JOHN T. GRAY, farmer, was born in Randolph County, April 21, 1841, the son of Edward and Nancy (Godwin Gray. The parents of Edward Gray migrated from Virginia to Ohio in 1832, thence to Randolph County; Indiana, where the family secured 36o acres, upon which he grew to ?manhood. The following are the names of the , brothers and sisters of Edward Gray: John H., Margaret, wife of William McCamish; Jane, wife of A. W. Jarnigen; Malinda, wife of John Green, and Emily, wife of George Booher. The names of the brothers and sisters of Mrs. Gray are as follows: William, John, Nathan, James, Thomas, Goodwin and Sarah, wife of Dempsey Harber. Edward Gray was, for fifty years, a prominent member of the Methodist church, and is remembered as a man of most excellent reputation in the community in which he resided. He died March 25, 1890, and with his wife, who departed this life October, 1888, lies buried in what is known as the Hopewell cemetery. Edward and Nancy Gray had a family of six children, namely: William M., John T., Nathan E., James K. P., Mary and Sarah, the last two of whom are deceased.

John T. Gray was reared a farmer, and with the exception of a brief period, has followed that calling for his life work. He was married July 20, 1861, to Elizabeth Pace daughter of Uriah and Mary (Boots) Pace, of Randolph County, and immediately thereafter located on a farm in the county of Randolph, where he resided for some. time. Disposing of his interest in Randolph County, and thinking to better his condition, he went to Kansas, but did not long remain in that state, returning to Indiana and locating in the town of Albany, Delaware County, which was his home for about one year. He then purchased his present farm in Delaware Township, upon which he has since resided. The following children have been born to John T. and Elizabeth Gray: Uriah, deceased; Sarah E., deceased; Harriet, wife of David Woolverton; Juliette, wife of E. A. Frank; Laura L., Edward, Bertha and James W., deceased. The parents of Mrs. Gray moved from Fayette county, Ohio, to Delaware county, Indiana, in 1833, and settled near the town of Albany on a farm where the father died November, 1868; the mother is still living, and makes her home at this time at the town of Albany. She is a MEMBER of the German Baptist church, and the mother of the I following children: Jessie, Edmund, William I>., deceased; Albert, deceased; Harriet, wife of John Rutledge; Tabitha, wife of Otho Dowden; Elizabeth, wife of, John T. Gray and Tuba Pace. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Christian Church, and are highly respected by all who know them. Their pleasant I home., which is the abode of hospitality, is located on a small but beautiful farm, whose rich and fertile fields yield a golden tribute to the care and cultivation of the owner.

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JOHN W. HARMAN -- Prominent among the widely known and popular citizens of Mount Pleasant Township, Delaware County, Indiana, is the gentleman whose name introduces this biographical sketch. Mr. Harman is a native of Maryland, where his birth occurred September 1, 1829, being the son of John and Elizabeth Harman, natives of the same state, the father of German descent, born in 1805, and the mother of French-English descent, born January 1, 1797. To the marriage of John and Elizabeth Harman two children were born: Elizabeth Ann, whose birth occurred on the 20th day of June 1827, and John W. The father of John W. dying, the mother, after seven years of widowhood, married David Osborn, a native of Madison County, Ohio.

After the death of her first husband the subject's mother was left with but limited means, in consequence of which, although she did all that lay within her power for her children, John received but meager advantages of obtaining an education. In the year 1833, in company with his mother and her father, he went to Madison county, Ohio, where he lived five years, thence moving near Indianapolis, Indiana, which was his stopping place for a limited period; when they moved to the county of Tipton, where he resided for about one year. The family next moved to a point known as "Broad Riffle," about three miles from the city of Indianapolis, where they lived until 1842, when they again returned to their former home in Tipton County, Indiana After two years they again changed their home, locating in the township of Salem, Delaware County, Indiana, thence in March 1847, moved to the county of Madison, but finally returned to Salem Township in March of the ensuing year.

John W. Harman began work for himself by hiring out to one Francis P. James, for nine dollars a month, being employed during the summer on a farm, and in the following fall he labored in a brick yard. During the winter that succeeded, he did "chores" for his step-father and went to school, worked a month in the spring for Jason Hudson for ten dollars, and during a part of the same season was employed by Francis Pugsley, who paid him for his services, thirteen dollars a month, the latter price being considered very high for, common labor - in those days. Later, he worked for various other parties, doing any labor that would bring him an honest dollar, and in the winter of 1849, attended school, paying for his board, by doing "chores" and other odd jobs.

