Crawford County Biography Ref. Page

Dr. Geo. W. Baylor was born in Crawford county, Ind., March 27, 1849, and is a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Hammond) Baylor, the former a native of Augusta county, Va., and the latter of Indiana. The elder Baylor, Andrew J., was a son of George Baylor, of German descent; he came to Indiana at an early day and settled near Georgetown. George W. the subject of this sketch, was raised on the farm and educated in the public schools and Salem Academy. He began reading medicine in 1869, with Dr. Saunders, Milltown. He graduated at the Louisville Medical College in 1876, and in 1882 graduated from the Kentucky School of Medicine, at Louisville, Ky. He has practiced at Milltown since his graduation. He was married September 4, 1870, to Miss Sallie J. Vance. She died November 4, 1872,leaving one child, Cora I. He married a second time, October 20, 1874, Alice A. Rhodes, a daughter of Rev. Jacob B. Rhodes. She has one child, Nellie E. Dr. Baylor has been one of the surgeons of the Air Line Railroad since its completion, and was health officer of the county one year. He is a prominent member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders. Is a member of, and one of the trustees of the M. E. Church.

Data Entry Volunteer: Dee Floyd-Pavey
Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the Counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington John M. Gresham & Co. Chicago 1890

John Benz, ex-State Senator, one of the prominent merchants and leading politicians of Leavenworth, Crawford county, was born in Germany, March 9, 1834. He is the son of Jacob and Mary Benz. After receiving a thorough and complete education, at the early age of 16 he came to America to seek his fortune, landing at New Orleans March 25, 1850. He speedily acquired a knowledge of our language and identified himself with Americaninterests, customs and institutions.

He proceeded to Louisville, where he worked at his trade, that of tailor. After remaining there five years, he removed to St. Louis, where however he only remained some nine months, when he returned to Louisville. Not, however, feeling perfectly satisfied, he shortly after removed to Hawesville, Ky., and from there to Cannelton, Ind., where he was employed some four years.

Having by that time, through the exercise of care and economy, accumulated a fair amount, he resolved to go into business on his own account, and decided upon Leavenworth as the point, it being a young and rising town. He there embarked in business as a general merchant, and such has been his success, through his own energy and perseverence, that he is now one of the largest and most successful merchants of the town. He is a man of enterprise, tact and energy, and one who enjoys in a high sense he honor and respect of his fellow-citizens wherever he has become known. Successful in his business career, he now enjoys a competence.

Early in life he associated himself with the Democratic party, and has served most efficiently as Chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of Crawford county for about four years. In 1864 he was elected County Coroner for Crawford county; in 1874, School Trustee of Leavenworth; in 1876, to the State Legislature from Crawford and Orange counties; in 1878, State Senator for Crawford and Harrison counties.

While a member of the Senate, was Chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining, and member of the Committee on Manufactories, Banks and Railroads.

In 1883 his senatorial District had been changed to include Orange county, and of this district he was again elected Senator, being the first time any man was ever honored with renomination by his party. He was elected and served as Chairman of the Committee on Prisons, and also served as a member of the Committee on Military Affairs. In 1888 he was elected Township Trustee. He was appointed Marshal by Gov. Gray to collect the vote of his county and deliver it at Indianapolis in general election of fall of 1888. He was a Lutheran, and now attends that church.

He was married July 4, 1856, to Caroline Nybauwer, daughter of Carl Nybauwer, of Germany. They have had six children, three girls (one of whom is dead, one boy dead) and three boys. The two eldest sons are now employed in their father's store.

Such is the record of one of Crawford county's most prominent citizens and one upon whom honors have been bestowed for his worth alone.

Dr. William C. Bird was born in Smith county, Tenn., March 14, 1883, and is a son of M. B. and Nancy (Mitchell) Bird-the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Smith county, Tenn. Dr. William C. Bird worked on the farm until he was 21 years old, when he entered a store in English, Ind., and clerked for four years. He was married to Mary Newkirk in 1854, who bore three children, Mina B., John K. and Charles J., and then died. He entered the army in 1861, in Forty-Ninth Indiana Volunteer infantry, and served three years. He began the study of medicine in 1866, and left the medical college in Indianapolis in 1870, entering upon practice in Brownstown, Ind., where he remained two years, and then came to English; here he is the leading practitioner. In 1869 he married Melissa Turner, of Crawford county. She had three children: Dora M. Bird (deceased), James W. and Queen Victoria. Dr. Bird has served as township trustee and township treasurer. He has been a member of the Masonic Order since 1866, and has filled all the offices in the lodge.

