The Chenoweth Families of Randolph County, Indiana

JOHN T. CHENOWETH, born in Maryland in 1826. He came to Randolph Counly, Ind,. in 1840. He was thrice married, to Rhoda Parker in 1847, to Hester Ramsey in 1852, and to Emily Lawrence in 1859. They have had eleven children, five of whom are living Mr C. is a Methodist and a Republican, thriving in business, and respected and esteemed in social life. He is a farmer by vocation; has been Assessor for both Green's Fork and Wayne Townships, and came within a few votes of obtaining the R'?publican nomination for Commissioner of Randolph County. Three of his brothers were in the Union army. Benjamin F., Fifty-seventh Indiana Infantry, had a finger shot off; discharged Jane 22, 186). George W., Sixty-ninth Indiana Infantry, taken prisoner and released on parole at Richmond, Ky.. August 80, 1862; wounded at Thomson's Hill, not very far from Grand Gulf, Miss., May 1, 1863; died May 14, 1863, of the wound received as before stated. Joshua B. joined the Eighty-fourth as a recruit. Account rf land owned by the William Chenoweth family: John T. Chenowelh, Wayne Township, Jericho, 265 acres; W. C. Chetiowetli, Green's Fork Township, 120 acres; Sirah Ann (Banks), Darke County, Ohio, 240 acres; Charles W. Chenowelh. Green*'s Fork Township. 200 acres; Oliver M. Chenowelh, Green's Fork Township, 180 acres; Edwin M. Chenoweth Wayne Township, 140 acres; Benjamin F. Chenoweth, Green's Fork Township, 76 acres; Joshua B. Chenoweth, Wayne Counly, 155 acres; homestead. Green's Fork Township. 236 acres; Henrietta K. (Brown), Wayne County (dead), HiO acres. Total, 1,762 acres. The Chenowelh family held a large and interesting re-union August 26, 1882, at the old homestead near Arba, Ind. The family is numerous and widespread, and they belong to the enterprising and influential portion of the community.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHRISTOPHER EBY CHENOWETH.

Longfellow, one of America's wisest men, said, '"The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well and doing well whatever you do, without any thought of fame." Illustrative of this sentiment has been the life of Christopher Eby Chenoweth, formerly a grain dealer, but nev an enterprising merchant of Spartanburg, Randolph count It is evident that he has done well whatever he has turned his attention to and therefore success has attended his efforts all through his career.

Mr. Chenoweth was born in Greensfork township, this county, December 23, 1854. He is a son of William Coltunbus Chenoweth and Haimah (Bowen) Chenoweth. The father was born in Carroll county, IMar'land, April II, 1829, and was a son of William and Ketura (Murray) Chenoweth. The birth of 'william Chenoweth occurred in October, 1802, also in Carroll county. Maryland. There he grew up and engaged in farming until the fall of 1838 when he removed to Darke county, Ohio, and in 1840 came on to Randolph county, Indiana, and located in Greensfork township, where he bought land. He had previously been in the county and had entered about three hundred and fifteen acres of land. Here he spent the remainder of his life engaged in general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. Pplitically he was first a Whig then a Iepublican. His death occurred in the autumn of 1876. His wife was born in 1806, in Carroll county, Maryland, where she grew to womanhood and there married. Her death occurred in 1893 the advanced age of eighty-seven years.

William C. Chenoweth, father of our subject, grew up on the farm and he received such educational advantages as the schools of those early days offered. He has devoted his life to farming and stock raising, but retired from active work in 1895. Politically he is a Republican, fraternally a Mason, and religiously a member of the Christian church. He and Hannah Bowen were married in December, 1849. She was a daughter of Squire Bowen and her death occurred in January, 1855. In 1856 Mr. Chenoweth married Mary Jane Safer, whose death occurred in September, 1903. To his second union the following children were born: Julia is the wife of J. I. Thomas, of Lynn; Emma is the wife of Fred Horn, of Washington township; Sadie is the wife of Elmer Hodgins, of Wayne county; Laura is the wife of Charles Skinner, of Modoc, Indiana; Bertha is the wife of Prof. Charles Mann, of Lynn.

To the first marriage of William C. Chenoweth were born besides the immediate subject of this sketch, William Henry and James B., both of whom live in Lynn, this county, and Hannah, whose death occurred January 6, 1855.

