1883 Jasper County Biographies


George W. Burk, County Commissioner, was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., July 31, 1833. His father, John Burk, was a native of Jamestown, Va.; was reared a farmer, and came with his parents to Tippecanoe County, where he afterward married Miss Sarah E. Phillips, whose father, Simon Phillips, settled in said county in 1823. He had served as Captain in the Revolutionary war, and died aged sixty-wight. John Burk's family were Lavina J., Goerge W., Maria L., Joseph, Mary A., Delilah A., Cornelius, Clarise F. and Charles. Our subject, February 19, 1857, married David B. Nowels; Lilly Ann, born November 25, 1859, married Wallace Robinson; Eva A., born November 25 1861; Edmond J., born September 7, 1863; George M., born August 9, 1875, and Bessie A., born February 9, 1879. The Kentons (originally O'Canton), emigrated from Ireland to Virginia. According to an old record in possession of Mr. Burk, Mark O'Canton was born in Ireland in 1701, and died in Pittsburgh, Penn., on his way to buy land in Kentucky, October 16, 1783. His son, William Kenton, was born in Fauquier County, Va., September 20, 1737; married Mary Clelland, December 15, 1763, and died after fasting for forty days. The record also has: Mary Clelland, wife of William Kenton, died in 1783. Edmond C., Eliza, William H., Rebecca F., Elizabeth Ann, Mary J., and Benjamin F., were the children. Edmond C. was the father of Mrs. George Burk, and died July 16, 1852. George is an industrious and worthy farmer, a strong advocate of education, and a friend to every enterprise that promises good. His own education was much neglected, but he made up for that deprivation by diligent and systematic study. His farm lies in the north part of the township, and is well improved.

Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper & Newton Indiana - Historical and Biographical
F. A. Bettey & Co., Publishers. Chicago: 1883

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Mordecai F. Chilcote, one of the leading attorneys and counselors at law of Rensselaer, and son of Mordecai and Elizabeth (Culbertson) Chilcote, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, November 4, 1840, where his early life was spent on the farm, and where he received a fair school education. Moved by a desire for knowledge, and purpose to be and do something, he made the best use of such limited facilities as were afforded for storing his mind with useful information. Thus, like many others who have risen to eminence, he studied at home, and memorized rules and definitions while ar work. In this way he added to the little gained in the short terms of the schools, until by the time he had reached the proper age to support himself at school, he had acquired a fair knowledge of the primary branches of learning. After the removal of his parents to Michigan, he attended the seminary, and at the age of eighteen entered Olivet College in that State, at which time Mr. Faichild, who was after elected Lieutenant Governor of the State, was President. After his graduation, he taught several terms of district schools. At the breaking out of the war in 1861, he enlisted for three months' service in the Ninth Indiana Infantry, and at the call of the President for more troops, he joined the Forty-eighth Regiment, and after six months was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and came home Captain; he served in the department of Tennessee and West Virginia, and was with his regiment in all its marches and engagements. At the close of the war, he taught school, and afterward engaged in the practice of law in Rensselaer.

In September, 1865, he married Miss Lizzie H., daughter of Nathaniel and Hannah (Sering) Hammond, and sister of the Hon. E. P. Hammond, all of this State. The result of the union was three children - Fred L., Gaylord H. and Mary T. Nathaniel Hammond was born in Blue Hill, Me., in 1786, and died in 1877; his wife, formerly Hannah Sering, was born in Ohio in 1803.

Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper & Newton Indiana - Historical and Biographical
F. A. Bettey & Co., Publishers. Chicago: 1883

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John Coen was born in Knox County, Ohio, March 14, 1824, and is a son of John and Asenath (Mills) Coen, the former a native of Washington County, Penn., born in 1793, the latter of the same State, born in 1794, and of Irish and Welsh descent. These parties removed in the early times to Knox County, Ohio, where they reared a family of nine children - Marilla A. (widow of James A. Porter), Isaac, Joshua (deceased), Rachel (deceased), John, Rhoda (deceased), Thomas, William S. and Hugh E. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Isaac Mills, served seven years as a Revolutionary soldier. John Coen, our subject, was reared a farmer, and was married, in 1844, to Sarah, daughter of James Miller, of Ohio, whose mother, Mary McCabe, is said to have been the first white child born in Cincinnati, Ohio. To this union were granted the following children: Teszia P., Charles F. (deceased), Mary McCabe (deceased), Jennie Marrilla, Rosilla and Hattie W. Mr. Coen came to this county in 1852, and purchased 160 acres two miles northwest of Rensselaer; he is now proprietor of one of the finest nurseries in the county, keeps a variety of the best bearing trees, and is located one-quarter of a mile north of Rensselaer.

Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper & Newton Indiana - Historical and Biographical
F. A. Bettey & Co., Publishers, Chicago: 1883

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F.L. Cotton, of the firm of Cotton and Patton, grain, lumber and livestock merchants, was born in West Virginia in the year 1849; his father, W. R. Cotton, was likewise a native of Virginia; he is still living, aged sixty-four. F. L. Cotton was married October 6, 1869, to Miss Lee A. Patton, who was born in Greene County, Penn. To these parents were born three children - Ella May, Homer and Don, of whom the two first are deceased. Richard Patton, father of Mrs. Cotton, is also a native of Greene County, Penn.; he has reared a family of three girls and one boy. Elvira married George A. Nolan, Chief Examiner in the patent office at Washington, who died in 1873, and his wife a few hours later on the same day, leaving one child, George, who is now in the keeping of his Grandfather Patton. Mr. Cotton has been in business near Rensselaer for almost seven years, and is an energetic and respected citizen.

Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper & Newton Indiana - Historical and Biographical
F. A. Bettey & Co., Publishers. Chicago: 1883

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Thomas H. Davisson, Postmaster at Pleasant Ridge, was born in Johnson County, Ind., in 1836, and is a son of M. E. and Mahala J. (Earlywine) Davisson, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of Kentucky. Our subject's father moved to Johnson County many years ago, where he bought land, farmed for a time, sold the same and came to this county in 1844, where he bought a claim of 160 acres in Barkley Township, which he improved, sold, and then built a mill, which he sold to John Haddocks, as afterward known by his name. He also built other mills, and now resides in Pulaski County, where is a Justice of the Peace. His family comprises three girls and five boys, three of whom died in the late war - Daniel and Jesse at Nashville, and Hezekiah at Louisville. Thomas H. Davisson was a member of Company G. Ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry; and was wounded at the battle of Stone River December 31, 1862, from which he is yet crippled. He was wedded March 4, 1864, to Helen M. Draper, who died in October 1876, and was next married, in 1877, to Nancy McColley, of this county.

Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper & Newton Indiana - Historical and Biographical
F. A. Bettey & Co., Publishers. Chicago: 1883

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John W. Duvall, livery keeper, is a native of Darke County, Ohio, and was born January 9, 1827. His father was Daniel Duvall, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in 1845, leaving seven children, of whom but three survive. Daniel Duvall was an early settler of Ohio, whence he removed to Kosciusko County, Ind., about 1835, and from there to Jasper County in 1842. John W. Duvall was married, July 15, 1850, to Rebecca Ann, daughter of Crawford Anderson. Mrs. Duvall died August 20, 1867. In 1868, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Edmond Kenton, of this county, and a native of Jasper County, to which union succeeded two children - Edmond D. and Ora. Mr. Duvall engaged in the livery business. In company with a brother, Samuel O., in 1856, but now carries on said business alone. Mr. Duvall is an enterprising, benevolent gentleman, upon whose shoulders fell the main support of his brothers and sisters. The children born to his first marriage are Martha J., Cyrus W., Samuel H., Mry D., Jannie and Albertie.

Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper & Newton Indiana - Historical and Biographical
F. A. Bettey & Co., Publishers. Chicago: 1883

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Robert Starbuck Dwiggins was born November 12, 1834, in Clinton County, Ohio. His father, Daniel Dwiggins, moved to Grant County, Ind., in 1836. The country was then wild, there being many Indians and much game. In March, 1858, he came to Rensselaer, where he has since resided. He was born in 1807, and married Mary Starbuck, born in 1811; they are both living in good health. Their ancestors came from the Island of Nantucket, Mass. Edward Starbuck, great-great-grandfather of our subject, was one of the original purchasers of that island in 1659. Robert attended the common schools, and when seventeen years old went to Antioch College, Ohio, but, being afflicted with inflamed eyes, was unable to continue his studies for five years. He worked on a farm until twenty-four years of age, and in March, 1859, came to Rensselaer, and entered the law office of R. H. Milroy (Gen. Milroy), and commenced practice in 1860. In 1861, he enlisted in the Ninth Indiana Regiment unter Capt. Milroy, for three months, and served through the West Virginia campaign. In 1862, Gov. Motron commissioned him a recruiting Lieutenant; he enlisted over 200 men for the Eight-seventh Indiana Volunteers, and also a company for the Ninety-ninth Regiment, but, being taken sick, and the quota of the State being full, he did not again enter the service. He continued practicing law until 1879, when he and his brother, Zimri, organized the Citizens' Bank of Rensselaer, in which he is still engaged. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1860, and appointed Inspector of tobacco, snuff and cigars in 1867. He was Presidential Elector on the Republican ticket in 1868, and elected to represent the counties of Jasper, Benton, Newton, White and Pulaski in the State Senate in 1870; he was an Abolitionist before the organization of the Republican party. One of his brothers died from sickness contracted in the army. In 1862, Mr. Dwiggins married Miss Fannie Travis, born in Clarion County, Penn., May 1, 1836. They have two sons - Elmer, aged nineteen, now at Michigan University; and Jay, aged sixteen, now at the Military Academy at Orchard Lake, Mich.; they had also one daughter, Gertie, who died when two years old. He is a member of the Church of God, and holds a letter from the Indiana Conference, recommending him as a proclaimer of the Gospel.

Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper & Newton Indiana - Historical and Biographical
F. A. Bettey & Co., Publishers. Chicago: 1883

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R Fendig, merchant is a native of Bavaria, Germany, was born in 1836, and is a son of Benjamin and Nancy (Abraham) Fendig, the former a native of Germany. These parents had seven children, three of whom are deceased. Our subject emigrated to America in 1854. He went first to Hartford, Conn., for two years, thence to Macon, Ga., in which State and in Alabama he resided and did business six years, and in 1862 removed to New York, dodging the rebel forces on the way. He was in business at Chicago until 1870, when he came to Rensselaer and became a partner with Mr. Leopold, and afterward began general mercantile business on his own account. Mr. Fendig was married in Milwaukee to Miss Ruble, from which untion descended five children - Tillie, Benjamin, Albert, Louis and Samuel. Mr. Fendig has been successful although utterly without means after coming to the United States. He is Treasurer of a Masonic Lodge, and has been School Trustee. He is a liberal, enterprising man, and greatly esteemed in the community.

Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper & Newton Indiana - Historical and Biographical
F. A. Bettey & Co., Publishers. Chicago: 1883

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Braziller F. Ferguson was born in Randolph County, N.C. May 31, 1850. His father, George W. Ferguson, was a native of the same county, was reared a farmer, and married, in North Carolina, Miss Nancy Miller, with an issue of four children - Eliza S., Braziller F., William H. and one deceased. Mr. Ferguson was a school teacher up to 1863, and about 1965 engaged in mercantile business in Tippecanoe County, where Mrs. Ferguson died January 25, 1865, aged thirty-six. In September, 1865, Mr. Ferguson married Miss Malinda Clevinger, and died October 9, 1969. Our subject finished his schooling at Battle Gound and commenced to work when about thirteen years old; taught school, studied theology, entered the ministry, and preached at Badger's Grove, Francesville and Rensselaer. In 1874, he engaged in the lumber trade, and did business also at Francesville, and in the same year he married Miss Martha Robinson, who died January 2, 1882, leaving one child - George W. March 7 1883, Mr. Ferguson married Miss Hattie Coen, of Rensselaer, daughter of John Coen. The parent of Mr. Ferguson were Methodists, but he is a Baptist.

Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper & Newton Indiana - Historical and Biographical
F. A. Bettey & Co., Publishers. Chicago: 1883

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Daniel Grant was born in Fauquier County, Va., in 1797. When a boy he emigrated to Kentucky with his parents, where he was reared, meagerly educated and afterward married Rebecca Hale, born in Fleming County, that State , in 1803, daughter of Abraham and Amelia (Pickerel) Hale. Daniel Grant, father of the above, was for seven years a Revolutionary soldier, and was the parent of nine children, of whom Daniel was the only survivor. Our subject's family are: James W., born in Fleming County, Ky., in 1821, and in 1848 married America, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Gia) Bantham, of Wabash County, in this State, which union produced six children - Leslie C., Laura E., Serepta (deceased), Charles B., Eliza James, daughter of Daniel James. Thomas H. married, in 1847, Martha, daughter of John and Catharine (Coon) McDaniel of Wabash County; to this union were born five children - Livonia, Rebecca C., Daniel F., John A. and Schuyler C.; Mrs. Grant died in 1860, and Mr. Grant married, in 1863, Hannah Hamphill, formerly of Ohio. Washington S. was born in Kentucky in 1826; married Lovina Hurley; he has sixty acres of good land, and five children living - Josie, Harvey, Dalla, Rollie and Warner. Francis Marion was born in Kentucky in 1826, and married in this county in 1846 to Phebe Morland, daughter of Joseph and Almond (Hayes) Morland, residents of this county, to which union were bestowed five children - Lucy G., U. U., Nellie, Edmund H. and Grace. Ruth married Fleming Phillips. Evaline C. (Deceased) was the wife of David Carr. Amelia (deceased) was the wife of Jacob Troxel. Josie is the wife of Norman Warner. Alton was born in Wabash County, Ind., in 1839, and married, in 1875, to Miss Maggie Dilon, whose parents were old settlers of that county, and now deceased; the fruit of this union was two children - Charlie and Garland. Shelby was born in Wabash County in1843, served a period of two years in the late war, and was married, in 1869, to Caroline Israel, a native of Indiana, born in 1844, daughter of Archibald and Amy (Parr) Israel, formerly of Tennessee. Daniel Grant is one of the best farmers in this section. He emigrated to Rush County in 1827, to Wabash County in 1834, and to Jasper County in 1850, where he purchased 600 acres of land. Mr. Grant made his way by energy, having begun life poor. He is well preserved, mentally and physically, and is now in his eighty-sixth year. Fifty children and grandchildren celebrated his anniversary in 1862.

Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper & Newton Indiana - Historical and Biographical
F. A. Bettey & Co., Publishers. Chicago: 1883

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Rev. D. T. Halstead is a native of the State of Ohio, was born in 1823, and came to this State with his father in 1831; they settled in LaPorte County, where they rented a farm, and afterward entered land in Lake County. His father, Samuel Halstead, was born in Kings County, N.Y., in 1797. His mother was Susan Webster, likewise a native of New York, who came to Ohio with her parents when very young, where she and Mr. Halstead were married. These parties were parents of the following children: Letta, D.T., Merryman (deceased), William, Micah B., and one who died in infancy. In 1839, Samuel Halstead moved westward, since which nothing has been heard from him, and it may be supposed that he died there, and was unknown. Mrs. Susan Halstead died near Ottawa, Ill., in 1838. D. T. Halstead came hither in 1854, and was elected Auditor in 1859. He has taken care of himself since the date of his mother's death, has done worthily, and is a universally esteemed gentleman.

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Carol J. Wood

Harvey W. Wood

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