of 
ISwit/.ci-lainl,  and  to  lliiuu  Wfi'c  lioi'n  livu  sons 
and  six  daugliters.  The  gianiiiiareiits  died 
in  the  State  of  Punnsylvania,  the  griindfathcr 
in  1m24,  and  tlie  grandmother  in  1840.  The 
former  was  a  soklier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  They  were  members  of  the  Gei'man 
Ueformcd  churcli.  Stephen  llofi'man,  wliose 
name  heads  this  sketcli,  was  reared  to  the  avo- 
cation of  a  farmer.  In  1834  he  went  to 
Seneca  County,  Ohio,  wliere  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  Land  and  engaged  in  farming 
for  himself.  Septeml  er  IG,  1838,  lie  was 
married  to  ^fary  1  >aubens  Peck,  who  was  boi'ii 
in  Schuylkill  County,  I'eiinsylvania,  July  7, 
1820,  and  to  them  were  born  eleven  children 
— liculten,  AVilliam,  Solomon,  Paul,  Lydia, 
Jacob,  James,  Leah,  Noah,  Lewis  and  Jonas. 
Mr.  Hoffman  suljsequently  sold  liis  land  in 
Seneca  County  and  returned  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  purchased  his  father's  farm,  on  which  he 
resided  until  IS(Jl).  In  April  of  that  year  lie 
came  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  settled 
on  land  on  section  20,  Kirkland  Townsliip, 
entered  by  James  JJussell,  on  wdiich  he  has 
since  made  his  liome,  becoming  a  prominent 
man  in  his  township,  ilrs.  Hoffman  died 
June  7,  1805.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
German  Ileformed  church,  of  which  ]\Ir. 
Hoffman  is  still  a  mendjer.  In  politics  Mr. 
Hoffman  is  a  IJeinocrat,  casting  his  iirst 
presidential  vote  for  Martin  Van  Luren. 

ILLIAM  11.  SMITH,  of  the  firm  of 
Smith  A:  IJice,  IJecatur,  Indiana,  is  a 
°^5>3^  native  of  Adams  County,  born  in 
Washington  Township,  September  25,  1855, 
a  son  of  Franklin  13.  and  Catherine  (Rawley) 
Smith,  his  father  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  his  mother  of  Ohio.  In  liis  youth  F.  13. 
Smith  came  to  Adams  County.      From    1857 


until  18(58  he  lived  in  Wabash  Townshi]),  and 
then  moved  to  Koot  Township,  where  he  <lied 
in  1872,  aged  forty  years.  His  widow  after- 
ward married  J.  Pugg,  and  still  lives  in 
Root  Township.  "W".  P.  Smith  was  reared  a 
farmer,  and  when  twenty  years  of  age  started 
in  life  for  himself.  He  followed  agricultural 
pursuits  until  December,  1880,  when  he 
lented  his  farm  and  moved  to  Decatur,  and 
in  company  with  Joseph  M.  Pice  opened  a 
meat  market,  whicli  they  still  operate,  having 
built  up  a  good  trade,  their  aim  at  all  times 
being  to  please  customers.  Mr.  Smith  was 
married  October  2^,  1875,  to  Nancy  J.  Pice, 
daiightei-  of  W.  P.  anil  Frances  (Pobbet) 
Pice.  They  have  had  four  children;  but 
three  are  living — Francis  Pendleton,  Harvey 
^Martin  and  Richard  Earl.  A  daughter,  Ethel 
Pearl,  died  August  30,  1877,  aged  over  one 
year.  ilr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  are  mendiers  of 
the  ^Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

to  ■    <•   (ij 

r^DGAP  S.  MOSES,  farmer,  section  33, 
'\[rrk  Union  Township,  was  born  in  Root 
"it^  Township,  Adams  County,  Api-il  22, 
1850,  son  of  Samuel  and  Eliza  (Hunter) 
Moses.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  town- 
ship, attended  the  common  schools,  and 
completed  his  education  at  Wabash  College, 
attending  there  two  years.  Since  leaving 
school  he  has  worked  on  the  farm  during  the 
summer  season  and  taught  school  during  the 
winter,  and  by  so  doing  is  now  in  possession 
of  a  very  handsome  farm,  well  stocked.  His 
special  pride  is  in  raising  fine  horses.  |See 
sketch  of  Samuel  Moses.]  He  was  married 
April  8,  1880,  to  Miss  Maggie  Dailey,  who 
was  born  in  St.  Mary's  Township,  Adams 
County,  July  22,  1858.  She  was  reared  at 
her  birth-place,  and  comjileted  her  education 
at    the    Northern    Indiana    Normal     Sclujol, 


1^ 


'■"»g^»ii»g»^ni»BTqa"i^«>^-n'«M'JJ»i 


«a»"a«j„»a« 


is 


»»^".*»>r-»i.^i;^rivn£>Tiiij4.-jiw^^r.ij!,-;^^i^i-Dj, 


'ai*lA***»"«*'^^»i*?i?* 


IIIUQRAI'IIWAL    tiKKTC'lIK^. 


situated  at  Vsilparaiso.  S!io  followed  teach- 
ing both  hef'ore  and  after  ni;iri-iage.  Her 
j)arents  were  James  and  ]\Iury  (.lohiisoii) 
Dailcy.  Her  fathci- was  born  in  jMaryland, 
and  when  six  years  old  went  with  his  parents 
to  Athens  Connty,  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared, 
anil  cauio  to  Adams  Connty,  Indiana,  a  year 
or  two  before  inar)-iaL,^o,  which  occurred  Octo- 
ber \^,  1S41.  Mrs.  Dailey  was  formerly 
Miss  JNIary  Johnson.  She  was  born  in  Har- 
din County,  Ohio,  September  22,  1^22,  and 
April  26,  1S37,  removed  to  Van  Wert  Conn- 
t}',  (^hio,  where  she  lived  until  her  marriaye. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dailey  came  to  St.  ]\rary's 
Township  immediately  after  tiieir  marriage, 
where  ^[r.  Dailey  had  entered  eighty  acres  of 
land  from  the  Government.  Their  outfit  for 
housekeeping  consisted  of  one  bed,  an  ax,  a 
mattock  and  one  skillet.  They  also  had  a 
cook-stove,  which  was  a  great  rarity  for  a 
pioneer.  Thus  they  commenced  life  in  this 
primitive  way,  but  before  the  husband  died 
they  were  the  possessors  of  600  acres  of  land, 
and  luul  erected  good  buildings.  The  father 
died  in  1864,  leaving  a  wife  and  twelve 
children.  The  mother  died  December  6, 
1885,  u])on  the  old  farm  where  she  and  her 
liusband  had  commenced  their  married  life 
together.  She  was  a  member  of  the  I'uptist 
church,  having  united  with  that  church  when 
forty  years  of  age.  At  the  time  of  her  death 
there  were  ten  of  their  children  living.  Since 
that  time  one  more  has  joined  her  in  the 
"beautiful  beyond."  Their  children  were — 
Nimrod,  who  died  two  months  after,  aged 
forty-three  years;  ifary,  wife  of  ]>.  Jones; 
Davis,  Joseph,  Kebecca,  who  died  after  reach- 
ing young  wonnmhood;  Amy,  wife  of  John 
Cowan;  Emily,  wife  of  James  C.  Moses; 
Maggie,  wife  of  our  subject;  Samantha, 
living  at  home;  Almina,  who  died  soon  after 
her  father;  James  T.  and  E.  AV.,  twins,  ]^^r. 
and   !Mrs.  Moses  have  one  child—  Eliza  Ger- 


LiJi^-irj- 1  ?■  li.'!  tflar  •J.-tiii'^ 


trude,  born  June  G,  1SS2.  'J'lie  grandfather 
of  Mrs.  .Moses,  James  Dailey,  was  born  in 
Cork,  Ireland,  and  died  in  Athens  County, 
Ohio.  Her  grandmother,  ]^Iary  (Majors) 
Dailey,  M'as  probably  born  in  Maryland,  and 
died  in  Atiiens  County,  Ohio,  at  the  age  ot 
ninety-two  years.  Their  children  were — 
Js'imi'od,  Eliza,  Julia,  Matilda,  j\Iary,  liobert, 
Esais,  James  and  "William.  Her  maternal 
grandfather,  Joseph  Johnson,  was  born  in 
Virginia  May  23,  1770,  and  died  in  Van 
Wert  County,  Ohio.  Her  grandmother,  Mary 
(Davis)  Johnson,  was  born  January  3,  1783, 
also  died  in  Van  AVert  Connty.  They  were 
married  April  13,  1806.  Their  children  were 
— Ijenjamin,  Anne  (Johnson)  Wager,  Re- 
becca (Johnson)  Foster,  Able,  Davis,  Amy 
(Johnson)  Baxter,  died  in  Colorado;  Cather- 
ine, who  died  in  young  womanhood;  Mary 
(Johnson)  Dailey,  Joseph  and  IJenjamin. 


?|^AMUEL    SMITH,    farmer    and    cattle 

ftlealer,  residing  on  section  3,  Wabash 
Township,  is  a  native  of  Greene  Coun- 
ty, Pennsjdvania,  born  September  17,  18-43, 
a  son  of  Morgan  Smith.  AVhen  four  years  of 
age  he  was  l)rouglit  by  his  parents  to  Adams 
(,'ounty,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  on  his 
father's  farm,  assisting  his  father  with  the 
work  of  the  farm  until  his  death.  He  re- 
ceived a  fair  common-school  education,  and 
subsequently  taught  school  for  two  terms. 
He  is  now  engaged  in  general  farming,  and 
for  the  past  several  years  has  been  buying 
and  shipping  stock.  His  farm  consists  of 
150  acres,  and  its  entire  surroundings  prove 
the  owner  to  be  a  thorough,  practical  farmer. 
]\Ir.  Smith  was  lirst  married  March  17, 1864, 
to  ilary  A.  Abnet,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  July 
22,  1846,  and  came  with  her  ]iarents  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  before  her  marriage. 

jM— ^■-.->Jii^iir,^».i.-^l 


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tflTM  flfw  5»»  «i^.«»-».^€i»^'»  iit<ii»  fS*  MT«i»i*  «jk  •»*iMi¥iP?lMi*tit '?i«™Li"i»L*»in 


IIISTOIIY    OV    ADA.)fS    COUNTY. 


it 


fir, 


( )t'  till'  tbnr  i-liililrcn  Koi-n  to  tin's  union  twu 
are  li\ini;-,  iiunn'<l  J.aui'a  anil  Ida.  Mvs. 
Smith  (lied  Fehruaiy  14,  ISTl,  and  ^Viiyust 
7,  IHI'6,  Mr.  Smith  marriL-d  Mary  L.  Uc- 
Clain,  Imrn  in  J.iekini^  ( 'dunty,  ( )hi(),  July 
Is,  lb51.  Slie  died  March  5,  1S75,  leaving 
one  child — IJllian  S.  ^Ir.  Smith  was  again 
married  January  Is,  1877,  to  Caroline  L. 
]\[cClain.  who  was  also  born  in  Licking  Coun- 
ty. Ohio,  l)eccmher  (^i,  1S54,  and  to  thein  were 
horn  lour  children,  three  of  whom  are  living 
— Clement  N.,  Carl  McClain  and  Floyd  S. 
Jfrs.  Smith  died  February  18,  1887.  In 
politics  i\Ir.  Smith  atKliates  with  the  Demo- 
cratic ])arty.  lie  takes  an  active  interest  in 
the  ])ublic  affairs  of  his  townshij),  and  has 
served  four  years  as  justice  of  the  peace. 


ALUWIN  11.  CLAIJK,  an  active  and 
enterprising  farmer  of  lilue  Creek  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  Mercer  County,  Ohio, 
January  24,  1841,  a  son  of  George  and  ilary 
(Mark.  Ilis  parents  were  natives  of  Vermont, 
and  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Mercer 
County,  Ohio.  Of  a  large  number  of  chil- 
dren born  to  tlieni  six  arc  still  living — Melis- 
sa, Marion,  Harriet,  Helen,  Herbert  and 
Baldwin  II.  Tlie  mother  is  deceased,  and 
the  father  is  now  a  I'csident  of  Cloud  Coun- 
ty, Kansas.  Baldwin  If.  Clark,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  grew  to  maturity  in  his  native 
county,  being  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood. He  was  a  soldier  during  the  late 
war,  enlisting  in  October,  18(31,  in  Company 
E,  Forty-si.xth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  following  engagements:  Battles 
of  Shiloh,  Yicksburg,  Jackson,  Mississippi, 
ilission  Ilidge,  Atlanta  camjiaign,  Sherman's 
march  to  the  sea  and  through  the  Carolinas 
and  battle  of  P>entonville.      He  was  wounded 


at  the  battles  of  Shiloh  and  Bentonville, 
_Xortli  Car(_)lina.  He  was  a  gallant  and  faith- 
ful soldier,  serving  until  July,  1805, when  he 
received  an  honorable  discharge.  After  the 
war  he  retui'ued  to  Mercer  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  married  in  September,  18GG,  to 
JMiss  Emily  Fisher,  her  lather,  Peter  Fisher, 
being  an  old  settler  of  Mercer  County.  J\Irs. 
Clark  died  March  2,  18S1,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren— Walter  S.,  Elnora  B.,  Charles  A.  and 
]\Iary  E.  ]\[r.  Clark  was  again  married  in  Sep- 
tember, 1881,  to  :Mrs.  Catherine  (Kay)  Davy, 
a  datightcr  of  John  A\'^.  liay,  an  old  settler  of 
Adams  County.  To  this  union  was  born  one 
child,  a  daughter,  named  Delia  A.  Uy  her 
marriage  with  George  W.  Davy  Mrs.  Clark 
had  one  child,  Tiamed  Emma  G.  Mr.  Clai-k 
settled  on  his  present  farm  in  Blue  Creek 
Township  in  18S2,  where  he  has  eighty  acres 
of  choice  land,  and  is  meeting  with  success 
in  his  farming  pursuits.  In  politics  Mr. 
Clark  attiliates  with  the  Republican  party. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
ilethodist  Episcopal  church,  and  respected 
members  of   society. 


jIpMAXUEL  NEADEPJIOUSER,  pro- 
\n|L  prietor  of  the  Biiena  Vista  Flour  Mill, 
^  is  a  Tuitive  of  Switzerland,  born  in  the 
year  1810,  and  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his 
native  country.  He  learned  his  trade  from 
his  father,  who  was  a  miller  and  millwright, 
lie  immigrated  to  America  in  1844  and 
settled  in  Wells  County,  Indiana,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade.  lie  was  married  in 
Wells  County  in  1848  to  Miss  ]\[ary  Rapp,  a 
native  of  Germany,  who  died  in  June,  1871. 
Of  the  ten  children  born  to  this  union  oidy 
four  are  living — Fred,  John,  Emma  and 
Sarah.  Mr.  Xeadei'houser  was  again  married 
in  1871  to  Miss  Mary  Baumgartner,  who  was 


■?j«^ja**«i?ii?l^i«Hjj*  a»^ 


?*  ^:*!?j»!:*jBLHi» 


5u-«i  !"*•"**-«  •• 


c'Ln  •'^t  »ffcV?ij!M»4**..««^^'". 


I 

I 

11 


niOGIlAPUWAL    SKKTVIIES. 


iU 


ili 


^?il; 


horn  in  Wells  Cciunty,  Luliaiia,  in  1840,  and 
to  this  nnioii  wei-u  horn  ten  cliildrcn,  of  wiioni 
live  are  li\inir-  Cora,  Kllle,  Maley,  Teresa 
and  an  infant  iinnanieil.  Mr.  Neailerliuiiser 
remained  in  Wells  Connty  until  1858,  when 
he  came  to  Adams  ('onnty  and  erected  a 
ilunrini(  mill,  which  he  (jpcrated  until  18S(>, 
when  he  put  in  a  new  set  of  machinery,  of 
the  roller  process,  at  a  cost  of  about  $(j,000. 
The  mill  was  run  hy  water  power  until  1S70, 
since  which  tiirie  it  has  been  run  by  a  forty- 
horse  power  steam  engine,  the  mill  having  a 
capacity  of  aliout  fifty  barrels  of  ilour  per  day. 
Both  ."Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neaderhouser  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Association.  Their 
son,  Fred  Xea<lerliouser,  was  born  in  Hart- 
ford Township,  Adams  County,  .March  [), 
1859,  and  iiere  he  grew  to  manhood,  receiv- 
inrr  in  his  youth  the  benefits  of  a  common- 
schiicd  education.  He  learned  the  miller's 
trade  of  his  father,  and  in  1884  became  a 
partner  in  his  fatlier's  milling  business,  which 
lias  since  continued.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  ]\rarch  27,  1886,  to  Miss  Ji[ary 
Lehman,  who  was  also  born  in  Hartford 
Township,  the  date  of  her  birth  being  Janu- 
ary 21,  1800.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Association. 


^fDAM  J.  SMITH,  of  the  lumber  firm, 
////Vi  ^"''^''  ^*^  J'cll,  of  Decatur,  is  a  native  of 
■5^,;~'  Wliitlev  County,  Indiana,  born  near 
Cliurubusco,  February  20,  1857,  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Catherine  Elizabeth  (Leppla) 
Smith,  natives  of  I^avaria,  CTermany,  wiiere 
they  were  married,  and  in  1840  came  to  the 
United  States  and  located  in  Tuscarawas 
County,  Ohio,  and  in  185G  moved  to  Whitley 
County,  Indiana.  They  lived  on  a  farm  until 
188(5,    ^vllen     they    moved     to     Cliurubusco, 


where  the  fatlier  died  three  inontlis  later, 
aged  eighty-tive  years,  and  the  nn^ther  still 
lives,  aged  seventy-four  years.  Foth  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children — William, 
of  Coesse,  Indiana;  Henry,  of  Cliurubusco; 
John,  afarinerof  AVliitley  CJounty;  Philip  AV., 
of  Decatur;  Catherine,  wife  of  James  Ifoacli, 
of  C!oesse,  and  Adam  J.  Adam  J.  Smith  was 
reared  in  iiis  native  county,  where  lie  had 
good  school  advantages,  completing  his  edu- 
cation at  the  A'alparaiso  jS'orinal  School. 
AVlien  twenty-one  years  old  he  began  teach- 
ing, which  he  continued  for  some  time  in. 
AVhitley  County,  and  in  1884  moved  to 
Decatur  and  engaged  in  manufacturing  and 
dealing  in  lumber.  In  the  fall  of  1886  he 
formed  a  partiiersliip  with  A.  R.  Ilell,  under 
the  Jirm  name  Smith  iV  Bell.  ilr.  Smith 
was  married  June  5,  1884,  to  Miss  AVillic 
E^onner,  a  native  of  Adams  County,  daughter 
of  John  A.  and  Elizabeth  (Pillars)  Fonner. 
They  liave  one  child — lulith  ]\[ay,  born  April 
15,  1885.  Jlrs.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  E])iscojial  church. 


y^AMUEL  FINK  was  born  in  Perry 
'■Cw  ^'"""'.y>  ^-^liio,  December  7,  1823,  a  son 
C-"  of  AVilliam  and  Magdalena  (Garber) 
Fink,  the  father  being  a  native  of  ^faryland, 
born  January  9,  1795,  and  the  mother  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1798,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  both 
being  of  German  descent.  They  were  married 
in  Perry  County,  Ohio,  February  28,  1823, 
and.  shortly  after  settled  in  Perry  County, 
Ohio.  The  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  for  his  services  recei.ved  a  pension. 
lie  received  a  land  warrant  witli  which  he 
entered  120  acres  in  A'ernon  County,  Mis- 
souri.    He  left   Perry    County   in   1829  and 


k"^*w!*l.-'Jt.i 


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Jii.^tfej-M 


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4G3 


IIItSTOUY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


'4 
'.ft. 

'■t 

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k 

•  •1 
(F'i 

.'al:--~ 
-.  UP.™  J 


sfttkil  witli  liis  t'umily  in  yoiiecii  (bounty, 
Ohio.  Tlie  mother  tliod  in  Ottawji  County, 
Oiiio,  Jnly  4,  1S(J3,  tlie  t'atliur  dying  in  San- 
(hisky  Cuinity,  Ohio,  Xovoniher  ~,  1S7G. 
I!otli  WLTc  i!ifnilic'i-s  of  tiic  (Ternian  IJaptist 
L'hiircli.  They  had  a  family  of  eiglit  children, 
tlie  suhject  of  tliis  sketcii  being  the  eldest. 
His  father  being  a  fai'incr  he  was  roared  to 
the  same  oceiipation.  Jle  attended  the 
seliools  of  liis  neighborhood,  receiving  a 
common-school  education,  lie  learned  the 
carder  and  fuller's  trade,  at  which  he  served 
an  apprenticeship  of  three  years,  after  which 
he  worked  one  summer  in  a  factory.  Maj' 
14,  1854,  he  M'as  married  to  Julena  Salome 
Clark,  who  was  born  in  Crawford  County, 
Ohio,  July  21, 1834,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin 
A.  and  Sarah  (Swally)  Clark,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  the  father  born  in  Schuylkill 
County,  July  13,  1813,  and  the  mother  born 
in  ]\[ittlin,  now  Juniata  County,  Jnly  23, 
1813.  i[r.  and  ]\[rs.  Clark  were  members  of 
the  German  Baptist  cliurch.  They  were  the 
parents  of  Tiine  children,  !^^r.  Clark  was  a 
M'ea\'er  when  a  young  man,  but  later  in  life 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  ilr.  and 
]\Irs.  Fink  have  six  childi-en,  whose  names 
are — Ardella  E.,  Clarkson  1"".,  George  E., 
.Martha  J^  >r.,  Phebe  E.  and  Elles  O.  Mr. 
and  ^Irs.  Fink  are  members  of  the  German 
Paptist  church,  Mr.  Fiidc  having  passed  the 
first  degree  of  the  ministry  October  9,  1875, 
!uul  since  that  time  has  been  in  the  ministry. 
He  came  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in  1883, 
settling  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides, 
]\rarch  23  of  that  year.  lie  takes  a  great 
interest  in  the  culture  of  bees,  in  which  he  is 
remarkably  successful.  He  is  a  natural 
genius,  and  can  make  almost  anything  he  sets 
out  to  do,  and  has  received  a  patent  on  a  bee 
hive.  lie  is  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  hon- 
orable in  all  his  dealings,  and  <luring  his 
residence   in   Wabash  Township    has  gained 


the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  entire  com- 
munity. iJ  is  church  lielieves  in  and  carries 
out  tunipcrance  in  all  things. 


f^ILLIAM  SN^'DEi:,  a  prominent 
(i  farmer  of  Hartford  Township,  Adams 
"^iP^  County,  was  born  in  the  State  of  New 
Jersey,  November  28,  1820,  a  son  of  Peter 
and  Catherine  (Horner)  Snyder,- who  were 
also  natives  of  New  Jersey  and  of  German 
descent.  They  removed  from  their  native 
State  to  ^Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  where 
the  lather  lived  till  his  death,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years.  The  mother  is  also  de- 
ceased, she  dying  in  Darke  County,  Ohio. 
They  had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  six 
sons  and  six  daughters.  The  father  worked 
at  carpentering  for  several  years,  but  in  later 
life  engaged  in  farming,  and  in  his  agricult- 
ural pursuits  met  with  good  success.  He 
united  with  the  Baptist  church  in  New  Jersey, 
and  later  joined  the  United  Brethren  church, 
but  at  the  time  of  his  ileath  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church.  William  Snyder, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  grew  to  manhood 
on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  his  educatic>n 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  neighborhood. 
He  was  married  September  18,  1847,  to  J\[iss 
Christina  Mundhenk,  a  native  of  Montgomery 
County,  Ohio,  born  .Alay  21,  1827.  To  this 
union  were  born  eleven  children — Amelia  C, 
Mary  A.,  Sarah  E.,  Philip  L.,  Martha  C, 
William  A.  (deceased),  Amanda  E.,  Lucinda 
J.,  John  G.  (deceased),  George  E.  and  Samuel 
C.  Mrs.  Snyder  died  October  11,  1876,  and 
Mr.  Snyder  was  again  married  in  Winchester 
Indiana,  August  15,  1878,  to  Miss  Mary 
Watts,  who  was  born  in  Kichland  County, 
Ohio,  in  1836.  In  1848  she  with  her 
parents,  Samuel  and  Martha  (Paxton)  Watts, 
removed   to  Wells  County,  Indiana.      In   her 


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in.: 

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I 


BIOGRAPniGAL    SKETCHES. 


i.s;«v£«i."*';i^-'u«i»Jii> 


4(i5 


sixteenth  yci^r  tlie  cuinmeuced  teaching 
scliool  in  tliat  county,  and  continued  for 
about  twenty-live  years.  Her  name  has  be- 
come a  huuseliokl  word  in  AVells  County, 
througli  lier  avocation  as  a  teaclier.  Mr. 
Snyder  followed  farming  on  his  father's  farm 
for  five  years,  after  his  marriage,  when,  in 
February,  1S53,  lie  came  to  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  and  settled  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  21,  Hartford  Township,  which  iiad 
been  entered  by  his  wife.  To  liis  original 
tract  of  land  lie  lias  since  added  until  he  lias 
now  a  line  farm  of  520  acres.  Mr.  Snyder 
takes  an  active  interest  in  any  enterprise 
which  he  deems  for  the  advancement  of  his 
township  or  county,  anil  it  was  mainly  through 
his  influence  that  the  first  turnpike  in  Adams 
County  was  built.  In  politics  he  was  for- 
merly a  AVhig,  but  since  the  organization 
of  the  Republican  party  he  has  voted  that 
ticket. 


IIOMAS   IIEXPRICKS,  deceased,  was 

%  \il  born  in  the  State  of   Ohio,   Xovember 
' '-'( l:f 

tp'  22,  1811,  a  son  of  John  and  Susan- 
nah (Custer)  Hendricks,  who  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  They  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  where 
tliey  lived  on  the  farm  entered  by  them  from 
the  Government  until  their  death.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  four  sons 
and  six  daughters.  Thomas  Hendricks, 
wliose  name  heads  this  sketch,  grew  to  man- 
liood  on  the  home  farm  in  Harrison  County, 
Ohio,  being  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  was  married  in  July,  183-1,  to  Lydia  Ren- 
necker,  who  was  born  in  Maryland,  October 
12,  1812,  coming  to  Ohio  with  her  parents 
■when  six  years  of  age.  Seven  children  were 
born  to  ]\[r.  and  Mrs.  Hendricks,  of  whom  only 
four  are  now  living.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Hendricks  lived  for  a  short  time  in  Jeli'erson 


County,  Ohio,  removing  thence  to  Tuscara- 
was County,  where  he  entered  eighty  acres  of 
land.  He  improved  this  land,  on  which  he 
made  his  home  until  1848.  He  then  removed 
with  his  family  to  Iowa,  and  settled  in  Van 
Buren  County,  where  he  bought  a  farm  and 
engaged  in  farming,  remaining  there  until 
i\[ay,  1853,  when  he  sold  his  farm,  and  in 
June  of  the  same  year  came  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana.  He  then  settled  on  section 
3  of  Jlonroe  Township,  where  he  lived  till 
his  death  .January  13,  1883.  Mrs.  Hendricks 
still  resides  with  her  son  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  ]\ronroc  Township.  She  was  for- 
merly a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  but 
now  belongs  to  the  !^fethodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  which  Jfr.  Hendricks  was  also  a 
member.  In  politics,  like  his  father  before 
him,  he  was  a  l)emocrat. 


rfp-ORGAN  STkriTH,  deceased,  was  born 
^j'mAlk  ill  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  in  1807, 
'^Hp'i^  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He 
learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  wdiich  he  fol- 
lowed in  his  native  State.  His  parents,  Sooy 
and  Mary  (Luzader)  Smith,  were  also  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  They  went  to  Ohio  in  an 
earl^'  day  and  settled  in  Guernsey  Count}'. 
They  afterward  removed  to  Pickaway  County, 
where  they  lived  till  their  death.  Mr.  Smith 
was  twice  married,  marrying  for  his  second 
wife  a  lady  named  Wheeler,  by  wdioni  he 
has  had  six  children.  Five  children  were 
born  to  his  first  marriage.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  a  prominent 
man  of  Pickaway  County,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  held  the  office  of  county  judge. 
Morgan  Smith,  wdiose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
learned  his  trade  from  his  father,  who  was  a 
shoemaker  by  occupation.  He  went  to  Ohio 
with  his  parents,  remaining  there  till  sixteen 


r 


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fT!i«-5m-^»;!;'. 


ii^«>t^««v?«MiF. 


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■iV  i  *ia*i."fii?*j»'"fiP?i»S»i"i"!«:5»i»iWil5PiS»^^ 


llISrOHY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


I'ijl*ift*«i 


'11 


J; 


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i 


years  ot'iigc,  wlicii  lio  irtiinieil  to  Peiiiisylva- 
iiia.  lie  was  first  niari-ieil  tci  I'^Iizabeth 
Jliteliciicr,  by  wlium  lie  liail  tVmr  eliiKlreii,  ut' 
wluim  only  one  is  now  living  —  Mliza  J.,  wife 
ot'  .lasper  iieazell,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  For 
his  second  wife  he  married  ]\rary  A.  (IJar- 
clay)  Hook,  a  native  of  Pittsburgh,  Pennsyl- 
vania, born  June  IG,  1811,  a  daughter  of 
Stephen  and  Alaria  (lieid)  Barclay,  who  were 
also  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  wliere  tliey 
lived  till  their  death.  Si.x  cliildreii  were  bom 
to  tliis  union — Carrie,  Samuel,  Parclay,  Lucy 
(<leeease(l),  iMary  and  Jol).  15y  her  former 
marriage  with  Thomas  Hook  JMrs.  Smith  had 
two  children,  one  of  whom  is  living — Igna- 
tius, now  at  Guilford,  Indiana,  engaged  in 
the  ministr}'.  ]\Ir.  Smith  I'emained  in  Penn- 
sylvania until  he  came  with  his  family  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  in  December,  1847. 
lie  had  come  to  the  county  in  1837  and  en- 
tered 100  acres,  and  after  settling  in  the 
county  ho  bought  land  until  he  had  720  acres 
lying  in  ^lonroe  and  Wabash  Townships,  the 
result  of  })ei-severing  industry  and  good 
management.  His  widow  now  resides  with 
her  son  Samuel  in  Wabash  Township.  Slie 
is  a  member  of  the  Protestant  ^Icthodist 
church.  Her  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812,  and  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
New  Orleans,  for  which  he  receives  a  pension 
from  the  Government. 


rT*SERIlY  MrDANIEL,  engaged  in  farming 
\i  <^<  on  section  I'J,  Jjlue  Creek  Townshij), 
^t  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Ohio, 
October  8,  1835,  a  son  of  John  and  Mary 
McDaniel,  who  were  Tiatives  of  Delaware  and 
Ohio  respectively,  and  early  settlers  of 
Greene  County,  Ohio.  Of  a  large  number  of 
children  born  to  tliem  only  three  survive — 
Eliza    A.,   Sarah    and    Perry.      In  about  the 


year  1830  the  i)arents  removed  with  their 
family  to  j\dams  County.  Indiana,  and  settled 
in  the  woods  in  the  ea^t  iiart  of  lilue  Creek 
Townt-hiji,  where  the  father  entered  eighty 
acres  of  land.  He  lirst  built  a  log  cabin  for 
his  family,  after  which  he  began  to  clear  his 
farm.  He  remained  in  Adams  County  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  May  10,  1850.  lie 
was  one  of  the  re])resentative  pioneers  of  the 
county,  and  did  mucli  toward  advancing  the 
interests  of  his  township  and  county.  He 
was  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  and  was  held 
in  high  esteem  by  all  who  knew  him.  In  his 
religious  views  he  was  a  I'aptist.  Perry 
^rcl)anie!,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  l>ut 
an  infant  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Adams  County.  He  was  reared  amid  pio- 
neer scenes,  and  experienced  some  of  the 
hardships  and  privations  incident  to  the 
early  pioneers.  His  educatiomil  advantages 
were  limited,  receiving  only  a  rudimentary 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  that  early 
day.  August  8,  1802,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany K,  Eighty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry,  as  a 
private.  He  took  j^art  at  the  battle  of  Mun- 
fordville,  where  he  was  captured,  but  shortly 
afterward  was  paroled,  and  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Nashville  and  Mobile,  beside  nu- 
merous others  of  minor  importance.  lie  was 
honorably  discharged  in  July,  1805,  after 
which  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Adams 
County,  Indiana.  Mr.  McDaniel  was  married 
December  31,  1859,  to  Sarah  Shepherd,  who 
was  born  in  Delaware  County,  Indiana,  Jan- 
uary 13,  183'J,  a  daughter  of  David  and 
Bethsheba  (Draper)  Shepherd,  and  of  Quaker 
origin.  Mr.  McDaniel  settled  on  his  present 
farm  in  1881,  where  he  has  eighty  acres  of 
fine  land,  and  is  meeting  with  success  in  liis 
farming  operations.  With  the  exception  of 
seven  years  spent  in  Kansas  ^Ir.  McDaniel 
has  resided  in  Adams  County  since  1^30,  and 
by   his   fair   and    honorable  deidings   he    has 


■  If! 
'&■ 

'Bl- 

'll! 

