Washington Township (part 2 of 2)

Isaac Kinsey^ the eldest son and fourtli of nine children of Oliver and Sarah (GrifSth) Kinsey, was born in Chester County, Pa., May 19, 1821. His father was a native of Little Brittain, Pa., and his mother of Gunpowder, Baltimore Co., Md. In 1823 his father, who was a blacksmith by trade, removed with his family to a farm near Baltimore, where he also worked at his trade. Five years later he moved into the city and engaged largely in the manufacture of edged tools, and it was in Baltimore that Isaac Kinsey first attended school, but vehen he was eleven years old his father returned to the farm which was near the present site of Franklin. About this time his mother died. In the fall of 1835 his father moved to Wayne County, Ind., and here he grew to manhood and finished his education in the schools of Richmond. From the time he reached his majority till 1846 he was principally engaged in the manufacture of brick. In the latter year he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and engaged with his brother Thomas in the produce business. In 1849 his brother went to California, actuated by the gold excitement, leaving Mr. Kinsey to carry on the business alone, which he did successfully till his brother's return in 1852. Having accumulated a neat fortune, he, in the spring of 1852, bought the farm now owned by Mr. Kinsey. It contains 500 acres of the best land in Walnut Level, Wayne County, and the scientific principles upon which it is cultivated are loo well known to require comment. Mr. Kinsey is an experienced horticulturist, growing some of the finest fruit in the county. He was at one time a heavy stockholder in the now famous Hoosier

Drill Works. Sept. 25, 1847, Mr. Kinsey was married to Mary P. Jones. They have no children. In politics he is a strong Hepublican. In religious faith a member of the Society of Friends.

Samuel Larhin was born in England, Feb. 13, 1788, a son of Hugh and Sarah (Sargeant) Larkin. His parents emigrated to the United States and located near Batavia, Ohio, where they both died. When yet a single man he removed to Union County, Ind. He was married in Union County to Hannah Chinault, a native of North Carolina, born in 1800. In 1826 he removed to Wayne County, and settled in Washington Township. He built a carding machine, the first in the county, on his farm, and carried on that business in connection with farming. He died Dec. 16, 1837. His wife died Aug. 4, 1873. They had a f9,mily of six children, only one of whom is a resident of Wayne County - Martha A., wife of D. S.Lee. Moses F. resides in Grant County, Ind. Susana T., Sarah J., Mary E. and William C. are deceased. Mrs. Larkin's parents, Abnerand Mary (Ferguson) Chinault, were natives of JS^orth Carolina, of French descent. They removed to Union County, Ind., in 1811, and settled three miles from Liberty. He was a leading member of the Baptist church and one of the founders of the church in Union County. He died in 1850, aged nearly eighty years. His wife died in 1848, aged sixty-five years. They had a family of eight children, two of whom are living - Mrs. Elizabeth Hubbell, of Union County, Ind., and Mrs. Susan Carter, of Fayette County, Ind. Mrs. Judith Beck, Mrs. Mary Phillips, Mrs. Avos Christman, Mrs. Jane Davis, Mrs. Hannah Larkin and William are deceased.

David S. Lee is a native of Kentucky, and a son of David and Harriet (Mnrdock) Lee, his father a native of Kentucky and his mother of Yennont. His grandfather, Nathaniel Lee, was a native of England, and came to America previous to the Revolutionary war. He was a soldier in the war, and after its close settled in Kentucky, where he died. His wife and her family afterward removed to Oxford, Ohio. In 1836 David Lee with his wife and family settled in Abington Township, Wayne Co., Ind., where he died in 1866, aged seventy-four years. His wife died in 1874, aged seventy, four years. They had a family of ten children, only two living in Wayne County - Almira, wife of H. A. Diltz, and David S. Eliza is deceased. Ormel resides in Tipton County, Md,; Lavinia is the wife of Henry Walters, of Henry County, Ind; Harriet, wife of J. K. Mason, Oxford, Ohio; Laura, wife of John McDonald, of Anderson, Ind. ; Andrew resides in Coles County, 111., and William in Nevada. Our subject was three years of age when his parents settled in Wayne County. He was married in 1863, to Martha A., daughter of Samuel and Hannah Larkin. In 1874 he removed to Milton, where he was engaged in farming till 1881, when he started a nursery of several acres, having 80,000 trees of different varieties. Mr. Lee is a member of Milton Lodge, No. 108, A. F. & A. M. Politically he is a Democrat.

