Delaware County, Indiana - The whole text, 1908 (part 13 of 15)

Samuel V. Jump^ M. D. Perhaps no person who ever lived in Delaware county was more closely associated with its early history or more prominently identified with the more recent prosperity of the community than Samuel V. Jump. He was born in Kent county, Delaware, June 22, 1822. His father, Isaac Jump, was a good and pious man, a minister of the Methodist church, and his death occurred in 1832. In the following year his widow, with her daughter Elizabeth and sons Samuel and Raymond, moved to Indiana and purchased a farm near Richmond. The eldest son, Charles, had married and settled in Wayne county one year previously, and a daughter, who had also married, took leave of her mother's family after accompanying them as far as Ohio, in which state she located with her husband.

The removal of the family to Indiana was probably due to the request of Dr. Jump, who had thus early formed a favorable impression of the resources of the Hoosier state and was intent on the move either with or without his relatives. He worked at home during the summers and attended the district schools during the winter months, and on reaching his sixteenth year he went to Franklin county, Indiana, and worked in a stone quarry. While thus employed the lad saved his earnings and was thus able to attend school at Richmond, taught by James N. Poe, for about two years, when he began alternating teaching with his attendance. He was a student in the Friends' school at Richmond, taught by Barnabas C. Hobbs, for two terms, teaching during the winters, and after completing the course in that school he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. John Pritchett, of Centerville, Indiana. He pursued his studies under the guidance of this able preceptor until October, 1847, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended a course of lectures at a medical college. In 1848 Dr. Jump located in New Burlington, Delaware county, where he very quickly built up a successful practice, which increased in both volume and importance as the years added to his experience and popularity. In 1858 he left his practice in the care of a competent physician and attended a second course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College, graduating at the end of the course and returning thence to New Burlington and resuming his practice.

In July of 1848 Dr. Jump married Miss Letitia K. Allen in Wayne county, Indiana, but his wife died in 1856, after becoming the mother of two chidren: Isabell, also deceased, and Elizabeth, the wife of John Gates, of Delaware county. For his second wife the Doctor married Miss Rebecca Cecil in December, 1858, a daughter of Aaron Cecil, and their fotir children were Anna, Emma, Francis and Agnes. The wife and mother died in 1870, and in 1871 he married Miss Sophia Gilbert, the daughter of O. J. Gilbert, of Mt. Pleasant township. The four children by this union are Gilbert, Julia W., Clara V. and Charles A. To Dr. Jump belonged the honor of being one of the first residents of Perry township. He was highly regarded throughout the county of Delaware as one of its most honorable citizens and is cherished for the many sterling qualities and kindly disposition which he ever manifested. In 1869 he was elected to represent this district in the state legislature, and with the exception of this and the postmastership of New Burlington, he held no public positions. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and of Whitney Lodge, No. 229, F. & A. M., of New Burlingfton, also of the chapter, council and commandery of the order at Muncie. His death occurred on the 13th of August, 1887.

George H. Thornburg. Perry township includes among her native sons George H. Thornburg, who has not only spent his entire life here but has also been prominently identified with its farming and stock-raising interests. His birth occurred on the farm on which he now resides, April I3> 1859. His father, Edward W. Thornburg, whose name is recorded among the honored pioneers of Perry township, was bom in North Carolina, but during his youth his father and family moved from that state to Ohio and thence to Indiana, locating in Randolph county, where the son Edward grew to years of maturity and received his educational training. He was there married to Susana Thornburg, and they became the parents of thirteen children, four sons and nine daughters, all of whom were bom on the present Thornburg homestead. Mr. Thornburg came to Delaware county among its first settlers, and on the farm of one hundred and sixty acres he entered in Perry township he erected a little log cabin and began the difficult task of clearing and preparing his land for cultivation. He became well known throughout the county, esteemed alike for his ability and his true worth of character. The Republican party received his political support, and he was a member of the Christian church. He was reared a Quaker, but as he married out of the church he was debarred thereafter from participation in its affairs. His death occurred when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years.

The district schools of Perry township afforded George H. Thornburg the educational training he was permitted to enjoy in his youth. On the 1 8th of November, 1878, he married Celia A. Brewer, who also claims Perry township as the place of her nativity, where her father, Reuben Brewer, came in a very early day in its history from Ohio. He became well known as an agriculturist. Two children, a son and a daughter, have been bom of this union. Ruby D., the wife of Francis O. RatliflF, and William A., both bom on the farm which was also the birthplace of their father. Mr. Thomburg has allied his political interests with the Republican party, and has taken an active part in the public affairs of his com- munity. In 1894 he was elected the trustee of Perry township, remaining as the incumbent of that position for five years, and he was again elected to the office in 1904. His fraternal relations connect him with the Masonic and the Red Men orders, and he and his wife are members of the Christian church.

John N. Bell, M. D., whose name occupies a leading place among the physicians and surgeons of Delaware county, is prominently engaged in the practice of his profession in New Burlington. His birth occurred in West Virginia, in Monongahela county, April 21, 1858, and he is a son of Henry and Louisa (Swisher) Bell, farming people of that community. The early youth of the Doctor was spent on a farm in his native commonwealth, and when he had reached the age of sixteen years he began teaching in the district schools, continuing in that profession for ten years. When he had reached the age of twenty-six years, in 1884, he entered the Starling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio, where he ptirsued his studies for two years, and then matriculated in the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati, in which he was graduated on the 7th of March, 1888. It was in the same year of his graduation that he sought a field for his activities in Delaware county, Indiana, and since that time he has been numbered among the prominent practitioners of medicine and surgery in New Burlington.

Dr. Bell married, November 28, 1888, Carrie L. Will, who was bom and grew to years of maturity in Perry township, her parents being John and Mary Will. Of their two daughters, Letha and Mary, the younger is deceased, and both were bom in New Burlington, where the family reside in the home which was built in 1896. Dr. Bell is a member of the Masonic order, Whitney Lodge, No. 229, and of the Red Men at Muncie. He also holds membership relations with the Delaware County and the State Medical Associations, the Eighth District Medical Association, and is one of the deputy health officers of Delaware county. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Republican in his political affiliations.

George W. Keesling, a well-known representative of the agricultural and stock-raising interests of Perry township, has through the careful conduct of his business interests become one of the largest land owners of Delaware county. His homestead farm in Perry township consists of five hundred and fifty-five acres of rich and fertile land, while in addition he owns two hundred acres in Jasper county, Indiana, and two hundred and seventy acres in Pennsylvania. Nearly all of his land is under cultivation, and he has sold about seven thousand dollars* worth of timber in Perry township. He has also cleared and improved other farms, and is a stockholder in the People's Bank of Muncie.

Mr. Keesling was bom in Perry township November 15, 1844, and here his father, Martin Keesling, had lived and labored for many years. He was born in Virginia, in 1802, but when a young man he left his native commonwealth, where he had followed agricultural pursuits, and made the overland journey to Indiana. On arriving in Delaware county he purchased two hundred and ten acres of timber land in Perry township, on which he erected a little log cabin home and began the arduous task of clearing and cultivating his land. He married Coracy Rees, a daughter of Lewis Rees, also of Delaware county pioneer fame, and they became the parents of ten children, six sons and four daughters, all of whom were bom and reared in Perry township. Mr. Keesling's name is enrolled among the earliest pioneers of Delaware county, and during his later life he removed from Perry to Center township, where he spent his remaining days. He was a lifelong Republican and was well and favorably known throughout the county in which so many years of his life were spent.

George W. Keesling, the seventh in order of birth of his parents' ten children, was born on the homestead farm in Perry township November 15, 1844. In 1863, when but a lad of nineteen years, he offered his services to his country's cause in the Civil war, enlisting in the Ninth Indiana Cavalry, Company G, in which he served for over two years, and was present at the capture of Franklin, Tennessee. He was mustered out of service in Mississippi in 1865 and returned to his old home in Perry township, and in 1 87 1 he removed to his present homestead in Perry township, section 3. In 1867, about two years after his return from the army, Mr. Keesling was united in marriage to Cora J. Cunningham, the daughter of Joseph Boyd and Margaret (Farmer) Cunningham, who came to Delaware county in 1855. Mrs. Keesling was born in Harford county, Maryland, and was young when her parents moved to Virginia, where she was reared and received her educational training, and to her and her husband have been born seven children, two sons and five daughters, all of whom claim Perry township as the place of their nativity. They are Ella May, Ida Maude, Laura Belle, George Boyd, Homer, Clara and Hildra. Ella May died in infancy. Ida Maude is the wife of William Thornburg. Laura Belle married William Jordan. George B. died at the age of twenty-one years. He was a most promising young man, and his death was mourned by a large circle of friends. Mr. Keesling maintains pleasant relations with his army comrades by his membership in the Grand Army post at Muncie, and in political matters he gives his support and cooperation to the Republican party. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

William A. Jordan. Since the early days of Delaware county's history William A. Jordan has occupied a distinctive place in its annals, and for many years he has been numbered among the prominent agriculturists of Perry township. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, November 9, 1826. His father, William Jordan, who was for many years a prominent family to Indiana, establishing their home in Wayne county, where the senior Mr. Jordan entered land and cleared a farm near Boston. Seven years later they removed to another farm near Economy, in the same county, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. William Jordan returned to Pennsylvania and married Mary McClellan, who was bom in Ireland, but when about seven years of age she came with her parents to America, spending eight weeks on the ocean en route, and on their arrival on American shores they established their home in Pennsylvania. There she was left by her father with a family named Blair from their own country, by whom she was reared. Eleven children were bom to Mr. and Mrs. Jordan, six sons and five daughters, but the son William is now the sole survivor of the family. The father was a Whig in his political affiliations, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His death occurred on his home farm near Economy when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-six years, and his wife was ninety ere she was called to the home beyond.