I 


;,TBii,j/ia.:«iM^M;*>i««i^«:>Ji*'w*ii*j«>ir^«iVM«u-»i:Vji»^^ 


niOaRAPlIICAL    SKETGUES. 


gained  the  coiii'uk'iiL'c  and  ri'spcct  of  all  \v1r> 
]<n(i\v  him.  Jii  politics  he  alliliatcs  with  the 
ia'piihliean  party. 


^YRON  11.  DENT,  fanncT,  scftion  35, 
jt  AVashiiigtoii  Tiiwiiship,  ^vas  hurii  in 
T  Licking  County,  Ohio,  .March  20,  1830. 
In  Octohcr  of  that  year  lie  came  to  this 
count}'  witli  liis  parents,  wlm  settled  on  the 
farm  now  owned  hy  our  subject.  Jeremiah 
IJoe  lived  a  half  mile  northwest  of  them,  and 
Zacliariaii  Smith  lived  four  miles  southeast 
of  where  the  Dents  settled.  Jlr.  Ilidl'er 
lived  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  where  the 
briilge  now  spans  it.  The  father  entered  the 
farm  from  the  (Tovernmcnt,  jiaying  Si. 25  per 
acre,  llis  .son  has  lieen  otl'ered  $150  per 
acre  fur  it.  There  was  a  log  cabin  on  the 
place,  built  by  Jonathan  Roe  the  spring  Ije- 
fore  the  family  came,  and  he  had  a  claim  on 
forty  acres  of  it,  whicii  ^Ir.  Dent  purchased. 
The  father  lived  in  this  cabin  until  181-4, 
when  he  was  elected  county  auditor,  and  re- 
moved to  town.  lie  was  the  first  auditor  of 
Adams  Count}'.  After  serving  four  j'ears  he 
went  back  to  the  farm  and  lived  on  it  until  it 
was  cleared,  tlicn  returned  to  ])ecatur,  where 
he  died  in  February,  1878.  lie  was  born  in 
Otsego  Count}',  New  York,  in  1809.  Ilis 
parents  were  George  A.  and  Martha  \. 
(AYelch)  Dent,  lie  went  to  Licking  County, 
Oliio,  when  a  young  man,  and  there  was 
mari'icd.  He  was  an  honest  and  strictly 
temperate  man.  He  never  engaged  in  specu- 
lations, and  was  a  very  careful  man  in  his 
business.  In  politics  lie  was  formerly  a 
"Whig,  and  afterward  a  Republican.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Anne 
Arundel  County,  Maryland,  in  1813,  where 
she  was  reared  and  educated.  She  removed 
with   her  parents  to    Licking  County,  Oliio, 


aiul  died  in  I'cbniary.  L'S72,  at  tlie  age  of 
lil'ty-ninc  year^.  Huth  jiarciits  were  buried 
at  Decatur.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
Joseph  Dent,  was  born  in  Lincolnshii-e, 
p]nghind.  lie  was  reared  at  liis  birth-place, 
and  probably  settled  in  Otsego  County,  New 
York,  lie  died  in  that  State.  The  grand- 
mother died  while  her  son  was  (juite  young, 
and  he  was  reai'cd  by  a  steji-mother,  of  wliom 
he  was  very  tbnd.  Ilis  maternal  grand- 
mother "Welch  died  in  Licking  County, Ohio, 
and  very  little  is  known  of  her.  Lyi'on  II. 
was  reared  on  the  old  farm  and  in  Decatur 
village.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the 
common  schools.  He  taught  school  fourteen 
winters  in  the  same  district,  thirteen  terms 
before  the  war  and  one  afterward.  He 
enlisted  in  August,  1802,  and  was  made 
Adjutant  of  the  Eighty-ninth  Indiana  In- 
fantry, serving  until  the  war  was  nearly 
closed.  He  was  captured  at  the  battle  of 
^[unfordville,  Kentucky,  which  was  his  first 
engagement.  He  was  soon  after  furloughed 
and  returned  home  on  a  thirty  days'  visit. 
He  was  then  e.xchanged  and  returned  to  duty 
at  ]\[emphis,  Tennessee.  The  regiment  was 
almost  wholly  captured.  He  was  in  Grant's 
A^'icksburg  campaign,  thence  to  Shreveport, 
Louisiana,  with  General  Banks.  The  right 
then  went  east  of  ^Memphis,  thence  to  Mis- 
souri. Mr.  Dent  went  to  the  hos])ital  at 
Memphis,  where  he  was  confined  about  six 
months.  He  was  discharged  there  on  account 
of  physical  disability,  and  I'eturned  home, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  married 
April  21,  1850,  to  iMiss  Mary  J.  Iloaglaud, 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Nancy  (Lnckey)  Hoag- 
land,  and  she  was  born  in  Medina  County, 
Oiiio,  in  September,  1838.  She  died  October 
15,  1884,  leaving  two  children — Allen  and 
Ella.  Both  are  married  and  living  in  this 
township.  ]\lrs.  Dent's  [)arents  were  natives 
of    Ohio;    the   father    is    deceased,    and    the 


'  ar'wi^.i^u'^'it; 


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HISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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Dent  was  again  marrioil  in  .Iuiil',  1SS6,  to 
JNIiss  Tiiercsa  I'altzell.  Mr.  Dent's  parents 
liad  tbiir  children — I'yroii,  our  subject;  Mary 
L.,  wit'i;  of  David  Cralibs,  living  at  ^foscow, 
Ohio;  Henry  Clay,  who  died  in  1879  at  De- 
catur, at  the  age  of  thirty-tivc  years,  and 
Helen  A.,  wlio  died  in  childhood,  ^fr.  Dent 
has  lield  the  othce  of  cdunty  clerk,  and  clei'k 
of  the  circuit  court  four  years.  He  was  the 
second  mayor  of  Decatur,  holding  the  ottice 
two  years.      I'olitically  he  is  a  Dcniocrat. 


Wf  n()"N[AS  11.  IIOUvSE,  farmer,  residing 
fi  f'l  on  section  12,  Root  Township,  was  born 
ff^J  in  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania, 
August  19,  1825.  lie  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
and  reniaineil  at  liis  birth])lace  until  1S50, 
when  he  went  the  overland  route  to  Cali- 
fornia, in  company  witli  four  companions. 
They  started  March  10,  and  went  Ity  water 
to  St.  Louis,  at  wliich  place  they  bought  their 
outfit — team  and  wagon,  etc.  At  Salt  Lake 
tlieir  ])rovisions  became  exhausted,  and  they 
stopped  there  and  worked  awhile  until  their 
supplies  were  replenished.  Before  they 
crossed  the  Nevada  Alountaiiis  they  again 
ran  out  of  provisions,  and  traded  a  sjian 
of  horses  for  twenty  pounds  of  flour,  which 
lasted  them  imtil  tliey  reached  California. 
They  lauded  in  Sacramento,  where  they  en- 
gaged in  mining  for  a  few  days,  but  their 
success  was  so  poor  that  they  went  to  work 
for  a  contractor  and  builder,  who  was  build- 
ing a  levee  on  the  river.  The  contractor  left 
suddenly,  and  they  were  left  without  their 
pay.  About  that  time  the  cliolera  broke  out, 
and  when  it  was  at  its  heiglit  one  of  Afr. 
House's  companions  died  with  it.  lie  him- 
self was  also  stricken  with  it  and  was  sick 
three  months.     He  was  taken  to  the  liospital 


at  Sacramento,  and  all  supposed  he  would  die. 
He  has  no  recollection  of  being  taken  to  the 
liospital,  or  of  anything  that  occurred  for 
some  time.  After  his  recovery  he  again  went 
to  Work  in  the  mines,  but  the  young  men 
who  had  accompanied  him  had  gone  away 
and  left  him  to  his  fate,  lie  followed  mining 
with  varied  success,  and  brought  away  with 
him  about  the  same  amount  that  he  carried 
with  him.  lie  was  absent  about  two  years, 
returning  by  the  Isthmus.  AVhile  on  asteanier 
it  sprung  a  leak  during  a  violent  storm,  and 
they  ran  into  harbor.  He  landed  in  New 
York  City,  then  went  to  his  home  in  Penu- 
s\dvania,  where  he  remained  si.\  months,  then 
went  to  Ashland  County,  Ohio.  June  30, 
1853,  he  was  married  to  Susanna  Shaffer,  who 
was  born  in  Ashland  County,  ]\Iarch  25, 1835. 
Her  father,  Peter  Shaffer,  was  l)orn  in  Cum- 
berland County,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in 
Ashland  County,  Ohio,  in  1882,  aged  seven- 
ty-nine years.  He  was  formerly  a  ^lethodist, 
but  in  later  life  was  an  Allljright,  and  lived 
the  life  of  a  Christian.  His  wife,  Sarah 
(Black)  Shaft'er,  was  also  born  in  Cumber- 
land County,  and  died  in  Ashland  County,  in 
1841,  when  !Mrs.  House  was  six  years  old. 
She  was  also  a  Christian  woman,  being  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  churcli  at  her 
death.  The  f;\ther  of  ]\Ir.  House,  John  House, 
was  born  in  Washington  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  died  in  1833,  when  liis  son 
Thomas  was  eight  years  of  age.  He  was  a 
school-teacher  during  his  mature  years,  being 
pai'tially  crippled  by  a  white  swelling.  The 
mother,  Susan  (Ilagan)  House,  was  also  born 
in  AVashington  County,  Pennsylvania,  where 
she  died  when  Thomas  was  two  years  old. 
Thus  was  our  subject  left  at  an  early  age  to 
depend  upon  himself,  never  experiencing 
anything  of  home  influences.  Mr.  and  ^Irs. 
Ilotise  have  had  five  children,  two  of  wdiom 
are  living — Angeline,  born    .May    1(!,   1854 


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DIOaiiAl'inCAL    aKMTOUElS. 


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is  tlie  wife  of  Iliniin  AV.  Suiitli,and  is  living 
ill  Allen    Cuinity,    ImliaiiH;   lidsupliine,   burn 
Febnwry  1-1,  1856,  niurriLMl  ,1.  1).  Stiiltz,  uikI 
died  July  IS,  18SG;  Tlieudoie,  horn  July  16, 
1S5S,    died    September    7,   1861;    Eliziibetli, 
born    September   18,   18(>2,    died    ]\Iarch   27, 
1863;   Morton  E.,  born  September  10,  1866, 
was  married  to  !Miss   Emma    ISrowii,  Decem- 
ber 26,  18S(i.      Mr.  House  is  a  Rejniblican  in 
polities,  and  liimselt'  and    wile   are   members 
of  the  United  Jiretliren  church.      His   grand- 
father, Thomas  House,  was  born  in  Germany, 
as  was  also   bis   i^randmother    House.      They 
imini^-rated  to  America  and  settled  in  AVash- 
ingtoii    County,    Pennsylvania,    where    they 
both  died   on   the  farm    they   first  occupied. 
j\[rs.    House's  grandfather,    Charles    Shatter, 
was   a   CTcrman    by  birth,  and  died  in  AVash- 
ington   County,   Pennsylvania,  on    the    farm 
where    he    lirst    settled.      The    grandmother, 
Charlotte    Shall'cr,  also  died  in    Washington 
County.      Air.  and  Mrs.   House  came  to  Ala- 
rioii  Township,  Allen  Count}',  in  the   s]iring 
of  lSu-4,  settling  in  the  woods,  where  lie  lived 
about  three  years.      He  built  a  log  cabin  and 
cleared    about   forty   acres  of  ground   which 
he  had    bought.     He    sold     this    farm     and 
rented    three    years    in    Allen    County,   then 
bought  his  present   farm  in  1859,  which  was 
partially  improved,  having  a  log  liouse  and  a 
log  stable.     Forty  acres  were  also  partly  im- 
proved.    The    farm   is  now  in   an   excellent 
state   of  cultivation.      He   has  a  good  frame 
house  and   frame   barn.     January  29,    1S62, 
Mr.  House   enlisted  in    Company   E,  Kine- 
teenth    United    States   Infantry,  and    served 
three  years.     He  \vas  in  the  battles  of  Pitts- 
burg Landing,  Mission  liidge,  Murfreosboro, 
Chickamauga,  going  to  Atlanta  with  General 
Thomas  under  General  Sherman,  and  return- 
ing to  Lookout  Mountain,  where  he  was  dis- 
charged.     He  was    taken  prisoner  after  the 
battle  of  Chickamau<ra  while  acting  as  team- 


ster. He  was  taken  up  by  General  AViieeler, 
and  was  soon  paroled  and  went  to  Kashville, 
whei-e  he  remained  until  he  was  exchanged. 
Air.  and  Airs.  House  are  rearing  a  grandchild, 
Pertha  Alay  Stultz,  who  was  Inn-ii  December 
ii,  1881.  She  is  a  child  of  their  daughter 
Josephine. 


■ir-^Tir^LIAAI  HENDPJCKS,  an  active 
'lu/vW  '^"'^  public-spirited  citizen  of  Alon- 
l^Jpn  roe  Township,  and  son  of  Thomas 
Hendricks,  an  early  settler  of  Adams  Count}*, 
was  born  in  Jeti'erson  County,  Ohio,  Atay  28, 
1835.  He  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Iowa 
in  1848,  where  they  resided  about  five  years, 
and  in  1853  came  with  thein  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  where  he  grew  to  manhood. 
He  was  married,  in  Alonroe  Township,  jS'o- 
veinber  8,  1857,  to  Aliss  Alary  A.  Pay,  a  na- 
tive of  Jetterson  County,  Ohio,  born  Alarcli 
9,  1838,  and  a  daughter  of  George  W.  Pa  v. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  this  union — 
George  T.,  Joseph  D.,  Eli  AV.,  Lydia  E., 
AVilliain  P.,  Charles  E.,  Josiah  A.  and  James 
II.  Mrs.  Hendricks  died  October  3,  1885. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Alethodist  Episco- 
pal church.  Mr.  Hendricks  is  a  member  of 
the  same  church,  of  which  he  has  served  as 
trustee  for  nine  years.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  the  Ilebellion,  serving  from  Alarch, 
1865,  until  August  17,  1865,  and  was  a 
member  of  Coinjiany  E,  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-seventh  Indiana  Infantry.  He  is  now 
a  comrade  of  Sam  Ilenrj'  Post,  No.  63, 
G.  A.  II.,  of  Decatur.  Air.  Ilendrcks  settled 
on  his  present  farm  in  1863,  where  he  has 
since  resided  with  the  exception  of  six  years, 
having  spent  three  years  in  Cartholoinew 
County,  and  the  same  length  of  time  in  Jack- 
son County,  Indiana.  He  has  alwaj's  tbl- 
lowed  farming,  and  has   now  eighty  acres  ot 


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IIISTOHY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


clioice  laml,  tlie  i^'reater  part  of  wliicli  is  un- 
der cultivatiun.  In  pulitics  3lr.  llemli'icks 
is  a  Deniucrat.  lie  lias  liuld  tlie  oliiee  of  as- 
sessor, was  sujiervisor  fur  fonr  years,  and  was 
townsiiip  trustee  for  one  term.  Jle  is  one  of 
the  enterprising  men  of  ]\[onroe  Townsiiip, 
and  a  most  liospitable  i^^entieinan. 


fOXAS  LII5Y,  deceased,  was  born  in 
ilalioning  County,  (Jhio,  September  3, 
-,v^  183S,  where  lie  grew  to  manliood,  and 
was  educated  in  tlie  common  schools.  Jle 
was  a  carpenter  by  occupation,  learning  his 
trade  in  his  native  State,  ilay  31,  18G3,  he 
was  mai-ried  to  ]\[iss  Catharine  A.  Fulk,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  ]\Ialioiiing  C'ounty,  Ohio. 
Her  parents,  Jacob  and  Susanna  (Kale)  Fulk, 
were  natives  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  the  mother 
born  ill  Springfield.  They  removed  to  Trum- 
bull Countv,  Ohio,  when  ^Irs.  Liby  was  quite 
young,  and  there  she  was  reared.  Iler  par- 
ents still  reside  in  Trumbull  County,  where 
the  father  follows  agricultural  pursuits.  The 
father  is  a  member  of  the  German  Ileformed 
church,  and  the  mother  is  a  Lutheran  in  lier 
religious  views.  iS'ine  children  were  born  to 
thein,  live  sons  and  four  daughters.  To  Mr. 
and  ilrs.  Liby  were  born  twelve  children,  as 
follows — AVilliam  F.,  Charles  W.,  Jacob  II. 
(deceased),  Harvey  E.  (deceased),  Eliza  S., 
Adam  P.,  Seymour  F.  (deceased),  Tiby  A., 
Jonah  A.,  Uosu  (J.,  Susannah  S.  and  (4rover 
C.  ]\[r.  Liby  canie  to  .Vdams  County,  Indi- 
ana, in  18G7,  and  tlie  following  spring  he 
settled  on  his  farm  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  3i,  Kirkland  Township,  where  he 
followed  farming  till  his  death,  which  occurred 
!May  27,  188D,  his  death  causing  universal 
regret  throughout  the  cominunit}'  in  which 
he  had  made  his  home  for  so  many  years. 
Hi?  widow  and  family  still  live  on  the  home 


farm  in  Ivirkland  Township,  and  are  respected 
citizens  of  the  county. 

UERE]\riAH  TRKJKER,  deceased,  was  a 
X^  native  of  England,  born  in  February, 
-/i  1831,  and  was  a  son  of  James  and  Sarah 
Tricker.  In  1840  he  immigrated  with  his 
parents  to  America,  they  settling  near  To- 
ronto, Canada,  and  there  lie  grew  to  manhood. 
He  was  reared  to  the  avocation  of  a  farmer, 
which  he  has  made  his  life-work,  and  in  his 
youth  received  but  a  limited  education  in  the 
district  schools.  He  was  married  in  Canada, 
October  31,  1849,  to  Frances  Gi-afton,  who 
was  born  near  Toronto,  and  was  a  daughter 
of  James  and  Frances  Grafton,  her  father 
being  a  native  of  the  State  of  Kentucky,  and 
her  mother  of  Ireland.      ]S'ine  children  were 

born  to  this  union,  of  whom  six  are  liviiio- 

Amy,  wife  of  Alarion  IJufienbarger,  of  Adams 
County;  Andrew,  of  Chattanooga, Tennessee; 
George,  of  Adams  County;  ]\Iillie,  Cora  and 
Stewart.  In  the  fall  of  1849  Mr.  Tricker 
came  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  bouo-ht 
eighty  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land  located 
on  sectiou  17  of  Rlue  Creek  Township,  and 
soon  erected  a  log  Imuse,  and  here  he  experi- 
enced many  of  the  hardships  and  privations 
which  usually  fall  to  the  lot  of  settlers  in  a 
new  country.  He  was  one  of  the  representa- 
tive pioneers  of  Adams  County,  and  did  his 
sliare  toward  developing  its  interests.  He 
died  April  22,  1870,  leaving  his  widow  and 
family  and  a  liost  of  friends  to  mourn  his 
death.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  of  which  he  served 
as  steward  and  class-leader.  In  politics  lie 
affiliated  with  the  Republican  party.  He 
commenced  life  entirely  without  capital,  but 
was  successful  through  lile,  and  at  his  death 
left  100  acres  of  land.      His   widow    still   re- 


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sides  on  tlic  home  farm,  aiul  is  the  owner   ut" 
fltty  acres  of  choice  laud. 


^mNDRKW  IDLEWINE,  farmer,  section 
)/\Ai  iiO,  ^Val)usil  Townshii),  is  a  native  of 
■^.1^^  liipley  Connt}',  Indiana,  liorn  in  July, 
1842.  His  parents,  Andrew  and  Susannah 
(Beckman)  Idlewine,  were  nati\cs  of  (icr- 
inany,  wliei-e  they  were  married.  Tliey  im- 
rni;j;rated  to  America  about  tiieyear  ls3t),  and 
after  stopping  a  sliort  time  at  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  they  came  to  Indiana  and  settled 
in  Ripley  County,  where  they  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  their  death,  the  father 
dying  in  1880,  at  the  ai^e  of  sixty-nine  years, 
and  the  mother  in  1882,  aged  si.\ty-si.\  years. 
Eotli  were  members  of  the  (Tcrman  ilethod- 
ist  church.  Tliey  were  the  ])arents  of  eight 
children,  seven  suns  and  one  daughter.  An- 
drew Idlewine,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
reared  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm  in  Kip- 
ley  County,  whei-e  he  received  but  limited 
educational  advantages,  lie  beiny  obliged 
from  an  early  age  to  assist  with  the  work  of 
the  farm.  He  remained  at  home  until  Au- 
gust 22,  18G2,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company 
II,  Fifth  Indiana  Cavalry,  and  served  his 
counti'y  until  June  15,  1865.  lie  was  under 
Stoneman  and  I'hil.  Sheridan,  and  partici- 
pated in  many  of  the  battles  of  the  com- 
mand, and  was  mustered  out  in  I^ast 
Tennessee.  Ho  now  draws  a  pension  on  ac- 
count of  rheumatism  contracted  while  in  the 
army.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  belonging  to  John  P. 
Porter  Post,  of  (ieneva.  After  his  discharge 
he  returned  to  his  home  in  Ilipley  County, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  manufacturing 
and  shipping  staves  lor  two  years.  He  then 
went  to  Jlissouri,  where  he  remained  from 
18G8  until  1870,  when  he    returned  to   Indi- 


ana, spending  one  summer  at  Indianapolis. 
In  the  spring  of  1872  he  went  to  \^ermillion 
County,  where  he  remained  on  a  fai-ni  until 
tlie  fall  of  the  same  year,  \vhen  he  bought  his 
present  farm  in  AVabash  Township,  Adams 
County.  He  was  united  in  imirriage  Sep- 
tember 4,  1873,  to  Catherine  Shingledecker, 
a  native  of  CJernniny,  born  January'  1,  1840. 
Her  parents  came  to  America  when  she  was 
a  year  and  a  half  old,  settling  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  wliere  they  remained  until  about  1857. 
The}'  then  removed  to  Ripley  County,  Indi- 
ana, where  the  father  died  of  cholera  shortly 
after.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Idlewine  is  still 
living,  making  her  home  in  AVabash  Town- 
ship, Adams  County.  They  had  born  to 
them  nine  children,  four  sons  and  five  daui'li- 
ters.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Idlewine  have  live  chil- 
dren— Susie  E.,  Charles  II.,  EstellaL.,  Ruby 
J.  and  Carrie  E.  V.  Mr.  Idlewine  has  resided 
on  his  present  farm  since  his  marriage.  His 
farm  now  contains  eighty  iicres  of  choice  land, 
forty-five  acres  under  impi'ovement  and  good 
cultivation,  with  comfortable  residence  and 
out-buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  his 
stock.  Mr.  Idlewine  has  filled  several  local 
offices  since  becoming  a  resident  of  Wabash 
Township.  In  his  political  views  he  afliliates 
with  the  Democratic  party. 


fAJIES  G.  I'URK,  proprietor  of  liverv 
stable  at  Geneva,  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
-,^i  born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Juno  4, 
1850,  a  son  of  "William  and  Mary  J.  (Gordon) 
Burk,  with  whom  he  came  to  Jay  County, 
Indiana,  when  about  three  years  of  age,  livino- 
there  until  18G1  or  1802,  and  then  moved  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood,  in  Wabash  Townshi]),  where  he 
receiveel  a  common-school  education.  His 
father  being  a  farmer  he  was  reared    to  the 


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IlIHTOUY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


same  avocalioii,  wliicli  liu  lullownl  until  lio  | 
engageJ  in  liis  presuiit  biisiiit'ss.  His  ^taliic 
is  well  fitted  up  with  vehicles  of  various 
kinds,  and  his  hoi'ses  are  kept  in  good  condi- 
tion, and  by  his  genial  and  acconniiodating 
manners  he  has  established  a  good  business. 
!Mr.  Burk  was  united  in  marriage  May  31, 
1S77,  to  ifary  Jose])hine  Viniiig,  who  was 
boi'H  in  Portland,  day  County,  Indiana, 
I^ecember  11,  1855.  To  tliis  union  iuive 
been  born  three  children — William  AVaid, 
born  ^lay  2,  1878;  IJyron  Dlaine,  born  June 
I'J,  1SS3,  and  Nora  Nctha,  born  ilarch  5, 
188(5,  and  died  A])ril  IG,  18SG.  Both  Mr. 
and  ilrs.  Burk  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Ejiiscopal  church,  and  respected  members  of 
society.  Mr.  I'urk  is  thirty-si.x  years  old 
and  lias  his  lirst  glass  of  whisky  to  drink;  he 
does  not  UiC  any  intoxicating  drink,  nor 
cotl'ee,  or  tobacco  in  any  form.  He  thinks  it 
pays  to  be  temperate  in  all  things. 

"Come  nil  youni;  men  take  warning, 

Reflect  while  you  li:ive  time; 
'Tis  folly  to  be  jolly, 

In  diinkin;;  too  much  wine." 


ASIIINGTON  STEELE,  larnier,  sec- 
ij   tion    35,    Washington    Township,    is 


["^^H   the  owner  of  "200  acres 


11( 


was  born  in  Bedford  County,  Bcnnsyhania, 
April  20,  1830.  In  1837  lie  was  taken  by 
his  parents  to  Richland  County,  Dliio,  and  in 
184:8  removed  to  KIrtland.  AVhcn  he  had 
reached  his  mtijority  the  family  came  to  this 
county  and  settled  in  the  wild  woods,  where 
the  father  built  a  hewed  log  house.  Here 
our  subject  lived  three  years,  then  went  to 
work  in  a  saw-mill  for  Samuel  L.  Ktigg,  for 
whom  he  worked  three  years  sawing  plank 
for  the  roads,  Mi'.  Bngg  having  the  contract 
for  sawing  and  furnishing  the  plank  for  the 


road  between  I'\irt  AVayne  tmd  St.  !Mary's. 
Jlr.  Steele  was  married  Ajiril  3,  1853,  to 
j\Iiss  Polly  Zimmerman,  who  was  born  in 
Payette  County,  Ohio,  in  1832.  When  she 
was  two  years  old  her  j)arents  and  six  other 
children  settled  in  an  old  log  house  up  the 
river,  about  half  a  mile  from  Da\id  Studa- 
baker's.  The  father  Itought  a  scpiatter's 
claim,  besides  entering  land  from  the  Govern- 
ment, and  kept  adding  more  lanti,  until  at 
his  death  he  had  'JOO  acres  in  a  body.  He 
also  owned  700  acres  in  Jlercer  County, 
Ohio.  He  Could  neither  read  nor  write,  but 
coidd  cast  interest  and  make  a  good  bargain. 
lie  was  born  near  Harper's  Perry,  Maryland, 
_Marcli  19,  1802,  and  when  a  young  man 
went  to  Payette  Cotinty,  Ohio,  where  two  of 
his  brothers  were  living,  and  was  married 
there  September  2,1823,  to  Miss  Polly  Smith. 
In  1834  they  came  to  Adams  County,  bring- 
ing with  them  four  children.  Pour  more 
were  born  after  they  came  liere.  The  father 
died  October  20,  1878,  lamented  by  all  who 
knew  him.  The  mother  was  born  in  Payette 
Count}',  Ohio,  in  1804,  where  she  was  reared 
and  married.  She  died  in  1872,  and  both 
are  buried  in  Decatur.  She  was  a  very  in- 
dustrious, frugal  woman,  and  in  early  life 
was  a  regular  attendant  at  church;  but  in 
later  years  she  became  crippled  from  a  fall, 
and  could  only  walk  a  short  distance.  Mr. 
Steele's  father,  George  Steele,  was  born  in 
Bedford  County,  Pennsylvania,  April  G,  1799, 
where  he  was  reared  antl  married,  and  where 
five  children  were  born.  They  removed  to 
liichland  County,  Ohio,  where  they  lived 
until  they  came  to  this  county  in  1848.  The 
father  died  in  Kirkland  Township  Pebruary 
3,  1878,  and  is  buried  in  Steele's  cemetery. 
The  mother  was  also  born  in  Bedford  County, 
Pennsylvania,  in  Septeiidjer,  1802.  She  is 
now  living  at  Pleasant  Mills,  with  her  son 
Henry.     The    parents    had   eleven   children, 


■iTBTiru  i  offU  «^,j7ni  i^Mi  Qf^;  a^^irr;  B 


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nine  of  wliuin  arc  living,  ^[r.  and  Jlrs. 
Steele  have  t'uui-  children —Mary  F.,  horn 
Jiine27, 1«54;  Eli  W.,  horn  March  11, 18D7; 
John  J,).,  born  January  27,  iSliO,  and  Eliza- 
beth E.,  born  June  23,  18G2.  .  All  are  mar 
ricd  except  Eli,  who  lives  at  home.  In 
politics  Mr.  Steele  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  re- 
ligion a  niemher  of  the  .Methodist  church, 
lie  has  been  a  ^lason  since  1872,  and  be- 
longs to  Decatur  Lodge,  No.  571.  lie  had 
three  brothers  in  the  late  war;  John  and 
James  were  volunteers,  and  Samuel  was 
drafted.  James  died  in  hospital,  of  chronic 
diarrhcea,  at  St.  Louis.  ^Irs.  Steele  remem- 
bers when  her  father  had  to  go  to  Fort 
AVayne  to  mill  with  an  ox  team,  and  some- 
times in  a  keel-boat  down  the  St.  ^Mary's 
Iviver.  "When  building  his  first  house  he 
bought  his  hardware  at  Piqua,  Oliio,  going 
for  it  with  an  ox  team,  liefore  his  death  he 
gave  his  son  Eli  900  acres  of  land.  lie  left 
an  estate  valued  at  sSO.OOO. 