His accumulations, up to the time noted, amounted to fifty dollars, and in the spring, he engaged to work on a farm for Peter Smeltser for eight months for the stipulated sum of ninety-two dollars. He cut wood at Connersville during a part of 1850, and in 1851 got out on a contract, in sixteen days; 500 railroad ties, for which he received forty dollars, and during the following winter, his time was occupied in cutting cord wood. Mr. Harman purchased his first piece of land in the year 1850, in Bartholomew County, paying therefore the sum of $350, but did not move to it. During the harvest seasons of 1851 and 1852, he was engaged in cutting grain, his eight days labor in the latter year amounting to thirty-two acres. When this work was finished, he returned to his home in Delaware County, carrying his grain cradle and clothing, a distance of 50, miles.

Mr. Harman was married September 2, 1852, to Lavina Van Matre, daughter of James M. and Mary Van Matre, after which he rented the place where he now lives, continuing on the same, as a tenant, for a period of about four years. He exchanged his land in Bartholmew county for 120 acres in Mount Pleasant township, paying a difference of $400, making the latter cost him $750 in all. He stayed upon the new farm until July, 1861, clearing, in the meantime, forty-five acres, and then moved back to where he now lives, owning, a share of the present home place at that time. He then began buying portions of the farm until finally, he became possessor of the entire fine property. In June 1865, he purchased eighty acres, paying for the same $2,000 and in June 1869, sold 100 acres of his land to Pollard S. Hancock for $3,600. His present handsome residence was begun in 1869 and completed the same year. When a mere boy, Mr. Harman resolved that, before he was forty, he would own forty or eighty acres of land and a residence, and he carried out his purpose, for before arriving at that age he had a comfortable home and much more than the number of acres noted. He bought eighty-nine acres in 1869, and his next purchase consisted of twenty-two acres, for which he paid the sum of $770. In 1879 he bought eighty acres for $3, 500, and later made purchases for his children to the amount of $10,000, In 1885 he purchased forty acres, paying for the same $400; in 1889, bought another forty acre lot for $2,600, and the same year, exchanged forty acres of his Mount Pleasant land for 200 acres valued at $13,900. At this time Mr. Harman is the owner of 590 acres of valuable land, being one of the largest holders of real estate in the county of Delaware.

Mr. Harman is a republican in politics, and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Protestant church. Mrs. Harman is a daughter of James M. and Mary (Jones) VanMatre and was born in Henry County, Indiana, March 31, 1832. Her father was born in Clarke County, Ohio, May 10, 1810, and the mother's birth occurred in Fayette County, Indiana, August 17, 1813. James M. VanMatre came to Delaware county, Indiana, when sixteen years of age, became the possessor of a good farm and died in 1844, leaving a widow and a large family. Mrs. VanMatre died, regretted by all who knew her, in the year 1863.

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JOHN HARMAN, JR., is one of the representative farmers of Mount Pleasant Township, in which he was born on the 21st day of January, 1862, the son of John W. Harman and Lavina Harman, a sketch of whom appears above. Mr. Harman has spent the greater part of his life in the county of his nativity, received a practical English education in the common schools, which he attended during his minority, and at the age of twenty-one was employed by his father on the home farm, where he remained until 1883. On March 8, of that year, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma E. Stewart, daughter of John and Mary Stewart, both parents natives of Indiana. The father was born April 15, 1840, and the mother on the 8th day of February, 1W. John Stewart was one of the pioneers of Delaware County, became a very successful man financially, followed farming for his occupation and is now living a retired life. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Harman moved to his present home in Mount Pleasant Township, where he has since resided and where he operates very successfully a very beautiful and productive farm. He is industrious, energetic and progressive in all those terms imply, and has brought to his life work the intelligence acquired by years of close observation and careful study of the science of agriculture. Mr. and Mrs. Harman are the parents of two children, namely: Charles Harrison and Marion Martin; the latter was born October 5, 1892, and departed this life December 4, of the same year.

