Niles Township (part 2 of 2)

M. R. Smith received, for his portion, the old homestead, consisting of 120 acres. He remained at home until he was of age, and then married Sarah, daughter of Henry and Martha (Laturner) Shannon, of Erench and German descent. Her parents came from Maryland and Ohio respectively, and both came to this state with their parents, and here they were married in i860; settling in Union township, Delaware county, where the father owned a farm of forty acres. Upon this he lived for twenty-two years, and then moved to Granville, where he owns a farm of 120 acres,

Mrs. Sarah Smith had one sister, Mary, wife of Walter Berry. The brothers and sisters of her father were: Alexander and William, deceased; Elizabeth, wife of William Gregory; Simon, a farmer; Nancy, wife of David Simongton; Mary, wife of David Simongton; Maria, wife of Miller Sherry. The brothers and sisters of the mother of the wife of our subject were: Mary, wife of William

M. R. Smith moved on the farm which his his father gave him, soon after his marriage, and has lived there every since. He is nicely located, and has the best of improvements upon the place. He is an enterprising, hard working man,' and highly esteemed by all who know him. His life companion is a pious member of the Methodist church. Mr. Smith, in addition to farming, devotes much of his time to the raising of stock, in which he is very successful. He is a member of the order of Red Men, and takes much interest in that organization. In politics he is a republican, and never fails to assist that party when ever his services are needed. He has the following brothers and sisters: Mary, wife of John Barley; Charles a farmer; Sophia, wife of George i R. Lowe; Louis F., a farmer; Linnie, wife of J. E. McDaniels; Anna, wife of Charles Miller.

OHN R. STAFFORD, a prominent farmer of Niles township, of which he is a native, is a son of Joseph and Amrilla Stafford, and dates his birth from the 17th day of March, 1861. Paternally he is descended from Irish ancestry, and on the mother's side is of German lineage. Joseph Stafford and wife moved from Ohio to Dela- ware county, Ind. , a number of years ago, settling in the township of Niles, where they reared a family, and where they resided until their respective deaths, the former departing this life April 3, 1877, latter August

30, 1882. The following are the names of the brothers and sisters of Joseph Stafford: Finley, George, Relph, Catherine (wife of Valentine Pence), Margaret (wife of John Black), Betsey, and Ruth (the latter married to William Black).

Amrilla Stafford, whose maiden name was Dinsmore, was the daughter of John Dinsmore, whose birth occurred near Winchester, Va. , on the 28th of June, 1797. Mr. Dinsmore in an early day emigrated to Ohio, where he resided until 1837, in October of which year he became a citizen of the Hoosier state. He was married on the 25th of June, 1819, to Elizabeth Anderson, whose birth occurred May 9, 1798, in the state of Maryland. The following is a brief record of the family of John and Elizabeth Dinsmore, viz: Robert H. Dinsmore, the eldset son, was born December i , 1855; William, born December 24, 1824 - died December 28, 1862; Rachel A., born Eebruary 15, 1828; Amrilla J., born August 8, 1831 - died August 30, 1883; Mary N., born August 18, 1833; Daniel M., born October 31, 1837 - died October 12, 1843; Eli W., born Eebruary 25, 1841 - died October 12, 1843. The mother of these children died March 23, 1848, and the father was called to his final reward on the 29th of October, 1865. John R. Stafford grew to manhood in Delaware county, and has I'esided within its borders ever since his birth, making his home in Niles township, upon the site of his fathe's original purchase. At the age of twenty, he was united in marriage to Nancy A. Boyd, daughter of Cornelius and Martha (Jacobs) Boyd, to which union the following children have been born ; William M. , Bessie M., Susan Fair, Nellie E. and Charles

R. , the last named deceased. Mr. Stafford began life for himself as a farmer, and still devotes his attention to that useful calling, being, at this time, one of the successful agriculturists of the township of Niles. His first real estate consisted of forty acres, to which additions have been made from time to time, until the area of his farm now contains ninety-five acres of fertile land, the greater part in a successful state of cultivation. Mr. Stafford is enterprising and progressive, a leading citizen of the community in which he resides, and his name is well worthy of mention among the representative men of Niles township. Politically, he is an ardent republican, and in religion, a Methodist. Mrs. Stafford is a member of the Christian or New Light church.