^ESSE  SMITH,  deceased,  who  was  one  of 
''M\  the  old  and  respected  pioneers  of  Adams 
^  County,  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  I)el- 
aware,  born  November  29,  1814.  When  he 
was  seven  years  ohl  his  fathei'  died,  and  his 
mother  subsequently  removed  with  her  fam- 
ily to  Fairfield  ('ounty,  Ohio,  and  in  that 
county  he  was  reared  to  nmulioi.id,  and  re- 
ceived a  good  common-school  education,  lie 
afterward  engaged  in  teaching  school,  and 
followed  that  vocation  in  Ohio,  and  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  teaching  in  all  twelve  tei-ms. 
lie  was  married  December  15,  1830,  to  Jliss 
ElizaNutter,whowas  also  a  native  of  Delaware, 
born  December  15,  ISl.j,  ;inil  was  afterward 
taken  by  her  ]>areuts,  Thomas  and  ]\[ary  J. 
(Covedel)  Nutter,  t(j  Fairtiehl  County,  Ohio, 
where  sill'  was  living  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 

30 


riage'  Ten  children  were  born  to  ilr.  and 
Mrs.  Smith,  as  follows — Isaiah,  Jesse  11., 
Christiana  C,  William,  JIary  E.,  Nancy  J., 
Enoch  N.,  Eliza  ]\L,  Sarah  E.  and  James  M. 
In  the  fall  of  1852  Mr.  Smith  settled  with 
his  family  on  section  30,  Kirkland  Township, 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  on  land  which  he 
had  entered  in  1810.  lie  had  previously' 
come  to  Adams  County,  anil  built  a  log  cabin, 
IS  X  20  feet,  witli  puncheon  floor  and  clap- 
board roof,  in  which  the  family  made  their 
home  for  several  years,  when  they  erected  a 
commodious  frame  residence,  which  is  still 
occupied  by  ]\Irs.  Smith.  In  politics  Mr. 
Smith  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  a  prominent 
man  in  his  township,  and  served  as  trustee, 
clerk,  assessor  and  school  director.  At  the 
age  of  thirteen  years  he  joineil  the  Fnited 
I'rcthren  church,  of  which  he  was  a  member 
until  the  war  of  the  liebellifin.  He  then 
united  with  the  Christian  church,  of  which 
he  remained  a  faithful  member  until  his 
death.  lie  was  licensed  to  preach  in  the 
United  Brethren  church,  which  he  followed 
about  twenty  years,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  a  class-leader  in  the  Christian 
church.  Mr.  Smith  commenced  life  in  lim- 
ited circumstances,  but  by  hard  work  and  in- 
dustry, assisted  by  his  excellent  wife,  he 
made  for  his  family  a  comfortable  home, 
leaving  his  farm  of  120  acres  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  Two  of  his  sons,  Isaiah 
and  Jesse,  gave  their  lives  for  their  coun- 
try during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  enlist- 
ing in  Cunipau}'  I,  Eighty-ninth  Indiana 
Infantry.  They  were  taken  prisoners  at 
^lunfordville,  Kentucky.  They  subsecjuently 
returned  home,  and  were  exchanged  when 
they  rejoined  their  regiment.  Isaiah  died 
at  Vicksbnrg,  IMississippi,  in  the  hospital, 
February  9,  iSfU,  and  Jesse  died  in  the  hos- 
pital at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  .\pril  2(1,1^(33. 
Mrs.  Smith    is  a    membci-    u'i    the    Christian 


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Uiiiiiii  (K'lioiiiinaticin,  hiil,  wiits  loi'iiuTly  a 
nieiiiber  of  tliu  riiileMl  I'.i-ftluvii  cluirch.  ^Ir. 
Sinitli  died  of  typlioid  pnennioiiia,  Fuliniury 
D,  1SS4,  after  an  illness  of  only  nine  liays. 


fOIIN  JACOB  SCIIEEIl,  son  of  John 
Sclieer,  was  born  in  Seneca  Townsliip, 
•-K.  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  Deceniljer  27, 
1S38.  In  ISol  his  parents  moved  to  Spriiii^- 
liold  To\vnBlii]\"\Villiains  County,  Ohio,  where 
lie  j(i'ew  to  manhood  and  received  a  common- 
school  education.  lie  followed  farmiui^ 
until  April  23,  18G1,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Conijiany  E,  Fourteenth  Ohio  Infantry,  for 
thi'ee  months.  The  regiment  was  sent  to 
West  Virginia  and  particijjated  in  the  en- 
gagements at  Beverly  and  Bliillippi.  August 
13,  1801,  he  was  discharged  at  Toledo,  <.)hio, 
and  returned  home,  and  December  14,  ISfil, 
again  enlisted  for  three  years,  and  was  as- 
signed to  Company  D,  Thirt^'-eighth  Ohio 
Infantry.  His  regiment  was  assigned  to  the 
Army  of  the  Cuinbei'land,  and  was  in  the 
engagement  at  Mill  Springs,  where  lie  was 
detailed  teamster.  He  was  disabled  and  sent 
to  the  hospital  at  Somerset,  Kentucky,  lie 
rejoined  his  regiment  at  Pelham,  Tennessee, 
and  with  Buell's  army  looked  on  at  the  battle 
of  Perryville,  and  participated  in  the  battle 
at  Stone  River.  He  became  disabled  through 
fatigue,  and  was  sent  to  Xashville  and  dis- 
charged on  account  of  ill-health,  February 
19, 18G3.  He  returned  Jionie,  and  worked  at 
the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade  until  June 
18,  18G3,  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  E, 
Eighty-sixth  Ohio  Infantry,  for  a  term  of  six 
months.  His  regiment  was  detailed  to  in- 
tercept Moi'gan  on  his  raid  through  Indiana 
and  Ohio,  and  wei'c  then  sent  to  Cumberland 
Gap,  where  they  remained  until  their  term 
expired,  when  they  were   disciiarged,  Febru- 


ary 10,  18()l,and  returned  home.  He  then 
Went,  to  farming  and  al.~o  worked  at  his  trade 
in  Ohio  until  IST'J,  when  he  was  employed 
as  engineer  in  Shafer  iSc  A''an  Buren's  mill. 
October  15,  J-8S1,  he  moved  to  Geneva, 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  where  he  is  now 
employed  as  engineer  in  Scheer's  planing- 
inill.  Mv.  Scheer  was  married  at  Bryan, 
Williams  County,  Ohio,  December  22,  187(1, 
to  Delilah  Whetstone,  a  native  of  Crawford 
County,  Ohio,  liorn  .lanuary  27,  1S4U,  her 
parents  being  natives  of  Ohio  and  I'ennsyl- 
vania.  Air.  and  Jlrs.  Scheer  have  had  Hve 
children — Emelia  Adenia,  born  October  2, 
1871,  died  August  17, 1872;  Mary  Elizabeth, 
born  August  8,  1872;  Larurea  (Carolina,  born 
September  25,  1876;  John  James,  born  De- 
cember 6,  1879;  Earlie  Calvin,  born  January 
29,  1885,  died  May  G,  1S8G.  ilr.  Scheer  is 
a  member  of  John  P.  Porter  Post,  Xo  83, 
G.  jV.  11.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


I^ENJAMIN  BAXDOLPII  FPEEMAN, 
*j[#j  M.  D.,  son  of  Dr.  William  and  Eliza- 
-n--'  beth  (llandolph)  Freeman,  was  born  in 
Hamilton,  Ohio,  June  3,  1844.  In  1849  he 
was  brought  to  Indiana  by  his  parents,  they 
locating  at  Camden,  where  he  remained  until 
185G.  He  then  attended  school  at  Hamilton 
until  August,  18G1,  when  he  returned  to  In- 
diana, anil  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company 
C,  Thirty-ninth  Indiana  Infanti'v.  After 
serving  eight  months  lie  was  promoted  to 
Commissary  Sergeant  of  his  regiment,  anil 
about  six  months  later,  was  appointed  Hospital 
Steward.  In  F'ebruary,  18G4,  he  re-enlisted 
as  Hospital  Steward,  in  the  same  regiment, 
serving  as  sucli  until  liis  final  discharge 
at  the  close  of  the  war  in  August,  18G5, 
when  lie  returned  to  Camden,  Indiana.      De- 


i 


-  piiHa  »j>«'°'»i'»»r*'u 


iFij.'*ii.VI!«iJ*ai?'AiT?i«*«? 


?{i»^£iHi. -"aT"^  »iia  ^  *i.>*atHu.  «G*  iUi'^A  *i'i^%!i^Mi*- j«.jii3*«  "Lr 


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llWUKArillCM.    SKETClllCS. 


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c'cinbcr  2-1,  1S(;5,  lie  Mas  inariit'd  to  Mi.ss 
Miirgaret  \.  .luliiison,  a  ilaiii^litcr  of  David 
and  Mar<raret  Jolinseni,  ut'  ,lay  Countv,  In- 
diana. Tliey  arc  tiiu  parents  ol"  tlireu  cdiil- 
dreii — Clara  I!.,  "W'illiu,  and  Jienjaniin  li. 
After  liis  return  from  tlic  war  he  attended 
Liber  Cullege  several  months,  when  in  Jan- 
uary, 186G,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine 
at  Camden,  under  his  father.  lie  graduated 
from  the  Ohio  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati, 
in  March,  1873,  after  taking  three  courses  of 
lectures.  lie  then  practiced  medicine  with 
his  father  at  Camden,  until  1875,  when  he 
located  at  Geneva,  Adams  County,  and  ])rac- 
ticed  there  until  September,  1870.  l''roin 
Geneva  he  came  to  Decatur,  and  became  as- 
sociated with  Dr.  T.  T.  Dorwin,  with  whom 
he  practiced  until  April,  1878.  In  April, 
1883,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  James 
S.  Boyers,  with  whom  he  has  since  been  as- 
sociated under  the  firm  name  of  Drs.  Free- 
man &  Boyers,  and  both  being  well  skilled  in 
the  knowledge  of  the  profession,  liave  estab- 
lished a  good  practice,  and  become  well  and 
ftivorably  known.  Dr.  Freeman  has  taken 
three  post-graduate  courses  in  the  medical 
department  of  tlie  Northwestern  University 
at  Chicago,  Illinois;  first  in  1880,  second  in 
1882,  and  again  in  1885.  lie  is  employed  as 
surgeon  of  the  Chicago  A:  Atlantic,  Pittsburg, 
I'ort  Wayne  A:  Chicago,  and  the  Toledo, 
St.  Louis  iV;  Kansas  C'ity  Uailway  com- 
pam'es.  He  is  a  member  of  the  county, 
district,  State  and  national  medical  societies. 
He  is  a  comrade  of  Samuel  Henry  Post  Ko. 
63,  G.  A.  P.,  of  Decatur;  also  Assistant  Sur- 
geon Third  Indiana  Legion,  with  captain's 
commission.  I)r.  A\'illiam  Freeman,  tlie 
fotlier  of  our  subject,  was  born,  reared  and  edu- 
cated at  Lockpurt.  New  York-.  He  studied 
medicine,  and  graduated  from  the  (ieneva 
Medical  College  of  (leneva,  New  York,  and 
in  18-40  located  at  Hamilton,  Oliin,  where  he 


]iracticc(l  medicine  until  ISM).  He  then 
came  to  Indiana,  and  practiced  his  chosen 
profession  at  Camden,  Jay  County,  until  his 
death  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  seventy -live  years. 
In  18G2  he  was  commissioned  Assistant  Sur- 
geon of  the  Fifty-second  Indiana  Infantry,  and 
a  few  months  later  was  made  Surgeon  of  the 
Seventh  Ii]diami  Cavalry,  which  position  he 
resigned  in  18G-4,  on  account  of  failing 
health.  For  many  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  cliurcli.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  his  first  wife,  whom 
lie  married  at  Hamilton.  She  died  at  Cam- 
den, Indiana,  in  185-1.  She  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


4;mNDPEW  JACKSON  GOULD,  de- 
rtmi  ceased,  was'  born  in  Baltimore,  !Mary- 
^^  land,  February  21,  1815.  When  ten 
years  old  he  went  with  his  parents  to  Jefferson 
County,  Ohio,  and  there  he  grew  to  maidiood 
on  a  farm,  and  subsequently  learned  the 
tinner's  trade.  He  was  married  December 
28,  1843,  to  Posamond  Erwin,  a  native  of 
Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  born  April  13,  1824. 
Her  parents  were  born  in  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, but  removed  to  Jelfer.son  County, 
Ohio,  whei'e  they  resided  until  their  death. 
Pobei't  Hill,  Sr.,  matei'ual  graiuifathcr  of  Mrs. 
Gould,  removed  from  Pennsylvania  before 
the  war  of  1812,  where  he  pui'chased  a  sec- 
tion of  land  and  settled  his  children  around 
him.  To  ]Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Gould  were  born — 
]\Iary  E.,  James,  AVilliam,  Jonathan  II.,  John 
L.,  Robert,  Lavinia  and  Sarah  J.  Mr. 
Gould  followed  farming  in  Jetferson  County 
until  October,  18C1,  when  he  came  to  Adams 
Count}',  Indiana,  and  settled  on  section  11, 
^Monroe  Township,  on  land  which  he  had 
pui-chased  in  November,  1853.  llis  first 
purchase   was  eighty  acres,  and    by  jicrsever- 


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inSTOllY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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ina:  industry  ami  i,'him1  uiiuiarrciiieut  lu:  added      witliiii  tin;  Cdi-pi.raticni.      Mr.  Brenemann  was 
to    this    until   his   farm   eoutaiufd    120  acTus.  |  uuri./rtuiiatc  iii  llU^illL■^b  in  his  luuive  country, 
lie    rt'sidud    (_)ii    this    i'arui    until    his  death, 
which    occurred     .luiy    21,    ist'j.j,    ;nid     was 


numbered  among  the  jiromineut  men  of  his 
township.  In  politics  he  was  a  stauncli 
llepublican,  and  during  his  residence  in 
Adams  County  held  local  ollices.  lie  was 
in  his  religions  faith  a  Presbyterian.  !Mrs. 
Gould  was  also  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  but  in  the  fall  of  1SS3  she  united 
with  the  Society  of  Friends,  of  which  she  is 
still  a  mcudier.  She  still  resides  on  the  old 
homestead  in  iMonri,ie  To^\■ns]^ll. 


-in:- 


ACOP  r.PENEMANN,  one  of  the  active 
business  men  of  Perne,  Adams  County, 
^^  is  a  native  of  Switzerland,  born  April 
20,  1S35.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
ct)untry,  and  there  followed  the  butcher's 
trade.  He  came  to  America  in  1808,  land- 
ing at  Poston  August  2,  and  from  there  went 
to  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  there  he  worked  at 
his  trade,  which  he  also  followed  in  other 
States.  He  came  to  Adams  County  in  1875, 
and  in  May,  1870,  lie  opened  a  butcher  shop 
at  Perne,  which  was  the  pioneer  butcher  shop 
of  this  i>lace.  In  May,  1878,  he  opened  a 
saloon,  which  he  carried  on  in  connection 
with  his  butclier  shop  until  the  fall  of  1881, 
when  he  disposed  of  liis  business  and  re- 
turned to  Switzerland  on  a  visit.  He  re- 
mained in  Switzerland  until  the  spring  of 
1882,  wlien  he  returned  to  Perne,  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  and  erected  a  building,  and 
resumed  tiie  occupation  at  which  he  had  pre- 
viously been  engaged.  In  1880  he  erected 
the  building  in  which  lie  now  carries  on  his 
liquor  trade.  His  buildings  are  among  the 
most  substantial  in  the  place,  and  are  valued 
at  ii^S.OOO,  besides  which  he  owns  several  lots 


and  lost  several  thousands  of  dollars,  this  be- 
ing the  main  reason  of  his  coining  to  Amer- 
ica. He  began  his  business  career  in  Perne 
on  the  sum  of  :?25,  and  from  this  email  be- 
ginning he  lias  become  one  of  the  prosper- 
ous citizens  of  the  place.  Mr.  Prenemann 
has  been  twice  married.  He  was  first  mar- 
ried in  Switzerland  in  February,  18()2,  and 
by  his  first  marriage  liad  four  children.  He 
was  married  a  second  time  in  the  spring  of 
1SS2,  to  Miss  Anna  Kohler,  a  native  of 
Switzerland,  born  in  the  year  1S4:5,  and  of 
the  three  children  born  to  this  union  only 
one,  a  sou  named  Edward  Herman,  is  living. 


Ji_  I L  L I A  M  \l  A  AV  L  E  Y ,  a  successful 
'J.  w  ,jw|  farmer,  residing  on  section  2,  Wabash 
l^ji^I  Township,  a  son  of  Tilmon  Pawley, 
of  Adams  County,  was  born  in  Clarke  County, 
Ohio,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  January  27, 
1840.  "When  nine  months  old  lie  was  brought 
by  his  parents  to  Adams  County,  Indiana, 
and  liere  he  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the 
homestead  farm  in  AVabash  Townslii]),  re- 
ceiviii''  his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  township,  and  subsequently  taught 
one  term  in  the  school  of  his  district.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  May  0,  1875,  to 
Miss  Emma  E.  Patterson,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  Alarch  31,  1853.  Her  parents,  Thomas 
and  ]\Iargaret (Sham p)  Patterson,  were  natives 
of  Ohio,  and  came  to  Adams  County  about 
the  year  185'J,  settling  in  Root  Townsiiip, 
where  they  lived  till  their  death,  the  mother 
dying  in  1862,  and  the  father  in  1877.  They 
were  Presbyterians  in  their  religious  belief. 
They  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  live  sons 
and  four  daughters.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Raw- 
ley  have    been    born    six   children,  of  whom 


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live  are  living — Orra  J).,  Tiiuinari  T.,  Lizzie 
K.,  ilaggie  1*.  anil  Jessie  M.  Orva  G.,  a 
twin  of  Orra  I).,  is  deceased.  .Mr.  liawlcy 
lias  always  resided  on  the  uld  lioiiiestead  in 
Wabash  Township,  with  the  cxcejition  of 
three  years  spent  near  Decatur,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  niamifaetnre  of  liriek.  lie 
now  devotes  his  entire  attention  to  his  farm, 
which  contains  100  acres  of  good  land,  of 
which  seventy  acres  is  under  a  high  state  of 
cidtivation. 


•JiW^jmAPJOiSr  SYLVESTER  ELZEY,  jew- 
^1*  eler,  and  one  of  Decatur's  active  and 
enterprising  bnsiness  men,  is  a  native 
of  Decatur,  Indiana,  the  date  of  his  birth 
being  November  27,  IS-i'J.  His  parents, 
John  and  JLiria  (Pyle)  Elzey,  were  natives 
of  Clinton  County,  Ohio,  and  Pennsylvania 
respectively,  and  were  reared  principally  in 
Ohio.  They  were  married  in  Ohio  in  1842, 
and  to  them  were  born  eight  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living  in  Adams  County — Thomas 
J.,  Aqnilla  and  Alexander  are  farmers  b}' 
occupation;  Marion  S.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  John  Douglas,  a  fanner;  Sarah  Jane, 
wife  of  William  Baker;  Hannah,  wife  of 
John  Kibler,  a  farmer,  and  Mary  Emily,  wife 
of  Frank  Sanders,  engaged  in  the  bntcher 
trade  at  Decatur.  The  father  came  with  his 
family  to  Adams  Connty,  Lidiana,  in  1844-, 
and  ])iirchased  lain!  in  the  vicinity  of  Deca- 
tur when  that  now  prosperous  town  was  a 
hamlet  of  three  houses,  and  at  once  began  to 
improve  his  land,  on  which  he  lived  until 
18G8.  He  was  a  natural  mechanic,  ami 
although  he  never  served  an  apprenticeship 
he  could  work  at  almost  any  trade.  On 
coming  to  Adams  County  he  worked  on  his 
farm  during  the  dav-time,  and  at  night 
Worked  at  the  shoemaker's  traile,   which   he 


followed  some  iiftecn  years.  Li  1SG2,  while 
carrying  on  his  farm,  lie  began  working  at 
the  ]eweler's  trade  at  Decatur,  and  in  180G 
engaged  in  the  same  inisiness  for  himself, 
carrying  on  that  i»\isines3  at  Decatur  till  his 
death  in  1SG8.  In  politics  he  iitiiliated  with 
the  Democratic  party.  His  widow  still  sur- 
vives, and  is  now  making  her  home  on  the 
homestead  whei'e  they  tirst  settled  when 
coming  to  the  county.  .Marion  S.  Elzey, 
whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm  till  attaining  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  when  he  began  to  learn  the 
jeweler's  trade  under  James  Lallie,  of  De- 
catur, with  whom  he  worked  almost  two 
years.  He  then  travele<l  as  a  journeyman 
jeweler  two  years,  when  in  1871  he  estab- 
lished his  present  business  at  Decatur,  in 
which  he  lias  met  with  success.  Octoljer  22, 
1871,  Mr.  Elzey  was  married  at  Decatur  to 
Miss  Cornelia,  daughter  of  Justin  and  Ilachel 
(Reynolds)  Mann.  They  liave  two  children 
— Fayette  Kaymond  and  Oliver  Dosson,  stu- 
dents at  the  Decatur  High  School.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elzey  are  members  of  the  ileth- 
odist  Episcopal  church  at  Decatur.  He  is  a 
member  of  St.  Mary's  Lodge,  No.  167,  I.  O. 
O.  F.  In  ])olitics  he  casts  his  suffrage  with 
the  Democratic  paity. 


■^lOBERT  SIM  I  SON,  one  of  the  old  and 
M^  honored  pioneers  of  Adams  County, 
*tt\  Indiana,  was  born  in  W^arren  County, 
Ohio,  November  7,  1811,  a  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Fisher)  Simison,  who  were  natives 
of  Cnmljerland  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  of 
Scotch  descent.  John  Simison,  Sr.,  was  born 
in  Scotland,  and  came  with  his  brother,  An- 
drew Simison,  to  America,  about  the  year 
17()5,  settling  in  Cumberland  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  was  married.     He  died  in 


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lIItiruUY    UF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


••^MiMir-^e^Pia*''*!"- 


Peiinsylvania.      lie  was  a  ^olilicr  in  the  war 
of  the  Uevohitiun.     ,Iulm  Simisoii,  the  t'uthur 
of  our  sul)jcet,   j^rew    to  iiiuiiliooil    in    I'eiiii- 
sylvaiiia,   livinj^    tliere    until    afti'r    liis   iiiar- 
riaye.      He  reiimvLd    to   Oiiio  in  18()S,  when 
lie  settled   in    AVaiien    County,  aiul   in  1818 
settleJ  )iear  Fort  Kecovery.  in  Darke  ("onnty, 
where  they  maile  their  home  till  their  death, 
lidth  <lyiiig  ill  1S22.      I'xith  were  nicinliers  of 
tlie  I'reshyterian   elmreh.     Their  family  con- 
sisted of  eight  children,    four   sons  ami   four 
daiijijhters.     The  father  was  a  fanner,  which 
avocation  he  followed  through  life.      Ke  was 
a   soldier  in   the    war    of  1S12,   joining   the 
army  in  1813.      Jle  served  one  year,  and  par- 
ticipateil  in   the  battle  of  the  Thames  uniler 
General  Harrison.      Robert  Siinison,  our  sub- 
ject, remained  at  Immc  until  the  death  of  his 
parents,    after   which    he    lived    at    difi'erent 
jilaces  until   he   became  nld    enough  to  work 
for  himself.      ]5eing  left  an  orphan  when  but 
a  lad  ()f  eleven   years  he   was  early  inured  to 
hard  work,   and   being   industrious   and    eco- 
nomical, he  saved   eiKjtigh   to    enter  the   land 
in  Monroe  Townsliip  where  lie  now  resides. 
He  was  married  November  17,  ISSfi,  to  Miss 
Ilebecca    Davis,   in    AVells  County,  Indiana. 
She  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Tennessee, 
June   24,    1818,    a  daughter  of  George  and 
^largaret  (Scott)   Davis,  her  father  being  a 
native  of  Virginia.      I'oth  of  her  parents  had 
been  married  before.     They  settled  in  Union 
County,  Tntliana,  in  an  early  day,  wliere  they 
lived  till   their  death.      Eight  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Siinison — George, 
John,  Jklargaret,  Mary  (deceased),    Sarah   A. 
(deceased),     Samuel,     Eliza    A.    (deceased), 
and  C'atherine.     ilr.  Simison  came  to  Adams 
County,  and  entered  his  land  about  1835,  on 
which  he  settled  Mai'ch  4,  1837.    He  erected 
a  log  cabin  nineteen   feet  square,    witli  pun- 
cheon floor,  in  which  not  a  nail  was  used  in  its 
construction.      His  land  when  he  first  settled 


on  it  was  heavily  covereil  with  timber.  Many 
were  the  trials  and  hardships  endured  by  this 
brave  pioneer  and  his  family,  but  they  have 
lived  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  years  of  toil, 
and  have  seen  the  wihlerncss  change  into 
well-cultivated  fields  and  prosperous  villages. 
After  living  in  their  humble  log  caltin  sev- 
eral years,  the  father  built  a  more  commodi- 
ous frame  dwelling,  which  they  occupied 
until  1874,  when  their  present  substantial 
residence  was  erected.  Mr.  Simison  was  the 
owner  of  the  town  site  of  lUiena  Vista,  wdiich 
he  platted  in  1850,  the  sale  of  lots  beginning 
January  1,  1857.  He  has  always  followed 
farming,  in  wliich  he  is  still  engaged.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest  in  the  public  affairs 
of  his  township  or  county. 


l^^ANCY  nor.ISOX,  of  AVaslnngton 
f  k/l  Township,  widow  of  the  late  Abraham 
■^1  liobisou,  was  born  in  Fayette  County, 
Ohio,  November  5, 1824,  daughter  of  Eli  and 
Polly  (Smith)  Zimmerman,  who  came  to 
Adams  County  when  ilrs.  Robison  was  ten 
years  of  age.  She  was  educated  in  the  log 
cabin  school-house  of  the  early  day,  and  has 
been  reared  in  this  county.  She  was  married 
to  Abraham  Kobison  September  17,  1843, 
who  was  born  ]\Iarch  15,  1818,  son  of 
Ephraim  and  Fannie  A.  luibison,  with  whom 
he  came  to  this  county  when  a  young  man. 
Her  parents  were  among  the  pioncei-s  of  this 
county,  having  located  here  when  the  coun- 
try was  a  dense  forest,  and  remained  until 
their  decease.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  of  whom  five  survive — Jane,  Polly, 
Nancy,  Elizabeth  and  Eli.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ilobison  had  ten  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living — Andrew  J.,  Jasper  W.,  Isaac  M., 
Darius    E.,    Samantlia    and    Sarah    J.     Mr. 


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Koliisoii  was  :i  iiiaii  liiglily  iT'spccti-il  liy  all 
wlio  know  liiin.  IIu  was  a  Idjal  and  l<i\iiig 
father  and  Imsljand,  and  an  oliligiiig  neigh- 
bur,  lie  was  a  strong  advocate  of  temper- 
ance, and  in  politics  a  Democrat.  lie  died 
January  3,  1S(')7.  His  wife  resides  on  the 
oM  homestead,  and  is  tlie  owner  of  3U0  acres 
of  hind. 


;i[JJAM  TllOUT,  M.  I).,  deceased, 
"i'lVA:\Y/)i   '^  pioneer  physician  of  Adains  Conn- 


mil 

l*=3;5=r-J  ty,  practiced  longer  tiian  any  otlier 
physician  who  has  made  tlie  county  Ids  home, 
and  none  of  the  old  settlers  are  more  promi- 
nently and  resjiectfully  rememhered.  lie 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  Oley 
Township,  Berks  County,  March  14,  1S17. 
There  he  lived  until  about  twenty  years  of 
age,  obtaining  a  good  education  in  the  com- 
mon district  schools  of  his  vicinit}-.  Coming 
AVest  in  1837,  lie  located  near  Lancaster, 
^airfield  County,  Ohio,  and  began  tlic  stud}' 
of  medicine  under  the  jjreceptorship  of  Ur. 
Gabriel  Miesse.  lie  remained  there  about 
tiiree  years,  the  last  yearljeginning  the  prac- 
tice of  the  profession  to  which  he  devoted 
his  life,  lie  lived  a  short  time  in  Delaware 
and  Tiqua,  Ohio,  and  in  August,  18-iO,  li.xed 
his  residence  permanently  at  l)ecatur,  Indi- 
ana, where  he  practiced  until  his  death, 
July  2,  1884.  Kotonly  did  his  acquaintance 
and  practice  extend  throughout  Adams 
County,  but  reached  into  adjoining  counties, 
and  even  at  Fort  Wayne  he  had  an  extensive 
patronage.  During  the  latter  years  of  his 
life  he  made  few  visits,  giving  his  attention 
to  his  office  practice,  and  the  street  near  his 
residence  was  at  times  lined  with  patients 
and  their  convej'ances,  come  from  the  country 
around  to  get  the  benefit  of  his  skill.  The 
simple  mention  of  this  fact  is   sullicicnt  evi- 


]--!%<^1-i'i'Ki^ri,Vf7i 


i'jLtii^t.;;-; 


deuce  of  the  place  he  held  in  tlie  hearts  of 
the  people,  and  luj  greater  tribute  could  be 
paid  to  his  memory.  Dr.  Trout's  learning 
was  not  confined  to  his  profession,  lie  was 
familiar  with  the  whole  range  of  thought, 
and  science,  and  literature.  Ilis  conversa- 
tional powers  were  wonderful  and  inexhausti- 
ble, and  were  his  chief  charm.  lie  was 
perfectly  familiar  with  tlicCerman  language, 
speaking  and  translating  it  with  ease.  JIarch 
22,  1842,  Dr.  Trout  was  married  at  Decatur, 
to  iliss  ]\[ary  "Welsh.  Ilcr  parents  were 
originally  from  Anne  Arundel  County, 
]\laryland,  but  were  among  the  pioneers  of 
Newark,  Licking  County,  Ohio.  To  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Trout  were  born  six  children,  but 
one  of  whon:  is  living — Dallas  G.  M.,  a 
physician  of  Decatur.  A  daughter,  Mary  F., 
died  aged  sixteen  years,  and  four  died  in 
infancy.  Dr.  Trout  amassed  a  competence 
during  his  long  and  successful  life,  an<l  Mrs. 
Trout  is  now  leading  a  (piiet,  peaceful  life  at 
Decatur. 