The district schools of Wayne county aflforded William A. Jordan his educational training, and on the 3d of March, 1847, ^^ Wayne county, he married America Davidson, a native daughter of Henry county, Indiana. Of their thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters, all were born in Perry township, and four are now deceased. The wife and mother has also answered the call to the home beyond, dying on the 14th of October, 1872, and in the following year, on the i ith of October, Mr. Jordan married Minerva Finch, who was bom in Randolph county, Indiana. In 1847, immediately after his marriage, Mr. Jordan came to Delaware county, establishing his home on a farm in section 23, Perry township. With the aid of his sons he cleared the most of his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, but leaving that place, he removed to another farm, of forty acres, in Perry township, which he also cleared and improved. It was in the year of 1869 that he came to the farm on which he now resides, consisting of one hundred and eighty acres, about half of which he has cleared, and he has placed thereon the many valuable and substantial improvements which it now contains. He is also a stockholder in the People's Bank of Muncie. He was formerly a Whig politically, and joining the Republican party at its organization, has voted at every presidential election since 1848. His first presidential vote was cast for General Taylor. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Peter A. Helm. One of the oldest and best-known residents of Perry township is Peter A. Helm, who has long been identified with its business interests as a farmer and stock raiser, and the township also numbers him among her soldier citizens, for he bravely and valiantly followed the stars and stripes through the Civil war. His birth occurred in Perry township October 27, 1838, the old homestead where he now resides being the scene of his boyhood's pleasures as well as his subsequent years of activity. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Slick) Helm, both of whom were bom in Pennsylvania, she of German and English and he of German and Scotch- Irish descent. In their family were twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, three of whom were bom in Pennsylvania and the remainder in Perry township, and Peter A. is the sixth son and seventh child in order of birth. In about 1833 Mr. Helm established his home in Wayne county, Indiana, but a shcM-t time afterward removed to Randolph county, and about 1836 the family came to Delaware county and located in Perry township. For some time Mr. Helm rented land, and then purchased a wooded tract of forty acres, which he not only cleared and improved but also with the passing years added to its boundaries until he was the possessor of about three hundred acres, of which he cleared about a hundred. Throughout the period of his residence in Indiana he was extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits, but previously, before leaving Pennsylvania, he had been occupied by driving cars over tlie mountains, steam engines being used on more level land. He was a Republican in his political affiliations, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was one of the best and most favorably known men in Delaware county, his^ death occurring when he had reached the age of seventy-one years.

In the early-day log schoolhouses of Perry township Peter A. Helm received his educational training, and when he had reached the age of twenty-three years he enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served for three years, and during the time participated in many of the historic battles of the Civil war, including those of Pittsburg Landing, Perryville and Stone River, and was through the Georgia and Kentucky campaign. In 1864 he was honorably discharged on account of the expiration of his term of enlistment, and on being mustered out of the service he returned to Delaware county and rented the old home farm of his father. Finally purchasing the homestead, he has ever since continued its cultivation and improvement, and is the owner of about three hundred acres of rich and fertile land, with six good sets of frame buildings which he has erected. The farm is located in section 2, Perry township.

Mr. Helm married, December i, 1864, Elizabeth A. Clevenger, who was born on her father's farm in Randolph county, Indiana, and they have had seven children - George T. S., Alverine, Carrie Luella, Mary Leora, Indiana Blanch, and two, Margaret and William, who died in infancy. All were born and reared on the old Helm homestead. Mrs. Helm is a daughter of William and Mary Jane (Smithson) Clevenger. He was a native of Ohio, and has been twice elected the commissioner of Delaware county. He maintains pleasant relations with his army comrades by his connection with the Grand Army of the Republic, and fraternally is a member of the order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekahs and the Red Men. He is also a member of the New Light Christian church.

George T. S. Helm. Perry township of Delaware county numbers among its most prominent agriculturists George T. S. Helm, whose farm is located on section 35. It was on this place also that he was born, October 19, 1865, his father being Peter Helm, whose biography also appears in this work. The son George attended the district schools of his native township of Perry, and in the meantime also assisted in clearing the old home farm, remaining on the homestead until his marriage, on the 21st of November, 1885, Ella May Swingley becoming his wife. She was bom in Randolph county, Indiana, and is the daughter of Cale Swingley, who has long been numbered among the prominent agriculturists of Delaware county. He was bom, however, in Ohio, but in an early day emigrated to Indiana and established his home in Randolph county. He was there married to Mary Lucinda Thompson, a native daughter of the Hoosier state, and they became the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Helm is the fourth in order of birth. She was very young at time of the removal of her parents to Delaware county, the family home being established in Perry township, on section 35. Her father performed the arduous labor of clearing a part of his farm, and was numbered among the early and honored residents of the county.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Helm located with his young bride on the farm which he now owns and operates, their first residence being a little log cabin, and here the young couple spent the first thirteen years of their married life, the primitive log dwelling at that time giving place to their present attractive home. The forty-acre tract which served as the nucleus of Mr. Helm's landed possessions has been increased to three hundred and fifteen acres, all of which is located in Perry township, on sections i, 35 and 2. He cleared forty acres of the tract and with the passing years has placed many valuable improvements on the farm, making it one of the attractive homesteads of the township.

Four daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Helm, namely: Arvillie, Edith Blanche, Margaret and Neva, but the last named is deceased. All were bom on the present homestead farm. As a representative of the Republican party Mr. Helm has served as a member of the advisory board of Perry township, and was at one time a member of its board of supervisors. His fraternal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Red Men, and he is a member of the New Light Christian church.

William Lindsey. As a representative of one of the earliest and most honored families of Delaware county and as one of the leading business men of Perry township Mr. William Lindsey deserves mention in this his- tory, devoted as it is to the portrayal of the lives of the leading men of the county. He is also numbered among the native sons of Perry township, where his birth occurred on the 7th of October, 1844, and he is of Scotch-Irish descent. His father, Thomas Lindsey, of Delaware coimty pioneer fame, was born in North Carolina in 1807, where his father was a prominent slave holder. He was reared on a farm in that commonwealth, and his first presidential vote was cast for Jackson. He married one of North Carolina's native daughters, Sally 'Finch, her birth occurring in October, 1804, and they became the parents of eleven children, of whom seven sons and two daughters grew to years of maturity, Mr. William Lindsey being the next to the youngest in order of birth. In about 1826 Mr. Lindsey, the father, came with his family by wagon to Indiana, locating in Wayne county, where they lived on a rented farm for some time, and from there removed to Henry county. In the early '30s they established their home in Perry township, Delaware county, where the father bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He cleared the most of his land, and there spent the remainder of his life. When Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey came to Indiana their worldly possessions consisted of a few tin dishes, and their cash capital was only what the father earned at twenty-five cents a day ; but at the time of his death he was the owner of a valuable estate of two hundred and forty acres, while at one time he was the owner of five hundred and forty acres, these large possessions representing his excellent business ability and his wonderful perseverance. He was a Republican in his political views, had fraternal relations with the Masonic order, and was a member of the Methodist church. His death occurred when he had reached the age of seventy-three years and nine months, and he was one of the best-known men of Delaware county.

In the old log schoolhouses of the township William Lindsey, a son of this honored Delaware county pioneer, received his educational training. At the time of his marriage he rented a part of his father's farm, but finally bought his present estate of eighty acres in Perry township. After a time, however, he returned and farmed his father's homestead until 1879, since which time he has resided on his own estate. He cleared a part of the land, and has placed thereon many valuable and substantial improvements.

