Hutton Township (part 2 of 2)

SETON JOHNS, farmer; P. 0. Charleston ; was born in Augusta Co. Va., Nov. 22, 1832 ; he is the second son, and came with his parents to Gallia Co., Ohio, when he was 2 years of age, and from there to Hutton Tp. in the year 1838, and lived with them up to the time of their death, which occurred in May, 1854, his parents dying within three days of each other. The same fall Mr. Johns married Miss Armilda Rennels (daughter of Wm. Rennels, of Hutton Tp.), and immediately after moved to his farm, one-fourth mile east of his present location, moving to his present home on Sec. 33 in the year 1 858, where he has resided ever since ; his farm contains 160 acres, all but 40 of which are improved. He has held the office of Assessor one term. His wife was born April 9, 1837 ; they had eleven children, nine living ; two boys, one living - Philip S. - and one that died in infancy ; nine girls, eight living - Martha E. (now Mrs. C. H. Gwin, of Hutton Tp.), Elizabeth, Delilah, Mary J., Alberta, Lilian B., and Nora and Flora, twins ; one deceased - Rebecca J. His family are members of the United Brethren Church. His brother, Silas Johns, was the youngest of the three boys, being born Aug.l 8, 1834, and came also with his father's family to Coles Co.; in 1855, he went to Kansas and Missouri, living there three years ; being taken sick, his brother Seton went to Kansas and brought him back to Hutton Tp., where died he of consumption in the year 1860, and lies buried in Whetstone Creek Cemetery, in Hutton Tp..

Va., March 11, 1814; the same year, his parents moved to Ross Co., Ohio, remaining there until 1842. Mr. Kiser lived with his parents up to the time of his marriage with Miss Mary Ann Coon, of Ross Co., Ohio, which occurred Aug. 22, 1841 ; in October, 1846, they moved to Coles Co., and settled on Sec. 31, living there until the year 1851, when they came to the farm upon which he at present resides, on Sec. 33 ; his wife was born in Washington Co., Md., near Harper's Ferry, Dec. 7, 1823 ; they had nine children, two boys - Adam L. (born Dec. 4, 1849), and William H. (boi'n Dec. 30, 1864), and seven girls, five living - Polly (born July 4, 1842), Hannah C. (Nov. 3, 1844), Virginia (Feb. 10, 1847), Margaret E. (June 8, 1853 - now Mrs. C. Stone, of Ashmore Tp.), Alice M. (Feb. 12,1862 - now Mrs. Richard Bidle), and two deceased - Zema E. (born Nov. 26, 1857 ; died Nov. 12, 1873), and one died in infancy; Polly is also married to Mr. Andrew Gossett, of Hutton Tp.; Hannah C. to L. Cooper, of Ashmore Tp.; and Virginia to B. F. McMorris, of Hutton Tp.

BENJAMIN McMORRIS, farmer ; P. 0. Hutton ; was born in Loudoun Co., Va., March 25, 1813; his parents moved to Frederick Co., Va., when he was a year old; his father died in the year 1818, and Mr. McMorris lived with his mother until he was 21 years of age, when they moved to Coshocton Co., Ohio ; six years after, his mother returned to Virginia and died there in the year 1852. In the spring of 1836, Mr. McMorris married Rachel McLaughlin, and, three years afterward, moved to Coles Co., and settled in Sec. 9, Hutton Township, where he at present resides. His wife died Dec. 17, 1851, leaving six children, all living - Nancy (born Aug. 14, 1837), Margaret (July 7, 1839), Benjamin F. (May 16, 1842), Mary J. Nov. 11, 1847), William H. (Aug. 18, 1849), and Rachel (Dec. 5, 1851). He married his second wife. Miss Sarah J. Johns, daughter of James and Jane Johns, in February, 1852 ; she was born in Virginia, Pendleton Co., Aug. 11, 1825, and was the widow of Wm. Cartright ; they had eight children, six living - Elizabeth J. (born Nov. 26, 1854 - now Mrs. David T. French, at present residing in Kansas ; married Nov. 14, 1870), John V. (born

Biographical Sketches

D. A. PARKER, farmer ; P. 0. Westfield, Clark Co. ; is one of the pioneers of this county, and was born in Butler Co., Ohio, April 27, 1815 ; in the year 1817, his parents moved to Crawford Co., 111., ten miles south of Palestine, and, after remaining there eight years, moved to Hutton Tp., Coles Co., and settled on what was afterward known as " Parker Prairie," in the year 1825, where his parents died,, his mother on the 11th day of December, 1830, and his father on the 18th day of March, 1862 ; they were among the first settlers, and entered the first land in this county. Mr. Parker remained with his parents until he was 21 years of age, when he went to farming for himself, and, on the 29th day of March, 1837, married Miss Mary J. Flint, daughter of Thomas Flint, of Kentucky ; she was born in Virginia March 30, 1819. Mr. Parker settled on his present farm in the year 1840, having entered the land, and has resided there ever since, now containing sixty-four acres. His family consisted of nine children, five living - two boys, George W., born Feb. 8, 1839, and Allen D.. born May 17, 1852, and one deceased - Leroy, born April 19, 1850, died in 1854; six girls, three living - Sallie M. (now Mrs. J. B. Redmon, of Hutton Tp.),born Oct. 15, 1844; Ellen, Sept. 5, 1854, and Emma, born March 20, 1860, and three do-, ceased - Elizabeth, born July 8, 1841, died Aug. 11, 1852; Martha J., born May 27, 1846, died in the fall of 1855, and Frances A., born Sept. 20, 1856, and died May 20, 1860.