Christopher E. Chenoweth was but two weeks old when his mother died and his grandparents took him to raise. He received a common school education and spent two summers in the Valparaiso Normal School. He then took charge of the books and clerked for John Hill, a merchant of Spartanburg, with whom he remained eight years, giving his employer eminent satisfaction, in the meantime learning the ins and outs of the mercantile business which stood him well in hand later in life. After leaving the store of Mr. Hill, our subject, in company with N. Anderson, built an elevator at Crete and was in the grain business there four years, meeting with a large measure of success. He gave up this line of endeavor on account of failing health and worked at carpentering for two years, his health being restored the meantime. In 1893 he opened a general store in Spartanburg, which he has continued to conduct to the present time with ever increasing success, enjoying a large trade with the surrounding country, and always carrying a large and carefully selected stock of goods, and his honest and courteous dealings with his hundreds of customers has won their confidence and good will.

Politically Mr. Chenoweth is a Republican and religiously is a Methodist. In 1910 he was appointed county commissioner to fill out a term of office vacated by Charles C. Bowen, and in the autumn of that year he was elected to this office, the duties of which he discharged to the satisfaction of all concerned.

Mr. Chenoweth was married in September, 1883, to Margaret Buckley, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, December 25, 1861. She is a daughter of Cornelius and Sarah Buckley. Five children have been bom to our subject and wife, namely: Sylvia died when seven and one-half years old: Edwin, born August 5, 1885, is in the store with his father; Leo, bom Juh" 28. 1889, is also in his father's store; Glen, born August 8, 1894, is teaching school in Greensfork township, this county; Gail, born September 2, 1897. is attending school at this writing.

No state in the Union can boast of a more heroic band of pioneers than Indiana. In their courage, intelligence, capacity and loyalty to the right they had no superior. Most of them came from that portion of the original Colonial states lying on a parallel with her, and in their daring and heroism they were equal to the Missouri and California argonauts. Their privations, hardships and earnest labors have resulted in establishing one of the foremost commonwealth in America, and one which still has great possibilities before it. Members of this worthy band were the Chenoweths, William L. Chenoweth, agriculturist of Wayne township, Randolph county, being one of the best known of the present generation.

Mr. Chenoweth was born in Greensfork tow'ship, Randolph county. April 26, 1867. He is a son of John T. Chenoweth, who was born in 1826 in;Mary"land, where he spent his boyhood and was educated, and from which state he removed to Randolph county, Indiana, with his parents in 1840, and here he spent the rest of his life engaged in farming. He was three times married, first, to Rhoda Parker, in 1847, they had one son, Samuel J., of lartinsville, Indiana; second, to Hester Ramsey, in 1852, and they had one daughter, Clara, now deceased; and third, to Emily S. Lawrence, in 1859. He was the father of eleven children. He was a Republican and a Methodist. He was one of the most successful men of affairs in his locality and w'as highly respected by all who knew him. He was assessor of both Greensfork and Waye townships, and also send three years as commissioner of Randolph county. Three of his brothers were soldiers in the Union army, Benjamin F., who served in the Fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, had a finger shot off, and was discharged June 22, 1863; George W., who was a member of the Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was taken prisoner, but released on parole at Richmond, Kentucky, August 20, 1862; he was wounded at Thompson's Hill, near Grand Gulf, Mississippi, May 1, 1863, and died May 14, 1863, of his wounds; Joshua B. joined the Eighty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a recruit.

The Chenoweth family held a large and interesting reunion August 26, 1882, at the old homestead, near Arba, Randolph county, Indiana. The family are numerous and widespread, and wherever they have dispersed they are known as enterprising, honest and capable people. The mother of the subject of this sketch was Emily S. Lawrence before her marriage. She was born near Columbus, Ohio, in 1832, and she is still living, making her home with her daughter in Winchester, being now eighty-two years old. Three of her sons and one daughter are living, namely: William L., of this sketch; John F., of Nebraska; Edwin G., of Blue Island, Illinois; Mrs. Nora Rowe, of Winchester. William Chenoweth, our subject's paternal grandfather, was born in Maryland, and he died in 1876, at the age of seventy-four years, in Randolph county, Indiana, where he had lived and farmer since 1840. He entered land from the government here, which he improved and established the future home of the family. Here he endured the usual privations and hardships of those who first braved the frontier, was accustomed to the toils and labors of the backwoods. His wife was Keturah Murray, and she died on the old homestead here in June, 1893. They were buried in Arba cemetery. They were worthy Christian people. Abram I. Chenoweth, the first known of this family, emigrated from England to America in 1720.