At the age of twenty-one years, on the 19th of November, 1865, Mr. Lindsey married Lovina F. Stanley, whose birth occurred in Henry county, Indiana, January 8, 1847, ^^ parents being John and Mary A. Stanley, farmers of that county. Seven children have been bom of this union, Zella, Eva T.. Mollie M., Magreie, Louie, Wilma F., and one, the second bom, who and honored pioneer residents of Perry township, was also a native of the Hoosier state of Indiana, attaining to years of maturity in Wayne county. He was married there to Elizabeth Bell, whose birth occurred in Ohio, but she was reared principally in Wayne county. To this union were bom ten children, six sons and four daughters, of whom Thomas was the eldest in order of birth. In 1836 the family came to Perry township, Delaware county, where the father purchased eighty acres of woodland. He cleared this property and also bought other lands in the township, owning at one time three hundred and twenty acres in Perry township. His political views were in harmony with the principles of the Republican party, but he generally voted for the man whom he regarded as best qualified for public positions. In the early years of his life he was a Quaker. His busy and useful life was ended in death when he had reached the age of seventy-four and a half years, and in his death Perry township lost one of its best and most useful citizens.

Thomas Marshall received his early education in the log schools of Perry township, and from 1855 ^^ ^^79 he taught school here, having been further prepared for this high and useful calling by pursuing a course in Greencastle College. During the time in which he was engaged in the work of a teacher he also carried on farming and studied law, and in 1880 he moved to the farm which he now owns and operates in Perry township, consisting of one hundred and thirty-five acres of rich and fertile land, about thirty acres of which he cleared, and he has made all the valuable improvements now seen upon the place. ,

On the 24th of August, 1862, Mr. Marshall was united in marriage to Marion Walradt, who was born in Chenango county. New York, but was reared in Ohio as a farmer's daughter. They became the parents of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, all of whom claim Perry township as the place of their nativity, with the exception of two, who were bom in Henry county, Indiana. Throughout the period of his long residence in Perry township Mr. Marshall has taken an active part in its political history, voting formerly with the Republican party, but he is now independent.

Joseph A. Mills. No man in all Perry township was more highly esteemed and loved than Mr. Joseph A. Mills, whose death occurred on the 5th of April, 1895, but his memory is still enshrined in the hearts of all who knew him. His name was prominently associated with the business interests of this section of Delaware county, which had been his home since his seventeenth year, and during an extended period he was one of the county's most prominent farmers and stock-raisers. His first occupation in Delaware county, however, was as a blacksmith, which trade he had learned in Randolph county, and after conducting a shop for about five years he transferred his operations to agricultural pursuits and purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, of which he cleared about seventy

Mr. Mills was bom in Randolph county, Indiana, November 14, 1841, a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Thornburg) Mills, who were farming people of that county. The father spent the first eleven years of his life in his native commonwealth of North Carolina, coming thence by the overland route to Randolph county, Indiana, where he g^ew to years of maturit>' on a farm and was subsequently married. Of his parents' nine children, four sons and five daughters, Joseph A. Mills was the eldest, and he resided in Randolph county till i860 when he came to Delaware county. On the 26th of January, 1861, he married Jane Thornburg, whose birth occurred on the farm on which she now resides, June ii, 1842, her father being Alexander Thornburg, a well known resident of Perry township. He was born in North Carolina May 10, 1810, but when about twelve years of age he moved with his parents to Ohio, where he was reared to mature years and married Malinda Huskins, a native daughter of that commonwealth. In about 1833 Mr. Thornburg removed with his family to Perry township, where he entered eighty acres of wood land, erected a log cabin and began the task of clearing his land and placing it under cultivation, continuing his work until his busy and useful life was ended in death. His estate then comprised four hundred acres of land, the result of honorable eflFort and commendable industry, and in addition he had given each of his three sons a farm. After the death of his first wife Mr. Thornburg married Angelina Sullivan, who was bom in North Carolina. Angelina Sullivan was eleven years old when her parents, Reuben and Lavina (Bond) Sullivan, came to Wayne county, Indiana, and they had seven children: Malinda, Thomas (deceased), Jane (Mrs. Mills), Dema, Lucinda, and John W. and Andrew, deceased. By his first marriage he became the father of two sons, Joseph, who was bom in Ohio, and Isaac, bom in Delaware county, while the seven children by his second marriage were born on the old homestead farm in Perry township. Mr. Thornburg gave a lifelong support to the Republican party, and was a member of the Christian church. The death of this honored old Delaware county pioneer occurred when he had reached the age of seventy-two years, and during his long and useful life he had endeared himself by his many sterling characteristics to many friends and acquaintances, and when death claimed its own Delaware county lost one of its most useful citizens, whom to know was to respect and honor. Mr. and Mrs. Mills became the parents of two sons, Orliflf W. and Thomas Elliott, both of whom were born on the present Mills homestead in

William L. Lindsey, a farmer and stock-raiser of Perry township, is also numbered among its native sons, bom on the loth of May, 1871. His father, Robert B. Lindsey, who has been numbered among the leading agriculturists of Delaware county for many years, also claims Perry township as the place of his nativity, born May 23, 1847, the son of Thomas and Sally Lindsey. Robert B. Lindsey received his educational training in the schools of Perry township and remained at home until his marriage, September 29, 1869, Margaret E. Kegerries becoming his wife. She was born in Randolph county, Indiana, where her parents, Thomas and Christina Kegerries, had removed in an early day from Pennsylvania, they having been of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. Four children were born of this union - William L., Olpha O., Hariey E. and Pearlie M. - but the two youngest are deceased. After his marriage, Mr. Lindsey moved to a farm of eighty acres, which he continued to cultivate until his removal in the spring of 1880 to his present homestead of one hundred and twenty acres. He is an active worker in the ranks of the Prohibition party, and for four years served as a justice of the peace. He also has membership relations with the Masonic fraternity and the Methodist Episcopal church in Perry township.

William L. Lindsey, the eldest of his parents' four children, received his elementary education in the district schools of his native township of Perry, and then pursued a commercial course in Richmond. This excellent training enabled him to become a member of the teachers' profession, and during ten terms he taught in the schools of Perry township. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred on the nth of June, 1892, to Mattie EL Hewitt, a native daughter of Randolph county, Indiana, where her parents, Joseph and Louisa H. Hewitt, had established their home in a very early day in the county's histor}-, and were identified with its farming interests. Two sons were born to bless this union - Ermel E. and Robert O.

After his marriage Mr. Lindsey took up his abode on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, his present homestead, and this he has brought to a high state of cultivation and has won a name and place among the leading agriculturists and stock raisers of Perry township. As a supporter of the Democracy he takes an active part in the political affairs of the community, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliating with Whitney Lodge, No. 229. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Albert L. Gates, a retired farmer and an honored and revered resident of Perry township, was born in Madison county, New York, March 10, 1817. His father, Zepheniah Gates, claimed Connecticut as the commonwealth of his nativity, born in New London county March 7, 1770, and after attaining to years of maturity he became identified with its agricultural interests. He was there married to Abigail Griffith, whose birth occurred in Dutchess county, New York, and they became the parents of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters. The parents came to Delaware county at the same time as their son Albert and spent their last years here.

Albert L. Gates, the eleventh child in order of birth, attained to mature years in the states of New York and Pennsylvania, and on reaching the age of twenty-one years he made the overland journey to Indiana and located in Muncie, where during the following three or four years he worked at the carpenter's trade. In that time he assisted in the erection of the old Methodist and Presbyterian churches and also helped to build the old brick court house in that city. At the close of the period he moved to Perry township and purchased a farm of sixty-five acres in the woods, and after spending four years in clearing the land he traded the farm for his present homestead of one hundred and sixteen acres. At one time Mr. Gates was the owner of two hundred and fifty acres, but by dividing his land among his children he reduced his possessions to the present boundaries of his farm. He made the many improvements which now adorn the homestead and has cleared a part of the land.

On the i8th of November, 1847, M^- Gates was united in marriage to Anna Cunningham, who was born and reared in Union county, Ohio. Her father, Samuel Cunningham, a native of Virginia, was one of the prominent early settlers of Henry county, Indiana, and her mother, nee Hannah Walker, was a native of North Carolina. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gates have been bom eight children, four sons and four daughters, but two are now deceased, and all were born in Perry township, namely : Mary Ann, Charles Leroy, Sarah Jane, Francis Marion, Fremont, Licena F., Lewis and Viola. Charles L. died in infancy and Licena died aged five years. Since reaching mature years Mr. Gates has upheld Republican principles, and from 1874 until 1878 he served as the trustee of Perry township. .He is passing the evening of a long and useful life surrounded with comforts and happy in the enjoyment of warm and devoted friendships.

Lewis Keesung^ prominently identified with the farming and stockraising interests of Delaware coimty, has spent the entire period of his long and useful life in Perry township, his birth occurring within its borders on the 6th of March, 1834. He is a son of Martin Keesling, whose history will be found on other pages of this work. ' The son received his educational training in the pioneer schools of the township and he remained at home until his marriage in 1864 to Mary Powers, whose birth also occurred in Delaware county, where her parents, Uriah and Sylvana Powers, had established their home in a very early day in its history. At the time of his mar- many improvements thereon. In 1898 he deeded four hundred and eighty acres to his heirs, retaining the remaining three hundred and ninety-six acres. Five children, three sons and two daughters, were bom to Mr. and Mrs. KeesUng, namely: Bryce P., Minnie Williams, Adelbert M., Carl E. and Lenola, but the last named is deceased, and all were bom in Perry township. Mr. Keesling has given a lifelong support to the principles of the Republican party and has been an active worker in its local ranks. He is a member of the Presbyterian church in Muncie.

