Blue River Township

Blue River Township

There was considerable progress made in the settlement of Blue River township (then a part of Stony Creek), in 1S23. Michael Conway, Richard and Reuben Wilson, Joseph Corey, John Koons, John P. Johnson, and several others moved to this part of the county as early as 1823, a few, perhaps, having located the year previous, the precise time, however, being difficult to learn.

Land Sale And First Entries

According to the record, Wm, Owen, of Dudley township, purchased the first tract of land in Henry county ; this transaction bearing date of February 4, 1821.* The next was David Butler, August 8, 1821, in the same township, and on the 11th of August. Josiah Morris, of Dudley, and Samuel Furgason of Wayne township, each entered a tract.

Judging from the number of purchases made, the settlers in Wayne township must have gone in a body to attend the sale, as of the twenty-five purchases made during the year, sixteen were made on the 13th of August. The following is a list of purchases during the year, with date of purchase: Samuel Furgason, Aug. 11, Thomas Estell, Aug. 13,

*It is highly probable that this is a mistake, and should have been February 4, 1822, since it is not likely that an entry could have been made six months in advance of the land sale, aud Mr. Owen did not arrive in the county till some time in 1822.

i 1 3th of kugusl seems to have been afield day forthe pcopl< ol Wayne township. On th< I4th, nothing seems to have w aether it was Sunday, or was taken up with call- -.., bids "ii the tracts of land now in Bpiceland and Franklin townships, la nol known. On the 16th, the sale commenced for lands In Henry township, when seven persons responded to thecal] their numbers, and subsequently Bome t«-n otherpurcihsscn w ere made, as \\ ill be seen below : n, The auctioneer then passed on to Liberty township, range 11 east, township 17, and found bidders more plentiful. The nd dates belov< w ill Berve to Bhow something of the tone of the market. We \\i'l lei Wm. Hoe, probably a blood relative of the celebrated Richard Roe, whom school boys will remember at ha\ Ing extensh e dealings with John 1 toe, head the list. Willi. mi itc..\ auk'. n'>. Jacob Etfnehart, >ept. 4.

Land Sale And First Entries. U.

*An "old settler" informs us that no such man owned land in the township in early times, and that he is certain that B. G. Bristol and James Wier did not enter their lands earlier than 1828 or 1829.

irtthln the limits of Jefferson township, during the year 1*22, tmi irtthln the limit- of Prairie township, there was more activity, and the following nam-- appear: hi Harve] . " " II,.-. wen generally, or all. <.n Blue River, the bottom and neond bottom Lands <>f which seemed very attractive to the earl] settler. There seems to have been butone entry within the limits of Stony Creek, that of Andrew Blunt, Jr., Nov. 11. Within tin- present limit- of Blur River, however, the following secured themselves homesteads :

Dempsej ftees entered a trad of land In Harrison township, April 39, \^>l, whirl) wa« the only piece purchased in the township, during the year. Zeno Reason and Richard Ratlin* purchased land In January following, and Levi Pearson and l be land office for thi* <ii-t ri«t was at Brookville until 1825, when it was transferred to Indianapolis, then a village of little consequence, there being fewer voters in Marion county at that time than then are hi Henry township to-day.

The manner of the land Bale was t<> commence in a certain township In a certain range, and offer each tract or eighty-acre lot, i onsecutivel) . till the whole was gone through with. If no i>n.' hid, the trai t being called bj number was soon passed. When a number was called, the "squatter" who, perhaps, had a i. w acres cleared, or a little cabin on the same, could hecome the purchaser li $1 '2.j, the minimum price, unless some one run it up Ofl him.

Where two persons had the same number and were desirous of entering the same eighty or one hundred and sixty-acre lot, it was no uncommon thing for one to buy the other off, with some trifling sum, say $10 to $2,"i, and, although the law of publie opinion \v:is such that neighbors would seldom try to buy each other's improvements from under them, still there were cases in which no little feeling was excited in such cases, and various little intrigues were resorted to, to bluff or out-wit competitors.

If for any reason a man failed to bid on a piece of land he desired to purchase, it sometimes happened that he could prevail on the auctioneer to call it up "just after dinner," or the "first thing next morning." From and after the land sale, all lands were subject to private entry at the minimum price.

By an act of the Legislature, bearing date February, 1821, " the south part of Delaware,"* commencing at the southwest corner of Wayne county, thence running: west twenty miles,

*"A11 that part of the New Purchase lately acquired of the Indians, lying east of the second principal meridian, but not included within the limits of any organized county, shall hereafter be known and designated by the name of the county of Delaware, and the counties contiguous thereto and east of the meridian shall have concurrent jurisdiction throughout." - [See page 108, Revised Laws, 1824.]

