Hiram Whitcomb (1804 - abt. 1888)

Born 9 Jan 1804 in Windham, Green County, New York

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 18 Oct 1888 at about age 84 in Six Mile, Spencer Township, Jennings County, Indiana, United States

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Biography

Hiram Whitcomb was born in a log cabin in Windham, Greene County New York on 9 January, 1804, the son of Jesse Whitcomb and Sarah Peck. He came to Knox County Indiana with his parents when he was young; then, with two brothers, walked back to Steuben County New York for work. According to the family history, he was only eleven years old and the youngest of the three to make that journey.

From Alice Bruner Wohrer’s Scribble Book: “Hiram told of his drowning at 14, was swimming with a party of boys. Somehow he went under – soon missed. When rescued he apparently was dead. Was arm pumped, rolled over a barrel and on the ground – finally he came to, breathing restored etc. Told us it was easy to drown, just went to sleep dreamed of everything he had ever done that was wrong, thought of a birds nest he once robbed, etc. But Oh the coming to consciousness again. Thousands of needles stuck him all over at once – he suffered agony. Yet was glad afterwards to have been saved, then lived to reach his 83rd year. Had an eventful life full of work and mishaps yet, his portion of success ending his days in easy fashion. Paralyzed last three years.” In New York, Hiram worked for a “Mr. Shepherd – Architect and Contractor learned the Carpenter trade and to carve flowers and emblems in wood. Making ornamental pillars for churches and colonial homes stylish at that time.”

Hiram married Mary Child on 14 December 1828. Mary was born 7 February 1809 in Gardner, Massachusetts, the daughter of Daniel Child (1780-1831) and Sarah Benjamin (born 1787). Hiram and Mary lived in Tyrone, Steuben County, New York. The family believe that Mary’s mother died when Mary was 20 years old, which would have been the year Hiram and Mary’s first child, Charles, was born.

Hiram and Mary had two more children, Jane Elizabeth (b. 15 Oct 1831), and Shepherd Whitcomb (b.6 Dec 1833) before, as his granddaughter put it, “Wanderlust again possessed his mind.” Although he was doing well, he knew his father and mother were in Indiana with the rest of the family. They left New York for Indiana in 1834. He procured a covered wagon with a feed and tool box, oxen, a horse and cow, implements, a tool chest at least. They brought their bedding, clothing, a few cooking utensils – enough to set up housekeeping in a new country -- and said goodbye to her brothers and sisters, though at least some of them soon followed. Alice described their journey:

“Was told too that he used a team of oxen. Had a horse at least for so much was made of Mary riding horseback carrying her 6 month old baby Shepherd on her lap, Charles 5 Jane 3 – in baskets hanging on each side of the horse. Must have had a sidesaddle for they were common in that day. Did 700 miles of the trip from Tyrone to Dearborn Co. Indiana. No roads, no bridges – but creeks and rivers. Starting west, kept that direction they drove into Ohio, driving for 6 miles along Lake Erie, then turned southwest going diagonally across Ohio till they reached Miami River a few miles north of Cincinnati Ohio, camping and cooking their food as they came along. No mention of the weather or of great suffering. She was said to ride horseback to rest at times with a babe in her lap, Charles and Jane in baskets hung on each side. Shepherd the baby’s name. Then a westward route to Dearborn County, Indiana, landing on Laughery Creek where he had brothers and sisters. The parents had in the meantime moved from Vincennes, Indiana to Six Mile in Jennings County Indiana. Hiram’s objective. Oren and Philo, Nancy and Sally went to Dearborn for work. The boys married Heaton sisters – Nancy married Peter Justice. Sarah married Joseph Ewan. All these came to Jennings County later.

"Mary told a grandchild about the lakeside drive, that she did not get to see it. Becoming tired took her babe back into the wagon, laid on the bed, fell asleep. Hiram and Charles (5 years old) admired the big waves but did not waken her. She a bright woman, a lover of nature – too. In crossing the Miami river near Cincinnati Ohio, rains had caused it to flow bank full. Not knowing the ford got into too deep water. The team had to swim. The wagon tilted, shocked by the current, but so heavy it did not tip over. Scared, thankful when they reached safety again.

“It took them three months to make the trip. Resting with these relatives a while, they again loaded the wagon moving on to Jennings County (one days drive now), six miles west of Vernon, Indiana the county seat, arriving at a little log cabin –just a little south of his father’s and mother’s home. Their cabin was on the toe of a hill in Section 29, at the bank of Six Mile Creek. Hiram and Mary got to a little squatters abandoned cabin – doorway minus a door, one little square hole -- a 10 foot by 12 foot squatters vacated cabin, near night, cool, snow falling. Father said ‘here is our home’ and Mother looked at it. A cabin, no door (no window glass or parchment.) Tears rolled down her cheeks – courage came again, she wiped her eyes with her apron, climbed down went in started supper – made things comfortable for the rest of them, caused the rest to think it fine.

"... The first chore was to fell a tree for their cow to browse on – leaves and twigs her supper. This story was told me by Charles who remembered it. He had a remarkable memory. Hiram left next day going to help a man build a house. She hung a quilt to the door – covered the window keeping out the cold, caring for the children over night. Wolves howled round all night, stuck their noses in under the quilt, seeing fire on the hearth never ventured in. Were not dangerous for not hungry. Many wild hogs in the woods.

"In two years he built a larger house, bought his brother’s mill. It burned, so a better one was erected.