CoLWELL Howell, a prominent and well known farmer of Perry township, residing in section 22, was bom in Henry county, Indiana, September 12, 1 85 1, a son of Hillery Howell, a deceased farmer of Henry county and a native of W?iyne county, Indiana, and a grandson of Jason Howell, who claimed Wales as the country of his nativity. His parents died in Wales during his boyhood days and he was brought to America by strangers and reared by them in Wayne county, Indiana, near the city of Economy. Hillery Howell, his son, was married in Henry county to Fannie Bedwell, who was born in that county, where her parents had taken up their abode in an early day, and they be,came the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, namely: Kitturah, Osborn, Jonathan, Sarah Jane, Jason, Colwell, Serina, Leroy, Alonzb, and Orange, all born in Henry county, but the four eldest are now deceased. Mr. Howell, the father, gave a lifelong support to the Republican party, had fraternal relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a member of the New Light Christian church. His death occurred when he had reached the age of seventy-three years.

It was in the year of 1870 that Colwell Howell came to Perry township, Delaware county, where for ten years he lived on a rented farm of one hundred and eleven acres, also rented another farm for about one year, and in March, 1880, he purchased ninety-five acres, the nucleus of his present estate of one hundred and twenty and a half acres, the most of which is cleared. The homestead lies in section 22, Perry township.

On the 13th of October, 1870, the year of his removal to Delaware county, Mr. Howell married Mary C. Jordan, a native daughter of Perry township, where her father, William A. Jordan, is numbered among the early pioneers, and a review of his life will be found in this history. Five children, two sons and three daughters, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Howell: Linnie, deceased; Pearl; Gertrude; Letha, also deceased; and Beulah, all bom in Perry township. Mr. Howell has supported the principles of the Republican party since attaining to mature years and takes an active part in the work of his chosen party. In 1900 he was elected to the office of trustee and served in that position for four years. He has fraternal relations with the Masonic order, in which he has attained the third degree, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Joseph H. Thornburg is a prominent representative of one of the honored early pioneer families of Delaware county, where for many years its members have been identified with its agricultural interests, and this calling finds a worthy devotee in Joseph H. Thornburg. His homestead of one hundred and sixty acres lies in Perry township and is one of the valuable estates of the community.

Although reared and educated in Perry township, Mr. Thornburg is a native son of Ohio, born in Clinton county on the 17th of April, 1831. A history of his father, Alexander Thornburg, will be found on other pages of this work. During his early youth the son Joseph attended the log schools of Perry township and also assisted in the work of the home farm, and after his marriage he established his home on the farm which he now owns and operates, the young couple first taking up their abode in a little log cabin and the husband began the arduous task of clearing his land. He cleared sixty acres of the place, and with the passing years added to his landed possessions until he became the possessor of four hundred acres. He also cleared the most of this large tract, but has since disposed of a part of the acreage, his homestead now consisting of one hundred and sixty acres.

Mr. Thornburg married, December 24, 1855, Hannah Cunningham, who was born and reared in Henry county, Indiana, and was the daughter of Samuel C. Cunningham, a farmer. Four children were bOrn of this union - Francis M., William A., Elenora E. and Sarah. The last named is deceased. By his second marriage, to Paulina Swaringen, Mr. Thornburg had two children, Emma and Irvin, while by his third marriage, to Sarah Benbough, he had two children, Jennie and Charles. For his fourth wife Mr. Thornburg wedded Sarah Craig Thornburg, the widow of Alexander Thornburg. There are three children by the fourth marriage - Ora, Myrtle and Burtes. He is a member of the Christian church, is a Republican in his political affiliations, and is a stockholder in the People's Bank of Muncie.

Joseph B. Cunningham is a member of two of the oldest and most prominent families of Delaware county, and on the farm which he now owns and operates, located on section 8, Perry township, he was born on the 27th of February, 1864. His father, Benjamin G. Cunningham, was a native son of Maryland, born, reared and educated in that commonwealth, but when a young man he came overland to Indiana and located in Perry township, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in the woods. With the passing years he cleared the most of that tract, and in addition bought several other farms in the township, finally removing to the present Cunningham homestead. The nucleus of this present laree estate was one hundred its most honored pioneer families, whose history will be found elsewhere in this work. Her father, Judge Lewis Rees, was the first judge of Delaware county and was a prominent factor in the early history of this section of the state. Eight children, seven sons and a daughter, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham, namely : Benjamin G., Louis, Marion, Stephen, Adeline, John, James and Joseph, but Benjamin, John and James are deceased. All were bom in Perry township. Mr. Cunningham, the father, gave a lifelong support to the Republican party, and was a member of the Masonic order, as are also his sons.

Joseph B. Cunningham has spent his entire life on the farm on which he now resides, and is now the owner of two hundred and forty-one and threefourths acres of land. He cleared fifty-seven acres of the tract and has further enhanced the beauty and value of the homestead by the erection of many substantial improvements, while Perry township numbers him among her leading agriculturists and stock raisers.

On the 4th of December, 1889, Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ross, who was bom in Monroe township, I>elaware county, Indiana, where she also grew to years of maturity, and is a daughter of Garrett Ross, whose biography appears in this history. Their union has been blessed by the birth of five children, Edna E., Ross, Flossie, Von and Ray, all bom on the homestead which was also the birthplace of their father. Mr. Cunningham takes an active part in the public affairs of his community, voting with the Republican party. He has membership relations with the Masonic order.

Lewis Samuel Cunningham. Among the honored native sons of Perry township is numbered Lewis S. Cunningham, whose birth occurred on the old homestead of his father, Benjamin D. Cunningham, whose history appears elsewhere in this work, on the i6th of November, 1852, and to the schools of this township he is also indebted for the educational training which he received in his youth. In 1873, after attaining to years of maturity, he went west and worked in the Colorado mines of the San Juan country and also did cattle ranging. During his sojourn in the west he was married in Crawford county, Kansas, in 1884, to Elizabeth Page, who was born in Logan county, Kentucky, where she also attained to years of maturity. After their marriage the young couple came to Delaware county, Indiana, and located in Perry township on a farm of one hundred and twenty-nine acres. After making many improvements on this place Mr. Cunningham sold it and moved to another farm, where he remained until coming, in 1893, to the farm which he now owns and occupies. The homestead is one of the valuable ones of Perry township, the land being fertile and well improved, and its owner has greatly enhanced its value and attractive appearance by the erection of many substantial improvements.

ferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Cunningham has voted with the Republican party, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order.

Carl Rees. The gentleman whose name heads this biographic review is both the son and grandson of pioneers who have greatly honored Perry township and Delaware county. He himself is a native of the township named, born December 2, 1879, ^"d is a substantial representative of its agricultural interests^. His father, John, is the son of Louis and Polly Rees, both natives of Wales who came to America with their parents and settled in Ohio. The paternal grandfather reached manhood as a resident of that state, secured a tract of government land in Perry township, and in 1822 came personally to take possession of it. At that time the country was on the very outskirts of the frontier, Indians and wild beasts holding full sway in the wilderness, and Louis Rees, with his good wife Polly, bore the common brunt of the hardships incident to pioneer life - an experience of continuous dangers and incessant labors, which so bound together the real pioneers of the west and which can be appreciated by only a small band living in the present. The grandfather erected a little log cabin in Perry township, began the usual hard task of clearing his land of timber, and on this rugged homestead first came to life his son John, the father of our subject. The date of his birth was July 13, 1826, and his life until he reached young manhood was also a succession of hard labors faithfully performed. He was married in Perry township to Mary Rees, a native of Indiana, and the three sons and five daughters, who were all bom to them within the limits of the township, were as follows : Cracey and Adaline, deceased ; Louis, Emma, Eca, Wesley (deceased), Albertus and Carl.

John Rees, the father, gave his political support to the Republican party, and was well and favorably known in the county in which his entire life was passed. He assisted in clearing the old paternal farm, and after residing on several homesteads of his own he removed to his present farm of three hundred and sixty acres, the most of which he cleared, and here the remainder of his busy and useful life was spent.

On the 25th of November, 1906, Carl Rees was united in marriage to Anna Fuson, who was bom in Monroe township, Delaware county, a daughter of the well known Thomas Fuson. Mr. Rees' political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he is classed as a progressive and promising member of the community.

ship from an early epoch in its history. One of its most prominent representatives, William W. Ross, is a native son of the township, born on the 23d of June, 1843: His father, Aaron Ross, was born, reared and educated in Guilford county, North Carolina, but in the early '30s he left the county of his nativity and journeyed to Delaware county, Indiana, establishing his home in Monroe township, where he entered eighty-eight acres of land, erected a little Ic^ cabin in the woods, and began the arduous labor of evolving a farm from the wilderness. On horseback he rode to Indianapolis to pay his last dollar of entry fee, starting homeward without a cent, and his entire possessions in later years were the result of indomitable industry and ability. His crops were hauled to Cambridge City once a year, and among the manifold duties of this brave and hardy pioneer was the making of the shoes for the family, and he also raised the flax and his wife spun and wove their own materials for clothing.