This "second principal meridian'' is about sixteen miles west of Indianapolis. The eastern limit of the "New Purchase" was the "Indian boundary," running near the western limits of Wayne county and bearing N N E till it crossed the Ohio line in Jay county. Its northern limit was the Wabash River, and it extended south to the boundary of Jennings county. Decatur, Shelby, Rush, Monroe, Marion, Huntington, Allen, and many more were formed in part out of "Delaware county," although the present county of Delaware was not organized until 1826, Ave years after Henry and Rush. This "concurrent jurisdiction" sometimes made it the duty of a High Constable of Henry county to ride all the way to White River, near the present site of Noblesville, to attach the property oi a creditor.

thence north twenty miles, thence east twentj miles, thence tothe place of beginning, was declared erected into h new eoonty, to he "known and designated i».\ the name and style of Henry county," and from and after the fl»-8l flay of June next, it wu to enjoj :>li the rights and privileges of a separate and Independent county, and, In short, to do much as other counties do.

Lawrence Brannon and John n«ll. <>i Wayne county, John Bample, ol Fayette, Richard Biem, of Jackson, and J. W. Scott, mi [Jnlon, were appointed, bj the Bame act, Commissioners, to meet at the house of Joseph Hobson, in said count] <>t' Henry, "mi the flrsl Honda; ol Julj next,'1 for the purpose of locating the county Beat.

h was also provided by the Legislature that the Sherifl of Wayne count] Bhould notifj ^ : ( \ < t Commissioners of their appointment, and thai the count] of Henry ~l i« >nl< l make said Sheriff of Wayne a reasonable compensation for such service. This mandate of the Legislature seems to have been duly honored bj our county, as we find thai 1 1 1 « - < ommissioners of Henry passed an order thai " Eliaa Willets, Sheriff of Wayne county be allowed fifteen dollars" for the service, which was certainly dheap enough, considering thai tin- appointees lived in four countps, and thai the Sheriff must travel at least 250 miles in the performance of his duty. On the other hand, these early ( ommis>ioners were certainly quite as liberal as could have lion .«xpected, -iiire the -mil was about one-tenth of the entire revenue, county and State, collected fur the first fiscal year.

T<> perfeel the organization, a corps of county officials iiad to be provided, and Governor Jennies, pursuant to a law for rases made and provided, issued a warrant, January l, 1892, to Jesse H. Healy, a citizen of the incipient county, to act as Sheriff, with instructions to issue notice of ah election to be held at -ome private house, at an early day, for the election of a Sheriff, Clerk ol the Circuit Court, two Associate Judges, and three County Commissioners. Of the number of votes cast, or tho points Oil which the contest turned, no information can at thll lay be found. This election was held prior to July, 1822,

Jesse II. Ilealy was elected Sheriff'; Rene Julian, Clerk and .Recorder; Thos. It. Stanford and Elisha Long, Associate Judges; Allen Shepherd, Win. Shannon, and Samuel Goble, Esqrs., Commissioners.

At the tim^ of the assembling of the first Commissioners' Court, June 10, 1S22, there were no civil townships in existence, within its jurisdiction, and one of its first cares was to provide a few of these indispensable dependencies, "with a local habitation and a nam**." After describing, in fitting language, the mcte< and bounds of these "territories," the Commissioners declared that "from and after the first Saturday in July next" they should each "enjoy all tin- rights and privileges andjurisdictions which to separate and independent toicnships do or may ly belong -</- appertain" - Whether this idea of an independent and separate existence and jurisdiction smacks of "State rights" or not, the reader must judge. The Commissioners were an authority in the land, in those days, and it is quite safe to conclude that they fully intended to carve out of the territorial limits of Henry county several little republics, which were to be fully competent to manage their domestic institutions in their own way.

The townships thus provided were four in number, viz. : Dudley, Wayne, Henry, and Prairie. Dudley and Wayne composed the First Commissioners' District, Henry the Second, and Prairie the Third.

The original boundaries of Henry county were not identical with those of the present day, and, as a consequence, the boundaries of the townships lying on the east and west borders of the county underwent some change when the new boundaries

HUM t,v tii- Legislature, 1" is:; . a township netting, BOtwtthsUndlng the slas «-'" the township, must have been a m 01 nr-iir la those Hmts. three fears after, when the popula- Hm bod probably m thai double*, the whole vote tor (Jov-

Source changes here: from History of Henry County, Indiana : Together with Sketches of Its Cities, Villages, and Towns ... Also a Condensed History of Indiana, Embracing Accounts of Pre-historic Races, Aborigines, Winnebago and Black Hawk Wars, and a Brief Review of Its Civil and Political History., published 1884; 5,932 words in this source stream.

Blue River Township

Blue River Township, the last township organized in the county, was formed from the southern half of Stony Creek, June 6, 1848. The township takes its name from Blue River, the headwaters of which are within its limits. Several other streams have their sources in this township.

The industries of Blue River are chiefly agricultural. In population the township is the smallest in the county. In 1870 it had 861 inhabitants; in 1880, 805.

