Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tipecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 564-565
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888

Volunteer: Charlene Saunders

JOHN N. RAY, a prominent and succcessful agriculturist of Wea Township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, is the eldest son of BENJAMIN RAY, who was one of the early settlers of the county.  JOHN N. was born in the township where he resides, the date of his birth being November 26, 1842.  He was reared on his father's homestead, to farming and stock-raising, his father being one of the most successful men in this line in the county.  He has always been a resident of Wea Township, and now resides on section 22, his home farm containing 320 acres of valuable land, a part of which is his father's estate.  He has been twice married, his first wife, CATHERINE, dying May 4, 1878.  She was a daughter of ABNER BAKER, one of the pioneer merchants of La Fayette.  By his first marriage he had three children, named J. B., M. C. and B. F. He was a second time married to MISS MARIE McCOY, of Chillicothe, Ohio, and to this union there has been no children.  Politically MR. RAY affiliates with the Republican party, and is classed among the substantial men of his township.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 564
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888

Volunteer: Charlene Saunders

ERASTUS Y. BARNES, one of Tippecanoe County's early pioneers was born in Herkimer County, New York, February 21, 1812 a son of SILAS and ALICE (BATEMAN) BARNES, who removed to Livingston County, NY when he was four years of age.  SILAS BARNES died in Livingston County, and his widow subsequently removed to Jasper County, Indiana, where she resided until her death.  SILAS BARNES was twice married, his first wife being a Miss CHAPINS.  Four of the children born to this union and six of his second marriage grew to maturity. ERASTUS Y. BARNES came west in 1836, and after a tedious journey he reached La Fayette, Tippecanoe County, being over a month in making the trip. An elder brother, Rev. HORATIO N. BARNES, came about the same time, making the entire trip from New York State by wagon.  He was one of the pioneer Methodist preachers of Tippecanoe County, and is now in Los Angeles County, California.   Soon after his arrival in Tippecanoe County, our subject purchased 120 acres of school land on section 16, Tippecanoe Township, which he exchanged a short time later for his present farm on Section 21, Tippecanoe Township, where he has lived for nearly fifty years. He was married in Tippecanoe County, October 2, 1838, to MARIA PATTISON, who was born in Seneca County, New York, March 23, 1819, a daughter of EGBERT  and HENRIETTA (QUACKENBUSH) PATTISON. She was reared in her native State until October, 1837, when her parents came to Tippecanoe Township, and lived until their deaths, on the place where they first settled, the father dying September 12, 1870, and the mother eight days later. They were the parents of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, of whom but four daughters and one son are living at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. BARNES have five children, of whom four daughters are living--HENRIETTA, HANNAH ALICE, MARY and ALMIRA.  Their only son, HORATIO N., was born in July, 1839. He entered in the Twentieth Indiana Regiment in the war of the Rebellion; was in the second battle of Bull Run, and was taken sick after this event and died at Alexandria, Virginia, a few months after his enlistment.  Mr. and Mrs. BARNES have traveled through life together fifty years and are numbered among the highly respected residents of this county. They have been for fifty years or more worthy and consistent members of the Methodist and Episcopal church.

Biographical Record & Portrait of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pg. 754
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888

Volunteer: Gordon Pattison

JAMES PATTISON CLUTE of Battle Ground, Tippecanoe County, has been a resident of this county since the fall of 1838.  He was born in Saratoga County, New York, near Saratoga Springs, February 19. 1830, a son of WALTER and ALMIRA (PATTISON) CLUTE, both of whom died many years ago.  He was reared in the family of JAMES PATTISON his maternal grandfather, until about fifteen years of age, and was in his ninth year when Mr. PATTISON came to Tippecanoe County, and settled on his farm one mile west of Battle Ground. The surrounding country was in a state of nature and wild animals, such as wolves and deer, roamed at large. Game of all kinds was in abundance. Wolf chases and deer hunts were the principal amusements of the early settler. The date of the PATTISON family's arrival in the county was October, 1838. Mr. PATTISON married for his wife Miss JUDA AKERT, who was a representative of one of the early families of New York. She died many years before her husband. They brought with them to this county, eight children, as follows--ALMIRA, the mother of our subject, who after the death of Mr. CLUTE, became the wife of Benjamin BIRCH; Mrs. ANN FRANKLIN, now deceased; ELIZABETH, now Mrs. WOLFER, of Battle Ground; FINETTA, now Mrs. SHAW, of La Fayette; JUDA, now Mrs. SNYDER, of Ladoga, Indiana; WILLIAM, HARMON and ABRAHAM, the last three deceased. Another daughter, Mrs. CAROLINE VEILE, never became a resident of this county. She is still living at Saratoga, New York. Mr. PATTISON made a homestead on the land where he first settled, where he lived many years, his first residence being a small log cabin, 14 x 18 feet, which was occupied by his family the winter following their arrival. Finally, on account of declining years, he sold his farm and bought a home at Battle Ground, where he remained until his death.

