Page Seven
From the "Memoirs of James K Wells, Son of William M. & Hilly Ann Wells" Submitted by Jana Trace
To Whom It May Concern, Know Ye:
Abraham Slough, Jr. was born in North Carolina January 2nd, 1823. He was the fourth and youngest son of Abraham Slough, Sr. He came with his father and family when quite young and according to the statement of his father and mother his first outlook in Owen County, Indiana was through the forest. A house “here and there” they were built of rough logs, chinked and dobbed with mud between the cracks to keep the cold out, puncheon floors and on one side or end a large fireplace with a crane to hang vessels on for cooking purposes. In winter evenings the duty of the boys were to gather in a large pile of wood for the purpose of keeping a blazing fire in the fireplace, which filled the cabin with a cheerful warmth. In those early days it was a custom to have well cured venison, hams hanging overhead to the rude rafters and around the fireplace were long strings of pumpkins and red pepper prods. The furniture in those early days consisted of a puncheon table, a clumsy cupboard, headstands made of small poles and blocks of woods and stools for seats. On the outside of these cabins were small patches of cleared ground and little log barns such was the condition of this community when Abraham Slough, Sr. first came here. Abraham Slough, Jr. was raised up under his father’s care on the home farm until he became of age. He had taken an active part with his brothers as he grew up into manhood and helping cultivate and further improve the farm. He took an active his brothers to lay the chief cornerstone of prosperity in Jefferson Township. Politically they, as their father, were Whigs of the Henry Clay type and were among the noted men of that party in this country. When the Whig party went down and the Republican party became established the Sloughs were identified in the new party.
Abraham Slough, Jr. was married August 10, 1843 to Lydia Ann Littlejohn, a daughter of Henry and Sarah Littlejohn. To this union was born ten children whose names appear on the 5th page of this book.
He was a farmer by occupation, he devoted his time and attention to cultivating his farm, which he had it well improved and productive, and good substantial farm house and barn. He spent his leisure moments in reading, kept well posted in the affairs of the country, especially in political and religious matters. He was a member of Christ’s Church, established at Bethsaida in the Western part of Jefferson Township. His wife was also a member of the same church and devoted Christian woman who bore her part with him in all their joys and sorrows.
They raised a respectable family of children, all of which are now dead, except for one daughter, Nancy E. Goddard, who is now a widow at Terre Haute, Indiana (each one of the three Slough’s mentioned have but one surviving daughter, Adam Slough- his daughter Mary M. Hubbell, widow of John Hubbell, Henry Slough- the only surviving child is Sarah Wells).
Abraham Slough, Jr. was one of the prominent citizens of Owen County. He was considered by them that knew him as an honest upright man, a devoted Christian, a kind and loving husband and father, a true and loyal to his country.
When the war between the North and the South was inaugurated, he enlisted as a Union soldier from Owen County, Indiana. As Orderly Seargent of Company A, 69th Regiment of Indiana, Volunteer Infantry under Captain Thomas A. McVaught and Colonel Alexander to serve three years or (?) during the war. The Regiment left camp Hughes February 18, 1862 was assigned to the First brigade, Third division, 15th Corps, Army of the Tennessee. He died at the Overton Hospital in Memphis Tennessee of chronic diarrhea on the 16th of February, 1863 aged 40 years one month and 15 days. He army service was commendable by all who knew him, his Captain Thomas A. McVaught stated in the obituary of Orderly Abraham Slough: “I have no hesitation in saying that the death of Seargent Slough the Army has lost one of its truest most patriotic and efficient soldiers and to his honor I cheerfully state that the noble, honest and faithful manner in which he discharged the often arduous and perplexing duties devolving upon him rendered him as an officer highly respected, beloved and esteemed by his fellow soldiers. Time and space will not permit a rehearsal of his many manly and soldier like qualities. He was a hero of many difficulties, privations and who has on many occasions been a target for rebel marksmen. He encountered the many hardships and toils of an army life to the hardships endured may doubtless me traced to his death.”
His wife and friends when informed of his death at once arranged with John Hasiton an old neighbor and friend of his to go to Memphis, Tennessee and bring his remains home. Mr. Hasiton returned with the body and it was intered in the Jefferson Township cemetery to wait the coming of the Lord.
To Whom It May Concern, Know Ye:
As to Daniel Slough, the third son of Abraham Slough, Sr. was born in North Carolina grew up on a farm with his brothers, married Miss Hannah Teague. He was the father of four sons, John, Jacob, Abraham and Isaac. John the elder son was the Captain in the 160th, 33rd Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Jacob was a Private in the 97th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Abraham was a Private in the 19th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Their father died when they were small children, leaving them and their mother and many friends to mourn their loss and as it has been said by his neighbors “no one can speak to high of him as reputable and entitled to order”.
To Whom It May Concern, Know Ye:
John Hubbell, the third son of Aaron and Rebeca Hubbell, was born December 30th, 1841 in Jefferson Township, Owen County, State of Indiana. He was brought up on his father’s farm, and trained in the cultivation of the soil, milling and boating. From the time he was ten years old he made himself very useful on his father’s farm and in and about the mill.