ENONA THOMAS is a well-to-do and excellent citizen of Niles township, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, June 2, 1836, being the son of Price and Anna (Bobo) Thomas. The parents are of German and Welsh-Irish descent, and went from Kentucky to Ohio in 1816, settling upon a farm of 160 acres. They lived there until i833i when they came to Niles township, Delaware county, Ind. , settling at Granville. The father carried a chain to lay out the towns of Granville and Albany. He had the following brothers and sisters: Milton, a doctor; Susanna, wife of Benona Robbins; Price, an auctioneer; Dorinda, wife of Andrew Battrell; Jerry, a farmer; William, a plasterer, and Michael, a farmer. Mrs. Anna Thomas had the following brothers and sisters: Martin, a farmer;

Jemima, wife of T. Clemings; Jared, a farmer; Alley, wife of John Thomas; Margaret, wife of Absalom Garner; Dorcas, wife of Thomas McKinney, and Garner, a blacksmith. Price and Anna Thomas had born to them, beside

Benona, the following children: Milton, a liveryman at Muncie; Alice, wife of Logan Jackson; Ferinda, deceased; Millie, wife of James Collins; Jerry, a saw mill owner; Ellen, wife of Gordon Collins; Elizabeth, wife of John Turner; Martha, wife of Joseph Sloniker; Elmira, wife of John Spence; Susan, wife of Joseph Crouch, and Emazetta.

Benona Thomas was married July 12, 1 859, to Phebe, daughter of Isaac Bost, by whom he had two children, Ida M., died Eebruary 12, 1880, and Harriet C., died October 12, 1865. Ths wife died August 4, 1882, and was buried in Muncie cemetery. Mr. Thomas again married, his choice being Martha J., daughter of Jefferson Walvern. She died five years after marriage and was buried in the Granville cemetery. Mr. Thomas next married Mary E., daughter of Big George and Clarissa Eleming, her parents being natives of Virginia.

Benona Thomas enlisted in the Union army in August, 1862, in the three years' service, in company K, Eighty-fourth regiment, Indiana volunteers, at Muncie. He went to Richmond, Ind. , and to Indianapolis, and was then sent to Guyandotte, W. Va. , then to Nashville, where he was taken sick. He remained in Hospital No. 6 for a time, and then was taken to Louisville and placed in Hospital No. 7, ward No. 7; from which place he was finally sent home, having lost his right eye. He draws a pension of $16 a month as the result of this affliction. Mr. Thomas was postmaster for a period of four years and is a democrat in politics. He is a member of the G. A. R. post, and is much attached to his old army comrades. He and his wife are members of the Christian church and are very much respected. They pursue the even tenor of a Christian life, showing in all their acts the sincerity of the faith that is within them, and Mr. Thomas has not failed to inculcate his children with the principles of morality.

OAB THORNBURG. - Among the many worthy people who have fine homes in Delaware county, Ind., we note Joab Thornburg and his worthy wife, who came here when there were no neighbors, no improvements, nothing but great woods and wild game, and possibly a lurking savage for company. Joab Thornburg is a representative of a state which has sent to sister states many of the settlers who have done the most toward upbuilding and civilizing - the state of Ohio. His birth occurred in Montgomery county, January 23, 1816, a son of Morgan and Hannah (Harl) Thornburg, natives of Tennessee, who had located for a few years in Ohio, and had then pushed farther west into Indiana, locating in Randolph county in 1806, where they lived for ten years, and then moved back to Tennessee. There they lived some years, and then went into Perry township and made a home.