James Bobbett was born in Orange county, Ind., September 12, 1854, and is a son of John H. and Catherine (Goble) Bobbett, natives os Tennessee and North Carolina respectively. The father of James, the subject, came to Crawford county in 1877. He had five sons, three of whom served in the late civil war. He has been a minister of the Gospel in the Christian Church for forty years, and has preached in many of the counties of Southern Indiana. He is about 73 years of age. James Bobbett was educated in the schools of his native county (Orange) and in Marengo Academy, under Prof. Johnson. He came to Crawford county and taught school for twelve years. In June, 1885, he was elected ounty superintendent of schools, and in 1886, he was elected was elected county auditor, the ounty being over 300 Democratic. In 1885 he began preaching the Gospel, and still preaches on Sundays. He was married in June, 1876, to Miss Mattie E. Smith of Crawford county. She died in May, 1884, and was married again in June, 1885, to Miss Lizzie Gresham, of Harrison Co., a daughter of Elias Gresham. He had four children by his first wife, and one by his last wife. He belongs to Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities.

CHARLES A. A. BULLINGTON, lawyer, was born at White Sulphur Wells, Crawford county, Ind., January 26, 1858, and is a son of Dr. Wm. H. Bullington,. who was born at Marengo, in this county, August 16, 1822, and has been a practicing physician in this county for thirty-seven years; he studied medicine with Dr. R. R. Houston, of Stephensport, Ky. He was first lieutenant of Co. H., Twenty-third Indiana Vols., in the late war. His wife's maiden name was Louisa Kennedy, and she was born at Brandenburg, Ky., in 1823. Her parents died when she was very young, and she was raised by the Warfield family, of Kentucky. She married Dr. Bullington in 1843. Charles A., the subject, was brought up on the farm, and educated at Marengo Academy. He studied law, and graduated from the law department of the University of Louisville, April 13, 1888. He located at English, having lived there before graduating in the law; he was postmaster of English under PresidentsGarfieldandArthur. He was in the mercantile business at English, the firm being Bu@gton & Temple Brothers; the partnership was formed in 1881, and continued for three and a half years. After this he went into the law school, and entered upon the practice at English. He is a Mason and a member of Crawford Lodge, No, 470, English, Ind. His grand-father, Robert Bullington, was born in Jonesboro, Tenn., and moved to Crawford county in 1800, among the pioneers. His Grandmother Bullington was Mary Weathers, of Marengo, who was born in North Carolina. Mr. Bullington's brothers and sisters are-Willis W., Edward L., Lewis M., Delila A., Martha F., George Ann and William Louisa.

DR. WILLIAM A. COLE is a native of Harrison county, Ind., and was born Sept. 7, 1854. He is a son of Jonathan P. and Lettie (Briscoe) Cole, the latter also a native of Harrison county. Jonathan P. was born in Harrison county in 1818. He was a farmer, stock-dealer and merchant; his grandfather, Richard Cole, was an Englishman, and was sent to Ireland as an officer of the Crown, but was banished on account of his outspoken views.

He came to America, settling among the early pioneers in Harrison county. Jonathan P. was in the pursuit and at the capture of the Rebel Gen. John Morgan, when he made his raid through Indiana and Ohio. Dr. William A.'s maternal grandmother was an own cousin to President Lincoln. His maternal grandfather was of the Barlow family of Kentucky. Dr. William A., the subject of this sketch, was reared on the farm until he was fifteen years old, when he entered the Blue River Academy, in Washington county, then the Paoli High School. During vacation he clerked in his father's store, ran a hucksters wagon, and did various other kinds of work to take up his time. Also taught two schools in Crawford and Martin counties.