Caleb Lewis^ deceased, was born in Greenbriar County, Va., a son of George and Leah Lewis, natives of Virginia. Caleb came to the then new Northwest when a young, unmarried man. He located at Salisbury, Wayne County, about 1813, and was employed in the grocery store of Israel Abrams a number of years, a portion of the time also working at the carpenter's trade. He married Mary, daughter of Levi and Rachel (Fields) Willetts, and soon after located on land he had purchased south of Centreville, where he lived till 1831, when he removed to Washington Township and located three miles east of Milton, and in 1868 he removed to Milton. He was a Representative in the State Legislature from Wayne County, elected on the Republican ticket, and held many responsible offices of the township. He possessed a broad range of practical knowledge, and good executive ability. He was an active member of the Christian church. He in later life was possessed of a large property, acquired by judicious management and application to business. Mr. Lewis died Feb. 24, 1870, aged seventy-seven years and two days. His wife preceded him six months, aged sixty-six years. They had a family of ten children, seven of whom are living - Mrs. Vashti Drury, Mrs. Leah Y. Scott, Mrs. Sarah Hurst, Mrs. Mary J. Ferguson, Mrs.

Maria Hurst, John M. and Mrs. Minerva Jones. Levi, William and Mrs. Melissa A. Petty are deceased. Sarah was married in 1848 to Dixon Hurst, a native of Wayne County, and a son of John and Elizabeth Hurst. They removed to Fayette County, Ind., where Mr. Hurst died Jan. 12, 1858, a^ed thirty-five years. They had three children - Alice H., wife of H. M. Gresh; Horace L., residing on the old homestead in Fayette County, and Mary, deceased.

Thomas Marlatt, deceased, was a native of Berkeley County, Va.,a son of Abraham and Annie Marlatt, natives of New Jersey. His father was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and subsequently settled in Virginia, and after several years removed to Wayne County, Ind. Two of his twelve children - Thomas and Mary (Marlatt) Connover - became residents of Wayne County. Thomas was married in Virginia, in 1815, to Elizabeth Ballard. He came to this county by teams, and located on section 33, Washington Township, paying $180 for the southeast quarter-section. Politically he was a strong anti-slavery man, and of pronounced temperance views, being one of the first to denounce the use of whisky in the harvest field. He was an active member of the United Brethren church. Mr. Marlatt died March 20, 1877, aged eighty-five years. His wife died March 26, 1875, aged seventy-six years. They had a family ol twelve children - Rebecca, Elizabeth, Evaline, James W., Thomas, Mary, Washington, Harrison, Joseph, Abram K., Albert and Lydia E. Rebecca married Washington Wolf, of Mercer County, 111. Elizabeth married Jeremiah Falls, of Mercer County, 111., and died in 1819, leaving five children. Evaline married Solomon Wolf, of Mercer County, 111. James W. resides in this township. Thomas is a minister of the United Brethren church in Mercer County, 111. Washington is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church in Reilly County, Kan. Joseph is deceased. Albert resides in this township. Lydia E. married Jacob S. Walker, ot Henry County, Ind. Harrison resides in this township. Abram N. was born in this township in 1835. His education was completed at the Whitewater College, Centreville, and at Asbury University, Greencastle, Ind. He joined the South eastern Indiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1863, of which he is still an active member, and has filled some of the most important appointments of the conference. He was married in the fall of 1868, to Anna M. Collins, of Jeffersonville, Ind. Thej have had nine children - Mary C, Sallie M., Walter T., Anna O., Ella N., and four infants deceased.