In Niles township Mr. Thornburg entered eighty acres of land and then moved to Ringgold county, Iowa, near Mt. Ayr, where he spent the rest of his days, dying in the fall of 1865, his wife having preceded him two years. They were buried in Iowa. They had reared the following family: Elisha, a wheelwright;

Rebecca, the wife of Thomas Cox; Jonathan, a farmer; Charity, deceased; Joseph, deceased; Joab; Morgan; Hannah, the wife of Sam Adamson; and Mary, the wife of Reuben Schockley.

Joab Thornburg remained at home until his marriage, but neither he nor his wife had any educational advantages whatever. Hes name was Elizabeth Medsker, daughter of David and Catherine (Hoover) Medsker, of German parentage. Mr. and Mrs. Thornburg were married March 12, 1840, and she became a helpmate, indeed, to her husband. She entered bravely into all of his plans for the new home in the wilderness, and many times

Mr. and Mrs. Medsker came to Indiana from Pennsylvania, locating first in Henry county, and then in Randolph county, where they died, the father, February i8, 1874, and the mother August 10, 1883. They were laid to rest in Hagerstown cemetery. They were good, Christian people, beloved by all who knew them. They reared the following family; John, deceased; Daniel, Zachariah and Cornelius, all farmers; David, deceased; Jacob, died in the army; Isaac, a farmer; Elizabeth, wife of Joab Thornburg; Christina, the wife of Christopher Davis; Anna, the wife of Franklin Burroughs; and Susannah, deceased.

Joab Thornburg first settled in Randolph county, where he lived four years, and then removed to Niles township, Delaware county, where his present pleasant home is located. It required much perseverance and enterprise to get the new home under way, as rolling logs by the week was not an infrequent task, but comfort finally reigned and now the farm of 280 acres repays them for all their trouble. They saw a large family grow up around them, as follows: Catherine, wife of David Bales; Maria, deceased; Nettie, wife of Elisha Wingate; Mary A., wife of Jackson Klugh; Martha J., wife of Elisha Harty; Sarah E., wife of Henry Bales; Elizabeth W., wife of Jerry Williams; William M., who died May 9, 1878; Rettie S., wife of Lamar Cunningham and Amanda, wife of Aaron Rook.

Mr. Thornburg has been blessed with many of the blessings of life, and perhaps among them not the least are his sons-in-law. One of these, Elisha Harty, has descended from a good old Randolph county family. He was born in that county in 1 844. He has had some misfortunes, having lost both of his little children, and fire having destroyed all his buildings in 1885. He owns a farm of twenty-six acres. Another. Lamar Cunningham, was born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1857. He has three children by his marriage with Mr. Thornburg's daughter, Hattie and Charles; infant not named. Mr. and Mrs. Thornburg are members of the German Baptist church, and politically he is a democrat and a good citizen.

G. WEAVER, one of the thrifty farmers and stockmen of Niles township, is a son of A. C. Weaver, who located in this part of the county nearly half a century ago, moving to his home in a comparatively unbroken wilderness over a road cut through the woods from the town of Muncie. A. C. Weaver is one of the oldest living pioneers of Delaware county, moving here from Virginia at a time when but little attempt had been made to reclaim the country from its original forest growth. He became a large owner of real estate in what is now the richest gas territory of Indiana, and since the discovery of this marvelous fuel, he has been very actively interested in the growth and developement of the country.

N. G. Weaver was born where he now resides, on the 1st day of December, 1863, being the youngest of a family of eight children. He commenced life as a farmer, to which useful calling he has always given much attention, though a good portion of his time has been devoted to mercantile pursuits, in which, as in agriculture, his success has been of the most encouraging nature. In addition to his farming and mercantile interests, Mr. Weaver for some years has been engaged in buying and shipping live stock, and other speculations, and to him is the township of Niles indebted for a large share of the recent development which has placed this section among the most advanced and enlightened portions of the highly favored county of Delaware. He has labored assiduously for the benefit of the community, and in the spirit of enterprise has done as much, if not more, than any other citizen of Niles toward the development of the natural gas and oil interests, which are destined, in time, to make this region one of the most prosperous and progressive sections of the great gas belt. Mr. Weaver's home is a model of comfort, and his beautiful farm, consisting of 240 acres of choice land, ranks among the best cultivated and highly improved places in Niles township. Mr. Weaver was married September, 1879, to Miss Angie Bailey, of this township, her ancestry being of the same Virginia origin as his own family. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver are highly respected citizens of the community, and possess in full measure the high regard of all with whom they come in contact.

