Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Benjamin Moorman
As one reviews the history of the county and looks into the past to see who were prominent in its early development, he will find that almost throughout the entire century the name of Moorman has been closely connected with the progress and advancement of this section of the state. For eighty-two years Benjamin Moorman of this review has been a resident of Wayne county. Wild was the region into which he came when a boy of eight years. Its forests stood in their primeval strength, the prairie land was still unbroken, and the Indians still roamed through the dense woods, seeking the deer and lesser game which could be had in abundance. From that early period Benjamin Moorman has been prominently identified with the history of eastern Indiana, and now in his declining years he is living retired in Richmond, crowned with the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded an honorable old age.
He was born in Richmond county, North Carolina, August 21, 1809. His parents were also natives of the same county, where four of their sons were born, while three were born in Wayne county, Indiana. Of this number only two are living, Benjamin and Jesse, the latter a resident of Miami county, this state. In 1816 the parents removed with their children to Highland county, Ohio, and a year later came to the Hoosier state, locating twelve miles north of Richmond, in what is now Franklin township, Wayne county. Their farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land, which had been entered from the government by Archibald Moorman, tha grandfather of our subject, who paid for it the usual price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. He lived upon the place until his death, which occurred in 1830. He was a Quaker in religious belief and a leading member of the church. His life was most honorable and upright, and commanded the respect of all who knew him. John Moorman, the father of our subject, after a few years' residence in Wayne county, removed to Amboy, Miami county, Indiana, where his death occurred about 1887.
Upon the old family homestead in Franklin township, however, Benjamin Moorman spent his boyhood days. He was reared by his grandfather, with whom he remained until the latter's death, after which he made his home with his uncle, Benjamin, upon the same farm until the latter also passed away. When he came to Indiana this entire region was an almost unbroken wilderness and the first home of the family was a little log cabin. Neighbors were miles apart and it seemed improbable that cizilization would soon transform the district into beautiful homes and fine farms, while towns and villages would bring into the region all the industrial and commercial interests common in the east. As time passed and the land was cleared and developed, improvements were added to the farm, the little cabin home was replaced by a commodious one of more modern construction, and all the accessories and conveniences of the model farm of the nineteenth century were added. Indians were frequently seen, and some years passed before they retreated into the west before the oncoming tide of civilization. Turkeys, squirrels and all kinds of wild game were plentiful, and Mr. Moorman has shot as many as a hundred deer in the neighborhood of his home. As a boy he frequently rode to the then little town of Richmond, carrying with him a grist. He was very much afraid of the wolves, which were quite common, often carrying off the farmyard animals and making the night hideous with their howls. He also performed his part in the arduous task of clearing the land, plowing, and planting the crops, and for eighty-one long years was engaged in agricultural pursuits on the old family homestead in Franklin township.
In 1835 Mr. Moorman was united in marriage to Miss Anna Turner. He brought his bride to the old homestead, and, in addition to managing the farm, he began dealing in live stock, handling cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. For fifty years he carried on business along that line and was one of the most extensive and best known stock dealers in Wayne county. An excellent judge of stock, he found this a profitable source of income, and gained thereby a handsome capital. As he approached the western slope of life, he laid down his cares, and in 1885 retired from all business duties, but continued to live upon the farm until 1897, when he removed to Richmond, where he is now making his home. His own industry and enterprise in former years now enable him to secure all the comforts of life.
Mr. and Mrs. Moorman had no children of their own, but their kindness prompted them to furnish homes to four little ones. They reared Ruth Frazer, who is now the wife of David Pyle, of Franklin township, Wayne county; John W. Turner, who is now the present county treasurer of Wayne county and a prominent and influential citizen; Emma Turner, a sister of John, who became the wife of Reuben Rich, of Richmond, and died, leaving a son, Morrison D., whom they also reared.
In early life Mr. Moorman was a stanch Democrat of the Jacksonian school and a leader of his party in the neighborhood, but his opposition to slavery led him to espouse the cause of the new Republican party in 1856, and he has since been one of its stalwart advocates. He has long been a prominent member of the Friends' meeting, and for the past thirty years has been a deacon of the New Garden quarterly meeting. He is an earnest Christian man, and the teachings of the lowly Nazarene have actuated his life and formed the principles upon which his conduct has been based. He has almost reached the ninetieth milestone on life's journey. His path has been marked by good deeds, by honest purpose, by commendable industry and worthy motives, and when the final summons comes he will leave a record that is well worthy of emulation.
Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899