"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Harrison Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

W.K. MURPHEY was born in May, 1835, in Miami County, Ohio, and is one of the five children of Nathan H. and Martha B. (Kerr) Murphey, natives of Michigan and Virginia. He was reared a farmer, and received a very fair education. He came to this county with his parents in the spring of 1850, and in 1856 began milling in company with his brother-in-law, E.R. Moore. In 1866, the mill property was sold, and Mr Murphey resumed farming, taking charge of the home place for his mother, his father having died during the interval. In 1871, he removed to his present farm of 200 acres, the result of a purse of $250, with which he began life. He was married November 10, 1857, to Miss Sarah E. Shane, a native of Delphi County, Ind., who died November 18, 1873, leaving three children, leaving three children - Nathan A., Mattie E. and Emma Jane. In 1875, Mr. Murphey married Miss Sarah C. Smith, a native of Indiana, who has borne him two children - Charles E. and Lesley C. Mr. Murphey is a Mason; he is a Republican, and for six years served as Township Trustee, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Harrison Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

L. STALNAKER, a native of Virginia, was born August 11, 1820, one of the fourteen children born to George W. and Susan (Hart) Stalnaker, natives of Virginia and New Jersey. The parents located in Putname County, Ohio, in the fall of 1839, and three years later moved to Cass County, Ind., where the father died at the age of eighty-three. Our subject was reared on the farm and at the age of nineteen took charge of the homestead and cared for hs parents the remainder of their lives. In 1846, he married Mildred Hamilton, of Washington County, Ind. This lady died in 1862, leaving a family of six children - William H., Virginia, Asher M., Alonzo, Mildred and Napoleon B. In January, 1864, Mr. S. married Mrs. Nancy (Dickinson) Crow, the mother of one son, Erastus, by her first husband, and this lady has borne Mr. S. three children, of whom one son only, Harry, is now living. In the spring of 1865, Mr. Stalnaker came to this township and located on his present farm of 220 acres, which is one of the finest in the neighborhood. Mr. Stalnaker is a Republican and was a warm supporter of the Government during the late war, contributing liberally of his money - at one season giving $300 - and both he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Harrison Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

JAMES TOBEY, one of the eleven children of Samuel and Lucy (Wheeler) Tobey, is a native of Dryden, Mass., and was born October 11, 1813. At six weeks old, he was taken by his parents to Ohio, thence, two years later, to Fayette County, Ind., and four years later to Jennings County, where he attained his majority. The father died in 1833, and the mother was then compelled to rely upon James to manage her affairs. February 1, 1838, Mr. Tobey married Miss Matilda Lockwood, both natives of New York State. To this union were born eight children, of whom four are still living - Sibyl C., now wife of N.W. Scott; Samuel W., Phoenix T. and James Harver. In 1843, the family moved to Marshall County, Ind., and in 1849, came to this township. Here Mr. Tobey has been prosperous, and now owns a fine farm of 180 acres; he has, besides, given three 40-acre lots to his children. He is a Republican and has never, to his knowledge, voted for a drunkard. He is now sixty-nine years old, and has never yet swallowed a glass of liquor, nor ever used profane language. He has long been an officer in the Christian Church, and his family all belong to that denomination.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Harrison Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

S.R. TYLER is a native of New Jersey, was born August 18, 1836, and is the son of Nathaniel and Abigail (Scull) Tyler, natives of New York and Pennsylvania. In about 1837, the family moved to Ohio, and a few years later came to Tippecanoe County, this State, where our subject was left an orphan at the age of eight. For a few succeeding years he resided with a sister in Clay County, and then began the battle of life unaided. October 4, 1859, he married Miss Roxie V. Usher, a native of Madison County, N.Y., born August 21, 1839, and daughter of Moses and Isis (Burdick) Usher, both natives of New York, and residents of Clay County, Ind., to which point they came in 1841. Mr. Usher died in 1854; Mrs. Usher is still living on the home farm at the age of sixty-seven. To Mrs. Tyler have bee born four children, two now living - Russ and Carrie B. Mr. Tyler moved to Edgar County, Ill., in 1860, farmed two years and then returned to Clay; five years later he bought eighty-four acres in Caldwell County, Mo., remained one year, and then came to this township in September, 1868. Here he owns a farm of 140 acres, on which he lives, and he has, besides, a farm of 165 acres in Clay County, and is worth upward of $15,000, all made through his own industry and enterprise. He is a Republican, and in the spring of 1882 was elected Road Commissioner.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Harrison Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