In 1875 he commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Lee Hazelwood, of Valeene, Ind., and the next year entered the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati. Graduating from the Medical Department of the University of Louisville, Ky., in 1879, he entered upon the practice of medicine in Martin county, and practiced in that county and Dubois, Pike and Daviess counties until 1885, when he took charge of Hazelwood Springs, at English, Ind., opening them as a summer resort, and superintended them for two years. In l888 he severed his connection with the Springs and resumed active practice of his chosen profession at English, Ind., where he still lives. Dr. Cole's brothers and sisters are: Dr. John A. Cole, Nancy E., Margaret I., Carrie F., Ollive H., Emma H., Prof. Monford M., Alice J., Cora C.

He was married April 25, 1883, to Miss Alice Hazelwood, of Valeene, oldest daughter of Dr. Lee Hazelwood. They have two children, Mary L. and Georgia L.

Dr. Cole has been a Mason twelve years, and is Senior Warden of Crawford Lodge, No. 470.

ROBERT MARION CRAIG was born in Harrison county, Ind., July 28, 1833, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Meyers) Craig, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively. William Craig was the son of Jesse Craig, who emigrated from Pennsylvania about the year 1811, and settled in Harrison county, on Blue River. Elizabeth Meyers Craig was a daughter of John Meyers, a native of Virginia. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools.

He enlisted November 7, 1861, in Co. F, Forty-ninth Indiana Vol. Infantry, and served until Nov. 29, 1864, when, his time having expired, he was honorably discharged. He was in all the battles in which his regiment took part, including the siege of Vicksburg. He entered the service as a private and was mustered out as a first lieutenant, which is a guarantee of his good service as a soldier. After his term of service had expired he returned home and settled down to the quiet life of a farmer, and was married January 5, 1865, to Sarah C. Breeden, daughter of Bryant Breeden, a native of Harrison county. They have three children, viz: Dora, Alta and Robert M. Mr. Craig commenced clerking in l875, continuing the same until 1887, when he engaged in the mercantile business for himself in Leavenworth. He carries a good stock, worth about $3,000, and is an energetic and active business man. He has filled several township offices with great acceptability. He is a G. A. R. member.

CLARK H. CRECILIUS was born October 7, 1847, in Crawford county, Ind., and is a son of Philip and Drucilla (Enlow) Crecilius, natives of Tennessee, but who came to this State among the pioneers. His grandfather came from Germany in an early day. His parents died when he was but four years of age, and his early life was marked by toil and poverty. For a few years after the death of his parents he found a home with John Glosson, and was then bound to Thomas leghhill, of Harrison county, with whom he remained eight years, when his master died. He then lived with James Highhill until 1862, when he came to Leavenworth, and was given employment by J. H. Lyon, a merchant of that place. Up to this time he had had few advantages for receiving an education, but while with Mr. Lyon he studied at odd times and clerked at $10 per month with "board and washing" included. In June, 1863, he enlisted in Co. C, Seventy-forth Indiana volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. On his discharge from the Army, he returned to the employment of Mr. Lyon, remaining one year. Afterward he attended Hartsville University for six months. He then entered the employment of John S. Whitten, remaining with him until 1870, when he was elected Recorder of the county, and in 1874 was re-elected. At the expiration of his second term, he was elected County Treasurer, and re-elected in 1882. In 1885 he was elected joint-representative from the counties of Crawford and Orange, and served in the Fifty-fourth General Assembly. He next engaged in mercantile business at Marengo, which he followed about two and a half years, acting postmaster the while, and then located at Leavenworth. In 1889 he was appointed clerk to the Ways and Means Committee of the National House of Representatives. In 1869, Mr. Crecilius was married to Miss Katie Wilbur, a daughter of Joseph Wilbur, whose father, William Wilbur, was the second settler of the town. The latter was from New York, and was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving through the struggle as drum-major. The Wilburs removed from New York to Pennsylvania, and to Indiana about the year 1824, settling in Crawford county, near Leavenworth. Joseph Wilbur, the father of Mrs. Crecilius, was born in New York in 1814, and was married at the age of twenty years to Sarah Patrick, a daughter of Brice Patrick, Esq., an early settler of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Crecilius have had six children, viz: Hallie, Frank, Clyde, Sadie, Florence and Gracie. Hallie is married to Sherman W. Stewart, and lives at Marengo. The other children are at home.

