STONER, Lycurgus - Putnam

LYCURGUS STONER

The family of which the subject of this review is an honorable representative has been identified with Putnam County since the pioneer period and today there are few names in this part of Indiana as widely known or as highly esteemed. Lycurgus Stoner, a veteran of the late Civil War and prominent citizen of Washington Twp, is a grandson of Peter Stoner, of Maryland, whose antecedents were among the early settlers of that colony. Peter Stoner was born Sept 14, 1763 and at age 16 ran away from home on account of his stepfather and entered the American army enlisting in 1780 for 3 months' service. At the expiration of that military experience participated in a number of battles and skirmishes, including the engagements at Monks Corner and Eutaw Springs, NC in the latter of which he was twice wounded. Some time after the close of the war for independence he settled in Orange Co NC where he lived until his removal about 1832, to Putnam County, Indiana. In Sept 1832, he applied to the government for a pension, which in due time was granted, this fact togehter with his war record being attested to in March 1890, by Valentine Warner, commissioner of pensions at Washington, DC. Peter Stoner was married Aug 13, 1793, to Eva Cotner, and became the father of seeral children, among whom were Peter, Jr. who moved to Putnam County in 1823. Joseph, who also settled in this county, locating on Little Walnut Creek in Madison Twp where he cleared a farm and spent the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Society of Friends, was twice married and lived to be quite an old man. Peter Stoner was a man of fine business ability and at his death, which occurred April 7, 1851, left a valuable estate. Peter Stoner, Jr. son of the above preceded his father to Putnam County by about 9 years settling two miles west of Greencastle, between Little & Big Walnut Creeks in 1823. He drove from his NC home in a two-horse wagon, which contained his few belongings in the way of household good and agricultural implements, and upon his arrival the sum total of his available cash amounted to just 50 cents. In due time he erected a log cabin, in which his children were afterwards born and by dint of hard and long-continued labor cleared and improved a farm on which he spent the remainder of his life. The present house, which replaced the original cabin, was build in 1853 and has been used continually since that year, being one of the oldest farm dwellings in the community and in a good state of preservation. Mr. Stoner added to his holdings at intervals until he became the owner of about 400 acres of land which afterwards increased in value and placed him in independent circumstances. He directed his energies to the clearing and developing a part of his land and as a farmer he easily ranked with the best in the county and acquired a handsome competency, leaving at his death an estate conservatively estimated at over 100,000. Although a member of no church, his life was singularly noble and upright and against his character no breath of suspicion was ever uttered. His death, on June 4, 1876 was profoundly lamented by the large circle of friends and neighbors. Mrs. Stoner, who preceded her husband to the grave about two or three years, was a woman of excellent repute and stood high in the confidence and esteem of all who knew her. The family of this worthy couple consisted of the following children: Joseph W; Lycurgus; William P; Peter S; John W; Sarah J, widow of John Davis of Claifornia; Lucy, wife of Benjamin Daggey of LaPorte County, Indiana; Eve, who married James H. Torr and lives on the old homstead in Madison Township and Indiana, wife of John L. Hillis, of Greencastle. Lycurgus Stoner, the second of the above family, was born March 17, 1836 in Putnam County, Indiana and spent his entire life on the family homestead, attending in the meantime such schools as were then common. He remained with his parents assisting in the cultivation of the farm until ominous clouds of impending civil war obscured the national horizon, when,with thousands of other loyal young men throughout the North, he responded to the first call for the troops, enlisting on April 21, 1861, in the 10th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served 3 months in VA, taking part during that time in several skirmishes and minor engagements, including the action at Rich Mountain, which was among the first battles of the war. At the expiration of his period of service he reenlisted and shortly thereafter was attached to General Fremont's body guard at St. Louis, where he remained on active duty until his time expired. In January 1862 he joined Co F 21st Regt Ind Vol Inf at Baltimore, MD and continued with the regiment until 1864, on Jan 10th of which year he veteranized with Co. E 21st Regt Ind Vol at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which was in General Butler's command and operated along the lower Mississippi and elsewhere, among the more noted of that General's achievements being the capture of New Orleans, in which the subject took part. Later Mr. Stoner was with General Banks on the ill-starred Red River expedition, where he saw much active service and passed through many thrilling experiences, he also participated in the battle at Baton Rouge, the capture of Port Hudson and a number of other engagements, his military service being replete with duty bravely and uncomplainingly performed. While at the front he was fortunate in escaping injury, the only time he was absent from his command by reason of disability being a short period in a hospital at New Orleans, where he was treated for an attack of typhoid fever. Discharge with an honorable record at the expiration of his period of enlistment, Mr. Stoner returned to Putnam County and shortly thereafter purchased a fine tract of bottom land on the Big Walnut Creek, which he at once proceeded to improve. Mr. Stoner in due time had his farm under a high state of tillage and in connection with agriculture also devoted considerable attention to the breeding and raising of fine livestock, in which his success was continuous and gratifying. For 28 years he was associated with his brother Peter in the livestock business and since 1884 has occupied the beautiful and commodious home in Washington Twp, where he is now living a life of honorable retirement. Mr. Stone, on Feb 14, 1867, was happily married to Elvira Boone, a daughter of Daniel and Malind (Miller) Boone, the father a native of Harrison County, Indiana and son of Moses and Hannah Boone a great nephew of Daniel Boone, the noted hunter frontiersman and Indian fighter, who bore such a distinguished part in the early annals of Ky and elsewhere throughout the central West. Mrs. Stoner's father came to Putnam county with his parents about 1821 and settled on Big Walnut Creek in Washington Twp, where Moses Boone died in 1853 at the ripe old age of 84 years 3 months. Daniel spent his young manhood clearning and developing the farm on which he and his faithful wife spent the remainder of their days, he departing this life on Oct 20, 1889, aged 73, and she on the 1wth of March 1902, when 82. All of the 11 children born to this estimable couple grew to maturity, and 10 of the number are still living, being among the old and well known residents of Putnam County and highly esteemed in their respective communities. Squire Boone, a brother of the famous frotiersman, at one time owned the farm on which Mr. Stoner now lives; he sold the land in 1849 and went to Iowa, settling on the present site of Boonsboro in Boone County, where his son and other descendants still reside, the town and county being so named in honor of the family Mrs. Lycurgus Stoner, whose birth occurred Feb 9, 1840, has borne her husband 8 children 5 of whom survive: Fred, who lives on the homestead in Washington Twp; Gertrude, under the parental roof; Maude, who married Edward Houck, of Brazil, Indiana; Blanche, wife of Oscar O'Hair of Monroe Twp, and Lycurgus, who lives on the home farm in the township of Madison. Mr. Stoner is a public spirited citizen who stands for all enterprises having for their end the material prosperity of the community and the moral advancement of his fellow men and since attaining his majority has yielded unwavering allegiance to the Republican party. For several years he was a director of the First National bank of Greenastle, but for some time he has not been identified with any public institution, being the possessor of a handsome fortune and amply able to spend the remainder of his life in the enjoyment and rest which his long year sof strenous effort so richly entitle him.