James W. Marlatt was born in Berkeley County, Ya., Aug. 25, 1822, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Bellar) Marlatt, natives of Yirginia, his father born in 1790 and his mother in 1796. They were married about 1818, and in the spring of 1823 removed to Wayne County, Ind., and settled on Green's Fork Creek, in Washington Township. They afterward lived oil several farms in the township, remaining here till death. Thomas Marlatt was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at Baltimore the night General Ross was killed. He received a pension for services rendered. He and his wife were members of the United Brethren church, and he was Trustee of the Union church twenty-five years. He took an active interest in the church and was always liberal in his contributions for its support. To him and his wife were born thirteen children, nine of whom are living. James W. Marlatt was reared on his father's farm, receiving from him the instruction that has proved of great benefit in his later years. He now owns 500 acres of well improved land in the bottoms of Green's Fork. He is one of the leading stock-raisers of Wayne County, having the reputation of raising and handling the best grade of beef cattle in Eastern Indiana. He has one of the largest herds of short-horn cattle in Wayne County. He has gained a wide reputation as a stock-raiser, and is known and respected all over Wayne and adjoining counties. He is one of the active and progressive men of the county, and is purely a self-made man, having accumulated a good property from comparatively nothing when first starting. He is a member of the National Short- Horn Breeders' Association and the Indiana State Short-Horn Breeders' Association, and has been a member of the executive committee several tears. Oct. 1, 1855, Mr. Marlatt was married to Anna, daughter of Christian Saur, of German descent.

She died in 1857 leaving two children - Mary Ellen and William Harrison, both deceased. Jan. 1, 1861, Mr. Marlatt 1 married Athelia Crawford, a native of Milton, Ind., and a daughter of William and Matilda Crawford. To them have been born seven children - Freemout, OUie, Laura, James, Gertrude, Marcia and Flora May.

Charles iV. J!/c6^/'6w?, deceased, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, Jan. 9, 1817, a son of William and Charlotte McGrew, and wljen he was quite small his parents moved to Wayne County, Ind., where he was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. He was a very successful business man and accumulated a handsome fortune, owning at the time of his death 160 acres of well-improved land, I situated in the bottom of Nolan's Fork. He was one of the prominent men of the township, and served as Trustee several years prior to his death. He was a member in high standing of Milton Lodge, No. 108, F. & A. M., and Milton Lodge, No. Ill, L O. O. F. Mr. McGrew died Feb. 10, 1877, aged sixty years. He was married in 1844 to Melinda, daughter of Dickson and Eliza Hurst. She was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1819, but came with her parents to Wayne County when quite young. To Mr. and Mrs. McGrew were born eight children, but one of whom, Ida J., is living. The deceased are - Maranda, Mary M., Alfred L., Marcus D., and three infants, unnamed. Their daughter Maranda was married when seventeen years of age to Abner Daily, who only lived two months after their marriage. Eleven months later she died leaving a son, Charles Abner, who was reared by his grandmother, Mrs. McGrew. He has now had control of the farm four years, and is a young man of extraordinary good business ability, and is very enterprising and energetic. Mrs. McGrew is now enjoying a quiet old age with her only daughter and grandson on the old homestead where she settled when first married.

Will ia7n MGLaughlin, SigQut Fort Wayne, Cincinnati, &, Louisville Railroad, Milton, Ind., was born in Lancaster County, Pa., July 24, 1813, a son of Francis and Elizabeth (Clouse) McLaughlin. His father was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and started to come to America when eighteen years of age, but was captured while on shipboard by an English press-gang and forced into the British navy, where he served three years on a man-of-war. He then came to the United States and located in Lancaster County, Pa., in a neighborhood of the descendants of Presbyterian emigrants from his native county, who had been fellow sufferers, through the tyrrany of British oppression to all Nonconformists. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was by trade a weaver. He was married in Pennsylvania to Elizabeth Clouse and in 1836 removed to Ohio, and subsequently to Indianapolis. His wife died in Circleville, Ohio, in 1840, and he in Indianapolis, in 1856. They had a family of five children - James, William, John, Catherine Ann and Mary Jane, our subject being the only one living. He remained at home till fifteen years of age. He received a limited education in the common schools but by application he was enabled to teach school, a vocation he followed in his native county and in Ohio. He served an apprenticeship of three years at the carpenter's trade, and while in Ohio worked at his trade in connection with teaching. He came to Milton in 1846 and worked at his trade till 1862 when he was appointed Assistant United States Revenue Assessor of this district, and served three years. He was appointed to his present position in 1865. Through his own efforts he gained a knowledge of the law, and was admitted to the bar in 1851. He has been repeatedly a member of the Town Council and the School Board. In 1848 he was a candidate for Representative of Wayne County, on the Free-Soil ticket, but was defeated by twelve votes. Politically he is a Democrat and has always taken a great interest in political matters. He is a member of Milton Lodge, No. 108, F. & A. M., and Cambridge Chapter, No. 9, R. A. M. He has been connected with the Christian church a number of years. Mr. McLaughlin was married in 1832 to Abigail Zell. They have had twelve children, seven of whom are living - Mary J., Sarah E., Ann M., Amanda E., Marcellus L., Americus D. and Minerva A. The deceased are - George W., James H., Francis M., William H., and one who died in infancy.