The first elections were ordered to beheld ''at the house of Philip Moore, or at the meeting-house near his house." The township officers for 1883-'84 are: Abraham Wrightsman and Eli Holliday, Justices; Thomas C. Bound, Trustee.

The land now included in this township was not ofiered for sale until 1822. In that year the following persons entered tracts, Oct. 28, Richard Wilson, Michael Conway; Oct. 31, Joseph Cory: Abraham Cory, Betsey Cory; Xov. 4, Reuben Wilson; Xov. 6, George Koons; Xov. 11, John Koons: Nov. 12, Jacob Huston; Xov. 13, George Hetrick; Xov. 14, Richard Alsbaugh, Henry Metzger; Xov. 18, Henry Stumph; Xov. 22, John P. Johnson.

Several of the men above named moved their families to their purchases as early as 1823, and in that year the settlement became quite flourishing. Yet the township never had a large population, for as late as 18,50 it contained but 174 polls.

The Corys were probably the first families to locate in the township. The first death is believed to have been that of Eleanor, wife of Abraham Cory, and the second that of Esther, wife of Joseph Cory.

Three religious denominations are represented by churches in the township: The German Baptists, the '' New Light" Christians and the Disciples.

The Indiana, Bloomington & Western Kailroad was built through this township in 1882. A small village, a station on the road, has since sprung up. It is known as Mooreland and was laid out in September, 1882. It contains two stores, one saw-mill and planing-mill, one agricultural implement store, one grain elevator, and has about 100 population. Dr. D. Clapper is the physician. A postoffice was established March 8, 1882; Harvey Main, Postmaster. Marcus Holliday is the present Postmaster.

The German Baptist meeting house in this township is a branch of the Hagerstown church. It will seat about 400 people and has a good congregation.

James Taylor, an old resident and a respected citizen, came to Henry County in 1836, and a few years later to the farm where he now lives. Mr. Taylor was born in North Carolina in 1816.

David and Rachel Pidgeon came from North Carolina to' Indiana in 1833 and purchased Government land. The first cabin built by Mr. Pidgeon is still standing. He died in 1874; his wife in 1866. Both were prominent Friends. Their son, Jesse W. Pidgeon, is a well-known citizen.

Andrew Baldwin, a well-known old resident, was born in North Carolina in 1816, and came to Indiana with his parents. At the age of eighteen he entered eighty acres of land where he now lives.

Solomon Cory, who was born in Ohio in 1810, settled in this township in 1841, beginning on unimproved land. Mr. Cory is held in high regard by his neighbors. He has served in several township offices.

Biographical

Solomon Bales was born in Bine River Township, Henry Co., Ind., Jane 15, 1834, a son of Parnell and Elizabeth (Koons) Bales, natives of Tennessee. He remained on the farm with his parents, receiving a common-school education, till sixteen years of age. He then went to work on the farm of Solomon Cory, remaining with him seven years. He then began working at the carpenter's trade with James Dykes, and remained with him nine months. In 1857 he settled on the farm of Thomas Sears in Stony Creek Township, and in March, 1858, moved to a farm belonging to Henry Manifold. He subsequently bought forty acres of land of Joseph Corn, adjoining eighty acres owned by his wife, and some time after bought a farm of Hathan Freeman. He lived on the latter six years and then bought of Robert H. Taylor the farm of 103 acres where he now lives. He was married in May, 1857, to Elizabeth, daughter of Hoah and Lucretia Coiy. She died Oct. 13, 1862, leaving one daughter - Ada Josephine, now Mrs. Wilson Drake. Dec. 24, 1863, Mr. Bales married Lucinda, daughter of David and Rachel Pidgeon. They have four children - William Henry, Rachel Elizabeth, Albert Bindley, and Dellie Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Bales are members of the Society of Friends. Politically he is a Republican. After her mother's death Mr. Bales gave his eldest daughter the forty acres of land first purchased by him.

Isaac Chamness was born in Randolph County, H. C., May 26, 1829, the eldest of five children of Joshua and HannahiChamuess. In the fall of 1832 his parents came to Indiana and settled in Hettle Creek Township, Randolph County. He remained with his parents till twenty-one years of age, helping to clear and cultivate the farm. He was married Hov. 20, 1850, at Hettle Creek meeting-house, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth' Dennis. He remained on his father's farm till the fall of 1852, and then moved to Henry County and bought sixty-five acres of land in Blue River Township. There was on it a cabin with one door, one window and a stick and clay chimney. Fifteen acres were cleared, the rest was heavily timbered. They lived in this cabin till 1857, in the meantime clearing and improving the land. He then built a new house, 28 x 36 feet in size, into which they moved.