JAMES PATTISON CLUTE, the subject of this sketch,  is of Holland ancestry on his father's side, his ancestors having belonged to the colony which settled New Amsterdam, now New York, in the year 1614.  When fifteen years old he began learning the carpenter's trade with JOHN L. DeWITT, with whom he remained one season, then continued his trade with WILLIAM KLEPINGER for a time.  In the spring of 1850 he began clerking in the general store of 'Squire HAMILTON, and from that time has been constantly engaged in mercantile pursuits, with the exception of three years spent in the service of his country during the late war.  He ws married June 30, 1853, to Miss LOUISIANA SNYDER, a daughter of JACOB SNYDER, who settled in this county in the year 1843.  The children born to Mr. and Mrs. CLUTE are all deceased.   Mr. CLUTE enlisted in August, 1862, in Company G, Twentieth Indiana Infantry, his company at that time being at the front.  He was offered the choice of official places in Company G, Sixty-third Indiana Infantry, which was then being raised, but he preferred to go to the front to taking the responsibility of a command without experience.  he, with about sixty recruits, joined his regiment at Warrenton Junction, Virginia, and temporarily was assigned to Company K, under the command of Captain BROWN.  The second battle of Bull Run was then in progress, and with the other recruits he joined in the fight without arms, but they were soon armed by taking the muskets from their fallen comrades.  He was in the battle of Fredericksburg, where his regiment took an active part, and was in the battle of Chancellorsville, where they captured the Twenty-third Georgia, which numbered more than their own men.  On the defeat of the Eleventh Corps, and the falling back of the same, the Third Corps, to to which his regiment belonged, was cut off from the rest of the army, rendering a midnight attack necessary.  The regiment was withdrawn from the front, and facing to the rear, made a charge with bayonets, driving the enemy back and establishing communication.  On account of illness, Mr. CLUTE did not participate in the battle of Gettysburg with his regiment.  He accompanied his regiment to New York to assist in suppressing the draft riot in that city, and subsequently took part in the battles of Locust Grove, Mine  Run, and the battle of the Wilderness.  He received a gunshot wound in the head at the last mentioned battle, and was off duty but a short time, when he rejoined his regiment at the battle of Spotsylvania.  He was also in the engagements of Cold Harbor, Taloptannia, Deep Bottom and Strawberry Plains. He took an active part in the siege of Petersburg, and was present at the surrender of LEE, and his last engagement was at Clear Hill, on the 9th of April 1865.  he received an honorable discharge at Arlington Heights, April 29, 1865, returning to his home with health much impaired. He was a gallant soldier, and while in the service fought bravely for his country.  After the war he resumed his business, and has since been as actively engaged as his heath would permit.  Mr. CLUTE is a man of cordial manners and genial disposition, and a worthy citizen.  He has always manifested a deep interest in the welfare of his township and county, and all worthy enterprises hs his encouragement and support.  He assisted in organizing Battle Ground Post, No. 464, G.A.R., of which he was the first Commander, and is now holding the office of Quartermaster of the Post.  He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Battle Ground Lodge.  In politics he is a Republican, and is a strong adherent to the principles of that party.  Both he and his wife are worthy and active members of the Methodist church, and he was one of the organizers of the first Methodist church at Battle Ground.  He also organized the first Sunday school at Battle Ground, and most of the time since has been its superintendent.