William H. Moore was born in Guilford County, K. C, in 1823, a son of Thomas and Anne (Hubbard) Moore. When he was fourteen years of age his parents came to Wayne County, Ind., and his educational advantages were therefore limited. In 1842 he located in Milton where he has since been engaged in business. He worked at the tanner's trade till 1849, and from 1850 till 1852 was in the mercantile business. He was in partnership with Jesse Hiatt in the dry-goods business a year, and from 1854 till 1860 was in partnership with his brother, Charles H. He then bought his brother's interest and carried on the business alone till 1864. In 1856 he built the store room now occupied by Morris, Moore & Co, In the fall of 1865 the Citizens' Bank of Milton was established and he became one of the stockholders and was elected President, and two years later was elected Cashier, holding that position three years when the enterprise was abandoned. In 1868 he bought a mill which he operated till its destruction by lire in 1871. In 1872 he formed a partnership with Henry Myers and N. R. Nixon and built a paper-mill which, with some changes in the ownership, was operated till 1876 when it was destroyed by fire, about a month after Mr. Moore sold his interest. Since that time he has been engaged in the furniture business. In November, 1882, Mr. Moore purchased a lot, No 1, corner Moore and West Seventh streets, and a two-story brick building 85 X 85 feet in size, the corner room a hotel and three business rooms on the second floor of the house. Politically he is a Republican, casting his first vote for Henry Clay. He was elected Township Trustee in 1865, and took a prominent part in the erection of the large school building in Milton. He was married in 1859 to Mahala J., daughter of William Petty. They have had seven children - Elizabeth, Charles E., Mattie, Carrie, Thomas F., Willie and Hannah, all deceased but Thomas F. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are members of the Society of Friends. In 1837 Mr. Moore's parents came to Indiana and located half a mile east of Milton, and two years later removed to a farm north of Cambridge City. There was a family of fifteen children - Frances, Susanna (died in infancy), Mary P., Charles H., Susan,

Smith, Clarkson, Ann, Ei chard W., Lambert, Ariedna, Elizabeth W., Jacob H., John T., William H. All are deceased save Richard W. and William H. Mr, and Mrs. Thomas Moore were reared in the Methodist church, but after their marriage joined the Society of Friends. Mrs. Moore rode forty miles on horseback to the nearest meeting to join the society. She was subsequently a minister of the society and was noted for her piety and zeal. Mr. Moore was an Elder many years. He was Postmaster at New Garden, N. C, over twenty years. He was a strong anti-slavery man and an old-line Whig, taking a great interest in the liberation of the colored race. He died in 1845, aged seventy-five years, and his wife in 1854, aged seventy-four years.

Jonathan Newman^ a son of John and Rachel Newman,' was born in the south part of Guilford County, N. C, Dec. 3, 1794. He was reared a member of the Society of Friends, belonging to Centre Meeting. About the year 1820 he was united in marriage with Eleanor, daughter of William and Ester Dicks, who also belonged to the Quakers, and whose home was headquarters for visiting friends at Centre. They married out of meeting, and that being against the rules of the society, they sent in a letter to the meeting desiring to be retained as members. That was dated March, instead of third month, as the rule required, which the meeting returned for correction; that they failed to do, and were disowned. He afterward joined a militia company in Fentriss Township, was elected a Captain, and served in that capacity for thirteen years. In the summer of 1836 he sold his plantation (the name by which farms went in that country at that day) and in the fall, with his family, moved to and settled in Milton, Wayne Co., Ind., arriving there about the middle of November of the same year. There he opened a shop and carried on wagon-making, that being his occupalion, in which business he continued while living. He served a number of years as Justice of the Peace in Washington Township, and was also Town Trustee and School Director. It was under his directorship that the first school-house was built in Washington Township, and located in Milton, by taxation, in the year 1846, the same brick building being now used by the F.

W. & M. Kailroad Company, as a freight depot, it having been donated to the company by the town of Milton, at the completion of the present public school building. He reared 1 a family of six children, all of whom still live in and around JVIilton - Edmund B., Granville S., Elizabeth, Milo, Sallie and Henry C. He died April 4, 1855, and his widow died Aug. 16, 1870, the latter aged seventy-one years.