When the new house was paid for he bought forty-one and twothirds acres more land, making in all a farm of 106f acres. In 1874 he built a barn 40 x 60 feet in size. In 1875 he and his son bought a steam saw-mill which they ran in the winter for the benefit of the neighbors. To Mr. Cham ness has been born seven children - Milton W., married Isabel A. Hough, of Tipton County, Ind., and lives on the home farm; Esther M., married Jonathan Cloud, now of Washington, Wayne County; Mariam T., married Edgar T. White, of Henry County; Cyrus C., deceased; Margaret B., married T. E. Stewart, of Spiceland Township; Elmina and Hannah E. Mr. Chamness and his family are all members by birthright of the Society of Friends. Politically they are Republicans. Mr. Chamness cast his first vote for President in 1853 for Franklin Pierce.

David H. Conwell was born April 19, 1854, in Blue River Township, Henry Co., Ind., a son of George W. and Mary J. (Messick) Conwell, natives of Delaware, the former born Dec. 24, 1822, and the latter born Sept. 14, 1822. They were married Aug. 18, 1842, and the following December settled in Blue River Township where our subject now resides, remaining there till George W. Conwell enlisted in the Sixty-ninth Indiana Infantry . He died at Helena, Ark., Feb. 15, 1863. His wife died March 10, 1883, aged sixty years and six months. To them were born twelve children - Harriet E., Eliza A. (died March 2, 1865), Samuel R., Eli M., Sarah E., Winfield S., David H., Alice W. (died May 26, 1861), Josephine, Ida, Mary E. (died Sept. 20, 1862), and Georgetta. David H. was reared to farm life and was educated at the common schools. He was married at the a^e of twenty-four years, Nov. 28, 1878, to Mary M., daughter of Adam and Katharine (Koons) Muller, natives of Indiana. To Mr. Conwell and wife has been born one son - Gilbert. After his marriage Mr. Conwell settled in Stony Creek Township on his farm of eighty acres, where he resided until March 22, 1883, since which he has lived on his present farm of 159J- acres of improved land. Politically he is a Republican. His sisters, Josephine and Georgetta, reside with him. Mrs. Conwell has been a member of the Campbellite church for the past eight years.

Abraham Govalt was born in Blue River Township, Henry County, Feb. 19, 1849, and is a son of Cheniah and Elizabeth Covalt. When fifteen years of age he began shipping stock and has since followed that business with good success. In the winter of 1883-'84 he shipped seventy-three car-loads of hogs, besides sheep, horses and cattle. Dec. 8, 1869, he was married to Mary Ann, daughter of John and Jemimah Wiles, and settled at Economy, Ind. He remained there two years, and then moved to Franklin, and lived one year, when he returned to Henry County and settled in Blue E-iver Township, where he is engaged in farm ing in connection with trading in stock. Politically Mr. Covalt is a Republican. Mrs. Covalt is a member of the United Brethren church. To them have been born five children - Frank, Georgia, Ethel, Grace and an infant.

Cheniah Covalt^ /Sr., was born in Clermont County, Ohio, July 2, 1810, and was the son of Cheniah and Rachel Covalt, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Hew Jersey. His parents settled in Clermont County, Ohio, in 1790, where they remained about twenty years, when they removed to Brown County, where the father died in 1820 and the mother in 1835. Mr. Covalt's grandfather, Abraham Covalt, was killed by the Indians in 1789. His father served in the army of General St. Clair during the French and Indian war. He was present at the battle fought by St. Clair and the Indians in the year 1791, and was captured during the engagement but succeeded in making his escape. He afterward served under General Anthony Wayne, and was in the battle in which the Indian chief Tecumseh was killed. Subsequently he served for several years as a Captain in the State militia. There were born to the father of the subject of this sketch ten children, of whom but three, Abraham, J arrett and Cheniah, are living. The subject of this sketch passed his early life on a farm, and enjoyed but limited opportunities for obtaining an education. On May 15, 1833, he was married to Elizabeth Eckelbarger, a very excellent woman. In December, 1842, he removed to Blue River Township, Henry Co., Ind., and settled on the farm where he now resides. By industry and economy he has become the owner of 500 acres of land in the county. He has acceptably served as Justice of the Peace, and has several times been elected Trustee of his township. In 1882 he was elected to the office of County Commissioner, a position he still holds. Prior to his coming to Indiana he had filled several responsible official positions. He has many times been called upon to act as guardian and administrator, and has discharged every trust with honesty and fidelity. He is the father of ten children, eight of whom are living - Ellen, born March 19, 1834; William, born July 12, 1835; Susan, born May

20, 1837; John, born Jan. 16, 1839, died Oct. 21, 1877; Rachel, born Sept. 16, 1840, died Sept. 11, 1841; Cheniah, born Oct. 16, 1842; Christena and Abraham, born Feb. 19, 1849; Dorah, born March 19, 1854; and Elizabeth, born Feb. 9, 1857. In all the walks of life Mr. Covalt has been upright and consistent, and few men possess in a larger degree the confidence and respect of the people of Henry County.

