The Society of Indiana Pioneers "To Honor the Memory and the Work of the Pioneers of Indiana" Pioneer Founders of Indiana 2013 The Society of Indiana Pioneers is seeking to identify Indiana Pioneers to recognize and honor their efforts in building early Indiana foundations. Each year, 15-20 counties are to be selected for honoring pioneers at each annual meeting. The task of covering all 92 counties will be completed by 2016, the year we celebrate the centennial of the founding of the Society of Indiana Pioneers. For 2013, the Indiana counties include the following: Blackford, Brown, Clay, Davies, DeKalb, Dubois, Fayette, Franklin, Gibson, Greene, Jackson, Kosciusko, Madison, Newton, Porter, Randolph, Vanderburgh, and White Office: 140 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2207 (317) 233-6588 www.indianapioneers.com [email protected] The Pioneer Founders of Indiana Program 2013 This is the fourth year that a compilation of Pioneer Founder nominations has been published, and with this 2013 publication, nearly 350 wonderful stories about the early pioneers from 74 of Indiana’s 92 counties have been shared. We look forward to receiving submissions from the remaining 18 counties in 2014 to complete the work in time for the Society’s centennial celebration in 2016. What better way to honor our pioneer ancestors than to tell their stories for all to share? In this day when too few of us have the opportunity to have our children sit on a grandparent’s knee and hear family legends and stories of the “good old days”, they must be shared in other ways. Please take the time to tell your family’s story and honor your pioneer ancestors by submitting a Pioneer Founder nomination for inclusion in the 2014 booklet. One of this year’s contributors says it very well: “The Tanner's Creek pioneers did not found empires and enslave nations; they did not command armies and kill thousands or devastate provinces in the name of glory, but they did right well the work their hands found to do; they brought up their children to fear God and love their fellow men; and they set an example of honesty, industry, piety and loyalty which will influence the world for good in all time to come. And today we do ourselves honor, as we do each season when the years roll around in meeting to revere their memory.”* President Benjamin Harrison, the only president elected from the State of Indiana, once said:“ Great lives never go out; they go on.” While that is certainly true, I think the President stopped short of the whole story. While they were not all “great”, the lives of hard-working pioneer men and women who endured the hardships of pioneer life to provide for their young families and create a great state in a great nation out of the wilderness will likewise go on. Sharing the stories of these brave people makes it so. Thank you to the contributors for your stories; we are all enriched by them. Bob Everitt, Secretary The Society of Indiana Pioneers *See Lt. Jacob Blasdell Dearborn County 2011, 2013 Publication Hymn to Honour of Our Ancestors Let us now sing the praises of famous men, our ancestors in their generations. Some of them have left behind a name, so that others declare their praise. But of others there is no memory; they have perished as though they had never existed; they have become as though they had never been born, they and their children after them. But these also were godly men, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten. Their offspring will continue forever, and their glory will never be blotted out. Their bodies are buried in peace, but their name lives on generation after generation. IN REMEMBRANCE When you pass by old Bethlehem*, Look high upon the hill And see the flags awaving there For those remembered still. They served their country proud and brave. They’re now asleep, but we remain. With hand on heart, we won’t forget. Their sacrifice was not in vain. That flag that waves is a symbol Of a nation great and free. Because of heroes resting there That nation came to be. Old Bethlehem, so sweet and dear, You guard them lying there. We bow today with humble hearts And pray a thankful prayer. ---Jeanne Mercer Weaver, 2009 *Ivan notes: Bethlehem Church and Cemetery is a short distance East of Morgantown, Morgan Co., Indiana on the Old Morgantown Road. Contributor--Ivan Lancaster 2013 Pioneer Founders of Indiana Blackford John Saxon David Gray Gilbert Townsend Sr. Jabez Lathrop Winship Jacob Myers Brown Joseph Fricker (Fraker) James Adair James Conwell Clay James Crafton James T. Osborn Nathaniel Hardesty Modesitt Jehu John Esau "Esaw" Presnell Job Stout John Conner Daviess Charmer "Charner" Hawkins John Hackleman DeKalb David Brookens Knight Rode Holley/Joseph Snelling James Hadsell Rufus Haymond Daniel Altenberg (Altenburg) Samuel Goodwin John Thompson Stephen C. Stevens Thomas Powers Dubois David G. Abell William Tyner William Gordon, Jr. Fayette Stephen &Nancy (Liggett) Sprong Alexander