"He too built the 3rd home and 3rd Saw Mill – putting in Modern Machinery – of that age – and a grist mill. Making it a community value. A good mill patronized far and wide. The virgin forest, great trees of the finest soundest timber. Shipped oak and poplar to Cincinatti Ohio. Made many trips to “The City” in handling his product – brought back merchandize for his family and neighbors, as boxes of China and glassware and clothing. Brought his wife the first stove to come to the township – new lamps, many things to make for better living. The first hair covered parlor set, black covers – carved walnut. Had no parlor but put it in the living room. Yet I remember their old iron oil lamp – not quite but much like the one often pictured on Library tables. Had a longer, oval bowl.

Alice Bruner Wohrer described her grandfather (compiled from multiple manuscripts)

"Grandfather Hiram Whitcomb was open minded, not strictly religious that is not longfaced or puritanical. A democrat first vote for Polk (as that must be wrong,) lively, good company played the violin in his youth, danced and was the life of a party – was witty a jolly fellow in a crowd. Blue eyed dark haired became white at 40 – but still curled, just to comb it out, shake his head some it parted and made corkscrews. Short of stature, strongly built, able to endure lot of work, but not educated like his ancestors for there were no schools for our first western pioneers. He was not of the student type, more like his mother.

"The family were the first to give up spinning and weaving.

"He going to Cin. O. to see to sales of lumber got money, always brought back some new thing to make better living – as the 1st cook stove to be brought to the township – first lamp (Oil) to take the place of the (pretty to me) iron grease lamp. A hair cloth suite of chairs a sofa and rocker or two, black and curved black walnut. They had no spare room so used in the living room.

"All the family were quick to pick up new ideas and when papers and magazines became available they had them. Almost always walked to church 2 miles down the railroad track. He finally joined the Masonic Lodge in Hayden – for many years was prejudiced against them on account of the fuss made at the time of Morgan’s disappearance because he divulged their secrets – but got over it and liked the order. Once joined the M.E. Church. Grandma promised her mother that she would join the Baptists or none – so couldn’t go with him – and never became a member of any. Her children becoming Universalists may have consoled her.

Hiram served as one of the three Spencer township trustees during the 1840’s. Hiram Whitcomb had a farm in addition to the mill which employed six or seven families. “He sold his farm to son Charles who took care of him until the farm was paid for, then William Henry and the rest took care of them.” Hiram became paralyzed the last three years of his life. He died first, at age 84 on 18 October 1888. Mary Child Whitcomb spent her last days with her daughter Caroline W. Heaton. She was sick only an hour and died on 8 January 1890. Both were buried in the Hayden Cemetery.

NOTES: [2] Alice Wohrer gives Hiram's death as 1887.

[3] From Charlotte Whitcomb's description, "HIRAM WHITCOMB (Jesse, Israel, John, Job, Job, John,) removed to Jennings Count}', Ind. ; was married December 14, 1828, to Mary Childs, who was born in Gardner, Mass., February 7, 1809. She was cousin to Lucy Childs, who was married to Jesse his brother. He died in Jennings County, October 18, 1888. His wife died January 8. 1890. He was a lumber manufacturer. Resided in Hayden. Ind.

For the United States Federal Census in 1840, there are two entries for Hiram Whitcomb, the first on page 268, the second on page 269. The number of children in both records is three, and the total household members is five. The entry on page 269 seems to better account for Charles (b. 1829) and Shepherd (b. 1833), in the 5-9 and 10-14 categories. The one on 268 has 2 males ages 5-9. Jane b. 1831 is the third child but could be accounted for in both cases.

- This index of land sales at Family Search https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:78B1-133Z incorrectly shows a transfer of property from Hiram Whitcomb and others to "Rosweld" Shephard in 1835. The index shows that this transaction appears in book 31 on page 336. The actual registration appears at this link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9WC-8KGZ?i=382&wc=M7HT-LWT%3A358136601%2C358632201&cc=2078654 The deed was actually signed by the parties on 22 March 1834, witnessed by Jesse Whitcomb, but registered on 8 March 1839. The grantors were Hiram Whitcomb and his wife Mary, and Lewis Day and his wife Sarah. The deed assigns the property of Daniel Childs and his wife Sally (Mary's parents) to Roswell Shepherd of Reading, in exchange for the sum of $190. It describes two parcels of land in Tyrone, presumably one for Mary and one for her sister Sarah who married Lewis Day. The 1834 date of this transaction tends to back up the family traditional history that Hiram and Mary left New York for Indiana that year. [Roswell Shepherd was likely the man that Hiram and Mary named their second son Shepherd Whitcomb after.] Roswell Shepherd also acquired the inherited properties of Henry Child and of Ann Child Whitcomb, Mary's siblings, in a similar fashion in deeds recorded on the same date in 1839. See earlier images at the second link above.

Sources

• 1. "They Came to Spencer Township" by Alice Wohrer Yarnal
• 2. Scribble Book by Alice Jane Bruner Wohrer
• 3. Whitcomb, Charlotte, The Whitcomb family in America : a biographical genealogy with a chapter on our English forbears by the name of Whetcomb. Minneapolis, Minn.: 1904.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #44431242
• United States Federal Census Year: 1840; Census Place: Jennings, Indiana; Roll: 84; Page: 269; Image: 552; Family History Library Film: 0007726
• United States Federal Census Year: 1850; Census Place: Spencer, Jennings, Indiana; Roll: M432_155; Page: 417A; Image: 261
• United States Federal Census Year: 1860; Census Place: Spencer, Jennings, Indiana; Roll: M653_271; Page: 252; Image: 252; Family History Library Film: 803271
• United States Federal Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Spencer, Jennings, Indiana; Roll: M593_329; Page: 158B; Image: 320; Family History Library Film: 545828
• United States Federal Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Hardensburg, Jennings, Indiana; Roll: 288; Family History Film: 1254288; Page: 436A; Enumeration District: 144; Image: 0487
• 9. U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 Author Ancestry.com Publisher Ancestry.com Operations Inc Publisher Date 2008