Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Joseph P. Addleman
Joseph P. Addleman was born Sept. 6, 1819, in Chester County, Pa., a son of John M. and Sarah (Whitaker) Addleman, the former born April 14, 1790, and the latter in 1796. His parents were married Nov. 24, 1813, and when he was seven years old moved to Wayne County, where he was reared on a frontier farm and educated at the subscription schools. He was married July 10, 1845, to Catherine, daughter of Jesse and Ellen Townsend, early pioneers of Wayne County. They have had six children, of whom only two survive---Thomas J. and Charles A. The deceased are---Milton D., Samantha Jane, Jesse w. and Ida. After his marriage he lived on a farm four years, after which he carried on the mercantile business in Whitewater for seven years. In 1861 he removed to the farm where his grandfather settled in 1828, where he followed agricultural pursuits with success, and now has a fine farm of 178 acres of well-cultivated land. His great-grandfather, John Michel Addleman, was born Sept. 15, 1723, a son of Martin Addleman, and came from Germany to American, May 24, 1752, because of the law forbidding his marriage with the lady of his choice, whom he married on board the ship. Having no money, his services were sold to pay for their passage here. He worked at the shoemaker's trade in Philadelphia till the debt was paid, after which he followed farming in Chester County, Pa., the rest of his life. His second son, Joseph, married Sarah Pierce by whom he had ten children. In 1826 his children ---John M., Caleb and Orpha (now wife of Isaac Pyle), came to Wayne County, Ind., and Joseph settled on what is known as the Addleman farm in Franklin Township, which is now owned by our subject. Here he passed the remainder of his days. His son John M. settled one and a half miles northwest of Whitewater where he lived till 1856 when he removed to the village of Whitewater, where he died, aged eighty-three years. His wife died about ten days later aged seventy years. They were active members of the Episcopal church. They were the parents of thirteen children, eight of whom survive, seven living in this county and one in Randolph County, Ind. John M. in connection with his farming pursuits worked at masonry, carpentering and coopering. He was Justice of the Peace eight years. William, the youngest son of Joseph Addleman, was elected to the Legislature from Wayne County, Ind.