Edmund Burke Newman^ eldest child of Jonathan and Eleanor Newman, was born in Fentriss Township, near Centre meeting, ten miles south of Greensboro, Guilford Co., N. 'C, Sept. 1, 1826. He entered school in his sixth year, and the teacher of that school, S. Swim - then called master - is still living in Guilford County. Edmund came with his parents to Milton, Wayne Co., Ind., where they settled about the middle of November, 1836. At this place he received such an education as the common schools of that day afforded, having spent the last two years of his school days in the seminary at Cambridge City, Ind., where he studied Latin, German and some of the higher branches of mathematics, under the preceptorship of Prof. Samuel K. Hoshour. In the summer of 1846 he began teaching school in Dudley Township, Henry County, Ind., at which place he remained two years, and continued at the business, with one or two short intervals for ten years. His teaching was confined to the counties of Henry, "Wayne and Fayette, having taught one year in New Castle, Henry County, and three years at Milton, in Wayne. Sept. 1, 1847, he was united in marriage with Mary A., only daughter of William D. and Esther Harden, pioneer settlers of Wayne County, though living at the time of their daughter's marriage in Henry County, three miles west of Dublin, in the same neighborhood where Newman was teaching. In politics he was originally a Whig, and cast his first vote for President in 1848, for Zachariah Taylor. Upon the dissolution of that party he joined the Kepnblican party, and has ever since remained an earnest supporter oi the principles, measures and men of that party on the stump, through the press and at the ballot-box. During the last years of his school-teaching he devoted what time he had out of the school-room to reading law, and in September, 1857, he was admitted to the bar in Centreville, under the Circuit Judgeship of John T. Elliott, afterward one of the Supreme Judges of the State, and notwithstanding his remote location from the county seat, and the large number of learned and eminent attorneys belonging to the Wayne County bar, he soon succeeded in gathering up a living practice. In 1860 he was elected without opposition one of the representatives from Wayne County to the Indiana Legislature, in which body he was appointed a member of the Committee on Federal Relations, of the Committee on the Organization of Courts, and also a member of the Select Committee of Thirteen, to whom was referred a series of important resolutions, introduced at the beginning of the session on the disturbed State of the Union. He served in the special session of the Legislature of 1861, called by Governor Morton, after the attack on Fort Sumter, to make preparations to aid the ]S^ational Government in suppressing the Southern rebellion and preserving the Union. He was re-elected to the same position in 1862, and served through the memorable and stormy session of 1863, and aided by the only available peaceable means that could be adopted to defeat the bill being pushed for its passage, taking the military power out of the hands of the Governor and placing it with a Military Board, a majority of whom were opposed to the further prosecution of the war. After the close of the war Mr. Newman was appointed Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue, which position he held for six years, having for his district the counties of Henry, Wayne, Fayette and Union. Since the year 1873 he has been connected with the office of Township Assessor in Washington Township, and is still employed in that business. He has had born to him five children - the eldest, Lawrence W., died when near three years old; the other four, Florence A., Rutledge H., Homer E. and Virgil G., are all over twenty-one years of age, and live in Wayne County, Homer being the only one married.

Benjamin Peirce^ farmer, postofiice Centreville, Ind., was born in Chesterfield, Hampshire Co., Mass., May 26, 1812, a son of Benjamin and Deborah (James) Peirce, and a grandson of Benjamin Peirce, of Situate, Mass. His father was born in Chesterfield in 1777, and his mother in Goshen, Mass., in 1777. Jlis early life was spent with his parents. After arriving at maturity he went to Canada and remained three years, a part of the time in the lumber trade on the Madawaska, and later on the St. Lawrence Canal. He then went to Virginia and for three years was a contractor on the James River and Kanawha canals. In the fall of 1838 he came to Indiana and completed the contracts on the Whitewater Canal. After the cessation of business on the canals in this State he bought a farm in Fayette County, on which he resided till 1846, when he bought the farm in "Wayne County where he now resides. He was married in Wayne County in 1843, to Lusinai, daughter of David Jenkins, an early settler of the county. Of their ten children but four are living; three are residents of Wayne County, and one of Wamego, Kan. Mr. Peirce has a good farm of 240 acres, all well improved, and is one of the most substantial citizens of the county. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