MILTON W. VENARD is a native of Clinton County, Ohio, was born May 25, 1830, and is the son of Martin H. and Sarah (Lee) Venard, natives, respectively of Ohio and North Carolina. In 1834, the parents came to Indiana, locating in Fulton County, where for seven years they endured all the privations of frontier life. They then came to this township; in 1852, the father made a trip overland to California, returned after an absence of two years, and died at the age of sixty-six, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He had been a Whig, but later became a Republican, and had served as County Commissioner both in Fulton and this county. Milton W. received his education at the pioneer schoolhouse, and worked on the home farm until he attained manhood. He then worked a year at wagon-making in Homer, Ill., and then returned to this township, where he now owns 320 acres of good land, all gained through his own industry. April 29, 1855, he married Miss Maria Borders, one of the seven children of Wesley and Sarah (Edson) Borders, and born October 19, 1838. To this union were born nine children, of whom six are living - Emma, Mary, Laura, Maud, Stella and Ada Pearl; the deceased are Schuyler Colfax, Edwin Grant and Celesta. Mr. Venard and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Harrison Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

G.S. WARD, native of Preble County, Ohio, was born December 2, 1821, and came with his parents to Cass County, Ind., about 1828, and was there reared to farming. He remained at home until twenty-eight years old, when he married L. Jane Doud, a native of Monroe County, N.Y., and born May 16, 1824. To this union there were seven children born - Mary A., John M., Theodore D., Druie M., Sarah S., Oliver T. and Phebe J. Mr. Ward came to this county in company with his father in 1840; in 1849, he purchased forty acres of land, and in 1850 built a hewed-log house. He now owns 172 acres, part of which is well improved, and he is worth fully $8,000, all made through honest industry. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are both church members, and in politics he is a Republican. The parents of Mr. Ward were Samuel and Phoebe (Sutton) Ward, both natives of New Jersey and of Irish and English extraction. They lived the greater part of their lives in this ocunty, and died in 1855 and 1859, each aged seventy-nine years. Mrs. Ward is the daughter of Anson F. and Alice M. (Swazey) Doud, natives of New York and Maryland, and respectively of French and Scotch extraction. They came to Indiana in 1837, locating on the Indian Reserve, in Miami County, where they lived until 1855, after which they removed to Iowa and thence to Kansas, where Mr. Doud died at the age of sixty-two; his widow yet survives, at the age of eighty-two.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Harrison Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

ELIAS WAY was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, January 21, 1833, and was the eleventh child born to Joseph and Lettie (Edge) Way, natives respectively of Virginia and Ohio. Joseph Way came to Indiana in March, 1839, resided in Cass County a year near Logan, and then seven miles north of Wabash, until 1851, when he came to this county, and located five miles northeast of Winamac, purchasing 115 acres of land, which he tilled six years and then sold, and came to this township, where he and wife ended their days. Elias Way was married in March, 1858, to Miss Samantha More of this county, born November 6, 1836, and daughter of John and Hannah More, natives Canada and New Jersey. To this union were born eight children, of whom five are living - John M., Lettie, Hannah, Ola and Tina. Mr. Way had charge of the home farm until the spring of 1861, when he rented a farm for a year, and then bought ninety-six acres in Tippecanoe Township. There he lived a year, and then went to Wabash, remained eighteen months, returned for a short time to this farm, and then removed to Winamac, and worked as a drayman for ten years and five months. He then again went to Wabash, remained eight months, came back and exchanged some town property and forty acres of land for his present mill property and sixty-two acres, in May, 1877. He has since added five acres, and is still owner of town lots in Winamac, and forty acres on the Monon. He had the misfortune to losehis wife in September, 1877.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Harrison Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