Biographical Record & Portrait of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 362-363
Lewis Publishing Company, 1888

Volunteer: Gordon Pattison

WILLIAM FRASER, proprietor of the Aetna House, La Fayette, is a native of Nova Scotia, born in Pictou County, March 24, 1842, a son of ROBERT and ELLEN (McDONALD)FRASER.  His parents were born in Scotland, where they were reared and married, and on coming to America they settled in Nova Scotia, where the father died in April 1884, and where the mother still makes her home.  WILLIAM FRASER was reared to a farm life, but in his youth learned the shoemaker's trade in his native county.  In 1862 he left Nova Scotia for Cincinnati, Ohio, and there followed the shoemaker's trade until coming to LaFayette in October, 1868, when he engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes for the firm of Carnahan & Murphy.  In 1877 MR FRASER was elected on the Republican ticket, city clerk of LaFayette, and in 1879 was re-elected to the same office.  In 1881, on the expiration of his term of service, he took charge of the Aetna House, which under his skillful management has become a favorite resort for the traveling public.  MR. FRASER was married in LaFayette, to Miss MARY PHEBUS, a native of Fountain County, Indiana, and a daughter of CYRUS PHEBUS.  Both of ther parents are deceased.  In April, 1884, Mr. FRASER was elected township trustee, and was re-elected in 1886.  He is a member of the Odd Fellows order, belonging to Tippecanoe Lodge, No. 55.  He is also a member of Lodge No. 51, K. of P., and Purdue Council, No. 120, of the National Union.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pg. 566
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888

Volunteer: Charlene Saunders

SAMUEL MEHARRY, who is now living a retired life at La Fayette, is a native of Adams County, Ohio, the date of his birth being December 7, 1810.  His parents, ALEXANDER and JANE (FRANCIS) MEHARRY, were born in the north of Ireland, of Scotch ancestry.  They were reared in Ireland, where they lived until after their marriage, coming to America in 1794, and locating in Pennsylvania.  They subsequently left Connelsville, Pennsylvania, going by river in a flat-boat to Manchester, Adams County, Ohio, where the father lived until his death, which was caused by a tree falling on him as he was returning from a camp-meeting, June 20, 1813.  Three of his sons, HUGH, THOMAS and JAMES, came to Indiana, in 1827, and entered land in Montgomery County, on which they settled in 1828.  JAMES MEHARRY was twenty-nine days in making the trip from Ohio to this county.

SAMUEL MEHARRY, our subject, brought his mother to this county in 1843.  She lived in Indiana until her death, which occurred in Tippecanoe County, in August, 1844.  SAMUEL MEHARRY was reared in Adams County, Ohio, on a frontier farm.  In 1834 he entered land in Tippecanoe County, within three-fourths of a mile from Shawnee Mound, his first entry consisting of forty acres.  In 1846 he came to the county to settle on this land, which he found to be raw prairie, entirely unimproved.  The fall of his arrival in the county he saw thousands of people in LaFayette, the canal having just been completed, but only two faces he saw that were not pale with ague.  He came to the county with a small capital, and by his industrious habits and good management, he accumulated a large amount of property.  When but seventeen or eighteen years of age he took a deep interest in the slavery question, often debating it at school, taking the prohibition side.  His brother, REV. ALEXANDER MEHARRY, who was a preacher in Cincinnati, informed MR. BRADEN, president of the Central Tennessee College, that SAMUEL was a strong abolitionist.  MR. BRADEN called on our subject, and after informing him of the condition of slaves in the south, SAMUEL MEHARRY gave him $100 for a nucleus toward the building of a medical college in the South for the education of negro physicians.  The college was located at Nashville, and the medical department named the Meharry Medical College.  Since his first donation toward this worthy object he has given several thousand dollars, and his brothers have donated even more.

MR. MEHARRRY was married in Adams County, Ohio, January 20, 1836, to Miss MARY SAMSBERRY, who died June 29, 1840.  Two children were born this union, both now deceased.  MR. MEHARRY was married a second time May 9, 1844, to Miss REBECCA BOWER, a native of Brown County, Ohio.  They have no children living, but have reared a number of poor children.  They lived on their farm in Tippecanoe County until November 14, 1882, when they removed to La Fayette, where they are classed among the honored and most esteemed citizens.  Mr. MEHARRY has been a Methodist from his boyhood, and for many years connected with the Shawnee Church.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp 565
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888

Volunteer: Charlene Saunders

AUGUSTUS S. PERET, manufacturer of carriages and harness, is a native of Wayne County, Indiana, born in Abingdon, July 28, 1834, a son of VICTOR and MARY (DISCHMACHER) PERET.  VICTOR PERET was a native of Corsica, born March 8, 1769, and was a solider under Napoleon I., fighting with him at Lodi, and in many other battles as a member of Murat's cavalry.   He was in Egypt with his great commander, and bore the marks of many wounds on his person.  He was captured by the British after Napoleon's downfall, and was pressed into the English service at Venice.  He deserted and came to America, settling in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and was married in that county.  He died in March, 1850, and is buried at Abingdon, Indiana.  His wife died many years previous.