EORGE V. WILSON. - The name of Wilson is well known in Delaware county where, before the manhood of our subject, it had been made distinguished by his father. George Wilson was horn in Delaware county, Ind. , in Niles township, July 5, 1851, and son of Josiah and

Elizabeth (Vincent) Wilson, natives of Ohio who came to Delaware county, Ind., in the fall of 1837, settling in Niles township on a farm of eighty acres, upon which Mr. Wilson built a log cabin, and the family lived as pioneers. He was a man who exerted a great deal of influence, was prominent in many ways in the township, is a member of the Methodist church, and for the past four years has resided in Albany. His family is as follows: Morgan A., oonnected with the furniture factory; John W. , also in the factory;

In 1873, George V. Wilson was married to Miss Mary E. Smith, daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth (Hagler) Smith, natives of Ohio who came to Jay county, Ind., in 1840, settling on a farm of 160 acres of land. Mr. Smith was a man of prominence in the county; for fourteen years was justice of the peace, a member of the Masonic order, was county commissioner for one term, and for one term represented the district in the legislature. He was highly respected, and when his life ended, March 15, 1882, he was lamented by all. His remains lie in the Bethel cemetery. The mother still resides upon the fine farm of 160 acres. The children of Mrs. Smith are, Samuel B., a farmer; Laura S., the wife of Joel Green; Louis M., a farmer, and Mary E. , the wife of our subject. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Alma G. Mr. Wilson has a fine farm of eighty acres of well improved land, and in 1889 he built a very fine house, which makes a pleasant home. He is a good and worthy citizen, one of the reliable kind, whom any county may be proud to class as a citizen.

AMUEL H. WILSON is a thrifty farmer of Niles township, where he was born November 13, 1864, being the son of Alfred and Martha E. (Wright) Wilson. He was reared upon the farm upon which he now resides, which contains ninetytwo acres of well cultivated and finely improved land. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one, and was then married to Lenora H., daughter of Lewis and Lucinda (Jones) Davis, natives of Indiana. Her parents came from Henry county to Delaware county, Niles township, in March, 1883,

Lewis Davis is a farmer of superior skill, and a stock raiser. He is widely known, giving his attention to the breeding of thoroughbred Poland-China hogs. He has a public sale of the increase in October of each year. This enterprising man is a member of the Masonic order, and of the order of Red Men. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, and very prominent and popular people. Alfred Wilson cleared up the farm upon which Samuel H. now lives, while he is living a retired life at Muncie.

Samuel H. Wilson has two brothers and two sisters, namely: Samantha J., wife of D. W. Wingate; Lillie A., wife of J. A. Dwyer; Aaron C., a school teacher, and Oscar T. , a farmer. He also has a half-sister, Sarah E. Wilson. The father of our subject had a sister, Dissie L. Wilson, who died in August, 1878. The marriage of Samuel H. Wilson resulted in two children, namely: Lalah L.

and Charles E. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are both members of the Christian church. Both of them received a good common school education and are well informed people. Mr. Wilson is a republican, and a very enterprising and industrious young man, highly respected by everybody.