Marcus Holaday was born in Blue River Township, Henry Co., Ind., Jan. 23, 1858, a son of Oliver and Haney Holaday. He received a good education, and when nineteen years of age began teaching school. He taught four years in the district schools of his township. In 1879 he became engaged in the mercantile business at home, with his father. In August, 1882, he left home and went to Leonard, now known as Moore - land, a station on the I., B. & W. R. R., and opened a general store; he built the first store in the place, and was really its founder. He had a stock valued at $2,500, when in February, 1883, he was burned out, everything he had being consumed by fire, but after getting an insurance of $1,800 he rebuilt and ventured into the business again, but soon after, his wife becoming sick with typhoid fever, and seeing he could not manage the business, sold out to his father and since that time has been working with his father in the store, managing the business for him. April 1, 1883, he was appointed Postmaster. April 14, 1883, was married to Emma J., daughter of Adam S. and Rachel Rinaud. They are both members of the Christian church. Politically Mr. Holaday is a Republican. Mrs. Holaday owns sixty acres of good, well improved land in Delaware County, Ind., eight miles south of Muncie.

Oliver Holaday was born in Chatham County, N. C., Dec. 8, 1823, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Holaday. His parents came to Indiana in October, 1826, and settled in Liberty Township, Henry County, where his mother died in July, 1862, and his father in April, 1873; the first winter spent in Indiana a family o ourteen lived in a log house 16x18 feet in size. When Oliver Holaday was fifteen years of age he began teaching school, and taught thirteen years; he was married June 10, 1849, to Nancy, a daughter of William and Mary Wyalt, and soon after settled on a farm in Blue River Township, where his family still reside. He has been a member of tlie Christian church thirty years and a minister in the church since 1845. In 1870 he opened a general mer- cantile store at his home place, where' he continued until 1879, when his son Marcus bought and continued to run it until 1882, when he moved it to Leonard, now known as Mooreland, Ind. Oliver Holaday has also worked at the boot and shoe trade for forty years, or since he was twenty years old. At home they have ninety acres of land well improved. To them have been born twelve children, nine of whom are living - Eli, 'William H., James, Marcus, Albert, Oliver, Mary E., Martha and Matinda A. The deceased are - Nancy E., Josephine and John. Politically Mr. Holaday is a Republican ; originally a Whig.

Benjamin F. Koons^ son of Joseph and Lucinda Koons, was born in Henry County, Nov. 23, 1839. His father, who was born in Wayne County, was one of the pioneer ax-makers of Eastern Indiana. The subject of this sketch obtained in the schools of his neighborhood such an education as qualified him for teaching, a pursuit he successfully followed for a period of several years. On the 27th of June, 1861, he was married to Mahala Deardorfi*, a very excellent woman. Eight children have been born to them all of whom are living. Mr. Koons who lives itpon a farm has been quite successful in agricultural pursuits. He has been called upon frequently to act in trust capacities, and he has discharged every duty honestly and faithfully. He and his wife are members of the German Baptist church, the former having been a Deacon in the church for a number of years.

Bavault Koons^ son of George and Mary Koons, was born Oct. 12, 1814, in Randolph County, N. C. He was reared on the farm, receiving a limited education in the log schoolhouses after he was twenty-one years of age. He was manjie^ Oct. 30, 1845, to Polly, daughter of William and HannalHOanaday. She died April 26, 1883. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom are living - William M., George A., John R., Eliza E., Isaac N. and David H. Samuel is deceased. Mr Koons lived on his father's farm two years after his marriage, when he moved to the farm adjoining his present one, residing there till Jan. 8, 1859. He then moved to the farm where he has lived for twenty-six years, where he owns 151 acres of well-improved land. He has served one term as Township Trustee. He is a member of the Baptist church, and his wife belonged to the Christian church. In politics he is a Republican. Our subject was one of the most active men in the county. In his younger days he jumped over forty-one feet after rolling logs all day, and the same day he jumped over a stick held by two men as high as his head. Onr subject's parents were natives of J^orth Carolina and of German descent. They emigrated to Indiana by wagon in September, 1819, and a few months later moved to Wayne County, Ind., where they remained about two years. Mr. Koons then moved his family to Liberty Township, Henry Co., Ind., where he entered land from the Government and built a log house, residing there sixteen years. He then sold his farm and entered eighty acres in Blue River Township; then he built a log cabin on the same and resided there till his death. He entered at four different times eighty acres of Government land, and at his death he owned 111 acres. He died March 25, 1849, aged sixty-three years, and his wife died in 1872, aged eighty-four years. Politically he was a Republican, and he and wife' belonged to the Baptist church. Their children were - Elizabeth, Massy, Henry, Absalom, Allie, Davault, Catherine, Gasper, Martha, George and Peter.