AUGUSTUS S. PERET, whose name heads this sketch, was reared in his native county and there learned the harness-maker's trade.  He left Wayne County in 1854, going to Eaton, Ohio.  He remained at Eaton until 1864, when he entered the navy, and served on the gunboat Benton, under COMMODORE E. Y. McCAULEY.  After the close of the war he came to LaFayette, and traveled in the interest of the carriage trade for Cincinnati houses until the spring of 1885, when he engaged in the
manufacture of carriages and harness at La Fayette, Indiana.  Politically MR. PERET votes independent of party ties.  MRS. PERET was formerly MISS LECOMTE, and is a native of America, but of French descent.  MR. PERET is a member of the Royal Arcanum and Purdue Council.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 565-566
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888

Volunteer: Charlene Saunders

WILLIAM NAGLE, Jr., one of the representatvie men of Shelby Township, was born in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, August 23, 1830.  When about three years old he was taken by his parents to Ross County, Ohio, where he spent seven years of his life, and in 1839 his parents settled in Tippecanoe County, and here he was reared to manhood amid the wild surroundings of pioneer life, his youth being passed in assisting with the work of the farm and in attending the pioneer schools of Shelby Township.  February 20, 1855, he was married to Miss CAMANTHA M. HOLLOWAY, a native of Ross County, Ohio, and a daughter of JOSEPH and SALLY (TIMMONS) HOLLOWAY, who were among the early pioneers of Tippecanoe County, they having settled on section 23, Shelby Township, in 1831, where the father died in 1875.  The mother of Mrs. NAGLE still survives her husband, and makes her home with her children.  Mr. and Mrs. NAGLE are the parents of five children--IDA, wife of Dr. JAMES GRAY, of Otterbein, Indiana; EVA, wife of CHARLES SUTTON, of Shelby Township;  DRUSILLA, wife of ED. BAKER, of Shelby Township; JOHN J. J., who resides on the old NAGLE homestead in the same township, and SALLY, also at home.  Mr. NAGLE located on his present farm the year of his marriage which he had partly improved, he having owned the land some two years previous to his marriage.  By industry and good management he has met with success in his agricultural pursuits, and has now one of the finest farms in Shelby Township, consisting of 372 acres of choice land, substantial house and farm buildings, and other valuable improvements.  Besides this farm he also owns valuable property in Otterbein. In politics Mr. NAGLE is a Republican.  He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in which he is class leader adn steward.  He is a member of Lodge No. 605, I.O.O.F., at Otterbein.  He has always taken an active interest in the advancement of religion and education, and is numbered among the leading men of his township.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pg. 386
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888

Volunteer: Adina Watkins Dyer

LUTHER MARTIN IRWIN, M.D., engaged in the practice of medicine in LaFayette, is a native of Ohio, born near Dayton, July 2, 1855.  His father, JOHN QUINCY IRWIN, was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, and when a small boy moved with his mother and two brothers to Ohio, locating first in Fayette County, where he was married to Miss PHOEBE RIGBY, who was a native of that county, of English parentage.  She is now deceased, her death taking place in February, 1881.   The father is still living, being now a resident of Minneopolis, Kansas.  LUTHER MARTIN IRWIN, whose name heads this sketch, passed his boyhood in his native county, Montgomery, receiving the early part of his education in the common schools of that county.  After completing his studies in the common schools he began teaching, when only a boy, in the public schools, and was for several years prior to engaging in the practice of medicine, a teacher in the public schools of Indiana.  He being one of nine children in the family, and his parents being only in moderate circumstances, he was compelled to earn his own livelihood and to pay for his schooling as best he could from his own earnings.  Grasping the motto of one of his worthy instructors, H. B. BROWN, of Valparaiso, Indiana, "Life is what we make of it," and being of a determined turn of mind, and studious by nature, by teaching in winter and attending college the remainder of the year, he succeeded in completing his studies, and in 1878 he began the study of medicine under Prof. YOHN, of Valparaiso, Indiana.  He entered Rush Medical College at Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from that college in February, 1882.  He practiced medicine in Chicago until April, 1882, when he came to LaFayette and located.  Being very successful in his practice, he soon had the confidence of the people in both city and country, and very soon secured a lucrative practice.  He is skilled in the knowledge of his profession, and ranks among the leading physicians of the county.  He is a member of the Tippecanoe County Medical Society, and the American Medical Association, being sent as a delegate from this county to that body in 1884.  The first year after locating at LaFayette he was appointed health officer of the county, and in 1885 was elected vice-president of the Tippecanoe County Medical Society.  Thus will be seen how by patient and persistent efforts he has attained the top of the ladder in his profession, his success being entirely due to his own endeavors.  The doctor was married December 31, 1884, to Miss ADDIE COLEMAN, a daughter of THOMAS and JULIA COLEMAN.  He is happily situated in a beautiful residence of his own, near the COLEMAN homestead.  His home is blessed with one child, a daughter, JULIA COLEMAN IRWIN.  He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Royal Areanum, being a medical examiner for the latter.  Politically he is a Republican.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 653-654
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888