Mr. Ross was married in North Carolina to one of its native daughters, Mary Weatherly, who was bom and reared in Guilford county, and at the time of their removal to Delaware county they left all their friends and relatives behind, journeying alone to this then new and undeveloped region. Twelve children were born to them, six sons and six daughters, but three of the number died in infancy, and their son William was the seventh child in order of birth. From the Whig party Mr. Ross transferred his allegiance to the Democracy, and in his early life he was a member of the Methodist church, but later became identified with the New Light Christian denomination. The life of this well known and honored Delaware county pioneer was ended in death when he had reached the age of seventy-five years. His was a long, active, useful and honorable career, and his name is indelibly inscribed on the pages of Monroe township's early history.

William W. Ross was reared to years of maturity on the old home place, receiving his educational training in the district schools of Monroe township, and in the meantime assisted to clear the old place and put it under cultivation. In 1864 he volunteered his services to his country's cause, enlisting in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, in which he served for five months, but he was ill during the most of his military career. At the time of his marriage he moved to a farm of forty acres, which he partially cleared and placed many improvements thereon, but in 1888 he traded the place and moved to the original one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm. With the passing years, however, he has added to the tract until his estate now consists of four hundred and thirty-two acres of rich and fertile land, and the many improvements which add so much to its value and attractive appearance have all been placed there by the work of his own hands. During his early life Mr. Ross took an active part in political affairs, laboring effectively in public office, and is accorded that recognition which is justly due the public-spirited and progressive citizen. As a representative of the Republican party he was elected the trustee of Monroe township in 1889, in which he served for seven years, and at the expiration of that period, in 1896, he was made a member of the state legislature. During three terms he was the incumbent of that high official position, and since the expiration of his term he has withdrawn from active political life.

The marriage of Mr. Ross was celebrated in Monroe township, in 1865, Rachel Gibson then becoming his wife. She is a native daughter of the township of Monroe, in which her father, Robert Gibson, established his home in a very early day, coming from Tennessee. Of the nine children bom to Mr. and Mrs. Ross, five sons and four daughters, three daughters and a son are now deceased. All were born in Monroe township. The names of children now living are Frank W., Loren, Orville, Arthur and Hazel L. Mary Alice married Daniel Rees and died aged nineteen years. Cora married Watson Martin and died aged twenty-two. Wilbert died at the age of twenty-one, and Agnes died in infancy. The fraternal relations of Mr. Ross are with the Masonic order and the Red Men, and he also holds pleasant relations with his comrades of the blue by his membership in the G. A. R. Post. During the long period of twenty-two years he has been a local minister in the Methodist church, and in that time has officiated at three hundred funerals and about two hundred and fifty marriages. His sterling worth and fidelity have won him the confidence of his fellow citizens, and he is at all times active in promoting the work of the church and all that pertains to the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ upon earth.

Garret Ross. One of the best known men of Monroe township is Garret Ross, who is prominently identified with its farming and stock-raising interests. He is also a representative of one of its earliest pioneer families, which was established here by his grandfather, William Ross. He bore an active part in the early history of Monroe township and was a native of Tennessee, where he was married to Susan Paten. They became the parents of three sons and a daughter, of whom Nepthfalum R. Ross, the father of the subject of this review, was the eldest in order of birth. He was bom in Connersville, Kentucky, and when a lad of seventeen years the family emigfrated to Delaware county, Indiana, where Mr. Ross, Sr., purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in Monroe township. He died shortly after his arrival, and to his sons fell the task of clearing the farm and placing it under cultivation, while in the meantime the family made their home in a little log cabin. Mr. Nepthfalum Ross cleared a tract of eighty acres in section 35, Monroe township, the birthplace of his son Garret, and he farmed and dealt in stock all his life. He was the oldest stock dealer in the township and shipped the first carload of stock that was sent over the Bee or the Big Four line. He also drove many herds of stock to Cincinnati in those early days, walking the entire distance. He first allied his political interests with the Whigs, and after the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks, continuing an active worker in the public life of his community until his busy and useful life was ended in death, when he had reached the age of

Mr. Ross married one of Monroe township's native daughters, Nancy Gibson, her father, Garret Gibson, having taken up his abode within its borders in a very early day. They became the parents of eight children, all of whom were bom and reared in Monroe township, namely: Elizabeth, deceased; Garret, whose name introduces this review; William, Jasper N., Robert, Emma, James and Borter.

Garret Ross was born in Monroe township on the 8th of March, 1843, and during the early years of his life he assisted in clearing and cultivating the old home farm. He was married, August 21, 1862, to Margaret Jane Lenox, who was born and reared on the old Lenox homestead in this township, of which her father, John Lenox, was one of the early pioneers, but was a native of Tennessee. His father was John Lenox, Sr., killed in the War of 1812, and the son afterward went with his mother to Ohio and thence to Delaware county, Indiana. On his first purchase of eighty acres in Monroe township he erected a little log cabin, but with the passing years he added to the boundaries of his estate until it contained four hundred and seventy acres, but the land has since been divided among his heirs. Of the eight children, four sons and four daughters, born to Mr. and Mrs. Ross, one died in infancy, and those living are Nancy, Dianah, Betsy, Marion, Richard, Thomas Baker and William B. Mr. Ross gives his political support to the Republican party, and he and his wife are members of the New Light Christian church.

Garrett B. Gibson, who is numbered among the prominent farmers and business men of Monroe township, Delaware county, is a member of one of the best known families of this community, where they took up their abode in the early days of the county's history, and have ever since been prominently identified with its interests. Monroe township numbers Mr. Garrett B. Gibson among her native sons, his birth occurring here on the 3d of April, 1853. His father, Walter Gibson, has his name enrolled among the earliest of the county's pioneers, but his birth occurred in Ohio, and he was brought to Delaware county by his parents when but eighteen months old. He was the son of Garrett Gibson, Sr., whose sketch will be found on other pages.

Walter Gibson received his educational training in the district schools of this vicinity, and during the early years of his life he assisted in clearing the homestead farm of its dense growth of timber and then placing the fields under cultivation. He was married in Monroe township to Ruth Brown, whose birth occurred in Wayne county, Indiana, but she was reared in Delaware county, whence she removed with her parents when a child. She was the daughter of David and Betsy Brown, who were numbered among the early and honored pioneers of Monroe township. On their arrival here they purchased a farm, and the subsequent years were spent in clearing it and placing it under cultivation. Seven children were bom to Mr. and Mrs.

Gibson, namely: Betsy; David and Nancy Jane, both deceased; Garrett; John F. ; Isaac B., also deceased ; and William. All were bom in Monroe township and were educated in its district schools. Mr. Gibson, the father, followed the tilling of the soil as a life occupation, and his entire career was one of uniform honor, thus winning for himself the respect and high esteem of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, and his acquaintances and friends were many. He gave his political support to the Republican party, and was a member of the Christian Friends church. His death occurred when he had reached the seventy-fourth milestone on his life's journey.

On the old homestead farm which his father had evolved from the wilderness in Monroe township Garrett B. Gibson grew to a sturdy manhood, assisting in the meantime in the arduous work of a new and densely wooded farm. On the ist of September, 1877, he was married to Elizabeth Hoober, whose birth occurred in Henry county, Indiana, where she was also reared and educated. She is the daughter of David M. Hoober, who was long numbered among the prominent agriculturists of that county, but is now deceased. He was bom in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was there married to one of the commonwealth's native daughters, Fannie Baker, of German descent. Of their eight children, four sons and four daughters, all were born in Henry county, Indiana, where the parents had emigrated in an early day in its history, there purchasing and clearing a farm. Mr. Hoober later removed to Monroe township, but his death occurred two years afterward, when he was seventy-seven years of age. Diu-ing about twentyfive years of his life he voted with the Republican party, but he then transferred his political relations to the Democracy. He had two sons in the Civil war, John B. and William C. The latter was killed in the explosion of the old Sultana. Eli K. Hoober, youngest son of David M. Hoober, graduated at Purdue University and was a successful and popular teacher in both Delaware and Henry counties. He died at the age of thirty-one years. Two children have been bom to Mr. and Mrs. Gibson : Jonas B., who died in infancy; and Eli K., who is now serving as a soldier with Company I, Eighteenth United States Infantry, in the Philippines.

