Prairieton Township
View a history of Prairieton Township.

ISAAC B. HAWORTH, merchant and farmer, Prairieton, was born in Jefferson county, East Tennessee, December 27, 1809. He went to Georgetown, Vermilion county, Illinois, in the spring of 1827, and returned to Tennessee in the fall of the same year. He afterward came again to Vermilion county, Illinois, the same winter, and remained there till 1862, when he removed to Prairieton, Vigo county, Indiana, and has made that place his residence ever since. He was importuned by his father many times to return to Tennessee and assist him in starting a spinning factory, but he chose to remain in the north, and he went into partnership with his brother-in-law, Benjamin CANADAY, in Georgetown, Illinois, and sold goods for a number of years. He finally sold out his business and residence at Georgetown, and came to Prairieton, Indiana. He was married, in the fall of 1844, to Miss Mary WALKER, a daughter of William WALKER, who lived south of Terre Haute, on the Prairieton road. They have had four children, three of whom are living: Alice, Jane and William Walker. Oscar died. Since coming to Prairieton Mr. HAWORTH has followed farming part of the time, but he was afflicted with the rheumatism for some time, which finally turned into the dropsy, from which he has suffered more or less, and he has been obliged to abandon hard labor. He and his wife live in town, but own a nice farm, from which they derive a revenue. He is a member of Terre Haute Encampment, I.O.O.F., and is also a member of the Methodist church. He has never held office or had anything to do with military life.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - pp. 475-476

SAMUEL HAWORTH, deceased, late husband of Mary HAWORTH, was born near Prairieton, January 22, 1824, and died September 17, 1873, aged forty-nine years. He has always lived in Prairieton township, and was married December 25, 1849, to Miss Mary MYERS. He left a wife and seven children, five of whom are now living. He was a minister of the United Brethern church, and was on his circuit for about a year, and filled all of his appointments, but his health, which was never very good, soon gave way, and he was called home to his reward. His widow, Mrs. Mary HAYWORTH, still lives on the old homestead. She was formerly Miss Mary MYERS, and was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1828. She removed with her father to Ohio at six years of age, and from there to Prairieton, Indiana, at thirteen years of age. She was married to Samuel HAYWORTH, December 25, 1849. She has been an honored member of United Brethern church for twenty-seven years. She now lives three miles south of the town of Prairieton, in a comfortable home.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - pp. 465-466

JACOB HORNER, farmer, Prairieton, was born in Washington county, Indiana, November 20, 1836. He spent his youth and life in that county till after the war. He has lived in Vigo county since 1873, and lost all of his crop in the high water of 1875. He was a volunteer in the 66th reg. Ind. Inf. and served thirteen months. He was wounded in the hip and discharged for disability. He was in several battles, among which may be named the battle of Ringgold, Snake Gap, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Kingston, Dallas, Pine Mountain, Allatoona, and many others. He was wounded at Van Wert, Georgia. He is a member of the I.O.O.F. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church. He was married in 1865 to Miss Margaret N. LIGHTNER, of Illinois, formerly from New Albany, Indiana.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - p. 479

ABEL HARDIN ISBELL, deceased, was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, November 23, 1820. He died in Prairieton township, January 28, 1878. His father was born in North Carolina, and his mother in Virginia. Both are dead. Abel H. ISBELL came to Vigo county when quite young and settled in Prairieton, where he resided until he died. He was a member of the 85th reg., Ind. Vol. Inf., under Capt. BALL, and served his country faithfully. He was a strong political partisan in the republican ranks. He was a member of the methodist church, and an exemplary man. He received a serious injury by a kick in the face from a horse about a year before his death, which tended to hasten his death. He was noted for his benevolent acts and charity. He never had children of his own; still he raised a family of seven, three girls and four boys, friendless orphans. He used to raise large crops of corn and boat it down to New Orleans by flatboat.

LYDIA ISBELL, widow of Abel H. ISBELL, was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, December 22, 1826. Her father was born in Maryland, and died August 1, 1868, and her mother was born in Virginia, and died May 1849. Mrs. Lydia ISBELL now lives on the farm just south of the town of Prairieton, which is one of the beautiful farms that abound in this part of the county. She is a member of the Methodist church, and is warmly, devoted to the cause of temperance and other good works.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - p. 467