Volunteer: Adina Watkins Dyer

DAVID M. RESER, a representative of one of the early pioneer families of  Tippecanoe County, and one of Sheffield Township's most respected citizens, was born in Clarke County, Ohio, April 2, 1823, a son of JACOB RESER, who settled here with his family in 1836.  JACOB RESER was born about 1780, in Hampshire County, Viginia, where he was reared, and married to MISS POLLY PURGET, who was also born and reared in the same county.  They reared a family of ten children, of whom but four are now living--ELIZA, the eldest of the surviving children; DAVID M., the subject of this sketch; HARVEY, of Wea Township, and PEGGY living in Carroll County, Indiana.  The names of the deceased were SIDNEY, POLLY, HIRAM, HEZEKIAH, SAMUEL and JAMES F. JACOB RESER, the father, learned the blacksmith's trade in early manhood, which he followed as long as he was able to work, his sons attending to the work of the farm.  He settled in Tippecanoe County with his family, as before stated in 1836, the date of their arrival being November 28.  They lived in Randolph Township about three years, and in the spring of 1840, MR. RESER purchased a tract of land on section 32, Sheffield Township, consisting of 360 acres, all of which was prairie but eighty acres of timber land.  The land was almost unimproved, but a log cabin had been built into which the family moved, and with the assistance of his sons MR. RESER soon had a good farm on which he lived until his death, in July, 1862.  His wife had died at the homestead several years before.  The humble log cabin was replaced by a fine substantial brick residence, before the death of the father, and the farm became one of the best in the neighborhood.  JACOB RESER was a typical pioneer, honest, industrious and enterprising.  In politics he was formerly a Whig, and later affiliated with the Republican party.  DAVID M. RESER, whose name heads this sketch, was about thirteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to this county, and has a clear remembrance of the appearance of the country fifty years ago.  He grew to manhood on the homestead farm in Sheffield Township, his youth being spent in assisting with the work of the farm, and in attending the district school.  He was married in 1848, to MISS MARY ANN BRELSFOARD, born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1820, a daughter of JOHN and ANN BRELSFOARD.  Her parents came from Butler county to Tippecanoe county in 1846, where the father died one year later.  His widow survived him until November, 1850.  MR. and MRS. RESER are the parents of seven children--EUNICE ANN, BENJAMIN B., FRANKLIN C., MARY ALICE, AMANDA I., ALLEN B. and LAURA B.  MR. RESER has lived on his present farm on section 30, Sheffield Towhship, since 1848, where he has eighty acres of well improved and finely cultivated land, the entire surroundings of the place indicating care and thrift.  Besides this farm he has a tract of timber land on section 35, of the same township.  MR. RESER is a man of genial disposition and cordial manners, and has had his share of the pleasures of this world.  Politically he is a Republican, casting first presidential vote for Henry Clay, in 1844, since which time he has voted for every Republican candidate for the presidency.  Both he and his wife are faithful and earnest members of the Universalist church at Dayton.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 562-563
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888

Volunteer: Charlene Saunders

ROSS GORDON was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1827, his parents being PHILIP and NANCY GORDON, both natives of that State.  At the age of sixteen years he began clerking in a dry goods store in Piqua, Ohio, and continued in that capacity for a time.  He came to LaFayette in 1843, in company with his brother, A.W., and they were engaged in the retail dry goods trade here until 1874, since which Mr. GORDON has been conducting the business of general advertising, in the States of Indiana and Ohio, andin wholesaling a number of choice proprietary medicines, besides attending to this share of the work conducting the paper mentioned.  he is a steady, reliable dealer.  In his religious relations, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.  Mr. GORDON married SARAH C. ROCHESTER, a native of Ohio.  They have three children living, viz.: Mrs. ANNA D. HART, residing at Bloomington, Illinois; Mrs. FLORENCE THOMAS, of the same city; and WILLIAM R., at home, and assisting his father in his office work.