JEPHTHAH PARKER, farmer; P.O. Westfield, Clark Co.; was born in Crawford Co., 111., Feb. 13, 1823 ; he was 3 years of age when he came with his parents to Coles Co., and remained with them until his marriage with Miss Sarah J. Green, daughter of James Green, of Ohio, on the 11th day of Jlay, 1842 ; she was born in Miami Co., Ohio, July 3, 1818. About nine months after their marriage, Mr. Parker moved to his farm on Sec. 6, the greater portion of which he improved, putting upon it its present buildings, and where he has ever since resided, containing 108 acres. They have eight children - John G., born May 17, 1843, and married Miss Irena Bennett in September, 1864; Nathaniel L., born Oct. 8, 1845, and married Miss Emma Granger, of Waukesha, Wis., Oct. 26, 1873; William T., born Aug. 8, 1847, and married Miss' Mary A. Thornton, March 10, 1869; Charles L., born Sept. 8, 1849 ; Nelson R., born Jan. 12, 1851, and married Miss Alta A. White Jan. 28, 1875 ; Annie E., born March 10, 1854 ; James A., born July 2, 1857, and married Miss Nevada Smith in February, 1877, and George C, born June 11, 1859. Of the sons, John G. and Nathaniel L. were in our late civil war, having both enlisted in Co. F, 123d Regt. I. V. I.

JAMES RENNELS, farmer; P. 0. Charleston ; one of the pioneers of this county ; was born in Madison Co.. Ky., Feb. 12, 1807 ; when he was 17 years of age, his parents moved to Lawrence Co., Ind., within ten miles of Little Orleans. While living there the subject of this sketch married Nov. 17, 1825, Miss Polly Connely (daughter of Joel Connely, of North Carolina) ; she was born Feb. 14, 1807 ; her parents were early settlers of this county, having moved from Lawrence Co., Ind., to Coles Co. in the year 1832. In 1832, Mr. Rennels came to Coles Co. and settled on Sec. 32, where he has ever since resided, known as the "Rennels Settlement;" his parents also moved from Lawrence Co., Ind., to near Rockville, about sixteen miles north of Terre Haute, Ind., and in the year 1837 came to Coles Co. and settled in Hutton Tp., about one mile from Salisbury, where his father died ; his mother made her home among her children, and died at the house of her sonin-law, John Connely, within two years after the death of his father. Mr. James Rennels had a family of nine children - five boys, all living, viz., Henry L., Edmund, John P., William R. and Joel J.; four girls, one living - Mahala (now Mrs. Wm. P. Level, of Hutton, Tp.), and three deceased - Rebecca A., Martha J. and Sarah E. Mr. Rennels, as one of the earliest settlers of this county, has experienced the many vicissitudes and hardships common to the pioneers of a new country, and at a good old age, in connection with his good wife, is resting from their labors, surrounded by their children and grandchildren, ministering to their wants and comforts in their declining years. EDMUND RENNELS, farmer; P. 0. Charleston ; is the second son of James Rennels, and was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., Dec. 13, 1829. He came with his parents to Coles Co., when he was only 8 years of age, and remained with them up to his marriage with Miss Martha Waltrip, of Hutton Tp., Feb. 21,1849, when he moved to his farm on Sec. 31, where he has resided ever since. His wife died in September, 1854. They had three children, one living Mary Ann (now Mrs. James Stephens, of Charleston Tp.), and two deceased - Sarah E. and Melvina J. He married his second wife. Miss Angeiine Davis, of Hutton Tp., Sept. 9, 1858. They had ten children, nine living, three boys living - Henry L., Rama S., and Telia, and one deceased - Riley S. ; and six girls, all living - Viola, Lua J., Sarah E., Lilly B., Efa and Ida P. Mrs. Rennels and her eldest daughter, Viola, are members of the Baptist Church.

JOHN SARGENT, farmer ; P. 0. Hutton ; was born in this township March 20, 1846 ; his father, Stephen, was born in Candia, N. H., July, 1, 1797, and at the age of 13 went to New Jersey, remaining there three years, and from there traveled on foot to Ohio, working one year upon a farm in that State ; he then went to Kentucky, near the city of Louisville, working at the trade of stone-mason, and while there made a trip upon a flatboat from Louisville to New Orleans and back. In the year 1836 he came to New Richmond (now Westfield), Clark Co., and carried on a general merchandise store, and two years afterward purchased and moved upon a farm on Sec. 11, in this county, where he remained up to the time of his death, Nov. 30, 1878. His farm contained over 600 acres. He married Miss Nancy Chenoweth, widow of Jacob Harlan, Oct. 18, 1842 ; she is still living on the homestead, and was born March 25, 1805. They had two children - the subject of this sketch and Maggie (now Mrs. Charles H. Rice, of Vermont), born June 22, 1844, and now living in Denver, Colo. They have four children - Carrie E.,