LIVINGSTON ISBELL, deceased, was born in Barren county, Kentucky, February 22, 1825. He was one of five brothers, whose names were: Henderson, Abel Harding, Livingston, John and Ewing. Livingston came to Indiana with his parents when a boy. He was first married to Miss Mary REYNOLDS, and she died in 1851. He afterward married a Miss Sarah MYERS, of Vigo county, in December 1858. He lived near Prairieton, and followed farming principally. He enlisted in the 43rd Ind. Vol. Inf., in October 1861, and served seven months, when he was discharged for disability and died two years after coming home from the war, from disease contracted while in the service. His second wife is still living and resides in Terre Haute. Livingston became the father of four children by the first marriage and three by the second, one of whom, EDWARD ISBELL, lives in Prairieton. He was born November 22, 1855, near the town, and has always lived in the township of Prairieton. He was married February 12, 1880, to Miss ADELIA LYDIA MOBLEY, of Prairieton, a daughter of Geo. W. and Celia MOBLEY. Geo. W. MOBLEY and Celia BISHOP were married November 14, 1853. Mr. MOBLEY died March 29, 1865, and his wife Celia November 2, 1860. Their daughter, Adelia Lydia, was born May 24, 1858. The five brothers all lived in the township of Prairieton, but are all dead.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - pp. 469-470

ALFRED KRUZAN, farmer, Prairieton, living on Sec. 1, Prairieton township, was born in Lost Creek township in 1829, and moved on the farm on which he now lives in 1853. He was married in 1864 to Miss Margaret WHEATLY, of Vigo county, Indiana. They have now a family of nine children, all living. His father, Isaac KRUZAN, is now living in Lost Creek township, Vigo county, Indiana, and is nearly seventy-four years of age. His mother is dead. He is a member of the A.O.U.W.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - p. 466

JOSEPH LISTON, deceased, was born the year 1792 and died in 1875 at the age of eighty-three. He [was] married in the State of Ohio, and moved to Prairie Creek township, Vigo county, Indiana, in 1816. He moved his family and household goods from Ohio to Indiana on horseback, by putting by putting his household goods on one horse and two boys on top of the goods, while his wife rode another horse, with one child tied on behind and another one in her lap, while he footed it and brought up the rear. He was a farmer by occupation. He embraced religion in 1810, and was baptized by the Rev. Isaac McCOY, afterward a missionary among the Indians. He had a family of seventeen children (sixteen by his first wife and one by his second wife, whom he married in 1844), twelve of whom lived and married. He had a son killed in the war of the rebellion, in Tennessee, under Capt. PACKETT. He is said to have plowed the first furrow on Fort Harrison prairie, and was undoubtedly one of the first who came to Vigo county.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - p. 464

DAVID C. McPHERON, or, as he is familiarly called, Cary McPheron, farmer, Prairieton, was born and raised on the farm he now occupies. He married, at Prairieton, Miss Hattie ROWE, a daughter of John M. ROWE, an intelligent and social lady. His father, Andrew McPHERON, was born in Tennessee, emigrated to Ohio when a child and came to Prairieton at an early day. He first walked from Champaign county, Ohio, to Edgar county, Illinos, and back. He then rode out on horseback and returned to Ohio on foot. He subsequently rode a good horse and came with about $275 in money and settled in Prairieton. He was married in 1849 to Mrs. Garcia Ann BETHYS, the widow of Marvin BETHYS. He died January 16, 1871. His wife is living and resides in the city of Terre Haute.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - p. 468

THOMAS McPHERON, deceased, brother of Andrew McPHERON and husband of Mrs. Virginia McPHERON, was born in Green county, Tennessee, February 5, 1815, three miles from Greenville City. He moved to Allen county, Ohio, in 1831, and was married to Miss Nancy COON, of Allen county, Ohio, who died eighteen months afterward, leaving one child, a daughter, Nancy E. McPHERON, who still lives in West Newton, Ohio, and is married to a man by the name of HUGHES. Mr. McPHERON afterward moved to Miami county, Ohio, where he was married February 27, 1847, to Miss Rhoda J. PENCE, a cousin of Dr. Allen PENCE, of Terre Haute, Indiana. He moved to Prairieton, Indiana, in 1853, and his wife died July 21, 1862, aged forty-two years. He was again married, this time to Miss VIRGINIA BENNETT, of Sullivan county, Indiana, April 16, 1863. His children by his second wife are: Thomas A., Eli, Maria, William, Cary, Henrietta and Harriett; and by his third wife: Mary, Florence, Rosa and James. Six of these are dead: William, Cary, Henrietta, Harriett, Rosa and James. He was a member and a deacon of the Missionary Baptist church for many years, and was respected by all who knew him. He died March 28, 1869, at his home one and a half miles southwest of Prairieton, where his third wife, who survives him, still lives. She was born September 3, 1828, near Merom, Sullivan county, Indiana. She came to Prairieton in 1863, soon after her marriage, where she has since resided. She has a fine farm of about 150 acres, which she, with the assistance of her children, has successfully managed since her husband's death, and they have a good home, surrounded by the comforts in life. Her health has always been good. She has been a member of the Methodist church for many years. Her stepson, Thomas A. McPHERON, is a young man of steady habits, and an important factor in the successful management of the farm.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - pp. 473-474