^^,ARLO  MANN,  senior  member  of  the 
IjQS):  fii'u^  of  Alann  ik  liurkhead,  grocers  of 
"^i  Decatur,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  neiir 
Clevelaiul,  September  15,1835,  and  in  April, 
183(),  he  was  brought  to  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  by  his  parents,  Enos  and  Sarah 
(Crawford)  Mann.  They  settled  in  Treble 
Township  on  the  baidc  of  the  St.  Mary's  Iiiver, 
and  there  he  grew  to  manhood,  being  reared 
to  the  avocation  of  a  farmer,  recei\-ing  his 
education  in  the  district  schools.  On  becom- 
ing of  age  he  learned  the  plasterer's  trade, 
lie  was  married  February  11,  185S,  to  Miss 
Winifred  A.  McAlhaney.a  daughter  of  Hamil- 
ton and  Sarah  jNIcAlhaney,  old  settlers  of 
lilue  Creek  Township,  Adams  County.  They 
have   four  children    living — Sarah  Margaret, 


1.1i±l5Si.«.i 


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lIISTOIiY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


:! 


wife  of  Cliai-k's  II.  I/uiiniiniiin,  <it'  Mdiiroi; 
Towiir-liijc,  James  F.,  an  attuniey  ut'  Dccaliir; 
jS'ui'a  Kstlier  ami  .Matic  Agues,  atteiuling 
the  high  ediucil  at  J)eealiir.  One  daiigliter, 
Kosa  Delle  Jane,  died  in  1807,  aged  eight 
years.  In  1801  ]\Ir.  .Mann  located  at  Decatnr, 
wliere  lie  worked  at  plastering  until  1805. 
lie  then  engaged  in  the  grocei-y  husiness 
with  Emanuel  Woods,  with  whom  he  was 
associated  under  the  firm  name  of  Mann  i^ 
Woods  until  1807,  when  the  business  was 
discontinued.  In  1S70  Mr.  Mann  again 
embarked  in  the  grocery  business,  and  in 
1876  his  son-in-law,  0.  11.  [.animiman,  be- 
came associated  with  him,  the  lirm  of  Mann 
it  Lammiman  continuing  until  1883,-  in 
which  year  John  I!.  Ijurkhead  succeeded 
Mr.  Lammiman,  when  the  ])resent  firm  of 
ilaiin  it  Burkhead  Mas  formed.  In  politics 
JSlr.  Mann  is  a  Democrat.  He  served  six 
years  as  assessor  of  \Vashington  Township, 
and  was  township  trustee  for  four  ycai-s.  lie 
is  a  member  of  St.  ^^ary's  Lodge,  iS^o.  107, 
I.  ().  O.  v.,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the 
chairs.  "Sir.  Mann  is  a  local  preacher  of  the 
Jlethodist  Episcopal  church,  his  wife  being  a 
member  of  the  same  church. 


I 


ILLIAM  JMcCOXNEIIEY,  deceased, 
';\1|  came  to  Adams  County  in  May, 
.^^^pH  1837,  with  his  wife  and  seven  cliil- 
dren,  settling  on  the  Hill  farm,  now  owned 
by  AV.  V.  Rice,  lie  remained  there  only  a 
short  time,  having  built  a  cabin  on  his  land 
that  he  entered  after  reaching  Adams  County. 
This  land  was  the  west  half  of  section  36, 
lioot  Township,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  March  14,  1851;  he  is 
buried  in  the  Pillars  cemetery.  He  was  born, 
reared  and  married  in  I'ennsylvania,  then  re- 
moved to  Darke  County,  <  )hi<:),  where  he  lived 


until  he  came  to  this  county.  1  le  was  the 
t-(Je  conti'actor  to  furnish  planlc  for  the  road 
that  was  built  Ijetween  AN'illshirc  and  Deca- 
tur. He  worked  at  this  road  almost  day  and 
night,  and  by  these  exertions  brought  on  the 
sickness  that  terminated  in  his  death.  He 
was  a  zealous  memljer  of  the  United  Brethren 
chui-ch,  and  his  residence  was  freely  given 
to  hold  meetings  for  several  years,  until  the 
church  was  built.  He  was  a  local  preacher, 
and  often  ofticiatcd  in  that  capacity.  The 
names  of  children  are — Sarah,  Kebecca,  l)a- 
vitl,  Josiah,  John,  Susanna,  Mary,  Andrew 
and  William.  The  fatlier  lived  to  see  all  his 
children  growing  up  around,  the  youngest 
being  eight  years  old.  Susanna,  -Jlary,  Ile- 
becca  and  William  have  died  since  the 
death  of  the  father.  David  ]\[cConnehey  was 
born  in  Darke  County,  Ohio,  :March  23, 182'J, 
and  came  to  Adams  County  when  eight  years 
old,  witli  his  parents.  He  now  lives  in  De- 
catur. He  was  married  June  5,  1850,  to 
Miss  i\Iahala  Harden,  ^^'ho  was  born  in  Tenn- 
sylvania,  and  died  in  1S56,  aged  thirty  years. 
The  father  of  AVilliam  i\[cConnehey  was  born 
in  Scotland,  and  came  to  America  with  his 
wife  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  lie  re- 
mained until  his  death.  The  wife  of  AVilliain 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  German 
ancestry.  Her  name  was  formerly  Catherine 
Clever.  The  Hardens  are  also  of  German 
origin,  find  came  to  this  county  about  the 
year  1845;  both  died  in  Adams  County. 
William  Henry  !McConnehey  was  born  in 
Root  Township,  this  county,  March  20, 
l>i51,  on  the  farm  his  grandfather  entered 
from  the  Government.  AVith  the  exception 
of  three  years  spent  in  Mercer  County,  Ohio, 
he  has  lived  all  his  life  in  Adams  County. 
He  was  married  Jfarch  12,  1874,  to  iliss 
Margaret  E.  Lee,  who  was  born  in  AA'^abash 
C^miity,  Indiana,  Oct(»ber26,  1855,  where  she 
was  reared  until  sixteen  years  oKl,  then  came 


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,,^ ..,-.. . .    -,.,-......-,..  - 

BIOGHAl'UWAL    SKETUlIES.  481 


to  tliis  county  witli  her  parents,  and  was  60on 
alter  niarricil.  Her  jiarents  were  AVilliam 
and  Eve(Misner)  Lee.  ^Fr.and  MrsAVilliani 
J  I.  J\[eOunnelicy  have  had  six  children,  tliree 
of  whom  are  living — Mabel,  born  JJcceinber 
2,  1874,  died  December  5,  1874;  Charles  V>. 
C,  born  February  2n,  1.S70;  Christian  L., 
l>orn  September  4,  lS7;i;  J)enisa  K.,  born 
February  13,  1884.  Williaiu  II.  has  been  a 
school-teacher  for  thirty-three  terms,  making 
eleven  years,  llis  education  was  finished  in 
the  public  and  Normal  school  of  Decatur. 
During  the  summer  he  follows  other  occupa- 
tions. Politically  he  is  a  I.)emocrat,  as  was 
his  father  and  his  grandfather. 


|::^,ENKY  STACY,  an  old  settler  of  JJlue 
f|S)A  Creek  Township,  is  a  native  of  the  State 
'^i  of  Xew  York,  born  April  26,  1822,  a 
son  of  John  and  Jlary  Stacy,  natives  of  Ver- 
nmnt.  In  the  fall  of  1837  his  parents  moved 
to  jMercer  County,  Ohio,  near  the  Indiana 
State  line,  where  they  passed  tlie  remainder 
of  their  lives,  lie  was  reared  a  farmer,  and 
early  learned  those  lessons  which,  well  prac- 
ticed, make  agriculture  one  of  the  successful 
industries  of  the  world.  His  educational  ad- 
vantages were  somewhat  limited,  but  he  made 
good  use  of  his  time  and  acquired  a  practical 
education,  }ittin<i;  him  for  intelligent  business 
life.  In  the  fall  of  1844  he  removed  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  settled  on  sec- 
tion 27,  Blue  Creek  Township.  lie  now 
owns  205  acres  of  good  land,  his  homestead 
containing  140  acres.  He  has  cleared  his 
land  from  a  thickly  settled  tract  and  has,  with 
his  own  hands,  improved  it,  and  now  has  one 
of  the  best  farms  in  the  township.  lie  is 
one  of  the  representative  pioneers  of  the 
county,  and  has  always  favored  and  assisted 
to  promote  any  project  that  promised  beiiclit 


to  the  community.  lie  has  held  some  of  the 
minor  olliees  of  the  to\vnship,  and  whether  in 
private  or  public  life  his  actions  have  ijeen 
characteristic  of  the  man.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat.  He  was  married  March  27,  1845, 
to  Lucretia  Douglass,  and  to  them  have  been 
born  six  children,  but  three  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing  -Mary  E.,  Arminda   D.  and   ^Minerva  E. 


lEDPJCH  IJUUCIv,  section  10,  Preble 
!,'j|  Township,  came  to  Atlams  County,  In- 
diana, from  Prussia,  (rermany,  with  his 
parents  in  1830,  arriving  in  Preble  Township) 
September  16.  They  were  accompanied  from 
(Tcrmany  by  several  families,  one  of  whom, 
that  of  Louis  Kase,  settled  in  the  same 
neighborhood,  and  two  others,  those  of  Cliris- 
tian  Aluesing  and  Geoi'ge  Conrad,  came  the 
next  year,  llis  parents  were  Frederick  and 
Margaret  (Kleinsmidt)  Puuck,  the  father  born 
in  October,  1800,  and  the  mother  March  10, 
1802.  The  father  died  June  21,  1871,  and 
the  mother  February  16,  1887.  Diedrich 
liuuck  was  married  ]\Iay  25,  1858,  to  ^Mary 
Werfelmann,  a  native  of  Hano\cr,  Germany, 
and  a  cfaughter  of  Diedrich  and  JIargaret 
(Oestmann)  Werfelmann,  who  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1846.  Her  father  was  born  Decem- 
ber 23,  1796,  and  died  January  23, 1880,  and 
her  mother  was  born  January  27,  1800,  and 
died  April  7,  1856.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  i>uuck 
have  had  twelve  children,  eleven  of  whom  ai-e 
living — Sophia,  wife  of  AVilliam  Jaebker; 
Louisa,  wife  of  Albert  Ilusor;  Frederick, 
]Mary,  Anna,  Henry,  August,  Otto,  Albert, 
Adolph  and  Charles.  Their  fifth  child,  Mina, 
died  January  11,  1871,  aged  two  years.  ^Ir. 
Buuck  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  Preble  Town- 
sliip,  and  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
Eriedhcim,  where  he  is  the  ])rescnt  postmas- 
ter.    He  carries  on  a  general   store,  and  also 


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483 


UISrOliY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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deals  ill  and  inamilactiircs  liiiiil)er.  llo  owns 
a  good  tiirni  of  115  acres  wliere  lie  resides, 
which  is  well  ciilti\ated.  JIo  has  servx'd  as 
trustee  of  his  township  four  years,  and  has 
liecn  postmaster  since  1881,  appointed  Ijy 
President  Arthur. 


/^•OEL  WEAVEIl,  residing  on  section  15, 
^-  :  AVabash  Township,  was  born  in  Dai-ke 
^^  County,  Ohio,  about  the  year  18-16. 
]Iis  parents,  Joel  and  Jfary  M.  (Shullj  Wea- 
ver, were  natives  of  Virginia,  where  they 
were  reared  and  married,  'i'hey  subsequently 
settled  in  Darke  County,  where  they  made 
their  home  until  about  1N58,  removing  thence 
to  Woodford  County,  Illinois.  From  Wood- 
ford the}'  went  to  Fulton  County,  Illinois, 
where  the  father  died,  after  which  the  family 
returned  to  I)arke  ('ount}',  Ohio,  where  the 
mother  still  lives.  They  were  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  si.\  sons  and  six  daughters. 
The  father  being  a  farmer,  our  subject,  Joel 
Weaver,  was  reared  to  the  same  avocation, 
which  he  has  made  his  life-work.  When  old 
enough  lie  was  sent  out  to  work,  and  was 
employed  as  a  farm  laborer  until  the  spring 
of  186-,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  First  Ohio 
Sliarp.->liooters,  and  for  a  time  was  attached  to 
the  Tenth  Ohio  Infantry  IJcgiment.  He  was 
in  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  under  Ilose- 
crans  and  Sherman,  and  participated  in  many 
of  the  engagements  in  which  that  corps  took 
part.  lie  was  wounded  in  the  hip  and  in 
the  breast  by  bushwhackers,  and  with  seven 
others  was  taken  prisoner,  but  he  escaped  the 
same  night,  thus  avoiding  the  fate  of  his 
comrades,  who  were  confined  almost  seven 
months  in  Audcrsonville  prison.  l^Er.  AVeaver 
s])ent  two  months  in  hospital,  when  he  re- 
joined his  company  at  Stephenson,  Alabama, 
lie  was  with   Slierm.an   on    his   march  to  the 


sea,  tliruugh  the  Carolinas,  and  was  on  guard 
at  Sherman's  headijuarters  when  Johnston 
surrendei'cd.  His  company  was  detailed  as 
body  guard  for  General  Sherman  about  a 
year  after  its  organization.  Mr.  Weaver  was 
at  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  and  re- 
ceived his  fiiuil  discharge  at  Columbus,  Ohio, 
in  18G5.  He  now  receives  a  small  pension 
for  his  services  while  in  the  army.  After  his 
discharge  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Ohio, 
and  turned  his  attention  to  tarming.  Ho 
was  united  in  marriage,  (Jctober  1,  18G6,  to 
Miss  Charlotta  Kape,  who  was  born  in  Darke 
County,  Ohio,  ]\Iay  1,  1851,  a  daughter  of 
Lewis  and  Maria  (Wycoti')  Cummings.  Seven 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  ilrs. 
Weaver — liosetta  J.  il.,  Christopher  C,  Al- 
bert E.,  Minnie  E.  G.,  Vera  Martinez  De 
French,  Jasper  Vivian  Ainsley  and  Daisy 
Leah.  Mr.  AVeaver  came  with  his  family  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  in  Sej)tember,  1876, 
where  he  has  since  followed  farming.  He 
bought  and  removed  to  his  present  farm  in 
AVabash  Township  in  the  fall  of  1883,  which 
he  has  brought  under  good  cultivation.  He 
is  a  member  of  John  1*.  Porter  Post,  No.  83, 
G.  A.  E. 


fACOP  RU]\[PLE,  fTCneral  farmer,  section 
8,  Jeilerson  Township,  was  born  in  Put- 
",<,  ler  County,  Ohio,  December  25,  1842,  a 
sou  of  John  and  .Julia  A.  (Yeakle)  Rumple. 
He  was  brought  to  Adams  County,  Indiana, 
by  his  parents  when  about  seven  years  of 
age,  they  settling  on  section  7,  Jefferson 
Township,  where  the  father  lived  till  his 
death.  The  mother  is  still  living,  and  is 
making  her  home  with  our  subject.  lie  grew 
to  manhood  on  the  home  farm,  remaining  at 
home  with  his  parents  till  his  marriage. 
His  educational   advantages  were  limited,  he 


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BIOaitAl'iriCAL    SKMTUIIES. 


huvini^  110  chance  to  atteml  school  before 
ruacliing  the  age  of  fifteen  years;  tlien  he 
ol)tainc(l  only  such  education  as  the  district 
Bchools  of  that  day  alforded.  Fie  was  married 
Way  81,  180-i,  to  J\Iiss  Elizal)eth  Cook,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Lydia  Cook.  October 
18,  ISG-t,  Mr.  Kuin])le  enlisted  in  Company 
Jl, Twenty-third  Indiana  Infantry,  and  joined 
liis  regiment  at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  He 
was  discliarged  July  28,  1SG5,  tlie  war  being 
ended.  He  now  draws  a  pension  for  disabil- 
ity contracted  while  in  the  army.  After  re- 
ceiving his  dscharge  he  returned  to  his  home 
in  Jefferson  Township,  and  shortly  after  re- 
moved to  his  farm  on  section  8,  where  he 
has  since  l)een  engaged  in  general  farming. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rum])le  have  had  born  to  them 
ten  cliildren — John,  born  August  10,  1864; 
George  F.,  June  12,  1SG6;  Julia  Ann,  Au- 
gust 4,  1868;  Lydia,  October  28,  1870; 
Laura  A.,  November  18,  1872;  Amanda 
Jane,  Jannary  6,  1875;  Andrew  Perry,  May 
18,  1877;  an  infant  unnamed,  deceased; 
Amy,  born  March  5,  1881,  died  in  January, 
1882,  and  Bessie  E.,  born  March  9,  1884. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bumple  are  members  of 
the  Disciple  church.  Mr.  Rumple  is  meet- 
ing with  fair  success  in  his  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  has  now  a  well-cultivated  farm 
containing  sixt}'  acres  of  choice  land. 


,„^^t^^^\^'^ 

fTSfKANK  AliNOLD,  farmer,  section  11, 
|p4  Kirkland  Township,  Adams  County,  was 
■""^  born  in  Saxony,  Germany,  November 
14,  1841,  a  son  of  August  and  Augusta  (Jan) 
Arnold,  also  natives  of  Saxony.  Tlie  father 
was  a  tailor  by  trade.  lie  immigrated 
with  his  family  to  the  United  States 
in  1850,  landing  at  New  York  City, 
going  thence  to  "Wayne  County,  Ohio,  where 
they    remained    six   months.     They  then   re- 


moved to  "Wells  County,  Indiana,  settling 
at  N'^era  CVuz,  where  the  father  worked  at  his 
trade.  He  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  in 
Kiikland  Township,  Adams  County,  in  1856, 
Mbieh  was  heavily  covered  with  timber,  and 
on  which  a  log  cabin  was  built,  with  chi])- 
board  roof  and  puncheon  floor.  They  li\ed 
in  this  cabin  until  their  hewed-log  house  was 
built, in  which  the  father  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  February,  18G5,at  the  age  of 
forty-five  years.  Ills  widow  afterward  mar- 
ried Jacob  Mosselinan,  and  to  this  union  one 
child  was  born.  By  her  first  marriage  she 
had  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  two 
are  deceased.  The  parents  of  our  subject 
were  members  of  the  German  lieformed 
church,  but  since  her  husband's  death  the 
mother  has  united  with  the  Albright  church. 
She  is  now  living  at  "Vera  C'ruz,  Imliana. 
Frank  Arnold,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
grew  to  manhood  in  Adams  County,  being 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  receiving 
but  limited  educational  advantages.  October 
11,  18G4,  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-second  Indiana  Infantry'. 
He  was  with  the  Twentieth  Army  Corps, 
being  a  ])art  of  the  time  on  detached  duty. 
He  was  discharged  at  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
July  14,  1865,  after  which  he  returned  to  his 
home  in  Adams  County  and  resumed  farm- 
ing, lie  also  ran  a  threshing  machine  for 
eleven  seasons.  Since  1879  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  saw-milling,  being  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Spade  &  .Vrnold.  ^Ir.  Arnold  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  the  heirs  to  the  family 
homestead  on  which  he  now  resides,  his  farm 
now  consisting  of  IGO  acres.  He  has  been 
twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Polly 
Lib}'.  She  was  born  in  Ohio,  September 
24,  1838,  and  died  February  14,  1872.  They 
had  two  children — Albert,  born  j\Liy  2, 18G7, 
and  Stephen,  born  November  22,  1869,  died 
November  10,  1884.     March  10,  1878,  J\[r. 


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nitiTonr  of  ad.ul'j  cuunty. 


Arnold  was  ai;ain  iiiari'icd  to  Rnsaiiiiali  Catli- 
oriiiu  I  It'l'ii'er,  wlio  was  liorii  in  iMassillon, 
Ktark  County,  Oliio,  Feliniary  2-i,  \H~A),  a 
daughter  of  Nicholas  I'erger.  Five  children 
have  been  born  to  this  union — William  W., 
born  December  15,  1S78;  Charles  C,  born 
August  19,  1875;  Sarah  _M.,  born  August 
30,  ISSO;  Ilosetta  C,  born  August  26,  18S2, 
and  Edward  L.,  born  November  23,  1884. 
Both  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Arnidd  arc  members  of 
the  German  lieformed  church.  In  politics 
he  affiliates  with  the  Hepublicau  party,  and 
has  held  several  local  offices  in  his  townsliip. 
He  is  a  comrade  of  Sam  Henry  Po.st,  No. 
G3,  Ct.  a.  li.,  of  which  he  was  a  charter  mem- 
ber. 


jARSIIALL  P.  VANCE,  farmer,  sec- 
/./ ,1/^  1.  tion  23,  Hartford  Township,  was 
■^ft;;-?^  born  in  Darke  County,  Ohio,  ilay  9, 
1833,  a  son  of  "William  A^ance,  who  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Adams  County,  settling  in 
"Wabash  Township  M'ith  his  family  in  1835, 
where  he  lived  till  liis  death.  Thesubjcctof 
this  sketch  grew  to  manhood  in  Wabash 
Township,  being  reared  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  in  his  youth  attended  the  district  school, 
where  he  obtained  a  fair  common-school  edu- 
cation, lie  was  married  July  1,  1857,  to 
!Miss  Arabella  Deftenbaugh,  who  was  born  in 
Maryland,  May  1,  1835,  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Ellen  (;^^artin)  Deffcnbaugh.  Of  the 
seven  children  born  to  this  union,  only  three 
are  living — ^tary,  now  the  wife  of  Vernon 
Snow;  AVilliam  II.  and  Fred.  John,  Charles 
E.,  liufus  and  an  infant  unnamed  are  de- 
ceased. During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
^Ir.  Vance  served  about  seven  months  as  a 
member  of  Company  E,  Thirty-second  Indi- 
ana Infantry,  receiving  his  discharge  iFay 
12,  18G5,  at  the  close  of  the   war.      lie  was 


jirincipally  engaged  in  camp  duty  at  (?amp 
(_'arriiigton  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana.  After 
his  discharge  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
Adams  County  and  engaged  in  fanning, 
which  he  has  since  ioUowed.  He  settled  ou 
his  present  farm  in  1SG7,  where  he  has  eighty 
acres  of  well-cultivated  land.  Both  Mr.  and 
Jlrs.  Vance  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Politically  he  affiliates 
with  the  Republican  jiarty.  He  is  a  comrade 
of  John  P.  Porter  Post,  No.  83,  G.  A.  R. 

"'  "4*''  'S^*""*" 

tEORGE  II.  MARTZ,  a  prominent  farm- 
er of  ]\[onroe  Township,  where  he  has  a 
fine  farm  of  100  acres,  was  born  in  Kiio.x 
County,  Ohio,  October  22,  1838,  a  son  of 
Henry  JMartz.  When  an  infant  he  was 
brought  by  liis  parents  to  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  and  here  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  is 
still  living  on  the  family  homestead  in  Mon- 
roe Township.  lie  attended  the  common 
schools  of  the  county  until  he  was  of  acre,  after 
which  he  attended  Iluntertown  and  Perry 
Central  high  schools,  in  Allen  County.  After 
completing  his  education  he  engaged  in 
teaching  school,  M'hich  he  followed  for 
four  years,  or  until  his  marriage,  <rune  5, 
18G2,  to  Sarah  J.  Riley.  She  was  born 
in  Licking  County,  Oiiio,  July  22,  1834,  and 
died  September  4,  1875,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren— (ierry  R.,  Cora  A.,  Walter  C.  and 
.Minnie  ]\[.  April  2G,  1877,  Mr.  Martz  was 
again  nuirried  to  j\lrs.  Amelia  (Martin)  Stog- 
dill,  born  in  Union  Township,  Adams  County, 
December  2G,  1850,  a  daughter  of  IJenjamin 
Martin,  an  old  settler  of  Union  Township. 
Four  children  have  been  born  to  this  union — 
Charles  E.,  Victoria,  ]\rary  F.,  and  Drusilla. 
P>y  her  marriage  with  William  Stogdill  Mrs. 
^fartz  has  one  child,  a  son,  James.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Martz  affiliates  with  the   Democratic 


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4H5 


party.  lie  takes  an  active  interest  in  all 
pnljjic  ali'airs.  lie  lias  beived  six  years  as 
trustee  of  his  township,  was  deputy  land  ap- 
jiraiser  one  year,  and  for  lour  years  was  town- 
slli])  assessor,  heside  hcjhlini^  otlier  Joeal 
offices.  He  is  a  nieinhei-  of  the  ^[asonic  fra- 
ternity, uniting  with  that  order  in  1873,  and 
belongs  to  Decatur  Ludo-e  No.  '^S-t,  at  JJe- 
catur. 


i^[EOPtGE  ^\.  GLADDEN,  farmer,  Hoot 
Iv'Tf  Township,  was  born  in  Island  Creek 
W^  Township,  Jefferson  County,  Ohio, 
May  20,  1S2(),  and  \\as  reared  on  a  farm 
until  seventeen  years  of  age,  at  which  time 
he  went  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  of 
Dukes  iV:  Dolvin,  in  Tuscarawas  County, 
same  State,  lie  followed  his  trade  until 
1862,  when  he  became  engaged  in  manufac- 
turing tar  lubricating  oils  and  elastic  roofing. 
This  he  continued  until  1S82,  when  lie  sold 
out  and  came  to  Adams  County,  settling  upon 
a  farm  which  he  had  purchased  in  1873.  A 
log  house  had  been  built,  which  is  still 
standing  and  is  used  as  a  tenant  house.  In 
the  summer  of  1873  he  built  a  line  frame 
house,  and  he  now  has  a  large,  commodious 
barn.  Mr.  (iladden  was  a  son  of  James  and 
Sarah  (Shively)  Cihulden.  The  father  was 
born  in  Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  and  was 
twice  married.  Our  subject  was  the  son  of 
the  second  marriage,  and  was  the  only  child. 
September  lu,  IS-ls,  he  was  married  to  ^lartha 
L.  liisher,  who  was  born  in  Steubenville, 
Ohio,  January  7, 1826,  and  was  reared  within 
one  mile  of  the  place  where  she  was  married. 
Her  parents  were  Frederick  F.  and  Mary 
(Long)  Kisher.  The  father  was  b(_)rn  in  Lex- 
ington, Kentucky,  October  31,  18U1,  and 
when  si,\  years  old  his  father  died,  and  he 
went  to  live  with  Frederick  McDonnell,  with 


whom  lie  lived  until  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
The  mother  again  married,  her  second  husband 
being  Richard  Lee,  ;ind  they  had  three  chil- 
dren -AVilsun,  Delilah  and  Alai'tha.  ]\Irs. 
( 1  ladden's  father  died  Di'ceinber  (i,  1S83,  in 
Steubenville,  Ohio.  lie  was  a  farmer  in 
early  life,  and  in  later  years  he  followed  saw- 
milling,  lie  commenced  life  with  nothing 
but  his  head  and  hands.  AVhen  he  was 
twenty-one  years  old  he  was  employed  by 
IJazabeel  Wells,  who  was  in  the  milling 
business.  He  remained  with  him  five  years, 
when  his  health  began  to  fail  and  he  was 
compelled  to  stop  work  and  take  a  i-est.  He 
recovered  and  purchased  a  farm.  Eight 
years  afterward  he  bought  the  adjoining 
farm,  and  later,  sold  the  first  farm,  and 
bought  a  saw-mill  and  a  merchant-mill  for 
manufacturing  flour.  He  continued  in  this 
business  as  long  as  he  was  able  to  attend  to 
it.  He  was  a  local  Methodist  minister  and 
[ireached  all  over  that  country,  and  for  more 
than  forty  years  preached  to  the  county  ]ioor 
at  Steubenville.  His  wife,  !Mrs.  Gladdeii's 
mother,  was  born  in  I'ennsylvania,  October 
15,  1803,  and  when  four  years  of  age  was 
put  into  the  care  of  the  poormaster,  her 
father  having  left  home  suddenly,  leaving  the 
mother  without  an  income.  She  was  after- 
ward taken  out  of  the  poor-house  Ity  Kichard 
Fulton,  by  whom  she  was  reared,  and  at 
nineteen  years  of  age  she  was  married.  They 
had  twelve  children,  of  whom  ten  gi'ew  to 
maturity.  AVilson  L.,  born  August  3,  1824, 
was  killed  by  the  bursting  of  a  locomotive  on 
the  Cleveland  iV  Pittsburgh  liailroad,  in 
1863;  Martha  L.,  now  Mrs.  Gladden,  born 
January  7,  1826;  Pazaleel  AV.,  born  October 
18,  1827;  Asa  S.,  born  January  7,  1830; 
Alary  J.,  boi'n  Xo\einlier4,  1^31;  Anna  E., 
born  August  1,  1831,  died  at  the  aire  of 
eleven  months  and  fifteen  days;  ]\[argnerretta, 
a  twin  of  Anna   E.;   Frederick,  liurn  June   1, 


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IIISTOUY    OP    ADAMS    COUNTY 


1837,  died  in  the  regular  aiiny;  .loliii  W ., 
burn  :\riu-cli  20,  IS-K);  (ieor-v  II.,  l...ni  .Iidy 
3,  1842,  (lied  at  the  aije  ol'  t'uiii'  years;  Kuie- 
liiie,  born  ]\Iureli  28,  1815;  .hiines  JL,  born 
ifay  7,  181S,  died  .Inly  10,  1881,  from  the 
aniptutation  of  a  limb,  having  been  injured 
by  falliuif  from  a  car  and  the  wheels  runnin<^ 
over  him.  The  mother  united  with  the 
^Methodist  church  iu  early  life,  aud  was  a 
devoted  Christian  wouum.  She  was  without 
enemies,  and  died  lamented  by  all  wiio  knew 
lier.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  filadden  have  six  chil- 
dren— Altha,  born  J  une  23, 1811),  was  married 
February  21,  1870,  to  David  Flaiuiers,  and 
they  have  hatl  two  children,  one  living; 
James  L.,  born  October  2'J,  1850,  died  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1876;  Mary  II.,  born  November  3, 
1853,  died  September  3,  1855;  Emma  P., 
born  February  20,  1857,  died  August  17, 
1860;  Charity,  born  January  25,  1860,  died 
February  11,  1862;  George  G.,  born  October 
2,  1867,  died  April  12,  186'J.  ^Ir.  Gladden 
■was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  at  Pitts- 
burg that  organized  the  llepublican  party  in 
that  place,  lie  was  raised  a  Democrat,  but 
in  1810,  during  the  tarifl"  agitation,  he 
became  a  Whig.  Both  himself  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  aMethodist  church.  !Mr. 
Gladden  was  converted  when  twenty  years  of 
age,  and  is  a  great  reader  of  religious  and 
political  literature. 


,SCAR  ELLSWOKTII,  deceased,  was 
boru  in  ilichigan,  June  0,  1832,  son 
•^V-'  of  Joseph  antl  i.ucinda  Ellsworth,  early 
settlers  of  ]\[ichigan.  lie  nuirried,  in  Wells 
County,  Angeline  Qiuickenbush,  boru  in 
!Mediua  County,  ( )hi().  near  Cleveland,  Au- 
gust 10,  1833,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
(Allen)  Quackenbusii,  the  fitlier  a  native  of 
New  'Wirk,  and  the  uKither  of  Rhode  Island. 


^ij^:i^\^^e:ai^ji^'ij*j»Mji?i^i'^*,'^:j!>t^i^±j::^ 


■>»ri4~xj--! 


After  marriage  they  came  to  Ohio,  thence  to 
ludiaiui,  settling  in  Jell'erson  Township, Wells 
County,  where  they  pa^sed  the  remainder 
of  their  days.  Tlie  father  died  August  12, 
1851,  aiul  the  mother  February  15,  1867. 
They  liad  each  been  jireviously  married,  the 
father  having  four  children  aud  the  mother 
three.  V>y  the  last  marriage  there  were  eight 
children.  The  mother  was  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church.  After  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Ellsworth  he  was  engaged  in  fai'ming  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  Ceylon,  May  18, 
1882.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellsworth  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Cliristian  church.  They  had  a 
family  of  four  children. 