William L. Chenoweth grew to manhood on the home farm and received his education in the common schools, and he began life for himself when only seventeen years of age, and has followed general farming ever since. He first rented his father's farm, and in 1895 purchased the farm of one hundred and thirty-four acres, which he now owns and which he has kept in splendid shape and on which he is making a good living. Politically, he is a Republican, and he belongs, to the Society of Friends. He was road supervisor one term.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

To Mr. and Mrs. William L. Chenoweth these children have been bom: Ethelyn M., born January 7, 1892, was educated in the Winchester high school and two years in DePauw University, and is now teaching in Wayne township; Carl W., born Octobet 4, 1894, was educated in the Winchester high school and attended Purdue University at Lafayette two years; he is also teaching in Wayne township; Esther M., bom February 2, 1897, is attending school in her home community.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DR. JOHN T. CHENOWETH, John T. Chenoweth was born near Greenville, Darke Co., Ohio, on the 16th of November, 1833. His father, Thomas F. Chenoweth, was a native of Ross County, Ohio, and removed with his parents to Darke County, Ohio, when about six years of age. He grew to manhood there, and was married to Miss Christina Thomas, in Preble County, Ohio. He still resides on the farm, where he began married life, having attained the age of seventy-three years. He has always been a prominent and highly respected citizen of his county, and has been called upon to occupy local offices at various times. He served continuously for thirty years as Justice of the Peace, retiring finally on account of

His son, John, was reared on the home farm, and at an early age learned to perform his share of the labor incident to farm life. During I the winter he attended school, and at the age of eighteen years, he adopted the vocation of school-teaching, which he continued for about seven years. When twenty years of age, he began the study of medicine in the office of. Dr. Z. M. Lansdown, at Greenville, remaining under his instruc- I tions for two years. Subsequently he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and continued his studies with Dr. C. H. Cleveland. He first graduated in medic! le from the Eclectic Medieal Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterward from the Medical College, of Ohio, in the same city. He began the practice of his profession in March, 1860, at Huntsville, Randolph Co., ltd., remaining there for a period of three and a half years. At the end of that time he removed to Williamsburg, Wayne Co., Ind., where he enjoy'il a successful practice, extending over a period of twelve years. In 187r>, lie located at Winchester, and has been one of the successful practilionors of this town ever since. He is a member of the State Medical Suciety, and was one of the organizers of the Delaware District Medical

Society, and the Randolph County Medical Society, and is immer of both, lie has beea y of tl

; public ment of this county, and has contributed liberally to enterprises inaugurated for the advancement of the county's interests. In politics, he has affiliated with the Republican party since the early days of its existence. He voted for John C. Fremont for President in 1856, and has since been an active worker for the success of his party. But his devotion to his profession has prevented his acceptance of numerous public positions that have been tendered him from time to time.

He was made a Mason in Acacia Lodge, No. 242, at Washington Wayne Co., Ind., in December, 1867, and on the 5th of February, 1868, received the Master Mason's degree in the same lodge. In January 1873, he wEthdrew from that lodge to take part in the organization of the lodge at Williamsburg, and in 1875 transferred his membership to Winchester Lodge, No. 56, of which he is still an active member. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has received the degrees of the subordinate lodge.