JAMES G. NORMAN, farmer, Prairieton, was born in Spencer county, Kentucky, December 17, 1805. He removed from Kentucky to Indiana in January 1846, and moved on the farm he now occupies in the fall of 1846. His family of four children are all dead but one daughter. He is presently located in the southeast part of the township, on a farm of 110 acres. At the time of the Mexican war Mr. NORMAN belonged to a company of light infantry in Taylorsville, Spencer county, Kentucky, and was ordered out to go to war, but volunteers coming in so plentifully, the light infantry was sent home without participating in the war. The country was full of wild game when Mr. NORMAN came to Indiana, and he has enjoyed the life of a sportsman, often bagging as high as four deer per day. An incident in the life of Mr. NORMAN is perhaps worth relating. On one occasion, in company with Jeremiah HAYWORTH and Samuel HAYWORTH, he was going to town, when it was found out that neither of the company had any money, and they began to speculate as to how they could get their regular drinks. One of the company, however, had ingenuity equal to the occasion. Riding up to the fence he shouldered a couple of fence stakes. When asked what he was going to do with them he said he was going to sell them and buy his drinks. No sooner was this said than the whole company shouldered fence stakes, and when they arrived at town proceeded to sell them, and obtained what nearly all pioneer frontiersmen considered as necessary as food and clothing. Mr. NORMAN and his wife have been exemplary members of the United Brethren church for twenty-two years. In the year 1879 Mr. NORMAN and wife made a transfer of their farm to Stephen H. WATTS and wife, with the conditions that Mr. and Mrs. WATTS should care for them while living and bury them at death. Mr. WATTS and wife seem to be worthy and honored members of society, and richly deserve the favor shown them by Mr. NORMAN, as they have proved by the interest they have taken in the care of the old folks and the farm that the confidence has not been misplaced.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - pp. 472-473

MR. JACOB OGLE SR. and his wife Sarah, the parents of JACOB W. OGLE, physician and farmer, Prairieton, were born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, he in 1791 and she in 1790. He was married in 1811 to Miss Sarah BATY. He entered land from the government near Indianapolis, in 1813. He came from Perry county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio in 1812. They had a family of eight children: Thirza S., William B., Martha L., Jacob W., the subject of this sketch, Sarah, and Elizabeth M.: two died in infancy. Martha died in 1843 and William B. in 1872; the rest are living. Jacob W. OGLE Jr. settled in Prairieton township in April 1839. He was married December, 1851, to the youngest daughter of Thomas FERGUSON, who came to the township in 1817. They have had six children, three boys and three girls. The eldest, a boy, died, and the remainder are living at home. Mrs. OGLE, a genial and sociable lady, has been disabled by rheumatism for six years or more, and has not been able to walk or work, but is remarkably patient under her affliction. Dr. J.W. OGLE received his education at Oxford or Miami University, in Ohio, and then attended the Ohio Medical Institute at Cincinnati, in 1848. He afterward graduated from Rush Medical College, at Chicago. He has practiced medicine a number of years, but his time now is chiefly devoted to farming. He has a fine farm of 320 acres in one body, and owns in all about 500 acres. He has never been a military man, an office-holder or an office-seeker.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - p. 470

ROBERT G. REYNOLDS, farmer, Prairieton, now lives one mile north of Honey Creek, on the river road from Prairieton to Terre Haute. He was born on the farm just south of where he now lives in 1842. He has lived on his farm of eight-five acres since 1869. He has a good farm, which will always produce a crop, being composed of a loamy sand which resists the drouth or floods. In fact, the lands lying in what is known as the Pocket, near Prairieton, and adjacent to Honey Creek, are the finest lands in Indiana. Mr. REYNOLDS in a sober, steady, industrious farmer; has a pleasant family, and is laying the foundation for a sure competency in old age. His father, MOSES REYNOLDS, was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, in 1810; came to Indiana in 1820, and settled where David REYNOLDS now lives. He died in 1872, leaving a son, Robert, and a daughter, who is now the wife of John Allison PUGH, who lives just south of the city of Terre Haute. Moses REYNOLDS was married twice, and he and both of his wives are now dead. He was one of the early pioneers who endured the privations and perils of life on the frontier.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - p. 471

JAMES ALBERT RIDGE was born in Covington, Indiana, and lived there a number of years and then came with his father to Prairieton a number of years ago and has since made this township his home. He is a young man of steady habits and is located on a beautiful farm north of the town of Prairieton. He married a Miss COX, daughter of Jackson COX, now living on the west side of the Wabash river west of the town of Prairieton.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - p. 479