J. W. St. Clair, M. Z>., was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1841, a son of Wm. R. and Sarah (De Coup) St. Clair, his father a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Ohio. He received his early education in the common schools, and in 1860 began reading medicine under the direction of Dr. C.N. Branch, of Hamilton Count}'-, Ind., remaining with him six years. In the meantime he attended lectures at the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating in 1866. He located in Strawtown, Hamilton Co., Ind., and in 1872 removed to Germantown, Wayne County, thence, in 1879, to Milton, where he now has an extensive practice. He is also associated with W. L. Parkins in the drug business, and has a well-stocked store. He was married in 1866 to Mary C. Mosbaugh. They have had four children - Laura H., Nora 0., Eva M. and George R. Dr. St. Clair is a member of Milton Lodge, No. Ill, I. O. O. F.

/. F. Sweney^ M. i>., Milton, Ind., was born at Winchester, Preble Co., Ohio, Feb. 2, 1885, a son of William and Susan (Sayler) Sweney, his father a native of Adams County, Pa., and his mother of Preble County, Ohio. He was reared on a farm, l)ut received sufficient education to enable him to teacli, and while thus engaged commenced the study of medicine under the direction of his uncle, Dr. C. Sayler. He then attended a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati. After practicing two or three months he enlisted as a private in Company C, Eighty-fourth Indiana Infantry. He participated in the battles of Chickamauga, the Atlanta campaign, Nashville, Franklin, and in the fall of 1864 was appointed Hospital Steward of the regiment. He was afterward commissioned Assistant Surgeon, but owing to the close of the war was never mustered in. He was discharged in 1865, and soon after entered the Ohio Medical College, from which he graduated in 1866, and has since given his exclusive attention to a large and increasing practice. He was married Oct. 10, 1865, to Minerva Eikenberg, of Preble County, Ohio. They have had three children - William E., Harvey S. and Loretta B, the two latter deceased. Dr. Sweney is a member of Milton Lodge, No. Ill, I. O. O. F., and Wm. A. Boyd Post, No. 129, G. A. K., Dublin, Ind.

John Wallace was born in Yirginia and reared in Kentucky. In 1811 he came to Wayne County, Ind., and selected land in Washington Township, which was settled by his father's family in 1813. He entered three quarter-sections of land, a part of which is now owned by Oliver Wallace. He was married in 1815 to Mary, daughter of Adam Banks, who came from Kentucky to Wayne County, Ind., about 1813. To them were born twelve children, nine of whom survive - Oliver, Cyrus, John, William, Preston, Sarah (Wallace) Wright, Eichard, Emily (Wallace) Williams and Allen. James, Stephen and an infant daughter are deceased. Mr. Wallace was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was successful in business and accumulated a large property. He died Sept. 23, 1842, aged sixty-two years. His wife survived till Feb. 27, 1867, and died at the age of sixty -eight years. Our subject's father, John Wallace, Sr., was a native of Yirginia, and was well advanced in years when he came to this county, where he died about 1820. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and adhered to the doctrines of the Presbyterian church.

John Wallace, son of John Wallace, was born on the old lioniestead in Wayne County, Ind., Sept. 3, 1822. He was reared to farm life and educated at the subscription schools. In 1.S48 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Joel and Saraii (Bierly) Wrights. To them have been born four children - William M., Savauah D. (was born in 1856 and died in 1860), Frank W. and Josephine. Since his marriage Mr. Wallace has resided on part of the land entered by his father. He has an excellent farm containing 153 acres of highly cultivated land. He also owns some fine horses, cattle and hoo-s. He was engaged in the mercantile business in Milton four years, but not meeting with success he abandoned it and returned to farming. Mr. Wallace has a powder horn that was carried by his grandfather in the Revolutionary war.