On the 4th of January, 1857, Dr. Chenoweth was united in marriage with Miss Hannah V., daughter of Josiah Miller, Esq., a prominent and highly respected citizen of Darke County, Ohio. By this union they are the parents of three children, named, respectively. Forrest A., Ethel May and Martha, all of whom are now living.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

dgar Markle, soi r. His father ws

, Y.. in 1841, where he continued to Madison County, Ind.

mercantile pursuits at this point until his death, which ( his son. and the subject of this sketch, enjoyed excellent educational advantages in his early life, and improved his opportunities, making rapid progress in his the family to Indiana, attended the university at Meadville, Penn. In 1859, he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Cook, at Markleville, Ind., and in 1860 attended a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnatri. In the spring of 1861, he began the practice of his profession at Fishersburg, Madison Co., Ind. But before he had gained a fair start, the storm of war burst over the land, and he sacrificed all his personal ambitions to do his part in the preservation of national unity, and the defense of the flag. On the 4th of November, 1861, he enlisted as a private soldier in Company E, Thirty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. While in camp at Aiderson, he was detailed for iluty in the hospital department, his services being retained in this capacity ioni: afii his regiment had been sent to the field. He returned to his company for.Im - November, 1863, at Helena, Ark., and on the 4th of January, 1863. wa. tender of a squad to assist in carrying out one of Gen. Grant's laii in i.. Mississippi campaign. It was his object to cut a canal from the Missisiiiy i i. Lake Providence, a portion of the old bed of this river, which would conned him, by way of two bayous, with the Tensas, Washita and Red Rivers, and open a channel for light transports, by which he could again reach the Mississippi below, and join Gen. Banks. But after the canal was cut. and the water passed into thilakf, the bayou, it was found. w,-re so obstructed by fallen timber and incident to these operations, Lieut. Markle took an active part, and for value services rendered on this occasion, he was honored with a First Lieutenant commission, on the 4th of April. 1863. At the battle of Magnolia Hills. Miss., 1 had command of his company, and for bravery displayed in the capture of a reb battery, he was promoted to the office of Captain. In this battery, every rebi at the guns was killed, and the last survivor had his gun loaded, with his hat on the string, ready to spring the hammer, when he was shot. Mounting the breast-works with his company, Lieut. Markle ordered the guns tiu-ned upon tl enemy, who fled from them m confusion. As commander of Company K. I participated in thirty-two battles and skirmishes, winning an enviable record fi bravery and daring courage. He was at the battle of Palo Alto.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FOREST A. CHENOWETH, M: D.

Among the prominent and successful medical men of Randolph county who are deserving of conspicuous mention in a work of the province assigned to the one in hand is Dr. Forest A. Chenoweth, of Winchester, for his career has been in every way an honorable one and though strenuous there is nothing in it favoring in the slightest degree of disrepute, his relations with his fellowmen having ever been above reproach. Although his father was a physician of note and he was reared in a comfortable environment our subject is entitled to the proud American title of self-made man, being for the most part the architect of his own fortunes, for he realized at the outset that he could not win on the reputation of 'his father or the assistance of anyone, but must work diligently and persistently in order to advance himself; so he may feel a sense of pride in his achievements and the honorable position which he has attained among the enterprising and successful citizens of the locality in which the busy years of his active life have been spent. He comes of a distinguished old family.

Doctor Chenoweth was born February 26, 1858, in Darke county, Ohio. He is a son of John T. and Hannah V (Miller) Chenoweth, both natives of Darke county, Ohio, where they grew to maturity, were educated and married, where they resided until 1860, when they moved to Huntsville, Randolph county, Indiana, moving on in 1863, to Williamsburg, Wayne county, this state, and in 1875 located in Winchester, where they made their home until in April, 1903, when the father died. The mother still survives. The Chenoweths are an old family, the first of the name having emigrated to America in 1716 and settled in Maryland, near what is now the great city of Baltimore. There were three of them, John and his two sons, Arthur and Richard. The subject of this sketch is descended direct from the son, Arthur. From Baltimore this branch of the family settled in Virginia, Thomas, son of Arthur, having located in Berkley county, that state, and in the year 1750 he braved the wilds across the Blue Ridge mountains, locating at Maysville, Kentucky, moving on with his family in 1788 to what is now Franklin county, Ohio. John, son of Thomas, married Betsy Foster, September 6, 1807, and they settled in Darke county, Ohio, in 1818. They reared a family of twelve children, and their descendants located in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Kansas. The family is of French origin and some were among the Huguenot refugees who fled to England and thence to Switzerland, from which country they crossed the great Atlantic to the new world about 1716. Doctor Chenoweth, of this review, is a descendant of John and Betsy Chenoweth, who located in Darke county, Ohio, in 1818. Many of the male members of the family have been well known as successful lawyers, physicians, educators and ministers, as well as bankers and commercial men.