Crawford Anderson & Millitha (Atkinson) Lynch Samuel & Susanna (Hackelman) Gibson General Robert Morgan Evans Williams John Conner Greene John Craig Sr. Judge Samuel W. Parker David Daniel Wesner Oliver Hampton Smith Samuel Skomp (Schamp) Caleb Blood Smith Samuel Simons John McCrory Jackson Daniel Keith Alexander Saxon Stephen Sparks Franklin Jeremiah Williams John Flavel Carr Conrad Sailors George Whitfield Carr, Sr. Coker Fifield Clarkson Thomas Carr Dr. David Oliver Michael Beem Dr. George Berry, M.D. Kosciusko Mark Stratton Enoch McCarty Henry Berry, Sr. Madison Theodore & Rebecca (Follis) Webb James Noble William &Lucinda (Beeson) Etchison Jane Templeton McCarty James& Margaret (Allen) Etchison Lewis Deweese Morris Gilmore Mother Teresa Hackelmeier William Allen Noah Noble John Allen David Mount David Wallace Newton John Ade Rev. Francis Joseph Rudolf James Brown Ray Porter Moses Gates John A. Matson John T. McKinney Randolph Benjamin Cox Robert Hanna, Jr. Burkett Pierce William Henry Eads Thomas Ward William McClure Daniel Mock Amos Butler Vanderburgh James F. Saunders Andrew Shirk White Silas M. & Martha A. (Harvey) Phebus Benjamin McCarty Christopher Hansel Additional 2010-2011-2012 Nominations 2010 2011 Allen Samuel and Matilda (Davis) Fogwell Clark Thomas Harrison John Sorg Catherine Bennett Farmer Dearborn Lt. Jacob Blasdel Andrew Farmer John Ewbank, Sr. Abigail Hammond Sweet Francis Sweet St. Joseph Enos Abijah Mills William Bennett Margaret J. Farmer Maxwell Jimmerson Washington George Beck Elmira Sweet Chase Watterson John Maxwell 2012 Mary Geiger Parks Maxwell Rush David & Elizabeth Longdon (Hall) Carroll Daniel & Magdalena (Vorhees) McCain Retherford Archibald Chittick Wells John Aughey Deam Delaware David Kilgore Whitley Anthony Geiger Harrison William D. Carter Abraham Maxwell Noah Fouts Starke Lorenzo Dow Glazebrook Switzerland William D. Brinley, Sr Edward Hart Joseph Dixon Curry (Currie) Frederick Louis Thiebaud Silas H. Smith John William Shaw Wayne Josiah Lamb Nominees are listed in the order they appear in the booklet. The Society of Indiana Pioneers 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Counties Counties Counties Counties Counties Allen Benton Bartholomew Blackford Adams Carroll Boone Elkhart Brown Decatur Cass Clark Hancock Clay Grant Clinton Crawford Howard Davies Fountain Delaware Dearborn Huntington DeKalb Jay Harrison Floyd LaPorte Dubois Jasper Jefferson Fulton Lake Fayette Jennings Johnson Hamilton Miami Franklin LaGrange Knox Hendricks Noble Gibson Marion Marshall Henry Parke Greene Martin Montgomery Lawrence Posey Jackson Owen Putnam Monroe Rush Kosciusko Pulaski Scott Morgan Sullivan Madison Ripley Shelby Ohio Tipton Newton Spencer Starke Orange Union Porter Steuben Switzerland Perry Warren Randolph Vermillion Vigo Pike Wells Vanderburgh Wabash Wayne St. Joseph Whitley White Warrick Tippecanoe Washington THE SOCIETY OF INDIANA PIONEERS Blackford County John Saxon Date and Place of Birth: 17 Nov 1761--New York City, New York Date and Place of Death: 24 Sep 1862--Blackford County, Indiana John Saxon came to Blackford County in 1839 with other families from New York State. He enlisted in the Revolutionary War at Westchester County, New York and served as a private and a drummer boy in Capt. Richard Sachet's Company of Col. Albert Rawling's Reg. of the New York Militia at Amewalk, West Chester Co, New York. About 1783, he married Elizabeth Evans at Amewalk, West Chester Co., New York. She was born 30 March 1770 in New York and died 25 April 1852 in Blackford County. John Saxon was a farmer in Licking Township of Blackford Co. John Saxon lived to be 100 years and 10 months old. He is buried in the Hartford City Cemetery. The children of John and Elizabeth Saxon were Mary, the wife of Gilbert Townsend, Hepsibeth, James, Malinda, Fannie, and Lydia. Contributor--Allen W. Moore Gilbert Townsend, Sr. Date and Place of Birth: 1780--Sussex County, New Jersey Date and Place of Death: 8 Oct 1861--Blackford County, Indiana Gilbert Townsend, Sr. came to Blackford County in 1839 with other families from New York State. His wife was Mary Saxon, daughter of John Saxon. She died 20 January 1872. Their children were Charles, John, Gilbert, Jr., Lucy Ann, Sarah, James S., Alvah, Elizabeth, and Mary. Most of the Townsends of Blackford and Grant counties are descendants. Among them are the late Clifford Townsend, Governor of Indiana from1937 to 1941, Wayne Townsend, former State Senator and. Representative and candidate for Governor, and Harry L. Pearson, Blackford County Commissioner. Contributor--Allen W. Moore THE SOCIETY OF INDIANA PIONEERS Brown County Joseph Fricker (Fraker) Date and Place Birth: 22 Aug 1795--Unteralphen, Baden, Germany Date and Place of Death: 4 Jul 1874--Morgan Co., Indiana I wou1d 1ike to nominate this Indiana pioneer because, in spite of the fact that he did not lead an important life, he did lead a very active and somewhat interesting life.