Robet't Watt was born in Fayette County, Pa., Dec. 15, 1821, and in x\pril, 1822, his parents moved to Union County, Ind., where he was reared and educated. His boyhood was spent on the farm and in teaming. August, 1848, he came to Wayne County, Ind., and settled in Washington Township on his present farm. At that time it was in the woods, but he cleared and cultivated it, and now has 220 acres of the finest land in the township. He also for several years traded extensivel}' in horses, taking them in droves over the mountains to Baltimore. He was married in 1847 to Silvira Hurst, a native of Wayne County, Ind., born Oct. 29, 1824, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth Hurst, natives of Maryland. To Mr. and Mrs. Watt have been born four children, three sons and a daughter, the sons all married and living in Wayne County. Politically Mr. Watt is a Democrat. His parents, William and Rhoda (Seaton) Watt, were natives of Pennsylvania, his father born Dec. 6, 1796, and his mother Feb. 12, 1793. His father was by trade a hatter, and followed that business in his native State several years after his marriage. In April, 1822, he moved to Brownsville, Union Co., Ind., and worked at his trade till 1833, when he moved to a farm a mile and a quarter northwest of town, where he lived till his death, Feb. 17, 1879. His wife died in October, 1868. They were both active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. All of their ten children are living. Mr. Watt was politi- cally an ardent Democrat. He was a very prominent man in the conntj. He represented Union County in the State Legislature seven terms, from 1831 to 1844. and in the State Senate two terms. He was County Commissioner three terms, and was a delegate to Indianapolis when the State Constitution was revised. He was Major of the State Muster in an early day. He was an honest politician, and one respected by all who knew him, serving his county and State with fidelity and the same good business ability that characterized his management of personal affairs.

Elisha Willetts, farmer, Washington Township, was born in Pennsylvania, Feb. 27, 1794, a son of Jesse Willetts, also of Pennsylvania. In 1798 his parents removed to Ohio, and in 1814 to Wayne County, Ind., and settled on the farm where Mr. Willetts now resides. When eighteen years of age he enlisted in the war of 1812, and served till the close of the war. Jan. 20, 1820, he was married to Mary, daughter of James and Sarah Hannah, natives of Delaware. To them were born twelve children - Kelson, born Nov. 27, 1820; Sarah, Feb. 17, 1822; Clarissa, Dec. 5, 1823; Elias,born Aug. 12, 1826, died Nov. 2, 1881; Joanna, born Feb. 26, 1828; James,born May 19, 1830; Hugh, born March 27, 1832, died March 8, 1840; Jesse, born Feb. 21, 1835, died Oct. 26, 1861; Margaret, born Feb. 24, 1837, died Aug. 11, 1838; Samuel E., born Jan. 26, 1839; William I., born Jan. 5, 1841; and Anna M., born Aug. 4, 1844. One son served two years in the war of the Kebellion. Mrs. Willetts died Nov. 12, 1878, aged seventyeight years. She was a very active member of the Methodist Episcopal church several years prior to her death. After his marriage Mr. Willetts first settled on a farm a half a mile east of his present residence, which, however, he still owns. At that time it was situated in the woods, bnt he, by industry and perseverance, improved and cultivated it till it became one of the finest farms in Washington Township. For several years he was obliged to go to Brookville, a distance of forty miles, to get his milling done. He owns 441 acres of excellent land, all well improved, in Washington Township, which he has accumulated by his own exertions. He has always been a hard-working man, and being possessed of good executive ability has managed his business successfully, and now stands with the head men in the township in wealth and influence. Public spirited and benevolent, he has assisted gladly in all enterprises of benefit to the township. He is the oldest settler of Washington Township, and is honored and revered by all. His life has been one of many trials and privations, but he is now reaping a reward for his patience in

James Williarns was born on the honaestead in Wayne County, Ind., in 1822. He was married in 1850 to Emily Wallace who was born on the Wallace homestead in 1831, dauo-hter of John Wallace. To them were born three children Amanda E., married Albert Caldwell, and died leavino- one child, Amanda, who resides with her grandfather, Mr. Williams; Willard E., married Fannie M. Potter; Sarah I., wife of Oliver H. Beeson. Mr. Williams has followed farming through life on the place where he was born and still resides, and owns an excellent farm of 20(> acres. His father, Joseph Williams, was born in Kockbridge County, Ya., in 1787, a son of Thomas Williams, of Welsh descent. He lived in Kentucky until he was about twelve years old, when he moved with his parents to Indiana, and first settled near Harrison, and afterward moved to near Brookville, Ind., where his parents died. Here he was married to Charity Adams, who was born in Stokes County in 1785, and in 1814 he settled on the farm now occupied by James Williams, where he entered 160 acres of land. He lived here till his children came to maturity, when he moved to Fairview, Rush Co., Ind., where his death occurred in 1855 at the age of sixty-eight years. He was a local preacher in the Methodist Protestant church of considerable notoriety. His wife died in 1850 at the age of sixty-five years. To them were born ten children, nine of whom grew to maturity - Wesley, of Hancock County, Ind.; William, deceased; Deborah, widow of Isaac Harden, of Marion County, Ind.; Nancy, deceased; Mary, deceased, wife of John Howard, St. Paul, Minn.; Thomas; James; Joseph, of Hancock County, Ind.; Rachel, wife of James H. Hart, of Marion County, Ind.