CHARLES F. WILLIAMS was born in 1845, in the State of Illinois, and is a son of LAMBSON WILLLIAMS, a native of Vermont.  He passed the most of his boyhood at Jerseyville, Illinois, and as he grew up he learned the printer's trade, and assisted his father, who was conducting the Jerseyville Register.  At the age of seventeen years he was persuaded to take an interest in a paper called the Prairie State, at Jerseyville, Illinois, and the office was soon burned, Mr. WILLIAMS thus losing all he had invested.  Afterward he worked at his trade at Alton, Illinois, several years, and then, in 1869, he came to LaFayette.  Here for a few years he was city editor of the Daily Dispatch, which he discontinued in November 1876.  He then became connected with the Sunday Leader, in which office he has ever since been employed, being, as above stated, one of the propietors since 1883.  Mr. WILLIAMS married in 1866, Miss MARY C., daughter of JOHN C. DOBELBLOWER, then editor of the Dispatch.  She is a native of Philadelphia.  The children of Mr and Mrs. WILLIAMS are MARY M., CHARLES F. and MARY A.

L. R. THOMPSON, deceased, was a resident of LaFayette.  He was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 825, educated at Rutger's College, that State, followed printing in New York City a number of years, and in 1856 emigrated West, settling in LaFayette, Indiana.  Here he first was employed as foreman in the office of the Argus, and then engaged for himself in the business of printing and publishing.  In the early part of the war he enlisted in the volunteer service for the Union, serving in the artillery service under General GRANT in the Army of the Tennessee, and engaging in the terrible battle of Shiloh and other severe contests.  Was finally discharged for disability.  Returning to LaFayette, he resumed his trade.  In July 1874, he became associated in the publication of the Home Journal, with A. TIMMONS, a resident of this county who had established that paper a few months previously.   For a short time at the first, Mr. THOMPSON had as partners, in succession, WILLIAM OGDEN and K.H. HOOVER, and toward the latter years of his life his sons R.J. and L.R. THOMPSON, Jr.  He died November 3, 1886, a member of St. John's Church (Protestant Episcopal), in which he had served as vestryman, of the order of Odd Fellows and of the Grand Army of the Republic.  He was a useful and exemplary citizen.  For his first wife he married Miss LOUISA A. AUSTIN, in New York City, who died there in 1850.  In 1851 Mr. THOMPSON married SARAH JANE HOPE, a native of Philadelphia, who is still living in LaFayette.  Her children are R.J., L.R., Jr., JOHN W., GEORGE B. and ESTA.  JOHN W. is a bookkeeper for Loeb, Hirsh & Co., of this city, and GEORGE B. has a like situation in Wilson & Hanna's bank.    R. J. THOMPSON, above mentioned, was born in the city of New York, September 27, 1852, graduated at the LaFayette High School and Kennedy's Business College, learned the trade of printing in his father's office, and most of the time since has been associated with him in the publication of the Journal, as already described, is now the chief editor.  He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows, a gentleman of high self-culture, unpretentious, thorough and industrious.

L. R. THOMPSON, Jr., was born in LaFayette, July 10, 1857, graduated at High School, learned the printer's trade in his office, and became a member of the firm and business manager of the Home Journal in 1878.  He married Miss LAURA STUBEN, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. HENRY STUBEN, and a native of LaFayette, Indiana.  They have one child, LEWIS R., by name.  Mr. THOMPSON is a vestryman of St. John's Church (Protestant Episcopal), and also a member of the order of Knights of Pythias and of the National Union, a benevolent association.