ALLAS  G.  M.  TROUT,  M.  D.,  was 
born  in  Decatur,  Indiana,  October  8, 
1816,  and  is  the  only  living  child  of 
William  and  Mary  (AVelsh)  Trout.  His  early 
education  was  obtained  in  the  common 
schools  of  Decatur,  where  he  laid  the  foun- 
dation for  an  academic  course,  which  he  pur- 
sued in  the  colleges  at  Rerea  and  Ilaysville, 
Ohio.  On  his  return  from  Rerea,  in  1866, 
he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with 
his  father  and  continued  his  readings  until 
1869,  interrupted  only  when  absent  at  col- 
Iciro  in  ChicajiO,  Illinois.  In  the  fall  and 
winter  of  1867  he  attended  the  Rush  ]\[edi- 
cal  College,  i-eturning  home  in  the  spi-ing  of 
1S68,  and  the  ne.\t  winter  took  his  second 
course,  graduating  in  the  spring  of  1869  with 
honors.  Immediately  after  his  return  from 
college  he  became  associated  in  practice  with 
his  father,  the  partnership  continuing  until 
his  father's  death,  in  1881.  Ilis  career  as  a 
physician  has  been  nuirked  with  success,  and 
his  time  is  now  almost  entirely  taken  up  with 
his  office  and  city  practice.  He  stands  at  the 
head  of  his  profession  in  Adams  County,  and 


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liy  Ill's  lionortible  and  iiprii:lit  life  lias  fraiiietl 
the  coiitideiiL'e  and  esteem  of  all  wlio  know 
liiin.  He  was  iiiarrietl  in  1ST6  to  .Miss  Flora 
J),  niaclcinond,  at  Otsu^jo,  Michigan.  They 
liave  four  children — William,  Mariam,  lOiui- 
lio  C  and  Jolni   A. 


fOSIAH  CKAWFOUI),  farmer,  section 
2,  Wabash  Township,  is  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  the  tuNviiship,  liaving  lived 
within  a  few  rods  of  his  present  residence 
fiince  1839.  llis  first  hahitatioii  was  a  log 
cabin,  IG  x  IS  feet.  He  afterward  moved 
into  a  house  built  by  a  brother,  John  Craw- 
ford, of  Decatur,  with  whom  he  was  in  part- 
nership in  farininy  and  stuck  dealing.  Tliey 
were  the  tirst  to  bring  stock  into  the  county 
in  large  numbers,  having  brought  140  head 
from  Darke  Count}',  Ohio.  They  brought  the 
first  short-horn  cattle  into  this  part  of  the 
State.  They  usually  sold  to  drovers.  Mr. 
Crawford  made  a  specialty  of  stock-raising  as 
long  as  his  health  and  age  permitted.  He 
was  born  in  AVaynesbnrg,  (ireene  County, 
Pennsylvania,  April  21,  ISll.  His  father, 
AVilliam  Crawford,  was  a  native  of  AV'^aynes- 
borotigh,  Lancaster  County,  same  State.  IHs 
paternal  grandparents,  Josiah  and  Margaret 
(Kincaid)  Crawford, were  born  in  Donegal,  Ire- 
land, and  immigrated  to  America  when  young, 
settling  in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  were  married,  and  afterward  re- 
moved to  Franklin  County,  where  they  passed 
the  remainder  of  their  days.  lie  accumulated 
quite  a  property,  but,  owing  to  the  depre- 
ciation of  Continental  currency,  lost  heavily. 
William  Crawford  was  reared  in  Franklin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  married  Jane 
Alexander,  who  was  burn  in  Maryland,  and 
came  with  her  parents  to  Pennsylvania.  His 
father,    William    Ci-awford,   was  a  native  of 


1 

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Pennsylvania,  and  followed  the  mercantile 
business  in  A\'ayiiesbiirgh,  Pennsylvania,  from 
lS03  until  1S15.  In  this  business  he  se- 
cured a  comi)etency.  i\Irs.  Crawford's  moth- 
er, Mary  (Cnrswell)  Alexander,  was  born  in 
Wales,  and  of  Scotch  ])arcntage.  The  parents 
of  our  subject  had  six  children,  of  whom  he 
is  the  second  child.  The  mother  dieil  in  1821, 
and  the  father  afterward  married  Nancy 
Hayes,  and  to  this  union  were  born  six  chil- 
dren. Thefatherdied  January  29, 1837.  The 
family  were  good  Christian  people,  liaving 
been  inembers  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
The  father  was  well  educated  for  those  days, 
and  held  the  position  of  associate  judge,  be- 
sides other  otKces  of  trust.  Josiah  Crawford 
received  a  good  common-school  education. 
In  1832  he  became  his  father's  partner  in  the 
mercantile  trade,  which  he  continued  a  few 
years,  and  in  October,  1839,  he  came  to  Adams 
('ounty,  as  previously  stated.  lie  had  been 
here  the  year  before  and  purchased  and  en- 
tered 5(50  acres  of  land,  in  comjiany  with  his 
brother.  Mr.  Crawford  was  married,  March 
25,  18-41,  to  Kosanna  Abnet,  born  in  Vir- 
ginia April  10,  181G,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Sarah  (Baker)  Abnet,  who  settled  in  Jef- 
ferson Township  in  1839, where  they  lived  until 
their  death,  ilr.  and  Mrs.  Crawford  had  one 
child — Mary  J.,  wife  of  Abram  liawley.  She 
was  born  .lanuarv  1,  1842,  and  died  Decem- 
ber 10,  1881.  Mrs.  Crawford  died  in  Xovern- 
bcr,  1884.  Jlr.  Crawi'ord  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  cast  his  tirst  Presidential  vote 
for  General  Jackson,  in  1832.  He  was  elect- 
ed a  member  of  the  board  of  county  commis- 
sioners in  October,  185G,  and  held  the  office 
eighteen  years.  He  had  the  honor  of  shak- 
ing hands  with  General  Jackson,  and  has 
heard  Henry  Clay  and  AVilliani  Henry  Harri- 
son speak;  has  also  seen  David  Crockett.  He 
has  2C0  acres  of  land  and  a  comfortable  home. 
His  granddaughter  keeps  his  house  fur  him. 


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lIISrOltY    OF    AlJAiMS    COUNTY. 


Mv.  (Jniwlbnl  is  one  of  two,  now  rosidiiii;;  in 
tlio  townslii]),  who  votcil  at.  the  l'resi(hMiti!il 
elcftioii  in  1840.  lie  was  no  Jninter,  iiltiiough 
<,fiune  was  very  plenty  wiien  he  settled  here. 
Jle  has  always  licen  a  popular  man,  is  liberal 
in  all  his  views  and  a  youd  convcrser.  lie 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace   five  years. 


MCIIOLAS  liKlUiEK,  one  of  the  early 

,  ,,,7    settlers  of   Ivirklaiid   Townsliin,  where 

'-'  ■If'-  . 

"^'k    lie  is  nundiered  among   the  successful 

agriculturists,  is  a  native  of  Switzerland, 
horn  July  20,  1820.  Ilis  parents,  Mcholas 
and  Klizabeth  (Xueschwonder)  lierger,  were 
also  natives  of  Switzerland,  and  died  in  their 
native  country.  lUjth  were  inen\liers  of  the 
(ierniaii  Keformed  chui'cli.  They  were  the 
])arents  of  ten  chihli'en,  two  dying  in  child- 
hood. Nicholas  Jierger,  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch,  learned  the  coo]ier's  trade,  which 
lie  followed  in  his  native  country  until  1847, 
when  he  caine  to  America  and  for  a  time 
stopped  at  Bethlehem,  Stark  County,  Ohio, 
M'iiere  lie  worked  at  his  trade.  From  there 
he  went  to  Vera  Cruz,  A\'ells  County,  Indi- 
ana, where  he  resumed  working  at  liis  trade, 
remaining  there  until  1867.  In  April  of  tlia-t 
year  he  ijoiight  and  removed  to  his  present 
home  on  section  B,  Kirkland  Township.  ]Iis 
lirst  p)urchase  here  was  120  acres,  of  which 
only  twenty  acres  were  under  cultivation.  By 
persevering  industry  and  good  management 
he  has  added  to  his  original  purchase  until 
he  now  lias  243  acres,  after  giving  fort}'  acres 
to  liis  son.  He  is  now  devoting  considerable 
attention  to  stock-raising  in  connection  with 
his  general  farming.  .Mr.  Berger  was  mar- 
ried at  Massillon,  Stark  County,  (Jhio,  in  the 
fall  of  1849,  to  Ilnsaiina  Smith,  who  was 
horn  in  Canton  Berne,  SN\itzerland,  in  Feli- 
riiary,  1827,  and  to  this  union  were  hjrn  ten 


children,  as  follows— -Susan  ('.,  William  IS'., 
iiiisanna,  S(»phia,  Ivlward,  Samuel  A.,  Lucinda 
K.  (deceased],  dacol I  !•'.,  Mary  A.  and  Caroline 
(deceased).  .Mrs.  Berger  died  April  22, 1870. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  German  lieformed 
church.  Mv.  Berger  is  a  member  of  the  same 
denomination.  ]\Ir.  Berger  is  a  self-made  man, 
having  aci^uired  his  present  fine  property  by 
his  own  efibrts,  he  having  but  s3  when  lie 
landed  in  Stark  County,  and  by  his  strict  in- 
tegrity and  lioiioralde  dealings  he  has  gained 
the  coniidcnce  of  all  with  whom  he  has  had 
business  intercourse. 


^ 


,^OSEPn  WIIEIIUY,  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser.  Union  Township,  was  born  in 
C'arroll  County,  Ohio,  December  17, 
1837.  AVlien  he  was  about  fifteen  years  old 
lie  and  his  parents  came  to  Indiana,  first  set- 
tling in  ilonroe  Township,  Allen  (^ounty. 
There  were  seven  children  besides  himself  in 
his  father's  family.  They  lived  in  Allen 
County  two  years,  on  rented  land,  and  then 
the  father  bought  a  farm.  He  built  his  own 
log  house,  which  was  18  .x  20  feet  in  size,  and 
a  story  and  a  half  in  height.  He  afterward 
added  a  kitchen,  and  lived  in  that  house  until 
his  death.  The  father,  Adam  Wherry,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  January  27,  1814,  and 
when  a  young  boy  removed  to  Carroll  County, 
Ohio,  with  his  parents,  and  was  there  reared 
to  manhood.  He  died  April  20,  1881,  and 
is  buried  in  Clark's  Chapel,  Union  Township. 
His  mother  was  Eve  (Umbaugh)  Wheriy. 
His  paternal  grandparents  were  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  Carroll  County, 
Ohio.  His  maternal  grandfiither,  George 
Umbaugh,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and 
died  in  Carroll  ("ounty,  Ohio,  and  his  grand- 
mother Uinliaugh  also  died  in  Carroll  Coun- 
ty.     Ml-.  AVherry  was  mai-ried  November  21, 


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isni,  to  Miss  Eliziihotli  11.  Ilice,  wlio  was 
1(0111  in  Union  Townsliip,  i\(l;uiis  Ccjimty, 
MiiJ  K),  1811,  \v!ici-L'  slu-  lived  until  lirr  iiiar- 
riage.  Slio  is  a  daughter  of  William  1'.  and 
Frances  (Rabbctt)  Rice.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
AVherry  have  nine  children  —  William  P., 
Mary  E.,  Frances  E.,  Joseiih  A.,  Alice  E., 
llnlda  E., Warren  A.,  IJeSBie  \ .  and  Hannah. 
Mr.  Wherry  owns  lOS  acres  of  lai\d.  lie 
built  his  house  in  tlic  sununur  of  1S81,  at  a 
cost  of  $2,500.  Politically  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. 


PANIEL  W.  MYERS,  of  Washington 
I  Township,  was  born  in  Wayne  County, 
.,,  Ohio,  July  2,  1849,  son  of  Frederick 
and  Christina  Myers,  pioneers  of  Adams 
County.  In  1851  he  was  brought  by  liis 
parents  to  this  county,  where  he  was  reared 
to  manhood.  He  received  a  liberal  educa- 
tion, and  was  engaged  in  teaching  about  si.x 
years,  having  taught  in  the  high  school  at 
Decatur  two  terms.  In  1872  he  engaged  in 
the  lumber  trade,  at  Decatur,  with  his 
brother,  David  L.  Myers,  as  partner,  under 
the  tirm  name  of  ]\Iyers  Brothers.  This 
partnevsliip  existed  about  nine  years,  lie 
then  removed  to  his  present  farm  on  section 
12,  Washington  Township,  where  he  owns  a 
well  improved  farm  of  300  acres.  He  was 
married  November  23,  1880,  to  Miss  Annie 
Cwinner,  born  March  3,  1S56,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Gwin- 
ner,  with  wiiom  she  removed  to  Ashland 
County,  Ohio,  when  about  fourteen  years  ohl, 
where  she  grew  to  maturity.  Two  children 
Inive  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers — 
Harry  F.  and  Jesse  N.,  both  of  whom  are 
deceased.  Mrs.  ^lyeis  is  a  member  of  the 
]\[etlio(iist  I'^piscopal  cluireh,  and  hcitli  are 
respected  memlierri  of  society.      Mr.  Myer.s  is 


a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  l)elongs  to  tiic 
0<ld  I'V-llows  lodge  at  Decatur.  He  has 
been  successful  in  business,  an<l  this  enables 
him  to  contribute  largely  to  any  enterprises 
which  will  beneiit  the  community. 


fAMES  FRANKLIN  MANN,  attorney- 
at-law,  Decatur,  tlie  only  son  of  Ilarlo 
'vc  iind  AVinifred  (.McAlhaney)  Mann,  was 
born  in  Decatur,  Adams  County,  Indiana, 
February  9,  18G1,  and  is  of  Genmin  and  Irish 
ancestry.  He  was  reared  in  liis  native  city, 
and  in  his  youth  attended  the  jniblic  schools. 
When  old  enougli  he  began  clerking  in  his 
father's  store,  and  was  engaged  in  clerking  and 
attending  and  teaching  school  until  1880.  In 
that  year  he  began  reading  law  in  the  otlice  of 
Heller  ik  Hooper,  of  Decatur,  and  in  1881- 
'82  lie  spent  two  terms  in  the  law  department 
of  the  ilichigan  State  University  at  Ann 
Arbor,  graduating  from  that  institution 
March  29, 1882.  In  January,  1883,  he  began 
the  practice  of  law  at  Decatur,  forming  a 
partnership  with  John  P.  Quiiin,  with  whom 
he  was  associated  until  the  death  of  Mv. 
Qninn,  eight  months  later.  In  Novem- 
ber of  the  same  year,  L.  C-.  Devoss  became 
his  law  jiartner,  which  continued  under  tiie 
name  of  Devoss  &  Mann  until  January,  1880, 
when  Mr.  Mann  retired  from  the  tirm.  He 
is  at  present  city  attorney  of  Dei^atur.  Jlr. 
Mann  was  united  in  marriage  November  12, 
188-1,  at  Decatur,  to  !Miss  Tina  Teagne,  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  Martin  A.  and  ilaggie 
Teague.  She  was  born  in  Wheeling,  Dela- 
ware County,  Indiana,  and  was  reared  and 
educated  in  the  various  ])laces  where  her 
jiarents  resided,  her  father  being  a  Methodist 
minister.  She  is  a  mendier  of  the  ]\rethodist 
Episcopal  church.  ?*[r.  Mann  is  a  member 
(pf  the    Presbvterian   church   and    is   sniicrin- 


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IllSTOliy    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY 


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tondent  uf  its  S;ibb;itli-S(.'liool.  lie  is  ;i  iiieiii- 
liei-  i)t'  tlie  Otiii  I''eli(i\vs  urdrr,  uml  is  [i;ist 
-rami  of  St.  Mary's  Lua-e.  N,,.  IC.T,  at 
1  >t'i.atiir.  Air.  .•mil  Mrs.  Mann  iia\c  one 
ilauylitur— Mag-ic  T.,  horn    .March   7,  1SS7. 


.-^.EOllGE  11.  DIOKKUSON,  engaged  in 
JrI-jT-  tkrniing  on  section   15,   Adams  Town- 
s' ship,  was  liorn  in  Jackson  County,  Oliio, 
tlie  date  of  his   iurtli   h.'Ing  March  20,  1830. 

His     |iarents,    Thomas    and    ■    (linssell) 

Dickerson,  were  also  natives  of  Oliio,  both 
their  families  coming  from  New  Yoi'k  State. 
Tiiey  died  when  our  subject  was  quite  young, 
and  lie  was  reared  by  an  aunt,  with  whom  he 
i-emained  till  ninetcL-n  years  of  age.  lie  then 
began  learning  tlie  carpenter's  trade,  which 
he  followetl  until  August  5,  18G2,  when  he 
enliated  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  was 
assigned  to  Company  1!,  ISinetietli  Ohio  In- 
tantry.  He  first  served  under  General  Crit- 
tenden, and  was  also  under  General  Palmer 
in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  lie  par- 
ticipated in  many  of  the  battles  of  the  war. 
He  left  his  command  at  Dallas,  (ieorgia,  on 
iiccouiit  of  disability  contracted  in  the  army, 
and  now  draws  a  pension.  lie  was  afterward 
placed  on  detached  service  for  some  time, 
lie  served  his  country  until  June  3,  1865, 
and  after  his  discharge  returned  to  his  home 
in  Ohio,  lie  renuiined  in  Ohio  until  1808, 
when  lie  went  to  fiercer  County,  making  his 
home  tliere  until  1876.  In  that  year  lie  came 
to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  settled  on 
section  23  of  AV abash  Township.  lie  bought 
and  moved  to  his  jiresent  farm  in  Adams 
Township,  which  contains  eighty  acres  of 
lanil,  thirty  acres  being  under  line  cultiva- 
tion, ifr.  Dickerson  was  united  in  marriage, 
June  20,  1851,  to  ili.-s  Lucinda  Winters, 
who  was  liorn   in  Atiicns,  now  Vinton  Coun- 


ty, Ohio,  June  12,  1833.  Her  parents,  John 
and  Nancy  (Harns)  AVinters,  were  natives  of 
N'irginia.  Tliey  were  married  in  N'inton 
County,  Ohio,  where  the  mother  died.  The 
father  was  a  meml)er  of  (/omjiany  K,  For- 
tietii  Oiiio  Infantry,  and  died  while  on  sick 
furlough,  at  Iron  ton,  Oliio.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  five  chililren,  two  sons  antl  three 
daughters.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickerson  are  the 
parents  of  eight  children — Henry  Ii.,  Annie, 
Alinnie,  Carson,  McLellan,  Sadie,  Tliomas 
and  America.  Mcl.ellau  Dickerson,  of  AVa- 
bash  Townsliip,  was  born  Aju'il  0,  1802,  in 
Vinton  County,  (Jhio,  and  came  with  his 
parents  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  where  lie 
was  reared  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  still  follows.  He  is  a  member  of 
ArcPherson  Camp,  Xo.  11,  S.  of  A^.,  at 
Geneva,  of  which  he  has  been  Orderly  Ser- 
geant. 

•|0AA[UEL  SIAIISOX,  an  active  and  en- 
t'^lj  t'^'"pi"''''"K  eitizen  of  Monroe  Township, 
\j-  and  a  member  of  the  fii-iu  of  Allison, 
j\Iarrow  &  Co.,  of  Berne,  Adams  County,  was 
born  at  Linn  Gro\e,  Adams  County,  In- 
diana, January  10,  1855,  a  son  of  Robert  Siin- 
ison,  an  early  settler  of  Adams  County. 
Samuel  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home  farm, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  Adairis  County.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  December  28,  1878,  to  Aliss 
Grace  Howard,  who  was  born  April  11,  185-1, 
and  of  tiie  three  children  born  to  this  union 
only  one  is  now  living,  a  daughter,  Nellie, 
who  was  born  October  11,  1881.  Mr.  Siini- 
son  followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  1881, 
in  which  year  he  removed  to  Eerne  and  en- 
gaged as  ciei-k  for  II.  E.  Allison.  In  Sep- 
tember, 18.^5,  he  was  admitted   as  a  jiartner, 


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nioauA I'lncAL  skktuhes. 


iiiid  still  remains  in  tlii'  Inisiiiess,  h;i\ini:-  hy 
his  fair  and  lionoralilc  dralin^^^s  gainc'd  tliu 
contidence  and  rL's|n_'Ct  of  all  with  wlimii  he 
has  liad  business  or  social  intert'Oiirse. 


W^;f;ILLIAM  ]I.  PAKK,  an  entorprisiiig 
^||7,m|  farmer  of  Blue  Creek  Township,  is  a 
l^'^Jn  native  of  Licking  County,  Ohio,  the 
date  of  his  birth  being  ^lay  5,  1S47.  His 
parents,  Hev.  John  H.  and  Catlierine  Pai-r, 
were  natives  of  Ireland  and  I'ennsyKania 
respectively,  and  were  among  the  earl}'  set- 
tlers of  Licking  County.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  live  children  —  Thomas  J.,  iTargaret 
A.,  AVilliam  IL,  ^Fary  11.  and  Horace  G. 
William  11.  Parr,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  nati\e  county,  where 
he  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  lie 
was  reared  a  farmer,  and  luxs  followed  that 
vocation  through  life.  October  1,  1SG7,  he 
was  married  to  ^Margaret  .1.  Fostei',  who  was 
born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  July  2-1, 18^8, 
a  daughter  of  Paniel  and  Miranda  Foster, 
who  settled  in  Licking  County  in  an  early 
day.  The  father  of  ]\Irs.  Parr  was  born  in 
the  State  of  Vermont,  and  her  mother  was  a 
native  of  Virginia.  They  were  the  parents 
of  twelve  children,  si.\  of  whom  are  deceased. 
The  names  of  those  yet  living  are — Mary, 
Alice,  Margai-et  J.,  James  AV.,  Harriet  and 
Henry,  ilr.  and  ilrs.  Parr  are  the  parents 
of  five  children — I'ertram,  Cora  L.,  John  Af., 
Mary  A.  and  Thomas  M.  In  the  fall  of  1870 
Mr.  Parr  cauje  with  his  family  to  Adams 
County,  Lidiana,  when  he  settled  in  Pine 
Creek  Township  on  section  3S3.  He  began 
life  without  means,  but  liy  persevering  in- 
dustry and  good  management  lie  has  met 
with  success  in  his  farming  operations,  hav- 
ing by  his  uwti  etforts  acrpiired  liis  pi'cseiit 
fine  fariii,  which  contains  2(10  acres  of  valna- 


lile  land.  .Mr.  Parr  was  a  soldier  <luring  the 
war  of  the  Pebcllion.  lie  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany F,  One  Hundred  and  Thiity-lifth  Ohio 
National  Guards,  but  was  not  mustered  into 
the  service  until  May,  1804.  lie  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  John  Brown's  School- 
House,  in  Virginia,  and  received  an  lionor- 
able  discharge  from  the  United  States  service 
at  Columbus,  Ohio,  May  1,  18(JG.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Purr  affiliates  with  the  Republican 
party.  ^Ir.s.  Parr  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church. 


^K.  PETEIl  A.  SPPtUNGEU,  hom.eo- 
\]l  pathic  physician,  residing  at  P.ernc, 
;.^  Adams  County,  is  a  native  of  Switzer- 
land, burn  October  23,  1839,  a  son  of  Abra- 
ham J'.  Sprunger.  He  lived  in  his  native 
country  until  fourteen  years  of  age,  when  ho 
came  with  his  parents  to  the  United  States, 
and  after  stopping  a  short  time  in  Ohio  came 
to  Adams  County,  Indiana.  Peter  A.  was 
reai'ed  to  the  avocation  of  a  farmer,  and  re- 
cei\ed  his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  counti-y,  and  alter  coming  to 
America  atteiuled  the  schools  of  his  district. 
He  subseipiently  engaged  in  teaching  school, 
which  he  followed  twelve  years,  becoining  a 
successful  and  pojmlar  instructor.  At  the 
a<'-e  of  eiifhteen  years  he  began  the  study  of 
medicine  under  the  prcceptorship  of  Itev.  Di-. 
Daniel  Xeuenschwander,  of  Perne,  Indiana, 
and  for  about  twelve  years  has  been  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  medicine.  The  doctor  has 
a  lai'gu  practice,  especially  among  citizens  of 
his  own  luitionality,  and  is  noted  for  the 
reasonableness  of  his  charges.  He  is  well 
skilled  in  the  knowledge  of  his  profession, 
and  is  widely  known  and  res2)ected  through- 
out the  community  where  he  resiiles.  Dr. 
SpruuLjer   was    tirst    married    .\o\'einber    22, 


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1S02,  to  Ciitlieriiic  Anistiitz,  wlio  \v;is  liorii 
ill  Switzerland,  ^fill•cll  1(»,  ISH,  Slie  div.l 
Aiii^iist  ~4,  ISG'J,  leaving  two  cliildrcii — Di- 
iiali,  will)  wari  liorn  .March  15,  ISfilr,  aiuldic<l 
tJiiiiu  1,  18s  I,  and  AVilliain  ,1.,  who  was  horn 
Octoher  17,  1SG7.  The  doctor  was  again 
married  Decemhcr  28,  1871,  to  Miss  Cather- 
ine Spriinger,  a  native  of  Adams  Comity,  In- 
diana, horn  iS'oveiiiber  3,  1853,  and  to  this 
union  liave  been  born  nine  children — Bertha, 
born  y\\\y  28,  1874;  Reuben,  born  October 
27,  1875;  Ann  E.,  born  January  20,  1877, 
died  November  11,  1879;  Jeremiah,  born 
j\ugust  9,  1878;  liosina,  born  November  27, 
1879;  Christina,  born  February  3,  1881; 
Jonas,  liorn  October  13,  1882;  Ernest,  born 
August  (■),  1884,  and  Elmer,  born  September 
30,  188C.  The  doctor  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  ^leiinonite  church. 


OIIN  RUMPLE,  deceased,  who  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Adams  County, 
'k.  was  born  in  liutler  County,  Ohio,  the 
date  of  his  birth  being  December  18,  1816. 
II is  parents,  Jacob  and  Catlieriue  Rumple, 
were  both  natives  of  South  Carolina,  and 
were  among  the  lirst  settlers  of  JUitler  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  locating  there  in  1811,  where  they 
lived  till  their  death.  They  had  a  tamily  of 
nine  children,  four  sons  and  live  daughters. 
They  were  both  members  of  tlie  Presbyterian 
church.  They  were  of  German  descent, 
.lohii  Rumple,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  his  father 
ijeing  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  his  educa- 
tion was  such  as  could  be  obtained  in  the 
common  schools  of  that  early  day.  lie  re- 
mained on  the  home  farm  until  attaining  the 
age  of  twenty-four  years,  when  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Julia  A.  Yeakle,  who  was  born  in 
Hiitler  County,  Ohio,   September    18,    1824, 


her  parents,  John  and  Julia  (Schatfer)  Yea- 
kle, biiiig  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but  early 
settlers  of  Rutler  County,  where  they  spent 
their  last  days.  Of  the  four  children  born 
to  Air.  and  Mrs.  Rumple  two  are  living — 
Sarah  E.,  wife  of  George  Cook,  and  Jacob, 
with  whom  the  mother  makes  her  home. 
iMr.  Rumple  came  with  his  family  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  abuut  the  year  1849,  when 
he  settled  on  section  7,  Jefferson  Township, 
living  there  till  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
December,  1875.  In  his  religious  views  he 
was  a  Presbyterian,  being  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  that  church.  His  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  same  denomination. 


OIIN  M.  GIDEON,  a  farmer  of  Union 
Township,  was  born  in  Franklin  County, 
Ohio,  November  21,  1848,  and  when  he 
was  seven  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  Van 
Wert  County,  living  there  one  year,  then 
came  to  Root  Township,  this  county,  settling 
on  a  farm  owned  by  his  brother  Frank,  where 
the  parents  remained  until  their  death.  The 
father,  Henry  Gideon,  was  born  in  Erie 
Count}',  Pennsylvania.  He  was  married  in 
Erie  County,  to  Miss  Lydia  Bevelheiiner, 
then  removed  to  Aledina  County,  thence  to 
Franklin  County.  He  was  reared  a  farmer 
and  followed  that  occupation  all  his  life.  He 
died  in  1868  at  the  age  of  forty-eight  years. 
The  mother  was  boi-n  in  Pennsylvania  and 
died  in  Root  Township,  October,  1880,  at  the. 
age  of  si.xty-eight  years.  Mr.  Gideon's  grand- 
])arents  were  born  and  died  in  Erie  County, 
Pennsylvania.  His  paternal  and  maternal 
grandparents  were  of  German  origin.  John 
M.  was  reared  in  this  county,  and  his  educa- 
tion was  obtained  in  tlie  common  schools. 
February  9,  1873,  he  was  married  to  Aliss 
Maria    E.  Steele,  who  was  born   in   Ashland 


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BIOGIiAl'UlUAL    SKKTCUES.  41 


County,  Ohio,  January  31,  1S57,  and  when  a 
cliild  Iter  jiarents  brouglit  her  to  tliis  county, 
whore  lier  mother  is  still  living.  Her  t'atlier 
(lied  June  3,  ISSO,  aged  sixty-nine  years,  and 
is  buried  at  Union  Jletliel  cluircli  cemetery, 
ftfrs.  Gideon  died  Jlay  2,  ISSfi,  leaving  three 
children — Leota,  born  Septcmlier  2'J,  1S73; 
.John  W.,  born  A])ril  19,  iNTl!;  Orpha,  born 
July  4,  1878.  Mrs.  (lideon  is  buried  in 
Union  Hethcl  cemetery.  She  was  a  member 
of  the  Cluucli  of  (lod.  J[r.  Ciiileon  is  a 
Democrat. 


AMUEL  DEIHL,  a  prominent  farmer 

fl  of  Ivirkland  Township,  was  born  in  the 
same  township  in  Adams  County,  Indi- 
ana, the  date  of  his  birth  being  November  IT), 
18-13.  His  parents,  "William  and  Hannah 
(IJillman)  Delhi,  were  natives  of  Ohio,  the 
father  born  in  Trumbull  County,  of  German 
descent,  and  the  mother  burn  near  Ilarris- 
burgh,  where  she  was  reared  and  married. 
They  came  to  Adams  County,  Iniliana,  in 
18-12,  when  tliey  settled  on  the  land  in  Ivirk- 
land  Township  on  which  they  have  since  re- 
sided, being  old  and  honored  ])ioneers  of  the 
county.  Samuel  Deihl,  the  subject  of  this 
sketcii,  was  reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's 
liornestead  in  ICirkland  Township,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  schools  of  his 
neigliborhoud.  Se]itember  20,  1S6-1,  he  was 
married  in  Kirkland  Townshij),  to  iliss  Lu- 
cinda  Kliiin,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary 
Klinn.  Mrs.  Deihl  died  in  1S73,  leaving 
iive children — William,  Franklin,  Mary  Ellen, 
Hannah  Kosa  and  Amos.  In  18C5  he  was 
married  to  ^liss  Clarissa  A.  Stultz,  of  Kirk- 
land Township,  and  to  this  union  have  been 
born  seven  chililren — Samuel,  Jlartha,  Adam 
and  Lillie  1).,  and  three  who  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.   Deihl  has  always   followed  farming  in 


K^irkland  Townshi]\  in  which  ho  has  been 
very  successful.  In  piiiitics  he  afhliates  with 
the  Democratic  ])arty.  He  luis  served  as 
8\ipervisor  of  his  township  for  several  years, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  was  school  direc- 
tor. Uoth  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deihl  are  members 
of  the  ^lethodist    Episcopal  church  of  Ziou. 