Jehu WiUon^ deceased, was born in Pennsylvania in 1763 and with his family emigrated to Wayne County, Ind. He settled in Wasliington Township on the farm where hisgrandson, Isaac Wilson, now resides, purchasing 160 acres at first, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was married to Sarah Hawkins, of South Carolina, and to them were born the following children - John, Seth, Betta, Ruth, Gideon and Isaac, all of whom became residents of Wayne County except Isaac, who died in childhood. Jehu Wilson and wife belonged to the Society of Friends till death. Their youngest son, Gideon, was a native of Ohio. He was married to Margaret Charles and settled on the old homestead where he resided till his death. He died Nov. 27, 1850, and his wife's death. occurred Nov. 11, 1864. They belonged to the Society of Orthodox Friends. They had eight children - Charles, Alvira, Isaac, Sarah, John, Jehu H., Emma (wife of Finley Ferguson), and one who died in infancy. Charles, Isaac and Emma reside in Wayne County. Charles Wilson was born on the homestead in 1835. He married Susan J., daughter of John and Sarah Whisler, of this county, and to them have been born four children - Albert, Addie, Emma, and an infant deceased. He and his wife are members of the Society of Friends.

Isaac Wilson^ son of Gideon Wilson, was born on the old homestead in Wayne County, Ind., July 15, 1838. He was reared on the farm and received a fair education in the common schools. He was married Oct. 1, 1863, to Susan, daughter of William and Abigail Edgerton, of Wayne County. Of the four children born to them three are living - William G., Ina M. and Edward. Rena A. died at the age of two years. Since his marriage Mr. Wilson has resided on the homestead, where he is engaged in agricultural pursuits. He and wife have a birthright in the Society of Friends, and he is an Elder of the same society.

B. M. Witmer. M. Z>., was born in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1816, a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Witmer, natives of Pennsylvania. His parents came to Indiana in 1823, and settled in Washington Township, Wayne County, where they both died, his father aged seventy-one years and his mother ao-ed eighty-two ^^ears. They had a family of five children - Martha M., John, B. M., Jacob and Rudolph. John and B. M. are the only ones living. After receiving a limited education in the early schools, B. M., when eighteen years of age, began the study of medicine. He first began reading in the old school, but after deliberate investigation he cbose the eclectic system, and after great and persistent opposition from the old practitioners has built up a large and lucrative practice, having proved himself a skillful and successful physician. He of late years has withdrawn from general practice, attending only such cases as demand liis personal attention. He is a member of the Christian church, and one of its most zealous workers. Dr. Witmer was married in 1846 to Elizabeth, daughter of William and Charlotte Mc_ Grew. They have had six children - Wooster M. C, Cassius M., Nora A., Alphareta, Mortimor and Idora A., the two latter deceased.

Source changes here: from Memoirs of Wayne County and the City of Richmond Indiana, by Hon. Henry Clay Fox, published 1912; 173 words in this source stream.

Washington Township

Washington Township

Washington township lies in the southwestern corner of Wayne county and was established in 1817. The surface is variable, being broken by the White Water and its tributaries. Thomas Symonds was probably the first settler. He arrived in the limits of the township in December, 1811. It is said that he and his wife were much annoyed by Indian beggars and wild animals that approached their cabin by night and by day. Benjamin Beeson, from North Carolina, settled south of the present town of Milton in 1814, and in 1811 Thomas Beard, from North Carolina, settled southeast of the present town of Milton.

Milton was laid out by John Bell in 1824, and in 1825 the town contained eight families. In the early history of the county it was one of the enterprising business centers and was an important point on the old White Water canal. The Methodist Episcopal church probably formed the first religious organization, as early as 1818, but about 1819 the Friends established a church and named it Milford Meeting.