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John S. Petty, deceased, was probably one of the most extraordinary, as well as one of the most successful business men that ever resided in the city of Muncie. He was a son of Joshua Petty and Sarah E. (Sheets) Petty, was born at New Paris, Ohio, July 12, 1830, and when a child was taken, by his father, to Wayne county, Indiana, where he was reared on the home farm and received a good common school education. At the age of eighteen years, his father having a large family to maintain, he was given his "freedom," and his first business venture was to work one hundred days, at fifty cents per day, for Alvah Macy; he also worked for a while in the saw mill at Economy, Indiana, near Hagerstown, and even at that early day the spirit of speculation was made manifest within him. He was commissioned by an old Quaker gentleman to make a purchase of live stock, and his great success if filling this order confirmed this spirit. His father, who originally came from near Winston, N. C., and was married at New Paris, Ohio, moved from Wayne county to Miami county, Indiana, and young Petty followed, and began buying stock in a comparatively small way, on his won account, realizing handsome profits on every venture. At the age of twenty-three, April 22, 1855, he made his first venture on the sea of matrimony, and wedded Miss Frances Bailey, of Wayne county, Indiana, and then made his appearance in the city of Muncie, the scene of his future business exploits and triumphs. Here he was employed as a clerk in the dry goods store of S. P. & E. Anthony, whom he served about two years, and while with them sustained the most serious accidental injury of his life. The firm carried, in addition to their stock of dry goods, a line of groceries, and in an effort to lift a barrel of rice somewhat heavier than the scope of his strength, Mr. Petty strained his spine, and for a year afterward was invalided. The effect of this injury was to reduce his stature and to render his posture a stoop, but he recovered his heath in a general sense, albeit somewhat malformed physically. On his coming to Muncie, with his usual astuteness Mr. Petty had invested his early earning in western lands, and these he sold at the proper time at handsome profits. With the proceeds he embarked in the dry goods trade about a year before the breaking out of the Civil war. As an instance of his business sagacity, it may be mentioned that on one occasion during the war he had purchased a bill of dry goods from a firm in Cincinnati, foreseeing the advance in prices forthcoming, and at the same time took an option at duplicating the order -- which he did -- but the Cincinnati firm saw how they had been overreached by a superior tradesman, and offered Mr. Petty $2,000 to be released from the contract -- but Mr. Petty was too far seeing to consent to any such scheme, and realized a handsome profit. His surplus earning were wisely and judiciously invested in town and city real estate, and with invariably remunerative results. So well established was his reputation for sagacity in business, that he was constantly consulted by his fellow merchants and others on all important ventures, and his advice never with amiss. During his mercantile career he never lost sight of the fact that there was money in live-stock, and his farm was in a great measure devoted to grazing and breeding, and profitably so.

April 3, 1865, Mr. Petty had the misfortune to lose his wife by consumption. Her four children were also swept away by the same fell disease, two in infancy and two after having reached the years of maturity. The second marriage of Mr. Petty took place September 24, 1867, to Melissa A. Lewis, but a second time death deprived him of his companion, May 28, 1868. August 1, 1869, he was most happily married to Melissa J. Bole, daughter of William Bole, Esq., of Delaware county, Indiana, and to this felicitous union two children were born, Wilbur A. Petty and Walter E. Petty, both now at home, Mr. Petty continued in active business until 1875, when failing health warned him to retire, and the last seventeen years of his life were devoted to the care of his farm and vast city property, not so much for the purpose of adding to his already large fortune, but more for the reason that he was of that nervous temperament that precluded his being unemployed. He could not abstain, indeed, from working early and late, and while health was unimpaired, he was vigorous to an extreme. When the time came, however, as it must come to all, he went to Martinsville for a week's rest and recuperation, but he went too late. Tired nature asserted herself, and for two years had tampered with his stomach and eventually with his heart, and on September 13, 1892, the strong man yielded to the inevitable, and passed to the spirit land at the age of sixty-two years and two months. He had been a life long communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church, and had lived faithfully up to its precepts, and yet he had had an abiding faith in the return to earth of the disembodied spirits of those who had gone before, and with whom he felt assured that he was in constant communication. Mr. Petty was a member of the I. O. O. F., and was fully in accord by nature with that benevolent fraternity, exercising the doctrine of friendship, love and truth in and out of the order, none, really deserving appealing to him in vain.

Portrait & Biographical Record Delaware County, Indiana


JOHN H. REYNOLDS is a well known farmer and stock raiser of Monroe Township and one of the representative agriculturists of Delaware County, Indiana.Mr. Reynolds was born in Monroe township the son of Breckenridge and Ellen (Lucas) Reynolds, natives of Virginia and the father a farmer by occupation. John H. Reynolds was reared on the home farm, received an education in the common schools and has devoted all his life tilling the soil, having commenced farming for himself on 14o acres of land, a part of which was left him by his father. He has been a hard worker, and industry and economy have been the characteristic traits of his life. He has added to his original place from time to time, and is now the possessor of 1 8o acres of valuable land, the greater part of which is under a successful state of cultivation, and his improvements rank among the best in the neighborhood where he resides.