JOHN R. WILEY (deceased) was born in Nicholas County, Ky., November 2, 1818; was reared to farming, and also learned the carpenter’s trade. He was married, December 19, 1844, to Miss Martha R. Montgomery, a native of Bourbon County, Ky., born in August, 1822, and the daughter of John and Clarissa (McKinney) Montgomery, both natives of Kentucky, an of Irish and Scotch descent. By this union Mr. Wiley became the father of four sons who reached maturity - William H., John R., Ephraim (deceased) and Harvey A., and one son and one daughter who died in infancy. Mr. Wiley came to this county November 2, 1848, entered eighty acres wild land, and bought 100 acres adjoining, where he found a small improvement. Here he reared his family, and acquired a good home of 220 acres. He was a firm Republican; he served as Justice of the Peace three terms, and also as Supervisor of Roads and School Director. He was for many years a member of the Presbyterian Church, an died April 28, 1877. His parents, Robert and Hester (Hopkins) Wiley, were both natives of Kentucky, of Irish and Scotch descent, and came to Decatur County, Ind., in 1824. The homestead in this township is now in charge of the youngest son, Harvey A., who was married at the age of twenty-three, to Miss Anna L. Campbell, of Boone County, Ky., born January 10, 1858, and daughter of Milton and Nancy (Mince) Campbell, also natives of Kentucky. To this union there have been born three children - Earl (deceased), Jessie B., and an infant (deceased). William H. Wiley enlisted in January, 1862, in Company B, Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was married, April 9, 1867, to Mary Edmundson, of Westville, Ind., who bore him two children, the eldest - Frank - still living, and making his home with his grandmother Wiley on the old homestead. John R. Wiley was married at the age of twenty-six years to Margaret I. Smith, of Audrain. Ephraim Wiley was married at the age of twenty-two, to Mary West, of Chicago, became the father of four children, and died in February, 1881.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Harrison Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

Researcher Donnagene Dougherty states that Anna L. should be Lucinda Ann and is from IN. Milton should be David Milton and that Nancy Mince should be Meenach.

IRA BROWN (deceased) was born near Daretown, N.J., October 30, 1813. His grandfather, Aaron Brown, appears in the history of that region about 1750, and it is probable that he was of Holland descent, as his wife’s name was Nieukirk. William Brown, father of Ira, married Hannah Van Meter, who bore him eight children - Charles, Edmund, Jason, Aaron, Elam, Ira, Emily and Daniel. Ira Brown inherited nothing from his parents except a healthy body and a good name, and received, unfortunately, but one winter’s schooling; nevertheless, he availed himself of every opportunity to learn, and eventually acquired a good education. In his twentieth year, he hired out to a Mr. Cook, who conducted a hotel, a butcher shop and tanyard, and while engaged in this varied service young Brown gained a business experience which proved of great after benefit. In his twenty-third year, he started for Indiana, then a far distant country, walking the greater part of the way until he reached Franklin County, this State, and there he first saw the lady who afterward became his wife. In 1838, with a view to marrying and settling down, Mr. Brown attended the land sale at La Porte and bought a little over a quarter section in this township, at $1.37 1/2 per acre. In February, 1839, he married Miss Sophia Blew, eldest daughter of John and Margaret (Moak) Blew. The Blews were Dutch people from New Jersey, and the Moaks were Germans from Virginia. Young Mr. and Mrs. Brown arrived on their own land in this township May 30, 1839, and at once entered upon the life of the pioneer, enduring a long and hard struggle, but meeting, in course of time, an ample reward. In 1847, he built a frame dwelling containing six rooms; the stories were respectively nine and seven and a half feet high, and for this great folly he was severely criticized by his neighbors. In 1853, in company with John Decker, Jonas Good, Jr., and others, he built the first saw and flouring mill in the vicinity. He next served as one of the Commissioners having in charge the bridging of the river at Pulaski, to which he contributed largely from his private means. He was one of the first Justices of the Peace in the county, and held the office at several different times. In 1843, he was elected a Representative in the State Legislature, from the district composed of Pulaski, White and Jasper Counties, and his name appeared on the roll as “Brown of White.” In 1849, he was appointed Judge of Probate for the county, which position he filled until the office was abolished. He was a Democrat up to the Charleston Convention of 1860, when, being opposed to the extension of slavery, he withdrew from the party and supported Abraham Lincoln, and during the late war was a sterling patriot. He at first thought to enlist, but when his four sons enrolled themselves he was of necessity compelled to remain at home. In the fall of 1864, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and often afterward expressed regret that he had delayed so long. The first attack upon his health was made in the winter of 1870-71, but nothing seemed to be alarming, however, and unexpectedly on the night of March 22, 1871, he died as he had lived, quiet, silent and resigned. His widow still survives him and resides on the old homestead. The names of their children are as follows - Michael, lawyer and Judge of Circuit Court, Big Rapids, Mich.; James W., late Captain of Company H, Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteers, and now a lawyer at Crete, Neb.; Edmund R., merchant at Winamac, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Stephen I., physician at Francesville; Hannah, who died in April, 1879, the wife of C.D. Wood; Samuel G., Emily and Margaret, now living with their mother.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Indian Creek Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