Mr. and Mrs. Gibson reside on their pleasant and valuable estate of eighty acres in section 12, Monroe township, which has been their home since 1883. He has cleared twenty acres of the place, and the farm is mostly under cultivation. He is prominently identified with the Republican party, and is one of the best known and most highly esteemed residents of Monroe township.

that the first name on the role of the Battle Abbey (1066) is Toteles. As far as known the first Tuttle to cpme to America was John, of Herefordshire, England, who, accompanied by his family, came in 1635 in the ship Planter and settled on Long Island. In the same year another John Tuttle came on the ship Angel Gabriel and settled at Dover, New Hampshire. William Tuttle settled in New Haven. Jeremiah Tuttle, who died in New York in 1705, served as alderman, was vestryman of Trinity church and owned property on Pearl street. Several Tuttles were commissioned officers of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary war. The Tuttles can boast of a sober, temperate ancestry. None of them were known to be intemperate. Among the family traits and characteristics is the tendency of the hair to grow gray at an early age. The color of the eyes so universal in the family is rather a remarkable gray, slightly dashed with hazel.

Darlin Tuttle, grandfather of Darlin M. Tuttle, was bom in Virginia and lived at Rumney. From Virginia he removed to Ohio and settled in Clinton county, where he purchased land, and engaged in farming. He was a resident there the rest of his days and passed away at a good old age. His first wife and the mother of his children was a Miss Smith before marriage. The children were named John S., Mary and James.

In a very early day in its history the Tuttle family was founded in Delaware county by the father of the subject of this review. Rev. John S. Tuttle, who made his way hither by wagon and settled in the wilds of Monroe township. Here he cleared and improved an excellent farm, and was also identified with the Protestant Methodist Episcopal ministry for about thirty or forty years, being numbered among the best known and useful citizens of this section of the county, and his many excellent and beneficent traits of character have been inherited by his son, the subject of this review, who has been identified with the farming and stock-raising interests of Monroe township throughout his entire business career. He also bears an honorable record as a soldier for the Union cause during the Civil war, having entered the ranks in September, 1864, and served his country valiantly and faithfully as a member of Company G, One Hundred and Thii;ty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry.

Mr. Darlin M. Tuttle was born in Monroe township, Delaware county, Indiana, July 7, 1839. His father. Rev. John S. Tuttle, deceased, was bom in Clinton county, Ohio, January 29, 1804, there receiving his educational training and attaining to years of maturity on a farm. On the 3d of June, 1823, he married one of the commonwealth's native daughters, Hannah Hale, who was a descendant of Sir Mathew Hale, of English fame, and they became the parents of fourteen children, six sons and eight daughters, all of whom lived to rear families of their own. They are as follows: Delilah, the wife of Solomon Clevenger, both now deceased; Mary J., Isaiah and Thomas W., also deceased ; Efizabeth, widow of Henry Remington ; Hannah, the wife of Morris Kidnocker; Abraham J., deceased; Amanda, the wife of Addison Stafford; Ellen, wife of Elisha Clevenger; Darlin M..

the subject of this review ; Minerva, deceased ; Catherine, the widow of Isaac Lake ; John W. ; and William F., deceased. Eight of the number were born in Ohio, and the remaining six in Monroe township. In 1836 the family made the journey with wagons to Indiana, where Rev. Tuttle purchased one hundred and seventy-four acres of government land in Monroe township, built a little log cabin in the woods, and began the task of clearing and cultivating his land. With the passing years he succeeded in clearing all but forty acres of his homestead, and here he reared his children to lives of usefulness and honor. While carrying on the work of his farm he also labored as a minister of the gospel in the Protestant Methodist church, being an efficient worker in the Master's cause. He continued to reside in Monroe township until his busy and useful life was ended in death, passing to his final reward at the age of sixty-nine years. During his lifetime Rev. Tuttle was also a great hunter, and many were the deer, wild turkey, wolves, bears and wild cats which fell from his trusty rifle, yet in the possession of his descendants and which is nearly a century old. In those early days his associates were Judge March and Judge Buckles, also the Kerbys, the Tomlinsons, the Rosses and the Gibsons, all of Delaware county pioneer fame. Rev. Tuttle was a member of the Union League during the war, and was one of the best known men of his day in Delaware county, always taking an active part in all movements for its upbuilding and advancement. His wife survived him one year.

A son of this honored early Delaware county pioneer, Darlin M. Tuttle began the battle of life for himself without capital, and by his own perseverance and excellent ability he has risen to the high position which he has long occupied among the leading business men of Monroe township. After his marriage he assumed charge of the old home place, where he remained for eight years, in that time clearing a great deal of the land. On the loth of March, 1874, he moved to the farm on which he has ever since resided, purchasing one hundred acres of land, and the many improvements which the homestead contains have been placed there by his own ability and industry.

On the 17th of June, 1858, Mr. Tuttle married Susan L. Lake, who was bom in Licking county, Ohio, the daughter of George D. and Nancy (Roe) Lake, who came to Delaware county about 1850 and were numbered among the agriculturists of Monroe township. The following children have been born of this union : John S. ; Mary, the wife of Walter G. Shirey, assistant treasurer of the state of Kansas and a resident of Topeka; George A.; Oliver F., who was the leader of the Cowan Band and is now deceased; Marion F.. who is a talented artist, and is with the firm of Smith & Brooks.

relations with the Masonic fraternity, affiliating with Muncie Lodge, No. 343, while in the Grand Army of the Republic he maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades of the blue. He is a member of the Society of Friends.

WiLUAM H. Peacock. Throughout his entire business career William H. Peacock has been identified with agricultural interests and he has long been numbered among the leading farmers of Monroe township. His birth occurred in Tyler county, Virginia, May 28, 1845, and in Loudoun county of that commonwealth his father, Elijah Peacock, also had his nativity, bom July 4, 1808. He was there reared and educated, and for his wife chose Mar>' Jane Wright, whose birth also occurred in the Old Dominion, but she was reared in Ohio. Her parents died when she was young, and she was bound out, as was also her husband, in his ^boyhood days. In 1846 they removed to Henry county, Indiana, where in one of its small towns the father followed the blacksmith's trade, he having become familiar with that occupation in his native state of Virginia, and he continued its work until his retirement at a good old age. His death occurred on the 2d of July, 1884. In their family were six children, two sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to years of maturity, and William H. was ' the second child and son in order of birth.

Mr. William H. Peacock was reared and received his educational training in the schools of Henry county, Indiana. In 1863 he joined the Ninth Indiana Cavalry, Company G, with which he served until the close of the war. On the 25th of September, 1864, he was captured by General Forest and was taken to Castle Morgan, in Cahaba, Alabama, where he remained for nine months and suffered untold hardships and privations. In 1865, ^^'ith the remainder of the prisoners, he was taken to Vicksburg and placed on the Sultana, whose boiler exploded when seven miles above Memphis, killing over sixteen hundred men. Mr. Peacock was wounded in the accident, and was disabled for three years thereafter. He was mustered out of the service at Indianapolis on the 24th of June, 1865, and returned to Henry county, Indiana, where he was married three years later. In 1870, with his wife, he came to Delaware county, Indiana, purchasing eighty acres of his present farm in Monroe township. He cleared the most of the tract and placed there the many improvements which it now contains. Mrs. Peacock inherited one hundred acres from her father's estate, and thus the homestead now consists of one hundred and eighty acres, all rich and fertile farming land and mostly under cultivation.

In Henry county, Indiana, July 25, 1868, Mr. Peacock was united in marriage to one of Delaware county's native daughters, Martha A. Reynolds, the daughter of Breckenridge Reynolds of pioneer fame. He was a Virginian by birth and came to Delaware county during a very early epoch in its history, when the Indians were its principal inhabitants, and purchased timbered land in Monroe township. Taking up his abode in a little log cabin he began the work of clearing his land, and by indomitable energy and perseverance he carved his way to success, for he had not a cent when he began life in the wilds of Indiana. He grubbed for Andrew Gibson and thus obtained the first cow which he ever owned. By hard and laborious effort he succeded in securing a large estate, owning at one time over one thousand acres, and the death of this brave and hardy old pioneer occurred on the 17th of February, 1887. On the 13th of September, 1838, in Virginia, he had married Ellen Lucas, a native daughter of that commonwealth, and they became the parents of ten children, six sons and four daughters, but the wife and mother died in 1866, on the nth of May. June I, 1868, Mr. Reynolds married Euphamia Gibson, a daughter of Borter and Mar}^ A. (Rhodes) Gibson and a representative of one of the oldest and most honored pioneers of Delaware county. Breckenridge Reynolds had three children by the second marriage, one son and two daughters. Three children have been bom to Mr. and Mrs. Peacock, two sons and a daughter : Mary, the wife of G. Crusey, of Muncie, Indiana ; James R. and John C., all bom on the homestead farm in Monroe township. James R. resides in Monroe township and his sketch will be found elsewhere. John C., a graduate in pharmacy, is now a drug clerk in Indianapolis. He married Abigail Trimmer, of Rochester, New York. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Peacock has ' supported the principles of the Republican party. He is numbered among the leading citizens of Monroe township and is held in high regard.