# 


AMES  J.  LEE,  farmer,  section  13,  AVa- 
bash  Townshij),  was  born  in  Delaware 
Coutity,  Indiana,  the  date  of  his  birth 
being  June  27,  1852.  His  parents,  Aly  and 
Emeline  (Shamley)  Lee,  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia and  among  the  early  settlers  of  Delaware 
County,  Ohio,  the  mother  living  in  that 
county  till  her  death,  which  occurred  about 
the  year  1857  or  1858.  The  father  settled 
in  Adams  Count}',  Indiana,  during  the  war 
of  the  liebellion,  and  died  iu  AVal)ash  Town- 
ship, April  27,  1877.  lie  was  three  times 
married,  and  by  his  first  wife  had  three  chil- 
dren, two  sons  and  one  daughter,  the  subject 
of  this  sketcii  being  the  eldest  child.  For 
his  second  wife  he  married  Lucinda  Ausborn, 
who  died  in  Delaware  County,  leaving  one 
child.  He  was  again  married  to  Ivachel  C. 
Keed,  aiul  to  this  union  were  born  three  sons 
and  three  daughters.  She  still  survives  her 
husband,  and  is  residing  in  Dehiware  County. 
James  J.  Lee,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
was  reared  in  Delaware  County  and  in  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  receiving  in  his  youth  the 
benefits  of  the  common  schools.  His  father 
being  a  farmer,  he  was  reared  to  the  same 
avocation,  which  he  has  made  his  lite-work. 
January  14,  1871,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  Johnson,  wdio  was  born  in  Monroe 
Townshi]),  Adams  County,  September  25, 
1854,  a  daughter  of  Uenjamin  S.  Johnson, 
deceased,  who  was  an  old  settler  of  Adams 
County.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lee  liave  four  chil- 


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HISTORY    OF    AVAM.'i    COUNTY. 


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(licii  Canie  A.,  r,ula  I!.,  ( 'haiicey  I^  and 
Cliironl  A.  :\[r.  Leu  has  lilU;,l  several  local 
uflico.s,  serving-  in  all  tu  the  liv.st  interests  of 
liis  tDWiishiii.  In  polities  he  atliliatcs  with 
the  nej)iilili(:aii  party.  Muth  he  and  his  wife 
are  nienihers  nt'  the  ^^eth(lllist  Ejiiscopal 
cliMi-eh.  Mr.  F.ee  purchased  hisjiresont  farm 
in  Wahash  Tuwnsliip  in  January,  188(5,  which 
contains  forty  acres  uf  clioicc  land. 


■ILLIAiAI  A.  AVETTKR,  fanner,  scc- 
^.Uy,'\'1|  tion  30,  Hoot  Townshiji,  owns  forty 
["siJiH  acres  of  land  in  that  township.  lie 
■was  born  in  Switzerland,  September  12, 1830, 
and  was  nineteen  years  of  aj^e  when  he  came 
to  America.  lie  settled  in  Seneca  Comity, 
Ohio,  living  there  one  year,  took  a  tour 
through  the  Northwestern  States,  was  absent 
two  years,  then  returned  tu  Switzerland. 
After  six  months' sojourn  in  liis  native  coun- 
try he  came  back  tt)  America,  accom])anied 
by  his  father  and  two  sisters,  the  mother 
beinj^  deceased,  and  purchased  eigiity  acres 
of  land  in  Union  Township.  The  farm  is 
now  owned  by  Jolm  Sjiceler  and  Andra  Nil)- 
lick.  The  father  returned  to  Switzerland  in 
18(50,  and  dii;d  there  in  1SG9,  aged  about 
seventy-two  years.  The  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject were  Andrew  and  ilary  (Jlyers)  AYetter. 
The  mother  was  born  in  Switzerland  in  1795, 
and  died  in  1851.  The  two  sisters  who  came 
to  America  were  Elizabeth  and  Fanny.  Eliza- 
beth was  married  in  1859  to  Jacob  Iv.  Myer, 
and  she  died  in  California,  whither  they  liad 
removed  soon  after  marria^^e.  Fanny  was 
married  in  1859  to  (icorge  Speeler;  her  hus- 
band died  in  hospital  at  Jeti'ersonville,  Indi- 
ana, durinj^  the  war.  For  a  second  liusband 
she  marrieil  Jose])h  Speeler,  who  is  also  de- 
ceased. William  A.  was  first  married  to 
Anna  E.  Strut)y,  October  6,  1858,  who  was 


iH'aT'Caif  a^w!^n!*i>?«?L\M  ^a^nt*lKHa 


•ei~«i^«-»j" 


born  in  Switzei'land  in  1837,  and  came  to 
Anu-rica  in  1S55.  She  was  married  in  TitKn, 
Ohiti,  and  died  in  Union  Township  January 
9,  1879,  leaving  one  child,  Alary  E.,  born 
JVlarch  20,  1871.  Immediately  after  the  death 
of  his  wife,  Air.  AVetter  went  to  California, 
taking  liis  child  with  him.  He  remained 
there  three  ^-ears  engaged  in  farming,  and  in 
1882  returned  to  Adams  County,  leaving 
his  daughter  with  Jacob  K.  Alyers,  who  is  a 
farmer  there.  September  12,  1882,  he  was 
married  to  Airs.  Anna  Ileiptley,  widow  of 
Kiulolph  Ileiptley,  who  ^vas  born  in  IHber- 
stein,  Switzerland,  December  81,  1838,  and 
came  to  America  when  twenty  years  of  age, 
settling  in  Attica,  Ohio,  where  he  learned 
the  trade  of  blacksmith.  lie  was  married 
January  30,  180(5,  and  died  September  23, 
1877,  in  New  Washington,  Crawford  CJounty, 
Ohio,  of  consumjition.  lie  left  one  daughter, 
now  the  wife  of  AVesley  Stults.  Mrs.  AVetter 
was  born  Alarch  23,  18^5,  in  Philadelphia, 
and  when  four  years  of  age  removed  with  her 
parents  to  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  where  she 
was  reared  and  twice  married.  Her  parents 
were  Henry  and  Anna  (Myers)  AVerder.  I>otli 
jiarcnts  were  born  in  Switzerland,  the  father 
in  1812,  and  died  in  1870.  The  mother  came 
to  America  when  nine  years  old,  and  died  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1873.  Air.  and  Airs.  AVetter  have 
one  child,  Letta,  born  October  2,  1883.  Both 
families  are  of  CTerman  oriirin. 


fOHN  r.  GASS,  an  old  settler  of  Wash- 
ington Township,  was  born  in  France 
-,i  November  24,  1813,  son  of  Catherine 
and  Henry  Gass.  In  1828,  with  his  ])arents, 
lie  immigrated  to  America,  .coming  over  in  a 
sailing  vessel  and  being  thirty-eiglit  days  on 
the  ocean.  They  landed  in  New  York  City, 
and    lirst    located    in   Oswego  County,  New 


4  ^Pii^Q.^  jj««  »<  a  ■  »«^ 


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iWiP«i»i«fSi8>i,-»i5M««-i!"'*'t  .I'f.if  ^•i»>ir«r;i'»r»»Ji»i;ariKa!'i«M»M»aiM'*«*lJT»iP^i^^        »-'ii'*'ii"iKii'«t;>*aa"«««ir 


BIoOliAl'lIWAI.    tiKKTVinCfi. 


4'J7 


York,  where  tliey  livei]  alioiit  nine  yi-'iirs, 
then  reiiuived  to  ^\'ayne  Countv,  *  Hiio,  re- 
sidiiif^  there  nine  yeai'S.  (>ur  snliject  was 
niiirried  in  AViiyiie  Connty  in  April,  IS-KJ,  to 
^[ins  Ciithcriiio  ]\[oiiie,  and  they  had  tlirec 
children,  only  one  living — ^[ary  C,  wife  of 
Michael  Miller.  In  the  fall  of  1847  lie  came 
to  this  county  and  settled  in  the  woods  on 
Bcction  38,  Washington  Towiishiji.  lie  iirst 
hiiilt  a  log  cabin,  then  hegan  clearing  his 
land.  Ilis  lii'st  cro])  was  iivc  Imshels  of 
wheat.  The  next  year  he  raised  three  acres 
of  wheat  and  three  acres  of  buckwheat.  This 
year's  crop  gave  him  a  good  start,  as  he  had 
about  forty  bushels  of  wheat  and  thirty 
bushels  of  buckwheat.  In  later  years  he 
was  quite  prosperous  and  built  his  present 
residence,  which  gives  liis  family  a  comfort- 
able home.  Mrs.  Gass  died  January  12, 
1883.  lie  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  is 
a  ineml)cr  of  the  Catholic  church.  lie  has 
served  as  road  supervisor,  and  also  as  admin- 
istrator of  estates.  AVIieii  he  came  to  the 
county  he  had  a  team,  wagon  and  $20  in 
money.  All  lie  lias  he  has  earned  by  hard 
work  and  good  management.  His  daughter, 
]\Irs.  IMiller,  resides  on  the  old  homestead. 
]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  ililler  have  one  child — Ilertha 
E.  Both  Mr.  Gass  and  Mr.  Miller  are  Demo- 
crats. 


§ANIEL  II  INKS,  farmer,  section  17, 
ITnion  Township,  came  to  this  county 
',c'  in  the  fall  of  183U,  and  entered  KR) 
acres  of  land  on  tlie  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 9,  Union  Township,  which  was  then 
attached  to  Root  Township.  lie  was  the 
first  white  settler  in  the  township  and  made 
the  second  entry  of  land,  the  first  having 
been  made  by  James  McCrunib,  an  Irishman, 
who  never  settled  on   his  land.      It  was  after- 


ward Sold  to  William  May.  Mr.  Ilines  cut 
his  own  road  fi'uiu  MunnKUith  to  lli^  land. 
lie  came  with  a  two-horse  team  and  co\ereil 
wagon,  accompanieil  by  his  wife  and  three 
children.  The  family  camped  at  Sampson's 
while  the  father  was  building  the  round-log 
shanty.  !Mr.  Ilines  liircil  William  P.  Rice 
to  assist  in  building  the  shanty,  and  he  was 
employed  two  months  in  building  house, 
stalde,  and  splitting  rails  and  digging  a  well. 
He  lived  in  that  house  \intil  1^70,  when  he 
traded  it  for  his  present  ])roperty,  consisting 
of  eighty  acres  of  laud,  and  received  .$2,000 
besides.  Mr.  Ilines  was  born  in  Loudoun 
County,  Virginia,  January  U,  1804,  where  he 
was  reared  and  educated.  He  was  inaiTied 
in  Frederiektown,  ]\Iaryland,  in  182(5,  to 
Sarah  McCinimey,  who  was  also  born  in 
Loudoun  County.  Mr.  and  ilrs.  Ilines  lived 
in  that  county  until  four  children  were  born, 
then  removed  to  Harrison  County,  Ohio, 
near  Cadiz,  where  j\Ir.  Ilines  bought  eighty 
acres  of  improved  land.  He  lived  there 
about  one  year,  then  sold  and  removed  to 
Carroll  County,  where  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  imjiroved  land  within  live  miles  of 
Centerville,  the  county  seat,  and  lived  there 
live  years,  when  he  sold  and  came  to  Adams 
County,  where  he  has  since  resided.  lie 
came  with  a  good  two-horse  team  and  wagon, 
pjlenty  of  bed  clothes,  and  S700  in  money. 
The  family  e.xpericnced  all  the  toils,  cares, 
and  jjrivations  incident  to  pioneer  life.  Mr. 
Hines'  father,  John  Ilines,  was  born  in 
Georgetown,  Virginia,  and  died  in  Loudoun 
County,  same  State,  ])ast  si.xty  years  of  age. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  The 
mother,  Hester  (Wine)  Ilines,  was  born  in 
Loudoun  County,  and  died  in  Perry  County, 
Ohio.  His  grandfather,  Phillip  Ilines,  was 
born  and  died  in  Georgetown,  A'irginia. 
Mrs.  Ilines  died  February  8,  1878,  ami  a 
granddaughter,   Elizabeth   Miller,  kept  house 


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lIItsrORY    OF    ADAMU    COUNTY. 


lor  liiiii  until  liis  scfund  iii;iiTi:i!re,  wliicli 
owiiiml  Aiicjust  .S,  1S80,  to  Sarali  J.  liuucr. 
She  Wiis  born  in  Union  Townsliip,  tliis  coun- 
ty, April  1,  ISnt.  They  luivc  one  chikl, 
Catherine,  who  was  horn  Dccemhcr  28,  1880. 
Ey  his  first  marriage  Jlr.  I  lines  had  ten 
children— Ilosanna,  Mary  C,  x\nn  C,  Sarah 
W.,  Elizabeth,  Yirj^'inia,  Lucinda  L.,  Mar- 
garet F.,  Jane,  who  tiled  at  tlic  age  of  two 
years,  in  Carroll  County,  Oliio,  and  Hester 
A.,  wlio  difd  in  1882,  after  lier  marriage, 
leaving  four  children.  Mrs.  Ilines  is  a 
daughter  of  Joim  G.  and  Catherine  (Wclty) 
llaner;  tiie  mother  was  born  in  Tuscarawas 
Connty,  Ohio,  in  1828,  and  both  are  living 
in  Union  Townshi]).  The  father  was  born 
near  Canton,  Ohio,  in  1828.  lie  served  three 
years  in  the  late  war  and  now  draws  a  pen- 
sion. 

fOSKPII  ANJJKR80N,  an  active  and 
enterjirising  fai'mer  of  AVal^ash  Town- 
*-.^  ship,  residing  on  section  21,  was  born  in 
AVashington  County,  Pennsylvania,  April  25, 
1820,  a  soli  of  James  and  Sarah  (Allison) 
Anderson,  natives  of  rennsylvania,  the  lather 
of  German  and  the  motlier  of  Irish  origin. 
The  parents  of  our  snbject  removed  with 
their  family  to  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  and 
afterward  went  to  Licking  County,  wiiere  the 
inotlicr  died.  The  father  died  in  Franklin 
County,  Ohio.  They  were  the  parents  of 
thirteen  children.  The  father  being  a  farm- 
er, Joseph,  our  snbject,  was  reared  to  the 
same  avocation.  As  soon  as  lie  was  old 
enough  he  began  working  out  on  farms  by 
the  month,  and  after  a  time  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  his  own  account.  lie  was  married  in 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  December  25, 1857, 
to  Miss  Jane  Linton,  a  native  of  Darke  Conn- 
ty,  Oliio,  born  March  13,  1831,  a  daughter 


of  Samuel  Linton,  an  old  settler  of  Adams 
(Jounty.  Six  children  have  lieen  born  to  Mr. 
and  jMrs.  Anderson — Samuel  11.,  James  1'. 
(deceased),  Joseph  JI., AV'illiain  S.  (deceased), 
John  A.  and  Margaret  E.  Mr.  Anderson  has 
been  a  resident  of  Adams  Connty  since  185(i, 
and  September  1,  1884,  settled  on  his  ])res- 
ent  farm.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  among  the  respected  citizens  of  Adams 
Connty. 


jS'j^^ILLIAM  VANCE,  deceased,  who  was 
'Wjim  ""^  °*'  *''®  pioneers,  as  well  as  a 
l=o^-]  prominent  man  of  Adams  Connty, 
was  born  in  Fayette  Connty,  Ohio,  about 
1703,  a  son  of  William  A^ancc,  an  early 
settler  of  Darke  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
lived  till  his  death.  His  wife  died  in  Wells 
County,  Indiana.  "William,  our  snbject,  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  his  father 
having  been  a  fanner  by  occupation,  and  in 
his  youth  he  received  a  good  common-schoul 
education.  lie  was  twice  married,  first  to  a 
Miss  ]\[ills,  by  whom  he  had  a  family  of  four 
sons  and  one  daughter.  For  his  second  wife 
he  married  Miss  Sarah  Miller,  in  Darke 
County,  Ohio,  where  she  was  born  in  1803. 
To  this  union  were  born  seven  children,  five 
sons  and  two  daughters.  ^\r.  Vance  came 
to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  in  the  spring  of 
1835,  locating  on  section  17  of  what  is  now 
Wabash  Townshij).  He  came  to  Indiana  a 
poor  man,  giving  his  coat  to  pay  for  moving 
liis  family.  David  Studabaker  loaned  him 
money  to  enter  his  first  land,  which  consisted 
of  thirty-three  acres.  He  afterward  entered 
160  acres  more,  and  by  persevering  industry 
and  strict  economy  he  was  able  to  add  to  his 
original  tract  of  land  till  at  his  death  he 
owned  233  acres.    In  connection  with  his  sen- 


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BIOQRAPUIGAL    SKETCHES. 


499 


iTiil  tiiniiiiig  lie  was  quite  extensively  ciigngcd 
ill  stock  raiding.  In  his  jioiiticnl  views  lie 
was  a  WHiig  and  took  an  active  interest  in  the 
political  allairs  of  his  township,  and  helicvcd 
in  a  protective  tariff.  Ife  was  the  first  asses- 
sor of  Adains  County,  and  assessed  the  whole 
county,  lie  represented  several  counties  in 
the  State  Legislature,  Avas  also  county  com- 
missioner for  some  time,  and  for  many  years 
served  as  scliool  trustee.  In  his  religious 
views  lie  was  :k  Universalist.  Ilis  death 
occurred  in  1848  or  'I'J.  Ilis  widow  survived 
until  January  -i,  1804:. 


^EFF  LEHMAN,  secretary  and  treasurer 
"^Wi  of  the  Iloosier  IJolIer  Jlilliug  Coinjiany 
^>C  of  I!eriie,  Adains  County,  Indiana,  was 
born  in  ilonroe  Township,  Adams  County, 
the  date  of  his  birth  being  June  8, 18G0.  His 
parents,  Peter  S.  and  Verena  (Sprunger)  Leh- 
man, were  natives  of  Switzerland,  where  they 
were  reared  and  married,  and  to  them  were 
born  one  son  and  seven  daughters.  They 
came  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1852  and 
settled  on  section  32,  ]\Ionroc  Township, 
Adams  County,  where  the  father  purchased 
land  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  remained 
on  this  land  until  April  1,  lSG8,when  he  sold 
out  and  removed  to  Hickory  County',  ^lis- 
sonri,  where  he  bought  a  farm  on  which  he 
lias  since  resided.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Mennonite  church,  and  has  been  in  the  min- 
istry about  Ibrty  years,  which  calling  he  still 
follows.  Jetf  Lehman,  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch,  was  eight  years  old  _  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Missouri,  and  there  he 
grew  to  maidiood  on  the  home  farm,  receiv- 
ing his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
his  neighborhood.  In  1880  he  came  to 
Berne,  Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  for  one 
year  found  employment  in  the  grain  elevator 


of  J.  J.  Ilirschy  k.  Co.  He  then  engaged  in 
the  general  mercantile  business  in  pai'lner- 
ship  with  J.  A.  Sprunger, with  whom  he  was 
associated  until  the  spring  of  1880,  when  lie 
disposed  of  his  interest  to  his  partner.  Air. 
Lehman  now  represents  the  Continental  In- 
surance Company  of  New  York,  atid  also  the 
lied  Star  Line  steamship  line  to  Europe,  be- 
sides holding  the  position  of  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Hoosier  Roller  Alilling  Com- 
pany. February  7,  1883,  he  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  Neuenschwander,  who  was  born  in 
^lonroe  Township,  Adams  County,  August 
20,  1864,  a  daughter  of  Christian  P.  Neuen- 
schwander. They  are  the  parents  of  two 
children — Tlosa  Mina,  born  April  3,  1884, 
and  Gustav  Adolph,  born  July  20,  1886. 
Both  Air.  and  Airs.  Lehman  are  members  of 
the  Alennonite  church.  In  politics  Air.  Leh- 
man is  a  liepublican,  and  has  filled  several 
local  offices.  He  is  one  of  the  self-inade  men 
of  the  county.  On  coining  to  Berne  he  was 
$10  in  debt,  but  by  persevering  industry  and 
good  management  he  has  become  one  of  the 
well-to-do  citizens  of  his  town.  He  owns 
one  of  the  many  fine  I'esidences  of  Berne, 
which  he  erected  in  the  summer  of  1885,  at  a 
cost  of  $1,600,  the  lot  and  liotise  together 
costing  $2,000. 


-Jt^ 


jOSES  LOUTHAN,  an  early  settler 
%1'j^l'W.  of  Adams  County,  and  a  prominent 
^-^  citizen  of  Alonroe,  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  in  Ctdumbiana  County,  August  14, 
1817.  He  was  reared  in  Wayne  County, 
Ohio,  after  his  si.xth  year,  and  there  learned 
the  blacksmitli's  trade  from  his  father.  He 
was  married  in  Wayne  County,  .\ugust  'J, 
1838,  to  Alary  Nicholas,  a  native  of  Lancas- 
ter County,  Pennsylvania,  born  July  5,  1812, 
and  to  this  union  were  born  three  children — 


t^M-is?, 


'.«■?•  fi  "•  u = ri.^  Bi?^ 


iii 


1.1 


•»iji«»Ki«ii'?iD^iB'i1?ii"£"i"r«?i«i?i 


ri.'?«*'ir"'ii"^''m''it*«P*»i™i»i_*.a*M»Ml€ 


HL'iTonY    OF    AIJA.U.S    COUNTY. 


III 
[*' 

I  ' 

ill' 


; 


(ii'orije  AV.,  Ui'asuii  H.  ((lrci>:isr(l),  ;ui<l  V.Wy.w 
J.  Al'tcT  his  iiiarrianu  .Mr.  I.uiitlian  roiiuivcil 
tt)  Cirecnslnu'yli,  Suiinint  ('niiiity,  ()liiti,  and 
later  settled  in  Stark  County.  In  lS4(;  ho 
^canie  to  Indiana,  airivinir  at  Fort  AVayno  Oc- 
tober 14.  From  there  lie  went  to  Wells 
County,  locating  near  Lancaster,  and  from 
there  removed  to  Ossian,  AVells  County, 
wjiere  he  engaged  in  hlacksniitiiing  until  the 
fall  of  1856.  He  then  went  to  New  Haven, 
Allen  County,  and  in  November,  1857,  he 
came  to  Decatur,  Adams  County,  where  he 
worked  at  the  blacksmith's  trade,  remaining 
at  that  ])lace  until  the  spi'ing  of  1871.  lie 
then  removed  to  .Monroe  Township,  where  lie 
built  a  shop  and  worked  at  his  trade,  wlien 
he  was  elected  constable,  which  oflice  he  held 
for  four  years.  Mr.  Loutlian  lost  his  wife  l)y 
death  June  20,  1878,  and  August  17,  187L», 
he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  (lirande- 
berry)  Kanabal,  who  was  born  in  Hocking 
County,  Ohio,  June  18,  1837,  and  to  them 
has  been  born  one  child,  named  Howard  T. 
^Irs.  Ft)Uthan  has  been  three  times  married. 
Her  iirst  liusbaml,  Lawrence  McCJune,  died 
one  month  after  his  mari'iage.  ]Ier  second 
husband,  Henry  Kanabal,  died  in  Washing- 
ton Township,  Adams  County,  leaving  four 
children — John  A.,  ]\Liry  E.,  Edward  H.  and 
ElKe  M.  In  1878  Mr.  Louthan  went  to  Kan- 
sas, remaining  one  J'ear,  when  he  returned  to 
Adams  County,  and  has  since  resided  in  ]\Ion- 
roe  Township  with  the  exception  of  one  year 
spent  .at  Fort  Wayne,  and  is  at  present 
serving  as  constable  of  Monroe  Township, 
being  elected  to  iill  that  oIKce  in  the  spring 
of  18SG.  Mr.  Louthiin  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  the  Kebellion,  enlisting  February  1-4, 
1864,  in  Company  G,  Twelfth  Indiana  Cav- 
alry, and  soon  after  his  eidistment  was  pro- 
moted to  Sergeant,  serving  as  such  until  his 
final  discharge,  September  6,  1865.  He  par- 
ticipated   in  several   imjiortaiit  engagements, 


including  l''i-.inklin,  TtMincssee,  and  the  battle 
ol'  Atlanta.  He  was  jibua-d  on  detached  ser- 
vice doing  provost  duty  si.\  months.  He  re- 
ceived his  fimd  discharge  at  Indianapolis, 
and  now  draws  a  pension  of  $8  a  month  for 
disability  contracted  while  in  the  army.  lie 
is  now  a  comrade  of  Sam  Henry  Post,  No. 
63,  G.  A.  W.^  at  Decatur.  lie  lias  been  a 
member  of  the  ]\Iasonic  fraternit}'  since  1857. 
Itoth  I\[r.  and  Mrs.  Louthan  are  members  of 
the  ^rethodist  ]{piscopal  chiu'ch. 


fOHN  CKAWFOKl),  of  the  mercantile 
firm  of  Niblick,  Crawford  it  Sons,  was 
-/c  born  ill  Waynesburg,  the  county  seat  of 
Greene  County,  I'ennsylvania,  September  14, 
1816,  where  he  was  reared  in  no  jjarticular 
calling.  He  was  given  an  ordinary  common- 
school  education.  During  his  boyhood  he 
clerked  for  a  time  in  his  father's  store,  and 
at  the  age  of  twenty  years  was  employed  as 
clerk  in  the  collection  otHce  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Canal  Company  at  Allegheny  City,  and 
was  so  employed  for  one  year;  then  during 
the  year  1840  he  was  engaged  clerking  on 
the  steamer  Marion  on  the  (Jhio  and  Wabash 
rivers.  In  the  fall  of  1852  he  came  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  located  on  land 
that  he  had  entered  when  on  a  previous  visit 
in  1838,  and  engaged  in  raising  and  dealing 
in  stock.  In  1858,  having  discontinued  the 
stock  business,  he  engaged  in  the  iiierciintile 
business  with  John  D.  Nutmau,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Nutman  it  Crawford,  the  tiriri 
continuing  until  186(5,  when  Mr.  Jesse  Nib- 
lick became  the  successor  of  Mr.  Nutman, 
and  the  firm  was  named  Niblick  it  Craw- 
ford. The  firm  has  since  been  changed  to 
Niblick,  Crawford  it  Sons,  a  son  of  each  be- 
coming members  of  the  firm.  Politically  he 
is  Democratic.  After  holding  numerous  town- 


i 


J^'?«^iH»?ji?«i^M»^"o"«5«!!j«"«?fK^?i5H?iiP"i"«"«Hi&3t 


>v 


*ie>*ii?»iiSi«e»?'ir?s:-:Mi*'  xi  *-j..-fi 


L»Iio  «*ii*i»«*£M  «1*5  *Ii4"i^'i.i?S*53MtHji»-i«?«Jt«ii?«Bi5!HV?«*m" 


niOOIlAPlIIOAL    SKETCHES. 


,1  ' 

'  I. 


5|< 


sliip  ofliccs,  liG  in  1S51  was  elected  ii  Rcpro- 
suiitutive  in  the  Indiana  Legislature.  This 
was  (hiring  the  session  known  as  the  long 
term,  being  the  first  term  alter  the  new  State 
(•unstitiition  was  adopted.  In  1852  he  was 
elected  treasurer  of  Adams  County,  and  was 
I'e-elected  in  1854  and  served  the  full  four 
years.  Since  then,  with  the  exception  of 
holding  the  ])08ition  of  school  trustee  lor  the 
village  and  city  of  Decatur  for  some  twenty- 
five  years,  he  has  devoted  his  time  to  Ills 
mercantile  business.  September  14,  1843, 
he  was  married  in  Wabash  Township  to  ^[iss 
Mary  A.  Abnett,  daughter  of  Jacob  Abnett, 
one  of  tlie  pioneers  of  Adams  County.  Her 
mother's  parents  were  originally  from  Vir- 
ginia, where  she  was  born,  but  reared  in 
Ohio.  She  died  in  Decatur.  They  had 
eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  living — 
Caroline,  wife  of  jNIiller  Ihiriis,  in  the  har- 
ness business  in  L)ecatur;  ilary  A.  Congle- 
ton;  Frank,  a  meml)er  of  tlie  firm  of  Niblick, 
Crawford  &  Sons,  and  AVilliam  H.,  living  in 
Decatur. 


'^IDEON  UROTIIERS.— Frank,John  and 
WiVf  Henry  Gideon,  farmers  and  millers,  were 
wi  born  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio,  and 
came  to  this  county  in  1857  with  their  par- 
ents and  other  children,  mIio  settled  on  the 
farm  where  Frank  now  lives.  The  father, 
Henry  Gideon,  was  born  in  Erie  County, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  lived  until  twent}'- 
four  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Lehigh 
County,  I'ennsylvania,  wheie  he  was  married 
to  ^frs.  Lydia  Turner  (maiden  name  Bcvel- 
himer).  They  removed  to  Franklin  County, 
Ohio,  from  there  to  Van  Wert  (^ounty,  and 
from  Van  Wert  to  Adams  Count}',  Indiana, 
where  they  lived  \intil  their  death.  The 
father    died      December     17,     18t;8.      Their 


-"'-'--;;■ -.1- 


BaBMl'^.a^^'^-M-' 


,<^M'^ti>*»H»Pl2^?Vk»b"ui* 


mother  was  born  in  Lehigh  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1813,  and  dii'd  in  Adams  County, 
Indiana,  October  12,  INSO.  They  arc  buried 
in  Pethel  cemetery.  Their  nrnther  had  two 
sons  by  her  first  marriage — Conrad  and  Will- 
iam D.  Turner.  They  grew  to  manhood  and 
started  to  California.  Conrad  died  on  the 
way,  and  AVilli;ini  was  gone  nine  years,  came 
home,  married,  and  is  now  living  in  Jlount 
Cory,  Ohio.  Ily  her  second  marriage  there 
were  eight  childri'ii.  The  oldest  daughter, 
Jlary,  married  John  Knittle,  of  Van  Wert 
County,  and  is  now  living  in  Adams  County, 
Indiana.  She  has  three  children.  The  second 
daughtei',  Susan,  married  Charles  C.  Slack, 
and  removed  to  Kansas,  where  they  are  still 
living.  She  has  one  son.  One  daughter, 
Louisa,  died  at  the  age  of  two  years.  The 
fourth,  Alartha  E.,  married  K.  C.  Paxter,  and 
is  living  at  Wolfcale,  Ohio.  The  fifth  and 
youngest  daughter,  Emma  I'osetta,  married 
Z.  T.  Coleman,  and  is  living  in  ifount  Cory, 
Ohio.  They  have  two  children.  Henry  C. 
Gideon  married  Miss  Hannah  Stevens,  and  is 
living  in  Paulding  County.  John  M.Gideon 
married  Miss  Eva  Steele,  who  died  May  21, 
1886,  leaving  three  children.  John  and  his 
children  are  now  living  in  Decatur,  Indiana. 
Frank,  the  youngest  son,  married  Miss  Kate 
^lunia,  and  is  living  on  the  old  home  place. 
They  have  two  boys — Poland  V.,  born  Au- 
gust 1,  1878,  and  Glenn  G.,  born  August  12, 
1880.  Henry,  John  and  Frank  Gideon  have 
followed  saw-milling  since  they  went  in  busi- 
ness for  themselves  in  1872. 


|rT|IIOMAS  C.  PIXLER  is  a  native  of 
j|  ij:  Adams  County,  Indiana,  born  in  Root 
Tp^  Townsiiip,  May  11,  1854,  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Penelope  (Johnson)  Pixler,  na- 
tives    of  Pennsylvania,     the   father    born    in 


•  ■'»«M*^iu»  J«.??«!!ji3 


m 

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I 

I 

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^^i??~*l"J''^,^**^'^"?i»*i^"^ 


II I  STORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


•1' 


k 


I 


1S21I,  and  tlic  lu.itlier  in  ls;]('..  His  iiiotlifr 
(lied  wiifii  lie  was  thirteen  years  (.ild,  ami 
from  that  time  he  lias  dejiended  on  his  own 
exertions  for  his  support.  His  schooldays 
ended  when  he  coinnienccd  life  for  himself, 
Imt  being  naturally  observing  and  having  a 
retentive  memory  lie  has  ac(jnired  a  practi- 
cal business  education,  which  places  liim  in 
the  front  rank  of  tlie  young  men  of  his 
county.  ^Ir.  IJixler  was  married  June  16, 
1S81,  to  !^[iss  Anna  C.  I  )e  i.crey,  a  native  of 
Seneca  County,  Ohio,  born  July  12,  18G0, 
daughter  of  Francis  and  Sophia  (Omlor)  IJe 
Lerey,  natives  of  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany, 
the  tathei-  born  June  26,  1826,  and  the 
mother  in  1836.  Her  paternal  grandparents, 
Adam  F.  and  Barliara  (Ilape)  De  Lerej^were 
natives  of  Germ;iiiy,  where  they  passed  their 
lives,  the  latter  d^'ing  when  her  son  was  but 
six  weeks  old.  The  father  was  a  soldier  in 
the  German  arm}',  serving  from  his  twenty- 
first  to  his  twenty-seventh  j'car.  Mr.  and 
Jlrs.  r>ixler  have  three  children — Lewis  E., 
born  November  16,  1882;  Mary  11.,  born 
i\ray  11,  1884,  and  John  II.,  born  June  17, 
18S6. 


flllilSTIAN  liUIlGIIALTErt,  one  of 
the  pros]ierous  agriculturists  of  Wabash 
Township,  residing  on  section  19,  is  a 
native  of  Switzerland,  born  February  5,  1833, 
a  son  of  Christian  and  Emily  (Wurst)  liiirg- 
halter.  His  parents  immigrated  with  their 
family  to  America  in  1852,  first  settling  in 
AVayno  County,  Ohio.  They  subsequently 
came  to  Adams  County,  Indiana,  and  resided 
on  the  farm  of  our  subject  till  their  death, 
the  father  dying  in  ilay,  1872,  and  the 
mother  in  April,  1875.  Both  were  worthy 
members  of  the  German  Ileforined  chnrch. 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  two 


of  whom  are  living.  Christian  Ibirgbalter, 
whose  name  heails  this  sketch,  was  reared  and 
educated  in  his  native  country,  coming  to 
America  when  about  nineteen  years  of  age. 
He  served  an  apjirenticeshiji  of  two  and  a 
half  years  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he 
followed  till  he  came  to  Adams  County,  in 
October,  185'J.  he  was  united  in  marri.igc 
July  5,  1858,  to  Jliss  Mary  Hartman,  a 
native  of  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  born  Novem- 
ber 30,  1835,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
eight  children — Emma,  born  May  2'J,  185U, 
Emily  L.,  December  19,  I860;  Mary  A., 
March  31,  1862;  Elias,  born  July  20,  1865, 
died  February  i,  1869;  Daniel,  born  October 
16,  1867;  Sarah  A.,  April  5,  1870;  Lydia, 
September  14,  1873,  died  in  February,  1874, 
and  Ida  M.,  born  July  27,  1875.  On  coming 
to  Adams  County,  Mr.  liiirghalter  settled  on 
eighty  acres  of  his  present  farm,  which  he  had 
previously  purchased,  living  in  the/log  cabin, 
18  X  20  feet  in  size,  which  was  on  his  land, 
until  his  present  fine  brick  residence  was 
completed  in  the  summer  of  1883.  Mr. 
Burghalter  sawed  the  lumber  and  burned  the 
bi'ick  for  his  house,  which  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
about  ^2,500.  His  out-buildings  are  large  and 
com  mod  ious, and  all  have  been  jiairi  ted,  present 
ing  an  attractive  appcai-ance.  He  has  one  barn 
36x60  feet  in  size,  and  another,  built  in  1881, 
45x100  feet.  He  commenced  life  for  himself 
with  but  little  means,  and  his  success  in  life 
isdue  to  his  own  exertions,  his  fine  farm, which 
now  consists  of  404  acres,  having  been  acquired 
by  years  of  hard  work  and  persevering  energy. 
In  connection  with  his  general  farming  he 
devotes  considerable  attention  to  stock  raising, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  in  his  neighborhood 
to  engage  in  the  raising  of  blooded  stock, 
comnjencing  with  short-horn  cattle,  he  is 
now  makingasjiccialtyof  Ilolstein  cattle.  Mr. 
Ihirghalter  takes  an  active  interest  in  educa- 
tional affairs,  and  is  now   educating  his  son 


qi 


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Cmj^MmyAtmm^^ 


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JUoaiiAl'HlCAL    SKliTCIIKS. 