Henry C, Benjamin P. and Genevieve. Mr. Sargent's mother was born in Kentucky, and journeyed on a packsaddle to Vincennes, Ind., with her parents, who afterward came to Clark Co., where she resided after her first marriage and death of her husband, Jacob Harlan. ! The subject of this sketch was born ou the homestead, where he has resided ever since the death of his father. At the age of 15, he enlisted in Co. C, 68th Regt. 111. Vol. for three months. He married Miss Maria A. Turner (daughter of Samuel Turner, of Kentucky), March 24, 1870 Q^hey have four children - Maggie P. born Jan. 28, 1871 ; Jesse R., April 23 1872; Ada 0., Sept. 15, 1875, and Carl born Jan. 25, 1878. Mr. Sargent owns 400 acres of land.

G. W. SMITH, farmer ; P. 0. Westfield ; was born in Pulaski Co., Ky,, April 17, 1813 ; when he was ten years of age his parents moved to Lawrence Co., Ind., and remained there about six years engaged in farming ; from there they moved to Vigo Co., Ind., where his parents died. In 1839, Mr. Smith came to Coles Co., and first settled on Sec. 27, in this township, living there until 1863, when he moved to his present farm on Sec. 26, containing 87 acres. He held the oflBce of School Director several terms. He married Miss Eliza Boland (her parents being natives of Virginia), in Vigo Co., Ind., August, 1840 ; they had nine children, six girls and three boys, five girls living - Sarah Jane (now Mrs. Preston Walker, of Texas), Leanner, Louisa, Polly (now Mrs. Samuel Merritt, of Charleston, Coles Co., 111.), and Rosetta (now Mrs. Cornelius King, of Clark Co., 111.), and one deceased, Filinda, and two boys living, George W. and Benjamin T., one deceased, David. The brother of Mr. Smith, Anthony, was born in the same county in the year 1815, and came with his parents also to Vigo Co., Ind.. and engaged in farming up to the time of his death, 1857. He was married to Miss Hannah Sparks, of Ind., who died in the year 1855 ; he left three sons, two living, one of whom William R., Mr. G. W. Smith brought with him to Coles Co. when only 4 years old, who has made his home with him ever since.

Dec. 29, 1809 ; he remained there with his parents until he was 25 years of age assisting on the farm ; his father died there in the year 1835 ; his mother surviving him until the year 186U. Mr. Wells, while at home in Kentucky was married August, 1831, to Miss Jenette Boston (daughter of William Boston of Kentucky) ; she was born July 15, 1815 ; shortly after his marriage, he moved upon a farm near that of his father's, where he lived until his removal to Clark Co., in 1837; the next year he moved to Coles Co. and settled on Sec. 6, where he lived three years, and then returned to Clark Co. and from there, in 1843, moved back to Kentucky and after remaining ten years, in the year 1853, came to Coles Co. and settled upon Sec. 7, where he has since resided. He owns 111 acres; has been School Director one term. They had twelve children, seven boys, three living - Richard J., born May 29, 1849; Kobert L., August 11, 1853, and Charles M., born Jan. 22, 1856, and four deceased - Preston, born Oct. 22, 1832. died in 1842 ; James F. M., born April 1, 1836, died in 1865 ; William H., born July 17, 1840, died in 1850 ; and Leroy B., born April 6, 1851, died in February, 1852 ; five girls, two living - Leah, (now Mrs. Beily Lee), born Feb. 10, 1838 ; Leomia (now Mrs. M. Connely), born Sept. 15, 1842; and three deceased - Mary

E., born Nov. 29, 1844, died in 1850; Louisa A., born March 6, 18*1:6, died also in 1850; one died in infancy. His son, James F. M., enlisted in Co. "H," 21st Regt. 111. Vols., and was taken prisoner at the battle of Chickamauga, and confined in Libby and Andersonville Prisons for nineteen months and died at Annapolis, Md., in 1865 on his way home, from disease contracted while a prisoner. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are members of the Baptist Church and have been connected with it for a number of years.

MRS. JOSEPH WALTRIP ; P. 0. Westfield ; is a daughter of Daniel Goble of Hutton Tp. She was first married to Nathaniel Lee Aug. 14, 1853, who died in the year 1856 ; they had one child, Cynthia (now Mrs. Reason Wiley, of Hutton Tp.) ; she was again married July 18, 1858, to Joseph Waltrip, who was born in Kentucky in 1819, and after remaining there until the age of 16, moved to Coles Co., and settled in Charleston Tp. on Sec. 25, engaged in farming ; he had been previously married to Miss Eliza Jane Hall, daughter of Michael Hall ; she died in November, 1857. Mrs. Waltrip had four children - two girls, Cynthia J. and Eliza, and two boys, one living, Wm. J., and one deceased - Daniel. She at present farms 70 acres, part of her husband's estate of 250 acres. Mr. Waltrip died Feb. 16, 1872.