Jonas Gibson. In reviewing the history of Delaware county, and especially of Monroe township, it will be found that the Gibson family were among the very first to take up their abode within its borders, dating their residence here from the early '30s, and from that time to the present its members have been prominently identified with its development and improvement. Monroe township numbers among its native sons Jonas Gibson, whose birth occurred on the old farm on which he now resides January 5, 1840. His father, Valentine Gibson, well known as an honored pioneer of Delaware county, claimed Ohio as the commonwealth of his nativity, and his father, William Gibson, was a native of Maryland, from whence he came to Delaware county in the early '30s and established his home in the wilds of Monroe township. He here entered a farm, erected his little log cabin and began the arduous task of clearing his land from its dense growth of timber and preparing the fields for cultivation. On this valuable old homestead he spent the remainder of his life, in the meantime winning for himself a leading place among the honored residents of the community.

daughters, Mary Clements, and they became the parents of four sons and a daughter: John, Jonas, Garrett, Richard and Nellie, all now deceased but Jonas.

On this valuable old homestead which he evolved from a wilderness the father spent the remainder of his life, and here his son Jonas was bom, reared and has spent his entire career, the place being thus dear to him through its association with his early boyhood days as well as his subsequent years. In i860, in Monroe township, he married Elmeline Harold, the daughter of Allen and Rachel Harold, early pioneers of Delaware county, and in its township of Monroe their daughter Emeline had her nativity. Five children were born of this union - Garrett, Walter R., Mary M. and Allen, the third born dying in infancy. All were born on the old homestead. The wife and mother was called from this life to the home beyond February 2, 1893, and two years later Mr. Gibson married her sister, Margaret Harold, also a native daughter of Monroe township. It is worthy of mention that on the Gibson farm is a tree which measures fifteen feet in circumference, it having started from a bush growing out of a coal pit. It is now sought by people who would be willing to purchase it at most any price. Mr. Gibson has allied his political interests with the Republican party.

John W. Jones. Since the days when Indiana was a wilderness the Jones family has resided within its borders and have been influential in its development and gradually increasing prosperity. The genealogy of the family is traced to the land of Ireland, where occurred the birth of James Jones, Sr., the grandfather of the subject of this review. During the period of his young manhood he came to America and established his home in South Carolina, becoming identified with its agricultural interests, and he was there married to Mary Austin, a native daughter of Wales, where she was also reared. They became the parents of five sons and four daughters, namely: John, Bayless, Bewford, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Martha, Henry and David. In 1808 Mr. Jones brought his family to Fayette coimty, Indiana, where they remained until 1832, and in that year came to Salem township, Delaware county, where he entered a farm of eighty acres, built a log cabin and succeded in clearing much of his land. Mrs. Jones made the journey from Fayette county to South Carolina on horseback, but returned to Indiana in a wagon, bringing with her her mother.

Bewford Jones, a son of these early Indiana pioneers, was born in South Carolina in 1806, and received his educational training in the early district schools of Salem township, Delaware county. He married Phebe Depew, who was born in Virginia, and they became the parents of the following children, all bom and reared in Salem township, namely: John W., Mar>' (deceased), Nancy and Elizabeth. Mr. Jones gave a lifelong -tipport to the Democracy, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal

John W. Jones was bern on his father's farm in Salem township, Delaware county, September 30, 1837, and his educational training was received in the schools of Monroe township and Henry county, Indiana, while in the meantime he assisted his father in clearing the home farm. When eighteen years of age he left the parental home and began farming for others, thus continuing until his thirtieth year, when he began farming as a renter. In 1873 he purchased twenty-seven acres of land, to which he has since added until his estate now consists of one hundred and thirtyeight acres of excellent farming land. He has cleared all of these many acres, placed them under cultivation, and has also made the many improvements which now adorn this valuable homestead.

The marriage of Mr. Jones was celebrated on the 7th of December, 1861, when Martha A. Martin became his wife. She is a daughter of Israel Martin, a farmer of Center township and a representative of one of the early pioneer families of Delaware county, from whence they came from Ohio. Mrs. Jones was reared in Salem township and by her marriage she has become the mother of three children, two sons and a daughter - Margaret, deceased; William V., and one who died in infancy. All were born in Delaware county. Margaret married Edwin Crandall and died aged thirty-one years, leaving three sons - Louis, William and Allen. William V. married Mary Nixon and has one child, Viola. Mr. Jones upholds the principles of the Democracy. No one in the community enjoys a better reputation for integrity of word and deed, and when a man stands high in the estimation of the people who have known him during his entire life no greater testimonial to his w^orth can be given.

John L. Driscoll, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Monroe township, was bom in Clark county, Ohio, April 26, 1833. H^is father, William Driscoll, who for many years was numbered among the most prominent agriculturists of Monroe township, as well as one of its earliest pioneers, was also a native son of Ohio, bom in Greene county, but his father, John Driscoll, had his nativity in Ireland. He was educated in his native country for the priesthood, but this calling not proving congenial to his tastes he came to America when a young man and located in Greene county, Ohio, where he was afterward married. He was one of the three first settlers of that county, and in that commonwealth he followed farming throughout the remainder of his life, clearing and cultivating in the meantime many acres of land.

In his native state of Ohio William Driscoll, the father of him whose name introduces this review, was reared and educated, and in Clark county he married Emeline Franklin, w^hose birth occurred in Virginia, but she was reared in Ohio. In 1841 Mr. Driscoll came with his family to Delaware county, Indiana, establishing his home on the site now occupied by the Ball Brothers* glass manufactory in Center township, where he erected a log cabin and cleared his farm of eighty acres. In their family were eleven children, five sons and six daughters, five of whom were born m Ohio and six in Delaware county, but all were educated in the district schools of Center township. They are as follows: Minerva, deceased; John L., the subject of this review; Mar}', James and William, also deceased; Emeline; Margaret, Amanda and Pearson, deceased; Julia, and Warren. Mr. Driscoll was an old-line Whig in his political affiliations, and his death occurred at the age of forty-eight years. He was one of the best and most favorably known men of Delaware county.

On the 22d of October, 1857, Mr. Driscoll of this review was united in marriage to Mariah Gibson, a native daughter of Monroe township and a representative of one of the county's earliest and most prominent families. Six children, two sons and four daughters, were born of this union, namely : Dr. W. E. Driscoll, Eliza Adeline, Francis Emeline, Mary Burdella, John B. (deceased), and Ida Belle. The wife and mother was called to the home beyond January 10, 1901, and in 1903, on the i6th of December, Mr. Driscoll married Celia (Gibson) Jones, the widow of Joshua Jones, an honored pioneer of Delaware county, and who was killed at the battle of Antietam. One son was bom to Mrs. Driscoll by her first marriage - George E. Jones. Mrs. Driscoll was bom in Monroe township, her parents being Garrett and Sarah Gibson. With her husband she now resides on the valuable estate of one hundred and thirty-eight acres in section 12, Monroe township, w^hich has been the home of Mr. Driscoll since 1864. He cleared about half of the farm and has placed thereon many valuable improvements. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he has membership relations with the Masonic order, being a Master Mason. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

W. E. Driscoll. The gentleman whose name introduces this review, Mr. W. E. Driscoll, a prominent agriculturist of Monroe township, Delaware county, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state. He is also numbered among the township's native sons, his birth having occurred on the 14th of October, 1858. His father, James W. Driscoll, claimed Clark county, Ohio, as the place of his nativity, born April 22, 1837, but when a little lad of five years, in 1842, he was taken by his parents to Delaware county, Indiana, where in the same year his father, William Driscoll, entered the land in Center township on which the Ball glass factory now stands. For further genealogy of the family see sketch of John L. Driscoll in this work. His son James supplemented the educational training which he had received in the district schools of Center township by attendance at the Muncie Seminary, and after leaving the school room followed farming and stock buying and shipping, also teaching school for a number of years in Monroe township. During his active business career he suc- ceeded in clearing considerable land, but finally retired from industrial pursuits and moved to Cowan, where his death occurred on the 20th of April, 1905. He was first married to Elizabeth Ross, a native of Indiana and educated in the district schools of Monroe township, Delaware county, her parents, Nepthalin and Nancy (Gibson) Ross, having been numbered among the earliest pioneers of Delaware county. Her death occurred on the 6th of May, 1870, after becoming the mother of five children, four sons and a daughter, William E., Nepthalin B., John E., Garrett O. and Dora B. The daughter is the wife of David West. For his second wife Mr. Driscoll married Mary Reese, who was bom in Perry township, Delaware county, a daughter of John and Martha Reese, of pioneer fame. Two daughters were bom of tliis union, Lena May, deceased, and Hattie Kemper, the wife of D. S. Koons. All of the children were bom in Monroe township. Mr. Driscoll gave his political support to the Republican party, while his fraternal relations were with Delaware Lodge, No. 46, F. & A. M., and he was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

At the early age of seventeen years W. E. Driscoll, of this review, started out to battle with the world for himself, his first business venture having been farming. He had previously attended the district schools of Monroe township and also spent one year at Purdue University, and after returning from college began teaching in the schools of Monroe township, continuing in the profession for about fourteen years. In the meantime he became identified with agricultural pursuits, and in 1892, in the capacity of a bookkeeper, he became associated with the washing machine factory, at Cowan, Indiana, spending about six years in that institution. During the following year he resided on his present farm, but at the close of the period moved to Muncie and served as deputy clerk until his return to the farm, which consists of a tract of eighty acres. Throughout the period of his manhood Mr. Driscoll has given a stanch and unfaltering support to the principles of the Republican party, being an active worker in its ranks, and from 1884 to 1886 he was the incumbent of the office of assessor of the township, while from 1894 to 1900 he was a trustee and for one year served as the deputy county clerk. His fratemal relations connect him with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Red Men, and he also has membership connections with the High Street Methodist Episcopal church of Muncie.

