MONTGOMERY
COUNTY, INDIANA
BIOGRAPHIES
MAJOR AMBROSE
WHITLOCK
He settled in Montgomery county,
Indiana, in 1822. He was an enterprising pioneer, and did much to open
the way for the successful settlement of that county. He laid off
the town of Crawfordsville in 1823,
and was appointed receiver of public moneys for the first land office
in Crawfordsville, by John Q. Adams, in 1825. He was an
active,
brave, and efficient officer under
General Anthony Wayne, and after a long life of usefulness, he died at
Crawfordsville in June, 1864, in the ninety-sixth year of his age, ripe
with pioneer experiences. His widow remained until 1873, when, in the
ninetieth year of her age, she passed on to meet him.
JOHN BEARD
He was one of the
pioneers of Montgomery County; was born in North Carolina, January
fourth, 1795. In 1823 he moved to Montgomery county, locating near
Crawfordsville, where he still resides(1874). Mr. Beard served the people of his
county as a legislator for over fifteen years, with great ability. He
is honest, capable and energetic, and retires to old age with the
affections of all who know him.
HENRY S. LANE.
He is one of the most distinguished
men of Montgomery county; was born in Kentucky in the year 1811. In
1833 he removed to Crawfordsville, and commenced the practice of law,
rising rapidly in his profession. He was elected to the State
legislature in 1837, and in 1840 to the congress of the United States
to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of General Howard. In 1841
he was again elected to the same position. In 1846 Senator Lane raised
a company of volunteers for Mexico, of which he was chosen captain, and before marching orders were
received, he was appointed colonel of the regiment In 1860 Colonel Lane
was elected governor of the State of Indiana, over Thomas A. Hendricks,
and almost immediately following he was elected by the legislature to
the office of United States senator, which position he accepted,
leaving the office of governor to O. P Morton, the lieutenant-governor
Hon. H. S. Lane is still an active resident of Crawfordsville.
REV. JAMES
THOMPSON.
He is another of the old
pioneers of Crawfordsville; was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in the
year 1801. He graduated at the Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, in
1825, and moved to Montgomery county in 1828. He was the first regular
Presbyterian preacher in Crawfordsville, and was instrumental in
promoting the growth of Wabash College. He removed to Wabash, where he
preached with great success for five years; after which he returned to
Crawfordsville. In 1853 he moved to Mankato, Minn., where he preached
for fifteen years. He died in October, 1873, and his remains were
brought back to Crawfordsville and deposited in Mill's cemetery. His
name is fresh and precious in the memory of the people of Montgomery
county, as also among those who have met with him in Minnesota.
WILLIAM W.
NICHOLSON
He was one of the first
settlers in Crawfordsville. He left Kentucky in a keel-boat in 1822,
passed down the Ohio to the mouth of the Wabash, thence up the Wabash
to the mouth of Sugar creek, and from thence to Crawfordsville, where he settled, one of the first in the little
hamlet. Soon after he arrived he started a tan-yard, and opened a
tavern in a log house. He was very industrious, and accumulated
considerable property. He died in 1859, at the age of seventy.
ISAAC C. ELSTON.
He was one of the leading citizens of
Crawfordsville, now deceased; was born in the State of New York in
1795, and emigrated to Montgomery county, Indiana, with his family in
1824. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was engaged in mercantile
pursuits in Crawfordsville for many years, and during the last years of
his life was a successful
banker. He established the well-known Elston Bank of Crawfordsville.
Mr. Elston was a very consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and died in 1867, at the age of seventy-two years. He is
remembered by the people of Montgomery county as a useful citizen.
WILLIAMSON DUNN.
He was born in Kentucky, in 1781;
settled in Crawfordsville in1824. He was appointed register of the land
office by President Monroe, and filled many other offices of usefulness
to the citizens of that town. He died near Hanover, Indiana, in
1854.
WILLIAM MITCHELL.
He was born in Montgomery county, State of
New York, in January, 1808. In 1836 he came to Indiana, and built a log
cabin in Kendallville, where he now resides. The place was then a
wilderness for miles in every direction. He was elected to the Indiana
legislature in 1842. In 1860 he was elected to Congress, and was,
during the war, a firm
supporter of the Union. He raised many troops, and otherwise
contributed means and labor to the nation's cause. He has been largely
instrumental in promoting home public improvements. He organized the
First National Bank of Kendallville in 1863, and was president of that
institution until his death.
Source: A History Of the State of
Indiana by DeWitt C Goodrich and Charles Tuttle 1876
