MENDENHALL-Jesse - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Jesse L. MENDENHALL.  The name Mendenhall has been familiar in Fountain County from the earliest days of its settlement, and it is closely connected with the annals of Cain Twp. even to the present day, the first man to locate within its bounds being Absalom Mendenhall, the father of the gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch, who is a retired farmer residing in the village of Hillsboro.  Absalom Mendenhall was born in Burke County, NC March 18, 1780 a son of Jesse Mendenhall.  He was reared in his native county but migrated from there to Tenn when a young man and first settled in Granger County.  He there met and married Judith TALIFERRO, who was a daughter of Richard Taliferro, who was one of the heroes of the Revolution. After marriage Mr. Mendenhall continued to live in Granger County for a time and was engaged both in farming and in trade as a cooper.  in 1820 he brought his family to Indiana, and for 3 years lived in Wayne Co. In the fall of 1823 he made still another move and came to Fountain Co. entered 160 acres from the Government, situated on Sec 8, Twp 19 Rg 6 and he thus became the first permanent settler of Cain Twp, his nearest neighbor 8 miles away. The entry of his land was made at Terre Haute, but the land office was afterward removed to Crawfordsville and his place was on her oad that led from that city to Covington in a wild and lonely spot, all the country around being a howling wilderness.  Indians still roamed the forests as in the days when they had full possession and deer, wild turkeys, wolves and other wild animals abounded, bears being seen, too, occasionally.  Copperhead and rattlesnakes were prevalent, and often the cattle on the bluffs would be bitten by those noxious reptiles.  The Indians, who were of the Pottawatomie tribe were troublesome as they had no regard for the rights of others and did not scruple to appropriate all property they could lay their hands on in many cases.  Mr. Mendenhall built a log house for a dwelling and proceeded to clear his land. It was not long before he was joined by other settlers, and he soon found himself surrounded by neighbors.  In the quarter of a century that elapsed between the time of his coming here and date of his death, Aug 25, 1848 he wrought a great change on his homestead by his steady industry, making a good farm of it.  He was of a genial, obliging disposition and held a warm place in the hearts of his fellow pioneers, among whom he made many personal friends.  Politically he affiliated with the Democrats and was a prominent figure in the he public life of his county, which he served in various official capacities.  He was at one time County Commissioner and he subsequently held the office of Justice of the Peace 3 consecutive terms while later in 1840 he was elected State Senate. Mr. Mendenhall's wife preceded him in death dying Aug 18, 1845.  They had 11 children, 10 of whom grew to maturity our subject now being the sole survivor of the family. The others were Taliferro, who died Feb 5, 1835; Jane who married Morgan Addington; Sarah who married Joseph Wade; Dorcas married William Addington; Mary who married Warren Dewey; Temperance, who married William Donohue; William Nel; Betsey who married Joseph Zumalt and Judith who married Perry DeVore. The subject of this biography was born June 21, 1817, in Granger Co, Tenn. He was but four when his father removed to White water, this state and but six years of age when he settled in Cain Twp.  The first school that he attended was held in a round log house that had puncheon floor and benches. A hewed log house took the place of that building and slab seats superceded the puncheon benches.  Our subject worked on the old homestead for his father until 21 and he then engaged in farming there on his own account.  He was married Jan 10, 1839 to Miss Susan BEVER, a daughter of Mathias Bever who was an early settler of the township.  She was born Aug 2, 1815 in Adams Co OH and was 9 when the family came to Indiana.  Mr. Mendenhall continued to live on his father's place for some time after his marriage but he finally removed to a farm on Sec 19, which comprised 160 acres of fine farming land which he retained in his possession until Spring 1887, when he sold it and retired from active business to Hillsboro where he is enjoying the fruits of his early labors as a practical, wide-awake farmer. He is still exceedingly interested in all that pertains to agriculture and is well posted in what is going on in the country.  He is a member of the Masonic Order and has held the office of Treasurer in the lodge.  Politically, he is an uncomprising Democrat.  He and his wife are among the first members of the Christian Church, identifying themselves with its every good work, and he is an elder in the he church.  He had held public offices with honor to himself and to the benefit of the community.  Three times he has been elected Justice of the Peace, and Trustee of the Township two terms.