On the 13th day of September, 1873, Mr. Reynolds and Mary J. Masterson were united in the bonds of wedlock, and their union has been blessed with the birth of the following children: Frank, died March 22, 1875; Breckenridge, James; infant, died November 29, 1878; Charles, Lucy, died March 11, 1883, and two infants, whose deaths occurred January, 1884, and January, 1886, respectively. The parents of Mrs. Reynolds were James and Thankful (Daniels) Masterson, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish descent. They removed to New York in 1830, and in an early day emigrated to Indiana, settling first in Henry county, thence moving to Delaware county, locating in the vicinity of Muncie, when there were but three houses in the place. Mr. Masterson, at one time, operated a carding machine, a sawmill and a distillery, but after coming to Indiana gave his entire attention to farming. He cleared a farm from the woods, and, at the time of his death, which occurred in August 1870, owned a valuable tract of 240 acres of land. He was a member of the Catholic Church, served as trustee for three terms and is remembered as a man of local prominence in the neighborhood of his home. He was buried in the Lebanon cemetery, and his wife, who died in 1853, rests by his, side. The following are the names of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Masterson: Mrs. Mary J. Reynolds, Albert, Henry, John, Thomas, Josiah, Anna E., James .E., Samantha and Maria, the last five of whom are deceased.

Portrait & Biographical Record Delaware County, Indiana


JONATHAN SHEPP is one of the honored and greatly respected pioneers of Delaware County, and resides on a valuable farm in section 5, Salem Township. Jonathan Shepp was born October 9, 1807, in Virginia; being the son of Jonathan S., a native of Germany,and an old Revolutionary soldier. He fought under Col. Wallace, and was in the battle when he was taken prisoner. For a period of twenty-one days, the old patriot and his comrades were almost without food, and deprived of sleep. Jonathan Shepp came from Virginia to Henry county, Indiana, when it was all a wilderness. He was a millwright by trade, and later learned the carpenter trade. After completing the latter, he began work, as a cabinetmaker, for himself, following it for three years. He put up the first saw mill in Henry county, in the year 1836, add ran it successfully for a few yeas, when he sold out and erected the first saw mill in Daleville. Then he returned to the carpenter trade and followed that for years.

Mr. Shepp was united in marriage, at the age of thirty, with Lydia Fenwick, and they located at Middletown, where he and his wife resided for eight years, during which time he pursued his trade as a carpenter. Eight years subsequent to his marriage, Mr. Shepp moved on the farm, and built the house in which he now lives; following the occupation of a farmer, and doing carpenter work for his neighbors. This family shared in all the hardships of pioneer life, but nevertheless the members of it prospered. The forest trees were felled, and the ground plowed and made to yield crops year by year. Two years after purchasing the farm Mr. Shepp built a mill on Francis Pugsley's farm, and was overseer of that for one year, when he sold it to Henry P. Henry, and returned to his farm work. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Shepp has been blessed with four children, namely: Margaret, born March 8, 1839; Mary Ann, born July 22, 1840; Sally, born November 4, 1842, and Sophia, born May 22, 1844 In politics Mr. Shepp is a strong republican, and has voted that ticket ever since the party was founded. Ibis religious belief is that of the Universalist, and he holds firmly to the teachings of that denomination.

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JOSEPH LEFAVOR

-- The prosperous business man for whom the following is prepared, was born in Jay county, Indiana, 1851, and is a son of James L. and Isabella (Engle) Lefavour, the father being the first white child born in the city of Indianapolis, and the mother a native of Ohio. James L. and Isabella Lefavour were married in Camden, Jay county, Indiana, in 1848. Mr. Lefavour followed the trade of harness maker all of his life, dying in December, 1859; his wife having passed away in October previous. They were members of the Methodist church, good people, whose only regret in leaving life was that their four small children would be left alone. These were Emmet, now of Jay county; Joseph, Randolph, a farmer of Adams county, and Mary E., wife of John Dean.

Joseph Lefavour was but seven years of age when he was bereft of his parents and left without a home. The succeeding four years he spent as an inmate of the home of his cousin, Daniel Engle, when he received an offer of work in a tan yard at Camden, where he found employment for two years. From there, he went to Muncie and spent one year working in a potter's shop, and was then given the advantage of one year of schooling. From school he went to Bethel, Harrison Township, where he remained one year and later attended school for three years in the town of Muncie. He improved every opportunity, made substantial progress in his studies and then taught school for seven successive terms, beginning the study of medicine in the meantime under Dr. Leach, with whom he continued for eight months. Coming to Albany he pursued his medical studies with A. P. Murray, M. D., after which he took a course of lectures at Keokuk, Iowa, and then returned to Albany, where he practiced his profession for a period of, three years. Abandoning the medical profession Mr. Lefavour purchased a line of drugs and for eight years was engaged in the drug business, but finally sold and entered into the law and real estate business, also becoming a notary public.