The marriage of Mr. Driscoll was celebrated on the 25th of December, 1878, when Margaret L., the daughter of James and Mary C. Oard, became his wife. She was bom in Delaware county. Indiana. Tuly o. i8«;8. her

John T. Heath, who is well known throughout Monroe township because of his long identification with its interests, comes of a family who were early allied with its history. He was bom on a farm in section 6, Monroe township, March 28, 1844, and traces his ancestry back to the Carolinas, the birthplace of his father, Harvey Heath, where he was also reared to mature years. In an early day he came with his parents, Robert and Mollie (Perdiue) Heath, to Delaware county, Indiana, taking up his abode in Monroe township, but the elder Mr. Heath located in Salem township, where he purchased and cleared a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and there spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife were pioneers in the township. Immediately after his arrival the son purchased a tract of eighty acres in Monroe township, but later added to its boundaries until he became the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of rich and fertile land. As the years passed by he succeeded in clearing his land of its dense growth of timber and continued to make his home thereon until within a few years of his death, dying at the age of ninety-one years. He was married in North Carolina to one of the commonwealth's native daughters, Erminta Finley, and they became the parents of nine children, four sons and five daughters, of whom John T. of this review was the second child and son in order of birth, and all were born on the old homestead in Monroe township. The Republican party received Mr. Heath's hearty support and co-operation, and he was also a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

During his boyhood days John T. Heath attended the district schools of Monroe township. The school buildings were primitive in construction as well as furnishings, containing slab seats and benches. In the meantime he assisted in the clearing and cultivating of his father's farm, and finally became the owner of a farm of his own, the estate consisting of one hundred and fifty-six acres of rich and fertile land, all of which is under an excellent state of cultivation. He has placed there many of the improvements which it now contains, and he is numbered among the leading agriculturists of Monroe township. In 1907 he purchased a home of forty acres in Center township, near Muncie, and removed thither, but he still owns the homestead in Monroe township.

In 1869 Mr. Heath was united in marriage to Delila Pitser, a native of Delaware county and a daughter of Evan Pitser, of pioneer fame. Mrs. Heath was reared in Salem township, and by her marriage she has become the mother of six children, four sons and two daughters, Sanford and Laura, deceased, Merritt, Edward, Addie and Jessie, all born in Monroe township. Mr. Heath advocates the principles of the Republican party, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

James A. Reynolds. Throughout his entire business career James A. Reynolds has been identified with the farming and stock-raising interests of Delaware county, and his entire life has also been spent within its borders, his birth occurring in Monroe township on the 3d of October, 1841, a son of

Breckenridge and Ellen (Clear) Reynolds, both of whom were born in Virginia. In about 1837 they emigrated to Indiana, at once establishing their home in Monroe township, and their names are therefore recorded among its very earliest pioneers. Purchasing a farm of eighty acres the husband and father at once began to clear and cultivate his land, and with the passing years he added to his original purchase until he became the owner of eleven hundred acres in Delaware county, much of which he cleared. Agriculture continued as his life occupation and he won success in the calling. Ten children, six sons and four daughters, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, of whom James A. is the second child and second son in order of birth. All were born in Monroe township and four are now deceased. The wife and mother was called to the home beyond in 1867, and Mr. Reynolds subsequently married Euphemia Gibson, a native daughter of Delaware county, and three children, one son and two daughters, were born of the second union.

James A. Reynolds was twenty-one years of age when he left the parental home and began the battle of life for himself, starting without a cent, and his large holdings are the outcome of earnest labor and honorable effort. The first land which he purchased consisted of forty acres in Center township, the greater part of which he cleared, and a few years later he bought his present homestead of one hundred and five acres. A part of it was cleared at the time and he has ' since cleared the remainder and has placed thereon the many improvements which make it the valuable and - attractive farm it now is.

Mr. Reynolds married, in January, 1901, Mary (Kiger) Losh, who was born in Center township, a daughter of William Kiger and the widow of John A. Losh. Mr. Reynolds affiliates with the Republican party.

James R. Peacock. Numbered among the younger representatives of the agricultural interests of Monroe township is James R. Peacock, a member of one of the county's earliest and most honored families. His birth occurred on the old Peacock homestead in Monroe township April 30, 1875, a son of William H. Peacock, whose history will be found on other pages of this work. In the district school near his boyhood's home the subject of this review received his educational training, in the meantime assisting his father in the clearing of the old homestead and placing the fields under cultivation. After his marriage he i*emained at home about one year and then settled on the farm he now occupies.

The marriage of Mr. Peacock was celebrated on the 13th of December, [898, when Beatrice H. Wright became his wife. She is a daughter of Samuel and Clara (Harris) Wright, who removed from Ohio to Delaware county in a very early day. It was during his boyhood days that the father came to Indiana with his parents, attaining to years of maturity in Henry county, finally becoming one of its leading citizens and most prosperous agriculturists. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wright lived in different localities. Three children, two sons and a daughter, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peacock, but the daughter, the second child in order of birth, died in infancy. The sons are William Wayland and Emery Norman, both bom on the home farm. Mr. Peacock has given a lifelong support to the Republican party and has been an active worker in its ranks, while as its representative he served as precinct committeeman and is now a member of the advisory board of Monroe township. He holds membership relations with Ko Ka Tribe of Red Men No. 286, and with Cowan Lodge No. 561, I. O. O. P., both he and his wife being members of its auxiliary, the Rebekahs. The family are well and favorably known and stand high in the community.

Samuel Drumm. Monroe township numbers among its leading agriculturists and prominent business men Samuel Drumm, who is the proprietor of a rich and well cultivated farm on section 32. Throughout nearly his entire business career he has been identified with the interests of Delaware county, and in all that time has resided on the farm which he now owns and operates. His father, Samuel Drumm, Sr., also devoted his entire business career to tilling the soil, and was one of the influential residents of Muskingum county, Ohio, as well as one of its earliest pkjnecrs, but he was a Virginian by birth. That he was one of Muskingum county's earliest settlers is shown by the fact that he hauled the first logs to erect the first cabin home in his vicinity, and in addition to his agricultural pursuits he also made millstones and shipped his product to all parts of the state. His political affiliations were with the Democracy and he gave a lifelong support to those principles. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in its faith he passed away in death at the age of sixty-five years. In Ohio Mr. Drumm married Susannah Rickner, whose birth occurred in Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters.

Samuel Drumm of this review, their sixth child in order of birth, was bom in Ohio on the i8th of June, 1824. In 1852, shortly after his marriage, he made the overland journey to Indiana, and established his home in Monroe township, Delaware county, where he first bought eighty acres, the nucleus of his present valuable homestead. This little tract was located in the dense woods, but he set to work to clear his land and on the i8th of June he planted his first crop of corn. This was on a Saturday afternoon, and on the following Monday morning it had sprouted and had reached a height that it could be seen from the road. With the passage of time he has added to his original purchase until the homestead now consists of one hundred and fifty-three and a half acres, all of which is well improved, and the many valuable improvements which the farm now contains have been placed there by his own industry and ability.

children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to years of maturity. The wife and mother died October 14, 1877, and Mr. Drumm subsequently married Sophia (Kern) Harold, the widow of Noah Harold, a prominent farmer of Monroe township, and a daughter of Jacob Kern, who was numbered among Delaware county's earliest residents. Mrs. Drumm was bom, reared and educated in Virginia, but during the early '60s she came with her father to Delaware county, Indiana. On arriving in Indiana, however, they first took up their abode in Henry county, from whence they removed to this vicinity. In Virginia Mr. Kern had married Mary Ann Dean, and they became the parents of eight children, three sons and five daughters, of whom Mrs. Drumm was the second child in order of birth. By her first marriage she became the mother of four sons and a daughter, while to Mr. and Mrs. Drumm have been bom one child, a son named Grover. Mr. Drumm's children by his first marriage are Nathaniel, Mary Viretta, Jasper, Emma, Albert and Belle. Mr. Drumm holds fraternal relations with the order of Red Men, and politically he is identified with the Democracy, but in local affairs votes independent of party ties.