SAMUEL G. BROWN was born in this township April 12, 1853, and is the sixth in a family of eight children born to Ira and Sophia (Blew) Brown. The father was born in Salem County, N.J., October 30, 1813, and was of Holland descent; the mother was born in Franklin County, Ind., and is of German descent. In 1836, Ira Brown settled in Franklin County, and was there married; in 1839, he came with his wife to this township, where he had entered something over 200 acres the previous year, and here he followed farming until his death, March 22, 1871. He had been Justice of the Peace in this township for many years, also one of the Probate Judges of Pulaski County, and in 1842 was elected by the Democrats to represent his district in the State Legislature. On the repeal of the Missouri compromise, he changed his politics and died a stanch Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Sophia Brown still survives, resides on the homestead, and is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Samuel G. Brown was educated in the district schools and at Wabash College, in Crawfordsville, Ind. He was married, July 24, 1880, to Ida Grafton, a native of Pulaski County, and is now the father of one son - Roscoe C. In the spring of 1882, Mr. Brown was elected Trustee of the township by the Republican party, of which he is a firm adherent.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Indian Creek Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

VAN S. BURTON is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, is one of the ten children of John and Catharine (Stewart) Burton, and was born February 20, 1825. John Burton, a native of Maryland, moved to Fairfield County in about 1810, and was there married. He settled on eighty acres of wild land which his father had entered, built a cabin and cleared up a farm. He served all through the war of 1812, and in 1838 he moved to Carroll County, Ind., where he died September, 1839. His widow then moved with her children to Cass County, and settled on some land her deceased husband had entered, and there died in September, 1845, a amember of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Van S. Burton remained at home until after his mother’s death, and then farmed on shares for five years; he then bought a farm of forty acres in Cass County, worked it until the fall of 1854 and then came to this township, where he farmed on shares, until 1859, when he bought 200 acres of unimproved land, on which he has ever since resided, having increased it to 300 acres and placed it all under cultivation. Mr. Burton was first married to Nancy Kisler, a native of Cass County, Ind., who became the mother of one son - John L., and died February 21, 1852. In September, 1853, he married Abigail Walley, a native of Marion County, Ohio. Mrs. Abigail Burton died January 1, 1874, the mother of four children, two of whom are still living - Mary A., now Mrs. John R. Corner, and Hannah, now Mrs. George Compton. In politics, Mr. Burton affiliates with the Greenback party.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Indian Creek Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

GEORGE W. CLOUSE was born in Richland County, Ohio, August 18, 1835, and is the eldest of the nine children born to John and Sarah (Friend) Clouse, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. John Clouse was both a carpenter and a shoe-maker, and followed either one or the other of these trades all his life. In 1832, he moved to Richland County, Ohio, where he was married. In about 1845, he moved to Union County, same STate, where Mrs. Clouse died, in January, 1852, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Soon after this event Mr. Clouse moved to Van Wert County; thence, in 1854, he moved to Sullivan County, Ind., where his death occurred April 15, a few days after his arrival. George W. Clouse learned shoe-making from his father, and also learned coopering, and followed one or the other of these from the time he was eighteen until twenty-four years old. He then worked on a farm for two years; then, in the spring of 1862, he went overland to Nevada and California, where he was engaged in mining and teaming until November, 1867, when he bought a ranch in Los Angeles County, Cal., and farmed until January, 1871, when he sold out, and the following spring returned to Indiana. In August, following, he bought his present farm of 160 acres in this township, to which he has since added eighty acres. He was married, December 21, 1871, to Mary M. Good, a native of this township, and daughter of Jonas and Polly (Shellhart) Good, and to this union have bee born seven children. Mr. Clouse is a Greenbacker, and he and wife are members of the German Reformed Church.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Indian Creek Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