The marriage of Mr. Lefavour occurred November 1881, with Miss Lillie Allegre, a native of Albany, born in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Lefavour have four children, as follows: Gladdys, Carrie G., Mable C. and Vivian. In political matters, Mr. Lefavour is a republican and always supports the candidates of his party upon any and all occasions. Socially inclined, he has connected himself with the order of Red Men.

Portrait & Biographical Record Delaware County, Indiana


JOHN WIGGERLY

One of the model farmers of Mount Pleasant Township, and a gentleman of wide business and social standing, is a native of Indiana, born in Delaware County on the 27th day of September, 1848, son of David Wiggerly and Catherine (Knightenhelser) Wiggerly. As the names of the family indicate, Mr. Wiggerly's ancestors are of German descent, and his father came to Delaware county, in an early day, from the town of Connersville, where, for some years he worked at his trade, that of a baker. On moving to this county, he engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, in which vocation he was quite successful, having become the possessor of a farm of 120 acres of valuable land. He was born in the year 1813 and died in 1879. He and wife adhered to the religious faith of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics, he was a supporter of the Democratic Party.

John Wiggerly grew to manhood on a farm, early became accustomed to its rugged duties, and at the age of twenty-one began the life of an agriculturist, which he has since continued with success and financial profit. In partnership with his brother, he now owns the old homestead, one of the most beautiful and fertile farms in Mount Pleasant Township, and since coming into his possession, it has lost nothing by his careful and painstaking management. Mr. Wiggerly exercises good judgment in his chosen vocation, is an intelligent observer and keeps fully abreast of the times in ail matters pertaining to agriculture, which he considers in the light of a science. Politically he wields an influence for the Democratic Party, and while not aspiring to official honor at the hands of his fellow citizens, has always taken an active interest in political affairs.

Portrait & Biographical Record Delaware County, Indiana


JOHN W. WILSON, a prominent farmer of Centre Township was born in Clinton County, Ohio, March 4, 1836. His father, Benoni Wilson, was born in the same county and state in the year 1800, the son of Amos Wilson, whose wife was a Mills. The Wilson family moved to Ohio in a very early day from Kentucky, and the Mills family was among the old pioneers of Pennsylvania, in which Mrs. Amos Wilson was born. Benoni Wilson was reared a farmer in Clinton County, Ohio, and, in connection with tilling the soil, carried on the manufacture of brick, and was also a brick mason. He was a man of more than average mental endowments, and while still young in years, entered the ministry of the Christian Church, of which communion he was an honored preacher until his death. He came to Delaware County, Indiana, in 1836, settling in Delaware Township, where he carried on agricultural pursuits and brick making until his death, which occurred in 1847. Upon all public and political questions of his time, Benoni Wilson had broad and decided views, and he early became an uncompromising enemy of slavery, which institution he opposed with all the powers of his nature. As a man, he was widely and favorably known, and as a Christian, his life was a practical exemplification of the pure teachings of the Nazarene. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha Long, also a native of Clinton County, Ohio, survived him a number of years, dying in March 1868. The following are the names of the children born to Martha And Benoni Wilson: Mary J., deceased; Jesse W., a resident of Sacramento, California; John W., whose name introduces this sketch; Lucinda A., widow of Capt. M. B. Gregory, who was killed in the battle of Nashville, Tennessee; Amos L., a banker of Lyndon, Kansas; Rachael, wife of E. Shideler, a merchant of Lyndon, Kansas, and Benoni G., a farmer of Osage County, Kansas.

John W. Wilson remained on the farm until his twentieth year, at which time he began working at carpentering, and followed that occupation for a limited period. He next turned his attention to farming, and his success as an agriculturist is attested by the fact that, from a very insignificant beginning, he has succeeded in accumulating a very valuable property, being at this time the possessor of 240 acres of as fine land as lies in Delaware County, the greater part of which is highly cultivated and substantially improves. His first purchase of real estate in Centre Township, consisting of forty acres, was made in 1860, and by careful financiering and well directed thrift he has added to his original tract from time to time, until he is now the owner of the beautiful place above noted.