WILLIAM C. RISLEY, a farmer by occupation, was born in Green Bay City, Wisconsin, March 15, 1847. He came to Prairieton township in the fall of 1865. He has a wife and one child, and has lost three children. He owns a good farm of 100 acres, and he is fast making a pleasant home of it. He is a young man of steady habits and persevering industry. His father, Levi RISLEY, was a carpenter and joiner, and removed a number of times, taking his son William with him, to Abingdon, Iowa, St. Paul, Minn., New Orleans, Rushville, Ind., Terre Haute, Ind., and again to Abingdon, Iowa, where he worked at his trade till he died, in the winter of 1855. William C. was married August, 1870, to Miss MARTHA B. BUSHEL, of Vigo county, who was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, in 1805, and was married in 1822 to Wm. T. LLOYD, who removed to Sullivan county, Indiana, in 1824, where she lived with him twelve years, when he died, leaving wife and seven children. She remained a widow ten years, and was then married to Joseph LISTON, whom she survives. She now lives two miles southeast of Prairieton; was seventy-four years of age October 1879. She has raised a family of eight children, four of whom are living in Vigo county, Indiana. She is a remarkable woman, being able now at the age of seventy-four to read without glasses.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - p. 469

THOMAS ROBERTSON, farmer, Prairieton, was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1834. His father, Lane ROBERTSON, who now lives about one mile east of his son Thomas, came from Ohio to Hancock county, Indiana, when Thomas was four years old, and Thomas lived there until August 1858, when he removed to Prairieton township. He has lived in the township since 1861, but was absent for several years. He was married May 23, 1861, to Miss Eliza Jane SIMMONS, a daughter of Willis SIMMONS, formerly of Prairieton township, but now a resident of the State of Kansas. Mr. ROBERTSON commenced to learn the carpenter's trade when fourteen years of age, and followed it till twenty-six years old, since which time he has been a farmer, carpenter, and one year he tried brick-making in Terre Haute, when he lost about $1,500, owing to the decline in the price of brick. He had paid his workmen the high rate of wages with the expectation that the price of brick would remain the same as when he commenced to manufacture. The price fell from $7 to $5 per thousand, and he became a loser, and after that he returned to the farm. He owns 300 acres of the richest bottom land in the southwest part of the township. He has 265 acres in crops and the remainder in grass, and it is all under fence. He lost his entire crop during the high water of 1875, which destroyed nearly all of the crops on the bottom land. He never held office in the public service. He is an honored member of the Prairieton Lodge, No. 178, A.F. and A.M., and has held a high position in the order, and is one of the organizers of the lodge. Up to 1873 his health was good, but he was attacked by the sciatic rheumatism, since while his health has not been the best. Mr. and Mrs. ROBERTSON have four children living, and they have lost four. Those living are two boys and two girls. Mr. ROBERTSON is a genial, social gentleman, and one with whom a person feels at home at all times.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - pp. 474-475

F.W. ROMINE, farmer, Prairieton, was born in Vigo county, Indiana, March 21, 1838, and has lived in the county ever since. He was married August 15, 1869, to Miss Mary A. STEADMAN, a daughter of Jefferson STEADMAN, of Morgan county, Ohio. She came to Terre Haute, Indiana, and was brought up by Dr. BELL, of Terre Haute. They have only moved three times since they went to keeping house, and are now living on a small farm of forty acrea in the northwest corner of Sec. 2. They have four children, three boys and one girl: James Bell, Emily Alice, Wm. David and Thomas D. They have also adopted a son of Benjamin ROMINE, who lost his wife a short time ago. He has been a member of the United Brethren church for seventeen years and is considered an honorable citizen. He has always been a farmer. His brother, Samuel ROMINE, was a volunteer in the 85th reg. Ind. Vol. Inf.; was in thirty-two battles of the war and had his hat rim cut off and the letters C.S. shot off his belt and his canteen shot from him; he was also severely injured by being run over by an ambulance, which has proved to be a permanent disability and for which he receives from the government a pension. F.W. ROMINE has met with some severe losses, but has come through safely and is now in comfortable circumstances.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - p. 468

BENJAMIN N. ROWE, farmer, Prairieton, is a son of John M. ROWE, who lived for many years in Prairieton, and was a stock dealer, and well-to-do in this world. His house was the home of all traveling ministers, and many times have the hospitalities of his house been freely tendered to not only ministers, but wayfares and others. He was a member of the M.E. church, and licensed to exhort. He was the father of Mrs. Hattie McPHERON, the wife of David C. McPHERON. He died April 2, 1869, aged fifty-three years, and his wife May 5, 1877. Benjamin N. ROWE has lived in Vigo county nearly all his life. He volunteered in the 85th Ind. Vol. Inf., under Capt. BRANT, and served eighteen months, or until the war closed. He came home without a hurt. He was with Gen. SHERMAN in his famous march to the sea. He was married August 1, 1869, to Miss Jennie E. RIDGE, of Vigo county, and they have a family of five children.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Prairieton Twp. - p. 473

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