Daniel,  wlio  is  at  ]>reseiit  attendiiii;  a  mission 
house  at  Slicboygan,  AVisconsin. 


?l?5l'OL()M()X  MOSSEU,  a  iii-oinincnt  agri- 
t^^  enitnrist  of  llarttbrd  Townsliip,  was 
^^'  burn  in  AVayne  CV>nnty,  Oliio,  March 
20,  ISiiJ,  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Catlierine 
(Eichcr)  ]\!ossei',  nati\es  of  France  and  Ger- 
many respectively,  the  hither  burn  in  1703, 
antl  the  mcjtlier  in  ISOO.  The  father  was  a 
weaver  by  tra<le.  lie  traveled  in  ditlerent 
parts  of  Europe,  and  was  married  in  Ger- 
many, lie  came  to  America  with  his  wife 
and  two  chiklrcn,  one  child  having  died  in 
(lei'many,  ami  settled  in  Wayne  County, 
Ohio,  in  1H'21,  where  he  engaged  in  farmin<^. 
He  removed  his  family  to  Adams  County,  In- 
diana, in  1854,  and  made  his  home  on  section 
22,  Hartford  Townshiii,  till  his  death,  which 
occurred  March  25,  1.S76.  The  mother  died 
in  November,  1870.  Fourteen  children  were 
born  to  them,  seven  suns  and  seven  dangh- 
ters.  The  parents  were  meniijers  of  the 
Mennonite  church.  The  father  had  but.SlOO 
when  he  landed  in  America,  and  with  this  he 
bought  eighty  acres  of  timber  land,  which  he 
improved  and  added  to  it,  and  sold  it  in  1S53. 
He  then  bought  hind  in  Adams  County  to 
which  he  removed  his  family  the  following 
year,  as  before  stated.  Solomon  ^Mosser,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  but  a  lad  when 
his  parents  came  to  Adams  County,  and  hei-e 
he  grew  to  manhood  on  the  old  homestead, 
and  in  his  youth  received  but  limited  educa- 
tional advantages.  On  attaining  his  major- 
ity he  began  working  the  farm  on  shares  for 
one  year.  March  9,  1SG5,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Schlatter,  who  was  boi'u  in 
French  Townshiji,  ,Vdams  County,  (October 
28,  18-40,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Schlatter,  an 
old  settler  of  French  Township.   He  was  burn 


in  Germany,  coming  to  America  with  his 
parents  when  about  twelve  years  old.  After 
his  marriage  he  came  to  Adams  County, 
Imliana,  and  settled  in  French  Township, 
where  he  lived  till  his  death.  lie  and 
his  wife  in  their  religious  faith  were 
Mcnnonites.  Their  family  coiisisteil  of  five 
daughters.  To  Mr.  aiul  Mrs.  Mosser  have 
been  born  fourteen  childi-en — ^lary,  David  (de- 
ceased), Joseph,  Catherine  A.,  Eydia,  Franna, 
Abi'aham  (deceased),  Solomon,  John  II., 
Elizaljeth  E.,  I'arbara  Kebecca,  Christian  C, 
Nuah,  and  an  infant  unnamed.  After  his 
marriage  ^Ir.  Mossei-  bought  the  old  home- 
stead of  his  father  on  which  he  still  resides, 
and  cared  for  his  parents  till  their  death.  He 
has  improved  his  farm,  making  it  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  township,  and  in  connection  with 
his  general  farming  he  is  extensively  en- 
gaged in  raising  stock,  lie  was  the  first 
man  in  his  township  to  engage  in  i-aising 
thoroughbred  stock,  commencing  this  enter- 
prise in  1877,  and  has  now  on  his  farm  sev- 
eral head,  some  of  which  were  brought  from 
Kentucky.  Mr.  Mosser,  like  his  parents,  is 
a  member  of  the  ]\Iennonite  church. 


fACOB  r,.  MOWERY,  farmer,  section  19, 
Jefferson  Townsliip,  Adams  County,  was 
"/xi  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  April 
23,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Phtebe 
(Fortney)  ilowery,  natives  of  Union  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  New  Jersey,  respectively, 
and  of  German  descent.  They  were  married 
in  Union  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  removed 
to  Ohio,  settling  first  in  AVayne  Coiuity, 
removing  theuce  to  Seneca,  and  in  1833  set- 
tled in  Sandusky  County,  being  among  the 
early  settlers  of  that  county.  There  the 
father  entere<l  land  from  the  Ciovernment,  on 
which  they  lived    till    their   death,  the  father 


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lIIsroliY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


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(lying  ill  l.'<7(),  iiged  sevfiity-tliroe  years,  iind 
till'  iiiothor  'lyiiii;-  Ht  tlir  M^■('  oC  M'\cnt\--tlii'fe 
years  in  ISTI.  liofli  were  mi'iiilicr.-;  ot'  the 
Luthei-aii  cliiirch.  Tliey  wore  the  iiarents  of 
tliii'teeii  cliililreii,  nine  suns  niul  four  (laugh- 
ters. At  the  first  election  held  in  his  town- 
ship, after  settling  in  Sandusky  ('ounty,  only 
three  votes  were  cast,  he  casting  the  only 
Democratic  vote.  Jacob  I!.  i^Fowery,  the  siih- 
iect  of  this  sketch,  grew  to  manhood  in  San- 
dusky Ctiunty,  Ohio,  receiving  but  limited 
ediiciitioual  advantages,  his  youtli  being  spent 
in  assisting  his  father  with  the  work  of  the 
farm,  remaining  at  home  until  twenty-iive 
years  of  age.  He  was  married  Auo-ust  27, 
18G3,  to  iliss  .Jane  Smith,  who  was  born  in 
Saiidiisk'y  County,  Ohio,  January  19,  18-tG,  a 
daughter  of  Eli  and  jMatilda  (Ilisenhour) 
Smith,  the  father  being  a  native  of  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  and  the  mother  of  Sandusky 
County.  The  parents  of  ]\Irs.  Mowery  set- 
tled in  Tippecanoe  County,  Indiatia,  M'liere 
the  mother  died,  and  after  her  death  the  fam- 
ily returned  to  Sandusky  County,  and  later 
removed  to  i[icliigan,  where  the  father  still 
resides,  lie  had  a  family  of  seven  children, 
live  sons  and  two  daughtei's.  ^Ir.  and  ^Mrs. 
]\[owery  are  the  parents  of  six  children — 
]\Iatilda  C,  Daniel  K.,  Edward  E.,  Some  R., 
Samuel  C.  and  Delia  Y>.  M.  iFr.  .Mowery 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Ileljelliou,  en- 
listing February  5,  ISIjl,  in  Company  (1, 
Third  Ohio  Cavalry,  lie  was  attached  to 
the  Twenty-third  Army  Corps  under  General 
Thomas,  and  later  to  the  First  Cavalry  Corps 
under  General  Wilson.  lie  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Uesaca,  Kenesaw  ^lountain, 
I'each  Tree  Creek,  antl  in  the  battle  of  At- 
lanta, besides  other  battles  and  skirmishes. 
lie  served  until  August  IG,  1SG5,  when  he 
was  discharged  at  Edgefield,  Tennessee,  by 
reason  of  the  close  of  the  war.  lie  contracted 
deafness  while  in  the  army  and  now  draws  a 


])ension.  After  his  discharge  ^fr.  Mowery 
|-cturiii_'d  to  his  hciiiie  in  S;indiiskv  ( 'dUiity, 
and  engaged  in  farming  and  teaming.  (> 
lier  ~(),  1881,  he  cami.'  to  .Vdams  (Joiinty,  In- 
diana, and  settled  in  Jelferson  Township,  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  where  he  has 
eighty-twu  acres,  seventeen  under  cultivation. 
In  politics  Mr.  ]\Io\very  was  formerly  a  Dem- 
ocrat, but  now  afiiliates  with  the  Republican 
party,  lie  is  a  member  of  John  P.  Dorter  Post, 
No.  83,  G.  A.  K.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
mehibers  of  the  German  naj)tist  church.  The 
pai'ents  of  ^Irs.  .Mowery  were  Lutherans  in 
their  religious  faith. 


ILLIAJI  BEPGEK,  fanner,  residing 
on  section  U,  Kirkland  Township,  is 
a  son  of  Xieholas  and  Susanna 
(Smith)  Eerger,  wlio  were  early  settlers  of 
Adams  and  "Wells  counties,  Indiana,  lie 
was  born  at  Bethlehem,  Stark  (,'ounty,  Ohio, 
April  18,  1851,  where  he  passed  his  early 
life  on  the  home  farm,  and  when  old  enough 
began  working  out  on  neighboring  farms. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  September  IS, 
1879,  to  Miss  Emelina  Billman,  who  was 
born  on  her  father's  homestead  in  Kirkland 
Township,  Ad;iins  County,  May  17,  1857, 
and  to  them  have  been  born  two  children — 
Catherine  A.,  born  Sejiteinber  23,  1881,  ami 
Elizabeth  ^L,  born  December  7,  1885.  The}' 
settled  on  their  farm  in  Xirkland  Township 
in  Januarj-,  188-1,  which  contains  120  acres 
of  good  land,  and  here  he  has  since  been 
engaged  in  general  farming.  lie  erected  his 
jjresent  comfortable  and  commodious  resi- 
dence in  the  summer  of  ISsG,  at  a  cost  of 
about  81,000.  In  his  political  views  Mr. 
lierger  is  independent,  voting  for  the  man 
whom  he  deems  best  fitted  for  office.  He  is 
a  prominent  man  in  his  townshij),  and   has 


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jillcd  several  local  dfiieos.  lloiiiy  liilliniin, 
futlier  oC  Jlrs.  IJei'^rr,  was  one  of  tlie  jiio- 
iicors  of  Adams  (-ouiity,  Sftllini,'  in  Kirklaiid 
Townsiiij)  as  early  as  ls55.  He  was  honi 
December  lU,  lS2'd,  in  Scliuylkill  Comity, 
roimsylvania,  and  there  he  was  reared  to 
maniiood,  and  was  married  November  13, 
1853,  to  JIary  Zimmerman,  wiio  was  also  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  boj-n  in  lierks  County 
A]iril  28,  1831.  Seven  children  were  born 
to  this  union,  two  sons  and  live  daughters. 
]\Ir.  llilhnaii  came  to  .Vdams  County,  Indiana, 
immediately  ;dter  his  marriage,  and  settled 
on  his  farm  on  section  13,  Kirkland  Town- 
ship, where  he  lived  till  his  death.  His  farm 
at  that  time  was  heavily  covered  with  timber, 
with  no  roads  leading  to  it.  lie  first  built  a 
log  cabin  and  commenced  improving  his  land, 
and  iiere  he  and  his  family  experienced  man}' 
hardships  and  jirivations  incident  to  life  in  a 
newly-settled  country.  They  lived  in  their 
pioneer  log  cabin  several  years,  wJien  they 
built  a  hewed-Uig  house,  in  which  they  spent 
the  rest  of  their  days.  He  died  February  2G, 
1880,  much  respected  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  accpuiintances.  His  wife  died 
November  9  of  the  same  year.  liotli  were 
members  of  the  l)unkard  church. 


T^KNJAMIN  HICK,  section  21,  Root 
e  j\  Township,  was  born  in  Culjieper  County, 
'i-'  Virginia,  November  17,  1817,  a  son  of 
Sampson  and  Klizalicth  (Ferguson)  Ilice,  na- 
tives of  Virginia,  his  father  born  in  Loudoun 
County,  February,  1781),  and  the  nicjther  in 
Culjiepcr  County,  in  1792.  The  former  dieil 
in  Adams  County,  Indiana,  January  21, 1818, 
and  the  latter  July  20,  1851.  ilr.  Rice  ac- 
companied his  parents  \o  Carroll  Cotuity, 
Ohio,  when  ten  years  of  age,  and  in  1830  to 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  arriving  here   iJe- 


ceml>cr  25.      He    was   married  Se])tcmber  (i, 
183S,    to     i';iizabcth     Fillers,    who    was    bor" 


ive  BIX  cniKiren — iienjamin  j  .,  .jonn  Jj., 
ancy  A.,  James  M.,  J^Iillard  F.  and  David 
'.  In  politics  Mr.  Rice  is  a  Republican, 
c  ami  his  wife  are  members  of  the  ileth- 
iist  I'^.piscopal  church. 


j^;^LI  J[.  RAY,  farmer  and  carpenter,  re- 
\v}''\  siding  on  section  9,  Moni'oe  Township, 
^^■^  is  a  native  of  Harrison  County,  Ohio, 
born  September  22,  1813,  and  is  the  third 
Son  and  fourth  child  of  George  AV.  and 
Eleanor  (AVilliams)  Ray.  When  five  years  of 
age  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  remaining  on  a  farm  in 
JMonroe  Towushij)  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
lifteen  years.  The  ]i,irents  then  removed 
with  their  family  to  ( )ttawa  County,  Oliio. 
Thnie  years  later  Eli  JI.,  our  subject,  re- 
turned to  Adams  County.  August  9,  1802, 
he  eidisted  in  Company  II,  lughty-ninth  In- 
diana Infantry,  serving  until  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  service,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged August  9,  1805.  He  particijiated 
in  fourteen  battles  and  skirmishes,  in- 
cluding Muufordville,  Kentucky,  Pleasant 
Hill,  Louisiaiui,  Nashville,  and  Tupelo,  Mis- 
sissippi. At  the  battle  of  Muufordville  lie 
was  taken  prisoner,  but  was  afterward  ex- 
changed. He  now  draws  a  pension  from  the 
Government.  October  29,  1S(j5,  he  was  nuir- 
ried  to  Ellen  Everhart,  who  was  born  in  Har- 
rison County,  Ohio,  April  19,  1810,  and  to 
tiiem  have  been  l)orn  eight  children — ]"]lmer 
J.,  Eliza  J.,  (Jeorge  A.,  Edward  K.,  Cyrus 


Ma»ij»ii»'"»^»"<f  — '"— ^^"■■"giaj 


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iriSTORY    OF    ADAMti    COUNTY. 


;: 


W.  (deceased),  Klla  L,  Kli  M.  ]\[.  and  Pearlc. 
After  liis  return  iVoiii  tlie  army  ^Ir.  Ifay  re- 
sinned tannin^;  on  liis  farm  in  Monroe  TdWii- 
sliip,  which  he  lias  since  t'ullowed  with  tiie 
exception  of  two  and  a  half  years  spent  at 
Decatur  at  carpenter  work  and  teaming.  lie 
settled  on  his  farm  on  section  i),  ilonroe 
Township,  in  Ajiril,  1875,  where  he  has  forty 
acres  of  tine  land.  Islw  Kay  is  a  strong  teni- 
])erance  man.  lie  is  a  comrade  of  Sam 
Henry  Post,  No.  03,  (i.  A.  11.,  at  Decatur, 
^[rs.  Pay's  parents,  John  and  Rebecca  (Hen- 
dricks) liiverhart,  were  natives  of  Ohio  and 
^'irginia  respectively,  the  father  born  ^lay  G, 
1803,  and  the  mother  October  7, 180'J.  They 
were  married  August  3,  182G,  and  to  them 
were  born  twelve  children,  si.\  sons  and  si.\ 
daughters.  They  came  to  Indiana  in  1847, 
and  settled  on  section  5,  ilonroe  Township, 
wiiere  they  lived  till  their  deaths,  the  mother 
dying  in  1853,  and  the  father  in  185i.  lie 
madefarmin<^  his  principal  avocation  through 
life,  and  was  one  of  the  best  farmers  in  his 
township.  Both  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Hay  are  mem- 
bers of  the  ilethodist  Episcopal  church. 


l|:^r.MOS  S.  (ilLLIO,  who  is  a  member  of 
iirX^t  the  lumber  firm  of  Robinson  A:  Ciillig, 
^■3^  of  Decatur,  is  a  native  of  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  born  in  Union  Township, 
August  5,  1851,  his  parents,  Joseph  and 
Theresa  (Spooler)  (lillig,  being  natives  of 
Oermany  and  Switzerland,  respectively. 
Amos  S.,  our  subject,  was  reared  principally 
in  Washington  Township,  receiving  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  his  neigli- 
borhood.  lie  was  reared  to  the  avocation  of 
a  fanner,  working  on  the  homestead  farm 
until  reaching  manhood.  h\  his  twenty-tirst 
year  he  began  learning  the  liricklayer's 
trade,    which    he    followed    in    Decatur  as  a 


journeyman  and  contractor.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  in  I'eln-uary,  1880,  at  .Vshland, 
Aslilanil  County,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Sadie  Minker 
of  that  place.  They  have  one  son,  named 
John.  In  1881  J\Ir.  Gillig  discontinued 
bricklaying  and  began  dealing  in  lumber  at 
Decatur,  and  was  engaged  in  buying  and 
shijtping  lumber  until  1883.  In  that  year 
lie  formed  a  partnership  with  Perry  Robin- 
son, with  wiiom  he  has  since  been  associated 
under  the  firm  name  of  Robinson  ct  (iillig, 
and  in  1883  they  Ijuilt  their  band  saw-mill  at 
Decatur.  In  politics  Mr.  Gillig  casts  his  suf- 
frage with  the  Democratic  party.  ]\Irs. 
(Tillig  is  a  member  of  the  Discij^le  church  at 
l)ecatur. 


;T*SERRY  ROP.INSOX,  an  enterprisii  g 
V'\-  business  man,  and  a  member  of  the  liim- 
~-t  ber  firm  of  Robinson  &  Gillig,  of  Deca- 
tur, was  born  in  Root  Township,  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  the  date  of  his  birth  being 
January  22,  1847.  His  parents,  James  and 
Elizal)eth  (Dowder)  Robinson,  were  natives 
of  Virginia  and  Ohio  respectively,  and  to 
them  were  born  six  cliildren,  fonr  of  whom 
are  living  in  Adams  County.  The  father 
came  to  Adams  County  about  the  year  1810, 
and  settleil  in  Root  Township,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  until  his  death  in  185G.  Tiie 
mother  still  lives  in  Root  Township.  She  is 
a  member  of  the  Paptist  church.  Perry 
Iu)binson  remained  on  the  homestead  in  Root 
Township  until  reaching  maturity,  being 
reared  to  the  avocation  of  a  fanner.  He  was 
married  in  August,  1874,  to  Miss  Ellen  Rice, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Root  Townshij), 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Pendleton  and  Frances 
(Robbit)  liice,  pioneers  of  Adams  County. 
Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Robinson,    of  wlium    four   are    yet    li\iti(r — 


!i-"isi?^i«ii'^? 


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niUGIlA  VIIICAL    SKKTCIIES. 


*  dl  '^M^'jM***  ••"V.'il? 


AVilliani  l'(Mi(llctiiii,  .It'ssc  Diivid,  I''riiiic.L',s 
Kli/.ulictli  and  Calvin  ( 'li-\  fhind.  'I'lionias 
Jiuiics  died  in  infancy.*  In  ISTti  Mr.  IJuliin.stwi 
built  a  saw-mill  in  Kout  Tuwnsliip  and  en- 
f^ai^ed  in  the  lumber  business.  In  1S83  he 
Sold  out  liis  business  in  Root  Township,  and 
came  to  Decatur  and  became  associated  with 
Amos  (iilliLf  under  the  linn  name  of  Jlobin- 
son  it  Ciillig.  They  erecteil  a  saw-mill  the 
same  yeni',  and  have  since  been  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  lumber  at  Decatur.  ]\[r. 
Ivubinson  is  an  attendant  and  his  wife  a  mem- 
ber of  the  iletliodist  Ejjisco]>al  church  at 
Decatur. 


fEORGE  I!.  CLINE,  farmer,  section  31, 
Union  Townsliip,  is  the  owner  of  a  fine 
'■Si-"-  farm  of  l(j()  acres  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  the  section.  lie  is  a  native  of 
Adams  County,  born  in  Root  Townshij), 
March  26,  1842,  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Barbara 
(Robison)  ('line.  He  was  reared  a  farmer, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  scliools  of  his 
father's  district.  February  23,  1SG5,  he  en- 
listed in  defense  of  his  country  and  was 
assigned  to  Comjiany  C,  Forty-seventh  Indi- 
ana Infantry,  joining  his  regiment  at  Fort 
Rlakely,  .Vlabania.  lie  participated  in  the 
battles  at  Fort  lilakely  and  Spanish  Fort,  and 
in  ininierous  skirmishes,  and  was  discharged 
October  23,  1805.  September  1,  18(57,  he 
was  mai'ried  to  Lovina  E.  Luckey,  who  was 
born  in  Union  Township,  Ailams  County, 
Decendier  21,  184'J,  a  daughter  of  George 
'W .  and  Drusilla  (Arnold)  Luckey,  natives  of 
Wayne  County,  Ohio,  her  father  horn  May 
1-1,  1S22,  and  her  mother  May  21,  1S21. 
Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Oline  have  two  children — i\Iai'- 
tha  1).,  l)orn  October  13,  1870,  and  Jacob, 
born  ^lay  21,  18"^!.  They  are  members  of 
the  United  lirdhren  church.      Mr.  Cliue   lias 


served  as  justice  of  tiic  peace  oi'  I'nion  'i'own- 
ship  twelve  years.  The  i)arents  of  Mrs.  Cline 
came  to  Adams  County  in  their  youth,  and 
were  here  married  in  1842.  They  were  much 
respected  by  all  who  knew  thein,  and  had 
many  friends.  ]\Ir.  Lucke}'  was  c^uite  suc- 
cessful in  liis  early  life,  but  by  an  investment 
made  in  the  I'iipia  and  I'ort  Wayne  plaidc 
road  he  lost  a  large  share  of  his  property. 
He  died  J\'o\'ember  10,  18SG,  and  his  wife 
March  0,  1885. 


^,0N.  DAVID  ELEY,  of  Washington 
^G')\  Township,  was  l;orn  in  this  county  Feb- 
■^Ai  ruar}'  27,  1841,  son  of  Michael  and 
Rachel  Eley,  the  former  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  latter  of  ()liio.  The  parents 
came  IVom  Ohio  to  this  county  about  1S3G 
or  1837,  settling  in  ]\Ionroe  Township,  and 
were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  that  sec- 
tion of  tlie  county.  David  was  reared  in  this 
county  and  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm 
during  the  summer  season,  while  laying  the 
foundation  for  a  thoroujih  education  durintf 
the  winter.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he 
commenced  teaching,  and  for  several  years 
thereafter  he  attended  school,  teaching  at  in- 
tervals to  acquire  means  to  defray  his  ex- 
penses. After  attending  several  institutions 
of  learning  he  gi-aduated  at  the  Indiana  State 
University  at  IMoomington,  with  the  title  of 
liaclielor  of  Law.  He  then  returned  to 
Adams  County,  and  entered  tlie  law  otKce  of 
France  &  Heller,  at  Decatur,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years,  then  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  His  success  has  been  marked 
from  the  beginning.  He  was  first  elected 
justice  of  the  peace,  serviiig  four  years,  then 
served  live  years  as  deputy  prosecutor.  In 
the  fall  of  18S2  he  was  elected  to  represent 
Adams  and  Jay  counties  in   the  State   Legis- 


.11 


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jiiyraur   oh'  ajiams   lovjs'iy. 


latiire,  serving!;  two  years,  iiml  was  re-elected 
ill  lsS4.  l''iiiilino'  that  clo>e  ediitiiioniciit  to 
liis  otlicc  \\-as  likely  to  imjiair  liis  liealtli,  lie 
(Icciilfil  t(i  aliaiiiliiii  tlie  pi'actice  ct'  law  ainl 
eiii;ai;e  in  agricMiltiiral  puivsiiits.  Jn  ()i'tol)ei-, 
1S()1-,  lie  enlisted  in  L'oni]>auy  iv,  Tweiity- 
tliird  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  assigned  to 
the  Seventeenth  Army  C<irps  under  coniniand 
of  Cieiiera]  Logan.  He  was  eng:iyed  princi- 
])a]ly  in  guard  duties  in  various  States,  and 
was  disehargeil  in  June,  18C5,  after  wliicli  he 
i-etiirned  to  Adams  C(junty.  He  has  heen  a 
resident  of  this  county  since,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  years  spent  in  Knox  Count}',  Ohio. 
He  was  mai'ried  June  1,  ISTfi,  to  Maiy  C 
Carlisle,  also  of  this  county.  He  owns  120 
acres  of  lanil  in  AVashiii<rton  Township;  is  a 
Democrat  in  |iolitics,  and  a  memher  of  the 
(ii-an<l  .Vrmv  Post  at  Decatur. 


=^  J.  MKIBEIiS,  a  mercliant  of  :\Ion- 
,;;-ij|  mouth,  came  to  Adams  County  in 
;.'  **  1841,  with  his  parents  and  five  otlier 
children,  who  settled  in  Decatur  and  li\ed 
there  till  I!.  J.  reached  liis  majority.  He  was 
horn  Xovemher  11,  183'J,  in  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, and  wdien  six  years  of  age  came  to 
America  with  his  parents,  wlio  first  settled  in 
Decatur.  The  p:ireiits  -were  liorn  iii  Han- 
over, the  father  in  ISOO.  He  died  in  July, 
1S03.  When  he  settled  in  Decatur  he  bought 
a  lot  with  a  log  house  right  where  the  center 
of  business  now  is,  and  he  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land  where  the  mill  stands  that  is 
now  owned  by  Patterson  &  Fillers.  The 
father  liuilt  a  saw-mill  in  partnership  with 
Jacob  Shearer,  but  the  dam  was  afterward 
torn  down  and  the  mil!  aliandoncd.  The 
mother  was  born  in  17'J7,  and  died  in  IS82. 
Hoth  parents  are  buried  at  Decatur.  They 
were  members  of  the  Catholic  church,  and 


tiie  father  was  a  Democrat.  AVheii  our  sub- 
ject was  sixteen  years  old  lie  commenced  to 
learn  the  carjienter's  trade,  which  lie  followed 
ten  years.  lie  then  engageil  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  at  Decatur,  and  two  years  later 
sold  out,  on  account  of  ill-health,  and  went 
to  work  at  his  trade.  He  followed  liis  trade 
several  years.  In  18G5  he  bought  a  farm, 
which  he  rented  out  until  187'J,  then  went 
on  it  himself,  and  worked  the  farm  till  the 
spring  of  1880,  when  he  was  appointed  post- 
master. He  then  ojieiied  a  small  stock  for 
farmers'  supplies.  He  was  married  ilai-ch 
12,  18G1,  to  ,Miss  Distena  M.  Kerber.  Her 
father  died  in  Germany,  and  her  mother  again 
married,  when  the  family  caine  to  America. 
Mrs.  ]\Ieibers  was  born  in  18-12.  Her  mother 
died  in  Union  Township,  November  22, 
1880,  and  is  buried  at  Decatur.  ^Ir.  and 
]\Irs.  Meibers  have  four  children — Titus  I., 
Maggie  M.,-Charles  O.  and  Mary  L.  S.  l!oth 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  church,  and 
politically  Mr.  ileibers  is  a  Democrat.  His 
parents,  John  and  Christina  (Drake)  Meibers, 
were  born  in  Germany.  His  grandfather, 
John  ]\[eibers,  was  liorn  in  Hanover,  (ier- 
many,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventv-niue 
years.  His  grandmother  Meibers  died  before 
the  father  of  C.  J.  left  the  old  country.  His 
maternal  grandfather,  Nicholas  Brake,  and 
his  grandmother,  ]\Iary  Brake,  were  bora  in 
Germany,  and  both  died  in  that  country. 
j\Ir.  Meibers  owns  a  farm  of  100  acres  in 
Hoot  Township. 