AMES W. WINGATE. - Niles township has a number of worthy and good citizens, and prominent among these is James W. Wingate. He was born at Georgetown, Sussex county, Del., July 16, 1815, being the son of Philip and Sarah (Wright) Wingate, natives of Delaware and

Maryland respectively. The parents of Philip Wingate were born in Caroline county, Md., and lived in Georgetown. Philip was a carpenter by trade, first serving as an apprentice for five years, and then following the occupation for the rest of his life. Mrs. Sarah Wingate died in 1821, and was buried close by where she was born and reared. After this, Philip moved to Highland county, Ohio, and settled near Leesburg, where he warked at his trade. Then, in 1847, he came to Albany, Delaware county, Ind., and worked at wagon making. He finally died at the home of his son, James W., October 9, 1871, and was laid to rest in Bethel cemetery. He was married a second time in Maryland, and this wife died in 1851 ; being buried also in Bethel cemetery. Philip Wingate had the following brothers: Cannon, a farmer, and John, a painter. The brothers and sisters of Philip's wife are: Celia, wife of William Maloney; Tilman, a trader; Rodgers, a farmer; Elisha, a farmer; Aaron, a farmer; James, a school teacher, and Hatfield, a farmer.

James W. Wingate was married in Layette county, Ohio, March 30, 1837, to Melinda, daughter of James and Sophia (Chew) Stewart, of Irish and American descent. Her parents came to Indiana, Delaware county, and settled on a farm of 160 acres. She had the following brothers and sisters: Lucinda, wife of Thomas Dowden; Matilda, wife of Morris Bennett; William Eishback; Margaret, wife of Colby Pepple; Rebecca, wife of Thomas Klugh; Mary, wife of Charles Ray; Rees, a blacksmith; William W. , a carpenter; Harriet, wife of John Rees, and James J., a lawyer. The brothers and sisters of James W. Wingate are: Elisha, a carpenter; Francis, a laborer; the town of Munroe, and worked at his trade, a carpenter, until 1852, when he moved to Niles township, this county, and settled upon the farm where he still resides. When he came, the woods covered the surface of the country, and the eighty acres that he bought were all in timber. With a brave heart he went to chopping down the trees and making his land ready for cultivation. He went into debt to pay for the land, but by hard work and close economy he has become independent. Then he began living in a hewed log cabin that had no doors nor window sash, and the flooring of which was composed of loose boards. Mr. Wingate never lost heart, but kept his eyes straight ahead, and continued to make money. Mr. Wingate has held the office of township trustee for four years; he is a member of the Masonic lodge, and also of the Good Templars. He and his wife are upright members of the Methodist church, and joined that body in 1837, ^^nd he and his wife brought their letters of membership with them to this county. Mr. Wingate is a trustee and a steward in the church to this day. He and his wife are the parents of the following children, namely; Isaac W. , a carpenter; Elisha R. , a farmer; Colby C. , a peddler; James S., Philip R. and Bootle W. , farmers; Sarah, wife of John Krohn; Thomas M., and David W., farmers; Jackson N., deceased. The mother of these children died February 21, 1875, and was buried in Bethel cemetery. A fine monument is erected upon the place of her sepulture.

Since the death of his wife Mr. Wingate has had his youngest son with him on the old homestead, where he continues to live. Mr. Wingate owns 665 acres of good and well improved land, which proves the industry and the good management of the man. He is highly respected by all his neighbors, and is a kind father and good friend. Few men are looked

FORGE W. YOUNTS is a well known name in Niles township, he being a very successful and popular citizen. He was born in Miami county, Ohio, January 8, 1850, being the son of Eli and Mary (Michael) Younts, of German and Scotch descent respectively. They went from North Carolina to Miami county, Ohio, lived there until 1856, and then came to Delaware county, Ind., settling in Union township, upon a farm of eighty acres. There they lived nine years, then moved to Niles township, lived there seven years, and then returned to Union township, where the father died in the spring of 1879. The mother then left her farm and went to Eaton, Union township, where she still resides.

Eli Younts had the following brothers and sisters: John, a farmer; Abraham, a preacher; Joseph, George, Andrew and Isaac, farmers; Davis, a preacher; Mary, wife of Henry Hanel, and Catherine, wife of Jacob Helmick. Mrs. Eli Younts had the following brothers and sisters: Samuel, a farmer; Lucinda, wife of