Henry Main was born in Liberty Township, Henry Co March 9, 1827, the third son of Christopher and Mahalis his father a native of JSTew York and his mother of West Y

His father removed to Lawrenceburg, Ohio, with his parents when eighteen years of age, and when twenty-one years of age, in 1817, married Mahalia Johnson, and shortly after moved to Wayne County, Ind., and settled near Jacksonburg, on rented land. He subsequently^ removed to Henry County, and in 1823 bought forty acres of Government land in Liberty Township, which he afterward sold and entered eighty acres near the Wayne County line. Three or four years later he sold his land and bought 160 acres of heavily timbered land south of Millville. Jan. 1, 1839, he sold out and bought 200 acres in Blue River Township, on Flatrock Creek, afterward adding eighty-one acres to it. This land hegave to his children, with the exception of thirty acres, which he sold to his son Henry. He and his wife were members of the Christian church forty-five years. His wife died Jan. 10, 1865, and he April 5, 1882. To them were born ten children, but two of whom are living - Lucinda and Henry. Thedeceased are - Samuel, William, John, Polly, David A., Lewis W., Hathan T., and Martha. Our subject spent his early life on the farm, receiving a limited education, and was married when twenty-one years of age, March 8, 1848, to Magdalena Collingsworth, and settled on the farm where they now live. He owns 135 acres of excellent land all well improved. Politically he is a Republican. He has served his township as Trustee two terms. Mrs. Main is a member of the German Baptist church. Mr. Main is a member of Hagerstown Lodge, Ho. 149, F. & A. M. To them haYe been born five children, but three of whom are living - Marquis D., Henry H., and Ida M. Mary E. and Eli M. are deceased.

. Daniel A. Messiclc^ son of Eli S. and Ann (Conwell) Messick, was born July 22, 1840, in Blue Eiver Township, Henry Go., Ind., where he was educated in the common schools. He was married Jan. 30, 1863, to Hannah M., daughter of Ambrose H. and Eliza E^^^s, natives of Tennessee. They have two children - Luella and Harley. After his marriage he continued to live at home till his father's death, which occurred Aug. 2, 1870, at the age of seventy-two years. He then received half the farm, and bought the remainder from his sister, which he afterward lost by endorsing for a pork firm in Hew Castle. He still owns 109 acres of well-improved land, and in connection with his farming he buys and ships all kinds of grain. The Indiana, Bloomington & Western Bailroad passes through his farm, and the station of Messick on that road is named in honor of him. He and wife are active members of the United Brethren church, and politically Mr. Messick is a Democrat. His parents were natives of Delaware, and in 1837 they emigrated to Indiana, settling on the farm where our subject now resides. Eli Messick's first wife died Aug. 29, 1833, and he was again married to Ann Conwell, who died Jan.

21, 1842. His third wife was Sarah A. Swan, who still survives him. He was an earnest worker in the Presbyterian church, having been a Puling Elder in the church for thirty years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, being called out on duty at the age of thirteen years. By his first and second wives he had nine children, of whom two only survive - George H. S. and David. Those deceased are - Elizabeth A., George S., Isabel, Asa C., Samuel B , John M. M., and Mary J.

Charles P. Moore^ son of Phillip and Elizabeth Moore, was born in Blue Eiver Township, Henry Co., Ind., June 18, 1850. He was reared on the home farm and received a good education at the common school. He was married Dec. 16, 1872, to Miss Fanny Wright, daughter of Thomas and Eebecca W^right, of Stony Creek ^ Township, Henry Co., Ind. After his marriage Mr. Moore engaged in farming on the place where he now resides, and still follows that occupation. His farm contains 120 acres of wellimproved land, and he may be classed among the energetic and