M.B. CRIST is a native of this county, is a son of George and Hannah (Blue) Crist, and was born December 14, 1845. Both parents were born in Indiana; they were married in this county, and in 1841 settled on 320 acres of land in this township. Here Mrs. Hannah Crist died July 5, 1849, and here George Crist remained until 1878, when he sold out and bought another farm in Harrison Township, on which he now resides. He is a member of the A.F. & A.M., and of the Methodist Episcopal Church. M.B. Crist resided with his father until October, 1862, when he enlisted in Company H, Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until discharged, on account of disability, in October, 1862. In February, 1864, he re-enlisted in the same company, and served until the close of the war. On his return, he attended school at Valparaiso a short time, then worked at various pursuits until 1876; traveled a year through the South, returned and farmed on shares for two years, and then engaged in general mercantile busines at Pulaski with S.A. March, under the firm name of Crist & MArch. The firm is doing a good trade, its stock amounting to $5,000, and its sales reaching $12,000 per annum. Mr. Crist was married in September, 1876, to Miss Lizzie Decker, a native of Ohio, and daughter of William Decker. This lady died February 14, 1878. Mr. Crist is a Democrat, and is now Postmaster at Pulaski, having been appointed in August, 1880.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Indian Creek Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

JOHN DECKER was born in Union County, Penn., January 25, 1811, and is the third of a family of twelve children born to John and Julia A. (Royer) Decker, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of Swiss and Saxon descent. John Decker, the subject of this sketch, was educated in his youth at the log schoolhouses of his native State, and afterward at the high school at Norwalk, Ohio. He worked on the home farm until twenty-one years of age, and at the age of twenty-three was presented by his father with 160 acres of unimproved land in Seneca County, Ohio, on which he built a cabin, and which he cultivated until 1836 or 1837, when he sold and moved to Wells County, Ind., where he entered 360 acres, also entering eighty acres in Adams County. This property he also disposed of, and from 1840 to 1844, he entered and bought some 1,200 or 1,300 acres in this township, and in April, 1844, settled here permanently, and has now one of the best improved farms in the township. He was married, March 22, 1860, to Jane, a daughter of William and Savilla (Klinesmith) Taylor, and a native of this township. The lady has borne her husband five children, of whom four are yet living. Mr. Decker has served as Township Trustee for a number of years, and for twelve years was one of the County Commissioners. He is liberal in his religious views, and in politics is a Democrat.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Indian Creek Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

HON. SAMUEL DECKER was born in Snyder County, Penn., January 27, 1813, and was one of the twelve children born to John and Julia A. (Royer) Decker, natives of Berks County, Penn., and of Swiss and Saxon descent. Their ancestors were among the Colonists under William Penn, and were also participants in the war of the Revolution. John Decker, a blacksmith and farmer, served through the entire war of 1812, and was with Gen. Scott at the battle of Lundy’s Lane. He was married in Pennsylvania, and in about 1817, he moved to the then unbroken wilderness of Wayne County, Ohio, where he bought a large tract of land and developed a farm. In 1829, he sold out, moved to Seneca County, settled on 1,000 acres, and there ended his days in 1852, a consistent member of the German Reformed Church. Samuel Decker acquired a knowledge from his mother of both the German and the English languages, and also received a good school and academical education. In 1838, he came to this State and entered 240 acres in Fulton County, built a shanty, camped among the Indians and began clearing. In the fall, he returned to Ohio, and traded off this land to his father, and in 1839 came to this township, where he entered 240 acres, on which he still resides. He first built a cabin, hired some improvement done, and returned to Ohio the same year. In the fall of 1842, he came back for good, worked his farm during the summer, and taught school near Logansport during the winter. He was married, in November, 1843, to Matilda Wagers, a native of Carroll County, Md., and to this union there were seven children born, and of these six are living. In August, 1846, Mr. Decker was elected by the Democratic party to the State Legislature, and he has also held the offices of County School Examiner and Justice of the Peace - the latter for ten or twelve years. He is still a Democrat, and one of the township’s leading citizens.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Indian Creek Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

WILLIAM A. ENT was born in Washington County, Penn., October 3, 1849, and is the youngest of three children born to Lambert and Sarah (Fishel) Ent, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Pennsylvania, and both of German descent. Lambert Ent was a shoemaker, and for many years followed his trade in Pennsylvania. In 1853, he came with his wife and family to this township, bought forty acres of unimproved land, built a frame house, and was here employed in farming and at his trade until his death, July 10, 1881; Mrs. Sarah Ent died October 19, 1870. William A. Ent received a fair common school education, and until twenty-one years of age assisted on the home farm. He then worked out by the month for about three years, and then moved on the home place where he now resides. He was married, March 21, 1880, to Clarrie B. Wood, a native of Adams County, Ohio, and one daughter, Ethel M., has blessed this union. In politics, Mr. Ent is a Democrat.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - Indian Creek Township" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883