John T. Chenoweth, father of our subject, was a physician of more than ordinary ability. He practiced his profession from 1860 until his death, and he had a record of having lost but two diphtheria patients during all those years, one case after he had practiced twenty years and another after an experience of forty years, a record probably never experienced by any other physician, especially in those early days when antitoxin and the modern methods of treating that dreaded disease were unknown. He was a man of strong character and pronounced convictions, a leader of his professional brethren and an influential man in the community.

Dr. Forest A. Chenoweth lived in Williamsburg, Wayne county, until tte was twelve years of age. He attended the public schools, and after coming to Winchester he took the high school course. He began life for himself as a teacher, following that profession in Washington township during the winter of 1876-7 and taught in the winter of 1881-2 in the Round Top district in White River township, reading medicine under his father the meanwhile. In the winter of 1880-1 he attended the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, and also the winter of 1882-3. He located at Deerfiield, Randolph county in 1883 for the practice of his profession, but remained there only a short time, for we find him in Winchester in August of that year, where he practiced until August, 1884, when he went to a cattle ranch in Kansas, coughing it for a year, then returned to Winchester, but soon took up his studies again in the Ohio Medical ' College at Cincinnati, from which institution he was graduated in 1886. Thus well equipped for his chosen vocation he located in Winchester, where he has since been successfully engaged in the general practice of his profession, taking his place in the front rank of the medical.men of this section of the Hoosier state, building up a large and lucrative practice. He has remained a close student of all that pertains to his work and has kept well abreast of the times. He took a post-graduate course in the Post-Graduate Hospital in New York in 1898. During the early part of his career he specialized in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, but in recent years he has done a general practice.

Doctor Chenoweth was married June 8, 1887, to Anna Railsback, a daughter of Edward and Mary (Adams) Railsback, a prominent family of Oxford. The mother is a descendant of the famous Adams family of Massachusetts. The union of the Doctor and wife has been without issue.

Doctor Chenoweth is a member of the Randolph County Medical Socity, the Indiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He has been president of the first named. Politically, he is a Republican, and is actively interested in local public affairs. He has been health officer of both Winchester and Randolph county. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic Order, and has taken the degrees up to the thirty-second. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. His wife belongs to the Presbyterian church. They are prominent in the best social circles of Winchester.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ABRAM I. CHENOWETH.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Of the last above-named children, Abraham J. Chenoweth is the subject of this sketch, and was born in Pike County, Ohio, on the 9th of July, 1826. When quite young, his parents removed to Darke County, Ohio, and settled in Washington Township. Here he grew up, surrounded by the privations of a frontier life, and accustomed to the labor and toil of the backwoods. He was educated in the primitive schools of that day, and acquired the rudiments of an education. On the 25th day of August, 1848, he was married to Miss Olia Harris, a native of Campbell County, Va., and the daughter of Benjamin and Susan Harris, who were among the pioneers of this county. From this marriage have sprung eight children, six of whom are living.

In November, 1848, Mr. Chenoweth came to this county and settled on the )r of Section 26, in Wayne Township. Of this land.

red fr is father nd by p nd w

. eighty. The Inn

Mr. C. cut away the underbrush and tr into which he removed and began the work of life. As a uently successful. To the original homestead he added to the time of his death he was the owner of 576 acres.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mrs. Celia H. Chenoweth was born in (Umpbell Counly, Va., March 1, 1828, and is the daughter of Benjamin and Susan Harris. When she was in her eighth year, her parents moved to Warren County, Ohio, and in the same year l Greene Counly, from which place, after a short sojourn, they removed to Randolph Counly in 1836, and settled on a piece of land in Washington Township. She received suoh education as the common schools of that day couM afford, and grew up as the daughter of an early settler. When ten years of age, she united with the M. E. Church, and has ever since remained a member. On the 25th day of August, 1848, she was married, to Abraham J. Chenoweth, with whom she lived a ple-vant, useful and prosperous life of a little more than thirty years, and whose respected and honored widow she now is. Her residence is yet on the old homestead, where she receives from her neighbors the respect and esteem which her virtues merit, and where she enjoys the competence which her industry and economy helped to accumulate.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.