Miles M. Moore^ farmer, postoffice Mooreland, was born in Blue Kiver Township, Nov. 18, 1836, the third son of Philip and Julia Ann (Willson) Moore. His boyhood was spent with his parents, receiving his education in the district schools. When twenty-four years of age he took a trip West, and after his return home remained with his father till Aug. 27, 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-second Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles of Ferryville, Ky., Stone River, Tenn. (where they were under fire nine days), and Chickamauga; from there fell back to Chattanooga, where they remained till early winter. In the spring the division was assigned to the command of General Hooker, and took part in the battle of Lookout Mountain; assisted General Sherman at Mission Ridge, and the battle of White Oak Ridge. From Ringgold the division fell back to Whitesides, and remained there till spring, and while on the march, ten miles from Chattanooga, he received an order from General Thomas to report at his headquarters in Chattanooga for signal service duty. After being drilled eight weeks, he was ready for duty, and served about nine months. He participated in the engagement at Resaca, Ga., and the Atlanta campaign, where his last service was performed in the top of a tree sixty feet from the ground. He was discharged at Atlanta, Sept. 15, 1861, and returned home. March 26, 1865, he was married to Nancy Lamb, daughter of Thomas and Elyyra Lamb, of Dalton, Ind., and immediately went to White County, Ind., where he and his brother had bought 250 acres of land for $7,500. After making the first payment he had $30 left, with which to go to housekeeping. His wife was energetic and economical, and they appropriated but a portion of this for household purposes, spending the rest for corn and hay. After her work in the house was completed she went to the field and assisted her husband till time to prepare the noonday meal. After dinner she again worked in the field till evening. May 12, 1867, a son - Philip Edgar - was born, and then her time was taken up by household duties and the care of their child, who became the pride of their lives. Jan. 15, 1869, a second son was born - Thomas Eugene. His wife's health from this time was very much impaired, and he became discouraged. In 1872, Eddie, as he was called, was seized with brain fever, and after ten days and nights of suffering his spirit was called home. His wife wishing it, they carried the earthly re- mains to Wayne County, and interred them in Nettle Creek Ceme tery. They returned to White County, but the health of the family not improving, he sold his interest in the White County farm, and in 1874, after the death of his father, bought a portion of the old homestead, and Aug. 18 returned to Henry County. After their return to this county their health improved, and their prospects are now bright for a prosperous future. Their son Eugene is now a robust youth, in his sixteenth year, and promises to make an energetic and useful man. After paying for the 250 acres first purchased in White County, Mr. Moore and his brother bought a farm of 110 acres adjoining, which they also paid for. He now owns 170 acres of land, all well improved. He and his wife have been members of the United Brethren church eight years. In his political views Mr. Moore adheres to the National Greenback party. He is a leading member of the party, taking an active interest in all political issues, and sustaining the principle that the Government should issue all money to be a full legal tender for all purposes both public and private.

Philip Moore was born in Preble County, Ohio, April 24, 1812, a son of William and Catherine (Cotener) Moore, his father a native of East Tennessee, and his mother of Germany. When he was fourteen years of age his parents moved to Indiana, and settled on eighty-five acres of land in Blue Biver Township, Henry County. He remained with his father till twenty-one years of age, helping him clear his land, and walking each harvest season to Preble County, where he worked for GO cents a day. When twenty-one years of age, in 1833, he was married to Julia Ann, daughter of James and Elizabeth Willson. In 1834 they entered forty acres of land (the grain elevator at Mooreland is located on a portion of it), and was assisted in paying for it by his uncle, Samuel Moore, of Wayne County. His wife died in 1838, leaving four sons - William A., born in 1833, now a farmer of Howard County, Ind., married Mandy Hensley, of Illinois; James H., born in 1835, married Emily L. Lamb, and is a farmer of White County, Ind.; Miles M., born in 1836, married Nancy Lamb, and lives on the old homestead; Henry H., a farmer of Henry County, was born in 1838, and married Lucinda Clapper. After the death of his wife his sons lived with their grandparents till 1846, when he was married to Elizabeth Terhune, of Missouri, and settled on the land first entered by him. To this second marriage were born four children - B. F., born in 1846, is a carpenter of New Castle, and married

Emma Kilmer, of Blountsville; John W., born in 1848, married Bettie Keisling, and is a physician of Mechanicsbnrg; Charles P., a farmer ,of Bine Biver Township, was born in 1850, and married Fannie Wm|^ Mary Jane, born in 1852, was married in 1872 to EeasonJ)avis, of Henry County. Mr. Moore was an energetic, persevering man, a good manager, combined with a shrewdness which enabled him to accumulate property. Having a desire to see his cliildren comfortably settled in life, he did not wait for death to give them their portion, but aided them when they left the paternal roof to establish homes of their own. In 1873 he became afflicted with consumption, and for seven months was a great sufferer, but retained his right mind till death relieved him, Kov. 27, 1873. He was buried in the German Baptist cemetery, Hagerstown, Ind. His wife, Elizabeth, survived him seven years. A sufferer from rheumatism, she was unable to attend to her house for a number of years, and therefore made her home with her son, Charles P. The last year of her life she was almost helpless, but was cheered by frequent visits from all the children. March 11, 1880, she was stricken with paralysis of the heart, and died very suddenly, and was buried by the side of her husband. We here append a copy of a portion of the last will of Mr. Moore, made while suffering from his last sickness. It was signed and sealed Aug. 23, 1873, and was admitted to probate Dec. 1:

" Item I. - After my just debts and funeral expenses shall be paid, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Elizabeth Moore, the sum of $8,000 for and during her natural life; and the interest of said sum shall be sufficient to afford her a good and comfortable support and maintenance. Then such portion of the principal of the above sum shall be taken and appropriated by her as may be necessary to render her a comfortable and suitable living during her said life.