*These bios were included in the chapter on newspapers of Lafayette under the heading, Sunday Leader.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pg. 313
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888

Volunteer: Adina Watkins Dyer

MARTIN L. SNYDER, a man of enterprise and public spirit, is a worthy representative of one of Tippecanoe County's pioneer families, his father, JAMES SNYDER, settling in the forest of Tippecanoe Township as early as 1833.  JAMES SNYDER was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, March 11, 1805, a son of WILLIAM and SARAH (BACKUS) SYNDER.  When he was three years old his parents removed to Ross County, Ohio, where he was reared, and where the father, WILLIAM SNYDER, died.  He was a tanner by occupation.  His wife died later in Illinois.  WILLIAM SNYDER and wife were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, who grew to maturity and had families of their own. JAMES SNYDER learned the trade of a carpenter and became a superior workman.  He married in Ohio MISS ELEANOR BLAINE, a second cousin of HON. JAMES G. BLAINE, and soon after his marriage immigrated to Tippecanoe County, the date of his settlement being in November 1833.  He then entered 160 acres of Government land on sections 14 and 15, Tippecanoe Township, and subsequently entered more land, and also purchased a tract of forty acres adjoining his 160 acre tract, making a farm of 200 acres.  He became well and favorably known throughout the township, where he made his home until his death.  He was a typical pioneer, and a man of great industry.  The land on which he settled was heavily timbered, which he cleared, improving the greater part of it, making a good home out of the forest for himself and family.  He came to the county a poor man, but by industry and good management became one of the well-to-do men of his township.  He died September 12, 1878, his wife surviving but two months.  Politically he was a Whig, and later a Republican.  Both he and his wife were for many years faithful and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.  They were the parents of eight children, three of whom died in infancy, and five reached maturity.  One son, WILLIAM CALVIN, died August 7, 1870, leaving a wife who died the following March, at the birth of her son, who was named WILLIAM CALVIN for his father, and is now the ward of his uncle, MARTIN L. SNYDER.  The surviving members of the family are--ROSELLA J., wife of  R. R. YOUNG, of Battle Ground; MRS. SARAH A. SMITH, wife of GEORGE M. SMITH, of Springfield, Missouri; MARTIN L., the subject of this sketch, and LIZZIE, wife of E. E. ARMANTROUT, of Tippecanoe Township.  MARTIN L. SNYDER, whose name heads this sketch, as will be seen, is the only surviving son of his father's family.  He is a native of Tippecanoe
county, born in Tippecanoe Township, January 24, 1849, and here he has always lived with the exception of three years spent in White County, Indiana.  He was educated at Battle Ground Collegiate Institute, and for six years subsequently taught school.  He married MISS ESTHER A. DAVIS, a daughter of ISAAC M. DAVIS, of Wolcot, White County, and they are the parents of two children, named FRED D. and LUCY.  MR. SNYDER is one of the active and public-spritied men of Tippecanoe Township, and is at present serving his fourh year as township trustee, a position he fills with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents.   Politically he is a Republican.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 563-564
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888

Volunteer: Charlene Saunders

REV. HENRY SCHOENEBERG, pastor of the German Lutheran church at LaFayette, is a native of Prussia, German, born at Marienburg, March 17, 1822, a son of EPHRAIM  and ANNA (ACHSNICHT) SCHOENEBERG, the father being a linen manufacturer by occupation.  Our subject was reared at his birth-place, and was educated for the ministry at the seminary at Barmen, between the years 1840 and 1850.  Two years of this time he was in the army, and for one year was engaged in the land wehr to put down the revolution in Baden.  In 1850 he went to Africa as a missionary, and was among the Herero between the equator and The Tropic of Capricorn.  At this point could be seen mountains of iron and other metals, and no rain fell in nine months.  On leaving Africa he went to Boston, Massachusetts, on a whaler.  From Boston he went to Detroit, arriving there in October, 1858, and in February, 1859, came to La Fayette, where he has since resided.

MR SCHOENEBERG was married while in Aftica, at Walwich Bay, in January, 1852, to MISS JOHANNA BERNER, who was born in Prussia, near Berlin.  Of the three children born to this union, two are living -- MINNA, wife of REV. FRED VENDT, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and HILARIA, wife of WILLIAM DETTMERING, a hardware merchang, living in Hanover, Germany.  A daughter, HULDAH, died at La Fayette six weeks after the family settled in this city.  MR. SCHOENEBERG pays considerable attention to the cultivation of plants and flowers, and his handsome residence is surrounded by a beautiful and well kept garden.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 571-572
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888