At the age of twenty years he enlisted in the Union Army, July 3rd, 1861, under Captain John K. Johnson and Colonel Solomon Meradeth, Co. “I”, 19th Regt., Ind. Vol. Infantry, McDowell’s Brigade, Army of the Potoma, commanded by General George B. McClellen. The 19th Regiment was actively engaged in the winter of 1862, in defense of Washington City, against the Confederate Army. By exposure, change of diet, and camplife, John Hubbell became completely broken down in health, and was discharged from the service April 8th, 1862. He enlisted again February the 10th, 1865, in the 149th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was sent to Decatur, Alabama and was discharged at Huntsville, Alabama May 15th, 1865. Hubbell was a true patriot and as a soldier he went wherever duty called him.
On the 4th day of July, 1867, he was married to Miss Mary Marilda Sough, a daughter of Adam and Permulia Slough. To this union was born three sons and three daughters (see names on page 128).
Obituary- John Hubbell died December 24th, 1909. Age 67 years, 11 months and 24 days. Funeral services were conducted by W. J. Brown a minister of the Church of Christ at the home of the deceased, Sunday, December 26th, in the presence of a great number of relations and friends. The remains were taken to Worthington, Greene County, Indiana and deposited in the cemetery there. The deceased was a true loyal citizen and an enemy to dishonesty, either public or private, politically or religiously. But charitable to the poor and obliging to his neighbors. A man of sterling worth as a citizen- James K. Wells”.
To Whom It May Concern, Know Ye:
David Benjamin a son of Joseph and Elisabeth Benjamin was born in Coshocton County, Ohio February 19th, 1840. His father was a native of the state of New Jersey, and was among the early settlers of Coshocton County, Ohio. About the year 1850, Joseph Benjamin moved from Ohio and settled in Owen County, Indiana where he lived until his death.
David Benjamin the subject of this brief sketch was in his youthful days brought up on his father’s farm, and he was rather an expert in the use of mechanical tools. At the age of 18 years he became engaged in carpentry work. He was successful in the mechanical trade, he built many dwelling houses and barns which are now standing in Jefferson Township in proof of his skill and ability as a master of his occupation.
November the 12th, 1861 he was married to Miss Mary Vaughn, a daughter of Jesse and Naranna Vaughn. To this union was born seven children. Their names appear on page 140. In the year 1863, he taught school. In December 1864 he enlisted as a recruit in Company “G”, 29th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry under Captain Levin M. Hess, and Colonel Samuel O. Gregry. The Regiment was assigned to duty under General George K. Thomas, Commander of the Department of the Cumberland and participated in the Provost duty at Chattanooga, Tenn. From Chattanooga to Dalton, Georgia, thence to Atlanta, and back to Marietta, Co. “G” was sent to Jasper to keep down insurrection. The company returned to Marietta where the 29th Regiment was stationed. Then the regiment was ordered to Indianapolis, Indiana to be discharged, which was in December, 1865. On his return home from the army, he was elected County Commissioner of Owen County. He administered the affairs as one of the guardians of the County, fairly and dilligently and is one fo the prominent citizens of the County and devoted Christian- James K. Wells
J To Whom It May Concern, Know Ye:
James Kinner, Sr. was born in England and was of Scotch and Irish descent. He came with his father and family from England to America when a young man, but old enough to remember the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. I have no knowledge of the date of their coming to American except the story told by themselves, and other whom they associated with during the period of time when they first settled in what is now Coshocton County, Ohio.
The family record of James Kinner, Jr. Shows that James Kinner, Jr. was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, March 16, 1807 and that his father having been in America some time before his marriage and settling in Coshocton County, it is evident that the Kinner family was among the first settlers of Ohio. James Kinner, Sr. was a resident near what is now known as West Lafayette, Ohio. He was a farmer by occupation, and owned land which he improved, and kept in a good state of cultivation. Not withstanding after the death of his wife he was left with a family of seven children, whose names appear on page 104. However, he managed to keep them together and provide a home for them, for at least one year, when he married again. He had no children by his second wife.
It was after his children had all grown into man and womanhood and gone from the old parental home, that I spent a few years of my younger life with grandfather and step-grandmother Kinner. It was during those years that he made the greatest impression upon my youthful mind. And in my musing, I think of those days of my young and the man changes since. And in retrospective view, my mind is refreshed with many incidents in relation to the habits and character of my grandfather Kinner. My acquaintance with him during the time I remained under his care. He was a hale robust man, full of spout and enterprise a great lover of fine horses and improved stock, which he had a good supply on his well improved farm, consisting of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. He believed that “anything that was worth keeping was worth keeping well”.
However, his beginnings were far back, they go to the time when that farm of his was a forest covered with timber, oak, hickory, poplar, chestnut, and a heavy growth of under brush, with small boulders of stone which was used for fences. In the beginning the stones cumbered the fields and were gathered into rows, thus serving as stone fences. Next came the split rail fence, this was in the pioneer days in the development of the middle states. The subject of the farm fence become very interesting to grandfather. Hence he became noted as a rail splitter as well as a fence builder.