" III. - I give and bequeath to my children above named, after deducting and setting apart the above legacy to my wife, all the rest and residue of my estate, both real and personal, to equally be divided among them, subject to and taking into account the abovenamed advancements.

real estate, as provided by law, instead of accepting the provision made for her in this will, then, and in that case, I deduct from the shares of Benjamin F. Moore, John W. Moore, Charles P. Moore and Mary J. Davis an amount which would be equal to any amount which they might invest or get from their mother's estate, in case my children by my first wife do not get an equal portion with my children by my second wife of said estate.

'' Y. - In case my wife accepts the provisions of this will, then I give and bequeath to all of my children whatever of my estate shall be remaining and unconsumed at her death, to be equally divided among them, as specified in the third item of this will.

Thomas M. Sears was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Jan. 2, 1820, a son of Curtis and Haney (Huey) Sears, his father a native of Hew York and his mother of Hamilton County, Ohio. He received a common-school education, and when sixteen years of age began driving a team for his father. He went from Muncie, Ind., to Cincinnati, taking a load of whisky, and returning with a load of dry-goods. At fhe end of six years he began farming with his father. Dec. 23, ISIO, he married Mournen, daughter of Joseph and Lida (Adamson) Lamb, a native of Horth Carolina, born in 1819. He tli^ settled on rented land on Morgan Creek, Wayne Co., Ind., and remained there two years, when he went to Pandolph County and bought 160 acres of land in Hettle Creek Township. In February, 1849, he sold his land and came to Henry County and bought the farm of 149 acres, where he now resides. Mr. Sears is a member of Blountsville Lodge, Ho. 331, F. & A. M. To him and his wife have been born eleven children; eight are living - Lorenzo, Emanuel, Synthia A., Haney Ellen, Yolney, Willard B., Mary E., Charles F. The deceased are - Abiathar, Melissa J ane and Louisa A. Politically Mr. Sears is a Democrat. Mr. Sears' parents were married in Hamilton County, Ohio, and in 1836 moved to Wayne County, Ind., and bought a farm which they sold four years later and moved to Dalton, where Mr. Sears ran a mill a year. He then rented a farm in Randolph County, and two years later moved to Delaware County. In 1845 he took up a homestead in Iowa County, Iowa, where they are now living. To them were born twelve children - Thomas M. , Maria, Robert H., Lida, Louisa, Susanna, John W., Charlotta, Eliza J., William Smith, Levi and Rufus. Four are deceased, two of whom. Will-

James M. Wyall, farmer and Director of the Commercial Bank, Hagerstown, Ind., was born in Union County, Ind., near Bobbin's Chapel, July 28, 1830, the third son of Joseph and Haney (Esteb) Wy^ his father a native of Tennessee and his mother of North Carolina. His early life was spent on a farm with John Hart. When twenty-one years of age he began farming on shares with his uncle, remaining with him four years. He then moved to Henry County and bought a farm in Liberty Township, living there till 1876, when he bought a farm in Wayne County and lived there three years. He then came to Blue Biver Township, where he now owns a fine farm of 268 acres. He also owns about 2,700 acres in different States. He was married when twenty-five years of age to Elizabeth Moss, who died March 24, 1870. They had three children - Martha I. (deceased), Nancy J. and Mary E. Mr. Wyall was again married to Nancy Lewis. They have one child - Olive E. Mr. and Mrs. Wyall are members of the German Baptist church. Politically he is a Bepublican.

William Young was born A^pril 21, 1828, in Lincolnshire, England, a son of John and Mary (Brown) Young. He received a limited education, and July 1, 1850, he started for America, landing in New York City. He started at once for Albany, thence to Buffalo, and from there to Sandusky City, Ohio. He then traveled on foot from Sandusky to Monroeville, where his brother resided, but on arriving at that place he found his brother was at Greenfield, a few miles distant. He was then taken sick with cholera, and after his recovery he hired to work for his brother for a year. At the expiration of the year he took a little vacation, when he engaged to work six months for his brother, after which he was variously engaged until he hired to work on the Sandusky & Newark Bailroad, where he remained eight months. Shortly after, he began working on the Bellefontaine Bailroad, but at the end of two months he left his situation and was employed on the Bichmond & Chicago Bailroad for over a year, after which he was employed by Martin D. Boyd, farmer, with whom he remained eleven years. June 1, 1856, he was married to Fanny Stain, and to them have been bom four daughters - MaryE., Emma B., Martha A. and Manda C. Previous to his marriage Mr. Young bought 160 acres of land in Delaware County, which he sold two years later and bought forty acres in Blackford County, which he afterward traded for 123 acres in Randolph Countv, paying a difference of $900. He afterward sold this land for $1,950 and purchased seventy-eight acres in Wayne County and remained there ten years, when he sold it for $1,710, and bought his present farm in Blue River Township, containing 160 acres, for which he paid $5,555. His land is well improved and is well supplied with farm buildings. He has recently erected a fine house at a cost of $2,000. Politically Mr. Young is a Republican.