Mr. Wilson was married August 24, 1859, in Monroe Township, Delaware County, to Nancy J. Cooley, daughter of William S. and Jane (Rainey) Cooley, both natives of New York and early pioneers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have never been blessed with any children of their own, but they are raising the child of their relatives, a daughter of William and Flawry Peterson, Mr. Wilson is a public spirited man, a Republican in his political affiliations, and in addition to his real estate in the country owns a valuable property in the city of Muncie.

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SAMUEL H. WILSON is a thrifty farmer of Niles Township, where he was born November 13, 1864, being the son of Alfred Wilson and Martha E. (Wright) Wilson. He was reared upon the farm upon which he now resides, which contains ninety two 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, and settled on a farm, where he now lives on 172 1/2 acres of very good land the brothers and sisters of Mrs. S. H. Wilson are: Elmer J., a school teacher; Orphia, at home; Charles N., a farmer; and Bertha A., the baby.

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 oft 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

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RACHEL WOLVERTON -- As early as 1820, settlers were making homes along the White River, in the state of Indiana, and among those who came at that date were the parents of the subject of this mention. The grandparents came from Ireland in an early day, but the father and mother of Mrs. Woolverton had grown up in Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively, and came to Delaware County, Indiana, in April of the above year, and settled near Muncie. Her father entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, and here she lived until her marriage. After that event she and her husband settled on a farm of 200 acres, one mile east of Albany, where they remained until the death of Mr. Woolverton, April 13, 1889.

Abner Woolverton, the husband of Rachel Woolverton, was born October 20, 1815, near Middletown, Butler County, Ohio, a son of David and Eva Woolverton, of whom he was the eldest child. The others were: Theresa, the wife of Dudley Harris; Eva, the wife of John Sniter; Jane, the wife of John Neal; Kate, Isaac, John; and Ella, the wife of Frank B. Banker. In 1820, Abner accompanied his uncle to Preble County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, and in 1834, he was married to Miss Abigail Keever, who died August 10, 1863. Mr. Woolverton afterward married Miss Rachel Van Arsdoll, March 11, 1864, at Mrs. Woolverton's home, near Muncie, where she had lived from childhood.

Mr. Woolverton came to Delaware Township at an early day, when Muncie was known as an Indian village, and by whom it was named. He settled in the woods and built one of the first log cabins that were built in that part of the country. The whole county was sparsely settled and Mrs. Woolverton's brother Isaac, was the first white child born in Delaware County. Mr. Woolverton was a member of the Christian Church, in which he was a minister for nearly forty years. Financially, he was a successful man, and when he was called away from life many mourned him. He was a kind husband and a fond and loving father. He left three children by his first marriage and three by his second, they being as follows: Catherine, wife of N. B. Strong; Eva A., wife of G. A. Andrews; Sarah, wife of D. J. Manor, deceased; Dora A., David, a brick mason, and Hallet A., a farmer. The father of Mrs. Woolverton was a preacher in the Christian Church, and the Indians used often to come to be a part of his audience. They respected the family and never in any way molested them. Mrs. Woolverton's family can relate many interesting reminiscences of pioneer life. When her father first settled on the land purchased from the government, he did not even have a cabin for shelter. The first night the family slept by a log fire in the open air with no protection but the hazel brush, and the next day he, with the help of another emigrant by the name of Makeprice, constructed a temporary shed of saplings, which, being too small to accommodate both families with their goods, a part of the latter were, for the time, protected from the ran by a covering of bark. Mrs. Woolverton remembers very well the many and unceremonious visits paid the family by their Indian neighbors, particularly of one old squaw that they called Sally, who thought much of Mr. Van Arsdoll and his family. When her brother Cornelius was two years old, Sally begged the favor of taking him home with her to her wigwam, indicating to his mother by pointing to the sun at what hour she would bring him home. The child was promptly returned at the time promised but old Sally said she "much scared," thought she had "choked white papoose almost to death." She had given him a toothsome mess of venison on which the child had choked.

The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Woolverton were: Thomas, a farmer of Hacket; Mary, wife of William Brown; John: Nellie, wife of Henry Mulkins; William, deceased; Martha, wife of Christopher Ribble; Isaac, Cornelius, Jane, the wife of Francis Wilkins; Lucretia, wife of Charles Hallock.

Mrs. Woolverton has at present a farm of 106 acres of good and well-improved land, and also owns a nice home in Albany where she and her family now reside. The family is one of the oldest and best known in Delaware County.

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Deb Murray