Isaac Newton Whetsel

Isaac Newton Whetsel

The Whetsels are descendants of the Pennsylvania Dutch family of Whetsels. The line of Whetsels under discussion are lineal descendants of Daniel Whetsel, who, accompanied by a brother, removed from Pennsylvania and settled in Union County, Ind. about the beginning of the present century. Other members of the old family emigrated to the west and southwest, and one of them became known in history as the great Indian fighter of West Virginia - Lewis Whetsel. Nine children were born to Daniel Whetsel, viz: Zachariah, William Wallace (born December 5, 1812), Theodore, Rasmus R., Margaret, Mary, Jane, Eliza and Lydia. Five of these children still survive and have reached ages ranging from sixty-five to eight-four years, viz: Zachariah, Theodore, Rasmus, Margaret and Lydia. Daniel gave to all his children farms in central Indiana. Zachariah, Theodore and William received land in Hamilton County, and Rasmus received a farm in Boone county. To their respective possessions the brothers removed at an early day. William W. was a carpenter and millwright, but abandoned his trades temporarily in order to clear up his portion of the wilderness. He was married to Irene, daughter of William and Rachel Howren of Union county, Ind., and settled on the land alluded to in Fall Creek Township, Hamilton county in 1845. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted in the Seventy-fifth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry in which he served four years and four months. The regiment took active part in many encounters, in one of which he was wounded. His wife, Irene, died in 1856, having borne him eight children, as follows: Elmer, Eudoris, Elizabeth, Mary, Isaac N., Daniel, Rachel and Elvira. On account of the limited facilities, these children received but meager educations. But four of them survive, viz: Eudoris J: a prosperous farmer of Hamilton County, Isaac N., Elizabeth, wife of Jesse Stevens of Strawtown, Hamilton county, and Rachel, wife of Thomas J. Souders, of Severy, Kansas. Elmer, Eudoris and Isaac served in the Civil War. After the war closed the father resumed his trades. In his declining years he was granted a pension and died at the residence of his daughter, Elizabeth Feb 22, 1894 at the age of eight-one years.

Isaac Newton Whetsel was born in Union county, Ind., Mary 23, 1842, and removed with the family to Hamilton County, Ind., in 1845. His mother's death rendered his early life one of hardship, as he was reared as a farm laborer. In 1859, at the age of seventeen, he was married to Nancy Ellen, daughter of Thomas Olvey. She is of North Carolina parentage and was born July 10, 1842. In 1872 she became a member of the Baptist church. During the war Isaac N. was a soldier in company D., Ninth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry and served until honorable discharged in 1865. He participated in the campaigns in Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, and Louisiana, principally on guard duty. He was sick in the hospital at Shield's Mill, Tenn., with measles, and at Bull's Gap, Penn., with small pox. At the close of the war Mr. Whetsel learned the blacksmith trade at Fortville, Hancock county, Ind., and began business for himself at Oleo, Hamilton County. He removed from there to Marion county about 1873 and conducted business at Castleton and Allisonville for thirteen years. In the summer of 1886 he removed to Hazelrigg, Boone county, Ind., where he has since resided and conducted a prosperous business. He has been an Odd Fellow for twenty years and is a member of Boone lodge No 9, F & A M, Lebanon, Ind. He receives a pension of twenty two dollars per month, owns a cozy home, and like all the Whetsels, is a democrat in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Whetsel are the parents of eight children, five of whom passed away in infancy. The survivors are: Henry Monroe, born in Fall Creek township, Hamilton county, Ind. August 25 1860; learned the blacksmith trade but abandoned it at the age of twenty-one , was made a Mason; took service with Walbash [sic] railway as a locomotive fireman; married September 16 1885 to Dora A., daughter of H. H. and Susan Bassett of Indianapolis; she died childless January 21, 1888. Henry then removed to La Fayette, Ind.; June 10 1891 he was married to Laura Lee Cowell of that city, a son Dudley Monroe was born to them August 5, 1892. Henry is now a passenger engineer on the L. N. A. & C. railway. Julian Stuart was born at Oleo, Hamilton County, IN July 23 1867; served in Indianapolis post office from 1888 to 1891; by profession he is a bookkeeper. Mahalon Everett was born at Oleo, Hamilton Co, Ind., August 29, 1869, entered the railroad service as fireman at the age of seventeen; was married to Nancy E. Murray of Peru, Ind. August 23 1891; now resides in Peru, employed by the L. E. & N. railway as passenger locomotive fireman.
 

Source: "A Portrait & Biographical Record of Boone & Clinton Counties," A. W. Bowen Co.; 1895, pg 514.

Transcribed & submitted by: Jerri Lewis Barton - 1/17/2007
"A Whetsel family researcher"