Volunteer: Charlene Saunders

CYRUS BAYLESS is a representative of one of the old and honored pioneer families to Tippecanoe County, a son of PLATT BAYLESS, who was born and reared in the State of New Jersey.  When a young man, PLATT BAYLESS removed with his father, SAMUEL BAYLESS, to Ohio, the latter living in Butler County, that State, until his death.  PLATT BAYLESS learned the trade of a shoemaker, but his life occupation was farming.  He was married in Ohio, to MISS FANNY McGARY, a lady of Irish descent, and of the eight children born to them, five yet survive -- SARAH ANN, wife of EZRA BUSH, of Tippecanoe, Indiana; CYRUS, the subject of this sketch; JOHN and ALFRED, living in Frankfort, this State; MARTHA JANE, wife of WILLIAM H. SIMS, of Thorntown, Indiana; PLATT a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska.  The father lived in Butler County, Ohio, until the fall of 1832 when he came to Tippecanoe County, Indiana, on horse-back, to see the country, returning to Ohio the same fall, and in the latter part of March, 1833, he started with his family from Cincinnati by boat down the Ohio to the mouth of the Wabash, then up the Wabash to Vincennes.  The low water of the Wabash very much delayed their progress, and on reaching Vincennes, he was compelled to hire teams to take them the remainder of the journey, being on the way two months before reaching La Fayette.  This place was then a small village, much of the present site of the city
being covered with timber.

PLATT BAYLESS, like most of the early settlers, was not possessed of a large share of this world's goods, and the expenses of the journey to this county had exhausted his supply of cash to such an extent that he decided to rent land for a hile instread of buying as he at first intended to do.  He accordingly lived on a rented farm near Dayton for three years, and during this time he purchased the land that afterward became his homestead, which is now occupied by his son CYRUS.  In 1836 he settled on this land with his family, their first dwelling on this place being a small log cabin, erected by the sons, CYRUS and ALFRED.  The family occupied this cabin until the following spring, and at once began the task of clearing the land, enduring many of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life.  Deprived of all the conveniences of the present day the old pioneers bore their part bravely, and the present generation are reaping the results of their toil.  Here PLATT BAYLESS lived and labored to make a home for his family, until his death, which occurred in 1852, his widow surviving several years.  Both were honored and respected members of society, and are still remembered by the early settlers.

CYRUS BAYLESS, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Butler County, Ohio, August 11, 1821, being twelve years of age when he came with his parents to Tippecanoe County.  He was reared amid the wild surroundings of pioneer life, and has a clear remembrance of the country as it looked fifty years ago.  he has witnessed the many wonderful changes that have
transpired during this time, and has always taken an active interest in its development.  He was reared to the vocation of a farmer, his youth being spent in assisting his father clear and improve the homestead which he now occupies.  At the age of twenty-one years he went to Dayton to learn the cooper's trade, which he followed about seven years, working in Dayton and La Fayette.  He was married March 28, 1844, to MISS CAROLINE CORY, born in Ohio, in 1824, a daughter of DANIEL W. and ELIZABETH (MOREHOUSE) CORY, early settlers of this county.  MR. CORY came with his family from Carlisle,
Clarke County, Ohio, to Tippecnoe County, Indiana, in 1836, and settled in La Fayette, where he kept the American Hotel for a time, and later the Wabash House, near the present site of the Lahr House.  His wife, the mother of MRS. CORY, died in Ohio, in 1834, and he was subsequently married to JULIA A. CLOSPILL, who is still living.  MR. CORY died in La
Fayette, in 1845.  By his first marriage he had eleven children, all of whom are deceased but MRS. BAYLESS.  By his second marriage he had two children, they also being deceased.  MR. BAYLESS after the death of this father, bought the home farm of 119 acres, which is one of the best farms in his neighborhood.  He has a fine brick residence, erected in 1861, and his barns and other farm buildings are correspondingly good.  Here he and his wife are surrounded with all the comforts of life, happy
in the consciousness of a useful and well spent life.  Both are liberal in their religious views, they and their family being members of the Universalist church.  They are the parents of five children -- LOTT, HARRIET, PLATT, MARTHA S. and FRANCES C., all married but MARTHA.  In politics MR. BAYLESS is a Republican, and is classed among the representative men of his township.

Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, pp. 572-573
Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888

Volunteer: Charlene Saunders

Biographies Index

Tippecanoe County, INGenWeb Project

Indiana Biographies Project