William Jenner was a native of Milltown, IN, born 04NOV1839. He was the son of Stephen and Mary Ann (Lawson) Jenner. He learned Harness making and Blacksmithing. He served in the Federal Army and was Sergeant-Major in the 53rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served three years and eight months, then farmed and taught school for four years. He practiced dentistry for over 17 years and was elected Justice of the peace in 1880. He married Sallie J. Waltz, of Marengo, on 13 FEB 1866..

Data Entry Volunteer: Dee Floyd-Pavey

My ggg-grandfather, John Ruth
Much information on this man was given by a great grand daughter, Harriet (Catherine) Burcham Graham, and her daughter, Joda Graham Sinclair. The rest has been searched out and mostly proven. (Harriet is the daughter of Nancy Emily Ruth, who is the daughter of John Ruth, Jr, son of this John Ruth.)

Harriet Burcham Graham is the ggranddaughter of this man, and says she remembers her grandfather saying that his folks were Dutch, and that they came from Holland with the Puritan Fathers, to Mass. He was b. prob. in a Boro outside Boston, in 1751. As a 17 yr. old, he dressed as a Indian, and helped 'throw the tea overboard in the Harbor'. It was said by the family that he served in the Revolutionary War, but can find no proof. There is a mention 3 times of a John Ruth enlistment in Penn. as they enlisted every 3 months, but without papers, DAR is not satisfied. He said he did not want a pension for what he did, as he got what he wanted, "justice".

Married three times. The first wife being a 'bound' girl, who died shortly. She was said to be sixteen when she finished her work as a 'bound girl', and married John.

The second wife, name also unknown, was a widow with 3 children, possibly in NJ. (family history, can find nothing to back this up.) She seemed to be caring too much for the hired man. John said he was leaving in the morning, and packed the wagon. He told her she could either stay or come with him. She stayed. He took their 4 children, and later settled in Clark co, abt. 1800. He married a 3rd time, Catherine Lancaster Holt, who had 3 children, which made 7 children, altogether.

They must have married abt 1800, by the dates of birth of each of their last children, by a previous spouse. ( they had six more children, and I have their dates, and marriages.) 7 children plus 6 children, made 13, but by this time some were married, or away from home.

My original information came from my family history. But have proved most of it with the Marriage CD's., census' and confirmation from Indiana records.

The gov't granted him 80 acres of land. John Ruth, Sr. was granted 80 acres of land about 3 miles north of Taswell. Have checked this. In the Census of Indiana Territory for 1807 (information from:Midwest Hist. & Gen. Society, Wichita, KS C 190 1.) His land is listed as Twp. 21 North of Range 3 West.

40   W   SW   28            80   W   SE   28            40   E   SW   28

Taswell appears to be less than 30 miles from the Ohio River at Leavenworth, IN.

He was on the index to deeds 1789-1801.

Grant #119, later sold by he and his wife, Catherine. Bought from James Ramsey, and sold to Samuel Ramsey.

I also have the (census?), or individuals living in Clark Co in 1807, which includes John Ruth's family.

Indiana is not listed on the 1810 census, with the States.

The 1820 census of Crawford co., Indiana---when Clark was divided into other counties, his area was Crawford.

The 1830 census of Crawford co., Indiana

The 1840 census of Crawford co., Indiana. This was a AIS pensioner census, and gave his age (89) at the time which proved his birth date, 1751

Have his will---
A codicil to his will was Mar. 31, 1837. I believe from the will, he died previous to May 17, 1842.

His land settlement was May 9, 1848, there were some problems with dividing the land, so the judge and family decided it better just to sell the land, and divide the money among the children and grandchildren.

I have all his children, and dates). His son John went to Greene co., Ind. This is my line. This line is easy to document.

Submitted by: J. Parkhurst

Shelby C. Adams, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Adams, of Jennings township, is a graduate of the Indiana State Normal. He has a B. A. degree from Indiana University and an M. A. degree from Columbia University. At present he is superintendent of the Marengo city schools.