SOIIN  A.  WALSER,  JM.  D.,  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  medicine  at  Buena  Vista, 
'-,^:.  was  burn  in  ^lontgoinery  County,  Ohio, 
October  3,  1852,  a  son  of  liannals  Walscr, 
who  was  born  in  Dearborn  County,  Indiana, 
liut  is  now  a  resident  of  Nottin<rham   Town- 


«'Jji»-J»'^ii'?aMu«'ij'^«.'^»"."i!"M«f»'^m'*?«'"K*M'"«i"«'^'?»"«^i«*'«'^*«^i5 


JlWaiiAPIIWAL    SKETCIIJCi. 


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513 


Bliij),  Wells  County,  Iiiili;uia.  Julin  A.,  the 
s\il)ject  of  this  sketch,  was  ivaruil  on  his  fatliL-r's 
farm,  and  received  his  education  in  tlie  coni- 
nioii  school  and  the  hii^h  scho(d  at  Ulufl'ton, 
AVells  County,  lie  was  united  in  marriage 
FeViruary  14,  1S75,  to  .Miss  Harriet  A.  Kck- 
rate,  who  was  horn  in  Hartford  Township, 
Adams  County,  Indiana,  I'Y'hruary  14,  1850, 
her  father,  David  Kclu-ate,  being  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Hartford  Township.  Four  children 
have  been  born  to  Dr.  and  ifrs.  "Walser,  sis 
follows — Oliver  P.,  Ernest  D.,  Eva  M.  and 
Alta  P.  Dr.  AValser  began  the  study  of  med- 
icine under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr.  J.  B. 
Eitzpatrick,  with  whom  ho  read  two  and  a 
half  years.  He  then  attended  the  medical 
de])artment  of  the  ]\[iehigan  State  University 
at  Ann  Ai'bor,  ^lichigan,  in  the  winter  of 
ISTO-'SO,  graduating  from  that  institution  in 
1881.  After  his  graduation  he  located  at 
J'uena  Vista,  Adams  County,  and  engaged  iu 
the  practice  of  medicine,  and  is  still  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at  this 
])lace,  where  he  has  establisheil  a  good  prac- 
tice, and  gained  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
all  who  know  him.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walser 
are  members  of  the  Christian  church  at  Buena 
Vista. 


i/1:'"" 


V)    •    '    a 

)X  M.  Hl^l'R,  a  prominent  citi- 
f  "Wabash  Township,  where  he 
-■.un:^  IS  engaged  in  farming,  is  a  native  of 
Lancaster  County,  I'ennsylvania,  horn  June 
20,  1S3S,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
(Miller)  Ileri',  who  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  of  German  descent,  their  fore- 
fathers immigrating  to  America  before  the 
war  of  the  Ke\dliition.  The  parents  of  our 
sul)ject  removed  to  Clarke  County,  ()lni.i,  in 
184s,  where  the  father  died  in  April,  1S79, 
aged  seventy-three   yeai's.      He   was  a  farmer 


M" 


-^fL^^^^ 


by  occupation.  The  mother  is  still  living  in 
Clarke  (Jonnty,  aged  sixty-three  years.  1'liey 
were  reared  in  the  J^utheran  faith,  but  united 
with  the  !^^enonnites,  and  later  with  the 
Pretiiren  in  CUnist  church,  of  which  the 
mother  is  still  a  member,  ilorton  M.  llerr, 
whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  grew  to  nmn- 
hood  in  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  receiving  but 
limited  educational  advantages,  but  by  private 
study  and  close  observation  he  has  accpiired  a 
good  practical  education.  He  left  home  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years,and  served  an  ajtprentice- 
shlp  of  three  years  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
after  which  he  learned  coach  making,  which 
he  followed  until  April  18,  18G1,  when  he  en- 
listed in  Company  I), Third  Ohio  Infantry, this 
being  the  first  company  raised  in  Springfield, 
Ohio,  after  the  three  months  call.  He  was 
Sergeant  of  his  company,  and  served  until 
June  80,  18G3,  when  he  received  an  Injnor- 
able  discharge.  He  was  assigned  to  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  ])articipated  in 
the  engagements  at  Rich  ^lountain,  Green- 
brier, Perryville  and  Stone  Tliver,  and  at  the 
last  mentioned  battle  was  twice  wounded, 
receiving  a  gun-shot  wound  in  the  leg,  and  a 
scalp  wound  wdiich  has  left  a  scar.  He  was 
also  on  Streight's  raid,  and  was  there  thrown 
from  his  horse,  dislocating  his  shoulder.  He 
contracted  rheumatism  during  the  early  part 
of  the  war.  AVhile  on  Streight's  raid  he  was 
taken  prisoner  near  Home,  Georgia,  l)eing  a 
jirisoner  about  four  weeks,  and  was  at  Libby 
and  Belle  Isle,  and  subsecpiently  sent  to 
parole  camp  at  Camp  Chase,  Columbus,  Ohit). 
After  receiving  his  discharge  he  returned  to 
his  home  in  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  remaining 
one  year,  when  he  went  to  Dayton  and  began 
working  at  his  trade.  He  was  married  at 
Dayton,  March  '21,  ISCH,  to  Mary  A.  Shage, 
a  native  of  Dayton,  ( >hio.  born  <luly  22, 
1848,  her  parents,  ,!o>e]>h  A.  and  l^leanor 
(Livingsberger)  Shage,  being  natives  of  Penn-  , 


4' 


!«r»J.«*tj»»>'a^Ti»>'a*i.iMii^^T"««^iI'«>iiai«i»^ 


•£>'a:»'1i"»4«i*»A^'ii»ii\»iM;AVi»"ii"ii'?j^-ri*^i5'"iiM5?!S^ 


IIISTOliY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


8yl\aiii:i,  tlic  t'atlicr  licirn  in  l.ancastrr  Coiiiity, 
SopU'inliLT  JS,  IMS,  anil  the  luullur  in 
Aihuns  ('(Minty,  Scjitcnihrr  II,  ls:27.  Tlicy 
WLTu  (jl  (icrinan  (irii;iii,  tliuir  aiicubturs 
inimigiatiiiglVoiii(7eniiaiiy  before  the  Itevolii- 
tionary  wiir.  ]\[rs.  Ilerr's  <,'reat-gramlt:itlier 
and  liis  brother  were  soldiers  in  tbat  war. 
Her  ]iarents  removed  to  ]\rontgonicry  County, 
Oliii),  wliei'e  iier  lather  died  in  February', 
1S()2.  Jler  mother  is  still  li\ing,  being  a 
resident  of  (ireenlield,  Darke  County,  Ohio, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  J^utheran  church. 
The^father  was  a  ])r()minent  leather  merchant 
at  I)ayton,  Ohio,  for  t-everal  years,  being 
engaged  in  that  business  at  tiie  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  also  a  Lutheran  in  his  I'elig- 
ious  views.  He  had  a  family  of  five  cliildren, 
one  son  and  four  daughters.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs. 
Herr  are  the  parents  of  two  children — Charles 
J.,  born  Sejitember  2-i,  1870,  and  Elia  Kora, 
born  January  13,  1873,  the  former  attending 
tlie  high  school  at  Cireenville,  ()hi(i.  Afr. 
Herr  resided  at  Dayton  until  April,  1872, 
when  he  removed  to  Darke  County,  and 
engaged  in  fai-ming  until  the  fall  of  1880. 
He  then  located  in  Hamilton  County,  Indi- 
ana, where  he  was  engaged  in  clerking  in  a 
grocery  for  a  short  time,  when  he  purchased 
his  employer's  stock,  and  cari'ied  on  the  busi- 
ness until  jVpril  5,  1882,  when  he  sold  out 
and  ret:irned  to  Greenville,  Ohio.  In  1883 
lie  came  to  Adams  County,  ai-riving  liere  in 
August,  when  he  purchased  the  farm  where 
he  has  since  been  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  his  fai-m  consisting  of  100  acres  of 
well-improved  land.  In  politics  Mr.  Herr  is 
a  Democrat,  casting  his  iirst  ])reside!itial  vote 
for  Stephen  A.  Douglass.  He  has  held 
several  local  ollices  since  coming  to  Wabash 
Township,  and  was  elected  to  his  present 
othce,  township  trustee,  in  the  spring  of  1880. 
He  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  cause  of 
education,  and    is  giving  his  children   good 


(.■dncalional  aih  aiitages.  lli'  is  a  comrade  of 
.iolm  1'.  l',.iter  l'..st,  X.,.  83,  (\.  A.  K..  at 
( iene\a. 


-:"K> 


rf^ZIiA  IlKl'EU,  one  of  the  active  and  cn- 
vr.y.  terju'ising  farmers  of  Ivirkland  Town- 
"^t-'^  shi]i,  residing  on  section  21,  was  born 
in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  and  when  four 
years  of  age  was  brought  liy  his  ])arents, 
Henry  and  Nancy  IJeber,  to  Adams  County, 
Indiana.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  a  t'ai-m, 
and  still  resides  on  the  old  family  home&teud 
in  Kirkland  Township.  He  received  a  fair 
common-school  education  by  attending  the 
schools  of  his  neighborhood.  December  25, 
1878,  he  was  married  to  !Miss  Mary  E.  Statter, 
a  native  of  Allen  County,  Ohio,  the  date  of 
her  birth  being  Decend)er  27,  1859.  They 
are  the  parents  of  three  children — Marion, 
liorn  September  11,  18S0;  Nancy  Fl,  born 
November  4,  1882,  and  Armeda,  born  No- 
vember 11,  1885.  ilr.  Reber  is  the  owner 
of  lit)  acres  of  valuable  land,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  his  general  farming  is  engaged  in 
raising  stock.  Henry  Reber,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, born  August  20,  1817,  a  son  of  Heniy 
Reber,  Sr.  The  latter  was  also  a  native  of 
Germany,  where  he  was  reared  and  married, 
and  there  followed  farming  until  1830,  when 
he  came  to  America  with  liis  son  Henry, 
then  a  lad  of  thirteen  years.  They  bcttled  in 
Fairfield,  and  when  he  had  earned  snIHcient 
money,  the  father,  Henry,  Sr.,  sent  for  his 
family  wliom  he  had  left  in  Germany.  They 
bought  a  farm  in  Fairfield  County,  \vhere  he 
and  his  wife  died.  Their  family  consisted  of 
seven  cliildren,  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Henry  Reber,  Jr.,  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  was  educated  both  in  English  and 
German.     He  left  home  at  the  a<re  of  eitjliteen 


riei»a;HaS«*ja!£i--5Li?5.i»i 


J^iTU.-iV 


aT"  .-^  «■'•;■»  ^'j-UfflHT^^aj-^ui  ^,j>;^jg^s;^^ir  t:.>f^,-»T,^  im-j  tt^>r^->r^ ;  a  - 


IP™*  l^i*5i:U*»j3JXl^i'5'iil?*>S5iii*i-:!!:i' iT^'Cje^ii^l/'^^ 


•"-A^aL'"i«» 


I»il?IL»5i*-'i3f»i»Vi 


inoUUAl'lIWAL    ti  KETCHES. 


*\( 


yciirs,  !uul  Icanii'il  tlio  liroom-miikoi-'s  tivule 
which  he  t'olhiwiMl  in  cdiiiicctioii  with  I'anii- 
iiig  until  liii  death.  I  lu  was  niarrifil  Auj^ust 
^0,  ISKJ,  to  Nancy  P.ililcr,  who  was  boni  in 
Fairtiehl  C.'oiiiity,  Ohio,  Fchnuiry  22,  1822, 
and  of  the  live  eliildreii  born  to  tliis  union 
only  two  are  now  liviny — Eli,  and  Ezra,  lliu 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Henry  Reber  settled 
with  his  family  on  section  25,  Kirkland  Town- 
ship, Adains  (Jounty,  Indiana,  in  1857, where 
he  resided  until  liis  death.  lie  w'as  an  active 
anil  |)id)lic-s]iirited  citizen,  and  was  always 
interestcil  in  any  enterprise  for  the  advance- 
ment of  his  townshij)  or  county.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Hemocrat.  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  I'aptist  church  until  her 
death,  after  which  he  uinted  with  the  (Ger- 
man Reformed  church,  of  which  he  was  a 
member  till  his  death,  which  occurred  May 
18,  188G. 


5?r=W;  I  ELI  A]\[  JACKSON  MYERS,  a 
w/'VB  member  of  the  woolen  mannfac- 
l-T^fe^  turing  tirm  of  ]\Iyers  Brothers,  at 
Decatur,  Indiana,  \vas  born  near  AVooster, 
AVayne  County,  Ohio,  May  21,  183'.),  a  son 
of  Christoj)hcr  I'Vederick  and  Christina 
(Ilaviclij  ]\Iycrs,  natives  of  Stuttj^art,  Ger- 
many, wdio  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1830  and  located  in  Lancaster  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  in  1835  moved  to  Wayne 
County,  Ohio.  From  there,  in  1850,  they 
came  to  Adams  Connty,  Indiana,  and  settled 
on  a  farm  in  AVashington  Township,  where 
the  father  died  January  20, 18G0,  aged  si.xty- 
nine  years.  The  mother  died  at  the  home  of 
her  son  David  Novemlier  2(i,  1879,  aged 
seventy  years.  They  wore  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  They  had  a 
family  of  ten  children,  six  of  whom  are 
living,   all    in   Adams  County.     AViUiam   J. 


IB? 


i\lyers  was  eleven  years  of  age  when  his  ])ar- 
ents  moved  to  .\ilahis  ('ounly,  and  fi-i.an  that 
time  until  sixteen  he  attemled  the  district 
schools.  In  1S57  he  entered  the  Indiana 
State  University  at  Uloomington,  where  he 
remained  two  years.  During  the  winter  ot 
18t')()-'Gl  he  taught  the  district  school  at 
Pleasant  Mills,  Adams  County,  and  in  tlie 
summer  of  18G1  taught  a  select  scliool  at 
Decatur.  In  the  fall  of  ISGl  he  was  em- 
ployed as  principal  of  the  Decatnr  schools, 
tilling  that  position  until  18G3,  when  he 
attended  the  A'ermillion  Institute  at  Ilayes- 
ville  one  year,  and  in  the  fall  of  ISGi  entered 
the  AVashington  and  Jefferson  College  at 
Cannonsburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  junior 
year,  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  18GG. 
lie  was  then  employed  two  years  as  principal 
of  the  Ingh  school  at  Steubenville,  Ohio,  and 
in  18G8  assumed  the  principalship  of  the 
schools  at  Cadiz,  Ohio,  a  position  lie  held 
fourteen  years.  In  1872  he  was  elected  to 
the  chair  of  agriculture  in  his  alma  mater, 
which  he  declined.  In  1874  the  degree  of 
A-.  Al.  was  conferred  on  him  by  the  faculty 
of  Fraiddin  College,  Ohio,  and  in  1875  the 
honorary  degree  of  Ph.  D.,  by  the  same  in- 
stitution. In  1882,  having  I'csigned  his 
position  as  superintendent  of  the  schools  at 
Cadiz,  on  account  of  ill-health,  he  came  to 
Decatur  and  became  associated  with  liis  broth- 
ers, David  L.  and  James  M.,  the  firm  name 
being  Myers  Prothers,  proprietors  of  the  De- 
catur AVoolen  Mills.  Peing  a  stockholder  in 
the  Decatur  National  Paidc,  he  \vas  in  1883 
elected  a  tlirector.  In  politics  Mr.  Myers 
was  formerly  a  Ilepublican,  but  now  affiliates 
with  the  Prohibition  party.  In  188G  he  was 
the  nominee  of  the  Prohiliition  party  for 
State  Senator,  to  represent  Adams,  Jay  anil 
Plackford  counties.  July  9, 1867,  Mr.  .Myers 
was  married  to  Jennie  Hunter,  a  native  of 
Carroll  County,  Ohio,  boiii  in  1812,  daughter 


(ill 


.M  ^  Er  3  i^> ,-  a.5  ->« ; 


a 


li"ir¥in!5*!M??Ju«?  i.a^f^'Tm'rj^'^ 


•  ■ii«i*'ci"»ii'*»^'^««^ir*Lj*w 


J -t  „  .t.  i.  fei^is  aiara  w-,iP?i?rK^a 


•Si'. 


'a  ' 


UISTORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


-i' 


if! 
mi 

ill 
I 

i 


5i 


dl'  (Jfoi-j^'c  ami  lu>s:iiiiia  (IIal•kl('^s)  Iliiiitcr, 
tiiL'  riiriiRT  of  Iri^li  anil  the  latter  nt'  (ItTiiiaii 
jiart'iitaye.  Wvv  parents  miiveil  to  ,\(lanis 
('(.unity,  Indiana,  when  slu^  was  cii;'lit  years  ul' 
at^e,  anil  in  ISIJLi  niuved  to  Ashland  County, 
Ohio.  She  attended  the  couiuion  and  high 
schools  of  Decatur,  and  in  the  spring  of 
18tj3  entered  Vermillion  College  at  Ilayes- 
ville,  Ohio,  which  she  attended  three  years. 
!Mr.  and  ilrs.  Myers  have  had  six  children, 
hut  four  of  whom  are  li\'ing — (icorge  Hunter, 
^Vnna,  W'illielniina  and  ATary.  One  child 
(lied  in  infancy  unnamed,  and  Emma  died 
duly  IH,  1^70,  aged  seven  months.  ]\[r.  and 
.Mrs  .Myers  are  menihers  of  the  ilethodist 
Episcoi)al  church,  of  which  he  is  a  local 
minister. 


,:f^EOIt(;E  W.  JIXY,  deceased,  who  was 
'llVlV  '-"'^'  "*'*1"^  early  settlers  of  .Vdams  Couii- 
V-:.'^  ty,  was  hurn  in  the  State  of  ^[aryland, 
-lanuary  28,  181B,  a  son  of  Jonathan  Ka\'. 
His  father  was  liorn  in  1792,  and  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  1812.  lie  died  in  iVllen 
(bounty,  Ohio,  in  1878.  (ieorge  W,,  our 
subject,  left  his  native  State  with  his  parents 
at  an  early  age,  going  with  tlieni  to  Tuscara- 
was County,  Oliio,  where  lie  grew  to  man- 
hood. He  was  married  in  Tuscarawas 
County,  to  Eleanor  Williams,  a  native  of  that 
ciiunty,  the  date  of  her  birth  l)eing  Septem- 
ber 5,  1818.  Seven  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  J[rs.  IJay,  four  soi\s  and  three  daugh- 
ters. ^Ir.  Hay  followed  broom-making  until 
1848,  when  he  came  to  .Vdams  County,  Indi- 
ana, and  engaged  in  farming  on  section  5, 
ALonroe  Township,  where  he  resided  until 
the  tall  of  1858.  lie  then  removed  with  his 
family  to  Ottawa  County,  Ohio,  where  lie 
died  November  28,  18G0.  IVfrs.  Ray  returned 
to  Adams  County  in  18()1,  and  is  now  making 


J  *  lu^jm'i'm  "ii^yw"  v ' 


her  home  in  I  )i'catur.  She  is  a  memiier  of 
the  Methodist  j'ljjiscoiial  church,  Mr.  IJay 
Inning  been  a  member  of  the  same  denomi- 
nation. 


|P^[MIT1I  (4.  IfALSTOX,  M.  D.,  was  born 
1i<^!  "'  Lawrence  County,  Ohio,  October  2, 
'■^^  1847.  His  father,  James  Ralston,  was 
a  native  of  West  Union,  Adams  County, 
Ohio,  and  his  mother,  ]\[ary  ^Vun  (Grubb) 
Ralston,  of  Lawrence  County,  same  State. 
They  were  married  in  Lawrence  County,  and 
the  father  engaged  in  tiie  mercantile  business 
with  his  uncle,  just  across  the  line  in  Ken- 
tucky, lie  was  a  molder  by  trade,  lie  died 
in  Greenup,  (xreeniip  County,  Kentucky, 
about  1850.  The  mother  died  in  Ohio  in 
1863.  They  had  nine  children,  five  boys  and 
four  girls,  our  subject  being  the  eighth  child. 
The  mother  remarried  and  came  with  lier 
family  to  Adams  County,  leaving  Smith  (i. 
and  AVilliam,  an  elder  brother,  working  out 
at  whatever  they  could  find  to  do,  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  civil  war.  They  enlisted, 
October  25,  1861,  in  Company  A,  Forty- 
sevcntii  Indiana  Infantry,  and  in  1863  re-en- 
listcd  as  veterans,  serving  until  the  close  of 
the  ^var.  Our  sul)ject  participated  in  many 
of  the  famous  battles.  He  was  wounded  at 
llrown's  riantation,  August  11,  1862,  by  a 
gunshot  in  the  shoulder,  where  the  ball  still 
remains.  He  now  draws  a  pension.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Ciiampion 
Hills,  near  Yicksburg,  during  the  siege,  after 
which  he  was  paroled  and  sent  North.  He 
was  afterward  e.vchanged,  and  rejoined  his 
regiment.  He  served  as  color-bearer  of  the 
First  Division,  Thirteenth  Army  Corps,  two 
3'ears,  and  has  the  Hag  of  that  corps  still  in 
his  possession.  He  was  in  the  Tied  River  ex- 
pedition under  General  Banks.      He  lield  his 


-:*«'n««i"ir>ja"' 


"••ii^jt  ■"«»"=  »u"'»i' 


'»||  BIoaUAPinUAL    .^KKTCIIES.  517  { 


:&' 


])()sitioii  as  i\iliir-lic;irer  until  his  (iiscliar:,a'. 
The  hrotlii'i's  then  retiiniecl  to  Aihiins  Cuiintv, 
and  tlie  ilcjctor  atteiuled  sehoul  diic  \'eai-,  tlieii 
became  a  student  witli  ^V.  li.  Vance,  at  \e\v 
Corvdon,  Indiana.  Jle  then  took  a  course  at 
tlie  Micliigan  State  University,  at  Ann  ^Vi-lxir, 
during  the  winter  t>t'  lsti(J-'t;7,  tlien  engaged 
in  practice  one  year.  After  attending  a 
course  of  medical  lectures  at  the  Ohio  Aledi- 
cal  College,  Cincinnati,  lie  returned  to  New 
Corydon,  and  in  the  spring  of  1.S72  settled  in 
Geneva,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  lie  has  a 
good  practice,  and  keeps  ]iacc  with  all  the 
improvements  in  his  profession.  The  doctor 
is  a  bachelor. 


►.'M^^W 


n 


fOIl.X  KETCIIA]\[,  deceased,  a  pioneer 
of  Jciferson  Townshij),  was  Ijorn  in  JSTcw 
^-K  Jersey  October  18,  1792.  lie  was  a  son 
of  Abraham  Ketcham,  who  was  also  a  native 
of  IS' cw  Jersey,  of  German  descent.  Abra- 
liam  Ketcham  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the 
Kevidution,  and  in  1S12  moved  to  A\^ish- 
ington,  Pennsyh'ania,  and  thence  in  1813  io 
Coltimliiana  County,  Ohio,  where  he  died 
aged  eightj'-eight  years.  John  Ketcham  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  was 
there  married  about  1820  to  Margaret  j\[c- 
^lannus,  a  native  of  Washington  County, 
Pennsylvania,  born  ia  1796.  In  October, 
1844,  they  moved  to  Jeft'erson  Township, 
Adams  Countj-,  Indiana,  where  ]\trs.  ivetcham 
died  about  1808,  and  Mr.  Ketcham  Septem- 
ber 15,  1880.  They  were  members  of  the 
Jiaptist  chui'ch,  and  esteemed  members  of  the 
community.  They  had  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  two  daughters.  Their 
son  William  was  born  in  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio,  September  13,  I82r),  and  from  the  age 
of     eighteen     years     has     lived     in    Adams 


County.  lie  was  married  (  >ctober  7,  1^52, 
to  l']li/.alicth  A\'()odi'uir,  wlm  was  boi'ii  in 
Holmes  (Jounty,  Oliiu,  .March  30,  1828. 
They  have  had  live  children,  two  of  wIioiti  are 
living — j\[ariun  and  Mary  E.  ]\Ir.  Ketcham 
is  in  politics  a  Democrat.  lie  is  serving  his 
twenty-fourth  year  as  assessor,  and  has  also 
served  as  trustee  and  clerk  of  his  township. 
He  and  his  wit'e  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian  church. 


I^REDEKICK  W.  liEINEKE,  farmer, 
•f.rx  section  3,  Kirklanil  Township,  also 
'^'  owns  a  saw-mill  which  is  situated  at 
Kirkland  station.  He  was  born  in  Preble 
Township,  this  county,  iJecember  22,  1S43, 
and  was  educated  in  the  German  and  com- 
mon schools  of  his  father's  district.  His 
parents  were  William  E.  and  Sophia  E. 
(Peck)  Peineke.  The  fatiier  was  born  in 
Prussia  in  1814,  and  came  to  America  in 
1841,  settling  in  Preble  Township.  Soon 
after  reaching  here  he  entered  forty  acres  of 
land  from  the  (lovernment,  on  section  22, 
anil  is  still  the  owner  ot  that  land.  He  has 
added  120  acres,  making  a  total  of  160  acres. 
He  was  married  in  1842,  and  commenced 
keeping  house  upon  his  new  larm,  and  has 
lived  there  ever  since,  only  irioving  out  of 
the  old  house  into  the  new.  They  lived  in 
their  log  house  several  years,  then  built  the 
present  frame  house,  where  the  father  still 
lives.  There  were  three  children  in  the 
family — Frederick,  William  II.,  who  is  living 
with  his  father,  and  Lusetta,  wife  of  Peter 
Ilepiiert,  living  in  Preble  Township.  Fred- 
erick W.  was  married  November  18,  18(59, 
to  Miss  Sophia  Elizabeth  Fruchte,  who  was 
born  September  20,  1S45,  in  Preble  Town- 
ship, daughter  of  Eveihart  and  I>lizabeth 
(^Vorverniark)  Fruchte,   buth  of   whom    were 


3.? 


)  a«!£:*  i  'fi^i^ffl^iT^Er^ii*?;*  J^?-"''i:Mj^  ji??*"Hi*U"=»u.«'a.l*iI«ii"\»i.Vji  "^^  2-liV  «,"».« -i^fw?  t.»*  *1S  j  » ■.*^*i?ri«<"iiT««iBF, 


if.* 

I 

i 

!■; 

it! 

(ft; 

I 
i 

'fci-' 

ii 

il 
I 

'it 


IIIarORY    OF    ADAMS    COUNTY. 


liorn  ill  (ioriiiiuiy.  Tlie  father  died  in  1877, 
and  tliu  iiiutliei'  is  atiil  li\iiig  on  tiie  old 
Imniu  t'ai'm.  The  mother  was  horn  in  Ihais- 
tfia  iu  LSIO,  and  eanie  to  America  wlien  a 
\(\y\,  witii  lier  jiarents,  wlio  settled  in  I'ruble 
Township,  ilr.  and  iVIrs.  lieineke  have  two 
chilih-en — Elizabeth  S.,  horn  March  3,  1871, 
and   William,  liorn  ]\rareli  2-1,  1878. 


§ 


^NDREW  DA[I(4IIKHTY,  farmer,  owns 
(//V\5  "'■"*■'  ■"^'''*^'*  Lif  land  on  sections  8  and  KJ, 
■^i^  Jvoot  Township.  lie  was  born  Jnly 
2!J,  1805,  in  Monongalia  County,  "West 
Virginia,  and  when  five  years  of  age  removed 
with  his  jtarents  to  Fairfield  County,  Ohio. 
AVhen  he  was  thirty-one  years  old  lie  came  to 
this  county  and  entered  forty  acres  of  land 
from  the  (Joveinment,  and  has  since  added 
eighty  acres.  He  entered  this  land  in  Sep- 
tember, 18130,  then  returned  to  Fairfield 
County  and  remained  until  ^fay,  183'J,  when 
he  brought  his  wife  and  three  chihlren  to  liis 
new  lioine.  Three  children  have  also  been 
liorn  in  Adams  County,  lie  built  a  one- 
story  log  cabin,  18.\20,  covered  it  with  elaj)- 
boai'ds  that  he  himself  prepared,  and  made  a 
floor  that  was  part  puncheon  and  part  boards. 
The  first  assessor  that  visited  him  after  he 
caine  here  asked  how  much  ids  cabin  cost. 
Having  builtit  himself.he  answered,  "JSl.SO," 
which  was  the  actiud  cost.  Jlr.  1  )augherty 
was  married  in  Columbus,  August  23,  1832, 
to  iliss  Jane  Montgomery,  who  was  born  in 
Fairfield  County.  June  25,  1810.  She  died 
in  this  county,  March  18,  1882,  leaving  si.t 
children — Leonard  L.,  born  June  28,  1834, 
lives  in  Chautauqua  County,  Kansas;  Hester 
A.,  born  March  29,  1836,  wife  of  William 
Eagee,  living  in  Madison  Township,  Allen 
County;  Oliver  S.,  born  January  1-4,  1838, 
was  a  Soldier  in  the  late  war,  being  a  member 


'■%\\ 

t^' 


of  the  Eleventh  Indiana  Zouaves.  He  lost 
his  health  while  in  tlie  service,  anil  died  at 
Intlianapolis  in  .March,  1878,  leaving  a  wife 
atul  tour  ciiildren.  iVlvin  W.,  born  August 
21,  183U,  in  lioot 'I'ownship,  lives  in  Madison 
Township,  Allen  County;  he  also  kist  his 
health  in  the  army,  luit  is  still  living; 
Angeline,  born  in  April,  1841,  in  Koot 
Township,  is  the  wife  of  John  Shookman,  and 
lives  at  Fort  AVayne;  Andrew  B.,  born  June 
28,  1847,  lives  in  Monroe  Township,  this 
county.  September  (J,  1883,  Mr.  Daugherty 
was  married  to  Miss  Kachel  Compton,  wiio 
was  born  in  St.  Mary's,  Ohio,  January  18, 
1832,  where  she  lived  until  she  was  eight 
years  of  age,  when  her  jiarents  removed  to 
Fort  Wayne,  and  lived  there  ten  years. 
They  afterward  removed  to  Tama  Coun- 
ty, Iowa,  where  the  parents  died.  ^Irs. 
Daugherty  then  returned  to  Fort  Wayne, 
and  lived  with  her  sister  until  her  marriage. 
Her  father  was  born  in  Charleston,  South 
(^arolina,  Jlarch  22,  17U3,  and  when  a  clnld 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Dayton,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  reared  and  married,  lie  died 
January  17,  1864,  and  is  buried  in  !Marshal!- 
town,  Iowa.  The  mother  was  born  in  Ivno.x- 
villo,  Tennessee,  Jnly  10,  1794,  and  was 
brought  when  a  child  to  Dayton,  Ohio, 
M'here  she  was  reared.  Mr.  Daugherty 's 
father,  Andrew  Daugherty,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  in  1773,  where  he  was  reared  to 
manhood.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he 
removed  to  ]\Ionongalia  County,  West  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  was  married  to  ]\Iary  Furby. 
lie  died  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  Marcii 
17,  1856.  The  mother,  Mary  (Furby) 
Daugherty,  was  born  in  Kent  County,  Dela- 
ware, in  1778,  and  died  in  October,  1834,  at 
Fairfield,  Ohio.  Both  parents  are  buried  in 
Fairfield  County,  Ohio.  The  father  was  a 
remarkable  peacemaker,  and  could  settle 
quarrels  and  disputes  wdien  no  one  else  could. 


I  ■■* 


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'P.' 


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. nr^:  aivu  ^"kt^  otT^a  m^j 


L^Hi'^j2!?»?jaJ!-Ei^*i>£jiiMi 


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